Transcript Document
Job Search Skills Jonathan Goodman Executive Recruiter Agenda • Job Search as an Internal and External Exercise • Internal Assessment and Preparation (Personal SWOT, Elevator Pitch, Social Media, Resume/Cover Letter • Job Search (Research, Networking, Applying, Interviewing) Job Search: Internal and External • Internal Variables (Education, Experience, Strengths, Weaknesses) • External Variables (Geography, Market, Industry) Internal Assessment and Preparation • What is your “product”? What value do you bring to an employer? • Consider 2-3 job functions you are interested in and 2-3 industries you want to be associated with • Think about how your background and experience fits within those functions and industries. The Elevator Pitch • A short synopsis of who you are, what your interests are, and what value you bring • 30 seconds at most The Elevator Pitch I am a (fill in functional identity), currently/most recently with _________. I’m looking to take my interest in _____, along with my skills in (unique selling point) and (unique selling point) to (function/role) or (function/role), within (industry, industry, or industry). SWOT Analysis • Strengths and opportunities in the market: – – – – What are my qualifications? What are my unique selling points? What needs exist that I am uniquely able to fill? (Inputs: Resume, Success stories, MBA and other formal education skills/experiences. Update with lessons learned from research and networking.) • Weaknesses/threats: – What potential risks or challenges might I face in each target function/industry? – Can I address them? (e.g., Lack of industry knowledge, Lack of contacts in target industry/location, Bias toward former industry, Experience) Social Media Strategy Three basic rules: 1. Be professional 2. Be careful 3. Use Common Sense Employers will check out your associated social media accounts • LinkedIn Profile (professional picture, good content, networking groups) • Twitter feeds—be interesting and relevant • Blog—topics of interest • Facebook—be very cautious about what you post, have the right privacy settings. Resume and Cover Letter Resume: • Format is not too important, but content is • No more than 2 pages • Be specific and quantify successes; avoid buzzwords or fluff language Resume and Cover Letter Cover Letter • A necessary evil • Won’t get you a job, but could hurt your chances if done poorly • Simple, and no more than 3 paragraphs (Introduce yourself; Identify job and why you are interested and qualified; 3) Summarize and welcome next steps) The Job Search 1. Identifying the job opportunities – Geography (Where can you/do you want to live) – Industry (Tech, financial services, consulting/professional services) – Function (sales/marketing, operations, software development, HR) – Culture (fast-paced, family friendly, competitive) – Target companies The Job Search • Networking strategies to find the right job and the right people to help – Some jobs that are available are posted, but opportunistic positions are a possibility, and those are not posted. The best way to explore all opportunities is to network. – LinkedIn: Leverage your connections (alumni base, prior companies, military, interests) – Networking Events – Professional organizations – Community organizations The Job Search • Applying for jobs – Be realistic—OK to stretch a bit, but be selfaware – Provide all necessary information – Apply online if necessary, but no harm in getting someone internally in your network to submit for you. Could be a win-win situation – Work with recruiters properly—don’t overcommunicate Interviewing • Interview Skills and strategies – Do your research on company and people you will be interviewing with – Be specific when answering questions – Prepare questions to ask interviewers – Send thank you notes/emails Go Blue! BEAT STATE! Or, at least score more than 0 points! Contact Me Jonathan Goodman [email protected]