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

Book Review: Cracking the New Job Market, R. William Holland + Book Giveaway

Book Review: Cracking the New Job Market, R. William Holland + Book Giveaway

CrackingNewJobMarket

 

Bill Holland, the author of The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy: Cracking the New Job Market, preferred to teach the choir, than “preach to the choir.” Job search education is forefront of Mr. Holland’s book applies to all of the job search communities and segments, especially to the white-collar worker. He promotes the notion that in the age of the supposed “hidden job market,” people are likely to focus on finding the secret jobs than to create and unearth their professional value. I will also give away a copy of this book FREE, as my review copy was FREE. I assure you, that I was not compensated for this review.

This practical book is essential to job seekers who have challenges in creating value, and demonstrating professional acumen through their resumes, interviews, and business networks. It is not full of resume and cover letter templates. Mr. Holland reasons that a strong resume and cover letter is not about you, but more about what the employer wants.

Mr. Holland presents a compelling case for 7 useful and dogmatic strategies:

Rule #1: Always Demonstrate Value. At the heart of what resumes should be about,  Mr. Holland explains that the successful resume includes what “The value the hiring organization is looking to have created.” It’s a powerful statement since many job seekers look for the quick fix, and do not cultivate worth from their personal well of professional accomplishments.

Rule #2: Your Resume: It’s About the Value You Create. In this chapter, Mr. Holland not only shows how to “infuse your experience with value”, and explains how that selecting key statements  accrue the attention of a potential employer. On his website, he states that he can provide courses contingent on the feedback he receives.

Rule #3: Use Social Media and Other Sites for Job Leads. In tackling the hot issue of “hidden job market”, he states that the “job market is not so much hidden as it is splintered.” He suggests that no longer job boards and Sunday classified ads monopolize job announcements. Social networking sites are one of the best places to discover opportunities, and build relationships that can lead to key information about employers and available positions. One of the few snags in this book is the broad overview of Social Media tools and services. Holland discusses Linked In, Twitter, and Facebook, but in general.

Rule #4: Interviews: They’re About the Value You Demonstrate. Throughout the book, the emphasis of “value creation” remains consistent and urgent. Infusing value throughout an interview remains a challenge of many job seekers, not only on resumes and interviews, but also pre and post-interviews.  He discusses interview attire, references, thank-you letters, and follow-up which ha an impact on employers.

Rule#5: You Get What You Negotiate, Not What You Deserve. Holland inserts that successful negotiation takes preparation that starts when you realize that you have to find another job. He has provided 7 rules for skillful negotiation that will help a job seeker  land the desired salary and benefit package.

Rule #6: Career Choice is More Than Following Your Passion. Holland states that passion can be an overrated determiner, “Those who look at career success solely through the prism of their passion can be in for a long and frustrating experience.” My takeaway from this considers the work I want to do, and the lifestyle I wish to create for myself is a part of the negotiation components. Holland  provides a chart that helps to sort out what is beneficial to you during the negotiation period.

Rule #7: The Best Way to Reenter the Job Market Is to Never Leave It. Holland reminds us that going back to school, volunteer work, and temporary work are options to remain in the job market. This is also part of the value creation strategy that is re-emphasized through the book by not allowing “…your career-related activities to lapse… .”

After reading the book, I felt as Holland has achieved the need for job seekers remain competitive in the job search. One of his strongest premises  is the notion of the nonexistence of the “Hidden Job Market.” Having worked with clients that heard the term, it scared them; however, Holland supports the premise through connecting value creation with sustaining an enduring personal brand that attracts employers.

As stated earlier, one of the few snags in the book was the lack of depth of Rule #3 on social media. I felt it was a genuine attempt, and the mentions were accurate. At the same time, Social Media is also about blogging, and learning to use it effectively. It is hard to talk about personal branding these days without embracing the full scope of tools or possibilities.

I recommend this book because of the key straight forward strategies offered could be used immediately. The importance of ready-to-use strategies is  crucial to everyone. He aptly puts the responsibility in the hands of the job seeker by emphasizing their own personal and professional value. Cheers to a book that is relevant, and significant, that helps job seekers everywhere to envision their worth.

NOW, about the give away

This is how you can get a copy of this book:

  1. Retweet, or Tweet this review on Twitter, Facebook, or Linked In OR…
  2. Comment below about an area you need help with discussed in the post

I hope to post the interview with Mr. Holland within the next two weeks. Please stay tuned by subscribing via RSS or email.

Filed Under: careers, Job Search Tagged With: Book review, Hired, Job Search

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Hired By The Spouse, to Marry the Job Hunt

When one spouse is out of work, the other becomes the boss. That’s how the job hunt works during marriage. One becomes the slave, the other, Master.  This dynamic occurs without divine intervention, or gene pooling.

The unemployed or underemployed spouse is now at the other’s mercy.  The employed spouse lifted his or her hands to the heavens and claim deity. As Jake Elwood would say, “I’m on a mission from God!”

Spoil A Messy Job Search and Marriage

Now you are your spouse’s mission from God. Not all marrieds haze their spouse in this way. There are some amicable agreements that spouses work out initially. Some start out well, and others toggle between the  Spanish Inquisition and the 1969 version of Woodstock (minus the muck and mire).

The problem is how the unemployed spouse responds to this new form of hierarchy. Many were ambushed, and others saw this new role coming like a slow sunrise. The vulnerable job hunting spouse, who feels like a castrated eunuch, chooses life as a job seeker. Depending on the spouses temperance, he or she will marry the job hunt.

Maybe a castrated eunuch is too harsh, but more of a circumcised adult. But, I have digressed.

No one should feel desperate. Both spouses feel the burden of having to press the panic button in finding a new gig, but express it and go about it differently. Whatever the case may be, both should be transparent.  Even if, either spouse says, “I trust you.”

Transparent

Transparent, means letting your spouse view the righteous and evil of your efforts:

1. Using one method of researching job looks lazy. It’s understandable that either spouse, regardless of an 100% effort from the other who is looking, request copious accountability. The best way to diffuse the bomb before it detonates: offer a general play-by-play of how things are going. Daily. Some spouses need it, and some don’t, but all spouses appreciate the forthrightness.

2. Ask for help, advice, and direction even when they have nothing to offer. This will also help your spouse remain quiet, contained, and patient. Let them see your struggles, and help them to celebrate any progress you experience.

3. Your patience, temperament, and diligence delivers the message of how tough it is in the job hunt. You won’t have to remind him or her of the challenges. They will see it, and will help you make it.

It would be a shame a spouse choose to marry the job hunt. Somewhere in this land, someone married their job, but there are obvious reasons why or why not.

I wonder. Does it hurt to drive a spouse employed, just as a job would drive a spouse to marry? Does that make sense?

Filed Under: Life, Marriage and Unemployment Tagged With: Hire, Job Search, Job Seeker, Marriage

by Mark Anthony Dyson

5 Ways Your Customer Service Mojo Can Get You Noticed and Hired

5 Ways Your Customer Service Mojo Can Get You Noticed and Hired

5 Ways Service Mojo Can Get You Noticed and Hired

People love a customer service agent who is confident, knowledgeable, happy, and want nothing. When you receive service like that, it’s refreshing, and exciting. You’re appreciative, and motivated to savor the product or result you wanted.

Wouldn’t be terrific, if an employer felt that way about you?

If that is the impression you exude with networking contacts and hiring managers, it increases your chances for job search success.

1. Customer service agents overflow with I’m sorry. Thank you. How can I help?

You can never say these words enough. It comes across endearing and caring, and that you want to talk to this person even more. Remember you provide a service that people want as a coworker and a customer.

2. Tonè. Tòne. Tonē.

The tone of a friendly voice is attractive to many hiring managers, new contacts, or anyone who is helping you.  A hiring manager loves a candidate that overflows with pleasant and enjoyable banter. No matter the medium, email, phone, or smoke signals, people look forward to communicating with you.

3. Follow-up with HIRE in mind.

In most cases, the burden on proof is yours to present. Kindly calling to see if a company has received your résumé and cover letter, application, or a previous call will make you a more attractive candidate.

4. From candidate to resource
A candidate wins when an  employer sees  your value as a resource and a solution, not just another candidate with a plethora of credentials.

5. Responsive

It is imperative for candidates to be direct in providing solutions, and thoroughly answer each component of multiple questions. Listening is as essential to responsiveness than giving an adequate answer to an equation.

Not all issues and concerns are not always presented as a question. When you hear concerns, are you looking for the larger issue? Trained customer service agents  anticipate and understand several issues from one problem presented.

Filed Under: Career, Interview

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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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