Create Your Career Path Blog» Hallie Crawford Career Coach – Career Coaching Atlanta

9 things college grads need to do to beef up their job search

Hallie Crawford - Career Coach — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:44:01 +0000

I enjoyed seeing Matt Jones again in the studio recently, recording my latest radio segment for Q100 Atlanta and their Cumulus stations. College grads everywhere are walking across the stage. If you are one of those who does not have a job lined up, this is especially for you. Here are my talking points that I wanted to share with you:

–Don’t sell damaged goods: We go through our job search too often not realizing that we aree not being our best selves; we are not being as confident as we could be. We are selling ourselves short (see the blog post and the video I posted about on not selling damaged goods here). You need to believe in yourself first. Even when you are a recent college grad with little work experience. Identify what you HAVE done and how that makes you valuable. Is it sorority work? Leadership on a class project? Don’t go selling yourself short. Walk into interviews and networking events with confidence. It doesn’t matter if you are younger. Know that you have something to offer and you have to put yourself out there regardless so you might as well make it count. Get your feet wet and get started!

–Prepare, prepare, prepare: Have your materials ready before you get out there. This includes your resume, business cards (yes, you too should have them!), your elevator pitch for different purposes and different types of networking, your LinkedIn profile (it’s a must!), and consider creating an online resume.

–Attend career fairs: Four things to do to prep for these are…

Find a list of employers that will be there.
Identify the top employers that you want the opportunity to meet.
Research the company and their current news so that you can prepare what you want to say to them.
Have well thought out questions that you want to ask them about the company.

– AND attend networking events where people are employed: Job search groups are helpful, and networking events where people are employed can be even better! Find association meetings, alumni meetings, and local business groups. Attend as a guest for free if possible for that first meeting.

–Budget your time: Remember networking pays the biggest dividends, so you want to spend the most time there. It has the biggest pay off but also takes the most time, so plan to spend about an hour a day on job boards and set up auto alerts to be efficient with your time. But also spend an hour and a half a day on networking-more if you’ve set up multiple meetings for that day or week.

–Know when to take a break: Over time if you get burned out, take a day off. Rejuvenate. Take time off each day as well to get a break and take care of yourself. That greatly affects your confidence and the advice above in tip number 1.

–Stand out: Three things you need to do to stand out from the crowd: 1) Identify your unique skill set. How are you different from your college buddies based on your experience or unique skills. 2) For college students who don’ t have work experience, identify any work type of experience you’ve had. Put that down, even if it’s president of fraternity or something you did in class. I included the documentary I created in college on my resume. It was something unique, and a good talking point in interviews. 3) Focus on soft skills as well. Are you a good team player? Do you have great communication skills? Write those down in your summary of qualifications at the top of your resume.

–Hang around positive, employed people: Find people who have been successful in their search and have a positive attitude. Get some cheerleading and advice from them. Hanging around your unemployed friends who have not found work yet and are bummed out is not helpful. Identify a mentor who can help you in your search. Seek out people who are employed and enjoy their work. Spend time with them. You never know what advice (even if it’s informally) you’ll pick up.

–Get experience: People often ask me whether or not it is worth getting a part time job and or an unpaid internship. I say yes if it gets you out of the house, feeling better and more confident. Especially if it is in your field of interest. It shows that you are doing something, gives you experience, is a networking opportunity and can help you define what you want in a job. Be pro-active. About unpaid internships, I say yes! They absolutely can be helpful! Just don’t get stuck in them for long term. I’ve seen that happen. Communicate with the employer up front about the length of time for the internship and what happens after that. Can they hire you? What are the chances of that, or do you need to be looking for something else right away?

Hallie Crawford
Ideal Career Coach

P.S. Are you frustrated with your job search? Check out our .

Affirmations with an exclamation!

Hallie Crawford - Career Coach — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:47:21 +0000

This was also printed in H2O magazine, but I wanted to share it with you because I really liked it. It was written by one of my associate career coaches Terry Wynne…

Do you want to have more control of your current job, job search, future career, next interview, or other circumstances in your life? Try using affirmations. Affirmations are statements of what you want for yourself. These statements are in the present tense without the use of the words, “no” or “not.” Some examples are:

I have a career I love.
My boss, my co-workers and I respect each other and each other’s ideas.
I make a salary large enough to meet all of my needs.

The reason you avoid using “no” or “not” is because your mind believes what you tell it, but your mind doesn’t comprehend a negative request; it only comprehends what to do, much like a computer. If you put in “no” or “not,” your mind will delete these words and give you what you don’t want. Instead of “I am not a good interviewee,” a better affirmation is “I interview well and describe my qualifications expertly.”

Likewise, using the present tense is important so that you mind implements what you tell it right now. Using “I will” or “I must” only results in your mind delaying your request because “will” or “must” is an affirmation for your mind to delay your request until the future. Instead of “I will not find a job,” use “I find job opportunities that are interesting to me.” Again, think of your computer – it does what you tell it to do, when you tell it to do it so use present tense.

The best way to use affirmations is to put your desires in writing, and read them at least three or more times a day. Place your affirmations where you can see them consistently — on your mirror, your computer, in your wallet, and on your night stand. Even if you don’t believe your affirmations initially, pretend to believe them and in time, you will. Afterall, affirmations are a way to change an existing situation into the way you want the situation to exist.

Affirmations are powerful because you become what you think. Don’t believe affirmations work? Ask people who use them to tell you their experiences. Then you’ll quickly understand why you need to put your affirmations in writing – so you can remember your requests, recognize when your request becomes reality, be grateful, and create your next affirmations. What a way to give yourself a feeling of hope, belief, and control!

-Reprinted with permission from H20 Magazine

Terry Wynne
Certified Career Coach

P.S. Are you in the ideal career for you? Find out if you’re in the right career with our Ideal Career Quiz.

Six things you need to organize your job search

Hallie Crawford - Career Coach — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:22:12 +0000

You’ve heard it before – looking for a job is a job in itself! If you’re starting a job search, you must have tracking methods to keep tabs on your action steps and progress.

The following are some essentials you’ll need to know what you’ve done, who you’ve seen, and what you need to do next in your job search:

Computer and a printer for emailing your resume and cover letter to prospective employers.
Quality resume paper, matching blank resume paper, matching envelopes, and stamps for snail mailing your resume to prospective employers.
Computerized or paper calendar to track the date you mailed a resume as well as the date you need to call to follow-up.
Computerized calendar or paper appointment book with times for scheduling interviews.
Professional message on your voicemail to take messages from prospective employers when you’re not available to answer the phone.
An agreement with your family, roommates, and friends as to privacy and the times they can or cannot interrupt you during your job search.

With the essential tools, self-discipline, an optimistic outlook, patience, and persistence, you will be on your way to your ideal next job!

Terry Wynne
Certified Career Coach

P.S. Get one of the most information-rich career newsletters on the web delivered straight to your email inbox! Check out our Free Newsletter to help you along your career journey today!

There’s a gap in my resume! How do I handle it?

Hallie Crawford - Career Coach — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:33:48 +0000

We often get questions from career coaching clients about challenges with their resume, and how to handle certain issues many people face. One of my clients, John, asked me a common one, “How do I handle a gap in my resume?” His situation was slightly unique in that he did not have a typical gap where he wasn’t working at all. He had a fellowship during that time and he did not know know whether to include that since it was not relevant to the jobs he was applying for. Another client, Patrice, had the more traditional type of gap. She was a stay at home mother for many years after being a physician in South Africa. She did not know what to say about her time as a mother.

Here’s some advice from our resume writer, Jasmine:

If you have a period of time when you were not working in a traditional job, but had some kind of work experience like a fellowship, or the Peace Corps, put it down. Include it even if it’s not relevant to the jobs you’re applying for. Better to have something in there than a gap in time. Mention it, and reference how, if in any way, it could be relevant to what you’re applying for. It might be in some way, so take a moment to consider that.

Write about what’s relevant at the beginning of the listing for that position so the employer sees what’s relevant right away. If there’s nothing relevant that’s okay, use the position as a placeholder to demonstrate what you were doing during that time. If you had time off work like Patrice and don’t have a fellowship, use volunteer work or something similar to show. Put down what you did do during that time. It’s better to show something than nothing.

Patrice managed a home renovation project during that time and took time to manage the medical care for her husband who unfortunately passed away. We suggest she mention those two things in a professional way on her resume – took time off to care for a sick relative as a one line reference so the employer knows what was going on. Luckily these days employers are more understanding that people have gaps in resume, but it’s still not okay to have nothing there.

Each person’s situation is different of course, and how you reference what happened during that time is different. The bottom line is, we suggest mentioning something even if it’s non-traditional or time off for something personal. You will have a chance to explain more during the interview if needed.

Hallie Crawford
Career Coach

P.S. Be sure to check out our LinkedIn Consulting Program where you can learn how to effectively leverage your LinkedIn account for your job search and ongoing professional development.

Are you in the right mental state for you job search?

Hallie Crawford - Career Coach — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:46:34 +0000

I loved this video that I recently received from my career coaching client, Tom. He sent it to me the other day mentioning that this is how he used to feel on the job and while in job search mode. This was before he worked with me as well as a therapist to improve his self confidence. Watch the video below:

Remember, any action you take towards your ideal career or in your job search will go better and be more successful if you come from the right mental place or state. “Don’t sell damaged goods” as this author puts it. I think this is the perfect way to describe it!

I hope this video was helpful to you. If you’d like help with your job search, contact us today for a complimentary consultation.

Hallie Crawford
Job Search Coach

P.S. Are you frustrated with your job search? Check out our .

How to give interviewers a reason to choose you

Hallie Crawford - Career Coach — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:48:37 +0000

Do you want to make sure you make a good impression at your next job interview? Here are some tips to make sure you’re an outstanding candidate:

At the beginning and the end of the interview give the interviewer a firm handshake while looking him or her directly in the eye. Say something to put the interviewer at ease such as “I’m pleased to meet you. Your company must really be busy since the phones are ringing constantly in the receptionist’s area.”

Rationale: First impressions are lasting ones and the interviewer isn’t expecting you to put him or her at ease and will be pleasantly surprised at the first impression you make.

When asked if you have any questions, ask at least one question which shows interest in the company instead of your own benefits. An example is, “How do you see the company progressing in the next five years?”

Rationale: Interviewers appreciate it if you are as interested in the company as you are in the job for which you’re applying.

Ask for the business card of everyone who interviews you, and show your business letter writing skills by promptly word processing and mailing individualized letters thanking interviewers for their time.

Rationale: A thank you letter is not only an opportunity to show gratitude for the interviewer’s time and information during your interview, but it’s also an opportunity to show off your business letter writing skills, and an opportunity to put your name in front of the interview again. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity.

At the end of the interview, look the interviewer directly in the eye and while shaking his or her hand, say something memorable such as, “I hope you’ll consider me your most enthusiastic candidate.”

Rationale: You want the interviewer to remember you, so make sure your last impression is as good as your first one.

Somebody is going to receive a job offer with these tips, let’s hope that person is you!

Hallie Crawford
Career Coach

P.S. How do you know if your resume is good? Take this Resume Quiz to find out how to keep your resume out of the trash can.

The Secret to Getting a Good Review or Raise

Hallie Crawford - Career Coach — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:15:42 +0000

Reprinted with permission from H2O Magazine

You’ve worked hard at your job and it’s time for your review and hopefully that much-needed raise.

Here are three things you need to start doing right away to ensure your review goes smoothly:

1. To receive a good review and possible raise, immediately after your last review, start keeping a word-processed bulleted list of all your accomplishments and your productivity. Continue keeping this list on an on-going basis.

2. About a month before your review, provide your supervisor with the list including the inclusive dates to which it applies. Be sure to include any presentations and travel for the company.

3. Quantify your accomplishments. For example, instead of “Answered customer service calls,” list, “Answered as many as 25 incoming calls a day and directed them to the proper employee.” Also give the results of your accomplishments such as “Gave presentation to management recommending how to improve customer service. Management implemented recommendations resulting in 25% improvement in efficiency as measured by weekly productivity reports.” Use words like “approximately” or “as many as” to estimate the highest volume of productivity you performed.

Rather than expecting your supervisor to know or remember everything you’ve accomplished, provide the list. By doing so, your supervisor has information documenting your productive performance. If you don’t receive as good a review as you expect, you have a solid basis for discussion. However, your professional list is much more likely to show your manager that you are a proactive employee who keeps accurate records and hopefully will earn you a good review and a well-deserved raise.

Terry Wynne
Certified Career Coach

P.S. Get one of the most information-rich career newsletters on the web delivered straight to your email inbox! Check out our Free Newsletter to help you along your career journey today!

When choosing your dream job, don’t be like Pollyanna

Hallie Crawford - Career Coach — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:43:51 +0000

Check out my latest video where I talk about what is realistic to expect for from your dream job and what isn’t. When thinking about your dream job, don’t be like Pollyanna. It’s not going to be fabulous all the time. What is important is that the pros outweigh the cons in your chosen career path.

Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach

Are resumes becoming obsolete?

Hallie Crawford - Career Coach — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:29:35 +0000

Career coaching clients often ask me, what do I think of resumes and cover letters, are they still necessary or are they becoming obsolete? And what about online resumes or webpages to showcase your skills?

Resumes and cover letters are still a must. I think over time they will be delivered or provided in a different format. (Think LinkedIn or online resumes). But they’re not going anywhere. They are still a must. If the company says do not provide one or the other, follow their instructions. Both are still very important though.

Including a cover letter is important because 1) it shows your writing skills and how well you communicate and 2) it demonstrates you care enough about the position to write one and you are able to speak about your skills related to the position confidently. So even if they don’t ask for a cover letter, provide one. As an attachment – not in the body of the email. Err on the side of more formal and professional unless your field calls for something else more creative or different (marketing or advertising for ex).

Online resumes are becoming more popular. I think it’s nice to have one. It’s not a must but it depends on your industry. If you’re in technology, go for it. If you’re in a more traditional field you can get away without one, but consider it as a way to stand out from the crowd. Here’s a website I like for online resume examples: http://www.opresume.com/examples

You’ve read about people who created YouTube videos for job applications as well. These days it can seem like anything goes but that is not entirely the case. Consider these two things when you are deciding what to create for yourself:

1) What’s appropriate for your industry but will still help you stand out.

2) Ensure whatever you do is professional, tasteful and well done.

Creating a video or online resume just for the heck of it, and only doing a halfway decent job, doesn’t cut it. It’s better to skip it altogether.

Hallie Crawford
Job Coach

P.S. Are you in the ideal career for you? Find out if you’re in the right career with our Ideal Career Quiz.

5 tips to help you with job applications

Hallie Crawford - Career Coach — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:30:09 +0000

Career coaching clients often ask me why they have sent out so many resumes but rarely, and sometimes never, hear back from the employer. There are so many possible reasons that it’s hard to pinpoint one.

One of my career coaching clients recently asked me this very question the other day.For over a year before working with me he’s applied for jobs and never heard back. When I looked at his resume and cover letter I realized why. His cover letter was dense and way too long. A full page of text, that’s very dense and not easy to read isn’t going to be read by many employers. He needed to cut it back; we set to work doing just that.

Here are the top 5 reasons you might not be hearing back about your job application:

1. Your resume isn’t tailored to the position. An employer can tell if it isn’t. If you don’t take the time to revise your resume for each job you’re applying for, you won’t look qualified and it will go into the recycle bin.

2. Your resume doesn’t have relevant keywords for the position, and companies that use computers to review resumes to determine which ones to review by hand tosses it out.

3. You didn’t follow their application instructions to the letter. That is an automatic disqualification. Always follow their instructions. If they say don’t contact them to follow up, don’t.

4. The job has been posted for weeks, and you are just now applying. Sometimes you can be way too late to apply. Stay on top of job boards and postings to apply right away.

5. Your resume is in a format that is hard to read and scan quickly. If they can’t tell if you are qualified right away, or can’t quickly review and identify your qualifications, it goes into the trash.

Remember, there are many possible reasons you’re not getting calls back. There’s no way to know exactly why. You have to try to get it right as often as possible, so that your chances are increased.

Hallie Crawford
Ideal Career Coach

P.S. Are you frustrated with your job search? Check out our .