It’s unusual for our land line to ring much anymore. It’s more unusual for us to answer it. Most of our friends and family have made the transition to our cell numbers. I keep our “house phone” for ease and comfort during client intake consultations. Anymore, incoming calls on that line are telemarketers, and now, political pitches.

Photo by Koshyk via Flickr

When the phone rang at 6 o’clock on Friday night, prime telemarketing time, I almost didn’t answer. Something made me glance at the caller ID. The number was familiar, so I picked up. I’m so glad I did.

The call came from a resume client. We’d finished work on his resume at the end of March. He was calling to tell me he’d landed a job, in his target field, and started Monday – after only a month of searching with his new and improved resume. He went on to tell me, he’d given his new resume to a family member, who was able to get it in front of a hiring authority, landing him an interview. He networked, aced the interview, and starts his new job Monday. The main reason for the call; to thank me for helping launch his career. (WOW! How thoughtful and sweet.)

The back story …

The client, we’ll call him “Tom”, graduated with a bachelor’s in IT in December 2011, and also held an associate’s degree in the same field, earned in 2009. He’d been looking for a career-launching, entry-level IT position long before he graduated, and now, for several months after.

He’d been searching with a “typical”, cookie-cutter resume, carefully following all the “dinosaur-like” resume guidelines shared by university career resources, 20-years behinds the time.

(Read here and here how that could stymie a search before it ever gets started.)

He had a “me-centric” objective, a boring list of courses he’d taken, vague, generic mentions of an internship, and a large project, and an entry mentioning the job he’d held throughout his academic career – pizza delivery driver and cook. The information left the reader to determine value and figure out how what he had done could positively impact their organization.

He approached his job search with an “I’ll do anything IT” approach and was sending out resumes, willy-nilly hoping something would eventually stick. There was little focus or direction. I asked how frequently he was getting calls or interviewing. His response, as I presumed, “infrequently”; which is what lead him to me.

What I did …

After some coaching about the power of laser-sharp focus in a search, and the need to be able to articulate value in relation to targeted positions, he went off to do some next-step research: What specific position will help launch my career and get me on my desired career path?

He determined a help desk support technician was the first step. He provided three job postings representative of the position he sought. This served a two-fold purpose. After reading many postings, a common thread of valued skills emerges. This helped him identify careers stories in relation to potential employer needs. The postings also gave me key words most likely used to sort through hundreds of applications using an applicant tracking systems (ATS) They also helped me identify and tease out skills that spoke to his career target.

As I pulled his career story from him, I found out he was the “go-to” person for most of his family, friends, and acquaintances for all things IT. He frequently troubleshot hardware and software difficulties in person and over the phone. He’d also set up a large personal network, in a mansion, for a friend of a friend, through a referral.

He worked on myriad team projects in earning both his associate’s and his bachelor’s degrees. He’d landed an internship, giving him actual help desk experience. All of this great, value-conveying information was missing from his current resume presentation.

I created a bold headline and summarized what value he brought to the table. We put the focus on his hardware and software expertise and outlined the value he brought to internships, projects, and assignments. I also worked in a line about the pro bono family IT work and support provided. (A skill’s a skill whether you get paid for it or not.)

Rather than leaving the pizza parlor job hanging at the bottom of his document, listing job titles, driver and cook, I shared the story of how he’d worked there while earning both his degrees. I told how he became the go-to person for filling in and accepting additional shifts and was trusted to open and close the store for the manager. He also was the employee called on to resolve customer issues. A few lines about his growth and actions in this seven-year position conveyed a sound work ethic, reliability, and loyalty. Rather than painting a picture of pizza delivery driver, we conveyed his value as a solid, contributing member to a team … that happened to deliver pizzas.

During the process, I watched with pleasure as I saw his thinking shift from “I’m a student and pizza delivery driver who wants a job in IT,” to “I’m an IT professional, who happens to have recently graduated, and is delivering pizzas until I find the job that fits my current level of expertise.” He also saw how years of calming irate customers in the food industry would segue nicely into a help desk environment. (We all know food and computer issues can bring out the worst in people. As difficult as this might be to believe, even I get a little crabby when faced with “less than perfect” in either situation.)

The morale …

There are several lessons buried in this wonderful Friday night surprise.

• Never underestimate the power of a thank you. The fact that this young man took time out of his busy life to call and say thank you almost brought me tears. It’s a kind and wonderful gesture that won’t soon be forgotten. (What a marvelous addition to his brand.)

• Cookie-cutter doesn’t cut it. Looking like everyone else does nothing to support your unique value proposition or differentiate you from the rest of the pack. Without focus on a goal and company needs, you don’t know what part of your story to tell or how to tell it. Flopping information down on a sheet of paper and expecting the reader to extrapolate value in relation to their needs doesn’t work.

• Narrowing a search, as counterintuitive as it might sound, nets faster, more positive results. Six months in a search with “I’ll take anything” versus one month of “‘Katie bar the door’; I want to be a help desk technician” search speaks volumes.

• The power is in the presentation. Tom’s skill set did not change from the time he put together his own resume to the time we worked we together. What started landing him interviews was revamping the skills presentation. Frequently, it’s not the skills; it’s the presentation of those skills blocking job search success.

• Network. Network. Network. With a revamped presentation and narrow focus, Tom was able to approach his network, share a specific career goal, and get his resume in front of a hiring authority. The network was there before, but without his focus, they weren’t sure how to help him.

• Believe in yourself. If you view yourself as “just this” or “just that”, it’s nearly impossible to project your skill set, talents, and enthusiasm into a new and exciting position. If you don’t believe you can do it; don’t expect anyone else to believe you can do it either.

• Partner with a pro. If what you’re doing isn’t working, it might be time to enlist the help of someone who knows the market and what works. Frequently, job seekers don’t even know what they don’t know about job search today. Just because I have a scissors doesn’t mean I know how to cut hair. I look to a professional with the training, tools, and expertise to do the job right. A job seeker is wise to follow that same plan.

Tom launches an exciting new career Monday after only a month of focused searching. If focus can do that for a recent graduate, pizza delivery driver, with limited experience, imagine what it can do for you in your search.

Photo by Coletivo Mambembe via Flickr

Following is a recent LinkedIn exchange I had with a complete stranger. Information has been changed to protect identities (well, except mine):

The initial connection:

 Dawn,

I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.

- Albert

I’ve gotten over people using the “generic” LI invite. Most people don’t know or think to customize the invite. That said; I wish more people did take the time. It sure is nice when someone lets me know either how they know me or why they’d like to connect.

I looked at his profile, determined him “safe,” accepted the invitation, and took a moment to respond – like I always do. (Just because the original message is generic doesn’t mean I have to operate at that level.)

Thank you for the invitation, Albert. I’m pleased to be added to your network.

Best,

Dawn

The ask:

Within 12 minutes of accepting the invitation, I received this:

Dawn, if you are a recruiter could you help me get a job. I would like to get a career in any field at this point. There were layoffs and hiring freezes in North Carolina.

- Albert

My Reply:

This individual asked for help with his job search, so I obliged. I didn’t pull any punches, in offering suggestions to improve his job search and networking approach. If he’s making these mistakes; someone else is too. Hopefully, we’ll all learn and grow from this example.

Hi Albert -

 I am not a recruiter. I am a Master Resume Writer and Career Strategist. Since you’ve asked for assistance, I am going to give you some information to help you navigate a job search in 2012.

1. Recruiters do not find jobs for people. They find people for jobs. Their focus is on company needs. The company pays their salary; not the candidate. If a recruiter does not have an open job order for a position that has need of your unique skill set, there is basically nothing they can do for you. They can put you in their database and hope you pop back up in a search IF they get an order for someone with your skill set. (I know. I am a former recruiter.)

2. “I’ll take anything” is not an effective strategy is this market. It is up to the job seeker to determine company needs, pick through their experience, and convey the value they bring to the organization in relation to company needs. Hiring authorities will not sit and extrapolate value from a laundry list of job duties. It is up to the job seeker to convey their value and project those skills into the desired position. Target. Focus. Differentiation. The three keys to job search success in a difficult market. “If you aim at nothing, you’ll surely hit it.” A resume is not a career autobiography; it is a focused sales and marketing document telling a potential employer what they want to know. They “don’t care” what you’ve done until you can tell them how what you’ve done will benefit them.

3. I live in North Carolina and work nationally, and sometimes internationally. There were (and still are) layoffs and hiring freezes not only here, but everywhere. However, with the correct focus and approach, people land jobs every day. (A bank manager I worked with landed a new and better job, in the middle of the financial meltdown in late 2009, in only six weeks. He focused his search. He networked. He sold his value to potential employers. And he landed a job, in the banking industry, in the middle of the worst part of the recession. He was in NC. There are jobs out there.)

4. This is intended to help, but might come across as harsh. It is not my intent at all. I want you to network effectively and get results. The current approach you’re using won’t do that. I’d also like to suggest to you, if you are going to approach a complete stranger and ask for assistance, put some effort into the request. To be completely honest, my initial reaction to your reply message was “This person can’t even take two seconds to look at my profile and know I’m not a recruiter, but I’m supposed to take my time and help them ‘find a job’? Ya. Right.” Fortunately (or unfortunately *smile*) I overrode that initial reaction and opted to respond.

If you’re going to enlist a network to help, give them specific, well-thought out tasks to assist you. “Help me find a job” does not fit into that category. For instance, instead of approaching me with a “Hey, what do you do? Help me” message, a more effective approach would have been, “I see you’re a resume writer. What one tip would you give a job seeker in this market?” Or, “Do you have a favorite job search tool you recommend?” Or, “Would you be willing to allow me 15 minutes of your time to ask a few pointed questions about job search?” Each of those gives me a specific task that can easily be completed and will probably net better, more tangible results for you.

Don’t ask “Joe” if he can help you find a job. Say, “Joe, I know you have a cousin that works for ABC Company. Would you be willing to arrange an introduction? I’m very interested in working for that organization. I’d like to ask him some questions about the company and what they look for in an employee. Could you do that for me?” Chances are Joe will gladly arrange that introduction. It is specific, “easy”, and tangible. He can do it, and check it off his list. “Help me find a job” is too big a request for the average person to fulfill, and could mean the person starts avoiding you because they don’t know how to help and feel bad about it. Specific, actionable requests net specific, actionable results. A “‘spray and pray’ for anyone to help you find anything requests usually results in frustration.

I write a job search blog and link to lots of effective job search tools through my site. If you are unable to invest in advancing your career by engaging with a career professional to amp up your efforts, then please, take advantage of what I put out there and link to in an effort to help everyone, clients or not, in their search.

I’d be happy to work with you in moving back toward employment. I’ve listed my website below and it’s also linked through my LI profile. Partnering with a career professional is an investment, but held against the cost of unemployment, the investment is minimal, and the ROI 100% if that professional can shorten your search by only a week.

I wish you well in your endeavors, and hope this little bit of guidance will help you better navigate job search waters.

Best regards,

Dawn

‘Nuff said.

photo by mcdittx via Flickr

I recently worked with a soon-to-graduate, elementary school teacher. She came as a referral from a close friend of hers. When working with students, I’m careful to explain my approach to resume creation and the reality of Job Search 2012. I go on to share, frequently, my techniques will not align with what they have been taught about resumes and job search along the way. I continue, many career centers and career preparation courses are up to speed on the rapidly-changing job search market. Sadly though, many are not.

I crafted a bold presentation taking skills gained through summer jobs, volunteer work, and student teaching assignment and projected those skills into the needs of the potential employer. We used job posting information, her knowledge of the industry, and my resume-writing experience to weave key words throughout the document. We responded to the needs of the potential employer with a solid demonstration of how she had what they needed.

I took it a step further. She wanted to be an elementary school teacher so I incorporated primary green into the format and layout. I used crayons as bullets in her academic experience section. I worked in a quote from her adviser further shoring up her value and potential as a new teacher. I created a strong skill summary immediately responding to company needs in the top third of the first page – a resume within a resume so to speak. I made sure the resume “said” “I am an elementary school teacher” from the first glance to final period. It presented her value boldly and truthfully. It was (is) an attention-grabbing presentation.

She was thrilled with the result, understood the strategy needed to compete in today’s employment environment, and grasped the difference between a career autobiography and a career sales and marketing document. She also knows career autobiographies don’t convey value. They tell what you did and leave the extrapolation of value to the reader. News flash. They won’t extrapolate for or about you.

She told me, part of her curriculum was to submit her resume to her campus career center. I reminded her of the potential for conflicting information. I reminded her career centers are often stretched, administering to thousands of students. They frequently have neither the time, staff, nor funding to have someone committed to monitoring the job search changes a changing economy brings or update the guidance and programs as hiring environments undulate. I told her, I frequently see job search guidance that worked in the ’90s purported as the way to conduct a job search today. NOTHING. I repeat, NOTHING is further from the truth. She submitted her information, eyes wide open to the fact what we had done would most likely conflict with what the center told her.

This week, she forwarded the career center’s response to our bold, modern, unique, branding, sales and marketing document:

Your resume is very colorful and creative, however, it looks more like a print ad or bulletin  board…  Take out the top section and replace it with your objective statement (one line.. To obtain a position as a _______ teacher…)  The things you have in this section are more for your cover letter or the interview conversation, not your resume.  In addition, remove the quote from the faculty member…All reference information goes on a separate sheet (3-5 list)  or in a reference letter, not on your resume itself.  Be consistant with the bullets or crayons…I prefer the bullets…it’s looks more mature and professional.  You are also missing a Professional Development section (workshops, presentations and conferences attended with dates…see sample)).  If you agree with the suggestions and make changes, don’t forget to upload it to … [campus career website - name withheld].

Fortunately, we were both braced for a negative response. My email back to my client was short and to the point:

They are teaching 1990 job search tactics and trying to pigeon hold you to look like everyone else. Quite frankly, I would not only ignore completely, I would run screaming from this type of guidance. It is as old as dinosaurs and ineffective in a 2012 job search.

In a 2012 job search: Target. Focus. DIFFERENTIATION is key. Cookie-cutter doesn’t cut it.

Next post, I’ll dissect the response line by line, outlining why this guidance is not only wrong and ineffective in today’s search, but also a little scary. Stay tuned.

{My ex (the organic farmer) called them cabbage lopers butterflies. I’m not sure that’s the correct species; for our purposes, yellow butterflies suffices.}

Photo by Martina Rathgens via Flickr

They are everywhere. I can look out the window sometimes and count twenty or thirty dancing around the yard on a summer afternoon. Now. If I were to burst out the backdoor, intent on catching all thirty butterflies, all at one time, while they flitted about, according to their own plan, with no regard for my desire to catch them, I’d probably have little success catching any of them. Pursuing them all, hoping to catch one is nearly impossible.

However. If I focus on one specific butterfly. Study its movements. Watch its patterns. Anticipate its next move. Chances are I’ll have that butterfly in hand in no time. In theory, I can catch all the butterflies in the yard; as long as I focus and do it One. At. A. Time.

This week, I’ve had several calls from people “ready” to start work on their resume. Two of the first questions I ask potential clients are, “Briefly, what are your currently doing?” and “Where do you want to go next; what’s your target position?”

The first question nets, “I work in logistics”, “I’m an engineer”, “I’m a manager”, or something equally vague. The second question usually launches an eight-minute monologue listing everything they “could” do.

During the telling of how they are, and can be all things to all people, their frustration is palpable. They applied to all kinds of jobs online. They frantically watch all sectors while attempting to tell everything, to everyone, all at once, in hopes that nothing gets away, and they’ll capture something eventually. It’s clear to me why they’re not getting interviews.

They have so much to tell, they have no idea how to whittle it down. They don’t know what to say, what to highlight, or how to present their skills in a way to intrigue a hiring authority. They’re so busy trying to catch everything; they’re not taking the time to research their target market or determine the skill set valued by each position. Target determines strategy determines presentation determines content. (Probably the reverse of what most were taught.)

For example, from my caller notes, these are the desired career paths of just two of my, “I’ll take anything callers.”

Caller A:

1. Academic Counseling

2. Corporate Training

3. Government Contract Specialist

4. Banking Industry Analyst

5. Teacher

Caller B:

1. Retail Sales

2. Administrative Assistant

3. HR Generalist

These groupings share some common core skills. However, each position values skills differently making one-size-fits-all resumes ineffective. Without focus, the resume reader has no idea how the job seekers specific skill set can benefit them and they won’t take the time to extrapolate skills from a tell-all presentation.

Without focus and strategy, these, job seekers burst out the job search backdoor expecting to catch all those butterflies at once. Rather than methodically targeting, strategizing, and focusing on one position at a time, they’re grabbing at everything; and catching nothing.

You can pursue and probably catch all the butterflies you want, but not with an “I’m-going-to-go-after-them-all-at-once” approach. Job seekers and careerist can pursue and probably land job offers in as many different sectors as their talents allow. But those talents will go undiscovered with an “I’m-all-things-to-all-people-you-figure-out-where-I-fit” approach.

As counterintuitive as it sounds, just like a narrower focus nets more butterflies; laser-sharp focus, with a clearly defined and stated value proposition nets positive job search results, much more quickly.

**No butterflies were harmed in the creation of this analogy.

Here’s his original email:

“I am currently unemployed and for the past few months I have been trying to present better ways to get my resume points of view across to recruiters. I have been trying to co-mingle value based information and actual job duties that I have done. When I do that it seems to create sort of a “laundry list” of my duties and I am trying to stay away from that, but I want to at least show some type of duties that i have. Could you please send me some pointers and advice. Thank You.”

And here’s how I responded:  (Just so you know … I did address him by name. )

Dear Job Seeker:

Target. Focus. Differentiation is paramount in this market. A resume has morphed into a sales and marketing document telling an employer what they want to know about you; not what you want to tell them. Target your message to your audience. Focus on their needs and tell what differentiates you from why/how you’re better than “any” other person applying for the position. The “laundry list” feel comes from not knowing what to tell them. Without focus, you try and tell them everything. And, without focus they don’t know how they’ll benefit by employing you.

Photo by deanmeyersnet via Flickr

Think about it … If you’re shopping for shoes and I’m telling you about hot dogs, I won’t have your attention long. If you tell a potential employer about X skill set and they’re looking for Y … you won’t have their attention long.

A potential employer will not try and figure out how you fit into their organization. You have to tell them. You tell them, by researching job posting and identifying what your “buyer” is “buying”. What skills do they value? You then create a solid demonstration of those skills. Anything that doesn’t pertain to what they need is clutter.

Objective statements, stating what you “need” went the way of the dinosaur. It’s not about what you need (seek, want to secure ….) It’s about what you bring. In this market, the focus is on the employer. Employers really don’t care what you seek or want; their focus is on what you can do to impact their organization’s bottom line.

I do hope you’re networking, both virtually through social media and in-person though professional organizations, community events and volunteer work. And that you can be found online and your online presence is clean. If you are solely dependent on recruiter interactions, you should know only 3% of hiring is done through professional recruiters. They are a valuable tool in a job seekers tool belt, but it takes more than a hammer to build a house. It takes a variety of approaches to execute a successful job search.

I write a job search blog and I link to lots of other professionals through my site, as well as blog with an international group of writers every month. If you want to go it alone, there is plenty of GOOD teaching material and information linked from my website. (Blue Sky Resume has a fr*e downloadable tutorial.)

If you have the funds available to invest in your future, then engaging with a career professional is the best thing you can do for yourself. (Personally, I’d rather see job seekers spend the time networking, making connections and researching companies than learning about how to write a resume. The return on the investment, both monetarily and time wise is exponential!)

And one final thing, if you’ll indulge me … If you’re asking for assistance, personalizing the salutation and signing with your full name and contact information goes a long way in engaging someone and encouraging them to want to help you.

I wish you well in your search. If you’d like to work with me, I’d be happy to speak with you. If that’s not an option, I encourage you to take advantage of the information I provide on my website.

Best regards,
Dawn

This young man was a willing student. He replied back to my email, used my name, thanked me and signed with his full name and telephone number. YAY! Taking the time to say thank you was a nice touch too. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve crafted a thoughtful responses to requests like this and never hear from the “stranger emailer” again.

Bottom line, remember your manners. Please, thank you and a little flattery in between are powerful motivators. Use them with abandon – in job search AND in life.

“Good Afternoon,

I am currently unemployed and for the past few months I have been trying to present better ways to get my resume points of view across to recruiters. I have been trying to co-mingle value based information and actual job duties that I have done. When I do that it seems to create sort of a “laundry list” of my duties and I am trying to stay away from that, but I want to at least show some type of duties that i have. Could you please send me some pointers and advice. Thank You.”

It was from an email address I did not recognize. There was no signature; just that paragraph. To find out who was trying to engage me, I had to open the resume, sent along as an attachment.

This looked like a “spam” email. I could tell it probably had been copied, pasted and sent to many, many others.* I hovered over the delete button, but the customer service in my soul kicked in and I responded back to him. I’d venture to guess I was in a minority.

Let’s pretend for a moment I didn’t respond. What could have been done to improve his response rate and build his network the right way?

• Address the email to me.

Nothing is as melodious to someone as the sound of their own name. This individual went to all the trouble to find me. Four more typed letters would have made a big difference in getting my attention. If he’d just added “Dawn” after his “Good Afternoon” salutation, I’d of been less skeptical and more willing to respond.

• Tell me how he found me.

To this day I have no idea how this person found his way to my inbox. Sure. I’ll pop up in a Google search, but was that it? Does he follow me on Twitter? Did he find me on LinkedIn? Had he been to my website? Is there a mutual connection somewhere? A quick, “Here’s how I know/found you.” goes a long way in forming a connection early.

• Tell me why he came to me.

Flattery only works on two types of people: men and women. Had he taken a moment to mention how he enjoyed my tweets, learned from blog, had respect for my credentials, anything “nice”, it would have upped my desire to help a complete stranger.

• Tell me his name and phone number.

He didn’t sign his email. Granted, it was on the attached resume, BUT I was very hesitant to open the attachment. To this day, I’m not sure why I trusted it. He was asking for assistance and “made” me go through extra steps to find: his name, contact information, career history. Don’t ask for help and make it a chore for me to help you.

• Tell me what he wants to do next in his career.

He’s given me no clue as to what he wants to do next. His work history was scattered with diverse jobs from widely varying industries. He did nothing to help me help him. It’s not up to me to figure out what he (a complete stranger) wants to do next with his life. It’s “his job” to tell me. Make helping easy for the giver.

As you can read in his email, his approach is very I-centric. I am, I have, I want, I do – in fact, “I” appears seven times in those four sentences. What have I said about a bajillion times time now? In this job market it’s “all about them – the hiring authority.” (I made the five bullet points “all about me” to illustrate that point.)

If he uses this tact and tone to engage potential employers, it’s no wonder his search is foundering. His message is not what he brings; the focus is on what he needs. That might work with mom, but asking complete strangers for help (or employment) without giving them a reason to want to engage will encourage them to ignore the request completely or move on to someone to else quickly.

Tomorrow, I’ll post my full response to him.

*At least he did one thing right. He sent the email to me and me alone. I’ve gotten request of this nature with a LONG string of other email address included in the “to” box. Didn’t I feel special? I’ve also received BCC emails – to and from the same person. Those individuals had the savvy to protect recipients contact info, but the approach still begs the “Didn’t I feel special?” question. If you’re asking for help, you want the person you’re asking to feel special. We’re human. We like the occasional warm-fuzzy.

Briefly, you match three (or more) of the same color fuzz balls by moving the columns up and down or left and right. They giggle, explode and accumulate points. New fuzz balls drop into place until you’ve exploded enough to move to the next level. I’m not sure if it’s the way the eyes move to follow the cursor as you play or if it’s the way they get all excited when they come close to another Chuzzle of the same color or if it’s anthropomorphism of my own dust bunny collection (five dogs, three indoor cats … I KNOW dust bunnies.), but I like to play.

Levels one and two lull you into a false sense of security – easy, no-thinking game. Suddenly, on the third level, a lock soars in from out of nowhere preventing any movement of the row. As the levels increase, so does the frequency of the locks. Freeing the poor, imprisoned Chuzzle requires matching it in groups of three (same as the unlocked one), but is more difficult since you can’t move the row.

When I first started playing and the locks came swooping in, I put all my energy into freeing that one Chuzzle, ignoring the rest of board. That led to more locks and eventually, the dreaded “no more moves” message. I never advanced past single digit levels. Ack. One night, I tried a different strategy. I kept focus on the entire board, paying attention to the lock, but not fixating on it. Know what? When I changed my focus to the big picture, the game changed. Moving a row on the other side of the board frequently exploded the lock with little effort. Wow. What a great lesson for job seekers …  (Stop applauding. You know I always get to a job search point eventually.)

Frequently I see job seekers throwing up their own roadblocks. They’ve done phenomenal things for employers or the community yet they fixate on one (limiting) facet of their career history or the job search market and ignore the big picture.

* I’m too old.
* I don’t have a degree.
* I can’t job search in the summer; interns take all the jobs. (Heard that one last week!!)
* I can’t job search during the holidays; no one hires then.
* I’ve been with the same company for 20 years. That’s bad, right?
* I’ve had a string of short-term positions. That’s not good, right?
* I worked for my family’s business. (Work is work and skills are skills.)
* I have a gap in my work history.
* I’ve been a stay-at-home mom. I’m not marketable. (PUH-lease!!)

And on and on and on …

A few years ago, I worked with a man, who, partnered with his brother, started a manufacturing firm in the family garage. I spent 90+ minutes listening to his tale of taking a two-person, home-based operation and growing it into a multimillion dollar, multilocation business employing more than 100 people. He told of innovations and patents, exclusive product development and high profit margins. “WOW!” kept escaping from my lips …

For a multitude of reasons, he chose to leave the business and seek employment elsewhere. As we were wrapping up, he asked, almost timidly, “So. Am I marketable?” My jaw dropped. “Marketable??? Goodness. You’ve done such impressive things in your career, I’m ready to hire you and I don’t manufacture anything!” was my reply. He countered with, “Ya but, I only have a high school education. I never got a degree.” Ker-chung <–Sound of a Chuzzle lock flying in from nowhere. Rather than seeing the millions of dollars he earned, the hundreds of people he employed and the accomplishments he’d had during his career, he saw one limiting factor – his lack of a four-year degree.

That’s not to say his concern wasn’t valid. Lack of a degree can be an issue during a search, but putting time, energy and worry into addressing one short-comings and not focusing on value is a sure way to limit or lock down movement during a search. Rather than lament the lack, I convinced him to diminish it. “I may not have a bachelor’s degree from a formal institution, but as you can see by my sales figures, profit margins, patents and overall business success, I earned a doctorate-level education from the ‘School of Hard Knocks.’ I generated profit from my parent’s garage. Imagine what I can do for you.”  Boom! <– The sound of the Chuzzle lock exploding. He got it.

If job seekers make a lack of “whatever” an issue, they’ve erected their own roadblock; slammed on their own locks. Being aware of, but not focused on “whatever” brings a much more effective big-picture approach, frequently exploding the locks and eliminating the roadblock all together … with little effort.

Now, try and get to level 13 on Chuzzle. I have. (TMI?)

This year, I found a neighbor wanting to earn a little extra cash and willing to help get things under control. Looking at what he’s done, and what he’s inspired me to do, in the past six weeks, it appears the weeds may lose this year. (YAY!) Going through the process of trimming trees, cutting back overgrown gardens and weeding around neglected perennials made me think about how many times, when writing about networking, I say, “You have to nurture and cultivate your network.” Puttering about the yard brought to mind other career-long networking and gardening parallels.

Neglected doesn’t mean dead.
As we cut back weeds and thinned branches, I was struck by how many plants survived and even thrived on neglect. I was more amazed, how, after a little TLC, the previously neglected flora exploded into vigorous growth. These plants don’t need constant tending, but checking in occasionally will help them thrive.

While developing and expanding your personal and professional network, poke around. You’ll be surprised how many neglected relationships will spring back to life with a little attention. These relationships don’t need constant tending, but checking in occasionally will help them thrive. (Sound familiar?)

Forgotten doesn’t mean gone.
Digging around in a long-overgrown rose garden, my husband found our hippopotamus stepping stone. I’d forgotten about it. Horatio (doesn’t everyone name their stepping stones?) “lived” out in the field amongst the weeds forgotten, but still there. I was thrilled with our “find.” He now lives at the primary entrance to the house and makes me smile.

Digging around in old files, often uncovers past acquaintances; someone who might be wonderful support in your search or your career. Uncovering and reconnecting with forgotten pieces of your network is sure to make to you smile AND could be your stepping stone on the path to opportunity.

Sometimes gone is gone.
Surprised by what survived; I was still saddened by what I’d lost to neglect – antique irises, rosemary, rose bushes, a re-seeding bed of chives. They’re gone. I let them slip away. Best thing about a garden though, I can replant and start over how, when and if I choose.

The same holds true for networks. If you left network connections behind and attempts to revive are fruitless, know you can begin again with the next social media account, networking event or social gathering. Networks, like gardens change, grow, die down, come back with time. Cultivate accordingly.

Things change.
When my first husband and I moved here more than 20 years ago, getting up, gulping down a cup of coffee and spending weekends primping and pruning a huge yard (part of a 10-acre organic farm) was no big deal. This past weekend, after only a few hours of digging, weeding and hauling, I. thought. I. was. going. to. die. I adjusted my methodology, incorporated tools and accepted things change with time.

The tools available to job seekers and careerists today are different than they were a mere five years ago. Methodologies, markets and industry trends change. Assessing needs, adopting new technology and incorporating the old yields a deep and rich network. Successful gardeners and successful networkers adapt.

Now, pulling into a more cared for, nurtured yard is rewarding. It’s still a work in progress, but some input, some reconnecting, some attention is starting to transform things. Networking, when done correctly is a work in progress too. Add and cultivate network connections throughout your career. You never know who you can help or who can help you. In the end, the support and enjoyment far outweighs the effort. Oh, and don’t overlook the power of a partner in your quest.

Relax … networking, like gardening is really all about reconnecting with old friends.

Spring has sprung. Enjoy a change of scenery ... even it's only the front yard.

This post finalizes the series of tips for times of transition Bridget Haymond and I put together. Hopefully, you’ve been able to take a nugget or two and apply it your personal search for professional bliss. Understandably, a job search can be extremely stressful. When you get overwhelmed, it’s always a good idea to take approaches back to the basics. It never hurts to be reminded to breathe.

(Part one is here, two here and three here.)

Practical tips for jobseekers:

5. A change of scenery can bring a fresh perspective. It’s easy to feel trapped in the same four walls while you are between interviews or waiting for a call back. Go to a place that has free Wi-Fi and conduct your research and job search from a remote location.

Photo via Flickr by Geekadelphia

6. Take advantage of local library resources. Books, DVD’s and computers are all available for free. This is a great way to stay updated on current trends, engage in personal growth, and get motivational ideas or take advantage of the entertainment resources.

7. Allow yourself the freedom to simply have fun. Enjoy some funny movies, if you have a musical instrument play it, get together with some friends for an evening of a karaoke or a game night. Laughter is good for the soul so make room for some fun.

A long walk can do a world of wonders.

8. Get outside and get some fresh air. It doesn’t cost a thing to take your dog to the park, do some gardening or simply spend some time on the front porch sipping some lemonade. The vitamin D from the sun is great for lifting your spirits. The key is to get out and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation through nature.

9. Update your look. Try a new hairstyle. Try a new color. You don’t want to look dated during your search (yes, it matters), plus it’ll make you feel wonderful, confident and refreshed.

10. Find an accountability partner; someone who can help you maintain forward progress. Set weekly goals and have that individual gently, but firmly help you accomplish them.

Thanks for the opportunity Bridget and the great blog content too!

This is part 3 of a 4 part series. (Part 1 here and Part 2 here.)

Practical tips for job seekers

1. Keep busy and get as much physical exercise as possible. Keeping fit physically is good for your general health and is a great way to de-stress and clear you head. If you don’t belong to a gym, walking, bike riding, running and swimming are all great ways to keep physically fit.

2. Use your down time to tackle projects you had been putting off or didn’t have time to do before. Re-organize a closet, clean out the garage or clear out a storage unit. You can then have a garage sale or donate items to charity. Either way you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment.

3. Stay connected and don’t allow yourself to become isolated. Staying in touch with friends and family is important. If your close friends and family live out of state or out of the country, be sure to stay in touch by phone, e-mail or talk for free on your computer using a program called Skype.

4. Volunteer for one of your favorite charities or service organizations. Doing something for those who are less fortunate is a great way to keep a positive attitude and share your gifts and talents with others. This is also a great way to keep from being isolated.

5. A change of scenery can bring a fresh perspective. It’s easy to feel trapped in the same four walls while you are between interviews or waiting for a call back. Go to a place that has free Wi-Fi and conduct your research and job search from a remote location.

Stay tuned for the final five tips later this week …