Tag Archive for: #jobsearchtips

You are here: / / #jobsearchtips

Posts

#JobSearch : How To Stay Resilient During Your Job Search. Job Searching, Especially for Extended Periods of Time, Can Be an Isolating Experience.

/in /by

The latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the average duration for unemployment in the U.S. is currently 21 weeks. For most job seekers this means preparing for a marathon, not a sprint: spending the best part of six months on any new task takes resilience, and navigating the post-pandemic job market can be particularly grueling.

No matter where you are in your career, if you’re entering this job market, it is inevitable that you are going to hear “no” more than you hear “yes.” An open role results in one hire, but getting there often involves more than 100 applicants, of which typically 20+ will be qualified candidates. Usually only six folks will get through to in-person interviews with the hiring team. Therefore even getting to the interview stage gives you, at best, a 17% chance of success.

The asymmetry of information in the hiring process has a compounding effect: as a job seeker you only have as much information as the company is willing to share, and here in the US at least, it’s unlikely that you will receive much actionable feedback as you progress through the process. Preparation for a post-pandemic job search necessarily includes reaching acceptance that six months of activity will likely be conducted in what can feel like a cone of silence.

Get Clear About Your Personal Runway And Likely Length Of Search

In his paper “A Theory of Human Motivation” Abraham Maslow described a “hierarchy of needs” that need to be met in order unlock motivation. Often portrayed as a pyramid, the foundations of human motivation are basic needs such as food, shelter, and rest. Although this theory dates from the 1940’s, it is still relevant in today’s job market: a key factor in creating psychological safety for your job search is being really clear-eyed on what your personal financial runway looks like.

Before you do anything else, compile a basic spreadsheet so that you can understand your household “profit and loss” account. How much does it cost to keep the lights on, and how much do you have available in liquid assets? If your monthly cost of living totals $5,000 and you have $60,000 when you combine your available savings, severance payment and state unemployment insurance, then your personal runway is 12 months.

Getting a realistic view of whether you have enough to cover what will likely be a six-month job search creates psychological safety, but also allows you to plan ahead if it looks like it will be prudent to either try to trim monthly expenses, or to take a “bridge” or “survival” job.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

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

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

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search 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, Networking, etc) 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 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

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

 

Article continued …

Set Boundaries Around Your Job Search Activity

The adage “your new job is to find a job” absolutely applies, however the critical caveat is that you’re now your own boss, and you get to set the hours and location for this new job. Once you’re into the rhythm of your job search (leveraging the tools that make sense in your industry, but at a minimum setting alerts on job boards to serve you all new relevant postings every 24hrs) you can realistically get all of your daily tasks completed within a 90-minute window.

Whether you get your applications, networking and any interviews done in one sitting, or broken up into smaller chunks, do not allow yourself to spend the whole day doom-scrolling LinkedIn. Being caught up in a layoff is almost never desirable, but one of the small silver linings is the gift of time. Try to avoid squandering that time and confine your job search activity to finite windows, then use the rest of the day to pursue activities you typically wouldn’t have time for.

Get Outdoors, Find Community And Give Back

Job searching, especially for extended periods of time, can be an isolating experience. Finding community can help to replace some of the lost workplace camaraderie. It can be especially beneficial to use some of the extra time you now have to volunteer in your local community. Doing so helps return some structure to your week, it also gives you access to folks that you otherwise wouldn’t meet and can open doors in surprising ways.

Suspending your gym membership for the duration of your unemployment doesn’t mean that you must forego physical exercise. Wherever you are in the country you will find cycling, hiking and jogging clubs that offer up a range of (free) benefits. They give you structure, they provide community, they get you out of the house, and you burn calories along the way.

While your job search is unlikely to be enjoyable, building a framework and support structure for the endeavor is the best way to stay resilient whilst you look for your next opportunity.

Forbes.com | March 6, 2024 | James Hudson 

#JobSearch : 5 Effective Marketing Tips For Professionals Who Just Got Laid Off. Great REad for ALL!

/in /by

Many professionals went through a tough time with their jobs last year. A large number of planned job cuts reached 89,703, going up by 15% since February. From the beginning of the year until now, job losses have gone way up to 270,416, shooting up by a massive 396% compared to the same time last year.

Around 1,450 folks working in the U.S. tech sector have lost their jobs, as counted by Crunchbase News. And if that’s not enough, Layoffs.fyi tells us that a whopping 1,157 tech companies have let go of a staggering 257,778 workers in 2023. If you’ve recently experienced a job loss, know that you’re not alone. Numerous individuals are encountering comparable challenges. Here are five practical tips to help you navigate tough times and get back on your feet.

1. Take a Pause to Figure It Out

Experiencing a layoff is tough and can bring a lot of stress to you and your loved ones. Studies show that being laid off is the seventh most stressful life experience. Rather than getting stressed, think of a layoff as a chance to start over somewhere new, with different opportunities and challenges.

The initial step to realign your professional path is to take a brief break. Given the increasing number of layoffs, it becomes crucial to strategize your next moves. Taking this pause enhances your likelihood of discovering new opportunities in the months ahead. Use this time to think about your skills, strengths, and the job market. This will help you plan your next moves wisely.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

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

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

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search 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, Networking, etc) 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 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

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

Article continued …

2. Invest Time In Skill Development

The job market is evolving rapidly, and continuous skill development is crucial. Dedicate time to enhance or acquire new skills. Online courses are a great way to start, offering a flexible and accessible way to boost your capabilities.

This investment in yourself makes you more capable, and companies are likely to notice your efforts when they’re looking to hire. The goal is to become someone companies find hard to resist hiring because of your valuable skills.

3. Craft A Compelling Personal Brand

Today, making yourself known online is like having a secret weapon for job hunting. It’s a strong tool that helps you stand out. Your mission? Make a personal brand that shows off what makes you special – your skills and what you’re great at. Start by updating your resume or CV with all your latest achievements.

Now, take your skills online. Use social media like LinkedIn to make a consistent and real online image. Share your work journey, talk about what you know, and connect with others. Your personal brand, when done well and kept the same everywhere, becomes a story that tells employers why you’re awesome.

4. Build Strong Professional Connections

When you’re promoting yourself after a layoff, it’s not just about how you show yourself but also about the folks you link up with. Get in touch with people in your industry—colleagues, mentors, and friends from previous jobs. Keep the connection alive by regularly checking in and participating in professional conversations. This could open doors to valuable mentorship, career advice, and even potential job opportunities.

Moreover, attend online events, join communities, and participate in networking activities to grow your connections. Remember, your network might be the key to reclaiming your dream job, so utilize it wisely. They could offer valuable insights and even help you find new opportunities.

5. Be Consistent in Your Job Hunt

Finding a job after being laid off can be tiring and downright frustrating. But here’s a straightforward tip to keep you moving forward: commit to doing at least one job-hunting task every day. This small but consistent effort can make a big difference.

Your daily tasks could be updating your resume or online profile, applying for a specific job, creating a new profile on a job search website, or having a conversation with a mentor. The key is to stay engaged with the job search process regularly.

In addition to exploring traditional employment, consider other options like freelance work, contract positions, or even starting your own small business. These alternatives may open new doors and provide valuable experience while you navigate your job search journey.

As we enter deeper into 2024, job seekers are bracing for more challenges. A recent survey by ResumeBuilder.com reveals that a concerning 38% of larger companies anticipate layoffs in the coming year. Shockingly, 96% of organizations have already made cuts in the past 12 months, and 92% plan to do so again in the next year, as reported by Randstad RiseSmart. The uncertainty surrounding job losses persists, leaving many wondering when this cycle will end.

In times like these, the strategies shared in this guide can be a lifeline for those navigating layoffs. Remember, while the road ahead may be uncertain, your ability to adapt and follow these effective tips can make a real difference in facing the challenges that lie ahead.

Forbes.com | February 5, 2024 | Goldie Chan

#JobSearch : 5 Steps To Get Hired During The September Surge. Best Months for Candidates are at the Beginning of the Year, Spring, and of Course, September.

/in /by

You may have seen the trend all over your TikTok feed or in recent articles — the September Surge for hiring is here. Most recruiters, hiring managers, and career coaches agree: now is the best time to update your resumes and start hunting for a new role if you want to land one by the end of the year.

So what is this September Surge? It refers to the uptick in hiring that occurs in the last quarter of the year. The surge happens because of two things. First: hiring managers and recruiters are mostly back now from their summer vacations. And second: Many companies and brands have a remaining budget to accelerate hiring and help hit certain revenue targets as the year ends. This way, they can end the year on a high and have a complete team that’s ready to hit the ground running early next year.

I’ve been in the HR and recruitment space for the better part of the decade, and have seen the best months for candidates are typically at the beginning of the year, Spring, and of course, September. If you’ve been in the market for new opportunities, your time is going to come sooner rather than later, especially if you follow these five tips to get hired during the September Surge.

1. Get specific on what you want

Remember rage-applying? Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend it. While it’s true that you shouldn’t pin your hopes on just one or two applications, you also shouldn’t go and just hit “easy apply” to every open role either.

It may feel counterintuitive, but the more narrowed and specific you get on what you want the more, the higher your chances become of actually landing it. What I recommend is for you to make a list of all the great qualities you are looking for in this next role. Here are some questions to help you get started:

  • What kind of company do you want to work for?
  • How would you describe what your ideal manager and team look like?
  • What skills do you want to flex in this role?
  • What projects and type of work do you not want to do?
  • Where would you like to be located?

Once you get clear on the type of role you want, why you would be a good fit, and how you can contribute, that is when the magic happens. Get specific and make a list of your target roles & companies before progressing forward.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

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

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

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search 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, Networking, etc) 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 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

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

 

Article continued …

2. Get your resume ready and tailored for the role

You already know the job market is uber competitive these days so don’t disqualify yourself with a bland, generic resume.

Think of it this way: Recruiters will be sifting through hundreds of resumes for a single job post. They’ll be skimming through pages and pages of resume to focus on certain key qualifications and experiences that match the job description. And if your resume is not highlighting the things they are looking for, your chances are pretty much zero on landing an interview.

So how do you ensure that your resume stands out from the others?

You don’t have to go all out and create something wildly creative here but use what is tried and true. You can download our free, simple, ATS-friendly resume template from our website here.

Next, read the job post thoroughly and put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. What kind of skills and experiences are they looking for in this candidate? Now that you know that, try to use their language, the same keywords and skills. Anything you can do to make the recruiter’s job easier will work in your favor, I guarantee it.

Then proofread for any silly errors. Make sure there are no typo errors and even get a friend or two to read your resume and check for anything that can be revised.

3. Research the company and get connected with decision makers

The next part is how you stand out even further. You can dramatically increase your chances of being noticed by deeply researching the company and getting connected with decision makers.

Start by digging deep into the company’s website, social media profiles, and any recent news articles or press releases. This knowledge will not only help you tailor your application but also impress during upcoming information and actual interviews, demonstrating your genuine interest and commitment to the organization.

You can also look up the company’s decision makers on LinkedIn, and try to hit up a connection with a well-crafted intro. Here’s a template you can use here:

Hi James,

Amazing to see you celebrate your anniversary with [firm name]! Congratulations on your tenure and all your big wins.

I wanted to reach out as I am exploring opportunities with [firm] myself. Would you be available for a call to discuss your experience so far? Thanks so much in advance!

Best,

NAME

Also, if you can, attend industry-related events, conferences, and webinars, as these are excellent opportunities to meet professionals from your desired field, including those within your target companies.

4. Prep for your networking chats and interviews

And then it’s off to the interviews! Getting your resume handpicked from the rest is an excellent opportunity that you shouldn’t miss, so ensure that you’re ready to impress during your networking chats and interviews.

You’ve already done your research about the company, so you probably already know what to say on some level. All that’s left to do is to polish your game through practice.

Research common interview questions and prepare thoughtful responses, but don’t just write your answers on a piece of paper. Write stories that highlight your unique skills and experiences, and relate back to the role you are going for.

Say them out loud and take note of your tone, expression, and body language. It doesn’t matter if you do this alone with a mirror or a friend who can provide some feedback, you just need to get those reps in to get rid of the jitters.

5. Don’t just focus on only one company. Get multiple offers to build leverage.

If you follow the first four tips, you will probably have a line up of interviews coming your way. But the big mistake I want you to avoid is just going all in on one company. While it’s great to have your eyes on the prize, the more options you have, the more leverage you build up.

And saying yes to every suitable interview that you can line up can help ensure that you get the best offer possible. Because the last thing a company wants to do is lose out on great talent to another competitor.

The goal here is to have multiple offers because then you are in the driver’s seat and are able to compare and contrast comp packages, benefits, and the overall culture of each company. If you run across a company that has the best culture-fit but is lacking in total compensation, you can even use other offers to showcase your value and negotiate for a better salary.

Remember, this is not just another job you are after. You are going towards your ideal career and it’s important to think things through with all the information available. So be patient and give yourself the gift of choice.

Bonus Tip: Remember you are a valuable candidate!

It all starts with confidence and knowing that you bring to the table a set of skills that any company would be lucky to have. Most of the time it all just comes down to your stories, timing, and your confidence in yourself, so follow the tips I laid out for you to ensure that you make the most of the September Surge. Rooting for you!

Forbes.com | September 7, 2023 | Sho Dewan

#JobSearch : How To Find A Job Looking In All The “Wrong” Places. The Old Ways is the Best Ways of Securing a Job in Today’s Market.

/in /by

Over the past few months I’ve vocalized my thoughts on the current state of the job market and predicted what will happen next. I’ve discussed the trends— the tech layoffs, the flood of job applicants, the growing competition for remote work—and I’ve given job seekers strategies to take control of their careers despite today’s zeitgeist of overwhelming uncertainty.

It probably comes as no surprise that most of these strategies involve leveraging tools that help you stand out in today’s digital job market. After all, even older generations know a successful job hunt relies on mastering the newest technology.

An article published by AARP writes “Newspaper ads for openings have been replaced with online listings,and a computer is more likely to conduct the initial scan of your resume than a human being.”

 

Did I mention that article was published in 2008? Read that sentence with no context and it could very well pass as the broad opening to an article published this morning… But no, it’s been 15 years since newspapers stopped being the go-to for job listings. During that time, we’ve adopted other helpful gadgets like LinkedIn and Fiverr as well. Emails replaced letters and phone calls and referred job candidates to applications posted on company websites.

As technology took over the workforce, the places we once networked became desolate. To get a job in the modern workforce, a candidate must stand out in a pool of a thousand other digital profiles —and the survival of Darwin’s fittest is determined by LinkedIn hashtags and algorithms.

But old methods of job-hunting, though no longer popular, still exist. It’s because they are unpopular that they may very well be someone’s best shot at securing a job in today’s market. Instead of hitting you with a tech-savvy tip that will bring your LinkedIn profile to the top of employers’ feeds, I’m dishing out some old advice. This is the advice your parents heard from their parents, who likely heard something similar from their parents. It’s the advice that has been recited again and again, spit out and recycled, in one ear and out the other, passed along from generation to generation.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now 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:

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles for Today’s Job Search (Over 12K Daily Readers) :  https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=FSC%20Career%20Blog%20&sid=TL)

Best of FSC Career Blogs on LinkedIn with over 2.5 Reads:  Go to your profile and then to the top left to go to the Search bar, then type:  #BestofFSCBlog

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : 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: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search 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 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit & contact us @ www.firstsun.com

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

Article continued …

I’ve edited some of these vintage job hunting tips slightly so they still apply to today, but for the most part, they’re the same as they were decades ago. They’re also great ideas to try out when your digital job hunt leaves you stuck.

Pick up the phone.

For many millennials and Gen Zers, few things are less unpleasant than calling someone on the phone. Not only is phone phobia a real thing, there are actually people out there who charge as much as $480 dollars an hour to help people overcome it.

This presents a significant opportunity for other job seekers, especially those from younger generations. Curious about what job opportunities are available at a company you’re interested in? Pick up the phone and call. There’s a good chance the first person who answers won’t have most of the information you’re looking for. Ask if there’s a hiring manager you can speak to or someone with more information who can give you a call back.

Even if you speak to someone who refers you back to information posted on the company’s website, you never know what conversations are happening back in their office. Going out of your way to call the company and inquire about positions shows them you have serious interest, and there’s a good chance your name will be mentioned around the office.

Visit the library.

With access to online PDFs and digital libraries, visiting the actual library has sadly become somewhat of a pastime. People don’t realize that some of the best things about the library have nothing to do with books—many libraries offer career services ranging from tips on looking for jobs to reviewing your resume and helping you prepare for an interview.

These resources are great for anyone to take advantage of, especially those who have been out of the job hunt for a little while. Handing in a resume that is not only updated with your relevant work experience, but also fits “with the times” can make all the difference when it comes to getting a response. Plus, with ATS tracking softwares filing through most resumes these days, experts from your local library will probably have a few tips to help yours stand out from the pile.

Spend time in third places.

Gyms, community centers, coffeeshops, local restaurants, places of worship —these are all third places, or places outside the office that are vital to the community. Often, third places are where friends gather and information is disseminated. Leave your office and take your laptop to a coffee shop or rock climbing gym instead.

Keep your eyes open for bulletin boards and flyers highlighting any help wanted signs. Start conversations with baristas and gym rats and see where they lead. A friendly encounter may just lead to your next interview.

Attend networking events.

Love it or hate it, networking is here to stay. After all, you cannot beat the power of human connection! Before LinkedIn allowed us to skip the awkward small talk and “connect” seamlessly, developing a strong professional network relied heavily on networking events and conferences. Don’t let the number of LinkedIn connections fool you – connections made through social media platforms are rarely as impactful as those developed in person. Do a deep dive on some of the professional groups in your industry and create a list of networking events to attend.

Show up in person and dress the part.

Job interviews and professional networking events are not first dates: showing up overdressed won’t make the situation awkward. In fact, it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. When in doubt, wear a tie and fish through your closet for a pair of dress shoes.

Check the newspaper.

Despite what AARP said in 2008, companies still post job ads in newspapers. If you can’t find any in print, meet the employer halfway between an old-school tactic and tech-savvy maneuver– check what jobs newspapers have listed on their website.

 

Forbes.com Author:  Ashley Stahl

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website. 

 

Forbes.com | March 14, 2023

 

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

/in /by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Getting more $$ than they initially offered

(or)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

BuzzFeed.com | December 29, 2022 | Megan Liscomb

 

#JobSearch : Four Things You Can Do Now To Prepare For A Job Search In 2023. Rule #1: When to Start? How about Now! MUst REad!

/in /by

As we quickly approach the end of another year, it’s time to start getting ready for the next one. There’s no better time than now to slow down, take a breath and reflect on the accomplishments and shortcomings of the past year. The last month of the year is also the perfect opportunity to begin thinking about goals and aspirations for 2023 and beyond.

For talent in transition, whether by their own choice or their employer’s, this period of self-examination has suddenly become more urgent. Wherever you are in your career, here is some practical year-end advice to help make the most of a job search:

Is it flexibility? Stability? Or salary? Is it remote work or a job that requires you to be in the office? Is it a challenging position that will push you to learn new skills? Clarifying what’s important is a critical first step.

If you’re still in a job, journal every day and note these two things: What gave you energy? And what left you feeling exhausted?

Over the course of the next several weeks, you’ll see patterns emerge that will help define the elements you should seek in a new opportunity. Once you find those patterns, find ways to engage with the topics or priorities of interest by searching for YouTube channels, podcast series, TikTok users, books, or articles that dive deeper. Reputable influencers with credible experience could be worth following or engaging with going forward.

Reconnect with old friends and make new ones.

The holidays are a great excuse to reach out and schedule time with people you know and those you’d like to get to know. Ask them what they have been up to, what they enjoy about their current role and any career advice they might have.

For finding and making new connections, there are plenty of options now to cultivate new networks, such as Discord communities, Slack communities, or mentorship services. If you find someone in a position or company you are interested in, there is no loss in reaching out and asking for a virtual coffee or monthly mentorship chat going into the new year.

Be ready to share your own reflections and ask for their perspective on how you might navigate your new interests or your next move.

 

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

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

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Article continued …

Learn new skills.

If you find yourself out of a job at the moment, dive back into learning. New knowledge and abilities can complement your current skill set and help you open new doors.

There are plenty of free and affordable online courses and programs that teach job skills. Some even award badges and certificates for completing them. Spreading the holiday spirit through volunteering can also be a way to develop a wide range of business skills.

Whether you take classes in-person or online or volunteer your time, you might meet folks who can help you broaden your network.

Pay attention to the local and national job markets.

It might be time to be flexible and consider the industries that are hiring and the roles that are available.

The tech, media and financial services industries have grown a lot more competitive for job seekers in the latter part of 2022. But several other fields — architecture, real estate, government, construction and the food and beverage industries, to name several — have seen strong growth in job postings in recent months. Stay flexible: it could be that the role you want exists in an industry you’ve never considered (for instance, lots of non-tech fields hire tech roles!).

Ask yourself how you might apply your skills or strengths to these potential new roles. Where would your learning curve be? How might you start to address that now?

Do it again next year.

A year from now, whether you’re about to launch a job search or are content in your current role, it’s still a good idea to take time to reflect, review and recharge for the next year.

Ask yourself these questions annually: What’s important to you in your work? Are there people you want to meet or reconnect with? Are there skills you’d like to learn? What are the job markets looking like? An honest assessment of your interests and priorities will help you recommit to your current career or begin the process of finding something new.

 

Forbes.com | December 9, 2022 | Christine Y. Cruzvergara

 

#JobSearch : It’s Time To Up Your Social Media Job-Search Game. Rule# 1 – Start with LinkedIn. A MUst REad for All!

/in /by

By now, you’ve seen the writing on the wall. Layoffs, hiring freezes and job offers being rescinded are the unfortunate new corporate trends. Businesses are in cost-cutting mode, fearful of the adverse effects of a possible global recession. Some companies, such as the Mom Project, are letting go of people in anticipation of “economic uncertainty” ahead—and not due to a current need. In the herd mentality of corporations, once one major organization downsizes, all the others follow suit.

                              Question: How do you stand out?

The traditional job-searching methods still hold true: seek out recruiters, tap into your network and respond to help-wanted ads online. Since there are continued waves of layoffs, you may want to take your job search to the next level by leveraging social media to get noticed.

Many people use social media to find news quickly, argue politics, troll others, see what Elon Musk is up to and watch cat videos. It’s also a great way to brand yourself and gain attention from prospective hiring managers, human resources professionals, recruiters and others who may be of assistance in finding you a new job. Using social media, you can also get a deep sense of a company’s culture and values through its online presence.

Start With LinkedIn

It may not be as sexy as Twitter or TikTok, but LinkedIn is the go-to platform for career-focused professionals and job hunters. With over 800 million members, the odds are in your favor that you can find the right people who could help place you in the perfect job.

Take a fresh look at your LinkedIn profile, as you most likely haven’t needed the site up until now, and your information may be woefully outdated. Tailor your profile and job responsibilities to relate to the roles you’re seeking specifically. Ensure that you include all of the relevant keywords, acronyms and corporate jargon that recruiters and HR would use in a search to find candidates for their open job requisitions.

Send out connection invitations to people who are in your field that look like possible decision-makers. These folks include internal corporate talent acquisition professionals, hiring managers for your desired roles and those who work in different companies within your field.

Start a marketing campaign to garner attention. If you notice a person posting an article or other type of content that’s relevant to your line of business, like and comment on it. As you get more comfortable, write your own content. It could be something about a new development within your area of expertise or sharing how your job search is going. If you are creative, make short videos. The key is to position yourself as a competent and experienced expert within your domain. It’s not a one-and-done. You must post regularly to stay on everyone’s radar. The only caveat is that if you are gainfully employed, you need to be more cautious and low-key in your marketing efforts.

Many newly laid-off workers opt for the #opentowork banner on their profile. The green banner alerts recruiters, HR and hiring managers to get in touch. The cold reality is that someone in between roles won’t need a two or three weeks’ notice period, and could start immediately. Along with the banner, you need to provide some context. No one will just reach out to you if they don’t know what you did or the type of work you’re looking for. Clearly set forth the information people need to easily see if you are fit for their open roles.

 

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 !

Continue Article……………

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook And Twitter

In addition to LinkedIn, depending upon your type of job and career, get active on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Each platform has a very different and distinct feel to it. If you are not an avid user of TikTok, for instance, before diving in head first, test the waters. Watch several videos to gain a vibe check.

Once you gain an understanding of the sites, tailor your photos, videos and written content to fit well within the platforms’ generally accepted practices. Similar to LinkedIn, the goal is still the same. You want to create a genuine and authentic feel that will make people comfortable reaching out to you.

Instagram offers a visual and video platform. With a professional account, the app would be a perfect vehicle to showcase your portfolio and burnish your brand if you are in a creative or marketing role.

You may not have noticed, but TikTok has moved away from just young Gen-Zs dancing. Elder Millennials, Gen-Xers and Baby Boomers are all over the site. TikTok now boasts a substantial career-oriented section with creators offering résumé and career advice in a refreshingly upbeat and enthusiastic way.

It may feel weird for people who are of a certain age; however, if you have a little creativity and are open to taking a risk, start making TikTok videos. You can then download the short, one-minute or so video to LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media sites. The fresh feel of the videos will make you stand out compared to stodgy, clichéd content.

You can also gain some attention on Facebook with over one billion users. First, join groups that are relevant to your field; then, get active. For example, let people know that you’ve lost your job and would like some help with leads.

Put aside all the trash talking and trolling on Twitter and consider using it to your advantage. Look for your tribe on the site. Seek out trending topics that align with your skills and background. Then, weigh in with your comment, offering your unique perspective. If you stay active, people will start seeing you as an expert and you will get noticed by headhunters, HR and hiring managers.

Forbes.com Author:   Jack Kelly    – Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.
Forbes.com | July 21, 2022

#JobSearch : How To Help Your New Grad Land A Job. Got Kids? MUst REad!

/in /by

Exasperated Baby Boomer Patricia called about her college student graduating in a month. She said, “My daughter Emily has refused my help or the assistance of my friend who is in HR. When I ask her why, she tells me she doesn’t want to use anybody, and wants to do this all on her own. She says, ‘I can do this.’ But 55 applications later, she hasn’t had one interview. What can I do to help get her career launched?”

Patricia knows that networking is vital for a successful job hunt. But Emily does not yet have that perspective, which is illustrated by her not wanting help from family or even a friend in the HR field. She believes she needs no help to land her first job. Unfortunately, many college students think this way. Most students and recent graduates hate to network, so it should be impressed upon them that this is a step in the job hunting process that should not be passed over.

Here are some important points about networking to stress to your student. Many jobs are found through networking: talking to people, friends, family, and other college students—especially if you have friends who have already graduated and are working. Networking is not using people; it’s just talking to others to get information about the company and available job opportunities. It also gives you a leg up if a friend passes your resume on to their employer. Today, many companies give a financial reward to employees if their referrals are hired.

 

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 …

Offer Resume Help

Many college students have a very poor resume. They don’t know how to write it, as they likely haven’t created one before. They will sometimes ask friends for copies of theirs, as Emily did, or will get a sample from a college professor. These samples are typically not designed for marketing that student in the best possible light. A parent can offer resume help, and often the student will accept it.

First, read about resumes for new graduates. Try to find a few in the same major as your student. Don’t offer to write it for them but ask if you can make some recommendations on how to improve it. Offer some specific ideas. For example, look closely at their work experience and their job descriptions. They often need boosting. Usually, the student missed some critical skill or accomplishment you can suggest they add. If they had an internship, be sure they capture all aspects relevant to the job they seek.

Under education, the student will list their degree and dean’s list or GPA. Yet, they can aid their success by listing relevant coursework based on the job they seek. These contain many great keywords that will help their resume get noticed by an employer’s applicant tracking system and demonstrate to an employer that they have a solid foundation to bring to the new job. For example, my career counseling client, Eric, wanted a job as a financial analyst. He had been unable to get an internship, so adding his college coursework was essential. Under the education section, Eric noted the relevant classes, which were the key to landing his first job.

Here’s what his entire education section looked like.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts, Economics, Minor-Finance, University of Texas, Major GPA: 3.5, Graduation: May 2021

Coursework: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistics, Econometrics, Business Finance, Economic Consulting, Money/Credit Banking, International Trade – Finance, Accounting, Business Law, Calculus

Reviewing your son or daughter’s transcript will give you all the necessary information to add the relevant coursework to the resume. Advise them to just list the classes that support the career area the student wants to land a job in.

Advice About Developing A LinkedIn Profile

Employers are searching LinkedIn every day to find talent. Every new graduate, or someone about to graduate, should have a LinkedIn profile. It should be as complete as possible: the headline noting he or she is a recent graduate and in what major, and the job titles the student is interested in. Colleges and universities don’t always teach students how to prepare a LinkedIn profile. Tell your student that recruiters are on LinkedIn every single day, but they must be able to find them. Recruiters actively reach out about job opportunities they want to interest them in. Offer clear directions on how to create and improve their profile.

Cover how their photo should appear. A professional picture is not necessary. They can use their phone to take the photo. It’s not a snapshot, where they cut themselves out of a family picture or social event. It is not the picture they use on Instagram. Point out that an appropriate photo is a headshot where they are smiling and look warm and engaging. They want a plain background and good lighting. Outside pictures or one taken with natural light inside are best. For more photo tips and what to wear, read the Forbes article “LinkedIn Photo Tips To Look Your Best.”

 

Forbes.com| April 19, 2022

#JobSearch : 3 Signs Hating Your Job Might Be Hurting Your Job Search. Is Hating your Job Might be Costing you Job Offers ?? Great REad!

/in /by

You might utterly dread going to work every morning despite having a decent job that looks good on paper. Or, even though you’re ready to land a new job somewhere else, you might hate your job some days, while other days aren’t so bad. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, hating your job might be hurting your job search and costing you job offers. 

             Hating your current job might be costing you job offers

Here’s how to know if your feelings about your current job are impacting your job search:

You can’t separate your skills from your experience.

When you’re unhappy at work, it’s easy to focus on everything that’s missing. Maybe your current company isn’t as up to speed on the latest technology as your previous companies. Maybe every new idea you suggest seems to fall flat because leadership likes doing things a certain way. Maybe your current team is known for starting but never finishing anything, and it makes you want to flip a table.

Still, while all of those things might be true, your dissatisfaction with your current job might be hindering your job search if you have a hard time seeing the skills you’ve gained and the results you’ve brought to the table in spite of your less than pleasant experience at work. You may not like how things have panned out, but if you’re an ambitious, driven high-achiever, then odds are you’ve found some way to make an impact and deliver great work. But, if you aren’t able to communicate that in your resume because of how much you hate your job, then it’s costing you job offers.

 

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 …

You don’t have high hopes for your next job

This can sometimes occur when you’ve been at the same company for so long you’ve forgotten better companies exist. It can also happen when you’ve worked at a string of companies that have repeatedly disappointed you. Either way, because companies have let you down, it can be tempting to assume that all companies are the same.

Of course, there are no perfect companies. Not to mention, there are plenty of companies that could care less about their employees. But, there are just as many companies that do care about their employees and that have healthy work environments their employees enjoy. However, if you let your poor experiences at past companies stop you from even trying to find a company that matches your values and career goals, then you’ll be stuck accepting opportunities that aren’t any better.

Your interview presence is giving it away.

By this point, you’ve likely heard of how unprofessional it is to speak ill of your current or previous companies, and you might do your best to not say anything negative about your current employer. Still, if you feel strongly about how much you hate your current job, your words might say otherwise, while your body language might show it.

On top of that, if you haven’t been able to acknowledge the skills you’ve gained while working there, then you may be tempted to brush over or downplay your contributions in your current role when you could be highlighting those skills to further add to why you’d be a great fit for the next position you desire. These mistakes aren’t necessarily detrimental, but it certainly isn’t helping you stand out ahead of other candidates who aren’t letting how much they hate their job get in the way of landing a new one.

You might not have even noticed that you were making any of these mistakes. But, as a career coach who’s worked with high-achievers in dozens of industries, it’s a common issue that tends to fly under the radar. To fix this, the first thing you need to do is make peace with how things have panned out at your current job. Then, decide not to let anything you’ve experienced stop you from getting a better job than the one you want to leave. Once you do, you’ll be in a better place to make better choices as you pursue the next opportunity in your career.

 

Forbes.com Author:  Adunola Adeshola coaches high-achievers on how to take their careers to the next level. She is the author of the guide How to Go From Zero Interviews to Dream Job Offers.

 

Forbes.com | February 16, 2022

 

#BestofFSCBlog : #SocialMediaNetworking – Leveraging the Power of LinkedIn Groups. A MUst REad for All!

/in /by

No doubt, you know by now that LinkedIn is the place to be if you are an executive or professional looking to advance in your career. But just how can you leverage the power of LinkedIn to do that? One of many ways you can leverage LinkedIn is by participating in different groups. Joining a few groups can boost your LinkedIn profile development, since you’ll naturally gain more connections as a result. However, you have to be careful with how you approach these groups.

Here are some great tips on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile and expand your network by joining groups.

 

Be Wise When Choosing Groups

Currently, there are over 2 million active LinkedIn groups with 8,000 joining the ranks each week. You could join 50 groups, but you can’t actually utilize that many, nor do you need to join that many to leverage LI’s power. Consider joining groups related to your industry, your social life, interests, hobbies, school affiliation, and other similar groups. The more groups you join with relevance to your interests, the better chance you’ll have of expanding your network properly with people you can relate with.

 

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 …

Observe Group Conversations

Once you join a group, watch and learn. Don’t jump into the conversation right away. People in groups are generally familiar with one another, so they may not like it if you barge in on their discussions. Instead, sit back and observe conversations for a few days or a couple of weeks. See how the group members interact with one another, so you’re able to fit in more naturally once you become more active in the group.

 

Introduce Yourself

After taking some time to observe the climate and determining whether this group is a good fit, write a nice introduction to the group. Tell them to visit your LinkedIn profile to learn your background, but also tell them things about yourself that aren’t on your profile. The more you talk about yourself, the wider range of people you’ll be able to relate to. When you’re trying to boost your LinkedIn profile with more connections, relating to people is the best way to go.

 

Become Active

Now that you’ve introduced yourself, be sure to reply to any comments welcoming you to the group. From that point on, people are at least familiar with your name and would enjoy having you in discussions. One mistake people often make is not being active in a group, so other members will forget about you. Activity in LinkedIn groups is the best way to expand your network. The hard part is over—find the group and introducing yourself. Now, be active and participate in the group.

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 – June 15, 2021