Get a Job! Tips

Best LinkedIn profile picture tips

2012-01-30T18:15:00.000-08:00

Kathy Bernard -- now

I hate getting my picture taken!

As I always say, I’m much cuter in my head. But my LinkedIn profile picture no longer looked like the real me, so I knew it was time for a change.

Fortunately, my good friend Caren Libby, a professional photographer here in St. Louis, ably shot my new profile picture, which I’m happy to say reflects my real age, but still makes me feel OK about myself.

Caren also agreed to share her tips about what makes for a great social media picture. Learn from her suggestions and then get busy posting a new photo online that reflects the real you in the best way possible.

Caren Libby

Q and A with Professional Photographer Caren Libby

Q. Why should people have their photo on their LinkedIn profile and other social media sites?

A. Social media is a communications tool, and people are more comfortable connecting when they can put a face with a name and persona. A professional image reinforces the visual impression of a personal brand, and it also gives recruiters a more complete overview about you as a potential candidate.

Q. What makes for a great profile picture?

A. Sharp, high-resolution photos give the best impression whether they’re in a small LinkedIn square or a large Facebook Timeline Cover. An exterior or interior location with soft lighting and a neutral background is ideal. A simple hairstyle and minimal or no jewelry puts the focus where it’s needed … on your face. Solid-colored clothing that complements the skin works best in most environments. Colors that are in contrast to the background usually show better unless you want a dramatic effect (like black on black). A natural smile is the best accessory.

Q. Can you share some examples of good photography?

A. These images illustrate a variety of poses and styles indicative of the subjects’ personalities or careers.

Examples of portrait photography by Caren Libby.

Q. What mistakes do people make with their profile pictures?

A. Fuzzy images, harsh lighting, unnatural coloring and snapshots taken in a casual setting don’t reflect your professional best. Some people prefer not to smile, but even a slight smile can create a feeling of friendliness and approachability.

Q. How do you go about taking people’s picture?

A. Before the shoot, I talk with clients about what they want from their photo session, and we determine the best location and time to meet. I e-mail a confirmation along with a link to my website so they can view my work and read my tips. They can bring props, accessories and clothing changes, depending on the nature of the session. Most photo sessions last 30-60 minutes and include several poses and backgrounds. The primary purpose of the photo shoot is to capture the best possible images and have fun doing it.

Afterwards, I send them their photos in digital format in sizes that are appropriate for posting online, as well as for using in print materials or other purposes.

Q. How should people contact you if they’d like their picture taken?

A. I can be reached through my photo blog, by e-mail at caren@carenlibby.com or phone: 314-258-2718. Caren's photo blog address: http://photographybycarenlibby.com/

I heartily encourage St. Louisans to contact Caren to arrange for a new profile picture and for everyone else to hire a proven professional photographer in your community. Having a great profile picture is an important component of your personal brand and can help you exude the confidence needed to Get a Job! -- Kathy

Takeaways --

Add a good photo to your social media profiles! It encourages people to connect with you and let’s recruiters put a face with your name.
Hire a professional photographer with exceptional samples of flattering portrait photography.
Encourage your photographer to shoot your image using several backgrounds and in a variety of outfits.
Make sure your photo reflects your personality and professionalism.
Choose a picture that is sharp, high resolution, flattering and clear.
Opt for soft lighting with a neutral background (whether the photo is shot indoors or out).
Keep your hairstyle simple and your jewelry and accessories minimal.
Choose solid color clothing that compliments your skin coloring and contrasts with the background.
Smile!

What other tips do you have about social media profile pictures or what comments do you have about my new pictures? Share your thoughts on the Getajobtips.com blog or a LinkedIn discussion group that might have brought you here.

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips via email or RSS feed.
Unsubscribe via the Contact Us tab
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Request services from Kathy Bernard
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

Are wimpy words hurting your resume?

2012-01-23T15:05:00.000-08:00

I worked with a really talented guy who I thought would never leave the company where we worked … not because he didn’t want to leave … he did. I thought he would never leave because he sold himself so short in his resume, no one would hire him.

In a valiant attempt to not overstate his qualifications, he instead painted a picture to prospective employers that he wasn’t as good as he really was.

To improve his chances of being hired elsewhere, I encouraged him to use power words and quantitative results in his resume and to boldly state what he did and why it mattered. You can do the same. Here's how:

Power up your resume
Instead of stating wimpy words in his resume, I encouraged him to use power words and phrases that stated what he had really accomplished.

WEAK: “Helped edit magazine articles.”

STRONGER: “Managed the award-winning editorial content of Blank magazine, the flagship publication of XYZ Company, the largest widget company in the world.”

Because I had worked with him, I knew both of the above statements were true, but the revised version captured the essence of why his contributions were so valuable.

Career Overview provides an excellent list of resume power words on its site.

ACTION STEP: Review the Career Overview list and then pump up your resume using the right power words and by stating as boldly as possible why what you did for past companies mattered.

Impress with numbers
It’s also important to include quantifiable statements in your resume to showcase the measurable contributions you made at various companies.

Such statements could involve how your efforts:
• increased sales or donations by $X or Y%.
• brought about $X cost savings due to improved processes.
• trained X employees in a new program, which resulted in a Y% increase in customer satisfaction, etc.

Job seekers often believe they have no quantifiable results, but that's because they often forget that they may have been part of a team that brought about impressive results. In this instance, it's perfectly acceptable to say something like, "Played a significant role in improving our department's monthly sales results by XX%. Specifically, I grew sales by handling inside sales calls."

Professional-resume-example.com offers several examples about how to write quantifiable statements.

ACTION STEP: Add one to two quantifiable results to each of your past positions under the work history section of your resume.

Stamp out wimpy writing!
Pump up your resume with power words, quantifiable results and impressive statements that accurately relay how what you did made a difference at your past jobs. Doing so well can help you Get a Job!

What types of power words or quantifiable statements have worked well for you? Share your ideas or questions on this blog via the Contact Us tab or on a LinkedIn group discussion that might have brought you here.

Visit the Services page to learn how I can be of help to you. Also feel free to ask me questions via the Contact Us tab or invite me to connect on LinkedIn. I'll accept and you can ask me questions there. -- Kathy

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips via email or RSS feed.
Unsubscribe via the Contact Us tab
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Request services from Kathy Bernard
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

How to ask the RIGHT questions in job interviews

2012-01-15T12:52:00.000-08:00

Lynn Avery

Guest post by Lynn Avery, executive interviewing expert. Join Lynn and Getajobtips.com author Kathy Bernard at their free Essential Job Interview Skills workshop Jan. 21, 2012 in Kirkwood, Mo. where they will discuss important interviewing strategies including dressing for success. Register now!

The most successful job seekers ask smart questions that not only impress the interviewer, but also get the company representative to reveal more information about the company and the open position.

By asking the interviewer about the company's needs, problems and challenges, you may discover problems that the company doesn’t even realize it has. When you can voice such revelations, you show the interviewer that you not only understand its business and challenges, but that you are the best person to solve its problems.

Savvy question strategies
Ask open-ended questions about the company or department that can’t be answered by a yes or no and that force the speaker to talk about a subject.

CLOSED questions can be answered by yes or no and often begin with are, did, do, would, can, is, does, or which.

OPEN questions begin with who, at what time, what, tell me about, when, in what way, where, in which way, why, describe, how, or to what extent.

Sample probing questions
Here are examples of strong, open-ended questions to ask interviewers. Select 10 and bring them with you to your interviews. TIP: Ask the interviewer if you can take notes. Place the sheet in the left pocket of a pocket folder and use a sheet of paper in the right pocket to take notes. That way you can easily (and stealthily) view your questions.

What areas of the company do you believe offer the greatest opportunity for growth?
How has the growth of your company made it difficult to complete tasks?
What is your current rate of turnover in this department?
To what extent has the rate of employee turnover caused problems for you?
How well do you feel your company is meeting customer needs?
What issues are you currently facing with staff productivity?
What are ] services you’d like to offer customers, but can’t right now?
How do you collect information on quality control efforts?
What programs or services are not cost-effective? Why?
What would you like to see employees do differently to save money and improve profits?
How do you stay current on new developments in the field?
How do the results of this department affect the rest of the company?
What are the company’s most difficult, current projects?
How does your company compare to that of your competitors?
What are your goals for the future of the company?
How well do your current employees work together?
What types of problems/situations give the company the most trouble?
What would be the most difficult problem I would face if you offered me this job?
Tell me about the last time the company had to choose between producing a quality service and meeting a deadline.
Tell me about a project where the company had to overcome major obstacles to get it completed.
What types of situations cause your employees the greatest amount of stress?

What other questions do you ask in interviews? Share your questions and the reasons why you ask them on the Getajobtips.com blog or on the LinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you here.

Ask smart questions at job interviews … it can help you … Get a Job!

Subscribe to the Getajobtips.com blog for more interviewing strategies and other job search tips. Do you have a question or comment? Ask them via the Contact Us tab or invite me (Kathy Bernard of Greater St. Louis, Mo.) to connect on LinkedIn. I will accept and then you can ask questions there. -- Kathy

How to dress for the job interview

2012-01-08T19:00:00.000-08:00

Lynn Avery

Guest post by Lynn Avery, executive interviewing expert. Join Lynn and Getajobtips.com author Kathy Bernard at their free Essential Job Interview Skills workshop Jan. 21, 2012 in Kirkwood, Mo. (near St. Louis) where we will discuss dressing for success and other important interviewing strategies. Register now!

Since the first thing an employer sees when greeting you is your attire, make every effort to have the proper dress for the job you seek. Doing so will give you a competitive edge and a positive first impression that could set the tone for the entire interview.

General Guidelines

Keep your look simple and successful.
Select professional attire that you like and for which you receive positive feedback from people who are knowledgeable about professional dress.
Apparel should be clean and neatly pressed.
Clothing should fit well and remain in place while sitting and/or walking.
Select apparel, fragrances, jewelry, hairstyle, etc. that do not detract from your professional image.
Hair should be clean, neat and professionally styled.
Remove facial and body piercings. Women may wear a single pair of earrings for interviews.

Men

Wear a matching suit in navy, black or gray (pinstripe or solid) or wear a navy blazer and gray dress slacks.
Wear a white or a light blue dress shirt that contrasts with the jacket and/or tie. Arms should be covered to the wrist. Exposing arms by rolling up your sleeves appears less powerful and less formal.
A silk (or silk-like) tie should coordinate with the jacket and pant but do not choose one that contrasts too strongly with the color of your shirt; selecting subtle or simple patterns enhances credibility.
Socks should be calf-length or higher. Choose natural-fiber blends that do not hold in perspiration and heat. Choose dark blue, black or gray.
Wear conservative, clean and polished shoes.
Select lace-up (not slip-on) dress shoes that are dark or blend with pant.
Select a leather belt that visually blends or matches your shoes.
A short haircut and well-groomed facial hair is expected.
Minimize jewelry. Avoid a necklace. Wear no more than one ring per hand plus a dress watch.
A full-length coat can be worn over your suit; avoid casual coats.
Cologne should never be strong. A fragrance can cause an allergic reaction or offend the interviewer. When in doubt, do not wear cologne.
Consider a simple briefcase or portfolio in a color that supports your overall visual effect.

Women

Select a skirted suit, pantsuit or conservatively tailored dress that draws the eye to your face.
Skirts should be knee-length or slightly longer.
Select blouses or sweaters that provide visual interest, but avoid transparent, tight fit, low necklines, revealing waistlines, or details that detract from your face. Arms should be covered.
Wear plain-style, non-patterned hosiery in colors that flatter your coloring. For traditional industries, wear a neutral color. For other industries, you may choose to wear hose that coordinates with your skirt. Carry an extra pair in case of runs.
Perfume should never be strong. When in doubt, do not wear perfume.
Use natural-looking makeup and clear nail polish.
Don’t carry a purse AND a briefcase. Choose one or the other.
Wear clean and polished flat shoes or low pumps in colors that don’t make your feet a focal point. Avoid shoes that hinder walking fast. This lowers credibility. Avoid open-toed shoes.
Add accessories to express your personality and accentuate your features such as a scarf or necklace.
Don’t wear too many accessories. Accessories can accentuate your personality and be an asset if worn in moderation. Avoid dangling earrings and wear no more than one ring per hand, plus a dress watch.

On a Tight Budget

Don't wait until you are pressed for time and have to make a hasty decision or a choice that is not in your budget.
Remember that self-confidence is your goal when selecting professional interview attire. Purchase clothing with multi-use potential.
Invest in impressive, classic, well-made separates that can be combined for a 'professional' or 'casual Friday' look.
Select your best ‘neutral’ as a nucleus for your professional wardrobe. Colors like black, dark gray, and navy are versatile. Pearl gray, stone, steel blue, camel, and celery are fashionable options. Your best neutral is dependent on personal coloring and style.
Purchase matching components. Wearing a skirt or pant with jacket or vest multiplies possible combinations. Use shirts/blouses/sweaters and ties/scarves and jewelry that add visual variety. Invest in seasonal fabrics that drape and travel well, such as lightweight stretch wool, washable matte jersey or a blend of cotton and rayon.

Research the company dress code

Find out the dress code is for the industry or company where you want to work. Fields such as law, banking and accounting frequently have a stricter dress guidelines than advertising, retail and sales.
Career consultants recommend:
Dress for a position two levels higher than the one for which you are being interviewed. This may mean dressing more formally for the interview than you will once you are in the job.
The level of formality you project shows that you understand the importance of the situation and respect the person you are meeting.
When in doubt, make a conservative clothing choice.

Once you’re hired, ask your boss or the human resources department for the organization’s dress code policy. Codes vary so don’t assume you can wear the same clothes as at your last job. Play it safe by adhering to the organization’s policy.

Take the extra step to dress appropriately for your job interviews! Doing so can help you … Get a Job!

What are your thoughts about dressing for success? What mistakes do you see job seekers make when dressing for interviews? Share your suggestions and comments here on the Getajobtips.com blog or on the LinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you to this site.

Subscribe to the Getajobtips.com blog to get great job search tips once or twice each week. Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or comments via the Contact Us tab, or invite me (Kathy Bernard of Greater St. Louis, Mo.) to connect. I will accept and then you can feel free to ask me questions there. -- Kathy

How would you respond to these weird or inappropriate interview questions?

2012-01-01T17:28:00.000-08:00

Recently I asked job seekers to name their weirdest and worst job interview questions. Here are the 20 weirdest and the 10 most inappropriate questions.

But first … Charles, a hiring manager in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, explains why recruiters ask weird questions: “I use odd questions to test the response of similarly qualified candidates. The questions don't have right or wrong answers but they help me gauge the candidates’ character (whether they are protective, friendly, can think quickly, etc.)”

OK, so that explains why recruiters ask odd questions, but the real question to ask yourself is how will you respond if you are asked quirky or even inappropriate interview questions? Prepare now because being ready to respond well can help you … Get a Job! – Kathy

Top 20 Weirdest Interview Questions

Have you ever killed anything with a knife? —Bob
Do you speak to dogs? – Richard
What household appliance would you like to be? – Jayson
I've heard you have a bad temper. How do you respond to that? – Kathy
How many ridges are on a quarter? – Richard
What is your favorite cartoon character? – Leigh
How do they get the cream inside a Twinkie? – Michael
How would you promote a city with a toxic waste dump? – Christian
What do you think about most of the time? – Jaspreet
If you were an animal, what type of animal would you be? – Monique
Why are manhole covers round? – David and Lois (Note: Contrary to urban myth, the lip, not the shape, ensures the manhole cover will not fall through the hole).
If we hire you, you may only drink coffee from a blue cup. Is that acceptable? – Tia
Are you a dog person or a cat person? – Tina Marie
Is your wife married? – Gaurav
If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? – Darrell
How many phone books are there in New York City? – Michael
If you were a biscuit, what kind of biscuit would you be? – Kerry
Do you play poker and drink beer? – John
How many jelly beans would fit into a 747 plane? – Gerry
If you had a theme song, what would it be? – Darrell

Top 10 Inappropriate Interview Questions

Do you cry easily? / Do you cry at work? – Mary and Jackie
What makes you a bitch? – Michelle
How old are you? -- Iris, Khaled and Nazarene
When do you plan to have a baby? – Iris and Ulka
What does your husband do for a living? – Jackie
Why aren’t you married yet? – Faisal
Did your parents beat you? – John
What is your marital status? – Lisa
What guarantee do we have that you won't leave our company like you left the last one? – Jassim
Is your fiancé jealous? – Raluca
At your age (57), how can we be sure you won't die? – Katie
Your lips are beautiful. May I kiss them? – Tia

Share your weirdest and worst interview questions and your suggestions for how best to respond to them on the Get a Job! Tips blog (via the Contact Us tab) or on the LinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you here. Thanks! If I can be of help to you let me know and please subscribe so you can receive tips regularly. – Kathy

4 things George Bailey can teach you about job disappointments

2011-12-18T17:24:00.000-08:00

From time to time, we revisit an article that continues to have poignant meaning ...

Every time I watch the classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life, I pick up messages I never noticed before. For instance, some of the things George Bailey experienced and learned could help unemployed and miserably employed people today. For example, I learned that …

1) George HATED his job, but that wasn’t the end of the story.
He dreamed of being an explorer and building something important. Instead he gave up his dreams to keep his father’s business going.

What we can learn from George: If you are in a horrible job situation (and hey, I’ve been there!), you can learn from George that you aren’t the only one who dreads going to work and feels trapped by overwhelming responsibility. Many people have stuck it out in bad jobs during the recession since so few other opportunities were available.

The good news: The job market is slowing picking up so now is the time to dust off your resume and reinvigorate your job search by building your LinkedIn profile and network, and updating your skills so you can move from a bad job into the right one. Find help on all these subjects on my topical archive.

2) George made a difference far beyond what he realized.
Despite hating his job, the work George did was tremendously important. His “penny-ante” Building and Loan provided homes to people (including dear friends) who otherwise would have lived in slums.

What we can learn from George: When we are disappointed in our job or grieving a job loss, it’s easy to think what we do (or did) makes no difference, but Clarence, the angel, gave George the profound blessing of being able to see what his life would be like had he never been born. One line Clarence said to George has always struck me deeply, “Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole.” An “awful hole” is an apt metaphor for what remaining coworkers have to contend with when good people are forced from their jobs.

The good news: If you did good work and were respected in your position, former coworkers, customers, suppliers, and even some company leaders may be much more willing to help you land a new position than you realize, which leads me to my next point …

3) George’s friends GLADLY helped him, but they didn't know he needed help until they were asked.
George thought he had nowhere to turn, but he couldn’t have been more wrong.

What we can learn from George: George didn’t want his friends to know he was in trouble, but when his wife, Mary, let them know, they went to extraordinary lengths to help him.

The good news: Your friends and former coworkers who respect your good work and care about you may be as glad to help you in your job search as the folks of Bedford Falls were to help George. But you have to ask for help.

Send people an e-mail or a LinkedIn message and let them know you are seeking work, explain specifically the type of position(s) you seek, and ask them to send you leads or recommend you for positions. Send reminders on occasion and keep them informed of how things are going. And finally, take a cue from George and be a beacon of help and friendship to others ... such efforts will pay dividends when you need help.

4) George’s most profound growth came when he thought he had lost everything.
George was in crisis – he faced imprisonment and the loss of his business and reputation. If you are unemployed or fear you will be soon, you may be experiencing similar feelings of loss and panic. But, and this is an important but, George had the opportunity to learn that he had so much to live for despite his problems. When his perspective changed so did his life.

What we can learn from George: It can be easy to dwell on our disappointments and miss the blessings. For example, the blessings of unemployment could be more time to care for elderly parents, fix your house, or improve your abilities. Job loss may also give you needed time to focus on what you really want. Likewise, the blessings of a bad job could (potentially) be good pay, insurance, friendships with coworkers, an easy commute, etc. Even in the bad, there can be good, if you look for it.

The good news: If you are discouraged by job loss or work frustrations, it's important to remember that there are resources available to help you. If you need mental or emotional help, seek out free or low cost resources in your community. Such programs did wonders for a loved one of mine suffering from depression.

If you need help on the job front or just someone to share your challenges, invite me to connect on LinkedIn and feel free to ask me questions there. I hope you have a very blessed holiday season and a wonderful new job in the new year. Kathy

Share your thoughts! What have you learned from It's a Wonderful Life or other classic holiday stories that could help others struggling with job frustrations? Share your comments here or on a LinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you to this blog.

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips via email or RSS feed.
Unsubscribe via the Contact Us tab
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Request services from Kathy Bernard
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

What was the worst or weirdest interview question you've been asked?

2011-12-14T07:17:00.000-08:00

Do share! What interview question was so weird or awful that it stuck in your mind?

How did you respond? What did you learn from the experience? Tell your story on Getajobtips.com or on the LinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you to this blog. Remember, learning from uncomfortable interview experiences can help you ... Get a Job!

Happy holidays to all ... and to all, a GREAT JOB!

Subscribe now to Getajobtips.com so you can receive super, free job tips to keep you motivated in your job search. Thanks, Kathy

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips via email or RSS feed
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Request coaching, LinkedIn and resume reviews
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

Does your email address say you are old or ready to party?

2011-12-11T18:25:00.000-08:00

Could your email address be keeping you from getting a job? It could be if you are relaying information you hadn’t intended. See if you can spot what I am talking about in these examples:

Twinky8baller@blank.com
Iwanttobeoutdoors@blank.com
Juliebrown59@blank.com

Those who use email addresses like Twinky8baller@blank.com and Iwanttobeoutdoors@blank.com will likely have a hard time being considered for an office job because their email addresses scream that they would rather be playing pool or playing outside.

With Juliebrown59@blank.com, the “59” in the email address could tell hiring managers that Julie is 59 years old, or that she was born in 1959, or that she graduated from high school in 1959. Regardless of what the 59 really means, Julie is “leading with her chin” and telegraphing her age before she ever gets to show a company how perfect she is for the job. Including such a number could also hurt young job seekers' hiring chances.

If you need to make your email address longer than just your name, consider adding your field or brand identity instead of a number. For example, make it edwarddailey.engineer@yahoo.com or beth.topseller@att.net.

What about your email address?
Think about the email address you use for your job search. Does it reflect you in a positive, professional light? If not, consider starting a new email address for your job search and business correspondence. Often, if you start a new account with the same email service, you can have emails that are sent to your old account routed to your new account so you won't miss messages.

And one last thought ... when you do change your email address, email everyone you know to let them know your preferred email address … or they could be sending you important leads to a wrong address and you won’t even know! Also include your new email address in your email signature to prevent needless confusion.

Rethink your email address …after all … it could help you Get a Job!

What do you think?
Share your pet peeves or suggestions about email addresses via the Contact Us tab or on the LinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you to this blog. Forward this email to your job-seeking friends by clicking the envelope icon below. Receive this blog by email twice a week by subscribing via email or RSS feed. Thanks! Kathy

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips via email or RSS feed
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Request coaching, LinkedIn and resume reviews
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

What does your email signature say about you?

2011-12-08T07:45:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine applied for a job recently by sending an email to the hiring manager. She ended her message with the following closing … drum roll, please …

Thank you for your consideration, Laura

Laura who?!

Note that her closing contained no last name, no phone number, no email address and no other useful contact information. Fortunately she had attached her resume so the hiring manager could find out more information about her, but Laura’s omission of an email signature speaks volumes about Laura.

It says she ...

didn’t know how to add an email signature, or ...
hadn't bothered to include one, which says she is not professional … or careful … or technically proficient enough in her email program … or, it says she ...
wasn't proactive enough to help the hiring manager contact her easily. Instead, her lack of an email signature forced the hiring manager to reopen her resume each time he or she needed to access Laura's contact information.

Add an email signature today!
Adding an email signature to all of your emails is easy and takes less than a minute to do. Every email service is slightly different, but in Yahoo!, to add an email signature, simply look for the "Options" drop down menu, select "Mail Options" and then "Signature". In the signature template box, include:

Your first and last name
Your preferred contact phone number
A second contact phone number (optional)
Your email address
Your LinkedIn public profile (if you have one). Learn how to find your LinkedIn public profile address and add it to your email address here.
Your blog and/or web site (if you have one)

Email signature example

If you have an email signature, review it occasionally to make sure that it is complete, up to date and as informative as it can be. After all, having a strong email signature can help you Get a Job!

What are your thoughts about email signatures? Does it drive you crazy when people don't include one ... or am I making too big a deal about it?

Please comment using the Contact Us tab and forward this email to your job seeking friends by clicking the envelope icon below. Thanks -- Kathy

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips via email or RSS feed
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Request coaching, LinkedIn and resume reviews
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

If you were hiring, which person would you choose?

2011-12-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Which job candidate would you choose?

Imagine you are a hiring manager wading through resumes to zero in on the right candidate for a job opening. If all other attributes of the top two candidates were equal, would you choose the candidate who included this bullet point in his or her resume...

Eager to learn social networking and blogging to help an organization achieve its goals ...

or the candidate who included this bullet point ...

Established a Facebook fan page, a Twitter page, and a company blog for XYZ Company, which, together, resulted in a 20% increase in online sales for widgets.

I think it's fairly obvious which candidate you would give the job ... the one who had already learned and used necessary tools to support a company's success. Companies want to hire the very best person for the job. But how often do we hope that they will look past our deficiencies and hire us because we are really good at stuff that may no longer be as relevant as they once were ... and because we really need a job?

That's what getajobtips.com blog is all about ... helping talented people find satisfying work in today's ever-changing (and often scary, new) world.

I feature a simple, highly usable, tip once or twice each week to help you in your job search -- from updating your resume, to maximizing your usage of social networking tools, to interviewing with excellence. And while I am helping you, you can help me by posting comments and suggestions via the Contact Us tab and by telling other job seekers about the Get a Job Tips blog.

So what do you think about this topic? Do you think job seekers expect to be hired without attaining necessary qualifications? Share your thoughts here or on the LinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you to this site.

I'm excited to work with you to help you ... Get a Job!
Please subscribe and read getajobtips.com to find the job help you need! Kathy

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips via email or RSS feed
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Request coaching, LinkedIn and resume reviews
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

How a digital media kit can help you thrive online

2011-11-29T19:46:00.000-08:00

A guest post by Caren Libby.

Personal branding involves concept development that creates a lasting impression. Once you have a clear vision of how you want to be perceived online and off, a digital media kit can be a handy resource where you can easily keep and access information for your web site pages, social media profiles, video, audio, and Power Point presentations.

Example of components that you can include in a digital media kit can include:

Name and Title/Tagline/Slogan
Short Bio
Logo
Professional Photos
Portfolio Images
Product/Service/Job Description
Landing Page URL

As you build your personal place in cyberspace, handy access to your digital media kit will speed up the process and help you establish your iconic brand.

Have you used a digital media kit? How has it worked for you? What have you learned in the process that you can share with others? Share your comments via the Contact Us tab or on a LinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you to this blog.

Guest blogger Caren Libby is the Digital Media Planner who offers a comprehensive digital media kit and other services for people seeking to expand their personal brand. She is a digital marketer and photographer in St. Louis who specializes in creating a powerful online presence for individuals and organizations. You can find her on http://www.linkedin.com/in/carenlibby. She also blogs about branding, digital marketing and more at www.carenlibby.com.

Having a strong personal brand is a must in your job search so I hope you'll consider a digital media kit in your future ... it can help you ... Get a Job! In the meantime, if I can be of help to you, let me know. -- Kathy

Related topics

Create a basic online identity
Create an advanced online identity
Establish a personal brand
General online presence advice
Improve your LinkedIn presence
Promote your business online
Use Twitter

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips via email or RSS feed
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Request coaching, LinkedIn and resume reviews
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

Smart ways to invite people YOU DON'T KNOW to connect on LinkedIn

2011-11-13T22:16:00.000-08:00

Because I am open to connect with job seekers (and anybody else who invites me on LinkedIn), I receive all types of invitations to connect. About 90 percent of the invitations I receive just include the default invitation message, “I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” But did you know you can easily replace the default message to reflect your personality and convey why you want to connect? Customizing your invitations can greatly increase the chance that recipients will accept your invitation.

Default LinkedIn invitation message

Default invitation message
Although LinkedIn recommends that you only send invitations to people you know well, many more people who you don’t know are open to connect with you if you explain who you are and why you want to connect.

Changing your message to be more personal, interesting and informative can greatly improve the response rate to your invitations and start to build a relationship with your new connections.

Instead of using the default invitation message, customize your message like I have done below by highlighting the default text, deleting it and replacing it with your own message.

Example of customized invitation

Customized invitation message
Modify your message to show recipients why you want to connect with them. Examples:

"I read your blog regularly and love your advice.” (Believe me; bloggers never tire of such messages!)
“You may recall that I met you at the networking event. I was the person who was very impressed with your business card.”
“I see you also worked at XYZ Corp. I’d like to invite you to connect.”
“I see that you are also an alum of the University of Missouri. Go Tigers!” Similarly, you could send messages to your particular school … “I see you were a 1995 Business School grad, too. I bet we had Econ 101 together. I‘d like to invite you to connect.” You could also invite people from your fraternity or sorority even from a different college saying something like, “I see you are a Kappa Kappa Gamma from ABC University. I was one at the University of XYZ.”
“I’ve enjoyed reading your comments on the [GROUP NAME] discussion board. I think we share a lot of the same perspectives.”
“I know we have not yet met, but my friend Joe Blow talks so highly of you, I wanted to invite you to connect to introduce myself.”
“I heard you speak at an event and was so inspired by your message.”
“I’ve seen you in the XYZ Co. Cafeteria, but have not yet had the opportunity to introduce myself.”
"I'm a fellow St. Louisan and notice that we have 34 mutual connections so I thought I would invite you to connect in case our knowing each other might be mutually beneficial."

As you can see from the examples above, these type of invitations are so much more engaging than the standard LinkedIn default message.

Choose the best connection option

Consider the best connection option
When you invite someone to connect on LinkedIn, the system gives you options to explain how you know the person. Choosing which option to use can be tricky because two options require that you know the person’s email address (the Friend and Other options) and one option … the “I don’t know” the person option doesn’t work at all. The “Groups” option works well if the system “knows” that you both are in the same LinkedIn group. The other options … “Colleague”, “Classmate” and “We’ve done business together” … typically work well because the options are based on your work/school history, NOT the person with whom you are inviting.

Connection considerations

Open networks are open to all invitations

People (like my friend Robert Shindell of ILostMyJob.com shown above) who include the word “LION” or their number of connections after their name are called LinkedIn Open Networkers. Open networkers will accept all invitations … so by all means go ahead and invite them to connect, but for best results, still modify your message to let them know why you want to connect with them.

LinkedIn open networking basics
LinkedIn open networking

Did you know that you can send InMessages to anyone in the same LinkedIn group? That means if you belong to a LinkedIn group with 20,000 people, you can send a well crafted connection invitation to anyone (or everyone) in the group to greatly expand your network.
You cannot include a link or attachment in an invitation to connect.
Recruiters or hiring managers may be resistant to accepting connections from job seekers … they fear you will use the connection to pester them about job openings. Rather than asking them to connect, invite people to connect who can influence the hiring decision on your behalf at your target companies.
Accept invitations! In all the time I’ve been on LinkedIn, I have accepted invitations from all who have asked and have never had a problem with spam or inappropriate contact. So don’t resist connection requests; each connection expands your network which, in turn, can help you learn about and then connect with the right people within target companies.
Not everyone will accept your invitation, often because they don't really use LinkedIn. Don't get discouraged; just keep on inviting others to connect.
If you encounter an invitation box that won't let you delete/replace the default text, go to the person's profile page instead and then invite them to connect through the "Connect" link.
If you don't want to connect with someone, simply click the “Ignore” button.
Invite me to connect … and practice customizing your invitation while you are at it! I will accept and then you can feel free to ask my questions or let me know how I can help you.

Just do it!
Customize your connection invitations starting now to reflect your personality and purpose. Doing so can not only help you dramatically build your network, it can help you ... Get a Job!

In the meantime, if I can be of help to you, let me know. Invite me to connect on LinkedIn. I will accept and then you can feel free to ask me questions or arrange a coaching session or LinkedIn or resume review. You can find out more about my services here.

Find related "how to's" on the 'Get a Job! Tips' Topical Archive including tips on how to ...

Add your LinkedIn profile to your e-mail signature
Improve LinkedIn profile and presence
Improve your online presence
LinkedIn groups
LinkedIn introductions
LinkedIn recommendations
LinkedIn recommendation list
Research hiring companies using LinkedI
Send a mass LinkedIn InMessage to select people
Use LinkedIn to learn about hiring companies

Should you take the job offer or wait? 13 questions to know for sure

2011-11-07T14:50:00.000-08:00

I meet with many job seekers agonizing over whether to take a less-than-perfect job offer or wait for a job that they might like better.

It’s not an easy question to answer because the right decision depends entirely on your situation, but there are questions to ask yourself to help you make the right choice.

13 questions to ask before accepting the job

Do you know in your heart that you will hate the job? If so, then run, don’t walk away. If on the other hand, you are you just mildly worried about aspects of the position, be open to the offer or negotiate with the employer to make it more to your liking.
Are your family members supportive of you taking the position? Why or why not? Don’t rush into a new job without carefully considering their concerns.
Will it provide adequate income and benefits? If not, can you or other family members supplement your income with other income to make ends meet? If you are in desperate financial straits answering whether it pays enough may be a moot point if you need to earn money now no matter what.
Are you adequately qualified? If you are too under- or overqualified, you could be frustrated or bored.
Are the company’s expectations for the position determined and attainable? If not, you may find yourself in the unfortunate position of never meeting their demands.
Do you expect that you will you enjoy your day-to-day duties or dread them? It's a lo-o-o-o-ng day when you must do what you dread doing.
Is the commute bearable? Or is it in a city or area where you really want to work?
Will the schedule work for your lifestyle and family?
Are you a good fit for the company? Are you willing to drink the “company Kool-Aid”?
Will the work environment be right for you? Will you be comfortable in your work space? Are the facilities acceptable? Is the location safe? Are you OK with the dress code?
Will the people aspect of the place be right for you? Do you have a good feeling about working with your boss and coworkers? Are you comfortable with the expected work pace?
Does there appear to be a future for you at the company? Is there a clear career path? Is the company well run and growing ... or is it in serious trouble?
Do you feel called to take the position? Sometimes you can feel like a position is meant to be despite concerns about certain aspects of the job or company. If you have that certain feeling, you might be willing to look beyond expected challenges.

So should you take the job?
You may not be able to answer positively to every question mentioned above because no company or position is perfect, but you should be able to answer most questions positively … or perhaps the job that has been offered is not the right job for you.

Share your comments!
What other questions should people ask themselves before they consider taking a job? Share your ideas on the GetaJobTips.com blog or on the LinkedIn group discussion that might have brought you to the blog.

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips via email or RSS feed
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Request coaching, LinkedIn and resume reviews
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

Create your own remarkable online presence

2011-10-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

A guest post by online branding guru Caren Libby who will be leading a Creating a Remarkable Online Presence workshop with me Nov. 12, 2011, in St. Louis, Mo. See the right sidebar to learn more/register.

There are so many opportunities to get discovered online that the wealth of choices can be overwhelming at times. With a compelling, systematic approach to creating and managing your content, you can have a much better chance of getting noticed and accomplishing your goals ... whether your goals are to get a job or grow your own business.

To have a remarkable online presence, it’s essential to…

define who you are and what you stand for
determine how you want to be perceived in your field of expertise
have a place where you can share content and interact with others
utilize tools that make it easy to communicate and connect
build community around your passion and purpose

When you have a strong sense of clarity and direction, a content management system can help you control what you want to share and archive. Combine regular posts with the potential of social media communications, and you have a potent powerhouse for building your reputation and making valuable connections.

You can learn how to write, direct, produce and distribute your story online at an upcoming workshop on Creating a Remarkable Online Presence. For details, please click here.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Building a strong online presence can make a big difference in your job search or in establishing your business. Here are few articles that may help.

Establishing an online presence
Create a basic online identity
Create an advanced online identity
Establish a personal brand
General online presence advice
Improve your LinkedIn presence
Promote your business online
Use Twitter

If I can be of help to you, let me know ... I really do want to help you ... Get a Job! -- Kathy

10 speedy ways to ensure recruiters can find you on LinkedIn

2011-10-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

Recruiters often search for qualified job candidates on LinkedIn. Learn how they conduct such searches and how you can make sure they find you when they go looking on LinkedIn.

How recruiters search on LinkedIn

Recruiters frequently type the job title that they want to hire and their city name into the Search People box and then sort by relevance to find top candidates in their target area.

For example, they may type “Corporate Communications St. Louis” to find experienced corporate communicators in my city. To see how that works, log into LinkedIn and type those words into the Search People box. You will see that I come up third in the results when you sort by relevance. How did I do that?

The short answer is that I included the words “Corporate Communications” several times throughout my LinkedIn profile. The long answer is that I used 10 different steps to quickly move my listing higher in the results. Scroll down to learn exactly how I did that and how you can too.

How to be found on LinkedIn

1) Type in your preferred job title(s) and city name into the Search People box and then sort by relevance. Note how high you come up in the results. If you don’t show up in the first few pages for your city, take the following steps to move your listing up in the results in no time!

2) Click your Profile tab and then Edit Profile. Click the “Edit” link next to your name. Make sure your headline (Professional “headline”) includes the job titles you want and are qualified to perform. If you are in an open job search, also state that you are job seeking. Example: Human Resources and Recruiting Director seeking new opportunity. NOTE: Use commas or the word “and” to separate job titles. Don’t use a plus sign (+) or slash (/) … those symbols could hurt your results!

3) Check to make sure your correct city is selected in the Location section. In the Industry section, try to select an industry that reflects the key word or words that a recruiter would use to find you. For example, my industry (Public relations and Communications) includes the word “Communications.”

4) Save changes and then scroll down on your Edit Profile page. Click the “Edit” link next to the Current section. Make sure your title includes key words that recruiters might use to search for someone like you. Add key words into the Description section. Such key words are the words often used in the job descriptions you want. For example, to strengthen a Corporate Communications leadership claim, add sentences to the Description box that include key words like “corporate communications,” “publications,” “messaging,” “marketing,” “branding”, and “public relations.” Click update.

5) Scroll to the Summary section and click “Edit”. Add relevant key words to the “Professional Experience and Goals” and “Specialties” sections. Save changes.

6) Click the "Add sections" link next to the wording “NEW Are you published? Own a patent? Display it on your profile.” This link will lead you to a whole host of options that you can add to your Linked profile including:

Certifications
Courses
Honors & Awards
Languages
Organizations
Projects
Patents
Portfolio
Skills
Test Scores
Volunteer Experiences and Causes

Find this section right after your top box on your Edit Profile page.

Make the most of these sections! For example, in the Skills section, include multiple duties and key words and indicate whether you are an expert, advanced, intermediate, or beginner in each category. Also add the years of experience you have in each skills category, but max the number of years to 15 so as not to sound too “seasoned” or expensive.

Also include certifications, honors and awards, etc., that can help you a standout. The best part about adding these sections to your profile is that not only will they count toward your LinkedIn relevancy ranking, what you have added will also show up on your LinkedIn public profile, which recruiters can see if they type your name into the Google search box or other search engines.

To see what I mean, type “Kathy Bernard” into the Google search box and then click on my LinkedIn listing. Even if we are not connected … or even if you are not logged onto LinkedIn … you can see my skills and publications that are listed on my public profile.

Note skills and publications on my public profile as found on Google.com

7) Returning to your “Edit Profile” page, scroll to the “Experience” section and click “Edit”. Add key words, as well as relevant duties and accomplishments that prove your qualifications in as many past positions as possible.

8) Scroll to the “Education” section and click “Edit” next to each school. Add into the “Additional Notes” section wording like, “Courses completed in XXX and YYY” that include your key words. Save changes.

9) Search for your job description and city again in the Search People box and sort by relevance. Did you come up higher in the results? If you are still too low in the results, keep tweaking your profile.

10) Now try searching for certifications or proficiencies that make you a standout in your community. For example, type “PowerPoint Sacramento” or “Linux+ Toledo” into the “Search People” box. Do you come up high in the results for your standout abilities? If not, follow these steps again … adding such certifications and proficiencies throughout your profile … so that recruiters can easily find you whether they search by job description or your unique qualifications in your city. Remember to check your relevancy ranking regularly to make sure you haven't slipped down in the ratings. If you have slipped, take these steps again to pump up your LinkedIn presence.

Modify your LinkedIn profile to attract recruiters! Doing so can help you … Get a Job!

If you happen to visit my LinkedIn profile while going through these steps, invite me to connect and let me know if I can be of help to you. Find a ton of free job search help … from how to do resumes to how to negotiate salaries ... on the Topical Archive page of my getajobtips.com blog. Subscribe via email or RSS feed to receive similar free tips each week.

What tips have you tried to improve your relevancy ranking on LinkedIn or what have you learned from this article?

Share your comments on the LinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you here or on the GetaJobTips.com blog (simply send a comment through the Contact Us tab. Thanks for reading! -- Kathy

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

12 tricks for completing online job application forms

2011-10-02T20:29:00.000-07:00

Many companies insist that you complete an online job application form to apply for their open positions. The trouble is, many such online application forms are terribly challenging to complete.

To apply for jobs online most effectively (and painlessly), follow these steps:

1. Allow at least an hour per online application. Plan to spend up to 3 hours to complete the most tedious online forms (The worst offenders: Educational, health care and government/defense industry forms). Work quickly to complete all required boxes. Some systems can “time out” if they are not completed quickly enough.

2. When given the option to upload a resume or complete a tediously long form, opt to upload your resume by clicking the “Browse” button to find/upload your resume from your computer. This can save you time and ensure your resume looks like you intended it.

3. Create a chronological resume (with your most recent job listed first) in plain text (ASCII) format so you can easily copy/paste it into online templates without reformatting problems. Here’s how.

4. Keep answers short so you don’t have to edit them to fit particularly short boxes. Also save your most commonly given responses to a Word document so you can quickly paste the same answers into future forms.

5. Prepare a past job history document with the following information to quickly fill in forms when prompted:

Your past companies with each address and main phone number
Your beginning and ending titles at each place (and dates when you began and ended those positions)
Your supervisor’s name, title and contact information (or HR’s contact information)
Your beginning and ending salary
Duties/accomplishments for each position
Your beginning and ending dates (if you don’t know the actual date, put the first of the month)
Your reason(s) for leaving the company

Access an application form preparation sheet.

6. Have a list of at least four references ready to paste into a template with the following information:

Each reference’s name and title
Their company name, address and preferred phone number and email address
Your relationship to each reference

Learn more and access a free reference creation sheet.

7. Create a list of proficiencies and certifications. (You may also need the year you attained certain certifications).

8. Be ready to include your educational history including:

School names and addresses
Grade point average
Months/years of attendance
Degree(s)/certifications attained / areas of study
Additional courses completed since graduation
NOTE: You may also need to include your student number and transcript information.

The application form preparation sheet mentioned in step 6 includes an option to list your education.

9. Create a short, powerful standard cover letter to paste into their template if prompted. It should include:

The position title and company name. “I am very interested in your ABC position at XYZ Corp.”
Why you are particularly right for the opening, “I have measurable results in THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER THING which makes me particularly suitable for the position.”
Call to action. “Please contact me at your earlier convenience at PHONE NUMBER or email me at EMAIL ADDRESS to discuss the opportunity.”
Closing: “Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.” -- NAME

10. Have impressive attachments ready in case you are given the opportunity to include them. These could include:

A list of your LinkedIn recommendations. Here’s how.
A list of references or reference letters or list of testimonials
Samples
Certifications
Your college transcript

11. Be ready to complete online assessment questions. Typically these questions will seek to determine if you have the required experience and skill level for the open position, the right personality to fit into their environment, and/or the correct citizenship documents to be considered. Copy/paste your best answers to such questions into a document for fast retrieval later.

12. Review/improve your submission if provided a summary page.

Other tips

Avoid using your computer’s standard back button to return to a previous page. This may cancel out your entire submission. Instead, look for and use the form’s back button.
Use the “Save as Draft” button if an online form takes longer to complete than you have time available.
Avoid over-clicking buttons on slow-moving systems. This can freeze/cancel your application.
Print and/or save the job description. Review it before phone and in-person interviews.
Try using the “Apply using LinkedIn” feature for job postings on LinkedIn that give you that option. This new feature allows you to send your LinkedIn profile instead of completing a form and/or sending a resume.
Keep a log of positions for which you’ve applied. This log should include the company name, job title, date you applied, source (such as Monster.com), any special username/password required to access their system, and special notes such as, “Yikes! Allow 3 hours for applications to XYZ Corp.”
When in doubt, just answer as best you can. Some systems simply won’t allow you to answer a question correctly. For example, a system may not allow you to respond “all of the above” so just give the best answer you can and move on to the next question. When possible, notify the company’s HR department if its online system is defective (as nicely as you can).

Most importantly …
After applying online as directed, take active steps to outmaneuver the online application system by influencing the hiring decision. I regularly discuss savvy strategies to do just that in free webinars on http://www.ilostmyjob.com/ and during in-person workshops (see the right sidebar to upcoming sessions).

Have an online application form horror story or tip to help others improve their online applications?
Share them here on the Get a Job Tips blog (using the Contact Us button) or on a LinkedIn discussion board that may have brought you to this blog.

Helpful "Get a Job" resources

Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us
Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
Save and use printable resources
Request phone or in-person coaching
Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
Benefit from useful services
Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

10 job seeker power tips to make the most of networking events

2011-09-14T22:32:00.000-07:00

Are you like my friend at networking events? He plants himself by the roast beef buffet and rarely roams beyond the horseradish sauce to avoid talking with strangers. Networking at events can be scary and frustrating, but it is so essential to do! Studies show networking is THE best way to learn about and land positions. So, take the following networking event tips to heart ... they can help you ... Get a Job!

10 job seeker power tips to make the most of networking events

1) Pick worthy events that include ...

People who can help you (as well as people who you can help).
People who can influence hiring decision makers.
Hiring decision makers.

Don’t minimize this tip! Don't waste time and money attending networking events with the wrong people.

2) Have a purpose for each event. For example, your purpose could be to meet three hiring managers in your field. But regardless of your intended purpose, be pleasant and engaging to all. You never know from where or from whom your next job will come.

3) Seek to learn who is attending in advance.

Research target people who you expect to attend (on LinkedIn, Facebook, Google, their company web site, etc.)
Make a list of the specific people who you want to meet at an event. Jot down their titles, companies, etc. Bring the list with you (discreetly) to help you make the most of your mingling.
Look for an electronically posted list of event attendees or ask the event coordinator for a list.
Search for people talking about attending on Twitter. Many event promoters use a hash tag (pound sign) as in "JobLinkUpEvent#" so you can follow tweets specifically about that particular event).
Watch for when people mention they plan to attend events on a LinkedIn group discussion or in their LinkedIn network updates.

4) “Meet” target people via email, social media or phone before the meeting. By getting acquainted with them in advance, you will feel much more relaxed when meeting them in person.

5) Dress appropriately and be prepared.

Wear comfortable shoes so you can stand without pain.
Women should carry a light purse or none at all.
Bring business cards, notepad and pen or carry a mobile device to capture contact information.
Print your name large and clear on your name tag. Place it on your upper left chest so it is not blocked when you shake hands.

6) Establish your presence at the event ...

Be friendly to the event host, speaker and registration workers.
Stride confidently into room toward a congested area. Don’t hide by the food/bar!
Introduce yourself to a person by saying your name and field.
Repeat other people’s names until you can say it correctly. This will help you remember their name.
Make good eye contact with those you engage in conversation. Don't let your eyes wander off in search of target person while ignoring the person in front of you.
Have a mutual connection introduce you to target people when possible.
Be a "wing man" to a friend and vice versa so that you can bring each other into group conversations.

7) Engage people in conversation.

Be memorable by being interested! Ask questions, listen well, respond in a way that shows you are 100 percent engaged in what they have to say.
Seek to establish common interests or to recall past experiences where you may have crossed paths.
Honestly compliment others or talk (positively) about the event.
Be friendly and welcome loners into conversations. Remember that you are not the only person who is uncomfortable at the event.
Wait before interrupting a conversation.
Remember names and introduce people to each other.
Have a business card available, but don’t blanket the room with them.
Ask for other peoples’ cards. Write notes on back of their card to jog your memory about the person and to ensure you send them promised information.

8) Let's eat!

If a meal is served, try to sit at a target person’s table within comfortable talking distance.
Introduce yourself to the table. Prepare a brief statement that includes your name, field and why you are glad to meet them.
Don’t overeat or drink.
Be aware and make adjustments if you are talking too much or too loudly.
Make the rounds at the end of the event to reconfirm commitments.

9) Follow up

Email people within three days to fulfill commitments or to ask for their help.
Strengthen new relationships by asking people to coffee or lunch. Download my Informational Interview Success Sheet for step-by-step guidelines to make the most of these meetings.

And the single best way to wow the crowd at networking events ...

10) Offer to help and then do it! When you focus on how you can help rather than focusing on your own discomfort at networking events, you will not only become a better networker, but a better person who others will seek out, befriend and recommend.

Tell people about job leads. Follow up by emailing them a link to the open position.
Help the event planners if they seem overwhelmed.
Provide sales representatives and small business people with business leads.
Offer to send people helpful articles based on your conversation with them.
Make mutually beneficial introductions and introduce people to influential people who can help them.
Speak highly of people at the event to build their confidence and recommend them later for positions ... believe me, by doing so, they will remember you fondly forever.

What othertips could help job seekers network well at events?

Share them on theLinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you to this blog or here on theGet a Job! Tips blog by using the Contact Us feature.

Top 10 ways job seekers say they landed jobs other than by applying online

2011-09-07T21:34:00.000-07:00

Recently I asked job seekers how they landed jobs in ways other than (or in addition to) applying online. Here are the top ten ways they’ve landed positions plus their comments about why their ideas worked for them. Consider how their tips can help you … Get a Job!

10. Find a job in the newspaper/apply in person. James S. of St. Louis says, “I saw an ad in the newspaper and then I hand-carried my resume to them and chatted with the admin assistant. Eventually I got an interview and a firm job offer. So ... no internet, email, Linkedin, Facebook or Twitter … just good old fashioned tactics ultimately paid off.”

NOTE: Be warned: Some companies don’t like hand-delivered resumes (one recruiter went so far to say that he thought hand delivered resumes were “creepy,”) but it might be a worthwhile effort to try for certain organizations.

9. Send a mass email or LinkedIn InMail followed by a phone call. Lisa S. from San Francisco says that this tactic “is cold calling, but by sending the letter first, it makes the process easier.” Duane D. of Milwaukee, Wis. has taken a similar approach using LinkedIn InMail messages to let his massive network know how his job search efforts are going and how he can use their help in connecting to target companies.

NOTE: If you send a mass email, either put all recipients’ email addresses in the blind CC box (BCC), or send each person a separate message so recipients won’t see all the other email addresses. Also make it easy for people with short attention spans to send you job leads -- include the job titles for the position you seek every time you contact your network.

8. Stand out through samples and creative application submissions. “I've hand-stitched small books promoting myself and hand delivered them. I've also created concept-based self promotions that can be wrapped in personally designed wrapping paper and shipped to them in the mail. Everyone loves opening a gift,” says Adam, an art director from Salt Lake City

7. Reach out to people who you’ve helped. “I've reconnected with people who I've met and helped during their job search who are now employed. They are most likely willing to help to return the favor,” says Sandra C. of Boston, Mass.

6. Intern / serve as a temporary employee. Mary H. of Huntsville, Ala. was able to catapult her way into a full-time position by first working as a temporary employee. “Become so essential on the job that the company won’t be able to envision hiring anybody else but you,” she said.

5. Get acquainted with people in LinkedIn discussion groups. “When I started using LinkedIn I was and still am, awkward when it comes to networking. But if you just start reaching out to people, they really are willing to help. Comment on something they have posted and then work up to making a connection,” says James D. of St. Louis.

4. Go to networking meetings. “They are educational, supportive, and energizing, and they will cover the many ways to conduct an effective job search in these trying economic times,” notes James B. of St. Louis. Plus, you can often meet people at these meetings who can be instrumental in recommending you for positions at their company.

3. LinkedIn connections. Terri B. of St. Louis said, “I landed my current position through networking on LinkedIn. I contacted numerous HR employees at target companies. One of my contacts recommended that I contact my [now] boss. I arranged a meeting with him. Three months later his company contacted me and offered me a position. This position was not posted. If I had not reached out to a connection, I would never have been a candidate for this opportunity.”

2. Recommendations from others. “I have had parents of former students recommend me for positions. Now that's a vote of confidence!” says Pamela F. of Cleveland/Akron, Ohio.

1. Networking. Frank A. of St. Louis says, “I did a mind map on what tools over 400 job seekers and over 100 employers were using to find each other. Networking was the number one answer on both sides."

Wanda of Washington, D.C. concurs. “I landed jobs through dinner parties and conferences. The infamous question, ‘What kind of work do you do?’ by a dinner guest seated next to me got my foot into the federal government despite a hiring freeze. Attending conferences has led to my acquiring overseas positions, which never would have happened if I hadn’t met the right people at professional conferences.”

Marshall Karp, a career coach in Canton, Ohio, may have the ultimate correct answer for outmaneuvering the online application system: “Try different things. Apply online, but you better also be doing networking, warm calling, cold calling, and going to former schools' career centers.”

So how have you landed positions other than applying online?

Share your ideas on a LinkedIn discussion board that may have brought you here or by using the Contact Us tab on the GetaJobTips.com blog. You can learn how I've landed jobs here. Thanks everyone for sharing your ideas! I invite you to subscribe to this blog so I can help you in your job search. Find dozens of tips under the Topical Archive tab. -- Kathy

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

Share all the ways to land a job BESIDES applying online

2011-08-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

I wrote a blog post once about all the ways I've landed a job and what you can learn from my experiences. Interestingly, I landed most of the jobs in other ways besides (or in addition to) applying online.

For example, I've landed jobs by ...

Contacting a friend of the family
Writing a letter campaign to all the ad agencies in town
Talking myself into a position over happy hour
Responding to a newspaper ad
Reaching out to a former boss
Working my LinkedIn connections
Asking influential people to vouch for me
Sending an email to the hiring manager

How about you?

How have you landed past jobs? The ways that you've gotten jobs before could work for you again. Find a free "Learn from Past Jobs" chart on the Printable Resources page to help you track how you have landed your past jobs. Use the knowledge about your work history to help you ... Get a Job!

Please share ways you've landed jobs (or tried to land jobs) on a LinkedIn discussion board that may have brought you to this blog or by using the Contact Us tab on this blog so other job seekers can benefit from your experiences.

I'll share people's great ideas in an upcoming blog post. Thanks. -- Kathy

How to fix the lamest line on your resume

2011-08-15T22:15:00.000-07:00

Can you figure out what the biggest waste-of-time line is on your resume? It’s “References available upon request.”

Why is the line lame?
Companies assume that you have references, so telling them you have references, but not telling them who your references are, is a waste of resume space.

Instead of using the lame line, take one of two approaches: Either don’t use the line AND don’t include your references (if the company doesn’t ask for them) or … even better … include your best references in the most impressive way possible as an extra page of your resume.

But how do you land AND list an impressive batch of references to wow hiring companies? Read on.

Finding references / preparing your reference list
Step 1: List all the people you know who could … and likely would … vouch for your abilities, integrity and work ethic.

Your reference choices may include former coworkers or bosses, mentors, family friends, teachers, coaches, advisors/counselors, classmates, or fellow volunteers. Potential references may also be someone influential who you know within a target industry or company.

Step 2: Narrow your choices to the four most impressive sounding people who you believe will also be the most glowing in their sincere praise of you.

Why four references and not three? Because companies ask for various types of references and you want to be sure to have more than enough to accommodate their preferences. At least two of the people should have a business relationship to you (if possible) and at least one should be someone with whom you have a personal relationship, such as a long-term, influential family friend. None should be family members.

Step 3: Contact potential references individually as far in advance as possible and ASK them if they would be willing to serve as a reference to you. Don’t assume they will be willing.

When you ask them, explain why they would make a good reference for you. “You were always so supportive of my career goals, that’s why I thought you would make an excellent reference for me.”
Provide them with information so they can make an informed decision and so they can speak knowledgeably about you should they decide to be one of your references.
Send or give them your resume and provide them with talking points about why you are specifically well-suited for particular open positions. Make sure they know how to reach you by providing them with your phone number and email address.

Step 4: Ask each reference for the following information – preferred name (for example Robert or Bob), the proper spelling of his/her name, company name, job title, company address, preferred phone number (optional: second phone number) and email address.

Step 5: Write a brief statement that explains your relationship with the reference. For example: “Bob was my senior supervisor at Oxnard Print Works for three years. He remains a valued mentor to me.”

Step 6: Once you have gathered all of your references' information, create a reference sheet using the type face and point size that matches your resume. Be sure to include the same contact information as at the top of your resume. Include the page with your resume, particularly when companies request your references.

Preparing your references

If your references may receive a reference call soon from a hiring company, give them full details about who may be contacting them (name, company name, phone number and email address) and what information you want them to mention about you.
Provide them with the job description so they can speak as knowledgeably as possible.
Ask them to let you know if they were contacted by a hiring company and to let you know any information that they learned that could be beneficial to you.
Afterwards, thank your references. Keep them informed about the outcome of interviews and, when possible, help them grow their business or search for work.

Other tips

Update your reference sheet each time your references' information changes.
Add a line at the end of your reference list that says, “Find immediate recommendations about me on my LinkedIn profile at [LINKEDIN PUBLIC PROFILE]. Invite me to connect. I will accept so you can view my recommendations.”
Create and include a LinkedIn recommendation sheet. Here's how.

Conclusion
Remove "References available upon request" from your resume and replace it with an impressive referral list ... doing so can help you ... Get a Job!

In the meantime, if I can be of help to you, let me know. Invite me to connect on LinkedIn. I will accept and you can feel free to ask me questions. I really do want to help you find satisfying work. -- Kathy

Where to find free answers to your job search questions

2011-08-07T16:51:00.000-07:00

Are you struggling with job search questions like …

“Why am I not getting responses to my resume?"
“How do I explain having been fired?”
“How can I change career fields?”
"How can I get hiring companies to pay me what I’m worth?"

You can find answers to these questions and many more, plus step-by-step solutions to common job hurdles, on the Topical Archive page of getajobtips.com. Simply click on the Topical Archive tab to find dozens of helpful articles sorted by subject matter. Can't find the answer you need? Ask questions using the Contact Us tab. Subscribe to getajobtips.com using the options provided on the right navigation bar to get new, free tips weekly via email or RSS feed.

The getajobtips.com Topical Archive includes step-by-step solutions to help you:

Apply for jobs and then outmaneuver the online recruiting system
Craft an effective cover letter
Send email messages that generate a response
Establish a strong online presence
Improve yourself to make yourself more viable
Interview successfully
Use LinkedIn to land a job
Network effectively
Research hiring companies
Create a powerful resume
Negotiate a good salary
Start a business

Also find printable resources such as a career action plan, an interview planning checklist and much more on the Topical Archive page.

So what job search questions do you have?
Ask your question on the LinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you here, or use the Contact Us feature on this blog to ask your questions. You will receive a personal response ... and I might use your question as the basis of a blog article to help other job seekers wrestling with the same challenge.

In the meantime, if I can be of help to you, let me know. Invite me to connect on LinkedIn. I will accept and then you can feel free to ask me questions or arrange a Career Launch Lunch (St. Louis, Mo. area) so I can help you in person.

Find solutions to your job search struggles ... doing so can help you … Get a Job! -- Kathy

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

What do you think is the most damaging resume mistake?

2011-07-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

I've got an opinion about which resume mistake can cause job seekers the most problems for themselves, but I want to hear your opinion. Share it here on the Get a Job! Tips blog (click the Contact Us tab) or on the LinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you here.

I'll share the best thoughts, as well as solutions to the resume problems that are mentioned, in a future article. In the meantime, if I can be of help to you, let me know. I really want to help you ... Get a Job! -- Kathy

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

Why you shouldn't overdo the bullets in your resume

2011-07-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

Guest post by Barbara Deters who also taught me (Kathy) a thing or two about not overusing bullets in this week's blog post!

One of the most common problems I see in resumes is the misuse of bullets.

I’ve seen entire resumes that are nothing but a series of bullets. How inviting! It’s inviting all right – inviting the recruiter to toss it in the reject pile. When I see a resume that looks like this, I see a person without personality. I see a person who doesn’t know how to tell his or her story. And for the most part, I see a person who isn’t getting job interviews.

Another misuse of bullets is using them for all content after the job title, whether it’s a job duty or an accomplishment. This just confuses the reader. What’s more, it allows a negative thought to enter the mind of the reader.

A bullet should be used consistently to highlight – in this case it’s your accomplishments.

Put job duties in a paragraph form under the job title. This makes it easier for the recruiter or hiring manager to see what level of responsibility you held in that position. Use bullets to showcase what you’re most proud of accomplishing at that job.

If the two are jumbled together in a series of bullets, 1) you’re making the recruiter work to differentiate which is which and 2), the recruiter or hiring manager begins to think “Well, that’s not an accomplishment!” That’s the last thing you want him or her to be thinking.

The last point I want to make about bullets is the use of them when uploading your resume to an online application system. Bullets are a special character and will screw up your online submission pretty much every time.

When submitting your resume online, go back and reread every last word of the resume. You’ll find that there are strange symbols where your bullets used to be. Delete them and replace them with a hyphen, which isn’t a special character, so that when your resume is printed, it still is readable and looks nice.

Making these adjustments will make your resume much easier to read and a little less likely to be rejected off the bat.

What do you think about Barbara's perspectives on using bullets on your resume? Share your comments on the GetaJobTips blog or on a LinkedIn discussion board that brought you to this site. -- Kathy

If you live in the St. Louis area and want to learn more about resume writing, sign up for Barbara Deter's free Get a Resume! workshop with Get a Job! Tips author Kathy Bernard on July 30. Learn more about the workshop on the right column of this blog post.

Barbara Deters is corporate communications leader and resume writer based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

Challenge your resume to the half page test

2011-07-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

Guest post by Barbara Deters

Let’s face it: Looking for a job sucks. There’s all that time you spend writing your resume and cover letter, submitting them online, networking into the company and then, if you’re lucky, interviewing numerous times with the same company over a three-month period. Perhaps at that point you’re a finalist. Or perhaps the company recruiter has stopped responding to your e-mails and phone calls.

As the headline screamed on an opinion piece by Thomas Friedman published in the July 17 edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “Nostalgia aside, today is not your parents’ job market.”

Ya’ think? It’s not even the job market WE knew!

So, with all the hurdles you have to jump over just to get an interview, don’t stumble by producing a resume that is too difficult to read and that gives recruiters or hiring managers a reason to toss yours aside for the next applicant’s.

Take the half-page test

We’ve all been told recruiters take 10-15 seconds max to scan your resume. If they like what they see, then they’ll read on. So how do you grab their attention? Take the half-page test right now. Print out a copy of a resume that you tailored for a specific job. Fold the first page in half. Does the top half truly represent the real you, the best you have to offer to that company for that position? If not, start rewriting.

The second question is: Have you written it in the right format to make it easy for the recruiter to read? If not, then you need to reformat it. As much as some outplacement services tout the functional or capabilities resume, recruiters I’ve talked to as well as online postings I’ve read in HR groups indicate recruiters don’t like it. They far prefer chronological resumes (with your job history and related duties for each job listed in chronological order starting with your most recent job).

If you use a functional resume, they believe you’re trying to hide something. That doesn’t mean you should never use a functional resume. It just means you should think twice – maybe three times – before choosing one over the traditional format that recruiters are used to seeing.

Writing a resume is part formula, part art. If you put the two together well, your resume will get noticed ... and that can help you ... Get a Job!

If you live in the St. Louis area and want to learn more about resume writing, sign up for Barbara Deter's free Get a Resume! workshop with Get a Job! Tips author Kathy Bernard on July 30. Learn more about the workshop on the right column of this blog post.

Barbara Deters is corporate communications leader
and resume writer based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

What the heck is a plain text resume and when should I use it?

2011-07-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had the frustrating experience of trying to paste your resume text into an online application form only to have the system mess up your text by removing all of your carefully executed bolding, centering, italics, etc.? Fortunately there is a way to avoid this problem.

The solution is to create your resume in plain text (ASCII) format. Plain text is a simple text format that does not use formatting specific to any one application so text saved in a plain text document can be used on any platform or software the recipient uses.

This means that when you copy/paste your plain text resume into an online application system or email message, the recipient will be able to read it without formatting problems. Plain text also allows email recipients to control the format of your email message in their email reader using the type size and font they prefer.

But here’s the tricky part: Plain text limits what you can do to make your resume stand out. For example, you can’t bold, italicize or underline type. You can’t use bullets or wrap type from one line to the next. You can’t include images, colors or different kinds or sizes of fonts. You can’t even center your type … at least not in the usual way.

Plain text resume example

So what CAN you do with plain text type?

The good news is you can make your plain text resume stand out by employing simple, but different techniques than you probably use now.

To create a plain text resume, open Word and then save the document as Plain Text (found under “Other Formats”). The good part about working in Word in Plain Text format is that each time you save the document, it will ask you if want to save it as plain text document. When you say yes, it will format the document in plain text so you can see if it will look all right or not. If it doesn’t look right, adjust your line length (or whatever) and save it again. Once you have closed the document, it converts the file to an editable Notepad document and all future changes can be made in Notepad.

Plain text tips

Keep line length to 80 characters or less
Use hard returns (don’t wrap text)
Use a fixed-width font, which ensures each character takes up the exact same amount of space. Popular fixed-width fonts include Consolas, Courier, DejaVu Sans Mono, Letter Gothic, Lucida Console, Monaco, and Prestige Elite
Use spaces to line up your text (not tabs)
Keep all text left justified or use your space bar to center select information (such as category headings).
Use all capital letters (sparingly) for headings
Use a row of equal signs (====) or hyphens (----) to create a line between resume sections
Use asterisks (*), hyphens (-) or plus signs (+) as bullets. Note: Typically you can use any character or symbol on your computer keyboard in you plain text documents so exclamation points, the “@” sign, the “#” sign, etc., are all usable either as text or as design elements.
Use two hyphens (--) instead of a long dash or em-dash

Benefits of plain text resumes and email messages

Web addresses (including your LinkedIn profile address) are clickable in plain text documents so recipients can visit your web site or LinkedIn public profile directly from your plain text resume. Your email address is also clickable and will open to a new email message with the “To” line pre-populated with your email address. Recipients can also read your plain text email messages on their mobile devices, even if they have visual disabilities or use a text-to-speech converter.

Additionally, plain text email messages are a much smaller file size than rich text (HTML) emails so they can be delivered and downloaded faster. They are also virus-free so they almost never get caught in a recipient’s spam folder.

Final thoughts

A plain text resume can help you speed up the process of applying for jobs through maddeningly difficult online applications forms … and for that reason alone, you may want to get cracking on a plain text version of your resume right now! Just don’t delete your regular resume … you may still prefer to present the nicer looking version of your resume when you go on interviews.

What tips do you have about plain text resumes or what trials have you experienced setting one up? Share your secrets or questions on the Get a Job Tips blog or on a LinkedIn discussion board that may have brought you to this article. Thanks for reading and let me know if I can be of help to you. Invite me to connect on LinkedIn and feel free to ask questions. I want to help you … Get a Job! -- Kathy

8 ways to land a job without a degree (or the right degree)

2011-07-05T21:35:00.000-07:00

Several job seekers I know face the same challenge: They don’t have a college degree and believe it is hurting their job prospects. Other job seekers are worried that they have the wrong degree or too low of a degree to get a job at companies that target people with specific or higher degrees. Here are tips to overcome these obstacles.

8 ways to overcome degree challenges

1. Under “Education” on your resume, add classes you have completed (particularly those related to your field or industry) plus training courses you participated in for a job such as management training, diversity training and Microsoft Office applications or other computer classes. Doing so will show you have actively pursued educational opportunities and are much more educated than they might initially expect.

Explain relevant course work that makes you more impressive than your degree or lack thereof.

2. Also under “Education,” add “Proficiencies in ‘XX’ equivalent to a bachelor’s degree” (if you can state so truthfully). Not only will this help you impress keyword search software, which is looking for the words, “bachelor’s degree,” it will also cause hiring companies to consider you more strongly.

3. Consider taking a course or two toward your preferred degree and then explain in your resume that you are working toward a “XX” degree. Also add that you are attending the school in your LinkedIn profile and join the LinkedIn student group related to the school. And don’t forget … once you’ve registered for the school, take advantage of its career center offerings.

4. Emphasize specific on-the-job experiences that make you uniquely qualified for each job opening. That means you will need to change your resume and cover letter for each opportunity and be prepared to discuss such experiences in your interviews. Also be sure your LinkedIn profile matches the abilities you state in your resume. One way to do this is to make good use of the free LinkedIn “Add sections” feature (see location in the image below), which allows you to add skills, certifications, courses, honors and awards, patents, and other information to your LinkedIn profile. Find this feature right under the top (main) blue box on your “Edit Profile” page.

Locate the Add sections feature on your Edit Profile page
to include your skills, certifications, courses, honors and
awards, languages, and much more.

5. Use a case study in your cover letter to show how your efforts dramatically helped a company. Include quantifiable results throughout your resume and LinkedIn profile to prove to companies that you can make a positive difference for an employer. Alternatively, consider adding a simple table in your cover letter where in the left box, you feature a requirement of the job opening, such as “3 years of Excel and on the right, list your superior experience, such as “5 years of Excel.”

Include a simple table in your cover letter to show your superior abilities.

6. Include impressive samples to show your abilities when you apply via email or mail, or when you apply for a job through an online system that allows you to include documents.

7. Volunteer for nonprofits (especially ones with influential business leader board members) where you can use your skills. By doing so, you can better the world … and impress people who can influence hiring decisions at their companies.

8. Most importantly, work your network. Your next job will most likely come about because someone you know knows how good you are and recommends you highly for a position. Make sure your former coworkers and friends know a) that you are job seeking b) what kind of jobs you want and c) how to send you leads both by phone and email. Remind them frequently that you are looking and keep them updated on your progress … people have a short attention span!

What other ways can people land a job without a degree (or the right degree)?

Please share your tips on the Get a Job! Tips blog or on the LinkedIn discussion board that might have brought you to the blog. If I can be of help to you in your job search, let me know. Invite me to connect on LinkedIn and ask me questions. I’m glad to help you ... Get a Job! -- Kathy

Rejected for a job? Find out why using these tactics

2011-06-26T20:25:00.000-07:00

Being rejected for a job hurts. And it’s confusing. You wonder why the company didn’t want you. And you worry that you are unknowingly doing something wrong that is causing you to lose out on opportunities.

The good news … if there is any good news in being rejected … is that you can often learn why you didn’t get the job and receive helpful advice from companies that didn’t hire you. Here’s how:

If you’ve been rejected at the resume stage ...
You can often chalk it up to your resume not matching the keywords the company sought when it did a keyword search of submitted resumes.

For example, if you are an accountant, the company recruiter will type in words like “reconciliation,” “general ledger,” and “profit and loss statements” to see if they show up on your resume. If you used different words to explain the same duties or neglected to include the key words at all, your resume will likely be rejected before a human being ever really looks at it.

Left: Job description text | Right: Resume text

Improve your chances: Use Wordle.net to compare keywords

Paste the job description text into the free Wordle.net template and print
Paste your resume into the template and print
Compare the two pictures. The biggest words in the job description word picture are the words the company used most often. This tells you that these words could very well be the words they will look for in your resume
Adjust your resume to better reflect the job description keywords
Include a skills summary near the top of your resume that includes relevant keywords (including the same key words used elsewhere in your resume)

Add a skills summary to your resume.

Here’s another big reason you may have been rejected at the resume stage:
You may have way more experience than the job description calls for … if that’s the case for you, take these steps to improve your chances:

For these lower positions, max out your experience to no more than 15 years on your resume (any more than that and you sound too old and expensive). You may event want to list less than 15 years of jobs.
Delete irrelevant past duties and even entire past jobs if they don’t relate to the position.
Explain in your cover letter (and on interviews) that you are only seeking a position where you can do exactly what they ask for and reinforce that you are not striving for a higher level job.
Add a bold statement near the top of your resume to reinforce that you are specifically qualified for the opening. For example, if applying for an accounting coordinator position at an international corporation, write:

Proven accounting coordinator experienced in

international corporations.

If you’ve been rejected after being interviewed, take these steps to figure out why:

Think through the interview. Did the interviewer dwell negatively on specific aspects of your experience or show excessive concern about how you answered certain questions? If so, you can pretty well figure that those were the reasons that you were rejected. For example, I can recall an interviewer who commented that it appeared as if I had had too many jobs over a relatively short period of time. Even though the rest of the interview went really well, I could tell my response to her questions on that topic … or even my attempt to follow up with an explanatory email … did not sway her away from her original concern.

Be honest with yourself. Were you really qualified for the job as well as a good match for the company and position? Interviewers can often see through such attempts. In these situations, accept that you weren’t really the best candidate and resolve to a) Apply for jobs more suitable for your experience and personality b) Improve yourself so you are fully qualified for the positions you want.

If you still can figure out why you were rejected …

Email the interviewer and ask for ways you can improve. Note that I say to send an email rather than call the person. Why? Calling can make the person unnecessarily uncomfortable and resistant to responding. Emailing allows them to respond to you when they have time to think through their responses and give you the most thorough input they can.
----------------------------------

Rejection message example:

I enjoyed meeting with you about your ABC position. While I’m disappointed I was not selected for the position, I want you to know that I am still very interested in working for XYZ should another opportunity arise.

OPTION 1: "I'd really appreciate knowing why I was not selected for the position. Would you mind sharing the reasons so that I can improve myself?"

OPTION 2: Could you please share with me ways that I can improve? I really appreciate your input.

Thank you again for the opportunity. Please keep me in mind if another position becomes available.

----------------------------------

Not all people will respond, but some will and their answers can be very revealing and helpful. If they do respond and tell you things that are hard to hear, graciously thank them for their input and state that you will carefully consider what they have shared and make improvements as soon as possible.

DO NOT respond to their comments with arguments about why the company’s perceptions of you were wrong. Learn from the experience and vow to be more hirable in the future.

Other ways to improve your chances

Share your resume and cover letter with professionals or friends and ask for their input.
Conduct mock interviews so you can work out any kinks before they could count against you.
Take action on deficiencies and update your resume and cover letter to better impress hiring companies. As singer Joan Baez wrote, "Action is the antidote to despair." And taking strong, positive action can do another thing … it can help you … Get a Job!

Have you tried without success to get feedback from a company? Or, do you have ideas for how to get valuable input from interviewers that could help other job seekers? Please share them on the GetaJobTips.com blog using the Contact Us tab or Comment feature, or discuss your ideas on a LinkedIn discussion board that may have brought you to this blog.

Answers to your top job questions, like “Can I pursue a better offer even though I just started a job?”

2011-06-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

I often get asked these top five questions from job seekers. Here are the answers I give and why. Do you agree or disagree with my responses? Let me know your thoughts via the Contact Us tab on the GetaJobTips.com blog or on the LinkedIn discussion board that may have brought you here.

Top 5 Job Q and A’s

Q. Can I pursue a better offer even though I just started a new job?

A. At the risk of ticking off the hiring company that hired you, I say, “Definitely. Go for the better job.” If the job you accepted isn’t really right for you, pursue the job with greater potential.

And lest you feel too bad for the people who just hired you, remember that they will never be in a better position to replace you than when you first start. After all, they already know who their second choice would have been (from when they just hired you). Plus, they’d rather have you leave before they expend time, energy and money to train you for the position.

Q. How do I explain a black mark on my job record?

A. Are you finding it hard to explain why you were let go from a recent job? Take the advice of Robert Shindell, president of ILostMyJob.com, who tells people to figure out the appropriate response and then “Keep it brief, keep it honest and keep it moving.” I agree with Robert. If there is something particularly difficult for you to say about your past, write out your response, edit it ruthlessly until you have it short and sweet and practically memorized so that you can say it positively and easily whenever you are asked.

Here are more ways to overcome having been fired.

Q. How can I land a job in a different city?

A. The most important advice I tell people seeking to work in a different city is to either move there now or sound like you’re already there. Companies avoid taking a chance on out-of-towners because they fear you won’t end up moving after all, or that you will want them to pay for your relocation expenses. So if you are really serious about moving to a certain city either move there or establish a local mailing address. Also join local networking clubs and get acquainted with as many people as you can before you go.

Here are more ways to land a job in a different city.

Q. How do I negotiate a good salary after a low-paying job?

A. Did you take a lower paying job during the recession, or have you been toiling at a job that never did pay well? If a new company offers you a job based upon your current low salary, there are steps you can take to improve their offer. Here’s how.

Q. How can I be considered for a job in a different field?

A. If you are seeking jobs in a different field, do these three things:

1) Realize that you will have to work much harder than people currently in that field to convince companies you are a viable candidate.

2) Play up aspects of your past positions (in your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, interviews, etc.) that relate to the new field and explain why your experiences and skills make you uniquely qualified for the position. In fact, seek to convince the hiring company that your diverse experience makes you even more qualified for the job than people who just worked in that field.

3) Learn required skills and improve weaknesses that could disqualify you from the position.

What questions do you have about job seeking? Feel free to ask me. I’m glad to help. Also subscribe to the http://www.getajobtips.com/ blog via email or RSS feed so that you can get free advice every week.

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

What’s your best tip to help recent grads land a job? I’m preparing a webinar series

2011-06-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

I’m developing a webinar series for ILostMyJob.com called Grad/to/Work to help recent college graduates land the job they want … and I could use your advice!

What tips or advice do you have for grads?

New grads are coming out into the work world at a very trying time so they can use all the good advice they can get!

Share your ideas using the Contact Us tab, or share your tips on a LinkedIn discussion board that may have brought you to this blog post. I’ll include the best ideas in my upcoming ILostMyJob.com webinar series, Grad/to/Work, which begins July 8.

In the first Grad/to/Work session, new grads will learn how to ...

Determine an action plan to attain the career they really want
Pump up their brand to compete and win over more experienced job candidates

As the series continues, grads can also learn how to ...

Radically transform their resume to increase results
Use LinkedIn and other powerful online tools to find jobs and impress hiring companies
Maximize email messages, cover letters and samples to stand out
Target their networking efforts to further their job search
Interview with confidence and set up informational interviews to get them to their goals

Please share your job advice for grads now! Also, let recent grads (even not-so-recent grads) know about the Grad/to/Work webinar series so I can help them …Get a Job!

In the meantime, if I can be of help to you, let me know. Invite me to connect on LinkedIn (I will accept), or ask questions via the Contact Us tab. -- Kathy

Recent (or not so recent) grads: Register for Grad/to/Work via this link now.

10 reasons why YOU should have a personal brand

2011-06-06T19:46:00.000-07:00

A guest post by Caren Libby --

A recruiter recently asked me how to find qualified job seekers through social media. More companies like hers are searching for candidates on the web, and people who are well represented are more likely to be considered.

In marketing, the definition of branding is the sum total of a company’s value, including products, services, people, advertising and culture. That includes logos, symbols and designs that promote consumer awareness of goods and services. Personal branding is the process whereby people and their careers are marketed as brands.

A personal brand can help you ...

Attract an audience
Create expectations
Promote your causes
Increase your visibility
Illustrate your best work
Sell products or services
Share your purpose and vision
Stand out from the competition
Interact with and grow your connections
Convey your message using rich media

You can create a plan to develop and manage your brand or hire a professional to help you …

... LAUNCH an appealing website and blog that has a clean, simple design and is easy to navigate and maintain. Incorporate logos and colors that differentiate your business or personal brand. Include images that clearly define your brand.

... EXTEND your reach and grow connections by utilizing social marketing and media platforms that fit your audience.

... INCREASE your search rankings by posting relevant articles, images and links. Exchange information on blogs and media outlets that are frequently used by your target market. Include special offers and valuable information, and develop and implement a timely communications cycle that consistently drives traffic to your online presence.

... GET PERSONAL by sharing stories and experiences that relate to your readers and listeners. Get involved in your community and network to establish mutually beneficial relationships. Maximize the power of e-mail marketing to stay in touch.

So for all these reasons and in all these ways, you really should decide to establish your personal brand ... it can help you ... Get a Job! -- Kathy

What are your thoughts about personal branding or this blog post? Share your comments via the Contact Us tab or on a LinkedIn discussion board. Also feel free to invite me (Kathy) and Caren to connect on LinkedIn. We will accept and you can ask either one of us questions.

Guest blogger Caren Libby is a digital marketer and photographer in St. Louis who specializes in creating a powerful online presence for individuals and organizations. You can find her on http://www.linkedin.com/in/carenlibby. She also blogs about branding, social media marketing and more on http://www.carenlibby.com/.

Get Kathy's 50 fast fixes to transform your job search eBook featuring step-by-step instructions and printable resources now!

Ace the job interview! Plus all 50 fast fixes with instructions and printable resources

2011-06-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Recently, I shared fast fixes to improve your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn presence, and networking abilities. Now, I’m sharing fast fixes to improve your interviewing skills using techniques you may not have thought of before. So, get cracking on being better at interviewing … it can help you … Get a Job!

Let me know what you think ... and what tips I left off. -- Kathy

Click here to order the all-in-one 50 fast fixes with complete instructions and printable resource sheets now ... it's 38 pages of vital instructions to help your job search.

Fast fixes to improve your job interview efforts

1. Conduct informational interviews using this Informational Interview Success Sheet.

2. Follow this Interview Preparation Checklist to make sure you’ve thought through every aspect of the interviewing process.

3. Use this Application Form Checklist to easily fill out paper applications when you go on interviews.

4. Be prepared to discuss your salary history and requirements. Here’s how.

5. Follow up effectively after an interview using these steps:

Ask if it would be all right for you to check in by phone or e-mail. Remember that it’s OK to be persistent, but not to be a pest. Listen and abide by how often the recruiter says you may call or e-mail to check on your status.
Consider other ways to remind companies that you are a qualified applicant:

Connect with people you know within the company through LinkedIn
Have internal acquaintances vouch for your abilities
Have respected community or business leaders contact the hiring manager or company executive on your behalf
Follow the company on LinkedIn – (Click on the Search Companies box, type in the company name, go to the company page, and then click the Follow box.) Send notes of congratulations to acknowledge business successes.
Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to the position and company you seek, particularly local organizations in which the hiring manager may be involved. Participate in the group discussions to show you are qualified leader in the field.

Keep pursuing other opportunities even if you had a great interview. Never stop looking until you have landed a position. This will keep you from getting too discouraged by rejections.
If a recruiter contacts you to let you know you have been rejected, be gracious and professional. Let the recruiter know you are interested in other open positions within the company.
It’s OK to ask for feedback as to why you were rejected if you can do it graciously. Accept the fact that some companies simply will not give such feedback.

Final fast fix tip … ask for help in improving your job search! Invite me to connect on LinkedIn and then feel free to ask me questions, or send me a message via the Contact Us tab on www.getajobtips.com. Also look for job search help under the Topical Archive tab.

Get all 50 fast fixes including step-by-step instructions and printable resources now!

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

Ace the job interview! Plus all 50 fast fixes with instructions and printable resources

2011-06-02T07:41:00.000-07:00

Click here to order the all-in-one 50 fast fixes with complete instructions and printable resource sheets now ... it's 38 pages of vital instructions to help your job search.

Fast fixes to improve your job interview efforts

Ask if it would be all right for you to check in by phone or e-mail. Remember that it’s OK to be persistent, but not to be a pest. Listen and abide by how often the recruiter says you may call or e-mail to check on your status.
Consider other ways to remind companies that you are a qualified applicant:

Connect with people you know within the company through LinkedIn
Have internal acquaintances vouch for your abilities
Have respected community or business leaders contact the hiring manager or company executive on your behalf
Follow the company on LinkedIn – (Click on the Search Companies box, type in the company name, go to the company page, and then click the Follow box.) Send notes of congratulations to acknowledge business successes.
Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to the position and company you seek, particularly local organizations in which the hiring manager may be involved. Participate in the group discussions to show you are qualified leader in the field.

Keep pursuing other opportunities even if you had a great interview. Never stop looking until you have landed a position. This will keep you from getting too discouraged by rejections.
If a recruiter contacts you to let you know you have been rejected, be gracious and professional. Let the recruiter know you are interested in other open positions within the company.
It’s OK to ask for feedback as to why you were rejected if you can do it graciously. Accept the fact that some companies simply will not give such feedback.

50 fast free fixes to improve your job chances. Part 4: Networking

2011-05-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

Recently, I shared fast fixes to improve your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn presence. This week, I’ll share fast fixes to improve your networking abilities. Don’t slouch on these tips! Networking plays a part in nearly 75 percent of all hires. So get busy! Implementing these networking tips can help you … Get a Job!

Next week, I’ll share fast fixes to improve your job interviews. In the meantime, if I can be of help to you, let me know. Subscribe to this blog via email or RSS feed to receive tips each week. Also feel free to invite me to connect on LinkedIn and then ask me questions after I accept. – Thanks, Kathy

Networking

Add an email signature

1. Email everyone you know and ask them to send you leads for the types of jobs you seek. Include an email signature that includes your first and last name, email address, and phone number so they can easily send you leads. Also add your LinkedIn profile address. Or, send a mass LinkedIn InMessages to up to 200 people at once. Here’s how.
---------------------

2. Export your LinkedIn connections’ email addresses into your Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Yahoo!, or Mac OS email account so you can send a mass e-mail message. Here’s how: On LinkedIn, go to your Connections tab and then select My Connections. Scroll to the bottom of the page and then select Export Connections in the far right hand corner. Follow the prompts for your email program.
--------------------

Use this template to prepare your network to send you relevant leads.

3. Use this Job Lead Request Template to better equip your network to send you good leads. Find this and other useful job search help forms under the Printable Resources tab of this blog.
-------------------

Example of an effective reminder InMessage to a person's network.

4. Send your network upbeat emails or LinkedIn InMessages every few weeks to remind your network that you are job seeking. Use this opportunity to share job search successes and stories, ask if anyone knows someone within a target company, express your interest in helping them, share an inspirational thought or business tip and, of course, use these opportunities to remind them that you are job seeking. Always include the types of jobs you seek ... your network has a short attention span!
--------------------

VistaPrint.com has free or very low cost business card options.

5. Order business cards and hand them out at networking event and to anyone who might be of help to you. Here’s how.
-------------------
6. Reach out to other unemployed friends. Send them job leads and encouraging messages. Meet for coffee to learn how you can connect with each other’s contacts. Sticking together can help you feel more hopeful and less isolated in your job search.
--------------------

7. Participate in free and low cost networking events in your region. Find out about these events from your local library or by joining local LinkedIn groups (just type your city name in LinkedIn’s “Search Groups” box).
--------------------

8. Volunteer, particularly for organizations involved in your area of business. Let them know that you are particularly interested in using your business skills to help them. Add your volunteer efforts to your resume and include any quantifiable results that come about because of your efforts.
-------------------

What networking tips did I leave off? Share your tips on a LinkedIn discussion board or via the Contact Us tab. -- Kathy

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

50 fast fixes to improve your job chances. Part 3: Pump up your LinkedIn presence

2011-05-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

Recently, I shared fast fixes to improve your resume and cover letters. Now use these 12 quick tips to improve your LinkedIn profile and presence. Doing so can help you ... Get a Job!

Note: Start all of the profile improvements mentioned below by going to your Profile tab on LinkedIn and then selecting "Edit Profile."

Add a professional looking photo that is not too dark.
Left photo: Courtesy of Caren Libby Photography.

1. Add a professional looking head shot photo so people can put a face with your name. Make sure the photo is not too dark. Crop it so that your face is the focus.

-------------------------

Consider using your current box to generate leads.
Use "seeking opportunity" as the company name

2. If you are in an open job search, use wording like, "Qualified TITLE at Seeking Opportunity” in the “Current” box. Don’t give connections the impression that you are NOT seeking work by using a made up company name like your name or initials and “Consulting, Inc.” Also don't keep your old job title at your old company as your current position ... that's just sad.

Note: I understand that this advice (to post that you are job seeking on your profile) is controversial, but I landed a job precisely because I did so ... so for that reason alone, I heartily recommend it!

-------------------------
3. Copy your profile text into Microsoft Word so that the Word spell check can reveal typos that might be harder for you to notice on your profile. Make necessary corrections on your profile. Also update and improve your profile information regularly.

-------------------------
4. Seek more LinkedIn recommendations by writing recommendations about people you respect first. Many of these same people will gladly write recommendations about you in return. Provide them with your resume or bio to improve the accuracy of what they write. Learn how.

-------------------------
5. Add quantifiable results to your current and past experience entries. Learn more.

-------------------------

Actual screen shot of my LinkedIn
public profile if you type my name in Google.
Note inclusion of skills.

6. Take advantage of the new “Add sections” feature found under the main profile box on your Edit Profile page. Look for the line that reads, "NEW Add sections to reflect achievements and experiences on your profile."

This feature will let you add certifications, languages, publications, and skills. Learn more in this CEO article: http://tiny.cc/4LinkedIn.

Note: Your public profile … the profile people can see if they type your name into the Google search box … will include this very valuable information … which can be a terrific opportunity for a recruiter who is not connected to you to see your qualifications.

-------------------------

7. Add your resume and samples to your profile using the free Box.net application. Use the free SlideShare application to add presentations and videos.

Behance application on a LinkedIn profile

Include your portfolio using the free Behance.com application. Find all of these applications (and many others) on LinkedIn under the More tab and then select "Applications" (or "Get more applications").

-------------------------
8. Copy/paste your LinkedIn recommendations into a Word document and post the sheet on your profile through Box.net. Also attach this sheet when you apply for jobs via e-mail or on application sites that allow you to attach multiple documents. Learn more.

-------------------------

9. Join LinkedIn groups related to your field and industry, as well as your university alumni group and local and national career search and networking groups. Also join aspirational groups … those groups that can help you learn skills that you lack. For example, join social networking-related groups to build your social networking abilities. Learn more.

-------------------------

10. Build your network. You can do so by searching your connections' lists of connections and inviting mutual friends to connect. Use the opportunity to build your relationship with these connections by adding a personal note in your invitation that reminds them how you know them and that enlists their help in finding the specific type of jobs you seek. Keep in touch with them regularly and continue to remind them that you are job seeking.

-------------------------

11. Use your status bar to let people know you are job seeking. Write something like, “Seeking a XX position. Please pass along leads!” Change the message slightly every week so your status will continually show up on your contact’s LinkedIn network updates.

-------------------------

To see how you rank by relevance in your field on LinkedIn,
type your field and your city name in the Search People box
and then sort by relevance.

12. Improve your LinkedIn search rank by adding relevant keywords (the words frequently used in job descriptions in your field) throughout the “Experience” section of your profile.

To learn how you rank, type your title or business function and your city name into the “Search people” box and then note how high you are listed in the search results when sorted by relevance.

For example, when I type: “Corporate Communications St. Louis” in the Search People box and click the “Sort by relevance” option, I come up 2nd in the rankings. If I add the words “corporate” and “communications” in more places throughout my profile, I can come up even higher in the rankings.

-------------------------

Bonus Tip: Click through all the tabs on LinkedIn to try out the various options. LinkedIn offers an amazing array of ways to help you present yourself in the best light. So get more familiar with LinkedIn and update your profile now … after all, it can help you … Get a Job!

What LinkedIn tips did I leave off? Share your tips or question using the comment feature. Or, let me know what you think on a LinkedIn discussion group.

In the meantime, if I can be of help to you, let me know. Invite me to connect on LinkedIn. I will accept and then you can feel free to ask me questions or arrange a Career Launch Lunch (St. Louis, Mo. area) so I can help you in person and all it will cost you is your fast food meal and mine.

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

50 fast fixes to improve your job chances today. Part 2: Cover Letters and Email Messages

2011-05-08T22:53:00.000-07:00

Last week, I shared the start of 50 fast fixes to improve your job chances by improving your resume. Now, here are tips to quickly fix your cover letters and email messages. Making such improvements can help you … Get a Job!

Cover letters/email messages
Don't waste opportunities just saying, "Please find my resume attached," in your cover letters and email messages! Truly "work it" every time you write to a hiring company. Here's how ...

1) Establish a professional sounding email address that does not contain your birth or graduation year (including these years tells people your age!) Also get a new email address if you share an email address with your spouse. For obvious reasons, recruiters don’t like reaching out to both Kimmy and Timmy when they're hiring just one of them. Learn the importance of a professional sounding email address.
--------------------
2) Add an email signature so recruiters can easily contact you. Here’s how.
--------------------
3) Attach your attachments! Here’s an easy way to remember to do so: Attach your documents as soon as you type the word “attached” or "enclosed" as in “Please find my resume attached.”
--------------------
4) Simplify your email background. Remove flashing graphics, colorful email backgrounds, and multiple colored and sized type faces. Also avoid excessive bolding, italics, hard-to-read script type and all-capped words. Don't let anything detract from your message.
--------------------
5) Consistently use spell check. Also improve your grammar. Get help doing both. Don't skim over this tip. I often get messages from job seekers with typos and wrong verb tenses. Take time to check your messages.
--------------------
6) Learn and use the hiring manager’s name. You can usually discover this information by calling the company’s switchboard or by typing the company name, city and the person's probable title using the Search People feature in LinkedIn.
---------------------

Add a table to your cover letter

7) Include a simple table to help your qualifications stand out. On the left side, list the key job requirements. On the right side, list how your background meets or exceeds the requirements. (Note: Limit your maximum experience to 15 years lest you sound too old and expensive.)
---------------------
8) Tell an interesting story to show you are qualified. Example:
What intrigued me about your position is the broad skill set required. A colleague once referred to me as an "ace utility player." He explained, "If a company needs a public relations leader, you are an expert publicist. If they need a marketing director, a communications pro, an editor, whatever they need -- you're it. Most people can do one thing well, two at the most, but Richard, you can do it all well." What struck me about his kind words was that he zeroed in on what I offer that makes me an excellent match for this position … versatility …
----------------------
9) Use a simple case study to convey how you’ve helped a company succeed. Mention a problem, the solution you implemented and the successful outcome because of your efforts.
----------------------
10) State what you know and like about the hiring company. Conduct research on LinkedIn, the company’s web site and on Google and other sites so you are well informed.
----------------------
11) Drop names of people who you know in the company or who have influence with it (such as clients or consultants), particularly those people who have agreed to vouch for your abilities with the company.
----------------------
12) Include recent samples to reinforce your abilities. (Remove dates from older samples or redo them lest people think you haven't done something impressive in years.)
----------------------

LinkedIn recommendation sheet

13) Attach a list of your LinkedIn recommendations. It's easy to do and can ensure it will be seen by many more people than would seek out the recommendations on your LinkedIn profile. Simply copy/paste your recommendations onto a Word document, make it look presentable and then attach the document when applying for jobs via email or when an application system allows you to include attachments. Here’s how.

Stay tuned for more fast fixes next week when I share ways to improve your LinkedIn presence.
Until then, invite me to connect (I'll accept) and/or let me know how I can help. – Kathy

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

50 fast, free fixes to improve your job chances. Part 1: Resumes

2011-05-03T10:02:00.000-07:00

Don’t get discouraged by the lack of response to your job applications … get busy! Improve your chances with these fast and free fixes you can implement today. They can help you … Get a Job! Next week, I’ll share Part 2: Fast fixes to improve your cover letters and email messages.

Resumes

1) Delete your objective. Companies don’t care what you want (sorry, but it’s true).
_________________________

2) Add a bold statement at the top that succinctly states that you are uniquely qualified for the job opening. Example:

Proven human resources leader with global corporate experience.

Adjust this statement to (truthfully) match the job description. This helps the recruiter see immediately that you are a viable contender for the open position.
_________________________

3) Include a skills summary. In particular, include skills that relate to the job description. Also feature certifications, languages and technical abilities (including proficiencies in Microsoft Office Suite applications).
_________________________

Wordle job description word picture

4) Paste the text of each job description into the template on www.wordle.net. Do this to see what words appear the most. Print the word picture. The most used words will be largest. These may very well be the keywords the company will look for in your resume. Paste your resume into the Wordle template and print. Compare the two word pictures. Adjust your resume wording to better match the job description.

_________________________

5) Replace weak verbs and statements with power words. Instead of “Helped edit the company magazine,” write, “Managed the award-winning Blank magazine, the flagship publication of XYZ Company, the world's largest widget company.” In this instance, both statements are true, but the second version says it with power.
_________________________

6) Add quantifiable statements. Focus on how your duties mattered. For example, “Implemented a program that sold XXX widgets … raised $xx in donations … saved $00 … or grew membership by XX%.”
_________________________

7) Include a brief, impressive description about each company. Add it right on the line after the company name. Example: Enterprise Rent-A-Car (The world’s largest rental car company).
_________________________

8) Ditch the fancy or artsy paper resume. It is passé. Replace it with a simple resume, using one font and just basic text that you can easily copy/paste into online application systems. Stubbornly sticking to a paper resume tells employers you are resistant to applying for positions in their preferred way, which is online.
_________________________

9) Apply online, NOT in person. According to one recruiter, “Walking in and dropping off your resume is no longer seen as a good thing. It’s actually a little creepy.” Plus, applying in person tells companies that you don't know how to apply online, which is not a good thing to convey!
_______________

10) Add in relevant experience you deleted to get your resume to fit on one page. No one cares if your resume is two pages (seriously!), but leaving off relevant experience … that can cost you an opportunity!
_______________

11) Have someone vouch for your abilities with the hiring manager or a key executive. Or, send a well crafted email to the person who is most likely the hiring manager or his or her boss. In this message, mention that you have already applied online so they can't use that excuse to avoid considering you. Learn how to outmaneuver the online application system.
_______________

12) Save and print the job description. Do this so you are prepared for unexpected phone interviews and so you can review the job requirements before in-person interviews. Also keep a log of positions for which you’ve applied, people you’ve contacted, and the outcome of each opening so if new opportunities arise at the same companies, you'll know who to contact and how to proceed. Download a free Job Leads chart.

So what do you think of these fast fixes? What tips did I leave off? Tell me what you think via Contact Us or on a LinkedIn discussion board. In the meantime, If I can be of help, let me know. Invite me to connect on LinkedIn. Feel free to ask me questions. And if you live in St. Louis, Mo., arrange a Career Launch Lunch so I can help you in person. -- Kathy

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us.
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

Best ways to invite someone to connect on LinkedIn

2011-04-24T13:03:00.000-07:00

Default LinkedIn invitation message

Example of customized invitation

Customized invitation message
Modify your message to show recipients why you want to connect with them. Examples:

"I read your blog regularly and love your advice.” (Believe me; bloggers never tire of such messages!)
“You may recall that I met you at the networking event. I was the person who was very impressed with your business card.”
“I see you also worked at XYZ Corp. I’d like to invite you to connect.”
“I see that you are also an alum of the University of Missouri. Go Tigers!” Similarly, you could send messages to your particular school … “I see you were a 1995 Business School grad, too. I bet we had Econ 101 together. I‘d like to invite you to connect.” You could also invite people from your fraternity or sorority even from a different college saying something like, “I see you are a Kappa Kappa Gamma from ABC University. I was one at the University of XYZ.”
“I’ve enjoyed reading your comments on the [GROUP NAME] discussion board. I think we share a lot of the same perspectives.”
“I know we have not yet met, but my friend Joe Blow talks so highly of you, I wanted to invite you to connect to introduce myself.”
“I heard you speak at an event and was so inspired by your message.”
“I’ve seen you in the XYZ Co. Cafeteria, but have not yet had the opportunity to introduce myself.”

As you can see from the examples above, these type of invitations are so much more engaging than the standard LinkedIn default message.

Choose the best connection option

Connection considerations

Open networks are open to all invitations

People (like my friend Robert Shindell of ILostMyJob.com shown above) who include the word “LION” or their number of connections after their name are called LinkedIn Open Networkers. Open networkers will accept all invitations … so by all means go ahead and invite them to connect, but for best results, still modify your message to let them know why you want to connect with them.

LinkedIn open networking basics
LinkedIn open networking

Did you know that you can send InMessages to anyone in the same LinkedIn group? That means if you belong to a LinkedIn group with 20,000 people, you can send a well crafted connection invitation to anyone (or everyone) in the group to greatly expand your network.
You cannot include a link or attachment in an invitation to connect.
Recruiters or hiring managers may be resistant to accepting connections from job seekers … they fear you will use the connection to pester them about job openings. Rather than asking them to connect, invite people to connect who can influence the hiring decision on your behalf at your target companies.
Accept invitations! In all the time I’ve been on LinkedIn, I have accepted invitations from all who have asked and have never had a problem with spam or inappropriate contact. So don’t resist connection requests; each connection expands your network which, in turn, can help you learn about and then connect with the right people within target companies.
Not everyone will accept your invitation, often because they don't really use LinkedIn. Don't get discouraged; just keep on inviting others to connect.
If you do decide not to connect with someone, don’t click the “Do not know” link unless they are harassing you. Instead click the “Ignore” button or it will damage their status with LinkedIn.
Invite me to connect … and practice customizing your invitation while you are at it! I will accept and then you can feel free to ask my questions or let me know how I can help you.

Just do it!
Customize your connection invitations starting now to reflect your personality and purpose. Doing so can help you ... Get a Job!

In the meantime, if I can be of help to you, let me know. Invite me to connect on LinkedIn. I will accept and then you can feel free to ask me questions or arrange a Career Launch Lunch (St. Louis, Mo. area) so I can help you in person and all it will cost you is your fast food meal and mine.

Find related "how to's" on the 'Get a Job! Tips' Topical Archive including tips on how to ...

Add your LinkedIn profile to your e-mail signature
Improve LinkedIn profile and presence
Improve your online presence
LinkedIn groups
LinkedIn introductions
LinkedIn recommendations
LinkedIn recommendation list
Research hiring companies using LinkedI
Send a mass LinkedIn InMessage to select people
Use LinkedIn to learn about hiring companies

Helpful "Get a Job" resources
• Subscribe to Get a Job! Tips. (Add your e-mail address or subscribe to the RSS feed on the right side of the blog). Unsubscribe via Contact Us.
• Find help! Dozens of tips in the Get a Job! Topical Archive
• Save and use printable resources
• Get free advice over fast food (seriously!) St. Louis area
• Join the Get a Job! Tips for Getting Hired LinkedIn group
• Benefit from useful services
• Invite Kathy Bernard to connect on LinkedIn
• Follow Get a Job! (Kathy Bernard) on Twitter
• Attend or schedule a Get a Job! Workshop

Find free step-by-step job help at www.getajobtips.com

2011-04-18T17:20:00.000-07:00

"How can I get hiring companies to pay me what I’m worth?"
"Why am I not getting responses to my resume?"
"How can I use LinkedIn to make the most of my job search?"

Find the answers to these questions and many other vexing job search quandaries on the Topical Archive page of getajobtips.com. Simply click on the Topical Archive tab at the top of the site to find all the answers sorted by subject matter. Can't find a solution? Ask your question using the Contact Us tab.

The getajobtips.com Topical Archive includes step-by-step solutions to help you ...

Apply for jobs and then outmaneuver the online recruiting system
Craft an effective cover letter
Send email messages that generate a response
Establish a strong online presence
Improve yourself to make yourself more viable
Interview successfully
Use LinkedIn to land a job
Network effectively
Research hiring companies
Create a powerful resume
Negotiate a good salary
Start a business

Also find printable resources on getajobtips.com and much more.

Remember ... if you can't find a solution, use the Contact Us feature to ask your question. You will receive a personal response ... and I might just use your question as the basis of a blog article to help other job seekers wrestling with the same challenge.

In the meantime, if I can be of help to you, let me know. Invite me to connect on LinkedIn. I will accept and then you can feel free to ask me questions or arrange a Career Launch Lunch (St. Louis, Mo. area) so I can help you in person and all it will cost you is your fast food meal and mine.