Archive for January, 2011

Impossible to Hire!

January 19th, 2011 by Susan P. Joyce

Yet again, a job seeker has posted an announcement about his availability with a description of himself as a “fast-learning, analytical problem-solver” who is “flexible” and “keeping his options open.”  No details on skills, experience, accomplishments, or – worst of all - any indication of the job he is looking for.  

Would this work for a sales person with a product or service to sell? 

“This is my service – fast-learning, analytical, problem-solving.  You, my potential customer, figure out how you (or someone you know) can use my service, and then please buy (or refer me to someone you know who might buy)!” 

It would be much more effective and actionable if he described the problems he has analyzed and solved (family, marketing, medical, financial, or?) because most of us have problems that need solving. 

Until he invests the time and effort into figuring out the job he wants (the problems he can solve)  - he’s impossible to hire!

To Get Hired, Get Focused! (more…)

What If Your Name Is Jared A. Loughner?

January 13th, 2011 by Susan P. Joyce

I’m thinking how horrible it would be to be named Jared Loughner and be looking for a job right now with Arizona shooter Jared Lee Loughner’s name and image dominating the media.  And the name Loughner is going to be in Google associated with this horrible event forever.

A good portion of personal branding is personal marketing, and that’s good.  However, if your name is Jared Loughner, but you are not THAT Jared Loughner, how do you handle this situation?

This is an online reputation management crisis for everyone named Loughner, even if  you aren’t related to him.  

Don’t Relax – You’re Not “Safe” Either
The media does a good job, usually, of making sure that they use the complete name of the accused in most situations. Stories about the Arizona shooter immediately referred to him as “Jared Lee Laughner” just like you always see President Kennedy’s assassin’s name as “Lee Harvery Oswald” – not just “Lee Oswald.”  Bet he was known as “Lee Oswald” and very few people knew his middle name.

Media usage of middle names provides us all with a lesson these days.  Have you Googled yourself recently?

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Future of Job Search: 3 Predictions & 2 Wishes

January 3rd, 2011 by Susan P. Joyce

Looking into my foggy crystal ball, these are the trends I see for  2011, or “to infinity and beyond!” as our friend Buzz Lightyear would have described it.  I have 3 predictions to make and 2 fervent wishes.

First, the 3 predictions:

1.  Increasing use of mobile apps – iPad, iPhone, Droid, BlackBerry, etc.

If you have an iPhone, iPad, Droid, BlackBerry, etc., you can job search on the bus, in the dentist’s waiting room, in a restaurant while you wait for a friend or the check, etc.  You can also edit and send your resume, write a LinkedIn Recommendation for your colleague, check for local MeetUps, and on and on and on.

LinkedIn and Twitter have free mobile apps for iPad, iPhone, etc.  Two of my favorite job posting sources, Indeed and LinkUp for example, now have free mobile apps, so you can still job search even when you’re not at your computer.

And, the mapping app will help you find the location of that interview, while the traffic app helps you avoid the traffic jams and construction and the weather app keeps you informed of the latest blizzard or drenching rain storms. Plus, of course, the email and browser apps will keep you up to date on what’s going on in your digital world.

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