Job Search Tip: Build Your Personal Asset Bank!
Conducting a successful job search means anticipating the
expectations of a decision-maker.
Whether you meet in a traditional interview or in the alternate
"first meeting" format we recommend, you must be prepared to
meet expectations.
Take a look at yourself and your work history through the eyes
of a prospective employer. It helps you objectify your
credentials. Because, if they don't make sense to a prospective
employer, they DON'T MAKE SENSE . . . no matter how thrilling
they are to you.
Fortunately you have plenty of marketable assets that will
attract an employer's attention. In particular there are three
categories of marketable assets that can help you make a
favorable impression.
1. Qualifying experiences: you have what it takes to do the job.
2. Bridge skills: you have the smarts to move forward and take
on new assignments.
3. Workstyle values: you possess an inner value system that
guarantees energy and commitment
Start by reviewing the various work situations you've been in.
Without reference to your resume, jot down a list of memorable
work experiences.
Be sure to include volunteer work, military service,
internships, summer employment, etc. Then, ask yourself the
question, "What did I learn from this experience that would be
helpful to my next employer."
Pull out the many marketable assets you derived from your work
situations using the three categories above. Distill each list
until you have the key marketable assets and strengths that make
up the image of you you're going to project.
Remember, job search wisdom starts with a clear-eyed
understanding of what you've got going for you. We call it your
personal asset bank. It's made up of all your Qualifying and
Bridge Skills as well as your Workstyle Values.
Your asset bank is a ready source of focused marketable
information about you that you must be prepared to assertively
point out to prospective employers. It's what they want to hear
rather than a dull recitation of your work history.