Does it seem like your job has turned into a conveyor belt out of control? It might be a good time to get your resume revamped and your online presence ready to impress!
photo by Thomas Hawk
Job searching tips from the trenches – how to get the job you want
Today, I am happy to share a guest post by Teresa Basich, who has just joined Radian6 as the company’s Content Marketing Manager. Teresa writes a terrific blog, Writing On Purpose and is on Twitter @transitionaltee.
Job searching. It’s daunting these days, isn’t it? With talk of mile-high unemployment rates and the scarcity of jobs lurking around every media corner, it can be easy to become overwhelmed at the thought of having to look for your next big break. When I began my job search in January of 2009, I was up against more than just a bad economy and scary news stories; I was hoping to make a slight career change and find my new gig 2,000 miles away from my current city of residence.
Despite the odds, I was offered an incredible role that will allow me to finally do what I love and move across the country, too. If you need proof the old ways of finding a job don’t work anymore, my story is that proof. And if you need some ideas for how to get started on the road to a job you truly love, start here.
3 Dos and 1 Big Don’t to Help You Get the Role You Want
Strategically network. Don’t just throw yourself into every networking event you can fit into your calendar; seek out industry- and organization-specific events that you know people you’re interested in connecting with will attend. Because I’m a bit of an introvert, I joined online social networks and made a point to connect with professionals I respected who worked for companies doing great things. And when I felt comfortable, I took those relationships offline. Bottom line: spend your networking energy making connections that count.
Invest in your résumé. Remember, your résumé is your first impression and one shot. And not only will a well-crafted résumé make a fantastic impression on potential employers, if it’s at its best, it’ll remind you how great a professional catch you really are. I “met” Miriam of Keppie Careers via Twitter and decided to enlist her services after finding the resources and advice she tweeted incredibly helpful. Miriam and I worked together to revamp my résumé, so I was able to take ownership of the document while she taught me how to reflect on my experience in ways that highlighted what I’d accomplished in my career.
Show what you know. Your path to success lies in the knowledge you hold, but that knowledge will get you nowhere if you don’t demonstrate it. There are plenty of opportunities outside of formal interviews in which you can show your smarts, including informational interviews, online forums, professional meet-ups and volunteering. Not only did I engage in conversations about marketing and social media on Twitter, I created a blog and maintained it regularly to demonstrate my writing skills and inspire engaging conversation.
Don’t wait. One of the biggest mistakes people make in their professional career is waiting until they need a network to build it. It is so easy to get comfortable with your job and put off attending professional events and joining business organizations, but if you do the work now, you’ll make incredible connections while continuing to learn about your field outside the bubble of your organization. And, if the time comes for you to tap into your network for help, it’ll be ready and waiting. I made the unfortunate mistake of waiting until I lost my job to build my network, but now that I’ve experienced the power of my connections firsthand, I don’t plan on letting that network dissipate.
There is no one standard way to successfully navigate a job search, but having a few tips in your pocket from someone whose “been there” can help. Although these sound like basic action steps, it’s surprising how many job seekers stubbornly avoid them. Connect with people, put time and effort into your résumé so it reflects what you’ve done and take those opportunities that give you a chance to show off your smarts. Good luck out there!
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If your job hunt is stalled, I can help! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.
Age discrimination in the job hunt
I’ve been thinking a lot about age discrimination facing job hunters. I plan to do a series of posts on the topic and have been collecting links and resources. There is certainly no shortage of information. (If you are an expert on the subject, or a job seeker with a personal experience or story to share, be sure to contact me!)
When I started to think about this topic, I remembered a blog that Marci Alboher wrote that described a job hunter, Lisa Johnson Mandell. Lisa was profiled on the Today Show because she had transformed her image as a 49-year old “over-the-hill” job seeker (in her industry – entertainment) by taking advantage of online resources and re-making her image to seem more “hip.” I was intrigued by the story at the time and wrote a blog responding to the topic.
(In a funny coincidence, Marci Alboher, author of the book, One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success, is now a senior fellow for Civic Ventures, an organization dedicated to helping people reinvent themselves with “encore careers.” I’ve recommended their GUIDE for boomers (and anyone) who hopes to reinvent their careers in favor of doing something in the nonprofit world and/or the public sector.)
In doing some digging, I found out that Lisa actually has a book out now on the subject of remaking yourself for the job hunt – Career Comeback. In it, she talks about everything from appearance to attitude as they relate to overcoming age discrimination in your job hunt.
I just received my copy of Lisa’s book today, so I was inspired to share the post I originally wrote in July 2008 on the topic of ageism on the job hunt. I think it is just as topical (if not more so) today! Here is a version of that post…
You thought social media was for the “kids?†Blogging, Twitter, Facebook…You don’t have time to engage online with a bunch of people – you’re busy with your job hunt! Think again!
If you haven’t looked for a job in a while and/or aren’t tuned in to managing your “digital footprint†– what comes up when someone “Googles†your name – it’s time for a quick lesson in social media. The long and the short of it is this: an online presence is key to how people will perceive you. Especially if you are in a “young†industry that discriminates against workers over 40, appearing connected to new ways of presenting yourself (your brand, as it were), may help you open doors that seemed closed.
Take the story of a 49-year old entertainment reporter (as reported in Marci Alboher’s blog) who remade her image by freshening up her appearance and wardrobe and creating a hip online presence that made her seem younger than would belie her 20 years of industry experience. She hired people to help her, which is a great idea, but Marci points out that asking fashion conscious friends and teenagers (your children or others’) for advice and information about trends and technology is another option.
The key factor is, no matter how much experience you have, it is important to keep up with what is going on in today’s job market. Video resumes, Wikis, video conferencing, podcasts…Job seekers should be aware of these technologies and willing to use them! Be resourceful and aware – you may be surprised to learn that Web 2.0 tools can be a lot of fun and helpful beyond networking and job seeking. (Be sure to let me know when you start using a Wiki to plan your next potluck!)
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Facing discrimination in your job hunt? I can write your resume to make you look younger. Need help navigating social media and online networking? Keppie Careers is here for you! Don’t forget that clear, concise, optimized job search materials AND a strong, well executed plan are key for job search success! I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching? If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.
photo by Help Age
New Job, New You: A Guide to Reinventing Yourself in a Bright New Career
The new year is a great time to think about reinventing yourself. So many people have been displaced from jobs and careers they enjoyed and hope to do again, but many are looking for the next new challenge. How perfect that Alexandra Levit’s new book, New Job, New You – A Guide to Reinventing Yourself in a Bright New Career is launching this week!
If you are thinking of reinventing yourself – or even if you are not – the tales Alexandra shares are inspiring. The book offers story after story of people who successfully made changes in their careers and in their lives as a result of a variety of factors:
- Family requirements
- Need for independence
- Desire to pursue additional learning
- Financial aspirations
- Pursuit of a passion
- Personal or health setbacks
- Honing a talent or skill
In each category, we learn the stories of regular people (just like us!) who have made a move. Just to list a few:
- Automotive marketer to toy producer
- Accountant to wedding planner
- Wine connoisseur to thought leader promoter
- Stockbroker to pajama manufacturer
- Paralegal to advertising copywriter
- Electronic sales executive to motivational speaker
If you have read other career books, but haven’t “seen” yourself in them – this book is a refreshing change. I imagine everyone will be able to identify with some of the stories here - via the circumstances and/or the choices described.
The personal, sometimes moving, accounts of people who took the reigns of their professional lives may inspire you, but what makes this book so special and useful is that, for each of the categories above, Alexandra includes self-reflexive questions for potential career changes to consider. She offers specific suggestions, action steps and exercises to help careerists evaluate a fit for the change and a capacity to make it happen successfully. To top it all off – each chapter includes a resource toolkit and suggestions of useful books to read.
I’ve enjoyed all of the books I’ve reviewed by Alexandra, but I think this one is exceptional – a real home run for anyone looking for advice or information to help them move to their “next best thing.” I hope you will pick up a copy for yourself and anyone you know who could use a shot of inspiration and advice! Don’t forget to visit the book’s site for information about special offers and giveaways and plan to attend the book launch party on January 12th if you are in the Chicago area and keep an eye on Alexandra’s blog for regular career advice and information.
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No matter what your job target, you can benefit from personalized advice! Don’t forget that clear, concise, optimized job search materials AND a strong, well executed plan are key for job search success! I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.
Selling and job hunting have a lot in common. Who's buying what you have to offer?
I have a secret to tell you. My hair is not actually naturally straight the way it looks in my photo. In fact, it is pretty wavy and not usually very coifed. Why am I telling you this? I had an experience at the mall a few weeks ago that I have been meaning to blog about. I think it offers a good lesson for job seekers. So, you know my secret. My hair needs some help to look like it does in my online image!
My story?
I was walking through the mall past several of those kiosks that seem to fill the middle of the walkways at this time of year. A woman with hair products noticed me (with my un-coifed hair – hey I was on my way the Apple store – I don’t dress up for them!) Maria easily identified me as a potential customer and called me over. Of course, a skeptical consumer that I am, I resisted. “No, thanks,” I replied. “Come, let me show you something, it will only take a minute.” Maybe it was a weak moment. Maybe I was not in a hurry for the first time in my life. I gave in and went to see what she had.
She was selling hair straighteners. Ah…Now, I was interested. She took a piece of my hair and demonstrated how her product worked. Impressed, I still resisted. I wasn’t really shopping for a hair product. She persisted. She illustrated a few more great tricks her hair straightener could do. Explained how the ceramic tongs wouldn’t damage my hair. Showed me that even her nifty hair curler couldn’t undo my newly straightened hair. Very impressive.
Long story short, she connected with me on every important point. Answered every single question and hesitation I had. I bought the hair straightener and I’ll tell you I have NOT been sorry. I love it and I really like the way I can make my hair look (and behave) when I use it.
What does this have to do with you? Think about it – looking for a job is nothing more than selling what you have to offer to someone who needs what you have. Did Maria stop the short-haired man who walked by ahead of me? Of course not – she targeted me as an obvious potential customer. (Okay, so my hair was a mess.) I was clearly someone with a problem she could solve. That is what you need to do – identify problems you can solve. Target organizations that have those problems.
Did she show me the lovely box and EXPLAIN how the hair straightener worked. No – she SHOWED me how quickly and totally straight I could get my hair in 10 seconds. You’ve heard “show, don’t tell.” So, do that. Don’t tell the employer you have great communication skills and that you are a creative person – SHOW them by writing a knock-out resume and having an amazing online profile that leaves nothing to doubt.
Once you have someone interested – don’t let them go until you have shown your stuff! There were several points when I was ready to walk away without a new hair straightener. But Maria knew just what to say to keep me interested. You need to be able to have enough to say to keep people interested, too. Do you know how to sell your skills? If you can’t keep someone from (literally or figuratively) walking away, you need to do a better job. Practice! Maria was obviously a very skilled salesperson. She didn’t get there by sitting around and hoping people would stop to see her.
Maria MADE that sale happen. You need to do the same thing. It is tough, but it is not rocket science. I don’t remember EVER buying anything at a mall kiosk. But, I couldn’t walk away from that straightener. And I’m not sorry. You need to make sure someone knows better than to walk away from you. SHOW them that you are the perfect match for the job.
What do you need to do before you make the sale of your life? Share your ideas!
I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers