Sporting a moniker of Canada’s Career Strategist, you have to know that I take my responsibility seriously. So, I thrive on developing meaningful relationships with like-minded professionals — the kind of professionals who understand the value of sharing their expertise. These are the people I follow.

Lately, I have been following my tweeps and monitoring them more closely. I have made a personal revelation, which I would like to share.

It is clear that many followers, including myself, don’t appreciate threads that go on about someone’s daily activity. Around the globe, twitter-lovers and twitter-haters alike have thought at least once, “Why would I care if you are making supper now?” or “Who cares if you are taking a break?”

Personally, I have now started to find some of the more insidious Tweets (and Tweeters) invasive and even offensive. In short, I am growing a major aversion to seeing posts like these:

• Busy running around as usual.
• Glad it’s Friday!
• Busy looking for a job.
• Currently working on a client resume.
• It’s raining outside so I’m working.
• Just wrote another resume.
• Coached an executive client.
• Looking for business.
• Connected with an industry expert.
• Finished up a client call.

Sometimes, I wonder if the person tweeting has some sort of Napoleon complex. Do they really think that it’s all about them? Do they get that others don’t care about what they are doing right now? Are they THAT self-absorbed?

People who insist on sharing every mundane detail of their lives are virtually assured that busy professionals will not follow them. Even if these individuals are giving their followers important information from time to time, all the extra lines of fluff are taking away from their message.

Meaningful twitterers can offer a wealth of information. They can become seen as subject matter experts. People want to read every single tweet.

Everyone loves to read a tweet that is meant to help us, deepen a relationship, empower someone, support a colleague, or lift our spirits.

If you want to achieve tweetsperity, tweet with a generous, sharing heart. Give much more than you want to receive. If you genuinely care about your followers and their needs, you’ll find that you’ll grow your contact base, gain friendships, achieve your career goals, and attain immeasurable rewards.

CLICK HERE to learn more about your career development.

Thank you for reading my blog! Please email me if you spot any errors in this post.

Post from: Canada's Career Strategist: www.SharonGraham.ca

Use Twitter Effectively to Build Your Career

Share/Save

Are you like me? I’m frequently asked to provide references for colleagues, and I am always happy to do so – especially when I can say something meaningful about how they have enriched my life, career, or business.

Perhaps you also share some of my biggest frustrations. Often, I have to decline the request to be a referee because I don’t know the person well enough. When I do endorse someone I know wholeheartedly, I seldom learn the outcome of my support.

DEFINITION

ref·e·ree n. A person who gives you a reference. For example, someone who knows you and who is willing to describe and, ideally, praise you when you are applying for a job.

When you treat your referees well, they are your best representatives. When you want to ask someone to speak or write on your behalf, consider what you have done to nurture the relationship. To be effective, you can’t just ask for references on the spur of the moment. It takes time to cultivate a deep, mutually respectful relationship between professionals.

Here are some strategies to keep in mind for gathering – and keeping – your referees.

WHO TO ASK

Many people in your network might be pleased to speak to potential employers on your behalf, but you need to be careful about whom to select. Your referee holds the power to make or break an opportunity for you. One questionable reference can eliminate you from the running.

Approach only those you believe will be the most articulate, and supportive of your skills and accomplishments. Consider superiors, clients, team members, colleagues, and direct reports from your working world.

Don’t be afraid to expand your support group of respected professionals to include those who you believe can write a letter extolling your virtues. Reference letters can be included in your presentation portfolio when you meet with employers.

Don’t assume that your previous employer will provide a positive, in-depth reference on your behalf. In the past, employers may have automatically provided recruiters with subjective responses to a list of questions. These days, many companies are sensitive to human rights issues. To avoid any ethical or legal concerns, they typically will only provide your basic record of employment – dates and job titles. So, it is crucial that you maintain strong connections with colleagues from your past in order to provide their names to recruiters.

Select high-quality business referees who can provide a strong cross-section of information to the reference checker. You want people who can provide tangible examples of the work you have done and the results you produced. Choose people who can give a sincere, considerate, and favourable character reference.

WHEN TO ASK

Prepare your referees well in advance by building a reciprocal “give and take” relationship. During the course of your career, think about them often. Consider how you can help your referees rather than how they can help you.

The best way to build a strong foundation for future referrals is to give before you get:

• Take your referee out for a coffee and “on you” from time to time. This will give you a chance to chat about business and get to know each other better.
• If you read an interesting business article or book that you believe your colleague will like, forward it along.
• If you find out about an award or accolade that your colleague received, give a congratulatory call, genuinely ask about the details of the achievement, and pass the wonderful news along.
• When you receive an unsolicited endorsement or referral, immediately thank your supporter.

HOW TO ASK

When you are ready to ask for a reference, be sincere. Let your contact know that you are asking them because they know you and your performance, and – most of all – that you respect them immensely.

Your support group of references will have different strengths. Some will be very effective articulating your value to potential employers in a phone call. Others might prefer to write something.

Some of your referees may want to offer their support, but may not be as refined as you would like them to be. In these cases, you might want to ask for LinkedIn recommendations, or for some brief quotes to use as testimonials in you career search documents.

Demonstrate your appreciation of their time. You can even offer to write a draft for them to edit – saving time while also ensuring the content you want is addressed.

Alert your referees when you believe they may be contacted. If the referee is not comfortable or has any reservations about providing a particular reference, thank them and find another referee.

Prepare your referees well for the call. Give them a copy of the job posting and some details about the role. Provide details or topics to help them answer in the best possible way. Discuss competencies that you feel are most required for the position. Remind them about past achievements and successful projects that you worked on together. If you have already had an interview, discuss points you would like your referee to emphasize. All the while, express your appreciation for their time.

HOW TO SHOW YOUR THANKS

When you have received the type of recognition and support that may make – or has made – a contribution to your career, it is crucial to demonstrate that you really appreciate everything your referees have done for you.

Follow up! The most frustrating thing for someone that has made the time and effort to provide a recommendation is never hearing how things went. Whether you get that dream role or not, be sure to get in touch as soon as possible. When you determine they will be a strong referee for you, then keep them in the loop. Let them know the value and results of their involvement.

Send an email right away, talking about what a help they were. Give them a specific example of how their support helped you. Then, create and mail (or hand deliver) a hand-written note for that personal touch. Once you know more, touch base again with an update.

There are many ways to thank your referees formally. Provide your colleague with a great LinkedIn recommendation, or offer to provide similar assistance for them at any time in the future. Offer other kinds of support such as referring your referee to other like-minded colleagues.

Always try to give more than you get; however, expensive gifts are absolutely NOT recommended. Think about how you would feel if you gave a sincere recommendation and then received something extravagant. Your colleague might feel that it is quite unethical to receive compensation for saying something that they would have said anyway.  Your message would somehow make them feel like they were “bought” rather than just being sincere about your strengths.

Great referees are created over time. When it comes to your overall career success, positive endorsements will take you a long way. Graham Management Group offers a number of additional articles that you may find valuable. Learn more about how you can create superior references.

If you have other ideas on this topic, please share them with me.

• How do you attract and nurture well-qualified referees?
• Have you tried other approaches that work particularly well?
• What is your opinion on how best to express your appreciation?

Thank you for reading my blog! Please email me if you spot any errors in this post.

Post from: Canada's Career Strategist: www.SharonGraham.ca

Make the Most of your References

Share/Save

Recently CBC Television’s Marketplace investigated a career services firm that was ripping off clients. In Recruitment Rip-Off, Tom Harrington exposed the aggressive and unethical sales practices of a Toronto-based company that first pretends to be a recruitment firm and then scams job seekers by taking thousands of dollars. The company’s representatives often target internet job seekers as well as new immigrants by expertly playing on their inexperience and desperation in the labour market.

Over the years, I’ve had numerous complaints about this shady company – both from clients and well-reputed career practitioners. They currently go by the name Toronto Pathways, but over the years, they have gone by several other names to avert the many complaints that can be found on the Internet. This organization is under investigation by Canada’s Privacy Commissioner for its misleading practices.

Clearly, ethics and integrity are of primary importance to everyone – job seekers, practitioners, and recruiters alike. I personally know and value the services of many outstanding professionals. It’s unfortunate that one “bad egg” can hurt job seekers and taint the industry as a whole.

If you are a job seeker, you need to be informed.

RED FLAGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

The company offers a VERBAL guarantee. Most ethical companies display their guarantee directly on the website. Any services that do not have details on the site should readily email you a formal quote before taking money. Always read the guarantee and quote in full before signing up for services.

They entice you by saying that you are special and your search is especially easy. Don’t believe everything you hear. Every search requires work. If it did not, then it would be easy for everyone to find jobs. Learn the best techniques to perform a strong job search and you will have the best chance for success.

They call both you and your spouse into the office. Any good career firm will give you a quote without requiring you to come into the office with your spouse and make a decision on the spot. Before trekking into the office, take the time you need to learn more about the service.

They approach you on a job board posing as a recruiter, but asking for money. If a company finds you on a job board, they may be legitimate. However, respectable recruiters earn their money by filling positions on behalf of companies. The employer pays for these services and therefore you should never give money for an interview.

The references they cite are unreachable. Instead of relying on testimonials or companies listed on websites, do your homework. Most good practitioners have many endorsements from real people directly on LinkedIn.

They say that they have new postings every day. Most open job postings can be found on job boards, company websites, and through LinkedIn. Some high-level recruiters that are retained by companies have access to private postings which don’t come along every day. If you meet a “retained recruiter,” they will never charge you for services.

The company promises that if you pay, they will connect you with employers. You cannot buy personal contacts with people. The job of doing an effective job search is yours – not theirs. It is unrealistic to expect that an employer will want to meet with you if you don’t even have the ability to approach them directly. If you make the effort to learn and develop relationships with decision makers, you will create opportunities.

There are no career-related certifications or credentials listed on the website. Most provinces in Canada currently have or are enacting provincial certification requirements for practitioners. Career Professionals of Canada credentials practitioners in the areas of resume writing, interview coaching, and career consulting. Before retaining any firm, refer to Career Professionals of Canada’s professional directory to ensure that the consultants are certified.

The company seems too good to be true. There are many outstanding service providers across Canada. Do your homework to find them. Before retaining anyone check the Better Business Bureau and the RipOff Report. Google the company name for complaints too.

When it comes to career services, Canada is a leader in the world. Job seekers who qualify for unemployment insurance can find many fundamental resources free at government-sponsored career centres and service providers. Other government programs are available for new Canadians, youth, and other under-employed groups. If you do not qualify for these services, you can find many ethical service providers including certified career practitioners and resume writers.

The MarketPlace piece has hit a nerve within our industry. Respectable recruiters are uncomfortable being labelled alongside a company that pretends to be a headhunter, but is really a scammer. Principled career practitioners feel that they have not been properly represented in the piece. And, through it all, job seekers feel slighted and exploited by corrupt organizations.

In 2011, The Canadian Council of Career Development Associations was launched, bringing together the executives of jurisdictional associations and Career Development organizations all in an effort to improve our industry standards. I am pleased to be on the steering committee of this national umbrella group and advocacy voice to promote professional identity, excellence, and collaboration on common issues such as certification, training, practitioner mobility, quality service indicators, and building the career development evidence base. If you have any questions or concerns about this piece, please comment below or email me directly.

Thank you for reading my blog! Please email me if you spot any errors in this post.

Post from: Canada's Career Strategist: www.SharonGraham.ca

Career Service Scammer Uncovered

Share/Save

Recently, a 6-figure executive contacted our firm looking for information on our branded resume portfolio packages. From the start of the call, it was clear that this person was one of those “difficult” senior executives. You know the ones — in an effort to “sound” important, they speak down to their colleagues, employees, and anybody who is willing to take it.

Rather than letting me ask some questions to understand his needs, this person started the call with a list of demands. Without ever knowing who he was speaking with nor explaining what he wanted to achieve in his career transition, he had already made up his mind about how his resume should look, what we should put in, and what we should leave out.

Poor guy! He really did not “get” the power of leveraging a professional rather than pushing around the “hired help.” I almost decided not to retain him as a client of Graham Management Group. What a loss for him!

When I finally got a word in, I explained who I was. As soon as he realized this, his demeanor completely changed. In fact, the next words he said are “Oh I didn’t know that I was speaking with THE Sharon Graham.” I went on to ask a number of probing questions about his situation and needs. Then, I recommended an appropriate service, all the while delivering the message that you must treat everyone as you would want to be treated yourself.

If you are an executive, manager, or leader of any kind and you are in a job search — then this message is for you. 

One so-called rule about leadership is to display confidence. However, there is a very fine line between confidence and arrogance.

In a career transition, some candidates feel the need to dominate every meeting or interview in order to show their authority and strengths. Unfortunately, this strategy often comes across as aggressive and confrontational.

Treat everyone you meet with respect and as an equal, regardless of what level that individual holds. During conversations, do not be controlling. Never exaggerate, brag, or use sophisticated terms just to look important.

As an executive, you must show your leadership qualities. If you do this respectfully, you will have a much better chance of creating the positive relationship you require to receive a call back.

Thank you for reading my blog! Please email me if you spot any errors in this post.

Post from: Canada's Career Strategist: www.SharonGraham.ca

Executive – your attitude is showing!

Share/Save

Let’s face it. Any respectable six-figure job seeker would want to work for a trustworthy company that treats them well. If you are looking for this kind of job, then your integrity is everything. Your prospective employer will want to find a professional who passionately shares their vision. And so, it’s critical that you display the personal characteristics and insight to be a strong fit for their corporate culture.

Let’s start with your resume and cover letter. As an ethical professional, you offer a personal brand that is unique and rich in offerings. You have everything it takes to represent yourself well. So, if you want to sell yourself, there’s no need to copy your colleague’s resume or plagiarize content from a website. Copying the content from a job posting or job description won’t work either. You’ll be sending a message that you don’t have any ideas of your own. And, most recruiters will think that you’re just saying what they want to hear.

Focus on your achievements and successes, but don’t exaggerate them. From the perspective of your next employer, there is little difference between a “misstatement” and a lie. You have many good ways to represent yourself truthfully. For example, if you have delivered 102% against target, don’t say that you have attained 110%. Instead, state truthfully that your results surpassed the target. And, if you did not attain the target, don’t pretend you did. Just discuss other successes instead.

“Fudging” your dates of employment won’t work either. Recruiters often check dates with your previous employers. If you have lied or omitted something important, you will be found out. There are honest ways to minimize gaps and issues with age. When listing dates, consider including the year only, instead of month and year. If possible, only go back ten years in your career chronology. Both these techniques are readily understood and acceptable for most recruiters.

Dishonest candidates may falsify their job title, responsibilities, academic credentials, and even their grade point average. So, the good organizations do check transcripts, call references, and Google candidates to weed out the deceitful ones. The higher the position, the more rigorous the screening process is. Only when you’ve passed the background check will you be considered for an interview.

I’ve noticed that some six-figure job seekers come to interviews with an air of arrogance. They seem to think that they need to appear important in order to be taken seriously. Don’t make this mistake. Every single person that you meet will be judging you based on the impression you make. Don’t discount the receptionist or assistant. If you treat every person with the utmost respect, you can be assured that you’ll get a good review when your hiring manager asks their opinion.

During your interview, focus on cultivating a personal connection with your interviewers, regardless of what level that person holds. Build chemistry by interacting in a pleasant and relaxed style. To demonstrate cultural fit, discuss how you would model truthfulness and transparency in everything you do – and mean it.

If you are asked a “sticky” question that points out a weakness such as inexperience, your best bet is to answer truthfully and then move on to talk about your strengths. And, don’t name-drop, unless you have a valid business reason for mentioning that person. If you encounter a question that seems to be pointing out a perceived obstacle such as your age, don’t be tempted to fib, but rather focus on the value you bring. Of course, if you are asked a blatantly offensive or discriminatory question, you have the absolute right to decline to answer or even to walk out of the interview. Who would want to work in such an environment anyway?

It’s alarming how many people “creatively embellish” their career history. It’s no wonder that good and respectable companies put a lot of effort in finding and retaining honest and trustworthy professionals. Your integrity is of primary importance in your job search.

Remember this: one white lie can destroy your career. When you live a lie, even if you are not caught, you are forever looking over your shoulder. It’s a small world and you will eventually get found out.

Always be completely ethical and honest in all your dealings, written and verbal. You will earn genuine credibility, respect from your colleagues, and long-term career opportunities with like-minded professionals. What a great way to start your next job!

Thank you for reading my blog! Please email me if you spot any errors in this post.

Post from: Canada's Career Strategist: www.SharonGraham.ca

Operate with integrity and get a first-rate 6-figure job

Share/Save

Just about everyone has to deal with sensitive issues about their career. By including a cover letter with your resume, you can address many concerns and gain a distinct advantage over your competition.

• A cover letter shows that you are a proactive professional who takes extra effort to present a complete proposal.
• It displays your respect for the recipient – recruiter and/or employer – by addressing him or her directly.
• It gives you the opportunity to display your personality, character, and ethics as part of your submission.
• It can effectively mitigate a number of career issues by shifting the focus to your value proposition.
• It allows you to concentrate on the future and hone in on how you can address the particular needs of the employer.

Your cover letter reflects your principles and integrity.

So, how do you handle career gaps and gaffes without looking bad?

Never bring up career issues unnecessarily. Talk more about what you can do for the prospective employer than about what they can do for you. Centre your letter on addressing the employer’s needs, not your wants. If you feel that you must address certain serious situations, carefully construct an authentic statement that comes across as professional and optimistic.

Here are some diverse situations where you can address what seem to be awkward periods along your career path. In each case, describe the positives – the things that you did which were real contributions or learning experiences.

—– 

Instead of: Took two years off due to a job loss followed by personal issues.

Try: During a sabbatical, focused on personal and professional development.

 —–

Instead of: Took a break to travel the world.

Try: Travelled extensively, becoming more aware of global diversity and challenges.

 —–

Instead of: Worked for Company ABC for 3 months, Company DEF for 5 months, and Company XYZ for 6 months.

Try: Accepted three interim roles within the industry.

 —–

Instead of: Stayed home for five years until my youngest was in kindergarten.

Try: Assumed volunteer roles ranging from fundraising to teacher’s assistant.

—– 

Instead of: Quit work to complete college or university.

Try: Held multiple part-time assistant and research positions and gained credibility in the field while earning my degree.

 —–

One final point: during your career, you have no doubt encountered innumerable challenges that pertain to the roles you have held and the companies you have supported. Never portray your previous (or current) employers or colleagues negatively.

When drafting your letter, deliver a positive and upbeat message. For example don’t say, “As the hatchet man, I was sent in to clean-up the company, prune out deadwood, get rid of the current executive team, and then sell the organization.” Change the tone of the message to “I was recruited to revitalize and transform a company that had been in business for more than three decades. I restructured and rebuilt a top-performing organization, successfully positioning the company for sale within a year.”

Addressing career gaps and gaffes can be difficult. If you are struggling with how best to approach your situation in your resume, cover letters, or interviews, consider the support offered by Graham Management Group. Any of our talented team of expert consultants will be pleased to help you uncover the value in your situation and assist you in articulating it effectively. To find out what options there may be for you, be sure to send along your current resume for a free assessment.

Thank you for reading my blog! Please email me if you spot any errors in this post.

Post from: Canada's Career Strategist: www.SharonGraham.ca

How do you deal with career issues in your cover letter?

Share/Save

How much is a job worth to you? How would you feel if you were declined an offer after a background check? What if you were fired because of a misstatement in your resume?

In Canada, an employer can terminate you if they discover that you misrepresented yourself on your resume or in your interview. If your lie is found to be “material” to your employment contract, the employer could even sue you for damages.

Don’t take my word for it. When Coopers and Lybrand discovered that the resume Richard Clark gave them had three fake degrees – BSc, MSc and PhD – he was fired. He tried to fight the dismissal, but he lost his case and The Ontario Court of Appeal ordered him to reimburse the company $47,000 for business lost due to his lies.

When it comes to you and your career, honesty and integrity are paramount. Employers and recruiters need to believe – from the very first contact – that you have credibility. If people don’t trust you, they won’t care to hear about your amazing repertoire of achievements.

Steven D. Levitt co-author of Freakonomics suspects that more than 50 percent of people have “white lies” in their resumes.

Because there are so many resume liars these days, background checks are the norm. One hiring mistake can cost a company dearly because of wasted recruitment time, orientation and training, severance pay, fees to recruitment firms, loss of productivity, incomplete work, and decreased overall morale within the company. So, expect that every employer will have a very good reason to perform the due diligence required before hiring you.

It’s easy to fudge employment dates, change job titles, and mislead people with position descriptions on a resume. However, most recruiters are adept at spotting and uncovering the truth about suspect information.

Educational Credentials

Starting an MBA program can look like completing the program with three little keystrokes. You may think that all you need to do is put the credential next to your name. Wrong! Any simple educational credential verification can discover this lie and you won’t even get your foot in the door.

Job Titles

Forget about “creatively enhancing” your job title. You may have been a manager who did the job of the Vice President. However, it’s not okay to put “Vice President” in your job title. The very first step in a background check is calling your previous employer and asking what your job title was.

Lengthy Career Gaps

No matter how appealing it sounds, don’t adjust your employment dates. If you have faked employment dates, you can expect that most employers will screen you out before you ever get to the second interview – and you may never know why you weren’t selected.

Consulting Jobs

If you cannot authenticate a consulting job to “fill in” a career gap, don’t put it on your resume. Recruiters can easily see through this common lie in our current economy. They will immediately figure out that you either don’t have a job or tried consulting and failed. If you are lucky enough to get an interview, they will surely quiz you about your successes in consulting.

Position Description

It’s fine to talk a bit about the scope of the position you held, but don’t even think about increasing the number of people you supervised, the amount of your budget, or the region that you oversaw. If you cannot substantiate over the top numbers that seem “too good to be true” in this economy, don’t expect a job offer.

Competencies & Qualifications

Exaggerations in connection to your knowledge, competencies, and qualifications are just as contentious. You may come in “talking the big talk” about what you can accomplish for the company, but you’d better be sure you can back everything up when you’re on the job. Imagine suggesting that you can speak French fluently and then being found out in your first meeting that you can’t converse effectively with anyone!

Career Achievements

If you completed some hefty achievements, don’t creatively enhance them or take all the credit unless you were a primary contributor. You might be surprised at how many background-checking companies uncover the truth directly from the mouths of your best references. These companies are not paid to “approve you.” They are paid to find out the truth about you. The best companies come back with detailed reports about inconsistencies in your stories.

Take a good look at your resume today and ensure that it is accurate. Even an honest mistake or misstatement can be a permanent stain on your record. If you do get the job with an inaccurate message, you will always be wondering when the truth will come out.

When it comes to your career, honesty is absolutely the best policy. Graham Management Group can help you to represent yourself authentically and with integrity. If you need help dealing with challenging concerns in your career history or you have a specific question, email me directly.

Thank you for reading my blog! Please email me if you spot any errors in this post.

Post from: Canada's Career Strategist: www.SharonGraham.ca

Resume Lies and Resume Liars

Share/Save

As a vocal advocate for ethics and integrity in our Canadian labour market, I sometimes come across websites offering questionable resume services. Clearly, there are many, very good, highly qualified and certified resume writers worldwide. However, the practices of a few deceitful people can seriously harm the prospects of job seekers, and significantly discredit the complete resume and career services industry.

In this age of technology and the internet, job seekers are becoming more aware of potential dangers of job search scams. Most professionals now know about these dishonest practices:

• Scammers who take money from clients and then directly plagiarise from resume samples posted on the internet by credible and reputable writers.
• Disappointed individuals paying thousands of dollars for resumes that were not reflective of their qualifications only to find that the certification logo on the website is fake.
• Resume services that post fake jobs on job boards just to sell their services to innocent job seekers who apply to the featured position.

Such lack of ethics set job seekers up for failure by wasting their valuable time and money.

In recent days, I’m finding a new, more insidious and intangible concern: online software that allows you to “input your data” and “output a resume.” This type of resume service means to help, but inadvertently hurts job seekers. On the surface, the concept seems quite intriguing. Just plug in some information and the site will compile it into an exceptional resume. However, the program actually outputs misleading information. For example, a plant manager with no budget or finance experience can input his time managing the annual inventory and receive an output of “bookkeeping related experience.” If that manager presents his resume for an interview, he’d fail miserably. He would not be able to supply valid responses to support any bookkeeping experience. Suggesting such leaps in qualifications is both incorrect and misleading. For the poor individuals who succumb to the temptation, it positions them for disappointment when they try to support their claims through “white lies.”

How can you ensure quality resume services? How do you know in advance who to trust? What can you do to reassure yourself that you will receive the outstanding documents that you expect and deserve? Your best defence is due diligence: doing your research, asking the right questions, and getting the promised delivery clearly described in writing.

Do your Research

• Look up outside information on the resume service. Look for the company’s media reviews and published works. Research the writer on LinkedIn and read the endorsements supplied. Then follow the paths to those who endorsed the writer. In other words, learn all you can about whom you may be dealing with in the future.
• Contact the resume service in person, too. If they are hard to connect with, or ask for money before you’ve spoken with a human being and been able to ask your questions, look out! Credible business leaders are happy to spend time giving you the reassurance and information you need.
• Be wary if all you locate is a website filled with accolades. Anyone who would stoop to plagiarism certainly wouldn’t mind providing ‘testimonials’ that are totally bogus. Such individuals may even have copied their entire web content from legitimate competitors.
• Research credentials of resume services directly with the applicable association. For example, if the writer indicates that he or she is a Master Certified Resume Strategist, check out that person’s credentials on Career Professionals of Canada’s professional directory.
• Look up the resume business at the Better Business Bureau. Do what you can to learn whether there have been awards given or grievances made.
• Verify that there is a guarantee that comes with the resume services you will receive. This is not a guarantee of getting a job – because that is ultimately up to your interview performance. It is, however, a guarantee with respect to your satisfaction concerning the quality and content of what you will get.

Ask the right questions

• Connect by email – ask for a free critique of your current resume or a chance to talk about your concerns and situation. If they want money for either, be suspicious!
• Phone and ask questions pertaining to items or content you found on their website. Put them on the spot. Watch for evasive or canned responses that sound like telemarketing.
• Ask for references from those with whom you connect. Due to confidentiality, the references may be limited to redirecting you to their LinkedIn recommendations or testimonials, but it never hurts to ask.
• If the site does not show samples of actual work performed, ask for them. Ask if the samples are published elsewhere. You should be able to assess the material, so that you have an idea of the quality you can expect.
• Speak to friends and relatives about their experiences, and ask them what they liked about their contact. There is nothing quite as reassuring as getting a referral from someone totally delighted with the services and packages provided.

Get it all in writing

• Ask to see it all spelled out. The techniques in which you are coached are commonly the intellectual property of that coach or of the profession in which they are certified. They reflect the expertise of your consultant. Some companies even have their own material – workbooks and presentations – that they share with you prior to the actual consultation. This all has added value for you.
• Ensure that you get editing support on your material. At the other end of the equation, be certain that the contract includes provision to reconnect with a professional. Your resume and other documents that you initially receive should be drafts, not final versions. You should be able to request edits, corrections, or alterations within the first few weeks following receipt of your package. That is your ultimate way of ensuring the content, tone, and wording is authentic to you.
• Recognize that most professionals request upfront payment because you are actually buying custom services that will be created for you. Make your payment in full only after you have a clear description of all that is included in your purchase and fully understand it. When the payment has been processed, you should get a final receipt (hardcopy or electronic) and agreement. It should also include reaffirmation of expectations the professionals may have regarding your participation, collaboration, and commitment to the process.

There are many places you can go to further your research. Career Professionals of Canada is one professional association dedicated to outstanding business ethics. It offers lists of certified career professionals and contact emails for the executives. Please feel free to browse the site to learn more about how it works.

If you have tried other approaches for finding a stellar and highly reliable career business or individual, and have been very pleased with the results, I would love to share those with my readers. Please let me know what worked for you.

Similarly, if you have been disappointed or disillusioned with so-called professional support and have learned from that experience, I would be happy to pass along your sage advice. Together, we will make steps to ensure that more individuals are matched with professional career industry leaders that provide utmost integrity in their performance and delivery of impressive custom documents authentic to every individual client.

Thank you for reading my blog! Please email me if you spot any errors in this post.

Post from: Canada's Career Strategist: www.SharonGraham.ca

Who can you trust in the resume writing industry?

Share/Save

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we observe two minutes of silence for our for our heroes who died in service to Canada.

November 11, 2011 at 11:00am.

The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day.

Post from: Canada's Career Strategist: www.SharonGraham.ca

Commemorate Remembrance Day

Share/Save

In this challenging market, I’ve heard from many executives, managers, and six-figure professionals who are now pursuing opportunities that don’t exactly match their previous job title. In some cases, the individuals were performing more senior activities than their title suggested. In other cases, they were transitioning into a different role for which they were qualified. In either situation, the job titles they previously held were not conducive to selling their expertise in the targeted position.

If you are targeting career opportunities that match your talents, but not your previous job titles, you can honestly and effectively address the disconnect.

Begin with your resume. Recruiters and HR professionals are attracted initially to the top portion of this document. If they don’t spot a title that indicates you are a candidate worth reading about, they will move on.

• Always maintain integrity by stating your actual job titles when you get to the job history portion of your document. There are many other ways to market your value truthfully.
• Introduce yourself with an overarching title that links your talents to the posted title. For instance, imagine that a recruiter is looking for a CFO and you’ve had all the accountabilities of one, but were given a lesser title like “Senior Accountant.” If you were in charge of the leadership, strategies, and budgets, it is perfectly fine to lead the document with a title that reads “Senior Finance Executive.”
• Add to your new title with more specific information. For example, if the role you are targeting includes running the IT department and you have had that responsibility, you might say. “Senior Finance Executive – Technology & Software.”
• Create a secondary description, or tagline if required. If you are seeking a Marketing VP role, you may have called yourself “Marketing Executive.” By offering a tagline or motto such as “Strategic Leadership for Emerging Technologies,” you can help your readers understand that you fit a technology marketing role.  
• Ensure that there is a clear value proposition and brand strategy opener for your resume. The title initiates things, but if you don’t provide a short, compelling description at the outset that reinforces the reader’s requirements in those first few lines, you will rapidly lose their interest in you.
• Customize your resume according to each target. Place your title and tagline in your other documents as well. Ensure your chosen title is supported by descriptions of relevant successes throughout all documents in your complete resume portfolio package.

Next, plan your Job Search introductions. Target the hidden job market. Whether doing this through cold calls, warm calls, or referrals, this is the most successful area in which to pursue your next position. It particularly allows you to introduce yourself with a title that is descriptive of exactly what you have to offer.

• Practice connecting your name and descriptive title with your tagline. Get comfortable using those as the preamble to every introduction. How will your listeners know what you can bring to the table – that others may not – if you don’t share that with them in a concise, clear way?
• Approach all your contacts including organizational leaders, recruiters, and HR managers. Introduce yourself with your name and new descriptive title. Then tell them what you do, using your impressive tagline and value proposition that reinforces your experience and expertise.
• Approach decision makers about posted roles that truly match what you have to offer. Do not discount positions with titles that sound too far-reaching or request formal designations that you do not yet possess. Rather, read the descriptions carefully. If you have the experience that fits to a ‘T’, reflect that in your approach.

Be prepared in your Interviews. Take your now-familiar introduction to the next level.

• When asked to talk about what makes you special, repeat your title, tagline, and value proposition – and then, offer facts and figures that back-up your brand. Ensure that what you describe fits what you know they need – and more.
• Repeat your title and accompanying tagline throughout the meeting. Carefully select when to do so. Consider using them as segues to effective achievement scenarios that answer the questions you are asked.
• Reiterate your reasons for applying to a role where old titles don’t match. Tell your listeners what your job with the lesser title really encompassed. Most interviewers are aware that companies assign internal job titles that fit their needs but don’t begin to cover what the role really entails. You need to remind them of that fact.

It is a mistake to not include a meaningful title in your documents, verbal introductions, and interviews. Vague titles such as “Public Advocate” or “Team Leader” are not helpful, either. Select a title that best describes who you are, honestly portrays your expertise, and serves as a valid reference point from which to launch any conversation. The title change must be authentic and serve as something that offers clarification while educating your readers and listeners.

Have you come across titles that you found particularly misleading or extremely innovative and informative? I am sure our readers would be interested in seeing more ideas to help them along. Conversely, if you have more questions about what to do in your own situation, the GMG team of career experts would be thrilled to develop your fully branded resume portfolio package and help you attain your career transition goals.

Thank you for reading my blog! Please email me if you spot any errors in this post.

Post from: Canada's Career Strategist: www.SharonGraham.ca

What to do when your title does not match the role you want

Share/Save