15 Ways to Annoy Your Job Interviewer

Article Source:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/15-Ways-to-Annoy-Your-Job-usnews-3700067627.html?x=0&.v=2

By Karen Burns

On Monday September 28, 2009, 2:58 pm EDT

Of course, almost everyone knows you shouldn’t light up a cigarette at a job interview, or text your closest friend, or eat, or bring your dog, or show up drunk, or challenge the interviewer to arm wrestle (all things people have actually done at job interviews). You’d never dream of doing any of this, right?

[See what to do when your job interviewer is incompetent.]

But you may be guilty of other less horrible but just as damaging behaviors. While you’re trying to wow hiring managers with your knowledge and enthusiasm, you may forget that they’re watching you as well as listening to you. In fact, hiring managers actively search for annoying mannerisms in job applicants. They assume that if you are a little annoying at an interview, you will be much more so once you’re hired and off your guard.

Unfortunately, lasting impressions are formed within 90 seconds of first meeting. So, consider whether you’re guilty of any of these less than horrendous but still irksome mannerisms, and take steps to eradicate them:

Gum chewing. Not a high crime, but a really easy way to look unprofessional. Throw your gum away before even entering the building, or find another way to get fresh breath.

Hair twirling. It may simply be a habit, but it makes you look young and silly. Ask a friend if this is something you do. If it is, consider sweeping your hair back for the interview. Outta sight, outta mind.

Slouching. Good posture communicates energy and confidence, while slouching communicates lethargy, boredom, or insecurity. Note: If you’re an “older job seeker,” know that experts recommend you make an extra effort at posture so you project youthful enthusiasm and health.

[See 5 resume tips for job hoppers.]

Avoiding eye contact. If you can’t meet someone’s eye, it looks like you’re hiding something. If gazing into someone’s eyes freaks you out, look at their nose. It works just as well.

Knee jiggling or finger drumming. Do you want to appear nervous, even out of control? Do you want to drive your interviewer crazy? If your answer is no (let’s hope so), train yourself to keep still by breathing deeply and consciously relaxing your muscles.

Yawning (or sighing). Yawning may seem like something you can’t control, but your interviewer will see it very differently and might think: “He’s bored” or “What, she didn’t get enough sleep the night before her interview? She must not care enough.” Remember: you’re supposed to be on your best behavior in an interview.

Playing with your pen. This is an easy one–set the pen down.

Checking your cellphone. Leave it in the car. Or just shut it off. You won’t need it, and you really don’t want it to ring during the interview. If you forget, and it rings, swiftly grab it and shut it off, and apologize quickly and concisely. Then move on. Definitely do not answer your phone or check your texts during your time at the company.

Nail biting. Come on, are you in high school? Stop biting your nails!

Sniffling. If you have a cold, take a decongestant, or make sure you blow your nose before the interview. If you sneeze, simply say: “Forgive me for sneezing, I have a bit of a cold.” You definitely don’t want to give the impression that you’re sick a lot, so don’t sniffle through the whole interview or make it an issue in any way.

Picking at, rubbing, or scratching any part of your body. Eww. Bottom line: The interview is not the place for personal hygiene of any kind.

[See the best places to find a job.]

Waving your hands while speaking. Using gestures to punctuate your ideas can be part of being an effective speaker. But overdoing it derails your answer and the impression you’re trying to make. This is another area where feedback can be very helpful.

Tugging at your cuffs or at the hem of your skirt. Fiddling with your clothes communicates discomfort and insecurity. The interviewer may conclude you’re not used to wearing a suit or you’re not comfortable in your dress, and that’s not good. An employer wants to hire people who look like they were made for the job–like they already suit the position.

Resting your chin in your hand. You bored? Tired? Bored and tired? Wish you were somewhere else? No problem. The hiring manager will wish you were there, too.

Smiling too much (or not smiling at all). Yes, it’s important to appear congenial and interested in the interviewer and in the job, but you don’t want to come off like a con artist or a fake. Ask someone close to you if you tend to smile too much when you’re nervous.

Bet you didn’t know there were so many ways to be annoying! Before your next interview, practice with a trusted friend or adviser. Or videotape yourself answering questions. It could be the best thing you do for your job hunt.Karen Burns is the author of the illustrated career advice book The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use, recently released by Running Press. She blogs at www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com/.

Local candidates only, no relocation

Often, we see an opportunity on popular job boards such as LinkedIn that look like a great fit only to find at the bottom – “Local candidates only, no relocation (Name of Metro area)”.

What does this mean?  Do you feel geographically discriminated?  Let us think from the Employer’s side of why they would post this. 

Candidates may show interest in the position and then expect the Employer to pay for relocation.  When the Employer says that cannot be accommodated, the Employer wastes time during the recruiting process and one can imagine how many resumes they receive given our economic situation. 

Another possible reason for requesting local candidates only are that an Employer makes an investment into a Candidate before their work starts to pay off.  Right now, Companies are being cautious and who wants someone that will move somewhere they may not like, earn a check and then take off when a job opens up close to their original home. 

 So what is the best way to get around this?  I would first caution you on a few things.  Make sure in your mind and heart that you want to live in that City and do not want to turn back for your own mental state.  Forget the Employer and job for now.  Will you blend into the local culture?  Will you enjoy the weather?  What about entertainment options, cost of living and so on?  Friends and family?  Just think about it. 

I would say apply for the job anyway, and just be ready to fly or drive out for the interview if they call you.  Maybe the Employer will not ask about your location – not everyone remembers what he or she posts. 

When you apply for the job, put the name of a local city on your address or borrow the address of a friend, family member or even that of a UPS Store on your resume.  If you want to, write a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and that you are already re-locating to that area.  It is not a lie and should not be an issue if you are already moving there and do not ask for relocation assistance up front. 

The bottom line is to be slightly creative in these turbulent times.  I have used different addresses on my resume and depending on the employer, version accordingly.  I personally believe that companies do not want to pay for relocation assistance when local talent is readily available.

Posted by guestblogger99

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Reasons why writing an interview thank you letter is important

Reasons why writing an interview thank you letter is important

By: Leigh Goessl

In many of today’s industries competition is at a premium. It is not uncommon for many people to be vying for one job. Finding a job is a lot of hard work and the secret to landing a job is to differentiate yourself from the other candidates and make yourself stand out as someone who would be a valuable asset to the company.

How do you successfully accomplish this?

There are three important key pieces to know when applying for a job. The three keys are your resume, interview and a follow-up thank you letter; each of which needs careful attention. Most applicants understand the urgency of the first two components, but often forget the last part of thanking their interviewer and this is a vital piece to remember.

Click here to continue reading this article…

Your resume is a selling pitch, not a biography.

Are you writing your resume as if it was your biography? If your resume is crammed with all your work experience and history, you’re writing a boring novel. 

Write your resume as if it was the best sales pitch you’ve ever written.  It is like those annoying commercials that grab your attention and you remember them for weeks. So how can you make your resume capture the same message as a commercial?

Your goal is to grab the attention of the hiring manager like they are a potential consumer.   You are selling your professional experience, knowledge, and showing why you are better than the competition. You do this by highlighting your best selling points and benefits, and getting the hiring managers to feel at ease enough to make the purchase, which is hiring you.

Think of those enticing ads where you want more, that’s their strategy. Your strategy is to entice hiring managers so they want to find out more about you. Don’t tell them everything, only the most important pieces of information to grab their attention during the scanning process.

How To Dress For a Job Interview

Walking into a job interview wearing the wrong attire is like showing up at a black-tie event dressed for a costume party. A bad move you’ll instantly regret.

You Will Need

• Tidy, neatly styled hair
• A clean face, hands, and fingernails
• A clean, professional outfit
• A briefcase or portfolio
• And a pair of comfortable closed-toe shoes
• Small, tasteful jewelry
• A light and subtle perfume or aftershave
• A manicure
• Natural-looking makeup
• And a new haircut

Step 1: Find out dress code

Before the big event, find out how the employees dress where you’ll be interviewing. Ask whoever’s arranging the interview for you what the dress code is, and if they have any pointers on what to wear.

Step 2: Choose clothes

Find something in your wardrobe that’s in line with what other employees wear, but kick it up a notch—a sharp tie, a colorful scarf or pocket square. Something to separate you from the pack.

Step 3: Don’t go overboard

But don’t go overboard. You want to make a good impression, not a fashion statement.

Step 4: Keep it tasteful

Go easy on the aftershave or perfume too, or the makeup and jewelry—keep things tasteful.

Step 5: Be neat

Be neat. Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed, your nails are trimmed, and your hair and teeth are brushed.

Step 6: Dress comfortably

Make sure you’ll be comfortable sitting, standing, and walking. Now is not the time to break in a new pair of shoes.

Step 7: Give yourself time

Get prepared early, show up on time and, most importantly, make sure you end up in the right place.

Source: http://www.howcast.com/videos/929-How-To-Dress-For-a-Job-Interview

How To Build Out Your Network During Job Search. Introducing PlateWorks™

Article Source:  http://tinyurl.com/yac4w9s

Today’s post has a few objectives.  First, I’d like to re-introduce a core tool.  One that you may have seen on the website (under tools).  If you live in Southern California, you may also have heard me describe its value in a local presentation.  I have really enjoyed the opportunity to get out and speak.  Very cool.

The second thing I’d like to do today is announce a new free e-workbook.  It will be launching in October.  Again, no sign-ups required and no strings attached.  If you haven’t already read the current e-book, you should download that now. 

30 Ideas.  The Ideas of Successful Job Search

The new e-workbook organizes and presents the free downloads available on the website.  As of this morning, there are currently 8 of them available.  The new one today makes 9 and I’ve got one more in the hopper.  That makes 10.  So that allows me to create this:

 

 

So as you might have figured out, these are 10 tools to help you succeed in job search.  I’ll be writing more about this in the coming weeks, but wanted you to see where I was heading!

Now, back to PlateWorks™.  Using a plate identification tool to define the networks you want to to tap. This tool is currently available in its old form on the “tools” page of the website.  But I wanted to re-introduce it because I still meet so many people who are networking the old fashioned way:  using too small of a network and using it inefficiently.  And not using social media tools like Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook.

So this tool asks one simple thing of you.  Identify all of the people in your world who can help you find a job.  It includes a short list of all the possible people you might interact with in life and provides a place for you to build out your own network.  You will likely identify others, of course.

The basis for this tool goes all the way back to the beginning for Spin Strategy.  It is based on the analogy of plate spinning.  Decide what plates you want to spin (there are a ton to choose from) and how often.  This includes some work on your part to figure out the capacity of your “plates” to help you and their willingness to do so.  To spin a plate means to utilize it.  To engage it.  I.E. call them, ask for a meeting, ask for a referral.

So if you know someone who is missing breadth in their job search strategy.  Or if you know someone who is not fully utilizing their potential network, perhaps PlateWorks™ can help.  Simple, I’ll admit.  But what makes up the foundation of an effective effort often is just that simple.

So here is the PlateWorks™ download.  Please share your feedback as always.  I read it all . . .

Download PlateWorks

I Sent My Resume with a Typo! Should I Send a New One?

By: Brianna Raymond, CPRW

The short answer is: maybe.

Ask all your favorite career experts that question and some would tell you to send a new resume, while others would tell you not to worry about it. What it really boils down to is whether the hiring manager is likely to notice the typo, and whether they’ll care if they do. And that largely depends on how good your resume is overall, along with the kind of job you’re seeking.

Most career advisers (us included) will tell you that one of the fastest ways for your resume to end up in the “no” pile is to send it with a typo. But we’re human and we make mistakes. There are just as many typo-ridden resumes out there as there are error-free. So if you send your seemingly perfect resume to an employer, only to notice a typo or two later, don’t stress. An informal poll of fellow bloggers shows that 2 out of 3 of us have actually been hired for jobs despite typos in our resumes—and we’re writers!

Here are some tips to help you decide which action is right for you.

The “Yes” Side

If your targeted job depends on perfect grammar and spelling (think proofreaders, writers, marketing professionals, administrative assistants, etc.) then you definitely need to follow up with an updated resume. But you’ll want to approach the issue carefully. You know what and where the typo is, but the employer may not if you catch it soon enough.

Here’s an idea of how to send a new resume without calling attention to the error:

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name]:

Here is an updated copy of the resume I sent you last [day of week], expressing my interest in [job title]. Please refer to this version when you review my qualifications for the job.

Thank you,
[Your Name]

The “No” Side

Here are some thoughts on why not sending an updated resume might be the right choice:

1. The hiring manager might not notice the typo in the first place.
2. If they do notice it, they still might call you in for an interview (if perfect spelling is not a requirement for the job).
3. If they notice the error and toss you in the “no” pile, sending a new resume won’t help you any. (The pessimist’s perspective.)

All in all, use your best judgment. A little typo should never overshadow a candidate’s experience and qualifications to do the job (unless you fit one of the communications professions listed above). If you’re on the fence, there’s no harm in sending an updated, error-free resume as long as you don’t call attention to what has changed between versions.

But the best thing you can do for yourself is proofread, proofread, and proofread some more before you submit your resume so you can avoid this dilemma!

Have you ever sent a resume with a typo, only to realize it when it was too late? What happened?

Networking In A New City Far, Far Away by Tim Tyrell-Smith

Article Source:  http://blog.spinstrategy.com/2009/08/networking-in-a-city-far-far-away.html

So I got re-connected with a new friend.  A follower of this blog and someone who is doing all the right things and not finding the right result in his local job search.  A scenario that fits a number of you, I’m sure.

He e-mailed a few weeks ago with a follow-up question from our last phone call.

After scouring the Denver market for the right job in the right industry, he has now started on another  path.  Toward a job outside his current city.  Not his first choice, but one that commonly comes up after a few months on the job hunt.

Now I’ll tell you he has one leg up.  And that is that he grew up and went to college in his target state.  The great state of Texas.

You may also be thinking about a similar path. 

“Do I need to start looking for a job outside my city?  Outside my state?”

“If so, how do I do that?”

So here’s what I told him.  And if you have any additional ideas for how to network in a new city far, far away, will you comment below?  I’m sure he’d love some additional ideas!

1.  Contact The Local College Career Centers.  He graduated from Texas A&M which has a great career center.  But I’ll bet if he were to call the career center at UT or Tech that someone there might make a few free resources available.

2.  Scour Your Contacts On LinkedIn.  How many of them live in or have lived in your target state?  How many of them work for companies that have their HQ or regional offices in that state?  This is one of the most powerful benefits of building strategic contacts on LinkedIn – the chance to contact them and ask for help.  And it’s not just your contacts, of course.  It is the entire network that you are connected to as a result.  

3.  Join LinkedIn Groups In That State Or Region.  The networking groups are there for just this purpose.  And even if you don’t live there now, e-mail the group owner after making your request and let them know what you are trying to do.  Who knows?  They may be able to help directly!  Oh, and please don’t just join.  Get in there and actively network.  Offer ideas.  And ask for help.

Top Regional Job Search Groups on Linkedin

Linkedin Job Search Groups.  After You Join . . .

 

4.  Join Industry Associations And Ask About Groups In That Region.   American Marketing Association (AMA), Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG), American Society of Women Accountants (ASWA) are a few examples.  What groups are active in your industry or function?  And, which of them offer career services and local networking  support?  And, if you join, become an active member.  These should be key long-term ways for you to get involved and maintain an active network.

5.  Take A “Fam” (Familiarization) Trip To Your Target City.  You’ll have to do this at some point anyway.  But before you go, become familiar with the schedule of a number of local networking groups.  That way you can join in for some local and in-person networking with real people in your target city or state.  And when you stand up for your elevator pitch, do you think people will remember you?  The person that drove 400 miles to be there?  I would.  To find networking events and calendars in a new city, go to Meetup.  

6.  Reach Out To Friends And Family.  Everyone has a cousin somewhere in the U.S., right?  You’ve heard me say it is crucial to make sure your network knows your job search objectives.  Well, if you update or expand your objectives, your family and friends need to know that too.  And then you need to ask for their help.  Sounds simple but few people do it.

7.  Use Twitter To Find Active Networkers or Recruiters.  Did you know you can search for people or keywords on Twitter?  Even if your follower base is small, you can still reach out to people.  So in the case of my friend looking to network in Texas, I suggested he search for people located in Texas, tweeting “Texas”, “Dallas”, “A&M”, etc.  Once you find them and follow each other, you can try a direct message.  But that is now full of so much spam that it may not get through.  Best is to either send them an “@ message” or get their attention by being a helpful “re-tweeter”.

Twitter For Job Search. OK, But What Do I Say?

Twitter.  Like A Walk In The Park.

8.  Contact The Local Chamber of Commerce Or A Local Realtor.   The local chamber will be full of local business owners.  The realtor will know a lot of people and may just be motivated by the fact that you will likely become a client if you can find a job in the new city.

9.  Look For Fan Pages On Facebook.  Maybe there is a fan page out there for the City of Houston.  Become a fan and interact on the group’s wall.  Again, ask for a little help.  If you do it respectfully and nicely, someone will respond to help!

10. Call Your Local Gym Or Church.  Maybe they have contacts in the new city that could help!  Personal trainers meet a lot of people, right?  Maybe an affiliated Church in the new city has a career ministry.  One that helps and supports job seekers.

So that’s my list . . .

If you are considering moving to a new city or have done it successfully through networking, please leave a comment a below.  I’d love to brainstorm some more ideas with you or hear yours!

10 Dumb Things To Avoid In A Job Interview by Tim Tyrell-Smith

Article Source:  http://blog.spinstrategy.com/2008/11/10-dumb-things-to-avoid-in-an-interview.html

I can’t say I’ve seen it all, but in 15 years as a hiring manager, I’ve seen my share.  It really is amazing what some people will say and do in an interview.  I’m not trying to be callous, but if you read this post and avoid these missteps, you will surely live to interview another day.

1.  Three nuns walk into a bar . . .

Please don’t tell jokes.  Please don’t consider it a fun opening line or ice breaker.  The odds of you offending someone (or even worse telling a bad joke) are too high.  Don’t do it.  If humor is an important part of who you are, find a way to share an interesting anecdote about a work related event.  Perhaps an example where you or others learned an important lesson.  Just don’t hit them with a joke.

 

2.  All kinds of #$%#@?

No matter who you are interviewing with and no matter what you know about them, don’t swear.  Not even the minor ones.  Besides the obvious risk of offending your interviewer, you can also look smug and too comfortable.  Even some folks who swear up and down the hallway each day may not like your doing so in an interview.  If you need to show your ability to adapt to the culture there are other ways to do it.

 

3.  The big yarn yawn

Whether as a response to a question, because you are incredibly nervous or due to an excitement to share, do not get caught in the long story trap.  Long stories are boring, obviously off topic and slow the interview down to a terrible crawl.  Especially if you only have 30 minutes with a interviewer, keep your answers short, direct and full of relevant examples.

 

4.  The emperor’s old clothes

Old twisted ties, blouses that are falling apart at the sleeve, shirts that don’t fit well.  Either way, it sends the wrong message.  Either you are not aware that your clothes would be turned away at Goodwill or have not noticed their downward turn.  Regardless.  The effect on the hiring manager is the same.  It all gets noticed.

5.  That’s kind of personal, isn’t it?

We all have tough things happening in life.  Tough times are very personal and should stay that way.  Whether in answering a question about a gap in your resume or explaining why your last boss didn’t like you, do everything you can to keep in objective.  No emotion and no personal stories.  A death in the family is painful and sounds like the reasonable thing to share.  Unfortunately, sharing personal information, whether painful or hilarious, should be avoided.   

 

6.  That creepy mirror image thing

Maybe this is just me, but the interview preparation expert who suggested many years ago to match the body language of your interviewer was wrong.  If you have ever interviewed someone who sat up when you did, leaned back with you and crossed his or her legs in concert, it is a bit creepy.  While there is a way to generally match the overall tone of the interview (serious vs. casual), first don’t do it literally.  Second, make sure to be yourself.  If the authentic you is personable and business casual, don’t go out of your way to match a highly stiff interviewer’s style.  After all, part of vetting the company is to pick up on these cues, not match them. 

7.  Chatty Kathy (or Kevin) and then some

Some people just love to talk.  Are they trying to fill up time to avoid more questions?  Are they just social people?  Honestly, I think it varies.  The point here is that some interviewers don’t know how to stop you.  So you have to stop yourself.  There are also interviewers who will (on purpose) not ask you a following question, allow a pause, and let you keep on going.  So, don’t feel a need to fill the void with a more detailed answer.  If the interviewer appears to be lacking their next question, be ready to ask them one. 

8.  Political debate topic avoidance

Sometimes I will ask a question three or four times.  I do this because job candidates don’t answer them.  Whether on purpose or not, it is frustrating for the interviewer.  Often I keep asking because I believe the person has the answer I want and they just need some help.  Sometimes I worry that I am not being clear.  Other times I just do not want the candidate to blatantly avoid the question.  So, as a job candidate, (1) be a good listener (2) answer the specific question with good, relevant examples and (3) ask for clarification if your first answer doesn’t seem to deliver.  

9.  New or unpleasant facial hair (men)

Hollywood actors like Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp are famous for wearing a thin mustache or goatee.  They get away with it because they are famous people preparing for an important part in a new movie.  You are not Brad Pitt, you are not preparing for a movie role, and the facial hair probably doesn’t look good on you.  But, you say, this mustache is part of who I am!  OK, if it looks good (thick and full without too much gray), no problem.  If it is something you’ve grown over the past 3-4 weeks waiting for interviews, do us all a favor and save it for later.

10.  Fallacy of self torture

If offered a drink of water, take it.  If offered a chance to use the rest room, take it.  These are legitimate offers, not cruel tricks to see if you’ll bite.  It does not make you look weak to accept a glass of water.  I say this because I have offered water to many interview candidates who, twenty minutes into the interview, clearly need a drink of water.  Dry mouth changes the sound of your voice and, I think, affects the confidence.  You are now thinking about your thirst instead of the current question.

Honorable mention . . . excessive name dropping

 

If this has been you in the past or if this is you today, please stop.  Hiring managers genuinely want to like you.  Your resume, cover letter and/or phone interview suggested good things to come.  There is so much in an interview that can be and must be controlled BY YOU.

And the spirit of our new President-elect, Barack Obama . . .

Yes, you can: 

a.  be pleasant

b.  answer questions intelligently, directly and with clear examples of your past successes

c.  be interesting, fun and charming without being out of line or presumptuous

d.  be polite and considerate

e.  ask questions that challenge the interviewer and give you key data to form your own opinion

f.  be polite and well-manicured

g.  be yourself and still be someone that the company wants to hire

Yes, you can.

The Must-Have Resume Companion. The SoloSheet™ by Spin Strategy

Article Source:  http://bit.ly/XwZnv

Everybody looking for a job has a resume.  Great.  You are now equal with everyone else in the world. 

Some resumes are better than others and it’s important that yours clearly outlines the value that a company can expect to find in you.  And one that excites an HR or hiring manager about the fit and promise your background suggests. 

But how do you begin to differentiate yourself while providing a tangible tool for others to truly know how they can help you?

The answer is a relative of the “one-sheet“.  A term that originated in the movie business, a “one-sheet” is a single page document used to sell an idea, a concept or in your case, yourself.  The key is that everything you need to know is right there on one page.  A movie poster is the quintessential one-sheet.  What else do you need to know?   

So the idea of one piece of paper to sell something isn’t new.  And, to be honest, the idea of a one-pager to present your candidacy for jobs isn’t new either.  There are a number of good templates out there.

What amazes me is why so few people that I meet have one.  Is it an awareness issue?  Are job seekers stuck in the past?  Is it laziness?

Perhaps it is a mix of all these issues.  Regardless, I have a format that I adjusted for my own use during a 2007 search that I wanted to share today.  

It is a free downloadable template.  Available now on the Spin Strategy website. 

I call this a “resume companion”.  Why?  Because it includes many of the key pieces of information from the resume without the burden of too much data and with the addition of very tangible and actionable data.

So who wins when a job seeker has a tool like the SoloSheet™ ?

•  Job seekers have a focused and very tangible pitch sheet – perfect for the quick exchanges common at many structured networking events.
• Recruiters have a simpler format from which to make quick decisions as to the fit with their client listings.    
• Fellow job seekers can now better help those they network with based on the additional data. Data that makes lining up new friends with new jobs much easier!

Now, let’s go through each section of the SoloSheet™ to describe how it is built differently from a resume.

 

NAME AND POSITIONING STATEMENT

The key difference here is the positioning statement.  Whether you have this on your resume or not, it is critical to quickly and well position yourself in a crowded market.  Keep it short and make sure it says key things that make you unique.

SUMMARY

The summary is a short written paragraph that tells the story of your positioning statement.  It can prove your position by providing credible evidence along with a solid reason why (or two).

WORK PHILOSOPHY

This statement is one that I added.  It tells how I approach my work to achieve the desired results.  If you have built up a structured thought process or methodology to achieve success, introduce it here.

WORK HISTORY

Unlike your resume where the details of each position provide more granular evidence of your skill and experience, here you are simply providing a chronological history.  One that tracks company (industry), title (promotions), and dates (loyal vs. opportunistic).

CAREER OBJECTIVE

Here’s another difference from the resume (at least mine).  The SoloSheet™ includes a career objective because it is critical that your network know what you are looking for in your next role.  It should include title, industry, geography, company size and any other data that would help people assist you. The more specific the better. 

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

These are critical.  Think of the top 4 or 5 from your resume for your past 2-3 jobs.  The ones that, when combined, show the breadth and impact that you have on an organization.

KEY COMPETENCIES

This can be a bulleted list or a written list separated by commas.  These are 8-10 specific skills that allow someone to line you up with specific job descriptions.

TARGET ORGANIZATIONS AND GEOGRAPHY

This is perhaps the most important aspect of the SoloSheet™ when used at a networking event.  When fellow job seekers know what companies you are specifically targeting, it is much easier for them to help.  You may be remembered as “the marketing person looking at Pepsi and Heinz“. 

So . . .

In an ideal world, there are 10 people walking out of a networking event with your SoloSheet™.  It is marked up, key words are circled and a few stars are drawn next to a few of your target organizations. 

Your network now has a solid method to keep track of you, a tangible way to remember who you are and, importantly, has an actionable list of organizations where you’d like to work.

Easy for your network = results for you. 

If you’d like to see an example of how one was filled out, write a comment by clicking on this link and going to the bottom of the article.

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