“The Internet?  We are not interested in it.” – Bill Gates, 1993

In 1989, we purchased our first home computer. It was around $1800 and even more if we added an item the salesman assured us we couldn’t live without… a 10 megabyte hard disk! (Yes I said 10 meg). Hubby was all for it. “It will be so much easier” he said. “You can save your documents on the hard drive.”

I couldn’t see the point. I was saving all my documents to the five-and-a-quarter-inch floppy disk already!

This you-beaut 10 megabyte hard drive seemed to be a no brainer for hubby, so with a cavalier attitude we handed over the extra cash as if were supremely wealthy and became co-owners of a brand new computer with monochrome monitor and a hard drive.

You may wonder why I’m telling you this story (other than to reinforce my fossil-like age) and what on earth it has to do with networking using social media. Well, it illustrates a point. New ideas and concepts aren’t always “just a fad”. Often they evolve and grow and change the world. Where would I be today if I had resolutely determined to keep that machine without a hard drive? Or if I’d never tried to use an ATM? I would have been forced to move with the times at some point, but how much learning would I have had to do to catch up? And how far behind everyone else would I have been?

That’s what reticence to embrace new ideas can do, and it’s a real problem for jobseekers who fail to adopt the concept of networking as a real and important aspect of the job search today.

“I see little commercial potential for the Internet for at least ten years.” – Bill Gates, 1994

Which brings me (as you knew it eventually would) to networking, social media and the job market. There are many people who are standing still, spurning the concept of networking and social media and dismissing it all as just a fad. Lack of foresight into what is happening around them still sees people pour over the newspaper classifieds in the weekend edition, circle jobs that appeal to them and follow the instructions given to send in a resume or call a specific number on the Monday morning. They’re miserable when no-one calls and they scratch their heads in amazement.

But things have changed.

Why? Because today, people and jobs aren’t clear cut as they used to be. Not by a long shot. Today a University graduate could have six years of management experience in a fast-food chain; she could operate an e-Bay store successfully, be a sought-after blogger, or have built a personal brand in any number of disciplines on the ‘net. A person like this needs more than the conservative, traditional approach or will never be seen for the multiskilled individual she is. Gone are the days of being a secretary for life with a narrow set of skills. Today is about adaptability, flexibility and multiple income streams and as jobseekers have embraced a range of skills and experience, the methods by which they need to get noticed have had to change too. The traditional ways will simply not work as they have in the past and this is where networking and social media has been a boon to jobseekers.

“The problem of viruses is temporary and will be solved in two years.” – John McAfee, 1988

Today it’s all about relationships; getting known, being liked, and receiving recommendations. Networking via social media using sites such as Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook can provide you with unprecedented insight into companies, what they do, how good they are to work for, and can give you access to decision-makers. Far from being one of the herd of people who Lemming-like send their resumes to the email address in the advertisement, you could have found out the job specifications weeks before the job was advertised and at the very least, tweaked your resume and cover letter to show the perfect synergy between what they want, and what you’re offering.

The important thing about networking, whether using social media or not, is that relationships take time.

Building trust takes time.

Perhaps you’ll recall a scene from the movie “GroundHog Day” where the main character Phil Connors (played by Bill Murray) having experienced the same day over-and-over again is impatient to speed up his relationship with love interest, Rita. His manic approach to building the relationship in fast-forward scares her and she backs off feeling overwhelmed and afraid. That’s what happens with networking when you approach it from the perspective that you want someone to do something for you or give you something. Just because you’re using technology to communicate, doesn’t mean relationships are established any quicker than they would be in the workplace or in your neighbourhood.

Networking via social media is no quick fix to your joblessness, but instead is a continually evolving and growing set of relationships that in time, can provide you with information you need to be more competitive, or to be found through the “brand” you have established with decision-makers.

By all means, if you feel comfortable going the traditional route such as newspapers, job boards, SEEK and more, then continue to do so but step outside your comfort zone and add the networking component as part of your tool kit. Why stand still when a new experience is waiting? A chat with friends over coffee, a call to an employer or connecting via social media, are experiences that are free, fun, and may just open up new doors for you. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re naturally shy as social media allows you to be “out there” without physically having to do so (at least for a while).

Don’t be the guy contemplating the need for a hard drive or you’ll be trying to play catch-up when the traditional way disappears forever.

Interacting with other humans isn’t just a fad. It’s LIFE.

I’m thrilled to be a member of the Career Collective, a group of professionals providing themed blogs on a range of job search and career issues every month. This month’s topic is networking tips and techniques.  Please visit my colleagues’ links below to learn more of this interesting subject and check Twitter #careercollective to find out more.

• 5 Little Secrets About Networking, @Careersherpa
• Networking: Easy as 1, 2 , 3, @WorkWithIllness
• How to Take the Intimidation Out of Networking, @heathermundell
• Networking for the Shy and Introverted, @KatCareerGal
• A tale of two networkers, @DawnBugni
• Introvert or Extrovert: Tips for the Job Search No Matter Which ‘Vert’ You Are, @erinkennedycprw
• Networking for Job Candidates Who Hate Networking, @heatherhuhman
• Networking? Ugh! @resumeservice
• Network, Network, Network, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes
• 3 ways to make networking fun for introverts and extroverts, @Keppie_Careers
• Grow Your Career Networking Seeds Organically, @ValueIntoWords
• Networking: It’s a Way of Life, @WalterAkana
• Social Media Networking & Your Career, @GayleHoward
• Networking for the Networking-Phobic, @JobHuntOrg

Careers can evolve and progress over decades or they can move rapidly—prompted by life-changing circumstances such as retrenchment, a personal revelation, or the ill-health of a family member. If change is being forced upon you or you have decided to take the plunge and follow your “bliss” be prepared to become more agile—in your thinking, in the way you approach your job search, revamp your resume and in how you present yourself to others.

Meet Erica. Erica has been a team manager in customer service for years. Her leadership role grew from being a call centre operator and over time she has moved into management roles. Six months ago Erica was sent on a training course by the company to learn more about safety awareness. The aim was to cascade the information she had acquired to her team so they understood about the importance of safety. To most people, a training course is just another workplace obligation, but for Erica, this one was a revelation. The more she heard about safety, its impact on morale and staff wellbeing and how to identify workplace hazards, the more her interest soared. For the first time in years, Erica was excited about going to work as each day held the promise of something new.

Such was her passion and success over those six months, the spark of an idea began to form. Could a change of career as a Safety Advisor or Consultant become a possibility? Erica was excited but concerned. With a background in customer service and team leadership and just six months in safety, how could she convince people she was a viable candidate?

Meet John. John is a senior manager in training and development. Last year he accepted a redundancy from a multinational vehicle manufacturer and struggled through the multitude of emotions that unexpected change can trigger. John emerged from the experience bruised, but ready to fight another day. He scored another role and settled in well until last week when the company announced more than 300 staff would be made redundant nationwide. John was one them.

Two redundancies in two years and John is reeling. He spends the week analysing his talents and thinking about his future. The emotional strain of another big company and another potential redundancy is something he can’t even contemplate.

An idea pops into his head. Real Estate! He’s personable and friendly and every weekend he scours the real estate pages in the newspaper to keep an eye on the prices in his suburb, what sells and recent auctions. The more he thinks about it, he sees how a change of career could be a blessing and his enthusiasm grows as he researches the training and licences he needs to achieve his goal. A nagging voice within makes him doubt how success will be possible. He’s never sold anything, let alone a house! How does he convince others he has what it takes?

Erica and John have the same problem. Convincing decision makers of why they should be chosen in favour of other candidates who most likely have a great deal more experience is tricky. Ultimate success requires perseverance, an abundance of conviction and self-belief, outside-the-box thinking, an agile mindset, and the ability to focus on the future with barely a glance to the past.

First the resume. The resume is the logical place to start as it will be the document that most employers will ask for in response to job applications or networking. Writing a resume for a career changer means the jobseeker has to be utterly ruthless about culling information from his or her past and be prepared to erase job descriptions and some achievements entirely if they hold no relevance to the future goal. It means to analyse tasks and skills from a career lifetime and capitalise on the skills shared by both.

At the end of the process, the resume must look as if it is written for and by a candidate who is qualified solely for the desired position. Obscuring the vision with irrelevant information is to make your presentation confusing to the person who is reading it.

Make no mistake. This can be a gruelling task and it can be surprisingly upsetting to let go of achievements or information that you hold close to your heart. Many people choose professional resume writers and branding strategists as objective experts who know the process inside-out. If this is not an option due to financial, personal or time constraints, then start by listing your transferable skills and under each skill compose an achievement from your past that aligns with your future. This is how you begin to create a new story for yourself.

Next, who do you know? Who can help you get noticed? Career changers who apply for jobs by traditional means such as newspaper classifieds or on job boards such as Seek.com are often doomed due to the sheer numbers of qualified, experienced candidates in their fields who use these channels. Networking is the single most effective strategy for career changers to get seen by a company through recommendation of an existing employee who can vouch for your fit with the organisation.

Who can you have a coffee with, find out about the industry, get insights into the way things are done, and who can get you before decision makers? You can try sites such as Linked-in or even Facebook to reconnect with people who can give you a leg up.

Social Networking. Social networking such as Twitter and Facebook may be something new to you and you may feel a little uncomfortable in embracing these tools. However changing your career is all about stepping outside your comfort zone so take the plunge wholeheartedly. There are professionals, particularly on Twitter right now who work in the job you want, are in the industry you want to enter, or who place candidates into your desired field. Learn the ropes of how to do it, the etiquette of participating in public forums, search for the right people to follow, initiate contact, make friends and once you have done that, ask questions. People are always there to help and provide guidance. Never, ever forget who you are, the image you are building and what you are trying to achieve. Statements that are rude, off-colour jokes and more will all combine to build a picture of who you are and how you will be assessed. Think to yourself “Would this affect my relationship with my new employer?” before you act.

Social networking isn’t just microblogging on Twitter, adding connections on Linkedin or joining friends on Facebook. It is all about building a network and getting known. Try searching for blogs and articles on your area of interest. If you have a constructive or interesting comment to make or information to add, comment at the conclusion of the article. Anyone searching for your name will find a consistent pattern of an individual passionate about your new field.

Create your own blog or resume website. Many sites are free such as Blogger or you can look at VisualCV. Your blog will provide you with a forum to talk about what you know and establish your credentials as an expert. Place your blog address on your resume too. When recruiters or employers search for your name, your blog will add to your personal brand. Again, make this a professional blog. No bad language, no pictures of your cat or your cute baby (no matter how proud you are!)

Changing careers can be an exciting, roller coaster ride of triumphs and disappointments. But if you look at it, not just as a change of career but as an opportunity to do and try many things you have never tried before, then it can be a whole new world of experiences, opportunities and lifestyle.

Question is: are you up for it?

For all the criticism Job Search Consultants receive from frustrated job seekers (and believe me, they get a lot of criticism!), there are two sides to every story. Talk to the average recruiter and you’ll find that many jobseekers aren’t exactly beyond reproach in their dealings either.

This week I called for “pet peeves” from job search consultants and received some interesting responses. In the effort to broker improved jobseeker/consultant relations, I’ll share them with you now.

Telephone Stalking. Says one consultant, “Too many calls to check status” can be embarrassing and annoying. “If I have news, I’ll be calling you and if I do not have news, then ‘phone stalking’ doesn’t help either of us!”

Prolonged Telephone Calls: A close cousin to telephone stalking, “The prolonged telephone calls where the jobseeker thinks that the longer he keeps you on the telephone the more inclined you are to be won over is just an exercise in futility”. Recruiters know what they are looking for, whether it is a certain industry background, job title or skill set and are not going to advance a jobseeker’s candidacy for a role for which he’s unqualified. Keeping consultants on the telephone fishing for information and desperately attempting to draw a tenuous line between the job and your skill set fails to win over anyone.

Unsuccessful Candidates Requesting “Why”? Jobseekers who fail to get a job are often confused and angry, particularly when they believe they ticked all the boxes for the job (at least in their own minds). It’s not surprising that they’d like to know why. As much as the Job Search Consultant would love to give that feedback, it is not possible. The fact is the employer is their client and is entitled to give and receive information with the expectation of privacy. Pushing the consultant further just becomes a frustrating and embarrassing interaction.

Resume Edits: Surprisingly, resumes didn’t rate all that highly on the list of recruiters’ pet peeves, but failing to remove mark-ups from the resume is cited as “terrible” by one consultant. “There is nothing worse than looking at red and blue edits and cross-outs and even worse, comments from friends who have reviewed or proofed your resume” one said. Jobseekers, take note! Turn off tracked-edits, click on “Accept all Changes” on the review toolbar and then save the document before emailing.

It’s all in the attitude: “I’ve had jobseekers give me attitude, such as rolling their eyes at the mention of pre-employment testing” says one consultant. Jobseekers, while this may be of immense annoyance to you, try to keep your poker face. The consultant is the conduit by which the employer communicates. If pre-employment testing has been offered, you are one step further in the process. Remember, decision makers are watching! (This also goes for those who state “I don’t fill in forms… those are for lower level positions”).

Academic Entitlement: Jobseekers with an air of superiority surrounding their academic background, add fuel to the fire of condemnation for many consultants. “You do know I have an MBA don’t you?” is not a interview-winning statement or a compelling business case. Having a Ph.D or an MBA makes you no more qualified than any other candidate as you will not be chosen solely on the basis of having these qualifications. It is how you apply what you know, the results you achieve and your leadership capabilities that will lead to your ultimate success in scoring a job offer. Demonstrating an air of entitlement and superiority means you failed the core part of leadership: communicating effectively.

Location Differences: No Explanations “If there is one thing that grates”, says one recruiter, “Is when out-of-state applicants don’t address the issue of location in their cover letters. “I want to know why someone in one state, has applied for a job in another. Telecommuting? Relocating? What’s the plan?” If you make job search consultants decide, they may come up with the wrong scenario and you may be discounted from the race for the job.

Jobseekers and recruiters. It’s a relationship where one can’t survive without the other and while it may not be a love match, professionalism and courtesy for each other is the very least each party can bring to the table.

Many  jobseekers take worrying to a whole new level until they become obsessive about the impression they will make at interview. They fear they are not dressed appropriately, that sweaty palms will be a deal breaker when they shake hands, or that they will be found to be inadequate in some way. They talk themselves into a lather of “what ifs”. What if I stutter when I’m talking? What if I say something dumb? What if I cannot answer the interviewer’s questions?

Wanting to do your best and showcase your skills is natural. Excessive and unnecessary concern about things that may never happen is not.

I’m not going to add myself to the chorus of friends and family who think that all you need is to apply positive self-talk.

Instead I’m going to equip you with some action steps. Actions that once you’ve followed them, you will be able to breathe a big sigh of relief knowing that you have done everything possible to address the areas causing you the most concern.

• Eliminate perfumes and aftershave: Fear will make you sweat and get overheated and if you are wearing too much scent, you will be give off the odour of a walking bordello. This in turn will make you self-conscious that you may be offending your interviewer. You can eliminate all of that unnecessary angst and just put on some nice clean clothes and deodorant.
• Wear clothes that make you feel good. For women, if you try on a dress that you feel is a little snug around the hips, or that rides up as you walk from static electricity, it will be all you will think about all day and it will make you self-conscious. Men, if you choose a shirt or suit on the tight side then you will be constantly uncomfortable. Spare yourself the distraction of adjusting your clothes by choosing your wardrobe for the day carefully and considering the right accessories and apparel.
• Sweaty palms. Unless you have a medical condition that needs treatment you are probably just fine. But if sweaty palms is a problem for you, place a cotton face towel in your briefcase or handbag. While you’re waiting to be called you can give your hands a quick wipe while pretending to look for something. Often the use of alcohol-based hand cleaners will help too and some people even use unscented antiperspirants made especially for hands and feet. If you can conquer the fear, that’s half the battle.
• Appearing Stupid: Preparation is the key here. You will not sound stupid by being at a loss for something to say, as long as you have prepared for the discussion. Of course there is no way you can rehearse parrot-fashion answers to what people may ask you, but you can have an intimate knowledge of what is in your resume, and you can think long and hard about your experience and how your contributions have made made money, saved money, boosted productivity or just made it a better place to be. If you are prepared, if you know what you’re offering and can refer to your resume as a prompter, the chances of looking like a fish with no sound coming out is greatly reduced.
• Stuttering Most of us stutter from time-to-time and it is frequently made worse by stress. The best you can do is take a big breath, grin and start again.

Interviewers are not there to tear you down; they’re not there to find fault and embarrass you. They want you to be a good fit for the job so they can move on too! Above all they want to know you and what you are offering. Allowing yourself to get sidetracked by your fears is nothing but a distraction for both sides.

So follow these action steps and then relax and get ready. I think they’re calling your name now!

Good luck!

Communicating achievements is cited as one of the key issues jobseekers consider a real challenge.

Some people are reluctant to be frank about what they do well; they feel squeamish about recounting tales of how they distinguished themselves against their peers and consider it bragging (and we all know that nobody likes an show-off!)

As a result, people tend to talk in generalities to take the focus off themselves. They pepper their responses with words like “we”,”our” and “the team”. They think that by communicating in this manner that they will appear modest and a team player.

In fact what they have done is obfuscate the truth and make communications unclear. This can hurt a jobseeker’s candidacy for a job where clear communications not self-effacing statements rate highly on most employer’s wish lists.

The jobseeker, in trying to give credit to everyone from the receptionist to the CEO, actually gives nothing away about himself and in doing so, has raised a red flag about his candidacy. Is he camouflaging his true involvement because he actually let “the team” do everything? It wouldn’t be the first job search consultant who would mistrust the “we” defence for apathy!

I’m not advocating jobseekers claim ownership of something that isn’t theirs. For instance, asserting that you “Successfully built the world’s tallest building which was delivered on time and on budget” is quite a stretch if you were the receptionist who photocopied plans for the architect!

In fact, using this same scenario, thousands of people who would be involved in the design and construction of this building could claim the success as their own.

So this is what I’m saying: claiming success for something that isn’t yours to claim will make you sound like you are big noting yourself and it won’t be true.

Instead talk about your part in the team or project. You won’t sound immodest, you won’t be bragging about saving the world, and you will allow the people evaluating your skills and abilities to gain insight into you and what you do well.

Here is an example:

“I was fortunate enough to work on the design team that created the world’s tallest building. My role in the team was to research engineering that has been done in the past and see whether we could use any of these methods to achieve optimum building stability. I was given six weeks to complete this research and during this time I uncovered a new, yet little known technology that would be perfect for the type of building materials and geological layout that we needed to observe. I delivered my contribution to the team ahead of the six week deadline and I was pleased to see that my recommendations were adopted by the Chief Architect.”

Clearly this is not bragging, this is not claiming a world achievement and it is truthful. It communicates the role, the expectations of the task and what was delivered. This example would speak volumes to a decision maker who is looking for clear insights into a potential candidate’s work performance.

When a person is hiring you, it doesn’t matter what the team did or how successful the team was. What matters is what part you played in that team and what you contributed that made a difference.

It is right to claim what is yours.

Let “the team” take care of themselves.

Meet Linda.

Seemingly out of the blue, Linda was retrenched. Just last year she was given a bonus and now she’s packing her desk. Linda’s angry, hurt and confused. She analyses every conversation and comes to the conclusion she was, without a doubt, badly done by.

As she talks to friends and former colleagues about her retrenchment, her voice takes on an angry tone and bitterness creeps into the way she cynically refers to management’s role in her position’s demise. They were shortsighted; how sorry they will be when they realise only she understands a certain task, and it will only be a matter of time before management acknowledges the error that has been made. Friends are uncomfortable; it becomes a little hard to talk to Linda as she is consumed with proving her innocence and making a case (if only to them) for how she was wronged.

At interviews, job search consultants are concerned. Red flags are raised when they observe Linda’s responses to their questions about her former job. Linda appears hard, her smile forced; there is no mistaking the anger within her rankles. It’s not so much what she says; it’s the way she holds herself, the way her attitude barely disguises the resentment and indignation she feels when recounting her achievements, and how the level of zeal and commitment for this new job opportunity is missing.

Meet Fred.

Fred is a stand-up guy. He’s intelligent and his ethics are sound. After witnessing a prolonged period of questionable behaviour at his workplace, he decides to blow the whistle on the perpetrators. His reward for caring so much is dismissal; he’s rocked the boat, cannot prove his assertions and he’s given his marching papers. Questions are raised about his work performance which to now has been considered exemplary.

Fred is livid. He writes letters to the Managing Director calling for a reversal of the decision to let him go. He cites further breaches of behaviour he has witnessed during his employment and demands to be reinstated. He devotes hours searching the internet, looking for “dirt” on the supervisor who he believes encouraged the breaches in behaviour and who was undoubtedly involved in the decision to terminate his services. Fred creates a blog where he invites other whistle-blowers to contribute.

Stop the insanity!

Linda and Fred are both focusing on the past and actively sabotaging their potential to move forward.

You don’t need to agree with it

The key for Linda is to understand and come to terms with what has happened. She can do this by seeking an audience with her manager, supervisor or human resources department to find out why and on what basis this decision was made if it has not been made clear. Linda will not agree with the decision or any of the explanations. That’s fine. Linda does not need to agree with it, she just needs to understand it happened.

Now Linda has been given an explanation, she needs to let go. First on the list to the way forward is acknowledging that this has happened to her. Second, is to comprehend that this one experience does not set the scene for the next and all others to come because not all employers are the same and to think they are is to be in a perpetual state of mistrust. To invite this jaundiced view of the world by allowing negativity, suspicion and acrimony to define who she is and how she communicates, is to repel potential employers and damage any chance she is given to move forward and make a new beginning.

Look to the future, not to the past

Fred is devoting hundreds of hours shoring up support to validate his actions in his own mind. He is not only stuck in the past, he’s revelling in it. Instead of letters of demand for reinstatement, he could be brushing up his resume, writing a cover letter, identifying who in his network can help him secure employment and calling recruiting firms. Instead of taking the time to establish his brand as the ‘wronged party’ through his whistle-blower website and moderating the acidic contributions of the like-minded, he could be investing in a training course, learning a new, in-demand skill, or taking on temporary assignments as a contractor to create something new and positive in his life.

Bad things happen to good people
It’s a fact. Bad things happen to good people. In fact, in the scheme of things very few people are dismissed for flagrant breaches of the rules such a stealing or violence. People are terminated for a range of reasons that have little to do with work performance—and everything to do with how individuals fit into a pre-determined structure. Accepting that and looking to the future is where you begin.

Regardless of how unfairly you were treated or how wrong the decision was, investing one more minute in being indignant and outraged is from this point on, an act of self-sabotage. The power of that decision has transitioned to your hands. Do you let it define you, do you want to be right regardless, or do you make it become the catalyst that spurs you on to the next and greater opportunity?

The decision on what to do next, is yours.

A #Careercollective article.

As the wind howls down the cold city streets reminding you of the folly of not wearing fleecy undergarments, you can always count on your humorous friend to cheerfully remark “Is it cold enough for you?” as you take refuge inside the warm coffee shop where you’re meeting for a spot of networking.

Yes, winter is a miserable, bone-aching and often depressing time and it is tempting to place your job search on hold, snuggle up on the couch with a DVD and think about getting a job another day.

Tempting yes, good practice? No.

Winter in Australia is an excellent time to kick start your job search. The business sector is working solidly without distractions, post-summer jobseekers are too busy to be disgruntled, and fewer decision makers are on extended vacation.

How can you heat up your job search and make winter a season that works for you? Here are five ways that you can keep up your momentum to ensure you are the hot candidate.

1. Telephone people in your network. Ah yes the telephone; a communication device that will allow you to avoid (at least for a while) venturing outside. Think of at least one person to call every day to advise that you’re back on the market and ask if he or she will keep an ear out for you.

2. Freshen up your resume. How long have you been adding new information to an old format? Years perhaps? Use your rainy day to research samples of how resumes are presented now or better still, to research professional resume writers to do the job for you. In preparation, rediscover performance reviews, testimonials, job descriptions and emails that will prompt you to remember some great examples of your achievements.

3. Establish or revamp your Linked-in Profile. Is it up-to-date? Does it indicate to someone searching for a professional with your skills that you are available? Linkedin is used by recruiters as a tool to seek potential candidates. Make sure they can find you easily.

4. Get in the right mindset. Winter can have a negative effect on many people; depression and inertia being just two byproducts of enduring endlessly grey days. For many, it is hard to ramp up enthusiasm and it will show in all your interactions. Consider a job search coach who will keep you accountable to your goals and be your partner in success. Start researching the type of service and people who can provide this service to you. Preparing yourself to last the distance in a job search, particularly in the winter months, can be just as an important tool as your resume or network.

5. Develop your job search plan. What type of job do you want? What industry? Who will you report to? What recruiting firms are you planning to contact? What salary are you seeking? What are your main obstacles to being successful that you can see? What action can you take to lessen those risks? What companies do you want to work for? Who should you contact? What are you offering that is more attractive than your competitors? Take your time to work on this seriously. Everything worth doing is worth planning for.

Following these five action tasks will heat up your job search and keep you occupied on those rainy day weekends. The ground work you put in now will yield a good crop of opportunities ripe for the picking come Spring!

I am a member of the Career Collective. A group of experienced career professionals who blog on specific topics every month. Look for our posts on Twitter #careercollective. Meantime, check out other member articles on this topic below.

Turn Off The Computer, Tune Into What’s Happening, & Heat Up the Job Search, @chandlee

Heating up the Job Search-How to Stay Motivated During the Summer, @erinkennedycprw

Light the Fire Under Your Feet, @careersherpa

Cool Job Seekers Heat Up Their Search in the Summer, @barbarasafani

Some assembly required, @DawnBugni

Summertime, Sluggish Economy Provide Strong Motivation for an Updated Resume, @KatCareerGal

9 Ways to Heat Up Your Job Search This Summer, @heatherhuhman

Getting Out From Under Chronic, @WorkWithIllness

Upping Your Job Search Flame; Be ‘Needed, Not Needy,‘ @ValueIntoWords

Is Your Career Trapped in the Matrix? @WalterAkana

Put some sizzle in your job hunt – how to find a job now, @keppie_careers

Summertime – and the Job Search Ain’t Easy, @KCCareerCoach

Hot Tips for a Summer Job Search, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes

Heat Up Your Job Search: Avoid Job Boards, @JobHuntOrg

Heating Up Your Job Searching Skills: Networking 101 and 102, @GLHoffman

Treasure Hunt—Yo-ho-ho! Heat Up Your Job Search, @resumeservic

There are two ways to stand out in a crowd as far as resumes are concerned.

There’s the good way: This is the resume that is perfectly formatted in a contemporary, sharp, sophisticated design that showcases your skills and experience as an unbeatable candidate who blitzes the competition and begs to be snapped up.

Then there’s the bad way. There are many ways you can fail to impress but today we’ll look at the personal photograph. You see, including your image in your resume can be bad. Very bad.

It’s a painful fact. Very few of us look like George Clooney or Angelina Jolie (much to our collective regret I’m sure). And frankly while I can’t speak for George and Angie, I’d imagine that they’d probably prefer to think of themselves as talented and hard working rather than just good looking.

But I digress. Let’s explore the top three reasons you should remove your photograph from your resume. (Excuse me… please? Drag your eyes away from the pretty folk for a moment!)

1. It’s not important. If you have read my book or my previous articles on resume development, you would know that the most important information you want to convey to your reader is situated on the first page. Your best pitch, your greatest achievements, your most compelling value propositions are placed on that page. Does this then mean that one of the most important things you want to convey to your employer is your face? That’s it? That’s what you’re offering? Don’t you think that sounds just a little ego-trippy?

2. You failed to go the extra mile and do it properly and you’re instead conveying a slapdash, it’s-good-enough attitude. Most candidates don’t have their pictures taken professionally so if you’re not going to do it properly, just don’t do it at all. You know the type of photo I mean. The type where the executive dons his high-quality suit with the suave, sophisticated air of the entitled, a slight smile hovering on his lips indicating the untold secrets he holds for making an indecent profit. The type of photo where his hands rest lightly on the rich wood of the oak desk, cufflinks catching the light and gleaming with self-satisfied approval. Instead, what we usually are faced with is a poorly lit digital pic snapped in the kitchen just before a wedding; a dubious vision in an ill-fitting suit, gardenia in lapel, sweat on brow, and a box of Rice Crispies adorning the laminated countertop behind. A picture like this is not going to create recruiter excitement, that’s for sure. Or maybe you’re using the picture taken last summer where you are lounging by the pool, beer in hand. You sure look relaxed; like you never want to work another day in your life. Wait…is that a good thing to sell?

3. Plain old human prejudice. Your photo on your resume invites people to show prejudice against you. Why give the resume reviewer the ammunition to reject your candidacy before he or she even gets to see and speak to you? What if your eyebrows are too thick and bushy and the perceived “perfect” candidate doesn’t look that way? What if you look like the interviewer’s Uncle Jack or Aunty Mary who made Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters look like good samaritans? As much as we don’t like it and it’s not fair, people do have strong reactions to photos and it is an act of self sabotage (or sheer egocentricity) to invite critical scrutiny of the way you look before you ever get a chance to demonstrate your talents and expect a happy ending. Your candidacy could be rejected due to looks, age, religion, nationality or skin type and you’ll never even know it because you didn’t even get an interview. How is that fair to you?

You want to be selected on the skills and experience you offer and not allow people to objectify you in any way. A resume is not a social networking tool and you’re not building relationships here.

It’s a marketing document that sells the very best you have to offer.

Surely you are selling more than just a pretty face?

References can be your greatest asset; they can cite times when you rose to the occasion such as when you solved problems threatening a high-profile project, were sensitive to the fears of staff during organisational change, or when the perfect solution you executed made lost documentation a distant memory.

Your references provide the insight into your character, personality, problem-solving abilities and integrity; they can sway decision makers and advance your candidacy.

References can also stop your candidacy for the job of your dreams in its tracks. The same people who have been there for your greatest achievements, have often seen the skeletons in the closet too, and if they are nervous or unfocused, may end up being the saboteur rather than champion.

In many cases, reference sabotage is an unintended consequence of enthusiasm and nervousness; people want to do well, appear friendly and reveal your most endearing qualities and performance examples. Others still may take the responsibility of providing testimonials very seriously and intend to provide a completely balanced view of you —warts ’n all!

To weed the champions from the saboteurs you need to do some preparatory work:

• Intiate contact. This will reveal how many people have changed telephone numbers or are no longer at the workplace. By finding this out and tracking down the person’s new contact details you have earned “brownie points” by saving the decision maker from a frustrating, time-consuming task.
• Ask if you can meet, or if the reference has time for a chat. Describe the job for which you’re being shortlisted and how you hope he or she will respond. Be clear about what the employer is looking for and provide your reference with a verbal nudge of your achievements. Say things like “Remember when we worked together on the ABC project? I’m not sure if you remember, but if you recall, it was me that came up with that solution…”
• Ask if your reference is keen to speak on your behalf. You have assumed the individual is a good choice, but perhaps you have made an incorrect assumption. Listen to his or her tone. Do you note a certain reluctance? If so, continue to be friendly and chatty and remove that name from your reference list at the first chance. This reference is an unknown quantity and one whom you cannot place your complete confidence.
• Ask your reference if he or she has any concerns about questions that may be asked for which there may not be a positive response. Continue to be open and friendly, show gratitude and express thanks. Then remove that name from your reference list. If the person can immediately come up with a negative example, this may not bode well for your candidacy.

Placing faith that your references will do the right thing by you, is like closing your eyes and jumping into the water below.

You cannot control everything and you can’t stop people saying the wrong thing… but a small amount of effort expended on your part may be able to separate the champions from the saboteurs.

Isn’t your dream job worth spending a few moments to find out?

Dave the job seeker assured me he had prepared this elevator pitch.

“Okay!” I said, “Hit me with it”.

He began.

“I was born in 1969 in Melbourne Australia” he started. I went to school at Box Hill South Primary School until I was 12 or so, and then I became a student at Box Hill High School.”

His story continued…

….“So my first job was at fifteen where I joined as a rookie journalist and then I….”

and so it went. On and on and on.

15 minutes later he drew to a close and looked at me proudly.

“That’s it?” I smiled.

“Well”, he admitted “I’ve cut it down a bit for you because you know me”.

If this was an elevator pitch it would have to be one very slow elevator or the world’s tallest building!

As a person on the job hunt, you’ve probably come across the phrase “Elevator Pitch” and wondered what it means and whether you should have one. Briefly, an elevator pitch is a short, yet compelling statement of introduction that you can communicate in the time it takes for an elevator to get to the floor of choice. (And yes, you should have one).

Very few people may find themselves in the happy position of sharing a short journey with a top-level decision maker, but most of you will have an interview at some time in your career. It will be important to know what to say and how to break the ice, especially when you’re asked the time-honoured question, “Tell me about yourself.”

WRONG: I am a General Manager. I am 51 years old, my wife’s name is Margaret and we have three children, Samuyl who is 16, Mmarkk who is 14 and my “baby” Moon Unit who is 10. I have an MBA from Melbourne University. Um I really enjoy the football and I keep fit by playing cricket. I have been with my current accounting firm Messrs Find-it and Bill for five years, and before that, I was in the retail industry as the General Manager of Dresses ‘R Us.

The statement above is timed at 30 seconds. What have you learned about the candidate that is concrete and advances his candidacy?

CORRECT: I help businesses create prosperity by identifying lucrative growth opportunities. Most recently as General Manager for a large-accounting firm, I executed five acquisitions that delivered more than 7 million dollars in yearly revenues while retaining 98% of the customer base. Prior to that, I led an unprecedented change management program that re-positioned a national retailer as a leader and innovator. Would you agree that my experience is a match?

The statement above is professional, it’s concise and it’s interesting. It is, 26 seconds of wow.

Start working on your elevator pitch now. What makes you unique? What short snapshot of your experience can you provide that meets the needs of the job for which you are applying? It takes some time to work on this, so you’ll need to really commit to it, write it, rewrite it, edit and rehearse it. Make it sound conversational, deliver it in a well-modulated and interesting tone, and seek to engage your interviewer by outlining the key points of your candidacy.

Eye glazing or compelling and fact-filled?

It’s your choice.