Executive Career Insights

Don't Create Bad Job Search Karma

I know that I have been very silent lately, but I have been busy. I am currently involved in a project with the Department of Labor that required me to relocate from the Pacific Northwest Washington to the Nation's  Capital Washington. It was not too much of a stretch since I had lived in DC for many years, but moving and re-settling definitely took some time!

I had the opportunity to do training and counseling for federal employees in Atlanta and was very amused to learn that one of my counseling "clients" turned out to be someone I met close to 20 years ago. Initially when we started talking and he mentioned a few names, I realized that we knew a LOT of people in common. Imagine that!

The reality is that at any time you can run into someone who is an integral part of your network without you realizing it - why am I mentioning this? Think about this...you are knee deep in a job search, you are frustrated, you are angry and one day, you just release that anger on a complete stranger. Fast forward, you manage to land an interview and guess who is the interviewer? That's right, the same person that you verbally attacked - don't laugh, it can happen.

Just recently a woman signed up to get my free report (please note, it does ask you to sign up for a newsletter), however somewhere in the process, she missed the part that I ask for the email addresses before releasing the link to report. So, what does she do? Jump to the wrong conclusion about my intentions and basically berates me for using covert tactics for marketing purposes - whoa, really?

Now imagine if she had handled that situation differently (yes, I gave her the link anyway and prompting removed her from my database) - I may have been able to sympathize with her job search frustration, given her a resume review or even a complimentary coaching session to get her on the right path.

The lesson here is NOT "Don't mess with Abby", but rather, be careful how you walk and talk. You never know what valuable networking and relationship building opportunities you could be destroying.

So if you are hitting your head against a wall and ready to explode, take a deep breath and review these key strategies for executive and professional job search:

 What to do with jobsearch frustration?

I need a job!

Are you raising a good resume?

Need a job? Leave the sour lemons behind

Forging Ahead With "Burnt" Career Bridges

We have all been there. You left a job under bad circumstances, you got fired, you had a disagreement with your boss and quit, you clashed with a colleague and got your reputation soured...the list can go on and on.

Reality hits when it's time to provide references - how do you still market yourself as a strong candidate when no-one is willing to validate that?

Thankfully, your only source of references does not have to be work-related - while having a former boss or past co-workers speak highly of your abilities is usually the best strategy, here are some ideas of others who can vouch for you.

-- A current or former mentee can speak about your expertise as thought leader, industry expert, and personal coach.

-- Your church or ministry leaders/partners  can give insight on your ability to build teams, lead others, execute initiatives, manage committees and forge community relationships.

-- Your alumni or professional association members can talk about your business development, marketing or fundraising/budgeting skills depending on the role you play in the group.

-- Your homeowners or tenant association member can discuss your talents in project management, handling conflicting ideas, building conscensus in tough situations and working with diverse individuals and personalities.

-- Clients, vendors, business partners and strategic alliances can give prospective employers an idea about how you solve business problems, devise new strategies, create new programs, products and services and deliver customer service.

Still stumped? Try thinking outside the box and identify individuals who have worked closely with you under a variety of circumstances and situations, I am confident, you will find an excellent pool of references.

Related posts on challenging career situations:

Don't let career mistakes hold you back

Five things you must do when laid off

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?

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.

 

 

Finding Nuggets of Support While Seeking Your "Jackpot" Job

If your unemployment period has lasted more than a few months, I am quite sure you are starting to question yourself and even your own abilities.

Over at the Wall Street Journal's blog "Laid Off And Looking", MBA professionals are giving open, honest insights about their unemployment journey. Rather than wallow in self-pity, they are using the opportunity to share the emotions and even frustrations about the highs and lows of today's job search experiences.

I appreciate this blog because it allows other jobseekers to have a resource and outlet to offer advice, give each other support, and even vent about their own personal encounters.

A few days ago, Kevin Mergens shared some sound advice of how he survived his seven-month job search. Key strategies he recommended that I agree with:

1) Jump right into your job search

Rather than wait and allow negative emotions to take over, accept the situation and start the job search process - even if it means just let others close to you know that you are seeking new job opportunties

2) Network, network and network

I really liked what he said about not neglecting your network. Don't wait until you need a job or recommendation to start communicating with your personal and professional network. More importantly, even after you land a job, don't neglect your network.

See related post: Keep your network alive and kicking

3) Expand your education and training

Identify any new skills, training, certifications or advanced courses you can take to support and accelerate your jobsearch. I have personally worked with someone who become "obsolete" in his own job due to lack of current and advanced technology skills.

4) Using niche job boards can be helpful

While I continue to stress that your job search strategy should not be limited to online job boards, you should be taking advantage of niche job boards that focus on companies/industries related to your target position. Here is a guide to finding the top niche job boards:

5) Volunteer and give back

Never underestimate the benefits you can get from volunteering and offering your expertise - while it may not result in an immediate job offer, you can get a personal referral, a LinkedIn recommendation, a heads-up about job opportunity before it becomes advertised, an invitation to an networking event and much more.

What Stands Between You and Your Next Job?

If you are starting out the new year feeling discouraged by the dismal results of your job search efforts, don't be so hard on yourself.

There are several factors that directly determine whether you will have a short or lengthy job search cycle - of course, you have to keep in mind that our overall economic slowdown has added several months to the job search success of even the most qualified candidates.

A) Your skillset and qualifications

Whether you are looking to transition into a similar position in the same industry or completely change careers, your related skills, qualifications and education will impact how fast that transition is made.

-- Are you lacking any of the key skills that employers are looking for in a candidate?

-- Are your existing skills and areas of expertise above average or exceptional?

-- Are there new certifications, training programs or degrees that you need to make yourself more marketable?

B) Direct functional and industry experience

Your attractiveness and value to employers will be higher if you have a significant amount of experience in your target field. In addition, if the field that you are targeting is rapidly growing and expanding, your chances of finding a new position will dramatically increase with an aggressive job search plan.

-- Do you have the required numbers of years' experience that employers and recruiters are actively seeking?

-- Are you considered an expert in your field or have you helped to train or mentor others?

-- Did you conduct extensive research on your target companies to clearly understand what they are looking for?

-- Beyond your list of target companies, have you considered their competitors as possible employers?

C) Multifaceted job search strategy

No matter how experienced and effective you are, unless you have a plan with clear, measurable steps, you can keep going in circles with your job search efforts. Be specific about the type of role you want to play in an organization, decide on the size of the organization, narrow down on geographic location and even the corporate culture.

-- Have you identified key players in your target industry who can offer direction or a word of advice?

-- Does your job search strategy match your career situation? In other words, are you limited to your search efforts to online classifieds when hiring decisions are always made through recruiters?

-- Are you maximizing your time by only attending networking events or participating in activities that would benefit your job search efforts?

Related posts:

Jobless and frustrated

Sage advice for senior-level job hunters

Do Job Support Clubs Really Work?

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine who has been diligently seeking new employment for more than nine months. Despite securing great interviews and even getting consulting work, she has not been able to get a full time job.

To avoid getting mired in depression and giving up hope, she has become actively involved in a job search ministry through her church. Of course, they cannot offer guarantees or even job employment, but their approach is to support jobseekers from a mental, emotional and spiritual perspective. After all, losing your job affects a lot more than your financial status.

Being successful in your executive job search requires diligence, the right mindset and the right attitude, but we are all susceptible to the spirit of discouragement, why not consider joining a support group with members who can cheer you on when you feel like giving up and challenge you to be your best?Over at Job Hunt, they have done an excellent job of identifying key networking and job support resources in all the states.

Six Job Search Strategies That Work

Jobless And Frustrated - So Who Will You Sue?

A recent graduate of the New York-based Monroe College, Trina Thompson is gaining a lot of "negative" publicity by suing her alma mater because she has not yet secured a full-time job since completing her degree in April of this year.While I can certainly sympathize with her frustration and despair, especially in this down economy, no one person or institution can be held responsible for her lack of employment.

Though it may be easy to dismiss her actions as naive and shortsighted, I have certainly experienced a number of executive candidates who, under pressure, have exhibited the same type of finger pointing towards well-meaning resume writers, career coaches and executive recruiters.

Whether you like it or not, looking for a job is a job - you cannot depend on any one person, resource or tool to generate positive results. 

First accept that they are absolutely NO guarantees with an executive resume, NO company has exclusive access to the hidden job market and NO-ONE will do a better job of selling you to employers than you.

So what efforts should you focus on that make sense and are worth your time?

-- Start with a narrow list of five to ten specific companies that you are interested in and use your personal and professional contracts to develop an internal network of supporters.

Ideally, if someone can hand deliver your resume to a key decision maker you are off to a good start.

-- Only post your resume to deeply-niched, specialty career, recruiter and association-based websites.

In describing her efforts, Ms. Thompson did reveal that she "fulfilled her end of the job-search bargain, peppering companies listed on Monroe's e-recruiting site with cover letters, résumés and phone calls. But no more than two employers have responded to her outreach, and those leads have borne no fruit."

Depending on online resume scanning and application databases are the most PASSIVE and REACTIVE ways to conduct a job search. All online activities should be matched with efforts to reach a real person through in-person networking events and referrals.

-- Make sure that recruiters and employers can find you online and offline.

Effective, user-friendly tools like Zoominfo, Ziggs, Plaxo, Twitter and VisualCV allow you to have a 24-hour, online marketing presence with minimal effort.

-- Attend and participate in networking events and career fairs that allow you to come face-to-face with individuals who can play a critical role in your job search campaign.

If one of the companies in your top ten list is looking for a marketing executive and you are right for the job, actively seek out opportunities to get in front of someone who can make an introduction or pass your resume along.

Learn more about proactive job search strategies that you can embrace today:

Executive Job Search Success: Part 1 - Have a clear 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