by Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady Learning About YourselfThe first step of job searching is figuring out what kind of a role you even want. Instead of jumping right into the job you did before, taking a little time for introspection is wise. One good step in this process is finding out more about your strengths. Learning about what you are good at--and how to tell the story of your talents and successes--can help you position yourself well as you apply and interview for a new role. People Are Good at Different ThingsIf you ask many people what they are good at, they would need help putting their natural abilities into words. Taking the StrengthsFinder assessment was a great starting point for me to better understand what I do well. Often, individuals are blind to their own unique talents. In the past, I have wrongly assumed that EVERYONE does the things I do. Like (of course) everyone takes notes regularly in everyday conversations when they learn something--and (of course) everyone makes a seating chart whenever they are in a group of new people to remember names. Turns out--NOPE! These are things I did that not everyone does. This was a huge breakthrough for me. So how do you figure out what you do that not everyone does? Part of the Answer: CliftonStrengths AssessmentThe CliftonStrengths Assessment (previously known as Clifton StrengthsFinder) is a wonderful tool for identifying what you are good at, how that manifests, and how your version of each strength shows up. The 30-minute online assessment includes 177 questions, including paired statements. Then, on a scale, you select which of the statements is more like you. From there, you'll receive a report identifying your top five strengths along with a more detailed description of how those strengths are exhibited in how you interact with the world. Reading a report about yourself (one that is freakishly accurate, by the way) is downright life-changing. After taking the assessment, you'll be able to see your unique talents and have language to explain how what you do sets you apart from others. Having a way to put your abilities into words can translate directly into your resume and how you talk about who you are and what you bring to the table. My Strengths and How They Show UpMy identified strengths, in order, are Strategic, Learner, Arranger, Achiever, and Individualization. Here are a few details I learned from my report and reflecting on those results:
More Strategies for Finding Strengths and TalentsHere are a few other strategies for identifying what you're good at and how you show up in the world:
Learn More
0 Comments
By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady The Value of Professional NetworkingWhen it comes to job searching, professional networking is a critical component of success. Ideally, you make initial connections with people through LinkedIn (maybe even after meeting them in person or at an online group event). While this is a great start, there is value in building relationships beyond that initial connection. A 1:1 meeting can significantly strengthen a networking relationship and help you learn how you and your new connection can help one another succeed. About 1:1 Networking MeetingsSo what exactly is a networking meeting? Back in the day, I remember hearing people talk about doing "informational interviews." In short, if you were interested in having a particular job or working with a specific company, you would contact an organization or individual and ask if they would meet you for an informational interview. In this 1:1 meeting, which could take place via phone or in person, you might learn about the company, what they are looking for, skills to acquire, and more. It also allowed you to start to build a relationship with a company--or a possible advocate in the person doling out said information. Fast forward to now. Today, a networking meeting is typically between you and another person deciding to spend a half hour-ish together. This meeting, sometimes called a coffee chat, could happen virtually via Zoom or in person, often over coffee. If you're job searching, the typical focus will be on how to progress in your job search. Someone may agree to a networking meeting because you have things in common (like a field of work, background, professional goals), because they are generally committed to helping people when they are job searching, or because you have a mutual acquaintance to ask that person to meet with you to help you out. Networking Meeting = Informal InterviewWhenever you have an opportunity to meet one-on-one with someone, remember that you are taking part in a type of informal interview. Whenever I meet with someone in career transition, my goal is to help them figure out their next steps, offer advice (if they ask and are interested), and give them ideas on further steps they might take, including who they should speak with next While I go in with this idea, the amount of help I'll provide also depends on how this networking meeting goes. Ideally, we have a good, productive conversation, and I think to myself, "I totally want to help this person more." If the meeting goes well, I'll refer them to specific resources that might benefit them (like a networking group they might want to join, a company to check out, someone to follow on LinkedIn) and even put in a good word for them to have a networking meeting with someone else who might get them closer to their goals. In addition, if it goes REALLY well, this is a person who I'll refer to others for openings, pass on job opportunities, and maybe even hire someday. If the meeting doesn't go well, I'll share a few resources, but I may not be willing to help them as actively moving forward. Remember, any interaction you have with people will impact their desire to help you in the future. Types of Networking MeetingsHere are a few common types of networking meetings:
Networking Meeting Best PracticesHere are a few best practices for networking meetings:
The True Power of Networking MeetingsWhen people talk about how they "networked" into a new job, typically, that means they leveraged their initial connections to help make inroads with new contacts, who helped them get closer to a new position. The holy grail of networking meetings is when the person you meet with agrees to introduce you to someone else they know who could help you. That process repeats until you're talking to a hiring manager or influencer who can help you get an interview for a job. Having good networking meetings is a critical step in that process. Learn MoreBy Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady Getting To Know Your LinkedIn ConnectionsConnecting with someone on LinkedIn is a great way to start a formalized relationship with someone in your professional network. While that is a great start, deepening those relationships is a helpful next step to get more value out of LinkedIn. Let's look at a few ways to do just that. Interacting with PostsInteracting with posts on LinkedIn is a great way to continue to build relationships with your connections and demonstrate your professional value. Not only is this a great way to build your credibility with many connections at the same time, it also gives you an opportunity to showcase your knowledge without having to choose the initial content for the post. You can also use your comments to interact with others and even use this as a starting point to invite other commenters to connect. Adding Your ReactionThe easiest way to interact is by adding a reaction to a post. With a click of a button, you can like a post or select from the other available responses. When you react to a post, your name will be listed on the post as well. This is an easy way to have people see your name and affiliate it with the content you liked. Adding your reaction also helps more people see the original post. Commenting on a PostAn even more valuable way to interact with a post is by commenting. Once you have connected with someone, reading and commenting on their posts is an excellent way to build on that relationship. This way, they are starting the conversation, and you are helping expand on that content by adding your ideas. In addition, you can comment on other people's comments and share additional value. You can thank the initial poster for sharing the idea, add your thoughts, share your experiences, and illustrate how you have used the concept in practice. Commenting on posts also gives you an inroad to connect with someone else who is also interacting with that post. Commenting is a great way to interact with others in your profession, build credibility, and make more meaningful connections. It also helps to achieve one of your LinkedIn goals of showcasing your knowledge and also sharing valuable information. RepostingIf someone posts something of value to your connections, you may want to comment on the post itself and then consider reposting it with your comments. When you repost content, first, you'll see anything you typed, then LinkedIn will include the entire original post. This helps the original post get additional views and also enables you to share useful content with your network. When I repost content, I usually include "Thanks [original poster] for sharing this information!" To include the original poster's name, include the @, then type the first part of their name, and choose their name from the options provided. (This is often called an "at mention." This will tag them in the post so they can interact with your new post, which will help boost the number of people who see the post. Sharing Your Own LinkedIn PostsSharing content on LinkedIn is a great way to engage with your connections, add value to your professional relationships, and promote who you are and what you know. Unfortunately, very few people ever post anything at all--which is a huge missed opportunity to differentiate yourself from others in your field. Another question that comes up is the frequency of posting. I recommend posting on LinkedIn no more than once a day and posting one to four times per week. Use your favorite search engine for recommendations on the best times and days of the week to post to get the most views on your posts. As for content, you don't have to write a lengthy, original manifesto to post on LinkedIn and make an impact. Personally, most of the content I share on LinkedIn includes some version of the following:
Once you make a post, be sure to like any comments other people make on your post and even reply to each comment. The more likes and comments you receive on your post, the more people will see it. This will continue to build your professional brand and add value to the networking relationships you are fostering through LinkedIn. Learn More
By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady About Personal BrandingWhether you're actively job searching or just trying to build your professional network, sharing content on social media is a great way to demonstrate your value. By identifying topics that people with your professional focus care about and sharing related content, you will help people associate your name with those areas of expertise. While regularly sharing content is valuable, it can also be time-consuming. Here are three tools I regularly use to organize and streamline this process. Google AlertsOn LinkedIn, you will share some content that you directly create. This might include a post about an event you attended, your career news, or your observations on a given topic. When it comes to LinkedIn, most of my content includes articles on critical topics of interest, with some introductory commentary framing the value I see in the article. This means I need to locate and collect those articles to post them as needed. One way I locate helpful content on each topic is to set up a Google Alert for keywords or phrases relevant to my professional skill set. Each Google Alert sends you an email with new online content regularly. Here are a few examples of what Google Alerts you may want to set up:
After you identify the keywords for topics that people in your industry talk about, create alerts to keep a steady stream of content coming to you. Flipboard serves two essential purposes. First, you can follow exciting topics and see content other users share. Second, you can use Flipboard to create magazines on a given subject area and bookmark content that interests you for later use. Here are a few ways you might find content to save in a Flipboard magazine:
Gathering possible information to post when you run across it, organizing it, and making it easy to access will save you a lot of time figuring out what to post. BufferWhile the other two tools are about finding and organizing possible content to post, now let's look at a tool to schedule those posts. There are several tools available to help you manage social media posts. Currently, I use Buffer. This online platform has a free version that will enable you to manage posting on up to three social media platforms. When my goal is building my professional network and job searching, I focus on LinkedIn. Buffer enables you to create, schedule, and update posts as needed. When searching for a new role, I may post as often as daily. When focusing on building or maintaining my network, I may post once or twice a week. The Learn More section includes recommendations on how often and at what times you may want to share content for the greatest impact. Creating A Post When I create a post to share an article, I often include the following details:
Here are a few examples:
Learn MoreBy Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady The Challenge: Describing What You DoWhether you're searching for a new role or thinking about your professional development, not having the right words to describe your skillset can hinder your progress. Identifying your career keywords will help you create effective messaging for your LinkedIn profile, resume, conversations with colleagues, and other written communications like email and social media posts. Where To Start: LinkedIn and KeywordsHere is my recommendation for how to begin gathering keywords that align with your chosen profession:
Let me take you through an example. Search for Your Target Job TitleI searched LinkedIn's Jobs section for Business Partner Organizational Development in the United States. From the results, I selected ten currently open positions to review further (because I'm an overachiever like that). Here are those job titles:
Lesson Learned: When you search for a job title, your results will include a variety of titles different companies use. Be sure to review the job description to learn more about what that company expects from that role. The duties for the same job title might vary widely from company to company, as might the terminology they use to describe it. Identifying Skills and KeywordsTotal Number of Different Skills Returned for All Ten Jobs For the 10 jobs I reviewed, 69 different skills were included in the results. For context, if all roles had the exact same skills, this number would be 10. If all of the roles had different skills, this number would be 100. Lesson Learned: Not only will job titles vary across organizations, but what skills they value can also differ. Be sure to review the job description to learn more about what skills the company thinks will help make someone in that role successful. Specific Skills Returned For More Than One Job Several skills came up more than once across those ten jobs. Here is the number of times a specific skill appeared for more than one role:
Lesson Learned: Even if there is not widespread agreement on the terminology used across organizations, some keywords will show up more often. Consider including popular keywords in your skills section on your LinkedIn profile and in your resume. Different Keywords for Similar Skills While specific keywords like "communication" and "problem solving" appeared more than once within the 10 job descriptions, several related terms might be included instead. Here are a few groups of terms that take different approaches to describing similar concepts:
Lesson Learned: When you look at the groupings of keywords, you can see the broader areas where roles like this would operate. Each company may use slightly different terminology regarding the skills that they value. When you talk about the work you do, consider weaving some of these words into your stories. What Do You Think?How do you identify the right keywords to use to describe what you do? Share your thoughts in the comments. Learn More
By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady Resume ObservationsRecently, I have talked with many colleagues who are proactively updating their resumes. After we talk a little about what type of a position interests them, I usually give them additional feedback about preparing a resume to apply for a specific job. As a many-time hiring manager, I have seen lots of bad and lots of sort-of-okay, and just a few resumes that were really, really good. For me, a resume needs to answer three fundamental questions. Having a resume that addresses each of these will helpg you get you out of the no pile and into the “I am excited to talk with them” pile. Question 1: Does This Person Want This Job?In a previous job, I was working on filling an instructional designer position on my team at a software company. I received one resume where the person’s career objective stated that they wanted to be a curator at a museum. The good news: this person knew what they wanted and made it clear in their resume. The bad news: they didn’t want the job I had available. Most (like maybe a good half) of resumes that end up in the “no” pile are so nondescript that they could be applying for any number of office positions. Once, when I was hiring for a technical trainer position, I received a resume for someone with a lot of experience working as a corrections officer. The good news: this person had many potentially transferable skills. The bad news: I didn’t know if this person was interested in this particular role or was mass applying for anything that wasn’t their current job. Overall, do just enough tailoring on your resume, so the hiring manager knows you are interested in the available job and applied for it on purpose. Given how costly a bad hire can be, help the hiring manager know that you want to do the job in question. Question 2: Can This Person Do The Job?Once I know a given candidate wants the job, I look for some indication that the person has the skills to do the job. Some candidates’ work experience is neat and tidy and points logically toward the open role. For example, they were a call center representative, then a senior call center representative, then a call center supervisor, then a call center manager. If they were applying for a call center manager position, from their job titles alone, I could be reasonably sure they could do the job. With that, adding in keywords from the job description and adding details about their previous education and work responsibilities as they relate to this specific position, it’s not a stretch to think they are qualified. If the candidate didn’t have much experience in a similar role, I’d expect them to describe what they did in previous positions and show how their work experience prepared them for this role. For example, if I’m hiring for an instructional designer position, the job description might include “collaborate with subject matter experts to create learning materials for client-facing courses.” If someone with a background as an elementary school teacher applies, they should show how their previous work experience relates to the available position. For example, they might include “collaborated with subject matter experts in the media center to create learning materials for a course for parents on encouraging their children to read more.” Without emphasizing those transferable skills, I might not be convinced they could perform the required tasks. Overall, be sure to make it apparent that you can do the core tasks that the job requires. Question 3: If I Hire Them, Will They Stick Around?Filling an open position takes a long time and is a huge gamble. The goal is to find someone who wants the job, can do it, and will want to be in that position (or a part of your organization) for a good long time. This part of resume assessment is teeing up the phone screen and helping me determine the questions I need to ask. For example, will this salary be in line with their desired salary range? Will they be happy working from the office or working from home for the amount required? Will they work well with this organization's structure and formality level? Will they want to travel as much (or as little) as is needed with this job? Are they going to be happy managing or not managing people? As a hiring manager, details in the resume are helpful as a starting point for those questions. Sharing information on what you want in a role, and drawing comparisons between the role you're applying for and your preferences, wil help make this more clear. Learn MoreBy Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady About The Seven Layoff LessonsThrough my seven layoffs and many conversations with others in post-layoff career transition, I have learned seven core lessons:
About Layoff Lesson Four: Shape and Share Your StoryNow that you’ve determined what you want in your next role, your new challenge is learning to tell your story. This includes telling the overall story of who you are professionally and the value you bring. To this end, you'll use a few key documents to summarize what you do, highlight your core accomplishments, and persuade that employer that they should spend more time learning about you. Your Job Search ToolkitYour job search toolkit is the collection of information you need to showcase your value to a potential employer. Each item in this list helps you share a part of your story during the hiring process.
Your What I Want StatementBased on what you learned during your Structured Soul Searching, the next step is writing a clear and concise “What I Want Statement." This statement can help you as you review job openings and prioritize your applications to those that most closely align with your goals. This statement can also be repurposed when letting other people know what jobs interest you the most. Your Professional SummaryIn addition to your “What I Want” statement, you also need to be able to tell your career story. Your professional summary is that paragraph of quick-hit information that starts to outline who you are, your qualifications, and what you bring to the table as a candidate. This statement can also be repurposed when letting other people know what jobs interest you the most. Your Interview AnswersThe same stories you use in your resume to showcase your skills and the results they generate can also become the answer to commonly asked interview questions. Instead of answering with no plan and hoping for the best, you can use a model, like CARL or STAR, to structure your answers and get to your point more quickly. For The Whole StoryFor all the information on each of the seven lessons pick up a copy of my book Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide. Learn MoreBy Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady About The Seven Layoff LessonsThrough my seven layoffs and many conversations with others in post-layoff career transition, I have learned seven core lessons:
About Layoff Lesson Three: Ask Yourself, “What do I want to be next?”Few people take the time to step back from their work life and think, “Is this really what I want to do?” When you go through an unplanned job change, seize this rare opportunity to revisit your career path. Take time for a little structured soul searching and actively decide what you want both long-term and in your next job. An Opportunity For Self ReflectionWhile it’s hard to take the time to reflect when you’re busy living your life, a layoff means the pause button has just been pushed on your career. This may be your once-in-a-lifetime chance to reassess your current situation and think about what you really want from your work life. What Do You Want To Be?Adults often ask children, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" As an adult, especially in a time of transition, it's valuable to pause and ask yourself that question once again. Once that good enough job is no more, its an excellent time to dedicate some time to figuring out your longer-term career goals. After you identify what you'd like to ultimately do, it's valuable to answer the question, "What do I want to do next?" Being able to describe the details of your desired next job will help you find the next right role for you. Structured Soul SearchingThe structured soul-searching process involves reflecting on many areas of your life, including what truly matters to you, your natural ways of working, your skills, and your interests. This process includes identifying your personal values, finding out and naming your strengths, gathering information on what you like to do at work, and identifying your desired salary. This process will include connecting with previous coworkers to discuss their observations, reviewing job descriptions for skills that appeal to you, researching compensation information, taking online assessments, and making time for personal reflection. This process will help you establish what type of new role would be the best fit for you at this point in time. Prioritizing What Matters To YouOnce you reflect in a few different ways, it’s time to gather what you’ve learned and use that to put together your preferences list for the job you want. You'll think through your preferences regarding work logistics, salary, benefits, employer characteristics, and the day-to-day job and determine what matters most to you. You can also revisit your target job profile and adjust it as your job search continues. As you move through your job search, you'll learn more about what you really want (and what you really don't want). You'll continue to fine-tune what the right next job for you is so you can focus your job search efforts accordingly. For The Whole StoryFor all the information on each of the seven lessons pick up a copy of my book Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide. Learn MoreBy Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady Learning About YourselfWhen thinking about the life you want to live, it's essential to start with what is truly important to you. Identifying those guiding principles will help you make decisions about how you budget your money, which people you will surround yourself with, and what type of work is right for you. Finding the words to express your values can help you live in alignment and increase your overall wellbeing. The Question: What is Important to Me?In the abstract, it can be hard to figure out what really matters to you. It's even harder trying to convert your thoughts and feelings into meaningful words that can help you express what is meaningful to you. Fortunately, there is a tool you can use to help you find the right words. Part of the Answer: think2perform Values ExerciseAt a previous job, when designing a retirement planning seminar, I discovered the think2perform Online Values Exercise. I take this assessment on at least an annual basis. Even though the words that resonate with me stay very similar over time, the process helps me revisit what matters to me most at that point in time. The assessment includes 51 value cards and four rounds of reviewing the cards. The total time to complete this activity is about 15 minutes or more, depending on how much contemplation you do. In the end, you'll have five value cards remaining with descriptions that name and describe key areas that matter to you. The Words You Choose May Change Over TimeI have completed this values exercise multiple times. My results vary depending on what is happening in the rest of my life right then. The words that have remained in my top five consistently over time are autonomy, relationships, and health. When lilfe has felt unpredictable, words like stability, security, and safety have moved up. Similarly, since work is such an important part of my life, there is always a word directly related to what I do for a living. In the past, terms like work, education, or helping others indicated what work meant to me at that time. Applying Your Values To Your LifeIn the final phase of the values activity, I thought very hard about which words were the best guiding principles for me. Here are the values that resonated with me this time around.
Applying Your Values To Your WorkBe sure to use your values as you consider the type of work you want to do and the workplace environment that will help you succeed.
What Do You Think?How do your values influence your career decisions? Share your thoughts in the comments. Learn Moreby Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady Insights From An Unemployed Job SeekerAs someone who has been laid off a lot, I have applied for about three bijillion jobs throughout my career. I've become a resume nerd through this whole ordeal. I’m always learning about the best format, writing a punchy introduction, tailoring my resume to each position, and having the right level of detail on my LinkedIn profile. Which leads me to... Insights From A Hiring ManagerOn the other side, I’ve also been a hiring manager searching for new software trainers, learning and development specialists, instructional designers, technical support specialists, and technical writers. As a hiring manager, believe it or not, I very much want you to be the perfect candidate for the position I have open. However, while searching for a new career opportunity is no picnic, being on the other side of hiring is also challenging. Unfortunately, many candidates who apply for a job are either not qualified or represent themselves poorly on a resume. Which brings me to my... Top Five Tips For A Strong Resume
A Secret About Hiring ManagersAs a job candidate, it may often feel like you are at odds with hiring managers, and the companies trying to fill open positions. Want to know the truth? As a hiring manager, I’m really hoping that you are the right candidate for the opening I have. I’m trying like crazy to find just the right person who can do what I need done and who will enjoy working at my company. Each time I come across a resume that includes a great list of skills, but who makes one or more of the mistakes listed above, you're making it harder for me to sell your skills to my boss. Having your resume in a good place makes it easier for me to advocate for you as the right person to fill the available role. 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
|