BLOG.COMPETITIVERESUMES.NET

Now at CompetitiveResumes.net

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2012-01-13T04:22:13Z

I decided to move to the penthouse (so to speak). This blog will now be an archived blog. So to start you off, there are two valuable posts there.

30 for 30 Suggestions to Keep Your Resume In Top Fiscal and Physical Condition in 2012

Patience is a Virtue of an Impressive Hire

I have moved, only to provide a newer presence, but feel free to come back here anytime.

Is Integrity at The Core of Your Job Search

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-12-08T02:06:10Z

Being honest with yourself is hard to do if you are used to pleasing others first. In fact, Bill Cosby once indicated that if you are trying to please everyone, then you are likely to fail. That is why integrity in every aspect of your search is essential for success. Although you have to possess the skills, and the accomplishments to demonstrate competency, unless you are honest to your core beliefs about where you want to be, your life and career search can crash and burn.

You have to know what you want.

Honest with your family

Everything about the working hours and the type of career you desire should be on the table. I believe that it will help to have clarity as there are many decisions that are all connected to another. The pursuit of any opportunity should feel like a family decision (between both spouses).

Honest with yourself

The hardest thing about hearing a lot advice from many places is deciding what is best for you. There is advice that is just that…advice. Then there is understanding your talents, achievements to date, and abilities. If you decide against advice because it’s challenging, and don’t engage because it’s easy. There should be people in your life that have good judgment to help you filter the good and bad.

Honest with an potential employer

Lying about a job or experience is a problem, but committing or agreeing to something that does not seem right is a problem too. If there are hours, salary, or relationships that you cannot sacrifice don’t express enthusiasm and say you are happy to do it. You can always think about it after getting advice. However, without question, don’t agree to any suggestion that is unlawful or violates your conscience.

If you need some honest coaching, and job search direction, please let me know.

What’s Your Job Search Knock Out Punch

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-11-22T14:21:58Z

Three weeks ago, an article I wrote was published on Brazen Careerist entitled,

Competitive Job Market? Train Like a Boxer. It was inspired by the most competitive sports event of my lifetime, the Ali-Foreman fight. There are several take-aways that I hope you are able to implement in your job search.

Train for a 15 round fight, not a 100 yard sprint that last 10-15 seconds
Learn to accept and reject as a boxer takes punches
Fight strategically by organizing and researching an employer and competition
Learn to be strong, and dish out points to persuade employers to hire you
Know what is your knock punch, and particularly your strength that lands powerfully on an employers hiring jaw

Feel free to leave comments below about the article. Let me know what you think.

Can I assist you with writing your resume? Or help prepare you for job interviews? Let me know.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Do Your Social Media Profiles Speak For You?

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-11-16T18:01:04Z

Would you like to be found by an employer who appreciates your unique talent? What does your Facebook, Twitter, Linked In profile say to anyone? Chances are that you need to invest more time in looking and sounding professional.

Certain images and words can make you unattractive:

Vulgarity. This is a pet peeve of mine when a job seeker cleverly uses profanity , and yet, say they are looking for a job.
An unflattering picture. I just saw someone in pajamas on their Facebook profile taken by a web cam. It exudes tackiness.
Tagged in unflattering pictures. Sexy poses are for private locked down posts. I don’t even mean pornographic pictures. Provocative pictures leave an impression, and not a positive one for an employer to find.
Rants about a sensitive subject. Religious and political statements that are inflammatory don’t present you in the best light. One thing to express an opinion, it’s another when you provoke debates, and reckless emotional banter.
Spelling and grammar errors. Every employer desires someone who can read and write. If you can’t do it in 140 characters, what does this say about your ability to effectively communicate?

What are other profile faux pas that you have seen? Please share to share below ?

Do you need help with your social media profile. Is so, let me know!

Answer “Do You Have Questions For Me?” Like a Pro

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-11-08T16:47:33Z

Are you a jobseeker miffed at the question, “Do You Any Questions For Me?” Not asking questions makes the interviewer feel you don’t care about the company. If you prepare for a variety of questions, then answering is easier.

Here are a few tips to steer you in the right direction:

Target inquiries to the interviewer emphasizing fit, facts, but not fun. If you talk about perks, then don’t plan on getting a job.
Research the remedy, and offer clues to repair. Bring solutions to the table, and understand . Focus on common experiences that you have overcome that the employer is going through now.
Clarify, converse, and close the deal. The end of the interview is the time to sell yourself. Put emphasis on your strengths, and possibly revisit questions that you feel weren’t answered.

Can I help you prepare for your next interview? Going through mock interviews help prepare you for questions.

A Professional Skills Section On Your Resume is the Vital Organ

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-10-26T03:24:23Z

A “Professional Skills” section is not the heart of a résumé, but it functions like a lung. Your résumé lacks life without it. The “Professional Skills” section breathes life in your résumé.

Recruiters and resume evaluators want to see what you have to offer within 15 seconds. They are identifying key skills that justify an interview with you.

image credit

To substantiate an interview, show your employer skills that you have at least a 75% or more proficiency rate. Customize A “Professional Skills” section or a “Key Competencies” section for each employer to demonstrate what you offer. These are a list of mostly hard and some soft skills that you are sure that the employer requires for the job.

If you researched the position, and read the job posting carefully, this is easy to list. In most cases, you know if you have the requested skills or you don’t. My clients have found by listing these skills additionally helps them to measure the depth of their skill set.

If you are a systems engineer, then the software that you programmed and/or designed would be a part of this list:

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Assembly Language C/C++ Programming P-Spice AutoCad Microsoft Office Suite Verilog

For a systems engineer, this list will contain 15-20 hard skills. The section should follow your contributions section, or traditionally called “summary of qualifications section.”

The companies scanning for keywords would likely grab their attention because your keywords are near the top of your résumé. Not only this grabs the attention of employers, but it leaves little room for doubt of your skill set.

If you do not have 15-20 hard skills, then try using skills associated with people, processes, and technology.

Does this help you write your résumé? I can help take some of this thinking from you, especially if you find this challenging. Let me help you.

Temporary Work For Jobseekers as a Permanent Solution

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-10-11T16:10:09Z

Last Thursday, CareerBuilder released its quarterly hiring forecast report, stating that Temporary staff is significant in supplementing staff:

To supplement staffs, 32 percent of employers turned to temporary help in Q3, while 27 percent plan to hire temporary or contract workers in Q4.

The Hiring Site/CareerBuilder

Although permanent hiring is still slow, at least there is significant action for temporary professionals.

Many do not like temporary work because of the lengthy hiring process, and the testing of software competencies.

There are three main benefits to working temporary:

To show continual work history. Employers do not like to see gaps of employment. Temp work covers the gaps.
Learn new skills. Employers are willing to train people how to do the job, as long the person has the minimum core competencies.
You get paid quick. You are practically paid in real-time (the following week).

As another part of the CareerBuilder study, more temporary workers will have opportunities to remain on permanent staff:

Seventeen percent of employers expecting to transition some of these employees into permanent staff.

If you haven’t tried temporary work, you should, especially if no one else is hiring permanently.

Can I help? Can I provide you guidance, direction, and/or encouragement? If I can, contact me by filling out the contact form at CompetitiveResumes.net.

Failure Is The Best Job Search Tool Ever

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-10-04T15:15:54Z

Failure is the best job search tool ever because it stays with a job seeker forever. Sometimes the embarrassment from errors appears as a battle scar. Other times the time suck and wasted energy was not worth the lack of an attempt. There are teachable moments and lessons that job seekers turn around daily, and reach success in his or her job search.

1. If you fail at asking questions at interviews. A date, that does not ask his or her questions who they are with, means that they are not into you. The same with job candidates who don’t inquire about anything about the company.

2. If doubt inhibits your ability to sell yourself. Many job seekers do not exert confidence in his or her knowledge, skills, and abilities. When a job seeker lacks confidence, the interviewer, or resume reviewer, will doubt you too.

3. Not following instructions of the potential employers wishes. Requests such as including cover letters, salary requirements, sending emails or not, or possessing degrees and experience are what the employer wants. Doing the opposite exploits your disregard for following instructions and regulations.

What have you learned from job search failure, that you will never do again? What did not work? I’d like to know, so please, comment below.

Evan Longoria Reminds Us To Finish The Job Hunt Strong

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-09-29T14:12:34Z

It doesn’t matter if you barely make it, as long as you win, you’ve made it. No one barely gets the job. Your pay will reflect that you did the job.

I am a Yankee and Met fan first, but I like the Tampa Bay Ray too. Evan Longoria’s home run went over the shortest part of the field last night. The left field fence is 315 feet, and Evan’s home run was probably 317 feet.

Despite the length of the home run, it was worth one run. Even if the ball traveled 600 feet, or broke a score board, the home run will be worth one run.

I would encourage you, the job seeker, finish the what you started.

1. Finish “tweaking” your resume, even if you have thought about it for months and years. When you let time go by, the harder it is to remain focus and complete the task. You finish strong when you have done everything.

2. Contact the people that can help you. Talk to the people who you consider mentors, and the people who offer credible references. Not only for today’s efforts, but also for the duration of the job search.

3. Update your online profiles. Profiles can have the same meat, just seasoned differently. Give each its own uniqueness without damaging the right stuff.

Shake of the cob webs, and keep the job hunt moving. Even if, you score and get hired in the 12th inning, it still counts. It doesn’t matter when you score the winning run, just finish.

6 Reasons That The Thrill Is Gone From Your Resume

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-09-21T16:28:06Z

Other than receiving interview calls from Aflac or State Farm, your job search, is a lame duck in a big pond. You have followed the advice from everyone who had the same job since 2000, yet, no calls for a job. It’s time to admit that “The Thrill is Gone” from your resume.

If your date didn’t call to thank you, or reciprocate the same feelings they had towards you, “The Thrill Is Gone!” They are not into you. Your resume might be the reason employers don't call back.

No calls. No reciprocity.

How do you know that the thrill has left your resume?

Your resume doesn’t say much. Like the girl who answers in short sentences, your resume has short descriptions and a lot of white noise. Your descriptions should have challenges, actions, and results. Without them, like bad dates, say nothing.
Your resume sends all the wrong messages. In one sentence, you claim you have strong oral and written skills, and yet, grammar error and typos plague your document.
You and your resume have little in common. If you look at your resume only to admire it, but realize it doesn’t say much about who you are, then like a short guy and a tall girl, it’s hard to believe you’re together.
Your resume talks too much. We can debate if three pages is too long, but two full pages can say more than needed. Look at the unnecessary verbiage in your resume. Do you have to say that you process “all” the paperwork? Do you have to say you teach “every'” employee? Words like “all” and “every” only flood more space on the page unnecessarily.
Your resume is leaving you “just because.” If your resume is not clearly defining the position you want, then you will need to rewrite it. You want to be a bookkeeper, tax preparer, and an accountant. You will need three resumes to start applying.
The feelings are not mutual. No affection, no smiles while looking at each other, and no talking for you or completing each other’s sentences. More often than not, there are incomplete sentences.

The Solution to Your Job Situation

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-08-30T14:38:18Z

Image: Mirror

Is in your hands, and your hands alone.

If you used the unemployment rate as an excuse this week to stop searching, you don’t get it.

If you have avoided temporary job calls because you feel it’s a waste of time, you won’t receive it.

If someone has offered you a job for a couple of months, and you opted out because you are looking for a full-time job, you missed an opportunity.

How about the volunteer opportunity to use the FREE Microsoft Word training at the library, I’d like to challenge your judgment.

If someone offered contact information to a job prospect within the last week, and you have not called, you must be looking to fail.

If your only contact to a company you want to work for is someone you don’t want to talk to, you’ll need to swallow your pride, or your pride is too large to swallow.

The answer is in front of you. Read this post I published yesterday to inspire you for this week.

Own The Voice on Your Resume

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-08-23T14:58:57Z

As difficult, and laborious, process of writing your resume is, it has to sound like you. Although it is practical to have a Career Consultant, or resume writer craft it, your voice must be prominent throughout.

Elaborate and flowery words that are not in your vocabulary will be a disservice to you. It is your responsibility to ensure you can articulate the resume you, your spouse or friend wrote.

I like presenting clients a draft to make sure it sounds like you. A respectable resume writer will have at least one conversation that the writer can glean your vocabulary abilities (or hack into your language) among other issues.

Job seekers will practice the law of laziness in allowing a professional to do what the job takes. Although the trust is appreciated, it undermines the premise that the resume should be a representative of you.

This calls for the job seeker to be acutely aware of how he or she comes across. There is a thin line between bragging and promoting oneself. Promoting is less about saying things that sell, but more demonstrating value that sold.

Bragging will only trigger additional questions, but promoting will answer questions. Your voice will be more persuasive when it shows more than it tells. Just make sure it is your voice that is promoting you.

Is It An Under-Cover Letter?

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-08-16T13:27:09Z

The worst cover letters I have seen sound like:

A purple prose version of their resume.
The art of almost saying something.
The antipathy of vagueness and ambiguity. (When big words mean nothing.)

Your cover letter needs to embellish everything that is not in your resume. Be straightforward, and little personal when addressed to someone you know. Please, please, please address the letter to a person, not in general.

Cover letters are effective when it introduces your value, not desire to get a job. Emphasize value, solutions, not a list of duties. Stories of how you rose from ashes to greatness are not appropriate in most cases, unless you can wrap it up in 2 or 3 sentences (1 or 2 is even better).

More importantly, send a cover letter when it is requested, and don’t if no one asks.

Why Are You Applying To Jobs As If You’re The Only Applicant?

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-08-09T15:15:21Z

Here are signs that you believe that you are the only applicant for the jobs you apply for:

1. You are not checking for typos, grammatical errors, alignment, or punctuation.

2. The egregious use of over used and abused words such as good, important, excellent, provide, manage, ensure and other words that should charge you for abuse.

3. You pump up personal attributes like writing and verbal communication, but cannot substantiate a skill sets.

4. Not one bullet point has a full line of text describing your knowledge, skills, and abilities.

5. No months included with the years you held the job.

6. The ad said cover letter AND resume. You sent a resume.

7. MY SWEET LORD! You copied half of your resume from an online sample.

8. You don’t follow-up after you sent your resume.

9. On-line applications are the only way you apply for jobs.

The job hunt is competitive. Write, talk, and follow-up like you are challenging contenders for the title.

Temporary Work Is A Networking Opportunity

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-08-03T22:25:48Z

Whether you are the lone temp, or working with other temps, temporary work is a hub for opportunities and conversation.

The wrong approach for an aspiring careerist is to look at temporary work as temporary. Sure the job will partially pay bills, and give you change for your purse, but talk to others.

I am not suggesting that you don’t offer 100% effort. On the contrary, 100% for the tasks assigned, and 100% in having great conversations:

Try finding out where people are temping, perhaps their background did not fit. If yours qualifications seem to fit, maybe he or she has essential contact information.
Make conversation about other temps they may know in the current temporary assignment. Try to become familiar with the same people.
Ask about their past career, find out what makes them tick, and why they are working temp.
Offer all of the above to the other person. Helping them could lead to helping yourself.
Get to know the employees who are monitoring your work, or who supervising you. You can demonstrate that you “fit” in the organization.

Impress and Obtain Success By Social Networking

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-08-01T01:13:38Z

I would like to offer a post from an article on the trendtotrendmag.com site, “Why Your Career Search Needs Social Media Advice.” Many job seekers remain short sighted about the power of social networking. I am also including a study published by Jobvite, Inc. on July 13 about the use of social recruiting and their use of social media. Enjoy, and feel free to comment below. Do you think social media is an effective job search tool?

Your Career Brand: Comfortable or Too Tight

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-07-27T17:16:50Z

Your fit in a new company should not be snug. It should be a “fit” in every sense.

Everyone has worn a shoe that was a 1/2 size too small, but it was a painful enough to remember never will happen again. Take the extra step to ensure that this job shoe can be worn until you are ready to leave.

Your polished brand will fit a company comfortably, with little alterations needed.

An unwanted position will expose your lack of passion will eventually be exploited by a coworker who wants your job.

You become overwhelmed even when someone tells you to learn 12 hours of material. You do not want to be there. This job is not for you.

Plenty of people miss opportunities expending energy trying to fit their size 11 feet into a 91/2 size shoe.

Do not look at jobs wondering if it’s your size, and if you can accessorize it to make it look pretty. A position that fits does not need enhancements; it needs your name already on the label.

The Job Skill That Upgrades Your Hiring Status

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-07-26T13:42:52Z

Job seekers who demonstrate exceptional customer service skills get noticed, and compete well for jobs. From executive positions to retail sales, demonstrating an acumen for legendary service increases a candidates hiring stock.

Customer service skills are like a tree planted in water.

Customer service skills are like the sun.

Three ways to demonstrate service skills during the hiring process:

A call center representative or customer service representative must display performance by the numbers. Abandoned rate, missed calls, talk time, how many calls answered monthly and yearly on the resume.
Build and show a portfolio showing letters, complimenting your service provided to customers.
Call the #800 to experience the company’s call center service first hand, and note the service philosophy of the company. You can share your expertise in the interview, and appear so…professional.

Job seekers should try to demonstrate at minimum people, process, and technology abilities. Every resume must include these components when demonstrating their customer service skills to some degree.

Embrace The Enemy, Imitate The JOB Competition

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-07-21T18:00:25Z

Photo:http://th09.deviantart.net/images/PRE/i/2002/43/6/1/Follow_the_Leader.jpg

There is nothing wrong imitating what is good.

Find out what people are doing (without plagiarizing, stealing patents, or copyright) that works, and do the same. If it is a reasonable strategy, why not imitate? Kids learning by copying, why can’t you? Imitation is what makes the world go around, and most successful people was inspired by someone successful.

Mind you I am not advocating plagiarism. That will lead to other places where you did not want to go, and obtain a reputation that’s hard to shed.

The things that your friends are doing are probably doing and finding are low cost:

Applying to temporary agencies.
Looking for a part-time job (that’s any part-time job).
Getting resume advice.
Finding mentors and coaches to help them.
Looking for inexpensive or free training/education (Colleges offer extremely low prices. Even MIT offer courses for free).

Nothing is wrong with imitating. Especially when it costs you next to nothing.

Use a S.C.A.R. Tactic To Write Your Resume

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-07-20T16:36:38Z

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Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_atrocity/2771526207/

A quick tip to help you write your résumé:

Success. If you can not find your old performance appraisals, letters of accommodations, try to estimate all quantity, quality, cost/time measures.

Challenges. Think of terms of resolutions, solutions, and contributions to skill and performance issues.

Actions. What tasks, tests, or evaluations did you conducted that removed obstacles to achieve your performance goals?

Results: Any measurable or implied results that reached the goal.

This should help your make sense of a sometimes frustrating process. Don’t be surprised if its hard to write out measurable results. The secret to estimating is that no one will particularly check the accuracy, so be conservative when guessing.

Rise and Grind, Proclaim Your Job

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-07-18T16:32:21Z

You got to get up, get out, and somethin’

Don’t let the days of your life pass you buy…

Outkast/The Goodie Mob

To generate momentum, a lot of little goals will help accomplish the big goal:

Talk to 4 people today, that will encourage, direct, teach, or spur you on to a new way of thinking.
Research 3 companies to find positions available, what the department does, what products and services they offer etc. As a bonus, call the #800 number and note how the company sells their products. Whether you are seeking an executive position or just an associate sales person, this will bring you lots of insight.
Call the number 2 times, and talk to different people and see if the approach is the same.
Apply to 1 job by sending in a well-written resume and cover letter (if required by the employer).

It doesn’t matter if you use the same numbers every day, it matters if you can sustain production.

Careers, Interviews, And The Home Run Derby

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-07-12T15:52:36Z

For every résumé submission, swing for the fences.

Every cover letter that accompanies your résumé, give it your best.

Make every swing count, and remember that each home run fence vary in distance.

Make follow-up calls memorable. Subtle, but unforgettable.

Be graceful, tactful, and polite and produce a appreciable impression.

Let the bad pitches go, do not over-exert by swinging. Swinging and missing is preparation for a better pitch.

Don’t take your eyes off the ball, or off the bat. Remember, how the first home run felt.

Does it feel like a failure? Send a thank-you note.

How hard and fast you swing the bat is part of the home run hitting equation. For the ball to clear the fences, you have to make contact first.

Empathetic, Not Sympathetic To Help The Job Seeker You Love

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-06-27T00:51:00Z

What motivates one person, does not motivate everyone. One partner may have the discipline of Patton, but the other the threat threshold of Satan. You may need the latter at some point to help others “fall forward.”

Empathetic, yeah, feel what they feel. Sympathetic, as in sentimental, no. That may cause damage.

The people whose motivation is diminishing need encouragement. My argument today is not to pat on the back, all of the time. Some people will need to grin and bear it, old-school style. You want to spur others on to keep moving, but not draw blood.

Getting out of bed, and getting dress

Each person needs to find what motivates them. Until then, a simple, get out of bed and get dress the same time daily puts the pants of purpose on them. He or she gets dressed, but clothed with intentions of meeting someone today. Sometimes, that is all the motivation that person needs. This will change if kids involve themselves, but not much. The mindset is that he or she must do something.

Get out of the house

The job search networking tool so effortless and yet profound as said, “Networking is everything, and everything is networking.” Dressed and out the house with laptop in tow, and some personal business cards in tow brings out the game face. Encourage them to go where people are, and free Wi-Fi. Even as an entrepreneur that works 80% virtually Panera Bread is my second home during the school year.

Excuses are obstacles, and obstacles are excuses

The emotions flow up and down, side and across, transverse and sagittal. Tears might just take over. It is hard not having money to call your own (anomaly here, but work with me), and I know for men, that is who we embody. There are times the beloved job seeker has to be called out gently, but reminded of the agenda. At the same time, what you tear down, you must rebuild.

Stubborn?

Tough love is something that I had to do this year with a couple of clients. They would come close to tears when they explained their situation, and began to talk as if hope had left them. I empathized in understanding how they arrived to what they felt, but I could not decide for them what to do. I could only suggest, and offer help. They had to decide if they wanted help.

There are people I coached to stop feeling sorry for themselves because decisions cannot be made with fresh judgment from that place. In each case, the person came to their senses and moved forward, and eventually found either a position or on a path he or she is happy.

Finally, be ready for a bumpy ride

The Great Recession has revealed strengths and weaknesses in one's character, and our professional attributes. Emotions fluctuate, harden, soften egos and divide our attention yet, we must resist from giving our loved ones a pass for wallowing in self-pity and doubt. If we have done the job by encouraging more than just handing down obligatory rebukes, then the job search ride should not be so turbulent.

Choosing words is the difference between motivating, and gouging out an eye. I think labeling someone as lazy or apathetic met with negative and harmful reciprocation. Think of someone performing their last push-up or pull-up, and they need to complete it.

6 Ways Lifestyle Can Sabotage a Career Search Or any Opportunity

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-06-23T03:17:45Z

Employers can tell a candidate destroying his own chances of getting a job. Just by looking at behavior, dress, and personal space invasion of others also tells a story. No one wants to hire a person that displays careless personal behavior. After all, if a candidate cannot present yourself in the best light, how can that person represent a company positively?

Nothing hurts more than hurting yourself. Suicide is terrible. Self-affliction is painful. Sabotaging one’s own career, is unbearable. That is a person’s walk through a land mine of life’s explosives laid by themselves derailing their own job search.

1. Emotional baggage

People like to laugh and cry, but either one incessantly. Telling sad stories, and jokes constantly wears thin on everyone including loved ones. Employed people, even if they do not interview candidates, lack tolerance or comfort with this behavior. It is unacceptable behavior even if it is among friends. It is likely they do not want to work with the joker or the cry-baby either.

Anyone who wears sadness all of the time will face problems in their career search too. Believe that people can see sadness when walking, talking over the phone, and handling professional obligations. No one wants to be around that person.

2. Halitosis, Hygiene

“You stink” is what everyone wants to say when a lack of soap manipulation is evident. The other side is that maybe there is too much cologne or perfume bestowed on your person.

Every star has to align for hygiene and dressing professional. Again, look the way an employer likes to see every day.

3. Non-verbal communication

What you do, not the words, could be the reason for a lack of success:

Speaking too fast or slow is a communication problem. Practice! Practice! Practice!
Is that rain coming from your mouth?
Saying “huh?” “What?” “Eh?” is a sign of hearing loss or the inability to listen.
Too loud or too soft spoken? Either extreme is a problem.
Burper? (not birther)

4. Anxious?

The job search requires thought, plan, and much patience. The only way to speed the hiring process up is to be patient and impressive. There are 10 others waiting to be interviewed, let them be anxious.

5. Too friendly or unfriendly

No one likes someone who carries a conversation by themselves (often offering too much information). Conversely, no one likes anyone who does not say “Hi” or “Hello” either. It is OK to be “moderately” friendly if sincere.

Men, chivalry is alive and well. Ladies dig and appreciate the attempt to open doors, slide in chairs, and a kind (not flirtatious) word.

6. Friends who are not honest with you

Friends who rarely offer constructive critiques that make your heart skip a beat are just “friends.” Go out and connect with people who are brutally honest. Appreciate when people are helping you sharpen your speech and appearance. When a critique stings, it is likely the truth, and exactly what you need.

Many find this the hardest part of the job search, but an effective network brings the best out of you.

The point is to practice interviewing, greeting, and meeting people to sharpen your presentation skills. Everything leaves an impression on an employer.

15 Uses of a Dead Resume

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-06-20T03:30:00Z

The paper résumé is dead. The résumé format is a few years from fatality. If anyone is still visiting Kinko’s or Staples to buy White Linen résumé paper, then he or she is no longer relevant.

There are professionals all over the web who are claiming that the résumé is dying because of the ease of accessing social networking profiles. If you have a well-written Linked In profile with recommendations, solid work history, and adequate keyword selection, you are good.

It is about time that the résumé die. No more jamming fax machines, and yea, we save more trees. There are good things that can come from this. Let us count the ways that we could creatively use paper résumés:

Pooper scoopers.
Impress friends.
Use protective coverings to preserve your paper resumes them to show the grandchildren.
Preserve them to show at museums years later why we have so many more trees.
For psychological profiles of white-collar criminals.
To be recorded as a dead language like the Apocrypha one day.
A crib sheet used to take a résumé quiz as part of the History curriculum.
To show others what keywords looked like on paper resumes.
To use as a maze when children finished their state tests, “See if you can find the phrase that says ‘References upon requests.’
Prove that you really knew how to work Windows 7 to your grandchildren.
Faxing résumés will be obsolete too, just saying.
An item to use for prizes on “Let’s Make A Deal.”
Show the difference between paper résumés and resume (as in resume the construction).
Don’t use the paper resume as an old school torture tactic by cutting someone with the edges.
To display what the Helvetica font looked like on paper resumes.

If you do not have a social profile, create one. Starting at Linked In is a great place to start, and DO NOT just paste and copy your resume. Instead tell a story to show the effectiveness of your skills, solutions, and contributions.

Don’t forget that résumés are not dead yet, and don’t write one that is DOA.

Your First Transferrable Job Skills Were Taught by Mom and Dad

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-06-16T03:20:06Z

Other than the Math and English you learned in school, the first transferable skills learned were from your parents. These attributes make connections with people, collective bargain, and influence community building.

Taking these skills for granted hurts the future, and your children if training is absent in the home. As parents there are some innate characteristics that :

Networking

Nothing has changed when it comes to initiating a relationship, short or long term, is that you share. When my oldest son (Boy Wonder) went to school, he wanted to take his favorite treat to everyone every day. We had to explain how financially that was not possible, he understood the main principle. Sharing is the fire to sustain networking relationships.

Some job seekers expose their desperation by focusing what he or she can get out of it instead of what they could give. Successful networking is receiving as a result of giving, not the other way around. A child that goes to the playground to take is not seen as friendly. Every child avoids him and cries because of he acts so selfishly.

Influencing

Children are influenced by sound and defiant behavior as long as the rewards benefit them by way of attention or gratification. My wife and I talked to our sons about being an example by using our selves as the point of reference. To point out another child as an example is helpful as it relates, but overall, the parent must be the best example.

It is hard to offer a service to employers if it is not a personal conviction. If you pride yourself in offering excellent customer service, but display disdain for people is an epic fail. Subtle facial expressions and lack of eye contact often communicate a lack of respect for people. More importantly, it is mobilizing people to act in a certain way.

Negotiating

This is an essential skill that requires other vital attributes like creativity, savvy, and research. Kids are so innocent when they trade with each other. Like adults, they have a goal and agenda as it has little impact on who they become in life. Unlike adults, most children are not afraid to ask for what they want. When it comes to this skill, it does not hurt to have a child like attitude when you want something.

Negotiating is a tremendous responsibility, and some job seekers do not realize its power. Some do it and will never realize it. Others have lost their childlike attitude and think about themselves during the process. Effective negotiation results benefit both parties, not to see whose ego inflates the most.

Branding

We are in a time that branding awareness is prominent and frequently discussed. For kids and adults reputation has to be favorable upon impact; otherwise, you lose a possible client or employer. There is not much depth to the conversation from child at first. However, in its simplicity, a child can offer the most profound branding identities:

Children always ask, “How come you do not like me?” Large companies want to know this when their product sells horribly. Job seekers want to know because interviews are not panning out. It is a frequent unanswered question that ends in heartache. Most employers will NOT reply because of the associated legalities.
Another would be “Give me (also “gimme”) !” It is not a positive statement, but how we say it is a part of our brand. It is usually an unspoken distress signal for parents to intervene, but it is a distress signal for the employer to abort the process for a candidate. The words, “give me” are not too harmful, but the way it is said can disqualify anyone.
What is not said is also a form of identification such as not asking for help, complaining, or a child being silent while another takes advantage of him or her. A parent will make a decision how they will protect the child. A job seeker who does not seek help, yet complains about looking for a job or grows impatient about the length of a hiring process will not attract helpful friends.
Job seekers or mature adults should be a long way from the child away from the sandbox, or wherever else they played with other children. I have personally seen candidates and employees who were no different from that child in the play box. However, I digress.

Sometimes, it is good to reflect on the road map that helped us arrive where we are now. Most of our parents made things simple for us, and we had to work through our difficulties in communicating what we wanted. It isn’t a bad idea to think about what made us tick. As parents, we try to bring the best out of our children. As job seekers, the mission is still the same, bring out our best.

Job Seekers Can Learn Resilience From NBA Champ Dirk Nowitzki

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-06-13T14:38:00Z

It is rare for a NBA team to rely a 13-year old veteran like Dirk Nowitzki to lead them to an NBA championship. It is an inspirational story for many if all of the cliches mean something to you, but to mature Job seekers can take unique lessons from this player. What if you found a job like Dirk Nowitzki earned a championship ring, would there be common attributes?

Be tough! Even when your teeth get knocked out

Early in Dirk's career, he had two teeth knocked out. It was in 2001 in a game against the San Antonio Spurs. He stayed in the game after the bleeding stopped. He could have made an excuse to stay out the rest of the games, but he proved to be a resilient contender.

Job seekers still face possibilities of long-term unemployment. For some, pain and shame of being unemployed and underemployed hurts the family as much as the unemployed family member. It is a painful process that could be overcome when family and friends are being supportive and encouraging. Everyone one can make a difference, even when tough love needs to be applied.

99 1/2 did not get you hired

Dirk's team, the Dallas Mavericks, lost to the Miami Heat in 2006 in the Finals. The final games in the NBA are a gruesome tourney, with many physical and demands. Most of us can imagine, and endured a long interview process that we failed to get the job. The comeback is a necessary component to succeed. Driven by failure or the lack of failure, everyone needs to fail, and move forward. Denzel Washington recently gave a graduation speech to University of Pennsylvania students and said, "If you are going to fall, fall forward."

Create your own shot

Dirk has become known to have inside and outside components to his game. He can effectively draw in men his size (he's 7'1") away from the basket which confuses the defenders on the opposite team. Job seekers need many job search strategies, not just one. Like Dirk, you need an inside and outside factors to increase the effectiveness. Success for Dirk does not only come by making long shots, but drives to the baskets.

Do not underestimate creativity as a vital part of the job search challenge. Your competition are people who are networking, writing blogs, volunteering time, and creating bold but appropriate strategies to get noticed. When a job seeker has been unemployed for several months, it is time to move beyond job boards and send out hundreds of resumes.

Everyone should have a team of people who can help bring out his or her best qualities. This job search requires others to give input on how to show their best. However, it is up to the job seeker to develop and create his or her own shot. Make the most of any opportunity, and look forward to winning your own final.

Weiner’s Wrong Remind Job Seekers To React To Re-Employment Responsibly

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-06-08T04:00:08Z

I said I wasn’t going to chime in with Weiner (pronounced like the Oscar Meyer hot dog) gate anecdotes but the career and job search lessons are just to overwhelming to overlook. I had several working titles that were completely self-indulgent and egregious:

HOT DOG!!! USE THESE 5…NO, 4 RESUME TIPS!

LEARN FROM WEINER, DON’T DO VIDEO RESUMES

TMI---HOW TO SCALE BACK YOUR VIDEO RESUME

ARE YOU A WEINER, WHINER, OR A WINNER?

and finally,

VIDEO RESUMES: DON’T BE A WEINER

Whew! Now that we got that out of the way, there are valid lessons to learn from this incident:

The name, the incident, could cause problems

Candidates may choose to alter his or her name to be perceived more professionally, and not to be excluded. In Weiner’s case, but even the media can help themselves to laugh at him for all of the obvious reasons. People with unusual names should practice how to tell others to pronounce his or her last name.

Video resumes are not for everyone

You can say that video resumes are risky, but everyone does not subscribe to that point of view. No matter how eloquent, smooth, or articulate a job seeker can speak, nothing compensates for looks and appearance. Consider whether this will be advantageous for you or not. In Weiner’s case, it was a disadvantage.

Technology is not for everyone either!

A professional blog is a terrific way to display your technology skills. Using every function on your phone does not mean you are tech savvy. You can use so many tools to display your skills. Not to mention the ability to communicate well.

Intentions…the pathway to hell

Plan and strategy are words used often on this blog. Intention is another euphemism for excuses and a lack of thought. Start with a goal and finish strong in meeting the goal. Intentions do not mean anything to anyone when it results in failure.

Seeking advice before you press send…

Constantly asking for opinions from people who are honest with you about every phase of your job search is always a victory waiting to be celebrated. I can almost guarantee that they will save you from permanent damage to your reputation and career, providing that you chose people with outstanding judgment.

Tell the truth

The sad part of this Weiner episode is that the whole knew he was lying before he admitted the error. Own your error, especially if caught.

Transparent or Naked News

Too much information in either case is not reliable information. At any point of the interview process, personal questions about age, family, religion, orientation are off limits. Never become too comfortable or too casual in answering any question that is not directly related to the job.

That wasn’t as painful to read, was it?

Jobseekers Can Market Themselves Cheap, But Priceless Like Lady Gaga

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-06-06T02:40:56Z

image: Huffington Post

Last week, Lady Gaga and Amazon pulled off a marketing coup that landed her the #1 Album spot, and the #2 best selling record for single week album sales of all time. For one day, she sold her self cheap.

Inexpensive. Blue light special-like. For next to nothing. Obscenely cheap. And I am NOT talking about her provocative way of dressing.

She sold her “Born This Way” CD for 99 cents for one day.
This is not a marketing blog post. How can individuals market themselves in a positive but enlightening way?

We are trying to sell products, goods, or services that people will pay us to provide. That is why offering discounted labor is an opportunity these days. Planning and creativity creates opportunities that reach further than just a job. If a job seeker can not win a job right now, then go out and win over people. Then through people, eventually employment doors will open.

Opening doors is what Lady Gaga and Amazon did by selling her CD at 99 cents. Over 1.1 million of us bought it. Yes, I bought a copy and thought that it was a superb deal. What was there to lose, 99 cents? For Lady Gaga, this had several benefits for all of us to learn:

I am not a fan, yet I bought 14 songs for 99 cents. If I do not like it, I have my Prince and Earth, Wind, and Fire music nearby. A job seeker that offers his or her services at an insanely low cost can unleash networking opportunities that otherwise would not exist.
Just started paying attention to Lady Gaga interviews that the common thread seems to be the appreciation of her fans, the story behind her latest CD, and her talent. The lesson for job seekers is to know what will cause potential employers to take notice. For me to listen to Lady Gaga was more than the costumes, I wanted to know what made her tick. Employers will do the same when you provide services for minimal compensation. Networking opportunities like internships are hard to come by, why not create one?
Even if, I do not listen to the CD, not only I will remember her, but also appreciate her efforts to make her music accessible to everyone. Job seekers should attempt to be memorable in a positive way. It is easy to get caught up in the lack of pay rather than the priceless opportunities this venture could bring.

When people receive more value than what they paid for, it is likely they will talk about it. Jobseekers will not be remembered if the value they delivered is not al least a small portion more than the patrons expected.

As Lady Gaga suggests, are we “Born This Way?” No. But we can learn easily.

Get Rid Of Those Past Employment Scars!

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-06-02T03:22:00Z

No one will say that overcoming job loss, an antagonistic boss, or failure of any kind does not affect you. Feeling the burden of carrying them around with you is stressful and at times, depressing.

Painful. Hurtful. Debilitating.

I can tell you move past it, and you will say yes, but somehow it stalks you like the dark. You do not smile, and you do not laugh anymore. The scar you expose to everyone is not endearing anyone to you.

The phone interviewer does not want to hear about the ugly scars from your last job.

It is not that you speak negatively about your former employer. The way you respond to current questions can reveal wounds that will scare off anyone. Phrases like, "My last supervisor told me my greatest weakness is…” or “They did not take any of my suggestions…” make you sound like a victim. No one wants to hire a victim. You lack energy. You answer slowly. You are boring.

Your former coworkers do not want to be reminded of those hideous wounds either.

Whether you were “the problem” or “the solution,” people may entertain your moans and groans for a week, or every few weeks or so, but not for long periods of time. Sharing your success is positive, but sharing about things that YOU feel hold back your success sucks hearing for the 20th time.

Your friends are sick in hearing about it, too.

While you had a dilemma, your friends were tolerant at best. Now “…all is left is a band of gold” (Freda Payne, Band of Gold), your friends are trying to help you to move on, and you resist. Notice that calls to say “What’s up?” have dissipated.

Yes, hubby has had it.

Your spouse is starting to call enemies to get away from looking at those infected wounds you are exposing him or her to view. AGAIN! I will say that your spouse, out of everyone else, has a legal obligation to help you heal. "You move, they move, just like that" (can’t believe I just quoted Ludacris).

HINT: You can’t hide scars forever. They must heal.

Even if, you don’t say a word but all of the vital signs (not being positive, just making it, slow and lethargic) are there, and few people will want to be around you.

Seek help from a mental health professional, and move forward. If you don’t, your face may look like all of the others that are in your situation.

Attend This Job Interview Sick As A Dog Or…

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-05-29T23:41:00Z

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Client called and asked should he go to this interview sick. Well, this is a first that a client would call only to hear several answers that I will just throw out there for everyone to discuss:

Call ahead and ask the hiring manager/interviewer if there is a quarantined room so that he or she could be infected. This way they can see you are reliable, and you can see that he or she lead by example by taking one for the team. This will show them your reliability and ability to be tough.
Call and tell them to clear the floor because you are coming in for an interview. You are the answer to the company’s problem. They have to interview you, right?
Then again, going in with a warning that you are contagious would cause panic and alarm. Not only will the company lock you out of the office, but also the floor, building, and the block. Your name will go on a black list for all employers in that industry.
Call the potential employer to see if they could re-schedule. Sargent Williams, the hiring manager, will tell that you are a wuss and do not bother. Er, this would be discrimination, right?

I told my client to call and offer the employer the option. She called the employer, and gave them the option to re-schedule or not. She found out that most of the office was out with the flu. They re-scheduled the interview, and my client is now waiting for an answer.

The best job search strategy of all is the use of common sense. After all, you do want to stand out, don’t you?

10 Attributes Showing Men as The Most Hard-Headed Job Seekers In The Universe

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-05-26T03:34:32Z

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I have a unique perspective in this post, in part, I am telling on myself. However, these are genuine experiences that I have witnessed in the past 3 years:

Male job seekers are so hard-headed because they do not follow directions well. Our ears hear "please call around 11am" we call at 11:35am, because we heard "call" and "11am."
Gentlemen, we are selective listeners. We listen for keywords instead of grasping the conversation’s context. The words before "attention", and after "attention", count as much as paying attention.
Speaking of calling, men, we have to do better in answering phone calls and talking to future employers on the phone. Better yet, STOP rushing callers off the phone. Stop being short, curt, and at times, rude.
Men, we can be arrogant and whiners in the same conversation. Networking works better when we are one person, not two. Hey, we might be even more impressive.
Sports analogies are amusing at times, but scarcely use in conversations and interviews, but not as much. We like wearing shoes until the sole of the shoe collapses. We also like to use Michael Jordan quotes a little too often “…accolades will come later…” Throw a little Michael Douglas in every now and then, “Greed is good!” Ok, maybe not!
We are so slow in engaging the social networking tools of 2008, procrastinators at changing our profiles, and we want the benefits of due diligence. If I ask you update your Linked In profile, you would probably say,”… nothing has changed since then.”
Men, we write fragmented staccato sentences on our resumes and tell long, epic, and redundant war stories about our careers. Stories can translate in to meaningful complete sentences if we would just try. Just ask any man how did he become interested in his career (maybe not all, but many of us will talk your head off like a teenage girl).
Can we please NOT lower our voices when we talk to women, and get louder when we talk to other men? How about using out inside voices at all times while, well, inside. I will not suggest that it is sexist, but we should check to see if our Pimp hat is tilted.
When we have a hard time pronouncing names, ask the person to spell it first. STOP mispronouncing the same name nine times in a row. Do this at networking events, and it becomes a phonemic awareness tutoring session.
Own your errors, say you’re sorry, and mean it when it applies. Saying you’re sorry is a sign of weakness only if you don’t comprehend the grandiose picture when you apologize. Understand what you said/did/looked hurt the other person, then move on with life.

All of these probably have happened to men and women. However, men are the main perpetrators in my experience. Many of you can add to this list by commenting below. May save us some frustration in the long run.

Coping With Unemployment And Resolving Conflict In Your Marriage

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-05-23T02:39:00Z

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I am surprised that many of couples that do not talk about the progress of the other’s job search.

One client said, “It is a toxic discussion. We have been through the deaths of one another’s parents yet, when I ask how things are going or make a suggestion, it turns into an argument.”

Is it that tough to weather unemployment while married?

Not only is it tough, it is the cause of marriage dissolution for many Americans. It is the first time for married couples uncover the real identity of his or her spouse.

Tangent alert--By the way, I did see the stat that suggest 25% of divorces are due to Facebook. That is absurd to me, because Facebook alone nor in part is the enemy. There are too many intrinsic and extrinsic activities, thoughts, and feelings that possess more power and influence than a status update. The irreverent updates are just symptoms of a larger issue. But I digress.

If your marriage is not the refuge away from the kids, the workplace, or the job search, then you have a serious problem. It seems that the job search is central to couples as it becomes an inflammatory status of the marriage.

“Well, he is just not serious in finding a job!”

She suggests that he is lazy. He does not pick up behind himself, nor does he help around the house. It is critical that he is “…looking full-time for a full-time job.” This is the part where she has to help him find a job. There is no promise that he keeps it when he does.

“She is not making enough money. She needs to look for another job!”

She graduated from college with a degree in English Literature with a 3.59 GPA, and she works as an Administrative Assistant for a local nonprofit clinic. Her aspirations were never Northwestern Law School, but to write books. Hubby knew it, accepted it until it became hard to have vacation money.

“He can not take that job because it is 2 hours to and from…”

He finds a decent job for the talents that he has but the market he has experience in being in the suburbs, not in the city. With a newborn baby, this means he can not be with the family as much. The travel will be painful for him too, because the lack of rest will affect everyone.

All of these are symptoms of the problem, but not the persistent issues that permeate in the relationship. The job hunt (or the lack of) is a symptom, but not clarifying the expectations of BOTH spouses is the beginning of addressing the problem. It is hard to find the job you and your spouse desire if a black cloud routinely hovers over the household.

It is a team effort, not a his or her problem:

Communicate about every conflict and issue such as the ones that have nothing to do with the job status. This will drain the black cloud hovering over your house. It will not solve every problem, but it will clear the hostility.
Both people need to engage the job search. Talking honestly about the choices defuses the bomb before it detonates.
Patience and grace should be extended as long as there is an effort on most days. There need to be peace some days. Manage stress, and revive the spirit on off days (Yes, take off days).

The problems go away with time and continued conflict resolution. Talk routinely to resolve is the best way to put issues to death. The only win-win in marriage is right there in the middle.

I’ve been blessed to remain married over 20 years. My wife is currently experiencing a layoff after 21 years. However, there is no question about what the roles are when it is time to change jobs or careers. Within the two weeks of the announcement, she has three job interviews. We responded quickly, and trusted each other to engage our roles. Of course, I wrote her resume and offered interview tips. However, she could have done it without my help. I just made it easier for her to get results.

Perhaps that is all you need to do for your spouse too. Just make it easier.

I Can’t Write Left-Handed: A Jobseeker’s Dilemma

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-05-20T03:40:45Z

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"I Can’t Write Left-Handed" is a song by Bill Withers that tell of a Vietnam War veteran who lost his right arm in battle. He could not write left-handed and asks anyone to write his mother, and for her to pray for him and tell her that someone he does not know shot him in the shoulder. As I listened to this song, I had thought about people, some of them my friends, lose jobs and remain in a quandary because their skills did not transfer elsewhere.

Job seekers who have invested their lives into an employer, had the one or two skills that paid their mortgage, utilities, food, and health bills can not do anything else. For some job seekers, the pain of losing their job feel like an amputated right arm.

It is easy for others to say, “How about the Microsoft Office suite workshops you attended?” Some reply, “We were always too busy to use what we learned!”

Others ask, “Didn’t you see job cuts coming?” The job seeker responds, “Yes. We heard all of the rumors, and speculation. Nothing prepares you for the actual event.”

Then try to write with his or her left hand. In order to survive, the left hand must now coordinate movement with…the mouth.

“I can't write left-handed.
Would you please write a letter-write a letter to my mother?
Tell her to tell-tell her to tell the family lawyer.
Trying to get a deferment for my younger brother.
Tell the Rev. Harris to pray for me. Lord, lord, lord.”

by Bill Withers

For some time I have been an advocate for using the below four of five strategies that will strengthen anyone’s preverbal left hand in addition to a full-time job:

A part-time job (even if it’s 5-10 hours a week)
Learn a new skill
Volunteer somewhere that will help put your new skill to work
A side hustle that generates quick cash (could come in handy for a longer term)
Entrepreneurship

All of these could build a satisfying network (and a left-hand when you need it) for you if you focus on giving, and not receiving. The job of the moment would not always be the dream job, and if it is, the network will be around if the opportunity collapses.

The left hand will miss the amputated right hand. It is not used to lift the heavy weights, reach for the jar on the top shelf, or to protect and defend against harm. Will you always ask for help?

Can you relate to this? Did someone help you realize the weakness of your left hand (find another career)? How did you strengthen your left?

It’s Not Your Resume, Or What You Said, Or That You’re …

markdyson@competitiveresumes.net (Mark Anthony Dyson) — 2011-05-19T03:59:50Z

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We have had this conversation start this way without the words, but with the look, the eye brow heist, or the tentative quiver in the voice. This leaves the job seeker perplexed and bewildered to the point of a silent objection.

There are so many ways to be maligned or discriminated against. Many of them have nothing to do with race, religion, or orientation.

Let’s talk about it.

An employer’s comfort bias is one that cannot be detected in 99% of the time. The interview has spent his or her lifetime masking how they feel, and practicing what they would say if confronted about their bias. A candidate should ALWAYS take the high road, because confronting an ignorant person for a 20-30 minute glimpse of his or her character could not be substantiated. The interview has a safety net (most of the time), the candidate, rarely.

For once, the color of skin did not factor in saying that we should ignore prejudice. For what we know now, gender, religion, and orientation has the same impact (in getting a job) when bias is a larger than the candidate’s content of character. It is not by design, but by second nature, or learned. Whatever study you wish to cite, or experience to be relived.

Non-verbal communication factors more that what meets the eye. The way someone dresses, they way they speak…STOP! I hate situations when Americans speak louder to people with an accent or dialect that distort English pronunciation.

To me that is blatant bias, but I digress.

Let’s continue the nonverbal communication discussion. The way someone walks, the lack of eye-contact, personal style choices (colors, jewelry, perfume) and other intangibles that will trump a superior resume. Perfume? Yes, I’ve seen people with personal space and preference issues ask candidates how did they feel about not wearing perfume.

Whatever personal effect is employed, the margin of error is small for you not to remember the basics of an interview:

Be on time, every time.
Friendliness, courtesy, and chivalry matter.
Bring copies of your resume, please.
Eye contact, never let them see you sweat.
Answer questions directly, honestly, with tact and respect.
Smile. Hopefully will become viral.
Demonstrate enthusiasm and controlled but sustainable energy.
Ask direct questions patiently.
Don’t grow weary or anxious when people have you to wait, or late. It happens.
Shake hands at the beginning, and at the end with a full serving of eye-contact plus a smile.
Ask for the job, with the expectation that you won’t get an immediate answer.

There is nothing a job seeker can do when being judged on personal attributes. However, you can control your response and your body language. It may not be your resume, or your cologne. I think it is ok if you are not asked back for a second interview because of…well, you.