Career Planning Preparing To Market Yourself

Transcription

1 Career Planning Preparing To Market Yourself Tentative Career Goals At this point, what is your intention with regard to your career? Insights From Your Career To Date What were the things you have loved/disliked in your career so far? Where did you do really well? What sorts of work environments have you been attracted to in the past? What sorts of people have you enjoyed working with? How have your recent experiences affected you? Page 1

2 Problem/Action/ Accomplishment Statements This is one of the most important exercises in the job search process. It will help you focus on your skills, form the basis of much of your resume, and help you prepare for your interviews as well as help you focus on that which you feel good about. It will also help you feel comfortable about relating your accomplishments to others. When you look back over previous jobs, you will be able to recall examples of things you did of which you are very proud and which benefited your employer. These accomplishments are the best evidence of your skills. The more effort you put into this exercise, the more attractive you are likely to be able to present yourself to potential employers. Overleaf, list as many accomplishments as you can, in the following format (using extra paper as necessary). You will then decide which of the many that you have listed are important enough to go into your resume. This decision should be made based upon the usefulness of the accomplishment in describing your value in the job market Page 2

3 Problem Action Accomplishment Statements The Problem, Challenge or Circumstance That You Encountered The Action or The Approach That You Took To Resolve The Situation The (Quantified?) Result Which Occurred As A Consequence Of Your Action or Approach Your Accomplishment Page 3

4 References Don t include references in your resume, or even indicate that references will be provided. References are dealt with later when both parties agree that there is strong interest. Select your referees and then train them Give them your resume, and possibly a job description or advertisement, so that they can respond appropriately to questions with information that it important to the position in question. Page 4

5 Your Resume The primary purpose of your resume is to stimulate prospective employers interest in meeting you not to tell everything about you. It needs to be a good enticer that gives information which is relevant to the reader s needs. The resume should not be the leading edge of your job search, but rather (where possible) used as a follow-up device. It is not a good substitute for personal contact. Your resume will probably contain: Your Objective A short paragraph Summary of who you are Your Employment History. List your accomplishments for each position. Include more information for relevant and recent jobs. Your relevant Education Any relevant Memberships Personal Data only if there are relevant hobbies or non-work activities that demonstrate a skill. Present yourself accurately and positively. Include only enough information to get the buyer interested. Two pages is an ideal length. Page 5

6 Elevator Statement This is one of the two statements that you will use many times during your job search. It is designed to be used in an elevator J, as well as in many other places when someone says, What are you doing these days? You need to develop a succinct statement that you can complete before the elevator doors open when you are travelling from the ground floor to the third floor. The statement should describe your current position and what you are targeting. It needs to position you positively, accurately, and as an attractive person people to work with: Your Two Minute Introduction This is the second statement that you will be calling on many times during your job search. You will use your two-minute introduction whenever you introduce yourself to network referrals, respond to the interview question Tell me about yourself, and in an initial paragraph in your marketing letters. By preparing your two-minute introduction you will be able to succinctly give people a picture of where you were brought-up, your education, your career history, and your current situation all in two-minutes or less. Write it out and practice it until you can comfortably respond to the Tell me about yourself? question in an interesting, positive fashion, within the time frame: Page 6