What You Can Do With Those LinkedIn Recommendations

I would really like to draw every job seeker's attention to this article by Jason Alba, CEO of JibberJobber.com, and my owner personal LinkedIn Guru.

Jason Alba: "What to Do With LinkedIn Recommendations"

One of the points he makes in this article is just so important for job seekers to hear: "As a marketer, what do I do with it??"

He's absolutely right! Once you get those lovely recommendations on your LinkedIn profile, it is time to put them to work!

Here are a couple of ways my clients have utilized their recommendations:

• Right on the resume. - Yes that's right. This is a very stylistic new tool that I've learned through the National Résumé Writers' Association, and I wish I could tell you how effective it has been!
• In cover letters. - Again, another great place to grab a decision maker's attention. Let other people sell them on how fantastic you are!
• Portfolio (hard copy, not online) - If you've worked with me before, you've already heard me talk about your "marketing materials." Think of these as the promotional materials that a salesman would have to help sell his product. Beyond your resume and cover letter, this could include a personal bio, examples of projects and methodology, and you can also use these recommendations to replace those old, tired "Reference Letters" that haven't been updated in years.
• Web Portfolio, other social networking sites. - Managing your online brand is so vital to your job search. Recommendations from others carry much more value than you realize.
  

Jason also lists a few other suggestions such as your email signature, your business card, and your (professional) blog. All fabulous ideas!

One caveat: In the comments section of this article, several people suggested going back to the original person who gave you the recommendation and asking permission to publish it elsewhere. This is just proper Internet etiquette and I strongly agree with this advice!

Finally, one little shout out to Jason Alba's LinkedIn Training: If you have ever wanted to learn more about LinkedIn, this is the guy to listen to! Check out this website to get his LinkedIn for Job Seekers DVD.

“So, Tell Me About Yourself.”

A huge thank you goes to Elizabeth for forwarding this link to me! It’s fabulous and I just had to share it with all of you! And muchas gracias to Elizabeth for her notes from the video as well!

New Grad Blog: "Tell Me About Yourself!"

If you have gone through my interview coaching sessions, you know that one of the first questions we review is the dreaded “So, tell me about yourself.” It’s common practice for an interviewer to use this question to break the ice and get the interview started. When done well, you can use this opportunity to set the tone for the entire meeting, which gives you the control to guide the process down paths that sell you most effectively!

My advice is to always answer this question as if the employer really said this: “So, tell me about yourself professionally.” Interviewers don’t really care so much about your personal life at this point (other than to make sure you’re not hiding human skulls in your closet).

What they want to hear is how you are the answer to their problem. When they ask you this very simple question, what they are really saying is:
• “Please tell me why I should hire you.”
• “Why are you better than the five other shmoes I interviewed this morning?”
• “What can you do for me?”

Some of you might have also worked with me on your “30 Second Commercial” or “Elevator Speech.” Again, the exact same concept applies.

This particular video is fabulous because it breaks the process down into easily achievable steps. There’s no reason to be intimidated by or dread this question any more!

How to Address the Interview Question: “So, Tell Me About Yourself.”
1. Brief intro
2. Your key accomplishments
3. Your Primary strengths (demonstrated by these accomplishments)
4. Importance of these strengths to the potential employer. How do these strengths fit the potential employer’s needs?
5. How do you see yourself developing these skills for the new employer?
6. Tie-in. (Turn it back around to the interviewer, putting the ball in their court). Asking them a related question, for example.)

I strongly urge each and every one of you to complete this assignment this week. Cover each of these steps and prepare your answer to this question. This is one of the most common interview questions out there, so you’ll really appreciate it when you walk into your next interview!

Julie Mendez

Motivate Your Way Through a Blizzard

I'm watching the news guys. And I'm thinking of all you job seekers who are stuck under those mountains and mountains of snow.

I can just imagine what is going on in your heads right now. You're wanting to kick back, snuggle up, let your guard down, and take a break from the job of your "job search." After all, everyone else is, right? Other folks are getting a "snow day." Heck, the federal government even shut down. No one is really caring about that email of yours in their inbox right now, so why not relax while everyone else is?

NO WAY! This is your golden opportunity!

I hear the scepticism rolling around in your brain right now. So listen to this carefully.

This is YOUR chance to get ahead. Do you hear that? This is YOUR chance to get ahead.

You've got time now, to:

• Work on connecting with others via LinkedIn,
• Improve your resume or other written marketing materials,
• Practice that 30-second commercial until you can say it in your sleep,
• Work on your SMART stories, or
• Get some extra interview practice sessions in.

How about:

• Researching the top ten companies on your target list,
• Figuring out networking connections at each of those companies, then
• Sending emails asking how they're doing and inviting them to meet for a cup of the warm beverage of their choice.
• Fill up those inboxes with messages, so when the world starts turning again, you will be turning right along with it!

Now is also a good time to:

• Catch up on industry-related reading,
• Writing white papers and blog articles on topics of interest and importance, and
• Filling your calendar with upcoming networking events to attend (after you dig out of your igloo that is).

You've GOT to keep busy, and keep motivated. Keep digging away at your job search, just as much as you've got to keep digging at the snow.

I'd love to hear stories of how you are keeping motivated during your job search! I plan to use them in an upcoming blog article - just email me at JulieMendez@jsmcareer.coaching.com,

FREE TELESEMINAR: Setting Goals and Actually Achieving Them

Yes, it's the New Year, and with that comes the dreaded "New Year's Resolutions."

I think I must be one of the few people that love making New Year's Resolutions. Yes, that's right, I actually LOVE making New Year's resolutions. And most years, I even successfully complete many of them! (Even though I'm still working on that nasty "lose the baby weight" one.)

It used to amaze me that people hated making resolutions each year, and complained when they fizzled out by March. I had no idea why that happened to others, but not to me.

Then I had an epiphany.

Those that were not succeeding were were picking New Year's Resolutions they felt they "ought" to do, that they "should" complete. I, however, chose goals that fulfilled me, that pushed me toward my personal vision, that both challenged and motivated me, propelling me toward my definition of success. In short, I had yearly goals that mattered. And on top of that, I had a plan.

I want to help ALL of you find the sort of success that I have found. But let's not call them New Year's resolutions. Let's call them your yearly goals. Isn't that more accurate? Aren't these "resolutions" more about effecting change throughout your whole year, instead of just one day?

This isn't a teleseminar for "job seekers." This is a teleseminar for E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E, everyone who wants to change their upcoming year. This is your chance to start your year with focus and purpose!

We will review brainstorming techniques to create the goals most important to you - what will drive you all year long. We will discuss choosing goals that are both ambitious and attainable.

Then we'll discuss the the HOW. We'll discuss creating a plan and organizing yourself so that your goals become more than meaningless words on a piece of paper. We'll also discuss different "tricks" to keep yourself accountable.

It is MY goal that this particular teleseminar start a national trend of motivated and focused goal setters and "goal accomplishers," excited to live 2010 with clarity of purpose! And yes, at the end of the year, I plan to host a "re-cap" teleseminar for all that participated, so that you can share your successes and your tips with all of us!

As always, I plan to end this teleseminar with special deals JUST for participants! So, be sure to sign up here and mark your calendar! This teleseminar is FREE and OPEN TO EVERYONE, and you are welcome to invite your friends!

January Telesminar: Set Goals and Actually Reach Them!
Date: Thursday, January 7, 2010
Time: 4:00pm, EST
Duration: (1 hour)
Cost: FREE
Register Here: http://www.jsmcareercoaching.com/tele-seminar.html

Talk to you soon!

Julie Mendez, CJSS

Now an affordable Job Seekers' Job Club, with a Certified Job Search Strategist.

In my December Newsletter, you might have seen a mention about JSM Career Coaching's new "Job Club." This is a new service that JSM Career Coaching now provides.

Let's talk a little bit about job clubs. I've worked with clients in the past who have said to me, "Oh, I joined a job club." However, when I investigate further, they seem to not get much out of the experience. One client in particular belonged to a very small group of three people which seemed (from our conversations) very unproductive. How can sitting around complaining how hard it is out there help you get a job? No, that is not a job club. That is defined as a whine-fest. Which can be fun, but is not useful in helping you land a job.

What IS a job club? A job club is a supportive environment of many job seekers learning more about job search tactics and aiding and encouraging their compatriots through the process.

A good job club is more than just an accountability group (though, this is an essential element of any job club's success). A good job club is an organic organism, where members actively engage in their own job search process and are actively involved in each other's efforts: as a sounding board, a encouraging voice, and sometimes a motivating push or "loving kick in the pants" as I like to call it.

Why in the world would you want to join a job club? In the article, "For Networking and Support, Join or Start a Job Club," it states:

What ties people in a job club together is the need for mutual support and
encouragement. People who are energized by social situations and tend to
procrastinate the lonely tasks of job-hunting will likely benefit from a job
club. Those who are shy, insecure, or ashamed of having lost a job can get help
from other job club members in overcoming these mental roadblocks. Job club
membership can stave off the depression that sometimes sets in during a protracted job search.

Not only will you feel supported in a job club, but you will probably be more successful than if you went it alone. Those who've been involved with job clubs report that their efforts that are strengthened by belonging to the group and their job searches are shorter. Richard Nelson Bolles, author of the classic What Color is Your Parachute? and a strong proponent of job-seeking support groups, notes an 84 percent success rate when job-search techniques are conducted in groups, compared with a 15 percent lower rate when the same techniques are followed individually.

Anything that can give you a higher percentage of a success rate in this economy is a bonus. Plus, as the above quote states, there is a wonderful thing that happens when you have the ability to share this experience with others, not the least of which is an increase in your daily morale.

Why You Want to Join JSM Career Coaching's Job Club
Frankly, I'm not satisfied with hosting a good job club. JSM Career Coaching's job clubs can only be defined as GREAT!

1. You will have access to the wealth of knowledge and experience of a Certified Job Search Strategist. Someone who can guide the group through the leading edge of innovative job search tactics that are guaranteed to get results.
2. JSM Career Coaching job clubs are "action-oriented." It's all about the "doing" of the job search!
3. Groups are fully interactive, encouraging practice and implementation of ideas through exercises, role play, and discussion. Members will both give and receive specific, steady feedback and positive reinforcement.
4. Each group (with a maximum of ten participants per group) will be organized around a structured framework that will facilitate a supportive and motivational group environment.
5. Participants from across the country can join in via a weekly conference call, allowing for full flexibility and networking for all group members.
6. The goal of each group is GRADUATION! We will celebrate as each group member graduates when they receive their job offer.

Who can benefit most by joining? Clients who have already gone through intensive job search coaching sessions will appreciate the chance for accountability and continued growth in a group setting. Other job seekers who have not yet decided on intensive private sessions with a Career Coach will appreciate the chance to learn from an expert while networking with other job seekers. Frankly, we have a place for any job seeker who is willing to join!

The specifics: Each group will begin with a minimum of four job seekers and a maximum of no more than ten. All sessions will be held as weekly teleconferences that will last one hour. Every member will get a chance to speak equally. Different exercises and "homework" will occasionally be assigned, and all group members will be expected to complete these assignments and actively participate so they can receive the full experience of the job club. The job clubs are not for job seekers who are not clear on the type of position or industry, etc. that they are looking for. These job seekers should consider getting individual coaching to help themselves through these steps first.

And yes, finally: The Cost! In order to make this service as affordable as possible, membership in the JSM Career Coaching Job club is just $50 a month.

Interested? Email Julie Mendez at JulieMendez@jsmcareercoaching.com for more information.

What to Do When Dealing With the Most Dreaded Question of All

Today, I'm answering a letter from a job seeker.

"Dear Julie,

I am working on my resume and don't know what to do. After staying home with my children, I recently returned to my career field (nursing). Earlier this year I worked at a hospital for three months and was let go after my probationary period was successfully completed. There were personality difficulties with some under-performing colleagues, but the official reason for dismissal had to do with medical issues, which are now completely resolved.

Since this was such a short period of employment, should I not include it in my resume? If I did include this job, and then was asked why I was fired, how much information should I give? I don't want to lie but at the same time, I don't want to be discriminated or overlooked because of the fact that I had been fired (first time in my entire life) nor do i want to disclose all of the information of my medical issues. If you could please give me advice on what decision I should make to better my chances of getting the position I'm looking for.

Regards,

"Confused"



Dear "Confused,"

No wonder you're confused! You're in a rather murky, but not uncommon, situation.

First, you must BE PREPARED to answer the why you aren't there anymore question. IT WILL COME UP. You should call your previous employer, and speak to the HR department and see how your file was processed. Does it say "due to incompetence" or "due to personal medical reasons?" (I'm just giving an example here, not saying YOU are incompetent.)

Also, ask how reference checks work. See if you have a copy of your employee manual and if it says anything in there. Some companies have it as their legal policy that only dates of employment can be verified. (Basically, because one could sue them for harassment, discrimination, breach of privacy, whatever. Someone might sue because they were "black-balling you in the industry, etc. It's a CYA policy.) Ask who the "correct" person to refer verification of employment would be. Would it just be some random person in HR? or the dept personnel you had issues with? This is super important to find out.

Sometimes you can buddy-buddy up to the HR person who does the verifications, and also inputs that info (why you left) in your file (often on a computer somewhere). You can check and see what your file says. Perhaps this information can be tweaked in a light that is not quite as damaging to you. Not lying, not falsifying documents. Please don't think that I'm proposing something of that nature.

Personally, I once convinced the Office Manager of an old firm to say that I was laid off and imply due to the economy instead of due to the fact that the owner of the company decided my "Hello, sir, how are you today?" wasn't polite and kowtowing to him enough. (Oh yeah. Seriously. See? We all have one of "those" jobs in our history.) This Office Manager really liked my work and also didn't appreciate the way I was being let go. So he agreed. You can discuss this with them. If you can work this out, make sure that person and their direct number is put down as a reference, not your supervisor, unless your supervisor would be willing to agree to this as well.

I also have a referral partner that you can pay to do these reference checks and verifications for yourself, to make sure if they are following company policy, if you are interested. It's not that expensive, actually.

Now, let's think about what we can do in a proactive manner about your situation. Do you have anyone there that liked your work? Anyone who would be willing to speak positively regarding your work ethic, or doing your assigned tasks well? It doesn't have to be your direct supervisor or people on your team. Another administrator, or a doctor, or a head RN that "saw" you a great deal? Could you talk to them about using them as a "character reference" and also writing your a letter of reference? Being able to produce written letters of recommendation in an interview (and in an application document) can be very powerful tools, even more so because HR administrators and recruiters see them so rarely nowadays. Does this individual have personal contacts in your future department? Would they be willing to put in a good word for you or introduce you personally to the decision maker? Again, think about what you can do to head a potential employer off at the pass.

To answer your question about what to say: I think it is perfectly fine to state, "Unfortunately, I had some personal medical issues that came to the surface when I began that position that hampered my ability to perform my job effectively (or to my complete potential). Now that those issues have been completely resolved and are no longer a concern, I am ready to move forward with my career." Easy-peasy.

If they ask for more details, they're just being nosy. However, most interviewers won't touch that with a ten foot pole, AS LONG AS you can assuage their fears that your "medical issues" won't be a problem again. That's the main point you need to emphasize.

Finally, leaving the position completely off your resume is not a great idea, in my opinion. Ultimately the final decision is yours, but leaving it off is chancy. Some might disagree with me, but here is my reasoning.

1. It's your most recent position. It does show that you've worked recently and are attempting to re-enter your field.


2. People are going to talk. The medical world is just not that big, especially in your specific geographic area. People know people who know people, and it is natural that someone is going to ask around.


3. Not listing this position makes you look like you have something to hide, and it's logical that someone would start to wonder what that might be.


4. What happens if you get the new position, and your new supervisor hears about you from a friend? Would that new supervisor consider that "falsifying your resume?" And that is never a good situation to be in.

So I believe being up front and bringing it out in the open is your best bet. Whatever decision you make, just be SURE about it, and cover all of your bases.

Good Luck!

Julie Mendez

Making Lemonade Days in Your Job Search

Well, I finally got it. I've been fighting off this "change of seasons" cold for weeks, trying everything I could think of. I guess even my mom's chicken soup recipe couldn't ward off this one.

Yet I have a to-do list a mile long, and time-sensitive stuff for my clients that just can't wait. So, while I was going through my day yesterday, I thought how this might be a very relevant topic for job seekers to be thinking about as well. How do you continue your job search on days when everything isn't just "perfect?"

Because, let's face it, if you only work your job search when the stars all align, you'll probably get nothing done. This is another way of just sitting back and waiting until life or that next job just come to you and fall in your lap. Several years ago, that might have worked. Not anymore.

No, your job search IS your full-time job. And you can't call in sick every time you get the sniffles or you have a bad hair day. You HAVE to keep going. You HAVE to continue to trudge through that to-do list. You HAVE to show up.

So, my tips for dealing with your job search when that seasonal cold hits:

1. First off, take a shower. Don't sit in your grungy pajamas because that is only going to make you feel worse. And sitting in a steamy shower is a great way to break up all that gunk in your head.

2. Do the self-care business. Drink a large glass of orange juice. Make the homemade chicken soup in truckloads; prepare a huge pot of hot tea, and alternate sipping large quantities of both. Take whatever over-the-counter or prescription medicines are appropriate, and don't forget the zinc and echinacea and a good multivitamin. Have a large quantity of Kleenex handy and a small garbage can to throw them in. Pull out the hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes.

3. Finally get your calendar, to-do list, and your computer. Let's check out what you can get done today in the safety of your home. Unless you can be reasonably germ-free and not sound like a foghorn, today might not be the day to do a lot of in-person networking. People will NOT appreciate being sneezed on in the height of H1N1 season. And that is not how you want to be remembered, either!

The only exception to the rule would be for an interview. Even then, with the current scare of H1N1, I would personally evaluate my ability to mask/hide my symptoms for an hour, and then call the company. Give them the option of interviewing you anyway when you are not at full-par, or rescheduling if possible for later in the week.

So, let's get back to that to-do list. Yesterday, I had two calls scheduled that I couldn't change, so I made sure to take an extra dose of meds right before my calls. I also worked my way through a pile of computer work that had been ignored: responding to contacts on LinkedIn, reviewing a client's resume and making notes, searching online for new "out-of-the-house" networking opportunities for next week (doubling up since I won't be able to get out much this week), working through the email inbox, and doing some administrative paperwork that I hate doing that was weeks late in being done. I busted my bum on getting all of that computer work done, and today I was able to start with a much cleaner slate and a much clearer head.

Think about how this can translate to your job seeker to-do list. Check out your marketing materials - do you have your resume, one page bio, and your SMART stories up-to-date? Have you been neglecting your online brand (LinkedIn, web portfolio, blog)? Can you order those business cards online? Do you have a pile of industry articles and magazines that you need to catch up on so you can stay up to date or use for fodder for white papers or that blog? How about your networking calendar? This is a great time to fill your calendar in the upcoming weeks with coffee meetings for informational interviews, or association/group meetings and networking functions. You can do quite a bit of research online for your target companies. You can check out who's hiring on the job boards, and research which recruiters are active in your field. Perhaps you can finagle a couple of phone interviews that will turn into in-person interviews next week as well.

Do you get the picture? Even if you are locked up in your house for a week with the sniffles you should have PLENTY to keep you busy. Watching soaps and "The Price is Right" all day long is not going to help you get a job. But working your job search strategy plan, even when things aren't ideal, will.

Plan your work, and work your plan. No matter what. That's what will get you the job.

And get to bed early! Nothing helps a cold like some extra sleep!

Julie Mendez