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Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
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How do you choose your leisure reading? When you read the newspaper, visit a website, or pick up a magazine what grabs you attention? Is it a compelling headline? An interesting picture, or some other graphic? Do you scan the article or do a deep-dive for total comprehension? How do you decide which route to take? I would imagine that time pressures hold sway.
Think like a marketing professional. These folks are tasked with creating interest by communicating the benefits of their brand. After all, isn’t your resume about communicating your message? Tell your story with high impact language in an interesting format. The words you choose must stimulate an immediate emotional response. They must be powerful and precise, evoking a sense of energy and excitement. Eliminate trite buzz words! Buzz words are buzz killers!
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Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.
Jim Weber, President
We all know the adage. “You only get one chance to make a good first impression.” Whereas this might not be completely accurate, where your resume is concerned it most certainly is true. Your resume is likely your first opportunity to make an impact with a hiring manager. In too many cases a strong candidate with a weak resume loses out on a great opportunity. It does not have to be that way. Understanding how a resume is reviewed and used will give you the fundamental information to craft a product that will stand out.
The following five issues are likely working against you.
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I landed my first job out of college by responding to a classified ad posted in the local newspaper. After that, I did not need to look for another job for 11 years. The next job I landed was through an executive recruiter and the one following that was through an ad placed in a trade magazine. My last job-search was conducted under direction of an outplacement firm which focused on the power of networking. Interestingly, my networking with an executive recruiter led to my final job in the corporate world. It was in that last situation, working with an outplacement counselor, where I had my first experience with a career coach. Although he was not familiar with my industry segment he was very good at helping me improve my networking skills, especially the quality of my communications. He kept me focused and motivated, resulting in a fairly short time between jobs. That was, wow, over 20 years ago. Email and the Internet were in their infancy. Snail mail and the telephone were still our primary modes of communication. It was still Prime Time for Baby-boomers.
Throughout my corporate career, interrupted by a few short-lived recessions, the economy was growing steadily, fueled by the demand created by baby-boomers and supported by deregulation and the Regan Era fiscal policies. Jobs were a lot easier to come by. It was easier to find a new
situation. And then the world changed. The job market is a very different today. In many respects it is a lot more difficult. It is also much easier if you have the key. I left the corporate world in 1999 to begin my own executive search business.
One of the most upsetting situations I encounter in my work is talking with displaced Boomers who have had solid careers only to be derailed by a merger or a restructuring which cost them their job. They focused so much on their day to day responsibilities that they did not kept pace with the changing job market. To say that their job-search skills are rusty would be an understatement. Even worse, they have neglected their network. It is no longer effective and must be rebuilt. Their single-minded focus is to find another job, just like the last job. No other options are on the table. Many have the cushion of a severance package but few have outplacement benefits. They find it difficult to grasp the fact that the jobs they left are gone or have been filled by younger, lesser compensated employees. The absolute worst situation is to talk to someone who has burned through their severance and is working down their savings; true desperation. If you find yourself in this situation, you probably need professional help: an intervention. This is when a career coach can be very important.
When you hire a career coach you are entering into a personal relationship. A good coach will learn about your personality and how you approach a challenge, or adversity. She will use that understanding to help you craft a strategy and set goals to achieve your job search objectives. She will stay with you, offering encouragement and support as you execute your plan. A good coach will help you break through roadblocks, especially those you create for yourself. She knows the job market and can help you evaluate options for a meaningful next chapter. The bottom-line is that you need to feel comfortable with your coach as she may have a major impact on your career. For the relationship to work, both you and your coach need a connection, a bond.
It is a brave new world out there. We all need help from time to time. Your career is too important to neglect, so it is a wise move to engage a career coach to help you through you job search.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.
Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.
Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com
A few years ago I let my image deteriorate. I put on a lot of weight that slowed me down and affected my self-worth. I had outgrown my wardrobe so I decided to take action. For me, that is a big deal as my suits and trousers are organized by “thin,” “normal,” and “big-boy.” When I began to move beyond “big-boy” status, I knew that I was in serious trouble. Okay, to be honest my golf group had a bet to see who could lose the most weight before our annual Spring Trip, six months out. So, now in my mid-50s, I knew that weight loss would be a bit more challenging. In the past, when I went on a weight-loss program, I counted and logged my calorie intake and had a solid exercise routine. This time, I followed the same formula, but signed up for Weight-watchers’ on-line program. Their app is loaded with useful tools and convenient to use when added to your iPhone. My exercise routine was a little less aggressive, substituting a brisk 30-minute walk five days a week for my former jogging routine. Hey, I don’t want to stop playing golf because I ruined my knees.
Additionally, I did some dietary research to learn the latest in healthy eating. From that research I learned two things. First, I needed to get more protein in my diet, approximately 90 grams a day. Also, white starchy carbohydrates, especially salty snacks, had to go. I am happy to say that within 6 months, I had reached my ideal weight, and won the bet. Of the 12 people in the who started, only two of us stayed with our goal. Both of us were using the Weight Watchers program, otherwise we were not that different from rest of the group. The fact that we are Fraternity Brothers probably did not make much difference either. My biggest take-away form this effort is that a proper diet becomes more important to weight loss as we age because the ability to power through via exercise becomes more difficult.
Your image makes a difference! It is important to the prospective hiring manager, and to you! The hiring manager is making an evaluation of your health and stamina, reflecting your ability to keep up with the demands of the job. She is also considering how the company will be judged if you are its representative. Your confidence and self-worth is likely impacted by your approval of your image. If your self-confidence is negatively affected by your image, you will not perform well at interviews or at networking. The self-confidence that comes from having a good physical image will result in a more successful job-search campaign.
I am by no means an image consultant so the wisdom I am passing along is based on my personal
history. My intention is to reinforce some obvious points and pique your interest. In doing a bit of research on The Web, I found quite a bit of information on the subject. If you are interested in exploring this topic further, you are only a click away from a wealth of information. Now, to be fair, when I think speak of image, I am thinking “age-appropriate.” I do not recommend trying to craft an image better fitting a twenty, or thirty-something. Believe me, you will not be taken seriously if you go in that direction. The benefit of age is experience and wisdom. Personally, that is exactly what I want my image to reflect, plus a healthy dose of energy and zest for life. I hope you agree.
While you are between jobs, work on your image. Do something for yourself. An appropriate physical activity will help you look and feel better. It will also burn off a lot of the stress that comes from the ups and downs of job-search.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.
Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com