A reader writes:

I was recently contacted by an out of state recruiter about my resume for a position. We had a great phone conversation and they said they are sending my information to the next level for review. Are there any tips you can give to help make it to an in person interview when a recruiter passes your resume to the next level?

My reply:

There are a few different things you can do.  Recruiters look good when they present top-quality candidates.  To help your recruiter advocate on your behalf, you might want to send him/her some additional information that demonstrates your fit for the position.  For example, from your research or your conversation with the recruiter, you may have identified a particular need that you can address with an accomplishment story from your past experience.  You can write up your story and email it to the recruiter.  You can ask the recruiter if there is anything else you can provide to help him/her “sell” you to the hiring manager.

Another way to increase the likelihood of an interview is to find someone internally that can refer you to the hiring manager.  This technique always increases your chances of an interview.  You may have to get creative about finding internal contacts.  Use the Internet and social media to find people who work for the company and then look for a common connection, such as college, shared membership in an organization, a LinkedIn connection, etc.  Find an email address and ask them some questions about the company to establish a relationship, and then ask if they would be willing to pass along your résumé.

The third suggestion is to contact the hiring manager directly.  Again, you may have to get creative with your detective work to identify the hiring manager, but it can be done.  It may be a simple as calling the company and asking who is hiring for the position, or you may have to dig further.  Best of luck!

Other suggestions?

This may surprise you but the most powerful tool you have in your job search toolbox is knowledge about yourself.   Unfortunately, too often job seekers don’t take the time for self-exploration and the job hunt becomes an effort to convince an employer to hire them for any job instead of a search for a mutually beneficial relationship and the right job.  Do you have a clear picture of who you are?  Are you able to communicate your vision and unique value to others?  When you take the time to really know yourself, your values, your motivators, your strengths, and your passion, you can target your job search efforts and your clarity and enthusiasm will bring you and your dream job together.  Following are five questions to help you delve into your self-knowledge.

1. What are your top five strengths? Your strengths are those things that you love to do.  You probably have a natural talent in these areas.  To discover your strengths, (a) ask your friends and coworkers what you naturally do well, (b) list those activities that you choose to do in your spare time, and (c) identify your favorite job duties from your current or previous jobs.
2. What accomplishments demonstrate your top five strengths? This is where you draw on past experiences to provide proof that you actually possess the strengths you claim.  Too often job applicants make assertions of strengths and abilities but fail to provide any supporting evidence to back up their claims.  Your accomplishments can be from current or previous jobs, school, volunteer work, or your personal life.  What is important is that you are able to use examples to illustrate that you truly have the strengths you claim and show the contributions you have made by drawing on those strengths.
3. How will your strengths benefit the employer? This is where your research on the company and the hiring manager’s needs comes into play.  You want to match their needs to your strengths and formulate a proposal to show the employer the value you can provide.
4. What are your short-term and long-term goals? The more clarity you have about your short-term and long-term goals, the better able you will be to sell yourself to an employer.  Hiring a new employee is a big risk for an employer, so the ability to clearly state how your goals fit with theirs is crucial to getting the job offer.
5. What conditions are necessary for a job to be the perfect fit for your career? Interviews are a two-way street.  An interview is your opportunity to determine whether the job, the hiring manager, and the company are right for you.  Do not underestimate the importance of a good fit.  The wrong company culture or a bad manager can place a serious roadblock in your career path.  You want to know what type of environment you need to be able to thrive so you will know what to look for and what questions to ask.

Once you compile your answers to these five questions, you will be able to create your brand and your value proposition; you can prepare your personally branded resume and other marketing materials that allow you to stand out from the crowd; and you can target your job search efforts to those companies and jobs that are a good fit for you.  When you take the time to clearly understand who you are and are prepared with examples of your accomplishments, you will confidently breeze through the interview and land your ideal job.

A reader writes:

I have been out of work for some time now, and had to move back to Wisconsin for financial reasons. My finance and possessions are still located in Las Vegas, NV and I am hoping to move back there.  However, it has been difficult finding an employer especially in these times that will consider waiting and working with an out-of-state job seeker.  I talked to a local recruiting company today that seemed very interested in me and would have liked to interview me for a potential position that I was very qualified for, however when he heard that I was out of state he quickly dismissed me.  Would it be best to go out there for three weeks and try to get something landed?   Are there any possible tips I can look for when seeking out a position that is out of state and too be considered for a position?  Thank you

My reply:

Looking for a job in another state is a challenge but definitely doable.  I think spending three weeks in Las Vegas making yourself available is an excellent idea.  There are several things you can do before your trip to make the most of your time while you are there.  (1)  Identify the companies you are interested in working for by using Hoovers.com or your local library.  (2)  After you research the companies, use your network to find contacts in those companies.  Sometimes you have to be creative about finding a connection.  (3) Through your contacts, schedule informational interviews with those companies for the time you will be in Las Vegas.  (4)  During your informational interviews, don’t ask for a job, ask for advice as to how you can find a job in your field.  It will be understood that you want a job.  (5)  Be positive, confident, enthusiastic, and prepared.  Talk about the value and benefits you can offer a company.  In other words, talk in terms of what you can do for them, not what they can do for you.  (6)  Of course, if you can schedule some job interviews before you go, that would be great too.

As with any job search, you want to make a plan and then implement it.  When you are looking for a job in another location, let employers know that you will make yourself available.  Best of luck!

A reader writes:

I’ve only been out of work for three months but I’m scared and feeling down and desperate.  I know that being desperate will only hurt my chances of getting a job even more.  How can I keep my spirits up and believe in myself when the employment situation is so bad?

My reply:

Being out of work is scary and it is easy to feel desperate.  Feelings of fear and desperation almost always come from a sense that external forces are in control, so the key is to regain control because you do have a great deal of power over your future.  There are several things you can do:  (1)  Try to ignore the negative economic news.  Keep in mind that there are jobs out there and you only need one of them.  (2)  Focus on all the good things in your life, what has not changed, and your support system.  You are much more than your job.  (3)  Write out your accomplishments in detail.  List your strengths and your talents.  Every time a negative thought enters your head, turn it into a positive thought.  For example, instead of “I don’t have a job,” think “This is an opportunity to find a job that is truly meaningful to me.”  (4)  Volunteer.  One of the best ways to feel good about you is to help others in need.  (5)  Never underestimate the amount of control you have in your job search.  Immediately take whatever steps are necessary for you to feel that you can confidently go out there and land the job you want (e.g., get some books from the library, ask a mentor for help, or hire a career coach).  You will prevail!

Thoughts and suggestions from others?

On Friday morning I attended a recruiters’ panel sponsored by the New Landings Job Club in Kansas City.  The five recruiters provided valuable information about how they recruit and what they look for in job candidates.  Here are some of the highlights:

1. “Fit is king.”  Tailor your résumé for each job you apply for.
2. Recruiters spend 20 to 30 seconds looking at your résumé to determine if you have what they are looking for.  In your objective or summary statement at the top of your résumé, be clear and specific about your qualifications.  Bullet out your accomplishments so they are easy to read.
3. You need to be on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter and you need to know how to use them.  One of the corporate recruiters said she has not used the job boards in five years.  She posts her company’s jobs and other jobs she hears about on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
4. If you have military experience, highlight it.  All five recruiters said military experience is a huge asset and they look for it.
5. Identify the companies you would like to work for, post your résumé on their websites, create saved searches so you will receive an email when a job in your interest area is posted.
6. If you see a job you are qualified for, contact the recruiter.  Nine times out of ten they will forward you on to the hiring manager IF you are qualified.  It makes their job easier if you contact them as opposed to them having to contact you.
7. When recruiters talk to you on the phone or in person, they will make a decision about you within 20 seconds.  Polish your soft skills.  Smile; have a genuine, positive attitude; be enthusiastic; be polite.
8. While you are out of work, do something with your time that will show the employer you aren’t just sitting around.
9. Recruiters want to help you find a job.  They can be your greatest advocate.  Be considerate of their time, listen to their advice, be respectful.

The recruiters said, “There are jobs out there.”  The key for job seekers is to know where to look for them (e.g., social media) and to make sure your résumé addresses the job requirements and clearly demonstrates job fit.

A reader writes:

I was recently laid off from a large company due to our department being eliminated.  I was an exceptional employee and always received excellent performance reviews.  However, my former company doesn’t give references.  They will only verify that I was employed there and the dates.  Will not being able to provide a reference hurt my chances of being hired somewhere else?

My reply:

It is not uncommon for large companies to follow such a policy for references.  However, unless you have been told otherwise, your immediate supervisor may still be willing to provide a reference for you.  I suggest you contact your former supervisor and ask if he or she is comfortable and willing to provide you with a positive reference.  Other options are to ask former coworkers, vendors, or customers who are familiar with your work if they will be a reference for you.  The most important thing is to ensure that they will provide a good reference.  If you are unable to find anyone who can speak on your behalf, a final option is to explain the policy of your former company and provide copies of your performance reviews.

Before you sit down to prepare your résumé and cover letter for that job you really want, before you head out for that interview, before you meet with your manager to ask for a well-deserved promotion, take a few minutes to answer these five questions.  This exercise will get you focused on your best self and put you into a positive state.  Research shows that when people are in a positive frame of mind, they are more effective in all areas of their lives.  They are more alert, more creative, more resourceful, more helpful toward others, and mentally sharper.  Thinking about your successes will not only make you feel as if you can accomplish any goal, it will actually enhance your ability to do so.

1.         Describe your three greatest accomplishments.

2.         What makes each of these accomplishments stand out for you?

3.         What strengths did you draw on to make those accomplishments happen?

4.         How can you use those strengths to achieve future goals?

5.         List five adjectives that describe you at your best.

Stay positive and success is yours!

Welcome to my blog.  I would like to introduce myself and tell you my purpose and plans for this blog and how it can help you in your job search.

I am a career coach with a passion for helping business professionals and executives find meaningful, perfect-fit careers.  My training and my greatest strength is research.  Therefore, I have spent the last year researching and studying the advice of prominent career experts and evaluating what works and what doesn’t.  My goal is to take the best of the best of what I’ve learned and pass it along to you in an easy to read format.

I want this blog to be an informational resource for job seekers.  To directly address your specific situation, I encourage you to send me questions that I can answer in the blog and others can comment on.  Additionally, I will provide success tips and some longer, content-rich articles.  Until the economy recovers and people get back to work, the topics will focus on the job search.  When the unemployment situation improves and people are re-employed, the discussion can move to career management and advancement.

I hope you will submit your questions and provide your comments.  I encourage you to share your stories, your insights, and your opinions.  I look forward to getting to know you and engaging in some enlightening discussions.