Are your training, experience, resume and interview skills good enough to reel in the job you seek? Within the first few seconds of an interview, most Human Resource [HR] professionals know whether or not they are interested in a job applicant. So, regardless of whether your education and training are first rate, your work record without flaw and your recommendations superb, finding an optimal position is not assured in today's complex marketplace.
RESEARCH
EVERYTHING!
Career changes are always
challenging. Even if you are fortunate enough to be shifting jobs or
even careers willingly, it requires time and energy to research your
options and go through the process.
Start by asking,
"Do
my skills, and experience match the standards of my industry?
Determine how your profile compares to your competitors and the
expectations of potential employers. Consider individual study or
institutional retraining to overcome an gaps.
Research potential employers.
Research the employers in need of your talents and abilities. Beyond
posted job ads in print and on-line, research leading firms in your
industry, or those that are large enough to have a department that
relies on your skill set.
Research all aspects of an
advertised job,
and the general needs and goals of each employer you will contact.
Compare your skills with the employer's job description and balance
this information against industry standards.
Don't forget to research
yourself. Check
each employer's key players, and run a Web search on
yourself--including your credit rating. Correct errors you find; be
prepared for questions that may arise in an interview. Consider
changing or eliminating an social networking websites that contain
inappropriate info for a potential employer to see. Photos you, or
anyone else, may have uploaded to the Internet may be there for
eternity...
Use every means to contact
employers. Access
social networking; check address books and email contact lists for
anyone who can help you. It might take a long time to find a job
yourself; hiring a headhunter may prove cost-effective. Alert
contacts if you have not informed your employer of your desire for a
career change. This begs another question--Are there opportunities
to consider within your current employer's organization?.
PREPARING RESUMES AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR
SUBMISSION.
Remember, you will have to satisfy the Human Resource specialists
prior to getting a job interview. Ensure you follow all procedural
requirements for submitting
your resume, curriculum vitae [cv] and/or job applications.
Create a
summary of skills, work history, education, training, awards,
volunteerism and other community involvement.
Create a master list of life experience in reverse-chronology
layout. This can be updated periodically to help generate
personalized submission materials as distinctive job opportunities
arise.
Follow each employer's
application procedures.
Prepare a one or two-page reverse-chronology resume for each
employer. Open with a goals statement and listing of the skills and
knowledge you possess that parallel those required for the
position--plus any unique abilities you may have. Use sentence
fragments; avoid acronyms, abbreviations, and jargon unfamiliar to a
generalists in the HR department.
Write clear cover letters
for both hardcopy and electronic resume
submissions--except when limited to static form submissions. Express
knowledgeable interest in the organization. Conclude saying you will
call to verify receipt of your materials and to learn if they desire
further information.
Prepare samples of your work.
Show the difference between you and the next applicant with a
presentation of your creative and technical abilities. Even "dummy"
examples can show your ability with letters, forms, reports, and
promo pieces.
Proofread and Review. Run software
spell-check repeatedly; determine whether industry-specific jargon
can be replaced with generic terms HR staff will understand easily.
Have colleagues plus non-specialists review all your submission
materials.
SUBMITTING RESUMES.
Quality control is very important in this phase of your job search.
Print
everything on quality printers or copiers, for
hardcopy mailings or personal delivery.
Off-white paper is acceptable if it has high reflectivity (allows
clear copying); use plain linen paper without artwork (unless you
have a personal logo) and absolutely no screened backgrounds that
prevent ease in reading. For electronic delivery, a PDF file
(Portable Document Format) is usually good, but many government
agencies and large companies may insist job applications be
executed through website forms, or require a plain text layout in
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange).
INTERVIEWS. Despite an employer’s
stated needs or corporate style, present yourself professionally.
While you can always dress down for a casual work environment, you
have only one chance to make a first, best impression! [See Wearing
Your Brand and Bios To Empower You for further career-enhancing
information.
Eat a
nourishing, light meal before interviews and drink enough water to
ensure alertness, without awkward trips to a restroom. Have fresh
breath and clean hands.
Carry a copies of the
job listing, your cover letter and resume or cv, plus two pens and a
pencil, and examples of your creative and technical abilities.
Be prepared to leave copies of sample materials, if you are not
concerned about copyright issues.
Be focused, confident and
respectful; follow directions. Use good posture and
shake hands firmly, but not hard. Smile and make easy eye contact.
Listen. Speak in a well-modulated voice, rephrasing difficult
questions.
Show active interest
with opening remarks demonstrating research about the firm. Ask a
few questions—NOT about salary or benefits. Interviewers will
specify aspects of employment, like pay and benefits.
Being polite is more than showing
good manners. Making significant contacts is
useful; sending post-interview thank-yous affirms your interest in a
firm, helping in future hiring--or even referrals to other firms.
Even if you do not get the job you seek, each contact expands
knowledge of your industry and introduces potential colleagues. When
young, or shifting fields, sequencing of jobs can help you reach
your goal.