Don t Send a Resume Joe Doe 123 Mystreet Ave. Toronto, ON, M1N2Z3 Highlights of Qualifications Blah, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Work Experience
5 Worst Job Search Methods Internet 4 10% Mailing out resumes at random 7% Trade or professional publication ads 7% Local newspaper ads 5 to 24% Employment agencies 5 to 28%
5 Best Job Search Methods Asking for job leads 33% Knocking on employer s door 47% Cold calling 69% Joining a Job Hunt Club 84% Life-Changing job search 86%
Where is my job? 80% of openings are never advertised 80% of jobs in small business 99% of today s job seekers focus job search online 95% of job seekers have a standard resume You have transferable skills. Use them!
Glossary Candidate = Product Cover letter = Direct mail advertising Interviewer = Customer Job Interview = Sales call Job Seeker = Salesperson Resume = Sales literature
Marketing 101: Understanding the Job Market The Job Market is the market up-side-down The consumer does the advertising Products look very similar on the shelves The salesperson simply answers the buyers questions at a sales call
You are a box of cereal Joe Cereal 123 Mystreet Ave. Toronto, ON, M1N2Z3 Highlights of Qualifications Made by the very best cereal company Very nutritious Tasty, go well with milk Crunchy, kind of sweet but calorie-wise
You are a box of cereal Why should I buy (hire) you?
Company research Objectives How YOU can help the company What can you do to help them save money, increase profits or solve problems, increase productivity, new product ideas.
Company/Market Research Target a company Research the company with the objective to get an interview with someone who can hire you Visit website, google company, consult directories, competitors, try the product, related news Drop-in, read product/sales literature, meet clients, employees. Cold call ask as much as you can (except about jobs), get contact name in department of interest.
Company/Market Research What do you need to know? Needs, shortcomings, gaps, problems, successes, projects, decision makers Where is the information? Internet: Company website, google, news Directories: Scotts, Who s Who, industry specific, Government Sales literature, distributors, competitors
Cold Calling Do an Information Interview instead By appointment, drop-in or phone call Prepare thoughtful questions Identify products, challenges, opportunities, market, competition, projects, and of course: Main goal: Identify key players
Impact Letter Write a one page impact letter to Whom it May Concern Identify the employer s needs through company research, Identify ways in which YOU can help, four or five points where your expertise and ideas will be useful. Dollarize your value to the employer,
Resu-Letters Readable, humanized summary of your background highlights that are relevant Send them in response to Help Wanted ads Demonstrate understanding of the company and its needs, Mix biographical and chronological information
Networking You ask your friend, to tell his friends to tell their friends that YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WORK! The single most effective job search technique It is like prospecting in sales: seek qualified leads, make a plan, set goals, target activities, It is used around the world, in some places almost exclusively. Have a 30-second commercial about yourself, hand-out sales literature : Business card, quick calling card. First impressions count mind your body language. 55% of the message people get when they first meet you is through body language 38% is determined by the tone and inflection of your voice, only 7% is based on what you actually say Meet people any way you can: Facebook, meetup.com, craigslist.com, create your own website/blog, Eacademy.com.
Networking, Body Language Essentials Greeting: A firm but painless, palm-to-palm handshake Smile: Did you know that the majority of people forget to smile during an interview? Look for opportunities to smile such as when talking about your accomplishments or your people skills. Eye Contact: Anytime you are asked a question that may have a negative answer, it is important that you look the interviewer straight in the eye and give them a direct answer. Your honesty will help to earn the interviewer s respect. Posture: The way you sit, walk and stand can speak volumes about your energy level, your confidence and even your mood. Gestures: bring hand gestures into your conversation to emphasize points in your answers. Facial Expressions: the value of the words you speak will be diminished by your expression.
Quick Calling Cards Calling Card Uses Calling Cards serve as an expanded business card or reduced resume. carry some with you wherever you go Use them: For networking purposes to tell people your goal and qualifications To encourage people to give you job leads To summarize your skills for your references As a quick skills reminder for you to review before interviews As your basic benefit statement for networking, introductory employers calls or cover letters.
Calling Card Samples Client name: Jose X Situation: client has been working for several years as a cook/dishwasher for an English Pub and he wants to find a job in a high scale restaurant. Step 1 Get all the information you can from the client. Ask relevant questions: What do you want to focus on in your calling card? What skills can we mention in your calling card that shows your ability to work in a high scale restaurant? Have you done any other upgrading cooking training in the past few years? Relevant information that I got from the client Completed six month Italian training program in Rome and worked in a family restaurant for three months Suggestions Incorporate just information related to his goal, work in Italian restaurant. Include a picture of his favorite recipe
Calling Card Sample BEFORE AFTER -10 years of experience as a maintenance worker -Have a chef pre-employment program -- knowledgeable of basic computer operation --CPR and WHMIS and sanitation procedures -- fluent in Spanish -- planted stone planters and cared for plants
Portfolios A portfolio is a portable collection of papers and/or artifacts. A showcase for your skills and talents! Show-off your international experience How does a Portfolio help in your job search? Help you to direct your career path Help you to maintain a record of achievements Provide you with a self-marketing tool that gives you a competitive edge Help you develop your confidence and overcome communication weaknesses
Portfolios CONTENTS Copyright Protection Statement: This portfolio is the work of. Please do not copy without permission. Some of the exhibits, and/or service samples are the proprietary of the organization whose name appears on the document. Each has granted permission for this product to be used as a demonstration of work. Career Goal Statements. Resume Skill Areas (i.e.: project management, team-work) Skills Sets (Technical Skills Summary). Work samples. Letters of Recommendation. Certifications, Diplomas, Degrees or Awards. Professional Membership and Service. References.
Evaluating your Portfolio Is technical information explained so that a prospective employer will understand? Do your items support your employment goal? Does your Portfolio reflect your engagement in life-long learning and direction of your career path? Have you designed it in a way that you can update the content according to industry trends? Prospective employers will compare your product. Does your portfolio successfully market your talents? If so, you ve completed the most successful marketing tool you can use as a professional. Presenting Your Portfolio Inform your interviewers that you have a portfolio If you are not asked to show your portfolio, use an interview question as an invitation. Don t narrate your portfolio page by page; use it to demonstrate specific skills. Offer to leave your portfolio with the interviewer. Some employers may not ask to see your portfolio; don t let it discourage you. Channel the fear and nervousness that you are experiencing in an interview into your portfolio presentation. Rehearse your portfolio presentation in response to possible interview questions
Why should I hire you? Precall plan every job interview, have clever answers to known questions Ask yourself: Why should they hire me? Don t talk: Answer, ask, listen and sell Ask thoughtful needs analysis questions Show something! Ask to do a demonstration Look like a ball player Make them feel good Always ask for the order! Leave your sales literature (resume) Follow-up: Thank You letter, pick-up portfolio, come to an event.
Interview with Confidence Voice Training Strong business presentations skills help inspire others to take action. Whether you are selling your services or yourself in an interview, motivating regional reps for a product launch, or securing budget approval for a bold new venture, the ability to engage your listeners and win their cooperation is critical to the success of any presentation. Demonstration Breathing Exercises Open mouth wide, drop your jaw, exaggerate your lip and jaw movements. Say the following words slowly: Prolong the sounds. Annunciate carefully. HANG, HARM, LANE, MAIN, LONE, LOOM.
Effective online job search Know what you want Check niche sites Research the job market and specific organizations Use search engines Find hidden jobs Sign up for jobs through your email Tailor your resume and cover letter to employer needs Track where you've applied, keep applications organized.
Affirmations Thoughts and Networking Affirmations Identify Your Own Path to Success Eliminate the Fears that Drain Your Power Learning to Trust Yourself and Respect Your Decisions Having High Expectations for Success Thoughts Rejection it doesn t exist. Maybe you will not gain what you want at the moment. But, you didn t lost anything, still you! Somewhere someone will open the door for you. We are a mass of power. If you don t take control of your power someone will, your family, your friends, company, environment.