3 Surprising Phone Interview Tips

3 Surprising Phone Interview Tips

Phone interviews are becoming more and more important in the job search. They are your gateway to get to the face-to-face interview. Employers try to screen candidates out with phone interviews because they need to narrow down their list of applicants to bring on site.

So, in your job search, you need to do everything you can to give yourself the edge and ace that phone interview so you can move forward in the job search process.

However, phone interviews can present some unique challenges. It can feel unnerving to not be able to see the interviewer’s face or have them see yours.

So, what can you do?

Beyond knowing great answers to phone interview questions, keeping cheat sheets in front of you, and asking questions of your own, here are three surprising tips that may help you ace your phone interview…

Look At A Picture Of Your Interviewer

Looking at a picture of the person interviewing you can help you feel more comfortable and relaxed as you answer their questions. It may even help you establish better rapport.

You can get their picture from their LinkedIn profile, which you should be looking at anyway as part of your pre-interview research. As a bonus, having their picture in front of you means that you will see them smiling at you, which may help you feel more confident too.

Look In The Mirror (Or Stay Away From One)

Happy man on laptop smiles during his phone interview

Some people say that looking in a mirror while you’re interviewing on the phone helps you remember to smile. Since smiling while you talk makes you sound more relaxed and confident, that could be great advice.

However, others say that looking in the mirror makes them feel incredibly self-conscious and unable to focus. I say that you should try doing both in another conversation (especially in a mock interview) and see if looking in the mirror works for you or not.

Stand Up

Woman smiles during a phone interview

When you stand up rather than sit, your voice is stronger and you sound more enthusiastic and energetic. Those are both great qualities to convey to a hiring manager.

One thing to watch out for: you may be tempted to walk around while you talk, but be careful that you don’t move around too fast and get winded. That won’t communicate positive qualities for you.

Phone interviews do present some challenges, but they also provide you with some benefits because the interviewer can’t see you. Take advantage of the situation and give yourself a performance boost.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.


How To Avoid Getting Ghosted By A Recruiter

How To Avoid Getting Ghosted By A Recruiter

After your phone screen with a recruiter, they tell you you’re great. They want you to meet with the manager the next day. You enthusiastically say “yes.” And then you get ghosted.

This happens a lot, but I’m going to give you a tip so you can (hopefully) avoid getting ghosted by a recruiter after your next job interview…

Ask Them 2 Key Questions

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @clv970 How To Avoid Getting GHOSTED By A Recruiter #recruiter #ghosted #HowTo #notgetghosted #gotghosted #jobsearch #interviewtips #interviews ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

This won’t work every time, but you’ve got nothing to lose with this strategy.

The next time you’re in this situation, say:

“Yes, I definitely can meet with the manager tomorrow. But I have two quick questions for you. How many phone screens do you have left to do today? And out of all your candidates, how many slots will there be tomorrow for a meeting with the manager?”

This is going to help you understand their process. It’s going to manage your expectations better when you hear that they’re doing 20 phone screens and only three people are getting a meeting with the manager tomorrow. It’s also going to remind that recruiter that you understand the process because when they articulate the hiring process to you, it will stick in their mind.

Then, no matter how they answer those two questions above, you’re going to follow up with…

“Great, I totally get it. I know not everyone is going to get a slot tomorrow, but is there anything else I can provide you to increase the chances that I get a slot? Because I’d really love to get a crack at this job.”

Or something to that effect.

What this is going to do is, again, give them a chance to tell you anything else you need, but remind them you really want this job, and you understand the recruiting process and you’re super respectful about it.

This is the most important part, though: it’s also going to give you peace of mind because you’re at least going to understand the process, and then you won’t feel ghosted.

So, remember to ask the two questions above after your next phone screen so you don’t get ghosted in the interview process. Good luck, and go get ’em!

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3 Tips For Improving Your Executive Resume

3 Tips For Improving Your Executive Resume

Even executives who’ve had several years of experience in a profession can find it hard to secure a new job. The problem clearly isn’t lack of experience, but rather understanding how to best position themselves on their resume so that employers will take notice of what they have to offer.

When you’re a senior executive, there’s typically no shortage of information to include on your resume—and that’s where the problem lies. When there’s no strategy for writing a resume, the end result is usually a mishmash of information that doesn’t help employers understand exactly how and why you would fit their needs.

So, how can an executive write a resume that will stand out to employers?

The tips below will help you write a strategic and effective executive resume with ease.

Present Information That Aligns With The Employer’s Needs

Employer/hiring manager reads an executive resume that aligns with their needs

When employers review your resume, they are looking to understand how you may fit into the role they are looking to fill and the organization. A resume that is written like an autobiography (everything from past to present with no filter on what information is appropriate to include) fails to provide customized information that shows you meet their needs.

What you need to do is highlight the specific experience and skills that align with their needs. In other words, you need to customize your resume for each job you apply for. You do that by carefully reviewing the job posting, understanding what the specific needs are, and then thinking about how you’re proficient in those areas.

Utilize an executive headline and relevant skills (not an objective statement) at the top of your resume to present highlights of what you have to offer to meet the employer’s needs.

Demonstrate How You Brought Improvement/Results To Your Previous Jobs

Employer reviews an executive resume with quantifiable accomplishments

While detailing roles and responsibilities at previous jobs under “Work History” can help improve keyword matches when the resume is run through the applicant tracking system (ATS), it needs to present other information once it gets in the hands of a human reviewer.

The human reviewer will be looking for information on how your actions on the job brought results. This requires you to quantify your accomplishments on your resume. When you write quantifiable results on your resume, it provides employers with a much better understanding of the type of experience and situations you’ve faced and what you’re capable of achieving on the job.

Connect With The Employer

Those who are hired for the job are typically job candidates who’ve related well with the employer. They’ve shown how they fit in and share similar passions.

To help build that connection with the employer on the resume, indicate professional affiliations, volunteer work, and other aspects that may be outside of work that are relatable. For example, if you know the employer is heavily involved in community work helping pets in need and you’ve volunteered at an animal shelter, include a brief mention at the end of your resume to help build a stronger connection. Your professional affiliation with related fields and industry groups also helps demonstrate to the employer you share a passion in the same space as they do.

These are simple strategies to help improve your executive resume. The more you can tailor your information, the easier it is for employers to take notice of you and initiate follow-up action. Show employers you can meet their specific desires and needs and connect with them by showing you share similar passions!

Need more help with your executive resume?

Check out our executive-level membership and start working with career expert J.T. O’Donnell on branding your executive resume today!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

7 Motivational Career Change Quotes

7 Motivational Career Change Quotes

Making a career change can be a long process filled with small victories and setbacks. If you’re currently going through a career change, chances are you’ll need a pick-me-up or two along the way.

Here are seven quotes to keep you going and inspire you in your career change journey…

For Those Contemplating A Career Change

Amelia Earhart quote

1. “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.”

—Amelia Earhart

This quote from the famous American aviation pioneer will really hit home if you’re early in the career change process. Perhaps you have been on the fence about making a career change for a long time and just making the decision to go through with the change was a stressful process in itself. Sometimes people know in their hearts that it’s time for a career change but they’re scared for various reasons.

Overcoming those fears and committing to change is a victory! If you’re strong enough to make that tough decision, you’re also strong enough to go through the career change process and be victorious.

2. “Our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”

—M. Scott Peck

This quote from the psychiatrist and best-selling author is all about getting out of your comfort zone, and that’s what leaving behind one career and trying another is all about. You’ll have moments of self-doubt and you’ll be challenged. Embrace those moments because you’ll learn about yourself and push yourself to new limits. It’s the best way to grow!

Inspiration For Those In The Middle Of The Career Change Process

Steve Jobs quote

3. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”

—Steve Jobs

The job search process can be long and frustrating but it’s important to remember that good things take time. You don’t want to settle for any job, you want the RIGHT job—the job that will be professionally and personally rewarding. Don’t stop until you find that job! Jobs, the founder of Apple, never settled and he did pretty well.

4. “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.”

—Wayne Gretzky

This a very simple quote from one of the greatest hockey players of all time but it carries so much weight. There may be times where you’re hesitant to apply for a job because of a lack of experience or you don’t feel that you’re good enough. If you don’t try, you’ve already failed.

Do the research, prepare accordingly, and apply for the job. Even if you don’t get it, you may learn something from the process that will make you a better candidate moving forward.

5. “The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.”

—Barack Obama

You will undoubtedly face some setbacks along the way in your efforts to change careers. Don’t dwell too long on those setbacks. Learn from them and move forward. As the 44th president of the United States alludes to, feeling sorry for yourself will only slow you down.

As You Near Your Career Change Goal

Seth Godin quote

6. “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

—Colin Powell

If you were successful in your career change transition, chances are you can relate to the former U.S. secretary of state’s quote. It took hard work, preparation, and a little failure to accomplish your goal. You’ll find that this is the recipe for the most successful ventures in life.

7. “How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable?”

—Seth Godin

The sky’s the limit! Never stop trying to improve and grow in your career. If you don’t, you’re only selling yourself short. If you ever stop growing in your career, it may be time to make another change. As the American author says in his quote, you have every opportunity to be remarkable—you just need to take it.

Stay motivated during the career change process and avoid these mistakes.

If you need additional help, become a Work It DAILY member today!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.


How To Change Industries As A Manager

How To Change Industries As A Manager

You might be wondering if it’s possible to change industries as a manager. Of course it is. But is it easy? Well, not to people who don’t know how to do it.

Here’s the good news: you already have management experience. It’s actually harder, in my opinion, to go from an independent contributor role to a manager role when you’re switching companies, and it’s even harder when you’re changing industries.

But when you’re changing industries as a manager, you already have management experience. And that’s the most important thing employers are looking for.

Show Employers You Have The Management Experience And Can Learn The Rest.

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @nicflemrn How to switch industries as a manager. #jobsearch #manager #switchjobs #switchcareer #careerswitch #careerhelp #careeradvice #careerchange ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

You have management experience. Now you have to connect the dots for the hiring managers in that industry. You have to show them that, in spite of not having their exact industry experience, your management experience is so important and you can learn the rest.

So how do you do that?

Well, you start with informational interviews. Find five managers who are managing in that industry. Ask them to coffee or to lunch or a virtual meeting and say, “Look, I’m not asking you for help getting a job. What I’m trying to understand is where my gaps are and what I’m going to need to do to close those gaps so that I could get a management job in this industry.”

People are happy to help you like that. They’re happy to sit down, talk it through, and give you advice and tips. That’s going to help you. But you’re also networking in the industry so that when their company has a management position open up, you can message them and say:

“Hey, I just applied to the open position on your company’s site. I’m so grateful I had that conversation with you because it really helped me prepare. And I’ve done a few things since. And, hopefully, the hiring manager might take a look at me for the position.”

What’s going to happen?

Well, first of all, this person is going to love that. You said they were helpful. Second of all, since they got to know you, they might walk down the hall or message the hiring manager and tell them they should pull your resume from the pile because you’re actually worth looking at as an applicant.

Only 25% of applicants are usually qualified for the role. Not everybody has the experience. But what employers need most is people who have the right personality and some of the key skills (like management experience) more so than industry experience.

So, if you do the informational interviewing, you’re going to build a network. You’re going to find out where your gaps are so that you can close them. And then you’ll stand out to employers as a great job candidate despite not having the exact industry experience.

This is how you change industries as a manager. It all comes down to that management experience.

You can do this, my friend. Go get ’em!

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How To Avoid Appearing Overconfident During Interviews

How To Avoid Appearing Overconfident During Interviews

When you’re really nervous for a job interview, it can work against you. You might not realize it, but your nervousness can actually make you overcompensate and appear arrogant, which can hurt your first impression.

Instead of risking looking overconfident during interviews, apply these tips:

Talk About Your Mentors

If you’re worried you’ll sound like you’re bragging during an interview, take some of the focus off you by talking about your mentors. Show them that you’re open to new perspectives and respect the expertise of others. This will take some of the pressure off you and highlight that you’re willing to learn from others (aka you’re probably not a know-it-all).

Ask Great Questions

Job candidate talks and doesn't appear overconfident in an interview

One sign of looking arrogant is talking too much about yourself. Yes, you’re expected to talk about yourself during interviews, but the best interviews are two-way conversations between the interviewee and the interviewer. When you do this, you appear more interested and genuinely excited about what they have to say. So, pepper in some insightful questions about the role, company, or interviewer.

Find Your Self-Confidence

Hiring manager shakes hands with a job candidate that didn't appear overconfident in a job interview

The truth is, if you’re overcompensating, you’re trying to make up for that lack of self-confidence. And that lack of confidence contributes to that overwhelming nervousness and anxiety you’re feeling. So, find ways to increase your self-confidence. Whether it’s showcasing your strengths or passion for the industry, find a way to boost your self-confidence.

Don’t let “accidental arrogance” kill an opportunity. Use the tips above to nail that first impression and avoid appearing overconfident in your next job interview!

Need more help with your job search?

Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

How To Avoid Appearing Overconfident During Interviews

4 Phrases You Should Never Have On Your Resume

Sometimes the reason your resume gets dismissed by employers has nothing to do with your experience and skills. It simply could come down to having phrases that turn employers off.

On top of avoiding overused buzzwords on your resume like “creative,” “innovative,” “visionary,” “team player,” “motivated,” “highly skilled,” “hard worker,” “passionate,” and “driven”—that are really blank statements that don’t demonstrate anything—you want to also avoid certain phrases on your resume at all costs.

Here are some of the top phrases to avoid on your resume:

“Job Duties”

“Job duties” essentially says to the employer that these are my responsibilities on the job. Well, that’s fine if the only one you need to impress is the applicant tracking system (ATS) looking for matches in the job description.

The problem with including this phrase on your resume is it doesn’t inform the hiring manager how well you perform on the job—and they ultimately have the final say as to whether your resume is a keeper or not.

A more effective phrase to use is “accomplishments” to describe your work experience. You want to inform the employer of what you did on the job and prove that what you did produced valuable results. You always need to quantify your accomplishments on your resume. The first step in quantifying your accomplishments on your resume is getting rid of the phrase “job duties.”

“Transferable Skills”

Employer tossing resume with the phrase "transferable skills"

While professional resume writers speak of highlighting “transferable skills” on your resume when you’re looking to make a career change or when you don’t have the exact work experience the employer may be looking for, the specific term should be avoided on the resume.

When hiring managers and recruiters see “transferable skills” on a resume, it basically sends the message “I don’t have the exact experience or hard skills you’re looking for, but…”

A more effective phrase to use is “skills” or “skill set” or even “experience summary” (see below). It doesn’t bring attention to the fact that you aren’t a direct match with what they are looking for, but goes straight to the point of what you can offer that is of value to them.

“Objective Statement”

A hiring manager holds a resume with an objective statement

Traditionally, the objective statement takes a prime spot at the top of the resume detailing what you, the job seeker, are looking for—but that’s no way to compete in today’s job market. The opening of your resume needs to make a bold statement informing the employer what you can do for them.

Replace an objective statement with an experience summary, which is a list of 6-8 hard or transferable skills needed for the specific job you’re applying for. It’ll help you stand out to employers within seconds of them reviewing your resume.

“References Available Upon Request”

A hiring manager goes through job applications with outdated phrases you should never include on resumes

You can assume all employers will go through a reference check before they hire you. Including this phrase on your resume is simply a waste of space and makes your resume come across as outdated since it was common practice to include it at the end of the resume years ago before ATS changed the landscape of the job search process.

Today’s job seekers need a well-polished resume to compete. Avoiding overused buzzwords and phrases that say nothing or that may imply something negative will help keep you in the running.

We know today’s hiring managers get more applicants than needed for each job opening, so don’t let bad phrases be the cause for them turning away your resume!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Don’t Use “Unemployed” To Describe Yourself. Here’s Why…

Don’t Use “Unemployed” To Describe Yourself. Here’s Why…

I want to take a minute to talk about the word “unemployed.” If you’re one of the millions of Americans who are unemployed right now, I want you to listen up because I want you to stop using that word in your vocabulary from this day forward.

It is a negative word. It is a defeatist word. It sounds definitive and it drags you down and it impacts your job search.

Trust me, I know this to be true.

What I want you to do is to replace it with the term “between positions” or “between jobs” because that’s really what you are. In my book Awakening Your Inner Workplace Renegade, one of the new career rules for success is understanding that EVERY job is temporary.

In this day and age, people can have as many as nine careers in their lifetime with an average of three jobs in each one. Having gaps in employment is the new normal!

We Don’t Stay In One Career Our Entire Lives (Never Mind One Job Or Company!)

via GIPHY

It is natural, normal, and common for people nowadays to have parts in their lives where they will be between jobs. It’s just a fact! This means we shouldn’t feel bad about it. It is what it is. And that’s why I’d like to banish the word “unemployed” from your vocabulary.

Let’s never say that word again. If someone asks you what’s up with your career, simply say you are between jobs.

But saying you’re “between jobs” won’t make your employment problems disappear.

Many People Who Are Between Jobs Are Not Approaching The Job Search The Right Way

via GIPHY

Did you know the average job search in the U.S. is five months? And that’s in a good economy. Why does it take so long? Because most job seekers don’t understand the new rules for career success and how they impact their job search.

If you want your time between jobs to be as short as possible, you need to educate yourself on the best way to ensure your skills are in demand. If you want to learn how to do that, check out my book or become a Work It DAILY member, where you’ll receive affordable, on-demand career coaching that will finally help you find career satisfaction.

No More Saying That Ugly “U” Word 

via GIPHY

We won’t even mention it from this point forward. You are between jobs and busy learning what you need to do to speed up your job search. You can do this. Don’t let your circumstances impact your mindset.

P.S. If you are between jobs, be sure to check out my YouTube video below on the 3 words never to use in your profile headline as it relates to this same topic!

STOP Using These 3 Words On Your LinkedIn Profile

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

3 Areas Where Job Seekers Make The Biggest Mistakes

3 Areas Where Job Seekers Make The Biggest Mistakes

In a job market where there are plenty of applicants, it only takes one mistake to ruin your chances. As a job seeker, you need to know what the common mistakes are and work to avoid them so you lead a successful job search, impress managers with your resume, and make a positive mark at the job interview.

These are the 13 biggest mistakes to avoid in the job search, divided into three categories: job search, resume, and interview. Which job search mistakes are you making?

Job Search Mistakes

Job seeker on laptop writes notes as he views openings through various job board websites

1. Relying solely on job boards for opportunities — it has the least effectiveness rate when compared with using recruiters and networking through contacts.

2. No online presence — employers and recruiters scour for talent on LinkedIn, so if you’re not there and not optimized for the right keywords, you’re missing out.

3. Ineffective networking – most people think that networking is telling your contacts that you are looking for a job and giving them your resume. This is not effective as you’ve just lost control of your job search because you’re waiting on others to respond rather than being proactive in your pursuit.

Resume Mistakes

Young professional on laptop updates her resume

4. Lack of a good experience summary – it needs to speak to “Here’s what I can do for you.”

5. Irrelevant information – if it doesn’t apply to the job or the employer, it brings no value to your resume.

6. Not applying relevant keywords – hiring managers and the applicant tracking system (ATS) look for keywords that indicate a match with what they are looking for before taking more time to review the resume.

7. List of responsibilities instead of accomplishments and success achieved – employers want to know how well you performed on the job, so make sure to quantify your achievements.

Interview Mistakes

8. Late arrival – if you know you’ll be running late at least call to apologize and offer an update on your expected arrival time.

9. Lack of rapport – people hire people they like and feel comfortable around.

10. Not asking questions – demonstrate that you are truly interested in the opportunity.

11. Negative talk about your current or previous employer – this is not considered professional and employers do not want people who have had conflicts in their past jobs.

12. Unprepared and unfamiliar with the company – do your research and understand the employer’s business.

13. Poor body language – it can speak louder than your words

All of these mistakes are avoidable, so carefully review and properly plan and prepare your job search, resume, and interview techniques for the best results!

Need more help with your job search?

Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Gen Z Job Search: The Years Of Experience Myth

Gen Z Job Search: The Years Of Experience Myth

I’ve heard many of my Gen Z members and followers talk about how difficult it is to apply for jobs when every company seems to require two or more years of experience for entry-level positions, the types of jobs Gen Z, the youngest demographic in the workforce, shouldn’t have any problems getting.

The idea that you can’t apply for a job that requires “years of experience” because you’re a new grad is a myth, and I’m going to tell you exactly what to do instead.

You Don’t Necessarily Need Years Of Experience, But You Do Need A Connection Story. 

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @millers0620 Gen Z Job Search Episode 1: The Years Of Experience MYTH #genzjobsearch ##genzjobs #genz #jobsearchtips #jobs #job #jobsearch ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

First, I want you to understand the reason they say a job requires “two years of experience” is that they want to make sure you’ve worked at some point in your life. Hopefully, you’ve had an internship, maybe in college or while you were in grad school, but you do have some sort of work experience.

The second thing you need to know is that you have a secret weapon, and it’s called your connection story. What you lack in experience you can make up for with enthusiasm and by sharing how you feel motivated to work for a company.

So, how do you write a connection story?

Step 1: Ask yourself, “Why do I respect and admire this company?” and “What taught me that they were worthy of this respect and admiration?”

Step 2: Think about your own life. What’s making you feel connected to them as an employer?

Step 3: Put your connection story together in a disruptive cover letter. Unlike a traditional cover letter, a disruptive cover letter is a storytelling cover letter.

Step 4: Once you’ve written your disruptive cover letter, reach out to the recruiter, hiring manager, and/or people who work at the company and say…

“Hey, enclosed is the story of why I feel so connected to your company. I’d love to learn what it might take to earn the opportunity to interview or be considered for the XYZ position.”

When you say there’s a story, that piques their interest. And when you say you want to earn the opportunity, you don’t have to point out that you don’t have the exact experience. What you’re trying to do is to get them to see that you have the intrinsic motivation to do the job.

They can teach you the experience. What they need is somebody who understands why they want to work there. That’s what they’re looking for, and that’s what you need to share with them.

I see this every single day. In fact, I’ll tell you a story.

I worked with a young man named Seth. He was a senior in college. He wanted to get a job in recruiting. It required five years of experience. But with this technique, he shared his connection story with the recruiters that were recruiting for the position. And he got the job. He beat out people who had 10 years of experience. And the reason he won the job is because of that connection story. They clearly understood that he wanted to be a recruiter and he was able to say, “Look, I have no bad habits. You can mold me, you can train me, and I’m passionate about this.”

You can do the same thing. But it starts with understanding what your connection story is and then sharing it with those employers.

If you want more information or if you want to be coached on this, we can help you.

Check out our free daily newsletter or become a member and get access to affordable, on-demand career coaching.

Good luck, and go get ’em.

4 Things To Do: Getting A New Job While Working

4 Things To Do: Getting A New Job While Working

Do you want to leave your job but don’t want to give your two weeks’ notice until you find a new one? With the right job search strategy, you can easily find a job while you’re still employed.

One of our Work It DAILY fans wrote in and said, “Hey, I want to quit my job and start a new one. What should be my to-do list today?”

I’m going to walk you through the four basic steps that you should take in order to make that happen.

Referrals Matter

Professional woman at work stands with a professional man who referred her for a job

Now, before I begin, I want to remind you of an important fact. Up to 80% of all jobs today are gotten via referral. So blindly applying online is not going to work for you. Only 3% of the people who apply online ever get called by recruiters or hiring managers.

The four steps that I’m going to outline for you are going to help you go around that ATS (applicant tracking system) and connect with recruiters and hiring managers so you stand out as a great job candidate.

So, let’s break it down…

Step 1: Inventory Your Skills

Young woman on laptop inventories her skills for her job search

You need to inventory your transferable skills. These are all the hard skills that will be helpful in your next job. You may perform some or all of these things in a future position.

Step 2: Get On LinkedIn

Young professional on laptop learning how to update his LinkedIn profile to help recruiters find him

You’re going to take those transferable skills you’ve identified and make sure they’re optimized on both your resume and your LinkedIn profile.

Recruiters are always searching for those key terms when looking for potential job candidates, so if you have your transferable skills listed on your LinkedIn profile (in your LinkedIn headline, for example) you’re going to improve your chances that they’ll connect with you and reach out to you about job opportunities you’re a fit for.

Step 3: Make A Bucket List

Professional woman on laptop makes an interview bucket list

Next, create what’s called an interview bucket list. This is a list of 10 to 20 companies that you would love to work for and that hire for your skill sets.

The best way to build an interview bucket list is to research companies you feel a connection to. Make sure you’d be able to either commute to or work remotely for these companies. If your skills also match the jobs they hire for, the company belongs on your interview bucket list!

Step 4: Identify People At Your Bucket List Companies

Man and woman use laptop together to make their interview bucket lists

Finally, you’re going to identify people who work at the companies on your interview bucket list and use your networking connections to get introduced to them.

You want to be able to have conversations with people who are currently employed at these companies. They can help you understand what it takes to stand out in the hiring process and potentially introduce you to hiring managers.

The Most Efficient Way To Find A New Job

This brings me back to my very first point about getting referred to companies. This is the best, fastest, most efficient way for you to find a new job while employed because you don’t have time all day to spend on your job search. Work smarter, not harder!

Need more help with your job search?

Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.



4 Things Recruiters Are Looking For When They Search You Online

4 Things Recruiters Are Looking For When They Search You Online

Recruiters are lurking in the depths of your social media profiles. Are they seeing what you want them to see?

It’s no secret that recruiters are looking up candidates online before they move them forward in the hiring process. It makes sense, though. Who doesn’t look people, places, or things up online before they commit to them? If you don’t, then welcome to the 21st century.

According to a recent survey, 94% of recruiters use social media to find high-quality candidates. And if that doesn’t get you hyper-aware of what’s out there about you online, this will: 54% of employers have rejected candidates based on the content found on their social networking profiles. Woof.

There are certain things recruiters are looking for when they search for you online. And if you want to make a great first impression on these recruiters, you need to do some recon work.

Is there anything out there you don’t want them to see? If so, take it down.

While you’re cleaning up your social media, you should take some time to give recruiters what they want too. During these online searches, recruiters are eager to learn certain things about you, and there are specific qualities/behaviors they are looking for when they’re checking out your online presence. So, it’s important you make those things easy for them to find.

Recruiters want to know that…

1. You Know Your Stuff

If you’ve been bragging that you’re an expert in whatever it is that you do, you better back it up. What proof do you have that what you’re claiming is true?

You know recruiters, employers, and clients are going to be looking for you online, so have something to show them. Brand yourself as an expert in your field by starting a blog or creating an online portfolio of your work.

2. You’re Not Bad-Mouthing Your Former Employer

Recruiter on laptop looking for good job candidates for an open position

If you’re trashing your old boss, colleagues, or company all over the Internet, you need to sit down because (surprise) recruiters are not impressed. In fact, they’re thinking something like this: “If we hire them and, for some reason, they don’t work out, what if they bash us all over the web? That’s not a good look for our brand…“

So, please don’t broadcast your woes all over the internet.

3. You Have A Personality

Manager on phone checks job candidates' social media during recruiting process

Now more than ever, companies are hiring people based on their “fit” instead of just their work experience. Employers are realizing that hiring the wrong person can completely throw off a team dynamic and cause workplace issues that can affect the business.

So, finding people who share the same values, passions, and goals is becoming more and more important.

4. You’re Not Posting About Inappropriate Stuff

Serious/thinking recruiter on laptop finding inappropriate posts on a job candidate's social media accounts

This is a huge red flag for employers and recruiters. According to a recent study, employers have little tolerance for bigoted comments and mentions of illegal drugs. Stay clean, my friends.

The good news? They don’t care so much about your beer pong photos anymore—as long as drinking isn’t the only thing you post about. So yay for that!

These are just a few things recruiters are looking for when they search for you online.

Of course, each recruiter has different things they want in a job candidate, so make sure you do your homework. That way, you can prove that you’re a great candidate to bring in for a job interview.

Need more help with your job search?

Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.