Looking for Work in All the Wrong Places
The Question: After identifying a potential employer, I get contact information, do my research and send out my resume and cover letter, requesting an interview for a management or human resource position. I am listed with recruiters and staffing agencies and call them every week. I attend local networking events but end up meeting people who are also unsuccessful job-seekers. And I search the Internet bulletin boards, sending my resume and following up a few days later. Help!!! The Answer: Remember the story about the man who was searching for his keys under a bright street light? He explained to a passer-by, "I lost my keys in the parking lot - but it's too dark over there!" Job-seekers need to leave the brightly illuminated paths and delve into the dark corners where they will find their own keys to success. First, you need to network before you hit the mailbox. I know -- that dreaded "N" word. However, if you're applying for a senior level job, you're often expected to arrive via an introduction. Second, a vague set of goals will win your resume a one-way ticket to the wastebasket. You need a separate resume and cover letter for each position, carefully targeted to showcase your skills and your unique ability to fill that position. Third, seasoned professionals often make simple grammar and spelling mistakes because they're operating on overload. A resume is just one more hassle in a crowded day. You probably know these mistakes can kill your chances, even if your skills are stellar. Think "proofreader!" Fourth, employers pay recruiters and staffing specialists when they need unique, specialized, hard-to-find employees. These resources account for only a tiny percentage of placements, even in boom times. Calling once a week may backfire: you come across as needy and pushy. Believe me, their fingers will start punching keys the moment they need you. Finally, choose a networking group with a leader who knows the score and promises to provide fearless feedback. You may be reluctant to hire a coach or career counselor because one-to-one guidance doesn't come cheap. But if you keep hitting a wall, your investment may help you save time, money and hassle. And sometimes it's nice to have someone who can hold a flashlight when you're groping around in the dark. I offer one-to-one consultations on career strategy. About The Author Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com. "Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Should You Join a Modeling School for Petite Modeling?
If you are thinking of breaking into the petite modeling industry and wondering if you should hundreds of doll ars on modeling school or classes you need to read this article. Here are few facts about modeling schools.
The 10-Step Resume Critique
Your resume will generally receive a 15- to 30-second scan upon first review by an employer. With that in mind, it is critical that your resume -- your "paper handshake" -- makes a positive first impression and compels the reader to put your resume in the "yes" pile and possibly call you in for an interview.
7 Steps to Effective Communication
The success of any business or organization depends largely on how effectively the members communicate. The ability to speak well is a minimum requirement of some businesses when hiring. Whatever the job, business professionals require extensive use of oral communication when carrying out their duties.
Skills Make Labor More Valuable
As you know by now, if you have been a long time subscriber to our weekly E-zine, I'm a very big proponent of activity, labor and discipline. In fact I devoted one of the five major pieces to the life puzzle (in my book under the same name) to the subject of activity and labor. But now let me add another key word to the labor equation - skillful. Yes, skillful labor.
Ive Got the Big Bad B Word on My Job!
That "B" word---B O R E D O M.
Top Career Advice ... More Choices and A Better Way of Life
Why Career Advice Is So Important
10 Keys to Getting Paid What You?re Worth!
Asking for money is so taboo in our culture that most of us shake in our shoes when we think about negotiating salary. It conjures up our insecurities about not being good enough, not knowing enough, or not being considered valuable enough. We worry that the company will rescind its offer if we ask for what we're worth.
Top Ten Reasons to Start A Catering Business
There is little doubt that Americans still have a deep abiding love for all things eatable. Despite the health craze that has forced Ronald McDonald to sport a jogging suit, Whoppers, Big Mac's, and French Fries is truly why we have fat thighs. So what's the answer? We need great home-grown cooks who are not into the fast food obsession. Do you love to cook and suffer from severe withdrawal when denied the opportunity to prepare your famous spinach stuffed chicken breast served with broccoli and roasted garlic? Do you want to profit from the food you prepare in your kitchen?
Has ADHD Put Your Career in Danger? 3 Steps to Get You Back on Track
"Roger, you must get those contracts completed for this month's sales and don't forget, we have a meeting tomorrow at 9:00. Don't be late again!"
Job Interviews: What to Wear
It takes between seven and seventeen seconds for a person to make an impression of us and much of that impression is based on how we look. It stand to reason, then, that what we wear to job interviews will make a far greater impact on our success than anything we're likely to say once those first crucial seconds have passed.
Writing CVs and Resumes for Professionals with Examples
Tips on writing your Skills and Achievement Based CV (ABCV) by Mike Kelley at First Impressions
Conducting an Effective Interview
An employment interview is a goal oriented conversation in which the interviewer and the applicant exchange information. Even though interviews are a poor selection tool for most jobs, they are often the primary method used in evaluating applicants. The main players in the job interview are the interviewer and the applicant.
The Changing Values Landscape of the U.S. and How It Impacts Midlife Job Searchers
Imagine a huge river that has been flowing for centuries: See the thick underbrush that has grown up on either edge of the river's expansive banks and the moss-lined stones that litter its shallow edges. Feel the power of water so deep and so strong because it has been pulsing through this landscape since the Renaissance, yet now this mighty river approaches a "Great Divide" such as has never been seen before in human history.
Five Biggest Resume Mistakes You Can Fix Yourself
A career consultant can diagnose and overhaul a troubled
resume. But you can check off the basics yourself.
I Quit!
More and more people are calling it quits to successful careers to create some personal leisure time or to pursue another career. This trend is becoming more popular and common. Years ago few people voluntarily quit a job midway through their careers, no matter how unhappy they were. It was not acceptable to leave one job without having another job to go to. There was a stigma present that you were damaged goods if you did so.
9 Secrets to Career Success
Are you miserable at your job (or what you are doing) but go
anyway to earn a living? Do you feel you are unable to use
your talents and are doing things that are stressful? Do you
find yourself in a career rut? Wouldn't you rather be in your
ideal income position and "Go to Play" everyday? Most
people spend approximately 35% to over 67% of their
waking hours working. Being unhappy for so much of the
day makes it difficult to enjoy the rest of your waking hours.
Think how your life will turn around when you are actually
enjoying your "work." In your ideal career you will be doing
what you love and be so good at it that you will produce
considerable value which will attract more rewards
(including money) than you need.
Avoid Potential Job Interview Disasters
There are definitely things that you can do to avoid minor mishaps which could ultimately blow an interview. Become familiar with these 7 potential interview disasters so you can prevent them from obstructing your path to that ideal job.
How You Can Find Freelance Writing Employment
How can you find writing jobs? Do you have proven skills that can propel you in the right direction? If so, then why are you looking for fresh vacancies? The best tool to those who have employment histories is to look to the companies that you have already worked for. There, they can help provide you with more work, or point you in the right direction.
Tips on How to Write High Impact Letters of Recommendation
Congratulations. You've been asked to write a letter of
recommendation for an employee or colleague. This person values
your opinion of him or her, and you'd be glad to help them
advance. The problem is you're unsure of what to say or how to
say it! Here are four tips to keep in mind when preparing your
recommendation.
Five Facts You Must Know When Changing Careers
Too often in life, we fail. We fail not because we set our goals to high and miss achieving our aspirations. Instead, we fail because we set our dreams too low and we achieve them. If we achieve what we set out to do then how is this considered to be a failure? Failure occurs when we are not fulfilling our highest aspirations. Theresa Castro, executive career coach and author of The Dark Before the Dawn: 70 Secrets to Self-discovery, provides insight on what anyone can do while they are in the midst of wanting to change careers.
|
