Job Search Tips
Resumes
Your resume needs to grab the reader’s attention in less than 17 seconds. That’s not much time so you better sharpen your pencil. To write a top-notch resume for a college grad:
1. Start with a tight profile that uses a few descriptive words about who yourself like highly and highlights key accomplishments.
2. List college details: degree, major(s), minor(s) and any academic awards or honors.
3. Describe your work or internship experience briefly followed by accomplishments underneath each position.
4. Indicate outside activities beyond academics that demonstrate leadership ability, passion and involvement.
5. Limit content to one page and proof read carefully
Cover Letters
How are you going to get that crucial interview? Your cover letter has to totally outshine hundreds of other applicants and kick the door wide open to land a coveted interview spot. Here’s how to stay at the top of the pile:
1. Get a referral to an internal manager and put the name in your first sentence so the internal manager keeps reading!
2. Explain the type of job you want up front.
3. Highlight facts about yourself that will serve the company.
4. Close with when you plan to follow up.
5. Use quality paper to create a quality impression
Interview Skills
Once you get in the door, you only get two minutes to make a good impression. It may be even less than that. These crucial interview skills give you a chance to impress immediately:
1. Develop answers to expected questions.
2. Map out your success stories.
3. Ask questions about the company and your career track.
4. Rehearse until the words roll off your tongue with sincerity and ease.
5. Don’t bring up salary during the first interview.
Job Search Strategies
Do you know the companies you’d like to work for? Do you have internal connections within those businesses? How can you discover which companies are hiring and offer what you want in a career?
Develop a strategy for job hunting to ensure your success. Most people skip this step and just send out resumes. Break away from the pack with a plan of attack!
1. Start by creating a formal job search strategy and writing it down.
2. Develop a full plan including industry research, target companies, resume specifics, cover
letter ideas and thank you notes. Don’t leave out any steps.
3. Build a network by tapping every resource you have, then stay in touch.
4. Learn to use social networking to locate prospective employers.
5. Follow up, but don’t harass.
Cutting Edge Coaching
Coaching offers the support you need in a wide range of job hunting areas:
- Creating a strategic job search plan.
- Resume and Cover Letter tips.
- Interviewing practice and enhancement.
- Focus, clarity and follow through to meet your deadlines.
- Process review to tweak elements as feedback comes in and you move forward.
- An empathetic ear, a knowledgeable advisor, and someone who will hold you accountable.
Clients depend on Ms. Ryan’s keen insights, quick assessments and innovative solutions. Known for getting right to the heart of the matter, her style is direct, humorous, practical and powerful.