When I began my resume business, I quickly realized that most clients had problems that a resume alone couldn't always help them with. Sometimes, a person's career history is so complex, or they are encountering a particular job-change transition obstacle, that they require more job search strategy than a pretty piece of paper.
If you've ever had a break in your work history or you've transitioned to a different line of work; had difficulty remembering some straightforward, data-driven accomplishments you could mention; or have experienced any number of difficult situations that are difficult to portray in a positive light on a resume: you can relate. The resume is a necessity, but not the end-all-be-all solution to many career dilemmas.
Yes, there is a way to put spin on these situations to make you shine in your final document. And yes, you absolutely need one to get hired. But eventually the employer will want to ask you tough questions in an interview, check you out on social media, or talk to your references. What to do then?
Get some coaching with that resume! (Yes, you would like fries with that.)
1. Digital dirt
A resume can't clean up digital dirt. If you've had negative things posted about you online, you need to bury it. A well-written LinkedIn (and Google Plus) profile will help. So will blogging, press releases, and article publishing. But, a resume won't do you a bit of good if an employer Googles you and finds a blemish you'd rather they not hold against you.
2. Being let go
A resume alone can't help you answer the question, “Have you ever been fired?" You need coaching to craft a concise script and answer this with your best poker face. Staying calm only comes with practice and preparation, which a resume can't do for you.
3. Barriers to employment
A resume can't help you with your in-person image. If you think you're being overlooked due to a disability, ageism (old or young), or any other serious discriminatory practice, you need a coach. Or perhaps you're just struggling to look or feel the part. You need a solid strategy to deal with these obstacles that a resume can't help you with.
4. Moving up
If you're vying for a promotion, wanting to achieve an executive-level position, or just transitioning to a new field, a resume alone might not cut it. You need a portfolio of documents and writing to reflect how savvy you are as a communicator. A coach can help you know how and when to use an executive bio, cover letter, reference dossier, and LinkedIn profile.
Also, you'll need insider information to know what the company's real struggles are. Finding out what the job ad isn't saying by interviewing your network with targeted questions you go over with your coach can give you the advantage over your competition.
5. Networking
All of these challenges necessitate developing a relationships with people that will advocate for you. Relying on a resume alone will just lengthen your search. You can apply for years to posted positions and get nowhere because people really do tend to hire people they know, like, and trust. If you are not working on “Digging your well before you need it," as the title of the famous book by that name recommends, you may end up struggling for years. A coach can help you build your network, learn to do informational interviews, and make progress faster.
A resume is tough for the best of candidates to write for themselves. But, throw in one of the above stumbling blocks, and you can end up in an endless cycle of obsessing over how to deal with it.
Avoid this stress by getting some fries with that. Coaching is one add-on my clients never regret.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
Kristin S. Johnson is a TORI award-winning, 6-times certified resume writer, job search coach, and social media consultant. Her approach is cutting-edge, creative, and kind. As owner of Profession Direction, LLC, she works with professionals and aspiring executives across the country.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert.
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
Bigstock
Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
Bigstock
Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
Bigstock
Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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.