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8 Ways to Be A Smart Job Seeker

Editors note: Greg regularly blogs for Ivy Exec. I received permission from Ivy Exec for republishing rights.

We are all familiar with the hardships involved in being an unemployed job seeker. Not only is it frustrating and depressing when you can’t find a job, but the feelings become magnified as the length of time unemployed increases.

Rather than be depressed over what you can’t have today, career expert Elena Bajic, founder and CEO of Ivy Exec (@ivyexec), is telling job seekers to think of the jobs they can have tomorrow. Bajic is offering eight tips on how to become a smarter job seeker and be better equipped for the future job market. Here are her suggestions:

1. Take a hard look at your finances: If you’re currently searching for a job or are about to start looking for a job, immediately look at your finances to see where you can curb costs and expenses.

2. Take inventory & do a full and honest self analysis: Take time to understand who you are and what you can bring to the job table. Really understand your strengths and weaknesses.

3. Set realistic and achievable goals and review them daily: Make your time count when it comes to finding the right job. Make a specific to-do or checklist each day to make sure your job search is productive. Set goals such as “I need to make at least five calls today” or “I’m going to reach out / network with four people today.”

4. Treat your job search like you’d treat a job: Finding the right job requires the same commitment as one would commit to a full-time job.

5. Network to build relationships, not to find a job: Networking is about building relationships with people who can connect you with people who can help you find a job.

6. Focus on self improvement: For those who are currently unemployed, dedicate time during your job search to acquire new skills and to improve your candidacy. Use this time as an opportunity to build on your existing skills and experience. Make your time fruitful.

7. Develop a job search with professional help: if you can afford it, hire a professional who can offer objective advice and help anchor you so that you’d avoid making common job search mistakes (ie. take the first job offer that comes through, start interviewing with any company that shows interest even if it is the not right fit, etc.) .

8. Stay positive – Interviewers can read negativity pretty quickly, and nobody wants to hire a negative person. By following the first seven tips, you will be a more confident job seeker with more focus, and with a clear picture of the right job that’s the right fit.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Achieve Career Success by Defining Failure

Failure quotes – Quotes – Pictures

Which is worse, to lose or to fail in chasing career success? Losing sounds temporary, but failing implies permanent. Most job seekers will say losing occurs more often than failure, and sometimes losing FEELS like failure. Knowing the difference between losing and failing in your career search is essential to WINNING, and getting job offers.

We can argue that failing is OK as long as it is not a lifestyle. But if you don’t want to job search to failure, how will you know what to avoid?

Failing in the career hunt is tricky. It could appear as success at some stages. If you want an example, think of the devil. That dastardly angel with horns offer attractive and alluring temptations (so I’m told).Failing can affect you similarly that it looks good at first, but too good…well, you know the cliché.

What are you willing to lose to succeed? How do you define career search failure? This is important for you to know that for yourself. Here are some suggestions in clearly marking where career failure begins. These are signs and not a norm.

1. No steps to career success

This works 100% of the time. No plan accompanied by dreams of hot tubs and caviar means that you are shopping at the local church food pantry.

2. Lacking respect for other people’s time

It’s bad that YOU possess a reputation for being late to everything. In fact, it’s an ongoing friend and family joke until no one important respects you. Potential employers disqualify you when you are late. You don’t call to say you’re late. You call to offer excuses.

3. Un-sharing mistakes and errors

Sharing your mistakes and faults, funny, or unfunny makes you likeable. If you are not perceived as being helpful, why would a company hire you? Ever notice the people who love you know your faults?

4. Do not love challenges

What do you do when someone calls you higher? Become quiet and reserved, or appreciate that they care? Mentors who you respect and are ahead of you in the game possess more value than you can measure. Find a mentor who will challenge your decisions, judgments, and vision for yourself.

5. If it’s a numbers only game

Insecure job seekers want people to know they are trying. He or she wants people to know their desperation applying to 100 jobs a month. What that says is that you want any old job. An unfocused job search is no longer an investment into finding a meaningful and fulfilling career. So your only job leads are cattle calls to 100% commission sales positions.

6. Ignoring reasons to celebrate with others

A heart check is being happy and encouraging the success with others. It is hard sometimes to spur someone else on, but the returns are valuable.

7. Mute the noise from your conscience.

It feels wrong, it looks wrong, but lacks a manual to tell you it’s right. It’s wrong. People will tell you shortcuts to use that are lies. Those are people who you shouldn’t listen to for career advice.

8. No continual training or learning experiences

Are you seeking out training in your career, even if its free? It’s hard to pay for seminars when it exceeds what you are making a week, but are you looking for alternatives? Employers consider those things, especially if unemployed. Two places where people don’t consider looking are the community college weekend courses that run in range of $25-75 dollars, and CAN (Cable Access Network) TV. There is quality training available that can keep you moving toward your goal.

9. You rarely ask (the right) questions. Or answer (the right) questions.

Questions that cause you to think about a bad scenario deserve more air time in your brain. You don’t have to fail, especially if your plans to succeed include errors, mistakes, and wonder. You stop and Y, and why, when you need to continue. The shame.

Before you claim failure, you should define clearly what failure is to you. To get you started I suggest a few in the following areas:

Did I fail to pick the money off the table? Entry-level positions rarely offer opportunities for negotiating, but professional and mid-management, it is expected. Negotiating starts upon contact with demonstration of value, and never ends even at the signing table
Did I fail to answer important questions during interviews? Style points are irrelevant, and zero points for partially answered questions. Go back to questions left unanswered even after the interview
Do I fail to under promise and over deliver value? Are you looking for opportunities to bring practicality to the ideas offered?
Do I fail by running out of time? The one thing that college football pundits used to say about Bobby Bowden, “Bobby never loses, he just runs out of time.” Timing is everything.

There are more suggestion I’m sure you can think of and add in the comment section below. How will you know when you have failed enough to start over?

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Jobseekers, Will You Create a Facebook Fan Page Now?

Everyone reports on Facebook privacy infringements, especially when employers are as egregiously violating personal space and freedom of speech by asking for your password.

We can argue that Facebook is not protected since it is public as the user desires, but if I were looking for a job, and an employer waits until I interviewed several separate times with different personnel, participated in the company’s behavioral assessment, signed off on a waiver stating it’s ok to approach and question my references, and ask for my Facebook password…well, my answer would sound like Nopey’s answers.

My suggestion for job seekers to create a Facebook fan page for career purposes could fulfill and deter a few employers, but for positioning yourself as a committed professional is priceless. Yes, only your professional brand as a brand page! Why not?

It’s not a new idea. I suggested it about 2 years ago on my Competitive Resumes blog.

What have you got to lose? Well, your privacy if you forfeit your password.

So, be like Nopey…and refuse access. You have good reason to do so.

If your Facebook page is truly private, then all the private information such as marital status, race, sex, religion are likely vulnerable. It is not legal for employers to consider this closely guarded information to as part of their hiring decision.

A “public” Facebook fan page is a WIN for you as it should demonstrate your business and professional acumen. For a few perhaps the only other social media profile needed (Other than LinkedIn).

Here are some suggestions how it could be used:

Although it is not a place for you to cry for help, but to help those who need to cry. Sharing information about what has help you, or warn users of what you learned. Interacting with fans could be impressive and persuasive to employers
Show your personality (your best) but watch what you say. Fun makes you more engaging, but remember than less is more sometimes
Join potential companies fan pages and engage them in conversations
Host a networking event starring you

A little creativity such as professional photos, work or project photos, and networking event photos will spice up your page. As an alternative to giving away your precious password, offer an interesting Facebook fan page.

In other words, be like Nopey.