Newsletter
Feb 01The Career Exposure Network Shares Top Job Search Tips For a Tight Market
Posted in Career Article, Tips & Tricks at 11:19 am
A tight employment market is creating new demands on job seekers according to The Career Exposure Network, the leading source of niche job sites for women, diversity and MBAs.
“With more candidates applying for each open position, standing apart from the competition is increasingly critical to getting the offer letter,” stated JillXan Donnelly of CareerExposure.com. “The rules for job seeking are changing and candidates need to switch up their game to make new connections and learn new skills that will get them noticed.”
To this end, Career Exposure offers the latest tips to getting noticed.
1) Make every resume unique
Gone are the days where one resume or cover letter will get the interview. Customize every resume and cover letter to showcase why your skills and experience make you the best match for each job.
2) Use broad and niche job-seeking tools
Broad job sites are easy one-stop-shops for job seeking, but don’t overlook niche sites that are tailored by profession, industry, skill set or gender. By using these sites, such as CareerWomen.com, DiversitySearch.com and MBACareers.com, job seekers can connect with employers that are targeting their specific demographic. Who can afford to miss that?
3) Employ virtual and in-person networking strategies
Certainly call and e-mail former co-workers, colleagues and business associates to get connections. You should also join associations or volunteer in your area of interest to create new contacts. Use online networks such as LinkedIn and build connections virtually. Consider jumping into social networks such as Twitter where you can find, follow and chat with people who work at companies or in industries you find of interest.
4) Take a class for content and connections
Staying sharp is one reason for taking a class; however, other reasons could include making new connections by way of classmates or the professor. Classes can also add extra beef to your resume that will demonstrate your commitment to your career and skills.
5) Stay positive
A positive attitude is tremendously appealing to an employer, both current and future. Look at your job search as an adventure that will have both high and low points. Being positive about the process, while sometimes challenging, will help you get through it.
Top 10 Tips for Your 2010 Résumé
Posted in Career Article, Tips & Tricks at 3:42 pm
“Out with the old, in with the new,” isn’t that what they always say? The same thing applies to your résumé. Chances are you applied for hundreds of jobs in 2009, only to be ignored or rejected. That means that something has to change.
Last year, 25 percent of employers said that on average, they received more than 75 résumés for each open position; 42 percent received more than 50 résumés. In addition, 38 percent of employers last year said they spent one to two minutes reviewing a new résumé and 17 percent spent less than one minute, according to a survey by CareerBuilder.
“Human resources managers serve on the front lines of a company’s recruitment efforts and are often the gatekeepers of the interview process. Because they can receive a large volume of applications, you may only have a matter of seconds to make a lasting impression,” says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. “You should always have a current résumé and portfolio ready to go, because you never know what the next day will bring, whether it’s a weak or healthy economy.”
You want employers to see you differently this year. Here are 10 ways to get your résumé noticed in 2010:
1. Start from scratch
A new year means a new résumé. Even though it might not sound like fun to rewrite your whole résumé (it probably won’t be), give it a try. Obviously, if you didn’t get any bites last year, something was a little off with your current résumé. Rearrange some sections, try a different format and use a different font. Just switch things up a little bit and see what happens.
2. Use a different format
Many job seekers don’t realize that there are different formats to use when writing a résumé. The most common form is chronological, which lists each job you’ve had in reverse sequential order, so you start with your most recent job. This form doesn’t work for all people, though. For example, if you’ve done a lot of job hopping in recent years or if you haven’t had a job in a long time, a functional résumé is a better option.
A functional résumé focuses on your skills versus your work experience. For this, you would list a pertinent skill for the job to which you’re applying, followed by a list of accomplishments that demonstrate that skill. If you don’t have relevant skills or a strong work history, you could use a combination résumé, which combines elements of both a functional and a chronological format.
For a combination résumé, you should list your applicable skills and the accomplishments that demonstrate each one. Below that, you’ll list your work history, starting with your most current job and working backward, but you won’t list your job description. Doing this allows you the chance to play up your skills while proving your solid work history.
3. Ditch the empty words and vague phrases
Many job seekers fall prey to a common mistake that irks most employers: using cliché keywords. In a 2009 CareerBuilder survey, employers cited these common phrases as overused and often ignored by hiring managers:
• People person: 39 percent
• Go-getter: 38 percent
• Team player: 33 percent
• Hard-working: 29 percent
• Multitasker: 28 percent
• Self-starter: 27 percent
• Results- or goal-oriented: 22 percent
These words are just empty fillers that don’t say anything about your achievements. For an accountant position, for example, keywords might include “accounts payable” or “month-end reporting” — words that actually say something about what you can do. Look over your résumé and find where you have listed generic qualities about yourself and replace them with keywords that match the job to which you are applying.
4. Make your achievements stand out
Many job seekers list their job duties on their résumés, but not their accomplishments. Although your past duties are important, employers care more about your ability to produce results. Try separating your daily functions from your achievements by first listing your job duties in a paragraph format, and then incorporating a bulleted area below that is titled “key accomplishments” to list your successes.
5. Quantify your accomplishments
Applicants often don’t know the difference between quantifying results and just stating a job responsibility. A job responsibility is something that you do on a daily basis; a quantified achievement is the result of that responsibility. By quantifying results, you show employers what you can actually do for them. So, if your current résumé is a block of words and you don’t have one number in there, whether it’s dollars, percentages or comparative numbers, you need to make some revisions.
6. Include a summary or objective
Including a summary on your résumé is one of those steps that many job seekers forget to take — and if they do remember, they usually include the wrong information. Employers want to know if you’re a good fit for their organization, so writing something like, “To gain experience in X industry,” doesn’t say much about you or what you can do for the employer. Your career summary should portray your experience and emphasize how it will help the prospective employer. It should be specific and include explicit industry-related functions, quantifiable achievements or your areas of expertise.
7. Fill in the gaps
Most people will tell you to wait to explain any gaps in your work history until you get to the interview. But there’s a good chance that you won’t get that opportunity if there are gaps in the first place. If, for example, you were laid off at the beginning of 2008 and are still unemployed, try using the functional résumé format we explained earlier. Or, if you feel comfortable doing so, explain what you were doing during lapses between jobs. The employer will know you aren’t trying to hide a sketchy past.
8. Keep it simple
How many times do we have to tell you? Do not, by any means, format your résumé with crazy fonts or colors or print it on fluorescent paper. Find an uncommon, yet attractive and simple layout to catch the employer’s eye, instead of his wastebasket.
9. Double-check for the basics
Silly as it sounds, many people get so caught up in formatting and proofreading that they don’t check for the most basic information, such as an e-mail address, phone number and permanent address. Double-check that your résumé has this information — none of your hard work will pay off if no one can get ahold of you.
10. Check for consistency
Take a look over last year’s résumé and make sure there are no inconsistencies. If you decide to include periods at the end of your sentences, for example, make sure they are at the end of each one. If you chose to list your job duties, followed by an accomplishment in that duty, make sure you do so throughout your résumé. Use consistent fonts, sizes, bullets and other formatting options. Employers will notice your attention to detail and assume your work quality is of the same standard.
Finding Jobs Now: Silver Lining for Older Workers
Posted in Career Article, Tips & Tricks at 1:49 pm
Out of Work Baby Boomers Show a Refusal to Give Up
The job crisis has hit baby boomers hard: more than 5 million people over 45 are out of work – more than doubling in the past year. And it takes this age group longer to find a new job: more than six months for 44 percent of them.
No doubt the job market is challenging for everyone right now, but what I’m most impressed with among boomers is a refusal to give up. Statistics show discouraged workers throwing in the towel on their search in every age group except this one. There’s no official explanation, except perhaps because boomers can’t give up. There’s a mortgage and college tuition to pay. There’s that dwindling retirement savings. Some younger people may opt to go back to school fulltime and crash on mom’s couch. But for boomers, instead of saying, “Nobody’s hiring” or “I can’t find work”, they say, “I must find work and I will.”
In the last few weeks I’ve talked to many people 50 and over who’ve done just that, and I’ve compiled some of the lessons they shared.
Explore options based on your current (and often evolving) interests.
Don’t assume you have to do what you’ve always done. Unemployment offers you the chance to move in a new direction. Take stock of your lifestyle and interests, which have likely shifted over the years even though your job during that time had always remained the same. Have your personal passions changed? Can you spot a career opportunity that’s connected to your future dreams instead of to your previous responsibilities?
Check with the Career One Step in your area.
Even though there’s often lots of red tape connected to government assistance, you should make a visit to the state-run unemployment office in your area to inquire about the educational benefits and financial assistance you may be eligible for. Find the location near you at CareerOneStop.org. Many counselors have the inside scoop on dynamic programs that could be right for you.
Research resources specifically for workers 45 and over.
Civic Ventures Encore Careers provides grants to community colleges that develop training programs specifically for people 50 and over who are looking to switch or advance their careers. Career Voyages, run by the government, provides links to community colleges and training programs throughout the country where you can research and inquire about opportunities in your desired field.
AARP has online content and resources specifically for older workers. Experience Corps engages people over 55 in serving their communities. The Serve America Act offers incentives for those 55 and over to volunteer. Many local community groups—churches, the YMCA and other non-profits—offer programs to mature workers, so network in your area to discover what may be available.
Embrace social media.
Job searching can be very isolating. To combat that feeling of being alone and to connect with new people who can often help you get hired it’s essential to tap into the power of online social networking sites. The best way for learning and development specialist Jennifer Turner to shake the depression and snap out of her funk caused by a pink slip was to become active online. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter were foreign to her at first, but all offer simple tutorials on how to get started. These are the ideal forums to meet new people, connect with old colleagues, learn about job openings, share articles and ideas with like-minded people in your field, and more. A referral from someone you meet online is often the difference of landing the interview—or the position.
Sometimes it’s ok to focus on the place, not the position.
For some workers, location is everything. For others, the benefits at one employer matter most. If this sounds like you, focus less on getting your dream job, and study the openings that are relevant to your skills and experience. Don’t apply to every job at the company; be selective where you think you have the best shot.
Be humble.
Always do your best even if you believe the position is below your skill level.
After being a stay-at-home mom for 10 years, Caterina Ramsey got her foot in the door as a part-time cafeteria monitor—a far cry from the job in a school’s front office that she really wanted. But it was a chance to be where she wanted to be and offered her the opportunity to prove her worth and ability, which caught the eye of a decision maker who opted to promote her to the position she was best suited for as an administrative assistant. Demonstrating a strong work ethic and dedication can get you where you want to be.
Finally, go for it.
So many people over 50 who’ve lost their jobs tell me they feel old and slow—or they worry about being perceived that way by younger colleagues. Those concerns can inhibit anyone who’s looking for work. You have to believe in yourself—and be convinced that you have great value to offer an employer—before you can convince someone else to believe in you.
One California woman, Jan Alpert, lost her job in real estate and contemplated returning to school for fresh training, but she worried about how she’d fare with students half her age. Then came her first assignment – and as she wrote it, she realized she had so many life experiences to draw from, and she aced it. But she almost allowed the self-doubt to keep her from enrolling. Now she’s got a thriving business (24hourangels.com) where she’s making nearly the same money as in her former job lost at the start of the recession. Nobody can fire her, and she’s in a position to hire other people. Pure satisfaction!
Try Cold Calling in Your Job Search
Posted in Career Article, Tips & Tricks at 2:25 pm
There are few things job seekers dread more than making cold calls. However, if you are serious about finding a job — and in these tough times, you have to be — it is pretty much a requirement. You might just land the perfect opportunity as a result of speaking with people you don’t know very well (or even at all) who can support you in your job search. At first, cold calling can feel like “picking up a 10,000-pound telephone,” but that is something you must overcome.
Fear is probably the No.1 reason people avoid making telephone calls as part of a job search. Fear and faith make poor roommates because one dispels the other. Nobody wants to be rejected. However, like they say in sports — you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take, so you might as well give it a go. Employers expect these kinds of calls as part of their job and are usually willing to talk to callers. Good companies and managers are always interested in talented candidates, even if they aren’t referred to them by a recruiter or human resources.
Here are some tips for when it’s time to reach out:
1. Write a script for improved effectiveness.
• Outline what you want to get across on the telephone to give you the advantage of a polished message. The time to rehearse is not when you are talking to your contact.
• Time yourself not to exceed 60 seconds. Practice a 10-20 second version, better known as an elevator pitch.
• Make your first impression a good one. Sound energetic and enthusiastic, even if you’re feeling discouraged. Fake it until you make it.
2. Getting past the telephone gatekeeper
The first person to answer the telephone may be a receptionist, or “gatekeeper,” and requires diplomacy. You have to find the right balance between being blunt and being dishonest.
Example: “Hello, my name is Susan Jones. Would you please tell me the name of the manager involved in your company’s hiring decisions?” When you are ready, call and ask to speak to the manager by name. If the greeter asks you about the nature of your call, simply tell him or her that you want to address a letter to the manager with information that may be of interest. Also, be sure to ask for the correct spelling of that manager’s name.
3. Voice message
If you must leave a message after a few unsuccessful attempts at getting in touch with the hiring manager, leave a brief message.
Example: “I would like to talk with you about my qualifications for the program director position and learn whether there might be a mutual interest in my candidacy.”
• Use the name of the person who referred you, if possible.
• Avoid phone tag by offering two proposed times. Ask the manager to call to confirm.
• Recite your name and telephone number slowly. Saying this information too quickly may cost you a call back.
• Be prepared for an interview over the phone.
• You may be able to reach the executive before or after regular nine-to-five office hours.
• It is acceptable to leave up to about three or four voice mails; your persistence may pay off. You may lose a job opportunity waiting for an employer to return your call. Someone who is clearly interested will get the job instead.
4. Phone interview
If and when you finally do get the hiring manager on the phone, it is much more impressive if you can connect with him or her on a personal level. Breaking the ice before the call has even begun is a great way to relieve tension for both parties.
• Perform research to reference something unique about the company or the individual. This allows you to differentiate yourself from other applicants.
• Reach out to individuals on LinkedIn and other social networking sites that serve as a bridge to cold-calling and the desired face-to-face conversations. Work up to meeting with people after developing relationships through e-mail and discussions on the Internet. This is a “safe” way to develop relationships.
• Go one step warmer. Find a connection between you and the person you want to reach. Begin with people within organizations who can be helpful, without asking for a job. Request an introduction or advice on your résumé, or ask if you can job shadow to better understand the expectations for the job title.
In summary, engage in these activities to help transform discouragement into hope that you will land another job. Expect some discouraging periods at times, but that is not permission to give in to them and just stop. Feel the fear and pick up the 10,000-pound telephone anyway. Show courage in the midst of feeling fear. Our greatest challenges are usually the means that give way to significant professional growth. You must move forward to reach your goals. Keep a spirit of hope in the present; if you were happy in the past you can create a happy work environment again.
Oct 14Cover Letters Build the Case for Workers Over 50
Posted in Career Article, Tips & Tricks at 9:15 am
“The cover letter is dead.” You may have heard this pronouncement from friends or colleagues, who cite the trend toward electronic submission of resumes and the ever-shrinking attention span of application readers as reasons.
But according to those who think deeply about the particular challenges facing job seekers age 50 and above, the statement can be reversed: “Long live the cover letter!”
The cover letter is an age-neutral communication that can build a bridge from your impressive career achievements to the prospective employer’s specific needs and help punch your ticket to a job interview.
That’s why experts recommend using cover letters (or cover messages, for electronic submissions) to introduce professional connections, project youthful energy, demonstrate writing prowess, and — to set the stage for an upbeat interview — adroitly dispense with challenges such as resume gaps and requests for salary history.
Customization Is King
Because older workers have so much to gain through the cover letter, customizing the message to the opportunity is particularly important. “People send me the same cover letter that they sent to the last 10 positions they applied for,” says Sarah Hightower Hill, CEO of Chandler Hill Partners, a career search strategies firm. “That’s just crazy.”
If possible, start the letter with a reference to a professional colleague who connects you to the prospective employer. “Lead with the person who refers you,” says Carleen MacKay, a practice leader at staffing firm Spherion Corp. If you’ve chosen the connection wisely, you’ll vastly increase the chances of getting your resume read.
Now use the cover letter — a faceless, ageless message — to communicate your core qualifications for the job opening. Resist the temptation to cite years of experience or encyclopedic knowledge of your industry’s history. Instead, concentrate on recent, specific accomplishments that make you a match for the job.
Also use the cover message to showcase your business writing skills and familiarity with the language of your industry or occupation. You’re likely to have emerged from the US education system before it descended into its present state of mediocrity, and this should show in your writing.
Confront Difficult Issues and Put Them Behind You
If elements of your resume might raise substantial questions for its reviewers, it’s best to address these in the cover letter, where you can carefully calibrate your response — without revealing your age.
“It’s important to get stuff like resume gaps out of the way immediately,” says Brian Drum, CEO of Drum Associates, a search firm. The second half of the cover message is a good place to do so.
“If salary history is a requirement of the job posting, one must address it, and not superficially or deceptively,” says Hill. For older workers, especially those who want to deemphasize the high salary band they’ve reached in recent years, “it is appropriate to say, ‘Through my career, I’ve earned salaries in a range from…”
Finally, have a trusted colleague read through your cover letter to check the tone and avoid embarrassing spelling, grammar and other errors. After all, crafting an important document with care is one of the skills that can help make the case for your candidacy ahead of younger competitors.
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