At the Society for Human Resource Management, Atlanta conference, I made a point to attend several sessions addressing social media. These sessions were directed to recruiters and human resource professionals responsible for attracting top talent to their organizations. Job seekers can learn a lot from the conversations. [Read more…] about What job seekers can learn from employers
It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon: how to break out of your job search rut
Anyone who might have happened upon my tweets yesterday will know that I am a University of Michigan fan. Yes, I graduated from Michigan, and have terrific memories of trekking to Michigan Stadium with 100,000+ of my closest friends to watch games.
Today, I want to talk about Michigan’s new quarterback, Denard Robinson. He had an amazing start to the season. People were talking Heisman Trophy. Fans and pundits gave him credit for winning Michigan’s first four games where he posted amazing rushing and passing yards. In the first four games of the season, he ran for 905 yards, eight scores and threw for 1,008 yards and seven scores with only one interception.
Yesterday’s (34-17) loss against Michigan State was another story. Denard made three costly turnovers and ran for a season-low 86 yards. (Two should have been touchdowns instead of interceptions. Like a knife in a fan’s heart.)
Now, everyone’s saying “goodbye Heisman trophy” and recognizing Denard as vulnerable and human instead of a superstar.
What’s the career lesson here? Is it “You are only as good as your last job?”
How about “Remember, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon?” No matter what — if you are having success (or not), you need to stay on top of things to either 1) keep achieving the results you want or 2) change results that need to be different.
Just as Denard Robinson needs to move on from an admittedly pretty disastrous game, if your job search isn’t going well, you need to think about what you can do differently and do it. While Denard has tapes to watch and coaches to coach him on how he can do better next time, maybe you only have you and your lack of a job. Can you break out of a rut (if you’re having a rut) on your own? Maybe investing in some advice is a good idea. Think about it.
As a coach, I can’t help but suggest that there is nothing better than good, solid, one-on-one coaching to help identify problem areas. I’ve said this many times — an investment in your career or job search has the potential to repay you many times.
Another great option for job seekers is THE CAREER SUMMIT. Tons of career advice, all for a low price of $99 for a short time. Check it out now, before the early bird is over at the close of business today – Sunday, October 10th.
The topics include everything from how to think about finding a job you love, to what has changed in search, demystifying the recruiting process, online career management, interviewing and (last but not least) — strategies and tips for your resume, social media profile and job search. Read more HERE or visit the site HERE to learn more.
We can’t all be Big 10 quarterbacks with a staff to support us, but you can access tons of great professional advice via The Career Summit. Think about it!
Yes, you can use Facebook for job seeking. 5 steps to get started
How can you overlook a social network with more members than most countries? With more than 500 million active users; it’s likely that just about anyone you might want to find has a profile on Facebook.
There is a reason we hear more about people losing their jobs based on what they do on Facebook than about those finding jobs as a result of their activity there. Let’s face it (no pun intended!) — it was intended as a social network; it’s a place where people go to unwind, unload and vent. It’s where they go to show off their vacation photos or share a video of their infant’s latest sneeze.
That in mind, you can still create a professional-looking profile on Facebook that may very well be the link you need to land your next job. If you’re looking for a new job, you will want to take advantage of every useful tool. I’ve suggested five steps to help you get started on the right foot on Facebook. Read them on my Social Media and Job Search column at Job-Hunt.org.
If you want to learn how to look for a job today, check out The Career Summit…more than a dozen online presentations (including mine) to help you land that next job!
photo by laikolosse
Things are not always what they seem. Job search lessons
How about a deviation from the norm for a Friday? My brother shared this fun video with me…Since I have this habit of viewing everything through the lens of a career coach, job search advice writer/blogger, of course, I think there are some messages…(What we used to call “salient points” when I was at Columbia.)
1. Things aren’t always what they seem at first. (Watch the video, you’ll see!) The career message? Keep in mind when you apply for a job that you may need to think more broadly about the opportunity. The lesson may be that a job is better than you think…or that it is worse!
2. If you go to the site and read the comments, there’s another career lesson. People reacted very differently to this video. Many thought it was cute, some focused on the fact that the commercial ruins it (this version is without the ad), others point out details you may not have noticed. (For example, there are two kids who hide under the table at the beginning…Then, the table goes up with the back wall! Did you notice the flying people at the end? The eccentric “grandma” figure in the chair on the side?) Some seemed disgusted by the fact that it is “fake;” others said, “fake, but cute.”
Career tip: everyone reacts differently. Your resume? Show it to 10 people, you can get 15 opinions. Create a video resume? Some will like it, others may hate it.
What should you do in response? Do what you can to demonstrate the best you have to offer. Solicit opinions from people you trust, but recognize that some people have more informed opinions about what may work best in the market today. In the end, it is up to you to share your pitch, a story that is about you that you are proud to share. Maybe you are willing to take a risk — to be edgy — or even cutting edge. Maybe not. It’s your story, your choice.
Watch the video. Let me know what you think…and if you agree that there are some job hunting lessons embedded!
picture from Thomas Hawk
Target your pitch
I receive many pitches from businesses and companies. Most of the time, people want me to advertise or market their product or service. My response depends on their pitch. My inclination is to delete and move on, but if something catches my eye, if the note includes a specific reference to something I have done or said and if it appears the person is making a true attempt to connect with me, I always read it.
Today, I received this pitch:
My name is _____ with XXX.com, I was doing some research and came across your postings. I would love to have the opportunity to speak with you about helping you fill those positions you have with low cost postings as well as face to face recruiting events.
That’s about as far as I got. If this person actually “came across” my postings (and actually read them!), she would know that I don’t have any positions to fill! She is selling something, but I am not a buyer; I’m the wrong target.
Job hunting is no different than selling, but you are selling your ability to get the job done. You are marketing your skills and experiences. Are you thinking about making sure you are sending your pitch to the right person?
Yesterday, during a Voice of Careers webinar, one of the panelists, Heather McGough, a staffing consultant/recruiter at Microsoft, explained that authentic flattery may be a good way to help a job seeker connect with a decision maker. For example, a job seeker may make a point to comment on something the recruiter or hiring manager has written or said. Social media tools make it easy to find a commonality (even a hobby) and to be authentic, intentional and thoughtful when reaching out.
However, she further described a situation when even that type of connection would not compel her to go the extra mile for an applicant. The difference? The correct target. Heather related a time when a job seeker wrote her to apply for an internship opportunity. As Heather explained, it is very clear on all of her own profiles that she was not the correct contact person for this student. The job seeker did not do the correct research, which is readily available, and did not ask the right questions — such as, “Can you please pass along my information to the internship recruiting team?”
I always remind clients that the vast amount of information that is readily available is both a blessing and a curse. Heather knew that the person writing to her could have easily done a little extra research and asked the right questions when contacting her. Not taking that step made the applicant seem lazy, which did not inspire Heather, a recruiter with a tendency to go the extra mile for applicants, to want to take the time to redirect her.
Identify the right targets for your pitch. Do your research; make a connection. It will pay off in the long run to make sure you are not barking up the wrong tree.
photo by Grant MacDonald