Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Job search success – look up from your phone and pay attention

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During a recent trip to New York City, I was excited to have a chance to get together with a colleague/new friend. We confirmed our meeting time and place. I got there early, stepped into the restroom to freshen up and then took a seat near the door, figuring my friend would be sure to see me when she came in.

As has been my norm since I started using my Google phone, I took it out and busied myself — checking email, Twitter, Facebook – whatever caught my attention. I certainly wasn’t going to just sit and watch for my friend if I could be productive! I occasionally kept my eye on the door and the clock, and noticed that my friend was a little late, but it didn’t phase me. She and I had each been at different parties, so I figured she got held up.

Ten minutes after we were scheduled to meet, my phone rang. It was my friend, “Um…Miriam? Aren’t we meeting tonight?”  Once we both looked up, we laughed — she was sitting several feet away, around a corner. She must have come in while I was freshening up, so we missed each other. Since both of us were early and busy on our phones — being productive — neither of us thought to really look around or keep a keen eye out for the other.

Do you remember a time when meeting someone involved actually watching for them, instead of keeping busy with your head buried in your phone? I do! Time seemed to move more slowly then — waiting actually involved waiting, not working or answering emails every second.

I think this is a great reminder for job seekers. Do you have your head down, buried in your search? Are you waiting for someone (or something), that is sitting right around the corner, but you’ll never notice, because you are too busy LOOKING for the job? Technology provides a lot of opportunities for job seekers, and I am the first one to extol the virtues of using social networking for job hunting. I think there are opportunities there, just waiting for people to discover them. But, if you are too self-involved, keeping busy doing what you think you should be doing, you are not likely to benefit. Like me and my friend in that restaurant, you may just miss exactly what (or who) you want to meet.

Keep your eyes open. Take your face out of your smart phone. Look around. You never know what you may find!

What have you found when you stopped to look around? Tell me your stories in the comments section!

7 tips to help you become a better ACTIVE listener

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I can’t talk enough about how important it is to be a good listener if you want to succeed in your job hunt. Earlier this week, I shared tips to help improve your listing skills. Today, some additional thoughts and advice!

I have written about how to stand out in a sea of sameness.  Instead of focusing on YOU – what you want, what you offer – start listening. Ask questions. Be the candidate who connects on an emotional level with your audience. There’s nothing that people like better than someone who seems interested in THEM – it’s human nature. Be the one who listens first and answers based on what you learn. You may be surprised by how well this technique works!

Being an active listener is just that – a process that involves your participation. On the surface, listening is something you do without thinking. In reality, to be a good listener, you need to work at it.

, who writes for the About.com Guide offered these tips to help become an active listener.

  1. Listen for verbal clues.
  2. Watch for nonverbal clues. “ Eyebrows, hands, pauses, eyes” – these note when a person makes an important point.
  3. Be mindful of your own reactions. Nod or smile, but try to avoid physically reacting to a negative comment. Fleming notes,  “As long as you’re managing your reactions, you’re still listening.”
  4. Avoid making predictions. Don’t assume what the person will say next, as it usually means you will stop listening.
  5. Focus on the words, not the person. Don’t focus on what the person wears or ugly hairstyle!
  6. Don’t get caught up on one detail. It is easy to get distracted, but you don’t want to miss the next important point.
  7. Don’t let your mind wander. Your “to do” list can wait. Push non-related thoughts from your mind to focus on the conversation.

Don’t miss the rest of my series about the five networking fundamentals to help you land a job. Review the pieces about the keys to researching your networking targets, how to ask good questions and six ways to improve your listening skills.

Once you have a chance to think about updating your skills, take  this quiz to evaluate your general listening skills.

Please share your ideas and comments about good listening in the comments!

photo by vickisnature

How a resume writer can help you

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I recently spoke to a woman who is losing her job. Her company is closing, and she has an end date. She sent her resume to me, explaining that she knows it needs some help and that a networking contact had suggested she get in touch.

When we spoke, she admitted that she probably hasn’t fully accepted the fact that she is going to be looking for a job and explained that she is having a lot of trouble getting her head around the whole thing. It’s been a long time since she has looked for work. (And it has always been HER idea in the past.) She’s upset to be in this situation, and it is getting her stuck in a rut.

This is something I hear over and over again. It’s tough to rise above the situation to really focus on what is important – identifying and highlighting skills and accomplishments that connect with your goals.

Surprisingly, it’s not much different for employed clients. Even though they may not be dealing with the emotional issues involved in a downsizing, it is not easy to hone in on the key points and focus on what to say on the resume.

If either of these describe you, think about the value of having an unbiased, expert specialist write your resume. It could be like a breath of fresh air for your search!

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 MAS Photography

Why you didn't get the job

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soap45560773_1c6e342e73_mYesterday, I got on my soapbox and ranted about the fact that there is no one “right” way to search for a job. It might be nice (or maybe not), but there are so many people and twice as many opinions involved in every job posting, resume review, interview and hiring decision.

As promised, today – a look at why you didn’t get the job from my friend Stephanie Lloyd, Consultant on Talent Acquisition strategies and Owner of Calibre Search Group. Stephanie  wrote a great post on her blog, Radiant Veracity. It’s called “75 Reasons You Didn’t Get the Job.“

(Stephanie is also a National Careers & Workplace Columnist for Examiner.com.)

Before you start to sweat and feel overwhelmed, the point of Stephanie’s list is to remind job seekers that, sometimes, the reason they do not land the job is more about the organization and situations than about any one specific thing that a job seeker does in the process. A sample:

  • You’re not qualified.
  • You’re overqualified.
  • You were overdressed.
  • You were underdressed.
  • The job was filled internally.
  • The job was put on hold.

See? You can’t please everyone all of the time. The fact is, personal preferences will enter into the process, and every individual has his or her own likes and dislikes. And, you don’t control when and if an employer’s needs change. It’s up to the job seeker to react flexibly in this ever-changing environment and to move deftly through the process.

I DO believe that every job seeker controls his or her own destiny, despite the fact that there may be aspects that you cannot change. Have you really done everything you can to improve your chances? Yesterday, I spoke to a potential client who was really doing most everything right, but I advised her how to ramp-up her networking and to improve her online presence by writing a blog. Take a critical look at what you can do differently to help improve your chances in this tough market.

I’m glad you are reading this! Be sure to look through my blog roll as well! Take and follow good advice from professionals about your job search and you are much more likely to land something in a reasonable time frame. You don’t need to go it alone…Save your time, money and sanity…Approach your search with the very best information and there is no need to get frustrated!

There is no “right” way, but there are things that you may be doing wrong! So, are you ready to get in the game? 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.

photo by thomashawk

How important is a college degree for your job prospects?

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Last month, 20/20 ran several career oriented items. Interestingly, one segment, which questioned the value of a college degree, was perfectly timed for me. I’ve been hearing from more and more clients and potential clients who have worked their way up to positions that now require a college degree as a basic qualification. Unfortunately, these professionals are now finding themselves laid off and in the unenviable position of being “unqualified” to apply for the jobs they have been doing for years!

How frustrating to have this extra barrier to winning a new job! Is it impossible to overcome? I don’t think so. With strong networking and the right connections to less traditional organizations, I think these job seekers can still succeed.

So, when job seekers wonder about the value of their undergraduate degrees, I always come out on the side of earning the degree, even though college doesn’t typically prepare you to actually find a job! The skills you do learn in formal education should serve you well as a job seeker, and those letters after your name will not hurt.

Of course, there are iconic figures who never earned a college degree (such as Steve Jobs), but historically, workers with college degrees have been shielded much more from the ups and downs in the market.

The national unemployment rate in January 2009 was 7.6 percent. Recently, for those with college degrees, unemployment was 3.7 percent — a reduction of nearly 50 percent. Lawrence Mishel of the Economic Policy Institute in Washington predicts that the unemployment rate for college graduates will reach a record 4 or 5 percent in 2009. His comment to the AP: College-educated workers “are going to experience the kind of pain that has been common for people with less education.”

The New York Times suggests that the typical gap in unemployment favoring college graduates is narrowing a bit. Certainly, having a college degree, including those from online colleges and universities, is no guarantee against unemployment.

What all of this points to is that today’s economy doesn’t offer anyone a free pass to employment. No matter how highly “qualified” you are, knowing how to market your qualifications is much more crucial. Your ability to connect your skills and accomplishments to an organization’s needs will be just as important as actually having the basic qualifications.

It’s up to you to convey what you have to offer that is above and beyond your competition. When you do that well, you’ll be on your way to landing the job of your dreams!

Need a little help marketing yourself in today’s tough market? I can help! Contact me to discuss how I can help you succeed!

 

photo by adobemac