Aggressive job search tips for Executives

Have you noticed that holiday decorations are already on the store shelves, and it is only October? Before you know it, we’ll be celebrating the new year. And are you prepared for the peak hiring season in January? Now more than ever executives need to stand out from the crowd to compete against the increasing number of candidates in the job search pool. After all there’s only so much room at the top of that pyramid.

There are many strategies and approaches relating to job search. Some of these may require you to take a risk or stretch your comfort zone. If what you’ve been doing isn’t getting the results you desire, try something different. Here’s a few ideas:

Focus on highest-priority targets. Be more aggressive than you dared to be in the past. Try any form of communication that might get you in the door – calling, emailing, FedEx, sending industry magazine articles, to name a few. Research company contacts like vendors, competitors, current or past employees and network, network, network. Not only might one of these people know the person you are trying to contact within your target company, they, themselves may have job opportunities that might be a good fit you.

One degree of…. reference. Who do you know who knows (insert target company contact here). Even if you don’t know someone who knows your target contact directly, find someone who knows somebody one to two degrees away. Work your way up the chain of command to the person you want to contact. Think of it this way, most people will buy a product recommended or endorsed by someone they know and respect. The same thing is true when looking for a job, consider yourself the product. People feel more comfortable hiring an executive that has been referred by a respected industry leader who might already know the candidate’s level of performance and achievements.

Hiring managers welcome referrals from company employees or their network of candidates. It gives the relationship between hiring manager and job candidate a personal touch from the start. This results in a higher success rate of being offered the job.

Do the unexpected. What would get your attention if the roles were reversed – you being the hiring manager instead of the job seeker? Put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes and think about what would impress them about a candidate? Approach with unexpected, but appropriate, tactics to show you go above and beyond to succeed.

If you have a list of company contacts, look them up on LinkedIn to learn more about them and to give you an edge of familiarity. Ask your network if they know any of these company contacts to help you get an introduction.

Are these suggestions aggressive? Yes, and is it worth it to try one or more of these to get your dream job? What do you think?

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The Pumpkin Principle Applied to Executive Job Search

This topic is quite timely since it is the fall season and pumpkins decorate the grocery stores, and flourish in roadside stands and fields across the country.

I’m betting your first question is “How does the pumpkin principle apply to executive job search?” or better yet, “What is the pumpkin principle?”

It is really quite simple. The most extraordinary pumpkin in the field wins. Every. Single. Time. Are you the most extraordinary executive candidate in your field? If not, what do you need to do to elevate yourself to extraordinary status? What’s your USP (unique selling proposition)?  If you plant great seeds, weed out distractions, and nurture the best people and opportunities, you have a better chance of getting the next job offer.

And, you may have all the qualities a potential employer is looking for, yet you don’t stand out to them as the perfect candidate. What’s not showing up? Are you running at such a pace that you aren’t paying attention to what the most important rules are to live by? Granted, we are human beings, unique individuals, and we may have our own set of rules that works for our life. Some, though, can be universal and apply to everyone. Here are a few:

Get more sleep. Sleep recharges your body and brain. Grabbing a few extra hours of sleep can be one of the best things you can do for yourself, and anyone who counts on you. With the proper amount of sleep, you are more alert, and likely to be in the “zone” when it counts. Without sleep, your body lacks what it is needs and starts to shut down, perhaps when you might need it most. Follow doctor’s orders when it comes to sleep. You’ll thank yourself for making the extra effort to get a little more shut-eye.

Double check (fill in the blank). Confirming an action with one more check sets your mind at ease that the task or action is set and ready. Without getting obsessive compulsive, make a mental note of what action steps in your job search need checking.  Resume in briefcase for the interview? Directions to interview printed or entered into GPS? Walking into an interview knowing you have double checked important details gives you confidence and security that you have everything you need to ace the interview.

Intentional listening. Listening carefully to the interviewer, hiring manager or recruiter can make a huge difference in the outcome. For example, if you ask a question such as, “What do you need the potential candidate to know, or do to fit your expectations for this job?” Carefully listening to this answer gives you clues so you can present yourself as the perfect person to fill the position. You might even find yourself learning more about the position and being inspired!

Are you extraordinary? Of course you are! You can WIN every single time. 

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Survey Shows Uptick in Social Media Hiring: Job Search Tips

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A Whole Basket of Things For Your Job Search

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What is the Best Time and Day to Send Your Job Search Email?

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The "R" Word and Your Job Search

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Throwaway Comments and Your Job Search

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The -ions of your J-O-B Search

-ion  a suffix, appearing in words of Latin origin, denoting action or condition,  used in Latin and in English to form nouns from stems of Latin adjectives.

Last week my client and I were discussing the language of job search.  As we were sharing ideas, I noticed how several of her word choices ended with ion. Listed below are some –ion words for you to consider in your career transition:

Action steps taken on a daily basis

Billion reasons to find a new job

Conversation to build connections to opportunities of interest

Decision about the future of you

Expectation you have of yourself

Frustration that will make or break you

Gumption it will take to find a new job

Humiliation that goes with the career transition process

Imagination to invent ideas for your new future

Jubilation for getting a job interview which leads to a job

Location most ideal for you

Motivation to keep you going on your toughest days

Negotiation well worth it

Option to consider

Passion for yourself and for the hunt

Question to ask and answer

Realization that job search is a fulltime venture

Simplification of processes and practices to expedite results

Transformation from now to next

Utilization of the best tools and resources

Verification of everything

Workstation to keep you organized and productive

Zillion words of respect for self and others

The height of your accomplishments will equal the depth of your convictions. ~ William F. Scolavino

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8 Tips for Success In Executive Job Search

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Corporate Dating and The Job Search

Do you recall when you first started dating? Regardless of the age, did your date propose marriage your first time out together?

Yes?  

No?

Maybe?

When you go on a corporate date (job interview) are you contemplating an offer of marriage from the employer, or do you expect to find out a little bit more about the one you are with?

Maybe you have even compiled a list of qualities you desire in a job (or in a mate).  I love lists – reading them, making them, modifying them.  Somewhere in an old Gregg shorthand notebook, there is a list of specifications of the person I hoped I would one day meet and share my life with. I don’t need the notebook to recall the specifications I scribbled:   

…Tall; values education; smart; well read; high standards, motivated; sense of humor;

from somewhere else; loves music; good conversationalist; fun; loves to travel…

The next time you go on a job interview (corporate date), take a step back and decide that you will go to the meeting to share and to learn – no more, no less – and not to get married on-the-spot.  Share something of value about your credentials and their relevance to the job. Freely offer information to make it easy for the recruiter or hiring manager to gain a quick snapshot of you, who you are and what you bring to the table. And while on your date, learn as much as you can about the organization, its people, products, services, mission, values, vision, etc. The more you know, the more you can make an informed decision regarding your future.

Maybe you will have a good time on your corporate date. Maybe your date will be horrible, terrible, awful, and totally suck. Maybe you will never hear from them again. Maybe they will never hear from you again.  Brands attract. Brands repel. Some people will love you and your brand; other people – not so much. Just like dating.

If that corporate date doesn’t work out, no problem – back to the drawing board and on to the next.  Job search – a whole lot like dating; you may have to go on many, many different corporate dates to find the right someone to marry.

 You can go into a field and try to catch a horse and chase your horse all over the place and you’ll never get your hands on it. But if you go into a field and sit down on the grass, whoa! Probably within five minutes that horse will come to you. I think that’s how it is with people too. – Anjelica Huston 

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Solving Your Job Search Puzzle

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Killer Bees & Your Job Search: 5 Takeaways

Been paying attention to the Survival of the Fittest going on before our very eyes in the case of bees? The very bees responsible for pollinating much of the world's crops? This is the current state of affairs: honey bees hives are failing in large numbers, so much so that many growers have to depend on trucked-in bees to pollinate their crops. In China, crops are being pollinated BY HAND!

What is the reason for this serious threat to our foodstocks? Scientists are not sure; some say perticides and herbicides, some say malnutrition (too much monoculture of low-nutrition crops). Still other scientists opine that honey bees have been bred for low aggression traits, so that handlers don't have to wear as much or any protective clothing.

In any case, there is a third option some growers are using: introducing African killer bees to pollinate their crops. This strain appears to be thriving in Texas and other states that have imported these aggressive bees. The danger of course is to humans and animals who can die from these stings. Killer bees sting readily in contrast to the domesticated honey bees. It appears that being highly protective of the honey correlates with robust hives.

I couldn't help but think about this lesson from nature and wonder if it is suggestive of what we are seeing in the new world of work. Not just how to get a job, but how to keep it and how to keep your career growing robustly. The recommendations below are based on commonly understood trends that currently prevail.

1. Keeping your job: Get aggressive about owning the results of your work; don't let someone else taka advantage of your less boastful personality and take the credit - and the promotion!

2. Keeping your job: Abandon the passive honey bee side of you, and fiercely hone your branded value proposition within the company. Get the word out by circulating project status memos, networking internally, and pushing to get on projects that will enhance your brand.

3. Getting a job: Forget waiting around for recruiters to get back to you about jobs you've applied to. Aggressively mine your LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, college alumni, and professional groups to make contact with employees of your target company. More about this in my other blog posts (see link below).

4. Getting a job: ALWAYS be in the job market. Gone are the days of the "company man." you cannot count on an employer to have your career security as a goal. That's the honey bee way: "OK you took away my protect-the-hive response, now you have to take care of me, your employee." It's not happending. Now, you will be cut loose if it's financially beneficial for the firm. So get your branded value proposition out there internally and externally and get active!

5. Getting a job: Every day of your job search, pick something you can actively do to get in front of decision makers: build a company list, network into the companies, connect with employees, send a direct mail campaign, work your alumni and association member lists. In other words, leave the traditional passive job search in the past and aggressively go after unpublished and post opportunities. Even approach organizations with the idea of writing your own job description.

The work world of the past is the world of the honeybee. The hives are dying. Employers won't look out for you. So aggressively protect your work product from being poached just as the killer bees protect their honey. And aggressively pursue job search strategies that have a high success rate. You need to win in this world of hyper-competitive search and short duration jobs by channelling your inner killer bee!

Cross-posted on http://www.aResumeForToday.com/high-tech-resumes/

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The Errand Runner and Your Job Search

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Fit As a Fiddle for Job Search

When you are looking for a new job, perhaps one of the factors you have learned to consider is that of a “good fit.” 

Job seekers desire a good fit; employers want to hire the best fit.

One of the conversations I had with a client a few weeks ago was about how “no one told him” to stay in shape on the job. I asked him to say more. He shared how he had “let himself go” in many aspects of his life, how he had gotten too comfortable and how, in a few months, he will be losing his job due to budget cuts. 

Here are some specific ways he indicated he had not stayed in shape on the job:

~~ he was overweight.

~~ he had not kept current with technology.

~~ he had not taken classes in years.

~~ he did not know that many people – all he did was work.

~~ he never really liked his job that much, though he stayed with it because it compensated him well.

As I listened to his story, I started thinking about each of the areas that he had mentioned:

Physical

Technological

Educational

Social

Occupational

Upon inquiring about any other areas he felt he had not stayed fit, he thought for a bit and then added:

Emotional

Spiritual

For his “homework” exercise, his task focused on writing his thoughts, ideas and goals for each respective category stated above. Whether you are gainfully employed or presently unemployed, are you in good shape for that next opportunity?

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5 Quick Buddhist Practices - The Missing Element in Your Job Search?

As job search coaches, my colleagues and I are experts at helping clients plan and implement their job searches. We teach about social search (leveraging social media), Web 2.0 networking, the Direct Approach, uses of job boards, how to work with recruiters, email and direct mail campaigns etc.

The only trouble is ... sometimes the very nature of job search can cause people to feel uncertain, not in control, anxious, vulnerable, over-eager, even desperate. And these feelings tend to undermine both the activities of job search and interviewing.

To complicate matters, clients frequently are dealing with feelings related to short- or long-term unemployment or sudden termination due to company changes beyond their control (mergers, acquisitions, natural disasters like Sandy, a shift in the company's strategic priorities) or complications such as personnel conflicts or perceived non-performance.

The inevitable emotions that accompany any of these circumstances need to be acknowledged, validated and processed so that they don't creep into your voice, body language or job search effort. Talk to a friend, or get short-term counseling if you need to.

Even if you have a solid position of employment and are just looking around, you will most likely experience a degree of tension about being assessed or judged by hiring authorities or recruiters as they consider you for opportunities.

So, stress, anxiety, self-doubt are often unwelcome guests at the job search party.

This is where some radical healing is needed. This is where some simple Buddhist practices can change your stress into calmness, anxiety into serenity, self-doubt into confidence. Practicing the following breathing exercises as presented by Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh can transform the way you go about your job search.

Try saying these to yourself, a couple of times a day, breathing deeply in and out, as you go about your job search. Picture yourself in your mind's eye as a flower, mountain, still waters, space and as a living being and internalize the helpful feelings that accompany those pictures.

Breathing in I see myself as a flower, breathing out I feel fresh

Breathing in I see myself as a mountain, breathing out I feel solid

Breathing in I see myself as still waters, breathing out I feel calm

Breathing in I see myself as space, breathing out I feel free

Breathing in I am alive, breathing out I smile to myself

Thich says, "The best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present - that is the only thing you can do."

Try these practices and see if your job search doesn't start to feel more purposeful and skillful. You may find that you feel more serene as you go about your job search activities, secure in your own unique value in the world and focused on the things you can do in the present, knowing that they will lead to a future that will be good for you.

Image attribution: fastcodesign

Cross-posted on Jean Cummings' blog http://www.aResumeForToday.com/high-tech-resumes/

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Top 50 Job Titles On LinkUp’s Job Search Engine In June

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To Unlearn, To Relearn in Your Job Search

My client and I were discussing graduate school and what we remembered most from that learning experience. The subject of “unlearn” came up as one of the things that still stood out years later.

As a job seeker, are there any “things” you have had to unlearn and relearn in your quest for new employment? Here’s an unlearn example my client and I chatted about:

“You get a job, you work hard, you keep your nose clean, and you will be taken of.”

Nice thing to learn in the 70’s, 80’s and even the 90’s, but how about the 21st century?

While “you get a job, you work hard, you keep your nose clean” still applies, the “and you will be taken care of” – not so much. What do you think?

What, if anything, might you need to unlearn and relearn as you explore new options and opportunities in today’s intensely competitive job market?

Updating your thinking and strategies to stay current with today’s economic times.

Noticing when something isn’t working and integrating new best practices for competitive advantage.

Letting go of old scripts that have no relevance in today’s world and relearning new ones that do.

Examining thoughts, beliefs and practices to discern worthiness of application now.

Always striving to advance knowledge, skills and abilities to stay current in such changing, turbulent times.

Recognizing that the job market of today is nothing like the one of yesterday, and the job market of tomorrow will be nothing like the one we know today.

Navigating your way forward in a constantly evolving world with learning that leads the way. 

cross-posted billiesucherblog

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Job Search Strategy # 1 – Targeted Research

One quick way to discover new opportunities is by doing structured search engine queries. And it’s fairly easy to do.   The video above gives you a good overview of how to do it for yourself:

Develop a target list of companies you want to work for.  That list of companies is your baseline query for your search.   Now, here’s how you get the list.  The video above is an example using Google.com in which the job hunter want sto work in advertising in New York City.  {You  just do what I'm doing BUT substitute your industry parameters.}

1.     When you do targeted research, generally you concentrate on an industry or a geographic preference (in this case, New York City).  Substitute your city for your search. 

2.     You need to find the names of all the advertising companies in New York.  There are easy ways to do this using the Net.  Go to Google. www.google.com and type the following words in the “advanced” option box in Google.  The search string shown below instructs Google to search for a directory of advertising firms in New York or a conference on advertising held in New York.  We want this list to garner leads for companies.

Your text needs to be filled in exactly the way I did in the video. 
My search returned many hits including one for AD:TECH  “The Event for Interactive Marketing”.  This is a conference held in New York for the Advertising industry.  There where also hits for directories of advertising companies in New York, complete with web site addresses, phone numbers, and profiles of the owners.

Once you have a target list of companies to work with, you need to find out who the people are in those companies that can actually hire you.  A good headhunter would pick up the telephone. You might not be so inclined, so here’s another way to accomplish your objective.

Go to each company’s web site and gather the names of the people who can say yes.  Those people are the executives not the human resource people – they can only say NO! unless you’re a human resources professional.  If you’re lucky, every web site will identify their senior executives, including names, titles, phone numbers, career summaries and sometimes email and photos!  Web information should be up-to-the-minute accurate, but I would call the receptionist and confirm it.   

For this example I’m looking for a sales position.  Therefore I’ll seek to locate or research the VP of Sales, VP Sales & Marketing, VP Marketing or General Manager. You would focus your research on the functional areas of interest for your search.

If you’re experiencing difficulty finding names on the site, then go back to Google’s advanced search box and type in the company name in the first box and (Vice President Sales Marketing Director)in the third box.  By-the-way, you don’t need to place the words in brackets and don’t put in any commas or punctuation. 

That search string will bring you:
All the people who are, or have ever been, VPs OR President OR Directors of Sales and/or Marketing for that company.
The resumes of a whole pile of people from that company whom you may be able to phone to coax information from them.

OR

You can skip all that and use LinkedIn, Spoke, or ZoomInfo

Once you have the name of the individual who is one rung up the ladder from the job you want, you need to process their name through Google again.  This time you put their first and last name in the first box and the company name in the third box.

This will produce a list of press releases, and news articles in which they are mentioned, as well as conferences they’ve attended.  Read an article or two and clip something memorable to use in a  NarrowCast letter.

When you send them the letter, you’ll be able to say.  “I read your article in… about… which prompted me to write.”  Very powerful.

Compliments of David E Perry and Kevin Donlin. For more creative job search tactics, go to the Guerrilla Marketing for job hunters blog and download the free audio CD.

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JibberJobber, Unemployment Insurance, Staying Organized in a Job Search

November 26th, 2012

Check out this very cool email I got from Carolyn in Minnesota:

[JibberJobber] is wonderful. It helped me organize my job search quickly and I was ready when summoned to the unemployment office to show that I’m doing everything I can. She said no one ever comes in having done so much in just four weeks. I brought my jobs report and told her about JibberJobber.

JibberJobber users… more organized, more productive.  That could lead to a bit of “peace of mind,” don’t you think?

If you aren’t using it yet, or don’t feel like it’s a significant part of your job search, sign up for the next user webinar (we do it every Wednesday).

While there, sign up for the Ask the Expert webinars - they are all free, and all awesome!

(Please tell your workforce services person about JibberJobber… many don’t know about it, but they should!)

Posted in Job Search Strategies, Job Search Technology, Job Search Tools, Joe Job Seeker, Testimonials | Permalink | TrackBack |

JibberJobber is a powerful tool that lets you manage your career, from job search to relationship management to target company management (and much more). Free for life with an optional upgrade.

Sign Up Now! »

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Job Search Discrimination Exists – Now What???

Want to read something disgusting?  Check out this article: Unemployed Black Women Pretends to Be White, Job Prospects Dramatically Increase

From the article:

“Two years ago, I noticed that Monster.com had added a “diversity questionnaire” to the site.  This gives an applicant the opportunity to identify their sex and race to potential employers.  Monster.com guarantees that this “option” will not jeopardize your chances of gaining employment.  You must answer this questionnaire in order to apply to a posted position—it cannot be skipped.”

Monster guarantees the option will not jeopordize the chances of getting a job?

How can they guarantee that?  And, if it cannot be skipped, it’s not an option!

This is maddening.  It’s crazy that it is anywhere on Monster’s page.  It should not be on there.  I’m guessing some HR knowitall asked for the breakdown in races for their equal opportunity reporting.

Monster should have stood up and said NO.

Alas, where does this leave us?  Folks, discrimination exists EVERYONE.  In your job search, in careers, in education, in stores, in parking lots, … everywhere.

How do people discriminate?

Let’s reword that.  How do people judge you?  How do people decide if they want to (hire, be around, recommend, etc.) you?

HeightBody shapeHair (lack of, color, style)Tattoos (which is more your choice than many of the others on this list)ClothesHandicaps (not sure what the latest PC way to say that is) – limp, canes, wheelchairs, blindness, etc.ReligionRace (of course)Language (accent, stutter, slur, lisp, etc.)Ability to spell (sucks for dyslexics, doesn’t it?)Work history (job hopper?)Voice (too deep, to high, etc.)Age_____

There is no end to how people will make a 1/2 second judgement about you.

Because the person who does it is, well, human.  Susceptible to mood swings, prejudices from parents and community, misinformation (the media is a horrible advocate of racism and prejudice, in my opinion).

It is illegal, of course.  But tell that to people on the comments where I found the story.  They say the Justice Department is just as prejudice as companies are.

It is not right.  But it might be one of the worst problems in job search, career management, our life.

So then, what do you do?

Can you fight it?  How?

Can the issue ever go away?

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