Happy New Year

A very Happy New Year to all of you.  Thank you for following and commenting on The Flap.  Your strength, creativity and persistence continue to inspire me.  May this New Year find you happy, healthy, surrounded by your loved ones and discovering the joy of doing what you love.

"New Year's Eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights." ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

The Blizzard and the Job Search

The Northeast got slammed the other day with a huge snowstorm. It started on Sunday and before it was finished on Monday morning, we had over 30 inches in some parts of NY/NJ.  Today, Tuesday, many of my friends in parts of NJ are still not plowed and people can't get to work or the store or to pick up their medicine.  There's an angry mob out there and who can blame them? The weather forecasters were on the fence with this storm but regardless, it showed a lesson in preparedness (or lack of).

What if you applied for a position or networked with someone who forwarded your resume on to a potential employer and you got a call for an on the spot interview?  Would you be prepared?  Would you be stuck in the storm without a shovel?

Here are a couple of quick tips:

1.     Have all your job search material in one place.  Separate labeled folders containing your resume, short list of specific accomplishments, references, and the possible job descriptions will allow you to speak freely and confidently.  You should also have an example of a job specific weakness and a description of how you overcame it.

2.     Be prepared for specific behavioral or STAR questions.  An employer wants to know what you DID rather than what you WOULD do. STAR stands for Specific, Task, Actions taken and Results.

3. Have your Elevator Speech ready to go.

That's it - all you need to prepare for an unexpected call.  The more you review and prepare though, the more confident you will sound (and feel). Don't be left in the cold! 

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas.  May you find peace of mind and happiness this holiday season.  I wish you the very best including good health, a strong spirit and sustained hope.  Thank you for following along with The Flap the year and if there is any topic that you'd like to see in the future, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Nancy

What Every Over Age 40 Job Seeker Should Know About Resumes

I was responding to a request to write up some resume tips that every age 40+ job seeker should know.  The following listing may look like common sense to some but if it provides a gleam of insight to just one person, then that's what counts.  They aren't in any particular order; they just popped into my mind.


Please add to the list!


1. There are no more Objective Statements.  There is now a Summary Statement which is similar to a Personal Branding statement. This is a powerful one or two line statement that sells the job applicant to the prospective employer.  It basically states, “This is why you want to bring me in for an interview.”
2. There are no more “References Available upon Request” statements on the bottom of the resume. The applicant should still have a listing of the contact information for several business references but listed separately.
3. A resume will most likely be electronically scanned for key words. If those key words are not on the resume then it will most likely be discarded.
4. Everyone needs a professional email address.  This is usually stated as name@ server address.  Never, ever have a non professional email address.
5. An applicant can list the home and cell phone numbers on the resume.
6. It is important to create a template or boiler plate resume but it must be tailored to the specific skills required on the job description.  If you apply for ten jobs then you must have ten targeted resumes.
7. When applying for a job on-line, many times the resume must be formatted into a Plain Text, PDF or other type. The same holds true for the cover letter. Learn how to format.
8. Many times the on-line application asks for a social security number and will not move on to the next level of the application if it is not entered.  This is uncomfortable and many job seekers feel that they must enter this information into the system.  An applicant can enter a number combination such as 123-45-6789 to get past this.
9. Only capture your job experience for the past 10 – 15 years.  All other experience can be categorized on the resume in an area entitle, “Other Professional Experience”.
10. Don’t use too much paragraphing in the resume, use short sentences and bullets.
11. Always use measurements to support your accomplishments.  For example, how much money you saved, how many clients you recruited, etc. Refer to past performance appraisals for specific measurements
12. Identify and speak to your Transferable Skills.  These are the skills that you developed as a result of your volunteering or work in a particular position.  For example, if you worked in retail, you will need to work with a variety of customers.  These same skills can transfer to a different organization. In volunteering as a little league coach, you will need leadership skills, planning, problem solving, etc.  These transferable skills can be listed on a resume.
14. Stay on top of industry buzz words and jargon.  Things change so Google your industry and research the changes in language or processes.
15. Review the job openings for your particular job within the various internet career sites to identify the skills, knowledge and behaviors needed. Position yourself with these and incorporate these into your resume. Be truthful.
16. Look up your job in the Occupational Outlook Handbook and review your general job description.  You may be able to pick up some key words or phrases to use for your resume.

New! Facebook Business Page.

Facebook is one of a number of growing trends to focus on you and your job search. More and more adults are using it to stay in touch, communicate with friends and family, market their businesses and yes, find a job. 

I started a job search Facebook group a while back.  I wasn't familiar with all of bells and whistles of Facebook back then and should have created a business page rather than a group.  I've since created a business page that includes a number of articles or links that may be helpful in your job search. Please come by, click the "Like" button and join in the conversation.

Networking During the Holidays

In every Networking class I bring up the story of a holiday cookie exchange that my neighbors gave two years ago (when Blackbird Learning Associates was new; I didn't even have an LLC yet). It was there that I used a newly learned elevator speech when my neighbors asked me what I was doing. They didn't know that I had left J&J and were surprised to learn that I had ventured out on my own.  At the end of the party I had three contacts to call at the start of the New Year. Well, that was interesting.  Networking really does work. 

Flash forward two years.  The neighbors graciously opened their home again yesterday for another cookie exchange.  As I was preparing my six dozen cookies, I wondered what this year’s party would bring.  Two years and about twenty different renditions of my elevator speech have passed.  Should I do it again?  What would I say?

Well, the cookie exchange was again a wonderful, warm event. This time though, the elevator speech was much easier to say. It wasn’t frightening or uncomfortable or formal or contrived or anything.  I think that had to do with practice but also for getting a feel for the environment and the crowd.  I didn’t dwell on it.  When people asked, I happily explained but if not, I didn’t bring it up. I found that I’d rather talk about our families or pets or the fox in the neighborhood.

Don’t forget about networking over the holidays but don’t let it rule your life either.  Here are a couple of thoughts:

1.     Be Prepared.  Think about what you’ll say if people ask.  Be short and sweet and then turn the conversation to the person you’re conversing with.  Find out what’s new with them.

2.     Be gracious with everyone. That's obvious but not everyone follows the "Golden Rule.'

3.     Have fun.

Tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to shine.  Don’t be caught off guard but don’t feel as if you have to push yourself constantly. Be prepared but enjoy the eggnog and your friends and family.

Job Search for Moms

Job Search for Moms is a fantastic tool for planning, coordinating and networking your way to a new job.  It was written for Moms but men find it helpful too. Please visit the Amazon page and leave a comment or question.  Better yet, feel free to ask a question here.  I'd be happy to help.  Have a good weekend.

Social Media: How Do I Know You?

Today I received an invitation to connect on LinkedIn from another person that I don’t know.  Now since they check the box marked “Friend” when they initiated the contact, I figured I must know them from somewhere, right? No, I clicked their profile, read their profile and couldn’t figure out how or where our paths had crossed. I’m sure that many of you get similar requests and can’t seem to figure out what to do with them.  Keep them in your inbox for a while? Delete them on the spot?  The same thing can happen with Facebook.  At least with Facebook, if the contact is a suggestion from another friend, you can contact your real friend and ask them how we both know this person.  So what are some of the social media connection rules?  I did a bit of research on this and found an article in CIO Magazine that provided some useful tips.  My personal tip? Always personalize your invitation – even if you know the contact.  If you use the boiler plate template, customize it to reflect your connection with this person.

Holiday Gift Idea

I recently replied to a request for an article on holiday gifts for the job seeker. As I thought about it afterwards though, the job search would be at the bottom of my list of things to reflect upon over the holidays.  I tend to think like Scarlett O'Hara returning to Tara at the end of Gone With the Wind, "After all, tomorrow is another day."

New Year's Day is a different story though.  That's the day to think about new directions and strategies (I know, even though we may have good intentions, we may not always follow though).  I suggest giving the job seeker a surprise gift on New Year’s Day.  Some suggestions are a gift certificate to a salon, spa or department store. Some money towards a career coach is a nice idea too. I would also suggest a copy of one of the many wonderful job search handbooks, including my own, Job Search for Moms. Chapter One is centered on planning and preparing for the job search.  What better way to start the New Year than by prioritizing, setting goals and designing a plan?

Job Search for Moms is not just for women. As a recent male job seeker said to me, MOM can be an acronym for Men On (the) Move.  I like that!

If you would like an inscribed or signed copy of Job Search for Moms, let me know and I will ship it out immediately.  If you would like to order on line, you can find the book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Lulu.

Whatever you decide, saving a gift for the New Year just might make 2011 a bit brighter and show that job seeker that you support them in whatever they do.

Social Media, Blogging and the Job Search

We all know how social media is the "it" tool.  It helps market your business, spark the interest of current and future customers, provide training and education and of course, help you network and find jobs.  It was through a LinkedIn group and Facebook that I was introduced to Louise Edington. We have never met as we both live on opposite sides of the country but we have found through social media that we have a lot in common. First of all, we are both moms and we are both run businesses.

Louise uses Facebook for her business and always poses the most interesting questions.  The responses from her fans are interesting as well and the conversation never stops. One thing that Louise does is feature a "Fan of the Week". She chooses the fan based upon the number of "Likes" and responses they provide to her Facebook queries.  Clever, I'd say. People like to be recognized and they like to see their responses acknowledged and their questions answered. Louise featured me on her blog, Lou Loves Learning.  Her blog is very cool.
 
The same can be said for using social media for your job search.  Use it wisely by:
1. Completing/updating your profile
2. Asking questions
3. Answering questions
4. Joining groups
5. Using key words to describe what you do

Take a tutorial to find out how to use social media to help you in your job search. Look at the training provided by the site or go to your local library for help. Whatever you do, jump in!

Ugly Unemployment Numbers

Unemployment is 9.8% and the government is debating extending unemployment benefits. Some say that it will allow people to depend on the system rather than actively seek work. Others say that in general, people will not accept work that is at a lower level than that which they are accustomed. I tend to think that many companies are not hiring the unemployed. Maybe it's a combination of other factors. What do you think?

Bashing Your Company on Facebook

Yesterday I read a Facebook rant by a disgruntled employee.  It was on my private Facebook page for a business that I happened to “Like”. Somehow this employee was also the page administrator and went off on his company and bosses. It was madness! Obviously this guy doesn’t know that you NEVER do this. Here is what he said:

“They're has been some changes at (name of the place of business), and I can no longer be a part of it. Nor do I want to be a representative of this place anymore. So if you are interested in managing a (place of business) in which one of the managers is an alcoholic and drug addict, and spends a lot of time with his young employees under 21 on and off the clock for god knows what reasons... Send me an email at this address: (email address) and I will forward you the information that you need. This place is about to crash, and I will not be a part of it.”

Well after numerous customer complaints, the posting was removed but the administrator came back on today with harsher words about his company. They are still there!

Wow! Have you ever seen anything like this?