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Part II. The Top Five Mistakes Made When Looking for A Job
"What is it that you like doing? If you don't like it, get out of it, because you'll be lousy at it. ~Lee Iacocca
. Last week we explored three mistakes made when looking for work as the following:
- Thinking you can get a job without any previous work history.
- Thinking that the hiring process is all about you.
- Lack of preparation
If you would like to read more about these three mistakes, click on the link below titled Newsletter Archive #22.
This week we will explore the last two mistakes I find made most often when people are looking for work.
- A resume and cover letter that puts the reader to sleep. Remember in last week's newsletter I mentioned the need to have an idea of the type of work you would be best suited for and to have some work experience doing it. Now is the time to brag about those past experiences as they relate to what you want. In your cover letter and resume you will need to list the greatest accomplishments in each of your past positions that relate to the job you want. For instance, if you are looking for a sales position, you need to show that you have the ability to sell and that you were good at it. The best way to do this is by showing the number of new clients gained or the percentage increase in sales you created as a result of being there. Always state what your previous company gained as a result of your hard work. Try and make these accomplishments as quantitative as possible. When you highlight these accomplishments in your cover letter, the reader will quickly add you to the "must set up an interview" pile as opposed to the "round" file.
- Forgetting to ask for the job. If you were chosen for an interview and the position sounds great then you need to ask for the job! You do this by saying, "This sounds like a position I was made for...what else do you need from me to show I am qualified and committed to do it?" Many job seekers think this is too aggressive in the interview process. I say this is exactly what an employer wants to hear...someone who is passionate, confident and excited to work for their company. It will help you stand out from the crowd and get to the next interview, or better yet, get you the job offer!
While there are many more tips I can provide to help you land that job, if you focus on these five, you will differentiate yourself from the hundreds of candidates out there that are just as qualified and hungry as you are to get that position. |
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Diane Amundson is the owner of Diane Amundson & Associates. She has been training, speaking and consulting for over sixteen years in the areas of leadership, creativity, generational diversity, team building, sales communication, conflict resolution and strategic planning. She has worked with Fortune 500 Companies like General Mills and Pepsi Cola along with numerous school districts in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She has co-authored a book titled Success Strategies: A High Achiever's Guide to Success. She is a member of the National Speakers Association and has served as Adjunct Professor of Organizational Behavior at Winona State University.
She is a Rotarian that has traveled the world on humanitarian projects in Mongolia, India and Brazil.
Her style of speaking is informative and highly interactive.
Diane Amundson & Associates
Phone: (507)452-2232 Fax:(507)452-0090
24456 County Road 9 Winona, MN 55987 |
