Hows Your Job Search Going (the worst question for job seekers)

Hows Your Job Search Going (the worst question for job seekers) My cousin found herself in a job search recently and I went on the hunt for this blog post, but I couldnt find it. Maybe its hiding somewhere on my blog. Or, maybe I didnt write it here. But I did write it on LinkedIn whew! I know this is long, but its one of the most important things Ive learned in my job search (and since starting JibberJobber).   So please read through this whole thing, internalize it, use it, and share it with others. This is so important that Ive mentioned it in almost every presentation Ive done, and I really think it can make a huge difference in YOUR job search. The original post is on LinkedIn: The Best Answer for the Worst Question in Your Job Search A week ago I wrote  The Question That Makes Job Seekers Sound Stupid  and the comments were polarizing. Either you thought the article was right on, or you thought I was a horrible person for using stupid and job seeker in the same title. Nonetheless, the article got more views than any other article Ive written, and Im convinced it was because I did that. Only one or two people asked me to go deeper, which is what I hoped would come out in the comments (instead of the disapproval of the word stupid). In this article I go deeper. I will share something Ive shared across the United States as Ive traveled from one job club to another. I am normally invited to speak because I wrote the book on LinkedIn way back in 2007 (before there were hundreds of books on LinkedIn), or because I pioneered the idea of  using a CRM-like tool to organize a job search  and, more importantly,  manage your long-term career relationships. However, my favorite presentation doesnt touch on either of those to topics in depth. Instead, I go into what I call  Career Management 2.0: The new way of managing our career in a world without job security. In my presentations I ask who has recently been asked hows your job search going? Pretty much every hand goes up. Then I ask who actually  likes  that question? Every hand goes down, the crowd murmurs and shakes their head, and we all console each other as we share our disgust for this classless, useless question. Of course, weve all asked this question to our own friends or family over the years, but this moment of group consolation is not the time to admit how utterly useless (and unkind) we had been to our friends during their own job search. Personally, I hated this question. If you had to ask, it meant I was still in a job search. I was still a third class citizen. I was still that special project, walking down the hall at church. I was the loser who couldnt get a job (I couldnt hardly get an interview), and now at family-and-friend get-togethers I was that guy. Im sure they were thinking something like what is he going on now, six months? Six years? Poor guy. Probably picked the wrong major. Or, he must have issues working with people. Hows your job search going? The question that is like pouring salt in the open wound a wound so fresh for job seekers that they dont need any salt to feel sometimes-immense pain. In a job search, you hear this question week after week, and it never loses its sting. It is a constant reminder of your state of insufficiency and inability. Unfortunately, most job seekers answer this question with the worst answer ever: Its going okay they say. Or maybe some version of that, including Its going fine, or the more honest response: IT SUCKS! We are making their worst question worse with our worst answer, and both parties walk away feeling a bit deflated. In my presentations I share something that I think is absolute brilliance. I figure I get brilliant, exceptional inspiration about once every 18 months, and this was definitely my 18-month brilliant inspiration. I ask my job seekers to  please interpret the question  how is your job search going into another simple question. Its the question I think most people are really trying to ask, but they dont know the right words. Instead of hearing how is your job search going, interpret their question to: HOW CAN I HELP YOU IN YOUR JOB SEARCH? Isnt this a totally different question? You cant misunderstand how can I help you to mean you are such a loser, the same way you might misunderstand hows your job search going? Now, before I go on, and because  I got beat up over using the word stupid in the last article, let me just state that the feelings of being a loser, third class citizen, etc. are from my own personal experience, and are shared with from job seekers across the world. Im not calling job seekers losers, but Im not going to ignorantly deny that many (most?) job seekers feel like there is something wrong with them. The longer a job search goes on, they might internalize feelings of self-deprecation. Now that we have that clear (that Im not a job search hater), lets continue If you interpret the question hows your job search going to how can I help you in your job search, would you still respond with: Its going okay. No, absolutely not! That answer doesnt make sense at all! If someone asks how they can help you, you dont say its going okay! Your high school English teacher would have a fit over that! So how do you answer this new, interpreted question? Heres the answer I share with job seekers: Its going okay.  (that is directly answering the question they asked, and now you answer the question they meant to ask)  Im looking for an introduction to someone who works at one of my target companies. Do you know anyone who works at Company A, Company B, or Company C? Now we have a response that (a) answers their question, (b) answers the question they are really asking, and (c) allows them to help you, because you are asking for something very specific. We are  only  asking them a yes-or-no question. We are not asking for an introduction (although well get to that), or for money, or for a job. We are not asking for something that is outside of their control. We are simply asking them to scan their brain to think of anyone they might know who works at Company A, B or C. Yes or no is the only response they can have to our question. If they say yes, then you can ask for an introduction. Assuming you are not an emotional wreck, and unprepared to respond appropriately to the introduction, most people will be willing to make introductions. That is why they asked the question in the first place:  to help you! If you have an idea of what your target companies are, you can use this response all day long. You can even change target companies, but dont ask your question with more than three. As you so this, you will  help them help you.  You will empower them in a way that a response like Its going fine doesnt. You will invite them to think the forward-moving path you are on to your next job. Most people want to help you. Some wont, but just move on to the next person who is ready to help you. Of course, you can change from Company A, B, C to job titles or industries (Do you know anyone who is a project manager or Do you know anyone who works in the ABC Industry?) This response is really quite brilliant. Make sure that when you get an introduction, you treat it with the utmost respect, you follow-through with the introduction, and you have to follow-up with the person who gave you the introduction. But that, my friends, is for another article. Jason Alba  created the online job search organizer  JibberJobber.com. He realized a spreadsheet was not a good tool to organize a job search and knew there must be a better alternative. Job seekers, consultants and even people who are in their dream jobs use JibberJobber to organize personal and professional relationships, much like a sales professional would use a CRM to manage their prospects and customers. Ready to own your career management?  Get a JibberJobber account  or join our  weekly webinars  to learn more. Hows Your Job Search Going (the worst question for job seekers) My cousin found herself in a job search recently and I went on the hunt for this blog post, but I couldnt find it. Maybe its hiding somewhere on my blog. Or, maybe I didnt write it here. But I did write it on LinkedIn whew! I know this is long, but its one of the most important things Ive learned in my job search (and since starting JibberJobber).   So please read through this whole thing, internalize it, use it, and share it with others. This is so important that Ive mentioned it in almost every presentation Ive done, and I really think it can make a huge difference in YOUR job search. The original post is on LinkedIn: The Best Answer for the Worst Question in Your Job Search A week ago I wrote  The Question That Makes Job Seekers Sound Stupid  and the comments were polarizing. Either you thought the article was right on, or you thought I was a horrible person for using stupid and job seeker in the same title. Nonetheless, the article got more views than any other article Ive written, and Im convinced it was because I did that. Only one or two people asked me to go deeper, which is what I hoped would come out in the comments (instead of the disapproval of the word stupid). In this article I go deeper. I will share something Ive shared across the United States as Ive traveled from one job club to another. I am normally invited to speak because I wrote the book on LinkedIn way back in 2007 (before there were hundreds of books on LinkedIn), or because I pioneered the idea of  using a CRM-like tool to organize a job search  and, more importantly,  manage your long-term career relationships. However, my favorite presentation doesnt touch on either of those to topics in depth. Instead, I go into what I call  Career Management 2.0: The new way of managing our career in a world without job security. In my presentations I ask who has recently been asked hows your job search going? Pretty much every hand goes up. Then I ask who actually  likes  that question? Every hand goes down, the crowd murmurs and shakes their head, and we all console each other as we share our disgust for this classless, useless question. Of course, weve all asked this question to our own friends or family over the years, but this moment of group consolation is not the time to admit how utterly useless (and unkind) we had been to our friends during their own job search. Personally, I hated this question. If you had to ask, it meant I was still in a job search. I was still a third class citizen. I was still that special project, walking down the hall at church. I was the loser who couldnt get a job (I couldnt hardly get an interview), and now at family-and-friend get-togethers I was that guy. Im sure they were thinking something like what is he going on now, six months? Six years? Poor guy. Probably picked the wrong major. Or, he must have issues working with people. Hows your job search going? The question that is like pouring salt in the open wound a wound so fresh for job seekers that they dont need any salt to feel sometimes-immense pain. In a job search, you hear this question week after week, and it never loses its sting. It is a constant reminder of your state of insufficiency and inability. Unfortunately, most job seekers answer this question with the worst answer ever: Its going okay they say. Or maybe some version of that, including Its going fine, or the more honest response: IT SUCKS! We are making their worst question worse with our worst answer, and both parties walk away feeling a bit deflated. In my presentations I share something that I think is absolute brilliance. I figure I get brilliant, exceptional inspiration about once every 18 months, and this was definitely my 18-month brilliant inspiration. I ask my job seekers to  please interpret the question  how is your job search going into another simple question. Its the question I think most people are really trying to ask, but they dont know the right words. Instead of hearing how is your job search going, interpret their question to: HOW CAN I HELP YOU IN YOUR JOB SEARCH? Isnt this a totally different question? You cant misunderstand how can I help you to mean you are such a loser, the same way you might misunderstand hows your job search going? Now, before I go on, and because  I got beat up over using the word stupid in the last article, let me just state that the feelings of being a loser, third class citizen, etc. are from my own personal experience, and are shared with from job seekers across the world. Im not calling job seekers losers, but Im not going to ignorantly deny that many (most?) job seekers feel like there is something wrong with them. The longer a job search goes on, they might internalize feelings of self-deprecation. Now that we have that clear (that Im not a job search hater), lets continue If you interpret the question hows your job search going to how can I help you in your job search, would you still respond with: Its going okay. No, absolutely not! That answer doesnt make sense at all! If someone asks how they can help you, you dont say its going okay! Your high school English teacher would have a fit over that! So how do you answer this new, interpreted question? Heres the answer I share with job seekers: Its going okay.  (that is directly answering the question they asked, and now you answer the question they meant to ask)  Im looking for an introduction to someone who works at one of my target companies. Do you know anyone who works at Company A, Company B, or Company C? Now we have a response that (a) answers their question, (b) answers the question they are really asking, and (c) allows them to help you, because you are asking for something very specific. We are  only  asking them a yes-or-no question. We are not asking for an introduction (although well get to that), or for money, or for a job. We are not asking for something that is outside of their control. We are simply asking them to scan their brain to think of anyone they might know who works at Company A, B or C. Yes or no is the only response they can have to our question. If they say yes, then you can ask for an introduction. Assuming you are not an emotional wreck, and unprepared to respond appropriately to the introduction, most people will be willing to make introductions. That is why they asked the question in the first place:  to help you! If you have an idea of what your target companies are, you can use this response all day long. You can even change target companies, but dont ask your question with more than three. As you so this, you will  help them help you.  You will empower them in a way that a response like Its going fine doesnt. You will invite them to think the forward-moving path you are on to your next job. Most people want to help you. Some wont, but just move on to the next person who is ready to help you. Of course, you can change from Company A, B, C to job titles or industries (Do you know anyone who is a project manager or Do you know anyone who works in the ABC Industry?) This response is really quite brilliant. Make sure that when you get an introduction, you treat it with the utmost respect, you follow-through with the introduction, and you have to follow-up with the person who gave you the introduction. But that, my friends, is for another article. Jason Alba  created the online job search organizer  JibberJobber.com. He realized a spreadsheet was not a good tool to organize a job search and knew there must be a better alternative. Job seekers, consultants and even people who are in their dream jobs use JibberJobber to organize personal and professional relationships, much like a sales professional would use a CRM to manage their prospects and customers. Ready to own your career management?  Get a JibberJobber account  or join our  weekly webinars  to learn more.

Listing Education and Training on Your Resume - How to Do It Right

Listing Education and Training on Your Resume - How to Do It RightWriting a resume, how to list education and training. When you are writing your resume, you should put this information on it, so that employers can see what makes you qualified for the job. If you have the chance to take a college course before you apply for a job, then you should take advantage of it. By listing your education and training on your resume, you will get an interview invitation.Education is not always directly related to your career. If you have a good technical knowledge but no degree, you can still be hired. Some employers want to see someone who has done their job before and knows what they are doing. Some employers will use it as a measuring tool to determine if they should hire you or not. In any case, listing education and training on your resume can make a huge difference in getting you the job.If you have recently gone back to school, you can expect to pay more for your degree. There are several scholarships for undergrads but there are also many students who have had to look elsewhere. If you are a student and looking for scholarships, then you should note that it is only the amount of time and effort you put into school that counts. The amount of money you earn will not count.Keep in mind that it is in your best interest to attend college. It will make you more marketable. Not only will it give you a leg up on your competition, but it will also help you get a better paying job.Training is an important factor to include. You should list your training to show employers that you are dedicated to the job. Of course, some people go back to school for other reasons, like to get a degree to get into a better paying job. If you plan on returning to school for something, put that information on your resume as well.In today's life, the choice of whether to go back to school or to not should depend on your lifestyle. If you are already working a nine to five job, then it is going t o make sense to work at it until you can go back to school. If you want to stay at home and take care of your family, then it is not a big deal. You do not need to rush into it.As a prospective employer, it is important to know that your future employer will see your work history, education and training. This is all they need to know to decide if you are worth hiring. With this information, you will be able to see an opportunity for advancement that you may not have seen otherwise.Taking courses and attending classes is a good example of education and training. When you are creating your resume, how to list education and training can help you get a better job. This will also help you get a better salary when you are in school or on the job.

3 Ways to Encourage Diversity in the Hiring Process

3 Ways to Encourage Diversity in the Hiring Process Diversity continues to be a hot topic in the modern workplace, as organizations seek to establish and develop practices that ensure they hire employees with a wide range of professional backgrounds. With the benefits of a varied workforce well-documented, hiring managers and senior decision-makers are investing time and budget into ensuring they can attract and retain staff that can positively contribute to business success. Recruiters can play an active role in this process, assisting clients in attracting the right talent. 1. Job Ads How you write a job ad can dramatically affect the type of candidates you attract. For example, research from augmented writing platform Textio found that the word ‘exhaustive’ attracts more men, ‘loves learning’ attracts more women and ‘synergy’ is a turn-off for ethnic minorities. Therefore, when writing your advertisements, it’s essential to consider the coding of your language. If you’re looking to attract females to a position, avoid masculine-oriented words like ‘competitive’, ‘active’ and ‘dominant’. In contrast, if you are hoping to encourage male applications, consider including more feminine-coded words like ‘inclusive’ and ‘considerate’. However, best practice would be to avoid gendered words altogether â€" a 2016 study revealed that removing these from job ads saw a 42% increase in applicants. The requirements that you include in a job ad can also influence the candidates applying for a role. A study by Hewlett-Packard found that men will apply for a role when they meet 60% of the qualifications, whereas women will only apply if they think they meet 100% of qualifications.  Therefore, consider separating the qualifications into ‘essential and ‘desired’. By lowering the barriers to entry, you will attract a larger pool of candidates, who will still be as qualified to thrive in the advertised role. 2. Candidate sources While referrals can be an effective way to recruit candidates, they can also hinder diversity efforts, as often networks are made up of people with demographic similarities â€" for example, attended the same university. This is especially salient for males â€" research by McKinsey revealed that 63% of men state their professional network is made up of ‘more or all men’. LinkedIn also found that women are less likely to use their professional network during the job hunt, instead, applying for roles on third-party websites. Therefore, when recruiting for a role, expand your advertising efforts as widely as possible. The wider you cast your net, the more likely you are going to attract a diverse range of candidates. 3. Diverse shortlists When recruiting a role for a client, it’s essential to ensure you are submitting candidates that satisfy the requirements of a role. However, this shouldn’t stop you presenting a shortlist of equal men and women or those with a wide variety of racial backgrounds. Research by Harvard Business Review revealed that when the final shortlist has one minority candidate, their chances of being hired are infinitesimal. However, if there is more than one, the chances increase dramatically â€" the research showed that if there are at least two female candidates in the shortlist, the odds of hiring a female go up 79 times. Similarly, if there are at least two minority candidates, such as those from a BAME background, the odds are 194 times greater. Therefore, when presenting shortlists to clients, endeavor to present an even spread of candidates of different genders, races and professional backgrounds. Their unique experiences could end up being the defining feature that lands them the job!

All About Careers and Rate My Placement Launch National Work Experience Campaign Together

All About Careers and Rate My Placement Launch National Work Experience Campaign Together AllAboutCareers.com and RateMyPlacement.co.uk have come together to launch the National Work Experience Campaign. They have   joined forces to create this National Work Experience Campaign to help more students like you access work experience opportunities. I have reached out to All About Careers and Rate My Placement requesting a few words on this venture and will update this post when I get more information. But for now, it looks like ABC and RMP have brought together their experience of offering internships and apprenticeships, along with the quality content and advice they provide through their respective websites. The main aim of the National Work Experience Campaign is to provide correct, concise and quality information on work placements. All About Careers already has an extensive blog content added by users. Something I have previously contributed to as well. So they understand the student market and views, whilst offering their own expertise and advice. RateMyPlacement is now synonymous with placement students and employers of all sizes. It is a platform where placement students can review their placements, so it is only natural that they play a part in the National Work Experience Campaign. Heres what  Olivia Piepe from AllAboutCareers.com had to say about why they launched the campaign,   “No Experience. No Job. FACT.  Did you know that over 50% of graduate recruiters say that candidates without any work experience have “little or no chance of receiving a job offer” (High Fliers, 2013)? Scary stuff, eh? Because of this, and after the success of last year, we are thrilled to be launching The National Work Experience Campaign for the second year in a row. It’s so important for young people to have all the tools they need to secure work experience. From advice to internship opportunities â€" The National Work Experience Campaign has it all in one place. There’s also a handy Career Test to give anyone who’s a bit confused about their options a nudge in the right direction. Take a look today!” Update 1: 05/04/13 Statement from AllAboutCareers.com 2

How To Write An Electronic Resume

How To Write An Electronic ResumeIf you are one of the thousands of people who are searching for a job, then you will definitely need to write a resume. A resume is a document that has the main purpose of letting a prospective employer to know whether or not you are fit for the job and if you have what it takes to be an employee. Resume writing is a highly technical process and requires a certain degree of skill and talent. The way you compose your resume can make all the difference between getting a job or not.Your resume should have a professional and polished appearance. Professional resume writers are able to go beyond the basics and write resumes that can get you noticed. You should be able to see a professional electronic resume by clicking on the link below. You should also be able to do this right now.One mistake that many people make when it comes to a resume is that they spend too much time composing it. They start off by putting together a basic job description and include only the required information. This is a mistake because the first impression that a prospective employer gets from your resume is the reason why you are hiring them in the first place. Make sure that you don't put any unnecessary information on your resume.To build a resume that will help you land a job, make sure that it is informative and explains your capabilities, skills, and work experience. It should be concise and easy to read. The information should also flow from one section to another, so that it makes sense. Most importantly, you should be able to relate your qualifications to what the company is looking for.Another important factor when it comes to electronic resume writing is grammar. Every resume is different and what may work well for one person won't work for the next. Try to eliminate errors, which can be done by making use of software that can scan your resume and show you errors that are present. You can also see if there are any formatting issues, if there are any grammatical mistakes, or if there are any spelling mistakes.You must also take into consideration the layout of your resume. Although it's not as important as the format, the layout can make a difference in how people read your resume. Avoid using small fonts, excessive spacing, and bulleted lists.Last but not least, you must stand out from the crowd and stand out from the other resumes that are being sent to the potential employer. People only have a limited amount of time in which to look at a potential employer's resume. As such, you must take the time to produce a resume that will stand out from the rest. That is the only way you are going to get noticed.A good electronic resume writer can help you craft a document that is full of great information. If you are looking for a job, then make sure that you write your resume. No one else can do it for you.

Win a day with LOreal UK and Ireland!

Win a day with LOreal UK and Ireland! Competition: Win A Day With L’Oreal UK Ireland Competition: Win A Day With L’Oreal UK Ireland Do you think you have what it takes to work for L’Oreal UK Ireland? Well, we’ve teamed up with the global mega-brand to offer one lucky student or graduate the chance to win a practice interview and a goody bag worth £100. Sound like something you’d be interested in? Read on! L’Oreal UK Ireland is looking for its next generation team of innovative interns and graduates to take their 32 international brands to new heights and continue its innovation. Partnering with us means the brand has access to thousands of students and graduates who are on the hunt for their dream career. The two-week competition kicks-off on 25th November via our Twitter page and will require entrants to submit a concept for a new, original product for L’Oreal as well as a marketing slogan using the hashtag #LOrealDebut. From perfume and cosmetics, to aftershave and men’s treatments the competition is for those who are passionate about driving innovation. Entrants are asked to use the competition hashtag, #LOrealDebut, for all submissions and also follow @DebutCareers and @LOrealGradJobs on Twitter for their entry to be valid. The competition closes at midnight on 9th  December. We know just how stressful it can be to find a great job after university as nearly everyone looks for experience nowadays. The lucky winner of this competition will have the benefit of a practice interview from an amazing global brand, which is invaluable for future job searches. And you never know if you’re the right person for L’Oreal UK Ireland, they might even consider you for a role! Remember, the competition kicks off on Wednesday so be sure to get involved to take advantage of this amazing opportunity. Good luck! Terms and Conditions

Do You Have an Elevator Pitch or Personal Brand Statement

Do You Have an Elevator Pitch or Personal Brand Statement Huh?   Are they different or are they the same?   What makes them different?   Yikes, this is confusing.   To keep it simple, lets just say you need a way to introduce yourself when asked what do you do.   Right? I think job seekers struggle with this a lot because they either dont know what they want to be when they grow up or because they can no longer say I work at XYZ company as a ___________, plus as human beings we generally dont like selling ourselves.   Oh well, get over it is part of the answer.   The other part of the solution is using language and words that are comfortable for you. The other thing Ill say is that youll get conflicting advice on what really should go into the pitch, mostly because you need to adjust it based on the different audiences you use it with.   Ill admit, I have confused job seekers.   But, my disclaimer is, that 5+ years ago it was enough to just state the facts.   Now, because the job market is so competitive, you have to do more to stand out and be memorable. There are good pitches and not so good pitches or perhaps a better way to say it, there are the beginner pitches and the advanced pitches.   Start at the beginning and begin working towards making it an advanced pitch. I am a: With expertise in: My background includes: My unique qualities are: For more on the basic pitch, you can read this post and read Spice up the old elevator pitch For a more refined elevator pitch, read some posts that Ive found to give you some ideas on how to do this. One of my favorite tools is Harvard Business School’s Elevator Pitch Builder.   It helps by prompting you to answer questions about yourself and then analyzes your pitch. (But it is no longer available.) 6 Steps to Building a Great Elevator Pitch by Tim Tyrell-Smith of Tims Strategy Defining Your Assets and Competitive Edge for Your Brand by Heather Huhman on Personal Branding Blog How to Craft a Personal Brand Statement from the Undercover Recruiter If you either have a great pitch you would like to share or one you need help tweeking, please, share it in the comments below!

Career Corner - Tips for helping your college graduate declare their independence from YOU - Hallie Crawford

Career Corner - Tips for helping your college graduate declare their independence from YOU Happy Independence Day! Do you have a college graduate that has recently returned back home? Are you asking yourself: “How did this happen?” and “What can I do to get them on track with their own life?” You want them to be independent but you don’t know where to start. Here’s the deal: In school, students aren’t asked to think about who they are or what they want out of life. They learn about subjects, not about themselves. So they face a crisis later on when it’s time to decide what they want to be when they grow up. And when they don’t know the answer, they can become paralyzed and end up back at home. This can create stress for your graduate and for your whole family. You need to tackle the issues right away, and head on. Here are some tips to get you started: Realize that college doesn’t provide all the answers. Few schools completely address helping a graduate find a job they love to do, write a solid resume, or develop networking skills. Help them find that ideal career, or hire someone who can help (for example a career coach that works with young professionals and recent college graduates). Make a plan with them. Decide how long they can live at home, how they will help around house, and what bills they are responsible for. Let them know unemployment is not an option. Even if they have to sling burgers to pay for their cell phone, transportation, and other things, that’s fine for the moment. Enjoy the holiday weekend! Atlanta Certified Career CoachCollege Grad Career Coaching