Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

How to apply for jobs

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Have you been applying for jobs and have not been hearing back? I recently read something about the percentage of employers who are not replying back to job applicants…If anyone is familiar with a post along these lines, please share it, as I cannot put my hands on it now. Suffice to say that many, many job seekers never hear a word in reply to their applications.

The question is – can you apply for jobs in such a way that you don’t wind up in this predicament? Of course, there is no perfect approach, but I want to suggest something to consider – ONLY APPLY FOR JOBS YOU ARE CLEARLY QUALIFIED TO DO!

Doesn’t sound like rocket science, does it? Take a hard look at jobs you are applying for…Are there clear links between what they want and what you offer? Go through the job description. What do you offer the employer? Do you have the skills needed to solve their problems? Are there direct connections between what you have and what they want? If there are – make sure these are clearly stated in your resume. Do not expect hiring managers to decipher and interpret your resume. No one has time for that.

I was sharing this philosophy with a client who has hired many people in her career. She heartily agreed and commented, “Yes – if you are a chef and want a sales job, it’s important to convince me that you can sell!”

So, back to our topic – how to apply for jobs. First things first – only apply for jobs that you can qualify yourself to do. Don’t waste your time zapping resumes here or there, just because you can. If your application might make someone scratch his head and/or would have no chance of passing an initial computer screen, you are wasting your time and the organization’s time.

Would it be NICE to receive a “no thank you” note from every organization in reply to all applications? Of course. However, the fact that so many people are applying, apparently randomly, for jobs, makes it more difficult for that to become reality.

Read THIS POST about what one guy did when he never heard back from HR. I laughed out loud, but wouldn’t suggest this tactic to my clients. (Thanks to @heatherhuhman for sharing this link via Twitter!)

Does this mean that a chef should never apply for a sales job? Not at all…The key is to SHOW HOW you are qualified. Stay tuned for some ideas if the job of choice is a bit of a reach.

Do you need help showing that you are qualified? You 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.

New issue of Personal Branding Magazine

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MCHAMMERsampleissue8

Dan Schawbel is one of the authorities on the topic of personal branding, particularly for the Millennial generation. I am happy to serve as a co-editor of Personal Branding Magazine. The new sample issue is available. This is how Dan describes it:

Summary: Personal Branding Magazine Volume 3, Issue 2 is about brand reinvention through social media and what better example of that than MC Hammer.  Hammer, a celebrity hip-hop star, sold millions of albums back in the 80’s.  Decades later, Hammer is now one of the front men for the social media movement.  He has his multi-million Twitter following and his own social network to keep in touch with his old fans. Aside from Hammer, this issue will help you control brand perceptions, repair a damaged brand and give you tips and tricks for navigating the web 2.0 terrain, so that stay ahead of the game.

I am also happy to welcome a new co-editor to the management team! Jessica Lewis is a communications professional with a significant background in journalism and copy editing. Her specialty is helping organizations connect with their audience by communicating in a concise, informative, relevant and inviting way. Her blog reflects her interest in social marketing and effective job hunting. You may also want to follow her on Twitter @copytailor.

In her introduction, Jessica notes:

You don’t have to be famous to benefit from a personal brand. Douglas Karr encourages us to give it a try, even if you have to take your profile picture on your webcam. He says that even though he has friends who are better at some things than he is, they never get the great opportunities he does.

One sentence from Howard Sholkin’s piece stood out to me as an excellent summary of this issue’s focus: “You can shape your reputation, network and expertise, or others can do it for you, but probably not as well.”

Features:

  • Full paid issue (November 1st): 29 articles total covering brand reinvention, strategy and related topics.  Website: www.personalbrandingmag.com
  • Free sample issue (October 26th): 8 articles total, including how to fix a broken image and how to get a competitive advantage.   Website: www.personalbrandingsample.com
  • Interviews with: MC Hammer, Kerry Rhodes, Patrick Lencioni, Steve Rubel, John Jantsch and Mitch Joel
  • The 2009 Personal Brand Awards

Here’s a video introduction:

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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.