Articles - The Voice of Job Seekers

The Job Search Checklist (PODCAST)

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Editor’s note: AMACOM Books has kindly agreed to allow giveaway copy of the book, The Job Search Checklist. Listen to the show or read the bottom of the show notes for more information.

Damian Birkel is the author of “The Job Search Checklist: Everything You Need to Know to Get Back to Work After a Layoff.” He is a Certified Career Counselor and Founder of Professionals in Transtion support Group, Inc. that assists laid-off employees. He and his organization has been featured on CNN, WSJ, NPR and other national news outlets.

Damian and I discuss his story and how and why he created Professionals in Transition, his non-profit organization that has helped over 4,000 job seekers. We talk about the preparation for job loss and why must job seekers understand this process. He says that leading psychologists agree that job loss is the same emotional state as losing a loved one, or divorce. Grieving is a necessary part of the process before moving on.

Damien does state that at some point that someone needs to provide support but tough love. Listen to what he says about the “Bridge statement” that connects job loss to your current status indicating the direction our heading. How important is that to formulate to frame that in who you meet that may help you find a job? Damien provides a clear answer to a tough question that is often asked. This statement is only two sentences!

I also love the section he entitled, “What not to do and why.” You say that, “If you kill your career Karma (reputation) by blasting your old company, it will create a negative impression of you.”

Some of the other advice from the book he mentions in the show:

“Do not send a sloppy email to anyone (regardless of how well you know them)

“Don’t keep you job loss and job search a secret.”

And now the giveaway….

Comment about the interview and qualify for a chance to get a FREE COPY of Damian’s book, The Job Search Checklist. I will pick a winner randomly, and he or she will receive the book directly from AMACOM Books. I will announce the winner on Friday, November 8!

by Mark Anthony Dyson

5 Ways Get Your Google Game Up for Your Job Search

Lacking a job search social presence in 2014 is like not having a home run hitter on your baseball team’s roster. You can score without one, but you’re not a scoring threat. It rarely happens in Major League Baseball that a team can win it all without a few home runs. The fans come for home runs–not doubles and singles. We love the long ball.

Getting your Google game up (the term coined by my friend and blog contributor Keith Townsend) is critical to transitioning to a new career and establishing expertise in your field. Without this job search strategy, you answer cattle call for jobs, and being noticed as a resource. Through establishing a credible online presence for your job search, the dialogue in your interview doesn’t approach the trying-out-for-a-place-on-the-roster. Instead, the conversation is business: A conversation about your talents fit in the future of the company.

Here is how can you get your Google game up to impress employers of your value and a must-have in their organization:

What’s your name, fool? Never googled yourself? You may need to use a nickname or middle initial to stand out if you have a common name. You don’t want to share the same name space as someone who has committed any crime messing up your good name.
Your name dominating the first page of Google. Blogs, Linked In, About.me, and guest articles in white papers leave a positive impression for employers. Positioning yourself as an expert or thought leader is more than quotes. At least a few people will follow your thoughts, direction, and to some degree your purpose.
Your name must stand out in a good way. I recommend setting the appropriate privacy settings so that your photos are private. If you use You Tube, Facebook, or Google Plus and your photos sync from your phone to your profiles.
Get caught serving. When you are answering questions on Quora, Linked In, or Yahoo on forums and public messaging, it portrays a positive impression. More often than not these acts of kindness will reflect on the first few pages of Google.
Monitor your online reputation. You have probably use Google Alerts to monitor your name as it mentioned throughout the web. But you probably haven’t heard of talkwalker.com (shout out to Ms. Ileane Speaks podcast) which is another passive way to ensure you monitor your reputation.

All four of my suggestions can be established in a couple of weeks. It may take a little time but it is worth the investment. There will come a day that your Google game will be as important to employers than the traditional resume.

How’s your Google game? Do you need to improve the quality of your online presence? Leave us a message or use the comments section. Thanks.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

How to Identify Job Scams and Competent Career Professionals (PODCAST)

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Bridget Weide Brooks (@RWDigest) is the founder of Resume Writers’ Digest, a business that is an important resource for Resume writers. Bridget has spoken at several National Resume Writer Association conferences. She has been a résumé writer for many years and wrote her first résumé at 12 years old. She is a great resource in helping job seekers to identify job scams and hiring qualified career professionals that will offer value.
In our conversation, Bridget and I discussed the most common scams that target job seekers. Bridget said that the most common we hear about is the work from home job scams that the predator asks the victim for personal identifiable information such as social security number and bank account information.

Bridget also explains why mature job seekers are the most vulnerable and some of the steps that anyone should take when approached about an opportunity.

In addition, Bridget and I discuss common fraudulent opportunities (job scams) on the web that can happen anywhere such as Craigslist and other places where opportunities are posted. Bridget emphasizes the job seekers need to research every potential opportunity and listing and ask specific questions that will validate or invalidate any type of business transaction.

Since Bridget is an excellent resource to hundreds of resume writers, her experience in helping people identify legitimate and qualified career pros. She explains how many that charge less than $100 may be giving substantially limited value for his or her service and that “you get what you pay for…” Bridget is also very candid about some signs that a career pro may not be ready to give full valued service and that price is just one indicator of where and how to look for the best help.