October 19, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Transition Campaign Issues...

  • Think and act "outside the box".
  • Always communicate yourself in a positive, future-oriented manner!
  • Always have a next contact to make... always !

These keys will serve you well, keeping your effort "on course" toward true, and productive CAREER MANAGEMENT.

-The Pilot

Q1. I need a "jump start"... I have not been able to get my job search underway...or I have, and it has fallen flat. What can I do?

A1. Starting or RE-starting your PERSONAL MARKET PLAN implementation requires the same steps and skills:

  1. What are your objectives?
  2. How are you positioning yourself within your communication strategies?
  3. What is your target market?
  4. Are your resume, letters and phone "scripts" in synch, reflecting your communication strategy consistently?

Remember, "FIT HAPPENS", but you must first communicate YOUR objectives to your marketplace. The second of the KEYS TO EFFECTIVE CAREER MANAGEMENT is to consistently communicate in a positive, future oriented manner.

Q2. I am having trouble with my resume... the more people I ask for help, the more ideas I get...but its not coming together as I had hoped. Can The CareerPILOT help with my resume editing?

A2. In a word, YES. 

It is critical that the content of your resume reflects your communication strategy. Does your resume tell the reader what you CAN DO... or is it a more traditional resume where you simply record what you have accomplished within your career? 

Even when well worded and formatted nicely, the traditional resume can be a chronological epitaph. Remember, "FIT HAPPENS", but you must first communicate YOUR objectives to your marketplace. The first and foremost of the KEYS TO EFFECTIVE CAREER MANAGEMENT is to think and act "outside the box".

Q3: I have a very good educational background (MS, MBA, top schools, top GPA) and a solid three years of state-of-the-art experience. In addition I have exceptional related accomplishments (99th percentile scores in GRE and GMAT, several top scholarships, etc.). My question is, should I mention these in my resume?

A3: You've explored and given thought to that challenging boundary between providing useful information and bragging.

Let me warn you about something… It isn't just bragging on your resume that could be a problem. If you have a tendency to over-emphasize your credentials in an interview, it won't matter what you put on your resume. You'll still come across as arrogant. So, be careful.

The other danger in shining too much light on your credentials is that you can easily distract a manager from what's most important: evidence that you can do the work. A manager who sees three years of experience is more concerned about what you can do than about how well you performed at school all those years ago. This takes you right back to the issue of, "Does your resume uniquely FIT you and your career objectives?"

If your success in education is the front end of a consistently strong story of career success, then I'd list your GPA quietly beside the name of your school and degree. I'd put your GRE and GMAT scores and scholarship information in an Awards and Honors section at the very end of the resume. Again, keep it very low-key. If it matters to someone, they'll have the information.

If you run into a manager who might be bugged about it, at least you have respectfully played it down. While I would never advocate "dumbing down," any manager who is worried about hiring anyone who is too smart should not be a manager. But how you handle this reveals your own attitude -- and that's what's important. It’s your story… stick to it!

Some managers may indeed by impressed by your academic success. But there's an instructive rule that sales managers use to judge sales candidates: "You're only as good as the sale you just closed." What you did three years ago is nice, but don't reveal a preoccupation with it. Avoid bragging about your credentials in your resume and in your interviews by focusing instead on your ability to help the manager you're meeting with. That's what matters.

Q4: I have nearly exhausted my network, but don't seem to be generating many job interviews... what's wrong?

A4. My guess is that you're asking for job leads instead of simply "getting the word out". The third, and surest, of the KEYS TO EFFECTIVE CAREER MANAGEMENT is to always have a next contact to make... ALWAYS.

Most traditional job-seekers literally create their own premature rejection by asking for leads before THE FIT has been defined.  Use your early networking to clarify the issues of your objectives.

Optîmance/ CCG Program issues...

What is a Career Continuation Program?

A Career Continuation Program is designed to help you find your right next work It is a pragmatic, hands-on program intended to facilitate a Candidate’s learning of the skills necessary to find a new job, a new career, or a new occupation. The program also provides one-on-one coaching and counseling.

What are some of the topics that will be covered?

  • Career History Review
  • Assessment—Skills, Interests, Needs
  • Exploring Viable Options
  • Accomplishments
  • Resume Development
  • Marketing Correspondence
  • Effective Research
  • Marketing Strategies: Networking, Spot Opportunities, Targeting Companies
  • Interviewing
  • Negotiation

This is a proven, personal marketing approach that gives an individual the best chance of getting a new position that is truly right for him or her. It is designed to affect a smooth transition by assisting individuals in their efforts to move on to challenging positions within a reasonable period of time. This process will provide "the tools and techniques" that have worked successfully for thousands of other individuals.

In summary, this can be a valuable learning experience for you. The program offers you an opportunity to re-evaluate your talents, skills, values, and potential. It also helps you to realize some new insights about yourself. Most importantly, however, the program will enable you to conduct your work search professionally, effectively, and successfully with the assistance of an objective, third-party consultant.

What tangible results will the program produce?

  • An attention getting resume and related marketing collaterals/ correspondence;
  • Identification of the best job leads, investigating and analyzing to assure appropriate "fit;"
  • Effective usage of the Internet and other supportive high tech tools to leverage results in the high touch process of career transition;
  • Development of a wide, yet focused network;

Does this program really work?

This marketing based, Candidate intimate/ Consultant driven programming works when the Candidate is committed to identifying and securing the next right work for them. 

If you want to work, and are willing to work at it... it works:  FIT Happens!

Our program has been a positive learning experience for literally thousands of individuals who were in career transition, and it has enabled them to locate and secure new work effectively.

What is required of a candidate?

While our Program is at no cost to you, a successful program requires a commitment of time, effort and diligence by the candidate. It is not the role of a career continuation consultant to find a candidate a job. It is our role to teach a candidate how to find a job, coaching them throughout the implementation process-- the execution of their Personal Market Plan.

Can you help me improve my use of the Internet and other technology tools?

We will give you information on how to fully utilize the Internet and other high tech tools to leverage your time and efforts during career transition.  We encourage a High Tech/ High Touch approach and philosophy:  Fully utilizing web and other technology tools to leverage, not replace, a candidate's high touch efforts.  Career MANAGEMENT is a contact sport!

How long does the program last?

Each candidate progresses at a different rate and along a custom designed program. Our career continuation programs accordingly are not time limited.

What can and should I say about my current situation?

You will receive suggestions on how to discuss your status with business associates, friends, and neighbors—and most importantly, how to enlist family support in your work search campaign.