Today on BNet's Newsletter for business owners, Jeff Haden shares the "10 words that never should appear on your website". His point is that the following words are over-used by businesses in their advertising. The fact is that they are overused by job seekers, too.
Innovative
Service provider
Proven track record
Unique blend of…
World-class
Collaborative approach
Outstanding customer experiences
Dynamic
Myriad solutions (problem solver)
Results oriented
The advice that businesses should heed regarding advertising is the same advice that work seekers should consider for their self-marketing. Haden says, "Adjectives are great but only if specific, descriptive, and directly applicable to what you do." If you have delivered results, give an example that is relevant to the work you seek. If you have done your work in an unusual way to get those results, tell the employer about your innovative approach.
Keeping it Simple for Seekers:
Provide some details and prove that you have the skills employers are looking for and avoid popular catch phrases that everyone is using.
So how do you go about coming up with proof? You need stories.
1. Go ahead and compile a list of your relevant skills and accomplishments.
2. For each one, prepare a story from your recent past that illustrates you demonstrating the skill. A terrific way to do this is using the STAR method. Talk about the situation (the five Ws), task (challenge or opportunity), actions (yours and those around you) and results (short and long term benefits to the organization and your clients and what you learned or have done in similar situations since then).
S - Situation
T - Task
A - Actions
R - Results
3. Select the best story to use in your cover letter; this may differ for each employer, based on their needs. Other examples could be used in your resume.
4. Be prepared to use these story examples during an interview. Employers who know the most effective way to interview candidates are asking for stories like these using Behaviour Descriptive (or Behavioural) Interview techniques. Your ability to prove your skills will set you apart from the competition, so if the employer doesn't ask for examples, ask to give them. Do you have physical evidence? Offer to show it off in a portfolio, too.
Lethbridge College students and alumni may find more information about resumes, cover letters, interviews and portfolios in the Resource Library section of The Works Online. Visit us for personal assistance, too.
...Pam
Showing posts with label portfolio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label portfolio. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Flat is the New Raise
During a recession, some might say we are lucky to have a job and shouldn't push the envelope by asking for more pay. Check out these articles on the topic of salary negotiations.
Top 10 Tips for Salary Negotiation
How Do I Ask for a Raise in a Recession?
I Was Fired for Quibbling Over My Raise
KISS (Keeping It Simple for Seekers)
If you are worth more than you are currently paid or being offered, then prove it. Look and act the part consistantly, whether you are a work seeker or aiming for a raise or promotion.
Collect evidence of your best work for your portfolio and have references who can backup your claims to fame. Be prepared to support your case.
Know what you are worth. Research the normal salary range for this type of position.
Practice your negotiations with a friend, co-worker, coach or career centre staff.
Don't feel you need to accept a new job or a negotiated raise on-the-spot. Ask for time to think about what has been offered.
If the salary isn't flexible, perhaps another benefit or perk is.
Might the boss be open to negotiating your pay in the not-too-distant future when times are better?
Thank the manager for any effort they've made to get you more money or benefits even if all they did was take the time to discuss it with you.
...Pam
Top 10 Tips for Salary Negotiation
How Do I Ask for a Raise in a Recession?
I Was Fired for Quibbling Over My Raise
KISS (Keeping It Simple for Seekers)
If you are worth more than you are currently paid or being offered, then prove it. Look and act the part consistantly, whether you are a work seeker or aiming for a raise or promotion.
Collect evidence of your best work for your portfolio and have references who can backup your claims to fame. Be prepared to support your case.
Know what you are worth. Research the normal salary range for this type of position.
Practice your negotiations with a friend, co-worker, coach or career centre staff.
Don't feel you need to accept a new job or a negotiated raise on-the-spot. Ask for time to think about what has been offered.
If the salary isn't flexible, perhaps another benefit or perk is.
Might the boss be open to negotiating your pay in the not-too-distant future when times are better?
Thank the manager for any effort they've made to get you more money or benefits even if all they did was take the time to discuss it with you.
...Pam
Friday, September 19, 2008
Landing THE Job
Sorry I've been absent. A critical person on our team went on to bigger and better things and I have been doing two jobs. Over the last two weeks I have participated in the recruitment and selection of a new employment specialist for the career centre that I manage, “The Works” - Job and Career Services at Lethbridge College. The selection committee saw some interesting applications.
Half of the applicants didn’t bother to revise their resumes for this work and it was obvious that their objective was really something different, even if they told us they wanted this job. The four candidates we did interview were all very different, each one with the potential to do the job and to bring different gifts to our department, but the one we did hire was the only one who followed all of the job search steps outlined below.
Really it was surprising that, with so much information readily available on the web and elsewhere on how to land a job, that only one of the applicants for the role of employment specialist really demonstrated that they knew how to do it. No, we didn’t “settle” when we hired this person simply because they know how to do a job search. Like I said, all of the people we met in person were capable and had terrific potential, but I’m thrilled to say that we’re bringing to our office someone who really walks the talk. I'm hoping to have the person as a guest blogger here soon.
KISS (Keeping it Simple for Seekers)
There is a basic outline that I – and most other “experts” -- recommend that work seekers follow.
• Have a clearly defined career path and communicate it clearly in all the other steps you do.
• Be aware of your skills and how they may benefit the workplace.
• Research organizations to gain an understanding of their needs.
• Align your background with their needs; in your resume and letter, show and tell them specifically how you are a good fit; provide examples that prove you can do what they need.
• Remove from your resume details that may distract from demonstrating that you are a best match for the role you are applying for.
• Be prepared to tell stories during the interview that prove you have what the organization needs; offer examples if they are not requested.
• Have a portfolio ready that shows off examples of your best work; ideally, have it ready online or on a disk that you may provide at the time of application because you may not have the chance to show one off in an interview; a good portfolio may get you an interview.
• Have a list of references ready that will support your claims to fame. Work with your references in advance so they are not caught off-guard and so they know which of your demonstrated skills to support and highlight for each job you are interviewed for.
• Thank the interviewers for their time with a note sent the same day the interviews are held.
There are many strategies you could apply to address each of these points effectively, but that’s the list. Yes, you can find lists like this one all over the web and in lots of books. It isn’t rocket science. And yet, very few people follow the steps. Prove your genuine interest in the position offered by the employer and jump through the hoops. It can make a difference between landing “a job” and “the job”.
...Pam
Half of the applicants didn’t bother to revise their resumes for this work and it was obvious that their objective was really something different, even if they told us they wanted this job. The four candidates we did interview were all very different, each one with the potential to do the job and to bring different gifts to our department, but the one we did hire was the only one who followed all of the job search steps outlined below.
Really it was surprising that, with so much information readily available on the web and elsewhere on how to land a job, that only one of the applicants for the role of employment specialist really demonstrated that they knew how to do it. No, we didn’t “settle” when we hired this person simply because they know how to do a job search. Like I said, all of the people we met in person were capable and had terrific potential, but I’m thrilled to say that we’re bringing to our office someone who really walks the talk. I'm hoping to have the person as a guest blogger here soon.
KISS (Keeping it Simple for Seekers)
There is a basic outline that I – and most other “experts” -- recommend that work seekers follow.
• Have a clearly defined career path and communicate it clearly in all the other steps you do.
• Be aware of your skills and how they may benefit the workplace.
• Research organizations to gain an understanding of their needs.
• Align your background with their needs; in your resume and letter, show and tell them specifically how you are a good fit; provide examples that prove you can do what they need.
• Remove from your resume details that may distract from demonstrating that you are a best match for the role you are applying for.
• Be prepared to tell stories during the interview that prove you have what the organization needs; offer examples if they are not requested.
• Have a portfolio ready that shows off examples of your best work; ideally, have it ready online or on a disk that you may provide at the time of application because you may not have the chance to show one off in an interview; a good portfolio may get you an interview.
• Have a list of references ready that will support your claims to fame. Work with your references in advance so they are not caught off-guard and so they know which of your demonstrated skills to support and highlight for each job you are interviewed for.
• Thank the interviewers for their time with a note sent the same day the interviews are held.
There are many strategies you could apply to address each of these points effectively, but that’s the list. Yes, you can find lists like this one all over the web and in lots of books. It isn’t rocket science. And yet, very few people follow the steps. Prove your genuine interest in the position offered by the employer and jump through the hoops. It can make a difference between landing “a job” and “the job”.
...Pam
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