Larry Goldsmith and colleague James Gonyea will conduct a five – part training webinar for career and employment guidance professionals from across the nation in June.  Intern Bridge, a nationally recognized provider of high-quality professional development programming for university staff and employers, is sponsoring “The Masters Series: Proven Strategies for Career and Employment Guidance.”  Intern Bridge is the nation’s premier college recruiting consulting and research firm.  

Richard Bolles, author of “What color is your parachute” was the Intern Bridge featured speaker in January.   

The Masters Series: Proven Strategies for Career and Employment Guidance

 
Larry Goldsmith meets J. R. Martinez.  J. R., the winner of ABC’s season 13 “Dancing with the Stars” with dance partner Karina Smirnoff, was the closing keynote speaker at the 13th Annual Narrowing the Gulf Conference for Underrepresented Students in Postsecondary Education.  This annual conference focuses on concepts, ideas and practical strategies that improve classroom instruction and support services for underrepresented students that, in turn, benefit all students. [P.S. Looking for an insightful, articulate and motivational speaker?  J.R. has my vote.] 

Larry was a session presenter.  His presentation was titled, “Eight Strategies for Bringing a Higher Level of Thinking to Career Education.”  The presentation highlighted critical thinking strategies that lead to better career choices and more informed job search decisions.  In the session, participants learned steps that they can undertake right away to become more effective educators, advisors and guidance counselors and to have greater impact on their students’ career and search successes. Attendees walked away with techniques and actions that can be integrated immediately to improve their students’ abilities and assets. Competencies learned in this training are applicable for any skill level, educational, socioeconomic, or cultural background.

Don’t take it literal when someone tells you to run you job search like a business.  Don’t assume it means that you wake up each day at 7 in the morning, put on a suit and go to work.  Ask yourself this question.  What does a job search have in common with a business?  The correct response is that, “they both need a Strategy for Success.”

Yes, run your job search like business.  Begin your job search with a strategic plan.  A strategic plan for a business is one that follows the criteria set out in its Vision, Mission, Goal and Objectives.  You should have a similar strategic plan for your job search.  Think of your plan beginning with the vision statement.   Your vision is where you see yourself in the far off future.  It is the job of your dream.  This leads to the question of the purpose of your existence?  This is called a mission statement.  The mission put you on a Strategic Plan to Achieve the Vision. 

Each strategic plan needs a goal.   Goals are broad statements and are not measurable.   There is usually more than a single goal.     An example of a goal for a job search is to get a job?   There is no measurement to this goal.  It is just your desired outcome to help you achieve your vision and mission.  The question is however how do you move from a goal to actually securing the job?   This happens by setting objectives that are aligned with your goal.  Objectives are measurable.  Objectives are concrete statements leading to specific outcomes to achieve the goal.   An objective is the measurable component of a goal.  Here is what the process looks like sequentially.

1. Vision:  Where you would like to be in the future. 
2. Mission:  Purpose of existence to Achieve the Vision
3. Goal:  Goals are broad statements of desired outcomes to achieve the vision and mission. [Example: To Get a Job.]
4. Objective:  An objective is the measurable component of a goal.  The difference between a goal and an objective is measurement.  One has measurement and the other does not.  Objectives are action – oriented with a timeline.  [Example of an objective:  I will distribute my resume to 20 organizations within seven (7) days]

To sum it up, you want to begin your search with a ‘business’ strategy.  Put together a job search plan.  Set up a business model that follows strategic planning.  Define your vision and mission.  Make it simple to start.  Choose a limited number of broad goals that reflect multiple objectives that capitalize on your strengths.  Those that begin with this strategy will find that their successes multiply.  You plan will become your road map to job search success.

Those individuals that see themselves and think and perform as Social Media professionals will get more interviews and employment opportunities quicker and more frequently than ever before.  More and more the social media marketplace is the place where people communicate and interact with employers.  You don’t have to be a social media professional. You do have to understand how to utilize social media to promote your brand. 

LinkedIn: Social Media Stock or a Play on Rising Employment? By www.minyanville.com

 When investors consider the market for social media stocks, there are many to consider. Google (GOOG) is trying to crack into the field with Google+, Renren (RENN) dominates the market in China, and the entire world is atwitter (so to speak) over the upcoming IPO of Facebook. One stock that’s often lumped in with Facebook and the others is LinkedIn (LNKD). Despite being considered a social networking company, LinkedIn may actually be primarily a recruiting website that directly competes with sites like Monster.com (MWW). MORE… 

Thinking critically in a job search is nothing more than the manner in which you approach your need.  Say for example your résumé is not working.  It does not get the responses you expect.  It is easy to arrive at a conclusion that competition is too keen.  Rather than focus your attention on what you have no control spend your time digging deeper into your situation to see if you can arrive at the real crux of the issue.

There are many reasons a résumé does not draw results.  Its focus may have the wrong emphasis.  You might have sent it to the wrong decision maker.  It reads more like a career obituary rather than bring out your talents.  Other reasons a résumé may not work effectively is that they reflect old training from another era or fail to bring out a  new technology background.

One of the most effective techniques to drive a job search is reflective reasoning.  Take time to dig deeper into that which you have control and fix your problems rather than deal with the top soil all the time.

“Critical Thinking in Everyday Life: 9 Strategies” authored by The Critical Thinking Community

Development in thinking requires a gradual process requiring plateaus of learning and just plain hard work. It is not possible to become an excellent thinker simply because one wills it. Changing one’s habits of thought is a long-range project, happening over years, not weeks or months. The essential traits of a critical thinker require an extended period of development. MORE

It is best to be more than just cautious when article after article tells us that over 75% of hiring managers and recruiters in the U.S. consider a job applicant’s online information as part of the hiring process.  Even more problematic is more than half of the HR gurus have rejected candidates because of what they found. The convenience and ease of access that allow employers to find the best fit for their organization through simple online research can be the best of worlds for you or your worst enemy.  Listen to what these professionals have to say about things you should do before an employer ‘Googles’ you online…

 ”How Employers Use Social Networks In The Hiring Process” by Mariel Loveland

 With an economy that’s seen better days, many individuals and companies are using social media to aid them in the job search and hiring process. Companies frequently search for an applicant’s social networks to help them decide if they’re a good fit for a position and job-seekers promote themselves through various social networks every day, but many don’t realize that what they post online really does have a strong effect on whether or not they get the job. MORE

How to Get a Job Using Social Media I 
View this video first before your sign up on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter or Goggle +.  There is substance behind these 7 social media job search tips.  This video offers excellent insight on how to use social media as a job search tool.  Some of the points may be taxing to grasp without interpretation however your time will be well spent if you take the to time figure out their explanations. [I think I like service your network and tell a consistent story the most.]

[Video may be hard to hear for some plus the meat of this video does not begin until the 1 & 1/2 minute mark.]

The most difficult interview question is the one that you did not practice before you sat down in the interview chair. The key to successful interviewing is to know what you are going to say before you go to the interview.  Identify your most challenging questions.  Work out a good response. Test your response with someone.  Practice.  You success in interviewing will go up if you identify interview issues before you go to the interview.

 7 Strategic Interview Preparation Tips

1. Be able to discuss company products and services with confidence and insight
2. Demonstrate with examples you have the knowledge, skills & abilities the company seeks
3. Show you can hit the ground running by giving examples
4. Give ‘related’ examples to emphasize that you have a shorter learning curve in taking on new software, projects and activities
5. Expand your potential by establishing added value with abilities and talents the employer did not cover in the interview
6. Fit your personality to their business culture
7. Express passion and enthusiasm for the position and the company if you want to be rewarded with a job offer.

Jaazle is dedicated to helping you achieve success.  We work closely with you to develop custom job search and career development plans in an ever changing marketplace.  Whether or not we have the opportunity to work directly with you, we hope you find our collection of resources, information, and free downloads valuable.