One thing I have noticed throughout talking with people who are unemployed is the negativity they possess. Yes it's hard without a doubt and you're reading this from a guy who went through a devastating divorce where I lost everything and then resigning from a job and while looking I've lost that much more, not that I had anything else to lose. When I tell you I lost it's not just materialistic items, it's faith, it's my kids, my friends, my family. Yes everyone tends to turn away from you when you hit with anarchy. It's not my problem. Oh they do help at the start, but eventually it gets old and they figure they have their own worries. Which in lot's of cases is true, but that's when we as a society should bond closer to help each other.
I recently was reading in a discussion of unemployment someone who wouldn't give acknowledgement to his creator. That he's not helping out. That is part of what keeps me going and has kept me going. It's OK to be mad and upset and blame, but understand nothing happens in our timing and no matter how many prayers one might say even our creator will not help unless you help yourself. When someone would ask me how am I doing, I always reply I'm doing well thank you, I woke up this morning and my feet hit the ground so I must be doing well. Besides any day on this side of the earth is got to be better than any day inside the earth, right? Well that's my spill on gospel. You have to believe in something or you'll fall for anything.
In my last post I spoke about getting out there and talking to people and letting people know you exist. I'm not one for mingling in a networking site around town. I never was one to do that, but I seem to be able to carry more of a relationship with people on the internet in discussion groups on LinkedIn and Facebook somewhat. I don't do much on Facebook by the way, really not my thing. But on LinkedIn, you need to speak with people; getting in discussions and letting people know what you offer on a discussion. I have made more contacts this way than I could ever make anywhere else. People read and many might disagree, but find some common ground and make that contact. Each contact is a potential that may get you closer to your goal.
Regarding my resume I have tinkered with it for so long I finally got it together and have had numerous recruiters as well as contacts tell me I have a very impressive resume. I did have 2 individuals in my network that offered me to look it over and give me some additional tweaks and both were resume writers in their profession. That did help. As I said I've read and continue to improve on my method. I never use an Objective statement. It is always a brief summary and several bullet points of my achievements. I've included it below.
Summary:
Passionate, proactive business leader, offering fresh ideas, building on new thoughts & theory with documented results of building on quality management, increasing revenue, reducing costs, developing people, exceeding expectations with accountability & veracity. Combined leadership, business acumen, technical expertise with strong communication & motivational skills to align business with cost-effective strategies to increase productivity & profitability. Improved ROI through process improvements.
Then followed by about 4 or 5 bullet points. I have 2 resumes. One is 2 pages, and one is 3 pages. I am not bashful about telling me my experience and I've gotten over the cliche' of age discrimination somewhat. Yes it effects me but not as bad as it use to. I'm a salesman and selling a product. It doesn't matter how old I am, I'm selling a product and my job is to make the buyer want the product. In theory if you can sell ice to an Eskimo who absolutely has no need for ice, then you should be able to sell yourself to a potential client who has a need and you have a remedy.
I said a potential client, because that is what the employers are that you are interviewing with a potential client. A future customer. Even when you got to work for an employer you are nothing more than a salesman on a daily basis providing a service for their need. You will get paid for what you deliver. Is that any different than what a salesperson does? You have to study your client and be well prepared to present your product and services and know ahead of time what is the need they are seeking out. OK so you have a job description, study it, read between the lines and understand what is it they are searching for. Forget the title, intriguing but that won't get you the job. Most employers in my experience want to know what you can do for them now not what you did in the past. Your experiences just qualifies you to be sitting in front of them. Now it's my job to convince them the product I'm discussing is what they are looking for and my product is clearly the best on the market and here's what my product will do today if you jump on board and give me the opportunity to prove to you, you have made a wise choice.
To many people I have found go into an interview not prepared, myself included over time. They assume they met all the points from the job description so they qualify. Heck look at the big 3 auto makers. They all have the same resume. So they each sit in front of you trying to get you to buy their product. They all have what you specify you want. What are they doing to win you over? What can they do for you today that the other one hasn't offered or cannot do? It's the same process.
I find people are not salesman and if they are not in sales they have no clue nor do they want to learn how to be a salesperson. I never thought I would have to change my way of thinking but I did change. I'm a salesperson and I have to market my product (ME)in the best possible light with the best possible ideas that will get this potential client to want to use my services. Will I get his business? I don't know, but I'm going to sell to him and negotiate what I can do for him/her the best way I can. Quit thinking of yourself as an interviewee who has met the bullet points of a job description. Yes you need the JD to qualify you for the position, but now it comes time to write that proposal in a clear concise format we all know as the cover letter to help get you in the door so you can concentrate on the product. Taylor your resume for each job you apply to. It's not easy, yes it gets boring and tiresome, but you are trying to win over your next big client. Think like a sales manager. Think like a marketing director.
What you're reading is part of my plan I put together over time, there's more to come, hang in there!
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