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

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

 

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!

4 Tips For Older Job Seekers Facing Discrimination

“I’m 58 years old, out of work… and I’m not ready or financially able to retire. My age is really making it difficult to find a job,” laments a job hunter. In my latest article I offer 4 ways older workers can confront age discrimination and level the playing field with their younger competition. It is now leading the Career Blog on USNews and World Report. Here’s the link to the full article: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/07/31/4-tips-for-older-job-seekers-facing-discrimination

 

Check it out, and be sure to comment. I’d love to know your thoughts, and any other strategies you think are/can be helpful.

 

Happy hunting!

 

Arnie

TURN THAT DRAB RESUME INTO A “MUST READ”!

Amid huge competition, your best chance of standing out from every other job hunter is to do something no one else but you can do: tell your own professional story. You do this through your resume, and by elaborating on your resume in the course of your interviews.

Often, job hunters know their own stories so well that they assume incorrectly that others do also. Or, they feel that by simply conveying the nature of the jobs they have had, others will understand what they have done and what successes they have achieved. Just the opposite is true: You need to spoon-feed your story to those who will evaluate you at every step along the way.

To learn the key to getting your resume to shine like a star, check out the rest of my article which, on the web at USNEWS & World Report.

Just the Facts, Ma’am

5 Ways You Can Use Facts in Your Job Hunt

“Just the facts, ma’am…” is the famous line attributed to Joe Friday on the old TV show Dragnet. But an Internet search reveals that what the character really said in an early episode was, “All we want are the facts.” Recruiters, human resources staffing personnel, and hiring managers are like Joe Fridays: They just want the facts when reviewing your resume and conducting interviews.

In my article which today appears in the USNews Money/Career page, I give five easy ways sticking to “just the facts” can help your job search.  Here’s the link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/07/10/5-ways-you-can-use-facts-in-your-job-hunt

Happy hunting!

Arnie

 

I’m blogging for U.S. News!

I’m honored that U.S. News & World Report has selected me to be among a small group of career experts to write a weekly blog on their site!  My blog will appear every Tuesday on the Money/Careers part of their site: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers.  My blog starts this coming Tuesday, and my first topic will be: 3 Facts About Facts for Your Job Hunt.  Please look for it, and let me know what you think!

Arnie

Top 10 Ways To Slow Down Your Job Hunt

1. Play The “Happy Game”. Don’t deal with depression, frustration or other emotions.  Don’t cultivate a support network to which you actually can go to for support.  And if you already happen to have a support network, don’t let them know how they can help you… make ’em guess.
2. Channel the St. Louis Rams with their .125 Win percentage this past season. Have as few goals as possible.
3. Believe Your Resume Is “Where It’s At”. Embrace Resume Paralysis.  Don’t bother to tailor it to every job you apply for.
4. Become One With Your Laptop. Spend the majority of your time at home, behind the screen.
5. Nurture Your Inner Child. Be helpless. Focus on yourself and your own needs – don’t worry about what any perspective employer would want from you.Do the bare minimum to get by.
6. Become An “Island”.  Avoid meeting people.  Don’t even think about going to a networking meeting where you don’t already know someone.
7. Discount Your Contacts – Even Better, Annoy Them!  Don’t bother to follow-up every lead that someone gives you.  Don’t bother to write thank you notes to people who help you.  After all, you are entitled to all the help someone can give to you, right?!
8. Avoid Non-Traditional Paths. Pass up contract and temp work, and don’t even think about just taking on a project to keep you skills up to date.
9. Talk Until They Drop. Don’t bother to listen to what people are asking you – just hammer away at your own canned message.  Be as vague and ambiguous as possible – that way no one can pin you down to anything specific.
10. Believe In Your Heart That Your Next Job Is Forever. Stop networking as soon as you land.

I’ve seen various forms of this list floating around on the internet, but I don’t know the original authorship.  I have added some of my own comments throughout.

If any of these suggestions are ways that you are actually conducting your jobhunt, you need a jobhunter coach!  If you mention this article when you sign up for three hours of my coaching service between today and March 31, 2012 I’ll throw in a 4th hour absolutely free!  This offer is valid for new clients only.

Happy Hunting!

Arnie