Saturday, March 14, 2020

One Job Search Destroying Word to Eliminate from Your Resume Today

One Job Search Destroying exakt to Eliminate from Your Resume TodayWe are all professionals in the working world. No need to brag on your resume about being just like every other human. Individuality is the substance of successful resumes in todays job market. Unfortunately, I see titles like this on resumes every dayAdministrative ProfessionalCustomer tafelgeschirr ProfessionalAccounting ProfessionalHuman Resources ProfessionalInformation Technology ProfessionalSenior Executive Professional (Seriously? What does this even mean?)Senior Finance ProfessionalDedicated ProfessionalConsummate ProfessionalAnd the one I love to hate the most Accomplished ProfessionalYou can put any industry (or adjective) you want in front of the definitiv professional and people think it makes for a great addition to their resume. Truth is, there isnt a much more vague statement out there. It is so damaging to your job search to include this statement as a job target, job title, header, branding statement , or within the first line of your career summaryif for no other reason than the fact that a hiring manager isnt going to log into LinkedIn or Monster and search the words Customer Service Professional, Accomplished Professional, or Consummate Professional to find you.When they do a keyword search theyre going to search by job title and for keywords relevant to the opportunity. Instead of using professional, use the job title or position youre seeking.For example, instead of Customer Service Professional with 15+ years of experience, just say Customer Service Manager with 15+ years of experience or Customer Service Representative with 15+ years of experience.Rather than Senior Executive Professional or Senior Finance Professional, say Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer, or Chief Financial Officer.Using specific position titles has two positive effects. First, it increases your keyword optimization with pesky applicant-tracking software programs second, it clearly defi nes for the person reviewing your resume who you are and the position youre seeking. The last thing you want to do is confuse the hiring manager about what type of role youre trying to obtain.

Monday, March 9, 2020

How to Create a Good Elevator Pitch for Your Job Search

How to Create a Good Elevator Pitch for Your Job Search How to Create a Solid Elevator Pitch for Your Job SearchHeres how you can master the elevator pitch and answer the What do you do? networking question like a pro.Not everyone finds networking events to be fun. In fact, for introverts, networking can be a painful activity. And one of the fruchtwein excruciating parts? When everyone goes around the room and gives their elevator pitch, a quick spiel that captures the essence of what they do or what kind of job theyre looking for. Whether youre presenting in front of a crowd or just having a one-on-one conversation, a good elevator pitch that answers the networking question, What do you do? is one of the most important tools you can have in your job-search arsenal.In order to craft an award-winning introduction, consider borrowing a concept from the field of marketing you are marketing yourself, after all. When promoting a product, a marketer has the choice to discuss either the pr oducts features or its benefits. Features are the things you can see, touch, or feel about a product, while benefits are the advantages you get from it. The rule of thumb in marketing is that features dont sell a product, benefits do.The reason so many elevator pitches are boring or unmemorable is that people have a strong tendency to talk only about their professional features what they do and how they do it which is not likely to leave a lasting impression.Benefits, on the other hand, are much mora enticing in an elevator pitch. Do you provide a competitive advantage by creating customer loyalty? Have you saved your employer money by creating efficient, new systems? You get the idea. Focus on the impact of what you do, not just the tasks you have mastered. Of course, make sure your benefits are not too general or over the top, or you will come off as cheesy and unbelievable. For example, instead of leading with something like I save companies from going out of business, try one of these sample statements insteadI lead accounting departments that actually save companies money.I increase revenue through unique ways of creating brand loyalty.Ideally, your elevator pitch will intrigue people enough to want to hear more. Once youve come up with something you like, practice saying it until it feels comfortable but not rehearsed and youll be ready to confidently answer this networking question at your next event.Click on the following link for more networking advice.Make sure your resume is ready for your new connections with a free resume critique.Recommended ReadingNetworking Tips from the Industry Experts5 Ways to Network With Your Current ColleaguesHow to Succeed at Your Next Networking EventRelated Articles