"No (one) is an island..." John Donne
Job search is a team sport.
The first and biggest mistake most make when searching for a job is to go it alone.
And when you do connect with others, and you must do so right up front, you need to engage them as members of your job search team.
Approaching your network of contacts asking them to help you find a job without helping them understand how they can help you specifically guarantees you last place in the standings.
Get in the game by scouting, then recruiting, first and continually, your job search team.
Start with your existing network by asking for advice, direction and guidance regarding your job search. Share with them what you plan on doing, what you have been doing, to find a job. Those who want to be on your team will be helpful. And that is how you know who to keep on your team.
Expand your team by scouting for people who are working in the types of jobs and within the companies where you want to work.
Use resources like Indeed and LinkedIn to find the right people.
You are on your way to winning your next job once you go beyond just looking for leads and start looking for people in the places you want to be.
Set out to assemble a team of about twenty. Research has proven that around twenty connections are sufficient to start the network that can put you in contact with just about anyone. Also, you can manage to stay up close and personal with twenty.
Ask your core job search management team to help introduce you to those right people that you have identified in your research.
My next post will begin with your job search team's training camp.
"Players win games; teams win championships." Bill Taylor
JVS and I want to be on your team.
Visit www.jvsdet.org for job postings and upcoming events.
And contact me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
Showing posts with label jobs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jobs. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
The Secret to Getting Help
"Choose the life that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable." Francis Bacon
If you want help in getting your next job, finding your next career, you need to be useful.
What does it mean to be useful?
Being useful means being of value to others. Regarding a job, it means being of use to your employer. Have you identified how, as specifically as possible, you are going to help your next employer? When you apply for a job, does your application and/or your resume clearly indicate, in as many of their words as possible, that you CAN do the job? Does your experience and education support your claim that you can do the job by showing you have done the job and know how to do the job?
Even if you are useful, if you do not handle problems or become a problem yourself, then your value is diminished. Being useful has a definite cost/benefit ratio. Your benefit to your co-workers, your boss, your company has to outweigh your cost. When you apply for a job, do you take the initiative to make it easier for the people reviewing your resume to see how you can be of help in that position? Do you behave in a useful, helpful manner when you make your follow up contacts? Are you involving other people in your network in the process and showing the potential employer how you work with others?
As you apply for jobs and follow up on your applications, you create opportunities to demonstrate how useful you can be in how you behave, how you handle situations, how you deal with others. If you are helpful to others, if you act in a helpful way by at least expressing your willingness to help them, you create a more positive, more appealing, impression.
Expressing in your cover letter, email, initial phone call and follow up contacts a desire to be helpful throughout the hiring process grows a more agreeable relationship. Also, respecting their time and effort by staying in touch without demanding they do the same is both agreeable and helpful.
There is a reason why every customer service contact begins "How may I help you?"
Are you helpful or are you demanding?
Who would you rather hire?
Let us at JVS help you be helpful to your next employer.
Visit us at www.jvsdet.org
And you can always reach me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org and meet me on LinkedIn.
Walt
If you want help in getting your next job, finding your next career, you need to be useful.
What does it mean to be useful?
Being useful means being of value to others. Regarding a job, it means being of use to your employer. Have you identified how, as specifically as possible, you are going to help your next employer? When you apply for a job, does your application and/or your resume clearly indicate, in as many of their words as possible, that you CAN do the job? Does your experience and education support your claim that you can do the job by showing you have done the job and know how to do the job?
Even if you are useful, if you do not handle problems or become a problem yourself, then your value is diminished. Being useful has a definite cost/benefit ratio. Your benefit to your co-workers, your boss, your company has to outweigh your cost. When you apply for a job, do you take the initiative to make it easier for the people reviewing your resume to see how you can be of help in that position? Do you behave in a useful, helpful manner when you make your follow up contacts? Are you involving other people in your network in the process and showing the potential employer how you work with others?
As you apply for jobs and follow up on your applications, you create opportunities to demonstrate how useful you can be in how you behave, how you handle situations, how you deal with others. If you are helpful to others, if you act in a helpful way by at least expressing your willingness to help them, you create a more positive, more appealing, impression.
Expressing in your cover letter, email, initial phone call and follow up contacts a desire to be helpful throughout the hiring process grows a more agreeable relationship. Also, respecting their time and effort by staying in touch without demanding they do the same is both agreeable and helpful.
There is a reason why every customer service contact begins "How may I help you?"
Are you helpful or are you demanding?
Who would you rather hire?
Let us at JVS help you be helpful to your next employer.
Visit us at www.jvsdet.org
And you can always reach me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org and meet me on LinkedIn.
Walt
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Choosing the Right Job or Career
Very often I am assisting job seekers who are having a difficult time deciding which career direction to take or which jobs to target. And most often the consequence of that struggle is inactivity, passivity and paralysis.
Without deciding upon a goal, an objective or just a direction, movement becomes more difficult, perhaps even close to impossible.
A job search has to be active and in motion most of all. Waiting and hoping for something to happen without taking action sows seeds of discouragement, disappointment and depression.
Not taking action because you have not yet come to the best decision about how to proceed can, and often does, lead you nowhere.
Taking steps, taking action, regardless of whether or not those steps are the best to take is far better than doing nothing.
To paraphrase George S. Patton, "A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow."
Inactivity leads nowhere. Activity of any kind at least has a chance of being productive. And as long as you are active, you are on the go. And you need to be going in order to get to where you want to be. You won't get there by waiting for something to happen.
JVS offers career counseling services to help you make career decisions. Armed with good information about yourself, and your options, will increase greatly your job and career success. However, exploration and implementation both require you take action in order to be successful.
Start by acting on, heading toward, one of your choices, without it having to be a sure bet. There are too many unknowns in the world of work and careers to be able to proceed with absolute certainty.
Once you have made a choice, once you are in motion, once you are active, it will become much easier to change course, to improve on the decisions you make. Your car can't turn if it isn't moving.
So start with making a choice, a good choice, but it does not have to be the best choice. It is not all about making the right choice to start, but it is all about making a move.
Once you are in motion, those who can help you, your navigators, will be able to help you much better. Navigators help you steer, but you are the pilot. And you need to help one another to reach your destination.
Let JVS help you make your career choices and navigate your way to job search success. Contact us at 248.559.5000 or www.jvsdet.org.
You can reach me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
Walt
Without deciding upon a goal, an objective or just a direction, movement becomes more difficult, perhaps even close to impossible.
A job search has to be active and in motion most of all. Waiting and hoping for something to happen without taking action sows seeds of discouragement, disappointment and depression.
Not taking action because you have not yet come to the best decision about how to proceed can, and often does, lead you nowhere.
Taking steps, taking action, regardless of whether or not those steps are the best to take is far better than doing nothing.
To paraphrase George S. Patton, "A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow."
Inactivity leads nowhere. Activity of any kind at least has a chance of being productive. And as long as you are active, you are on the go. And you need to be going in order to get to where you want to be. You won't get there by waiting for something to happen.
JVS offers career counseling services to help you make career decisions. Armed with good information about yourself, and your options, will increase greatly your job and career success. However, exploration and implementation both require you take action in order to be successful.
Start by acting on, heading toward, one of your choices, without it having to be a sure bet. There are too many unknowns in the world of work and careers to be able to proceed with absolute certainty.
Once you have made a choice, once you are in motion, once you are active, it will become much easier to change course, to improve on the decisions you make. Your car can't turn if it isn't moving.
So start with making a choice, a good choice, but it does not have to be the best choice. It is not all about making the right choice to start, but it is all about making a move.
Once you are in motion, those who can help you, your navigators, will be able to help you much better. Navigators help you steer, but you are the pilot. And you need to help one another to reach your destination.
Let JVS help you make your career choices and navigate your way to job search success. Contact us at 248.559.5000 or www.jvsdet.org.
You can reach me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
Walt
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Best Interview Advice
A common, possibly tough, interview question often asked, in one way or another, is
"Can you describe how you handled a difficult problem?"
How would you rate the following answers? Which answer do you think is the best?
Answer #1
"As a member of research team, after we had conducted thousands of experiments on a certain project without solving the problem, one of my associates, after we had conducted the crowning experiment and it had proved a failure, expressed discouragement and disgust over our having failed to find out anything. I cheerily assured him that we had learned something. For we had learned for a certainty that the thing couldn't be done that way, and that we would have to try some other way. He was encouraged by my attitude and went back to work with renewed enthusiasm. Ultimately we discovered the best material to use and increased the longevity of the product from 13 hours to over 1200 hours."
Answer #2
"Once I had to work as part of a research team. The other members of the team did not seem to know what they were doing and kept on asking me questions. They complained a lot and were not very helpful. I kept on trying different things to see what would work best, but everyone else, including my bosses, were not very supportive. After I put in a lot of long hours, I got the project done okay."
Answer #3
"We had to make this thing. It was hard, and took a lot of time, and a lot of work, but we did a really, really good job of it."
Answer #4
"As an inventor, I and my co-workers created many products and devices that involved extensive experimentation and often did not have easy solutions. And my over twenty years of that kind of experience makes me ideally qualified, the best candidate and a perfect fit for your open position. I am confident that I can handle any difficult situation that might occur."
My money is on Answer #1.
Because it is not so much what story you tell, but all about HOW you tell it. The words you use and how you deliver the story are most important.
If you disagree, I want to know. Please comment below and/or email me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
By the way, I wrote all four answers with Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb in mind. And most of Answer #1 is directly quoted from Edison himself.
"Can you describe how you handled a difficult problem?"
How would you rate the following answers? Which answer do you think is the best?
Answer #1
"As a member of research team, after we had conducted thousands of experiments on a certain project without solving the problem, one of my associates, after we had conducted the crowning experiment and it had proved a failure, expressed discouragement and disgust over our having failed to find out anything. I cheerily assured him that we had learned something. For we had learned for a certainty that the thing couldn't be done that way, and that we would have to try some other way. He was encouraged by my attitude and went back to work with renewed enthusiasm. Ultimately we discovered the best material to use and increased the longevity of the product from 13 hours to over 1200 hours."
Answer #2
"Once I had to work as part of a research team. The other members of the team did not seem to know what they were doing and kept on asking me questions. They complained a lot and were not very helpful. I kept on trying different things to see what would work best, but everyone else, including my bosses, were not very supportive. After I put in a lot of long hours, I got the project done okay."
Answer #3
"We had to make this thing. It was hard, and took a lot of time, and a lot of work, but we did a really, really good job of it."
Answer #4
"As an inventor, I and my co-workers created many products and devices that involved extensive experimentation and often did not have easy solutions. And my over twenty years of that kind of experience makes me ideally qualified, the best candidate and a perfect fit for your open position. I am confident that I can handle any difficult situation that might occur."
My money is on Answer #1.
Because it is not so much what story you tell, but all about HOW you tell it. The words you use and how you deliver the story are most important.
If you disagree, I want to know. Please comment below and/or email me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
By the way, I wrote all four answers with Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb in mind. And most of Answer #1 is directly quoted from Edison himself.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Why You Do Not Get Responses to Your Applications
There are numerous factors that affect whether or not you get a response to your application/resume.
The most likely affecting factors, by far, are which filter keywords the screener uses and the number of applications/resumes submitted.
When dealing with large numbers of applications/resumes, savvy screeners will load the filters with numerous distinguishing and unique keywords to limit the results.
At the very least, applicants must have core keywords in their resumes or they will surely be passed over and get no responses to their applications.
On average, even with the right keywords and in the best of circumstances, you have less than a 20% chance of getting a response.
That means, if you do nothing other than submit an application/resume to a posted job opening, the very best response rate you can expect is one response out of five applications.
Usually, the response rate is more like 1% or 2%, one or two out of a hundred!
And response means nothing more than an overture, a request, for next contact or more information, not necessarily an offer for an interview.
Considering the odds, it is in your best interest to include as many of the right keywords as possible in your application/resume.
The first indication of which keywords are the right keywords is in the wording of the posting.
Identify words in the ad that are descriptors like job titles, equipment, specialized knowledge like software, credentials such as college degree or certifications, and particular industry or product or service experience. Try to include as many of those exact words in your application/resume.
So if they are asking for a Special Events Coordinator and you performed those duties under the title of Operations and Registration Manager, you do not have to change your previous job title. However, do make certain you put the words “special events” and “coordinator” somewhere in your application/resume, such as an objective or summary at the beginning of your information.
Secondly, you can discover keywords by browsing www.Indeed.com for the job titles and keywords of postings which you have already found to uncover additional like openings. Try putting those keywords into the Indeed search field without specifying a job location. That will open up the possibilities and give you many more keyword choices.
Also, you can visit www.careerinfonet.org, click on Occupation Information, then select Occupation Profile, and using your job title create a profile which includes knowledge, skills, abilities, job tasks, equipment used and more. Again, more keyword possibilities.
A list of 25 keywords usually is sufficient to penetrate the screen and get a response.
All this relates to the “automated” process of screening applications/resumes. And “automated” does mean a computer scan, but can also mean human eyes very quickly scanning for keywords.
Those responses you receive from a one step application process mean you got through the screen and usually little else.
Once you get a response, you should have feedback and more information about your chances for the interview, but before that it is nothing more than keywords.
If you are being told that you are over-qualified for the job, in their minds, you are. And over-qualified means you feel entitled to lots of money. And if you do not get lots of money, you will leave the first chance you get. And it does not matter if you argue this, their minds are made up. By the way, they are right most of the time.
Regarding openings for which you might be perceived as over-qualified, one tactic might be to state your qualifications and experience in terms that are more in line, a better fit, with the requirements of the job. If they require three to five years of experience, report just five years of those ten years of experience you have and nothing more. If they require a coordinator, do not present that you were an Operations and Registration Manager, but simply Operations and Registration without the Manager.
But, above all, make certain you are including the keywords that they are presenting in the posting.
Again, this is all about getting to the interview. Once you are in the interview, you may be directed, or elect, to open up more about specific experiences that would work to your advantage. But that’s a discussion for another time.
Let us help you find your keywords. Visit us at www.ParnossahWorksDetroit.org, click on Seminars/Events and sign up for one of our weekly meetings.
As always, you can reach me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org or 248.233.4231.
The most likely affecting factors, by far, are which filter keywords the screener uses and the number of applications/resumes submitted.
When dealing with large numbers of applications/resumes, savvy screeners will load the filters with numerous distinguishing and unique keywords to limit the results.
At the very least, applicants must have core keywords in their resumes or they will surely be passed over and get no responses to their applications.
On average, even with the right keywords and in the best of circumstances, you have less than a 20% chance of getting a response.
That means, if you do nothing other than submit an application/resume to a posted job opening, the very best response rate you can expect is one response out of five applications.
Usually, the response rate is more like 1% or 2%, one or two out of a hundred!
And response means nothing more than an overture, a request, for next contact or more information, not necessarily an offer for an interview.
Considering the odds, it is in your best interest to include as many of the right keywords as possible in your application/resume.
The first indication of which keywords are the right keywords is in the wording of the posting.
Identify words in the ad that are descriptors like job titles, equipment, specialized knowledge like software, credentials such as college degree or certifications, and particular industry or product or service experience. Try to include as many of those exact words in your application/resume.
So if they are asking for a Special Events Coordinator and you performed those duties under the title of Operations and Registration Manager, you do not have to change your previous job title. However, do make certain you put the words “special events” and “coordinator” somewhere in your application/resume, such as an objective or summary at the beginning of your information.
Secondly, you can discover keywords by browsing www.Indeed.com for the job titles and keywords of postings which you have already found to uncover additional like openings. Try putting those keywords into the Indeed search field without specifying a job location. That will open up the possibilities and give you many more keyword choices.
Also, you can visit www.careerinfonet.org, click on Occupation Information, then select Occupation Profile, and using your job title create a profile which includes knowledge, skills, abilities, job tasks, equipment used and more. Again, more keyword possibilities.
A list of 25 keywords usually is sufficient to penetrate the screen and get a response.
All this relates to the “automated” process of screening applications/resumes. And “automated” does mean a computer scan, but can also mean human eyes very quickly scanning for keywords.
Those responses you receive from a one step application process mean you got through the screen and usually little else.
Once you get a response, you should have feedback and more information about your chances for the interview, but before that it is nothing more than keywords.
If you are being told that you are over-qualified for the job, in their minds, you are. And over-qualified means you feel entitled to lots of money. And if you do not get lots of money, you will leave the first chance you get. And it does not matter if you argue this, their minds are made up. By the way, they are right most of the time.
Regarding openings for which you might be perceived as over-qualified, one tactic might be to state your qualifications and experience in terms that are more in line, a better fit, with the requirements of the job. If they require three to five years of experience, report just five years of those ten years of experience you have and nothing more. If they require a coordinator, do not present that you were an Operations and Registration Manager, but simply Operations and Registration without the Manager.
But, above all, make certain you are including the keywords that they are presenting in the posting.
Again, this is all about getting to the interview. Once you are in the interview, you may be directed, or elect, to open up more about specific experiences that would work to your advantage. But that’s a discussion for another time.
Let us help you find your keywords. Visit us at www.ParnossahWorksDetroit.org, click on Seminars/Events and sign up for one of our weekly meetings.
As always, you can reach me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org or 248.233.4231.
Friday, July 8, 2011
A Rule
Make it easy for others to help you.
Yep, that's it.
Nothing more.
If you are unemployed and need to find another job, you need other people to help you in a countless variety of ways.
Searching for your next employer is a team sport.
So you need to assemble your team. But your team needs to know what to do and have the right equipment, knowledge and skills to help you succeed.
You have to give others direction, the more precise, the more detailed, the better.
You have to share your goal, your objectives, your plan, your progress with your team. Share with them what you have done and what you plan on doing on a regular basis. Let them know where you have applied, where you plan to apply and with whom you would like to connect.
All these pieces are what will equip your team to be able to help you. And your activity, your efforts and your initiative will motivate them to keep on helping until you reach your goal.
If you wait for something to happen, you will keep your team waiting and they will not wait for very long, if at all.
If you depend entirely on your team to make it happen, then you are showing them that you are not ready, not willing or even able to help them help you.
When you do not share with others what you have been doing in your job search, to them it is the same as doing nothing.
Even if you are very active, without keeping your team informed, naturally they will assume you are doing nothing. And then they will do nothing in return.
And do not ask of others what you can do yourself. The more you do yourself, along with the more detailed direction you can provide, the easier you can make it for others to help and the more likely you will get the help you need.
And do not forget to offer and give help to those who help you.
By the way, if you limit the information you give to employers about your qualifications, experience and education to just applications and resumes, then you make it harder for employers to learn about you. And chances are they will be in contact with other applicants -- not you.
Make it easier for them to select you for the interview. Make other and more direct contacts like in person visits and referrals from your connections. LinkedIn and Facebook are used by 95% of employers because those sources are quick and easy ways for companies to learn more about applicants of interest.
If you are not using these online resources, what else are you doing to help the employer learn more about you?
Make it easy for others to help you.
Make it easy for JVS to help and take the first step.
Visit our website, www.jvsdet.org for more information.
And you can always contact me, Walt Tarrow, via email, wtarrow@jvsdet.org, on LinkedIn, and by phone at 248.233.4231.
Yep, that's it.
Nothing more.
If you are unemployed and need to find another job, you need other people to help you in a countless variety of ways.
Searching for your next employer is a team sport.
So you need to assemble your team. But your team needs to know what to do and have the right equipment, knowledge and skills to help you succeed.
You have to give others direction, the more precise, the more detailed, the better.
You have to share your goal, your objectives, your plan, your progress with your team. Share with them what you have done and what you plan on doing on a regular basis. Let them know where you have applied, where you plan to apply and with whom you would like to connect.
All these pieces are what will equip your team to be able to help you. And your activity, your efforts and your initiative will motivate them to keep on helping until you reach your goal.
If you wait for something to happen, you will keep your team waiting and they will not wait for very long, if at all.
If you depend entirely on your team to make it happen, then you are showing them that you are not ready, not willing or even able to help them help you.
When you do not share with others what you have been doing in your job search, to them it is the same as doing nothing.
Even if you are very active, without keeping your team informed, naturally they will assume you are doing nothing. And then they will do nothing in return.
And do not ask of others what you can do yourself. The more you do yourself, along with the more detailed direction you can provide, the easier you can make it for others to help and the more likely you will get the help you need.
And do not forget to offer and give help to those who help you.
By the way, if you limit the information you give to employers about your qualifications, experience and education to just applications and resumes, then you make it harder for employers to learn about you. And chances are they will be in contact with other applicants -- not you.
Make it easier for them to select you for the interview. Make other and more direct contacts like in person visits and referrals from your connections. LinkedIn and Facebook are used by 95% of employers because those sources are quick and easy ways for companies to learn more about applicants of interest.
If you are not using these online resources, what else are you doing to help the employer learn more about you?
Make it easy for others to help you.
Make it easy for JVS to help and take the first step.
Visit our website, www.jvsdet.org for more information.
And you can always contact me, Walt Tarrow, via email, wtarrow@jvsdet.org, on LinkedIn, and by phone at 248.233.4231.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Storms Make Oaks Take Deeper Root
So says George Herbert...
Leaving a job is often a very traumatic experience even when the choice to leave is yours.
After years of being a member of a work group, being an important and accepted part of a work family, you are leaving home.
If you have been told to leave, the hurt can go very deep. No matter how unavoidable the layoff, no matter if the company had to close its doors, or no matter how generous and gentle the severance package, it still is painful.
BUT just because you have left a job, it does not mean you have lost all, or even any, of what you have gained, of what you have become.
You acquired experience, knowledge, skills and more in the time you spent with the company. You changed and developed talents and gifts that will be yours to keep forever.
You may have left a company, but you have not lost who you are and what value you can add to another company. You now have the opportunity to find your next workplace home -- a workplace that will appreciate what you have to offer and reward you with new relationships, new opportunities and greater possibilities for your new future.
First and foremost, you have not become just another job seeker.
To many employers, you are a highly valued resource provider.
Start with identifying the talents, the special gifts, you have that represent high value to the employer market. What can you do, and do well, that is most desired?
Learn how to communicate and present yourself as a value proposition to your next workplace home. How can you act best to send the right messages? Who do you know that can help you get out those words about you?
We can help with that at JVS.
Go to www.jvsdet.org for more info or contact me.
Walt Tarrow
wtarrow@jvsdet.org
248.233.4231
Leaving a job is often a very traumatic experience even when the choice to leave is yours.
After years of being a member of a work group, being an important and accepted part of a work family, you are leaving home.
If you have been told to leave, the hurt can go very deep. No matter how unavoidable the layoff, no matter if the company had to close its doors, or no matter how generous and gentle the severance package, it still is painful.
BUT just because you have left a job, it does not mean you have lost all, or even any, of what you have gained, of what you have become.
You acquired experience, knowledge, skills and more in the time you spent with the company. You changed and developed talents and gifts that will be yours to keep forever.
You may have left a company, but you have not lost who you are and what value you can add to another company. You now have the opportunity to find your next workplace home -- a workplace that will appreciate what you have to offer and reward you with new relationships, new opportunities and greater possibilities for your new future.
First and foremost, you have not become just another job seeker.
To many employers, you are a highly valued resource provider.
Start with identifying the talents, the special gifts, you have that represent high value to the employer market. What can you do, and do well, that is most desired?
Learn how to communicate and present yourself as a value proposition to your next workplace home. How can you act best to send the right messages? Who do you know that can help you get out those words about you?
We can help with that at JVS.
Go to www.jvsdet.org for more info or contact me.
Walt Tarrow
wtarrow@jvsdet.org
248.233.4231
Monday, July 12, 2010
Is Your Job Search Out of Control? - Part 2 of 5
Yesterday I advised not looking for "anything" and having a focus in your job search.
But what if your focused job search is coming up empty, no leads, nobody hiring someone like you?
The hidden secret, known for the past several decades and probably for all time, the majority, as much as 80%, of all jobs NEVER GET ADVERTISED.
Most job openings are filled BEFORE they can ever go public.
And most employers would rather their job openings not go public because when jobs are advertised, made known to the public, then the mad rush, the spammers, the tsunami of job seekers all storm the gates.
Keep your focus, keep your eye on the prize and stop stampeding with the crowd.
Contact all those companies of interest even if they are not advertising any openings.
Use a letter of inquiry or introduction, ask for advice from key people, phone the switchboard and ask general questions like to whom should you speak to learn more about the company or how they go about hiring when they have the need, create marketing pieces and campaigns to promote your strengths, assests and value to the company.
But do not limit your job search only to those companies advertising openings.
If you need help in creating and putting into action your marketing and prospecting plan, get in touch with me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
Be sure to come back for Part 3.
And don't forget to check out what's happening at www.JVSDet.org.
But what if your focused job search is coming up empty, no leads, nobody hiring someone like you?
The hidden secret, known for the past several decades and probably for all time, the majority, as much as 80%, of all jobs NEVER GET ADVERTISED.
Most job openings are filled BEFORE they can ever go public.
And most employers would rather their job openings not go public because when jobs are advertised, made known to the public, then the mad rush, the spammers, the tsunami of job seekers all storm the gates.
Keep your focus, keep your eye on the prize and stop stampeding with the crowd.
Contact all those companies of interest even if they are not advertising any openings.
Use a letter of inquiry or introduction, ask for advice from key people, phone the switchboard and ask general questions like to whom should you speak to learn more about the company or how they go about hiring when they have the need, create marketing pieces and campaigns to promote your strengths, assests and value to the company.
But do not limit your job search only to those companies advertising openings.
If you need help in creating and putting into action your marketing and prospecting plan, get in touch with me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
Be sure to come back for Part 3.
And don't forget to check out what's happening at www.JVSDet.org.
Monday, June 21, 2010
What's the use of resume keywords?
When jobs are posted, incoming resumes and applictions are screened to create a subset of applicants that are somewhat, in general, qualified.
The Good Enough category is necessary to get to the Choice Candidate category.
The overwhelming method of screening is based on determining a list of screener, or key, words. These keywords are used to filter IN resumes and applications that are to be moved along in the process, and screen OUT, eliminate, those that do not have at least a predetermined minimum of these words.
For example, someone with the job title of "secretary" on their resume, although they might be fully capable of performing, and experienced with, the duties of a receptionist, would be screened OUT and not included with the resumes moved along in the recruiting process. Without the keyword "receptionist" on their resume, they would be eliminated from consideration.
Your resume and application must have a majority, if not close to 100%, of those keywords to be included with those not eliminated during the initial screen.
I advised a job seeker about this and he took my advice word for word. He copied and pasted the actual job posting at the top of his resume under his contact information, titled the pasted ad "Summary of Skills" and emailed his resume as such to the company. He did not even delete the phrase "Equal Employment Opportunity Employer" from what he copied onto his resume.
He was called in for an interview within a couple days and offered the job!
Also, if you have an overwhelming number of other keywords not related to the position, you might also be excluded. Since the majority of your experience appears to be in something else or elsewhere, you will likely not fit the profile of a qualified candidate.
Whether or not the process is automated, computerized or manual, it is basically the same.
A job description is created formally or informally and a posting may come from that or be cobbled together on its own.
But, regardless of how this process goes, keywords are the filters, the criteria upon which the search for qualified candidates is based. Especially given the ginormous number of resumes and applications submitted nowadays.
First, foremost and exclusively, the lesson here is to use keywords in your resumes and applications that are not just synonymous but are exactly the same as the keywords in the job descriptions and postings to which you apply. And limit or exclude keywords that are not related to the positions for which you wish to be considered.
Unlike vampires, you must present a personal image which mirrors the image of the target job in order to survive the screen.
And if you think that this process of screening using keywords does not make sense for an employer considering huge numbers of applicants, consider this quote.
"If you think the products don't match what you want from a product, don't buy it." Donald Norman
If you want your resume pre-screened for keywords, please email BOTH your resume and the posting to which you are applying. My email address is wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
And be sure to check out our calendars of upcoming group meetings, seminars and events at http://www.jvsdet.org/ along with our job postings at http://www.parnossahworksdetroit.org/.
Remember, keywords are the key to get you past security and in the front door.
The Good Enough category is necessary to get to the Choice Candidate category.
The overwhelming method of screening is based on determining a list of screener, or key, words. These keywords are used to filter IN resumes and applications that are to be moved along in the process, and screen OUT, eliminate, those that do not have at least a predetermined minimum of these words.
For example, someone with the job title of "secretary" on their resume, although they might be fully capable of performing, and experienced with, the duties of a receptionist, would be screened OUT and not included with the resumes moved along in the recruiting process. Without the keyword "receptionist" on their resume, they would be eliminated from consideration.
Your resume and application must have a majority, if not close to 100%, of those keywords to be included with those not eliminated during the initial screen.
I advised a job seeker about this and he took my advice word for word. He copied and pasted the actual job posting at the top of his resume under his contact information, titled the pasted ad "Summary of Skills" and emailed his resume as such to the company. He did not even delete the phrase "Equal Employment Opportunity Employer" from what he copied onto his resume.
He was called in for an interview within a couple days and offered the job!
Also, if you have an overwhelming number of other keywords not related to the position, you might also be excluded. Since the majority of your experience appears to be in something else or elsewhere, you will likely not fit the profile of a qualified candidate.
Whether or not the process is automated, computerized or manual, it is basically the same.
A job description is created formally or informally and a posting may come from that or be cobbled together on its own.
But, regardless of how this process goes, keywords are the filters, the criteria upon which the search for qualified candidates is based. Especially given the ginormous number of resumes and applications submitted nowadays.
First, foremost and exclusively, the lesson here is to use keywords in your resumes and applications that are not just synonymous but are exactly the same as the keywords in the job descriptions and postings to which you apply. And limit or exclude keywords that are not related to the positions for which you wish to be considered.
Unlike vampires, you must present a personal image which mirrors the image of the target job in order to survive the screen.
And if you think that this process of screening using keywords does not make sense for an employer considering huge numbers of applicants, consider this quote.
"If you think the products don't match what you want from a product, don't buy it." Donald Norman
If you want your resume pre-screened for keywords, please email BOTH your resume and the posting to which you are applying. My email address is wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
And be sure to check out our calendars of upcoming group meetings, seminars and events at http://www.jvsdet.org/ along with our job postings at http://www.parnossahworksdetroit.org/.
Remember, keywords are the key to get you past security and in the front door.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Goal Setting - GIVE what you WANT
On your journey to achieving your goals, this one shift in your mindset can radically change how the world around you responds to and receives you.
The process of goal setting can make you very myopic, very nearsighted, and "ME-focused."
If we really want to get what we want, we have to remember one of the oldest success principles. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Or as Zig Ziglar puts it, "You can have everything in life that you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
What if that is true?
What if you knew for sure that everything you gave you would receive back tenfold?
How much would you give? What would you give? How fast would you give it?
What do you wnat? What attributes do you need to accomplish your goals?
Do you need more courage? Who can you encourage?
Do you need more strength? Who can you help strengthen?
Do you need more belief? Who can you believe in?
Do you need more confidence? Who can you instill confidence in?
Do you need more love? Who can you love?
This is how.
Give what you need and give what you want. What you give to others, you give to yourself. And the added bonus is somehow it multiplies itself back to you.
You need to decide what key attributes you need to accomplish your big, hairy and audacious goals, then figure out how you can go about giving that very thing away to others.
When you look at the world with an eye toward how you can give, instead of simply focusing on what you can get, the thing you desire will beat a path to your door.
Join others helping others finding jobs and new opportunities in the NextJobs~JVS Detroit group on LinkedIn.com.
And check out many more helpful resources at http://www.jvsdet.org/.
Email me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
Walt
The process of goal setting can make you very myopic, very nearsighted, and "ME-focused."
If we really want to get what we want, we have to remember one of the oldest success principles. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Or as Zig Ziglar puts it, "You can have everything in life that you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
What if that is true?
What if you knew for sure that everything you gave you would receive back tenfold?
How much would you give? What would you give? How fast would you give it?
What do you wnat? What attributes do you need to accomplish your goals?
Do you need more courage? Who can you encourage?
Do you need more strength? Who can you help strengthen?
Do you need more belief? Who can you believe in?
Do you need more confidence? Who can you instill confidence in?
Do you need more love? Who can you love?
This is how.
Give what you need and give what you want. What you give to others, you give to yourself. And the added bonus is somehow it multiplies itself back to you.
You need to decide what key attributes you need to accomplish your big, hairy and audacious goals, then figure out how you can go about giving that very thing away to others.
When you look at the world with an eye toward how you can give, instead of simply focusing on what you can get, the thing you desire will beat a path to your door.
Join others helping others finding jobs and new opportunities in the NextJobs~JVS Detroit group on LinkedIn.com.
And check out many more helpful resources at http://www.jvsdet.org/.
Email me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
Walt
Friday, February 5, 2010
Ten Job Hunting Myths
THE MYTHS:
- Without an excellent resume and cover letter, you'll never beat the competition and get the interview.
- The best way to find a job is by using the Internet.
- Resumes are screened to find the best qualified candidates.
- If you are qualified and you apply, you deserve an interview. If you don't get the interview or even any response, you are not qualified for that job opening.
- If you ask everyone you know to help you find a job, someone will find one for you.
- It's not what you know, it's who you know.
- If you follow up with an employer more than three times, you are being a pest. And pests don't get jobs.
- If someone says "No" to you about a job, they mean "No."
- To win the interview, you have to sell yourself by telling them how wonderful you are.
- I can't find a job because of the economy. It stinks and the best jobs are going overseas.
- Most interviews come from initial contacts without a resume or cover letter.
- The best way to find current leads is by using the Internet. The best way to find a job is by developing other leads.
- Resumes are screened to find keywords and potential problems.
- Being qualified is not enough. First you need to get noticed.
- If you ask and expect everyone you know to help you find a job, you'll lose a lot of friends.
- It's not who you know, but who knows and appreciates YOU.
- Following up the right way is persistence. Following up the wrong way is pestering. And most leads become interviews after a minimum of 7-10 follow ups.
- If someone says "No" to you after an interview, they very likely mean "Not now."
- To win the interview, you have to ask questions, listen to the answers and tell them what they want to hear. Most people can't sell. They talk too much about themselves and don't listen to their customers.
- There are always jobs for people who develop the right contacts, get involved in the business, and show employers how they can improve the bottom line.
You can reach me, Walt Tarrow, at wtarrow@jvsdet.org.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Should You Pay To Get a Job?
Simply put, NO!
You have two important factors to consider.
First, what exactly are you getting for your money?
Second, can you get it for less or perhaps even for free?
There are people out there in the wide, wide world who want your money, are not concerned about how they get it, and not interested in providing you anything of value, anything that would help you.
You may be confused. You may be discouraged. You might be desperate. You certainly are vulnerable. And there are predators who will take advantage of you.
What exactly are you getting for your money? Is it possible for someone to GIVE you a job? Of course, that is what employers/companies do. But why would some one or some company charge you for the job? They might charge you for expenses such as tools or licenses but be clear about the employment arrangement or contract before agreeing to anything.
Recently, an alledged employment service advertised immediate hiring for delivery and customer service jobs for anyone. Anyone who showed up at their office and paid $30 for a "uniform" which happened to be an oversized T-shirt with their company name on it. The job was delivering the same flyers that brought the people in to pay the $30 in the first place!! And many of these new employees never earned a penny.
Other employment services claim to provide jobs or leads for a fee, but none of these jobs or leads are exclusive to them. You can find these leads advertised all over the Internet or by simply contacting the companies directly.
What exactly are you paying for?
There are employment and career services that will teach you how to create a resume or create one for you for a fee. Even if they create one for you, you still have to provide all your background information. What exactly are you paying for?
And can you get these things for less or for free?
There are many ways to get a resume and look for jobs that cost only the time and effort you put into it. No fee.
Just get in touch with me and JVS at wtarrow@jvsdet.org, on LinkedIn, at 248.233.4231 or check out our job bank at www.parnossahworksdetroit.org.
And it's free!
You have two important factors to consider.
First, what exactly are you getting for your money?
Second, can you get it for less or perhaps even for free?
There are people out there in the wide, wide world who want your money, are not concerned about how they get it, and not interested in providing you anything of value, anything that would help you.
You may be confused. You may be discouraged. You might be desperate. You certainly are vulnerable. And there are predators who will take advantage of you.
What exactly are you getting for your money? Is it possible for someone to GIVE you a job? Of course, that is what employers/companies do. But why would some one or some company charge you for the job? They might charge you for expenses such as tools or licenses but be clear about the employment arrangement or contract before agreeing to anything.
Recently, an alledged employment service advertised immediate hiring for delivery and customer service jobs for anyone. Anyone who showed up at their office and paid $30 for a "uniform" which happened to be an oversized T-shirt with their company name on it. The job was delivering the same flyers that brought the people in to pay the $30 in the first place!! And many of these new employees never earned a penny.
Other employment services claim to provide jobs or leads for a fee, but none of these jobs or leads are exclusive to them. You can find these leads advertised all over the Internet or by simply contacting the companies directly.
What exactly are you paying for?
There are employment and career services that will teach you how to create a resume or create one for you for a fee. Even if they create one for you, you still have to provide all your background information. What exactly are you paying for?
And can you get these things for less or for free?
There are many ways to get a resume and look for jobs that cost only the time and effort you put into it. No fee.
Just get in touch with me and JVS at wtarrow@jvsdet.org, on LinkedIn, at 248.233.4231 or check out our job bank at www.parnossahworksdetroit.org.
And it's free!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
What's the hold up?
Why the delay?
It has been over three weeks since I started this blog and this is only the second entry.
What keeps us from doing what needs to be done?
What is keeping YOU from looking for your next job?
I got stuck because of two things.
Too many demands with too little time...many, many phone calls, emails, meetings and every caller, every emailer wants to be the most important.
And is what I blog good enough, important enough, for someone, anyone to pay attention?
How about you?
How are you managing your job search work, your job search time and all the other demands of life? What are your priorities? How did you handle all those demands when you were working the 40, 50 or more hours every week?
And why haven't you sent out your resume or set up that meeting yet? Is your resume not good enough? Are you not sure if you will make the best impression when you go to that meeting? Are you not prepared?
Well, forget all that.
"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week." George S. Patton
Do something, anything, now, every day, to keep moving. Something now is better than nothing now.
Take action. Your progress is measured by the number of mistakes you make.
"The man who makes no mistake does not usually make anything." Edward Phelps
By the way, even if you write the perfect resume, only as little as one out of twenty, that's 5%, of resumes ever get read by any real person. That's a 95% chance your perfect resume will go nowhere. That's the resume you worked so hard to perfect...perfect, but neglected and ignored.
Oh, yeah, the odds for your not-so-perfect, maybe even crappy, resume being read by a real person are at least as good as, if not better, than your perfect resume.
It's better to work on making good contacts, connections to the right people, than to work on making your resume perfect.
A construction foreman told me he hired a young man who came to the work site and handed him this resume.
The young man's secret? He went to the work site. He made himself visable. He made the right impression with the right person.
Stop worrying about being perfect and get out there and meet people. Every day. Make at least that your priority.
And don't forget to come over here to JVS in Southfield any Monday evening at 6:30pm or Thursday afternoon at 1:30pm to meet and get help from even more people.
We will be looking out for you.
Walt
Email me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org
Next post: Getting started...first steps
It has been over three weeks since I started this blog and this is only the second entry.
What keeps us from doing what needs to be done?
What is keeping YOU from looking for your next job?
I got stuck because of two things.
Too many demands with too little time...many, many phone calls, emails, meetings and every caller, every emailer wants to be the most important.
And is what I blog good enough, important enough, for someone, anyone to pay attention?
How about you?
How are you managing your job search work, your job search time and all the other demands of life? What are your priorities? How did you handle all those demands when you were working the 40, 50 or more hours every week?
And why haven't you sent out your resume or set up that meeting yet? Is your resume not good enough? Are you not sure if you will make the best impression when you go to that meeting? Are you not prepared?
Well, forget all that.
"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week." George S. Patton
Do something, anything, now, every day, to keep moving. Something now is better than nothing now.
Take action. Your progress is measured by the number of mistakes you make.
"The man who makes no mistake does not usually make anything." Edward Phelps
By the way, even if you write the perfect resume, only as little as one out of twenty, that's 5%, of resumes ever get read by any real person. That's a 95% chance your perfect resume will go nowhere. That's the resume you worked so hard to perfect...perfect, but neglected and ignored.
Oh, yeah, the odds for your not-so-perfect, maybe even crappy, resume being read by a real person are at least as good as, if not better, than your perfect resume.
It's better to work on making good contacts, connections to the right people, than to work on making your resume perfect.
A construction foreman told me he hired a young man who came to the work site and handed him this resume.
I DO SIDDING
The young man's secret? He went to the work site. He made himself visable. He made the right impression with the right person.
Stop worrying about being perfect and get out there and meet people. Every day. Make at least that your priority.
And don't forget to come over here to JVS in Southfield any Monday evening at 6:30pm or Thursday afternoon at 1:30pm to meet and get help from even more people.
We will be looking out for you.
Walt
Email me at wtarrow@jvsdet.org
Next post: Getting started...first steps
Monday, April 6, 2009
Something Happened
Something happened.
I did not really love my job, but some things about it I liked. And I got paid so I could have a family, a home, a car, and do fun things and buy stuff I enjoyed. And I was safe from really, really bad things happening.
Then something happened.
I was worried for a long time. Maybe not the kind of worry that you think about every day, but the kind that nags you when you aren't thinking about anything in particular. I was worried when I heard talk about other people losing their jobs. But I was happy it wasn't me. And then, for a little while, I wasn't as worried.
But then something happened.
I did not believe it at first. I had been working so very, very hard to keep my job. Harder than ever in my life. But they did not see, they did not care. It was just so unfair.
Something happened and I lost my job.
Give me a break.
At first I just wanted a break, to be left alone. I had been working so hard, worrying so hard, I needed time off. Time to think, time to recover, time to feel better. My family, my friends, everybody else needed to understand that. But they did not always understand. Sure, they did not want it to happen. I did not want it to happen. But it did.
I needed a break.
No need to worry. Things will be okay. I was a valued employee. I am a hard worker. I give 100%...and more. Some company will be lucky to have me work for them. When they get my application, see my resume, they will want to talk to me. They will want to offer me the job. But they did not offer me the job, the interview, or even the time of day.
I needed a break.
Just give me a chance. Let me talk to you. I will tell you what you need to hear. I know I am perfect for the job. You will see.
Where is my break?
I do not need your help. I just need a job.
But the people who have the jobs are not helping me. What is their problem? If they give me a job, I can help them. But they do not seem to want my help. What is wrong with them? Is there something wrong with me? Am I not good enough? It is just so unfair.
I became worried. Then I was scared. Then I felt confused...and lost...and helpless...
Then I thought that maybe I do need help. Maybe I could use some help. And when I did admit that, when I opened myself to help, I found help at JVS. And when I accepted help, any and all help given, accepted it with an open heart and mind, I found more help. And when I appreciated that help, when I was thankful for that help, I found even more help. And when I began to help others, I found help everywhere.
And then something happened.
I have begun to help myself and I am no longer helpless.
And good things are beginning to happen once again.
I did not really love my job, but some things about it I liked. And I got paid so I could have a family, a home, a car, and do fun things and buy stuff I enjoyed. And I was safe from really, really bad things happening.
Then something happened.
I was worried for a long time. Maybe not the kind of worry that you think about every day, but the kind that nags you when you aren't thinking about anything in particular. I was worried when I heard talk about other people losing their jobs. But I was happy it wasn't me. And then, for a little while, I wasn't as worried.
But then something happened.
I did not believe it at first. I had been working so very, very hard to keep my job. Harder than ever in my life. But they did not see, they did not care. It was just so unfair.
Something happened and I lost my job.
Give me a break.
At first I just wanted a break, to be left alone. I had been working so hard, worrying so hard, I needed time off. Time to think, time to recover, time to feel better. My family, my friends, everybody else needed to understand that. But they did not always understand. Sure, they did not want it to happen. I did not want it to happen. But it did.
I needed a break.
No need to worry. Things will be okay. I was a valued employee. I am a hard worker. I give 100%...and more. Some company will be lucky to have me work for them. When they get my application, see my resume, they will want to talk to me. They will want to offer me the job. But they did not offer me the job, the interview, or even the time of day.
I needed a break.
Just give me a chance. Let me talk to you. I will tell you what you need to hear. I know I am perfect for the job. You will see.
Where is my break?
I do not need your help. I just need a job.
But the people who have the jobs are not helping me. What is their problem? If they give me a job, I can help them. But they do not seem to want my help. What is wrong with them? Is there something wrong with me? Am I not good enough? It is just so unfair.
I became worried. Then I was scared. Then I felt confused...and lost...and helpless...
Then I thought that maybe I do need help. Maybe I could use some help. And when I did admit that, when I opened myself to help, I found help at JVS. And when I accepted help, any and all help given, accepted it with an open heart and mind, I found more help. And when I appreciated that help, when I was thankful for that help, I found even more help. And when I began to help others, I found help everywhere.
And then something happened.
I have begun to help myself and I am no longer helpless.
And good things are beginning to happen once again.
You can find help at: http://www.jvsdet.org
Walt
wtarrow@jvsdet.org
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