by K B , updated on March 17, 2020
Image by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
If you want to maximise your chances to secure your next role, then the first step is to fully understand the role and to make contact and speak with the advertiser.
Now before you shoot me down, I do know this is not always possible.
Recruiters, while they leave contact numbers on the advertisement, can often be hard to pin down. You may also find that the person listed as contact is a simply a centralized person, and far removed from having any involvement in hiring for the actual role itself.
But there are three very good reasons for having a conversation. [click to continue…]
by K B , updated on March 17, 2020
Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash
Did you know if you approach employers directly you can significantly increase your chances of securing a meeting, and getting hired for a role?
In fact, research shows that if you are referred to an employer you are 10 times more likely to be successful in applying for a role compared to applying online.
That’s what this big data research by global software providers says here. Their analysis found that applying online for a role is almost the least effective method of applying for a job.
One reason for the success of a referral this is you don’t need to compete with the masses who simply submit their resume online on a job board or company’s career site. Employers do give you some brownie points for trying.
However it can be challenging to know what to include in an approach, if you do decide to make an overture to an employee directly.
And you do need to make it a decent approach. Not just a generic begging type letter.
So here are the key points I include in an approach to help an employer say yes.
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by K B , updated on March 17, 2020
Photo by Chris-Barbalis on Unsplash
One of the things I have reflected on lately is listening and how much of a gift to the other person, is your complete and utter undivided attention.
And how the lack of this severely limits the connection and understanding we all crave.
I am prompted to write this post as the other day I had a wine with an old friend, and I thought sharing my experience could help others (OK me 😉 )
We’ve been friends for years but to be honest I wasn’t exactly looking forward to it.
That’s because I knew exactly how this event would start and end.
We actually hadn’t seen each other face to face for about 3 years. When I sat down he asked me how I was and as soon as I started to answer he started to twitch. He then turned his back on me and looked around for the waiter.
So I stopped talking. [click to continue…]
by K B , updated on October 26, 2020
Photo by Bryce Koch on Unsplash
Have you ever wondered why some people get headhunted from LinkedIn and you do not?
If this is you, I suggest you read on.
From the many years I have spent helping clients construct their LinkedIn profiles I know how much people want the pain taken away from their job search.
They want their LinkedIn profile to attract opportunities for them. However they do not know what to actually put in their profiles so they simply leave big chunks of their LinkedIn profile blank.
They also let the reader second guess what they’ve done by only listing their job titles.
There’s a big problem with this. [click to continue…]
by K B , updated on March 17, 2020
Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster on Unsplash
Most of my clients don’t know where to start when it comes to writing a LinkedIn summary.
I don’t blame them.
It can feel like there are a million things that you could present to the world. So it becomes a struggle to know which is the best picture to present.
Although the summary section is only 2000 characters, it is the place (along with the headline) that you give meaning to your career or experience, you pull it all together – like your cover letter or introduction to the world.
The summary is important as it frames up the way people read your profile.
When I help clients construct a summary section, I focus on getting them to answer some questions. But not just to provide flip answers, but to actually deeply reflect on who they are and what these mean.
The answers to these questions actually form the basis of what you can put in the profile summary. The more genuine you are in answering them, the more your voice comes across in the profile – which is what LinkedIn is all about – people connecting with people.
In most cases your answers will help you draw the attention to your profile that you want to draw – without being all things to all people. It focuses your search around what matters to you, and what defines you.
The thing to remember is that if you are in a role that you enjoy or heading towards that kind of role, you already have the innate strengths you need to be successful in that role. So the reflection and answers to these questions will mainly hold true as you transition and progress through your career.
That’s why I like these questions.
Here goes.
You can send me flowers to thank me later!
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by K B , updated on March 17, 2020
Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash
When you’re looking for a new job or stuck in a job you don’t like, sometimes it can feel like your world is closing in.
By this I mean you can feel like you’ve run out of ideas about what you want to do, what you can do, the type of organisations where you can add value, and or people whom you can talk to about your next move.
I am about to give you inspiration about where you can tease out the next opportunity for yourself, and no I am not about to tell you to think about and pursue what you’re passionate about.
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