The Layoff Lady

Using LinkedIn To Identify Your Career Keywords

1/14/2025

By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

The Challenge: Describing What You Do

Whether 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 Keywords

Here is my recommendation for how to begin gathering keywords that align with your chosen profession:

Identify a job title that interests you.
On LinkedIn, search for job openings for that job title. Make a note of the specific variations on job titles you see in your search results.
On LinkedIn, save 5 or more jobs that resonate with you.
Make a list of the 10 top skills for 3 or more of those roles you saved.
Identify which keywords you saw more than once and look for trends.
Make special note of keywords that resonate with you. Keep a running list of terms and update it as you encounter new terminology.

Let me take you through an example.

Search for Your Target Job Title

I 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:

Director, People Experience
Lead People Business Partner
Learning and Development Business Partner
Organizational Development Partner
Organizational Development Program Manager
People Business Partner
People Business Partner Director
People Partner
Principle People Business Partner
Senior People Success Partner

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 Keywords

Total 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:

Communication: 6
Human Resources: 6
Employee Relations: 6
Employee Engagement: 4
Problem Solving: 4
Talent Management: 3
Confidentiality: 2
Group Facilitation: 2
Organizational Development: 2
Succession Planning: 2
Teamwork: 2
Workforce Planning: 2
Written Communication: 2

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:

Succession Planning, Workforce Planning, Talent Strategy
Communication, Written Communication, Interpersonal Communication
Build Strong Relationships, Relationship Building, Relationship Development
Consultation, Consultative Approach, Influencing Others
Facilitation, Group Facilitation, Presentations,
Flexible Approach, Free Thinking, Problem Solving
Performance Planning, Performance Consulting, Performance Review
Confidentiality, Sensitive Information, HR Policies

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.

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Self Reflection: Your Wellbeing and Your Goals

1/7/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Reflection and Goal Setting

Beginnings and endings often make us think. When relationships, jobs, or projects end, we often reflect on recent events and our desired future state. Taking time to reflect on what went well, areas for improvement, and lessons learned can give us clarity on what matters to us and how to set goals that help us achieve what is most important to us.

Why We on’t Pause To Reflect

It’s human nature to want to keep the past in the past and move boldly into the future. Consequently, we often skip over self-reflection that could help us learn from the past, select the right goals, and identify the why that will help us succeed. We may also want to skip self-reflection to avoid dealing with unpleasant truths or uncomfortable emotions. While pausing to reflect can be hard, it can help prevent you from patterns of behavior that keep you stuck.

Let’s look at a straightforward self-reflection activity that can help you select the right goals and make the progress you want.

How To Think About Your Wellbeing

I use Gallup’s Five Elements of Wellbeing model as a starting point. This model identifies and labels five important areas that work together to form our overall wellbeing:

Career Wellbeing: You like what you do every day.
Social Wellbeing: You have meaningful friendships in your life.
Financial Wellbeing: You manage your money well.
Physical Wellbeing: You have energy to get things done.
Community Wellbeing: You like where you live.

In short, if you’re struggling in one area of wellbeing, it will harm your overall wellbeing. By reflecting on each area, you will start to see connections between the different areas, how the areas impact one another, and how you could make positive changes to improve your overall wellbeing.

Reflection Questions for Each Element of Wellbeing

Use these questions to reflect on each of those five elements of wellbeing:

In a sentence or two, what does _______ wellbeing mean to you?
On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the best, how would you rate your current satisfaction with your ______ wellbeing?
Over the past few months, list one thing that positively affected your _____ wellbeing.
Over the past few months, list one thing that may have negatively affected your _____ wellbeing.
List one way you could improve your ____ wellbeing.

An Example Reflection: Community Wellbeing

Here's an example of what this reflection might look like as you think about community wellbeing:

In a sentence or two, what does community wellbeing mean to you?
For me, community wellbeing is about being a part of different groups of people that matter to me. That includes relationships with co-workers, professional colleagues, neighbors, and people with similar interests.
On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the best, how would you rate your current satisfaction with your community wellbeing?
3
Over the past few months, list one thing that positively affected your community wellbeing.
I took on a volunteer role within one professional development group.
Over the past few months, list one thing that may have negatively affected your community wellbeing.
When work was hectic, I had less time to dedicate to that volunteer role.
How have the other areas of wellbeing impacted your satisfaction with this area of wellbeing?
When I was part of a big work project, it required more of my energy than usual. This left me with less energy for social interactions, and I felt stressed out because of work and my community involvement.
List one way you could improve your community wellbeing.
Looking at my calendar and making sure I proactively manage my time can help me not overcommit myself to do too many community activities when I have other commitments.

Reflection Question for Your Overall Wellbeing

After reflecting separately on each element of wellbeing, ask yourself the following question about your overall wellbeing:

Based on your reflection on each element of wellbeing, which area do you want to focus on?

Your Reflection Insights and Your Goals

By going through this activity and evaluating your lived experiences through the lens of each area of wellbeging, you may notice trends. For example:

You may notice that not having enough energy is a common theme, which may prompt you to focus on areas of your physical wellbeing like getting more sleep, healthier eating, or addressing emotional/mental health concerns.
You may notice that your job satisfaction is not where it should be and that you need to focus on your career wellbeing like figuring out your longer term career aspirations, having a conversation about your work future, or considering other employment options.

Use what you learn from your reflection to inform how you focus your attention and what goals you set.

What Do You Think?

Do you factor your wellbeing into your overall goal setting? How do you do that? Include your thoughts in the comments.

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Self Reflection: Your Values

12/31/2024

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

A Time of Reflection

Beginnings and endings often make us think. When relationships, jobs, or projects end, we often reflect on recent events and our desired future state. Likewise, as we prepare to begin a new month, season, or year, we often set goals.

Many times, people jump to old standby goals like “lose weight” or “get a better job” without taking time to reflect on why that goal is meaningful to them. I also think that is why a lot of new years resolutions and other hastily made goals fail. Turns out, it’s perhaps even more important to figure out what matters to you and why. This often skipped step is how we discover a deeper seated motivation, which can help us to actually make those goals into new habits.

Where To Start: Your Values

When you’re setting personal goals, and you want to make sure they stick, identifying your values is a great place to start.

When 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 decide how you budget your money, how you want to spend your time, 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—as well as give you the much-needed motivation to progress towards goals that support your values.

Step 1: Take The Values Assessment

I find it challenging to think of the right words to articulate what I value. While there are many lists online you can use as a starting point, I prefer using the think2perform Online Values Exercise.

This free online assessment includes 51 named value cards and four rounds of reviewing the cards. The total time to complete this activity is about 15 minutes, and perhaps more depending on how much contemplation time you need. In the end, you'll have five value cards that name and start to describe key areas that matter to you.

Recently, when I retook the values assessment, I identified these as my top 5 values:

Step 2: Personalize Your Values

After you identify your top five values, think about how you live those values in your everyday life and even how they play out in your career. As I took the assessment this time, I found that I liked some of the value names, like autonomy and helping others, as well as parts of the value descriptions from other cards. I realized how important it was for me to personalize my values to make them truly my own.

Fine Tuning Value Names

For one, I work in the field of Learning and Development, and previous job titles I have had included the word “training” in the title. For me, the idea of education resonated with me, but the word "education" was not quite right.

When I thought more about what matters to me, I landed on the word "learning." For me, "education" has the connotation that I need to take a class in order to learn. I'm a firm believer that learning comes from all directions all the time.

Fine Tuning Value Descriptions

I also took more time personalizing the descriptions. While I chose the word "relationships" to label one of my values, I incorporated details from descriptions for related terms like "family" and "community." I also included details that help inform how specifically I want to be sure to live those values. I included one line about different types of individual and groups, and what might bring us together, including this line: "Seeking out groups and individuals that align with my priorities, preferences, and interests."

While I kept the word "health" as the value that mattered to me, I decided to update the standard description of “placing importance on physical and emotional wellbeing.” Instead, I thought about what health means to me and how I can live that value. My description for health included these details: "Leveraging habits and routines that maximize my energy and support my overall wellbeing. Prioritizing my physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing by focusing on nutrition, movement, and self-care. Honoring my need for social and alone time.”

Value Evolution Over Time

I have completed this values exercise multiple times, and I find it comforting that the tend to be relatively stable, but always evolve as I do. I notice that my results change a bit depending on what personal challenges I've faced since my last assessment.

The words that have remained in my top five consistently over time are autonomy, relationships, and health. When life has felt unpredictable, words like stability, security, and safety have moved up. Similarly, since work is such an important part of my life, there are always words directly related to what I do for a living. In this case, learning and helping others round out my top five, and represent not only my work, but my general approach to the world.

What Do You Think?

Do you take time to think about and name your personal values? How do you go about that process? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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My Top 3: Strategies for Ongoing Learning & Skill Development

12/3/2024

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Learn all the things!

Whether you're gainfully employed or looking for a new role, continuing to learn and grow is a valuable career resilience strategy. While you can certainly pursue college degrees or certifications, there are many informal ways to increase your knowledge. Here are three of my favorite ways to continue learning and growing.

Strategy 1: Social Media

Staying current on industry trends can be a challenge. One way to learn a little bit at a time is using social media. I use LinkedIn to learn a little at a time on topics that matter to me. Follow thought leaders and regularly read their posts to learn more about emerging trends and technologies. In addition, follow companies to stay current on their new products and positions in the marketplace. You can also follow hashtags for keywords you like to learn about.

Here are a few topics I consistently learn about from social media posts:

I follow CliftonStrengths to learn about the 34 strength themes and how to leverage strengths in different work situations.
I follow Christopher Voss to learn more about negotiation strategies.
I follow Remit Sethi to learn about financial wellbeing.
I follow the hashtag #careerwellbeing to find articles on best practices.

Strategy 2: Webinars

Webinars are an excellent way to learn about a topic in more detail, usually over the course of 30-60 minutes. In a webinar, you can hear a speaker lead you through content, highlight important points, and string those ideas together into a more cohesive whole. In addition, you may also have the opportunity to interact with other webinar attendees. Webinars may focus on presenting content, answering questions from live attendees, or getting the group to share ideas on a specific topic.

Here are a few webinars I have attended and what I took away from each:

I attended Kassy LaBorie's Virtual Training Hero Hangout monthly webinar to meet other trainers and learn virtual facilitation best practices.
I attended The Association for Talent Development - Nebraska Chapter's monthly Learning Leaders Monthly Meeting to chat with colleagues about each person’s challenges and possible approaches.
I attended virtual meetings of The White Box Club to learn tips and tricks about managing my mindset during my career transition.
I attended a Fredrickson Roundtable for Learning Leaders meeting to learn about a specific organization's process for designing and implementing a company-wide educational program.

Strategy 3: Professional Organizations

Professional organizations are a great way to learn more about a wide variety of topics. For one, you can attend regularly scheduled meetings, which typically have an educational component, to learn industry-specific content. Most groups have a social component, whether it is networking time during meetings or separate events that focus on getting to know other members.

There are also volunteer opportunities, from helping check people in at a monthly meeting, being on an event-specific committee, and taking on a leadership role. These opportunities provide multiple ways to learn from a structured event or learn by doing.

Here are a few professional organizations I have been a part of and ways I have learned content and skills:

I attended a monthly meeting of The Omaha Organizational Development Network to learn how to boost team performance using positive intelligence.
I designed and delivered a breakout session for the PACT MN ExcellenceShare event to teach people how to build their professional networks using LinkedIn.
I developed relationships with presenters, coordinated virtual events, and produced one-hour learning sessions for people in career transition for The White Box Club.
I planned, organized, and facilitated Career Development Special Interest Group meetings for The Association for Talent Development - Nebraska Chapter to share career resilience strategies for members.

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Talking To All The People About Your Layoff

11/26/2024

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Managing Curious and Well-Intentioned People

One of the hardest things about being laid off is telling other people about it--specifically fielding their uninvited questions. I'm not talking about work people or your professional network, either. I'm talking about the family friend you run into at the grocery store, that parent you went to a PTA meeting with once, seldom-seen relatives at a holiday gathering, and the neighbor you seldom see. Worse yet, it is interacting with a group of well-intentioned people who express their curiosity, worry, and opinions regarding your wellbeing.

Here are a few suggested talking points for managing those conversations that pop up at just the wrong time.

Getting Your Patter Down

After you've chatted with your inner circle, it’s time to think about addressing this topic with everyone else. This includes people who make random comments about your situation, those who don't really know how layoffs work, and the ones who genuinely want to help but may not have the best advice. These conversations may be rough, especially if you feel vulnerable. Your goal may be to get through the awkwardness and move on to other topics.

To prepare, it is helpful to know how to respond. Here are a few suggestions for talking points to get you through.

Talking About Your Current State and Plans

You were not fired, discarded, cut loose, or shitcanned. These words imply that you did something terrible enough to get fired or that you’re mad because something awful was done to you.
You were laid off, your job ended, your position was eliminated, or you were part of a company-wide reduction in force. It is just a thing that happened, and now you don’t work at the place where you worked before.
You are not unemployed, between jobs, an ex-employee of Big Important Tech Company, or a big giant loser.
You are in transition, in career transition, searching for your next great role, or looking for the job that is the right next step for you.

Talking About The Job You No Longer Have

The question: I heard you’re unemployed. What happened there!
Your core message: My job ended. It is a thing that happened.

I was part of a company-wide reduction in force at ABC Lending. My job ended on Tuesday.
I was part of a layoff. About 500 of us were part of the reduction in force when the company restructured. That happened earlier this week.
I was one of the 1000 people who had their position eliminated at XYZ company. It happened earlier this month.
I got laid off. It happened a bit ago.
My job ended recently, along with about a hundred others at the company.

Talking About What Is Next For You

The question: What are you going to do now? I would be freaking out!
Or
I’d be scared to death if I were you. Are you sure you’ll be okay?
Or
A person I sort of know lost their house/was unemployed for years/had to take a pay cut/never worked again.

Your core message: I’m going to keep on keeping on and also look for a new job.

I’m making a plan for what to do next.
I’ve had some time to think about it, and I know my next steps.
I’ve made friends with the change, and I’m working towards my next role.
I am worried, but I know I’ll be okay. I have a plan.
It can be stressful, but I’m going to do the right things, and it will work out.

Talking About STILL Not Having a Job

The question: So--do you have a job yet?
Or
Are you STILL unemployed?
Or
Did that thing you were interviewing for work out?

Your core message: I am job searching and something will work out.

I'm talking to a few companies, and I'm sure something will work out soon.
No, but I'm hopeful.
I’m working on my next steps.
Finding a job can take a while. I’m making progress toward something new.

Acknowledging People's Reassurances

The question/comment: Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. Hang in there! You’re so talented!

Your response: Thanks.

Addressing Well Intentioned and/or Awful Advice

The comments:

You should just get a job as a bus driver/multi-level marketing scheme salesperson/sign spinner!
You should hold out for a better job than you’ve ever had where you get all the vacation/all the money/are the ruler of the free world!
You should go back to school/start your own consulting company/have a baby/adopt many cats/quit working altogether.
You should downsize your house/sell your car/auction your jewelry/maybe get a yurt/live in a box outside your mom’s house.

Your core message: I appreciate you. I will make the right decision for me.

Thank you for your suggestions. I’m figuring out what is right for me.
I definitely have options. I'm figuring out my next steps.
Thank you for your insights. I have a plan for what to do.

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How To Create Your Professional Portfolio in Five Easy Steps

9/24/2024

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Where Do I Even Start?

If you work in an industry where potential employers want to see examples of your previous work, putting together a portfolio is a good idea. As someone who works in the field of learning and development, I know that it's valuable for me to have additional evidence to prove that I actually have all of those skills I brag so much about on my resume. Whether you're job searching or building your overall career resilience and opportunity readiness, having an online portfolio is a good step to take.

Like any new endeavor, figuring out where to start can be challenging. There are countless options, and even more opinions, on what the ideal portfolio looks like. Here is my five-step process for helping you to create a portfolio that works for you.

Step 1: Identify Your Goals

This is the step you might be tempted to skip. However, if you don't take a little time to figure out what you're trying to accomplish with your portfolio, you most certainly won't reach your goals.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you clarify what you want:

Who do you want to see your portfolio?
When do you want them to access your portfolio?
Which of your skills do you want to showcase?
What stories are you trying to tell?

Depending on your answers to these questions, your goals may include one or more of the following:

Have work samples available on-demand.
Share lessons learned with select people.
Tell the story of past projects.
Showcase evidence of specific work skills.
Support a job search.
Build opportunity readiness.

The answers to these questions will influence your portfolio creation choices.

Step 2: Decide What To Include

The specific content you include in your portfolio will depend on your overall goals. In my chosen field of learning and development, here are a few of the kinds of work samples I might want to include:

Communications plan
eLearning module
Facilitator guide
Job aid
Learning strategy document
PowerPoint presentation
Project plan
Storyboard
Technical documentation
Video
Webinar recording

Remember, your portfolio is not just about the documents you include. It's also about the story you tell about how you solved a problem and how the artifact you include supports that narrative.

Step 3: Gather Work Samples

Once you have identified your goals and thought about the skillset you want to showcase, it's time to choose the specific documents you will include. Here are a few possibilities for locating or creating your actual work samples:

Class projects
Previous work (anonymized as needed)
Projects completed for other organizations
Publicly available resources
Re-creations of past work
Sample projects
Work samples created as a part of a hiring process

Whether you have existing documents you used in previous roles, re-create samples similar to past work projects, or re-purpose project documents created as part of another interview process, determine what you will include.

Step 4: Choose and Implement Technology

Since you are creating an online portfolio, choosing the underlying technology is an important step. While there are countless options available, here are three viable choices to consider:

A file-sharing platform: Using Google Drive, DropBox, or OneDrive is a way to stand up a portfolio quickly. You can enable sharing for anyone with the link or set permissions for each person who you might want to access your work. If you have a Gmail account, you already have access to Google Drive without any extra cost.
A Canva portfolio: Canva includes templates to create a free portfolio. Canva provides video tutorials and several examples from which to choose. Overall, this is a website with a specific focus. While there will be a bit of a learning curve to set up the site, you'll also have additional options for including the story behind each work sample instead of just a list of documents.
A website: While most people think of WordPress when they think of website creation, tools like Weebly and Wix have free options with more user-friendly interfaces. You can create a website with multiple pages or a page on an existing website accessible by a direct link. Websites have various options, meaning you have more control over how you create a site but have many more decisions to make upfront.

Step 5: Share Your Portfolio.

Depending on your goals, you may have your portfolio as a website that someone could discover on their own or a link that can only be accessed after you share it with someone. Regardless of your portfolio format, there are a few cases where you will proactively share your portfolio link:

In a job application.
Included with your contact information in your LinkedIn profile.
As a link at the top of your resume or cover letter document shared online.
In an email to a colleague or hiring manager.

Make Your Portfolio 1.0

At this point, you may be excited about all the possibilities and overwhelmed with uncertainty. Here's my recommendation for creating at least a starter portfolio for yourself.

If needed, create a Gmail account, then access Google Drive.
Create a folder called [FirstName] [LastName] Portfolio. In my case, Brenda Peterson Portfolio.
Upload six documents you created that showcase your skills.
Set sharing options to view only and copy the link for later use.

Congratulations. You now have a portfolio. Take a week off from looking at it, and then make an appointment with yourself to revisit your portfolio goals and next steps.

What Do You Think?

What goals and design choices did you make with your online portfolio? Include your thoughts in the comments.

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Customizing Your Resume For Each Job Application

8/27/2024

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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 take less time and improve your results.

Identifying Your Target Role

When applying for jobs, an important first step is to know what specifically you are looking for in your next job--your target role. This includes details like your desired 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 dedicate time to figuring out what you want. This action alone will help you be more efficient as you search for open positions, determine what to apply for, create your target job resume, and apply for specific jobs.

During a previous job search, these were key components of my target role:

Full-time Learning Consultant role at a company in the fields of software/healthcare/finance
100% remote or hybrid in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area
Managing learning projects, completing needs assessments, designing comprehensive training programs for customers and employees

Create a Target Job Resume

Start by creating a resume aligned with your target job. To be clear, this IS NOT the resume you submit each time you apply for a job. Instead, this target job resume is the one you start with and customize just a bit for each job application. You could also share your target job resume with those people who say, "Can you send me your resume?" who may not have a specific job description to share.

Overall, this resume should be a solid representation of your skills, the type of work you do, and the unique value you would bring to a new role. Your target job resume should also include keywords commonly appearing in job descriptions for the type of work you do.

Target Job Resume: Professional Summary Section

Start your target job resume with a professional summary. The goal of this section is to give the reader a quick overview of the value you bring to the position. This summary includes a few sentences that summarize who you are, what drives you, and how those factors align with an available role. This is also an opportunity to highlight important keywords that will resonate with employers.

During a previous job search, this was my Professional Summary:

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 Section

Think about the skills employers typically ask for in your area of expertise. Make a list of those commonly used skills that keep popping up in job descriptions that interest you. Prioritize the ones that you really want the hiring team to know about. Include those in your Relevant Skills section near the top of your target job resume.

During a previous job search, I listed these keywords as my Relevant Skills:

Blended Learning, Coaching, Collaboration, Communications, Consulting, Facilitation, Instructional Design, Needs Analysis, Onboarding, Project Management, Relationship Building, Strategy, Video Production

Target Job Resume: Work Experience Details

For each of your previous roles, be sure to outline specific projects on which you worked and the results of your efforts. In those bullet points on your target job resume, use the words you’ve seen in job descriptions. Be sure to include a wide variety of keywords to help even the least experienced recruiter see the tie between what you describe and the skills the employer wants.

During a previous job search, I included these keywords in my description of core responsibilities for my previous roles:

Implemented a knowledge management strategy for a fast-paced B2B company. Drove platform adoption, standardized training materials, leveraged best practices, and managed a remote team of 5-8.

Developed a blended learning solution to onboard new SaaS customers. Incorporated virtual instructor-led training (VILT), eLearning, hands-on practice, and post-class assessments. Decreased instructor classroom time, customer wait time, and implementation project length.

Managed enterprise-wide training initiatives: producing a library of best-in-class microlearning videos, implementing a Digital Adaption Platform (DAP) for in-tool software support, and creating online user communities based on personas.

The words in bold are keywords pulled from relevant job descriptions.

Throughout my resume, I use as many variations of industry-standard words as I can. For example, the terms learning experience design, instructional design, and curriculum design are often used to describe the same set of skills. Instead of using the same term all the time, I alternate between these three to include a company's preferred term.

When You Might Share Your Target Job Resume

Once you have your target job resume completed, save a copy of it as a .pdf with a file name that includes your first and last name and the word "resume." For example, I would save mine as Brenda L. Peterson Resume. Now, if someone asks you for "your resume" with no specific job title in mind, you have a resume that is a good representation of you. In most cases, though, you will share a slightly different version of your resume for each job that interests you.

Creating an Application Resume: Save As

Now that you have a target job resume in good shape, make sure the editable copy of your target job resume with a file name that includes your first and last name and the words "target job resume." For example, I would save mine as Brenda L. Peterson Target Job Resume.

Now, when you apply for a new role, you’ll start by opening your editable job target resume document and then saving it under a new file name that specifies the role for which you are applying. For example, I would save my application resume as Brenda L. Peterson, Lead Learning Consultant at Super Cool Company. This way, I still have my target job resume and a specific application resume to use for this job application.

From Target Job Resume to Application Resume

Now you have a solid target job resume with the right sections and a wide variety of relevant keywords. When you are ready to apply for a specific job, start with the editable version of your resume. Remember, your resume is 80-90% ready. Now, you will focus on customizing two key sections before submitting an application: Professional Summary and Relevant Skills.

Application Resume: Professional Summary Section

From here, use the language in the job description to tailor your resume for this role. Since you already have a framework in place for how you write this section, now you can modify the exact wording to make it even more applicable to the job. In this example, I will customize my Professional Summary Section to align with the language used in the job description for a Lead Learning Consultant role.

Here is the Professional Summary section from 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 updated Professional Summary section for my application resume for the 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.

Application Resume: Relevant Skills Section

Now, its' time to customize the Relevant Skills Section to align with the words used in the job description. In this example, I will update my language to align with the terms in the Lead Learning Consultant role job description.

Here is the Relevant Skills section from 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 updated Relevant Skills section for my application resume 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.

Finalizing Your Application Resume: Save As .pdf

Once you have your application resume completed, save a copy of it as a .pdf with the same file name, in my example, Brenda L. Peterson, Lead Learning Consultant at Super Cool Company. Now, you can submit your application resume to the company along with other details they request.

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.

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Career Planning: Figuring Out What You Want To Be Next

8/20/2024

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

What Do You Want To Be Next?

We often ask children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” As an adult thinking about the future, it’s time to ask yourself, “What do I want to be next?” Whether you are in a post-layoff career transition searching for a new role, or you're employed and contemplating your future, it's a good time to think about what you want from your professional life going forward.

Shouldn't I Just Take What I Can Get?

As a job seeker who is unhappy with their current situation, I understand the tendency to feel like you are in no position to be picky. However, when I talk with job searchers having difficulty landing a new role, not having a focus for their job search actually slows their progress considerably.

Most of the time, employers are less likely to hire someone who wants what I would call “any old job.” Employers would rather find someone who genuinely wants to do a specific type of work, has the necessary skills, and is targeting an identified role. One of the best things you can do for the success of your job search is to figure out what you really want to do, then use your resume and LinkedIn profile to promote yourself as a match for your desired role.

Take a Beat

When your job suddenly ends, I think the natural tendency is to think, “I need to be reemployed as quickly as possible,” or to skip thinking altogether and seek out exactly the same job you had before. It’s not that you can’t seek the same type of work—because you can. Just make sure to reconfirm with yourself that you are going toward a role you want.

After my very first layoff, I took a moment for contemplation and thought to myself, “This is my chance to figure out what it is I want to do with my life! I can do anything!” Approximately 5 minutes later, I realized, “For me, this is the right area.”

Other times, when I fell into that “must get a job right now!” mindset, I just got a job with about the same title as my last job with about the same type of company. Was it a bad decision? Not necessarily. Whether you do the same things as before or want to shift gears, make sure you’re actively deciding what is next for you. As yourself—what do you want?

Learning About Yourself

The first step of job searching is figuring out what kind of a role you even want. Take time to do a little soul searching. Here are ideas for how to go about that process.

Reflect on Your Values

A good starting point is thinking about what really matters to you in life and how you express those values.

Personally, I also find that it's challenging to think of the right words to articulate those high-level ideas that matter to you. I discovered the think2perform Online Values Exercise at a previous job when I was designing a retirement planning seminar. Since thinking about your money (or your work, for that matter) starts with what you care about on a larger scale, this is a great starting point. Personally, I take this assessment on at least an annual basis because the process helps me revisit my values in general and helps me more thoughtfully talk about what I do and why I do it.

The assessment itself includes 51 named value cards and 4 rounds of reviewing the cards. The total time to complete this activity is about 15 minutes, and perhaps more, depending on how much contemplation you do during the process. You also have the option to add your own values as needed. In the end, you'll have 5 value cards with descriptions that name and describe key areas that matter to you.

After you identify your top 5 values, think about how you live those values in your life and how you would like to express those values in your work. Use these as your guideposts as you move on to the next steps.

Identify Your Work Strengths

The 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. It not only helps you identify your top strengths but also gives you language to talk about skills you didn't even realize everyone else didn't have.

To access this assessment, you can purchase the StrengthsFinder 2.0 Book (which includes a code for the new CliftonStrengths Online Assessment) or you can directly pay for and access the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment on Gallup.com. Either option should cost around $25 for the basic assessment and results, with the option to purchase additional assessments or training based on your level of interest.

The 30-minute online assessment includes 177 questions including paired statements. 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.

Reflect on Roles and Identify What You Want

Think about your previous jobs and reflect on what you liked and didn't like. As yourself the following questions and write down your answers:

What field or fields would you like to work in?
What job titles might be a good fit for you?
Are you interested in a full time, part time, contract, or freelance job?
How many hours do you want to work a week?
What size of company or industry would you like to work for?
Would you like a manager role, individual contributor role, or player/coach role (doing both)?
What work hours and schedule would you prefer?
What salary would you like?
How much time off would you like?
Would you like to work in-person, part in-person and part remotely (hybrid), or all remote?
How many miles/lengths of time would you be comfortable commuting? How often would you want to commute?
Would you like to travel for work? If so, how often over what period of time? Driving or flying travel? What travel percentage is ideal for you?
What benefits are important to you? What would be nice to have?
What focus area(s) would you like to have?
What skills would you like to be able to use on a regular basis?
What day-to-day activities would you like to do?
What do you want the role of your work to be in your life?
What is on your “oh hell no” list?

Talk To People In Roles of Interest

One helpful way to find out more about possible career options is to talk to people who are currently in those roles. By reaching out to individuals in your professional network and asking them to put you in touch with people they know who could help, you can make new connections and find out about specific companies and roles. This will help you start to bridge the distance between your skills, and possible job titles and companies that might be a good fit for you.

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The Why and What of Posting on LinkedIn

8/13/2024

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Using LinkedIn To Build Your Brand

Sharing 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. However, only about 1% of LinkedIn users ever post anything at all--which I think is a huge missed opportunity to stand out.

Why People Don't Post on LinkedIn

When I've asked people what is stopping them from posting on LinkedIn, the overwhelming answer is, "I don't know what to post." Like with most everything in life, it comes down to your overall goals.

Whether I'm promoting myself in general or actively searching for a new "day job" in L&D, my goals remain consistent: to share knowledge and strengthen relationships. There are many ways posting on LinkedIn can help. I suggest using LinkedIn to share posts that support who you are as a professional.

Types of Posts

You don't have to write a long, original manifesto to post on LinkedIn and make an impact. Here are examples of what you can post on LinkedIn that will help you "build your brand" and share what you're all about, both professionally and as a person:

Showcasing your expertise
You as a person
Inspirational content
Promoting others
You doing things
Your work samples
Sharing insights
Sharing opportunities and resources

Let's look at a few examples of my posts.

Showcasing Your Expertise

Who are you professionally? What are your skills? What do you bring to the table as a possible employee of a given company? For me, my skills include training leadership, needs assessment, relationship building, instructional design, project management, technical writing, facilitating classes, and more.

You as a Person

Who are you? What is it like to work with you? What are your interests? What do you care about? For me, I love helping people to succeed. I love removing obstacles so people can be successful. I enjoy board games, inline skating, my cats, my family, and a good cup of coffee. I am also kind of a nerd. I also own a velvet Elvis--because of course I do.

Inspirational Content

What picks you up when you are down? What insights struck you? What motivates you? For me, I love quotes about the value of lifelong learning, self care, and shifting your mindset.

Promoting Others

Who inspires you? Who do you learn from? Who shared a useful resource that benefitted you? For me, I enjoy finding awesome people to learn from and sharing useful articles with others who might also find them helpful.

You Doing Things

What do you do? What did you write? How do you volunteer? For me, I lead classes, go to professional development meetings, deliver webinars, inline skate, and, on rare occasion, beat my now-adult child at a board game.

Your Work Samples

What projects do you work on? What do you write? What content to you create? What experiences have you learned from? For me, I teach custom webinars, write blog articles, assist other instructors, and design learning.

Sharing Insights

What have you learned about your chosen profession? What's a tip you like to share? What's your go-to strategy for solving a problem? What's something unique you have noticed? For me, I make observations, see unique solutions to common problems, or see how training and learning are out there in the world. And also coffee.

Sharing Opportunities and Resources

What problems can you help people solve? Who do you know who is a go to person for a given topic? What is a solution you learned about from a common problem? For me, I share information for people who want to get into corporate training, share job search resources, point people towards others who share topic-specific content.

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Interview Preparation: The Initial Phone Screen

8/6/2024

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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 Recruiter

In 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: Questions

Don'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:

Is this still a good time for us to talk?
Tell me about yourself.
Why are you looking for a new job?
Why are you interested in this role?
What do you know about our company?
What is your desired salary?
What questions do you have for me?

Interview Prep: The Role

Given 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.

Review the job description. Remind yourself of what you applied for, the title, and what they indicated were the desired qualifications.
Get out your Googles: Look up any acronyms you aren't sure of, and make sure you can speak to the skills they say they need. Be ready to speak in the terms they use in the job description and relate your experience to that particular job.
Skim your resume. If you customize your resume for each role, it's good to reacquaint yourself with how you described your skills in this specific resume. This review will also help you use the points you included in your resume as a basis for the stories you'll tell to illustrate your skills.

Interview Prep: The Company and Your Interviewer

Now 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.

Check out the company on LinkedIn. Note the industry they are in, what their products and services are, their size, headquarters location, and their recent posts. If you haven't done so already, follow their company page.
Visit the company’s website. Take a look at their mission, vision, and values. See what press releases are on their site and any awards they may have received. Look at their marketing materials. Review information on their leaders. Consider signing up for their newsletter.
View your interviewer's LinkedIn profile. Do this the day before or the day of your interview. Note the schools they attended, where they currently live, their work history, and any posts they may have made. This is a great way to find out what you and your interviewer might have in common so you can have a more robust conversation. Note any LinkedIn connections you have in common. Consider following your interviewer on LinkedIn.
Reach out to connections. If you know anyone who is a current or recent employee, ask them and ask about their first-hand experience.

Interview Prep: Your Answers

Now, 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.

Bad answer: Not much to tell.
Another bad answer: My name is Julie. I'm 42 years old, happily married, have 4-year-old twins, love riding horses, and volunteer weekly at my synagogue.
(Note: Julie's life is in no way bad. Julie's answer is bad because it does not focus on professional skills, the ability to do the job, and why the employer should hire her. Taking this approach misses a HUGE opportunity to set the tone for the interview and put your best foot forward. Instead, Julie shares a whole bunch of information that is not directly applicable to her ability to do the job--much of which an employer cannot legally ask her about due to laws regarding possible discrimination.)
Good answer: I'm Julie, and I have ten years of experience in social media specialist roles with small community organizations. I'm excited about this role because I can use my knowledge of content marketing and event promotion with a larger company that does larger conferences and road shows. I'm looking forward to finding out how my skill set could help me make a strong contribution in this senior media specialist 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.

Bad answer: My last company was a financial nightmare and I got fired.
Another bad answer: My current job is stupid and I hate my boss.
Good answer: I'm looking for a role with additional growth opportunities.
Another good answer: My position was eliminated due to a company-wide reduction in force.
Yet another good answer: My previous position ended, so I'm looking for a new challenge.

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.

Bad answer: Which job is this again?
Another bad answer: I need a job. You have an opening. Isn't that enough?
Yet another bad answer: My current job is stupid and I hate my boss.
Good answer: My recent work experience is as a marketing coordinator with a large pharmaceutical company. I have extensive experience creating and executing marketing campaigns aligned with product launches. I'm interested in this role because it involves those duties and additional areas where I have expertise. I am excited to grow in this new role.
Another good answer: My work experience is as a technical project manager. Enrique Ortiz is a former coworker of mine, and he suggested I apply because it aligns with the work I enjoy. Enrique also can't say enough good things about your company.

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.

Bad answer: Which job is this again?
Another bad answer: Not a thing.
Good answer: XYZ Loans is a mortgage company focusing on VA and FHA loans. I see you recently rolled out a new veteran appreciation program and hired a new VP of Veteran Relations and that you just received an award for your charity work with DAV.
Another good answer: I know ABC Manufacturing just acquired CBA Manufacturing. This makes you the second-largest company making and selling plastic cups in the Midwest. I also know that my friend and former coworker, Alice Johnson, really enjoys being a part of the Women in Manufacturing group you started three years ago.

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.

Bad answer: I have no idea.
Good answer: What is the salary range for this position? (and following that up with a conversation about where your desired range fits in with that range.)
Another good answer: My general salary range is [low end of your range] to [high end of your range]. I'd like to revisit this topic as I learn more about the position, including bonus and benefits.

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.)

Bad answer: Nope.
Good answers:
- Is this a new position? Or a replacement role?
- What does success look like for this role?
- What are the first projects this role would tackle?
- What are the next steps in the hiring process?
- When can I expect to hear back from you?
- What is your performance review process like?

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