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By rashley, March 7, 2010 7:02 pm

Other’s over 50 are gainfully employed, why not you? What did they do that you didn’t?

Over 50 and looking for work can be traumatic. You are told you are overqualified, won’t fit the culture or just overlooked.

Don’t let age discrimination get you down. Look around. Many people with a bit of grey in their hair and long tenure in the workforce are employed in terrific jobs and valued as members of the business community.

The gorilla in the closet: Please, don’t shoot the messenger on this one. One of the most career-limiting aspects of a job search is your appearance; your energy level and fitness. Employers won’t tell you this, but they rule you in or out almost immediately upon seeing you in person.

If your posture is poor and you are out of breath with normal exertion, it is hard for hiring authorities to see you as hireable. It isn’t about insurance premiums, it’s about stamina and ability to keep up.

If you are overweight, dress to minimize. Men, wear braces to keep your britches from lingering under your belly. Make sure your shirt passes the two finger test.

Women, stay away from loose fitting boxy clothing that masks your curves. Chose instead tailored clothing that has darts and allude to a waist. Watch that hems are just a bit below the knee and be careful how you sit. If a you wear slacks, view yourself in a three way mirror to see if the butt is too tight or sags. Take special care with undergarments and consider shapewear if appropriate.

Overcome ageism with long term planning and short term course corrections.

Branding: Your personal brand is an identity and the story that it tells; it is the promise you make to future employers about what they can expect from you.  An exceptional brand, like a custom wedding dress, is created specifically for its owner and with a particular purpose in mind.

Do you know what your brand is? Are you Superman or Clark Kent. You can’t be both. Chose a competency that distinguishes you from your peers and exploit it. What is your internal brand? Get known internally (current employer) and externally (the business community).

One of my clients, a 48 year old woman, wants to make sure she always has career options. She was known for her efforts in her field and leveraged that to become known globally. Her white papers are often quoted and she is frequently interviewed for podcasts. She is a keynote speaker, an active blogger and has a rolodex of all the shakers and movers in that domain. She reaches out to colleagues and assists them when they have questions about how to sell the concepts internally. Her generosity among her peers is noteworthy. She doesn’t have to look for a job. Jobs come to her.

Another became known for successfully implementing the Agile development methodology without missing any deadlines. He is now the go-to guy on things Scrum and Agile. He took this experience to the blogosphere. He answers questions on other blogs and belongs to LinkedIn groups Agile related. Recruiters and hiring authorities contact him monthly. He built a brand that will reap career rewards well beyond his initial success.

Networking: If you want to overcome ageism, get an introduction to the hiring authority from a respected peer of the employer. Introductions from a respected peer is the oldest and most trusted way to hire executives. If the Vice President of development introduces you to the CTO of the company you want to work for, you will get face time.

Don’t know anyone who can introduce you? Ask the most senior person you know how they would get connected to the hiring authority. Use that company or person as an example and ask if they know others like that. You might be surprised to discover they can help in ways you didn’t expect.

Social Networking: Used sparingly, social networking sites can be useful for creating bonds to people you’d not normally meet. LinkedIn is a business networking site and provides tremendous opportunity to become known to your peers.

Use the groups to ask and answer questions. Be conscious of your brand and participate where it makes sense. Contact people who appear to have the connections and expertise you are interested in. Get to know them, share links, book suggestions and such. Don’t assault them immediately with requests for help in your job search.

Use Twitter and Facebook judiciously. Connect with people and maintain a professional demeanor at all times. Don’t mention what you ate for dinner or the long run you took. Share links, ideas and encouragement. Use these sites to grow friendships. Once you have established bonds, you might mention your job search or people to whom you need introductions. If you do so immediately, you will quickly lose your followers.

Fix your resume: If your resume begins, “30 years experience leading successful teams to produce quality products,” or some other comment that leads with the number of years of your experience, delete it. Employers care about the last three years and what you accomplished, what contemporary solutions you can bring to their company, not history.

What to wear: Wear a very nice, well-fitted suit. Buy a new one if you have to. There is no substitute for a stunning first impression that shows respect for the interview process. It is likely you will be ribbed for it and some comments will be made, the point is clear, you are a serious candidate for the job.

The argument that no one in the company wears a suit is thin. They aren’t interviewing for a job. And nothing stresses age more than someone over 50 trying to dress like a 30 something. Strut your professionalism proudly.

Fix your attitude: If you have been looking for a job for a while and you suspect your age may be limiting your opportunities, it is natural to feel anger and resentment. But you must check it at the door. The interviewer you are about to face is the exact opposite so give that person the benefit of the doubt.

The person interviewing you saw something compelling in your resume and/or responded well to the introduction from a peer. The hiring authority knows you are not a spring chick and still wants to consider you for the job. Now, prove them right.

Avoid giving a history lesson. The interviewer wants to hear about your adaptability to new techniques, processes and solutions. Listen to their priorities and give contemporary examples and outcomes that relate. Don’t preach, give philosophy or lecture.

Ask what has worked before, what metrics they will use for success and refrain from saying anything generic. “I have seen that many times before” is not useful information. “When I solved this last year we xxx. It seemed to work because it increased traffic 50%.” Always mention an outcome for any example you use.

If you implement the advice above, you will rise above the competition and increase your chances of being considered for a job regardless of your age.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

More links on Age discrimination:

Listen to Peter Clayton’s Total Picture Radio podcast with Rita. “Overcoming the ‘grey ceiling.’

Rita’s website for books, blog and coaching information
Solutions to Ageism
Employers Point of view on Ageism
Overqualified? I just want a job.
What keeps you from getting hired? Ageism or attitude?

Combat Ageism. Articles and posts.

Rita Ashley is a career and job search coach for executives. In the last two years, 98% of her clients, even those over fifty, obtained their goals within six months. Is it your turn? For more support, consider career and job search coaching.

Read “Job Search Debugged” for clear and field tested advice to create a compelling job search.

Follow me on twitter.

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By rashley, February 3, 2010 6:00 pm

Commonly accepted wisdom on career advice is to find your passion and the jobs/money will come.

Hogwash. My dear friend Michael is a brilliant oboist and remarkable baritone; his passions. He is a top-of-his class graduate of a leading music school and performs often in Seattle with the Men’s Choir and various other organizations which create opportunities to feature his talents.

Michael was just unexpectedly promoted again. He works for a leading Seattle company and has been recognized and given awards and prizes throughout his career as a business analyst. He is proud of his work history and contributions to his employer’s success.

He is very good at what he does and is scrupulous in building his career with companies with the resources and commitment to his success. He maintains his network and mentors others. But his real passion, his music, is completely separate from his career.

Daily, he finds reasons to appreciate his employer and looks for ways to enhance his contributions. His six figure income is a result of his ability to create collaborative relationships and keep the customer’s needs in sight at all times. Most days, as soon as work is done, he zips off to practice and his non-business community.

There is very little overlap between his personal life and his work life yet he is extremely successful with both. Why? Because Michael knows he creates his own happiness. He has both passion and success. And they are only related in so much as happy people seem to perform better.

Finding your passion at work? Not a requirement for success. Finding work where you can be successful? Now that’s how to build a career. Just ask Michael.

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By rashley, February 2, 2010 6:14 pm

Stalled out on your job search?  Here are a few links that discuss issues and advice you can use to get the ball rolling.

Do you smoke? Do you know how it affects your career?

Why do companies post executive jobs on job boards?

Are you really overqualified or do you just not know how to work the system?

Can you learn to interview better?

Do you know a proper metric for a good Job Search Engine (NOT job board).

Here’s where you can find links to research tools.

Fed up with recruiters who misbehave?

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By rashley, November 1, 2009 12:03 pm

THE DIGITAL JOB SEARCH- e.g.Twitter and Facebook

So many social networking sites, so little time.  The perennial question is, how do candidates leverage the sites for job search?  Apparently, relying on the kindness of strangers pays off with introductions, advice and even links to active jobs.

While many people perpetuate the notion that jobs are landed using Twitter and Facebook, and they no doubt have, the key to making it work is not the message “Anyone need a marketing director?” but who is in your network.

Most networking sites (though strangely, not LinkedIn) allow users to create a network of strangers.  Once you crack the code for inviting the right people to join your network, the sites are another job search asset.  Attracting followers appears to be somewhat random until a search renders all the “How To…” information.

Treat your Twitter or Facebook profiles as you would any other networking site.  Select a username that reflects your professional identity.  Mine, for instance, is “thejobcoach.”   If you want to increase your Twitter subscriber base, you must get web traffic to your profile. The more targeted the traffic, the better.  Be aware, when you use your employer’s computer, they may read/own your social networking effort.

Use marketing strategies, as you would promote a website. Think in terms of incentives. Why would someone want to follow me on Twitter? Assuming that someone doesn’t know who I am, what would motivate him or her to subscribe to my Twitter profile?

1. Include links to your profile in email/forum signatures.
2. Promote Twitter on your blog/other blogs and include a link to your profile.
3. Connect your blog and other social media profiles to your Twitter page.
4. Contact Twitter influencers with articles relevant to their interest
5. Follow targeted members you selected because of their profile

Before you get rolling, learn from other’s mistakes.

There are many Twitter tools available on-line to help you find new followers: Twitter Search and Twitter’s Find People tool or, manually review profiles and use Twubble to help you find new people to follow. Use directories such as Twellow, a tool to find those who tweet about the things that you want to target. TwitDir. Grow your network purposefully to include people who are likely to follow you.  Your profile and engaging “Tweets” can be seductive to prospective followers.  Twollow and the Facebook group “Twitter… You follow me… I follow you” also generate possible followers.  Combine Twollow with Tweetlater for an automated follower adding machine.  The list will continue to grow with the popularity of Twitter.

John Cook of TechFlash gives a terrific overview of twitter for job search.  Also subscribe to JobMob’s twitter guide.  Jacob Share has written a comprehensive book on using twitter for job search.

Another useful tool is a twitter monitor, it lets you “monitter” the twitter world for a set of 3 keywords and watch what people are saying.   You will know if someone is looking for a director of marketing, and you use those key words.  Think of it as your Twitter “alert” tool.

Don’t use Twitter just to broadcast a message; monitor followers in return or engage them in conversation. Don’t use Twitter solely to drive traffic to your blog or promote your job search.  Use the “Palm Up” method and extend yourself to others with information, humor and assistance where possible.

Adding Facebook friends is straightforward.  Upload your email list and invite your connections to join you.  Or hand select people you’d like to have on your network.  Once they sign up, you can make friends with any of their friends, and on and on.  Select those people who may help in your search.

Now that you have all these connections, you have to actually maintain your own presence and read their entries.  Promote your self with advice, shared links and in interesting commentary and pictures.  Don’t be shy about asking for what you need:  “Anyone know someone in the TV business who hires marketing execs?” or “I am moving to Dallas, I need a realtor,” or “Agile and SaaS guru looking for Director of New Products gig.”

Mind your digital manners.  Remember, any prospective employer can read what you write.  Be judicious in your religious and political comments to avoid offending.

INSIDER’S GUIDE

• It’s not the message so much as it is the members of your network
• Be professional
• Give back
• Don’t create digital dirt

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Did you find this information useful?  Want to revitalize your job search?  Download your copy of JOB SEARCH DEBUGGED The Insider’s Guide to Job Search For Executives and Technology Professionals

If you would like support creating your own compelling and expeditious job search, contact me at coach at jobsearchdebugged dot com.  We can focus on your specific challenges and define a custom program.

My clients get hired; not brag–fact..Perhaps you feel a proven book with field tested techniques is your first step toward an effective job search.  You can download Job Search Debuggedfor advice that works.

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By rashley, October 14, 2009 2:18 pm

This morning my email revealed four personal messages from LinkedIn readers who responded to my comments and posts.

Each complained of overly long job searches and expressed they had no clue what is going on.  They wondered:  Blacklisted?  Are the jobs real?

Nope.  Your writing is so poor your credentials are not being considered.  Seriously, if you can’t write a decent email or cover letter how can you be expected to speak  well and represent the company?

It’s too easy to assume follow-up didn’t occur because of age, too many applicants or other spurious reasons.

Fact is, most cover letters, emails and even blog post responses demonstrate very poor written communications.  No matter how informal the correspondence, it must demonstrate you are literate and educated.  Never say, “It’s just an email.”

Be especially mindful of use of advice/advise and never use exclamation points in business correspondence.  If what you say is important and true, you don’t need to call attention with punctuation.

Don’t get cute or use smiley faces.  Read your missive aloud to ascertain proper sentence structure and word usage.  Still not sure?  Let someone proof your work.

Job Search is stressful and mistakes are easily made. Don’t let your writing mistakes prevent you from making it to the next step.

Your LinkedIn profile is often the first thing people see about you.  Tear yours apart for grammar and sentence structure.  Does every line convey a compelling message?  Can the reader immediately see what you can do for them and why you are exceptional?

Make certain your writing is excellent and you will increase the success of your job search.  Just last week two of my clients received compliments from hiring authorities on the organization and flow of their resumes and cover letter.  People notice. Make certain your communications are being noticed for all the right reasons.

Need help evaluating your LinkedIn profile?  Is your resume getting complements? Do you have a compelling elevator pitch?  Check out my web site for information on Coaching to fix those elements…

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By rashley, September 24, 2009 1:27 pm

So much thunder and lightening and yet, no rain.

The media are abuzz with new purveyors of social networking schemes guaranteed to grow your business or land you a job.

Anecdotal examples are shared and much is made of the possibilities for using twitter to find jobs and facebook to sell products.  But where are the statistics?

I am gunshy.  I see a lot of community spirit engendered with updates on movies, books and children; but precious little business related programs that can’t be accomplished better in other ways.

Fact is, a few people with whom I am friends on facebook bombard my wall with announcements and plugs.  I hide them.  I am not interested in their promotions.  I am curious to see what my peeps are up to and occasionally click on a link they are chatting up, but in no instance do I or anyone I know ever look to facebook or twitter as a resource, commercial or business.

So if we can hide friends who promote and have no time or interest to read all those tweets, how on earth can we say social media is good for business or job search?

This is an honest question so if you have hard data or experience that contradicts my point of view, please, comment.  But don’t tell me about the myriad twitter tools because executives and technology leaders have better ways to spend their time…such as creating Boolean strings for search engines.

I’m listening…

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By rashley, September 3, 2009 4:09 pm

A stealth job search is always a risk. Just as soon as you take one interview, you run the risk of discovery regardless of your undercover social networking efforts. No matter how they promise secrecy, folks use the informal network to learn about you. And anyone who sees you enter the building or offices may know you and spread the news. Gossip is a wonderful thing.

Prepare for the worst. Protect yourself financially and know what to say when you are discovered. Then proceed with caution.

In my book, “Job Search Debugged” I discuss the stealth job search at length and mention a case where the candidate took a meeting 22 miles from his office and ran into the CEO’s admin. Discovery is likely regardless of your efforts.

The concept of the ‘passive’ candidate includes being found and courted. The comments above about how to assert your expertise, your brand, are useful but without active participation on the part of the applicant, landing a job that way is a slow road, at best. Establishing your brand for your career is a long term project and if you have been conscientious about that, you are already known. Branding is not just for job search.

Sometimes, honesty is the best policy. Remember, the folks you currently work for will ultimately become your references on the job after this one. Work to preserve them with integrity.

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By rashley, August 25, 2009 10:49 am

Job Coach Lament

I wore my jeans to interview

’cause that’s what they all wear

My job coach told me not to

but I really didn’t care

.

I waited in the Lobby

what seemed a very long time

no one offered eye contact

a wall I sought to climb

.

I thought I was invisible

worst fears of the night

no one took me seriously

could it be the coach was right?

.

Next time there was an interview

I definitely suited up

The receptionist’s eyes told me

my apparel said, “not pup.”

.

The next advice I passed on

with an even worse result

I gave too much information

from childhood to adult

.

I saw the eyes glaze over

no way that she could listen

I kept on giving bio

though I knew I’d blown my mission

.

They asked me about money

and I evaded an actual answer

she glared at me with venom

as if I’d promised her cancer

.

Coach told me to give a number

and not negotiate sans offer

but I argued most effectively

imagining an empty coffer

.

The interview ended quickly

and I was not called back

I guess I didn’t listen

my future looked quite black

.

Why did I pay her money

and then not take her heed

if I knew how to do a job search

I’d have a damned job already.

Original Poem by Rita Ashley, Job Search Coach

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By rashley, July 28, 2009 3:11 pm

Is Your LinkedIn Profile Working?

Working, you say.  What is it supposed to do?  I just want people to know what I do and my job history.

Your LinkedIn profile is often the first thing prospective employers and gatekeepers see regarding your background.  You know yours is working if you are getting introductions, invitations to chat and even interviews. You can check to see a sample of who read your profile.

Go to your ‘Home’ page and view the right side:  ‘Who’s viewed my profile,’ Click on: ‘see more.’

If you have connected with or were referred to some of the organizations listed and you did not get the results you wanted, chances are, you need to change your profile.  If you didn’t contact the organizations listed, chances are, they thought they were interested but didn’t see any reason to follow through.  Something is missing on your profile.

Most people believe a LinkedIn profile is just a truncated version of the resume.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  It can be the single most important job search tool you have. Linda Tancs, an employment writer for NJ.com states: A successful LinkedIn profile takes effort.

Your Profile is a marketing piece. Your profile is a tool, which when used correctly, will entice the reader to learn more.  A tool that tells the hiring authority and people who refer candidates to them, exactly why they want to talk to you, immediately.

That’s a huge job for such a small bit of media.  But think about your own behavior.  How often do you ‘research’ someone before you talk to them or when you only think you may want to talk to them?

Where do you start? First off, let readers know how to contact you if they are interested.  Use your public email address (hotmail or gmail, for example) and insert it close to the top of your profile.  Need some ‘air’ around it?  Type a period/enter to create a blank line above and below your email address.

Most common mistake? Your LinkedIn profile is precious digital real estate; use it wisely.  If you want viewers to know how old you are right out of the gate, say, “19 years experience managing new product designs.”  Don’t tell readers how old you are.  Tell them the most important accomplishment in which they would be most interested.

“Launched seven unique products in six seconds with no budget and one hand tied behind my back.”

What it is not. Your profile is a marketing tool, not a biography.  You do not need to list all your jobs or all your positions.  It is neither a resume nor a legal document.

If you want to list previous companies to attract certain populations, go ahead, but only list those.  Leaving lots of white makes for a more pleasing viewing experience.  Leaving lots to the imagination encourages people to contact you.

Your opinion does not count. Readers are not interested in your own view of your work.  “Successful marketing executive with impressive history of product launches” may be true, but your readers need proof, not your opinions.  Try to give examples of your success and let your work speak for itself.

Other people’s opinions count a lot. Use the ‘references’ section eagerly.  Invite folks who have worked for you, with you and managed you to make comments.  Notice the first line is visible. Recraft them to be punch lines (ask permission to modify) to encourage readers to click to read more.

Invite references over time so your updates appear constantly in your network’s radar.  Nothing better to help them recall what a swell person you are and keep you in mind when they hear about a job or person you should know.

Resist the urge to respond immediately to those who give you a reference.  Space out your responses over time to appear in the updates sections and also to get around the appearance of quid pro quo on references.

More white space. Unless your groups memberships are germane to your profession, leave the logos off your profile.  Go to the membership section of each and click off the ‘show logo’ box.

Do you have a blog? I encourage all my clients to create and maintain an industry specific blog to enhance their personal marketing efforts.  If your blog titles are not spot-on to your professional job search efforts, write some new ones.  These headlines are an effective way for viewers to learn more about you.  Use them wisely.

It goes without saying, though you’d be startled to know how often I am forced to say it, check for spelling and grammar.  One mistake can turn viewers off because they immediately jump to, “Not detail oriented” or “careless” or worse, “illiterate.”  Invite someone to review your profile before you publish because we often can’t see our own mistakes.

When you are truly delighted with your profile, when you believe it is compelling and an excellent personal advertisement, incorporate your profile address in your email signature and use it anytime you write a blog or answer a blog online.  Broadcast this marketing piece and you become your own advertisement agency.

For more advice on using LinkedIn for Job Search download your free copy at www.jobsearchdebugged.com

For a job search tune-up read Job Search Debugged, an insider’s guide to a compelling job search.

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By thejobcoach, June 11, 2009 12:51 pm

  THE ELEVATOR PITCH–Is Yours Working?

Your brand [Elevator Pitch] is the promise you make to a prospective employer.  Shivonne Byrne, Microsoft Branding Executive.

Do people respond to it with questions about your work, your success or processes? Do they want to learn more? Do they invite you to talk about your credentials? Do they offer to introduce you to others? Do they show interest so you can invite them to meet at a future date? Do they ask for your business card?

Simply stated, the Elevator Pitch is a powerful tool to gain the attention of a person who will offer leads, an opportunity and introductions to people who can provide them.  The whole idea of the elevator pitch is to communicate very quickly why they want to learn more.

The tactic you use is to relate what you do to what they do. Understand your client. If, for example, you are talking to a financial person and you are an IT professional, you probably don’t want to stress the latest technologies you implemented in record time. You do want to stress how what you did affected the bottom line or the impact your work had on the stock or upcoming IPO.

Critical to this conversation is your own understanding of what you do.

• What makes you unique and why anyone would care?
• Your pitch must be clear, succinct and interesting.

Your pitch becomes the basis for your resume and all your outreach.  It is the fulcrum of all your communications and the trigger that creates conversations, generates interviews and signals to contacts why they want to help you.

This is your opportunity to convey your passion for what you do and the importance of the outcomes. Need more reasons to create a great Elevator pitch?  Think about all those social networking events where you just didn’t know how to start a conversation, or worse, stammered when someone asked, “what do you do?”  Your elevator pitch at the ready, you can respond with confidence.

An article worth reading: Good Advice for an Elevator Pitch.  For a tutorial on elevator pitches download Elevator Pitch Essentials from Chris O’leary.  His guide is free and endorsed by Guy Kawasaki.  Of course, I would be remiss if I did not suggest you should purchase my book, Job Search Debugged, to get the full range of elevator pitch uses.

OK, that’s the theory of the Elevator pitch, here’s reality. In all my years in recruiting and coaching I’ve rarely found anyone who has their pitch down cold. It is difficult to see our own image. Often, the pitch is lukewarm and the words just stumble out because the job seeker isn’t comfortable with it. Or worse, it sounds canned and doesn’t change with the audience.

Tip:  Say your elevator pitch to a twelve year old.  If they can tell you what you do, you have a good pitch.  If not, keep working until yours is clear and simple.  Crafting your pitch isn’t the time to show you are the smartest person in the room; it is the time to say something so interesting, the listener asks questions.

The Internet has fundamentally altered job search behavior – the way employers identify, evaluate and hire is changed forever.  Email me for your free chapter:     BASICS FOR SIX-FIGURE INCOME CANDIDATES

Job Seekers must accept employer behavior has evolved and learn how to use digital job search methods to land their jobs.  Effective use of LinkedIn, blogs and search engine alerts combined with excellent use of job search engines gets you a faster outcome.

Download Job Search Debugged and learn how to:

• Get what you need from your network; job leads and introductions
• Avoid common traps that trip up the competition
• Create messaging that makes you memorable
• Use digital job search tools to optimize your search

Want a sneak peek at the table of contents?  Job Search Debugged Table of Contents.

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