Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Keppie Careers Featured on Career.Alltop.com

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I am thrilled to share the news that Keppie Careers’ blog is now featured on Guy Kawasaki’s site, career.alltop.com.

For those not familiar with Guy’s Alltop badge, he gathers top blogs in a variety of fields and topics and collects them for easy access and viewing. Headings include Work, Living, Culture, Sports…You name it, Guy’s “Alltop” list has it “covered.” (Click here for a page with Alltop’s links.)

I welcome new readers from Alltop.com and hope you will become regular visitors to Keppie Careers!

Need help with your resume or job search? Keppie Careers is here for you. How can we help? Contact us at [email protected].

Don't Wait Until All the Berries Are Picked!

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Picking Strawberries Again

photo by captpiper

Have you ever wanted to do
something but waited too
long and it was too late?

This happened to me this week. I had planned (by planned, I really mean thought about it and decided it would be fun) to go strawberry picking with my boys. Although it would be hot (really hot), the idea of having a productive day in the sun, resulting in lots of juicy, not-overly expensive strawberries seemed like a great idea.

To make a long story short, I waited too long. The strawberries are all picked over. It’s not even worth going now. But, blueberries are in season soon! You can bet that I’m not going to miss out this time. I’ve already penciled in a blueberry picking time – right as the season starts.

Blueberry picking
photo by eltjoport

Even the best intended plans sometimes go astray. My problem? I didn’t focus on my goal (mmm…strawberry shortcake, strawberry shakes, strawberries and cream…) and my idea never actually became a plan. When a job hunt is at stake, the results are more important than a lack of strawberry treats. A new job isn’t going to come knocking on your door any more than a bale of berries was going to start growing in my yard.

You need to plant the seeds –
make a plan to get things moving
in the right direction for your career.

Are you someone who planned for a “new career for a new year” back when the ball dropped and 2007 turned to 2008? If you are, I hope you aren’t letting someone else pick all of your berries! It’s hard to believe, but 2008 is almost 1/2 over.

If you haven’t focused on your hunt, you’ll be right where you started when 2008 becomes 2009.

What is holding you back from making a positive change in your life? Even if the strawberries are all gone, you still owe it to yourself to make sure you have a fruitful career! Keppie Careers can help by walking you through every step of your job hunt, from writing your resume to negotiating the offer: www.keppiecareers.com

Don't Try to Grow a Bigger Ox and Your Job Hunt

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Musk Ox of Alaska

photo by drurydrama

So, you’re wondering what a bigger ox has to do with your job hunt?

Today’s post was inspired by a quote from Peter Shankman, author, PR guru and owner of the list “Help A Reporter Out.” Today, his email reads:

In pioneer days, they used oxen for pulling, and when one ox couldn’t budge a log, they didn’t try and grow a bigger ox.” Peter says, “When one pitch doesn’t work, sending six more of the exact same pitches usually won’t, either.”

Peter’s focus is PR – pitching stories to reporters or other influencers in hopes of achieving good buzz for a client or product. I’ve often written about how a job search is an exercise in marketing and PR, so the jump from a focus on a “pitch” to thinking about your job hunt is more of a hop than a leap.

If you’ve been sending out your “pitch/resume” and haven’t been getting the response you’d like, consider if your plan is as effective as trying to grow a bigger ox. Sending and re-sending that same resume is not going to help you get anywhere but frustrated. Most likely, a revision (maybe a transformation) is in order!

Throw in some great networking and interviewing tips, and you’re on the right path.

Keppie Careers can help you get your job search moving! www.keppiecareers.com

Communicate for Impact!

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Communicating effectively and with clarity is key for job seekers and professionals in all fields. For job seekers, the ability to connect in an interview and sell themselves confidently makes the difference between a shot at the job and getting the job. Others in the workforce find themselves trying to persuade others of their viewpoints on a regular basis.

Do you come across as unsure? Uncertain? Do you end every sentence with a question mark? If so, you aren’t communicating for impact!

This video (a FedEx commercial) perfectly demonstrates how important it is to communicate with emphasis and clarity. (Hat tip: Speechworks’ blog, Talking Points).

Don’t have your ideas stolen by someone with more authority…Focus on the communication skills that will launch or sink your career.

Stay tuned for more on the art of communication!

Keppie Careers will help you communicate with impact. Need help getting your ideas across for a job hunt? www.keppiecareers.com.

Stop Toe-Tapping: Clarifying Expectations for Your Job Hunt, Part II

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Toe-tapping

Photo by vintagediva_nat

Last week, I wrote that it is a good idea to clarify expectations for your job hunt. I focused on the fact that you need to give yourself a reasonable amount of time to land a job you want. If you’re convinced that a successful job search will be a 2-month process, when realistically, 8 months is typical, you are setting yourself up to be disappointed.

Similarly, it will help your job hunt management plan if you clarify expectations for the all important, “Waiting to hear.” Most job hunters spent a lot of time “waiting to hear.” You’re waiting to hear if you’ll get an interview. You’re waiting to hear if you’re being considered…Waiting to find out if you made it to round two…If you’ll get an offer. Sometimes, it seems like the waiting never ends. Maybe it seems like waiting for Godot…

I recently received an email from a client who was anxiously waiting to hear back from a very large employer. They told her that she was under consideration for a position. That was two weeks ago. Her question: Does this employer typically take so long?

My response: When you are waiting for an employer to get back to you about a job (especially a large employer with an HR department and a lot of hiring layers), think in terms of months, not days.

Her reply was very smart: “I guess I should stop toe-tapping.”

There are a lot of productive things that you can do with your time while you are in the “waiting” stage.

It is best to always have several balls up in the air – never stop your search to wait for just one or two employers to get back to you.

One useful strategy to help avoid needless toe tapping:

If you do speak to someone who
lets you know that you are under
consideration for a job, express
enthusiasm and excitement and
ask about their time frame.

A great last question for an interviewee to ask at an interview: When do you expect to make a decision? Granted, their answer is not set in stone. Things change. Delays occur. However, if you know that they are interviewing 35 people over the next 3 weeks, it will help you plan your follow-up.

I really liked this list of ideas from the Villanova University School of Law about how to handle the waiting game:

  • Accept that two things are certain in the job search process: (1) the process will often be unpredictable and (2) you will often face uncertainty.
  • Take action on other fronts by pursuing other employers. Keep moving forward while you’re waiting for a response. Don’t wait passively for something to happen. Be proactive by targeting other employers.
  • Follow up with employers by phone, e-mail and/or letter. Mark your calendar so you remember the next follow-up dates.
  • When following up, convey your continued enthusiasm, not your frustration. Remember: the person on the other end of that call can be your best advocate or your worst enemy. How you treat them will dictate which role they play in your candidacy.
  • Continue networking with the organization-you may develop helpful relationships.
  • Be ready to move quickly if and when you finally do get a response. Use the “waiting period” to research the employer in greater depth and determine what questions you’d need answered before accepting an offer.
  • Know your audience when following up. Are they overwhelmed? Afraid to make hasty decision? Waiting for economic justification to hire? Trying to convince others to hire you? Empathize with your audience and don’t vent your frustration.
  • Expand your plan. Develop new targets. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
  • Be honest. Don’t use ruses to get faster answers. Don’t say “I’ve got an offer from another employer” if you don’t. Honesty is always the best policy.
  • Make peace with the fact that closure may not occur in every situation. Persistence in the face of uncertainty will eventually produce results!

Although it may not seem like it, a lot of the job search process IS in your court…use your “waiting” time well. Prepare for a possible interview. Find an even better job and apply for it! Don’t forget to drive your own career bus. If it seems stalled at the station, it is up to you to put the key in and start the ignition!

Are you sure your resume will shorten your wait? Need help preparing for an interview? Keppie Careers is here to help!