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#JobSearch : Don’t Overlook These Two Perspectives In The Job Search. GReat REad!

September 22, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

When Brian, a well-known data scientist, was laid off in April, he said it was “one of the worst nights of sleep of my life.” He wondered how he would take care of his family, and what sacrifices they would have to make.

“Oh, and by the way,” he said, “there’s Covid raging in the background.” Because of this, losing healthcare was a huge fear.

The ramifications of unemployment bring many fears for the millions of unemployed Americans. While the most recent jobs report shows job prospects slowly improving, there are still 7.8 million more people unemployed now than in February.

The millions who are unemployed face an emotional toll that can impact their job search. While securing a new job remains difficult, two perspectives can give you an edge: the perspective of those who have found new jobs (and who are willing to share advice) and the perspective of those with power to hire you.

The Emotional Toll

It’s vital to take the anxiety and grief of losing a job seriously—whether you yourself have lost a job, or someone you love has. Suicide rates increase during times of widespread unemployment. Worldwide, this may leave us with somewhere between 2,000 and 9,000 additional suicides per year due to Covid unemployment, predicts The Lancet, depending on what the unemployment rate is for the year.

Anger, anxiety, jealousy and loss of identity or sense of purpose are examples of feelings that may arise, says the Mayo Clinic. “Not everyone will have these feelings, but even those coping well with unemployment may experience some of them sometimes.”

And even those who maintain their jobs harbor survivor guilt when their companies have laid off a lot of competent and hard working colleagues around them.

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

Article continued …

Emotions And The Job Search

For those on the job market, anxiety and grief don’t always disappear the instant an organization expresses interest. Perhaps, like many people, you’ve walked into job interviews feeling desperate. Maybe you needed the vindication that you weren’t supposed to be laid off in the first place, or you were concerned about your dwindling savings or unpaid bills.

Whatever the case might be, how do you make sure feelings of desperation don’t show up in your performance as a candidate?

Contrast the feeling of desperation versus curious indifference (say you still have a job and actually enjoy it but see your professional growth at this current company ending soon, so you start looking around). Your tone, body language and choice of words will probably be very different if you don’t “need” the job. Employers can sense that. Desperation generally doesn’t attract, it usually detracts.

What Helps Job Seekers

What helped Brian after he was laid off? After a terrible night of sleep and many anxieties, he took an objective look at his situation. He looked around at the other 89 people who had been laid off, and he thought to himself, “these are good people, too.”

In addition to this, he names four other practices that can help.

1. Choose your internal narrative.

Colleagues expressed shock that he had been laid off: “I can’t believe they let you go!” or “It happened to you? That’s crazy!” His kids also encouraged him, making sure he knew they had no doubts at all that he would find another job.

If you receive such words of encouragement, hold onto them, whether they are coming from colleagues, former teachers, family members—anyone at all. Let them shape your internal narrative. For my colleague, choosing to listen to these words allowed the encouragement to form a helpful narrative that fueled his networking. If you want to be able to tell good stories as you network and interview, start by telling yourself a narrative that helps rather than hinders you.

2. Pour yourself into networking.

Soon after being laid off, Brian announced his situation on LinkedIn. He framed the post positively, inviting people to connect and send him projects. The post received tens of thousands of views—the most views a post of his has ever received, he says. In the days that followed, his network increased by 75%.

During that time, many people asked to chat with him. Sometimes they would share a business idea, sometimes they wanted to learn more about data storytelling (that is his specialty after all). He was glad to connect. His networking perspective was always, “My situation is not awesome, but can I help other people?”

For others who want to build their network, he recommends commenting on others’ LinkedIn posts without trying to sell them anything. He suggests asking connections if you can talk with them for 30 minutes. Don’t approach it from the perspective of “hitting them up for a job,” he says. Just connect in some way, and then, ask them, “if you see anything, let me know.”

It’s also essential to find ways to highlight your character as you network. Your credentials will be evident from your LinkedIn profile, so as you get to know people, you make yourself memorable when you show them who you really are.

When he posted on LinkedIn about being laid off, Brian focused on how he was still “cautiously optimistic some good things will come out of this mess we’re all experiencing.” This shows both his resiliency and his realism (the pandemic is, after all, nothing short of a “mess”).

3. Document your accomplishments.

This is important for people who are still employed, says Brian. If you have to leave the company, it will be far harder to capture data. How many leads did your project generate? By what percentage did you increase revenue? In such a volatile job market, you’ll want to add the data to your resume now.

I also advocate capturing your accomplishments all year long on the job, and keeping a story library full of stories that are already shaped and ready to tell. Also, keeping a story library with many types of stories helps you choose the story that is most relevant for each situation and audience.

4. Build your brand.

Brian also had an advantage because he had built his personal brand. He had recently published a book and was a speaker at high profile events.

“Being a thought leader was a parachute for me,” he says. If he had not invested in his personal brand, he notes, he wouldn’t have had the same “cushion.”

The one practice he didn’t find helpful? Applying for jobs. He put energy into applying for jobs, but it was always a moving target, he says, and he heard nothing in response. He felt like the hiring managers were “standing on sand,” and even CMOs and SVPs could not pull the trigger on hiring people they wanted to employ.

Networking, he found, was a much more effective use of energy. Within a week or two after his layoff, an analytics company connected with him to say, “just reaching out to see if you’re interested….” He was hired soon afterward.

Embrace the Hiring Manager’s Perspective

Another way to embrace curiosity is to imagine the perspectives of those who hold responsibility for hiring decisions.

Companies always want to work with talented employees who are invested in their vision, values and goals. Even during a hiring freeze, companies should be developing “a solid pipeline of talent prospects,” says Jennifer Ho, vice president of HR at Ascentis.

Job seekers can become part of this pipeline by starting to network with companies whose vision, values and goals are well aligned with their own. Each interaction with them—even if it’s just a comment on a LinkedIn post—can be an opportunity to demonstrate that you “get” them.

Hiring managers also say they have their eye out right now for people who are good at remote work. Skills that make people successful at remote work include “resourcefulness, autonomy, self-motivation, proactive collaboration, and written and verbal communication,” says the Society for Human Resource Management.

Hiring managers also want to know how you are different from other candidates. A colleague of mine once lamented that hiring is difficult because, “I can’t figure out who the candidates are anymore,” since their answers focus solely on their accomplishments, rather than their character.

“We hire people we shouldn’t have,” she told me. “It’s hard to see from their answers, ‘Is this a person I want to work with? Are they joyful, are they optimistic?’” Stories capture this; laundry lists of accomplishments don’t.

With stiff competition for each available job, crafting your story is more important than ever. If you want to learn storytelling techniques and polish your story for the job search, sign up for my free webinar, Tuesday, September 22nd, 12-1pm CT. (And here’s how you can learn why I decided to offer it for free.)

Forbes.com | September 20, 2020 | Esther Choy

#JobSearch : Job Hunting? It’s Not Your Age It’s Something Else. Age Discrimination is Still Alive and Well in the Hiring World.

September 22, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Age discrimination is still alive and well in the hiring world. Not hearing back from an employer when you apply for a job is one of the most painful aspects of a professional job search, but it’s very much a reality during the crazy pandemic of 2020. Baby Boomers have to wonder, is it my age? Or is it something else?

“99% of the time, companies will not get back to you,” says Brenda Abdilla, a Certified Career & Leadership Coach. She is the author of an insightful new book, Outsmarting Crazytown: A Business Novel About How Derailed Professionals Can Get Back On Track (2020, Indie Books International). She explains, “You are a professional who has earned respect in your field with an impressive track record, humbling yourself by applying to job after job. Yet, you hear nothing back from companies where you have applied—even some that have interviewed you. This reality is not about to change. ‘No response’ has become the norm. Expect to hear nothing until you do—and then you can be delighted.”

Abdilla is a Professional Certified Coach, professional speaker, business consultant, and executive recruiter who has worked with thousands of top-level professionals in sales, management, and leadership. She has done executing coaching helping many individuals land a promotion. She refers to the current workplace as living in “Crazytown.”

When asked to explain, she said, “Crazytown is when work turns into a headshaking, logic-defying, maddening place for you. Crazytown can be a situation, a state of being, a culture, or just your own private hell—at work.”

Abdilla does not blame the companies. “It may surprise you to hear that most Crazytown workplaces are not created out of evil or malintent, she says. “We are not talking about a sinking company. On the contrary, at the core of what has gone awry is usually a good intention. The company is trying to save money, or increase profits, or choose a new product path, or expand their market—all good intentions.”

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

Article continued …

While many people assume it is age discrimination, Abdilla has a different take. “It’s not your age—it’s something else. At some point, every job seeker over the age of 45 will wonder if they are not getting calls because they are just too old. Unless you apply to roles that obviously attract applicants in their twenties, such as social media or SEO, then chances are there is something other than your age foiling your efforts. The first place to look is your resume to see how well targeted it is for your ideal role. Applicants well into their fifties or early sixties can get plenty of action if they have a clearly written and well-targeted resume, razor-sharp interview skills, and an eagerness that shines through every aspect of the job search process. Easier said than done during the humble act of finding a new role, but worth the work,” she noted.

Here is her advice for anyone over age 50 looking for a new role.

Deal with your career baggage first. The longer you have been in the workplace, the higher the chance you have endured unpleasant experiences that turned into career baggage. Take, for example, Elena (age 51). Elena had a stellar career in land development right up until she was let go in an acquisition a few years ago. The shock and humiliation of being laid-off tainted every aspect of Elena’s search for a new company even though she said she had “let that go.” Elena found the whole process of a job search beneath her, and she didn’t even realize that she was condescending to recruiters and not playing the job search game very well. Elena finally went to a therapist and addressed some of the feelings and damage from the lay-off. She had no idea how much baggage she was still carrying around.

Stay in your lane. So, you are burned-out in your role and ready to try something different? Switching industries or even specialties (like from sales to ops) is very challenging for a seasoned professional—especially once you pass 30. Why? Because the very experience that got you to where you are today is what will keep employers from being able to clearly see the “new you” you have in mind. The more experience you have, the more this becomes true. You are only going to get a response to your online application if it is in alignment with your experience. Right or wrong, the market is obsessed with experience. The only way to sidestep this reality is if someone in your network can vouch for you and “put” you in a new lane, or if you are ready to start your own company or buy one.

Don’t raise the age flag. Do you really need a five-page resume? And does your top bullet really need to say that you have 35 years of experience when “20+” would do the trick? No one is suggesting you lie or attempt to deceive recruiters, but you need to be aware of the myriad ways that you are inadvertently drawing attention to your age instead of your fit for the job. For example, how you address millennials is an easy trap for older applicants to fall into. Saying things in an interview like, “I noticed on LinkedIn that you attended the same University as my youngest daughter,” may seem like a good conversation starter. Still, you just became a parent in that interview instead of the brilliant, global key accounts director that you are. Other areas in which you need to be conscious about aging yourself include fumbling with your technology during virtual interviews, not knowing current lingo for your industry, and not learning how to play the online job search game (For more insight on the new job search changes read, How COVID-19 Has Changed Hiring And Job Search And How To Be Successful.

Set your pride aside. To compete in the market as an experienced individual, you will have to set aside the feeling that the whole job search process is beneath you. Stop saying, “I have never had to interview before.” You do now. The sooner you accept the challenge and get yourself into an eager mindset, the sooner you will land that new job. Setting your pride aside may also mean you have to update your wardrobe, hire a personal trainer, or change your hair. The idea here is not to look younger—it is to feel your best and to present your best, most confident self. Finally, setting your pride aside probably means you need to tighten up your resume, your interview skills, and your online search capabilities.

Forbes.com | September 22, 2020 | Robin Ryan

#JobSearch : Job Searching the Hidden Job Market. How Do you Do This? Have a Plan! A MUst REad!

September 21, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

In a climate like the one we are in, it’s easy to feel like we will never find the job we want, or that ‘no one is hiring’. However, you can increase your chances of landing multiple interviews if you can tap into the “hidden” job market, or, the one that hasn’t been advertising. Contacting the companies/contacts directly makes a much more powerful impact then random online resume posting.

How do you do this? Have a plan! This may take a little longer, but it’s the best way to control your job search, land quality interviews and increase your pay scale.

1) Get your online presence together. Chances are, if you are going to be Googling companies, they will Google you. Get your LinkedIn profile job search ready. Make sure it is fully-branded and optimized. Fill it out completely, not leaving anything off. Show your stuff.

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

Article continued …

2) Make a list of your target information— industry choice, job position, company listings, etc. This takes time, but it’s important to know what you want before you start heading in a direction. If you don’t take aim, you will hit it every time.

3) Do a Google search on your industry and job titles. There may be quite a few, but you can weed through what you like and don’t like. You can also do a local business search with the same requirements and see what you come up with.

4) Send your resume directly to the hiring person. This is usually the person who is 2-4 levels above where you see yourself within the company. Make sure your cover letter is short and concise.
If this method makes you squirm a little, remember that you will see significantly higher results than you would normally. It’s also good to move beyond your comfort zone. Clients who’ve used it report more interviews, shorter interview cycles, and less competition. This also works much better than blindly submitting your resume to lots of job search engines and reduces your anxiety of not knowing if the person who you want to see it really saw it or not.

In the end, it will give you greater job search confidence and renewed excitement about the job search process. Try it and see. Then let me know how it went.

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 | September 21, 2020

#JobSearch : 11 Simple Ways To Build A Relationship (Not Just A Rolodex) When Networking. A MUst Read for ALL!

September 19, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

One of the most popular questions I receive as a career coach is, “How do I develop an ongoing relationship with a new contact?”

It’s a valid question because a “one and done” approach isn’t really networking, even though many approach it that way and then wonder why they’re not seeing results.

The primary goal of an initial meeting or introduction to a new person when networking should always be to get a second meeting. While you may also receive helpful guidance, valuable feedback or even an introduction to another contact, those are secondary to building the relationship. A great tip or piece of advice might help in the short-term, but the true value of networking (to both parties) comes over the long-term, so don’t be shortsighted in your approach.

Here are 11 ways to build lasting relationships when networking:

1- Invest in them. A common error people make when reaching out to a new contact is not investing in them first by learning about their career, achievements, publications and other public information that contributes to their success. If you expect someone to hop on a 20-minute call with you, you need to invest at least that much time researching them. Ideally, you’ll have followed them on social media for a bit, read their articles or listened to their podcast appearances.

Why this works: Investing in a new contact demonstrates you’re committed to building a relationship, not just having a tactical conversation with the hopes of getting something from them. As you continue to follow their work, “like” or share their content and reach out occasionally to comment on something you’ve noticed or read to remain top of mind.

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

Article continued …

2- Get an introduction. Although not always possible, an introduction increases your odds of getting a response from a stranger because there is already a level of trust built with the mutual contact. Why this works: When you share a contact in common, it creates a triangle relationship, which means there is an increased likelihood of running into the new contact in other contexts and a shared commonality that will keep the connection warm. A related strategy is introducing your network to others who may be mutually beneficial to create more triangle relationships that expand over time.

3- Have an agenda. If you don’t have a plan or clear direction for the informational meeting, it will seem like you’re wasting the contact’s time. Investing in the contact prior helps with this step. Your goal should be to ask questions your contact is uniquely qualified to answer and you can’t find answers to on Google. I like this format as a strategy, because it both inspires interesting conversation and relays some strengths you bring to the table.

Why it works: You’ll me more memorable if you are organized, thoughtful and confident. Most professionals are happy to help others, especially if they are impressed by your initiative and preparation.

4- Follow their advice. Even if subtle, most times you’ll walk away from a network conversation with some potential next steps, so listen for these tidbits as they can be both helpful to your career, and also to building the next step of the relationship. Perhaps your contact mentions an association they belong to, or a favorite book or thought leader they follow.Even if not directly recommended, take these ideas and run with them.

Why it works: If you take something you’ve learned in your brief interaction and implement it, your contact will immediately feel valued because they were able to help you. Follow up after a few weeks to let them know what next steps you took based on their advice and specifically how it helped you. They may offer additional advice, which creates yet another opportunity to follow up and continue the conversation.

5- Have an ask. You know not to ask for a job in an initial networking meeting, but you should ask for something, whether advice, a recommendation on a next step or potentially even an introduction if the conversation goes really well. Some contacts may offer this outright, but if not, you can ask in a non-threatening manner such as, “You mentioned that your former colleague Jim had a similar career trajectory as me. Would you be open to introducing us?”

Why this works: You’re more likely to get help from your network if you ask them for something they can easily provide with little time investment or risk to their reputation. If they hedge or hesitate, it’s likely they don’t feel comfortable, so don’t push it. But if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.

6- Keep track. When you’re networking regularly, it can be easy to forget who introduced you to whom, what the common experience was, or specifics you learned in the meeting. Keep a journal, spreadsheet or other record of when and how you met, any advice they shared, personal details they mentioned (e.g., favorites, children’s names, pets, etc.) and their contact information.

Why this works: Most people are impressed when you can recall specific details about a conversation or about them personally. Remembering things that are important to your contact shows you value the relationship and will help to build trust over time.

7- Send a thank you. This one should be obvious, as should sending a personalized note to connect on LinkedIn. However, since I’ve seen many overlook this step, I’m including it. Not only is it the courteous action to take after someone offers you their time, but it’s also an easy second contact point. Use your message wisely by including something personal or particularly helpful from your conversation to show you were paying close attention and reiterate how valuable the interaction was for you.

Why this works: Mostly this establishes you as an emotionally intelligent human who respects the cultural norms of being gracious. However, it can also create a follow up if you include something like, “And I plan to read the book you mentioned and will let you know my feedback after.” Then be sure to follow up in a few weeks to establish you’re someone who keeps your word.

8- Tee up a next meeting. Getting permission to follow up always makes the next outreach easier. While the opportunity may not always present itself, take advantage of it when it does. For example, “I’d love to reconnect with you after I officially finish my program in a few months” or “Your recommendations have been very helpful and I’d love to keep you updated on my progress in this area.” Then, be sure to follow through with a brief update, not another ask.

Why this works: It’s rare that a contact will refuse a request to stay in touch in the initial meeting, and sharing how you’ve implemented their ideas confirms that their time and advice was valued.

9- Use technology. Advances in social media and other technology platforms have made staying connected as easy as clicking a button. While not the best way to establish a new relationship, social media can be a tool to support your network and remind them you’re out there. Create a workable strategy that fits your lifestyle such as spending 15 minutes scrolling through your LinkedIn feed each morning and commenting on or sharing your network contacts’’ content or posts. Send birthday wishes or anniversary congrats when the opportunity pops up.

Why it works: It’s a simple technique to create brief touch points between more meaningful interactions. Also, it keeps you informed and may inspire additional reasons for future meetings.

10- Make it a habit. While most think of formal networking when building professional relationships, you may be surprised at how many helpful contacts you can meet through everyday life. Consider social gatherings you attend, community events, friend of friends or family, sports activities and other personal interests and hobbies. Ask questions, be curious and remember that everyone has something of value to offer, including access to their own network.

Why this works: It’s easier to build relationships in casual situations or when enjoying a shared hobby since there isn’t that awkward elephant in the room. Plus, if you have a common interest, it’s likely you’ll have opportunities to continue to connect, which is how relationships are cultivated.

11- Ask how you can help. Again, this may not be possible in the moment, but it’s a nice gesture and one that your new contact may take up at a later date. Perhaps you’ve heard something that gives you clues to how you might reciprocate, but if not, don’t make it awkward. A simple thank you note after your meeting can go a long way, as does taking your contact’s advice and letting them know.

Why it’s helpful: Simply offering to help in the future should the opportunity arise adds the context that you’re viewing this interaction as developing into an ongoing relationship versus a transactional meeting.

And lastly, here are a few actions to avoid when networking:

Don’t force it. You won’t build a relationship with everyone. Some people won’t respond, others will feel like their obligation is complete after the initial meeting, and you won’t click with everyone you meet. It’s just a reality, so don’t take a blanket approach to networking. Evaluate each potential relationship individually and don’t force it if you sense the connection isn’t there. Being forgettable with an influential contact can often be better than leaving a strong negative impression.
Don’t bring your resume. Giving someone your resume automatically creates a transactional experience, so leave it at home. However, know that a new contact will likely view your LinkedIn profile prior to meeting, so ensure your brand and market value are clearly communicated there. Unless there is a specific job opening your contact can refer you to directly, it’s best to keep a resume out of it initially and focus on building the relationship.

Even if you find it difficult to network, you’ll see it begins to feel more natural the more you practice. And when you build in a follow-up plan before the initial outreach, you’ll start to see how simple it is to create repeated contact points that have the potential to develop into long-term connections.

Happy hunting!

Forbes.com | September 18, 2020 | Dawn Graham

#BestofFSCBlog : #CareerAdvice 101- What to do When you Don’t Know What to Do. Got Kids? MUst REad!

September 18, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

I was talking to a friend recently about her son who is a freshman in college. Now he’s not so sure he wants to keep his major in Mechanical Engineering, even though it has been his dream for years to design and work on cars. I think college kids have it tough, because it is a hard decision to make at 17, “What do you want to do for THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?” I didn’t even realize what I wanted to do until I was about 26, so I feel for the younger kids who are pressured early on to ‘pick a major‘.

So, it got me to thinking about our choices when we are adults. What happens if we change our mind? What if I don’t want to write resumes anymore, but I’m not really sure what I want to do? What would my next step be? Here are a few simple ideas to help you get started:

1) Well, for starters, if you really have no idea WHAT you want to do, I would suggest enlisting the help of a Certified Career Coach. A career coach is trained in helping people figure these things out! They will gather your likes/dislikes from you, coach you on possible positions, and work you through the pros and cons.

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

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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’ ?

Article continued …

2) Take an assessment. The internet is loaded with lots of free sites where you can take behavioral, career, and personality assessments. I just recently took one and was surprised by what it said. It was so true, but the information it contained hadn’t really occurred to me. An assessment will highlight your strengths and weaknesses, and also may offer insight into which jobs might be a match for you. They are quick and easy to take. Fun, too!

3) Do what you love! There is a saying that goes, “Do what you love, and the universe will support you”, or in other words, do what you love and success will follow. I did not love sales, and I was not good at it, therefore success didn’t follow me (not one bit). However, I always loved writing, always loved helping adults with career transitions/job searches, and discovered I had a knack for resume writing. Presto! I love it, and I make a nice living by doing it. What is your hobby? Can you make money from it? Give it a whirl. You never know.

4) Research Occupations. Do your homework and look up jobs that have always sounded interesting to you. Go on an informational interview or shadow someone whose occupation you would love to be in. Don’t feel embarrassed about asking; people love to talk about themselves and what they do! I always felt that another calling of mine would be event planning.

I know my organized, anal retentive, attention-to-detail side would be perfect for it, and who knows? It could be a back-up job. I did my research on the different characteristics and strengths needed for the job and found a match. Look up occupations that interest you online, read the details, and see if you match up. Figuring out what you want to do is no easy task for most of us, so go within yourself and find out what you would truly enjoy. Look it up online and see if there is a calling for it anywhere. This is the fun part. The world is full of possibilities, so go grab yourself some!

FSC Career Blog | September 18, 2020

#JobSearch : How To Appear More Intelligent: 5 Ways To Look Smarter Than You Are. It’s Only Natural to Want to Impress Someone on your Next Job Interview.

September 16, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

It’s only natural to want to impress someone on your next job interview. However, trying to appear more intelligent may not be the smartest move. When your reach exceeds your grasp, it makes you look desperate. And trying to look smarter than you are can blow up in your face. But, with the current job market, most people are looking for an edge. Everyone wants to appear more intelligent, and therefore more valuable, to an employer. Authenticity – being yourself – is always the smartest choice for the interview.

So how can you let your intelligence shine through, and appear more intelligent when the stakes are high? Here’s the smartest way to convey what you’ve accomplished, in the career conversation.

1- Never Do This in the Job Interview: It’s counter-intuitive, but using big and fancy words isn’t helping your cause. As Einstein said, “If you can’t explain something simply, you don’t really understand it.” Life is complicated enough, especially in this day and age.

Don’t try to reach for impressive words. Sure, you want to demonstrate that you understand the jargon of your industry. But what do you think the company is looking for: someone who can complicate a process and make it denser and harder to understand? A convoluted conversation isn’t helping your cause. Simplify your speech, if you want to access opportunity. Instead of trying to impress someone, why not try to serve them instead? Why not choose the words that will help everyone the most? Because if your words are impressive, but you don’t get the job, well, how smart is that?

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

Article continued …

2- Learn to listen. It’s been said that EQ is more important than IQ. EQ stands for emotional intelligence. That means your ability to sense and read the emotions of others, while maintaining control over your own emotional state. The only way to raise your EQ is by learning to listen. Can you hear that?

Sometimes thoughtful consideration is the most important part of the conversation. When would your silence speak volumes for you? Intelligence comes to those who listen for it. If you’re running your mouth 100% of the time in the interview, how is that helping your cause? Consider that the questions you ask – and the way you process the employer’s answers – shows your emotional intelligence. And gets you closer to the job.

3- Remember this: A lot of what is considered “intelligence” is just good memory. In the job interview process, have key metrics and data at your fingertips. It’s easy to memorize pieces of information – which ones are going to help you most? Make a list of key numbers that you can share: how many people you supervised, how many social media followers you gained, how much revenues you brought in to the company last year…you get the idea. But don’t forget the importance of synthesis: how you bring facts and figures to bear on current issues is where higher-level thinking shows up. Data alone is never enough. Be sure to connect the facts from the past to the solutions of the future.

4- Tell the truth. If you need to be someone you’re not in order to get this job, it’s never going to work. Building your career on posing, or clever fiction, is the opposite of intelligence. The most powerful conversation is based on honesty. What’s the most honest thing you can share, right now? How can you turn trust into a super-power? If you want to appear more intelligent and smart, tell it like it is. Honestly, you’re going to be hired for your insights, and the way that you share them, so don’t rely on alternative facts to build your career.

5- Don’t Tell People You Are Smart. That’s the dumbest thing ever. Have you ever met someone who went to a particular school and they can’t go five minutes without mentioning that fact? Or maybe someone who grew up in a particular town who wants to make sure you never forget it. That kind of repetitive personal branding is exhausting and counter-productive, especially in the job interview process. Telling people how smart you are invites suspicion: if you’re so smart, why are you constantly advertising it?

The key to the interview is to stop telling people about your history, and start demonstrating it. The easiest way to go from telling to showing is through a single word. Here it is: because. It’s because you went to school at Northwestern that you’ve discovered something…something about your area of expertise…something about yourself…something about leading teams. Get it? The word “because” can help connect your interviewer to your past experience. Be relevant, not redundant, if you want to make the smartest move.

Success comes to those who prepare for it. Just as you have curated your background on LinkedIn, consider how your background appears on a video call. An intelligent person would be deliberate about how they show up in an interview. Even though nobody can see you from the waist down, research shows that wearing professional attire helps your focus and concentration (two aspects of intelligence).

Don’t fall into the trap of restating your background, in an effort to establish credibility. Consider this prompt instead, as a starting point for your next job interview: “Let me share with you something that’s not on my resumé…” Start by looking in the direction of service, and choose the words that will serve your employer in the most powerful way. Because demonstrating how you can create solutions is the most intelligent thing a smart candidate can offer.

Forbes.com | September 16, 2020 | Chris Westfall

#JobSearch : Best Way To Open An Interview To Secure A Job Offer.Think of This as Your 60-Second Verbal Business Card. A MUst REad!

September 15, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

We would like you to come in for an interview.” Those wonderful words are what every job hunter wants to hear. Kathy, 55, an HR Manager, called me immediately after she got off the phone with the recruiter. She said, “This job opportunity is ideal for me. I’ve been inside my company for the last 18 years. I haven’t had to interview as I just got promoted. I want to stand out and make a good impression, but I’m not sure how. Can you help?”

Kathy was pleased that her resume had gotten her this far. Next comes the difficult part of convincing the employer that you are the person to hire. The interview failure rate is between 75-80%. So how can you change that and dramatically improve your odds of being offered the job?

Answer: The 60 Second Sell.

In an interview coaching session, Kathy learned how to take control of the job interview immediately. We developed her 60 Second Sell, a job interview technique I created years ago and have been teaching to book readers, students, and career counseling clients. It is a tool that helps you target your skills to meet the employer’s needs. It allows you to summarize your most marketable strengths in a brief and concise manner. Successful job hunters have found that the 60 Second Sell is the most influential tool they used during the interview process. They praised this technique because it was very effective in capturing the employer’s attention.

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

Article continued …

Think of this as your 60-second verbal business card. It will summarize your best skills, accomplishments, and previous experience in a well-thought-out fashion that will immediately make the employer know why they should hire you. The 60 Second Sell is a proven shortcut to your success. Many career counseling clients have reported it was the best job-search technique they’d ever used. It’s easy to create and easy to implement. Once you’ve learned this technique, your interviews will be significantly improved because you will be able to do the most important thing necessary to land a job—get the employer to recall you and top your abilities.

The Formula: Creating Your Strategy

Examine your previous experience. Write out the key responsibilities for each job you’ve held. Note any significant accomplishments. Zero in on your essential work strengths—those abilities where you excel and are most productive. Use your network to get as much background as possible about the employer and the position’s needs. Many times, your contacts will point out the very aspects that you must stress. Other times, there will be little information available, and you will need to guess based on your general knowledge about performing the job.

After reviewing the employer’s and position’s needs, determine which of your abilities and which aspects of your experience will be most relevant to the employer. Then create your top five selling points, known as the 5 Point Agenda, and use each point to build a robust picture emphasizing how you can do the best job.

In Kathy’s case, the company wanted to find a progressive HR partner to lead its organization. They needed a strategic leader and a true business partner. Her 5 Point Agenda needed to stress her achievements. Here are the top five selling points she was going to emphasize.

Job opening: Human Resources Director – 5 Point Agenda

Point 1: Award-winning human resources leader.

Point 2: Provided strategic direction and led the company culture initiatives that resulted in the company recently being named a national best-places-to-work organization.

Point 3: Strong entrepreneurial drive was responsible for delivering new programs, HR systems, and significant policy enhancements.

Point 4: A strategic and operational business partner working closely with top executives.

Point 5: Exceeds goals and expectations.

Human Resources Director – 60 Second Sell

“I’ve been an award-winning human resources leader with fifteen years of experience providing strategic direction. I’m proud to share that my current employer was recently named a national best-places-to-work company. I am a global thinker who contributed to the company’s success as a strategic and operational business partner, and we have cut attrition by 60%. I display a strong entrepreneurial drive at work. I have been responsible for delivering new programs, HR systems, and major policy enhancements that have shaped our current work culture. My CEO has repeatedly recognized me for my innovative leadership that often exceeds goals and expectations.”

How to use it

Most interviews are over before they ever really get started. Most job hunters are shocked to learn that the interviewer is often distracted, thinking about previous candidates or other work that needs to be done. You need to immediately capture the employer’s attention and get him tuned in to you as a top-notch candidate. Open the interview using your 60 Second Sell. Typically the first question you are asked in an interview is Tell me about yourself. In one interview I conducted with the CEO, I got a twenty-minute answer. After the first minute or two, the prospect totally lost my attention. Had the person answered with a 60 Second Sell, he might have started the interview by grabbing my attention and keeping it. Questions such as Tell me about yourself require a brief summary noting your most marketable skills, not a life story.

Another question to which your 60 Second Sell is the perfect answer: Why should I hire you? This question is asking you to convince the employer to hire you. Other applicable inquiries include: What are your strengths? What makes you think you are qualified for this job? What makes you think you will succeed in this position? Why do you want this job? These questions offer you an excellent way to stress your 5 Point Agenda (your most marketable skills) using your 60 Second Sell.

The 60 Second Sell is effective because it immediately demonstrates your strengths and illustrates how you will fill the employer’s needs. It gets their attention quickly, makes you stand out, and keeps them interested. This technique is also an effective way to close the job interview too. Read about that here in this Forbes article: How To Close An Interview To Land The Job.

Forbes.com | September 15, 2020 | Robin Ryan

#JobSearch : How To Handle a Lack of Education on Your Resume. The Good News is, There are Ways to Camouflage Minimal or Lack of Education.

September 14, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

I get lots of clients that are concerned about their lack of degree on their resumes. It is very common and is one area that is a sensitive spot. When beginning the process of resume writing, what to put under ‘Education‘ can be daunting.

The good news is, there are ways to camouflage minimal or lack of education. If you started college but never finished, you can list the name of the school, years you attended, and major. If you want to focus on some relevant coursework taken while there, list the classes.

You can add any professional development courses or training you’ve taken. This always looks great on a resume and fills in the space that lack of degree left behind.

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

Article continued …

In the unusual case of no education or training at all, omit the section completely and concentrate on making sure your accomplishments stand out.

Whatever you do, don’t fabricate a degree. We’ve all seen the news and watched top execs be publicly stoned and dethroned after being “found out” that their big degrees were big lies.

Something important to consider: not every employer is looking for education… or will exclude a candidate because of lack of it. Remember: BILL GATES DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL.

The majority of the time, employers are more interested on your contributions or accomplishments. If your work history is impressive, then you don’t have to worry about education, because your accomplishments speak for themselves. You will have to portray yourself as successful WITHOUT the degree. Not all self-written resumes do the trick. That is where a resume writing service comes in. At the risk of sounding pitchy, a certified resume writer knows how to bring out your best qualities and focus on what the employer wants to see– with or without the education.

Remember how hard you’ve worked to get to where you are today. THAT is what you will sell on your resume… what you did for one company, you can do for theirs. THAT is the bottom line.

FSC Career Blog | September 14, 2020

#JobSearch : If You’ve Been Interviewing Without Any Success, It’s Time For A Self-Help Checkup.

September 14, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

If you are not gaining traction in your job search after months of trying, it’s time to take stock of what you’ve been doing. It’s not easy to engage in critical self-introspection. You’d like to think that you’re doing everything right, but no one is giving you a chance.

That could be the case, but to play it safe, it makes sense to conduct a self-assessment and audit of your actions to determine if you’re doing your best in pursuit of a new job. Here’s a checklist to help you figure out if you need to improve your job search strategy and efforts.

Check Your Tone

It’s easy to become jaded, frustrated and angry with the interview process. It’s particularly stressful when we’re in the midst of a pandemic, millions of people are out of work, you’re stuck at home and the news seems bleak.

Although it’s understandable to feel aggrieved, you can’t let it show during the interview process. Hiring managers, recruiters and human resource professionals desire people who are positive, motivated, sharp and exude confidence. They feel that this type of person can add value, work well with others and contribute in a positive and meaningful way.

Be honest with yourself. Do you come across bitterly, talk badly about your past bosses and co-workers? It’s a big turnoff if you act like a resentful malcontent. With so many people seeking out new jobs, the people involved with the interview will take a hard pass and move onto someone who has a nicer disposition that fits in with the corporate culture.

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

Article continued …

Focus on the details

Take a fresh new look at your résumé, LinkedIn profile and social media presence. On the logistics side, you must ensure that your grammar, punctuation and spelling are accurate. Photos, background and any other graphic additions should be clear, in focus and serve to burnish your brand. Remember to include a phone number and email address, so people can easily contact you. Add links to projects that you’d like hiring managers to see.

Your responsibilities, past accomplishments and achievements should jump out at the reader and make them take notice. Be specific and quantify your success with data, numbers and examples. Make sure that whatever you write is the truth. If you embellish too much, it could blow up in your face during the interview and background check.

Make sure that your résumé, LinkedIn profile, elevator pitch and social media profiles and postings highlight your success, brand and core responsibilities. It’s imperative that you tell the reader what you want to do next, so that they understand your goals.

Interviews now—and for the foreseeable future—will be conducted via online videos. Ensure that you have all of the appropriate technologies and tools to succeed. Conduct trial runs to check if everything is working properly. This should include a check to determine if the picture quality is poor, connection spotty, background inappropriate for your brand, the lighting too dark and the mic doesn’t work well. Audit and remedy these inadequacies far in advance of the interview.

If you haven’t done so already, please practice online interviewing with some trusted advisors who can offer meaningful and actionable advice, feedback and critiques. Keep in mind your body language. Are you squirming in your seat, averting eye contact by looking everywhere else besides the camera lens, crossing your arms or noticeably getting distracted from the call?

Shooting yourself in the foot

Your job search is now your job and utmost priority. A thorough, well-thought-out strategy to achieve your objectives is necessary. We’re not in the type of job market in which you could just “wing it.” Just like a sports team has a game plan and a road trip requires a map or GPS system, the same holds true for your job search. Yes, you want a job, but you also need to have a daily system in place to execute your objectives on a consistent daily basis. If not, you’ll waste precious time going around in circles.

If you bombard a company with résumés and application submissions for over a dozen different job listings, this approach will epically fail. The corporate human resources and talent acquisition professionals will assume that you’re taking a scattershot approach to your job search and couldn’t care less about the job or company. To them, it’s like you’re throwing things against the wall and hoping that it sticks.

It’s smart to be conscious of other people’s time. When offered an interview, graciously inquire what days and times work best for them. Never provide a time-slot availability too early in the morning, late in the day or right before or after a long weekend. The interviewer may accept these awkward times, but inwardly resent you for making the person drag themselves into an interview at 7:30 a.m. after a long holiday weekend.

Much has been written about corporations ghosting candidates. Just because they do it, it doesn’t mean you should too. Don’t disappear during the interview process. If something comes up that requires you to reschedule a meeting or temporarily pull out of consideration, be polite and let them know what’s happening. They’ll understand. They won’t, however, understand if you go dark on them. They’ll think of you as rude or a flake and simply move on.

Takeaway

Review all of your actions—big or small. Continually ask yourself:

Am I paying attention to the important details on my résumé, LinkedIn and social media?
Does it represent me the way I’d like to be perceived?
Do I come across positive and upbeat or downcast and surly?
Should I devote more highly focused time to my daily job search?
Is my tone and body language a selling point or ruining my chances?
How am I acting—accommodating or inconsiderate?

Sometimes things boil down to the many small, incremental actions you take on a regular daily basis. Thoughtfully continue to check on what you’re doing. The aim is to ensure that you’re doing everything within your power to succeed in the job search.

Forbes.com | September 13, 2020 | Jack Kelly

#JobSearch : Looking For A New Job? Here Are 10 Places You Might Have Overlooked. Great Read!

September 13, 2020/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

The labor forecasts are dismal, predicting steep increases in additional layoffs with hiring being relatively stagnant. These statistics are enough to depress any job seeker.

However, if you’ve been applying online and hearing crickets, you’re not alone. An online job search may feel productive, but it’s actually one of the most competitive and least successful ways to search for new employment. Afterall, since more than 70% of the available openings are in the hidden market (aka, not advertised in public), applying online means you’re competing with 100% of job seekers for 30% of the available roles. The odds are already against you.

So, the trick to finding new employment in a tough job market is to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing and search for work in places the majority are not also looking.

Here are some places where job seekers have found success that you may not have considered:

1- Boomerang. If you’ve not heard this term in relation to careers, then it may be something you have overlooked in your current job search. A boomerang role is when you return to a previous employer after working elsewhere for a period of time. The benefits of this to the company include hiring a “known” employee who is familiar with the company culture and tools, and also brings new ideas and skills. While many companies aren’t hiring for full-time roles during the pandemic since the future is unknown, they still have many projects to complete, so a former employee who knows the systems and processes can be a great contract hire.

How to do it: Reach out to the people you know who are still at the company and get the insider scoop of how the pandemic has impacted the organization and what new problems have arisen. Listen to learn if there are any outstanding projects, new challenges or opportunities to contribute in a meaningful way based on your prior experience. Then, make a direct proposal. It could be a win-win in the short-term, and even potentially in the long-term.

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

Article continued …

2- Your inner circle. While it’s true that many opportunities come from what Granovetter defined in his 1970’s research as “weak ties” (those people outside of your inner circle), it’s often your strong ties who make the introduction to those individuals, usually with a glowing endorsement. But if they don’t know what you’re looking for specifically, they can’t be an ambassador for you. You may believe the people closest to you understand your brand and specific market value, but likely they only know the highlights (e.g., general field, perhaps company name). This means there’s an opportunity.

How to do it: Have a formal conversation about your career with individuals in your network. First, ask if there’s anything you can help them with, and then share your career goals with a specific ask. Not an ask for a job, since they likely don’t have one or else you’d have known about it, but rather an introduction to someone in their network, or any information they may have on a company you’re targeting, or perhaps a request to do some digging at their company to see if anyone has projects or needs help in an area where you have expertise. Make it easy for others to help you and those in your inner circle will do everything they can to try. Commit to follow up every few weeks.

3- Projects, contracts and gigs. When unemployed, many look for full-time work, mistakenly believing that it’s more secure than a contract. This is a false assumption in an “employment at will” State, so don’t overlook opportunities that may help to get your foot in the door (the hardest part of a job search!). Contract work is an often overlooked segment of the job openings, so just by opening up to these roles, you’re already ahead of the game. The major benefit of these roles is having the chance to show a company first-hand the valuable skills you bring to the market. Also, you’ll learn new skills and build new network contacts, which can help with your career down the road.

How to do it: Whether searching online or through your network, don’t limit your search criteria to only full-time roles. Check out some of the sites like FlexJobs and SoloGig as well for ideas. When connecting with your network (preferred method), mention that you’re open to both full-time and project work. Others may assume that you aren’t open to short-term employment, so be clear in your outreach.

4- Hang a shingle. Although this isn’t for everyone, if you have an expertise in an area that others are willing to pay for, you may consider starting your own business or side hustle. For example, if you have recruiting experience, you can help job seekers create resumes or hone their interviewing skills by joining LinkedIn’s Profinder. If you have a CPA, maybe you can help individuals or small businesses that need accounting assistance through Freelancer.com. If you’re a tech whiz, offering to help others build websites or increase their SEO on social media might be a great temporary gig. Maybe you’re handy and can sell your services on sites like TaskRabbit. Creativity and determination can open a door you hadn’t considered before.

How to do it: Assess your skillset and the problems the market is facing to find the overlap. Start with people you know to assess if your idea is viable (a broad sampling) and to shape your ideal customer and marketing pitch. Create a free website (or use already existing social media like LinkedIn or Facebook) to create an online presence so others can learn more about your services and inquire. Also, considering setting up an LLC to protect your personal finances, and be sure to follow the Federal and State tax laws .

5- Send a proposal. This is something I’ve seen work, but you need to be targeted and do your homework. Identify a company you would like to work with and do an analysis of the market, customers or industry that could be helpful to their business. You can also research challenges the company is tackling and send ideas of what may be helpful. In order for this to work, you need to know the industry well and put some effort into the proposal you create. Also, be prepared that it may not lead to a direct offer, but could impress the decision-makers enough to keep you in mind for the future.

How to do it: Pick one or two select companies in an industry you know very well. Identify a problem or an area that may help the company increase revenues, and then build a strategic plan. The key is to approach this project as if you’re in a leadership role at the organization. If you can learn non-proprietary information from an insider, that can certainly help. Then, compile a proposal with ideas (including cost analysis, potential obstacles, competitor analysis, ROI, etc.) and network to find the appropriate decision-maker to send it to.

6- Follow the news trail. Although it’s easy to get distracted by the doomsday and political news on social media, make it a habit to follow the business news. Often there are hints about an organization’s hiring needs long before they’re ready to draft a job posting. If you currently only follow mainstream media, consider local business journals and industry publications relevant to your field. You’ll likely be surprised at what you can learn.

How to do it: Narrow down your market and start to follow the companies (or targeted geography, etc.) you’re interested in. Set up Google Alerts, follow companies on Twitter and subscribe to publications that align with your targets. Look for information that indicates a potential need for new employees including restructuring, expansion, changing regulations, new products or services, a shift in leadership or strategy, a different customer base, etc. Follow the chain to identify what potential opportunities these organizational shifts may create and start networking your way in before these roles get taken or published to the masses.

7- Change industries. If your industry is one that has been crushed by the pandemic, it may be time to stop waiting and start investing in a new industry. Fortunately, an industry switch is one of the less difficult career changes because you can rely on your strong functional skills to pave the way.

How to do it: Identify peripheral industries such as vendors, feeder fields or those with a similar customer base as a place to start. The more you know about the field, the easier it’ll be to convince an employer to consider you. Another option is to look at industries that are growing during the pandemic and will likely continue to such as supply chain, pharma, and communication technologies. Then, research the challenges, customers, competitors and outlook for the new industry so you can clearly map out how your functional skills translate to profitable returns.

8- Find people at booming companies. Since not all positions are posted online (up to 70%), look at people you know in your network who are currently working at companies that are benefiting from the impact of the pandemic. Organizations like Amazon, Zoom and Netflix are raking in the profits from the changes in societal norms and may have roles that appeal to you. Also, look at places or services that you’ve been frequenting more during the pandemic. The wine industry, certain types of manufacturing plants and technology companies can barely keep up with demand.

How to do it: Be creative and talk to others to learn what is happening. Often our small world isn’t representative of what is going on in the larger environment, so be a sleuth and get curious. When you discover something of interest, be direct with your network contact that you would appreciate a referral and tell them why you’ll make a reliable employee. It’s okay to take a “bridge” role, but if you’re asking someone to spend their social capital on you, they need to trust you won’t tarnish their reputation.

9- Temporary agencies. Depending on your experience doing temporary work, you may have skipped this option in your search, but don’t be too quick to judge. While multiple one or two week roles strung together may not be ideal, often reliable temps can progress to juicier assignments (e.g., 3 – 4 months for maternity coverage), and many agencies staff temp-to-perm roles and even some permanent positions. In addition, you’ll likely get some guidance with your resume, and some agencies even offer benefits after a time.

How to do it: Check out The SMB Guide’s top ranked staffing agencies, as well as local or regional agencies. You can usually find reviews online to help you choose, so do your homework. Also, never pay a staffing agency. The company that engages the agency to hire workers is responsible for payment, so walk away if asked for money. Lastly, treat the interview like you would any other full-time professional role – dress the part, show up on time, prepare for the interview, bring your paperwork and know your availability.

10- Online customer service. What used to be considered a probable scam is now a booming business, especially as more companies embrace remote work. Of course, you’ll always want to do your due diligence (offers that sound too good to be true often are, especially if they reach out to you directly, ask for inappropriate personal information or require money to join). However, with the growing virtual workforce and increase in technology services, shipping and other online services, these opportunities are growing.

How to do it: Check out websites like LiveOps, Working Solutions or Upwork or look for these roles at large companies with customer service departments. These jobs can often have flexible hours, and if your assignments aren’t full-time, you can continue to network and look for other opportunities while earning money and building new skills.

The keys to securing employment in a down market include being open, using your network, getting creating and being willing to directly ask for what you want. A fortunate silver lining of the pandemic is that many individuals are hungry for connection and are building new relationships (or rekindling old ones), and people want to help. They can only do that if you do the heavy lifting, figure out your targets and take action.

So, invest in yourself, do your research and let go of ego. If you start to do the opposite of what other job seekers are doing, you’ll soon notice others who are envious of all the opportunities coming your way.

Forbes.com | September 12, 2020 | Dawn Graham