You donâ€t need to transform into someone else altogether, but if you havenâ€t been successful in the past, make sure you avoid these 10 scary job search mistakes.

1. Frightening your network. Unwittingly, many job seekers compel their contacts to turn and run as if Freddy Krueger were chasing them. If you are asking everyone you know to help you find a job and are not having any luck, change your approach. Focus on what you have to offer people you want to meet and do not mention anything about looking for a job when you network and you may have more luck.
2. Not following up with contacts you meet during networking. Most job seekers are guilty of not keeping in touch with the people who may be able to influence their searches.
3. Not identifying and including targeted keywords in your resume and online materials. If you are applying for jobs and hoping for the best, you may as well dig a hole and throw your resume inside and place a “RIP” tombstone on top.
4. Making your resume about your past instead of your future. Be sure you donâ€t mummify your skills.
5. Failing to eliminate errors. Mistakes are a job search killer.
6. Scaring off hiring managers by applying for every position. You may be surprised to learn that 43% of recruiters would blacklist a candidate for applying to irrelevant positions, according to research from Bullhorn. (Hat tip Dan Schawbel.)  Just because you can apply for every job does not mean you should.
7. Not preparing to answer important questions in interview. If you want to win a competitive costume contest, youâ€ll plan in advance and have everything you need to create your “look.” Similarly, when itâ€s time to interview, itâ€s up to you to practice what youâ€ll say.
8. Not tapping into social media. If youâ€ve decided your privacy is more important than anything else and you don the equivalent of Harry Potterâ€s invisibility cloak online, you are making a big mistake.
9. Throwing up your hands and giving up. Unlike unsuspecting people in scary movies who always seem to find trouble, people who arenâ€t putting out the right feelers are not likely to find jobs.
10. Letting your guard down once you get a job. Once you do land in the job youâ€ve been seeking, celebrate, but donâ€t get complacent. No job is forever.

You donâ€t have to lose your brains during your job search — proper preparation can help you to avoid making common mistakes. Read all of the tips on my U.S. News & World Report column.

Halloween bonus! This infographic from Careerleaf, an all-in-one job search platform, outlines their 10 scariest job seeker mistakes–and how to avoid them. Enjoy! Follow all this advice to land more treats than tricks this year.

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One way to help you stand out from a crowd? Demonstrating the ability to learn peopleâ€s names. “Name recall will boost your image, earn you respect and differentiate you,” explains Nicholas Aretakis, author of No More Ramen: The 20-Somethingâ€s Real World Survival Guide. Dale Carnegie focuses on this important principle in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People. In it, he says, “Remember that a personâ€s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”

When youâ€re searching for a job, there are so many opportunities to impress people by remembering and using their names: in networking situations, in new internships or volunteer opportunities, during interviews and when starting a new job. You have a chance to stand out from the crowd just by remembering a new contactâ€s name.

If you have trouble remembering names, make an extra effort and use these tips to help you focus and pay attention:

Make it a priority to learn names. Focus on each person’s name instead of falling back on an excuse that you’re “not good at names.”

Be sure to repeat the personâ€s name when you first meet. “Nice to meet you, Sarah.” Try to say the name several times during your first introduction. This avoids the embarrassing situation many experience: being introduced to someone, engaging in a long conversation, and parting ways without knowing the personâ€s name. Donâ€t pass the point of no return without knowing your new contactâ€s name. You may even ask him or her to repeat it if you didnâ€t hear it the first time. Incorporate the name into the conversation at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end: “Iâ€ll look forward to connecting on LinkedIn, Tamara.”

Try to engage in a unique conversation with a new acquaintance, and make some notes. If you meet a room full of people and have the same conversation with everyone, it will be difficult to remember who was who. Ask people about their hobbies, their summer plans, comment on their tie–incorporate some element into the conversation to help you identify that person later. Write the name down on the personâ€s business card if possible and keep notes about their physical description, including clothing or jewelry. You may note, “Patricia–black, curly hair, red scarf, discussed her large, unusual watch.”

Meeting a couple or business partners? Link their names to try to remember them. For example, if the couple had the names Debra and Brett, the “b” sound in Debra may trigger you to remember Brettâ€s name.

Use a mnemonic device. BuildYourMemory.com suggests: “In order to remember that the name of a tall, thin man that you have just been introduced to is Mr. Adamson, you might try visualizing the biblical first man ‘Adam†(complete with fig leaf), holding a little boy in his arms. Adam’s son–Adamson.”

Make an association. Chris Witt suggests creating an exaggerated image, thinking of a rhyme, or connecting a feeling based on the personâ€s name. For example, “Short Shelly, Muscular Mike, or Dapper Dave.” Other examples from Witt Communications:

• Imagine a ham that weighs a ton spinning on the end of Mrs. Hamiltonâ€s nose.
• Picture an old-fashioned car jack under Jackâ€s prominent jaw.
• See margarine melting through Margaretâ€s curly, blond hair.
• Dave needs a shave.
• Latrice is Pattyâ€s niece.
• Michelle, ma belle. (The Beatleâ€s tune.)
• Martin Peck is a pain in the neck.
• Suzanne Patterson has sweaty palms.
• Paul is pushy.

Donâ€t let any name slip by you. Adam Greenfield, Inner Sunset community organizer, suggested additional ideas to ensure you learn names, even if you missed a first opportunity:

• If you slipped up and forgot to focus on the personâ€s name, be sure to ask the next time. Itâ€s awkward to work with someone whose name you should know, but donâ€t.
• Introduce someone else. If itâ€s really awkward to re-ask someoneâ€s name, try to introduce the person to someone else. Hopefully, theyâ€ll take the introductions up themselves and each say their names. You may never know the deciding factor that allows you to land a new opportunity. No matter what your career goals, making an effort to learn names along your way can only help achieve your goals.

This post originally appeared on U.S. News & World Report

photo by Cocoabiscuit

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This month’s question? How to heat up your job hunt?

I encourage you to visit other members’ responses, which are linked at the end of my post. Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.

1. Talk to people you do NOT think can help you. Just because someone isn’t in your field doesn’t mean they don’t have useful information for you. (Or you for them.) Our lives intersect in so many points. Think of someone you consider least likely to be able to share good information with you for your search. Meet for coffee. You may be surprised!
2. Network generously. Think how you can help others instead of what they may offer you.
3. Optimize your online presence, but don’t waste time zapping a lot of resumes to ads on large job boards. The possibilities to connect are endless: Blogs, networking sites such as linkedin.com, large and small social networks provide opportunities to “meet” professionals from every industry.
4. Evaluate your resume. Is it top notch?  A professionally written resume will shorten your search and may qualify you for a higher-paying position.
5. Customize your resume for EVERY job. It is worth your time. If you want to get your foot in the door, your resume must clearly outline how your skills and accomplishments solve a problem for the employer. It is your job to offer clear reasons to interview you.
6. Evaluate your interviewing skills. Are you selling yourself? Your resume got you in the door; the interview is your chance to show the employer that you really have what it takes to join their team.
7. Vet your references. They have the potential to seal the deal for you. Do you know what they might say?
8. Appearance matters. Cut your hair. Shine your shoes. Invest in a nice suit.
9. Don’t let your job hunt consume you. Frequent exercise, support or networking groups and chocolate can be good stress relievers! Don’t spend every minute on your job hunt. You still need to have a life! Plus, you never know – it could be someone you meet on a trip to the grocery store or a seatmate on an airplane while on vacation who winds up linking you to your next job.
10. Consider hiring a job search coach. Would you set your own broken bone? Wire your own home for electricity? Do you cut your own hair? Most would say “no.” The same standard should apply when job seeking. If you aren’t an expert on the job hunt, getting some advice will help you advance your search. It may also save you time, money and sanity in the long run!

Be sure to visit my colleagues’ responses to this month’s question!

Turn Off The Computer, Tune Into What’s Happening, & Heat Up the Job Search, @chandlee

Heating up the Job Search-How to Stay Motivated During the Summer, @erinkennedycprw

Light the Fire Under Your Feet, @careersherpa

Cool Job Seekers Heat Up Their Search in the Summer, @barbarasafani

Some assembly required, @DawnBugni

Summertime, Sluggish Economy Provide Strong Motivation for an Updated Resume, @KatCareerGal

9 Ways to Heat Up Your Job Search This Summer, @heatherhuhman

Getting Out From Under Chronic, @WorkWithIllness

Upping Your Job Search Flame; Be ‘Needed, Not Needy,‘ @ValueIntoWords

Is Your Career Trapped in the Matrix? @WalterAkana

Put some sizzle in your job hunt – how to find a job now, @keppie_careers

Summertime – and the Job Search Ain’t Easy, @KCCareerCoach

Heating up your job search. 5 ways to dismiss those winter blues, @GayleHoward

Hot Tips for a Summer Job Search, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes

Heat Up Your Job Search: Avoid Job Boards, @JobHuntOrg

Heating Up Your Job Searching Skills: Networking 101 and 102, @GLHoffman

Treasure Hunt—Yo-ho-ho! Heat Up Your Job Search, @resumeservice

photo by jalalspages

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If you are lucky, opportunity will come knocking. Maybe you have a well-developed and strong network, a great LinkedIn profile (that makes it easy for recruiters or hiring managers to find you) and you are well known in your industry. Maybe you will provide a resume only as a formality, once you’ve already been offered the job.

If that does not describe your situation, you are in good company. Most people neglect their networks and pay no attention to materials that will support their search for something better. When is the last time you looked at your resume?

No, this is not a “get your resume ready now or you will regret it later” post. (Although, it isn’t a bad idea to get your resume and supporting materials ready now!) Instead, this post is a wake-up call to everyone who does not like their jobs.

Think about it – what exactly do you NOT like? What can you do about it? Have you been wasting away, bored at work because it is actually boring, or because you have allowed yourself to be complacent and don’t look for any new challenges? If you work at it, are there projects you could take on that will broaden what you can add to your resume? Expand its depth?

Have you fantasized about different job opportunities that are advertised and noticed whether or not you are actually qualified? What skills would be best to add to your current resume to make you more qualified for your next challenge? Have you thought about making a plan to get those skills?

For example, you notice that team leadership seems to come up in every job description, but you haven’t really led any teams. Maybe it’s time to volunteer to head up a program or to engage with a group where you can take a leadership role. (This may even be a volunteer opportunity outside of work. If it is significant and successful, you can include it in your experience.)

Or, maybe there is a specific credential or skill set you are missing. Maybe now is the time to take some training or to pursue those goals. Showing interest in improving your skills is a great way to be a leader at work. It may also help propel you to a whole new adventure!

You may be surprised, but taking some initiative and engaging in a plan to mindfully move from here to there may actually make you like your job a little more. More importantly, it will help set you up for what is next, and we all know that one of the only things we can count on in work is change.

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Making a change can be tough. I can help! Don’t forget that clear, concise, optimized job search materials AND a strong, well executed plan are key for job search success! I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by jasoHill

The post What to do if you are unhappy at your job appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Anyone who talks to me about transitioning knows that this is a tough time to make a career change. While I would never discourage someone from trying, with the economy being what it is, employers tend to have a choice of people who have ALREADY done EXACTLY the thing the job requires. Many people are willing to take a step back for a job and are overqualified. In either case, employers have their pick of people who can just step right into the job. Taking a chance on someone who can learn isn’t typical.

In this case, a targeted resume is key – job seekers need to make a clear case that shows their skills and accomplishments as they relate to the desired job. However, there is so much more to success than just the resume, as my client demonstrated!

Previously a copy editor, she landed a job as a development coordinator, involving social media, fundraising and grant writing. None of those items were things she had been paid to do in the past.

She noted, “The hiring manager told me she initially wasn’t going to interview anyone without grant writing experience but was so impressed with my writing skills (on my cover letter, resume and blog; don’t know if she checked out my Twitter feed or LinkedIn profile) that she brought me in just to see. Turns out she liked me, her boss liked me during the second interview, and they decided to take a chance on me! Out of six candidates, I was the one chosen. So the blog definitely helped. Go tell your job seekers that.”

There is more to this story…Stay tuned!

Please share what YOU have done differently that led to success in your job search!

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While youâ€re at it, donâ€t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…Iâ€d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since weâ€re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by Hawaii

The post How having a blog can help you get a job appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Joe talks about “Networking with a purpose.” This is so important. I hear from people all of the time who insist that they have been doing EVERYTHING for their job hunt – including networking. However, upon further inquiry, it is clear that they could be doing a lot more.

Joe offers this advice, which I believe is right on target. (Points are his, commentary my own):

Make meeting others a priority. So often, networking is something careerists only think about when it is time to look for a job. It should be something you do all of the time, no matter what. Joe suggests setting goals of how many people to contact in a certain period of time. It is key to focus on your networking, as we all know there are so many other priorities that take our time.

Network with empathy. This is a great way to describe how to network. Joe reminds readers to focus on making networking a two-way street. What do YOU offer? This is not all about taking – be sure you are also giving.

Find a location. You can meet people in all types of groups and programs. Join groups – both professional and personal, as you never know when or where you will meet someone who is a great match.

Ask questions. A lot of times, job seekers focus on how to ANSWER questions. It is just as important to know what questions to ask! I always tell my clients to be sure to know what they WANT to know when meeting a great networking contact. It sounds obvious, but often, people go into meetings (or informational interviews) without a clear goal. Have a goal – and great questions to ask. You won’t be sorry.

Listen for Clues. Good listening is so important. I’ve written about this and cannot say it enough.

Take notes. Personally, I write down everything I want to remember. You don’t want to forget who you met, what they told you, if you should follow up…There is so much to remember! Don’t miss an opportunity because something slipped your mind. Most people will be flattered if you make a point to write something down during a conversation!

Read what Joe has to say in his book…A great read!

What do you have to add about networking well?

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by mag3737

The post Networking with a purpose – ideas from Joe Lavelle appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Dan Schawbel is one of the authorities on the topic of personal branding, particularly for the Millennial generation. I am happy to serve as a co-editor of Personal Branding Magazine. The new sample issue is available. This is how Dan describes it:

Summary: Personal Branding Magazine Volume 3, Issue 2 is about brand reinvention through social media and what better example of that than MC Hammer.  Hammer, a celebrity hip-hop star, sold millions of albums back in the 80’s.  Decades later, Hammer is now one of the front men for the social media movement.  He has his multi-million Twitter following and his own social network to keep in touch with his old fans. Aside from Hammer, this issue will help you control brand perceptions, repair a damaged brand and give you tips and tricks for navigating the web 2.0 terrain, so that stay ahead of the game.

I am also happy to welcome a new co-editor to the management team! Jessica Lewis is a communications professional with a significant background in journalism and copy editing. Her specialty is helping organizations connect with their audience by communicating in a concise, informative, relevant and inviting way. Her blog reflects her interest in social marketing and effective job hunting. You may also want to follow her on Twitter @copytailor.

In her introduction, Jessica notes:

You don’t have to be famous to benefit from a personal brand. Douglas Karr encourages us to give it a try, even if you have to take your profile picture on your webcam. He says that even though he has friends who are better at some things than he is, they never get the great opportunities he does.

One sentence from Howard Sholkin’s piece stood out to me as an excellent summary of this issue’s focus: “You can shape your reputation, network and expertise, or others can do it for you, but probably not as well.”

Features:

• Full paid issue (November 1^st): 29 articles total covering brand reinvention, strategy and related topics.  Website: www.personalbrandingmag.com
• Free sample issue (October 26^th): 8 articles total, including how to fix a broken image and how to get a competitive advantage.   Website: www.personalbrandingsample.com
• Interviews with: MC Hammer, Kerry Rhodes, Patrick Lencioni, Steve Rubel, John Jantsch and Mitch Joel
• The 2009 Personal Brand Awards

Here’s a video introduction:

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I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

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So, welcome to “Horror Story Week” on Keppie Careers! I appreciate my Twitter friends for helping to pass the word that I am looking for stories, and for passing along some ideas for my series. Thanks also to Peter Shankman for HARO – Help A Reporter Out, for help finding additional sources! (It’s not too late to share your story! Send it to me: miriam(at)keppiecareers(dot)com.)

I guess that I wasn’t too surprised to learn that some of these horror stories may have had different endings had the job seeker taken a different approach. NOT that this excused rude behavior on the part of the hiring manager, but it is important to learn something from these stories…

Todd shared this story:

So, this so-called executive recruiter sends me a questionnaire (10 pages BTW) and says complete it and schedule an “interview.” Well, in full disclosure, I only completed half, but went ahead and scheduled the meeting. After all, I was an executive and my resume was what I wanted to talk about. So, while waiting in the lobby of this firm, some guy walks out to greet me. He’s wearing some ridiculous looking suit with tennis shoes and showing off a shiny keychain that says “Hyundai” and acts like he’s doing me a favor by taking the time to meet with me.

The guy walks me to some conference room, throws the half-complete questionnaire on the table and begins to yell at me–literally. He proceeds to tell me that I’m a loser and have no future. I couldn’t believe it!

So, I stood up and said I made a mistake. Then–THEN–he calls me an “a-hole” as I walked out. All I said was, ” Back at ya!”

Following this, eh em…episode, I landed a job as an executive for an online brokerage firm in Texas. I always wanted to call the guy and rub it in, but why stoop to that level.

So, what can we learn here? Clearly, Todd wasn’t very interested in this job! The fact is, if he was not willing to fill out the application (no matter how long), he should not have bothered to apply! As a job seeker, it is your responsibility to follow directions regarding the application if you want the job!

On the other hand, if you see what seems like a ridiculous application process, consider it a red flag. Maybe this company has policies and proceedures that are not likely to mesh with your preferred way of doing things. Evaluate it and decide NOT to apply! Even if you are desperate for a job, you know, deep down, you are unlikely to be happy working for a place that sets up what you consider to be an absurd hiring process.

In this case, obviously, the hiring manager was a bit “off.” It’s never appropriate to yell and swear at an applicant, and you have to assume an employee would receive the same treatment. So, it was lucky for Todd that things worked out the way they did!

What do you think? Share your comments below!

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I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by peasap

The post Job search horror stories appeared first on Keppie Careers.

How often should job seekers follow up with recruiters?

As far as how and how often to follow up…ask the recruiter you’re working with. I personally prefer a brief email once or twice a month. Remember, our job (and the way we get paid!) is to fill openings for our clients. If we have a job that you may be a fit for, we’ll be on the phone with you immediately!

During the interview process, how long it takes to get feedback or to move from one step to the next depends on the client and the situation. How urgent is the need? Who is an integral part of the process and is traveling/on vacation/otherwise unavailable? Unfortunately most interview processes do not move as quickly as anyone would like simply because there are so many people and variables involved.

There is no need to call your recruiter daily – when we have news, we’ll call you! There is nothing we want more than to fill a position. We do what we can to keep the interview process moving forward, and at the same time we must walk a fine line as we do not want to irritate our clients.

The candidates we enjoy working with the most understand and respect the process.

Do you need help with your search? Follow this link to learn how I can help propel your job hunt!

 

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Don’t miss the opportunity to talk to people who may have information (and those you don’t think have any information for you at all)!

For a limited time, I’m offering a copy of my ebook, Drive Your Own Career Bus -  Networking for Success, for FREE to subscribers to my blog at Keppie Careers. Subscribers receive an email once a week with my Keppie Careers blog posts. All you need to do is follow THIS LINK and enter your email address. Then, you’ll receive a confirmation notice. Once you confirm, you’ll be subscribed and will receive the link to my free ebook. It is full of advice, tips and tricks to get you through in good networking shape.

What a deal!

Don’t delay, this offer is limited. My marketing team thinks I should sell this report, so take advantage now before I change my mind!

Don’t forget that Keppie Careers offers many services to help you get your job hunt on track. Stop wasting your time! Learn more about me and how I can HELP YOU get your job search on track!

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