The loyal puppy dog. The co-worker who hops around at the heels of the influencers, panting, pacing and slobbering all over himself in an effort to get noticed. Get attention. Get somewhere.

It is incredibly annoying, especially for all who are wise enough to see precisely what that little puppy dog is up to.

Getting ahead is absolutely a lofty goal.

Ass kissing? Is a lazy method that doesn't work all that well, and makes you look somewhat pathetic.

A better formula for getting ahead in your career:

1. Be genuine.
2. Be smart.
3. Be helpful.
4. Look for ways to solve problems.
5. Raise your hand.
6. Ask good quetions.
7. Take time to build a professional network.
8. Keep that network fresh at all times. 
9. Never talk smack about anyone, even the slobberers.
10. Stop trying to ride coattails.
11. Stop being so damned scared all of the time.
12. Know that you're worth whatever you're pursuing.
13. Learn from the mistakes.
14. Modify strategies when you need to.
15. Keep going.

Photo: Flickr.com Creative Commons (Wonderlane)

They're stressed because they've lost their way. Or their jobs. Or their fire. Or their confidence.

Or a combination of several of these things.

They're also stressed because they've turned to family, friends, the Internet with the hopes of finding input that will alleviate the stress and set them on a more productive path.

Only to discover that this often results in a tidal wave of divergent advice and "quick fix" solutions:

"You really should back to school."

"Maybe you should stop dreaming and be responsible."

"You just need a better resume."

"In this economy, you should just be glad to have any job."

"You just need to send out more resumes."

"You really should forget the resume and make an infograph instead."

"You need a headhunter."

"Maybe you should go into healthcare. Lots of jobs in healthcare these days."

"You just need better breath."

Blah blah blah blah blahhhhhhhhh.

Yes, I get it. I am a purveyor of career guidance and job search support. I dole out advice with the best of them.

But what differentiates me from some of the others, who are quick to dish up wisdom on what you "must do" or what you "ought to do" or what you "owe it to your family/friends/whoever to do?"

I want you to choose your path.

I want you to choose your methods.

I want you to decide what you need, what you want and what you damned well deserve in your professional life.

I'm here to help you navigate. I'm here to inspire.

I am not here to force my way, my will or my agenda on a single person.

And you should beware of those who try.

Know who "they" is, and consider their background, motives and expertise carefully as you ingest their advice.

Certainly, seek information and counsel along the way. Acquire tools. Learn stuff.

Just be damned careful of what "they say."

You are the expert on and captain of your own story.

They? Are not.

Proof is an occasional series that showcases (and celebrates!) people who employed new job search strategies and landed THE job or promotion they wanted. Today, we feature Mary Ahn of Metro Detroit.

Mary Ahn had a predicament.

Her resume, at face, was good. It was well-written and spelled out many of her core accomplishments. But Mary wasn’t landing interviews, at least not with the companies for whom she most wanted to work. As frustration mounted, a friend (and Ridiculously Awesome Resume client) recommended she get professional support.

What we did …

Mary ordered a Ridiculously Awesome Resume package. In our first consultation, we pinpointed pretty quickly what was happening: Mary had a lengthy career history working in planning and analysis for the automotive industry. However, when the economy went south in 2008, she returned to school for her teaching certification and began working part-time as a substitute teacher.

While she loves teaching and mentoring others, Mary was ready to return to a role in automotive, preferably one that combined her love of teaching and mentoring with her mad skillz in planning.

Unfortunately, her resume was weighted heavily to her recent roles. She was getting few calls.

And so we transitioned Mary’s resume to speak directly to a hiring manager within her target industry. We showcased the things she is most proud of (and best known for) from her earlier automotive experience, and the competencies a hiring manager in her chosen field would most likely be seeking.

In short, we made it extremely easy for the reviewer to quickly connect his or her “This is what we need,” to Mary’s “This is what Mary offers.”

(Important note, folks. This is one of the keys to good resume writing – make it easy for the reviewer. E-A-S-Y.)

Mary’s first reaction to the new resume?

“The first time I read it, I was blown away by how on target it was,” she said. “You were able to pick out key accomplishments and write about them in a way that matched the direction I was trying to head in.”

What happened next?

When the resume was complete, Mary targeted a handful of automotive opportunities and applied for them, using the new document. She landed more than one interview, almost immediately. One of them? Was the perfect job.

Mary landed that perfect job, less than a month after we’d finished her new resume. Today, she’s a project manager for a company called BI Worldwide. Her job is to coordinate print, video and web materials used by a major automotive corporation for dealer training.

“It’s just a great fit,” she said. “I am using my prior contacts and understanding of the automotive industry, as well as my ability to multi-task, plan and organize. I absolutely love it.”

Of the overall resume development experience, Mary said:

“The whole process was, surprisingly, very painless. No one enjoys the resume process, but you asked all the right questions during the phone interview, and then just took it from there.”

Huge congrats, Mary! All the best to you as you rejoin the automotive industry!

 Got a Proof story of your own? Please email me at Jenny@JobJenny.com if you’d like to be featured in the series.

I look at dozens and dozens of resumes every single week.

My clients are counting on me to find great new hires, quickly.

And so I move fast. I skim. I make flash decisions. I juggle lots of positions at once.

I'm certain that, sometimes? I miss great people.

Maybe you.

You want to know why I miss them?

I miss them because they didn't make my life easy.

Sound lazy? Maybe. But this is a very real scenario in many, many recruiting agencies and corporations.

We are often flooded with resumes, and have a gun to our collective head to extract the superstars out of that flood.

And so ...

The easier you make it for me, the recruiter (or a hiring manager, or an HR person) to quickly connect my

"Here is what I need" to your

"Here is what Joe Awesome has to offer?"

The greater the odds you will be invited in for an interview.

And that is the goal of your resume.

Your resume is a marketing tool that you use to land interviews.

It is not an autobiography, nor list of every job description you've ever had.

It's a marketing tool.

Good marketers consider their target audience as they craft.

And then they work like mad to inspire that audience with a very direct, relevant message.

Good marketers make it easy for prospects to make buying decisions in their favor.

Good resumes do the same.

At all.

I recall it vividly. I was a young teen and I'd landed tickets to sit in the studio audience of an  live weekday talk show in Detroit, "Kelly & Company."

The episode was going to be about finding a job.

I got all dressed up for the affair.  My Dad drove me down to the city for the big event.

At this point in my youth, it should be noted - I wanted to be a broadcast journalist.

Badly.

As such, in my young teen mind? This trip to the studio audience of "Kelly & Company" was going to be my TV debut 

Never mind that I was just one schlemp in an entire studio full of people; I was determined to get some air time. 

And so, when the show host asked if anyone in the audience had any career-related questions?

I shot my hand up. Me! Me! Me! Me!

No, I hadn't thought up my question yet. Of course I hadn't. But I saw a window, and I went for it.

Suddenly the studio assistant was heading my way, with a microphone.

This would be the exact moment that I panicked.

Full-on,  "holy-crap-I'm-about-to-be-on-live-TV-what-the-hell-do-I-do-now," panicked.

I quickly scanned the archives of my brain and then blurted out some very stupid question about finding a job.

The blurt sounded quite a lot like a frog.

I was horrified, my face on fire with embarrassment. 

I was an idiot.

My dear, ever-supportive father did everything he could to make me feel better on the drive home, but it was useless

I had blown my shot. I was a horrible public speaker and I would never make it as a broadcast journalist. I was convinced.

Things got worse when we arrived home. Waiting at the back door for our return, was my older sister.

Upon seeing me, she doubled over laughing and contemplated aloud whether I'd sounded more like I'd swallowed a frog, or a handful of cotton balls.

(She was pretty set on the cotton balls, btw.)

I'm laughing now as I type this, but let me tell you ... That life event was one of the more paralyzing moments of my youth.

It also made me terrified about speaking in public, for a very long time.

If I could avoid a speech, an interview, a presentation, or any other speaking activity that may bring back the dreaded frog (cotton ball) voice? That's precisely what I'd do.

Flash forward 20 years. I've launched JobJenny.com and people are starting to hear about the site.

And I'm beginning to receive (gasp!) invitations to speak. Invitations to share with, learn from, and hang out with inspiring and cool people. Invitations to help all kinds of people carve out fulfilling careers, to support them through this challenging job market.

Invitations to challenge myself and grow as a human being, as a professional.

(Crossroads can be such a bitch, can't they?)

I could have easily said no to the invitations. I could have insisted that I'm a writer not a speaker.

I could have.

But I didn't. And now, with a handful of speaking opportunities under my belt? I'm mighty glad I didn't let the scars of my youth determine the growth and fulfillment of my adulthood.

This past weekend, I spoke to several hundred graduating students from Texas Christian University's senior class. Yes, it was scary.

Every single time I clip on a mic and walk up to a stage, I can't help but flash back to that dreadful "Kelly & Company" moment of 25 years ago.

But it was also incredibly rewarding to hang with a room full of excited, engaged young adults who are just brimming with excitement over their professional futures.

(And, let me tell you, Texas people are SO NICE.)

So what's the moral of this longish story?

Don't eat cotton balls.

No, seriously. Here it is:

A lot of the people I counsel are terrified to take risks. They fear making the wrong moves, so they make no moves. They play it safe.

Problem is that safe doesn't tend to lead to amazing.

Safe doesn't tend to lead to fulfilling.

Safe doesn't tend to lead to personal growth nor career prosperity.

We all have life moments that we flash back to and think,

"Oh, hell no. I'm not putting myself in THAT position again."

But if you let those moments rule you?

You will probably miss out on amazing things.

So what if you sounded like you swallowed a frog that one time?

Do you think the world's sitting around dwelling on your embarrassing moment?

No, they are not.

So keep going. 

It'll be more than worth it.

Photo: flickr.com Creative Commons (G.M.B.)

You've spent hours on it. Maybe you've hired a professional to craft it for you.

Hell, maybe you've hired me.

(In which case, you know it's one bloody great document.)

I applaud you.

I applaud you for knowing that it's vital for your marketing documents to speak clearly to what you bring to the table.

To what makes you great.

To what makes you a standout.

Yes, you need a killer resume.

But a great resume is not a guarantee.

It's not a magic fairy nor Santa nor a genie that swooshes out of his little bottle and grants you a kickass new job as reward for having such a riveting resume.

And this frustrates the pants off of people.

Many people launch a job search thinking, 

"I'm just going to fix my old resume and all will be right in the land."

Only to discover, after weeks and weeks of sending dozens (or hundreds) of that fixed resume out into the Black Hole ... that it's still not working.

And that is when I say:

When it's not working, it's usually not a matter of trying harder. It's usually not a matter of asking 14 more people what they think of your resume. It's usually not a matter of making your already great resume EVEN GREATER.

When it's not working, it's time to cook up a better plan.

(Hint: the better plan does not involve sending piles of resumes in through blind mailboxes. Stop it, already).

You need help with this? If you do, you may want to grab a copy of "To Whom It May Concern: Or, How To Stop Sucking at Your Job Search," for just $20 (normally $39) through Friday, 1/27.  The ebook teaches you how to cook up a much more effective plan for job search. If you're interested, just Click here and use discount code MAGICFAIRY at checkout.

photo: Flickr.com Creative Commons (Sarahnaut)

If I were an Apple store, I'd have this covered.

You'd come into my storefront (which would be sleek, contemporary and always bustling), get caught up in the energy, efficiency and knowledge packed up into my compact, yet welcoming business and leave feeling absolutely great about that thing you've got tucked into your incredibly lush, backpacky Apple bag.

We'd all win.

If I were I clown car, it'd be a different story.

You'd want to come in because my clown car would look like a ridiculously fun, happy and energizing place to hang out. But you'd be admittedly a bit concerned because you'd wonder about such things as, 

"How exactly are they all getting enough oxygen in there?" and

"What happens if one of them needs to get out and go to the bathroom?" and

"Is there REALLY room for one more?"

And then you'd be torn between the fun and the overcrowding.

And this is where the learning curve part of the tale comes in.

I am finding myself somewhere between Apple store and clown car this month. 

Sales are booming, absolutely booming. 

I don't even have one of those hand-held auto-checkout clickers that the magical Apple sales people wave around with ease. And sales are still booming.

And I am so very grateful (to you!)

I also don't yet have a force of shining, happy consultants just about to return from lunch break here at JobJenny.com.  I don't yet have infrastructure in place to manage huge influxes in business.

And that is precisely what has happened with the Ridiculously Awesome Resume Service this month.

In the first two weeks of 2012, I sold more resume packages than I typically sell in 8 weeks.

This is where JobJenny.com starts becoming the clown car instead of the Apple store.

This is also where inventory for the month begins running out.

We're near that point when you'll start wondering what happens if the oxygen runs out in here. 

And, as the business owner, it's my job to make sure such things don't happen.

While it's tough to turn away business during the busiest resume month of the year?

It's only fair. To you.

I have to limit my offerings so that I can be sure and deliver each and every Ridiculously Awesome Resume client a spectacular end product. 

As of today, we're out or "near out" of January inventory, for every available package.

Is this ideal? Of course not, especially if you're ready to make the investment right this minute.

But it's the right thing to do, given that I am the sole resume writer in this operation.

And so...

If you have attempted to order a Ridiculously Awesome Resume and were greeted with the dreaded "Out of Stock" message? Curse me if you must, but be assured that this log jam of orders will be cleared out very soon and all inventory will reset on Feburary 1.

And if you want to order today, and set project launch for early February? Please shoot me an email at Jenny@JobJenny.com.

And finally, if you have constructive ideas on how I could better structure the service? I'd appreciate your input very much.

Thanks for following along on JobJenny.com. And for those who have helped make this the biggest month of sales in the history of the site?

A virtual hug is going out to you.

Do not shoot the messenger here. Because she's on your side. And she's no spring chicken, either.

(My doctor actually TOLD me this a couple of months ago. The nerve!)

My message for more mature job seekers ...

Ageism is real. Of course it is. Companies aren't supposed to discriminate according to age, and they may even think they're not doing it, but ... hiring managers make inferences and judgements about you based on what you present to them.

And if they think you're old and tired?

You're not moving on in the interview process.

Fact.

So what the hell should you do about it?

Moaning and groaning about it won't get you anywhere. Well, it will get you more frustrated and depressed, but that's not really the goal here, right?

My vote is this: Strategize around it.

A few of my best tips for those who are struggling with a search you feel has age discrimination written all over it:

Your resume

•  Your college graduation date? Yank it.
• "References available upon request"? Old school. Also yank.
• Referring to yourself as one with 30 or 35+ years of experience? Will work against you.
• One pager, written in Times New Roman using a Microsoft resume template? Dead giveaway. It's totally OK to have a 2-3 pager once you've got vast experience and wicked smarts.
• Any marital or health stats? I will assume you're like 80+. Also yank.
• Any non-vital experience (as in non-vital to the role you're pursuing in 2012) that's more than 20 years old? Yank yank yank.

Your appearance

• Super gray or 1990 hair? Consider finding a stylist (or a friend) who knows current trends.
• Outdated clothes, shoes, glasses, perfume? Again, I know it sounds jerky, but you've got to consider the impact it may be having on your job search. And adjust accordingly.
• Do you look tired and worn down? More sleep, new skin care routine, more water, better diet might be in order.

How you go about the search

This is the biggie. Nothing dates a job seeker more than when they refuse to use social media for job search. I get that those of us born pre-1980 are not digital natives. Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, blogs...? They aren't a natural second language to over 40 job seekers. But folks? These tools are fast becoming mandatory business tools. In our lifetimes, they won't be any LESS important or influential. Not by a long shot. 

Being current with social media will not only benefit your job search networking efforts ENORMOUSLY, they will position you as a current, capable business person; one who keeps up with technology and, thus, remains competitive. 

So what's it going to be? You want to be the aging person who sits around doing nothing but talk about every wrinkle and creak and malady that comes upon you as you age? Or would you rather marry your deep experience, maturity and bitchin' work ethic with a style and savvy befitting of the year 2012?

Screw my doctor and her commentary. I'm going with the latter.

photo: flickr.com Creative Commons (tcrow43)

You are not making me care.

Me. A recruiter. One of those gatekeepers who wants, no NEEDS, to find talented professionals so that my entire family can eat and wear clothes and run around town with gas in our car and such.

When your resume reads like a job description, as in a running list of your duties and responsibilities?

It's very hard for me to care.

It's far and away the most common mistake I see on resumes. Many job seekers focus so hard on listing out all of the duties and responsibilities they've ever held, that they fall (significantly) short on helping potential employers understand what makes them a standout.

When crafting a resume, do yourself a huge, huge favor and answer these three questions before you scratch out even one bullet point:

1. What am I most proud of? Where have I really killed it, and what am I awesome at?
2. What would my supervisors/colleagues/employees say are my crowning accomplishments and/or best assets?
3. If Jenny Foss were to go ask my co-workers, "Hey, what's the best part about working with Susie?" What would they say?

(ok, that's actually five questions)

And then build this information into those tidy little bullet points on your resume.

I need to know your skills line up, of course. But most of the resumes in my pile are going to be people who COULD do that particular job.

If you're the one in that pile who makes me care?

I call you first.

As you may suspect, January is far and away the busiest month of the year for recruiters, career advisors and resume writers.

I happen to be all three.

(yikes!)

Please do me a huge favor as we round out the year, would ya? 

Use this last gasp of 2011 as your opportunity to reflect quietly on all of your amazingness.

No matter how fortunate or unfortunate your 2011 has been, you must never ever lose sight of the fact that you have so many gifts and talents.

And the world deserves a piece of that action. 

So use this day to take a few deep breaths, limber up and plot out how you're going to showcase your amazingness to the world in the new year.

Go big in 2012. 

And know that I'm right here to help you along the way.

Happy New Year ... A virtual toast to all (clink).

Photo: Me and the mini, reflecting on the Oregon Coast this week. No, you may not borrow my sweet boots.