Job seekers beware. Inside the career services industry there has been a lot of negative rumblings about The Ladders…a paid job board that gives “free resume critiques” infamous for trashing even well written resumes and charging top dollar to “rewrite it for you”. Now there is a new black sheep (Fox?) on the block: Jobfox.com.

Same game, same scam and same advice…

I feel there is something especially shameful about preying on job seekers who are just trying to discern the next best moves for themselves – trying to make sure their resume is doing its job and the job search methods they employ are the right ones for them.

The Ladders has been written about extensively. Jason Alba of Jibber Jobber blogs about it here

And Nick Corcodilos rakes them over the coals here.

I found this eye opening page describing JobFox’s services. Check out the comments section here.

The BEST way to figure if your resume is doing its job in my opinion is to contact either Career Directors International or Career Management Alliance - both are big, gold standard Associations in the career services industry where a job seeker can quickly find a certified resume writer that can help them. Some of these resume writers offer free critiques and some charge a small amount for their review. There are no 100% guarantees, but by far this is the most discerning step a job seeker can take and one that serves to best shield against unscrupulous companies and practices.

In searching for your ideal position are you taking what I call the “I’ll know it when I see it route?”

Well, if this is you, chances are you have been surfing around on the internet looking for that perfect position, submitting your resume to multiple jobs and you are still waiting for the phone to ring.

Although getting clear on the kind of jobs you are interested in can be a worthwhile activity, you don’t want to get stuck on the job surfing and job board treadmill.

Here are three steps you can take right now to take back control of your job search:

Step number one: Focus on what you want

Before you begin your job search you must know what your driving motivators are and what your ideal job looks like.

Think of these driving motivators as the top three things you must have in order for you to feel like your next move is one that meets your needs.

Sometimes your driving motivators will run counter to your dream job, and that is okay. Give yourself permission to define these because they will affect your job search and help you discern which way you need to go – both for your short and long term goals.

To identify your dream job start with a list of things you love to do best. Another way to look at it is to ask yourself – what you are doing when you are at your best.

Step Number Two: get your game plan down

You should know what your job search strategy is – namely the two or three strategies you are going to use in your job search.

Individual strategies include embarking on a direct mail campaign, working with recruiters, special networking techniques like informational interviews and social networking just to name a few.

Each job search demands its own special approach, and by fleshing out your game plan you’ll quickly see what you need to do and where you might need help figuring things out

Step Number Three: Make a commitment to begin

Now that you have a plan and you know where you need help you can start moving forward. A big mistake job seekers often make is to wait and wait and wait until they feel “ready” to move forward.

Rarely do we ever feel 100% ready. So break this cycle of procrastination by writing out one primary actively you can focus on each day. Writing it out in advance means not having to lie awake in bed at night worrying over what you are going to do tomorrow.

Make your goals doable and give yourself plenty of rest and relaxation time to recharge your batteries. Don’t forget to congratulate yourself for every effort and activity you take…because each step is a step forward…and one step closer to your goals!

With your driving motivators, ideal job description, pre planned activities and goals spelled out and crystal clear, you now have distinct areas of focus to build on. This is the first and most critical step to taking control of your job search, so you can land the job you really want.

When: Thursday, July 23 at 1 pm ET
Busy at that time? Sign up anyway and listen to the webinar later.

Right now, there aren’t enough available positions for all the people looking for work. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get hired! Companies still have needs. In fact, they have more than before because they’re running so lean-and-mean.

In this eye-opening session with Jill Konrath, you’ll discover:

Why traditional job hunting strategies are hopelessly ineffective in today’s crazy business climate.
How to articulate your value proposition in an employer-enticing manner.
Strategies to target and research prospective employers – who may not even be looking to hire somebody.
How to connect with these companies with “messages that cannot be ignored.”

What it takes to create a job out of thin air – and why this is an approach you should strongly consider.
… and much more.

Here is where you can register :http://tinyurl.com/getbacktowork-7-23webinar

This is going to be a good one – I will be there! -meb

http://tinyurl.com/getbacktowork-7-23webinar

I am sure you have heard about the value of investing in a resume writer and/or job search coach to help you during your job search. Certainly, this investment in yourself and your job search will pay off in multiple ways including your ability to fully leverage yourself in your industry of choice, making sure you are optimizing your skills and strengths amidst the competition and securing the highest quality interviews.

However there are additional investments you should be making in your job search that lend themselves to rich and rewarding payoffs.

Have you looked at your home, your health and your time-off activities? Have you set up a system for yourself that provides you with adequate job search support?

Here are some examples:

1. Investment in your health. Are you taking care of yourself? Have you been putting off your yearly physical, your trip to the dentist or chiropractor? Do you invest in eating organic food? Do you get out for a few minutes each day for some exercise and fresh air? Your monetary investment to do this is relatively small but your short and long term payoff is vit al to keeping stress under control and your feeling of well being.

2. Investment in activities you enjoy. You have heard me say it before, investing in yourself, in activities you enjoy and that relax you are MORE important and need to be INCREASED during your job search.

Feel like you can’t find the time? Look at where you spend your time during the day, then commit to cutting out ONE activity that you don’t absolutely need to be doing. Replace it with something you love to do, be it spending time with your family, playing tennis, bike riding or reading a book. The more relaxed and balanced you are, the more energy and focus you will have to give your job search.

3. Investment in your surroundings. Is your office or home a mess? Investment in a clean work and living space will add to your feeling of peace. I have a young child and know how hard it can be to keep things tidy! But each morning I clean my office so I can think clearly, and be present and creative for my clients. In other words, your surroundings can mirror your mental outlook.

4. Investment in your clarity. If you are struggling with your confidence and your self worth regarding your job search, then grab a pen and paper and write out 30 valuable skills, strengths and traits that you can bring to your employer(s). Getting clear here will help you get in touch with how much you really do have to offer. We often devalue our profess ional worth, so this exercise will serve to fill in the gaps if you are leaving out any critical points in your resume.

5. Investment in job search “high payoff” activities. Are you licking stamps and envelopes and running to the printer? Why not consider hiring someone to handle these entry level tasks for you during your job search so you can invest your time focusing on your high payoff activities, such as targeting employers, following up with phone calls and preparing for interviews?

You get so much more done with a little help! Your investment in hiring the neighbor’s teenager across the street (or your own, if you have one) will definitely kick your job search results into high gear.

So, what can you invest in this week that makes you feel good, more balanced and less stressed?

Thu Jun 11, 3:00 am ET

Career coach and Internationally Certified Advanced Resume Writer Mary Elizabeth Bradford has surprising advice for finding your next executive-level job. In a new podcast on Total Picture Radio, Bradford reveals how to tap into the hidden job market. Responding to the tough employment outlook, she generously gives away her Phone Networking ebook.

(Vocus) June 11, 2009 — “The historical data that’s out there right now shows that finding a job today – and this is no secret – is more than twice as difficult as either of the last two recessions,” said Mary Elizabeth Bradford in a new 30 minute interview podcast on Total Picture Radio. Known as “The Career Artisan,” Mary Elizabeth came to her role having spent eight years working as an executive recruiter. She is an internationally certified advanced resume writer and internationally certified master director, (awarded by Career Directors International). Additionally, Bradford is the publisher of the bimonthly ezine, The Career Insider, and the author of two guidebooks: Secrets of the Unadvertised Job Market… Revealed! and Phone Networking Secrets Revealed.

Much of her conversation with Peter Clayton, the producer/host of Total Picture Radio, focused on the strategies used by her clients that are working today to garner job interviews and job offers: “Targeted direct mail campaigns and phone calls… it may sound very old fashioned,” she admitted, “but it will get you far better results than spending all day on job boards.”

“So many new job seekers immediately gravitate to the mega job boards,” Clayton confirmed, “it’s easy, it’s immediate; however, it is not painless. Weeks of submitting your resume on job boards with never getting any response, can be very demoralizing.” Mary Elizabeth agreed. “I talk to a lot of really deserving and intelligent executives that just don’t have the right information to get off the job boards… To tap into the unadvertised job market you really need a system because that’s what job boards are,” she said, “that’s why people fall back on them is because you get out there with this abundance of information and you wonder as a job seeker what am I supposed to be doing? What is the right thing? Why aren’t people connecting back with me, is it me, is it my resume? One of the reasons why job boards are so tempting is because it’s the lack of understanding exactly step by step what to do. That’s why I’ve really devoted my whole career to showing job seekers how to set it up step by step so that doing the right things is as easy as answering job ads. That’s been my goal.”

Reinforcing Clayton’s comment about job boards, Bradford became more specific: “Why does this work? Because as you know Peter, 85 percent or so of jobs are filled before they morph to that place where they need to be advertised, so this gets a job seeker into that window of opportunity where there is less competition, more open jobs and actually, when you flush out the numbers, works much, much better than conducting a job board search, which usually yields only a 1 to 3 percent response.”

Bradford’s eBook, “Phone Networking Secrets Revealed” framed a good portion of the interview. Clayton stated, “As you know, Mary Elizabeth, many job seekers are terrified of making phone calls, especially cold calls.” She agreed. “My clients tell me that this is one of the top three most difficult things to do. And, of course, the more executive you get, the harder it is.” Again, her background as an executive recruiter helped Bradford to develop her skills and techniques on cold calling, and getting through to decision makers.

Those in career transition will find a wealth of advice on resume writing, job search techniques, getting past the corporate gatekeepers, and how to conduct an executive level job search without wasting hours of time, by spending a few minutes with Mary Elizabeth Bradford on Total Picture Radio. A full transcript of the interview is included on Mary Elizabeth’s feature page on Total Picture Radio, along with a very generous offer to receive Phone Networking Secrets Revealed — for free!

# # #

Total Picture Radio
Peter Clayton
203-870-6900
E-mail Information

Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.Questions or CommentsPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceCopyright/IP Policy

·     What industries are hiring

·     Two powerful strategies to quickly and easily get in front of hiring managers

·     How to get past gatekeepers when making follow up phone calls

·     What to say if the hiring manager says “Were not hiring right now”

·     What most people leave out of their resumes that are must-haves

·     How many pages a resume should be and the difference between chronological and functional styles

·     Vital tips to compete in todays job market

Listen to the 20 minute interview here:

http://www.totalpicture.com/shows/success-strategies/mary-elizabeth-bradford-the-career-artisan.html

Date: Wednesday, May 6th 4pm CST

With Mary Elizabeth Bradford, The Career Artisan Internationally Certified Advanced Resume Writer & Internationally Certified Master Career Director

Space is filling up fast but you can still register for free here now:

http://www.maryelizabethbradford.com/teleseminar050609.php

Know someone who would benefit from this information? Please, pay it forward and pass this information on!

Learn step-by-step techniques for identifying and connecting with companies who want to hire you – yes, even in a recession! (I am also going to be offering you an incredibly special gift).

No matter what level you are at in your career, or if you are in a passive or active job search, you are going to love this information!

On this 60-minute call, you’ll discover:

The two barriers most job seekers hit that cause instant disappointment and anxiety – and how to avoid them.

My top 3 job search strategy recommendations that are proven to work to get you quality interviews and offers.

My two best job search time saving strategies that immediately fr^ee up your time preserve your energy and enthusiasm for your job search!

My top recommendation to help you identify industries that are hiring!

Register for free here now:

http://www.maryelizabethbradford.com/teleseminar050609.php

I hope to “see” you on the call.

***You may wish to call in 5 minutes early to make sure you get a spot on the call! If for some reason you receive a busy signal (indicating the call is full when you dial in) or you can’t make the call, an audio recording will be sent to you within 24 hours of the call as long as you are on the list – so you can still benefit from this valuable information!***
Inspiring your success,

Mary Elizabeth

Wednesday, May 6th 4pm CST
With Mary Elizabeth Bradford, The Career Artisan Internationally Certified Advanced Resume Writer & Internationally Certified Master Career Director

Register for free here now:

http://www.maryelizabethbradford.com/teleseminar050609.php

Learn step-by-step techniques for identifying and connecting with companies who want to hire you – yes, even in a recession! I am also going to be offering you an incredibly special gift.

No matter what level you are at in your career, or if you are in a passive or active job search, you are going to love this information!

On this 60-minute call, you’ll discover:

The two barriers most job seekers hit that cause instant disappointment and anxiety – and how to avoid them.

My top 3 job search strategy recommendations that are proven to work to get you quality interviews and offers.

My two best job search time saving strategies that immediately free up your time preserve your energy and enthusiasm for your job search!

My top recommendation to help you identify industries that are hiring!

Register for free here now:

http://www.maryelizabethbradford.com/teleseminar050609.php

Do you know someone who is looking for a new job? I bet you wish you could help them, but maybe you think you can’t because you don’t know of any open positions that would fit them? Well, there are lots of ways to help job seekers even if you can’t offer them their dream job. Here are seven tips you can use right now to help your friends and associates that may be in a job search:

Tip #1: Offer to give their resume to a key decision maker in your company
As long as your comfortable with it, why not pass along their resume? You never know when a position might come up or even be created to meet a need!

Tip #2: Invite them to join your network on LinkedIn
The bigger a job seeker’s LinkedIn network, the more chances they’ll have to find and connect with others! The tipping point on LinkedIn is about 65 connections, so you see, it doesn’t take much to quickly create a powerful network!

Tip#3: Endorse them (on LinkedIn), give them a recommendation or offer to be a reference
You don’t have to have been their boss to recommend or endorse them. So, if you can, why not brag a little on the strengths and skills you know they have?

Tip #4: Tell them about my free ezine and article library!
They can sign up here: www.maryelizabethbradford.com.

Tip#5: Hear them out
Let them share what they are looking for with you in terms of ideal industries and positions. Do you know ANYONE in their industry of choice that they could network with? You don’t have to know if they are hiring or not – every connection counts and could potentially lead to something else!

Tip #6: Invite them out
Do you attend chamber events, church functions, fundraisers or association meetings? Why not invite them along? Job seekers benefit from the opportunity to make new contacts and connections, PLUS it’s good for them to get out of the house and stay involved!

Tip #7: Be positive
Job seekers need positive support and to keep focused on opportunities rather than bad economic conditions and negative news. This is one of the most powerful ways you can support them…with your positive attitude!

My clients are finding and landing jobs every day – the jobs ARE out there and so is help and support. Be sure to remind them of this.

So, do you have additional ways that you have been supporting and assisting your job seeking friends and associates? Please share your helpful ideas here!

Kathy Simmons recently wrote in her Netshare Newsletter about her participation in several NETSHARE Area Meetings, networking with very talented executives across the country.

Career coaches and attendees shared their tips and tricks for mining LinkedIn, targeting hiring companies, and researching new job opportunities. And at every meeting, at least one contact received a solid lead on the spot (thats powerful stuff!).

Here are some of the takeaways she shared:

Targeting companies isn’t about limiting your options, it’s about prioritizing them.
People want to help you, make it easier for them.
People know people, people don’t know jobs.
Conduct a people search not a job search.
Instead of looking for a job, look for work.
You have to be prepared to answer one of these three questions: Can you make me money? Can you save me money? Can you get me through the next six months?
No matter what you did before, now you’re in marketing and sales.

People want to help you, but unless you can give them a place to start, they can’t. As one of the group members said, “People know people, they don’t know jobs.” If you tell me you want a senior level marketing job in a consumer packaged goods company, chances are that the best I can do is promise to let you know if I hear anything. But, tell me you are interested in working for Nabisco, I suddenly remember that my cousin works for Nabisco.

I agree. BTW NETSHARE’s newsletter is excellent…and free. Check it out at www.netshare.com