7 Secrets Prospective Employers Want You To Know But Won't Tell
You
Looking for an executive level position in this market can be a
stressful experience. Good news is, you don't have to waste time
or settle for default jobs when you "strategically anticipate
what employers are looking for", according to Alex Koss -
executive career strategist. With a proper game plan, you can be
ahead of most job seekers.
Here are 7 critical things employers want you to know:
1.DON'T BE ORDINARY. The quickest way to eliminate yourself from
the competition is to be like everyone else. Candidates who get
hired are those who can demonstrate distinctive abilities and
how they can solve employers' problems. Being experienced is
good; being 'uniquely knowledgeable' is better. Employers always
prefer to hire someone who is hard to find.
2. NEVER, EVER USE A "BORING" RESUME. Want your resume to be
ignored? Do what everybody else is doing - copy other people's
formats. To get your resume noticed, you need to have a
strategic marketing presentation, not a dry job description.
Forget most of what you've read about resumes. If yours puts
employers to sleep, it doesn't matter that you have "20 years of
experience". It's how you present yourself that counts. Aim to
be different, not canned.
3. ACT LIKE A HANDS-ON ENTREPRENEUR. Hiring a new employee is
always a risk. However hiring an individual with a sincere
attitude of "your business is my business" is much more
palatable for companies. Give employers practical incentives
that will help them minimize their risk and maximize return on
investment. This will not only tell them that you are serious,
but will enable you to get more job offers to choose from.
4. TURN DISADVANTAGES INTO ADVANTAGES. Over 50 and looking for a
job? Gaps in your career history? Didn't get along with your
last boss? Any disadvantage can be promoted as a learning
experience and/or an asset. Really. If you think about it,
personal growth is about solving problems not being comfortable.
In any situation ask yourself - what's useful in this situation?
The answer (the HONEST answer, not a quick "nothing") may
surprise you.
5. HAVE FUN WITH YOUR CAREER BLUNDERS. Employers don't need to
hear long stories about the "dog company" you worked for (or you
are currently working for!). If some of your previous jobs are
an embarrassment, describe them with a sense of humor. Alex
comments: "a recent client who worked just 8 months for a major
company that laid him off, described this obvious career
disaster as 'the only job where wearing a brown polyester suit
was a requirement'".
6. SHOW THAT YOU ARE HUNGRY FOR LEARNING. As you've probably
discovered, formal education is now not enough. When you can
show that you are eager to attend industry events (especially on
your own time and even at your own expense), your value goes up
exponentially. Your desire to learn in a non-traditional sense
is a bonus to any worthwhile employer.
7. ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT. Don't assume employers know why you
are interviewing with them. Asking for the job is a surefire way
to indicate that you are willing to take the next step. Asking
can be as simple as saying "I am very interested in this
opportunity" and as impressive as sending a follow-up thank you
note, re-emphasizing what you can do for a prospective employer.
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