By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady A Resume for Each Job? Won't That Take Forever?When applying for jobs, customizing each resume is one way to help you stand out. Unfortunately, it’s easy to spend a lot of time and effort updating your resume. Let's look at shortcuts for customizing your resume that is less time and labor-intensive. Articulate What You WantRemember, when you're at the point when you're applying for jobs, you should have already done some prework. By now, you should know what specifically you're looking for in a job. This includes details like your target job title(s), industries, core work responsibilities, geographic location, day-to-day responsibilities, pay rate, and work arrangements (onsite, remote, hybrid). If you don't have a clear idea of what your target job looks like, it makes everything else harder. I encourage you to take a moment to figure out what your target is. This act will help you be more efficient as you search for a role, decide what to apply for, create your target job resume, and everything after that, too. For me, in a previous job search, here is how that looked:
Create a Target Job ResumeTo start, create a target job resume. You could also share this resume with those people who say, "Can you send me your resume?" who may not have a specific job description to share. This resume should be a solid representation of your skills, the type of work you do, and the unique value you would bring to the role. Your target job resume should also include keywords commonly appearing in job descriptions for the type of work you do. To be clear, this IS NOT the resume you use to submit whenever you apply for a job. Instead, this is the resume you customize just a bit for each job for which you apply. Let's look at what to include so you have a robust resume that you'll only need to customize in a few ways for each role. Target Job Resume: Professional Summary SectionYour resume should start with a professional summary section. The goal of this summary is to let the reader know if it's worth reading further. This summary is comprised of a few sentences that summarize who you are, what drives you, and how those factors align with the available role. This is also an opportunity to highlight important keywords that will resonate with employers. Here is the Professional Summary in my target job resume: Proactive learning consultant driven to help organizations succeed. Thrives when partnering with leaders and stakeholders to improve performance. Able to think strategically and execute tactically while managing multiple projects. Committed to constant learning, continuous improvement, and delivering training that drives results. Target Job Resume: Relevant Skills SectionLook at your list of terms included in job descriptions that interest you. Prioritize the ones that you really want the hiring team to know about. Include those in a Relevant Skills section near the top of your resume. Limit what you include to a couple of lines. Here are key skills that I seem the most generally relevant: Here are keywords I included in my Relevant Skills section: Blended Learning, Coaching, Collaboration, Communications, Consulting, Facilitation, Instructional Design, Needs Analysis, Onboarding, Project Management, Relationship Building, Strategy, Video Production Target Job Resume: Work Experience DetailsFor each role, I include bulleted points describing responsibilities common to people who do this work. This includes a wider variety of keywords to help even the least experienced recruiter see the tie between what I describe and the words used in many job descriptions. Here are examples of bulleted points under job descriptions that include keywords relevant to my skills:
The words in bold are keywords pulled from relevant job descriptions. Customizing a Resume: Save AsFirst, I pull up my target job resume file in a word processing file format. Then, I save a copy of my job-specific resume using the following naming convention: [My name] Resume, [Job Title] with [Company name]. For a Lead Learning Consultant role for ABC Inc, the name would look like this: Brenda L. Peterson Resume, Lead Learning Consultant with ABC Inc Now, I'll edit this new resume so it aligns more directly to the job for which I'm applying. Customized Resume: Professional Summary SectionNow, I will customize the Professional Summary Section to align with the language used in the Lead Learning Consultant role. Remember, here is my Professional Summary in my target job resume: Proactive learning consultant driven to help organizations succeed. Thrives when partnering with leaders and stakeholders to improve performance. Able to think strategically and execute tactically while managing multiple projects. Committed to constant learning, continuous improvement, and delivering training that drives results. Here is the Professional Summary for this Lead Learning Consultant role: High-performing lead learning consultant who thrives when delivering engaging employee performance solutions. Thrives when partnering with internal and external stakeholders to design innovative talent management programs. Able to think strategically and execute tactically while managing multiple projects. Committed to constant learning, continuous improvement, and delivering talent initiatives that drive engagement. The sentiment is similar, but now I'm conveying my value add using the employer’s words to describe this position. Note the bolded words were pulled directly from the job description. Customized Resume: Relevant Skills SectionNow, I will customize the Relevant Skills Section to align with language used in the Lead Learning Consultant role. Remember, here is the Relevant Skills section in my target job resume: Blended Learning, Coaching, Collaboration, Communications, Consulting, Facilitation, Instructional Design, Needs Analysis, Onboarding, Project Management, Relationship Building, Strategy, Video Production Here is the Relevant Skills section for the Lead Learning Consultant role: Blended Learning Solutions, Employee Coaching, Collaboration, Communication Skills, Consulting, Facilitation, Curriculum Design, New Hire Onboarding, Project Management, Relationship Building, Strategy, Talent Management Programs To mirror language the company used, I added "solutions" to blended learning, changed "instructional" to "curriculum", and added a few terms emphasized in the job description to this list. Realize these skills are also included in bulleted points for each role. This is just another opportunity to help the recruiter align the skills needed with the words listed in the job description. What Do You Think?Do you customize a resume for each role? What are your tips, tricks, and strategies? Include your thoughts in the comments. Learn More
0 Comments
By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady Your Salary RequirementsMost of us work so we can pay for our lives. When you are job searching, it’s important to determine your target salary range to make your job search more effective. Having this information will help you prioritize which jobs to apply for and help you have those early salary conversations. Let’s look at a few strategies for answering the question, “What are your salary requirements?” Start With Your Target RolesFirst, ensure you’ve done the requisite amount of soul-searching to determine what you want to be next in your career. Have a list of what you want to do, possible job titles, relevant skills, core responsibilities, daily activities, focus areas, types of companies, and industries. Having these details on your desired job will help as you start to do salary research. The DisclaimerWhile I feel comfortable discussing various financial and insurance concepts, I do not currently hold a license or any certification that deems me inherently qualified to give financial advice. The information provided here is intended to be used for educational purposes only. Sometimes, the core challenge is knowing how a system generally works, the terms used to describe what you’re asking about, and where to go for additional help. My goal for this article is to share information to guide you as you navigate the murky waters of job searching. I hope my personal experiences can help you cut a path through the wilderness as you try to figure out your next steps. Feel free to take my recommendations or not. Whatever you do, double-check my facts--and everyone's purported facts, for that matter. This is your life, and you will care more about your financial and healthcare decisions than anyone else. Use this information as a starting point for further research as you ultimately decide what’s right for you. Identify Your PrioritiesNow that you understand your target job and what that looks like, think about what you value in a job. For example, some may prioritize having a specific job title, receiving tuition reimbursement money to earn their next credential, and opportunities for a promotion within the company. Another person may prioritize having interesting work while also having schedule flexibility, the ability to work remotely most days, and low health insurance premiums. Still another person may prioritize alongside colleagues in an office, having the opportunity to mentor new employees, and finding a job they can keep for the next 20 years. Think about what is the most important to you. In addition, think about what you value in an employer. Working for a non-profit, government entity, start-up, family business, or Fortune 500 company will have salary, benefit, job security, and total compensation-related implications. Overall, think about what matters to you, and be aware of the salaries that align with your overall job preferences. Factors That Influence Your Target Salary RangeWhen considering your salary requirements, I suggest using a range instead of one specific number. Let’s look at strategies for determining your target salary range. Here are numbers you might have in mind that could impact your range:
I suggest the salary range you share with potential employers includes the lower number that is the minum salary you would happily accept and the maximum number is what you'd be really excited about. What Companies Are PayingKnowing what companies are paying for what you do should also factor in to your target salary range. Here are a few strategies for finding out more: Search For Openings in Pay Transparency StatesTake these steps to find out what open positions are paying:
Research Your Job Title and Geographic LocationMany websites have salary information. Two that come highly recommended by recruiters are Salary.com and Payscale.com. In fact, Salary.com has a Know Your Worth calculator where you can add details like your job title, location, education level, and years of experience and see the impact each factor has on your potential market value. Ask AroundFind out from other job searchers, recruiters, and hiring managers what salaries companies are paying for specific roles. You can also inquire with professional development organizations to see if there are industry or job-specific studies available that include salary-related information. Confounding FactorsHere are a few factors that might make this process challenging:
Learn More
By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady Contract vs Benefits Eligible RolesWhen you're looking for work, it's important to know what salary range you have in mind. As you are initially searching for jobs, a key factor in deciding which jobs to pursue and which to pass on will be what you will earn. If you are looking at contract positions, the salary you will receive is the same as your base salary. Usually, you are paid a set amount for each hour worked with no additional benefits. Consequently, contract positions often have a higher hourly rate knowing that each contractor will have to cover their health insurance and other additional benefits that may be included in other job offers. However, If you are in a benefits-eligible role, you will receive additional value above and beyond your base salary rate. Let's consider what factors may be included in your total compensation package. A DisclaimerWhile I feel comfortable discussing various financial and insurance concepts, I do not currently hold a license or any certification that deems me inherently qualified to give financial advice. The information provided here is intended to be used for educational purposes only. Sometimes, the core challenge is knowing how a system generally works, the terms used to describe what you’re asking about, and where to go for additional help. My goal for this article is to share information to guide you as you navigate the murky waters of job searching. I hope my personal experiences can help you cut a path through the wilderness as you try to figure out your next steps. Feel free to take my recommendations or not. Whatever you do, double-check my facts--and everyone's purported facts, for that matter. This is your life, and you will care more about your financial and healthcare decisions than anyone else. Use this information as a starting point for further research as you ultimately decide what’s right for you. Your Work IncomeFirst, let’s look at a high-level, generalized overview of the money you may receive:
Employer Money For A Specific PurposeIn addition to receiving money in the form of a check or payment payable to you, you may also receive money earmarked for a specific purpose.
Benefits, At Least Partially Employer PaidIn the United States, many people obtain different types of insurance through their employers. Employers often pay administration costs of the plan and help cover some of the costs.
Access To Purchase Additional BenefitsMany employers offer the option for employees to purchase additional benefits. These can include vision insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, enhanced disability coverage, supplemental life insurance, spouse life insurance, child life insurance, accident insurance, condition-specific health insurance, a legal protection plan, or orthodontic benefits. PerksCompanies may also offer a variety of perks. These can include items you can purchase for a lower cost or resources you can take advantage of that you might otherwise pay for elsewhere. These could include an onsite gym, onsite daycare, free parking, entertainment discounts, stamps, bus passes, use of the company van, cell phone plan discounts, or reduced entry fees for area attractions. Perks can also be anything that makes work easier, more engaging, or more pleasant. These could include shift bidding, flexible work arrangements, remote work, work-from-home days, summer hours, four-day workweeks, onsite flu shots, overtime opportunities, or company events. Time OffEmployers also often pay you for specific hours when you do not work. Here are a few standard categorizations for different types of paid time off: paid time off (PTO), sick time, vacation time, paid holidays, floating holidays, volunteer time, bereavement leave, jury duty pay, or military leave. Instead of having a specific number of paid days available for sick or vacation time, some companies have unlimited time off policies. In most cases, instead of earning and then choosing to use paid time off, you work with your manager whenever you want to take off. In general, as long as you are performing your job to an acceptable level, you can take time off. The Salary Question: RevisitedRemember, when a recruiter asks about your salary range, there is a lot more going on than just your base salary. Overall, I suggest giving a salary range instead of a set number to account for possible differences in company-offered benefits. Learn MoreBy Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady About Behavioral Interviewing QuestionsDuring the job interview process, hiring managers and recruiters often ask behavioral interview questions. The logic here is that past activity predicts future performance. Instead of asking a theoretical question about how you WOULD do a given then or solve a given problem (which, of course, would be perfectly), the answer here requires a story. These stories usually come from previous work experience and demonstrate how you think, how you solve problems, how you measure success, and what you learned along the way. Behavioral Interview QuestionsBehavioral interview questions often begin with the phrase, "Tell me about a time" and require you to mine your personal experience and answer by telling a story that relates to your responsibilities and accomplishments from you previous jobs. Here are a few examples of old school interview questions (that ask for what you WOULD do) and behavioral interview question alternatives (that ask for what you DID do):
Finding Your StoriesWhen answering these types of questions, you will tell a story. It's valuable to think about your previous work experience and be ready to mine that experience for stories to explain key points to your interviewers. Your goal should be to give a 1-3 minute answer that showcases your skills in ways that addresses the question. The tendency is for people to either not know what to say or to ramble and hope they stumble upon something useful. For the next little part of this article, we'll explore different strategies you could use to answer the following question: Tell me about a time when you had to finish a project with a short turnaround time. Answering With No PlanGosh. I've done a lot of projects where I had to get something done quickly. Those have included software implementations, making a video, and even designing or updating a class with little to no notice. I usually just work really hard and put in extra hours to get something done. So one case I can think of was right when the pandemic started in 2020. I worked for a software company that delivered most of it's training in person at customer sites. Since government guidelines for dealing with COVID were changing daily during the early part of the pandemic, over the course of a week--maybe it was like two--we realized that we would not be able to travel to customer sites to deliver their training like we had always done. We had to figure out how to deliver what was usually four days of in-person training without traveling to a customer site. We really didn't know how we were going to pull that off. We had to figure out how to do that well--and we had to figure it out in a couple of days. I had the trainer cancel their travel plans. Then a few of us--including a salesperson, a trainer, and an instructional designer--sat down and tried to figure out what to do. We didn't want to bore people to death or make it an awful experience. We thought about doing videos, but those take a lot of time to create and produce. We also had to figure out a short term plan for the next week, and figure out a more interim plan after that. It was really hard to figure out. I mean--the whole WORLD had changed! [Note we're still on the stage setting part of this and not even on to the question answer. So. Much. Talking.] PAR: Problem/Project, Action, ResultsPAR is one method you can use to structure your answer. Here are key components and what each letter represents:
A PAR AnswerProject/Problem: In March of 2020, when COVID was declared a pandemic, I worked at XYZ Software Company and my team trained new users right after their software went live for each customer. Because we did new user training in-person at each customer's site, and travel restrictions were going into place, we had to figure out what to do instead--and we only had a few days to figure something out. Action: I talked with my manager about how to deliver this training the following week to ABC Company. We thought through options and decided to use a combination of Zoom meetings and hands-on practice. I repurposed some of our materials to be self-paced activities, and my manager and I talked with the customer about our plans. We agreed to do a 90-minute instructor-led session in the morning, and another one in the afternoon each day that week. Learners would also do self-paced activities, and I would be available to answer questions as needed. Result: This resulted in us delivering the training during the planned week using the time already scheduled, but in a different way. In the end, the customer was happy that we were still on schedule, and end users appreciated the combination of instructor-led training and self-directed time. CARL: Context, Action, Results, LearningCARL is another method you can use to structure your answers. Here are key components and what each letter represents:
A CARL AnswerContext: In March of 2020, when COVID was declared a pandemic, I worked at XYZ Software Company and my team trained new users right after their software went live for each customer. Because we did new user training in-person at each customer's site, and travel restrictions were going into place, we had to figure out what to do instead--and we only had a few days to figure something out. Action: I talked with my manager about how to deliver this training the following week to ABC Company. We thought through options and decided to use a combination of Zoom meetings and hands-on practice. I repurposed some of our materials to be self-paced activities, and my manager and I talked with the customer about our plans. We agreed to do a 90-minute instructor-led session in the morning, and another one in the afternoon each day that week. Learners would also do self-paced activities, and I would be available to answer questions as needed. Result: This resulted in us delivering the training during the planned week using the time already scheduled, but in a different way. In the end, the customer was happy that we were still on schedule, and end users appreciated the combination of instructor-led training and self-directed time. Learning: Through this process we learned more about how we could deliver effective learning at a distance. We also found that encouraging learners to turn their cameras on during training helped build a sense of community among class members. We built upon our lessons learned to improve our training with each customer. Additional Question Answering ModelsIn addition to PAR and CARL, here are two more models that have similar components. It doesn't matter as much which one you choose, just that you use one of these models to structure your answer and minimize endless rambling:
Learn More
Hooray! You Have an Interview!After goodness knows how many applications, FINALLY, you have heard back from a company who wants to talk with you! There is hope after all! Welcome to what is often step one of the interview process: the phone screen. Remember, each company may handle their interview process just a little differently. Regardless, some version of a phone screen is the starting point. A phone screen can be anywhere from the basic 30-minute voice-only call where they make sure you can speak coherently and understand what you applied for all the way up to a full-blown deep dive into your resume. Typically, you'll be speaking with a recruiter, not the hiring manager, at this point in the process. In this article, we'll talk about the more basic initial phone screen, how to prepare, and typical questions asked. ...And So It Begins: Message From a RecruiterIn many cases, a recruiter will reach out to you directly to schedule a phone screen through email. Many companies are using a scheduling program (like Calendly) so you can select a time that works for you. If this is the case, I would suggest taking a slot as soon as you can get in and comfortably complete the interview. For me, that would be the next day if possible. In other cases, you may receive a phone call from a recruiter that invites a callback. In these cases, they may be asking to schedule a phone interview with you, or they may just launch right into the phone screen while they have you on a call. Personally, I'll usually do my interview preparation before making that initial phone call back to the recruiter just in case they want to do it right then and there. Interview Prep: QuestionsDon't let the supposed informality of a phone call fool you. This is for reals an interview. You need to be ready to make a good impression and answer key questions. Here are the phone screen interview questions that you for sure need to be prepared to answer. Keep these in mind as you research the role, the company, and your interviewer. (We'll talk more about answering these questions well in a bit.) Here are the most common questions I have experienced on a phone screen:
Interview Prep: The RoleGiven that you may have applied for many, many jobs since the one for which you are interviewing, it's important to refamiliarize yourself with this role. Make sure that when you speak to your interviewer, you are positioning yourself as a strong candidate who is able to do (and wants to do) this specific job.
Interview Prep: The Company and Your InterviewerNow that you remember what the role is about, take time to learn more about the company. Remember, you're learning information to help you present yourself well, answer questions about the company and what they do, and even know about current initiatives and news about the organization.
Interview Prep: Your AnswersNow, back to those questions and strategies for answering each one. Is this still a good time for us to talk? Ideally, the answer is yes. This is a courtesy question recruiters often ask. Tell me about yourself. This is your opportunity to tell the recruiter a quick summary of your professional history and the unique knowledge, skills, and attitudes you bring to this role.
Why are you looking for a new job? Companies are interested in why you want to make a change. They may also be leery if they perceive that you have made many changes within a short time. They may be wondering if how they are promoting the position is working. They may just want to see if you trash your previous/current employer or are respectful. Again, be truthful, stay positive, and keep it short.
Why are you interested in this role? Companies often want to make sure you actually want the available position, not just any old job. Speaking about why you want to work in this particular role is a way to show you are being intentional about your next career move. This question also allows you to talk about who you are, what you know about the role, and the skills you bring.
What do you know about our company? Each company has its own personality. This question shows that you, as a job candidate, are a good fit for the organization and that you've taken the time to learn a little more.
What is your desired salary? While having salary ranges in job descriptions is becoming more common, it is not included in all job descriptions. Often, this question comes up very early in the process. You need to have a sense of your desired range and what is a typical range for the type of role for which you are interviewing.
What questions do you have for me? This is your opportunity to ask questions. Given that you have a job description and not much else about this role at this point, take time to think about questions to ask. There are also countless lists online of possible questions to ask. Google them and see which ones seem right for you. Remember, too, that some of these questions might be more appropriate for the hiring manager than the recruiter. (If you continue in the hiring process, you'll meet with the hiring manager soon.)
Learn More
By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady Surprise! It's Layoff #5!In 2019, for the fifth time in my career, I found myself unexpectedly in a position where I needed to change jobs. The last time around, my position was suddenly eliminated on the day I returned from vacation. That was about two years before, and I was not expecting to have to do this again quite so soon. My Job Search NumbersThings moved a bit more quickly this time than I initially expected. Keep in mind, too, that about half of the jobs I applied for have not responded. In their defense, I was on and off the market pretty quickly. With that, here’s how this job search shaped up:
Differences From Previous Job SearchesMy last job search (after layoff #4) lasted 147 days. That's right. It was exactly 100 days longer. So what were the differences between these two job searches? What magic did I use to so quickly land a great new position? Time of YearFortunately (as I look at the bright side), I knew I needed to make a change in late September. I’ve found that being unemployed over the holidays nearly guarantees about an extra month or two of job searching (or, more likely, waiting). My last two job searches included the holiday season, lasting 180 and 147 days, respectively. My best advice is to take some time off from job searching over the holidays. This time around, when I estimated the possible length of my period of unemployment, I surmised that I would either secure a new position before Thanksgiving or I’d most likely be waiting to start a new role until February or March of next year. Getting a jump start, even by a couple of weeks, made a big difference. Position AvailabilityDuring layoff #1 and layoff #2, I lived in Madison, Wisconsin. While I love Madison as a city, as someone whose chosen profession is corporate training, I knew that I needed to move to a larger job market or consider doing something else for a living. In the middle of layoff #2, I started targeting companies in Minneapolis and planning a move. Even with the challenge of relocating (and managing all of the other areas of my life that were in transition right then), finding a new job took under five months. Being in the greater Twin Cities area, even with me being more selective on where to apply, I still had a lot of options. This gave me a better chance of one of the positions I applied for moving me along to the interview stage. I also learned to manage my job search anxiety by applying for additional positions each time I was concerned about not hearing back from one potential employer. Professional NetworkI started using LinkedIn seriously in 2006. Since then, I’ve connected with coworkers, members of professional development organizations, colleagues with whom I’ve interacted, and pretty much anyone who I encountered and found interesting. I stay active on social media sharing useful content and attend industry meetings on a regular basis. Having this robust professional network and assisting individuals in my network when they are job searching or exploring new fields of interest, has helped me immensely. When encountering a position that interested me, I immediately looked to my network to see who might be able to put in a good word for me and help me get pulled out of the initial pile of candidates. I have also had more than one “informal interview” with a possible referrer so they feel comfortable recommending me for a position. Since people are putting their reputations on the line, I don’t take their assistance for granted. Strong QualificationsI’m at the point in my career where I know what jobs interest me. I have good formal education, recent job titles that are well aligned with roles for which I’m applying, and I’ve stayed current on the industry. While having someone refer me for a position helps, I know I still need to be a well-qualified candidate. Those qualifications are what helps me get from a courtesy phone interview to being considered a viable candidate for an open role. Pure Dumb LuckThere is a certain amount of planetary alignment that happens whenever something good manages to actually happen. In this case, a company in a field that interests me (software) had an opening for which I was qualified, and I had a former coworker who was willing to refer me for the position. The quotes “The harder I work, the luckier I get” comes to mind as does “luck is preparation meeting opportunity.” Sometimes, timing is everything. Learn MoreBy Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady A Note About The NumbersAs a bona fide Excel nerd, and meticulous planner, I kept detailed records on my job search journey from layoff #4 through finding a new role. Here are a few statistical highlights of what on earth I did with myself in the months between when my previous role ended and starting a new job. I’m including several numbers in this article. Keep in mind that while I pride myself in my ability to count and do basic math, I’m dealing with a very small sample size. (See the “Learn More” section for issues that can be caused by having a small sample size when it comes statistical information.) This article can only barely be called “research” and is more appropriately described as me sharing my personal experience. With that disclaimer, on to the numbers! How Long Will This Take: Job Search Length
Please Look At My Resume: Applications Submitted
Now We're Talking: Interviews
I Know People: Referrals and Impact on Interview Likelihood
I Will Never Work Again: Job Search Low Points
Everything Works Out: Lessons Learned
Learn More |
![]() Just get laid off?
Click here for info on what to do first. Author7-time layoff survivor Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady, waxes poetic on layoffs, job transitions, & career resilience. Buy The Book!Were you recently laid off from your job and need a roadmap for what's next? Pick up a copy of my book, Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide!
Categories
All
Archives
July 2024
|