Now that you are out in the real world looking for work after college, you had better be ready to have some goals. Along with those goals, you better know they word “no” will most likely be said at least once. You need to keep pushing through, and realize that although a job is the main goal, smaller goals along the way will help you move forward with those first steps.
Many people develop careers that are specialized, but eventually make the move into general management as just mentioned. This includes executives in fi nance, manufacturing, operations, technology and others. One client of ours was a Director of HR who became a Vice President of HR, and then took a big jump to become Chief Administrative Offi cer for one of the largest consumer packaged goods firms in America. His responsibilities included overseeing all of the support functions… HR, legal, IT and IS, and so on… everything but manufacturing, marketing, finance and accounting.
A former professor and university president became head of one of New York’s largest museums in the world, something for which he had a passion.Career shifts can occur at many levels. For example, a distribution specialist with UPS wanted to get into Human Resources and was successful in moving up at the same time he joined Merrill Lynch.A project manager in the home building field saw his industry fall into decline.
Faced with the prospect of declining income, he used his management skills to join Wal-Mart as an assistant store manager… with the prospect of becoming a store manager within 9 months.So, as you review possible goals for yourself, you’ll want to consider your interests, passions and experiences across a broad range, as well as your transferable skills. It may be that you should create duplicate sets of impressive resumes… each positioning you for different possible goals.
Believe it or not, the federal government tells us that there are 22,000 job titles in use today. However, 95 percent of all professionals fall within one of several hundred high demand career specialties.On the pages that follow you will fi nd a list of the 400 most popular occupations… accounting for 95 percent of all employment in the United States. Sales is still the number one occupation, and it is estimated that 10 percent of all professional and executive positions are in this field.So, try to decide on your right career goals. And, you’ll improve your chances by pursuing titles that the market makes available in abundance.
Feb 12
26
No matter how ready you are for a job once you are done with college, you need to have the will to keep looking no matter what may get in the way. Times are getting a little better, but there times are still tough. Make sure you know you may not get a job right out of the door. Have the right mindset so you don’t get too down should you run into issues, as many have while looking for a great opportunity.
A positive attitude is the most common thread among all winners. It will separate you from the many who give up, settle for less, or stay in unattractive situations. It’s easy to build a will to succeed if you follow some basic guidelines.
1—Develop positive beliefs. Now is a good time to remind yourself of all the good things you have done. Write down positive things “you’ve done and can do.” Make it as long and complete as possible. You will fi nd it reassuring. It will begin to provide reinforcement for the positive attitude you must maintain. For example: I have increased profi ts. I have attracted new business. I have cut costs, etc. Here are some “can do’s” to consider: I can work with all levels of people. I can get things done quickly. I can motivate others, and so forth.
2—Get rid of negative beliefs. Having built a set of positive beliefs about yourself, your second step is to get rid of beliefs that might inhibit your will to succeed. Are you saying, “Things are bad, it’s a grim world out there.” If so, this simply refl ects your beliefs about “the way you think things really are.” If you believe the economy is bad, you will see breaking news and pay attention to layoffs or sales declines. On the other hand, if you believe that there are many areas of opportunity, then you will notice new fi rms, new products and the like.
3—Set your expectations high. Our expectations affect what happens to us. Obvious examples are the many sports teams and athletes who, when asked about their success, often reply, “We expected all along that we would win.” A close look at the leaders in almost any fi eld reveals a common theme. Whether it’s a leading scientist, educator, salesperson, or leader of industry, each of them have had positive expectations of themselves.
Feb 12
20
Now that you are looking for work following college, make sure you know all you need to do in order to get all eyes on you. Sending resumes will not be enough. Knowing all the players when it comes to your chosen industry is part of the key, but the other is a matter of having materials out there with your name and information on them. Make yourself stand out from the rest of the crowd vying for a job.
Job hunting is all about getting enough of the “right people” to look at your credentials. A “Personal Marketing Website”… PMW for short, is a website that presents your universal resume… and sometimes your biography… for those who wish to review it.
What information should it contain?
When your PMW site opens, it should bring up a summary. It should enable interested parties to view a brief summary about you… one that can be read in 20 to 30 seconds. Your name and contact information should be at the top. Then the position (or positions) for which you are best qualifi ed should be highlighted. After that you want a subset of key words that represent experience factors or skills that people normally want with the position you are seeking.
The remaining information in your summary should be the most marketable information about you. In terms of length, your full summary should be equivalent to about one-third of a normal 8-1/2 x 11” page. Besides a summary, you want a second menu button for people to click to read a brief listing of your work experience and titles held. Other menu selections should also allow people to click to your education separately, as well as your full resume, and a button for download.
Create your personal marketing website in HTML… not in “Flash.” Don’t go wild and overdo your presentation. It may be impressive, but it will look as if you are trying too hard. Also, including a photograph may be good if you are in a special situation, or perhaps in the broader entertainment industry, but it is usually not the approach that’s best for most people.
Here’s how this works at our fi rm. When we write resumes, we create a distinctive and professional “Personal Marketing Website.” Displaying one on the web in color… is an impressive way of presenting yourself. It gives you a fast, no-cost way to get your presentation in front of the right decision makers.
There is no guarantee you will get a job out of college, no matter how good or bad the economy is doing. You need to know all the tricks and tips so find success. Do not make the mistake of getting too down on yourself or what you chose to major in because you feel like you are not getting the response you believed you would. Keep in mind there is a lot more that goes into finding a great job then just sending in a resume.
As a group, virtually everyone who is unemployed eventually becomes reemployed, but some do it quickly, while others struggle, give up or settle for poor positions. With the right effort many can win new jobs that are more attractive than what they had and in healthy industries.
Experience has shown that as time passes, the less capable you will be (both psychologically and emotionally) to do what must be done to win a new job. So, the key is to have a schedule of full activity: meetings, interviews, letter writing, phone calls, follow-ups and negotiations.
For action oriented people, being unemployed simply means having the time to do a lot of the things that need to be done. On the other hand, if they aren’t active… many quickly get discouraged. Here are some observations.
Get support from your employer. Many employers are concerned about their people and want to provide help.With respect to severance, corporations will sometimes extend fi nancial support or maintain benefits. Some firms will also extend outplacement counseling, if you think it would help.
Make sure there is total agreement on the reason for your separation. Work out an explanation that puts you in the best possible light. Once you have arranged for the best possible support, be prepared to explain why you are unemployed. You may be able to state that the termination was due to factors beyond anyone’s control, such as a cutback, merger or reorganization.
Where it applies, make the point that the final separation was made at your initiative because you are a loyal person who gives 100 percent, and you did not want to look for a job while drawing a paycheck, or take a lesser position. And, be ready to provide references who will speak enthusiastically. Consider people you worked with, those who worked for you, customers, suppliers, or infl uential people in any part of the company.
Feb 12
6
After college, make sure you are in the best position possible when looking for a job. Do not make the mistake that others will thinking their degree will be enough to open doors. Although doors are opening a little easier these days, it still takes a plan in order to have the most success when looking for a job.
Many people develop careers that are specialized, but eventually make the move into general management as just mentioned. This includes executives in finance, manufacturing, operations, technology and others. One client of ours was a Director of HR who became a Vice President of HR, and then took a big jump to become Chief Administrative Officer for one of the largest consumer packaged goods firms in America.
His responsibilities included overseeing all of the support functions… HR, legal, IT and IS, and so on… everything but manufacturing, marketing, fi nance and accounting. A former professor and university president became head of one of New York’s largest museums in the world, something for which he had a passion.
Career shifts can occur at many levels. For example, a distribution specialist with UPS wanted to get into Human Resources and was successful in moving up at the same time he joined Merrill Lynch.
A project manager in the home building fi eld saw his industry fall into decline. Faced with the prospect of declining income, he used his management skills to join Wal-Mart as an assistant store manager… with the prospect of becoming a store manager within 9 months.
So, as you review possible goals for yourself, you’ll want to consider your interests, passions and experiences across a broad range, as well as your transferable skills. It may be that you should create duplicate sets of impressive resumes… each positioning you for different possible goals.Believe it or not, the federal government tells us that there are 22,000 job titles in use today. However, 95 percent of all professionals fall within one of several hundred high demand career specialties.
On the pages that follow you will fi nd a list of the 400 most popular occupations… accounting for 95 percent of all employment in the United States. Sales is still the number one occupation, and it is estimated that 10 percent of all professional and executive positions are in this fi eld.So, try to decide on your right career goals. And, you’ll improve your chances by pursuing titles that the market makes available in abundance.
When you are looking for a great new job, you are selling your skills from what you learned in college and from an internship. However, keep in mind there are a lot of people who got the same education as you, so you need to do more. This means you need to be a better networker and have a better personalty when it comes to interviewing and making contacts.
Do you have knowledge of a job, a product, a process or a market… from work, hobbies, alumni relationships, research or suppliers? If so, it may be marketable.
Personality, of course, is just a word for that combination of traits that either attracts us to someone or leaves us unimpressed. More employment decisions are based on personality and chemistry than any other factor. For example: “He’s certainly professional and quick-thinking. I like him, and better yet, I trust him. He’ll fi t in with our team. I need to get him into the firm.”
The perception of your personality has to do with your interest and enthusiasm. How many people get hired because they showed real interest? A lot.Your transferable skills are marketable Identifying transferable skills is critical (e.g., organizing, group presentation skills, problem solving and so on). Employers place a premium on men and women who can move from challenge to challenge, handling assignments that draw upon skills.
Naturally, your experience can also be reviewed according to various “functions” that apply to most businesses, such as sales, production, accounting and human resources. All areas in which you have knowledge must be identifi ed. At the same time, you need to think of your experience in terms of “action words” that describe what you did, and then translate those activities into achievements, e.g., controlled, wrote, reshaped, etc.
Your leadership qualities are marketableIf there is one quality you want to communicate, it is leadership ability. Experts say that leaders possess and communicate real convictions—strong feelings and principles that have grown with them over time.
Leadership is also attributed to those who create an image of operating at the leading edge… into new products, new services and new solutions. We expect our leaders to have the vision and talent to develop new things.Another skill common to most leaders is their ability to assemble teams and motivate them to peak achievement. Often creative, intuitive and passionate, they project integrity and trust. If you have these traits, they should be marketed. Image, attitude and presence also play a role.
Once you are done with college and looking to break into your career, make sure you know all that you have to offer. A lot of graduates will sell themselves short, but not realize it. You may think that you need to make sure you sell you skills for the degree you obtained, which is correct. However, keep in mind, all those who went to college and had the same major, will more or less have the same skill set. So, you need to think of all you have to offer from other experiences in your life to make sure you get the most eyes on your resume.
Do you have knowledge of a job, a product, a process or a market… from work, hobbies, alumni relationships, research or suppliers? If so, it may be marketable.
Personality, of course, is just a word for that combination of traits that either attracts us to someone or leaves us unimpressed. More employment decisions are based on personality and chemistry than any other factor. For example: “He’s certainly professional and quick-thinking. I like him, and better yet, I trust him. He’ll fit in with our team. I need to get him into the firm.”
The perception of your personality has to do with your interest and enthusiasm. How many people get hired because they showed real interest? A lot.
Your transferable skills are marketable -
Identifying transferable skills is critical (e.g., organizing, group presentation skills, problem solving and so on). Employers place a premium on men and women who can move from challenge to challenge, handling assignments that draw upon skills.
Naturally, your experience can also be reviewed according to various “functions” that apply to most businesses, such as sales, production, accounting and human resources. All areas in which you have knowledge must be identifi ed. At the same time, you need to think of your experience in terms of “action words” that describe what you did, and then translate those activities into achievements, e.g., controlled, wrote, reshaped, etc.
Your leadership qualities are marketable-
If there is one quality you want to communicate, it is leadership ability. Experts say that leaders possess and communicate real convictions—strong feelings and principles that have grown with them over time.
Leadership is also attributed to those who create an image of operating at the leading edge… into new products, new services and new solutions. We expect our leaders to have the vision and talent to develop new things.
Another skill common to most leaders is their ability to assemble teams and motivate them to peak achievement. Often creative, intuitive and passionate, they project integrity and trust. If you have these traits, they should be marketed. Image, attitude and presence also play a role.
If you find that you don’t have work lined up right after you graduate college, it is not the end of the world. Many grads right now are having the same issue. However, it is how you handle the situation and yourself that will set you apart from them when you are looking for a job. Make sure to keep your confidence at a high level at all times. Now, this may seem like something that can’t happen, but it has to. You have to push through and keep on the right path, because odds are, if you don’t, that person next to you will the same qualifications, will get the shot when you falter.
A positive attitude is the most common thread among all winners. It will separate you from the many who give up, settle for less, or stay in unattractive situations. It’s easy to build a will to succeed if you follow some basic guidelines.
1—Develop positive beliefs. Now is a good time to remind yourself of all the good things you have done. Write down positive things “you’ve done and can do.” Make it as long and complete as possible. You will find it reassuring. It will begin to provide reinforcement for the positive attitude you must maintain. For example: I have increased profi ts. I have attracted new business. I have cut costs, etc. Here are some “can do’s” to consider: I can work with all levels of people. I can get things done quickly. I can motivate others, and so forth.
2—Get rid of negative beliefs. Having built a set of positive beliefs about yourself, your second step is to get rid of beliefs that might inhibit your will to succeed. Are you saying, “Things are bad, it’s a grim world out there.” If so, this simply refl ects your beliefs about “the way you think things really are.” If you believe the economy is bad, you will see breaking news and pay attention to layoffs or sales declines. On the other hand, if you believe that there are many areas of opportunity, then you will notice new fi rms, new products and the like.
3—Set your expectations high. Our expectations affect what happens to us. Obvious examples are the many sports teams and athletes who, when asked about their success, often reply, “We expected all along that we would win.” A close look at the leaders in almost any fi eld reveals a common theme. Whether it’s a leading scientist, educator, salesperson, or leader of industry, each of them have had positive expectations of themselves.
4—Put positive expectations to work. For instance, if someone tells you that an interview can take only 15 minutes, recognize it’s a screening interview and build expectations that it will allow you to showcase your potential. Here’s another example: Suppose you had an excellent interview, called twice afterwards, and got no response. Don’t assume they have lost interest. Instead, assume they’re busy and that they are still very interested. Decide now that your second meeting will be better than the fi rst. With that kind of expectation, you will then fi nd it easy to write a short follow-up note that your interest continues to grow, and that you are dedicated to becoming the best ever in the job.
No one wants to be unemployed, but it is the way you handle it that is going to make the biggest difference when looking for work. Now that you are one with college, you may not be able to find a job right away. Although this is discouraging, you need to carry yourself in a certain way to have the most success on your journey.
As a group, virtually everyone who is unemployed eventually becomes reemployed, but some do it quickly, while others struggle, give up or settle for poor positions. With the right effort many can win new jobs that are more attractive than what they had and in healthy industries.
Experience has shown that as time passes, the less capable you will be (both psychologically and emotionally) to do what must be done to win a new job. So, the key is to have a schedule of full activity: meetings, interviews, letter writing, phone calls, follow-ups and negotiations. For action oriented people, being unemployed simply means having the time to do a lot of the things that need to be done. On the other hand, if they aren’t active… many quickly get discouraged.
Here are some observations.
1—Get support from your employer. Many employers are concerned about their people and want to provide help.With respect to severance, corporations will sometimes extend fi nancial support or maintain benefi ts. Some fi rms will also extend outplacement counseling, if you think it would help.Make sure there is total agreement on the reason for your separation.
Work out an explanation that puts you in the best possible light. Once you have arranged for the best possible support, be prepared to explain why you are unemployed. You may be able to state that the termination was due to factors beyond anyone’s control, such as a cutback, merger or reorganization.
Where it applies, make the point that the fi nal separation was made at your initiative because you are a loyal person who gives 100 percent, and you did not want to look for a job while drawing a paycheck, or take a lesser position. And, be ready to provide references who will speak enthusiastically. Consider people you worked with, those who worked for you, customers, suppliers, or infl uential people in any part of the company.
2—Get your resumes created and build your knowledge. Review this book a number of times and really learn the content.
3—Get yourself a mentor and become “innovative.” It can be anyone you respect. You need to share your progress with that person throughout your campaign. Also set aside one hour each morning to make a list of leads, ideas, and people to contact. Look for breaking news about any industries of interest.
If you want to get a great job after you are done with college, you need to know the steps and ways to make great things happen. A resume it vital, but do not make the mistake of thinking it is a simple piece of paper, which you can shrug off. A resume is the first thing many will see with your name on it. If you want to make the best impression to be called in for an interview, you better show, not tell, why you are the person who is the best for the job.
So much more than just ink on a page, your resume should be thought of as your big gun when it comes to finding gainful employment.
It is common to hear people talk about writing, or updating, their resume as a chore, but take pride in it and what it represents — you.
If your resume reads like stereo instructions, just listing pervious employers, it will fall flat in front of important eyes.
Here are some aspects to keep in mind when working on a resume, which will propel you to the front of the crowd and land an interview:
*When speaking of previous work experience, state what you did to better the business with the position you were in. Do not merely give an overall view of your job description. Give specific examples of how you changed the bottom-line and/or productivity.
*In addition to the previous tip, if you feel you helped morale in a business, say so. The business atmosphere is important too.
*Don’t have large lapses in work experience. If you had time in between jobs, think of what you did that was constructive during those periods. Did you take a class? Volunteer? Freelance any of you skills? Fill in those spaces so the gaps don’t look suspect.
*Be punchy and to-the-point with any descriptions in your resume. Short and sweet is the idea here. Be aware of run-on sentences; use one word where three could do. Do not drag on; get to what you can do for the business.
These are a few simple tips, but writing a good resume is an art and something you may need help with. Don’t be afraid to ask for aid with your resume. It is not a chore and it is just as important piece of paper as your college diploma. There are companies that specialize in crating resumes that will get attention.