If You Want a Great Job, Tell a Great Story

The film Lincoln is getting rave reviews because it tells a great story in an engaging way. And, it reminds us that the 16th president was most effective at convincing someone to take his side when he was able, without hesitation, to reach into his past and relate a story to the current moment. If you are a job hunter, there are several important lessons you can learn from this movie to aid you in your search.

First and foremost, you need to begin to see yourself as a storyteller. In my article this week in USNews & World report, I explain what I mean by this and offer five other key insights about your job hunt gleaned from this great new movie. Here’s the link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/12/11/if-you-want-a-great-job-tell-a-great-story?s_cid=related-links:TOP

Put Pizzazz Into Your Job Interview

Chances are good that as a job hunter, you have agonized over dealing with the standard, hackneyed interview questions like, “Tell me about yourself” or “What will you be doing in five years from now?” And so on.

As much as these questions might cause angst for you, they likely create boredom for the interviewer. They read the same articles you do, interview many candidates, and can tell a canned answer a mile away. In my article this week in USNews & World Report I suggest ways that you can reframe questions like these to avoid giving your history and instead focus on your brand and the things that make you truly an exceptional candidate. Click on this link to learn how you can take the initiative at the very beginning of your job interview to stand out from the pack: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/11/06/put-some-pizzazz-into-your-job-interview

Happy Hunting!

For College Grads – Getting a Job Is About More Than Coursework

“What can you say to reassure me, but more importantly my parents, that I will be able to sufficiently support myself after I graduate?” asked 20 year old Jeremy Epstein of President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney at their Hofstra University debate. With this question he put before the nation the worry of today’s college students, plus the reality of approximately half of recent graduates and all their families.

I put the question of how a college student can best be positioned to gain employment after graduation before two top academic career counselors. One of them serves “creative entrepreneurs” – undergrads who aspire to a career in the arts. The other heads the career services department at a top rated southern MBA program. Learn what they have to say in my article published by USNews & World Report. Here’s the link:

money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/10/23/2-crucial-ways-college-students-can-guarantee-they-land-a-job?

 

4 Ways A Thank You Note Holds Sway!

Baseball season is nearing a World Series crescendo, and football season is well underway. Any pitcher or quarterback will tell you that the follow through after they throw the ball is critical to successful execution. The same holds true for you, the job hunter: Your follow through after the interview is just as important as the cover letter and resume that you submitted to get the interview in the first place.

In my latest USNews & World Report Careers blog post, I write about the importance of promptly sending individualized note to every person who interviews you for a job, from HR to the hiring manager. The note can do important things all at once. Click the link and find out more! Here’s the URL: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/10/16/4-things-a-well-written-thank-you-note-can-accomplish

 

7 GROUND RULES FOR DEALING WITH RECRUITERS

 

Headhunters, or recruiters, are all about finding top-tiered talent to fill permanent, full-time positions for their client companies. But in order to do what they do well, they are in a continuous networking mode. As a job hunter there are ways that you can enhance your own relationship with a recruiter by understanding their needs, because like anyone else they enjoy helping those who help them. In my latest article published by USNews & World Report, I show why it is important for you to share what you have been doing to get a job, open up about your red flag issues, five other ground rules you should follow to make that relationship work for your benefit.  Here’s the link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/10/02/7-ground-rules-for-dealing-with-recruiters

 

5 MYTHS ABOUT WORKING WITH RECRUITERS

 

Despite continued high unemployment numbers, companies are hiring. Surprisingly, they are finding it difficult to find just the right people for positions that they need to fill. Recruiters, often called “headhunters,” who took a huge hit when the economy tanked in 2008, are reporting that they are now busier than they have been in several years.

Working with a recruiter can be a great benefit in your job hunt, but only if you understand their role in the hiring process. It’s time to clear the air and bust some of the myths. In my latest article in USNews & World Report I debunk 5 of the most prevalent myths about recruiters. Here’s the link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/09/25/5-myths-about-working-with-recruiters

Happy Hunting!

 

 

8 COMMANDMENTS FOR EVERY JOB HUNTER

Successful job hunters, over the years, shared with me their “secrets for success.”

In my latest article, which appears in U.S. News & World Report, I share their tips for reaching a speedy and successful conclusion to a job hunt.

Find out how to orient yourself to the job of getting a job, why it is important to keep up to date with the latest skills and knowledge in your field, the key to networking success, and more. Learn about eight of my favorite rules to organize your search while maintaining your sanity and a normal life. Here’s the link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/09/18/8-commandments-for-every-job-hunter

Happy Hunting!

TRICKS FOR DECODING THORNY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

There’s more to an interview than just answering questions. In fact, often the answers you give are less important than the inferences that an interviewer makes from them. If you understand this, you can demonstrate that you have the strong communications skills that so many people claim, but far fewer actually possess.

A good interviewer is trained to get to know a candidate’s personality, temperament, self-confidence, overall maturity, and more. These are qualities that can’t be ascertained directly, but make a key difference in hiring decisions. In my article which is published by USNews & World Report, I explain the questions behind the questions you are likely to be asked in an interview,  and reveal what interviewers are really evaluating. Here’s the link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/09/11/tricks-for-decoding-the-thorniest-interview-questions

 

 

THE BEST WAYS TO END A JOB INTERVIEW

 

“Do you have any questions for me?”

This is a very typical way for an interview to wind down a conversation. It gives the illusion of a level playing field, with each side having a turn to query the other.

The employer obviously understands you want to know where you stand in their priorities, how much compensation you will receive if you get the job, and other questions that relate to you and your needs/wants.

Don’t ask these kinds of questions! If you do, you will lose a precious opportunity to advance your chances for being hired. In my article posted on USNews & World Report this week, I’ll explain the very best things you can do toward the end of your job interview to close the deal.

Here’s the link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/09/04/the-best-ways-to-close-a-job-interview

 

 

3 WAYS YOU CAN USE TWITTER IN YOUR JOB HUNT

Celebrities like Lady Gaga (approximately 28.8 million Twitter followers) and Justin Bieber (approximately 27.1 million followers) can advance their careers and gain even more notoriety with a 140 character long tweet. But can a job hunter with no followers actually use this site of very short messages to get a job? You bet you can!

In my article this week, I identify Twitter techniques that recruiters use, and how you can capitalize on them as you hunt for your next job. This major social media site can be mined for job opportunities not easily found elsewhere and help you track the activities of companies. When you carefully put yourself “out there” you can greatly add to the value of your own personal brand. To learn more, follow this link to the article:http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/08/28/3-ways-you-can-use-twitter-to-job-hunt

Happy hunting !