As I mentioned in my last post, my
recent searches are generating a very high volume of candidates. Most
are gainfully employed. It is clear that there is a lot of competition
for jobs, especially for a step up, or a better situation. If you are
serious about landing a new job, you must be a competitor!
These five points will set you apart
from the rest of the field!
- Demonstrate your match to the job requirements.
- Prepare for all interviews and conversations.
- Turn your accomplishments into short stories.
- Build a Support Team.
- Be an Effective Communicator
The first step is critical to
getting onto the playing field. You must demonstrate your bona
fides and make an impactful impression. You will need to tailor your
resume to put emphasis on your fit with the company’s requirements. One
classic technique is to develop a two column hand-out that lists the job requirements
in one column, and qualifications in the other column. This is a useful
document to engage the recruiter and can be helpful during the interview
process. I encourage my candidates to present that document to the
interviewer at the beginning of their discussion. In most cases it will
become the agenda for the interview. It would also be helpful to present
a top-ten list of your key accomplishments.
Preparation and planning is key to
success in any endeavor. Competing for a job is no different. You
must understand the situation and adapt. Understand the company’s
selection process. Do they use a structured interview process, if so,
which model? How many people will you talk with? What is their role
in the hiring decision? How will you interface with those people on the
job? Be sure to have an idea as to the background of each of those folks
to help you establish a bond. Do you know the company culture and its
values? What about the performance of the company’s key products and
services? The more you learn during the recruiting and selection process,
the less you will need to learn when you join the team. This will not go
unnoticed.
The absolute best way to convey
one’s accomplishments during an interview is by telling stories. When
talking about your accomplishments keep the STAR acronym in mind. Your
interviewer will be interested to know the situation, “ST”; the alternatives
you evaluated and the action chosen, “A”; and the result of your actions,
“R”. Hiring managers are very interested to learn about your problem-solving
skills. You should be prepared to discuss the implementation of the
corrective action, especially if it required the management of a team.
Stories make an impact! They engage the interviewer and will be
remembered. For greater impact, add in some humor and key
learning.
Landing a job is a team effort!
After you have your bona fides established and great stories to tell you need a
team to help sell your case. Your team will consist of the external
recruiter, any external parties who may have connections to the hiring manager,
company employees who will be a part of the hiring process, and of course, your
references. Let these people know of your interest in the position and
your top three qualifications to do the job. Court them and win them
over.
Finally, keep all relevant parties
updated as to your interest in the position. Send thank you notes to
everyone you meet for an interview. Remember, your thank-you note is
another opportunity to sell yourself and to express your continued interest in
the job. Keep your references in the
loop, primed and ready. Communicate frequently with your recruiter to
stay current on the search, and to respond to any important questions.
Ensure that you stand out from the
crowd by your enthusiasm and professionalism! Understand that no matter
how strong your background, there are many other viable candidates in the
queue.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Your feedback helps me continue to
publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to
me so please leave a comment.
Jim
Weber, President
New
Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com
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