Controversial Affiliations and Volunteer Experience

Q. In my spare time, I lead a political advocacy group that many would say is controversial. I think listing it on my resume would show leadership skills, but I am worried that the experience cold also hurt me. What should I do?

A. First, consider your audience. If you are applying for positions where your political views closely align with those of the organization (a lobbying firm, for example), then highlighting your shared political ideologies makes sense.

Having said that – since you want your resume to appeal to a broad audience and you want to be judged on your qualifications – it is generally best to exclude potentially controversial information from the resume.

In all cases, consider your audience and weigh the risk / potential reward.

It's Time To Get Social

I know that social media has a reputation for being nothing more than a way to share selfies, sunsets, and pictures of food. Perhaps that is why so few of my clients are using these tools to build their professional brand. I think 2014 should be the year that changes. 

Here are just a handful of the ways that you can use social media to drive professional success:

Thought leadership – Social media allows you to broadcast your ideas and engage audiences around your area of expertise. Powerful stuff.

Interpersonal Savvy – Interactions on social media can provide potential employers / clients with a clear insight into your communication style.

Brand Development – Your presence on social media is a perfect way to frame perceptions. What you say, share, and promote all serve to shape your brand.

Networking – Social media (and not just LinkedIn) can be a powerful networking tool. It has never been easier to connect with influential individuals in your field.

With so many potential benefits, I encourage you to make 2014 the year you fully leverage social media to increase your professional efficacy. I'll be working on it too!

5 Ways to Stay Motivated During Extended Unemployment

I was recently consulting with a corporate client that asked me to sit in on a few final selection interviews. In those interviews, I noticed that one uniquely qualified candidate had an air of desperation and lack of confidence. In speaking with her and reviewing her resume, I realized that she had been out of work for some time. Of course, I don’t know why this candidate was not seeming as strong in this late stage of the hiring process, but I can only imagine that extended unemployment and my client’s drawn-out hiring process was probably taking it’s toll.

That encounter reminded me that no matter how qualified you are, lack of confidence or the perception of desperation can be your undoing during the hiring process. Here are a few tips for maintaining your sanity during extended unemployment so that you can move through your job-search process with your sanity – and confidence – intact.

Keep a schedule – Do this from day one. Immediately set a schedule and stick to it. As tempting as sleeping in until noon (and spending the day in sweat pants watching YouTube videos) may be, that sort of inactivity has a gravitational pull that is very difficult to recover from.

Volunteer – It can be very easy to slip into a ‘poor me’ mindset when you’ve been let go or are having difficulty finding work. That makes sense. But self-pity is a fast track to inaction. So gain some perspective and volunteer your time. Not only will this elevate your self-esteem, it is a great way to network with like-minded people. Additionally, it is a low cost way to interact with people and get out of the house.

Stay Active – I know I’m not breaking any new ground with this tip, but that doesn’t make it any less valid. Few things are as good for your self-esteem as exercise. Oh, and before you say that you don’t have the time to exercise, remember that that long standing excuse no longer holds weight.

Limit Social Media – Studies show that people who spend lots of time on social media tend to be more depressed. That should come as little surprise. Don’t waste away your time focusing on other people’s idealized versions of their lives.

Learn a new skill – It is very easy to let your mind atrophy when you are out of work for an extended period. It is also easy to let your skill set become less and less current, which can make it even more difficult to find employment. So use your time to either learn a new skill or stay up-to-date on your current skill set.

Be Careful With Hyperbole

“I run toward fires.” That phrase showed up on a LinkedIn profile I recently viewed, and it has been bugging me ever since.

Resumes and LinkedIn profiles are marketing documents. As such, they need to be engaging, informative and compelling. Powerful language is a key part of achieving those critical objectives. However, there is a point where powerful language veers into hyperbole. And hyperbole can work against you.

“I run toward fires” is hyperbole.

To be certain, there are people who will read a phrase like “I run toward fires” and think 'cool, this candidate is not afraid to take on difficult tasks.' However, there are also many people who will think, 'This candidate doesn’t know which way to run when something is burning.' One reader will see a risk taker and the other will see someone who has poor judgment. There in lies the problem. Hyperbole leaves way too much room for interpretation.

When developing personal marketing like a resume and LinkedIn profile, remember to balance powerful language and self-assessments with clear achievements and un-ambiguous facts. That way you won’t get burned by misinterpretation.

How Do I Say I Am Willing To Relocate?

Q. I am completely open to moving for the right job. How do I say that I am willing to relocate?

A. The cover letter is where you want to share things like a willingness to relocate. Keep in mind two important things:

• Unless you offer an extremely in-demand skill set, companies will likely be reluctant to cover expenses associated with relocating. Make sure you share that you don’t need assistance with relocating expenses (if that is the case). One very tactful way to accomplish this is to communicate that the move is underway. I suggest something like, “I am currently in the process of relocating to City, State. During that time, I remain fully available to speak with you about this exciting opportunity.”
• Employers will likely be inundated with resumes from local applicants, so applying from a distance will put you at a disadvantage. If you can use an address that is local to the employer, consider doing so.

How To Ace a Phone Screening Interview

Phone screening interviews can be a little confusing... Here are three tips for acing them.

Don’t over talk – A phone screen is an interview but it’s not an Interview. The screener is typically looking to quickly identify if you are a strong candidate and if it makes sense to invest the time in a full interview. Honor the screener’s time and the purpose of the call – to gather a lot of information quickly and narrow down the candidate pool – by keeping your answers brief and achievement focused.

Be engaged – We talk on the phone a lot, so it is easy to believe you know how to interview on the phone. Without the context of a face-to-face interview, it can be challenging for a caller to “hear” your enthusiasm, so step up your game and be consciously enthusiastic. And don’t forget to smile. As corny as it may sound, callers can hear a smile.

Speak clearly – Enunciate and speak slowly. It is easy to assume you always communicate clearly and with good diction. Truth is, you probably don’t. So be mindful.

When Is The Best Time To Apply?

I read an article the other day claiming that Monday was the best time to apply for a job. It states that:

“...getting your application early gives a hiring manager time to discuss it with colleagues and arrange meetings in the same week. Applications that come in later may have a higher chance of falling between the cracks or getting pushed aside.”

That sounds like safe reasoning, but I doubt it really holds much weight. Here is when I think the best time to apply for a job is: before the position close date and after you have had enough to time to thoughtfully target your resume and cover letter towards the specific opportunity. If that coincides with a Monday, great.

Bad Advice™

I see a lot of bad advice when it comes to resume writing and job search strategies. Often times, this is the result of long-held but outdated ideas that get amplified in the cyber-echo-chamber. However, sometimes this advice contradicts commonly agreed upon best practices as a way to differentiate a service, propagate fear and cash-in on people’s general confusion about the often maddening resume writing process. This is what I call Bad Advice™.  Here are a few examples of Bad Advice™ that I’ve recently encountered:

Avoid Certain Words – Every time LinkedIn releases its annual list of words to avoid, the Internet blows up. And that is very likely why they do it. I’m a big fan of LinkedIn but I would brand this particular social marketing initiative as Bad Advice™. As with so much Bad Advice™, this seems to make sense.  If, for example, everyone uses “achieved” on his or her resume, you want to set your self apart by NOT using that word. Right? The issue is that everyone uses “achieved” because it is often the right word. And when you start to try to avoid good words because they are common, you run the risk of using really stilted and silly language.

Avoid Corporate Jargon – This one sounds like excellent advice. But it is misguided at best and often full-on Bad Advice™. I am the first to admit that corporate jargon can sound ridiculous outside of the office. For example, if I used the term “creative” as a noun in everyday conversations, people would probably look totally perplexed. However, in discussions with marketing professionals, “creative” makes perfect sense as a noun. So, while I would agree that it is important to not overuse jargon, speaking in the language of your industry is incredibly important. Tactful use of jargon is a very effective way to show that you are an insider.

Avoid Implied First Person – There are people trying to sell the Bad Advice™ (literally) that you should write your resume the way you speak. The idea is that the resume should read like a conversation. Here’s the thing, the resume most definitely is not a conversation. It is a conversation starter. And most readers – assuming anyone has the patience and time to actually read your resume – are going to perceive this approach as very junior.

When trying to determine the best approach for your resume or job search strategy, it is important to remember that a lot of people are looking to differentiate themselves, products and approaches by contradicting best practices. Don’t buy Bad Advice™.

Is a Creative Resume Right For Me?

I’ve long held that creative resumes are generally a bad idea, even for individuals in creative roles. However, there are always exceptions to the “rule.” But before you ask “Am I the exception?” let me share this; if you are the exception, you won’t need to ask. If a highly creative resume is appropriate for you, you will know. And you’ll know because it will be so natural an extension of the highly creative work you do that you simply wouldn’t consider something else. You would also not think to ask for someone else to create it, because – again – it would be a direct representation of your talent and expertise.

So if you are asking, “should I develop a really creative resume?” the answer is probably no.

Now, even if you are in the (very) small percentage of individuals for whom a highly creative resume makes sense, you will likely still need a standard resume.  You may also need help with content. In either case, reach out.

How to Apply to a Job Via Email

Q. What is the protocol for applying to a job via email? Do I use my cover letter as the body of the email? What do I put in the subject line?

A. I have answered this question before, but since it’s one that still comes through my inbox on a fairly regular basis, let me share them again.

• Attach the resume and cover letter as separate documents.
• Keep the body of the email very straightforward and concise. I don’t suggest using your cover letter as the email content; it is likely too much information for an email. Instead, simply outline your interest in the specific position (include any reference / requisition numbers) and direct the reader to your attached resume and cover letter.
• If you are provided a name, use it exactly as it is provided (i.e. Dear Sally Jones). Never assume gender. If you are not provided a name, consider using “Dear Hiring Manager.”
• Use the subject line to reference the specific title and requisition number. For example, “Resume for Job Title #1234987.”