"What Will Get My Resume Read?"

What will get your resume read?  What are some key things that it may be missing, or "missing the boat" on that are contributing to a lack of interest by hiring managers and few call backs from recruiters?

Here are some questions from active job seekers that may also be questions that are on your mind.  What they boil down to is this:  What will get your resume read?   Translated, this question really boils down to this one:  What makes a resume effective?

A resume should tell the reader
if the job seeker is a possible fit
without too much work on the reader’s part.

A resume is effective if it is relevant to the job applied for.  To do this, a resume needs to focus on the applied-for job’s requirements, and show instances of the job seeker utilizing the required skills and knowledge with results, i.e., AccomplishmentStatements.  If it gains enough attention from the recruiter or hiring manager to get them to want to learn more about you, and results in an e-mail or call, it’s done its job.

However, saying that and doing that are 2 entirely different things.  Here are some of the job seekers’ questions that drill down to revealing HOW to produce a resume that gets read.

Question: “How do I make my resume ‘pop’?”

This was the most FAQ at a recent Resume Review, so if you’ve been wondering the same thing, you have lots of company.  What job seekers were really asking was how to make their resumes stand out, get noticed, get read, and get call backs. 

The Answer:  Show results.

Showing the results of your efforts in the jobs you’ve held is a major differentiation between resumes that read like job descriptions and those that “pop.”  Showing outcomes of duties you performed and tasks you did in your previous [and current if you are employed] positions distinguishes your resume from the masses. 

Showing outcomes to your tasks becomes an attention grabber.  Showing outcomes of your efforts is a way to “put your money where your mouth is.”  In interviews, employers hear continuously from candidates who say that they have the skills, knowledge, abilities, aptitudes and attitudes that the employer is looking for.  Showing outcomes or results offers substantiation to your claims of competency.  It offers proof that (1) you are what you say you are, and (2)  that you can do what you claim because you have done it before, and . . . .”Here are my results.”

So, the answer is to make your resume more than a “laundry list” of duties you performed.  Offering proof via showing the results of those duties, called Accomplishment Statements, is a way to not only get your resume to “pop” but get it read.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Question:  “I’ve spoken with 10 different people and gotten 10 different answers about what my resume should look like.  Why is that?”

The Answer:  There’s no one way to write a resume.

Writing an effective, attention-getting resume is an art, not a science.  Just as there is no one way to perform any art, there is no singular way to write a resume. 

However, . . .  And it’s a BIG “however,” . . . there are “tried and true” techniques, or guidelines, for producing a resume, that tell the story of your career in a succinct, orderly, and persuasive-enough way to get recruiters to read it, pass it along to hiring managers, and gain interviews.  These techniques include:

- Using an easy-to-read format that includes the following standard components:  career summary, professional experience, education & training, and professional associations

- A Chronological approach that makes it easy for the recruiter to gauge if you meet the job requirements

- Career or Professional Summary that makes the reader want to know more.  If this doesn’t grab their attention, they won’t read on further down the page

- Using Accomplishment Statements that show not only what you did but what you achieved.  This also “subtly” shows cause and effect thinking - a desirable attribute.

- Giving the reader - your customer - what they want.  An example:  Education generally goes on the 2^nd page of an any experienced job seeker’s resume.  However, if an employer wants to see Education up front, put it up front on the front page. . . . . Remember, your  resume is nothing more than “your sales brochure,” designed to sell the prospect on the idea that you could be the one!  If you show enough of what they are looking for, they may be sufficiently interested to decide they want to learn more about you in an interview.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Question:  “Should my Career Summary be a paragraph or a list of bullet points?  What goes into it?”

The Answer: Either a paragraph or a bulleted list works - your choice.  The Career Summary is your “L”vator speech.

The Career Summary is that paragraph or bulletized list that appears on the top half of the front page of your resume - right underneath your header.  It provides the reader with an Overview of you as a candidate.  It should tell the reader:

- What you do, i.e. your title: “I am a _____________.”

- The area of your expertise: Your track record

- Skills and strengths - And what you achieve because of them

- Unique attributes (degrees, certifications, experience, languages) relevant to the job you are pursuing


The key to producing a Career or Professional Summary that employers, recruiters, and network contacts will want to read is to make it:  (1) Relevant to the type of job you are seeking, as well as (2) Relevant to the employer’s interests and requirements

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Question:  “How do I show 20 (25, 30, 40 . . .) years of experience on 2 pages?”

The Answer:  You don’t.

I’m beginning to sound like a broken record here, I know, but . . . what you show is experience that is relevant to the type of job you are seeking, and the type of industry & employer you have targeted. 

(1) Select from your own comprehensive “laundry list” of duties those that are relevant to each position you apply for. 

(2) Be sure you have shown results for each of these duties, i.e., Accomplishment Statements.

(3) Tweak your Career Summary to overview those selected Accomplishment Statements.

A Bonus Question: What do you do with those early jobs that relate to the position you are applying for but go back more than 10 or 15 years? 

The Answer:  Include a category with these early and relevant jobs called “Other Relevant Experience.”  List jobs with title, and relevant Accomplishment Statements.  Leave off dates.

Remember, when you are looking for a job, you are in sales  – selling the most important product or service you will ever sell . . . .YOU!  You are selling your abilities as potential solutions to employers’ problems and needs.  By identifying what makes you desirable as a potential candidate, and showing this on your resume, you “up the odds” that your resume will be read and you’ll get a call back inviting you to tell the hiring prospect more about how you might be just who they are looking for.

Best of luck with your search,

Nancy

 ____________________________________________________________________________

nancy@ajcglobal.com              www.ajcglobal.com             AJC - for Your Career Path

  Linked In:  www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-c-gober/6/14b/965       

Twitter:  @AfterJobClub

Nancy Gober

What Are the Traits Successful Job Seekers Share?

There are 6 traits successful job seekers share!  Read on to discover what they are and what they do that helped them find their new job.

Here are the 6 traits of successful job seekers.

1.  Successful job seekers really, really, really, really want a job  –  First and foremost, to get a job today you’ve got to really, really, really, really want a job!  Otherwise, you won’t do what it takes  –  putting in the hours, exerting the energy, putting yourself in less than comfortable “networking” positions, and doing the activities of what a job search requires today.

I noticed that those who got a job were single-minded in their purpose of wanting a job.  They didn't dilute their resolve by wanting a job but maybe opening a business or maybe do some consulting or maybe going back to school.  They were single-minded in pursuit of one goal - a job..

I also noticed that for those who landed finding a job was their top priority.  They put job search activities first!  They chose to attend networking events, go to meetings, contact people they didn’t know, develop and then re-develop or refine their marketing materials, apply for positions, and send yet one more resume to a targeted and desirable company, . . .over getting together with friends, seeing a movie, watching TV, taking vacations, etc.  Other things were delayed or put on hold.  They worked at finding a job like it was their “real job”  –  which of course it is!

2.  Successful job seekers want THAT JOB  – When interviewing for a position, successful job seekers demonstrate in thought, word, and deed that they want THAT JOB!  They focus only on getting that job  –  not why they don’t think they want it.  Why?  Employers seem to pick up on the vibes that you may not really want that job. 

Successful job seekers reserved any judgement and focused their full attention and energy on selling themselves as the solution for the prospective employer’s needs for each position they pursued!  They showed intense interest in the position, and a passion for the role, company, and industry.  They appeared knowledgeable about the role and company, having done their homework in researching the company.  They posed a good argument as to why they were the best candidate for the job.  And, their obvious thorough preparation displayed a willingness to go the extra mile  –  gladly.

Of course, when they went onto their next interview, they displayed the same interest in THAT JOB for which they were interviewing. 

3.  Successful job seekers are persistent  –  They persist when others have given up, and they do it with high energy and a good attitude.  Easier said than done I know.  Especially when you’ve been working at it for a month, or two, or three and nothing seems to be happening.  But as one old adage says:  “He  –  or she  –  who stops punching first loses the fight !”  In the fight for finding a new position, if you stop searching for a new position, you don’t find one!

4.  Successful job seekers are consistent  –  Successful job seekers work at their job search consistently.  They treated their searches as their day job  –  and night job too if they had evening meetings, classes, or events to attend.  They worked weekends as well as holidays.  They personified the old adage: “Finding a job is a full-time job”  and then some!

I recalled others who worked sporadically -- even in spurts of brilliance --  at finding a job.  While intermittent efforts might had lead to success in previous employment markets, I observed this method to be far less successful than simply working consistently, day by day, at their searches. 

5.  Successful job seekers stay visible  –  Successful job seekers found ways to get their names known and their resumes on the top of the stack!  Through diligence and perseverance, successful job seekers found ways to gain visibility inside their targeted firms, and then maintained their visibility through following up. 

How?  By various means of introducing and then re-introducing themselves into the company or organization.  They used multiple media to get their names and qualifications known.
●  Job seekers managed to stay visible by finding a contact inside the firm who sent or carried their resume into the office of a hiring manager, or Human Resources employee.
●  Or they learned the name of a hiring manager and wrote directly to that manager.
●  They attended a job fair, got names and contact information, and followed up with a note and copy of their resume.
●  They attended conferences and association meetings to learn about and meet people from potential employing companies.
●  They used social media, such as Linked In, to learn about a firm or whom to contact within the organization.
In other words, their goal was for “everyone to know their name!”

6.  Successful job seekers follow-up  –  So many opportunities are lost through lack of follow-up.  Successful job seekers made it easy for prospective employers to not only know their name but see them as a quality candidate by following up in meaningful ways.

Successful job seekers did not consider their job done when they sent off a resume, attended a networking event, had an interview, or met with a colleague.  They followed up each activity with appropriate actions that moved their candidacy forward.  They followed up with a note, additional information, a helpful idea, . . .  and if need be, followed up yet again, displaying their genuine interest, obvious competence, and helpful disposition.  They displayed their willingness to go the extra mile! 

So there you have it  – the 6 traits of successful job seekers in today’s tough employment market! 

For additional information on marketing yourself and your capabilities, please refer to the many articles found under the Articles tabs of the AJC–Career Strategy website. ____________________________________________________________________________

nancy@ajcglobal.com              www.ajcglobal.com             AJC - for Your Career Path

  Linked In:  www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-c-gober/6/14b/965        

Twitter:  @AfterJobClub

Looking for a Job – Start at the Beginning

It's the beginning of a brand new year.  And it's also the beginning of a job search for many who will vow to
find a new job in the new year.  To succeed, my advice . . . Begin at the beginning.

The new year is a time for beginnings.  High among the resolutions of New-Years-Resolution-Makers will be to lose weight, to get in shape, and . . . . . to get a new job.     All of these, and more, are worthy goals.  However, most of the resolution-makers lose traction by the second month of the year and the goals go largely UN-achieved.

How do you achieve a different outcome and actually achieve your New Year's Resolutions?  My advice:  "Begin at the beginning!"

As you resolve to make a change in the new year, recognize that you are setting a goal.  To achieve the goal will require following a process. You are embarking on a project and your best shot at success is to understand the process.

Understand the process
Finding a job is a project that requires following a multi-step process.  It requires devoting some time to learning the steps, including planning, creating marketing materials, and implementing your search.

However, many job seekers will want to short-cut the job seeking process  --   jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire!  And, many who do will be back on the market for another new job in a short time.  Understand that the shortest distance between where they are now and their next position is to follow a process.  It may not seem like it, but it truly is the quickest route to the next job or role.

Begin at the beginning
I often liken the search for a new position to taking a trip.  If the traveler is located in Maine and their destination is the mid-west, they don’t start mid-way between the two locations.  They start in Maine.  They begin at the beginning!

They begin by preparing for the trip.  They plan their strategy for traveling to the mid-west.

• As they do their research, they key in on more specific destinations such as Kansas or Missouri based on their needs and desires.  
• They prepare their route.  
• They learn what things - tools - they will need for the trip and go about preparing and acquiring them.  They practice using these materials, such as GPSs, phones, camping equipment, in a safe environment before they venture out on the road.  
• They anticipate obstacles along the way and strategize ways they’ll overcome them.  

When they finally set out on the road, they are well-prepared and practiced travelers and are almost assuredly going to arrive successfully at their destination.

Prepare for your job search
Preparing yourself for your job search is not really any different!  As with preparing for a trip or journey, preparing for and conducting a job search requires the same attention to strategy, planning, preparation, practice, and delivery.

Figuring out . . . . . . .

• 1)  What your destination likely looks like - what type of work you want to do.   
• Be specific.
• 2)  What capabilities you bring as well as need to develop or acquire --  your skills, knowledge, experience, talent, capabilities, strengths.  
• Identify them and make a list.
• 3)  What supportive materials  you will need  --  marketing materials in addition to a strategic resume.
•   Prepare in advance your resume, marketing plan, personal-professional business card, networking plan, portfolio of materials showing work experience and achievements.
• 4)  How you will travel to your destination --  how you will implement your search.  
• Devise a project plan with target points showing what you need to with daily To-Dos. 

. . . . . . . are all part of adequately preparing for your journey to your next position.


Savvy job seekers begin at the beginning.  With planning, preparation, and practice, they embark on their journey with a kind of confidence that only comes from good planning, preparation, and practice.  They put themselves in the position of appearing confident, knowledgeable, and a solution to the needs of potential employers.

Get a better job faster
So, begin at the beginning.  You’ll arrive faster at the destination --  or job  --  of your choosing.  In other words, you up your odds of getting a better job faster.  It’s your choice!

For additional information on marketing yourself and your capabilities, please refer to the many articles found under the Articles tabs of the AJC–Career Strategy website.
 ____________________________________________________________________________

nancy@ajcglobal.com              www.ajcglobal.com             AJC - for Your Career Path

  Linked In: www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-c-gober/6/14b/965

Twitter:  @AfterJobClub

The Holidays Are Here - So Change Your Search Strategy

The holidays are here, but don't stop your job search.  Just change it!

The holidays are in full swing and that puts a different twist on your job search.  It is true that the holidays are a hectic time of year.  And that puts extra challenges on your job search.  It seems that . . . .
    - no one will take your calls
    -  you don't hear back from employers, and
    -  you can't get network contacts to commit to a meeting with you.
So . . . . you may be tempted, in fact very tempted, to alter your daily job search routine, and let holiday shopping, baking, entertaining, etc.  replace sending letters to potential employers, following-up on applications you submitted, attending job searching networking groups, etc.  And, if it feels no one is getting back to you, then you might as well just shut down your search for now and pick it up sometime in the January.  Right? 
     Wrong.
Why?  
     This ill-advised strategy will cost you time and can cost you missed opportunities.   It's a bad decision, based on a misunderstanding of how hiring happens.

Misunderstanding of how hiring happens
Many job seekers mistakenly believe that employers stop hiring during the last couple months of the year.  Not true!  My best and most poignant example is a client who received their job offer on the afternoon of December 24 - it was around 2:30 pm.

Sure employers become busy with not only holiday company events, but end-of-the-year tasks and requirements that must be accomplished before they can call it a year and go home for their own holiday break!  So hiring may slow.  But, if they have open positions that are critical to performance in the new calendar year, they will want to fill these before December 31.  They are concurrently looking ahead at the upcoming year’s workload and the staffing requirements to fulfill the anticipated workload.  With those tasks behind them, they can hit the ground running on January 2.

Add to job seekers’ misunderstanding of end-of-the-year hiring the fact that job searching is hard, and, well  . . . .  job seekers think they have a case for postponing their search until the new year.  Let’s face it:  If you’ve been working hard for months with no job offer to show for it, and feeling pretty discouraged, if not defeated, taking time off from your search during the holidays can seem like an attractive option.  But, don't do it.  

You will benefit by maintaining your search right through the holidays.  Here's how:
    ●  Advantage:  You have a slightly more open playing field during the holiday season, extending into the first and even second week of the new year.  Due to the fact that many of your competitors will drop out of the race due to their mistaken belief that employers don't hire during the holidays, you have less competition.
    ●  Advantage:  By maintaining your job search momentum and staying visible inside your network, you keep your own pipeline open and flowing with leads, ideas and opportunities that may just lead to an interview and a job.  It takes time to build a pipeline; don’t let yours shut down and face re-building it in the new year.
    ●  Advantage:  Following up on positions and opportunities that you pursued can lead to an interview.  You may even be able to move the action forward.  Your pro-activity may influence a recruiter or hiring manager to take your call, provide additional information,  meet with you, or even interview you.  You can push the action forward!
    ●  Advantage: Previously hard-to-reach folks may now have time to meet with you.  The time is coming soon when employees begin to take their holiday and end-of-the-year “use it or lose it” leave.  Without a full complement of team members in place, progress on work projects slows just because everyone whose input is needed isn’t there.  So you may be able to schedule networking talks and employer talks with those previously unavailable.

Strategy 1 - Be empathetic with employers at this time of year
    My grandmother used to say: “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”  Snarling at recruiters, HR reps, and hiring managers won’t get you very far.  Demanding that recruiters update you on what has happened to your application, or expressing frustration about why it is taking so long to decide between the other candidate and you won’t work.  Instead, empathize with employers, understanding that they’re not all that different from you; this is a busy time of year for them too.
    ●  If you are following up on an application or interview, empathize by being helpful.  Offer to do whatever you can to provide additional information or materials in order to make their task easier.
    ●  If you are trying to talk with one of your targeted employers for the first or second time, empathize by being sensitive.  State that you know that is a busy time of year for them too, but you are (remain if a second conversation) very interested in the firm and believe you have a lot to offer.  Inquire if they might have some time in their schedule to meet with you.  The key is to emphasize you won’t take more than 20 minutes of their time.  Many fear an hour-long meeting and they just don’t have the time!

Strategy 2 - Change your game plan.
Continue to contact employers, but change your game plan.  Continue to target employers that are likely buyers of your skill and experience set.  Contact them by both letters with your resume, and applying for opportunities you learn of.   BUT, understand that the holidays offer challenges to employers too (as described above).  Understanding how can allow you to interact with employers in such a way that can work to the benefit of you both.  Understand too that the status of your search - ongoing or just beginning - will determine the progress you can make at this time of year, as illustrated in the 2 scenarios below:

Scenario 1:  Your search is well underway
    If your search is well underway, and you are engaged in pursuing jobs for which you have networked or interviewed, you may be able to be able to turn the opportunity into an offer by the end of the year.
    ●  Be proactive in following up with the employer, offering to supply any additional information, to update them on additional credentials you have attained, to meet other members of the staff, or to inform them of your availability for a final interview.
    ●  Express your continued interest in and “great enthusiasm” for the firm and for the position.  Stating that this firm is definitely your first choice of employers may gain you some points!

Scenario 2:  Your search is just getting started
    Just beginning?  Beginning your search activity near the end of the year will put you ahead of the crowd who plan to begin their job searches in the new year - a really popular “New Years Resolution.”  However, you can get ahead of the crowd by doing your prep work now!
    There is a lot of preparatory work in getting a search underway and these last couple months of the year are a good time for a job seeker to do that.
    ●  It takes a month or two to prepare your marketing materials - Resumes being one of these.
    ● It takes time to re-connect with your network, update them on your status and plan to seek a new opportunity, and to request/gain referrals to new network contacts.
    ●  It takes time to get applications submitted.  In sales jargon - it takes time to “open and feed the pipeline.”  
    You can accomplish all this and more if you begin now.  Doing so means you will be well positioned to hit the ground running in the new year.

Strategy 3 - Network, Network, Network!
    Holiday get-togethers abound! Take advantage of these networking opportunities to meet everyone you can possibly can.  Don’t prejudge their usefulness.  You never, never know where an opportunity will come from.
    ● Attend  –  “business cards in hand”  –  and get known!  You can gain visibility and add to your list of network contacts.
    ● Go to everything you’re invited to, and even things you’re not.
        •  Wrangle an invitation to a holiday party, association event, and even a company holiday party.
        •  Friends, families, neighborhoods, and groups hold parties and events.  You may be surprised who your family and friends know and can introduce you to.
        •  Professional organizations and professional societies substitute holiday parties and networking events for their regular monthly program format.

Strategy 4 - Send greeting cards!
    Don’t overlook this simple avenue to remain visible.  For the price of a stamp, you remain visible.  Yes, you can send e-cards, but take advantage of this one time of year where it is appropriate to be seen in a more personable way as you send a hand-written card via the USPS.
    ●  Send holiday cards to everyone in your network, including employers.
    ●  Make them generic:  Select cards that are appropriate and non-offensive to your audience.  Select cards that say, for instance, “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings.”
    ●  Include your business card.
    ●  Write a few words to personalize the card.  Get the biggest bang for the buck by personalizing your greeting; they'll remember you!  For instance, you can say you enjoyed meeting them at the (be specific) meeting, or thank them for the benefit you derived from attending their presentation.  You can state that you were impressed by them and even though you did not receive an offer, you hope your paths will cross again. . . .  You get the idea.  Close by wishing anyone you send a card to a happy holiday season and/or a wonderful new year.

Strategy 5 - Re-group
    If you’ve been at your search for a while, “Audit your own performance” to see how you’re doing and what you can change about your approach as you go into the new year.  If you have been searching for 3 or more months, take some time to corroborate what you’re doing well and look for areas for improvement.
    ●  Set aside a block of time in which you can devote your total attention - NO INTERRUPTIONS!
    ●  If possible, find a “job search buddy” with whom you can talk through your review.  It’s best if it’s someone who understands the process of what it takes to find a job today, and the way you are going about your search.
    ●  Review your Career Strategy - Marketing Plan.  What responses have you received from your target companies?   It's not a bad idea to again look up your target companies; revisit their current work as well as to learn about any new work areas or directions projections, etc. that might be in need of your skills.
    ●  Review your resume  -  Not a quick read but a through review.   Read it out loud, and take a step back and view it from the perspective of a target company or employer.  Use what you’ve learned from your search to gauge if it . . .
        •  REALLY shows what you want to do and
        •  “Sells you” as the candidate to do it.  If not, revise and refocus.
    ●  Review your interviews; serious networking meetings count as interviews.
        •  Note the top 5 or 10 questions you have been asked and make note of your answers.
        •  Gauge if your answers were the best responses in order to showcase your skills and experience, if not, decide how to best word them.

Strategy 6 - Change those holiday traditions that make you crazy!
Change doesn’t make you popular.  But, it can make you saner.  Think of all those holiday traditions in which you feel forced to participate and that you’ve come to resent.  This is your golden opportunity to change them!
Choosing to stop, or change your degree of participation in, long-time family or friends’ traditions is hard.  But, as a person looking for a job, you have the best excuse, actually a sound reason, to beg off of holiday events:  "You can’t afford it.  You don’t have the resources - the money, time, or energy - to participate this year - that’s it!"  It’s time for you to start some new ways of engaging in the holidays. Here’s how:
    ●  Think about what you really like about the holidays, and identify what you don’t.
    ●  Don’t suddenly spring your new-found knowledge on family and friends.  Talk it over with your own nuclear family or close friends with whom you will be spending the holidays, and inform them of what you would like  – and plan  – to do.
    ●  Now this is the hard part - Inform those family members, friends, and acquaintances whose expectations you will not be able to fulfill this year of your situation.   You might say, “You will not be able to participate this year due to your job search and your limited resources."  And . . .Stand firm.  Use the broken record technique:  No matter what Aunt Susie or Uncle Stan says, your response is: “I can not afford it this year.”  “I can not afford it this year.”  “I can not afford it this year."

Now, . . . .
With these “Holiday Job Search Strategies” in mind, you may find you are able to keep your search going  – or take steps to begin one  – and enjoy your holidays all at the same time.

I wish you great success and a Happy Holiday Season!

                                                                                          Nancy

For additional information on marketing yourself and your capabilities, please refer to the many articles found under the Articles tabs of the AJC–Career Strategy website.
 ____________________________________________________________________________

nancy@ajcglobal.com              www.ajcglobal.com             AJC - for Your Career Path

  Linked In: www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-c-gober/6/14b/965

Twitter:  @AfterJobClub

Bah-Humbug - Not Really, But When it Comes to Those Holiday Traditions . . . .

Spending money you don’t have
    on presents you don’t want to buy
          to travel to places you don’t want to go
              on entertaining you don’t want to do
Spending time you don't have
    with people you don’t want to see
         on holiday traditions you don’t want to continue
Spending energy you don't have
    on activities that take you away from your job search!

What's a job seeker to do?  Stop it - Stop it right now!  You can’t afford it and you don't have to. 

It's as simple -- and as complex --  as that!  Here's how . . .

Welcome to the holidays – that wonderful time of the year when traditions “bind us” to doing what we’ve always done - even if we no longer want to do what we’ve always done.

I’ve heard from lots of job seekers over the years who feel trapped by holiday traditions that they feel compelled to participate in just because they’ve always done it.  When I ask them, “So why do you?” as often as not, they answer “It’s a tradition - we’ve always done it,” even if they really don’t like or have even come to resent holiday activities such as  . . . .
    ● Getting together every year on Thanksgiving with 23 people
    ● Hosting the annual neighborhood holiday block party
    ● Buying presents for 13.  It was OK when it was just your 4 siblings, but now with your siblings’ children, presents-for-4 has turned into presents-for-13.
    ● Traveling to St. Louis or Butte, or Mobile . . ., with 3 little kids on flights and presents in tow, to spend Christmas day with extended family since that is where they always congregate!
    ● or . . . well, you get the idea.

Stop it
My advice to those job seekers has been - "Stop it."  Stop doing those things that cause you to spend money, time, and energy you don’t have on things, activities, and people that will simply slow, stymie, thwart, or stop your search for a new position.   You can’t afford it!

Bah-humbug  --  Not really
This is not a case of “bah-humbug!”  It’s just being practical.  It is a case of examining what you truly want, but more importantly are able, to do for the holiday season, in light of the fact that you are looking for a job. 

Change isn’t easy, especially for folks who have long-standing expectations of you.  Here’s the thing:  If they truly have your best interest at heart - and not their own - they will accept and understand your decision - eventually.

Change doesn’t make you popular
Choosing to stop, or change your degree of, participation in long-time family or friends’ traditions is hard.  But, as a person looking for a job, you have the best excuse, actually a sound reason, to beg off of holiday events:  "You can’t afford it.  You don’t have the resources - the money, time, or energy - to participate this year - that’s it!" 

And, people will adjust.  Over time, family, friends, and acquaintances may come to accept, if not actually understand, that you are making a decision that is best for you, and your immediate family (if you have one),  at this time.  Instigating change rarely makes you popular, but it can make you happier when you are engaging in only those traditions or starting new ones that you really want, and can afford, to participate in.

Start some new traditions
It’s time to start some new ways of engaging in the holidays. Here’s how:
(1)  Think about what you really like about the holidays. 
(2)  Identify what you don’t like about the holidays, noting traditions you’ve gone along with but never really liked and don’t want to continue.  Get clear on your reasons why.
(3)  Talk it over with your own nuclear family or close friends with whom you will be spending the holidays.
(4)  List what you would really like to do - on your own, with your nuclear family, with extended family, and with your circle of friends and acquaintances. It's OK to answer "Nothing this year."
(5)  Examine your list and decide
     (A) What you want to do, and
     (B) What you can afford to do, - 2 different things entirely.  Base this on your resources – available time, money, and energy.
(6)  Now this is the hard part - Inform those family members, friends, and acquaintances whose expectations you will not be able to fulfill this year of your situation.   You might say, “You will not be able to participate this year due to your job search and your limited resources."  And . . .
    - The earlier the better.
    - Be prepared for arguments of why "you have to"  - by folks who want you to do what they want you to do!
    - Prepare and practice your response in advance - one that is not arguable.  One of the least arguable is: “I can not afford it this year.” 
    - Stand firm.  Use the broken record technique:  No matter what Aunt Susie or Uncle Stan says, your response is: “I can not afford it this year.”  “I can not afford it this year.”  “I can not afford it this year.”  Eventually, when they realize they can’t coerce you into doing things “the way we’ve always done them” they will get Your Message.

Enjoy your holidays!
Now focus your resources on what you actually want to do for this year’s holiday season, and enjoy your holidays!

For additional information on marketing yourself and your capabilities, please refer to the many articles found under the Articles tabs of the AJC–Career Strategy website.
 ____________________________________________________________________________

nancy@ajcglobal.com              www.ajcglobal.com             AJC - for Your Career Path

  Linked In: www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-c-gober/6/14b/965

Twitter:  @AfterJobClub

Face Your Fear and NETWORK!

"Networking:  Do I have to?" asks the reluctant job seeker.

      Yes you do if you want to find a better job quicker!

If you dread the idea of going up to strangers whose paths you cross and striking up a conversation, you are far from alone.  Many, if not most folks - if the truth were told - dread the idea.  They’d rather have a root canal.

However, the truth is that many, if not most, opportunities are found through networking.  These wonderful positions never see the light of an advertisement.  If they do, it is often late in the process, meaning many suitable candidates have already made the hiring employer aware of them and their capabilities.

The Hidden Market
 These unadvertised (or late-in-the-game advertised) positions are found in what is called -- and aptly so --  the Hidden Market.  It is the employment market that is accessed through people and it is the market where some of the best positions reside.

Networking opens the door to the Hidden Market.
Networking opens the door.  Positions are found on the Hidden Market by talking and connecting with folks who work for a firm and know of needs or open jobs, or by talking to folks who know some folks who know of opportunities  . . .  You get the idea!

It gets easier 
Networking can be a little intimidating when you first begin.  But, as many of my clients tell me, it gets easier as they network more and more.  A bonus is meeting new and interesting people, as well as reconnecting with past contacts, and that increases your own valuable network. 

The Open Market - A slow process
Sure, it is still possible to find a job by sitting at your computer for hours, if not days, on end, applying for 100's if not 1000's of jobs that you find on the Open Market and hoping one of them will get back to you.  It is an avenue to a new job, but it is a choice that generally results in a long, long, long search.  It is a slow process.

Or you can choose to network.  Networking speeds things up.  Adding networking to your daily routine uncovers positions faster  --  before they are openly advertised, or in many cases, never openly advertised.

Face your fear and NETWORK! 
So, if networking is a scary thing, face your fear, bite the bullet, and do it anyway.  There are many benefits to be gained from networking, and it just might help you find your dream job!

For additional information on marketing yourself and your capabilities, please refer to the many articles found under the Articles tabs of the AJC–Career Strategy website, including:

• Networking at Events and Large Meetings: How do I do it?

• Networking in Small 1-to-1 Conversations: How do I do it?

 ____________________________________________________________________________

nancy@ajcglobal.com              www.ajcglobal.com             AJC - for Your Career Path

  Linked In:  www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-c-gober/6/14b/965        

Twitter:  @AfterJobClub

Nancy Gober

Managing a Job Search is Like Managing a Project

Managing an effective job search is akin to managing any important project. Whether you are beginning a new search or seeking to revitalize an ongoing search,  plan to employ the project management skills you would use on any important project in order to successfully and effectively achieve your goal.

Prepare:
Preparation is key to succeed at finding the job you want.  Jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, or firing off resumes at any and every opening that comes along, termed "shotgunning"is usually an exercise in frustration in the long run.

Learning the steps involved and preparing a "job search strategy" is the first step. As you begin your search, or take a step back to regroup an ongoing search, figure out your goal as follows:

• Identify the type of job, or expanded role, you are seeking and write it down.

Plan: 
Continue your planning with market research.

• Gain information and knowledge about the need and market for the type of work you want to do. 
• Identify what industries and locales hire your skill set.

Acquire:
Acquire the project management tools you’ll need to get organized and perform the work of the project.

• Establish your workspace.  If finding a job is a job . . . .  and it is . . . . set up your work space or office.  You'll need office tools to conduct and manage your search, so take the time to organize your office, computer, phone, files, etc.  

• Create, or revise, your marketing tools:  Resume, marketing plan, "L"vator speech, networking plan, business cards, annotated reference list, bio, and portfolio.

• Your resume needs to be focused on acquiring a specific type of job. Your other marketing materials - "L:vator speech, cover letters, bio, etc - also need to be similarly focused.
• Focus, revise, and update your marketing materials to align with and support achievement of your goal.  The skills, knowledge, experience, and accomplishments you list should show that you can do the job and be an asset to the hiring firm.
• If your resume doesn't present information that shows you have the necessary skills, knowledge, experience, and accomplishments to do the job, rewrite it.
•  If you are searching for 2 different types of jobs, such as grant writing and public relations, or engineering and business development, develop two sets of marketing tools (i.e., resume, “L”vator speech, bio, etc.).        

Market and Execute: 
With your goal clearly in mind, your work space or office organized, and your marketing materials focused on your goal, set off on your search in earnest.  Execute your search by marketing yourself and your capabilities.

• Organize your work day to include time for research, networking, attending events, and eventually interviewing for ideal jobs and then negotiating your offerS!

So begin at the beginning.
Invest the time up front to get organized and plan a strategic job search.  The investment will speed you on your way and pay off in conducting a more focused, faster, and rewarding search.

For additional information on marketing yourself and your capabilities, please refer to the many articles found under the Articles tabs of the AJC–Career Strategy website.
 ____________________________________________________________________________

nancy@ajcglobal.com              www.ajcglobal.com             AJC - for Your Career Path

  Linked In:  www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-c-gober/6/14b/965        

Twitter:  @AfterJobClub

Nancy Gober

Lern to tell stories

Interviewing?  Learn to tell stories.  People remember them long after a resistation of facts and figures is forgotten.

Telling a good story about an accomplishment, an achievement, a problem solved, a sticky situation handled, etc. will be remembered by an interviewer long after a resitation of a list of your strengths or dates of promotions etc.

And, as a savvy job seeker, your goal is to be remembered by a prospective employer.

Interviewing: The Most Frequently Asked Interview Question

Tell me about yourself!

And so the interview begins.  The interviewer asks this "ice breaker" question as much to start a conversation as to actually learn about the candidate sitting in front of him or her.

The question: "So why don’t you tell me a little about yourself?” is generally considered the most frequently asked interview question.  Not a particularly good question by a long shot, nevertheless is is most commonly asked in order to get the conversation - the interview - going.

And while appearing on the surface to be a simple question to answer, in fact, it not only throws many candidates but throws them right out of the competition!  Why?  Because an unprepared candidate can sound like this.

“Umm, well I grew up in Florida , lived there most of my life, went to Florida State University, majored in philosophy, and then I took a year off to help my Dad out in his printing business.  My first job was in 1972 when I was hired as a  clerk in . . . ."

The interviewer listens patiently, acts interested, but is secretly thinking: “What does this have to do with the job he's applying for as a business analyst?  Get to the point."

The interviewee continues to rattle on,  clears his throat a time or two, and continues their monologue that goes on way, way too long! 

Sound familiar?
If you have ever sat in the interviewee's seat and experienced the situation just described, you are not alone.  In fact, many, if not most job seekers, have had a similar experience. You know what we want to say about yourself your job-related experience; you can can’t seem to say it!

Make a good first impression
In an interview, any job seeker wants to make a good first impression.  You want to convey that you are the right candidate for the job and that you can get the job done!  You want to appear motivated and capable. You want to show that you are qualified to perform the duties of the job and then some.  You just can’t seem to say it as well as you would like.

Why not?  What goes wrong?  What’s missing? 
Generally when a job seeker stammers, and hems and haws at the beginning of an interview, or is just too wordy, what is missing is a prepared and practiced short presentation that "tells the interviewer about yourself."  This short, precise presentation, highlighting relevant experience, qualifications, and skills, is -- by another name  -- an "L"vator speech!

What is an “L”vator speech?
An "L"vator speech is a professional self-description that can be said in 30 seconds or less.. Theoretically, it can be said in the time you travel in an elevator from the 1st to the 14th floor. . . .hence, the term "L"vator speech!  AND, when you're done, your listener has a pretty good  idea of what you do and do well.

In other words, your “L”vator speech is a short, concise, prepared in advance, and well-practiced description of your expertise, abilities, skills, and accomplishments that are relevant to the job you are interviewing for.

How do you do it? . . .  With this 5-Step Model
It can be a bit mystifying to try to figure out how to describe the essence of your experience in less than 30 seconds.  So, here's a method to do just that.  Below is a 5-Step Model for preparing your “L”vator speech.  The model allows you to tell the listener, in 30 seconds or less, what you do and what you are expert at.  It helps you showcase your skills, and highlight relevant accomplishments.  It provides you a way to ask for your desired outcome from the discussion.  So, . . . take out a pencil and paper and begin to craft your "L"vator speech --  your answer to the #1 interview question:  "So why don't you tell me a little about yourself?"

5-Step Model to craft your "L"vator speech
Step 1. Start with your profession.  State what you do in a couple of words?
    I am a ________________________________    
    I’m an electronics engineer.   I’m a manager.  I’m an administrative assistant.

Step 2.  Identify your area(s) of expertise. What makes you stand out from the crowd?
    I'm a ____________,with in-depth experience or expertise in ________________
    I’m an electronics engineer, with extensive experience in designing systems that . . . 
    I’m a manager who consistently runs departments that function like clockwork.
    I’m an administrative assistant who never misses a deadline.

Step 3.  Identify your areas of skill that are relevant to the job your are seeking.
    I’m particularly skilled in______________,  or I’m adept at _____________________
    I am skilled in helping the customer implement new systems with no downtime.
    I’m really effective at planning and budgeting so that the programs I manage come in on time and within budget.
    I’m current in the latest office computer software so I’ll be productive right off the bat!

Step 4.  Identify knowledge, strengths, and unique attributes that are relevant to the position.
    I am certified in__________, or, I am trained in__________, or I was awarded the__________
    I hold a Master's degree in advanced electronics engineering.
    I am a certified Program Manager.
    I was recognized as the “Employee of the Year” by my previous employer and earned a cash award.

Step 5. Ask for what you want.  What are you trying to achieve?
    I am looking for__________, or, I am seeking __________, or I hope to__________
    I am looking for a Systems Engineering position that uses_____________
    I am hoping you can refer me to a person in your network who is familiar with ___________________
    I am seeking an opportunity to _________________

Using the 5-Step Model will help you craft an “L”vator speech that gets to the point and accomplishes your objective of “telling the listener about you." 
For additional information on marketing yourself and your capabilities, please refer to the many articles found under the Articles tabs of the AJC–Career Strategy website.
 ____________________________________________________________________________

nancy@ajcglobal.com              www.ajcglobal.com             AJC - for Your Career Path

  Linked In:  www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-c-gober/6/14b/965        

Twitter:  @AfterJobClub

Nancy Gober

Comments

See Older Posts... © 20

Illustrations of questions per the 6 categories

5 Categories of Questions

The 5 categories of questions that interviews probe are listed below.

1.  Your background, skills, and experience = Can you do the job?

Questions in this category or area are aimed at one thing:  Can you do the job?  Interviewers probe your experience, skills, certifications, background, to find out if you have:
    - Hands-on experience in each of the key performance areas?
    - Managed the key performance areas (if the job is managerial in nature)
    - Managed subordinates, teams, or colleagues at designated experience levels, educational levels, salary levels
    - how handle employees who can’t perform, or misfit

This question also gets at salary level.  Experience tells experienced and “compensation-knowledgeable” recruiters what your level of experience pays in the marketplace.  This is a concept that often surprises job seekers; companies employ teams of “compensation experts” whose role it is to constantly survey their industry to ascertain what skills and experience pay in the marketplace and in various geographic areas of the marketplace.


2.  Your goals and objectives
Questions in this category or area gauge if your goals are appropriate for the job, the program (in the federal contracting arena), the department, the company, the corporate culture.

This area of questioning probes motivations for wanting the job.  Are you under-motivated for a “cracker-jack” company culture; or are you aims too high or aggressive for a more laid-back organization.

If you’re not in sync you will make folks in the company uncomfortable initially, irritated later.  And, you’ll feel like a fish out of water?

How much do you want the job?
Hint: There is only one answer to the question: “Are you open to relocation?”


3.  Your education and training
Questions in this area seek to determine if you have the right amount of education and training,

This area of questioning probes goals/motivation:  Are you under-educated or are you over-educated?

or if you are amenable to getting the right amount.

Hint: There is only one answer to the question: “Are you open to going back to school?”


4.  Your weaknesses and potential problems = Potential land mines!
Questions in this area uncover “landmines” which the company would prefer to uncover before they step on one.

In the words of a employment manager colleague of mine, “I don’t need to hire another problem; I’ve already got enough problem walking around here.”

5.  Sensitive issues or areas
Questions in this area

Answer the following two questions for each category:

    (1)  What do you think the interviewer is looking for when probing this category?

    (2)  What would your best strategy be to make the most of the opportunity in answering the question?

Interviewing: What's Your Greatest Strength?

"What's your greatest strength?" asks the interviewer.
     "Well, mmmm. . . , I would say I'm . . .  un . . . ." stumbles the interviewee.
A missed opportunity to succinctly and reasonably tell your interviewer a couple of your key attributes that make you stand out from the crowd and why hiring you would be a good thing!

"What's your greatest strength?"
This frequently asked interview question throws a lot of interviewees as much as its closely related cousin:  What's your greatest weakness?  On the surface, it shouldn't. It seems it should be the easier of the two questions.  But, it throws a lot of job seekers anyway.  It seems that saying "good things" about yourself and your job performance is not as easy or as comfortable as it might seem.

So, in answering this question . . . 

1. Consider what you want interviewers and networking contacts to know about your job performance, and   
2. Plan what you want to say as carefully as you do in answering the flip-side question:  What's your greatest weakness?

Almost all interviewers will ask:  What's your greatest strength?
Almost all interviewers will ask this question.  They want to know what you bring to the table.  In other words, they want to know: 

1. How can hiring you, benefit them? 
2.  But, they also ask it to see how you handle this question and what it reveals about you in terms of how you see yourself.   It tells them a lot.

While some candidates for positions overdo it with self-serving comments that come across as "bragging," this question really allows candidates to 

What is to be gained from answering this question well?  Lots!
1.  It begins the sale - your sale of you to the hiring company, or to a network contact who - if impressed - will refer you.
2.  It makes the sale.  If your strengths -- abilities, aptitudes, attitudes, skills, knowledge, education, job history & interpersonal skills -- impress and convince the hiring manager that you are what he or she needs to solve problems or attain growth, you're hired!

A particularly good interview question
Unlike its close cousin (What’s Your Biggest Weakness?) which is not a particularly good question, “What’s Your Greatest Strength?” is a particularly good question; in fact, it’s a great question!  
It allows candidates to:

(1) State their case for hiring them, and 
(2) Move their cause forward.  
A well thought-out fact-based answer, can convince the HR interviewer, the hiring manager, and other members of the interviewing panel that hiring you is a good thing!

A strategy
As with its close cousin, this question can work against you if you are not prepared.  Without a strategy, some job seekers provide a foot-in-mouth answer that knocks them out of the competition entirely.

Below is a strategy to follow that delivers a thoughtful fact-based answer:

• Step 1.  Choose a strength, or 2 or 3 strengths, that relate to key requirements of the job. 

• Step 2.  Review your professional accomplishments and select one (or better 2 or 3) that demonstrate how you used the strengths you've chosen in performing work.  Since these should be stated as Accomplishment Statements (i.e., bulleted points on your resume), they should be easy to find.

• Step 3.  Practice telling the story of each Accomplishment Statement.  State (1)  the situation, challenge, or problem you faced; (2) the actions you took; and (3) the result you achieved.

A triple win
Using the strategy just described above, you score a TRIPLE WIN!
1.  You provide a fact-based response, backed up by your story.
2.  You show self-awareness.
3.  You not only talk about but demonstrate how you used your strength(s) to achieve a successful outcome to a problem you tackled or situation you encountered.  

In summary, effective interviewing is not easy, but it's not rocket science either! While there are 1000s of interview questions being asked, many are common and frequently asked questions.  Do some homework.  Learn what these frequently asked questions are, plan credible responses in advance, and sail through your interview!

For additional information on marketing yourself and your capabilities, please refer to the many articles found under the Articles tabs of the AJC–Career Strategy website.  View Nancy's Nine Cardinal Rules of Interviewing for more advice.
___________________________________________________________

nancy@ajcglobal.com              www.ajcglobal.com             AJC - for Your Career Path

  Linked In:  www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-c-gober/6/14b/965        

Twitter:  @AfterJobClub

Strategy: Be Cautious When - and Where and What - You Post

Looking for a job?  Seeking a career transition?  Be very cautious about what you post.  It can -- and does - come back to you haunt you!  Take action now to prevent career casualties down the road.

Recent events in the news about ill-advised photos posted on-line make the point, once again, that the on-line world is not a private place.  This has happened time and time again, and while there is public outrage now, it will be short-lived and folks will go about posting more private messages and comments until it happens again.  It's a cycle.  

Photos, comments, articles, rants, . . . that are posted are there to stay and for all to see, including prospective employers, potential business partners, and network contacts.  Ill-advised postings ruin reputations and along with it chances for new career opportunities.

Reputations ruined; careers de-railed
It’s a topic worth carefully thinking about and considering your future actions.  If you are seeking new career opportunities, don't let postings, comments, and photos that show you in a negative light ruin your chances in the short-run and even de-rail your career long-term.  Ask yourself:  Is a momentary rant worth a long-term consequence?

Your social media presence is out there for ALL to see.  All means potential employers, recruiters, prospective business partners, network contacts, educational institutions, and potential professional and business associations you desire to join.  They will all review your on-line presence in social media as they seek to know who you are and if they want you on their team.

Take steps to secure your professional future
So, job seekers, take some steps now to secure your professional future:

1. Review each social media site on which you participate.  
2. Decide if it is in your best interest professionally to continue to use that site.  Close down accounts that don't enhance your standing in your professional community -  . . . YES, that means even those personal sites that you use to chat with friends and think "no one else will ever see."
3. Check your postings on every social media and networking site on which you decide to keep the account open and continue to use.  Delete any material - comments, photos, rants - that does not enhance your professional reputation, including sites you consider personal such as Facebook.
4. Read every word of your Linked In profile.  Revise and update it.  Employers with almost 100% certainty will visit this site and view your profile before hiring external candidates, and before promoting, expanding the duties of, or championing for high-potential its internal candidates.
5. Clean up your e-mail accounts and delete e-mails that you don't want seen --accidentally.  
6. Review your e-mail address book, and eliminate potential trouble spots.
7. Close down e-mail accounts that are NOT useful to you.  Keep open only those e-mail accounts that you use and monitor regularly!
8. Use the STOP rule before sending any e-mails, texts, or comments when you're angry or in an emotional state:
1. S - stop and take a breath before you touch that keyboard!
1. Don't post a "cute" photo of you that with a clearer head you realize is questionable at best.
2. Don't respond too quickly to any comment or article you read on any social media site.
3. Don't respond immediately to any e-mail that makes you mad.
2. T - take a time-out.  
1. Walk around your office, the building, down the street in order to give your emotions some time to settle down and yourself some time to think.
3. O - opt for writing your message on a medium that can't be sent anywhere.  

1. Getting the feelings out is OK if you do it in a medium that can't hurt you.  
2. Write the old fashioned way with paper & pencil on a tablet, or type if you must but type your thoughts in a Word document that you type and file away.  
4. P - pause any actions you want to take for 24 hours.  
1. A day later, the situation might look very differently, and you'll be glad you STOPPED an action that could have held professional consequences for you and your career.

A Valuable Tool . . .  IF . . You Manage it well
Social media, including the various networking sites and your e-mail accounts, can be a very positive tool for a job seeker who manages it well.  It can speed up your search, enable you to make new contacts, allow you to do research with the click of a key, promote your professional skills and competencies, enhance your professional image, and allow faster communication.

However, as we have seen, it can also have the opposite, or negative, effect.  Take action now to prevent career casualties down the road.

For additional information on marketing yourself and your capabilities, please refer to the many articles found under the Articles tabs of the AJC–Career Strategy website.  
___________________________________________________________

nancy@ajcglobal.com              www.ajcglobal.com             AJC - for Your Career Path

  Linked In:  www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-c-gober/6/14b/965        

Twitter:  @AfterJobClub