Think Before You Selfie

Let’s face it – there are a million things to consider when you are on the job hunt. One of the most commonly overlooked considerations is your personal brand. We know that over 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates. LinkedIn is one social media account that is great for networking, staying in touch with current and past counterparts and getting those recommendations. It is also a great job search aide – allowing employers to find you.

I have said it before, but it bears repeating. Take the time to clean up your social media accounts and beef up your LinkedIn profile. Ideally you aren’t posting rants or other items in poor taste… Keeping an eye toward your personal brand, make sure your LinkedIn profile picture is professional – if not taken by one. First impressions matter. Make sure you are setting a positive and inviting tone. The goal is, after all, being invited to interview!

Don’t have a LinkedIn account? It’s time! Use it as an excuse to re-connect with past bosses and coworkers. Many of my clients thank me for pushing them to do this, being pleasantly surprised by the responses they receive. Plus, you never know when a connection could result in a job offer.

Thanks for reading and subscribing. Talk soon!

Salary & Negotiation

First, let me begin by stating openly and emphatically that I am not a career coach. What I share with you today comes from my experience and the experiences my clients have been wonderful enough to share with me. Disclaimer. Check.

When it comes to salary and negotiating yours for a new position, remember not to settle. Once more I am going to ask you to do your research. Look at the salary range for the position on Glassdoor or Google Jobs. Think about your worth and the skills you bring to your potential employers’ table. Consider what your bills and living expenses are. These factors give you a good idea of what you need to ask for salary-wise – and what your walk-away point is.

A word of caution. Although the job market has come back full-force, employers have continued to use some of the tight-market tactics with candidates. Things to watch out for and, in my mind, walk away from, are; offering the base salary, offering the base salary with promises of increases and no plans/steps to see them materialize and agreeing to the mid to high-end of the salary range with the responsibility of supervising 10 extra people and 4 additional territories. You may think this sounds crazy and wonder who would go for it, but it happens more often than you think. And it happens to some pretty talented and sharp candidates.

While these are extreme cases and there are examples of employers behaving badly that run the gamut, I believe most organizations and corporations truly mean well. You need to remember that their ultimate responsibility is to protect their bottom line. Your responsibility is to provide for your family, and, hopefully have some work/life balance. There are many mutually beneficial employer/employee relationships to be had. If you are dealing with a situation or potential employer where the benefits seem to be all one-sided, it may be time to walk away.

Thanks so much for reading and subscribing! Talk soon.

Beginning Your Job Search This Weekend?

If you are one of the 40% or so of candidates looking to make a career change now that the jobs market has made it’s come-back, there are several things to consider before you get started.

1. Have you updated your resume (to current standards)?
2. Have you populated keywords for your target role/industry throughout your resume and cover letter?
3. Have you researched your target company in preparation for the interview phase and tailored your cover letter accordingly?

To further help you along, here is a helpful article from CareerFAQs regarding some of the skills the majority of employers are looking for in potential candidates. As a final step in your preparation for your career search, you will want to be sure to demonstrate these skills throughout the body of your resume:  https://www.careerfaqs.com.au/news/news-and-views/the-10-skills-you-ll-need-by-2020-and-beyond .

Thanks so much for reading. Talk soon.

It’s A Candidate’s Job Market!

It’s true. We are in a full-blown candidate job market. This is great news! We have been building toward this for the last few years – and here we are. Still, I know several of you are skeptical that this is the case. For you skeptics out there, enjoy this great infographic from TalentLyft outlining the many ways in which hiring and recruitment trends are changing to meet this new jobs-space.

If you are one of those hopeful candidates that have been enthusiastically applying and submitting your resume for various roles, and are not hearing back – it’s time to change something. Create a new resume. Develop a new format, power up your content, research key words, etc. Get noticed.

If you are one of those candidates getting interviews, but not the job – it’s time to change something. Practice your interviewing skills, research interview questions and interview techniques. Remember, a big part of being prepared for your interview includes research on the company. Review the company website, reach out to people you know that work for the company and ask questions. Do the legwork and be prepared for the interview.

This is your time! Time to start benefiting from your years of hard work, specialty training and acquired skill set. Show them that YOU are the talented individual they are looking for.

Let’s get to work! Talk soon.

Changing Industries in 2019?

Are you looking to change industries in 2019? A recent college grad? If you are, you may want to take a look at this list from Career Builder of the 20 industries anticipating big growth! https://www.careerbuilder.com/advice/the-list-20-industries-expected-to-have-huge-job-growth-through-2019.

Thanks so much for reading, watching and following! Talk soon.

Trying Something New…

Drum roll please… I am stepping out of my comfort zone.

Again.

Not so far out as the vlog, but intended in the same spirit. Here is where I thank all my wonderful friends, clients and family for the encouragement and great counsel.

Again.

Today I am growing my community and launching a group page, Resume Central. You can read the group description for yourself, but, in a nutshell, I am hoping it will be a supportive and uplifting group. In my heart of hearts it is a positive place for professionals to commiserate and share wise counsel based on their experiences. Zero judgement.

Of course, I will share what I know about the industry, answer your questions, share industry factoids, my blog / vlog – and anything else I can to support you in your professional endeavors.

Looking forward to having you join us!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/461959227636089/?source_id=482220901902592

Click on the link above and then on the “Visit Group” button in top, right of the page below the banner.

DO YOU WRITE FOR MY INDUSTRY?

My answer to this question is, “Yes.” I can say this without knowing what industry you are targeting for your career search, because I am confident in my ability to conduct quality keyword research and my knowledge of the resume industry. And really, in the resume game, keyword research is everything! Remember just a few blog/vlogs ago when we talked about the power of ATS as a first line of defense for hiring managers. ATS eliminates over 50% of candidates without their resume ever being seen.

Keyword research and inclusion in a visually appealing, well-formatted (in other words, professionally written) resume enhance your chances of being seen, therefore considered, by 40% by hiring managers. Beyond keyword research, you want someone who is going to make a deep dive into your career history. Learning my clients’ story is an honor that translates, for me as a resume writer, into a customized format and highest quality content for each client.

So, while a resume writer specializing in an industry – as long as keyword research is current and in-depth – can certainly be a benefit to a candidate, the better question to ask is, “How good are you at research?”

Thanks so much for reading, watching and subscribing! Talk soon.

What Is Considered Continuing Education?

What do we mean, in the hiring / resume/ career – world when we talk about continuing education? I am sure the answers vary from individual to individual, but for the most part, and in most cases, you will find that continuing education doesn’t just refer to degrees held. Stop underselling yourself relative to your training and lose the humbleness. Consider your career, past and current, as well as all those courses your employer may have required of or offered you.

When I begin working with a client I want to know every training, course, certificate and workshop they have ever taken. Sure, some of these will not make it to the resume, but you would be surprised at what “golden nuggets” people leave off their resume. For the most part, each of these courses will not only enhance the hard achievements included in your resume, but it communicates (subliminally) your commitment to ongoing learning and professional development. The subliminal things your resume communicates can be pretty important when it comes down to you and the average 4 additional candidates being considered for a given position.

My advice regarding continuing education? Soak it up! You invest your time, your talent and work product in your company, let your company, current or future, invest in you and your professional development. Take advantage of any training programs they offer. It looks great on your resume!

For those of you transitioning industries and worried that you don’t have every one of the certifications listed in the pie-in-the-sky position description? Or for those of you whose current employer does not invest in their employee’s professional development, consider the many free online learning courses out there. To help you along, here is a list, provided by Mashable, of free online resources available to you https://mashable.com/2015/10/13/free-online-classes/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-pete-link#qreItOgL3sqJ . Don’t be afraid to do your own research if these don’t appeal to you.

Bottom line, investing the time, if not the money, in your professional development is worth the investment. Every time.

Thanks so much for reading, watching and subscribing! Talk soon.