BroadPeak Blog

Tips For Finding A Job In The Internet Age

The internet is one of the greatest tools around for finding a job but the key to a successful job search is to understand what the internet can and cannot do for you. The internet isn’t magic. Just because you post your resume on a job board doesn’t mean you will be discovered by the company of your dreams. Quite the opposite can be true.

The internet has created efficiencies for job seekers who want to apply for a lot of jobs. Remember the days when, to apply for a job, you had to write a cover letter, print your resume on nice paper, address an envelope and mail it off to an employer? That method was, relatively speaking, a lot of work so job seekers were often more selective about the jobs they applied for. Today, all a job seeker needs to do is point and click a mouse and “shazam” he/she has applied for a job. A lot of job seekers apply for jobs that are a stretch for them, meaning jobs they aren’t totally qualified for, just because it’s so easy to send in a resume now.

These advances in technology mean that recruiters are swamped with resumes. Sometimes recruiters have to wade through hundreds of resumes just to find one that has the required qualifications. That means that posting your resume online or sending it to an employer through a job board like Monster.com or CareerBuilder.com is a virtual guarantee that hundreds of others have also applied for the job in the same manner.

So, how can a savvy job seeker use the internet to her advantage? 

1.Use the internet to research companies that have job openings.
Try going to Monster.com, typing in your town or zip code and looking to see what companies are hiring. It doesn’t matter what jobs they are hiring for because all you want to know is what companies have the money to hire. Then, open up another tab on your browser and start Google searching companies in your area. Maybe you will find a company that looks interesting to you and for which you think you would be a good fit. Send a resume and cover letter to that company. You never know what additional jobs they may have available that they didn’t post on Monster.

2.Use LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) to search for companies in your geographic area.
LinkedIn is built to facilitate networking so when you do a search the list that comes up will be of names of people. Individuals who use LinkedIn often write blurbs about their companies on the site so you can find out a lot about interesting companies in your geographic area from reading personal profiles. From there you could Google search companies and apply to ones that look interesting. Or you could make contact with individuals whom you find on LinkedIn and talk to them about their employers

3.Find websites of associations that relate to your field of interest or expertise.
Many associations have job boards or networking events that are great places to start a job search.

4.Target job search sites that have a narrow focus.
Savvy employers who use job boards use those with a narrower focus than the huge catch-all sites like Monster.com.   The Ladders (www.theladders.com) offers jobs that pay $100,000 or more. Six Figure Jobs (www.6figurejobs.com) also lists jobs that pay in the 6-figure range. Bridgestar (www.bridgestar.org) has a job listing service for not-for-profit jobs and board memberships.  Ivy Exec (www.ivyexec.com) is a website for individuals with graduate degrees from top-tier schools. You can also do a Google Search to find job posting boards for jobs in your area of interest. Even if your salary isn’t in the $100K range you can use The Ladders, for example, to find out what employers are hiring in your area.

5.Target companies that interest you without regard to the jobs listed on their “careers” page.
Have you always wanted to work for the Federal Reserve? Or Kraft Foods? Or for City Hall? Don’t worry about whether or not they have a job opening when you apply. There are many examples of companies creating jobs for top talent. If you find a company that you think you would like to work for, research the company, and any senior individuals in the firm. There are some great online resources to help you research companies, company culture, and executives. ZoomInfo (www.zoominfo.com) is a great website for researching individuals. The site pulls articles, speaking engagements, employment history, and educational background from people on the web. It’s a great way to find out if the CEO of your dream company wrote a book that you should read before your interview! The Vault (www.thevault.com) and WetFeet (www.wetfeet.com) offer company profiles and information based upon interviews with former employees. Those sites are great resources for finding out more information about a company before you interview or accept a job.


6.Apply directly to the CEO.
Human Resource professionals are extremely busy and, often, not terribly creative when it comes to thinking about how an individual with a non-traditional background might fit into an existing job opening. If you find a company that interests you write a targeted letter to the CEO which explains why the company interests you and what your value proposition is. Stay away from generic statements like, “I have good people skills”, or “I am looking for a job”. Replace generic and meaningless statements with high powered statements that show that you have done some research about the company and that you have given thought to how your background could add value. For example, “I am interested in working for Company X because of your record of environmental responsibility. I have a degree in environmental policy and I believe that my background at the EPA could enhance your already strong governmental affairs team” Fax or mail the cover letter and your resume to the CEO. There are no guarantees that you will get a call but, from personal experience, generally if the CEO sends a resume to HR it gets more notice and consideration than if it comes from the internet.

Originally posted on the Ultimate Resumes Blog

What Sorority Rush Can Teach Us About Effective Job Interviews

As an alumnae of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority I enjoy supporting the local Chapter at the University of Texas. Alumnae get involved in fall rush (now called recruitment) by attending rush parties in a supporting role.

The other day I attended open house, the first day of rush. My job, and that of other alumnae in attendance, was simply to hand out glasses of ice water to the potential new members (also called rushees) when they entered the house for a meet and greet with the active members of the sorority. When the rushees left the house, the alumnae were responsible for taking their empty glasses back as they exited through the main hallway. From that vantage point I was able to watch both potential new members and actives as they entered and left the house.

Sorority rush at big schools is an interesting process and as I was watching the proceedings it occurred to me that interviewees and interviewers in corporate America could learn a lot from sorority rush.

First a little background on how rush works:
At the University of Texas, 800 young women are going through the recruitment process this year. There are 13 sororities at UT and each one will take 52 or fewer new members this year. The first day of rush is called "Open House" during which all 800 rushees are divided into alphabetical groups. Each group visits all 13 sororities which gives the rushees a chance to see the different houses and meet all the active sorority members. It also gives the sororities a chance to meet every single girl who goes through rush. It is an all day affair conducted in the hot August sun which ensures that by the end of the day rushees and active sorority members alike are exhausted.

In an effort to ensure some sort of equality, the collegiate Greek governing body, the Panhellenic Association, dictates that rushees wear matching t-shirts and shorts for Open House. Sororities aren't allowed to woo rushees with gifts or even food. On the first day of rush each sorority is only allowed to offer ice water as a refreshment. Each progressive day of rush is governed by different panhellenic rules about food, beverages, and dress code as both rushees and sororities gradually whittle down their lists. Each day of rush, the potential new members make a list of the sororities that they are most interested in joining. As the process progresses, girls visit fewer sororities based on their preferences and the invitations they receive. Rush culminates in "pref night", the final night of rush, when sororities make offers to the girls they hope will join their ranks.

Rush is a stressful process for potential new members and for active members. Similarly, the hiring process can be very stressful for companies that are competing for top talent. It goes without saying that interviewing for a job is nearly always stressful for interviewees. So, what can sorority rush teach both companies and interviewers? Here are my observations:

Companies, Interviewers and Hiring Managers Can Learn:

Never leave a candidate alone and when you are with him/her, act like you are interested in what the candidate has to say. 
When potential new sorority members enter the house, they are each paired with an active sorority member who never leaves her side while she is in the house. Sometimes the active members hand off potential new members to one another so that more actives can meet the rushees. But at no time is any potential new member left alone.

Why?
Candidates or rushees left alone can feel abandoned or not welcomed. Sorority members go out of their way to make every potential new member feels wanted, welcome, and like she is the most interesting woman in the world. Interviewers at companies should try to do the same. If you are interviewing a candidate who isn't going to get hired today you should still treat them as though they are talented, smart, and interesting. Attentiveness to candidates makes you and the company look good. Who knows, the candidate may be just the person you need in a year. Don't burn bridges. Make candidates feel like a million bucks so you can build relationships even if they don't come to work for the company today.

Job Candidates/Interviewees Can Learn:

Do your homework before interviewing and behave enthusiastically about jobs for which you are interviewing.
Potential new sorority members who enter the house smiling, happy, and poised have a better chance of impressing actives than those who look scared, unhappy, or unsure of themselves. It seemed pretty obvious from my vantage point which of the rushees would have a good shot at being invited back for a second party. I could be wrong about some of the girls of course...some of the girls who were quiet or less enthusiastic may have gotten a call back. However, generally speaking, no one likes to be around a sourpuss or someone who doesn't seem confident.

I was a hiring manager for many years and I can say with certainty that candidates who are friendly, polite, and confident have a better chance of getting a job than those who aren't. When interviewing for anything put your insecurities (we all have them!) aside and put forth as confident and happy a persona as you can. It will work wonders.

A Lesson for Both Interviewees and Interviewers:
Maintain your energy level. By the end of the day I am sure that both sorority members and rushees were hot, tired, and sick of meeting new people. I certainly would be. But none of them seemed to show it. Amazing. Can you imagine interviewing 800 people in a day? I was just handing out water and I was tired.

But if the active sorority members were tired none of them seemed to show it. The very last rushee through the front doors that day was treated to the same level of interest and enthusiasm as the first girl through the doors. It's a good thing too. The sorority has no way of knowing if girl #800 for the day will be their most desired candidate or not so they have to maintain enthusiasm and energy all day long so that their house maintains its desirability for ALL rushees.

I was the Director of Recruiting for a Big 4 professional services firm at one point in my career. On-campus interviews for our 50 summer internship positions was very similar to the rush process. By the time you interview a few hundred students over a 2 day period of time you are exhausted. But we were careful to drink a lot of caffeine so that each student got the red carpet treatment. We were competing with all other professional services firms so we had to put on a good show for every student. I have found that not all companies approach interviews in the same way and sometimes their hiring suffers. It's worth it to maintain your energy level so every candidate feels great about the process.

Original post can be found at Ultimate Resumes Blog

Interview Tips E-book Now Available for Free!

I recently published an e-book which outlines some useful tips for ensuring a great job interview experience. The booklet covers topics that include:

Do's and Don'ts of Interviewing
Tips for Selling Yourself
Feature, Advantage, Benefit Selling
List of Common Questions Interviewers Often Ask
Step by Step Instructions for Closing the Interview
Tips for Writing a Thank You Note That Sells
Sample Thank You Note

I have decided not to try to sell this book because there are so many free sources for interview tips on the web that I am not sure there would even be a market for the book. So, this booklet is free to anyone who would like some help preparing for a job interview!

This booklet compiles all the information you need to prepare for a job interview in one place. These interview tips are targeted to folks interviewing for jobs that range from entry level through middle management roles. This book isn't written for senior executives although some of the tips could be useful for senior level individuals.

To obtain a copy follow this link to the Ultimate Resumes Website. Click on Interview Tips e-book and you will be able to download the e-book in pdf format. I hope that you find this information helpful.

Don't Forget to Have Fun

Sometimes we all work too hard or get too caught up in what is going on at the office. It's natural because I think that for most professionals, our jobs are important to us and we want to excel at in our career of choice. There is nothing wrong with working hard but it's important to keep your job in perspective. This is especially true for entrepreneurs who usually have to work long hours to make their businesses successful.

I find that it's easy for me to spend hours and hours in my office working on resumes for clients, writing articles, working on marketing programs for BroadPeak, or networking. The work never ends and I can always think of something that I should be doing to expand or improve my business. I have been working really hard at completely breaking away from work for chunks of time to spend time with my husband. It's so important to remember that our loved ones are more important than our business and to make sure that we take the time to enjoy our relationships rather than letting ourselves get sucked into the never ending cycle of work, ideas, and more work.

Last week, my husband took a few vacation days and I rearranged my workload so that I could take a day off to spend with him. We drove to San Antonio to go to Sea World (we had always wanted to see the Shamu Show which was pretty impressive) and had a great time. We didn't talk about work at all...instead we just laughed and had fun together. By the time I turned on my computer the next day I was totally recharged and reconnected with my husband. The time I spent having fun helped me to rest, relax, and to be more productive when I returned to work.

It is so easy to think that if we aren't at our desks we aren't being productive. And believe me, when you are an entrepreneur there is always a feeling of panic when you aren't working because if you don't work you don't make money. I find that when I take a little time off work to focus on what is really important in my life (family) that I return to work with a renewed focus and energy that makes me a little more efficient and effective at what I do.

So, don't forget to have fun with your loved ones...that is really what life is all about and you may find that your work improves when you take time off to enjoy life a bit.

Happy 4th of July!

Original post can be found on the Ultimate Resumes Blog

The Art of Exiting Gracefully

You may have heard that Yahoo! CEO Terry Semel is stepping down from his post at the helm of the publicly traded search engine/email provider. Yahoo! has made it clear that his decision is voluntary and that he won't be given a severance package because he is sticking around in a non-executive role as Chairman of the Board of the company. What is interesting to me is the classy way that which both Yahoo and Semel are handling communication of this situation. I think we can all learn something from it.

Understand that Terry Semel, as leader of Yahoo!, has presided over a 30% drop in stock price during the last 18 months. Stockholders are not happy with his performance and they want him out. And for his part I would imagine that Mr. Semel is not too happy with the fact that his performance is seen as less than stellar. You don't become CEO of a publicly traded company if you aren't used to being considered a star in your field - to be told otherwise is probably a blow to Mr. Semel's ego. But, with all of that as background, both the company and the ousted executive realize the value of his graceful exit from his position.

If you read this blog or my Ultimate Resumes blog with any frequency you may have read some of my commentary on the Julie Roehm vs Wal Mart situation and the public mudslinging that has ensued. I think that, at this point, between the lawsuits, countersuits, and salacious allegations, both Wal Mart and Ms. Roehm have damaged their reputations. Will another corporation hire Julie Roehm? It will certainly be interesting to find out. Will Wal Mart have a more difficult time hiring talented executives from around the U.S. and convincing them to move to remote Bentonville, Arkansas after they publicly skewered their former SVP of Marketing? I would bet that they will. In other words, by not maneuvering her graceful exit, Ms. Roehm and Wal Mart both suffer financially and reputationally.

Both Terry Semel and Julie Roehm worked hard and built track records of achievement that enabled them to land high profile roles in their respective fields of expertise. Yahoo! investors were unhappy with Mr. Semel's performance and wanted him to step down from his role while in Ms. Roehm's case Wal Mart's senior management team felt she should leave the company. Both situations were probably stressful and difficult for the two executives who were being told that their performance was lacking. It's hard to be a told that you are a star one day and an under performer the next.

The key to exiting the situation with your pride and future employment options intact is to forget about getting even or making a public statement or making sure that the public knows "who is right and who is wrong. Of course the same statement is true for employers...take the high road instead of maligning a former employee. No good will come from public negativity and it costs the company and its shareholders money.

Learn from Terry Semel...a graceful exit from a job is more profitable and less stressful for all concerned. And remember that thanks to the Internet any public statements, lawsuits, or stories in which you are quoted or mentioned will be around forever.

Original post can be found on the Ultimate Resumes Blog

10 Tips to Help You Prepare for A Fall Job Search During the Summer

It's Memorial Day weekend which is a sign that summer is literally around the corner. Summer, historically, isn't the best time to land a new job but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't start getting ready for a job search in the fall. If you have been thinking of entering the job market spend the summer enjoying the weather and having fun with your family but also dedicate a little bit of time to preparing to start your search in earnest this fall.

Here are a few tips to help you get ready to start your job search:

1. Update your resume. If you find this difficult to do on your own get professional help but make sure that your resume is a great tool that you can use to sell your skills.

2. Consider going back to school. If you haven't finished your undergraduate degree spend time this summer researching alternatives including online programs. A college degree is a must in an ever-more-competitive job market. If you have a college degree and have thought about graduate school, spend the summer taking preparatory courses and filling out graduate school applications for fall or winter admissions.

3. Think about what you really want to spend your time doing. Are you passionate about something other than what you are getting paid to do? Spend your summer doing a little soul searching to figure out what you really want to do. It's worth the time to figure out what makes you happy. We spend a lot of time at work and it's more fun if you really love what you do.

4. Research. Research potential careers in other industries if they interest you. Or, if you are thinking of starting your own company do your homework about starting a new business, raising capital, and writing a business plan. If, after you have done the research, you decide that entrepreneurship isn't for you, at least you can launch a full fledged job search in the fall.

5. Investigate online tools to help in your search. There are many great tools like Jibber Jobber and LinkedIn to help you manage a job search...find out what is out there and start making them work for you.  BroadPeak can get you a discount on Jibber Jobber's premium services so be sure to ask Tom and Denise about the Jibber Jobber discount.

6. Consider a career coach. If you are having trouble figuring out how to navigate a job search or if you just need someone to talk to about potential career options call a good career coach.

7. Talk to your boss. Find out how you are doing at work by starting a dialogue with your boss about your performance. Interested in a promotion? Summer is a great time to put together a roadmap that will take you to the top of the organization.

8. Get in shape. There is nothing like getting yourself in top physical condition to get yourself motivated about putting on an interview suit and meeting new people. Plus you will have more energy and a positive frame of mind as you embark upon the journey toward a new job.

9. Meet recruiters. Get to know a few recruiters in your field (like Tom Hrinowich and Denise Martorano). Offer to meet them for coffee so you can get to know the person on the other end of the phone. Recruiters are people too and if you develop a good relationship with one you will get better service and more open communication.

10. Have fun. Spend time with loved ones, run a 5K, raise money for your favorite charity, get involved in a community event, go to the beach, plant a garden full of flowers...whatever floats your boat. People who have fulfilling lives outside of work have more to talk about with acquaintances and are more appealing job candidates. Take care of yourself and your family and you will have a great attitude when you get ready for the job search!

Have a happy memorial day and a wonderful summer!

Original post:

http://ultimate-resumes.blogspot.com/2007/05/10-tips-to-help-you-prepare-for-fall.html

Tips For Writing the Ultimate Resume

Last night I was fortunate to be able to present a webcast to students at Cardean University & Ellis College on the topic of resume writing. Based, in part, on my presentation, and based in part in the questions that the students asked last night I thought I would write a list of 10 tips for writing a great resume. This is not an exclusive list but it will get you started in the right direction if you need to write or update your resume.

1. Remember that your resume tells a story - think of it like a product brochure for the product "You, Inc."

2. Organize the document in a way that it is easy to navigate.  Put company names, your titles for each job, and dates in the same location for each job so that a casual reader can easily see where you have been and what you have been doing during your career.

3. Include a little bit (a couple of sentences) to describe each employer for whom you have worked. By doing this, you don't have to wonder if recruiters will have heard of that great start-up you worked for two years ago. Include ticker symbols and, if available, web addresses.

4. Focus on your accomplishments. Use bullets to emphasize your accomplishments in each job you have held. The best accomplishments are those that are quantifiable but any will do. Your accomplishments are what will get you hired.

5. Include some (but not a lot of) background about each job you have held. For your accomplishments to mean anything you need to include a short overview of your job duties when describing each job you have held. Put the background in paragraph form and include information like size of budget you managed, how many people reported to you, and a couple of sentences that describe what you were responsible for doing all day.

6. Include information about volunteer or civic organizations with which you are affiliated. Board memberships and leadership roles are always good to mention. Include dates of your involvement too.

7. Include, but be selective about, your technical skills. Generally, you don't need to mention that you are "proficient with Microsoft Word" because it is generally assumed that anyone hired into a professional environment these days knows the basics of the Microsoft Office suite. However, if you are a JAVA programmer or are an expert in a specialized software relevant to your field such as SAP or JD Edwards make sure to include that.

8. Include separate sections for for notable accomplishments such as patents that you hold, awards, media appearances, publications, or books you have written.  Big accomplishments deserve their own sections.

9. You don't have to include an "Objective" or "Summary" section at the top of your resume and if you do make sure it says something meaningful. Generic language that says something about your desire to work for "an industry leader" is meaningless and just takes up space on the page that you could be using to describe what a star you are in your field.

10. Proofread!! Use Spellcheck, check for grammar, punctuation, and readability. Grammatical and spelling errors will probably disqualify you from any job immediately. If the resume is hard to navigate or difficult to understand, a recruiter or hiring manager may just skip your resume in favor of one that is easier to read.

If you follow those 10 tips you will be on your way to having a resume that will help you to land the job of your dreams!  If you would like help in writing a great resume contact Liz at www.ultimate-resumes.com

It's Not The Cake

Last night I attended a dinner which was organized from afar by my good friend Jason Alba. Jason has become friends with a great guy named Pete Johnson who was in town for work so Jason suggested that Pete meet up with a few members of our local blogging community. We had a great time and Pete is every bit as interesting as Jason had told us. In fact Pete said something last night that I thought we could all learn from.

At one point our group was discussing the fact that sometimes, in business, people who are introverted and prefer to focus on work rather than socializing have a hard time understanding the value of building relationships with coworkers. Pete made the point that when someone has a birthday and there is an office birthday party with cake and punch it's important to remember that it's not about the cake. The get-together and birthday celebration are about building camaraderie with your coworkers.

I must admit that I have made that mistake in the past too. You know what I mean...you have a deadline and are overwhelmed with work. You don't even really know Suzie in accounting so why take a break when you are on a roll to go to her birthday party in the break room?! Maybe you don't even eat cake. Why go? Because it's not about the cake. It's about the relationships that you can build when you take a short break and chat informally with coworkers.

So the next time you are invited to that office birthday party, take a break from work (no matter how busy you are)and walk on over to the group. Smile and chat with your colleagues even if you only do so for 5 minutes. Remember, it's not about the cake!

Original post can be found at the Ultimate Resumes Blog

Be Careful of What You Say

If you have been watching any news lately you have probably heard that radio host Don Imus has landed himself in hot water over some comments he made about some African American female basketball players. Without getting into a debate over what he said or whether the 2-week suspension that he has been given is punishment enough I would like to discuss what we can learn from this situation.

If you are a public figure or if you have the opportunity to address the public via radio or television you need to be very careful of what you say and how you say it. Don Imus is known for his salty rhetoric and opinionated rants. In fact that may be why he has a loyal following - a lot of people like to be entertained by those with extreme views like Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, Bill Maher, and Ann Coulter. But we live in times when certain words, phrases, and opinions are coming under increased scrutiny. It doesn't matter what you happen to think of that fact...if you want to get along in the world today you need to accept that.

I think that being conservative with the language and opinions we share in public is just good manners. When you speak you should try to communicate without hurting anyone elses feelings. Diplomacy never goes out of style. Using racial, sexually based, or gender based slurs will probably offend or hurt someones feelings even if they don't speak up right away and tell you so.

As a rule of thumb don't use words that negatively classify any group of people. It seems like such a simple and obvious way to behave but many people have a habit of using certain words in private that they should never use in public. If you are one of those people, now is the time to work on breaking that habit before you inadvertently say the wrong thing in public.

It doesn't matter if hip-hop stars use the "N-word" or not. It doesn't matter if rappers call women "hos". I don't think anyone is taking etiquette lessons from rock stars/rappers/hip-hop stars. Not only that but if you aren't a professional entertainer no one will cut you any slack at all if you make a mistake and insult someone with a poor choice of words.

If you find that you have a hard time communicating without peppering your language with slurs that might insult a group of people it's time to work on sanitizing your vocabulary. These days, using an insulting turn of phrase isn't viewed as a simple gaffe or forgivable error. Using slurs can get you fired, ruin your career, and cause you extreme embarrassment. Just ask Michael Richards, Ann Coulter, and Don Imus...their attempts at humor have cost them money, respect, endorsements, and an audience.

When you speak remember don't be mean, be sweet or the price could be higher than you can afford to pay.

Turn Lemons Into Lemonade

A few years ago a young unemployed New Yorker named Karyn who had gotten herself $20,000 into credit card debt started a website which asked for donations to help her pay off her debt. Believe it or not, her idea really paid off and helped her to pay off her debt in 5 months. She has now written two books and, apparently, Sony has optioned the rights to her story. I think that Karyn did a great job of taking a bad situation and turning it to her advantage and that we can all learn from her example.

If you are in a difficult job situation or maybe you are having trouble finding a great job, remember Karyn and think about ways that you can turn lemons into lemonade. Read Karyn's story on her website...I'll bet that you will be motivated after you hear how she has turned her life around! www.savekaryn.com