HOW I CAN CREATE MY NEXT PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT!
What should I do to find a job?
1) Know what it is that you are looking for by:
- Describe yourself by how the prospect company will look at you. Avoid giving yourself a “title” as titles tend to mean different things to different companies. (Tell story of being a PLANT ENGINEER)
- List two main results you deliver.
- Create this list by creating 50 different answers to the question, “What do you deliver to your employer as results?” Once you have the list go through it to discover the most frequently presented results that are said in different ways (this will be the most difficult part of your job creation.)
2) Tell everyone you know about what you are looking for.
- Tell them as in 1) above.
- Tell everyone who will recognizes your name:
- including your closest relatives to:
- someone you met once who barely knows your name.
- including your closest relatives to:
3) Make a list of every company you want to work for
- prioritize by location
- how do you fit what they want
4) Use Purposeful Networking © to search for companies you have on your list from above.
- First in your Advanced search on LinkedIn place the company name in the box labeled company
- Click to “on” 1st and 2nd level connections. Then click on search.
- Discover who you are already connected to you to make “warm” introductions.
- Ask your 1st level connections to make 2nd level connections to those “you need to know” to make
- Do this with all the companies on your list above
5) Do job searches on the common job search websites
6) Have your resume reviewed. Have this done by a resume writer who is current on what Human Resource managers look for today.
7) Prepare to interview. This should include:
- A new interview suite of clothes
- Resumes on high quality paper
- An up to date head shot (see bonus below)
- Practicing interviewing by creating a list of tough questions that the prospective employer might ask
8) Do role plays to answer all questions. Ask a friend to sit across the table from you asking tough questions. It is best to find a friend who has been a Human Resources Manager. Your answers should be positioned to be truthful, answer the question, and deliver what the interviewer is looking for. Delivering what the interviewer is looking for can sound a little contrived, however you almost have to look at the interview process as a game. There is always more than one right answer. The candidate who delivers the best answers wins the game, a job offer.
Position your answers to:
- 1st, tell the truth
- 2nd, answer the question
- 3rd, deliver what the interviewer is looking for
9) Apply for created jobs as in steps 1) and 4)
10) Write hand written thank you notes and send those by post to all who interview you. After telephone interviews or when a Human Resource professional shares information with you, follow the communication with a hand written thank you.
11) Get lots of rest
12) Exercise
13) Get updates on industry changes and trends. Stay current.
14) Develop a time line that includes:
- daily activities and goals for each day
- expectations as in
- when will you interview
- how many interviews until you secure a job
- do you have alternate plans
- how will you generate income for extended periods
- when does the money run lout
BONOUS: This is only suggested for the job you really want. This will get your resume to the top of the pile, guaranteed!
Have your resume framed. Have your picture framed. Take your framed resume and picture to a provider of gift baskets. If you have done research (Facebook, LinkedIn) you may find that the decision maker is a golfer. Many gift basket providers will custom design a basket for golfers which could include chocolate golf clubs, golf balls, etc. With your resume and picture at the top of the pile you will surely be seen by the boss and you will be brought in for an interview.
Activity:
Create a description of yourself that:
- identifies the industry you want to work in and
- contains two results that you deliver to your prospective employer
- does not refer to a title or career choice
INTERVIEWING CASE STUDIES:
#1) The other day I had a client call me. He was following up on an interview he had for a sales position selling dental equipment. He told me, “I did not feel right about one of my answers.” I asked him, “What was the question?” He told me that the interviewer set up the question this way, “You are in front of a prospective client at their office. You are offering our product. As you are delivering your presentation you discover that our product is NOT a good fit for this prospective client. Do you continuing selling our product or do you save your integrity, apologize, and stop selling?” My clients answer was, “My integrity and that of the company’s is most important. I would stop the selling process, apologize, and leave the prospects office.”
I suggested that this was what the interviewer was looking for, “I would have done my homework. With company research that is available through the Internet and social media I will only go out on appointments that I have fully vetted. I want to be certain to provide quality interaction between myself and prospective clients. If for some reason I made a mistake, misread something I found in discovery, I would respect the client’s wishes and stop the sales process.” My client agreed that this was a much better solution.
#2) In another case a client was looking for a position with a technical company in the programing space. He has over 20 years of programing experience and has owned his own businesses. For him it was time to “go back to being employed.” From listening to his story his interviewing skills demonstrated his lack luster approach to interviewing. He was in the mode I call, “telling the interviewer what he needed to say rather than what the interviewer wanted to hear.” I believe that those of us who have been out in the world of business for more than 20 years somehow believe we deserve the right of passage. Our experience speaks for itself. In this client’s case he told me the interviewer set up the question with, “I see you have worked for many companies much larger than ours.” Then asked, “Why would you want to work for us?” My clients answer, “WHY WOULD YOU ASK ME THAT QUESTION?” I capitalized his question because even as he told me the story he got quite animated and his voice became louder. My recommended answer is to first calm yourself if you feel like a question is stupid. Take a breath. Then answer, “My hope would be to bring what I learned (name the company or not) to help (the name of company you now want to employ you) to that level of success.” My client agreed that this was the better approach. He is now employed and has been so since September of 2013.
#3) Sometime the dumbest questions can be turned into money if we anticipate the question and deliver the best answer. One of my favorites is, “What is your weakest point?” It seems like every interviewer thinks they will trip up a prospective employee with this question. I think the best most simple answer is, “I love what I do so much that I find myself spending time off the job site doing work for the company.”
