Three MYTHS For Job Seekers

Myth 1: You are too old. I talk with many 40+ professionals who think they are too old to really compete in the job marketplace. Then I talk to employers who are ready to welcome an adult who knows what they want next in life. If you are taking good care of yourself and are still vital and excited and have dealt with your “baggage” from past jobs, then you are employable—regardless of your age.

Myth 2: The competition is too tough. Yes, recruiters may receive hundreds of applications for every posted job, but this does not mean the competition is too tough. It just means that your resume and presence have to find a way to the surface. If you are a true fit for a certain role, follow-up but be patient with the process and don’t mistake volume of applicants for quality of applicants.

Myth 3: Your resume must be only one page. If you have 20 years of experience and you try to cram it into a one-page resume, recruiters will think there is something wrong with you. Same logic applies if you have been out of college one year and have a four-page resume. Use common sense instead of a generalized guideline that might not apply to you.

Three TIPS For Job Seekers

Tip 1: Stop expecting feedback. Finding a great job in this market is 80% a mental game and 20% all of the rest of the things like experience, qualification, fit, etc. Not that job fit doesn’t matter—it does—but it’s all meaningless if you allow yourself to feel devastated every time you apply and don’t hear back. Recruiters don’t have time to get back to you. This does not always mean that you are not being considered. See Myth 2 above.

Tip 2: Go deep, not wide. Whoever said, “applying for a job is a numbers game, and the more places you post your resume, the better!” should be stoned in the town square. This is exactly the opposite of what to do in a tight job market where employers are besieged with people who should not be applying. Research ten companies/industries and make it your “job” to get to know their pains and their needs. Apply only if you think you can help them solve a problem.

Tip 3: What you want matters. Don’t say, “I am willing to move for the right opportunity!” if you don’t mean it. Take time to get clear about what you want and what you can realistically expect in your role, field and position, and then be as clear as you can. You will not be successful in your search if you are trying to bend every which way to make yourself fit to the position. Recruiters pick up on this pretty quickly.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR CAREER!
Listen to a taped live-session with Brenda and TLC5

Part 1: Key Tips for Career Change (15 min)
Part 2: Promotion from Rep to Manager (6 min)
Part 3: Feeling Limited In Your Career? (10 min)
Part 4: Q&A (13 min)

Meet TLC5!
Brenda is a featured coach on TLC5 – the online, affordable and powerful life coaching from the best coaches in the world. TLC5 is an innovative organization helping people realize real results from life coaching. Visit TLC5 now and sign up for a free trial membership.

This is a great book if you feel stuck in your career or are in job search mode…

Reputation 360 by Lida Citroen
is a road map to achieving professional and personal success. The book helps you assess your personal goals and shows you, step by step, how to implement those goals so that they are tied to your professional career-the result being that you can “walk the talk” and ultimately find success and happiness in the blending of your personal and professional worlds. I highly recommend this personal branding book for job seekers, entrepreneurs and anyone looking to move their career forward.