MARTIN WEITZMAN, NCRW, RPBS, IJCTC
(800) 967-3846
resumepro
http://executiveresumewriter.com

A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF GILBERT RESUMES, FEATURING TIMELY CAREER ARTICLES, CAREER WEBSITES, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR TODAY’S JOB SEEKERS.

Executives BEWARE: There’s No Margin for Error

You’re a seasoned professional and it has been at least 3 years since you needed to look for a new position, and the last time you changed jobs you were either recruited for the position or referred by someone you know.

Fast forward to the present; you’re unemployed, recruiters are not returning your phone calls, and today many of the people who recommended you for jobs in the past are your direct competition.

Sound familiar?

You have done your homework, gotten outplacement advice, and read every book there is, however I think you may need to hear this one more time to get it right, because there is no margin for error in conducting a job search in today’s economy.

So here is some strategic advice on how getting your job search into high gear.

1. Don’t go fishing: Target Where you want to go. Before you do anything you need to know what positions you qualify for in this new economy and make some tough decisions. Do you want to stay in the same field, or better yet can you? Where are you going, is your next job a step up, a step down or a lateral move. What do you want it to be and what is realistic financially, emotionally and career wise?

2. Define and Promote a Personal Brand: Your job search is worthless if you can not see your value to a new employer and devise creative ways to get this message across on paper, in person, and through all means of new social media. What is your specialty? Is it making money, saving money, is it your soft skills like leadership and management style, your contacts, or hard skills like accounting, closing deals, or strategic planning. Get a tag line that describes you and make it your brand. Here is an example

Senior Executive l Business Operations–Distribution–Logistics

“Expert in driving a business from where it is to where management wants it to be”

3. Get a Marketing Document instead of a Resume: This is a document that showcases and validates who you are and why it pays for a recruiter or decision maker to pick up the phone and call you to schedule an interview. It should be produced in a style and format that is best suited to your field, your level and your personality with out looking like a boilerplate document, and it should contain a mission statement, and at least 2 solid endorsements that will verify that you are as good as or better than you claim to be.

4. Round out your Portfolio: You should have a One Page Networking Bio; a social media presence that lets people see the total package you can deliver, and establish yourself as a subject matter expert on numerous topics within your field and industry.

5: Take Your Job Search Seriously: This means being honest with yourself and others about where you are willing to make compromises and where you are inflexible. It means trusting others to help you and not being a Lone Wolf. It means investing in your future and not being shortsighted about what you can and not do on your own.

6: Talk to an expert: Get their advice and assistance in evaluating where you stand at this point what it will take to get on the right path. This is the easiest part of your job search! You can call or email me and I will be happy to answer any questions you have.

—Career Rocketeer

How to Check Out a Company

Companies conducting background checks, Googling applicants, checking them out on Facebook, and finding out as much as they can about candidates for employment seems to be the norm, these days.

However, it works both ways. You can find out about companies, as well, to make sure the company is one you want to work for and the job is a good fit for your experience and skills.

LinkedIn Company Profiles are a good way to find more information on a company you’re interested in working for. You’ll be able see your connections at the company, new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics. One Day One Job has good information on digging dirt on employers, as well.

Visit GlassDoor.com to read company reviews, ratings, company information, salaries, CEO approval rating, competitors, content providers, and more company information.

Follow the company on Twitter to find out what information the company is sharing. Also, search Google, Google News, and Twitter using the company name, to see what’s comes up.

Also, there are warning signs to watch for, if you’re having reservations about whether this is the company for you.

Taking the time to research companies is a good idea, because it is as important for you to know that you want to work at a company as it is for the company to know they want to hire you. And it’s better to find out upfront, rather than finding out later that your new job wasn’t anything like you expected and you have to start your job search all over again.

—Alison Doyle, About.com

Gilbert Resumes remains in the forefront of providing cutting edge solutions for today’s challenging job market, including strategies to build your online presence and maximize your career opportunities.

Need assistance with your career endeavors?

Resume Writing
LinkedIn Profiles
Recruiter and VC/Private Equity Distribution
Cover & Thank-You Letters
Biographies
Board of Director Resumes
Job Search & Interview Coaching
Online Identity Programs
Networking Training

Contact
Martin Weitzman
Certified Career Professional
Gilbert Resumes
800.967.3846
http://executiveresumewriter.com
http://resumepro.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/resumepro