Wake up, scour the job boards, reply to ads, repeat.  This is the grind for many job seekers these days.  It’s a system that is promoted heavily, but it is a massively broken system.  The statistics say it all: studies report 3% of jobs are found through job boards.  Yet, this is where some 95% of the 13.7 million jobless in the U.S. focus and spend the bulk of their time searching for a new opportunity.  And, I understand why at first glance: they offer a plan.  They have a “system (a term I use very loosely).”  But, before you invest too much more time on these boards, here are some things to consider:

·         Job Boards are Big Business, but not Your Business –  A billion dollars industry with the big backed by the bigger (Careerbuilder is tied with CNN, Monster with CNN and HotJobs is owned by Yahoo).  And, they are after you because they really need you. Without high unique visitor counts daily and fresh resumes being dumped into their databases, they cannot charge the prices they want for ads and resume access.  They need an overcrowded system because it benefits them  – not you.

·         But, it’s So Easy – No doubt, the ease with which you can apply to a job is one of the attractive qualities of the boards.  But, that is only because there is a lack of any barrier to entry – or application.   That lack of a barrier floods the market with a deluge of resume.  This high resume count means applicant tracking systems (ATS – the name and acronym sound so clinical) are necessary to search and sort through information.  This gets the interview process started on the wrong foot – a process that is all about a highly personal touch.  Quality is sacrificed for quantity.  Sounds like the healthcare system – you become a number, not a name.

·         You are More Important than Your Resume – some of the best job search techniques out there rely very little on resumes.  Job boards focus on your resume because it is key to them building their database.  They are even offering resume writing services which guarantee “satisfaction,” but not interviews.  I have had several clients that used these services before working with me.  Not only did their resume re-writes not result in interviews, the job boards often came back and re-pitched their services to my clients…just adding insult to injury.

·         The Statistic They Don’t Want You to Know – You won’t ever hear the job boards talk about how many people are hired using their “system (again, I cringe calling it that).”  Another number they never promote is the “hidden job market.”  80-85% of hires every year are made here.  The kicker is that only about 5% of job seekers aggressively targets this market…and uncovering it is easier than you think.  You just need a real “system.”  One that works for you – and you alone.

This past week, I spent a little over 30 minutes talking about these points plus a few more.  Most important, I shared some free tips and remedies on how you can get a system that works for you.  If you weren’t one of the 1000 participants on the webinar, you can listen here to the “5 Secrets to the Perfect Job Search.”

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 WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve’ e-zine with over 21,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.careerattraction.com 

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Kevin is the Founder of Build the Career You Deserve, a company devoted to empowering professionals with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job they want and build the successful career they deserve. Sign up for his free e-zine – Build the Career You Deserve – for insider tips on how to do just that! 

2008 – 2009 (c) Kevin Kermes Inc. – All Rights Reserved

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Where to Find True Stability

Make sure you are focused on what will truly create stability 

In a previous article, I talked about how to determine where you should focus industry-wise if looking to make a career shift. Right along with being asked, “What are some good areas to be in right now?” I am often asked about “stability” as it relates to an industry. Too many people confuse “growth” with “stability” in making career decisions. While there are some industry sectors that are more volatile than others, I firmly believe that your professional stability has much more to do with you than the company you work for or sector you work in.  

I spent years running a firm that placed software sales executives. It is an acquisition-driven industry where the smaller companies serve as incubators for new technology and either a) get gobbled up by larger publicly traded companies  b) go public  – becoming that larger company themselves or c) fail (and more fail than succeed). On the other hand, the large, publicly held companies are subject to Wall Street’s mood swings. A stock downgrade means lay-offs. This leaves those in software wondering how they can count on their company. In short, they cannot. But, they can depend upon themselves.

This advice hold true in any industry.  Stability resides within you. As you build your career through accomplishments – meeting and exceeding goals set for you, taking on greater responsibilities and challenges – you create stability in the only brand and product you can truly control: you. While choosing industries that are growing can create opportunities, they do not guarantee them. It is up to you to seize them and make them reality. Ultimately, your ability to do this will create a marketable solution that is resilient to an up or down economy: you.

I firmly believe it is actually easier to showcase a background in meeting and exceeding goals during a down economy rather than when things are good. Everyone can achieve success when the fruit is hanging low. It is a rare breed that can deliver results when the economy is less than ideal. And right now is when companies need that kind of leadership to make it through this storm. 

So, as you look to create a more stable situation for yourself and your family — and in your career – your focus needs to be inward not outward. Build your brand, solidify your track record and your reputation. This is something tangible that you can take with you anywhere and transcends any industry or economy.

* * * * * * * * *

 Avoid the job boards, 

work around recruiters 

and find the job you want in half the time.

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve’ e-zine with over 17,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.careerattraction.com 

2008-2009 © Kevin Kermes Inc. – All Rights Reserved

 

  When Getting  “No” is Better than “Yes”

The foundation to the success of every step of the job search – from identifying the right job, to securing the interview, to getting an above market offer – is in first identifying your “Solution.”  Without this firmly defined, everything else you build upon in the process is going to have a weak foundation.  The end result: a prolonged job search, fewer interviews, jobs that don’t pan out and offers that come in below where you want them.  

Your Solution is your go-to-market message telling companies why they need to not only talk to you, but hire you.  It is a well crafted, comprehensive list of quantifiables that show your addition to a company’s team is an investment they cannot pass up.  Your ROI is clear cut.  It is much more than bullets for a resume or an “elevator speech.” It is a mindset that you take with you through every stage of the interview process to set you apart for your competition.

It does a number of critical things as well:

• Clearly defining Your Solution makes you more valuable to prospective companies – making you stand out in a sea of competition.
• With the Your Solution mindset in interviews, you no longer need to worry about what questions you are going to be asked – you will have greater control over what is discussed.
• Your Solution keeps you on message from the first interview to the offer - reinforcing why the company must hire you.
• Staying “on message” with Your Solution continues to set you apart from the competition – securing you a spot as the front runner.
• Your Solution paints a picture for your future employer of the exact role you will be playing inside the company – getting them to visualize you as an employee.
• When it comes time for the offer, Your Solution has made your case for you – helping you get top dollar in your job offer.
• Your Solution makes it clearer, quicker which opportunities aren’t a good fit for you – so you can focus on the job you really want and deserve.

While all these pieces are crucial to a successful job search campaign, today I am focusing on the last point: the importance to finding an opportunity that is a good fit.

Too often, the interview process results in putting emotion over intelligence. As the interviewee, you are striving to establish rapport, build a relationship and often can unwittingly do so glossing over what might be long-term fit issues.  This is true for the person interviewing you too.  And, with the lack of formal training given to hiring manager on how to properly interview and select team members they often fall back to “going with their gut” and hire who they like. But, just like a first date, the excitement of something new can result in losing sight of critical issues that will keep you from ever walking down the aisle.

Don’t get me wrong. Loving where you work – the people, the culture and the product – is extremely important. But, when that overshadows your actual role, you can get yourself into a pot of hot water and end up somewhere that you like the people but don’t provide true value to the company. Keeping on target with Your Solution will help you avoid this. As you define where you are best suited, the problems/pains that your background has positioned you to solve best and where you excel, you keep your decision making equally balanced between emotion and intelligence.

Another thing to remember is that accepting a position that isn’t the right fit, but rather the “fit for right now,” has a potentially disastrous downside. Just like we didn’t arrive at this economic crisis over night, we aren’t going to get out of it in the blink of an eye either. As companies continue to downsize and trim the fat, being a bad fit can easily manifest itself in poor job performance, subpar results, and alienating co-workers. The company that extends an offer today may very well find themselves making cuts a quarter or two from now. And, the outcome of your mismatch could result in you being back on the street looking for a job again.

Everyone’s situation is different, but all can agree that the job search is tiresome, draining and something you would like to put behind you as soon as possible.  And, no doubt, a new job offer is always welcomed news when it arrives. But, you still want to make sure it is going to be the right match. Defining Your Solution and staying focused on it is one of the best ways to make certain you don’t find yourself repeating a job search in a year (or less).  

* * * * * * * * *

 Avoid the job boards, 

work around recruiters 

and find the job you want in half the time.

* * * * * * * * *

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve’ e-zine with over 17,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.careerattraction.com 

2008-2009 © Kevin Kermes Inc. – All Rights Reserved

The Next Big Thing

Make sure your career move isn’t following a fad

“What are some good areas to be in right now?” This is a question I am asked daily and, to put it simply, a very loaded one. While I think there are some industries that have a promising future (see below), I think there are some bigger questions to answer that lie within you – not the marketplace. So, here are some things to consider:

There are a handful of verticals that look to be growth oriented. Alternative energy is one area that will only continue to grow, particularly if the Obama administration makes good on its energy initiatives. “Green” technologies, solutions and business also show promise, but some are more viable than others. Technology that provides a low cost (SaaS – Software as a Service, Virtualization and Cloud Computing) and solid return on investment (ROI) is very promising. As well businesses (consulting, services or technology) revolving around financial compliance.

Do What You Like, Like What You Do. Any fans of the “Life is Good” brand will know this slogan. But, it is a good one to live by. Whatever path you chose, you need to feel passion and the desire to evangelize for it. But, when assessing a new opportunity, make sure not to put emotion over intelligence. To borrow from the “green” movement, ask yourself this simply question: “Is it sustainable?”

Warren Buffet says, “Investment must be rational; if you don’t understand it, don’t do it.” Your career path is your largest investment and the seed from which all else grows, so I think heeding his advice is key here. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If after interviewing with a company their enthusiasm outweighs what seems to be a sketchy plan, it might be wise to keep moving. Bottom line: if it doesn’t make sense, you should pass.

Don’t confuse finding a growth-oriented industry or vertical with stability. Stability resides within you, not within the industry, vertical or company. You can read more about that here.

* * * * * * * * *

Avoid the job boards,

work around recruiters

and find the job you want in half the time.

* * * * * * * * *

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve’ e-zine with over 17,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.careerattraction.com

2008-2009 © Kevin Kermes Inc. – All Rights Reserved

 Finding a Job – the RIGHT Job — Has Never Been More Difficult… 

If you are a mid to senior level professional, frustrated by this current job market,

If you are finding that your network and job search techniques aren’t bearing fruit,

If you are having a tough time standing out in this crowded marketplace,

Then let me show you how to…

Get the job you want, by using the secrets to the perfect job search 

 As a search professional, I collected “insider information” on how to uncover the “hidden” job market, work around job boards, what companies look for and how they negotiate. Combining my personal career experience with those insights, I’ve developed solutions that will help you find the right job more quickly and get the full compensation package you deserve. 

But don’t take my word for it.  Read my clients’ results using my solutions in their own words…