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Negotiation is a must have this skill for your job search, workplace, and life. As we dive deeper into the gig economy, each job seeker will accept several roles. Our roles as contractors and entrepreneurs, we must embrace our roles as negotiators. We will need to remain in negotiating mode for the longevity of our careers. To help us embrace this role, Kwame Christian, an attorney will help. He is the host of the American Negotiation Institute and negotiation expert.

If you find negotiating hard, don’t worry, I got you. Feel free to share your negotiating story. You can also share your thoughts about this episode in one of three ways:

I would love to hear your thoughts in one of three ways:

• 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]

Kwame Christian Esq., M.A. is a business attorney with his practice. He also is the host of the American Negotiation Institute podcast. You should listen to this interesting episode where he negotiates for a car. He has won several awards and competitions including the American Bar Association National Competition. He placed as a semifinalist in the competition.

Here are some of the highlights of our discussion:

• While contemplating finding a new job, maximize your value at your current job
• View each negotiation success as a new floor
• Even in a job where you don’t plan to stay long, it is valuable to negotiate for more
• Find your unique value proposition
• He says, “We don’t get what we deserve, we get what we ask for.”
• Kwame mentioned the book Presuasion as a resource
• Quote from the book, “People don’t focus on things that are important. People focus on things because they think it’s important.”
• Need help with your career goals, directions, or efforts?

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.

The new LinkedIn feature could increase your visibility and create more opportunities.

A little bonus tidbit that is useful for both people actively seeking a new job, and those who would be open to new opportunities but aren’t currently doing much searching. On October 6, 2016, this post was published on Linkedin’s official blog:

They have rolled out a new feature that allows recruiters who are using the Linkedin Recruitment product to see people who are interested in receiving recruitment offers. If you live in the USA, UK, Canada, or Australia, you should be able to find this now, with global rollout coming soon.

Here’s how you’ll get there: From your homepage, click ‘Jobs’ in the navigation bar.

Once on the jobs homepage, click ‘Preferences’ and you should see this:

Once you toggle the switch on, you are given a bunch of new options:

You can then fill out some position titles you would be interested in receiving recruitment offers for, as a section where you can write any other relevant information for recruiters, like your availability, best way to get in contact, or specific skills and interests. You should treat the ‘Introduction’ section like the career objective section on your resume, or  an elevator pitch for yourself and what makes you awesome.

A few key points from the FAQ:

● It stays on for 90 days, at which point it turns off and you’ll have to come back in to toggle it back on

● Only recruiters who use Linkedin’s Recruiter product will see you are interested in new opportunities

● Linkedin tries to make sure recruiters at your company and affiliated recruiters won’t see you have positioned yourself as available, but can’t guarantee they won’t come across it; however, your company recruiters would still have to be using the Linkedin Recruiter product for this to be possible

● Your profile and the information you gave about the types of opportunities you’re after, as well as the date you toggled it on will be available to recruiters Some industries and job roles may not be something recruiters are looking for, but it can’t hurt to turn it on anyway – you never know what could happen!

Bio: Joel Curry is a career advisor and resume expert who writes for Resume Companion, which provides a state of the art resume builder and professional resume templates.

This article was originally published on Come Recommended!

It is possible your job search is hijacked by zombies. Now I am not a fan of The Walking Dead, nor do I love the scary movie genre. But in my management career, I have seen candidates who win more face time with an employer become the Walking Dead in so many ways. As little television as I watch, when I am waiting to get my car worked on or at the dentist, there is always some movie featuring zombies. The scenes are usually similar in nature — people run from zombies, the zombies somehow catch up to their prey, and one of the five to ten people running away becomes a victim, and then they become zombies. Rinse and repeat.

I still have an affection for “Thriller,” so maybe my expectations are slightly outdated. But pretty much, the genre is the same to me. Someone reading this at this very moment is vigorously disagreeing. That’s OK with me, but you know where this discussion is going.

After time, job seekers land an interview or a meeting with someone influential in their screening, and they blow it. They become zombies to the company. And the company wants to run from or shut down the zombie. Unlike the characters in movies, they succeed at a pretty high rate.
Here’s how job candidates become zombies to employers:

1. They have one objective

The zombie job candidate doesn’t understand the competition for work is fierce. And they have an objective listed on their resume. They can only communicate one reason why they want the job. We could talk about why it’s unnecessary to have an objective on your resume, but that’s another post entirely.

Don’t be a zombie: If this is you, stop wondering why you rarely make it past the first round of interviews. You must show more than one reason you fit with the organization, but the reasons have to be your own. Most hiring managers like unique and personable individuals who connect with them. You don’t have to have all of the answers, but you should have some of the solutions. Otherwise, you’re a zombie because you’re like everyone else.

2. They act mindlessly

The zombie job candidate may dig into a few interview questions to answer, but often gives a generic answer fitting any company. Someone encouraged them to copy and paste a job description onto their resume, and they do it because it’s easy. Do you know the name of the person you talked to today on the phone? Did you respond to them by name? If not, you either are going through the motions, or you’re a zombie.

Don’t be a zombie:

They woo companies based on the merits of the individual company, not as just another company. Success comes from showing their abilities to solve problems, adding value when possible, and having great conversations. You get another opportunity by demonstrating an interest in addressing issues and contributing ideas, not just putting out fires.

15 Ways Your Job Search Will Self-Destruct in No Time

3. They move toward noise without thought

The zombie job candidate applies to a position they’ve never heard of. Their ears perk up, and their hopes are up, but they don’t fit the position. They apply anyway. It rarely ends well.

Don’t be a zombie: Be very discerning and inquiring about a position. Reach out to people in your network who can help you determine who to contact and whether the position is a possible match.

4. They don’t answer direct questions

The zombie job candidate has problems answering direct questions. For instance, they aren’t prepared to respond to questions during the first interview inquiring about their salary requirements. Although it’s recommended you avoid answering the question when you can, you must be prepared to address it. No response won’t be an acceptable solution.  Additionally, questions such as, “Why do you want this job?” goes unanswered directly because the candidate doesn’t want to say they need the money.

Don’t be a zombie: Although you don’t want to give canned answers, you want your answers to be thoughtful. To appear sharp, prepare and seek insight. Look at press releases, what former employees have said on Glassdoor, or even call the toll-free number and ask questions. Preparation with some help requires focus. I can safely say you need to prepare for a job interview as much as you would perform a part for a play. Interview questions are designed to gather intel for the employer and exclude the proverbial “low-hanging fruit.”

Why Your Job Search Requires More Than You’re Willing to Give

5. They lack enthusiasm

The zombie job candidate doesn’t show facial expressions, speak with inflections, or even smile. These are clear outward signs a person is interested and engaged in the current conversation. But a zombie job candidate may lack eye contact, or continually misunderstand questions being asked.

Don’t be a zombie: Successful candidates are also the ones initiating deep engagement and thoughtful insights. They don’t try to show off (although it may be appropriate now and then), but they want to bring solutions and contributions as if they were a consultant. To them, it’s a business conversation.

6. They write and speak zombie

The zombie job candidate’s social media skills (as far as employers are concerned) don’t translate to highly proficient writing and speaking skills. In fact, the latest Payscale skills gap study reveals employers are dissatisfied with the core communication skills of graduates.

Don’t be a zombie: The amount of extracurricular activities available to hone these skills are often passed up by students. Fraternities and sororities, student government, honor societies and the like aren’t for everyone. If you didn’t belong to organizations where business networking and interaction are needed, then you must go elsewhere now that you have graduated. It doesn’t have to be Toastmasters or a professional organization to get exposure. New platforms such as Huzza and Periscope, where you can practice speaking while streaming to the world, can be used for practice and to promote your personal brand.

All of the human elements during any job search or job candidacy are needed. Nervousness, emotion, expression, and enjoying conversation shows you’re engaged and active. Employers need to hear stories — your triumphs, and at times, your challenges that you’ve overcome. Zombies don’t have those elements. If you’re seen as just another face, then it’s time to focus on being a “Thriller” and not among the “Walking Dead!”