I was recently asked, “What’s the best way to improve the odds of getting an interview when submitting a resume for an open position?” That’s a good question and the process starts before you hit the send button. By customizing your resume to the job posting, you significantly increase your odds. Most job seekers only have one “version” of their resume and submit that for every posting. We all know that “one size does not fit all”!

Start with studying the actual job posting. The job posting usually states the skills and knowledge that are being sought for the position. After knowing what the employer’s needs are, you can adapt your resume to mirror the posting. Make sure everything the posting asks for is somewhere on your resume. Also make sure your resume is “scan” friendly. By scan friendly I mean no funky fonts or heavily formatted resumes. Most companies today use computerized candidate-tracking systems.  Those elements on a resume will not scan well and can automatically decrease your chances of an interview since “non-human” eyes are screening the resumes for matches.

I would also include a strong cover letter summarizing your strengths and skills. There is so much competition out there for jobs today that hiring managers need to assess candidates quickly. A good cover letter will make it easy for the hiring manager to see what you are about and compel them to read your resume. Proofread your resume and eliminate all spelling and grammatical errors. If you are having a hard time understanding what you want to convey, so will the hiring manager. Have someone else be another set of eyes for you to catch any errors that you may have overlooked. This is the first impression a potential employer will have about you, so make it the best! Best of success in your journey!

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at http://ccubedcareer.com.

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“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them—every day begin the task anew.”  Saint Francis de Sales (1567 - 1622)

I hate waiting just as much as the next person. When I’m waiting for something to happen, that’s when my mind kicks into high gear and starts me down the slippery path of self-doubt. Would’ve, could’ve, and should’ve all become key words in my vocabulary and that sinking, anxious feeling settles right into the pit of my stomach. You know that feeling—don’t ‘cha?

I think Saint Francis de Sales has sage advice that applies even today. We are all quick to give grace to others; however we are our own harshest critics. Don’t accept the tempting invitation to the Pity Party.  Recognize any mistakes that might have been made, but ultimately move on and make changes. Do not lose courage in yourself, but strive to improve. Just take it one day at a time and you will have success in your journey.

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at http://ccubedcareer.com.

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Our daughter is in the process of planning her wedding and she is realizing that she needs to make some tough decisions. She’s quickly finding out that her dream wedding doesn’t necessarily fit into her reality budget. Like with most everything else, weddings come with a price tag. So do job offers.

Just like our daughter and her wedding, you need to determine what your “non-negotiables” are—what it will take to make you happy—when examining a job offer.

Obviously salary is the huge elephant in the room. But if the initial salary offering is somewhat lower than expected, do the benefits (vacation, health insurance, stocks, retirement, perks and other incentives) make up the difference or come close? What about the culture of the company and the work environment? Does that jazz you or could you take it or leave it? Is the job your dream job, or will it put food on the table until something better comes along?

Here are just a few suggestions for getting you started on assessing an offer. Know what you are worth and have an idea of what the current salary ranges are for the position you are going for.  Make an old fashion “Pros and Cons” list, listing everything the new position offers. Visualizing each monetary or non-monetary benefit will help you to better evaluate what is being presented. This will be especially helpful when comparing two offers or trying to decide if it is worth making the jump to a new job. Sit down and truly weigh each point. What are your non-negotiables and your nice to haves, but not a show stopper?

Whatever the “total bundle” is, you need to carefully evaluate the package as a whole and decide what is best for you and your situation. Best of success in your journey.

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at http://ccubedcareer.com.

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A mulligan, in a game, happens when a player gets a second chance to perform a certain move or action. The practice is also sometimes referred to as a “do-over.”  - Wikipedia

 
As crazy as it sounds, it may not be a bad idea to consider contacting a previous employer during your job search. Hear me out on this one. As long as you left your previous employer on good terms—even if you were fired—there’s absolutely no reason not to inquire about job openings.

By contacting a past employer you already have an advantage over other candidates because you can call straight to a previous manager or department—you’re able to network your way back into the company. In addition to having an inside contact, you’re already a known commodity.  They’re familiar with your skills and work ethic as well as know the value that you bring to the organization.

When you talk to your former boss, don’t bluntly ask if they have any job openings. Ask if they know who you should speak with about possible open positions. That way it doesn’t put them on the spot and it gives them an opportunity to refer you to someone else who does if their department is fully staffed.

Being fired isn’t necessarily a hurdle to being rehired as long as you can show marked improvement. If you can go back to a former employer with a year or two of good work experience, you could be in a position where they may be open to rehiring you. Be prepared to explain your growth and sell them on why you are a better employee now.

However, before reaching out think about this; you DID leave that company for a reason. If the company was a bad fit or if there was something else that made you unhappy; have things truly changed enough to warrant a second go with the employer? Also, if you left the company on bad terms, especially for disciplinary reasons, it’s best to move on. There’s no reason to take a step backwards career wise when you can start fresh with a new company. Best of success in your journey!

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at http://ccubedcareer.com.

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I’m often fascinated by off-beat trivia. Did you know that July is National Baked Bean Month, National Blueberries Month, and National Horseradish Month? The list goes on, but I think you get the picture. As my wife would say, “Any excuse to throw a party”!

The one trivia snippet that caught my eye is that this week is Take Charge of Change Week. The purpose or focus of this week is to increase awareness of an individual’s ability to control his or her own destiny and examine the principles of taking charge of the changes that affect each of us. All I can say is, Wow!

On December 31st the vast majority of us will take stock of the previous 12 months and make resolutions designed to make the coming new year a better one. Why wait until the end of the year? I’m suggesting we all celebrate Take Charge of Change Week this year and take charge of your life now, making changes necessary to improve the quality of your life.

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at http://ccubedcareer.com.

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No one likes to weed. I know it’s not my favorite thing to do. (Okay, so a few of you do; but for the vast majority of us it’s something on our delay until later list.) But much like a garden, your job search can get overrun with “weeds” that can choke the life out of your search. This can be especially true if you have been working your search for a period of time. It’s important that you just don’t go at it with a bottle of Roundup®; but carefully look at each area and decide what needs to be pulled so new growth can be given an opportunity to thrive.

Your Search Methods
Are they working for ya? Every good job search is comprised of many methods. Job boards on the Internet are a fantastic tool, but not the only one. Career fairs, association meetings, social media, networking events, and industry conferences are great ways to get out, get known, and get going! Be sure to do at least one positive thing for your job search daily!

Your Resume
Take a careful look at your resume. It should be up to date and accurate. Your resume’s focus needs to truly reflect your career goals. Check for key words and terminology—are there any terms or phrases that are outdated or newer concepts that need to be added? It’s an idea to read through current job openings and posting to get a feel for what is trending in your career field.

Your References
Approach this one strategically. You want references who can speak positively of your accomplishments, skills, work ethic and future contributions to a company. Past supervisors, co-workers and business acquaintances can be potential references in addition to personal friends.  Also, it’s not out of line to have different sets of references depending upon the industry or position. Be sure to ask for permission in advance before putting someone on your reference list.

Your Appearance
By all means, don’t go out and buy a new wardrobe (although my wife would beg to differ), but do go through your closet and make sure you have something appropriate and in good condition to wear to interviews and professional networking events. Conservative suits for both men and women are a must have. Make sure that any non-traditional piercings or body art are easily removed or covered. No extreme hairstyles or strong fragrances. Also remember to smile and be upbeat. You only get one chance to make a good first impression.

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at http://ccubedcareer.com.

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I got a picture text from my wife yesterday showing me the black screen of death on her computer. She didn’t seem too upset, so I knew she had a contingency plan and everything was okie dokie. I preach the mantra of save frequently and back-up often, so I text her back, gave her some reassuring words and continued with my day. I didn’t hear anymore, so I figured “no news is good news”.

That was until I got home. She did manage to bring the beast back to life—briefly. Actually long enough to get a current back-up copy of her files. (Notice how I’ve highlighted current.) Now, although the black screen of death showed up unexpectedly yesterday morning, she knew that her system was running on borrowed time. It had done this once before, about six months ago, and to her, every day that the computer was working was a gift from God. Although she knew the computer was’t quite right, she didn’t have a current back-up of her data.

This incident got me thinking, how often do we put off or wait until the last possible moment to do things that need to be done—especially in a work situation? You can usually read the writing on the wall for down-sizings, RIFs, lay-offs, and firings. How prepared are you if the black screen of death comes to visit you at work? I’d like to pose a few questions to you if you don’t mind:

1. How current is your resume? Your resume should have your most recent information on it. If you don’t have a resume—NOW is the time to get one put together!
2. Do you have a network of people—both professional and personal—that you can turn to for advice and for references?
3. What would your next move be if you were to find yourself out of work?

Consider these three items to be a start to your “back-up” plan. I realize that I’ve over-simplified this a bit—I just wanted to get you thinking; to get you started on your plan. If you need help developing your plan, I’m just a phone call or e-mail away.

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at http://ccubedcareer.com.

Technorati Tags: career, career change, career coach, career coaching, kevin tucker, Networking, resume, resume writing, resumes, transition, transition coach

There is no question that networking can—and should—play an important part in one’s job search strategy. But in our work with individuals who are engaged in a job search, how much networking is enough?

The key to networking is being focused. Let me explain. Many individuals simply talk to friends or “network” with anything that breathes—but not with purpose. A job search support group can provide just this solution. It can provide the education, emotional support and accountability that job seekers need to be successful. Such groups, if organized and managed effectively, can help lead a person to that perfect opportunity.

I’m seeing many of these groups starting to pop-up from coast to coast.  Some are basic, home-grown meetings, while others are dynamically structured organizations. What they do have in common is their core mission—to help those in transition find suitable employment.

I’d like to highlight one that has really made an impact in this regard. The Scioto Ridge Job Networking Group (SRJNG) in Columbus, Ohio leverages the effective combination of a repeatable business model with the energy of talented people in transition to keep the group growing and delivering for the central Ohio community. It was “birthed” from a vision of a single person, Ken Lazar, who, with the support of Pastor Wade Giffin, launched the Job Networking Group at the Scioto Ridge United Methodist Church in 2006. As membership grew steadily from 8 initial members to more than 1000 members today, the mission of the SRJNG has remained steadfast: to help mid-career professionals find good jobs.

The key to the group’s success is a laser focus on effective networking and a shared belief that each member of the SRJNG has the responsibility to assist other members in their job search.  That focus has resulted in celebrating “job landings” at each meeting over the last three years.

Some other key points:

• SRJNG is a faith-based organization, ministering to the local community.
• Each chapter meeting of SRJNG is hosted by a local church.
• SRJNG will soon have 8 chapters, each meeting bi-monthly—all in the metro Columbus area.
• Each meeting is purposefully structured and includes networking, a guest speaker and break out groups where each person can share, learn and practice in a safe environment.
• Currently there are over 1,000 individuals with paid memberships.
• Another “level” of membership is Sponsors who help subsidize the organization and provide additional resources.  Sponsors are Corporate Human Resources, Professional Staffing Agencies, Career Coaches, Life Coaches, Benefit Providers and more.
• SRJNG features an interactive web site with job postings, job search tools, an event calendar featuring all metro area networking events, member resumes, sponsor profiles and links to additional job search resources.

Since this group meets in a church setting, it lends itself to a different spin than most networking or support groups.   Participants are willing to share more from a personal and holistic perspective. After all, the career is only part of a person’s life! Effective business networking is often sparked by a casual conversation about a common interest or acquaintance.

In this day and age, job seeker’s support groups, in their various forms, are found in many communities at many levels. They meet at libraries, career centers and even at churches—and they can work! Our knowledge of what local groups are available or even being involved with is another way to give your clients a resource to help them in their search. Being able to assist your clients to zero in on a job seekers’ group in their area that fits their specific needs compliments the guidance and resources that you continue to provide for them. But remember, job seeker groups are only one part of the big picture of networking

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at www.CCubedCareer.com.

Technorati Tags: career coach, career consulting, kevin tucker, Networking

Just because school’s out, and everyone is leaving town to beat the heat, it doesn’t mean it’s time to take a vacation from your job search.  In fact, the timing couldn’t be better.  The economy is getting stronger and employers are starting to hire once again.  Here is some information to ignite your job search and get you the position you’ve been looking for!

Do you have access to a phone and an e-mail address?  It’s imperative that potential employers have a convenient way to contact you, otherwise, they may move on to the next qualified applicant.  If you don’t have a phone, ask a trusted friend or relative if you can use their number to put on applications and your résumé.  Make sure they know that if an employer tries to contact you through them, that it’s essential that you get the message ASAP!  If you don’t have a computer at home, your local library has computers with internet access for you to use free of charge!  You can set up a FREE e-mail account with Hotmail.com or Yahoo.com.  Check for e-mail messages frequently in case an employer is trying to contact you.

Is your résumé “package” current?  A basic resume package includes a resume, cover letter, reference sheet, and thank you letter. (Yes, a thank you letter!)  Is your contact information up to date on everything?   Does your resume reflect your most current skills and work experience?  It needs to communicate duties and responsibilities, followed by sold accomplishments that prove your ability to be successful in your position.   Your resume should also include keywords relevant to your industry and avoid any unnecessary words.  Sometimes you only have 15 to 30 seconds to show a prospective employer your value and possible contributions to their company before they move onto the next résumé in the pile.  A well written cover letter will include the position you’re applying for, express your interest in the position and the company, outline your qualifications and accomplishments in comparison to the job description, and ask for an opportunity to interview.  Your reference sheet will have both professional and personal references that an employer can call to verify your character and work habits.  Include their name, mailing address, and a phone number where they can be reached.  Make sure the individuals that you include on your reference sheet will be able to paint a positive picture about you.  Finally, a simple thank you note to the person(s) you interviewed with is a nice touch and should thank the interviewer for their time, once again express interest in the position, and reaffirm your qualifications.

Network, network, network!  Everybody knows somebody and somebody knows about a job somewhere!  Tell your friends and family that you’re looking.  More than likely, they would love to assist and will help you brainstorm!  Join a job networking group.  Your place of worship, the library, and the unemployment office are great resources for finding out about these groups.

The internet is your friend, but not your only one.  A lot of jobs are posted on the Internet, but also utilize your local newspaper, job publications such as The Job Examiner (distributed at grocery stores and gas stations) and watch for career fairs.  If you are a recent graduate or alumni, your school may have a career services center.  Many schools often have relationships with employers who are looking for newly graduated students.  Consider an internship.  They can turn into a regular position.  Target companies that you would like to work for and pay them a visit.  You may not get past the receptionist, but you could come away with an application and a job lead that wasn’t announced anywhere else. Temporary agencies are also a good avenue.  Find one in the phone book that specializes in your field of work.  Headhunters are also another source as they are often retained by companies to fill vacant positions.

Get organized!  Keep track of resumes you have submitted, applications you have filled out, and companies you have interviewed with.  You should know where you are in the process for each and every job you apply for.  Key information to track is:

• Position title, company name, address, phone number, and point of contact.
• How you heard about the position, date applied, and the method (fax, e-mail, internet, in person, or mail).
• Any information you have about the position and the company as well as any notes from conversations or interviews you’ve had with the point of contact.

Do something positive everyday for your search.  By doing something everyday you will be moving forward, gathering momentum to get you that job that you’ve been searching for!

Technorati Tags: assessments, career coaching, job search, kevin tucker, resume

So you are thinking that it might be a good time to make a career change? The key reason for change for most people is the idea of being fulfilled with one’s work or it could have something to do with a certain time of your life, the state of the economy, or maybe even something in your current job that you just know - it’s time to move on.

Next to sleep, most Americans spend more time in their workplace than anywhere else. No one - not your spouse, children, or church community - gets more of our attention than our workplace.

Everyone needs and should feel passionate about their careers - it affects all other areas of our lives! Next to sleep, most Americans spend more time in their workplace than anywhere else. No one - not our spouse, children or church community - gets more of our attention than our workplace. Shouldn’t you do all you can to make sure it’s a great fit for you?

Your first step is to know what you want. What are you good at? Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years? Then examine the outlook for the job - can you see yourself doing it? Are there major technology changes that could affect it?

Finally, learn from others that are already in the field. Network. Network. Network. Go to different association meetings and even try your hand at informational interviewing - it can be a great way to find that perfect fit for you!

Technorati Tags: career change, career passion, Networking