Doctors get a lot of questions from friends and neighbors about medications and illnesses.  As a Human Resources professional in this tough labor market, I’ve been getting a lot of employment and job search questions from friends and acquaintances.

In the last week I was approached with two job-related situations. Here’s to dispelling job search urban legends and fears!

Situation # 1

A college friend of my daughter is getting ready to graduate.  She is applying to companies and putting together a few versions of her resume.

This friend had an internship last year.  Her supervisors thought highly of her and gave her additional work because they knew she could handle it.  Late in the semester she had some personal family issues arise.  As a result, she needed to end the internship because she needed to use her time to help out her family.  She feels her supervisors were disappointed.  Now she is a bit skittish about putting the internship on her resume.

The friend’s questions to me were, “Do I list this internship on my resume? What do I say if I’m asked why I left? and If I think they were disappointed that I left; should I use them as a reference?”  Great questions.

First I told her that she should absolutely list the internship on her resume.  It was an experience that gave her insight into the working world.  She learned a lot from it and helped the organization.

Next, I said that when she interviews she should be ready to talk about why the internship ended.  The truth is that she really enjoyed her role, what she learned and contributed, and the people there.  I said she needs to say she left because of an urgent family matter that needed her immediate attention.  She should mention she was excited about the experience she gained while there.  If asked, she will have the chance to elaborate on her role and her accomplishments during the internship.

Now the tricky part – using the internship as a reference.  I told the friend that she should find someone she worked with there who would be willing to talk to a future employer about her.  Since she did a great job, there should be someone who can help her out.  Alternatively, her college counselor could probably speak on her behalf about the internship.

The takeaways:  1) List your relevant experience.  2) Be prepared to explain why you left a position, even if the reason is a family emergency.  I would make sure you add what you contributed and what you gained from the experience as well. Never speak negatively about a past employer.  3)  Have references available to talk about you to prospective employers.

Situation #2

My neighbor is doing well at his job, but he heard about an opening with another company.  The new job would pay more and have more advancement opportunities.  He has heard stories of his current employer seeing some of its employees’ resumes on Internet resume databases and firing them. He also knows his current employer is struggling in this economy, so he would like to move on.  He is worried that A) If he puts his resume on one of the job boards his company will see it and fire him and B) If he gets an interview with the company with the opening, the new company will call his current company to verify employment or find out about his work habits and ethics.

My advice back to him:

A)  He can put his resume on the job boards, leave out his last name, and have the name of the current company “Confidential.”  He needs the resume to have an e-mail address and phone number so that recruiters and employers have a way to contact him.  Author’s note: It is disheartening that a company would fire someone because he or she put his or her resume on a job board.  I do have a friend who saw his current job posted on one and confronted his boss.  That is how he found out the company was letting him go.

B)  In general, a prospective company will ask candidates on an application if they can contact the current employer.  It is completely acceptable to say “no” or to say “after an offer is made.” Many companies do employment verifications but only after an offer has been made.

The takeaway:  If you are worried your company will find you on a resume board, keep your last name off your resume and your employer confidential but make sure your email address is listed.  Don’t worry that prospective companies will call your current employer during the interview process.  It really doesn’t work that way.  Companies may do employment verifications after they have made you an offer.

I admit it — I am addicted to job advice. I love reading advice on Twitter, rummage through my RSS feed of career blogs on LinkedIn, and regularly check out the latest career musings on BrazenCareerist. Based on all I read and my own experiences acquiring and maintaining 3 jobs in the past year, here is a compilation list of the 10 things you can do right now to jump start your job search.

1. Create a great LinkedIn profile. Sure, it’s pretty easy to sign up for LinkedIn, include your current and past positions, and add a few people to your network, but you can and should do so much more. Recruiters are using LinkedIn more and more to find candidates, even those who aren’t actively looking. Part of the reason why recruiters are coming across LinkedIn profiles of those who aren’t actively looking, is how well their profiles are put together.

What do you need to do to create the beginnings of a great LinkedIn profile? Here are the starters:
• Make your LinkedIn URL your first and last name. This can improve your LinkedIn visibility on Google
• In addition, if you include your blog in the Websites sections, instead of naming it the default “My Website,” rename it the blog name
• In the Specialties section, use resume keywords; otherwise known as core competencies
• List accomplishments in addition to duties to your experience (much like a resume)
• Ask for recommendations, and give recommendations!
• (Read these additional LinkedIn tips from LinkedIn)

2. Volunteer your career services. If you haven’t been working for a few months, you need to volunteer. Why? One of the first things recruiters will notice is gaps on your resume, and they will wonder what you have been doing to be a savvy job seeker during your time-off. Interested in a social media position but don’t have the formal experience? Find a local organization that’s lacking a Twitter or Facebook Fan Page and volunteer to create them. (Put this experience on your resume and LinkedIn page, and then ask for a LinkedIn recommendation from the boss.) Want to work in a project management role? Join your condo’s board of directors. (You can learn fiscal responsibility, teamwork negotiation, and leadership skills and include those competencies on your resume.)

Aside from the skills and resume experience you get from volunteering, you also gain a crucial opportunity to expand your network. Which leads us to…

3. Network everywhere, all the time, with everyone. Networking doesn’t mean you’re holding up a business card with sad, trembling eyes, and you ask a person who you just exchanged 2 words with an elevator: “Do you know of any jobs?” Networking is about getting to know a person—who he/she is, what kind of work he/she does, what his/her interests are—and striking up a conversation about who you are, what you have to offer, your interests, and what kind of work you are looking for. If all goes well in that conversation, that person will be more than happy to share pertinent information with you!  Many times, that person doesn’t have pertinent information for you at the moment—but he or she might in the future. Maintain communications with your contacts whether it’s through a holiday card, LinkedIn, or sharing lunch. Additionally, make sure you don’t let your membership to organizations you are already a part of expire—your networking experiences and opportunities to hear insights into the industry are often worth the annual fee. You might also want to consider joining job seeker groups on www.meetup.com where you can meet other job seekers and industry professionals who are all enthusiastic about helping each other out.

4. Treat your resume as if it is the most important financial document you will ever own. This quote is borrowed from GoSavant’s Martin Yate, but I believe in it 100%! Your resume is what gets you or what keeps you from getting the job you want. If you aren’t getting interviews after months of applying for jobs, chances are something is wrong with your resume. If you’re still not getting the interview after updating your resume per expert opinion, hire a professional resume writer. It can seem expensive, but it is an investment into your future, an investment into the future of your income.

5. Write a cover letter for each job you apply to and personalize it. Even if a company doesn’t require you to submit a cover letter, submit a cover letter. Don’t let your cover letter be a boring recitation of everything on your resume in an equally boring 4-paragraph form—keep your cover letter concise and personal to the company, and let your personality shine through!

6. Clean up your “digital dirt.” Google your first and last name. Click on those sites. Do you see anything that can keep you from getting the job you want? Get rid of it. Keep in mind that although your Facebook profile may be “private,” your profile picture may not be. What you write on your friend’s walls may not be private either. If you have a personal blog that includes your personal feelings on personal topics and your name is linked to it, you will want to keep that from public view.

7. Do not just use job boards. Here’s the truth: a few of the jobs I’ve gotten were indeed from CareerBuilder, but that was during a different job market with less competition and more time for HR recruiters to look at resumes. In conjunction with talking to your networking contacts for job opportunities, create new networking contacts through social media platforms like Twitter by creating an appropriate job hunting profile that discusses who you are, your skills, and what kind of work you’re looking for, then follow and network with  businesses and thought leaders pertinent to your job search. Use www.linkup.com to view job openings on company websites. And of course, use LinkedIn to look for job opportunities or to find hiring managers behind company profiles and find ways to be on their radar.

8. Don’t have one-size-fits-all approach to your job search. There’s a reason why they don’t make jeans all in one size: they wouldn’t fit! You have to focus your job search on the kind of work you are suitable for and not have or communicate the “I’ll take anything” approach. For each type of job you are looking for (ie, sales vs. marketing job), have a different resume. Always have an individualized cover letter. Don’t give canned answers to interviews. Be aware of what the company is looking for and put your focused energy into a personalized resume, cover letter, and interview. If you’re not finding success after several months of job hunting and interviewing, hire a job coach.

9. Have a daily job search plan. Looking for a job should be a full-time job until you find a full-time job, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend 8 hours looking at a computer all day. It may help to prevent job search burnout by organizing a daily job search plan that includes a myriad of tasks during the course of the day. Have a day that looks like this: look for jobs for an hour, read trade magazines and articles specific to your industry (which might give you leads into the hidden job market) for about an hour, write cover letters for 2 hours, volunteer for 2 hours, and go to a networking event for 2 hours that night. Switch up your tasks per day! Your job search won’t seem as tasking.

10. Be positive. This is not meant to be hokey advice that equates to having an unrealistic attitude and a forced smile. The bottom-line is this: you will get hired. If you arm yourself with all the tools you need like the right resume, a creative cover letter, awesome interviewing skills, and an optimistic outlook, you will find work. Having a positive attitude in your job search will extend to your networking events, your cover letters, your interviews—and employers will infinitely prefer to hire someone who has a positive, optimistic attitude as opposed to a depressed and pleading one.

Have I missed any major pointers on improving job search? What have you done to have a successful job search? Sound off below!

A protégée of GoSavant.com, Molly Mann, has been profiled in the Chicago Sun-Times! Molly’s job search success has been realized after taking GoSavant.com’s “Ultimate Job Search Toolkit” and working with one of GoSavant’s coaches, Karen Marvinac.

After watching GoSavant.com’s “Winning Interviewing Techniques” before the interview that led to her job offer, Molly noted: "The tips, along with my coach Karen Marvinac's help, gave me a lot more confidence and acted as a refresher course… GoSavant gave me a structure and a feeling that things can turn around."

Natalie Petouhoff of Forrester Research also notes that GoSavant is unique because it allows job seekers to practice interviewing skills by speaking to a job coach, rather than rehearsing in their heads, and can role-play their resumes in the best way possible.

To read the rest of the Chicago Sun-Times article on GoSavant.com, click here.

It looked promising for Chicago—we had tremendous clout with President Obama, Michelle Obama, and Oprah campaigning for Chicago to get the Olympics in 2016. Michelle Obama spoke impassionedly about growing up in Chicago, and President Obama said powerful statements like “One of the legacies I want to see coming out of the Chicago 2016 hosting of the Games is a reminder that America at its best is open to the world." Chicago also showed videos of the beauty of its lakefront location and mesmerizing Millennium Park to the Olympic committee. So what went wrong? What can job seekers learn from Chicago’s failed “Olympic interview”?

Don’t go for the personal plea in the interview; describe the technical reasons why you would be a good fit for the organization.

There were so many powerful, personal sentiments behind the Obamas plea for the Olympics. Statements including “with hard work and discipline and dedication, [Chicago] can make it if we try” and “That's not just the American dream, that is the Olympic spirit. That's why we see so much of ourselves in these Games. And that's why we want them in Chicago. That's why we want them in America.”

As beautifully said as these statements are, they don’t give any indication as to what Chicago can offer the Olympics. In an interview, describe what you can offer the organization,. It seems as if the Obamas were asking what the Olympics could do for Chicago and not what Chicago could do for the Olympics. In fact, Michelle Obama specifically said: “Chicago's vision for the Olympic and Paralympic movement is about so much more than what we can offer the Games. It's about what the Games can offer all of us. It's about inspiring this generation and building a lasting legacy for the next.” In an interview, however, you should explain what you can an offer an organization.

It had been reported that Chicago avoided reporting “stodgy technical details”…but maybe the Committee wanted to hear technical details. Maybe the Olympic Committe wanted to hear discussions of finances. Chicago instead showed videos of blues legened Buddy Guy and snapshots of the pretty city. Mayor Daley emphatically noted “It’s not about the words. It’s about the heart and soul.” But “some of its speakers looked nervous and parts of the presentation came off as stilted. It also was surprisingly low-key…” If you are relying on an image mainly to sell your point (which you shouldn’t), it should at least come across as professional as possible.

Chicago had the passion, the skills, and the right “references” to sell the city to the Olympic Committee. But it didn’t focus on what the Olympic Committee wanted to hear of  what Chicago could offer the orgnanization. Job seekers may have the passion, the skills, and the right references, but that won’t mean much in an interview unless a job seeker can display how those qualities will benefit the organization.

Many job-seekers lack the basic skills needed for today’s tough job market. Some are fresh out of college or graduate school and have never looked for a job before. Others have not had to seek a job in many years. While many younger job-seekers are comfortable with the Internet and social networking sites, older workers may not understand how to use web 2.0 to their advantage. This situation has created a demand for training dedicated to the skills needed to compete for a job in today’s job marketplace.

In response to this need for training, many websites now focus on providing job-seekers with improved job-search skills. While not job boards, these sites are career-training marketplaces that offer convenient, video-based learning and/or live one-on-one career coaching over the Internet. These sites also generally provide a number of other support services, such as networking tips and other job resources to help individuals with career-related issues.

Examples of the types of services these sites provide include help with the following important job-seeking areas:

•   Resumes. This is a crucial tool for the job-hunter; however, many job-seekers have no idea how to bring out resumes' full potential as a selling tool. Many resumes are overly general or unfocused on the potential employer’s needs. A well-written resume will set you apart from the competition. Because of the specific skills needed to prepare a resume correctly, it provides a perfect opportunity for online training. For the job-seeker, an experienced online résumé coach can pass along invaluable tips via video and/or live coaching. It is also essential that people posting resumes online understand how to make their resume “stand out” from millions of online resumes. The answer to this challenge is training by experts who teach the tricks – such as key words or phrases – that make resumes highly visible to electronic searches by employers.

•   Interviewing. Because of technology offered on the Internet, people can now practice interviewing and get feedback from a professional coach via a webcam – without leaving home. This type of feedback can be invaluable for identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the job-seeker. An online coach can provide feedback on subtle defects in the job-seekers’ interview behavior, such as unusual or distracting body language or personal habits (eg, hair-twirling, failing to make eye contact, etc). An online video or live career coach can train the job-seeker to approach the all-important interview with professionalism and confidence, thereby increasing the chances of a good interview and a job offer.

•   Web 2.0. This refers to web-based communities and social-networking sites that allow users to interact with each other. While many younger workers are comfortable using social networking sites – such as Facebook– many older workers are not. And people of any age may not be fully aware how to use social networking sites effectively when searching for a job. This situation presents an excellent training opportunity for teaching the value of social networking sites for making professional contacts and identifying job opportunities.

Many companies use phone conferences to initially screen qualified individuals who have applied for a particular job. Phone interviews can be just as if not more daunting than face-to-face interviews; it is important to remember that they are just as significant and must be equally prepared for. You may be thinking, “It’s just the phone interview, it doesn’t really matter.” But I’m here to tell you it does matter and if you don’t take it seriously, you could disqualify yourself from getting your foot in the door. Here are some key areas to focus on before and during your meeting:

Job Knowledge
During this time of economic crisis and unexpected layoffs, you may have applied for hundreds or thousands of jobs without fully understanding what the job is about.  You’ve done this with the hope that just one will click so you have enough money to pay your bills. While this is certainly understandable, you must keep in mind, things may actually “click” and you do get the interview. You want to go in with a clear view of the role and responsibilities of the position and how they relate to the experience you currently have. Having the ability to quickly make and relay the connection between what the company is looking for and what you have to offer is extremely crucial in making it to the next round of interviews.

Tone/Speed
It’s unfortunate but true that many people are silently judged by their looks when they first walk into a face-to-face interview.  With a phone interview, you don’t have the luxury of astounding the interviewer with your good looks. Your voice will be the first thing “seen”. The key is to just be you. Don’t focus so much on making sure you are articulate that you change the way you would normally talk. Just ensure your tone and speed are at levels that can be easily understood. 

Manners
Unlike a face-to-face, you can’t look at the interviewer and know whether or not he or she has finished a question or statement or if they are going to suddenly say something else. So, you have to listen for verbal cues. You don’t want to find yourself continually excusing yourself for interrupting while he/she speaks. So, count three seconds after he/she has stopped speaking, then speak. This way you don’t appear hasty or as one who is not a good listener.

External Environment
No distractions! Whether it is a dog, person or the television, you want absolutely no distractions. If possible, find a room with a lock so you can better control the commotion. If this is not feasible, use the mute button on your phone so you can silence the noise when the interviewer is speaking. 
You also want to be careful of rustling papers. It’s okay to have notes about the position in front of you, but try not to make it obvious.

When applying for a job as a stockbroker, it is imperative that you format your résumé in a way that makes you stand out above the crowd of applicants. Like you, the other applicants will bring their licensing, education, and work experience to the table. It is up to you to add some spice that will make your dish “tastier” than the others.

Licensing

In order to be a stockbroker, you must pass the Series 7 and 63 exams. These securities licenses allow you to trade stocks and bonds. If you already have these licenses, be sure to list that in your Summary of Qualifications. If not, emphasize your commitment and willingness to obtain the licenses within a specified amount of time set by your potential employer.

Education

You should list any postsecondary education on your résumé. This is especially important if you have a degree in Finance, Economics or Business Management. If you have obtained other certifications as the result of completing additional training courses, list those as well.

You should also consider listing the kind of education that is attained outside of the classroom. Are you a member of an investment club that meets on a regular basis to discuss different investment topics? Do you meet with a mentor on a regular basis to get tips on working as a stockbroker? Meeting with others that are in the business is a great way to learn and network. In other words, you should tailor the education section of your résumé to portray yourself as a person with a dynamic personality, one who is ever willing to learn and can easily adapt to the ongoing changes in the financial services industry.

Work Experience

The best kind of education is most often obtained “on the job.” Having the necessary securities licenses and a college degree will certainly set you apart from others who do not have these certifications. However, firms want to see what you can and will do with the tools that you have. Highlight the following when drafting your résumé:

• Your track record –Which firms have you worked with? What is your sales experience? What was your sales volume?  What kind of revenue did you generate? Remember, this job is mostly about numbers.
• Your customer service skills – It is vital that you are able to connect and develop relationships with your clients. This connection will facilitate gaining the clients’ trust and locking in sales.
• Your systems knowledge – List all systems experiences. An employer is more likely to hire someone who does not need extensive training on their systems as this translates to a quicker transition in getting you “on the floor” to generate sales.

As a stockbroker, you will be required to have a vibrant sales “mentality” and be a person of quick decisions and action. Therefore, you should use action verbs when listing your work experience. If you do not yet have experience as a stockbroker, highlight transferable skills from other jobs you have had or volunteer work you have performed. The ultimate goal is to sell yourself to your potential employer. If you can do that, there is a greater chance that you will be allowed to sell their products.

When applying for any job, the short term goal is to grab the attention of the employer. Using a canned cover letter or traditional resume may not allow you to accomplish that. It is crucial to your success that you take the time to make sure your cover letter and resume specifically highlight your experience that relates to the role. To highlight your qualifications when applying for writing jobs, keep in mind the following considerations for your writing experiences.

Volunteer Writing

Never underestimate the effect of describing your volunteer experience as a writer. Many people don’t consider mentioning their volunteer work when applying for a job because they don’t think it’s worth it. But remember, the employer wants to know that you are an effective writer, not if you made money doing it. Noting your volunteer experience serves two purposes. It shows that you can write well and that you are passionate about a given cause.

Freelance Writing

Many freelance writers deal with a great dilemma when deciding to abandon the life of a freelancer and embark on the journey of a full time staff writer. Some freelance writers work from home, while some full time staff writers work in the company’s office. This in itself can be quite an adjustment. But more than that, many freelance writers stumbled upon the profession because they have a natural love of writing, not years of formal training or knowledge as a staff writer, and so their resumes may reflect this. Keep in mind, most employers don’t read every line of every resume they receive. They quickly scan them to make sure you have the skills they are looking for. If you find yourself in the category of one who has served as a freelance writer, and the rest of your employment history in a field or industry that has no relation to writing, consider creating a “writing credentials” section and list it before the “employment history”. You have a better chance of “standing out” in the mind of the employer.

Full Time Writing

It goes without saying that you want to list your previous full time writing experience when applying for a job as a full time writer. But, don’t assume the experience will speak for itself. You have to make it “speak”, make it colorful, wow the employer with your writing style, clarity, and effective vocabulary when describing your role at your previous company (ies). Going the extra mile when writing your resume is another way of showing the potential employer that you have the skills to go beyond the call of duty, which can be an asset to any company.
When writing your resume to apply for a job as a staff writer, be sure to include all of your experience that relates to what the company is looking for. No matter how minor you think it may be, include it. Who knows, that little blurb about you “volunteering at a summer writing camp for 3rd graders” could be just what you need to get to the top.

You have breezed through the phone interview with the HR department and now it’s time for the face-to-face with the hiring manager. Once you get to the interview site and plop down into the hot seat, it is important to not only perform a quick mental rehearsal of your answers and questions or make sure your outfit looks the way it should, you must also be conscious of your body language.  It has been said that actions speak louder than words and you will find this is especially true during an interview.

Face/Facial Expressions

This is usually the first part of the body noticed. If you wear make-up, you may want to do a quick check to ensure your make-up is neat and not overbearing. Too much of anything can be a bad thing. And too much make-up could prevent you from being considered a serious candidate. You also want to make sure you don’t have any leftover lunch in your teeth or anything of the sort on your face.

Don’t try to force a smile.  Doing so is more obvious than you know. Also be aware of the subconscious frown. Stay neutral and in control. Not only can this relieve some of the stress associated with interviewing, but also show the interviewer that you are a level-headed prospect.

Eye Contact

Good eye contact can be tricky. In some cultures, it is disrespectful to stare someone directly in the eyes, while others believe the lack of eye contact indicates deceitfulness.  Believe it or not, there is an art to quality eye contact. Stare too deeply; you look like you are in a trance. Look away too much; you don’t appear confident. The key to finding the appropriate balance is to be natural. If you are not comfortable with straight eye-to-eye contact, try looking at the interviewer’s eyebrows or lower forehead. This will have the same effect as a direct eye gaze.

Voice

Tone. As with your facial expressions, you want your tone of voice to be neutral. Be mindful of your tone and make sure it does not sound nervous or overly zealous.
Pitch. Use your natural voice. A voice that is artificially too high or low-pitched may be annoying to the interviewer and cause him/her to tune you out.   
Speed. Keep an even pace when speaking. Speaking too fast or too slow can prevent the interviewer from understanding what you are saying.

Proper body language is an important part of an interview. These tips can be helpful with making a good first impression as well as getting the gig.