A Caution About Job Ads

Due to turbulent economic times, many people are getting laid off or looking for survival jobs to weather the storm. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and it is that very mindset that can make unsuspecting job seekers prey to bad-intentioned people.

A word to the wise: Be careful about responding to complete blind-box job ads that do not provide any information about the company, the type of business they are in and does not provide any location information as to where the company does business.

Be exceptionally wary of job postings that basically have very thin information about what it is that you'd be doing and for whom you'd be working.

Some of these postings, particularly on Craigslist, are actually fronts for identity thieves.

Think about it: You read about a wonderful opportunity, get fired up, send off your résumé, and then get a call from someone asking you to fill out a more detailed job application. And usually, on that job application, is a request for your Social Security number and other private information. How would you feel about sending that to a complete stranger with no other information than the slim information listed in the job? Thinking twice might just protect your identity!

A good rule of thumb is to due diligence on prospective employers, which also helps you effectively write your résumé and cover letter, and prepare for an interview. Be assertive: Ask what company it is if you are called. Look for a way to respond that includes a company email, not a blind box or yahoo/gmail/hotmail email address.

Just as you'd expect a prospective employer to conduct research about you and your background, you should do likewise when investigating prospective employers.

Personal Branding

Many times, as I start the intake process of a new client, I have found that various books and past advisors have drilled into people that having an "objective" is very important to a résumé. My take on this is that this is a 'redundant redundancy' to the point when someone writes, "My objective is to find a dynamic position in a challenging company that uses all of my skills" (or something to that effect) - the hiring manager who is reading this statement perceives this as a "Duh- no kidding" statement- that's why this person is applying for the job in the first place!

Instead, coming up with a personal brand that is reflective of one's skills and level is much more effective. Think of it as a 'headline' that quickly and effectively communicates who you are and identifies your level. As an example, if you are in sales and are at a higher level, you could create a personal brand of "Senior Sales Manager" or "Director of Sales" - which already has let the reader know specifically what you are all about. Then, pulling together a paragraph below this brand that outlines in 4-5 sentences your background in this particular field is a great way to back up your headline.

Considering hiring managers are not only using software to scan résumés but also having to go through oftentimes several hundred documents to fill a single position, anything you can do to increase your chances of quickly capturing their attention and making the interview cut is critical. A personal brand is an effective tool on a résumé to make yourself stand out!