Business cards are an essential tool for the unemployed.  You will be amazed at the opportunities you will have to hand them out.  When you meet people at job clubs, other networking events, or at your child’s ballgame, you will want to have cards to exchange.  Business cards are a way for people to remember you, recall the type of job opportunities to refer to you, and have access to your contact information to stay connected.

The information you put on your cards should include at least Your Name, Email Address, Home Address and Phone Numbers.  To maximize the value of your business cards, include the job title you seek and/or the industry you are interested in.  You might want to include a few of your strengths, certifications, or pertinent skills.  For example, if you are a computer programmer, you might want to include the languages in which you program.  Keep the information brief and relevant.  Don’t forget to take advantage of the space on the back of the card.

You can get free business cards at www.vistaprint.com (shipping charges will apply.)  Don’t forget to ask others for their cards and build your network.

YES! You just got the call and the interview is scheduled for tomorrow.  This is what you have been waiting for.  But, are you ready?  The most successful job seekers, the ones who find the best jobs the fastest, know three things.  (1)  They know exactly what they want in their next job.  (2)  They know what they have to offer the employer that differentiates them from the competition.  (3)  They know their value.  Preparation is the key to a successful interview.  When you are prepared, you will be confident and self-assured, which makes you very appealing to the interviewer.  Here is a list of questions to help you prepare.  If you have clear, strong answers to these questions, you are well on your way to acing the interview.

1. Do you know exactly what type of job is right for you? If they ask you, what will you say?

2. What do you have to offer the company that is uniquely you and that is different from your competitors?

3. What is your branding statement and how will you use it during the interview?

4. What is your value proposition and how will you incorporate it into the interview?

5. What are the three to five attributes you bring to the job that you will emphasize throughout the interview?

6. Do you have accomplishment stories for each of the attributes you identified in Question No. 5?

7. Have you prepared answers for the most commonly asked interview questions?

a. Are your prepared answers each 60 seconds or less?

b. Are your answers succinct and to the point?

c. Do they incorporate your three to five attributes?

d. Do you include stories?

8. Are you prepared to answer any questions that might be raised from your resume?

9. Have you thoroughly researched the company?

10. Have you researched the hiring manager and others in the company?

11. Do you have a list of questions you want to ask during the interview?

a. Do those questions show your curiosity and interest in ensuring the company, the job, and the manager are the right fit for you?

b. If asked, can you explain why you are asking each question and what answer you are looking for? For example, if you ask about the company culture, can you explain what type of culture you prefer?

12. Are you comfortable with silence?

13. Can you stay on message and not say more than necessary?

14. Do you have the proper clothes ready?

15. Will you remember to sit up straight, lean forward to show interest, maintain good eye contact, and smile?

16. Will you remember to listen carefully to what they tell you they are looking for and incorporate their description into your answers?

17. Can you keep the interview conversational, asking the interviewer(s) questions as you go along?

18. Do you have your research documentation, additional copies of your resume, your reference letters, your portfolio, and anything else you want to take with you to the interview neatly organized and ready to go?

19. Is there any reason they wouldn’t hire you? If so, resolve the issue and overcome any objections.

Now, you’re ready. Best of luck!

While other job seekers are looking for ways to go around the recruiter and get to the hiring manager, I suggest you follow the road less taken and build a relationship with the recruiter. Here are the why and the how:

1.    Hiring managers know about their open positions.  Recruiters (and HR personnel) know about a lot of open positions.  When you build a positive, give-and-take relationship with a recruiter, you have created a valuable connection to numerous positions.

2.    Recruiters also know other recruiters who have jobs, so the potential opportunities are far-reaching.  Additionally, the day-to-day job of a recruiter is to match people with jobs, whereas, a hiring manager only hires occasionally.  So, if one opportunity doesn’t work out, a recruiter may continue to find opportunities for you while a hiring manager may not be aware of any.

3.    Recruiters are successful when they find exceptional people to recommend to hiring managers.  So, be the exceptional job candidate they want to place.  Ask them what you can do to be their ideal job candidate.  Ask how you can make their job easier.

4.    Do not assume that the recruiter has limited knowledge about the job, the hiring manager, or the company.  Recruiters often have valuable information but job seekers never ask.

5.    Always treat recruiters with respect.  Ask for their advice and opinions.  Ask how you can help them.  Send a sincere thank you note.

6.    If a job opportunity doesn’t work out.  Tell the recruiter you understand that the job didn’t work out, ask if they still need job candidates, volunteer to go through your Rolodex to send them good candidates, and ask for feedback on how you can do better next time.

7.    Make sure that you have a clear, concise brand and description of the type of job you are seeking so the recruiter will know when to refer you.

If you follow these guidelines, chances are you will get the same message another job seeker received from a recruiter, “I hope you don’t mind, but I heard about a job and forwarded your résumé to the hiring manager.”

Attention:  Live in Overland Park, Kansas — Perfect-fit Workshops starting Monday, April 19!  Have you been out of work for more than six months?  Are you ready to create a viable plan that will actual produce job offers?  You don’t need to struggle in your job search anymore.  Let me guide you step-by-step to re-employment in record time.  My program is comprehensive, customized to your needs, and goes well beyond any other program out there.  You will receive 20+ hours of guidance, counseling, and instruction for an unbelievably low, no-risk investment.  You will leave my workshops 100% prepared to take your job search to the next level and land your dream job fast.  Plus, you won’t have to search alone.  With the ongoing support of your workshop peers, you will expertly maneuver through the hidden job market, attract the attention of recruiters and hiring managers with your branded portfolio of materials, and skillfully negotiate a salary and benefit package befitting your talents and skills.  It’s time to get you back to work.  Register now at http://www.occupationalzen.com/program-enrollment.html

I was talking with a job seeker the other day who said she was told she didn’t get the job because they didn’t consider her a good cultural fit.  It’s true that more and more companies are placing less emphasis on experience and more emphasis on cultural fit. This is a huge plus for the job seeker because a company that is concerned about cultural fit is more likely to be concerned about their employees’ well-being and job satisfaction.  As a job seeker, you want job fit and cultural fit, so finding an employer with the same goals is ideal.

As you are researching companies to target in your job search, you want to identify their company culture to determine your fit.  A company’s culture is its personality.  It includes how people dress, how they interact during working hours and outside of work, the hours they work, the level of cooperation and/or competition among employees, and even how employees keep their office space.  The culture includes the company’s values, and it will affect how you do your work, your daily comfort level at work, and your career growth and opportunities.  When you focus your job search on companies that have the right cultural fit for you, you job search will be more productive and you will get greater satisfaction from your new position.

Attention:  Live in Overland Park, Kansas — Perfect-fit Workshops start April 19!  You don’t need to struggle in your job search anymore, let me guide you step-by-step to re-employment in record time.  My program is comprehensive, customized to your needs, and goes well beyond what any outplacement firm has to offer.  You will leave my workshops 100% prepared to take your job search to the next level and land your dream job.  Register now at http://www.occupationalzen.com/program-enrollment.html

An informational interview is just as it sounds–it is an interview to gain information.  However, you never know where an informational interview might lead.  The entrance to the hidden job market is through the informational interview.  You may come across jobs that haven’t been posted; or you may hit it off so well with them that they will offer you your choice of positions, which actually happened to someone I was speaking with the other day.

Here are a few quick tips for conducting an informational interview.

1.    Conduct yourself with the same professionalism as you would a job interview and follow the same protocol (e.g., proper dress, thank you notes, etc).

2.    You are leading the informational interview so do your research and go in thoroughly prepared with your questions.

3.    Know what your goal is.  Finding a job is a process, so don’t go in expecting to find a job with each informational interview.  Before you go in, ask yourself what one piece of information can you get from this person that will be most beneficial to move you forward to the next step in your job search process.  For example, you may simply want information about the company to determine if you would like to work there.  You might want to get the name of the person within the company who would hire someone like you so you can talk to that person next.  You might want to know what opportunities are available in the marketplace for someone with your interests and experience.

4.    Informational interviews should only be 20 to 30 minutes long.  Respect the person’s time and make sure you conclude the interview when your time is up.

5.    When you go to your interview, ask the person about their job and ask questions about the company.  You don’t need to ask for a job, it is understood that you want a job.  Give them your branding statement and your value proposition and then ask the person for their advice.  Ask them what they would suggest you do and who they would suggest you talk to to find a position where you can contribute your unique talents and skills.

6.    After the interview, continue to build a relationship with the person.  Try to find something to give back to the person (e.g., send another thank you note after you follow up on one of their suggestions or after you meet with a contact they gave you; or send an article of interest).

7.    Relax, enjoy yourself, and realize that you are creating valuable business relationships that may serve you for years to come.

Reminder:  Perfect-fit Workshops start April 19!  Take your job search to the next level and land your dream job.  Register now at http://www.occupationalzen.com/program-enrollment.html

There are probably many people who can do what you do.  The differentiator is in how you do it.  It’s your unique approach that let’s you stand out above the crowd.  Here is an exercise to help you discover what makes you unique.  It will help you identify your brand and your value proposition.

You’ve heard of writing out accomplishment statements using the SAR or CAR or STAR method?  Well, I have another acronym for you.  I suggest you write out your accomplishment statements using the SARqY method.  SARqY stands for Situation-Action-Result (quantified whenever possible)-You.  After you write out the situation, action, and result (quantified/qualified), then state how the action you took and/or the way you approached the situation was different from what others would do.  As you compile your accomplishment statements, you will see a pattern emerge that represents your brand.

Because quantified statements are easier to write, I thought I would provide an example that illustrates a qualitative result with the identification of some of the employee’s soft skills:  S – Mary received a call from the Phoenix office telling her that the paychecks for her call center employees would not arrive on time for the Friday payday.  She was told she would have to tell the employees that they would have to wait until Monday for their checks.  A – After placing a nonproductive phone call to the company’s local bank across the street, Mary left her office and walked over to talk to the bank manager in person.  After discussion options, Mary convinced the bank to manually type up checks for each of the employees.  Rq – The 187 employees received their money on Friday as expected.  Mary gained trust, respect, and admiration from her employees, her peers, and her superiors.  She improved employee morale and most likely retention.  Y – Mary had only been with the company for two weeks when this occurred.  Mary knew her employees were expecting and were in need of their money on Friday.  When paychecks, mailed from the home office, didn’t arrive on time, company practice had been to allow employees to receive a loan from the bank to be repaid when their checks arrived on Monday.  Mary found it unacceptable to put employees in the position of having to ask for a loan and found a more respectful way to provide for the employees.  Most people would have followed company practice.  Mary showed concern, consideration, and respect for the employees, and she showed leadership, initiative, and creativity in finding a better way to resolve a challenging issue.

I had a discussion the other day with one of my blog readers about ways to provide employers with samples of work and showcase one’s talents, skills, and knowledge.  One tool we discussed that is available to job seekers is Visual CV.  Visual CV allows you to create an online portfolio.  Accounts are free, and you can upload writing samples, PowerPoint presentations, audio, video, images, etc.

This is a great way to exhibit your brand and provide an employer access to additional information about you.  Plus, by creating a Visual CV, you are demonstrating initiative and savvy with the latest in technology.  You can add the URL to your contact information on your resume, mention your online portfolio in your cover letter, and add it to your LinkedIn profile.  This is one more tool to help you stand out above the crowd and give yourself an advantage.

If you would like to read more about the pros and cons of online portfolios, I refer you to an excellent article by The Career Doctor at http://www.careerdoctor.org/career-doctor-blog/2010/03/pros-and-cons-of-an-online-por.html

If you have created an online portfolio or used Visual CV, please share your experiences with others.

Please join me for a FREE Teleseminar entitled, “Your Job Search Blueprint – A Step-by-Step Guide to ‘You’re Hired!’”  this Wednesday at 2:00 CDT.  If you can’t make the call, that’s okay.  I will send all registrants the link to the recording.  Register here

One of the most frequently asked interview questions, and often the first question asked, is “Tell me about yourself.” What a gift this question is!  This is your opportunity to set the tone for the entire interview and lead the interviewer to playing in your court.  Unfortunately, most applicants answer this question by simply reiterating what is contained in their résumé or they get into personal information that is totally irrelevant.  Before I tell you how to take full advantage of this question, let me explain from a scientific perspective how this can work for you.

Psychologists have identified a phenomenon they refer to as “priming.”  Priming is when exposure to a stimulus influences the subsequent response.  There are numerous studies that support the effects of priming, but I would like to share one of the more amusing studies with you.  Researchers brought college student participants into the lab.  One group received a list of words to review that were consistent with the stereotype of an elderly person.  The control group reviewed a list of random words.  As the participants left the laboratory, researchers measured how fast they walked to the elevator.  Participants who had reviewed the elderly stereotype words walked significantly more slowly to the elevator than the control group participants.  Thus, providing support for the effects of priming.

How can you take advantage of priming?  When the interviewer asks, “Tell me about yourself,” you respond with your carefully-prepared-but-natural-sounding marketing message that describes the benefits you have to offer.  Follow these tips when preparing your answer:

1.    Be brief (about 60 seconds).
2.    Use keywords from the job description or from your research on the company.
3.    Describe your top three strengths that are most pertinent to the needs of the company (needs discovered during your research).
4.    Include a description of an accomplishment or two as an illustration of your strengths and how they will benefit the company (your value proposition).
5.    Keep your message consistent with the branding message you have used in your résumé, cover letter, and social media profiles (consistency makes you memorable).
6.    Let your passion for the work show through.
7.    Use a story (stories are memorable).

When you bring together the employer’s keywords with your talents and value proposition and put it into a story, you will capture the interviewer’s attention and prime a framework for the interview around your personal brand.  Be sure to thoroughly prepare so you can stay on message throughout the questioning and maintain the priming and your advantage.

Here is an example of how an engineer might answer the question from the book 60 Seconds & You’re Hired! By Robin Ryan:

“For my last employer I implemented a new quality-assurance program for seven plants over a four-year period.  We received the Q 1 Award for our efforts.  Along the way, I’ve learned to effectively deal with employee resistance to quality improvements through training, selling teamwork concepts, and utilizing a personal empowerment approach.  I have evaluated 37 suppliers during on-site inspections to improve the quality of their product—parts that will ultimately become pieces of my company’s final product.  My five years in design engineering and my strong communication skills have aided me in my ability to work with a diverse population and solve technical problems.  These are the reasons I feel I would make a valuable contribution to your company.”

A reader writes:

I have a specific question on “qualification of summary”. How does one write a good Profile Summary ? What should it include and how should one present the details. If you can elaborate more on this topic and include an example or two, that will be really useful.

My reply:

Your qualifications summary is the first thing the hiring manager will look at.  This is where you want to present the value and benefits you bring to the employer.  There are different options for how to write a qualifications summary but here are some general guidelines.  Your qualifications summary should clearly state what job title or function you are seeking.  If it isn’t clear what job you are seeking, you will not be considered.  You want to establish your brand and present your value proposition.  You do this by highlighting your most impressive, relevant accomplishment(s) and your greatest strengths.  Write your summary to address the employer’s needs and use keywords from the job posting whenever possible.  You want to be authentic in your description of who you are while at the same time presenting yourself as the perfect fit for the position.

The format you choose for your qualifications summary will depend on your experience and your targeted position.  Choose a format that allows the reader to quickly scan it and immediately recognize your fit for the job.  Below are two examples of different formats.  The first example worked to get the job seeker an excellent human resources position that she loves.  Following her summary, she included a section showing her certifications, education, and awards, which acted as a supplement to her qualifications summary and verified her accomplishments.  The information she provides is concise but powerful enough to generate interest to read further.  The second example was taken from the book Résumé Magic written by Susan Britton Whitcomb.  There is much greater detail provided in this summary, but by using bolded keywords, the reader is drawn to the bullet points and motivated to read on.  Focus on job fit, keywords, and the unique personal brand value and benefits you offer.

Example 1:

Summary of Qualifications

Results-oriented management professional with extensive experience in Human Resources, customer service, process improvement, and new product launches.  A proven leader with 20 years of experience building and leading cross-functional teams. Recognized for excellent employee development, product deployment, and project management skills. Other skills and strengths include:

Example 2:

QUALIFICATIONS

PHYSICIAN EXECUTIVE qualified for senior-level management opportunities where strengths in strategic planning, development, and visionary leadership will promote high-growth business ventures.  Highlights:

• Market-Driven Executive—Initiated business re-engineering in a 38-physician practice to address the emerging commercialization of medicine; cut operating costs through innovative cost-containment programs; brought consensus among divergent interests during transition to market-focused paradigm.

• Academic Qualifications—Harvard MBA program graduate with management and financial skills backed by clinical competence of 15+ years of practice as a board-certified internist and anesthesiologist.  Substantial experience in emergency services, aeromedical evacuation, and special operations.

• International Orientation—Advanced the accessibility of health care in third world nations through commitment to international healthcare organizations (eight trips to Honduras, Mexico, and Vietnam as team chief and service as program director for an overseas teaching hospital).

• White House Fellowship—Regional finalist among highly competitive candidate list of 800+; seeking to address global health care issues (special project:  research for development of counter-strategies for medical terrorism).

If your résumé is going to work for you, there are seven essential elements that you will need to include.  Here are elements five through seven.

…Continued from yesterday.

5. Succinct, Specific, and Descriptive. When writing your copy, write and edit until the statements in your document are direct and to the point, giving the most important information necessary to boldly illustrate your talent and worth.  Use powerful words, keywords, and descriptive language, and keep it succinct.  You don’t have to exaggerate, just paint a clear picture with your terms.

6. Contact Information. Make sure your name is prominent and easy to find in a stack of résumés.  Ensure your email address is professional.  If the employer is interested, you will most likely be contacted by phone, so place your phone number where it is easily found.  If your document is two pages long, place your name and phone number at the top of the second page in case the pages get separated.

7. Readability. If your résumé makes it past the scanning process and gets onto the hiring manager’s desk, readability becomes key. The hiring manager will judge you based on the look and layout of your résumé.  Use an easy to read font and a font size between 10 and 12 points with your name in a larger font.  Use category headings and balance your text with a lot of white space.  Bullet points that follow the rules listed above enhance readability.  Use a bold typeface to highlight key information, such as your name, category headings, and previous employers.  Your résumé should never be more than two pages long.

Although it may be tempting to hire someone to write your résumé for you, it is worth the time and effort to prepare your document yourself.  If you need help, hire a career coach or other professional who will work with you and advise you on putting together the document.  The work you do preparing your résumé is also preparing you for the interview.  Ideally, you need to customize your résumé for the different positions you apply for and you will need to update your résumé as time goes on, so this is a valuable skill to acquire.

The purpose of your résumé is to get you an interview.  Your résumé doesn’t tell the employer your whole story; it is an advertisement designed to stimulate enough interest so that the employer wants to know more.  Keep in mind that you are selling yourself and your goal is to communicate the benefits you have to offer the employer and to express them in a clear, concise, professionally presented manner.  By incorporating the seven essential elements above, you are well on your way to producing an exceptional résumé.