Don't Let The Holidays Kill Your Job Search Momentum

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I recently had a client ask me if they should wait until after the new year to start applying for jobs. It reminded me of a post I wrote back in 2013. Since the advice still holds true, I thought I would resurrect it from the archives...

The holiday season is officially here, and that means professional activities, like hiring, start to slow down. That fact leads a lot of job seekers to put their prospecting activities on hold until the tryptophan has worn off and the trees have come down. And that is just one reason why you should not let up on your job search during the holidays:

Things slow down but they don’t stop – Yes, hiring can seem all but none-existent during the holidays, but opportunities still arise. A lot of job seekers will be taking their foot off of the gas, so those opportunities that do show up may just be a little less competitive than they would be during other periods.

The holidays are a great chance to get caught up – Because business tends to slow down in December, a lot of HR professionals / hiring managers seize on the opportunity to get caught up on work; reviewing candidates may just be one of those activities. Additionally, a lot of companies will be closing out old budgets, which means hiring might be right around the corner.

Time off can be a momentum killer – It can be very challenging to get into the rhythm of a focused job search, so you definitely don’t want to loose your mojo once you’ve found it. Of course, we all need a break; just don’t completely step away from your job search activities or you may find it difficult to get back into the swing of things.

Take some time to enjoy the season. But remember that career opportunities still exist. Wouldn’t a new position be a nice way to start out the New Year?

Shades of Gray Around Color on a Resume

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Let me get this out of the way right up front; I remain quite black and white (pun intended) when it comes to putting color on a resume. As I’ve shared before, including color on your resume is generally not a good idea.

However, there are some instances were adding color can be a smart strategic decision. For example, I recently worked with a fashion merchandising professional. We determined that adding some color (tastefully, of course) would not only be appropriate but could make him more of an attractive candidate. We selected two of Pantone’s fall colors to show that the candidate was aware of color trends without even having to say it.

Let me be clear, adding color to your resume is still rarely a smart decision. But the above point is a perfect example of a time when a little color makes good sense.

Not Meeting A Specific Qualification

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Q. I know that I should only be applying for positions that I am qualified for, but I found my dream job. Problem is it requires an MBA and I don’t have one. I feel like I am a perfect fit for the role but am afraid I won’t even be considered. Should I even bother?

A. Definitely bother. But go in eyes wide open.

Long gone are the days when companies could inflate requirements in order to secure ridiculously over-qualified candidates. Nowadays, when an organization requires, say, a specific level of education, it is generally bound to hire a candidate that meets that qualification. There are ways for organizations to hire a candidate that does not meet the required qualifications, but it is not likely.

Having said that, there is no reason to not apply for your dream job and make the case for why you are a strong fit despite lacking a key qualification. Here are two tips:

• Make sure your resume is extremely accomplishments focused and that it is precisely targeted to the role you are pursuing. You need to make sure that readers can easily determine just how well suited you are for the position.

• Tactfully address your lack of a qualification in the cover letter. To be clear, I almost never recommend speaking to the lack of a qualification, but this is a one-off case. Even still, you want to speak directly to the lacking qualification but move right on to why you are still a strong candidate. In this instance you might say something like:

“I see that the IT Manager position requires an MBA. While I don’t offer an MBA, I do bring a BS in Computer Science and 18 years enterprise level technology management experience, over 10 years more than the 6-8 years of experience you are seeking.”

When a seemingly perfect opportunity arises, go for it. Just be prepared to go the extra mile to overcome a qualifications gap and be extremely realistic about your chances. You go in with a significant disadvantage, but you’ve got nothing to loose.

Making Meaningful Connections on LinkedIn

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Q. I need to start actively networking on LinkedIn, but I find the idea of reaching out to strangers really intimidating. What tips do you have for making connections?

A. Cultivating a strong network on LinkedIn is a really smart idea and can be an incredibly powerful part of a career management strategy. However, unless you are especially outgoing, it can be really awkward to simply reach out to new people. Here are some tips that should help build more authentic connections on LinkedIn:

• Always send a personalized message when making a connection request.

• Provide the potential connection with some context. Let them know why you are reaching out and how you know (or know of) them.

• If the person you want to connect with has a strong presence on LinkedIn, consider using something they’ve posted (a blog or thought piece) as a starting point. That could sound like “I really enjoyed your piece on… and appreciated your point of review regarding…” You can then go on to tactfully ask a few (very) quick questions.

• If you find someone with whom you would like to connect, consider joining a group that that person is a member of.  Now you have something in common!  Then, when you do reach out for a connection or to ask a quick question, you can say, “I notice we are both members of the ‘Technology Management’ group.”

• Be very respectful of a potential connection’s time. Let them know that you are very aware that they are busy and would only ask one or two very quick questions.

Whether you are the world’s most outgoing person or someone who dies a little inside at thought of networking (or more likely somewhere in between) the above tips will help you to thoughtfully and tactfully build your professional network.

The Curse of Desperation

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A client reminded me of this post in a recent conversation, so I thought it was time to bring it back to the top.

Many people seek help with a job search only when they become desperate. For these people, networking and following up on resumes only becomes important when the situation is dire. People know when you are coming from a place of reactive behavior vs. proactive behavior. It's discernible in your voice, your tone, and your approach.

Most important, coming from a place of desperation is a confidence killer. It's tough to fake confidence.

For this reason – and many others – I'm regularly advising people to (for example) do the best they can to come from a place of commitment and to seek enduring fulfillment in life and work.

The days of mindlessly sending off subpar resumes and crossing fingers are over. The employment landscape will never be what it was. More importantly, your career and life are worth whatever energy it takes for you to feel in sync.

Today, decide that you are going to manage your job search and your career with a strategy that keeps you in the driver's seat.

You are the Product

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At this point in our technological evolution, we are all fairly comfortable with the idea that if we aren’t paying for a service (i.e. Google, Facebook, etc.) then we are probably the product. I am reminded of this fact every time I see a LinkedIn profile where the individual has filled out the Personal Details section that LinkedIn urges users to complete.

Here is the hard truth. As an HR professional, I am just short of horrified that a professional networking site encourages professionals to provide their age and marital status. Since these are questions that have long been off the table when it comes to making hiring decisions (whether that is actually practiced is for another post), it would seem that a professional networking site would steer away from asking for – and then sharing – these kinds of personal details.

When it comes right down to it, these questions are not there because they are critical to networking and career management. They are there despite the site’s stated intent.

Here is my recommendation; leave these unnecessary personal details off of your profile. If you feel guilty about it, you can always upgrade to a professional account.

Political and Religious Affiliations on a Resume

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The most effective resume is one that is targeted toward a specific role and that appeals to broad range of readers. Given that objective, it is important to be very mindful when considering whether or not to include political or religious affiliations on your resume. 

By including religious or political affiliations on your resume, you are providing readers with information that – often despite their better judgment – will be used to disqualify you. Of course, there is always the chance that some readers will share your religious or political beliefs and be biased in your favor, but there are a lot of people who play a role in the candidate selection process; they are not all likely to share your beliefs. 

The resume review and candidate selection process is a reductive one. Readers are looking for reasons to remove candidates from what is often an overwhelming pool of qualified applicants. Don’t make it easy for them to eliminate you based on superfluous information (to the hiring process) by providing information about your political or religious beliefs.   

It Pays To Follow-up

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I just heard from a client who shared that she received an interview, and ultimately secured a job, because she used the resume follow-up letter we developed to re-assert her interest in a position. After not hearing anything for several weeks, she sent along a follow-up and quickly heard back that the company was inundated with candidates and was struggling to whittle things down. As it turns out, her follow-up letter differentiated her, reminded the potential employer of her qualifications, and earned her an interview.

If the idea of a resume follow-up letter is new to you or you just need a little refresher, check out these tips for making the most out of a resume follow-up letter.

Entry-level CEO

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Job titles can be really frustrating. They rarely capture the actual scope of a role and often don’t seem to make any sense at all. For example, I work with a lot of professionals from a major technology company where a large group of employees share the same non-descriptive job title despite performing very different roles. While there are ways to compensate for a frustrating title, there is little you can do about the title itself. 

On the other hand, I work with a lot of clients who are self-employed, work for small organizations, or have flexibility when it comes to their titles. In these cases, it is not uncommon for titles to – as perceived by potential employers – significantly overstate an individual’s actual qualifications. For instance, I recently worked with a very accomplished freelance marketing consultant who, because she owns her own company, assumed the title CEO and VP of Digital Marketing. Those titles may catch the eye of potential consulting clients but, as I advised this client, had the potential to work against her when applying for less-lofty internal marketing positions. Here are two reasons why: 

1. Readers may dismiss her application simply because they quickly review titles (or the automated resume screening system reviews her titles) and make a snap decision that she is significantly overqualified.

2. Readers may believe she is purposefully trying to overstate her skill level and be turned off. This is especially likely if the title she has adopted aligns with the title of an internal employee who is several levels above the position she is applying for. 

If you have flexibility with your title, make sure that the title you choose aligns with the overall market. This will save you a lot of headaches when you decide to take your next career step.

3 Tips to Make Your LinkedIn Profile More Effective in 3 Minutes

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Despite the fact that LinkedIn is playing a greater and greater role in the hiring process, many professionals are not making the most out of the professional networking site. 

I help a lot of clients develop high-impact LinkedIn profiles; profiles that seamlessly align with their resume, shape and strengthen their brand, and serve as a critical component of their broader career management strategy. Often times clients’ LinkedIn profiles are abandoned virtual spaces that, if considered during the recruiting and / or hiring process, could work against them. While a truly effective LinkedIn profile requires real strategy, there are some very quick things you can do to increase your profile's effectiveness. 

Improve your tagline – The tagline on your profile is auto-completed to mirror your current or most recent title. All too often, though, titles don’t accurately represent the position. Don’t waste this valuable space! Change your tagline to represent your actual professional area of expertise. For example, if your title is “HR Generalist,” don’t be afraid to include something more descriptive like “Multifaceted HR Professional and Benefits Administration Expert.” 

Optimize the order of your information – I am always surprised when I pull up a professional LinkedIn profile and scroll down to find that the top of the profile – the most prominent spot – is dedicated to something like Courses or Volunteer Experience. Those are important areas, but they certainly are not more relevant than your Professional Experience, Certifications, and Education. You can easily reorder the profile flow, so make sure the most relevant information is at the top. 

Secure your vanity URL – LinkedIn provides a simple way to update the inelegant standard profile URL to something much prettier and easy to remember. All you have to do is visit your profile settings and select the option to change your profile URL. I recommend that clients select some variation of their name (which can get tricky for common names) and avoid hyperbolic titles like: linkedin.com/in/ExtremeBenefitsAdminRockstar.