your job search promotional materials (resume, cover letters, and pitch)
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Your Job Search Promotional Materials (resume, cover letters, and pitch)
Presented at Baruch CollegeOctober 15, 2009
Robert Hellmann, Presenter
Five O’Clock Club Career Coach
www.hellmannconsulting.com
2Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Introduction
• I’m Robert Hellmann, a certified Five O’Clock Club Career Coach and an
Adjunct Professor of Career Development at NYU
• The material I’m sharing with you is based on the Five O’Clock Club
methodology for the job search.
• All resume and letter examples are from real clients. Some are excerpted
from Five O’Clock Club materials, others are personal examples that either I
or my clients have used.
3Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Which Statement is True?
Your Resume should fit on one page.
Your Resume should be no more than two pages.
4Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Which Statement is True?
Answer: Neither- they are both false!The key is that you need to have your "pitch" jump off the page in
the 15 seconds the reader is going to look at your resume and
decide whether they want to talk to you or not!
Your Resume should fit on one page.
Your Resume should be no more than two pages.
5Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
The Summary Section
Elliot wanted to get
back into Sports
Marketing, but his
‘before’ resume
positioned him in
the ‘Shelter’
business!
*Example excerpted from Five O’Clock Club Materials
6Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Use a Summary Section
� Brings out the accomplishments that you want them to know
about
� So you’re not just defined by your last job
� First line: Categorizes You (Sue’s a Marketing Executive)
� Second line: Separates You (and she’s an expert in Viral
Marketing)
7Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Resume Do’s / Don’ts
Do…� Have a summary section
� Make sure your summary matches your pitch
� Make sure your resume positions you for the particular job.
� Make every point have a “so what”
� Use the jargon of your target, not your last job
� Use boldface and underlines for emphasis
� Use bullets, single sentences, or very short paragraphs
� Use action verbs- “Created”, “Led”
� Use white space for easier reading
Don’t…� Use dense paragraphs
� Have an “objective”
� Write superfluous things like “References Available…”
� Use a non-chronological format
� Throw in ‘no kidding’ phrases, e.g. “results oriented problem solver”
� Be overly concerned about resume length (copy sells!)
8Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Resume Samples
9Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
“After” Resume, first of
three pages
10Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
11Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
12Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
13Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Page 1 of 3
In Julie’s prior jobs, she was a therapist, a health center counselor, and a candy business
owner. But she positioned herself successfully for her Senior Sales Professional target.
*Example from one of my clients.
14Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
“Before”Resume, first of
three pages
15Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
“Before”Resume, second of
three pages
16Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Resume Exercise
Start writing your own Summary Section, or
Start writing Helen’s
17Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
*From Five O’Clock Club book “Packaging Yourself, The Targeted Resume”
“After”Resume, first of
three pages
18Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Powerful Cover Letters
� Know the pros and cons of ‘asking for a job’ vs. ‘asking for an informational meeting’.
� If you’re positioning your letter as having an informational meeting, attaching your
resume could be confusing to the recipient.
� Sometimes you can get attention if mention vulnerabilities with company, based on
your research.
� If an e-mail, the subject line is crucial
� Most cover letters work well with the following structure:
� Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself- say something specific about company. If
networking, say who you were referred by.
� Paragraph 2: Pitch- summary about yourself
� Paragraph 3: Bulleted accomplishments
� Paragraph 4: Ask for a meeting
19Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Direct Contact Letter, e.g. when know of opening via an Ad
*From Five O’Clock Club book “Shortcut Your Search: The Best Ways to get Meetings”
20Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Direct Contact– Targeted e-mail, didn’t know of an opening
Subject: Open to discussing Development/Fundraising at Ivy University?
Dear John,
Upon reading your bio on the Ivy website, I thought I would reach out to you, as I myself have experience that could
support fundraising and development efforts.
I currently work in New York City (at and teaching part-time at ), and in the long run am looking to work in
the Hudson Valley where my wife and I live, preferably at Ivy or one of the other area Universities. Though not yet
looking for a job, I would greatly appreciate 20 minutes or so of your time to gain your insight on how my experience
might be a fit in a University setting. Given my many years of experience with Data Mining and DataMart design, perhaps I could also share with you some knowledge that you would find useful for Ivy's fundraising efforts.
Some background: I currently develop Marketing and Sales strategy at and teach at part-time.
My experience includes nearly 14 years in Database Marketing analytics/Data Mining, that is, turning raw data into
actionable knowledge for Marketing or Sales teams. I believe that a University would find this experience valuable in helping to optimize fundrasing contacts, target enrollment prospects efficiently, and improve retention. Highlights from my background include:
• Doubled Marketing's ROI to 23% by adopting a "test-learn-enhance" approach to campaigns, and by developing segmentation/modeling strategies.
• Increased retention by 57% for high potential customers, and increased new account acquisition revenue by 79%, by developing segment-based targeting strategies.
• Led development of DataMarts that dramatically increased marketing analytics capabilities.
• Created a 3-D, 360 degree view of potential customers, both across the customer lifecycle and by relationships, which led to profitable, highly targeted marketing campaigns.
• Drove enhancements in service delivery that are resulting in substantial client satisfaction gains, by
leveraging relationships with clients and establishing metrics.
I also notice from your bio that you made the transition from corporate to university that I'm looking to make. I would greatly value your insight regarding this transition I'm seeking. Would you be available for a brief meeting?
This e-mail, and others like it, resulted in
interviews for me. Note: no resume attached,
asked for “20 minutes” made it clear not asking
for a job, pitch is in e-mail..
21Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
You Must Have A “Two Minute Pitch”
� Positions you correctly to your audience
� Answers the questions “why are you here” or “tell me about yourself”
� Should be able to recite a two minute pitch right from your resume
� Very important in forming a positive impression
� You'll use it in job interviews, networking and direct contact
meetings, and in your cover letters.
� Use a 30 second version when appropriate
22Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Two Minute Pitch- Structure
� The whole pitch should be conversational.
� Use details and illustrations to make it interesting. Tell a story.
� Open with what you’re going for- so they can “categorize you”.
� Next mention what else you bring, how you are “different from the competition”.
� Then give supporting facts, right from your resume, to support your opening.
� Close with a summary that can help to move the conversation forward, e.g. ask a
question in closing.
� Should be able to tell your level.
� Use filler words- “One of the most interesting things I’ve ever done was”, “that
was the most satisfying thing…”, “For example there was the time when I…”
� Tell them what you want them to know- how your background fits in with their
needs.
23Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
Five OFive O’’Clock Club BooksClock Club Books ---- www.fiveoclockclub.comwww.fiveoclockclub.com
24Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595
[email protected] / 917-825-9595
� Feel free to e-mail or call me with any questions.
� Check my website for updates to career links, job search tips,
and other places I’ll be speaking.
www.hellmannconsulting.com