The Best Job Search Sites

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One of the questions that I receive most often is which job sites are the best when it comes to searching for posted job openings.

When it comes to career sites, I can't say that I specifically recommend one over the other, mostly because I think it is important to tap all of the resources available to you. Having said that, if you are looking for a good place to start, I can suggest the major career sites: indeed.com, monster.com, simplyhired.com, and careerbuilder.com, to name a few. There are also some sites that cater to more niche audiences or specific industries. For example, dice.com can be great resource for technology focused professionals. For those in or looking to break into the non-profit space, idealist.com is a great jumping off point.

Another increasingly big player in the job search game is LinkedIn.com, which has a whole portfolio of additional benefits, so should definitely be considering LinkedIn a key part of your job search strategy.

Beyond job search sites, I recommend exploring companies’ career portals. Individual company career portals are excellent because, generally speaking, you are starting by identifying the organization that you want to work with and looking for ideal positions with that organization. That means that you can more easily speak to your interest in a specific organization (its culture, its products, etc.), not just a position, which can increase your likelihood of getting noticed.

Ultimately, though, there is no better resource than your professional network and colleagues. No job search site or career portal is as effective as building and leveraging a professional network. 

Making A Career Transition

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Setting someone up for success with a new or improved resume is always gratifying. However, it is most rewarding when the process involves a significant career transition. Often, clients that fall in this category are competing for a big promotion or, perhaps, transitioning away from a company that is eliminating jobs. More and more, though, projects look a lot like Angela's, a client I recently worked with.

When Angela contacted me, she was ready for an entire career shake-up. She couldn't continue to go through the motions of working in a position that ignited no passion – that didn't call upon any of her true strengths. That's a tough reality to wake up to day after day. Well, I just heard back from Angela; she's doing exactly the work she wants to be doing in the Social Responsibility department of a company that she had targeted.

Are you invigorated as you head off to work each day? If not, lean into the possibilities that exist when you make the decision to put your strengths to work in the right place.

The Wrong Job Search Attitude

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I am surprised by the number of people I speak to who believe that achievements and an accomplishments-centric resume are "not appropriate" for their field.

To present yourself as someone who raises the bar – who achieves things – is always in order. Even if you are in, say, Science or Education you can present achievements without diluting the need to also present what you've done.

Remember, the point of a resume is to present your background, experience and potential in a compelling way that separates you from the crowd. There is no need – no matter your field – to present yourself as part of the pack.

If you don't make yourself standout, there will be another candidate who will.

3 Quick Job Search Reminders

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Three things that are often forgotten but very important.

1) Send a cover letter unless the requisition says not to.

2) Send a resume follow-up letter about a week after the position opening closes. If you don't know that date, send it about 10-14 days after you submit your resume.

3) Ensure that all of your job search documents present you as someone who accomplishes things (rather than someone who simply does things).

Following these three tips will put you ahead of most candidates.

More Career Satisfaction

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We're heading into the final stretch of the year. I can't believe it. It seems like I was just writing about my wish for my clients late in 2015: That they feel "on purpose" and fulfilled in life.

While we still have time left in 2016, I want to resurface some questions:

What changes do you want to make?

What will bring you more career satisfaction?

What necessary "next move" have you been delaying?

Ask yourself these questions, as tough as they might be. Give yourself some honest answers, and turn those answers into an action plan.

I just worked with a guy who turned what he intended to be a "temporary job" (as a manufacturing manager) into a 17 year mis-step. 

It's not too late. It's never to late. He and many of my clients are proof of that.

You can read that entire post here.

Move Your Career Forward

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Wishing a happy holiday to all of you celebrating Labor Day.

As summer comes to and end (for my Northern hemisphere readers), I want to quickly announce that I am extending my promotion on Tandem's Toolkit through Friday.

You can read all about it here.

Autumn is a time of rejuvenation for many people. Why not apply that mindset to your own career. I promise, you won't regret it.

Have a great day!

What Interviewers are Really Thinking

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I got a few questions like this after recently posting about nailing your resume and job interview.

Q: While I appreciate your thoughts on being mindful of how you present yourself, I don't know that I see the harm in coming off as extremely professional and qualified. Even if that means my personality is dimmed a bit. Isn't it the hiring team's job to extend an offer to the most qualified applicant?

A: Well, yes and no. Many would argue that the goal is to hire the most suitable candidate. But that's not what you're really asking.

Professionalism – even extreme professionalism – is never out of order in a job interview. Let me make that perfectly clear. If you're going to skew, that's definitely the way you want to skew.

However, what I was intending to do with that post is to give readers some insight into the reality behind the hiring process. Remember, much of my professional work is on that side of the table.

Injecting you – a polished yet personable you – is important for a couple of reasons:

1) Like it or not, the people who are interviewing with you are imagining having to work with you several days a week. People like to work with people they like. Period. 

2) Those same people interviewing you do not want to feel threatened by you. Remember, they have their own careers and professional trajectory to keep in mind. So, coming off as overly "buttoned up" can send a message that some interviewers don't want to hear.

This is behind-the-scenes sort of stuff. Not right or wrong. Just the reality. 

Top Advice When Negotiating a Job Offer

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My experience doing HR Consulting gives me a lot of valuable insight that I enjoy sharing with my Career Development clients. More and more, I am helping my clients navigate job offers – oftentimes many job offers – in an increasingly competitive climate for companies that are hiring. 

Tech companies, I'm looking at you.

Since I get asked (a lot) about how to maximize salary and benefits as part of the negotiating process, I want to provide one top tip that I share with clients during these consulting sessions.

Upon receiving the offer, say something like: "I can't wait to talk this over with my family." Or "husband" "wife" "professional circle" – you get the idea.

Doing this serves two key purposes:

1) It takes the pressure off. You won't feel "forced" to immediately declare "YES!" to the offer if you share this plan with the person making the offer.

2) It demonstrates that you are making a thoughtful, informed decision and that other stakeholders have a say. This makes you an even more attractive candidate.

Get in touch if you want my help. I am not able to offer many coaching sessions, and they fill up fast.

Reenergize Your Career

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Starting today, until the end of August, I am offering a discount on one of my most popular services: Tandem's Toolkit. This toolkit is a comprehensive suite of job-search documents and tools that sets clients up for success. The thing that clients like most about Tandem's Toolkit is YouFinder:

Introduced in 2015 after careful preparation and planning, YouFinder is raising the bar in terms of clients' preparedness to take their careers to the next level.

If there's anything I've learned in the last decade+ of doing this work, it's that 1) knowing your strengths and natural talents is key for a successful career (and life!) and that 2) most clients are not in touch with their strengths and natural talents.

The contradiction between #1 and #2 keeps many careers from flourishing.

To read more about Tandem's Toolkit, click here. To learn more about how it can help you (and about the discount!) get in touch.

Nailing The Resume And Job Interview

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

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Over the last several weeks, I have been on a search/hiring committee, helping one of my consulting client's secure a pool of top candidates for a key executive position.

During a few of the committee's meeting – reviewing resumes and talking about the applicants in general – we all found ourselves struck by how "unreal" people tend to make themselves on resumes and in person.

It's as if a majority of the applicants went into the process with the goal of "sounding important" on paper. What's sad is that a solid chunk of the candidates have backgrounds that stand on their own and would rise to the top by presenting those backgrounds in a powerful, thoughtful manner.

I have to say, this is a key reason why hiring a Career Strategist (like me!) is so beneficial. When we're writing about ourselves, it's tough to get out of our own way in bringing our best to the surface. It's disheartening to see competent, credentialed people come off as less than.

Some things to keep in mind.

1) Bring the best version of you to the surface. The key here is the "of you" part. Never let your essence disappear from how you present yourself.

2) Be articulate. Don't get too soundbite-y and definitely don't get too verbose. Practice packaging the best of you powerfully and succinctly.

3) Stay calm. It's feelings of desperation that often compel us to say and do things that aren't natural. Check your state of mind when you are working on your resume and preparing for an interview.

Want more? Check out this post I wrote several years ago.