Archive for category: First Sun Blog

You are here: / / First Sun Blog

#JobSearch : 5 Tips To Make You Standout In A Competitive Job Market. Getting a Job just Became much Harder in 2023. GReat REad!

/in /by

The tech sector laid off more than 150,000 employees in 2022, populating the job market with a wave of talent from some of the country’s most notable companies.

Job seekers energized with a fresh start to the new year may be in for a tough awakening – getting a job just became much harder. CNBC reports that, according to job recruiters, the tech market remains competitive, even if job seekers are considering fewer offers than they have in the past.

Ongoing inflation and talk of a 2023 recession will likely make the job market even more competitive this year. Whether you’re applying for the same position as someone who lost their job or looking for something that provides more financial support, being a top candidate means bringing your A-game to the hiring process.

Here are five tips to help you gain a competitive edge over Twitter’s latest resignee.

1. Clean up your digital footprint

Look through your social media

Most people know to rid their social media profiles of inappropriate photos and posts. But, in case an employer “stumbles” on your Twitter or Facebook profile, double check that you haven’t liked or commented on any posts you wouldn’t love for them to see.

People enjoy Googling themselves as much as they enjoy listening to a recording of their voice – okay, so they don’t tend to enjoy it all. But some things are worth a few minutes of internal cringing, one of which being a shiny new job. Take note of the websites that come up first? Is there anything problematic you need to take care of? If your personal website doesn’t come up within the first page of search results, consider making some SEO improvements.

Update any shared personal information

Long bios, short bios, social media bios – make sure all of these are not only updated with your most recent accomplishments but also reflect the image you want to give employers. A competitive job market is not a great time for self-deprecating humor.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

2. Go a step beyond just doing the research

Companies love it when candidates “do their research.” Not only does it show employers that the candidate is seriously considering the company, it also boosts some egos – just be sure not to overdo it.

Showing you did your research can look like spitting out the statistics and key phrases you saw on their website, but to really be effective, go one step further. Incorporate your own thinking, ideas, and values into the information you’ve gathered about the company. What excites you about their approach to solving problems? How does their mission and values align with your own career goals? Do you have any ideas to bring to the table if they were to hire you into the new role? Share them if they’re open to hearing them, and be sure to know what competitors are doing so that you can be informed on the market you’re in.

3. Leave no threads hanging

Nothing says you’re interested in a company more than a thank you email, and if necessary, a follow-up email. Not only is this a gracious practice, it also leaves employers with a positive image of you before they make their decision.

4. Do some reflecting

You don’t need me to insert an inspirational quote about failure to know that rejection is a part of life. Coming to terms with rejection and getting back on the horse, though, is only the first step. Dare I say – achieving success despite failure is not just about how many times you can get back up.

Dare I say – achieving success despite failure is not just about how many times you can get back up.

If there’s one thing you take from this piece, let it be this: Never ask a company for feedback after getting rejected! Despite their good intentions, many people don’t realize that asking companies for feedback can open the door to legal issues that cause major problems on the company’s end. For this reason, HR is usually well trained to decline that request.

Instead, form your own opinion on how the interview went. Be honest with yourself — what could you have done better? What questions did you feel unprepared for? Were there any moments that made you feel particularly anxious? Also reflect on the hiring manager’s demeanor and body language. Were there any points during the interview when they responded in an unfavorable way? You know more than you think you do.

Take note of the kind of candidate the company was looking for and any interview answers you may have given that revealed the ways in which you might fall short.

Is the gap specific to this company and position? Or is it something you foresee standing in the way of getting other jobs with similar demands in the same industry?

The mismatch may be because you lack a skillset or preferred style of working or because you have location or time requests the company cannot meet.

5. Tweak your approach and head back to the job board

Taking stock of the things that didn’t align during your last application or interview process isn’t enough to make things fall in place during the next go-around. Make a list of things you can change to close any gaps making you fall short of what hiring managers are looking for.

Then, pick a gap to resolve. Maybe this means adding another certification to your tool belt or accepting that you may need to relocate. Whatever it is, repeat this process enough and it will only be a matter of time before you land a job offer. When you do, it won’t be a job that happened to fall into place; it will be a job you put into place yourself.

Forbes.com | January 6, 2023 | Ashley Stahl

#JobSearch : What To Watch Out For When Interviewing In 2023. Interviewing is Not Easy. A MUst REad!

/in /by

Interviewing is not easy. You must remain vigilant as the hiring process is not always honest and transparent. You must be aware of misleading job advertisements, overpromises and questionable tactics used by companies to entice applicants to join their firm. Some businesses will purposely try to game the new salary disclosure laws or ghost you after 10 rounds of interviews over the course of three to six months. It wouldn’t be shocking if you receive a lowball offer and are pressured by a pushy recruiter to accept it, by being made to feel that you are lucky an offer was even extended.

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to find a new job. Many people who lost their positions last year are highly motivated to start interviewing now that the wheels of commerce are starting up again. However, be prepared. Due to the current economic situation and the likelihood of an upcoming recession, finding a new role may not be as easy as it used to be.

Companies have held off hiring during the holiday season, as both potential candidates and internal corporate professionals, including human resources, talent acquisition, hiring managers and executives, have been out of the office on vacation. Now that both the candidates and businesses are ready to hunt for new opportunities and fill open headcount respectively, the 2023 interview cycle begins in earnest.

Here Is What You Need To Keep An Eye Out For When Interviewing

It Starts With The Job Description

Pay close attention to the job description, as it will tell you a lot about the company and its culture. If the job ad demands too many unrealistic requirements, lacks reasons why the job is open, why you should be interested in the opportunity and circumvents the new salary transparency rule in your state by giving a vast range, it’s a red flag.

It’s rational that a job seeker will naturally anchor their expectations to the higher end of the salary band. They don’t know that the company purposely placed the lofty range to entice more candidates to apply for the role to add to its pipeline of candidates.

After going through about three to six rounds of interviewing, the internal recruiter tells you, “We’d love to offer you the role at $100K.” Believing that you’d get at least $200k, you now feel like you’ve been played. Companies hope to hook you and get away with a lowball offer, as you’ve invested a reasonable amount of time and energy into the interview process. They feel that since it’s a more challenging job market, you may jump at the opportunity, even though it is far lower than you had hoped. This works effectively when a person is in between jobs and desperately wants to return to work.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

An Annoying Application Process

When the application submission process is archaic, as it requires you to submit the résumé and also complete a glitchy, lengthy application that mirrors everything in your résumé, this is indicative that the company doesn’t care about your time. If there is no response within a few days or longer, it confirms that the company is not employee-centric.

Beware Of Sweet-Talking Headhunters

Your recruiter may be a great person, but remember that they get paid a hefty commission when the headhunter places you in a role at the company. Like a stockbroker, attorney, real estate agent or plumber, you need to be careful of their ulterior motives.

They may be more concerned about lining their own pockets than doing right by you. You want to ensure that the executive search professional is not steering you to a company that pays a higher commission than another company that offers a better opportunity but won’t compensate the recruiter at the same high level.

At the end of the interview process, you want to make sure the headhunter doesn’t pressure you into the job or is reluctant to fight hard in salary negotiations, out of fear that the firm will push back and they’ll lose their lofty placement fee.

Unprepared Interviewers

Pay attention to when interviews are scheduled. If the HR person or managers involved with the hiring process schedule times without first asking if you’re available or push you into accepting days and times that are inconvenient, it’s a red flag about how much they value your candidacy. If the scheduled meeting is canceled at the last minute or the contact person ghosts you for long periods and returns without apologizing for their absence, it’s a tell that they won’t treat you well if you decide to join the firm. Similarly, when interviewers show up late and unprepared for the interview, clearly didn’t read your résumé or check out your LinkedIn profile and then proceeded to mispronounce or call you by the wrong name, it’s a problem.

Be Prepared For Condescending And Rude Treatment

When you are hunting for a new job, it’s a stressful undertaking. It’s both daunting and pressure-filled when you’ve lost your position and are concerned about your financial situation. All it takes is dealing with someone who isn’t empathetic, polite or helpful to make your job search even more painful.

The process of selling yourself to strangers, being made to jump through hoops and contending with the rollercoaster of emotions of highs and lows can cause even the most mentally strong person to become anxiety-ridden. Condescending, rude and abusive words and actions lead to frustration and anger over the entire job-search process.

Bosses Who Don’t Really Know What’s Going On

Some managers are out of touch with the job market and reality. They lack up-to-date metrics about compensation and are not intellectually curious to perform due diligence to see if the job market and pay have changed over the years. They are blissfully unaware of how hot a sector is. Bad bosses don’t bother to gauge how many people may be in the job search that actually possess the requisite requirements and experiences needed for the job. Instead, they’ll just assume that there is a never-ending abundance of candidates waiting in line to take the position for low pay. Rather than making inquiries into competitive compensation, the boss thinks they know it all and dismisses anyone who tries to enlighten the supervisor, leading to no one getting hired and causing the existing workers to contemplate leaving.

The Long, Drawn-Out Process

Lately, the interview process has become a three-to-six-month ordeal. You’re ordered to meet with up to 10 people. Many of those involved are tangentially related to what you would be doing at the company, but are pulled into the process anyway. This happens because the hiring manager lacks confidence in their own decision-making process and needs others to validate their choice of a candidate.

The challenge is that it’s hard to get five to 10 people to agree on a candidate. If one or two people have reservations about the candidate, it’s easy for a less-than-confident manager to accept their feedback and start the search all over again—wasting the time of the person who almost got the job.

 

Forbes.com | January 4, 2023 | Jack Kelly 

#JobSearch : How To Find A New Job In The New Year. Here is a Daily Checklist of Activities you Should Follow.

/in /by

Many people wait until the new year to search for a new job. January is one of the most opportune times to seek a new job. The start of a new year universally ushers in a warm feeling of promise and new beginnings, as people establish and try to live up to their New Year’s resolutions. People promise themselves that they will lose weight, stop smoking or drinking, dedicate themselves to a healthier mindset and get a new job. Now that 2023 is here, you don’t have any excuses and need to get started on the job hunt.

Searching for a new job takes time and energy. Think deeply about what you want to do next. You will need to do homework to see how hot or cold the job market is for your specific type of career. Update your rèsumè and LinkedIn profile, start speaking with people in your network to gather job leads, find headhunters that specialize in your space, create an elevator pitch and put together a daily action plan to achieve your goal.

Talk with colleagues, family, friends and former co-workers to gain valuable insights. Read about the type of job you’re going after and how easy or hard it will be to find a new opportunity. Set aside a sufficient amount of time every day for your job search.

Update Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn will be your primary platform to network and get noticed if you are a white-collar professional. Create or update your LinkedIn profile and résumé, which could be added to your account. Your LinkedIn profile should reflect your most current job and go back about 10 years. The recent job should take up the most real estate, as that is what recruiters and hiring managers are interested in. They’ll also look at your career trajectory to see if you’ve grown professionally or remained static. Make sure to add your college and advanced degrees, accreditation, certifications and licenses required for your field.

You can have one generalist résumé, but then specifically tailor your résumé for each job you apply for to ensure that it addresses the specific needs outlined in the job description. In addition to internal recruiters looking at your résumé, it will also be included in the company’s applicant tracking system.

To help your résumé stand out in the applicant tracking system, make sure that you use common terms, nomenclature, abbreviations and jargon that people use in your sector of expertise, as well as using words, phrases and work responsibilities that match what’s called for in the job advertisement.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Networking On LinkedIn

Actively engage on LinkedIn to get noticed. Set a list of target companies. When you see employees of the organization in the same type of role as you, send out invitations to connect with a polite greeting letting them know you’d love to work at the firm. If an online conversation ensues, be bold and ask if they could point you to the right person who is involved with the hiring process for the role you want.

If someone within your profession posts content on the social media platform, reply with a like and add a well-thought-out comment. Once you get confident, start writing your own posts or share videos you’ve made about a relevant topic about your profession that will resonate with others in your field.

When you apply for a job, search for people you may know who work there. If you’re unfamiliar with anyone at the firm, tap into your network, both online and in person, to see if anyone you know has a connection with a decision-maker at the company. If they are nice enough to go to bat for you, politely ask them to put in a good word for you and offer a glowing recommendation. The recommendation will make you stand out. If you can obtain a couple of people supporting your candidacy, especially an insider, they’ll think you are a superstar.

Partner With Recruiters

Look for recruiters who specialize in your space. Having a couple of smart, experienced, knowledgeable and well-connected recruiters working on your behalf can make all the difference in the world. Top recruiters have deep relationships with companies and hiring managers. They’ll often know about open job requisitions before anyone else. Many times, companies don’t aggressively advertise certain jobs and rely on recruiters to conduct stealth, under-the-radar searches for the appropriate candidates.

Recruiters offer insider information about hiring managers and corporate culture. You’ll gain tips on what the hiring managers really want in a prospective employee, what you should avoid saying and what are the hot buttons to push to ingratiate yourself with your future boss. Recruiters will smooth out any bumps in the road, advocate for you and help with the awkward negotiating process.

Put Together And Practice Your Elevator Pitch

Put together an elevator pitch. The elevator pitch is like a commercial on television. Like a luxury-automobile company needs to quickly and effectively communicate its message and sell you on its product in one minute or less, you need to do the same thing in your pitch.

An elevator pitch is a term used to describe yourself, your job and current responsibilities, highlighting a huge win and why you are the best fit for the job, within about 30 or 45 seconds. Visualize yourself on an elevator ride with an executive at a company you’d like to work for. You need to seize the opportunity and quickly sell yourself before they exit the elevator to their floor.

Role-Play Answering Interview Questions

Review commonly asked interview questions and prepare answers to them. Research and learn all about the companies you plan on meeting with, so you’ll be comfortable when the interviewer asks, “Why do you want to work here?”

When answering questions, don’t go off on tangents. Answer by selling your relevant, on-target experience, background, interpersonal skills, educational background and other softer skills that you offer, which directly addresses the job requirements and shows how you can make their lives easier.

When responding to questions, come across in an enthusiastic, concise and compelling manner. You also want to demonstrate that you are a caring, hardworking and empathetic person they would love to hire and work alongside. Additionally, you are comfortable in your own skin and can handle stress. Lastly, think of questions to ask the interviewer when they say, “Do you have any questions for me?”

Hunting for a new job is your new job. To get you started, here is a daily checklist of activities you should follow:

  • Search job boards, the career pages of target companies and job aggregators, like Indeed, Simply Hired and Glassdoor. Try to send out a certain number of rèsumès every day. Tailor your rèsumè to each job listing.
  • Keep track of the résumés you’ve sent out, calls made and emails sent thanking people for taking the time to interview you.
  • Contact a recruiter and ask for in-person or video interviews to build a relationship. Set up calls with people in your network.
  • Make yourself known on LinkedIn by posting content and commenting on others’ postings. Prepare and practice your elevator pitch. Find someone to role-play interview questions with.
  • Research companies that would be a natural progression for you to go next in your career. Investigate them to determine if they are doing well or not. Check out the company’s career page for its job listings. Ask around your network to see if anyone has a connection with the company and whether or not they can make an introduction for you.
  • Scour LinkedIn to find the decision-makers, possible hiring managers and human resources or talent acquisition professionals.
  • Clean up your social media footprints. Since hiring managers, recruiters and internal talent acquisition personnel may snoop around your social media postings, ensure that you’ve cleaned up anything embarrassing, cringey or hurtful to others.
  • Network by sending out emails to people you’ve worked with in the past, old college friends, business associates and all others who could potentially turn you on to a job lead or supply a referral or recommendation to a key insider at the company you’d like to join.

 

                                                                                                                Forbes.com | January 3, 2023 | Jack Kelly 

#2023JobSearch : How To Sell Yourself In Your Job Search. Not Getting Job Interviews? Read This.

/in /by

If you’ve been applying to jobs and not getting interviews or offers, chances are you aren’t selling yourself enough. You can have the greatest resume or speak brilliantly in an interview, but if you don’t sell yourself, it can often be the difference between getting a job offer or not.

Before you start to roll your eyes because you think sales is a bunch of surface-level conversations, networking, and coercing, let’s take a step back. Not all sales strategies are inauthentic and ethically questionable.

Sales is crucial in the business world because marketing alone isn’t always enough to turn an interested prospect into an actual customer. Sometimes it takes a bit of a human touch.

Great sales people know potential customers often take time to make a purchase decision. Sales people help customers overcome objections and see the tangible and intangible benefits of a product.

You’ve probably heard the common sales mantra, “always be closing.” But what does closing actually mean? In reality, perhaps a better way to phrase this is “always be connecting.” If marketing is about ensuring people know about you and what you have to offer you then sales is about ensuring they connect the dots and see enough value in the product or service to actually buy it.

In your career, when you apply sales strategies to help communicate your value, you can increase the chances that:

  • Your job application is actually read and maybe even flagged as a strong candidate
  • You stand out in the minds of people who interview you, even after a long day, or week of interviews.
  • You’ll be top of mind when friends, former colleagues, family, or acquaintances hear about roles that might be relevant for you
  • And once you’re hired, your boss or manager sees your value and considers you for promotions, raises, or other opportunities

If sales is about connecting, then in your career, you need to focus on building authentic relationships that can help hiring managers and recruiters see your value.

Here are 3 example messages you can send at various stages of your job search to communicate your value. You’ll notice that in all of the examples below, the messages are concise, direct, and clear and don’t use vague requests to have a “coffee chat” or “pick your brain.”

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Before You Apply: Find & connect with people who work at the company

When looking for a new job, it’s important to know that 88 % of jobs are filled through networking and relationships. But what happens when you don’t know anyone at a company you want to work at? You have to find people who work there and reach out to them and start to build a relationship.

Let’s imagine you want to work at Salesforce and you don’t know anyone there. One of the first things you should do is leverage various professional groups and communities you might be a part of to see if anyone works there. For example, you could post something like this.

Hey everyone, I have a quick question.

I’m curious about working at Salesforce and want to learn more about their interview process. If you’ve interviewed there, what was your experience like? How long was the process, and did anything come up that you weren’t prepared for?

Feel free to private message me your answers or leave your general thoughts below.

Thanks in advance!

[Your Name]

This works because with one post in a group, you’re likely to receive many replies from people who work at or used to work at Salesforce or people who have friends or family who work there. These conversations can help uncover useful information about the culture and what it’s like to work there or maybe even offers from people to give you referral links to apply.

When You Apply: Send a cold email or message to the hiring manager

Contrary to what you may think, it’s not a bad idea to cold email a hiring manager before or after you apply for a job. Cold emailing gets a bad reputation because so many don’t know how to write a good cold email. However, a strong cold email can help catch the attention of a hiring manager.

The purpose of a cold email is to let the hiring manager know you applied (or plan to), provide a concise pitch for why you’re a fit for the role, and start a conversation. Think of it like this, if the hiring manager only read your cold email (and not your resume or LinkedIn profile) would it be compelling enough to make them want to learn more?

Hi [Hiring Manager / Recruiter Name],

I wanted to connect to let you know I applied for the Product Manager role at Salesforce that you’re hiring for.

I’m currently a Product Manager at HubSpot with 4 years of experience. Previously I worked as a Data Analyst for 5 years and have a MS in Data Science. Based on the job description, I think my experience could be valuable on the Analytics team.

If you have any questions or would like me to send you my resume, please let me know!

[Your Name]

After You Interview: Convert job interviews to job offers with follow up messages

If you think no one reads thank you emails, think again. According to a study by Top Resume, 68% of hiring managers said that a thank you email or note can make a difference.

The key to writing an effective thank you note is to use is to use it as an opportunity to highlight your relevant skills and experience, especially anything you maybe forgot to talk about in the interview, as well as demonstrate your written communication skills.

Using our example of the person applying to the Product Manager role at Salesforce, here’s what they might write after an interview.

Hi [Hiring Manager / Recruiter Name],

It was a pleasure to learn more about the Product Manager role at Salesforce and the analytics team. I’m excited about the opportunity to use my product management and data science background!

In the interview you asked me about [insert something they asked] and I forgot to mention [something relevant to demonstrate your skills or experience]. Please reach out if there are any other questions you have.

I look forward to hearing from you when you know what the next steps might be.

Best wishes,

[Your Name]

You should try to tailor your message to each person. Sending a generic and vague message that mentions no specifics about the role or company will not help you stand out. In fact, it might do the opposite as it could make you come across as lazy!

If you’re applying to jobs and not getting interviews or job offers, one of the most important things you can do is to leverage the power of connection and sell yourself through fostering relationships and communicating your value to recruiters and hiring managers.

 

Forbes.com | December 28, 2022 | Sarah Doody 

#BestJobSearchTips : Collection of Favorite Job Search Tips From 2022, that Will Help you in 2023. MUst REad!

/in /by

With 2022 winding down, a lot of us are thinking about our goals for the new year. But if those goals include landing a new job, you might have a lot of work to do. From polishing your résumé and writing cover letters to interview prep and company research, looking for a new job is basically another job in itself.

“Before accepting a job, there is usually a time to negotiate salary, and this is a good opportunity to negotiate your job title as well. The same goes for any promotion. Pick a job title that has the highest earning potential.”

To help you get started, we’ve rounded up the best job searching tips of 2022 from the always-helpful r/LifeProTips subreddit. Here are the tips people loved in 2022 to help you start your 2023 job search right:

1. “When applying for a job, keep in mind that you are being interviewed long before your interview begins.”

“When communicating back and forth for a potential job, any and all correspondence that you have with the person hiring is being taken into consideration.”

I am currently hiring for a Front Desk position that would require the future employee to interact with customers (both in-person and via email) and be professional and timely at all times. I have been emailing with a number of applicants to organize interviews, and I am blown away by the number of people who have not been professional throughout the process. I have already written off the applicants who have been short and unprofessional in their emails, shown up late for their interview, or been poor communicators throughout the process.

Extra Pro Tip: Research the company you are applying for! My first interview question is ‘What do you know about our company and what made you want to apply for this job?’ And more often than not, applicants have responded with, ‘I don’t know anything about your company.’ Any and all information they would need is on our website under the ‘About Us’ section, and would show me that they have the forethought to prepare ahead of time!”

You might find social media accounts and can see how they present themselves and if you will get along with them. Maybe you find out that you share hobbies, maybe they share extremist political content. You will know more after Googling, which might help your decision if you want to work with them.”

“They likely did the same to you, might as well look them up too.

Because a job interview isn’t just them interviewing you, you are interviewing them (more so when you are competitive for your field/industry). Realizing this helped my mindset in interviews. I don’t need to be nervous. I need to show them what I can offer to the job and decide if I want to work in the work environment they are offering.”

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

2. “Use AI to generate cover letters to save time applying to different jobs.”

“Recently my wife has been applying for jobs on the market. She’s tired of writing cover letters for different companies, so I helped her generate them using AI instead. ChatGPT blew up recently and everyone’s been using it.

Put things that contain the company information and your background like ‘A cover letter for applying to an accounting company as a bachelor of finance,’ the more specific the better.”

“I just tested this, and I’ll be damned if it didn’t work. It didn’t seem perfect. There were lots of things that could be improved, but you go from authoring to proofreading and editing instead, and that’s a big benefit.”

3. “When changing your status on LinkedIn to be ‘open for work,’ make sure it’s set to be visible to recruiters only.”

“I’ve made this mistake before. My current boss sent me a LinkedIn message and it was pretty awkward.”

 

4. “When filling out a job application that requires you to answer long questions online, write them out in a Word document first.”

“I learned this lesson many years ago, applying to a job with long essay questions, and of course the application glitched and didn’t save. My spouse just learned this lesson last night, and I feel horrible for forgetting to tell him my painful experience, so here we are.

Therefore, whenever you are filling out long answer questions online, write them out in Word (or whatever you use), or at the very very least, copy and paste your answers into Word. Trust me! Plus that way you can save them should you need those brilliant answers in the future.

And don’t trust that ‘save application’ button. Don’t click it until you’ve copied and pasted your answers somewhere else first. Websites time out and don’t tell you sometimes.”

5. “If you barely don’t meet the job requirements, apply anyway. You may be able to land the interview and progress from there. Let them decide if you’re good enough, don’t do their job for them.”

“It’s incredibly common for hiring managers to ‘shoot for the moon’ on the job description, listing the skills of their ideal candidate, but not necessarily a realistic one. Always apply if you truly believe you can do the job. I have seen countless times where candidates who were under-qualified on paper were hired over more-qualified candidates thanks for their interview, attitude, etc.”

6. “If you can, don’t apply for a job that is complaining about ‘severe employee shortages’ or the like. There’s a reason they can’t retain employees, and you don’t want to have to find out what that reason is.”

“One of the questions I always ask in an interview is, ‘What is the average tenure of the team I’ll be working with?’ Some are quite caught off guard by the question, and I’ve even seen the life drain out of some of them when they realize exactly what it is that I’m asking. It’s a perfectly legitimate question and can give you a mountain of information from the actual tenure, which is nice to know, to how they answer (or dance around) the question.”

7. “When job searching on LinkedIn, filter for ‘in my network,’ then reach out and ask your connection for a referral.”

“I know many of us are unwilling to give up remote work, and many companies are forcing people back. That puts a lot of us in the job market. There are over 550,000 remote jobs on LinkedIn right now. LinkedIn is really great for job searches because it’s shows you your connections at a given company. You can even filter for ‘in my network’ to see companies you know people at. Reach out to those people and ask for a referral. A referral can be the difference between getting an interview or not.”

8. “If you are looking for a new job and reading reviews of a company always look at the date reviews are posted. If all the five-star reviews are posted on the same day, avoid it.”

“My current employer took their rating from 1.7 on Indeed to 4.6 in three weeks by incentivizing reviews.”

9. “If your home doesn’t have a space suitable for having a virtual interview, check with your public library to see if they have a meeting room you can use.”

“Or your local employment or unemployment office — they have rooms just for that reason.”

10. “Copy/paste all job descriptions you’re interested in into a notes app, with the job title, company name, and how you applied.”

“Job applications don’t last forever on the respective sites/boards. Job titles can easily blur; you do not want to think you’re interviewing for Software Analyst I and it’s really Systems Analyst I at a completely different company.

Jot down the info in the title so you can easily keep up with what you’re doing AND be able to mentally compare the job description to what the recruiter entails it to be. If you’re good at multi-tasking without looking distracted, you could even have it (or a brief description) pulled up on your device/monitor while looking into the camera, verbally checking off the items during the discussions.”

11. “If you are in the process of applying for a job, please make sure you have set up the voicemail on your cell phone.”

“My job responsibilities include setting up interviews for open positions that we have. We get flooded with applications. I call those who are deemed most qualified. Most people do not answer the phone and that’s fine. But too many candidates have not set up voicemail on their cell phones, and I can’t leave a message. I hate for that to be the reason they don’t get an interview.”

12. “It’s better to negotiate a good starting salary rather than relying on raises to hit your target.”

“If you accepted a low-ball starting salary, it’s unlikely that you can rely on a raise to get you to where you want to be.

It’s best to negotiate a starting salary to start off where you want to be. Remember, once an offer has been made, the ball is in your court and you have negotiating power.”

13. “Keep a CV or master résumé for when you are applying for jobs. You can make custom résumés quickly by pulling necessary info out while also keeping all of your résumé information in one place.”+

“By making a master document, you have everything you have ever done already formatted and summarized in a résumé format such that you can copy and paste from it to generate custom résumés for each application.

Likewise, you have all of your information in one place so you don’t have to look across multiple versions of your old résumés to remember what you have done.”

“As soon as you start a new job, add its job description to your ‘master résumé’, even as just a place-holder that you’ll edit later. In six months or a year, come back to it and update that portion based on what you’ve learned.”

14. “When submitting a résumé online, make sure you use a filename with your first and last name.”

“Oftentimes people don’t realize the filename you use to submit your résumé is seen by the recruiter. If you name it something like ‘new revision for accounting firms,’ they will see this. What’s more, if they are downloading them they have to go out and rename the files, which takes time. Best approach is to just name your PDF with your first and last name.”

15. “Keep a running list of career accomplishments and things you’re proud of.”

“Not only can you use this list for building future résumés or negotiating your salary, but it’s also great to look at when imposter syndrome comes creeping in.”

16. “If you have a job interview coming up, practice describing your job to someone who isn’t familiar with your industry. Include descriptions of what you do and what tools you use.”

“This can be especially good so that you can practice keeping a straight face if the question sounds silly. Remember the first person you meet in a job interview may be HR and may not know anything about the details of the actual job you are being hired for.”

17. “When you have an interview at a company, Google the people you have the interview with.”

You might find social media accounts and can see how they present themselves and if you will get along with them. Maybe you find out that you share hobbies, maybe they share extremist political content. You will know more after Googling, which might help your decision if you want to work with them.”

“They likely did the same to you, might as well look them up too.

Because a job interview isn’t just them interviewing you, you are interviewing them (more so when you are competitive for your field/industry). Realizing this helped my mindset in interviews. I don’t need to be nervous. I need to show them what I can offer to the job and decide if I want to work in the work environment they are offering.”

18. “When interviewing for a new role, ask the hiring manager to clearly define what success looks like in the role.”

“If they can’t paint a vivid picture of what it takes to thrive, run.

A company that can’t define how you will win with them is destined to lose.”

19. “In interview situations, practice avoiding filler words such as ‘like’ or ‘umm’, and don’t be afraid to briefly pause to collect your words. This will help you seem more assured in your responses, and shows you’re thinking carefully about your statements.”

“I train technical trainers and this is sound advice. That being said, filler, especially in English is natural and fairly unavoidable 100 percent of the time for most folks. You just want to be conscious of it and make sure it isn’t a distraction. Most people don’t notice it if it is intermittent. People will notice if you use ‘ummm, uhhhhh, ok, right?’ as punctuation on every sentence or in-between every few words.”

20. “If a prospective employer asks why you’re leaving your current employer, give a reason that involves something the new employer has that the old employer doesn’t.”

“If this new job is a smaller company, ‘I’m looking to work for a smaller company.’ If the new job is more hands on, ‘I’m looking for a job where I can be more hands on.’ Etc.

That way you are already complimenting something this prospective employer has while refraining from negativity regarding your current employer.”

21.“When interviewing for a job, ask what day-to-day work would be in detail.”

“There is a wild amount of hiring going on right now and copy/paste errors and omissions (both intentional and non intentional) on job descriptions mean red flags or mismatched responsibilities to your talent stack may not be caught in the application process. Also hiring managers will only ask what you know/did. It’s on you to ask what tasks you will be doing on a day to day basis.

A friend who applied for ‘Business Analyst’ roles found out during the interview process that one role was for a monotonous data entry process while the second one was a technical writing role.”

22. “If you interview for a job you don’t get, send a gracious response email.”

“Nobody likes to give bad news, and people will remember you as a class act who handled a disappointing situation with professionalism.

My go to is something like: ‘Thank you for the prompt response. While I am obviously disappointed, I understand there were many qualified applicants to choose from and I very much enjoyed meeting you and your team. Thanks again, and best, (name).'”

23. “When you get a job offer and you’d like a higher salary, ask. The worst thing they will say is no.”

“I was chatting with a friend who got a job offer and wanted $10k more annually but was nervous about asking.

When I asked what he was nervous about, he explained that he was concerned that they would revoke the offer.

I reminded him that if you get to the stage in the interview process where you are receiving an offer, they WANT you to work there. Asking for more money will result in one of two things:

• Getting more $$ than they initially offered

(or)

• They do not have additional budget to increase your salary and they tell you they cannot go higher.

It would be incredibly bizarre for a company to revoke an offer completely after spending time putting you through the interview prices and deciding they’d like to hire you all because you asked for a higher salary.”

24. “Job titles can often be negotiated. Before accepting a job, there is usually a time to negotiate salary, and this is a good opportunity to negotiate your job title as well. The same goes for any promotion. Pick a job title that has the highest earning potential.”

“Look around at that next level job you want and advocate for a job title that would give you an edge on your application. For example, you may have a current job title of ‘office assistant’; but if you are the assistant to one of the executives and have been there longer than another assistant, you might able to push for a job title change to ‘Senior Executive Assistant’. These may seem like small changes but can mean thousands of dollars a year when you try to find another job.”

25. And finally, “Do not resign your current job until your next job’s background check is completed.”

“I just watched this scenario unfold: Employee gets a new job — hurrah! Employee resigns from current job sure that their background check is clean. Background check comes back and there are red flags. Red flags cause the employer to revoke the job offer. Person has now resigned their current position (no takebacks) and hasn’t truly secured their current position.

Don’t do that. Just wait until your background check is completed before quitting.”

 

BuzzFeed.com | December 29, 2022 | Megan Liscomb

 

#JobSearch : Concerned About Layoffs? 7 Actions To Take In Advance Of A Career Disruption. Great Holiday Project. MUst REad for All!

/in /by

Morgan Stanley, Pratt & Whitney and DoorDash are among the companies recently announcing layoffs. With downsizing affecting different industries and small to large companies, it makes sense to be prepared for a disruption in your employment – a job search “go kit” as Boyer Management Group puts it. This is especially true if there is an organizational change, such as a company merger as in JP’s case, or a change in leadership or company strategy.

Request: The company merged, layoffs are coming, and I need to prep for a transition. – JP

Answer: Especially with a turbulent jobs market, you might write something on having your job search “go kit“ ready in the event that his or her job situation can change suddenly in this economy. – Boyer Management Group

This isn’t about encouraging unnecessary anxiety, but rather, being proactive while things are still calm so that you are several moves ahead if something does happen. By taking preemptive action in advance of a career disruption you’ll be able to transition quickly into an active job search. Speed is especially important if you financially need to land your next job quickly and also to stay ahead of all the other job seekers who are laid off alongside you.

Here are seven actions you can take now that will enable you to bounce back from a layoff more quickly:

1 – Confirm your existing severance policy

It’s helpful to review your severance policy when you don’t need it, so there aren’t any negative feelings clouding your judgment. With a clear head, you can list any questions you need to research further, as well as think about what you might negotiate for should a layoff occur. Knowing what you’re entitled to allows you to plan how much runway you have to find your next job and therefore more realistically plan your job search.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

2 – Run your numbers

Severance is just one piece of your financial puzzle. You might have savings, another salary in the household or other income sources that will affect the deadline for your job search. Yes, you could wait till you’re laid off to do this accounting. However, knowing your numbers sooner than later gives you more time to plan. You might realize you have more time to look and want to go after a career pivot. Or, you might pursue a longtime dream to start a business or take a longer sabbatical.

3 – Explore lateral move prospects

On the flip side, your numbers might show you can’t afford much, if any, time off. If that’s the case, one of the fastest ways to land quickly is to move within the company. Know what the company policy is for exploring openings in other departments, subsidiaries or regional offices. See if you can find examples of people who have moved from one role to another, or who started as employees and are now consultants. Consulting to your company is also an option — even when a company lays staff off, they may still need the work done and would be willing to hire back staff on a contract basis.

4 – Collect contact information for references and supportive colleagues

Hoping to land within your same company is just one option, and the most productive job searches keep multiple options in play at a time. This means, you’ll want to be ready for an external job search, and that means having professional references for your work, as well as supportive colleagues who can point leads in your direction. Once you leave your company, you leave your equipment and your email platform behind. Make sure that you have in your personal phone and personal email the contact information for all the people with whom you want and need to stay in touch.

5 – Rekindle key external connections

In addition to current colleagues, your network should extend outside your company. (Networking done correctly doesn’t tip off your company that you’re looking!) Former colleagues, social relationships, even classmates from years or decades back are potential resources for your job search. If you have let these relationships lapse, take time now, while you aren’t looking and don’t need anything, to get back in touch with your extended network and rekindle lost connections.

6 – Update your marketing material

Update your resume and LinkedIn profile to reflect your most recent role and accomplishments. As you rekindle outside connections, you may find yourself catching people up on what you’ve been working on – that’s a mini cover-letter. If you catch up over coffee, your introduction is a networking pitch that will help you later in career fairs and interviews.

7 – Itemize the help you need

As you pull these items together – your marketing material, contact list, references, relevant financial numbers – you’ll find some actions easier to complete than others. This gives you an important early indication of where you’ll need help in your job search. Start thinking now about how you’ll get that help – whether you have a mentor or coach you can tap, what your alma mater or local library offers, what books or blogs you can start reading.

Positioning yourself to bounce back from a layoff will help you even if you’re never laid off

A bonus of working on your job search go kit is that these actions will help you even if you don’t use the actual tools in your kit. Knowing your numbers gives you peace of mind or a much-needed jumpstart to save more. Having updated marketing material helps you take advantage of unexpected recruiter calls – or the next opportunity to ask for a promotion or raise. Preparing for the worst increases your resilience and confidence, so you can focus on performing on the job – or taking a much-needed rest for the holidays.

 

Forbes.com | December 23, 2022 | Caroline Ceniza-Levine

 

#JobSearch : The New Year May Start Out Challenging For Job Hunters: Here’s What To Expect. To Gain a Competitive Edge, Start Searching for a New Job Right Now.

/in /by

The key to succeeding in 2023 is to accept the uncertainty and take action. You need to realize that we won’t return to the halcyon days of companies hiring with reckless abandon. Some Economists and Wall Street professionals have predicted that we will face a rough recession. Layoffs and hiring freezes will continue for the near term. You will need to make yourself indispensable at the office while keeping an eye open for new opportunities.

To gain a competitive edge, start searching for a new job right now. Spruce up your résumé and LinkedIn profile. Ask around to find a few top well-respected recruiters. Check out job boards, create an elevator pitch and network with friends, family, former coworkers, college alums and others to gain job leads and introductions to key decision-makers at target companies.

Thoroughly read the job description to ensure that you’re the right fit, and watch for any red flags. Ask the hiring managers tough questions. You don’t want to quit one job to find out later that the new company is conducting layoffs or rescinding job offers. While interviewing, ensure you are working hard at the office or home, getting noticed by your boss, and making yourself irreplaceable just in case you don’t receive a job offer.

Just because the New Year starts doesn’t mean everything has become good again. Inflation is still at 40-year record highs, and the Federal Reserve increased interest rates which popped the everything bubble. The stock, real estate and crypto markets plunged in 2022. The one invincible tech giants saw their share prices plummet. Amazon’s stock price cratered, falling 50.3% year to date. Meta saw a 63% drop, and Netflix plunged by 53%.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

On The Positive Side, January Is A Good Month To Find A Job

Historically, January is one of the best times to embark on a job hunt. The commencement of a new year ushers in a feeling of possibilities and fresh starts. Seeking out a new opportunity is part of the usual promises made; going on a diet, joining a gym, and getting rid of bad habits.

From Thanksgiving until a week or two into the New Year, there is an unspoken collective agreement between workers and management that we can see all coast during the holiday season. It’s a time to take a vacation, use your personal days, and enjoy three or four-day weekends. As people are mentally checking out of work, it’s too difficult to gain transactions in the hiring process. Soon as one person returns from their vacation, another professional— integral to the interview process— is out of the office.

By the second or third week of January, we engaged in another collective decision. Begrudgingly, we adopt a ‘back to school’ mentality and reconciled getting back into the grind. Human Resource professionals and hiring managers start panicking when they realize they need to fill seats that have been vacant for too long. The workers who have been picking up the slack are complaining that they need help, with a veiled threat that they’ll quiet quit or commence a stealth job search if the company doesn’t hire people to help with the workload.

What To Watch Out For

Although January is a great time to find a new job, the first few weeks are usually slow-moving. There is a time lag for new budgets and headcounts to be approved. Companies will slowly start posting their open roles online and enlist recruiters to help find suitable and appropriate candidates.

Sometimes there is a gap between the reality in the job market and what managers perceive is happening. They may not be aware that salaries have risen due to inflation and may inadvertently extend lowball offers. The hiring process has become colder. Human Resources don’t respond to your résumé submissions, and phone calls, texts and emails go unanswered. It’s become commonplace that after undergoing three to six interviews over several months, the company ghosts you.

Before a new person is hired, leadership wants to understand who might be leaving or already has a new role lined up. There’s a bit of a drag as year-end reviews, raises, bonuses and promotions linger into January or March.

Sectors, including Wall Street and tech companies, pay in total compensation. A large portion of pay packages is in the bonuses. Banks can hold off on paying the bonus up until about March. It’s a cold strategic move to impede a person from leaving, as they’ll forfeit their bonus if they quit before it’s paid out. Some job seekers hold off on their search plans out of fear of being found out and jeopardizing their year-end bonus. The company you are interviewing with may not want to buy out your bonus due to the new austerity mindset of corporate leadership.

Work On Your Mindset And Positivity

In addition to possessing the right skills, academic background and talents for the job, you also need the right attitude. Companies want people who are confident, motivated, positive-thinking and enthusiastic. They want people with winning attitudes.

Interviewing is a stressful endeavor. You’ll need to summon up your courage and be bold and brave. At times, even the best and brightest get rejected. When this happens, brush yourself off and get back up again.

Managers and interviewers want to hire and work with upbeat people who project the ability to get the job done. A critical part of the job hunt is your mindset. Cultivate a positive outlook that radiates confidence. Recall all of the times you triumphed over adversity. Think of all the good luck you’ve had. Going into an interview with positivity makes a big difference. People will pick up on your vibe and frequency. They’ll feel good in your presence. When you emanate a positive aura, you’ll become likable and desirable.

 

Forbes.com | December 22, 2022 | Jack Kelly 

 

#JobSearch : Received A Strong Job Offer? Now Avoid These 3 Negotiation Mistakes. Negotiate a Salary More than You Expected? REAd This!

/in /by

I received a job offer that’s better than I expected? Should I still negotiate? If so, can I send this [email with the current offer details and counter arguments]? I plan to accept and hope to work with these people long-term, so I don’t want any bad feelings. – JT, Energy Policy Analyst

Kudos to this job seeker for landing an offer and having the discipline to not accept right away, but rather step back and reassess. Additional kudos for seeking out help since JT is returning to the workforce and hasn’t negotiated in years. Finally, even more kudos to JT for getting a strong offer even with an employment gap of almost a decade. (This offer came at the end of a temp assignment and is a great example of how to convert a project into a full-time job.)

That said, JT’s question also illustrates common misconceptions that job seekers have about the offer negotiation process. Luckily, JT didn’t act on any of these incorrect assumptions and as a result got an even better job offer (higher base, which will be compounded because it’s the basis for the performance bonus and retirement contribution calculations!). Follow JT’s lead and avoid these three negotiation mistakes:

1 – Failing to negotiate at all

Even though the initial offer was strong, JT didn’t accept right away. Too many job seekers jump the gun and accept the first offer out of excitement. Or, they don’t want to risk the offer by countering (even though you won’t, which we’ll cover in point 3).

You don’t want to negotiate just for the sake of negotiating. However, there’s probably something in the offer that isn’t ideal. If it’s not the money (e.g., base salary, bonus or other cash aspect of the offer), then you might want to negotiate the start date, your title, your scope of responsibility, when you’re eligible for benefits or bonus, etc. – there are so many factors to consider in deciding your next career move. As it turns out, JT realized that, while the base salary was strong, it was lower than she hoped. (JT had smartly used her interview process to gauge how much room there could be for negotiating salary.) If she didn’t get the base she wanted, then that lower figure would also lower her bonus, retirement contributions and future growth.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

2 – Negotiating by email instead of voice-to-voice

Once JT decided to negotiate, she drafted a long, detailed email with her counterarguments. Like many job seekers, JT felt that an email would allow her to collect her thoughts, edit carefully and avoid the confrontation of a direct conversation. While these are legitimate advantages of an email negotiation, there are disadvantages that outweigh the benefits.

You don’t know how an email is received, while in a voice-to-voice conversation you can hear and potentially see (if live or video) the other person’s reactions. Even though you can draft and refine email, it’s still hard to capture tone and intention 100% accurately in writing – and again, you won’t be able to gauge how it’s received by the reader. Finally, if the negotiation requires a lot of back and forth, perhaps even some brainstorming on what creative compromises could work, a long email chain is confusing and slow, compared to the immediate collaboration of a direct conversation.

3 – Assuming that negotiating will harm collegial relationships

One of JT’s primary concerns in negotiating at all was incurring bad feelings by not accepting the offer right away. However, companies respect strong negotiators. In addition, done correctly, there need not be any hurt feelings.

JT opened every conversation with a heartfelt Thank You for the offer. She reassured both the recruiter and her direct manager that she was excited about the opportunity and was looking forward to joining. She introduced her negotiation as questions about the offer, rather than a formal negotiation. In this way, she kept the dialogue positive and emphasized collaboration over conflict.

Even with a strong initial job offer, there are many upsides to negotiating

As JT’s story demonstrates, one major upside to negotiating is the opportunity to get an even stronger offer. Differences in compensation compound over time, not just for the base salary but for other aspects of an offer. A higher title now will support an even higher title in the future. More responsibility or resources now will put you in the running for a bigger role in the future. At the very least, you get much-needed negotiation practice every time you ask for more. This also gives you confidence and reinforces a self-image as someone who advocates for themselves.

Forbes.com Author: Caroline Ceniza-Levine Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.
Forbes.com | December 20, 2022

 

#JobSearch : 7 Reasons To Update Your LinkedIn Profile Before 2023. A MUSt REad!

/in /by

In 2023, LinkedIn will be two decades old. A lot has happened since it first launched as your e-resume and online networking platform. In fact, the current version of the platform has little resemblance to its original format thanks to the dozens of extremely valuable personal branding features that have been added over time.

Here are 7 reasons why you need to polish your profile now so you can shine online on 2023.

1. The changes you want to make are fresh in your mind. If you go through a year-end review, you’ve spent some time over the past month or so thinking about what you accomplished in 2022 in preparation for your annual performance assessment. You likely have a good inventory of relevant and valuable content you can use to bring your profile up to date. An annual refresh is always a good idea.

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

2. LinkedIn is the first place where people go to check you out. When people want to research you in a professional capacity— even people who work down the hall from you—they’ll typically go directly to LinkedIn and type your name in the search box at the top of the screen. And if, like some computer users, they start their search at GoogleGOOG -0.5%, they’ll end up at your LinkedIn profile. That’s because your LinkedIn profile will likely show up in one of the top three spots. And we know that most clicks on a Google results page go to the top three spots. This is great news. It means you can tell your story in a powerful way online using just one social media tool. If bolstering your career success is a goal for 2023, it just takes one platform to set that goal in motion.

3. We’re likely entering a recession. Most economists agree that a recession is probably on the horizon. There’s less agreement about how serious it will be and how long it will last, but regardless of that, you want to be prepared for any eventuality. With a complete, current and compelling profile, you’ll not only be able to pursue relevant positions should you end up on a layoff list, but you also become an attractive passive candidate: recession or not, your next job might just find you.

4. You need to position yourself for what’s next. If you haven’t updated your profile in a year or more, it may not align with your career aspirations. Although personal branding is about being authentic, there’s also an aspirational element. You want to demonstrate that you’re ready for that role you seek to fill. One place to focus on is skills. When someone checks out your profile, they only see the top three skills for which you have been endorsed. So make sure those are the skills that are relevant for what you want to do next. Reorder your skills to get the right ones on top.

5. You’ll get up to speed on all things LinkedIn. While you’re in the process of updating your profile, you’ll inevitably check out your feed, the queue of connection requests that have come in since the last time you visited LinkedIn and the messages that arrived in your LinkedIn inbox. If you get caught up now, you’ll be well positioned and fully informed to help your professional circles kick off new initiatives at the start of the new year.

6. You can demonstrate relevance. A relatively new feature of LinkedIn that you’re likely not using is Creator Mode. Although this feature was designed for thought leaders who want to publish content on the platform, it can also be used to tell people about your area of expertise. Creator mode allows you to identify your top five hashtags—the topics you want to be associated with. These hashtags sit at the top of your profile, right below your headline, letting viewers know a lot about you from the second they click on your profile.

7. You’ll stand out from your peers. LinkedIn provides one of the best opportunities to increase your visibility and credibility with the people who need to know you. It helps you stay connected to large networks of important contacts. A powerful element that’s rarely used but extremely valuable is called Featured, which allows you to add videos and images to your profile so you can develop a truly three-dimensional tour of your brand in the two-dimensional world. It will give you the edge and allow others to connect with you on a deeper level. It takes time to polish these assets before you post them, so use the holiday lull to choose the best of the best. And if the holidays reunite you with family members and lifelong friends, you can tap their insight to make sure you’re posting the samples that reflect your true brand traits.

Before that New Year’s Eve countdown, make sure your LinkedIn profile doesn’t look like it was created in 2003. Start the new year by making the most out of the platform’s valuable innovations.

 

Forbes.com | December 19, 2022 | William Arruda

#YourCareer : How To Set Yourself Up For A Productive 2023. This Could be a New Job, a Promotion, etc.

/in /by

The new year brings with it a chance to start afresh, take on new challenges and set yourself up for the year ahead. For many, this will mean getting ready to take the next step in their career. This could be a new job, a promotion, or taking on new responsibilities within their existing role.

For others, this could simply mean going into the new year with a positive attitude and ready to be the best they can be at work. Whatever the case may be for you, it’s important to start the year off on the right foot.  But how do you set yourself up for a productive 2023?

Complete your pre-holiday tasks

First and foremost, you don’t want to go into the new year with a to-do list the length of your arm, trying to catch up on last year’s work. You want to enjoy your holiday without overdue projects playing on your mind.

Therefore, it’s important to make sure you complete your pre-holiday tasks to the best of your abilities, without rushing or overdoing it, of course.

Depending on your career plans, these activities will differ, but the best way to kick off the new year is going to be organized with a clean slate.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Take a proper break

Your career is a big part of your life and one which can consume a lot of your time and energy. However, resting and recharging are crucial if you want to continue to be good at your job and love what you do.

The festive season is the perfect time to unwind and spend some time with friends and family. So you need to do just that.

No matter what industry you work in, it’s important that you take a proper break wherever you can and allow yourself to go into the new year feeling refreshed and ready.

This might mean taking a few days off, switching on your’ out of office’ response to your emails, and shutting down your work computer or phone for a few days.

Although it can be tempting to dip back in or quickly reply to one or two emails, remember balance is important, and you deserve a rest.

Set tangible goals

Going into 2023, it’s a good idea to set yourself some goals that will point you in the right direction and help you to get off to a productive start.

Your goals should be as specific and relevant as possible; they must also be measurable and achievable. Give yourself a date by which you would like to achieve your goals, as this will allow you to measure your progress.

For example, if you’re looking for a new job, you might wish to set a target for how many jobs you want to apply for each week.

Alternatively, you might want to learn new skills or put the wheels in motion for securing that promotion.

Everyone’s goals will be different; just ensure these are attainable and you’re not setting yourself up for failure. You could even break larger goals down into smaller objectives so that you can tackle these one step at a time. This also makes it easier to monitor your progress.

Bridge your skills gaps with courses

It doesn’t matter what stage you’re at in your career; you are never too senior to stop learning. In fact, it is important that you are always building on your knowledge and developing your skills.

So, as well as staying up to date on the latest industry trends, it is a good idea to bridge your own personal skills gap by taking relevant online courses.

The great news is there are loads of courses and providers to choose from, so you’ll be able to find the type of study that best suits your lifestyle.

Taking online courses can be particularly important if you’re planning on changing jobs or advancing in your current position in the new year. It means you can continuously update your resume and your offering.

Monitor your progress and adapt

Once you’ve set yourself goals and begun taking the necessary steps towards achieving these, you need to make sure you stay on track.

The best way to do this is to keep checking in on yourself and revising your targets where needed.

Ask yourself, are you on track, or have you fallen behind? Is there more you can do to reach your goals? If so, what steps do you need to take?

You should also take this as an opportunity to consider any feedback you’ve received in the new year, be that from your boss, recruiters, or your colleagues.

By taking stock of what you want from your career in this way, you can take proactive steps to set targets and start working towards your larger career goals in the new year.

Give yourself a chance to relax over the festive period and go into January with a positive attitude; this will set you up for a productive 2023.

 

Forbes.com | December 17, 2022 | Andrew Fennell