Job Search Archives - Page 50 of 80 - The Voice of Job Seekers

How Does Unconscious Bias Affect Older Job Seekers at Work or the Job Search?

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This week’s episode is a republishing of an interview done by Marc Miller, host of the Repurposing Your Career podcast, and the mega huge CareerPivot.com. The basis of our discussion was the article I wrote for Career Pivot, “8 Ways Older Job Seekers Invite Age Unconscious Bias on Social Media.”

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– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number
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As you know, Marc was on this show several weeks ago and as always quite enjoyable. His new podcast focuses on the person who is experiencing the 2nd half of life. Since Marc has written detailed show notes for our discussion, I will just provide the link for you to check it our here. There are a couple of highlights to note from Marc’s show notes:

“Gut instinct is relied on in hiring decisions. This includes bias. If merit hiring were implemented in many more companies, the unconscious bias would be minimized. The Illinois State Attorney sent a notice to major job boards regarding ageism on their online forms. NPR ran a good article about ageism in hiring.”

I also discuss how to deal with ageism. Satchel Paige pitched in the major leagues when he was near 60. George Blanda played football near 50. Don’t accept the perceptions of hiring managers.

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I will not publish a podcast next week (for the week of July 4) and no shows between July 19-Sept 11. I will post articles throughout the summer at least twice a week. Love to hear from you about your challenges and how I can help.

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

How to Breathe Life into Your Job Search

Every day can’t be the same whether you have a job during your job search or not. It’s dead. It’s an exercise in utility. What’s worse, you are explaining to your family why you are not getting results. If your job search lacks life, you must diversify your efforts until you yield results. You need others to help, but you must have resolve.

If you’re stuck, I have some suggestions you should try. Maybe a few of them are appealing, but none of them are easy. Perhaps picking two or three could help you and then inspire other ways to get results and an

1. Create a blog

It’s important to control the narrative of your career, and a blog is the best way. Sure there is LinkedIn and other platforms, but any of them could disappear for one reason or another. Mostly, it should be the best place to find and connect with you. At least, you can take people on your journey sharing your lessons learned, opportunities found and mapping out what works and what doesn’t. Season your blog with your competencies but also with personality.

Employers and recruiters see many lifeless profiles and blog, let yours be the one that resonates with them.

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Read It’s all about your personal brand and what you deliver to employers

2. Lead local workshops/lunch learnings or training

There are all types of opportunities to hone your craft or share your expertise. If you are working, you can see how to lead a lunch and learn workshop for your coworkers. There are some cities with eateries with rooms for a luncheon, and you could be the guest speaker. Then again, there are Toastmasters everywhere with lunch meetings. If you’re not shy and join a small Toastmasters group, it’s likely you can get many opportunities to present.

3. Incessant online/offline conversations

Networking is continuous even with little time. To me, networking is about awareness and opportunity. There is not a place where someone somewhere didn’t make a significant contact where it leads directly or indirectly to a job. You will create both awareness and opportunity as you grow intentional and understand your job search will yield results.

Read Job Search in 2017 is Marketing, PR, and Schmoozing

4. Using creativity, audacity, and disruption to reach hiring managers

Unfortunately, many people who guarantee one document or technique will get you an interview. For most people, creating opportunities whether it’s through an intro using LinkedIn to sending a cold email, it’s reliant on your ability to think out-of-the-box.

Stop saying you’ve tried everything! It’s likely you’ve only attempted a few methods.

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5.Reach out to startups

Start-up companies are more likely to skip the formality of large corporations. There are pros and cons to working with smaller companies, but the opportunity to stand out once hiring is tremendous in many cases. They are harder to find but if you’re targeting companies and not spray and pray resumes all over job boards with no luck, this gives you a better chance. It’s easier to talk to people than engage the large company machine.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Job Search in 2017 is Marketing, PR, and Schmoozing

There is a case for running your job search like a political campaign. There is a lot of communication to clarify your position, show the relevance of your experience, and show you can do a great job. All three reasons are much harder than just applying to jobs online. That is why many job seekers remain stuck because the easiest job search methods take time and investment.

You will need to market to the right employer who is the right fit for you and them. Any hiring contrary to a good fit for both works against you. Your adjustment to the job is critical as you’re there to do the job and learn it without special attention.

Read If Your Personal Brand is Not Disruptive, You Won’t Matter

Being a marketer is a risk. You’re treating yourself more of a commodity. By adding your personality draws attention and conversations will begin.

And that’s what you want: Positive conversations about you when while you’re not in the room. But it’s the result of effective branding.

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If your job search is a marketing campaign or a public relations effort, what does it look like:

1. Job search with a marketer’s heart

The successful candidate is no longer thinking of himself solely as an applicant but a brand. Since successful brands diversify their marketing, so should a job candidate. He or she is thinking about displaying their talent, skills, and personality in front of the right people.

As a marketer looks to segment and targets their audience, a job seeker should target their desired company.

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

2. Your job search story has several views

You must learn the way your story looks like from different perspectives so you can tell the same story to different people in different ways. There is something to be said about telling a joke the same ways more than once. Most of us don’t. The joke can still be funny from different perspectives as it pertains to the audience.

3. Know what each employer’s value need is

Marketing is trial and error. Powerful marketing is meeting the need for specific markets and people sharing the positive benefits of the product or service. Employers are going to care more when a need resonates with them, not only for everyone else. Research companies and customize your approach to them.

Read I Have to go Find a Job Will Sound Silly in 2017

Here are specific ways a successful candidate uses marketing tactics:

Personality differentiates you from the competition, so anytime you can display what makes you a fit for the culture, then this can capture the right employer’s attention
Letting people know how conversations are shaping his or her view of the industry. Sometimes this generates further discussion especially on social networks including LinkedIn and Facebook groups
Sharing their successes and the lessons from failures, mistakes, or lack of results
Giving more than getting is the heart of their existence

Marketing yourself has to become constant even during an inactive job search. We can argue if an “inactive job search” is a thing anymore, but everything is marketing and so is every opportunity. You cannot blindly offer value to a company or individual who does not need or want it. It’s the frustration of job seekers who are still appealing to everyone and meeting the needs of no one.