MarketingJobWire.com

Job seekers have many reasons for pursuing a position they’re overqualified for. Some need a paycheck quickly, others want a less stressful position. Whatever your motive, how can you get employers to seriously consider you?

It’s hard for some employers to grasp that someone would truly WANT to take a lower-level job. Also, if someone has been unemployed for a long time, the hiring manager may think they’ll take anything. This makes them worry that the candidate will bolt the second something better comes along, and they’ll have to go through the (long!) hiring and training process again.

The good news is, there are things you can do to avoid being perceived as overqualified. The biggest is to leave irrelevant information off the resume. If a bachelor’s degree is required, and you have a Ph.D, leave the latter off. If you’re looking for a non-supervisory role, but you held management responsibilities in the past, take these out, or downplay them (job titles cannot be changed, but you can avoid calling excess attention).

This can be a difficult step. No one wants to feel as if their education or experience is wasted. It’s not-it will always serve you, whether in your next job, or another down the line. Still, if you want to be a contender for certain jobs, this may be the only way to go.

CHALLENGE: Compare your resume to a job ad you’re interested in. See what’s “above and beyond” their qualifications, and consider removing from your document.

Posted by Marketing Job Wire preferred partner:
Charlotte Weeks, CCMC, CPRW
Certified Career Management Coach
Certified Professional Resume Writer
Weeks Career Services, Inc.

You’re not interested in what Brittney is wearing, where Oprah ate lunch or whether Ashton has more followers than CNN. No problem, I get it. But if you think Twitter is just colossal waste of time, think again.

People are finding jobs on Twitter. Real people like Susan Spaight Moorhead, VP of Account Management and Digital Strategy at Meyer & Wallis in Milwaukee. She may not be a celebrity, but this rock star brand strategist found value – and a job – on Twitter. Here’s her story:

Q: Susan, thanks for sharing your story with Marketing Job Wire. Let’s start with a little background on your career path and type of work you do.

I’ve been working in advertising agencies/marketing firms for nearly 20 years. I started in Account Management, then research and strategic planning, and got heavily into social media about a year ago. Now, as of one month ago, I’m VP of Account Management and Digital Strategy at Meyer & Wallis, a firm with offices in Milwaukee and Indianapolis. I don’t consider myself a social media “expert”; I am a strategist that also knows social.

Q. How did you find the job you have now?

Actually, it found me, mainly because I am very active on Twitter. I built a relationship on Twitter with a key executive at an interactive agency. That turned into drinks, which turned into an interview, which turned into a job offer that wasn’t quite right. But then, that same executive introduced me to a connection of his, also via Twitter, which turned into coffee, which turned into doing business together (he is a consultant), which turned into him recommending me for the job that I have now. It’s been quite the chain reaction.

Q. So many people are unsure how to engage on Twitter… how did you get your feet wet and start meeting like-minded Tweeps? Were you actively seeking a new job?

I was not at all actively seeking a new job. I found amazing tweeps mainly through seeing who friends and people that I consider thought leaders were following, and through #followfriday. I really cannot believe how much more connected I feel in my local marketing community than one year ago; it is absolutely amazing.

Q. What advice do you have for marketers interested in learning more about leveraging social media?

The best way to feel confident applying social media in your marketing/ communications plan is to first get comfortable using it yourself. I know it can be difficult to find the time, but it is most definitely worth finding 30 minutes a day to build your personal network while learning. Find and follow great people and actively initiate conversation. Ask people you respect who they recommend. Read, read, read. Start blogging if you are so inclined; that has been an incredible learning experience for me as well. And if you aren’t sure how to leverage social media, hire a great strategist ; )

Q. Any thoughts for job seekers on how to weave social networking into their search strategy?

In my experience, the best strategy is to weave social networking into your life before you need to search. But whether it is before your search or during, the most important thing is to put true value and equity into your relationships. Demonstrate that you really care and are not just networking superficially to try to get a job. Put some skin in the game, and keep it real.

Susan’s not alone. Recent Chicago transplant Chelsea Winkel found a great job at Duo Consulting on Twitter.

Let’s make a deal. Try it for 21 days and decide for yourself. If after three weeks you’re not convinced, at least you’ll know a bit more about what all the Twitter buzz is about, and what P. Diddy had for dinner.

Susan’s on Twitter @suespaight, Chelsea is @hirechelsea and I’m @simasays.