Linsey Levine has been a JibberJobber partner for  years.  Last year I had a choice meeting with her where we talked about Personality Tests… er, Personality ASSESSMENTS.  They aren’t tests, as Linsey went on to explain.  She clearly has a lot of training and experience using assessments to help people understand what direction they should be pointed in in the job search.

Linsey works with a lot of executives, although she has a breadth of experience in the career space.  I asked he if she would write something to introduce herself… here’s what she sent me:

After an early career that included attorney search, teaching, and editing, I found myself stuck – with really no idea what to do next. An epiphany helped me make a mid-life career change myself, and now I partner with other people in career pain, career depression, and career limbo – to help them get unstuck. It was the best choice and decision that I ever made! I love my work, my clients, and making a difference.

My passion for helping people uncover, discover, or turn on their light, enables them to consciously create successful career paths that are aligned with their values, gifts, interests, and unique strengths .

I have a private Career Coaching /Counseling / Resume Writing practice in White Plains, Westchester NY, and also facilitate ExecuNet Networking meetings in the tri-state area. As Adjunct Faculty of the Graduate School of the College of New Rochelle, I taught the Career Development Masters curriculum and supervised interns. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Master Career Development Professional(MCDP).

As a client so aptly observed, “ You are a CAREer, you put the CARE into Care(er),” so I love to provide inspirational and practical advice, as well as resources and valuable connections. I am an active member of the Career Counselors Consortium, Career Management Alliance, Association for Psychological Type, Career Development Specialists Network, National Career Development Association, Association of Career Professionals International, and National Resume Writers Association.

There is a major difference between a career coach and a career counselor. I’m proud to have Linsey as a JibberJobber Partner, and offer both skillsets to her clients, and helps them with counseling, coaching and resumes.

Learn more about Linsey Levine on LinkedIn or from her website.

Here are some links of interest:

Career Counseling and Coaching

Resume Writing Services

Career Workshops

ExecuNet Facilitated Networking Meetings

Last year (well, two weeks ago) I answered a question from someone who asked how to perform a job search without anyone (like, your boss) knowing about it.

It is a great post with great comments read here: How to do a Discreet Job Search.

Kim Mohiuddin, JibberJobber’s newest Partner, offered this comment (on Facebook):

This whole topic speaks to the fact that people see career management as something to do when you’re unemployed, like eating really well and hitting the gym the day before your annual physical.

She is so right!!

When do you network?

When do you work on your brand?

When do you do this stuff?

When your boss isn’t looking?

Or do you do a little bit every single day?

I bet you inadvertently do a little bit every day.  You communicate with people (aka network), you meet new people (aka network), you follow-up with people (aka network), you leave an impression (aka personal branding), you reinforce a perception (aka personal branding), EVERY SINGLE DAY.

It might be productive or destructive, but you are doing it.

Even if you don’t do something you are reinforcing that you are one who doesn’t follow-through or follow-up, or one who is nowhere to be seen (not good), or one who is really busy with projects (could be good!).

You are doing this stuff on accident all the time.

Imagine, for the sake of YOUR career management, you did it ON PURPOSE.

With a plan, and a strategy, and a goal, and objectives.

How different would your undercover job search be?

You probably wouldn’t be in a job search.  I’m guessing the hidden job market would find you.

My last post on age discrimination got excellent comments.  If you are concerned about age discrimination in your job search go check it out.

Brad Attig, a JibberJobber partner, wrote a post called “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” The Great Date Debate.  Read the entire thing.

Some of his finer points:

“I think you are a knucklehead if you leave [the date] off.”

“If you leave it off, it’s off for 1 of 2 reasons. (you’ll have to read the two reasons at his post)”

“I firmly believe you draw more attention to your age by leaving the date off.”

“They will figure out your age at some point.”

Go check out the post and then form your own opinion about what you are trying to hide on your resume.  I welcome any comments about this issue

Today we have a treat – my JibberJobber Partner (career coach and resume writer) Julie Walraven answers some questions I have about the objective statement on a resume.  You may have one of these on YOUR resume… if so, you’ll definitely want to read this.  If you don’t, read it and you’ll have peace of mind about why you don’t have it.  (Julie Walraven’s blog // Julie Walraven on Twitter)

Jason: What is the objective statement?

Julie: From my perspective, Jason, the better question is “What was the objective statement?” When thinking of the traditional objective statement, such as “I want a position that offers a challenge working with a committed team of people in a progressive environment,” this is an archaic phrasing that went away years ago.

Jason: What is the history of it? Was it controversial 5 or 10 years ago?

Julie: I researched my résumé books hoping to find an author that championed the objective statement in the above format. But even an old book that someone donated to my résumé book collection, written in 1983 by Herman Holtz, Beyond the Résumé: How to Land the Job You Want, I only found Holtz talking about why you want to be specific in your target.

The objective statement has been replaced by the banner headline of the résumé, which according to the notes from the “Mastering the Art of Résumé Writing” session at the 2010 Career Thought Leaders Conference & Symposium, says “Headline  Provides immediate focus.”Louise Kursmark and Wendy Enelow from the Résumé Writing Academy who have co-authored many of the best résumé books on the market have long advocated dropping that lengthy objective statement.

I will confess that before I turned to organizations like Career Thought Leaders and Career Directors International for my source of information, I put those archaic statements on resumes back in the 80’s.

Jason: What’s the big deal today, why are people saying to not put it on?

Julie: A résumé is a marketing tool. YOU, the jobseeker, are the product. Gayle Howard, one of the world’s leading résumé writers writes in her book, “PS, You’re a Résumé Expert,” a guidebook for Career Directors International’s résumé certification courses, “This is one of the most hackneyed phrases ever written, and it’s all about me, me, me” Gayle’s amusing example continues, “How many people would actually prefer working in “a treadmill position, surrounded by boring deadbeats, in a potentially bankrupt, and stultifying atmosphere?”

Jason: What’s a good alternative then, if you don’t put on the objective statement? Why?

Julie: You want a Banner Headline, such as Sales Manager, coupled with perhaps a branding statement which adds uniqueness and personality.

Sales Manager | Operations Manager | Business Coach

Talented Leader and Manager with initiative to move projects forward.
Excels in delivering exceptional customer experience and satisfaction.

You could offset that with graphic lines or put it in a text box to grab the reader’s attention. This strategy puts you back in a marketing mode, again selling YOU the product.

Jason: Would it ever make sense to have an objective statement on the résumé?

Julie: No! Make sure that the advice you are taking for your résumé and your career marketing strategies is from someone who is connected with the leading career minds in the world. If you are using an old business textbook, you will end up on the bottom of the résumé pile with no offers in your hand.

Thanks for the opportunity to visit, Jason!

Julie Walraven — Your Career Marketing Strategist “When I  began writing resumes, I had no idea it would become my career and drive me into exploring technology, career management, and recently, the intriguing world of social media. Networked with the best and brightest career minds in the world, I want to use my resources and knowledge to help you succeed in your career path.”

I’ve been trying to figure out how to write this and have it be a good read for you.  I hope I can pull it off, otherwise this is just a braggy post.

Last week I went to the Career Management Alliance conference in New Orleans.  They just started a new recognition program where they have four awards that they give to people in the career industry (whether you are a member of CMA or not).  I was surprised and honored to have earned the award called the Mentor Award.

According to the Career Management Alliance website, the Mentor Award “honors those individuals who have guided, and inspired, their colleagues in tradecraft, entrepreneurship, and community building.”

I usually feel like a vendor… I’m not a career coach, resume writer, counselor or practitioner, so to get recognition like this for being a COLLEAGUE is a real honor.  I appreciate the nomination and any discussion about this from the CMA people… thank you!

Here are the other awards and winners:

What Color is Your Parachute Award – Deb Dib
In honor of the founder of modern career counseling and author of What Color is Your Parachute? — Dick Bolles — this award recognizes an individual who has made sustained, innovative contributions to the careers industry — someone who has stayed on the cutting edge and shared his or her knowledge on a wide scale…someone who has helped shape lives and inspired hope.

Bridge Award – Wendy Enelow and Elizabeth Craig
The Bridge Award recognizes one outstanding professional who has made a significant difference in the careers field by connecting professionals from a wide variety of sectors within the industry (e.g., government, academia, the corporate sector, nonprofits, and the entrepreneurial world).

Mentor Award – Diane Hudson Burns and me
The Mentor Award honors those individuals who have guided, and inspired, their colleagues in tradecraft, entrepreneurship, and community building.

Marketing Innovator of the Year – Jacqui Barrett Poindexter
The Marketing Innovator of the Year award is a great exaltation, recognizing a career management professional who has created and successfully implemented the most innovative practice for building business and enhancing their brand.

Congrats to all recipients and nominees, and thanks to CMA for the recognition

I just got information from my JibberJobber Partner, Beverly Harvey, about a telesminar she is hosting on Friday called “How To Conduct a Highly Successful Job Acquisition Campaign and Land Your Next Position ASAP”

The call is this Friday, Dec 18, at 1pm EST.  She says you’ll learn:

• Why the job acquisition techniques you used a few years ago aren’t working
• What decision makers and recruiters are really looking for
• Why you may not be getting called for interviews
• Why you can’t take any short cuts when it comes to your job acquisition campaign
• Why you need a well-though-out strategy, plan and system
• Why you must treat a job acquisition campaign like a marketing campaign
• Why a haphazard, trial-and-error approach won’t work in today’s market

You can register here (affiliate link – she’s introducing her Platinum Job Acquisition Progam on that call).

A little about Beverly: I have met Beverly a number of times at career conferences and have found her to be well-respected, and in fact she is involved in coaching and training job search coaches.  She is definitely current on job search (or, as she says, acquisition) strategies and techniques, and passionate about helping professionals move on.  Her reputation alone is well worth your time on her call on Friday…!

Tomorrow morning at 10MST (noon EST) I’ll host my first 45 minute BlogTalkRadio show.  You can listen live (through your speakers), call in with questions, or download and listen to the podcast later.  All the information you need should be on the BlogTalkRadio JibberJobber page (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/JibberJobber).

To listen live with your speakers, just go to this page at the right time (10am MST): http://www.blogtalkradio.com/JibberJobber

To callin and chat, the number is: (718) 766-4825

Susan coauthored Job Search Bloopers, which I’ve read and loved.

We’ll see how I do as an interviewer, and not an interviewee!

I had an idea a few days ago, and my mind has been spinning since.  Today I’m announcing Jibberjobber One Thing, which will help people who are interested in nurturing their careers, or even protecting their careers, and wondering what they can proactively do to salvage some idea of job security.

JibberJobber One Thing is a Yahoo Group (sign up here) that you can join to receive ONE email a day.  The email will have ONE suggestion of something you can do for your career that day.  It will be very, very short (one or two sentences) and actionable (something you can do that day).  I brainstormed dozens of ideas, and will get more from my partners.

The idea is NOT to overwhelm you, rather to give you bite-sized things you can do, or at least think about, to move your career management in a positive direction.

JibberJobber One Thing will mature, I’m sure, but for now I see it as a very simple, non-intrusive tool to help you do what you need to do. 

We’ll start sending the emails out on Wednesday, October 1, 2008.  You can sign up here, and unsubscribe whenever you want.

Cool idea?

This post is sponsored by JibberJobber.com.  If you are going to do ONE THING for your career today, you should sign up for JibberJobber.com, get your free account, and start to manage career relationships.  If you are in an active job search, use JibberJobber as your job search tracker, or job search spreadsheet, and track and organize your job search efforts.

Actually, I usually hate it. It drove me mad last year, in the heat of my job search.

Why? Because I felt that most of it didn’t apply to me. For some reason, whether it was the city I lived in, the job titles I was going for, my background, my personality, or the income bracket I needed, the articles I read just didn’t do it for me. After a while, I got really frustrated – “oh no, another 10-point list that says to do these things and I’ll be successful.“

Really, I just needed someone who could pinpoint my problem. I needed someone to reach through my laptop and yell, “Jason! Your resume is keeping you from interviews because you put all your stuffed-shirt titles (like CIO, general manager, vice president) but you are applying for jobs at lower levels (like product manager, project manager and even business analyst)! Change the titles to be more general, or generic, because you are scaring off the hiring managers and confusing HR!!”

I would have replied with “ya but, I want them to see how cool and accomplished I am!” And the response would have been something like “You can be cool and accomplished, or you can start getting interviews, which do you prefer?”

That’s what I needed to hear. That was the biggest problem in my job search. If I had that I would have had a nice job over a year ago (and JibberJobber would have been nothing more than a dream).

But I never read that anywhere. I just read articles on what to wear to an interview (ironed clothes, dark and matching socks, etc.), how to interview (always ask them questions to show you are smart and prepared), and those magic lists that seemed to promise “do these 10 things and your wildest career dreams will come true.”

Sometimes we can do it on our own, taking a few hours to learn and apply. But sometimes it makes sense to get help. I just spent four action-packed days with resume and career professionals in Savannah, and it was… incredible. This is my second conference with many of these professionals and I am always amazed at what drives them, and what their value prop to a job seeker is.

I’m hooked – I’m a believer. Sure you can do it on your own, but if you are stuck, seriously consider getting help. It can be free (you can get free help from the state, or a religious entity), or you can find a professional that specializes in what you do. For example:

Kim Batson specializes in C-level and senior technology (IT) executives. She gave a presentation about IT resumes that taught me about my own industry – she knows her stuff!

Deb Dib specializes in senior-level executives who are entrepreneurial and want to make a difference in the world. Deb is very respected in the industry and helps her peers and her clients get laser-focus to acheive what they really want, with tools, techniques and strategies.

Susan Whitcomb has written a number of books on resume, job search, interview, etc. She has researched and studied this stuff for years, and even certifies coaches in an accredited program she developed – Susan knows how to find out what your problem is and help you develop the right solution.

Claudine Vainrub specializes in educational consulting and helps you get into the schools you want. Her clients have called on her services to get into Harvard and other top-league schools … she has “been there, done that” and instead of taking a gamble on getting in, you need to check out what she can do for you!

My point? There are lists, and there is generic advice. But sometimes what we need is more than a list. We need a guru that can draw on experience and wisdom, someone who understands hiring trends and tactics, and someone who can identify our own issues. If you are stuck, or know that you want to accelerate the process for that next great step in your career, check out one of my partners (all four above have partnered with JibberJobber).

A few weeks ago I announced the Career Management Toolbox that I’m working on, with significant input from my partners. I said it would be live and available within a week … and then got busy on my book! Nonetheless, I received some excellent feedback and resources from my partners and thought that I should get this rolling out right now.

There is a new “page” (that’s what a blog calls something that isn’t a “post”) called Career Toolbox. You can always find it by mousing over Pages and then clicking on Career Toolbox. I really want to call it Career Management Toolbox but that was too long for the menu .

This looks very elementary right now, without many links. But you’ll get a chance to see what I’m thinking. There are a number of resources that I haven’t put in yet and will be fleshing it out over time – for now I need to work on my book (I need to send the first draft to an editor this weekend!!)!

If you have any suggestions on what other topics or resources should be in the Career Management Toolbox, please let me know! You can leave a comment here (I turned comments to that page off).

(if you haven’t found the other four links to the Career Management Toolbox yet, click here to check it out )