Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

How to apply for jobs that are a reach

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Key advice for job seekers – apply for jobs you are clearly qualified to do! However, it’s also clear that there will be times when you need to apply for jobs that may be a bit of a reach. I don’t think that this is contradictory advice. The important thing is to demonstrate that you are qualified to do what it is you want to do. Don’t assume that anyone reading your resume is going to give you “credit” for anything that you don’t clearly show that you can do.

Here are some things to think about…

Job ads are “best case scenarios,” sometimes considered “pie in the sky” descriptions.

In the old days, employers who advertised paid by the word or square inch for a newspaper or magazine ad. Today, with online ads, the sky is the limit. Linking and unlimited space offer employers the opportunity to list EVERY possible skill desired. Do they really expect to find someone who meets every qualification? Probably not.

Focus on accelerating your career.

Most employers hope to fill jobs with people who have already done exactly what they need someone to do! No learning curve means less training and less trouble for the new employer. However, if you only apply for jobs that list skills you’ve already accomplished ad naseum, how will you advance your career?

Think about the touch points between what you have to offer and what the employer wants. Highlight those points and connect the dots.

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 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. I cannot overemphasize the importance of your transferable skills.

Here are some additional thoughts from Kathy Hansen at Quint Careers:

1. Consider playing up school and other unpaid experience.

2. Don’t apply for jobs for which you’re grossly underqualified, but do remember that job postings and employment ads are often employer wish lists.

3. Indicate your flexibility and willingness to learn or gain additional training.

4. Find out more about the employer’s needs.

5. Consider a career portfolio with work samples.

6. Consider volunteering to work on a unpaid trial basis.

photo by Joe Thorn

Being indispensable and your personal brand

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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, along with Jessica Lewis. The new, free sample issue is available. This is how Dan describes it:

Summary: Volume 3, Issue 3 is about becoming so important to your company, your customers and the people around you, that they can’t live without you. When that occurs, you’ll be making more money, have better relationships and wield a powerful personal brand. In this issue, Seth Godin reveals his hope for career revolutionaries who want to remain relevant in a world that is being transformed by the internet. Also, in this issue we explore how Guy Fieri has built his personal brand as a television personality on the food network and how NFL football player Jarvis Green has taken the leap into entrepreneurship.

Here is my introduction to the magazine:

Becoming indispensable – a tall order to be sure. Is it the proverbial “golden ring” –an admirable ambition, but always
out of reach?

This issue of Personal Branding Magazine may convince you that there are many ways to be indispensable –and that it is an
achievable goal for anyone with courage and determination, both of which are key for success. Seth Godin reminds us that one big hurdle is having “enough guts to be criticized.” True enough; it is tough to be remarkable without remarking!

You may be surprised to learn that becoming indispensable is not all about you! Seth reminds us that the most important
consideration is not about how to promote yourself. Instead, ask, “How can I do work that people will want to promote?” So true,
and something many forget when trying to make a name for themselves.

This issue makes it clear that being indispensable means giving more than you expect to receive. Develop what Nicole Crimaldi describes as a “personal balance sheet.” She advises, “…Build relationships, follow your passions…and create value for others in everything you do.”

Actualizing that value helps you carve out another important piece of the puzzle –engendering confidence. Contributor Maria Elana Duron points out, “Even if you have the best mousetrap in the world, if people don’t know you or like you and trust you, then they’re not going to do business with you. Period.” Well said.

Be someone people WANT to know. Offer useful resources, advice and insights. You may be surprised by how far good content, well shared, will take you on your road to becoming indispensable.

Features:

  • Full paid issue (February 1st): 28 articles total covering how to become a valuable and indispensable brand.
  • Sample issue: 8 articles total, including how to be an authority, blog SEO and how to grow, polish and protect your future.
  • Interviews with: Seth Godin, Guy Fieri, Jarvis Green and Alexandra Levit

Promo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMuHZZJtv90
Free sample URL: www.personalbrandingsample.com
Paid subscription URL: www.personalbrandingmag.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PersonalBrandingMagazine

If you need a little assistance demonstrating your personal brand, I can help! 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.

The Smart New Way to Get Hired, a review

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Everyone is looking for a “new way to get hired.” There is no doubt that the old ways are of limited use. Maybe it’s possible that the “new way” is actually ages old? Using emotional intelligence to your advantage in a job search makes a lot of sense in an environment where “fit” can be even more important than actual skills.

Lisa Caldas Kappasser’s new book, The Smart New Way to Get Hired – Use Emotional Intelligence and Land the Right Job, explains how, unlike your IQ, your emotional intelligence can be improved and developed – specifically to impact a chance to get a job that is a good fit.

Importantly, Kappasser makes the point that emotional intelligence (EQ – emotional quotient) helps you “make the most of your other qualities.” Some skills (page 7):

  • Adapting to change
  • Knowing your strengths and weaknesses
  • Communicating well
  • Cooperating and collaborating with others

It is not difficult to understand how important these skills are in the workplace.

With chapters  highlighting how to apply emotional intelligence for job search, self-management, social awareness, social skills and developing emotional intelligence to achieve your career goals, Kappasser offers some practical solutions and ideas for anyone interested in improving his or her standings in the EQ realm.

Win a copy of Lisa’s book! Comment below for a chance in a random drawing!

If your job hunt is stalled, I can help! 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.

Protect what is yours

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I was reading through some Facebook status updates and  came upon an interesting one from an old high school classmate. It said, “Bill (not his real name) is Married.” Now, I don’t keep up with Bill, and I really had no idea of his marital status prior to his post. “Nice,” I thought…”Bill got married.” Curious, I read the comments. (Does that make me a voyeur? Or, is that the POINT of Facebook?)

Anyway, the few comments made it clear that Bill and his wife (who apparently have some kids) were going to make a go of their marriage, which had apparently been on the rocks. (I guess that would be “complicated” in FaceBook lingo.)

None of this would be all that interesting or topical for me, except Bill’s comment at the end of the messages congratulating him  for sticking it out. He said, “Ya, we’re going to give it a go. Don’t tell anyone as I haven’t told my family yet. I didn’t realize Facebook was going to post it.”

Hmmm…Maybe not the best idea to announce your “status” on a social network if you want your friends and family to know first. Why didn’t Bill realize that Facebook was going to announce his status to the world? Or, at the very least, that it was not going to be “their little secret?”

I was thinking about this in light of the buzz about Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg’s recent comments about privacy. In an apparent about-face on the subject, he indicated that today’s consumer is not as interested in privacy as in the past. PC World quoted him:

“People have really gotten comfortable not only sharing more information and different kinds, but more openly and with more people. That social norm is just something that’s evolved over time,” Zuckerberg said. “We view it as our role in the system to constantly be innovating and be updating what our system is to reflect what the current social norms are.” Zuckerberg then pointed to Facebook’s recent privacy policy change that made user’s key information open by default as an example of the social network’s willingness to reflect “current social norms.”

For those unfamiliar with the recent changes, Facebook recently changed settings to allow your name, profile picture, gender, current city, networks, friends list, and all the pages you subscribe to to be publicly available information on Facebook. What does this mean to you? Everyone on the web can see it; it is searchable. (Yes, that means Google can come looking for you.)

Making the default “public” is kind of  like when you sign up for anything and the default is to subscribe to their newsletter and learn more information – not taking action is so much easier, many businesses get subscribers who had not intended to hear from them ever again. By the same token, if you’re not paying a lot of attention and being vigilant, you may be sharing more than you intend to online.

And, if you are my old high school friend, you are sharing because it feels natural, only later realizing the ramifications. Think about it…If you are who Google thinks you are, you need to step up and make sure you actively manage what it sees and knows.

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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 Bill Gracey

Search for jobs by identifying a company

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One piece of advice I share with all of my clients – don’t look for a job, look for a company. If you are looking only specifically for a job (focusing only on job boards or posted listings), you are missing out on potential opportunities that are never advertised. Seeking an organization and broadening your target will help you be more competitive in this environment.

Research from the Michigan State University Collegiate Employment Research Institute, which conducts an annual survey, (as reported via CNN) suggests that:

“Large companies, those with more than 4,000 employees, plan to decrease hiring of all graduates by 3%, and medium-sized companies, those with between 500 and 4,000 employees, expect to lower hiring by 11%.

Smaller companies, however, may provide a bright spot in the job market for new graduates.

Employers with fewer than 500 staff members said they expect hiring at their companies to jump by 15%. These companies will hire 11 new graduates on average in 2010, and 8 of them will be at the bachelor’s level.”

So, it may be wise to stop looking only at large companies and to focus on smaller firms for opportunities.

I have many clients who identify organizations first.  They say, “I want to work for a small company where I will be able to get involved in a lot of different areas.”  Or they say, “I want to work for a large company with opportunity to be promoted.”  Or, “I’d love to work for a large firm and be pigeon-holed into doing the same work day after day.”  Except for that last one…

There are pros and cons to every type of job. I have a client who works for a small family firm.  Her stories are exactly what one would expect based on stereotypes of small family firms…Uncle Bill comes in to do the taxes, Aunt Sue is hired to decorate the waiting area.  Non-family members work at their own peril.  At the same time, this client had the opportunity to take on responsibilities and hone skills she otherwise would not have had the chance to do had she worked at a larger firm.

Points to consider…

Small businesses offer:

  • Quick response time
  • Decision making flexibility
  • Personal attention
  • Specialization opportunities
  • Ability to change with the times

Salary.com offers these reasons to choose a small company:

  • Improved work/life balance
  • Less political
  • Better company culture

Larger firms may offer better benefits (free lunch, anyone?), training opportunities and an HR department that prevents Uncle Jim from getting a job that someone else is more qualified to do.  Although I was glib in noting that large firms may pigeon-hole their workers, it is also true that they may provide more opportunities for advancement from within or transfers from one office to another that would not be possible in a small firm.

Suite101.com notes these advantages of working for a large company:

  • More resources
  • Leadership potential
  • Ability to specialize
  • More job options

There are pros and cons to every choice, but it is interesting to consider:  Are you a large company or small company worker?

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?  Could you use some help mobilizing your job search plans? If you’re ready to hire a pro to help you get where you want to go, contact me to find out how you can boost your job search – both online and off line. Check out my new book, Social Networking for Career Success, to learn how to use social networking tools to your advantage!

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 Clif1066