#JobSearch : 3 Ways To Move On In Your Career After A Bad Job Experience. How can I Psyche Myself Up to Do a Job Search?

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How can I psyche myself up to do a job search? I am still so angry at my former employer. I’m afraid it will come across in an interview. And, I’m also having a really hard time writing accomplishment statements as I feel like my work was not valued at all. – Marion

Marion’s question encapsulates the multiple reasons why a bad experience in your last job can negatively impact your career going forward. That said, your career is more than just one job. For most people, you hold more than one job and work with more than one employer over the course of your career. Even if you stay in one company your whole career, what you do outside your day-to-day job (e.g., professional memberships, volunteer activity), your individual skills and expertise and your training and education also make an impact.

If your most recent job left you angry, undervalued or [insert negative feeling here], it’s critical that you proactively prevent this one negative from dragging the rest of your career down. Here are three steps you can take to move on in your career after a bad job experience:

1 – Structure your job search so you are not relying on motivation alone

Marion pointed out how difficult it can be to get psyched for a job search because of lingering negative feelings about the last job. However, even if you liked your last job, you still probably won’t enjoy a job search, given how frustrating, disappointing, anxiety-inducing and time-consuming in can be. You don’t want to rely on motivation to get your job search done.

The fix? Structure your day, weeks and months ahead to ensure you do your job search activities whether or not you feel like it. Make a clear list of what you need to do and deadlines for time-sensitive tasks. Create a routine for when you are going to tackle different things. Enlist an accountability partner to keep you on track. By building a structure for how your job search will get done you ensure that your search continues even when your motivation wanes.

 

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

Article continued …

2 – Practice talking about your last job till it no longer bothers you

Bad feelings about your last job will come out in interviews and negatively impact your performance, unless you get to a point where you can talk about your last job unemotionally and ideally positively. Your next employer will definitely ask about your most recent job and why you left that job. Some interviewers dig deeper when they sense you are uncomfortable about something, and some interviewers are just hostile or mean. You need a game plan for handling the hostile interview and certainly for handling reasonable inquiry into your last work experience and why you left.

The fix? Plan in advance for how you will explain why you left. If you were laid off, keep it factual and concise. If you didn’t like your boss, talk about other things you liked about the job. If you can’t think of anything you liked about your last job, emphasize what you hope to gain from your next job. Don’t go negative, even if you feel 100% justified in doing so.

3 – Pin your market value to your next job, not a previous job where you were underpaid

Even though some states have now made it illegal to ask about previous salary, it still creeps into the negotiation because job seekers too often define their target salary as a percentage jump above what they made before. Prospective employers are all too happy to anchor your next salary to your previous one, especially if you were previously underpaid and they can save some money!

The fix? Yes, you can raise your salary even if you were previously underpaid. Do your own research on what the market is paying (see How To Get Salary Data You Can Really Use) so you anchor your next salary request on the going rate. Practice negotiating so that you are comfortable asking for what you deserve. Make a list of your tangible results so that you increase your self-confidence and prospective employers are more confident in you – remember that what you accomplished is a testament to you, even if your former employer undervalued these things.

With planning and preparation you can prevent one bad job experience from negatively impacting your next career move

In addition to motivation, interviewing and negotiation, a bad job experience can negatively impact how you network – when you’re down, people may avoid you. You also need a plan for how to get good references even from a bad job (references are a deal-breaker too many job seekers overlook). Finally, make sure that a bad job experience in a particular industry or role doesn’t sour your interest for other companies or job openings in that area, such that you narrow your job targets unnecessarily. Devote some planning and preparation to ensure you’re targeting a wide enough array of jobs, you have the professional references you need and you network with energy and enthusiasm.

 

 

Forbes.com | November 28, 2020 | Caroline Ceniza-Levine

 

#BestofFSCBlog : How to Write a Thank-You Email After an Interview. Want to Stand Out? A MUst REad!

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Career experts say the thank-you email is as important as your cover letter, so don’t waste this important opportunity to finalize your pitch—especially now that you know so much about the company, the role and your interviewer. “A properly prepared thank-you email, it just sets you apart,” says Paul McDonald, senior executive director at recruitment agency Robert Half. “It shows that you care and it restates your interest in the position.” Most HR managers say they consider thank-you messages when deciding who to hire, but they only receive notes from nearly a quarter of applicants, according to a survey by Robert Half. So don’t miss out on this chance to stand out, in a good way.

Question: How do you stand out?

Send your email as soon as possible.

Aim to send your thank-you note as soon as you can after the interview. This gives you an opportunity to seal the interviewer’s good impression of you immediately after your initial meeting, while their memory of you is still fresh, recruiters say. If you interviewed with more than one person, you should email each one separately.

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

Article continued …

Reiterate why you are interested in the role, and why you would be a great fit.

Now that you have had a chance to meet the interviewer and you have asked all the right questions, you know more about the role and can make a stronger case for yourself. While you were preparing for the interview, you probably didn’t have access to as many details about the job and employer as you may have now that you have met the hiring manager.

In your email you can:

  • Briefly address any pertinent new facts you gleaned about the role during the interview and bring the point back to how your experience or skill set aligns with it.
  • Include examples that demonstrate how you would be an asset to the company.
  • Include relevant samples of your work, particularly if you discussed any during the interview.
  • Provide a suggested solution to a challenge your employer faces that may have come up during your interview.
  • Bring up any insights or examples that highlight your suitability for the role that you might have forgotten to mention in the interview.

Three ways to highlight your qualifications: 

  • “With my experience focusing on the intersection of retail, customer experience and technology, I am in a strong position to help the company with its e-commerce launch.”
  • “Since you mentioned that the company is currently struggling to establish a business model that embraces technology, I wanted to offer a few ideas that I think might help.”
  • “You’ll find a link to a recent UX design study I conducted at the bottom of this email.”
Try adding something personal discussed during the interview.

If there was an anecdote or a shared interest that both you and the interviewer seemed to connect over, you may briefly nod to that in your email, but only if it feels natural and appropriate. This makes for a more personal letter that feels organic and authentic to you and to the relationship you began to forge. If you interviewed with multiple people at the company, adding a personal detail allows each email to feel unique. This also helps your thank-you email stand out.

Three ways to frame a personal detail in your thank-you email: 

  • “On a personal note, it was lovely speaking to you about your recent experience on safari. It inspired me to look into taking a trip like that someday.”
  • “I took up your suggestion to try that oatmeal-cookie recipe, and it was a hit with the kids. Thanks so much for the tip.”
  • “I very much enjoyed talking to you about your home-renovation project. If you have a link to that blog you mentioned, I’d love to take a look. I’m eager to try something similar in my home soon.”
Offer to answer any questions and bring it back to your application.

Bring it back to the hiring process at the end of your email. Gently raising the prospect of the next steps in the process makes it clear you are keen to progress and reminds the interviewer that they should come back to you without being too pushy. Offer to answer questions to give the employer an opportunity to clear up any possible doubts they may have about hiring you. Such an offer also promotes interaction between you.

How to end your thank-you email

  • “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, and to explain the company’s needs. I look forward to hearing from you about the next steps in the application process, and welcome any questions you may have about my fit for the role.”

Resources

  • Grammarly If writing isn’t one of your strengths, this AI-powered tool helps you compose clear, mistake-free emails.
  • Readable This tool analyzes the readability of your content, and suggests how and where to make improvements.
What to read next

 

WSJ.com | November 17, 2020 | Deborah Acosta

#JobSearch : 5 Interview Questions to Ask During COVID. Not Only are the Questions you will Be Asked Different, but the Questions YOU ask SHOULD be as Well.

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It’s clear that the global pandemic that has consumed 2020 has also changed the way our professional world operates.  If you’re in an active job search or feel like you may be one of the next victims of a layoff or furlough at your work place, understand that interviewing has changed.

Not only are the questions you will be asked different, but the questions YOU ask SHOULD be as well. Companies have reinvented their work environments due to COVID, and it can leave candidates with questions that need to be answered.

As you prepare for your next job interview, there are some things you will want to consider:

✅ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦?
Companies usually have an onboarding process that may include a week or more of touring the office, meeting key department heads, attending new employee orientation, etc. If you are working remotely, onboarding from home can be tricky. So, what are the plans they have in place to integrate you into your new team? The sooner you are incorporated and engaged, the sooner you will be able to demonstrate you were the right pick for the job.

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

Article continued …

✅ 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞𝐬? Asking this question gets to how they value their staff. You can ask how many employees they had to lay-off temporarily or permanently. How a company treats and values their employees will show you a lot, and may help you determine whether this is a place you want to work.

✅ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝? Most companies will have a protocol in place by this time, but you should know what it is. If they don’t have one, you may want to rethink this company.

✅ 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞𝐬? There are many different types of changes they could have made. There are physical changes within an office building, such as office spacing, cleaning procedures… They could also be offering mental health support to employees struggling with the challenges of this long-term pandemic or losing a family member. The types of supports they have made gives you an idea of the culture and how well the company works together.

✅ 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞? This is an obvious question, but there are ramifications if it is. What tools do they supply to outfit your office at home? Do you know how to use the technology and collaboration tools? What are you expected to provide yourself?

The more you know about specifics before accepting an offer of employment in today’s unpredictable work environments, the more focus you will be able to give to your new job duties.

FSC Career Blog Author: Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog | November 23, 2020

#JobSearch : Where to Search for Today’s Jobs -Finding Your Next Opportunity. It Might Seem Counterintuitive, but the More Experienced you Are, the Longer it May Take You to Find a Job.

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Finding the perfect job takes time, patience and the right resources. It takes people around nine weeks, on average, to find a job once they start searching, according to Indeed.com. The time it takes for you may vary depending on your industry, location and level of experience. It might seem counterintuitive, but the more experienced you are, the longer it may take you to find a job, because employers may see you as overqualified.

But there are some ways you can make the search more constructive.

1. Network.
One of the most powerful things you can do when searching for jobs is actively network. It can be awkward and, for people who aren’t naturally outgoing, requires a bit of courage and initiative.
  • Start with friends and people you know. Get a feel for creating rapport with those you are already comfortable with in order to have some ice-breakers ready to go when you expand beyond your social circles.
  • Find people who have similar jobs to the one you are seeking. Let them know you would like to learn more about their jobs and see if they know of any openings in the industry. The more you make connections, the easier it will be to gather intel on what is available.
  • Force yourself out of your comfort zone. Start reaching out beyond your immediate circle once you feel like you have a good rhythm. You don’t need to contact 10 people right out of the gate. The first couple of cold calls are always the hardest.
  • Know that people genuinely enjoy your interest in them. Don’t feel like you are imposing on people by asking about their jobs. Steve Dalton, author of the “Two Hour Job Search” told us, “It’s an old maxim that ‘interested is interesting.’ They take a reciprocal interest in you because you have good taste in who you listen to speak, and that’s where jobs come from.”

 

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

Article continued …

2. Start your search with online job boards.

Looking at online job boards is an efficient way to find opportunities. Most employers use one or more of them to find candidates.

Glassdoor: Glassdoor is known as a resource for researching a potential employer. You will find ratings and reviews of different employers on a range of topics, such as compensation, company culture, how generous benefits are, and what employees think about top executives.

Indeed: Indeed’s main function is as a search engine for jobs. It also happens to be one of the most popular sites for job candidates, which makes it attractive to employers trying to cast a wide net in search of potential candidates. It has other value-add offerings, such as a salary comparison tool, allowing you to look at compensation trends among different industries. It also allows other users to review companies, providing insights into what it might be like to work for or interview at certain companies.

Ladders: The selling point of TheLadders is that it only features vetted jobs with annual compensation of $100,000 or above. It offers a well-curated index of jobs by industry and skill specialism. It also allows you to filter by the highest-paying companies in each industry.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn markets itself as a “professional social network” where, aside from job listings, you can potentially reach decision makers at the companies you wish to apply to. Candidates can get an edge by looking at the profiles and posts of those who they might be interviewing with for insights into their career paths. Since users’ profiles are always available to view and the platform is used for networking, LinkedIn allows potential employers to find you whether or not you are actively seeking a new job. This sets it apart from other job sites.

SimplyHired: This site can flag job openings to you based on your location. It also offers a resume-building tool with a number of templates and formats specific to your career. Employers aren’t charged to post jobs on SimplyHired, so the quality of the jobs may not be quite as high as on other boards.

Upwork: If you are looking for freelance gigs, there are a wealth of job opportunities on Upwork, particularly if you have technical or design skills. The platform is well designed for bidding on jobs and communicating with those commissioning the work.

ZipRecruiter: ZipRecruiter’s key features include an option to message with employers through the site and a one-click application option. The platform will also let you know when employers are looking at your resume.

Key takeaways from job boards

  • Different boards have different features, so it makes sense to use more than one to take advantage of the resources they offer.
  • Researching a potential employer can help you decide where you want to work.
  • You can streamline your search using boards that cater to certain pay levels, or based on employee and interviewee feedback.
3. Get an inside track by joining a professional organization.

Professional organizations can be a useful way to network with people in your industry and give you access to jobs that might not be widely found on the job boards we mentioned above. JobStars has a list of professional organizations you can use as a starting point for finding one relevant for your search.

4. Get someone to be your job advocate. Work with placement agencies and job recruiters.

Agencies and recruiters can maximize your search potential by actively looking for work for you. Once they have familiarized themselves with your skills and experience, they can be an additional resource pounding the pavement to help you land your dream job.

Keep in mind agencies and recruiters will receive a fee from the employer for placing you, and companies only work with a preferred list of agencies and recruiters. This can work both for and against you, depending on whether the job you are hoping to get is one they have been approved to recruit for.

You can find lists of recruiters and agencies by industry on JobStars. Other websites where you can find recruiters include SearchFirm, Online Recruiters Directory and Recruiterly. For creative jobs, a great place to look is Aquent.

 

WSJ.com | November 11, 2020 | Anthony DeRosa

#JobSearch : Why Is It Important to Keep Executive Recruiters Happy? The Six(6) Don’t.

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Executive recruiters are a very useful resource for employers in the hiring process. They can have a profound effect on whether or not you get hired. This means you need to keep them happy in order to ensure you get the job.

Here are some very important things to keep in mind that will help you keep recruiters happy.

1- Don’t be dismissive. Even if you’re happy in your current role, or just extremely busy, take a moment to speak to search consultants or to call them back. While you may not be interested in the position they’re seeking to fill, you may know someone who might be a good match. Search professionals appreciate getting references and practicing the law of reciprocity.

 

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

Article continued …

2- Don’t surprise them. More importantly, don’t surprise their clients. If you have a blemish on your record, let them hear your version first, before they learn it secondhand.

3- Don’t embellish. Even at the highest levels of executive search, some candidates can’t resist the urge to embellish their resumes. Sometimes they don’t get caught. In nine cases out of 10, however, they do. Avoid the pitfall and be honest.

4- Don’t fail your own history test. It’s surprising how many candidates can’t recite their own professional histories in chronological order. Know exactly what you did and where and when you did it before meeting with a search consultant. And it’s a good tune-up for meeting with a prospective new employer.

5- Don’t neglect your homework. Some candidates will spend the first 10 minutes of an interview asking basic questions about the position and the company at issue, showing that they never bothered to read the search specification. Candidates who do independent research create a favorable impression and show their clear interest in the new opportunity.

6- Don’t forget your manners. When meeting with an executive-search consultant, remember that every word, gesture or inflection will be duly noted.

Keep these in mind and you will be able to keep your recruiter happy and get the job.

 

FSC Career Blog Author: Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

FSC Career Blog | November 19, 2020

 

#JobSearch : Five Steps For Nailing Your Video Interview, No Matter What Your Age. The Whole Key to a Job Search is Mindset, No Matter What your Age.

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In today’s remote working reality, an online presence can be a two-edged sword. Done right, and you own the space. Done haphazardly, and your professional persona could be doomed. If you are interviewing for a job in this competitive COVID-19 environment, mastering online presence is critical. If you are an older candidate, it is non-negotiable.

“The job search can leave us feeling especially vulnerable,” said Natalie Venturi, an executive presence coach. “Because most job interviews today are over Zoom, feeling confident and self-assured makes it easier to focus on connecting with the interviewer and leaving no doubt that you can do the job.”

Due to stereotypes about candidates age 50+ not being tech savvy, mastering an online presence is even more important. Showing comfort on camera and easily navigating remote tools helps you own the space.

Venturi outlines five critical areas to help you nail your next video interview.

Intention: Take a few minutes to consider the outcome you want from the interview. How do you want to show up? What one thing do you want to project more than anything else? While your intention might be nailing the interview and getting the job, Venturi recommends that you focus on what you can control. Perhaps you want to convey focus, curiosity, engagement, or authenticity. Whatever the intention, write it down to help you remember. Let that be the last thing you reflect on before starting the interview.

 

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

Article continued …

Interview Prep: When you research the company, take note of the organization’s values. How can you align your values to theirs with examples of your work? What kind of stories can you tell to emphasize those values in action? Personal examples are powerful, but Venturi cautions brevity – no more than 60 seconds for each response. Once you feel ready, record a mock interview with a friend. Watch it afterward to evaluate where you have room for improvement.

“The whole key to a job search is mindset, no matter what your age,” said Venturi. “Feeling competent with your online presence gives you a professional advantage whether interviewing for your dream job, leading a team through organizational change or delivering a sales presentation.

On-Camera Set Up: Before the interview, take a moment to notice your surroundings. How do you look on screen? Your set up should allow you to look straight into the camera, versus up or down. Lighting and background are crucial, according to Venturi, who suggests you skip the virtual background and opt for a solid backdrop instead. Youtube offers plenty of short tutorials on background, lighting, webcam, sound, and clothing choices – like this one from the Wall Street Journal. Before the interview begins, test your on-camera presence, check sound, and make adjustments as necessary.

Physicality: Physicality is about how you take up space. Show engagement by leaning into the camera instead of sitting further back. Use a chair without arms to allow yourself to move more freely. Physicality is also about your appearance and how you sound. Whiten your teeth, enunciate your words and dress for the part –but don’t wear a suit unless you are in banking or finance.

Energy: Everything is energy, according to Venturi. Engage with energy. Use your intention to project the kind of energy that leaves recruiters and hiring managers feeling comfortable in your presence and reassured with your abilities. Be fully present, maintain eye contact and project your voice. Leverage this energy to drive the conversation, find out what the interviewer needs and then succinctly convey how your skillset will enable you to meet the need – and then some.

“The whole key to a job search is mindset, no matter what your age,” said Venturi. “Feeling competent with your online presence gives you a professional advantage whether interviewing for your dream job, leading a team through organizational change or delivering a sales presentation.”

 

Forbes.com | November 18, 2020 | Sheila Callaham

#JobSearch : Insider Gives Top Resume Tips For Older (40 & Up) Job Applicants. “Yes, Ageism is Real,”

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“Yes, ageism is real,” said Ron Visconti in a recent career guidance webinar geared at applicants aged 50 and older. Visconti, the founder and executive director of Phase2Careers, a nonprofit organization assisting workers over age 40, knows a thing or two about ageism in the workplace. He has worked with small and large organizations, both public and private, on recruitment and career transition issues.

When it comes to the resume, Visconti says job seekers must understand the negative perceptions and bias directed at older workers. When applicants know the barriers they’re up against, they can craft their resumes to defuse those stereotypes and dismiss fears. 

 

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

Article continued …

Visconti offers these guidelines to increase interview opportunities and, if all goes well, a solid offer.

  • Recruiters are overworked and don’t have time to analyze your resume for possibilities. They want to see evidence that you can do the job. That’s why it is critical to ensure that your career story is a perfect match for the position.
  • Most resumes go back ten years; however, older candidates typically have valuable experience beyond that. If that experience is relevant to the position you seek, you can add the heading other relevant experience at the end of your career history. Include the name of the company and your title, but do not include the dates of employment.
  • Don’t oversell yourself. Candidates with 20 or 30 years of experience are inclined to emphasize that experience. If a vacancy requires 8 years of experience and you have many more, write that you have 8+ years of experience. Otherwise, you risk experience discrimination if recruiters and hiring managers consider you overqualified.
  • Do not submit a resume longer than two pages. If you require two pages, make sure the content is relevant to the job you seek. Use language that is current and relevant to your industry. And, if you are skilled in outdated technologies, don’t include them in your skillset.
  • Recruiters spend an estimated seven seconds per resume. Make your resume pleasing to the eye with the use of white space. Highlight skills that align directly with the role near the top of the page, emphasizing metrics.
  • COVID has made remote work the new normal. Show relevancy by including your work-from-home setup and familiarity with critical applications such as Slack and Zoom. If those applications are not familiar to you, find someone to mentor you so you can include them in your skillset.

“Your resume shouldn’t be about responsibilities,” Visconti said. “It should be about your achievements and directly relate to the job you are applying for.” 

While there may be stereotypes in the workplace that make it harder for older applicants to get noticed, following these guidelines will increase your visibility to talent scouts.

References to older technologies feed the stereotype that older applicants are not in the game. As an example, Visconti warns applicants never to use a Hotmail or AOL address as a contact.

“Get a Gmail account and don’t feed the myth!”

To join Visconti in a future free job search offering, check out his events page and register.

Forbes.com | November 17, 2020 | Sheila Callaham

#JobSearch : Seven(7) Steps to Renovate and Fire Up Your Job Search. When trying Something Different, You’ll Have to Renovate your Job Search for This as Well.

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If you’ve suddenly found yourself unemployed or furloughed for the first time in a long time, don’t despair! You are not alone. Many of my clients are taking this time to reevaluate what they have done and opting to try something different instead. When trying something different, you’ll have to renovate your job search for this as well.

Overhauling your job search can be a daunting experience. You might have the feeling that you’re starting everything over from the beginning, but that’s not the case. You have tons of experience that will be valuable no matter what job you decide to take. Things like knowing how a business works, getting along with coworkers, and knowing proper work habits already put you ahead of new candidates coming in. You have the advantage over workers with no experience.

 

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

Article continued …

So, how do you renovate your resume? You have a lot of options, so before you start changing your resume, try out a few other options first. One thing you can do is go back to school or get more training. But you should do a self-assessment and see if this would actually be beneficial to you, work with a career counselor and let them help you to the right path. Look around and see what kind of options you have, don’t panic and just try to examine your situation. Then you can begin to retool your job search.

  1. Start with what you enjoy
    Do you have a long-lost passion that you wish you had embarked on? Maybe it was teaching skiing lessons in Colorado, who knows, but just start with what you enjoy. What do you want to continue doing in your next role? Think through the tasks you currently do that you excel at and what to keep doing. Look for roles that focus on those tasks or projects. Perhaps there’s a job related to your hobby that you would enjoy. It could be a completely different field than what you’ve ever worked in, so take a look around and don’t limit yourself. Maybe it’s time to get out there and try your luck.
  2. Create a company list
    Find 20 different companies you’d like to work for. Follow them on social media to get to know what they stand for and what their future plans are. There are always options out there, especially if you’re in a large city. You can find a multitude of positions that would fit your job search choice. But, try to reach out a little past your current job and find something that is different or that would excite you. Put this list together because you’re going to need it.
  1. Create a contact list

For every company you have listed, create a list of 10-20 people you can reach out to via LinkedIn. Go through your 1st and 2nd connections to help you make contact with a decision-maker. Craft a personal message to these individuals, mentioning your common connection.

  1. Begin renovating your resume
    This is definitely key. Start updating your resume to send to these potential employers, but make sure that you emphasize different aspects of your career that would be beneficial to your prospective employer. You should consider getting some help from a professional resume writer, they can take a drab old resume and create the right blend of personality and accomplishments. Make sure your resume is focused on what you want to do NOW.
  2. Network, engage, respond.

Use LinkedIn to network with people in the industry you want to be in. Spend 10-15 minutes on LinkedIn each day commenting, liking, and joining in conversation. Demonstrate your knowledge by posting original content and commenting on other’s posts.

  1. Send resume to potential companies
    Starting sending that new resume out! You have to get your name out there, right? So, what are you waiting for? You already have a list of potential employers, so what’s stopping you? It’s time to get the word out about you!
  2. Starting calling people back
    After sending out your resume, hit the phones hard. Don’t just sit back and wait for the company to call you. Be assertive, show them that you want this position, and that you are right for it. If you’ve renovated your resume correctly toward your new career path and showed the desire to learn, then you can have the job that you want.

 

FSC Career Blog Author: Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog | November 16, 2020

 

#JobSearch : How To Beat Age Bias In Your Job Search – 3 Techniques. Fact: The Unemployment Rate for 45 to 55-and-Older Workers Exceeded the Rate for Mid-Career Workers During the Pandemic.

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For the first time in nearly 50 years, the unemployment rate for 45 to 55-and-older workers exceeded the rate for mid-career workers during the pandemic. The relative jump in this rate underscores the age-related challenges that older workers face in getting hired. If you fall into this group, there’s good news: you can usually overcome age-related barriers to being hired relatively easily.

To do so, understand this key insight: you’re usually not facing age-bias per se. Rather, you’re facing underlying issues that employers think about when they compare you to the younger competition. These issues include:

  • You’re not as motivated to give it your all; you’re coasting until retirement
  • You won’t fit in; you’ll be uncomfortable reporting to someone much younger than you
  • A younger employee can be paid less
  • Your skills are not as cutting-edge as those of someone younger
  • You’re a short-term hire because you’ll want to retire soon

Here’s how to easily address these potential objections to your candidacy (and by the way, these tips are useful for job-seekers of any age).

Show Your Enthusiasm: You can overcome the first three objections around motivation, fit and pay by proactively showing your enthusiasm for the role, and for the prospective employer, in every communication. For example, here’s what my 61 year old client said when she was interviewed by the much younger person she would work for and he asked her “So why did you leave your last employer?”

“I had a good five year run at the company, they liked me, I liked them, and I really helped them over the years. But others were being let go and I had the opportunity to take a package, so I took it. And I’m glad I did because I’m excited to be talking with you. What you’re looking for is exactly what I want for my next act. I understand you’re seeking to expand into Latin America. With my experience there I could help you to jump-start that expansion. In addition, I’ve picked up on your employees’ enthusiasm for YourCo’s positive, collaborative culture from reading online reviews and talking with my colleague who works here. This is just the kind of environment I’m looking to work in for years to come. And I wanted to ask you more about how I can best help you with your….”

Let’s analyze what my client’s response accomplished. The truth was that she was let go and wasn’t happy about it, and also didn’t get along with her prior boss. But she didn’t mention these aspects of her departure because the negativity would hurt her prospects; she would never have gotten an offer. Instead, she briefly described her reason for leaving while emphasizing the positive in her experience, and then pivoted to the three things her interviewer really cares about: how she can help, her motivation and whether she’ll fit in.

In pivoting to the things her interviewer cares about, she chose her words carefully: “I’m excited to be talking with you…,” “how I can best help you…,” “I could help you…” Her frequent use of “you” and “help you” serves to overcome the interviewer’s concerns that my client would not feel comfortable working for someone 20 years her junior, and underscores that the age difference will not be an issue. So use words like ‘you’ and ‘your’ in your answers, and keep reminding them how you can help them personally.

Also note that she was very specific about the reasons for her motivation to work for the interviewer’s company. Being specific conveys sincerity and credibility. You do not want to give generic responses like “Your company is great” without explaining why.

Finally, by emphasizing her strong motivation to help the interviewer and the organization, she reduces the centrality of compensation concerns in the conversation.

 

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

Article continued …

Make it clear that you’re looking for something long term: They may be thinking that you’ll retire soon, so you are only a short-term hire. If you think this might be an issue, mention in your conversations or emails that you are looking for a long-term opportunity. In the case of my client, she included in her response “This is just the kind of environment I’m looking to work in for years to come.”

Be perceived as cutting edge: Older job-seekers are too often perceived as not having skills or interests that are attuned to the latest trends or innovations versus younger job-seekers. Take a three-pronged approach to addressing this issue:

  • Fill any relevant gaps. For example, another 55+ client was an old-school marketing VP, looking for his next role. He really wasn’t well versed in the latest digital marketing approaches, including social media marketing. So he took a class and conducted some additional research. Now he could say he had experience in digital marketing because of the class project he completed and the knowledge he gained.
  • Look for ways to demonstrate that you’re up-to-date. This same client wrote an article on LinkedIn about social media marketing best practices that received great feedback. He linked to this article in his email correspondence and received at least one interview because of it. So consider creating an example of your cutting-edge knowledge somewhere online (LinkedIn article, blog post, website).
  • Demonstrate your expertise through your insightful questions. For example, in an interview this client asked “Have you tried using LinkedIn Sales Navigator in sourcing new business development opportunities?”

Lastly, look to turn your age into a strength, by emphasizing how the years of experience you’ve gained gives you an edge in helping them over your younger competition.

What if they ask me how old I am? While not technically illegal, this question is inappropriate as it implies they are making a decision based on your age – which is in fact illegal. Nevertheless you may occasionally get this question. Like any inappropriate or illegal interview question you receive, focus your answer on addressing their underlying issue without feeling you have to give them the literal answer. For example, you could say something like: “Old enough to have the experience that will help you, and young enough to provide the energy and motivation you need for years to come.”

Forbes.com | November 16, 2020