No doubt, you’ve seen and heard stories about how software, not people, reads your application when you apply for a job. Known as the “applicant tracking system,” or ATS, this software is programmed to look for keywords and phrases in your resume and to select applications belonging to presumably qualified candidates. [Read more…] about Why you are not getting a job
Are you telling your own online story?
I was watching one of the Sunday morning political shows this week, and I couldn’t help but be inspired to write about some of the topics they discussed that mirror personal and professional issues we all face. [Read more…] about Are you telling your own online story?
How to find a job — stop competing and start excelling
Everyone wants to know the job search rules.
- How long should my resume be?
- What should my cover letter say?
- When is the right time to follow up?
- How do I introduce myself in a networking setting?
- Do I list “job seeker” in my LinkedIn heading?
- Should I use Twitter? How often should I tweet?
The list goes on and on. The short answer I tell all of my clients? “There’s no one *right* way to approach a job search.”
It’s not difficult to find many answers to the same question. Experts disagree about how to write resumes, respond to interview questions, what to put in LinkedIn profiles and how to use social media. Ask 5 people a question about job hunting and you may very well be bombarded with 10 opinions.
This month, the Career Collective (a community I co-coordinate with my colleague Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter) addresses the question of job search “rules” and outdated job search beliefs. What are the job search “rules” so we can know which ones to break? The short answer: While there are guidelines and best practices, there are no “rules.” What works for you is not right for your neighbor, and your colleague needs to follow a totally different path to success.
This is frustrating for job seekers. One approach? EMBRACE the system instead of raging against it. Is it fair? No — job seeking is not listed under “fair” in Webster’s…it is anything but! (Plus, how much harder would it be to land a job if there was a rule book everyone followed?) The nature of selecting candidates is discriminatory: the organization has a set of criteria, combined with personal biases, personality considerations and individual impressions. Hiring someone with the “right fit” for the job is as nuanced as it gets.
So, an oxymoron for you: If there are no rules, what rule do I suggest you break?
I was inspired by my friend Laurie Ruettimann’s recent post, “On Competition.” I’d be hard pressed to find a job seeker who doesn’t obsess about the fact that he or she is competing with the hundreds of other job seekers targeting the same positions. It’s overwhelming to consider the statistics of job search; it can be paralyzing and depressing to think about all the other people out there trying for the same position.
Consider this – instead of competing with everyone else for a job, focus on demonstrating exactly what a perfect fit YOU are for the position.
Laurie outlined her take on competition:
“I am unique and wholly differentiated from anyone else in the marketplace. I know that I don’t have competition — and neither do you. Time spent obsessing about your mistakes and worrying about your competition is time that is taken away from being your best and learning from your mistakes.”
“There is no competition when you believe in yourself and you act on your abilities. When you stop viewing success as a zero-sum game, people become partners instead of adversaries.”
“Stop competing” is not an easy “rule” to break; it’s too obvious to focus on how to beat out everyone else for the job. Some action steps:
– Focus on what you offer as it relates to the targeted positions. Think long and hard about why you are the best person for the job and do what you need to do to convince everyone else. Identify best practices that make sense for your job search and invest in them.
– Since you are the best candidate and well differentiated, don’t spend all of your time obsessing about job search. Use that extra time to focus on how you can help colleagues and other job seekers. Think about what you can do to create a team of partners instead of adversaries.
You may be surprised by what happens when you shift your focus.
If you’re serious about differentiating and highlighting your strengths, I am launching a new service to help job seekers and entrepreneurs own their digital profiles. Don’t have your own website? What are you waiting for? Learn how you can help control what people find when they Google your name.
I encourage you to visit other members’ responses listed below. Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.
Juice Up Your Job Search, @debrawheatman
It’s not your age, it’s old thinking, @GayleHoward
Want a Job? Ignore these outdated job search beliefs @erinkennedycprw
Job Search Then and Now, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes
Break the Rules or Change the Game? @WalterAkana
The New: From The Employer’s-Eye View, @ResumeService
Job Search: Breakable Rules and Outdated Beliefs, @KatCareerGal
Job Hunting Rules to Break (Or Why and How to Crowd Your Shadow), @chandlee @StartWire
Shades of Gray, @DawnBugni
3 Rules That Are Worth Your Push-Back, @WorkWithIllness
Your Photo on LinkedIn – Breaking a Cardinal Job Search Rule? @KCCareerCoach
How to find a job: stop competing and start excelling, @Keppie_Careers
Be You-Nique: Resume Writing Rules to Break, @ValueIntoWords
Modernizing Your Job Search, @LaurieBerenson
Don’t Get Caught With an Old School Resume, @barbarasafani
How Breaking the Rules will Help You in Your Job Search, @expatcoachmegan
Beat the Job-Search-Is-a-Numbers-Game Myth, @JobHuntOrg
25 habits to break if you want a job @careersherpa
photo by alancleaver_2000
5 things to do if you need to look for a job
Yesterday, I joined Steve Boese and Shawna Moerke on their online, call-in radio show, HR Happy Hour. The show focuses on current topics in Human Resources with leaders and experts in the field. I participated because this week’s show featured The Career Summit – a series of online webinars aimed at helping job seekers (and prospective job seekers) achieve their goals.
During the show, Laurie Ruettimann, one of the masterminds for the Summit, asked fellow guest Ryan Paugh, Community Manager for Brazen Careerist, a great question. She asked what he would do if he were looking for a job today.
Listening in, I started to think about how I would answer that question in a sound byte. I answer this question with clients every day — helping people decide what to do when they are ready for a career change is my business. What’s the “quick and dirty” reply?
1. Identify what you offer. Figure out your value proposition as it relates to the market. Practice explaining how your accomplishments and experiences support your ability to solve specific problems.
2. Research target organizations that will value your skills and expertise. Find organizations who have problems you can solve.
3. Create materials that target your ideal organizations and opportunities. This includes a focused resume, an optimized LinkedIn profile and a totally professional social networking identity.
4. Connect, connect, connect. Use best practices for social networking. Expand your network using Twitter/LinkedIn/Facebook. One best practice: give before you get. There are many steps to help you succeed with online networking, but knowing what you have to offer others is an important first step toward success.
5. Keep doing it! Hopefully, the more you engage with others, both in person and online, the better you will get at doing it successfully.
These are some of my first steps for job seekers. What ideas do you have?
(You can listen to the whole HR Happy Hour here.)
If you are looking for a job, you may also want to check out 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 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.
photo by bellybouncer
Looking for a job? The Career Summit is for you!
I am excited to announce that I am participating in a big event — and you can join us! The Career Summit is the brainchild of my friends Mark Stelzner and Laurie Ruettimann, two highly respected and smart, sought after voices in the HR and careers sphere. In addition to Laurie and Mark, The Career Summit brings together more than 20 experts in all different career arenas, including:
Career columnists like Anita Bruzzese (USAToday), Sarah Needleman (Wall Street Journal), Vickie Elmer (Washington Post) and Alison Doyle (About.com).
Recruiters, including Heather McGough (Microsoft), Jeremy Langhans (Starbucks), Richard Cho (Facebook) and Susan Strayer (Marriott Intl)
Authors, such as Alexandra Levit and Jonathan Fields.
Coaches, including Paula Caligiuri (professional career counselor), Alison Green (career advisor with non-profit expertise), Jason Seiden (executive coach) and Jennifer McClure (business process coach). I will cover resumes and job search/social media coaching in my session!
Plus, Mary Ellen Slayter (career advisor and senior editor, SmartBrief), Ryan Paugh (Community Manager for Brazen Careerist) and Susan Joyce (Job-Hunt.org Job Search Expert).
Wow! I’m excited to be in such great company.The point of all of this is to provide useful, actionable information to job seekers and people who may be starting to think that they may want to start looking for a new job or career.
(Maybe that is you?)
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. (That one is mine!) You’ll need to visit the site to review all the great workshops; there are 13 sessions! It’s all available online, both live and in archives if you miss something. There’s even an online community; you can interact there as much or as little as you want.
The site explains:
You buy one ticket and you have access to 13 sessions covering all aspects of job seeking and career management. The difference is you have control – you can access the information live, or whenever you like, since it’s all online and archived. Live sessions run between October 26th through November 17th. General sessions will be held every Wednesday, between 3 and 6PM ET.
You get invitations to all of our career expert sessions which you attend online. If you miss anything, log in to your account and access the session archives. We will record everything so you will have unlimited access to the classes. You can go back and listen at your convenience.
Why THIS summit? Because it’s the one-stop shop for the most relevant career expertise in the market today. There is a lot of “career expertise” floating around out there. We used a tough and cynical eye to handpick the experts we thought were most helpful and actionable – given today’s economy, given today’s social networking environment, and given what’s coming next. Check out our agenda to see what we’re talking about.
Sounds good? You really can’t lose, especially with early-bird pricing. You get all of this, plus bonus materials and a chance to win a career makeover for only $99 if you sign up soon!
Learn more by CLICKING HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.