Corner Office Career Coaching Blog

Video: How to Combat Ageism in Your Job Search

Matthew Levy — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:32:57 +0000

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.

Video: Creating a Brag Book to Ace the Interview

Matthew Levy — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:42:46 +0000

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.

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

Matthew Levy — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 21:48:41 +0000

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.

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.

Job Search Strategies Video: Overusing a Great Resume

Matthew Levy — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 21:34:49 +0000

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.

Video: Keys to an Effective Job Search #3 Assertiveness

Matthew Levy — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 18:24:15 +0000

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.

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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.

Video: Keys to an Effective Job Search #2 Activity

Matthew Levy — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:59:39 +0000

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.

Video: Keys to an Effective Job Search #1 Attitude

Matthew Levy — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 16:53:20 +0000

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.

Creating a resume that stands out

Matthew Levy — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 21:14:27 +0000

You have heard over and over again that an extraordinary resume is a critical element to landing a job in the current economic climate. This is easier said than done. Many resumes suffer from outdated language, “bullet-itis,” and overused clichés (“results-oriented, people person”). Now is the time to take a hard look at your resume to ensure that it is as great as it can be.

Your resume needs be easy to read and easy to scan quickly because recruiters and hiring managers review hundreds and hundreds of resumes.

It’s helpful to think of your resume in the context of a newspaper or magazine article. Editors employ techniques to ensure you notice and read their article. Techniques include:

superscript fonts and multimedia components
captivating headlines and sub-headings
bullets and bolding
white space

Let’s take a look at these techniques at play in the following resume.

Superscript fonts and multimedia components

Start your resume with a superscript font just as a magazine article might start with an enlarged first letter. Notice the large “M, F and L” in the name below? Notice the subtle shadowing in the font? They create a classy and elegant start to your resume.

Multimedia components are also important in a current resume because resumes are primarily read online. Hyperlinks and clickable icons are examples of multimedia opportunities. In the Microsoft Word version of this resume, clicking on the LinkedIn icon below takes you to the resume author’s LinkedIn profile.

Captivating headlines and subheadings

When deciding to read an article your brain instantly reacts to the headline. Compelling? Read on! Irrelevant or disinteresting? Ignore and move on. You want your resume to stand out! Here’s an example of a resume headline – also referred to as a tag line or a personal branding statement. The superscript is used here, too. If the recruiter or hiring manager thinks your tag line is on the mark they will surely read further!

The use of sub-headings helps to break up sections of your resume to make it easier to read and easier to digest. The section above is entitled “profile.” Other sections may be called “Experience,” “Education” and “Professional Organizations.” The use of a black bar with reverse white font helps to delineate and provides a welcome break from pure text – thus making for a more pleasing read!

Bullets and bolding

Bullets and bolding help to highlight key points while giving the reader a quick way to gauge whether they should read on. The paragraph format articulates the duties and scope of the position while the bullets call out the value and key competencies associated with the experience.

White space

A generation ago resumes were limited to one page. Now that resumes are viewed online, one-page resumes are a fallacy. Writing a two or three-page resume (depending on how long the employee has been in the workforce) allows for a resume to include a generous amount of white space. Consider the analogy of decluttering your home prior to sale. This same idea works for resumes, too. Declutter. Edit. Create pleasing margins and breaks between text. The end result should be a resume that pops with all the polish and shine of a professional magazine article.

If you choose to apply these laws of resume writing, the process can and should be fun and rewarding!

If you like the format used in the sample resume highlighted in this article, you can download it here and make it your own!

What additional tips do you have to create a captivating resume? Please leave a comment below and/or send me an email.

Remember, It Only Takes ONE!

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Matt

About the Author

***Download a free copy of Matt’s 70 page eBook, The Royal Wave and Other Strategies for Career Success***

Matthew Levy is a well-rounded HR professional, career coach, keynote speaker and author with fifteen years of broad experience in both specialist (e.g., recruiting) and generalist (e.g., HR business partner) roles at blue-chip companies, including Merck, Amgen and Johnson & Johnson.

Matt is founder and President of a career coaching practice, Corner Office Career Coaching. Matt works one-on-one with professionals, executives and students providing them with customized solutions to their career challenges. As a 20-year corporate HR professional with a large network who has also successfully conducted his own effective, cutting-edge job search, he is well qualified to help others reach their career goals. His job seeker blog has received 50,000 visitors and his articles have been run by nationally recognized job search and career management websites and guides. He also regularly gives speeches on career management and job search.

Matt works full time as a Global HR Lead for Johnson & Johnson. Prior to J&J, Matt relocated his family to Southern California to take a position with Amgen, the world’s largest biotechnology company, where he led the talent acquisition function for Amgen’s commercial operations and corporate staff groups. Before Amgen, Matt spent several years at Merck, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. There, Matt held a variety of positions in both recruiting and generalist capacities.

Matt graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Business Management from Ithaca College. He is an actively engaged member of several professional organizations including the Philadelphia HR Planning Society where he is on the Board of Directors and the Greater Philadelphia Senior Executives Group.

Matt lives in Doylestown, PA with his wife, daughter and son. He jogs through the Bucks County countryside to stay fit.

4 Common Misconceptions about LinkedIn

Matthew Levy — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:03:14 +0000

LinkedIn is growing by leaps and bounds. There is a new user signing up every second! As of this writing there are over 150 million members. Their stock price has been climbing. They had excellent recent financial results. Most career managers and job seekers have realized the importance of LinkedIn. However, there are still misconceptions. Here are four big ones.

Only connect with people you know

LinkedIn repeatedly warns that you should only connect with people you know. Savvy users know this is not the case. Consider the analogy of a pen pal. A pen pal is someone with whom you trade letters over a long distance. After many years you may have a chance to meet your pen pal. Normally this meeting is accompanied by tears of joy and many hours of laughter. That’s because your pen pal has become a close friend, or at a minimum, has become a close acquaintance.

It is the same concept with LinkedIn: if you send a customized invitation to a complete stranger on LinkedIn, there is a great chance that they will accept your invitation. You can then start a networking relationship based on giving. This new connection may eventually turn into a close friend – just like the pen pal!

Your profile is complete when you hit 100%

LinkedIn provides a rudimentary “Completeness” scale on your profile page. Unfortunately, the components that LinkedIn uses to calculate this scale are very, very basic and lulls new members into a fall sense of security. You can read about the details in this official LinkedIn blog post. Don’t be fooled! If you sit back and relax after hitting the 100% mark you are not taking advantage of the power of LinkedIn. Here’s an entire presentation on additional ways that you can fully optimize your LinkedIn profile.

You should use your current job title as your headline

The section magnified above is called your professional headline. Far too often LinkedIn users use this prime real estate for their current job title. This is a huge miss! Why? Because LinkedIn uses a search algorithm (much like Google) to return search results when members (many times recruiters and hiring managers) search for other members. LinkedIn places a lot of search algorithm weighting on the words in your professional headline. Also, every time you make a comment, ask a question or post an update, your professional headline appears. As you can see from the picture above, LinkedIn allows for many more characters in your headline than a typical job title. Use up the character allotment with a strong personal branding statement and key words that will differentiate you from the competition and, if crafted appropriately, will allow you to show up on the first page of LinkedIn search results.

LinkedIn recommendations are meaningless

If written properly, LinkedIn recommendations can play in integral role in your LinkedIn profile, your personal brand and ultimately in your career. After all, what is more powerful: you saying how terrific you are or someone else singing your virtues? Consider a book cover: are you more impressed with the author’s bio or the third party recommendations? The bottom line is that, in most cases, what others say about you has more impact than what you say about yourself. LinkedIn recommendations are important, but how do you go about writing and receiving recommendations to enhance your LinkedIn profile and therefore your personal brand? For a deep dive check out LinkedIn recommendations: love ‘em or leave ‘em?

What are some other LinkedIn misconceptions? Please leave a comment below and/or send me an email.

Remember, It Only Takes ONE!

Matt

About the Author

***Download a free copy of Matt’s 70 page eBook, The Royal Wave and Other Strategies for Career Success***

Matt is founder and President of a career coaching practice, Corner Office Career Coaching. Matt works one-on-one with professionals, executives and students providing them with customized solutions to their career challenges. As a 20-year corporate HR professional with a large network that has also successfully conducted his own effective, cutting-edge job search, he is well qualified to help others reach their career goals. His job seeker blog has received 50,000 visitors and his articles have been run by nationally recognized job search and career management websites and guides. He also regularly gives speeches on career management and job search.

Matt lives in Doylestown, PA with his wife, daughter and son. He jogs through the Bucks County countryside to stay fit.

Can Social Media Assist Me in My Job Search?

Matthew Levy — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 03:38:55 +0000

The answer is definitely yes! I think it is pretty common knowledge that recruiters and hiring managers are actively mining LinkedIn. In fact, I elaborated on one of the tools that LinkedIn markets to corporate recruiting departments and search firms.

Interestingly, there is a new tool that recruiters and hiring managers are using to find you via social media. It’s called Bullhorn Reach. I’m seeing it proliferate across the recruiting industry. What does this mean to the job seeker or the gainfully employed individual who has finally realized that they need to actively manage their career? It means that you need to develop a professionally-oriented personal brand and convey that brand via multiple social networks including LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and WordPress (among others).

By doing so, recruiters and hiring managers will be able to find you. After all, they would rather find you than looking through the five hundred resume responses from a monster.com posting!

Have a look at this video aimed at corporate recruiters and search firms. Pay particular attention at the 1:10 second mark where Bullhorn Reach talks about targeting job seekers (passive and active) who are active in social media circles. If you are a mid-career jobseeker and you have been reticent to get involved with social media, maybe this is your wake-up call!

Matt

About the Author

Download my recently released 70 page eBook on Job Search and Career Management.

Matt is founder and President of a career coaching practice, Corner Office Career Coaching. Matt works one-on-one with professionals, executives and students providing them with customized solutions to their career challenges. As a 20-year corporate HR professional with a large network who has also successfully conducted his own effective, cutting-edge job search, he is well qualified to help others reach their career goals. His job seeker blog has received 37,000 visitors and his articles have been run by nationally recognized job search and career management websites and guides. He also regularly gives speeches on career management and job search.

Matt works full time as a Global Human Resources Lead for Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development. Prior to J&J, Matt relocated his family to Southern California to take a position with Amgen, the world’s largest biotechnology company, where he led the talent acquisition function for Amgen’s commercial operations and corporate staff groups. Before Amgen, Matt spent several years at Merck, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. There, Matt held a variety of positions in both recruiting and generalist capacities.

Matt graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Business Management from Ithaca College. He is an actively engaged member of several professional organizations including the Philadelphia HR Planning Society where he is Vice President and the Greater Philadelphia Senior Executives Group.

Matt lives in Doylestown, PA with his wife, daughter and son. He jogs through the Bucks County countryside to stay fit.