Career Briefs: Find Job Search Success

In this issue: Improve your LinkedIn profile, Applying with AI Bots, Coping with Job Search Burnout, New Book Club Pick and more...

Author

Sarah Johnston
June 05, 2024

Dear Reader:

Remember Jeff Foxworthy? That comedian from the '90s who made "You might be a redneck if..." a household catchphrase? Well, my mom, an elementary school teacher for nearly thirty years, had her own version with her fellow educators:

"You might have been teaching too long if..."

"At parent-teacher conferences, you meet the child's parents and realize you not only taught them but the grandparents too!”

I feel similarly about the resume business.  You might have written a lot of resumes if… 

  • You’ve written career branding documents for four of the nine executive team members at one company.

  • You’ve memorized more synonyms for 'experienced' than an entire thesaurus.

  • You did interview coaching for two different clients for the same exact job— five years apart. 

  • You’ve had clients on six out of the seven continents.

  • You've become a wizard at turning 'fired' into ‘launched consulting business’ placeholders and have helped more people than you can count create LinkedIn company pages and LLCs. 

  • You’ve written so many 'executive bios' that you could probably run a company solely based on the expertise you’ve crafted for others.

The bottom line: We've helped thousands of clients tell their career stories, and each one has enhanced our expertise and the value we offer to future clients. Every client's unique journey has taught us something new, making us more adept at crafting compelling resumes and career narratives. We’re better today because of the clients we had eight years ago, and we look forward to continuing this cycle of mutual growth and success.

Rooting for you,

Table of Contents

Expert Tips to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

Google product marketer and YouTuber Jeff Su released a new video last week based on my comprehensive white paper about writing LinkedIn profiles.

I am so excited to share it with my newsletter readers. It is EXCELLENT.

Source: Jeff Su

Workday Being Sued for AI Bias in Hiring Software

The EEOC is currently backing a lawsuit against the human resources company Workday. The case alleges that Workday's AI-powered screening tools discriminate against job applicants based on race, disability, and age.

Here's where it stands:

  • EEOC argues Workday can be sued: The EEOC says Workday functions similarly to an employment agency and should be held responsible for biased hiring practices enabled by its software.

  • Workday contests the claim: Workday argues they are a tech company, not an employment agency, and shouldn't be liable.

The outcome could impact AI use in hiring:

  • Potential for broader liability: If Workday is found liable, it could set a precedent for holding developers of AI hiring tools accountable for bias.

  • Increased scrutiny of AI tools: This case might lead to stricter regulations and bias audits for AI-powered hiring software.

Using AI Bots to Apply for Jobs

Dear Sarah:

Is it a good idea to use something like apply4me at Ladders?

After applying to at least 10 positions on LinkedIn, I have not received a response. I am not sure what is missing in my application. The other challenge is that for each position, I see that 50-100 applicants have already applied, even if I am applying for it within 24 hours of posting.

Signed,

Frustrated Job Seeker

Dear Frustrated:

Ladders does not offer anything unique or special in terms of how it tailors your resume and cover letter for each position. Plus, it doesn't have access to secret jobs. Not to mention, by using these tools, you are agreeing to systems filling out questions on your behalf.

This is a screenshot of a real application. Photo credit: EvilHRLady Group



At your career level, there are fewer opportunities. I don't think it's worth your money and will only delay the inevitable (you need to network).

Signed,

Sarah

I posted this on LinkedIn last week. The comments from recruiters and career coaches are worth reading.

Fighting the #BoredatWork Trend

The #boredatwork trend on TikTok has gone viral. Employees post videos to poke fun at the boredom they experience at their jobs. Humor and sarcasm are used to depict mundane tasks, slow workdays, or the desire to be literally anywhere else.

Leaders and managers must combat employees’ feelings of boredom, engage them, and create a meaningful work environment. This can increase productivity, retention, and a more positive company culture. Some ideas for combating boredom within your team:

  • Communicate with your team. Talk with your employees. Try to understand what they find interesting and meaningful in their work. Uncover what is making them feel bored - is it a lack of challenge, unclear goals, feeling of not contributing?

  • Boose Collaboration. Encourage cross-departmental collaboration to break up the monotony. Foster a sense of community within your team and assign projects that require them to work together.

  • Promote Work-Life Balance. Strive to prevent burnout. Make sure workloads are reasonable and encourage breaks.

  • Recognize Achievements. Celebrate wins - both big and small. This will help employees feel valued and keep them motivated.

Coping with Job Search Burnout

On average, job seekers receive responses from only four of every 30 jobs they apply to. Job search burnout is common among recently unemployed full-time employees. Job hunting is mentally taxing, time-consuming, and can be discouraging.

In this article, Stephanie Taylor walks jobseekers through practices to help them reset their minds, alleviate stress, and refocus on their strategy.

Resume Tip from the Experts

Is there a benefit to including your middle initial on your resume?

A client recently asked whether to use his middle initial on his resume. After some research, we found that using a middle initial professionally makes people think you're better educated. This may be because authors and academics often use their middle initials.

Does using a middle initial on a resume make a candidate seem more educated?

Example: Sarah Johnston vs. Sarah D. Johnston

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Career Briefs Book Club Pick: I Hate Job Interviews!

I Hate Job Interviews! by Sam Owens is a guide aimed at helping job seekers conquer their interview anxieties and land their dream jobs. Owens, a career coach, shares his proven method for interview success, which includes techniques for answering common questions, crafting compelling stories to showcase skills, and negotiating salary.

"My hope is that after reading this book, you will love job interviews. I want you to love them so much that you can’t wait for your next one because you are a well-oiled job interview machine. I want you to feel deep in your bones that you can get any job you want, knowing you have mastered a skill that will serve you well for the rest of your career."- Sam Owens

If you're on the job hunt and stressed about interviews, "I Hate Job Interviews!" might be a helpful resource. It emphasizes building confidence and provides frameworks for handling various interview scenarios.

This book would be a great graduation gift for a new college grad! (Hint, hint!)

Podcast: Tips for Starting a New Job

Much of what I talk about is landing a new job - obtaining a promotion, advancing one's career, and effectively marketing oneself. However, I think it’s also important to follow up with some advice on navigating the early stages of a new job. In a thought-provoking collaboration, the New Here podcast from Harvard Business Review joined forces with NPR's Life Kit to share valuable tips for starting a new job. In this episode, HBR's Elainy Mata and NPR's former Stacey Vanek Smith talk with Sarah Cooper, comedian with a corporate background, about the art of starting a new job. Together, they offer valuable insights on what to do and avoid at a new company during the initial days and weeks. It is worth a listen.

“If you want to learn how to grow in the environment, if you want to learn how to succeed or just be a better version of yourself, you have to learn what rules are in place so you can then climb and use that to your advantage so you can keep going up.” - Elainy Mata, Senior Associate Producer, Harvard Business Review.

Does a Grad School Degree Boost Hireability?

Graduate school is often seen as a means to broaden one's marketability and career opportunities. However, it is worth considering the potential consequences if it limits or narrows those prospects instead. I enjoy reading Anne Helen’s newsletter, Culture Study. There is always great food for thought. Her recent edition is no different. In her post “Ten Years Out of Academia,” she looks at the flipside of a grad school degree - when it doesn’t prove to be as lucrative as once thought.

It just takes one conversation to change the entire trajectory of your job search. Remember: You're not looking for 100 jobs, just one that’s best for you.

How Can I Help?

Do you know someone who is job searching?

35%. That’s the number of clients referred to us by previous clients. We view referrals as the highest compliment that we can receive. As a token of our appreciation, we offer referral gifts ranging from Ember mugs to Jeni’s ice cream boxes.

Is your company people-focused?

Consider sharing Briefcase Coach with your HR leadership. We are a great “white-glove” boutique option for executive outplacement.

Need to make updates to your professional documents or prepare for a high-stakes interview?

Briefcase Coach has an experienced team ready to help high performers wanting to work one-on-one with an executive career strategist.

 

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