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!

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!

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!

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.

So many new and seemingly helpful job seeker resources are popping up on the internet daily to aid in their job search. Tools such as job boards, social media communities, web groups, websites, blogs, video blogs, and more seem to have an endless supply of ideas and information. While all these web-based search tools are helpful, it is important to keep in mind that networking is most effective when done both online and in person.

Most clients I talk with get into a comfortable pattern of using one or two lines of communication when several modes of contact would be more helpful and get you in front more potential decision makers. I spoke with someone yesterday that visited her two favorite job boards every day and felt she was doing all she could online. She said she also stays after at church for an hour of fellowship and uses it to network with other members of the congregation and was proud of her efforts.

While her actions are effective, her efforts just aren’t enough. First of all, she is going back day after day and week after week to the same contact spots. The old saying of ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket’ really applies here.  This doesn’t imply that you should spread yourself too thin and not really become part of any of the networking avenues. Instead, your networking should include a variety of sources that are targeted and intentional.

You’ll be seen by more potential employers if you include social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn into a regular part of your job search. LinkedIn in particular is a fabulous job search tool with groups and search options that can be very helpful. Don’t stop at just reviewing your favorite job boards, when you find opportunities on the job boards use the information in collaboration with other on and offline pipelines to gather more information about the position. Hopefully you’ll have a few contacts that can connect you with the right people at those companies.

Consider reaching out in your community through volunteer work, industry associations, networking groups such as BNI, LBN or the many local groups that can usually be found through your local chamber of commerce. Instead of dipping into the same puddles try exploring other puddles, streams, lakes and even oceans for opportunities.

Remember it’s about who you know but more importantly, who knows you.

Get creative and discover other on and offline avenues to generate interest in your skills and expertise, or combine networking strategies in order to better research companies, contacts, recruiters, competition, and industries.

Remember to find a balance in your job search that encompasses a variety of sources while still keeping your target in sight. Don’t limit your job search opportunities by only pursuing a 2 or 3 avenues. Instead let your search be limitless and use every communication on and off line as a potential resource for new contacts. Stay curious and stay open to all possibilities for fastest job search success!

Last week I left Michigan for beautiful San Diego to attend the annual Career Directors International (CDI) Summit. The conference was an absolute success! The topics were relevant to the resume writing and career coaching industries and the Catamaran Resort was picturesque with the Pacific Ocean to our west and Mission Bay to the east. The only glitch was the weather, but the fog and cool climate couldn’t detract from a memorable experience!

Most of the participants were able to visit with old friends and meet those in person they had only spoken with via Twitter, Facebook, email, eGroups and other virtual platforms. My take-a-ways from the conference were many but the first was that I am blessed to be in an industry with so many warm and friendly people. They are true experts in their field and came to the conference willing to share and support each other during such a fun event.

Conversations varied but the focus was usually on our clients, the job seekers. Every presentation and conversation centered on how we could help our clients in their job search using new technology and social media, career related products and services, career document development, coaching on job search stages and strategies, and even our own business’s growth.

Other take-a-ways from the CDI conference included the reminder of how crucial it is to use targeted resumes and career documents that are focused, concise and aimed at a particular company or position. Teaching clients when and how to use social media in their job search was also a strong theme for the conference. Job seekers that use these mediums effectively gain opportunity, and showcase their ability to stay on the leading edge of technology and trends by utilizing platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and of course LinkedIn in their job search.

Networking effectively during the search using social media tools and career marketing documents was also reinforced. Networking begins with meeting new contacts and maintaining those and existing relationships not only throughout your job search but throughout your career.

On my way home from the conference I wrote notes on the many nuggets captured during my trip that will be used for future blog postings and products and services I can offer to assist my clients. I felt very proud as I shared some of the conference nuggets with the person next to me on the plane ride home; once again realizing that our expertise and commitment to staying current with certifications, technology and social trends really is contributing to a better economy and brighter future.

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.