job search basics 2

You lost your job, you have a jobBy Kerry Fox (hopefully a former job

searcher)

This was produced in support of a few former co-workers who are job searching neophytes. Those that are fortunate enough to have had that now defunct commodity known as “job security”. (I heard it still exists and is living in a box by the underpass)

Job search basics - Caveat

Job search basics – Caveat IIThis is a very basic outline of job search basics.Emphasis on “very basic” information.There is nothing new here, just a compilation and

a simple path to follow.Any one of these slides could be a 4 to 8 hour

class.This is meant to serve as an outline only.

Please supplement this outline with research and study of your own.

The author assumes no responsibility for the outcome of events for those that chose to follow this path. There are career coaches who know a whole lot more about this, but then again, they generally are paid……

Job search basicsEmotion

Get to acceptance and move on

Personal brand

ResumesFind the

opportunities

Cover letters

InterviewingSucce

ss Now, get out of bed and get your butt back to

work!

The dark cloud of rejection

Rinse and repeat cycle

Emotional stages of a job lossDenialDisbeliefAngerInner self criticismWithdrawalReflectionAcceptance

First and foremost, looking for a job is a full time job.

Spend time -4 to 6 to 8 to 10 hours per day in job search activities. (writing, calling, networking, resume basics, researching, interview preparation, networking, internet searches, networking, and did I mention networking).

Assessment Personal BrandingWhat do you want to do?Where do you want to do it?What marketable skills do you have?What do you truly want in your professional

life?30 second commercial.

Personal brandingWhat is it that makes you different? What qualities or characteristics make you

distinctive?What have you accomplished?What is your most noteworthy personal trait?What benefits (problems solved) do you offer?

Needs to be truthful and accurate -- with no exaggerations .

Should focus on critical benefit to employer -- a void you can fill.

Should be unique and compelling feature that only you can deliver.

Example of a branding statement

Creative problem-solver who can produce superior results through solid marketing and leadership abilities. While at XYZ Company, I led the team that took the number three brand in the industry and completed a turnaround strategy that resulted in it becoming the market leader.

30 second commercialI am an Operations Management executive with

expertise in lean manufacturing, six sigma, participative management, continuous improvement and formal problem solving.

My recent experience includes the management of

profit and loss for automotive suppliers with over $250 million in sales and up to 650 employees.

Due to reorganization and restructuring, I am looking

to continue my career in operations management with an organization that is dedicated to continuous improvement in cost, quality, delivery, safety and employee morale using lean manufacturing philosophies.

Jobs – how do you find them?Public job market

Want ads, InternetHidden job market“For Sale” job market

Recruiters

Job searching is a numbers game. Improve the odds by using all available resources to uncover as many

opportunities as possible. BUT don’t lose focus on where you fit and what you want!

NetworkingGet as many people working for you as possible.Who do you know, who do they know and who do

they know? Make sure that they all know that you are in a job search or career transition.

Estimated that 50% of jobs never get publically posted.

Ideally, get to the decision makers (easier said than done).

Linkedin.com – a good professional place to network (but it is still better to pick up the phone!).

Jobs – how do you find them?

Internet – big board job websitesIndeed.com (combination – searches multiple

sites)Monster.comCareerbuilder.com6figures.comMlive.com (Michigan only)Juju.comSimplyhired.comJob-hunt.orgEtc, etc, etc………..


Indeed. Com has become one of the largest and best.

Too many people spend all of their time on internet searches.

Which means for every job posted, thousands of people are pouring over them and responding.

Supplement internet (public job market) with a serious approach to the non-public market.


Which means networking, as much face to face as possible.

Recruiters – most are retained by firms to find peopleManpowerK ForceAerotekJBLPete CollinsTime ServicesManagement RecruitersMost have their own websites with jobs posted


Make sure that every recruiter that you know (or don’t know yet) has a copy of your resume and knows what you are interested in.

This is part of the “hidden market.”

Make a review of their websites a part of your routine. (maybe weekly).


Large companies (Herman Miller, Steelcase, Meijer etc) will have their own job boards on line. (always check).

Any company in which you have an interest – Google and look for a link “Careers”.

Job-hunt.org has a listing of companies by state, very useful as the links take you to the careers page of the companies.


Resume basicsMost common are chronological.Skills focused or skills based resumes can be

very effective as well.Use Google and do some homework on each

type.Write one of each, if nothing else, it helps you

to clarify your transferable skills.

Contact information at the top (make certain it is current and correct).

Objective – lead in .Who you are, what you can do to solve the problems

for the company.Accomplishments, what you did, how you did it

and what were the results (3 to 5 top from each position, more focus on the most recent activities).

Not just a list of what positions you held, but what did you accomplish in those positions.

Action words, not passive words.Lead, managed, directed, etc - OK

Resume basics

This is critical

Resume basics ExampleOperations Manager, Vice President of Operations

2005 to 2009Managing and directing the operations including

engineering, materials, purchasing, quality and product launch for a facility with 250 employees. Reporting to the President of the division.

Reduced the annualized customer concerns from 55 to

10 in 6 months by improving the focus on one for one manufacturing, implementing a next operation as customer and improving root cause analysis.

Reduced scrap cost by 50% by implementing management scrap review process on the plant floor using quality, engineering and manufacturing resources to solve issues.

Resume basicsMust be perfect, no typos or “mispellings” Ditch the personal stuff (likes to play golf, enjoys

family, etc)10 second rule – will it attract attention with in

10 seconds?Visually appealing, white space, clear font, etcMust be perfect, no typosMust be perfect, no typos Have someone other than you do a proof read.

Customize resumes to the job requirements.EG a company wants a strong problem solver

(use those words exactly, and give examples of problems solved)

Resumes get searched by search engines looking for specific words – use them (TPS, lean, 5S, heijunka, etc).

If you are not getting any responses to your resume, have it critiqued, rewrite it to make it compelling. (like changing the bait when you are fishing).

Resume basics

Never submit a resume to a specific job opportunity without a specific and customized cover letter.

Basically three paragraphs.Identify the opportunity (where found)and express

your interest in the position offered.State how your qualifications meet the

requirements of the position in as compelling a way as possible in as much detail as possible. (but keep it brief).

Close by indicating you are interested in further discussions how your experience will be of benefit to them and how you will follow up.

Resume basics – cover letter

ReferencesProfessional references by professional

people in a professional manner.Ask former co-workers, managers and

subordinates to serve as a reference for you.Make sure that their contact information is

current and correct.Always, always, always prepare them for any

potential contact by a company or a recruiter.Never, never, never let them be surprised by

a call or an email asking about you.

Job search basicsThe end result of all of that work, should be an

interview……….

Once that is set,Prepare, prepare, prepare.

Dress for success.Arrive 10 minutes early.

Interviewing basicsPrepare, prepare, prepareResearch the company

Find people who work there that you may know (again linkedin.com is very helpful)

Find out everything you can, news, internet, people, competitors, etc.

Interviewing basicsPrepare, prepare, preparePrepare stories to support your accomplishments

using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Results)

Prepare answers to the most commonly asked questions (yes, even the dreaded “what are your weaknesses”)

Tell me about yourself – use the 30 second commercial

Make certain to be prepared to address any perceived weaknesses (why did you leave your last job? Make it short and sweet –don’t dwell on it)

Interviewing basicsInterviews have two parts and interviewers

typically want to know two thingsWill you fit in with our organization?Are you qualified to do what we want (and will

you perform to our expectations)

You must ask questions! Examples………….

“What are the qualifications that are needed to be successful in this position?”

“What are the qualifications that are needed to be successful in this company?”

“What do you expect the company to look like in five years?”

And a million other types of questions – do your research!

Interviewing basics

Congratulations

Make sure you contact your network with your new status.

Keep your network active, always be ready to help.

NOW, GET BACK TO WORK!