Job search blog
The job search blog......keeping you up to date with regular articles and information that will enhance your job search and help you get the job you want:
Blog topics
These will be very wide ranging, but will be about things like:
- Employment trends
- Future jobs
- Job search strategies - where to look for work, how to job search network
- Tips and techniques to sharpen up your resume, cover letter or job application email
- The latest interviewing trends and tips to help you with your next interview
- Information and advice to assist you with your career development planning and career transition
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Feb 15, 2012
Career profile and your brand
One of the key issues for managing career in this century is brand management. That's right - managing your own personal brand.
That's why I wanted to alert you to this article which appeared in Forbes "The first step to building your brand". You can read the article in full at the link below.
The article explains that one aspect of brand management is to be able to explain who you are (in a professional sense) and what you have to offer.
The majority of my clients find this difficult to do, either because they don't know or haven't thought about what they will say.
Others have to develop the belief and confidence that this type of self promotion is quite acceptable for a job seeker. They need to realise that this is not 'big noting' themselves.
When in job search mode it is critical that you be able to tell your story in a confident and professional way. And......it takes time and effort to put together a branding statement that is both interesting and informative.
Developing a career profile statement for your resume involves a very similar process, and includes virtually the same type of content. Check out that link too if you're going to do some work on preparing your branding statement.
Managing your brand in today's job market is very important. So.....how well are you able to explain who you are professionally, and what you have to offer an employer?
Best wishes
Anthony
Feb 11, 2012
An interview thank you letter or email - is this a good idea or not?
Deciding whether to send an interview thank you letter or an interview thank you note, and what to say in your letter
Feb 10, 2012
Told your 'overqualified' for the job - what to do about it?
The article at the link below, compliments of recruitment firm Adecco, deals with a situation where you miss out on wining a job because the employer feels you are overqualified.
In competitive job markets it is likely that many people are applying for jobs for which they are genuinely overqualified merely because they are desparate for a job.
Other people in established careers might be looking to take a step down in their career - perhaps due to health or as part of a strategy to focus on aspects of their work that they really enjoy.
If this describes your situation then it is important to understand why employers are reluctant to hire overqualified people. The answer is basically their fear that you'll quickly become bored and quit the job. This means then the employer having to start the costly and time consuming process all over again.....something they wish to avoid, obviously.
The article has a number of practical tips that could help you overcome this barrier to you finding a job you want.
Just a final thought about how to deal with this employer objection and it relates to your career development planning. Specifically this is being able to provide a convincing explanation to the employer about why you are pursuing this career opportunity.
Reviewing how you would answer some of the questions associated with the career development planning process therefore might also prove useful in helping you to deal with the employer's judgement that you are overqualified for the job.
Best wishes
Anthony
Feb 2, 2012
Job search - what not to do
Job search strategies continue to evolve over time. What was good advice about how to find work say 5 or even 10 years ago no longer applies.
The article at the link below caught my attention because it succintly summarises five important things 'not to do' in your job search strategy.
The main points in this article reinforce some of the suggestions I make on my pages which deal with resume guidelines and cover letter advice.
I think the real point of the article is that unless you keep current with job search tactics relevant to today's hiring practices you can waste an awful lot of time and effort because you are approaching your job search in the wrong way.
So.....take a realistic review of all aspects of your job search strategy. Consider implementing some of the ideas and techniques I have written about here on this website......that is, if you aren't already doing these things!
Till next time - best wishes
Anthony
Jan 27, 2012
You'll get hired for your attitude rather than skill
The article "Hiring for Attitude" that you can access via the link below confirms some very important points about your job search.
It discusses, as you would expect, how important a job candidate's attitude can be in influencing the overall hiring decision.
This idea is strongly supported here on my web page dealing with job interview tips. There are two of the broad streams of questioning you can expect in the interview process - one deals with your overall motivation, the other evaluates your fit with the organisation.
One of the key attitudes that organisations are looking for when recruiting their talent is 'coachability'. In other words you have an open approach to receiving feedback, direction and instruction because underneath it all you are hungry for knowledge and you want to grow personally and professionally.
So.....the advice is, learn all you can about the culture of the organisation where you want to work and really examine your attitude and how it might fit with this prospective employer.
Best wishes
Anthony
Jan 24, 2012
Job interview tips - what you absolutely must do to get that job
New job interview tips that will boost your confidence and transform your approach to your next job interview so that you land that job!
Jan 21, 2012
Answering interview questions - techniques to win over the interviewer
Answering interview questions involves much more than knowing what to say. Here are essential communication skills for how to answer interview questions
Jan 17, 2012
Recent graduate - do I show my part time employment in my resume
Hi, I've recently graduated from university and want to know how to create a resume that will help me get a job that is related to my field of study,
Jan 16, 2012
Using social media in your job search
The article at the link below, which appeared in Harvard Business Review, discusses the use of social media to boost your career prospects.
If you aren't already doing this, 2012 might be the year to get this aspect of your job search strategy in order.
When you read the article, a lot of attention is given to the issue of preparing your online profile.
As I see it, this isn't so different from preparing a profiling statement for your resume. Your profile should convey in a targeted and compelling way exactly who and what you are in a professional sense. It should be designed grab the atention and interest of the reader so that they are inclined to want to meet you.
What you say in your profile is worth plenty of thought and effort in its preparation. The guidelines on the career profile page of your resume will be useful to you in putting together a profile for use in social media.
While the article focuses on using social media, there are several useful ideas which you can apply when creating your resume, and also use when implementing job search strategy.
Best wishes
Anthony
Jan 16, 2012
Essential behavioral interview tips for your first behavioral interview
These behavioral interview tips explain how you should prepare for a behavioral interview.
Jan 12, 2012
How to choose a career and your personality type
A blind spot that many people have in working through the process of how to choose a career is their suitability for a particular career path or occupation that is based on their personality type.
Just like handedness......that is, your preference for using your right or left hand to do things, your personality type will also mean that you feel more comfortable doing some things in your work than others.
For example, some people excel in seeing and working with the bigger picture, while others may feel much more comfortable working with the intricate details.....and vice versa.
The article featured in the link below explains how a commonly used personality profiling instrument - MBTI, or the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, can provide important information about your personality type and preferences.
The extent to which your personality influences things like career choice and job satisfaction is explained in much more detail here - career personality test. There is also a link to a free personality test which is very similar in its approach to the MBTI mentioned in the article.
Armed with this knowledge you can potentially make much more informed choices about a career path or occupation that is suited to your personality.
So....if you are in the process of deciding where next in your career, or identifying job roles for which you might be suited, consider completing a personality profile to assist your decision making.
Best wishes
Anthony
Jan 10, 2012
Advice for college and university graduates
Many of you will know that the job search process can be demoralising, especially when you're getting either lots of rejection or no feedback at all from your job applications.
The labour market at present is very patchy. Graduate recruitment activity is being put on hold by many traditional employers of graduates. They're waiting to see how th economy performs, especially in the USA and in the Eurozone.
The article at the link below has some really good advice for people who are yet to break through with the job offer they are seeking.
While the article has been written for graduates, the advice is applicable to anyone who is experiencing frustration in their job search.
So......stay positive, manage your attitude and the the things you can control, and forget the rest.
Do make sure however that you have a balanced jobsearch strategy .....one that includes job search networking.
If you're getting no response from written job applications it could be that your resume needs some re-work. It might be a good idea to go back to basics and look at how to create a resume with fresh eyes.
Best wishes
Anthony
Jan 7, 2012
How to start an e-business
Regular readers of this web site will know that I developed it under the guidance of SBI, or Site Build It.
I've also recently advocated that an e-business is an avenue well worth exploring. This particularly applies if, like me, you are looking for an alternative stream of income as a hedge against the insecurity of the present job market.
If you are at all curious about the possibility of starting your own e-business here's a great opportunity to take a peek behind the scenes to see how easy it is to get started.
There will be live broadcast on SBI's Facebook page Sitesell Facebook which demonstrates how the business seed generator works.
The seed generator is literally step No. 1 in starting your e-business. It is a tool SBI provides which literally helps to pick your brain for ideas around which you can build a business.
The link below has the details of when the broadcast is taking place......but also note that it will be copied and kept on Sitesell Facebook for those people who can't watch it live.
I urge you to check it out if the idea of a profitable e-business appeals to you.
Best wishes
Anthony
Dec 21, 2011
Employment self sufficiency
I've long held the philosophy that when it comes to security of employment, the only real security is that which an individual creates for themselves.
In my own case I've either had lengthy periods of self employment, or when employed I've always been developing some sort of business as a sideline.
The link below will take you to an article which suggests that by 2020 the independent worker will be the norm rather than the exception.
So.....as we close out on 2011 facing a very uncertain world economy are you looking out for an opportunity to develop a little income security on the side?
If so, please take the time to investigate, really investigate what literally thousands of people, mums, dads, teenagers all around the world have discovered through Site Build It..... a way to develop financial independence.
Go to this link to take a look at what site sell can do for you.
SiteSell has an extensive Facebook presence as well. If you want proof about some of the benefits that others have experienced with SBI have a look at this SiteSell on Facebook
I'd also like to wish readers of the Job Search Mentoring Blog a happy family Christmas and New Year. For those readers who don't celebrate this occasion, and are fortunate to have holidays..... best wishes to you and your families too, for a happy relaxing holiday.
I look forward to sharing successful job search success strategies with you in 2012.
Best wishes
Anthony
Dec 21, 2011
Panel interview tips that will further enhance your job interview skills
Helpful panel interview tips that will help you make an impact with a group of interviewers so much easier
New! Comments
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