Strategies To Help You Get The Job You Want

Ten Surefire Strategies To Help You Get The Job You Want

1. You need to know who you are to know what you want. Do some introspective work; discover your personal values, your innate talents and strengths. Perhaps you have taken certain assessments in the past such as Meyers Briggs or Disc. A book that I use with all of my clients is called Strengthsfinder 2.0. The idea is to uncover the qualities and assets which you are not only good at, but also like to use.
2. You need to know what you want to get what you want. Getting clear on who you are will put you in a better place from which to discover what it is you want. As a rule of thumb, we tend to like to do things we will naturally be good at. There are many assessments, books, and methods that can support you on this journey. Ultimately it is a journey of experimentation and trying things on for size. You can take a look at the books page on my website for some ideas.
3. There are four basic strategies to get jobs. Networking, direct contact, recruiters, and responding to ads. Just responding to ads on the internet is not looking for a job. Recruiters and job postings combined, are responsible for filling only 25% of all positions. So it stands to reason, it would be wise to not spend more than 25% of your job search time on these methods.
4. Get over your aversion to Networking. We are talking about building relationships with like-minded people. This will be vital to your long-term career success, you can do it now, or find out you should have later. Stop thinking about it in terms of wanting something, and start looking at all you can offer. Not only in terms of what you bring to a job but all of the other talents and resources you possess.
5. Prepare for the interview. Most people don’t, you will gain an immediate advantage. Know the company, the department, their challenges and opportunities. Be able to articulate: What you bring to the game – what you can do for the prospective employer. How will you demonstrate your claims in a credible and powerful way?
6. Use the interview for multiple purposes. During the interview investigate what challenges is the company and your would-be manager are facing. You want to collect information, so you can write more than a thank you letter. This will be an opportunity to differentiate yourself, by offering solutions and proposals on issues which came up in the interview.
7. Address anything that might present a concern, or reservation about hiring you. Do this even if the employer does not bring it up. The question will still be lingering in their mind. You may lack the amount of experience, not have managed the number of people you would be here, or not know some technical issue. If it is there, they are thinking about it. Ease their anxiety about the potential objection; show them what they are getting.
8. Differentiate yourself. Take it for granted that every candidate interviewed is going to possess the minimum tangible requirements to fill the job. How will you differentiate yourself? How are you going to communicate the added value you are bringing? Get them excited by other skills you’d bring to the organization. Other problems you can help solve, other opportunities you can help them take advantage of.
9. Show them you are an expert. This is a huge mistake many people make. They are afraid they are going to limit their opportunities , so they try to present themselves with broad experience. Most organizations are looking to hire experts not generalists, and experts are valued more. It is only in select industries or departments that there are needs for generalists. The more you can demonstrate your expertise, the more attractive you will be as a candidate.
10. Write much more than a thank you letter. Use the information you gathered during the interview as an opportunity to continue the interview. Show them you understand the challenges. You can even go as far to offer specific solutions and ideas which address these challenges, write a proposal if you want. Going the extra mile like this, is where you can stand out.

Resume Writing for C.E.O.’s

This New York Times article highlights the challenges senior executives face when looking for new work. Through highlighting the relationship between a laid off CEO and his Career Coach, they highlight some vital points senior executives should implement when seeking new employment. These include structure of a resume, and just how important networking is. Not networking in the sense of handing out business cards, instead initiating contact with people you know and don’t know to discuss ideas, and your plan.

Here are some excerpts with a link to the full story below.

“We try to work on it a little every day,” Mr. Redmond said. “Three contacts today, three tomorrow. At the end of month we have 60 people thinking about this guy who can bring all this knowledge to a growing industry.”

………executives …typically..find new positions in seven to nine months, although in a recession that could be a year. Full Article

The Best Companies To Work For(and how to get hired.)

One might wonder what Google, Starbucks, and Methodist Hospital Systems have in common. In this case, the title of this article gives it away. What exactly would make a company a great place to work can be subjective to some degree, and then there are some things almost all employees want. We all know that waking up and going to a good working environment is far better than having to go to a dreadful working environment. It seems that employers have been catching on, and it is not reserved for one industry.

What would make a working environment enjoyable for you? Is there a company that would pay for 100% of healthcare costs; offers child-care, would let your work from home; or gave you five weeks vacation? Do these perks seem outrageous? Well there are companies that are offering these perks and more. If you are unhappy in your job and not sure what to do next, or where to start looking this may be the place: Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Companies To Work For 2008.