If you’re reading this by virtue of the title alone, you are likely one of the many unfortunate people who find themselves without work that pays a sustainable wage. Let’s skip past all the chatter about how bad the economy is…we get it. And we already know that employment is a lagging indicator of economic recovery, so let’s not talk about time. Let’s talk about getting you the next career placement as soon as possible.
Notice I didn’t say “job”. If you’re looking for employment then there is no excuse why you are not working right now. But you’re better than that. You have focused intentions, and defined skills. If you’re good, you have an inherent sense of your value proposition. So let’s focus our efforts on activities that will increase your chances of getting face-to-face with the hiring team you want to work for.
Step 1: Stop Calling HR
It’s true. At least, don’t call me if you do not have a specific purpose. If you got the email confirmation that your resume was received from the career website, trust that it was indeed received. Don’t call me to ask if it was. And don’t call with a sense of confidence saying “I know you want to interview me; when can we schedule this meeting?” I’m not impressed. What does leave a positive impression is if you’ve taken the time to research the team you want to work for. Have you called the hiring manager to ask what she’s looking for in a candidate? If you’re nice, I bet she will tell you. Have you gotten the contact information of a team member, and asked him for an informational interview of what the job looks like? Believe me, if you conduct yourself appropriately he will be eager to expound his knowledge upon you. The result of all this is that now the hiring manager or team members are coming to me saying, “Hey we really need to give _______ a shot for an interview, and here’s why.” Not once have I turned down a request such as this…even when the resume is less than stellar. Which brings us to Step 2.
Step 2: Translate Yourself to the Job
You have knowledge, skills, and abilities that relate to the opportunity in front of you. Don’t presume HR – or the hiring manager, for that matter – to translate that. Make it explicit. Relate your achievements, in quantifiable terms, to our business model. Highlight your abilities that align with our core values and long term vision. For goodness sake, don’t just bullet point your job description on your resume. This is a waste of everyone’s time. Believe me, very few people in this world are known by namesake, and therefore you have to differentiate yourself from the hundreds of other applications I’m reviewing. Think of who else might be applying for this position, and articulate yourself in ways that help me understand why you are better.
Step 3: Be Ready At a Moment’s Notice
Sounds easy enough, but honesty this all-encompassing step means that you’ve completed thorough research, on everything. You’ve researched the company and are able to demonstrate yourself in a congruent fashion. You’ve practiced common interview questions with your colleagues so that you can appear polished. You’ve identified the value that this career opportunity brings to your development, and can expound upon how it will add to your portfolio of professional experience. And you focus yourself so that within the interview you remember names, themes, and strive to make a connection with the individuals in front of you. You’re ready for a phone interview, panel interview, or for a submission of work samples that demonstrate your expertise.
What I hope you will gleam from this is that applying for your next career placement is not a shotgun approach, or speed dating. It is crafted, articulated, and refined. Inherently, this means that you’re applying to less jobs, because the focus that it takes for you to submit a quality application takes much longer. In a day of age where applying for a job is as simple as clicking “Submit”, you must understand that you are amongst thousands of other candidates just like you. So work smarter, not harder. In the meantime, I offer you my sincere appreciation for your tenacity.
No comments:
Post a Comment