My new client Sandy called me recently with a question about knowing whether her skills can be used for a position in a different field. She feels it would be a good move for her and loves the idea of the new position, but has no idea if the move is possible and if it will offer a similar (or higher) salary and benefits to what she currently is receiving.

Sandy’s question was, “How can I know that I can make the change successfully?” Unfortunately there are no guarantees with any career change or in life in general. But I told her that she can prepare through research, to eliminate as many roadblocks as possible; which will give her a clearer understanding if the move is right for her.

I suggested to Sandy that she start with research to see what was needed for her new targeted career choice in order to find out if she currently meets the requirements of the job. This will be her first hurdle. If Sandy meets the requirements, great! If she doesn’t, what will it take to get there and will she want to make the commitment to meet these requirements? All things she’ll have to answer before moving forward.

Next step is to research the position and see if the salary will meet her expectations and what benefits are usually offered. If the salary is within Sandy’s range, she can move forward and develop a targeted resume to focus on the desired position. With continued research she can begin making tactical connections within the industry to find out more about the industry, prospective companies and to build a network that will benefit her career goals.

LinkedIn and its’ related groups are a great first step, joining associations and local affiliations within the industry will help too. The more Sandy becomes part of the niche community the more she will be able to build relationships and zero in on companies that will provide the job she is looking for.

This process can and should begin before Sandy leaves her current job. The preparation may take only weeks or it could take months or longer. Learning all she can about the position, industry, and building a related network will greatly help to make a smooth transition when the time is right.

Many of my clients are working in environments that have changed drastically in the last 3 years. Teams and offices that once employed 8, 10, or 12 employees are currently doing the same work but with only 4 or 5 people. The remaining employed staff members are expected to do twice the work while often being “asked” to agree to a pay cut. Sound familiar?

These remaining employees have done an incredible job maintaining sales, production, and service levels but at a great costs. My clients in this position have confided that their mental and physical health as well as their relationship  with family and friends is being affected by the stress and long hours. They often say because they currently have a job that supports their family or lifestyle and so they actually feel guilty looking for work, but can’t take the pressure any longer.

Three recent clients that come to mind, the first told me “I woke up and decided I was done”. He walked in to his office that morning and resigned from his position, collected his personal things and decided to move to another state and look for work there. No plan, no preparation. Most people can’t take this route if they have families that need to be included in the decision. For him it was a fresh start and that excited him. However, he has taken on 2 part time jobs in his new state to meet living expenses while  he continues to search for a position that meets his true career goals.

My second client stayed with her position while she worked with me to prepare her resume materials and got caught up on her job search and networking skills. When she had completed her efforts with me she felt she was ready to quit her job, which she did. She immediately began her full time job search, to which she was extremely successful, landing a new position in just 3 weeks. She had planned, prepared, saved money, and was ready for the challenge; getting her ducks in a row before leaving her company and position.

My newest client, a single mom, has a very detailed plan and time line for her transition. She plans to relocate with her 2 teenagers to another state before the start of school next fall and must have a new job by then to make her plan a reality. We are working to update her resume materials to include a Masters Degree she will be finishing up next month and to really target the type of position and company she is looking to work for. I have no doubt she will have a job waiting for her when she moves later this year. She has already contacted recruiters, developed an extensive network and joined geographically local groups on LinkedIn and Facebook and has plans for a 2^nd trip to the new city next month to talk with people she’s met and visit with a few directors for companies she is targeting.

All three of these job seekers were at jobs that kept them working well beyond 40 hours a week and often closer to 60 hours in order to manage their work load. They felt very guilty for wanting to leave their jobs when so many others were desperate to find work. And all three still needed to work to support themselves and their families, but have finally came to the realization that finding a new job was doable and would restore some kind of balance back into their lives.

Whichever route you take, don’t let guilt hold you back. Remember, when you find a new, better fitting job there will always be a candidate or two that will be thrilled and grateful to step into your old job. I would however, think through your decision so you can successfully prepare for the changes that will come with your decision to look for a new job.

Shine On Job Seekers!

I spoke with a senior manager in HR earlier this week and listened to another account of a candidate that talked himself out of a job. Why would a candidate talk themselves out of job? Well, I’m sure they didn’t do it on purpose and they may not have even been aware of their own self-inflicted sabotage. Many job seekers ruin their opportunities for landing terrific jobs simply by talking too much during the interview.

People that talk too much during an interview usually fall into 1 of 3 categories; naturally talkative, nervous talkers and those that think more is always better.

For those that are naturally talkative, they probably know they talk a lot. They were the kids that got notes sent home for talking in class (yep, that was me) and can be found in line at the grocery store talking with perfect strangers. You know who you are and know you can talk easily with most people, sometimes too easily.

The nervous talkers just start talking and get out of control providing way too much information and hoping they’ll eventually say something of value. Nervous talkers tend to talk just to hear something and so as not to hear the silence that is normal in an interview. Both you and the interviewer need time to digest what has been said and use it to formulate a new question or response. Silence is fine, but for those that get nervous, silent can be your worst enemy. Being aware is half the battle.

Finally there are those that just think more is always better. Their answers are 10 minutes long with most of the information given being irrelevant or even damaging. They think if they tell everything, good and bad, then they’ll have a better chance of hitting the mark and being remembered. Wrong! You’ll be remembered, but not for what you had hoped.

There are many reasons why excessive talking can be so damaging. Regardless of why you talk, if you are rambling on without getting to the point it can say a lot about you. The interviewer will have to work hard to follow your tale and hopefully understand why it took so long to get to the point. They may wonder if this is an indication as to what your job performance will be like. Or if your talking reflects your communication skills and how you might interact with team members or staff in a supervisory role.

The worst part of talking too much during an interview is the extra information (potential ammunition) you give to employers. It is important to be honest and answer questions you are asked but your answers should remain focused at all times. For example, if they ask you a question on office politics don’t give an answer by indulging in past office gossip or talking poorly of coworkers or your boss. Answer the question and stay on topic.

The best way to keep control over what you might say in an interview is by preparing before the interview ever takes place. Write out answers to 20 or 30 of the most common types of interview questions. Use specific, concise examples in answering the questions but don’t let the answers be more than a couple of minutes long. If you have a few touchy spots in your past, make sure you work on how you’ll honestly, but positively, answer those questions. Practice your answers so that you’ll easily remember the answer when asked in an interview and therefore you won’t need to think out loud or let your nerves get the best of you.

I know I’ve written often about the importance of preparation but it really is critical to all parts of your job search, most importantly your interview success. Learn about the company, prepare answers to many types of interview questions and make sure to really listen to the questions asked. Then take a minute to collect your thoughts so you can give a focused and detailed answer that shows your expertise and preparedness. Being prepared helps you to stay in control, and talk yourself into a job by providing confident, concise answers for sure success during an interview!

I got a call from a client last week. We worked together three years ago to develop a targeted, content rich resume that was appealing to employers looking for Project Management candidates in the Industrial Construction industry. He was successful in landing several interviews and accepted a job just seven weeks after we finished working together. It was nice catching up and hearing of his successes and challenges since we last spoke.

We eventually came to the reason for his call. He was concerned with the security of the job he is currently holding. The recession is taking a toll on his company and since he has only been with them three years he was unsure he could hold on to his job if they did a second round of layoffs. He called to see if we could update his resume so he would be prepared should something happen.

During our conversation we talked about what he could do now, at his current position, to improve his odds of staying with the company which he truly enjoys working for. We discussed many ways to stay competitive or even ahead of his coworkers and hopefully promote enough value to keep his job.

Here are some of the suggestions I offered him.

Realize as an employee, that career management is an ongoing endeavor. An employee must continually work to manage his career and stay competitive if he wants to outlast his coworkers (competitors). This includes communicating, researching, and learning about his industry, economy, position, competition, community needs and anything else that will help him remain current and even looking to the future in his position. Over the years it is easy to get busy or complacent but staying curious will help to keep you motivated and meeting new people.

Staying active in your industry and meeting new people will help to grow your network and maintain your existing contacts throughout your career. It is a great way to keep your contacts aware of you as well as your strengths, skills, and value. Keeping your ear to the ground helps you stay on the cutting edge in your industry.

Additional things to do to stay motivated, excited and curious and let others see your value are to ask questions, take classes, and get certified. Keep your strengths high and your expertise fresh with ongoing professional development. It will also pay off to work harder than others in your office, department or company. This might mean putting in more hours, taking the undesirable projects, and providing suggestions and improvements that will get you noticed. Working hard and letting your results speak for you, will get you noticed and hopefully keep you employed.

Career management should not be lost sight of, but should be ongoing throughout your career. Staying on top of your industry, working hard and staying motivated will definitely improve your odds of keeping your job. But unfortunately in some cases even this may not be enough. Then, is your hard work all for not? Absolutely not. Instead, it will improve your resume and success stories, and give your employers a great deal of content to include in your referral. So strive to be the best you can be, it will be worth it!

Shine On Job Seekers!

A resume that only provides a summary of your career history and is not strategically developed to capture attention and highlight your value, will never get a second glance in today’s highly competitive job market. Effective resumes should read like a marketing document with the words jumping off the page.

Keywords are attention grabbers, easy to locate and read, and help to provide information on the skills, experience and value you offer. Whether in a column, table, separated with commas or sprinkled throughout the resume, keywords are most effective when they are specific to a position, field and industry.

If you are unsure of what words best fit the position you are seeking, look through several job descriptions that fit your targeted position to see which keywords are used most often and which skills and requirements are being asked for. Identify these keywords and incorporate them into your resume.

The use of keywords in your resume and other marketing tools is important because they help the resume fit accurately into a particular job, industry or company. Keywords are also vital when applying for a position online. If you have ever used your resume to apply to an online application form, it was most likely scanned and placed in a database by the company or recruiting firm. Tracking system software varies but in many systems data is collected and used to weed-out ill fitting applicants. The closer your resume matches the keywords, phrases and need of the position, the more likely your application will get noticed.

The key to using keywords correctly is to embed them throughout the resume so that they are picked up by tracking systems but also make you very appealing to hiring manager, recruiters and the decision makers that will also read your resume at some point during your interaction with a potential employer. Used correctly keywords will be key to bringing you attention and interview offers.

Shine on Job Seekers!

Your resume is a marketing tool and is most effective when it is custom designed to attract a specific target audience and make you shine! Looking at what is important to potential employers will help determine what to showcase and what to weed out in your marketing tool; creating an irresistible resume.

It is like a puzzle, you have to know what the picture is before you can begin building the frame and filling in the missing pieces. The picture for you is your focus, your current career target.

A good first step to identifying your unique puzzle picture is to evaluate your personal, professional and financial likes and dislikes and strengths and weaknesses. Discovering what you are best at, what is most important to you and what you most enjoy doing, helps to determine the type of position you will consider a target position. Review job descriptions that interest you to help better understand the skills, experience and achievements required to develop a solid frame for your resume puzzle.

Once you are clear on your current career goals you can begin the process of finding out which companies and positions will offer what you are looking for. Researching the companies you are interested in can provide a better understanding of the added value you can offer to help you stand out, get noticed and get interviewed. Not sure where to look?

Start with the company website, industry blogs and websites, Google the industry and company, check out the competition, and use social networking groups to learn about the company culture, the management style and decision makers.

While filling in your resume make sure to match your experience with the skills and requirements of the positions you are seeking. Make their focus your focus by building a custom resume that will have everything your targeted employers are looking for – making you and your resume irresistible!

Shine On Irresistible Job Seekers!!

While taking in my daughter’s second soccer game of the season, it was easy to see in the first five minutes who were the go-getters and who were just playing the game. Those that were truly motivated and successful in the game played far beyond their skills and speed.

Those that just ran along side the ball and did not attempt to get in front of the ball or out maneuver the opponent ended up on the bench for the most of the game. The girls that looked like they were out for blood were the ones that played almost the entire game. They played as if there were in the championship game even though they knew they were likely to lose because they were playing a team that was the league champions.

Watching those girls reminded me of what it takes to succeed in life and in particular, a job search. Job seekers that are determined to play hard and play their best every day are the candidates that successfully find the jobs of their dreams.

Tips to learn from soccer players in your job search:

• Stay Focused
• Remember to practice, prepare, improve your skills if needed.
• Know your competition and target.
• Play to win – If you fall down or get pushed, get up and keep playing.
• Believe in Yourself – lead with determination and don’t let your lack of skill or speed hold you back mentally or physically – believe in yourself.
• Know matter the outcome of the game; maintain good sportsmanship.
• Have fun!

Realize that your job search is not a game but it is very competitive and if you hope to win an interview you need to treat it with the same drive and aggressiveness as a dedicated soccer player.

Most of my clients are experienced professionals in their 40’s or 50’s and come to me in the throngs of a failed job search. Usually their career has progressed easily through internal promotions or word of mouth referrals. Now faced with a struggling economy and a new job search arena, they feel unsure and even fearful of the challenge before them.

Suddenly they are 6 years old again and afraid to step off their bed for fear something is waiting underneath. Too afraid to look, they sit on their bed waiting for their mom to appear, then begs her to check for a safe path.

As adults, the wait for someone to come and hold your hand, help you look under the bed, and calm your fears might be a long one. There is help of course, in the form of certified career coaches and resume writers that are qualified to help with the process. We come with a flashlight and often a hug to light the way and rebuild confidence.

For those job seekers that want to overcome their fears themselves and succeed in a 21^st century job search, the most important tip I can offer is to get educated. Things don’t seem as scary when you know how something works, what to expect and which strategies to use to succeed. Doing nothing only makes the fears grow and immobilizes you even longer. If you are like most job seekers, you really can’t afford to allow the fear of the unknown to threaten you and often your family’s wellbeing and safety for too long.

“…the only thing to Fear is Fear itself.” ~ FDR

It isn’t finding a job that is fearful, it is not knowing how to find a job and not knowing where to look that holds people back. So how do you educate yourself? You start small. While you are beginning your job search make sure to read blogs, articles and books on successful job search strategies – it will save a lot of pain and suffering!

While you are educating yourself, realize what type of job you are looking for and begin researching companies that support that kind of a position. Research 5 – 10 companies to find out their current needs, goals, culture and whether it is a company you would like to work for. If none seem to fit find, 5 -10 more and do it again. When you have located several companies that do seem to fit, have your resume written to specifically answer and solve the problems of those companies, targeting their needs using your career history to back up your abilities.

You can find these companies and contacts using LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other online networking communities. Or you can work offline using the phone, knocking on doors and communicating face-to-face. I think a combination of the two works best. Finding contacts that can refer you directly to the hiring manager will put your resume on the top of the pile – every time!

If you are uncomfortable with communicating or networking with new contacts researching the contacts will help you feel more comfortable and give you specific content to use as ice breaker conversation. Find a few contacts for each company you have researched. Find out something you have in common such as, did you attend the same college, work at the same company, know mutual friends, or have similar outside interests; pets, sports, or volunteer activities? Even just by knowing their history will help to generate interesting conversation.

Doing your homework, having questions prepared and knowing the background of your potential targets will help you gently engage these new contacts. Your preparation can open doors to new connections, friendships and referrals. Remember to say and write thank you letters to your contacts and ask if you can reciprocate the assistance in some way.

The more you know the easier it will be to take that leap of faith, trust your preparation and look under the bed. You might be surprised to find a new job hiding under there!

Recently I had a conversation with a job seeker which I have had similarly with many others in the past. The conversation begins with a recap of what actions they have taken in their job search and what their expectations are for working together. I often here something like, “I can handle the job search – I just need a resume to get me in the door, and I know I can talk my way into the job – I can talk my way into anything”. Have you ever said or heard or said this before?

As articulate and compelling as You might think your communication skills are, if you have nothing to say that interests the interviewer, you will not gain a job offer.

The key is to know what to say in the interview and once again, it comes down to knowing who you are interviewing with. For every interview or influential contact you schedule a meeting with, you should spend several hours researching and educating yourself on the company in question. Areas to become familiar with include the industry, current needs or issues of the company, biggest competition, new projects underway, future plans and problems the company is currently facing. Think ahead of 3 – 5 ways you can use  your skills, expertise, contacts, or experience to help in achieve current corporate goals or resolve existing problems.

Coming to the meeting prepared will allow you to fully engage in the conversation, where you can communicate your expertise and the value that you will bring to the company. Otherwise your conversation ends up sounding like a “me, me, me” story instead of a “here is how can I help you” conversation.

To be memorable you must have something worth saying and fitting for the position. If you go in blind with no preparation or understanding of what they are looking for you are selling you skills and yourself short. You might have exactly what they need but it is up to you to let them see how well suited you are for their job, their company and solving their problems.

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.