August 7, 2024 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Job Search Mistakes

Dear Joanna,

I am a very busy office manager who was trying to source a qualified full-time receptionist for our office. After posting the job opportunity on several websites, I was shocked to receive over 200 applications with resumes that quite frankly were inappropriate. A time-consuming and painful process, I sorted through other peoples’ messy applications, was able to select four candidates who appeared on paper to be suitable but in reality, were a disaster.

What would you say are the biggest mistakes job seekers make in their search for employment?

Signed: Big Mistakes Don’t Work (BMDW)

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July 25, 2024 Leave a Comment

Impress Job Interviewers with the Best Questions

When consulting to job seekers to help prepare them for upcoming job interviews, I often hear concerns about how to answer interviewer questions, choosing suitable interview attire, as well as where to find company information. While these are all very important, I have noticed that candidates often forget to think through which questions that they will ask in an interview, often treating this aspect of interviewing as an afterthought. An otherwise good interview can be undermined by a candidate who sounds unprepared, or who asks questions that come across as selfish, greedy or disinterested.

WHY ask questions in an interview?

Many candidates ask questions in interviews simply because they are expected to do so by the interviewer(s). However, keeping in mind that interviews are a two-way process in which both employer and candidate have a decision to make, this opportunity can be very useful for interviewees.

Interviewee questions can be useful for the candidate to:

learn about the job and company
learn more about the job and its challenges
gain information about the culture of the company
gain insight into the expectations of the employer from the person in that position
showcase their interests and expertise, to further impress the employer about their suitability for the position

WHAT are the best questions to ask?

To make a strong impression, candidates might choose questions about:

1. the position (that were not covered in the job posting), such as :

What personality would be ideal for this position?
What are the challenges facing this position right now?

2. the company (that were not covered on the website or posting):

How would you describe the company culture?
What are the primary priorities for the company right now?

3. the candidate’s suitability for the position:

How do my qualifications compare to the ideal requirements for this position?
What do you think is missing from my resume for this position?

4. the hiring process:

What is the next step in the interview process?
When can I expect to hear from you?

Additional sample questions can be found in this post on this topic at the About Job Search site.

NOTE: not all questions are harmless — some questions can really undermine the credibility of a candidate, such as those that make the interviewer feel that the candidate is asking only out of a sense of obligation (such as questions to which the answers are easy to find on the company website) or questions that sound selfish or greedy (such as questions about benefits).

HOW to prepare the questions

I recommend to candidates that, before a job interview, they:

prepare a number of questions which they could ask (approximately five questions, from which they can pick the most suitable 2-3 at the interview)
type out and bring the questions to the interview, in a folder where it can easily be found (no need to struggle to memorize the questions — it just adds to the stress of an interview)
have paper and pen ready, to take any notes that seem necessary

WHEN to ask the questions?

Candidates need not necessarily wait to be prompted to ask questions. Candidates who are able to initiate asking questions during the interview skillfully can come across as assertive, confident and able to take initiative.

To sum up..

Interviewees who ask questions that are carefully chosen, well-informed and appropriately timed can have a competitive advantage in an interview, leaving a solid and positive impression, which can go a long way to influencing the final decision of a potential employer.

July 24, 2024 Leave a Comment

Choosing the right keywords for your job search

Ever struggled to find meaningful words that stand out and that won’t make the reader’s eyes glaze-over in boredom when writing a resume, cover letter or LinkedIn profile? If you said “yes” (and you most probably did), you are not alone, according to LinkedIn who recently reviewed the over a quarter of a million profiles on their site, to identify the ten most overused words and phrases:

Responsible

Strategic

Creative

Effective

Patient

Expert

Organizational

Driven

Innovative

Analytical

Recognise these words? As an Employment Counsellor, I do. I see them often. Truth is, I use them myself. Keep in mind, though, that “Frequently used” doesn’t mean “not important”. It just means that when employers see that you chose to use common words, they find it difficult to see how you have something special to offer them. This is not a problem unique to job seekers, either — anyone who reads job postings has noticed that employers themselves often list these terms in job postings, as they struggle to identify exactly what they are looking for in a good candidate.

Considering the importance — in the current competitive job market –– of being able to present yourself as unique among other job seekers, it is well worth the effort to find those words which stand out and are meaningful to describe your strengths and assets.

Here are some ideas to help choose your best possible words or phrases:

Start off by making your own list of work strengths. Think back to your work history: what were your biggest achievements — the ones you are most proud of, and for which you received the biggest praise? Which do you think your references would mention to describe you? Keep in mind that strengths could be hard skills (such as your ability to use a certain software or to perform a certain task) or soft skills (the skills that come naturally, such as organisational or interpersonal skills). Make a list of your top 5-10 skills in which you are most confident.

Identify the key words that are most important to employers. Check through job postings to which you would like to apply, as well as the websites of target employers to identify the catch-phrases or “buzz words” most often used. Highlight those that best match your own strengths (of course, if you can’t find a match between the skills wanted by employers and your own abilities, you might be looking for the wrong jobs. Consider re-evaluating whether you need to retrain or to refocus your efforts elsewhere).

Find ways to demonstrate your important strengths. Potential employers will be watching your behaviour, to assess your skills for themselves — they will look at how you interact with employers (conducting your job search in a way that is responsive, punctual, thoughtful, personable), as well as in the behaviours and values you showcase in your social media presence (e.g. your volunteer work, your participation in professional development, your ability to deal with feedback on Facebook or Twitter).

Be specific when describing your achievements. When a potential employer reads your cover letter and resume, or reviews your LinkedIn profile, they should be able to understand not only what your strengths and skills are, but how you used them. Share specific examples that prove that you have been, in fact, “responsible”, “strategic” or any other of the so-called overused terms (e.g. “Addressed customer complaints, to ensure that each was satisfactory resolved, resulting in frequent positive feedback from customers for the way their concerns were handled“, is much more effective than “responsible for handling customer complaints, to ensure satisfaction“).

Seek good references and LinkedIn recommendations. Make sure that you those who have agreed to speak on your behalf know what skills you have chosen and which achievements you are focusing on. Once they agree to act as references, share your resume with them and tell them what strengths you consider important. Connect with them on LinkedIn and try to get recommendations or endorsements from them.

The bottom line: choose your words carefully when searching for work. Your resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profile (as well as how you describe yourself in an interview) will be most successful if they include carefully chosen, specific, demonstrable and meaningful words.

July 24, 2024 1 Comment

Use LinkedIn Groups to Enhance Your Job Search

Of all the functions of LinkedIn, the opportunity to join Groups and interact with fellow professionals with whom you share interests is perhaps one of the most useful ways to help you, as a job seeker, to reach outside of your network for new contacts.

Once you have set up your LinkedIn profile, including your photo, profile summary and jobs, and you have connected with the people you know, it’s time to begin using the platform to expand your network further. This is where LinkedIn Groups can become very useful.

As with all LinkedIn functions, the site offers users a detailed guide to setting up and using groups. You can join groups in your professional field (e.g. Sales), or groups related to a personal interests (e.g. hobby electronics).

Participation in groups provides job seekers a range of opportunities, including:

sharing and discussing ideas
gathering information
learning about jobs
making new contacts
showcasing expertise

The easiest way to get started is to explore the Groups You May Like option, where the site recommends groups, based on your profile. You could also search for a specific group. Keep in mind that it is best to seek out groups that are local, where there might actually be opportunities to interact with fellow professionals in person.

Once you have joined and been accepted into a group, make sure to maximise the opportunity. As a group member, you may:

Answer questions or join discussions. This may be an opportunity to show your expertise, as well as learn something new from your fellow group members. Watch your tone and make sure to sound professional — you never know who is reading your comments and following your interactions.
Ask a question or start a conversation. You can ask for opinions, experiences or information. Group members can be excellent resources, when the topic is of interest to them.
Interact with group members. You can connect with fellow group members by responding to their comment or question, by “liking” their comments, and by messaging them privately.
Add group members to your network. LinkedIn makes it easy to connect with someone with whom you share a group. Also, being in a group with someone means that you are more likely to appear in any LinkedIn search done by a member of your group. (This means that it might be worth joining a few of the larger groups, specifically).
Under the Promotions tab (if available on your group), you can learn about events and services offered by group members, or promote your own.
Under the Jobs tab (if available), you can post, read about and apply for jobs.

Preparation for job interviews can be enhanced through group participation — you might be able to gather information which may sharpen your own knowledge in your field, or specific inside information or tips about particular companies.

Finally, if you cannot find a group that represents your particular interests, consider creating a group. Keep in mind though, that administering a group is a responsibility and a time commitment. You will need to recruit members, keep conversation moving and moderate discussions. A well moderated group can be a worthwhile endeavour, to raise your profile on LinkedIn as a competent and informed professional in your field.

July 24, 2024 Leave a Comment

5 Lessons in success: The story of Diana Nyad

In October 2011, 61-year-old Diana Nyad, a divorcee, self-described childhood sexual abuse survivor and record-breaking long distance swimmer, inspired an audience when she spoke about her goals and her determination to meet them.

In September 2013, at the age of 64, after four unsuccessful attempts (the first one being in 1978, when she was 28 years old), she finally succeeded in swimming 110 miles (that’s 180 km, to us Canadians) from Cuba to Florida, and in doing so, challenged many of us to rethink the our own barriers, and “find a way” to meet our goals, saying:

“Whenever you’re pushing through the tough moments, find a way. If something is important to you and it looks impossible and you’re up against it, step back for a minute and ask yourself if you have the resolve to think of every -nth degree to get through this. And most times, we do.”

Ms Nyad’s story got me thinking about all the job seekers I see daily, who share with me their challenges in trying to meet their employment and career goals, and who inspire me with their determination. Finding “a way” is not easy, and reading Nyad’s story is a reminder that success isn’t a straight line between two points: Here are my ‘take home’ lessons from Diana Nyad’s story:

1. You are not too old.
At 64, Nyad did what most of us would never contemplated doing in our twenties, let alone in our sixties.

Many of my job seeker clients express concern about going through a career change, telling me that they’re “too old”, in their thirties, forties, fifties or even sixties, while others forge ahead, changing careers, going back to school for a couple of years, and starting anew. I am not denying that age is a genuine barrier, but it shouldn’t be a wall. As Nyad said, when asked to explain her motivation, “Because I’d like to prove to the other 60-year-olds that it is never too late to start your dreams.”

2. Don’t try it alone — get support.
When describing the plans for her swim, Nyad said, “It’s a large operation, like an expedition. We’ve got about 25 people, navigators, managers, boat crew, weather routers, medical people, shark experts, you name it.”

For job seekers and career changers, getting the support and expertise of professionals such as Employment Counsellors, network contacts and mentors can make a huge difference to how and when employment and career goals are met. Besides their expertise, people around you can offer encouragement and support, which can be key in keeping yourself motivated.

3. Plan.
Every meaningful success demands the attention and detail of careful planning. Nyad commented on her blog that “From August, 2009, to Labor Day, 2013, there was nothing but Cuba. Every day, every hour, the focus was laser sharp. No stone unturned”.

Employment and career success are no different. Success demands tedious, detailed planning, which sometimes takes significant time and always demands perseverance. Especially when financial pressures loom, we tend to become short-sighted and seek quick fixes and immediate results. Taking time to set goals and thinking through a strategy to “find a way” is well worth it.

4. Know when to cut your losses and learn from your mistakes.
Diana Nyad tried five times, and each time she learned something which helped her plan her next swim. Her ultimate success was a direct result of adapting her equipment, which previously failed.

The parallels are obvious: if your present job search approach isn’t getting you the results you need, try something different. Does your resume reveal your strongest assets in the best possible way? Are you networking sufficiently and with the right people? Do you have a LinkedIn profile and are you using it properly? Do you have competitive skills and experience?

5. Perseverance: try, try and try again (and again and again).
Nyad repeated the swim repeatedly over 3 decades. When planning her final swim she was determined to prove to herself that she did everything she could before giving up: “I just hadn’t reached the end. I hadn’t reached the wall where there’s nothing more to give. If I don’t make it, I will this time be able to look myself in the mirror and say, ‘There’s nothing more.'”

Success often comes just as we feel like giving up. For job seekers worn down by repeated rejections, financial struggles and negative job market reports, perseverance can be difficult. But picking yourself up again and planning anew, with the support of professionals and mentors, is the only option a job seeker has to “find a way” and become successful, once again.