Interviews Are Harder Than Ever Before
Interviews have never been easy, but in today's job market, the trend is more rounds of interviews to dig deeper into a candidate's skills, qualifications, alignment, motives, potential, risks, and fit.
Knowing what the hiring manager is looking for will give you an edge.
TIPS - TIPS - TIPS - TIPS - TIPS - TIPS - TIPS
With every question, show alignment between what you do and what the company needs.
Communicate clearly without rambling. Structure your answers to ensure logical flow but don’t memorize which sounds robotic. Don’t simply regurgitate your resume. Use your resume as a starting point and be prepared to say more.
Include results, impact, and value you delivered--don’t give them a list of responsibilities. Show them why having you as an employee will deliver benefits.
Know you’re “whys”. Why do you want to work for the company, and why is the role an ideal fit? Go beyond your skills to personal alignment and purpose.
Show potential--continuous learning, willingness to take on tasks outside of your position, and your coachability in order to grow.
Don’t talk negatively about former employers, leaders, or teams.
Smile, make eye contact, and show enthusiasm. Find the right balance between confidence and humility.
WARNINGS - WARNINGS - WARNINGS
Many candidates are being asked to share their screens to cut down on cheating. Don’t rely on ChatGPT to help you with interview answers.
Tech candidates are being asked to “show” or describe the work they are doing during tech assessments--again to remove the ability for candidates to cheat. Don’t try to fake it.
Landing an interview is HARD. When you finally do, be sure to adequately prepare.
3 Startling Job Search Facts
If you haven't been paying attention, here are 3 current facts about the job market as of September 2025.
1. Jobs added per month have not been as low since COVID (2020), and before that, since the 2008 recession.
2. AI adoption continues to impact the decline in jobs. While most sectors are feeling the impact, the under-25, customer service, accounting, and software development groups are being hit the hardest.
3. The first time since 2021, more people are looking for a job than there are available jobs.
With this much competition, a full-on, comprehensive, well-thought-out job search strategy is the only way to be successful.
If you need a roadmap, accountability partner, and job search coach, I can help.
Use Your Brain First and AI Second
AI is a helper, not a "do it for you" tool. It's meant to make you think. Use it much like you would a Google search, much like you use a thesaurus when you're searching for a better word, much like you use information from books you've read, classes you've taken. It's a brainstorming partner, research assistant, proofreader, and copy editor.
AI is excellent at developing roadmaps, transition plans, and workflows. But it doesn't know what it doesn't know. AI may skip a critical step in the process. What might look good on paper may not work at all in the real world. You have to challenge the output.
AI can tell you how to do something efficiently, but YOU have to decide if the task you're optimizing needs to be done at all and what the short and long-term impact will be of your efforts.
As for content creation, AI's perfect and polished style follows standard writing and grammar conventions. Does that mean what you're reading has value? Don't be fooled. Good AI writing often masks content that doesn't actually tell you anything helpful or essential.
This brings me to the subject of giving over the entire task of resume development and interview preparation to AI. While this is quick and easy, it sets you up for failure. For example, a polished and succinct objective statement at the top of your resume looks and sounds great. What AI won't tell you is that objective statements are OUT and should not be on your resume at all.
When AI generates a resume format and wording, it draws on ALL information, both relevant AND outdated. It doesn't know the difference. It pulls from good and bad sources because again, it doesn't know the difference.
AI can help you formulate clear questions for your interview, but it won't tell you that negotiating a hybrid work schedule for a job that clearly states "On Site" might eliminate you from the process. Some questions should not be asked in early interviews, and some should not be asked at all. Your chatbot won't tell you this.
Your chatbot doesn't know you. It won't ask you the right questions. It won't dig deeper for more thorough information or ask for clarification. It won't steer you in a different direction if you're not on track for the job you're targeting. It likely won't tell you if something on your resume doesn't belong there. And you may not notice when it adds things from the job posting that are currently not in your wheelhouse or on your skills list. This happens a lot!
Recruiters and hiring managers are on to you. They are growing increasingly weary of candidates' resumes all sounding the same, and they are tired of hearing answers in interviews that mimic "AI speak".
By taking shortcuts, you're already telling the hiring team that you can't think for yourself. Ultimately, you are selling yourself short.
The power of critical thinking will reign supreme in the coming years. The ability to communicate verbally and in writing without the help of AI has always been, and will continue to be, a foundational part of business.
Ask yourself, how long did it take people to stop making change without a cash register telling them how much to give back, or doing mental math after calculators came out? It's a warning.
Your brain is a muscle, and if you don't work it out regularly, you will lose skills essential to success in business and in life. Don’t let AI take away your competitive edge.
BEWARE of SCAMMERS
Scams are running rampant on both sides of the job search. Scammers posing as resume writers and scammers posing as recruiters. Protect yourself by knowing what to look for!
TELL TALE SIGNS OF SCAM OR UNQUALIFIED RESUME WRITERS
Resume writing certifications you can’t verify with PARWCC, CDI, NRWA, and other associations (certified members are listed).
Examples of numerous professional resumes posted on their profile or in an email (likely not their own).
Suspiciously low pricing.
Unsolicited offers (especially if you have the “Open to Work” banner—THIS MAKES YOU A TARGET!
Claims to have done thousands of resumes over a few years—not possible unless you’re churning them out with AI.
Inconsistencies between LinkedIn, their website, and other social media.
Little resume writing background.
Unverified LinkedIn profile and few connections (although some have many) and few recommendations. For those with connections, click into the connections to see if they have connections and followers.
Promises that seem too good to be true.
Most are from countries other than the US. It is most difficult to understand the nuances of the English language if you are not native in the language. Also, most non-legit writers from other countries lack deep knowledge and insight into the US job market.
One last item--avoid resume “mills”-online resume writing companies that mass-produce generic, low-quality resumes, often with AI or low-paid contractors rather than providing personalized resume services.
TELL TALE SIGNS OF SCAM OR UNQUALIFIED RECRUITERS
They make requests for sensitive information (SSN, street address, date of birth, etc). Anything not related to skills, experience, education.
They use generic emails (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) or they contact you by text. Nearly all recruiters will use LinkedIn unless they are following up on a job application you submitted.
Job offers that come quickly and seem too good to be true.
Request for money “to get started” or “administrative fees”.
Comments that your resume “needs work” or isn’t ATS compatible, but they can fix--for a price.
Errors in spelling and grammar, or otherwise unprofessional wording.
Sense of urgency--pushing you to move forward.
Inconsistencies between LinkedIn and their website or no website.
Little or no recruiting background and little to no time at their company.
Not associated with a reputable company--freelancer.
Unverified LinkedIn profile and few connections (although some have many) and incomplete profile. For those with connections, click into the connections to see if they have connections and followers.
Does AI Really Benefit Your Job Search?
There are many opinions on whether you should use AI as a tool to help your job search progress more quickly. I am a fan of AI ONLY as one of many tools—not your main tool or only tool.
A recent article in Business Insider from Q4-2024 outlined some significant takeaways for job seekers.
WHAT’S HAPPENING: Companies are cracking down on job applicants using AI to gain an advantage. This can include using AI to write, mass apply, or give you interview answers. Recruiters are looking for tell-tale signs that a resume was AI generated and new tools are making it easier.
WHAT’S COMING: Tim Sackett, the president of the tech staffing firm HRU Technical Resources, says some firms are beta-testing AI software that can allow companies to detect fraud on résumés — a development he thinks will make the job market significantly more competitive. That technology could become mainstream as soon as mid-2025.
WHY AI IS PROBLEM: Workday found that job applications grew at FOUR TIMES the pace of job openings in the first half of this year, with recruiters processing 173 million applications, while there were just 19 million job requisitions. Some of the more lucrative job postings are seeing close to 1,000 applications, he said, whereas they would have attracted 100-200 applications before the pandemic.
AI is good for keyword and interview question lists, identifying skill and experience gaps, uncovering job postings, suggesting more concise language, checking grammar and spelling.
What AI is NOT good for is knowing who YOU are and giving you a voice. AI gives everyone the SAME voice. AI won’t ask you the right questions to uncover unique content and accomplishments. AI can also make glaring errors. AI won’t make you stand out. And, that’s the one thing you really need to do in a competitive job market.
#jobmarket #resume #AI
GOAL SETTING 2025! You "DO” List!
Look back—a year in review.
· What did you accomplish that you can feel good about?
· What did you aim for but missed, and what was in your way?
· What would you be passionate and excited about achieving in the coming year?
Visualize your life over the next year.
· Creating a vision board is an enlightening and enjoyable first step to goal setting.
Decide on goals you want to accomplish in 2025—be specific and write them down.
· Once you decide on goals, ask yourself if your life and career goals are in sync. Don’t sacrifice one for the other.
· Do your goals make you excited and eager or anxious and stressed? If it’s the latter, you may need to rethink the goals you decided on.
· Are your goals truly yours, or what do you think others want you to achieve?
Map out a strategy, stay focused, and track your progress. Take action.
· Make a list of the actions you need to take—daily, weekly, monthly.
· Incorporate weekly or monthly milestones to track your progress and keep you motivated.
· Keep your list where you can see it or incorporate it into your daily planner or bullet journal.
Surround yourself with people who will support and encourage you.
· Find your champions and cheerleaders.
· Minimize time with people that diminish you and your dreams.
Be flexible and prepared to make adjustments.
· Consider things that might derail your progress and try to avoid them. Be proactive.
· When encountering an obstacle or setback, simply regroup and begin where you left off.
*** Every month, look at your vision board to remind yourself what you’re aiming for.
*** Don’t focus on the end but on the incremental successes supporting your motivation. Celebrate small victories.
***And remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Even making it halfway to your goal is an accomplishment.
Making the Most of Your Career Gap
When experiencing a career gap, make the most of the “in-between.” That means going beyond looking for a new job.
CONTINUOUS LEARNING--
There are many affordable ways to engage in continuous learning. Many platforms offer certificates of completion or certifications, not just training. LinkedIn Learning has a wide range of free offerings for anyone with a premium profile. Continuous learning demonstrates your commitment to high performance and a desire to stay current on tools, systems, and skills relevant to your field.
VOLUNTEER WORK--
You don’t need a reason to serve others by volunteering—it’s just a great thing to do. However, when you’re between jobs, volunteering gets you into the community and provides valuable networking opportunities that could open the door to your next position. In most cases, volunteering also allows you to use and sharpen skills relevant to all jobs--communication, relationship building, collaboration, leadership, and more.
SIDE HUSTLE--
Having a W-2 job isn’t the only way to earn money. Many professionals use their in-between time to start a side hustle/take on freelance jobs, or do contract/temp work through an agency. Either way, you’re making money, meeting new people, and sharpening your skills.
You can choose one or all options to fill the open time between jobs. Don’t forget to include them on your resume and LinkedIn profile to help reduce the negativity around your career gap.
Keep Paddling!!
When you think about your career and the challenges you've faced, it's not common to think in the context of sports like rowing or white water rafting. In these sports, you only reach the finish line by being consistent, putting forth great effort, and never taking your oars out of the water.
Continuous effort is how you get to where you're going—and often how you stay alive. If you're a successful professional, you've clearly put time, effort, and persistence into your career. And now, maybe you've hit a bump. But that's okay; you already know what to do.
Conducting a job search requires the same dedication it took to achieve career success. So, let's look at it that way.
Approach your job search positively and motivated, with oars hitting the water with intention and force. Be ready for results to be slower than you'd like. You may lose enthusiasm and question whether you're doing things right. It's tempting to stop paddling and give up when things become too challenging, frustrating, or discouraging. You will sometimes forget that things in life worth having don't come easy.
Rafting and rowing are a lot like your job search. The urge to give up will hit you, and it will be STRONG. But you can't give up halfway through, and you can't put in less effort. What if rowers and rafters stopped padding? They would end up stranded…in the water….sitting idle…or worse. They could be headed toward a waterfall. Then what?
So, what do you do? Make sure you've got the right job search tools and that you're applying them correctly—all of them. It takes more than a great resume to land a job in today's job market.
· Deal with your frustrations and anger, sense of loss, or feelings that have taken away your hope, positivity, and belief in yourself. Find professional help if you need it.
· When you're ready, visualize the finish line. Better yet, make a Career Vision Board with a clearly charted path from where you are to where you want to be.
· Target your efforts and refresh, realign, and enhance your professional brand.
· Upgrade your job search tools (resume, LinkedIn profile, cover letters) and knowledge of the job market and resources.
· Significantly increase your networking and communications and reconnect.
· When you feel the need to vent on social media or jump on someone else's negativity bandwagon—JUST DON'T.
· Consider enlisting a trained and certified career professional or resume writer-job search strategist. Having a cheerleader, accountability partner, knowledge resource, and support person can make all the difference.
· And DON'T stop padding—paddle HARDER!
In his book Pour Your Heart Into It, the Founder of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, says, "In the course of the year I spent trying to raise money, I spoke to 242 people, and 217 of them said no."
Imagine where your morning Latte or Espresso would be if he had stopped paddling. I can't bear the thought.
#resume #LinkedIn #careercoach #jobsearch
It's Not One Big Great Thing, It's EVERYTHING!
A successful job search takes…
A clear target.
A strategy/plan/roadmap
An updated, targeted resume that’s aligned with today’s standards (customized for different positions).
A complete, updated, optimized LinkedIn profile.
Cover letters, customized to show a connection between the applicant and the company/job.
LinkedIn strategies to give your job search traction—including NETWORKING!
Persistence and a positive attitude.
It’s the cumulative effort of using every tool available to navigate a successful job search.
Do you have to do these things? Of course not—I know this seems like a lot. But does this comprehensive approach work? ABSOLUTELY!
You don’t have to do this alone. That’s what I’m here for!
Using AI to Apply for Jobs? Think TWICE!
The appeal of shortcuts undeniable. Especially when dealing with a process as overwhelming as job searching. My best advice is to know WHY shortcuts are NOT always the shortest path to your destination.
Some perceived benefits of using AI to apply for jobs:
AI is faster and easier.
It knows a lot of the keywords for specific industries and can make content sound impressive.
The downside of using AI is much more treacherous:
Content could be inaccurate and often is.
Content could be and likely will be very similar if not exactly like many other resumes AI produces.
The same content could be repeated in multiple places making your resume redundant an unoriginal.
The longer AI exists and is used to create resumes and apply for jobs, the more savvy recruiters and hiring managers are becoming at recognizing this practice. And this does not bode well for you as an applicant.
Proceed at your own risk.
DON’T MAKE ME CRINGE!
It used to be that poorly written resumes and LinkedIn profiles warranted an eye-roll from recruiters and hiring managers. What I see in today’s job market has gone well beyond that.
As a career coach, I review hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes and LinkedIn profiles a year. Some are well done, some are not, and many are in between. The worst, though, are the ones that make me, and probably everyone else….CRINGE.
How does a person graduate from eye-roll to all-out cringe? Let me give you examples I’ve witnessed first-hand.
LINKEDIN PICTURES
EYE-ROLL – Pictures that were obviously taken at a wedding or other gathering with the person you’re standing next to cut out.
CRINGE! - LinkedIn pictures created using AI making you look like a robotic version of yourself (and, yes, we can tell).
RESUMES
EYE-ROLL - Using the same, overused words and phrases that everyone else in every field says about themselves—and by the way, these are things that pretty much everyone with any job experience is expected to have, so having them doesn’t make you special—team player, self-motivated, self-starter, organized, detail-oriented, people-person, fast learner, driven, and on and on.
BIG CRINGE! - Overplaying your hand with so many superlatives, the reader wonders why, if you’re as great as you say, you don’t have employers lining up to hire you and pay you a bazillion dollars, but instead, you’re looking for a job. From ONE LinkedIn profile—unsurpassed, supreme, unmatched, unparalleled, best in class, preeminent expert (PS, this person was not a CEO).
RESUMES
EYE-ROLL - Using job titles that are just words like Social Media, Process Improvement, Sales & Marketing, or even worse, Planning or Training. These are not job titles. Social Media Specialist is a job title. Social Media Manager is a job title. Which are you?
TOTAL CRINGE! - Putting your actual job title, then enhancing it—a lot! Operations Manager (VP of Operations equivalent), Operations Manager (COO-Chief Operations Officer equivalent). Does your employer know you’ve given yourself a promotion?
LINKEDIN BANNERS
EYE-ROLL - Using generic background banners or none at all.
CRINGE, CRINGE, CRINGE! - Creating a background banner with your name (already in your profile), email, and phone number (or putting this info in your About section). Your profile which already lists place of employment and university, might as well say, “Welcome hackers to all of my personal information just waiting for you to steal my identity.”
Eye-roll, cringe, laugh, or cry, all of these things need to be fixed. They reflect poorly on your professional brand. Just like your personal appearance, your resume and LinkedIn profile speak loudly about who you are. Think about what you want them to say.
Grieving the Loss of a Job
It’s common to feel a sense of loss and grief when you lose a job. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been laid off due to lack of business, displaced because your job was outsourced, or let go because of a company merger, buy-out, or restructuring—the feelings can be crippling.
When this happens, you have two choices. Well, you actually have three, but wallowing in your sadness and righteous indignation doesn’t seem like much of a choice, so I will stick with having two choices.
Choice #1. Put on a brave face, search for a job, pretend you’re fine, and land a job as quickly as possible. Boom! Glad that’s over.
Choice #2. Give yourself a few days or weeks to grieve. Process the loss, what it means to you, and feel your feelings—all of them. Just be discerning in who (close family and friends only) and how (not on social media, please) you share your feelings.
The process might go something like this.
Stage 1, Shock: I can’t believe this is happening, OMG, what am I going to do, I’ll never find another job…
Stage 2, Anger: How can they do this to me, I’m one of their best employees, this company sucks, all they care about is money…
Stage 3, Blame: I should have seen this coming, if only I had worked harder, my leader should have warned me so I could have another job lined up, if the execs didn’t make so much money…
Stage 4, Depression: I’m overwhelmed, looking for a job is too hard, I have no idea where to start, I’m too old, there’s too much competition, I’ll have to sell my house…
Stage 5, Hope: Maybe this is an opportunity to find a better job, perhaps I’ll find an opportunity closer to home, what if this allows me to seek a new path, I didn’t like that position and my manager was toxic, this is just the push I needed…
Stage 6, Confidence: I’m a stellar employee, I have a proven skillset and track record, I have a robust network of professional contacts, I would be an excellent hire!
I recommend not rushing into a job search until you’ve worked through the first 4.5 stages. You might think you can hide how much you hate your former company, how bitter you are, and how you feel slighted. You might think you can put on a happy face and pretend you’re “fine.” Believe me, most of the time, you can’t pull it off.
Trust the process, work through the steps, and then tackle your job search. You will land in a much better place for your career and mental well-being.
ARE REMOTE JOBS OPEN TO EVERYONE?
You didn't get an interview for that remote job? It could be your resume or your LinkedIn profile, but it could also be your location. Remote jobs are not always open to everyone, it may depend on where you live.
According to an article on flexjobs, the majority of jobs listed as REMOTE "actually have geographic requirements, whether it’s a specific state, city, country, or even region of the country."
In addition to the obvious reasons, like meetings in the office and local clientele, the lesser known reasons include:
Tax Considerations: Some companies only perform business in specific locations due to the taxes paid or collected on goods and services. Companies may only be registered as employers in certain states, limiting their ability to hire in those states.
Business Registration and Licencing: A business that employs a worker out of state needs to be registered in that state. Because of paperwork and fees, the business might pass on hiring workers in a different state.
Varying State Workplace Regulations: For companies to hire remote employees across different states, they’d have to comply with individual laws. Rather than deal with all that compliance, some employers won’t hire from a state with overly stringent workplace requirements, such as California.
Sometimes the job postings won’t give you enough information to know if you should apply. Doing a little research might help you uncover the information you need to know if the job is a viable option for you.
The Inverted Pyramid and What It Has To Do With Your Resume
The inverted pyramid is a method of writing that involves front-loading a story, so the reader gets the most critical information first.
In journalism, the inverted pyramid structure came into play because of the telegraph. When news outlets would telegraph information over the wires, using the inverted pyramid allowed reporters to communicate the most vital information first, so even if the connection was lost, enough facts were received to print the story. This structure also benefits editors, allowing them to cut an article from the bottom, knowing nothing essential would be lost.
Today's audience experiences massive media overload, so writers must find ways to grab the reader and get their message across quickly. For example, on websites, important information is placed "above the fold," a phrase that originated in the early days of publishing and referred to content that appeared on the top half of the front page of a newspaper. Today, it means content that is viewable on the screen before the reader scrolls.
With these factors in mind, let's consider how to apply them to your resume.
1. The best place to start is with an attention-grabbing headline that makes the reader want to know more. I've read too many resumes that are the same from beginning to end. Nothing feels important; nothing stands out, and nothing makes me want to keep reading. And if I do stop reading partway down the first page, I don't know enough to drive further action.
2. Next is a summary with carefully chosen keywords. Make EVERY word count. Your summary is like your pledge, your promise, your value to your potential employer based on what you’ve delivered in the past.
3. The order of the sections that follow are based on variables—your field/position, whether you’re a new grad, whether you’re making a career transition, etc. Put the strongest, most relevant information first.
---Examples: If you’re more than a few of years out of school, your education goes at the end; If you’re in tech, you may have a tech skills list ahead of the experience section.
Using the inverted pyramid for your resume will bring it to life. You're placing the high-value information front and center. If the recruiter or hiring manager only gets through the first page, you've delivered your message—“I am worth your time!”
Did you know that there are job boards for most industries and many specialty fields? THERE ARE!!
If finding the right job postings is like looking for a needle in a haystack, get out of the barn and check out these niche job boards.
BEST NICHE & SPECIALTY JOB BOARDS
Joinhandshake.com: promoted as “the number one way college students get hired.”
Jobs.ieee.org/: best for engineering and tech jobs.
healthecareers.com/: top healthcare and medical jobs added every day.
higheredjobs.com/: nearly 100,000 jobs at over 2000 universities and colleges.
efinancialcareers.com/: niche board for financial and banking careers.
stackoverflow.com/jobs: best for programming jobs and information sharing between programmers.
Dice.com: leading site for tech job seekers.
Idealist.com: premier site for full-time, internship, and volunteer positions in the non-profit sector.
AngelList: for jobs with start-ups.
recruitmilitary.com/: career opportunities for veterans and military spouses.
Construction Jobs for a variety of jobs in the construction field.
Energy Jobline: jobs in the energy industry.
workplacediversity.com/: jobs for diverse and minority candidates at all levels.
pink-jobs.com/: the world's largest equal opportunity-focused job board.
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
You know what I read a lot on LinkedIn?
“I’ve sent out 100 resumes and have only has one interview?”
“I’ve sent out hundreds of resumes and hardly ever hear back.”
“I’ve been job searching for months and making no progress.”
Did you do the following every time? Or at least most of the time?
If not, it’s like throwing a dart at a target you can’t see.
Take time to submit a complete and TARGETED resume. This means you’re applying for a job you’re mostly qualified for and carefully customized the resume to match the job posting.
Do deep research on the company and write a memorable cover letter that shows your "how", "what", and "why". Why you want to work there, why the job appeals to you, what you offer that would add value.
Find the right contacts for addressing your cover letter--then connect with them online by sending a customized message.
Fill out the job application completely and correctly. Don’t leave any fields blank, don’t enter N/A or 0 for the salary question, and don’t enter “see resume”. Fill in everything and always follow the directions in the job posting.
Follow up after a week or two with another brief, customized message.
Show the recruiter you took time to understand the company and the job.
Like with everything in life, higher-quality input delivers higher-quality results!
5 Reasons You Didn't Get the Job
The company pulled the job because of budgets.
The company pulled the job to rewrite the job description.
The role was filled internally.
The company already had their hire chosen but had to post it and interview to meet compliance requirements.
Something when wrong with your process: you didn't present a current, achievements-based resume, compelling LinkedIn profile, and influential cover letter or you didn't interview well.
Many things are out of your control so don’t dwell on them. you CAN do something about the last one so spend your time on the things that will make you an attractive candidate.
Take Control of Your Job Search Now!
Upskilling BEFORE You Make a Move
Upskill Now, Not Later
I work with many clients who want to make a career transition. Moving into a new job area can present challenges, the biggest and most obvious is lack of experience. The mistake many job seekers make is waiting until they’re ready to jump ship from their current job to think about what they’ll need for the next one. By then, it’s too late.
The time to think about it is well before you’re ready to make the move. My advice, make a plan to upskill before you’re ready to make a job change.
Start with picking your target. What job is next on your career path? Where do you want to be in 1-3 years?
Check out job postings to identify your gaps. What are the qualifications that you don't meet? What are the tools, systems, software, and skills, used that you're not proficient in?
Determine where you can acquire the needed skills. What courses, certifications, or training is available? Who can you shadow? What extra projects can you take on in your current role? Is there volunteer work you can do in the new area? Pro-bono work for friends or family?
Don't wait! There are many ways to upskill. Acquire the skills you need BEFORE you're ready to change jobs. And practice, practice, practice!
This will allow you to show potential employers that you’re ready to take on a new role and add value quickly without a lengthy learning curve.
The Black Hole of Technology
We live in a rapidly changing world. Technology offers convenience, efficiency, productivity, and the ability to communicate across oceans in real time without leaving home. We can run thriving businesses or do corporate jobs without ever seeing anyone in person. Technology has opened up a whole new world, and the future promises more innovation. But there is a dark side to all this progress.
We’ve lost the ability to think, figure things out, solve problems, and actually talk to each other in complete sentences while making eye contact.
Ever been purchasing something at a store and given the cashier an extra penny, nickel, or quarter AFTER they’ve keyed in your $20? Then you see that blank look on their face. We’ve lost the ability to do basic math in our heads and make change. Sad.
Ever been a passenger in a rental car with no back-up camera and a driver accustomed to having a back-up camera on their own car? Scary!
Ever lost your phone and tried to remember ANYONE’S phone number? Infuriating!
The skill taking the hardest hit is communication. In-person, live, make a connection type of communication. Awkward, unpolished, unprofessional communication can be witnessed everywhere—the workplace, the store, and sadly, even in schools. But there are few places where poor communication will hurt you more than in a job interview, whether face-to-face or over Zoom.
Sitting (or hiding) behind a keyboard gives people the luxury of time and the comfort of anonymity. Communication, in person, in the moment, does not. When you’re face to face with someone, there’s no place to hide and little time to think. And body language, well, that’s a whole different type of communication that you have to master in the face-to-face world.
When it comes to interviewing, hard skills will only take you so far. The ability to have a conversation, talk about yourself clearly and confidently, and relate to others will be a critical factor in your success, so don’t ignore opportunities to build your soft skills.
The only way to master something is to practice, practice, and practice more. That is, to just do it. If you have a job that allows you to work from home without having to make contact with anyone, find ways to get out. Network, join in, participate, and connect with real people in real-time.
No matter how much technology allows us to do “behind the curtain,” communication and connection will remain a critical part of life both at home and in the workplace.
JOB HOPPING…HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?
Yesterday’s workplace where employees stay in one place for their entire career is a thing of the past. Today, changing jobs more frequently is the norm. However, there is a line between what’s acceptable and what’s considered a red flag. Knowing how to use a job change as a positive rather than a negative is a bit of a gray area but there are some guidelines.
Staying in a job for less than six months can be viewed negatively. One short-term job likely won’t hold you back. But more than one in a relatively short time period and you’ve got some explaining to do…that is, if you get a chance. Landing interviews may be harder.
From the recruiter side, I am often shocked at how many resumes I see with four, five, or six job changes in less than 10 years. And when the positions held are largely unrelated, I have to wonder if the candidate even knows what they want to do. Many job changes within the same industry begs the question of whether the candidate is hard to get along with, keeps getting fired, or just stops showing up and then finds a new job.
While you can explain that you’ve left jobs because of a horrible boss, toxic work environment, or no work/life balance, you might be thought of as too hard to please where no job will make you happy. You could be viewed as lacking commitment and perseverance and that if things get tough, you’re going to bail.
Bringing on a new hire is expensive for companies and the learning curve can be steep depending on the job and the industry. Companies want to hire someone who is going to stay at least long enough for them to get a return on their investment.
From the career coach side, I wholeheartedly support leaving a job that isn’t a good fit. But I also wholeheartedly support CHOOSING WISELY. Before you apply, or at the very least, before you go into an interview, do some deep research on the company. During all interviews, ask the tough questions about the culture, management style, work hours, expectations, how your success would be measured, etc.
To take one step further back, do some career assessments, personality tests, or create a vision board. Create some long-term personal and professional goals. Try to get your career and personal journey aligned as closely as possible. Make a list of your deal breakers and nice to haves so you can evaluate each job opportunity based on how it fits your needs.
The “job hopper sweet spot” appears to be 18 months to 3 years for employees moving on to better opportunities, higher level positions, positions that will expand and enhance their skillset, or larger companies with more room for advancement.
When you’re thinking about changing jobs, ask yourself, “am I moving up, or just moving on”, and how will this impact my appeal as a credible candidate.
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