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.

5 Tips to Make the Most of Your Meandering Work History

Each individual is different of course, but those with a history of job hopping might find resistance by hiring managers looking for candidates that will remain loyal to their company as the economy works to recover.

I recently encountered such a client who was concerned with his resume and interview options because of the wide range of jobs he has had over the past 15 years.  We discussed strategies and decided that it would be best if we identified the skills and requirements of his current job search and focused the resume on those criteria.

Passionate about the career and direction he has chosen, he wanted to do what ever he could to make sure this issue was addressed in the best way possible.

Five quick tips I offered include:

1. Determine the crucial transferable skills, experience, and requirements of the current career focus. Investigate what education, certification, skills, experience and other requirements are expected when pursuing the chosen position. Research targeted companies to uncover the culture, values and expectations of the company for further use in your resume. Check out the job descriptions on a few job boards to get the full understanding of what will be expected in that role.
2. Build your resume with the new career focus in mind. Determine which transferable skills and experiences to mine from each past position. Showcase these skills in the resume by knowing what the reader is looking for and boldly providing examples of the sought skills.
3. Show commonalities between jobs to increase the look of a strategically planned background. If you are seeking a position in an industry you have worked in before, make sure to show the total number of years in the industry to give your experience more credibility. Also, highlight the repeat use of transferable skills in your past positions such as customer service, IT, leadership, training, or management.
4. Prepare a few answers ahead of time for interview questions pertaining to your work history. First and foremost, always be honest. Be sure to communicate to the interviewer that the strength of the skills and achievements you developed has led you to your ability to succeed at the targeted position. Convey your passion, interest and excitement for a chance to work with their company or in the particular position.
5. Use those past positions to regain contacts, make new connections and build your network. A varied history can actually have an advantage over someone who has been in the same industry for 20+ years with like minded professionals. Use the diversity of your background to expand your networks and opportunities into areas that might have normally seemed too remote.

For my client and other job hoppers to succeed, use your vast experience to address the needs and expectations of the targeted position or company by building your resume to showcase your value toward those needs. What can you offer that will help them or fill a need? Promote that value and you will get noticed regardless of your job hopping past.

Lots of exciting things took place for me and ResumeWonders in 2009. I didn’t realize just how much had been achieved until I started this blog post. It was a wrap up of the year in preparation of 2010 goals and provided a surprising dose of pride when I realize all that I have achieved. Here is how my year looked.

• The business and my clientele grew for the 6^th consecutive year even with such a volatile economy.

• Earned 3-nominations for the 2009 TORI (Toast of Resume Industry) awards and won a 2^nd Place Award in the Career Change category.

• I spoke at several networking and workshop events providing job seekers with information, tricks, and tips on resume development, and job search strategies including social media venues.

• Was interviewed several times for different media programs developed by Channel 2 and Murray Feldman.

• With a little anticipation I assisted in training and leading in a 12 week, Dan Miller, 48 Days to Work You Love, career program. I assisted my friend Chad, a financial coach at PennyCoach.com and it turned out to be very rewarding for me as well as the job seekers.

• Attended the CDI Career Summit conference in October held in Orlando.

• Grew my local client base and hopefully helped many job seekers by participating in several local career fairs. Here I spoke with hundreds of job seekers educating them in job search strategies, reviewing their resumes and many times just listening to their fears at career fairs sponsored by Fox 2 Detroit.

• Was part of a collective resume writing group interviewed by The Recruiting Animal (@animal) on his blogtalkradio.com/animal internet radio program.

• Attended several webinars, teleseminars seminars and workshops to improve my business tactics, and my writing, speaking, selling skills.

• Moved my blog to www.resumewonders.com/blog which is a Word Press blog and have worked hard although not always successfully, to post new articles on it a couple of times a week.

• I’ve also made some great contacts, partnerships, and new friends during the year on Twitter and LinkedIn – both are invaluable to me and should be to you too.

Looking back over the year I realize I’ve accomplished a great deal in my professional life and my business. It gets me excited to think of the possibilities for 2010. Some of the achievements were planned goals but many were opportunities I was ready to take advantage of.

Many might be wondering, how you could write a list of accomplishments when you’ve lost your job. Well, have you volunteered elsewhere, donated time, gotten closer with kids, spouse or relatives? Have you taken up a hobby or a new health program? Have you networked and grown your contact list? Have you mastered Monster, Twitter, and LinkedIn?

Are you getting up every day and making an effort to find a paying job that will enhance your career, life and self-worth? Have you gone back to school? Did you fix the fence or read a few helpful networking books? Have you updated your resume, researched companies and sent out contact letters? All of these are achievements to be proud of yourself and written on your list of 2009 achievements.

Writing down your achievements will help to direct your new goals for 2010. What still needs to be done? What can you improve upon? What do you want to happen in your professional or personal life. Tomorrow’s goals start with today’s thoughts. So get thinking!

Although the economy remains weak as we round out the year, I believe it will start to start making a comeback during the end of the first quarter of 2010. You don’t want to miss the big wave when it arrives so make sure you are prepared and ready with your resume arsenal, a targeted job search strategy, and the determination and motivation to make it happen. Whether planned or unexpected if you prepare now,  you will be ready to take advantage of the wave of opportunity when it hits.

Shine On Job seekers!

Try Something New to Take the Insanity out of Your Job Search

I’ve gone to the same mall area shopping for Christmas presents three times in the last couple of weeks. Each time I have gone, I come home less and less satisfied with the amount of purchases I made. I just can’t seem to find what I am looking for at the stores available in that location. With just a week left until Christmas and with more than a few presents left to purchase, I decided to change my game plan.

What is the old Einstein saying; “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Well I decided to stir things up, not go insane and try and new shopping venue.

Wow! Was I excited to find new stores that had new ideas and gifts I had been looking for! I even went in to some of the same stores as the other location but they had a different variety of items to choose from and again was successful.

When the day of shopping was through, I had successfully crossed off every item on my list. I drove home thinking of how thankful I was to not have decided to give my usual stomping ground another try. Some times you’ve got to move away from routine to find the best deals.

Before you go insane in your job search, make sure to shake up your routine every once in a while. Take stock in the results of your efforts. If something isn’t working for you – try something new. Just because your friend was wildly successful on a specific LinkedIn group or networking event doesn’t mean you will immediately get the same results. Take hold of what Einstein said and try something else.

For example, if you are only working with job boards get involved in online groups in LinkedIn or one of the really great job search groups on Ning or Yahoo Groups. If you tend to visit more than network at networking groups try a new one, and develop a new elevator speech that accentuates your strengths and personal brand. Check out industry associations, newspapers, groups, or volunteer somewhere but try something new.

The most important thing to remember is to be creative and open to new ideas or suggestions, find what works for you and keep moving forward. Even with the Holiday season in full swing, now is still a good time to be setting up new year meetings and filling that pipeline with contacts and networking activities that target and work towards your goals. Keep your goals close and review them often to keep you focused and motivated. Save yourself the grief of driving yourself crazy by not trying new strategies, techniques, activities or groups to help you find the job you deserve.

When preparing for their new job search, most candidates develop their own resume or have one written for them. Job seekers often begin their search by posting their new resume on all the big job boards. To expand their network and meet the right people, networking works far better than posting on Monster, CareerBuilder or other large boards but the Internet should not be ruled out for a job search. A combination of on and offline networking and promoting works best.

Most people are not aware of the effective ways to get their resume in front of your target audience using the Internet other than the typical job boards. Depending on the industry or position you are seeking such as manufacturing, marketing, or something in health care, the ideal place for your resume will be different. Below are some different types of online locations that should not be overlooked when starting to place your resume on the web because

Your resume needs to be in front of the right target audience in order to be most effective.

First of course is www.LinkedIn.com which is a must for any professional. Period. You can develop a rich summary, upload your resume and expand your network strategically so that your resume and name gets in front of those that would be interested in what you have to offer. Joining and becoming actively involved in groups on the site that relate to your goals and interests has become a very effective strategy.

Another helpful site to post your resume on is www.VisualCV.com. This site is nice because you are given a web address and unique web page for your resume with areas that allow you to get very creative offering room for much more than just your resume.

For example it comes in handy for those that want to use provide a portfolio of photographs to showcase finished work such as architects, photographers, florists, cake decorators or interior designers. You can use the VisualCV web address you are given for your profile / web page and place it on your contact card or signature line.

A strategy candidates often overlook is locating and utilizing industry or niche job boards. Job boards are getting a bit of a bad reputation because candidates run into so many old advertisements and send their resume to job numbers or recruiters, have no way to follow up and are rarely contacted. It definitely becomes disheartening. You can get more visibility utilizing smaller niche boards suited to your industry your targeted position.

If the candidate really focuses on posting his resume in strategic locations, the process can become much more effective. Some examples would be posting a resume on industry specific association job boards or publications such as hospitality, HR, automotive or health care using online newsletters, newspapers, magazines, and associations. Find several websites related to the industry or position you are targeting and find ways to leave your mark. Answer questions or leave comments on blogs, register and place your resume on the site, find out which sites accept relevant articles and write a content rich article to share with others and decision makers that visit site.

It is your job search you have to make things happen and you might have to be curious, you might have to be creative, just find an online job search strategy that works for you and get started. If you want to get noticed by the decision makers you have to be seen.

Positioning is not only critical in a successful job search it is also essential in the ability to shift your career to the next level. Questions for candidates contemplating or already consumed in a job search should include, how do I get noticed by recruiters, by hiring managers, by the HR department, and by decision makers? The first and most important aspect to consider is how well you have positioned yourself for your new career goals.

In order to attain your goals there needs to be a shift in your personal brand to accurately position you for a vertical career move. The shift should be focused on your brand, value, resume and all career documents, and networking efforts to meet or exceed the criteria for your goals to be achieved.

How can you portray yourself in a way that makes you irresistible to your resume’s readers? The answer will come after you have researched and narrowed down the target companies and positions of interest. Do you know who your target audience is or what is the specific type of position you are looking for? Do you know what expectations will be required of you? And do you know the struggles your target company is currently facing? Answering several focused questions will give you a true understanding what you need to include in your resume campaign to position you for progression in your career.

If for example, you are trying to shift your career from a mid or senior level position and want to be considered for an executive position, your resume needs to focus on skills expected to be well developed and thoroughly articulated in an executive resume such as leadership, critical thinking, negotiation, presentation and problem solving expertise. It should also reflect a strong value proposition that will entice readers into considering you as an interview candidate.

Along with your resume, your networking activities should reflect the position you are targeting. Finding ways to communicate with the professionals that are in the same level, company or position you are now pursuing should be your main networking goal. Whether it is an off line networking event, meeting directly with a potential contact or maneuvering through groups and contact developments online, building a uniform brand will get you noticed.

Building a brand that aligns with the corporate strategy of a particular type of position or company is a step in the right direction. It will keep you focused on your goal, keep others focused on your skills and value and you can begin today.

With this weekend’s time change, Halloween and the end of another month, it dawned on me that I have less than two months to prepare for Christmas. This time of the year always reminds me of when I was having my kids (all born around the New Year). Every time I was pregnant, I knew I needed to get my shopping done early. I also knew I would probably need a little more time, just in case labor came early or I simply wasn’t feeling up to fighting the crowds and standing in long lines, when I was eight or nine months pregnant.

Now with November here I realize it is time to start my preparations for the Christmas season. For me it means getting the lists started, it is really important to me to find the right gifts for the people on my list. It is always fun and informative to check out the sales at different stores, online and even QVC for great gift ideas. It was important to shop early, otherwise all the best gifts would be gone.

If I didn’t prepare I would be running around the week of Christmas, shopping in stores with no merchandise left. The selection would be less than plentiful! I still purposely try every year to shop early so I can enjoy the season and remember the true meaning of Christmas and not just the Hallmark side of it. I wouldn’t be able to do this if I wasn’t preparing along the way.

Whether I take steps to prepare ahead of time and enjoy the season or cram in everything at the end and have to settle for what is still available, is up to me.

The same preparedness should hold true when searching for a new job. Whether you are laid off, or looking to change jobs, things move much smoother and efficiently with proper planning! It starts with lists – or an actual plan. Deciding what type of job you are seeking, searching for the right company, networking on and offline and having your resume written with deliberate focus to so it stands out and gets noticed are all part of that plan.

Do you dare face your job search unprepared? Considering we spend anywhere from 40-60+ hours a week involved with job-related activities, shouldn’t it be something special, something you’re qualified for and something you love to do? Finding the right job doesn’t happen overnight. So take the time necessary a job that fits you well. Prior preparation will let you enjoy the journey and find the right job without settling for what ever happens to be available. Not sure when to start? How about Now!

For me, the favorite part of my job is helping my clients. I think I get more excited by being able to restore confidence and helping clients to regain a solid footing in their job search, than I do delivering an outstanding resume (although that’s not bad either). When I am able to answer questions, coach, suggest options, educate on a job search process, and give these people, many who have never been in this position before, someone to talk with, is when I remember how much I love what I do. It is so gratifying to help my clients make sense of the changes they are facing and the opportunities unfolding before them.

With the different personalities types you have different reactions toward layoffs and being let go. Some need order and start developing a plan immediately to keep themselves sane. Others are a bit more carefree and so they wander unsure where to go or what to do next. There are also clients that seem to feel that being out of work is something they have to take lying down, something they have no control over.

The different types of job seekers look to me for different kinds of help. On some days I am there to hold a hand and walk them through the process and on other days I am just someone to affirm that the job seeker is on the right track. Sometimes I am just a springboard for a job seeker to hear themselves think and bounce their thoughts off of. And, there are those that have fallen off the tracks and just need a little help getting back on board and a little push to get them going – then they’re on their way, picking up speed as they go.

I particularly love when I hear a change and calmness in their voice that I hadn’t heard before. It is an “a-ha” moment for them when they understand they do have some choices and some control in what is happening to them. Even if their control is only in the ability to choose how to handle things with a certain, positive mindset. I know I’ve helped them to regain their focus and now understand what their next move is.

I love when I know I’ve helped ease the uncertainty of how to maneuver through the job search process. So, thanks job seekers, for realizing I can help – and want to help to get you moving in the right direction with your eyes focused on a target and with a plan in hand.

Shine On Job Seekers!

You’ve heard, as most of us have, that you get out of something, what you put into something. I remember hearing that from my parents, teachers and now – I find myself using similar analogies with my own kids and often, with my clients.

We all know what the economy is like right now, and how high unemployment is, so why do job seekers still think that they can just post their resume on Monster or Career Builder and expect the phone to ring? It is not going to happen. The boards yield less than 7% of the jobs found and although I make it a point to repeat these facts to my clients several times while working together, I still get those who only post their resume and then complain because of no response.

If you want to play a sport well, grow a garden, build a tree house for your kids, have clean clothes, or cook something there are several steps and processes to go through before your efforts yield positive results.

Buying ingredients and putting them in your pantry will not produce a cake.

It is vital for job seekers to work hard and consistently if they want to find and obtain the right job and career for them. Start by getting on LinkedIn – that alone offers a world of networking possibilities. Join professional associations in your field, and research and seek out companies you feel would fit your strengths, passions and goals.

Contact old friends, new friends, coworkers, past employers, past coworkers, suppliers, vendors, ancillary department workers, volunteer associates, family, neighbors, church friends, sports/kids/school friends or join new networking groups to make new contacts. Talk with people, ask about them, help others if possible and let them know about your background and current goals. The more you communicate the quicker you’ll find a job!

If you need help, unsure of what to do next – ask! People like to help other people so ask. Ask your friends or someone you know who has recently gotten a new job. Ask a professional resume writer or career coach who can point you in the right direction and has an endless supply of resources.

The more effort you put in the quicker you will find a job. It will be hard, it might take a while, and you might face rejection more than once – it is part of the process. You can do this! Give your self the credit you deserve. You’ve got great skills, achievements and experiences to offer you just have to get your awesome value in front of the right people – through networking. Keep moving and working towards your goals.

Monday’s PMA

After a week of football openers, many of my thoughts relate to the games I’ve seen. Whether revisiting the OT win of the Steelers over Tennessee, the incredible upset of the MSU Spartans with the CMU Chippewa’s winning with just seconds to go, or the incredible comeback (and almost winning) of the Chicago Bears Sunday night after a dismal first half; determination and perseverance keep running through my mind.

In each game, both teams had true talent, experience and impressive records to back them. What makes them great teams is having a right attitude. It is an attitude of confidence and not just arrogance. The confidence and determination to over come and succeed.

Job seekers can learn a great deal from ball players. Work hard off season by preparing, training, researching other players and teams and studying past games to learn and grow. With the season once again in full swing now they must push are and stay motivated regardless of the last game or even last play.

Job seekers! Follow in their footsteps! When you experience rejection – learn from it, keep moving forward and stay motivated. Have you done your pre-season preparation work? How can you be confident in your search if you are not prepared? You are in the game to win and that means doing what it takes to get noticed and make plays that will win your game!

Shine On Job Seekers!