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by Mark Anthony Dyson Leave a Comment

Create a Handbill if You Want to Stand Out at Networking Events and Job Fairs

Create a Handbill if You Want to Stand Out at Networking Events and Job Fairs

Some of you are wondering what a handbill and how is it useful. Where did I get this from? Let me share a valuable conversation I had with Jessica Dillard is the founder of Dillard & Associates is a National Career Staffing and Resume Writing Firm. I first met Jessica in 2014 when she joined my newsletter list a few years back. She has been listening to the podcast, and from time to time conversate on social media.

She created her firm in 1997 and possesses awards throughout her 20+ years in business.  She posted this example of a handbill on Facebook:

photo: Courtesy of Jessica Dillard

Now I first heard of a handbill from my friend, Bill Holland who I featured several times on the podcast and blog. He wrote about this in his 2011 book, The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy: Cracking the New Job Market. Jessica offers this to her clients for them to use at networking events and job fairs. This was not planned at all. But after some exchanges, I knew it would be useful to the world!

So here is our conversation as it happened on Facebook:

Me:

A colleague used to call this a handbill.

Jessica:

You’re spot on! We add this to our client’s portfolio to distribute during networking events, job fairs, etc. It doesn’t replace the resume, but in certain environments go before it

Me: 

Jessica, it’s a brilliant strategy rarely talked about these days. I haven’t heard about it since 2011. Do you regularly create it for clients?

Jessica 

Yes, we started incorporating it in 2016 and found clients who had several jobs over short periods of time and those with breaks in employment really benefited from it. More clients are now using them along with networking letters to encourage the call from recruiters. At that time, they then forward the longer, more detailed resume. (Landing a point of contact within the organization)

Me: 

Excellent. What is the first point of contacts saying about them? Are they impressed? Do they feel burdened with another piece of paper?

Jessica: 

I am still testing, but the responses, thus far, have been positive. One example is the email I received on yesterday from a client who was contacted directly by a Recruiter following a job fair asking him to complete an online application, attach his resume and call her to schedule the in-person interview.

With all the candidate information floating around, it seems many recruiters appreciate a quick, high-level view, leaving the longer version for the interview.

Click To Tweet

However, the handbill still has to answer the #1 question, “Does this candidate possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the job in question?” I’m looking forward to gathering more feedback this year

Me:

I noticed under knowledge you inserted whether someone has basic, intermediate, or advance skill level. When I wrote federal resumes that were an actual thing but there was a standard. Do you have that for your clients when they are fleshing out skill level (e.g., 50-74% proficiency-basic, 75%-89 intermediates, 90% advance)?

Jessica:

We were using Kenexa Prove It! (for years!!!) to test but found many clients weren’t fond of having to sit at their computers and take a test, as many would say, “Just to have a resume written.” So we moved away from Kenexa and now we use an assessment during our telephone interview. This gives me an opportunity to encourage clients to be truthful about everything they’re sharing including technical knowledge reminding them that an employer is going to want them to deliver on what they said they can do. Example: An advanced Excel user should be able to: Customize the work area; Use advanced functions (Names, VLOOKUP, IF, IS); Work with Pivot Tables; Use spreadsheet Web components; Manage Macro commands: concepts, planning, operations, execution, modification, interruption; Use personalized toolbars; and Perform some programming in VBA. As you, can probably imagine, I’ve had many clients ask to include under Technical Skills MS Office Suite with no proficiency indicators

Me:

So, this is more valuable to a job fair vendor or employer than a biz 💳? Should he or she have both?

Jessica:

I, of course, like both. But, I also LOVE tinkering with technology. Give me a resume or business card with a QR Code and my eyes light up. However, having worked high-volume recruiting for companies other than my own, there are limitations. Most IT departments block unfamiliar sites and social sites still. So, if your business card has a QR Code that points to a personal website, many Company Recruiters may never see it due to restricted access. Security is still a concern. But, when you’re talking with someone face to face and you leave them with a one-page information piece, you’ve eliminated the need to search any other sites or use any other tools other than a telephone or email to contact for more information

Me:

…then there is blue tooth technology.

Jessica:

This works well at University Career Fairs, but small businesses and Company sponsored fairs haven’t evolved much over recent years. I think we have to prepare job seekers in as many ways as possible

Me:

But use what they (job seekers) like; especially the job seekers overwhelmed by technology.

Jessica:

Absolutely!!! My more seasoned (senior) clientele push back when it comes to technology. As a result, I have to approach their career search a bit differently using more traditional means.

Summary

Let me point out the use of

tech and traditional approaches only increase the number of touches, and the potential to impress and reach more people.

Click To Tweet

But consider this: If you’re a seasoned professional (Gen X/Baby Boomer) and want to be shed the perception of being non-technical, why wouldn’t you adopt a strategy required tech savviness?

About Mark Anthony Dyson

My name is Mark Anthony Dyson, and I am the Founder of The Voice of Job Seekers. I am a career advice writer, but more importantly, I hack and re-imagine the job search process.. I've worked with hundreds of job seekers one-on-one helping them to construct a narrative and strategy that appeals to hiring managers and recruiters. I present at colleges and organizations, and facilitated many workshops including my volunteer effort through a Job Lab. I write and create useful job search content on this blog and write career and workplace advice for blogs such as Glassdoor, Payscale, Job-Hunt.org, Prezi and more. Media Feature highlights: Forbes, Business Insider, NBC News, Glassdoor, LinkedIn's #GetHired, and NPR Freelance writer and content contributor: Glassdoor, Payscale, job-hunt.org, The Financial Diet, RippleMatch.com and more. Contact me to contribute career, job search, or workplace advice for your site at markanthonydyson@gmail.com.

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Filed Under: Resume Tagged With: handbill, Networking, Resume

by Mark Anthony Dyson Leave a Comment

Update Your Resume this Month

Update Your Resume this Month
http://traffic.libsyn.com/thevoiceofjobseekers/thevoiceofjobseekers137.mp3

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thevoiceofjobseekers-com-update-your-resume-this-month

This week we will tackle resume updates for those who are pursuing new opportunities and want to know  the current trends in resume writing. This is also “Update Your Resume” month so I thought this was a good time to publish a show about resumes.

I bring back my friend Melissa Cooley, a certified advanced resume writer, who helps me dissect the resume trends and look back at some of the differences from 2009 until today.

Let’s talk about some of your resume challenges. Here’s how:

  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 mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Melissa has been writing resumes as a business since 2009, and her blog The Job Quest found at MelissaCooley.com is an award-winning blog. Her advice has been featured on Careerbuilder, Monster, and Dice.com.

Here are some of the highlights from our discussion:

    • It is still an important marketing document for job seekers
    • Melissa states the “resume is dead” claim has existed since she started in 2009
    • One of the significant changes in hiring—it’s done by panel
    • The resume needs to deliver quickly in value to the reader
    • The profile (formerly known as the objective) needs to be brief. It’s best at 1-2 sentences instead of 3-5. Brief and powerful is the goal
    • Getting essential accomplishments, results, and impact is an excavation
    • Melissa shares a few of the questions she asks clients to help them

Need 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

My name is Mark Anthony Dyson, and I am the Founder of The Voice of Job Seekers. I am a career advice writer, but more importantly, I hack and re-imagine the job search process.. I've worked with hundreds of job seekers one-on-one helping them to construct a narrative and strategy that appeals to hiring managers and recruiters. I present at colleges and organizations, and facilitated many workshops including my volunteer effort through a Job Lab. I write and create useful job search content on this blog and write career and workplace advice for blogs such as Glassdoor, Payscale, Job-Hunt.org, Prezi and more. Media Feature highlights: Forbes, Business Insider, NBC News, Glassdoor, LinkedIn's #GetHired, and NPR Freelance writer and content contributor: Glassdoor, Payscale, job-hunt.org, The Financial Diet, RippleMatch.com and more. Contact me to contribute career, job search, or workplace advice for your site at markanthonydyson@gmail.com.

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Filed Under: Resume Tagged With: Resume

by Mark Anthony Dyson Leave a Comment

RIP the Resume with Torin Ellis

RIP the Resume with Torin Ellis
http://traffic.libsyn.com/thevoiceofjobseekers/thevoiceofjobseekers139.mp3

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Rip the Resume- Job Search & Interview Power Prep

It’s time to get your resume strategy ready for your graduate job search or your next opportunity. Need some guidance? I got you! Torin Ellis, winner of Top Recruiter (toprecruiter.tv) is back with his new book, Rip the Resume: Job Search & Interview Power Prep!

What are some of your resume and interview challenges? Let’s discuss. You can reach 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 mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Torin was in a previous episode and mentioned his book then. We planned since last spring for him to come back and talk about his book. Torin is the founder of The Torin Ellis Brand, a Human Capital Strategist, Diversity Ambassador, Interview Architect, and soon-to-be-author!  He’s appeared in Black Enterprise and regularly featured on SiriusXM 126 on the “Karen Hunter Show” as a career guest expert.

    Here are some of the talking points highlighted in his book:
    –Common mistakes that detract from the resume
    –Focus on quantifying – commands attention, states productivity, created synergy
    –Five each of descriptive sentences, adverbs, and accomplishments
    –Resume doesn’t do more than securing a conversation
    –Star candidates look for organization details, SWOT analysis, immediately deliver results
    –Preparation is the most important part of the job search process
    –A thank you acknowledgement is more than an email—get a card a drop it in the mail

Need 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!

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

My name is Mark Anthony Dyson, and I am the Founder of The Voice of Job Seekers. I am a career advice writer, but more importantly, I hack and re-imagine the job search process.. I've worked with hundreds of job seekers one-on-one helping them to construct a narrative and strategy that appeals to hiring managers and recruiters. I present at colleges and organizations, and facilitated many workshops including my volunteer effort through a Job Lab. I write and create useful job search content on this blog and write career and workplace advice for blogs such as Glassdoor, Payscale, Job-Hunt.org, Prezi and more. Media Feature highlights: Forbes, Business Insider, NBC News, Glassdoor, LinkedIn's #GetHired, and NPR Freelance writer and content contributor: Glassdoor, Payscale, job-hunt.org, The Financial Diet, RippleMatch.com and more. Contact me to contribute career, job search, or workplace advice for your site at markanthonydyson@gmail.com.

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Filed Under: Interview, Resume Tagged With: Interview, Resume

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Listen to my NPR podcast interview on “Jazzed About Work” with Beverly Jones from 8/13/2020!

WOUB Digital · Episode 087 : Black job searchers face special challenges, says Mark Anthony Dyson

See my #GetHired LinkedIn Live with News Editor Andrew Seaman

Watch this interview about today’s job search!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJNTym48NVo&t=68s
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