Key takeaways from the National Resume Writers’ Conference I attended last week in lovely Portland, Maine:

• The resume is just the beginning. We talked a lot about resumes – but just as much about LinkedIn profiles, online visibility and social networking, personal branding, and ways to beat the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that are used by just about every employer.
• It’s never too late to learn. I enjoyed seeing how some very talented colleagues gather information from clients and write powerful executive resumes. And yes, this old dog learned a few new tricks!
• Shorter, tighter, crisper, sharper … This is my new mantra. I need constantly to strive to say more with less, cut the clutter, and get to the heart of the matter.
• Industry rejuvenation. It was great to meet so many up-and-comers in our industry! I’ve been around “forever” and known many of my colleagues for 10, 15, or 20 years. It’s lovely to have those long-time relationships, of course, but I was jazzed by seeing the energetic newcomers.

Now, back to work …

You might not have George’s fame, fortune, and good looks, but you can go into every interview with the mindset that he cites as being critical to his success in his industry:

“I had to stop going to auditions thinking, ‘Oh, I hope they like me.’ I had to go in thinking I was the answer to their problem. You could feel the difference in the room immediately.”

Success in job interviews starts with the confidence that can only come from 1) preparation; 2) mastery of your message; and 3) understanding of your value in that role to that company facing its current challenges.

Equally important is shifting your mindset so you think of the interview as a business discussion and problem-solving session – not as an inquisition. With that shift, interviewing can actually be enjoyable! Try it and see.

http://www.parade.com/celebrity/2011/09/george-clooney.html

The son of our good friends just started a wonderful job at a great company, and we feel GREAT! Why? Because we helped him out, just a bit.

I use the royal “we” because actually my husband did the helping – first recommending him for an interview, then providing interview tips, company information, and general guidance to this young engineer. And when the job offer came through, we were almost as thrilled as our friends!

All of this makes me think about the networking cycle. Good networking means giving when you can, asking when you need help. And the interesting thing about it is that it feels so good to be on the giving side!

So often job seekers who are urged to “network” are very hesitant about asking for help. They don’t want to be a pest or burden … they don’t want to pressure their friends and relatives into doing something … they think they should get by on their own. Yet, when you flip it around and think about how good it feels to give, your whole perspective will change!

In fact, consider it a gift to allow your friends to help you. (Think about how you’d feel if the circumstances were reversed and I’m sure you’ll agree.) Then make it easy for them by being specific about what you want, asking only for what they can give, and following through on their suggestions.

When you land that new job, your friends will be share your joy and feel wonderful about being able to help. Trust me, I know!

I had a lovely evening last night at the Boston Symphony. (Thanks, UBS and Mike Haynes!) I was fortunate to be able to hear a brief, informal talk by one of the orchestra’s bass players, Ben Levy, in addition to an outstanding pre-concert talk about the night’s program.

Here are some interesting takeaways that relate to my favorite subject of career management:

• Passion sells! The woman who gave the pre-concert talk was so enthusiastic about her subject, so enthralled with the composers and their stories, that we in the audience couldn’t help but be swept up in her enthusiasm. When you’re talking to people about your job search, what you love to do, the kinds of opportunities you’re seeking, or the challenges of a particular job you’re interviewing for, be sure to show your knowledge, passion, and energy.
• Competition is fierce. As a “top 5″ national orchestra, and representing a steady gig for often itinerant musicians, Boston draws a huge applicant pool when a (rare) opening occurs. Just to get a live audition you have to beat out hundreds of other applicants sending in tapes, and the audition is a grueling two-day process that requires you to perform at your very best. I was fascinated to learn that the auditions are “blind” – candidates perform behind a screen, and the judging panel doesn’t know anything about age, appearance, gender, race, or any other factor that might influence their judgment. The decisions are based entirely on performance – a perfect example of Nick Corcodilos/Ask the Headhunter‘s sage advice to “to the job in the interview.”
• Teamwork is everything. An orchestra is a team in perfect unison – each musician and instrument does something different, yet it all comes together into a harmonious whole. Yo-Yo Ma, one of the world’s most celebrated cellists, first wowed the audience with his lead performance in a Cello Concerto. His style is unique, and his cello made sounds that were nothing like any of the other instruments in the orchestra. Then, in the night’s final piece, Mr. Ma joined the cello section of the orchestra and blended flawlessly with the rest of the instruments during Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony. It was a brilliant finish to the evening.

Did I mention that Symphony Hall was sold out? Not bad for a freezing midweek night in January.

Nothing like hearing it from the horse’s mouth … or, in the case of job search, the recruiter’s.

I am impressed by the clarity, consistency, and honesty of these 100 tips shared by recruiters from EMC Corp. It’s a quick read but packed full of spot-on advice along with real recruiting stories (both horrifying and heartwarming).

Boiled down even further, the advice is simple yet profound: Know yourself, know your value to the company, be prepared. Never forget that job search is all about marketing and sales. Be passionate, curious, engaged, honest, sincere. Keep a positive attitude during what can be a long and frustrating process. Network!

And … have a great resume. If yours doesn’t showcase your skills, value, and successes, you’ll never get the chance to wow them in the interview.

I am very excited about story-telling techniques I learned at a workshop in New York on Saturday. Stories have an unmatched power to convey meaning and connect with an audience and are the very best way for job candidates to communicate their uniqueness and value.

What’s more, when you think about “universal” experiences – experiences that many people can relate to on personal level (emigrating to a new country, giving birth, surviving high school, choosing a career) – each experience is unique in its own way. Telling the story of your “universal” experience not only allows you to express your uniqueness, it connects deeply with your listenener who will tap into his or her own similar (but not identical) experience. I’m not suggesting that you discuss your birth experience or high school days during your executive interview, but do look for opportunities to share personal stories (as appropriate) and entice the interviewer to do the same.

For several years I’ve been using the “Tell Your Story” tagline for my business, representing my passion for helping my clients communicate their uniqueness in a way that is meaningful for their audience and helpful for their careers. The workshop I attended validated my approach and gave me some deeper insights and new tools to apply in my interview coaching sessions. And, I hope to wow them from the podium at my next presentation!

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m xx years old … and I look every day of it.” Nope, it’s always, “I’m xx years old … but I don’t look it!”

I am never sure how to reply when my clients (virtually all senior executives in in their 40s, 50s, and 60s) make that statement. I think what they’re trying to convey is their concern that their resume (which I’m writing for them) not make them appear “too old” and knock them out of the running before they get the chance for an interview – during which they’ll shine because of their youthful appearance!

While there’s no doubt that age discrimination does exist (and I know lots of techniques to disguise age on a resume), let’s take a step back for a minute and consider the issue from another angle:

If you’re interviewing for senior executive jobs, hiring authorities do not expect you to be in your 20s or 30s. They expect you to be mature and seasoned – in all the very positive aspects of those words that have taken on a bit of a stigma. If you are 50 and you look like you’re 30, you’ll probably have a hard time landing a job at the senior level! But let’s face it – how many 50-year-olds look 30?

In all reality, you do look roughly your age. And that age is the perfect age for the jobs you’re pursuing. So don’t worry too much about looking younger – on paper or in person – but for both, be sure to present the very best image that you possibly can. A great-looking suit, up-to-date haircut, trim physique, perfectly polished resume – all will help you create the image of a savvy, successful, up-to-date, high-energy professional. And isn’t that what companies are looking for … at any age?

Resume-writing colleague Arnie Bolt shared findings from a recent ExecuNet meeting he hosted, in which a panel of executive recruiters was asked how they work, how they evaluate candidates, and what they look for in resumes and other communications. Universally, the recruiters wanted to see an entire work history on the resume, even if it went back to the year “dot” and included irrelevant information.

My advice: Give them what they want – but not right away! Use your strategic, well written, concise, and on-target resume to spark that initial phone call. Then, if you are a strong candidate for one of their searches, go right ahead and give them chapter and verse on everything you’ve done. At that point, you’ve cleared the initial screening and won’t advance any farther unless you comply. But don’t shoot yourself in the foot by giving them what they think they want in your initial contact.

Let’s face it – you can’t possibly include everything you’ve done in your career on your resume. Go with the most high-impact, relevant, and meaningful information to incite interest. The resume is, after all, a marketing document. You can provide the entire prospectus once your audience is interested.

Verizon (telephone company) should answer their phones when you call them. Whole Foods should use good environmental practices. Hairdressers should have great hair. If these things DON’T happen, you lose faith in that individual or company!

The same is true for executives in a job search. Your resume content must match your elevator speech, your online profile, your networking chit-chat, your interview stories, and every other aspect of your career marketing messages to create a congruent, believable, provable image. All of the above should position you as “you” – just the best, brightest, most relevant “you” with regard to your current goals!

Love what Louise Fletcher has to say over at the Blue Sky blog: Calling Seth Godin on the carpet when he opines about job searching!

I agree 100% – both with Louise’s admiration of Seth’s marketing expertise and her disagreement with his career advice. To sum it up:

• Looking for a job does not mean sublimating your personality or corrupting yourself… not if you do it correctly.
• Self-employment is not for everyone!
• In every market there are opportunities. Good companies are still hiring, and smart, focused, value-oriented candidates will be found and hired.