Time for a Career Change?
Changing jobs and/or careers can be a daunting, intimidating task. Add in the need to update your resume and cover letter and prepare for a grueling interview process and the whole situation can become very stressful and overwhelming. Below you will find helpful tips and suggestions on where to begin in this life changing process.
Step 1: The Resume
Your resume is your personal "advertisement" to employers, so make it not just good, make it GREAT!
You only have about 3 seconds to WOW the employer. So make the top of your first page exciting and eye catching! Make them want YOU! For each job, every bullet point should be precise and exciting to captivate your audience and should be totally focused on results.
Example:
Created new marketing and sales strategies.
VS
Dramatically increased department revenue by 23% by designing and incorporating new marketing and sales strategies.
Show them they NEED YOU! Prove that you will be an asset to them. Show them how you are different from the other million applicants. Most importantly, cater the resume to the new job description. What are they looking for and how can you fill that need? Read the job description line for line and figure out a way to fill as many of their needs as possible. Also, when the company searches resume databases, be sure your resume is full of the “terms” used in that particular job field so that your resume shows up! Google them if you don’t know them!
To get started, here is a link to great resume samples: http://www.blueskyresumes.com/free-resume-samples/
The biggest thing to remember is to be clear, concise and focus on results not job tasks. Here is another great article: https://www.asme.org/career-education/articles/job-hunting/6-tips-for-writing-an-effective-resume
Here's a power word list that will help with the excitement factor of your resume: http://career.opcd.wfu.edu/files/2011/05/Action-Verbs-for-Resumes.pdf
The following link provides very helpful and innovative resume tips for the new techno/social media age: http://www.greatresumesfast.com/blog/2013/12/08/best-resume-tips-2014/
Step 2: The Cover Letter
A cover letter is your introduction. So don’t take it lightly or skip it all together. Again it should be catered to how you will benefit the company. The following link covers steps 1-4 of cover letter writing: http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Cover-Letter#Sample_Cover_Letters
If possible, I highly recommend that you throw in some great “facts” about the company. This way they will know you’ve actually done some research on them and aren’t just sending the same cover letter to a thousand different companies. This added touch will make you stand out from other candidates.
Step 3: The Interview
The interview process can be extremely intimidating. Don't go unprepared. Taking time to prepare will make the interview a much more pleasant experience and remove a lot of the normal stress and anxiety.
Be prepared. Rehearse your strong points in your mind before the interview and keep referring back to them during the interview. Show them, PROVE to them how much THEY need you, and how you are the perfect fit for the job. AND remember, the employer doesn't need to know every detail about everything; so prepare your answers, be brief and be concise. Sticking to these principals will keep you from going off on tangents that could reveal undesirable information about yourself.
And remember, ALWAYS answer everything in a POSITVE way. In explaining a personal weakness or negative situation, always tell something positive that you gained/learned from it. They will ask you your strengths and weaknesses, so if you don't know yours, take the following 10 minute personality test and in the results you will see a link called, "strengths and weaknesses," you will find these will give you an amazing head start.
Dress appropriate for the job you are applying for (overdressing is always better than underdressing), smile, shake hands firmly and thank the interviewer for their time. 7 Ways to Make a Killer First Impression
Finally send a thank you note or email within a day or two of the interview. If your dealing with an extended interview process, weekly send short notes/emails reminding them what a perfect fit you are for this position. Prove you are a serious candidate--motivated and determined--but always act in a tackful and polite way.
The following is a link to a great wealth of information about preparing for a job interview. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/01/11/how-to-ace-the-50-most-common-interview-questions/
While all of this does take time and effort, your due-deligience will pay off in the end.
Remember, if you are a life coaching client, I am here to help you all along the way. As a former university, Career Center Director, I helped 1000s of students and alumni with these topics. Feel free to send me your resume and cover letter at any point. I am happy to edit and make helpful suggestions as many times as needed. I can also practice interview questions with you, giving suggestions on how to answer most effectively for your given situation.
Have fun! It’s time for you to move forward to the future you desire!
