Kimberly Bishop
Q: You are the Founder and CEO of KimberlyBishop.net, a leadership services company. Please tell us more about your company and the types of services you offer.
Companies and business leaders retain us to recruit talent for their key positions and to identify and recruit board directors for private, public and non-profit organizations. We work closely with business leaders on strategic talent planning and assessment. In the course of doing business, we have a lot of interaction with executives and job seekers, and I provide counsel and guidance on the job search process.
Q: You have a new line of products coming out soon. Care to share what you have in store?
Yes. I am very excited about my new book, Get Down to Business and You’ll Get the Job, which will be available in November. Watch my website (www.kimberlybishop.net) for news of upcoming book-signing events or to order a copy. The book covers the step-by-step process of finding a job and offers insider tips from the perspective of a professional recruiter. Additionally, future products include a variety of job search resources that job seekers can utilize once the process is underway.
Q: The nature of recruiting is rapidly changing. Is there something you can recommend that is more effective than a resume?
Absolutely not. Your resume is your first point of entry and it is your most important job search tool. If it’s not an accurate representation of who you are, what you’ve done and what you can offer, it will hinder your success.
Make sure your resume is clear, concise, easy to read and filled with accomplishments as opposed to responsibilities. A resume can be a double-edged sword. It can cut in your favor, or it can cut against you. That's why careful attention to the strategy of your job search has to be built into your resume.
That said, some people might think resumes will be replaced by online profiles. My rule is that the two must be consistent. Update your online profile to match your resume. Check to make sure all names, titles and dates coincide. If you left a job recently, make sure your online profile reflects the last date you worked at that company.
Recruiters use social media to find and research applicants. Don’t underestimate the importance of this, especially when it comes to LinkedIn. LinkedIn is one of the primary tools recruiters use for sourcing candidates and researching applicants. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is 100 percent complete.
Q: When applying for a job online, there is no guarantee your application reaches the hiring agent. Should people follow up with a call or do you have another suggestion?
It can’t hurt to follow up with a call. But, if you don’t get a response, just move on. The mistake many people make is that they continue to try to connect on one particular position and miss out on others. Also, check your network to see if you have any contacts in that company who might be able to help you.
Q: How can individuals who have been unemployed best present themselves on paper and in person?
It may be surprising to hear, but even with all of the job search advice available, many people blow their chances by making simple mistakes that are easy to avoid.
On paper, the basics matter!
Craft a perfect resume; emphasize skills and accomplishments; don’t leave out any jobs. Never lie. Follow the instructions that are presented when applying for that position. For example, if they ask for compensation, don’t be evasive. Answer the question honestly.
In person or on the phone, research the company and be knowledgeable about its business. Know the products and services it offers and who its key competitors are.
When you go to an interview, be prepared with stories or career experiences that illustrate the key skills that are outlined in the position spec. Focus on your achievements in each job or scenario, not on the title or description of the last job you held. Rehearse your pitch. Keep it concise, upbeat and to the point. Never go to the interview unsure about what it is you want to do with your career. If you aren’t sure, you are not ready for that interview.
Q: What advice would you give to those professionals whose entire industry has been wiped out that cannot get an interview, despite talent and successful track record?
I would strongly suggest they consider making a career change. People are afraid to make a change because they don’t know how to begin. I have a 5-step process that breaks down this daunting task to the basics:
1. Research up and coming industries
2. Realistically inventory your skills and assess accomplishments to determine your transferrable skills
3. Prepare your written materials: resume, bio, references, etc.
4. Close any gaps you may have in your experience, either by volunteering, attending professional seminars or returning to school.
5. Update your network and use online and offline networking techniques
Here’s an easy way to do a skills inventory:
· Go through every job you ever held
· List your responsibilities and accomplishments
· Under accomplishments, list tangible results
(When you get results, it usually means that you’re good at the task).
· Look for themes such as: saved the company money; brought in new customers; developed a process that saved time.
· Sum it all up by determining that these are things you really like doing
From here, you can begin to research specific jobs and industries to determine where opportunities might be right for you.
Q: Social media may be creating new jobs but it is also eliminating traditional ones. What are some warning signs that your job may be in danger?
Read the papers. Then ask yourself some basic questions. Is your industry at risk? If you work for a public company, is the stock price falling?
Have there been budget cuts in your division or group? Is your group merging with another group or division? Do you have a new boss? Is he or she ignoring you? Are you being bypassed for special projects, business trips or industry conferences? Have you been excluded from meetings; are your ideas shot down or ignored? Are your co-workers acting odd or aloof? Did you get a bad performance review? Were you turned down for a promotion?
Q: What would you tell entrepreneurs, freelancers or independent consultants who are trying to build a business in this economy?
Upgrade your technical skills; know social networking media in depth. Don’t underestimate the importance of a business plan and business development strategy.
Surround yourself with a good support team: it’s important to have a banker, an accountant, a lawyer and an IT consultant you can turn to for advice and assistance. It’s also a good idea to have an informal board of advisors you can call on to brainstorm new ideas or strategies. And, make sure you can back up any experience you list on your resume with real client examples.
Q: Corporate America is not the friendliest place for many singles. Are there any tips or resources you can recommend to solos who are left out in terms of benefits?
Every person has to find a job that fits their skills and their values -- that’s the much discussed “cultural fit” that is often the key to a successful career. So, my first tip is to ensure you are working at a firm that feels right for you. What might be the perfect job and company for one person can be the wrong fit for another. Only you can assess that and determine if you are at the right company.
The second tip, and I tell this to candidates with some frequency, is to remember that much of the personal satisfaction and rewards you receive in your position is based on performance. So, no matter what, you need to ensure you are performing well in your role.
Q: Any other words of wisdom?
Doing a job search or making a career change is hard work. Fortunately, most people only go through it a few times in their career. That’s why it is important to follow a process and get expert advice along the way. If you remember that, anything is possible!
For more career tips and advice, please visit KimberlyBishop.net
