Studies show that if you are not in an active job search, you are less likely to engage people in your professional network. That’s a huge mistake. Staying top-of-mind with your professional network is super important, especially when you are not actively seeking employment. Let me explain.
 
A popular movie trivia party game of the 1990s was based on the premise that any actor can be linked to Kevin Bacon in six steps or less. The actor’s “Bacon Number” showed the number of degrees of separation between the actor and Kevin Bacon.
 
The party game demonstrated the idea that any person on Earth could meet anyone in the world with six or fewer steps between them and another person. The social science behind six degrees of separation dates back to the 1960s. The idea that a friend-of-a-friend, six-link chain could connect any two people on the planet is intriguing.
 
LinkedIn is built on the idea of person-to-person connectivity to help people find employment. But, if you are like me, you have numerous connections on LinkedIn that you don’t know personally.
 
How do you filter out your close connections from the massive number of LinkedIn connections to the people you actually know, like, and trust? Do you have a plan to reach out to these close contacts on a regular basis to build strong business relationships?”
 
As a certified career coach and networking strategist, I can help you build, optimize, and manage your professional network. By proactively messaging close contacts regularly, you will not fall prey to the pandemonium associated with job loss in this crazy economy. If the unexpected layoff does happen, you will have numerous people who are happy to serve as your champions and introduce you to a friend-of-a-friend who may know of a job opportunity that is perfectly suited for you.
 
My friend Michele Saunders, a mindset and transition coach at Thrive365, leads a Clubhouse room
"6 Degrees of Separation" Mondays at 11:30 AM Eastern. I'll be joining the discussion as a
​co-moderator along with other members of the Thought Leadership Branding Club.

We hope you will join us for a casual conversation about connections and professional relationship building. ​If you are not on the app and need an invitation to join Clubhouse, please send me a message to info@writtenbyapro.com. If you are already on Clubhouse, look for the club "6 Degrees of Separation" then click on the green icon that looks like a house to follow Michele's club.





​​

Hannah Morgan will be our guest speaker on June 7th! You won't want to miss a moment of the conversation of how to know when it is time to leave a job you hate.

Tom Powner will be speaking about LinkedIn on 6/14. Get the 411 on best practices for building connections and business relationships on LinkedIn.

Mark Anthony Dyson will be presenting on 6/14 on the topic of why you should always be prepared for a job search. You never know when a lucrative opportunity might pop up.

On 6/28 CTL members will be available to review your resume and LinkedIn profile for free!

Follow me @SharlaTaylor on Clubhouse to be notified when the meeting starts. If you are not on Clubhouse and would like to join, send me a message on LinkedIn.

Are you finding it difficult to block out time to search for a new job?​ 

Today, I listened to a fabulous Clubhouse meeting with Marie Zimenoff, CEO of Career Thought Leaders, and Emily Allen, international bestselling author and productivity coach.
 
The takeaways from today’s session can easily apply to your job search.

• Prioritize tasks to align with your energy levels during the day.
  
  
• Block out time to achieve your goals. For me this translates into “Do the worst first.” If I tackle the tedious administrative tasks that I dislike in the morning, I get them done so that I can have more time for the creative aspects of my job that I love.
  
  If you are employed fulltime and conducting a confidential job search, that might translate into finding time on weeknights or weekends to research companies, network with people on LinkedIn, and customize your résumé for each job opportunity.
  
  
• Avoid procrastination. Personally, I’m easily distracted by the “but first” trap of convincing myself I’ll get around to it “but first I need to do this or that.” I’ll admit, I am an inventive procrastinator!
  
  
• Block out time for social media interaction. Your goal is to be the candidate who is referred into the organization where the competition is lower and access to the hiring manager is easier.

 

• Avoid the shiny object syndrome. I’m attracted to new technologies that I purchase and don’t get around to implementing, although I know the benefits of having systems and processes in place. The same is true for a job search. There are many tools that are available online, and a career coach can advise you which programs and resources are based on proven job search strategies that get results.

 
A career coach can help job seekers put systems and processes in place to help people focus their job search efforts on actions that will yield a higher ROI.
 
People who have some type of job search support, whether it is individual or group coaching sessions, land their next role up to 20% faster than people who try to go it alone. The investment you make in yourself could save you thousands of dollars by landing your next professional role faster.
 
Time management is crucial to your job search success. Make every minute count!

Without a doubt, the workplace has changed in the past few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses and employees are striving to keep up with supersonic change due to the economic challenges of the public health crisis.

LinkedIn reports that there are *four key themes* shaping the future of work:

• Emerging Technologies
• New Career Pathways
• Entrepreneurship
• Global Economic Opportunity

If you've lost your job during the pandemic, stay hopeful.  

“Just because the past didn’t turn out like you wanted it to doesn’t mean your future can’t be better than you imagined.” - Ziad K. Abdelnour

There are huge opportunities ahead if you understand the dynamics and trends of the emerging job market. 

Working with a certified professional career coach will help you shape your career to meet the demand for what's new and what's next in the future of work.

This week I am attending Career Thought Leaders Career Jam 2020 where industry experts will be sharing information on:

• Emerging Technology in Jobs and Career Coaching
• Remote Work: Implications for Career Advancement
• Virtual Job Search: Connecting with the Right People to Land Your Next Job
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workforce
• Older Workers and How to Thrive in a Multi-Generational Workforce
• Mental Health: Dealing with a Period of Unsettlement in Your Life

I can't wait to share new and emerging job search and career management trends in our upcoming group coaching program Mission Possible: Jumpstart Your Job Search! The pilot of the course launches January 4, 2021. Click here to register now at a huge discount!

*Source: https://economicgraph.linkedin.com/the-future-of-work

Studies show that if you are not in an active job search, you are less likely to engage people in your professional network. That’s a huge mistake. Staying top-of-mind with people in your professional network is super important, especially when you are not actively seeking employment. Let me explain.
 
A popular movie trivia party game of the 1990s was based on the premise that any actor could be linked to Kevin Bacon in six steps or less. The actor’s “Bacon Number” showed the number of degrees of separation between the actor and Kevin Bacon.
 
The party game demonstrated the idea that any person on Earth could meet anyone in the world with six steps (or less) between them and the other person. The social science behind six degrees of separation dates back to the 1920s. The idea that “a friend-of-a-friend, 6-link chain” could connect any two people on the planet is intriguing.
 
LinkedIn is built on the idea of person-to-person connectivity to help people find employment. But, if you are like me, you have numerous connections on LinkedIn that you don’t know personally.
 
The question is, “How do you filter out your close connections from the massive number of LinkedIn connections to the people you actually know, like, and trust? Do you have a plan to reach out to these close contacts on a regular basis to build strong business relationships?”
 
As a Phello Career Networking Expert, I can help you build, optimize, and manage your contacts using SaaS technology. By proactively messaging close contacts regularly, you will not fall prey to the pandemonium associated with job loss in this crazy economy. If the unexpected layoff does happen, you will have numerous people who are happy to serve as your champions and introduce you to a friend-of-a-friend who may know of a job opportunity that is perfectly suited for you.
 
Differentiate yourself from the sea of candidates flooding the job market due to layoffs. Click below to find out how you can work with Sharla Taylor to harness the power of Phello networking services. 

​First impressions are everything!  Are you using a Microsoft Word  résumé  template to stand out? 
If so, you probably just look like the rest of the résumés a hiring manager or recruiter sees day-in and day-out.

At Written by a Pro, we have one design rule: No cookie-cutter résumés that lack originality or distinction. 

A certified professional  résumé  writer will support you in developing your résumés (yes, I said résumés – plural). A one-size-fits-all résumé will not generate interviews. It must be tailored to the job opportunity and the targeted company.

Make sure your resume is uniquely you! 

​A personalized résumé may include some of the following elements:

• Branded Colors
• Results Charts
• Skills with Image-Ranking Legend
• Social Media Profiles
• Links to Publications, Patents, Certificates, or Awards

Get a custom-designed, color résumé tailored to your specific needs and the needs of your prospective employer. We will work together to implement the right combination of these tools so that your résumé will make a positive first impression!

All new résumé packages are backed by a 60-day interview guarantee. If your résumé doesn't generate interviews in the first 60 days, we'll rewrite it for free (see terms of service for details about keeping a copy of all job postings and a résumé submissions log).

Questions? Schedule a free, 15-minute consultation at www.calendly.com/writtenbyapro to discuss your career goals. 

I am often asked questions from job seekers searching for ways to differentiate themselves:​

• “Do I have any value to provide an employer?”
• “How can I present that value on my resume?”
• “How does the employer understand the value I offer?”

As a professional résumé  writer, I will help you articulate the value you offer an employer. By asking targeted questions, I will create a personalized résumé  for your dream job that incorporates the strengths that separate you from your strongest competitors. 

Together we will be able to determine the ROI you will provide a new employer, and answer these important questions:

• What are your unique skills?
• How much time or money can you save the employer?
• How much revenue can you generate for the employer?
• Why are you the right person for the job?
• How do your previous successes set you up to be the right candidate for this job?

These questions will help us create the perfect résumé for your dream job, so it’s clear why you are the most qualified candidate.

Remember: An unfocused or generic resume is not beneficial to an employer or recruiter.  It does not provide any unique value to answer why you are the perfect candidate. 

Schedule your free, 15-minute consultation today at www.calendly.com/writtenbyapro.

Recruiters report receiving more than 200 applicants within 24 hours of a job being posted online. Within a week, that number can rise significantly.

How do you stand out in a sea of applicants?  It’s tough these days.  So many talented people are entering the job market, looking for many of the same positions at companies who are hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
As a certified professional résumé writer, I know what hiring managers are looking for and how they process applicants through the company's applicant tracking system (ATS). We will work to give you that competitive edge through personalized materials and a one-of-a-kind approach.
 
We will write and design your résumé so you can shine above the rest!  How do we do that?  First, we will create custom documents that highlight your strengths.

You'll get:

• Multiple résumé versions (Microsoft Word, PDF, and ATS-compliant documents).
• Built-in keywords so applicant tracking systems (ATS) will rank you in the top echelon of candidates (providing you meet the employer's required qualifications, of course). 
• Unique cover letters that resonate with decision makers.

 
Your résumé will read smarter, look sharper, provide value, and show a ROI to an employer or recruiter.

Schedule your free, 15-minute consultation at www.calendly.com/writtenbyapro.
Ask about our 60-day interview guarantee!

If you are one of the 38.6 Million who Have Filed For Unemployment Since March, you know the stress and challenges that come with navigating a job search during a pandemic. 
 
Who is hiring? How do I make my resume stand out and get recognized?  How do I address gaps in employment?

As a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW), these are concerns I hear firsthand from executives and mid-career professionals who haven't conducted a job search in a long time. Or maybe, you’re a pro at writing but don’t know how to handle the gaps, furloughs, or layoffs that the COVID-19 economy has brought you.

Over the next few days, we'll explore how to:

1. Gain a competitive advantage (ahead of potentially hundreds or thousands of other applicants)
2. Answer the interview question, "Why should they pick me for the job?"
3. Take advantage of personalized tools to make your job search easy. 
4. See yourself in the best light, gain confidence, and stay motivated.
5. Find the best job opportunities in this volatile job market.

 
Whatever your unique circumstances, now more than ever, having a certified professional help you create your résumé and coach you through your job search will set you up for success!