Still looking for that job? Are you making these time wasting job-seeker mistakes?

Social media is great for crowd sourcing information. Hannah Morgan (@CareerSherpa) and I are lucky to have an amazing network of friends and colleagues from the career coaching, recruiting and careers industries. We hope you will check out their other advice we are showcasing in honor of our upcoming eBook, You Need a Job: 5 Steps to Get One.

This is part two of two posts I published this weekend with great information from our colleagues — and Hannah has two unique posts filled with more information planned this weekend as well. I told you our colleagues had plenty to share about the subject!  Be sure to check out Hannah’s post today.

We hope you will learn something new from these responses to the question: What mistakes do job seekers make?

Passive job seekers

No job seeker can afford to sit back and hope for the best. If you are not driving your own career bus, who is driving it?

Job seekers engage in passive searches that put way too much emphasis on resumes, cover letters and job boards. ~ Walter Akana, Threshold Consulting

Online Info

Both Hannah and I are big proponents of using social media and online tools.  Are you giving enough thought to your online presence when it comes to job search?

Some job seekers are still failing to clean up their online presence — most recruiters and hiring managers will do an online search on each job candidate. ~ Heather Huhman, Come Recommended

Create a personal alias and a professional profile online. Use separate emails for both. You’ll be glad you did when it’s time for a background check. ~ Jim Stroud

Learn new things

One thing that is a guarantee for job seekers – the job market, types of positions and the skills you need will continue to change and evolve. Are you keeping up?

The job seeker doesn’t take the time to learn new skills (e.g., social media) that could add to marketability while expanding their resources. ~ Walter Akana, Threshold Consulting

Applying, resumes and interviewing

It is amazing how much there is to do and think about before you are ready to think about your resume, job search materials and interview skills! Some tips from our colleagues:

Job seekers are in a hurry and rush through writing their resume or having their resume written, which ultimately costs them more time (and money) because they chose speed over quality. ~ Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, Career Trend

Chris Havrilla, Havrilla, LLC, points out these job seeker errors:

• Not taking control of your resume (don’t be generic, treat like a business proposal – one size does not fit all) or interview process (making sure Recruiter/Interviewer walks away from the interview with the information they need – not just the answers to the questions they ask).
• Applying for a job for which you are not qualified or for which you cannot add value.
• Not interviewing the company – just letting them interview you.

Too often, job seekers stay within what feels like a safe zone for their cover letter and other application materials. Remember that doing something unique and outside the box will help you stand out! ~ Alexis Grant

Follow up

You applied, so now itâ€s time to wait and see? Not if you actually want the job! Follow up is important!

Applying online only, not following up with company, recruiter or hiring manager directly. ~ Chris Havrilla, Havrilla, LLC

The process of applying online and waiting for a call does not work well in this job market. You have to proactively contact people in the organization. A personal connection goes a lot farther than a piece of data coming over the internet. ~ Harry Urschel, e-Executives

Other Tips

Thereâ€s so much more advice! (There is a lot to say — our eBook has 29 chapters packed full of it!) Here are some additional, useful tips from our colleagues we didnâ€t want you to miss:

Job seekers spend far too much time listening the media and the ‘doom and gloom’ brigade. In fact, job seekers don’t screw up enough. Resumes, networking and interviewing all improve by making MORE mistakes, not less. ~ Sital Ruparelia

Job seekers frequently focus on the “one” thing they canâ€t do (some new technology) or donâ€t have (degree) or canâ€t control (age), using that one factor as a roadblock to a search. They forget the 1027 things they can do and what value they do bring. ~ Dawn Bugni, The Write Solution

Do any of these answers make you squirm? Maybe you are the job seeker who isnâ€t quite as prepared as you should be? Maybe your resume isnâ€t quite right, or you arenâ€t following up? Our ebook, You Need a Job: 5 Steps to Get One, which we are so excited about launching TOMORROW, Monday, June 11^th, will give you specific advice and information about how to address most of these and many other concerns that prevent job seekers from landing opportunities.

Itâ€s 29 chapters of “how to doâ€s” for job seekers who want to stop looking and start working in their new opportunities. Stay tuned – for those who buy the eBook first, we are offering some free bonuses. Keep your eye here tomorrow for details.

If you want to read more ideas, don’t miss yesterday’s post about what not to do when you are looking for a job.

Update: the ebook is available. If you want to learn how to find a job, learn more here.

photo by Alan Cleaver

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One of the best things about being involved and engaged via social media is the opportunity to meet and get to know so many colleagues online. When we were planning out how to launch our eBook, You Need a Job, 5 Steps to Get One, Hannah Morgan (@careersherpa) and I brainstormed about ways to share useful information for readers, and we both knew we wanted to tap into the brain trust in our extended social networks.

Many of these people, we have met in person, or have spoken to on the phone. Others we know only online, but weâ€re both thrilled and proud all of them agreed to share a tip (or two!) in response to the question: What mistakes do job seekers make?

(This is part one of two posts I have on tap this weekend with great information from our colleagues — and Hannah has two unique posts filled with more information planned for the weekend as well. – I told you our colleagues had plenty to share about the subject!) Be sure to check out Hannah’s post today.

 Getting started: strategy and planning (for everything)

Itâ€s so important to start off on the right foot. Many of our colleagues agree that strategy and being organized is key to job-search success:

Job seekers execute their job search without a strategy; they shoot, then aim, and unfortunately, this almost always results in a miss. ~ Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, Career Trend.

Job seekers miss 30% of the opportunities because they’re simply disorganized and fail to track and follow up every single lead and application ~ Sital Ruparelia

Many jobseekers do not take time to record a personalized voice mail greeting or create one that is appropriate to a job search. They frequently fail to coach their references on their job search goals or what points to make if theyâ€re called. They do not provide their references with a current resume, and worst of all, some do not even notify the individual they are being used as a reference.  ~ Dawn Bugni, The Write Solution

Clarity about search, identifying a unique value proposition and researching

Once you have a strategy, itâ€s crucial to have clarity and to understand your unique value proposition. Donâ€t forget that researching your target organizations will help you stand out from a crowd.

Job seekers often lack a clear statement of value and the stories that can illustrate (and back up) what they can do. ~ Walter Akana, Threshold Consulting

Many job seekers fail to market themselves — they must know their own strengths, weaknesses, skills, and unique selling points. No one is going to land a job for you! ~ Heather Huhman, Come Recommended 

Job seekers should consider conducting a people search, rather than a job search. By identifying target companies, and influencers within those companies, and then aiming to get meetings with them before a job opens, they will position themselves as the “known candidate” and will be tapped for an opportunity FIRST when a position does open up. ~ Laura Labovich, Aspire! Empower!

Not knowing what the market rate is for the position you’re applying for. Do your salary guide research or you simply won’t be able to negotiate benefits to your benefit. ~ Jacob Share, JobMob

Job seekers try to be all things to all employers instead of identifying their niche strengths, finding a matching position, and targeting their materials for it. ~ Laura DeCarlo, Career Directors International

Get out and network:

We canâ€t overstate how important it is to network in order to find a job. Research shows referrals are the top source of hires; your network may be the difference between having a job or looking for one. Consider how you are growing and maintaining your network of colleagues, friends and supporters – and who you consider part of your network.

Job Seeker does not network inside of their professional communities.  ~ Walter Akana, Threshold Consulting

Jobs seekers fail to engage their friends, family and contacts quickly enough in their search. ~ Sital Ruparelia

Many job seekers forget that developing a network needs to begin a long time before they actually need it. ~ Dawn Rasmussen, Pathfinder Writing and Career Services

One of the most fun parts of compiling these suggestions from our colleagues was that we address so many of these topics in our eBook, You Need a Job, 5 Steps to Get One. It provides you with information that you need to know to get your job search going in the right direction. Our goal is to help you save time, effort, energy and money…Letâ€s face it, the best job hunt is one that is well executed and is as short as possible.

Update: the ebook is available. If you want to learn how to find a job, learn more here. Don’s miss special bonuses for people who are the first to buy our eBook.

Be sure to visit Hannah’s post for more tips from our friends and colleagues.

photo by Gnu2000

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Walter suggests (bold are his ideas, commentary is mine):

1. Put aside the idea about people not hiring during the Holidays. Whether it’s true or not, it can become an excuse to do nothing. I like this take on the subject. In fact, whether there are jobs to be found or not depends on many factors. Taking the position that it does not matter, and that it is important to move forward with your job hunt regardless, is a very good approach in my book.

2. Stop making your interactions with people about job leads. Instead, focus more on getting to know other people so you can build stronger, long-term relationships. Excellent advice! The majority of people I see who have not been successful at networking are approach their contacts as a job seeker first. The fact is, relationships are key to creating opportunities. So, don’t bring your resume to holiday parties. It is okay, however, to bring your business cards! (More about that later!)

Walter’s additional suggestions, which he first offered (and expanded on) in his post Own Your Life. (Be sure to read the original post!)

Use this time to refocus on happiness practices to keep your spirits up and create a positive foundation for the New Year:

– Count your blessings.
– Practice acts of kindness. 
– Savor life’s joys. 
– Thank a mentor/benefactor.
– Learn to forgive.
– Invest time and energy in family and friends.
– Take care of your body.
– Develop strategies for coping with stress and hardship

Learn more about Walter, an expert on career planning and personal branding.

What are your experiences with job seeking during the holidays? Share in the comments!

photo by tonivic

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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Richard L. Knowdell spoke at the Career Management Alliance conference, and I was intrigued by his suggestion that coaches advise clients to OMIT skills from their resumes if they are skills the job seekers do not enjoy.

In a tight job market, this advice seems extreme, or even foolish, on first glance. Shouldn’t we all be marketing everything we have to offer? It’s a recession, after all! So, I posed the question on Twitter: Should job seekers leave off (or de-emphasize) skills on their resume that they do well but don’t enjoy?

Veronica replied, “As job seeker, I don’t think should leave off any skills that could help get a job. Each circumstance individual.” @vmodarelli

Sam Blum, Co-Founder and CEO at Razume said, “Resumes are marketing documents, not statements of personal interest. I say list any skill that can give you an advantage.” @samblum

Reasonable replies, certainly.

However, my goal (and that of my colleagues in the career coaching world) isn’t only to help people find and land jobs, but to secure positions doing what they enjoy. My friends who are experts in personal branding have a different take!

Deb Dib, a CEO coach and personal brand expert explained: “I leave them off/give subsidiary placement. Don’t want burnout skills attracting interest; fit won’t be right.” @ceocoach

Walter Akana, a life strategist and personal branding expert said, “Yes, deemphasize skills that you don’t enjoy. Emphasize ones you do – provided, of course, what you offer creates value!” @walterakana

This makes a lot of sense to me. Why attract opportunities that may be a bad fit?

Two social media/marketing professionals had some practical advice:

Avi Kaplan suggested: “Leave everything on applicable to each job & don’t apply for roles needing skills you don’t want to use,” which Neal Wiser echoed, “If a job seeker doesn’t like doing something, they shouldn’t apply for that job.”

Think about it…Are you over-emphasizing skills you are not motivated to use on your resume? How much time do you spend thinking about applying for and targeting positions that you would enjoy doing? Are you applying for just “any old job?”

I hope this is food for thought…I’m open to your “take” on the subject, but I hope you’ll seriously consider focusing your job search in areas that appeal to your motivated skills. I’m happy to help. Follow THIS LINK to learn more about me and how we can work together to optimize your resume to help you land the job you love!

photo by BPM

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Appropriately, I first “met” Liz by networking! I noticed that one of my contacts, Walter Akana, followed her on Twitter, and I followed her, too. I was delighted when she contacted me to participate in a round of interviews about her book. It was fun to win a round of the contests she sponsored and to receive a copy of her book as part of my prize.

If you don’t like networking, this book is for you! I thought Liz’s analogy that networking is like exercise was perfect: “Some people love it, but for many, it’s something they know they must do for good long-term health.” If you are a reluctant networker or consider it unsavory, you’ll want to read a book by someone who admits that she rarely speaks to people on airplanes! Liz allows for everyone’s individual networking style and needs; she addresses all of them in her book.

Liz notes the importance of thinking of networking as relationship building, not as transactions between people. She reminds readers that there are many great ways to network, and that one of the best ways to build your “networking gravity” – “the force that draws people automatically into your world with whom you have the greatest potential to build mutually beneficial relationships” is by introducing people to each other!

I’m a big proponent of being a connector, someone who enjoys linking people together for their advantage. I love how Liz explains the importance of having a “long tail” online. Extending your reach via social networking broadens your circle of influence and allows you to consciously and generously add value to others by introducing them to contacts in your circle. By doing so, you open the door to untold numbers of opportunities.

Not only does Liz offer great tips (such as: write notes on the back of YOUR business card when you hand it to someone), she also offers suggestions of networking plans customized to your own needs and preferences. She also reminds us that there is no “magic bullet.”

The bottom line – networking IS here to stay. The marketplace will continue to be competitive, and if you bury your head in the sand and try to avoid networking, you will lose out on a lot of opportunities. Liz closes her book with a quote by Jack Canfield, “When you lift others up, they will lift you up.” This is so true. Being known as someone who helps and supports others, be it in the workplace or elsewhere, is a high honor and doorway to success.

Give generously, don’t keep score and follow Liz’s tips and you may be surprised at the results!

Need a little extra help getting started? I can help you put your networking plans into action for a successful job hunt. Contact me to learn more!

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Can you believe it is already August? Before you know it, you’ll blink and it’ll be Labor Day, and the summer will really be over.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of good news in the employment sector. Rough waters continue to prevail, and many may be feeling lost at sea in a turbulent economy. Careerbuilder.com summarized the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which released its monthly summary of job data for July 2008:

• Unemployment rose from 5.5% in June to 5.7% in July.
• There were 51,000 fewer jobs in July. Total job loss for 2008 so far is 463,000. That is an average of 66,000 jobs lost per month.
• The most notable losses were in construction, manufacturing and employment services. The drop for employment services indicates far fewer companies are using temporary help.
• The report also mentioned that teenagers and young adults who usually take on part-time jobs during the summer have had challenges in finding a job this year.

What does all of this mean to you?

It depends. If you work in one of the harder-hit sectors, it could very well mean that your job is in jeopardy, and you need to start thinking about what you will do if you are out of work.

I’ve written a lot about job seeking in a recession. Some links that might be useful:

• Ideas for how to recession proof your career.
• Suggestions of the best careers for today’s economy.
• Information about what to do next if you’ve lost your job.
• Rules for job hunting in a recession.
• Tips if your search is going on and on.

You are still feeling lost in a tailspin of negative jobs data? You can’t focus on what to do next? Here is some advice from my friend and colleague, Walter Akana, Certified Personal Branding Strategist at Threshold Consulting:

Stop everything! Evaluate where you have been, what you most want to do and think about where you can do it. Walter suggests answering the following questions from the book Zen and the Art of Making a Living:

• What work best reflects who I am?
• Whom do I want to serve/work with?
• What will I most enjoy doing?
• To what will I be willing to devote myself?

To help evaluate alternatives and focus, Walter recommends creating a personal career alternatives matrix. List your ideal job criteria, interests and capabilities in the first column, and then three or four alternatives in successive columns. This exercise is designed to help you focus on getting on a track that suits you, which might be a very different track from the one you’ve been on most recently!

Take the plunge and look for a job! Still need a great resume? Some help to write the perfect cover letter? I’m here to help! Write to me.

If you want to receive free up-to-date tips to help with your job hunt, Click here to subscribe to receive future blogs sent directly to you!

Photo by Irish Sheep

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Earlier today, one of my Twitter friends, life/brand strategist Walter Akana tweeted an intriguing question. He asked: How do you keep your networking skills continually refreshed?

My answer: I try to think of networking as a way of BEING instead of something to DO.

Another Twitter friend, Megan Fitzgerald, an expat career and entrepreneur coach, replied: I think networking is about giving (form of doing?) Using your brand to help others. You could say BEing of service.

I love the synergies Megan creates between doing and being…I think these are terrific ways to think about networking for job seekers.

Of course, I advise my clients to network. We talk about “netweaving” – the fact that networking is about relationships. We talk about how to practice to work a room and the fact that everyone is a great networking connection, because you never know what you may be able to offer a new contact and what he or she may be able to offer you!

I think the most successful networkers are those who aren’t necessarily looking for something, but are focused on the fact that networking is something you can try to become…Become a connector, someone who likes linking people together for their advantage.

In his book, The Tipping Point, author Malcolm Gladwell defined connectors as “people with a truly extraordinary knack of making friends and acquaintances.” In our digital, Web 2.0 world, success will depend more and more on our ability to broaden our professional circles and to reach out to a diverse socio-economic group of people representing a mix of opinions and beliefs. Professionals who habitually introduce people who otherwise may not meet earn goodwill and reputations as valuable resources and colleagues.

In his book, Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi says, “…Community and alliances will rule in the twenty-first century…[success is] dependent on whom you know and how you work with them (291).” He asserts that living a truly connected life is a prerequisite to success. For example, Ferrazzi mentions that Crain’s 40 Under 40, a list of rising stars in an array of fields, aren’t necessarily the best businesspeople. Instead, he suggests that they are probably the best connected businesspeople.

The value of connectedness is never more heightened than during uncertain economic times. Anyone who has been reading the recent “how to recession proof your job” articles and blogs will realize that they inevitably share one common piece of advice: Network for career success.

When networking becomes you and inspires you to act on behalf of others, you’ll know that you are achieving true networking success.

We can get you on the road to true networking success by teaching you how to approach networking, writing your resume and helping you every step of the way! www.keppiecareers.com.

photo by cascadefoto

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