Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Video: How to Combat Ageism in Your Job Search

October 22, 2012 by Matthew Levy

As I evaluate the demographics of the audiences during keynote speeches I deliver on job search and career management techniques, one thing is clear: workers in their 40s, 50s and 60s have been impacted by the recession.   These potential employees have much to offer: depth and breadth of experience, wisdom and usually a calm resolve to handle pressures of every day work.  Yet, as I peer at these folks from the stage and as I answer their job search questions, it is clear to me that they could be doing much, much more to combat the job-related rejections they hear every day:

  • “You have great experience but we are looking for someone more junior…”
  • “Your salary is too high…”
  • “This job isn’t the right fit for you…”
  • “We’re looking for someone with only 5-7 years of experience…”

Rather than whine about the ageism that surely exists in today’s employment market, I recommend you consider these suggestions.

 

 

Why reinvent the wheel?  Read more resume tips here and download a template to make your own.

Download my free 70 page eBook!

Please share, like and comment!  I would love to hear from you. Do you agree or disagree with my suggestions?  What other job search challenges do you face?

About the author: Matt is a sought after human resources executive, career coach, keynote speaker and author.  You can read more about him here and here.

Posted in Interviewing, Jobsearch, LinkedIn, Networking, Personal Branding, Resume, Social Media | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Video: Creating a Brag Book to Ace the Interview

October 15, 2012 by Matthew Levy

I know what you are thinking: mom told me that bragging is a bad thing.  I agree that in many situations bragging is not a trait that you want to be associated with.  In fact, word association may yield terms such as arrogant, audacious and egotistical.

However, I’d like to a make the claim that while in job search mode, if going about it in the right way, “bragging” might just be the key differentiator between getting the offer and coming in second place.  We all know what second place feels like in the interview process – no one remembers the bridesmaid, only the bride.

The key here is to get clarity on your career accomplishments andget comfortable talking about them!  Yes, there have been many articles written on how to verbally convey your accomplishments during an interview (for example, the STAR methodology: answering a question by articulating the situation/task, the action you took and end result).

Instead, the subject of this article is how to differentiate yourself by assembling a “brag book” as a leave- behind at the end of a job interview.  The brag book is best used during the interview process and not so much during the networking process (a bio is a better bet while networking; see this article for more information).

What is a brag book and how do I create one?  Check out the following video to learn more!

Why reinvent the wheel?  Download my sample brag book so you can customize it and make it your own.

Download my free 70 page eBook!

Please share, like and comment!  I would love to hear from you. Do you agree or disagree with my suggestions?  What other job search challenges do you face?

About the author: Matt is a sought after human resources executive, career coach, keynote speaker and author.  You can read more about him here and here.

Posted in Interviewing, Jobsearch, Networking, Personal Branding, Resume | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Jump Start Your Job Search Workshop Saturday, October 20 from 9 – 5 pm for only $10

October 7, 2012 by Matthew Levy

Hi everyone – many of you ask when and where I will be speaking next.  I don’t always get around to publishing these events but this one is such a great deal I wanted to pass it along.  I will be speaking about LinkedIn techniques.

I hope to see you there.  Please pass on to others who you think may be interested.  It is sure to be a sellout.

Jump Start Your Job Search Workshop Saturday, October 20 from 9 – 5 pm for only $10

651 N Wayne Ave, Wayne, PA 19087  (a local church has volunteered meeting space)

Don’t miss it – space is filling up – register today!
An interactive day of information and ideas to assist you in finding the right position more quickly.

Sessions will include:

The Job-Seeker’s Toolkit – Ford Myers – Ford will discuss the tools you need and how to use them to master the job-search process and maximize your long-term career potential.

You Are a Brand – Christina Meehan – Christina will discuss the essentials of personal branding and why having a solid personal brand can launch you to the top of an employer’s applicant pool.

Networking over lunch with fellow participants and speakers.

Networking – Opening Opportunity Channels – Brenda Grove – Learn the steps for conducting information meetings, building relationships and tapping the hidden job market.

Maintaining Momentum & Focus – Sue Kaiden – Join Sue as she helps you regain your momentum & focus by identifying where you are in your search and learning tools and techniques to get you moving!

Beyond Your Profile Page – The Power of LinkedIn – Matt Levy – Learn how to conduct advanced people and company searches, use the status update box, maximize groups and get noticed through questions & answers.

Job-Search Tips & Tricks – Amy Dinning – Bring together everything we have learned during the day to actions you can take to move forward in a productive and effective job search.

Sign in begins at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop begins at 9 a.m. The formal part of the workshop will end at 5 p.m.

Please bring your business cards. Bring your lunch as there will be no place to purchase one.

Please register online at http://www.cosnet.org/care and pay with a credit card. Please note that online registration will close on Wednesday, October 17th at noon. We are unable to take walk-ins.

For more information or questions, contact Amy Dinning at amydinning@juno.com. This event is sponsored by the Church of the Saviour, Greater Valley Forge Human Resources Association, St. Joseph’s University, Doubletree Hotel Valley Forge, ASTD Philadelphia chapter, Rosemont College, Hire One, and Job Circle.

About the author: Matt is a sought after human resources executive, career coach, keynote speaker and author.  You can read more about him here and here.

 

Posted in Interviewing, Jobsearch, LinkedIn, Networking, Resume | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Job Search Strategies Video: Overusing a Great Resume

October 7, 2012 by Matthew Levy

True or False: Your Resume is Your Most Frequently Used Written Job Search Tool. False.

It’s Your Bio…Read on to Find Out Why.

Most job seekers understandably think that their resume is their most important written job search tool.  Why?  Because most people associate resumes with landing their next job.  Resumes are important, even critical, to your ultimate goal of landing your next job.  However, resumes are best used only when you are applying for a specific position.  After all, that’s the purpose of a resume – to articulate your background, skills, abilities and credentials – with the hopes of garnering an interview.

However, any savvy job seeker in this current employment market knows that blindly applying for jobs using your resume is a recipe for a long bout of unemployment.   Generally accepted statistics demonstrate that only 20% of all jobs are filled via job boards and newspaper ads.  And of that 20% the majority of the time the hiring manager knows who they want to hire before the posting goes up.

The other 80% of jobs are filled through networking with friends, family, current or former co-workers, or through extended professional networking through www.linkedin.com and professional organizations.  This is where the concept of a one page biography or bio, for short, comes into play.  The bio is the document that you can most leverage during your networking activities – and if networking is the key approach needed to land one of the 80% of jobs that are not filled through traditional job posting channels, and then doesn’t it stand to reason that a bio should be a more important tool?  Remember, a resume is best utilized when you are applying for a specific job.  A bio is best used to convey your background in a crisp narrative format before, during or after your networking meetings.

You may be thinking, “Why can’t I just use my resume during my networking meetings?”   Good question.  Watch my short video to find out why!

Download my bio as a template for your own!

Download my free 70 page eBook!

Please share, like and comment!  I would love to hear from you. Do you agree or disagree with my suggestions?  What other job search challenges do you face?

About the author: Matt is a sought after human resources executive, career coach, keynote speaker and author.  You can read more about him here and here.

Posted in Interviewing, Jobsearch, LinkedIn, Networking, Resume | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Video: Keys to an Effective Job Search #3 Assertiveness

September 29, 2012 by Matthew Levy

This is the third in a series of videos aimed at helping people accelerate their careers.  In this video I highlight the need for assertiveness in a job search.

Subscribe to this blog and YouTube channel to automatically receive future videos.

 

 

Please share, like and comment!  I would love to hear from you. Do you agree or disagree with my suggestions?  What other job search challenges do you face?

About the author: Matt is a sought after human resources executive, career coach, keynote speaker and author.  You can read more about him here and here.

 

Posted in Interviewing, Jobsearch, LinkedIn, Networking, Resume, Social Media | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Video: Keys to an Effective Job Search #2 Activity

September 25, 2012 by Matthew Levy

This is the second in a series of videos aimed at helping people accelerate their careers.  In this video I highlight the need for focused activity in a job search.

Subscribe to this blog and YouTube channel to automatically receive future videos.

 

 

Please share, like and comment!  I would love to hear from you. Do you agree or disagree with my suggestions?  What other job search challenges do you face?

About the author: Matt is a sought after human resources executive, career coach, keynote speaker and author.  You can read more about him here and here.

Posted in Interviewing, Jobsearch, LinkedIn, Networking, Personal Branding, Resume, Social Media | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Video: Keys to an Effective Job Search #1 Attitude

September 15, 2012 by Matthew Levy

This is the first in a series of videos aimed at helping people accelerate their careers.  Subscribe to this blog and YouTube channel to automatically receive future videos. Special thanks to Gary Chrebet of Insight Images for his masterful video production skills.  I highly recommend him for your videography or photography needs.

Please share, like and comment!  I would love to hear from you.

About the author: Matt is a sought after human resources executive, career coach, keynote speaker and author.  You can read more about him here and here.

Posted in Interviewing, Jobsearch, Networking, Personal Branding | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Older Posts »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 1,382 other followers