New Ebook Released!

Hot on the heels of releasing my first ever book, Right Your Resume: Fix or Create your Resume Content, which is available in PRINT and EBOOK versions, today my book, The Job-Seek Motivator has been released exclusively on Amazon Kindle.

The normal price for The Job-Seek Motivator will be USD$1.99, and is available for immediate purchase and download to your Kindle device or App.

But, for those who like a true bargain and receiving presents on Christmas Day, make sure you find the time to visit Amazon - because it will be FREE on the days listed below.

 

Please feel free to tell any person you know who is looking for work!

First Impressions in Jobsearching Groups

I've mentioned this before, but I'm still seeing many jobseekers violating this simple rule in online jobsearch groups that will help them gain a job: be nice, be positive. Employers might not comment, they might not even have a vacancy at the present moment, but they are watching and taking mental note, and in doing so, they are forming an impression about your behaviour, your personality, your potential suitability for vacancies they have (now and in the future).

I hope it is a good one?

But, don't just take my word for it. Publishers advise this same thing to authors, teachers advise this to students, parents to their children.

And, author Jonathan Maberry worded in a way that had Smashwords CEO reiterate it on his blog:

Do you want to be the person that onlookers form bad impressions of? Do you want to be the person that misses out on a job simply because two months ago you got into an online verbal tassle with another jobseeker or shared your negative personal tirade on 'the state of things' because you were having a bad day?

Please consider the long and short term consequences your behaviour in social media can have.

The Marketing and Sales of Jobsearch

I've been working on creating some rather time consuming non-article stuff for my business lately, and was watching a couple of videos earlier today on how to create better looking PowerPoint presentations over at www.m62.net when a small section of their "Why Present" video - aimed at salespeople to deliver better public presentations - I watched got me thinking: some of this translates as really good advice for jobseekers!

In one of the other video's I watched earlier it discussed that businesses and salespeople need to understand the difference between 'Marketing' and 'Sales' presentations, and as the presenter gave his explanation, I first connected the difference being the same within the job searching process thinking: 'The application phase of jobsearch is the equivalent to marketing, and job interviews are the equivalent of sales opportunities" - where the purpose of marketing is to find potential customers, and the purpose of sales is to generate a purchase transaction. Umm, the purpose of jobseeking is to find potential employers and then generate their interest in hiring you for their vacancy, right?

The particular section of interest within the video "Why Present" (which you can view here) discussed that all businesses, no matter what their 'wares', compete in the marketplace on a possible three things: price, service and or value. And once again, I started thinking: the same is true for jobseekers.

How is that true, you ask?

Price 

Although there are many positions in which the employer determines what rate they pay to position holders, there also exist employers and jobs that negotiate the starting rate or salary with the candidate too during the job interview or at the job offer. Of course, it depends on the type of job and industry you seek work in whether the employers pay fixed rates or are based on negotiated amount, but this is one of the things you should research when you look at applying for the type of work you want to do.

You could compete on price (accepting slightly less in order to snag the position away from a competitor wanting higher, or go for premium because 'they won't get any better than me! And I deserve to be paid more for my expertise').  The Employment Services industry had both fixed rate positions and negotiable ones depending on whether the company was not-for-profit or private enterprise.


Service
When businesses go into business the ultimate service they provide to consumers (whether that is business to business or business to consumer) is the particular products or services they deliver. To be successful in their business operations, the business has to possess the right skills, knowledge, experience, abilities and licenses etc to be allowed to and capable of attracting customers to earn the income and achieve the desired profits. And, the more capable the business is of delivering to its customers what they need and want (building strong relationships and service expectations), the longer the business continues to trade and the higher the profits the business gains.

Again, I see that there is little difference between a business and a jobseeker, where the individual needs to possess the right core skills, knowledge, experience, abilities, qualifications, licenses etc to be allowed to and capable of doing specific tasks at a competent level, thus enabling the business to earn the income and achieve the desired profits. But, an individual also needs to be a 'good fit' within the business to make the employment relationship last.

Value
Businesses that strive to beat their competition succeed in doing so when they focus on providing value to their customers.  That is, it is the additional factors that separate them from their competition that they willingly 'give' to their customers to encourage those customers to purchase more, remain highly satisfied with the business, product and transactions and or to return to the business in the future so that their business reputation and standing continues to grow.


Jobseekers don't always realise it, but looking for work / gaining a job is essentially always been about how they provide value.  Those that take the time to think about the additional skills, knowledge, experience, abilities, and attributes etc and demonstrate them to their prospects usually gain work quickly, because they inadvertently demonstrate their value just in the act of striving to beat their competitors.

Value Proposition

Back to the "Why Present" video, the message the company was imparting was Marketers need to present a clear message to their target audience with a value proposition: a "What's in it for them? and How will they benefit?"  For every feature the product or service has, good marketers must demonstrate how those features will benefit the prospective purchaser to make their life easier, reduce time or costs; and provide the justifications to help move the prospect towards a sales opportunity. The marketers goal is to find the right customer, so a sales opportunity is gained and the sales presentation can then helps the customer to consider buying this particular companies product or service over that of their competitors.

During your jobsearch, you need to act and present like a Marketer. That means, your job applications need to present a clear message to the target employer with a value propositions: "What skills can you bring to the business? and How will that benefit the employer?".  Your goal is to find the right type of customer - that is, the type of business who will want and need the service you offer; so you can move the prospective employer / hiring manager towards a sales opportunity.

The job interview IS your sales opportunity.  This is where you switch from marketing to sales and provide justification to enable your prospect to make the purchase decision to choose you over your competitors.

According to m62.net, there are only 4 types of Justifications:
1. Testimonials
2. Process
3. Technical
4. Logical

Can we use them in jobsearching?  We sure can, and do!

Testimonials are where other people who have used a businesses products or services declare, either written or verbally, in statement of appreciation and or recommendation the character, conduct and or value of the product or service received. In job searching, we call such people our Referees and References.

Process is where the salesperson explains to the prospect how the product or service they offer delivers the value stated - the how and why they should believe it. In job searching, the answers we give to interview questions like 'give an example of a time when...' is us fulfilling the 'process' justification.

Technical uses intellectual property to deliver a benefit. As jobseekers, we can't copyright or patent our trade secrets - like KFC's 11 secret herbs and spices, or Dyson's cyclonic vacuum system - but we can demonstrate our proficiency is using technological tools such as computer programs or providing evidence of qualifications and licenses held.

Logical is proof provided from reasoned argument, and as jobseekers, we can think about our skills and abilities and discuss how these provide benefit to the prospective employer and use what we say to show credibility and suitability.

So before you send off your next job application, review your resume and cover letter and think like a Marketer:

Who is your audience?  Easy: the employer(s) for the specific type of work you are seeking to gain.
How do they currently think and do? What are those employers looking for in their ideal candidate?  What basic skills, knowledge, experiences etc will they want the person to possess?
What do you want them to think and do after seeing your resume and cover letter? You WANT them to invite you to an interview!  You WANT them to believe that you might be the right 'product' for them.  You WANT them to grant you a sales opportunity, so you can convince them to accept your brand.  So they need to ask you questions; they need to phone you and invite you to meet with them. So, knowing the answers to the first two questions, you need to carefully consider: what details do I need to include / exclude so that they will want to interview me?

Examine your resume and cover letter - right now!
Do you have the right information in your resume and cover letter?  If you were your audience and received your resume and cover letter, would you want to invite you to an interview?

No?  Make substantial changes.  If yes, are you really sure?  Have you been getting invitations to interviews?


When you get a job interview, this is the chance to pull out your best salesperson skills and sell your product: you, as their ideal employee.  Would you purchase a product from a salesperson who is late and isn't well presented?  Would you purchase a product from a salesperson who doesn't answer the questions very well, who doesn't instil you with confidence that they are trustworthy, likeable, will do a really good job.

Become a good marketer and salesperson, and you'll have gained a job before you know it!

If your resume is not up to the job of getting your prospect to give you a call, you know you need to make changes so that it does.  If you need help with that, then please feel free to contact me; I have a range of different products and services that will help you and suit your budget and love helping clients get better, faster results!
You can use the contact form over in the right sidebar or can find me on Facebook.

Tips

5 Tips for Jobsearch Success

Advice for Returning to Work Mums

You have devoted yourself to raising your family and have been out of the paid workforce for some time now; but the kids are getting older and it has been getting harder and harder to live on one pay (or on social security payments), so you think the time has come for you return to the paid workforce but you've heard that other women that have been in your position found it difficult in finding an employer willing to give them a go.

Does this sound like you?

Yes, it can be hard to find an employer willing to give you a go - and that is true for all unemployed persons not just for mums returning to the paid workforce. Today, I'm going to briefly discuss some of the things you can do when you've been out of the paid workforce for some time.

Firstly, let me point out one thing - my use of the term 'paid workforce'.  I do this because I value that you have developed employable skills from your personal activities just as much as you have gained them from your former employment. As a Mum Returning to the Paid Workforce, you have worked hard, in an unpaid capacity, and you need to recognise and value that you have used and developed some excellent skills that make you employable; and only need to match them to the type of work you will be seeking.

The first thing you need to work out before jumping in to looking for work is: what type of work do you want to look for?

You will be happier in your future job if you apply for work (when you are up to that stage) that you are interested in doing, rather than trying to find work based on what you think you might be able to do or what you think you might be able to get, and if you are not desperate to gain work, you have some time to plan your return.

A lot of jobseekers tell me when I first meet them that they don't know what type of work they want to do; but, when pressed I find, without fail, that the person does have some idea of what they would like to do and that it's just that they haven't given themselves permission to voice it or follow that because Mum's are used to putting their family's needs and wants ahead of their own.

But today's post is all about you, Mum. So, answer this question right now: what type of work do you want to look for?

Don't just go for 'traditional' jobs that returning to the paid workforce mums apply for. What are you good at, what are you interested in?

Know it?  Great!

Now you need to move on to the next stage by asking yourself lots of questions, doing some research and then planning to learn more about that type of work.  You have a family that will still need you, so I am guessing that you won't want to travel too far from home. Are there lots of businesses close by offering that type of work, or are they all too far away for you to get to?

Ask yourself lots of questions
For the type of work you want to do, is it just one industry or is the type of work found in multiple industries?  For example, let's say you chose Reception. Receptionists are needed across multiple industries - medical, real estate, legal, recruitment, manufacturing, the list goes on!  But if say you chose hairdressing, then you've narrowed your choice down to one industry, haven't you.

Research

With a single industry position, you mainly need to learn about the employers and local opportunities, and, the crucial part most jobseekers don't do, learn what these employers look for in an ideal candidate. For instance, if you chose Hairdressing, and you've found that there are plenty of employers in the local area, and they frequently seek staff, you need to assess whether you would be a good fit to that type of work right now. By asking yourself lots of questions and undertaking research to find the answers to those questions, you might learn that you would need to do a Hairdressing apprenticeship in order to gain entry into this industry (if you don't already have the skills and aren't already qualified). But that is only just the beginning - what do you know about that industries requirements, like the hours you will need to work, the pay and conditions.  Do you align well with the industry and employer expectations?

If you do, then great, you could probably start applying for jobs straightaway.  Although, I would recommend you research if the industry is in a state of growth, steadiness or possible decline as all this will impact upon how competitive the application process might be, how long it might take you to gain this type of work.

But if you don't have the skills, if you can't work the normal hours, then you have some more thinking, researching and planning to do.

Maybe there is a different line of work that you would enjoy that would be more suitable? That offers the restricted hours you can work.

Once you have done all your research, it is then time to plan the steps and actions you will take. You should do this before you actually start taking actions. If you can afford it, I recommend you get professional assistance to create a resume - things change all the time, resume templates are overused and make applicants all look the same right when they need to stand out in a good, professional way, and those templates often encourage you to include details that are no longer required because they can cause an employer to make a 'no' decision without their meeting you, or some of the details having to be included are not required in your country, for your industry, for your ability level - which weakens your application.

You need to use modern and professional jobsearch techniques and resources so that you gain a competitive edge, but most of all, you also need to identify and value that you do possess skills, you are employable and showcase those abilities of yours so that it generates employer interest. If you are out of touch with modern and professional techniques and resources, don't stumble along blindly; you need to either get the help or do a lot more research to bring you up to speed - and there is nothing more downing than sending off hundreds of applications that get you nowhere and still be looking six months, a year down the track.

So, while you are waiting for success to come, perhaps also find ways to build your skill currency, like doing a relevant course, doing some related voluntary work for a short while.

I hope you can see, there is a lot more to jobsearching than just applying to job vacancies if you want quick results. Jobsearching isn't always easy and it isn't much fun, but putting in the right time, effort and commitment will ultimately pay off by giving you the outcome you desire - the job you want.

Read the Job Ad properly

Hi Everyone,

I've noticed when I recently helped a business acquaintance to hire a part time admin and accounts person, and again in two of the jobseeker forums that I offer advice to that when opportunities are listed, people start responding asking questions that the answer to has already been given.

Please, everyone:  Stop, and think before you act.

Read the Job Ad properly, read the full post and its comments to check that other people haven't already asked the same or a similar question.

When you ask a question that has been asked already, especially when that question has been asked and answered multiple times, you aren't going to make any favourable impression in the mind of the employer (or forum members who can also read your query) - who is just going to react by thinking 'don't you read?' (which is negative criticism.)

I understand that when jobs are advertised in a live forum, like in a Facebook group, time is of the essence in getting your resume to the employer so that yours is in their hands and in contention well before the employer or recruiter closes off applications which is often quicker than usual, but this is why it is important that you as a jobseeker actively check for new listings on your favourite job boards and forums every single day (and I would even say, twice a day* for listings that are posted to a live forum), so you don't miss out on opportunities and don't have to race to try to beat a loudly ticking clock to get your application in.

*If you can't go online to check twice a day, perhaps buddy up with another forum member and ask them to tag you if they see a job ad they think you might be interested in so you get a notification from your name having been mentioned.

My aim here is not to embarrass or criticise people who have made this jobseeking mistake, but to instead teach jobseekers the art of better jobsearch practices.

Making a good first impression is so important to your success or failure in getting a job, and so is maintaining a good impression throughout the rest of the hiring process, so please, please don't make this mistake - instead get off to a good start in creating a good first impression by reading the job ad properly, and then stop and think before acting upon asking them that question and consider the impact your doing so will have upon the employer and ultimately whether your proceeding with asking a question will leave a good impression, or not. Is the question really that important? Do you really need to ask it now?  Would the question be better off asked during a face to face interview?

If in doubt, don't proceed with asking it.

Happy, successful jobseeking!

Char

Impact of your words and actions

I'm still busy helping a business friend with hiring an admin person, but would like to leave you with a bite-size piece of jobsearching wisdom:

"Smart jobseekers consider the likely impact their actions and words will have on the hiring manager / employer before, during and after the interaction and do the things necessary so that they leave a good impression whenever they can."

Do you consider how your words and actions are being interpreted and judged by potential employers? 

I'd love to learn your opinion on this, why not leave me a comment below?

The Jobsearch Road Map

For many of the jobseekers I have worked with, looking for work is a frustrating, overwhelming and tedious activity, and complain there is 'just so much to do!' and 'I just wish employers would give me a go!'

Which route do you take?

I think of jobsearching as being very much like taking a road trip: if you know where it is you want to go, take the time beforehand to map out which routes you'll take in order to get there in the littlest amount of time and with the least amount of hassle, develop a contingency plan for if something unexpected occurs or goes awry, and once you set off on your road trip pace out your journey by completing one leg of the journey at a time and taking only necessary detours when required, you'll arrive at your destination safely and in good timing.

The jobseekers who become frustrated and complaint-filled often just jump straight in with only a vague  or no idea of where they want to go, making up their destination, route and back up plans 'on the fly', and become lost and burned out when the journey becomes prolonged and as they begin finding the jobsearch process overwhelming and tedious when using this all-or-nothing trip method because they aren't finding a job as quickly as they want.

I want you to re-read that last part 'aren't finding a job as quickly as they want'.

'A' job.

Can you see how a specific destination hasn't been decided upon?

Key Jobseeking Rule: Always follow a targeted jobsearch approach

Now unfortunately I can't reduce the problem of 'there is so much to do!', but following a targeted approach will resolve the problem of employers being prepared to give a jobseeker a go.

How do you follow a targeted jobsearch approach?

What can you do to target your jobsearch, so you get quicker and more favourable result?

First, know (or at least have a strong idea of) what type of work you want to do - then, the pre-planning of your jobsearch road trip can begin.

(Note: If you have two or more types of jobs that you want to apply for, start out by focusing on and planning just one job and then later pursue the others as part of your back up plan only if necessary - but be careful that you don't lose your targeted approach).

What planning do you need to do?

• Assess your previous work and employment history* to determine what skills and attributes you already possess for that type of work
• Research the industry, employers and position description to determine what skills and attributes are essential and desirable for this type of work
• Assess if you have all the necessary skills and attributes and determine if you have any skills, experience or knowledge gaps.
• Make a decision as to whether you are suitable for that type of work.  If not, consider a different type of work and repeat the above steps. If yes, what is your next step?  Do you need to bridge the skills gap, or can you start planning for when you will set out on your jobsearch road trip?

 * work does not have to be just paid employment - and job or situation where you have developed a skills is relevant

If you need to bridge the skills gap, you have a number of choices you can make:

• Is there a course you can enrol in?
• Are you able to voluntary work or work experience for a couple of months?
• Are you able to get a foot into this type of work by doing an entry-level job?
• Can you apply for an apprenticeship or traineeship so you get paid while learning?

If you can start planning for when you will set out on your jobsearch road trip (the actual applying for jobs), you still have a few things to consider before you set off:

• Do you have a resume?  If no, do you know how to create one?  If yes, is it up to date and is it targeted and focused on the type of work you want to do?
• Do you know how to write a cover letter? If no, how are you going to learn how to write an effective one?  If yes, do you tailor your cover letter to the specific job you apply for, or do you try to use a generic 'one-size-fits-all' approach?  (The one size-fits-all approach is not very effective, so you should seriously consider learning how to tailor them)
• What are your Interview skills like?  Are you ready and confident if you get an invitation to attend an interview tomorrow?
• Do you have Interview clothing, do you need to make child-care arrangements,do you know where to look for job vacancies, is there anything else you need to set into place before you start submitting applications?
• Are you ready to make adjustments to your plan as you go?

Only when you are all packed and ready should you set off on your jobsearch road trip - but rest assured, you will arrive at your destination much happier because you bothered to plan to make your trip the best it could possibly be!

Has this article helped?  Why not share your thoughts by using the comments section below.

Happy, motivated jobseeking!

Char

What's your jobsearch motivation?

Are you working towards your desired outcome or trying to escape your current situation?
Because the motivation behind why you are applying for jobs can impact upon your level of success.

Towards Orientation
Jobseekers who work towards a specific job target their efforts towards gaining that type of work. They learn everything they can about the industry, the position and the employers, and tailor their resume and cover letters to pique employer interest, and are able to answer employer questions and work around employer concerns.

Away From Orientation
Jobseekers who are just trying to escape their current job or life circumstance, generally apply for anything and every job they see advertised that they think they are capable of, taking a 'hit or miss' type approach to their jobsearch.  Thus, they fire off resumes without any thought to whether the job will be suitable to them, or whether they have the skills and experiences that the employer is looking for.  These jobseekers generally don't conduct any research and are therefore more likely not to be able to answer employer questions and are unable to work around employer concerns.

In my own personal job searching experience, the times I have been successful have been when I have worked towards my set work goals, rather than trying to get away from a current (often unpleasant) circumstance.

When I first started job searching when I was returning to the workforce, I was oriented to getting away from being on government payments and being bored at home now that the kids had grown up. For the first few months of job searching, I was focused on escaping this current circumstance.  But one day - I don't recall the reasons why - I made a conscious decision to start working towards a new circumstance instead of trying to escape my current one... within weeks, I turned frustration and failure into getting positive results.  And you can too!

What to do if you are an Away From Oriented person
If you fall into the Away From orientation, then you need to stop reacting to your current circumstance in order to set a meaningful goal that you can work towards, and then take the appropriate steps and actions to achieve your goal making you a Towards oriented jobseeker.

Smart, happy and motivated jobseeking!

Char Mesan

What Cathy Freeman can teach you about successful jobsearching

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, received the gifts they were hoping for, were surrounded by family and friends.

Now, we are already well and truly into New Year.

Most people set goals and resolutions at this time of year: I want to lose weight, I want to gain a new job; I want to pay off the credit card - and these things are great goals.  But did you know that by end of January most people have already not achieved the goals and resolutions that they set for themselves?

I want to encourage job seekers to don't be just another failed resolution statistic. Instead, get real, get serious about your job search.  If you want to gain a job, then you NEED to make a detailed Action Plan and start working your plan every single day until you achieve your employment goal.

One of the best books I have found useful in helping me set and achieve the goals I set for myself is Blake Beattie's Bullseye!: The Ultimate Guide to Achieving Your Goals. Right from the Introduction, with the following small story about Australian athlete Cathy Freeman, every time I read this book I become motivated with renewed enthusiasm to check the goals I have written down and increase my efforts to achieve them:

"In 1992, a little-known Australian athlete failed to make the semifinals of the Olympic 400-metre race.  She was devastated, but determined to turn around the result.  Her ultimate goal was to win a gold medal in the Barcelona Olympics in 1996.  She worked out that the time she would need to win was 48.6 seconds, so she wrote this number down, and put it on her dressing table, where she would see it every day.  She then worked out the time she would need for each of the 400 metre sections and trained accordingly.  

In 1996, Cathy Freeman ran a time of 48.63 seconds, just three hundredths of a second outside the goal that she had set for herself.  She thought the time would be good enough to win gold; instead it was France's Marie Jose Perec who won with an Olympic record of 48.25 seconds. 

Freeman said that she was happy to get silver because it prepared her for what was to come next; a gold medal in front of her home crowd at the 2000 Sydney games. 

Success for Cathy came from singleness of purpose and the clarity of her goal."

Inspiring, isn't it?

What can you, as a jobseeker, learn from someone as inspirational and iconic as Cathy Freeman?  And how can you apply her positive role-modelling traits to your jobsearch?

As Blake Beattie says, "Success for Cathy came from singleness of purpose and the clarity of her goal."

• Cathy Freeman developed and followed a personal action plan - and so should you
• Cathy Freeman worked towards her goal daily, with passion and dedication - and so should you (I'm sure she had her days when she lost enthusiasm and motivation, but her goals were so meaningful to her she never let go of her dream to win gold)
• Cathy Freeman learned lessons and experienced setbacks along the way - and so will you
• Cathy Freeman used that knowledge gained along the way so she could improve her chance of success for next time, which worked - and so should you
• Cathy Freeman is sure to have used her talents (as a runner) as well as using the right resources, despite the costs (a sports coach, proper running gear) - and so should you

Gaining a job, for most people, doesn't just fall in their lap. Gaining a job comes from putting in time and effort to learn all you can about successfully gaining a job and taking the actions and steps that will get you there; that could mean undertaking training to gain a qualification, or just learning more about the industry you are trying to enter into so that when you speak with employers you can speak knowledgeably and with confidence (even if you are only seeking a general role!)

Cathy Freeman learned that just reaching the speed of 48.6 seconds was only just enough to get her 'in the running' (excuse the pun) for medal contention; she learned that it didn't guarantee her gold medal success. She had followed her action plan and put her best foot forward - but she didn't just stop there.  When she 'failed' to achieve her goal, Cathy learned from the experience and readjusted her goals so that next time she would succeed. It took Cathy a failure to qualify, and a coming second for her to learn what she needed to know and really do in order to achieve the ultimate success - And YOU will find the same thing: that putting in time and effort will get you 'in the running' for the positions you want too.

For job seekers, you have a two-step process to master: 1) submitting quality applications so that you are invited to interviews, and then 2) mastering the interview so that you are the candidate offered the job.  Don't expect to have perfected the process right from the onset: once you get 'in the running' from your applications, you can then shift to developing how to get 'in the running' with interviews to be offered the job.

If you need help setting goals, whether they be job search related or personal, and you don't have an employment agency to help you (or even if you do) then I highly recommend you purchase Blake Beattie's Bullseye!: The Ultimate Guide to Achieving Your Goals; consider it a resource that will be invaluable towards your gaining success, not just with your job search, but with any other area of your life you wish to make changes to!

See a review of this book here.

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Did you like this article?  Please feel free to share it with family and friends who may need some positive jobsearch motivation. And of course, I would love to receive your comments too. You can leave me one using the Comments section below. Alternatively, if you don't want others to see your comments then you can private message me using the Contact Form at the side of this article page, and you can find me on Facebook and Pinterest.

Free Job Search Action Plan worksheet

In my last post I discussed the need to create a Job Search Action Plan to help you identify gaps and barriers to your gaining employment.

I created a Action Plan worksheet for my clients that I am happy to share:

If you would like to receive a free copy, no strings attached, then write to me using the Contact Form and I will send you a copy of the Microsoft Word document (sorry, I haven't worked out how I can add it as a download on the site yet).

Update 10/1/14.  You can download the free Jobsearch Action Plan by clicking this link.  (If it doesn't work, then you can still use the Contact Form to request a copy).

Age DOESN'T matter

Almost every job seeker over the age of forty recently has been telling me that their age is a barrier to them gaining employment - and when I heard this again today, I really wanted to lose my patience to throttle the person!

Age is only a barrier to gaining work if you let it be a barrier.  No, let me correct that, if you think age is a barrier to you gaining employment then your ATTITUDE is your barrier, not your age.  Yes, there are employers out there who only want young ones; but equally, there are also employers out there who don't want anything to do with them!

What really matters is that you know that you are employable, and know what benefit you would be to an employer and to let employers know this. 

To avoid being discriminated against, sure, don't put non-necessary personal details like your age, marital status etc in your resume

Seriously, age isn't a factor for most employers anywhere near as much as 'can you do the job, and do it well?', so please... please, please, please, don't let me hear one more job seeker hide behind their age as the reason they aren't finding work quickly - there are so much more truer answers that you've probably overlooked.

*Deep breath* Sorry, rant over

Before Applying for the Job: Two Key Questions Every Candidate Must Answer First

Finding a job can be hard, especially if you've been out of the workforce for a while.

One thing I have found with pretty much all of my registered job seekers is that they set some sort of limitations to their job search - I will (or can) only work locally, during school hours, close to public transport, that sort of thing - and then wonder why they aren't gaining quick job search success.

I've said it before, and it is worth repeating here again: employers don't care about candidates wants and needs, they care only about whether (or not) the candidate meets theirs. (This is not to say though that the two parties can't match.) They want to know what benefit to their business they will get if they hire you over someone else.


So there are two key things candidates need to consider before they begin even applying for jobs:

1. What does the employer want? and
2. What sets you apart from other candidates applying?

To consider and answer these two considerations before doing anything else will help you to apply for the position.

Let's look at question 1, "What does the employer want?"...

The answer will be different for every employer, but there are a few aspects that all employers want:
* someone who can do the work well
* someone who will be honest and reliable

In my experience, every time a job seeker applies for a job they believe they are capable of doing the job - otherwise they wouldn't have bothered applying.  Fair call.

But, can they do the job well? This is what the employer wants to be satisfied of before they will invite the candidate to an interview, or offer them the role.  This is where previous experience, licenses and qualifications help a candidate convince the employer that it is a strong possibility within the application process - which helps gain invitations to attend the interview.

In Australia, our nationally accredited qualifications are Competency-based, meaning it doesn't matter who you do your learning through or how you go about it, you'll only gain competency when you can perform at or above minimum standards (as set by the industry)(this is a simplistic explanation, I know).  For example, let's use typing to demonstrate this point.  Let's say that to be deemed competent as a touch typist the learner must be able to type without watching their fingers or the keys being pressed, and type at a speed of 35 words per minute (this is not factual, it is just an example) and have an accuracy level of 98% or higher.

If the learner is able to type without looking, can type at 75 words per minute, but only has an accuracy level of 50%, then the learner (although able to type faster than expected) has not achieved competency. But, if the learner successfully meets all the minimum requirements, in this case able to type without looking, has speed and accuracy at or above minimum level the assessor can deem that competency has been achieved, (so long as they have gathered sufficient evidence to support that competency has been achieved on more than one occasion).

Now back to job searching again: If a person wanted to apply for a typing role, and has been typing for a number of years and perhaps has gained an industry qualification that lists the assessed speed and accuracy, and the an employer wants a person who can type above minimum competency levels, and this information is included within the person's resume, then it would be fair for the employer to assume that (due to the candidate's qualifications and experience) they would be able to 1. perform the role, and 2. perform it well.

Most job seekers fail to research or consider the 'what employers want' side of things.  They see an ad or hear about a vacancy saying for example 'Typist Wanted' and go - I can do that job (or I want that type of job), so they send off their application with the high hopes of gaining an interview.

But hang on a second, did the candidate address that employers need within their resume?  Probably not if they are looking at job search solely from their own perspective. [Note that their answer started with the word "I".]

From the job seekers perspective, they have probably fired off their application because 'the position is close to home' (or 'it is in school hours' or 'the business is right opposite the train station') and "I can do that". In other words, they have focused entirely on their own needs (and wants).  [If the position is too far away, or isn't in school hours, or too far a walk from the train station, they'll either not apply, or if they have to because they are required to by the government, will not make any effort to be successful.]

But can they really expect to be invited to an interview (whether they want the job or not) if the only employer-want they have considered is the 'must be able to type 35 words per minute'?

No, the applicant that is most likely to be chosen to receive an invite for an interview will have sent off their resume to this particular vacancy 'because it is close to home' (if that is important to them),  but they won't have made any mention of that within their application.  And, the successful applicant most probably will have (before they applied) preempted the business' wants and needs, and because of this will have addressed all the stated and unstated employer wants and needs within their resume and application - such as,  that they are a Touch Typist with however many years experience, the type of documents they have created, the different computer systems and programs they are proficient in using, and may even have added some employer-attention-grabbing detail on how due to their typing speed and accuracy they won a company award or incentive or are able to type up eight documents an hour (when most other typists might only pump out six documents an hour) leading the employer to 'see' their worth without the applicant having to make unprovable claims about themselves.

If the employer needing a touch typist doesn't care about speed and accuracy, no harm has been done, the candidate is just demonstrating that they at least consider such qualities as important; but for the employers who want reliable and proficient workers they will have taken note because the resume and cover letter will be a stand-out (that doesn't include gimmicks, so will stand out in the right way!)

Now, when you are researching the industry and employers it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking you know what the employers want - only to later find out that they don't care about that aspect at all (or only minorly).

I, myself, have made this very (costly) mistake: after having been a self-employed private resume writer for a number of years (having helped a lot of people gain work quickly), when I decided to enter the Employment Services industry to become a paid employee, when I first started applying for Employment Consultant vacancies, my applications all highlightingly pointed out all my wonderful resume writing experience and administration skills (both mentioned in the job advertisements as forming part of the roles). I expected to be an instant stand out - but I wasn't!

That is because this was an assumption I made as to what the employers wanted, not what they actually wanted; and although I did successfully gain a couple of interviews from those initial applications, I didn't get the jobs and I soon learned that those were the employers 'least concern' rather than their major ones, and I was missing out on the jobs because I was focusing on the wrong aspects of the role - which isn't quite as bad from an employers perspective as only considering my own needs and wants. Each of the employers, I soon worked out, valued the same thing: meeting personal KPI's and Outcome targets - and only the candidates that satisfied this aspect progressed further.

And this was the best thing for me to learn too; because it allowed me to adjust all future applications to focus on what the employers really wanted (in my applications and interviews). The moment I did this, instantly invitations came from every application I submitted - until I had a couple of employers offering me the role and the tables turned, and I was then able to choose which job and employer I wanted to work for - at the greatest disappointment for the ones I declined to accept - and the employers competed to give me the terms and conditions I wanted, scared I would accept an employment offer from one of their competitors).

Which leads me to the second question from earlier:  "What sets you apart from your competitors?"

In the above example, I demonstrated to you (and to the employers) that I knew what the role really entailed (after making a few initial mistakes) and showed that I still wanted to do it anyway!  (Not everyone wants to help long term unemployed people overcome their barriers to gain employment - but, and it's okay to think me crazy, I really love it!)  I was able to demonstrate that my knowledge and skills (although gained outside of the industry) would assist me to do the job well if offered the job.  And once I learned how to convince the employers that I was capable of meeting KPI's and Outcome targets (for which I didn't have skills and experience) I started getting the job offers, and the employers were competing to meet my wants and needs.  I had set myself apart from my competitors: I had the skills the employers want, and a demonstrated interest in this line of work - it was the employers turn to make assumptions: this lady will do the job well, and she will be reliable (without you having to have made a claim that you will be reliable!)

So before you rush out your next job application, take time out to research employers and industry answer those two key questions about the type of work and field of interest YOU want to work in.

Remember, job search isn't really about you, it is about how you will benefit the employer. And, if you are lucky, if the employer knows you will be an asset to them, they are more likely to work around your needs to secure you!

Refresh Your Jobsearch!

One of the hardest things about being out of work for any great amount of time is the loss of motivation as none of your jobsearch efforts bring success - it is very disheartening.

It is great to develop a jobsearch routine, but if you let it, that routine can soon feel like a rut.  One of the ways to prevent this is to keep your jobsearch 'fresh'.

Refresh your resume, cover letter and interview skills, refresh the type of work you are applying for, and the biggest one, refresh your attitude.

It is quite rare for there to be 'no jobs out there', so if you are feeling like there isn't any, then you are probably focused on just the one type of job/industry (which there isn't many adverts) but are failing to see other types of jobs for which you would be capable (which means you need to refresh your attitude); or, you don't possess the skills, experience or professional currency - in which case I need to ask you, "What are you doing about that?" because most people don't do anything to rectify a lack of skill, experience or professional currency and just keep plodding away at applying for jobs they are never going to get a look-in with until they have increased their skill, experience and professional currency (which means you need to refresh the type of work you are applying for). And, if you possess all the skills, experience and professional currency, and you aren't getting the results you desire, then maybe it is time to refresh your resume, the wording of your cover letter, and how you answer job interview questions.

I believe that the more desperate a person is to find work, the wider their jobsearch scope, the more effort and time they put in, and the results always comes quickly  often because these people don't have time to waste, and therefore sell the skills, knowledge and experience they have and convince employers that they can do the job and will be reliable; but for those who aren't desperate, they feel they can be more selective, the narrower their jobsearch scope is, and a lot less time and effort is put in. The results are slower, because these people often reveal without even knowing they are doing so that they don't really want this job and employers aren't convinced they can do the job, or that the person will hang around to make all their outlay on the person worth it.

How do you refresh your jobsearch?  Well, if you continue to do the same thing day in day out, then your jobsearch will become stale, so shake it up a bit, do things a little bit different from time to time - pick up that phone and make that dreaded cold canvassing call - take a deep breath then walk into that business and ask to speak with the hiring manager - apply for a different type of job (which you are capable of doing) - overhaul your resume, change the wording within your cover letter, practice answering job interview questions and learn how others would answer that same question (because you never know, you might learn something you can incorporate into your own answer that suddenly gives you the edge).

Do you have any tips or tricks that you use to refreshen your jobsearch? Why not share them here.

Happy, Motivated Jobsearching!

Char Mesan

Essential Jobseeker Skills: Accessing the Hidden Job Market

Jobseeker Skills: Accessing the Hidden Job Market

In a slightly related to yesterday's post about delusional management, one of the key problems for me is that I understand the necessity to access the hidden job market - but can't because I am office  bound, which is making it hard for me to find an alternative position. By the time I am not in business hours, the businesses for which I would want to approach are all closed too, and I'm not allowed to make personal calls during business hours either.

As much as I hate my current employer, I still very much love what I do for work though - helping unemployed clients develop skills and confidence to gain work.

On Monday, I will be teaching my clients about the hidden job market, in the hopes that more of them will start seeing the benefits that gaining referrals, networking and undertaking cold calling will improve their chances of gaining work more quickly than their current vacancy hunting job search methodology.

For those of you who don't understand the hidden job market, here are a few basics:

The Open job market is where employers job vacancies are advertised to the public - in newspapers, in online job boards such as Seek, Career One, My Career etc. Employers go where the job seekers will go, to ensure their vacancy is found to give them the best chance of filling it.  The more common the role, the higher the number of applicants the business will receive, so more likely the right candidate will be found (eventually).

The Hidden job market is where employers job vacancies are not advertised to the public. There are many reasons why the business doesn't advertise including: job seekers are always dropping their resumes in to the business so they already have plenty of candidates to choose from; the business is undergoing growth and needs new staff but no duties or position has actually been created yet; an employee is retiring later in the year and the employer is considering finding a replacement before they actually go; some small businesses owners are actually intimidated by the recruiting process so put it off; to name a few reasons. According to many large career coaching organisations and government departments in Australia (and America), the hidden job market is sizably larger than the open job market, with most suggesting that at any one time the hidden job market lies between 60 and 80% of the total available job market. That's huge!

Don't believe it? Have you ever gained a job without applying for the role? (I know I have, at least twice that I can think of.) If you have, then you have experienced accessing the hidden job market already! It is surprising, when I ask clients if they have ever gained a job that wasn't advertised nearly everyone in the group has two or three examples within their history too.  And how they gained access to the hidden job market (even though they didn't recognise that this is what they had done) generally falls into one of three ways:  networking, gaining referrals, or cold calling.


The best way for me to tell you about networking, gaining referrals and cold calling is to provide you with an example of how I gained a temporary part time job in the printing industry even though I had no experience or interest in doing that type of work...

Back when my children were young, and I was still married to my ex-husband, money became a little tight and we needed me to earn some part time cash without me having to put our three children in expensive childcare (which defeated the purpose of why I would be working) so we could cover the car rego when it came due in three months.

I tried to find part time positions during the day, but didn't find much suitable, and when the work was suitable I was unsuccessful in getting the role.

I told (complained to) a friend about my need to find some part time work (networking) and mentioned that I needed to find an after hours job like she had recently found, and she immediately got excited and told me her boss needed someone extra for about two hours per night, two or three nights per week and had not been able to find anyone willing to work  7 pm to 9 pm as needed for months. My friend told me she would get off the phone and talk to her boss to let him know I was looking for those hours, and see if he would like to meet me (referral).  He did. She rang back twenty minutes later and asked me to come at 7pm that night to meet him. The next night I started six months of part time employment working in the printing factory manually collating 30 piles of printed pages into booklets, while my friend did her printing and binding work. It was just us working together, and we were allowed to turn music on and chat while we worked, as long as we worked, which we did.

This wonderful little role got my husband and I through our tough period and then got us ahead a bit too, so when the role came to an end after six months, it was nothing to worry about. I no longer needed to work, and we had enough savings to see us through any unexpected bills.

Now, I'd like to point out that when I gained that job, I did not have any printing industry experience.  The employer only needed someone to manually collate printed materials to become bound booklets. It was not hard work; it did not require any skill; five minutes of training, and anyone could do the work.  I got the job because I wanted those horrible hours that nobody else wanted. And that is the benefit of being referred to a vacancy - the employer needed someone who would reliably show up at 7 pm and collate the piles manually. I only wanted to work a couple of hours per week in the evenings and didn't care what type of work I performed (so long as it was legal and ethical), so my husband was home to mind our children. I didn't need to have experience in that type of work because I was referred (and accepted) for when the work would be done - that was the basis of my being hired, not my capabilities.


So, as you can see, referrals are when someone refers another person to the vacancy - a warm lead, and networking is when you build and maintain relationships for mutual benefit. In my example above, I made contact with a person in my 'circle' (my friend) who connected with a person that was in her circle but not mine (her employer), which brought the employer and my own self into each others circle. The employer benefited: he gained an employee who reliably turned up for the two to three shifts each week. I benefited: I gained enough part time hours that suited my availability and was paid enough to meet my bills and then save.  My friend benefited: she gained the much needed help she needed at work, and we maintained our ongoing friendship.

Now, for readers of my blog, I've already shared how a fellow classmate approached me to work in his business in a previous post - so that post and situation is an example of networking in action.  I wasn't looking for a job when he approached me with a job offer. The employer benefited: he gained an employee who could do the work.  I benefited: I didn't need to work, so was able to work hours and days that best suited me.

In my experience as an Employment Consultant, too many job seekers spend their job searching time
applying for advertised jobs, and too little spend time undertaking job seeking tasks that they feel uncomfortable in doing: cold calling and talking to people.

But if networking and referrals don't help you gain a job (- too many people don't utilise networking and referrals to help them gain work though) then the last way to access the hidden job market is to cold call employers - that is by attending as a walk in (face to face contact) or by phoning potential employers.

Cold Calling is when you contact someone who doesn't know who you are, who you've never spoken to before, and who is not expecting your call (or your visit).

Now, I can hear your protests already - I hate cold callers!  Yes, we all do when telemarketers phone you at home right when you are sitting down to dinner after a long day at work and they just want to sell you something you don't want or need. We hate pushy people and the hard sell.

But cold calling does not have to involve being pushy or putting on the hard sell. Actually, the best results come when you phone a potential employer to ask for their assistance rather than ask them outright for a job.  Take the following three real phone calls I assessed my job seekers make this week.

Call 1

Hello, my name is Susie.  I am an experienced Childcare Cook, and looking for part time work.  Do you have any positions going at the moment?

Sorry, no.

Okay, thank you.

No result here.  In her effort to not be pushy, Susie was hoping to hear 'no vacancy' so she could not 'trouble' the employer any further. Poor Susie will become highly demotivated in her jobsearch if she continues to make calls that get her the 'sorry, no' result each time she makes a cold call. I advised her she needs to make some changes to how she makes her calls. Also, Susie hasn't done her research, because most of the Childcare Cook positions that I cold-called to hired full time staff not part time or casual.

Call 2

Hello, my name is Peter.  I have ten years experience as a Forklift Driver, and am fully proficient in using high reach and low reach machines and moving pallets, and meeting the demands of the job. Would you like to meet me?

Why are you calling?

Oh, I'm looking for a job? I have experience, would you like to meet me?

Sorry, we're not hiring.

Oh, okay.  Thanks anyway. 

Too pushy, and he didn't state the purpose of his phone call. Peter was nervous about making the call, and didn't have a script prepared, so he sort of just blurted things he needed to say out. I worked with Peter to develop a script, so he could become more comfortable in making calls.

Call 3

Hello, my name is Wendy.  I was wondering if you could help me.  I am an experienced Waitress, looking for part time work. Are you able to advise me if your company is in need of additional staff at the moment?

I’m not sure. The best person for you to speak to, Wendy, would be Patrick.  He’s our hiring manager.

Great, thank you!  Sorry, what was your name?

Helen.

Thank you, Helen. Do you know if Patrick would be available for me to speak to him now, or if not, what would be the best time for me to contact him?

Patrick only comes in, in the afternoons.

So, would it be best for me to try calling him at around two o’clock, or do you think four o’clock would be better?

No, don’t call him at two, that’s still our peak lunch hour period.  Around four o’clock should be fine though.

Thank you for all your help, Helen.

 


Wendy didn't call back at four p.m. because she had done her job search for the day. Another client also cold-called to this same business and gained an interview, so Wendy has probably just missed out on getting a job, because she lacks the ability to keep her promises and or undertake follow up. But Wendy had the best script of the three job seekers, and got the best result.


So let's be clear. To access the hidden job market, you should follow each of the five steps listed below:

1. Identify businesses that interest you.
2. Make a short list of businesses that you will contact.
3. Approach your target businesses - in person or by phone.
4. Take any immediate actions required - such as emailing your resume
5. Follow up on all leads, don't let opportunities go - if you need to call back later, and it is not your jobsearch time, call back later anyway.

Some final tips for making cold calls:
Do
* be prepared and have a script handy for you to refer to if you are nervous, struggle or lose focus
* keep pen and paper close by to take notes
* know why you are calling
* know who you want to talk to (the person or the position)
* sound confident
* enjoy making the call - your smile will be picked up on by the listener
* briefly explain the purpose of your call
* be polite throughout the entire call, and thank the person for helping you

Don't
* call if you are going to be distracted or interrupted
* 'um' and 'er'
* lie about who you are or why you are calling


Hopefully you now have the skills and knowledge to start accessing the hidden job market and increase your cold calling success.  Happy, motivated job searching!

Char Mesan