Here are five ways to know you are hitting it out of the park whether you ultimately get a job offer or not:

1)   Body Language:  It’s always good to know your audience but do you know how to read them as well?  Sizing up someone’s body language is key in knowing whether you are engaging or enraging your prospective boss.  Does the interviewer seem relaxed, leaning back in his/her chair, feet up, remaining attentive?   Or, is the person sitting across the desk, fidgeting, staring at the clock or looking outside a window, nervously tapping their feet looking like they want to fly out of the room at any given moment?  Knowing whether you are setting a relaxing and calm tone in your meeting tells you this is someone who not only likes you but also doesn’t mind spending time speaking with you.  This is a good sign so take it for all it is worth.

2)   Meet & Greet:  When they start rolling out the red carpet or ask you back to meet the “family” it’s a good sign that you’ve done something to impress them in the first place.  Not everyone gets to meet prospective co-workers or future staff members even on an initial interview.  If they happen to say, “Hey let me see if so and so is around as I’d love for you to meet him/her,” you know you’ve done or said something that makes the interviewer think you’d be a “good fit” for the company.

3)   Checking Your Availability:  Kind of like a first date, when they ask you for your number or availability over the course of the following days, weeks ahead, it’s usually a pretty good indication that they want you to be around for future follow-up meetings.  Knowing your schedule ahead of time can help you plan for an upcoming meeting while you have their attention and sends the message that you are interested in coming back for more meetings as well.

4)   Le Grand Tour:  It’s always nice to have in person meetings with folks but when the interviewer offers you a “tour” of their campus or offices, it’s a good sign they are seeing how well you’d “fit in”.  Giving you a tour is a way to boast and sell other perks the company has to offer, but it also gives the interviewer a chance to uncover other information about, your work environment and preferences in a relaxed setting. Giving you the grand tour helps them visualize you in the physical setting as much as it is determining you as a cultural fit.

5)   When Will We Meet Again? When you are given a follow up appointment and are ENCOURAGED to call or write in the meantime with any follow-up questions or concerns, it’s a pretty good sign that they like you enough to want you back and to keep the lines of communication open.  If they know you are interviewing elsewhere and have asked you to keep them informed on your status, that’s also a good way to know they are interested in you and may not want to lose you to the competition.

Understanding and learning how to read the subtle queues in gestures, communication and body language helps you know whether you are acing the interview or disgracing yourself in the process.  If they like you and want you, they will call back, it’s that simple.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50

You may not think of yourself as a business but you should.  You are selling yourself each and every time you update your resume, pick up the phone, call in a favor, apply for a job or consider yourself for a promotion.  Don’t underestimate the power of who you are in relation to whom you know.  Developing your list of contacts and knowing how to skillfully and masterfully apply yourself to developing your relationships is key to being tapped for a job whether you are actively looking for one or not.  Remember EVERYONE is your client so begin treating people as if anyone can be a resource in helping you along the way to finding your next job.

Here are a few ways you can start developing your client list:

1)   Go through your Contacts & Linked In Account.  Start going through your list of contacts and do some outreach.  Whether you send an In Mail or Email begin by reaching out and touching base if you have not connected with a colleague or “client” in a long time.  Go for coffee, offer to help THEM and find a way to connect without jumping down their throat for a job lead or offer.  Genuinely open yourself up to reconnecting and see where the doors might open for you.  Everyone you know is a potential lead.

2)   Do Your Research   Once you’ve cultivated your client list, start doing some research and look at companies who are hiring that match people you know from your client list.  It doesn’t matter if your clients know about the job opportunity or not.  You are doing your detective work and preparing yourself for your next important step.

3)   Network   Now that you’ve done your homework it’s time to cultivate and leverage your resources and reach out to your client list.  Remember this is business development so you are developing your outreach as much as you are developing your target list of potential job leads.  This is your most important step as it helps you to skillfully and diligently reach out to your network of contacts for help.  Even if they are not directly involved with the hiring of a position you are interested in, knowing that you have reached out to your network and are starting to spread the word about your interests helps you build your client list and reach out to the people who matter.

4)   Following Up   One of the biggest mistakes most people make is that after one attempt of networking or outreach to a client, they stop cold.  No response, no need to follow up.   WRONG!!! Being persistent is the most important aspect of your ability to be thorough and focused.  All the research and networking means nothing if you don’t have the means or the initiative to follow up and follow up again when needed.  You can never follow up enough.

5)   Building On Your Client List   Your work does not stop with your initial list and networking.  For everyone one meeting you get in person, for each email response you receive your goal is to walk away with a minimum of 3 to 5 NEW CLIENT CONTACTS and be prepared to follow up.  Building your client list from your existing network is the key to not only continuing to leverage your network but to ultimately reach the opportunity that will lead to a new job or career move.  Don’t stop short build your client list and watch your career network grow.

Creating your client list might sound easy but you will need to dedicate a lot of time, attention and patience to the task.  Finding out who your friends are will ultimately lead you to discovering how many people out there actually have your best interest at heart and want to help you.  Start by helping yourself and focus on building your client list.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50

A somewhat sad but true fact is that nepotism does rain rampant in the world of make believe and it’s better to know what you are up against when you apply for your next job or internship.  It’s not enough to have the right skill set but it’s even more important to have the right connections.  Finding a job is not as easy as it looks and you would think with the advances of technology, it might have gotten easier.  Not so.  The tried and true, “good old fashioned way” still holds court and finding your next gig is really about being “All In The Family.”

You wonder how you’ll ever be able to compete against the qualified masses applying for the same coveted spot?  You may have never guessed you’d be competing against someone’s daughter or cousin who may or may not have worked as hard as you have to get where you are going.  It’s true, life in the job lane is not always fair but knowing what you are up against may take the sting out of it for you so you can prepare yourself for your next move.

So how do you compete against someone’s relative for a job you know you want?  The simple answer is, you can’t.   But what you can do is find someone, anyone, cousin, relative, distant neighbor, someone you meet on line at Trader Joe’s or at the car wash and use your trump card to get an interview.  It’s really all about getting your foot in the door and not being discouraged because you lack the relationship pedigree of your counterpart.

Making sure you develop your list of contacts in a creative way even if you don’t have a direct line into a company is as important as any resume you spend good money on having someone write for you.  Don’t throw up your hands when someone less qualified lands a job or internship just because their father, brother or distant relation is a senior executive and has clout.  Use what you know and WHO you know to leverage your way in no matter what you have to do get in the door.

Your job search may not always be fair, but if you know what you are up against you have at least a fighting chance at getting an interview if not an actual job offer.  Having the common sense and professional savvy will get you further along your career search than any executive coach or resume-writing service can ever do.  Don’t be afraid, just cultivate your friends and relations in a creative way to get the meeting or job offer you want.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50

If you feel like you’ve become “folklore” in the land of tall job tales, think again.  Nothing says you are old news because you have not landed the perfect job unless of course you are beginning to believe those tall tales yourself.  Here’s how to avoid becoming and urban legend and make recruiters and hiring managers stand up and take notice.

1)   You Are Not Old News   You may be at this game for a while, and your resume reads as long as the classified section, but you are not out dated or stale.  Breathing new life into your job search means you need to take a few minutes refreshing yourself on what’s hot and what’s not in your industry and make sure you are connected to the right people who can ultimately create the best opportunities for you.

2)   Out of Circulation   Your job search may have taken the back seat to other pressing matters like family, friends, spring cleaning, anything really just so you don’t have to focus on the fact you are miserable where you are and don’t have the energy to do anything about it.  When you have buried yourself in your job for too long you lose sight of what new opportunities exist and how you can help yourself stay in circulation so the right people know you are looking.  Get out and start making new friends from old relationships.

3)   Tall Tales   Stop telling yourself no one wants you. You are as good as you think you are.  Take stock in all you have done and have accomplished in your career, even if you are starting out, you’ve done good work focus on that and not on what others believe you can or can not do.

4)   Believe Your Own Myth   Believing in your own greatness is not a bad thing. Hubris is an attribute when you are competing against the masses of eager candidates vying for the same job. You are a master at your trade and embracing your own myth may truly turn you into a legend in your own time.

5)   Preserving Your Reputation   Being your own PR machine will help you not only feel good about yourself but might also make you believe in your own legend.  Spreading the word helps you signal to others you know your own worth and are ready to take your career ambitions by storm

You are your own best advocate so never forget that you hold the key to helping not only generate the right kind of perception about you but you also control how well you think others may accept you.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50

Here are a few tips on how to use stress for success:

1)   Biting Your Nails is a Good Thing.  Worry for the sake of worry really is a waste of your time.  Whether you bite your nails, pull your hair or have developed any other weird habits, make sure you use your worry in a productive way.  Worry can be used to calculate your next move so make when you do find yourself worrying, to have an end result that is productive other than stubby finger nails.

2)   Worry ‘Til Your Hair Falls Out   As we see worry can be used to your advantage, but when you worry about what you are not doing right in your job search it could be your instincts at work.  Sometimes worry is a warning sign to help you watch out for danger and signal when you need to change direction when things are not working out for you.  Instead of pulling your hair out, make sure the falling strands are a sign that you might need to change career direction learn to trust your instincts.

3)   Who Needs Sleep Anyway   Babies need sleep, people who are recovering from an illness need sleep, but if you find yourself sleeping through your key interview hours, then something else is wrong.  Depression is a very real problem when you worry yourself sick over not finding the right job.  When you find yourself sleeping too much or maybe not enough use those waking hours to work out your job plan and not about why no one wants to hire you.

4)   Binge Your Way Towards Your Next Job   Eating, drinking and having a good time is everyone’s best friend, but staying up all night raiding the refrigerator is not going to help you look any better in your interview suit the next morning. Count your job leads instead of counting calories when you reach for the bag of chips.  Learn to focus your attention on building your interview list instead of building your plate.

5)   Butterflies Are Everywhere   The sound of butterfly’s wings might be soothing but when the flutter is in your stomach, it might feel like you are going to be sick.  Following the flight of the butterflies can be fanciful but when you let the flutters distract you from your goal, you are going to need to learn how to fly and fly fast.  Know that you are going to have nervous feelings from time to time, but make the most out of this adrenalin rush and use the excess energy to work out a fitness plan not just for your body but for your mind.

It’s okay to stress out a little as you pursue your career goals, just make sure you get back to center and stop indulging in self-pity and worry for no reason.  You won’t get a job offer any quicker I promise.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50

Here are a few job lies you hear when you think you just can’t take one more ounce of rejection.

1)   “You are overqualified”:  It’s a nice way of hearing someone tell you, “I’m too old and they want to hire someone younger and cheaper.”  Well, that maybe true, but being overqualified means that you have more experience and expertise than is probably required for the job.  Think smart.  Maybe offer yourself up as a consultant or a subject-matter expert as opposed to applying for or considering a job that may be beneath you.

2)   “You are not a cultural fit”: You’ve got to love this one.  You never quite know what a hiring manager is trying to tell you.  Are you looking a bit tight in the pants or are you just not the “type” they want in the job?  Fit is a nice way of telling you that you are qualified for the job, but we are not sure you’ll play nice with the other insecure folks we have in the company.

3)   “We are looking for thought leaders”:  Not sure what a “thought leader “is?  Don’t worry, I’m sure the hiring manager does not know what it means either but it sounds good on a job description or interview.  The next time you need to think in order to lead, I’d challenge you probably need to think in order to do just about any job.  Next time someone thinks you can’t think and lead at the same time, maybe you should consider turning down the job offer from the idiot who challenged your ability to walk and chew gum at the same time.

4)   “Your compensation requirements are out of our range”: Note to self, this is code for, “We don’t want to pay you what you want.”  It’s okay to consider a pay cut when you are in transition or considering a career change, but when the hiring manager is not willing to pay you what you were making in your last job and you are considering a lateral move, don’t feel bad and turn the job down if they are not willing to budge.

5)   “We are looking for self-starters and independent thinkers”:  This is a nice way of saying we don’t want to manage you and we sure hope you know what you are doing because we don’t have time to explain anything to you.  When you think they are paying you a compliment, think again.  Hiring managers sometimes have interesting ways to hide the truth. Learn to read between the lines and understand just what kind of work environment you are getting yourself into.

So when the job lies keep playing around your head, pause and remember it’s only the lies you tell yourself that are keeping you from the job you want.   Be wise, be on the alert and don’t always believe everything you are told.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50

Here are a few simple things to keep in mind the next time you decide it’s not worth your time to interview for a job you are not sure you want:

1)   You Never Know Who You’ll Meet:  My mother use to offer that up any time I went out to a party or social gathering hoping I’d come home with a date for the next party.  In this case, taking a meeting with a potential job prospect under no circumstances is a waste of your time.  You need to put yourself out there even if you think you don’t want to relocate or the pay is an issue.

2)   Don’t Live In Your Head: Second guessing takes the form of many negative thoughts and patterns of behavior that are counter-productive to your end result, that is getting a job.  Talking yourself out of going on an interview because you believe they won’t pay you enough, you won’t like the commute or you not sure if the “brand” is one you should work for all point to someone who is talking themselves out of a potential job before one is offered to you. Stop over-dramatizing things and just learn to go with the flow.

3)   Wait For the Job Offer:  Saying “no” to something BEFORE they offer it to you is another way to sabotage your job search efforts.  Talking yourself out of something before it even materializes builds your fear base not your career network.  Finding a way around your fears and the noises in your head will help you stay on track and not scare you away from your intended goal, a firm job offer.

4)   Taking the Lead: Stop following others when it comes to knowing what is best for you.  Take the lead on your job search by clearly articulating what you want up front and enlisting the help of others. Chasing every job lead is going to take you off course but staying clear and focused on the companies, the types of jobs and the area you want to work in will help you in the long run.

The next time you play make believe with your self, stop and make sure you know exactly what it is you want in your life and what you’d like to get rid of.  When you fool yourself into believing that one thing is better or not from the other, you may make it harder for you to know the difference between a great opportunity and  a missed one.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50

Here are five unexpected side effects when you open your mouth in an interview:

1)   “I’m really a strategic thinker but numbers is not my thing” Okay I’m not sure which part of being “strategic” equates to not being good with numbers, but basically you are signaling to a hiring manager that you like to “think” about things and come up with the ideas, but if you have to be held accountable for the results, say like making money, well, hey pick on someone else.  Being a strategic thinker means being able to think about ALL facets of the equation, including how your ideas can or will make money for the company.  Anyone can be chock full of ideas, but to be able to execute and deliver results-that takes someone who is truly “strategic”.

2)   “I’m a great leader but I don’t like to fire people or give my staff feedback” Yes we all like to think we can lead a cause, a mission, a staff but heaven forbid we actually have to interact with any of these people!  Being a leader doesn’t mean you get to delegate the tough stuff to say your HR Manager or your assistant.  Being a leader means making tough decisions and being able to take fair and compassionate action when it involves giving someone on your staff feedback or worse, if you have to let someone go for any reason.  Yes, it’s nice to have the corner office, designated parking spot or annual bonus but when it comes to being a true leader, you have to take the good with the bad and be able to handle the pressure with grace and dignity.

3)   “I’m a creative, I really like to focus on my art” That line may have worked for Picasso but you don’t live in a flat in Paris and unless you work by yourself, you don’t have the luxury to hole it up in a wall somewhere and come out to play when you feel like it.  Being creative doesn’t mean you are allowed to play the role of a sulking artist.  You will need to develop not only your creative talents but your interpersonal ones as well.  If you are not a champion for your own work, what makes you think anyone will be your champion?  Come out and play and show the world how wonderful you really are!

4)   “I’m great managing budgets but I hate the details”   Well, hey no one said your job was going to be easy.  But I would not want you balancing my checkbook no matter how great you were with a calculator if you did not have some level of being detail-oriented and precise.  Having attention deficit when it’s your job to manage other people’s money is not a skill set you want to highlight especially if you are being asked to manage projects, costs, deliverables and timelines.  Having great attention to detail means you are not only good with numbers but you can catch stuff before it hits the ground.

5)   “I’m very detail oriented but hate reviewing my own work” Unless you have two sets of eyes and are the type who can do a cross word puzzle in ink, I suggest you take a few minutes to edit yourself before someone like your boss gives you feedback you might not like.  It goes without saying that if you fancy yourself a detailed person than making sure your work is accurate is a given.  Winging something because you think you are that good might work some of the time but if you are a detailed type, you’d spend a few minutes making sure you are truly as good as you believe you are.

So the next time you think you are characterizing yourself accurately to a recruiter or hiring manager, make sure to stop and think again.  Be mindful of how your comments can be construed when speaking to someone who does not know you as well as you think you know yourself.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50

1)   March Madness: You feel like you’ve done everything from investing in a career coach, re-writing of your resume, networking effectively and focusing on your career search until you have learned the in’s and outs until you are blue in the face.  When you truly have reached your “March madness” and you think your next job will likely be had by the bets you’ve played, think about how well you’ve played the game so far and don’t give into temptation.

2)   The Easter Bunny: When your job search resembles an Easter egg hunt, and running up that hill and looking under every bush for your prize has become a routine task, believe, believe, believe even though the Easter Bunny may have hopped on past you.  Keeping the faith regardless of your religious beliefs is more about believing in yourself and knowing that if one thing you were hoping for does not materialize, than truly something better is in the works. Trust that there is a bigger plan at play even if you don’t always know the details.

3)   Spring Cleaning:  Clearing out your closets is one thing, but clearing out the negative thoughts that have held you captive is another.  Staying positive during the process is as important as getting rid of several old pairs of shoes or trying to keep clothes that no longer fit you.  Making yourself understand that you are going through what everyone goes through at one point in their lives should help you know you are not alone and that you will get to the other side of this.

4)   The Walking Dead:  Yes, zombies are at your door hungry for your blood but it feels more like the bill collectors since you’ve been unemployed for a while and can’t seem to kill them off fast enough.  Your instincts are right, you need to work and you need to work fast.  Jumping at the first thing that bites you is not going to help you any better than if you were to take your time and plan out your next step.  Be well armed, be prepared and by all means bandage up any open wounds so you can attack your army in full force with all you’ve got.

Finding your true North in the midst of your career madness may not be all that you wanted to deal with this spring, but getting to know yourself and getting rid of what no longer works will take you one step closer to realizing your goal.  Maybe you’ll have that job before the 4^th of July and you’ll have a great reason to celebrate.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50

It’s nice to provide someone a vehicle by which you can tout your successes (or mask your failures) and layout the painstaking history which is your progressive job career, even though, it looks like you’ve job hopped enough to rack up enough frequent flyer miles for a trip around the world. Having the common sense to know how to properly lay out your professional background without relaying on a template you’ve pulled off the internet, is going to save you a lot of time and aggravation in the long run when it comes to writing a smart, concise and relevant resume-even if at times you feel like no one is reading it!

Here are a few rules to apply when crafting or updating your resume:

1)   Keep it Simple:  Resumes that read like a section from the yellow pages leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to keeping it simple.  Your resume should be no more than two (2) PAGES long (yes that is two pages!) regardless if you’ve only worked 6 months and like to list every task you ever performed, or have worked for a litany of companies over the course of 30 years.  The longer it is the better it isn’t.  You should lean towards brevity and be concise and limit two – three bullets for each job.  Any employment history longer than 20 years is irrelevant to seeking a current job.  They know you are qualified for the position if your work history is over 10 -15 years in a profession.  You should not feel the need to list everything you’ve done since graduating in 1985. Keeping it simple might even mean tailoring your resume to meet the job description and knowing when too much is enough.  Editing yourself can be your biggest skill in crafting a great resume.

2)   Stick to the Facts: Making a point to be brief is important but making sure you include the relevant facts and that you do not omit important events, duties, successes, etc. is even more critical to pulling your resume together. Make sure your statements include your accomplishments in a brief, easy to read and understandable language.  Using abbreviations for industry terms may be easy for you to understand, but make sure you explain it properly to someone who is unfamiliar with your company or industry jargon.  Remember keep the reader in mind when you write your resume and if it’s boring for you to read, think about the poor recruiter who has to read 100 or more just like yours every day!

3)   Play the Numbers Game:  It’s important to not only qualify your work but to quantify in measureable and achievable terms that a recruiter or hiring manager can understand.  Specifically, remember to list the size and scope of your company, your division, your staff and your budget responsibility.  Knowing that helps to explain the scope of your job in measureable terms.  Numbers help the recruiter place you as a senior executive or someone more apt to work for a start-up company, etc.

4)   Title, Dates and Location: Make sure recruiters don’t need to guess who you are, when you worked somewhere or where you were based.  Keeping it simple means making sure you don’t forget to format your resume from the perspective of what your position is currently, including your title or position, dates and location.  It’s a good idea to use a chronological format when preparing your resume as it’s easier to read, simpler to follow and makes it look professional.  Using a functional resume format is another choice but if not done well, you can leave the recruiter guessing on many important points easily explained when you lay it out from a to z.

5)   Summing it Up: Yes it’s nice to list every course, professional certification, safety training or traffic school class you ever attended, but what you really need to focus on is what is important to the job you are applying for and what is not.  Stick to main courses of education where you earned a degree or received certification for higher education.  Save room for your valuable two pages and remember to list important associations, memberships or boards you may belong to.  Remember keep it short but don’t cut out the important stuff.

Remember, it’s not how much you say in a resume that’s critical it’s how you say it, short, sweet and to the point is a term you should keep in mind.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50