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Don't Sabotage Your Job Search with False Assumptions
By
Deborah Walker, CCMC
Most job seekers understand that the job market has changed radically over
the last few years. Sadly, however, many still hold to job-search
assumptions that do not apply to our current market conditions. If you
believe any of the following five statements, you could be dragging your
job search out longer than necessary. Cut your job search time by knowing
the truth about the job market and learning how to combat these
assumptions.
1. "My
last job search was a snap. I'm sure this time won't be any different."
Chances are, your last job search was in the mid to late 1990's when the
job market favored job seekers. Even up to 2001, jobseekers (and even
employers) lived under a rosy glow of unrealistic optimism. In the last
few years, however, most job seekers have noticed a drastic drop in the
market demand for their career skills. Persons who were once courted by
recruiters and headhunters from top firms wonder why they are no longer
receiving calls with enticing opportunities. For many job seekers,
frustration and lack of confidence have replaced optimism.
Action:
The job seeker of 2004 will avoid discouragement by developing a strategic
action plan that involves a high degree of proactive and systematic
effort.
2. "Employers and recruiters take the time
to read entire resumes."
This
is couldn't be farther from the truth. The reality is if the best
information isn't in the top four to five inches of your resume, it's
doubtful anyone will notice. Try this out for yourself. Open up your
current resume on your computer. Do you see the entire first page?
Probably not. Most likely when your resume is opened, the reader will see
the top four to five inches. You must sell the reader in those first few
inches or he/she is not going to bother scrolling down to read more. With
the volume of resumes that employers and recruiters receive, who has the
time to hunt out the good material on a resume?
Action:
If your current resume isn't making best use of the top four to five
inches, consider using a hybrid format that will allow you to place your
best assets up on top where you'll be noticed and called.
3.
"I don't want to limit my potential job opportunities, so I'll write one
resume to apply for all kinds of jobs."
I
learned early in my recruiting days that employers turn down perfectly
qualified candidates because the resume's focus is too general. A
one-size-fits-all resume gives the impression that the job seeker is
uncertain of his career goal. An employer once told me that if a
candidate is interested in two completely different positions, he must not
be very good at either.
Action:
The most effective resumes leave no doubt as to the job seeker's career
objective. If you have more than one career objective, you need more
than one resume.
4.
"I'm not going to bother with cover letters. No one really reads them
anyway."
The truth is the quality of your cover letter often will determine
whether your resume gets read at all. The worst offense, however, is to
send a cover letter that sounds as "cookie-cutter" as junk mail.
Your cover letters will create a stronger first impression if you remember
the buying motives of each of these major categories of recipients:
Executive decision makers are most interested in your
ability to help them achieve their corporate bottom-line objectives.
HR screeners look for the best qualifications match.
Third-party recruiters need strong selling points to
help present you to their corporate clients.
Action:
If you keep in mind the buying motives of your cover letter recipient,
you'll win their attention more often than not.
5. "If I can just get my foot in the door, my interview skills will
get me an offer."
That may have been true back when you had less interview competition. But
today, employers have the advantage of choosing from the best talent
available, because so much of the best talent IS available. Since you'll
probably be interviewing against candidates at least as strong as
yourself, you'll need to distinguish yourself through superior interview
preparation.
Action:
Remember that the best way to prepare for an interview is to think of an
interview in three parts:
Ask questions to uncover the interviewer's hidden buying
motives.
Answer questions based on the interviewer's buying motives.
Ask closing questions to win the job offer.
(To read a full-length article on the three essential interview skills
visit my article archive at
www.AlphaAdvantage.com .
Follow the articles link to "Win Your Next Position with Three Essential
Interview Skills".)
Once you are free of false assumptions, you're less likely to fall victim
to many of the disappointments, frustrations and anxieties associated with
an extended job search.
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Deborah Walker, CCMC
Resume Writer ~ Career Coach
For more in-depth information on resumes, job-search strategy and
interview skills, check out the article archive at my website:
www.AlphaAdvantage.com
Email:
Deb@AlphaAdvantage.com
Toll-free phone: 888-828-0814
