The Black Professional Job Search Experience and Why it's Different

Jack Kelly and I discuss company loyalty, AI, concerns for this year's college graduates, and job scams in this week's episode. Here are a few of the highlights:

• Jack says, "It's so hard to find a new job, and people are worried, and they're staying put because they're scared."
• Workers are being laid off without empathy or accountability by decision-makers. Bank CEOs can lose millions, lay off workers, and still get bonuses. 
•  College isn't the first option for everyone anymore. 
• While AI could be a tool for job seekers to leverage, it could also work against them. 
• Deepfakes could fool even the tech-savvy and have already fooled companies. 
• Scams are here to stay and are more sophisticated than ever. 

You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

– Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

 I explain the significance of the following events in the past two weeks should inform us of what is to come in #jobscams, job fishing, and recruiter scams. The FTC categorizes them as imposter scams (FTC, 2/9/24).

"ResumeLooters" refers to scammers accessing and stealing private information from job portals in Asia. In the U.S., we need to start taking precautions to protect our information on any portals we signed up for to fill out applications and resumes posted.

One action (if you haven't already) is to use a third-party phone number like a Google number. Many people use Zelle or Cash App already, and if it's the same number on an attacked job portal, the possibilities may be endless (or my imagination is running too wild).

Consider how recruiters can bait unsuspecting job seekers via text citing a platform where a real profile resides. They will sell the number to other scammers, creating an endless cycles of fake jobs from various sources.

You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

– Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

My friend Daisy Wright invited me to her LinkedIn Live event to discuss how older workers can navigate today's job search. 

Here are a few of the highlights:

• Healthcare is a viable option for older workers returning to the workforce. 
• Many want a part-time job or a job without the 9-5 grind.
• What are the markets like for healthcare in Canada and the U.S.?
• Is consulting really an option?  
• We see there are more articles for older workers on how to get a job than successful announcements about getting jobs. 

More about Daisy:

She is the Founder and Chief Encouragement Officer of The Wright Career. She is also an award-winning Certified Coach helping emerging leaders, executives, and mid-level professionals find satisfying careers.

You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

– Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

I met with two of my favorites, Keirsten Greggs and Jack Kelly, to discuss job search stuff before the holidays. 

Here are a few of the highlights:

Pausing a job search before the holidays is wasting a potential opportunity

There are networking and informational interview opportunities; Many people shut things down because of the holiday. It also keeps your mind sharp. 

Two years of being in a weird spot, no growth, cost cutting, slow hiring, lots, continued layoffs. No "September Surge" or calls for vacant positions in the retail sector. 

Both Jack and Keirsten are frequent guest co-hosts on the podcast. You can catch the other part of our discussion here. 

Kristen’s LinkedIn profile

Jack’s LinkedIn profile

You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

– Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Happy New Year! I hope you enjoy this new episode with my career writing colleagues Jack Kelly, Robin Ryan, and Hannah Morgan. We discuss the job search trends we see to affect the 2024 job search. 

Jack Kelly is a compliance search recruiter, the founder of WeCruitr.io, and a Senior Career Contributor at Forbes. 

Robin Ryan is the founder of RobinRyan.com and a Forbes contributor. 

Hannah Morgan founded careersherpa.net and is a long-time contributor at U.S. News. 

Here are the topics we covered: 

You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

– Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Kevin D. Turner documents all changes LinkedIn makes, including this year, where there have been more than 150+ changes. Kevin specializes in personal branding using LinkedIn and is knowledgeable in helping job seekers get more visibility, especially in front of recruiters,  companies, and new connections. 

Highlights: 

• How can you use LinkedIn filters more effectively?
• How to get on the company you want to work for radar?
• How to increase visibility and expand your network during LinkedIn Lives and Audio events. 
• Why giving back is a practical part of your LinkedIn strategy. 
• How to bookmark meaningful threads and conversations in your browser. 

This is the last episode of the year. I will publish the next episode on Jan. 16, 2024. Enjoy the holiday season and remain safe. 

In this episode, Keirsten Greggs, Jack Kelly, and I discuss the hiring challenges and what job seekers and hiring teams do to hurt the process. 

Kristen's LinkedIn profile

Jack's LinkedIn profile

Omissions, lies, and deception during the hiring process.

It's a tight job market, and there's lots of angst on both sides of the hiring table. 

"...recruiters who are desperate and got to get someone in there. So they tell a tall tale of how wonderful things are, and it doesn't turn out..."

Job seekers must ask in writing for promises stated during an interview so they can consider them seriously in their negotiation strategies. 

There are so many addendums and so many clauses. Employers have specific legally compliant language that they have to use.

What part will AI play in the hiring process?

What kind of training do hiring managers, recruiters, and interviewers have come into the hiring process?

You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the "Send Voicemail" button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

– Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

This week, my friend and sometimes del facto co-host, Jack Kelly, interviews me on his WeCruitr podcast. 

In this excerpt, we discuss:

• Survey of hiring managers lying to job candidates about the hiring process.
• The pressure to perform from candidates to embellish (lie) during interviews.
• The battle of the salary range conversation.
• What's said during interviews is not put in writing (often).
• Managers not telling the truth when asked about bad staffers. 

Jack Kelly is a Compliance Recruiter, entrepreneur, CEO of WeCruitr.io, and Forbes Senior Careers Contributor.

You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

– Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Kenneth Lang, an avid LinkedIn user, and job search expert, invited me to discuss job searches on his LinkedIn Live show. I brought our discussion to be replayed on the podcast this week. 

Kenneth is the founder of KML Consultants, a job search strategist, and a fellow introvert. 

You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

– Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Don't Take That Job 'Til You Read This Book will help you control your career in a way most job seekers don't. Leigh Branham and Mark Hirschfield authored this book (and included contributions from me and others) to help you navigate the post-pandemic changes in the world of work. 

Leigh Branham is the founder of Keeping of the People, Inc. He has authored several books, and is a speaker and consultant. 

Mark D. Hirschfield is the Vice President of Consulting Services and Strategic Partnerships of BI Worldwide. 

This is the second book Leigh and Mark authored together. Both have long career coaching and consulting experiences. 

You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

– Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Discussion highlights: 

• The book's primary purpose was to look at all the possible pitfalls and the main reasons employees leave, flip the coin, and look at it and say, these might be one of the reasons you would leave your next employer.
• They use the lenses from Lee's last book to say what leadership is like. What are career opportunities like? We know that if people don't experience those things, it oftentimes can lead them to be demoralized and then, in turn, leave.
• Leigh and Mark stepped back and thought about the pandemic effect, and what happened was people had money coming from the government, and they had a little bit of cushion. 
• Technology and innovation created more possibilities, such as daily compensation. 
• Is your employer helping you feel valued from a compensation and reward point of view?