Mark Anthony Dyson, Author at The Voice of Job Seekers

Are We Biased? Kristen Pressner Says Yes She Is

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Today, I am sharing with my conversation with Kristen Pressner. This show is a slight departure from straight job search advice and this show may not apply directly to your job search. You’ll glean a few things, but this is to self-examine and become more self-aware of your own biases. I hope you’ll consider looking at yourself, remember we’re not navigating hiring barriers. My guest, Kristen Pressner (@KPressner), directly leads within Roche Diagnostics worldwide. She is sharing her story of how she was biased toward other women while making a business decision.

You know we’ve discussed unconscious bias several times this year. This show adds to the discussion.

I want to hear from you of how this episode resonates with you. Here are places you can add to the conversation at large:

Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number
Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message
Send email feedback to [email protected]

More about Kristen Pressner

Last August, Kristen shared a personal reflective TEDx talk about her own bias toward women, Are You Biased? I am. As amicably and respectfully delivered as possible, it disarms any premonition of resistance you had previous to watching. I had never heard someone in her position be so vulnerable and transparent, which is part of the compelling story she shares. Although the video is eight minutes long, no matter who you are, it inspires and moves you to examine yourself, your biases, and how it affects others.

I love for you to listen to this conversation, rather than giving a longer preview to read. I would like to know what you think.

The show hiatus is coming up!

After this week, and one more show, the show will be on hiatus until September 12. I will still publish articles on the blog. If you haven’t already subscribed to my bi-weekly newsletter, please do. The fall shows collectively will be different than in the past but delivering as much if not more value than ever. One change is the shows will be bi-weekly instead of weekly for the fall. Since there are a couple of projects I will be involved with, I will need more time. There maybe a few bonus episodes and I am working on a live event here in Chicago, so if you’re in the area, look for that announcement.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

The One Reason I Have Deleted Your Connection Request and Employers Won’t Hire You

I understand why employers won’t hire you

Lots of connection requests. So little tolerance for ignorance. It doesn’t make any sense. I’m not a superstar, but I love to write, hack, reimagine, help, consult, and “let my freak flag fly.” I get a lot of requests for job search advice, and I feel obligated to answer most of them. I understand why employers won’t hire you. Let me explain.

I denied your connection request. I don’t know who you are. Whether you have a photo with no profile bio or a bio with no characterization, it’s a fail. I will take a minute at times to check out who you are because maybe you’re just getting started. Your job search is suffering. You’re canceled.

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Listen to Personal Branding for the Modern Job Seeker

Be more like Sarah. Let me introduce Sarah as an example.

Sarah has followed me for years. Like four years and rarely asks a question. She likes my content, and now and then, dm’s me for career advice. Yes, I gave her free advice. I gave her advice without hesitation breaking the entrepreneurial rule of “free information.” I have no problem. I have gotten tenfold back in return.

I know Sarah as she has moved from several states. Her boyfriend (she says “boy toy”) works for the government, and she has sworn me to secrecy what he does. Let’s just say she has no reason to work other than to secure her future. She is a college professor with tenure and currently is on hiatus to write her third book. The book she says, “…unless you have interned at NASA and practice as a part-time sociopath, would never know it exists.” Well, why does she follow me? Why does she share my content? Why does she congratulate me on every milestone? I don’t know. It doesn’t matter.

Oh, I went to her university profile page at the private college where she teaches. She is everything she told me and then some. I can’t say because we have a discretionary agreement. I went to my college library online. I found three of her research papers–17 other collaborators between them all. She says she has written more.

When I first connected with Sarah in 2012, she did not have a profile picture. I connected with her anyway because her social profile was evident. Yes, clarity in everything is everything. She has a quality profile picture now.

There are profiles with the picture without clarity. I don’t want to connect with you either. Neither does an employer.

Read The Best Job Search Personal Branding Advice of 2016

Companies want clarity. At least a bird’s eye view.

In “Manhattan,” Woody Allen’s character suggests his famous actor friend he’s a fraud. His sitcom has a laugh track during unfunny jokes. Sitcoms today still do this, and you know the jokes are, well, not funny. Most of these sitcoms are canceled.

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Is your profile like the sitcom with a laugh track?

In a recent article, more than 60 percent of companies won’t interview a candidate not online,

“The study found that 61 percent of employers conduct social screenings to look for information that supports a candidate’s qualifications for the job, 50 percent want to make sure the candidate has a professional online persona, and 37 percent want to see what other people are posting about the candidate. Just 24 percent of those surveyed check social media to search for reasons not to hire someone. ” ~Business News Daily, June 16, 2017

I find it an anomaly when people ask for advice, to connect, and own incomplete social profiles.

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They are inconsiderate when they don’t say why they want to connect. We don’t have common connections. Other than breathing we have don’t have common interests from what I can tell. Employers won’t either. Recruiters won’t acknowledge your existence.

Be like Sarah. You don’t have to stalk (or maybe you should), but be findable. Try connecting with me again and hopefully, you have a photo and a profile summary. A live audience that laughs a little is better than a laugh track responding to a lousy joke. Anytime.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

by Mark Anthony Dyson

How Does Unconscious Bias Affect Older Job Seekers at Work or the Job Search?

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This week’s episode is a republishing of an interview done by Marc Miller, host of the Repurposing Your Career podcast, and the mega huge CareerPivot.com. The basis of our discussion was the article I wrote for Career Pivot, “8 Ways Older Job Seekers Invite Age Unconscious Bias on Social Media.”

As always, you can share your thoughts about the show:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number
– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message
– Send email feedback to [email protected]

As you know, Marc was on this show several weeks ago and as always quite enjoyable. His new podcast focuses on the person who is experiencing the 2nd half of life. Since Marc has written detailed show notes for our discussion, I will just provide the link for you to check it our here. There are a couple of highlights to note from Marc’s show notes:

“Gut instinct is relied on in hiring decisions. This includes bias. If merit hiring were implemented in many more companies, the unconscious bias would be minimized. The Illinois State Attorney sent a notice to major job boards regarding ageism on their online forms. NPR ran a good article about ageism in hiring.”

I also discuss how to deal with ageism. Satchel Paige pitched in the major leagues when he was near 60. George Blanda played football near 50. Don’t accept the perceptions of hiring managers.

Do you need coaching or instruction?

I am here for it! Use my contact information above to inquire about individual or group coaching. You can also sign up for my weekly newsletter at the top of my page.

Don’t forget–

I will not publish a podcast next week (for the week of July 4) and no shows between July 19-Sept 11. I will post articles throughout the summer at least twice a week. Love to hear from you about your challenges and how I can help.