Targeted Job Search Tips

October 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

by Theresa Farrage

Overwhelmed. Frustrated. Confused. Do any of these feelings ring a bell when it comes to your job search? If you answered yes, then you aren’t alone. Whether you’re a new graduate or a mid-level professional who is in desperate need of a new job, the same feelings of bewilderment are often mutually shared. Before you lose hope and throw in the towel on your job search campaign, consider taking a step back to examine your overall goals.

A lot of career professionals are in such a rush to land a job that they often don’t spend the time necessary to develop a targeted job search campaign. Before you go broad and start looking for every job in the field of marketing, consider narrowing down your search so you can better focus on the areas that interest you. Here are a few tips that will help you formulate your targeted job search campaign:

  • Pick a location- Do you like the current city that you’re living in? If not, consider looking for jobs in cities that interest you. Pick the top 5 cities that you would like to live and work in and start searching for jobs in these markets. Just be sure to factor in the cost of living.
  • Pick a career- Do you like the field that you originally chose? If you’re tired of corporate marketing, consider other areas that are similar to marketing that might interest you like public relations, working for a non-profit, event planning, etc. If you’re completely dissatisfied with your chosen career, you may want to consider exploring other areas that interest you. Consider taking classes or going back to school full time in order to achieve the degree that you desire.
  • Pick a job- Once you figure out what career path you want to go down, it’s time to figure out what type of job you’re looking for. Do you want to work full time, part time, or as a consultant? Do you like working for a non-profit or for a Fortune 500?
  • Pick an interest- Just like doctors; no two marketers are the same. There are many different fields of marketing that you can enter. If you have an interest in the environment, consider applying for marketing jobs that have to do with the environment. Do you like fashion? Consider looking into marketing jobs at fashion houses or cosmetic companies. Like sports? Look into sports marketing jobs. You get the picture…
  • Pick a company- Since not all jobs are advertised online, consider selecting five or so companies that fit your ideals. Don’t be afraid to contact the hiring manager at these companies to learn more about the organization. Submit your cover letter and resume too. You never know when the company will start hiring again. After all, most jobs are obtained through the hidden job market.

 

Filed Under: Article, Business Tips, Job Search Strategies

A Well-Written Resume Makes All the Difference

June 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Kris NiklawskiKris Niklawski, ACRW, has been an executive/professional resume writer for more than 13 years. During her tenure, she’s observed numerous resumes. If you don’t think a well-written resume is important, listen up. Niklawski explains why it’s imperative to hire a professional resume writer to ensure that your resume outshines the competition.

What difference does a good resume make, and how does it boost your success rate?

In today’s competitive market where hundreds or even thousands of candidates are competing for the same job, a stand out resume is essential!  You must ensure that your resume is not only satisfactory, but also noticeably different in language, tone, style, impact, and overall effectiveness than your pool of fellow contenders. In return, this will boost your success rate and land you that coveted interview.

What are the top mistakes that you often notice on people’s resumes?

One of the most common mistakes I often notice on people’s resumes is the lack of a clearly defined job target or title. It is important to include a job title or headline at the top of the page that is clear and descriptive as to quickly inform employers of what type of position you are seeking.

I also notice that many people lack a summary section. The summary section is designed to give an overview of your qualifications and strengths as a candidate. This section is meant to sell the reader in 10–15 seconds by illustrating that you are a valuable, viable candidate.

What’s the first thing that a hiring manager looks at when he/she glances at your resume?

The first thing a hiring manager looks for is “What can you do for me.” Therefore, it is essential that your greatest attributes, whether it is your experience, achievements, technical skills, or other qualifications stand out as the asset it truly is.

Do you personally know of someone who has used your services and has landed a job because of their perfect resume?

A client who was a successful sales executive was tired of her commission-based position and wanted to make a career change to supply chain management or purchasing. We used a headline to call attention to career goals, documented personal attributes and professional experiences related to her current job target, and concentrated on her ability to produce results. Within a few weeks time, she had landed several interviews and ended up accepting the job of her dreams as a purchasing manager with a highly reputable company and has since been promoted to purchasing director.

Why should someone hire a certified resume writer?

A professional resume writer can create a powerful, attention-getting resume that reflects your unique skills and qualifications. An expertly prepared resume heightens the likelihood that you’ll be chosen from a crowd of qualified competitors, and it can make the difference in getting selected for a job interview—or not. A credentialed resume writer has successfully completed a training/testing program and has demonstrated the competency to deliver best-in-class resume writing and design. Specifically, ACRW certification indicates the recipient has completed a rigorous training and mentoring program and has earned the world’s most exclusive professional resume writing credential.

Filed Under: Article, Business Tips, Resumes Tagged With: , ,

Overcoming the Barriers of LinkedIn

June 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Recently, I’ve been critiquing a lot of mid-level to executive resumes. While a well-written resume says a lot about the job seeker, one aspect that shouldn’t be ignored is your LinkedIn profile.

When I glance at these candidates’ LinkedIn profiles, I often find that there is not much content and value in the brief information that is listed. I often wonder why their job search has stalled and why they haven’t taken the time to update this essential online networking tool? As a career coach, it is my duty to grasp why their job search has come to a standstill.

Most professionals eagerly tell me that they are on LinkedIn, but upon further questioning, they quickly realize that their profile is less than stellar. What many people fail to realize is that an incomplete LinkedIn profile will not grab the attention of an employer or executive recruiter.

My initial advice would be to get your LinkedIn profile developed so that you can successfully begin your job search. If you’re solely relying on job boards for your next position, you’re going to lose out on receiving the next great opportunity. If you want to get noticed by a hiring manager, make sure you have the following information on your LinkedIn profile.

 

Hiring officials are looking for LinkedIn profiles that include:

  • What you have accomplished? Think of things that you have accomplished by being in your current leadership role – solving problems, saving money, making money, and/or adding value.
  • What you are currently doing? Showcase your talents, expertise, and successes. Provide insight into who you are and how you operate.
  • What are you interested in doing? Look towards the future and how you can solve problems and add value to a company.

In today’s competitive job market, you have to have more than one selling piece. While having a quality resume is essential, a LinkedIn profile is equally, if not more, important, especially in an online world.

 

Tips for Making Your LinkedIn Profile Productive and Effective

For those of you who have been absent from the job market in the last five years, the rules, career tools, and techniques have all changed significantly. Don’t go it alone; it is a jungle out there. Seek out a career professional to help you get to your next great opportunity.

This is an area that I often help leaders overcome. By removing their LinkedIn barriers, I can help launch their job search to the next level. Below you will find five of my tips for getting noticed on LinkedIn.

Looking to be Found – If you aren’t on LinkedIn, you don’t exist. If your profile is barebones with just your initial information plugged in, this will not get you found. You will be overlooked because hiring professionals will not understand your value and will move on to the next candidate.

Wanting Visibility – It’s a necessity to have a developed LinkedIn profile so that employers and executive recruiters can see what you can do and how that talent can be transferred to your new opportunity. Being able to attract the “right” audience to you will provide more opportunities/connections.

Networking/Building New Relationships – You have an online presence providing you with unlimited connections. Also, your professional colleagues can uncover leads for you in the future.

Groups/Answers – You can keep yourself in the know about what is going on in your industry. LinkedIn is a place for you to gather valuable information, trends, etc.

Get Recommended – This is your chance to “shine” and let potential employers get a glimpse of what you can do for their organization. Ask former bosses, colleagues, vendors, etc. for their endorsement of your work. It can be a one line statement or longer. Remember, you have to be willing to ask for what you need.

Filed Under: Article, Business Tips, Job Search Strategies, Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

Returning to the Workforce

June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Anne Baronitis took a seven-year sabbatical before re-entering the workforce.  Later on, you will read more about Anne’s journey from full-time mom to full-time employee. First, we salute Anne for her tenacity and determination to fulfill her career goals.

According to Anne, networking was the significant key that helped her get back into the game. Anne solicited Amy’s help and guidance throughout the process. Amy helped Anne realize that her former colleagues would remember her and her skills.

“I would advise re-entry job seekers not to sell themselves short. This can be difficult unless you have a cheerleader/coach like Amy. Her encouragement got me through all the ups and downs of my job search. It really helped me to be able to talk through my job search strategy, and consult with a professional at each step. It ultimately paid off with the offer for the position I now hold.”

Top 10 Things You Should Be Doing This Summer To Grow Yourself

  1. Invest in yourself. Take online classes at a local community college to sharpen your skills.
  2. Revamp your resume and cover letter and organize your portfolio.
  3. Set up informational meetings with companies or ask to intern there over the summer months.
  4. Volunteer at various organizations both nonprofit and for profit.
  5. Get a part-time job doing something that you love so you are not idol.
  6. Clean up your online presence. Take time to sift through inappropriate Facebook content, delete Twitter posts that aren’t appropriate, and beef up your LinkedIn profile.
  7. Give yourself a professional makeover. This includes taking care of your appearance by updating your wardrobe and generally being in better health. It will boost your confidence. Also, a lot of professional apparel, like business suits, is often on sale during the summer months. Take advantage of the savings.
  8. Do some consulting work. If you have a hobby on the side like baking, take your merchandise to the local Farmer’s Market. It’s a great place to network and meet a variety of people. Or, if you are a PR professional or an accountant, start telling friends and family that you are available for consulting jobs.
  9. Take an hour or two each day to look through online job sites, call companies, and proactively look for a job. You should make at least one to two contacts a day.
  10. Host a backyard networking BBQ.
Filed Under: Article, Business Tips, Career Coaching, Job Search Strategies Tagged With: , , ,

Simple Tip: Keep Connected While Job Searching

March 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It is crucial that you get out of the house. You need to keep yourself occupied by doing something that uses your skills, knowledge, and talents. Have you always wanted to volunteer and “give back” but never had the time in your schedule? Now, you can. This is one way you can make a meaningful contribution while keeping your professional skills sharp and up-to-date.

Action Steps:

  1. Explore your volunteer options – what organization best fits your skills, abilities, and talents?
  2. Research your top 5 choices.
  3. Write down your top 5 picks – review/select 1 organization.
  4. Contact organization – speak to volunteer coordinator.
  5. Complete paper work/application/orientation.
  6. Set up schedule – recommend 3 times a week.
Filed Under: Business Tips, Job Search Strategies
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