Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Job search strategies that work

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Are you looking for a new job this year? Take stock and jump-start a job search strategically.

Too Busy to Search for a Job?

No doubt, you’ve heard looking for a job is a full-time job in itself. What does that mean if you are overwhelmed with other full-time responsibilities? Especially if you are working at home without the normal supports you typically rely on, it is difficult to make time for job search. The best approach is to be strategic.

Select activities that are most useful in propelling your search forward. Don’t spin your wheels and make forward progress.

Follow these steps, and you’ll save time and effort.

Step One: Decide What You Want To Do

You are never going to get anywhere if you don’t know where you are going. Write down exactly what type of job you want. Include target companies, hours you’d like to work and what you want to do. Do not be afraid to be very specific. Once you specify your goals, it is much easier to reach them.

Step Two: Assess Your Qualifications

Once you know what you want to do next, be sure you have the skills and qualifications to do it! Carefully review job descriptions that are similar to what you want to do. Copy and paste several job descriptions into a Word file. Highlight the parts of the description that apply to you. If you highlight everything in the description, you’re golden! If there are features of the requirements that do not apply to you, make a list. Determine if you are really qualified for the position, or if you would benefit from additional training or experience.

If you don’t quite qualify for the roles you want, start making plans to boost your credentials. Consider taking courses. Research certifications to earn. If you work at a company that pays for professional development, start to take advantage of that. Alternatively, budget time and money to learn what you need to know to take the next step in your professional career.

If you’re missing skills you could gain in other ways, look for opportunities to build your credentials. Consider volunteering for committee work in a professional organization or association. Speak to your supervisor to identify new opportunities for you to gain skills at work. Your professional development is your responsibility.

Step Three: Create Marketing Materials

Ensure your resume, LinkedIn profile and other social networking streams represent your professional qualifications. Your resume should closely match the content you find in job descriptions. Never assume an employer will know you have a skill you do not list on your resume. Clearly outline your credentials via your skills and accomplishments.

Make sure your LinkedIn profile matches the information on your resume, and take advantage of the opportunity to use LinkedIn to expand on details you want potential employers to know about you. Not every employer will take the time to visit your LinkedIn page, but for those already interested in you, it is a good opportunity to provide extra information that was not applicable to your resume.

Step Four: Network!

Don’t only apply to jobs online. Unless you are a perfect match for those opportunities, you may find yourself frustrated when you do not hear back from employers. So many people apply for positions listed, it’s tough to get your foot in the door. However, if you use your time to network, you may win introductions for opportunities you would not otherwise know about.

Even if you have a busy schedule, you can turn to Google or LinkedIn at any time of the day or night to research people who work in places where you want a job. If you are already using LinkedIn, see if the companies that interest you have a presence there and determine if you have any contacts who work there or people who may be able to connect you to people who work there. Don’t forget to check out Groups. This is a great place to meet new people, and your busy schedule does not prevent you from connecting with new people who may be able to refer you to job opportunities.

Of course, in-person networking is a great way to meet people. Even if networking is via Zoom, make a point to attend professional organization meetings and go to online or in-person meetups related to topics that interest you personally. Say yes to invitations to interact with friends and family – even if it is online. All of these can be great opportunities to network with new people.

Move Forward Now!

Don’t waste any time moving forward with your career plans! If you don’t take steps now to jump-start your job search, you’ll never make a change. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need help with your LinkedIn profile or resume.

 

Best steps to find a job in the new year

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If you can demonstrate that you have the skills to solve their problems, you will position yourself to be competitive to land a new opportunity.

Determine how you will communicate what you are worth. Once you know what you offer, you’re on the right track, but the real trick is being able to convince other people that you have what it takes. Being great isn’t enough: you need to be able to communicate your value to employers. The best way to do this is via a consistent stream of information from your social media profiles. When you showcase your expertise online, you can convince people who visit your social media properties that you really are an expert in your field. Your resume and online portfolios (including your LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and any other profiles, for example), are equally important, so don’t neglect one in favor of the other. When you can communicate your value, it’s much easier to successfully interview for a job.

Apply for the right jobs. Stop applying for jobs you’re not qualified to do. Do not apply for every opening at an organization, and never blanket applications without ensuring you are a good fit for the positions. It will not help you to apply for positions if you don’t have the necessary skills, so don’t waste your time.

Target and identify specific organizations where you want to work. “Focus” and “targeted” should be your buzzwords when you search. Select organizations where you’d like to work, and make a point to learn everything you can about those companies. Can you hone in on any specific problems they have that you can help solve? Do you know people who work in places where you’d like to work? Should you set up an informational meeting with one of those people? Who would be most likely to be willing to make an introduction for you?

Identify allies for your job search. Avoid appearing desperate. Instead, be the professional you are, explain what you’re looking for and be specific when you meet new contacts who have the capacity to make a useful introduction for you. You cannot focus on your job search when you talk to people about your goals; if you do, you become just another desperate job seeker. Instead, focus on what you have to offer: ideas, suggestions and expertise relevant to your field. Offer it in exchange for an introduction to someone at one of your target organizations, and you’ll be on your way.

Eliminate information from your resume that confuses possible employers or causes them to say, “hmmm.” Don’t include jargon or acronyms on your resume that don’t relate to the target job. Don’t incorporate details on your resume if they do not identify why you are a good fit for that job. The last thing you want to do is confuse someone who receives your resume. If you are careful enough to pass the initial computerized resume review, don’t squander your opportunity by mucking up the works with a lot of extra, unimportant information in your materials.

Step by step, you’ll be well on your way to landing a job on your targeted list.

Learn how Keppie Careers can help you succeed in your job search. Contact us!

How to ensure you see what you want to see on Facebook

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Are you trying to keep up with people on Facebook, but you never seem to see their updates? Perhaps you aren’t seeing the updates from companies you want to see. Or, you want to see more of your friend’s vacation photos, but you’re seeing another friend’s political posts instead. Did you know you can influence what you see in your Facebook feed? [Read more…] about How to ensure you see what you want to see on Facebook

How to Showcase Your Transferable Skills

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The most challenging thing about making a career change is not always the obvious obstacle. Before stepping off of one career path for another, you may have thought making the time for continuing education in your already busy life would be the toughest part of your career shift. However, many people find it equally, if not more difficult, to illustrate why an employer should value their transferable skills.

For example, if your entire resume is filled with healthcare experience and you are now seeking a position in law enforcement, it is up to you to show the employer how important and relevant the skills you used in the past are for your new target jobs.

How can you be sure the employer knows you are perfect for the job? Follow the following advice to help showcase your transferable skills, and no one will question if you are qualified. 

Identify your skills. You cannot showcase your transferable skills until you know which the employer will think are the most important. What did you do in your previous positions on a daily basis? Make a list. Once your list is complete, pair skills you used with each task with job descriptions that interest you. Pay special attention to skills you can easily use in different organizations. Do not ignore your emotional intelligence. For example, are you a good communicator? Do you have a knack for leading teams? Maybe you are a great negotiator. Identify your best skills and include these on your list.

Research opportunities. Once you have your lists, plug your skills (your keywords) into job-board search engines to see what types of positions come up. For example, you may include terms such as supervise, oversee projects, or leadership in your searches. Keep an open mind and look for a pattern or type of job that keeps coming up.

Use your target employer’s language to describe your previous experience. You don’t want to make the employer try to figure out what you did in the past. Avoid jargon, abbreviations and other words specific to your old industry. Describe your background, skills, experiences and accomplishments using easy-to-understand language that relates to what you want to do next. For example, if you were solving problems, managing people and overcoming obstacles in your past job, describe that background in words your new employer will understand and appreciate.

Use social media tools to feature your expertise. One of the best things about social media is it allows you to showcase what you know and to communicate that expertise to exponential numbers of people. When you share news and information relevant to your industry, you become a go-to source. People will naturally view you as an expert in your arena, which helps fill in perceived experience gaps.

Network all the time. When you are changing careers, your network is even more important than ever because you may need to rely on someone to take a chance on you. Make an effort to tell people what you are doing. For example, attend professional networking events and take on volunteer roles. Ideally, you will be able to fill a role that uses some of the same skills you will need on the job. The best way to showcase your transferable skills is to use those skills with people who can influence your career path.

Focus on your transferable skills and put these action tips to use and you will discover how much easier it is to land a job in a new industry.

How a Mentor Can Help You Land a Job

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Finding a job does not need to be a solitary activity. In fact, it’s better when you can tap into other people’s skills, experiences and resources to help connect with an opportunity. Networking is one great way to accomplish those goals, but having a mentor is an even better way to help you land a job faster.

Who qualifies as a mentor? A mentor can be anyone willing to take a strong interest in another person’s professional success. Typically, the mentor is more experienced and connected in the job seeker’s field, but that doesn’t necessarily mean older. If you’ve changed careers, it’s possible you’ll connect with a younger mentor who has more experience and connections in your new field.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

It’s worth looking for a mentor to take on the following roles:

Suggest Strengths

Sometimes, our most marketable strengths aren’t obvious to us. A mentor can hone in on what you offer and suggest how to market those skills to be attractive to your target employers.

Point Out Weaknesses

Is a weakness preventing you from landing your dream job? Perhaps it requires someone experienced in your field to notice you’re missing a key skill necessary to win the job. A mentor can step in and help you fill in the missing pieces so you’re competitive for the job you want.

Create a Plan

A mentor can help you strategize about a plan to accomplish your goals. Whether this involves focusing on strengths or addressing weaknesses, the mentor can help guide you to your goal based on his or her experience in the field.

Offer Connections

The best mentors open up their networks to their mentees and make introductions likely to lead to new professional relationships. A great mentor can make all the difference for a job seeker, because all it takes to find an opportunity is one great connection. An experienced mentor can be the bridge to that connection for you.

Give Advice

It’s great to read job search advice, but sometimes, having someone with their personal best interest at heart makes all the difference for job seekers. A mentor can provide insider knowledge on everything related to your search. For example, how to apply, when to follow up, how to prepare for an interview and what’s negotiable in an offer.

Teach You By Example

One of the best ways to learn how to do something well is by watching someone else who’s already mastered what you hope to accomplish. A mentor can teach you what you need to know to get the job you want.

Push You to Succeed

Sometimes, you need a pep talk from someone who has been in your situation and succeeded. A mentor can give you that boost and encourage you to stick to your goals.

Inspire You

The best mentors will inspire you to be the very best you can be, which should lead to new professional opportunities.

You’ll never know how much a mentor can help you unless you try to connect with someone willing to serve in that role for you.