Posted by Wanda Loskot on October 07, 1998 at 19:30:54:
In Reply to: Marketing myself in a career search posted by Stephen Brockelman on October 07, 1998 at 10:07:15:
Stephen that is a VERY interesting question and I am happy to take a shot at this. I must
say upfront that I have NO experience in the area of *searching* for a job - at least no recent
one. The only *regular* job I had as a trainer for a chain of department stores sort of landed
on my laps - it gave me however some valuable insight into Human Resource department, as
sometimes I was also screening resumes and interviewing applicants.
I am also fascinated with the industry of the job searching-resumewriting-etc. Fascinated
because I think that people are losing *big time* working for someone else - losing, with very
few and far-between exceptions. But I assume that you have a good reason to look for a job
instead of running your own business, so I will not comment on that any further...
My experience is coming from observations and from some research I did as journalist a while
ago when writing for a polish magazine on that topic - a few years ago I had also a friend
who was an owner of an employment agency and learned a lot from her.
So - I have some ideas about effectiveness or UN-effectiveness of resumes.
My first advice is - DITCH it!
He, he, he - you know I am unorthodox marketer :-)
Resume my definition is concentrating on YOU and every marketing effort - icluding looking
for a job - will be more effective if the attention and spotlight is on the subject you are
trying to reach - here:the employer. I know it might sound strange, but in my opinion the
more you talk in terms of their needs than in terms how talented you are , the more you win.
How to do it? Very very carefully. And it is not some cookie cutter idea and just like one
size doesn't fit all - one webpage will not be good enough for all. This needs to be tailored.
(now, I am assuming that you are not looking for $1,500 9-5 job so you are willing to put some
effort into finding one).
I suggest that you narrow your search dramatically and go after a very few very well selected jobs that you
REALLY want in the company that you truly admire and know a lot about (or are willing to learn
a lot about) and tailor your pages to demonstrate how you could solve the problems of your
employers. Because whether you work for yourself or for someone else, the best way to become
desired and even indispensable is to demonstrate how to skillfully solve your clients problems.
Which means you have to know who the client is, then what are their problem (yes, I AM talking
about the employer :-) and then offer a solution. How you would solve. THERE is a spot to tell
them how well are you prepared and even mention some past successes in handling similar
situations, including some sample work.
I don't know HOW to do it - I am not that brilliant to give you all the answers here, but that is
the general direction I would take.
Hope it helped a bit.