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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by Mark Anthony Dyson

Career Advice I Will Not Follow From Observing Politicians

Politics is an inflammatory subject that people take personally. But more often than not, politics is the lot for career advice.  Americans in general take criticism of their favorite candidate seriously. I watch the debates, speeches, and commentaries and as it has reinforced what not to do in the job search. One thing that stands out to me is that you can turn people on and off without having a conversation.

Networking: Your hands say what your mouth won’t make clear

Despite what we believe on the political elections, we learned this week that your hands speak a language of its own, and those excluded from the conversation will interpret it any way we want. Hand gestures are easy to mis-interpret, thus terminating your employment candidacy. Hand gestures are not wrong, but undisciplined movement can fail efforts to communicate well. An article in Forbes in 2006 confirms,

“Use hand gestures for emphasis…”

and that,

“You’re not a cheerleader, and you don’t want to fidget unconsciously. This is why it’s important to practice before a mirror.”

The startling image of Jan Brewer pointing at President Obama thrilled some, and angered others, depending who you champion. If no one has coached your hand gestures through Toastmasters or Theater, then you may not know what non-verbal messages you’re sending. If second and third interviews are rare, consider getting some coaching, especially if your hand movements are family entertainment.

Interviews: Mean what you say, and show what you mean

The whole tax return controversy with Gingrich and Romney is a great lesson in sending clear messages. If what you show people is different from what you said, it is hard to retain credibility (assuming you earned it to begin with). This is a common issue with job seekers who are able to get interviews, but no call backs. A frequent anomaly is stating on your résumé a certain type of experience, but unclear in displaying through accomplishments and results the skills needed to perform the job.

It shows up in your writing, too. You are just the last one to know.

Job search: The first candidate is not always the best job candidate

CNN reported right after the South Carolina Republican primary, that Romney had spent over million dollars in Florida primary ads before the other candidates spent money. We don’t know the outcome of the Florida primary, and neither do you when you race to be the first to apply for job. When employers announce an opening, most job seekers race to apply. That is old thinking as employers have many choices, and will wait until they have a pool of candidates. For me to say that this is recent is wrong because it has been that way for years. That is why, you apply when you have established and determined that the package you offer is your best.

Filed Under: Career, Interview, Job Search Tagged With: Career, Interview, Politicians

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Job Search Hints—MLK’s Letter From A Birmingham Jail

America is still deciphering and contemplating Dr. Martin Luther King’s message in 2012, or at least looking to understand it. If the only message you gleaned out of it was that black people demanded equality, then please, revisit the link below. There’s grit in the job search. I’m hoping you will glean it from his letter.

A Letter From A Birmingham Jail  by Dr. Martin Luther King

Dr. King’s ability to communicate across the color lines is a model for all of us. I look at Dr. King’s letter from the Birmingham jail with awe, and admiration—eloquence, courage, and vision. This was an answer to eight white clergymen who wrote, “A Call to Unity” to temper and to stop the protest portions of Dr. King’s appeal, largely because the result of the marches ended with violence. His ability to communicate and respond with poise and persuasion captures the strands of my intellect and emotions. From this, I was able to extract some points of my own, applicable to the job hunt, or anything else:

 

Answer questions with tact, and without airing frustration

By addressing all questions asked, you earn attention and respect. Dr. King answered every issue addressed in the letter (keep in mind this was the only draft he wrote).  It frustrates most people, and it drains the answerer’s credibility. This is the hardest for most people, that is,  asking an unanswered question several times. It is more of an indictment when he or she passively refuses to answer a direct question.

Make the best of having less

Dr. King wrote the letter on the margins of newspaper, scraps of paper, and eventually a pad that his lawyers were permitted to leave him (the letter was smuggled out of jail). Unlike today’s culture, he did not curse, did not sarcastically engage in name calling, or retaliation of any type. He did not retaliate with inappropriate sarcasm. His letter to me was grammatically perfect, eloquent, factual, and honest. He used facts. We may not have the best of every skill, but we should bring the best to the fore front of every opportunity. The facts. It is not bragging when it’s the facts. It’s persuasion, a lost art that has lost its essence. Check the grammar once more, examine your heart once more, and find your reason to remain resilient until you succeed.

Understand the unsolicited arguments of why you can’t

I don’t know why there are people who open doubt others wish for change other than jealousy, lack of faith, or the willingness to understand. We can look at Dr. King as he was told to stop marching, protesting, and being indifferent to injustice. In essence, he was told by his fellow clergymen give being abused for freedom. His fellow ministers plead, ”

… we are now confronted by a series of demonstrations by some of our Negro citizens, directed and led in part by outsiders. We recognize the natural impatience of people who feel that their hopes are slow in being realized. But we are convinced that these demonstrations are unwise and untimely. We agree rather with certain local Negro leadership which has called for honest and open negotiation in our area.

http://www.stanford.edu/group/King//frequentdocs/clergy.pdf

Dr. King answered this statement with understanding of his peers,

Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, “Wait.” But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters;

http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

There are time people will question your abilities, will, or lack of demonstration to succeed. You can only answer and validate your desire is by success. Until then, embrace those who question out of love and concern. If he or she fits that category, embrace them, because they will appreciate you more when you succeed, and will tell you the truth when you get off track.

Convinced of why he must

Dr. King prepared everyone for the worse. As I would say, jobseekers would need to prepare for the worse from a place that will prepare for success. And, the worse does not have to be you. But I digress. Dr. King thought carefully how to endure physical, mental, and verbal abuse and wondered how others with him will respond.

We had no alternative except to prepare for direct action, whereby we would present our very bodies as a means of laying our case before the conscience of the local and the national community. Mindful of the difficulties involved, we decided to undertake a process of self purification. We began a series of workshops on nonviolence, and we repeatedly asked ourselves: “Are you able to accept blows without retaliating?” “Are you able to endure the ordeal of jail?”

http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

Are you prepared for the hardest part of your search? Is it the training? Is it your background? Do you fear failing? Unfortunately, job seekers look to careers that are easier to obtain, achieve, and train. Is it really a satisfying and fulfilling if it’s easy?

I grew in Harlem and Washington Heights, parts of New York that were high in crime, but abundantly rich in diversity and culture. I lived in the Bridge Apartments where Haitians, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans Jews, Greeks, Blacks, and Whites lived peacefully, well, at least most of the time.

My second through sixth grade classes also had a diverse mix of students. My friend Miguel and I went to the same church. My friend Derek and his Mom bought me homework  when I was sick. When my Stepmother told me that there was a distinct difference between black and white people was when I first noticed who Derek and Miguel were…my friends.

I regret looking at the world in black and white, and times I suffered when racial indifference were obstacles. I am glad that someone told me that there were obstacles to hurdle, sidestep, and avoid. And no one said it was easy.

Filed Under: Job Search Tagged With: A Birmingham Jail, Job Search, Martin Luther King

by Mark Anthony Dyson

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

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

Your spouse has given you at least 100 suggestions, hints, and clues that your search for a job are dormant. Static. An epic fail. You don’t get it. The issue isn’t the number of attempts. The issue could be you are not efficient, discipline, or effective in what you are doing.

If you are not yielding results like calls for interviews, or meeting people who can help you, it appears you are not doing enough. Even if, you argued that you have applied to 20 jobs today, the question remains: are you doing everything you can?

Anti-Wedding Photography

image: Douglas Bray

Your spouse sees that you are home more. Unfocused. Feeling sorry for yourself. Lacking the faith.

Slowly, the sky glazed with dark clouds that feel and looks like an attitude. What does it mean? Your spouse has inserted an unofficial moratorium on marriage activity. At least until you have gained traction on finding a job. Or at least, possess laser-like focus on obtaining results.

You, the victim in your spouses’ onslaught to teach you a lesson, think that this is revenge. This is a needed wake-up call.

Until there is daylight, your spouse has slowly purged the benefits you used to enjoy from your marriage. Although  this is not the best way to  support a spouse, you’re stuck with this response to your lack of response. The signs on the wall should offer clarity when you recognize the following:

1. Your spouse has stopped laughing at your jokes (or at least what used to make them laugh). Your situation has also stifled the joy out of your relationship. If it is not beneath you, self-deprecating humor would be better.

2. Your children and pets are receiving more affection than you. You can get a few more hugs or more by being forthcoming and accountable to your spouse. Let him or her give you advice, and you, the broke spouse, take the advice.

3. His or her parents are talking to you more than your spouse. Accept his or her parents advice too. This could be helpful, and you never know until you try. No, try the in-laws advice.

4. He or she is talking about the increased stressed. Are you at least taking on a part-time job, volunteering in using your skills, fervently networking, or doing the “side-hustle?”

5. You haven’t been called by your pet name since, well…forever! If your spouse only knew that you felt weak, discouraged, faithless, helpless, or closed in on leads, this too, will pass.

6. Intimate moments have dwindled to nanoseconds. See #5, and remember not to demand anything. This could make matters worse. Your renewed efforts and focus will be as sexy as the wedding day. Well, Ok, maybe not. But you’ll feel better about your relationship.

7. Get professional help. You may need a marriage coach and a job coach. But get the job coach first. Keep in mind you may need the marriage coach in the near future.

Our spouses are great career coaches. They can inspire us, or crush us with needed directness. Then we rise, and move forward as a better person. That is, upon accepting  constructive criticism.

For most couples, this is a natural progression of how unemployment affects the relationship. It’s not permanent, and healthy marriages survive. Are you oblivious to the signs? Did I miss anything? Please feel free to comment below.

Filed Under: Job, Marriage and Unemployment Tagged With: Job Search, Marriage, Unemployment

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I moderated a panel on Wealth Management for executives by Black Enterprise Magazine in October 2023 in Miami.

I was interviewed on Scripps News show, “The Why!” 4/13/2023

I talked with John Tarnoff and Kerry Hannon of “The Second Act” podcast about job searching after 50 in October 2022.

I was on “The Career Confidante” podcast to talk about “boomerang employees” and “job fishing” in June 2022.

Making Job Search a Lifestyle With “Dr. Dawn Graham on Careers,” SiriusXM Ch. 132, Wharton School of Business May 2021

In May 2020, I talked with LinkedIn’s Senior News Editor Andrew Seaman on “#GetHired” Live.”

Beverly Jones, host of the NPR podcast “Jazzed About Work,” invited me back to talk job scams, job search trends, and AI tools in April 2024

WOUB Digital · Episode 183 : Job search expert Mark Dyson says beware of scams, know AI & keep learning

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