Recent Articles

GUEST AUTHOR: Murli Melwani

from the Dallas Morning News

The term “persons in transition” is rich with possibilities of interpretation. It can range from an echo of Buddha’s immortal saying, “Change is the only constant in life” to the heartbreaking situation of people out of work today.

Recently I attended a meeting conducted under the auspices of JOB, named after the Biblical unfortunate, but really an acronym for Job Opportunity Basics.

Invited by Ruth Glover, one of the coordinators of the JOB Group, to introduce ourselves, I heard snippets of human drama: the mother of a challenged child juggling situations and losing jobs; an engineer being told after being interviewed three times by the same company that he was overqualified for the position; a systems designer announcing that he had filed six applications in six days; a man with experience in sales and engineering being told over and over again that the opening was not for a “generalist.” There were 16 such cameos.

The expressions I saw on the faces of the participants, the range of body language, the variety of inflexions in voices, were a testimony to both the frailty as well as the strength of the human spirit. Eyes around the table showed the disappointment from losing an opportunity to an internal candidate. A flicker of anger surfaced as an injustice was narrated; the anger harnessed a moment later. The dull narration of one’s circumstances reflecting the shell-shock of being laid off recently. Some struggled with focus even though they knew goal setting was important. All of us reached out in our own ways to the other 15.

The speaker of the evening, Jan Moorman, spoke about the career changes she had made at considerable financial and emotional cost. “But a trapeze artist cannot swing from one trapeze to the other if he does not let go of the bar.” That attitude had in fact opened her up to opportunities.

Her talk struck a chord. When Ruth Glover asked us to share what we were taking away from the evening, several people said we must “make a leap of faith,” have the courage to follow our dreams, develop a passion, go with the flow and be ready to make sacrifices in its pursuit.

What surfaced was our shared humanity. Dick mentioned three openings he had learned about that others in the room were free to apply for. Jane confided that volunteering had been a shortcut to a job for a friend. John said he was ready to give up his current position for a job that would perhaps pay less but allow him more human interaction. Bob mentioned an opening in a finance company.

Everyone was ready to share the information.

Custer Road United Methodist Church sponsors the JOB Group with volunteers Ruth Glover and her co-coordinators — Roy Hunter, Sara Owen, Locke Alderson and Craig Gussow — to host the JOB meetings on its premises. The format of the group is interesting. The résumé review and interviewing tutorials take place on the first Tuesday of the month. A subgroup, called the Advanced Action Accountability Group, or the AAA Group, consisting of those who have a completed résumé, know how to interview and understand networking, meets every week, on Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m.

On the fifth Tuesday of the month, the JOB Group invites a speaker. The speaker is a specialist in his field and the talk invariably relates to issues connected with job searches.

There is no charge, nor any conditions, for attending JOB Group meetings. I can’t recognize angels with wings. But I can spot one in human form; when I do, I don’t hesitate to recommend her volunteer work to others.

(THANK YOU, MURLI, FOR SUCH A NICE ARTICLE ABOUT OUR GROUP!)

Murli Melwani is a Plano resident. His blog can be read at www.indoenglishstories.blogspot.com. His e-mail address is murli@unigain.net. Contact Ruth Glover at 972-208-2333 .  You can subscribe to be notified when she posts new articles.

Perplexed and puzzled by job search, Jake attended the weekly accountability group. With seven months of unemployment under his belt and no viable job offers, he wants answers, leading quickly to a job.

Jake applied for over twenty positions and listened carefully when the facilitators at the various unemployment groups told him he must customize his resume for every opening. He claims he has 20 versions of his resume and his confusion centers upon how he can make his LinkedIn profile appealing to various hiring managers. He knows HR professionals, hiring managers, friends, neighbors and others will see his LinkedIn profile which might not agree with the resumes he’s submitted.

Dirk Spencer, is a fellow recruiter who speaks regularly on the topic of LinkedIn.

His most recent presentation entitled “LinkedIn for Recruiters” was held at the August luncheon of the Dallas Fort Worth Recruiters Network over 100 attendees. He responded to my inquiry.

Dirk

There should be very little difference between the resume and the LinkedIn profile with the core content and context. The smart job seeker is customizing both the resume and LinkedIn profile as he or she develops improved ways of communicating expertise.

Ruth

A resume or profile is never completed. A candidate must keep the profile fresh by periodically introducing nuances about skills. These updates can ensure the profile pops to the top or near the top of a search, whether in LinkedIn or posted on a resume job board like Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com or Dice.com.

Dirk

This idea of “customized” resumes should be about variations of data compared to the risk associated with their competitive insights to their target companies.

Ruth

I agree. The same logic which makes having customized resumes a smart move requires making adjustments to a LinkedIn profile periodically, too.

Dirk, what about Search Engine Optimization (SEO), specifically including words in the profile and resume which will catch the search strings?

Dirk

SEO and search strings are two different concepts used interchangeable by mistake.

RUTH

Please explain this for our readers.

DIRK

A search engine does not use Boolean logic or a Boolean engine to index or catalog Internet web content. Most are now using sophisticated language pattern or inference engines. (Boolean is a particular way recruiters search for candidates online.)

Boolean logic engines are not all the same either. The Boolean engine inside Monster is not the same as the one inside of Dice or LinkedIn for that matter.

Bottom line – the software function of “search” and data “parsing” (mining) (Boolean, fussy logic, artificial intelligence…) are not created equal.

This is why it is important to know your industry’s history so you can traverse the keyword-yellow-brick road from keypunch to Droid apps.

RUTH

So you are saying it is important to know terminology from trends in business practice as described by the use of language or keywords?

DIRK

Yes. Candidates need to understand and use their industry jargon. It is important, not only to know the keywords and jargon, but also the abbreviations, acronyms and synonyms.

RUTH

How do you tie this together between the resume and profile on LinkedIn?

DIRK

The “how” is the secret sauce. The “how” forces people to do their homework.

Here are some examples of increased detail masquerading as “customized” resume content:

- Supported carrier based client

- Supported carrier based vendor

- Supported telephony carrier

- Supported telecom customer

- Supported area telecom company

- Supported carrier based telecom vendor

- Supported carrier telecom company Verizon®

Which statement is “customized” versus “clarified”?

Which statement belongs on the resume?

Which statement belongs on the LinkedIn profile?

If you said “it depends” and “all” then you understand!

“It depends” means you must weigh the risk associated with the research on the target job or target company against the level of detail that clearly defines your skills.

Ruth

Your examples are quite useful.

And the risk means you must add enough information in the resume that coordinates with the “core” data on the LinkedIn profile. If it deviates too radically in scale or scope it ultimately hurts the candidate.

Dirk

The resume and LinkedIn profile must be congruent, not identical, but congruent. If the data on the resume and the LinkedIn profile are not aligned, questions may arise instead of attracting the desired attention.

Consider the resume the Ying to your LinkedIn Yang. They should always complement each other. The same core data on both should be arranged to create your total brand message.

That is the goal!

Ruth

Thank you, Dirk, for sharing your insight. I urge our readers to attend your next presentation which is the Colorado Association Healthcare Executives (CAHE) 2011 Annual Conference.

If you are a recruiter, be sure to visit Dallas Ft. Worth Texas Recruiters Network to register for our next recruiter luncheon September 7, 2011.

Jason Leonard, Director of Recruiting at JC Penney will present Pipelining – Moving from Reactive to Proactive.

Be sure to connect with Dirk or Ruth on LinkedIn.

You may want to subscribe to be notified of new posts.

Ruth Glover is the author of MORE than a Paycheck: Inspiration and Tools for Career Change, a book especially for those who want to change or move their careers in various ways. Be sure to contact her for additional information at www.morethanapaycheck.net or www.ruthglover.com.

This is a re-cycled article I published elsewhere last year.

“Would you like to see my $10,000 resume? I’ve sent 500 resumes which were supposed to result in employment and I haven’t had one interview.” Could this be you?

Predators are combing the Internet for candidates who are looking for professional positions. When contacted by unscrupulous vendors, these executives are told their contacts with C-level people will result in fabulous opportunities. They want to believe it will work. They fail to realize that finding a job is a job, a full time, challenging, sometimes discouraging, hard row to hoe. They think it will be an easy way to simply pay someone to do the job search.

Whether you are executive, manager or individual contributor, the method for finding work is the same:

1) Focus on your skills and strengths. Understand your personality traits.
2) Build an excellent resume, filled with terminology which reflects your focus and the terms that your next employer will need, especially technical terms from your industry.
3) Create your target marketing list and find real people to contact within the target companies. Start contacting them. The phone is your friend!!!
4) Network, network, network and follow up.

Our friend with the $10,000 resume trusted that the thieves who took his money truly knew people in the industry. He didn’t realize they would simply blast his resume to various companies and hope someone might call him. How these “retail” companies appeal to supposedly brilliant professionals is astounding. The stories are rampant!

TIPS

• If you need help with your resume, see a reputable career counselor or coach. Referrals from recruiters or others are probably your best source. You want recommendations that the individuals provide worthwhile services. Some charge a flat fee. Others have a menu of services with prices per service.
• Take advantage of any outplacement service you are provided.
• Use a professional network site like LinkedIn
• Attend networking meetings, especially professional associations

Temptation to take the easy route is often the longest way to success. Put you boots to work for you and move forward with courage and tenacity. You don’t need a $10,000 resume!

Addendum: the person in the story is now working with someone he knew previously in an amazing job, providing quality assurance for a federal program in renewable energy research. He did not use the $10,000 resume to get the job.

Perhaps your employees are overburdened and you plan to add headcount this quarter. We have a saying in Texas. “Let’s git ‘er done!” Let’s lower the unemployment rate and increase the hiring! The statistics demonstrate the need to move forward.

November 2010 Labor Market for Texas
Presented by TWC Chairman Tom Pauken

Texas employers have added jobs in eight of the last 12 months, setting the pace for the rest of the nation. More than 19,000 jobs were added in Texas for the month of November. That’s a total of 192,100 positions over the past year.

Professional and Business Services increased by 5,600 jobs in November. Leisure and Hospitality employment increased by 4,700 in November in the state of Texas.

Employment in Education and Health Services increased by 4,300 jobs in Texas in November. That’s a total of 47,900 jobs that have been added in this industry in our state since November of 2009. In addition, Financial Activities employment increased by 2,000 jobs in November.

In November, Information employment in Texas increased by 1,700 jobs; Construction added 1,000 jobs; and Mining and Logging grew by 300 positions.

The Texas unemployment rate for November was 8.2 percent. That’s up from 8.1 percent in October. The unemployment rate in our state has ranged from between 8.1 percent and 8.3 percent throughout the year. The slight increase in the unemployment rate for November can be attributed, in part, to the growing Texas labor force which continued to expand for the third consecutive month. It currently is at 12.2 million individuals.

Texas Workforce Commission • (512) 463-8942 • http://www.texasworkforce.org • Equal Opportunity Employer Relay Texas • 1-800-735-2989 (TDD) • 711 (Voice)

Recently at the JOB Group at Custer Road United Methodist Church, six newly employed job seekers shared insight into how they achieved their success. The following potpourri of suggestions demonstrates the divergent ways, leading to their success.

Beginner Tips

1. When you first start looking, do “informational” interviews, rather than trying to replicate your former or current job. Be flexible in your investigative initiative.
2. Attitude is extremely important. Exercise and volunteer work help improve your outlook.
3. Volunteering helps you, as much as others. You make new friends and feel good that you’ve helped someone else.
4. Review your attributes, strengths and work history regularly to reassure yourself you are worthwhile for a new organization.
5. Your references need to be prepared for calls about you.

Resume Tips

6. Look at the requirements in any job description to determine your relevant skills, which would transfer to this job. Customize your resume. Use key words repeatedly in your document.
7. Try a few different resume formats. One size does not fit all. A hybrid resume with key words may be a great way to capture attention, especially if you are changing industries or careers.
8. Be sure to check your contact information for accuracy. Do not put your contact information in a template. Keep it as part of the text; otherwise, it may disappear in some applicant tracking systems.

Resources, HR and Recruiter Tips

9. The phone is your friend!
10. Try to find managers to connect with rather than Human Resources or recruiters. Contact them directly. Use Linkedin.com or other social media to find the right connections. Recruiters must abide by the requirements.
11. You must use all possible resources. The “big boards,” such as Monster and CareerBuilder, provide job opportunities which cannot be ignored; however, you should not use the internet as your sole resource.
12. Let everyone know you are looking. You never, ever know who may have leads for you.
13. If you are reticent to call people on the phone, attend meetings (professional associations, faith based, clubs, etc.) to share leads with others. The operative word is share. The groups are excellent for networking.
14. If an activity is not producing results, drop it!

Other Useful Tips

15. A career/job partner or accountability group can help you reach your goals more quickly.
16. Your will be quicker if you show passion for what you would be doing. Focus. Focus. Focus. Yet be open and flexible regarding helpful suggestions.
17. Thank you notes are important.
18. Reciprocating helpfulness is important. Don’t be rude to anyone, even if you think it is justified.
19. Your job is finding a job; two hours a day is not enough. Ten hours a day is probably impossible for most. When you’ve spent serious hours in search, reward yourself in some way.
20. Prayer or meditation helps.

A special thanks to Roy Hunter who recorded the significant points during the JOB Group presentation, which is the basis for this article. Custer Road UMC provides an accountability group (AAA Group) which meets each Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. The third Tuesday of each month the JOB Group provides Resume Review and Interviewing Tips, in addition to the AAA Group. The church is located at 6601 Custer Road in Plano, Texas. No fee is charged for participation. A Linkedin group is available if you’d like to see announcements.