Whenever a candidate undertakes a serious, wide-ranging job search, keeping up with job search communications is a major concern. When I was in grad school, the universal tracking methods were a) a sheet of paper in a designated notebook or b) an excel sheet if you had access to a computer (I didn’t back then, at least not on a daily basis.) Today’s job seekers have many more options, and ultimately, it’s easier to stay on top of your search.
The biggest difference for today’s job seeker is access to real-time information available on the internet, using your computer or even your phone. In particular, tools that have been designed to help businessmen keep up with sales and relationship-building, or Client Relationship Management (CRM) can help you streamline your communication strategy and stay on top of your progress in different searches. And many of the best tools are free and integrate with common web applications (most notably Google).
The best of these (in my opinion) is Gist. Recently bought out by Research in Motion (creators of the Blackberry), Gist is a revolutionary tool that aggregates information about your contacts from the public streams that their blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other profiles put out there on the internet, relate them to any public information about their employers and networks, and allow you to see all of the above, in context with communication you’ve had between these contacts.
Screen grab of Gist's suggestions feature.
There has probably never been a more powerful tool for job seekers. Gist is intelligent, and you help it learn and get better. Each time you log in, it gives you suggestions for new sources of information about your contacts,which you can filter through, confirm, or ignore. It allows you to see communications and meetings between you and your contacts. And it lets you keep notes. All in one place.
Click on the name if a person or company, and Gist will compile a “dossier” for you. Connect Gist to your calendar, and as you prepare for your next interview, you can research your contacts, the company, and others you might be meeting with. You can see that you did indeed send in your latest resume, cover letter, and that all-important background check form. And you can read the latest news on your potential employer and prepare your questions and talking points more effectively.
Gist works well with GMail, Outlook, Firefox, and Chrome, and you can use it on your iPhone or Droid phone, so you can access new information while on the go (like at a placement conference, or on the way to your next interview.)
To some, Gist seems a bit “Big Brother.” I’ll admit that it really brings home the extent of information available out there in the public stream about individuals and institutions. But you have to remember that most of the information it shows is public, and that the rest of it is directly related to communications you’ve had with the involved parties. In this context, think of Gist as a powerful and personalized partner in your job search.
1950s style journalist working in his office at night, he is typing with a vintage typewriter, flat lay desktop
I’ve been posting chunks of the “Creating a Killer Resume” webinar and resume coaching session for the past couple of weeks, but have found a good way to share it with you in its entirety through Amazon S3.
It is just over an hour long, and will show you what a resume coaching session is like, as well as give you tips on how to ensure the content, style, design and flow of your resume bring out the best aspects of your professional history and your potential match for a position.
I will be posting some additional resume resources soon, and announcing some specials on resume and interview coaching to my list. So if you need personalized help creating your resume, stay tuned!
So check back soon, and if you are interested in getting some coaching, sign up for my list so you don’t miss the special offers! (There is a sign-up form in the sidebar, and you may also see a pop-over form as well.)
This is part 3 of my recent “Creating a Killer Résumé” webinar, where I did a sample coaching session for a second-step job seeker in Student Affairs. If you find it informative, please share, like and re-tweet the link, and “like” it on YouTube.
More segments are coming next week.
Also, please consider joining my mailing list, where you will get periodic “insider only” content, and special offers. Subscribers also get, for a limited time, access to my auto-responder e-course “Planning Your Career in Higher Ed” for free.
The other day, I did a free webinar on “Creating a Killer Resume” to give job seekers some ideas about how to put together a résumé that flows well, is visually appealing and has great content. The webinar was over an hour long and featured an overview of the résumé coaching process, some tips on design, flow, logic and content, and a sample coaching session with a mid-level/second-step job seeker.
In order to take advantage of my YouTube channel, I’m forced to break the presentation into chunks of 15 minutes or less, so I will be posting the webinar replay as a YouTube playlist with multiple shorter segments and posting them to this site over the next week or so. The entire video will also be available soon through my e-Junkie store as a digital download with some worksheets.
Video 1: Creating a Killer Resume: The Resume Coaching Process
Video 2: Visualization Activity-Using Wordle.Net
Sean Cook is a Certified Life Purpose and Career Coach from Athens, GA. Before earning his certification from the Life Purpose Institute, he earned his M.Ed. in Counseling and Guidance Services from Clemson University and spent 15 1/2 years working in higher education.
Is your résumé ready for job search season? Every spring, job searches across the country kick into high gear, as the cruel time called “Placement Season” begins in higher ed.
If you’re ready to start looking for the next step, but your résumé isn’t, attend a free webinar on “Creating a Killer Résumé” this Thursday at 12 noon EST.
We’ll cover some key elements that go into putting together a good résumé or CV: design, content and flow. The webinar will include a sample live coaching session by Higher Ed Career Coach Sean Cook for a current job-seeker. So if you’re thinking about brushing up your résumé or CV, register below for the webinar!
Sean Cook is a Certified Life Purpose and Career Coach, based in Athens, GA.
I am by trade a researcher. I’ve conducted research for award-winning documentaries, media agencies and for the heavy industrial industries.
Now, a researcher has to be patient. He has to believe that he will find an answer. An accountant knows his numbers and an engineer knows his machines.
But what does a researcher have? He has his tools. The best tools are simple, nimble and can be applied across a variety of subjects.
When I read Sean Cook’s Blog, Make a Career-Plan Mind-Map and Win An e-Book it got me thinking. What if I did this? What if I took one of my strengths and applied it to a new cause?
A Shift in Thinking
My approach to the mindmap was simple: it had to lay the foundation for success. A mindmap is a guide. It puts your job search in your hands. It gives you control.Your favorite pirate used a map to find his next great treasure. Your job is your next great treasure.
Look at the center of the mind-map. It’s exact: Landing the Job. That’s it. That’s my goal. Everything in this mind-map starts with the broad and gets very specific. I have a specific date. I have daily activities.
Maybe your goal is to uncover a target list of companies, find the names of hiring recruiters or discover your destination industry. Choose your target carefully. A thoughtful target will yield thoughtful results.
Atlanta based Johann Lohrmann is a research specialist with a passion for media. He is a German-American who speaks French. His love for media grew early, and by the time he was fourteen-years old he was writing for Children’s Express-an organization that teaches children how to write, interview, and research. There he interviewed sports heroes and politicians. In his senior year of high school, he produced his first short, An Era of Civil Rights. Later, he would write, direct, and produce documentaries for a PBS affiliate, serve as a media planner and research consultant to media companies, and conduct research throughout Belgium, France, Canada and the United States. Lohrmann was recently nominated for an Emmy for his documentary, How I Survived World War II. It explored how soldiers, children and those who lived and served during World War II survived. His work has appeared on PBS, BET, TimeWarner and online. He recently finished production on the award-winning documentary, Where Wealth Lives: An Exploration of the African-American Economic Experience. It has been green-lighted for national release on PBS. He currently serves as Director of Research & Development for Noodlehead Studios. Johann graduated in 2010 with a BA in Communications, summa cum laude from Ashford University.
For more information about mind-mapping, visit Mark Dykeman’s blog, Thoughtwrestling, or buy his e-book, Unstuck, Focused and Organized (affiliate link)
Work with Sean. I help higher ed professionals take control of their careers with tailored services including resume and CV development, LinkedIn profile optimization and networking strategy, interview coaching, and one-on-one career guidance.
Look at the center of the mind-map. It’s exact: Landing the Job. That’s it. That’s my goal. Everything in this mind-map starts with the broad and gets very specific. I have a specific date. I have daily activities.
