Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Don't Skip the Cover Letter

By

There are some career advice professionals who downplay the need for a cover letter. With many companies scanning resumes, they say there is no need for a cover letter, as it is stripped, tossed and never read. It may very well be true that some cover letters, no matter how carefully crafted, do not reach human eyes. However, the following information passed along by my cyber friend, Chris Russell, may make you think twice about omitting a cover letter.

A new survey based on telephone interviews with 150 senior executives from the largest U.S. companies shows that 86% believe that cover letters are valuable when screening candidates and 80% said it is common to receive cover letters with electronic resumes.

Dave Willmer, executive director of OfficeTeam, the independent organization that conducted the survey notes, “Those who aren’t including cover letters with their resumes are missing an opportunity to make a good first impression and set themselves apart from other job applicants.” He compares sending a resume without a cover letter to meeting someone for the first time and not shaking hands.

Clearly, the cover letter is not dead. It can never hurt to send a well-written cover letter when applying for a job, and many jobs request a cover letter to accompany the resume. Stay tuned for more about writing a great cover letter!

Read more about cover letters from Keppie Careers:

Cover Letter Tips
Cover Letter Inspiration

Don’t stress out about your job hunt materials…We will write your resume and cover letters and teach you what to do once you have the perfect materials! www.keppiecareers.com.

Networking – Something You Do or Something You ARE?

By

Earlier today, one of my Twitter friends, life/brand strategist Walter Akana tweeted an intriguing question. He asked: How do you keep your networking skills continually refreshed?

My answer: I try to think of networking as a way of BEING instead of something to DO.

Another Twitter friend, Megan Fitzgerald, an expat career and entrepreneur coach, replied: I think networking is about giving (form of doing?) Using your brand to help others. You could say BEing of service.

I love the synergies Megan creates between doing and being…I think these are terrific ways to think about networking for job seekers.

Of course, I advise my clients to network. We talk about “netweaving” – the fact that networking is about relationships. We talk about how to practice to work a room and the fact that everyone is a great networking connection, because you never know what you may be able to offer a new contact and what he or she may be able to offer you!

I think the most successful networkers are those who aren’t necessarily looking for something, but are focused on the fact that networking is something you can try to become…Become a connector, someone who likes linking people together for their advantage.

In his book, The Tipping Point, author Malcolm Gladwell defined connectors as “people with a truly extraordinary knack of making friends and acquaintances.” In our digital, Web 2.0 world, success will depend more and more on our ability to broaden our professional circles and to reach out to a diverse socio-economic group of people representing a mix of opinions and beliefs. Professionals who habitually introduce people who otherwise may not meet earn goodwill and reputations as valuable resources and colleagues.

In his book, Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi says, “…Community and alliances will rule in the twenty-first century…[success is] dependent on whom you know and how you work with them (291).” He asserts that living a truly connected life is a prerequisite to success. For example, Ferrazzi mentions that Crain’s 40 Under 40, a list of rising stars in an array of fields, aren’t necessarily the best businesspeople. Instead, he suggests that they are probably the best connected businesspeople.

The value of connectedness is never more heightened than during uncertain economic times. Anyone who has been reading the recent “how to recession proof your job” articles and blogs will realize that they inevitably share one common piece of advice: Network for career success.

When networking becomes you and inspires you to act on behalf of others, you’ll know that you are achieving true networking success.

We can get you on the road to true networking success by teaching you how to approach networking, writing your resume and helping you every step of the way! www.keppiecareers.com.

photo by cascadefoto

Pin Credit and Blame – Accountability and Your Job Hunt

By

Accountability.

Wikipedia defines it (in part):

Accountability is a concept in ethics with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as answerability, enforcement, responsibility, blameworthiness, liability and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving. As an aspect of governance, it has been central to discussions related to problems in both the public and private (corporation) worlds.

Ultimately, focusing on accountability pins both credit and blame where it is due.

What does it have to do with your job hunt?

When you are in the workforce, typically you are accountable to someone. There is a supervisor or board of directors overseeing what you are doing and offering guidance, constructive criticism and an incentive to get the job done.

A lot of people
need to be
accountable
to someone (else)
in order to be successful.

This (in part) is why some people are not well suited to striking it out on their own in a business or may not be successful working at home. Without someone to oversee their work on a daily basis, they are not as successful. In a job search, most of the time, you are only accountable to yourself.

Here are 5 tips to help you hold yourself accountable in your job hunt.

And 1 tip if you’d rather not.

1. Set achievable goals. Clarify your expectations. Look at your job search in the context of your life. If you are job searching full time without other responsibilities, you should be able to set the bar higher for what you can realistically achieve. If you are still working or responsible for your children full time, your goals should reflect that reality. Decide how much time you can spend on your hunt and focus most of that time on networking (in person and online).

2. Track your progress. Hold yourself accountable to your goals. Personally, I love a check-off list; make a list of things to do and check them off as you go.

3. Give yourself incentives. We all work best when we have incentives. You went to that “work the room” event that you knew you’d hate? You even talked to three people (your goal number)? Give yourself the afternoon off the next day!

4. Consider getting a job search buddy. This can be an in-person contact who goes to networking events with you or an online contact to commiserate about how long it takes to hear back from employers. Consider joining Secrets of the Job Hunt Network, a social network for career professionals and job seekers. You can message other job seekers and also view posts by career professionals. (I’m a regular contributor.)

5. Note your successes and less than stellar performances. I have a client who charts his performance in interviews in order to learn from his mistakes and repeat his successes. Focusing on what you are doing well and learning from your mistakes will help keep you accountable to yourself and keep your job search moving forward.

So, you’d rather not hold yourself accountable?

One tip for you – hire a coach to guide you through every step of the way! You don’t want to update your resume for each job? Cover letters bore you? You’re not sure what you have to offer or even where to start with your search? I am here to help encourage, enlighten and empower you for success in your job hunt. Contact me at [email protected].

Don't Wait Until All the Berries Are Picked!

By

Picking Strawberries Again

photo by captpiper

Have you ever wanted to do
something but waited too
long and it was too late?

This happened to me this week. I had planned (by planned, I really mean thought about it and decided it would be fun) to go strawberry picking with my boys. Although it would be hot (really hot), the idea of having a productive day in the sun, resulting in lots of juicy, not-overly expensive strawberries seemed like a great idea.

To make a long story short, I waited too long. The strawberries are all picked over. It’s not even worth going now. But, blueberries are in season soon! You can bet that I’m not going to miss out this time. I’ve already penciled in a blueberry picking time – right as the season starts.

Blueberry picking
photo by eltjoport

Even the best intended plans sometimes go astray. My problem? I didn’t focus on my goal (mmm…strawberry shortcake, strawberry shakes, strawberries and cream…) and my idea never actually became a plan. When a job hunt is at stake, the results are more important than a lack of strawberry treats. A new job isn’t going to come knocking on your door any more than a bale of berries was going to start growing in my yard.

You need to plant the seeds –
make a plan to get things moving
in the right direction for your career.

Are you someone who planned for a “new career for a new year” back when the ball dropped and 2007 turned to 2008? If you are, I hope you aren’t letting someone else pick all of your berries! It’s hard to believe, but 2008 is almost 1/2 over.

If you haven’t focused on your hunt, you’ll be right where you started when 2008 becomes 2009.

What is holding you back from making a positive change in your life? Even if the strawberries are all gone, you still owe it to yourself to make sure you have a fruitful career! Keppie Careers can help by walking you through every step of your job hunt, from writing your resume to negotiating the offer: www.keppiecareers.com

Don't Try to Grow a Bigger Ox and Your Job Hunt

By

Musk Ox of Alaska

photo by drurydrama

So, you’re wondering what a bigger ox has to do with your job hunt?

Today’s post was inspired by a quote from Peter Shankman, author, PR guru and owner of the list “Help A Reporter Out.” Today, his email reads:

In pioneer days, they used oxen for pulling, and when one ox couldn’t budge a log, they didn’t try and grow a bigger ox.” Peter says, “When one pitch doesn’t work, sending six more of the exact same pitches usually won’t, either.”

Peter’s focus is PR – pitching stories to reporters or other influencers in hopes of achieving good buzz for a client or product. I’ve often written about how a job search is an exercise in marketing and PR, so the jump from a focus on a “pitch” to thinking about your job hunt is more of a hop than a leap.

If you’ve been sending out your “pitch/resume” and haven’t been getting the response you’d like, consider if your plan is as effective as trying to grow a bigger ox. Sending and re-sending that same resume is not going to help you get anywhere but frustrated. Most likely, a revision (maybe a transformation) is in order!

Throw in some great networking and interviewing tips, and you’re on the right path.

Keppie Careers can help you get your job search moving! www.keppiecareers.com