Posts

#JobSearch : Seven (7) Outdated Pieces of Job Search Advice. Great Quick REad!

There are times in life when people may give you unsolicited advice, like when you’re searching for a job or early on in your career. It seems that everyone you meet is suddenly a career coach with wisdom to share. And while some of the unsought advice we receive is actually quite useful, some of it can be less useful and even outdated.

While the advice-giver means well, here are some outdated pieces of job search advice to look out for and what you should do instead.

1. Your resume should be only one page long.

Unless you’re fresh out of college or have minimal experience, it’s okay to have a two-page resume. In fact, a two-page resume is often your best bet!

That said, if you don’t have enough work history to fill two pages (or even one full page), don’t fill it with excess fluff. Instead, focus on customizing your resume (and cover letter) with keywords from the job posting to help explain why you’re the perfect person for the job.

2. Include every job you’ve ever had on your resume to present a complete account of your professional history.

While two pages is the preferred resume length, there may be times when you have to go to three pages, and that’s okay. However, the only time you would use a three-page resume is when everything on your resume is relevant to your career. That often doesn’t happen until late in your career.

Even if every single thing on your resume is relevant to your career and the job you’re applying for, you still may be better off with a two-page resume.

Though your early high school jobs may show how you got your start in customer service, is it really still relevant to your work history, or is it just eating up valuable space on your resume? Consider ditching the early jobs in favor of filling that space with more recent and in-depth examples of why you’re perfect for the role.

 

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

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

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

3. When your interviewer asks about your weaknesses, offer a positive framed as a weakness.

While this sounds like a good idea in theory, in practice, it often isn’t. There’s a chance you’ll come across as arrogant or lacking self-awareness about your true weaknesses.

The key to answering this question is honesty. Acknowledging that you have a weakness and are aware of it goes a long way toward showing the hiring manager you are willing to examine what you’re good and not good at, as well as mature enough to admit it.

As part of your interview prep, ask yourself what your greatest weakness is, then come up with an answer that explains what you’ve done or are doing to overcome it.

4. Write your resume and cover letter using formal language.

Sometimes this is the correct advice and sometimes it’s not.

Part of any job search involves researching the company and its culture before applying for the job and interviewing with the company. As you write your cover letter and resume, use language that matches the tone and voice of the company or industry you’re applying to, which, in turn, helps demonstrate that you’re a great fit for the company.

For example, if you’re applying to a corporate finance job with a traditional bank, you may want to use more formal language. But if you’re applying to a disruptive tech startup, you’ll likely use less formal, more casual but still professional language.

5. Include an objective at the top of your resume. And don’t forget to mention that you have references available upon request. And include a photo.

These three things used to be almost mandatory on a resume. But like almost everything else we’ve listed here, this is now outdated job search advice.

Instead of an objective, include a resume summary or summary of qualifications. These few sentences capture the essential reasons why an employer should hire you.

As for references, employers assume you have them, so there’s no reason to mention them. And no one includes a picture on their resume anymore. In fact, including a picture could land your resume in the trash. Instead, add a photo to your LinkedIn profile.

6. Always wear a suit to an interview.

This advice also falls into the “sometimes right” category.

What you wear to an interview depends on where you’re interviewing. Thanks to your research, you’ll know if the company is all suits and ties or shorts and T-shirts, so dress accordingly.

That said, if the company does appear to be shorts and T-shirts, you’re better off dressing slightly up instead of trying to match the office look. While flip-flops and concert tees may be the company “dress code,” it’s best to wait until after you have the job to start dressing that way. Dressing up for an interview, even if it’s khakis and a collared shirt, shows the company that you’re serious about the interview and the job.

7. Stay at a job for several years and don’t bounce from job to job.

While older generations could count on staying at the same company for decades and often did, this is no longer the case.

Sticking around in a job that makes you miserable does neither you nor the employer any good. So, if it isn’t working out, it may be time for you to restart your job search, even if you haven’t been there for very long.

Likewise, if you’ve been in a job for a few years but are bored by it or no longer believe in the company’s mission, you may want to start looking around for a job too.

Lastly, people that hop from job to job or even career to career are no longer viewed with suspicion, as long as they can explain why they job hop and how said hopping would benefit the employer.

Staying Up to Date

Like most things, job search advice changes with the times. What works today may not work next year, next month, or even next week. That’s where a career coach can help out!

The FlexJobs career coaching team stays up to date on the best in job search and career advice. Members get deeply discounted career coaching rates. Join FlexJobs today and get the latest in job search advice. Take the tour to learn more.

Don’t forget to share this article with friends!

FSC Career Blog Author:   Brie Weiler Reynolds, Career Development Manager
FSC Career Blog – December 29, 2021
linkedin sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button

#CareerAdvice : #JobSearch -The Best #JobSearchAdvice from Top CEOs at GM, 23andMe, Hilton & More… Best of FSC Blog! Great Read.

There’s no doubt about it: the job search is tough. You have to spend time and energy revamping your resume, writing cover letters and practicing for interviews, and even then, you’re not guaranteed a position. The good news, though, is that you get a little bit savvier at every step. With each interview needed to get to the next level, you get better at marketing yourself, communicating confidently and reflecting on your experiences thus far. So by the time you’re at the top of the company ladder, you’re practically an expert at what it takes to get a job.

With this in mind, we chatted with and researched the best job search advice from the Top CEOs of 2018. If your job search strategy hasn’t been working out so far, one of these tips might just do the trick.

1. Find a Mentor

It’s a well-known fact that personal connections are one of the most effective ways to find a job. If you develop a strong relationship with an industry mentor, they’re often able to connect you to people, companies and opportunities that can advance your career. Even if they can’t directly hook you up with a job, though, they can serve as a fantastic reference who can speak to your work ethic and personal character. But make sure you choose the right one, advises Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors.

“There are mentors in the workspace all around you — peers, the seasoned professional, your supervisor, the supervisor one desk over,” Barra said in an interview with the Women@Work podcast. “People often reach out [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][to me] saying, ‘Will you be my mentor?’ And I say, ‘Let’s talk about that, because the better person to be your mentor in the organization is someone who sees you every day, someone who knows you at your best, and someone who can give you opportunities to improve.’ So I always redirect them: Find mentors in the people around you who you respect.”

See Open Jobs at GM 

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

FSC LinkedIn Network:   www.linkedin.com/in/fscnetwork

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Sun-Consulting-LLC-Outplacement-Services/213542315355343?sk=wall

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/115673713231115398101/posts?hl=en

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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(#career, #leadership, #life) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

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

Continue of article:

 

2. Try a Little Bit of Everything While You Still Can

When you’re just beginning your career, you might not know for sure what you want to do yet. And really, that’s okay. You don’t have to go looking for your dream job right away. In fact, trying out many different fields can be an asset, believes Anne Wojcicki, CEO of 23andMe. Not only does this make you more marketable in the future — the more skills you have, the more doors open for you — but you’ll also have a better chance of identifying what you really love doing.

“Enjoy the uncertainty and the adventure of figuring out the world and what you want to do. 20-year-olds can get away with adventure and exploration in a way 40+-year-olds can not. So enjoy asking all the questions and trying all the different jobs and realize that each new experience helps shape your views of the world and what you want to do in it,” Wojcicki said in an interview with Glassdoor.

See Open Jobs at 23andMe 

3. Give Lesser-Known Companies a Chance

If you’re only applying to Fortune 500 companies or tech titans, don’t get discouraged when you don’t hear back. The name recognition and prestige of these companies lead to hundreds, thousands or even millions of candidates applying to them — Google, for example, sees about two million applicants each year — so your odds may be better if you explore more under-the-radar companies. You’ll also gain exposure to multiple roles at smaller companies, helping you discover what you enjoy doing and increase your skill stack.

“My suggestion is to visit the websites of the top-tier [venture capital firms] and click through their portfolio companies, and apply to a few that seem especially interesting,” Sanjit Biswas, CEO of Samsara, told Glassdoor. “High-growth tech companies are a great place to accelerate career growth — you’ll get to see decisions up close, and the short feedback loops are some of the best ways to learn what works and what doesn’t.”

See Open Jobs at Samsara 

4. Show You’re a Team Player

It’s hard to think of any job nowadays that doesn’t require some degree of teamwork, and because of this, companies expect candidates to be adept collaborators. Lean into the opportunities you have to work with others at your current job, Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta advises.

“Make sure that you contribute in every way that you can, and really become a team player. Nothing gets done in today’s world without a village, so to speak. While we all make individual contributions, ultimately it’s about how you as a component, particularly as you’re getting started, work with other people,” Nassetta shared with Glassdoor. Employers want to see “ways where obviously you’re contributing and you’re creating significant value, but you’re doing it as a member of a team and not just as an individual contributor.”

Learning to work well with others, and then drawing on these experiences in your cover letter or when answering behavioral interview questions like “Tell me how you handled a difficult situation” or “What are some of your leadership experiences?” can really make you stand out to recruiters.

See Open Jobs at Hilton 

5. Follow Your Passion

You may not end up in your ideal job right away, but when you’re thinking of settling down at a job or company for the long haul, make sure that it’s one you’re passionate about. For one, we spend about a third of our waking lives at work, so it’s worth spending that time doing something you enjoy. But for another reason, you simply tend to be better at what you do when you find a job you’re passionate about.

“My #1 job tip is to look for a job that you want to do. We spend a lot of time at work, and it’s important that we enjoy what we’re doing. We only go around once, and we’ve got to keep that in perspective,” said Bernard J. Tyson, Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente, in an interview with Glassdoor. “Nothing is promised to any of us [at] the end of the day. The key to that is to be in step with the culture of the organization where you work.”

See Open Jobs at Kaiser Permanente 

6. Consider Alternate Paths

Following your passion, though, doesn’t always mean rigidly clinging onto one idea of The Perfect Job — there are often multiple ways to explore the fields you’re most passionate about, Michael Mahoney, CEO of Boston Scientific, explained to Glassdoor.

“I knew from a young age that I wanted to get into healthcare. I was inspired by my grandpa who was a pediatric cardiac surgeon. I grew up admiring how he helped so many children. I remember sneaking into his library when I was a kid. I’d sit in his chair surrounded by all his medical books and dream about being a doctor,” Mahoney shared. “After earning a solid C- in organic chemistry, I elected to change course and approach healthcare a little differently. It was a great lesson for me.”

Rather than pursuing a different field entirely, Mahoney chose to go into the business side of healthcare — and his decision paid off. Today, Mahoney oversees an organization of 29,000 that helps create lifesaving medical devices.

See Open Jobs at Boston Scientific 

7. Do Your Research

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: recruiters want informed candidates, the kind of people who look up a company beforehand and gather information on its culture, products, business model and more. Because by researching a company, you don’t just show that you’re knowledgeable about it — you also show that you care about and believe in it.

Brian Halligan, CEO of HubSpot, mentioned in an interview with Glassdoor that his company specifically looks for candidates who have taken it upon themselves to learn about his company and its products.

“One tip I’d give all applicants is to review HubSpot’s culture code before interviewing and to use the software — we give tons of it away for free,” Halligan said.

See Open Jobs at HubSpot 

8. Take Risks

Whether you’re on the fence about applying to a position you’re slightly underqualified for or reaching out to a coworker you haven’t spoken with in years for an informational interview, don’t let a fear of failure hold you back.

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk,” said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a 2011 interview. “In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”

Sure, there’s no guarantee that any one particular risk will pay off — but if you keep swinging big, you’re bound to reap the rewards eventually.

 

GlassDoor.com |  |

[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]