Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Improve your job search prospects: Don't order in French at the Chinese food restaurant!

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chinesefood429537352_e3f1654733_mFor some inexplicable reason, I seem to be thinking of a lot of food analogies when I’m coaching clients. I’m blaming this on reading too many peoples’ lunch and dinner menus on Twitter, but the analogies really do make a lot of sense when thinking about the job hunt.

For example, I was explaining to a prospective client how important it is to identify and target job and career goals in order to write a resume that will appeal to employers. She was having trouble deciding where to focus her search, and rather than choose some specific areas to address that would appeal to hiring managers, she combined everything in one resume – kind of a “jack of many trades” document, in an effort to demonstrate all of the various “things” that she could do.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 100 times – the resume must speak in the language that an employer will understand. If that job requires someone who knows how to “develop proposals and presentations detailing new implementation process plans implemented by top management,” saying that you have done that is terrific! If the job has nothing to do with developing proposals and presentations, that language might as well be Greek to the hiring manager simply stating your ability to do that task is not likely going to help your cause.

Food analogy #1 – Would you go to the Chinese food restaurant and place your order in French?
Not if you want to get your order right, you wouldn’t! Similarly, you need to speak the language that your target audience will understand.

To do this successfully, you need to:

1. Know Your Skills
Assess your skills and accomplishments. How? Talk to your friends and co-workers. Review written evaluations of your work. Think about the skills you use/d in your positions. Study a skills and accomplishments list.

What aspects of your job do you enjoy? What type of work do you hope to do in the future? What skills do you have that will be the stepping stones to getting to the next rung of your career ladder? Once you identify what you have to offer, it will be easier to connect the dots between the employer and you.

2. Know the Employer
What does the organization value? Use the job description as a guide and research the company using the internet and any available published material. For example, if the organization uses the words “team player” four times on their company home page, you will want to emphasize your ability to work well in teams. If possible, conduct informational meetings with people in the organization or those who know about it.

Parse their information down and pull out the language that resonates with your audience. Identify exactly what they want and demonstrate how and why you fit the bill.

For more information and some examples FOLLOW THIS LINK! Stay tuned for more food analogies…I need to get something to eat!

If you are ready for a change and could use some help with your search, follow THIS LINK to learn more about me and how we can work together!

photo by voteprime

Know what employers want to strengthen your career fitness

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fitness3125436528_6790992c00_mSo, you want to find the all important, challenging and meaningful work. I’ve been sharing information that Peter Weddle of Weddles said in his talk at the Career Management Alliance seminar. (Be sure to read the previoius posts – It’s not a come as you are job market and What’s your 3%?)

Weddle talked about having the courage to break out of the box you created for yourself at work. He asserts that everyone can be an A-player at something! The trick is to identify that special and unique part of you!

So, what does Peter think are the most important traits that employers seek?

He says, “Employers value people who are accomplished, but who accept responsibility for continuing to engage and learn.” In other words, you may be the most accomplished CEO, but your resume includes evidence that you are learning a new language!

But, what other aspects are attractive to employers?

  • Leadership
  • You speak a second language
  • Specific computer skills
  • Flexibility

Not surprisingly, employers all want to work with winners! How can you be a winner? Stay tuned for more ideas!

I will help you move in the right direction for your job hunt…If you are ready for a change and could use some help with your search, follow THIS LINK to learn more about me and how we can work together!!

photo by ambrosianapictures

Stop and think: what's your 3%?

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stop294078052_79bf02307a_mWhen work is challenging and meaningful, it is one place where people are happiest! At least, that is what Peter Weddle of Weddles said in his talk at the Career Management Alliance seminar. (Be sure to read yesterday’s post – It’s not a come as you are job market.) He asserted that “if you have courage, you can break out of the box you create for yourself” and take charge of your own career.

I liked this advice, as it echoes what I always tell my clients – “You drive your own career bus.” YOU are in charge of what direction you go, and you have choices about where to go next.

Weddle explained that the genome project taught us that humans are 97% similar! So, he suggested that we each offer 3% that is special and unique. Have you thought about that 3%? You need to focus and purposefully identify what you have to offer that makes you stand out from everyone else. It’s not enough to assume that it’s obvious or that everyone will recognize your talents. Stop, outline what you have to offer and focus on your goals. Then, move forward with intent.

Have you ever gone for a drive, but didn’t plan exactly where you wanted to end up? If you were lucky, you ended up at a great place for dinner or a nice spot to enjoy a water view. Other times, you just sort of drove and drove, but never really got anywhere? Sound familiar? You don’t want to take that chance with your career.

Weddle points out that the global markets are unforgiving. Stay tuned for more from Peter’s talk about what employers are seeking.

Need help to market your best skills? Peter says that EVERYONE can be an A-player. I can show you how! Contact me for help with your search.

photo by adobemac

Don't Be Desperate – Lying on Your Resume is a Bad Idea

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There is a car wash not far from where I live with a marquee out front that reads, “We are not participating in the recession.”

I drive by frequently, but today, the sign made me stop and think. (Literally stop – it was a really long red light!)

Maybe it sounds silly, but can individuals deny the recession? Some would talk about the power of positive thinking and how it can impact our reality. I’m no economist, but I know that the stock market rises and falls on confidence levels and expectations. Can we wish ourselves
out of a recession?

Maybe not, but job seekers should control one factor – acting on desperation.

Desperate people do foolish things. We’ve all watched the movies where the main character, anxious to achieve some goal, takes paths that lead away from the target instead of toward it…Viewers feel like shouting at the screen – NO – STOP! Don’t do it! If you were a character in a movie, what would you say to yourself?

One mistake you never want to make is lying or embellishing your resume. The Wall Street Journal recently noted that “about 20% of job seekers and employees undergoing background checks exaggerate their educational backgrounds. In a 2004 survey of human-resource professionals, 61% said they “often” or “sometimes” find résumé inaccuracies when vetting prospective hires, according to the Society for Human Resource Management.”

You can imagine that finding a lie on your resume would be a deal breaker in a job hunt. Anita Bruzzese recently suggested a great list of facts that an employer can easily check. Here is her list of items you should review on your resume to be sure everything is on the up and up:

1. Schools. Make sure your dates are correct, as well as the major field of study, GPA, etc.

2. Honors. Everything from graduating at the top of your class to an industry award can be verified with a couple of phone calls by an employer.

3.  Job titles. While many former employers will only verify your dates of employment, it’s easy enough to use online resources to find people who used to work with you and can talk about your past work performance, titles, duties, etc.

4. Credit history. If you are applying for a position where you will have anything to do with money, chances are good your credit history may be reviewed. Be prepared to explain why it’s bad, if that’s the case, and what you’re doing to improve it.

5. Criminal history. Unless you’re applying for a government job, it won’t be required that you answer if you were charged with a crime. And, most employers are willing to even overlook some convictions if it was a youthful indiscretion or you got caught with one too many glasses of wine in your system. If you were convicted of a crimes that involve sex, drugs or theft, it’s going to be tougher. On the application, simply note that you would like to discuss the issue. Remember: It’s pretty simple to access court records concerning a conviction, so it’s better to come clean in person and try and explain it rather than lying outright.

6. Online. First, try and clean up your reputation with these tips. Second, get your story together on how you’ll explain anything that an employer digs up about you online. It’s better to show you’ve learned your lesson rather than trying to lie about something unflattering that is revealed on the Internet.

Another thing that raises a red flag? Many people do not write their LinkedIn profiles carefully. An employer who finds that your LinkedIn and resume have discrepencies may hesitate to contact you for an interview.

What would raise a red flag for you? Do you think that this job market will drive job seekers to desperate measures? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

Don’t wait until you are desperate! Keppie Careers will help get your job hunt on the right track.

photo by the hidaway

Is Your Resume Holding You Back?

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If you’ve been looking for a job for a while, and you know that you are qualified, but no one is calling (on any of your phones!) What should you do?

I speak to potential clients who fit this category regularly. Clients suggest many possible scapegoats as to why the phone isn’t ringing:

  • Age discrimination.
  • My experience doesn’t exactly match their needs. No one will give me a chance to prove myself.
  • I’m trying to transition from non-profit to for-profit and they just don’t want me.
  • They look at my previous industry and discriminate against me because they don’t like (fill in the blank).

I would never tell potential clients that these factors have NOTHING to do with their hunt or that it is easy to overcome these possible roadblocks. However, when I review resumes from these job seekers, I usually identify fatal resume flaws that have nothing to do with age, experience or industry. Many times, it is clear to me that these job seekers are approaching their searches with resumes that are doing them more harm than good.

Some examples:

Age Discrimination. Many resumes appear old-fashioned and outdated. They include information that isn’t necessary (such as date of birth), but  omit key resume details (such as dates of employment). If the job seeker is “experienced” (read: older), an outdated looking resume only puts a spotlight on a factor that might be considered a drawback.

Lack of experience. Job seekers who don’t have direct experience in their field of choice make mistakes when they don’t attempt to address the needed skills and stick to a basic “this is the stuff I did” resume. Listing “stuff” isn’t going to cut it when you’re reaching for a job. Focus on those transferable skills. Look at your “soft” skills. Figure out what you have to offer and highlight it for the reader.

Transitioning. Consider how you describe your past experiences. If you are moving to a for-profit, use language that appeals to that employer. Always write for your target. I recently worked with a client to re-write a “non-profit” sounding job description using “for-profit” language. She landed an interview within 24 hours of sending the resume.  If you are applying for a job in France, you’d write your resume in French. Similarly, be sure to use lingo and descriptions that will make sense to the reader. Don’t expect them to translate it!

Industry Discrimination. I’ve worked with clients who believe their current industry isn’t an asset in moving to a new field. For example, a chiropractor who wants to work in accounting. It is easy to write a resume that makes accounting skills and experience the first thing employers will read. I’ve seen many resumes of job hunters who highlight the very information they think detracts from their candidacy!

So, if your phone isn’t ringing, don’t start assigning blame and throwing up your hands until you take a good, long look at your resume. You may be surprised at what you DO control in your job hunt.

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Can’t figure out how to optimize your resume with key words? Need a great resume? Career search advice? Mock interview? Visit Keppie Careers online for information about our services: www.keppiecareers.com.

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