Evaluating Your Job Searching by the Numbers

January 30, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

Statistics wasn’t my favorite class, but I need them for many things.   They are used for many things from voting to purchasing  decisions.   You can achieve success in your job search using statistics. 

 How is your job search going?  Are you getting interviews?  Are your interviews turning into offers?

 If your job search isn’t going well, statistics will help you see where the problem is.  Once you know where the problem is, you can take stumbling bar graph digitalartteps to make improvements.

 The answer to are you getting interviews can be found with your résumé.  The purpose of the résumé is to get you an interview.  To determine the success of your résumé, keep track of how many resumes you send out.  If it is posted online, check to see how many views it‘s getting.  If you’re getting calls for either to find out more information or to set up interviews are close to the number of sent resumes, you are doing well.    But if it isn’t, there is something wrong with your résumé.  Have your résumé looked at to see where changes need to be made.  This can be done if you are looking for one type of job or several.

 The same approach goes for  interviews.  If you are going on interviews, but not getting to the next round or an offer, there is something about your interviewing.  Ask someone to conduct a mock interview with you and video it.  Have that person or another view the video to see what’s going on.  They should be looking for attitude, annoying phrases, nervous movements (like clicking a pen repeatedly), negative body language, facial expression, and your answers to the questions. 

 The job search is a process where each step builds upon the previous.  Finding where the problem can easily be found by looking at the numbers.   And when you make the appropriate changes, you will find success.

Posted in career transitions, getting a job, Interviews, Resume, unemployed | 5 Comments

How Did You Go From Inexperienced to Overqualified In One Career?

January 28, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

graduateAccording to dictionary.com inexperienced is not experienced; lacking knowledge, skill, or wisdom gained from experience and overqualified is having more education, training, or experience that is required for a job or position.”

Back in the day, which only seems minutes ago, you were a graduate ready to take on the world.  You had dreams and education.  But no one wanted you because you didn’t have any experience.  Today, you have worked to accumulate the knowledge, skills and wisdom you needed to succeed in your career only to be told you are overqualified.

 How and when did this happen?  As you learned new skills to keep up with the changes in your career, you started earning more salary because of your added benefit to the company.  But that added benefit is costing the company more money, too much money.  Companies are looking to increase profits.  Their costs have increased from the paper clips in the receptionist’s desk to the shipping of the final product.  Expenses have risen rapidly but due to the poor economy, but they haven’t been able to price their products accordingly.   To please the stockholders, they have to cut expenses.  And you are one of them.

 They can get someone with fewer qualifications, but still able to do the job or get your colleague to do their job and yours for the same pay.  So now here you are in the opposite situation you were in only a short time ago. 

 But take heart, there are ways you can show that you are not inexperienced or overqualified you are perfect for the job.  And I will show you how in my next post:  Beat the Overqualified Label.

Posted in 50+ job search, age discrimination in job search, find a job help, inexperienced, overqualifed | 4 Comments

Beat the Overqualified Label.

January 28, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

beat the competitionYesterday’s blog about the difference between inexperienced and overqualified left off with my promise to show you how to Beat the Overqualified Label. The ways to beat the overqualified label are easy to accomplish, and the results will be well worth the effort it takes.

1. Target your résumé and cover letter for each position. All job searchers should be doing this, but overqualified job searchers positively must do it. You have a wealth of experience in many areas. Select only the most relevant experience, skills and education that match the requirements of the job. The employer doesn’t have the time or interest in everything you have done only what you can for their company.

2. Highlight your unique value proposition. You have something no other candidate can provide. Find out what it is and use it in your cover letter, resume, thank you notes and all correspondence with the company. Show them how your unique value will benefit them now and in the future. Job titles are just that titles, don’t let them define you; let your unique value proposition be the emphasis.

3. Show how well you will fit in with the rest of the team. Today employers receive hundreds of qualified applicants for each open position. When they interview applicants, they are looking for the person they can work with all day, all week, and all year long. Some of the things they are looking for are a team player, a pleasant and stable personality. Keep your ego at bay especially if the hiring manager is younger than you.

4. Handle the salary situation with tact. Emphasize that salary is not an issue and that you are flexible. Let them know you are looking at the opportunity, and you’re sure the salary will be fair. You can, also, show them the benefits of hiring you by showing how you made or save money for your former employer.

5. Prove you are not outdated. Don’t stop learning. Keep up with the latest technology and show that you know how to use it and how you enjoy learning new things.

6. Ease their fear that you won’t leave when something better comes along. Show your passion for the position and the company at the interview by knowing as much as you can about the company and its’ products. Let them know about your loyalty at previous companies.

When you show you are the perfect candidate, your age won’t matter. You have beaten the competition by proving your skills and experience will benefit the company.

Posted in age as an asset in job search, age bias, career transitions, cover letter, learn a new skill, overqualifed, Resume, send a cover letter, twas the night before christmas, unemployed | 4 Comments

A New Positive Direction for Job Search Success when you are 45+

January 27, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

An excellent opportunity for Networking, receiving the Moral Support you need, and learning State of the Art Job Search Strategies for job searchers 45+.

  • Is your search more difficult due to your age?
  • Do you feel alone in your job search and no one understands what you are going through?stockimages happy man working
  • Are you feeling depressed and frustrated in a long job search?
  • Looking for state of the art job search strategies that get results?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you will love New Positive Directions, a Job Search Networking Support Group focused on job searchers 45+.

 Yes! I want to attend the free preview call! Monday, January 28 2013 at 1 pm

 

This group will meet on the phone every week to learn state of the art job search strategies that highlight your age an asset  You will meet people like you who share your feelings because they are going through the same thing.  Unlike your family and friends who say they understand even though they are working and haven’t lost their job, the members of this group are unemployed and looking for a job , so they do know how you feel. New Positive Directions is a six week job search networking support group where:

  • You can share your feelings in a safe environment with like-minded people.
  • You can ask questions about your job search and get the solutions you need to get the job you want.
  • You can laugh and have fun looking for a job.

 During the 6 Week Job Search Networking Support Group
you will learn:

  • How to make your age an asset
  • How to find the hidden job market
  • How to create resumes and cover letters that deliver results
  • How to stay positive and healthy
  • How to ace your interview
  • How to follow-up your way to success

On Monday, January 28, 2013, at 1 pm, I am offering a free preview call of the New Positive Directions group.  Once you experience the support, you will feel more energized and more confident, and that will make a tremendous difference in your job search.

 Yes! I want to attend the free preview call!

 

Photo credit:  http://www.freedigitalphotos.net  stock images

Posted in 50+ job search, age as an asset in job search, age bias, age discrimination in job search, getting a job, gray ceiling, state of the art job search | 5 Comments

One Really Good Tip to End Your Job Search: Clean Up Your Digital Dirt

January 26, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

And just what is digital dirt?  It is information about you on the Internet that is negative and prevents you from getting you hired.  It can be information, opinWoman Holding Broom and Dustpanions or photos that have been posted by you or someone else.   Whether it’s someone in Human Resources or the hiring manager, someone from the company you applied to is going to be looking you up on the internet. 

 To make sure anyone looking for you on the internet only finds favorable information, do a proactive search on yourself.  See what other will see about you.  If there is something that won’t work in your favor, there are 5 things you can do. 

  1.  Remove the negative information, opinions or photos if possible.
  2. Avoid posting more harmful information, opinions or photos.
  3. Refrain from joining questionable groups.
  4. Post good quality information, opinions or photos that will support your candidacy in places such as LinkedIn groups, industry related blogs, professional organizations or the like.
  5. If you have a common name, you will want to make sure you are not confused with your evil twin.  Use your middle initial; be consistent with the name you do use, or do something that distinguishes from the other.

 Bury the adverse information far down the search results.  It’s highly unlikely that someone would spend a lot of time searching for you.  They may look at the first few pages of results. 

 Your reputation is important when looking for a job.  Take preemptive steps to see what’s on the internet about you, so you clean it up and be ready to discuss it in an interview.

Posted in digital dirt | Leave a Comment