The job search can be an endurance race. In addition to working to stay positive, it is important to maintain an approach in which you are engaged, passionate, honest, and persistent.

Attitude
Approach each new opportunity with focus and optimism, even if you’ve been disappointed. If you start projecting pessimism, you won’t appear to be an ideal job candidate and your pessimism could become self-fulfilling prophecy.

Is Each Component of Your Search Polished and Perfected?
Analyze each aspect of your approach, from your resume to your networking to your job skills. Go back through each of the Job Search January 21-Day Challenges and consider which need improving. If you aren’t getting called to interviews, your cover letter and resume aren’t passing the test. If you’ve applied to all the positions on the job boards, are you also targeting your job search and setting up informational interviews? All of these components work together to create a successful job search.

Challenge #20: Create a Job Hunting System

In addition to polishing your job portfolio and your attitude, set up a strategy so that you are systematic about your job search. Create a calendar of your plan and include weekly or monthly quotas (how many leads/networking events/applications/informational interviews). Schedule your research, thank-you notes, follow-up contacts. Gain control of your job search through organization!

This challenge is for those of you who need a new job but are stuck in the wishing and worrying stage. If you’ve been lurking on job boards, now is the time to apply! I often have clients who are insecure about their resumes or their job history. They are hesitant to apply, even to positions to which they are qualified. Now is no time to be shy!

If you need a job, but aren’t following through and applying, seek some support. Set up a free 15-minute consultation by phone, email, or in-person with an expert. Often after meeting with me, job seekers who were feeling pessimistic about their skills or unsure about what they need to do feel enthusiastic and more confident! An expert will give you support and direct you to the action items you need to take. That can feel extremely empowering!

Challenge #19: Pick one job today and apply for it!

Do whatever it takes: fill out an application, write your cover letter and resume, and send them off! Make them as good as you can in the time you have today, have someone proof them with you, then BAM! put a stamp on your envelope and send it. And tomorrow, spend a little more time polishing your cover letter and resume, targeting it to your next position, and send off another.

Even if you’ve been stuck, take the first step. Pick one job and apply for it. Ask for support if you need it. Tell someone that if you do only one thing today it needs to be applying for this one job. Have them hold you to it. Then do it again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next!

We’ve discussed the value of networking in your job search. In addition to meeting people and asking them if they have any job information, there is another step you can take. You can request an informational interview.

Never ask for a job.
The purpose of an informational interview is to learn more about your industry or the organization where your contact works, as well as to increase your connections and visibility. You might learn which skills are most important to employers and gain a greater understanding of the job market.

Who do you meet and how?
When you meet a contact socially or at a network event, usually the conversation is brief and light. When you exchange business cards, ask if you might call or email in order to set up an informational interview. It is that easy!

In addition to people you meet through networking, you have also targeted your job search, following industry trends and players. Write an email or letter to people in your industry you’d like to meet requesting an interview. Request 20 minutes of their time at their convenience.

Make the most of the connection.
Ask good questions. What do you really need to know? Often, informational questions include: How did you get started in this field? What do you love about it? What challenges do you or your industry face right now? What recommendations would you make to someone who is interested in working in this field?

Be courteous and prepared.
Usually an informational meeting is set at your contact’s place of business. Dress and act professionally, be on time, be prepared to set the agenda and lead the meeting, have questions ready, and bring a notepad to take notes.

Do your homework beforehand, so that you do not ask questions to which you could find answers on the company website. Your contact is doing you a favor, so make efficient use of your time, be gracious, don’t overstay, and thank them. Then, for good measure, send a thank you note too.

Follow Up.
As always, ask if there is any way you can reciprocate. Then, check in every so often, perhaps monthly, to maintain the relationship, offer any services they might appreciate, discuss recent industry developments, and thank them again for having met with you.

Challenge #18: Set Up Informational Interviews

Try to set up at least two interviews per week. Remember, since you’re not asking for work, the stakes are lower. Behave professionally and act as if it is a job interview without the pressure! Take the opportunity to build relationships, gain knowledge, and improve your interview skills all in one.

One of the main components of your job search is to follow Job Boards. In addition to searching for job postings, utilize Social Networks to follow your industry, employers you would like to work with, and individuals and groups who are “talking” online about your industry. Social Networks offer you an opportunity to meet the movers and shakers of your industry without having to meet them in person.

Listen in to what’s happening online to learn the etiquette of each social network, then join in the conversation! You might just overhear news of an upcoming (but unadvertised) job opening, create a relationship that could earn you an important referral, or be discovered as an ideal candidate!

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a professional network. Create a profile and add your resume details, upload a photo, and utilize part or all of your 30-Second Elevator Speech in your Summary Paragraph. Be sure to make your profile visible to others and list what kinds of work you are seeking.  Here’s a link to LinkedIn’s  New User Starter Guide. Search out and join industry groups and join the conversation!

Here’s an article by The LinkedIn Personal Trainer about how Recruiters Use LinkedIn to Find Candidates!

Facebook
Most of us know what Facebook is and more and more people and businesses are active on it. If you don’t have one, create a personal profile and start adding all your friends. Find businesses and businesses people who you’d like to work with and follow or ‘like’ them. Again, once you’re comfortable with the etiquette of the conversation, join in.

Facebook also offers an easy opportunity to network. Through status updates or notes, let people know what you are looking for and that you are available as a problem solver.

Here’s an article called 5 Ways to use Facebook for your Job Search by The Undercover Recruiter.

Twitter
Again, use Twitter to follow recruiters, companies, and anyone involved in your industry to keep your finger on the pulse of what is happening.

Here is an article on how to set up your free Twitter account, use Twitter as a Job board, and begin building relationships and showcase your brand. Tweet Sheet: How to use Twitter for your Job Search

Challenge #11: Set Up Profiles and Use Social Networks in Your Job Search

If you are not already active with these Social Networks, set up free accounts with each of them. Start with LinkedIn and create your profile, construct your work history/resume, and upload a photo.

Look around on each site, get comfortable, then search out the companies and people you respect and would like to work for. Then join in the conversation.

Remember, once they discover you, they’ll probably do some checking of their own. Make sure what they find is presentable (you don’t want to be tagged on Facebook in a compromising photo) and displays your professional brand.

That should get you started!

“Please disregard the inaccuracies in the attached resume—it is out of date.”
–Actual Cover Letter Quote

Your Resume Must Pass a First Glance Test
Hiring managers give each resume only a few seconds to earn a closer look. If it is sloppy or outdated or error-filled, it will almost certainly fail the first screening and go straight to the trash pile.

Specific Guidelines on How To Write Your Resume to Survive the First Glance Resume Test!

Update Your Resume
Okay, Folks, this challenge is non-negotiable. Your resume is often your first introduction to a target employer. We all know you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

If you are seeking work, whether you are employed or unemployed, keep an up-to-date resume! This means you need your most recent work experience and also means that you need modern formatting.

Update the Facts
Make sure your most recent work experience, education, certifications, and continuing ed like seminars and trainings are included on your resume.

Be sure to use up-to-date language. Check the job descriptions of your most relevant job postings for keywords and be sure to include them throughout your resume.

Remember, Follow Job Boards to find job postings, then use those job descriptions to help you craft the language for your resume. Don’t just copy the language into your resume—it will be obvious that you’ve done so. Just make sure to include some of the wording here and there, in your Summary, Highlights, and Work Experience sections.

Update the Format
One of the most obvious indicators that your skills are outdated is to use an old resume format. With the availability of personal computers there are endless templates for formatting your resume. Microsoft Word and Google Docs offer a variety to choose from. Pick a clean, simple template.

Challenge #6: Update Your Resume

Working on your resume is a task many people procrastinate. It seems tedious and time consuming. But your resume is one of the most fundamental aspects of your job search. If your resume is contemporary and compelling, you’ll have a leg up on your competition!

If you don’t have the time or the skills to put together a good resume, enlist a friend or hire an expert to craft one for you. Contact me here for a FREE consultation!

You Probably Never Notice Your Typos
Have you ever turned in an assignment or resume, feeling so proud of your work, only to realize later that you’d left a typo or an error? Does it make you wonder how many errors you never even noticed?

Of Thousands of Resume Typos, A Small Sample
Here are a few of my favorite G-rated errors (believe me, I’ve seen lots of resumes where the “L” was left out of “Public” as in, I’m good with the public):

• “Education: College, August 1880-May 1984.”
• “Work Experience: Dealing with customers’ conflicts that arouse.”
• “Develop and recommend an annual operating expense fudget.”
• “I am very detail-oreinted.”
• “I worked as a Corporate Lesion.”

Most of these typos were surely overlooked by their authors, who never realized why they weren’t called for an interview.

10 Simple Proofreading Pointers to Survive Elimination

Make sure you survive elimination and embarrassment by following these Proofreading Pointers in my article at Make It Missoula!

That's me, Jennifer Shryock, presenting at Ignite Missoula v.3

I’ll bet you’re wondering how my presentation, Resumes in the Raw –A Report on Ridiculous, Erroneous, and Otherwise Regrettable Resumes went at Ignite Missoula v.3.

When I last updated you all, I hadn’t yet composed the slides or organized my thoughts for the event.

What is Ignite?

Ignite is a community forum  that began in Seattle in 2006, and has been adopted by several cities worldwide including Helsinki, Paris, New York, and Missoula, MT.

The form is part of the fun: Speakers are given 5 minutes (no more, no less) to speak about their passion, must have 20 slides which forward automatically every 15 seconds, and mustn’t sell or plug. They submit their topics in advance for a community vote to determine who presents on the night of the big event.

Am I funny?

I had never presented with a comedic intent, so I was a bit intimidated. I do try to speak in a fun-while-informative tone whenever I talk about resumes, interviews, or job searching–I know folks are often fearful or overwhelmed about these topics. My humor is usually off-the-cuff, though, so I didn’t know if I could do it intentionally.

It turned out I had so much fun creating the slides that I gained confidence in my comedic chops! I presented resume bloopers and how to avoid them, with 20 silly slides  that earned lots of laughter from the supportive crowd. (This picture captured the only un-fun slide, I swear!)

Proof

I promised you video, but unfortunately this time Ignite Missoula wasn’t recorded. The best proof I can offer is this dark photo taken by one of my friends in the audience. Her name is Jen Slayden and she’s a contributing blogger for Make It Missoula. Here’s her post about the event: Ignite–A roomful of pigs! Check it out and be sure to comment on her post. While you’re there, by all means check out the rest of the Make it Missoula site–I’ll be joining the team there soon, myself!

Thanks again, Everyone, for your support as I prepared for my first foray into funny! I had big fun–as did the crowd, if I can judge from their uproarious response. Did I Ignite Missoula? Well…I didn’t see any combustion, but we all had a great time.

According to their website, Ignite is “a community event celebrating the passion and creativity of geek culture. ” Doesn’t that just make you happy? It is a forum where anyone can speak on any topic, with the caveat that no one sells or plugs their business.

Several speakers, voted by the public, give quick five-minute speeches “on whatever ignites their passion.” Speakers are allowed 20 slides which forward every 15 seconds. The event is free to attend and participate in, and is organized by volunteers.

I understand it began in Seattle as a technology variety show, but has expanded to a community forum in other cities as well, including NYC and Paris, and now, Missoula, Montana. This will be the third installment (v.3) of Ignite Missoula.

I attended v.2 last spring, where there were titles such as: Free Play, presented by Jennifer Swartz (a Rainmaker client!), Life Imitates Coffee, a Barista Manifesto, by Jon Lewis, and How to Start Running When You HATE to Exercise, by Walt Maxx. Many of the speeches were light-hearted, yet informative. The audience participated in a paper airplane making contest and were invited to participate in an Ad Lib Presentation, improvising for five minutes to the slides as they appeared. Mayor John Engen emceed the event and provided us with an impressive improvisation. A great time seemed to be had by all, especially the supportive audience.

Here’s how it works: Community members submit topic ideas online and the public votes for those they’d most like to hear. Once the votes are tallied, the top 8 to 12 submissions are chosen to present. I submitted a topic related to my passion…you guessed it: Resumes!

My title:

Resumes in the Raw –A Report on Ridiculous, Erroneous, and Otherwise Regrettable Resumes

I haven’t written the presentation yet, but I think I’ll share some of the more embarrassing resume and job interview mistakes I’ve seen and heard about. We all know there are plenty of those from which to choose.  I plan to share some tips and techniques and reminders about how to avoid job search pitfalls. For some helpful job search tips, check out other articles I’ve written. I intend to keep it fun, light, informative, and motivating. Wish me luck! I’ll post the presentation after the event, if all goes well.

The voting continues until October 6^th. To vote for me, please follow this link, click on ‘Submit Your Topic and Vote’, go to the Feedback Forum, enter your email address, and vote for me. You get 10 votes and you can designate 3 of them to my topic. Don’t worry, it’s easy! Thank you!
Ignite Missoula

I guess the next step is to prepare my presentation, on the off-chance that my topic is chosen. I’ll check back as things progress. Here goes!

Create opportunity
Understand employers’ needs
Remedy their problem
Employment offers!

Become the Expert. Doctors go to college, medical school, residency. Can you say 36-hour shifts? So, too, must you become the expert. It may be that your expertise is in your work ethic, experience, education, recent classes you’ve taken to improve your skills, or your ability to resolve conflict.

Learn everything there is to know about your industry, the companies you are applying to and their competitors, what they do, who is in the hierarchy, recent industry activity. Look for clues as to what might be the needs of your prospective employers. Consider solutions that you might offer.

Present Your Credentials. Physicians put their diplomas on the wall. And you, as the specialist who can treat your future employer’s problems, must also present your credentials in an effective, relevant, and professional manner. Make sure your cover letter and resume (and later your follow-up letter) are sent to every appropriate potential employer out there. Each must be credible and professional (format, content, grammar, typos). And most importantly, write each one so that it is specifically relevant to the job advertised, the company and its particular situation. Present your skills, ideas, and the experience which will address that employer’s particular predicament.

This step is critical. Your cover letter is an opportunity to demonstrate some of your professional qualities, your knowledge of the company and how you are the remedy to its pain. It plays a role in whether your resume is read or tossed in the waste basket. Your resume backs up your claims through relevant experience and education.

These documents are the credentials and qualifications (resume), reputation (references), and research (cover letter) from which your future patient, the employer, determines whether you are worth meeting. Remember, interviews burn a great deal of an employer’s time. They will consider only the most compelling candidates, based on the quality and relevance of the materials they receive.

Think Like a Doctor, Part 2

Think Like a Doctor, Part 4

Hiring managers receive dozens of resumes for most job listings. They screen these with a quick First Glance, discarding 80% in a blink. Of the remaining candidates, only a handful are invited to interview. How are they chosen? Hiring managers review them for about a minute. Make sure yours is one they choose!

Lock it up! Equip your resume with the anti­-theft mechanisms it needs. To earn an interview, you must clearly communicate that your experience and education ‘match’ the job description requirements. Their first question: Are you qualified to do this job? They’ll look for:

Employment History

Include some information on the companies you’ve worked for–one sentence summarizing information like size, industry, and market position.

• Number of years
• Related industry
• Relevant job functions
• Level of consistent employment–no large job gaps or job hopping

Your track record

If you were in management, who and how many people did you manage? If you were in sales, who were your customers (B2B, B2C)? Apply numbers (dollars, time, percentages, etc.) to your accomplishments and results.

• Key accomplishments
• Quantifiable results

Relevant knowledge

Do you carry the required certifications and have the industry knowledge and technical training to easily step into this position?

• Education
• Functional knowledge and experience
• Industry knowledge
• Customer/market knowledge

You must show you meet the requirements of the job, but to lock up your interview chances, convey your understanding of their particular needs and your unique ability to address them. Demonstrate this by stating your solutions and by highlighting your accomplishments in ways that directly address the abilities needed to solve their problem.

Implement Visual Systems. A bright red steering wheel lock is an obvious sign of security. Organize your resume so that the important details are obvious and easily visible. Format wisely so you don’t bury this data among irrelevant language. Make it easy for the hiring manager to find. If it stands out more clearly on someone else’s resume, guess what? Yours is out.

Place an Alarm Sticker in Your Window. Make sure the first thing your audience sees indicates clearly that you’ve done your research (in anti-theft or your job search) and gone the extra mile. Lead with a cover letter which conveys that you’ve targeted your job search. Include specifics about why this job or company appeals to you. Highlight how your distinct skills or background meet the company’s needs.

Don’t leave your keys in your car. Outfit your resume with every device possible to clearly demonstrate your ability to meet this company’s particular needs, your individual and unique accomplishments, and what a great fit you would be within this company culture. Without these features, your chances of landing the job interview could be gone in 60 seconds.