"YES WE CAN"...OR AT LEAST I HOPE SO!!!
CHANGE...it is something that is certain...most of the time is done reluctantly...but at this time...appears to be welcomed!!!
The key to CHANGE is how you adapt! The common trait that all SUCCESSFUL people share is their ability to adapt & re-invent themselves.
This is especially true as it relates to your career. You cannot CHANGE things you have no control over...(ie the economy)...however, you do have the ability to change things that can make your job search, resume & interviewing more successful.
One thing to consider is your ability to identify skills/qualities/characteristics that you possess that distinguish you from those you are competing against. Once you take inventory, you then need to SELL these to employers. You need to do this bearing in mind the NEEDS of the employer. So...what is UNIQUE to you...may have NO APPEAL to a prospective employer. Therefore...in addition to understanding what sets you apart - you need to package and sell this information in a manner that addresses the specific needs of the person reading your resume.
You also need to CHANGE the way you are searching for new career opportunities. It is not enough to POST your resume with thousands of others on a career site (HOTJOBS/MONSTER) and hope that some HR executive is going to pluck your resume out! You need to research companies that employ people with your skill set/educational background. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO MAKE A CAREER CHANGE. For the VERY LIMITED number of jobs available - the employer is ONLY looking for those with APPROPRIATE experience. YOUR WILLINGNESS TO DO "ANYTHING" OR YOUR PERSONAL INTEREST IN A COMPANY/INDUSTRY will not get you an interview...never mind land you a job.
If a job description calls for less experience or fewer skills/accomplishments than you have...DUMMY DOWN YOUR RESUME. HR execs are NOT likely to hire someone with a current/previous MANAGER title for a role that requires you to SUPPORT someone else. Instead of using terms like DIRECTED, OVERSAW, SUPERVISED...use terms like COORDINATED, CONTRIBUTED TO, ASSISTED WITH...sounds simple...but can be the difference between being passed over based on being OVERQUALIFIED and getting in front of an interviewer and being able to assess the situation...and present your ADDITIONAL experience/skills as ADDED VALUE you bring.
In an interview...should you be lucky enough to land one...you need to BROADCAST POSITIVITY. Nobody wants to hear about your troubles & equally unappealing is someone who wears frustration on their sleeve. It is easily picked up on in your communication style/body language. YOU MUST BE UPBEAT - FLEXIBLE - FRIENDLY - HUMBLE...anything else is going to make your first interview - your last!
CHANGE....CHANGE YOUR RESUME...CHANGE THE WAY YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A NEW JOB...CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE...CHANGE THE WAY YOU ARE PERCEIVED...
APPLY FOR JOBS YOU ARE QUALIFIED FOR...ONLY...HIGHLIGHT QUALITIES/ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS THAT ARE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE JOB AD IS EMPHASIZING - BE HAPPY - EXCITED - UPBEAT & FLEXIBLE...
Everyone is in the same economic boat...it is how you adapt & CHANGE that will set you apart.
" I DANCE AROUND THE BORDER ...LIKE I'M CASSIUS CLAY" - THE FUGEES
The key to CHANGE is how you adapt! The common trait that all SUCCESSFUL people share is their ability to adapt & re-invent themselves.
This is especially true as it relates to your career. You cannot CHANGE things you have no control over...(ie the economy)...however, you do have the ability to change things that can make your job search, resume & interviewing more successful.
One thing to consider is your ability to identify skills/qualities/characteristics that you possess that distinguish you from those you are competing against. Once you take inventory, you then need to SELL these to employers. You need to do this bearing in mind the NEEDS of the employer. So...what is UNIQUE to you...may have NO APPEAL to a prospective employer. Therefore...in addition to understanding what sets you apart - you need to package and sell this information in a manner that addresses the specific needs of the person reading your resume.
You also need to CHANGE the way you are searching for new career opportunities. It is not enough to POST your resume with thousands of others on a career site (HOTJOBS/MONSTER) and hope that some HR executive is going to pluck your resume out! You need to research companies that employ people with your skill set/educational background. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO MAKE A CAREER CHANGE. For the VERY LIMITED number of jobs available - the employer is ONLY looking for those with APPROPRIATE experience. YOUR WILLINGNESS TO DO "ANYTHING" OR YOUR PERSONAL INTEREST IN A COMPANY/INDUSTRY will not get you an interview...never mind land you a job.
If a job description calls for less experience or fewer skills/accomplishments than you have...DUMMY DOWN YOUR RESUME. HR execs are NOT likely to hire someone with a current/previous MANAGER title for a role that requires you to SUPPORT someone else. Instead of using terms like DIRECTED, OVERSAW, SUPERVISED...use terms like COORDINATED, CONTRIBUTED TO, ASSISTED WITH...sounds simple...but can be the difference between being passed over based on being OVERQUALIFIED and getting in front of an interviewer and being able to assess the situation...and present your ADDITIONAL experience/skills as ADDED VALUE you bring.
In an interview...should you be lucky enough to land one...you need to BROADCAST POSITIVITY. Nobody wants to hear about your troubles & equally unappealing is someone who wears frustration on their sleeve. It is easily picked up on in your communication style/body language. YOU MUST BE UPBEAT - FLEXIBLE - FRIENDLY - HUMBLE...anything else is going to make your first interview - your last!
CHANGE....CHANGE YOUR RESUME...CHANGE THE WAY YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A NEW JOB...CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE...CHANGE THE WAY YOU ARE PERCEIVED...
APPLY FOR JOBS YOU ARE QUALIFIED FOR...ONLY...HIGHLIGHT QUALITIES/ATTRIBUTES/SKILLS THAT ARE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE JOB AD IS EMPHASIZING - BE HAPPY - EXCITED - UPBEAT & FLEXIBLE...
Everyone is in the same economic boat...it is how you adapt & CHANGE that will set you apart.
" I DANCE AROUND THE BORDER ...LIKE I'M CASSIUS CLAY" - THE FUGEES
