by 17 people |
Who am I? What's my story?
After 20 years leading the planning and execution of innovative marketing strategies in the online media, real estate franchising, and telecom industries, I once again find myself shopping my talent for my next work adventure. Most recently CMO of one of the world's largest internet dating websites, I want to share what I have learned with others finding themselves in the same situation as I share my availability to help a new company to grow their revenue.
So what makes *me* an expert on finding a great job?
I have had the opportunity to participate in job search training with a global outplacement firm, have sessions with professional career and resume coaches, and be in phone and in-person interviews with *many* hiring managers.
I created this lens to not only help my own job search -- a senior marketing leadership role in which I can leverage rapid changes in technology to help a company increase its market share growth -- but to help others who find themselves in similar situations to: 1) reduce their stress, 2) increase the effectiveness of their internet-enabled job searches, and most importantly, 3) not just find "another job", but their best job EVER!
By design, this lens is meant to be interactive so we can learn from each other's experiences. Please feel free to zap me an e-mail -- kenherron [at] gmail.com -- with what you find works, and what doesn't!
I created this lens to not only help my own job search -- a senior marketing leadership role in which I can leverage rapid changes in technology to help a company increase its market share growth -- but to help others who find themselves in similar situations to: 1) reduce their stress, 2) increase the effectiveness of their internet-enabled job searches, and most importantly, 3) not just find "another job", but their best job EVER!
By design, this lens is meant to be interactive so we can learn from each other's experiences. Please feel free to zap me an e-mail -- kenherron [at] gmail.com -- with what you find works, and what doesn't!
What are the "secrets" to finding my best job ever?
Hint: Network, network, network!
- Do not panic. You will not only get through this, but be better off for it.
- Stay positive. Optimism and pessimism are both self-fulfilling.
- Go out of your way to help others with their job search. Karma counts!
- Be able to tell someone -- in 25 words or less -- what your "dream job" is. Tell *everyone*!
- Be able to tell a hiring manager, recruiter, or executive -- again, in 25 words or less -- why they should hire you. Put those words in your resume.
- Be able to answer the question -- yes, again in 25 words or less -- of what you do/create/achieve that no one else can. If you are one of 2 finalists in front of the hiring manager, why should she/he pick you?
- Ask everyone for input on your resume. But, keep only what works for you, and guiltlessly toss the rest.
- Tweak your resume, not just your cover letter, for each position.
What can I do to make my resume more effective?
(Adapted from Rita Fisher's "6 Vital Tips for Creating a Superior Resume")
- Keep it short. Shoot for *one* page. At best, your resume has 10-20 seconds to communicate what you can do for the company.
- Spelling! Spelling! Spelling! If you need to, have your most obsessive-compulsive English-major friend triple-proofread your resume for you.
- Start your resume with a "power statement" rather than an "objective". An objective only tells a prospective employer what you want to do, whereas the power statement tells the employer what role you are seeking, your key achievements, and what you can do for the company.
- Use action verbs. Begin your sentences with action verbs for added punch, and to express a sense of accomplishment.
- Use specifics: numbers, figures, percentages, and facts. Clearly articulate what you can do for the company.
- Answer the "What's in it for me?" question. The "me" here being the employer -- be compelling in telling them why they should hire you!
Where on the web should I put my resume?
The Big Job Boards
Without doubt, the absolute #1 best way to find your next job is to network. That said, as it can be a challenge to network 24x7x365, invest the time to input your resume onto every job web site you encounter. Recruiters really do look hard to find great talent, so make it easier for them to find you!
TIP: Rather than spending your time to manually search through job web sites, use the sites' job/career alerts so you will awake every morning to find your inbox filled with fresh jobs pre-sorted on the criteria you have set (i.e., location, title, skills, etc.).
TIP: Rather than spending your time to manually search through job web sites, use the sites' job/career alerts so you will awake every morning to find your inbox filled with fresh jobs pre-sorted on the criteria you have set (i.e., location, title, skills, etc.).
- Monster
- The daddy of big job boards.
- Careerbuilder
- Big job board.
- Yahoo! Hot Jobs
- Big job board.
Where else on the web can I find really great jobs?
The New Job Search Engines
- Indeed
- The Google of job search engines.
- Simply Hired
- Competitor to Indeed.
- The Ladders
- $100K+ jobs. Remember that their "Basic" membership is completely FREE.
- Cybercoders
- [Mostly] technical positions.
- Dice
- Tech-weenie AND non-tech-weenie jobs at technology companies.
- Top Echelon
- Recruiters' job database (i.e., you will see their listings on many smaller recruiters' own web sites).
- Job Circle
- Job database focusing on "local to you" jobs.
- Linked In
- Social networking for the career-minded.
- Jobster
- Friendster for jobs.
- Ad Age's Talent Works
- Mostly advertising industry jobs.
- Vitruva
- "Next generation" job search engine based on profile matching.
Any other job links I may not have seen?
Professional Association and Diversity Community Job Sites
- International Association of Business Communicators
- Professional association with a really great job web site if you're targeting "Communications" jobs.
- American Marketing Association
- Professional association for those targeting "Marketing" jobs.
- Media Bistro
- PR, agency, and creative jobs.
Where can I go for "professional help"?
Check out these professionals!
- Charles Moldenhauer
- Need an executive job coach? Charles offers a free, 90-minute phone-based executive job coach seminar with insider tips, action plan and Q&A. Clink the link for details.
- Tracy Collins
- Need help interviewing and/or presenting?
- Carol Ross
- Need help identifying your best career path?
- Laurie Murphy
- Need a career coach?
- Lee Hecht Harrison
- Looking for a credible for-fee firm to help you with the entire job search process from start to finish?
- Rita Fisher
- Need help in creating a resume that will really tell hiring managers what you can do for them?
What other lenses on Squidoo might be of interest to me?
Check out these lenses!
- Dana Sednek
- Click to learn how Dana uses Newsgator with Indeed.com
- Carol Ross
- Carol's lens!
I just happen to be a hiring manager/recruiter looking for *great* people, do you know of any?
Thanks for asking!
In my search, I have encountered some truly phenomenal people -- so good I'd hire them myself. If you're looking for top-notch talent, please consider these people:
- Please zap me an e-mail if you would like to have a short summary of your talents included here!
What books can I read?
(for those on a budget: check for these for free at your local library!)
Do *you* have any job search tips or tricks you would like to share?
Ideas? Comments? Questions? Rants? Raves?
E-Mail me at:
kenherron [at] gmail.com
kenherron [at] gmail.com
by Ken
A marketing strategist, I am a "cool hunter" for new ideas, strategies, and technologies to help small businesses, global enterprises, and non-profit... (more)
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