Job Archives - Page 11 of 17 - The Voice of Job Seekers

Conversation with Kathleen Brady, author of Get a Job! (PODCAST Episode #4)

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Editor’s note: Inkwater Press is giving away FIVE copies of the e-book and one hardcopy! If you comment below about your takeaways points from the interview, then you qualify for a copy. We’ll run this giveaway until next Monday! GOOD LUCK!

Kathleen Brady (@KBCareerPlanner) is an author and a Certified Professional Coach with 25 years experience in helping professionals identify their goals and design action plans to achieve them. Get a Job: 10 Steps to Career Success is her fourth book, her third with Inkwater press. Her central focus of her practice is the planning and coaching for recent graduates and professionals who seek life satisfaction. She is a former Assistant Dean of Career Services at Fordham University and past president of the National Association of Law Placement. If you want to know more about Kathleen Brady, her website is careerplanners.net.

Kathleen’s vast experience is impressive as you can tell in the depth and detail of her answers. It is by far the longest interview on this blog yet because it is hard to edit content that is vital to job seekers. Here is a table of contents to our discussion:

The mindset of job seekers creating his or her own opportunities
The importance of knowing what they want to do in their career
What should motivate a job seeker to pay attention to career goals and aspirations?
What does “success patters” mean and how it relates to the job search?
Using Linked In effectively
The Highland’s Ability Battery
What does AIR (Advice, Information, Referrals) mean and how it applies to job seekers?
Networking and how critical it is to do
Career Services at colleges and how under utilized they are
The breakdown of using three different languages–reluctant, suspicious, or negative

Enjoy our conversation!

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

Conversation with Career Author, Andrea Kay

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Andrea Kay is a respected career expert, author, speaker, and a sought out career advisor. Specializing in “career therapy,” she has helped tens of thousands of people cut to the heart of their frustration and dissatisfaction with work and not only find a new job, but create a fulfilling career that fits who they are.

I personally appreciated Andrea’s candor and adapted her perspective in stating that “You are what you seem” to employers in the small window you present yourself to employers. The concepts that many coaches including Andrea are hard to hear for the job seeker that is not progressive in his or her job search.

This is the kind of book you want to have in your library. In fact, I will make it easy for you through AMACOM books, I will be giving away one FREE copy of Andrea Kay’s book, This is How to Get Your Next Job! To qualify, leave a comment about something you will put into practice from our conversation. I will randomly pick one winner to be announced on Monday on the blog and on the Facebook page (see right panel).

Some of her insights from our pre-interview Q & A that are stated in our conversation:

About good judgment…
“They’ll separate themselves from the pack by demonstrating good judgment in
the most basic, common sensical ways: Follow directions. If an employer
asks you to complete a test, send a writing sample, do it—exactly the way
they asked for it…”

The job seeker selling themselves…

“…it’s hard for most people to describe more than one or two actual
strengths. I have this exercise in all my books—except this one. But
basically, it’s looking at events and times in your life when you’ve done
something you enjoyed and did well. Then analyzing what that took. This
helps you see patterns and eventually narrow down your strengths.”

Not being defensive about the “Why are you not working?” question…

“Basically, you need to get yourself calmed down first, so you don’t react
defensively immediately. Take a breath, realize why they’re asking. It’s a
realistic question. Why wouldn’t this be on their mind? So have a response
ready and say it with tact that helps the employer understand your
circumstances and what you’re doing now.”

Now that you have a preview, enjoy our conversation.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Six Reasons Your Job Networking Efforts Fail

One of the hardest parts of searching for jobs is finding the who, what, when, how and why. For successful job networking, you need to have conversations. that will move you closer to a job. What? You haven’t networked? Then you may have one of these problems:

1. You don’t go out to meet new people. Your list of 10 people you know is not enough. Not only do you not call them, but you haven’t talked to them in ages. Use that list of 10 to lead you to at least one person they know, and so on. It doesn’t hurt to attend an event that allows you to have productive conversations. Consider that “everywhere is networking and networking is everywhere!” Running errands at the store, movies, dry cleaning, barber shop, beauty salons, Panera Bread, The Corner Bakery, walking the dog and the playground with the kids are networking spots. It’s a lifestyle…and an adventure.

2. You vehemently oppose social networking. There are enough stories on the web about people connecting to get jobs, business opportunities and information now for you to throw caution to the wind…well, kind of. Yes, be shrewd about who you connect and give information to. As a whole, DO NOT fear using social sites as a tool to meet people. You can be old school all you want, but the lack of use of social networking tools will leave you irrelevant and unemployed. Why not use every possible means of communication to meet new people.

3. Gimme, gimme, lemme, gimme. In case you haven’t figured it out, the reason people may be apprehensive about helping you is that you don’t reciprocate. Sometimes this means giving first and not receiving at first. What value is it to network with you if you don’t give. If you desire effectiveness, take this approach: It’s hardly about you and more about everyone else. Trust me, people will notice and will offer before you ask. It just takes a little time.

Read about the other three reasons at BET.com!