Monday, January 28, 2013

Changing Careers After 50: Tips from an Expert

Excellent post found at:

 http://work.lifegoesstrong.com/article/career-change-after-50-tips-expert

Nicholas Lore, author of The Pathfinder, shares six tips from his new book.

Source: Getty Images
According to career change expert Nicholas Lore, one secret to changing jobs over 50 is to get very specific about what you want before you start looking for a job.
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According to career change expert Nicholas Lore, one secret to changing careers at 50 or older is to get very specific about what you want before you start looking for a job.
Nicholas Lore is a pioneer in the world of career coaching.
For one thing, he actually coined the term "career coaching" back in the early 1980s.
Before then, coaches were for athletes. In the years since, he and the career coaches at his company, Rockport Institute  have helped more than 15,000 people find the right career path for them.
In 1998, the first edition of his book The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success, put his new methodology into print and became a bestseller, recommended by Presidents and Ivy League schools. This week, the long-awaited updated and revised edition came out, with new chapters and updates.
I had the chance to talk with Nick Lore about the new book and his advice on choosing and changing careers, which is a special passion of mine as well.
He's a delightful example of what is possible when you consciously create the career change you want.
He made a major career change himself thirty years ago, when he was running an alternative energy company but realized it wasn't actually satisfying for him. Seeking out traditional career planning resources to find a new direction, he found the methods were too limiting.
Wanting a more holistic and personal look at what he wanted to be doing—and with the support of a remarkable friend and mentor, future-thinker Buckminster Fuller—Lore created a new methodology for people to see the elements and pieces of what it makes to make "a spectacular career choice."
I asked him what advice he had for people making career changes mid-life or later.
He answered, "What I tell them is that you can do it. Even though there will be voices discouraging you—some of which might be your own—voices telling you to stick with that job you hate because it pays well or whatever… you can do it. Thousands of people have changed their careers entirely, and you can do it, too."
Career changing at any stage of life can have a happy ending. Success stories for the Rockport Institute include an attorney who now runs a music school, and an economist who became a consumer product designer.
Nick was emphatic about the need for knowing what you're looking for if you want to succeed.
"The trick is that you have to be absolutely sure of your new career direction, because equilibrium and homeostasis is powerful. If you're at all vague about what you want, your mind will talk you out of it."
He shared some great tips from the new book for people over 50 who want to find a job they love:
1. Make it a project.
Design your career before you start job hunting, so you know exactly what you're seeking.
2. Become a career detective.
"Put on your Sherlock Holmes hat and look for clues about the best fit for you and the workplace," he told me. Look for what you do happily, naturally, perhaps even brilliantly, and notice your innate talents and a lifetime of experiences.
3. Focus on your strengths.
In an ever-more-competitive world, many jobs require the experience and wisdom to get the job done well now. When companies want the best experience, you have the advantage over younger workers.
4. Research jobs that seem to fit.
Read, search online, and talk with several people who do exactly the job you are considering. Whittle it down to one or two specific job descriptions. Specificity has power.
5. Conduct a smart job search.
Don't rely on online submissions. People prefer to hire people they know, so find creative ways to meet and speak with several decision-makers who could actually hire you to do the job you want. Then when a job does come available, you are known and have an advantage over anonymous resumes.
6. Persist.
An effective career change after 50 and job search takes time, and you'll be rejected several—probably-many—times in the process. View "no" as part of the game taking you closer to "yes."

"My goal is that people love their lives. We help then to see the elements and pieces of what it takes to make a spectacular career choice. If you want a midlife career change, I'll tell you that you can do it," Lore said.
I like how he thinks. You can see why "coach" is the right word for what he does, can't you?
More job resources for people over 50:

The Biggest Mistakes 20-Something Job Seekers Make

Excellent post found at:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/08/02/the-biggest-mistakes-20-something-job-seekers-make/

There was the young job seeker who showed up at his interview 15 minutes late, failed to apologize, and then asked if the interviewer had a garbage can so he could throw away his gum. There was also the 20-something applicant whose call to the hiring manager went dead in the middle of the conversation. The young woman didn’t call back for two hours, only to explain, without apology, that she had dropped her phone in a tub of water while she was getting a manicure. Then there was the mother who called her son’s boss when he wasn’t hired at the end of his internship, and demanded to know why.
Dani Ticktin Koplik, 57, an executive and performance coach in Englewood, N.J. has lots of stories like these. For the last several years, half of Koplik’s coaching practice has been made up of so-called Generation Y, or Millennial, job seekers. This group, age 20-32, makes a series of job-searching mistakes that stem from their sense of entitlement, lack of deference to authority and over-involvement by their parents. Koplik says in her own practice, parents frequently call and email, and try to micro-manage the coaching process. To run interference, Koplik schedules a monthly meeting with parents, mostly to tell them to stop meddling. She also coaches them to give their kids a consistent message.  Too many parents tell their offspring that they have to earn a living, and then let them live at home indefinitely rent-free. Koplik recommends timetables and limits.
I asked Koplik for a list of mistakes her 20-something clients make, and she had plenty of ideas. Here is her list of the top ten.

1.  Acting entitled
One of the consequences of over-involved parents is that young people feel as though they deserve an easy ride. Koplik tells of an intern who, on the first day, informed his supervisor that he had to leave early that Thursday for a horseback riding lesson. “It didn’t dawn on this person that he was being totally inappropriate and sabotaging his career,” says Koplik.
2. Starting the process too late
Ideally, college students should start looking for meaningful internships for the summer after their freshman year. Students who assume that they will get a job without too much effort, wait too long to begin the process.
3. Under-utilizing the alumni network
Though parents and their friends can provide good contacts, the network of professionals that comes through a college or university should be one of the first places a young job seeker turns.
4. Using a résumé that’s sloppy and too self-centered
Young job seekers are often weak on résumé basics, like clear, tidy layout, careful proofreading for grammar and punctuation, and use of keywords from the job description. Another big problem: the “objective” section tends to be too much about what they want, and not enough about the potential employer. For example, young applicants often say, “entry level position where I can use my skills, ideas and enthusiasm and I can learn a lot.” Instead, the emphasis should be on what they can contribute to the employer. Applicants should also leave off menial jobs like camp counselor, unless they can quantify their achievements, like saying they organized waterfront activities for a group of 150 campers.
5. Writing cover letters that repeat the résumé
Many young applicants regurgitate their résumé accomplishments in their cover letters. Instead, cover letters should be short and vivid, and say something particular about what the applicant can bring to the job.
6. Doing poor research
Young job seekers often just glance at a company website before an interview. Instead they should read everything on the site, search for news clippings about the company, and track social media information, like Twitter feeds, on company managers.
7. Failing to clean up their social media profile
All of those drunken, bikini-clad pictures on Facebook should be removed, or locked down with privacy settings. Everyone, including college students, needs a polished LinkedIn profile.
8. Not showing enough appreciation for the interviewer
Young applicants often fail to conclude an interview with an expression of gratitude for the interviewer’s time. Always thank the interviewer in person, make it clear you would consider it a privilege to work at the company and ask about the next step in the process. Then follow up with a handwritten thank-you note or email that references specifics discussed in the interview.

9. Failing to show generational deference
Koplik tells of the summer intern who, at the end of his time on the job, marched into the office of the chief diversity officer at a big company and said, “Could I give you some feedback on my internship?” Young people are so used to being included in conversations, they fail to grasp their position in the pecking order.
10. Relying too heavily on listings and job fairs
I write this in every article about job search mistakes, because it’s a chronic problem. Koplik says that young job seekers are just as guilty of spending too much time applying to online listings, and through anonymous job fairs, as their more senior peers. We say this over and over: People find jobs through people they know, rather than through advertisements. If you see a listing for a job, try to find a personal connection to the employer and use that as your entry point.

Ruben Navarrette: Our 'gimme' society

Excerpt from Ruben Navarrettes' insightful  post found at:

http://archive.sltrib.com/printfriendly.php?id=13103095&itype=ngpsid

Navarrette says, "Sometimes, I think America's national creed is: "gimme, gimme, gimme...As in: "Gimme a bailout."...

..." Like much of what plagues modern society, the push for individual bailouts centers around a sense of entitlement, about what people think they deserve -- not because they've earned it but because they want a more comfortable, hassle-free life. It's also about the belief that government is the answer to all our problems -- part nanny and part ATM.

Unfortunately, this mentality is also infecting young Americans. We already knew they had a sense of entitlement from the narcissism they exhibit, and from the shunning of hard and dirty jobs that wind up being done by illegal immigrants and other foreigners. But the reliance on government is a bit of a surprise since young people have a long-standing reputation for being politically apathetic and not the type to make demands on Washington. "

READ ON if you are interested in reading the post in it's entirety for more of the author's thoughts on dangers of living with a sense of entitlement.

SAN DIEGO -- Sometimes, I think America's national creed is: "gimme, gimme, gimme."
As in: "Gimme a bailout." With banks, insurance firms and automobile manufacturers getting a helping hand from the government, some Americans think they should get one too. I recently heard a radio ad that made just that point, telling listeners to enlist the services of a money management firm because "Wall Street firms are getting a bailout and you should too."
Like much of what plagues modern society, the push for individual bailouts centers around a sense of entitlement, about what people think they deserve -- not because they've earned it but because they want a more comfortable, hassle-free life. It's also about the belief that government is the answer to all our problems -- part nanny and part ATM.
Unfortunately, this mentality is also infecting young Americans. We already knew they had a sense of entitlement from the narcissism they exhibit, and from the shunning of hard and dirty jobs that wind up being done by illegal immigrants and other foreigners. But the reliance on government is a bit of a surprise since young people have a long-standing reputation for being politically apathetic and not the type to make demands on Washington.
Now a coalition of young people -- dubbing itself "80 Million Strong for Young American Jobs" -- wants Congress to draft a massive aid package aimed specifically at helping young people brave the recession.
Think of it as a Marshall Plan for the Twitter generation.
Among other things, the coalition wants: free college tuition for low-income students who are willing to do volunteer work; the right to be covered in their parents' health insurance program until the age of 26; college loan-forgiveness programs for young people who agree to serve distressed communities after graduation; and micro loans for young entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. Congress needs to provide all this and more, the group says, because young Americans -- including recent college graduates -- are bearing the brunt of the current recession.
They have a point there. For 20- to 24-year-olds, the unemployment rate is 15.3 percent, compared to 9.4 percent for the overall U.S. population. College tuitions are rising, and students are graduating with both student loans and loads of credit card debt. And young Americans often lack health insurance; those in their 20s represent about 30 percent of the uninsured, either because they're in low-wage jobs that don't provide health insurance or because they feel indestructible and haven't seen the need for it.
Still, the idea of young people lobbying Congress for their own specialized bailout isn't just wrong. It's heartbreaking.
Young people aren't the only ones hurting in this recession. People of all ages could make the same request of the government, complete with their own list of challenges and dire statistics. Besides, speak to most older workers and they'll tell you that they'd give anything to be young again and just starting out in the job market -- even a market as rough as this one. In fact, ironically, in many companies, older workers fear being replaced by younger ones who often start with smaller salaries.
Young people usually don't have mortgages to pay off, or spouses and children to support. That gives them an enormous amount of freedom whether they realize it or not. They also have an advantage in the job market because they can travel the country and go where the jobs are. Or they can simply follow their passions and build careers of their own designs. Instead of seeing obstacles, they should see opportunities.
And yet, when young people ask government to throw them a life preserver and save them from the choppy waters of a rough economy, they've all but given up. Even if they get the short-term economic aid they're seeking, they'll lose their self-sufficiency in the process and become dependent on an unresponsive bureaucracy. That's not good. In fact, it's dangerous.
So you have to wonder where young people picked up this distasteful and destructive behavior. It's obvious. It was from watching their elders with outstretched palms, a sense of entitlement, and a tendency to see government as the solution to all sorts of problems. And to think there are people who actually believe that.
Gimme a break.

How To Use Google Alerts In Your Job Search

Excellent step by step instruction on how to use GOOGLE / ALERTS to support you job search found at:

http://www.careerealism.com/job-search-google-alerts/

Google Alerts Job SearchWhen it comes to your job search, Google Alerts can be a useful ally. What are Google Alerts? They are notifications you get from Google after you have instructed it to monitor the Internet for new information about a topic of interest. Using the watchful eye of the world’s largest search engine is much more efficient than conducting your own daily manual searches.
For a job seeker, Google Alerts’ powers are three-fold. You can use it to monitor your online reputation, get notified of new positions that become open, and stay abreast of news from your target companies.
It’s vital to stay on top of things in your search, and Google Alerts can make you look pretty sharp to a prospective employer. This post will show you the basics of how to set alerts up and demonstrate how to use the information to your advantage.
First, to set up your alerts, go to http://www.google.com/alerts
Enter the person, company, or job title you want to keep tabs on as the search query. Here are a few basic tips for getting the best results:
Quotations (“) around words will help you to receive information that is more relevant. If you want multiple words as a search phrase, place quotes around the group. For example, to monitor my name, I entered “Kristin Johnson.”  That way, I don’t get notified every time a “Kristin” or “Johnson” appears on the Internet.
To eliminate certain results in your search, use the minus sign. For example, searching for “hospital jobs” might also bring up animal hospitals or veterinary clinics. You may want to use “hospital jobs” –veterinary –animal.
To limit your search only to certain sites, put the word you are searching for, followed by the website, like this: “program management” site:indeed.com. This will only produce results for Indeed.
ŸTo eliminate certain websites from the results, use the minus sign, followed by the website, like this: “Kristin Johnson” -site:twitter. This will remove Twitter results.
ŸIf you aren’t sure which word you want to put into a search, try using an asterisk with a space on each side by the word(s) you do want, like here: “Chief * Officer” jobs Milwaukee. This will bring up all CEO, CIO, CMO possibilities in Milwaukee.
ŸTo have more than one possibility, use “OR” in capital letters. “Chief Nursing Officer” jobs (Phoenix OR Tucson) will bring up CNO jobs in both cities. The parentheses around the cities helps Google to understand what two words the OR should be applied to.
ŸSearch for similar words using the tilde. “~green jobs” might also bring up environmental positions.
With -, ~, and site:, don’t have a space between the symbol and the letter, or the search will not work.
Combine multiple methods of refinement to strengthen your search. “Kristin Johnson” –Kristen –Johnsen (Madison OR Wisconsin) might be my next alert.
After you decide on your query, you’ll need to determine what sorts of information should be searched (Everything, News, Blogs, Video, Discussions, Book), how often you want to receive alerts, how broad you want the results to be (Everything, Only the Best Results), and where you want alerts sent.
The tips above contained examples of how to keep watch over your personal brand, by setting up alerts for your name, but you might also want to set them up for your company name, associates, or additional brand identifiers.
With the positions you set up alerts for, try different combinations of words and letters, especially with acronyms. For example, search for “IBM” OR “I B M” “CEO” OR “C E O” OR “Chief Executive Officer.” Don’t be afraid to mix things up a bit.
Want to make a good impression at an interview? Set up alerts like these for your target companies:
  • “Company Name” “quarterly financial”
  • “Company Name” competition
  • “Company Name” CEO
  • “Company Name” “marketing campaign”
  • “Company Name” (merger OR acquisition)
Knowledge gleaned from this information can give you a lot to run with in an interview. Thoroughly research all the facts surrounding the situation. Then, when you are in your meeting, you can mention something like, “I just read an interesting article about XYZ topic and am aware that your company is considering a move in that direction. I’m curious if you can tell me a bit about that idea.”
You may even be able to develop a project or proposal to present in the interview, demonstrating how you might tackle a relevant problem. You might write a story of an achievement you had relating to the issue. And, you can come up with a series of questions to help close the meeting.
The beauty of learning how to use this technology is that it’s so convenient. Once you set alerts up, they come to you automatically in your inbox or RSS reader. You just set it and forget it- unless you want to make changes to your alerts. You can always go back and refine them, or set up additional searches.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

About Kristin Johnson

Kristin is a five-time certified career writer, job search coach, and social media consultant with an approach that is cutting-edge, creative and kind.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Resume Tips For Job Seekers Over 50

Helpful tips found at:

http://www.careerealism.com/resume-tips-job-seekers-over/


While job seekers over 50 years old may have more knowledge and experience in the workplace, that has not helped them come out of the unemployment market any faster.
There are various reasons why an older worker faces a greater challenge securing a job in today’s market than one who is younger. It may include higher pay requirements or because employers view older workers as less competitive with outdated experience and skills.
The way your resume is crafted can quickly reveal to an employer your age or signal to an employer you are not current with today’s competitive workplace. The following are sure fire signs to an employer about your age and outdated skills and experience you may have.

1. Contact Details

Every resume is complete with contact information such as your name, address and mode of communication. However, when you list a fax number (rarely will an employer contact you by fax) or e-mail address that indicates digits that can signify a year, such as “molly55@… ” it can signal to an employer you are from the old-school. Some employers consider @aol.com e-mails as old school
Tip: Keep your contact information on your resume simple. Stick to one phone number and a professional e-mail address that may simply be your name. Also, do not label “Phone” or “E-mail” on your resume; that is obvious.

2. Education

Your education can be particularly important to an employer depending on the type of organization and position you are applying for. While you should list degree(s) obtained, do not include the year it was obtained. Simple mathematics can tell the employer how old you are.
Tip: Include the degree you obtained for a particular study, institution attended and the city and state of the institution. Leave out the date of attendance and when you obtained your degree. That information can be supplied to an employer if it is needed later on.
Also, keep in mind that your education becomes less of a highlight on the resume for most employers when you have five or more professional year of experience in the particular field. This should be on the lower part of your resume.

3. Experience

Having 30+ years of experience in the workforce can be valuable and impressive to an employer, but it can also come off negatively on your resume if the information is not presented and laid out effectively. Most employers focus on the most recent five years of experience so if you have experience that dates back to 20 years ago, it may do you more harm than good, especially if it is irrelevant to the position you are applying for.
An employer does not need to know you worked at McDonald’s 20 years ago as a cashier if you are applying for a job related to business development in pharmaceuticals or an entirely different field.
Tip: Even if you have over 25 years of experience, just summarize that as “Over 15 years.” Focus on the most recent 5 to 10 years of work experience particularly relevant to the job you are applying for. If you have other experience that is relevant past that time, include it to a separate category you can call “Other Experiences” on your resume where you can summarize the experience without giving dates.

4. Technical Skills

Technical skills should be specific to the field, such as unique programs and applications for the profession. Listing programs such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint will not impress employers; these have become standard programs in most workplaces where employers expect employees to know them – and to use them well. Do not list skills that are outdated; listing dBase3 immediately shows your age.
Tip: Do not include a section on technical skills to your resume unless it is unique to the field, such as a graphic design program for designers or SAP for accounting and finance. Also if you do list any technical skills, help the employer understand how adept you are by highlighting what you have done and achieved with it.
A resume shouting out your age or years of experience is not going to help you secure a job in today’s market. You need a resume that demonstrates you are effective and have achieved results in “recent years” that can be applied to the position you are applying for. Demonstrate to employers you are current, up-to-date with today’s approaches and a candidate that can achieve results by demonstrating accomplishments from recent employment.
Remember, the “outcomes” are what matter most at the end of the day.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

About Don Goodman

Don Goodman, president of Resume Writing Service - About Jobs is a nationally recognized career expert. Get a free career assessment from Don here.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Should You Change Jobs for Money?

Helpful considerations found at:


http://beforeitsnews.com/personal-finance/2013/01/should-you-change-jobs-for-money-2442018.html

This is a question that seems as if the answer is obvious. Sometimes it is, sometimes not. There are different scenarios where you might want to change jobs for the money. But there are at least an equal number where making a jump for higher pay won’t be worth it.
Let’s take a look at some different scenarios.
When Changing Jobs for Money Makes Sense There are certainly times when the question of changing jobs for money has an obvious answer – and that answer will be a resounding YES!
1. When you are clearly underpaid in your current job. If you’re in a job situation where you’re at the low end of the pay scale, and it doesn’t seem as if there’s any way to improve your pay within the system, you’ll probably want to consider making a job change mainly for money.
You may be very good at doing your job, but for whatever reason your employer fails to recognize it. Sometimes it’s the result of office politics, favoritism, or simply joining the organization at an unfavorable time. Whatever the reason, you may have no choice but to look elsewhere for higher pay.
2. When you are early in your career. It’s not uncommon for people change jobs early in their careers. Some companies prefer to promote from within, in which case an employee may get promotions and higher pay relatively easily. But other companies are more attracted to the talent at their competitors, and would prefer to hire experienced people from other companies rather than promoting from within.
You may have to make two or three job changes early in your career in order for you to get your pay level up to where it needs to be.
3. When there’s no chance of promotion where you work now. Sometimes the organization you’re working for is experiencing financial difficulties; if that’s the case it may be impossible to get a substantial pay increase. Other companies seem to be in a state of perpetual crisis – you’ll probably find it difficult to get a serious pay increase there as well. There are any number of reasons why an employer may not be in a position to give you more money, and if that’s the case you may have no choice but to change jobs for better compensation.
4. When you absolutely need more money. If you’re in a situation where you have large debts to pay off, or very high living expenses (whatever the reason), you may need to change jobs to make more money. It may be that the debt situation is so threatening that you have no choice but to chase higher pay. It may not be your preferred route, but may be the only way you’ll be able get out of debt.
When Changing Jobs for Money Probably Doesn’t Make Sense As much as we tend to think about money as the ultimate reward in a job, that isn’t always true. Sometimes there are risks associated with changing jobs for more money that we simply would not want to take if we think about them in some depth.
The Risks of Relocation In some industries the only way to make more money is by relocating to take another job. While that might produce higher pay, it’s important to recognize that there may be risks to relocating.
The new employer may pay your relocation costs, which is certainly attractive. But they may require you to relocate from a large, diversified job market to much smaller one. The loss of your job in the new location could force you to relocate again – only this time you will be paying for the relocation yourself.
Any money gained through the higher pay of the new job could be lost if you are forced to relocate on the loss of the job.
You will also need to consider if what you’re giving up at home will be worth a higher salary. You may be leaving family, friends and a familiar environment in favor of a place where none of those advantages exist.
Sacrificing Training and Experience for Money When thinking of changing jobs for money you always need to consider the training and experience factor. If your present job – or a lower paying one – offers greater training and experience, that could eventually be worth more than an immediate pay increase.
In addition, if a new job is offering pay that is out of proportion to the depth of the job, it could be a warning sign. The job could be a revolving door, the type that no one stays at for much more than a year or two before quitting or being fired. The higher pay may be an incentive for a job that simply isn’t doable.
Changing Jobs Just for Money There is another risk to changing jobs for money that is more subtle. If a prospective employer sees you changing jobs every year or two for higher pay, they may see your time on a job with them as just another temporary stop. The moment another employer offers you more money, you’ll be out the door.
This will be an even greater problem if the caliber of your performance doesn’t match your level of pay. Having a job, any job, isn’t just a matter of increasing salary; it’s also important to increase your skills and abilities to match.
Being Where You Can Make a Real Difference Being an “impact player” in a lower paying job can be more important than being just another link in a chain in a higher paying job. This can be especially important when it comes to layoffs and promotions. An employee who is considered to be an important part of an organization will always be less likely to lose his job, and more likely to be promoted. You may not want to let go of that advantage in favor of higher pay.
The Job Satisfaction Factor Finally there’s the issue that we don’t think much about when we are looking for higher pay, and that’s job satisfaction. You’ll probably be working at least five days a week, for at least 50 weeks out of each year. That’s a lot of time on the job, and that’s why job satisfaction so important.
You may be better off in a lower paying job with higher job satisfaction, than a higher paying job with less satisfaction. The higher paying job may help you to pay your bills more easily, but it still may not be worth it if each and every day on the job is a struggle.
Would you change jobs primarily or exclusively for money? What risks do you see in that strategy? Leave a comment!
Related Articles:

10 Powerful Ways To Optimize LinkedIn Groups

Good tips on making better use of LinkedIn groups to enhance you networking found at:

http://www.careerealism.com/optimize-linkedin-groups/



Optimize LinkedIn GroupsOne of the most powerful aspects of LinkedIn is groups. Any job seeker can use LinkedIn groups to connect with people and to build relationships that can ultimately attract new leads or employment.
However, groups can take a lot of time so it’s important to get as much out of the groups as you put in.
You want your LinkedIn Groups Equation to look like this:
G + G + G + G + G = JOB
Not this:
G + G + G + G + G + G + G + G + G = ZZZZZZ
Here are ten ways to get the most out of LinkedIn groups:

1. Keywords

Searches on the Internet are driven by keywords. These are important words and phrases that define what you do or what is important to your business. Keywords should be placed in every section of your LinkedIn profile. They should be used as often as possible without creating awkwardness. These are the words that an employer will use to find you and these are the words that will tag the jobs you are looking for.
Keywords include both nouns and verbs. For example: accounting and accountant. Copying sentences directly from a resume filled with action verbs may not make the best use of keywords. If this is the case, change those sentences for LinkedIn and other online profiles.
Place keywords prominently within:
  • Your headline
  • Position titles
  • Within the first sentence of every paragraph
  • Throughout all of your content on LinkedIn
Also, try to get your keywords added to recommendations.
Include special skills as secondary keywords: For example, Six Sigma, PhD, MBA, and chemical engineering.
Search engine bots search looking for these specific terms and on a very simple level. The more terms they find the higher you will rank for a particular search and the sooner you will find a job.

2. Cocktail Party Etiquette: The Room Is Filled With Sharks

LinkedIn is filled with groups of people that are BONE TIRED. Looking for employment is eating them alive. LinkedIn groups just sit there beckoning the weak, “Come on, add a comment, a commiseration. Ah, come on,” the voice whispers.
Don’t do it. Never disclose your age, your marital status, how many children you have, how much money you do, or don’t have or any number of other private things that employers are not allowed to ask in an interview. Call your best friend, your brother, or your priest to vent. LinkedIn is a PUBLIC forum. Managers and recruiters wander these groups. Give them only positive impressions.

3. Join LinkedIn Groups Outside Your Comfort Zone

For me this was a poetry group and it was pure torture. Joining groups outside of your comfort zone has two important advantages. First, you will come into contact with new people and new ways of thinking. Both will expand your horizons and even improve your employment prospects.
Secondly, groups outside of your comfort zone will sharpen your assessment of which groups you really enjoy and profit from. Turn off email prompts from groups you don’t really use and focus on the few that are really useful.

4. Join Regional Super Groups

Now you might move to New York for the perfect job, but it is usually cheaper and easier to stay in your current location. Most metropolitan areas have regional super groups like Linked:Seattle that connect regional groups of people. These are some of the best groups to join because they provide direct access to potential leads that you can quickly turn into personal connections.
Every region has it’s own cultural attractions like football games, museums and gardening clubs. Many of these also have LinkedIn groups. Get out there in person and get connected!

5. LinkedIn And Other Social Media Management Groups For EDU

Did you know that there are groups on LinkedIn that specialize in social media (i.e. LinkedIn Groups Product Forum, and others for Facebook, Google+) and new developments/ideas related to social media? Even if this isn’t remotely an area you are interested in as a career, these groups are a wealth of information and a great place to learn more about how to use these tools.
Moreover, every social media company has positions in everything from accounting to sales and these companies are currently exploding.

6. Mine The LinkedIn Group For Reference Points

Most groups have three or four top contributors that can be thought of as reference points. Once you figure out the reference points in the group, map, and research them. Are these people you would like in your network? How can you add value to the group so you can get to know them better?
Remember that reference points are often as eager to connect with you as you are with them. New ideas and fresh perspectives are like diamonds. Bring them a few and down the line they may repay you with an amazing reference.

7. Brand A Style

Think about branding yourself and your style of group interaction. We all have our own personalities and value to add to any group. Start defining your online brand and think about keeping your tone and style consistent.

8. Recommendations

Touched on above, recommendations can be an excellent way to improve your LinkedIn resume. After you have settled into a few groups that resonate, start adding fresh ideas and fresh content. Become a group reference point. As group connections develop into direct LinkedIn connections start asking for references.

9. Get The Word Out

LinkedIn group membership doesn’t need to end with LinkedIn. LinkedIn can be used to publicize a blog or a website, it can become a depository for certain types of Facebook friends. LinkedIn groups become even more powerful when they are connected from both within and without.

10. Idea Farm

LinkedIn provides one platform filled with ideas just waiting for cultivation. A traditional workplace is a box; don’t let LinkedIn mirror your current cubicle. Groups encourage the breaking of the box. Some groups require membership – apply. Take a look at what they are doing over in that box over there and there and there. Keep an idea journal and use it to enhance your value in your core groups.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

About Six Sigma Online

Six Sigma Online offers the best self-paced online certifications in Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, Lean Six Sigma and DFSS.

How Productive Are You Really?

This post is provocative in this age were productivity and value you can bring to a company are so important to keep and search for jobs

http://www.careerealism.com/how-productive-really/


As a career coach, I spend a lot of time working with people on their productivity. You might not expect that, but being productive is actually an important skill – both inside the workplace and out. When people tell me they have big goals—or even small ones—and they just can’t seem to make progress on them, I know it’s time to evaluate their productivity practices.
Nine times out of ten, people get stuck because they’re not using their time, energy and other resources effectively. And that’s what productivity is all about. Whether you’researching for a new job or working to get that big promotion, you can’t afford to waste your resources. Regardless of your personal or professional situation, it’s always a good idea to hone your productivity skills.

Why Does Productivity Matter?

Think about a time in your life when everything just clicked—when you were accomplishing amazing things with minimal effort, and yet you weren’t buried beneath the stress of an overwhelming to-do list.
You were in control and moving quickly toward your goals.
Maybe you’ve never felt this way in your life. Or maybe you’ve only experienced this in occasional bursts. But, by implementing a few simple productivity strategies, you really can create a life like this now and in the future.
When you master productivity, you naturally experience less stress. You can rely on the systems and processes you’ve put in place, so you know you won’t forget important information or miss important events. You won’t forget that great idea you had in the middle of the night. Things won’t fall through the cracks. You can concentrate on just getting things done instead of worrying.
When you’re a truly productive part of your workplace, you contribute on a level that brings real value to the organization. Productive professionals experience a great sense of job security, because they know their importance to the success of the team.
Outside of work, people who understand productivity even have better relationships. After all, can you imagine spending time with family and friends without worrying about your growing to-do list or all the errands you should be running? Instead, you’re simply concentrating on having a good time because you know you’re already on top of everything else.

How Productive Are You?

Now that you think about what it’s like to be truly productive, let me ask you: How would you rank your current productivity on a scale of one to ten? Imagine one is an unbelievably unproductive day and ten is a perfectly productive one. Where do most of your days fall?
If you’re somewhere between five and seven, congratulations—you’re normal. This is the range that most of my clients typically fall into before they implement my strategies and recommendations. Of course, once they have the tools they need, they easily land in the nine to ten range.

What Kills Your Productivity?

If you’re not experiencing the level of productivity you want, it’s important to figure out what’s causing your problems. For most people, the common productivity killers are perfectionism and the feeling of being overwhelmed. Both of these lead to procrastination either because you’re afraid of getting started or you simply don’t know where to start.
Lack of focus may also be harming your productivity. If you have a hard time concentrating or if you’re trying to do too many things at once, you’ll inevitably fall below your ideal productivity range.
Are you guilty of these things? Scratch that. No guilt. We all fall victim to these productivity obstacles now and again. If you recognize a few as your own productivity killers, don’t beat yourself up. The good news is there are plenty of strategies out there to help you.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

About Chrissy Scivicque

Chrissy Scivicque (pronounced “Civic”) is an award-winning writer, certified Professional Career Manager (PCM) and experienced corporate trainer.

Monday, January 21, 2013

3 Reasons Why Your Resume Isn’t Helping You Get Hired

How effective is your resume?  Check out three basic problems with resumes that may be contributing to why you are not getting interviews with potential employers found at:

http://www.careerealism.com/resume-isnt-helping-you-hired/


resume is a critical element in your job search. In fact, it is the key to helping you to get hired for a position.
It’s important to emphasize “help” because the resume typically doesn’t get you hired—but it does help you to score an interview where you can then impress employers enough so they want to offer you the job.
So, if you’re not getting called in for interviews, what is it about your resume that isn’t doing the trick? Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why your resume may not be helping you to get hired.

1. It Never Makes It Past The Scanning Technology

As a persistent job seeker, you may be aware that many companies utilize scanning technology that helps them to eliminate resumes that don’t fit the criteria of the position. With so many applicants submitting resumes, it can be challenging and time consuming to sift through dozens that won’t make the cut.
The scanning technology helps to eliminate this problem by filtering out resumes that don’t list specific words or phrases that align with the position. For instance, in the nursing field, you might work in a health care facility, participate in transplant procedures, or work with people with mental illnesses. If this is true, these phrases should be listed in your resume to identify you as a qualified candidate.
As you write your resume, be sure to review the job posting thoroughly for these keywords, and list them strategically throughout your resume. This way, you won’t be bypassed in the very first step of the hiring process.

2. Your Resume Isn’t Targeted

If you’ve written a resume that incorporates the correct keywords, it may just make it past the scanning technology. In that case, great job! But your work is not finished. Another reason why your resume may not be getting you any interview calls is that it isn’t targeted.
A targeted resume is one that was written specifically for the company you’re applying with. If you search online, you’ll find a multitude of resume samples and templates to help you get the process started. But they aren’t authentic—it’s up to you to create your own resume that speaks directly to a company.
So if you want to use a template for inspiration, there’s nothing wrong with it; however, you need to create your own original resume in the end. Doing so proves that your skills and accomplishments directly align with the qualifications each company is looking for.

3. Your Experience Isn’t Convincing Enough

Another issue that could prevent the interview callback is a lack of convincing experience. You may be accustomed to listing skills but haven’t shown that you were a leader who initiated projects or worked above and beyond the call of duty in your previous positions. So take time to list specific accomplishments that show you made a difference.
Once you target your resume, add keywords, and list top-notch experience, you’re on the right track. Taking these steps is a tremendous aid in getting you the interview callback.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

About Jessica Holbrook Hernandez

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, CEO of Great Resumes Fast is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Resumes 101: Swap a Stale Objective for a Fresh Branding Statement


Excellent suggestion found at:


http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/01/15/resumes-101-swap-a-stale-objective-for-a-fresh-branding-statement

January 15, 2013 RSS Feed Print
Back in the "old days" resumes began with a now obsolete objective statement. The underlying message was: "Here's what I'm looking for. If this is what you offer, give me a call." It was common to see a wish list in such statements, like: "Seeking long-term job with excellent benefits, yearly bonus, and promotion potential at stable employer with wonderful work environment."
Duh! Who wouldn't have this objective?
These days, any resume reader assumes that their job is your objective. Their selection process, however, is not necessarily about fulfilling your wants and wishes. Instead, it is about meeting the employer's needs. A successful resume today replaces the "this is what I want" objective statement with a "this is the value that I offer" branding statement.
Your branding statement should be very brief. It's not your job title, nor is it a list of your skills. It should provide a description of you, your attributes, the value that you provide to your employer, and things that differentiate you from your competition.
Think of it this way: Your 30- or 60-second elevator speech is a condensed, restated version of your resume. Your branding statement, in turn, is a condensed, restated version of your elevator pitch. It is the briefest possible answer to the question: "Tell me about yourself."
Your attributes: Think about things that describe you. What are you professionally passionate about? Make a list, and then narrow it down to the key things that would make you appealing to a new employer.
Your value: Think about the results that have come about due to your actions, like mistakes avoided, improved productivity, costs contained or saved, revenue increased, or processes improved. These all relate to the value that you will be able to provide.
Your uniqueness: Think about the role you've played, rather than the job title(s) you've possessed. What differentiates your professional experience from that of others? How do you approach problems differently? What have you done in a way that no one else does it? What have you achieved that no one else can claim? You likely have had a similar titles and responsibilities as many other individuals, but how you responded to them in your context is something that only you can speak about.
Here are three sample branding statements: 
  • Passionate humanitarian with commitment to achieving social justice through the development of international literacy projects. Skilled in program management and project development with expertise in nonprofit administration, board and volunteer development, marketing, and human resources management and staffing.
  • Award-winning newspaper and website editor, adept in community relations, managing staff, and growing print circulation and online readership, with a flair for identifying important local stories and building community awareness.
  • Talented educational leader with teaching and administrative experience dealing with students, faculty, and staff at all levels. Served students with diverse backgrounds and abilities as teacher and mentor. Possess special expertise and experience in music education. Experienced working in public, religious, and correctional settings.
Often it's best when writing a resume to leave a blank space at the top. When you have finished everything else, you can look the document over and draw from it key points that you want to utilize in fashioning your branding statement, and then insert that into the space.
In the end, you will likely see that your objective of obtaining that great job will be achieved when you have formulated a compelling brand.
Happy hunting!
Arnie Fertig is the head coach of JOBHUNTERCOACH.COM, where he utilizes his extensive background in HR Staffing and as owner of a recruiting company to help mid-career job-hunters land their next job. Arnie provides one-to-one coaching services to individuals throughout the U.S. in all aspects of the job hunt, including: resume writing, personal branding, utilizing social media, enhancing networking skills, preparing for interviews, and negotiating compensation.

Are you getting worn out by the job search process?

An excellent post on three things you can add to your job search schedule if you find yourself being worn down by the process and finding it harder and harder to engage in the process...found at:

http://www.careerealism.com/job-search-activities/



Sometimes a job search can wear on a person’s motivation to keep moving forward, especially if the search has lasted for weeks or months.
While qualifications, resumes, and cover letters make a huge difference in whether you’ll be hired, your attitude also matters.
If you’re getting tired of looking for jobs, your positive demeanor could turn negative in the wrong environment (i.e., the interview). To maintain a positive attitude throughout your job search, it’s a good idea to consider engaging in the following activities during the process:

1. Exercise

Exercising daily, in addition to maintaining a healthful diet, are important under normal conditions. But when you are working through a tough circumstance such as a job search,stress can create health issues at a faster rate.
To keep your health in check, it’s good to set up a daily exercise routine that incorporates cardio and strength training. Also, be sure to take vitamins and eat properly. Good health works wonders in improving your mind and body, while also creating a more positive attitude to carry you through your search.

2. Relax

Many experts equate a job search to a full-time job; at least, that’s the amount of time you’ll need to dedicate to the process each day in order to obtain the results you desire. There’s nothing wrong with spending a full workday looking for new employment and submitting applications. But as with a full-time job, you need to take breaks, including lunch, to breathe and rejuvenate.
Be sure to take some time to relax throughout your job-seeking days. And if you can, try to create a job search schedule so that you don’t constantly overwhelm yourself with thoughts of employment. Relaxing is the only way you can rest your mind and recharge for the next day’s searches.

3. Volunteer

Everyone’s home life is unique and allows for certain options, but if you find that you have time in your schedule, then consider volunteering at a local organization a couple of days a week. There are a number of benefits that can arise from volunteering.
For one thing, you can help someone (or some animal) in need. Also, you will keep your mind sharp so that you’re ready to hit the ground running when you do find work.
In addition, you get to add your volunteer efforts to your resume to show you’ve been busy in between jobs. And finally, you get the opportunity to network with professionals who might be able to help you find your next position.
If you’re able to keep a positive attitude while in between jobs, you’re more likely to maintain this attitude when you’re finally employed. Don’t let a lack of employment sour your demeanor. Instead, consider this time as an opportunity to take on new challenges as you wait for your amazing job.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

About Jessica Holbrook Hernandez

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, CEO of Great Resumes Fast is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter.

How To Keep Your Cover Letters From Landing In The Trash

Excellent post on effective cover letters and how they should focus on the company needs and what knowledge, skills and experience you can bring IMMEDIATELY to fulfill those needs...found at:

http://www.careerealism.com/how-keep-cover-letters-trash/


Sick and tired of your cover letters ending up in the trash can? Then stop using the cookie-cutter copies!
Back in the “good ole days” before e-marketing took hold, I received a daily abundance of “promotional junk mail” along with the usual bills and occasional personal correspondence. One that was always fun was the letter from Publishers Clearing House. It always contained the same message…
“… and you [fill in name], are the only one in [fill in place] to receive this winning announcement!”
I may at times be a little gullible, but I wasn’t convinced that I was a winner. Clearly this was a form letter and the only thing that was changed was the name and location of the recipient. So, what does this have to do with finding a job?
Just like a Publishers Clearing House letter, the goal of a cover letter is to capture attention, generate interest, and inspire action. And, just like that Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes letter, most applicant cover letters are thrown in the trash. Employers aren’t gullible – they can spot a mass-mail template even when the writer “cleverly” changes the recipient’s name and contact information. 

An Effective Cover Letter Is Not About You

The majority of cover letters are about the candidate and pretty much reiterate what’s in the resume. It’s as if the candidate is telling the employer, “If you’re too lazy to read my resume or miss the important stuff, let me tell you what’s in it.”
An effective cover letter is not about you – it’s about your understanding of the employer’s needs and what knowledge, skills, and experience you have in fulfilling those needs.
The following are some tips on how to craft an effective cover letter:
1. Read the job announcement. I mean REALLY read it; not just the requirements, but also the description of the company and the job details/responsibilities.
2. Highlight all the key words in the announcement. These are mostly nouns that represent specific skills, expertise, and credentials. The following are some of the keywords included in a job announcement for a Procurement Specialist:
  • Acquisition
  • Production
  • Buying strategies
  • Purchase orders
  • On-time delivery
  • RFPs
  • ERP system
  • ISM certification
Be sure to include the appropriate keywords.
If you’re applying online, you can almost be certain that your cover letter is going through an ATS. And, as is the case with the resume, the ATS is looking for specific keywords. Be sure to include the appropriate keywords in your cover letter.
3. Identify which keywords you can feature in your cover letter. Use one or two brief illustrations of how you applied the selected knowledge, skill, or credential to help a previous employer solve a problem/make money. Here is an example (note the keywords):
“When first hired to manage acquisition and procurement for J&J Manufacturing, they had some serious problems with production and on-time delivery. They were using a manual system to track purchase orders and RFPs were gathering dust on the previous manager’s desk. Applying techniques I learned while pursing ISM certification, I immediately sat down with the management team to define and develop near and long-term buying strategies and put in place the company’s firstERP system. Within the first year of taking the helm, on-time delivery increased 45%.”
4. Promise similar results and request an interview.
“I’m prepared to deliver similar results for XYZ Company and would welcome an opportunity to interview for this position.”
Ending a letter with “Thank you for your consideration” without specifically asking for the interview and stating when and how to reach you, may get you nothing more than “consideration.”
My last bit of advice for personalizing and customizing the cover letter is this: Leave no stone unturned.
Do everything humanly possible to get the exact name of the recipient. Call the company and ask. Check the staff directory on the company website. Research the company onLinkedIn. Tap your professional network. Leave no stone unturned. No one likes mail addressed to “Dear Sir” or “To Whom it May Concern.”
Yes, I know that some job announcements are “blind” leads and it is nearly impossible to know whose name to put on the letter. However, in most cases, a little extra effort on your part can really make the difference.
I need to sign off now – the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol is ringing my doorbell!
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

About Norine Dagliano

Norine Dagliano, of ekm Inspirations, is a certified professional resume writer who specializes in working with professionals who have limited job search experience.