Articles - Page 235 of 257 - The Voice of Job Seekers

What Young Job Seekers Can Learn From Mature Adults

There are job lessons job seekers have learned from being “caught” and not “taught.” Job search strategy comes from experience or from those who are experienced. To watch and learn is one thing, but “think and listen” is harder. It’s tough. But when it gets tougher you listen to anyone.

My dad is 91. He is clueless about the job search of 2012. But he knows the nature of people, and understands that never changes. I need that perspective, and you do too:

1. Patience and steadfastness

Mature people come from generations that taught “good things come to those who wait.” This remains true in today’s job market. Hiring processes are longer than ever, so any job seeker must be prepared to wait patiently without quitting.

2. Understand the big story

The kid that always asks “why” in class is usually the smartest kid in the class. He or she wants to understand the big picture. It just seems annoying to the people who don’t care to know. That is why mature people ask young people a lot of annoying questions. That’s why toddlers ask grown ups many questions.

3. Mature people are witnesses

Although the job market has changed, and the workplace has evolved, the nature of people remain the same. Mature people have seen the world change, and understand how we got to this stage in our culture, environment, and economy.

4. Mature people value time and timeliness

Being on time means as much now than it did 30 years ago. But mature people also understand that everything good comes in time. Timeliness is making sure that you have facts and presenting it when it’s asked for or needed. They won’t waste your time, nor like their time wasted.

5. Respect is offered to everyone as earned by anyone

Job seekers who treat everyone with respect despite mistreatment will stand out. Most mature adults will tell you that is the biggest difference between young adults of yesterday and today’s young job seekers in general. Respect is still the attribute that everyone desires. Why not be the first to give it.

We didn’t talk about how mature adults are better judges of character. Their advice can only help your job search. Give them a listen.

What advice has helped you from those older than you? Let me know in the comments.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Do You Understand Prospective Employers?

Familiarity with employers in your industry is essential in today’s job market. It is not good enough to have a friend who works for the company to get you the interview. The same interest in knowing who your blind date is the way to approach employers. You should understand them.

I wrote an article “Do Employers Understand You?” earlier this year, and people are struggling with what employers want. A better perspective comes with reading the initial job description:

Many employer pretenders exist but…

We can explore this dynamic but the burden of proof is the job seeker’s. You, the job seeker must prove worthiness of permanent employment. It doesn’t matter that the employer is tricking you that it has a hot tub, generous benefits, and overtime. No one can guarantee illusions don’t exist. With research, you can discern the movers and shakers from the big-time fakers.

How direct are you answering questions?

How much mumbling should an employer accept when a job candidate unclearly answers “What skills do you bring to our company?” Frankly, little to none. If you are networking using informational interviews, this question dances around your brain frequently. What solutions do you offer?

Do you follow instructions?

If you are infatuated with the employer who asks to send a cover letter with your résumé faxed, and you just mailed a résumé , this will end in unrequited love. Are you sending a curriculum vitae instead of a résumé ? You know employers are testing you, right?

Who are you when its tough?

It is rare when someone overcomes difficulty alone. Employers want to know if you contribute significantly when challenged. It might be tempting to showcase your ego instead of skill as flawed strategy.

Do you ask employers direct questions?

Many job seekers still struggle with asking thoughtful and engaging questions. The reason is the lack of planning of the need-to-know to do the job. The research on target jobs should drive your interest and intrigue.

Can you offer quantitative and qualitative measures of past job performances?

Not every job is measured by $ and %, but the operative word is value. That is what you must sell in hopes for an employer to buy.

These are just a few points that job seekers are challenged with conveying to employers. What are challenges understanding what employers want? Please share in the comments.

image credit

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Is Your Career Search Comfortable Yet? No? Good

What if there was a disaster in your city and thousands of people from all over the country came to help with only the tasks they were comfortable with? Image the people who were pick up the light weight wood, and not posts, cars, or large slabs of concrete. What would that accomplish?

What would be more tragic? How many people would it take to screw in a light bulb? That is, if no one else was comfortable doing so. It is a daily occurrence, that people do what is comfortable for them.

People generally use methods for job hunting that are easy and comfortable then wonder why results are minimal. If you want optimal results forget comfort. I’ll come back to this.

Doctors, like yours and mine are uncomfortable too with parts of your health care.

The HIV test is something people perceive as inconvenient and uncomfortable. It’s just a swab in your mouth proven as effective as taking a blood test. The cells from your saliva carry the same enzymes present in your blood. If the signs in your saliva show positive a blood test will confirm the saliva results.

Millions have died AIDS for the lack of testing. People are uncomfortable getting the test. It is considered an epidemic in America. It should be on everyone’s radar in one way or another.

It’s a simple test. Fast. Painless.

But your doctor and my doctor don’t offer the test. You know why? Because doctors are uncomfortable offering it.

They are tentative discussing HIV with you and I. It’s an epidemic. Your doctor and my doctor is afraid to offer. Go figure.

This relates to you because…

Many career seekers prefer repetitious search strategies that generate few possibilities…well, they hope. It’s easy. Lazy. But they are uncomfortable trying anything else.

What does an unemployed job seeker say if he or she is doing everything possible to find work? Few will be honest, and say “no!” Too many others will say “yes, I am doing all that I can!” Are they really? No.

Why? Because it’s uncomfortable to say “no!” And they don’t want accountability or challenge.

So you don’t like the diversified career search approach such as:

Using social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google Plus because you don’t have time. Or timid
Social media is your playground, but heaven forbid not your career portfolio. It should be
Creating a professional blog as an extension of your resume
Networking events? Meeting people? Sorting through who can be helpful
Calling employers to request informational interviews

ONLY doing what is easy is your problem

It’s like the guy who only enjoys upper body workouts. He loves the bench press, curls, pull-ups, push-ups, but hates squats and deadlifts. Squats and deadlifts uses the majority of your body. It requires more effort, exertion, and results.

Either exercise requires optimal exertion and results are not as visible as bicep curls or a push-ups. On the inside you feel great about your efforts, but on the outside your muscular chest and arms dominate your frame but because of the lack of muscle mass on your legs, you lack symmetry.

Are you conducting a career search by doing the things you enjoy such as:

Spending hours online job boards
Sending hundreds of resumes to random employers
Asking the same ten people for job leads
Hoping your old company would rehire you
Praying, hoping, and wishing

If you do, then your career search lacks symmetry too.

Your imbalanced search is yielding minimum results, so it’s time to employ a career search that is balanced. If it feels uncomfortable at first causing swelling of the brain, profuse sweat, and extreme exhausting then you are on the right track.

But you don’t want to talk about it! These uncomfortable suggestions require extra time, fore-thought, and strategy. The extra effort is like that swab in the mouth. You had to ask for it. Your doctor didn’t offer it, remember?

Now you control when, how, and where, although it was uncomfortable at the beginning. What part of the career search is hard for you? Let’s talk about it below.