Don’t Only Apply For a Job On-line – Do This Instead!

As a Job Search Trainer, I see many job seekers making a GIGANTIC mistake over and over. They make the mistake of ONLY applying online in their job search. Why is this a problem?

  • A growing number of companies (not just large firms) are using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that screen resumes out based on keywords that the HR recruiter selects
  • Hundreds if not thousands of people could also be applying on-line and if you get through the ATS screening now you are in a pile with all the other candidates instead. that passed too. There is no differentiation between you and everyone else!!

What should you do instead? You should apply on-line AND find someone in the company to become an advocate for you and do an internal referral to HR instead. Ask any HR Recruiter or Manager if they prefer internal hires to unknown candidates that made it through their ATS. They will answer a resounding “ABSOLUTELY”. So, become an internal referral not an ATS refugee!

My name is Mark Lauterbach and I am a Job Search Architect and Success Strategist. I founded the Job Search Accelerator based on my 20 years’ experience helping others through their job search as well as having successfully navigated 7 job changes during my career. For 5 years, I also owned, ran and recruited daily at FPC of Fort Collins, a successful agency recruiting firm that I sold to one of my staff in 2013. I know how to plan and accelerate your job search success!

To receive my free weekly Job Search Tips Newsletter subscribe here!

What You Believe You Will Achieve

Behavioral Scientists Lammers, Dubois, Rucker and Galinsky thought that if you wrote about a time when you felt powerful  before you interviewed you would do better and guess what…it worked! In their study the applicants that did this were statistically more likely to move forward and get a job offer. The interviewers were queried about the 3 different groups (one told to write when they felt powerful, one to write when they felt powerless and one control group not told to write anything). The candidates that wrote about feeling powerful were substantially more confident and persuasive in their interviews. You need to . . .

Continue reading

Everyone has a Network that can Help in Their Job Search

I have talked to a lot of job seekers that make the mistake of only focusing on meeting new people and forgetting about the people they already know.  It is extremely important to keep in touch and nurture your current relationships.  You need to consistently re-engage with the most important people in your network.  Nurturing these relationships in important.  As you learn more in your job search, engaging with people you have already talked to may be helpful because your increased knowledge may allow you to circle back and ask additional and better questions.

Continue reading

June 29 Job Search Breakthrough Workshop

Job Search Breakthrough Workshop – Register now

The Job Search Breakthrough Workshop addresses the top 2 things you must do to reduce your job search time by over 40% (according to independent research). Those things are 1) Having a Written Job Search Plan that you update weekly to guide your search and measure progress and 2) effective target networking with employers

Date: Friday, June 29th

Time: 8:00 am – 12:30 pm

Cost: 695 225

Location: I2Five Work Space, 14476 E. I-25 Frontage Rd., Longmont

Agenda

4 ½ hour Focused Coaching:

  • Create a Job Search Plan (Creating a plan during the workshop)
  • How to identify Target Companies to work at (including using research databases)
  • How to network with the right people at these companies (including contact scripts, networking scripts, etc.)
  • Top 5 questions you must nail to get a employment offer
  • All materials (hard copy and digital download), including done-for-you networking scripts, continental breakfast and beverages included
  • Bonus: A personal 45 minute one-on-one strategy session on another date

The goal is to complete your job search plan (1st draft) in the class and create a target list of companies, then focus on step 3 (because you have the exact tools and knowledge to do so). See our testimonials for people discussing their real-world results.

Register now

About Mark and The Breakthrough Workshop

Mark Lauterbach, Founder and Chief Job Search Architect at the Job Search Accelerator, will be conducting this Boot Camp where you will learn the following: WHAT to do in your job search, HOW to do it, WHEN to do it! You will be given the exact scripts, worksheets and more to help you rapidly move forward.

Mark is only planning to offer this in person training special 4 times a year (once every 3 months); so don’t miss out on taking advantage of this low cost, high value offer!

How Much Does Sending a Thank You Note After a Job Interview Matter?

You need to send “thank you” emails to everyone that interviewed you. They are as essential as a good resume. They demonstrate your initiative, communication skills, and attention to detail. Always:

  • Customize each note for everyone on the interview team.
  • Express genuine interest by adding something you learned when you spent time with that individual.
  • Send within 24 hours.
  • Aim for originality to encourage people remembering you.
  • Keep the notes professional and positive for the best impression.

The speed and quality of your notes can influence your interview outcome.

Continue reading

Do You Have a Job Search Plan?

Do you feel like you are flitting around working on a lot of different things in your job search? Are you getting telephone interviews and on-site interviews? Are you confident that you are investing your time wisely in your job search to deliver the best results and find the right next step in your career in the shortest time possible?

Pilots have a flight plan; troops have a battle plan; New Product Development Teams have a Project Development Plan – but do you have a detailed, written Job Search Plan that outlines where you should be investing your time? You know you shouldn’t be investing most your time applying for on-line job postings, but at least doing so makes you feel like you are making progress. Once you apply on-line your application often disappears into the black hole of the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) or is immediately rejected based on their keyword matching system. This is maddening!!

Continue reading

Three Myths of Job Hunting

As a job search architect it is frustrating that these three job search myths are still around and readily believed in today’s job market. Here are 3 of the top job search myths that will kill your job search if you believe them:

Myth #1 – Only Apply Online for Jobs: Yes it is very easy to find a job opening online using a plethora of available resources:

  • Search Engines: Google, Bing, etc.
  • Job Posting websites: Indeed, Simply Hired, LinkedIn Jobs, etc.
  • Company’s website: Many companies have a career page and post their job openings there.

Continue reading

Stay Organized and Stay Sane in Your Job Search

Most Job Seekers don’t have a system to keep track of all their activities in their job search. This includes networking contacts, job boards that you have posted your resume to, resume submissions, etc. There is nothing more detrimental to your job search than not being organized and keeping track of your activities. This can be done with a spreadsheet, manual folders, on-line with tools such as Evernote; the choices are infinite. Just pick a system and stay with it!

Continue reading

During an On-Site Interview Make Sure You Don’t Fidget

“It’s not only what you say, it’s how you say it” is absolutely true when you are interviewing in person. Your spoken content only provides 7% of the message the interviewer receives. Your body language delivers 55% and the tone of voice the remaining 38%. Therefore, you need to focus on your body language and voice as well as the words you use in your job interview answers.

The interviewer will often analyze your body language, your mannerisms and facial expressions and if your body language is perceived as negative, this could cost you the job!

Continue reading

When Networking, Why Don’t Most Job Hunters Ask for What They Want?

When I am at business and tech networking events I quite often run into professionals seeking new positions. They typically have some type of introduction “Elevator Speech” that they deliver, either sounding natural or scripted, which includes their name, skills and accomplishments, but at least 80%+ don’t ask for help. Any introduction from a job seeker should include an “ask” at the end. What is an appropriate “ask”? You should say something like “You can help me by (fill in the blank)”.

Continue reading