Job Search - The Voice of Job Seekers

Ignoring Unemployment Data, and Why Your Values Mean Much More

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Your core values, like most, eventually means everything in your desired career choice. You’ll hear Nii-Ato Enchill-Bentsi, and I discuss in depth what you’ll need to know about using your values to guide your job search. And you’ll also hear an excerpt from my LinkedIn Live stream show with Jack Kelly about why you should ignore unemployment data.

I wrote up the show notes and embedded the live stream in this article.

You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– 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

More about Nii-Ato:

Nii Ato Bentsi-Enchill is the founder of AvenirCareers.com. Before going full-time as a business owner, he was Ivy Exec’s Senior Content Manager & Career Adviser. In addition to networking/job search strategy, LinkedIn, and resume writing, he uses his Psychology and Mental Health education as part of a holistic approach to career coaching.

If you want to see the whole video interview, you can watch it on my video channel.

Here are the highlights from our conversation:

During our conversation, we tried to answer three questions:

Who would benefit most from finding an employer with shared values?

Why is it important?

How would shared core values manifest itself into a job search strategy?

😎 Nii Ato: “Values are pretty essential in what I do as a career coach.”

😎 Work-life and personal life are similar – informs their career.

😎 Everyone benefits from focusing on their values when it comes to their career

😎 It affects what kind of culture you want to surround yourself with

😎 The pandemic has forced us into a place where we are questioning what we genuinely value.

😎 The access each person has to their daily life will include a chose workplace.

😎 We’re more “core valued centered” than ever with re-prioritizing family, the type of company, and your final destination in where you land next.

😎 Do a “values” inventory from the past of what worked and what didn’t

😎 You can’t seek out valued work or culture if you are applying to hundreds of jobs.

😎 Targeting companies in a thoughtful matter with values at the center can keep you working.

Reminder:

As the holiday season approaches, I may release three shows instead of two in November. Along with the shows, two of them will come with newsletters. I anticipate there will be new sign-ups for the E-book, “421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021.” There will be special announcements made exclusive to email sign-ups only.

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

8 Small Needle Movers For Your Job Search

September and October are wearing you out mentally and somewhat physically. Let’s face it. There are more challenges in our lives. As a whole, we’re evaluating the worth of each part of our lives. I know I am seeing members of my family make moves and changes for the better. My oldest son is finished with his MBA and will start nursing school in January. My wife is retiring in two weeks after 31 years as a nutritionist.

I know others who are facing career changes they’re dreading. They see cracks and crevices in their industry because of COVID-19, social changes, and some changes that were desperately needed remain dormant. If you’re looking to making changes to your career, this is the time to do it.

Jack Kelly, founder and CEO of WeRecruitr.io, and I have created and produced a weekly LinkedIn live stream where we discuss unemployment news, translate what it may mean to job seekers, and offer actionable and practical advice. In our latest show, we recognize factors indicating the 7.9% unemployment rate may not be accurate:

There are reports of unemployed workers unable to certify for unemployment because of the overload of callers who are in the process.

Layoffs are imminent from Disneyland, American Airlines, and United Airlines in the tens of thousands.

JCPenney’s are among the large stores that struggled way before the pandemic. It is just a matter of time they close a possible 149 stores as reported this past September.

Although things will get more challenging as more layoffs occur, this may be the best time to make a career change:

☕Personally connect with active recruiters, Human Resources professionals, and employers who continuously post leads and offer sound advice. They are sharing what they like to see out of candidates and new hires. Pay attention as you hear it from the horses’ mouth.

☕Find and join active private Facebook and LinkedIn groups to connect with industry professionals and like-minded users. Larger isn’t necessarily better, so look to see which ones are the most engaging and build relationships within them.

☕Ask your network for their headhunter contacts (ones who are not working for companies) and offer an introduction to yours. If someone used a headhunter to find their latest job, that relationship is likely prioritized. Similarly, make introductions to your headhunter and know they will appreciate you making their job easier.

☕Raise your LinkedIn profile by looking for ways to add value. The little contributions matter as everyone loves a valuable comment to their update. But sharing someone else’s update and why it’s universally useful to your network is a powerful connection.

☕A separate website from your social profile is great. If you have original ideas, you can expand. However, I’ve been writing about it for the last nine years to differentiate yourself from others in your field.

☕Allow your knowledge and expertise to be challenged in a live stream on any platform through a Q & A format. You deliver value in real-time to people’s real-time issues. It’s a powerful relationship-building tool, as well as your ability to provide solutions others find immediately useful. Even a Twitter chat delivers real-time communication and allows advice to gain trust in your direction and knowledge.

☕Clichés are empty calories for your job search, accomplishments, and career history. Cut them from your profiles and resume NOW. Just like chips, crackers, pretzels, and candy, they provide satiety for a short time but don’t add value to anywhere else on the body of your good work.

☕Choose to chase meaningful and gratifying opportunities instead of money. We can argue whether 10% increases in pay substitutes for a toxic work environment, but after a steady period of value-adds to an employer will cash-out (if you’re intentional in negotiating compensation). Chasing money often results in paying the price, and it’s usually costly to those they love.

There are more little things you can do this year to continue functioning in job search role, but if you’re goal is a new job in six months, don’t wait until month five. Start now, as you want to choose your opportunities while thriving. Just as people make the best food choices when they’re full and satisfying, you’ll make better career choices if while you’re working.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

by Mark Anthony Dyson

The Black Professional Job Search Experience and Why it’s Different

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It is well documented Black names and culture are differentiating factors before the initial resume vetting process companies conduct is completed. More companies and organizations are focusing on diversifying their workforce. In today’s conversation with Jennifer Tardy, we are dissecting what black professionals may have experienced in their job search and how they could best navigate it.

You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– 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

Those on the mailing list are offered the chance to participate in the Job Lab. If you want to join us on October 24, the last Job Lab for the year, sign up at the blog.

Show flow:

421 Modern Job Search Tips for 2021 (sign up on the blog)

Reminders of the shows I have on LinkedIn (follow my page)

My YouTube channel

About Jennifer Tardy:

Jennifer is a former full-time recruiter, a career coach, and a diversity recruiter trainer. She spends half of her time with one-on-one career coaching and the other half with companies that want her to train on diversity recruiting.

Discussion highlights:

Job seekers shouldn’t be concerned about their ethnicity being revealed on their resume.
Jennifer says, “Don’t be concerned, be strategic. Being strategic with anything you reveal in your resume goes beyond race and ethnicity. Every single thing you list in your resume should confirm that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the job.”
Jennifer says she loves to wear bright colored earrings but will refrain from doing so in an interview because that could be distracting. She wants the interviewer to be focused on her words, not the brightly colored earrings. I have worn colorful color ties with a dark-colored suit. It’s OK to bring yourself to work if it’s not a distraction from your work.
Ask questions of the employer to find out how they are creating safe spaces for their Black employees to produce, learn, and grow. If you’re asked a biased question or a question that most would deem offensive, it is best to assume positive intent.
Jennifer says when her client makes a comment that is inappropriate or asks an inappropriate question, she remains in control by “meeting people where they are by assuming positive intent. “This allows me to put emotion aside and look to call people in as opposed to calling them out.”

I am updating my free e-book entitled, “421 Modern Job Search Tips for 2021.” I plan to release it to my email list on October 30, before everyone else will be alerted on November 13. Want it early? Go to the blog to sign up.