At a recent career fair I participated in, I spoke with several job seekers that wisely brought with them their reference sheet. The document is expected to be complete and available when asked for so it is a good idea to make your reference sheet is part of your job search arsenal or portfolio. This simple sheet of paper makes the difference of a first interview leading to the second, and an interview leading to a job offer. When developing your reference sheet, be sure of whose hands you are putting your career into.

Every time you are in the market for a new job it is a good idea to update your reference sheet. Review the list and make sure the contacts are still who you would like to represent you. If the list hasn’t changed, confirm the contact information is still current and accurate. Be respectful of the contacts by giving them a call to inform them of your job search and ask their permission to use them as a reference whether this is the first or third time you’ve used their name. If there are new contacts added to the list make sure to get their permission as well.

It is important to make sure the contacts are willing to provide references and that they know what you want from them. Talk with each one and discuss what you would like revealed by them if they are contacted. It is often helpful to make suggestions for them to use, such as a project you helped with, sales quotas you surpassed, awards you received, programs you put in place or improved, and so on.

Each contact can be used for a different area of experience, which will give employers a thorough understanding of your potential and value. One may discuss your customer service skills while another can recount your leadership or management experience and another can relay your sales, project, or technical expertise. Letting your contacts know what you’d like them to contribute will help them know what to say and not have you guessing at what positive or negative secrets they might reveal.

The actual reference sheet is relatively simple and usually includes 4 to 6 contact names, their current phone numbers and email addresses, and the company and job title when you worked together. The references can be management above you, contemporaries and colleagues, or staff that worked for you. Having a well rounded team of referrals will give employers a good idea of the kind of employee you will be for them.

Finally, make sure you keep the contacts up-to-date on your progress and aware of the outcome on your job search. Try to help them as a reference if at all possible. Don’t forget, when everything is done and you’ve landed that awesome new job,  to show your references gratitude with a thank you note or gift of appreciation.

When buying a new outfit it is first necessary to decide what you are looking before you can begin shopping. Is the outfit for a specific occasion, work, or casual wear? Other decisions include deciding on the price range and types of stores will be looking in. Will you be shopping at Wal-Mart, Old Navy or Macy’s? And what type of quality are you looking for? Every decision you make helps to narrow down your search and moves you closer to the ideal outfit for you.

Once you have an idea of where to begin your search you can start looking at the stores that you will most likely find outfits that meet your criteria. It is important to spend the time to narrow down your search either walking the malls or online. Eventually this will lead you to going into each store that fits your search and looking through the racks, talking with sales people and even trying on clothes. For me I often put things on hold at one store while still looking at other stores. If it is an important decision I often enlist a friend or sister to shop with me.

Eventually after narrowing down your search and finding a few possible choices you will check prices, sales, and warranty/return options to help make a qualified final decision.

Does this shopping excursion sound familiar to you?

If you do not like to shop for clothes, what have you gone through this process with, a pair of shoes, an antique, baseball card, computer, lawnmower, or even a house? We’ve all had to go through the purchasing process before, think back to the process you used. It wasn’t easy and may not have happened over night, but the same process can work for your job search and finding a job that is right for you.

Committing to researching employment possibilities will help you find a job that meets what you are looking for and will help you to be seen as the ideal fit for the employer. Not only will your skills and experience match but you’ll be passionate about the position because you will have worked through a process of determining what type of industry, position, location, pay range, environment preference and more to find the type of position that best suites you.

Researching specific companies that fit your criteria will lead to a successful job search. If you need help, enlist in the buddy system with a friend, family member or colleague that is also looking for work. You will keep each other motivated and on track with your goals. Remember it is a process and it will take time, but with research, commitment and motivation you will find your ideal job!

Shine on jobseekers!

I’m helping out at a Career Fair tomorrow and want to welcome anyone within driving distance of Southeast Michigan to join me at the event. I’ll be there providing resume reviews, answering questions and strategizing with job seekers – if you attend please stop by and say Hi! The information is below, hope to see you there.

EmploymentGuide.com in cooperation with AARP and WiserWorker.com are sponsoring and participating in this event. AARP is offering Branding Workshops and more than 50 employers are expected to participate. Bring lots of resumes, professional attire and be ready to smile!

Wednesday, August 25^th

9:00 am to 1:30 pm

Southfield Civic “Center” Pavilion

26000 Evergreen Rd.

Southfield, MI 48076

Hope to see you there!

I took off work a few days ago to take my mother-in-law to a doctor’s appointment. The appointment went well and after visiting for a while back at her house I headed home. We live about 50 minutes apart and being such a beautiful sunny day I decided to take a different route home. I almost immediately found myself sitting in traffic and thought I had made a big mistake!

A break finally came and I was able to make the last turn that would get me out of town and on the highway heading home. But before I had a chance to even pick up speed I saw several bicycle riders in the road. It was more than the average 2 or 3 riders you might see together. In wonder I watched as dozens and dozens of riders came out of a church parking lot.

Stopped again but this time for the riders, I was amazed to see a hearse come out and pass in front of me to maneuver into the oncoming lane. Like little ants the riders began following the hearse down the road to the cemetery. It was heart warming to see so many people riding in what I assumed was a sign of respect for a fellow rider.

On the way home I kept thinking about the deceased rider. How old was he? What had caused his departure? And most importantly, what had this rider done to deserve such respect? Most riders were in true riding gear but there were some that had older, non-racing bikes and even an older couple riding a tandem bike in dress clothes. It was pretty clear the mourners were following on bikes because of who the person he was and not what he did for a living. It dawned on me that those bikers were his network.

I thought about the job seekers I work with every day that are concerned with finding a new job but are afraid or uncomfortable to do the formal network thing to build their contacts. Often when I talk with them I hear, because of their fear, they’ve done nothing. This man had built a huge following and network through a sport he was obviously passionate about.

Job seekers can do the same. You don’t have to attend formal networking events if they make you too uncomfortable. Networking doesn’t have to be so serious. You can go out and get involved in a sport, hobby, volunteer programs, charities, church activities, town or city event and activities or some other area that interests you.

Make networking fun! When you feel comfortable you can express your passion for your work and the activities you’re committing to and you will shine, be noticed and be remembered. You don’t need to follow a specific script or spout out your elevator speech to everyone you meet. Instead, enjoy who you are with, learn about them. If they ask about you then let them know what you do and your situation without dwelling or putting pressure on others to do something.

The good you do and how you treated others will be remembered much longer than an elevator pitch. Those that remember you because of who you are will go out of their way to help you if they can. Networking is about meeting and helping others and letting others see how great you are as a person.

I’m so thankful I chose to take the alternate route home and got stuck in traffic. I never would have seen such a remarkable procession for someone who was obviously a remarkable person.

_________

Added to this article: I saw a story about this man on the news that night. He was someone who had physical impairments but had used his love of cycling to raise more than $200,000 over the past few years for various charities, while riding with only one arm and one leg. More than 200 riders came from as far away as Kansas (I’m in Michigan) to attend his funeral and ride with the hearse to show respect for their friend who had touched so many lives.

When I talk with job seekers that have been searching for a new position or transitioning into a new career the discussion of the competitive market and high rate of rejection often comes up. During these conversations I usually see three different types of attitudes emerge. I see those that those are personally hurt by every resume sent out that receives no response. Those same people also, after hearing repeated rejection, are somewhat depressed with their job search and move very slowly for fear of more rejection.

Then I talk with job seekers that have a quite different attitude. They have something cynical to say about every missed opportunity or company connection that didn’t work out. They project a tough attitude that they probably think will keep them protected but it comes across as harsh and uncaring, and if I were a hiring manager I would think it might be a hint of someone who is not easy to work with.

Finally my favorite, and the type of job seeker all others should strive to be like are those that are the gracious, helpful and thankful job seekers that resume writers, career coaches, recruiters, HR and hiring managers love to work with. They are pleasant and always try to put their best foot forward no matter what the outcome looks like.

Remember, a pleasant attitude will be remembered long after your work history.

During my conversations with job seekers I often ask what their goals are, what they have done so far with their job search, how they follow up and if they send some type of Thank You note. By far, the group that most often sends a note of thanks is the job seeker group with the positive attitude. Not only do they send the interviewer a note but they also send notes of appreciation to contacts, referrals and anyone that has helped them along the way, again – regardless of the outcome.

Talking with my clients and job seekers I meet on line and in person at networking events, social media communities and at job fairs, those that have the quickest success are those that are working to help themselves and others and those that regularly give thanks where it is due!

Many debates occur whether thanks should be given in person, over the phone, via email or hand written using snail mail. For different situations different formats are better but truly, any thank you is better than none. With more than 75% of hiring managers expecting some form of a Thank You note and only 35% say they regularly receive them, there is a big gap. In this competitive economy, every opportunity should be taken to get in front of important contacts and those that can refer you to target companies or decision makers. Thank You notes do just that.

So, where do you fit in? Are you sitting in neutral feeling a bit sorry for yourself, blaming everyone else for your unsuccessful job search or are you pressing on in your job search leaving a trail of smiles and Thank You notes? If your way is not giving you the results you are looking for, make the decision to change today and start with a Thank You letter.

As I talk with many candidates, the biggest frustration I hear is that there is no response to resumes they send out. Although many have worked hard to develop a large contact list, targeted specific companies of interest and have a specific system or plan in place to send out resumes, I find most do not follow up on sent resumes.

When I ask the question, “Have you followed up with them?” I usually get the deer in the head light stare, as if the thought is a new concept.

Don’t expect the contacts, networking acquaintances, recruiters, HR department or hiring managers to contact you. It probably won’t happen. I spoke with someone last week that had applied for a particular position and was complaining she had once again, gotten no response,  so I suggested she give them a call. Later that day I received a call from the woman saying she did contact the company and found out that for the two positions available they had receive over 400 resumes. The company also said it would be several weeks before they began interviews.

Knowing what to expect and when decisions will be made helps job seekers with the frustration of the unknown. With only 2-3% of resumes being followed-up on, this job seeker would have missed an opportunity to stand out from the hundreds of candidates that blended in with the crowd and didn’t following up. In our conversation the woman admitted she usually didn’t follow up because she felt uncomfortable contacting the companies and so we discussed how to follow up and make an impact.

The easiest and fastest route is to call to the contact you sent the resume to. Usually a response time of five to six business days is acceptable if there isn’t a specific date deadline already given in the job description. If calling is not an option I would send an email note with your resume attached. Whether on the phone or sending an email try and include a few questions and express your genuine interest in the position such as:

• Conveying your interest in the position and company with a short reason on why you want to work for them, be authentic and real when speaking with them.
• Finding out what the next step is, when interviews will be taking place and when you should contact them again.
• Asking how many applicants have applied so far so you have an idea of the odds.
• Giving your name at least one time in the conversation to help them remember your name or at least make it familiar to them.
• Determining if there is anything additional they are looking for in the candidate. If they are responsive you may have a few minutes to sell yourself to them based on what the company is looking for – make sure to do your homework before calling.
• Thanking them again for their time.

The conversation should last no more than five or ten minutes, so you don’t take up their valuable time. It may feel awkward at first, but like anything it will get easier with practice. With people being so busy and the employment arena being so competitive, following up on sent resumes is a must.

Shine on jobseekers!

A couple of weeks ago I attended an awesome presentation delivered by Bob Burg, the author of Endless Referrals, The Go Giver, and several other mindful books on learning not only successful sales skills but also how to be a business professional that others deem full of character and integrity. What I have discovered and love about Bob’s books and his presentation is that his message also works perfectly for job seekers.

Why? Because job seekers are acting as sales agents but instead of selling a product they are selling their own skills, experience and unique values they can bring to an employer. One of the many valuable points Bob made in his four-hour seminar at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan was that you can not make up other people’s minds for them. The decision ultimately is theirs. What you can do is provide exceptional information, examples and reasons why you are the right choice.

Employers and recruiters will not know you are the right choice unless you tell them. It is your responsibility as the job seeker (whether you want that responsibility or not) to get noticed by the right contacts. Sometimes that can be tricky. You have to be creative and relentless, especially in today’s economy, but if you put a plan into action it will be much easier to stay focused. Targeted contacts will get to know you not through a job board but through networking communities both on and off line and through the contacts you know and use as your trumpeters.

One way to stay motivated is to have a written set of networking and job search goals that you keep close and look at often. Keep the set of goals in your purse, briefcase, on your computer desk top or phone. Do whatever you can to keep moving forward towards accomplishing the goals.

What can you do to influence the decision makers? Give them what they want! To do this you will need to find out what they want. During Bob Burg’s seminar he advised (as he does in his books too) that if you want to develop strong referrals you must listen not talk to get noticed. With job seekers, listening involves reading articles, websites, blogs, and profiles of those that work at the company you’ve targeted. Find the influencers in the company and hang out where they do, find out what they need and are looking for and then figure out how you can be their solution.

Once you know what your target companies are looking for you can once again set goals to network with employees, recruiters and hiring manager affiliated with those companies. By participating in discussions, articles, or tweets that address and generate answers to their problems you can promote your value. Establishing common ground such as discussions within networking groups is a great way to break the ice and build a connection with contacts that can provide potential for opportunity. Even if nothing comes from the communications with the new contact you will have befriended someone in your arena – a relationship worth nurturing and maintaining.

I recently participated in an energetic and informative discussion with several colleagues from the Resume Chicks during an interview on Blogtalk Radio’s Career Success Radio program (@CareerRadio) with Australian career experts Keith Keller and Annemarie Cross. It was a fast hour that centered on two main areas of Career Management.

The first point addressed in roundtable discussion was on recommended strategies to strengthen resumes. Consensus among the group was that the resume should be extremely focused on the career objective at hand. It can not be merely a laundry list of all of your past work history but rather strategically selected keywords, achievements and successes that bring home your value proposition.

Including achievements and accomplishments that are fact-based and as quantifiable as possible will draw attention to a resume and was the second critical-must for successful resume development. For those careers that don’t use revenue or cost metrics, data such as customer satisfaction rates, time management improvements and recognition or awards works well to demonstrate significant contribution.

Using a format that is attention-grabbing, easy to read, and professional rounded out the top three resume improvement strategies. Since most resumes are looked at for only 20-30 seconds, the resume must immediately jump out and be noticed if it is to do its job properly. Developing a format that showcases the candidate’s values, and highlights the keywords and requirements the reader is looking for will generate interest and get the candidate noticed.

We also addressed social media and it’s relevance on a job search. Again the consensus was that networking communities such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and others are growing in effectiveness in an aggressive job search. Profiles or bio’s on sites such as LinkedIn allow for a deeper exposure and is often the first look recruiters take at potential candidates for a position they are looking to fill.

Currently more than 80% of recruiters use LinkedIn for research and as a database. For job seekers to utilize their LinkedIn profile it must include a strong achievement-based look at their work history and a summary that reaches out to readers with keywords to offer unique value. Often overlooked in the creation of a strong profile is the providing of a professional photograph, recommendations for current and past positions held, and taking advantage of the many applications now available on LinkedIn. Effective apps include linking your blog, twitter feed, slideshare or podcasts to your profile for maximum exposure.

Candidates’ online profiles and their resume and other marketing tools should compliment each other and should be congruent but not identical in their content. On the Career Success Radio program it was agreed that using both in conjunction with an aggressive job search is the most effective way for a candidate to land the right job. Tune in for the full interview at Career Success Radio

Shine On Job Seekers!

It is definitely spring time in Michigan! The birds have become very loud as they prepare for their new arrivals, the grass is a brilliant green and growing exceptionally fast and my gardens seem to be calling out to me. Actually I have already gone through my gardens and pulled out all of the debris left from winter and have trimmed some of the plants that need a spring pruning.

Now that I have cleaned the gardens I have a clear view of the shrubs and perennials, and can take stock of additional perennial work I will need to do and determine the best places to add cheery annuals. I began a mental list after the first time in the gardens but now my list is on paper and I hope to take care of it this week!

While working in the gardens and having gone through my annual preparation, I am reminded of my contacts list and the many similarities between networking and growing my gardens. Contacts too need long-term care if they are to support you throughout your career. Just like the individual flowers and the many small gardens I have, each contact is a little different and needs special attention to shine and succeed.

Commonalities for maintaining a healthy contacts list and garden include:

• Both are in need of constant care and upkeep in order for them to thrive and provide a return.
• Both needs the old and unused removed – to make room for more productive individuals!
• Both have perennials that will be around forever with little maintenance or ask in return.
• Both have invasive perennials that can overwhelm and choke if not restricted in growth.
• Both have dwellers that aren’t valuable but are cherished and will remain regardless.
• Both need to be shared with others in order to be truly appreciated.

As I worked in my gardens this weekend and as I am planting my annuals this week, I will make a mental list of ways to improve and grow my contacts list, the relationships I have with my contacts and ways I can help my contacts to grow, thrive and bloom.

Shine on Job Seekers

Math was never my best subject but I did enjoy parts of it. I remember always enjoying the process of factoring whole numbers down to prime factors in order to find common denominators for fraction problems (weird I know, but true). I am often reminded of the factoring process when working with professionals in the throngs of a career change. As we sort through their transition, we work to uncover common denominators that highlight their new career criteria.

Guidelines for developing the common denominators are the new job descriptions and announcements for the type of position the professional is looking to transition into. We look for skills, achievements and experiences to demonstrate these smaller fractions in a way that will peak interest in the hiring manager. Our goal is to combine the fractions to create a whole number or in a job search would equal a dynamite resume and career search strategy.

A resume developed to lead a career-change job search must bring all of the fraction fragments together seamlessly in the form of a targeted, concise resume.

Any professional contemplating a career change can determine whether they have the actual requirements for the position the same way. Using job descriptions for the type of position you are interested in, review each past position in your career history and extract all nuggets that fit your current focus.

So, identify your focus, use job descriptions to determine what to leave in and highlight and what to leave out. Build and polish your resume so that it can brilliantly stand alone as a whole number and get you the interviews you deserve.

Shine on Job Seekers!