Feature

By Pratichi Shah

Seek and You WILL Find!

So you’re in the midst of a job search, either voluntarily because you are ready for the next big thing, or involuntarily because in economic times like this, well... there is a lot more involuntary to go around. In either case, don’t panic—we’re going to break it down and provide you with tools to survive the current economic environment.

Step 1: Where Ya Headed?
As with all great journeys, you’re going to need a destination. What is it that you are looking for, exactly? I know what you’re thinking: “Who cares?! I need to pay my bills and answer to everyone about what I do for a living. I just need something, ideally in my field!” I get it. I’ve said the same thing during job searches. But really, you do have to define what you want. What kind of job, environment, industry or sector, what skills you are hoping to use, etc. You don’t have to memorize your resume or have it tattooed on your forehead (better to go with a bindi there anyway), but do try to condense your desired career destination and your qualifications into a 30-second “elevator speech.” If you were on an elevator with a leading professional in your field, what would you tell him or her about what you want and why you are good at it in the 30 seconds you have?

Step 2: And You Are…?
Now you know what you want and why it’s all you. Your resume should reflect that accurately and specifically. It needs to clearly communicate who you are and what skills you bring to the table. I’ll share with you that as an HR exec, I peruse hundreds of resumes all the time and often find myself looking at people who look great and show all kinds of talent—for jobs completely different than the one they are applying for. So when you apply for a job you want, your resume should show you have the exact skills they are looking for. Make it obvious that you match their job description.

Another helpful idea? Put a summary of who you are, professionally, at the top. So if you are a project manager, you might state in your summary that you are a “project management professional with ten years of experience, excelling in managing multiple projects, timelines, budgets and deliverables.” Stating up front who you are and what you are bringing to the table is really helpful to the person reviewing your resume. A 10-second read of a professional summary has helped me not only match a candidate to the job he or she is applying for, but has also given me the info in a nutshell so I could think about them for other positions as well.

A couple of other things to point out: Keep your descriptors as accomplishment-oriented as possible. They are there to show what you did, not rehash the job description of your last position. And no fancy lettering, artsy borders, weird ink color or funky fonts. If you are in communications or related fields, you’ll have the opportunity to show work samples, so you don’t have to pour every artistic skill you have into your resume. Keep the resume clear, straightforward and simply formatted to show off the fabulous you.

Step 3: Who Do You Know?
It’s time for that word, and you know it’s coming… networking. Yes, it really is kind of about who you know. No, that doesn’t mean you have to know the Obamas personally or be partying with Brangelina. But you do need to get out and about pronto. Get involved with your trade association locally or nationally. Get to their meetings, go to professional development events, cultural events and networking events. Get to everything you can. Exhausting? Sometimes. But remember, this is not speed-dating. We’re not looking for quantity or lots of 5-minute rounds. This is about making connections that can help you make other connections, any of whom may know of a position. No passing out resumes, but remember that 30-second elevator speech? Now’s the time to trot it out. Also think about what you can offer others. Connecting is a two-way street and all the better if you can offer to hook someone up with a card or two out of your Rolodex while he or she helps you with your search. Networking really does work. The resumes that organizations receive from someone who knows someone are the ones that get the first look. In fact, nearly half of the people I’ve hired in the last year got to our offices via networking. So go on, get out there.

Step 4: Can We Talk?
You did the prep, have a great resume, networked and now you have the interview! Wahoo! So here are some tips on making the best first impression ever:

- Appearance does count. I’ve heard hiring managers say over and over again that a candidate was good, but they weren’t sure about him or her since he or she wasn’t dressed professionally—and who wants to hire someone who doesn’t take an interview seriously? Dress one notch dressier than the organization culture. And really, you can’t go wrong in a suit. Whether it’s Target or Nordstrom doesn’t matter.

- Bring copies of your resume and any other samples of work you want them to see. It shows you are prepared and that you can further substantiate how perfect you are for the gig. Also be sure to follow any other instructions they have provided about what to bring (e.g. references, salary history, etc.). Not bringing the stuff they ask for makes it look like you don’t follow directions well.

- Ask questions. If you don’t ask questions about the organization, its culture, mission, clientele, financials and the like, it may come across as a lack of interest. However, know that only asking questions about how quickly you will be considered for a raise and what kind of professional development budget has been set will point to your caring more about yourself than the organization, which often doesn’t go over well.

- Getting a hard question is par for the course – it’s okay to take a minute to think about it. Stall for time by asking the interviewer to repeat the question or say that you need a second to think. Better to give a good answer slowly than a shallow answer quickly.

- Follow up. Write a thank you note—either email or handwritten is fine. But do follow up—people notice. And it’s your chance to remind them not only how great it would be to work with you, but also how perfect you are for the position.

One last thing to remember: if you don’t get the job, it’s honestly not you. It’s that there wasn’t a fit – it’s not an indictment of your skills or personality. In the hiring processes I have been part of, I’ve met wonderful, talented people and not hired them because the right alchemy of skills, culture and personality wasn’t there. So don’t lose hope. Job searches are like any other big project. Expect to spend a lot of time, work up a sweat and get tired. But the more you do all the things you need to do, the better off your future will be, and even in a tough market, you’ll be the clear winner to hire.

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