Why Resume Keywords and Resume Software Are Worthless

Posted on by
Email
Do you know how to stand out in a stack of 13,279 resumes?

As an author and keynote speaker on career success, I attend and speak at career development events each month.  When I visit the vendor booths at some of these conferences, it amazes me to see some of the questionable products that vendors are trying to sell to job-seekers and Career Centers.  The majority of these products have been developed by technology experts who unfortunately don’t understand what really goes into a successful job search.

To be clear, these people are trying to help.  They mean well. 

However, they incorrectly think they have the secret formula on what it takes to help you stand out from the competition during your job search. 

If I had to assign a percentage to the role a resume plays in a job search, I would estimate less than 10%, due to the importance of your job search strategy, your attitude, your references, your body language, your networking skills, your presentation skills, your interviewing skills, and so on.    

Some top employers receive hundreds or thousands of unsolicited resumes every week.  Good luck standing out in a pile of 13,279 resumes if you are relying on resume keywords or resume software. 

The best way to stand out in a mile-high stack of resumes is NOT by using resume keywords or resume software to beat a computer system’s screening process.  The best way to stand out in a stack of resumes is to never end up in the stack in the first place!

How did I beat out hundreds of more experienced candidates to land my first dream job to work for an NBA franchise when I was a shy, 21 year-old student who had never even had a full-time job before?  It certainly wasn’t because of keywords on my resume. 

How did I land multiple 6-figure job offers at the start of the current recession?  It certainly wasn’t because I had access to the latest/greatest resume software program.  In fact, two of the companies who made me those 6-figure offers brought me in for initial interviews before they even saw my resume.

Don’t get me wrong: a bad resume can certainly remove you from consideration.  However, even a really good resume is not sufficient to land your dream job (or any job).  You need a lot more to distinguish yourself and land your dream job, especially in the current climate.

Here is the bottom line: Employers don’t hire resumes; employers hire people! 

P.S. For a free video series with more secrets on what it really takes to have job search success, visit www.DreamJobAcademy.com and enter “blog” for your password.  (Note: You need a password to get access to the video series.) 

-Pete Leibman, Founder of Dream Job Academy and Author of I Got My Dream Job and So Can You: 7 Steps to Creating Your Ideal Career After College

Email
Posted in Resumes | Comments Off

Why It’s NOT “All About Who You Know”

Posted on by
Email
It’s all about who you know, right? WRONG!

It drives me CRAZY when people say, “It’s all about who you know.”

Most people think networking is all about who you know.  Well, they are wrong. 

Some people think networking is all about who knows you.  They are also wrong.

People who think it’s all about who you know or who knows you are usually people who think networking is about collecting business cards or amassing thousands of meaningless connections through social media. 

Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to networking.

Here’s the truth: Networking is all about who likes you and who respects you. 

Before referring you to someone else, a successful person is consciously or subconsciously asking himself, “Do I like and respect this person enough to put my reputation on the line by introducing her to someone I trust?”  If the answer is “no,” networking will get you nowhere.  However, if the answer is “yes,” you can usually get almost anyone to open his rolodex.  

Unfortunately, there are people I “know” that I would never refer to my top contacts because either (a) I don’t like them or (b) I don’t completely respect them.  This might sound harsh, but I guard my reputation very carefully (you should also), and other referral sources will have a similar mindset.

The good news is that it does not take years of rapport-building to get someone to like you and respect you, and it is incredibly easy to stand out in a good way. You just need to make someone confident that you will represent him well if he puts his reputation on the line by introducing you to his contacts. 

For example, one of the executives influential in helping me get my dream job in the NBA when I was only 21 was someone I spoke to for less than three minutes in-person.  I simply introduced myself to him the right way at a networking event.  The result?  He connected me with five of his best contacts after we spoke briefly on the phone the next week.  I’d be willing to bet he had some family members (i.e. people he “knew” very well) that he would not have been willing to do that for…

Networking is NOT all about who you know or who knows you.  Networking is all about who likes you and who respects you. 

P.S. For a free video series with more secrets on how to get your dream job, visit www.DreamJobAcademy.com and enter “blog” for your password.  (Note: You need a password to get access to the video series.) 

-Pete Leibman, Founder of Dream Job Academy and Author of I Got My Dream Job and So Can You: 7 Steps to Creating Your Ideal Career After College

Email
Posted in Networking | Comments Off

Why Youth Is An Advantage During A Job Search

Posted on by
Email

Youth is not an obstacle for your career. Remember The Lemonade Stand Principle...

Did you ever have a lemonade stand when you were little? 

As kids, my brother, Matt, and I would have lemonade stands every summer as a way to make extra cash.  We would set up a table and chairs on the corner of the street we lived on in the suburbs of Long Island,NY, and people would always stop and buy our lemonade.

Did people stop because of a thirst that needed to be quenched at that very moment?  Of course not! 

Instead, people stopped because of something I call The Lemonade Stand Principle, which states that older people like to help younger people who are ambitious and enthusiastic.  I have found this to be true as a 9 year-old kid selling lemonade on the side of the road, as a 21 year-old student trying to break into the pro sports industry, and as a 27 year-old entrepreneur starting his own business.

Enthusiasm is contagious, and genuine ambition is inspiring.  When my brother and I had our lemonade stands, we would be out there with signs, trying to wave down every car that passed by.  Our enthusiasm inspired people to want to help us. 

Similarly, most older executives love to help ambitious students because they remind them of themselves.  When older executives look at you (assuming you have a winning attitude), they see who they were 20, 30, or 40 years ago.  They remember the challenges they went through, and they remember how someone helped them get started.  Do not make the mistake of thinking that people won’t want to help you.  When you approach people the right way, you will be amazed at who will support you, just like I was when I looked for a job as a student.  Your youth is a tremendous advantage that you should not feel guilty about utilizing.  In 10-20 years, you can return the favor to a younger person when you are the successful senior executive.

If you have already graduated from college, you can still benefit from The Lemonade Stand Principle, although it will never be as easy to get career advice and support as it is while you are a student.  An optimistic attitude is essential throughout your job search, and it is one of the traits that can overcome deficiencies in your resume.  If you are feeling “depressed” or “angry” about your job search and conveying those emotions to others, you need to stop yourself right now! 

You have to get excited first before you can expect others to get excited about helping you.  An enthusiastic attitude will keep you optimistic and resilient.

Youth is not an obstacle.  Youth is a huge advantage for your career.  Remember The Lemonade Stand Principle.

P.S. For a free video series on how to get your dream job after college, visit www.DreamJobAcademy.com and enter “blog” for your password.  (Note: You need a password to get access to the video series.)

-Pete Leibman, Founder of Dream Job Academy and Author of I Got My Dream Job and So Can You: 7 Steps to Creating Your Ideal Career After College 

Email
Posted in College to Career | Comments Off

College to Career: 25 Things To Do Before You Graduate

Posted on by
Email

Success after college begins with what you do IN college...

I speak to college students and recent grads about how they can get their dream jobs and achieve success after college.  Given that my presentations are usually only 60-90 minutes long, time limitations prevent me from telling the audience everything I wish I had known when I was a student.

So, I took some time and identified a list of 25 things to do before you graduate to position yourself for success and happiness when you go from college to career. 

If you are reading this and you have already graduated from college, please keep reading because this list will help you regardless of your age!  Just start doing these 25 things now, one by one.  I guarantee that you will achieve more success and happiness:

1. Lead. Take on a leadership position for an organization on-campus or off-campus.  Leadership skills are gold for your career, and they build confidence and strong communication skills.

2. Travel/Study abroad.  By spending time in new places, you will build your confidence, open your mind, have fun, and meet interesting people.  One of my biggest regrets is that I did not study abroad in college. 

3. Donate your time.  Volunteering for a cause that matters to you will make the world better, make you feel better about yourself, and make you more marketable to employers who will see you as a quality person.

4. Do some dirty work.  Working a menial job that requires physical labor will build work ethic and character and make you more appreciative when you move up.  Or, it might help you realize that you like dirty work…

5. Join a professional association.  The best way to break in to an industry is to join an industry association as a student.  You’ll have the opportunity to build relationships with people in the “real-world” who could hire you later on and/or who can introduce you to others who can.  This strategy helped me get my dream job to work in the NBA when I was only 21 years old!

6. Start your own organization/club.  It will build your confidence, lead to new relationships, and strengthen your communication and leadership skills.  Employers will be very impressed by this initiative.

7. Blog.  Start a blog at yourname.wordpress.com on any topic you are passionate about; just keep it respectable.  Write at least one 500-word, high-quality entry each month.  A well-written blog will really impress potential employers and it will build your writing skills. 

8. Speak.  Find a Toastmasters club in your area and/or take a public speaking course.  The ability to speak confidently and competently in front of others is one of the most impressive skills a young professional can possess.  This will also increase your confidence exponentially.

9. Start a rolodex.  Your personal and professional relationships will be your greatest asset in every area of your life.  Start cultivating them as early as you can.  Think of your network like a garden that you take pride in maintaining and growing.

10. Choose your friends wisely.  Surround yourself with people with strong character, good attitudes, and similar values.  Your success and happiness will be directly related to the people you hang out with most.

11. Reflect weekly.  Set a weekly 1-hour appointment with yourself to go somewhere quiet and reflect on your life.  Make sure you are headed where YOU want to be, not where others think you should be.  If you are headed down the wrong path in any area of your life, identify some steps you can take to change directions immediately.

12. Strengthen your body.  Exercise at least 3-4 times a week, and feed your body the right way.  A strong, healthy body will give you more energy, more confidence, and lead to better performance in every area of life.

13. Nourish your mind.  Read uplifting material for at least 15 minutes EVERY day, and stop watching shows like Jersey Shore.  Superficial TV shows are like cheeseburgers for your mind.  They make you mentally “obese.”

14. Create your rules.  Take 1 weekend afternoon and establish 5-10 “rules” for how you will live your life.  Look over your rules each morning and night.  This keeps you on track.  Here are 5 of my rules for my life:

    • To always do the right thing, no matter what
    • To support, appreciate, and encourage everyone I interact with
    • To pursue my dreams despite any doubters or obstacles
    • To make my mind and body as pure and strong as possible
    • To take full accountability for my life and make changes when necessary

15. Set S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goals.  Everyone has heard that goals should be S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-based), but that’s not sufficient.  Make them “S.M.A.R.T.E.R” by also recognizing the E.R. (“exciting reason”) for setting the goal.  Losing 10 pounds by next summer is a S.M.A.R.T. goal, but losing 10 pounds by next summer so that you will feel better about yourself at the beach is a S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goal.  Which do you think is more motivating?  “Exciting reasons” are essential for goal achievement.

16. Intern.  Do an internship each year in college, and do a great job.  You’ll enhance your resume and your marketability, you’ll learn more about your passions and talents (and your dislikes and weaknesses), and you’ll develop networking contacts that will be valuable in the future.

17. Study outside your major.  After checking with your academic advisor to make sure this is allowed, take at least one course each semester not related to your major.  You might realize another subject interests you more than your current coursework.  Either way, you will open your mind.

18. Join LinkedIn.com.  Create a professional profile on LinkedIn, start building your professional network, and join LinkedIn groups relevant to your career aspirations so that you can learn more about your field and meet people who already work in it.

19. Clean up your Facebook page.  Remove any questionable pictures, comments, quotes, or wall posts on your page.  Employers make judgments about you based on what they find online.

20. Identify your passions.  Find out what gets you excited.  Make sure you pursue a career connected to your passions.

21. Identify your talents.  Pay attention to what comes easily to you.  Make sure you pursue a career where you will be able to use those strengths on a daily basis.

22. Rise early.  Make yourself a morning person.  There is no greater feeling than starting the day when most people are still sleeping.  Yes, this means you probably have to go to bed earlier.

23. Count your blessings often.  Spend a few minutes right when you get up and right before bed to acknowledge everything you are thankful about.  It’s easy to lose track.

24. Grow.  Complacency is the enemy of greatness and happiness.  Acknowledge and appreciate your accomplishments, but always keep challenging yourself and trying to get better.  Get out of your comfort zone as much as possible.

25. Love yourself.  Sounds cheesy, but if you don’t like who you are, nothing else matters.  Success and happiness in life starts with appreciation for yourself!   

Want to make a smooth transition when you go from college to career?  Then, do these 25 things before you graduate, and you will be a superstar!

P.S. Like this article?  Please share it with others and comment below with any of your thoughts as well! 

-Pete Leibman, Founder of Dream Job Academy and Author of I Got My Dream Job and So Can You: 7 Steps to Creating Your Ideal Career After College 

 

Email
Posted in College to Career | Comments Off

Welcome To The Dream Job Academy Blog (by Pete Leibman, Founder of Dream Job Academy)

Posted on by
Email

Thanks for checking out The Dream Job Academy Blog!

I’m Pete Leibman, Founder of Dream Job Academy, Author of I Got My Dream Job and So Can You, and Publisher of The Dream Job Academy Blog.

When I was a student in college, there’s NO WAY I would have guessed that less than 10 years later, I’d be an international career expert and published author on how to get your dream job as a young professional.

Like most young job-seekers, I initially struggled to make the transition from college to career, and I also struggled in my twenties to get clear on what I wanted from my career. One reason why I’m so passionate about helping people identify and land their dream jobs is because I want your journey to be easier than mine was.

In case you’re not familiar with my story, let me start there…

Ever since my dad took me to my first NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden when I was 7 years old, basketball has been one of my passions. When I got to college and realized I could combine my passion for basketball with my interest in business, I knew exactly what my dream job would be: a sales/marketing position with an NBA franchise.

However, as I approached the end of my college career, I had no leads whatsoever on making it happen. I thought I had done everything that you’re supposed to do. I was working so hard, and it felt like nothing was working. I couldn’t get employers to respond to me, and when they did, it seemed like all they were saying was “We’re not hiring” or “You don’t have the right experience.” Maybe you can relate…

Well, even though I struggled initially, I was persistent, and I ultimately stumbled onto a simple, 6-step process that landed me a private interview with the Team President for the NBA’s Washington Wizards. One week after that interview, the Wizards hired me for a full-time position over hundreds of more experienced candidates. I cannot express in words how amazing it felt when I received the call from them with their offer! At the time, I was only 21 years old, and I had never even had a full-time job before.

During my tenure in the NBA, the Wizards actually paid me (very well, in fact) to come up with strategies to increase attendance for their home games. Here is one of my favorite pictures from my time in the NBA. This is me with former NBA player, Gheorghe Mhuresan. I’m 6’1”, but Big Gheorghe is 7’7”. I have never felt so short in my life!

I'm 6'1" but big Gheorghe Mhuresan is 7'7"

 

In 2008, I actually decided to leave the NBA. While my job in the NBA had been my dream job, I reached a point where I was ready for a new challenge, for something “even bigger.” I made the mistake of thinking that a job where I could make even more money would make me even happier, even though I was already making a phenomenal salary.

Using my little-known job search strategies, I ended up landing a job with a 6-figure base salary at the start of the recent recession. Sounds like a dream job, right?

Well, I quickly realized that more money does not always equal more happiness.

In my next job, I was doing work that was completely meaningless to me. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be well-compensated. However, I realized that one of the keys to achieving greater success and satisfaction in your career is to do work that matters to you and excites you.

After a pretty arduous process, I realized that what I really wanted to do next was write a book and start a company to help other young professionals land their dream jobs, like I had done with my job in the NBA.

So, in 2009, I began to pursue my next dream job as a job search expert, speaker and author. I founded Dream Job Academy, and now I travel nationwide speaking to students and young professionals about how to get your dream job after college.

This is a picture after one of my presentations at Johns Hopkins University.

This is a picture of me with a group of students at one of my presentations in 2011.

 My first book was published by The American Management Association in 2012. It’s called “I Got My Dream Job and So Can You.”

This is a picture of my book on how to get your dream job as a young professional.

I share my story with you because I want you to know WHY I do what I do, and I want you to know that I’ve been in your shoes. All of the concepts I’m going to share with you on this web site will be strategies and concepts I have used myself to land my dream job in the NBA, to land my dream job with a NY publisher, and to land a 6-figure job in between (even though it was not my dream job).

There is unfortunately a ton of bad career advice out there right now that is 100% wrong, and I’m going to reveal the truth on what it really takes to get your dream job and create your ideal career as a young professional. You can rest assured that everything I’ll share with you is based on real-world, firsthand experience. Everything is field-tested and proven.

None of the strategies I teach job-seekers came easily to me, whether it was how to get clear on what you want from your career, how to present yourself to employers, how to approach networking, how to use social media during your job search, how to approach interviewing, and so on. I was just a regular guy who worked hard and stumbled onto a simple system that you can follow to get your dream job, too.

I don’t know your particular situation right now… Maybe you are angry about having trouble getting hired. Maybe you are fed up with plugging along in a career that feels meaningless to you. Maybe you feel lost when it comes to your career. Maybe you feel underpaid or under-appreciated by your current employer. Or, maybe your career situation is not that bad and you are just curious to see what else is out there. If any of these examples sound like you, then you are in the right place!

I have experienced all of these emotions more than once throughout my career, and I love helping people identify and land their dream jobs because I know firsthand how challenging and stressful and emotional a job search can be. You deserve to have a job that is exciting to you, a job that is meaningful to you, a job that you are proud of, a job that is fun, a job where you can thrive by using your strengths, and a job where you are well-compensated.

I created Dream Job Academy because I believe everyone deserves to have their dream job! Along those lines, CLICK HERE for a FREE video series on how to get your dream job as a young professional. (Note: you will need to enter a password to access the video series, so enter “blog” as your password.)

Until next time, remember that you just need 1 break to get your dream job, and it’s closer than you think…

-Pete Leibman, Founder of Dream Job Academy and Author of “I Got My Dream Job and So Can You: 7 Steps to Creating Your Ideal Career After College”

Email
Posted in New Here? Start Here. | Comments Off