Today’s Tip: Using Search Engines in Your Job Search

Do you speak Boolean? You need to! This is the language that search engines understand. To get the most efficient and accurate results from a query on a search engine website, you need to know how to use the advanced commands for that particular search engine. Note: Just because a command works on one search engine, that doesn't mean the same syntax will work on a different search engine. For example, to look for a particular filetype extension (an Excel spreadsheet) on Google, you would type "filetype:xls" in the search bar, whereas in Yahoo, you would type "originurlextension:xls". In order to learn the nuances of each search engine, click on the "Advanced Search" or "Help" area to learn more about them.

Also, I am sure that most of you have your "favorite" search engine and you use that one exclusively. This is is mistake. Your favorite search engine will (at best) have only a fraction of the Internet indexed with your search criteria. Thus, by using multiple search engines for your job search, you will open up more results that may, or may not, be indexed by your "favorite" search engine. To see a complete list of search engines, go to www.thesearchenginelist.com.

I just happen to know that Bing is also a good search engine to use! How do I know that? I Googled it!

Today’s Tip: “I Twat I Taw A Tweety Tat”

Yes, I am "twalking" Twitter today. If I was only allowed to have a few tools in my arsenal for my job search, this would definitely make the cut!

Twitter has quickly grown into a "I love it" or "I can't see why people do it" two headed coin in which people choose a side and stay there. What I really want you to know is that I am not asking you to tweet what you had for lunch (or even tweet anything during your first 6 months on Twitter), but I want you to familiarize yourself with all of the supporting websites and applications that have grown to be VERY useful to those looking for new career opportunities. Then after you see the value, you may (or may not) choose to become a tweety cat.

To get started with Twitter, take a look at the following website and see who is tweeting valuable job information related to your field of expertise and/or industry - http://www.twitjobsearch.com

If you have decided by now that Twitter isn't for you, do me favor and try it (and it's tools, websites, and applications) to spite me! I guarantee you that as a potential job seeker, you will be opened up to many more opportunities than you ever imagined!

Today’s Tip: So How Many Pages Should My Resume Be?

If you ask most resume writers how long your resume should be, most will give you a one-word answer of "one", "two" or "three" pages. If they give a "standard" textbook answer without asking you additional probing questions, then you should run for the door and look for someone else to get advice from. If you further want to determine their knowledge about this debatable question, then play the "Ask WHY 5 Times" question game with them. This game is designed so that if you keep asking probing questions to someone and after asking 5 "why's", they are still able to give a competent sounding answer, then they are obviously an expert in the field that is being questioned.

Most resume writers will not be able to get through the first "why" when asked a probing question about the length of the resume. They answer, "two" pages, so you ask, "Why?". They usually fail by saying something like, "That's what I have always heard you should have".

It would take me about 15 minutes of discussion for me to accurately assess the right amount of pages that your resume should be for your unique situation before I can give you a one-word answer. Would you believe that my answer might be close to 3 digits (as in 100 pages)? It might be! I have read many resumes that were well over 20 pages and some even over 100. When I recruited for The University of Chicago (NORC), I received many doctoral resumes that were thicker than some books.

So when you read the title of this blog, you probably thought the answer would be in the blog, but that is something that I cannot answer accurately without knowing your particular situation. I can tell you that it depends on your years of experience, the type of resume you are writing, who is going to read your resume, what level of position you are applying for, the industry that you are targeting, and a few more criteria that you can learn more about in my job seeker training classes!

Today’s Tip: Coach Your References

So you made it past the interview phase and it's now time for the company to check your references. Surprisingly, you actually don't want to give them your list of references as soon as they ask for it! Instead, you want to say something like this, "I am excited to hear that you would like to talk to individuals that can speak about my accomplishments. I hope this means that you are seriously considering me as the final candidate for this position". Wait for their response to verify that this is probably the last step before an offer is forthcoming. Then say, "I did promise my references that I would give them a heads-up before giving out their contact information. Is it okay if I call them this afternoon (or night) and provide you that list by E-mail tomorrow morning?" The company will most likely accept this request.

The reason for this delay, is to give you time to contact your references and "coach" them on how your interview went, what you feel are important "talking points" for them to bring up, and speak to the culture that you witnessed during the interview process as well as your research on the company.

Note: Would you want your reference to speak about your accomplishment of getting your previous company to approve a policy allowing all employees to bring their dogs to work everyday? If you were interviewing at IBM... probably not! But if you interviewed for a position at Google, this would definitely be a talking point.

P.S. You also want to coach your references on your "greatest weakness" since that is a standard question asked by those checking your references. Give a separate weakness to each reference on your list, but make them small areas for improvement and never job related.

Today’s Tip: Applying for a Job Out of Town? Act Like You Live There!

Employers are very reluctant to consider candidates that may require relocation expenses. In addition, they won't even consider people that are willing to relocate themselves (out-of-pocket) because they believe that the local candidate pool is swimming with fresh fish and they also don't want to appear "cheap" by not offering a full relocation package. So do you move to that new city, get an apartment, phone number and then apply? No, there is a much easier way! The answer is to make it appear that you live in your target company's geographic area.

You accomplish this by listing (on your resume) a phone number that has the same area code as your target company. In other words, if you are looking to relocate to Miami, you would obtain a free voicemail phone number that starts with the area code 305. To obtain a list of providers that will do this for free, Google "free voicemail number" and you will have many to choose from. Your potential new employer will see your Miami area code phone number and think that you are local to them and if your skills match their requirements, you will get that call!

To further compound the "ruse", you might want to obtain a "street looking" Miami, Florida address.  There are many companies that will provide a mail drop address (Mail Boxes Etc. and UPS to name a few).  A mail drop is a secure address recognized by the the postal service, where you can rent a box and effectively use it as a postal address for that city in which you rent it from. They then will forward your mail to your "real" address.  Note: this is not a PO Box, this is a real "street address".

Some of you may say this is trickery! I won't do that! But I say to you, do you want a sure "No" (by the employer throwing away your resume) or a possible "Yes" by them assuming you are local to them, calling you, and giving you a CHANCE to sell yourself as the best candidate for the position. If and when they learn about your real current location, you can say, "My family and I are planning to move to Miami and we are laying the groundwork for that move".

Today’s Tip: Highlights R Us – Make Your Resume Glow

When recruiters login to the job boards to look at resumes, they would be faced with an impossible task if they had to browse through all of the resumes in the database in order to find the perfect candidate with the right skill sets. So what is a recruiter to do? Enter their best friend, the keyword. On most job boards, the first (and sometimes only) field that they complete are the keywords. This eliminates everyone that doesn't match their query. So what happens next? The job board produces resumes (in order of best matched keyword criteria) and then highlights the keywords in a different color so that the recruiter doesn't have to read the entire resume, but instead only look for the keywords that are highlighted. Do you see where I am going with this? Let me explain. If you want to help the recruiter to be able to identify you as the ideal candidate for the role, then you need to read the job description thoroughly, network with people at that target company to gain intelligence, determine what keyords are most important for this role,  and modify your resume by highlighting (with a yellow background) those word(s) that a recruiter would most likely be the most concerned with for that particular job posting. This will get you noticed by even the worst recruiter. In reality, you are dummy-proofing your resume!

Today’s Tip: Don’t Click Apply!

Let's talk about how 85% or more of job seekers spend 85% or more of their time. They are the expert Clickers, having mastered the process of finding openings on job boards like Monster and Career Builder and then clicking the APPLY button.

This is the quickest way for you to enter the Resume Black Hole Zone, which is where your resume will remain unless you somehow get lucky and the magical Job Board Recruiter Fairy happens to stumble across your profile and determine that you are the perfect match.

What's the point? Job searching is very hard work and to be successful you have to do what few others are doing.

By the way, here's something we cover in the JSAP class: how do you find out the actual hiring company when the posting on Monster is anonymous?

Today’s Tip: Leave Your Comfort Zone

I  have noticed that typical job seekers spend way too much time doing the tasks that they are "comfortable" doing and not the tasks that are necessary to win in their job search.

The "I'll get to them later" tasks include:

• cold calling - picking up that 400 lb. phone is about the hardest task for the typical job seeker to look forward to and to make it a natural part of their daily routine.


• emailing people they don't know


• asking for effective help/advice from experts


• requesting people in their target companies for informational meetings


• following up more than once when they have a hot lead; you must keep that flame burning!

There are more, but you get the idea.

So get in the game… the right game.

Today’s Tip: Is Your Elevator Speech Taking You to the Penthouse or the Outhouse?

I've had the unfortunate opportunity to listen to far too many lackluster "elevator speeches" in which the speaker appeared to act just as happy that it was over as I was.  Their speech was not only boring, but I had no idea how I could help them because the only thing they accomplished was to confuse me.

When you develop your elevator speech, make sure it accomplishes the following:

1. Introduces you in a memorable - and positive - way. Will the person remember you one week later? Did you leave a lasting impression? A week from now, when they hear about an open position in which you would be an ideal candidate, will they even remember you?


2. Talks about your unique capabilities and separates you from your competition.


3. Focuses on what you will do (for the right company) and not a lot of what you did do - that's for the resume.


4. Speaks in a manner that appears natural and not forced or memorized. Also remember to leave out the jargon/ "technicalesse"/"geek speak". Your targeted audience will not be able to help you if they can't understand what you can do for a company.

Today’s Tip: Job Seekers Should be Cheaters!

Back in school, if you cheated (and got away with it), your chances of getting an "A" on the test probably increased significantly. Now, I am not a big proponent of cheating in school but I do think that you should take similar advantages in the business world to "cheat" your way to an interview and/or job offer.

What exactly do I mean? The answers to the "interview test" are yours just for the asking! They are written in the job description, known by employees of the company you are interviewing with, and blurted out by the recruiter and hiring manager if you are listening closely or know the right questions to ask.

By networking with these people, you increase the likelihood that you'll be recognized as well as say the right answers when asked those difficult questions. Just as you did in school, you also need to prepare for that interview by using people in your network to learn about the company, culture, values, and business critical projects that are underway; or anything else that will elevate you far above your competition.

Want an example? Ask the recruiter, "I would really like to succeed in this upcoming interview. Is there anything about my background that you feel I should spend the most time explaining during the interview?"

The answer may be all you need to get that "A" on your interview test!