Mark Anthony Dyson, Author at The Voice of Job Seekers

Vote for my Panel’s Participation at SXSWedu2017

I was fortunate to be asked to participate in a SXSWedu2017 panel, “Can Online Learning Can Close the Skills Gap?” This presentation is being voted on as part of the SXSWedu2017 Panel Picker. I hope you will take time to vote for us! The panel was formed by Aubrey Bach, Director of Online Content for HigherEducation.com.

Last May, the show with Katie Bardolo featured Payscale’s survey on underemployment. Employers stated the “Skills Gap” is a major contributing factor to underemployment.

Some other compelling facts:

46% of all workers identify as underemployed 43% of college-educated workers identify as underemployed
These same workers say that the reason they are underemployed is because they are not using their education or training 76% (see Powerpoint presentation)

One major takeaway is for all to see is the usefulness of online tools for educators and employers to help close the skills gap. There are two other educators on this panel who I know will add value and insight to the discussion:

Jessica Ayub, Dakota County Technical College

I know this session can help so many, so please go here to

vote for this panel! Thanks.

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

How do I advance my career?

A reader recently asked, “How do I advance my career? Many of my peers made significant moves in the last several years.

I was taught loyalty is everything, but it seems philosophically outdated. My company pays for once-a-year training, but we never implement it. Where should I start?”

I replied to his email and asked his career goals, how long he has been with the company, and if he has tried to implement the use of his new training, but never received a response. It is important to have a focus, and I assume he wants to continue in the same career since he mentioned his peers were moving ahead of him. I will start by saying that he is lucky the company is paying for the once-a-year training. Most companies have shifted the responsibility entirely to the employee.

Must plan and be diligent

With the shifting and advancement of technology, companies can even require the training with you footing the bill with consequences if you do not comply. Your current job may not be keeping up, but you are expected to invest in yourself to get the training. It used to be nice to work for companies that paid for your training and development, but for most companies, those days are gone. If your job doesn’t use it, they will refuse it.

Getting the right training for the right job is challenging if you don’t know how peers are advancing in their career. Knowing is a critical part of deciding the skill since you’re no longer relying on the employer to pay.

You must take the wheel!

By investing in yourself, you are solely in control of distributing where the value of your overall skills will be placed.

Employees choosing to pay to keep up their tech skills can leverage new training in two ways:
1.They can add value to their current position by finding use at their current company. It can be a pretty powerful way to create the job you want and be viewed as a leader
2.Use the new training to volunteer for organization who will put their skills to use, gain experience, and leverage it to get a new position with the present or new company

During the recession, one way I helped clients stand out was to compete in their industry contests. Contests are training-by-fire and what you learn is caught not necessarily taught.

This did several things for my clients and others who benefitted

1) You saw the cutting edge and latest trends of what others were doing

2) What you did not know you bought back to your company the possibilities of receiving training, or as a job seeker you sought how to get those skills

3) You envision your career trajectory by seeing it in action. If you solely look at your company, you only see what is in front of you. It could be discouraging how far behind your company (and you) is in technology or methodology

4) It inspires innovation

5) It builds your network and to know the innovators. The possibility of collaboration (not to mention the career connections) would be mutually beneficial

6) You may not win, but it’s a win because of what you learn about what it will take to hired by top companies

7) If you win, you understand your value clearer and if could be a powerful experience of where you stand in the industry

8) Few professional organizations will provide media opportunities. This positions the winner uniquely as a resource or expert locally
9) You add your voice to the community at-large and opens the door to future endeavors if you are recognized but didn’t win

Overall, testing what you know through certifications, contests, or competing for grants show the relevance of your skills and how you match up against competitors in your field. Not every industry offers contests staged like science fairs, but many do offer ways to compete for spots in journals, scholarships, and a few money.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

by Mark Anthony Dyson

I need a job ASAP! I am desperate! What should I do?

Someone I know told me she had been looking a long time and said, I need a job ASAP! I thought I would share my reply so others could benefit.

Well, before we talk about what you should do, we need to diffuse a bomb before it goes off. You will need to deal with the desperate state overflowing from your veins. It will scare everyone you approach. No one likes to talk to an irrational person. When you say, “desperate,” that is what people think. Your reality is you are in a difficult situation where time is of the essence.

The phrase, “I need a job ASAP” is scary. Think before putting it out there.

Companies will not give jobs or even listen to a desperate person. It frightens them and rightfully should. It’s likely you’re overwhelmed but now is the time to overcome it with rationalization. This is a good time to start doing several things to help you focus and conduct a search to achieve quicker results. Unfortunately, most employers are not rushing to hire people.

Write down and carefully consider the following:

Are you clear on the job you want and the company you want to work for? That is the first major obstacle for most job seekers.

Is there a skill you can leverage as an independent contractor?

Is there a job opportunity you passed on applying to because it didn’t seem right? Depending on what “right” is, it may deserve a second look.

Are you signed up with temporary agencies? You should sign up with several. Most pay weekly once you start. Although they will still put you through their hiring process, it is a short term fix.

Do you know any friends who are business owners who can use your skill set?

Have you told most (or all) of your friends and family of your unemployment status? As funny as it seems, people will tell strangers before family. I understand why. If you’re running out of time, then this might be the best rational option.

If you haven’t already, you should be having conversations with people you know who might be in position to refer you or hire you at least temporarily. The caution again is people will bail at the sign of desperation. You can communicate urgency without seemingly irrational.

Dress

Consider dressing business casual wherever you go. This will likely disarm those who don’t usually help anyone. It’s not comfortable during the summer months, but human nature says people are likely to trust someone who looks ready to work. Casual business is much more pleasant than always dress for the interview. The worse is looking like you just got out of bed and saying, I need a job ASAP. The latter is repulsive at best.

Do the basics

Here are some quick suggestions but for more detail, you can find articles all over the web for help. I’ll include a few references
Continue to fill out applications on job boards
If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, it’s time to complete one. If you’ve completed one, now it’s time to participate in conversations taking place in groups
Contact companies directly. There are many articles on the web to help you strategize and execute.
Set up informational interviews if you’re no longer anxious and desperate. Go for the information not to beg.
Ask for introductions to people in the companies you like to work for. Offer them value and likely, they will offer it back
Create opportunities for great conversations everywhere you go without asking for referrals. Relationships get you referred, not solely the ask itself.
Look for internship opportunities
Look for volunteer opportunities to help you hone untested skills and abilities
Are you a member of professional organizations? If not, are there any you can contact to see if they have any special discounted membership prices? If you’re a recent college graduate, many will give a very low discount for the first year.
Check locally for businesses looking for someone with your skill set. It’s possible they have not posted a position, but willing to hire the right person with a unique skill.

These are a few things you can do. If you have additional questions, let me know.