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#BestofFSCBlog : #JobSearch -The 8 Best Online Tools For Your Job Hunt In 2021. A MUst REad!

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I’ve always been a lover of history. I think the past offers something beautiful and mysterious, a connection to those who came before us and their ways. I sometimes catch myself daydreaming about what things were like many years ago. And as a career coach, I inevitably drift over to wondering what it must have been like to look for a job in the past.

Many things about the job hunt haven’t actually changed much with modern technology. Networking and developing your skills have always been integral to finding the right job. Networking, after all, is just a version of cooperation or helping one another out. These types of social supports date back to ancient times to when the stakes were much higher than a salary negotiation. Many experts believe that our social structures have not changed all that much since we were living in small communities as hunter-gatherers, fighting for survival. Networking is part of that survival process, and the desire to connect is hardwired inside all of us.

But obviously new technology has afforded job seekers infinitely more potential to optimize their searches and find the perfect job. While a select number of remote jobs posted in 2020 were location-specific, 80% were available to workers in any location.

I’m sure we’re all grateful that we don’t have to circle classified ads anymore. But what are the best tech tools at your disposal for finding the perfect job?

Here are 8 of the best online tools to help in your job search. 

1) LinkedIn

This is almost such a no-brainer that I didn’t include it. But then I had a thought: how many job seekers are really utilizing LinkedIn to its fullest? LinkedIn offers some amazing features that may not be known to most users.

For a lot of people, LinkedIn is kind of a weekly check-in type of site. You might log on, scroll a bit, give a quick “like” to your middle school friend who got promoted, check your messages, do a casual job search, then migrate over to something more stimulating, like a Buzzfeed listicle or the latest celeb gossip.

If that sounds a bit like how you’ve been using LinkedIn, it’s time to step your game up.

To start, did you know that you can add media to the “Featured” section of your profile? Creators, I’m looking at you. Maybe you’ve done a killer brand video, or you want to share a reel of media appearances you have made. Or perhaps a photo from a keynote you made at a conference.

All of these will make an impact and boost your LinkedIn profile up from being a dusty online billboard of your resume, to a compelling advertisement for your skills and accomplishments.

Having trouble uploading a video because it’s too long? You’re in luck, there’s a work-around for that.

Are you wishing there was a way to combine your networking connections from LinkedIn with your other work contacts? Did you know that you can export your LinkedIn connections as a spreadsheet?

Most people who are doing job searches on LinkedIn just plug in relevant keywords and locations. But the search features on LinkedIn have much more to offer. You can save searches and set up alerts for relevant postings.

If you feel that searching for jobs on LinkedIn is turning up results that are too general, don’t match your specific skills and desires or don’t relate to your connections, you can utilize the LinkedIn advanced search features to filter for much more precise searches for listings.

Even if you treat LinkedIn as your first and last stop in your job search journey, it is worth spending a little more time on the site to really get comfortable with the ins and outs. It can truly be your most valuable online tool.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

2) Glassdoor

Glassdoor is another immensely valuable asset to anyone in the job search, and I absolutely loved my recent interview with their CEO right here. This tool is especially useful when researching potential jobs and employers, or when entering into the interview stage and considering offers with a certain company.

If you are unfamiliar, Glassdoor is a database for jobs listings and applications, as well as a portal where current and former employees can anonymously rate their experience in working for a certain company across many metrics, and provide information like salary and potential interview questions. Through analysis of this data, Glassdoor creates ratings and metrics on specific companies.

If you are interested in the company culture, revenue or size of a potential employer, or you are looking for an inside perspective on what it’s like to work for a certain company, Glassdoor should be your first stop.

In recent months, Glassdoor has also risen to the challenge of addressing the very pressing issue of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. With new products and features, Glassdoor has begun allowing users to share demographic information and rate a company based on its handle of issues of diversity within the workplace.

This is such an essential issue, and Glassdoor is a leader in creating greater transparency and accountability when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion in the job search and in the world of work.

Large influencers like Glassdoor have the power to change workplace culture, and establish new norms in society. It is fun to see them caring about these big issues and taking action!

3) Jobscan Resume Scanner

If you’re reading this article, I have a feeling you’re someone who has put a lot of time into your resume. But did you know that often, when you’re applying for a job, your resume may not even make it to a real person?

This is because many recruiters and hiring managers are utilizing an application track system (or ATS). In my recent book You Turn, I actually refer to applicant tracking systems in a header called “Applicant Tracking Hell”—and there’s a reason for this! Navigating the ATS is challenging, and knowing your resume may never even encounter a human being is disheartening. As a matter of fact, data shows that up to 75% of resumes never make it to a hiring manager.

You may have done a great job of highlighting your professional experience on your resume, but you’re just using the wrong words or formatting. This is where Jobscan comes in. Jobscan uses algorithms and AI to scan your resume and compare it to a specific job listing, giving you feedback on how to best tweak your resume to work well with an ATS.

Here are some things that you might find out have been preventing your resume from getting through the ATS filters:

  • Descriptions of your work experience do not match up to the job descriptions.  Even if you are super qualified, if your resume doesn’t match up with keywords in the job description, you could be preemptively disqualifying yourself. I tell job seekers in my online courses to make sure they sprinkle terminology from job descriptions as though it’s fairy dust throughout their resume. Sprinkle away!
  • You’re not using standard formatting. While clever and inventive ways of formatting your resume may show off your aesthetic acuity, and your creativity with design, they may also prevent your resume from making the ATS cut. Non-standard formatting can confuse the AI, and lead to your resume being processed incorrectly, or not at all.
  • Too much flowery language. You may think that using headings like “Selected Professional Engagements” and “Secondary School and Collegiate Alma Mater” makes you sound smart. But, I hate to break it to you, complicated and word descriptions are not working in your favor when it comes to ATS. Stick with standard headings that will ensure that the ATS processes your resume correctly. Think: “Work Experience” and “Education.”

Trust me, Jobscan ATS will definitely give you a better shot at acing your resume for a specific job description. They even provide excellent resume templates for various careers and roles.

4) Slik email finder

Slik is an amazing AI-based service that was originally designed for those working in sales as a tool to find leads and connect with prospective clients. Slik has become a major asset for many sales professionals, including those on sales teams from Dropbox, DocuSign and Slack. And if the major players in tech-based work solutions are using it, you know it must be good!

Slik offers a range of data-finding services, but one that I’ve found particularly helpful, and is certain to be an asset for you in your network, is their email finder tools.

Gosh, I just love a quick little email finder. I must be a career coach, huh?

Slik allows you to search emails and other data sourced from LinkedIn profiles. You can save searches and compile data. This information can be extremely valuable if you are a salesperson, but also fantastic for anyone who is hoping to connect with a specific person or department while doing exploratory networking or in the hopes of sending a letter of interest.

5) Shapr

One of the hardest things about networking is that you never really know if someone you are reaching out to will be happy to connect, or if they’re truly interested in making the connection and lending a hand in your career journey.

Shapr is an amazing social networking app that takes the guesswork out of networking. It’s designed to connect professionals and help users network in their field with others that are excited and willing to connect.

What makes it so valuable for networking is that all of its users are opting in with the intention of meeting new connections and sharing their ideas and insights. So no more wondering if the person on the other side of the LinkedIn chat is rolling their eyes and exhaling deeply. On Shapr, everyone is there for the same reason: they are excited to network.

Shapr works kind of like some of the major dating apps. Don’t get too excited, this one is for professional connections only! You create a profile that highlights your interests, skills, location and relevant information about your career. You can browse other profiles or search for people that match specific criteria.

From there, a connection is made in a way that will be quite familiar to a lot of folks. You swipe on profiles that you are interested in connecting with. If there is mutual interest, you have a match! From there, you can chat with your new connection, and see if a great professional relationship blossoms.

Shapr is a fresh and modern take on networking, and an excellent way to bolster your professional network.

6) JobSeer

Are you tired of pouring through page after page of jobs that are close to what you want and qualified for, but just not quite right? Well, Jobseer will help you pinpoint the right jobs for you, cut through the wrong ones and stand out from the pack. And, bonus: they help you easily get access to people’s email address!

JobSeer is a free Extension app for Google Chrome that is compatible with most of the popular online job boards. The beauty of Jobseer is that it uses AI to streamline your online job search.

Once you’ve created an account, you can input information into your Jobseer profile that will help you find jobs that are a good match. The first step is your resume. You can upload your resume, or even multiple resumes, that will be scanned by Jobseeker for relevant skills, experiences and qualifications, and compared to relevant job listings to help you find the perfect fit.

Your resume will be utilized in a customized “smart search.” You select job titles that are relevant to your search, and input your skills to help with the specificity of your job search. Jobseer also recommends skills that are matched with the job titles you are searching. You also select other parameters such as location, experience level and job type.

All that sounds pretty standard, but once you start searching, you’ll see the magic of Jobseer.  For each job you select, Jobseer will give you a customized score based on how well you fit the job description. Additionally, you can look at which skills are aligned with the job description, and areas in which you do not fit qualifications.

The information you gather from Jobseer will be relevant not only to help you find job listings that are a great match, but also in tweaking your resume to fit specific job descriptions.

As if that wasn’t enough for incredible features, Jobseer also gives you insightful information about the job and company, including insights on the companies’ size and revenue, as well as a projected base salary for the role that you are exploring.

Jobseer also offers you access to five free email addresses per day, attached to their insights on the job listings, which will allow you to reach out to recruiters and even employees that you already have a connection to.

Check out this quick video to see how Jobseer works, and I’m pretty sure you’ll be quickly adding it to your browser. It will definitely level up your job search game and help you optimize your chances of matching with the right job.

7) Idealist.org

These days, it feels more important than ever to be working for a company whose values reflect your own. If you’re someone who is hoping to work within the nonprofit sector, or to find a mission-driven job, Idealist is a great place to direct your search.

Idealist is a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with the goal of connecting individuals to jobs and careers at nonprofit organizations that focus on charity work and social impact.

Their site functions much like other job boards, however, all of the listings they post are from verified nonprofit organizations. You can search for listings based on keywords or get more granular with specific metrics about what types or listings you are interested in.

Idealist also offers resources for those who are hoping to level up their career goals within the social impact space with a higher degree. They have resources for those exploring graduate school, with information to help candidates navigate the application and selection process, and details of programs to assist individuals in finding graduate schools that fit their interests and aspirations.

Idealist is also a great site to visit if you are not necessarily looking for a new job, but want to get more involved in community work or contribute to a cause. They also have many listings for volunteer opportunities, with many options to meet you where you are in your desire to commit time and energy to volunteering. You can even find remote or virtual volunteer work.

Idealist also helps connect users to mutual aid networks. While you might have been hearing this term a lot more over the last 12 months, the spirit of mutual aid goes way, way back. In a sense, it’s about neighbor helping neighbor. There are many different types of mutual aid networks, but this is the common thread: they are spaces for people to connect and share resources. You might financially contribute to a fund in order to support those with need or who have been affected by a crisis, or you can find information on how and where to make helpful donations. Given the challenges of the past year, we would all be served by lending a helping hand to one another.

8) Google

I saved the most obvious one for last. In fact, Google is so obvious, that I think its features are often overlooked in the job search.

To start off, when you enter the job market, you have to be aware of how you appear on a search engine. You should expect that a hiring manager will look you up online, especially your social media. Data shows that 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates. Coming across badly online can really hurt your job prospects, with 54% of hiring mangers admitting that they eliminated a candidate based on their social media presence.

But if you think plugging your name in the Google search bar, like we’ve all done more times than we’d like to admit, is enough, you had better think again.

To start with, you should log out of your Google accounts, and go into “incognito mode,” or a similar private browsing option on your preferred web browser. Google saves your search data, and will give you a specifically tailored Google search based on your past searches and location. You want to see what a stranger would see if they put your name into google.

According to online presence management specialists at ReputationDefender.com, you should Google yourself once a month—that way you can keep track of your online presence, and if something should appear that reflects you in a less than positive light, you can get on it quickly.

Beyond keeping track of how you appear online, Google can actually be a great asset for staying organized and on top of your job search. Google Jobs is actually a super functional job platform that allows you to search for jobs, save specific listings and searches and even set alerts based on job criteria. Google Jobs aggregates listings from most other job platforms, making it the best of all worlds.

However you choose to go about your job search, I hope this brings you up to date on the latest resources to help you put your best foot forward in the brave new world of online job hunting. Dive on in, and happy hunting!

 

Forbes.com | February 9. 2021 | Ashley Stahl

 

#JobSearch : How Does Your Brand Stand Out on Your Resume? Accurately Reflect your Expertise? Most if Not All, the Answer is NO.

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One question I get asked every single week by clients is if their resumes have enough branding–specifically, executive branding. Does their resume accurately reflect their expertise and what they are recognized for? Can I tell what their brand might be? Usually, my answer to these questions is NO.

 

Your executive brand doesn’t always speak for itself, especially if your resume is basically a job description of what you’ve been doing. No, you have to sprinkle aspects of your brand throughout your resume and let your reader know who you are.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

A brand is an evolution of where you are today. It communicates your value to the reader. Have you Googled yourself lately? What comes up in the searches next to your name? That will help you realize your brand.

To represent your brand on your executive resume, make a list of 5-10 strengths and personal attributes that describe you. Are these strengths and attributes on your resume? If a reader were to glance at your resume, would they be able to tell within 10-20 seconds what your brand is, who you are, and what you bring to the table? Is the first half of your resume selling the reader on your brand?

This may sound like a difficult task to do. We aren’t very good at evaluating ourselves. Many of our clients tell us they have this information but are unsure of how to incorporate that into their resume. There is help for that. There are many talented executive resume writers who specialize in executive branding and can walk through it with you. Whether you hire someone to help you with that or do it yourself, the most important thing is that your resume is infused with your unique brand.

 

FSC Career Blog Author:  Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog – February 1, 2021

#JobSearch : Mistakes to Avoid for Doing your Own Resumes and Cover Letters. Great Two(2) Min Read!

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In today’s challenging economic climate, many people are choosing to create their own resumes and cover letters rather than hiring a professional to help save on the cost. This is understandable when money is tight. But you still want to present professional looking documents, free from mistakes. When you are writing your own resume and cover letters, it is very easy to make mistakes just because there are so many versions and corrections (we writers deal with this, too). Even if you are a competent writer, it still is a good idea to carefully read your work once more before sending it off to be read by the people you want to impress.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Here’s how to avoid some common mistakes in writing:

  • Keep track of grammar when changing a sentence. If you change the noun from singular to plural, for instance, remember to change the sentence structure to match.
  • Don’t rely on automated spellcheckers alone to catch mistakes. Your, you’re, their, they’re, there, two, too, and to are all words which are spelled correctly and won’t show up as an error when used in the wrong way. “Manager” was one I always misspelled as “Manger”. They are both words, so spell check never caught it. Luckily, I’m hyper-diligent about checking and rechecking how I spell Manager– plus there is a little tool in MS Word that lets you auto correct things like that, so whenever I type Manger, it automatically changes it to Manager. Awesome.
  • Avoid the automatic word-finishing features on your word processing program for the same reason. You want your brain to be in control.
  • Look it up if you are unsure. Good spellers and good writers rely on more than their memory. A popular site that helps with more than spelling is https://www.grammarly.com because it checks grammar, spelling, word choice, and style (plus, their Facebook page is informative… and snarky). It’s up to you to take the advice of the computer once the error is pointed out.
  • Take a break before rereading your work. It’s like rebooting your brain and allows you to see the piece with fresh eyes. If you have been working feverishly on something, you read it with your past efforts in mind and can fool yourself.

Of course, all the resume writing tips the pros use apply. Your cover letter and resume, along with the follow-up thank you letter, are huge indicators to the potential employer of your ability and professionalism. Everybody makes mistakes — but you don’t have to leave those mistakes in your writing. It’s easy to fix a mistake once you see it, so learn how to look for it.

FSC Career Blog Author: Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog – January 26, 2021

 

#JobSearch : How to Write a Cover Letter That Stands Out. Cover Letters Tailored Specifically to the Job had a 31% Higher Callback Rate than Applications with Generic Cover Letters.

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Job hunting can sometimes be demoralizing, especially when unemployment numbers are at record highs. Looking for job postings, reformatting your résumé and sending follow-up emails are all draining tasks, but, for some, writing a cover letter can be the most overwhelming part of a job application.

I’ve edited hundreds of cover letters for family members, friends and acquaintances. They often ask whether spending time writing a cover letter is worth the effort. A survey by ResumeGo, which offers resume writing services, found that 87% of hiring professionals surveyed said they do read cover letters. A separate ResumeGo experiment found that, of 7,287 fictitious job applications between July 15, 2019, and Jan. 10, 2020, those that included cover letters tailored specifically to the job had a 31% higher callback rate than applications with generic cover letters. Applications with tailored cover letters also yielded 53% more interviews than those without cover letters.

Here are some tips from experts and my own playbook for writing a compelling cover letter.

Create a custom cover letter—even though it is time consuming.
It may seem easier to use a form letter and swap out the company and job title, but hiring managers will be able to see right through you. Jobseekers often rush while writing cover letters, says Dorie Clark, author of “Entrepreneurial You: Monetize Your Expertise, Create Multiple Income Streams, and Thrive,” and a professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. “They’re actually critical in terms of shaping your narrative because it’s your opportunity to tell the world who you are, what you’re about, and why you’re qualified,” Ms. Clark says.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

But it’s OK to format your cover letter using a formula.

Think of a cover letter as a chance to sell yourself. Explain why your experience makes you a good fit for the position. Each sentence should help to persuade a hiring manager that you are the right pick for the job.

The structure can be simple. Your first paragraph should explain who you are and why you are interested in the job. Use the middle section of the letter to prove that you are qualified. (Read on for more about how to do that.) In the final section you can really bring home why you are a good fit for the position.

Reread the job posting and do your homework.

1. Take note of the skills the role requires. The goal of your cover letter is to explain how your experience will help you to fulfill the duties outlined in the job description.

2. Be enthusiastic. If you are applying for an entry-level position, you might not have a lot of experience, but that is OK. Familiarize yourself with the employer’s values and reflect why you want to work there in the cover letter.

Top tip: As you are writing, keep the job posting and the company’s mission statement open in separate tabs in your browser for easy reference. You can also copy and paste the job requirements you want to address at the top of the cover-letter document. You can then delete each one as you address it in the body of the letter. If you are not sure which requirements to address, remember that employers often list their top requirements first. Look out for skills or other requirements that are mentioned more than once in the posting, too, as they are likely to be important to an employer.

Research who is hiring for the position.

If you can, try to personalize your cover letter by addressing it to the hiring manager. Professional platforms like LinkedIn, social media sites and search engines are good ways to find the names of hiring managers. While it is traditional to initiate a cover letter with, “Dear Mr./Ms. [insert surname],” you may want to avoid that approach if you are unsure about the recipient’s preferred title and pronouns. Instead, use the person’s first and last name.

Even if you can’t find the name of the person hiring, you should avoid using “To Whom it May Concern” as a greeting in your cover letter. Although it is formal, it is not very personal. Instead, try using something customized to the role or department you are applying to, such as “Dear Communications Assistant Hiring Manager” or “Dear Marketing Team.”

“It’s your opportunity to tell the world who you are, what you’re about, and why you’re qualified.”

— Dorie Clark, author and professor

Begin your cover letter with an attention-grabbing first paragraph.

Hiring managers want to see something that will stand out from commonly used introductions like, “I am writing to you to apply for the office-manager position.” Instead, you could explain how a specific professional or personal experience inspired you to further advance your career. Perhaps you work in IT and like solving problems through coding, which inspired you to seek out opportunities as a developer. Or maybe you want to use your language skills in your next role. Make the connection personal and be brief. Keep the anecdote to two sentences. You can complete the paragraph by tying that story to the job: “It’s because of this experience that I am excited to be applying for [insert job title here] at [insert company name].”

Avoid exclamation points and adverbs.

You should show enthusiasm, but you don’t need to go overboard with unnecessary punctuation or adverbs such as “very” or “extremely.” You can convey eagerness while maintaining a professional tone.

Writing a good cover letter involves differentiating it from your resume.

It can be tempting to copy and paste directly from your resume to describe your work history, but your cover letter is an opportunity to present your experience in relation to the job you want. Use one or two paragraphs in the body of the cover letter to demonstrate how your accomplishments have prepared you to meet each of the requirements of the role and take on the expected responsibilities.

Play up your skills.

When writing the middle section of your letter, identify the skills you have and how they would be useful for the position you are applying for. If you are applying for an entry-level position, or don’t have a lot of experience, emphasize your strengths. Maybe you are a self-starter who can meet goals even while working independently in this era of widespread remote work. Or maybe you come from a nontraditional professional background, which you can frame as an asset due to the skills or perspective it has given you. “If you’re able to make the case, like, ‘Look I come from this different place, which is unusual in your field, and that’s exactly what you need,’ that can be really quite powerful,” Ms. Clark says.

Emphasize what you can do for the company.

Use the latter section of your letter to tie together how your skills, experience and background make you an ideal candidate for the job. For example, after outlining some of your relevant professional history you could add: “These experiences have prepared me to jump right into the data-driven decision-making position at [insert company here], which would make me a valuable asset to the team.” You could also expand on your previous work and motivations with a sentence like: “These experiences consistently inspire me to seek projects that give back to the community, which is why I identify so closely with [insert company]’s mission.”

Consider other formats.

Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and director of Brooklyn Resume Studio, says it can be appropriate to use bullet points in certain circumstances, such as listing your skills. This format allows you to swap in key points more easily, rather than rewriting entire paragraphs for each new letter. You could write one or two sentences outlining your interest in the role or organization, followed by a sentence saying:  “At this point, in my career, I’m confident I can offer” followed by a list of bullet points describing your abilities.

If you want to show your creative side, an alternative to a cover letter may be appropriate, depending on the job, industry and employer. For example, Jenna Palek scored a job at TikTok in summer 2020 after she posted a video as part of her application, explaining her resume and qualifications, which went viral on the platform. This is a risky strategy but it can pay off in certain circumstances.

Finish the letter with why you want to work for the company.

The final paragraph is your last chance to say why you want the job. It is important to strike a tone that shows you are interested, but not too pushy. You can write a sentence or two that emphasizes your interest in the role or company, and say you hope to hear back soon. Avoid writing that you will follow up over the phone or reach out to schedule a time to talk. Even if the rest of your letter is great, an overly forceful tone in your closing paragraph can be off-putting to an employer. Before typing your name, end the letter with a tonally appropriate sign off, such as “Sincerely,” as opposed to “Thanks,” which may be too informal.

Take the time to review before hitting send.

Don’t hit send without a few final checks. Hiring managers prefer cover letters that are less than a page long, so make some trims if necessary. Read the cover letter aloud and check for spelling and grammatical errors or typos. If you have the time, ask a friend or adviser to check it over. Then you can hit submit. 

Resources
  • WSJ Jobs Summit on March 4, 2021: Register for this free online event that provides recent graduates and workers looking for new opportunities with practical strategies and insights to navigate the competitive job market.

 

WSJ.com | January 21, 2021 | Allison Pohle

 

 

#JobSearch : 2 Key Attributes Your Resume Should Communicate. How’s Yours? Great Two(2) Min Read!

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Your resume is a compilation of your career for the purpose of evaluation. Your resume is written for the reader. They are looking for indications you will be suitable for a specific opening, and that reader uses your resume to determine if an interview should be scheduled. Every hiring manager or recruiter will be looking for two areas, which are summed up:  learn and lead.

The ability to learn is essential no matter which position you are filling in an organization. From the top executive to the lowest rung of the career ladder, if you aren’t continually seeking to learn how to increase your effectiveness, you are dead weight. This can be shown in a resume through several means:

  • seminars and classes attended
  • organizations and volunteer activity
  • certifications

 The ability to lead is really the ability to think and act independently for the good of the group. Some of this ability isn’t going to show in a resume — having the strength of character to avoid gossip, for instance. Still, a resume can show that you have accomplished goals. The positions you have held in any organization, the time spent as a member, and the activities you participate in all show leadership by example even when they are not “head” positions. Your references will reveal what kind of person you are, which will give an indication of what kind of worker you probably will be.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

During an interview, you are assessed in the light of your resume. The impression the resume gave is adjusted to include the face-to-face interaction and the whole package is considered. Will you be able to learn the job? Will you be able to do the job well even when distractions occur? Will you be a positive force in their particular workplace? If your resume hasn’t shown that you might fit, you will probably not be called in for that interview.

If your resume hasn’t resulted in being called in for any interviews, maybe it’s time to look at it again. Does it show that you know how to both learn and lead? Is it well written? Professional Resume Services has carefully built a site with many ways to help you develop an excellent resume for distribution. Explore the tips and services and see how your resume can be one that gets you that interview and the opportunity to learn and lead in a new job.
FSC Career Blog Author:  Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

FSC Career Blog – January 21, 2021 

 

#JobSearch : 6 Things You Need To Update On Your Resume. Your Resume must Showcase How you’re Different from Other Candidates.

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When you’re job searching, a resume serves as the first impression you make on a company. Your resume needs to highlight your skills and talents and also showcase how you’re different from other candidates.

Question: How do you stand out?

Ensure it does all of that by following these six tips.

Update your job information and descriptions

If it’s been a while since you last updated your resume, make sure that any changes to your job responsibilities and achievements are reflected. Pay attention to anywhere you have written things in terms of length of time. As the calendar changes from 2019 to 2020, your two years of experience become three, so make sure to update those figures accordingly.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Get rid of anything no longer relevant

Look through your job descriptions, skills, and education fields to see if there are any points you can remove. As you build more work experience, you can start to remove things from early on in your career, such as extracurricular activities or part time jobs that are no longer relevant to your current career.  .

You should also remove graduation years or any other dates that could indicate your age. The only years that need to be listed on your resume are your employment dates. If you’ve gotten a specialized certification within the last three years, you can list the year if having a current certification will boost your chances of getting hired.

Update your skills and certifications

Add any new certifications and relevant skills to your updated resume. Be sure that everything you list in the skills section is directly related to the job or job field you’re applying to. Listing overly general skills that most people also have only takes up space and does nothing to add value.

Update the formatting

Format your resume to ensure it can easily be read by both humans and AI. The first look at your resume will likely be done by AI via an applicant tracking system (ATS), but after it passes through that phase, it will be reviewed by a person. Keep things clean and simple, and ensure that your formatting is consistent throughout the entire resume.

Change paragraphs or long blocks of text to bullet points and use an easy to read font like Arial at size 10 or 11. Put headings, jobs titles, and section descriptions in bold so they stand out during skimming. Change written numbers to numerals, as a number stands out more than a word does.

Save the file with an easy to find file name

Keep the file name simple, following this format – First Name Last Name Resume Year. This ensures that you’ll always upload the correct resume to your applications, and you can easily find it at a later date.

The file should either be a Word doc (.docx) or a PDF. Word docs are easier for an ATS to read, so when in doubt stick with that format. The advantage of a PDF is that the formatting stays consistent regardless of how it’s opened, so if you’re sending it directly to a hiring manager, a PDF is the better option. Always double check the instructions, as some systems list the file type that needs to be submitted.

Remove ‘references available upon request’

This phrase is dated, and if it’s still on your resume, it can make you look dated as well. If the hiring manager wants references, they’ll ask for them, so save this space on your resume for something that’s important.

Author:  Ashira Prossack Ashira Prossack is a coach, speaker, and former competitive athlete helping business leaders unlock their full potential through a sports-based approach to professional
…
Forbes.com | January 19, 2021

#BestofFSCBlog : #JobSearch – How to Deal with a Termination on a Resume. Great Two(2) Min Read!

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Your employer just let you go. You need to find another job, but how should you handle your termination on your resume? The days when you signed on with a company and stayed with it until retirement are gone. In today’s climate, employers are much more understanding when they see a less-than-perfect work chronology, but you still have to be careful how and when you present a termination.

Remember, your resume is a marketing piece:  positive, upbeat, and selling yourself to a potential employer. There are many reasons someone gets fired, some outside of your control. It could be corporate politics, downsizing, or poor management. But presenting the information correctly is important.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Do not put the termination or the circumstances surrounding it on your resume. You will have a much better chance of impressing hiring managers if you deal with this question in face-to-face interviews.
If you were recently let go, resist the urge to keep your position listed as “to present” on your resume, giving the appearance that you’re still employed. You will have to explain yourself later on, and potential employers might think you tried to mislead them.

It’s a different matter if you were laid off instead of fired. In this case, you can mention the lay off in your cover letter. Employers are more forgiving of layoffs, so mentioning this might work in your favor.

Focus on your accomplishments in your resume. Your goal is to wow your potential employers by highlighting those accomplishments and skills. Even if hiring managers are wondering why you left a certain employer, your resume should be strong enough for you to receive invitations to interviews in which you can explain your situation in person.

Be sure to list all of your contributions to a previous employer, even any that laid you off. This too can be a red flag to hiring managers. Talk about your responsibilities, overall contributions to the company, and if you received any awards or special recognition. All of this will go a long way in your favor and that’s what you want.

No matter how the termination came about, you still learned skills and accomplished things at the job. Focus on these aspects when creating your resume, presenting the best pieces. But be ready to answer what you learned about losing the job as well. Being able to pick yourself up after a fall speaks to your resilience and ability to learn from mistakes.

 

FSC Career Author:  Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog – January 16, 2021

 

 

#BestofFSCBlog :18 Résumé Writing Tips to Help You Stand Out. Software is Used Today to Sort through Applicants, so you Must Tailor your Résumé.

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Companies increasingly rely on software to sort through applicants, which is why it is essential to tailor your résumé to ensure it makes the cut. Applicant tracking systems sort, scan and rank applicants by looking for keywords in applications. Although these programs can save time and money for employers, about 60% said such tools cause them to miss some qualified candidates, according to a 2016 survey of 1,200 job seekers and managers by CareerArc, a human-resources technology company, and Future Workplace, a research firm.

Here’s how to make your résumé stand out to robots and humans alike. 

  1. Use your résumé to play up your achievements. 

A common mistake job seekers make is believing a résumé is a recap of your career, when in reality, it should convey what you have accomplished, says Christy Noel, a career expert and author of “Your Personal Career Coach.”

“I always say, spend less of your real estate describing your job, and more time describing your results,” says Ms. Noel.

  1. Customize your résumé for each job application.

Read over the job posting, and think about the work experience you have had that is most directly relevant to the position you are pursuing. You can leave out some past jobs and internships if the experience you had wasn’t related. Whatever you do: Don’t submit a generic résumé to dozens of postings. “Even if you have the best experience, if your résumé isn’t speaking directly to the position in which you are applying, there is a strong chance you’ll never even get an interview,” says Demisha Jennings, a certified professional résumé writer and founder and owner of She Assists LLC.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

  1. Decide how to format your résumé.

Most of the time, a chronological résumé will work well for communicating your past experience. But, in some cases, a functional or hybrid résumé might be more appropriate. Read more about résumé formats here.

  1. Make sure your contact information is easy to find.

Include your name, phone number, email address, city and state. It may also be appropriate to include the URL to your LinkedIn profile. You want it to be easy for hiring managers to reach out.

  1. Consider adding a summary. 

Many résumé templates leave space for an objective statement, outlining career goals, but that approach is outdated, says Ms. Jennings. Instead, consider a carefully worded summary. The summary is often the first place a hiring manager will look, and gives you an opportunity to introduce your skills high up on the page. You can also work in relevant keywords from the job description. “Recruiters are looking for what you can bring to the table and what you’ve done, rather than you saying, ‘I’m seeking a position,’” Ms. Jennings says.

  1. Great résumés should stand out to skim readers.

Most recruiters spend just a few seconds skimming through a résumé—with an average in one study of 7.4 seconds.

To have the best chance of making an impression, ensure your job titles, company names and dates of employment are easy to read. The sections of your résumé should be adequately spaced, too, says Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and director of Brooklyn Resume Studio.

  1. Make your résumé robot-friendly. 

Structure your résumé to meet the requirements of an applicant tracking system to give yourself the best chance of having it reach an actual human. Ms. Leavy-Detrick suggests the following:

  • Optimize keywords. Use the same words and language that are in the job description. For example, three different companies might describe the same role as “programmer,” “developer” or “software engineer.”
  • Use a straightforward format. Avoid tables and text-based graphics, which might not get picked up by a scan of the résumé. Sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica are also best to ensure readability.
  • Think about order. When formatting each line item of work experience, list the company name first, followed by the job location (city, state), your job title, and your start and end dates. Some résumés can get lost if the dates are listed before the job title.
  1. Structuring your résumé around keywords is just one tactic. 

Tailoring your skills to include language from the job posting is an important way to let both the applicant tracking system and, eventually, a hiring manager, see how your prior qualifications tie into the job requirements. But just because you have a résumé full of keywords doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get an interview. “The ATS isn’t there to help the job seeker, it is there to help the employer review your skills against their most important qualifications,” says Ashley Watkins, a career coach and résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC.

  1. Craft compelling and concise bullet points.

The goal of a résumé is to list your accomplishments, rather than every duty you performed in the role. Résumé-writing experts recommend including no more than five bullet points per prior job listed.

  • Don’t focus on tasks. Many job seekers describe what they did every day, such as answering phones or creating marketing materials, Ms. Watkins says. “Simply copying and pasting the job description doesn’t account for the things you did great, that you did above and beyond your peers,” she says.
  • Instead, explain what those tasks achieved. Emphasize your results. Ms. Watkins suggests asking yourself “Did I save [the employer] money? Did I save time? Did I improve a process? Did I build a relationship?” These will help you format your bullet points.
  • Use metrics. Say what you achieved, then contextualize it—with figures if possible. You might not be able to put a monetary value on every accomplishment, but you can frame it by sharing details like the time it took or how many people were involved. “If you raised sales 50% in two months, that means a whole lot more than ‘I’m in charge of sales,’” Ms. Watkins says.
  • Don’t omit accomplishments that aren’t quantifiable. Not every achievement will have metrics to show success. If there are figures, you might not always have access to them. But that shouldn’t stop you from including them, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. Perhaps you had a positive impact on the culture of an organization, or improved a struggling relationship with a client. These efforts could help to demonstrate your soft skills.
  1. If you lack experience, focus on transferable skills.

If you are applying for a job in a new field or you are an entry-level applicant and don’t have much direct experience, don’t worry. Highlight transferable skills you have developed in the past that will serve you well in the position, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. For example, you could play up leadership skills you developed participating in an extracurricular activity or time-management skills you learned in a prior job.

  1. Go beyond your work history, and include all relevant experience.

If you are new to the workforce, or are job-hunting after being laid off, you could also include related experience that was outside of a traditional full-time job, says Ms. Watkins. For example, you can highlight volunteer work, consulting projects or educational training, all as part of making the case for your unique value, she says.

  1. Don’t worry too much about gaps in your résumé.

The Covid-19 pandemic economy resulted in many people being laid off or furloughed. Ms. Watkins says the 2020 job market reminds her of 2008, when she worked as a recruiter. The expectation at that time, she says, was that candidates would have gaps on their résumés or list more short-term positions. While it isn’t necessary to directly address the gaps in your résumé, you should be prepared to talk about them in an interview. “The focus should not be centered on the fact that you were furloughed or laid off, it should be focused on you and your skills and what you do that impacts the company’s bottom line in a positive way,” Ms. Watkins says.

While it is common to list the months and years you started and ended positions in the job history section, you could just use years. This will draw less attention to a six- or eight-month gap, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick.

  1. Highlight relevant skills.

It is common to add a skills section to your résumé, outlining expertise relevant to the position. You can include languages you speak, technical skills or courses you have done. If you lack experience, you can also complete some trainings, which you can find on LinkedIn and elsewhere, related to the job you are applying for and add the courses in this section, says Ms. Jennings.

  1. Prioritize work experience over education.

The professional experience you have had is often more relevant to the position than your education history, which is why the work experience should be listed first. In the “Education” section, you should list where you attended college, if applicable, or the highest level of education you have attained. If you graduated with honors, you can flag that, but it isn’t necessary to list your GPA.

  1. If you are early on in your career, a key résumé tip is to limit it to one page. 

If you are early on in your career, you should limit your résumé to one page. It is OK to start spilling onto a second page after you have eight to 10 years of experience, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick.

  1. Add some color for a stylish résumé that sets you apart. 

Your résumé should look clean and professional and you should keep applicant tracking systems in mind when formatting the document. But, if it is appropriate, you can add subtle accents of color in the section headings or in bars that separate sections as a way to differentiate your résumé. Ms. Leavy-Detrick doesn’t overstress the need for good design with her clients. “But it can definitely help,” she says. “When I say design, I don’t mean crazy graphic design. I mean having a polished application,” she says. “Think of it the same way you would coming dressed to an interview, it is part of your presentation, and so many people overlook this on the résumé.”

It may be appropriate to incorporate a more creative and graphic-based layout depending on the field in which you work and where you are applying. If you are applying for a position in a creative field, and you are emailing your résumé directly to a hiring manager, then it can be appropriate to use more designs, says Ms. Jennings. But if you are applying to a large company that uses an applicant tracking system or job portal, she says it is best to avoid using graphics unless you are working with a résumé writer who can help you get your resume through the system.

  1. Proofread and double-check the formatting.

You may be eager to send your résumé or submit your application, but you should take the time to first check for typos and grammatical errors. You could also have a friend or family member look over it. When you are checking for errors, be sure to double-check the formatting. Sometimes the spacing can get thrown off when you save the file, so check how it looks as a saved document and, if you can, save it as a PDF before sending.

  1. Make sure the saved file name includes your name. 

Make less work for the hiring manager by including your full name in the file name of the résumé document.

What to read next

WSJ.com – January 15, 2021 –  

#JobSearch : Résumé Formats to Play Up Your Strengths. You have Just over Seven Seconds to Make an Impression with your Résumé. Great Read!

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You have just over seven seconds to make an impression with your résumé. That is the average time it took recruiters to make up their minds about candidates based on their résumés, according to a 2018 eye-tracking survey by the career site Ladders.

Professional résumé writers say you could try shaking up your résumé format if you are struggling to get callbacks. 

1- Chronological résumé

The most common résumé format is chronological, listing your work experience in order, with the most recent experience at the top. It is straightforward, and many hiring managers prefer it because it is easy to understand.

How to format a chronological résumé 
  • Contact information: This should come first. Include your name, phone number, email address and location (city and state). You could also include the URL to your LinkedIn profile. Make it easy for hiring managers to reach you.
  • Work experience: List your previous jobs in reverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top. Format each position in the same way so it is easy for the hiring manager to read. Include the employer’s name, location of the role (city, state), your job title, and start and end dates. If you are still in the job you can write, for example, “January 2020 to present.” If you had more than one role with an employer, make it clear as a subheading or another line under the company name. List three to five accomplishments under each job. See more tips here.
  • Education: What you include here depends on your education history. If you didn’t attend college, recently graduated or are still in college, you may include your high school here. Otherwise, it usually isn’t necessary. Include the name and location of the college you attended, your degree and the years you were there. Recent graduates can also bulk up this section with their grade-point averages, although Ashley Watkins, a career coach and résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC, advises her clients not to include their GPA if it is below 3.5. Extracurricular activities and accomplishments can also go in this section.
  • Additional skills: This section is a great place to put expertise that goes beyond a specific job or internship experience, such as other languages you speak and proficiency with certain software or other technology. You may also mention soft skills, such as the ability to work independently, a particularly useful asset if you will be working remotely.
  • Certifications: If applicable, include professional licenses, technical courses or other certificates you have earned that are relevant to the job posting.

In most cases, résumé-writing experts say the chronological format is the way to go. “Overall, the chronological format is the most used format, and you don’t really see other formats too often nowadays,” says Demisha Jennings, a certified professional résumé writer, and founder and owner of She Assists LLC.

 

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

2- Functional résumé

If you don’t have much work experience and the chronological format is not working, you could try the functional format. This type of résumé prioritizes skills over direct work experience and can also be useful for those who have been out of the workforce for some time.

Think carefully about using this type of résumé. “From a hiring manager’s perspective, I find this to be less effective,” says Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and director of Brooklyn Resume Studio. “They want to know what you did on the job even if it wasn’t directly related. Were there some kinds of transferable skills or experience?”

How to format a functional résumé
  • Contact information: No matter the format, this should come first. Include your name, phone number, email address, location (city, state), and the URL to your LinkedIn profile, if appropriate.
  • Summary: Start with a paragraph of three to five sentences that serve as your pitch to the hiring manager. Highlight the skills that qualify you for the job.
  • Expertise: Identify the top skills you have that relate to the job you want and make a section for each. For a coding job, you could title a section “Programming Languages,” and list the ones you are proficient in. Under a “Customer Service” section, in bullet points, you could list the total number of orders you have processed and skills related to the role, such as communication, problem-solving and product or service expertise. You don’t need to say when or where you used the skills or accomplished the aforementioned responsibility.
  • Experience: In a short section, list the company name, location of the job, your job title, and start and end dates. You don’t need to use bullet points to describe your accomplishments under each position.
  • Education: If applicable, include the name and location of your college, your degree and the years attended.
  • Certifications: List professional licenses, technical courses or other certificates you have earned that are relevant to the job posting.

Functional résumés often work best if you are sending your résumé to a person you have had contact with, as opposed to submitting through a job portal, which often will use an applicant tracking system, says Ms. Watkins. “Functional résumés work for direct contacts because you are there to have a conversation, the feedback is there, and they can put a person to the position,” Ms. Watkins says.

3- Hybrid résumé

Hybrid résumés combine the best parts of the chronological and functional formats. The hybrid format allows you to emphasize your skills, but also provides more context around your past work experience, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick, who favors the format and says it tends to give a “better picture of who the candidate is on the whole.”

How to format a hybrid résumé 
  • Contact information: Include your name, phone number, email address, location (city, state), and the URL to your LinkedIn profile, if appropriate.
  • Summary: Similarly to the functional résumé, include a strong statement outlining your expertise, the types of employers you have worked with and your accomplishments.
  • Skills: List your relevant expertise in bullet points.
  • Select projects: If relevant to your desired role, you could add a section highlighting projects or campaigns you have worked on and what you achieved.
  • Relevant professional experience: Focus on relevant duties when describing your work history. Elaborate on how you used the skills that you listed.
  • Education: If applicable, include the name and location of your college, your degree and the years attended.
  • Certifications: Just as with the chronological and functional résumés, you can list professional licenses, technical courses or other certificates you have earned that are relevant to the job posting.

 

WSJ.com | December 11, 2020 | Allison Pohle

#JobSearch : How To Land A New Job In Tough Times. What Is the Ideal Strategy to Land a New Job? A MUst Read!

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Yesterday a Baby Boomer called me with a question that many of you might be tossing around. Sandy asked, “I really dislike my current boss, and I want to leave this job, but should I just be grateful I have a job and not try for a new one? The pandemic has caused so much bad news about company closings, reduced hiring, and my brother just lost his job. It has got me down, so should I stop complaining, suck it up, and hang on for another year or two until times are better?”

Sandy’s fear is understandable. She thinks that few employers are hiring, which is not valid. I never advocate for anyone to remain in a miserable work situation. Understanding she needs a paycheck, I suggested that she test the hiring waters to see if her skills are in demand. I reassured her that I’ve just had four clients get hired for great paying jobs. Two were Baby Boomer professionals making over six-figures. Another was a 2020 grad getting an excellent opportunity to launch his career in a field he wanted. Lastly, the mid-level client who got the remote job he wanted.

There are new opportunities available. So, don’t assume all the bad news means you can’t land a better job – YOU CAN! It will take more time than before. You must use some job search savvy and know what is effective and what doesn’t work. You need to take the calculated risk and see what develops. I think you’ll be surprised by the positive results if you implement the right job-hunting strategies.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

What is the ideal strategy to land a new job? The answer is being referred to the company and the hiring manager by an employee or colleague they know.  Jobvite, a talent acquisition system reported that employee referrals only make up about 7% of potential candidates, but the number of those referred candidates hired is 44%. 44%! That makes this well worth the effort to try and locate a connection to someone inside the company. LinkedIn is the ideal place to search for contacts and obtain a referral.

In today’s challenging economy, people who learn and use networking techniques will be those that succeed. But for some people, the task of networking is hard to do. Ken was a Program Manager for a tech company who had lost his job because of the Covid pandemic. He became a client and told me he had no network to speak of. Ken had no LinkedIn profile and did not belong to professional or civic organizations. An introvert, Ken disliked the idea of networking, but he did email a few colleagues and his old boss, but no one had any job openings, so he stopped. We started our career counseling sessions by educating Ken on what today’s job search involved.

First, I wrote him a powerful resume, and then we developed a complete LinkedIn Profile. I gave him the mission to make connections with a target of obtaining at least 300. Next, we worked on having him learn some effective networking strategies. He was surprised by the fact that according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Yale University report, 70% of all jobs are found through networking. Learning more effective techniques, he began again. The changes he made worked. Recruiters contacted him, and an old colleague he found on LinkedIn passed on his resume for a great job opportunity at her company. The employer called, and after several interviews, he was selected and hired for a terrific new job.

Today’s job market requires you to approach the job hunt differently than before. Here are a few tips to get started.

Increase your contacts. LinkedIn has become the place to collect contacts. An excellent way to farm for connections is to think about all the people you have worked with. Note former bosses, coworkers, colleagues, vendors, anyone you interacted with at your last job, and other positions you have held.  Many people add their company’s Executive leadership team too. Next, invite your friends, neighbors, family, and college alum friends. Then branch into your professional associations and connect with those folks, especially the group’s leadership team, and board members. When it comes to networking, the more connections you have, the better.

Do not waste a contact. Do not approach people until you are ready. A common mistake is to frantically call EVERYONE you’ve ever met and say, “I’m looking for a job – do you know of one?” Huge error! You must clearly articulate the specific job title, company, and kind of company you want to work for. Instead, you can reach out to connections individually. Calls are great, emails work, and if you don’t have those, use LinkedIn to send them a message. Tell the contact you are job hunting. Be specific on the job title you seek. Ask them what is happening in their company. Don’t expect them to know of a job, but some will and usually share that information as they want to help you. Another thing to ask is if a job comes up at their company, would they pass on your resume. Most times, the answer is yes.

Have Your Resume Ready. The goal of your resume is to secure interviews. Is your resume updated and downright the best it can be? Will it get through the employer’s Applicant Tracking System? Is it full of accomplishments and the results you achieved on the job? Will it stand out in a crowd? Find out before you network. A useful Forbes article to read to ensure your resume is topnotch and will impress employers is: Employers Ignoring Your Resume? 5 Mistakes To Avoid.

Dig deep so you can use a Referral. When you hear of an opening or find the opportunity online, go to LinkedIn and search “the employer’s name” and use the “people” drop-down tab. This will bring up anyone in your online network who works there. You can also see 2nd connections and who you know that may know someone at that company. Reach out to the person and tell them about the opening you plan to apply for, and would they be willing to pass on your resume to HR or the recruiter. Some companies pay their employees for any referred person they hire, so this might help your contact too. Forward on your resume. Just to cover all bases, do apply online for the job opening also. You want to be found in the employer’s system if the connection doesn’t come through. (Most do, in my experience).

Know What to Say. Be able to offer a concise intro about your skills and experience when talking to connections, recruiters, and eventually hiring managers. A technique I call the 60 Second Sell (outlined in this Forbes article Best Way To Open An Interview To Secure A Job Offer) gives you the easy formula to create your persuasive elevator speech and verbal business card. You want to quickly outline experience, your top strengths, and some key outcomes you’ve achieved on the job as you only have about one minute to impress them.

It’s a whole new job market, so you’ll move ahead of the competition if you use these strategies.

 

Forbes.com | December 1, 2020 | Robin Ryan