For those that know me well, you know that I’ve been wanting to change the direction of my career services for quite some time. I’ve wanted to serve those that truly need the assistance and not just executives that are unsatisfied with their jobs (nothing against executives, but want to help those that can’t afford $300+ resumes).

So here’s my plan and how it affects my clients:

• I’m all about quality resumes for real people. Whether it is the guy down the street that’s been out of work for six months; the single mom wanting something better for herself and her family or the Boomer that needs to get back to work because retirement isn’t paying the bills, they all matter and need the same opportunities that the executive with the unlimited budget has. Prices will be kept affordable.

• These resumes are about the facts and achievements, not hype. Employers are getting wary of what details are being hidden by all of the doublespeak. They aren’t stupid and don’t have time for the nonsense.

• Expect the truth… I don’t sugar coat the facts. If you are serious about finding a job, you’ll want the truth and how to repair the problems.

• Additionally, I want to start working with local shelters to help the homeless get jobs and back on their feet.

If you can live with that, I’d love to work with you.

Let’s make some career magic!

“Find a job you like and you add five days to every week.”  ~H. Jackson Browne

Last week I was watching individuals going into a local job fair and was surprised to see how some showed up (Son, in the Motley Crue shirt, were you serious?). Generally, most of the men did okay, but some of women should put a tad more effort forth before complaining about the lack of response.  I guarantee you that “Buffy” or “Muffy,” you know, the twelve year olds that you’re competing against are going to be dressed to kill. You need to have “the look” that will show that you’re a serious competitor and ready to get to work.

Having a contemporary look doesn’t mean “over the top” fashion, so keep this in mind. Dressing like a clown doesn’t help your cause, either (think “Mimi” syndrome). It also doesn’t mean that you need a small fortune to pull it off. There are some wonderful online outlets, as well as incredible consignment shops out there where you can purchase designer clothing for a fraction of retail. I’ve found eBay is wonderful for this and have purchased many designer fashions from sellers there.

Also keep a professional looking hair style and soft make up (talking to the ladies here, guy liner isn’t recommended for anyone other than a rock star). It’s not as difficult as it might feel to pull a great professional look together, just takes a little planning.

A few simple tips that go a long way:

1)      Go with the classics… A classic suit can easily be accessorized with a scarf or excellent and simple jewelry.

2)      Quality and style lasts, where high fashion is fleeting.

3)      The right cut and a little color can completely change your look to exceptional.

4)      It’s better to purchase a couple quality outfits that last than several disposable ones.

5)      Wear shoes without scuffs and obvious wear.

6)      Keep your makeup natural looking and understated.

Following these simple guidelines will help you present the best possible image at job fairs and interviews. It will also work wonders for your confidence!

“Fashions fade, style is eternal.” Yves Saint Laurent

As with most areas in life, we want fast, easy solutions when it comes to our job search and far too often get frustrated when it just doesn’t work out that way. Some want to believe that having the perfect resume is the solution and I’m here to tell you that your resume is only a part of the puzzle to finding a job in this economy.

The Resume:
I find that most of the time client resumes aren’t worded horribly and generally just need to be tweaked and reformatted to be more reader/scanner friendly. Making it more eye-catching, when it actually reaches human hands… BUT even with the most beautiful resume with all the magic keywords, you have to understand that depending on the field you’re in, you could still be looking at an uphill battle.

Personal Marketing:
Personal marketing can assist, so dust off that suit and hand-deliver those resumes where you can; it makes an impression and shows you to be a serious job searcher. It may feel awkward at first, but gets easier the more you do it. This is especially effective in medical/administrative/paralegal fields because they are general smaller offices and you could actually get in the door before the ad hits the job boards/papers.

The Reality:
Sadly, there are some fields that are simply either too far gone or a long way from recovering. Take home-building, it’s going to be a very long time before we honestly see a noticeable improvement and I don’t know that we’ll ever see it completely recover to the level it was (and that may well be a good thing). When there are situations like this, change is necessary, as difficult as it may be. Consider taking evening classes in an area that is showing growth or if possible look at going back to school for a whole new profession.

Time:
Imagine putting full-time hours into a job search… The results would be remarkable, but what’s the likelihood that is what can be done? The important factor is that you put in as many hours as possible. It takes research, numerous submissions, networking, practicing for interviews, and aggressive personal marketing to make noticeable progress and that, my friend, takes time.

Attitude:
There’s also the issue of attitude… I know that when you’ve been out of work for a while and not having luck finding work, it’s hard to be upbeat, but I’m also seeing clients that are their own worst enemy with a victim mentality that you sense the instant you talk to them. You MUST get past this to have any hope of finding a job! It doesn’t help anything and could very well be holding you back.

Networking:
You need to also get out there and network, meet people, make friends and market yourself. You can’t do this sitting at home. If you want to make things happen you need to get out there and MAKE THEM HAPPEN! Sitting around waiting by the phone isn’t going to find you a job. It truly is “who you know” sometimes that makes the difference.

Image:
This next area is not always a popular one to hear about, but it matters… What is the image that you’re presenting? Do you present a professional image and one that any company should want to have onboard? When you interview wear quality suits, keep a current and polished hair style (quirky doesn’t help in this area, think before you have them cut), and take care of your health and body. First impressions are so important and every detail needs to be considered. So now isn’t a good time to sit around feeling sorry for yourself, eating pint after pint of ice cream.

These are all pieces of the puzzle to having a successful job search and when they come together, it can make the difference between being out of work a few weeks or a few months. Consider the whole picture and not just a facet or two… It truly makes a difference.

All the so-called “secrets of success” will not work unless you do. ~Author Unknown

Was thinking of the funny , often overused, and  negative words I see in resumes. Some are overused if they are used even once, but let’s quickly go over them to save yourself a headache or two.

Liaison:

Unless your job title is Liaison, how often do you use the word in real live? Now, I let this one slide, as long as it isn’t overused. Remember to ask yourself if you use it in real life conversations. The word “communicated” can generally be used and you’ll seem a lot less like a “stuffed shirt.”

Expedite:

Now I know that depending on the position, it can be used more frequently, but it’s certainly not used nearly as much in conversation as it is in resumes. “I expedited taking the kids to school, so they wouldn’t be late.” How often does that phrase come up in conversation?

Interface:

This is easily one of the funniest words I ever see on a resume. It is not used in conversation by ANYONE that isn’t still living in a basement and clearly never going to look for work. We “communicate” with one another, not interface that is unless you are Mr. Roboto or some robotic bad guy on Dr. Who.

Fire/Terminate:

A resume is supposed to leave a positive impression and these are a couple of the most negative words ever used in resumes. When you’re a manager or person of authority, we all know that sadly this is part of your job. It’s kind of a common sense thing, so let’s not announce it in your resume. If you’re highlighting this “skill” you are not showing yourself in a very positive light.

I’m not saying that using these words are necessarily wrong (except for interface and you had better not let me catch you using that one), but just think before using them. Use words that you would actually use in a conversation and try not to overuse any words. Just a little piece of advice that will help you paint yourself in a more positive light.

“Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.”  ~Author Unknown

In dealing with so many different types of clients I’ve come to see a pattern emerging in our modern times… Anti-social job hunters. You know who you are… You live on your computer and have believed the hype that you can find a job by simply posting your resume on one of the job sites. You’re just certain that there’s something wrong with your resume because you aren’t getting the response that you feel you should, but that may very well not be the case.

These days, you have to get serious with a job search and that means you need to get “out” and search. I mean getting dressed (sorry, that means getting out of your jammies), doing the research, and heading out into the world to meet and network with REAL people.

Breathe… Pull yourself out of the fetal position and believe it or not, you CAN do it.

When the big job sites started out; it was a great thing to simply be able to post your resume and see results, but now it’s caused many job searchers to get lazy. They post their resumes and believe that their job is done, when that’s far from the truth. Many of the best jobs still go to those that make the effort and market themselves the strongest and you can’t possibly do that when only posting your resume.

Companies need to be researched and you need to network with (once again) REAL people. The old adage that says how it’s who you know is right on target. You need to know people and people need to know and trust you before you’ll get a job. You can’t just go to a couple of networking events and believe that you’ve done enough. It takes a long time to develop trust, so thinking that networking only when you need a job isn’t going to do anything for your goals. People can see this behavior a mile away and will know that they’re being used.

Friends are more than willing to help and support friends that are looking for a job, but first you have to become that “friend.”

Get up, get involved with networking groups and associations before you start believing that they should or will help you find a job. Be involved and give back. It’s a lot easier to want to help someone you know helps others.

Another great concept that has been lost in the cyber age is going out and personally marketing to businesses with your resume. Granted there are some jobs that this technique is more effective with than others, but it is well worth mentioning. You may get a funny look and feel awkward at first, but it gets easier the more you do it and you WILL be remembered for making this effort. It’s also not unheard of to be interviewed on the spot, so always be prepared.

To achieve any of this, you need to leave the house.

Come on… You can do it.

Kick off the fuzzy bunny slippers, dust off that suit, get involved, and even take out some resumes.

Getting OUT can make all the difference in your job search!

Get on with it!

When it is said that attitude can make or break a situation, it’s never truer than with an older worker/job hunter. I’ve seen too many that have proved this over and over again. It all goes back to whether you look at yourself confidently or as a victim.

Allow me to offer up a couple examples…

Here is Al (names changed to protect their privacy), an active 65 year old that had retired, but like so many he needed to get back into the game because of financial reasons. Frustrated, yes, but never being down for long; he went out and quickly sought work. He thought ahead and had a plan… Al went to businesses that target seniors as clients and actually came across a job where he transports even older seniors to their various medical appointments. Giving him an added income, but creating incredible rewards as well.

What’s actually amusing about Al is that when he called the Senior Center about the position, they actually told him that he needed to be over 50 years of age… By talking to him, they couldn’t tell. He laughed and said “I’ve been over 50 for quite some time.” Another amusing fact is that his attitude is so contagious; the “older” ladies adore him! He often gets kisses on the cheek and is continuously requested.

Now let me introduce you to Harriet… Another 65 year old that dresses chic and again seems younger than she is… BUT has a chip on her shoulder about the size of Mt. Rushmore. After going on a few job interviews where she wasn’t hired, but someone younger and in her opinion less experienced was; she’s now assuming that she’ll NEVER get a job because of age descrimination. Instead of researching a different approach, she’s brooding and doing the same thing, over and over. In the long run, she’s creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

There’s no doubt that age discrimination is out there, but how you look at and react to it makes a huge difference. As with any job search, you need to do a great deal of research and know what direction would work best for you as an individual. You need to make sure that you can stand on an equal level with your competition. That may mean that you need to pick up some new skills and market yourself stronger. Like it or not, you sometimes need to make changes in your approach. Sitting around grumbling doesn’t help anyone!

A few tips that can help:

Market what you have to offer this company and be sure to include areas such as sound computer skills and abilities that can advance you and the company in the future.

Show an awareness of today’s market; strong computer skills, an understanding of social media, and skills you have to advance the company, just to name a few.

Be willing to go back to school.

Understand that today’s job market is not what it was ten years ago and everyone needs to adjust or be left behind. Sometimes to succeed you need to advance your education.

Don’t just learn simple things about the company, do some serious research and take notes on specifically how you can meet their needs.

Know the background on this company and what you can do to advance it. The more the better and take notes showing specific advantages you offer.

Walk in to the interviews prepared, not prepared for battle and with a nasty attitude.

At this stage there’s no hiding your age, deal with that and get over it. Be confident in your own skin and let that shine. There will be companies and individuals that will jump on the age factor, but don’t let this ruffle your feathers; show them what you have to offer. Accept the fact that there will be companies that won’t even give you the chance and understand that when that attitude is there, you wouldn’t have been happy working there. In the years to come, companies like this will only be hurting themselves. The 50+ age group is seriously growing and those companies that don’t adjust to this fact are going to be left in the dust.

Preparation is the key to everything; from your abilities and attitude to your attire and stature, everything is taken into consideration. As the old saying goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”  Make your first impression a powerful one, where age seems to be forgotten.

Have you ever wondered how some individuals always glide through interviews without batting an eye and walk away with the “to die for” jobs; while you’re sitting there sweating, stammering, and stuttering through them, wondering when it will be over and feeling like an idiot? It’s sad to think that perfectly normal people can panic themselves into blowing the interview, before they ever walk in the door. They forget that the individuals that they are going in to speak to are just people, too and not gods deciding their fates.

Half the battle is just calming down and relaxing, as difficult as that may seem, it can make a difference. That doesn’t mean to go in being full of yourself, but be aware that you have something to offer and that you are interviewing the company, as much as they are interviewing you. Rehearsing will help with this process. Thinking of what you should ask and how you will answer potential questions, directed your way.

Being prepared involves doing your homework, studying the company and knowing what you can contribute to their vision. Go to their website, read the history of the company, learn their mission statement, see their goals and find the background on what they want to achieve. This knowledge will guide in showing what you offer; having the ability to not only answer the questions they have correctly, but being able to ask the right questions, as well.

Interviewing is a two-way street and you need to be prepared for this aspect, offering more than just one or two word answers, but examples of what you’ve accomplished and how these skills will add to the company. Be a proactive problem-solver… Be confident… And most of all… Smile and know you have something to offer.

Next time… Five questions that always need asked during an interview….

“Give your stress wings and let it fly away.”  ~Terri Guillemets

Have you ever noticed how once you hit 40 (or it seems so to some), there are young vicious sharks swimming around your desk at work? They act like friends, but you just KNOW that they are circling and waiting to have you for lunch. I’d like to give you a few tips on how to keep the sharks at bay…

1. Never and I mean NEVER use the word “old” to describe yourself. Good grief, if you’re not 80 you’re not old to begin with and need slapped upside the head just for saying it. Saying that you’re getting old is like opening a wound and dripping blood in the water. Stop it!
2. Feeling squishy and slow among your 12 year old coworkers? Let me break it to you… Watching American Idol while eating chips and playing couch potato isn’t going to advance you career, only your waist. Get up off your butt and get active.
3. And if you “try” to get active and suddenly EVERYTHING hurts… Get over it! It will! I don’t know how many people give up after the first time they exercise simply because it hurts. Reality check, it’s going to hurt! Don’t overdo it, but come on don’t mosey through the neighborhood without breaking a sweat and call that enough. Sweat, baby, sweat!
4. When you do exercise, listen to something upbeat. Smooth jazz may keep you from getting violent on the drive home, but goodness it will do NOTHING for a workout. Think of it this way, if the music can cause your pulse to pick up just listening or watching the video, imagine what it can do for a workout.
5. Another “don’t” is the constant complaining about the younger workers… It makes you look like the curmudgeon of the office and like you should be saying something like “When I was a kid, we walked 10 miles to school, uphill, both ways.” I’m sure that they are difficult to converse with, but goodness, let’s not date ourselves.
6. Understand that you should be at the top of your game and you’re never too old to take classes and seek professional development. The only way to stay on top is to be a continuous student.
7. Be active in your community and make a difference in lives. There’s a much bigger world than just the only you live in. Look out for more than just you and your own. This not only makes you a role model to your fellow workers, but your kids, as well.
8. And finally… Learn to have fun and play as hard as you work. Stop making excuses, enjoy life. It will make work even better and you never know, you might just have something to talk about with your younger coworkers.

Follow these guidelines and not only will you stand a chance with the sharks, but you might just become a force to be reckoned with (instead of sleeping with the fishes).

“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?”  ~ Satchel Paige

Now before I get started I’m going to apologize because I know that some are going to be offended and that’s not what this is about… Each category has its advantages or some will see that there are advantages. There is no “right” or “wrong” group, I’m just making an observation.

When I refer to ants, bees, and cockroaches, it’s in reference to types of working individuals. How they look at their jobs and how they react to work situations. Again, there’s not really a wrong type of thinking, but realizing that your type can change may make a difference in how you look at your job.

Let me begin with the ants… They are often wearing a suit and following the money. There are advantages in the sense that it’s often highly respected positions (or so it was before Bernie made his appearance) and living the highlife.  It works well until the bottom falls out. Remember the scene in “Bug’s Life” where the ants are marching in a line and a leaf/twig falls in front of the ant and he freaks out because he has no idea of where to go because his path is blocked??? When the bubble burst these individuals absolutely lost it. All their plans were planned according to following the money and now the money was gone, as were the opportunities.

Another downside to the “ant” mentality is the long-term health issues from the stress. These are some of the most stressful jobs out there and that doesn’t even touch the fact that they often miss a great deal of family time just trying to keep up with the job. Even those that live for the fast paced life need to go the extra mile to care for their health.

Then we have those dependable bees… Busting their butts and never afraid of the work, but often not getting the credit that they deserve (with that Queen Bee taking all the credit). The plus to being one of these rough and tumble workers is that they can almost always find a job.

The downside to being a bee is that recognition is rare and to earn a solid living takes a boatload of hours and work. The likelihood of becoming a young millionaire is slim, as is the likelihood of early retirement, but some can live with that and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Now our last little group, of which I’m proud to be a part of… The plucky cockroach. Yes, I AM a cockroach and I’m proud of it! Does that make you squirm? Nah, don’t be, I’m okay with it and soon you’ll see why…  They can drop a nuclear bomb on us and we’ll still charge forward and likely even do it with a smile (which has been known to annoy many).

We cockroaches will create our own jobs when there are none and try to help others find what makes them happy, too. Some live on less and some live with more, but regardless we live with a smile. We march to the beat of a VERY different drummer and many, if not most are fairly certain we’re out of our minds, but again, we’re fine with that.

Cockroaches don’t think of retirement because we love what we do and isn’t that what really matters? Isn’t that what we all should do?

If you aren’t happy or satisfied with your job, shouldn’t you look at options? Nothing is forever and situations change. Maybe you can’t follow your heart right now, but you CAN start planning for when you can. Having a plan is a huge part of the battle. Creating a plan also gives you hope, gives you something to look forward to, and THAT is important.

So today, think about where you want to be personally and professionally in the next year, five years or even ten years… Sit down and write down what you want to do and start researching your possibilities. There’s unlimited information online, dive in and look around. See where your future begins and stop just doing a job, start having a career that you love…

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot

With the job market being what it is, it calls for creativity. I’m not suggesting going over the top, although this has worked for some, but be aggressive with your search. Get out there and meet people, it is a matter of who you know, don’t kid yourself for an instant on that one.  Some of the job boards make it sound like you simply post your resume and the employers will be beating down your door and that’s extremely misleading. There may have been a time that it was that simple, but that time is long gone for most. An effective job search means getting off the sofa, putting on that suit, and knocking on doors (figuratively and literally).

Start by looking at your resume and see that it’s current and ready to go at any time. You never know when opportunity will knock and you don’t want to be sitting on your thumbs. Keep all of your information filed where you can find it at a moment’s notice.

Then you need to think of the hours you’re willing to invest, versus how badly you want a better position. The cornerstone to any search is the willingness to put in the hours needed to find a good job and for many it’s where individuals make the weakest effort. Often with their search effort consists of spending an hour or two a couple days a week on job boards. Not doing nearly enough research.

Know the companies you want to work for, do your homework! Who do you want to work for? Look at their company, their mission statement, their reputation, and the direction they look like they’re going in the future. When companies interview, they want to know that you know their company and aren’t just jumping on the first thing coming down the road. This takes more of an effort, but is well worth it.

Now, how far are you willing to go to get the job??? We’ve all heard the stories about those that post their resumes on T-shirts, poster boards, and of a number of radical places to gain exposure… Are you this ambitious and brave (insanity sometimes comes to mind, but for some this works)? One thing I tell my clients is that you have to go out into the world to have an effective search… You want a good job then “GO” out and market yourself. Get your suit on and personally go out and introduce yourself to potential employers.

In the beginning personally marketing yourself is frightening, but it gets easier the more you do it. You can not only end up interviewed on the spot, but you can also gain new job leads from inside sources. It is an incredible rarely tapped resource anymore. Once upon a time, it was often how people searched for jobs, but in this digital age people have become lazy and just don’t make the effort. For those that are willing to make the effort, it is well worth it.

No matter how you market yourself, getting out there will make a difference. You’ll show a great deal of ambition, where others may fall short. Remember the hours and effort you put forth will directly affect your search and its success.

All the so-called “secrets of success” will not work unless you do.  ~Author Unknown