Executive Career Insights

Does Your Job Title Have Too Much Ego?

Recently, I was conducting a leadership seminar and was a little peeved when a participant arrived one hour late and without any apology or humility, he attempted to take over the session - asking unrelated questions and interrupting the flow of the session. 

Being a skilled, but professional trainer (smile), I brought the session back on track and the "loud mouth" (smile again) calmed down....never a dull moment in the career development world:)

Now, whenever  I meet someone who goes out of his/her way to be the center of attention - I get curious - I want to know the person's story, his/her career background and learn exactly why he/she is making such a fuss. Well, I decided to do a Google search on my participant to find out more about him and well, let's just say that there was a great disparity between his real and perceived job titles.

Let's be honest for a moment, which of these title sound more impressive and grab your attention right away?

Chief, Recruitment Services vs HR Training Manager

Senior Sales Representative vs Regional Sales Director

Project Manager vs Marketing Associate

In most cases, a more "impressive" sounding title is accompanied by wider range of high-level responsibilities and leadership contributions - nothing wrong with that, right? The issue I am bringing to your attention today is the error of using puffed up, over-exaggerated, misleading job titles when conducting a job search.

If you are calling yourself a Director or Senior Manager when you have line or lower-level responsibilities, sooner or later that will be exposed to employers and recruiters. I recognize that there are times when your job title does not accurately reflect your tasks - for example, your title may be Business Development Coordinator, but you actually oversee a team of employees and have managerial responsibilities. However, the best approach for communicating your role without inflating your job title is as follows:

Business Development Coordinator (equivalent to Regional Manager)

OR

Business Development Coordinator, American Tech Systems

-- Hold managerial-level responsibilities with complete oversight and supervision of ten sales representatives in the Southwest Florida region.

Either way, you get your message across without putting too much ego on your job title...do you have an unusual job title that you have trouble communicating on your resume?

Related posts:

Don't miss the resume boat

 

Shhh! My Job Search Is A Secret

It goes without saying that unless you are unemployed, your company is going out of business or you have been served a layoff notice, your executive job search should be kept confidential at all times.

In the end, your boss and colleagues may be supportive of your new job once you have submitted an official resignation, however in the interim, if your job search is exposed - well, that's never good.

With so much job search and recruiting activities being doing online - how do you stay visible to employers, recruiters and hiring managers without blowing your current job situation? Not easy, but it can be done.

Avoid The Online Resume Blasts

Take your left hand and slap your right hand - go ahead, do it now -  to avoid sending your resume everytime an online job opportunity that looks good. Save your online activities to company research, identifying key contacts, and locating relevant professional networking events.

Don't Broadcast Your Intentions Through Social Media

I swear that Facebook and Twitter have become the online diary for too many people. A hard day at work, an unbearable boss, a difficult client, a tiresome co-worker, disobedient children..you name it, are all popular topics that get referenced on social media status updates.

What you should know is that once you put something on the Internet, it's out there for a LONG time. (There are some strategies to correct that, but I'll save that for another blog post)

Now, you may not be guilty of outrageous status updates, but sharing private information or even mentioning that you are looking for a new job can show up in Google searches despite the "security" settings in these social media tools and keep in mind that Tweets are real-time data...if it's out there, it's easy to go viral.

Adjust Your LinkedIn Settings When Making Changes

Okay, picture this. You are finally ready and going full steam ahead with your job search. You  recognize that your LI profile needs improvement and you start making dramatic changes. Great move for your online brand, but not a great strategy if you want to keep your job search confidential.

See, there is a feature on LI (which can be turned off) that announces all your updates and changes to your connections - these activities also signal to people that you are in or preparing for a job search.

If you are like me, you might have forgotten who you are connected to on LI - most likely all your colleagues or even your boss...hmmm...think about it.

Screen Executive Recruiters Carefully Before Trusting Them With Your Search

Now before you get the wrong idea, understand that I highly respect executive recruiters and refer my clients to them all the time - HOWEVER, I have heard some horror stories from jobseekers - imagine your resume being accidentally sent to your boss from a recruiter! Trust me, it happens.

You will get legitimate emails and calls from recruiters who are seeking candidates with your background - take the extra time to do your due diligence. Find out the recruiters' specialty areas, top clients, industry expertise, geographical markets and even ask for references.

Protect Your Resume Details Without Overly "Hiding" Your Identity

There are subtle ways to avoid mentioning your current employer on your resume, but still have a career marketing document that works in your favor. For example:

1) Create an email address specifically for job search - so your personal email address used for FB, Twitter or even LI should be different.

2) Contact information: Simply list your name, (or first initial and last name, first initial, middle name and last name) email address and your cell phone number or explore getting a Google voice number that syncs with your cell phone (it works, I use it all the time)

3) Say so - at the top of resume, indicate "Confidential Search"

4) Try these techniques to address high-profile companies or top degrees

Before: SVP, Business Development, North America - Microsoft Company, Seattle, WA

After: SVP, Business Development, Confidential Company, USA or

SVP, Business Development, Global Technology Leader, USA

EDUCATION

Before: BA / MBA, Harvard University

After: BA / MBA, Ivy League University

Note: I am not suggesting that you play down your degree or where you work, but when have a strong, updated online brand, it is not hard for people to link your name, degrees, email address, phone number or even one company name to determine it's you.

Have you ever had your job search ousted before you found a new job? How did you handle it?

Related posts:

Use social media to boost your job search

 

whose job search was busted because the recruiter he/she was working with ended

Can You Help Me? I Need A Job

Several years ago, I attended a one-day, business coaching program and had the opportunity to network with a few budding soloprenuers. I clearly remember asking the woman who sat next to me about her target audience for her soon-to-be-launched healthcare consulting program.

Her response to me was "Everybody - cause anyone can benefit from it" Sounds logical, but not very smart business planning, right?

Well, is this same flawed logic and reasoning leaking into your executive job search? It does not make sense to contact an executive resume writer until you are crystal clear on a job search target. You should know what the fruit of your labor (and you will be laboring for a new job these days) looks like or you will have a hard time measuring your jobsearch success.

Many soloprenuers are familiar with a terminology called "tarket" - it is a combination of the two words, "target market". The concept here is to be so focused and clear about your target market that your marketing materials and messaging is speaking directly to one individual.

Let's apply this business philosophy to your executive job search. You need a new job, so start defining your "tarket" by answering these questions:

-- What is the title of your next desired position?

-- What is your desired annual compensation?

-- What is the industry that most appeals to you?

-- What kind of solutions would you be bringing to your next employer?

-- What would be your primary role and responsibilities? (Staff size, number of locations, regional, national, international, etc)

-- What is the corporate culture like?

-- What is the company's mission?

-- What is the size of the company?

-- What list of companies come to mind that would fit your career goals?

-- What are your work hours? Is a lot of travel involved?

-- Who are you reporting to?

-- Who is reporting to you?

Wow - and you thought that letting people know that you are looking for job was going to be enough. By answering the above questions in detail, you will create a job search profile that will help you focus your strategies and certainly give clarity to your executive resume writer, career coach, friends, family, professional network and colleagues.

Related posts:

What stands between you and your next job? 

The five D's of a successful job search

 

Channeling Emotional Outbursts Into Positive Job Search Energy

An unexpected shift in my career path is what eventually led to my life calling as a career expert and resume writer. So often, what seems like the worst road for us to travel ends up being our best blessing - I know you might think it sounds corny, but I am speaking from personal experience.

Back in 1994, right of business school with a fresh minted MBA, I headed back to New York to re-start my professional career. I had visions of working on Wall Street as a financial analyst for an investment banking firm. I launched my diligent job search and started interviewing and interviewing and interviewing.

Three months, six months, one year went by with lots of job search activities, but no solid offers. Another year goes by and finally, emotionally drained and frustrated from the process, I took a adjunct professor position at a two-year college in New York and the rest is history (learn more about my transition into a career coach/resume writer here)

When I deal with jobseekers who have been out of work for a long time, I can relate completely to the anger, frustration, depression and even the embarassment they feel at times - yes, it gets very uncomfortable in social circles when people ask what you do.

However, in the end, you have to dig down deep inside and pull strength from yourself and everywhere else to press forward.

Be willing to take an honest look at your job search strategies

A former participant of one of my webinars, use my recommendations to adjust her job search techniques and landed a new position in two months. That new position came to her after months and months of passive, online-only job applications.

-- Don't get angry or bitter with your resume writer, career coach or former boss because you are not getting enough callbacks, focus on what you could be doing differently to get better responses.

-- Don't dismiss social media strategies in your job search methods when more than 85% of employers and recruiters are using them to source candidates.

Take constructive feedback in stride

-- If you keep hearing that you are not qualified for the position, but you really are - go back to your resume and make adjustments that reflect that experience or those qualifications.

-- If you keep hearing that you are overqualified, learn to position your value to employers in compelling Challenge-Action-Results formulas, so they know they are getting the best candidate.

-- If you keep getting questioned about gaps in your professional resume, rehearse and practice viable responses to that question without getting rattled.

Be willing to try something new

When I paid my hard-earned money for a MBA degree, I certainly did not picture working as a part-time adjunct professor. Indeed, I can say today that it opened my eyes to a new profession/career/passion and allowed me the "training" ground to evolve into Premier Writing Solutions today.

-- Go from an employee to a consultant or from consultant to employee if the right opportunities are there.

-- Use a portion of your severance pay (if possible) to complete a new certification or training class.

-- Accept a non-executive position if it will expand your competencies and make you more marketable in the future.

Everything that looks like a set back may not always be the case. One of my sisters calls me the eternal optimist - don't be fooled, I have had my share of tough days and valley experiences, but when you are fueled by passion, it DOES NOT let you give up.

Keep trying, keep pushing, stay encouraged, stay motivated, get support, support others, share resources, take and give advice, and look for the unexpected rainbow in this thunderstorm.

Related posts:

Jobless and frustrated, who will you blame?

Your Executive Career Guide - Advice Your Career Can Grow On

Wouldn't it be great if all our career paths were simple, streamlined and predictable? Okay, back to reality....in a world where career progression is often disrupted, stalled or shifted due to family issues, personal transitions, downsizing and economic downturns, the only real weapon that you have for long-term career success is to be adequately prepared.

So I have decided to compile my most popular posts from over the years and create a categorized executive career guide that match any employment or job search situation.

Stunk in a dead-end job search, struggling over career change options, feeling disillusioned about career mistakes, or looking to shine at your next peformance review?

Here are practical solutions that can get you moving in the right direction

Building a ROI Executive Resume

 Are you missing the resume boat

Resume best practices

Is your professional resume carrying your career baggage?

 

Executive Job Search

Six steps to ultimate job search success 

If you want a new job, learn to love marketing

Don't sour about your executive job search

 

Executive Job Interviews

Making the interviewer your biggest ally

Surprising interview mistakes you need to avoid

Let Your STARS shine in your next interview

 

Executive Career Growth

Are underestimating your career worth

Increase your career options through professional development

Executive career resolutions that you can grow on

 

Career Strategies for Executive Women

Executive women and leadership roles

Bragging versus self promoting

Getting heard in the workplace

 

Executive Career Change

 Changing careers without magic tricks

Finding the right to change careers

Going from corporate employee to entreprenuer

Top 5 Things To Do If You Have Been Laid Off

I was recently working with a marketing executive who was laid off and feeling very betrayed by her employer.

I can certainly understand the emotional distress and turmoil that must take over anyone who has been unexpectedly let go - however, what does it take to dust yourself off and move on?

No matter how long you stay angry and bitter against your former employer, if you continue to stay in a funk, the reality is that you are still without a job and still need to pick the pieces up to move on. So where do you begin?

1) Get recommendations, referrals, and testimonials

Now can you see why staying angry would hurt you in this case? Often when you have been laid off, your manager and other "surviving" colleagues and co-workers are usually very willing, ready and able to provide you with written recommendations and kudos letters.

Why are these important? Well, for starters, you can use them as part of the foundation for your LinkedIn profile, add excerpts to your executive resume or even use them in your introductions or career success stories.

2) Compile a branded elevator pitch

In the early days following your layoff, you should be strategically reaching out to contacts in your professional and personal network to update them on your situation, get advice, secure more referrals and identify job opportunities.

You have to be able to communicate a lot more than "I got laid off and I am looking for a new job" - make sure you cover: what you do, who you did it for and what you consistently deliver (notice how great recommendations can be funneled into your elevator pitch?)

3) Expand your line of influence

Go beyond family and friends to partnering with other professionals through the Chamber of Commerce, affinity groups, alumni associations, and other industry/professional associations. Hopefully, you have been nurturing those connections and relationships throughout, so that you are not starting from scratch when you need a job.

4) Strengthen your online profile

Whether you like it or not, hiring managers and recruiters will search for you online even after they receive your resume - more importantly, many executive recruiters extensively use social networking tools to advertise their openings and attract qualified candidates.

Have the basics covered with LinkedIn, Twitter, Ziggs, VisualCV.com, Zoominfo, Google, and even Facebook - you have to be in it to be in the know.

5) Market a targeted, branded resume

I recommend that you are clear on your target and your audience before you create an executive resume, so that you can speak directly to their needs and show how your qualifications / experience / expertise can provide value.

There are different schools of thought about whether you should take a brief break after you have been laid off or whether you should jump right into your job search to avoid getting sidetracked or discouraged.

I think that is a personal choice, but you want to be diligent about laying the foundation for a multifaceted, integrated job search campaign by having your right tools/"weapons" in place so you are not left in the dust. 

Related posts:

Rebounding after a layoff

Jobless and frustrated

The Five D's Of A Successful Job Search

I don't know about you, but sometimes acronyms and word associations make it easier for me to stay focused on a difficult task or keep pressing when the end seems out of sight.

I think the same approach can be used with your job search - if you talk to 20 different people, they will each give you a unique formula for success that kept them going until they landed a job.

I would like to offer you a quick formula that came into my head yesterday ( if you are following me on Twitter, I gave you a sneak peek yesterday) that may work for you:

1) Every job search needs direction

A frenzy of job search activities that takes up a lot of your time is not the same as having targeted job search campaign. Before you attend any networking events, seek out referrals and blast out any resumes, you need to a clear direction about the type of positions that meet your job search / career goals.

2) Every job search requires diversification

While you have to be focused and targeted in your job search goals, you cannot be limited in your job search strategies and tactics. You will consistently hear that the best method is networking, but you also have to diversify your efforts with direct mail campaign, social media marketing, informational interviews and more.

3) Every job search takes diligence

We are in a tough recession - that is no secret and you can be consistent in your efforts and still net zero results. That is where the mindset of diligence and commitment to see it through the end has to come in.

Join forces with a job search support group, partner with another motivated job seeker or establish your own support team or board of advisors to give you that extra push when you want to give up.

4) Every job search needs determination

We have all been there when getting "no's" and running into closed doors seem to be more than we can take - being determined to stay the course and keep trying is the attitude you need to embrace every single day.

Your ultimate goal, of course, is to land a new job, but don't forget to establish realistic milestones and smaller goals in between to remind you that you are on the right track.

5) Every job search has its own duration

Being in it for the long haul - I have successfully worked with clients who have secured new jobs anywhere for one week to one year. Not due to a lack of qualifications or preparedness or hard work, simply because of market conditions. There are job openings which are subject to a flood of applicants and there are job opportunities, unmet company needs that have not been advertised.

The duration of your job search depends on the hiring conditions of your target industry, how well your qualifications match the company's needs, how your qualifications and value proposition stack up against the other candidates (your competition) and much more.

Focus on your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health to sustain you during the duration.

 

 

Maximizing Social Media to Turbocharge Your Executive Job Search

Don't you find it frustrating when friends or family who have known you for years, suddenly say, so kind of work do you do again? Well, imagine trying to launch a job search in today's competitive, crowded marketplace without any online presence or brand reputation.

Whether you like it or not, in order to "make noise" and be found by active hiring managers, eager employers and scouring recruiters, you need to engage a wide variety of social media tools and online networking resources. Here are five, free, easy-to-use social media tools that will take you from invisible to digitally distinct.

 A) Beef Up Your Signature

As you will be conducting a fair amount of your job search through the Internet and email communications, make sure that your email signature serves as your digital business card.

-- Include key information like your title, personal brand statement, phone number, Linked and VisualCV url links.

-- You can even include your professional headshot to make a connection with your email recipients.

B) Maintain An Optimized LinkedIn profile

With more than 40 million members from around the world that includes top Fortune 500 executives and recruiters, you need a robust, active LinkedIn profile to help you nurture and support your professional network.

-- Use a branded headline (title header) to attract visitors and catch the eye of proactive recruiters and headhunters. Make it specific in terms of profession, industry, expertise and geographic location.

-- Take advantage of the update status feature to keep your connections apprised of your career activities and use it as a tool to share information and inform them of mutually beneficial networking events.

-- Request and add recommendations from former colleagues, bosses, mentors and respected professionals in your field. A third-party testimonial can go a long way.

-- Transform you elevator pitch into a compelling summary on your LinkedIn profile. Be sure to use relevant , acronyms and industry jargon as they relate to your areas of expertise.

-- Join groups and get active in the discussion - be willing to share your opinion, expertise and advice. Discussion forums are a very popular place for recruiters when it comes to seeking passive candidates.

C) Be Active On Twitter

Don't just get a twitter account and go silent - even I am guilty of this one at times:) Identify and follow the trend setters and thought leaders in your target industry, but be a giver and receiver of information. If you come across an interesting news article or blog post, don't be afraid to retweet as long as you give the original author full credit.

D) Build An Multimedia Portfolio

Whether you choose to host a website with you own customized url (with your name), design an interactive portfolio or build your VisualCV, you have to provide interested employers and recruiters a variety of opportunities to learn more about you.

-- Depending on your field, upload video to highlight your speaking experience and presentation skills.

-- Include visual charts, Word/PDF documents, and links to showcase published works, articles, white papers, writing samples; you should also have downloadable versions of your resume in standard presentation and text formats.

E) Create A Facebook Profile

Now I will admit that I have two Facebook profiles - one for personal and professional purposes. Why a Facebook account in a job search? It is another venue to promote your personal brand, join company pages, participate in industry and profession-specific networking groups, and re-connect with former colleagues and classmates.

--Keep your profile updated and link your other social media activity to your Facebook to keep the content fresh and current.

-- Take advantage of the "What are you doing" feature and routinely engage others in conversation and discussions.

-- Use advanced social media tools to link your Twitter posts to your Facebook. 

Now all these steps look like a tall order to follow, but keep in mind that if you are unemployed, you will be realistically spending between 35 to 40 hours a week in job search activities. Now, before you make a pact to glue yourself to your computer and Blackberry, remember that your online activities should only be a PART of your job search strategy plan - not 100% of it.

Related posts:

Build and promote your online presence

Are you tweeting?

Going public with your executive job search

Executive Job Search Success - Part 6: Build and Promote Your Online Presence

Have you every tried this exercise? "Google" yourself and evaluate the results that come up - does the information about you fit your personal brand, is it accurate and most importantly, is it positive and supportive to your job search efforts?

Beyond what is represented on your executive resume and career marketing documents, potential employers, hiring managers, and recruiters are eager to see what is behind the scenes. Consequently, they will conduct online research to get the real scoop on you, learn more about what you have to offer and carefully read others' comments on your abilities and past performance.

If there is absolutely nothing about you online, you are basically hidden and invisible to those who may be trying to find you. Frequent surveys have shown that executive recruiters and employers actively scour the Internet to identify "passive" candidates that fit their hiring needs.

Having a strong online presence is simply essential in today's job search and should remain as part of your ongoing career management strategy.

Here are a few quick ways to start improving your personal online presence today:

a) Create personal online profiles

Any executive or senior professional who is serious about his/her job search should have a complete, branded profile with LinkedIn, Zoominfo, Ziggs, Google and Jigsaw.

More importantly, you need to make sure that these profiles have "meat" in them, provide sufficient detail about your responsibilities and include at least one top achievement for each company. As you expand your connections, don't forget to solicit recommendations or third-party testimonials from former bosses and colleagues.

b) Create an online portfolio or personal website

Give others access to a web-based portfolio through which they can download your executive resume, career biography, case studies and other relevant career marketing documents.

Start off with a free portfolio at VisualCV.com and purchase your own URL (in your personal name) if you want to upgrade to an actual website at a later point.

c) Create a following

If you enjoy writing articles or brief columns, submit your work frequently to free websites like selfgrowth.com, ezinearticles.com and articlestreet.com.Use the opportunity to share your expertise with other colleagues and end each article with a signature byline (like the one I have below) that leads people back to your personal website, VisualCV or LinkedIn profile.

d) Create conversations

All online social networking sites have smaller, targeted groups and forums; get to talking, openly share your opinion on industry trends, offer advice to colleagues and aspiring thought leaders and frequently invite meaningful discussions among the group members.

Don't forget about adding your professional two cents to specialty Yahoo and Google groups and relevant blogs. 

Are you just joining us on this seven-part series on executive job search success? Get caught up through the following links:

Executive Job Search Success - Part 1: Have a clear job target

Executive Job Search Success - Part 2: Determine your job search tactics

Executive Job Search Success - Part 3: Identify your target companies

Executive Job Search Success - Part 4: Create your marketing collateral

Executive Job Search Success - Part 5: Pursue job opportunities

Executive Job Search Success - Part 6: Get to networking and connecting

Abby M. Locke of Premier Writing Solutions (www.premierwriting.com) is a master resume writer and career marketing architect who helps talented professionals and senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents, innovative job search tools, and proactive career management strategies.

Executive Job Search Success: Part - Get to Networking and Connecting

No matter how you may dislike it or try to avoid it, the best way to power up your job search will be through extensive networking and relationships building. This aspect of your job search will bring you close to decision makers and more importantly will put you in touch with other professionals who have working relationships with industry leaders.

So while the call of the Internet may tempt with its wealth of online networking sites and social media tools, don't be misguided into conducting all your networking activities from your computer.

However, avoid randomly attending every event or party that you hear about to simply fufill your networking quota, take the time to review your list of target companies, determine the key people you want to meet and identify the activities and events that would bring you face-to-face with them.

In addition, think carefully about what you can offer another person in terms of resources, information, tools and other contacts. The best networking relationships are those that are built on a give-and-receive basis.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

1) Have a professional business card

Even if you are currently unemployed, it is critical that you portray a professional image by having business cards with your name, contact information and value-driven branding statement on them. Use vistaprint.com for easy-to-use, inexpensive stationery resources.

2) Have a strong 30-second pitch

In any networking event, beyond the word "hello", you will be asked about yourself and what you do. Rather than saying "Oh, I am in between jobs and looking for work", try something like this:

"Hi, my name is Sharon Smith. I am a Manufacturing Executive and have built a professional reputation engaging cutting-edge technologies that helped global manufacturing companies ABC Plastics, Newform Manufacturing, and TechNec Corporation achieve aggressive revenue growth and improve operating cost objectives."

3) Check out local networking and job search support groups

If you are looking to stay in your local area, there are often a wide number of networking events and breakfast meetings that you can attend - start off with your local Chamber of Commerce and explore others like local chapters of industry associations and alumni clubs.

4) Have a follow up plan

The goal of networking events is not to simply collect tons of business cards and talk to everyone in the room. If you leave an event with only three business cards, but it (the event) has put you in contact with people who can hand deliver your resume to a hiring manager or help you schedule an informational interview, then you have succeeded.

With so much activities going on in our lives these days, you have to make it a point to re-connect and follow up with target individuals within 48 hours after every event.

Have a hard time getting motivated? Invite a friend or colleague to accompany you to an event this week.