4 Steps to Marketing Transferable Skills in a Job Interview

I wrote this article for Beyond.com a few years ago and had reason to revisit it today.  I wanted to share these four tips, but I also thought that we all could learn from the comments left by readers.

4 Tips to Market Transferable Skill in a Job Interview

3 Tips to Keep Job Search Emails Professional

Data shows that 183 billion email messages are sent every day.  That's about 2 million per second. Since about 70% of the emails might be spam and viruses, Recruiters, like most email users, are very quick to decide what's relevant and what should go.   

These 3 tips will help job seekers keep job search emails professional in a tight job market.  

1. Grammar and punctuation still matters.  Too many people spend a lot of time getting a great resume and cover letter together, only to send them to an employer attached to an email that is poorly written.   Everyone makes errors, but proofreading your email before sending will increase the chances of your resume actually being seen. 
2. Make sure the email subject line includes your name and the document attached. Eg Joe Jobseeker – List of References.  Since 70% of emails are spam or viruses, many suspect emails with attachments do not get opened.  Increase your chances by having a clear subject line.  The email marketing industry actually suggests a strong subject line of about 5-7 words.

3. Think seriously about not adding a quote to your professional email address for the job search. If you chose to add one, think about whose quote you use and what the recruiter might think about you when they read it.  The quote WILL inadvertently say something about you.  There will be time for them to get to know you after you are hired.

Is your 30-Second Introduction a Conversation Starter or Killer?

So you are at a networking event and meeting new people. You walk up to someone you want to meet, reach out for a handshake and forgot what you wanted to say.

Is your 30-second introduction on the mark? Check out this article by Career Counselor, Markell Steele as she asks if your 30-second introduction is a conversation starter or killer.

Guest Post by Markell Steele.

How many times have you walked into a networking event and clammed up? Everyone around you is clustered into small groups talking, seemingly already well-acquainted. At some point, you lock eyes with another job seeker standing alone and know that an introduction is on the way. So, you each make your way towards one another. Then comes the question, “So, what type of job are you looking for?”

Ugh! What do you say? Usually the answer is something like, “Oh something in marketing or project management (or fill in the blank).”
The other person just nods and mutters “Oh.”

The conversation quickly ends. Then, you slink away feeling like you just missed an opportunity and wonder if there’s a better way to say what you really want to say about the job you want.Hopefully, this doesn’t happen to you (often).So, what happened? The person you were talking to still doesn’t know what type of job you want and can’t help you.

As a career counselor I have this type of exchange with job seekers all the time. Fortunately, I’m skilled at asking questions to draw out the real job target, but the average person won’t take the time to ask questions to figure out how they can help you.

Here’s a better approach - prepare a simple, yet powerful 30-second introduction that opens up the conversation rather than shuts it down.In your introduction focus on who you help, what problem you solve and what outcomes you achieve.

For example: Hi, my name is Jeff, and I’m a marketing professional specializing in creating and executing marketing campaigns. I manage the project from concept to implementation so my clients don’t have to worry about the details and can focus on their customers.Another example:Hi, my name is Christine, and I’m an executive assistant with experience supporting finance and legal executives. I handle the details for busy executives, so they can focus on the big picture.

Here’s my 30-second introduction:Hi, my name is Markell, and I’m a career counselor. I help frustrated job seekers find career direction, so they can get the job they want in less time with less frustration. By working with me, job seekers get clear about their next steps and how to achieve their career goals.

To get started, take inventory of you accomplishments to identify the common theme among them. Think about what you have been recognized for, those times when you’ve achieved your best, and made contributions to your department or company. Think about what makes someone successful in the job your want and come up with examples of work you’ve done in those areas.

Apply the framework: who you help, what problem you solve and what outcomes you achieve; to come up with your own 30-second introduction.

When I talk with my clients about how important networking is to exploring and connecting career opportunities, they cringe. Networking doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. By applying the above framework you’ll have your 30-second introduction down and can confidently network your way into a new job. How can you tweak your 30-second introduction to be a conversation starter?

Another relevant BullsEye article to read: Stop Muddling Through Your Job Search; Get Focused!

************************************
Markell Steele is a career counselor, owner of Futures in Motion, Inc. and author of Fast Track Your Career: Three Steps for Finding Work You Love. Contact Markell at http://www.futures-in-motion.com/contact_us.php.

On President Barack Obama's Inauguration

I wrote several weeks ago about the 30 Career Lessons one Should Learn from the Obama campaign.

I am hoping that in his inaugural address, President Obama will challenge us as Americans to take greater responsibility for our individual and collective lives and our future. That translates for me to personal ownership of our careers and our lives, especially in a time of such economic crisis.

I think these 30 career lessons from, now President Obama's career, are worth repeating on this outstanding day!

1. Set personal goals
2. Stay away from those who say “You Can’t”
3. Be true to who you are, regardless of the job
4. To land a meaningful job or grow professionally, expect some hurdles
5. Keep learning even through your job search and beyond
6. Develop a personal board of advisors for support
7. Surround yourself with diverse people with diverse thoughts
8. Develop a backbone. Even successful careers will have disappointments
9. Think around, outside and under the box; the way forward may not necessarily be clear or straight ahead
10. Don't expect your career path to be logical to everyone else; It must make sense to you
11. Don’t burn your bridges behind you; your affiliations are important
12. Be mindful of what your associations could say about you
13. You don’t need to have all the experience in the job description to apply
14. Push the envelope; job descriptions get rewritten all the time
15. Know you might be underestimated; Rise above it!
16. Some people will like you for the job and some will not
17. Know and understand your competition; do not underestimate them
18. Think transferable skills
19. You may have to say things during an interview to impress your future boss
20. Know how to build consensus and move ideas forward
21. Keep track of your accomplishments; no one else is obligated to do that for you
22. Beware people who hang around you, because you are successful – not because they care
23. Education and training mean something
24. Hard work and discipline will pay off
25. It is not a shame to strategically plan your career
26. Many people are not working in their college majors
27. The more people who support you and your ideas, the more successful you will be
28. You are always preparing for your next career opportunity, regardless of what you are doing
29. Savor your accomplishments; be confident and gracious when the accolades come
30. Know that the real work begins after you land the job!

Happy Inauguration Day!

Plaxico Burress Shoots Himself in the Career

Any of us who have worked with new professionals to help them start and manage careers, can’t help but wince every time we see another promising professional sabotage their own career.

In this case it is Plaxico Burress.

You don’t have to be a huge football fan, I sure am not, to know his name. It has that ring to it. That sound that affixes it to your brain the first time you hear it.

The latest news is that Plaxico Burress has being arrested on weapons charges because he allegedly shot himself in the thigh? If that news wasn't bad enough, it seems the incident took place in a nightclub. Who, except someone with bad judgement, goes into a nightclub with a gun?

This is just the latest in a string of news about poor judgment from athletes who seem bent on destroying their own careers.

Of course this destructive behavior is not just limited to just athletes. Although not everyone takes a gun into a nightclub with them, others make bad choices as well.

Remember Denning McTague? The intern who tried to sell historical documents he stole from the US Constitution Center on eBay?

Without getting into the psychology of why some people might be predisposed to harm themselves professionally, there may be some things that professionals can do to avoid shooting themselves in the career.

- Find a mentor whose behavior you can model and whose judgment you trust.
- Stay grounded. It is really exciting to be in the limelight or even just be the new superstar at work. However, keep your focus on a long term career and think through the excitement.
- Ask for help. Be honest with yourself and ask for help if you feel things are slipping out of your control.

30 Career Lessons from Barack Obama's Campaign

As a registered independent voter, I read news from multiple sources. I read an article a few months ago at the Weekly Standard and thought I would save my comments until after the election.

The article was titled - Would You Hire Barack Obama? The Resume of a Chronic Underachiever, by Dean Barnett.

Barnett, a former headhunter for law firms, was reviewing Barack Obama's career and resume. His ultimate conclusion was: "The net effect is this: His accomplishments haven't been commensurate with his talents."

I wondered what Barnett would say now? Having worked in the career management field for a while, I know that there are recruiters with stories of hires who performed well beyond expectations or those hires that were overlooked and underestimated.

Since hindsight is better than 20/20, I thought I would list some of the career lessons I think one could learn from Barack Obama's campaign for the job of United States President.

1. Set personal goals
2. Stay away from those who say “You Can’t”
3. Plan and prepare for the long haul
4. To land a meaningful job, prepare for a really tough interview
5. Keep improving through the job search and beyond
6. Develop a personal board of advisors for support
7. Surround yourself with a diverse group of people with diverse thoughts
8. Develop a backbone. Even successful careers can have disappointments
9. Think around, outside and under the box. The way forward may not necessarily be clear or straight ahead
10. Don't expect your career paths to be logical to everyone looking on
11. Don’t burn your bridges behind you. You may need a reference or two eventually
12. Be mindful of what your associations can say about who you are
13. You don’t need to have all the experience in the job description to apply
14. Job descriptions get rewritten all the time
15. Be open to the fact that you might be underestimated
16. Some people will like you for the job and some will not
17. Some will laugh behind your back when they find out you are applying for a certain job
18. The real work begins after you land the job
19. Know your competition and do not underestimate them
20. Think transferable skills. eg. What skills did I develop as a community organizer or PTA President that could be valuable when changing careers.
21. You may have to say things during an interview to impress your future boss
22. You have to build consensus to move ideas forward
23. Keep track of your accomplishments; no one else is obligated to do that for you
24. You may find people want to hang around you, just because you are successful – not because they care
25. Education and training mean something
26. Hard work and discipline pays off eventually
27. It is not a shame to strategically plan your career
28. Many people are not working in their college majors
29. The more people who support you and your ideas, the more successful you will be
30. You are always preparing for your next career opportunity, regardless of what you are doing.

Did I miss anything? I am sure I did!

100 Words College Students Should Know

Who doesn't like a list. Ever so often, I run across really interesting lists of things. This time it is a list of top 100 words that all high school students should know.

This list of 100 words is compiled by the American Heritage® dictionaries.

"The words we suggest," says senior editor Steven Kleinedler, "are not meant to be exhaustive but are a benchmark against which graduates and their parents can measure themselves. If you are able to use these words correctly, you are likely to have a superior command of the language."

Here are the top 10 on the list. How many do you know? How many would come in handy if you were job hunting?

Remove the ones you know and develop a strategy to learn the others.

Find the entire list here!
-abjure
-abrogate
-abstemious
-acumen
-antebellum
-auspicious
-belie
-bellicose
-bowdlerize
-chicanery

Get a Grip; What Does Your Handshake Say About You!

I see teens greeting each other and realized that many are not aware of the fundamental business handshake. We assume everyone knows how to shake hands, right? Not so.

As my teen son said to me a few days ago, does anyone expect a high school student to know how to shake hands like business people? Yes. People do.

Your handshake is one of those things that people in general or hiring managers will remember about you. If you are a teenager looking for work, keep these handshaking tips in mind when you attend a job fair, meet a manager or go to an interview:

1) Offer your hand while looking the other person in the eye. Smile, and offer a quick introduction of yourself. eg. "Hello, my name is Job Seeker".

2) Young ladies should really be sure to offer a firm grip. The key is palm to palm contact. Limp fingers with no movement do not make a handshake.

3) Two to three pumps of the hand, not too fast, will do.

4) Of course be sure your hands are clean, warm and dry.

A hearty handshake is one way to demonstrate your confidence and professionalism. Don't be shy about extending your hand to as many people as you can and practise getting your handshake just right.

A Summary of Qualifications Can Enhance Your Resume

The main purpose of your resume as a job seeker should be to market your skills, experience and education to potential employers. Showcase your brand, so to speak. One way to quickly engage a hiring manager and maximize the success of your resume in the first 20-30 seconds, is through a powerful Summary of Qualifications.

Here are four key elements that should be included in a good Summary of Qualifications:

- Include years of experience and areas of expertise in your field. Remember that it is possible to accumulate experience you have gained from more than one job. eg. Let's say you work in customer service now and have been with your current job for three years, but have customer service experience from another job you did several years ago. Total those years for your Summary of Qualifications statement.

- Acknowledge any special or recent awards and professional recognition relevant to the position you are seeking. If you haven't been acknowledged by an organization, include an area of outstanding achievement from your last annual performance evaluation.

- Share industry specific certifications or professional training. eg If you are going after a supervisor's job and have taken a certificate in project management.

- Identify soft skills which are difficult to quantify, but give you a clear advantage eg. good public speaking, team building and multi-tasking skills.

Summer Reading Recommendation - Ramen Noodles, Rent & Resumes

What would summer be without a little light reading. Here is a new book that college graduates should add to their shelves - Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes - An After College Guide to Life by Kristen Fischer!

One of the bits of career advice Fischer offers to college graduates who are job hunting is to market themselves as they would a new product with these 8 steps:

1. Define your mission and the benefits you offer
2. Set your marketing objective
3. Define your performance measures
4. Gather, analyze and interpret data
5. Identify target markets
6. Develop marketing strategies and activities
7. Define implementation strategies
8. Periodically evaluate marketing efforts

Of course Fischer describes each of these steps in more detail and offers more valuable advice in Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes.

Top 10 Secrets of Interns Who Get Full Time Jobs

Did you know that most companies with an internship programs really wants to convert the college students in the internship program into full time permanent career hires? Well they do.

Organizations like INROADS prepare college students to participate in prestigeous internship programs with that goal in mind.

As you complete your paid internship or unpaid internship this summer, think about these "must haves" from INROADS to help you convert your summer internship to a full time job offer.

-Good college resume(College Sample Resumes)
-Excellent communication skills
-Team skills
-Strategic outlook
-Training as it relates to performance
-Problem solving and critical thinking skills
-Community service experience
-Self confidence
-Corporate etiquette is crucial
-Networking makes you more attractive

Read the full article at IMDiversity here: Top 10 Secrets of Interns Who Get Full Time Jobs.

Job Seekers not Showing Up for Interviews?

Whatever happened to not burning your bridges or making a great impression at the job interview?

The fact is you can't make a good impression at the job interview, if you don't show up for the job interview. With the increased numbers of resumes floating in cyberspace, some job seekers have a lot of options.

With the increasing relevance of social networking sites, job seekers should consider ramifications of no-shoing for the job interview. Employers Increasingly Jilted by Job Seekers.

Day 11 - What's in Your Personnel File?

National Career Development Month!

When was the last time you looked at your personnel file at work?

Schedule an appointment to take a look and find out what's in there.

Do you have enough citations or notices about excellent work you have done? Is there a current copy of your resume? Is the job description on file current? What are you currently doing that was not in your original job description?

Once you have completed a job analysis, it is a good time to audit your personnel file. It may be time for a reclassification and this is the proof you need.

Additionally, if you are looking for a new opportunity and will need someone to verify your work, it is a good idea that your file be most up to date.

Master Presentations for Workplace Success

I had the opportunity to view a group of presenters today who were all speaking about the benefits of working for their current employer, a large financial services organization. It was interesting to note that the newer college graduates displayed stronger presentation skills than the more senior staff.

How could that be? The fact is, the more seasoned employees had more details to give
and their longer term stints with this company was better testament to the benefits of employment with the company.

Here's what I think the difference was between the presenters - a much higher energy level from new graduate exuberance versus the calmer, more seasoned professionals.

The audience was clearly more engaged by the newer employees who spoke with energy and passion. For presentations, energy is definitely key to your believability.

According to A. Barbour, author of Louder Than Words: Nonverbal Communication, the total impact of messages breaks down the following way:
7 % words - verbal
38 % volume, pitch, rhythm - vocal
55 % body movements (mostly facial expressions)

Energetic presenters keep us engaged through body movements, volume, pitch and rhythm. These are skills to master and maintain.