I always keep my eyes and ears open to the job search advice given by my colleagues in the careers industry. Job seekers should do the same.
Because I’ve been in this industry for more than 25 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with and learn from many smart people.
Below you’ll find the roundup articles showcasing their advice that I’ve written over the recent years. They contain the kinds of tips and strategies (big and small) that will help you land your next great gig.
I suggest that you go to each of these articles and devour this advice. You should also follow these great people on LinkedIn and other social media, and keep learning from them.
Executive Job Search Advice from the Experts
Resume Trends from the Experts
Executive resume writer Adrienne Tom crowdsourced a number of careers industry professionals in a LinkedIn update to get input on the latest resume trends.
She wisely cautions that, although resumes are important and likely will always factor into job search in some way:
“Job seekers often put a lot of pressure on the resume to do the heavy lifting for them in a search, when efforts are in fact best spent on networking and relationship building. A resume should be a supporting tool, not the primary tool.”
The Importance of Cover Letters: Experts Weigh In
The importance of cover letters continues to be debated among job search experts and job seekers alike. We question whether they have any impact at all . . . or whether they are even read.
Ever since cover letters mainstreamed in the 1950’s, they have generated discussion.
Anytime I post anything about cover letters, conversation ensues.
Not surprisingly, I received a number of comments on a post of mine on LinkedIn, referring to my blog article, Do I Really Need a Cover Letter for My Executive Resume?
My LinkedIn update with that article received nearly 10,000 views, last time I checked.
Smart Job Interviewing Tips from the Experts
If you’re like most job seekers, you dread interviewing for jobs. You may even dread them so much, you almost wish you didn’t land interviews at all. You need help with smart job interviewing.
I included links to articles written by several experts about interviewing, including one written by job search strategist Sarah Johnson that noted some of the wacky interview questions some people have been asked:
- “Would you rather fight 1 horse-sized duck, or 100 duck-sized horses?” (Whole Foods Market)
- “What would the name of your debut album be?” (Urban Outfitters)
- “How many basketballs would fit in this room?” (Delta Air Lines)
Smart Networking Tips from Job Search and Career Experts
You may not fully grasp the fact that networking is the most successful executive job search method.
Or, you may completely get it . . . but you’re either not good at networking – for executive job search or anything else – or you dread the thought of having to do it.
No matter, if you want to avoid a prolonged job search, and land a good-fit executive job faster, you really need to dive headlong into networking . . . and do it with preparation and purpose.
In this article you’ll find dozens of smart networking tips . . . to land better and quicker.
Experts Debate LinkedIn Profile vs. the Executive Resume
With the popularity of LinkedIn and the undeniable necessity of having a presence there in executive job search, many people claim that the executive resume is dead, or dying.
. . . that it’s no longer needed, or valuable.
. . . that a robust, fully populated LinkedIn profile is, in fact, the new resume.
LinkedIn Experts Speak Up About the Biggest LinkedIn Executive Job Search Mistakes
Among the many mistakes I see people making on LinkedIn, here’s one of the biggest: Not optimizing your profile headline with relevant keywords.
The LinkedIn profile headline is the most important place to pack the right keywords. Executive recruiters and hiring decision makers find candidates by searching LinkedIn using keywords.
Don’t stick with the default headline which is your current or most recent job title. It may not contain the right keywords. And, this is NOT the place on your profile to state “Actively seeking opportunities in ______”.
Space in the headline is limited. Use it wisely.
Read the article to find out pet peeves of other experts.