After helping clients recognize the substantial contributions they have made to their previous employers, I scan their resumes. Although they are often prepared by professional resume services, the job seekers' accomplishments - what employers are looking for - are frequently buried or missing completely!
Your achievements are important. Why not highlight them? They not only communicate what you have done - and suggest what you can do.
They can also help to identify you, not only in your resume, but in "sound bites." These are short, memorable messages you can use to introduce yourself in person and in writing. For example, Paul, the truck stop manager, had business cards printed with his name, address, phone number, and within two weeks, he was hired!
When you use your sound bite in face-to-face situations, remember that the effectiveness of what you're communicating depends more on your body language and tone of voice than on the actual words. Be sure you are positive and upbeat. Introduce yourself confidently and with good humor.
How Can You Benefit Your Next Employer?
For each of the facts you have written about yourself, you should be able to list at least one benefit to prospective employers. These are usually bottom - line benefits. Take some paper and write at least 5 benefits that you can bring to an employer. These are, in fact, 5 reasons why they should hire you.
How you can benefit your next employer and why they should hire you are key points in your marketing efforts. You'll be reviewing these and your other worksheets when you write your resume and letters.
Plan to Have Good References
Good References = More Employment Insurance
You're not the only one communicating about what you have to offer. References can make or break you. If you're just starting out and have no work experience, ask your teachers, your minister or rabbi, or business-people who know you to write letters for you. Internships, unpaid if necessary, will give you invaluable work experience, as well as references. Even if your job is part-time and temporary, don't hesitate to ask your supervisor(s) for letters of reference. The more the merrier.
Reference Rule: Don't leave any employment without at least one reference letter.
The people you ask will usually say they'd be glad to be a reference for you. That's wonderful. But you don't know whether they'll be there when you need them. With so much of job changing and moving, your best bet is to have their reference letter on the company letterhead now.
Be empathetic and make it easy for them. Tell them you know how rushed they are right now and ask if it would help if you drafted a letter, outlining your responsibilities and accomplishments. When you do, there's a good chance that they'll have it typed on the company's letter head. And you'll have some additional employment insurance.
Your References: Key Players on Your Team
Much more impressive, of course, is a personal contact from your reference to your prospective employer. That call or letter can be a powerful introduction or follow-up to your meeting with the decision maker. If she's someone the hiring authority knows and respects, her comments could easily tilt the decision in your favor.
Nurture your relationships with your references so they'll continue to be your advocates. Always ask their permission before using their names and be sure they have current, relevant information about you. Whenever possible, give them the names of the people who will be contacting them, as well as the title and major responsibilities of the position(s) you are seeking. Keeping them informed, thanking them for their help each time, and doing something for them will help maintain strong bonds.
How Can You Smooth Over Unfriendly Departures?
You will, of course, always try to end every relationship amicably, but that's not always easy. If you were dismissed from your job, you may be feeling angry and hurt. It's to your advantage, however, to get your letter of reference immediately.
If you've already left, make an appointment with your former boss right away. You know that one poor reference could jeopardize your future, so take the initiative. Call and ask: What can I honestly tell prospective employers about why I was let go? Be sure your stories are consistent. You can probably agree that it was a difference in management philosophy or something like that.
Remember that you have the most to lose by letting a bad situation faster. You're negotiating as a mature, independent person who wants to set the record straight and move on. If your approach is calm and non accusatory, they'll probably understand that you need to work and won't stand in your way.
Your Business Associates Can Be Great References Too!
Former employers are not, of course, the only-or even the best-references for you. Others, like clients, customers, and suppliers with whom you worked closely, can be very valuable, especially if your former boss is not inclined to be effusive-or company policy doesn't allow her to be.
Jane, a young woman with a flair for flowers and a commitment to customer service, was thinking entrepreneurially when she asked her regular customers for brief statements about her service. She compiled those testimonials, which praised her warmly for her originality and dedication, on three attractively formatted pages. Within weeks, she was hired as a manager by a gift shop chain owner who was impressed by her enterprise, as well as her talents with flowers and customers.
Self-Knowledge Revisited
You have begun the learning experience of your life, assessing yourself and setting your goals. Self-knowledge, as the ancient Greeks recognized, is the beginning of all knowledge. Simultaneously, you have been asking-and answering-the first question in your marketing plan: what am I selling? Here the focus has been on planning how to communicate what you have to offer. Being sensitive to the employers' perspective is a major consideration here. You're asking: Why should they hire me? The questions raised is probably the most difficult you'll encounter in your job search. They go to the heart of who you are and what you want to do with your life. Many job seekers bypass these issues. You will, hopefully, continue to explore those questions as you move ahead to the next section and ask the second question in your marketing plan: Who needs it?
Employment Checklist
- Are you empathetic? Can you put yourself in their shoes?
- Do you know why they should hire you?
- Do you know what you can do for them?
- Are you keeping your achievements a secret?
- Are you using the PAR formula to describe your accomplishments effectively?
- Can you explain how you will benefit your next employer?
- Do you have references from every job?
- Are your references strong advocates for you?
- Is your explanation for your departure consistent with your former employer's?
