Creating a Strategic Job Search: Rise to the top like C.R.E.A.M.

Are you ready to start job seeking? Before you start aimlessly applying for jobs, understand that in today’s competitive market developing a strategy for your job search is essential. Here’s a road map on how to create a strategy to get the job you want and becoming like the C.R.E.A.M. (Career Ready Exceptional Applicants of the Millennium) who rise to the top.

Know What You Have to Offer. In order to successfully sell a product, it’s important to know the features and benefits as it relates to the buyer. As a candidate for a position, begin with an entrepreneurial mindset. View yourself from the eyes of an employer and think about the skills, knowledge and experience that you possess that employers would find valuable. Develop an elevator pitch; that’s who you are and what you do in 3 sentences or less.

Optimize Your Resume and Social Media Presence. Your resume is like an ad for your services. Will it immediately attract the attention of a potential employer? Does is clearly state your qualifications, how you will meet employers’ needs and free from errors? It’s important to have a focused resume, otherwise employers will not be able to figure out how you may be a benefit to their company and pass. Make it easy for them.

And let’s not forget your social resume. LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are tools that companies use to market their presence online to help potential customers find them. You need to do the same to help employers find you. Don’t be incognito about it either (i.e. setting your profile to private or not including a legitimate professional profile picture); these are your media outlets. Sounds overwhelming? There are tools such as CareerCloud to help you manage it all. Be seen, be heard, and be discoverable!

Target Companies. Now that you know your product and created some great “ads” it’s time to search for your target market. Search for companies that are seeking your services and create a plan to connect with them directly (direct marketing). This may include searching through your connections on social media (prospecting) to find out who knows someone in your companies of interest (Jackalope Jobs makes that easy). Ask for an introduction or attend an event where employees of those companies will be present (this is when you use that elevator pitch). Follow your companies of interest on all their social media platforms. This may give you insight into their corporate culture or first dibs on an employment opportunity.

Be Interview Ready. After you've gotten the attention of potential employers be ready to close the sale. There’s nothing like getting a product that doesn't deliver on its promises.  It’s important to research the company in preparing for the interview, but if you have been connecting and following them on social media most of this work has been done. This will make it easier for you to readily match what you have to offer with their needs and share ideas on solutions you can provide.

Not having a proper plan and strategy in place is where many fail in the job search process. It’s like throwing darts without a target and hoping something will stick. Applying a strategy will take you from being a career ready applicant to a Career Ready Exceptional ACHIEVER of the Millennium. Know your value, know what you want and be intentional in getting it.

Moving You Forward,

Cathy Francois
Career Coach
Founder of Rezume Forward

P.S. The job search process can be complicated. Thankfully, you do not have to create a plan alone. Let’s team up to create a personalized plan to help you achieve career success today. Email me at cfrancois@rezumeforward.com

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Reality TV: Trashy TV or Lessons to Treasure?

Yes, reality television is one of my favorite guilty pleasures; Real Housewives of Atlanta, Chicagolicious… and Shahs of Sunset might be growing on me. I don’t get a kick out of the cat fights or the wig tugging. But, I do have an appreciation for the more subtle moments where career and business transactions are being made, and lessons are being learned. I’m especially more interested in the characters that are driven entrepreneurs and live for the actual real moments, even if it’s just some nuggets of knowledge. Oh, and the drama… just keeps it interesting. So I’ve taken some snippets of real moments that you can apply in real life to achieve career success.

Make Real Connections.  No, the faux friends you have on Facebook don’t count. Not to discredit social media (love it!), but remember it’s a bridge for real connections to be made. Please do not get confused, I’m not necessarily talking about rubbing elbows with Donald Trump or Bravo TV’s Andy Cohen, who both by the way attributed themselves to Real Housewives of Atlanta star, Nene Leakes’ success (she stated otherwise). What I am saying is, foster positive relationships by starting with the people around you, like your neighbor across your cubical and in your community. Because you never know where a real connection may lead you. 

Be Likable. Again, not as in the 20 “likes” on your photo planking on top of the stove. Being likable goes hand-in-hand with making real connections. It’s hard to keep connections with an "all-about-ME” attitude. We all know there’s no “I” in TEAM and you’ll need a great one around you to achieve success like the team at AJ's Salon of Style Network's Chicagolicious. Even if you’re confident in what you do, embrace your talents graciously or end up in the NFL (no friends left) zone.

Give Back. Let’s keep it real, not all of us need to start a foundation at once, because you know that’s popular in Hollywood. We can all give back in small ways, such as sharing best practices with your team, giving a colleague a good referral, and sharing your gifts with the underserved. Some people may remember and one day return the favor, but do not give to receive, which goes back to the first point about making real connections.

So the next time you're getting ready to have your reality TV fix, put down your smartphone, bring out the pen and paper, and get ready to be schooled. It's lesson time!

Moving you forward,

Cathy Francois
Career Coach
Founder of Rezume Forward

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