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!

by

Get Ready for an Agile Job Search with Nissar Ahamed

Get Ready for an Agile Job Search with Nissar Ahamed

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

 

Get Ready for an Agile Job Search with Nissar Ahamed

 

 

When I like a job search blog, I like to let you know about it. If you haven’t heard of Career Metis, then I encourage you to listen to this show and then head on over there. The blog founded by Nissar Ahamed is likely to give your job search a boost.

I found Career Metis a long time ago, but in the last 15-16 months, he has published articles several times a week. Not only about resumes and cover letters, but also the workplace and productivity too. I’d be remiss if I did not mention his new podcast containing more than 20 episodes to date.

I would love to hear what you think about his blog. Share your thoughts with me in one of three ways:

  1. Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number
  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]

By day, Nissar is in software sales, but at night, he is the editor, writer, and publisher of Career Metis. It is an award-winning blog with awards from Career Igniter and PersonalIncome.org.

Here are a few highlights from our discussion:

  • In India, Nissar’s home country, employers lined up to hire graduates upon finishing. When he migrated to Toronto, Canada immediately after college graduation, he had to adapt to being solely responsible finding a job himself
  • He had to learn everything and solely relied on job boards, had to learn to write resumes and adjust on the fly. He learned to navigate the job market by doing
  • Branding is important if you want people to reach out to you. Be agile and visible, be ready to pivot
  • We discuss how to go from being under-appreciated to mastering navigating the job market
  • When people experience an adverse culture change will bring misery—often too late but start looking passively or activelyNeed help with your career goals, directions, or efforts? Do you need coaching or instruction? I am here for it!

Also, join our Linkedin community! You’ll enjoy some of the insights shared by community members and other career pros!

If you’re a career pro and love giving career advice, let me know. I would love to have more guest writers during my hiatus and beyond. Thanks for being among the thousands who listen every month. There’s so much more to come so stay tuned!

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

How to Use Cold-Calling for Your Job Search

How to Use Cold-Calling for Your Job Search

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Cold-calling sounds intimidating and most shy away from it but with the holidays coming up, it could be a passive job search strategy that Kimberly Robb Baker can work for you. There are few people in the office, who will have more time to open mail and actually read it (Mmmmm…)! In this day and age, you could stand out because people are still sending resumes instead of a brief letter as a tease to become interested in you.

Have you tried cold-calling before? Love to hear what you think! Here are a few ways you can provide feedback:

    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]

How to Use Cold Calling for Your Job Search

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.

Kimberly Robb Baker is  back to share with us how to use cold-calling to get responses from employers. Kim is the founder of MovingOnUpResumes.com (@ThisLittleBrand),and 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. Her 10 years of sales experience is useful for her clients to use this technique as a way to find job leads and not sound as salesy.

  • Cold-calling is useful for reaching outside your network
  • Even for an introvert realizing you have little to lose when you reach to people you don’t know
  • Kim says that cold-calling is good exercise to learn how to help with speech fluidity and communication skills
  • You are planting seeds hoping that opportunities will manifest through cold calling you otherwise would have missed
  • You can create warm calling opportunities through social networking
  • Cold mailing is also the same strategy. She mentions Cold Bait as a resource for cold mailing
  • Cold mail letter is a brief way to send to snail mail prospects, no more than 158 words, casual language
  • Don’t beg, just be specific to the need you provide
  • Kim provides an example of how a Director or Marketing would position the letter
  • Try not to sound salesy, try adding quantified results but only one that would attract attention
  • Think about the positioning the possibility in short rather than pain of the company, not the same approach as a cover letter
  • Delivery through snail mail will yield up to 3%
  • Join groups of potential contact through LinkedIn to send them an Inmail
  • Use a “P.S.” and include your LinkedIn profile link, sign off respectfully
    Have you subscribed to this show on iTunes? If you haven’t, please do so. iTunes is a great place to write an honest review and increase the show’s visibility. Enjoy listening to the show.

Let us know what you think.

Do you need help with resume writing or career direction? Do you need coaching or instruction?I can help.

Also, join our Linkedin community! You’ll enjoy some of the insights shared by community members and other career pros!

I would still like to help self-published career professionals promote their books. If you’re interested, find more info here.

Don’t forget, I will not publish a show next week. It’s Thanksgiving week and we’ll just resume the show on December 1. Have a great holiday next week!

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

Recruiting and Social Media for the Veteran Job Search

Recruiting and Social Media for the Veteran Job Search

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS


Welcome to the 2nd annual Veteran’s Day edition. This episode is dedicated to veterans everywhere who are transitioning back to the civilian sector. We wish you (veterans) much success during your transition, and hopefully, this show will contribute to your needs in finding the right job for you.

I would love your feedback, especially if there are tools you need for your job search. Perhaps we can cover them in future episodes. Here’s how you can let me know:

  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]

Happy Veteran's Day! (1)

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.

Sultan Camp (@careersultan) is a military recruiter and headhunter who works for Orion International, a company  that finds civilian careers for Military Officers, Enlisted Technicians, and strong NCO leaders, as well as Veterans who have already transitioned but are seeking a career change. His contributions have included in media outlets such as Career Builder, Monster, Career Attraction, and Military Times.  Sultan’s company sources, screens, and guides veterans to civilian jobs (think eHarmony).

  • His focus is on veterans technical or mechanical skill set. He puts them directly with a hiring manager
  • Hardest positions for veterans to fill: High-voltage technicians
  • Challenges remain to interpret military duties to civilian unless the company has a lot of experience, especially in interviews
  • Most veterans talk about what the team did before what “I did”
  • Veterans should try more conversations in interviews than monopolize it (less is more)
  • The mental pivot from wearing the uniform to civilian is a challenge. The word “fired’ and “quit” are never used in the military. It’s either the “end of contract” or “end of term”
  • Many who transition are given some time to start finding opportunities wait too long to find other opportunities. If you have a year, you should immediate start looking
  • “What are your preferences?” What are the priorities?” Those are the first two question is preparing transitioners
  • 90-120 day mark before leaving is when he or she should be interview ready; not much time is spent on the resume, jobs again are technical
  • For those who don’t interview well, the companies Sultan works with giving feedback for remedial training. They use their local branch transition office

Karin Durkee (@karindurk) is the Director of Social Media for Corporate Gray. She is a military spouse, educator, technology consultant, and author of Social Media and Your Job Search: Maximizing Your Network for a Successful Transition, an ebook for members of Corporate Gray. Karin presents social media workshops to transitioning military members on installations in the Washington, D.C. area. She is a frequent participant in The Voice of Job Seekers Linkedin group.

    • One of the myths of military is that they should avoid using social media if he or she has security clearance
    • Recruiters often look for security clearance, and it should be in a LinkedIn profile (although company rules and approval may determine how much info can be published)
    • Comfort level is also a consideration when determining if and how you want to be found online
    • High ranking officers use social media but care about not communicating clearance information
    • Social media is great place for research in a military transition
    • Find out how your expertise meets an employer’s needs
    • A professional photo is critical on LinkedIn, personalizes your presence, and get noticed
    • It is highly recommended to use a professional civilian photo than your military photo
    • Joining LinkedIn groups keeps you apprised of your field and military groups
    • Twitter is great for military spouses, easy to set up profiles, follow companies and industry experts
    • Twitter hashtags are great for research and trends. HootSuite, a Twitter client, allows to follow conversations, trends, information
    • Don’t: Don’t use military jargon to describe your experience, recruiters must understand what your experience means to their civilian clients
    • Do: Define your accomplishments that is understood by civilians
    • Don’t: When you say “retire” means you’re done
    • Do: “Transitioning,” says you are actively looking
    • You can Google “military terms translator” to help with military terms and acronyms

As a additional resource, go to www.everyveteranhired.com for the 100% complimentary tool for veterans called “The Job Ruck.” The tool is useful to help high performers find their purpose after service. It’s all about identifying purpose.

Have you subscribed to this show on iTunes? If you haven’t, please do so. iTunes is a great place to write an honest review and increase the show’s visibility. Enjoy listening to the show.

Let us know what you think.

Do you need help with resume writing or career direction? Do you need coaching or instruction?I can help.

Also, join our Linkedin community! You’ll enjoy some of the insights shared by community members and other career pros!

I would still like to help self-published career professionals promote their books. If you’re interested, find more info here.

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.