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NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
My favorite job interview tip
June 27, 2024
When you’re at a job interview, have you ever answered a question and then kept babbling on because you’re not getting a response? Or do you just shut up and let your last words linger in the air?
It’s awkward, right? And you likely feel a little nervous or powerless in the situation. I’m about to change that. Today’s newsletter is all about helping you feel more in control and confident during job interviews.
Here’s the deal - the person who asks the questions controls the conversation. You can have as much power as they do in a job interview.
💡 You don’t have to wait until the end of the interview when they ask, “Do you have any questions for me?” Instead, sprinkle your questions throughout the interview. Here’s an example:
Interviewer: “What is your greatest weakness?”
You: “Sometimes I have difficulty delegating. I figured it’s just easier and faster if I do it myself. But I’ve been learning to let go and empower others to take on the task.” PIVOT TO YOUR QUESTION “How about you? Is there a weakness or lack of expertise in the team that you’re looking to fill with a new hire?”
Or …
Interviewer: “What is your greatest weakness?”
You: “Sometimes I have difficulty delegating. I figured it’s just easier and faster if I do it myself. But I’ve been learning to let go and empower others to take on the task. Speaking of strengths and weaknesses, what qualities does someone need in order to be successful in this position?”
Ask questions during the interview for three reasons:
- It gives your brain a break from answering questions, you get a moment to breathe.
- People love talking about themselves, and it gets them involved in the conversation; it snaps them back to attention and breaks up the interview monotony.
- Use your questions to uncover their goals and pain points, then address those goals and pain points during the interview.
It’s all in a good pivot.
- Before the interview, list your questions in order of importance (I included sample questions at the bottom of this email.)
- Then ask a question after you answer one of their questions. (NOTE: Don’t pivot for every question, do it every 2-3 questions.)
Let’s look at more examples …
Interviewer: “Why do you want to work here?”
You: “I’ve been looking for a mission-driven company that has a great culture and I can make an impact and I believe that is [company name]. I appreciate your commitment to x, y, z, that speaks to me. How about you? Why did you decide to work here?”
•••••
Interviewer: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
You: “Professionally, I am happily employed at a company where I have a big impact and I’m valued for my contributions. Personally, I have mastered the art of sourdough pizza and have hiked ⅔ of the Appalachian trail. Where do you think this company will be in five years? What’s its long-term plan?” BONUS - show off your research - “I read about the new Safe Streets Initiative - where do you think that will be in five years?”
•••••
Interviewer: “Describe a time when your team was undergoing change. How did that impact you, and how did you adapt?”
You: “My team was eliminated and replaced with workers in India. I had to train the team that was replacing my team. I worked closely with each person in India and we developed a bond. I enjoyed meeting them. The transition was smooth and fully complete in two months. How about this team? Has there been a recent change and how did they handle it?”
(PS: This story happened to my client and she genuinely enjoyed the transition. She is now happily employed elsewhere and making more money than before.)
•••••
Interviewer: “Tell me about a time when you solved a problem at work.”
You: Tell a short STAR story that’s relevant to the job you’re applying for. Then pivot to: “I love taking on challenges and learning new skills. Will there be opportunities for stretch assignments where I can learn and use new skills here?” Or, “What learning and professional development opportunities are available to your employees?”
QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING A JOB INTERVIEW
Always ask questions during an interview. A lack of questions can illustrate a lack of interest or preparation, and that’s not a good look. Besides, interviews are a two-way street. You are evaluating the company as much as they are evaluating you.
Prepare strategic questions to ask during the interview:
- Questions help you understand the role’s expectations and illustrate your interest in the job.
- Questions help you decide if you want to work at this company - ask about their culture.
- Questions reveal the hiring manager’s pain points - use this information to talk about how your experience can help with their problems, wants, or needs.
- Questions reveal their potential objections to hiring you - now you get a chance to address it
Understand the job and show your interest/initiative
- “How would you describe the work environment here—is the work typically more collaborative or more independent?”
- “How would I earn a gold star for this job?” (You’re trying to understand the corporate culture, review process, and management type. This shows the employer you’re ready to excel in the position, you want to succeed.)
- “What aspects of this job would you like to see performed better?”
- “What are the key challenges or problems of this position?”
- "If you could design the ideal candidate for this position, what would they be like?" (I LOVE this question. Listen to their answer, and then emphasize those skills during the interview.)
Get an idea of company culture:
- “How would you describe the work environment here—is the work typically more collaborative or more independent?”
- “What does a typical day look like for you?” “What do you like most about working here?” (You can get an idea here of work/life balance and management demands without outright asking about it.)
- “With whom would I be working?” "Who will I report to directly?” (This is your chance to learn about the team, department, and supervisor.)
- “What are the team’s biggest strengths and challenges?”
- “Do you expect to hire more people in this department in the next six months?”
- “Which other departments work most closely with this one and how?"
- "How about this team? Has there been a recent change and how did they handle it?” (This kind of question reveals information about company culture and management style.)
Address their concerns, understand what they’re looking for and highlight those skills:
- “Is there anything about my background that makes you hesitant to move me forward in the interview process?”
- “Given what we've just discussed during this interview, do you have any concerns about my fit for this position?”
- “I know you may be thinking that I might not be the best fit for this position because [their reservation]. But you should know that [a reason the interviewer shouldn't be overly concerned]."
- Anticipate objections - why wouldn’t they want to hire you? They’re thinking it anyway, so you might as well address it and make a case for yourself.
Find out what the hiring manager thinks:
- “Based on my background and the skills and experience we discussed, how well do I fit the profile of the candidate you're looking for?”
- “How does my background compare to other candidates you’re interviewing?”
DO NOT ASK about salary, bonuses, and other compensation (vacation days, sick days, overtime) - let them lead that conversation. Otherwise, save these questions for the job offer.
That’s it for today, I hope the “pivot question” helps you during your next job interview!
To your success,
- Emily
What's up with this job market and when is it going to get better?
June 13, 2024
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve written a newsletter and I am sorry for the delay. I’ve been wrapped up in the launch of my first group course, which finished this week. It was wonderful! And I’ve got so many tips from the course that I want to share with you; more on that over the next few weeks.
For now, I wanted to answer a question I’ve been asked a lot: “What’s up with this job market and when is it going to get better?”
First, let me say that today’s job seekers have two things working against them - the job market and the job search.
JOB MARKET
The labor market is a pendulum. Employees had the upper hand in 2021 and 2022 as money was flowing and employers were on a hiring frenzy (i.e., the Great Resignation). Now employers have the upper hand in 2023 and 2024. Why? One big reason ...
The Fed raised interest rates. They started raising interest rates in March 2022 in part to cool the red-hot labor market and wage growth.
And it’s working.
Companies have slowed down hiring. They are going “leaner,” experimenting with AI, and are loathe to invest in hiring while the cost of borrowing is so high. We have entered what some call a “white collar recession,” meaning unemployment rates are low but hiring rates for high earners (especially 6 figures) have slowed significantly.
So when is it going to get better? I’m looking at those interest rates.
I believe the job market will improve when the Fed lowers interest rates. The European Central Bank just lowered interest rates and I hope we will soon too.
Inflation is coming down, the labor market cooled, and we’re looking at an economic “soft landing.” This is good news for the labor market, as it’s supposed to stabilize to pre-pandemic levels this year.
Will we get back to the halcyon days of the Great Resignation? Not anytime soon. But I do believe the job market will improve as the Fed lowers rates.
Anecdotally, I’m seeing a slight uptick in hiring, more so than the last 18 months. I’m seeing more “I’m happy to announce” posts on LI and I’m preparing more clients for interviews.
Most importantly - I’m seeing recruiters get hired again. I call recruiters the “canary in the coal mine” of the job market. When they lose jobs, as they did in 2023, we lose jobs shortly after. As they get hired, we get hired shortly after. So I’m going to remain hopeful about the second half of 2024.
JOB SEARCH
The job MARKET has its issues, but it’s nothing compared to the job SEARCH, which is broken. Those of you out on the job hunt are dealing with 500 applicants per job, unanswered networking messages, auto-rejections, pre-interview work, unreasonable salary offers, and the GHOSTING! The ghosting, it’s out of control.
Why is the job search broken? There are so many factors going on …
1) Limited positions available: Companies are going “leaner,” experimenting with AI, and wary of spending money when the cost of borrowing is high. So there are fewer positions available.
2) High competition: Layoffs in 2023 and 2024 = a lot of very talented people are on the market and competing for the same (limited) jobs.
3) Employers’ market: Generally speaking, there are more qualified applicants than jobs available, which means employers are searching for a purple squirrel. In that quest, they can post unreasonable job expectations, offer below-market salaries, and put candidates through a lengthy and demanding interview process because they know someone will take the job (see #1 and #2).
4) Fewer recruiters: Talent Acquisition teams were slashed in 2023 and thousands of recruiters were laid off. So we’ve got smaller teams dealing with more applicants.
5) More applications: In the age of AI and Easy Apply, job seekers use ChatpGPT to write their resume and cover letter then mass apply for jobs through Easy Apply. This sucks for two reasons: 1) It doesn’t help your job search, and 2) It overwhelms the (smaller) recruiting team.
6) Ghost jobs: Some job postings aren’t real - as in, the company has no intention of hiring someone anytime soon. Sometimes this happens for innocent reasons like miscommunication, but it’s often for more nefarious reasons. I wrote an article about ghost jobs and why they happen.
7) Scam jobs: We've got more jobs that aren’t real, but worse - they try to take your money. Scammers have gotten very clever about manipulating job seekers and there is a special place in hell for them. I wrote an article about scam jobs and how to spot them.
So if you’ve been struggling with your job search and wondering, “Is it just me?” NO IT’S NOT. Thousands of people are experiencing the same as you. The job search is broken and you are fabulous.
I didn’t want today’s message to be all doom and gloom, but I hope it was at least informative. Now if someone says to you, “Why can’t you get a job? I thought the market is great!” You can tell them exactly why it’s been a struggle.
I’ll be back to regular programming next week with actionable insider tips for your job search. Until then, stay strong, my friends. I’m rooting for you.
- Emily
Don't overlook this important part of your LinkedIn profile
May 10, 2024
Earlier this week on LinkedIn (are we connected yet?) I wrote about my magical LinkedIn headline formula:
Click here to read the post for more info.
One LinkedIn user, Michele Cheow, took the advice to heart and immediately updated her LinkedIn headline. Check out the results:
How amazing is that?! I think she knocked it out of the park.
So as I’m staring at her headline like a proud mamma bear, I realized her banner is amazing too. And that’s what I want to talk about in this week’s newsletter.
Don’t skip out on your banner, it’s valuable LinkedIn real estate. Think of it like the curb appeal for your profile. It’s one of the first things people see, so you want it to be positive, informative, and welcoming.
ELEMENTS OF A GREAT LINKEDIN BANNER
- Image
- Colors
- Keywords
- Call to action
1) IMAGE
You can create your own LinkedIn Banner pretty easily, which we’ll discuss in a moment. But if you don’t have the heart for it or just want to throw something up there for now, post a picture of your city or state. Before I created my banner image for LinkedIn, I had four pictures of Boston in all four seasons, and I would rotate them as needed. I like to post pictures of cities because it indicates the area where you are living and looking for work.
2) COLORS
Let your profile picture inspire the colors for your banner. You want the two to complement each other. That’s one of the things that’s so effective about Michele’s banner - look how the banner and the profile picture complement each other. That’s a cohesive brand and a welcoming start to her profile.
3) KEYWORDS
Use keywords in your banner. Here’s another great thing about Michele’s banner - look at how she lists her ideal job title and the top skills required in her field. I know at a glance what she wants and what she brings to the table.
You could also list your credentials, awards, or include a quote if you’d like.
4) CALL TO ACTION
Include a call to action in your banner. This could include something like, “Let’s connect’ or “Check out my portfolio: [LINK], or “Find me on Instagram @[LINK]. ” Or simply list your email and/or social media handles. (Protect your privacy: create an email just for your job search and share that on your profile.)
DESIGN YOUR LINKEDIN BANNER
I quite like the free LinkedIn banner templates on Canva, they make it easy to customize the image. When you’re choosing a LinkedIn banner template, consider two things:
- Complement the colors in your profile picture.
- Your profile picture will take up the lower left corner of your banner.
I designed my LinkedIn banner on Canva, look how the whole left side is empty:
And here’s how it looks on LinkedIn, with my profile picture attached:
And now you know how to create your own LinkedIn banner to improve your job search - go forth and design!
LINKEDIN + PERSONAL BRANDING course starts TUESDAY, MAY 14
In today’s competitive job market, a good resume is not enough. You need a strong personal brand and an optimized LinkedIn profile.
That’s why I’m launching my first group course next week. The schedule is intense; you’re going to learn a lot in a short time:
WEEK 1 (May 14): Find your keywords + personal brand statements
WEEK 2 (May 21): How to write effective bullet points (for your LinkedIn profile and resume)
WEEK 3 (May 28): How to write your LinkedIn profile
WEEK 4 (June 4): What to do and say on LinkedIn + Check your LinkedIn settings
I’m teaching the same techniques that I’ve used to help hundreds of job seekers land their next job.
Join me starting May 14! We meet every Tuesday from 12:00-1:00 pm EST on Zoom. I will lecture first and then we’ll have a Q&A. Can’t make it on Tuesdays at noon EST? No problem! The sessions will be recorded and shared for those who cannot attend. PRICE: $295
Click here for more information and to enroll in the course starting Tuesday, May 14.
To your success,
- Emily
The #1 mistake I see on LinkedIn profiles (Special announcement inside)
May 2, 2024
I spend a lot of time reading LinkedIn profiles. (Are we connected yet?) Here’s the #1 mistake I see on most LinkedIn profiles:
Writing about what you did in the past rather than what you can do in the future.
When you’re writing your LinkedIn profile, there are two important things to keep in mind:
- Write your profile for the job you want, not the job you have.
- Write your profile to attract recruiters and hiring managers.
WRITE YOUR PROFILE FOR THE JOB YOU WANT, NOT THE JOB YOU HAVE
Think about the type of job you want next. Look at the job descriptions that interest you. What skills are needed? What qualities are preferred? What tasks are required? That’s the lens through which you write your LinkedIn profile.
For example, if you want to get into project management but have never held that job title, write your work experience through the lens of project management. Share information about the previous projects that you have planned and executed. Talk about how you have engaged teams and stakeholders. Highlight your leadership, communication, and organization skills.
Whatever skills and keywords you see in the job descriptions, that’s what you highlight in your profile.
WRITE YOUR PROFILE TO ATTRACT RECRUITERS AND HIRING MANAGERS
For job seekers, LinkedIn is a professional networking site and a great way to stand out from other job candidates.
For hiring managers and recruiters, LinkedIn is a search engine to find ideal job candidates.
That’s why keywords are essential. For example, you might search LinkedIn for jobs by job titles and locations.
Recruiters and hiring managers search LinkedIn for potential job candidates using job titles, locations, skills, and industries. Those are your keywords.
First up, the Job Title - if you don’t have the “correct” current job title in the Experience section (most of us don’t), then your LinkedIn Headline is extra important. List your ideal job title in your Headline, not your current job title.
After the Job Title and Headline, the About section is the third most important element of your profile. Fill it up with terms and keywords a recruiter might use to search for candidates, like hard and soft skills, industry jargon, and the job title or related job titles. Scan the job descriptions for keyword ideas. Continue filling out your profile with similar keywords.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KEYWORDS
I’ve talked about keywords a lot today. They are the foundation for your personal brand and the key to your job search.
And the keywords are right in front of you - they’re all in the job descriptions. Pull the keywords and key phrases from the job descriptions and put them in every section of your LinkedIn profile - from the Headline to the Recommendations. (Use them in your resume too.)
I’m telling you, this works. It’s the same advice I give my clients when they’re updating their profiles, and most of them land jobs through recruiters. One client updated their profile on a Thursday and had five recruiters contact him by Monday morning. And one of those contacts led to a job.
*LINKEDIN GROUP COURSE LAUNCHING MAY 14*
I'm launching group courses, woohoo! I've wanted to do this for a loooong time, and you are one of the first to hear about it.
A great resume is not enough - today's job seeker needs an optimized LinkedIn profile too. That includes three things:
1) Every section is complete and filled with keywords.
2) Your settings are optimized for visibility.
3) You've got a content plan and networking strategy.
I am launching my first group course and it's about writing an effective LinkedIn profile and telling your career story.
The four-week course starts on May 14 and is limited to 20 participants (five seats are already taken, there are 15 seats left).
This course is four intense weeks designed to give you a strong personal brand and LinkedIn profile.
TWO COURSES IN ONE
You’re going to learn a lot in a short time. In four weeks we will cover:
- PART 1: Define your personal brand + career story
- Clarify your personal brand - define who you are and what you have to offer.
- Efficiently and effectively tell your career story in an appealing way.
- Write compelling bullet points for your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- PART 2: Create an optimized LinkedIn profile
- Every section is complete and packed with keywords.
- Change your settings for maximum visibility.
- Get active on LI with a content strategy.
- Connect with recruiters and people at the places where you want to work.
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK 1 (May 14): Find your keywords and write your personal brand statements
WEEK 2 (May 21): How to write effective bullet points for your LinkedIn profile and resume
WEEK 3 (May 28): How to maximize every section of your LinkedIn profile
WEEK 4 (June 4): What to do and say on LinkedIn + Check your LinkedIn settings
MEETING INFO
Tuesdays at 12:00 pm EST on Zoom. We will meet on May 14, May 21, May 28, and June 4. Meetings are 60 minutes long and include a lecture and Q&A. The sessions will be recorded and shared for those who cannot attend
PRICE
$295. This price will only be offered once. Ultimately, this course will be split in two and each course will sell for at least $295. So you’re starting with a “2-for-the-price-of-1” discount.
Why the 50% discount? Because this is my first group course and it will be dirty. I have been teaching and coaching for eight years, so I’ve launched plenty of courses, but never an online group course for job seekers. You will be in the trenches with me helping to finalize the course. I will teach you the same successful strategies I show my clients and your feedback will help me design a most impactful course in the future.
ENROLLMENT INFO
*LIMITED AVAILABILITY: THIS COURSE IS LIMITED TO 20 PARTICIPANTS.* (Five spots already taken.)
Reply to this message or send an email to emily@emilyworden.com to claim your spot. I will send you an invoice for $295. Once the invoice is paid, you will be enrolled in the course and will receive messages with resource information and course documents.
Your spot is not secure until the invoice is paid. There are only 20 spots available in the course, and five spots are already taken. That means there are 15 seats left in the course launching May 14. Click here for more info.
To your success,
- Emily
10 things to do to prepare for a job interview + how to answer the salary question
April 23, 2024
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I have seen an uptick in job interview requests lately, so I put together a top 10 list to prepare for your next job interview. I included a bonus step about how to answer the dreaded question, “What are your salary expectations?” (Spoiler alert: You don’t answer that question.) JOB INTERVIEW PREP CHECKLIST:1) Research the company. Read more than their website. Look for press releases, news articles, annual reports, and interviews with the CEO/leadership team. 2) Research the people interviewing you. Study their LinkedIn profile and activity. Search for their name online. Read what they have posted/published. Look for anything you have in common that you can bring up during the interview. 3) Study the job description. Pull out the keywords and responsibilities and write up examples of how you have been successful in the past. 4) Practice telling your stories in SAR format (Situation, Action, Result) and use quantifiable measures whenever possible. Check out my Story Stash for advice about how to do this. SAR stories are a great way to answer questions that start with, “Tell me about a time when …” 5) Anticipate the questions you will be asked. Who is interviewing you? What team are they from? That will affect the kind of questions they ask. Someone in sales will approach the interview differently than someone in engineering, for example. Read the job description too - what are the responsibilities? They will ask about your past experience in this area. 6) Research potential interview questions. Search online for "typical interview questions for engineering jobs." Or search by company: "typical interview questions for engineering jobs at Apple." Or search by industry: "typical interview questions for engineering jobs in the healthcare industry." 7) Look at Glassdoor, Indeed, and Comparably for the company name. If they are listed on these sites, look for a tab called "Interviews." There you will find interview questions and insights about the interview process at that company. 8) Prepare questions to ask the interviewer. They will ask, "Do you have any questions for me?" YES YOU DO. You can ask about the office culture and job expectations. Some of my favorite questions to ask involve being proactive: "What are the most important tasks I will need to accomplish in my first 90 days on the job?” “What aspects of this job would you like to see performed better?” “What are the key challenges or problems of this position?” 9) Gather your interview materials. A notebook and pen to take notes (ALWAYS take notes!), several copies of your resume (and reference list if you have one), a printout of the job description, and your portfolio (if required). Plan your outfit ahead of time (here’s a neat article about what color to wear to job interviews). Do not wear heavy cologne or perfume, as someone might be allergic. 10) Practice the present-past-future formula. They will likely say, “So, Emily, tell me about yourself.” Answer this question in the following format: 2-3 sentences about what you’re currently doing, 2-3 sentences about what you did before that, and 2-3 sentences about what you want to do in the future. Keep your answer relevant to the job interview. Talk about your past experience through the lens of the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a project manager role, you would talk about your past experience while highlighting your project management skills. HOW TO ANSWER “WHAT ARE YOUR SALARY EXPECTATIONS?”"So, Emily, what are your salary expectations?" Here's how to answer that question ... YOU DON'T. Never say your number first, it puts you in a weaker negotiating position and you're taking money off the table. Here's what you say instead: "I'm still learning about this role so I haven't set salary expectations yet. What do you have budgeted for this position?" If they won't share their number and press you to give your number first, say something like, "BASED ON MY RESEARCH, similar positions in this geography and industry pay between $x-y. Is this also the range you have budgeted for this position?" ⭐ "BASED ON MY RESEARCH" is the key phrase here. It's not about you, it's about the cold, hard data. This takes your emotions (and imposter syndrome) off the table. So how do you do this research? I recommend searching at least three different sites to get a suitable range. Here are my favorite salary sites: indeed.com, salary.com, BLS.gov/ooh, CareerOneStop, Glassdoor, and Comparably. List the average salary as the bottom of your range, and add another ~20% for the top of your range. For example, if you see the average salary is $50,000 for your job title in your location, you can say, “Based on my research, similar positions in this area pay between $50,000 - $65,000. Is this also the range you have budgeted for this position?” Do your research before the interview and practice saying this until it feels comfortable. And that’s it! Those are my top 10 tips for preparing for your next job interview. Remember to send thank you notes to all the interviewers immediately after your interview too - it will help you stand out. To your success, - Emily
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Make your job search more efficient with my favorite job search site
April 17, 2024
My favorite job search site is one that you likely use every day: Google.
Google for Jobs is a job search tool where employers list their job openings so that they are easier to find on Google. Google for Jobs also scrapes job listings from all the major job search sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, etc... So you just have to go to Google to find all the job listings you want.
Not only that, but your search results will be personalized based on your browsing and search activity on Google, so you are more likely to receive relevant results.
Let me say off the top - if you are a veteran, you can find job opportunities and search by your military occupational specialty (MOS) code. Go to Google, enter “Jobs for veterans'' or “Jobs for veterans in [your location]” i.e., “Jobs for veterans in Boston” in the search bar then look for the following image for customized results:
GOOGLE JOB SEARCH QUERIES
Let’s say I’m looking for Project Management jobs in Boston. Here’s an example of what my search queries could look like (queries in bold):
“Project Manager” jobs Boston will show you just that … Project Manager jobs in Boston. NOTE: Put the job title in quotes, otherwise Google will pull up results that include “Project" and “Manager” but not necessarily “Project Manager.”
“Project Manager” jobs Boston OR Providence Use “OR” in your search query if you’re considering two (or more) locations for your next job.
“Project Manager” jobs near me If you want to include your general area and not just a city.
“Project Manager” remote jobs If you are only looking for remote or work-from-home jobs.
“Project Manager” jobs site:Apple.com If you only want Project Manager jobs at Apple. Add any company’s domain name here to find jobs specifically at the organization. NOTE: DO NOT include a space between site: and the name of the company. Make it all one word.
“Project Manager” jobs site:Apple.com OR site:mit.edu This is an example of using the “OR” and “site:” features in a search query. These results will bring you only Project Manager jobs at Apple or MIT.
“Project Manager” jobs Boston site:.edu This will bring you Project Manager jobs in Boston at any educational institution with a .edu domain.
“Project Manager” jobs Boston site:.gov This will bring you Project Manager jobs in Boston at any organization with a .gov domain.
💡 BONUS: You will get even more accurate results if you enter the “Careers” or “Jobs” page for large companies. For example, if you want to work at Apple, you would get better results entering “site:jobs.apple.com” over “site:apple.com.” Here’s a great sample query for a Project Manager who wants to work at Apple: “Project Manager” site:jobs.apple.com.
After you enter your search query, you will be shown three of the most relevant jobs plus a prompt to view more. It will look like this:
Click on the “100+ more jobs” prompt to see the entire job search page, which will look like the screenshot below. Play around with the filters at the top, which I highlighted with a red box:
When you see a job you like, there will be blue boxes telling you how to apply. Whenever possible, apply through the company website, as indicated below:
Even if you don’t see an option to apply directly through the company website, I would double-check the company’s careers page and look for the job before applying through a third-party site like LinkedIn or Indeed. Always apply through the company's website for three reasons:
- You can confirm this is a real job and not a scam.
- You can confirm the job listing is still live and they are still hiring.
- You look like a more serious candidate by applying through the website rather than using a tool like “Easy Apply.” It indicates you have an honest interest in the company and you’re not just blindly applying to jobs on random job boards.
Now that you have found a good job search query, Google makes it easy to set up alerts for that type of job by toggling on the “New job alerts” option in the blue box in the lower left corner of the page. It looks like this:
While this is one good option (and I recommend turning it on), I like to use Google Alerts to ensure all my job search bases are covered.
SET UP GOOGLE ALERTS FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH
Now that you have a list of job search queries, set up Google Alerts about them.
Google Alerts are email notifications on whatever you want to know about. You can use it to track your favorite artist, learn more about your industry, or follow a news story. You can choose how often you want to get email notifications. You are allowed 1,000 alerts, so don’t be shy about using them!
If you have a Gmail account*, you’ve got access to Google Alerts.
*If you don’t have a Gmail account, now is a good time to make one. PRO TIP: Even if you have a Gmail account, set one up just for your job search - [Your name][Your profession]@gmail.com. For example, JaneSmithCopywriter@gmail.com. Then publish this email address in your LinkedIn profile, on your resume, and in your job applications.
HOW TO USE GOOGLE ALERTS IN YOUR JOB SEARCH
Go to Google Alerts and sign in under your preferred Gmail address. (Click here to learn more about signing up for and managing Google Alerts.)
Now enter your search query into the search box and click on “Show Options” to see the box below. Under “How often,” choose “As-it-happens” or “At most once a day” to stay on top of new job postings.
Boom. Now your Google Alert has been created and you'll be notified of new jobs based on your search query.
And that’s it! That’s how you optimize Google for your job search AND use Google Alerts to stay up-to-date on the latest job listings. Pretty awesome, isn’t it?!
(In case you’re curious about other Google prompts, I found these two resources helpful: Search for Jobs on Google and a Google Search Operators cheat sheet.)
To your success,
- Emily
Should you post your resume on LinkedIn? 🤔
April 10, 2024
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How to announce you're #OpentoWork on LinkedIn (there's a better way to do it!)
April 4, 2024
Last week I introduced the Open to Work Info Sheet and encouraged you to write one and make a list of people to send it to. (Click here to read last week’s newsletter in case you missed it.) This week I’m covering the last step of the Open to Work Info Sheet process: Announce that you’re #OpentoWork on LinkedIn.
But first, a mindset check about reaching out to your network or posting for help on LinkedIn. You might be hesitant to reach out to your network for fear of bothering others, or worry about posting on LinkedIn because you might look “desperate.”
While your feelings are natural and quite common, I can assure you that this is not the case. People are generally quite happy to help, especially if you make it easy for them with the Open to Work Info Sheet. You will be rewarded for your vulnerability and candor, I promise.
ANNOUNCE YOU’RE OPEN TO WORK ON LINKEDIN
There are two ways to announce you’re #OpentoWork on LinkedIn: 1) Change the settings on your profile, and 2) Write a post about it.
CHANGE THE SETTING ON YOUR PROFILE
STEP 1: Click on the “Open to” button below your Headline.
STEP 2: Click “Finding a New Job.”
STEP 3: Add your job preferences including job title, type, and location. NOTE: You can add up to five job titles and five locations.
STEP 4: Now you have two options:
1) Choose “Recruiters only” (the “Open to Work” green banner WILL NOT appear on your photo, this option is best for those who are passively and quietly looking for work. Only recruiters using LinkedIn Recruiter will see you’re open to work).
2) Choose “All LinkedIn members” (the “Open to Work” green banner WILL appear on your photo, this option is best for those who are actively and openly looking for work). Click here for more details about #OpentoWork from LinkedIn Answers.
A NOTE ABOUT THE “OPEN TO WORK” GREEN BANNER: This is a hotly debated topic on LinkedIn - should you post the green banner or not? Some argue that the green banner makes you look “desperate,” but I completely disagree, and the recruiters I talk to prefer the green banner - it makes their jobs easier because you’re easier to find (LinkedIn Recruiter is quite expensive, and not all recruiters use it. So some recruiters might not know that you’re open to work if you have this turned off). Today’s job search is tough, and I say that you use every tool available to you - including the green banner.
The only negative thing about the “Open to Work” green banner is that it opens you up to unwanted pitches on LinkedIn. Within minutes of posting the banner, you will get messages from resume writers, MLM schemes, franchise opportunities, and other types of pitches and spam. I think it’s a small price to pay for the benefits of the green banner, but you can decide for yourself.
WRITE A LINKEDIN POST ABOUT IT
After creating your #OpentoWork settings, LinkedIn will encourage you to write a post about it. It will create a generic statement like the image below:
*DO NOT USE THIS STATEMENT!* I say "ugh" every time I see one of these. Everyone uses it and you will not stand out. Plus, it doesn’t share any of the vital information from your Open to Work Info Sheet.
Instead, draft a post ahead of time in a separate document and then copy + paste the post in LinkedIn. Here are suggestions about what to include in your post:
- Start with a story: “After being laid off in December and taking time to regroup with family, I am now on the job market and ready to work.”
- Follow up with a paragraph that follows this format: "I'm looking to work in [insert job title/industry]. My background is in [describe your industry/role], and I want to leverage my skills in [list key skills] to [describe your mission/ideal job]. Do you know anyone in the [name of company] or [name of industry] who can help? I am interested in meeting people for informational interviews, job opportunities, and to expand my network."
- Now you can just copy + paste the information from your Open to Work Info Sheet: List your ideal jobs and industries, and your most relevant skills.
- List your ideal companies and tag them in the post (type “@CompanyName” to tag).
- List your most impressive and relevant accomplishments in bullet points, preferably with numbers that illustrate your impact.
- OPTIONAL: Include a “FUN FACTS” section so that people get to know your personality. LinkedIn has gotten more social, and your connections appreciate learning more about you outside of your professional experience. This is what drives real connections!
- Include a call to action encouraging your networking to support your job search: “If you know of any companies hiring product managers, or recruiters in the tech space, or if you spot any product management roles, please send them my way. And please like or comment on this post to improve visibility.” (This isn’t pushy, I assure you. People WANT to help!)
- Offer help to your network: “Thank you for your support and if there is any way I can use my knowledge, resources, or connections to help you, please let me know.”
- Keep it short: People don’t read long paragraphs - our eyes glaze over it. Aim for short paragraphs, short sentences, and use emojis and bullet points to break it up.
- Attach your Open to Work Info Sheet: Create a version that doesn’t include your contact information (for privacy reasons). Post that version on LinkedIn then pin it to your “Featured” section so it remains at the top of your profile.
- Reach out to your network and send them the link to your post. Ask them to “like” and comment on it to improve your post’s visibility.
SAMPLE #OPENTOWORK LINKEDIN POST:
After my entire team was laid off in February, I took time to process the shock and regroup with my family. I am now ready to look for a new job, and I hope you can help!
I’m looking for a fundraising role in the nonprofit sector, ideally in environmental conservation or education. I am an industry-accredited financial professional and I want to leverage my skills in business development, negotiation, and relationship-building to raise money for important causes.
IDEAL JOBS:
I’d like to work in fundraising: Fundraising Manager, Director of Development, Major Gifts Fundraising Manager, Philanthropy Officer, or Director of Annual Giving. Seeking full-time remote or hybrid roles in the Boston area.
IDEAL COMPANIES:
Strong preference for nonprofits dedicated to environmental conservation and education. I am drawn to organizations like The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Fund, The Learning Trust, Massachusetts Audubon Society, and The Trustees of Reservations.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
I have extensive experience managing large budgets and various departments. Past successes include:
- Spearheaded and successfully closed three high-value mergers worth $500 million.
- Coordinated with 40+ stakeholders across five organizations to assure continuous management and smooth financial transitions during mergers.
- Reduced deal cycle times by 20% using streamlined project management methodologies.
SKILLS:
Financial analysis • Project management • Business development • Financial modeling • Negotiation • Strategic planning • Budget management • Relationship building
FUN FACTS ABOUT ME:
• I love to travel and have visited 16 countries so far (my favorites are Thailand, Australia, and Greece).
• My favorite pizza topping is pineapple (controversial, I know).
• My favorite season is winter because I love to ski.
• I am happiest when I’m hiking in the woods with my two dogs, Frank and Betsy.
Do you know anyone who works in non-profits, particularly in environmental conservation and education? Or do you know of any nonprofits looking for fundraising help? Please pass this along to anyone who might help me land my dream job! I am interested in meeting people for informational interviews, job opportunities, and to expand my network.
Please comment or like this post to spread the message and thank you for your help! If there is any way I can use my network to help you, please let me know.
REPOST YOUR LINKEDIN POST
Share your Open to Work Info Sheet every 3-4 weeks. (Yes, this is ok to do! Many people didn’t see it the first time or simply forgot about it.) You can post the same message again, or mix it up a little. Just be sure that every time you post, include your ideal job titles, location, the types of companies/industries that interest you, and your top accomplishments.
And that’s it! That’s how you announce you’re #OpentoWork on LinkedIn. I know this was a lot of information to take in over the last two weeks, so bookmark this newsletter and reference it often as you’re working on your own Open to Work Info Sheet and LinkedIn post.
To your success,
- Emily
How to announce you're "Open to Work" (don't do it the wrong way!)
March 27, 2024
I missed you guys! I’m sorry I haven’t written in a few weeks. I’ve been working hard on a new resource, the Open to Work Info Sheet, and I’m SO excited to share it with you today!
There’s a right way and a wrong way to announce you’re “open to work.” Unfortunately, I see it done the wrong way 99% of the time. Fortunately, I’ve spent weeks creating a resource to help with this exact problem, and today I’m sharing it exclusively with you, my wonderful newsletter subscribers. This resource will eventually be available on my website, but today it is free to you with gratitude for supporting my newsletter. Thank you!
The following advice is for those who are openly and actively searching for jobs. If you are quietly or passively looking for jobs, you can still benefit from this advice, you just have to be discreet with who you send the information to.
There are four steps to properly announce you’re Open to Work:
- Gather your sources
- Write your Open to Work Info Sheet
- Share your Open to Work Info Sheet with your network
- Share your Open to Work Info Sheet on LinkedIn and announce you’re #OpentoWork
Today’s newsletter covers STEPS 1-3. Next week’s email will cover STEP 4. (I broke it up because otherwise this newsletter would be way too long.) Let’s get started!
STEP 1: GATHER YOUR SOURCES
Before announcing that you’re Open to Work, gather resources to help communicate your skills and ideal job:
- Figure out what you want - what jobs do you want next? Be specific - it’s easier for people to help you if they know what you want. What are your ideal job titles? Ideal companies? Ideal industries?
- Figure out what you target employers want. Read the job descriptions that interest you and highlight the keywords and key phrases - what skills and experience requirements do you see repeatedly? Those are the ones that you will highlight in your Open to Work Info Sheet.
- If you’re switching industries, find the transferable skills. These are typically soft skills like leadership, communication, and teamwork. You will find transferable skills by category too. For example, if you’re applying for your first project management job, you will talk about how you previously managed complex projects. Or, if you’re applying for your first HR role, you can share how you were involved in talent development at your old job.
- It’s not about what you can do, it’s about what you can do for them. Now that you know what you want and what your target employers want, frame your background in a way that appeals to potential employers. Review your resume and choose your top 3-5 big accomplishments. If you haven’t done so already, add quantifiable measures to these accomplishments (check out my Story Stash resource for advice about how to do this). And remember to use those keywords!
STEP 2: WRITE YOUR OPEN TO WORK INFO SHEET
At this point you know what your target employers want and how to communicate your accomplishments. Now it’s time to put it all together in a document I call the “Open to Work Info Sheet.” Once this sheet is created, you will send it out to your network (STEP 3) and post it on LinkedIn (STEP 4).
Your Open to Work Info Sheet is kind of like a resume, but it’s easier to understand and less formal. Our eyes tend to gloss over resumes and the boring business language. Your Open to Work Info Sheet, on the other hand, is easy to read and comprehend by anyone in your network.
Think about it this way - the Open to Work Info Sheet is not so much about your past job titles and companies, but more about your experience and what you’re looking to do next.
When you’re finished, the document will look something like this:
STEP 3: SHARE IT WITH YOUR NETWORK
Now that you have created your Open to Work Info Sheet, it’s time to share it with the world! The following advice is for those who are actively and openly looking for a new job. If you are passively and quietly looking for a new job, be more selective with who you send this document to.
Earlier this year I wrote about how to identify people in your network and reach out to them, click here to read the article. You will follow the same steps in the article, and now you will include your Open to Work Info Sheet too.
Don’t be stingy here - make a long list of contacts. As I mention in the article, you aren’t reaching out exclusively to industry contacts. Rather, you are reaching out to the regular people in your network - regardless of their industry - because you never know who they might know.
Here’s a sample outline for your outreach messages:
Hi [their name], I hope you’re doing well. The last time we spoke you were [mention something personal about them] - are you still doing that?
I’m writing because unfortunately I was laid off last month and I am looking for a new job. I hope you might know someone in your network who can help.
As you can see from my Open to Work Info Sheet, I’m looking to work in [insert job title/industry]. My background is in [describe your industry/role], and I want to leverage my skills in [list key skills] to [describe your mission/ideal job].
Do you know anyone in the [name of company] or [name of industry] who can help? I am interested in meeting people for informational interviews, job opportunities, and to expand my network. Here is my LinkedIn profile [create hyperlink] and I’m attaching my resume just in case you might need it.
Thank you for thinking of me and please let me know if there’s any way I can use my network to help you.
With gratitude,
[Your name]
... TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
That’s it for today’s newsletter - whew, that was a lot! Your homework this week is to write your Open to Work Info Sheet and make a list of people to send it to. I’ll be back next week with advice for STEP 4: Announce you’re #OpentoWork on LinkedIn.
To your success,
- Emily
Make it easier for recruiters to find you with LinkedIn Skills
March 1, 2024
It's here! March is here! We made it through February! 🙌 Brighter and warmer days are ahead of us, finally. Huzzah! Now on to business ...
LinkedIn recently increased the number of skills available on your profile from 50 to 100. 🤯
This is a good thing - “Skills” is an important feature on your LinkedIn profile that can help you land your next job.
Here’s why skills are important: Recruiters search for people on LinkedIn using three criteria: 1) Job title, 2) Location, and 3) Skills. The more relevant skills you have listed, the more likely you will be found and contacted. Skills are especially important if you don’t currently have the “right” job title.
There is a three-part strategy for using skills on your LinkedIn profile:
- Choose the right skills
- Add the skills to your profile
- Maximize your skills
Let’s dive in …
STEP 1: CHOOSE THE RIGHT SKILLS
You might be thinking, “Holy cow, Emily, how the heck do I come up with 100 skills?!” No worries - you’re not brainstorming these skills on your own. (And you don't have to use all 100.) Instead, find keywords that are relevant to recruiters and target employers by using source materials …
- Scour the job descriptions that interest you. What keywords and skills are listed there? Look for hard skills and soft skills. Include them in your Skills section.
- Start a Google search for “Top skills for [job title].” For example, “Top skills for graphic designers.” Add them to your list.
- Search for your ideal job title at CareerOneStop’s Occupation Profiles and the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). Read the job descriptions and note the skills required.
- Take the Skills Matcher assessment at CareerOneStop to identify your top skills.
- Look at other people’s LinkedIn profiles:
- Search LinkedIn for your job title and industry. Add “ ” and + to narrow your search. For example, “Marketing” + “Finance.”
- Click “People” and play with the “All Filters” button - you can add 1st or 2nd connections, location, school, company, and job title.
- Find people who have the job you want and or/work at the companies that interest you. What skills are listed on their profiles?
STEP 2: ADD THE SKILLS TO YOUR PROFILE
Now that you have a long list of skills that are targeted for the jobs you want, add them to your profile. You can do this in several ways:
ADD SKILLS TO THE SKILLS SECTION
This is the traditional way to add skills to your LinkedIn profile. Click here to learn how to add the Skills section to your profile if you don’t have it yet. You can add up to 100 skills, though only the first two are visible before someone clicks “Show all.”
ADD SKILLS TO THE ABOUT SECTION
List your Top 5 Skills in the About section of your profile. These can be the same skills you have listed in the Skills section or different skills - they all count towards your 100-skill limit. This is prime real estate at the top of your profile - choose the most popular skills from the list you made in Step 1.
Click the pencil icon to edit your About section and add the Top 5 skills there. You can order the skills by clicking and dragging the three lines on the right (also known as the hamburger):
ADD THE SKILLS TO OTHER SECTIONS OF YOUR PROFILE
You can also add skills to each position in almost every section: Experience, Volunteer, Licenses & Certifications, Education, and Projects. Click on “Add profile section” to explore:
STEP 3: MAXIMIZE YOUR SKILLS
You’re almost done! You’ve got all the relevant skills listed in your profile, now it’s time to maximize them:
- Endorse them: Have an endorsing party! Ask your friends and colleagues to endorse your skills, and you endorse theirs too. Tell them which skills you’d like them to endorse. Here’s how to endorse skills.
- Order them: List the most relevant and appealing skills first. To reorder the skills in your Skills section, click the three dots on the right, then “Reorder.”
Then drag the hamburger as we discussed in Step 2:
Boom! That’s how it’s done! That’s how you maximize the Skills feature on your LinkedIn profile. Don’t sleep on this - recruiters search by skills, so it’s one of the best ways to optimize your profile and get discovered during your job search.
To your success,
- Emily
How to write a compelling LinkedIn headline (Essential for your job search)
February 23, 2024
We have almost made it through February! Is anyone else excited by this?! I am a winter girl, and I don't mind dark, cold days, but even I have reached my limit by February. Here's to lighter and warmer days ahead.
Now, onto business. Today we're talking all about your LinkedIn Headline. And if you're sleeping on your LinkedIn profile, I urge you to wake up and get cracking because a strong LinkedIn profile is just as important as a good resume. Today’s job market is tough, and you need more than a good resume to stand out from other job seekers.
Imagine there are two candidates equally qualified for the job. One job seeker has a great resume, the other job seeker has a great resume, a strong LinkedIn profile, AND they’re active on LinkedIn and sharing their expertise - who do you think is more likely to be called for an interview?
Not only does a strong LinkedIn profile help you get a job, it’s also excellent for your personal brand, career development, and job opportunities down the road. Be invested in your LinkedIn profile whether you are a job seeker or happily employed.
Your LinkedIn Headline is the most important part of your profile. It’s the first thing people see before they click “see more” to access the rest of your profile. Every time you leave a comment or interact with someone on LinkedIn, they see your Headline.
Well, they actually see the first 50 characters of your Headline - so those are the most important. Overall, you get 220 characters in your Headline and you want to make every character count.
WRITE YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE FOR THE JOB YOU WANT, NOT THE JOB YOU HAVE
When you’re writing about your professional experience, put it through the lens of the job you want to do next. Look at the job descriptions that excite you - what keywords and key phrases do you see repeatedly? That’s the content to work into your LinkedIn profile. (More on that later.)
As for your Headline, don’t include your current job title. I have two exceptions to this rule: 1) Your current job title is the same job title you want in the future, or 2) You work for an impressive and well-known company (think Apple, Amazon, Google, etc…).
LINKEDIN HEADLINE TEMPLATE
Here’s the closest I’ve come to a magical LinkedIn Headline formula:
IDEAL JOB TITLE | KEYWORD | KEYWORD | KEYWORD | I HELP __ ACHIEVE __ BY DOING __.
EXAMPLES:
Content Marketing | SEO | Data Analysis | Graphic Design | Sales Funnels | I help small businesses gain new customers and higher sales using targeted social media marketing
You can make this example stronger by adding numbers that illustrate your impact:
Content Marketing | SEO | Data Analysis | Graphic Design | Sales Funnels | I help small businesses increase customers 15% and gross sales 20% using targeted social media marketing
Here’s another example that expands on the Headline template:
Award-winning Executive Assistant | Strategy | Project Management | Organizational pro with 10 years’ experience working for Fortune 500 (C-suite) executives. I focus on your office so you can focus on your business.
Let’s break it down …
IDEAL JOB TITLE
You can list a specific job title or the type of work you do (like “Content Marketing” in the example above). If you are training for your new job title and don’t feel comfortable calling yourself that yet, you can use words like “Aspiring,” “Future,” “Seeking opportunities in…”
- “Aspiring Financial Analyst”
- “Future Creative Director”
- “Emerging Software Engineer”
- “Exploring Data Analysis Roles”
- “Passionate about Project Management”
- “Seeking opportunities in the Hospitality and Tourism industry”
If you’re changing industries, highlight a previous role that uses similar skills and keywords:
- “Project Manager and Aspiring Product Manager”
- “Business Development | Future Sales Director”
You could also highlight your ideal job title, industry, and area(s) of focus:
- “Aspiring Manager in the high-end retail market with a focus on customer retention”
KEYWORDS
As I mentioned earlier in this email, go through the job descriptions that interest you and pull out the keywords and key phrases. Look for anything that describes the skills needed on the job, the type of person they are looking for, and the kind of results they want from someone in that job.
Make a list of these keywords and key phrases and notice which ones appear most often - that’s what you build into your LinkedIn profile. Pick the top three most popular keywords and use them in your Headline.
I HELP __ ACHIEVE __ BY DOING __
This is where you speak directly to your target employers’ needs. Study those job descriptions - what do your target employers want? How does your work help make that happen?
I HELP __: Your target employers - what kind of companies or industries interest you?
ACHIEVE __: What do your target employers want to achieve? How do you help them achieve it?
BY DOING __: What do you do that helps you achieve your target employers’ needs?
Revisit the sample Headlines at the top of this email. Look at the last sentences:
- I help small businesses increase customers 15% and gross sales 20% using targeted social media marketing
- I focus on your office so you can focus on your business
Now THAT’S how you get a hiring manager’s attention!
KEEP YOUR HEADLINE FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO NEXT
You don’t have to include all of your experience in your LinkedIn Headline if it’s not relevant to your next role or it doesn't speak to your target employer. For example, look at my LinkedIn Headline:
I have an MBA, I’m an author, I’m a college professor, I’ve owned several businesses, and I used to be a business coach. But NONE of that is listed in my LinkedIn Headline. Why? Because it’s not relevant to the job I want or my target employers.
In this case, I want to continue being a career coach and you guys are my target employers - you’re my potential clients! Do you care that I have all of that previous experience or do you care that I can get you a job?
So even though I’m proud of my background, it’s not relevant to what I’m doing today and therefore I don’t mention it in my Headline. Treat your LinkedIn Headline the same way. (You can always talk about your past experience later in your profile).
To your success,
- Emily
PS: Are we connected on LinkedIn? Pop by and say hello!
PPS: Do you want 1:1 coaching (perhaps to work on your LinkedIn profile)? Click here to make an appointment.
10 ways to nail your next networking event (Introverts welcome)
February 16, 2024
UGH. That guy. We all know that guy. The one who goes to networking events and is the loudest voice in the room. He has a stack of business cards to hand out, scans the room while you’re talking, and leaves the conversation after he gives his pitch, never learning one thing about you. I remember when I ran into THAT GUY at a networking event. I threw out his card and waited in a different line so I wouldn’t be stuck in an elevator with him.
We know that networking is critical to career development, but most of us do it wrong. On one side of the spectrum, some of us are too introverted, scared, or worried about what other people will think. On the other side of the spectrum, we’ve got THAT GUY who is too busy talking about himself to make genuine connections.
Today’s letter offers 10 tips to tackle your next networking event, even if you’re an introvert and the idea of networking terrifies you …
1) Research the event ahead of time
What organization is hosting the event? Who is the contact person? Sometimes the event will publish a list of confirmed attendees - look them up in advance (it can make meeting new people less scary). If there is a speaker, contact them too and say you’re looking forward to the event. And look at that! You have made connections before you even walked in the door.
2) Evaluate your goals
What are you hoping to get out of the event? (More connections? Meet the speaker? Learn more about your industry? Land a new contract? Get a new job?) Depending on your goals, that might affect who you speak to and how you introduce yourself. Set a goal: “I will connect with five people in the tech space before I leave.”
3) Practice your “elevator pitch” or 30-second commercial
Speaking of introductions, practice how you will introduce yourself to a new person. Consider your goals - what do you want people to remember about you? For example, if you’re looking for a new job, your pitch will include the types of jobs/industries that interest you.
Try the following format: “I am an X with Y looking to do Z.”
X = Your ideal job title (“I am a social media manager…”)
Y = Your skills/experience (“... with 5 years’ experience helping small businesses grow their brands…”)
Z = What you want to do next (“... looking to use my marketing skills in a large ad agency.”)
Practice your elevator pitch until you are comfortable and it just rolls off your tongue.
4) Use opening questions to get the conversation going
My favorite opening question is, “What brings you here today?” Everyone has a reason for attending the event, and this will help you find something in common with the other person right away. They will likely ask you the same question, so practice your answer ahead of time, too.
5) Get a digital business card
Virtual business cards work just like regular business cards, but they're even better. You can attach digital business cards to your email signature block, text the cards to a new contact, and generate a QR code anyone can scan with their phones. Some companies even offer a physical card that can be scanned by a phone, which is great for networking events. There are loads of options out there, but the most popular (and free) are Popl, Blinq, and Haystack.
LinkedIn is a great option too - you can make a QR code of your LinkedIn profile. It gives you the option to save the code as an image, which you can save on your phone and share at events. You can only create the QR code via LinkedIn’s mobile app, here's how: https://lnkd.in/eKX2E9JC.
6) Wear something memorable
Don’t dress in boring black like everyone else. Wear something noteworthy so you stand out from the crowd and people will remember you. You could choose a colorful jacket, tie, scarf, jewelry, brooch, or glasses. Later, when you’re following up with people whom you met, you can say, “I was wearing the red jacket” or “I was wearing the tie with fireworks on it.”
7) Attend the event with a friend
It’s easier to walk into a strange room if you’ve got someone friendly by your side. But don’t just talk with them all night - you’re there to meet other people! Help each other get acclimated to the space, then part ways and work the room.
On another note, try not to stand in the corner and stare at your phone. It may feel more comfortable to you, but you look uninviting and it will alienate others. Only take out your phone to jot down notes or flash your business card.
8) Take notes
Bring a pen and a small notebook to jot down notes about the people you just met. (In a pinch, you can use your phone, but see item #8 above.)
Try to remember at least three facts about each person. Write down their occupation, company, and any personal details they mentioned such as where they live, if they have kids/pets, or their hobbies/interests (people LOVE when you remember these personal details). You can also write down any physical characteristics if it will help jog your memory later.
If they gave you a business card, you can write these notes on the back of the card. You will use these notes after the event when you send follow-up messages, more on that in a moment.
9) Practice active listening skills
Does the idea of talking with strangers make you anxious? Just keep asking questions and let them do the work! People love talking about themselves, so ask them questions about their jobs and work - “How did you get into this industry?” ”How long have you been doing it?” “What do you like best about your work?”
Maintain eye contact while you’re talking - don’t scan around the room while they’re speaking. Finally, use their name often in the conversation - people love the sound of their name and it draws them into the conversation.
10) Thank the organizer of the event
Find the person who organized the event and thank them before you leave. If they seem too busy or overwhelmed, send a message after the event is over. First of all, this is a nice thing to do because they put a lot of effort into organizing the event. Secondly, no one does this and it helps you stand out. Finally, the event organizer knows most of the people who attended and can be a great addition to your network.
BONUS STEP: Send follow-up messages to the people you meet
Do this within 24 hours, while the event is still fresh in everyone’s heads.
- Connect with them on LinkedIn and send a message
- If you got their email address, send an email too
- Remind the person when and where you met and mention something from the conversation: “We met yesterday at the marketing conference in Boston, I was wearing the red jacket and we talked about the most effective SEO practices for 2024.”
- If they promised to do something for you, remind them: “You mentioned connecting me with the hiring manager at Acme Agency in Boston, and I’m grateful for the connection!”
- BONUS: Include an article about something that you discussed: “I found this article about SEO in 2024 and I thought you’d enjoy it.” “You mentioned you enjoy chai tea and I came across this fabulous recipe.”
That’s it! That’s how you nail your next networking event.
And keep in mind - everyone else at the event is nervous too. They’re not thinking about you or judging you, they’re just hoping for a friendly face. They too are worried about how they look, what they’ll say, and who they’ll meet. You’re in good company!
To your success,
- Emily
How to use numbers in your resume
February 8, 2024
How do you make your resume stand out? With quantifiable measures.
When you add numbers to your resume and LinkedIn profile, you are quantifying your achievements. You are showing employers your accomplishments; you are demonstrating your value as an employee.
This is all about show vs. tell: It’s one thing to tell me you're great at something, but it’s another thing to show me you’re great at something using numbers to illustrate your point.
For example, I could tell you I’m a great career coach. Fine. But if I show you that I’m a great career coach because the average client gets a new job in three months with a 20% pay bump ... Well, that’s more compelling, isn’t it?
Today’s newsletter is about helping you find those quantifiable achievements that you can list in your resume, LinkedIn profile, cover letter, and job interview.
STEP 1: Consider your past jobs
Make a list of all your old jobs and the tasks, responsibilities, and outcomes from each role. Then consider the following questions:
- How was success measured at your job? What metrics were used to indicate success? (Did you have personal metrics? Did your team have metrics?)
- What was your department trying to achieve? (How did your department support the overall goals of the company?)
- Ask your coworkers and former colleagues for their opinions too - they might have more ideas.
Here are some ideas to get you going: Reduced turnover, increased click-through rates, shortened wait time, project completion rates, percentage of pitches closed, number of customers helped/number of resolved complaints, size of the budgets/projects, amount of money raised, increase in sales/profit, and reduction in cost/waste.
STEP 2: Ask, “How many, how much, how long, how often?”
Look at your list of tasks, responsibilities, and outcomes, then ask, “How many, how much, how long, how often?”
An estimate or range is ok, it doesn’t have to be precise:
- NO: “Answered phone calls at the front desk” How many calls?
- YES: “Managed 100+ phone calls/day, relaying messages for 25 employees”
If you saved money or time, that is an important quantifiable measure:
- NO: “Started a new filing system”
- YES: “Initiated a new filing system, efficiently saving 10 hours/week in administrative duties”
You can also measure this over time: “Taught 200 undergraduate students across four classes” “Closed $1M in sales in two years”
Use action words with your quantifiable measures:
- “Created,” “eliminated,” “saved,” “increased,” “generated,” “dispatched,” “mobilized,” “spearheaded,” “transformed,” “mentored,” “oversaw”
- Find 400+ action words here, and more useful action words here
STEP 3: Find your SAR stories
Look at your list of accomplishments from STEP 1. Write a short story using the SAR format:
SAR stands for SITUATION, ACTION, RESULT and it’s a useful template to tell a story in a short, impactful way. (Incidentally, it’s also helpful to answer open-ended job interview questions like: “Tell me about a time when …” “What do you do when …” “Give me an example of …”)
- Situation: Describe the situation you were in, the problem you needed to solve, the challenge to overcome
- Action: What did you do and how did you do it?
- Results: What were the outcomes and the impact (on the company/you)?
Here are some prompts to help you brainstorm SAR stories:
- Successes, impact, when you made a difference
- Issues you recognized and addressed
- Opportunities you recognized and acted on
- Disasters you helped avoid or quickly clean up
- Problems you solved
- Processes you improved
- Situations when you reduced something: expenses/waste
- Situations when you improved something: profits/workplace/morale
- Times when you failed and the lessons you learned
- Other skills desirable by your target employers - what does your ideal job require?
The trick with SAR stories - keep them short! The entire SAR story should be about one paragraph long. Think 1-2 sentences each for the SITUATION, ACTION, and RESULT.
💡 Now apply the metrics you found in Step 2 to make these stories even stronger.
STEP 4: Use ChatGPT for help
If you’re stuck on the preceding steps, ask ChatGPT for help. Choose a professional story from your past and type in this prompt:
- “Can you help me find quantifiable measures for bullet points for my resume based on the following story?” Then tell a quick story about your success at work. 💡 To enter a line break in ChatGPT, hit SHIFT + ENTER (if you just hit ENTER, it will submit your query without the story attached). 💡
- You can click “Regenerate” and/or modify your query to get different results.
- Here’s my ChatGPT query and response based on a SAR story from a job I had early in my career.
And that’s how you identify and quantify your impact at work! Find these numbers and add them everywhere - to your resume, your LinkedIn profile, your cover letters, and your job interviews.
To you success,
- Emily
10 steps to prepare for an imminent layoff
February 1, 2024
Layoffs once again dominated the headlines in January. Every week, thousands of lives were upended by the news. If you have recently experienced a layoff, I am sorry. It is not your fault. I wrote a post on LinkedIn with advice after layoffs, I hope it helps.
I fear we will see more layoff news in the coming weeks. I don’t think this is indicative of 2024’s job market, but the last vestiges of 2023. Companies overhired during the surging demands of 2021 and 2022, and as demand shifted in 2023, companies realized they overhired and pulled back. But we’re seeing some strong economic indicators for 2024 and I am hopeful for this year’s labor market.
But what if you’re worried about being laid off? What can you do to prepare?
Now, I’m a bit biased here, but I think everyone should be prepared to find a new job at any time, regardless if they’re worried about being laid off.
I do NOT mean that you spend hours a week on job search sites. (Though it’s a good idea to keep an eye open for opportunities, it’s not the primary step of this process.)
Try these steps instead:
- Keep a running list of your professional accomplishments and the impact you have at work (I’m talking about your Brag Book and Story Stash, and you can find them in the Resources section of my website.) This information is valuable whether you want a promotion or you’re looking for a new job.
- Find your original job description - have you done more than what was listed? That will inspire your Brag Book.
- If you are laid off, you will likely immediately lose access to your company account. Start a folder now and stash all your work and impressive projects, so that you have access to them later.
- Update your Linkedin profile and be active on it. Comment on other posts, write your own posts, reconnect with your 1st connections and make new connections - especially at companies that interest you.
- Where else might you want to work? Identify five other companies that you think would be great places to work. Scan the “Best Places to Work” lists, search by your area, talk with your friends who are happily employed … then start following that company on LinkedIn, turn on the “I’m interested” button on their company page, and make connections with people who work there.
- Reinvigorate your network. Scan your email and mobile contacts and make a list of people to contact. Check in with them, even if you haven’t spoken in years. I wrote a LinkedIn post with advice for reaching out to your network.
- Evaluate your skills - are there any areas where you can improve? How about some upskilling? Can you take a class, workshop, or certificate program? (Can your employer pay for it?)
- Mind your budget - build up your savings and stock your emergency fund.
- Make doctors’ appointments - if you get medical insurance through your job, book doctor appointments you’ve been putting off.
- Don’t worry about your resume yet. Yes, a good resume is important to your job search, but so is a strong LinkedIn profile and a robust network. Too many people focus solely on their resume, so I say put it off for now and focus on the other nine steps. Besides, the work you put in your Brag Book, Story Stash, and LinkedIn profile will inform your resume updates.
If you are worried about a potential layoff, be proactive about planning for a worst-case scenario - but don’t let it preoccupy your daily life. Keep showing up, doing a kick-ass job, and serving results that you can brag about to future employers.
To your success,
- Emily
PS: Are you following me on LinkedIn? I regularly post about the job search. Here are some recent favorites:
- Digital business cards
- New LinkedIn features for job seekers
- Commiserating about the job search (this one was popular)
Five ways to protect your privacy during the job search
January 11, 2024
How are you searching and applying for jobs? I hope you’re not using the big job boards like Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder, or ZipRecruiter.
There are several reasons not to use those sites, but here are the two big ones: 1) Outdated listings and 2) Scam job listings.
OUTDATED JOB LISTINGS
The job boards scrape real job postings from other websites and list them on their site. In theory, that means you see lots of jobs in one spot, right?
Wrong. These job boards are not updated regularly, so you could be looking at a job description that is weeks old and already filled. Or worse, the job is a scam.
SCAM JOB LISTINGS
These big job boards are not great at verifying business information so a scam company can easily list fake jobs. Why would anyone do this? To harvest your data. When you upload your resume and job application to these websites, a scam company can gather and sell your data to third-party vendors.
🤯 Yup, let that sink in. These scam companies are taking advantage of job seekers and selling their data.
Scam job listings are everywhere nowadays - I’m even spotting some on LinkedIn. A few weeks ago I wrote about how to spot scam job listings and today we’re talking about how to protect your privacy during your job search.
5 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY DURING A JOB SEARCH
- DON'T apply for jobs using big job boards like Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder, ZipRecruiter, etc… Scam companies can list jobs to tempt job seekers and harvest their data. I’m even seeing them creep into LinkedIn.
- Instead, find job listings on job boards then verify and apply for the job DIRECTLY THROUGH THE COMPANY WEBSITE. This not only protects your information from scammers, it also makes you a more attractive candidate.
- DON’T list your full address on your resume. List your city and state instead. This protects your privacy AND reduces any potential biases employers might have about where you live.
- DON’T use your real email address. Create a different email address just for your job search. This is helpful for many reasons: 1) Protect your privacy from scammers, 2) All job search-related correspondence is grouped in one spot, so you don’t lose important messages, 3) It’s a branding opportunity - create an email address with [your name][ideal job title]@gmail.com. For example emilywordencareercoach@gmail.com or JaneSmithUX@Gmail.com.
- DON’T include your real phone number. Create a Google Voice number instead. It’s a separate phone number that you can forward to your carrier phone number. (Useful info for Android users.) You will still receive calls, but your real phone number is protected.
Now that you know how to protect your privacy and spot scam listings, check out my article on ghost jobs so you can spot those too.
Stay alert, job seekers, and stay hopeful! January is the start of a typically robust hiring season and I’m optimistic for 2024.
To your success,
- Emily
PS: Last week I wrote about how to evaluate your network and encouraged job seekers to send a message to 100 contacts. Have you made your list of contacts yet? Even if you’re not job searching, find 100 contacts and send them a message to reconnect and offer your help and services. Nurture your network when you don’t need it so it’s there for you when you do need it. Read about how to do it here.
Three ways to be more resourceful in your job search
January 4, 2024
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Hi Emily, Happy New Year! I hope you and yours had a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season. And if you weren’t lucky enough to enjoy all of that - hey, it’s over and you survived it. 👊 A few weeks ago I wrote about making New Year’ resolutions even if you don’t do resolutions. I don’t like New Years’ resolutions. But I do like “themes” for the new year. I’ve continually thought about a theme for the new year. One consistently appears before me and it’s BE RESOURCEFUL. “Look at what you have,” the universe is whispering to me, “You already have everything you need to get what you want.” I’ve been focusing on that theme and suddenly solutions have been appearing before me. I’m mostly talking about my business, but even little things like, “What’s for dinner?” and three things will pop out at me that I swear weren’t in my cupboard two days ago. I told my sister about this idea and she said, “Start with where you want to be then look at what you have.” 🤯 Brilliant! Thanks, sis. So as I’m looking at ways to be more resourceful with my business, I want you to look for ways to be more resourceful with your career. Where do you want to be? And what do you already have to help you get there? ✅ Start with your network:
✅ Using the list above, make a list of connections. Hopefully you have 100+ people on this list. (BE RESOURCEFUL! Dig deep about this - you know more people than you think! I bet you’ve got at least 100 people in your cell phone contacts and email list alone.) ✅ Send individual messages to each person. Yes! I’m talking about 100 individual messages. No mass email here, you’re trying to make meaningful connections. When you’re writing these messages, BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE TYPES OF JOBS YOU WANT AND THE TYPES OF COMPANIES THAT INTEREST YOU. Specificity makes it easier for people to think of ways they can help you. 💬 Here’s a great sample message:
🙋♀️What say you? Do you think you can do this exercise? If hope so, as the #1 way to get a new job is through a referral or recommendation. If you’re currently employed and don’t want to shout your job search from the rooftops, choose people you trust or have no connection to your location or current employers. 🫵 I’ve got a challenge for you - go through your contacts this week and make a list of connections. See if you can get to 100 connections. Start a list with their names and contact information. Then draft your message. I’ll check in with you next week about sending out those messages. To your success, - Emily PS: Are we connected on LinkedIn yet? Look me up! I share loads of actionable career tips written by myself or a community of insightful recruiters. Here's my favorite post from the week. |
A prediction, an inspiration, and a bartering opportunity
December 20, 2023
Are you looking for a job? 2024 is looking up! Plus: Got skills? Get career advice!
Hi everyone,
This is my final newsletter for 2023 and it’s a bit of a doozy. Today’s post covers three topics:
- The state of the job market in 2023 and a prediction for 2024
- An inspiring job search success story
- A chance to barter your knowledge for my career advice
Let’s dive in!
THE STATE OF THE JOB MARKET
Today’s job market is WILD. I’ve been career coaching for seven years and this is the craziest job market I’ve seen. The year started with massive tech layoffs and we’ve seen layoffs continue in nearly every sector this year. As the Fed continued to raise interest rates in 2023, the cost of borrowing became too high and businesses tightened their belts, especially after their big expansions and investments in 2021 and 2022.
WHAT’S GOING ON?
- There are a few industries that are reliably hiring: 1) Healthcare 2) Education 3) Retail/Service sector. But people are leaving those professions in large numbers (a tragedy, given how critical they are to our society) and fewer people are interested in joining those industries.
- Most people want remote roles, which are diminishing by the day as companies take more aggressive RTO policies.
- Unrealistic job descriptions and salaries are on the rise: I’ve seen “entry-level” jobs requiring three years of experience and job descriptions that want a college degree and pay minimum wage. (Which is hard to reconcile when you’ve got $100,000 in student loans.)
- Talented recruiters were laid off in droves this year, so those who know little about the art of hiring are now in charge of hiring. And those who remain in talent acquisition are overwhelmed by 500 applicants for one job.
- This leads me to my next point - technology is exacerbating the issue. Job seekers are using Easy Apply and AI to apply for jobs, which floods the job boards. And employers are using outdated and ineffective systems to sift through these piles of candidates. In the end, bots are talking to bots and no one wins.
- Ghosting is outrageous. Nowadays it’s rare to hear back from an actual human. (Why? See #4 and #5 above.) Never mind fake job listings (aka ghost jobs), which I wrote about a few weeks ago: https://bit.ly/GhostJobs.
- Scams are on the rise. If the job description isn’t a ghost job, it might be a scam. These are getting more prevalent and ruthless. I also wrote about scams and red flags a few weeks ago: https://bit.ly/ScamJob.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. I’m hopeful for 2024. Yes, I am an eternal optimist, and three indicators have given me hope for the new year:
- I’m seeing more #Hiring posts on LinkedIn, especially for recruiters. This is fantastic! I call recruiters the “canary in the coal mine” - they are the bellwether of the job market. When the market is down, recruiters are one of the first to be laid off. When the market goes up, recruiters are one of the first to be hired, so they in turn can hire more employees. So I’m very encouraged by newly open positions for recruiters.
- The November jobs report was better than expected. We’re talking pre-pandemic levels, which is an indication that the economy is normalizing after the turbulent last few years. This is great news for the economy and the Fed - hopefully, it means they won’t raise rates again and businesses can make more predictable decisions for 2024.
- And recent news has confirmed my hopes! Last week the Fed not only paused interest rate hikes, but it hinted that it might cut rates three times in 2024. Boy was this welcome news on Wall Street - the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a record high. Mortgage rates are dropping, retail sales are strong, and we’re hoping for 2.4% inflation in 2024. Excellent news for the economy and thus the job market in 2024.
If you’ve been struggling to find a job in 2023 - you are not alone. Hang on for 2024 - I see good things ahead! Make a free 30-minute appointment with me and let’s talk about it.
AN INSPIRING SUCCESS STORY
I’ve got an anniversary coming up - on December 23, 2022, a client signed up for my Career Clarity Masterclass, and both our worlds were changed forever.
When Helen* (*name changed for privacy reasons) signed up for coaching, she had been on the job hunt for more than six months. Previously, she was in education but left the job in 2021 to care for her family. In 2022 she got a part-time job as a project manager at a small local business, but she was ready to go back into full-time work and she wanted to pivot to HR roles. She was obtaining certification when we met and had been searching for jobs, but nothing was panning out.
“I’m getting suggestions for too junior roles,” she said. “Not enough money. The titles aren't there. I’m better than this. I know I’m new to HR, but I can do more.” YEAH you can, Helen!
We started working together in January 2023. Helen came to me READY TO WORK. She did all the work I assigned her and came to every meeting prepared. “There were times when I doubted the process,” she said, “but I stuck to it. And I’m glad I did!”
We tightened Helen’s brand and made her career story relevant to the roles she wanted. We updated her LinkedIn profile to appeal to hiring managers and recruiters. We rewrote her resume to highlight her HR experience. We talked about strategic networking and job hunting. Through it all, Helen remained determined, committed, and unflappable. It was a dream to work with her.
And how did it turn out? I LOVE this part! By April 2023 Helen was employed at a new job that was everything she wanted - hybrid, close to home, a better-than-expected salary, and working with an internationally renowned non-profit doing work that matters. But that’s not the best part.
The best part? Helen was promoted before she even started the job! They were hiring her for a new role and decided that she provided more value than they were expecting and increased her salary and job title before she even started. THAT’S THE MAGIC OF BRANDING. Not only that, she was promoted again within six months, and now her boss is training her to take over his role when he leaves in a few years.
After three months of working with me, Helen went from being offered “too junior” roles to being in a new role and being promoted twice in six months.
I have helped hundreds of people over the years, and each story is important to me. But I find Helen’s story truly special. She showed up, committed to herself, DID THE WORK and it paid off in big ways.
I’m sharing this story with you in the hopes that it inspires your job search. 2023 has been tough, but 2024 looks promising. It’s the year to figure out what you want and GO GET IT. Stay committed, do the work, and it will pay off for you too. I believe in you.
GOT SKILLS? I’M BARTERING!
I need help. I’ve got big plans for 2024 but no time to get them done. I’m so busy helping clients and running the business that all my big, beautiful dreams are put on the back burner.
No more! I want to be more resourceful in 2024, and I realized many of you out there reading this newsletter are highly skilled individuals and perhaps we can make a trade? Let’s barter baby!
I need help with the following:
- Content marketing: Creating content for social media. I have loads of content to choose from, I just need someone to synthesize and distribute it. Bonus points if you can help me with a marketing plan for some group courses I’m launching next year.
- Copywriting: I need help with landing pages, course descriptions, and website updates.
- Graphic design: Creating images for my website, business, and social media. I love me some Canva, but it’s time to let a professional take over.
- PR/Media/Communications: Help me get placed on podcasts and in publications. I’ve got the content, just no time to research media and pitch!
- Video/Audio production: Edit my audio and videos. Add captions, text, and graphics … Make them snazzy and ready for social media.
- Website: I need a few updates to my website that I just don’t have the bandwidth to handle. Can you help me add a blog and a new shopping cart?
In exchange for your services, I can provide coaching about any of the following:
- Job search
- Personal branding
- Resume
- Networking
- Job interviews
- Negotiating raises
- Imposter syndrome
If you’re interested, send me a message at emily@emilyworden.com. I look forward to meeting you!
And that wraps up my newsletter for 2023. What a ride! I put a lot of work into these weekly posts and it means the world to me when you read and comment on them. Thank you for your support.
I hope you and yours have a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season. Here’s to a brighter new year.
With joy and gratitude,
- Emily
Job search smarter with Google Alerts
December 13, 2023
Job seekers are busy. Looking for a job IS a job, and it’s a mental and emotional roller coaster to boot. Plus, today’s job market is WILD and there’s ghosting going on everywhere. What a mess.
If you’re out there looking for a job, you’ve got my full support. I see you and it sucks. Today I’ve got a powerful tool to help make your job search a little easier.
GOOGLE ALERTS
I have talked about Google Alerts before and it remains as relevant and impactful as ever. It is one of my favorite tools to optimize your job search and make networking a bit easier too.
Google Alerts are email notifications on whatever you want to know about. You can use it to track your favorite author, learn more about your industry, or follow a news story. You can choose how often you receive email notifications. You are allowed 1,000 alerts, so don’t be shy about using them!
If you have a Gmail account*, you’ve got access to Google Alerts.
*If you don’t have a Gmail account, now is a good time to make one. PRO TIP: Even if you have a Gmail account, set one up just for your job search - [Your name][Your profession]@gmail.com. For example, JaneSmithCopywriter@gmail.com. Then publish this email address in your LinkedIn profile, on your resume, and in your job applications.
HOW TO USE GOOGLE ALERTS IN YOUR JOB SEARCH
- First, if you’re new to Google Alerts, read this article about setting up alerts for your job search. (They make it very easy.)
- Next, read this article about basic Google search rules.
- Then, get advanced Google search tips here to really harness the power of Google in your job search.
Now that you know how to set up Google Alerts with proper search terms, let’s dive into the wonderful ways to use Google Alerts to enhance your job search.
1) Set up a Google Alert for your name. Potential employers will search your name online before they call you in for an interview. Set up an alert about your name so you can monitor your reputation when you’re mentioned online. PRO TIP: Put your name in quotes like a regular Google query. For example, “Emily Worden.”
2) If you’re currently employed, set up a Google Alert about your company. Then you can keep an eye on your company’s reputation too.
3) Keep up with your industry - especially if you’re making a career pivot. Set up Google Alerts about industry news so that you are up-to-date on the latest trends and opportunities. Use keywords related to your industry or big players in the field - such as influential companies and thought leaders. PRO TIP: Write what you’re learning about on LinkedIn.
4) Set up Google Alerts about companies that interest you. Monitor your potential employers and use this information in your job applications and during job interviews. If you’re following the company AND industry news, you’ll have a lot to talk about during interviews.
5) Strategically network. 75% of jobs are found through networking, so how do you stay in contact with your network on a regular basis while offering something of value? With Google Alerts! Set up an alert on your important contacts - their name, their company, a topic they are interested in - and send them a note when an alert pops up. This way you remind people you exist AND you’re offering something of value to them.
6) Search for jobs. You’re ideally applying for jobs within 96 hours of their posting. Use Google Alerts to notify you when your dream job is posted. You can use keywords such as job titles, job locations, and companies that interest you. (If you haven’t already, check out the links at the top of this email for Google Search best practices, and I like the “OR” tip in this article too.)
7) Keep your alerts organized. Finally, when harnessing the power of Google Alerts for personal and professional use, you’ll have a lot of emails coming in. And depending on how frequently you choose to receive the alerts, your inbox can fill up quickly. Set up a separate email folder just for your Google Alerts, and you can even subcategorize the folders from there.
🤯 That’s a lot of information to take in. Go ahead and bookmark this email and revisit it a few times. Read through the resources carefully, then make a list of the Google Alerts you will set up to optimize your job search.
To your success,
- Emily
4 ways to make New Year's resolutions that stick
December 5, 2023
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In less than a month we’ll be in 2024. 🤯 As New Year’s Eve approaches, you’re going to hear a lot of talk about resolutions and promises for the new year. 👎 I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions - people generally think too big and put too much pressure on themselves. They want to make too much of a drastic change too quickly, and their resolutions are abandoned by the end of January. 🤔 But I like the concept of New Year’s resolutions - it gives you a chance to reflect on the last 12 months and be optimistic about the next 12 months. With that mindset in mind, I have a few ideas to help tackle New Year’s resolutions in bite-sized, easy-to-follow steps. 1) ONE WORD RESOLUTIONSPick one word you’d like to embrace in 2024. This is a word that describes how you would like to feel in 2024 and you will use this word to stay focused and help your decision-making throughout the year. Here’s a list of possible words to aid your brainstorming: Generosity, patience, flourish, progress, empower, unstoppable, resilient, determined, adaptable, peaceful, grateful, or balance. I’m still choosing my word; I want it to have the feeling of progress and peace at the same time. How about you? What emotions, feelings, or ideas compel you as a theme for 2024? 2) SET YOUR PRIORITIES WITH THE WHEEL OF LIFEClose your eyes and picture yourself one year from now, in December 2024. What is different about your life? Did you change anything this past year or do anything new? Did you overcome a challenge or accomplish a long-term goal? Name 1-3 differences you would like to see between December 2023 and December 2024. Think about areas where you might want to improve: career, finances, health, relationships, and personal growth. LET THE WHEEL OF LIFE SET YOUR PRIORITIES In the Wheel of Life assessment, you rank “where you are” vs. “where you want to be” in eight categories. The default categories are usually: Career, Money, Health, Relationships, Personal Growth, Recreation, Physical Environment, and Spirituality. But you can change them to any category you’d like. I like this free Wheel of Life assessment. It’s quick and provides a visual representation of your current life vs. your aspirational life. If you take the Wheel of Life assessment, you will get results that look like this:
Now imagine this is a wheel on a bicycle you are pedaling through life - how bumpy is your ride? Use the Wheel of Life assessment to help establish your 2024 goals. What areas of your life could use some extra attention? Use the default categories or click “customize” to add your own. Alternative categories could include:
3) GO THREE MONTHS AT A TIMENow that you’ve got a vision for 2024, break it down into four quarters. What would you like to accomplish 12 months from now? 9 months? 6 months? 3 months? If long-term planning isn’t your thing, just focus on the first three months of 2024 - where would you like to be by March 31, 2024? Think about the Wheel of Life categories. What are your lowest-scoring categories? What can you do to improve those scores? List 1-3 personal goals to accomplish by March 31, 2024:
List 1-3 professional goals to accomplish by March 31, 2024:
Take a moment to reflect on these goals. Imagine your life with these goals fulfilled. Picture what your day is like. Feel it in your body. Now ask yourself three questions:
4) MAKE SMART GOALSI have written about SMART Goals before (most recently in 11 Ways to Finish 2023 for a Strong 2024). The acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic/Risky, and Timely. It’s a great method to break down big, audacious goals into manageable bite-sized pieces. For each goal you outlined above, make it SMART: Get specific about what you want as an outcome for the goal, decide how you will measure your progress, outline specific action steps needed to accomplish the goal, and set a timely deadline to complete each action step. Now, when it comes to SMART goals some people say "R" stands for “Realistic” while others say “Risky” (to encourage big dreams). I like to meet somewhere in the middle. Your goals should be equal parts scary and exciting. If you set a goal for yourself, and your stomach flips with excitement but your mind floods with “What if” statements, you know you’ve hit the right goal. Go for it! Alright, that’s my take on New Year’s Resolutions done right, and I hope it inspires your goal-setting for 2024.
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How to prepare for your performance review
November 29, 2023
Annual performance reviews can be nerve-wracking, especially if you don’t get along with your manager or you feel your work wasn’t 100% this year.
But these reviews can be a great opportunity. It’s a chance to feel seen and heard by your boss and advocate for a promotion or raise. And you can knock it out of the park with a little preparation.
NOTE: If you are currently unemployed, this email applies to you too! Do your own performance review and use the work in your resume, LinkedIn profile, cover letter, and during job interviews.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A PERFORMANCE REVIEW
1) SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR BOSS
If your company doesn’t participate in annual reviews, or you don’t have a date set on the calendar, now is a good time to ask. You can say something like, “As the year wraps up, I’d like to meet to discuss my performance in 2023 and set goals for 2024.”
2) EVALUATE WHAT DID - AND DIDN’T - GO WELL
Look back on your successes and challenges from the past year. Your manager might notice the things that didn’t go well and overlook what did go well. Be prepared to talk about both.
- What were your professional goals this year? Did you meet them? If not, where did you struggle?
- Where have you experienced the most difficulty this year? Where have you experienced the greatest success?
3) EVALUATE YOUR PERFORMANCE AND IMPACT
Be prepared to brag about your accomplishments and illustrate how they impacted the company. Review your last year and think about all of your contributions, big and small.
- Find stories that illustrate:
- Successes, impact, when you made a difference
- Issues you recognized and addressed
- Opportunities you recognized and acted on
- Disasters you helped avoid or quickly clean up
- Problems you solved
- Processes you improved
- Situations when you reduced something: expenses/waste
- Situations when you improved something: profits/workplace/morale
- Times when you failed and the lessons you learned
- Consider new skills you picked up this year, major or minor projects that you completed, and important relationships you created
- Did you win an award or get published somewhere?
- Did you attend any online courses, workshops, or industry events?
- Reflect on prior feedback - did you receive feedback from your manager in 2022 or 2023 and actively worked to correct it?
- I love this worksheet from The Muse, which asks great questions to get your brainstorming going.
- Put your stories in SAR format for maximum impact:
- Situation: What was the problem/situation?
- Action: What did you do to fix the problem or improve the situation?
- Result: What results did your actions achieve? How do those results benefit your department, your manager, or the company?
- Ex: Did you make money? Save time? Reduce turnover? Increase social media engagement? Improve employee morale?
- Remember to tie this all back to how your work helps the company. You could be a popular employee who gets along with everyone, but it doesn’t matter much if you can’t illustrate how your work directly contributes to the company’s bottom line (and/or makes the manager’s life easier).
- Take this information and use it to update your resume and LinkedIn profile too.
- Make an effort to record these accomplishments in real time in 2024. Whenever someone compliments your work, or you completed a presentation, or you accomplished a goal, write it down. Start a document for 2024 and record your efforts as they happen so you remember all the details later.
- This is especially important if you are asked to take on more tasks than usual or do work outside of your typical responsibilities. It’s called “scope creep” and your manager might not even realize it’s happening. So write it all down!
4) SET YOUR 2024 GOALS
What would you like to accomplish in 2024? A promotion? A raise? More education? A new title? A new job? Think about your professional goals and what you need to do to achieve them.
- If you’re interested in staying at your job and you want a promotion, a raise, educational benefits, or other perks, discuss these goals and action steps with your manager so you’re both on the same page. Together you can decide if there are any specific metrics you need to hit in order to qualify for a promotion. You can state your goals outright or ask them first, “Where do you see me this time next year?”
- If you want to leave your current job and get a new job in 2024, think about what you need to accomplish to make it happen. And is there anything you could do at work in the meantime? Maybe take on an extra project or exceed Q1 goals? Leave your job on a high note with a trail of successes behind you so you’ve got something to brag about in your resume, LinkedIn, and during job interviews.
5) ASK ABOUT COMPANY 2024 GOALS
What is the company trying to achieve next year? How about your department? What is most important to your boss (and your boss’ boss?) Ask your manager to confirm your work goals align with the company’s goals. Then figure out how you can contribute towards these goals (and track your progress/impact along the way).
6) PREPARE ANSWERS TO BASIC QUESTIONS
Typical annual review questions usually sound like, “What are your biggest accomplishments for the year?” “What were your biggest struggles this year/where do you think you can improve?” “What are your goals for next year?”
- Take advantage of this 1:1 time too: Is there anything you need from your team, department, managers, or company in order to achieve your goals - do you need more resources (like time, staff, equipment, or education) that your boss can provide? Do you have any concerns or needs to address here?
- When you talk about your weaknesses or struggles, keep it professional. Don’t blame or badmouth your coworkers. Just talk objectively about the obstacles you’re facing and what you’re doing to overcome them.
7) BE OPEN TO FEEDBACK
This is a time to reflect on the past year and make plans for the next. Your manager might have feedback on areas for improvement and I urge you to be open to the message.
- If your manager is not providing feedback, you can kick it off: “I’d like to continue growing in this company and taking on more responsibility. If there are areas where I can improve, please tell me.”
- Set personal feelings aside - this person is telling you what it will take to advance in your career. Listen to them. I live by the 10% rule - even if I completely disagree with someone, I try to find the 10% that is reasonable and go from there.
- Bring a notepad to the meeting and be an active listener. Take notes about what you discuss, especially in the areas where you can improve.
- This article from The Muse has great advice for accepting feedback: 6 Phrases You Should Have in Your Back Pocket if You Want to Ace Your Performance Review and I like this one too: The Best Way to Make Sure You're Not Blindsided in Your Performance Review.
8) ASK FOR A RAISE
If you believe you deserve a raise, good for you! Go get it! Annual reviews are the perfect time to ask.
- Make a list of all of your accomplishments and contributions AND HOW THEY MADE A POSITIVE IMPACT AT THE COMPANY. Add numbers and quantities that illustrate your impact whenever possible.
- Prepare your ask ahead of time - how much do you want? Ask for 5%-10% more than what you want, then you have room to negotiate.
- Prepare your Plan B. If your boss says, “We don’t have the money for raises in our budget,” how will you respond? Is there something else you want instead? For example, I once asked my boss for a raise and he told me there wasn’t money in the budget. So I asked for the organization to pay for more classes, which they did.
- HERE’S THE DEAL: Companies are more willing to give bonuses and perks than increase salaries. Make your Plan B include a one-time bonus or perks like flex time or WFH, and you’re more likely to get it.
Boom! That’s how you have a kick-ass annual performance review! I hope the tips help and you get all you’re asking for from the review. Just prepare and practice - you got this!
🔔 LIMITED OFFER: FREE LINKEDIN PROFILE REVIEW
Nowadays a strong LinkedIn profile is as important as a good resume. I see too many job seekers applying to jobs with a great resume but a terrible LinkedIn, and it’s hurting their chances to get an interview.
This month I opened five slots to meet with five job seekers and review their LinkedIn profile for free ($425 value). I will record and share these sessions so that other people will learn how to update their profiles to attract hiring managers and recruiters too.**THERE ARE ZERO SLOTS LEFT** If you’d like to get on the waitlist to have your LinkedIn profile reviewed for free and/or have access to the recordings, please complete this form.
🔔 20% EVERYTHING (JUST FOR YOU)
I’ve got a secret sale going on … 20% off every product in my store, from digital courses to 1:1 coaching. But the sale is only for you, a newsletter subscriber. If you click on the store link, you will see the full prices, but if you email me and tell me which product(s) interest you, I’ll send you an invoice for 20% off. If you’re not sure which product is right for you, schedule a free 30-minute session and we’ll figure it out. The 20% sale ends at midnight EST on Friday, 12/8.
Beware of job scams - they're everywhere!
November 22, 2023
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I had a different newsletter topic planned for today. I planned on writing about how to crush your year-end reviews at work, but that will have to wait until next week. This message is too important. Job scams are everywhere these days, and I don’t want you falling for them. I heard about two different people getting taken in by two different job scams yesterday and I need you to protect yourself. I post about job scams on LinkedIn. I am sharing those posts below in case we’re not connected on LinkedIn (please follow me and say hi!) - these are too important for you to miss! 🚨 Resume writing services scam Here’s a running list of red flags that I have observed in scam job listings: 🚩 You are offered a job before completing an interview. 🚩 The company offers to host the interview via text message (or an app like Signal), rather than in-person or over Zoom. 🚩 The company asks for your personal information (like address, DOB, SSN, or banking information) - that information is requested only AFTER you sign a job offer and they are setting up payroll. 🚩 The pay is higher than usual, or the benefits are quite generous ("85% WFH," which does not exist). 🚩 A *very* flexible schedule. 🚩 Vague job descriptions and replies from the "recruiter." 🚩 Typos and grammatical errors in the correspondence - one or two errors is understandable, but if you see a pattern it's a red flag. 🚩 The company offers to pay you for "office equipment" or asks you to "pay to apply." 🚩 Incomplete company information, or you can't find reliable company/recruiter information online. 🚩 The company says you will "make money fast" or the pay is 100% commission-based. 🚩 The company tries to sell you resume writing services. If you frequently apply for jobs on sites like Indeed, you are particularly susceptible to scams. Blech! It’s one of the many reasons I don’t recommend applying for jobs through job boards. Instead, use Indeed (and LinkedIn Jobs, Glassdoor, Monster, etc…) to find job listings, then APPLY THROUGH THE COMPANY WEBSITE. (BONUS POINTS: Follow the company on LinkedIn and interact with its posts, then connect with people who work at the company.) To your success,
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Change your job search for the holiday season + 2 SPECIAL OFFERS
November 14, 2023
📉 As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, November and December are traditionally the slowest hiring months. Companies wrap up their Q4 plans and employees are out of the office during the holidays, so hiring is a lower priority during this time.
Of course, this rule varies depending on the industry, and there is still some hiring for full-time positions over the holidays, but not much.
If you are unemployed and currently looking for full-time employment, this might be a good time to shift gears on the job hunt to part-time, contract, and seasonal work.
📈 The holiday season fuels a surge of demand for temporary work. Companies look to contractors and seasonal workers to help handle the holiday season rush. You likely won’t get benefits or perks with these types of jobs, but you will get wages and sometimes the opportunity to turn your experience into a full-time, salaried position.
WHO HIRES SEASONAL HELP?
All manner of businesses. Specifically this time of year there is a need in tourism, hospitality, retail, event planning, service industry, logistics, payroll, warehouses, IT services, and customer service. This great article from Upwork outlines seasonal work by industry, and here’s a few more examples:
Retailers: With the surge in holiday shopping, retail shops need extra employees this time of year.
Shipping and Logistics Companies: Online shopping boosts significant demand during the holiday season. Positions such as package handlers, drivers, warehouse associates, and logistics specialists are always needed.
Hospitality Industry: Hotels, restaurants, catering services, and event coordinators need extra hands to manage holiday parties and events.
Customer Service and Call Centers: Many companies, especially those in the e-commerce and tech industries, need additional customer service reps to handle inquiries, process orders, and address customer concerns during the holiday rush.
Theme Parks and Seasonal Attractions: If you're in an area with holiday-themed attractions or winter festivals, there may be opportunities for seasonal work in areas such as ticketing, concessions, and event operations.
PITCH YOURSELF FOR CONTRACT WORK
This could be a great chance to get your foot in the door at the places where you want to work. Offer your services as a contractor, especially if it’s the type of business that gets slammed over the holidays and needs extra help. This is a great article from The Freelance Hustle about pitching your services as a freelancer.
HOW TO FIND TEMPORARY SEASONAL WORK
- Search online for your role/industry + “contract work,” “part-time work,” or “seasonal work.”
- For example: “customer service contract work” or “seasonal jobs near me.”
- Online job platforms like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn have dedicated sections for seasonal and temporary opportunities.
- I am also partial to FlexJobs, which is a terrific site for finding part-time and remote work. They made a list of companies hiring for remote holiday work.
- Your local staffing agencies are a useful place to find temporary work, especially during the holiday season.
- Ask around at your favorite local businesses - are they looking for extra help? Check company websites too.
- Finally, tell your network. You’ve already told them that you’re job hunting, now contact them again and tell them you’re switching to seasonal/contract work. Be specific about the types of roles and companies that interest you.
😔 If you’ve been on the job hunt for a while, I know today’s message isn’t very uplifting. I just want to give you options in case you need money over the holiday season. And look at it this way - I am giving you permission to step away from the job application grind.
Give yourself a break, go get some quick cash, and focus on the 11 steps to finish 2023 for a strong 2024 - particularly the networking parts. Do this work now so you’re ready for the typically robust January hiring season in 2024. (And if you know anyone who has been struggling with the job search, please pass this message along to them.)
🔔 LIMITED OFFER: FREE LINKEDIN PROFILE REVIEW
Nowadays a strong LinkedIn profile is as important as a good resume. I see too many job seekers applying to jobs with a great resume but a terrible LinkedIn, and it’s hurting their chances to get an interview.
This month I’m opening five slots to meet with five job seekers and review their LinkedIn profile for free ($425 value). I will record and share these sessions so that other people will learn how to update their profiles to attract hiring managers and recruiters too. If you’d like to get your LinkedIn profile reviewed and/or have access to the recordings, please complete this form.
🔔 20% EVERYTHING (JUST FOR YOU)
I’ve got a secret sale going on … 20% off every product in my store, from digital courses to 1:1 coaching. But the sale is only for you, as a newsletter subscriber. If you click on the store link, you will see the full prices, but if you email me and tell me which product(s) interest you, I’ll send you an invoice for 20% off. If you’re not sure which product is right for you, schedule a free 30-minute session and we’ll figure it out. The 20% sale ends Friday, 12/8.
To your success,
- Emily
PS: Are you following me on LinkedIn? I hope you're regularly using LinkedIn, whether you are happily employed or not - it's fantastic for networking and reinforcing your brand. I post a lot of useful content on there, I'd like to see you around! 🙋♀️
11 Ways to Wrap Up 2023 for a Strong 2024
November 7, 2023
Hi everyone,
We’ve got eight weeks left in the year. EIGHT WEEKS!
😱 Did that just freak you out? It freaked me out a bit when I realized it. I started working on a plan to map out the next eight weeks - what are my goals? How will I get there? How can I set myself up to start 2024 strong?
The exercise was really helpful, so I thought this week’s newsletter might inspire you to do the same thing. (WARNING: This email is long but worth the investment to help you finish 2023 strong.)
THE STATE OF THE JOB MARKET
First, let’s look at the big picture. I’ve been talking a lot lately about the state of the job market. I’ll sum it up in two words: it’s bonkers.
Here’s what’s going on:
- The Great Resignation is over. Gone are the heady days of 2021 and 2022 when employees could job-hop and demand higher wages and more remote work.
- Employers are snatching back their power with return-to-office mandates, salary freezes, and lower-than-expected job offers.
- Companies are still worried about the economy and face high interest rates, so they are laying off employees and the job market is flooded with terrific applicants.
- Speaking of layoffs, the first to go are recruiters. And there are a LOT of recruiters laid off right now. That means that the remaining people who are not experienced with the hiring process are in charge of the hiring process. Oy.
- Job listings are unreliable too - up to 65% of job descriptions can be ghost jobs, and scams are getting more insidious too. (I post about scams on LinkedIn, please follow me to keep up.)
If you want to work in education, healthcare, or the service industry - those sectors are hiring. But if you want a job in any other industry - particularly a remote job - the competition is stiff.
That said, I still know plenty of people who are landing jobs. It takes more time and effort than it did in 2021 and 2022, but it is possible to land a great job for a good salary in today’s market.
The timing is tough, however. Hiring slows down this time of year. There is still some action in the early parts of November, but not much goes on during December. (In fact, if you need a job *right now* this is a good time to switch your job search to focus on part-time, contract, or seasonal roles, which I’ll talk about more next week.)
The good news is that January typically kicks off the best hiring season of the year, and there are some economic indicators in our favor. I believe companies have made their 2023 Q4 plans and are riding out the rest of the year, but Q1 2024 will improve.
That leaves eight weeks to get yourself ready for a robust hiring season. There is plenty to do to prepare.
In my Career Clarity Masterclass, I outline five steps to get a dream job, and you’ll note that the job search is #5.
FIVE STEPS TO YOUR DREAM JOB
- Figure out what you want
- Figure out what your target companies want
- Use that information for your personal brand and update your resume and LinkedIn
- Network to get referrals at the companies where you want to work and connect with recruiters
- Apply to jobs
🚨 So many people start their job search with #5 - Apply to Jobs - without doing the first four steps of the process. They update their resume then hit up job boards for hours a day, hitting “Easy Apply” and racking up their job application numbers. If this is you, please stop the cycle. As I recently said on LinkedIn, the job search is not a “numbers” game. It’s a “referral and recruiter” game. 🚨
Invest your time in building your personal brand and connecting with important people. I always say, “I’d rather you reach out to 100 people than send out 100 cold applications.”
I’ve got 11 steps to help you play the “referral and recruiter” game in your job search. Work on these steps over the next eight weeks.
11 ACTION ITEMS TO WRAP UP 2023
STEP 1: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Be very clear on the types of jobs you want and the companies where you want to work. Clarity is key to a successful job search. Read job descriptions, search for company reviews, and talk with people who are doing the jobs that interest you. (If you’re struggling with this step, please make a free 30-minute appointment and we can talk about it.)
STEP 2: FIND YOUR KEYWORDS
Copy + paste 3-5 job descriptions into a document and highlight the keywords and key phrases. What skills are important? What experience is valued?
- Read up on the companies that interest you too - what are they looking for in an employee?
- Look on LinkedIn for people who are doing the jobs that interest you at the companies where you want to work - what do they have listed on their profile? Anything you can emulate?
STEP 3: UPDATE YOUR RESUME
Take your list of keywords and key phrases and incorporate them into your resume. Now your resume should speak directly to your target employers’ needs.
STEP 4: UPDATE YOUR LINKEDIN
An optimized LinkedIn profile is nearly as important as a good resume. Your LinkedIn profile is critical for networking and getting the attention of hiring managers and recruiters. More on LinkedIn in a moment.
STEP 5: CLEAN UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA
Open up an incognito tab and Google yourself - what comes up? (You want to be in incognito mode, otherwise, Google will tailor the results to your personal search habits.) Potential employers read your resume first, then your LinkedIn profile, then they search online for your social media or results about you. What are they going to find?
STEP 6: REVIEW YOUR NETWORK
You’ve got clarity on what you want and your brand is in good shape. Now review your network - who works in the industry or at the companies that interest you? Also, who do you know who is generally well-connected, they seem to just know everyone? (Think fundraisers, politicians, journalists, business owners, hairdressers, lawyers, real estate agents, restaurateurs, salespeople, heads of the PTO, group organizers, etc…)
- Use the LinkedIn mobile app to import your contacts - it will pull names from your email and mobile address book, which will expand the list of people you know on LinkedIn.
- If your school has an alumni association, check there too, as well as the alumni listed on LinkedIn (search for your school’s page on LinkedIn then click “Alumni”).
STEP 7: Reach out to your network
Reach out to individual people in your network (no mass messages) and tell them that you’re looking for a new job. Be very specific about the types of jobs you want next and the places where you want to work, and ask if they know anyone who can help:
- “I’m looking to work in [insert job title/industry]. My background is in [describe your industry/role], and I want to leverage my skills in [list key skills] to [describe your mission/ideal job.] Do you know anyone in the [name of company] or [name of industry] who can help? I am interested in meeting people for informational interviews or perhaps job opportunities.”
- Offer help to your network too. Ask around: “How can I use my network to help you? Is there anything you need?”
STEP 8: FIND RECRUITERS
Search LinkedIn for recruiters in your industry and connect with them. Tell them about the type of work you’re looking to do and share your resume, which they will keep on file in case an opportunity opens up. Follow recruiters on LinkedIn who talk about recruiting in your industry (example: #technicalrecruiting, #engineeringrecruiter) because they often post open jobs.
STEP 9: BE ACTIVE ON LINKEDIN
LinkedIn is a social media network with an algorithm. The more you interact with it, the higher your profile ranks in search results. Login every few days and like and comment on other posts. Create your own posts about your industry - share articles and comment on them. Join Groups about your industry (recruiters often lurk there too). Not only will this activity make you more visible, but it will enhance your personal brand and make you a more attractive job candidate when potential employers are reviewing your LinkedIn.
STEP 10: REACH OUT FOR INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS
The #1 way to get a job is through your network. And the #1 to build your network is through informational interviews. These are 20-minute meetings where you connect with someone and learn more about their career. This is a great time of year to do it too - people feel more generous around the holiday season. Connect with people who are doing the jobs that interest you at the companies that interest you. (Do informational interviews make you nervous? Are you unsure how to do them? Check out my course about informational interviews.)
STEP 11: UPSKILL
Use this slow hiring time to brush up on skills to add to your resume and LinkedIn profile. You might even be able to convince your employer to pay for it. Check your keywords list - which skills are most desirable?
- Check out digital learning options from LinkedIn Learning. If you’re looking into tech-related jobs, Opportunity.LinkedIn has six certificate programs available for free, as well as free courses for everyone on digital literacy, soft skills, and entrepreneurship. There’s also Coursera, edX, Udacity, Skillshare, FutureLearn, Cognitive Class, etc…
- Many of the courses on these platforms are hosted by schools like Harvard, Columbia, and Wharton, and most of them are free to audit.
SMART Goals
As you see, there is a lot you can do now to get you ready for a robust hiring season in January. There are eight weeks left of the year, so you can break it down into weekly goals and define metrics to hit.
I’m talking about SMART Goals - Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Timely. Here’s where you take a bigger goal and break it down into smaller steps to accomplish each day.
For example, let’s say that you want to reach out to your network. You can break down the goal like this:
- Evaluate my network:
- Who do I know socially?
- Who do I know professionally?
- Import my contacts to LinkedIn
- Reach out to 50 people:
- Draft my outreach message
- Create a spreadsheet to track the messages
- Send out 5 messages/day for 10 days
- Follow up 7 days after the first message
- Reach out to 10 recruiters:
- Search LinkedIn for recruiter names
- Search online for recruiting firms
- Draft my outreach message
- Send out 5 messages/day for 2 days
- Follow up 7 days after the first message
Then add due dates to each of these goals to ensure you’re taking daily steps towards your bigger goals.
Be realistic about your calendar too. If you know you’re going to be extra busy around Thanksgiving or the last two weeks of December, don’t schedule major goals for that time.
Whew! That was a lot. End-of-year planning is important, so I wanted to give you enough details to help. If you have concerns about any of these steps, please make a free 30-minute appointment and I can answer your questions.
To your success,
- Emily
"Career cushion" your way around a scary job market
October 31, 2023
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Hi everyone, Today is Halloween! Other than the ghouls, ghosts, and garish costumes, you know what scares me? The current job market. 👩💻 I study economic and labor trends, and I don’t love what I see. While some economists have argued we've avoided a big recession and the economy is "soft landing," other economists argue the worst is yet to come. Also, we've got high interest rates which increases the cost of borrowing. As a result, companies tighten their belts and layoffs occur. This means there's more competition in the labor pool. Plus, nearly everyone wants to work remotely, and remote jobs account for only 14% of the job listings. AND up to 65% of jobs can be ghost listings. AND recruiters have been laid off in large numbers, which means people who aren't familiar with the hiring process are in charge of hiring. 🤦♀️ In short, it’s safe to say that “The Great Resignation” is over and employees don’t have as much leverage over employers as they had the last two years. My last two newsletters have been about the job search. On October 10, I talked about why the traditional job search sucks and what you can do instead. On October 24, I wrote about ghost jobs because I don’t want you wasting your time applying for jobs that don’t even exist. And I’m spending the next few editions of this newsletter sharing advice to weather the job market, starting with today’s topic: Career Cushioning. WHAT IS “CAREER CUSHIONING?”"Career cushioning" means creating a “Plan B” for your career in case you are fired or laid off. In other words, you are preparing to get a new job while you are currently employed. The phrase is a play on “cushioning,” a slang term describing those who have a romantic partner on standby in case their current relationship ends. They have a “backup” partner who can “cushion” the pain of a breakup. 🤯 Likewise, “career cushioning” means to have other job options on standby in case your current job ends. And if you’re currently unemployed and job hunting, read on … the steps outlined below will help your job search too. HOW “CAREER CUSHIONING” STARTEDThe term originated in 2022 and became more popular this year as recession fears grew and mass layoffs dominated the news. Business Insider’s Feb 2023 article is oft-cited as popularizing the term in 2023. WHAT IT MEANSEmployees who fear for their job security might begin to look for new jobs on job boards, brush up their resume, reconnect with their network, and/or learn new skills to be a more attractive job candidate. HOW TO LEVERAGE ITThe “Great Resignation” is over. The job market is weak. Layoffs and recession fears dominate the news. AI is coming for many white-collar jobs. It is more important than ever to keep yourself prepared with a “Plan B” for your career.
WHEN TO LEVERAGE "CAREER CUSHIONING"NOW! When it comes to your career, remain vigilant, especially with economic worries on the horizon. Each new job should be a step up, in terms of title and salary. And if you are laid off, you don’t want to be in a position where you’re desperate for a new job - any new job - and take a step backward in your career. 💡Instead, take these steps to make a thoughtful and purposeful transition in your career, should the need arise. Plus, the process will make you feel great too - you will be confident, clear, and secure about your career. Huzzah! To your success, - Emily
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Are you wasting your time on ghost jobs?
October 24, 2023
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Hi everyone, I missed last week’s newsletter because I was speaking at an event and all my energy was focused on that. I’m sorry to miss the post, especially because I’ve been wanting to talk with you about ghost jobs! Not only is this topic seasonally appropriate with Halloween around the corner, but I desperately want you to know what to avoid when you’re job hunting. Two weeks ago I talked about why the job search sucks. One of the reasons it sucks is because many job listings are fake - they are called “ghost jobs.” Today we're talking all about ghost jobs - what they are, why they happen, and how to spot them. WHAT ARE GHOST JOBS?Also known as “phantom jobs,” these are job listings that companies create with no intention of filling the role. 😱 If you apply to a ghost job, you might apply and never hear back from the company, or worse - go through several rounds of interviews only to get ghosted by the company. They just stop responding to your messages. WHY DO COMPANIES POST GHOST JOBS?The phenomenon came to light in 2022 when Clarify Capital, a company providing loans for small businesses, surveyed 1,000+ managers to understand their intent behind ghost jobs. The reasons for ghost jobs vary, but it is largely because of economic uncertainty. It has been a tricky few years for businesses. The pandemic threw everything off course in 2020, and The Great Resignation fueled employee upheaval through 2021 and 2022. Now that the Fed has increased interest rates and it is more expensive to borrow money, companies want to tighten their belts and prepare for any economic insecurity in 2023 and 2024. Ghost jobs are a reflection of this uncertainty. 🤯 Here are the reasons I have found why companies post ghost jobs, ranked in order from innocent to the most nefarious:
HOW TO SPOT GHOST JOBSAccording to respondents of the Clarify Capital survey, up to 65% of job postings can be ghost jobs. Yes, you read that right. You could be spending all your time on job boards applying for jobs that don’t even exist. 🤬 As a career coach, I’m a big advocate for networking your way to a job and avoiding job boards altogether (as I talked about in the last newsletter). If, however, you are spending your time on the job boards, there are a few clues to look for to determine whether or not the job posting is real:
Alright! I hope I have sufficiently opened your eyes to the wild world of ghost jobs, and now you know what to avoid in your job search. And if you’re ready to ditch those job boards and actually land a job you love, make a 30-minute appointment and tell me all about it. To your success, - Emily
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The job search sucks. Stop doing it.
October 10, 2023
Hi everyone,
“I’m ready for a new job,” you might be thinking. “Let me update my resume and hit the job boards.” Then you find some jobs you like, customize your resume, perhaps write a cover letter, and then send off your application. And cross your fingers. And send good vibes. And maybe do a little hopeful dance.
And then you wait. And you don’t hear back. Or you do hear back and you’re immediately rejected. Or you get called for an interview only to be ghosted. And you do this repeatedly, multiple times a day, for weeks on end, only to see your confidence and energy plummet.
🙅♀️ The job search sucks. It’s broken, it’s depressing, and it’s time-consuming.
How does it suck so much? Let’s count the ways:
- It takes a lot of time. You have to search for jobs, research the company, customize your resume, write a cover letter, and submit an application - that’s too much! At this point, finding a new job is a job.
- It’s debilitating. It takes a lot of energy to get rejected or ghosted every day only to wake up ready to do it all over again the next day. What a vicious and depressing cycle.
- It lowers your standards. After you spend some time not hearing back about jobs, you start applying for jobs that don’t even sound interesting to you. And then - surprise! - you don’t even hear back on jobs for which you are “overqualified.” Talk about depressing.
- It’s competitive. In the days of “Easy Apply” and online applications, hiring managers are swarmed with resumes. Nowadays they could get 500 applicants instead of 50. How are you supposed to stand out from that crowd?
- It’s fake. This last one is important for you to know. Up to 60% of job listings can be “ghost listings,” meaning the company has no intention of filling that role for several months, if ever. 🤯 That means you are spending all your time applying for jobs that don’t actually exist. Why do companies do this? There’s a list of reasons, from innocent to nefarious. That’s a whole other conversation for another day (perhaps next week's email?). For now, just know that you might be applying to jobs that aren’t real.
🤔 Do you see why the old method of applying for dozens of jobs just doesn’t work anymore? You’re not “playing the numbers game” when you send out 100 job applications, you’re just doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.
There’s a better way to search for a job. It’s the method I teach my clients to land jobs faster and easier - no “Easy Apply” required.
THE BETTER WAY TO JOB SEARCH
- Figure out what you want. What kind of job interests you, at what kind of company? Then look at job descriptions and LinkedIn profiles to get keywords and key phrases to build into your resume and LinkedIn profile. (If this step overwhelms you, check out my digital course Five Steps to Find Your New Career).
- Rather than working on your resume, polish up your LinkedIn profile. Nowadays, a LinkedIn profile is almost more important than a resume. Not only is it necessary for your job search, but also for networking. BONUS: An optimized LinkedIn profile can attract recruiters, which is one of the best ways to land a new job. It works too - one of my clients optimized his profile on a Thursday and five recruiters reached out to him by Monday morning. And one of those recruiters led to his next job - boom!
- Instead of sending out 100 resumes, contact 100 people. Make contacts at the companies where you want to work so that you have an advocate on the inside to hand your resume to the hiring manager. Find contacts on LinkedIn - work your network, your school’s alumni, and ask 2nd or 3rd connections for informational interviews. Check out my course on informational interviews for more tips.
💁♀️ Stop job searching the old way - it doesn’t work and you’re wasting your time. No more applying to jobs online with a resume and cover letter - change your job search strategy using the steps outlined above for faster and better results. As always, if you have any questions about the job search or your career strategy, please make a free 30-minute appointment.
Here's what others have said after their free 30-minute appointment:
"That was awesome! Thank you! I feel so much clearer on my path."
"Wow! You really put things into perspective for me. Thank you."
"I feel much more confident moving forward."
"I took your advice and I've got an interview next week! My first one in months!"
💃 Wahoo! I love hearing this! I hope to meet you soon too.
To your success,
- Emily
WII.FM Part 3 - How to write bullet points for your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile
October 3, 2023
Hi everyone,
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Welcome to the final installment of WII.FM! This is Part 3 of 3, and today we dive into the nitty gritty about how to write effective bullet points for your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. ⚠️ WARNING: This email is long and very useful. Before I get into the details, let’s review the highlights from the previous two emails in this series. (You can read Parts 1 and 2 here). JOB SEARCH MINDSET SHIFT You are the entrepreneur of your career. You are the product and you are selling the product to target customers who are hiring managers and recruiters. Every good entrepreneur is tuned into WII.FM - “What’s In It for Me," and markets their product to speak to their target customers’ problems, wants, and needs. Because people buy solutions, not products. As the job seeker, you must be tuned into WII.FM - who are the hiring managers and what do they want? What are their problems, wants, and needs, and how can you tailor your personal brand to speak to them? Last week’s email covered this in detail. ⭐ If you recall, we also talked about sharing the benefits of hiring you, instead of simply listing the features of your background. Show your experience through stories, rather than just talking about your skills. So let’s talk about how to find those stories and turn them into bullet points. STEP 1: FIND YOUR KEYWORDSThis step is crucial for your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. If you haven’t found your keywords yet, do this first.
STEP 2: FIND YOUR STORIESNow that you have your keywords and you know what your target customers want, find stories from your past experience that illustrate the keywords from the job descriptions. Think about your tasks, responsibilities, and outcomes from the last 10 years. ⭐ Remember, you don’t have to be paid in order to have “experience.” Time spent in school or working as a volunteer absolutely qualifies as experience. Find stories that illustrate your keywords:
STEP 3: WRITE SAR STORIESAlright, you’ve got your stories that illustrate your keywords, now it’s time to turn them into SAR stories. SAR stands for “Situation, Action, Result” and it’s an effective and efficient way to write your bullet points. (Incidentally, it’s also a great way to answer open-ended job interview questions like: “Tell me about …” “What do you do when …” “Give me an example of …”) The SAR Method for Storytelling
STEP 4: FIND QUANTIFIABLE MEASURESQuantifiable measures are numbers, percentages, metrics, data, or anything that will quantify and support your results. ⭐ Numbers are an important addition to your stories because they help illustrate your points. They measure your impact. They show, instead of tell, how you are an effective employee. Most of all, they help a hiring manager easily understand how you can help them if they hire you. How to Find Quantifiable Measures
STEP 5: WRITE YOUR BULLET POINTSYou made it! Now you’re ready to write effective bullet points for your resume, cover letters, and LinkedIn profile. SRA Stories Get your SAR stories and flip the order a bit. Now think of them as SRA stories: Situation, RESULT, Action. Take your SAR stories and rewrite them as SRA stories, adding quantifiable measures where you can. ⭐ Another way to think about your SRA stories:
Make SRA Stories Shorter Now take your SRA stories and make them even shorter. BULLET POINTS PRO TIP: Drop the “Situation” and only focus on the “Results” and “Action.” REMINDER: Bullet points are short, impactful statements
Let’s look at examples. Let’s say you ran the social media accounts for a small business. Here are different ways you can handle those bullet points, from “Bad” to “Best”
👍 And that’s it! That’s how you write effective bullet points for your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. You’ve just been handed the ultimate guide to refining your brand and attracting hiring managers and recruiters. Whew! This has been quite a journey and I’m proud of you for making it all the way through. This email is a doozy, so be sure you bookmark it and the other two emails in the series. And if you have any questions about writing bullet points for your brand, make a free 30-minute appointment, and let’s talk about it. To your success, - Emily |
WII.FM Part 2 - Four steps to answer, "What's in it for me?"
September 26, 2023
Hi everyone,
Last week I talked about the most important radio station in the world - WII.FM.
When you are writing your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile, you must appeal to your target audience - the hiring manager. And the hiring managers are all tuned in to WII.FM - "What’s in it for me?"
That means your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile must be tuned into the problems, wants, and needs of the hiring manager. You have to answer, “What’s in it for me?” so the hiring manager immediately understands why they have to call you in for an interview. This means you:
- Discuss the benefits of hiring you instead of the features of your background
- Show your experience, rather than just talk about it
- Connect the dots between your background and the needs of the hiring manager
The last newsletter mentioned four steps to help you do this, and today’s newsletter outlines those steps in more detail. Let’s get started!
STEP 1: UNDERSTAND THE HIRING MANAGER’S PERSPECTIVE
Who is the hiring manager and what do they want?
- First, who is the hiring manager? It’s usually the head of the department where you want to work. If a name isn’t listed in the job description, it will say something like, “Report to the manager about …” and chances are, “the manager” is the hiring manager. A quick LinkedIn search will help you find the leadership team, department information, and the hiring manager. (You might find this information on their website too.)
- Once you find the person(s), study their LinkedIn profile - what do they mention in the profile? What do they talk about? What accomplishments are they most proud of? This will give you a good insight into what is important to them.
- Read the job description closely (which is largely written by the hiring manager) - what are the objectives? What are they hoping this role will achieve?
- Study the company - what is their mission, their products/services, and who are they selling to? Read the company’s website, LinkedIn page, and search their name in the news. Did they launch any special products or initiatives recently? How can you help with that?
STEP 2: REVIEW YOUR SKILLS
Read the job description for clues.
- Read the job description closely and highlight the keywords and phrases - what is the company looking for?
- Make a list of the skills requested and keywords from the job description - aim for 3-5 categories of skills/job description.
- Look at the list of skills and decide which ones you’d like to highlight - do you have stories you can share about these skills that illustrate your impact at an organization?
STEP 3: CONNECT THE DOTS
Now it’s time to connect the dots between your background/experience and the skills the employer wants.
- What are the top priorities for the company and hiring manager? (STEP 1)
- How can your background/experience/skills help them achieve those objectives? (STEP 2)
- What stories can you share that connect the dots between their priorities and your background? (STEP 3)
- Look at your past stories from different perspectives. For example, if the hiring manager wants someone who will “grow their customer base,” talk about how you have done this in the past. Get specific with numbers and measurements. Look at all of your past work through the lens of “growing a customer base.” Even if your primary duties weren’t “growing a customer base,” make it very clear how your actions ultimately helped the team to do that.
- Your experience doesn’t have to be directly related. As long as the results you achieved are similar to the results the company wants, you can talk about the experience you gained in school, as a volunteer, or at a previous job in a different industry. For example, if you volunteered with your school’s PTO and helped increase membership, that counts as “growing a customer base” and you can talk about it in your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile.
STEP 4: KEEP IT SIMPLE
This doesn’t have to be complicated, the simplest messages are the easiest to understand.
- Job seekers tend to have too much text and not enough substance. Hiring managers would rather see a cover letter with only three sentences on it if every word is tuned into WII.FM and speaks directly to their needs/wants/problems. Less is more here.
- Use bullet points to illustrate your skills and stories. For example, if the job description is looking for a strong leader, create a heading titled “Leadership” and list 2-3 bullet points that demonstrate your leadership skills, ideally with quantifiable measures that illustrate your impact.
- Use lots of white space in your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. Eyes get overwhelmed with too much text. Your message will have a greater impact if you use short sentences and bullet points rather than long paragraphs.
- After you write your bullet points, review them - do they speak to the hiring manager’s needs? Do the bullet points illustrate the skills the hiring manager is looking for? Is everything tuned into WII.FM?
That wraps up this week’s newsletter. Next week I’ll deliver the final message in this series - how to use WII.FM to write effective bullet points for your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile.
To your success,
- Emily
A new way to think about your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile
September 19, 2023
Hi everyone,
Today I’ve got a tip to rethink the way you write your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn.
But first, may I share a brief story to kick off today’s message?
I have a business background, and I was a startup coach before I became a career coach.
As a startup coach, I helped young businesses double their sales, raise millions of dollars in funding, and appear on ABC’s Shark Thank. I also wrote the book Make, Sell, Repeat: The Ultimate Business Guide for Artists, Crafters, and Makers, based on my own experience as a creative entrepreneur.
The book led to my gig at Boston University teaching Career Development in the Arts, a position I still hold today. And I love talking about business and career development because the two are so intertwined.
I see “career development” a lot like “business development.” Because there are many parallels between being a job seeker and being an entrepreneur.
❗In the end, YOU ARE BOTH SELLING A PRODUCT TO A TARGET CUSTOMER. An entrepreneur sells products. As a job seeker, YOU are the product.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TARGET CUSTOMER
ENTREPRENEURS have target customers - people who will buy their products
JOB SEEKERS also have target customers - hiring managers (and recruiters)
When ENTREPRENEURS want to reach their target customers, they tailor their message to speak directly to their target customers’ problems, wants, and needs.
Likewise, when JOB SEEKERS want to reach their target customers, they must tailor their message to speak directly to the hiring managers’ problems, wants, and needs.
THE MOST IMPORTANT RADIO STATION IN THE WORLD: WII.FM
📻 Let me take you back to the mid-2000s when I was a wee MBA student. In my first marketing class, I learned that smart business owners listen to the most important radio station in the world: WII.FM. (SPOILER: It’s not really a radio station, it’s a state of mind.)
WII.FM stands for “What’s In It For Me?” That is, whenever you are selling something to your target customer, they’re thinking, “What’s in it for me?”
❗Here’s the truth: Whether you are an ENTREPRENEUR selling a product or a JOB SEEKER looking to get hired, your target customers are always thinking, “So what? Why should I care? What’s in it for me?”
It sounds harsh but it’s true. We do it all the time as consumers. We pick up a product, look at the label, read the reviews, and decide if this product will help us with our problem, want, or need.
WE DON’T BUY PRODUCTS. WE BUY SOLUTIONS.
Entrepreneurs know that target customers don’t necessarily care about the product itself, they care about what the product can do for them.
This is a "features vs. benefits" issue. We generally don’t buy products because of the features, we buy products because of the benefits the features will provide.
For example, which is more appealing to you: “This computer has 64GB of hard drive” or “This computer can store all of your documents, photos, and large files without affecting speed.”
64GB is the "feature." Ok, so what? Why should I care? Oh, I can store everything in there and my computer will still be fast. That's the "benefit." Great. Sold.
💡In job search terms, a feature is a quality (or skill), but the benefit explains why that quality (or skill) is valuable to a hiring manager.
Here’s why this is important - too often I see resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles that are somehow filled with a lot of words but say a lot of nothing. People just go on and on talking about their background and skills. Which is all well and good, but you're just giving me the “features.”
I want to hear about the “benefits” … Great, you’ve got all these talents and skills, but what can your talent and skills do for me, the hiring manager? What’s in it for me?
❗And if you apply WII.FM to your job search, it completely changes how you approach your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile.
CONNECT THE DOTS ("LA LA LA LA")
Did anyone else grow up watching Pee-wee’s Playhouse? Pee-wee had a “Connect the dots” segment where he sang, “Connect the dots, la la la la, connect the dots, la la la la,” and the dots would connect and become a simple image that Pee-wee would jump into and go on a little adventure.
That’s exactly what you need to do with your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. You connect the dots between your background, skills, and experience to create a picture for the hiring manager. You want to paint a picture so clear and so exciting that a hiring manager just wants to jump right into it and call you in for an interview.
💡We talked about features vs. benefits. You can also think of it like show vs. tell.
So it’s not enough to just talk about your skills and experience. You have to show how those skills will directly benefit a future employer, based on the results you have achieved in the past. Connect the dots. Tell the story of your career so a hiring manager immediately understands what you offer and how it can help them.
My email next week will have more tips on how to do that, but here’s a preview of the four steps so you can start thinking about it now:
STEP 1: Understand the hiring manager’s perspective. Who are they and what do they want? What are their problems/wants/needs, based on the job description?
STEP 2: Review your skills - what is the company looking for and how can your skills/experience/background help? How can you share your experience in a way that will appeal to their needs?
STEP 3: Connect the dots - what are the company’s (and hiring manager’s) objectives and how can your background/experience/skills help them achieve those objectives? For example, “They are looking for someone who can communicate well with other stakeholders. I have done that before. How can I frame that in a way that benefits the hiring manager?”
STEP 4: Keep it simple. Job seekers tend to have too much text and not enough substance. A hiring manager would prefer to see a few bullet points with every word relevant and tuned into WII.FM over long blocks of text which somehow don’t say much at all.
Next week I’ll talk more about the four steps and how to incorporate them into your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile.
In the meantime, if you’re working on your resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile, look at it through the lens of a hiring manager tuned into WII.FM and saying, “So what? Why should I care? What’s in it for me?”
• Do you have too many features listed and not enough benefits?
• Are you telling instead of showing?
• Are you letting your resume “speak for itself” or are you clearly connecting the dots between your skills, accomplishments, and how a hiring manager can benefit from hiring you?
See you next week for Part 2 of WII.FM,
- Emily
[JOB SEARCH TIP] Send messages, not applications
September 12, 2023
Hi Emily,
I’ll be blunt: the job search sucks. For so many reasons.
Job searching can be stressful, confusing, and debilitating. It combines lots of things that often make us uncomfortable - money, self-esteem, networking, taking risks, rejection … worse yet, it takes up SO MUCH TIME.
Here’s how most people job hunt:
- Update the resume
- Search job sites and find some jobs that sound vaguely appealing
- Send out dozens or hundreds of resumes/applications
- Don’t hear back, get burnt out, run-down, and imposter syndrome creeps in
- Sit up and do it all again the next day
I’ve been a career coach for seven years and I have seen hundreds of people ride the same roller coaster. And this method doesn’t work, as you’ve likely seen by now.
Most people think that job applications are a “numbers game.” I call it the “click and stick” method - where people just click on job applications all day long, hoping one of them will stick. Because the more you apply, the more likely you’ll hear back from someone, right?
Wrong. You’re wasting time applying for jobs that aren’t a great fit - or worse yet if you’re overqualified. Those precious hours spent customizing resumes and writing cover letters could be spent in more strategic and fruitful ways.
Rather than send out 100 applications, I’d rather you connect with 100 people.
Ok, yes, I just heard you groan. I know this isn’t a popular sentiment. I know sitting behind a computer and applying to jobs all day long is easier than reaching out to strangers at the companies where you want to work.
“But Emily,” you might be thinking, “I have tried to connect with people in the past and it didn’t work.”
If you’ve tried to connect with people in the past, how many people did you connect with? I mean how many people did you have real conversations and connections with? I bet it’s less than 10, likely less than five. Don’t get me wrong, this is a fabulous start, but it’s just a start. You have to keep going.
Today’s job market, while better than expected and still relatively tight, is quite competitive. Between layoffs and career changers, there are a lot of job applications flooding the market right now.
So there are two ways you stand out from the competition:
- A strong personal brand, including a compelling LinkedIn profile
- Connections with people at the companies where you want to work
So let’s talk about how you get those connections at the places where you want to work.
First of all, do you know where you want to work? Write a list of companies that interest you. I have a whole module about this in my Find Your New Career course, and I’ll give you some highlights here:
- If you know what industry interests you, search by industry on Indeed's Company Reviews page
- What about the connections you already have? Where are they working?
- Search for companies on the “Best Places to Work” lists
- Look up reviews on Glassdoor and Indeed
Next, find 5-10 people who work at the company where you want to work. (If it’s a mid-sized company, five people. If it’s a big company, 10 people.) You can look for anyone who works at the company, and ultimately connect with people who work in the department where you want to work.
Send them messages asking for a 20-minute meeting/informational interview. Tell them you’re interested in working for the company one day and ask if they could provide insight on what it’s like to work there.
Ultimately, the purpose of these meetings is to get your resume in their hand and a promise they’ll connect you with the hiring manager, but you don’t ask for that right away. (It will come up during the 20-minute informational interview.) You want to make a connection first.
I published a 5-sentence structure for these types of emails on LinkedIn last week. (Are you following me on LinkedIn?)
Why should you contact 5-10 people at the company? Because you won’t hear back from everyone, you want to cast a wide net. And if you do hear back from everyone, that’s amazing! That’s more people in the company who know you and can advocate for you.
If you’ve barely done informational interviews in the past, or haven’t done them ever, I urge you to take this step to stand out in today’s job market. If you’re stuck on informational interviews or they have intimidated you in the past, look into my informational interviews course, which makes the process really easy.
Remember, you can send out hundreds of applications, but there are two proven ways to stand out in today’s job market:
- A strong personal brand, including a compelling LinkedIn profile
- Connections with people at the companies where you want to work
So get going on those connections today! It will take a few weeks to send out the messages, hear a reply, and book the informational interview, just stay patient and stick with it. This will pay off, I promise.
To your success,
- Emily
Are you using this important job search strategy? (VIDEO INSIDE)
September 6, 2023
Hi everyone,
It’s here! September is here! Not only is it the start of the school year - huzzah! (Fellow parents of school-aged children, you know what I’m talking about 😉). September is the start of a traditionally hot hiring season.
Summer is the toughest time to look for a job, so if you’ve been frustrated with the job search over the past few months, take comfort in knowing hiring picks up again in September and October.
I wrote about the hot hiring season two weeks ago, and listed five steps you can do to prepare:
- Make a list of companies that interest you
- Make connections at the companies that interest you
- Find your keywords
- Add the keywords to your resume and LinkedIn profile
- Upskill if necessary
Step #2 - Make connections at the companies that interest you - should be a top priority in your job search. I offered networking tips in my newsletter, and I suggested informational interviews as your “boss move” to really cinch the deal.
Informational interviews - where you speak to someone who is doing a job that interests you - can lead to important contacts at the companies where you want to work. At a minimum, informational interviews tell you more about the types of jobs and companies that interest you. At most, they can also lead to job interviews and sometimes job offers. I’ve seen it happen dozens of times before, and it can happen to you too.
😬 Yes, this all sounds terrific, but when I ask people if they use informational interviews in their job search, they just kind of shrug it off. People either say, “Eh, do they really work?” or, “It’s scary … Who do I ask? What should I say? What if I don’t hear back?”
I get it, I really do. I have guided 1,500+ informational interviews over the years, and they are the single most rewarding (and scary) step for a job seeker. Every person I have advised about informational interviews inevitably says, “Thank you for pushing me to do this. I didn’t want to do it, and now I’m so glad I did.”
Growing your network is the #1 way to get a job.
And the #1 to grow your network is through informational interviews.
I am so serious about the power of informational interviews that I dedicated an entire module to them in my new Find Your New Career Course.
💡Then I realized, if you know exactly what kind of job you want next, then you don’t need the Find Your New Career course, then you’re missing out on that valuable module about informational interviews.
So I took that module about informational interviews and turned it into a standalone course. Meet Informational Interviews for Job Seekers, a step-by-step guide to help you contact the right people the right way and land your next job opportunity.
Informational Interviews for Job Seekers is a simple course guiding you through every step of the informational interview process. You will learn about who to ask, how to ask, when to ask, and what to ask during your informational interviews so that you leave a great first impression with someone who is eager to help you with your job search. This course makes it really easy to do informational interviews, just follow the templates and step-by-step advice.
The best part? This course is only $95, and includes 10 videos with detailed instructions for your informational interviews.
If you want my guidance on informational interviews, you can choose the hybrid version for $295, which includes 4 weeks of my coaching and 2x30 min 1:1 Zoom sessions. (Quite a deal, considering my coaching rate is $425/hour). If you have tried informational interviews in the past and they didn’t work out the way you wanted, the hybrid version is for you.
It's time to switch strategies in your job search. Stop applying to jobs from the outside and make some connections on the inside. Informational Interviews get it done and this course will show you how. Click here for more information about the course.
😳 Are you still unsure about informational interviews? That’s your brain working against you - it's trying to keep you small and safe. I address this exact issue in the course, in Lesson #3. Here is the video for Lesson #3, which is all about your mindset for informational interviews. Enjoy!
Even if you don’t purchase the course, I hope this message motivates you to pursue informational interviews for your career development. If you have any questions about informational interviews, schedule a free 30-minute appointment and tell me about it.
To your success,
- Emily
Did you see this video on LinkedIn? (Are you using LinkedIn? 😳)
August 29, 2023
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Hi everyone, How often are you logging into LinkedIn? Most people make the mistake of only using LinkedIn when they’re job hunting. As Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman would say: "Big mistake. Big. Huge." Nurture your network nowI love the proverb, "Don't wait to build a well until you're thirsty." It means you should prepare for what you need before you need it. And you can apply the same philosophy to networking. I like to say, “Build your network when you don’t need it so it’s ready when you do need it.” Most people only tap into their network when they’re job hunting, but that’s just building a well when you’re dying of thirst. Instead, if you build your well ahead of time, and nurture your network regularly, then your network will be there in abundance to help you when you need it. 🤝 And when I say, “nurturing your network,” I mean two things: 1) Actively staying connected with your network, and 2) offering help to others. Not only does that make you a better human, but it increases the chances people will help you when you need it. (And you NEED your network when you're job hunting.) And you can easily nurture your network and help others on LinkedIn. About your networkBefore I offer some tips and share a neat video, let me define “your network.” Everyone’s networks are composed of “strong ties” and “weak ties.” I want you to focus on the “weak ties,” the people you know casually. Why? Because people who are your “strong” ties - people with whom you interact regularly - they likely run in the same circles you do and know the same people you do. This is all well and good, but when you’re job hunting, you want to tap into your bigger network, especially those “weak” ties. 💡 Because “weak” ties often yield the greatest networking opportunities. Your “weak” ties run in different circles than you do, they know different people, therefore they know about more opportunities. And you want all the networking help you can get when you’re job hunting. How to nurture your network on LinkedInThis doesn’t have to be a big time commitment - just once a week log on to LinkedIn and “like” your contacts’ posts. Even better - leave a thoughtful comment. People really appreciate those. Look at your list of contacts - who haven’t you spoken to in a while? Check their profile - what are they up to? 💬 Send personal messages once a quarter (every three months) to your connections - especially those weak connections, people you don’t know very well Keep it short and offer help: “I see you’re working at ______. How is it going there? I’m checking in to say hello. And if there is any way I can use my network to help you, please let me know.” This is a powerful way to keep your network nurtured when you’re happily employed. 🙋♀️ Notice I said, “...when you’re happily employed.” Because when you are job hunting, you have to do all of this and much more. Job hunting on LinkedIn is a totally different strategy, more than just nurturing your network. We can have that conversation on another day. (Or make a free 30-minute appointment and we can talk about your LinkedIn strategy.) For now, I’m just encouraging you to follow me on LinkedIn because it will get you logging into LinkedIn regularly, plus I share fun stuff, like this video below. Helpful LinkedIn tip (video)Do you remember in last week’s newsletter I shared five steps to get ready for the hot September hiring season? Step 2 was all about using LinkedIn’s “All Filters” button to find people who work at the companies where you want to work. This button is so important that I made a short video about it and posted it on LinkedIn last week. Enjoy! I hope to see you on LinkedIn! If you found this message helpful, please pass it along to someone else who might enjoy it too. To your success, - Emily |
You've got two weeks - are you ready? 😳 Action items inside
August 22, 2023
Hi everyone,
🤦♀️ Bad news - we’re in the Summer Slump.
Summer is the worst time of year to look for a job because everyone is out of the office.
Important projects - like hiring a new team member - are put off until September, when everyone is back in the office.
August is the lowest point of the summer slump, and you’re likely feeling it if you’re actively applying for jobs right now.
💃 But September is around the corner! And September/October are hot hiring months. Plus, there are plenty of things to do to keep yourself active on the job hunt while we await September’s return. You've got two weeks - are you ready? Buckle up, I’ve got loads of tips coming your way …
1. MAKE A LIST OF COMPANIES THAT INTEREST YOU
- Search the “Best companies to work for” lists, or search online for “Best companies for [your job title or your industry].” You can also search online for “Best companies to work for near me” or “Best companies for [job title or industry] near me.” Try to list at least 10 companies.
- Check out Indeed's Company Reviews page - browse by industry and find top-ranking companies and reviews.
- Look at your LinkedIn connections - who do you know (1st and 2nd connections) and where do they work?
- If you're looking for part-time, remote, or flex-time work, go to Flexjobs.com. They specialize in these kinds of jobs, it's what they do. (Also check out Dynamite Jobs, Virtual Vocations, and Remote.co.) I like Flexjobs because they have a fantastic “Top companies” list. And you can search by different categories, like job titles, values, and location. This is a great way to find top companies that are offering part-time, remote, and flexible work.
- Finally, search for a company's competitors. When you start to get a list of companies that interest you, search online for their competitors - could they be good places to work too? Research their reputation on sites like Glassdoor and Indeed.
- Make a list of companies that interest you. Aim for at least 10.
2. MAKE CONNECTIONS AT THE COMPANIES THAT INTEREST YOU
- Search the company name on LinkedIn and click “People” - do you have any 1st or 2nd connections? Also, use the "All Filters" button and enter the company name under “Past company” to find people who used to work there too, they might still have connections at the company. Do the same for your school - enter your school's name to find alumni who are working at the company.
- Update your address book on LinkedIn to expand your search. If you don't have a lot of connections yet on LinkedIn, upload your address book and LinkedIn will find people you already know and you can scan their profiles. You can currently add your address book only through the LinkedIn mobile app, click here to find out how to do it.
- Go old school: If you don't want to add your address book to LinkedIn, you can manually search your phone and email contacts and look up their LinkedIn profiles and see where they’re working or where they used to work.
- Once you have a list of people to contact, reach out to them: “Hi ____. [If you know them directly, add something here like "I hope you're doing well" or "Last time we talked you were ..."] I’m a [job title] and I’m very interested in working at [your company]. How do you like it? Would you mind taking a look at my resume?” This gets your resume in the hands of someone who works there. They can pass it on and now you’ve got an advocate from the inside. And if you think that’s “too pushy,” remember that many companies offer referral bonuses for their employees, so if you’re hired the employee gets money. Win-win.
- Boss move: Ask for an informational interview. “Hi ___, I’m a [job title] and I’d like to work for a company like [name of their company] one day. Your job looks quite interesting. Do you have 20 minutes available to talk about your day-to-day life on the job and your experience at the company?” Informational interviews are a great way to solidify important connections and land jobs. I have an extensive module about informational interviews and how to contact people in my new Find Your New Career course.
3. FIND YOUR KEYWORDS
- Study the job descriptions for jobs that interest you (even if you aren’t applying to those jobs right now, or you already applied to them). Aim for 3-5 job descriptions.
- Track the words they use - how do they describe the job? What is the job’s role, responsibility, and the requested background/skills?
- At this point, I like to copy + paste the job descriptions into a document, then highlight the keywords and phrases.
- There are also several online resources to help you get a quick list of top keywords. Try the keyword tools from Resume Worded, SkillSyncer, or Jobscan.
- LinkedIn is useful too. They have a resume builder that can help you identify keywords. I don’t like the resumes that come out of this tool, but it is very handy when you’re working on your keywords. Follow these steps on LinkedIn:
- Your profile → More → Build a resume → Create from profile → Choose your desired job title.
- Go to the "Keyword Insights" on the right side of the page - these are keywords that are automatically scraped from the profiles of people who have the job you want.
- WARNING: While these tools can help, they do not replace the copy + paste steps I mentioned above - you will get better information if you manually read the job descriptions and assemble your own keyword list. But I like to use technology as a second step, to check my work and discover more keywords.
4. ADD THE KEYWORDS TO YOUR RESUME AND LINKEDIN PROFILE
- Get your resume and LinkedIn profile updated and appealing to hiring managers. Use the keywords and phrases you found in the job descriptions.
- Add the keywords to your headline, summary, and experience sections to speak directly to the hiring manager’s needs - what do they want and how can you help them? Be specific about the results you achieved.
- Make your bullet points impactful - use quantifiable measures whenever possible (“Managed 7 people,” “Grew customer base 25%,” “Saved 30 hours of paperwork.”) If you need help finding quantifiable measures, read this article from The Balance Careers.
5. UPSKILL IF NECESSARY
- If you’re switching industries or coming back to work after a career pause, it might help to take a few courses to learn new skills or brush up on old ones. What skills do you regularly see listed in job descriptions that are your weakest skills?
- Even if you’re staying in the same type of job, hiring managers love to see that you’re acquiring new skills and growing in your field.
- Many Ivy League schools offer free courses (search online for “[Name of school] free courses” to get started.
- Also check out LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, EdX, and Coursera (there are loads of others out there too).
- You can also just search online for “Best online courses for _____”. (Enter the name of the job or the industry or the skill you want to learn.) So you could try, “Best online courses for project managers,” or “Best online courses for Python,” which is a coding language.
- You could also add “free” or “with certificate” to your search too: “Best free online courses for project managers with certificates.”
💁♀️ OK, that should be plenty to do while you ride out the Summer Slump! If you have any questions about these steps, or if you are overwhelmed by them (which is TOTALLY normal) - please make a free 30-minute appointment to tell me about it. These are NOT sales appointments - it’s simply 30 minutes to help find clarity on your #1 career problem.
To your success,
- Emily
The reviews are in❗15% discount ends tomorrow❗
August 15, 2023
Hi everyone,
Last week I introduced my new course: From Crossroads to Clarity: Five Steps to Find Your New Career.
In case you missed the message, you can read it here. The course was designed for those of you who are ready for a new stage in your career, but you’re not sure what to do next. You’re feeling stuck at a crossroads, confused, unmotivated, or overwhelmed about making a change. This course will help you find a career that is personally and professionally fulfilling with an easy-to-follow action plan.
I offered the course last week with a 15% discount and some of you jumped on it right away - I love your go-get-it attitude! The reviews are in, and here’s what you had to say:
“I’ve done a few modules of the course – it’s soooo good! You have so much great content in there. I’m amazed at how smooth you are with the presentation too.”
"Your lectures are organized, easy to digest, and chock-full of incredible tips to help me navigate my career. Thank you!"
"Your course has inspired a lot of confidence and invited me to lean into the parts of my future that used to make me quite uncomfortable."
"This has really encouraged me to find a practical and exciting path for myself and my career discovery."
😊 Awh, thanks, everyone! I *love* hearing this. I’ve been teaching and coaching for seven years, and I’ve spent a lot of time honing my presentation skills. I'm really glad to hear the course is so accessible.
You can read more about the course here and watch a video about the course here.
15% DISCOUNT ENDS TOMORROW!
If you missed last week’s message, I offered 15% off to you, my lovely newsletter subscriber.
The digital-only version of the course is usually $495, and the hybrid version is $695, which includes 8 weeks of coaching support and 2x30 min Zoom sessions with me. (Quite a deal, considering my coaching runs $400/hour.)
But, if you purchase the course BEFORE MIDNIGHT (EST) on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, I will refund you 15% of your purchase price. Here's how it breaks down:
Digital: $495 - $75 refund = Total cost $420
Hybrid: $695 - $105 refund = Total cost $590
Just send an email to emily@emilyworden.com confirming your purchase, and I’ll refund you through PayPal. (Sorry for the extra step - payments are processed through PayPal, and they don’t currently have a discount code option. Hence the refund route.)
NO RISKS, ALL REWARDS
And a reminder, the course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Try the course for 30 days, work through Module 4, and if you don’t see how the course can help you find your new career, I will give you your money back. See the FAQs for more details.
✉️ If you have any questions, send me a message: emily@emilyworden.com.
🎉 If you’re ready to get started - yay! I’m ready to support you - click here to purchase the course.
To your success,
- Emily
You're one month away from discovering the next stage of your career
August 8, 2023
Hi Emily,
It’s here! It’s here! The day is FINALLY here! It’s time to introduce my new course: From Crossroads to Clarity: Five Steps to Find Your New Career. I wrote this course for everyone who hates their job and wants to do something new, but they’re not quite sure what it is or how to do it.
YOU’RE ONE MONTH AWAY FROM DISCOVERING THE NEXT STAGE OF YOUR CAREER
Here are some direct quotes clients have shared with me - have you said anything like this?
“I feel stuck at my job.”
“I’m at a crossroads and ready for something new.”
“I’m thinking of a change, maybe switching industries."
“I’d like to move in an intentional direction in my career.”
“I feel stuck. I feel rudderless. I need a plan.”
“I want to have more confidence in myself. I talk myself out of opportunities.”
“I want to have structure back in my life and feel accomplished.”
“I need to do something meaningful and feel like I’m a part of something.”
“I want to live more purposefully and productively, and find work that is fulfilling.”
If you feel this way too, you’re going to love the course! This course has the same resources and step-by-step methods I’ve used to help hundreds of job seekers find jobs that are personally and professionally fulfilling.
FIND YOUR NEW CAREER COURSE OUTLINE
✔️ MODULE 1: RESOURCES / Career Exploration Made Easy. Discover exciting new career possibilities with three helpful career development tools. This is a quick module designed to kickstart your journey and give you instant momentum, clarity, and focus.
✔️ MODULE 2: ASSESSMENTS / Uncover Your Unique Profile. Use assessments to gain valuable insight into your skills, interests, values, and personality. Reveal your unique strengths and talents, guiding you towards careers that unlock your full potential.
✔️ MODULE 3: ANALYSIS / Job and Industry Research Simplified. Arm yourself with the knowledge to make informed career decisions. Dive into comprehensive job and industry research - including salary insights and take-home pay analysis - that empowers you to make financially-sound career choices and navigate the job market with confidence and clarity.
✔️ MODULE 4: CONVERSATIONS / Mastering the Art of Informational Interviews. Informational interviews are a crucial step in your career development, and this module guides you on how to conduct them effectively, including how to find people and their contact information, how to ask for an interview and follow up on your request, and what to do before, during, and after your interview. Learn to leverage the power of networking and gain valuable insights from professionals in your desired field, then use these skills again when you’re ready to search for your dream job.
✔️ MODULE 5: RESEARCH / Targeting Your Dream Companies. Identify and research companies that align with your values and goals. Learn how to find jobs and important contacts at these companies, leading you toward a rewarding and purposeful career.
FIND YOUR NEW CAREER COURSE DETAILS
- 25 lessons spread across five modules, accessed online at your own pace. (I recommend completing one module/week, for a total of five weeks.)
- Each lesson includes a video, a transcript of the video, and a list of resources discussed in the video.
- Each video is 5-10 minutes long, and you can control the speed of the video and turn on or off the captions. Total course video run time: 2.5 hours.
- Includes a course guidebook with every resource and action item discussed in the course and lifetime access to the course, including all future updates.
COURSE INVESTMENT
Flexible learning: Choose a “digital only” or a “hybrid” version of the course:
• DIGITAL $495 - Instant access to the course - the videos, resource lists, transcripts, and the course guidebook - to be completed at your own pace. Includes lifetime access to course material and all future updates.
• HYBRID $695 - Everything in the “Digital” course PLUS 1:1 coaching. You get the entire digital course (videos, resource lists, transcripts, and guidebook) AND eight weeks of private 1:1 coaching. With 1:1 coaching, I will be there with you as you work through the course each week. This includes two 30-minute sessions over Zoom and eight weeks of 1:1 messaging in a private client log. I will answer your questions, provide guidance, and bring that all-important accountability. Details are located here and in the video below.
• 30-day money-back guarantee - You get 30 days to try the course - that’s enough time to get you through the whole course - and if you do the work and decide the course is not for you, I’ll give you your money back. See details in the course FAQs.
SPECIAL OFFER - LIMITED TIME
To celebrate the launch of my first digital course, I’m offering 15% off for one week only. Buy the course, send an email to emily@emilyworden.com confirming your purchase, and I’ll refund you 15% of the purchase price:
• Digital: $75 refund = Total cost $420
• Hybrid: $105 refund = Total cost $590
This offer is only for you, my lovely newsletter subscriber. You won’t find this deal on the website! This deal ends on Wednesday, 8/16 at midnight EST. (Payments are processed through PayPal, which currently does not have coupon codes enabled. This is why we have to go the refund route.)
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
What to be happier at your job? Read these two articles
August 3, 2023
Hi everyone,
I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve … My new course From Crossroads to Clarity: Five Steps to Find Your New Career is *this close* to launch! Next week I can finally tell you all about it! This moment has been many months in the making (ooh, say that five times fast) and I’m just so excited to share it with you. 💃
Maybe because I’ve been working on this course so much, or it’s just the kind of clients I’m attracting lately, but it seems everywhere I turn people are fed up with their jobs and ready for something entirely new.
From the people I meet to the articles I read - there are a ton of unhappy workers out there, and many of them feel stuck in a rut and unable to do anything about it.
Remember the “Grumpy Stayers” article I shared last week? My new course was written for those grumpy stayers because I’m on a mission to help people find jobs they love. Life is too short to feel stuck at a job and hate your work! 🙅♀️
More on that next week. For now, I’m sharing two articles that can help improve your career prospects:
- 7 ChatGPT Prompts to Enjoy Your Job More from Forbes. I’ve written about ChatGPT as a useful tool to help with your resume, LinkedIn, and cover letters (click here to search the archives). But this article takes it to the next level - it provides easy-to-follow prompts to help you ask for a raise, ask for flex time or remote work, get your work noticed, and more. I’ve bookmarked this article, there are great tips in here!
- Cracking the Code to Your Dream Job: Unleashing Fulfillment and Success from Forbes. Well, this title got my attention! The short-but-dense article has four great topics to consider when considering a new career. I found myself nodding along to the article, especially because it touches on topics in my new course too. This is a great inspirational read.
I hope these two articles help improve your own job prospects and career choices. Pass this message along to a friend if you think it might help them too. And I’ll see you next week for the grand opening of my new Five Steps to Find Your New Career Course! Woohoo!
With joy,
- Emily
Are you a "grumpy stayer?"
July 25, 2023
Hi everyone,
This weekend I read a great article from Business Insider about “grumpy stayers” - people who feel stuck in their jobs and they can’t leave due to inertia, lack of skills, or lack of job opportunities. The article talks about two types of people: Those who are in new roles that aren’t all they hoped for, and people who have been spinning in the same dead-end job for years. It’s a great article, and I wanted to respond with my own suggestions about how to stop being a “grumpy stayer.”
Lack of initiative
“Grumpy stayers” feel a sense of inertia. They feel stuck and depressed, but unable to see what to do next or how to even begin. They might look at a few job postings … Figure they aren’t qualified for any of the jobs … Feel down about their prospects … And decide that staying at a job they hate is just easier.
Unfortunately, “grumpy staying” is all too common when we feel stuck in jobs we hate and stuck at a crossroads about what to do next. And we feel like everyone around us is getting better jobs for better pay, and we’re wondering what we’re doing wrong. As the article astutely puts it, “Grumpy stayers might be feeling left behind, with salaries lagging behind those of their peers who've departed.” Ouch, that never feels good.
I am a mental fitness coach as well as a career coach. And a big part of feeling great about yourself is the feeling of momentum - steady progress towards your goals.
But if you feel stuck or helpless, inertia and ennui set in, and those are hard to shake. Then you feel zero progress towards your goals, which only enhances the inertia and ennui.
But if you can get a vision of what you want, and make a clear plan with small steps that get you closer to your goal - that’s how you break out of inertia. That’s how you eliminate ennui.
And let’s talk about what you do want - and “just another job” doesn’t count.
Instead, get a clear vision of what you really want - the type of job that makes you get out of bed and excited to get to work. Yes, those really do exist, and you can have that too. First, you need a clear vision of what you want - I’m talking specific job titles and ideal companies - then you need a plan to get there (because you CAN get there!).
You are not helpless. You might feel stuck, but you can get unstuck.
First, if you haven’t already downloaded my “10 Steps to Kick Your Career in Gear” doc, please do so. I’ve got loads of actionable tips to kickstart your journey.
Next, stay tuned to this newsletter, where I’ll soon announce my new Find Your New Career Course which will take you step-by-step, resource-by-resource, to help you find your new career. I can’t wait for you to see it.
Lack of skills
When we’re “grumpy stayers,” there’s usually a big dose of self-doubt and imposter syndrome going on too. We casually post through the job boards, read the job descriptions, and think, “Who would hire me?” “I’m not qualified for these jobs” “What if I hate the new job as much as this one?”
I’ve got a few things to say about this:
- Apply when you’re 50% “qualified.” Most job seekers hold themselves back from great opportunities because they don’t check off every item in the job requirement list. Stop that! Apply the 50% rule: You can apply to jobs if you’re 50% qualified. Here’s the deal - companies would rather hire someone who has the basic skills with room to grow, who wants to stay with the company long-term, and most importantly - fit in well with the team. If you’re that person - then apply for the job, regardless if you don’t check off every item on the list.
- This leads me to my next point - companies are getting ridiculous with their job descriptions - they’re asking for more degrees, certifications, and skills than ever before. They’re looking for unicorns who don’t exist. They are concerned about finding the “right” person, so they add all these filters and unrealistic expectations. But let me tell you, 99% of the applicants won’t have all the required skills either. So if you believe you can do the job, and you’ve got 50% of the skills on the list, go ahead and apply.
- The “grumpy stayer” article quotes one worker who said, "I can't find anything that pays more — or even what I'm making — that doesn't require me to be certified or have a degree in something that I don't." I hear that, and as I just mentioned, there are ways around it. But if you feel you really need a degree or certification to leap into your next job - go get one! There are loads of free or low-cost courses online. Even better - find a course and ask your employer to pay for it (we’ll talk about that more in a moment.) My new course, Find Your New Career, also has an extensive lesson about how to upskill for free or with minimal costs.
- Finally, if you’re worried that you might hate your new job as much as your current one, there are plenty of ways to research a company before you work there. You can research the reputation with some online searching, using websites like Glassdoor. And my new course, Find Your New Career, has an entire module about how to research companies that align with your own values, interests, and skills to ensure you are in a job that fuels you. (More on that next week - can you tell I’m excited about this course?!)
Lack of opportunities
The article says “Grumpy stayers are in some ways the next iteration of quiet quitters, rattled by layoffs and fewer opportunities.”
It hurts me to read about people staying in jobs they hate. It’s such a mental and physical toll, as I talked about a few weeks ago. (“Do you hate your job? Your body does too” from June 21, 2023.)
But, there are plenty of industries still hiring, as I wrote about in the June jobs report (June Jobs Report! Spoiler Alert: It's Good” from July 11, 2023). And I bet you have transferable skills that would allow you to work in a new industry that IS hiring, such as hospitality, healthcare, construction, trade, education, government, and business services.
Here’s a line that stood out from the "grumpy stayers" article: "I'm pretty much stuck here doing this work now … I was talking to an acquaintance of mine who's a recruiter, and he's telling me summer is the slow time. There are no jobs."
It’s true, summer is a slow hiring season - because many people are out of the office - but there is still plenty you can do now to prepare yourself for the busy hiring season that kicks back up in September when people are back in the office.
You can make a list of companies that interest you ... Build your network and connections at these companies ... Work on your LinkedIn profile to match the types of jobs you want ... Update your resume with keywords from your dream job ... And take some courses that will give you the skills employers are looking for.
Plus, you can create your own opportunities at work. This article talked about employees’ desire for their employers to provide training or promote their own employees from within. I liked this line: "Grumpiness often means feeling undervalued." Oh, I don’t want you feeling undervalued! Or grumpy!
You must be your own advocate:
- Look for a course to upskill and ask your employer to pay for it. You’d be surprised how many employers are willing to invest in their employees, especially if you are learning skills that would make you better at your job, thus making the company more efficient or more profitable.
- Take on different projects at work or participate in teams you normally wouldn’t. I’m not asking you to double your workload but be open and willing to flex your skills and professional presence in projects or teams that you would normally avoid.
- Likewise, show initiative at work. Identify chronic problems that plague your company or industry and offer real, actionable solutions. These could be internal problems - perhaps the company can do something more efficiently - or these could be external problems - perhaps the company could reach out to customers differently. Identify areas where the company could improve (such as making more money or saving more time), then tell your management team about it.
- Tell your boss that you’d like to advance within the company. Have a conversation with them - What does it look like? What do they need to see to make it happen?
- Get specific KPIs, metrics, and achievements, ideally in writing. (Even if you just sum up the meeting in an email and say, “As we discussed, I need to accomplish x,y, and z to get promoted to manager. I will accomplish these items over the next six months with the intent to move into management early next year.”)
- Finally, you must be your own cheerleader and create your own opportunities. You have to regularly communicate with your boss and your team about your skills, what you can offer, and what you want to do. Otherwise, how will they know? Also, don’t just assume people are noticing your achievements or initiatives or extra hours on the job. Make sure your work and contributions are noted and valued. And keep track of all of this, and write down all your accomplishments on the job so that you can update your resume and LinkedIn accordingly.
Whew! I know this email was a doozy, and thanks for sticking with it. I hope you found some inspiration and tips for your own career journey. If you have a friend who is a "grumpy stayer," please forward this email along to them. And if you feel like a “grumpy stayer,” make a free 30-minute appointment and tell me all about it.
To your success,
- Emily
Three articles to help with your next job interview
July 19, 2023
Hi everyone,
😎 Can you believe we’re already in the middle of July?!
I’ve been busy this summer putting together my first digital course, Find Your New Career, which is packed full of resources for those of you stuck at a crossroads and looking for a new career. I’m wrapping up the final module and I *can’t wait* to share it with you! More on that next week. 💃
I am so excited to get this course in your hands, I can’t stop working on it! So for this week’s newsletter, rather than spend a few hours writing up an original article for you, I’d like to share some great articles I recently bookmarked about the job interview process:
- 12 Polite Habits Job Interviewers Actually Dislike—and What to Do Instead from Reader’s Digest. There are some great observations and helpful tips here. I found myself nodding along to every point in the article.
- How to use AI Tools to Land a New Job in a Cooling Market from CNBC. I wrote about the jobs report last week, and this article complements it nicely. In April, I sent three emails about how to use ChatGPT in your job search (scroll through the archive to see the posts), and this helpful article from CNBC explains how to use AI tools to help with your next job interview.
- Job Interviews Are Getting Longer — Here’s Why It Could Be a Red Flag from CNBC. I have definitely seen this trend with my clients. They used to go on 1-2 interviews before landing a job. Now I’m seeing that number double and 3-4 interviews is not uncommon. In my experience, the more job interviews a company seeks, the more red flags might be raised - and this article breaks it down nicely.
And that concludes this week’s article round-up! I hope you find the advice helpful. And if you have an interview coming up, make a free 30-minute appointment and tell me all about it.
👩💻 Now I’m off to finish the Find Your New Career course so that I can get it in your hands as soon as possible. Ooh, I can’t wait!
To your success,
- Emily
June Jobs Report! (Spoiler Alert: It's Good)
July 11, 2023
Hi everyone,
I hope you all had a happy and healthy 4th of July holiday celebration last week. I took a few days off to hang out with family (for those of you in Boston - go see the 🌊 Hokusai exhibit at the MFA 🌊 before it closes on July 16! Wow, it is an excellent show).
📈 Good news - the June 2023 jobs report is in and there is positive data and good reasons to feel hopeful about the job market and economic recovery. I did my homework - I read the report and did a fair amount of research on the analysis. So I hope this breakdown is helpful to you:
LOW UNEMPLOYMENT
The US Unemployment Rate is currently 3.6%, lower than May’s 3.7% measurement. Yay! In comparison, the long-term unemployment rate averages 5.72%, so we are in good shape here.
LOW INFLATION
The unemployment rate is a big indicator of the health of the labor market and the US economy, so this is great news. But does that mean the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates again (as they have done 10 times since March 2022)? Time will tell, but inflation is now down to 4%, the lowest rate in two years. And this is great news for American workers, as our economy is doing better than all other G7 nations.
LOW LAYOFFS
While layoffs at big tech companies have dominated the news, the overall labor market paints a more balanced picture. There were 1.6 million layoffs in May, but the rate was 1%, the same rate as April, and below the layoff rate of 1.3% pre-pandemic in February 2020.
As I’ve said before, the layoffs are not a sign of a weak economy. Rather, they are a reflection of changing consumer demands and buying patterns. Demands soared during the height of the COVID pandemic (particularly for technology-related services), and businesses invested mightily in employees and products to keep up with demand. Now that consumer demands are changing again, companies are reacting by shrinking their ranks to pre-pandemic levels.
STEADY JOB GROWTH
Last week the payroll processing firm ADP reported a whopping 497,000 new jobs in the private sector in June, while Dow Jones estimated 220,000 jobs would be added in June. On Friday, the Labor Department reported that nonfarm payrolls were actually 209,000 in June - much lower than ADP’s report, but still a great showing for an economy that has been flirting with a recession. There are still businesses across the country feeling confident and expanding their teams to keep up with growing demand. Yippee!
Also, the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) seemed to support this statement with their own report last week, where their services index (the number of businesses that reported expansion) posted a surprising increase to 53.9 in June from 50.3 in May. (For reference, a number above 50 indicates expansion.) June was expected to be 51.3, so we surpassed expectations at 53.9. Hurray!
QUITTING IS TRENDY
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics’ July JOLTs report, 4 million people quit their jobs in May - that’s 250,000 more than in April (the rate is now 2.6%, a .2 percentage point increase). It seems the “Great Resignation” might still be at play, especially in industries like construction and healthcare. This article does a great job of breaking it down.
TIGHT LABOR MARKET
All of these numbers indicate that the labor market is still tight - that is, there are more job openings than workers - but it certainly depends on the company and industry. While tech-related and finance jobs bear the brunt of the layoffs, many industries are hiring and expanding, such as construction, hospitality, and healthcare. More on that in a minute.
WAGES ARE UP
A tight labor market pressures employers to attract and retain talent with higher wages and better benefits. And the data supports this - annual pay rose at a 6.4% rate. This is down from 6.6% in May, but still a good indicator of the demand for employees in many sectors.
TO SUMMARIZE
Quitting is high, layoffs are low, wages are up, and unemployment is down.
SO WHO IS HIRING?
A lot of industries, according to the June jobs report. This article from CNBC breaks it down well:
From a sector standpoint, leisure and hospitality led with 232,000 new hires, followed by construction with 97,000, and trade, transportation, and utilities at 90,000.
Other industries seeing solid gains included education and health services (74,000), natural resources and mining (69,000), and the “other services” classification (28,000).
Manufacturing lost 42,000 jobs, while information was off by 30,000 and financial activities saw a decline of 16,000.
Broadly speaking, service providers contributed 373,000 of the total, while goods producers added 124,000.
Companies with fewer than 50 employees were responsible for most of the job growth, adding 299,000 positions. Firms with more than 500 workers lost 8,000 jobs, while mid-size companies contributed 183,000.
I also like the chart from this CNBC article:
💁♀️ OK, that does it for my monthly analysis of the jobs report. Whew! I feel like I just submitted a term paper! I hope you found this helpful as you navigate your own career development. If you have any questions on the state of the job market or your own job prospects, book a free 30-minute discovery session and tell me all about it.
To your success,
- Emily
Two great articles
June 29, 2023
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Hi everyone! I’m back in town after taking a few days off. My family was invited to a lovely beach house and when we arrived, we learned the little town where we were staying has minimal cellphone reception and the internet in the house wasn’t working. This was a bit jarring at first. No internet? No phone?! I CAN’T USE MY COMPUTER?!?! But wow - what a gift! After the initial shock (and habits) wore off, I fully embraced the unplugged lifestyle and it was magical. The days were filled with trips to the beach, bicycle rides around town, and ice cream strolls after dinner. No internet required. Why am I telling you this story? It’s my roundabout way of saying that 1) I survived without internet for three days and I didn’t think that was possible, and 2) I didn’t have a chance to compose this week’s email. I take a lot of time to write these weekly messages, (probably more than I should in the age of ChatGPT), and this week I’m busy playing catch-up with my wonderful clients. So I thought I’d share a recent article from Reader’s Digest. It’s titled, “Why Am I Not Getting Hired” and It’s written by a hiring manager who shares 18 common mistakes for job applicants. The article covers a lot of bases in the job application process and the advice is spot on. A worthy read. And if you’re heading out of town for a few days this summer too - what a gift! Enjoy yourself. Before you hit the road, check out this article from Huffpost about how to handle out of office messages. To your success, - Emily |
Do you hate your job? Your body does too.
June 21, 2023
Hi friends,
We spend ⅓ of our life working - about 90,000 hours. Let that soak in for a moment. 90,000 hours! 🤯
And that’s just counting the time we’re “clocked in.” That’s not counting the many hours our brain is spent spinning around work - about the tasks that need to be done, problems that need to be solved, and the relationships with our coworkers.
As a career coach, I have found that our careers affect our lives in four distinct ways:
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Lifestyle
- Relationships
💃 If we enjoy our job, our mind is buzzing with possibilities and solutions and exciting things to do next. We are ready to get to work and make an impact. Our body is full of energy and we have tons of time for the people and activities that are important to us.
But if we hate our job - ugh - it’s a disaster …
⚠️ 1) PHYSICAL HEALTH:
1. Exhaustion - When our mind is racing due to anxiety or stress about our jobs, we can’t sleep. This can lead to chronic fatigue and sleep disorders, which also negatively affects our mind and body.
2. Stress - Stress affects every aspect of our bodies - from the cortisol shooting through veins to the constant headaches, lack of sleep, and even digestive issues such as indigestion and bloating.
3. Illness - Insomnia and stress lead to a weakened immune system - which means we are sick more often and stay sick longer.
4. Tension - When our mind sees our job as a stressful or dangerous place, it can flood our system with adrenaline and other hormones that help us deal with stress. This includes tensing up our muscles to protect us from injury. In other words, when we’re in constant “fight or flight” mode and our muscles are wound up tight, the tension can lead to headaches, migraines, and sore muscles especially in the neck, shoulders, and lower back.
⚠️ 2) MENTAL HEALTH: All these physical ailments affect our mental health too.
1. Fatigue leads to irritability. Then we are more likely to be grumpy and short-tempered with others.
2. Stress can lead to anxiety, depression, decreased productivity, and burnout.
3. All the stress and exhaustion make it hard to concentrate. It takes us longer to finish basic tasks and we want to put off complicated tasks indefinitely. 👋 Hello, procrastination! 👋
4. Our self-esteem takes a hit too - when we hate our job, it affects how we view ourselves and our self-worth. Our confidence plummets and we begin to doubt our skills and abilities. 👋 Hello, imposter syndrome! 👋 This makes us want to contribute less, which feeds into a vicious cycle.
⚠️ 3) LIFESTYLE:
1. A job provides our salary and affects where and how we live. This determines our housing, neighborhood, amenities, and quality of life.
2. If we’re not making enough money to pay our bills, have independence, or gain extra security - that adds to our stress and affects our daily lives.
3. It's not all about money either - if our job does not offer a good work/life balance or the flex time that we need, our dissatisfaction and stress compound.
4. And if we’re too busy working or preoccupied with work, we don’t have the time or energy to do the things that refuel us, like hobbies, exercise, eating well, and spending time with the people we care about.
⚠️ 4) RELATIONSHIPS:
1. When we’re tired, stressed, or irritable, we’ve got a short fuse that’s easy to set off. Simply put, we are no fun to be around. Plus, our constant complaining about work or other ailments brings others down too.
2. When we have low self-esteem, we’re not able to be good friends, parents, partners, or colleagues. We just simply don’t have energy for ourselves or others, which affects our relationships with those around us.
Whew! That's a lot of bad repercussions wafting off your toxic job.
💁♀️ So what can you do about it?
1. Outline what you don’t like about your job. Write down all the things that bother you then look at the list. What factors are in your control and what factors are not? Chances are, 80% is out of your control, so focus on the 20% that you do have some agency about.
2. Brainstorm solutions. Take a 15-minute walk, clear your mind, then revisit your “20% in control” list. Write down each issue and brainstorm 3 possible solutions to every problem. Don’t judge yourself whether your ideas are “good” or “bad” or “can't be done.” Just open your mind up to possibilities and write them down. Then every time something bothers you at work, write it down. Ask yourself, “Am I in control of this? Am I able to change this?” If so, “What can I do about it?”
3. Stop negative thinking. When we think about all the things that are wrong, our brain only sees things that are wrong. It becomes incapable of seeing the good or gifts coming our way. This reinforces our negative thinking, and a vicious cycle is born. It's hard to break bad habits, but a good dose of positive thinking goes a long way. I’m talking about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and this article breaks it down well.
4. Give your nervous system a chance to relax - take breaks at work. Whenever possible, take 15-minute “mental health breaks” where you can get away from the computer and get outside if possible. Feel the sunshine on your face, the ground beneath your feet, take deep breaths, and feel the air swirling in your lungs. Tell your brain it can take a break from the “fight or flight mode” and let your muscles relax. Get grounded with the world to fortify your soul.
5. Take care of your body. Your brain can’t be a warrior if your body has nothing to give. I’m talking about the usual advice - get 30 minutes of exercise each day, drink plenty of water, get lots of rest, and eat food that fuels your body rather than works against it.
6. Prioritize avocation time. Do you know what "avocation" means? (I’m such a workaholic I didn’t know what it meant either. I once took a quiz about priorities and I scored "0" for “Avocation” and had to look up the definition. 🤦♀️) "Avocation" is the opposite of “vocation.” It’s a hobby, the things we like to do even when we aren’t being paid. Avocation time - whatever activities that promote relaxation and self-care, such as exercise, meditation, hobbies, and spending time in nature - decreases stress and increases mental fortitude.
7. Make an exit plan. If you were to leave your job, what would you do next? Daydreaming is a great mental activity to get us in a positive mindset. It can also lead to goal setting too. For example, if you want to change jobs, would you need more education or training to do it? Are there any particular companies or types of jobs that interest you? Do you know anyone working at these companies or in these industries who can give you a little bit more information about it? Daydreaming and taking small steps towards bigger goals release endorphins and give a sense of momentum that is infectious.
When you hate your job - when you are miserable for ⅓ of your life - your body, mind, lifestyle, and relationships suffer. However, recognizing the negative impacts and taking proactive steps toward change can help you reclaim your happiness and well-being. And if you’re ready to make a change in your career - whether that’s getting a new job or going back to work after a career pause - make a free 30-minute appointment and tell me all about it.
To your health,
- Emily
"Labor Hoarding" - The next workplace trend to navigate this economy
June 13, 2023
Last week I talked about the latest jobs report and the seeming contradictions in it. The US economy added 339,000 jobs in May, far outpacing economists' forecasts of 190,000. BUT, the unemployment rate also ticked up .03%, which is higher than usual. Click here to read more about it.
Today I’ve got another workplace trend for you - “Labor hoarding” - and it sits right in the middle between new hires and unemployment.
🤔 What is “Labor Hoarding?”
At its core, labor hoarding refers to the practice of companies retaining employees, even when demand for their product or service decreases. So they're holding on to employees even if sales are down.
Why would they do this? Well, it's a delicate balancing act for businesses, as they strive to maintain stability, retain skilled workers, and adapt to changing market conditions.
In short, businesses are calculating that an upcoming recession will be short and shallow, so they don’t want to make too many drastic changes in employment while riding out the storm.
💸 It takes a lot of money and time to attract, hire, and train employees, so companies prefer to retain good workers and perhaps retrain them to be more flexible at work. Here are the benefits of “Labor Hoarding” for companies:
- Uncertainty and Risk Aversion: When companies face uncertain market conditions, they may choose to keep a surplus of workers as a precautionary step. Then they are better prepared for unexpected changes in demand, ensuring product continuity and preventing talent shortages when things pick up again.
- Employee Retention and Loyalty: Labor hoarding can also be seen as a strategic move to retain skilled employees during periods of low demand. By keeping valued team members onboard, companies can preserve their knowledge, maintain team cohesion, and avoid the costs and challenges of rehiring and training when conditions improve.
- Fostering Innovation and Growth: Some companies may hold on to excess employees to invest in research and development; they might ask employees to pivot or focus on new areas of growth. By retaining talent, businesses can drive innovation and position themselves for success in the long run.
💡 What this means for you:
If you think your company is “hoarding labor,” that’s a good sign they are invested in their employees and want to retain talent. And this could be a great time for you to learn new skills …
- Skills Development and Reskilling/Upskilling: During periods of lower demand, employers might invest in training programs to upskill their workforce or work in different areas of the company. When companies provide opportunities for professional growth, you can acquire new skills that will benefit both you and the company. ⭐This could be a great time to take a course to learn new skills, (or brush up on old skills), and ask your employer to pay for it.⭐
- Flexibility and Adaptability: Embrace flexibility and be open to alternative work arrangements - for example, if your boss asks you to work with a new department or take on different tasks, think of it as a great opportunity to learn more skills and cement a positive reputation for yourself at the company. In the meantime, write down all the challenges, accomplishments, and results you experienced during this time, so you've got the details when you update your resume and LinkedIn.
Do you think your company is “Labor Hoarding?” Are you wondering what that might mean for your own job prospects? Make a free 30-minute appointment and let’s talk about it!
To your success,
- Emily
What's up with this job market? 🤔
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The May jobs report is in! According to the monthly employment report from the Labor Department, the US economy added 339,000 jobs in May, far outpacing economists' forecasts of 190,000. (More good news - the jobs reports in March and April were also revised to add 52,000 new jobs and 41,000 new positions, respectively.) 🤯 339,000 new jobs in May?! Nearly 80% more than the expected forecasts?! That’s wonderful! BUT, while new jobs were added in May, the unemployment rate rose to 3.7% from 3.4%. That’s the largest monthly increase since the early days of the pandemic. This suggests that more people entered the labor force while fewer unemployed people found a job. 🤔 So what’s up with this job market? How can we be adding so many new jobs while increasing the unemployment rate? Believe it or not, this is a common phenomenon that happens during economic expansions. There are a variety of factors … people retiring or quitting, people returning to the workforce after a career pause, and people switching jobs or industries … plus the higher interest rates make it more expensive for companies to borrow money, which slows down hiring or forces layoffs. And some industries, like construction, can experience layoffs and hiring sprees in the same month. ❓So which industries added jobs in May? Job gains occurred in professional and business services (64,000 new positions), government (56,000 new jobs), health care (52,000 new jobs), construction (25,000 new jobs), leisure and hospitality (48,000 new jobs) transportation and warehousing, and social assistance. ❓ Which industries have been hardest hit by layoffs?
❓So which industries will thrive? Typically these are the industries that are less sensitive to interest rate changes and less likely to over-hire (and therefore less likely to experience mass layoffs):
👩💻 Want to learn more about which industries are growing and hiring? I love these three sources from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the US Department of Labor: Before I go, please allow me to share this chart I created comparing the average # of jobs added per month in the US in 2019, 2021, 2022, and thus far in 2023.
A few notes about the graph:
OK, that's all for today, I hope this email has provided some context about today's job market. To your success, - Emily |
It is *NOT* a numbers game! 😱
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How to use ChatGPT in your job search (Part 3)
Hi everyone,
For the last two weeks, I’ve been sharing tips about how to use ChatGPT to boost your job search. Part 1 covered ChatGPT basics and Part 2 covered ChatGPT for resumes and cover letters. Click here to access the newsletter archive and see those articles again.
Today in Part 3 we finish the ChatGPT series with advice about using ChatGPT for networking and job interviews. Let’s get to it!
NETWORKING
💬 If you regularly read my emails, you know I’m a BIG fan of networking. It’s the #1 most important priority in job searching (and #2 is personal branding).
Well, guess what - ChatGPT can help you write messages that are professional, engaging, and tailored to each recipient. Try the following prompts (and remember you can add a “tone” like “professional tone” or “friendly tone” and click “Regenerate response” to get more results):
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"Can you help me write an introduction message to [a specific person or company]?"
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"Can you help me write a follow-up message after meeting someone at a networking event?"
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"Can you help me write a message requesting an informational interview?"
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"Can you help me write a message requesting a referral?"
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"Can you help me write a message that shows my interest in an industry or company?"
JOB INTERVIEWS
🤝 Oh yeah, Chat GPT can help you with job interview prep too! It can generate potential interview questions and craft responses based on your previous experience and skills. (Add your resume and the job description to your queries for more accurate responses.) Try these prompts to get started:
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"Can you help me prepare for a job interview for a [specific job title] position?"
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"Can you give me some tips for answering common job interview questions?"
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"Can you help me anticipate questions the interviewer may ask?"
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"Can you help me practice my interview skills?"
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"Can you give me some tips for dressing appropriately for a job interview?"
❗(I love this article from Teal about using Chat GPT for job interview prep, it’s loaded with great examples and helpful tips.)
And that wraps up our ChatGPT + job search tips. Have you been playing with ChatGPT these past few weeks? Are you using it for business or personal use? ChatGPT is such a new and limitless tool, I love hearing about how people are using it. Send me a message and tell me about it!
To your success,
- Emily
How to use ChatGPT in your job search (Part 2)
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April 13, 2023
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How to use ChatGPT in your job search (Part 1)
April 6, 2023
Hi everyone,
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It's been a few weeks since my last group email, and I'm sorry for not writing sooner. I've been spending time gathering information on this topic, and I hope you find it useful! 💁♀️ Let's talk about how to use ChatGPT in your job search to save loads of time (and stress).
You’ve likely seen the headlines about ChatGPT, the artificial-intelligence (AI) chatbot from OpenAI that can help you with everything from meal planning to book recommendations to writing a wedding speech. It’s a complex tool that’s deceptively easy to use. This article does a great job breaking it down. Have you tried ChatGPT yet? I’ve been experimenting with it for the last few months, mostly for business. And I’ve got to tell you - as a career coach - my mind spins with the possibilities. Why? Because ChatGPT + your job search = UNSTOPPABLE. 🤯 ChatGPT can help write your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, networking messages, AND prepare you for a job interview in a fraction of the time you would spend doing this work on your own. For example, we all know your cover letter and resume should be customized for each job application, right? And this could take hours to do, as you’ve likely experienced in your own job hunt. But here’s the deal - the tasks that take you a few hours to complete - ChatGPT can do in seconds.
First, let’s cover the basics. If you haven’t tried ChatGPT before, this article explains how to sign up. And I like this article about using ChatGPT in your daily life and this article has fun ChatGPT suggestions too. 👩🏼💻 Next, let’s talk about ChatGPT prompts. You will get better responses if you are specific with your queries. I asked ChatGPT how to write prompts for ChatGPT (meta, I know), and here’s what it said:
• "Can you explain the concept of machine learning?" • "What are the benefits and drawbacks of using renewable energy sources? • "How can someone improve their public speaking skills?" • What are some effective strategies for managing stress? • Can you provide an overview of the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States? ❗And you know what’s wild? You can ask ChatGPT to write a message in a specific tone - friendly, upbeat, professional, angry … Experiment with your prompts to see different answers, and click “Regenerate Response” to get the same answer in different ways. OK, that's enough ChatGPT talk for today, there's plenty here to explore. I'll see you next week when we discuss ChatGPT + resumes and cover letters! To your success, - Emily |
*Click inside for LOADS of actionable networking tips to help land your next job*
March 9, 2023
Hi Emily,
Can I tell you a secret?
None of my clients have gotten jobs by applying online through job search sites (like Indeed or LinkedIn Jobs).
Instead, 90% of my clients have been hired through networking. (The other 10% have been hired through recruiters, but that’s a conversation for another day.)
So let’s talk about networking.
🤦♀️ I know, I know, I can hear your groans already. No one ever says, “Yes! Networking! I LOVE networking!” (Especially if you’re an introvert.)
But when you’re job hunting, networking is as essential as a resume.
💪 Your network is like a muscle - the more you work on it, the stronger it gets. And when you want to get a new job or switch industries, a strong network will be your greatest asset. (I like to say, “Your network gets work.”)
The easiest way to build your network is through warm leads - being connected through someone you know. On LinkedIn, these people are your “Second Connections” - someone you know through a mutual connection. (As opposed to a “First Connection,” who is someone you directly know.)
So, start with your own network. Go through your phone contacts, emails, and social media profiles … Who do you know who is working in your ideal industry or company?
🙋♀️ If you don’t know anyone in your industry, who do you know who is social and knows a lot of people? Some people are connected socially, and others are connected professionally - for example, do you know any real estate agents, lawyers, fundraisers, local politicians, community leaders, or restaurateurs? They often know a lot of people through their work. Ask them if they know anyone working in your ideal industry or company.
Once you have combed through your contact list, then move on to LinkedIn - who are your “First” and “Second” connections on that site? Do any of them work in your industry or know people who work in your industry? You can view individual profiles or narrow your search by adding keywords such as company names or job titles.
💡 Next, use the LinkedIn Alumni tool. This one is fantastic. Visit your school’s LinkedIn page (any school you ever attended, even if it was one class), then click the “Alumni” button. It looks like this:
You’ll get a list of your school’s alumni and you can search profiles by industry, company, keyword, location, and loads of other filters.
Because you both attended the same school, you have a natural connection and reason to reach out. A sample message might read like this:
Hi [THEIR NAME],
Fellow [NAME OF SCHOOL] alum here, go [NAME OF THE SCHOOL’S MASCOT]! I also [NAME SOMETHING YOU HAVE IN COMMON].
I’m writing because you work at [NAME OF COMPANY] and I’m hoping to work there one day. Would you have 20 minutes available to tell me more about [NAME OF COMPANY] and your experience working there?
With gratitude,
[YOUR NAME]
SAMPLE NETWORKING OUTREACH MESSAGE:
Hi Jane,
Fellow Mountain University graduate here, go Lions! I loved my time there, I met so many wonderful people. I noticed you also studied journalism - me too - that was a great program.
I’m writing because you work at XYZ Company and I’m hoping to work there one day. Would you have 20 minutes available to tell me more about XYZ Company and your experience working there?
With deep gratitude,
- Emily
Use the same template even if you’re reaching out to a perfect stranger with no mutual connections. (Yes, you should reach out to strangers too! Your dream job is worth it!) Just say something about their profile or background instead:
Hi Sally,
You have a great profile! Your background is so interesting, you’ve been involved in journalism for a long time.
I’m writing because you work at XYZ Company and I’m hoping to work there one day. Would you have 20 minutes available to tell me more about XYZ Company and your experience working there?
With gratitude and joy,
- Emily
💬 No matter how you find someone, whether through a mutual connection or a stranger on LinkedIn, you want to connect for short informational interviews. Not only will you learn more about the companies that interest you, but you will have a critical connection with someone on the inside who can review your resume and pass it along to the hiring manager when the right job opens up.
After you conduct the interview, send a thank you note immediately and then check in every few months. Let them know how you’re doing on the job search, if you need any help, and offer your own help too (“Let me know how I can use my network to help you”). Remember - your network is like a muscle - you have to keep exercising it regularly, and that means staying in regular contact with your connections.
❗“But Emily, what if a great job comes up and I want to apply right now? I don’t have time for informational interviews.” Great question! Follow the same steps above - do you know anyone who works there? First or Second Connections? Anyone in your alumni network?
If you don’t have connections with anyone who works at the company, even through your alumni network, then scan LinkedIn and reach out to someone who works at the company - ideally in the department where you want to work - and send them a message:
“Hi [THEIR NAME],
I found your name on LinkedIn because I’m applying for the [JOB TITLE] position at [NAME OF THE COMPANY] and I see you work in the department. Could you review my resume or give me any advice about applying to the company?
I appreciate your time - I think [THE COMPANY] is doing great work and I’d love to get an interview.
Thank you, [YOUR NAME]”
💡 PRO TIP: You could even message the company’s hiring manager directly with a carefully worded and strategic message. Contact me for advice.
I hope this message makes networking feel a little bit easier. Now hop on over to LinkedIn and start working on those connections!
Got any questions about networking and informational interviews? I’ve got loads of advice. Make a free 30-minute appointment and we can talk about it.
To your success,
- Emily
A powerful tool to optimize your job search
February 23, 2023
Hi everyone,
I'm here today with a big tip to improve your job search.
If you have a Gmail account*, you’ve got access to one of the most powerful job search tools available: Google Alerts.
*If you don’t have a gmail account, now is a good time to make one. You can set one up just for your job search - try [Your name][Your profession]@gmail.com. For example, JaneSmithCopywriter@gmail.com.
Google Alerts is a useful tool allowing you to set up email notifications on whatever you want to know about. You can use it to track your favorite artist or author, learn more about your industry, follow a news story, or any topic you want. You are allowed 1,000 alerts, so don’t be shy about using them!
📣 Today we’re talking about how to use Google Alerts in your job search.
• First, if you’re new to Google Alerts, read this article about setting up alerts your job search. (It’s quite simple!)
• Next, I recommend reading this article about basic Google search rules.
• Then, get advanced Google search tips here to really harness the power of Google in your job search.
Now that you know how to set up Google Alerts with proper search terms, let’s dive into the wonderful ways to use Google Alerts to enhance your job search.
1) Set up a Google Alert for your name. Potential employers will search your name online before they call you in for an interview. Set up an alert about your name so you can monitor your reputation when you’re mentioned online.
2) If you’re currently employed, set up a Google Alert about your company. Then you can keep an eye on your company’s reputation too.
3) Keep up with your industry - especially if you’re making a career pivot. Set up Google Alerts about industry news so that you are up-to-date on the newest trends and opportunities. You can search for keywords related to your industry or big players in the field - such as influential companies and thought leaders.
4) Speaking of companies … Definitely set up Google Alerts about companies that interest you. Monitor your potential employers and use this information in your job applications and during job interviews. If you’re following the company AND industry news, you’ll have a lot to talk about during interviews.
5) Strategically network. 75% of jobs are found through networking, so how do you stay in contact with your network on a regular basis while offering something of value? With Google Alerts! Set up an alert on your important contacts - their name, their company, a topic they are interested in - and send them a note when an alert pops up. This way you remind people you exist AND you’re offering something of value to them.
6) Search for jobs. Ideally you’re applying for jobs within 96 hours of their posting. Use Google Alerts to notify you when your dream job is posted. You can use keywords such as job titles, job locations, and companies that interest you. (If you haven’t already, check out the links at the top of this email for Google Search best practices, and I like the “OR” tip in this article too.)
7) Keep your alerts organized. Finally, if you’re really harnessing the power of Google Alerts for personal and professional use, you’ll likely have a lot of emails coming in. And depending on how frequently you choose to receive the alerts, your inbox can fill up quickly. I suggest setting up a separate email folder just for your Google Alerts, and you can even subcategorize the folders from there.
🤯 That’s a lot of information to take in. Go ahead and bookmark this email and revisit it a few times. Read through the resources carefully, then make a list of the Google Alerts you will set up to optimize your job search.
To your success,
- Emily
Did you see the January job report?!
February 14, 2023
Hi everyone,
It has been too long since I’ve said hello! 👋 Waves “hello” wildly 👋
I used to send weekly messages, but my last message was December 15. 🤦♀️
I am sorry for not writing sooner. I took a break over the holidays and then BAM! January was a BUSY month. Many of you enrolled in my Masterclass to kick start your new year with a new job. That’s a brave thing to do, and I’m so proud of your progress thus far.
🎉 Since my last message, some of my wonderful clients have enjoyed great success:
- Dave* negotiated a 25% raise at his current job (while we are also working to get him a new job). He said, “Your coaching really helped calm my nerves and I never would have asked if you didn’t push me.”
- Miriam* got back to work after a 3-year break, earning 50% more than she was before. She said, “I can’t thank you enough. I never thought I’d be back doing work I love AND making more money!”
- Andrew* got his first job after college! He applied to jobs for more than a year without success before he contacted me. After completing my Masterclass, he was recruited into a role he is really excited about.
* Names changed for privacy
There's SO MUCH to celebrate! And I have more clients making AMAZING progress towards their dream jobs. I can’t wait to share their success stories soon. What an exciting time. 💃
That leads me to the reason for writing today - did you see the January jobs report?!
🤯 America added 517,000 jobs in January! That’s 180% better than expected (economists expected 185,000 jobs, which would still have been a solid gain and above the pre-pandemic average). Unemployment rates fell to 3.4%, a 54-year low. Right now, there are nearly two jobs open for every one person looking for work.
On top of that, wages grew 4.4% from a year earlier, which was higher than expected. (This doesn't match inflation at 6.5%, but inflation peaked last summer and has been steadily declining since. 🤞 Many experts predict inflation to drop to 2% this year.)
📈 Jobs are open. Wages are up. That means it’s still a very tight labor market and employees still have the upper hand.
What does this mean to you? This is a great time to find a new job or negotiate better terms at your current job.
❓“But Emily, what about all these layoffs in the tech industry? Aren’t we headed for a recession?”
I’ve been getting this question since last summer … there are persistent tech layoffs and recession rumors. I wrote about this for the Question of the Week on November 17, 2022, and my answer is still the same. (Look for the entry titled, "A recession is coming! ... Or it's not? ... Or it's already here?" 🤔.)
Layoffs are happening because tech companies have been on a hiring spree for years. They were overhiring with free money (with interest rates at an all-time low), and the pandemic exacerbated this as many of us were stuck at home and demand for tech services swelled.
Now that demand has slowed and interest rates are higher, companies are trying to cut costs and trim their workforce back to manageable levels.
Some might argue there’s groupthink involved too. As one big company after another announces layoffs, other companies are looking around saying, “Should we do this too?” 😬 Plus recession rumors are floating around everyone’s heads, making it easier to justify cutting costs.
As I said on November 17, I think this is a bit of a 🐕 “tail wags the dog” 🐕 moment too. There are rumors of a recession which makes people act like we’re in a recession that might trigger a recession.
As far as recession rumors go, they’re better than they were in November. The Fed just raised interest rates, but only .25% in a nod to slowing inflation. We’re all hoping for a “soft landing.”
📣 And if there’s any doubt, LOOK AT LAST MONTH’S JOBS REPORT. Those numbers don’t lie. There’s still demand out there.
So my advice to you? If you’re currently employed, consider how you can negotiate a better salary or more benefits. The power is still in the people.
✅ At the same time - be prepared for a layoff. Keep your resume polished, LinkedIn updated, and network active. Heck, this might be a good time to keep your eye on jobs that interest you, even if you’re happily employed.
As always, if you have any questions about your career, make a free 30-minute appointment and tell me all about it. These aren’t sales sessions - just 30 minutes to talk about your career problems and find clarity for your next steps.
To your success,
- Emily
“How do I ask for a raise at work?”
December 15, 2022
Hello Emily!
Welcome to the Question of the Week, where I answer questions from clients and newsletter readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, send me an email at emily@emilyworden.com.
TODAY'S QUESTION:
“Emily, I want to ask for a raise at work - how do I do that?”
One of my clients is ready to ask for a raise (YES!) and we were strategizing about it this week. Some of you might be heading into year-end reviews with your bosses too, which is an optimal time to ask for a raise.
So let’s talk about how to do it!
✅ STEP 1: Research the average salary for your role in your area. You’ll find helpful information from these sites: Salary.com, bls.gov/ooh, payscale.com, and indeed.com/career/salaries.
Check job search sites for your job title too - sometimes you can get salary ranges from the job listing.
This information will tell you how your pay compares with others in the area. It will also give you valuable information to use in your negotiation. Now your request is "based on research" and not emotions.
✅ STEP 2: Write down all your accomplishments on the job. Think about it through the lens of your boss (or whoever decides on your salary) - what is important to them? What problems/wants/needs do they have, and how does your job help them? Likewise, how does your work help improve the company’s bottom line or other initiatives? Check out my Brag Book and Story Stash resources to give you ideas.
Do not skip this step. You will use this information in your negotiation AND it’s a wonderful ego boost. You’ll remember all the kick-ass things you did and it will increase your confidence about asking for a raise.
✅ STEP 3: Prepare your ask. What’s your goal - how much do you want? Get a range here - what’s your ideal top number and what’s the lowest number you’re willing to accept? You’re going to share the ideal top number with your boss, but keep the lowest number to yourself.
For example, if you’re comfortable with a 15% raise (but you’ll settle for 10%), tell your boss you want a 20% raise. Then you have room to negotiate.
Think about alternatives too - What else do you want? (A year-end bonus? Tuition reimbursement? Flexible hours? More vacation time? A hybrid work schedule?) Get creative here. Companies are often squishy about increasing base pay, but they’re more comfortable accommodating bonuses or other perks. You just have to ask.
✅ STEP 4: Practice your pitch ahead of time. Role-play with a friend or practice in front of a mirror. The most important part of this step is to ANTICIPATE OBJECTIONS. Why would they so no to your request? How would you respond?
💬 If they balk at the raise, you can lean into your research from STEP 1: “Based on my research, this is a fair wage for this role.” Then go into your accomplishments from STEP 2.
💬 If they say they don’t have the money for a raise, consider your alternatives from STEP 3 - you could get a bonus, educational credits, negotiate for more time off, flex time, or a hybrid schedule.
💬 If they say no to everything, ask to revisit the topic in six months and get in writing what they want you to do in that time - any specific metrics or goals to hit?
💬 If they won’t even commit to a six-month appointment - good golly - go look for another job and find a place that respects you.
✅ STEP 5: Make the appointment. Tell your boss you’d like to discuss your career development at the company. Don’t tell them you want to discuss a raise, or they’ll already start thinking of ways to say no. Wait until your appointment to mention it.
✅ STEP 6: Set up the ask. When you’re in the meeting, tell your boss that you’ve been thinking about your role at the company … Reminisce on the work you enjoy and all your accomplishments … Your plans for the next few years at this job … Then ask for the raise. Go into the pitch you practiced in STEP 4.
🙊 And my final piece of advice … make your ask and then STOP TALKING. Sometimes we talk too much when we’re nervous and the more we talk, the more we undermine our confidence and position. Just state what you want and then shut up.
Whew! That was a lot to go through - this is a weighty topic. If you’re ready to ask for a raise, make a free 30-minute appointment, and let’s talk about it. Let's get that money, honey!
To your success,
- Emily
🎉 Celebrating wins
December 7, 2022
Oh hi Emily!
I'm buzzing today - can I tell you a quick story about Allie?
I met Allie a few weeks ago during a Kick Your Career in Gear session. She is currently working at a good job and is paid fairly, but she’s feeling stuck. As she said, “I’m bored out of my mind and I’m not living up to my potential.”
Allie also said she wants to “get unstuck and gain clarity and focus around where I’m going next and how I’m going to get there.” Here’s what she told me about her goals:
"I would like to have answers to the following questions:
-What kind job(s) do I want?
-How do I get the kind of jobs I want? Do they require me to go back to school? Get new certifications? Or do I just need to better position myself in the application process?
-Who and what organizations do I want to work for?
-What kind of jobs am I eligible to get in the current stage of my career?"
That was just three weeks ago.
We’ve had three meetings since then, and here’s how Allie feels now:
"So far, I'd give you an A+. I've been so impressed by not only your wealth of knowledge, insights, and resources -- but the empathy and responsiveness you've shown in the few weeks we've been working together. Aside from getting married last summer, I'd say that enrolling in your Masterclass was one of the most important (and best) decisions that I've made in 2022. I know that we still have a lot of work to do, but I feel that I'm finally starting to exit this cloud I've been stuck in for the past few years -- and I'm relieved, excited, and grateful."
😊 Allie, thank you! And this is why I love my job. Because I can help people feel this good! It makes me feel good too!
I have another client celebration! One of my favorite clients just got a job offer that she’s really excited about! She’s been out of the workforce for a few years (let's talk about imposter syndrome) and this job pays nearly double her old salary. Now we’re on to the negotiation stage - one of my favorite stages. When the deal is done, I'll share her story - it's a good one.
🎉 Woohoo! I’m flying high today. So many wins to celebrate.
I’d love to celebrate some wins with you too … schedule a free 30-minute Kick Your Career in Gear session and tell me what you’d like to do with your career. Let’s spend 30 minutes working on that #1 problem that keeps you up at night.
To your success,
- Emily
" ... Should I be worried?"
December 6, 2022
Greetings Emily,
Welcome to the Question of the Week, where I answer questions from clients and newsletter readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, send me an email at emily@emilyworden.com.
TODAY'S QUESTION:
“Hi Emily, I keep hearing about layoffs and a recession. Should I be worried about my own job? Anything I should do?”
Christine asked this question during a Kick Your Career in Gear session. This is an astute question and one that might help you too.
✍🏻 I’ve written about layoffs and recession rumors previously in the newsletter, you can read the archive here.
The short answer is: No one knows what’s happening with the economy, but job numbers are strong, so it’s a mixed message.
💡 Now, I’m a bit biased here, but I think everyone should be prepared to find a new job because you never know if you could be laid off tomorrow, regardless of economic conditions.
Even if you are happily employed, and the company is making money, and you don’t expect to go anywhere for a few years, you should still be proactive about your next career move. Why?
🛋️ Have you heard of “Career Cushioning?”
This is the newest employment trend. First, we had the “Great Resignation,” then “Quiet Quitting,” then “Loud Layoffs,” and now we have “Career Cushioning.” This article from Forbes helps explain it.
👀 In short, “Cushioning” means keeping your options open.
The term is derived from the dating world, when people in committed relationships continue to nurture relationships with potential partners in case their current relationship ends. This is terrible. 🙅♀️
However, in the professional world, “career cushioning” means that you are staying proactive about your job search to “cushion the landing” should layoffs occur. This is great. 🙋♀️
Now, what do I mean by “staying proactive about your job search?”
I do NOT mean that you spend hours a week on job search sites. (Though it’s a good idea to keep an eye open for opportunities, it’s not the primary step of this process.)
Instead, keep the tools in your toolbelt sharp:
- A running list of your professional accomplishments and the impact you have at work (I’m talking about your Brag Book, and you can find it in the Resources section of my website.) This information is valuable whether you want a promotion or you’re looking for a new job.
- An updated and active LinkedIn profile and you’re checking in at minimum 2-4 times per month.
- Regular contact with your network and offering help to those who need it. (I always say, “Build your network when you don’t need it so it’s ready for you when you do need it.”)
- Evaluate your skills - are there any areas where you can improve? How about some upskilling? Can you take a class? (Can your current employer pay for it?)
So, back to Christine’s question: “Should I be worried about my job?” Well, it’s good to be proactive about worst-case scenarios, but don’t let it preoccupy your daily life. Keep showing up, doing a kick-ass job, and serving results that you can brag about to future employers.
🪚 And keep those tools in your toolbelt sharp, so that if a layoff does occur, you’ve got a “cushion” to help you bounce right back.
To your success,
- Emily
PS: There will be three more “Question of the Week” messages before the end of the year. Do you have a career question you want answered in 2022? Send it to me at emily@emilyworden.com.
Was it worth it?
December 1, 2022
Hi friends,
Last week on Thanksgiving I sent a message of gratitude about coaching. Not only do I love being a coach, but I love to be coached too.
🎉 And I’m so excited … I’ve been enrolled in two programs for the last two months and they’re both wrapping up next week!
This has been an intense year for upskilling … I’ve done five coaching programs this year. I invested in two programs to make me a better career coach, and three programs to help me be a better business owner.
I also invested in smaller courses to teach me more about social media marketing … I am not a social media gal and - ooh boy - this has been a steep learning curve for me. Talk about stepping out of your comfort zone! (When I enter the world of social media, I hope you’ll follow me and give me tips about how to do it better!)
🙅♀️ I haven’t always been this enthusiastic about coaching. Yes, I love upskilling and continuously learning - but investing big bucks just to have someone tell me to do something I can easily Google on my own - well, that wasn’t for me.
I have an MBA and I was a business coach, but my own coaching business was stuck in the same place for years. I spent hours in front of my computer, toiling away, and seeing little results. (Psst - do you feel this way about your job search? I hear you!)
In 2021, I finally decided to get smart and get a coach. I've enrolled in nine programs so far and WOW - I am hooked. It's such a relief to stop wasting my time and just follow a proven program.
😳 One of the programs I’m about to finish - ohmygosh - it was expensive. It was twice as much as I’d ever invested on coaching before. It was $5,000. I gulped when I heard the price. I knew the woman offering the program was good. I knew she’d change my business. But $5,000?! That made my stomach turn.
Did I have the money? No. But I knew I would find it. Why? Because I knew it would pay off.
Two months into the program … I’ve nearly recouped my investment (yay!), but more importantly, I’ve gained confidence and knowledge that will drive me for years to come. So, was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
🧗♀️ And I’ve already got a list of programs to pursue in 2023. I’m not stopping. Now that I see how coaching can get me to where I want to be faster and easier, I’m never going back.
Why? Because coaching works. Because it has already paid for itself in the time and money I have saved rather than figuring things out on my own.
And if it didn’t pay for itself, it wouldn’t matter, because the courage, tenacity, and knowledge I’ve gained are priceless. I’ve been an entrepreneur for fifteen years and I wish I invested in coaching on Day 1.
📈 The point of the story … invest in yourself. Whether you want help in coaching, education, physical health, or mental health … acknowledge that you are worth the investment and the change you want in your life. Because when you improve one thing in your life, other areas of your life improve too.
Onwards and upwards,
- Emily
💁♀️ PS: Coaching will get you where you want to be faster and easier than if you did it on your own. But you have to put in the work. Are you ready for coaching? Take this quiz to find out.
“I’ve sent out dozens of job applications and haven’t heard back. What am I doing wrong?”
November 29, 2022
Welcome to the Question of the Week, where I answer questions from clients and newsletter readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, send me an email at emily@emilyworden.com.
TODAY'S QUESTION:
“Emily, I’m really frustrated by the job search. I have applied to dozens of jobs and haven’t heard back. The few times I’ve gotten a response, they said I was 'overqualified' for the job. What am I doing wrong?”
🤷♀️ Sheila asked me this question during a 30-minute discovery call last week. She has been diligently job searching for months, hasn't gotten anywhere with it, and contacted me out of frustration.
She applied to at least 30 jobs, without a single lead. She even started applying for jobs that were “way below [her] skill level” and she “couldn’t even get an interview.”
🤦♀️ With a deep sigh, Sheila said to me, “I’m tired and over it. What am I doing wrong?”
Oh gosh, Sheila, I’m SO glad you reached out. Let me help ...
There are three things wrong with Sheila’s situation:
- The Five Steps are out of order
- The Click and Stick method doesn't work
- Never apply to jobs when you’re overqualified
1) THE FIVE STEPS ARE OUT OF ORDER
When most people want a new job, they think, “I want a new job, I’ll update my resume” and then they head over to some job search sites.
Sure, that’s what most people do, but that’s the wrong way to do it. When you want a new job, the LAST thing you do is apply for jobs online.
In the Career Clarity Masterclass, I help clients through the five-step job search process:
- Define what you want
- Research the market
- Build your brand
- Use your network
- Apply to jobs
Editing your resume and applying to jobs is the LAST STEP of the job search process. First, you have to figure out what the market wants, build your brand on LinkedIn, tap into your network for leads, update your resume with keywords, and THEN apply for jobs.
🗣️ Also, here’s the thing: 75% of jobs are found through networking. So if you’re just applying to jobs without working your network first, you’re doing it the hard way.
That leads me to the second thing that Sheila is doing wrong …
2) THE "CLICK AND STICK" METHOD DOESN'T WORK
Job search sites have made it easier than ever to apply for jobs online. This is great, but now people waste a lot of time applying for lots of jobs they don’t actually want, but are applying to “just because.”
❌ I call this the “Click and Stick” method and I’ve got news for you - it doesn't work.
Most people think that applying to jobs “is a numbers game” - it’s not.
When you’re on the computer all day, just clicking on all the job applications and hoping that something sticks, here’s what typically happens …
People tend to start with jobs that they are excited about and qualified for, then start applying for jobs that sound vaguely appealing, then ultimately, for jobs they are way overqualified for. At this point, people just want to land a job, any kind of job, even if it’s below their interest level or pay grade.
🙅♀️ The Click and Stick method doesn't work. (My Five Step process works.)
This leads me to the third thing that Sheila is doing wrong …
3) NEVER APPLY TO JOBS WHEN YOU’RE OVERQUALIFIED
I get why people do this. When you don’t hear back about jobs you actually want, and you start getting frustrated, you think, “Well then, I’ll apply for something that I’m way overqualified for … Surely, I’ll get that … right?!”
Wrong.
Companies don’t hire people who are overqualified because overqualified people are a flight risk.
💸 It costs companies a lot of time and money to hire and train someone. They don’t want to invest in someone who is going to get bored or leave when a better opportunity comes their way.
So if you’ve been beating yourself up over not hearing back on jobs that you’re “way overqualified” for, now you know why. Stop wasting your time with those jobs.
💡 I hope this sheds some light on your frustrating job search process. Sheila certainly felt better after our conversation and signed up for a coaching program so she can get a job faster and easier than doing it on her own. 🎉 “I wish I signed up earlier!” she said. 🎉
Me too, Sheila, but you’re here now! Let's get strategic about your job search and stop wasting your precious time. Welcome to the team.
Onwards and upwards,
- Emily
🤬 If you're frustrated by the job search process, make like Sheila and book a free 30-minute appointment to tell me all about it. I'd love to help you stop wasting precious time and energy on job search tactics that don't work.
A moment of gratitude
November 24, 2022
Question of the Week is paused this week due to the holiday, but I’ll be back next week with more advice. If you have a question you’d like answered, send me an email at emily@emilyworden.com.
🦃 Today is Thanksgiving in America, and amidst the frenzy of shopping, cooking, and cleaning, I want to pause a moment and give thanks.
One of the many things that I am grateful for is coaching. I truly love what I do and I was born to do this. (Seriously. I’ve taken many career tests and they all say the same thing.)
My wonderful clients will tell you that I love the 16Personalities test. I call it “an accessible Myers Briggs” and they say that it’s “crazy accurate.”
👩💻 I’ve taken the test several times, and it always says I’m the “Protagonist” type (shout out to my fellow ENFJs!) And here’s what they say about Protagonists’ career prospects:
“[Protagonists] feel especially motivated in positions where they can guide others to learn, grow, and become more independent. Many people with this personality type gravitate toward careers with an altruistic bent, such as social work, teaching, counseling, coaching, health care, or public interest law.” *
*I’m a career coach and a college professor - I feel seen!
🙌 Not only do I love being a coach, but I love getting coached too. I participate in loads of programs to teach me how to be a better coach and business owner. (Hm. Maybe I’ll talk about that next week.)
I’m a big fan of coaching and the change it can bring to your life. Not only am I grateful for the results coaching programs have brought to my own life, but for the hundreds of people I’ve helped as a career coach too.
It feels ⭐ SO GOOD ⭐ to help people build careers they love and give them a boost of self-confidence along the way. I just love it.
🙏 I hope you too experience the blessing and gratitude of loving what you do. It’s a gift that I don’t take for granted, and I wish the same for you.
If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving today, I hope you and yours have a happy and healthy holiday filled with blessings and thanks.
With joy and gratitude,
- Emily
A recession is coming! … Or it’s not? … Or it’s already here? 🤔
November 17, 2022
Earlier this week I talked about a looming recession in the Question of the Week. (The email was called, “Should I keep looking for a new job or learn to like the job I have?” - you can find it in the archive.) I received a few follow-up questions so I thought I’d elaborate …
I follow this topic very closely and the short answer is … no one knows what’s up with the recession. I will read two articles back-to-back, from two reputable economists, and get two completely different answers.
As I mentioned earlier this week, depending on who you talk to, the recession is already here, it’s happening next year, it’s not going to happen, it’s going to happen and be HUGE, it’s going to happen and we’ll barely feel it … what a mess.
🤦♀️ So what’s going on here?
Well, it depends on your perspective and your data.
Yes, inflation is still high (and cooling 🤞). But the US economy added 260,000 jobs last month. Employers are still hiring, and the labor market is still tight, meaning employees still have the upper hand.
🤷♀️ But Emily, what’s up with all the layoffs?
Yeesh, yeah, the news is bad, especially for Twitter, Amazon, and Meta employees. Other notable recent layoffs happened at Lyft, Stripe, Coinbase, Shopify, Snap, and Robinhood.
🧐 Take a moment and look at those companies - what do they have in common?
They’re all tech companies.
Twitter mess aside (😬), here’s the thing about tech - they have been on an aggressive hiring spree for years. Tech companies have been on a roll hiring top talent for high salaries and expensive perks. This means they can cut jobs and still operate relatively smoothly (because they might have over-hired in the first place). Also, demand is still high for skilled tech employees, even with all the layoffs.
📈 And here’s some perspective: The tech industry’s version of “slowing down” is the regular hiring pace for most industries. That is, job growth is still strong despite the recent layoffs.
Now back to this recession talk … is it happening? And what does that mean for the job market?
I am not an economist, but here’s my take … this is a case of the tail wagging the dog. 🐕 There’s talk of a recession which makes people act like we’re in a recession which then causes a recession.
For example, have your spending habits changed because of the recession talk? Have you put off bigger purchases? Does a looming recession affect the decisions you’re making in your personal and professional life?
Companies behave the same way. Yes, they are still hiring, but they are a bit more cautious than before. They’re holding onto cash in case a big recession is headed our way.
👩💻What does this mean for your job search?
Nothing. Keep doing what you’re doing. Continue to polish your resume, stay optimized and engaged on LinkedIn, work your network, and apply for jobs.
Just understand the hiring process might take a bit longer than usual, as companies deliberate their options more thoroughly.
👀 Keep an eye on your industry too, and the things happening in the macro environment that can affect it. For example, the real estate and mortgage industries are getting hit because of high interest rates. However, hospitality and service industries can’t hire fast enough because consumer demand is high. So ask yourself - what is going on in the world that might affect my industry in the next year?
This brings me to my last point: Anticipate where your industry - and even your own company - might be vulnerable. Could layoffs happen at your job? I hope not, but you want to be prepared if they do. This means you have an updated and relevant resume, an optimized LinkedIn profile, and an engaged network.
🧘 I hope this message gives you some perspective. I must repeat - I am not an economist - I just study this topic and examine the macro trends. And one thing I’ve learned through all my research is that no one can say for sure what is going to happen, so it’s best to continue with your plans and be ready for the perfect job opportunity when it comes your way.
To your success,
- Emily
🙋♀️ PS: Have you downloaded my guide, "Find Your Purpose and Make a Plan: 10 Steps to Kick Your Career in Gear"? It's packed with tips and resources to get you going on your career journey. And if you're ready to make a career change - yay! - schedule a 30-minute appointment and tell me all about it.
"Should I keep looking for a new job or learn to like the job I have?"
November 15, 2022
Welcome to the Question of the Week, where I answer questions from clients and newsletter readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, send me an email at emily@emilyworden.com.
TODAY'S QUESTION:
“Emily, I still want a new job, but is now a good time? It’s late in the year … There’s talk of a recession … Should I pause my job search and learn to just deal with the job I have?”
I’ve fielded this question three times in the last two weeks, so I thought it was worth writing about for the Question of the Week.
🥇 First, let’s talk about hiring seasons … There are two “busy” and two “slow” hiring seasons. You can probably guess what they are...
Things slow down during the end-of-the-year holiday season and the summertime. People are out of the office and distracted during these times.
Then hiring season picks right back up again as people are back in the office and focused on work. Therefore, January and September kick off the busy hiring seasons.
🥈 Second, let's talk about a looming recession and the job market … Depending on who you ask, the recession is already here, it’s already happened, it’s going to happen, it won’t happen at all, it's going to be devastating, or barely a blip on the screen. In other words, no one can say for certain right now.
Yes, inflation is high, but job numbers are strong. Of course, it all depends on your industry too. Some of the industries that are thriving right now involve health, data analytics, green energy, artificial intelligence, biotech, education, information security, all the trades, and more.
🥉 Third, let’s talk about learning to "deal" with your job. As you know, searching for a new job can be a lot of work. When you already have a job AND you’re job hunting, it’s like you’re standing with one foot in the door and one foot out - you’re ready to go, but you have to keep showing up and performing at your job. That’s a mental rollercoaster and it’s exhausting!
So, with all that said, now let’s answer the question of the week … should you stop looking for a new job and start enjoying your old job again? Or keep searching for a job even though the season slows down in December?
🏃♀️ To answer that question, I have a quick activity for you. Go get a coin … go ahead, I’ll wait … have you found a coin? Now flip it in the air and call it … “Heads” you keep looking for a job, “tails” you stop looking for a job.
When the coin lands, and you see if it’s heads or tails … are you disappointed or happy with the results?
Whatever your gut reaction tells you, that’s your answer.
💁♀️ I could give you tips all day long about how to improve your current job situation, but if your gut really wants you to leave … Well, then, the job might not be worth fixing.
But if the coin lands and you’re relieved with the results, then you know you’re not ready to leave your job or make a career change. And that’s ok if it’s what you need right now.
🤔 So, the long-winded answer to this complicated question is … it depends. It depends on your gut instinct and your industry. For example, if your industry is growing, it can be easy to find another job. If it’s shrinking, it will be harder. (Also, if your industry is shrinking, what would you do if you were laid off?)
By the way, it can take months to land a new job, and there’s a lot of groundwork to cover if you want to do it right. It takes time to find a job you love that fits your lifestyle, gives you purpose, and pays you well.
🗓️ Even if you want to look for a new job in January, there’s work you should be doing now, in November and December.
No matter if you decide to keep job searching now or pause and start up again in January, stay active. Continue to look for opportunities, work your network, update your resume, optimize your LinkedIn, and make strategic connections in informational interviews.
You want to lay the groundwork now so that when the perfect job comes along, whether it’s in November, January, or March - you’re ready for it.
To your success,
- Emily
👩💼 PS: If you want to find the perfect job but you're feeling stuck or frustrated by the process, you could benefit from coaching. I can help you with every step of the career change process - how to find the perfect job, write a compelling resume, stand out on LinkedIn, nail the job interview, and negotiate a higher salary. I can even help you make a successful transition to your new job or help make your current job better. Book a free 30-minute appointment, tell me what you want to accomplish, and I’ll see if I can help.
🧑💻 PPS: Last week I announced a price increase for coaching packages starting January 1, 2023. In case you missed it, here are the details:
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OLD PRICE (Until 12/31/22) |
NEW PRICE (As of 1/1/23) |
|
|
Individual Coaching Session |
$395 |
$425 |
|
Breakthrough Bootcamp |
$995 |
$1,195 |
|
Career Clarity Masterclass (Pay in full 10% discount) |
$2,600 |
$2,895 |
|
Career Clarity Masterclass (Installment Plan) |
$975/month for 3 months (total $2,925) |
$1,065/month for 3 months (total $3,195) |
(Yes, the 30-day Money Back Guarantee will still apply to the Career Clarity Masterclass in 2023.)
Onwards and upwards!
I know why ... do you?
November 10, 2022
I have an announcement at the bottom of this email about new prices for 2023. If you're interested in coaching, stick around for the message.
But first, let's talk about your why.
Have you ever said anything like this?
“I’ve lost my confidence …”
“I feel like a fraud …”
“I’m afraid of failure …”
“I feel stuck …”
“I’m scared to put myself out there …”
“I’ve got a huge case of imposter syndrome …”
These are direct quotes from people who contacted me because they're ready for a change.
They want something different - a new job, more money, less work - and they know they need to do something about it, but they “find every excuse in the book to not look for a job.” Or, they simply say, “I hate this. I hate applying for jobs. I don’t want to do it, but I need to.”
“I don’t want to do it, but I need to.”
There is so much to unpack in that sentence, and I hear it all the time.
I get it - who enjoys job searching? It can be difficult, laborious, emotional, and it brings up all sorts of feelings about self-worth and how we value ourselves.
“I don’t want to do it, but I need to.” When I hear this sentence from someone, I start exploring the second part: “...but I need to.”
Why? Why do you “need” to look for a new job? What’s your reason? Here are some common answers I hear:
“I want a plan and momentum.”
“I want to get my life back on track.”
“I want to save money for a house.”
“I want to save money for retirement.”
“I want to take that trip I’ve been planning for five years.”
“I want our family to be financially stable.”
“I want to spend more time with my family.”
“I want to stop feeling burned out.”
“I want to do work that has meaning, a purpose.”
“I want to do something that I’m passionate about, be part of something rewarding.”
“I want to have more confidence in myself.”
When you feel stuck, frustrated, overwhelmed, or stressed about making a change, take a step back and remember your why.
Why is a career change important to you? What will you gain from it? (More money, more time, less stress...)
How will a career change improve other areas of your life? (Work/life balance, time with family, money for a house or retirement ...)
Paint a picture in your head of your ideal future. Picture how a new job can help the other areas of your life improve.
If you want a new job because you want to buy a house, stop and picture the house - What does it look like? Where is it located? Tell me about the backyard - is there a porch? Who would you have over for your first dinner party?
If you want a new job because you have been out of the workforce for a while and it's time to get back in, stop and picture how it will feel to use your professional skills again, and the joy of earning a regular paycheck. What kind of work do you hope to do? What would you do with the money?
Whatever it is you envision for yourself, that is your why. Write it down. Focus on it. Remember it. Visit it often.
Remember your why, it will keep you going.
I know my why, do you know yours?
To your success,
- Emily
ANNOUNCEMENT: New prices in 2023
If you’re ready for a career change and …
- You know that working with me will help you (Not sure? Take the quiz to find out.)
- You like to save money
Then listen up … as of January 1, 2023, the price of coaching packages will increase as follows:
Prices as of January 1, 2023
|
OLD PRICE (Until 12/31/22) |
NEW PRICE (As of 1/1/23) |
|
|
Individual Coaching Session |
$395 |
$425 |
|
Breakthrough Bootcamp |
$995 |
$1,195 |
|
Career Clarity Masterclass (Pay in full 10% discount) |
$2,600 |
$2,895 |
|
Career Clarity Masterclass (Installment Plan) |
$975/month for 3 months (total $2,925) |
$1,065/month for 3 months (total $3,195) |
(Yes, the 30-day Money Back Guarantee will still apply to the Career Clarity Masterclass in 2023.)
If you want a new job, I’ve got two facts for you:
- It can take up to six months to find a new job, sometimes more
- January is one of the hottest hiring seasons of the year
So if you want a new job in the new year, there’s plenty of work to do now to make it happen. If you wait until the new year to start, you’re already behind.
And if you don’t want to change jobs until Spring 2023, you can invest in the packages now at 2022 prices and start the program in 2023.
And if you want to stay where you are and not make a change in your career, that’s ok too. Just reflect on the message of this email - remember your why - and contact me for a free 30-minute consultation when you’re ready for a change.
"How do I answer the salary question?"
November 7, 2022
Welcome to Question of the Week, where I answer questions from clients and newsletter readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, send me an email at emily@emilyworden.com.
TODAY’S QUESTION:
“Hey Emily, I have an interview coming up - how do I answer the salary question?”
I get this question all the time and I LOVE IT. During screening interviews, you’ll likely be asked, “What are your salary expectations?” (For some of my clients, it’s the FIRST QUESTION they’re asked. Sheesh!)
Last week I sent an email about how to get a recruiter's attention on LinkedIn. I mentioned that if you connect with a recruiter, you NEVER SAY YOUR NUMBER FIRST, instead you want them to name their number first.
Today I’m going to tell you how to do that.
Before I get into the details, let’s talk about how to figure out your salary expectations.
STEP 1: Know your value
- Think about your skills, experience, knowledge, background, talents, and other assets … How would you describe your value in a contract negotiation? What are you bringing to the table, and why are you worth it?
- Consider your budgetary needs and take-home pay (use a take-home pay calculator for help).
- List whatever else you need as your “total comp” - health/dental insurance, flex time, work-from-home, educational benefits, travel reimbursement … whatever is important to you.
STEP 2: Benchmark your salary and benefits
This research is critical - it will give you the confidence to ask for the number you want (because now your number is not based on feelings, it’s based on data).
- Research the job title: Find duties, responsibilities, and the average salary for your area.
- Get data from several websites so that you can get a reasonable range. (Contact me if you need help finding this information.)
STEP 3: Create your bolstering range
This is essential for salary discussions. In a bolstering range, your minimum acceptable number is at the bottom of the range, then add 20% for the top of the range.
Basically, the bottom of the range would be a number that makes you say, “I’m good with that,” while the number at the top of the range would make you say, “Woohoo! Yippee! Thanks, Emily!!”
- For example, if $50,000 is your minimum acceptable number, then your bolstering range would be $50,000-$60,000. In this case, I’d add another $5,000 and say your range is $50,000-$65,000 (BUT DON’T SHARE THIS NUMBER, this is for your information only.)
- A note about your minimum acceptable number: This isn’t your bottom-of-the-barrel price, a salary that you would take only if you were desperate. Rather, your minimum acceptable number is a number that you are happy about, a number you deserve based on your research and your skills/experience.
- Determine your resistance point: The resistance point is lower than your minimum acceptable number, it’s the lowest salary/total comp you are willing to accept, based on your budgetary needs. This is the worst-case scenario.
Now that you have a salary range in mind, backed by research, let’s talk about how to handle salary questions
When a recruiter or hiring manager asks, “What are your salary expectations?” Here are some possible replies:
- “I don’t know enough about the job yet, I'd be happy to discuss salary when I have a better understanding of the job responsibilities and expectations.” This answer illustrates that you want to understand the tasks and you're committed to doing the best work possible.
If they say, “Gosh Emily, I hear you, I just want to know if we’re in the same ballpark.”
- Throw the ball back at them: “I don’t know, I have to do my research, but what number are you thinking?" They have a number in mind, and they’re going to give you the minimum number, or a general range.
If they pressure you and say, “We just can’t go further in this process until we know your number. We don’t want to waste anyone’s time.”
- First of all, that’s a
red flag - if they’re refusing to give up a number, and pressuring you to do it, then they don’t value what you’re bringing to the table. - If you feel pressured to say a number, say, “BASED ON MY RESEARCH for the market value of this role, a fair salary range is $x-y.” When you say, “based on my research,” this takes emotions and feelings out of the equation. You’re just relying on data and facts. Plus, it indicates that you're someone who does their homework.
- Go a bit above your bolstering range here, don’t name your minimum acceptable number (then there’s no wiggle room later in negotiations).
If they ask, “What is your current salary?” Federally speaking, they are allowed to ask this. However, different states have different rules. For example, in Massachusetts, we were the first state to say an employer can’t ask about your current salary until you have a job offer with compensation details. California and New York have pretty strict rules too. Check your state’s laws about this. For now, here’s how to respond:
- “This job is different from my current job, so it’s not comparable.”
- “My employer restricts me from discussing my current salary for privacy reasons.” If that's true, awesome, and even if it's not a policy, you're still protecting your company.
- “That's not something I'm comfortable discussing, but I'd be happy to discuss the skills and experience I would bring to this position.”
I hope this helps you prepare for your next job interview or screener call with a recruiter. If you want some practice on this, schedule a free 30-minute appointment with me and we can run through your response.
Now go get that money, honey!
- Emily
(PS: Speaking of money honey, the price of my coaching packages will increase on January 1, 2023. If you're ready to work with me to get the career you want AND you like to save money, look for an email later this week with details.)
"How can I get recruiters to find me on LinkedIn?"
November 2, 2022
Welcome to Question of the Week, where I answer questions from clients and newsletter readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, send me an email at emily@emilyworden.com.
TODAY’S QUESTION:
“Hi Emily, how can I get recruiters to find me on LinkedIn?”
Thanks, Nick, for asking, that’s a good question!
Recruiters are hired by companies to find qualified job candidates. Most recruiters cater to specific industries, and they are paid when a candidate is hired.
Recruiters are most active in the hot employment industries: Tech, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Green Energy, and loads of creative jobs. But you’ll find recruiters for nearly every industry, and you want to optimize your LinkedIn profile to help recruiters find you.
First, let’s think about how recruiters use LinkedIn. You and I use LinkedIn as a social network with job opportunities. Recruiters, on the other hand, use LinkedIn to find job candidates. LinkedIn is a search engine for hiring managers and recruiters.
Think about how you use a search engine - you type in keywords and go. Recruiters are doing the same thing with LinkedIn.
So it’s all about KEYWORDS.
Keywords are the words recruiters and hiring managers use to find qualified candidates. Recruiters search for job titles, location, hard/soft skills, and sometimes the name of companies and universities too.
Do you know your keywords?
Check out the job descriptions that interest you … what language is in there? How is the job described? What skills are they looking for? THOSE ARE YOUR KEYWORDS.
Make a list of your keywords and then incorporate them into your LinkedIn profile.
First up, the Job Titles - if you don’t have the “correct” current job title (as in, your current job title doesn’t match the job title you’re applying for), then your LinkedIn Headline is extra important.
After the Job Title and Headline, the Summary is the third most important element of your profile. Fill it up with terms and keywords a recruiter might use to search for candidates, like hard and soft skills, industry jargon, and the job title or related job titles. Continue filling out your profile with similar keywords.
Does that advice sound like gobbledegook? Check out this article from Jobscan that explains the process in helpful detail.
Don't give up because this stuff works ... Last week I helped a client optimize their LinkedIn profile with keywords and FIVE recruiters contacted them over the weekend - immediate results!
Two notes about working with recruiters:
- Check the LinkedIn profile of the recruiter, the reputation of the recruiting firm, and the company they are recruiting for - does it look legit? Sometimes scammers will pose as recruiters from real agencies too - please note, a real recruiter would never ask you for personal information like your birthday, SSN, or bank account.
- Keep your expectations low - Some recruiters contact hundreds of people in a day. They simply don’t have time to respond to every message, and you often won’t hear back from them. It isn’t personal … they’re just juggling too many things at once.
If a recruiter contacts you:
- Yay! That’s awesome! Your LinkedIn optimization is paying off.
- Respond quickly. The recruiter is on a timeline so they’re lining up job candidates and screening them, and will move on if you don’t reply.
- Ask the recruiter how they found you and what got their attention. Take note and do more of this!
Before a screening interview with a recruiter:
- Research the company that is hiring and learn about its mission and culture.
- Prepare questions to ask the recruiter about the job requirements, company culture, and salary expectations.
- Practice how you’ll answer basic interview questions like, “Tell me about yourself,” and “Tell me about your skills/experience in [your industry].”
- Research a reasonable salary range for the job but DO NOT SHARE IT with the recruiter. You want them to name the number first. (I’ll talk more about that next week.)
I hope this helps, Nick. Keep the questions coming!
Do you have a career question? Send it to me at emily@emilyworden.com and I can answer it for the Question of the Week!
To your success,
- Emily
PS: If you have ever said, "I know I have to use LinkedIn but I never use it ... I don't know how ... I don't want to ..." then make a 30-minute appointment with me and tell me about your LinkedIn woes. I'm thinking of creating a LinkedIn course for people who don't like using LinkedIn, and I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.
"How can I work part-time from home?"
October 24, 2022
Welcome to Question of the Week, where I answer questions from clients and newsletter readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, send me an email at emily@emilyworden.com.
TODAY’S QUESTION:
“Hi Emily, I want to work part-time from home, where do I find jobs like that?”
I got this question from Sarah, who wants to come back to work after a career pause and still have time for family. Thanks for asking, Sarah!
I have good news - there are a lot of places to find jobs that let you work from home and even set your own hours.
I put together a resource list with over a dozen websites, it’s attached to this email.
Many websites cater to stay-at-home moms coming back to work after a career pause, and others can help place you in Fortune 500 companies, startups, tech, and law jobs.
This type of work is great if you are returning to work after a career break or switching jobs. And if you have a gap in your resume, this is an excellent way to ease back into the workforce.
I hope the resource helps, and keep the questions coming!
Do you have a career question? Send it to me at emily@emilyworden.com and I can answer it for the Question of the Week!
To your success,
- Emily
PS: If you know anyone who might benefit from this resource, please pass it along and tell them they can sign up for a free 30-minute discovery session with me.
"What are some red flags to look for in a job description?"
October 18, 2022
|
Personal Brand Alert: Update these two things today (especially if you're job hunting)
October 11, 2022
Hi everyone,
I’m sorry I didn’t send an email last week; my lovely clients had me BUSY! We were finalizing resumes, submitting job applications, tweaking LinkedIn profiles, and preparing for job interviews. There was a lot of momentum for a lot of people and I’m so lucky to be a part of it.
I’m back this week with one of my favorite personal branding tips.
Personal branding is ESSENTIAL in career development.
Does the thought of personal branding make you feel icky or uncomfortable?
I have news for you - you already have a brand. It’s your reputation.
What do people think about when they hear your name? How do people describe you? That’s your brand, and you must define it - or others will do it for you.
Personal branding is critical if you’re job hunting too. A strong personal brand helps you stand out from other job applicants, and makes hiring managers feel like they NEED to hire you.
I could talk for hours about personal branding (in fact, I’m developing a course about it right now) - and it’s the foundation of the work I do with my clients.
I’m here today with two quick tips you can use to define your brand - especially if you’re job hunting.
1) SIGNATURE BLOCK
Look at the bottom of your emails - what does your signature block say? If you just have your name and contact information (or no signature block at all), you’re missing a big personal branding opportunity.
You can customize a signature block in your email settings, and you’ll want at least six lines of text (you can play around with different fonts, sizes, and colors too):
1) Name (Use a middle initial if you have a common name)
2) Job title/job description/skills description
• If you’re looking for a job, you can say that too: “Copywriter looking for advertising work” or “Recent graduate looking for graphic design work in the New York City area"
• You can list your current job title OR the job you want to have
• You could also just list some notable skills that you want people to know about you
• Have fun here, think about your brand positioning - how do you want people to think about you? (For example, “Writer, Designer, Creator.”)
• If you’re a student or recent graduate, you can say the name of your school, degree, and year of graduation (For example, “College University School of Journalism ‘22”)
3) Contact information Include links to your LinkedIn, social media profiles, and your website (if you have one)
4) Tagline or Slogan (If you have one - it could be the Headline from your LinkedIn)
5) Call to action Ask them to visit your website, connect on LinkedIn, check out your portfolio, or follow you on social media. You can also promote upcoming projects here or link to industry news.
6) Include your picture or a picture of your work, it’s a nice bonus!
This is just a rough outline, you can customize it as you see fit. For example, here is the signature block from my email:
Emily Worden
2) VOICEMAIL
I know, I know, hardly anyone leaves a voicemail anymore in lieu of texting, but guess who does leave a voicemail? HIRING MANAGERS. If you’re job hunting and expecting a call, update your voicemail to grab their attention. You can even tailor it to a specific job you’ve applied to:
“You’ve reached the voicemail of Jill Jones, medical illustrations artist. Please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you.”
I hope these tips kickstart some ideas for your own personal brand. If you’d like to hear more about personal branding, I’m thinking about offering a course this winter and I’d love your opinion. Please check out the list of group courses and vote for which ones sound most interesting to you.
If you’re feeling stumped about your personal brand - which is likely because this is hard - then schedule a free 30-minute session and tell me about it.
To your success,
- Emily
NEW RESOURCE: 10 Steps to Kick Your Career in Gear
September 26, 2022
Hello there everyone,
If you feel at a crossroads about your career, I've got a new resource for you. I wrote this guide to help those who want to do something new, but feel stuck or unsure about what to do next.
It's called 10 Steps to Kick Your Career in Gear: Find Your Purpose and Make a Plan.
This is a quick read - only six pages - but it's jam-packed with actionable steps and valuable resources to help you find direction and gain momentum around the next steps of your career.
I tend to overwhelm people with too much information at once (it's a weakness - I'm working on it!), so just read through the document first, then take it one step at a time, one day at a time.
I'm all about taking small, micro steps to build daily momentum, and reading this document is a good place to start.
Click here to access 10 Steps to Kick Your Career in Gear: Find Your Purpose and Make a Plan.
Please let me know what you think of this guide or any topic you'd like to learn more about. I'm here to help!
With joy and gratitude,
- Emily
Sneak peak - Winter Group Courses launching - Which ones should I launch? (Please respond)
September 21, 2022
Good day everyone,
I’ve been coaching for 10 years and I’ve had the good fortune of helping hundreds of people with their career goals.
I love coaching because I love helping people succeed - I was born to do this.
BUT, I’m only one person, and my schedule doesn’t always allow for new clients.
So, I’m launching group cohort courses to help more people achieve their big, beautiful dreams - whether it’s getting a new job, a promotion, or starting a business.
If you’ve been curious about coaching but you’re not ready for the 1:1 experience, then cohort courses might be for you.
Group cohort courses are like going to school … show up to class, do the homework, meet with the teacher, participate in group discussions, and leave the course with a new set of skills.
|
I’ve created courses for the five most in-demand topics from my career coaching practice:
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But I need your help! These courses will run for six weeks in October-December 2022, and I can’t run all five at the same time.
I can only choose TWO pilot courses to launch this fall and I need your help deciding which courses to launch.
Can you please fill out this short form to learn more about the courses and tell me which topics sound most useful to you? I appreciate your feedback, thank you!
Click here to learn more about the courses, including prices, FAQs, and registration info.
Woohoo!
- Emily
(PS - If you're interested in attending a group course, you can reply back to this email, leave your email at the bottom of the form, or sign up on my website. I'll email updates on course happenings and registration info.)
I'm official now!
September 19, 2022
Hello there everyone,
One of my favorite salary negotiation tools is educational benefits. Many employers get squirmy about raising base pay, but they’re more comfortable offering bonuses and extra benefits.
I encourage everyone to ask for educational benefits because I believe in employers paying for education and training. After college, I worked for a local university that paid for my MBA. Now, I’m happy to take advantage of the educational benefits offered by Boston University, where I’m an adjunct professor.
And this is exciting - can I tell you a quick story?
In May 2022, I learned through my union at BU about a grant available for adjunct professors and I jumped on it. I applied to cover the cost of three professional certification programs, and was awarded 95% of my proposal. Huzzah!
I applied for the first certification in June - to become a Certified Professional Career Coach. It’s a globally-recognized program for those who want to level up their coaching skills and provide maximum value to their clients. I’m happy to report that I completed the course, submitted my work, passed the test, and it’s official! I’m now Emily Worden, MBA, CPCC.
Next up, I’m working on the Certified Professional Resume Writer course. When that is finished, I’m going for my certification in Interview Coaching. And I got 95% of the cost covered by my employer.
The moral of the story?
1) Take advantage of employer benefits (and ask for them if they’re not offered)
2) Continue educating and training yourself, no matter how long you’ve been in the game
3) You can make time for anything if you prioritize and stay disciplined
Now I’m going to celebrate this win before hitting the books on my Certified Professional Resume Writing course. Onwards and upwards!
-Emily
The wrong way to search for a job
September 15, 2022
Thank you, everyone, for your input about my office hours! I've gotten very thoughtful responses. If you haven't responded yet, please complete this short form to tell me how you feel about office hours and when they should happen.
Today, I've got some job search advice for you...
People come to me when they’re burned out by the job search process and their self-esteem is usually pretty low.
I get it - job searching can be stressful, confusing, and debilitating.
It combines lots of things that often make us uncomfortable - money, wondering what’s next for your career, self-esteem, meeting new people, taking risks … and too often I see people going about it the wrong way, so I am here today to offer a new strategy.
First, let me tell you how most people go job hunting, and why they’re doing it wrong:
Typical job-seeking mistake:
- Decide to get a job
- Update the resume
- Search job sites, find some jobs that sound vaguely appealing or that you’re overqualified for
- Send out dozens of resumes/applications - I call it the “Click and Stick” method - you just “click” to apply all day long and hope something sticks
- This method doesn’t work, you’re burnt out, over it, and questioning your motives (“Why am I doing this? Is it worth it?”) and your own skills (imposter syndrome, self-doubt)
My job search philosophy: Don’t apply to everything you see and send out hundreds of applications.
Instead, you want to be FOCUSED and DELIBERATE about your job search. This is a "quality" over "quantity" situation:
- Find the companies and job titles that are most appealing to you
- Study the job descriptions and company descriptions
- Customize your resume for each job application using keywords
- Optimize your LinkedIn profile
- Tap into your network to see if you know anyone who works at these companies
This process will get you job interviews faster than any “Click and Stick” method could. I made a video explaining the process, you can view it here (closed captioning available).
Does this make sense to you? Good! Now go out there and do it.
Does this sound overwhelming to you? Then you might be a good fit for coaching.
I cover all of these steps in my Career Clarity Masterclass. We explore everything you need to know about career development, from figuring out what you want to do next to writing your resume to negotiating a higher salary. (And the Career Clarity Masterclass has a 30-day money-back guarantee. See the FAQs or email me for more info.)
Take this quiz to see if coaching is right for you, and watch this video to learn about the coaching process (closed captioning available).
To your success,
- Emily
I need your advice - should I have office hours? (Please respond)
September 13, 2022
Hi everyone,
I'm thinking about hosting some open office hours … anyone can pop in and ask me questions about their career. I think this might be especially useful during the "hot" hiring season I talked about in last week's email.
I’ve had wonderful chats with job seekers during the 30-minute “Kick Your Career in Gear” Discovery Sessions, and I’d like to help more people. So this would be for anyone who has already had a free session or anyone who I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet.
But I don’t want to throw a party and then no one shows up.
So I’m testing the waters first … If you think this is a good idea, please fill out this short questionnaire. I’d like to figure out 1) How many people like this idea, and 2) What time/day works best for most people.
And finally, should the office hours have a theme? In each session, I could share some tips around a certain topic and then open the floor to questions. Hm. So much to consider. Thank you for your input, it means a lot!
With joy and gratitude,
- Emily
It’s getting HOT out there
September 6, 2022
Hi everyone,
Things are HOT right now, can you feel it?
No, I’m not talking about the weather ... I’m talking about the JOB MARKET.
As you’ve been hearing in the news, labor demand is high. It’s a tight labor market, and the power is in the people to find jobs they love on their terms.
But here’s what makes things extra hot right now …
It’s September!
That means people are in “back to school” mode … Summer vacations are over, people are back at work, and hiring managers have a renewed focus on job applications.
This is one of the BEST TIMES OF THE YEAR to look for a new job. September is the perfect month, and October is pretty good too.
But things slow down remarkably in November and December.
That means you have two options if you want to be in a new job sometime in the next six months …
- Get serious NOW about your career, put in the hard work in September and October, and find a new job by the end of the year.
- Put off the fall hiring season, but get serious about your career moves in November and December so that you’re ready to apply during the next best hiring season - January and February!
Which option sounds best to you? It depends on your professional, financial, and personal goals.
If you want help in your career journey, I’m here to guide you towards a new job and more money.
I am booking up FAST for the fall, however, and space is limited.
If you’re wondering if career coaching is right for you (it’s not for everyone), then I’ve got a few resources to help you:
- Take the quiz: Am I ready for coaching?
- Watch the video: What is a career coach and do I need one?
- Watch the video: Bootcamp vs. Masterclass: What's the difference?
If you’re ready to make a career change, and you know that a coach will get you there faster, then book an appointment with me to determine which coaching plan is right for you.
To your success,
- Emily
Are you thinking about doing something new? LOTS OF RESOURCES INSIDE
August 30, 2022
Hello there Emily,
If you’re thinking about making a career change, but you’re not sure what to do, start by researching jobs that interest you. (Ooh, that rhymed!)
I’ve got a few resources to help you:
- Occupation Profiles from CareerOneStop: All you need to know when considering a new occupation: job description, employment outlook, skills/education required, wages, etc…
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Sponsored by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the place to go for the most updated information about occupational data. Find information about wages, employment outlook, fastest-growing industries, and highest-paying jobs.
- Firsthand: Modern data about today’s jobs that you might not find in other industry resources. Find helpful information about the job, industry, and related professions.
- The Bureau of Labor and Statistics has industry outlooks, occupational profiles, and loads of information for job seekers.
- Reddit.com: Find subreddits on any type of occupation and learn from people doing that job every day (Get more career advice at /r/CareerGuidance, /r/AskHR, /r/recruiting, /r/jobs, /r/productivity, /r/GetMotivated).
- Indeed.com or LinkedIn Jobs: Browse job descriptions to get an idea of expectations and responsibilities.
This should be all the resources you need to research jobs and industries that interest you.
Happy searching,
- Emily
My favorite job search site
August 25, 2022
Hi everyone,
If you’re looking for a new job, where are you looking for job listings? Most people search on LinkedIn Jobs or Indeed. Both sites are excellent for job searches, but I’ve got an even better tip for you.
You might know about my love of CareerOneStop, which is an incredibly useful resource as you explore potential pivots in your career.
Now let me tell you about their Job Finder, which aggregates the listings from the top four job websites (NLx, CareerBuilder, Indeed, ZipRecruiter) and your state’s job bank.
Boom! Four job search sites, one stop. I tell clients to use Job Finder and LinkedIn Jobs to cover their bases.
Another tip: If you have some ideal companies in mind, check their website for job openings too. You might find opportunities not listed in any of the resources above.
Finally, check out this article about using Google to maximize your job search.
Enjoy the search,
- Emily
PS: Are you looking specifically for part-time, remote, and/or jobs that are friendly toward people returning to the workforce? Contact me for a separate list of resources.
I'm going to be on the radio tomorrow!
July 26, 2022
Hello everyone,
I have big news to share ... I'm going to be a guest on Boston Public Radio on GBH (our local NPR station) on Wednesday, 7/27, from approximately 12:30-1:00 pm EST! You can listen live here (click on the "Listen Live" button in the upper left corner).
I'll be talking with the hosts for a few minutes and then taking questions from callers and offering career advice.
Am I nervous? HECK YES, I AM. Is imposter syndrome creeping in a little bit? IT SURE IS.
But I wanted to share this news with you as an inspirational story. I've been listening to this program for 10 years, and I've wanted to be a guest on the program for that long too.
I first pitched the program in 2015. No dice. I started to pitch them again in July 2021, but life got in the way. Every day, when I listen to the show, I think, "One day, I'll be on there too."
Then, a few weeks ago, I called into the show and had such a great chat with the hosts, I decided to strike while the iron was hot and make my pitch. Funny enough, that morning I was working on my SMART Goals and put "Boston Public Radio" at the top of my list for 2022.
I wrote my pitch exactly one year after drafting my July 2021 pitch (what?!)
But this time, I sent the pitch, got a callback, did a pre-interview, and was offered a slot (aaiieeee!)
My goal is to be a regular contributor to the program, but this is a great first step.
I'm telling you all of this because I want to show you that I practice what I preach ... I'm taking risks, following my dreams, and getting a bit nervous and excited along the way.
So, here's to following your dreams, and saying, "Well, hello there" to the butterflies fluttering in your stomach when you're challenging yourself to do something new.
To your success,
- Emily
