The Briefcase "Briefs" Job Search Newsletter - Issue #20

September 29, 2021

This issue is jam-packed with job search gold, but first, a very exciting announcement! Including: Board resumes, explaining employment gaps, the Great Resignation, Global Diversity tracker...and more!

Dear Reader

It's been a big week! If you've been on social media this week, you may have seen my announcement that I co-founded a website for job seekers called Job Search Journey. In short, JSJ is the first global e-marketplace for job seekers to purchase templates and tools from vetted career experts.

I've been asked why. "Will this cannibalize your executive resume and coaching business?"

No. My co-founders and I saw a gap in the marketplace between custom, one-on-one support, and the garbage job seekers are getting from resume mills. We want to be able to help more job seekers at a very affordable-for-all price point.

At launch, we have over 150 products from 20+ trusted sellers. We will be adding new content and products every week.

If I can be really honest with you: launching a (bootstrapped) startup feels a lot like job searching unemployed. It's dark, uncharted territory for us but it's also exciting thinking about what the future could be. We know that we will need our network's support (looking at you!) for referrals, website links, and collaborations.

I'd love for you to check out our site. And drop me a note... tell me what you think!

I hope that you enjoy this issue of the Briefs!

I'm rooting for you this week,

Sarah

Ps. If you join the JSJ email campaign you'll get a regular cadence of career content and promotional material. In honor of the launch this week, we are giving away five days of free products. To give you a taste, click on this link to get a free cover letter kit. Use the promo code JSJCOVERLETTERFREE at checkout!

Landing your next job almost always requires you to market yourself as the best candidate for the position. I asked some of the top career experts--who also happen to have storefronts on Job Search Journey-- to give me their best modern job search advice.

Tips for using a recruiter

Brian Clark, a former recruiter, tells you everything you need to know about talking to a recruiter. Discover why recruiters lie and what recruiters lie about.

Searching for a job during Covid

The next big question for workers and job seekers is whether or not they should put their vaccination status on their résumés and LinkedIn profiles. Jack Kelly discusses with top career experts including Virginia Franco, the cofounder of Job Search Journey.

Finding your career fit goes beyond "following your passion." I believe finding a job that you love means aligning strengths with values.

Radhika Papandreou discusses how to talk about a COVID-related or any other, extended time away from work in this article published on Korn Ferry.

Ian Cook shares several key insights from an in-depth analysis of more than 9 million employee records at 4,000 global companies and offers a three-step plan to help employers take a more data-driven approach to retention

When it comes to your job search, Mark Anthony Dyson believes no one is going to amplify your best attributes, skills, and abilities but you. No one can better testify to your competencies than you can.

Becoming a Corporate Board Member

As scrutiny of public company leadership increases, corporations are feeling the pressure to get out ahead of criticism by examining and adjusting the makeup of their boards. Susan Muck explains why this makes now a great time for business leaders interested in joining corporate boards to make the jump to join.

Rosa Elizbeth Vargas, Certified Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach gives tips to write the resume that will help you earn your seat on that coveted board of directors.

For the past 16 years, Egon Zehnder has tracked gender and international diversity on boards around the world. This year, our 2020 report expands into racial, ethnic, and LGBTQ+ diversity. Read the findings.

Hot Topics

Michael Beer believes honest conversations are a crucial tool in helping leaders and their organizations successfully act on their ethical ambitions. Learn how to start by having an honest conversation with yourself.

The shifting expectations of accountability make it inevitable that every organization’s reputation will eventually be challenged. Mark Royal gives perspective on how to prepare for the challenge in this article published on Korn Ferry.

When it comes to happiness at work, title and industry don't matter. Harvard Professor, Jessica Stillman thinks these are the two things that do.

Lead with this, not that...

My kids think my husband needs to open a restaurant.

When you ask them to tell you their favorite foods, it's always "dad's famous french toast" or "dad's homemade banana bread."

Based on the way my kids talk, you would think my husband loves to cook.

He is a 2-hit wonder.

I do 99.97% of all of the cooking at my house.

Yet, they aren't talking about the "crack broccoli" I served alongside the homemade chicken parm last night (which, by the way, was pretty stinkin' good if I can say so myself).

.03% of the meals in our house account for 75% of the food conversation.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡?

Everything.

Job searching requires some strategic marketing skills.

Marketing 101 is:

1. Know your target audience

2. Speak to their pain points

One of the biggest mistakes that job seekers make when crafting their resumes is that they think that because they spend 99.97% of their time working on XX that they should allow the same percentage of space on their resume.

Wrong.

If the company cares the most about the work that you do .03% of the time, you need to LEAD WITH THOSE RESULTS.

Can you do me a favor?

I’m on a mission to help job seekers land amazing jobs. Would you consider doing one of the following:

  • Forward this newsletter to your job searching friends

  • Recommend me as a paid speaker for your company events on networking, job searching or leveraging LinkedIn

  • Recommend my services to high performers wanting to work one-on-one with an executive resume writer / or experienced interview coach

Reply

or to participate.