Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

How to evaluate a job description – are you qualified?

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knocking on door206400298_9c650c5585_mThere are a lot of elements to job seeking. In a perfect world, no job seeker would ever need to apply for a job – the jobs would all come knocking. Well, clearly, this isn’t a perfect world. Most job seekers are not in the position to move from job to job effortlessly. So, reviewing and evaluating job descriptions is a necessary evil.

It’s both a blessing and a curse that todays descriptions are so elaborate and LONG. Some of you will remember when applying for a job involved reading a three-line ad in a newspaper and hoping you would get lucky and hit the nail on the head with your application materials. Now, companies have no limits to the number of words they can use in their “desired qualifications.” If you are lucky, someone who really knows what the job involves will write the description, but you can be sure there’ll be a lot of words, plenty of lingo and probably a lot of qualifications to meet.

So, what’s the good part of looking at these job descriptions that don’t seem to end? At least you get a good sense of what the organization values. If they want four of five key qualifications, they will list all of them (and then some), so you will know from the start their wish list. (In the old days, they may have left something off that would come back to bite you in the butt later in the process.)

The other advantage to long job descriptions? You can use them to help connect the dots between what they need and what you offer. Connecting the dots is the key to success with applications.

When you review a job description – first, think about the type of organization. Is it a government job? If there are required minimum qualifications (for example, a four-year degree in a particular industry AND 4 years of related work experience) – you are likely out of luck if you do not have those exact qualifications. Applying for that job without the minimum qualifications, unless you have some sort of great networking connection or otherwise have reason to believe that you are  “special” circumstance, is likely to be a waste of your time for a government job. Since targeting your resume for each job is important and targeting and cover letter writing takes your valuable time, looking at the situation with a realistic view is important.

Does this mean that you should never consider jobs beyond your qualifications?

NO! In fact, I’ve written tips for applying for jobs that are a reach. However, it’s important to spend your application time well, so evaluating the job description is key.

We all know that job descriptions often seem to be seeking the “sun, moon and stars.” Employers “shoot for the moon.” They want the equivalent of an accountant who has written a novel and has a perfect golf game! In other words, an unlikely combination!

When “desired qualifications” include experiences you do not have, it can still be worth applying. As long as you can make a direct connection between what they want and what you offer, I advise going for it!

Make a point to understand your skills and qualifications. Know your limitations and where you have potential to successfully stretch.

A little self-assessment can go a long way. You must know yourself to sell your skills. If you apply for an interview for a position that is a stretch, be prepared to sell yourself and defend your ability to get the job done. Know what transferable skills you possess that will make you successful. You can apply for “reach” jobs until you are blue in the face, but if you don’t know how to convince the employer that you CAN do the job, even if you haven’t ALREADY done it, you’re going to be looking for a long time.

Let me help get you started ahead of the job seeking pack. Learn more about what I can do for you.

photo by cupe vampe

The "right" way to look for a job…

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one way440308423_823520a6f8_mWouldn’t it be nice if there were just one “right” way to look for a job? Everyone would be able to look at the manual (it would be free online) and know what font and style to use on a resume, how long it should be, whether or not to list a graduation date, if a cover letter is really necessary, which keywords to use or not use, what online tools to incorporate, how and when to follow up and at what intervals, what answers to prepare for an interview…I could go on and on here!

Well, I’m here to tell you that there is no manual to follow that ensures you’ll appeal to every employer all of the time!

I recently worked with a client whose resume I totally redesigned using a very modern style. Her reply, “I thought it was going to look more like the one I sent…Will this appeal to recruiters, since they read resumes in a Z pattern?”

Not an unexpected question, and also interesting, since I know recruiters who just skip the top section and look for the resume’s “meat!” I explained that the best resume professionals are not writing “your mother’s resume” anymore. Times have changed, and we need to change with them. My client showed her new resume to an (older) recruiter who admitted it wasn’t what she expected to see, but that she liked the format and how it outlined the candidate’s skills and made her stand out! I couldn’t have been more pleased!

But, remember, no one can say, “This is the way to go…It will appeal to EVERYONE and win you the interview every time.” If you meet a professional who has all of the answers and does not acknowledge the fact that there are many shades of gray when it comes to the job hunt, be skeptical. Stay tuned tomorrow for a sardonic, but funny look at why there is no one “best” way to job hunt!

So, are you ready to get in the search? To grab the keys and climb the stairs to your own career bus? Let me help get you started ahead of the pack. Learn more about what I can do for you – and WHY you should hire me to help you.

photo by loopweaver

Delaying your job search? Ready to pack it all in?

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suitcases2703024979_ac0bae3e27_mRecently, Jonnelle Marte wrote an article for the Wall Street Journal’s The Wallet about how college grads are delaying the job search. She contacted me for my take on the trend, which she described in the article:

More college grads are putting off the job search this year, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Just 59% of the 16,500 graduating seniors surveyed had started looking for jobs by the end of April, compared to 75% who had started by that time last year and 64% in 2007. Only about 40% have actually applied for a job.

Jonnelle interviewed Winnie Yang, a 2009 George Washington University graduate. Winnie applied for “a few more than 10 jobs between January and April,” and is taking a break from the job hunt in favor of a few months of international travel.

I certainly understand the propensity to avoid the job search. I’m sure that it’s not just young people delaying their searches. People of every age avoid job hunting if at all possible. While my business is to help people overcome their fears of job hunting and offer tools to provide clarity, confidence and job search know-how, I recognize that it’s a difficult and often demoralizing process.

You’re out there, doing the best you can (or you think you are doing the best you can), but jobs are not easy to find. Statistics vary, but I’ve heard that there are anywhere from 4-8 people for every job (depending on your location and field). It’s not a “come as you are” job market.

But, does that mean it is a good time to pack your bags or sit on the beach all summer and just wait for things to improve? I bet you can guess my answer! NO WAY.

Think about it – job seeking is a skill. Just like any other skill – think swimming, biking, photography – you get better at it the more you PRACTICE. “Practice looking for a job?,” you ask? Yes, absolutely! The more you network, the more you use Twitter, answer questions on LinkedIn, revise and tweak your cover letter and resume   – the BETTER YOU GET at it! That’s not even counting possible interview opportunities. The more you do it, the better off you are. (Don’t forget that I do mock interviews!)

A personal story to illustrate the point…

When I first applied for a career services position, I recognized that I was under more than the usual amount of scrutiny. After all, I was applying for a job to teach people how to job hunt! So, of course, I spent a lot of time personalizing and targeting each application specifically for the positions.

Despite my expertise and the care I took, I remember looking back at resumes I sent at the early part of my search and remarking (to myself), “WHAT was I thinking?” Now, mind you, these resumes were solid – well done. I even got interviews from several of them – including some that I wasn’t technically qualified to do (but I digress). The point – even though I knew what I was doing, actually updating my own resume and resending it over and over made me a much better applicant. Practice (and waiting) paid off in the job I landed – heading up the career center at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

So – if you are waiting because you are stuck, or scared, or just plain tired of it all, or because you think the economy will get better in the fall and you’ll be fresher, I honestly think you are kidding yourself. You need to be IN it to WIN it. How can you drive your own career bus if you are not picking up the keys? Think of all the possible lost networking opportunities you can have over the summer. (You can still get a free copy of my networking guide – CLICK HERE for info.) What about the job descriptions that may be posted online or on Twitter or via your network on LinkedIn? If you are not looking, you will not find them. And you will never know what opportunities you may have lost along the way.

Do I think you should spend your every waking moment looking for a job? No way. (In fact, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m a big advocate of HIRING SOMEONE – ME(!) – to help you with your materials and your search so you know you are starting way ahead of the pack. Save your time, money and sanity!) Yes, take a break, but not a 3-week break! Don’t be a job seeker-a-holic, but don’t step out of the frey if you want to be competitive in today’s tough economic times.

So, are you ready to get in the search? To grab the keys and climb the stairs to your own career bus? Let me help get you started ahead of the pack. Learn more about what I can do for you – and WHY you should hire me to help you.

photo by MollyPop

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Are you a career coward? Your guide to changing careers!

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careercowardj3904If you are afraid to make a change in your career and/or hesitant to begin to take the wheel to drive your own career bus, you are not alone! Many people facing a change stop in their tracks because they can’t figure out what to do next and don’t want to make the “wrong” move.

Enter Katy Piotrowski’s book, The Career Coward’s Guide to Changing Careers.

Katy guides her readers through a series of stages to help them decide on their plans and overcome roadblocks caused by fear and hesitation. She offers exercises and support from the “discover your natural talents and best skills” stage through to the point of being ready to learn “how to succeed and progress in your new career.”

With confidence checklists and profiles throughout that demonstrate success stories and cases in point, Katy brings her (potentially reluctant) readers along and offers courage to overcome “panic points” to succeed.

My favorite chapter? Chapter 8 – Execute a Successful Informational Interview. Katy offers sample scripts to secure the meeting and step-by-step instructions to help readers know “What to Wear, Where to Meet and How to Act.” Key advice? “Take notes and leave your resume at home.” Successful networkers conduct as many informational meetings as possible. (CLICK HERE for my thoughts on info interviews.)

I highly recommend The Career Coward’s Guide for anyone who is experiencing a fearful transition – and who isn’t?

If you’d like to win a FREE copy, comment on this blog post to enter a random drawing! Feel free to comment on all of my blogs for a better chance to win:

If you need some coaching to figure out what you should do next, contact my business partner, Hallie Crawford. Once you know what you want to do, if you need some help to get your job search in gear – Learn more about me and my services.- I will help!

Strawberry picking and your job hunt

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strawberriesI wrote the following post last year, and I thought it was appropriate to share it today. I learned my lesson and plan to go berry picking this morning. In fact, I may be out picking berries as you read this! (Or eating the fruits of my labor!)

The career lesson in a nutshell? Don’t delay your job search. I know that it is tempting to take a break over the summer. It’s hot and a good time for vacation. The kids are home from school, and schedules are off kilter. However, if you hold off and delay your search – you don’t get your resume in order, start (or grow) your online and in-person networking efforts, you’ll just be that much further behind in the fall. So, take some time now and get some help with your search. Contact me for a quote for a resume revision. Did you know that you can probably make back your investment in the first few days – maybe even hours – on the job?

Read on for some additional incentive to get up and get going from last year’s post!

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. Although it would be hot (really hot), the idea of having a productive day in the sun, resulting in lots of juicy, inexpensive strawberries seemed like a great plan.

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.

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? If you are, I hope you aren’t letting someone else pick all of your berries! It’s hard to believe, but this year is almost 1/2 over.

If you haven’t focused on your hunt, you’ll be right where you started when another new year comes around.

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! I can help by walking you through every step of your job hunt, from writing your resume to negotiating your offer. Learn more about me and how I can help and be sure to get in touch soon!