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!

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by Mark Anthony Dyson

6 Job Tips to Teach Your Future Self

The first post that I published last year addressed what seem to resonate with job seekers the conversation your future self needs to tell your present person. Did you include career goals along with your life goals before January 1? Do you have a clear path going forward? What do you need to tell your future self?

What would you tell your future self about today’s job market? Would you emphasize how hard it is? Or share how you overcame the challenges of changing your mindset?

1. Be a perpetual learner for life as a way of life, not just to get a job

When I travel, I get nervous if there are no signs telling me what is coming nor where I am going. It is likely that I will get lost. When you are not perfecting your craft, profession, or career, you don’t have direction.

Taking a certification class gives your career direction of where it’s heading. Employers immediately recognize that a job seeker is serious about his or her career. People who find professional training useful for his or her lifestyle inspiring become motivated to grow. Does your career possess professional growth?

2. No online presence, or an undesirable online presence is a liability

A job seeker’s competition has at least a static website with their name as their domain title http://igotthisman.com. It is not the approach that I subscribe or counsel, but many job seekers attempt to enhance his or her online profiles. I recommend a blog that you can update at least once a month displaying your experience and skills.

The blog essentially can replace your resume and demonstrate the power of your skills. What keeps you from developing an online presence? Without one it‘s hard to get noticed. An undesirable online presence that displays your social negative exploits disqualifies you. It’s easier in most cases to get out front with a positive one.

3. Competition is fierce battle. Love the battle!

If you want to stand out, why not enter professional competitions in your industry? Contests are valuable learning experiences and tests your skill sets. Success in these competitions provides separation between you and most job interview candidates. This adds standout skill sets to your resume and possibly validate your career expert status. Do you compete in career related contests? Does competing in contests enhance your career?

4. Research the job and the job promotion you desire

Career experts agree that finding information about the culture, job duties, and the company is a sound competitive strategy. The next step is understanding how to get there will give you a competitive advantage. Employers like when professionals are self-motivated by challenges, resilience, learning, and everything else beyond the paycheck.

5. Soft Skills still rules and matters at every level

Soft skills are underrated yet so highly valued among high-profiled CEOs and managers. Soft skills directly affect the way customers and team collaboration functionality. Present these skills evident in your soft skill arsenal, and employers will take notice.

69% percent of all first-time hires were losing their jobs because of a lack of soft skills.
–Georgia Department of Labor. Workforce Solutions Team, 2012

6. Job Search + First 90 days after hire= A complete job search

The eagerness and urgency place while looking for a job is the space he or she needs to occupy in the brain after hire. Primarily remain in perpetual learning motion and contribute as a result of applying strengths your employer saw in the interview.

Even after the first 90 days you may not be an ideal fit for the position. This is a pivotal time when everyone is watching and deciding how much to engage your presence as part of the team. Similarly to the interview, doing more than treading water is essential to leaving a positive impression the first three months of the new gig.

In rare situations, the new hire will need to abort if the new job doesn’t fit. That is why that 90-day period is also there for the new employee. There are times when an employee misrepresents a position described during the interview/hiring process. Addressing this issue will be to the new hire’s advantage using tact and respect.

What else would you tell your future self? Please share in the comments below.

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.

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Filed Under: Job, Job Search, Jobseekers Tagged With: Job seekers, Job Tips

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Job Tips Gleaned From the Olympics

After thinking about writing this post, there are all types of job tips to learn from this Olympics that I decided to just list a few and focus on one. Asides from admiring the fit bodies, and the next big personality, there are job tips to offer.
  1. Train for every event if you plan to compete for it. If there are four components to a job to have the functional skill and experience to address the employer’s need. Whether IT related or customer service related, the potential employer likes seeing the improvement paying off immediately. Employers also want evidence that you have an invested interest in your own career, looking to improve in every area possible.
  2.  Criticize yourself, and only yourself. You never know when someone will realize negativity until it is your turn to receive. In other words, even if the person is perceived as non-threatening, it is better to err on the positive side.
  3. The job search is not the fittest of the fastest, nor is it first come first serve. Therefore, timing is everything except when you press “submit” too fast without considering what a job posting is asking. Job seekers want to second guess the posting thinking it is all positions will say the same thing, but they don’t. There is a difference between, “DO CALL…” AND “DO NOT CALL…”

About that one error…

No matter how many years of training and experience anyone has, you can blow an opportunity faster stepping out-of-bounds. That is why you may hear more about learning from your mistakes to thrive at the next opportunity.

I must make mistakes…to make the last shot~James Citrin

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.

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Filed Under: Career Tagged With: Job Tips, Olympics

by Mark Anthony Dyson

7 Job Tips From Your Future Self

A couple of weeks ago, CNN published an article, “Six Tips From Your Future Self,” where the wise and elderly “You” offer life tips about managing your future finances and opportunities. I thought that I would take a hint from that article and offer job tips from a wiser, and older self. What would the older you say to the you now? I borrowed some of these tips from the article, and hope they will help.

 

1. Avoid prioritizing salary if possible

Job seekers with extended unemployment should seek professional financial planning. This will help you view money from a sober and balanced perspective. Desperate job seekers mistakenly look to salary to save them, and bad judgment follows. Discuss salary when it’s appropriate. Hint: It’s not the time in the first interview.

2. Take inventory of your deliverables

Before writing a résumé, evaluate and identify the skills that repair problems that an employer wants to address. Objectivity is a challenge for anyone, but for job seekers it is critical to establish a great first impression when talking to employers. Be sure you can deliver before you offer.

3. Seem relaxed at every important interview, meeting, networking event

It is hard to think and act when the blood pressure spikes. Calming techniques are useful at gatherings that a favorable impression is critical. It is rare that a high-strung individual impresses anyone positively.

4. Leave the party at home

Whatever way you like to party doesn’t matter as long as you leave it at home.  Even cigarette breath is offensive these days in any job-related meeting.

5. No hasty decisions

“Yes” or “No” could be the wrong answers. Are you asking questions at EVERY interview? Are you satisfied with the responses? Are you clear about the questions asked, and your answers? Beyond the interview, it is important to make well-informed decisions. If you are ever unsure, you have work to do.

6. Admit when you’re wrong

There is nothing wrong with changing you’re course of action, even it is the middle of another decision. Changing your mind is OK. Changing your course of action is OK too. It’s called humility.

7. Take control of your online profiles

Your activities online should lean towards business than pleasure. As an entrepreneur or a job seeker people will take in account who you are on-line as part of who you are as a potential business partner. Come across as you are ready for business, otherwise, you are leaving money on the table.

8. Ask for help (BONUS TIP!!)

There is a coach and mentor for everything, and many times it’s a great investment. If you can’t hire someone, then you really can ask opinions and advice of knowledgeable friends. You don’t have to go down the untraveled road alone.

Why not be the wise man now? It takes planning, researching, and careful implementation to be successful, or at least to appear wise.

Is there one more thing you would like to add to this list? Do you mind sharing it below?

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.

  • Mail
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  • Web
  • |
  • Twitter
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  • Facebook
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  • LinkedIn
  • |
  • More Posts(760)

Filed Under: Job, Jobseekers Tagged With: Job, Job seekers, Job Tips

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I moderated a panel on Wealth Management for executives by Black Enterprise Magazine in October 2023 in Miami.

I was interviewed on Scripps News show, “The Why!” 4/13/2023

I talked with John Tarnoff and Kerry Hannon of “The Second Act” podcast about job searching after 50 in October 2022.

I was on “The Career Confidante” podcast to talk about “boomerang employees” and “job fishing” in June 2022.

Making Job Search a Lifestyle With “Dr. Dawn Graham on Careers,” SiriusXM Ch. 132, Wharton School of Business May 2021

In May 2020, I talked with LinkedIn’s Senior News Editor Andrew Seaman on “#GetHired” Live.”

Beverly Jones, host of the NPR podcast “Jazzed About Work,” invited me back to talk job scams, job search trends, and AI tools in April 2024

WOUB Digital · Episode 183 : Job search expert Mark Dyson says beware of scams, know AI & keep learning

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