Career Coach: It Is Not About You

I think you will find the following article by guest writer Alec Ford to be very interesting and helpful.

I wish you career success.

Ramon Greenwood, The Career Coach, Common Sense At Work

I want to throw out a challenge to you about your job search. It is not about you, nor me.

I know this sounds less than supportive, considering how tough the job market is right now, but we all spend far too much time in the search focused on ourselves. To be fair, let me clarify:

-The resume, cover letter and initial communication should be focus on the hiring companies needs 
-Your research on the industry, company and role should focus on the identification of their needs 
-Your prep for the interview should be designed and tailored to identify and discuss meeting their needs as much as is possible

This is a really tough time to look for a job and I have been there, like you, spending all day sending out resumes and worrying and hoping for a response. I know that it is tough. But, to be candid, if the focus is getting your information out there, not solutions to employer’s needs out there, you may not get the result you want.

So, here is the action plan:

-Write out as many questions as you can think of that you would like to answer about the needs that the company has. This may include with whom they compete, how they measure success, what their competitors do well, and how the needs for great people in that industry are changing.

-Test out your conclusions with peers and colleagues. If you think you have a good handle on the needs of companies in consumer marketing, go show you top needs list to people who do that now. You can find them, look online.

Decide to make all your communication for your job search including your resume, cover letter and follow up communication about how you have either solved problems, met needs, identified needs, or will meet needs.

I know, even as tough as it is right now, that you can make this shift. It means thinking like your buyers, not like a seller.

Good luck and the best to you.

Alec Ford