I got an email yesterday from a client wanting to know if I had any job search tips. Unfortunately, he had been recently laid off and found himself on the job market. Talking to him got me thinking...what really makes a job search successful?
The bad news is that there isn't a magic formula. The good news is there are a number of very simple things you can do to improve your marketability.
Here are four easy steps:
This might sound simple, but it is by far the most important (and first) step in a job search. You need to have your resume ready to roll at a moment's notice.
The way I see it, there are two kinds of job seekers. There is the job seeker that draws confidence from being prepared and then there is the kind of job seeker that gets blindsided by the unexpected. I know which kind I'd rather be.
The best time to focus on your resume is when you don't need it.
Is your resume for you or is it for prospective employers? The resume might have your info, experience, and accomplishments on it, but ultimately, the documents that make it past the ATS not only have the right amount of keywords peppered throughout, but also show, very clearly, what the applicant can do for the potential employer.
When writing your resume, always keep potential employers at the forefront of your mind. Make sure you quantify your experience, skills, and accomplishments. Give them a preview of the kind of positive impact you could have on their organization if they were to hire you.
Really. It's not. The most successful job seekers understand that it's about what you do for others, not about what they can do for you.
This is a fundamental idea that for some I hope turns the act of "networking" completely upside down. In every interaction, the most important thing is to demonstrate, "How can I help YOU?" It's the folks that unselfishly look out for those around them that make opportunities happen. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
What connections can you help make? Ask open ended questions. You may even choose to treat the conversation like an informational interview. What professional needs does the other party have and how can you fill them?
This is such a simple concept, but it's probably the biggest obstacle I see with many of my clients. You have to have a target. It is as easy as that. How can you expect to reach the goal of employment without aiming for a bull's-eye?
The first step is to clearly identify the job/profession/industry you are targeting. You may even have a company that you've always wanted to work at. (It's always a good idea to have an interview bucket list—a list of companies you're passionate about that you'd love to work for someday.)
Make sure that your goal aligns with your experience. Then (and only then) are you free to begin outlining a plan to achieve your goal.
Here's an example:
I have an open door policy with my resume clients and I keep tabs on them throughout their job searches. Out of all the resumes and resume clients I've ever had, only one resume didn't work. One. When I wrote the initial resume, my client was targeting retail sales positions. Then she called one day a couple of months into her job search wondering why she wasn't getting any responses. I asked her to send me an example of the jobs she was applying for and guess what? All the online job applications she had filled out were for human resources positions. No wonder her resume didn't work!After rewriting her resume, she found work relatively quickly and it just goes to show how important it is to aim before you pull the trigger.
Know your audience, be proactive, and remember that it's not about you. If you apply these things to your job search, you'll be employed in no time!
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This post was originally published at an earlier date.
Anyone who's ever been unemployed (or looked for a job while employed) knows how stressful and exhausting the job search process can be. So, during your job search, should you feel guilty for taking some time for yourself?
The short answer: No. Of course not.
If we're not spending every waking moment applying for jobs, sometimes it's easy to feel guilty—like we're not doing EVERYTHING we can to land our next job. This strategy of applying for as many jobs as possible and hoping for the best actually doesn't help anyone get a job faster. In other words, choosing quantity over quality. This is the wrong mindset to have, and it does more harm than good.
The job search process is about working smarter, not harder.
Think about a normal work day. It's pretty balanced, right? You get up, go to work, come home, and still have hours left in the day to do whatever you want. Your job isn't the only thing you have going on in your life. That's why it's called work-life balance. To sum it up...
Your job isn't your whole life. So, your job search shouldn't be either.
Here are some ways you can take time for yourself as you look for a new job (because you deserve it!):
via GIPHY
When you're unemployed, here at Work It Daily we like to say this is an opportunity for you to get in the best shape of your life.
Taking care of yourself is important and regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for both your physical and mental health. It's a great way to relieve stress and it may even help you sleep better.
Take advantage of the free time you have after applying for jobs and get moving! Chances are, you'll walk into your next interview with more confidence and an extra spring in your step.
Nothing helps us detach from our busy lives like reading a good book.
Quiet those racing thoughts by reading—any genre will do! Reading may help you learn something new, gain new perspectives, and help with empathy (all things that will benefit you at your next job).
Knowledge is power!
Although you may dread networking, think of it as a necessary evil. Sure, it sucks having to step outside your comfort zone and you'd rather be doing other things. But nothing can produce positive career results quite like networking. There's no substitute for it.
If you're between jobs, you should devote some of your time to networking. You'll meet new people in your industry, and connect with those who have similar interests and career goals. If it doesn't help you get your next job, it may help you get a job down the line.
Sometimes all we need when we're feeling down is a visit with our family and friends. They've supported you through tougher times, and they'll support you through this transition, too.
When you're starting to doubt yourself, they will remind you of your strengths and accomplishments. They'll give you that confidence boost you need. At the very least, you'll have quality time with the people you love—time you don't always have when you're working every day.
One of the best ways you can spend your time during the job search process is by learning a new skill.
Whether it's getting certified or taking a class, this skill should be applicable to your new job. You can add it to your resume, and it shows employers you've been doing something productive for your career, even when you weren't employed.
If you try these five things (or just one!), you'll transition to your next job with ease—and it won't feel like you're just waiting out the clock. Be proactive and take ownership of your career like never before! You may be looking for a job, but don't let that stop you from living your best life.
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The job search process is always evolving.
It's not about going to the job boards, finding the job opening you like, and then applying to it. That method will only have you waiting by the phone for a call that's likely not going to happen. Today's job seekers need to take a more proactive and interactive approach called job networking—and LinkedIn is a resource to help you do it.
Creating a strong LinkedIn profile will help you get in front of the right contacts (recruiters, hiring managers, professionals in the field, etc.) who can lead you to the path of the next job opportunity. However, in order for it all to happen, you need a LinkedIn profile that communicates and displays the right information. Take a run through the LinkedIn profile checklist below to learn how to use your LinkedIn profile effectively.
Make Sure you Have An Appropriate Headline
The Headline is what shows up for your LinkedIn profile when it comes up in search results. It's also what shows up when others look at you through their contacts' connections. By default, your LinkedIn profile headline reads your current job title and employer, but if you want to grab the attention of others it should say more than that. Think about keywords and highlighting your greatest skill sets.
Display Professionalism In Your Profile Photo
A LinkedIn profile that includes a headshot photo is more likely to be clicked on than a profile without a photo. In selecting your profile photo, go with a headshot that presents you professionally and that makes you come off approachable.
Personalize Your LinkedIn URL
Whether you choose to include your LinkedIn profile to your resume or email signature, personalize the URL. It'll come off more professional and memorable. For ex. www.linkedin.com/yourname or www.linkedin.com/professionalkeyword.
Offer Your Value Statement Through The Summary Section
Like the resume, your LinkedIn profile should have a Summary at the top that highlights what it is that you have to offer and how that translates to value for the potential employer. While pronouns like I, me and my are not advised on the resume, on your LinkedIn profile it needs to take on a more conversational tone, so they are okay.
Make Your Work Experience Keyword-Rich
As you describe and highlight accomplishments on the job under Work Experience, think about relevant keywords to include naturally in your writing. The more keyword-rich your profile is, the more likely it'll show up in search results.
Get Endorsed For The Right Skills And Expertise
Review the Skills and Expertise section to prioritize what's important. When you do that, your contacts are more likely to endorse you for the right skills, which in turn show recruiters and hiring managers you have what they are looking for. What you want to avoid is including Skills and Expertise that don't relate to the job or your profession. That will simply dilute your overall message.
Don't Let Your Education Give Away Your Age
Your education, which can include specialized training and certifications received, adds value to your qualifications. When listing the information, take caution with dates. It's not necessary to indicate when you received your degree from college—that can give away your age in some cases. Also don't include anything that may be too dated. You want to show you hold current skills that are valuable to the profession, not dated skills.
Join Relevant Groups
LinkedIn offers Groups to join in all areas—professional associations, industry groups, alumni groups, etc. If they're relevant to your profession or skills needed for the job, share their badge on your profile. It helps hiring managers and recruiters to see that you're connected and active in networks that are important.
You can also benefit by taking things a step further with Groups like participating in discussions and sharing interesting articles to get your name out there. Many hiring managers and recruiters will look at discussions in relevant groups to pull out potential candidates for job openings they have available.
Make Your Profile Public
LinkedIn profiles that are made public allow others to view your information whether you're connected with them or not. This option is best when you're a job seeker.
Looking for more great LinkedIn advice? Check out this "JT Talks Jobs" podcast, where Work It Daily CEO J.T. O'Donnell discusses LinkedIn optimization tips.
Did you know that as a member of Work It Daily you have access to unlimited LinkedIn profile reviews?
Join Work It Daily today and take advantage of our trained career support specialists that will work individually with you to come up with a specialized plan. All of our memberships offer private coaching along with unlimited networking potential, and a library of exclusive career courses. Additionally, and for no extra cost, you'll also receive unlimited resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile reviews by our trained specialists as part of our membership.
Networking is vital to job search success. Networking can lead to referrals, identifying jobs that aren't yet posted, and securing informational interviews. They can also lead to future professional references.
These results can give you a competitive advantage and help you progress towards your career goal. Networking platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter are tools that can help you effectively expand your network. Here's how...
Online or offline, the goal of networking is to build relationships. Every social networking platform offers some means of connecting with new people. Interact with others and share posts that are thoughtful and relevant to your field. Engage your audience by seeking input and sharing your thoughts or review of industry-related topics.
Share these topics and post information onto your own profile for your audience, but also get involved in groups on LinkedIn or chats on Twitter. There are thousands of chats and groups for a wide variety of industries, specialties, or job searching in general. Do some exploring and request to join the group or start following the Twitter chat.
In my experience, people are very receptive to newcomers on these interactive forums. These forums can be a great way to meet new people. After participating, you can begin to follow or request a connection with individual contributors. Depending on your location, there may be the possibility of meeting your connections in person. The social network is a platform to build these relationships and make that in-person connection.
Patience...Patience...Patience! All good things take time.
Maintain a positive attitude and be flexible. Those two skills can save you from many future career headaches. Not everyone will be willing to connect. Remember that networking is a two-way street. Prioritize your connections based on who has a job you'd love to do, or who works for one of your target employers, and focus your efforts strategically.
Always personalize connection messages to new people on sites like LinkedIn to let the potential contact know you're not arbitrarily clicking every "Connect" button in Suggested Contacts. Keep connection messages brief and to the point. I'd recommend not going into personal detail this early on or putting potential connections on the spot: just invite them to be a connection or offer your email address as a point of contact.
Something as simple as, "Hi Jane, I've enjoyed following your contributions to XYZ Group and agreed with your review of Acme Co article you posted. I am also a (insert job title here) and would like to connect with you. Please let me know if I can be of any help. Thanks."
Short, simple, with a personal reference and offer to help, shows that you are trying to form a mutually beneficial relationship.
By building relationships, you can become a resource on certain topics for your network. Gaining credibility takes time, but let the process happen naturally. Conduct research, search for best practices, gain more experience and get in contact with people that share their experience.
This is where actively participating in Twitter chats or LinkedIn groups can help build your knowledge. Sharing ideas with others that are passionate about their field can keep you motivated and engaged in your line of work. After developing these relationships, opportunities can arise off-screen as well. Assisting in a volunteer effort that was coordinated online, attending a networking event that was promoted online, a speaking event, or a job club—read the information about the events your network is posting and try to commit to going when your schedule permits.
A hiring manager may look you up on Google during some point of the job search process. If you actively network across platforms such as LinkedIn or Twitter, or attend events in person, your Google search results page may show these stories and profiles.
Any site you join for professional networking purposes should serve as a complement to your resume. That means whether you post blogs, tweets, or share information on LinkedIn, all your content should be professional and error free. These pages can validate your candidacy and make you stand out among the competition.
As you start networking, you'll learn more about your field, gain skills and build confidence. Build relationships and help others in your search. Use social networking for job search success and foster relationships that can help you discover your next opportunity.
Improve your networking efforts by understanding how you communicate with others. Take Work It Daily's FREE Communication Style Quiz.
Work It Daily has a team of trained career support specialists that will work individually with you to come up with a specialized plan. All of our memberships offer private coaching along with unlimited networking potential, and a library of exclusive career courses. Additionally, and for no extra cost, you'll also receive unlimited resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile reviews by our trained specialists as part of our membership. Join today!
A prepared job seeker will have thought about questions that will be asked at the job interview. One of them may be: "Why are you leaving your job?" As you think about a response to this question, also consider how the interviewer may interpret that response.
It's important to take caution with how questions are answered at the job interview because when it's not framed properly, it can be interpreted negatively and cost you the job opportunity.
There can be many reasons to why you want to leave your job. They could be:
Whatever your reason is, it's not always appropriate to tell it like it is to the potential employer. Think of a response that will impress the employer, but that still comes off as an honest reason.
Here are some tips to help:
Communication at a job interview should always come off positive. To start, you may talk about the great opportunities you've been given and how much you've learned through your current employer, before giving your reason. Employers like to hear things like this because you come off as professional and respectful of your existing employer even though you have made the decision to move on. Regardless of your real feelings and the situation at work, never bad mouth the company or your co-workers.
There may be multiple reasons why you want to leave your current job, but you don't need to include information about what you're not being offered. The reason for this is because potential employers can interpret it as action you may take against them if hired.
For example instead of saying, "I don't feel challenged at work anymore," re-frame the message to say, "I'm looking for new challenges in the area of X, Y, and Z, which I can see this job offers," and then go into the experience and skills you have to offer to further impress the interviewer. Re-framing your response in this manner makes it less likely that the employer will take the information and interpret it negatively.
Talk about what you're heading towards—what you want to experience and achieve to continue growing professionally. It works best when you can also tie in how the potential employer could offer that for you. When you answer in this manner, it informs the employer that you are an individual who seeks self-improvement and that you have real interest in the company because of what they specifically offer. It tells the employer you are someone with great potential for hire who will be dedicated to employment with them for a reasonable amount of time.
"Why are you leaving your job?" is only one out of many questions you will be asked at the job interview. Knowing how to respond positively and framing it in a way that informs the employer why you're a great fit ensures you stay in the running for the job and it helps move you on to the next stage of the interview process.
Need help preparing for your next job interview? Check out Work It Daily's FREE list of Common Interview Questions.
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There's no doubt that things have shifted dramatically as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, leaders are asking themselves hard questions.
What does the next "normal" look like for them? And, how can they successfully implement new aspects of their culture into this new normal?
Here are four key things leaders must consider if they want to truly live their culture in the next new normal.
The 2008 financial crisis forced leaders to rethink operations, supply chain, vendor management, employee engagement, ethics, and integrity. Layoffs were widespread and money vanished, while the real estate market collapsed amidst big bank failures fueled by consumers inability to pay excessive mortgages.
It's now 2020: The pandemic health crisis is new, yet the economic dynamics seem eerily familiar. With the exception of "essential workers" in the food (grocer), safety, and health sectors, business has shut down. Supply chain vendors, grocers, and healthcare systems struggle to keep pace with consumer need/demand as we experience roller-coaster infection rates, re-openings, and new shut-downs. How to survive this is anyone's guess as every day brings on new cases and more questions.
According to a Fortune 500 CEO survey, 97.2 % of CEO's said keeping employees safe and productively employed is their #1 concern. (1)
A company's strong employee culture and the ability to pivot quickly with evolving dynamics are key to thriving Post-COVID.
A company's culture must absolutely drive this question. Grant Reid, MARS CEO, said, "Part of my job is to import stress and export serenity...how do you bring them back safely into a work environment, keep the social distance and allow them to be successful and safe? Your associates are looking for stability, some hope, some compassion, some trust." (2)
The physical aspect of return is critical. "Companies are re-evaluating physical layouts specific to each employee. They are looking at common areas; multi-tenant commercial spaces...and rearranging reception common areas." (2)
Workstations need more distance and hallways need to become one-way venues. Employers must also evaluate testing protocols for employees, frequency of testing, and qualified caregivers conducting those tests. GoHealth Urgent Care is providing clinical back-up when employer resources are unavailable. (3)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created guidance on engineering and administrative controls for preparing the workplace for re-entry. (4) And, the EEOC has issued updated guidance on how employers can avoid violating the ADA and other employment laws in addressing the virus. (5)
Significant concerns arise for Workers Compensation insurance. Historically, community-spread illnesses (e.g. cold or flu) have been excluded. Six states recently passed "presumptive" legislation, and 14 total have expanded regulations to include COVID-19 as a workplace illness. To complicate matters, other injuries in the workplace may go unreported, or claims closures extended since non-urgent treatment is delayed in most jurisdictions. (6)
One of the many challenges from this pandemic has been dealing with an ever-changing regulatory climate. With Workers Compensation rule changes, amendments to health benefits, the need for Childcare/Adult care, and the implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), companies have struggled to make difficult decisions to care for their employees.
This is the time to look for innovative ways to step up employee benefits such as adding paid sick leave, amending sick policies to ensure employees are paid even if the business is closed, and unlimited paid sick leave even for workers not previously covered, such as hourly workers. Adding child care reimbursement, and increased emergency child care and eldercare benefits can help your employees deal with the pressures of working from home.All group health plans will need to adopt changes to ensure that their plans comply with changes made by the FFCRA and the CARES Act and provide sufficient benefits to combat COVID-19. (7) Under the acts, group health plans will have to do the following:
- Cover the full cost without cost-sharing (i.e., deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance) of testing for COVID-19. This requirement extends to tests provided by both in-network and out-of-network providers and is mandated for the duration of the public health emergency. Both swab tests that collect a specimen from an individual's upper respiratory tract to diagnose a case of COVID-19 and approved blood tests that look for antibodies to the coronavirus must be covered
- Once developed, group health plans will also be required to provide coverage without any cost-sharing for coronavirus vaccines.
To lessen the anxiety of your employees, consider adding or extending mental health benefits that are personalized and confidential, and offer telehealth services.
According to J.S. Nelson, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law professor, "The working landscape has changed, perhaps forever. How employees and management move forward from this experience will shape the workplace for decades to come. These challenges include" :
1. Recognizing individual circumstances
2. Reacting with empathy when feeling out of control
3. Maintaining transparency when feeling out of control
4. Not taking advantage of the situation to push other agendas
5. Remembering the power of healthcare and benefit coverage while not abusing them (8)
Understanding where your organization stands on these ethical challenges is a good foundation for the decisions you need to make for the future. Questions you then need to ask are:
- Are your mission, values, and culture still relevant today and in the near, very different future? Do you have a process in place to continually assess this?
- Is your culture helping or hindering your companies' performance?
- Are your employees weathering this "storm"? What do they need less of or more of to be happier and more productive? Can you even answer this question? Do you know how they feel?
- Are you looking for opportunities for hyper-personalization for your employees and customers? For example, do you give employees whose mental health issues worsened by working from home alone, priority when coming back to the office?
- How your employees view your stand on diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging have always been important, but with the ultra focus in the past few weeks, how would you rate your organization? Have you made this a priority?
Your company's ability to effectively navigate the impact and stress on the employee base will drive resiliency and long-term sustainability. Your associates will be the first to say whether RTWS was successful, which inevitably will be reflected in your organization's product and ultimately in customer satisfaction.
Sources:
1.) See Fortune 500 CEO Survey, May 14, 2020
2.) See James Dean, MARS CEO Talks Life At Mars and steering through COVID-19, Times of London, May 9, 2020
3.) Wendy Knight - A conversation with Todd Latz, CEO, Go Health Urgent Care, May 7, 2020
4.) See Occupational Health & Safety Administration, OSHA.gov, Guidance on Returning to WorkGuidance on Returning to Work
5.) See Judy Greenwald, EEOC Expands Covid-19 Workplace Guidance, businessinsurance.com, May 7, 2020
6.) See Courtney DuChene, Longer Claims, Falling Premiums: NCCI Details on How COVID-19 Could Affect Workers Compensation, riskandinsurance.com, April 30, 2020
7.) See Business Group on Health, Update on COVID-19 Testing Coverage, 03/2020
8.) See J.S. Nelson, 5 Ethical Challenges Employers Will Face As They Reopen, hrdive.com, June 17, 2020
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