Surfing through the LinkedIn groups that I belong to, I answered a posting and then was able to learn a trick or two that I would like to share. The posting was about how to approach a potential employer in the best way possible, and I was fortunate that a true leader in the field was able to share some insights – his name is Rob Straby, and if you are interested in career coaching or professional development, even public speaking, then take a quick detour to Rob’s site. Rob is on LinkedIn over here as well.
Searching through public job postings is a seriously difficult way to get a new job – it has limited options and limited returns on your time investment. Rob had pointed out that he directs his clients to spend no more than 20% of their efforts in job searching the public postings, and I want to strongly support that statement as well. I am sorry to break this to you, but it just is the truth, and as many experts have pointed in several articles, white papers, and studies that abound the Internet, that answering public postings has limited success, and if we think about the process, I am sure you will agree.
With hundreds of applications flowing into the company, how can you stand out? When Toyota was hiring in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada back in the early 1990′s, there were so many applicants dropping off resumes that the main highway had to be shut down! After that, Toyota went to an online system, and will not accept physical resumes at that plant anymore. With over ten thousand cars blocking the highway, it was a public danger and a black mark on Toyota that is had happened.
Rather than try and hit this moving target, Rob had pointed out that it is much better to make a strategic approach to an employer, first finding what their niche business is, what their unique points are in the business, and any possible value that you could contribute as an employee. This way, you are giving the employer values from the beginning of your contact, and are structuring a professional perception of your brand. Armed with this information from the company, think of the amazing, targeted resume you could write! It would be all about what the employer wanted in a new employee….
The “Fit Factor” is really just the determining pieces of accepting a new member onto the team. An employer wants to know four things before offering you a job:
- Will you do the job?
- Can you do the job?
- Will the team like you?
- Will you fit into the organization?
The first two questions are answered with your resume, the last two questions in the interview. To determine if you fit into the organization, the first step is to research the business. There are several questions that you should be asking even before you get to the point of making contact, and I talk about those points in a different posting.
On a poll I have started on LinkedIn, already it is 43% of respondents that have identified they do not craft a different resume for every job. I realize that it is difficult to craft a new resume for every job, and I can tell you why it is a good idea in an upcoming posting – be sure to check back.
Remember, every person you meet is fighting a tough personal battle of some sort, they just may not choose to share it, so be kind to everyone you meet…. and for employers, ask them what that battle is so you can help them win.
Chris Kulbaba, “The Social Media Guy”
If failed. Please don’t choose to give up.
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Chris,
Great advice from Rob, as usual — he’s “the man”! Dave Perry, in Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 (3.0 to be released this week), advocates the same, as do both you and I
The reason that I receive excellent feedback on my resumes is because I INVEST 4 hours(!) into each targeted one — after building relationships and researching the company. A company’s website is a treasure trove of info. for this.
Best,
Mike
Yes, I am consistently getting pushed back when I suggest to clients that there needs to be significant time spent on a resume. The sad truth is that most people spend more time making a decision to buy a kitchen appliance than they do on selecting a place of employment. On average, I suggest that it takes a good 6-8 hours to write a targeted, focused resume, and then another 3-4 hours to alter it for each specific job. Your statement is bang on to what I am advocating. I ask clients what their expected remuneration is, and if it is 40K a year, well, then in 12 hours of crafting a resume from beginning to submission, you have gained a return on investment to yourself in excess of 3,000$ an hour for your first year alone! Then, the stare becomes a grin most times….. and off to work they go.
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