If you find yourself in a difficult situation, don’t panic. Smart workers will have a compelling resume and strategy prepared in file and ready to go. If you don’t have a plan, then develop one now. You can’t predict the future, but you can plan for change.
The primary questions that you need to answer are: What do you have to offer that companies need? What experiences do you have that others don’t? If you’re in a “hot” industry and have proven results, then you’re highly marketable. If not, you’ll need some help. Here are some steps:
- Objectively assess your current skills, experiences and education – What are your greatest accomplishments? What is your unique contribution? What can you do that most others cannot do? You must differentiate yourself from all other competitors.
- Analyze the marketplace – What industries can best use your skills? What companies and functions are in a growth mode within different geographical locations?
- Assess your marketability – How can you upgrade your skills and knowledge to make yourself more marketable? How do you leverage your competencies to the next level?
- What’s your value to a new company? Research the compensation levels by function, title and location. How do you compare? Can you justify your compensation to a hiring organization?
- Look at your options – Develop a Matrix with information from #2, 3, & 4. Compare the marketplace, industries, functions and compensation to assess your greatest opportunities.
- Balance your marketing approach: Research job availability, by market. Develop a Matrix of contacts: Identify individuals who know your quality of work, are connected, and can refer you to others. 70+% of jobs are found through people you know or whom they know.
- Assess your readiness for the next step – Can you find a “model”: Someone who has already achieved what you aspire to achieve? What were their steps? How did they do it?
- Develop a powerful and compelling resume. Focus on what the hiring manager is looking for, and then parallel your results with their needs. Every job has measureable results that can be documented on a resume to make it compelling.
- Identify the 3 to 5 most dramatic results you have achieved over 5 years. Convert those results into measurable statements that will catch the eye of hiring managers. Examples:
- 12% annual Increase in revenue over 3 years
- 18% expansion of new products to new customers
- 8% cost reductions through continuous improvement
Hiring managers want to know how you are going to add value to their results. Show them what you’ve done, how you did it and what you can do for them.
Some people when confronted with a career setback, will fold-up, give up and settle for less. Others will approach their careers with greater energy, with new vitality, and then accelerate their efforts. What do you plan to do?
For a FREE review of your resume, send it to: wkaufmann44@gmail.com