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One Job Search Strategy is Not Enough

Design by Mark Anthony Dyson

You want to be seen and heard of getting a job but not famous. It takes thought and strategy. Looking for opportunities when transitioning to another career or due to a job separation is a chase you don’t want to pursue.

I get it.

It was almost a year ago I was ousted by Facebook and IG. They claimed I posted “against community standards.” When I emailed them three times to contest it and asked what standards I broke, they said they would get back to me. People told me I needed to get back as soon as possible. I was urgent in resolving the issue.

They weren’t.

They disabled my account instead.

After attempting to reach them for a few weeks, I decided to double down on Twitter and LinkedIn. In a way, life got more manageable.

I’m sorry, I don’t have a sexy “I-gained-tens-of-thousands-of-followers” story on any platform.

I didn’t crack anybody’s algorithm.

Well, tomorrow’s here, and I’m not hooked; I didn’t spend my last dime tryin’ and didn’t miss it. I’m NOT feenin’ (for Facebook or IG). I didn’t create second accounts for either.

I got a blog with hundreds of articles.
I got an email list of almost 3,000 people (more than that, but I purge regularly).
Not to mention I create tons of other content.

Lesson learned: Never rely on one platform to send your message.

Any platform could dive at any time.

Apply the same principle I mention here to your job search:

One method of job search offers little success. Diversifying your strategy over time (and hopefully continuously) will bring a stream of potential opportunities.
When one method brings a little momentum, use others for a forward thrust.
Social media offers opportunities to connect with people, but reliance on one platform could minimize your possibilities.
Creating content showcasing your expertise has a lot of value. It’s one way for people to find you and your work and discuss what you do, not how you got there.

Rejection may cause you to panic and make you feel anxious, and you do some things you’ll regret. Don’t fall for it.

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

For Getting Hired Sake, Correct These 9 Social Media Disasters

Assuming you care about your personal branding efforts and getting hired, you should know that everything you do online is subject to scrutiny.

Today, recruiters look at every candidate’s social media presence when making decisions about who should advance and who should not. In part, they’re looking to see how creative and impressive candidates are on social media — but they’re also looking for bad behaviors that disqualify job seekers from the running.

Getting hired is the number one priority – so everything digital has to be attracting, alluring, and convincing.

Take time now to see if any of the following major gaffes appear on your social profiles — and correct any that you find:

1. Broken Links

I’ve connected with a lot of people on Twitter whose website links in their bios don’t work. Also included in this category are links that have nothing to do with you and your professional work. Check the links on your social profiles a few times a year to ensure you’re sending people where you want them to go.

2. Using Trending Terms You Don’t Understand

Nothing like using slang when you haven’t an idea what it means. Throwing “shade” doesn’t mean throwing a lamp, nor does “Black Lives Matter” mean all other lives don’t matter.

You might think under the guise of getting hired this is trivial, but if your resume advertises anything close to “detail-oriented,” then an employer will take exception to your misuse of language. And if an employer doesn’t catch it, people in your network might. You would like their job referrals, wouldn’t you?

3. Liking and Sharing Outdated or Erroneous Information

You probably know the type: The person who doesn’t seem to think at all before sharing content. You look much more credible to employers when your timeline only includes accurate, interesting, and up-to-date content.

4. No Original Thoughts of Your Own

God bless those of you who constantly share inspirational quotes, beautiful pictures, and “Caturday” memes from others. The problem, however, is none of this content demonstrates your value as a professional. People in your network want to know you and what you do — not what you share.

5. Political, Religious, and Sexual Content

The safest possible course is just to avoid it all. Even your most positively intended posts can be offensive to others who don’t share your values.

6. Poor Quality Photos

Most smartphone cameras these days can take quality pictures to post on social media. Low-quality images make you look outdated, out of touch, and unaware of how new technology works. When you in the process of getting hired, your work is the reason you want to go the extra mile.

7. Clichés

Oh, you’re a proven leader with 20+ years of experience? How does that stand out from anyone else? People should know your unique value by glancing at just the first 120 characters of your bio.

8. Bad Grammar and Old Text Abbreviations

I recently saw someone post on a Facebook thread, “We R W U!” Meaning, “We are with you!” Employers don’t look kindly on this. It makes you seem like a bad, sloppy communicator.

9. Bragging

Context is everything, but social media makes it very easy to take things out of context. It is essential to promote yourself online, but you need to be careful not to come across as if you are boastful. There are ways to promote yourself without annoying others. If you’re unsure, ask trusted friends and colleagues for feedback on your messaging and make adjustments as needed.

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Remember, simply scrubbing your profile of gaffes is not enough. Presenting your best self online means showcasing the creative, value-driving side of yourself. That is what impresses employers and increases your chances of getting hired. Invest time and effort in making sure this is the aspect of you that shines most brightly on social media — and avoid the reputation-marring mistakes outlined above.

Originally published here

About Mark Anthony Dyson

by Mark Anthony Dyson

14 Job Search Tips to Master in 2018

If it has been a few years since the last time you went on a job search, you need to know that things have changed. Sure, there’s advice from 2011 that still applies today – for example, networking is still a great idea. That being said, you’ll need to brush up on the latest job search strategies if you want to land a role.

One particularly important new development you should know about: Using social media to stay connected, visible, and engaged in your network is critical to job search success today.

Of course, that’s not where it ends. Here are 14 tips to help you find a new job like a modern job seeker:

1. Don’t Overestimate Tech

Artificial intelligence is a big deal in recruitment circles today, with many people claiming that chatbots like Mya will help you get your next interview.

The way I see it, unless Mya is advanced enough to laugh and cry, it isn’t likely to increase your chances of landing the job. It is still true today that nothing beats getting a referral from someone you know.

via GIPHY

2. Think Outside the Box to Gain New Skills

Volunteering, entrepreneurial ventures, and side gigs are great ways to gain new job experiences and skills.

Don’t accept “You don’t have the experience” as the final word. Go get that experience.

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3. Stay Engaged

The modern job seeker remains perpetually engaged in the job search in a number ways: networking, consulting, training (as both trainee and facilitator), professional development, and social media promotion. Take every opportunity you can to build your personal brand.

4. Breathe Life Into Your Resume

According to Jessica Dillard of Dillard & Associates, it’s time to stop treating your resume like a transactional document. Instead, use your various experiences to craft stories that demonstrate your results.

Furthermore, stop treating the job search as a transactional process. At every step, try to approach your job search as a “collaborative, engaging partnership,” Dillard says.

Listen to How Will You Stand Out at Your Next Job Fair? Use a Handbill

5. Whip Out Your Phone

Your smartphone is an invaluable aid in your job search. Scanning documents, sending emails, submitting applications, completing assessments – you can do it all through your phone. You can also use your smartphone for career development purposes by accessing online courses and programs.

6. Higher Ed. Degrees: Not Totally Necessary

A higher education degree is no longer the sure bet to advance your career.

Before investing in another degree, take a look at successful people in your industry or career track. Do they have degrees?

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7. Build a Team

Some career coaches are open to working with groups rather than single clients. See if you can find some like-minded professionals to start a “career partnership” group and split the cost of a career coach. You and your group members can also add value to one another’s job searches.

8. Get Past the ATS

Some reports suggest that more than 70 percent of resumes are rejected by applicant tracking systems (ATSs) before they’re ever seen by a human being. To ensure your resume gets through the gate, check out tools like Jobscan, which compares your resume against the job ad and suggests ways to improve your resume accordingly.

9. Offer Social Proof

Social media profiles alone are not enough. You’ll need social proof, too – that is, proof of the value you create as an employee shared by others on social media.

Are you engaged in the conversation at large in your industry? Have you published articles or peer-reviewed research? Does the industry recognize your contributions? More than 90 percent of recruiters check out potential candidates on social media. They’ll pay attention if they see you actively engaged in your industry – e.g., sharing industry news, interacting with thought leaders, and being praised by clients and coworkers.

10. Ready Your References

Many employers will require at least three people to vouch for you. I recommend having up to seven people who are ready to speak up on your behalf. You should know what these references will say if contacted and to which of your strengths they can speak most effectively.

11. Small Is Beautiful

via GIPHY

Big companies are not the only option. Small businesses and startups are increasingly viable options.

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If you’ve never worked for a smaller operation before, you might also consider freelancing with a potential employer to test drive their culture before committing.

12. Stay on Your Toes

In-demand skills change constantly today, so you’ll have to be flexible. By 2021, more than a third of the skills considered “important” for today’s workers will have changed, according to the World Economic Forum.

13. Defensive Googling Is Essential

Recruiters will be looking you up on Google – you should do the same. Google yourself once a week. Take note of any results that tarnish your image – including those that may be about other people who happen to share your name.

For some help on managing your Google results, read this article.

Listen to LinkedIn SEO with Susan P Joyce

14. Archive Your Performance

Keep an exhaustive list of your professional accomplishments, the career development programs you’ve completed, the results you’ve achieved, and the positive impacts of your actions at work. Keep your old performance reviews and kudos emails. These things will help shape your outlook on the future, restore confidence during trying times, and build your resume.

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If you ever say, “I’ve tried everything, but nothing has worked,” then you have given up too early. No job search strategy on this list – or any other list – is one and done. You may have to try targeting different people, companies, and locations until you yield results.

There are hundreds of job search tips available on the internet. Don’t attempt them all at once. Instead, try three or four at a time to see how well each works for you.

Thanks to venngage.com for the infographic and partnership. This article was originally published at recruiter.com!