STEP 1 – Know What Jobs to Apply For

 

The first step to writing a compelling resume, developing an engaging networking pitch and creating a strategic interview plan is to know the range of jobs you want to apply for.

So, how is this done?

Build on your skill set and previous experience. At the same time, don’t pigeonhole yourself into a specific job title or position. Job titles may mean different things depending on the company size and culture. If this is your first job, be open to taking a less ideal job that has the potential for you to advance or at least get relevant experience on your resume.

STEP 2 – How To Prepare a Compelling Resume

With research showing that the average resume is glanced at for 6 seconds, your resume must be optimally designed to avoid your hard work ending up in the trash.

Here are the secrets that serious job seekers use:

• Make your resume relevant for the job you are applying for. Using a cookie cutter resume gives hiring managers the impression that you’re simply lazy.

 

• Resumes today are best described as tailored advertisements. Use your ‘big print’ wisely by treating every line on your resume as prime real estate reserved for the most relevant information for the job you are applying for.

 

• Start your resume with a powerful professional summary that gives a caption of why you are perfect for this job and how your l experience makes you a natural candidate. Here’s an example template to adapt:

Passionate, driven project manager with expertise in ….. Specializing in…. With xyz results.

• Then use the work experience section of the resume to tell the narrative of how you became who you are through your accomplishments. Even if you don’t have direct experience in your desired field, learn the art of presenting transferable soft skills you’ve used in any previous employment. Examples are problem solving or collaborating to meet a goal. Make each statement engaging, concise and clear to what results you achieved. 

Use this proven formula:

• Strong Action Verbs – Avoid general overused words that don’t add much such as ‘Responsible for’. Examples of strong action verbs  include “Accelerated, Integrated, Optimized..”
• Context of Success – Be specific whenever the context of what you did can help you. For example, saying you managed a team of 10 employees says a lot more than ‘managing a team’
• Show Results – Show what impact your contribution made to the company. Examples can include an increase in revenue or levels of customer satisfaction, optimizing a process, development of a new product or saving money. Whenever possible, use numbers or %’s.

 

• Remember: The goal of your resume is not to get the job; it is to make your potential employer want to meet you. It’s a lot easier to sell yourself when you’re able to meet face to face. Leaving unnecessary information off your resume will help keep it to the accepted standard of 1 page only. Always ask: is there a greater chance this information can help or hurt me?

 

STEP 3 – Effective Networking & Interview Strategies

If you’ve followed the first 2 steps of this guide you should be ready for the third – Telling your story.

Having a concise storyline of how you became the current version of your successful self (If you don’t see yourself this way, don’t expect anyone else to) is the key to becoming a person people want to partner with.

The key to effective networking is driving your conversation about who you are. People are intrigued by those who are passionate about what they do.  Your networking message should be that you’re looking to connect with others who are passionate about the same thing.  This type of interaction will leave the other brainstorming on how they can connect you with others who share a similar vision. These are the contacts that will help you most to find the type of job opportunities that you are looking for.

The interview is the climax of sharing your story of how your previous experiences have set you up for this next opportunity. With over 70% of employees not engaged in their work, you can be sure that HR is looking for people who see the proposed job aligned with their own professional identity and mission.

Use these questions to design your story:

• What drives me in the work I do?
• How have my previous work experiences given me the opportunities to excel in bringing out what I am passionate about or my best skills in the workplace?
• What about this company mission and the specific job spoke to me?
• What am I looking for in this job that makes me want to invest the next chapter of my success story here?

Successful job hunting happens when we shift from being a job seeker to an opportunity seeker.

When you believe in yourself and convey it powerfully, the type of boss that you want to work for will recognize that you are an asset that he/she can’t afford to turn down.

Tzvi Broker is a Career Coach with 10 years of experience providing career services to individuals, colleges, and organizations within the Jewish community. He runs workshops on career development and work engagement for companies, conferences, organizations, and schools worldwide. Tzvi’s goal as Career Counselor for Woodmont College is to transition students from ‘education’ into the workforce through strategic guidance on building a resume and LinkedIn profile and the mindset needed to find their next opportunity.