When I announced last week that I was doing this, the spots were gone in under 13 minutes! I know many of you missed out and, hopefully, we will get a chance to chat in the future. These 1-on-1 sessions are a regular part of my Career Attraction University (where you are guaranteed a spot to get coached), but once a month I open it up on a first come, first served basis for free.

I spoke with 17 professionals ranging from Media Directors to IT Professionals to a few folks who described themselves as “jack-of-all-trades.” The themes though were recurring and consistent. Here is a brief recap of some of the topics tackled.

I have been networking and letting everyone know that I’m looking, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. I hear this a lot and, when I get down to how people are networking, I usually get one of two answers: a) I’m letting everyone in my network know that I’m looking or b) I make sure to let anyone I talk to in my industry know what I do well. Here is what I tell both.

First, it’s much more important that someone know you are really good at what you do (your reputation network and “packs” can work to your advantage here) than that you are looking for employment. The fact that you are looking for a job is largely irrelevant to someone who would hire you. More importantly, it’s not a motivating factor in hiring you.

Second, while it is important for companies to know what you do well it is more important – and effective for you – that it be relevant to what they want and need. Get a brief understanding of what the major pains are that the company is dealing with currently. Then you can tailor your accomplishments and strengths so they speak to that pain…and why you are the ideal candidate to hire.

I want to move up the ladder, but I need specific experience and I can’t afford the training right now. Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. There is no better way to get on-the-job training when you are unemployed. Better yet, you can list it as consulting. While someone may ask your bill rate, they aren’t going to verify salary. It only matters to you what you were (or weren’t) paid. What matters to them are the skills you bring to the table.

How do I convince a specific company that I’m a fit for a job when I have a varied background and/or no specific experience? Go back to the problems you solve and the pains you have alleviated in the past. Focus on what you have, not what you don’t. This is crucial in talking to companies in new industries or fields when you are looking to transition.

It’s really important that you talk to the hiring managers and not recruiters here. You will have your best luck with those who are experiencing the pain. I’m not saying they will all be interested, but those who want what you don’t have were never potential employers for you anyway.

I just moved to a new town and have no network. You’ve likely heard me talk about my interview with Michael Kerman before. This is the spot he was in and he landed a job masterfully by building a network from scratch and never asking for a job while doing it. If you haven’t heard it, definitely check it out.

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You learn more about the September Job Search Bootcamp and reserve your spot by clicking here.

OK. Here’s what happened last week in Career Attraction…

I held another Stand Out in Your Job Search: Start Attracting Jobs and Stop Chasing Them webinar last week. In just over a week after holding this twice, we have had just over 1500 participants. And the feedback has been great (thanks to all who posted their comments as recommendations on LinkedIn!). If you missed it, you can watch the replay and pick up the free tools and resources I shared. Click here to check it out.

Is Your Job Search Networking Missing Something? There’s some great guidance out there on networking (and, some not-so-great advice): what to say and what not to say, how to ask who is hiring and how to make new connections. But one of the largest missed opportunities in networking is what I want to talk about today. How to ask for nothing, simply give back and the enormous impact it can have on your network and job search. Read more here.

LinkedIn v.Facebook – 319 vs. 194 and counting. If you haven’t joined us on LinkedIn and Facebook, come on in…the water is fine. This week there was a great discussion started by Orietta Ramirez on Creative Thinking Versus Critical Thinking. Check it out! Have a question? Want to share some information? These are great places to exchange ideas, network and start creating a “pack.”

Here’s what’s happening in Career Attraction University…

1-on-1 Coaching: The September schedule is now posted! You can check it out in the Member’s Only Section.

Have some specific training you’d like for your search? Email me at kevin@careerattraction.com and I’ll get working on it for you!

Not a member of Career Attraction University? For less than one dollar a day you can access all this information and more. Sign-up here and get started today!

Let’s face it, if you have been networking you have probably asked for a lot. Leads on new opportunities, connecting with decision makers and the list goes on. And, I’m not here to tell you that you shouldn’t be networking and asking for these things – you absolutely should. But, there is balance…and the balance to receiving is giving. So, I’m going to share what I recently told my Career Attraction University members about how to do this and why you should be doing this (beyond the obvious reason that it’s simply the right thing to do. That should be enough, right?):

Your List – Start here. Take everyone you have spoken to or interacted with during your job search. From that trusted advisor and mentor who you touch base with weekly down to the recruiter who rubbed you the wrong way and you barely spoke to once. By the way, if you don’t have a list of everyone you have connected with this is a prime time to create one. This is your network. Some pieces may be stronger than others, but every interaction is an opportunity to strengthen that relationship and build new ones.

Pick up the Phone – This is about being interactive and dynamic. Email is static. Grab the phone and call the people on your list. You can make 1000 excuses why not to do it (my industry likes email, I don’t know some of these people that well, I don’t have their number, etc..). In order – if everyone is emailing, it’s easier to stand out via phone. If you don’t know the person well, what better way to get to know them better? Don’t have the number – Google the company and call the main switchboard.

Bottom line, you will get infinitely more out of a conversation and you can steer it more than a one dimensional email. Plus, you are going to be offering to help them – why wouldn’t they want to hear from you? If you get voicemail, you can send a short email following up…but make sure you lead with a call – it will make all the difference.

The Call – I’m not a fan of scripts, but here is the gist of what you should say in your call. Adjust the verbiage to fit your audience:

“Hi _________, it’s _________. You have been great about helping me in my job search and I simply wanted to return the favor. I’m wondering how I might be able to help you? What’s on your plate right now that you could use some help with resource-wise?”

Short and sweet.

Calling a peer or potential hiring contact? Maybe they are working on a project and need help locating some resources? This gives you a reason to call other people inside, or outside, your network…growing your network, demonstrating you are “plugged in” and calling for a reason other than looking to get something for yourself.

Calling a recruiter or someone in HR? Offer to help them with candidates for searches they are conducting. While I’ve never been in HR, I can tell you from my years as a headhunter that I knew the people who would always help me network and they were my first call. So, if you aren’t getting a call back from the search firms or internal recruiters as you would like – this is the easiest way to fix that. Create a reason for why they will always want to call you first.

Ask for Nothing – this is key to your success here. It’s not about immediate reciprocity. The benefits you will receive will become apparent in short order, like I shared in both examples…and more.

If they ask about your search, certainly tell them. If they ask if they can help, I’d simply ask who they know in (your field, industry, area of focus) that they hold in high regard with whom you can network. Reassure them that you are just looking to broaden your network and you aren’t going to hit them up for a job (listen to my interview with Michael Kerman – he does this beautifully). And, again, push to meet in person if physically possible. It’s all about getting face-to-face time with people. The phone is closer to that than email (which is why I am a big fan of it), but getting in front of someone is much more effective in working towards “know, like and trust.”

Going Viral and “Paying it Forward” – Finally, I’d like to leave you with this thought. Between my newsletter (21K readers), this blog (2K+ visitors daily) and the social networks I post on (1M+ potential readers), this could have an incredible, collective effect if every job seeker reading it took action. Imagine your call jogging the memory of someone in your network to call an unemployed friend. Maybe it makes them think of you for a certain position. Maybe you are that friend for someone else’s call. Who knows? What I do know is that this “pay it forward” effect will only be more exponential in its impact if everyone takes this step together.

So, make your list, pick up the phone and start asking what you can do for your network. Then come back here and share your comments and results below – I’d love to hear from you (and so would everyone else!).

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Enter your information below to watch the video right now!

Watch, listen and let me know what you think…

If you are interested in participating in LASER Coaching, it’s part of my Job Search Bootcamp that kicks off on September 8. It’s just one of the techniques I’ll be using to sharpen your focus, get you standing out and able to find the right job, quicker.

Take advantage of the 20% discount by using the code “BOOTCAMP” at checkout. But, remember, it’s only good until Monday at midnight!

In addition to that, here’s what happened last week in Career Attraction…

 Follow up Q&A Session - Robert Shindell and I weren’t able to get to everyone’s questions on Thursday’s webinar, so we tackled them in this follow on one. Listen in as we talk about getting past gatekeepers, age discrimination, maximizing LinkedIn, improving your networking skills and much, much more. You can check it out here.

LinkedIn v.Facebook – 306 vs. 184 and counting. If you haven’t joined us on LinkedIn and Facebook, come on in…the water is fine. This week there was a great discussion started by Diane Hope on Identifying Skills and Talents. Check it out! Have a question? Want to share some information? These are great places to exchange ideas, network and start creating a “pack.”

Here’s what’s happening in Career Attraction University…

1-on-1 Coaching: The September schedule will be coming out next week – se be on the lookout!

NEW VIDEOS – Q&A Video from August and the new SME Video on using Outsourcing as part of your Job Search Strategy.

Have some specific training you’d like for your search? Email me at kevin@careerattraction.com and I’ll get working on it for you!

Not a member of Career Attraction University? For less than one dollar a day you can access all this information and more. Sign-up here and get started today!

If you missed it on Thursday, click here to get your copy of the “How to Stand Out in Your Job Search: Stop Chasing Jobs and Start Attracting Them.”

As always, let me know what you think by posting a comment below.

How to Stand Out in the Job Search: Stop Chasing Jobs and Start Attracting Them – I hope you’ll join me and our host (Robert Shindell of ilostmyjob.com) on Thursday. We will be talking about how you can easily stand out in this market and start pulling the job to you that you want – and need. Plus, I have a huge announcement I’ll be making. You can check it out here.

Free Job Search Coaching- The Recap: This week, I held a day of free 1-on-1 coaching sessions. It’s the first time I’ve done this and there’s no doubt…I will be doing it again. What I’d like to share are anecdotes and trends I took away from talking to these 23 job seekers. My hope is that it might provide some perspective and help to what often feels like a pretty solitary journey: the job search. Read more here…

LinkedIn v.Facebook – 281 vs. 181 and counting. If you haven’t joined us on LinkedIn and Facebook, come on in…the water is fine. This week there was a great discussion started by Karel Goodwin on GateJumping (or “Gate-Crash,” as she likes to call it!) in the LinkedIn Group. Check it out! Have a question? Want to share some information? These are great places to “pay it forward.”

Here’s what’s happening in Career Attraction University…

1-on-1 Coaching: August 25th and 27th…there are private, 1-on-1 coaching slots available. Sign-up in the members section and I’ll look forward to talking with you!

This Month’s Webinar - On Wednesday, August 25th and 12:00pmEST we will have our SME Webinar for August. I’ll be talking about how to Outsource Your Job Search. This will include tips, techniques and resources you can start using immediately to streamline your search, focus on that tasks that need your attention(versus the busy work) and get back to work quicker.
Registration information will be sent out to members on Monday.

NEW VIDEOS – New training videos on posting to LinkedIn Groups quicker (and more easily) and creating surveys, autoreponders and opt-in boxes for your website with iContact plus our Q&A webinar from last Wednesday.

Have some specific training you’d like for your search? Email me at kevin@careerattraction.com and I’ll get working on it for you!

Not a member of Career Attraction University? For less than one dollar a day you can access all this information and more. Sign-up here and get started today!

Relocation tips: Several people had questions on how realistic it is to find a job in another location. While it’s not easy, it can be done. Make sure you have a local address you can use or leave it off your resume all together. Get a free local number that will forward to your cell phone through Google Voice.

Transitioning Careers and Industries: A lot of people are convinced that you cannot transition industries in this economy. I complete disagree. The key is to be connecting with hiring managers, talking about the pains they are experiencing and how your track record of fixing problems applies to what they need. You are going to have a tough – if not impossible – time making this case with recruiters.

Remember to focus on what’s in it for them.

How you are Defining Yourself: If the first words out of your mouth are: I’m looking for,” then you are likely defining yourself as a job seeker. You have to stop doing that right now. That is never going to be the reason you get hired because a) it doesn’t translate into any type of value for a prospective employer and b) it doesn’t matter.

Imagine you needed to hire a peer to work with you today. Close your eyes and who comes to mind? Former colleagues, friends, those in your industry with great reputations, etc.. You didn’t need a resume to make a short list and you don’t even think about whether or not they are employed. It simply doesn’t matter. Ask yourself this: Is it more important that they know you are looking or know that you are the most qualified?

Age discrimination: There are all types of discrimination out there – age, race, sex, weight, etc.. Here is what I would tell you – embrace who you are and don’t try to fight bias or corporate cultures. It’s like swimming against a riptide. Put out there who you are, what you do well and be consistent in your messaging. Instead of focusing on the companies who aren’t your cup of tea (and vice versa), focus on those that want what you have.

When I was a software sales headhunter, most of our clients were small to midsized companies (<$20 million in revenue). They wanted 20+ year veteran sales professionals because they lacked the time and infrastructure to train. Go where they want you.

Frustration with recruiters: Instead of rehashing this one, check out the blog and video I put together on this topic.

Over 50% wanted advice on their resume: As you know, my approach is all about your resume becoming a roadmap for your interview – not expecting it to be the procuring cause. Make sure you are quantifying and qualifying everything on your resume. Use the “so what” litmus test with the bullets on there. Is it fluff or does it equate to value you will bring to a new organization (i.e. demonstrating how you will make or save them money). Remember that it’s just a piece of paper and you are more important than it. And, above all, it isn’t the tool you should be relying upon to help you stand out. Which is a great segue into the #1 topic of the day…

Standing Out in the Job Market: With one exception, this was a consistent question and theme in every conversation I had. As a result, I’m holding a webinar next week where I will talk about just that – how to stand out in the job search. Plus, I have some free tools I’ll be giving out that you can put to use today to get immediate results in your search.

To register for this FREE webinar (and get signed up to get all the freebies that come along with it), just enter your information below. Don’t worry if you can’t make it – I’ll send you a recording of the webinar. But you have to be registered to get the recording and the free resources.

**not sure you can make it? Go ahead and sign-up and a recording of the session will be sent to you**

presents a FREE Webinar…

How to Stand Out in Your Job Search:

Stop Chasing Jobs and Start Attracting Them

**when you enter your information above, you’ll be redirected to the webinar to watch immediately. I’ll also email you all the free resources (videos, interviews, etc.) that I talk about in the webinar**

This is a new webinar where I will be sharing secrets about Career Attraction – many that I have never shared before. If you have ever attended a webinar of mine in the past, you know that they fill up quick – so make sure to reserve your spot today.

In addition to the webinar itself, I will be giving away handouts, reference material and a few videos that you can get results with today in your job search. Plus, I have a major announcement I’ll be making…but, you must be registered to get these!)

Here are just a few of the things we will be covering:

• How to get crystal clear on being productive, not just active, in your job search..and more effective!
• What you can do today to start “gatejumping” and get around those keeping you away from decision makers…it’s a lot easier than you think!
• Why you don’t need to be focused on resumes, job boards or recruiters.
• Simple, actionable steps to start differentiating…and why most of the advice out there simply doesn’t work.
• Why you need to become a “hub,” not a “spoke,” with your audience…which will pull jobs to you.

This webinar is about giving you actionable advice to change how you run your search and find a job quicker. Plus, I have a number of “freebies” I will be sharing.

**enter your information above and you’ll be able to view the webinar immediately. I’ll also send you all the free information I talk about during the webinar**

We have some great information focused on getting your job search on track. But, don’t take my word for it. Here is what some previous listeners had to say about my webinars:

“Kevin Kermes offers a straightforward and comprehensive approach to develop new networks and expand career or business horizons. I was impressed with his expertise and believe you will be too.”– Katherine Eago

“I recently listened to Kevin’s webinar and was most impressed. The content of the presentation and the insight he provided was very helpful. Because of Kevin’s professional background, he was able to provide me with a better understanding of how the recruitment business works from an insider’s perspective. In addition, I found the topic of job boards to be very informative. Overall, I think it is great information for the current job seeker or anyone who wants to be better prepared for their next job search.”– Brian Heckler

“I recently had the pleasure to attend Kevin’s webinar. I am usually a little suspicious of free webinars, but Kevin’s discussion provided a lot of valuable information for the job seeker and prompted me to purchase his additional materials which also look worthwhile. I am going to recommend to everyone in our WIND group (Boston networking group) that they should also attend Kevin’s webinars.”– Ted Powell

“I listened in on Kevin’s Webinar today on the “5 Secrets” and found it a very worthwhile use of my time. His insight into what to focus on to be most productive was very helpful. Some points were new and others a timely reinforcement. If you get the opportunity to tune in for one of Kevin’s webinars, I highly recommend you do so.” – Becky Vogt

**When you enter your information above, you’ll be redirected to the webinar and I’ll email you all the free resources I talk about!**

“Last Thursday, I participated in Kevin Kermes webinar on how to avoid the 10 biggest job search mistakes. I am a busy communications consultant who enjoys my work, but given this economy and its impact on freelancers, would (not surprisingly) like to find full-time steady employment. I signed up for his webinar, even though I wasn’t sure it could offer much in the way of good information. After all, I’d never heard of Kevin–and how many different ways can you scour the job boards? Boy oh boy, was I busted! I learned, among other things, that not all job boards are created equal–or even worth the time it takes to sign up–and why I needed to shift the way I was searching for engaging and sustaining work. I was riveted to his presentation–just short enough to keep my attention and just long enough to be interesting. Like so many other smart, savvy, and well-intentioned people in today’s workforce, I’ve been looking in the wrong places and, as a result, missing out on some right opportunities. With Kevin’s insights, I have changed my approach. Thanks for the hour, Kevin. Really appreciate it! Good stuff!”– Jill Murray

“Kevin’s webinar was completely on the mark. He clearly communicated the most important job search tasks and mistakes to avoid in order for one to stand out from the crowd to potential employers. Get an “Exceptional Performance Review” even before you’re hired. Follow Kevin’s rules.” – Carl Sutter

“I had the opportunity to listen to Kevin’s webinar the last week in January. The information he provided was insightful and timely. I was able to identify several areas where my search was lacking and feel more focused towards my goal.”– Susan Kneeshaw

**enter your information above and you’ll be redirected to watch the webinar immediately. Plus, I will email you all the free resources that I talk about during the session.**

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