Career Search

Creating Your Own Unconventional Career Path

September 29, 2010 · 20 comments

The following is a guest post by the one, the only, Steph Auteri. Steph is an irrepressible word nerd, and a coacher of word nerds. Need some help brainstorming your career path(s). She is also into helping out with that sort of thing.

Several years ago, I had a (perhaps-somewhat-loud) conversation with my husband on the subject of my career path.

He told me, basically, that I lacked focus.

Why?

Maybe it was my job-hopping. Soon after saying “I do,” I had snagged a part-time freelance copy editing gig at a daily newspaper, allowing me to leave my full-time job in book publishing and become a full-time freelancer. Soon after embarking upon this life of freelancedom, I took on an unpaid, editorial internship at a web magazine I had admired for years. This led to a regular blogging gig, which in turn got me in the door at other publications. Then, the newspaper I had been copy editing at — my main source of income — folded, and I floundered for a year. It was at this point that I considered career coaching.

I know. It sounds as if I’m the one who needed career coaching. And I think Michael felt that way, too. “First you were in love with book publishing,” he said. “Then you wanted to be a magazine writer. Then you wanted to be on staff. Now you want to be a career coach?”

CONTINUE READING THIS POST…

Resumes: Not Walking the Dinosaur Yet.

August 24, 2010 · 6 comments

The following is a guest post from Jenny Foss. Jenny operates a nationally recognized recruiting firm and is creator of JobJenny.com. Your job search BFF and tough love expert on finding career passion, Jenny recently launched a Ridiculously Awesome Resume Service. You may also find Jenny on Twitter @JobJenny. I love the following post because Jenny represents 100% what I believe, that in order to thrive in today’s job-market, you need to embrace new-school tools and remember your old-school roots. Read on for more…you’ll be glad you did.

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Dear Job Seekers,

Before I venture off into my main topic, do allow me to offer up a very obvious message:

Old, passive search methods alone just won’t cut it in today’s job market.

If your current search strategy involves little more than posting a resume on Monster.com, firing off applications to a couple of blind mailboxes and dialing up a recruiter to “get on the case?”

Strap yourself in. It’s gonna be a long haul.

The game has changed, folks. Dramatically vs. even two or three years ago. If you want some assurance of landing a worthwhile gig – in a timely fashion – today? You’ve got to incorporate active, “guerilla” tactics into the mix.
Tactics that, generally speaking, involve social media.

Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, and personal websites are driving huge dream job results for people. Don’t believe me? Just pop over to Marian Schembari’s site and check out her Facebook success story. Or take a look at Jason Zimdar’s personal website/cover letter that landed him an amazing job at 37signals.

There now.

But what about the resume? Do people still need a resume?

Two very good questions, and ones that are creating considerable debate among HR, recruiting and social media types. The major “pot stir,” it seems is this:

Some job search and social media experts are running about crying that the classic resume will soon (or already has) become an irrelevant, passé dinosaur.

ERRRRRRkkk (That’s my best brakes sound).

Dinosaur??

This friends, is where I will step on in and argue. As huge of a proponent as I am about the necessity of social media tactics in a job search, let me be very clear:

Resumes are not dead. And they won’t be anytime soon.

Regardless of the mass creativity we’re seeing among job seekers today – which is especially marked among GenY talent that grew up whizzing around on the Internet – Corporate America is still, well, mighty corporate and traditional in many sectors. Leaders and decision makers in several pockets of industry still consider weeding through a stack of resumes a mandatory part of the hiring process. They’re still looking for the one who shines on paper, so they may invite them in to see if they shine in real life.

You may have a Linkedin profile or search-focused personal blog that’s beyond sweet. But if the boss at your dream employer has no clue what a tweet or a hashtag or a status update even is? Frankly, it will have almost zero bearing on whether dream employer hires you or not.

For reals.

So. The point…

For heavens sakes, don’t abandon creative and strategic search tactics that leverage the massive power of social media. Truly, this will give you a key advantage in today’s crap-ola job market. Just please, pretty please, refuse to believe it when someone says “Resumes are Dead.”

You need a clear, accomplishment driven, simply formatted resume. It’s still your most important marketing document, and it will help you land an interview. (You will, of course, kill it from there.)

So go get ‘em, job seeker. (Oh, and let me know if you need some help on the paperwork!)

Job Search 101: Incorporate the Real You

July 29, 2010 · 16 comments

The following is a guest post by the super-awesome, old-school Nickelodeon-loving Jessica Malnik. Jessica is a Gen Y blogger, social media enthusiast, and all around great person to know. For Jessica’s social media, technology and workplace ramblings, swing by her blog here.

It’s amazing how much we learn about ourselves in times of extreme uncertainty.

Looking back, I learned more about myself in the four and half months of my grueling job search than I have in 10 years. There’s something about writing countless cover letters, remaking dozens of resumes and the stream of rejection emails that really got me thinking.

So, after three months of applying to dozens of jobs and getting no solid leads, I started doing some serious soul searching. I realized I needed to change up my strategy in the job hunt.

I was so worried about confirming to the “traditional” job search approach that I was losing what made me UNIQUE.

ARE YOU STANDING OUT IN YOUR JOB SEARCH? CLICK THROUGH FOR MORE…

Getting Hired Goes Beyond a Piece of Paper

June 23, 2010 · 25 comments

Resumes: I can’t think of a single person who enjoys writing them. I struggle to even say the word. Necessary? Perhaps. A true reflection of who you are as an individual? Not hardly. Resumes have become a part of the ‘routine’ but I think more and more companies are starting to hire based on the individual, looking at an overall ‘culture fit’, rather than their on-paper track-record.

Some of you may have seen this Inc. Magazine article by 37Signals Co-Founder Jason Fried earlier this month in which he discusses the hiring process of his company – if you haven’t already read it – go read it – then come back here. It’s well worth your time.

Jason and the Chicago-based 37Signals team have an interesting hiring approach that has led to incredibly low turnover. There are many, many valid points made throughout the article – here are few that I VERY much agree with and took away…

Are resumes become obsolete? Read through for thoughts on 37Signals innovative hiring model…

The Next Best Thing: Can’t Get an Interview? Set up a Meeting

August 31, 2009 · 54 comments

September is right around the corner – you’ve been out there looking for a job all summer (or maybe even longer) only to be met with a barren wasteland or fully-staffed companies and limited opportunities. Companies are cutting the fat and streamlining work to the fewest number of people as possible these days – which means working longer hours and Outlook calenders full of meetings and appointments. If an HR rep is barely coming up for air, how are you supposed to expect them to schedule an hour or two of their day for an interview with you.

There are a million people out there giving job and career advice – telling us how to nail an interview and find a job we love. But what if getting the actual interview is the problem? We’re so concerned with ‘getting the job’ that sometimes we fail to realize that the people who would be hiring us are human beings – people who need their morning coffee, a tasty lunch, or a couple happy-hour beers to sustain. That’s where you come in. Maybe you can’t land an interview – but an ‘informational’ meeting might be much more realistic and even more beneficial.

Informal is the way to go – and let’s people see the ‘real’ you

Interviews are one big show – you prepare, you review the script, you practice your lines, and finally the spotlight shines down on you. As I’m sure we all can attest, it’s a lot of pressure, it’s a grueling process, and often-times, it doesn’t provide people with a clear picture of what you’re like between the hash-marks (nine to five). You can walk into an interview with confidence and an ease of mind, but it’s still going to feel a little manufactured and unnatural. Setting up a lunch meeting at a local cafe get’s both parties on neutral ground and balances the ‘comfort playing field’.

Everyone loves coffee, or beer, or at least water

There’s nothing worse than sipping on day-old office brew while you run down the list of your greatest weaknesses and biggest accomplishments – Having a Carmel Macchiato or a frosty pint of Fat Tire in hand starts things off on a good note and sets the mood for an enjoyable (and productive) introductory meeting. Just make sure you let them order first before you make an ass of yourself and order a double Jack and Coke and a couple sidecars of Jager. Coming across as an afternoon alcoholic is never the first impression you want to make.

Don’t sell yourself, ask about them

Remember, this isn’t an interview – you don’t need to tell them why your the best candidate for a position that doesn’t even exist. Come prepared with questions but let the person your meeting talk about themselves. Showing a genuine interest in a person and the work they do is a form a flattery. Most of us, including myself, would be happy to meet with anyone who admired (or at least pretended to admire) the work we do and wanted to pick our brain. Focus on them and save ‘selling yourself’ for the actual interview.

Networking (offline) is key

Getting your foot in the door is half the battle. While landing an interview might be tricky, a trip to the local pub should be much easier to score. We talk so much about the power of social networking and using tools like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook to further our personal brand – but truth be told, nothing replaces a live, face to face meeting. A potential employer being able to put a face with your name can be invaluable to you over the long haul. When something does open up, they’ll remember your fantastic rendition of ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ at the karaoke bar that one Tuesday night a few months ago.

What’s the worst that can happen?

The best part? There’s basically nothing bad that can come from all this – you get to meet and speak with a person you admire or respect, put your own name out there, and enjoy a (hopefully) good meal. So the question is, “What are you waiting for?” If you’re finding that you can’t schedule an interview, take a different approach and start setting up meetings today.

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Have a story to share? An approach you took when you couldn’t get in the door for an interview? Share your experiences, for better or for worse, in the comments below!

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