During my time with a client, I feel like I get to know them pretty well by the time we have finished with the resume package or coaching sessions. We spend time talking about the concerns, and difficulties of their job search. The recurring comment I hear from clients is their nerves or maybe their confidence level often gets in the way when trying to expand their contact list.

Clients have many reasons why they are not aggressively seeking new contacts, getting reacquainted with old or existing potential contacts. They tell me they are not comfortable talking with people from their personal lives about their professional “problems” or they don’t feel comfortable talking with strangers in networking events. I have also clients that say they’ve never needed a professionally written resume or the need to market themselves and act as if it is almost beneath them to proactively network as a way to find their

I wonder if job seekers are missing out on opportunities by focusing on their fears instead concentrating on expanding their network and interacting more often with people. Sometimes simply working on their friendliness is a first step.

A client of mine is great example of how being friendly can lead to job search success. He is a really nice but very quiet client whose resume I have already updated on two occasions. The current focus of the resume centered on his work as an accountant but removed the keywords associated with his work in the banking industries because he was hoping to transition into a different industry.

We had just completed his resume project when he called to say his father had fallen at his home in Tucson and was going out to stay with his mom while his dad began his recovery in a local nursing home. Well, about a month later I received a call of thanks from him and to say he had found a job.

Apparently while flying home to Michigan from his stay in Arizona he sat next to a man who was a district manager from Ohio for a short and long-term healthcare facility that was in the process of opening 3 centers in Southeast Michigan. During the flight my client spoke of his father’s accident and current care, and mentioned he was in the process of a job search.

By the end of the flight my client had interviewed and had been offered a position to set up the accounting functions for the expansion project. The position would be available in a month. The timing couldn’t have been better; it would give his father time to heal enough to be transferred to a recovery facility in Michigan. The facility would one of the new long-term care facilities of his new company.

Opportunities reveal themselves anywhere and if you aren’t open – you might miss them. Prepare now by updating your resume, letting new and old contacts know of your situation and of what you are looking for, preparing networking cards with current contact information, and always be willing to talk with others about what is new in your life and theirs.

I can’t tell you how many friendly encounters of my clients have led to career opportunities. Imagine how much more successful they’d be if they planned their networking strategies. Clients that come to me for resume development or updates and are already working their network are always the clients that have the fastest success.

Shine On jobseekers!

Seal Island – off the coast of South Africa, holds up to 60,000 seals and is a perfect place to research great white shark habits. Yes, “Shark Week” on the Discovery Channel just wrapped up, but not before I watched a few shark related programs and before getting Lady Gaga’s song, “Show me Your Teeth” stuck in my head forever!

What I repeatedly heard is that sharks are intentional in their hunt and they are successful 50% of the time. Depending on the type of shark and their environment their strategies differ. They use their senses, to determine what is in the water, where it is, if it is something they want, and the best strategy to deploy for a successful attack.

Listening to the scientists and biologists describe a sharks intentional approach, sounded like the steps for a successful job search. But not just a job search, a job hunt! Just like sharks, job seekers need to know their surroundings, what their target industry is all about and how they fit in. They also need to know themselves well enough to recognize their strengths and know how to use them to effectively to find the right job for them.

As sharks use their senses to become aware of potential prey, they determine the best way to strike. Aggressive and successful candidates use their networking and investigative skills, and their past experience to find new opportunities. They then decide on a strategy that will allow them to get in front of their target, so they too can show their strengths and out shark other candidates to land the job.

What makes sharks so threatening is their relentless determination, intention and drive to keep trying, even if they are only successful in 50% of their hunts. Job seekers that are successful in finding the right job quickly, are those that either hunt down their own opportunities or use their contacts and network to generate leads. They push ahead and don’t give up but continue to be proactive in their hunt. Those that procrastinate or simply post their resume and wait for the seals to come and swim in front of them, may have to wait a long time, and may miss out on the schools of seals that are swimming just off shore. Be a hunter, go after the job you want – show your teeth!

Shine On Job Seekers!

In every step of the job search process follow-up is vital for being seen and heard, and for building relationships based on integrity. Follow-up processes begin with your success in networking. If there isn’t consistency in your follow-up actions, others may be hesitant to promote, refer or recommend you to their employers.

When someone in your network provides you with information on potential opportunities, be sure to act on it quickly to demonstrate your interest and appreciation. And, be sure to follow-up period, many don’t. More than 75% of hiring managers expect some kind of thank you or follow-up letter and those surveyed said they only receive them 35% of the time. Stand out – send a note!

Especially if the contact sent a note to you and to a potential employer, both would be waiting for your response. Every step you take will be evaluated as potential employers try to determine if you are someone worth getting to know and learn about for a possible position in their company. Could you be someone that will help their company grow? Your job is to prove you are the right person for the job by providing positive results from the onset of communications.

Once interest is established and the interview process begins

it is important for you to follow-up in order to:

• Thank each interviewer for their time and the opportunity to interview with their company.
• Reiterated your excitement and interest in the position and your true passion for the field, industry or company.
• Remind the interviewer of who you are and the value and potential contribution you can make to their team, department or company.
• Utilize another opportunity to wow them by sending a follow up that provide answers to questions they had and provides additional information on areas discussed at the interview.
• Keep communication open. Even if you don’t have the technical skills or experience required for the job, if you become a memorable candidate they might try and work you in someplace else or give your name to another department or even competitor.
• Create the squeaky wheel that is needed to differentiate you from several other potential candidates by continuing to maintain contact with the company and hiring manager throughout the decision making process.  Staying visible may give you the advantage for a call back or job offer.

Whether you are aggressively searching for a job or contemplating a change, it is important to be seen and heard in order to be remembered. Using follow-up notes, thank you notes, relevant article links or simple emails to check on the decision making process, it is helpful to stay in touch so your name and abilities are always just a recent memory away.

Shine On Job Seekers!

Weeds finally began peeking through my garden floor a few weeks ago. They usually come up just before the perennials and in Michigan it is a sign that things are finally unthawing and warm sunny days are not far away. Although weeds usually drive me crazy by the end of the summer, I am always excited to see any sign of life at the early entrance of spring.

Typical for Michigan, we have jumped from 40’s to 70’s in just a couple of weeks and the gardens, trees and weeds have exploded with life after a few warm days. I know if I don’t keep tight reigns on my gardens and the weeds in them, they will be cause of a lot of extra time and work because I let gardens slide and weeds creep in.

We have such a short growing season that everything seems to happen fast and I have learned that I become much less frustrated if I commit to spending a certain amount of time every week in my gardens, keeping an eye on the plants and the weeds. I am happier with the results when I spend frequent time in the garden nurturing the young plants and controlling older mature plants. It lets me enjoy the growth process and watch as blooms open and often close in just a few days. It helps me realize what is not working in my garden and what I am spending too much time on. It also gives me more control over the hardy weeds and lets me remove them by the root before they get too large so that I snap them and then they just end up coming back and causing more work.

Gardening always provides me with life lessons as I nurture the garden. As I work I notice the change that has occurred every few days and it reminds me of the importance of nurturing your job search just as you would your gardens. It is critical to stay active as you progress in your search, not repeatedly doing the same things but really taking notice of what is working and what is not. Weeding out the efforts that are not showing any signs of budding opportunity or those that side track you with positions that are not in line with your long term goals.

When I start a new garden I draw the type of garden I want, whether it will be a sun or shade garden, spring, summer, or fall blooms, and the style and design. I actually use a map and color in the plants where I will plant them and provide space that they’ll need in a few years and not just when they are first planted. I develop this plan so that I will know how I need to proceed as the garden develops and it keeps me on track, although these days I work with maintenance plans and try not to give in to the urge to start a new garden.

In my earlier years when I was still learning what worked in my soil, in Michigan, and what I enjoyed I would journal the progress of my gardens. I don’t need to do that much now but it was very helpful and taught me many different tricks and tips in dealing with particular plants, weeds, insects and the pesky rabbits and deer that also enjoy my gardens. I would pour through every book and magazine I could find to learn about techniques of gardening, went and saw other gardens and would talk with gardeners at length to share what I had learned and hear new ideas from them.

Just as in a garden it is important to keep track of your job search progress, seek new ways to expand and improve your search and network with others to see what works for them and share what is working for you. The more time you spend learning about the search and ways to succeed in it the faster you will be able to see the beauty and bounty of your search.

Good luck job seekers!

While watching my niece’s soccer game recently, there was one girl on her team that was obviously very skilled. This particular girl worked mostly alone and tended to be a ball hog. While she played hard it was noticeable that there was a disconnect with her and the rest of the team. When asked about her I was told that although an excellent player, her attitude and behavior toward her teammates was very negative. On the field the rest of the players had a hard time playing with her and working as a team.

My niece said because there was so much animosity the coach had begun to play her less and the team was actually playing more effectively. The team knew they should leave their personal issues and conflicts off the field but they found it hard to do. This girl was creating enemies and missing out on utilizing her obvious talents to help her team. This situation is not uncommon in the school, teams, volunteer activities and in the workplace as well.

When looking to meet new contacts, networking, and especially when interviewing being likeable and a team player can be as important as what you have accomplished or your expertise. There is an abundance of competent competition and sometimes the only thing that may help you stand out, is You – your unique personality, your friendliness and your likeability.

The key is to know that fine line that allows you be confident not arrogant when sharing your skills, achievements and expertise sounding, friendly and like a team player. Like the soccer player, working alone and trying to hard to show off your skills may not be the best course to getting noticed. Instead be sure to demonstrate genuine friendliness and the successes you have had working with others to show employers how you will fit into their culture and work environment.

How you treat others, your willingness to be a team player and your personality are things to be very aware of while you are searching for a job and while you are in a job. A pleasant demeanor is vital when you are working and it will help your employer determine if a raise is deserved, if a promotion will be yours and if a strong recommendation will be given when you look for another job in the future.

Getting along with others and being nice should be a given, but for some it is something that needs to be kept in check or it will hold them back, so be nice!

With a new season of The Apprentice beginning, we will once again be hearing and joking about the now house-hold phrase, “You’re Fired”. But for those in the real world that have to pick up the pieces and carry on after being fired, the phrase is far from common. Just like a personal breakup, professional relationships can end on good and bad terms. As the employee, the outcome will stay with you and affect your career, so it is important to handle any professional breakup, regardless of who initiated it, with professionalism.

It is understandable that emotions come into the breakup equation, but if you were fired from your job it is critical to assess how this will impact your career and then immediately begin implementing damage control to salvage what you can of the relationship and your reputation.

Clients often ask me about the best way to proceed after being fired. My suggestions usually depend on the situation but dusting off the old and preparing for the new is usually my best advice.

You can begin by seeing if you can get a positive reference from someone above you at the place you were let go. If you are not able to generate an effective letter or contact name it might be worth a small investment to contact a reference checking company such as www.alllisontaylor.com which will inquire about your services at your previous employers to see what they’re recommendation will be. It can save you in sleepless nights and the uncertainty of not knowing what they will be saying about you.

As you prepare for your job search make sure your online presence has a consistent message and relates directly to your resume and your current goals. Take time to make the necessary changes to your online and offline materials to ensure a strong branded message. Develop a motivated plan for your search  including  narrowing down the industries, companies, and location you will focus your search on and ramping up your networking.

Assume you will have to discuss the reason you were let go from your previous job. Spend some time either writing or talking with someone to get out your feelings, fears, frustrations and even anger regarding your departure. Once you’ve got it all out you can organize an honest yet positive response that isn’t dripping in spite or excuses. You want an answer that does not bog down the interviewer with details or emotions, but does leave them seeing the positive nuggets that came from the breakup which you learned about yourself. Share with them that what you learned about yourself will be valuable to your next employer.

As you look for your next job make sure the position and the company are the right fit for you. Do your due diligence to confirm that the company, culture and employees align with your personality and goals. Use your networking savvy to find contacts that can provide rave reviews and hand deliver you to your next opportunity.

Sunday was the start of NASCAR’s 2011 season at the newly paved Daytona 500 speedway. It ended up being an especially exciting opener for the fans. The weather was beautiful, the track was fast and the race was riddled with caution flags, crashes, and spin outs including a 15 car pile up.

Most of the mishaps were due to the pairing up of cars using drafting to gain advantage and speed. Drafting is when two race cars drive so close to each other that they are almost touching bumper to bumper. The leader is pushed while the vehicle in back is pulled letting both cars go faster, with just inches between them. Each team of drafters takes a turn running in the lead position for maximum use of their vehicles.

Watching how these drivers, often from different racing teams and different automotive manufacturers, work together to help each other and themselves reminded me of how effective it is for job seekers to work together.

Like the drivers who provided information and assistance to other drivers, job seekers can benefit tremendously by having a partner. Your partner doesn’t have to be in the same field or even same industry just one that is in the same job search race as you. They are great for accountability, support and keeping you motivated, and can often help you with your search by sharing do’s and don’ts of their own search.

It was pretty neat to hear the drivers talking with each other as they planned their strategies (while driving 150+ mph)and to see the notable acceleration of speed they gained by working together. And the results? Rookie driver Trevor Bayne who turned just 20 years old on Saturday was the winner of the 53^rd Daytona 500. An underdog for sure, but so gracious and thankful (and happy); it was great to see.

So, if you are plugging along in your job search alone and learning and doing everything yourself, maybe it’s time to find a partner or a group that is working toward the same goals. You can contact someone you know that is also looking for work or join a local networking group (in person or online) to find a partner.

Sharing information, victories, rejections, and fears will help you and others to realize you are not alone and your situation is not uncommon. It is will also give you tips, pointers and maybe the one piece of information you need to be successful more quickly in your own job search.

Shine on Job Seekers!

Everyone seems to have an opinion on the correct way to perform a job search. Some say recruiters are the only way for success, others swear by cold calling targeted companies and others go for the buck shot strategy and send their resume to every vaguely close job description they come across in their search. Which ever tactic is working and generating results, is the route you should use.

For those that are not having success, what I have found after talking with dozens of my clients, job seekers, hiring managers, and recruiters is that a referral by a respected employee or industry colleague is going to bring the fastest results. To make sure this happens you must first prepare and then get in front of potential referrers.

Get Prepared

For the search to be executed successfully, your written marketing material needs to be focused, concise and attention-grabbing. If your resume looks like the last 50 resumes reviewed by the hiring manager, it will end up in the seen-that pile and will never really get read.

So, preparing attractive marketing materials is a must. Once the written material is ready you can focus on your online presence to make sure it is equally ready. Your online presence is usually in the form of profiles, online resumes, professional bio’s, blog contributions, and your interaction on social networking platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook (and now BranchOut), and Twitter. Keeping the written, online and live communications consistent will help you get noticed quickly and remembered easily .

Get Noticed

Once you have your marketing materials in place it is time to get noticed. Networking is all about communicating with targeted groups of people and sometimes specific individuals to become someone they know and value.

You can search online to find live and online networking groups, industry or field based forums, and real-time social media networking such as using twitter hash tagged (#) words and chats. Doing so will begin to put your name, brand and value in front of those that will be helpful in getting your resume in front of decision makers at targeted companies. They can be recruiters, people that work at a particular company, field or industry, or maybe someone who writes about the industry.

By engaging in conversations that are professional and industry specific as well as a few getting-to-know-you conversations, you can develop relationships that will be beneficial to both you and the new contacts. As you build these relationships make sure you bring value in the form of knowledge, experience, and outside information such as blog or article links to help others in your growing network.

Get Referred

Now that you have prepared for your job search and have developed a strategic network of potential references, it is time to find contacts that can help you in your job search. This move into action shouldn’t feel unnatural and planned. Although you are intentionally seeking contacts in your targeted industry, the relationship and trust building needs to happen naturally.

As you grow your network you will be talking about the companies that others work at, positions of interest and industry information and so they will be aware of your situation just as you are of theirs. Hopefully you will be able to help others along your path in finding their next opportunity. These relationships will continue to grow if nurtured, so don’t stop working to maintain those contacts after you have found your ideal job. They can become an important part of your career management and not just help for a one-time job search.

Being honest and open will encourage others to do the same. People that do not feel pressure are more likely to help. When asking for assistance start broad by asking for suggestions, ideas or people they may know to get you closer to the decision maker in a particular company. Use their suggestions to get closer to your targets. If your contact is the person between you and your targeted employer then you will need to ask them directly to assist in delivering your resume and a recommendation. Honesty and genuine interest is vital at this time but if done right is very effective.

Communication is key. Successfully finding people to refer you and your value to targeted decision makers takes relationship building and trust, but if done correctly is the fastest way to land your resume directly in the hands of the right employer for you.  And of course, remember your manners and thank them!

If someone is considering you for a position at their company or the company they represent, they will most likely research you online as well as review your resume. A simple Google search of your name and a check for any kind of a social media presence will quickly uncover a great deal of information about you. In order for you to be recognized as a valuable asset for a company your identity both online and off should offer a consistent message.

Why is it so important to have a consistent brand both online and off? Well, if potential employers are taking the time to research you, they are hoping to find something that will make you stand out and give them a reason to contact you. They would much prefer to spend time with a few select candidates that stand out instead of online researching numerous unqualified ones.

Along with making it easier for the employer, having a consistent message in person, on paper, and online demonstrates that you are organized and understand the importance of providing a focused message. Being Internet and social media savvy will also help to highlight your communication and technology skills. Uncovering a focused presence in various mediums will capture attention and have recruiters calling.

So, if your  profiles, comments, and pictures on LinkedIn and Facebook do not match the image you want to project, make changes today to get them in line with your goals. Strengthen your brand with consistency. If you are not sure of what your message should be, find out what is expected of employees in the position you are seeking. If you are not promoting the achievements and tasks related to that position you may need to rethink what you are saying about yourself.

Decide on the message you want to convey and then repeat that message everywhere you are online and in person in order to build a strong and recognizable brand. Look to examples of well known branding such as the McDonald’s golden arches or the Nike swoosh, both easily identified even without words. Or the green and yellow of John Deere products – the colors symbolize solid, dependable products. You too, can develop a brand that will illustrate your value and help you to be easily recognized and remembered.

Shine on Job Seekers!

I was recently interviewed by a local newspaper on the importance of a clear job seeker elevator speech and the effectiveness

of having one to share at a moment’s notice. Our discussion prompted this post. The term itself was inspired by the amount of time a job seeker would have to plead their value to a potential employer if they were riding in an elevator. Usually a trip in an elevator ride lasts less than a minute and often as little as 20 seconds.

In that short amount of time is it really possible to capture attention and be remembered? Absolutely! Two main ideas to remember when developing your own speech are to first understand who your audience is and what is most important to them and secondly knowing who you are and your true value to a company. Seems simple enough but in order to make it sound simple, concise, and authentic it can take some thought to get it just right.

An elevator speech includes five parts.

Who you are and the type of work you are looking for – Depending on your audience, explain what your positioning is in your industry so the listener is clear on what you are looking for. If you are speaking with someone outside and unfamiliar with your industry you can use a bit of generalization to help them understand your current goals.

The Strengths You Want to Promote – This is where you tell listeners what you do. You can do this by describing 1 or 2 top skills you have that are sought for the targeted position, and an example of an achievement.

Some use a hook or catchy line here which will capture attention but just be careful, cute and catchy phrases can sound good on paper but are often hard to say with conviction. Make sure it sounds genuine so it will be remembered.

A success story often works extremely well here because stories are easier to remember, easier to say and can quickly capture attention. In the short story include the skills and value you use and will bring to a new employer such as an achievement that you can quickly convey.

Action Step – If the situation calls for an action step offer a business card, ask for one and if you can call them soon, ask if they know of someone they could talk with or a company that could use your experience. It is bold but can be very effective.

Trim & Strengthen Speech – Write the speech so that it is easy to say and easy to understand. Once you have the information you want to share written down, begin to shave it down and flesh out the excess so that your value really stands out and your 30 seconds of time is something that will be remembered.

Practice, Practice, Memorize, and Practice some more – Once your speech is clear and ready, read it, say it and memorize it. Practice it until it sounds effortless and then get out there and start using it.

Example – I am a senior accountant for a Fortune 500 company where I work as an analyst managing internal controls as a way to keep costs down. Last year the quality control measures I put in place in our department were used to find a discrepancy that saved the company $750,000 dollars. Would your company benefit from my experience?

You may find it helpful to create 2 or 3 different versions to use in different environments such as a networking group, social activity or a close encounter with a targeted decision maker. Knowing what your target companies and contacts are looking for and knowing yourself will help to keep the material genuine in tone and memorable.