Resume does not fully bring out match and qualifications. A generic resume does not cut-it in today’s job market. Every resume must be customized to the opportunity. Irrelevant experience and accomplishments should be removed. Achievements and successes that directly apply to the challenges of the job opening must be front and center.  Action Items:

• Make a list of the job requirements, both obvious and subtle
• Weigh each item on your resume against the requirements, modifying if you can better show a match and eliminating if it’s unrelated
• Use your cover letter as an additional opportunity to bring out the match in a concise manner

Resume lacks keywords needed to pass software-driven screening. It’s a myth that most companies use applicant tracking software (ATS) to screen resumes. However, many large companies do, and keywords are critical to getting past that screening.   Fully qualified candidates may be ignored if their resume lacks the keywords the recruiter is using to sift through incoming resumes. Action Items:

• Use the job description along with standardized descriptions for similar jobs to come up with a list of keywords that apply to the opening
• Utilize those keywords, particularly early in your resume
• Make use of keywords natural enough that  your resume reads well when a human looks at it

Resume submitted without a warm or insider introduction. Nothing advances a resume more effectively than an insider recommendation. Without it, even a great resume may be overlooked or fail to stand out. With it, the resume may go right to the top of the pile.   Action Items:

• Scrutinize your network and LinkedIn contacts for any connection to the company or hiring manager
• If possible, ask your connection to submit your resume directly to the hiring manager
• Apply through the channel stated in the job listing as well so your materials are coming in through two different channels

Customizing your resume to bring out your match, introducing your resume through an insider connection, and assuring your resume is keyword rich will definitely improve your chances of receiving an invitation to interview for a position.  If you don’t hear anything after applying, be sure to follow-up, showing your interest and productivity.

Here are some common markers of a job search that is lacking a good strategy:

• No planning or prioritizing in time management
• No metric or primary success metric is number of jobs applied for
• Wondering “what to do next” – “I’ve tried everything and nothing worked”
• Not hearing back after sending out resumes, informational meetings, networking  out reach or interviews
• LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter not being used as job search tools
• Defeated feelings, a sense that “it’s impossible” to find a job these days

If you are experiencing any of the above, it’s time to ask yourself if you have a job search strategy that will lead to success.  Having an effective strategy will allow you to work on multiple fronts to market yourself, build your network, and interview successfully within the limited amount of time and energy you have.  With a good job search strategy, the next steps and action items are always clear to you because you’ve set priorities. Here are the key elements of a successful job search strategy:

• A clear target, based on what you want to do, are qualified to do and what there is demand for in the marketplace
• Thoughtful marketing materials (including resume), customized for each use
• Multiple job lead channels, with an emphasis on networking which is crucial in today’s market
• Conscious decisions about time spent on various job search activities
• Activities which keep skills sharp and your resume fresh
• Continually growing understanding of best practices for job search
• A system of managing contacts, leads, resume versions and all the other information to stay organized
• A step by step plan for executing the strategy
• Measurable goals to assure success
• A consistent method to measure progress and prioritize activities

It’s never too late to come up with a strategy for your job search.  Once you have a strategy and a plan to execute, you will soon see the difference between strategic, focused effort and a scattershot approach.

Please share your thoughts and experience.  What strategies have you used?  What has worked or not worked for you?

Here are some common markers of a job search that is lacking a good strategy:

• Unclear objective- “I’ll take anything”
• No daily or weekly goals – “What should I do today?”
• Success measured by number of jobs applied for or resumes sent out
• Running out of job search activities – “What do I do now?”
• Feeling frustrated or discouraged – “I’ve tried everything and nothing worked. It’s just impossible to find a job.”
• Frantic activity such as racing to send out a resume or meet a new contact, then not hearing back afterward.
• Lack of clarity and consistency in using LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter as job search tools
• Little meaningful progress – “I’m spinning my wheels”

A thoughtful job search strategy assures steady progress on defined goals towards a positive end result and overcomes the issues listed above.  It allows you to work on multiple fronts to market yourself, build your network, and interview successfully.  The time management that comes with a strategy lets you make solid progress with the limited amount of time and energy you have.  The next steps and action items are always clear because you’ve set priorities. Here are the key elements of a successful job search strategy:

• A clear target, based on what you want to do, are qualified to do and what there is demand for in the marketplace
• Thoughtful marketing materials (including resume and cover letter), customized for each use
• Multiple job lead channels, with an emphasis on networking which is crucial in today’s market
• Conscious decisions about time spent on various job search activities
• Activities which keep skills sharp and your resume fresh
• Continually growing understanding of best practices for job search
• A system of managing contacts, leads, resume versions and all the other information to stay organized
• A step by step plan for executing your strategy
• Measurable goals to assure success
• A consistent method to measure progress and prioritize activities

It doesn’t take long to see the benefits of a job search strategy. Job seekers report an immediate sense of purpose and progress, knowing each day what they are trying to achieve and how they are going to do it.

But there’s been a lot of news coverage lately about a disturbing trend during the current downturn.  A recent CBS news story points out how some  for-profit  colleges lure anxious job seekers into programs for which they have to borrow heavily for tuition, only to find themselves no better off in the job market.  While a Wall Street Journal article, titled “New skills, few job offers”, focuses on people who spent their time, money, and energy to retrain, but still struggle to find work. Before you spend the time and money for a new degree, certification, or trade, here are some things to consider:

Reputation. Is the learning institution accredited? Does it have a reputation that will open doors for you? Track down other grads and learn from their experiences. LinkedIn makes it easy to search by school.

An open field? The Wall Street Journal article notes that crowds of unemployed are retraining for the burgeoning medical field only to find that while the field is growing, jobs are still very scarce. Worse, when jobs do open up, the field is flooded. Before you invest in new skills or switch fields, be sure this is truly a fruitful direction.

Is the diploma necessary? Find out if that really matters in your field. Again, network and connect with those who do the kind of work you want to be doing. One trade school grad said he would have learned just as much by interning in his field and skipping the degree.  Most importantly, some hiring managers might take no accounts for degrees from some of these for-profit schools.

The hard sell. If you get a hard sell or hear promises too good to be true, consider that a significant red flag.

Drowning in debt. For-profit schools are highly adept at working the student-aid system. They sometimes lead their students down the path of huge debt at graduation, and no job to pay off that debt.

For many unemployed workers it makes sense to sharpen skills and explore new job fields. But approach it with caution.  Avoid putting yourself into a worse financial situation. Your time could be used more wisely by furthering your skills in other ways.

Have you retrained, received certification or picked up a trade?  Did it pay off?  Have you considered any of the above?  What factors did you consider?  We’d love to hear your experience.

Uncovering a Job Search Weakness

Carlin* was a successful mid-level sales rep when he was laid off in the economic downturn. Initially he believed his skills were versatile enough that he would quickly find new opportunities.  Carlin was well connected, confident in his job search skills and frustrated by the lack of results.  Troubleshooting his job search we realized:

• He was finding job leads, thus his skills were in demand
• His resume effectively communicated his value because he was getting invited to interviews
• Following interviews, he was often told he was the runner up for the position

The diagnosis: Carlin was not interviewing effectively. He believed he had good communication skills and the ability to present himself well. But the fact that he was consistently being asked to interview then not getting hired said otherwise. Realizing his weak spot, then working to strengthen it, was the turning point for Carlin. After honing his interview skills he was soon back on the job.

Lesson learned:  Examine your job search step by step and figure out where it is stalling. Focus on repairing that point and observe the results.

Read More:

• Troubleshooting Your Job Search
• Improving Communication During Interviews

Demonstrate Productivity and Contemporary Skills

Sharon turned her layoff into an opportunity to enjoy some downtime and do things she hadn’t had time to do before. Living off of savings, she enjoyed extra time with her family and completed some home improvement projects.  By the time she was ready to return to work as a project manager, she found herself classified as “long term unemployed.”  She got no response when submitting her resume to open positions and was told by a recruiter that her skills were “dated”.  Sharon knew the world had not changed that much in the 14 months she had been off the job. The problem was one of perception. So she went to work developing new professional accomplishments:

• She volunteered to manage a fundraising campaign at her son’s school and documented her success at managing a large team of volunteers and raising and impressive amount of money.
• She took a course at a local community college to gain new certification in project management. Some of the course was review, given her experience, but she picked up some new techniques and got new certification to add to her resume.
• She offered to mentor a recent college grad who was just learning the ropes in project management and documented her success and coaching and leading others.

Demonstrating fresh productivity on her resume was the turning point for Sharon. In the course of her new activities, she made a number of direct professional connections, including one who led her to the job she ultimately landed.

Lesson learned: Regardless of the length of your unemployment, be busy, productive, learning and growing.

Read more:

• Productive Ways to Fill Resume Gaps

A Better Measure of Effective Job Search

Sandra was a driven job seeker who followed a meticulous routine of locating and applying for jobs found on job boards, industry bulletin boards, print sources, and Craig’s list.  She was determined not to be overly selective in what she applied for and, as the months went by, she resolved to apply for anything remotely related to her work experience as a network administrator. She even applied for retail positions, knowing the pay would be a substantial cut and most of her skills would not be used.  In the 15 months since being laid off, Sandra recited these statistics:  2,000+ jobs applied for, 12 phone interviews, 3 in-person interviews, zero offers.  Sandra’s job search was missing a key component: Networking!

• She was sending out applications blind with no connection or insider edge.
• She was focusing her time exclusively on locating and applying for open positions
• She was measuring her productivity based on number of applications sent out.

Sandra’s turning point came when she changed her focus from advertized jobs to networking.  Calling herself a “computer nerd”, Sandra struggled to build a network of humans who would support her job search. She used her organizational and goal setting skills to push herself to grow her network.  Soon she started learning of hidden job opportunities as well as advertized jobs where she had an insider connection.  With the support of her network, Sandra found her rate of interviews going up, even though she was applying to far fewer jobs. Within two months of this change of focus, she was hired and back on the job.

Lesson learned: Network, network, network! It’s not how many jobs you apply to, it’s whether you are making connections that will help you find the right one.

Learn more:

• Picking the Right Size for Your Target
• Break Your Addiction to Job Boards
• Help! I Have No Network!

If you are part of the “long term unemployed” or supporting someone who is, there is a turning point that will change your job search and put you on the path to employment. Don’t give up hope. Instead focus on examining each aspect of your job search for weak spots and blind spots, leading you to your turning point.

Jobfully can help you discover your turning point. Visit the Jobfully Home Page to learn how our proven program of video coaching,, productivity tools and goal setting can lead you to success.

*Names have been changed to respect these individuals’ privacy.

Symptom: Not finding enough job leads

Diagnosis: Unclear goals or a target that is too wide or too narrow.
Prescription:

• Makes sure you are not applying scattershot for any open position, but rather have a clear target and are focused on finding jobs that match.
• Read:   Picking the Right Size Target for Your Job Search
• Do not focus on a field that is no longer robust or where you have limited opportunity.
• Read: Is your Target Too Small?
• Convey your clear goal to your network to make it easy for them to help you.
• Read: Clear Goals = Better Networking

Alternate Diagnosis: Not looking in the right places for job leads.
Prescription:

• Spending less time on advertised jobs as primary source of leads.
• Read: Break Your Addiction to Job Boards
• Focus on networking to uncover the hidden job market.
• Read: Is Networking Your Problem?

Symptom: Not getting interviews

Diagnosis: Marketing materials, especially resume not doing an adequate job of selling you and your match to jobs.
Prescription:

• Customizing your resume to each position, and bringing out your match.
• Read: Not Hearing Back after Applying

Alternate Diagnosis: Resume lost in a sea of applications. Doesn’t stand out
Prescription:

• Using contacts within the company to introduce you to the hiring manager and advance your candidacy.
• Read: Are You Using Your Network Enough?

Symptom: Not passing interviews

Diagnosis: Not adequately making a connection and selling your value in interviews.
Prescription:

• Focus on communication skills including listening, keeping answers focused and asking good questions.
• Read: Improving Communications During Interviews

Alternate Diagnosis: Not fully prepared before interviews.
Prescription:

• Invest heavily in pre-interview research in order to fully understand the goals and challenges faced by the company and position yourself as a problem solver.
• Read: Stalling after Interviews

Symptom: Frustrated. Doing everything you know to do, but not making progress

Diagnosis: Measuring progress by the wrong standards
Prescription:

• Focus on expanding your network. Set challenging but attainable goals for reaching out to new people and measure progress based on success in that area.
• Read: Why Aren’t You Making Progress?

Symptom: Not generating results.  Not sure what to do next

Diagnosis: Efforts are not strategic. No master plan. Not spending enough time on job search or spending time on the wrong things.
Prescription:

• Track time spent on your job search and which activities you are spending the most time on.
• Set goals for spending more time on activities that are most productive.
• Read: Are You Spending Your Time on the Wrong Things?
• Read: Are You Spending Enough Time on Your Job Search?
• Spend time creating a job search strategy that will keep you focused and making progress.
• Read:  Why You Need a Job Search Strategy
• Read: Creating a Job Search Strategy for Success

Hopefully one or more of the symptoms match what you are experiencing and the diagnosis and prescription are right for you. If not, leave a comment on this blog. Let’s talk about where job searches stall and how to get them started again.

Not finding enough job openings

• Have you targeted a field and job category that are robust?
• Are your targets for field and job category large enough including small companies?
• Are you networking in that field or profession, not just relying on job boards for leads?
• Are you spending enough time tapping into the unadvertised job market, particularly through networking?
• Are you using social media to track companies and recruiters?

For more on broadening your field and job category, read Troubleshooting Tuesday: Is Your Target Too Small?

Network not growing

• Are you considering everyone you meet, including social contacts, a member of your network?
• Are you reaching out beyond people you know to those you do not know?
• Are you asking close contacts to help you build new connections?
• Are you getting out to events and gatherings where you may meet people?

For more on optimizing your networking efforts to generate job leads, read Troubleshooting Tuesday: Is Networking Your Problem?

Submitting resumes but hearing nothing

• Are you including a cover letter showing your match to the job?
• Is your resume customized for every position?
• Are you constantly working to improve your resume?
• Are you making use of inside contacts to introduce you to hiring managers?

For more on what to do if you are not hearing back, read “Troubleshooting Tuesday: Not Hearing Back After Applying”.

Interviewing but not getting hired

• Are you going into the interview well prepared, ready with answers to the toughest questions?
• Are you listening during interviews, asking questions and responding to what you hear?
• Do you research the company and position before the interview?

For more on better preparation in order to interview better, read “Troubleshooting Tuesday: Stalling Out After Interviews”.

To improve your communication skills during interviews, read “Troubleshooting Tuesday: Communication During Job Interviews”.

Not making enough progress, feeling discouraged

• Are you devoting set time every day to your job search?
• Are you setting goals and striving to reach them?
• Are you keeping a positive mindset?

For more on making stronger progress see Troubleshooting Tuesday: Why Aren’t You Making Progress?

For more on time management,  see Troubleshooting Tuesday: Are You Spending Enough Time on Your Job Search?

For making sure that time is well spent see Troubleshooting Tuesday: Are you Spending Your Time on the Right Things?

• Don’t focus on that 6%! Instead think about the 94% that are likely to welcome your application and consider how you can best show your qualifications for the job.
• Stay positive that every day people are getting hired and most of them are unemployed people finding new work.
• Focus on what works including what newly hired people are saying they did
• Continue to build skills and successes, learn and grow while you are out of work so that your resume looks fresh and up-to-date at all times.

Do not get caught up in reading news reports (good or bad) about employment trends and get distracted from your job search.  Take positive actions and move forward.