A Lesson Learned About Social Media

How to get a job? Think from an employer’s perspective!

A small business owner recently told me about an opening she was trying to fill. She posted the position on Craigslist and received 60 to 70 resumes. After weaning down the list, she interviewed five people but none of them seemed to click. Then she heard from the following applicant. Even though she admitted, “Usually I don’t read cover letters,” this one captured her attention.

Here’s an excerpt from that letter: “Please do not discount my résumé because I am overqualified. I am NOT looking for a supervisory or management position. I want to get back to the basic grunt work of payables, researching invoices, matching them to purchase orders, and preparing the check run. If you hire me you will get experience, maturity, dependability, and a team player with no personal drama ready to hit the ground running.”

The employer heard all that she needed to hear. This person pointed out exactly how she could meet the employer’s needs with enthusiasm. Needless to say, the employer called her immediately, interviewed her, and hired her on the spot. Her new employee even offered to come in and work a few hours for FREE before her official start date just to convince the employer of her skills and determination. The employer was delighted and couldn’t wait to share the news with me.

What are you doing to capture the interest of your next employer? Find out exactly what they are looking for, and let them know how you can fulfill their needs.

Overwhelmed by emails? Practical strategies to help you get organized during your job search.

How many emails do you get in a day? Tens? Hundreds? More? If you are like many of us, every day you are bombarded by mounds of emails, many which are totally junk. Have you gotten emails like this?

• Gifts under $10 plus FREE shipping!       
• Claim your birthday gift from ABC Company. 
• Prop 100: Be informed!

You delete one email after another, and if you miss a day, an important email may have gotten buried under the junk and could get deleted by accident.

If you are in a job search, missing an important email could be missing out on an opportunity.

Embarrassing your kids can reap unexpected rewards

How to find a job when you have a job

You are nervous. You have seen the news and realize that long-term security with any company is no guarantee. Perhaps your own company is undergoing a belt-tightening or you have heard rumors of “company restructuring.” In any case, you believe that now may be a good time to investigate potential opportunities with another company.

Do employers still offer severance packages?

In the past, many if not most employers have offered some sort of severance when laying off employees, particularly if companies have gone through restructuring or downsizing. Although not legally required, it has been a general practice of many employers to offer at least one week of pay for every year of service. These days, I am finding that more employers are often handing an employee one last paycheck for days already worked, then escorting them from the premises.

How do I jump-start a stalled job search?

You got laid off because of the poor economy and declining sales. You have a severance package but would prefer to get right back on the horse and start a new job. Immediately you call your former colleagues, friends and neighbors and ask who is hiring. No one?

Which job seekers land jobs more quickly?

Many people ask me what typifies people who find jobs quickly in today’s competitive market. I am finding that the job seekers who believe in themselves, have a positive attitude, and confidently tell employers, friends and neighbors what they are passionate about doing — these people are the ones with short job searches.

A Gem of a Client

Recently I assisted a client who had enlisted the help of his friends, family, neighbors and former co-workers in his job search. It took him less than two months to find a job, and as soon as he did, he called me to let me know. I warmly congratulated him on his efforts, and wouldn’t you know that his first request to me after landing the job was this. “I want to write everyone who helped me in my job search to thank them, let them know I found a job and they don’t have to keep looking for me. What should I say?”