This week, my friend Kevin D. Turner is my guest. He was actually on my LinkedIn live back in December, but I thought his advice was relevant for all job seekers. 

Here’s what you should know about Kevin:

1. Fortune 50 Sales & Marketing Management to Venture Capital (VP), to Public & Private Turnarounds (CEO & VP), executively leading a Non-Profit 50 internationally into 140 countries (International Director).
2. He’s helped thousands with LinkedIn profile optimizations. 
3. Held Sales, Marketing, and Branding leadership roles with SONY, Stone VC, Thomas Nelson, TurneRRounD, American Teachers, American Heart Association, & TNT Brand Strategist.
4. Director of International Development for the American Heart Association. 
   
   Here are a few of Kevin’s main points: 

• Open to Work and the LinkedIn verification process.
• LinkedIn Recruiting tool and its safety concerns. 
• Impersonations of legitimate career services professionals. 
• Scammers’ use of emerging technology makes fake profiles look legit. 
• LinkedIn, like many sites with jobs, has had data breaches or exposure.

The post Is LinkedIn Safe? What Every Job Seeker Needs to Know Now first appeared on The Voice of Job Seekers.

But that said, you certainly know when you are unemployed. It’s when you have a job, and it pays the bills for the most part, but your talents are worth so much more.

Read Three Signs Underemployment Has Stole Your Soul

Getting out of the underemployment trap requires a shift in mindset. You have to understand your day job as the one that produces a check, and your night job as the search for your truly desired opportunity. It will be hard to manage both tasks at once, but you can’t disengage from either your current job or your job search. Making the most of your time is vital to your success.

Perhaps you’ve already noticed that the job hoppers today tend to be the ones who win spikes in salaries and gain new marketable skills. Millennials and Gen. Z-ers have already figured this out.
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You want a sustainable opportunity where you feel useful and fairly compensated – and you can have it. Just do these eight things to help you leverage your period of underemployment to your advantage:

1. Create Solutions to Build on Over Time

Employers are looking for people who can apply new solutions to their business problems. To compete in the job market, you must be one of these people. The modern job search is not about tricks and tips, but about strategies and your network. Don’t look for jobs; look for opportunities to contribute and create your network. In time, this will lead to the career you want.

Listen to Underemployment Trends: Your MBA or JD alone is not Enough

2. Cultivate Your Voice

Don’t be afraid of positioning yourself as an authority as your network grows. As you gain more experience collaborating with people who are more experienced than you, your voice will increasingly stand out. Learn to speak when expected, listen when it’s unexpected, and master both when they are critical to your brand.

3. Pay the Price

I am not suggesting you take one for the team, nor that you make yourself a martyr. Rather, what I mean is that there will be a cost to you of some kind.

There are no shortcuts to career success, so expect pain, setbacks, and some discomfort as you search for the right job.
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4. Use Your Strengths and Accomplishments as Motivation

Many things will pull you in different directions, but the core of your efforts must always be your desire to optimize your contributions to your industry. Your achievements can serve as daily reminders to motivate you.

5. Surround Yourself With People Who Will Support You

Don’t consider it a weakness to have people to remind you of your mission. All of us need people who can help lift us up when we can’t lift ourselves.

Read 6 Ways to Deposit Value While Under Employed

6. Be Uncomfortable With Comfort During Underemployment

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Persistence means trying different ways to open doors you find closed – or even break them down if need be. Don’t settle or wait for someone else to open the door for you. It will become a way of life, and you’ll pay for it in mediocrity.

7. Reconcile With Yourself 

Underemployment can be quite lonely, even if you’re around others who face the same challenge. You may feel alienated by people who wonder why you’re still “in that job.”

Surround yourself with those who understand what you’re doing. You need to hear the voices who are encouraging, truthful, and patient. Sometimes, there may be no such voices. In those instances, you have to reconcile with and rely on yourself.

8. Master Your Craft

You’re in it for the long haul, not just trying to “break through” to the next job. You should be crafting a body of work that serves as evidence of your value.

Build a network of people with whom you can share ideas and exchange value. Master your craft through constant work.
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Underemployment is not a sentence you are obligated to accept. It is a battle you can win. It is a season of life, and you can weather the storms it brings by proving your uniqueness.

The post 8 Ways to Use Underemployment to Sway Your Employment Opportunities first appeared on The Voice of Job Seekers.

How to Stay Persistent When It’s Hard by Mark Anthony Dyson

Persistence is necessary for success in your job search. Most of the time, you will be uncomfortable asking for the help needed.

No one understands the stress you experience.

When people respond half-heartedly to your request for contact information usually means you’re under-valued.
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Or they’re busy.

Yes, you do risk a perception problem. But it’s unfair to think people are just waiting to serve you. The world doesn’t revolve around you.

That’s why persistence must remain a staple in your arsenal:

1. Show persistence or lose

When the competition is heavy and hot, your creativity will stand out. You’re qualified but forgotten. It’s a terrible combination. That is why the extra step is needed. Make it difficult for employers to say “no.”

Get the guide, The Fortune For Your Career Is, In The Follow-up

2. Show persistence or be forgotten

The value of great conversations often results in being remembered. People will struggle to remember if you are too shy about asking in a persuasive, full-throated manner for help or advice.

3. Persistence inspires and motivates others (most employers expect it)

Yes, people are encouraged by your efforts if you are putting yourself out there. If you’re “helping yourself, ” it motivates others to help too. How bad do you want it?

Read: Saying No Could Give Your Career Life

4. One-time contact is rarely enough

People who see and hear from hundreds of people daily need reminders, and others, persuasion.

Persistence is an investment of time, not always emotion.
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So don’t take it personally if you make several requests to the same person.

Listen: Personal Branding for Baby Boomers with Marc Miller

5. The heart of persistence realizes there is so much to lose

The tactful callback, second phone call, and follow-up email impress interviewers, employers, and recruiters. The key is timing. Although it varies on the medium and the communication, a well-thought-out follow-up until denied (told “no”), you should not be afraid to make sure it wasn’t meant to be.

People are even grateful you asked if follow-up is OK or even necessary. You’ll find many who will say, “Yes. Please follow up by Thursday so that I won’t forget.” It’s humbling to some degree, but it’s needed. Be prepared to ask someone to act in kind twice or three times for one task.

The post How to Stay Persistent When It’s Hard first appeared on The Voice of Job Seekers.

This article is among the most popular on the site. Whenever the economy turns downward, with fewer opportunities, and living costs are much higher.

Well, before we talk about what you should do, we need to diffuse a bomb before it goes off. You will need to deal with the desperate state overflowing from your veins. It will scare everyone you approach. No one likes to talk to an irrational person. When you say, “desperate,” that is what people think. Your reality is you are in a difficult situation where time is of the essence.

The phrase, “I need a job ASAP” is scary. Think before putting it out there.

Companies will not give jobs or even listen to a desperate person. It frightens them and rightfully should. It’s likely you’re overwhelmed but now is the time to overcome it with rationalization. This is a good time to start doing several things to help you focus and conduct a search to achieve quicker results. Unfortunately, most employers are not rushing to hire people.

Write down and carefully consider the following:

Are you clear on the job you want and the company you want to work for? That is the first major obstacle for most job seekers.

Is there a skill you can leverage as an independent contractor?

Is there a job opportunity you passed on applying to because it didn’t seem right? Depending on what “right” is, it may deserve a second look.

Are you signed up with temporary agencies? You should sign up with several. Most pay weekly once you start. Although they will still put you through their hiring process, it is a short term fix.

Do you know any friends who are business owners who can use your skill set?

Have you told most (or all) of your friends and family of your unemployment status? As funny as it seems, people will tell strangers before family. I understand why. If you’re running out of time, then this might be the best rational option.

If you haven’t already, you should be having conversations with people you know who might be in position to refer you or hire you at least temporarily. The caution again is people will bail at the sign of desperation. You can communicate urgency without seemingly irrational.

Dress

Consider dressing business casual wherever you go. This will likely disarm those who don’t usually help anyone. It’s not comfortable during the summer months, but human nature says people  are likely to trust someone who looks ready to work. Casual business is much more pleasant than always dress for the interview. The worse is looking like you just got out of bed and saying, I need a job ASAP. The latter is repulsive at best.

Do the basics

• Here are some quick suggestions, but for more details, you can find articles all over the web for help. I’ll include a few references
• If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, it’s time to complete one. If you’ve completed one, now it’s time to participate in conversations taking place in groups. Spend extra time writing a strategic headline with appropriate keywords.
• Contact companies directly. Meet recruiters and ask questions about positioning yourself better than if they can find you a job (which isn’t their job). There are many articles on the web to help you strategize and execute.
• Set up informational interviews, and shed the desperation in your voice and actions. Go to be informed, not to be picked.
• Ask for introductions to people in the companies you’d like to work for. Offer them value, and likely, they will offer it back in some way. It likely won’t be a referral to their company, but to others who can lead you to good people ready to assist.
• Create opportunities for great conversations everywhere you go without asking for referrals. Relationships get you introductions, information, and keys to successful next steps.
• Look for internship opportunities if you’re graduating soon. It’s not a bad idea to find one for a year. Look for volunteer opportunities to help you hone untested skills and abilities
• Are you a member of professional organizations? If not, are there any you can contact to see if they have any special discounted membership prices? If you’re a recent college graduate, many will give a very low discount or be free for the first year. Join the committees. It’s the way to connect with others who’ve successfully navigated the industry.
• Check locally for businesses looking for someone with your skill set. It’s possible they haven’t posted a position yet, but are willing to hire the right person with a unique skill.
• Try small businesses where the ceiling to learning is greater (especially if they are tech-centered), the relationships are more accessible, and there is a greater chance to build a network with coworkers.

These are a few things you can do. If you have additional questions, let me know.

The post I Need a Job Right Now! I am Desperate! What Should I Do? first appeared on The Voice of Job Seekers.

We acknowledge this as a solid business practice.

The forward pass is nothing. It takes two.

The song, “It Takes Two” by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston would mean nothing if it were only Marvin or Kim.

When it comes to the value of your career, does your spouse or partner complete you at work?  Does he or she inspire you? Do you work hard or him or her?

If you do, how romantic?

If you don’t, I think that’s OK.

Your Spouse, the Value Creator

Unemployment exploits the best and  worse of our character, marriage, and jobs. On this blog, we like to think the best, and add value to your career. I have talked about being transparent before, but the invaluable attribute that transparency bring is that your spouse sees the true you.  More often than not, those words are truthful, painful, and sometimes delightful.

Couples that sustain long and happy unions find  healing from  wisdom lost beneath the screeching or booming delivery. Does our quiet spouse have wisdom behind their banter, or did we marry them to neglect?

Read: 9 Reasons Your Spouse Lost Their Mind When You Lost Your Job

It Takes More Than Finishing Sentences to Add Value to Your Career

I giggle each time a couple talks about their compatibility. My wife used to say when we were single that she was perfect for me because she fits right under my armpit. The common phrase is, “he/she finishes my sentences.” Although silly and cute for that moment, not that it lacks meaning, but I’ve had coworkers who finished my sentences. Maybe I am that obtuse, or spouses know one another. Your sweet-baby-sugar, your boo, can see things resume writers and career coaches don’t see.

Read: Going From Significant Other to Jobless Other, and More Unnecessary Un-Motivational Jabs

Let’s Face It, You’ve Heard It For Years

Your spouse tells you what other people told you. You’re selfish, greedy, angry, insensitive, chauvinistic, self-absorbed, and inconsiderate.  All of what employers can’t stand either. My premise that marriage adds value to a career is… well… old-fashioned. Did past supervisors in the past tell you that you work too independently? Do you take criticism too personally? Shortcomings recur in different ways.

Your spouse was trying to help, even in his or her twisted and self-absorbed way.

For better or worse, richer or poor, your spouse increases your value a whole bunch once you see through lifted toilet seats and smudged makeup. No telling, they might help you impress somebody influential.

The post How Does Marriage Really Add Value to Your Career first appeared on The Voice of Job Seekers.

5 Ways Sentimentality Is Ruining Your Career (2) by Mark Anthony Dyson

I have a Spotify playlist called “Endorphins.” As of today, it contains more than 200 soft-rock love songs/somebody-done-somebody-wrong” songs. These songs take me somewhere pleasant and calming. I’m sure you have a playlist that does the same for you.

Similarly, you may also look back on a previous workplace the same way I look at my playlist. Perhaps you remember an office where you once felt wanted, needed, and even praised. There are good reasons to feel sentimental when someone or something makes you feel valued.

But unlike my playlist, which is harmless, sentimental feelings toward a workplace aren’t always good news for your career. Never should such feelings drive your job search or your career choices.

Many of us are sentimental about our ex-anythings — friends, loved ones, and yes, even jobs. For a period of time, these may have been the best things in our lives.

The company you used to work for might have been the place where you cut your teeth. It was good for you at the time. Maybe now your sentimental feelings have you wondering if you should return as a boomerang employee.

Read 10 Job Search Strategies Beyond The Resume

Has layoff announcement rumors and whisperings got you in your feelings? It’s time to formulate a new but healthier perspective on work.

I hate to tell you this, but the company was never family.
Even if you had a “work spouse,” um, no. Just no.

Companies don’t reward loyalty. It’s arguable if your hard work is acknowledged at your company.

What if your siblings or parents told you they appreciate you 2.5% more than they did last year? Imagine them saying their appreciation for any family member topped out at four percent.

Sobering? It should be. And if you were caught up in any of it, it’s affected your judgment and set your career light-years backward.

Need help determining if sentimentality has infected your career journey?
Consider the five ways it may be harming you:

5 Ways Sentimentality Is Ruining Your Career by Mark Anthony Dyson

1. Sentimentality Distorts Your Perception of Reality

Just because you received several promotions and did some memorable work doesn’t mean the company is still the right place for you. A lot can change.

Instead of relying on fond feelings, check in with your old employer. See what has changed about the organization overall and your former position in particular. Make career decisions based on what the company really is, not on what you remember it to be.

Read How to Create Realistic Expectations During Your Job Search

2. Sentimentality Makes You Confuse Relationships for Results

You’re friendly and hold great conversations. You built great friendships with the people you used to work with.

But did you really accomplish much in that role? Try to write out a clear list of concrete accomplishments to see if the job was really as good for your career as you think it was.

3. Sentimentality Comes and Goes

The feelings you have about that old job may not last, and you should never make career decisions based on what your mood is at a given moment.
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Step back and soberly dissect each aspect of that old job. Did you really love everything about it? Or are you letting sentimentality cloud your judgment again?

4. Sentimentality Doesn’t Account for How Much You’ve Grown

It took me years to swallow something one of my mentors taught me: “Never do your old job.” We’re supposed to outgrow our old positions as we progress. You can’t produce more value for employers if you never move beyond your old job.

Listen to Layoffs? Did Someone Say Layoffs?

5. Sentimentality Hinders Rational Judgment

When we’re facing challenges at work, we have a tendency to romanticize our old jobs — but we probably had problems there, too. Romanticizing rarely helps us understand the situation or address the issues at hand.

Your job search strategy must rely on facts as much as possible.
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I will admit that elements of emotion and faith may enter the equation, but a strategic approach requires a foundation of truth.

—

Relying on the way it used to be is not good intel, and it could misguide you. Instead of letting sentimentality guide your career, try to put yourself in a clear, objective mindset. Make the choices that are best for your professional journey — not the choices that your fickle heart urges you to make.

The post 5 Ways Sentimentality Is Ruining Your Career Today first appeared on The Voice of Job Seekers.

He said, “Great candidates know what they are good at and go into interviews knowing what they like to do, and see if they can understand the company’s challenges, objectives, and goals.”

Then I shared about how I heard someone say many years ago that job seekers should have a consultant mindset. He built my thoughts on this, “…draw information out of the interviewer’s information about the business solutions the company needs. Talk with the interviewer collaboratively, creatively, and constructively.”

Just the way he said it, in such a prescriptive manner, shaped what I had advised when I was a coach, but now, as a career writer with an investigative heart.

Piece by piece, you may think that’s what you do, when all of these most do the contrary. They have been told to embody advertisements about themselves. While that’s not wrong, it’s not the spirit of what companies often want. Job seekers do better when they research and use sharply honed applied knowledge to the company’s specific problem.

One of the last things he said specifically resonated with me and again, shapes my outlook on job interviews, “You be the doctor and let the company be the patient. Don’t be a screaming advertisement.

The post How to Be the Doctor, Not Advertisement For Employers first appeared on The Voice of Job Seekers.

I learned a lot, not realizing how much could happen along the way. As you’ll see in the episode, it’s not just what an employer says about a former employee. I’ve shared notes with you, but hearing them will add much context to my quick talking points. 

Highlights: 

Hiring Process Delays:

– Hiring delays are common and frustrating for candidates.

– Varies by industry; some are highly regulated (e.g., financial services), requiring extensive background checks.

Factors contributing to delays:

  – Industry-specific regulatory requirements

  – Comprehensive background checks (e.g., criminal history)

  – Candidate responsiveness

Role of HR in Hiring:

– HR’s involvement begins after the resume review and initial interview.

– HR checks applications for employment history, education, and criminal records.

– Verification processes may include contacting previous employers and checking licensing databases.

Employment and Background Checks:

– Background checks vary by industry.

– Common checks include employment history, education verification, and criminal background checks.

– Performance issues noted in past employment may be considered but are only sometimes a dealbreaker.

References:

– The importance of references can vary.

– References are only sometimes required in some industries.

– Ideal references include supervisors or peers who can vouch for work ethic and teamwork.

Challenges in the Hiring Process

– Delays obtaining information from external sources (e.g., understaffed courts, previous employers without automated systems).

– Differences in checks for industry-specific roles.

– Potential application discrepancies (e.g., incorrect employment dates) can lead to distrust.

 Social Media and Hiring

– Social media checks are handled separately, not as part of initial background checks.

– The impact of social media presence can be significant if it is negative (e.g., hate speech).

– It is essential to maintain a professional online presence.

Industry Trends and Advice

– Some industries are consistently hiring; consider exploring new fields if you need help finding a job.

– Skills can be transferable across industries.

– Research and understanding of where skills fit can broaden job opportunities.

 Conclusion

– Encouragement to explore different career opportunities.

– Contact Just Lane via LinkedIn for more insights.

– Stay informed about upcoming job-related podcasts and resources.

Here’s the full conversation:

The post The Truth About Background Checks: What Job Seekers Must Know first appeared on The Voice of Job Seekers.

How BRAVE are you? Are you missing the courage to find the career you want? Many job seekers or career-changers don’t need more or better marketing materials (resumes, cover letters, etc.). Most of them need something they already have or is intrinsically available to them. Margie Warrell (@margiewarrell) and I talked about courage 12 years ago. I am republishing the show to inspire you and talk about her book, Brave: 50 Everyday Acts of Courage to Thrive in Work, Love and Life. What does courage mean to you today? I would love to hear what you think.

Here’s how you can let me know:

1. Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822
2. Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message
3. Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Margie Warrell is an international thought leader in human potential who is passionate about empowering people to take braver risks and lead more purpose-driven lives.  She has been featured in leading media outlets such as The Today Show, FOX News, CNBC, Psychology Today, and the Wall Street Journal. She is also a regular contributor on Australia’s ABC News Breakfast and Sunrise.

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

• • “Brave” speaks to our total lives, not just events. Small changes to our lives affect how we live profoundly
  • Think differently, act differently, with who you are
  • We should always challenge ourselves to expand who we are and put ourselves out there to add value—it takes courage
  • Courage is a muscle. It grows with use—act the way we want to feel.
  • People react positively — Our beliefs can limit us or fuel cynicism.
  • Stories around us being the victim will only perpetuate the current status quo.
  • “I’m a great believer in luck. The harder I work, the more I have of it.”
  • Stop looking in a direction you don’t want to go.
  • Obstacles, setbacks, and competition are constant. Find ways to break through.
  • Be careful in the way you explain setbacks. You can chase away potential believers.
  • We speak our fears into existence, and we build our roadblocks to success.
  • Give ourselves permission to make mistakes or sub-optimal decisions and just make a decision. If it doesn’t work, pivot as you go along.
  • Don’t let others “should” on you – be BRAVE! Use your good judgment
    Have you subscribed to this show on iTunes? If you haven’t, please do so. iTunes is a great place to write an honest review to pique the interest of others lurking. Enjoy listening to the show.
    Let me know what you think.

Editor’s note: This episode was first published in 2015. 

The post Be BRAVE! Stop People From Should(ing) on Your Career Now! first appeared on The Voice of Job Seekers.

The clarity of a job seeker saves them, the employer, and any helpful person time and resources. If you’re a job seeker, you will find clarity freeing. It absolves you of having to click every posting and apply for dozens of jobs each month.

The Hyper-focused Job Seeker

Focus is a skill, not just the arbitrage of time. A focused job search heightens discernment, resilience in the face of rejection, and the ability to say no to lame-duck opportunities. You couple it with industry-engaging conversations, talking to those who were like you, found the right opportunity, and learn from their knowledge to avoid snares and pitfalls. This is the value of industry organizations, or at least, fellowshipping with connections and their networks, you gain intel you won’t find on LinkedIn, or kinship from random small groups (The Power of Professional Associations, 2024).  

For years, strategy and decisiveness have yielded what you want, and the company aligns to best mount success. About four years ago, Loren Greiff shared with me on the “#JobSeekerNation” podcast: “It’s not the best candidate that always gets the job, it’s the best job seeker.” This reinforces the core idea: strategy matters more than credentials alone. The best example of where this may fit is that you can’t oven-bake a cake with the same recipe in Florida as you would in Colorado. The difference in sea level makes a big difference in the outcome.

Speaking The Employer’s Language

Using the same generic message with every employer is like using the same pickup line over and over.

This approach rarely leads to meaningful opportunities. In fact, it likely clouds a clear blue sky.

Instead, companies look for genuine engagement and thoughtful communication. Platforms like LinkedIn make it possible to authentically interact with company culture and people, positioning yourself as a credible and admirable candidate. Your value must resonate with employers.

It’s not just having numbers on your resume that will impress an employer. How well can you explain the map to get results? Employers want to see step-by-step actions that made project goals attainable.  Furthermore, clearly explaining the project’s strengths and weaknesses is a plus, demonstrating your understanding of how your steps affected cost and time.

Make your efforts genuine and valuable: research the company, refer to specific challenges or successes in your message, and always demonstrate how your skills can address their needs.

Own Your Career.

This is action, not just a mindset. Do you talk about your results as your own, or just play a part? Taking credit is fine, but truly owning your work lets you discuss actions. Show critical thinking and problem-solving by sharing examples. As much as possible, put yourself in their shoes or hypothetically sit next to the interviewer as if they were a coworker, so they can imagine you solving the problem together.

Fully owning both good and bad outcomes reflects a consultant mindset. Throughout the years, I have emphasized this approach.

Instead of aimlessly applying or asking vague questions, set aside time to identify your target jobs and industries. Develop tailored questions and track your actions so employers can clearly see your value.

The post These Three Things Can Turn Around Your Job Search Now first appeared on The Voice of Job Seekers.