Career change Archives - The Career Success Doctor

Job Seekers Need To Stop These 5 Job Search Tactics

Written by Natalia

Happy May Day everyone! Spring has officially sprung and today‘s date has a double meaning in the Nothern hemisphere: spring festival and International Workers’ Day.

If spring‘s message for a new beginning this year means a new job to you, keep reading because this article will help you a lot in your job hunting. Are you sabotaging yourself by using the ‘wrong‘ job search tactics?

Whether you are looking for a career change, a different working environment, or you‘re currently unemployed and looking for a new job, chances are that as a job seeker you do have a strategy in place. From how to write a winning CV and prepare for interviews, to how to promote yourself and include the hidden job market in your search.

We‘ve shared a lot of tips for finding a new job and we‘ve covered a lot of job searching tactics in different phases of the process in our articles so far. However, the article I want to share with you today by Heather R. Huhman, published on Doostang, discusses all the things that you shouldn’t do. A beautiful wrap-up of the job search tactics that won’t get you the desired result.

Among the things discussed in this article are the importance of doing your research before applying for a job, the negative impact of proceeding your job search based on fear ending up with a job offer you don’t like and outdated cover letters.

” Ever had a really great interview or found a job posting that seemed like an absolute perfect match? Then, after landing the interview, you may figured you were a shoe-in for the position. So you sat back and waited for the offer letter to come through.

But nothing ever came.

There are currently 6.7 million job seekers in the U.S. and, although job prospects are getting better, the reality remains that there are still a number of qualified candidates looking for jobs in a limited job market. The position you were perfect for likely had at least 20 other perfect candidates apply for the job as well. The bottom line? In order to be successful in your job search, you just can’t afford any slip-ups.

So, if you want to land your next job, stop taking part in these job search tactics immediately: ….. ”

Read the whole article here: “5 Job Search Tactics You Need To Stop Now”

You Were Saying You’re Too Old For A Career Change?

Written by Natalia

So… You are thinking about a career change for so long now. You want to escape from a job that’s not making you happy and start your own business joining the team of the successful entrepreneurs around the world.

But you never make the next step because you think you’re too old for that? Well, think again!

These days, the media promote constantly the “Mark Zuckerberg model” and we read, watch and hear about entrepreneurs in their early or mid-twenties every day.

But this doesn’t have to hold you back. Many successful professionals and entrepreneurs didn’t take the big step to a career change, until their thirties, or even fifties!

In the infographic below, by ‘Funders and Founders’, you’ll find great success stories for inspiration.

The best one is Ray Kroc’s story (the founder of McDonald’s). He was selling paper cups and milkshake mixers until the age of 52! And then he built an empire! Still think you’re too old?

Andrea Bocelli and Harrison Ford were both doing different jobs until their 30’s and yet, they became famous! Mary Kay Ash was selling books door-to-door until she was 45.

So what if you’re 35, 45, 55? There is still time to do what you really love and start your own business! Entrepreneurship isn’t for millennials only. Have a look at the infographic below and be inspired. Stop thinking about a career change, and start making actions!

Infographic Source: Funders And Founders.

Are You An Active Job Seeker? The Hidden Job Market

Written by Natalia

If you are currently an active job seeker, you certainly need to take the hidden job market into consideration for maximum results in your job search.

It is said that way more than half of the job vacancies are never advertised. Which means that if your job search relies only on job boards you are missing out -big time!

No matter which part of the planet you live in, these hidden job markets exist all over the world, although the way they work might have some cultural differences.

Understanding The Hidden Job Market

So, why does the hidden job market exist to begin with? There are many reasons: lack of time, lack of money, and a huge waiting list of candidates from previous interviews are some of them.

According to a recent Jobvite study, 64% of recruiters rate referrals as the highest-quality source of hires. On the other hand, 40% of job seekers have found their “favourite or best” job through personal connections.

The key here to include these hidden markets in your job search is, first of all, doing your research about the companies you want to work for and contact them directly (doing your homework is always the most important step, just as in the “open market”), and -of course- networking. The more people know you’re searching for a new job, the more chances you have to learn about a job vacancy through ‘word of mouth’.

For further reading on the hidden job market and how to find these hidden job vacancies, I have two articles that I’m sure you’ll find helpful.

The first one is by Chris Manley, from The Careers Blog of The University of Warwick:

70% of all vacancies are never advertised, or so the story goes. This figure has been quoted for as long as I’ve worked in careers and I’m not sure anyone knows exactly where it comes from. In many ways it doesn’t really matter whether it’s 7% or 70% as long as you factor this ‘hidden’ side of the job market into your job search strategy. If you’re spending all your time on job portals (good as they are) you’re potentially missing out. By dedicating a small fraction of your time to unearthing unadvertised vacancies you may well find a wider range of opportunities than advertised vacancies alone.

The second one is from Career Advice Online:

Up to 80% of jobs don’t get advertised

Finding hidden job vacancies is all about being proactive

Digging out unadvertised vacancies shows potential employers your commitment towards and enthusiasm about a particular job or company

Networking is crucial

The speculative approach can produce good results if used well.

It may come as a surprise to many job seekers to learn that up to 80% of jobs don’t get advertised. These ‘invisible’ vacancies are referred to as the ‘hidden’ job market.

What are your thoughts about this?
Are you going to include the hidden job market in your job search?

How To Succeed At Interview – Change The Way You Breathe

Written by The Career Success Doctor

In previous blogs I’ve talked about How To Succeed At Interview using your body language, and using your voice. This latest video is all about building rapport and making that all-important good impression in less than 10 seconds using your breath. This is certainly the subtlest way to build a connection with another person very rapidly, and arguably the relationship you build is deeper than with any other method.

It’s all about noticing how the other person breathes, and matching where they breathe from, the speed of breath, and when they are breathing in and out. It works in interviews, work meetings with relative strangers, bank managers, mortgage brokers, and even blind dates!

Check out the video below for the why, the what and the how of improving your chances of interview success using this method.

A Job Offer You Don’t Like? 5 Things To Consider Before Accepting

Written by Natalia

When you’re searching for a new job, chances are that you won’t like every job offer you get. Maybe the salary is lower than your standards, the required working hours don’t leave you any time for your family, or the company culture doesn’t suit you.

It is completely normal not to like each and every job offer you have. We all have our preferences.

However, there are times that people choose to accept a job offer they don’t really like. Sometimes it is due to financial reasons, especially if they are searching for a job for a long time and their savings account is getting lower. Another reason would be that their job hunt has lasted more than a couple of months and they have lost their self-confidence. In difficult times it’s easy to lose hope and feel desperate.

Nevertheless, whatever the reasons are that drive us to accept a less-than-ideal job offer, we should never forget the power of negotiation. You’ll never know what you could have accomplished if you don’t at least try!

Of course, there’s also the option to turn it down. Sometimes, a greater opportunity could be just around the corner. If you can afford to wait for it and chase it, it might be the best move.

If you are in a situation like this, trying to decide what to do, Heather Huhman, in her article in Glassdoor, suggests 5 things to consider before accepting a job offer you don’t like.

“Imagine you’ve just finished interviewing with several employers. Out of all of the interviews, you received one job offer. It wasn’t exactly what you wanted. Do you accept it?

If you’ve experienced a long-term job search, you’re probably feeling like you should take what you can get. But when you encounter offers you don’t completely love, you must ask yourself if you will accept the job offer, attempt to negotiate, or wait for a better opportunity to come along.”

Read the whole article here: “5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Accepting a Job Offer You Don’t Love”