List of Essential Job Search Skills Offered by Herzog Career Consulting in Washington, D.C.

Picking the right kind of jobs to target

Many job seekers wear themselves out (and get depressed) searching web job sites. They report they can’t find many appropriate openings and often feel overwhelmed. Is this you? It usually helps a great deal to pinpoint 4 or 5 job titles, organizations, and locations. I can supply you with niche job websites for the kinds of jobs you seek, and we can develop a strategy for using networking and social media to reach hiring managers and find openings that don’t appear on the usual sites.

Tailoring your resumes

Yes, resumes, plural. Using the same exact resume for each job opening isn’t good enough. It’s important to analyze just what the employer is looking for, and then present as many of those skills and attributes as you have— in words that they (or their Applicant Tracking System-ATS) will recognize. Key words are a must.

I’ll teach you techniques that will allow you to tailor your resumes and get them into the “let’s interview” pile. Almost all my clients find they can take their resumes to the next level.

This effort also helps a lot in writing cover letters and interviewing. The secret: determine the employer’s “big three” most wanted skill sets.

Developing communication materials that lead to interviews

Do you have a good way of introducing yourself (a.k.a.”elevator speech”)? Have you developed a 1 and 2 minute explanation of the type of position you seek and what your key skills and experience are? This can be challenging to do well — but once you have a good one, you’ll find you can vary it easily, and be much more comfortable in networking situations.

I’ll help you with this key step, as well as with a cover letter and polishing a profile for social networking sites such as LinkedIn.

“Passive” job search and social networking

Sounds easy? Well, yes and no. To be found you need to be active online. For many jobs, recruiters often use Linked-In and other sites to find people whose talents and experience they want. Recruiters look closely at social media sites — not just to check out clients they have found in other ways, but also to scan for potential new candidates who have desired skills and savvy.

I’ll show you how to maximize your chances of being recruited by being sure to use enough – and the right — key words in your social media profiles.

Using the 4 key methods to get jobs

Avoid over-reliance on what most people focus on: internet ads. Stats provide guidance on how to spend your time. I take you step-by-step, so you can use the 4 methods in the most efficient way.

Networking

Expert Lynn Waymon says that networking is about teaching people about your competence and character, and giving back by listening and — if you can — helping them. Many clients are anxious about networking. I’ll teach you techniques, and how to give back. If you are an introvert, you don’t have to be out schmoozing every evening to network effectively. We can tailor your networking to your personal style.

Preparing for your interview

I think I’ve never had a client who didn’t feel they had benefited from a practice session. I’ll give you a mock interview, and then we’ll put together our ideas about how you can strengthen your answers and represent yourself most effectively.

Benefits and salary negotiation

Few people love to do this. Some don’t do it well. Coaching and practice in negotiating salary, bonuses, flextime, educational benefits, etc. will give you added skills and confidence. Too many people — especially women — don’t negotiate, and can miss out on thousands of dollars, year after year.