Career Briefs: The Places You'll Go

Dear Reader:

I sat down last week and read “Oh the Places You Will Go” by Dr. Suess with my girls. Even though it’s a graduation season staple, I had never actually read it cover to cover. (Fun fact: it’s Dr. Seuss's best-selling book of all time and the ultimate cliche gift).

I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to the job search (hence why it is such a great grad gift, especially if it's read 😀). There is a page in the book about the “waiting place”—where everyone is waiting—not all for the same thing but seemingly endless waiting.

Hurry up and wait is the reality for most job seekers.

Research shows that the average job search lasts around five months. Most executive job searches last longer depending on niche, location, expertise, and salary. It is not uncommon for a well-qualified executive to spend 8-12 months actively searching before landing the right opportunity.

I often hear from frustrated job seekers who feel it is an endless waiting game. Job searching is unbelievably hard. It is one of the top 5 most significant life stressors behind death, moving, and divorce & above incarceration.

If you are job searching, there is hope.

This is for a season—hopefully short—but you will not be a job seeker forever. Try to use the time to refocus on your values and what you need in your job to feel successful.

Find a friend or accountability partner who is also job searching. It helps to have someone in your corner to celebrate each other’s victories & validate the other’s feelings when necessary.

You can do this. I believe in you. I can’t wait to see the places you will go.

In This Issue

• ATS Impact on Resume Writing

• Prepare to Ace Your Interview

• Need help preparing for an upcoming interview?

• Expert Guide to Rewriting Your Resume

• Best Hiring Practices: DEI Initiatives Face Challe …

• Leveraging LinkedIn Recommendations in the Hidden …

• Major Job Board Websites Merge

ATS Impact on Resume Writing

Is your resume ATS-friendly? This is a common question in job searches, but what does it mean? As ATS evolves, how can we stay current on best practices? This article discusses what it means to have an ATS-friendly resume and the best practices for a human-friendly resume that passes through online application systems. I talked with two of the largest names in the industry and shared their advice.

Prepare to Ace Your Interview

I met a job seeker recently who was preparing for interviews in less than an hour. He reviewed the company website, read the job description once, and reviewed his resume—nothing more. It was unsurprising to hear that he did not make it to the second round of interviews.

From my experience, here is how modern job seekers prepare for an upcoming interview:

2 out of 10 Job Seekers: Set aside an hour to prepare before the interview. Reads over the job description. Thinks about their value proposition. Researches company benefits on the website & comes up with a list of 3 questions.

4 out of 10 Job Seekers: Ask ChatGPT to develop interview answers based on the job description. They memorize the answers. They then get on LinkedIn and look up the people they will be interviewing with.

1 out of 10 Job Seekers: Start the preparation process with "why" questions. Seeks to understand why they are hiring, what their pain points are, & why they are the best person for the job. Dissects job description & thoughtfully crafts answers to spoon-feed the hiring manager what they care about. Does several mock interviews-- first with an AI tool like Yoodli and then with an interview coach. Works on tone, body language & pacing. Researches the individuals they will be meeting with & thinks about ways to connect with each person personally.

Need help preparing for an upcoming interview?

Schedule your session today and take advantage of this month's 20% off offer for newsletter subscribers! Use code: BRIEFS24

Expert Guide to Rewriting Your Resume

Everyone has a story to tell. Writing an executive resume is an opportunity to unlock your story and grow in your ability to share it with others. To create a captivating resume, it is important to take the time to identify your qualities, strengths, and distinctive value proposition. Doing so will equip you with an outstanding resume and the ability to communicate your unique value proposition effectively to others.

In this article, I will help you tell your story better in the form of an executive resume. I dig deep into today's best practices for an executive resume - from including testimonials to enhancing with optimized keywords. Examples of professional resumes and key components included.

Best Hiring Practices: DEI Initiatives Face Challenges

There is a new initialism, "MEI," coined by Alexandr Wang, the co-founder and CEO of Scale AI. (Thank you @TuckerGoodrich for sharing.) In this context, "MEI" represents a hiring principle emphasizing "merit, excellence, and intelligence," resulting in hiring the best person for the job. This concept is proposed as an alternative or a critique of corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Elon Musk is a proponent of Wang’s initiative.

Critics of DEI initiatives, like Musk and Wang, may argue that such initiatives overlook candidates who may not fit the desired criteria or prioritization set by diversity programs. However, it's important to recognize that diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts aim to create a more inclusive and equitable workforce, address systemic biases, and provide opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Balancing merit-based hiring with a commitment to diversity and inclusion can lead to a more robust and effective hiring process that considers diverse perspectives and talents. It's vital to have conversations and discussions that address the complexities of MEI and DEI approaches to foster a fair and inclusive work environment for all individuals.

Leveraging LinkedIn Recommendations in the Hidden Job Market

Many executive jobs are not posted on job boards or company websites. These positions are filled in the hidden job market. Executive Career Coach Gina Riley recently published an article in Forbes, detailing a client’s journey to finding a job by leveraging the Hidden Job Market and using LinkedIn recommendations.

Learn more about the Hidden Job Market in my LinkedIn course. I explain how to get your foot in the door by requesting an informational interview and building a network of contacts through conferences, trade associations, job search clubs, and more. Each tip helps you build valuable momentum and skills for a successful job search.

Major Job Board Websites Merge

Two major job board companies, Monster and CareerBuilder, are forming a joint venture. CareerBuilder investors will have a controlling interest, with Randstad, the world’s largest staffing firm and owner of Monster, holding a minority stake. The merger aims to increase scale and streamline user experience. Industry experts wonder if the merger will revive the brands' innovation and relevance.

SHRM shared mixed reviews of the merger, most seeing the merger as too little and too late. The CEO of HireClix considers the move necessary for both companies to innovate and stay competitive. However, some, like Steven Rothberg, wonder if the merger will strengthen the new entity. Rothberg compares the merger to the Kmart and Sears merger, which did not result in a stronger entity. Long-term implications for job boards are uncertain, with Rothberg predicting a decline in relevance over time. Jeff Dickey-Chasins is surprised by the merger and questions which brand name will survive. Monster and CareerBuilder have a long history but are seen as past their prime by industry experts like Chris Russell. The merger is viewed as a last-ditch effort to maintain relevance in a changing industry landscape.