The traditional resume, that is.
Applying for a job, versus looking for work.
The dynamics of both of these are entirely different, yet most people approach them in the same way. In today’s world employment seekers will be spending most of their time looking for work and the traditional resume is the wrong tool for that. Its’ focus is “Here’s what I’ve done in the past.” The only thing a prospective employer is interested in is “How can you help me today?”
New Tools.
Instead of a traditional resume, employment seekers need to learn how to create a Marketing Letter and a 21st Century Resume. The Marketing Letter is one page, no resume attached and it says: I know about you and the challenges you face, I can help you, and I’m going to call you within a week. The 21st Century is one page and comes with an upbeat, marketing-oriented cover letter much like the Marketing Letter. It highlights the experience and qualifications your research tells you will get the attention of the employer.
First, marketing, then selling.
Most employment seekers don’t understand this and dive straight into selling. Unless you get an employers’ attention in the marketing phase, you won’t succeed in selling. Marketing gets the attention of the prospective buyer. Selling begins when they contact you, visit you, or look at your web site.
90% Marketing, 10% Selling.
Spend the majority of your time in the marketing phase strategizing around how to get an employers’ attention and being very clear about what you have to sell, where you are going to sell it, and how you are going to sell it.
What do you have to sell?
Most people do a poor job on this. The employer doesn’t care if you have an MBA, or if you’re an engineer, accountant, or whatever. The only thing they care about is “how will hiring this person make my life easier?” Unless your whole approach is centered on this, you’re wasting your time.
Where are you going to sell it?
One of the most common mistakes made by employment seekers is to focus, almost exclusively, on jobs advertised in the newspapers, on the Internet, or other media. These represent, at most, 20% of the employment opportunities. You need to become a news hound and sniff out opportunities by being connected to all the resources related to the field you want to work in and by networking effectively. You also need to be active in the associations related to your field.
How are you going to sell it?
Get over your discomfort with selling yourself. It’s based on ignorance on what selling is about. Anyone can learn how to sell effectively. It’s common sense. The gift of the gab is not an asset. It’s a liability.
