Boo! This is Halloween week, and the gremlins are on their way for some good trick-or-treating.
But what might be equally frightening to prospective employers (on a more regular basis) is that many job seekers send in either industry or company-specific jargon-laden resumes which simply scare off readers.
Who would want to take the time to read a resume if what you are saying (or how you say it) doesn’t apply to that particular employer? Or for that matter, that the employer can’t even understand what you are saying?
The truth is that many job seekers are ‘jumping ship’ from some of the weaker industries right now, and they are sending off resumes to totally different fields, but these documents are so technically-skilled or so full of industry lingo that has no application to the target sector… and employers are immediately turned off.
Example: I have had several clients from a multi-billion dollar, multi-national corporation that manufactures certain components to the computing industry. They were looking for employment outside of this organization, and reading their resumes was like starting to learn a new language, even though I am fairly tech savvy.
The problem was that these job seekers were so focused on including internal product names, project names, and references for internal processes, that anyone else who was not at that company wouldn’t have a clue what it was that the job seeker actually DID.
Creating a cloud in a resume of technical terms is important for gaining ‘hits’ in applicant tracking systems for similar jobs, however, if those specific keywords have no relevancy to the new field, you’ll need to do some serious editing and leave them out.
The key is to break down what was done in terms of the essence of what you did, rather than the technical skills associated with it. That will help you make the translation clearer and clear out the fog from your resume, allowing employers to see you more clearly.
There are generally three sets of skills that a job seeker has to work with when writing their career document.
1) Personal skills (such as your personal work habits, ethics, traits, attributes) are generally relegated to the branding statement at the beginning of a resume and are considered your soft "people" skills.
2) Transferrable skills (project management, fiscal management, administrative skills, sales) can be highlighted throughout the document
3) Technical skills (D3300 Gizbot, Sector 3 Transfer Protocol) specific skills related to a particular industry, and should be used when applying to same
If you can clear your head while you are freeing your resume of heavy technical terms that aren’t relevant to a new career direction, you’ll have a greater degree in success in capturing the attention of prospective employers.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The One Thing That Makes Exceptional Job Candidates Stand Out
You've done everything right in your job search. Résumé? Check. Cover letter? Finished. Research for the interview? Done.
In fact, you've already had your first interview on Friday and completely hit it out of the ballpark. For every question that was thrown your way, you were able to answer with knowledge and enthusiasm, providing great examples of why you are the best candidate.
Afterwards, as you are walking out the door, you are congratulating yourself on a job well done and are confident that the job is 'in the bag.' You head home, and are quickly caught up in a weekend whirlwind of activity, all the while thinking in the back of your mind what a great job you did in the interview.
Except for one thing.
You didn't seal the deal. There's something that you neglected to do that would have set you apart as an exceptional candidate.
Most of us (yours truly included) at some point have positively FAILED to do the one thing that would help position ourselves as the absolute top candidate.
We simply forgot to thank the prospective employer for the interview.
It's a simple courtesy.
But it can make the difference as to whether you get the job by setting you apart not just as a viable candidate, but as an exceptional candidate.
A short thank you note is the best way to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack.
Why?
In the world of advertising, the rule of thumb is that it takes a minimum of five (5) impressions before a message begins to stick. As you look holistically at the entire interview process, each interaction with the target company is an impression that serves to 'brand' you to that organization. The thank you note is the icing on the cake. The cherry on top of the sundae. It makes the deal complete, and it conveys a level of professionalism and efficiency that reassures the employer that they would make the right decision in hiring you.
A staggering 96% of all interviewees do NOT send thank you notes. Let’s put it this way: Wouldn't you want to be in the top 4% of your interview 'graduating class' by sending a note? In the competitive job marketplace, everyone should be going to all the lengths possible to brand themselves, create positive impressions and convince prospective employers to hire them.
Why would anyone want to miss this important step altogether, and more importantly, not take advantage of another opportunity to sell themselves as the ideal choice for the job?
The truth is that we all know what happens. We get caught up in the daily routine and tasks, and the next thing we know, it is a week later, and the thought occurs that perhaps we should have sent something to the employer. Thinking it is too late, we decide, well, perhaps it doesn't matter.
But the point is: It DOES matter.
Many employers point to the fact that thank you notes can make the difference of hiring someone or not, and human resource and hiring managers alike put a certain amount of weight on those thank you notes when considering candidates. And in this crowded job marketplace, every little positive thing we can do to add more viability to our candidacy can make a big impact.
A good way to view a thank you note is to see it as another way to add another point or detail missed in the interview, a chance to connect at a personal level with the interviewer, and also communicates how you see their time as well as an appreciation for the fact that they recognized the value that you offer for that company.
A sure-fire way to ensure that you take advantage of this opportunity is to proactively go out and purchase some blank thank you cards (DollarTree has them for $1), and purchase the appropriate amount of "Forever" stamps so you have them at the ready.
In the interview, write down your interviewer(s) name(s), and as soon as you leave the interview, write up the thank you notes and address them, then stop at the post office on the way home to drop them off.
Getting the notes into the mail ASAP is imperative because you never know when the final decision will be made. Showing a high level of organization in addition to your thoughtfulness also sends a powerful, direct message to the target employer.
Don’t just be a good candidate. Do the right thing and be an EXCEPTIONAL one.
In fact, you've already had your first interview on Friday and completely hit it out of the ballpark. For every question that was thrown your way, you were able to answer with knowledge and enthusiasm, providing great examples of why you are the best candidate.
Afterwards, as you are walking out the door, you are congratulating yourself on a job well done and are confident that the job is 'in the bag.' You head home, and are quickly caught up in a weekend whirlwind of activity, all the while thinking in the back of your mind what a great job you did in the interview.
Except for one thing.
You didn't seal the deal. There's something that you neglected to do that would have set you apart as an exceptional candidate.
Most of us (yours truly included) at some point have positively FAILED to do the one thing that would help position ourselves as the absolute top candidate.
We simply forgot to thank the prospective employer for the interview.
It's a simple courtesy.
But it can make the difference as to whether you get the job by setting you apart not just as a viable candidate, but as an exceptional candidate.
A short thank you note is the best way to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack.
Why?
In the world of advertising, the rule of thumb is that it takes a minimum of five (5) impressions before a message begins to stick. As you look holistically at the entire interview process, each interaction with the target company is an impression that serves to 'brand' you to that organization. The thank you note is the icing on the cake. The cherry on top of the sundae. It makes the deal complete, and it conveys a level of professionalism and efficiency that reassures the employer that they would make the right decision in hiring you.
A staggering 96% of all interviewees do NOT send thank you notes. Let’s put it this way: Wouldn't you want to be in the top 4% of your interview 'graduating class' by sending a note? In the competitive job marketplace, everyone should be going to all the lengths possible to brand themselves, create positive impressions and convince prospective employers to hire them.
Why would anyone want to miss this important step altogether, and more importantly, not take advantage of another opportunity to sell themselves as the ideal choice for the job?
The truth is that we all know what happens. We get caught up in the daily routine and tasks, and the next thing we know, it is a week later, and the thought occurs that perhaps we should have sent something to the employer. Thinking it is too late, we decide, well, perhaps it doesn't matter.
But the point is: It DOES matter.
Many employers point to the fact that thank you notes can make the difference of hiring someone or not, and human resource and hiring managers alike put a certain amount of weight on those thank you notes when considering candidates. And in this crowded job marketplace, every little positive thing we can do to add more viability to our candidacy can make a big impact.
A good way to view a thank you note is to see it as another way to add another point or detail missed in the interview, a chance to connect at a personal level with the interviewer, and also communicates how you see their time as well as an appreciation for the fact that they recognized the value that you offer for that company.
A sure-fire way to ensure that you take advantage of this opportunity is to proactively go out and purchase some blank thank you cards (DollarTree has them for $1), and purchase the appropriate amount of "Forever" stamps so you have them at the ready.
In the interview, write down your interviewer(s) name(s), and as soon as you leave the interview, write up the thank you notes and address them, then stop at the post office on the way home to drop them off.
Getting the notes into the mail ASAP is imperative because you never know when the final decision will be made. Showing a high level of organization in addition to your thoughtfulness also sends a powerful, direct message to the target employer.
Don’t just be a good candidate. Do the right thing and be an EXCEPTIONAL one.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Revealed: #1 Shocking Secret about Job Searches
With unemployment rates still heading off the charts, jobless workers engaged in job searches are frantically working to find the right way to present their credentials to convince prospective employers to call them in for an interview.
But there’s been one secret stumbling block that most people hit which sends them into a tailspin when it comes down to an actual interview.
When presented with the question “Why should I hire you?,” most people fail to show what it is that they offer a prospective employer.
In fact, the real secret is that most of us are actually terrible at saying what exactly makes us good at what we do.
That’s both a good news / bad news scenario for job seekers.
The good news is this means that the other candidates competing for the same job opening aren’t doing a much better job in selling employers on why they should hire them either. But that still leaves your own inability to express your value to employers as a real job search liability.
While our society teaches us to avoid being braggarts, the one place and time to talk yourself up and take credit where it is due is in your résumé, cover letter and during an interview. Employers are probing to find out what your value has been to previous companies. If you can’t convey this to an employer, what this really means is that you really don’t have any idea of what your own worth is, either.
By gaining a firm handle on what you have to offer a prospective employer, you can confidently answer the question with specific reasons to add you to their staff team.
A good place to start building your confidence and a “30 second commercial” is your résumé. Instead of including a passive, weak objective statement, try building two to three sentences that marry words that describe your work ethic and values with the key words relevant to the position you are pursuing.
Example: “Bottom-line focused sales professional with more than 15 years of experience delivering high-integrity, customer-centric consultative business development tactics geared to drive bottom line results.”
That sure beats the heck out of "Objective: To find a sales position that matches my selling and marketing abilities", doesn't it? The example above shows VALUE and makes someone want to hire you, where an objective statement flops around like a fish in the bottom of the boat.
By spending some time and taking the time to put this down on paper, this exercise can help you build value into not just your résumé document, but also into your psyche so your worth to potential employers is more deeply under your skin. Being connected to this sense of self-worth can literally make the difference between being offered the job or not.
Once you have your value statement polished on your résumé, it’s now time to practice saying it out loud. Use friends or family as your audience, and prepare how you want to answer the question, “Why should I hire you?” Remember to smile, keep eye contact, don’t fidget and be centered on your value proposition so you can deliver it with the confidence that you know you have.
The final test before the interview process is to march yourself out to industry or business networking events and start a conversation. Eventually, it will come back to you and you'll be asked, "What do you do?" and your value statement will be ready to roll. Being able to quickly and easily articulate what you do and how well you do it is one of the most empowering things in the world, and will help set you apart from the other candidates.
But there’s been one secret stumbling block that most people hit which sends them into a tailspin when it comes down to an actual interview.
When presented with the question “Why should I hire you?,” most people fail to show what it is that they offer a prospective employer.
In fact, the real secret is that most of us are actually terrible at saying what exactly makes us good at what we do.
That’s both a good news / bad news scenario for job seekers.
The good news is this means that the other candidates competing for the same job opening aren’t doing a much better job in selling employers on why they should hire them either. But that still leaves your own inability to express your value to employers as a real job search liability.
While our society teaches us to avoid being braggarts, the one place and time to talk yourself up and take credit where it is due is in your résumé, cover letter and during an interview. Employers are probing to find out what your value has been to previous companies. If you can’t convey this to an employer, what this really means is that you really don’t have any idea of what your own worth is, either.
By gaining a firm handle on what you have to offer a prospective employer, you can confidently answer the question with specific reasons to add you to their staff team.
A good place to start building your confidence and a “30 second commercial” is your résumé. Instead of including a passive, weak objective statement, try building two to three sentences that marry words that describe your work ethic and values with the key words relevant to the position you are pursuing.
Example: “Bottom-line focused sales professional with more than 15 years of experience delivering high-integrity, customer-centric consultative business development tactics geared to drive bottom line results.”
That sure beats the heck out of "Objective: To find a sales position that matches my selling and marketing abilities", doesn't it? The example above shows VALUE and makes someone want to hire you, where an objective statement flops around like a fish in the bottom of the boat.
By spending some time and taking the time to put this down on paper, this exercise can help you build value into not just your résumé document, but also into your psyche so your worth to potential employers is more deeply under your skin. Being connected to this sense of self-worth can literally make the difference between being offered the job or not.
Once you have your value statement polished on your résumé, it’s now time to practice saying it out loud. Use friends or family as your audience, and prepare how you want to answer the question, “Why should I hire you?” Remember to smile, keep eye contact, don’t fidget and be centered on your value proposition so you can deliver it with the confidence that you know you have.
The final test before the interview process is to march yourself out to industry or business networking events and start a conversation. Eventually, it will come back to you and you'll be asked, "What do you do?" and your value statement will be ready to roll. Being able to quickly and easily articulate what you do and how well you do it is one of the most empowering things in the world, and will help set you apart from the other candidates.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
What You Absolutely Need to Know Before Emailing Your Résumé
Technology glitches aside, there’s a great deal of uncertainty when you email a résumé off for an open position. Mainly, you are worried whether you got the person’s (assuming it is the right person) attention, it made it to their inbox, and then there’s the worry whether it went into a spam filter by accident.
The truth is that you SHOULD be very worried.
Unfortunately, while you can’t control some of these factors, there are some things you can do to be as proactive as possible about sending your résumé via email.
The first place to start, however, is your email body itself and how you compose it. If you think that writing a short note to the recipient indicating that the enclosed résumé is to be considered for a specific position, and that this constitutes the same function of a cover letter, you are dead wrong.
Recruiters, hiring managers and human resource managers all decry how dismissive email messages responding to job openings have become, and really see this is a viable indicator of how serious, professional and interested a candidate is in a particular position. Either you should make your email a cover letter itself in the body, or write a short note indicating the following:
“Attached is my résumé and cover letter for __________ position announced on ___________. I have included two versions—a Word file (________.doc) and a .pdf (_________.pdf) versions. Please use the .pdf version for printing so it will print correctly on your printer. I will also send a separate email with my resume copied and pasted into the body of the email, just in case there are any issues with file incompatibility. Due to the sometimes unreliable nature of the Internet, I would greatly appreciate a quick reply from you to acknowledge your receipt of this email. Thank you in advance for your assistance.”
Also referenced in the note are the document types. As we all know, there are a myriad of different versions of Microsoft Word out there, and not every system is compatible. A good trick is to save the document to the older version if you are on Office 2007, just in case. Additionally, finding one of the freeware versions of PDF converters online will enable you to lock in all formatting into the PDF format, eliminating any variations of how Word might read the file. Finally, another thing to be aware of is that if you are submitting your résumé via the web, you might need to convert it to ASCII format, which strips out most of the formatting that is found in Word. It does require a little bit of time to reformat it so it isn’t one very long paragraph with no breaks, which is how it looks if you simply cut and paste your Word document into the online application systems.
Finally, given the fact there are things that impede your email making it to the employer’s inbox, you should always follow up. Most job seekers are looking so far forward for the next job opening and putting together the next application that they don’t follow up. Recently, I was teaching a class on job search strategies, and a woman raised her hand and said that she had followed up on an email that she had sent to a prospective employer, and was told that the message was never received. In the short time on the phone she had with the employer, the woman made a quick pitch of her background, and was told to re-send the documents, which she did. It resulted in her getting an interview.
Remember that EVERYTHING that you send to an employer does not guarantee that the right person received it. It is up to you to follow up in a polite, respectful and non-demanding way. Additionally, every aspect of your correspondence to employers is being evaluated, so make sure you utilize it in a way that gives you the best representation possible. It is a measure of your professionalism, writing skills and how you project yourself!
The truth is that you SHOULD be very worried.
Unfortunately, while you can’t control some of these factors, there are some things you can do to be as proactive as possible about sending your résumé via email.
The first place to start, however, is your email body itself and how you compose it. If you think that writing a short note to the recipient indicating that the enclosed résumé is to be considered for a specific position, and that this constitutes the same function of a cover letter, you are dead wrong.
Recruiters, hiring managers and human resource managers all decry how dismissive email messages responding to job openings have become, and really see this is a viable indicator of how serious, professional and interested a candidate is in a particular position. Either you should make your email a cover letter itself in the body, or write a short note indicating the following:
“Attached is my résumé and cover letter for __________ position announced on ___________. I have included two versions—a Word file (________.doc) and a .pdf (_________.pdf) versions. Please use the .pdf version for printing so it will print correctly on your printer. I will also send a separate email with my resume copied and pasted into the body of the email, just in case there are any issues with file incompatibility. Due to the sometimes unreliable nature of the Internet, I would greatly appreciate a quick reply from you to acknowledge your receipt of this email. Thank you in advance for your assistance.”
Also referenced in the note are the document types. As we all know, there are a myriad of different versions of Microsoft Word out there, and not every system is compatible. A good trick is to save the document to the older version if you are on Office 2007, just in case. Additionally, finding one of the freeware versions of PDF converters online will enable you to lock in all formatting into the PDF format, eliminating any variations of how Word might read the file. Finally, another thing to be aware of is that if you are submitting your résumé via the web, you might need to convert it to ASCII format, which strips out most of the formatting that is found in Word. It does require a little bit of time to reformat it so it isn’t one very long paragraph with no breaks, which is how it looks if you simply cut and paste your Word document into the online application systems.
Finally, given the fact there are things that impede your email making it to the employer’s inbox, you should always follow up. Most job seekers are looking so far forward for the next job opening and putting together the next application that they don’t follow up. Recently, I was teaching a class on job search strategies, and a woman raised her hand and said that she had followed up on an email that she had sent to a prospective employer, and was told that the message was never received. In the short time on the phone she had with the employer, the woman made a quick pitch of her background, and was told to re-send the documents, which she did. It resulted in her getting an interview.
Remember that EVERYTHING that you send to an employer does not guarantee that the right person received it. It is up to you to follow up in a polite, respectful and non-demanding way. Additionally, every aspect of your correspondence to employers is being evaluated, so make sure you utilize it in a way that gives you the best representation possible. It is a measure of your professionalism, writing skills and how you project yourself!
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