A Goal Without A Plan Is Just A Wish

Continually And Without Fail...Revise Your Resume

Every time you take a new class, accomplish something cool at work, or win an award – update your resume. If you don’t update it as you go along, you’ll either forget what you think you remembered or you may not be as accurate as it could and should be.

You never know when that Dream Job of yours will sneak up on you. Be prepared! A great job could come your way and you may not have a week to update your resume. You could have a day or even a few hours. Don’t let great job opportunities pass you by because your resume wasn’t in good enough shape to submit. Keeping track of your accomplishments, classes you’ve taken, dates, and awards will serve you well. Be proactive about keeping your resume fresh and relevant. This also means removing old lingo and obsolete keywords. Finally, target your resume to specific jobs.

Good luck!

Stop Blaming and Keep Your Head Up

 Searching for a job can be emotionally draining & frustrating. When you are interviewed, don't look how you feel. If you go there looking all drained and defeated, no one in their right mind is going to hire you.

Times are hard and it may seem like the world is ending. The world will end eventually, but I doubt it will be today. Or tomorrow. But it's up to you. If you've given up and let everything that's happening knock you down so hard that you don't get up, then your own world has ended, so to speak. Don't go there. Make the best of this situation. Find that small kernel of positiveness. There must be something that can be learned from all of this. Some benefit yet unseen. Find it. Find your hope. Find you confidence.

Stop blaming yourself, your age, your lack of education, and your clothes. It just may not be about you. It may actually be about this economy. Don't take it so personally that when an opportunity comes by, you can't even recognize it because you haven't seen it in a while and don't believe in it anymore.

If you believe you have reached the end of your rope, then that is your truth. If you believe that the best is yet to come; that you can and will get through this - you will. Please everyone, keep your head up.

Federal Job Advice: "Do people actually get hired for job postings open less than 7 days?"

It’s common in this economy, that there are jobs posted in which the agency does not have money for. They post it in the hopes that the money will come through, but in this environment, it's unlikely to slim. Hiring managers can make selections but HR will not extend the job offer due to lack of funds. If this selectee already has a job - they may still accept the position when funds become available. If the person does not currently have a job, they shouldn't wait for the funds to become available. They should take another offer that will allow them to start work immediately. In short, as an applicant - you won't know if the job is “real” or not unless you have a contact within the agency who can give you a heads up. Applicants should simply apply to those jobs they feel they are qualified for with their best application possible. This means customizing your cover letters and addressing the KSAs on your resume and the CL. Don’t get too emotionally wrapped in the application process - there will be MANY jobs in which they apply to that they get no response from. USA jobs may show "reviewing applications" for months and months or the announcement may simply be canceled. The status may or may not even let you know of the cancelation. Seriously consider applying to jobs in which you are overqualified for in order to look like a golden needle in a haystack among all of the other applicants. Be sure you meet the specialized experience and specific qualifications so you don’t waste everyone’s time! In this economy old strategies won’t work. Maintain a positive attitude that won’t scream desperate if you do indeed secure an interview. Leave egos and arrogance at the door. Don’t’ expect your previous salary, especially if you’re not currently working. Without a current paystub, you could come in at the first step in the grade. Some income is better than no income.   External people do get hired into vacancies that are open for 7 days. It’s become more common now because there are so many applicants. In this economy, HR has no problem getting all the applicants they need in 7 days. In the past, HR use to need to keep the vacancy open for 14 or more days for the same qualified applicant pool. Only in the PAST was a 7 day vacancy likely to be for someone the agency already knows or wants.

Survival Jobs: Focus On Alignment With Your Goals

Have you been laid off or fired? In any case, you may have found the need to take on a less desirable job to make ends meet… A job otherwise known as a Survival Job.

A Survival Job isn’t something you should be ashamed about. As a matter of fact, it can be one of the most responsible things you can do.

Not any survival job will do, in my opinion. There are many jobs out there that you can secure “easily”, this means with minimal or no reference or background checks. Many will not require a resume. Most of these jobs tend to be in the service sector (retail, food, etc.).

Don’t simply apply for your Survival Job at the places most convenient to your home. Consider your interests, educational background, and hobbies. Focus your Survival Job search on those companies that relate to your “formal” career, long-term goals, background and interests. This makes it more likely that your Survival Job skills will provide you with transferable skills that can serve you in the future when the job market picks up again.

For example, if you were a construction worker, try to get a Survival Job at your local Home Depot. If you were an IT/Computer Professional, visit your local Best Buy and secure a gig in their computer department. If you were a Video Game Designer, apply to your local GameStop.

Notifying Prospective Employers Of Your Disability

I’m currently wrapping up three Resume Re-engineering projects that I should have done before I break for the Long Labor Day holiday weekend.  When it comes to resume re-engineering’s, one of the things I ask my clients is to send me is everything they would send an employer when applying to a job. Most of the time I receive a resume and perhaps a cover letter. Sometimes it can be a whole bundle of different things.

Here’s a tip: If you have a disability of any kind, not only are you not legally bound to inform a prospective employer about it during the recruitment process (before you get a job offer), but you shouldn’t. Do not submit your “Schedule A” disability certification or any other documentation relating to your disability. Unfortunately, we still don’t live in a perfect world and you can be setting yourself up for discrimination.

Let the employer invite you to an interview or even offer you the job. Once you have a written offer in hand, then you can share with them your need to be accommodated, if applicable. Additionally you will have a strong case if you were to be denied a job after they actually found you qualified enough for the interview or the job itself. Avoid giving your employer any information that could work against you, even if they can’t legally deny you because of a disability, there’s always pseudo-legal ways and loopholes they may use to not have to deal with you …and the extra time and money it may take to accommodate you.  

Managing Your Virtual Footprint is Serious Business

 “More than 80 percent of recruiters these days use Google to find information on candidates as part of their research and evaluation process. Unfortunately, 30% of those candidates are not considered because of negative or unflattering information found online. “ - The Twitter Job Search Guide, 2010.

I’ve been extremely interested in the link between our virtual footprint and the hiring process. This link continues to strengthen and become less taboo for recruiters and hiring personnel to engage in.

This also means all of us who are looking for a job (or will be in the future) need to start managing our virtual footprint Yesterday!

Managing our virtual footprint is like Networking. You have to continuously build your network so that when you actually need to use it, it’s already strong, in place, and willing to help you reach your goal. If you need to use your network, but you haven’t already put one in place – you’re much too late.

When it comes to managing your virtual footprint, the process should be continuous. You should be thinking about what you’re posting and doing online every time you do so while keeping in mind its potential effects on your current and future job prospects. “Digital Dirt” can negatively or positively impact your current job situation and your future job situation. Employed people have been fired and job applicants have been denied.

Our virtual footprint, like our environmental footprint, is difficult to erase and will last long after we’ve go on to the next life. You’ll come out ahead if you take its impact seriously.

Response to Article "How Many Ways Can You Say Goodbye to a Job?" By Dennis Nishi

How Many Ways Can You Say Goodbye to a Job? By Dennis Nishi

I thought this was a very useful article. What I found most interesting were the comments folks wrote based on it; so I decided to add my own:

 
Always be professional and make it a priority to leave on “good” terms regardless of how the organization treated you. Not only are you likely to need a formal reference from them for future employment, but word can get around about your unprofessional behavior informally, particularly if you move to a new job within the same industry, attend similar professional association events and conference etc. Don't disregard the significance of informal word of mouth. Most jobs are received not simply based on *who* you know, but *what* is known about you.

If you plan on retiring and feel you have nothing to lose, think again: you may pursue a second career or simply decide to take on a serious hobby...painting for example...or take on some other activity like supervising your grand daughters girl scout troupe…and wouldn’t it make your day to run into a former boss at the girl-scout cookie sale or a member of the company who was aware of how unprofessionally you left? What if this person happened to make their way to your art show or comment on an article online that you wrote for a second-life/career job etc. and you weren’t able to erase it?

You truly never know where something like the above scenarios can come back and bite you in the bud; so don’t risk it – for your sake. If you need to vent, write in a journal, visit you employers Employee Assistance Program counselor, hire you own, or talk to a friend. By all means do not damage work relationships. Bridges by nature are *two way*. Just because you don’t plan on walking across it doesn’t mean others won’t find their way back to you when you least expect it, to your horror. If you know you’re going to resign, in addition to following the articles advice, I encourage you to take advantage of all of the training/developmental opportunities you can get, nurture your relationships even more, and make them miss you when you leave by continuing to be a high performer until the day you leave. The best way to “get back” is to be successful. Don’t give them a reason to say or do anything that may keep you from success; in work and in any area of your life.

MTV's True Life episode, "I Hate My Tattoos"

  So I happen to watch MTVs “True Life” show the other day at 11pm EST called “I Hate My tattoos”. The whole show goes on about how a few young people’s lives as seriously impacted by their tattoos. Two fellahs were having a particularly difficult time securing employment for reasons they felt were due to their tattoos.

One of the guys says, “Getting my tattoos removed will afford me a greater opportunity to get a stable job” (he decides it’s worth the swelling, scabbing, blistering that can result from 5-8 laser removal sessions). He had tattoos on the top of his hands, his face and neck. One of the guys flat out admits that “I don’t want to go to job interviews because of my tattoos”. So it’s his lack of comfort about his tattoos that keeps him from going to job interviews, not the interviewers or company’s biases etc. He’s not even giving himself a chance…or he’s tried in the past and has otherwise given up and has decided to self sabotage himself.

What I found most sadly hilarious about the whole show was when one of the fellahs finally got a job interview at a restaurant. The first thing they show coming out of his mouth (nervously at that) to the hiring manager is “This is definitely a higher class place then I’m use to”. Are you kidding me? During an interview you’re suppose to showcase your knowledge, skills, and experience, not talk yourself out of the job. Just because he hasn’t worked in such a “high a class” restaurant before, doesn’t mean he should toss it out there like that. He would have been better off to say, “One thing that excites and motivates me about this opportunity is that not only can I apply my current  restaurant server experience to this, but I’ll be working in a different, more challenging environment. It’s an environment I haven’t worked in before, but one  I’m absolutely ready for.”

Just keeping it real with you, this fellah’s tattoos are really the least of his employment barrier issues.

Stop Attacking People with Your Business Card

Calm down. Stop attacking people with your business card.  When networking, focus on the benefit you provide to the people you help. Get over titles and company names. If you don’t give people a WHY, they will treat your business card as invaluable. Give people your benefits. Peak their interest in what you do and how you help others.

The point is if your attach value to yourself, people will attach value to your business card. When your business card has value, it repels trashcans. That’s what you want to happen. You want your business card to be a buying too (not selling) so that people use your business card to get services from you because they’re already interested.

How do you know when you’re doing it all right? If someone asks for your business card: keep up the good work!

References - Part 2: Nurturing References

I am totally in favor of securing written reference letters from those who can attest positively to you personally and professionally. Frankly, references can die, change jobs, stumble over their words, or simply forget. A written letter does none of that. I know you don't want to think of yourself as "forgettable" but it can happen. If you secure written recommendation letters, they serve not only as a reference, but as proof that you worked at said organization as per your resume.

Nurturing your references is less difficult when you've already secured their pitch for you via paper. If you have no written letters of recommendation, it's that much more important for you to nurture, or otherwise maintain quality contact with those who have agreed to serve as a reference. Send them a birthday note when you receive a notice of their upcoming birthday via your social networking account. Set up a LinkedIn account for professional use, find them and send them a note, forward them a helpful/relevant article etc. Providing them a reference on LinkedIn from your perspective as their employee/underling may impress them and encourage them to continue to speak highly of you. Send them a snail mail card during the holidays. I'm sure you can think of more ways - just act upon them because it's important! Don't wait until you need them to find out that you've let your connection with them lapse or you can't find them anymore. The more you keep up with your references, the more likely they are to give you their new contact info should they change jobs, numbers, etc.

The point is, don't let them forget you're a great employee and a wonderful person. Don't let them forget you. And remember, don't let them get lost! Try to secure a personal phone number/email address so you don't "lose them". How can you nurture your references if you can't find them anymore?