Articles - The Voice of Job Seekers

How Conferences Can Energize New Potential Job Opportunities

The significant ROI for me attending a conference is engaging in conversations over the conference app and letting everyone know I’ll bring my recording tools for podcast episodes. People were already engaged in productive discussions about my industry when I arrived at the meetings.

Conferences are crucial to networking, but so is having a podcast. When you’re strategic, this combination is natural and potent. Re-imagine connecting in ways to have great conversations, deep connections, and possibly be remembered for opportunities down the line. It’s a long game, but job search is a long-game lifestyle strategy.

The last two conferences I attended in person opened up a couple of business opportunities and added episodes to my roster for several months. On one in Feb. 2023, I live-streamed conversations with several industry leaders on my LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter channels. With excellent hotel Internet connections, the recording was seamless and more straightforward than virtual interviews. Through the live stream interviews, I connected to a couple of other opportunities for speaking due to the video’s visibility.

At the second conference, I recorded several months of podcast episodes and content to repurpose for the rest of the year. Most importantly, I met many people I wouldn’t have met without this strategy.

The critical takeaway is when you have a mission or intention, your conference experience can be career-filling. When you connect, have great conversations, and use the information to retool to give an employer or a connection value, then it can be a powerful experience. I hope by sharing my conference experience, you can reimagine how yours could be.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

How to Network and Strategize Thoughtfully for a Successful Career

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Welcome back to The Voice of Job Seekers podcast. I took an unannounced break from this podcast to concentrate on content for “The Job Scam Report” podcast. Some of you subscribe to the newsletter and podcast. Many good things have been happening there, so it has been quite busy.

In March of 2024, I was invited to join a panel (actually two) at St. Xavier’s University in Chicago. The panel consisted of Nathan Peck, an Associate Professor, James Miller, Shared Governance President, and Lauren Milligan, Founder of ResuMayDay, a Resume Writer and Career Coach. Each session had about 30-50 students.

Below are some of the highlights of the 75-minute panel:

Craft a Strong Resume: We encouraged students to tailor their resumes to highlight relevant skills and experiences for each job application, ensuring they’re clear and visually appealing. Lauren provided a basic overview of the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) and its role in hiring and emphasized the need for simplicity. She also added how ChatGPT can be helpful in the process.

Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile: The panel collectively agreed students must create a compelling LinkedIn profile to reflect their professional brand, including a professional photo, detailed work experience, and engaging summaries. We discussed how LinkedIn can facilitate the expansion of their network, and learning from successful career industry professionals through their profiles.

Network Actively: We advised students on building and nurturing professional relationships through networking events, social media, and industry groups to increase job opportunities and get referrals. Networking is vital for career advancement today, especially for introverts. It’s a great connection hub for building relationships with present and future collaborators.

Develop Interview Skills: Practice common interview questions and situational responses to prepare for interviews, enhancing confidence and communication. Lauren and I honed in on informational interviews as a tool. Students should do many of them to hone their interviewing skills, add depth to their network and industry knowledge, and accept feedback as constructive direction.

Create a Multi-Tiered Job Search Strategy: Implement various job search methods, such as job boards, company websites, recruitment agencies, and direct networking, to maximize reach. The college experience is an opportunity to use as much of your learning to bring value to an employer, using your strengths to stand out.

Research Potential Employers: Investigate companies of interest to understand their culture, values, and recent news, preparing insightful interview questions. Lauren suggested how ChatGPT could help you understand the job description to help you appeal to employers.

Stay Current on Industry Trends: Follow industry publications and join professional organizations to stay informed about changes and skills in demand. Participating in those organizations gives you a front seat to learn, network, and train, using the experience to prepare for industry job opportunities.

Utilize Informational Interviews: Contact professionals in your desired field for informational interviews to gain insights and advice on navigating your career path. It’s a good time to ask people and discern if you’re a good fit. What makes someone succeed in this industry versus someone else? What makes someone fail? What competencies in this industry are valued the most?

Follow Up After Interviews: Send a thank-you email to interviewers to express appreciation, reiterate your interest in the position, and underline key points discussed. Follow-up with the interviewer is rare among young professionals, but it may be a way to stand out among competitors.

Be Resilient and Persistent: Understand job searching is challenging. Maintaining a positive mindset, staying persistent in pursuing opportunities, and learning from rejections is vital.

You can look for episodes every other week. Subscribe to this podcast in your favorite podcast directory.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

9 Reasons Spouses Lose It When You Lose Your Job

Your spouse’s mind raced because the company announced you were laid off. It is one thing to have had steady employment, another when the safety net disintegrates. Many changes are about to take place, and some will affect you.

It’s a layoff, chill. Easier said than done.

I understand. Job loss is hard, and it’s harder when the former employer adds a broad, unfair, undeserved, and potentially damaging narrative.

Read 7 Signs That A Moratorium On Marriage Has Occurred (Until You Find a Job)

The Huffington Post recently reported that married couples on the brink of divorce are waiting because of a lack of employment.

In March 2007, before the bubble burst, 4.6 percent of the labor force was unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Three years later, the unemployment rate jumped to 10.2 percent. Divorce, on the other hand, decreased by 1.4 percent between 2007 and 2008, according to the report, and then by another 2.8 percent between 2008 and 2009.

Things have changed in the last 10 years.

Your spouse lost their mind over time. Remember when he or she lost it because you worked overtime? You are not alone. At least stats show it’s a slow but grinding process, so there is hope if it seems bad now.

Read Marriage and the Unemployed Spouse

Hiring in your career industry appears bleak, and your marriage has peeling paint. I have listed a few reasons why your spouse is losing their mind if it’s still a mystery to you:

Your spouse thinks you should have seen job loss coming. This premise exposes your lack of communication before it hit the fan.
You are minimizing the impact on the family by saying things like, “It’s not so bad.” “I’m glad it’s over.” “My boss was out to get me!” Transparency is the key, and never talking about it with your spouse is a problem.
Either laid off or fired, you were dishonest about how it happened. That will definitely tick him or her off. Own up to a poor job performance or an incident that was your responsibility.
You’re the one freaking out. You are lashing out at your spouse and children for no reason. Showing control and restraint is YOUR responsibility. Practice temperance and reason, and everyone else should follow.
You lack updated, relevant skills to find a job. Unfortunately, a spouse who has encouraged you to return to school or pursue another career track will have little mercy on you. It is best to be humble, hear the noise, and push forward.
Your spouse knows the lazy person in you will not conduct due diligence. He or she knows that your ambition barely treads water. Diffuse the bomb before it explodes, and be aggressive in searching and researching jobs. Let your family see your research, talk with your spouse about potential decisions critical to the household (night job or day, lower pay, mandatory overtime).
That makes two. When both spouses are out of work, the panic button is abused. Keep your hand off the button!
You won’t take on extra chores since you have extra time. Unemployment has fringe benefits, but another way to reclaim your spouse. If there is a disconnect, then find ways to reconnect. If you know what makes your spouse tick, then be what they need to make them happy.
The lack of money will eventually exploit all marriage weaknesses, or at least most. However, the focus on money can turn into idol worship, thus becoming an even larger issue. Don’t be surprised if this has always been prevalent in your marriage.

Read 10 Ways Your Spouse Can Boost Your Career

Sure, there are other ways to keep the peace. The unemployed spouse has to compensate for the fear of not contributing financially. Although decisions made out of guilt or compulsion are potentially hazardous to any relationship, this is the kick in the behind you need.

Many issues existed before you lost your job. How you deal with them will determine whether your marriage grows or perishes later on.

What are other reasons spouses go CRAZY when a job loss in the family occurs? Perhaps there are ways to handle a spouse’s job loss properly. Please share either by commenting below.