Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon: how to break out of your job search rut

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Anyone who might have happened upon my tweets yesterday will know that I am a University of Michigan fan. Yes, I graduated from Michigan, and have terrific memories of trekking to Michigan Stadium with 100,000+ of my closest friends to watch games.

Today, I want to talk about Michigan’s new quarterback, Denard Robinson. He had an amazing start to the season. People were talking Heisman Trophy. Fans and pundits gave him credit for winning Michigan’s first four games where he posted amazing rushing and passing yards. In the first four games of the season, he ran for 905 yards, eight scores and threw for 1,008 yards and seven scores with only one interception.

Yesterday’s (34-17) loss against Michigan State was another story. Denard made three costly turnovers and ran for a season-low 86 yards. (Two should have been touchdowns instead of interceptions. Like a knife in a fan’s heart.)

Now, everyone’s saying “goodbye Heisman trophy” and recognizing Denard as vulnerable and human instead of a superstar.

What’s the career lesson here? Is it “You are only as good as your last job?”

How about “Remember, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon?” No matter what — if you are having success (or not), you need to stay on top of things to either 1) keep achieving the results you want or 2) change results that need to be different.

Just as Denard Robinson needs to move on from an admittedly pretty disastrous game, if your job search isn’t going well, you need to think about what you can do differently and do it. While Denard has tapes to watch and coaches to coach him on how he can do better next time, maybe you only have you and your lack of a job. Can you break out of a rut (if you’re having a rut) on your own? Maybe investing in some advice is a good idea. Think about it.

As a coach, I can’t help but suggest that there is nothing better than good, solid, one-on-one coaching to help identify problem areas. I’ve said this many times — an investment in your career or job search has the potential to repay you many times.

Another great option for job seekers is THE CAREER SUMMIT. Tons of career advice, all for a low price of $99 for a short time. Check it out now, before the early bird is over at the close of business today – Sunday, October 10th.

The topics include everything from how to think about finding a job you love, to what has changed in search, demystifying the recruiting process, online career management, interviewing and (last but not least) — strategies and tips for your resume, social media profile and job search. Read more HERE or visit the site HERE to learn more.

We can’t all be Big 10 quarterbacks with a staff to support us, but you can access tons of great professional advice via The Career Summit. Think about it!

5 things to do if you need to look for a job

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Yesterday, I joined Steve Boese and Shawna Moerke on their online, call-in radio show,  HR Happy Hour. The show focuses on  current topics in Human Resources with leaders and experts in the field. I participated because this week’s show featured The Career Summit – a series of online webinars aimed at helping job seekers (and prospective job seekers) achieve their goals.

During the show, Laurie Ruettimann, one of the masterminds for the Summit, asked fellow guest Ryan Paugh, Community Manager for Brazen Careerist, a great question. She asked what he would do if he were looking for a job today.

Listening in, I started to think about how I would answer that question in a sound byte. I answer this question with clients every day — helping people decide what to do when they are ready for a career change is my business. What’s the “quick and dirty” reply?

1. Identify what you offer. Figure out your value proposition as it relates to the market. Practice explaining how your accomplishments and experiences support your ability to solve specific problems.

2. Research target organizations that will value your skills and expertise. Find organizations who have problems you can solve.

3. Create materials that target your ideal organizations and opportunities. This includes a focused resume, an optimized LinkedIn profile and a totally professional social networking identity.

4. Connect, connect, connect. Use best practices for social networking. Expand your network using Twitter/LinkedIn/Facebook. One best practice: give before you get. There are many steps to help you succeed with online networking, but knowing what you have to offer others is an important first step toward success.

5. Keep doing it! Hopefully, the more you engage with others, both in person and online, the better you will get at doing it successfully.

These are some of my first steps for job seekers. What ideas do you have?

(You can listen to the whole HR Happy Hour here.)

If you are looking for a job, you may also want to check out THE CAREER SUMMIT. Tons of career advice, all for a low price of $99 for a short time. Check it out now, before the early bird is over at the close of business Sunday, October 10th.

The topics include everything from how to think about finding a job you love, to what has changed in search, demystifying the recruiting process, online career management, interviewing and (last but not least) — strategies and tips for your resume, social media profile and job search. Read more HERE or visit the site HERE.

photo by bellybouncer

Things are not always what they seem. Job search lessons

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How about a deviation from the norm for a Friday? My brother shared this fun video with me…Since I have this habit of viewing everything through the lens of a career coach, job search advice writer/blogger, of course, I think there are some messages…(What we used to call “salient points” when I was at Columbia.)

1. Things aren’t always what they seem at first. (Watch the video, you’ll see!) The career message? Keep in mind when you apply for a job that you may need to think more broadly about the opportunity. The lesson may be that a job is better than you think…or that it is worse!

2. If you go to the site and read the comments, there’s another career lesson. People reacted very differently to this video. Many thought it was cute, some focused on the fact that the commercial ruins it (this version is without the ad), others point out details you may not have noticed. (For example, there are two kids who hide under the table at the beginning…Then, the table goes up with the back wall! Did you notice the flying people at the end? The eccentric “grandma” figure in the chair on the side?) Some seemed disgusted by the fact that it is “fake;” others said, “fake, but cute.”

Career tip: everyone reacts differently. Your resume? Show it to 10 people, you can get 15 opinions. Create a video resume? Some will like it, others may hate it.

What should you do in response? Do what you can to demonstrate the best you have to offer. Solicit opinions from people you trust, but recognize that some people have more informed opinions about what may work best in the market today. In the end, it is up to you to share your pitch, a story that is about you that you are proud to share. Maybe you are willing to take a risk — to be edgy — or even cutting edge. Maybe not. It’s your story, your choice.

Watch the video. Let me know what you think…and if you agree that there are some job hunting lessons embedded!

picture from Thomas Hawk

Over 50 in the job hunt

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I recently received a note from a prospective client. An executive in his late 50’s, he took early retirement from his company and was looking for his *next* thing to do. He explained he had applied for hundreds of executive positions and almost as many minimum wage positions with his resume, but that he had not been called in for one interview. His frustration, “I can’t help that I am over 50.”

What a frustrating situation. I can imagine how difficult it must be for a job seeker who has not been in the market for some time – applying for jobs – even minimum wage jobs – and no one being interested.

If this sounds like you…Stop and think about this: Is it really your age or experience level that is preventing you from landing interviews, or is it your approach to the job market?

Start with the minimum-wage jobs:

Put yourself in the shoes of people at McDonald’s who receive your resume detailing your executive-level experience. If you were doing the hiring, would you hire you? What experience on your resume suggests that you would be good at running the cash register? Or that you have experience serving food to impatient customers? They can’t understand why you would apply for the job, and they aren’t going to stop and try to figure it out. Yes, maybe you are thinking of a franchise ownership, and want to learn the ropes, but have you said so? Regardless of your goals, have you tweaked your resume to suggest you have the skills they need to serve their customers?

McDonald’s just needs to put someone in the job who can manage the responsibilities. If you can do it, the onus is on you to explain how; you need to send a customized resume for the job, not the same resume your outplacement firm created to help you apply for executive positions.

As for the executive jobs:

If you are not landing interviews, there is a problem, either with your resume or with the way you are conducting your search. If you are applying to hundreds of jobs, are you really focusing on each position and company and tweaking your materials appropriately? I’m guessing not. Companies are interested in someone who has exactly the experience they need. They want what they want, and they are unlikely to spend a lot of time trying to analyze your materials to identify where the overlap between your skills and their needs might be. That is your job.

Target your resume. Identify organizations of interest and make inroads by networking. Use social media channels to expand the number of people who know and take an interest in you. (The side benefit of this for over 50 workers is that they look in touch and prevent themselves from being labeled out-of-date.) Use what you learn to improve your materials and help hook your targeted organizations.

Sorry to yell, but: DO NOT SEND THE EXACT SAME RESUME TO HUNDREDS OF JOBS. No matter what the jobs may be. You need a resume that you know how to tweak slightly and adapt for different positions. You also need a cover letter that makes it clear why you are qualified for the job. In a few special circumstances, I have written cover letters for clients who really didn’t have the exact skills and qualifications for the targeted job, but the letter earned them calls and generated interest. While I am not a fan of applying to jobs without having the qualifications, these successes show that a persuasive, targeted pitch can make the difference.

Take the time to focus your search. Don’t look for a scapegoat (your age, too much experience, the economy, etc.) Instead, use your skills, market your experiences and accomplishments to the right organizations and people and give your search a fresh, new start.

Of course, my job is to help people navigate the job search maze. Maybe I can help. Contact me for a quote. It might be the best investment you could make.

Footnote: If you are looking for meaningful work in the non-profit sector for your next (or encore) career, be sure to visit the Encore Careers site, which shares great resources to help people who want to use their skills to combine “purpose, passion and a paycheck.”

photo by CJ Roberts

Are you faceless and nameless to your targeted employers?

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Did you play with Lego blocks as a kid? (Or, maybe you still do? I have a friend whose brother – an adult – has a house full of Lego structures. He never outgrew his Lego obsession.)

Earlier this week, I shared thoughts about how to break down your job hunt, inspired by a Lego “big apple” I saw while visiting New York City in June. I took another photo during that visit that made me think. This big, faceless, naked Lego guy was in a window.

I couldn’t help but think that this figure represents a lot of job seekers; the ones who are not doing anything to make themselves stand out. The job seekers who believe applying online to hundreds of jobs is the same as a job search strategy. The employee who just does what it takes to get by and doesn’t think about his or her career plans or path.

Take a look at yourself; are you this Lego figure? Indistinguishable from your peers, with nothing significant to attract a hiring manager? If you are plain, it is going to be very difficult to land an opportunity.

Think about what you can do to distinguish yourself. Start here – put some SIZZLE in your job hunt – before summer is over!