My Friend Joe, and How to Find Your Competitive Edge - Part 2

Last week I told you about my friend, Joe, who is a derivative accounting professional specializing in hedge funds. He has no problem finding a job because his area of specialty is in such high demand in his field. His highly sought after career niche is his competitive edge.

So how can you find your competitive edge?

Here are some additional ways:

1. Make sure your qualifications match as closely as possible to your desired job position. 

So many people make the mistake of applying for positions that they are not qualified for and then wonder why they are never contacted. Don’t eliminate yourself from the competition right from the start – make sure you have similar qualifications to be considered in the first place.

Ask yourself - what competencies and credentials are usually required for someone working in my targeted position? 

If you’re not sure, an easy way to figure this out is to read job descriptions on job boards and want ads.  Look to see what qualifications the ideal candidate should possess, and then compare these qualifications to the ones you have to determine how you measure up. 

2. Beef up your credentials if necessary.

If your qualifications fall short, you may decide it’s time to go back to school and get a higher degree, certification, or specific training in your industry.  Or, if certain experience is required, perhaps you can get that experience through a volunteer position. 

Keep in mind that very often practical experience is just as valuable as a degree, so you may not need to go back to school to get an advance degree.

3. Elevate your expertise to the level of excellence. 

Are there any awards that you can win? Any special certifications or degrees that you can obtain that shout that you’re an expert in your field? Prospective employers are very impressed by these “pedigrees.”

4. Find your unique brand.

So, what’s so special about you?

Why would employers want to hire you over candidates vying for the same job?

The answers to these questions will help you to define your particular brand. If you’re wondering why you need to brand yourself, think of it this way -

If you went to the supermarket to buy a box of cereal and all of the boxes of cereal in the aisle had the exact same plain brown packaging with only the word “cereal” written on the box, - how would you decide which box of cereal to buy?

Marketing experts know that in order to get your attention, they need to convey a product’s unique selling proposition – the value of that product to the consumer. The same is true for job applicants. If you can convey what you can offer that the competition does not, then you’ll get hiring managers to notice you.

And,

Once you figure out your unique brand, you can express this on your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and other marketing documents.

 5. Make sure that you have a resume that will entice prospective employers to call you in for an interview.

Your resume is usually the first opportunity a prospective employer has to “meet” you and get to know a little bit about you. If you don’t grab their attention at this critical juncture, you’ll be designated to the reject pile and essentially be out of the running before the race begins.  

Acquiring a competitive edge can be the most important aspect of increasing your chances of being hired and accelerating the hiring process.

Be sure to find yours.

My Friend Joe, and How to Find Your Competitive Edge - Part 1

How to Find Your Competitive Edge in Today’s Job Market

My friend, Joe, is a derivative accounting professional specializing in hedge funds. I have to admit that I had never heard of that job position until I met Joe. I understand that only 5 – 10% of all accounting professionals in the U.S. specialize in this area.

Do you think Joe has a hard time finding a job?

Absolutely not!

Jobs find him.

Recruiters look for guys with Joe’s expertise. When he applies to jobs on the internet, his resume doesn’t go into a black hole like so many others; he’s one of the lucky job seekers who receive an immediate response.

When I think of Joe, I am reminded of the story about Dr. Joyce Brothers. When she wanted to get on “The $64,000 Question” program back in the 1950’s, she realized she needed a competitive edge in order to be chosen to be on the program.  She knew that being a female psychologist was an asset, but she gave herself an even better competitive edge by becoming an expert in boxing trivia. There certainly weren’t many female psychologists who were boxing trivia experts in her day, if any at all.  Brilliant! She was quickly chosen for her unique area of expertise.

The same can be true for someone looking for a job.  If you develop a niche within your industry where there aren’t many experts, you’ll be in high demand - like my good friend, Joe.

Stay tuned for next week’s newsletter where I’ll let you in on other ways to find your competitive edge in today’s job market. 

Career Management 101 - Part 2

Career Management 101 – Part 2

A great way to gain the competitive edge over other applicants is to demonstrate to prospective employers how you have added value on the job and made a difference in past positions that you’ve held. Many people never think to keep statements made by employers endorsing their work, so they are surprised when I ask if they have any of these accolades to include on their resume. Don’t wait until you’re looking for a job to scramble around for any evidence given to you by your former boss for a job well done. Keep in mind that employers realize that past performance will predict future performance – so, don’t be afraid to brag about your accomplishments!

Career management is a lifelong process. To measure your progress, put together and update a career management file. This can simply be a file folder or large envelope containing information and documents that demonstrate how you have made a difference on the job.

This folder should include:

1)     Performance evaluations

2)     Details of your greatest accomplishments (include facts and figures when possible)

3)     Job descriptions of positions you’ve held

4)     Examples of work you’ve produced

5)     A description of times when you’ve received recognition for extraordinary performance from your supervisor

6)     Memos documenting your contribution to a team effort

7)     Written accolades from customers or vendors

From this useful material you will be able to glean impressive accomplishment statements that will lead to better jobs, provide ammunition to win at the salary negotiation table, and that will demonstrate how you have made a significant impact on the job.

Career Management 101 - Part 1

I love to take long walks on sunny days. Since I have an aversion to the sun (no wrinkles for me!), I always wear a big floppy hat. Unfortunately, my hat partially obstructs my view when walking (okay, I’ll admit that I’ve walked into a branch or two!) During one of my recent walks, with my head down, music playing on my iPod, I was amazed to discover that I had covered quite a long distance without realizing it.

It occurred to me that my walk could be a metaphor for life. If we keep our heads down and just move for the sake of moving, we’ll get somewhere, but is it where we really want to end up?

I always ask my coaching clients - “What is your vision for your career?  Where do you want to ultimately end up?” Unfortunately, most people never consider these questions. Instead they are more focused on present concerns and as a result their futures are hit or miss.  Neglecting to plan out your career is like putting a boat out to sea without a pilot to steer it.

Consider how your life would change if you had a master plan for your career. If you decided in the present where you wanted to ultimately end up in the future and then carefully laid out a plan in reverse for reaching each significant step along the way.

There is a famous study which monitored Harvard Business School graduates from 1979 to 1989.  In 1979, the researchers asked the MBA grads if they had goals and if they wrote them down.  Only three percent of the class said they had goals and had written them down.  When they revisited the MBA grads ten years later, they found that the grads who had written their goals down made ten times as much money as the other 97% combined. The moral to this story is that if you want to get ahead in your career, set clear goals for yourself and be sure to write them down.

Creating a master plan for your life and career would be like taking off your hat, unplugging your iPod, and mindfully taking each step on the road to success.

More Tips for Surviving Unemployment & the Job Search Process

Last week I gave you some practical tips for getting through the job search process. This week’s tips help you to maintain a positive outlook while going through the process.

Tip #1 – Go with your internal clock

Are you an owl or a lark? Do you do your best work in the morning or at night? Schedule your toughest activities when you have the energy to do them.

Tip #2 – Take care of yourself

It’s easy to neglect other areas of your life when you’re focusing on finding a job.  Unfortunately, that won’t help to keep your spirits up and your stress down.  Exercise, eat healthfully and put aside an hour each day to do something that you enjoy.

Tip #3 – Make another important list

In my last newsletter, I suggested you make a list of all the things you need to do on a daily basis to conduct a successful job search. Here’s another helpful list. Make a list of all of the things that you value in life – things that are important to you. It may be time with your kids, cooking gourmet meals, or keeping up with a hobby. Now schedule those activities onto your calendar. This is another great way to exercise self care and prevent job search burn-out.

Tip #4 – Surround yourself with positive people and thoughts

During your daily “me” time, read inspiring books and listen to uplifting CDs (you can rent them from your local library and download them onto your computer or iPod).  Watch funny moves, google funny jokes, or look up funny videos on YouTube. All of these activities help to raise your spirits, and lift your mood.

Tip #5 – Resist procrastination

If you put off your job search, it will not go away and you’ll only end up feeling guilty.  The best cure for procrastination is to have a plan and follow it faithfully, even when you don’t feel like it.  As Nike says, “just do it!”

Tip #6 – Take it outside

Don’t isolate yourself by spending all of your time indoors. Instead, schedule lunch or coffee breaks with friends or better yet, make time to network with others. Perhaps you can also do some other tasks at the coffee shop, like researching companies on the internet, or sending out thank you letters.

 

Tip #7 – Visualize yourself being successful

Imagine being called for interviews, projecting confidence and then receiving offers.  This will help you to maintain a positive outlook and a hopeful expectancy.

Don’t let the job hunt get you down!  If you consistently follow the above tips, you’ll be able to increase the odds of finding a job in less time and with less stress. You’ll have a job before you know it!  

Tips for Surviving Unemployment & the Job Search Process

Let’s face it, job hunting sucks!

I’ve never met a person who truly likes to look for a job. It’s a necessary evil – like going to the dentist. So if you feel like you’re at the end of your rope and just can’t build up enough courage to keep looking for a job, or you don’t want to go through another interview and face another rejection, these tips are for you.

Tip #1 – Treat your job search as a job

Get up early each morning as you would normally do so if you had a paying job.  You should devote anywhere from 30 to 40 hours each week working on your job search.  The more effort and time you put into your search, the faster you’ll be gainfully employed.

Tip #2 – Dress as if you’re going to work

Well, you don’t have to wear a suit and tie (if that’s what you would normally wear) but you should be showered, dressed and ready to face the day – after all, your job now is to find a job.  Pajamas will not put you in the job search mindset!

Tip #3 – Plan your job search campaign

Buy a notebook and use it exclusively to keep track of your job search progress. Make a list of all the things you need to do on a daily basis when looking for a job. Then take out your calendar for the coming week and pencil in all the activities you plan to complete each day. Allow for at least six “to do” items for each day.  Figure out how much time each item should take in half hour increments.  Then stick with the plan each day until you have completed all items on your list.

Tip #4 – Do the hard stuff first

Whether it’s making cold calls to prospective employers, or writing thank you notes, you decide. Just be sure to do those tasks first.

Tip #5 – Use a multi-strategy approach for your job search

So many people spend the majority of their time scanning job postings on job boards and then applying for positions in response to those ads and think they are conducting a successful job search. This is a HUGE time waster. The main reason is you’re facing too much competition; literally hundreds of other people are applying for the same jobs. There are other, more effective ways to find a job. While I wouldn’t recommend eliminating responding to job postings altogether, I would suggest you only spend about 20% of your time doing so.

Tip #6 – Schedule time for your “escapist” activities

Did you ever notice how when it’s time to put your nose to the grindstone and get working, that’s the time you suddenly have an urge to check your email or call your best friend? Designate specific times during the day to do those things and don’t even open unimportant email until after you’ve done the hard stuff first.

Tip #7 – Track your progress

Keep a daily account of your job search efforts either on a spreadsheet or in your job search notebook. For example, if your goal is to contact 10 companies, talk to 3 recruiters, and network at 2 meetings this week, your  log will not only help you to keep track of your efforts, it will also let you know which efforts were the most fruitful.  There’s nothing like crossing off each item as you complete it - you’ll feel that you’re making progress.  Instead of thinking “I don’t have a job,” you’ll realize that you are progressively moving forward and are therefore, that much closer to getting a job.

In next week’s newsletter, I’ll give you some suggestions that will help to keep you motivated and get you up when you’re feeling down.

The Key to Overcoming Obstacles that Get in Your Way

I recently had the pleasure of working with a resume client named Holly. I say pleasure because I believe that every one of my clients teaches me something of value. Holly is a Sales and Business Development Director working in the IT software/solution management industry.

I encouraged her (as I do all of my resume clients) to take a no-holds-barred attitude about letting me know what her greatest accomplishments have been in her career thus far. Most people have difficulty “bragging” about their accomplishments. Part of my job is to find out what is truly unique about each client – what sets them apart from other applicants who have similar qualifications, experience, attributes, etc. so that I can bring these unique qualities to the forefront when writing their resume. She explained to me that one of the greatest things that she has been able to do throughout her career is to find key accounts all from the comfort of her desk. She has amazed her supervisors and co-workers by generating business, even during a long-term illness when she had to work from home. She has been extremely successful in acquiring new business while others who use similar approaches, struggle to gain accounts.

When I asked her what was the secret to her success, she told me it is the ability to reach others through her networks and to contact them directly to tell them about what her company has to offer.  As a former recruiter who has had to make countless cold calls, I was fascinated by her high success rate. “Didn’t you have difficulty getting through gatekeepers and reaching executives at such high levels?” I asked her. “Of course,” she replied, “but instead of letting it defeat me, it made me more firmly resolved to get through to some key player in the company. If I couldn’t reach the person I was trying to contact, I found another way into the company; either to eventually get through to them or to find and reach someone else within the company.”

It’s easy to see why Holly is so successful at her job. Instead of allowing potential mountains to get in her way, she finds an alternate route; either by getting around the mountain or through it, but inevitably she successfully reaches the other side.  Her success can be an example for all of us – and especially for those who are going through the job search. When faced with challenges in work and in life, don’t give up or give in, instead follow Holly’s example and find another way around the problem.