First things first, do you live in the moment? Many of you are probably nodding your head, thinking the affirmative.."Yes...I live in the moment". But do you really? When you are eating your dinner are you thinking about each bite you take? Are you thinking about how good it tastes, how you (or someone) worked to prepare it, how thankful you are to be nourishing your body, or are you thinking about how yummy dessert will be, or all the clean up that will need to be done after dinner, or what you have to accomplish before bed? Yeah, I thought so. Most of us would like to think we live in the moment, but we really don't. Our minds are always busy worrying about what we must accomplish or fantasizing about something we'd like to happen, or mulling over something that we recently experienced and wish we would've handled differently. Unfortunately there are no mulligans in real life.
So why is the "living in the moment" philosophy so important when you're seeking new employment? Because your attitude and the energy you are projecting will have a huge impact on how successful you are at finding the job of your dreams. Now I don't claim to be the Employment Guru, but I've learned a thing or two about how to get hired and who is more likely to get hired over the years.
The more desperation a person gives off while in the interview process the less likely that person is to get hired. But, it's not as simple as controlling yourself during the interview process... you literally have to change your thought patterns. If you are constantly stressed about finding employment, you will be seeping stress from your pores, it will reflect in everything you do. People that are wound too tight are difficult to be around. Have you ever been around someone that is always stressed? They're moving too fast, making mistakes, difficult to deal with, often short-tempered and rarely cheerful.... who wants to work with that? You might be thinking..."If I could just find a job I wouldn't be so stressed anymore" but who will hire you when you're in that mental space of stress and despair?
To quote Dr. Wayne Dyer... "change your thoughts, change your life". A few years ago I was unexpectedly laid off. I had recently exhausted much of my savings moving across the country. I was in a new town, only knew a few people and had never been without work in my life.
When these situations happen, your first instinct is to go into panic mode (what will I do? how will I manage? what if I don't find work? ...on and on goes the little voice in your head). The best thing to do is take a deep breath, clear your mind and come up with a plan. Build a good resume, prepare a spreadsheet and market yourself (see my other posts for more on these topics). As you're going through your day to day process of finding employment take time to breathe, relax and be thankful for what you DO have. Here is a short list of things most people can be thankful for: being alive, family, friends, the ability to see, hear, read, feel, walk, talk, taste, a roof over your head, a soft place to sleep, a hot shower, a cold beverage etc.
When you make an effort to put yourself in a place of gratitude and relaxation you are opening yourself up to all the possibilities. Each day as you are seeking employment visualize the ideal job, the position you most want to fill. When your mind begins spinning into negativity... STOP! take a walk or a shower or watch a funny video... then re-group and get back at it. People want to work with people that are upbeat, positive and exude thoughtfulness.
Try to remember that what you put out into the world is what you will receive back. There is a reason for all the old sayings like "you reap what you sow". Call it Karma or Kismet or whatever you will...your rate of success will increase with your rate of positivity. It's ok to give yourself a break. You've worked hard, you've gained valuable experience, be in a place of gratitude and go find that dream job!
*Copyright - Expressed permission must be granted by the blog owner to recreate, copy or use this material* - but please feel free to share the link if you enjoyed the content!
Showing posts with label job search. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job search. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
How to Use Linkedin.com to it's Fullest!
Linkedin.com has been around for many years and it's popularity has been growing quickly over the last few years, especially among those in the technical community. Linkedin is more than a networking site, it is a career enhancement tool! This blog is intended to provide the reader with suggestions on how to create a good Linkedin Profile, build a strong presence on the site and use it to your advantage to further your career.
Your Linkedin Profile: When creating your profile, it should read similar to your resume.
>Start with a paragraph or two in the Summary section that outlines your career experience and future career goals. Include your email address in this section or put it directly next to your name so that people can easily contact you regarding your expertise and also invite you to join their network.
>You will want to provide a work history that includes any employment relevant to your current (or desired) career path.
>You will also want to bullet point responsibilities with each position listed to show a brief over-view of your most important skills and qualifications.
>In the Skills section, don't go over-board. List only the most important of your qualifications here.
>In the Websites section you should list your company site, any personal blogs you may wish to share or other business related sites you may have. I strongly suggest that you not list your Facebook page or blogs where you discuss issues unrelated to business. By including personal sites you can open yourself up to unwanted discrimination. The same goes for your Twitter account, if you're using Twitter to vent about your political views or amuse your friends with how drunk you were Saturday night, this isn't information you want your business network to review.
>You have the option of adding sections to your profile. The sections for Certifications, Courses, Honors & Rewards and Publications are all beneficial for adding industry related information that will augment your experience. Unless it is relevant to your career, I recommend not bogging down your profile with what books you're reading or where you've traveled etc.
>DO NOT include a phone number if you are not prepared to field calls from Head Hunters and Sales Professionals!
>Don't be afraid to ask for recommendations! Once you have started to build your list of connections, ask the people that have worked closely with you to provide recommendations. Most employers will review your Linkedin Profile prior to interviewing you, it is beneficial to have those references there to reinforce your abilities.
>Be thoughtful. Always consider who you are asking to join your network or accepting into your network. Do you know this person? Have you worked with them? What are their qualifications?
You can invite anyone to join your network, but if you don't know the person and they flag your invitation as unwanted solicitation, Linkedin will smack your hands and take away your privilege of inviting contacts unless you have their email address.
>Providing recommendations. You can and should recommend people you have worked with, however only recommend people that you have strong knowledge of their work and professionalism. You wouldn't want to recommend someone publicly that you have only known for a short time and later find out that they've been fired from previous jobs for their lack of work ethic or other issues. It is ok to say No when someone requests a recommendation.
>Groups. There are what seems like an infinite amount of groups on Linkedin for you to join. When reviewing groups to join consider how many members the group has, what information is being provided by the group and how it relates to your career.
Utlizing Linkedin when seeking new employment:
>If you are on the market, put together a well thought out message regarding what type of position you are seeking, location, responsibilities and any other expectations that are important to you and send that message to your established contacts on Linkedin.
>Post your desire to find a new position as a Discussion on the groups that you have joined in your industry. Don't forget to include your email address.
>Search the multitude of job postings in your industry related groups and also via the "Jobs" tab found at the top of your profile page.
>When you discover a job posting of interest, whether through Linkedin or the other job boards, you can search Linkedin to find a decision maker from that company and try to reach out to them directly to let them know you have interest in their opportunity and would like to discuss how best to apply. This direct approach doesn't always net a response, but if done professionally might give you an "in" where other applicants fall short.
Update! Update! Update!
>Each time you change jobs or finish an engagement or receive a promotion...make sure you update your profile to reflect that change!
>If you change employers be sure to update your employer website information in the Website section of your resume.
>If you have experienced a Lay-Off or your engagement has ended... ask some of the people you worked closely with to provide a recommendation for you.
In closing, it's important to check your Linkedin page at least once a week to review any messages you may have received. Imagine your Linkedin Profile as a live Resume, always being reviewed, considered and actively representing you in your absence. By keeping up with your messages and updating your profile regularly Linkedin should be one of the most significant tools in your employment process.
*Copyright - Expressed permission must be granted by the blog owner to recreate, copy or use this material* - but please feel free to share the link if you enjoyed the content!
Your Linkedin Profile: When creating your profile, it should read similar to your resume.
>Start with a paragraph or two in the Summary section that outlines your career experience and future career goals. Include your email address in this section or put it directly next to your name so that people can easily contact you regarding your expertise and also invite you to join their network.
>You will want to provide a work history that includes any employment relevant to your current (or desired) career path.
>You will also want to bullet point responsibilities with each position listed to show a brief over-view of your most important skills and qualifications.
>In the Skills section, don't go over-board. List only the most important of your qualifications here.
>In the Websites section you should list your company site, any personal blogs you may wish to share or other business related sites you may have. I strongly suggest that you not list your Facebook page or blogs where you discuss issues unrelated to business. By including personal sites you can open yourself up to unwanted discrimination. The same goes for your Twitter account, if you're using Twitter to vent about your political views or amuse your friends with how drunk you were Saturday night, this isn't information you want your business network to review.
>You have the option of adding sections to your profile. The sections for Certifications, Courses, Honors & Rewards and Publications are all beneficial for adding industry related information that will augment your experience. Unless it is relevant to your career, I recommend not bogging down your profile with what books you're reading or where you've traveled etc.
>DO NOT include a phone number if you are not prepared to field calls from Head Hunters and Sales Professionals!
>Don't be afraid to ask for recommendations! Once you have started to build your list of connections, ask the people that have worked closely with you to provide recommendations. Most employers will review your Linkedin Profile prior to interviewing you, it is beneficial to have those references there to reinforce your abilities.
>Be thoughtful. Always consider who you are asking to join your network or accepting into your network. Do you know this person? Have you worked with them? What are their qualifications?
You can invite anyone to join your network, but if you don't know the person and they flag your invitation as unwanted solicitation, Linkedin will smack your hands and take away your privilege of inviting contacts unless you have their email address.
>Providing recommendations. You can and should recommend people you have worked with, however only recommend people that you have strong knowledge of their work and professionalism. You wouldn't want to recommend someone publicly that you have only known for a short time and later find out that they've been fired from previous jobs for their lack of work ethic or other issues. It is ok to say No when someone requests a recommendation.
>Groups. There are what seems like an infinite amount of groups on Linkedin for you to join. When reviewing groups to join consider how many members the group has, what information is being provided by the group and how it relates to your career.
Utlizing Linkedin when seeking new employment:
>If you are on the market, put together a well thought out message regarding what type of position you are seeking, location, responsibilities and any other expectations that are important to you and send that message to your established contacts on Linkedin.
>Post your desire to find a new position as a Discussion on the groups that you have joined in your industry. Don't forget to include your email address.
>Search the multitude of job postings in your industry related groups and also via the "Jobs" tab found at the top of your profile page.
>When you discover a job posting of interest, whether through Linkedin or the other job boards, you can search Linkedin to find a decision maker from that company and try to reach out to them directly to let them know you have interest in their opportunity and would like to discuss how best to apply. This direct approach doesn't always net a response, but if done professionally might give you an "in" where other applicants fall short.
Update! Update! Update!
>Each time you change jobs or finish an engagement or receive a promotion...make sure you update your profile to reflect that change!
>If you change employers be sure to update your employer website information in the Website section of your resume.
>If you have experienced a Lay-Off or your engagement has ended... ask some of the people you worked closely with to provide a recommendation for you.
In closing, it's important to check your Linkedin page at least once a week to review any messages you may have received. Imagine your Linkedin Profile as a live Resume, always being reviewed, considered and actively representing you in your absence. By keeping up with your messages and updating your profile regularly Linkedin should be one of the most significant tools in your employment process.
*Copyright - Expressed permission must be granted by the blog owner to recreate, copy or use this material* - but please feel free to share the link if you enjoyed the content!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Resume Tips- How to Make Your Resume Stand Out
What to put down on paper: Resume Tips
Let's discuss Resumes. I've seen so many horrible resumes I don't know where to start... so I'm going to start from the top of a resume and work my way down.
Include: Name, Address (city / state), Phone, email (& linkedin, Twitter, Blog etc link if you have one)
Omit: SS#, marital status, number of children, health or any other personal information that could be used to discriminate.
Objective lines are no longer necessary or desirable. Put that info in your email or when necessary a cover letter.
Summary: In a paragraph or two, sum up the total of your best qualities (example: Accomplished, Versatile Technology Consultant with over 13 years of experience. Industry strengths relevant to: Healthcare Information Technology and Small business technology. Experience includes the following skills: etc)
Work History: Name each company you've worked for, dates of employment, job title and at least 3 bullets of your main responsibilities, try to include a bullet at the end about a milestone with that company (example: Earned the Presidential Sales award 4 years in a row). If you have a technical career remember to include what technologies you used...for instance; instead of "worked as a builder during the EMR implementation" you might want to say "provided build assistance with the implementation of Epic Ambulatory". Even if you have listed your technical skills in the Summary section of your resume, it is important to reiterate in the work history so the reader knows how recent your experience is with specific technologies.
Education: Listing High School education is not important. College education should be clearly listed. If you attended but did not graduate, make sure you put "degree not complete" or "in process". Include any important certifications or trainings in this area as well.
Awards and Affiliations: list any business awards you've received and any memberships you may have to work related organizations.
Volunteer work: (This is optional) list any relevant volunteer work you've done
References: Do NOT include references on the resume. Put: "References provided upon request" No need to provide references until you're to that stage in the interview process.
Font: Use a simple font like Times New Roman or Ariel, don't go with fancy letters or fonts like Comic Sans because it is often more difficult to read and doesn't appear professional.
Your resume (depending on how many years you've been in the job force) can comfortably be 2 full pages long. If you have a highly technical career, longer is acceptable. Keep personal information off the resume. If the potential employer wants to know your hobbies they'll ask.
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water, you want to be thorough but not overly wordy. Don't try to over-sell yourself. Get enough information out to intrigue the reader into calling you for an interview, then you can WOW them!
7 more tips:
1. SPELL CHECK! SPELL CHECK! SPELL CHECK! I've had clients turn down people for simple spelling mistakes. Remember that some industry terms may not come up on spell check, so always go through the resume carefully before you submit.
2. Do not give reasons for departing jobs, cover that in interview
3. Stick to bullet points, paragraphs of information can be overwhelming
4. Update your resume regularly
5. If you are considering work in more than 1 industry (ex: Sales OR Management) its a good idea to create different resumes for each industry to highlight those particular skills.
6. If you have changed professions over the years there is no need to put information from 10+ years ago. For instance, if you worked various restaurant jobs until 2005 and since then you've been in Nursing, no need to put any experience before 2005 on your resume because its not relevant to your current job search. If you don't feel like you have a handle on how to create a eye catching resume, hire someone to help you.
7. Do not email a link to your resume if you have it available on a web site without including a resume in document form. Providing your resume as an attached Document in PDF or .DOC format is ALWAYS preferable.
Include: Name, Address (city / state), Phone, email (& linkedin, Twitter, Blog etc link if you have one)
Omit: SS#, marital status, number of children, health or any other personal information that could be used to discriminate.
Objective lines are no longer necessary or desirable. Put that info in your email or when necessary a cover letter.
Summary: In a paragraph or two, sum up the total of your best qualities (example: Accomplished, Versatile Technology Consultant with over 13 years of experience. Industry strengths relevant to: Healthcare Information Technology and Small business technology. Experience includes the following skills: etc)
Work History: Name each company you've worked for, dates of employment, job title and at least 3 bullets of your main responsibilities, try to include a bullet at the end about a milestone with that company (example: Earned the Presidential Sales award 4 years in a row). If you have a technical career remember to include what technologies you used...for instance; instead of "worked as a builder during the EMR implementation" you might want to say "provided build assistance with the implementation of Epic Ambulatory". Even if you have listed your technical skills in the Summary section of your resume, it is important to reiterate in the work history so the reader knows how recent your experience is with specific technologies.
Education: Listing High School education is not important. College education should be clearly listed. If you attended but did not graduate, make sure you put "degree not complete" or "in process". Include any important certifications or trainings in this area as well.
Awards and Affiliations: list any business awards you've received and any memberships you may have to work related organizations.
Volunteer work: (This is optional) list any relevant volunteer work you've done
References: Do NOT include references on the resume. Put: "References provided upon request" No need to provide references until you're to that stage in the interview process.
Font: Use a simple font like Times New Roman or Ariel, don't go with fancy letters or fonts like Comic Sans because it is often more difficult to read and doesn't appear professional.
Your resume (depending on how many years you've been in the job force) can comfortably be 2 full pages long. If you have a highly technical career, longer is acceptable. Keep personal information off the resume. If the potential employer wants to know your hobbies they'll ask.
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water, you want to be thorough but not overly wordy. Don't try to over-sell yourself. Get enough information out to intrigue the reader into calling you for an interview, then you can WOW them!
7 more tips:
1. SPELL CHECK! SPELL CHECK! SPELL CHECK! I've had clients turn down people for simple spelling mistakes. Remember that some industry terms may not come up on spell check, so always go through the resume carefully before you submit.
2. Do not give reasons for departing jobs, cover that in interview
3. Stick to bullet points, paragraphs of information can be overwhelming
4. Update your resume regularly
5. If you are considering work in more than 1 industry (ex: Sales OR Management) its a good idea to create different resumes for each industry to highlight those particular skills.
6. If you have changed professions over the years there is no need to put information from 10+ years ago. For instance, if you worked various restaurant jobs until 2005 and since then you've been in Nursing, no need to put any experience before 2005 on your resume because its not relevant to your current job search. If you don't feel like you have a handle on how to create a eye catching resume, hire someone to help you.
7. Do not email a link to your resume if you have it available on a web site without including a resume in document form. Providing your resume as an attached Document in PDF or .DOC format is ALWAYS preferable.
8. Eliminate the use of "I" - instead of "I was responsible for the design, build and implementation of Epic Cadence" - Just say "Responsible for the design, build and implementation......".
UPDATED More Resume Tips!
*Copyright - Expressed permission must be granted by the blog owner to recreate, copy or use this material*
UPDATED More Resume Tips!
- Use the same font throughout the resume. You can change size to indicate a new section (ex: SUMMARY, EXPERIENCE etc) and bold the font to highlight employer and title but use the same font style
- Stick to black & white! Leave the colorful resumes to the people applying for Marketing or Artistic positions.
- Dont include a photo, your picture is unnecessary.
- Have a friend or colleague that has similar industry knowledge proof read it!
- When naming your document, use a combination of your name and the date to make it easily searchable by recruiters when they save it (ex: CLester2021.doc)
*Copyright - Expressed permission must be granted by the blog owner to recreate, copy or use this material*
Job Search Phone Etiquette
Job Search Phone Etiquette
There are a number of things you should remember when you decide to seek new employment. Now is a good time to cover Job Search Phone Etiquette. I'm going to omit conversation about phone interviews here, we will cover that in a future blog. Let's stick to the process between creating your cover letter & resume and obtaining that initial interview.
It is very important to list a phone number on your resume or in your profile on LinkedIn & on the job boards**. Email communication often goes to spam. You may miss a great opportunity simply because you didn't make yourself accessible enough.
Your voice mail message should always be professional, it may say something your friends will find amusing, but not a potential employer. Ex: You've reached the voice mail box of John Smith, I'm sorry I missed your call, please leave a message with your phone number and I'll return your call as soon as possible. I do not recommend using the automated response that says "you've reached (your phone number) leave a message at the tone". The Recruiter has no way to know that they've reached the correct number.
If you are in a place where you cannot answer your phone to discuss potential employment, turn your phone off so it will go directly to voice mail. It's very frustrating to the caller to have someone pick up and immediately hang up because their phone started ringing at an inappropriate time. That person will likely not call you back. If you do not own a cell phone and must resort to using a home phone, change your message to something simple like the one mentioned above. Always alert all family members that the number is on your resume and you are expecting important calls. Advise them to answer the phone professionally and supply pen and paper in a convenient spot so they can take down any necessary information if you are not at home to take the call. If there are children under the age of 10 in the home, they probably should not answer the phone during your job search. Too often I've had young children pick up that are incapable of taking a message. Even teenagers can be a road-block to your new career.
Recently I had the following conversation when dialing a home phone number:
Teenager: "Yeah?!" Me: "Hi is So & So home"? Teenager: "She can't come to the phone"
Me: "This is Cherie Lester from (name of my company)" "Could I leave her a message about a job"?Teenager: "Your number came up on caller ID, I'll tell her to call it" CLICK
You could also consider putting times of availability on your resume & profiles so Recruiters know when to reach out to you and you know when to expect their calls.
With numerous candidates on the market, its imperative to make sure the first impression you leave with a potential employer is a positive one. Often this first impression is your voice mail message or a family member taking a message for you. Keep the suggestions above in mind and it will be smooth sailing!
**In some instances omitting a telephone number from your resume is acceptable. In the HCIT industry there are a few areas of expertise that have a limited candidate pool. If you are an expert in one of these areas you may be flooded with calls from recruiters. In that case, create a specific email address to receive inquires on your resume... rule of thumb is some combination of your first name/last name at gmail/ymail or yahoo. This will eliminate having to potentially change your phone number.
*Copyright - Expressed permission must be granted by the blog owner to recreate, copy or use this material* - but please feel free to share the link if you enjoyed the content!
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