1. Come up with an “Elevator Pitch”
3. Contact Hiring Managers Directly
5. Make Sure Good Things Show Up When They Google You
7. Over-Prepare For Your Interview
8. Create a 30-60-90-Day Plan for the Interview
9. Ask questions In the Interview
10. Follow Up After the Interview
If you’re looking for a new job, these 10 steps will put the job offer in your hands:
1. Come Up With an Elevator Pitch.
An elevator pitch is nothing but a quick summary of who you are and what you do–your name, function or job title, and key strengths. All this needs to do is capture the attention of your listener/reader, so they want to continue. You can use this at networking events, when you introduce yourself to hiring managers, in place of a traditional objective statement on your resume, and on your LinkedIn profile.
2. Redo Your Resume
Most people don’t have a resume that really generates interviews. To get interviews, your resume should have:
(1) Quantification – Quantification is adding numbers, dollars, and percentages (performance statistics) that describe your accomplishments in previous roles.
(2) Bullet Points – Bullet points make your resume much easier to read, and draw their eye to your skills and accomplishments.
(3) No More than 2 Pages – Unless you are at C-Level or have lots of publications, you must keep your resume to only 1-2 pages. It only needs to get their attention enough to call you in for an interview.
(4) Relevance for the Employer – Use the job description to tailor your resume to the job you want. Fill it with job-relevant keywords that will get it noticed by computerized tracking systems.
3. Contact Hiring Managers Directly
Getting in front of the actual hiring decision maker for whatever job you’re interested in will get you interviews and job offers–see how here: Contacting Hiring Managers Really Works. Applying online, (which sends your resume to HR) turns you into a number in the system instead of a talented face who can do the job.
4. Use LinkedIn To Connect
LinkedIn is the most important place to be for business networking. Most people don’t have a profile that gets employers or recruiters to contact them. A great profile includes highlights of your job history, a business professional picture, and a summary of who you are and what you do. (Like your resume, but without as much information as your resume.) See this LinkedIn profile tutorial for expert guidance.
But don’t just create the profile. Participate. One of the things that makes LinkedIn so powerful is the connections you make and the recommendations or endorsements you get. Make connections by joining groups and discussions. Give recommendations and endorsements so you’ll be more likely to get them. (LinkedIn is also an amazing resource for information on companies, hiring managers, and industry trends.)
5. Make Sure Good Things Show Up When They Google You
One of the first things an interested employer will do is Google you. Make sure that positive, professional results show up. The best way to do that is to actively create them. Comment (professionally) on LinkedIn discussions, Facebook posts, and blog articles. Tweet positive or job-relevant info. You can also seek out opportunities to guest post on blogs or write articles for online newsletters. Make sure that every time you say something online, that it’s professional and relevant.
6. Network
To find and get a job, you have to talk to people. Attend networking events, tradeshows, or other industry events. Send emails to your professional network that say Hi, ask how they’re doing, and maybe even give them something: a bit of information, a job lead, a great website, or an article you found. Let them know what’s going on with you, and ask them to keep an eye out for jobs you may be interested in. Most people are happy to help.
7. Over-Prepare For Your Interview.
Do more than your competition will do to be ready for the interview, and you will perform better than they do. So…thoroughly research the company: as much as possible, know their successes, issues and challenges. Dress well and project friendliness and enthusiasm with your body language. Have stories ready that demonstrate how you’ve handled difficult situations or challenges. Practice your answers to interview questions (seriously consider role-playing interview questions with a coach). The more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll be…and you’ll appear more competent and trustworthy.
8. Create a 30/60/90-Day Plan For Your Interview.
There’s no better way to show how great you’ll be in the job than by creating a 30/60/90-day plan. It not only shows that you can do the job well, it demonstrates your work ethic, enthusiasm, commitment, and knowledge. (See more on 30-60-90-Day Plans.)
9. Ask Questions In The Interview
Asking questions in the interview shows your interest in the job and strategic thinking skills. It also gives you a lot of information you can use to answer their questions much more effectively. It turns the interview into a conversation and highlights your confidence and appeal. (See 10 Best Interview Questions to Ask.)
10. Follow Up
Good job interview follow up includes:
(1) Providing great references – The best references are past managers or other high-level people, but they should all be willing to speak to the interviewer. Make sure you prep them for the call by giving them the information they need to speak intelligently about you.
(2) Writing a great thank you note – Thank you notes should be sent as quickly as possible (within 24 hours, by email) and should refer back to what you discussed in the interview. This is where you reiterate your fit and maybe add something new to the discussion that shows you’ve thought about your conversation and. This can also be a good opportunity to revise your 30/60/90-day plan based on what you talked about, and attach it to your thank you note.
(3) Calling to check on progress – If they don’t get back to you when they said they would, wait a day or two and call them. It’s not pushy or intrusive…it’s good, professional communication. It shows your continued interest in the job.
Do you need a new job fast? Discover the most effective job search method ever in my free webinar, Get a Great Job in 6 Weeks.
You’ll get powerful strategies for resumes, cover letters and networking to find hidden jobs and get more interviews.