The Voice of Job Seekers

Award-winning career advice blog & podcast! ★Hacking and reimagining an easier job search process for you!

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The State of Job Search with Hannah Morgan

The State of Job Search with Hannah Morgan

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It’s time for a discuss the state of job search so far in 2020. Things are changing fast if you haven’t started. This week’s episode is a takeover. Hannah Morgan is the guest host, and I’m the guest. Confused? Don’t be – she’s interviewing me on my show.

Got comments about the show? Here’s how:

– 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 mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com
Hannah Morgan is a first-time host for my show and was entirely enthusiastic about doing (listen to her intro of the show). She is the founder of CareerSherpa.net and loves helping people understand what actions they need to take to find a job faster. Her popular site and her US News and World Report column is a large part of her being a nationally recognized expert.

Here are highlights from our conversation:

  • Shout out Prezi and creating content on their platform
  • Hannah asks about – What’s hot: Remote work. I mention articles I’m writing for Job-Hunt.org
  • Remote work requires the mindset of a consultant
  • Hannah says about the “intra-prenuer mindset
  • Professionals are shortchanging their possibilities and abilities on social media
  • 2009 employers background checked your social media accounts on the back end
  • Your social media compel 2020 employers
  • Social proof is key to catch the attention
  • Your brand is effective when it’s your referral engine
  • Give shout outs to career professionals and blogs I read and keep up
  • Discuss my articles on Payscale, Glassdoor, and RippleMatch
  • Hannah: The importance of the three pillars: Know, Like, and Trust
  • We discuss why people aren’t finding opportunities  in this job market
Sign up for my weekly newsletter at the top right of my page to receive free e-Guide, “320 Modern Job Search Tips for 2020!” This year, it will be free for a limited time.
This is a reminder there are three shows left for the season. I will be on podcast hiatus (writing and creating videos) from June to Sept. 15. The newsletter will be once-a-month during the summer. To hear more, you must SUBSCRIBE to the newsletter.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

My name is Mark Anthony Dyson, and I am the Founder of The Voice of Job Seekers. I am a career advice writer, but more importantly, I hack and re-imagine the job search process.. I've worked with hundreds of job seekers one-on-one helping them to construct a narrative and strategy that appeals to hiring managers and recruiters. I present at colleges and organizations, and facilitated many workshops including my volunteer effort through a Job Lab. I write and create useful job search content on this blog and write career and workplace advice for blogs such as Glassdoor, Payscale, Job-Hunt.org, Prezi and more. Media Feature highlights: Forbes, Business Insider, NBC News, Glassdoor, LinkedIn's #GetHired, and NPR Freelance writer and content contributor: Glassdoor, Payscale, job-hunt.org, The Financial Diet, RippleMatch.com and more. Contact me to contribute career, job search, or workplace advice for your site at markanthonydyson@gmail.com.

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12 Ways Work at Home Pros Get Professional Development

12 Ways Work at Home Pros Get Professional Development

 

Do you work at home, but yet, feel your skills are becoming dull? It depends.

According to Flexjobs recent survey* of working mothers, 64% feel they are more productive at home.

Yet, many work-at-home (WAH) professionals feel challenged to keep up with trends and to learn the new skills necessary to stay employed and well-paid.

Like your work, you can also do this important learning at home. Professionals need continual skill refreshment to remain productive for their job and add value to their work and career.

I like to share the resources and tools I used. These helped my career growth and sharpened my skills:

  1. Webinars and teleconferences  

Most organizations provide continuing education online via streaming or on-demand, making it accessible around the clock. Depending on the organization, an additional charge occurred by the user, and possibly, not included in the membership cost.

You can also check to see if the organization put last year’s webinar or teleconference on YouTube for free. Depending on the industry, last year’s information is useful after a year or two.

  2. Podcasts and vlogs  

Niche podcasts and vlogs (video blogs) are often part of an industry organization’s library for members. Podcast directories and libraries house many subjects from different angles.

Most smartphones have a place to download and store podcasts and vlogs so you can listen anywhere. As I mentioned, creating and hosting a podcast not only a closer network but also learning opportunities.

Listen: Strategies for the Working Parent to Find Remote Work

  3. Collaborations  

Work with other WAH professionals who are keeping up with industry trends on articles, videos, and online presentations.

If you are older, work with a younger peer who knows how to use online tools. Older workers would benefit working with younger professionals to help remove the “too old” stigma.

Younger professionals will learn how to apply and present knowledge and gain knowledge about many aspects of successful careers from older professionals who have learned from (sometimes painful) experience..

  4. Volunteer  

There are non-profit organizations who work with professionals to pilot their new but unpolished skills. There’s often a significant learning curve, and it benefits both parties.

The generosity environment breeds people will vouch for the value of your abilities. It’s an excellent way to get a few recommendations and endorsements on your LinkedIn profile and give your profile additional visibility.

  5. Train others  

Maya Angelou once said, “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.” It’s easier to become fulfilled today once you start helping others become fulfilled.

Training others is more than just passing the time with billable hours. Training is purposeful when you’re passing on to others what has fulfilled you.

Listen:  How to Find Telecommuting Jobs with FlexJobs

6. Create networking opportunities  

Meetups are a great way to curb the feeling of being on an island. Events are a great way to get feedback on innovative ideas you would value.

Every social interaction is a networking opportunity. Church, hair salon, barbershop, or the cleaners are all networking opportunities. One piece of advice or one person can change the trajectory of your efforts. Don’t waste an opportunity.

  7. Read with your local public library, “Libby,” and YouTube  

All you need is a local library card to access digital and audiobooks. Libby is a free app available on iOS and Google Play.

You borrow and return books from your library using your app for all transactions. You access the books like you do at your local library.

YouTube is useful for audiobooks. I found and listened to Chris Voss’s book Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It for free. You can find older classic business and career books there.

  8. New certifications of a different skillset  

Toastmasters is just one way to polish a skill that crosses many platforms. Getting the advance certifications encourages you to master this highly useful transferable skill.

Certification programs also provide networking opportunities, both online and offline. My training certification process and short practice added valuable insights into my writing and consulting with job seekers.

There are many parallels in the way people approach fitness and job search. I’m sure there are many other similar parallels of interest to sharpen your skills in working from home.

  9. Participate in industry organization contests  

The competition will test what you know and exploit what you don’t know. Failed to place?

Get the training and then come back for the win. Contests can help familiarize yourself with the cutting edge of trends. The competition also will bring out the best of your access at that time.

When you do place first, you can use the accomplishment to promote you, your services, and expand your brand.

  10. Don’t forget LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, Skillshare etc.  

All of these services have mobile apps you can use anywhere. Udemy often offers classes at a 90% discount, so it’s worth watching for the offers. Theses on-demand classes are available anytime.

  11. Think Tank groups  

There are several forums and Facebook groups I belong to as it helps my perspective of my industry. One is a writing group, and the others are with career professionals as part of a larger organization.

It doesn’t hurt to pay to join these groups although you may find some for free. The paid groups motivate you to get value because you paid to do so. I belong to a couple of free ones. They don’t offer the cost as the paid ones. But everyone’s experience is different.

  12. Professional associations  

Small, local professional associations may exist as well as local chapters of national and international organizations. These can be great sources of learning in seminars and professional certifications (in person or recorded), even emailed newsletters.

You may also find opportunities to join association-member-only social media, like a Facebook group, where insider information may be shared. These groups can be excellent sources of information about the local market for your work plus opportunities to learn and a great environment for the networking that helps you remain employed.

Just because you’re a WAH professional doesn’t mean you have only to use the tools an employer tells you to use. If fact, your best career advancement and tool sharpening strategies is on your dime.

The Bottom Line

Forge forward and increase your marketability to its full potential because an employer will only provide what is necessary for them. You own your future. For me, podcasting has created a networking ecosystem, and even if no one listens, I’ve talked with hundreds of professionals in my industry. Many of them follow trends, and some are innovators who pointed to other resources to enrich my learning.

This article was originally published on job-hunt.org!

P.S. I was asked by the people from Prezi which resulted in a complementary video to this article. Watch and let me know what you think.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

My name is Mark Anthony Dyson, and I am the Founder of The Voice of Job Seekers. I am a career advice writer, but more importantly, I hack and re-imagine the job search process.. I've worked with hundreds of job seekers one-on-one helping them to construct a narrative and strategy that appeals to hiring managers and recruiters. I present at colleges and organizations, and facilitated many workshops including my volunteer effort through a Job Lab. I write and create useful job search content on this blog and write career and workplace advice for blogs such as Glassdoor, Payscale, Job-Hunt.org, Prezi and more. Media Feature highlights: Forbes, Business Insider, NBC News, Glassdoor, LinkedIn's #GetHired, and NPR Freelance writer and content contributor: Glassdoor, Payscale, job-hunt.org, The Financial Diet, RippleMatch.com and more. Contact me to contribute career, job search, or workplace advice for your site at markanthonydyson@gmail.com.

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Resume Trends of 2020 with Ashley Watkins

Resume Trends of 2020 with Ashley Watkins

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Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

Welcome to our annual résumé trends show. It is the only show this year we focus solely on writing and preparing a résumé for your job search. This year, I chose Ashley Watkins to give the 411 on the latest trends in résumé writing.

Let me introduce Ashley:

She is a nationally certified résumé writer, job search and interview coach, and former recruiter. She is the founder of her company. Write Step Resumes. Her services help clients craft high-quality career documents (résumé and cover letter) and LinkedIn profiles to highlight their unique value offerings and communicate the distinct benefit to the target employer during interviews.

Got comments about the show? Here’s how:

– 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 mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Here are highlights from our conversation:

  • Ashley compares and contrasts a few of the past trends
  • The need for proof of your skills to stand out
  • It’s more important to stand out than to a pasted & copied resume
  • Communicate your brand and how you add value
  • Ashley discusses the importance of the top 1/3 of a resume
  • Write what’s valuable to the employer while communicating your unique value proposition
  • Employers need to know can you solve my problem
  • Trying to fill in space and using jargon can talk yourself out of your brand
  • With the emphasis on keywords now, personality can get lost. Remember that it’s a person first.
  • You must show enough keywords without the person missing
  • Show what you master, not as a jack-of-all-trades
  • We discuss the use of “I” in a resume – know your audience – often depends on the posting
  • Once a job posting is published if you have to wait to update your resume, you’re already behind

Sign up for my weekly newsletter at the top right of my page to receive free e-Guide, “320 Modern Job Search Tips for 2020!” This year, it will be free for a limited time.

 

About Mark Anthony Dyson

My name is Mark Anthony Dyson, and I am the Founder of The Voice of Job Seekers. I am a career advice writer, but more importantly, I hack and re-imagine the job search process.. I've worked with hundreds of job seekers one-on-one helping them to construct a narrative and strategy that appeals to hiring managers and recruiters. I present at colleges and organizations, and facilitated many workshops including my volunteer effort through a Job Lab. I write and create useful job search content on this blog and write career and workplace advice for blogs such as Glassdoor, Payscale, Job-Hunt.org, Prezi and more. Media Feature highlights: Forbes, Business Insider, NBC News, Glassdoor, LinkedIn's #GetHired, and NPR Freelance writer and content contributor: Glassdoor, Payscale, job-hunt.org, The Financial Diet, RippleMatch.com and more. Contact me to contribute career, job search, or workplace advice for your site at markanthonydyson@gmail.com.

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