The Voice of Job Seekers

Mark Anthony Dyson ★ Career Writer ★ Speaker ★ Thinker ★ Award-winning Blog & Podcast! ★ "The Job Scam Report" on Substack! ★ I hack and reimagine the modern job search!

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What to Do When Your Job Search Efforts Don’t Work

What to Do When Your Job Search Efforts Don’t Work

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Today’s job search requires you to keep both hands on the wheel. Any passive approach to finding opportunities fail. It doesn’t work. You must remain engaged throughout your career or face significant challenges shifting gears.

My friend, Hannah Morgan, is back to talk what is not working in your job search. We discuss her article from last fall and recently on her blog and solutions to help your job search efforts.

I would love to hear your thoughts in one of three ways:

  • Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number
  • Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message
  • Send email feedback to [email protected]

Hannah Morgan, the founder of CareerSherpa.net. She is a nationally recognized career writer, speaker, and author. She writes about careers for U.S. News and World Report.

Here are highlights from our discussion:

  • People are looking for a magic pill–but it doesn’t exist
  • Job search is hard with effort, much more challenging if it’s passive
  • Networking is a staple in a successful job search. Use informative interviews and look for ways outside of advice to create opportunities
  • Applicant tracking systems purpose is to exclude you
  • Think more holistic than just as a job seeker. Think like a consultant. Consider what you would think like a hiring manager
  • Build your online presence, but your central hub should be your website and content
  • Platforms outside of your site will come and go. The cost of a site is much less than a LinkedIn premium membership cost

Need help with your career goals, directions, or efforts?

Do you need coaching or instruction? I am here for it! Use my contact information above to inquire about individual or group coaching. You can also sign up for my weekly newsletter at the top of my page.

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3 Ways to Manage Your Fluctuating Emotions During Your Job Search

3 Ways to Manage Your Fluctuating Emotions During Your Job Search

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Try different strategies to achieve different job search results. The same old strategies yield the same results. Most job seekers would rather do what is easy than what is challenging. It’s easier to applying to 100 job board announcements in a month.  It’s harder to have 15-20 meaningful person-to-person conversations in a month’s time.

I would love to hear your thoughts in one of three ways:

  1. Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number
  2. Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message
  3. Send email feedback to [email protected]

Here are a few other job search strategies to try:

  • Find your reason to find the career you can carry the torch for some time to come. Stop using your spouse’s reasons. Don’t worry if your parents will be proud. Or to impress your high school classmates (even if you are “most likely to succeed”). How about your professor and mentor expect you to do well. Find the intrinsic fuel to feed the fire to discover the career you desire. If it was a true calling, you were the only one meant to hear the voice.
      Count the costs. Do you have enough emotional and physical endurance to go months maintaining pursuit

    • Are you expanding your understanding of the industry?
    • Are you blocking out the naysayers with little effort?
  • Volunteer. It doesn’t matter where you volunteer, but it does matter where you grow. Volunteering is great for your personal brand and personal growth.
    • 8 to 10 hours monthly can create experience in areas where you need it
    • Create your schedule and the skill set to get needed experience
  • Expand your network. Does everyone know you’re looking? If not, consider letting everyone know. Going back to the beginning, impressing others doesn’t create jobs.

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Facing Unconscious Bias in Your Career and Life

Facing Unconscious Bias in Your Career and Life

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Understanding unconscious bias is important for employers and job candidates.

It’s also critical for respectful conversations in the workplace. For a long time, I have wanted Tony Chatman to come on my show. We have talked about many ideas. Unconscious Bias is a topic both of us are passionate about made it easy to start finalizing.

The show was recorded live in front of an audience of three as well as a Facebook Live stream (more people engaged the conversation via Facebook). I would like to thank the First Christian Church of Chicago along with the Greater Ashburn Community Development Corporation for hosting us. Hundreds saw the live streaming and after the video posted on Facebook.

I also published it on my YouTube page.

 We would love your input. Here’s how you can contribute to the conversation:

  • Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number
  • Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen
  • Send email feedback to [email protected]

Let me share a little about my friend: 

Tony Chatman is a Corporate Relationship Expert and President of Chatman Enterprises Inc. Some of his corporate clients include the Social Security Administration, Chase Bank, and the U.S. Secret Service. Tony is a prolific professional speaker on Unconscious Bias and is in demand around the country on this topic.

Here are a few of our discussion highlights. The show lasts 90 minutes and is worth every minute of your time

  • The brain has two different thinking systems – conscious and unconscious
  • Unconscious is more of a feeling—react before thinking
  • Affinity bias draws on past and experiences
  • The brain responds quicker to simple rather than the complex
  • The brain reacts very quickly to stereotypes
  • We are programming our auto responses rather than training our unconscious
  • Be aware the majority of us have biases
  • Tony shares about the bias test at iat.org
  • Optics also play a big part of bias
  • Bias plays a large part in hiring decisions—most decision makers rely on gut instinct
  • We discussed name bias and how job candidates with ethnic names are often disqualified based their  names only
  • Assumptions are often made about physical appearance and disparity in pay

Do you need coaching or instruction? I am here for it! Feel free to contact me as I am opening consulting and coaching slots for clients who need job search help or would like my presentation on unconscious bias.