In the present economic situation, there are more applicants for one position than ever before. That in itself makes for greater odds against you beating out all the other applicants for the position. You need to take the advice of the old quote, "All's fair in love and war." You need to go into the job hunting process much like you are going into battle. And when going into battle you need to have a secrete weapons.
So, what can you use as a secrete weapon? There are actually several items to have in you arsenal: To start off; have a "Top Gun" resume. Go in with a "Hybrid" resume. This is a combination between a functional and chronological. This format will set you apart from the crowd. Remember that the person that is reviewing the resume possibly has 40 seconds to look over the resume to make a choice of "go" or "no go" With a hybrid style resume you start out with a summary which is a short paragraph that summarizes your experiences and qualifications. Then you are able to follow up with bullet listings of your skills. This is where you can showoff your value. List out specifics such as you "increased sales by 30%"; "reduced waste by 15%". Show your “value” and don't forget to include action verbs. Examples include words such as: achieved, assembled, coordinated, decreased, executed, initiated, negotiated, produced, reduced, started, updated. These are words that add “punch” to your resume.
Your other weapon of choice is to "dress the part". Both men and women should wear dark suits. Conservative style works the best, unless you are interviewing for a job in the arts industry, where a tad more flamboyant can work to your advantage.
Pinstripes are an “old reliable”. Just make sure that the pinstripes are not too bold. The suit should look like a solid color from 10 to 15 feet away. Wear a starched dress shirt or top. White or light blue are the "old reliable" to wear when heading “into battle” for the interview. And include a nice conservative tie to top it off. And like in the Army, make sure you shoes are "polished"! For a truly great example on dress look to the "Generals" of Business and Industry. Check out various business websites and check and see how these "leaders" dress. Follow their example!
Conduct "Training Maneuvers" and prep for the interview. Have a Career Coach or a trusted friend work with you on responding to all types of interview questions. Be prepared for questions like these:
- Tell me about yourself. (Tell them about your accomplishments - not where you were born.)
- What is your greatest strength or asset?
- What are your weaknesses? (Don't say I don't have any - and never tell them that you watch too much television or like to party too much. Make it something tied into work and also show that you are working to overcoming your weakness)
- Tell me how you would handle XYand Z?
These are just some of the many questions that you may be asked during the interview process. Remember that this is an opportunity for the employer to find out about you and you to find out about them. When in battle, it is easy to get nervous, just remember to keep calm and be your professional self. Maintain good eye contact. If possible, lean a little bit toward the interviewer. Show interest and be attentive! Keep your hands out of your pockets and away from your face. Keep both feet planted on the ground. Don't chew gum or smoke for gosh sakes. Be careful and do not let your guard down. Be courteous to all that you meet. Even the receptionist!
With some good "Intelligence" prior to going in you can make your case much stronger.
Now, go out there and win the battle!
No comments:
Post a Comment