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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Tell Stories Get Hired with Daisy Wright

Tell Stories Get Hired with Daisy Wright

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tell stories, get hired

 

Tell Stories, Get Hired is a book written by Daisy Wright and  other contributing writers such as Kimberly Robb Baker and Audrey Prenzel, who are my guests on this episode. Storytelling is not only art, but also essential and strategic! You’ll learn today how to position your story based on the employer’s needs and how to show the relevance. You will hear examples of how job seekers would hear a need of an employer and used storytelling to show that they were the solution.

Do you use storytelling in your resume or social profiles? Was it strategic? Please share. I can entertain your feedback in three ways:

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

If you are a career professional who advise job seekers and adds feedback whether it’s advice or a differing opinion, I will include a link in future show notes and read your comments on an upcoming show. Just let me know if it’s OK with you.

Let me share about today’s guests:

Daisy Wright of DaisyWright.com (@CareerTips2Go) is a career coach and resume writer whose who works have been published internationally. She shares her latest book with 15 other career coaches, resume writers, and personal branding experts for the readers to learn effective story telling that attract employers. This book is a must have for your career library. This is Daisy’s second appearance on the show. Daisy not only included a “thank you” to me in the book, but also a quoted review from me prominently placed on the back of her book (how cool is that)!

Kimberly Robb Baker of MovingOnUpResumes.com (@ThisLittleBrand), is an award-winning resume writer who is a master story teller. Her work has been published in many resume publications including JIST and Barron’s. publications including JIST and Barron’s.

Audrey Prenzel of resumeresources.ca (@AudreyPrenzel) is a career transition strategist and an award-winning resume writer who specializes in writing and coaching for Canadian Military personnel. She has been published in multiple magazine, newspapers, and career publications.

Daisy and Kim endure my Wi-Fi issues but they drop the following gems on story telling:

1. Daisy’s inspiration for the book comes from the ongoing conversation in the career space about the engagement and   get attention from employers

2. A story doesn’t have to be too personal but must bear relevance and resonate with an employer. A job candidate can take their cues from the interviewer when it’s relevant to the conversation

3, Kim states that some of the keys to good storytelling that compels someone to act are marrying what your audience needs to what you need

4. Keywords in resumes and Linkedin profiles are the puzzle pieces, and the story is the big picture. Kim says they are not mutually exclusive and should fit right on in

5. Start with the story and then make sure keywords fit in. At some point, there should be a “brain dump”

6. Job seekers should weave their stories throughout their resume, especially in the top third that is considered the “prime real estate” and create a statement that draws the attention of the reader. Employers tend to read the rest of the top third is compelling

7. Kim stated that it was a good idea to have advisers, especially when it comes to making sure that your stories are cohesive, makes sense, and draw others in. No one is objective about themselves

8. Daisy shared about a job seeker who created his resume to look like an Amazon.com  product page and received many job offers. Stories like this encourage job seekers that you get attention by telling their story in a way that is different

Audrey the victim of my Wi-Fi and Google Hangouts:

1. Military stories are different because of the language and culture difference. Diplomatic and administrative skills can get lost because the skills do not translate easily

2. Military veterans transitioning to civilian work need to be selective in their story telling. They are likely to over share his or her experiences

3. Audrey says that she often has to filter out 75% of what they have to say to keep what is important to employers

I hope you enjoy the show. If you have suggestions for future shows and even future guests, email me and make your case. I am sure you have a few that you would like to pass along.

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.

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Would Your Personal Brand Compel You to Quit Google?

Would Your Personal Brand Compel You to Quit Google?

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Compelled to quit Google- (1)

Before you leave your job this time, have you considered the quality of your personal brand? Have you invested time in building your brand? Are you making efforts in learning more to hone your craft/skill and add value to your current or future coworkers? This show will help you get started. Fearful? Yep, this show is for you.

How are you building your personal brand? We would love to hear from you!

Here are three ways to provide feedback:

  1. Call and leave a voicemail at 708.365.9822
  2. Email: [email protected]
  3. Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com/73, press the Send Voicemail button on the left, which will activate your laptop microphone, then leave a message

By the time that Michael Peggs of MichaelPeggs.com was working for Google, he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his career. After four years of a workplace had accessible recreation and free food, he was ready to move on. After he officially resigned he created a goodbye video that he uploaded to YouTube. He didn’t realize that this video to date received over 510,000 views!

Three years before leaving Google, Mike (or Peggs) created a blog where he wrote about careers and social media. He has been featured in Fast Company, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. He is now helping individuals and companies reach their brand building goals through story-telling.

Here are some of the highlights of our conversation:

Mike was intentional in building his personal brand

  • Mike’s video “I Quit Google” has received over 510,000 views. The video was done after his official resignation.
  • He made himself more attractive at his blog, “Career 101” that added his views, perspective, and value to future employers. He thought of himself as a product and brand before his job at Google
  • Mike positions himself as a brand and has planned it that way because it’s woven into every conversation that he has included his parents, clients, or employer

Mike prepared and sought advice about his personal brand

  • He had an internship every year in college especially during the school year. He worked for Goldman-Sachs for several years which helped him to stand out for other opportunities
  • In addition to his internships, he started several businesses such as a t-shirt company and a food delivery company (he credits this experience as his foray into tech)
  • One thing he learned as an entrepreneur was to have an “exit strategy” especially when he worked for Google. Mike says he spent four years in building “a story.”

Mike was looking to “fail forward” to strengthen his personal brand

  • Mike stated how much he loved Google, but I asked him as would others, “Why would you quit a company you loved?” I thought he had a pretty unique answer here (around 10:50)
  • When he realized that he was no longer going to grow at Google, in order to grow, he needed to “fail, fail fast and to fail forward!”
  • Mike said that our, “… feelings about failure is one of our impediments to progress…” and we act when “…our faith is more than our fear.” People should work with mentors and coaches to help them instill the faith he/she needs

If you are a career professional, I would love for you to contribute to the show. Do you have additional advice to offer? Do you agree or disagree? If you leave feedback, leave your web site or blog URL and I’ll mention it in the show and include it in the following week’s blog post. Enjoy the show!

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.

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2014 Job Preparedness Indicator Survey with Alexandra Levit

2014 Job Preparedness Indicator Survey with Alexandra Levit

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Alex (2)

For the second year (the third year on the blog), we are featuring the results of the Job Preparedness Indicator Survey done by DeVry University’s Career Advisory Board. A large part of the survey studies the job skill gaps and provides job strategies and recommendation mainly for college students and Millenials. Alexandra Levit is one of the workplace/career experts and executives on the career board. She provides an overview of the survey findings and job strategies for young job seekers.

I would love to hear your thoughts and comments about the survey. What do you think about the findings of the survey? There are three ways you can share your thoughts. Let me know if it’s OK to read or replay your message on the show:

  1. Call and leave a voicemail at 708.365.9822
  2. Email: [email protected]
  3. Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com/71, press the Send Voicemail button on the left, which will activate your laptop microphone, then leave a message

Alexandra Levit is a friend of the blog and podcast as for the last three years, she has volunteered to share the Career Advisory Board’s findings on various studies. Here are the other conversations we’ve had in the past:

  1. Are College Graduates Unprepared for the Marketplace?
  2. How Can Career Services Engage College Students Through Social Media?
  3. This is the Future of Work (as an Independent Contractor)

We discussed some of the following findings of the survey:

  • Only 7 percent of hiring managers report that “nearly all” or “most” job seekers have the complete set of skills and traits that their companies need to fill open positions
  • Hiring managers appear to do little to no training of new hires
  • High integrity of candidates is favored  more than ever as a needed attribute of the entry level candidate
  • Although a global perspective is a must local candidates are considerably favored – Hiring managers are unlikely to look for candidates who are not local at the time of hiring
  • Adequate business writing skills are needed without much training or monitoring
  • Hiring managers want candidates who are quick and perpetual learners, again minimizing or eliminating training time

Job strategies for job seekers:

  1. Millenials must show the ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing. Because of truncated social media messaging, many are not demonstrating the acumen for business writing
  2. Be ready to absorb new material quickly. Hiring managers are looking to spend minimal time in training
  3. Look much closer to home for opportunities. Employers will continue their search for candidates until a viable one becomes available
  4. Must have high integrity. Employers need candidates and new hires they can trust
  5. Perpetual learner. Certifications, continuing education, and expanded learning is essential

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.