Exzeto, LLC

02/15/2022

Career NetworkingEvent

Honored to be speaking again for this newly launched job search networking group for job seekers in the DMV! Featured Speaker: Lisa Colten of Lee Hecht Harrison and Exzeto! Topic: LINKEDIN: Tips and Tricks/How to use the tool to maximize your Job Search efforts! The current COVID-19 pandemic has

02/15/2022

https://www.exzeto.com/news-events/career-networking-event-pozez-jewish-community-center-of-northern-virginia

Honored to be speaking again for this newly launched job search networking group for job seekers in the DMV! Featured Speaker: Lisa Colten of Lee Hecht Harrison and Exzeto! Topic: LINKEDIN: Tips and Tricks/How to use the tool to maximize your Job Search efforts! The current COVID-19 pandemic has

10/19/2020

The Unexpected and Positive Surprises of the COVID-19 Pandemic- Lessons to Apply to Your Job Search

This past weekend, I spent a lot of time remembering my youth- mostly my undergraduate and graduate college days at SUNY/Buffalo. The reason? One of my dear friends at the time ( a freshman suitemate) and I spent an hour on the phone trying to summarize our lives after 20+ years of no-communication.

10/19/2020

he Unexpected and Positive Surprises of the COVID-19 Pandemic- Lessons to Apply to Your Job Search

This past weekend, I spent a lot of time remembering my youth- mostly my undergraduate and graduate college days at SUNY/Buffalo. The reason? One of my dear friends at the time ( a freshman suitemate) and I spent an hour on the phone trying to summarize our lives after 20+ years of no-communication.

04/16/2020

JOB SEARCHING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC- NO TIME TO STOP; DEFINITELY TIME TO START!


AGENDA

· Conducting a Job Search during the COVID-19 Crisis- What has changed?

· Current State of the DMV Marketplace/View of Today’s Landscape

· Job Search Tips- What to continue/start/change/adjust to current environment

· Network/Network/Network- Welcome to the Virtual World

· Informational Interviewing Tips

· Taking Control of the Job Search and Everything Else

Conducting a Job Search during the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis- What has changed?

· A new reality for all of us- Government/Employers/Hiring Managers/Employees/Job Seekers

· Upheaval/Uncertainty/Status of Current Searches/Potential Lack or Slowdown of Information and Subsequent Follow-Up

· Therefore- how do you change/adjust your current approach/strategy?

· How do you keep the same pace as before when you now have new family or other responsibilities? Or do you?

· Availability of practical physical space and managing technological needs for all family members to go to school/do remote work and job search at the same time

· Patience and Motivation- How these become even MORE important in these constantly changing times

Current State of the DMV Marketplace/View of Today’s landscape

· Typically in the past- our area has not experienced downturns as badly as other geographic areas (The Great Recession, e.g.) but that does not make us immune

· Less Impacted Industries- Federal Contractors/HealthCare/Biotech/Delivery Companies; More Impacted- Hospitality/Real Estate- Other Examples

· Will be downsides to local economy- experts see bumps back by summer/more sustained by Fall

· BUT- companies are hiring…at all levels…

· Keep informed with LOCAL news sources- Wash Post/Local Business Journals/Local Academic Institutions and Think Tanks that provide regional updates and predictions

Job Search Tips- What to continue/start/change/adjust to current environment

· Do you have to take a step back and re-assess or can you continue with your current strategy and approach?

· Time to review all your Job Search/Branding collateral- Elevator Pitch/Resume and Bio/LinkedIn Profile/Marketing Plan/Prioritized Networking Contacts/Cover Letters/Interviewing Stories

· Practice- Review your current interviewing experiences- what can be improved? Write down answers to those really difficult questions

· How to use LinkedIn during this time- Research people and jobs and companies/take training/spend more time reading in your groups/post articles to show thought leadership and do more “ liking/sharing and commenting” to help your algorithm

· Reach out to Recruiters- Be available to them- as the market turns- they will want to be responsive to their company clients and have candidates- YOU- ready to present to them

· Other “Gig Work” Considerations- Temporary/Contract/Consulting/Franchising

· Volunteer Work- Can learn new skills or industry as well as helping others

· Be confident and enthusiastic!

Network/Network/Network/Welcome to the Virtual World

· This is probably one of the most important things that you can do now- that is in your control

· Pick the best communication platform for the immediate need- text/email/phone/video (Zoom/FaceTime/Google Hangouts/Microsoft Teams/Company proprietary platform- AND prepare/test systems for all what that entails- connectivity/lighting/dress

· All previous rules/guidance/advice on networking holds- BUT- give time in the beginning to address the current environment

· Remember to ask how you can help them

· Thank people/follow-up/pay it forward

Informational Interviewing Tips

· Do these types of networking meetings take on new meaning during times of uncertainty and now during the COVID-19 crisis?

· Why conduct?

o Explore careers and clarify your career goal

o Discover employment opportunities that are not advertised

o Expand your professional network

o Build confidence for job interview

o Identify your professional strengths and weaknesses

· Steps in Conducting an Effective Informational Interview

o Identify the occupation or Industry you wish to learn about

o Prepare for the Interview- In general and then specifically with each person- Remember- You asked for time with this person- you must set the agenda!

o Identify people to Interview

o Arranging it- Remember Patience- Be assertive but not aggressive

o Conducting the Interview/Do the Ask of the other person

o Follow-Up

Taking Control of the Job Search and everything else…

· ROUTINE- Establishing one and sticking to it is probably one of the most important things that you can do and control. Yes… it may not be the easiest…

· SETTING GOALS/PRODUCTIVITY- Keep them nominal/expect some change/ set activities/ tasks in all areas of the search/Celebrate the Successes!

o Keep posting for jobs

o Update any collateral and repost to job boards

o Keep Networking

o Assume job openings are still open- how to do that

o Think creatively- contract or consulting opportunities

o Don’t settle on something.. yet…

o Maybe a pivot to another related/adjacent industry

· PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/SKILLING UP- LinkedIn Learning/Other platforms- lots of free courses

· BALANCE of Job Search and Other Responsibilities- Family/Self/Friends- How are you checking in/schooling for your children/

· TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF/MINDSET/REMAINING RESILIENT/BEING CONFIDENT-Sleep/Exercise/Eating Nutritionally/Meditation

Feel free to review my website- www.exzeto.com for additional job search resources. I offer an initial gratis consultation if you would like to work with me as a career or leadership coach.

Source Material for part of presentation: Lee Hecht Harrison Webinar- Job Search during Economic Adversity- March 2020



APRIL 15, 2020

Éxzeto is a human resources and career transition professional services firm primarily serving clients in the Washington DC/Maryland and Northern Virginia geographies.

03/31/2020

effective remote communication

Given the current COVID-19 crisis, how do both leaders and employees still try to make the effort to be interpersonal, be present and show we care when we can’t be face- to face- and have to rely on email/texts and phone and video chats? Read this article for some interesting epiphanies and ideas ...

03/24/2020

relaunch of website

As an HR/Change Management Professional and a Leadership and Career Coach, I feel I need to be setting a positive example and exhibiting good role model behaviors for my clients, friends and family. I have often been called a cheerleader by my clients and admittedly, I inherited somewhat, not totall

11/01/2019

relaunch of website

Re-launch of website

09/28/2015

Éxzeto, is a human resources and career transition professional services firm primarily serving clients in the Washington DC/Maryland and Northern VA.

09/03/2014

A friend of mine sent this to me. I think the article shares some really great advice, especially for new business owners, like myself as we work to figure out what are the best ways to use social media to its best. Enjoy.

Despite what you may think, you do not have to be a popular, hilarious, or uber-charismatic person to maintain a positive, useful social media presence. Here are a few tips for how to get there. We talk about different social media platforms below, but you do not have to be (and probably should not)…