Moving your Job Search out of Neutral and into High Gear

With love for my clients and true compassion for the job seekers out of work I am writing this post. I understand your pride has been hurt because you thought you were better than a lay off or being let go, some feel they have done all they can by posting their resume on a few major job boards and then expecting the phone to ring, and others in denial, decide to use this time as an extended vacation and do nothing. So, my question for theses scenario’s and the countless others is:

How’s That Working For You?

Is your phone ringing off the hook? Are people tracking you down and begging you to come and work for them? Is doing nothing landing incredible opportunities in your lap? Didn’t think so.

I am hoping this will be a gentle shaking or a  splash of cold water to wake you up to the reality that if you want to find a job you have got to be much more aggressive even desperate in your search.

Your search is about you getting a job, how you came to where you are today should not keep you from pushing forward in your search. Excuses, however valid they may feel, are only holding you back. They do not reveal your authentic self and your marketable value.

Disclaimer: Your job search won’t be easy, so expect rejection, uncertainty, and a little fear during the process but work to remain focused on the goal – finding a job. Realize also that it might take a while, but it will take much, much longer if you continue on your current course.

Think of the top 5 reasons why you need a job and what will happen to these reasons if you do not soon find a job. Write that them down and keep them in your wallet, purse, next to your bed, taped to your computer or to the dashboard in your vehicle. Make it a constant reminder of why you must stay passionate about your search.

How do you take your search out of neutral and into high gear? What ever you used to think about the job search – forget it!

Make the search proactive instead of reactive.

Research companies and find several (start with 10-20) that really feel like the type of company you would like to work for. Dig deep and find out about each company’s culture, goals, future plans, current projects and any recent changes, failures or issues that you can help with.

Continue researching these companies to find specific individuals you feel would be beneficial to meet. Use your contacts, networking groups (on and off line) and LinkedIn to find ways to connect with these targeted contacts. Prepare before you make contact with solutions and skills that you can provide to assist each contact and their company to improve, increase or expand their future.

You are doing the research, you are making the calls, you are choosing the companies and you are in control.

See the difference?

So job seekers, try something new if what you have been doing is not working. Not only is this process effective but presents you as a leader, expert in your field, go-getter, someone who knows how to find solutions and get the job done, and Someone Worth Hiring.

This week was the kick off of the 9^th season of American Idol.  Every year I say I am not going to watch it, but somehow the show finds its way on to the screen of my television. I tell myself, just the first night… to get a feel for what this season may hold.

I admit that I watched the whole show and towards the end, when there were only a few contestants left, a man entered the room for his very long awaited audition and let the panel see his aggravation for having to wait all day. He had apparently been there for many long hours nervously waiting and was tired and a bit cranky.

Well, he was given a chance to sing but the discussion afterwards quickly grew heated as Kara unleashed her anger on this man. She let him know that he had ruined his chance because of his attitude and character, and would not be going any further in the competition.

Whether I agreed with Kara’s outburst or not, and whether the young man had a good voice doesn’t really matter because the people he needed to impress in order to proceed, were not impressed. He lost his chance with the simple act of complaining.

How many times have you complained or whined to someone about your current situation or didn’t take the extra step to be nice to someone? Do you ever wonder if any of those recipients might have been missed opportunities? What if you were at a networking event complaining unknowingly to someone who knew of an opening in his department that would suit you. He could easily and understandably decide to not share the information with you because he would not want be the one to bring a whiner or downer into his office?

You don’t know where your next opportunity will come from and this should be a good reminder to be nice to others, on a regular basis (or at least until you find a new job). Watching American Idol I heard Simon and the others comment repeatedly when they thought someone “seemed like a genuinely nice person” or “have a really good vibe about them”.

Being nice in your job search and your career does matter. People might not remember your name, or what you were selling but they will remember if they liked you or not. Give it a try!

In case you haven’t heard, September is National Update Your Resume Month and I wanted to give a quick reminder to anyone who still hasn’t updated their resume. Competition is tougher than ever because unemployment rates remains very high.

Recruiters and hiring managers are getting bogged down with the number of incoming resumes they are receiving. In order for you to stand out, you need to have an updated resume that is rich in relevant keywords and provides the reader with a really focused picture of your skills, achievements and the value you offer their company.

If you are not sure if you are in need of a resume, see if you fit any of the categories below.

If the resume you’re using was typed on an electric typewriter … you might be in need of a resume update.

If you’re still using your college graduation resume 13 years and 3 jobs later … you might be in need of a resume update.

If you have an Objective Statement or “References Upon Request” on your resume … you might be in need of a resume update.

If you’re tired of getting no response from your current resume … you might be in need of a resume update.

And finally

If the list of bullets on your resume reads more like a to-do list than marketable achievements and past experience … you might be in need of a resume update.

Wednesday’s Q&A

Question: Can a smile really land you a job?

Answer: A smile is so incredibly powerful. It is proven to release chemicals that relax, it takes fewer muscles to make then a frown, and it can make or break a meeting.

Smiles are written about, sung about, drawn, worn as bumper stickers and t-shirts and are used in many quotes from the famous and not so famous including Phyllis Diller who said, “The curve of a smile sets everything straight”. It affects your appearance too, as George Eliot reminded us, “Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles”.  Do you want laugh lines or frown lines?

My favorite quote is from an unknown author, it states, “The shortest distance between two people is a smile”.

If you want to break the ice when meeting people for the first time during an interview remember to smile … often. This doesn’t mean laugh and giggle in a nervous annoyance. It means to look at those you are talking with and give a genuine smile.

When asking for help in your job search, inviting contacts for coffee or lunch to get reacquainted, meeting new contacts, networking, talking with recruiters, administrative or HR support or the hiring manager the first and most natural response should be a smile.

Smiles are a nonverbal communication shared throughout the world. Your smile is more than displaying teeth or curving lips, it is a physical change in your attitude and approachability. When a smile is received it also causes a biological response by mimicking a return smile, so if you want to make others feel comfortable S-M-I-L-E !

A genuine smile and approachable appearance will be remembered as much as your stories, experience and skills you share during an interview. Will a smile land you a job, maybe not on its’, but it can certainly be the thing that interviewers remember and may be a deciding factor at some point.

The little things really do make the biggest differences – It can’t hurt and it will actually make you feel better – try it today!

I used to love the old Patty Loveless song, “…life’s about changing, nothing ever stays the same…” Remember that song? I often find myself humming that song when I think about how life isn’t meant to stay the same. It is about how we respond and react to change. Seeing change and lots of it – in the economy and job market these days reinforces for me, that life is about change and the choices we make while change is happening.

This leads me then to think about job seekers and the different choices they make that directly lead to the success or lack of success in their job search. I talk daily with job seekers and it is easy to spot those that will find jobs quicker than others.

Success isn’t about their education or professional experience or even who they know. It is about their attitude and the choices they are making.

I love working with the client who is excited to complete work on their resume and is actively strategizing, researching and networking while we work on the resume. Their outlook is strong and positive and motivation is high. There isn’t any blame discussed and carried around like I see many candidates doing. The only thing that blame does is hold back job seekers from being productive.

They choose to hold on to the ill feelings of blame and resentment – complaining to anyone who will listen. It tells me and anyone else within ear shot that this candidate is carrying lots of baggage and treading water instead of moving forward with change and opportunity.

Instead of blaming past employers, past employees, economics, job market, government, family or anyone else they can think of, stay focused on what you can change and what you have control over. Some people naturally see the glass half empty, some learned to think this way. For those that do think this way – practice looking for the good in everything. It will help in your job search and in enjoying life in general.

Having a positive attitude while job searching will be reflected in how you address contacts, hiring managers, recruiters and those asking for your help and may determine the outcome of your search. Choose wisely and work at keeping your focus on present happenings and future goals, not on blaming the past for your current situation.

Shine on job seekers!!

With excitement and anticipation last night I watched Sunday Night Football. The pre-season game gave the new players a chance to show what they’ve got and their contribution potential, in short… their value.

It wasn’t an unforgettable game but it was just fun to watch. Usually at half time I switch loads of laundry, check emails, or click to other channels. I am glad I kept the game on and was able to catch the tribute to John Madden and his years as an energetic and passionate announcer.

After halftime, I was even more excited to see the newly retired and new addition to the announcing team, Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts. I am just thrilled he will join Al Michaels and John Madden’s replacement Cris Collinsworth, as part of the Sunday Night Football Announcing Staff. I look forward to hearing his wisdom and viewpoint every week.

Conversation flowed from his retirement to future plans and eventually landed on his relationship with Michael Vick. With the completion of his 2 year sentence at Leavenworth, Vick is working through the process of making a comeback into professional football. Dungy has agreed to mentor Michael Vick during his reemergence into the sport of football. I believe Dungy is there for emotional and spiritual support for Michael Vick the man as much as the football player.

Vick will have to prove his physical and mental strengths all over again to the coaches, players and football fans. To a new team he also has to prove he is a good fit.

The same holds true for the job seekers. Knowing you have the skills and experience is important but your “fit”, character, and reliability is even more critical to landing a new job. Watch other job seekers, watch Michael Vick, and see how vital your personality and character are to a decision maker trying to find the “right” person for the job.

Before you start applying to and interviewing with new companies know your strengths, what type of position is right for you, and what value you offer to potential companies. Research companies until you can honestly say, “This is the company for me” and then Go For It!

“I just want a job” or “I’ll take anything” are comments I hear very often as I am working with clients. I also heard this from almost every job seeker I spoke with at a recent job fair I helped out with. Although many job seekers feel this way it is vital not to say or project this feeling to contacts, networking acquaintances, recruiters and most of all during an interview.

Letting everyone know you’ll take anything will get you nothing of value.

This approach backfires for a couple reasons. First, you lose all credibility as an expert in your position or field when you remind everyone you’ll take anything. Second of all, value statements become something that sound disingenuous. Just like using an Objective Statement on a resume, you turn everything to focus on you and what you want instead of on the company, what they want and need and what you have to offer and help them.

Feeling desperate is understandable as bills come due and any job seems like a better choice than waiting for the perfect job. This might be true but you can’t face the world with this attitude. You have to convince others (and yourself) that the job you are applying for or interviewing for is the best job in the world – and your ideal job. You will be much more convincing in an interview if you put the same effort into “any” job as you would in what you think is an ideal job. Do your research, know the company and what they need and sell yourself!

Pose yourself as an expert in that position or field by knowing your stuff. Focus your resume, the stories, examples and answers you give in a networking meeting or interview on what the position is looking for. This will give others confidence in your abilities. If you don’t believe you are the best candidate for the job, you won’t be able to convince others either.

A recruiter or hiring manager does not want someone settling for a position. They will assume you will leave as soon as you find something better, not give your all or even feel bored. They are looking for someone who will fit the job and someone who wants to work there.

So – if the “I’ll take anything” approach isn’t working for you, try using a different approach that showcases your expertise and fit and see what happens!

Friday’s Free for all

Taking off early and heading to the lake for the weekend. Nothing better to reenergize than spending time having fun with those you love. For me that is spending time with my family. Always a good time – what ever the weather.

Hope you all have an awesome and energizing weekend and will connect with me next week refreshed and ready for your job search! If you have questions or want me to touch on a specific, career-related topic please send me a note or comment.

Shine on Jobseekers!!

Monday’s PMA

When I’ve worked hard at something – really knowing I’ve given my all but still things didn’t work out for me, I might be disappointed with the outcome but not with myself. There is a big difference! Knowing that I’ve put 100% into doing the best I could makes good outcomes feel great and bad outcomes feel…a little less bad.

When moving through your job search you will feel the same way. The more effort you put in, the more results you’ll have – good or bad. But knowing you’ve really tried and not just went through the motions and then complained to everyone that you “just can’t find work” will boost your confidence because you’ll be continually striving to achieve your best.

This is key because people notice a confident job seeker! Your go-getter attitude will get noticed by new contacts, recruiters, interviewers, and hiring managers you meet.

When you put all your energy into what you are doing you discover many things about yourself. You will discover what you are capable of; your strengths, weaknesses, personal preferences, ways you handle accomplishments and achievements, how you communicate with strangers at different professional levels and more. The more you learn about yourself, the more comfortable you will be with yourself and again will be reflected in true confidence.

Employers look for and hire employees that are confident in their abilities and sure of what they can accomplish. If you’ve never pushed yourself to work at 100+% capacities you might not really know… and it will show.

There is no down side. You will get to know yourself really well, build character, work harder at your job search and this will get you noticed, all of which will help you to find the right job faster.

Try this Week to Give 100% and Shine On!!

Tuesday’s Tips

For the past year college students have been hearing and probably feeling first hand the effects of the economy. Student loans are harder to get, interest rates are higher, available internships are down 20%, and stats on the staggering number of new graduates still unemployed leaves little to get excited about. So, what can new graduates do that will help them get ahead of other 2009 graduates that are also looking for work?

>>> Be Prepared <<<

Keep Your Documents Updated You’ve got to have really well developed documents including your resume, cover letter, and references, and addendums that are targeted to what you are looking for. Which means, if you are looking in a few different directions, you might want have a few different versions of your resume? As a new graduate you probably won’t have too much to change in order to make each resume specific in its own right.

For example, you might want a resume focused on your engineering education, internship, classes and projects you worked on in school. For this entry-level resume, all the information should be based on your engineering experience.

If however, you’ve been an assistant manager and manager in an ice cream store on campus for the last 3 or 4 years and want to have a resume focused on your management experience, then all the information in the resume should focus on management. You might include classes in management and business or communications.

Remember also to highlight any other involvement including volunteer positions you have held, that can showcase additional management skills. Don’t forget to change the cover letter to match each resume you develop and can even be tweaked for each job you apply, for maximum affect.

Keep Documents Together When going to interviews bring a portfolio to hold your resume, cover letter, references, addendums, college transcripts, and all relevant academic, social, sport and volunteer related awards and achievements. This will keep you organized and will show employees you are motivated and ready to move forward.

Another great tip that helps new graduates throughout their entire career is to keep a box, file, or drawer designated for your achievements. Throughout your career you’ll work on really impressive projects, programs, products or deals that you’ll want to showcase in future resumes. While working on them they are all consuming and you can’t imagine not retaining all the facts and figures, but in a few years after several more “big” deals, the details might start to fade.

So keep records. With the job market how it is today, if you are let go you may only have 20 minutes to pack up your belongings. Not having access to those facts and figures could be a regret down the road. You won’t have to use exact figures if you feel a conflict in confidentiality, but you will still be able to use the information for effective achievements.

Start Building a Solid Contact List Networking accounts for more than 80% of current job hires. Building a network of contacts will help with future job searching and quite possibly enhance your career performance.

The list will evolve as you meet new people, land new jobs and grow. Keeping a current list will make it easier to weed through potential contacts later when unexpectedly needed. Having a current list keeps people that could be potential mentors, coworkers, employees, or someone you can help close. Your list can have contact names, phone numbers, place of employment, industry and field of employment, email addresses, and anything else that might help later.

Building your list will not only help with your job search but might also be a viable resource during your working career. It makes for a fast and detailed reference list of vendors, suppliers, mentors, trainers, and other assistance you may need to succeed at a job.

As young professionals with so much to look forward to, there is also much to learn as you graduate and begin your career search. It can be daunting, confusing, scary, exciting, and long, but make it a true learning experience. Keep these tips in mind to help you stayed prepared, organized, connected and ready for the next awesome opportunity.