Now, when you have a wealth of experience, the problem has reversed itself.

The challenge now becomes what to do in a job search when you are rejected, not for lack of experience but for too much experience.

Almost every problem with a troubled job search can be traced back to a resume, and this problem is no exception.

Me vs. You

You know that the customer is always right, and that whatever your job, finding out what the customer wants and giving it to them is the surest path to success. You have known this your entire adult life, yet when it comes to writing a resume, these two critical lessons fly right out of the window.

You sit down to create the most financially important document you will ever own,

You write a document that tries to capture everything you think is important and of which you are proud.

You strive to give it as much breadth as possible to widen the range of opportunities for which you might be suited.

The result is a one-size-fits-all document, and as you know from bitter personal experience, one-size-fits-all-never-fits-anyone.

Writing an old-fashioned general resume does not work. It will disappear into the resume databases and never be found because it lacks focus.

Even if you do manage to get that resume in front of a headhunter, recruiter, or hiring manager, no one likes reading resumes because they turn a brain to mush in short order.

Writing a resume without the needs of the customer firmly in mind is a recipe for disaster and a waste of everyone’s time. If your matching skills don’t jump off the page in the first 30 seconds, you are history.

The Customer-Focused Resume

The resume that works is one that focuses on what employers state in job postings as important. It delivers the information that qualifies you for this job.

Today, you don’t write a resume about all the wonderful things you can and have done. You write a resume that addresses your ability to do just the things that the employer is asking for.

Give your resume a headline, right after the contact information at the top of the first page. That headline is the Target Job Title you are pursuing.

Everything that follows the Target Job Title is focused on your skills, experiences, and ability to deliver on the requirements of that job title.

This is the story you tell, nothing more and nothing less. Do this and your resume’s performance in database searches will dramatically increase, and your matching skills will jump off the page in the first few seconds of reading.

Right-Sizing Job Titles

We seem to spend much of our lives striving for bigger and better job titles, because society attaches so much prestige to job titles. That is until age and wage discrimination sets in and the problems begin.

For example, you might face the problem of going after an individual contributor job after years of holding a management title. Just as that would give you, as a hiring manager, pause for concern, it will give potential employers the same concern.

The solution builds on the idea of focusing on required skills rather than presenting yourself as a superhero.

For instance, I have owned my company for thirty years, so I am a president, CEO or whatever over-blown title comes to mind. But with a small company of less than a dozen people, I’m also the chief cook and bottle washer. We write resumes and coach people, so I spend a lot of time doing one-on-one coaching with people all over the world, and doing webinars.

Consequently, were I to pursue a job in training, which is my professional background, I could honestly give my company name and dates of employment followed by my job title as Training Specialist or Training Manager – whatever would be closest to the target job:

KnockEmDead.com1997-Present
Global performance training company
Training Manager

I wouldn’t be lying, this would be true and defensible. It would also be infinitely more productive in a job search than:

KnockEmDead.com1997-Present
Global performance training company
CEO

I have had one or two people over the years express a concern here about references and potential problems of downgrading a job title.

Mostly references are concerned with dates of employment and leaving salary, and I have honestly never heard of a job offer being retracted because someone minimized their achievements rather than exaggerating them.

Dates & Technology

Dates of employment are also part of the “overqualified” quagmire, but there is help here too. A resume that goes back more than 20 years can begin to speak of age, big money, old dogs, and (no) new tricks. This can also make you look like a know-it-all who might be tough to manage, and no one wants to hire someone who might be a management problem.

Opinions vary on this with some career people saying not to go back more than 10 years, but that can under qualify you for many jobs. My personal persuasion is to go back no more than 20-25 years. If the resume shows 25 years of work history, the Performance Summary that follows your Target Job Title will read “20+ years’ experience.”

Not going back throughout what might be a long work history is defensible because of changes in technology. Every job in existence has changed beyond recognition in the last 20 years. Therefore, not listing experience prior to 20 years ago is defensible as being irrelevant to the skills necessary for the job. This is especially true if you are trying to keep the resume tight, succinct, and as short as the story you need to tell will allow.

More About Handling Unemployment in Your Job Search

• 5 Options to Fill that Unemployment Gap by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
• Overcoming the Unemployed Bias by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
• Best LinkedIn Title When You Are Unemployed
• How to Leverage LinkedIn Smartly When You Are Unemployed
• Managing Employment Gaps on Your Resume
• How to Manage Resume Red Flags

About the author…

Successful careers don’t happen by accident. Professional resume writing expert Martin Yate CPC is a New York Times best-seller and the author of 17 Knock Em Dead career management books. As Dun & Bradstreet says, “He’s about the best in the business.” For FREE resume-building advice and to view Martin’s resume samples, visit the Knock Em Dead website. Join Martin on Twitter at @KnockEmDead.
More about this author…

The post Resumes for the Unemployed and Overqualified appeared first on Job-Hunt.

While browsing a company website she found a job post that seems a perfect fit for her.

Notice how Sandi customizes her resume for this specific opportunity.

The Details About This Resume Sample

Since Sandi is applying for a specific opportunity with this resume, she has customized it to make it clear that she is qualified for this job.

Matching the Resume to the Opportunity

Here’s a list of requirements and preferences for the Marketing Management job:

• At least 5 years experience in marketing management
• Able to supervise creative teams
• Work in conjunction with sales team
• Internet marketing and product launch experience
• Social media marketing experience a plus
• MBA preferred

Keywords used in the job post:

• Online marketing
• Product launch
• Management
• MBA
• Creative teams
• Internet marketing
• Supervise teams
• Social media marketing

With this information in hand, Sandi targeted her resume by including all the keywords from the job post and writing about her relevant achievements.

Notice how she highlighted her pending MBA by placing the Education section near the top of the page (even though she’s not a recent grad) and listing her thesis in Social Media Marketing Strategies for Profit and Nonprofit Organizations.

What’s NOT on Sandi’s Resume

Sandi’s resume is completely honest but doesn’t scream “I am out of work!” It’s not obvious that she is unemployed.

That is achieved by putting the relevant keywords in the Leadership Acumen and Areas of Expertise sections. She also includes her education on the front page of the resume.

This means her employment history is not at the top of the page. In fact, her employment history doesn’t appear until the 2nd page of the resume.

She is hoping that her skills and achievements will pull in the reader before they realize that she is unemployed.

However, unemployment is not Sandi’s biggest obstacle. Sandi has Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic disease that sometimes makes full-time work in an office environment challenging.

When the time comes, she will have a discussion with her potential employer about how she can manage a full workload and what accommodations her disability requires. Until then, there’s no need to mention it on her resume.

The Bottom Line:

Many people with chronic illnesses are able to work from virtual locations, as well as on-site. Finding a career that can be done from a virtual location when your illness may keep you from getting out to an office, will help people with these types of situations to stay actively employed.

  The Resume Samples for Sandi:  

• Sample Formal Resume for Unemployed Job Seeker with a Chronic Illness
• Sample Simplified ATS Resume for Job Seeker with Chronic Illness Resume

More About Beating Unemployment:

• Job-Hunt’s Guide to Beating Unemployment
• How to Manage Employment Gaps on Your Resume
• Hiring Manager Tips for Escaping Unemployment
• 5 Options to Bridge that Unemployment Gap by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
• Overcoming the Unemployed Bias by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
• Best LinkedIn Title When You Are Unemployed
• Managing Employment Gaps on Your Resume
• How to Manage Resume Red Flags
  • Job Seeker with Gaps in Employment – with sample resume
  • Older, Laid-Off Worker – with sample resume
  • A Mom Returning to Work – with sample resume
  • How to Handle a Chemotherapy “Employment Gap” in Your LinkedIn Profile
• Explaining Your Gap in Employment in Job Interviews

About the author…

Erin Kennedy is a Master Career Director (MCD), Certified Master Resume Writer (MCRW), Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and Certified Empowerment & Motivational Coach (CEMC). She has been helping clients since 1999. Erin is also the President of Professional Resume Services, Inc.. Visit her website and connect with Erin on LinkedIn and Twitter.
More about this author…

The post Resume Sample: Unemployed with Chronic Illness appeared first on Job-Hunt.

The key to overcoming the bias associated with being unemployed is to paint the picture with the brightest colors possible.

Hopefully, your termination from your last job was not due to any negative actions on your part.

If there was a layoff, reorganization, or the job was shipped overseas, hiring managers are likely to give you a chance to tell your story.

Most employers realize that it is hard to have a career path that doesn’t hit a bump in the road somewhere along the way.

Whether in the interview, resume, or just networking, there are key approaches to keep in mind.

Start With the Facts

When asked, present your situation factually:

• If you were fired, you’ll need to share what you’ve learned from the experience, and how it has shaped your career decisions going forward.
• If it was a bad fit, then explain what a good fit for you looks like (it should match the job you’re interviewing for, if you’re doing your homework).
• If you were laid off, realize this is not uncommon right now. You might be asked what prompted the layoff and/or why you were included. If many were involved, you should mention this, too.

Highlight the Positives of Your Last Employment

Certainly if your tenure was long and filled with achievements, you should be able to give a positive description of your experience at your last employer.

Stick to the accomplishments, and give very little background to the separation details.

The idea is to move on, and don’t dwell on the topic. Some candidates get a little tongue-tied when talking about it.

Don’t wing it — have a practiced response ready. If the hiring manager is comfortable with your response, all your other information will have more merit.

One way to solidify your reputation with the last company is to have a written recommendation from your last boss. You need not necessarily present the recommendation when the topic comes up.

Simply saying you have a letter of recommendation is often enough to convince an interviewer that you were a good employee.

Fill the Void on Your Resume

I agree that looking for a job IS a full time job. But you must do something else, part time, to have something on your resume after the last job.

Yes, it is all about marketing and you are marketing yourself.

Having the best promotional documentation (your resume, LinkedIn profile, etc.) is part of most every sale — especially when you can’t sell yourself in person.

To fill the void on your resume volunteer, do consulting work, help friends with their business (you won’t necessarily be asked if it was a paid position), go to a class, or be active in professional associations (which also helps with networking). Showing that you are taking advantage of the time available to you shows you are assertive, keeping your “saw sharp,” and like to be busy.

More on 5 Options to Fill that Unemployment Gap.

Always Show Confidence

Employers can smell desperation. They don’t like hiring a candidate who “wants any job.”

They want candidates who really feel they are a perfect fit for their job. When they have dozens of qualified candidates to choose from, they are going to pick the one who best fits the needs they have.

If they feel you are the best fit and they don’t see any risk in hiring you, you get the job. Risk to them can mean someone else thinks you are not the ideal employee.

You need to convince them that you are risk-free and being unemployed has nothing to do with your ability to do the job well.

Showing confidence includes telling a compelling story.

What are the special qualities, training, and experiences you have that may separate you from the rest of the candidates? The more value you attach to your name, the less important your employment status is.

Crank Up Your Networking

Going through traditional channels (job boards, want-ads, career fairs, employer web sites) can be a challenge when unemployed since there often is not human contact with the hiring manager.

You have heard time and time again how important networking is. There is a reason for this.

If a friend or colleague walks your resume down the hall to the hiring manager (or makes a phone call), they are putting their reputation on the line. Good recruiters feel the same way. This “investment of reputation equity” on their part balances out the unemployment bias.

Statements like this one go a long way to getting an interview:

“Check out Jim. I’ve known him for years, and he’s a go-getter and really smart. I think you’d like him. He’s been doing some freelance work between jobs as he was caught up in a huge layoff that was all about the dollars.”

One other note on networking: leverage your social network.

Whether on the Internet or neighborhood party, people need to know you’re looking. Make sure you’re approachable about the subject, too.

You might also consider starting a blog. I’ve recommended this to unemployed CIOs in the past. One of them got noticed by the online Wall Street Journal and blogged for them. Soon after, he landed a new job.

Employee referrals are the number one source of hires for employers with job boards like Indeed are much less effective:

• Employee referrals — 55% of hires
• Indeed — 12% of hires
• Glassdoor and CareerBuilder — 3% of hires

[Source: 2018 SilkRoad Source of Hires.]

More on Job Search Networking.

Consider Contracting

I just placed a candidate this week for a contractor position as a Business Analyst. She would have preferred a permanent role, but she now has a chance to show off her talents from within.

Resumes saying you’re great are one thing. Actually showing them great work is another.

I’ve asked the supervisor to keep an eye on her for potential long-term work if she deserves it, and he agreed he would.

More on How Contracting Battles Unemployment and Freelancing When Unemployed.

Some Good News

In the last several years, I have had very few of my clients ask job seekers about their employment status. And when they do, the explanation of a layoff is sufficient.

Don’t forget the smaller companies in your search. They sometimes are harder to network into, but they tend to hire more quickly and have fewer candidates to choose from. They often have identified a need and want to fill it right away.

An unemployed candidate sometimes looks more appealing to the potential employer because the unemployed candidate can start immediately, and the employer has no risk of being faced with a counter-offer from an existing employer and being rejected.

The Bottom Line

As they say, “perception is reality.” By approaching your job search and self-marketing correctly you can overcome the “unemployed perception” with “well-qualified candidate.”

More About Handling the Unemployment Issue:

• Hiring Manager Tips for Escaping Unemployment
• 5 Options to Fill that Unemployment Gap
• Best LinkedIn Title When You Are Unemployed
• Explaining Your Gap in Employment in Job Interviews
• Managing Employment Gaps on Your Resume

About the author…

Job-Hunt’s Working with Recruiters Expert Jeff Lipschultz is a 20+ year veteran in management, hiring, and recruiting of all types of business and technical professionals. He has worked in industries ranging from telecom to transportation to dotcom. Jeff is a founding partner of A-List Solutions, a Dallas-based recruiting and employment consulting company. Learn more about him through his company site alistsolutions.com. Follow Jeff on LinkedIn and on Twitter (@JLipschultz).
More about this author…

The post Overcoming the “Unemployed Bias” appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Whether you are a senior executive or a new graduate student seeking your first professional job, there are still five basic points to master as you manage your search strategy.

Overcoming Job Search Challenges:

1. Remember Your Value

It’s easy to lose track of how good you are when you are unemployed.

•   Always remember that you bring value to your next employer.  

  Be encouraged and confident, bringing out your best as you navigate through the search process. This is the time to remember who you are, how you are wired, and acknowledge all that you have accomplished professionally and personally!

  Keep those accomplishments in mind, and share them with employers in your job interviews.

•   Transform your branding strategy from a “Job Seeker” to being a “Solution Provider.”  

  Embrace your achievements while remaining confident in your capabilities. Hiring managers generally have very specific challenges in their organization, so it’s important to speak to, and share your achievements as you represent the value of a solution provider as opposed to just another candidate who will try to address their problems.

2. Stay Up-to-Date

Employers are concerned that someone who is unemployed has also become out of date.

•   It’s your responsibility to keep up with the times and the activity in your market.  

  But you’ll never be able to do this if you’re sitting at home. It’s important to get out of the house, and in front of people by attending networking events, and professional conferences that will help in keeping your skill sharp.

  For most professions, a solid LinkedIn Profile with appropriately professional activity in LinkedIn is not optional now.

•   Network at the proper level.  

  I think that job support groups are an amazing outlet to attend, and can help you as you manage your job search activity. But, most attendees are other people who are also unemployed.

  So, also attend networking events and mixers where you can network with the right tier of professionals who can refer you to a person of influence on the inside of your target companies.

•   Think systematically.  

  Develop a “Job Search Process” so you can track your activity and commitments.

3. Be Open-Minded

Maintain as much of your “normal” life as you can, but take the time to re-assess your budget and spending habits.

•   Be open to thinking outside the box, embracing the opportunity to be flexible and adaptable.  

  I had a client who was an Account Manager for a company, in which he was actually a post-sales support professional. His role was to be highly visible at the client sites, serve as a point person for the product that was installed, and know how the client was using the product so he could leverage up-selling opportunities when possible.

  In thinking outside the box, this individual was not just an Account Manager. We drilled down into his capabilities and identified other strengths that he possessed to include project management, cross-functional collaboration, client interfacing, and sales administration.

•   Be realistic about your “Needs.”  

  It’s not reasonable to expect your next employer to compensate you based upon what your needs are. It is reasonable to expect them to be fair in their compensation, based upon what the market is paying for your specific role.

4. Expand Your Network

As professionals, we all generally have three very specific “Networks” that are important to tap as we navigate through a job search.

They are:

1.   Proactive Network  

   These are people in your network who are direct connections, care about your success, and want to step up to assist you in any way possible.

   It has been noted that many active jobs are never posted online because the company would rather try to leverage internal contacts and referrals instead of hiring someone who may not be proven in their respective role.

2.   Reactive Network  

   These are recruiters, hiring managers, or people in general who are responsive to your inquiry for employment.

   You may have talked with them at some point in your search process, and while their current role may not be a good fit for you, you want to make sure to have a trusting relationship with them moving forward, being ever-diligent in remaining on their radar, or top-of-mind as opportunities come across their desk.

3.   Headhunter, Recruiter Network  

   You want to be sure to get your resume in front of every recruiting company possible, within your specific market segment. You never know when they may search their database for the right candidate, and you want them to find you!

  Don’t expect just to be fed by people in your network.  

Get out and volunteer, maintaining a spirit of feeding others. Be intentional about getting in front of people and know how to tell your employment transition story with confidence.

Volunteering also provides you with a fill-the-gap activity.

  Know how to ask for a referral.  

You may ask:

“Do you know anyone who might have a need for someone with my skillset within their company?”

Or, you can ask,

“Do you have anyone in your network who may know of someone, who might have a need for an individual like me in their company?”

In the first question, you are asking your contact person to only consider people that they may have immediate access to. In the second example, you are encouraging that person to think outside their own network, opening them to intentionally considering new opportunities to connect or engage.

[MORE: How to Make Employee Referral Programs Work For You,  10 Success Tips for Reluctant Networkers and Finding Your Network.]

5. Remain Encouraged and Hopeful

“Chase the dream, not the competition!” Don’t give negativity the power to hold you hostage. Celebrate your joy or your success, and you will find your next professional opportunity!

Go get ’em!

More About Handling Unemployment in Your Job Search

• 5 Options to Fill that Unemployment Gap by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
• Overcoming the Unemployed Bias by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
• Best LinkedIn Title When You Are Unemployed
• How to Leverage LinkedIn Smartly When You Are Unemployed
• Managing Employment Gaps on Your Resume
• Resumes for the Unemployed and Overqualified
• How to Make Employee Referral Programs Work For You
• How to Manage Resume Red Flags

About the author…

An expert and leading authority in career development & employment transition, Dean Tracy is a National Top Tier Executive Career Coach & Recruiter, and Public Speaker based in Northern California.  He is the Founder of CareerLinkTFH, an outreach designed to assist and support job seekers as they manage their unemployment or career transition.  He also serves on the Leadership Team for BusinessLink, and he and his wife own and operate an Equine Sanctuary on their ranch for horses with special needs or in retirement. Find Dean on LinkedIn.

The post 5 Steps to Overcome Challenges in Finding a Job When Unemployed appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Unemployed for a while and still struggling?

Or, working for an employer in the process of “down-sizing” and/or “off-shoring”?

If you find yourself in one of those situations, you’re probably updating your resume, reviewing job postings, networking with former colleagues, and shining up those interview shoes.

Out of all the tasks you’ll need to prioritize in your job search, building or updating your LinkedIn Profile should be near the top of your list.

Here’s why – along with tips to quickly accelerate the process of building a strong Profile:

Why You Should Focus on LinkedIn When Unemployed

Technology is changing the way employers recruit, and that technology and those changes are having a very big impact on job search.

Unlike in the past when a stellar resume was a guarantee of job search success, the whole process is more complex today.

Currently, LinkedIn is at the center of the solution for both job seekers (who need to be professionally visible) and recruiters (who are searching for qualified job candidates).

1 – LinkedIn often serves as your public face.

Like it or not, LinkedIn is among the first websites used by recruiters, employers, former colleagues, or industry insiders to check you out.

According to a 2018 CareerBuilder study, many consider you nearly “invisible” if they don’t find at least a LinkedIn entry for you that reflects your career stature, credentials, education, and work experience. And, being “invisible” is like wearing an “out-of-date” tag today, eliminating you from consideration for many jobs.

Hot Tip: Just getting started with your LinkedIn Profile in the face of job loss? Sign up for a new LinkedIn account, and let the site walk you through the basics (identifying information, Headline, Work Experience, and Education). In 30 minutes or less, you’ll have an online presence that backs up the content of your resume.

If you are avoiding social media to protect your privacy, that strategy will hurt your job search. Read Social Proof: Linked(In) to Your Resume and “Social Proof” Is Required for Successful Job Search for the reasons.

2 – Employers spend considerable time “sourcing” candidates from LinkedIn.

You may be surprised to hear that professionals and executives can find you long before you even craft a resume or meet them at a business event.

Given that they’ll be checking you out online (and possibly using outdated information from other sites such as Intelius, Zoominfo, or even places you don’t want them to see, such as Facebook), you’ll need to face reality and get your digital presence ready for scrutiny.

Hot Tip: Increase your LinkedIn traffic by fleshing out details for each job in your Experience section. The content for each job (which should look similar to your resume) will help inject more keywords into your Profile and make it more easily searchable by recruiters seeking candidates with your background. Unlike your resume, your LinkedIn Profile offers plenty of room to describe your accomplishments (and add more keywords).

Having online visibility and managing that visibility to support your job search and career are essential today. For more information, read Using LinkedIn for Personal Online Reputation Management and How to Connect with Recruiters on LinkedIn.

3 – Updating your Profile will put you ahead of the competition.

Don’t forget that other job seekers are likely to find the same opportunities or approach the same hiring managers. When compared to your job-searching competition, a barely filled-in LinkedIn Profile could edge you out.

Instead, take the time to carefully construct a LinkedIn Profile that conveys your competencies and elicits a strong response.

Add a headshot to your Profile, using either a professional photographer or employing a friend to snap a few shots of you in business attire. Fill in the Summary with a more robust version of your achievements – noting what makes you unique among others vying for the same job.

You can also attach rich media (such as a document or video) to the Summary or your Experience section for a dash of attention-getting color.

Hot Tip: Boost your competitive edge by touting recent professional developments, even if you haven’t finished them. For example, if you’ve recently signed up for a professional conference, a certification program, or snagged a speaking engagement, these pending achievements are great content for your Summary. You can also use the Summary to detail your value to employers, using a compelling pitch similar to what you’d write in a cover letter.

Tips to make your LinkedIn Profile more effective: read Best LinkedIn Title When You Are Unemployed, LinkedIn Job Search Basics and Why You Need a Photo on Your LinkedIn Profile

Bottom Line

Don’t back-burner the task of polishing your LinkedIn Profile during a new job search. You’ll benefit from the time invested in building a brand-enhancing LinkedIn Profile that conveys your full career story, making you more interesting — and find-able.

More About Handling Unemployment in Your Job Search

• 5 Options to Fill that Unemployment Gap by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
• Overcoming the Unemployed Bias by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
• Managing Employment Gaps on Your Resume

About the author…

Job-Hunt’s LinkedIn for Job Search Expert Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Director of An Expert Resume, is an award-winning executive resume writer, national columnist, author, LinkedIn and SEO enthusiast, and past recruiter. Laura is author of How to Get Hired Faster: 60+ Proven Tips and Strategies to Access the Hidden Job Market. Follow Laura on Twitter at @ResumeExpert and on LinkedIn.
More about this author…

The post How to Leverage LinkedIn Smartly When You Are Unemployed appeared first on Job-Hunt.