This is the next blog article in a series on the job search process from
Judy Vanek Adams the Right Changes Job Search Coach (from around Atlanta).
Hope it is helpful to some of you. I don't necessarily subscribe to her
assertion that you must do all these steps sequentially but the ideas
presented are good. We have already circulated her other items on Attitude,
Aptitude and Altitude. These are also archived at the Betweenjobsministry
Yahoo Groupsite, Files section, Articles File folder.
"--According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter
1:3 (ESV)
"Next Important Step in Job Search Process---Update Your Marketing
Materials" (Right Changes Job Search Coach)
Are you ready to move forward with your job search? Let's check.
Step
1 was Attitude. Attitude is the most important step.
If you have given yourself time to process the loss of the job and are
looking forward to the next opportunity, then you are ready for the next
important step to landing that job.
http://rightchanges jobsearchcoach. blogspot. com/2010/ 03/how-to- stay-positive-in-job-search. html
Step 2 is Aptitude: knowing what you offer a future employer and what makes
you better than your competition.
Take the time to inventory (discover and document) your abilities,
accomplishments, strengths, values, interests, education, personality, and
technical skills. This information will be used to strengthen your resume
and to add power to your interview answers. A side benefit is that it
reminds YOU how valuable you are.
http://rightchanges jobsearchcoach. blogspot. com/2010/ 04/take-next- important- step-to-landing. html
Step 3 is Altitude: who is hiring and where you want to work, i.e. your
target companies.
http://rightchanges jobsearchcoach. blogspot. com/2010/ 04/take-next- important- step-to-landing_ 18.html
If, and only if, you have completed Steps 1, 2, and 3 are you ready to
create or update your marketing materials. If you have not completed the
previous steps, updating your marketing materials and launching your search
at this point will sabotage your job search efforts. If you have been in a
job search and it has not been going well, revisit the first three steps and
then revise
your marketing materials.
Complete List of Marketing Materials
The resume is not the only piece of marketing material. In fact there are
other pieces of marketing collateral that are just as important as the
resume. It is important to have these and use them as they are intended.
Let's look at the entire list and then we will cover each one in detail.
Brand Statement
Elevator Pitch
Marketing Plan
Business / Networking Cards
Resume / CV
Cover Letter
References
Salary History
Accomplishment List
Social Network Sites especially Linked In
Brand Statement
Job seekers are taking a lesson from commercial marketing gurus and creating
a brand statement that in a short phrase sets them apart from their
competition. I'm sure many of you know which credit card uses the phrases
"priceless". Spend 10 minutes watching television or reading a magazine and
you could compile a long list
of these.
In the job market of yesterday, job seekers could show up and practically
fall into a job. Today the job market is tougher and job seekers have to set
themselves apart from their competition and a brand statement helps do that.
Since we are not high paid marketing gurus, it may take a while to come up
with the right brand statement that in a few words conveys the right
message: the value you bring, the type of challenge you want and excel at.
The statement should not need explanation and should be objective, fact
based, not subjective or boastful.
Draft up a few brand statements, bounce ideas off of job search
professionals whose advice you value, and try them on a few occasions to see
the reaction you get.
Although one IT manager was known for taking dysfunctional IT teams and
increasing their productivity and quality, the phrase "troubled teams"
sounds too much like "troubled teens"
so the brand statement "Success at
Turning Around Troubled Teams" was not so successful. Once the problem with
the brand statement was identified, the problem was quickly fixed and new
business cards ordered.
Your brand statement quickly identifies your passion and distinguishes you
from you competition.
Elevator Pitch
There are many opinions on the elements of and uses for an elevator pitch.
The elevator pitch gets its name from the very concise response that you
give to someone in an elevator who says "I thought I knew everyone in this
building but I have not seen you before. I'm Sam, What do you do?" You only
have a few floors on a moving elevator to answer this question and solicit
Sam's assistance.
The other, slightly longer forms of what people call the elevator pitch have
other uses such as introducing yourself at a table of other job seekers at a
job networking meeting so they know
what you are looking for - down to the
list of target companies and previous companies you have worked for. That
level of explanation is valuable in that situation. The briefer form of the
elevator pitch is the base for which additional information can be added
when solicited for further clarification.
Let's start with the basic form.
The Core Elements to Include
After sharing your name, give the following elements of information in a
concise manner:
1) Level of the position you are seeking. Examples of level include "entry
level", "mid level", "senior level", "C level" (as in CEO or CIO ),
"certified".
2) Position you seek. Examples combining the level and the position are:
Senior Business Analyst, entry level financial analyst, certified project
manager.
3) Industry
4) Location. State your preferred geographic area and whether or not you are
open to relocation.
5) Closing Question. Indicate your interest in engaging in further
conversation by asking a question, in the form of a question, soliciting
their assistance.
Let's put the elements together into a concise (notice the repetitive use of
that term) example.
Hi, I'm Janice Smith, I am looking for a Senior Business Analyst position
with a software company or a company with a large IT organization,
preferable in the Metro Atlanta area but I am willing to relocate within the
south east. Do you know anyone in software?
Additional Elements
If time and the interest of the other person allows, you can add the
following elements:
a) Your brand statement
b) Target companies
c) Further explanation of the type of work you are pursuing
Do Not Get Historical
Sam asked what you did, not what you have done all your life. You will not
only waste valuable elevator time if you start to
give your life's history,
Sam will only hear Charley Brown's teacher "wha wha wha wha wha wha" and
start to regret asking the question. Unless you are specifically asked, do
not say what you have done as that is backward looking and in this job
search you are forward looking.
Your elevator pitch is the most portable element of your marketing materials
and should be shared with everyone within three feet of you.
Next week we will detail other elements of your marketing materials.