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You might be wondering why I’m telling you in the title of this article to stop networking. Isn't that what every job seeker is supposed to do all day long??

Networking has become synonymous with just handing out business cards and hoping someone will give you a job, and this is why so many people hate it and avoid it. This is a very powerless way to approach a job search. I want to put the power back in your hands and reveal what it means to make true connections and how it can make all the difference in your career. So if you’ve ever been told to network but don’t know what that means, this article is for you.

The most successful job seekers view networking as an opportunity to connect with others to ...

There comes a time in almost every career when you have to change directions. You have to take a step back or sideways in order to take a step forward. Maybe you have reached a ceiling in your current position and you’re no longer growing. Or, maybe you’ve simply lost your passion for what you’re doing and want to do something completely different.  Or maybe you are like a lot of people that I work with, and you settled for a career that was never really a good match for you to begin with. If so, that’s okay. It happens. You might even have the desire to start your own business. It doesn’t matter what the change is, what matters is how you approach it.

Step One: The Why

There are a lot of barriers that prevent ...

One of the most common challenges that my clients encounter is the disappointment of not getting a job that they really wanted. You get that dreaded rejection email, usually an automated one these days, and you're devastated. You've pinned your hopes on that one job and it doesn't work out. For some people, especially those who are unemployed, this is a major source of disappointment. It’s crushing.

Here’s what I coach clients to do in situations like this. Decide ahead of time how you are going to respond when the disappointment happens. Part of any job search is not getting chosen for some of the jobs. It’s going to happen. Nobody, not even me, gets hired for 100% of the jobs they apply to. So if you know that something is going to happen, you can get control of the ...

It’s estimated that 70% of U.S. workers are disengaged. If I were to ask everyone reading this if you’ve ever felt disengaged at your job, I think that every hand would go up. Do a Google search and you’ll find a plethora of articles, research and experts and so on, all weighing in on this topic.

Employee engagement has become the holy grail in today’s workplace. Companies everywhere are scrambling to figure out how to gain more productivity and loyalty from their employees. They’re doing studies and hiring consultants, they’re doing employee surveys and anything else they can think of. Meanwhile, employees everywhere are trying to figure out how to not hate their jobs. As I said, I think everyone has experienced disengagement at some point. To a certain degree, it's normal. There are going to be peaks and valleys ...

 

Finding a new job after being let go can be an intimidating experience. It's natural to feel a range of emotions you get fired. Many people feel frustration and anger towards their previous employer, as well as uncertainty about their future prospects. Having to explain a termination in an interview is difficult, something most people probably aren’t looking forward to doing.

On this topics, the following question came to me recently from a listener of my podcast: “How do I get around answering honestly that I've been fired from a job? I've read all the online answers. They're still too vague.”

Yes, many online answers are vague because the answer really depends on your situation. The best rule of thumb though is to be honest without divulging more than needed. What might ...

Are robots coming for your job?? Possibly. According to a survey done by JobVite in 2016, 39% of job seekers are somewhat or very concerned about job obsolescence due to technology and automation. Should you be worried? If you're a cashier, accountant or loan officer, then yes, the robots are already coming for you. Have you heard of AmazonGo? Physical stores with no staff! The world really is changing before our eyes.

The truth is, the world is changing and the job landscape is certainly changing with it. If you'd like to play a little game, check this out: willrobotstakemyjob.com. It's fun but a huge time suck, so don't stay there too long.

If you'd like some good news, here are some jobs that are considered safe from a robot takeover. Social workers, ...

I haven't dug into the topic of resume writing in a while and it's one of the biggest challenges that my clients face. Many people struggle to know what information to keep on the resume, what to remove and how to "quantify" their accomplishments. If you struggle with this, it's okay! It's very common. I'm fortunate in my business right now to have a handful of staff writers who are dedicated to supporting my clients with this process.

Here's the approach I take when I work with clients on resumes. When thinking about your accomplishments, think in terms of these four measurements of success: Money, People, Time and Quality. These are the four most common ways that employees contribute to the business and they are likely to be where your accomplishments lie. Most employees either make (or save) the company money; hire ...

By far, one of the most common questions that I get from coaching clients is regarding how to job search without giving away that they are job searching. LinkedIn and other social media platforms make this particularly challenging. If there’s any benefit to being unemployed, at least you don’t have to tiptoe around the fact that you are actively looking.

Here are my five fabulous tips for launching a confidential, but effective job search:

Don’t show your connections on LinkedIn. Part of your job search strategy should be connecting on LinkedIn with hiring managers and recruiters at your target companies. If you are connected with your boss or co-workers on LinkedIn, they will be able to see your connections and you may not want this. Go to your privacy settings and make sure that only ...

https://youtu.be/PcbctFQ-Gxk

Long-term unemployment is generally defined as being unemployed for 6 months or more. No one ever intends to find themselves in that category, but it happens. It happens even to smart, experienced people. Brilliant people. I know because I've worked them and gotten them out of their unemployment. Job searching is a skill that has to be learned and it's certainly not taught in schools.

Here are several tips that will help you get off of the unemployment carousel...

Update your skills. Having out of date skills will kill your job search, especially if you are in technology, but even if you aren't. While you are not working, that is the BEST time to take classes, earn certifications, and so on. Not only will you get out of the house and be more productive, you ...

It's every job seeker's goal to find a new job as fast as possible. No one wants to spend one minute more on their job search than they have to, and I don't blame them.  I teach my clients a proven, three-step process that involves researching potential employers, making contact at your target companies and then applying as the last step.

Naturally, we're all looking for a shortcut, though. The job search express lane, if you will. This causes a lot of people to skip the first two steps in the process and go right to applying for the job without any research or contact with someone at the company. And as a result, their search ends up taking longer and longer.

Now, factor in being a 50+ job seeker, and the process gets even harder. I primarily work ...