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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, August 28, 2009 4:12 pm

Executives are used to being in control.  They know the outcome they need and how to get it.  During a job search, there is little they can do to get what they are after.  Sometimes, this results in fatal mistakes.

Read More…

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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 admin, February 12, 2009 3:39 pm

Get control over your job search

“I am overwhelmed by the prospect of an unplanned job search.  I was laid off.  I am used to being recruited and this layoff has me stumped about where to start.”

Solution: One of the hardest hurdles for 6 figure income executives to scale in a job search resulting from a layoff is re-asserting control over your career.  Your first step is the creation of a ‘go/no-go‘ list that describes what you absolutely must see in a new employer/position to consider it a prospect.  Once you establish your boundaries, it helps you focus on only those companies/positions that can provide you with what you need for success.

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By admin, February 9, 2009 4:10 pm

So much gloom and doom. Are you fed up hearing about layoffs and unemployment?  Well, it makes good media fodder.  It’s not especially compelling to write headlines that say, “Jobs Available at Many Companies,” or “Ten people hired at Amazon.com,” or “Costco expands IT.”  But it is true. Link to lists of companies that are hiring.

The good news is, your experience and talents are no less impressive just because you are unemployed.  You didn’t lose your expertise, abilities or connections when you lost your job.  The only thing missing is an arena in which to perform.

Even better news, companies that have layoffs or a freeze on hiring, still have job openings.  Yes, they are hard to find, but many companies have critical hiring needs.  You learn about them  by creating alerts to companies for whom you want to work.  Monitor their websites and news feeds.  Then look to your network for connections to the hiring authorities.

More good news:  Companies need the same jobs done regardless of the economy.  Marketing still needs to create ads and PR.  Development still needs to get products out the door, and those bugs don’t find themselves.  Confine your job search to critical needs within your targeted companies and you might surprise yourself with interviews.  Consider temp or consulting gigs; they often transition to full time when budgets allow.

And the best news is when so many people are hurting, more people are willing to help.  If you know how to ask for help with the right message, you are bound to get what you need.  Persistance helps.

There are ways to outstrip the competition.  One, of course, is hire a job search coach to use the best possible job search techniques.  Another is to use all the digital job search methods at your disposal, including LinkedIn.

The best way to land a new job is to microtarget the needs of your desired employers.  Again, it is all about messaging.

Perhaps you have good news to share.  Please leave comments so others will know; it is not all gloom and doom.

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By admin, January 27, 2009 1:49 am

Stop telling me there are no jobs to be had. Layoffs make news, but there is so much more to the employment story. Saying there are no jobs for executives and tech leaders is like telling Meryl Streep and Susan Sarandon there are no good acting roles for women over forty.

There is so much stealth mode activity going on, no one can accurately predict a technology employment outlook.

Read on for resources and companies.   For even more current info on who is hiring visit Seattle Examiner.com and  the WTIA job board.

And for those of you who insist you are going to tweet your way to a job, check out the Twitter listings for Seattle and follow SeattleTechJob.

Suit up. Find every reason to visit companies, friends and HR departments.  Talk to sales people, connect with vendors who service the companies you are interested in.  Don’t forget to go to trade shows.

Raoul Encinas, Technology, Services, & Project Executive, posted comments on LinkedIn every job seeker should consider.

“This will sound contrarian but thousands of companies are hiring in the Greater Metro Atlanta area right now. The reason you perceive that this is not the case is for 2 reasons: the mythical ‘hiring freeze’ and the way we hear about news.

It’s easy to write headlines and read about certain types of news stories, especially those that are negative. Here’s the obvious example – we all know what happened on the Hudson River recently with a US Airways plane. If there’s ANY commercial plane crash at all, you will hear about it.

When was the last time you saw or read a news report that ‘OVER 1000 PLANES LANDED SAFELY YESTERDAY’ at your local airport? Why is that not newsworthy?

That analogy, when applied to job search, helps you as follows. Keep in mind there are several million productive employed adults in your metro area. Consequently, many hundreds of companies employ large numbers of people, and even in difficult times such as these, VOLUNTARY turnover at those companies numbers 15%-25%. The reasons for these numbers are that ‘life happens.’ People get married, get divorced, move, die, just quit, go back to school, are sick of their boss, etc.

Take a random company with 1000 employees that experiences 20% turnover, and that company – EVEN IN A HIRING FREEZE – will very quietly be hiring about 3-4 people per week just to maintain existing levels of service and productivity.

Hiring freeze, for most companies, means net new adds. Incremental hiring. Growth/expansion-related hiring.   So don’t get hung up on who is hiring the MOST or REALLY hiring – lots of companies are. Focus more on identifying 20-40 target companies, and network your way directly into those companies so that you are on their radar. Figure out who typically is a decision-maker for your level and build that relationship.”

I couldn’t say it better myself.  Thanks Raoul.

If you know of job openings, let me know so I can post them here.  Send them to coach at jobsearchdebugged dot com or post through the comments section below.  Don’t forget to look at jobs posted on LinkedIn.  This list is about companies that are hiring, not recruiters or job boards.  Check back frequently as new companies are added.

1. Rafe Needleman of WebWare offers an ongoing list of companies hiring technical professionals.  Check his site periodically.  This list is impressive and real.
2. Big Fish Games has 35 openings in Seattle.
3. This link to Fortune’s list of companies that are hiring. is a good place to start.
4. Companies in Chicago that are hiring.
5. Elaina Dulaney, a PR and MarCom professional says she finds leads on craigslist.com.
6. Hundreds of consulting and temp positions are listed on Sologig.  Most are through agencies, but many are not.  You can search by geographic region.  By-pass the ‘offers’ to get to the search area.  Click here for a Seattle example.
7. Katarina Kibbon contribues this bit of job search info:  VisualCV is hosting a virtual job fair on February 3rd from 10-3 EST where 20+ employers from the DC/MD/VA area will be hiring for 200+ opportunities from account manager to senior management. Anyone interested can register for free at www.visualcvjobfairs.com.
8. VisialCV also lists companies they believe are hiring.  Katarina assures me the list is current; it is a good list.
9. Darrell DiZoglio submitted names of companies that are hiring: He believes they represent over 600 openings: Amazon, Schering Plough, British Petroleum, Booz Allen, TIAA-CREF and Kinetic Concepts.
10. Darrell suggests reading The Investors Business Daily .
11. Both Classmates.com and Redfin are rumored to be hiring in Seattle.
12. Check out Expedia for jobs in Seattle.
13. Don’t forget about Amazon in Seattle.  They always have critical needs for top techs.
14. Amanda Fletcher from Stonehenge says they have openings for consulting engineers in Tulsa area. Currently hiring for Project Managers, COGNOS developers, Web and Application Developers, Business Analysts and others.
15. Web designers may find jobs here.
16. 13 more companies hiring.
17. Mona Mcaldok of Vertaphone sumitted a link,: www.vertafore.com or contact Mona Valdok, Senior Recruiter at mvaldok@vertafore.com to learn about several open recs.
18. From Elizabeth Smith, Internal Recruiter for Avery Dennison: Avery Dennison is definitely looking for talent in key areas. Elizabeth can be contacted: elizabeth.smith@averydennison.com.  Contact her directly if you have questions..
19. Big Fish - Seattle game company has 35 openings
20. Amazon is hiring hoards of people in all sections of the company
21. Google is looking for product focused social networking pros
22. Shopzilla is hiring in L.A.

Check back to this blog location for ideas on how to conduct your search in a tight job market.  Learn to be the Meryl and Susan of job search.  For other resources check www.newjobinabox.com.

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By admin, January 26, 2009 6:02 pm

People have asked me if the statement is just a marketing pitch.   How is that possible, especially with the economy collapsing all around and Intel and Sun and even Microsoft have had and will have massive layoffs?

It isn’t rocket science.  I am selective about the clients I accept.  I look for chemistry, commitment and a willingness to learn.   I discover these traits by listening to their description about their circumstance, their needs and what they feel is the right solution.

I screen for candidates who grasp the value of a job search coach to land their six figure job; they see the fee as reasonable compared to an extended search.  They are people who know if they continue to use methods they have been using, they will continue to get the same results; no interviews or jobs.

Candidates  I accept for coaching want to learn to expand their network, to get their network to give them what they need.  They are willing to learn to conduct an excellent interview because they are prepared in a way they have never prepared before.  Clients are eager to overcome obstacles to their job search such as age, a bad reference and even shyness. They appear to be tough enough to handle our mock interview often called the toughest interview clients have ever had.

Questions I ask reveal their relationship to reality.  When I make a few suggestions, I listen to  their response.  Are they defensive?  Argumentative? Or do they present their opinions in a calm and professional manner?

I understand when a prospect talks too much, that is a correctable behavior.  I even accept the anger and frustration unemployment perpetuates.  I listen to see how they take responsibility for their decisions, their career and their successes.  Are they willing to move on?  My style is very direct and I don’t hide it.  If my style provokes their ire, or if they become taciturn, I try one more time, but if the chemistry isn’t right, I decline the opportunity to coach.

You can see, I prequalify my clients to assure our mutual success.  And that’s why I can safely say, all clients who follow my advice get the jobs they want.

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By admin, January 26, 2009 2:08 am

I am so mad I could bite a brick. I just had a conversation from someone laid off from a major Seattle bank.  He mentioned the outplacement services provided him with advice and support. He wasn’t impressed with the support but he said they created a terrific resume for him. He felt he had his job search covered.

His resume is awful. It is formatted nicely and looks good but it uses empty words like, ‘responsible for’ and ‘worked with.’  The resume did not have an objective or summary.  There were no accomplishments supported by metrics and it spent time describing him as a go getter and high energy leader with absolutely nothing to substantiate his claims.

There was nothing in his resume or cover letter to distinguish him from the hundreds of other Seattle technology executives looking for jobs. He has wasted five weeks working with the outplacement services and after all that time, he didn’t even have an elevator pitch. Because he felt let down by the coaching he got, he now feels job search coaches are useless.

People, please, don’t write off coaches after being disappointed using the services of an outplacement group.  While some can provide decent services, don’t assume you are getting what you need.  Vet the service just as you would vet a recruiter or other coach.  For the most part, people who work for the services are not job search coaches, they are outplacement administrators offering ‘one size fits none’ solutions to your job search.

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By admin, December 1, 2008 5:39 pm

Six Reasons You May Need a Job Search Coach Now.

JobMob featured me as a guest blogger on a very important topic.  Click the topic to read.  Leave comments.

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