Top Three Mistakes That Could Keep You Unemployed

Technically, there are hundreds of ways to sabotage [literally] a job search campaign, but for the purpose of this discussion, I will restrict myself to three common mistakes most job seekers make. 

Over the past few months, I have observed a steady (and measurable) increase in the number of candidates finding “meaningful” employment opportunities. This is certainly a refreshing change from the horrendous unemployment stories we have heard since the 2008 Financial Debacle. Though positive, the outlook for the economy is still volatile and everything that goes into a job search campaign must be perfected to the nth degree.

As an experienced career coach and resume writer, I would rate the following four factors as being critical in determining the success of any job search campaign: Demand-supply dynamics, a candidate’s background, quality of resume, and job search strategies. 

With this introduction, I rate the following job search mistakes as being unequivocally disastrous: 

The “I-hunt-from-my-recliner” strategy

 

Don’t get me wrong. I love my recliner, but I liken any passive job search campaign to the “I-hunt-from-my-recliner” strategy. A job seeker who does not incorporate active networking into his portfolio of job search strategies is, most likely, a passive job seeker. 

Making “connections” is the key to securing valuable face time with hiring managers. From career fairs to networking tools offered by online job boards, there is absolutely no scarcity of networking avenues for a serious job seeker. 

My friend just found a job, his resume will work for me

As a part of my free resume evaluation service, I review thousands of resumes and often come across needless “resume fluff,” verbiage that does nothing more than fill, nay waste, resume space with hyperbolic adjectives. Copying portions of someone else’s resume or simply pasting content from online resume samples will not produce results. 

Viewed from a hiring manager’s perspective, that is simply “lazy writing”. You might as well put your resume in a bottle and hope that someone at the other end of the shore will pick it up and call you. 

Powerful accomplishments, career stories, branding statements, and other cutting-edge resume writing strategies could transform an ordinary resume into a masterpiece, one that positions you as the perfect solution for the employer’s needs. In fact, in today’s cut-throat environment, your resume must be so powerful and compelling that the hiring manager must start day-dreaming about having you as the next employee. 

If you don’t measure results, you are wasting your time

Analytics are not just for businesses. Every time you post your resume, make a determined effort to track and measure results. How many views did your resume generate? How many calls did you receive? Which strategy is producing the best result? Which version of your resume do employers find more appealing? How many hours did you spend on your job search? How many calls did you make? Get the point. Track your job search activities meticulously and make appropriate changes as you move forward. 

It is imperative that you assess, reassess, tweak, and perfect your job search campaign dynamically. While you may not be able to control market dynamics, there are several areas that are absolutely within your direct control. 

By Nimish Thakkar

I PROMISE MYSELF

I PROMISE MYSELF

TO BE SO STRONG THAT NOTHING CAN DISTURB MY PEACE OF MIND.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO TALK HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY TO EVERY PERSON I MEET.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO MAKE ALL  MY FRIEND FEEL THAT IS SOMETHING WORTHWHILE IN THEM.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO LOOK AT THE SUNNY SIDE OF EVERYTHING AND MAKE MY OPTIMISM COME TRUE.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO THINK ONLY AT THE BEST, TO WORK ONLY FOR BEST AND TO EXPECT ONLY THE BEST.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO BE JUST AS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS AS I AM ABOUT MY OWN.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO FORGET THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST AND PRESS ON TO THE GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FUTURE.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO WEAR A CHEERFUL EXPRESSION AT ALL TIMES AND GIVE A SMILE TO EVERY LIVING CREATURE I MEET.




I PROMISE MYSELF

TO GIVE SO MUCH TIME TO IMPROVING MYSELF THAT I HAVE NO TIME TO CRITICIZE OTHERS.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO BE TOO LARGE FOR ANGER, TOO STRONG FOR FEAR AND TOO HAPPY TO PERMIT THE PRESENCE OF TROUBLE.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO THINK WELL OF MYSELF AND TO PROCLAIM THIS FACT TO THE WORLD, NOT IN LOUD WORDS BUT IN GREAT DEEDS.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO LIVE IN THE FAITH THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS ON MY SIDE, SO LONG AS I AM TRUE TO THE BEST THAT IS IN ME.

By CHRISTIAN D. LARSON

Give Your Cover Letter a JOB!

By Jimmy Sweeney

When it comes to writing a cover letter, the experts advise you to make it short—using fewer rather than more words, succinct––clear and focused on your key points, and sincere––writing from your heart and mind.

Good advice! But how are you to accomplish this task? By giving your cover letter a job, that's how. Make it work for you. Your cover letter should:

• Greet the hiring manager. Dear Mr3:13 PM 5/18/2012. or Ms. . . .
  
  
• Give the location of the job ad where you learned about the position. I appreciate your posting the job description on CareerJimmy.com. I knew at once when I saw. . .
  
• Introduce youself to the hiring manager. I'm a Certified Public Accountant looking for a new position in your city . . .
  
  
• Present your skills. In addition to my accountancy skills I am known as an excellent communicator and a strong leader with business savvy and tech know-how—abilities that I recognize are important to you.
  
  
• Mention your prior work experience. I was employed at the Adams-McKinley Accountancy Firm as Vice President for the past five years . . .
  
  
• Display your ability to communicate clearly. Mastering creative problem-solving skills is one of my primary goals. My priority is to examine information, interpret it, and find creative solutions within a framework of responsibility, ethics and honesty.
  
  
• Demonstrate your knowledge of the company. I have wanted to work for Preston and Bates Brokerage House for the past five years and have groomed myself so that when an opportunity to interview for an opening came up, I'd be ready. I respect the vision of your firm—to serve the customer first, last, and always.
  
  
• Refer to your enclosed resume. For specific details about my work experience please see my enclosed resume.
  
  
• State your educational background. I earned my CPA degree from San Diego State University in San Diego, California in 2003.
  
  
• Request an interview. May I meet with you to talk over this important position and how I can contribute to your company and take care of your customers?
  
  
• Include your contact information and availability. I'd be happy to meet you at your convenience any afternoon from one o'clock on. Please phone or email me at my home using the contact information above.
  
  
• Express your gratitude for reading the letter. Thank you for taking time to read my cover letter and for considering me for an interview.

As soon as the cover letter is complete, review it once or twice to see if it did the job. If not, call for overtime. Go through it again step by step, making sure that every word, every sentence, every paragraph and every point is written in the clearest way possible so that when the letter reaches a hiring manager, he or she will know at a glance that you are the person most fit to fill the job opening.

A cover letter that does its job will help you do your job when the call comes in with the words you're eager to here. "You're hired!"

Salary Requirements Part 2

Part 2 of 2 

When your cover letter has your current salary, that’s generally sufficient. As long as your title and experience are in line with what they’re looking for, the numbers should be roughly comparable. If your salary is substantially less, chances are either that your employer frequently underpays, or there’s a problem with your abilities. 

While providing only your current salary doesn’t tell the company if your expectations are reasonable, it at least gives them a number to measure against their range, and that’s where your resume comes in. If there’s nothing off-putting about it visually, it will be looked at with your current salary in mind. The hiring authority or screener is going to be looking for justification of your number. Does your job description exceed your salary? That might indicate a problem. 

Even before the market turned, salary was used as a way to screen people out. Companies falsely believe that adhering to some formula or profile will ensure a good hire. But screening by salary doesn’t take into consideration a person willing to take a cut in pay, nor one who is underpaid. Since the company isn’t likely to stop and consider these possibilities or the reasons why they might exist, your best bet is to explain it in your cover letter. The alternative is that they’ll assume the worst, and withdraw your resume from consideration. 

On the other hand, should you be invited in for an interview, chances are good that you’ll be pressed for your expectations. Stick with your answer. Depending on with whom you’re speaking, you might have a little dance take place. They press, you demur. They press harder, you demur more. Smile to make sure you’re not coming across as argumentative, and paying attention to your tone of voice, explain that you don't intend to be difficult, but you're there to learn more about the company, the opportunity, and whether you’ll fit well together, and you’re not expecting some pie in the sky increase. 

If you're sticking within your industry and field, chances are you're in their range, so assuring them that your expectations are reasonable should suffice. So now a word to the wise. If you’re expecting anything more than 3%, you’re being unrealistic. Although most companies are laying people off, one look at any of the job boards will tell you many are still hiring. It’s an employers’ market, so be realistic lest you price yourself out of consideration.

Often I hear from job searchers who don't want to tell a prospective employer what they're making and steadfastly believe that that information is none of the company's business. Wrong.

Usually it's because people fear they'll be lowballed and keeping their salary confidential will prevent this. Actually, the only thing that keeping your salary confidential will prevent is your getting an interview. The company has a right to know what you’re making, and no, they don’t have to tell you the range. In any case, if you think the company will undercut you, why are you interviewing with them? 

Interviewing isn't supposed to be a game, but it probably always will be. While everyone else is playing it, you concentrate on being real and respectful to both yourself and the company with whom you're interviewing. Tell them what they ought to know - your current salary - and sidestep what's unnecessary. By the time you get far enough into the process where the salary requirements make a difference, it will have become more of a meeting of the minds rather than a tool to possibly boot you out of the picture.

- Judi Perkins