Many people who are out of a job for extended periods of
time aren’t unskilled or unknowledgeable, but they lack professional work
search skills. One big mistake can eliminate you from the short list.
So where to start, certainly not by just sending out resumes
willy nilly to any old job site. Start with a thorough self assessment. Get to
really know yourself. Don’t think for a minute that interviewers know who you
are and how wonderful you are. Do lots of introspective work before setting out
on interviews. Identify what you do that you are really good at and skills you
must have and would like to use or acquire in your next position. Note here
that interpersonal skills carry almost as much credence as any single learned
competency.
Having a job is not an entitlement. Do research on the
company, find out their position in the local and world market, what their
customers think about them and be sure to read their latest press release or
annual report if applicable. Know who the person who is interviewing you is,
know where they fit on the organization chart
A strong cover letter is mandatory unless you are working
with recruiters. Most HR departments and hiring managers like a good cover
letter. What they don’t want is a regurgitation of your resume. Use the cover
letter to be specific about what you know the company needs from the person who
is going to fill this position, what benefits you bring to the table. For
example, “I will reduce old inventory, increase employee retention, increase
sales in northern Ontario, bring more awareness of your company to your target
market….”
End your cover letter
with “I look forward to meeting with you to further discuss how I can make a
contribution to the company. “Not, “so we can talk about my resume.”
If you took time off
between jobs, put on the resume what you did or where you went be it a
maternity leave or travelling around the world. Take out the months in your
timeline if you need to stretch the time a bit.
Tailor each resume you send out to the specific position
being applied for. Generic resumes do not sell! Eliminate some points that are
not relevant and add in others that speak to their needs.
Don’t feign enthusiasm for a job that you are not interested
in. Sure go along for the interview experience, but you may have to be the one
to terminate the interview if you realize this is just not your bally wick.
Tell the truth about your part in an accomplishment. If you
did something as part of a team, tell them,” I did xyz , as part of a team.”
Interviewers don’t need to hear what the “we” did but what “you” contributed.
In the interview, interview the interviewer. Gone are the
days, to a large extent, where the interviewer does all the selling. Ask
pointed, direct, value oriented questions to uncover the congruency between
your values and that of the hiring company. This is so, so important today.
Get off the computer and get out and meet people. 70 – 80%
of the jobs are still found through networking. Be relentless, make 5 to 15
calls or emails per day. Follow through.
Your ability to succeed is based 90% on your attitude. You
can’t buy or win an attitude, it is solely your responsibility, and it is hard
sometimes, really hard. Know you are giving it all you’ve got and hold onto
your vision!
Colleen Clarke is a
highly regarded Corporate Trainer and Career Specialist in the areas of career
management, transition, communication and networking. She has assisted over
7000 people through career transition throughout her career. She is the author
of Networking How to Build Relationships That Count and Find a Job
and Keep It. Colleen is a monthly workplace columnist for The Globe
and Mail’s Nine to Five column. Always motivating and usually humorous, Colleen
has inspired and edu-tained thousands of individuals and groups to career
excellence.
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