Ask the Coach #6 What If No Job Search Advice Works

Ask the Coach #6 What If No Job Search Advice Works See previous Ask The Coach questions and answers here.  This question is a little different in that it is a question from me! Heres what I sent to my coaches: The question comes from me this time. I was presenting at an outplacement office in San Francisco and had what I thought was a pretty awesome presentation. At the end of my presentation a guy in the back said, Jason, Ive done everything you have said. Networking, branding, etc.   But none of it works!   What do I do now? He was clearly pretty jaded but what do you do when the normal advice just doesnt work? How did the coaches respond?  Read on! Dr. Heather N. Maietta, Master Career Coach This has happened to me before. Similar situation, similar reaction. To address the question to the crowd, I responded to the inquiry that as a career coach, I would need to work with the client directly to dissect his process in order to answer why the normal advice isnt working. I did, in fact, leave my card with the workshop participant who was jaded by what he believed was an ineffective process. We began working together 1-1, and I offered my services pro bono because I do believe the process works if done well. We spent a month together walking through his process and there were in fact holes. For instance, my client believed he was effectively following up with applications, but in fact, he wasnt. He wasnt taking extra steps to call or write an inquiry on the status of his applications, giving him an extra opportunity to brand and market himself. One other thing we identified, he wasnt good at selling himself because he hadnt learned HOW to see himself how to brand himself effectively. We worked on that extensively. In short, the process works. If there is a breakdown in the process, it is important to revisit the process, identify where the breakdown is occurring, and revise. Because we arent taught career dev strategy in formal education, it is assumed we just know how to do this effectively, when in fact it is quite difficult. When we cant do it on our own, sometimes working with a professional is necessary. Wendy Terwelp, Executive Career Coach, Author: Rock Your Job Searchâ„¢ I understand job searching can get discouraging, especially when you feel you’ve tried it all. When coaching executive clients on job search, we take a deep dive into their job search activity. Here’s  one scenario: One CFO said she’d tried everything: networking, online postings, LinkedIn, the works. I said, “Everything? Have you documented all of your search activities?” Turned out, she’d not  documented all her activities. This was a revelation in multiple ways. She realized she’d not been doing  job search activities daily. It felt like a daily activity and it felt like she’d tapped all her contacts, but that  wasn’t reality. She’d not formerly tracked where, when or to whom she sent resumes. Searching her  emails, she also realized she’d not followed up on those jobs she truly wanted. And she discovered some  untapped connections in her network. Together, we created a new career search action plan, which she  put into an Excel spreadsheet (remember, she’s a CFO) AND we worked together on a new networking  sound bite and strategy. She landed a dream gig just weeks afterward. Take a deep dive into your career search activity. Are you tracking where, when, and to whom you’ve  sent your resumes? Have you followed up on those jobs that truly interest you? What methods are you  using for job search? Is it truly “everything?” If so, take another look at your approach. Are you tailoring  your letters / resumes? Are you responding only to those online postings where you’re a near perfect  match? Does your network understand what you do and the companies where you wish to work? If you  need objective perspective on your job search activity, hire a career coach to assist you. You got this! Gavan Ambrosini, Executive Coach, Career Consultant I have gotten this response a lot over the years from professionals frustrated with their search. My response is always the same: You are learning resiliency. Pace yourself, it is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s no fun being in your space and frustration and disappointment are unfortunately part of the ride. The bottom line is this-your strategy is not working. It’s not youâ€"it’s not the marketplace, it is how you are presenting yourself to what is available. Remember Henry Ford’s wise words, “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right. Here are a few tips to help turn the ship around: Not getting any calls on your resume?â€"it is not working. End. Of. Story. Time to change it up. Tailor it, or hire a professional. It will be money well spent. 2. Getting interviews, but not getting calls back or offers? There is something going on in the interview that is turning employers off. Reflect on your answers. Practice interviewing with someone. Get feedback on how you are presenting yourself. A few simple tweaks might be all you need. 3. Practice an attitude of gratitude: Sure the job search sucks, and you are getting jaded by the rejection, but there are many gifts in this time of your life. Ponder what those may be. People sense when you are in a bad spaceâ€"and will be turned off by your negativity. Do what you can to turn it around and give off a positive attitude. 4. Acknowledge your frustration, and then take a break. Self-care is vital in this process. You need to rejuvenate yourself to keep your energy high: Take a hike. Visit the ocean or a river or a lake. Go for a walk. Read a book. Cook something or watch a movie. Bottom line is you need to take a break from the negative self-talk and seek out a new perspective by taking action by being intentionally mindful and present. Keep going! Craig B Toadtman,  Job Search Consultant, Career Adviser, Coach, Executive Search Consultant A professional baseball player, normally hitting over .300, was in a slump. He’d gone 1 for 22 over the past week or so, and was feeling the pressure. Did he give up? Absolutely not he went  to the batting cage twice daily and hit through it. He’s now back in the groove. A ferry boat captain was carting cars across Lake Champlain between Vermont and New York was  in midst of a transport on a cold, nasty day in December. A passenger asked him “Why do you do  this on such a nasty day?” The Captain responded, “If you don’t go, you don’t get.” So, what does this have to do with Job Seekers? You could very well feel like you’re in a slump.  No responses, not interviews, no offers. This can go on for weeks at a time. Nothing is working.  The process doesn’t work. So, what do you do? Don’t quit! Hit the reset button. Rethink your strategy and examine all the steps you are taking. Are you  hitting the right market? Does your résumé make you stand out from the competition? Are you  really cultivating relationships throughout your network by calling, emailing, and calling again?  Make the adjustments, and then go at it again. Refine your research, make the calls, write the  emails. Go for it big time. The process will ultimately work â€" you will find the right opportunity  â€" hit the ball again, and again, and again. If you don’t go, you don’t get! Denise Taylor, Career Coach, Chief Inspiration Officer, the 50 Plus Coach What I’d like you to do is stop and take a break from all your job search activity. Do anything except think about this topic for at least a week. Then take a different approach. Look at everything you have done and take an objective view. Are you REALLY clear on what job you want? Do you have the right experience and skills to succeed in this role? Are you clear on why you should get the job, rather than anyone else? How are you presenting this to the world? Can you explain, succinctly on what you want and why? Get feedback on your resume and cover letter from a professional and implement their suggestions. This could be via books of you are on limited funds. And then I’d like you to monitor everything that you do. Keep track of the emails you send, the people you speak to and what happens next. Always follow up and think like a marketer with AB testing. If one approach doesn’t work, try something else. You may be desperate to get another job as you need money fast. This desperation can show in your voice and body language so take away some pressure by getting some money in via taking on a temp job or earning some money via Uber, people for hire etc. Wishing you all the very best for your future success. Perry Newman, Award Winning Resume Writer LinkedIn Transformation Specialist, Certified Social Media Strategist, Certified Personnel Consultant The first thing to do is honestly evaluate if is it YOU or the process that is not working. As I tell my clients, it is not what you do that creates success in a job search. It is all about how well you do it, how solid and modern are your tools, and how much passion and drive do you bring to the process every day. So, in no particular order, explore the following and see what may require change or adjustment. Do you need an attitude adjustment? Those who generally ask this question network with a negative one-way attitude whereas successful networking requires always-remaining positive, letting people know you have something valuable to offer as much as you want something in return, and constant follow up and relationship building. Remember, 25-50 solid and in-close-contact LinkedIn and personal connections is of greater value than having a network of 500-1000 people many who you barley know. Are you looking for the right job/s? Many struggle in a job search because they are chasing the wrong opportunity when they are not a competitive candidate for hire. In other words, how well do you fit the position/s Hire Profile? Looking for the right position is half the battle. You think you established a brand, but is it generic inclusive or is it truly a differentiator? Moreover, is it giving off mixed signals or the wrong message? Remember in a job search your resume and LinkedIn profile is not about the person you are, it is ALL about the person you want to be. Especially in a resume, many people come across as better qualified for a job other than the one they applied for. Do you approach your job search with a job seeker’s or an employer’s mentality. A successful search requires you analyze everything from an employer’s perspective rather than your own. The reason people may want to hire you are obvious and rise, like cream, to the top. However most hiring decisions will consider and give equal or more weight to why you are the wrong person for the job. Did you think like an employer and spend time trying to know why people may not want to hire you and what are you doing about it to change or negate their perception of you? Are your working to conduct your job search alone in a vacuum or do you have people helping and supporting you? A support system of some sort is a prerequisite for success Being a resume writer this is my favorite. Is your resume a poorly written, generic and out of style DIY document? If it is you have less than a 20% chance people will take you seriously and grant you an interview. The solution is getting it done over professionally. Thea Kelley, Job Search and Interview Coach, Author of Get That Job! The Quick and Complete Guide to a Winning Interview Your situation is unique â€" as everyones is â€" but first lets make sure youve really  been nailing those best practices. Ask yourself: Am I doing targeted networking? The best practice is to develop a list of  40-50 target companies that youre following and networking your way into. Am I doing several networking one-on- ones every week? Read a  good book on how to do this, like The 2-Hour Job Search by Steve Dalton. How do you follow up after these meetings? Your contacts promise to  keep you in mind is a pipe dream if you dont report back on how you acted on their suggestions and your ongoing progress. Keep in touch. What about applying to jobs online? Is that the right strategy for you? If  so, are you figuring out how to get your resume in front of the hiring manager, not just HR? Do you sometimes follow up with a phone call to  the hiring manager? If so, what do you say, and what response do you get? Are your resume, LinkedIn profile and other materials really top-notch? If you wrote them on your own, or if you hired a low-priced writer, they probably arent. Are your phone screenings leading to in-depth interviews and  moving on to offers? If not, you need to work on your interview skills,  probably with expert feedback and coaching. Am I pursuing the right job? If you lack important skills or experience for  the job you want to do, you may need to consider a bridge job that can serve as a stepping stone â€" or a different career path thats a better fit. If you have positive answers to all of these questions and you still dont have a  job after a few months, you definitely need a coach, ASAP. Your situation is  unusual and requires skilled, individual attention. Jeri Hird Dutcher,  Certified professional and international resume writer This isnt easy to say or hear: Do it again. Keep doing it. Job search isnt a one and done. It takes persistence, determination, a good support system, and increasing skills. It can be difficult, frustrating, and at times hopeless, but we keep trying and keep learning new and better ways. You can also hire a coach to make sure your processes are effective and efficient. Melvin Scales, Senior Vice President, Meridian Resources When I have had outplacement candidates say to me that nothing works I have learned to ask the question let me see and hear what you are doing. Many times, and in particular with networking messages, those messages are delivered in a way that truly does not work. For example, candidates will approach a networking contact and ask the fatal question Are you hiring? rather than saying Based on what I have shared with you about my ideal role, do you know of anyone that may have an interest in my background? Think about the differences in the approach. The likely answer to the first option is No I dont and the conversation ends. While the likely answer or answers to the second option is Yes, I do or I dont right now. When coached properly the candidate will be able to say Would you be open to introducing them to me? This has worked well for my candidates now over 20+years when they hit the nothing works wall. Cheryl Lynch Simpson, Career, Job Search LinkedIn Coach Master Resume Writer If a job seeker has truly done everything right and still hasn’t received an offer, then chances are: Their resume and/or branding are insufficient or off-target from what employers are seeking. There are too few opportunities available in their field in the geographic areas in which they’re looking. Their interview performance is missing the mark. They’re being judged as too ____ (fill in the blank: old, inexperienced, experienced, educated, undereducated, etc.). Their salary expectations are out of alignment with the market. A job search is a bit of a numbers game in that, on average, it takes seven interviews to receive one job offer, but 200-300 job prospects in a given geographic area to yield those seven interviews. Therefore, if a job seeker is doing everything right, but there aren’t enough targeted opportunities in their preferred industries, their search may never get traction. It’s important to point out, though, that the majority of job seekers likely aren’t doing everything right in their search. I hate to sound negative, but I come across perhaps one client every couple of years of whom this is true. The rest of the time, I find that the job hunter isn’t doing everything they should or isn’t doing it to the degree they should. If you’re not networking enough or with the right people, or you’re not taking advantage of thought leadership opportunities, or you’re not targeting companies, or you’re not building effective relationships with contacts, then your job hunt will falter, unless you’re in an area where your targeted jobs are available in such numbers that, well, almost anyone in your field could get a job. The good news is that it’s possible to diagnose what is and isn’t working in your job hunt and fix it. Patti Romanowicz, career consultant and job search specialist First, I would want to quantify that statement and get more detail on his specific job search techniques,  as well as see his resume. Is he attending networking events and racking up new connections? Or is he  building and cultivating relationships with new as well as existing connections? It’s not just about how  many people you know, it’s about quality of relationships. And in my experience, ongoing networking to  grow these types of relationships is hard for most people. Does his resume serve him well and help him  stand out? Is his mindset discouraging potential employers? Perhaps his process just needs some  tweaking and he could benefit from some one-on- one coaching. Let’s say he has done all the traditional stuff, personal branding, hard networking, etc., and it’s just not  working. Time to start thinking outside the box. Here are some thoughts: Deliver your resume in a memorable way â€" with home-baked cookies, a plant, or something  related to the company’s industry Turn your static resume into a video resume, where you can personally sell yourself Set up your own web site showcasing your skills, resume, and examples of your work Update your skills or learn new applications that will make you more marketable to employers Thoroughly research the specific companies you want to get into â€" identify a problem or  challenge they might have and create a business proposal on how you can help solve it Bottom line, any job search is a full time job. It takes time, commitment, and effort. It can be  discouraging. But the right mindset, patience, and a little creativity may very well land you the job of  your dreams! Lucie Yeomans,  Certified Career Services Professional and Job Search Strategist When clients tell me this, I start with a couple of important questions. 1) Are you truly doing everything you are told to do and doing it correctly? Networking (not asking for a job, but targeted, strategic networking every week) Understanding and promoting your personal brand/value proposition statement, (not what YOU think it is, but having a professional branding expert help you identify what that truly is) CAR story development (not generic CAR stories, but targeted, strategic stories geared for a particular audience) How well do you interview? How do people perceive you? 2) How long have you been networking and searching for a new job? Timing is everything when you are looking for a new job. Just because you are ready to move on, doesn’t mean the perfect job is ready and waiting for you. Patience is key here. It can take 6-12 months and sometimes longer depending on your level and industry. If I learn that my client has done everything correctly and has given it sufficient time, then it’s time to ask a difficult third question. 3) Are your expectations realistic? How long you have been out of work? For many decision makers, an employed candidate is more attractive than an unemployed candidate. What have you/are you doing with your time? Are you pursuing the wrong dream/job? Do you meet 90+% of the requirements in the job postings you apply to? The ones who are getting interviews do. Does your field favor younger, more up-to-date talent over experience? Unfortunately, ageism does exist. Can you keep up with your competition? So, what do you do? Seek out temporary or voluntary positions where your skills can be utilized. Sign up for courses to learn what you lack. Consider getting your MBA or other advanced degree if you see that it is preferred more often than not. Ron Auerbach,  Job search author, expert, and educator The first thing to do is look at your execution. For example, lets say you havent been networking. Thats not good! So its no wonder youre not getting job leads and/or interviews. But suppose you have been networking and still dont have any success with it. The issue now is whether youre networking in the right way. So are you connecting with the right kinds of people? Or are you just doing it with anyone and everyone? The problem may not be networking, but the way in which youre handling it. So if youre not targeting those who can or might be able to help, its no wonder why youre not getting success. The same problem can happen with branding. You know how important it is to develop a brand. But are you branding yourself in the right way that will impress and attract recruiters and employers? For example, are you using the correct wording? Are you promoting your brand through the right channel(s)? Are you branding yourself in one way but conducting yourself in another manner? So even if you have the best strategies in the world, they won’t be effective if you carry them out in the wrong way. And that’s what dooms lots of job seekers. They know what to do. Yet they fail to execute the mission in the proper way. The job search is hard. Doing the right things, over and over, can feel fruitless. But if you are doing the right things, keep doing them. Thanks to the coaches for another great round! See previous questions here: Ask The Coaches. Ask the Coach #6 What If No Job Search Advice Works See previous Ask The Coach questions and answers here.  This question is a little different in that it is a question from me! Heres what I sent to my coaches: The question comes from me this time. I was presenting at an outplacement office in San Francisco and had what I thought was a pretty awesome presentation. At the end of my presentation a guy in the back said, Jason, Ive done everything you have said. Networking, branding, etc.   But none of it works!   What do I do now? He was clearly pretty jaded but what do you do when the normal advice just doesnt work? How did the coaches respond?  Read on! Dr. Heather N. Maietta, Master Career Coach This has happened to me before. Similar situation, similar reaction. To address the question to the crowd, I responded to the inquiry that as a career coach, I would need to work with the client directly to dissect his process in order to answer why the normal advice isnt working. I did, in fact, leave my card with the workshop participant who was jaded by what he believed was an ineffective process. We began working together 1-1, and I offered my services pro bono because I do believe the process works if done well. We spent a month together walking through his process and there were in fact holes. For instance, my client believed he was effectively following up with applications, but in fact, he wasnt. He wasnt taking extra steps to call or write an inquiry on the status of his applications, giving him an extra opportunity to brand and market himself. One other thing we identified, he wasnt good at selling himself because he hadnt learned HOW to see himself how to brand himself effectively. We worked on that extensively. In short, the process works. If there is a breakdown in the process, it is important to revisit the process, identify where the breakdown is occurring, and revise. Because we arent taught career dev strategy in formal education, it is assumed we just know how to do this effectively, when in fact it is quite difficult. When we cant do it on our own, sometimes working with a professional is necessary. Wendy Terwelp, Executive Career Coach, Author: Rock Your Job Searchâ„¢ I understand job searching can get discouraging, especially when you feel you’ve tried it all. When coaching executive clients on job search, we take a deep dive into their job search activity. Here’s  one scenario: One CFO said she’d tried everything: networking, online postings, LinkedIn, the works. I said, “Everything? Have you documented all of your search activities?” Turned out, she’d not  documented all her activities. This was a revelation in multiple ways. She realized she’d not been doing  job search activities daily. It felt like a daily activity and it felt like she’d tapped all her contacts, but that  wasn’t reality. She’d not formerly tracked where, when or to whom she sent resumes. Searching her  emails, she also realized she’d not followed up on those jobs she truly wanted. And she discovered some  untapped connections in her network. Together, we created a new career search action plan, which she  put into an Excel spreadsheet (remember, she’s a CFO) AND we worked together on a new networking  sound bite and strategy. She landed a dream gig just weeks afterward. Take a deep dive into your career search activity. Are you tracking where, when, and to whom you’ve  sent your resumes? Have you followed up on those jobs that truly interest you? What methods are you  using for job search? Is it truly “everything?” If so, take another look at your approach. Are you tailoring  your letters / resumes? Are you responding only to those online postings where you’re a near perfect  match? Does your network understand what you do and the companies where you wish to work? If you  need objective perspective on your job search activity, hire a career coach to assist you. You got this! Gavan Ambrosini, Executive Coach, Career Consultant I have gotten this response a lot over the years from professionals frustrated with their search. My response is always the same: You are learning resiliency. Pace yourself, it is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s no fun being in your space and frustration and disappointment are unfortunately part of the ride. The bottom line is this-your strategy is not working. It’s not youâ€"it’s not the marketplace, it is how you are presenting yourself to what is available. Remember Henry Ford’s wise words, “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right. Here are a few tips to help turn the ship around: Not getting any calls on your resume?â€"it is not working. End. Of. Story. Time to change it up. Tailor it, or hire a professional. It will be money well spent. 2. Getting interviews, but not getting calls back or offers? There is something going on in the interview that is turning employers off. Reflect on your answers. Practice interviewing with someone. Get feedback on how you are presenting yourself. A few simple tweaks might be all you need. 3. Practice an attitude of gratitude: Sure the job search sucks, and you are getting jaded by the rejection, but there are many gifts in this time of your life. Ponder what those may be. People sense when you are in a bad spaceâ€"and will be turned off by your negativity. Do what you can to turn it around and give off a positive attitude. 4. Acknowledge your frustration, and then take a break. Self-care is vital in this process. You need to rejuvenate yourself to keep your energy high: Take a hike. Visit the ocean or a river or a lake. Go for a walk. Read a book. Cook something or watch a movie. Bottom line is you need to take a break from the negative self-talk and seek out a new perspective by taking action by being intentionally mindful and present. Keep going! Craig B Toadtman,  Job Search Consultant, Career Adviser, Coach, Executive Search Consultant A professional baseball player, normally hitting over .300, was in a slump. He’d gone 1 for 22 over the past week or so, and was feeling the pressure. Did he give up? Absolutely not he went  to the batting cage twice daily and hit through it. He’s now back in the groove. A ferry boat captain was carting cars across Lake Champlain between Vermont and New York was  in midst of a transport on a cold, nasty day in December. A passenger asked him “Why do you do  this on such a nasty day?” The Captain responded, “If you don’t go, you don’t get.” So, what does this have to do with Job Seekers? You could very well feel like you’re in a slump.  No responses, not interviews, no offers. This can go on for weeks at a time. Nothing is working.  The process doesn’t work. So, what do you do? Don’t quit! Hit the reset button. Rethink your strategy and examine all the steps you are taking. Are you  hitting the right market? Does your résumé make you stand out from the competition? Are you  really cultivating relationships throughout your network by calling, emailing, and calling again?  Make the adjustments, and then go at it again. Refine your research, make the calls, write the  emails. Go for it big time. The process will ultimately work â€" you will find the right opportunity  â€" hit the ball again, and again, and again. If you don’t go, you don’t get! Denise Taylor, Career Coach, Chief Inspiration Officer, the 50 Plus Coach What I’d like you to do is stop and take a break from all your job search activity. Do anything except think about this topic for at least a week. Then take a different approach. Look at everything you have done and take an objective view. Are you REALLY clear on what job you want? Do you have the right experience and skills to succeed in this role? Are you clear on why you should get the job, rather than anyone else? How are you presenting this to the world? Can you explain, succinctly on what you want and why? Get feedback on your resume and cover letter from a professional and implement their suggestions. This could be via books of you are on limited funds. And then I’d like you to monitor everything that you do. Keep track of the emails you send, the people you speak to and what happens next. Always follow up and think like a marketer with AB testing. If one approach doesn’t work, try something else. You may be desperate to get another job as you need money fast. This desperation can show in your voice and body language so take away some pressure by getting some money in via taking on a temp job or earning some money via Uber, people for hire etc. Wishing you all the very best for your future success. Perry Newman, Award Winning Resume Writer LinkedIn Transformation Specialist, Certified Social Media Strategist, Certified Personnel Consultant The first thing to do is honestly evaluate if is it YOU or the process that is not working. As I tell my clients, it is not what you do that creates success in a job search. It is all about how well you do it, how solid and modern are your tools, and how much passion and drive do you bring to the process every day. So, in no particular order, explore the following and see what may require change or adjustment. Do you need an attitude adjustment? Those who generally ask this question network with a negative one-way attitude whereas successful networking requires always-remaining positive, letting people know you have something valuable to offer as much as you want something in return, and constant follow up and relationship building. Remember, 25-50 solid and in-close-contact LinkedIn and personal connections is of greater value than having a network of 500-1000 people many who you barley know. Are you looking for the right job/s? Many struggle in a job search because they are chasing the wrong opportunity when they are not a competitive candidate for hire. In other words, how well do you fit the position/s Hire Profile? Looking for the right position is half the battle. You think you established a brand, but is it generic inclusive or is it truly a differentiator? Moreover, is it giving off mixed signals or the wrong message? Remember in a job search your resume and LinkedIn profile is not about the person you are, it is ALL about the person you want to be. Especially in a resume, many people come across as better qualified for a job other than the one they applied for. Do you approach your job search with a job seeker’s or an employer’s mentality. A successful search requires you analyze everything from an employer’s perspective rather than your own. The reason people may want to hire you are obvious and rise, like cream, to the top. However most hiring decisions will consider and give equal or more weight to why you are the wrong person for the job. Did you think like an employer and spend time trying to know why people may not want to hire you and what are you doing about it to change or negate their perception of you? Are your working to conduct your job search alone in a vacuum or do you have people helping and supporting you? A support system of some sort is a prerequisite for success Being a resume writer this is my favorite. Is your resume a poorly written, generic and out of style DIY document? If it is you have less than a 20% chance people will take you seriously and grant you an interview. The solution is getting it done over professionally. Thea Kelley, Job Search and Interview Coach, Author of Get That Job! The Quick and Complete Guide to a Winning Interview Your situation is unique â€" as everyones is â€" but first lets make sure youve really  been nailing those best practices. Ask yourself: Am I doing targeted networking? The best practice is to develop a list of  40-50 target companies that youre following and networking your way into. Am I doing several networking one-on- ones every week? Read a  good book on how to do this, like The 2-Hour Job Search by Steve Dalton. How do you follow up after these meetings? Your contacts promise to  keep you in mind is a pipe dream if you dont report back on how you acted on their suggestions and your ongoing progress. Keep in touch. What about applying to jobs online? Is that the right strategy for you? If  so, are you figuring out how to get your resume in front of the hiring manager, not just HR? Do you sometimes follow up with a phone call to  the hiring manager? If so, what do you say, and what response do you get? Are your resume, LinkedIn profile and other materials really top-notch? If you wrote them on your own, or if you hired a low-priced writer, they probably arent. Are your phone screenings leading to in-depth interviews and  moving on to offers? If not, you need to work on your interview skills,  probably with expert feedback and coaching. Am I pursuing the right job? If you lack important skills or experience for  the job you want to do, you may need to consider a bridge job that can serve as a stepping stone â€" or a different career path thats a better fit. If you have positive answers to all of these questions and you still dont have a  job after a few months, you definitely need a coach, ASAP. Your situation is  unusual and requires skilled, individual attention. Jeri Hird Dutcher,  Certified professional and international resume writer This isnt easy to say or hear: Do it again. Keep doing it. Job search isnt a one and done. It takes persistence, determination, a good support system, and increasing skills. It can be difficult, frustrating, and at times hopeless, but we keep trying and keep learning new and better ways. You can also hire a coach to make sure your processes are effective and efficient. Melvin Scales, Senior Vice President, Meridian Resources When I have had outplacement candidates say to me that nothing works I have learned to ask the question let me see and hear what you are doing. Many times, and in particular with networking messages, those messages are delivered in a way that truly does not work. For example, candidates will approach a networking contact and ask the fatal question Are you hiring? rather than saying Based on what I have shared with you about my ideal role, do you know of anyone that may have an interest in my background? Think about the differences in the approach. The likely answer to the first option is No I dont and the conversation ends. While the likely answer or answers to the second option is Yes, I do or I dont right now. When coached properly the candidate will be able to say Would you be open to introducing them to me? This has worked well for my candidates now over 20+years when they hit the nothing works wall. Cheryl Lynch Simpson, Career, Job Search LinkedIn Coach Master Resume Writer If a job seeker has truly done everything right and still hasn’t received an offer, then chances are: Their resume and/or branding are insufficient or off-target from what employers are seeking. There are too few opportunities available in their field in the geographic areas in which they’re looking. Their interview performance is missing the mark. They’re being judged as too ____ (fill in the blank: old, inexperienced, experienced, educated, undereducated, etc.). Their salary expectations are out of alignment with the market. A job search is a bit of a numbers game in that, on average, it takes seven interviews to receive one job offer, but 200-300 job prospects in a given geographic area to yield those seven interviews. Therefore, if a job seeker is doing everything right, but there aren’t enough targeted opportunities in their preferred industries, their search may never get traction. It’s important to point out, though, that the majority of job seekers likely aren’t doing everything right in their search. I hate to sound negative, but I come across perhaps one client every couple of years of whom this is true. The rest of the time, I find that the job hunter isn’t doing everything they should or isn’t doing it to the degree they should. If you’re not networking enough or with the right people, or you’re not taking advantage of thought leadership opportunities, or you’re not targeting companies, or you’re not building effective relationships with contacts, then your job hunt will falter, unless you’re in an area where your targeted jobs are available in such numbers that, well, almost anyone in your field could get a job. The good news is that it’s possible to diagnose what is and isn’t working in your job hunt and fix it. Patti Romanowicz, career consultant and job search specialist First, I would want to quantify that statement and get more detail on his specific job search techniques,  as well as see his resume. Is he attending networking events and racking up new connections? Or is he  building and cultivating relationships with new as well as existing connections? It’s not just about how  many people you know, it’s about quality of relationships. And in my experience, ongoing networking to  grow these types of relationships is hard for most people. Does his resume serve him well and help him  stand out? Is his mindset discouraging potential employers? Perhaps his process just needs some  tweaking and he could benefit from some one-on- one coaching. Let’s say he has done all the traditional stuff, personal branding, hard networking, etc., and it’s just not  working. Time to start thinking outside the box. Here are some thoughts: Deliver your resume in a memorable way â€" with home-baked cookies, a plant, or something  related to the company’s industry Turn your static resume into a video resume, where you can personally sell yourself Set up your own web site showcasing your skills, resume, and examples of your work Update your skills or learn new applications that will make you more marketable to employers Thoroughly research the specific companies you want to get into â€" identify a problem or  challenge they might have and create a business proposal on how you can help solve it Bottom line, any job search is a full time job. It takes time, commitment, and effort. It can be  discouraging. But the right mindset, patience, and a little creativity may very well land you the job of  your dreams! Lucie Yeomans,  Certified Career Services Professional and Job Search Strategist When clients tell me this, I start with a couple of important questions. 1) Are you truly doing everything you are told to do and doing it correctly? Networking (not asking for a job, but targeted, strategic networking every week) Understanding and promoting your personal brand/value proposition statement, (not what YOU think it is, but having a professional branding expert help you identify what that truly is) CAR story development (not generic CAR stories, but targeted, strategic stories geared for a particular audience) How well do you interview? How do people perceive you? 2) How long have you been networking and searching for a new job? Timing is everything when you are looking for a new job. Just because you are ready to move on, doesn’t mean the perfect job is ready and waiting for you. Patience is key here. It can take 6-12 months and sometimes longer depending on your level and industry. If I learn that my client has done everything correctly and has given it sufficient time, then it’s time to ask a difficult third question. 3) Are your expectations realistic? How long you have been out of work? For many decision makers, an employed candidate is more attractive than an unemployed candidate. What have you/are you doing with your time? Are you pursuing the wrong dream/job? Do you meet 90+% of the requirements in the job postings you apply to? The ones who are getting interviews do. Does your field favor younger, more up-to-date talent over experience? Unfortunately, ageism does exist. Can you keep up with your competition? So, what do you do? Seek out temporary or voluntary positions where your skills can be utilized. Sign up for courses to learn what you lack. Consider getting your MBA or other advanced degree if you see that it is preferred more often than not. Ron Auerbach,  Job search author, expert, and educator The first thing to do is look at your execution. For example, lets say you havent been networking. Thats not good! So its no wonder youre not getting job leads and/or interviews. But suppose you have been networking and still dont have any success with it. The issue now is whether youre networking in the right way. So are you connecting with the right kinds of people? Or are you just doing it with anyone and everyone? The problem may not be networking, but the way in which youre handling it. So if youre not targeting those who can or might be able to help, its no wonder why youre not getting success. The same problem can happen with branding. You know how important it is to develop a brand. But are you branding yourself in the right way that will impress and attract recruiters and employers? For example, are you using the correct wording? Are you promoting your brand through the right channel(s)? Are you branding yourself in one way but conducting yourself in another manner? So even if you have the best strategies in the world, they won’t be effective if you carry them out in the wrong way. And that’s what dooms lots of job seekers. They know what to do. Yet they fail to execute the mission in the proper way. The job search is hard. Doing the right things, over and over, can feel fruitless. But if you are doing the right things, keep doing them. Thanks to the coaches for another great round! See previous questions here: Ask The Coaches.

How to Make CBP Resume Writing a Professional Experience

How to Make CBP Resume Writing a Professional ExperienceYou may wonder why your CBP resume writing should be as professional as possible. Many applicants do not take the time to do this and end up with a resume that has little or no value. You want your name and experience to speak for itself, but you also do not want to seem like you were just out there to get a job.The first thing you need to remember is that, when writing a CBP resume, the format is important. While it is nice to be able to hand-write everything, that is not always possible. This means that you should have your cover letter and resume in neat, professional-looking files. Your cover letter should give you some insight into the company and it should address the needs of the company as well as yours.The letter should give the potential employer a little information about you. Not only is it a great place to start, but you will often get many more benefits from it than what you could from simply reading the resume its elf. You need to state the reason for applying for the position and why you are the right person for the job. If you do not have anything to offer, make sure you list the qualities you have that make you a good fit for the position. That way your potential employer can tell right away if you are someone they would be interested in hiring.When it comes to resumes, your first paragraph needs to be your selling point. Get into the goal that you have for the position and let your interviewer know why this is the one job you are hoping to get. It is okay to outline the reason for applying and why you might be a good candidate, but you want to go into a little bit more detail.The next paragraph should provide an overview of yourself. State how much experience you have, the places you have worked, and the qualifications you possess. Avoidstating where you met the employees and how long you have been working there. You may be able to use that information to your advantage when it comes to t he interview.After the first paragraph, your next paragraph should focus on the skills that you are offering. Do not just say you are a good writer. Describe the skills you have that will be valuable to the company and the job that you are applying for. This is the one section that makes you stand out from the rest and gets your potential employer excited to hear more about you.Last, but certainly not least, you should include a bullet point list of your most relevant skills when it comes to CBP resume writing. Make sure that you provide all of the details in the bullet points and explain how these particular skills will help you with the job. The very last thing you want to do is come across as someone who is willing to take any job that will give them the money, but have no interest in actually doing the work to get the job.After you have written a great resume and the interviewer has been impressed with your professionalism, you want to make sure you get a call back to show off y our new skills. These are all the important things you should include on your resume, but make sure that you do not neglect to include the simple information that makes the difference between a great resume and a terrible one.

The Worst Interview Responses on Record

The Worst Interview Responses on Record Recruiters get  to meet their fair share of job seekers throughout their career, from the ones who absolutely nail their job interviews and soar through the hiring process, to those who are just a disaster waiting to happen from the get go. Theres bad interviews, which Im sure nearly all of us can relate to in one way or another; and then theres the ones that are so excruciatingly awful they become pretty funny! LinkedIn Talent Solutions recently asked recruiters all around the world to share their funniest  interview disaster tales. Theyve created a video reenactment of some of the best stories, so that you can really get the full experience! What can we learn from these stories? Give the ego a rest: Confidence is  a really desirable trait, but arrogance will get you no where. Reel in the crazy:  Employers dont want to hire someone who appears unhinged and violence will certainly not be tolerated! Save the tall tales for elsewhere:  Unless your interviewer is a few sandwiches short of a picnic, the probably wont fall for any  wild stories about fake work experience and skills. Dont overshare:  Information about your personal  relationships and home life isnt interview appropriate. Know boundaries:  By no means should you hug your interviewer. Have you heard any terrible interview responses that would rival some of these? Let us know in the comments or tweet us @UndercoverRec. [Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Why You Should Seriously Consider Working Abroad

Why You Should Seriously Consider Working Abroad Thinking of moving abroad for work? Good idea. Launching a career overseas could not only improve your quality of life, it’ll make you a company’s most valuable player thanks to the life-affirming qualities it brings.  Here’s why candidates with overseas experience are highly prized by employers all over the world. 1. Well-travelled employees offer bags of experience Research gathered by the finance people at Wizzcash, for their infographic all about launching a career abroad, shows a whopping 80% of employers highly value candidates with international experience. Working in different countries makes you a global, rather than a local, employee an important attribute in what is a global economy. That experience working in diverse environments makes you a prized asset. 2. Moving around involves creative thinking Global candidates are often adaptable and adept at creative thinking. This is because working and living abroad requires, to varying degrees, leaving your comfort zone and finding ways to get used to new ways of doing things. Global employees have also experienced different working cultures, so are used to getting to grips with new ways of working as well as coming up with new ways of working themselves. 3. Bilingual people often make great leaders If you’re going to work abroad, learning the language of the country you want to move to will help you immensely. Not only will it make your job smoother and everyday life that bit easier, it’ll stand out on your CV and could, one day, propel you to a senior leadership position. The Wizzcash infographic highlights that 31% of executives speak two languages, with bilingualism associated with the top, top performers. 4. Global candidates are self-starters If you’re able to move abroad on your own, then you’re probably something of a tough cookie. It takes a lot to uproot to a completely new country, leaving behind family, friends and loved ones in the process. Bold moves make for bold employees ones not afraid to adapt quickly and just do it. You’re one of the ones who doesn’t sit around waiting for something to happen you take the initiative. 5. People who’ve worked abroad are connected Naturally, living and working abroad widens your pool of friends and professional acquaintances. Not only does this make you a people person, it makes you a global, connected candidate, with contacts all over the world. That’s great for your friendship base, and great for an employer too who knows what projects you might be able to start with a company on the other side of the world? 6. Large skill set Working abroad involves acquiring and learning new skills. That’s mainly because the competition for global jobs is so fierce. Candidates looking to get themselves in these positions often learn new skills to get the edge on the competition. So employees with overseas experience are bound to have a diverse range of skills they can bring to the table. What attributes do you think working abroad gives employees?  Thinking of launching a career abroad? Our three top tips: 1. Visit your chosen country Why not plan a holiday to the country you’d like to move to? That way you can gain better insight into what it’s really like and decide if it’s really right for you. 2. Learn another language As mentioned above, learning a second language will help you in many, many ways. It’s no doubt difficult and challenging, but will stand you in good stead and be something you’ll have for life. 3. Transfer internally Don’t forget if your employer has offices overseas, you may well be able to secure your move abroad through internal transfer. About the author: Irma Hunkeler works for BlueGrass.co.uk, a digital marketing agency. Her experience includes working for clients in different industries such as travel, retail, recruitment,technology and charitable institutions. Meeting professionals from different fields allows her to collaborate with industry experts for her writing.

How to Create a Good Resume and LinkedIn Profile Using Internet Marketing Tools

How to Create a Good Resume and LinkedIn Profile Using Internet Marketing ToolsIf you have an interest in becoming an internet marketing professional or network marketer, then a good strategy is to learn how to write a resume and LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is one of the most widely used social networking sites today, and it is full of marketing professionals who are looking for qualified candidates. Creating a highly-professional appearance with professional resume and LinkedIn profile services will give you the opportunity to reach a high level of Internet marketing success.One of the greatest tools to use in building your business is the ability to sell yourself online. A strong LinkedIn profile can help make a positive impression on prospective employers and business partners. When you create a resume that is successful, you want to highlight a number of key points. By the time you reach the employer side of things, your application should be ready to answer questions about your w ork history, educational background, and interests. When you add a professional LinkedIn profile, you can gain access to new, potential customers and clients.There are numerous ways to design a professionally designed LinkedIn profile that will land you a job. One of the most efficient and inexpensive ways to attract potential employers is by providing all of the necessary information in the profile. Including relevant pictures is important, as is providing a current job description, salary range, and any work-related skills you may possess. If you think about what you can include in your profile, you will realize how easy it is to include several details.The first part of your profile must be about you and your unique personality. Write a concise description of yourself, and then include in the profile any special skills or talents that you may have that could help a potential employer find you. Some additional pieces of information that should be included in your profile to includ e any other jobs you may have held, any volunteer work you may have done, your educational background, and your employment history if you have one.The second part of your LinkedIn profile is the skills section. Here, you will provide information about any other fields of study you may have completed, as well as any experience you may have had in these specific areas. It is very important to focus on these skills so that you can increase your chances of finding a job.If you are new to the online marketing community, then be sure to read some advice to become familiar with the various ways to market yourself online. The success of your business depends on how well you market yourself. It is recommended that you incorporate at least one of the following areas: social media, online portfolio, blogging, and research methods.You must have a plan for successfully marketing yourself online, and one of the best ways to do this is to utilize some of the internet marketing techniques that are used by established Internet marketers. These include the power of viral marketing, customer referrals, article marketing, online link building, SEO, and social networking. By combining these techniques into your Internet marketing plan, you will be able to attract a large number of customers.If you are already in the Internet marketing field, then you should familiarize yourself with the uses of LinkedIn and other social networking sites. You can use them to build your reputation as an expert and improve your chances of landing a good job. A good way to do this is to create a professionally designed resume that has been prepared using the tools available online.

Parent Writing a Childs Resume

Parent Writing a Childs ResumeIf you are a parent writing a childs resume, you have to make sure that your child gets the credit he or she deserves. There are many parents who fail to give their child their due. They do not understand that a resume is a business tool and that if you take too much time off in the beginning, you will end up with a mediocre job that will be hard to land later on.Your resume should represent your skills, qualifications, and knowledge and abilities. You should look at your child's resume as an employer would see it. You must be sure that the skills you display, and the work experience that you provide, should show that you are able to meet the expectations of the employer.If you are a parent writing a childs resume, you need to know how to format your resume correctly. You should always use bolding and italics in order to indicate that a particular area is important. The resume should look professional and properly formatted, especially when printed out f or future reference.Remember that the key to success is to not be intimidated by the resumes you find online. You do not have to jump into them immediately. There are so many materials and resources available to help you. Use them wisely.If you want to send a resume that is considered professionally formatted, you can simply keep your resume short and sweet, and it should read well on the computer screen. You can also add some neat formatting to your resume by using tables, pictures, and charts.When you send your resume to a prospective employer, you want to be sure that your resume looks professionally prepared. This is because if you send one that is not professionally done, it will be difficult to get your resume looked at. Many employers make it a point to run a resume through a software program to make sure that it is in a professional format.If you are a parent writing a childs resume, you should make sure that your resume looks professional and well presented. It should look like a professional resume should. You need to create a resume that looks like one that a potential employer will find impressive and professional.If you are a parent writing a childs resume, you should ensure that your resume is professionally formatted and meets the expectations of the prospective employer. You want to create a professional resume that will show that you are capable of being hired. Make sure that your resume has all the information that the prospective employer needs in order to make an informed decision about your potential employment.

How to Be More Efficient When Job Hunting - CareerEnlightenment.com

How to Be More Efficient When Job Hunting If you’re serious about job hunting, and you know you’re ready for your next challenge, you can’t afford to waste time and potential opportunities.Try some of these efficiency tweaks to get the most out of your job hunting and find your perfect role sooner rather than later.Map out your goals, and how you’ll reach themKnow roughly where you want to be in one year, two years and in five years’ time, and how many rungs on the ladder there normally are between year five and now. You can’t always say for sure which side of an industry you’ll work in, but you should have an idea to start you off.Remember that frequent job hopping can make you look uncommitted, so it’s unwise to take a job half-heartedly, just because nothing better comes along.It’s fine to reject a job offer if you realize the role doesn’t match with your career goals â€" in fact, this is one of the top reasons for not taking a job, along with final offer differences from what was proposed, and clashe s with the company culture.To save yourself time, try to develop your gut instinct based on the company website, news stories and social media, and anything you’ve heard from your peers about how the company runs.If there’s obviously no career progression or the company is too traditional for you, is it worth your time?Treat it like a work projectFinding a job is similar to having a big project at work: you have to put in the hours, do your homework, and be really organized to get ahead, using spreadsheets, notes and maxing out your calendar.You should have a list of referees ready to go, having already got permission from each referee, so you don’t need to send a begging email at the eleventh hour.Liz Ryan, writing for Forbes, goes even further in taking the hunt seriously: she believes you should ‘treat your job search like a second job’. Maybe that attitude is a step too far, but you need to be serious about finding your next role; dream opportunities don’t just fall into your lap.Set aside time each week to spend talking to recruiters and checking job boards (for average salaries and perks, as well as vacancies you like). Want to Read More Articles Like This One?Sign up here to receive weekly updates from Career Enlightenment, and never miss another powerful job searching tip! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!We hate spam too. Unsubscribe any time. Reach out to peers and influencersDon’t get complacent and assume you know all there is to know about your industry. Get curious and sign up for at least one or two industry events per month, whether in your own time or during working hours if the topic benefits your current employer.Without telling everyone you’re looking to jump ship, you can sound out what’s going on in other companies and in the industry overall, so you feel more informed during your job hunt.If you’re short on time, download some industry-specific or job title-specific podcasts to watch on your commute to work. For marketers, that means Copyblogger FM, which covers copywriting, content marketing and SEO; for management level, the Harvard Business Review podcast is essential listening.Set aside some spending moneyAccording to research from Barclays, graduates spend an average of £506 attending 3.3 interviews before obtaining a job. That money goes towards travel, accommodation, and clothing.It pays to choose an upmarket hotel, close to your destination, and with decent sound insulation, so you have a good night’s sleep before your interview. Because of high accommodation costs, many job seekers â€" not just graduates â€" try to secure several interviews over a few days, so they don’t need to travel and stay on multiple occasions.Even if you’re applying for local jobs, you still need to budget for travel and unforeseen expenses, like getting a taxi if there’s a problem with the trains, or buying an extra pair of tights in case the ones you’re wearing to your interview become snagged.What’s more, if you tend to arrive sweaty and flustered to your interviews, allocate spare cash to enjoy calming drinks in a café beforehand and you’ll feel your confidence soar as you appear more composed.Job hunting can feel like it’s taking over your life, but with these tips, you’ll have regained control and honed in on what you really want to achieve.

Its Time To Update Your Professional Bio

Its Time To Update Your Professional Bio If you want to highlight your best career achievements concisely, a professional biography is the perfect tool. Your bios goal is to give potential employers an overview of your career achievements while presenting a window into your personality. This means that you should keep your bio up to date so that it reflects the most recent you. To create a great professional biography, just follow these easy steps: Write in the third person.  Instead of using the I word, use your full name on the first usage, then you can use only your first name after that. If you want your biography to be more formal, use your last name instead (e.g. Mr. Martin). Or, you can just use wording like, Bill began his career taking on roles of Highlight your most impressive professional achievements, and provide examples. This should include any awards you have won, key promotions, and other major achievements. If appropriate, mention client names, which will make your biography more credible. Be specific in presenting numerical data. Define a personal brand. Differentiate yourself from other candidates by showcasing your unique professional and personal attributes. List publications for which you have written, articles authored, presentations you have given, speaking engagements, classes you have taught, seminars, and other achievements you are proud of. Be sure to include educational achievements. community service activities and organizational memberships may also be included. Dont forget to include contact information. Make it easy for your contacts to reach you. Make your contact information visible and easy to find. If it helps, include a small professional photo.