Top 5 Tips for Job Seekers
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When I was asked to prepare a list of top 5 tips for job seekers for the materials for ASIS’s May 18 Career Transition event, at first I couldn’t decide where to start. Should I list 5 resume tips? Cover letter tips? Ack! There are so many “basic” tips out there that limiting ideas to “top 5” is actually a daunting task.



Of course, I was able to take a step back and asked myself what tips job seekers usually don’t hear. From there, it was easy. Today, I am sharing these tips with you and providing the reasoning and ideas behind them. Enjoy!



1. Know what you want to do and work hard to develop a clear, concise, and concrete 30-second elevator pitch that describes it.



Having multiple options is great when you are evaluating clothing choices. But, in your career, it most often backfires. You cannot be all things to all people so don’t waste your network’s valuable insights and ability to help you by confusing them about what you want. People that ask you “What kind of position are going after?” need a unencumbered answer. Be able to tell them the specific title (or level) you are seeking, the industry or field that is right for you, and the way you will be able to make a difference for an employer.



Saying “I am looking for senior-level security management positions with Fortune 1,000 companies ,headquartered in NYC, that need a manager with insights in to facility management, executive protection, and risk assessments” is an effective, clear tactic that will serve you well.





2. Help others help you. Ask them for something explicit – an introduction to someone at a specific company, information about their job, or connections to others with resources and tools that you need.



A complaint people have about networking is that it often doesn’t lead anywhere. One reason that might be happening is that people are often ambiguous about their needs and don’t ask for specific things from their contacts that are easy to deliver.



When you network, realize that to really get something out of it, you have to ask for that something. Ask your friend that works at Reuters for an introduction to the hiring manager in the facilities or operations department. Ask your contact for information on their job – daily duties, challenges, ways they have had impact. Finally, ask someone in your industry for the specific titles of resources / books / magazines they have found most helpful in their work.





3. Think about your qualifications from the employer’s perspective. It isn’t about your skills… it’s how those skills fit the employer’s immediate and long-term business needs.



Sure, you have excellent reporting skills and can draw up an Excel spreadsheet to delineate the measureable impact of sales in Timbuktu on the production of widgets in Philadelphia, but if the potential employer already has that resource, you need to identify your other valuable skills. Perhaps that employer needs someone to take that report to the next level. That is where you could make the real difference. Know what is needed (ask!) and figure out how you align with that employer’s needs.





4. Be ready to prove your experience by practicing STAR strategy stories.



My clients know what these are. I make you create them and practice them ad nauseam. Why? Because they work. Being able to prove your skills, insights, and talent by telling a story them demonstrates them is the most valuable communication tool I know.



Want to know more about STAR stories? You can set up a strategy session with me or Google it for a quick run down!





5. Be on LinkedIn. It is not a big, hairy, scary monster that will cause invasions of your personal life. It is a professional networking and resource tool that is widely used in business.



I recognize the need to maintain one’s privacy. And, that is likely why you aren’t on Facebook. Please realize that LinkedIn is not Facebook. There are major differences in the usage, interaction, and purpose of the two sites. LinkedIn is your chance to put your professional talent and image out for the world to find you. But not so they can stalk you and steal things from your home – it is so a company can recruit you and employ you in a position that matches up with your career goals while tackling the company’s corporate goals.



LinkedIn is an assumed thing now. If you aren’t on LinkedIn (and using it!), you are diminishing your chances for success in your career. Period.



So that last tip is a bit harsh. It is because I hear what my clients are saying and what they worry about when it comes to social media. I also hear what hiring managers and recruiters are saying so I know that some job seekers need to hear things loud and clear!





Taking each of these tips to heart as you pursue career advancement and search for your next perfect position will be to your advantage. After working in the careers industry for 9 years, I see that the job seekers that follow these guidelines are almost always more successful than those that wait for things to come to them.