A few weeks ago a client expressed frustration with her job search. She'd been trying to network but felt as if she was getting nowhere fast. She was going away for a few days, taking a break from her search, and coming back to renew her networking efforts. When I spoke to her a week later I couldn't believe the difference in her attitude and spirits. She seemed on top of the world. She'd gone to two local networking groups. One group was very well attended, the other was not, yet in both cases she made new contacts and uncovered information that helped forward her job search.
Local networking groups are popping up all over the place. To find one in your area, Google networking groups in your city, town or county. I was amazed at the list that appeared when I tried it. Try it yourself. Put yourself out there and attend a few network groups. If one isn't right for you, keep trying until you find a group to work with. You can get information, leads and support in these groups. You'll also be able to share your insight and contacts with others. In fact, my client ended up giving me some network contacts from the group she attended!
Another important aspect of a networking group is that everyone there 'gets it'. Sometimes when networking, it feels like people just don't get it. They'll tell me that the best way to find a job in this market is through network connections, and then they tell me they don't know anyone to refer me to. People who attend network groups understand the process. They know what it feels like to be out there and they also know how great it feels when someone passes along some helpful information. So, go hang out with others who understand your situation and are willing to offer advice and support. Staying active is critical to riding the job search roller coaster and network groups are one way to keep your search moving forward.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Tried and True Resume Tips
My regional newspaper has focused on one job searcher each weekday, matching them up with a local career counselor to get some advice. It amazes me how similar the advice is and how much it centers on the resume. Before I share the common wisdom I culled from this daily column, I think it's important to first clarify the purpose of the resume.
A resume can't get you the job, although it can kill it for you if it has typos, grammatical errors or is simply too long.
The resume does not take the place of the interview.
The purpose of the resume is to whet an appetite. It serves as the script for the interview. It helps you convince yourself that you have skills and experience to showcase. To some extent, this last piece is critical as the act of putting together a resume requires the job seeker to do some self analysis and self acknowledgment necessary to conducting a successful campaign.
Whet an appetite means just that - to create interest, to entice the reader to meet with you to learn more. The resume is not a 'tell all' document. When someone shows me a resume in 9-point type running three pages, I can almost guarantee them they are shooting themselves in the foot. No one has the time to read a book. While there is a range of opinion about the exact length of time you have to grab the reader's attention ranging from 5 - 30 seconds, you need to make the resume easy to read and you want your key skills and accomplishments to pop!
In today's world, a friendly computer is often screening resumes to match key skills against a job. Make sure the skills reflected in a job description are prominent on your resume.
Your resume is the script for the interview as it's the prompt for what most interviewers will ask. Don't highlight something you hate to do. You can't interview with enthusiasm when you are talking about the least favorite part of your last job. Bullet point your accomplishments and put them in the order in which you want to talk about them. Make sure the accomplishment, project or responsibility that really makes you shine is your first bullet point. If you bury your best stuff midway down a list of 10 bullets, you may never get a chance to showcase it.
When I ask someone what his or her strengths are, I generally get a puzzled look. When I ask someone what their weaknesses are, I get a laundry list. Assessing your skills and highlighting them on your resume is a critical exercise because it helps you position you for yourself. The first person who needs to sign on as your fan is you. Take the time to examine your successes so you can comfortably talk about strengths. Make sure you have at least one bullet that demonstrates each strength or attribute in your profile.
An objective or no objective? Most objectives read something like this - 'Seeking a managerial position in a growing company that will enable me to use my skills and experience.' And who wouldn't? If you're going to include an objective, you must be clear about what you want to do and what you bring to the lucky organization that hires you. I generally recommend rolling the objective into a Professional Summary or Profile. The profile is your opportunity to paint a picture of who you are, your skills and attributes. Use language like proven, demonstrated, and known for to highlight these skills and attributes. For example, 'Demonstrated analytical, communication and relationship building skills' OR 'Proven ability to attract and retain customers'. Be ready to back these statements up with accomplishment bullets in the body of the resume.
Each accomplishment bullet should begin with an action verb, not 'I am responsible for', rather Manage, Analyze, Design, Develop, etc. In fact, if you find yourself using the word 'I', you are probably speaking your resume versus putting it in resumespeak which, albeit is not proper English, but allows you to convey what you do without a list of I's and better highlight your skills. When spell check tells you you're using sentence fragments, you know you're on the right track. You can Google action verbs for resumes and you'll get a number of sites. One I find particularly useful is www.quintcareers.com. You'll find not only action verbs, but also resume samples and sample cover letters on that site.
Another way to use an action verb or attribute list is to go through it and check every term/verb that resonates with you or represents something you're good at. Go back and circle the top five. These verbs should be prominent on your resume. If they are not, you're describing someone other than you.
Don't list interests and hobbies on your resume. Something that interests you may turn off a future employer. And, in that they're not job related, it's not really something to emphasize on your resume.
Do list volunteer activities and leadership roles outside of work. In today's world, volunteering is viewed as a positive thing. Be careful not to go overboard. Select the few volunteer activities that support those communication skills or your ability to build a strong team. Listing too many volunteer activities can leave an employer wondering when you'll have time to come to work.
We all know you'll supply references if asked, so there is no need to waste a line on 'References furnished upon request'.
Last of all and most important, proof, proof and proof again. Use some of the tips I outlined in my last post.
Ask for feedback on your resume from some trusted colleagues, friends or former managers. At some point stop asking for feedback. You need the opinion of others, but not to the point where it's making you crazy and you put off starting a search because you are continually revising your resume. Once you're comfortable with what you read like on paper, post on several job sites, go to a job fair, network into someone. With your resume in hand, you are ready to hit that job market!
A resume can't get you the job, although it can kill it for you if it has typos, grammatical errors or is simply too long.
The resume does not take the place of the interview.
The purpose of the resume is to whet an appetite. It serves as the script for the interview. It helps you convince yourself that you have skills and experience to showcase. To some extent, this last piece is critical as the act of putting together a resume requires the job seeker to do some self analysis and self acknowledgment necessary to conducting a successful campaign.
Whet an appetite means just that - to create interest, to entice the reader to meet with you to learn more. The resume is not a 'tell all' document. When someone shows me a resume in 9-point type running three pages, I can almost guarantee them they are shooting themselves in the foot. No one has the time to read a book. While there is a range of opinion about the exact length of time you have to grab the reader's attention ranging from 5 - 30 seconds, you need to make the resume easy to read and you want your key skills and accomplishments to pop!
In today's world, a friendly computer is often screening resumes to match key skills against a job. Make sure the skills reflected in a job description are prominent on your resume.
Your resume is the script for the interview as it's the prompt for what most interviewers will ask. Don't highlight something you hate to do. You can't interview with enthusiasm when you are talking about the least favorite part of your last job. Bullet point your accomplishments and put them in the order in which you want to talk about them. Make sure the accomplishment, project or responsibility that really makes you shine is your first bullet point. If you bury your best stuff midway down a list of 10 bullets, you may never get a chance to showcase it.
When I ask someone what his or her strengths are, I generally get a puzzled look. When I ask someone what their weaknesses are, I get a laundry list. Assessing your skills and highlighting them on your resume is a critical exercise because it helps you position you for yourself. The first person who needs to sign on as your fan is you. Take the time to examine your successes so you can comfortably talk about strengths. Make sure you have at least one bullet that demonstrates each strength or attribute in your profile.
An objective or no objective? Most objectives read something like this - 'Seeking a managerial position in a growing company that will enable me to use my skills and experience.' And who wouldn't? If you're going to include an objective, you must be clear about what you want to do and what you bring to the lucky organization that hires you. I generally recommend rolling the objective into a Professional Summary or Profile. The profile is your opportunity to paint a picture of who you are, your skills and attributes. Use language like proven, demonstrated, and known for to highlight these skills and attributes. For example, 'Demonstrated analytical, communication and relationship building skills' OR 'Proven ability to attract and retain customers'. Be ready to back these statements up with accomplishment bullets in the body of the resume.
We all know you'll supply references if asked, so there is no need to waste a line on 'References furnished upon request'.
Last of all and most important, proof, proof and proof again. Use some of the tips I outlined in my last post.
Ask for feedback on your resume from some trusted colleagues, friends or former managers. At some point stop asking for feedback. You need the opinion of others, but not to the point where it's making you crazy and you put off starting a search because you are continually revising your resume. Once you're comfortable with what you read like on paper, post on several job sites, go to a job fair, network into someone. With your resume in hand, you are ready to hit that job market!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Importance of a Human Spell Checker
I got my position in Human Resources at Citibank through a network contact. It was admittedly in the days when you didn't send a resume electronically, you either mailed it in an envelop with a stamp or brought it with you. In my case, I thankfully brought it with me so my future boss got to talk to me before reading my resume. It wasn't until I started to work for her that she mentioned I'd had a typo on my resume and acknowledged that had she received the resume before she met me, I probably wouldn't have gotten my foot in the door. The typo was in the very last word of the resume! While I'd scanned the resume for typos, sometimes you just don't see them when you've read the same document over and over for what feels like a million times.
Today we have spell check, which is supposed to pick up errors in both spelling and grammar. Truthfully, it works pretty well. AND, it is no replacement for a set or two of human eyes going over your resume and cover letters one word at a time. In fact, employing the old proof reading trick of reading a document through forwards and then backwards can often uncover errors an electronic check will miss. Read from the beginning to the end both to pickup errors and for content. Read from the end to the beginning to focus solely on spelling. You also need to remember that while a spell check tool is great for picking up spelling errors, if you’d meant to type of and instead typed or, it’s a typo. One I commonly make is typing you instead of your. Small mistakes, but typos nonetheless.
Remember, more than ever before, resume readers are swamped with paper to scan either electronically or in hard copy and they are looking for any reason to eliminate someone. Give them an easy out like a typo or small error in grammar and your paperwork ends up in the circular file!
So ask a friend or that fan I keep mentioning to take the time to proof your resume. Don’t risk losing opportunities due to the is that should have been an in or the you that should have been a your.
Today we have spell check, which is supposed to pick up errors in both spelling and grammar. Truthfully, it works pretty well. AND, it is no replacement for a set or two of human eyes going over your resume and cover letters one word at a time. In fact, employing the old proof reading trick of reading a document through forwards and then backwards can often uncover errors an electronic check will miss. Read from the beginning to the end both to pickup errors and for content. Read from the end to the beginning to focus solely on spelling. You also need to remember that while a spell check tool is great for picking up spelling errors, if you’d meant to type of and instead typed or, it’s a typo. One I commonly make is typing you instead of your. Small mistakes, but typos nonetheless.
Remember, more than ever before, resume readers are swamped with paper to scan either electronically or in hard copy and they are looking for any reason to eliminate someone. Give them an easy out like a typo or small error in grammar and your paperwork ends up in the circular file!
So ask a friend or that fan I keep mentioning to take the time to proof your resume. Don’t risk losing opportunities due to the is that should have been an in or the you that should have been a your.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Who's In Control Anyway?
Control is a big issue in job search. For those of us who have chartered our course through most of our careers or those coming out of school with the belief that their training would land them a job, finding ourselves without a job can make us feel very out of control. So a true story...
Several years ago I led some 'Managing Change' workshops for a company that was going through their third or fourth merger. I was working with those whose positions were to be eliminated. Needless to say, there were a lot of unhappy people. One couple in particular comes to mind. They had both worked for the company for over 25 years. They'd met there, gotten married and expected to remain with the company until they were ready to retire. They had actually already mapped out some of the trips they were planning to take once they retired. Then the merger hit and the axe fell. This couple, along with most of their colleagues, walked into the workshop very caught up in the 'they' - what 'they' did to me. This is understandable when someone first confronts a lay off or a sinking economy, but holding onto the 'they' can also serve as a major roadblock in one's search. So we worked through some exercises and then came to one that really turned things around.
I drew a line down the middle of a flip chart and wrote 'What's Out of My Control' at the top of one column and "What's in My Control' at the top of the other. And we started to fill in the lists. Here's what they looked like
*the economy
*the job market
What's In My Control?
*my reaction to job loss
*my resume
*the decision to jump into my search
or take some time off
*whether to do what I've always
done or try something new
*whether to relocate
*how I use my network
*how I spend my time
*my attitude
The number of items in the 'what's in my control' list increased the longer the group explored the question. The items that resonated most with the group were reaction to job loss and attitude. I was amazed at what a difference it made to all of the participants when they realized how much control and power they still had. The couple who had walked in so dejected, walked out smiling as they realized that most of the choices about the road ahead were still in their hands.
There is no doubt that there are some big ticket items that are not in our control right now...not the least of which are the current job market and the economy. AND, there is no doubt that our attitude and how we approach tough times make a big difference in the success of a job search. So keep plugging. The theory that every NO brings you one step closer to your YES is more true now than ever. Put yourself out there. Deal with the NOs and keep looking until you hear those magic words - we'd love to have you join our staff. Keep the faith. Keep a positive attitude and it will happen.
Several years ago I led some 'Managing Change' workshops for a company that was going through their third or fourth merger. I was working with those whose positions were to be eliminated. Needless to say, there were a lot of unhappy people. One couple in particular comes to mind. They had both worked for the company for over 25 years. They'd met there, gotten married and expected to remain with the company until they were ready to retire. They had actually already mapped out some of the trips they were planning to take once they retired. Then the merger hit and the axe fell. This couple, along with most of their colleagues, walked into the workshop very caught up in the 'they' - what 'they' did to me. This is understandable when someone first confronts a lay off or a sinking economy, but holding onto the 'they' can also serve as a major roadblock in one's search. So we worked through some exercises and then came to one that really turned things around.
I drew a line down the middle of a flip chart and wrote 'What's Out of My Control' at the top of one column and "What's in My Control' at the top of the other. And we started to fill in the lists. Here's what they looked like
What’s Out of My Control?
*the decision to eliminate my job *the economy
*the job market
*my reaction to job loss
*my resume
*the decision to jump into my search
or take some time off
*whether to do what I've always
done or try something new
*whether to relocate
*how I use my network
*how I spend my time
*my attitude
The number of items in the 'what's in my control' list increased the longer the group explored the question. The items that resonated most with the group were reaction to job loss and attitude. I was amazed at what a difference it made to all of the participants when they realized how much control and power they still had. The couple who had walked in so dejected, walked out smiling as they realized that most of the choices about the road ahead were still in their hands.
There is no doubt that there are some big ticket items that are not in our control right now...not the least of which are the current job market and the economy. AND, there is no doubt that our attitude and how we approach tough times make a big difference in the success of a job search. So keep plugging. The theory that every NO brings you one step closer to your YES is more true now than ever. Put yourself out there. Deal with the NOs and keep looking until you hear those magic words - we'd love to have you join our staff. Keep the faith. Keep a positive attitude and it will happen.
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