Tag Archives: Job description

6 Strategies To Help You Keep Your Job

It’s true.  In some companies, even those which we thought were invulnerable, pink slips are raining like confetti.  And that’s if  the company can manage to keep its doors open. The unemployment rate among college-educated workers has jumped 41% over the past year, and there’s no end in sight.

Smart job strategies to avoid layoffs offers some suggestions and I’ve added some of my own thoughts in italics.

1. Stand out and step up

Strategy: Make sure higher-ups know you by solving problems and taking on high-profile projects.

Well this is an evergreen.  Don’t wait until a recession to practice this.  It should be your every day mantra.

2. Be a money-maker

Strategy: Share client leads or ideas to generate revenue even if that’s not part of your responsibilities.

No kidding, Watashi.  No one fires a money maker.

3. Don’t be a Don Downer

Strategy: Hang out with the people the boss respects most. The halo of their good reputation may extend to you.

Not too sure I’d waste my time hanging out with anyone when there’s work to be done.  But then I’m a recovering…but not much…workaholic.  And I’m not sure anyone fires a workaholic either, since they’re usually doing the work of 3 people.

4. Increase your value

Strategy. Keep on top of advances in your field and expand your expertise beyond your core area.

Another evergreen.  Don’t wait for a recession to do this.  Do it day in and day out, rain or shine.

5. Go beyond your job description

Strategy. Look for problem spots that you can help fix. And pitch in whenever extra hands are needed.

No kidding.  Who wrote some of these?  The office slow poke?  ( No offense meant.  I know they gave some good examples which is worth a lot I guess.)

6. Make a sacrifice

Strategy. Volunteering to take a pay cut during an industrywide downturn can make you look like a hero.

I am really not too sure of this one.  I’m not sure anyone should step up and devalue themselves.  If you’re the CEO or one of the top management of a company by all means, step up to the plate and ask for a pay cut.  You’re the responsible party.  But, for employees below that level, I think the better advice is to keep your salary the same and offer to take on more work.

These are my thoughts.  But if you want to compare them in detail, go to Smart job strategies to avoid layoffs and read the whole piece…lots of examples.

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How To Create An Interview Preparation List

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Create An Interview Preparation List – AdvancingWomen.com Careers-Employment.

Here’s a quick way to compare your own job experience and qualifications with those that your prospective employer is looking for in a specific job position. Make an “Interview Preparation List”. When you prepare for a job interview, it’s good to have a quick reference of your past work experience that you can study ahead of time to help prepare you for the specific job you’re interviewing for.

Grab a sheet of paper and make three columns.

Column A will be “Position Requirements”;

Column B will be “Your Qualifications and Experience”; and

Column C will list “Your Stories”. For this exercise, you’ll be using the actual job description from the employer.

So, in Column A (Position Requirements) you’ll take one piece of the job description and write for example: “Ability to work well with others.” Ok. Now you’ll have to think about your own experiences while working well with others. What specific examples do you have that demonstrates this ability?

Great. You’ve thought of something. In this example, we’ll write under Column B (Your Qualifications and Experience) “Worked on the XYZ project team.”

Now you need to break it down even further and list a specific action-oriented example of “working well with others” on the XYZ project team.

In Column C (Your Stories) you write something like this: “Coordinated winning marketing campaign which resulted in a successful launch of new product.” See how successful that makes you look?

(And don’t forget personal branding: be sure to include those signature elements of your style, your talents and achievements which differentiate you from the crowd and make you stand out.)

Keep going until you’ve listed something for every part of the job description. Now, you’re ready for your close-up.

Author, Donna Monday of Get A Job Interview- Quick Tips

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Tough Times? Craft Your Competitive Advantage By Thinking Me, Inc.

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Career Success: Get Ahead of the Crowd – Careers-Employment-AdvancingWomen.com

Regardless of where you open your briefcase or palm pilot each day – at a large corporation, a small business or the end of your dining room table – the key to staying employable the rest of your life is your own creative action. The person who is going to be successful is not going to succeed just because of good work. That is a given. It is expected. Crafting your competitive advantage is what is going to get you ahead in these crazy, changing times. Pay attention to and practice the following three tactics to not only stay in the game but to get ahead of the crowd.

Think Of Your Career As A Business.
The business of career management is that—an independent business that you manage—even if you work for someone else. In this world of downsizing, restructuring, and mergers, you, not the company, must be in the driver’s seat of your career. Always think of yourself as self-employed.

Ask yourself these tough but important questions: What business am I really in? What is my product line? What is the target market for my products? For example, if I am an accountant then, what is it that I really do that people will pay for? Can I list three features and three benefits of my talents? Do I know my current worth in the marketplace? It doesn’t matter what your title is. What matters is, if what you do has value and is needed by someone or some company.

You must start looking at your workplace with new eyes—as a marketplace of buyers and sellers—and start thinking of your career as a business. Launch your business called “Me, Inc.” by defining your a product line, targeting your customers, and having a well thought-out career strategy. Therefore, YOU, not the unpredictable winds of change, become the driving force for your career. Exit job security. Enter career security.

Have Skills, Will Travel.
What’s your competitive advantage? What do you bring to the employment table? You carry with you, wherever you go, a large suitcase or portfolio that holds all of your skills, experiences, and accomplishments. What’s in your portfolio? Is it heavy with many skills or light with only a few? Do you know if it would be valued in lots of different places or just a limited number?

To be competitive, you must periodically audit your portfolio and benchmark your skills. How do you compare with your peers in terms of education, experience, training, career progression? Are you new and improved? Or, are you just the same person you were three, five, ten years ago? Do you have the right mix of skills, knowledge and experiences to position yourself for the future? Or, do you need to repackage yourself in some way? Getting ahead tomorrow means getting better today and throughout your work life. Avoid becoming a professional dinosaur.

The key question is not where you stand on the corporate ladder. It is: “What do you know how to do; and where else can you do it.” A well honed and portable portfolio will provide you with the greatest security in today’s changing and competitive business environment.

Become Street Smart.
What will keep you in the race as the rules of the workplace road continue to change constantly? Initiative, visibility, and flexibility are the three cornerstones of success in the new career game.

Exercise leadership. You can’t afford to crouch behind your desk, buried in your everyday work, and hope for the best. Go beyond your job description and direct your energy to the top priorities of your boss, your department, your team. Make yourself indispensable.

Stand up and be seen. Promote yourself, not be your title, but by the outcomes or results of what you’re doing. Your reputation can either pave your way or get in the way of your success. You can start making a name for yourself by being involved in successful assignments that allow you to be visible to a wide range of people who could have an impact on your career. These assignments could include for example: Building a new team from scratch; or overseeing the introduction of new technology; or taking on projects that require liaison or communications between departments, functional areas and vendors?

Marcia Zidle, career coach, http://leadershiphooks.com/

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Why Should We Hire You? – Because You Are The Solution

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Why Should We Hire You? – Careers-Employment – AdvancingWomen.com

This is one of those broad questions that can take you down the wrong road unless you have done some thinking about what to say ahead of time. This question deals with your ability to sell yourself. Think of yourself as the product. Why should the customer buy?

Answers that WON’T WORK -

‘Because I need a job.’ — This answer is about YOU — ‘they’ want to know what you can do for ‘them.’

‘I am a hard worker.’ — This is a really trite answer — almost anyone can say he or she is a hard worker.

‘I saw your ad and could do the job.’ — This answers lacks passion and purpose.

STRONGER ANSWERS that would get the interviewer‘s attention –

‘Because I have three years experience working with customers in a very similar environment.’

‘Because I have what it takes to fill the requirements of this job – solve customer problems using my excellent customer service skills.’

‘Because I have the experience and expertise in the area of customer support that is required in this position.’

This is a time to let the customer (the interviewer) know what your product (YOU) can do for them and why they should listen to what you have to offer. The more detail you give the stronger your answer will be. This is not a time to talk about what you want. It is a time to summarize your accomplishments and relate what makes you unique and therefore a viable fit for this position.

Product Inventory Exercise

Start by looking at the job description or posting. What is the employer emphasizing as requirements of the job? What will it take to get the job done? Make a list of those requirements on one side of a piece of paper.

Next, do an inventory to determine what you have to offer as a fit against those requirements. List your skills on the other side of the paper. Think of two or three key qualities you have to offer that match each requirement that the employer is seeking. Don’t underestimate personal traits that make you unique — your energy, personality type, working style, and people skills.

The Sales Pitch — You are the Solution

From the list of requirements and your matching list of what you have to offer, merge the two into a summary statement. This is your sales pitch. It should be no more than two minutes long and should stress the traits that make you unique and a good match for the job.

Example

‘With my seven years of experience working with financial databases, I have saved companies thousands of dollars by streamlining systems. My high energy, and quick learning style enable me to hit the ground running and rapidly size up problems. I have the ability to stay focused in stressful situations, and can be counted on when the going gets tough. I know I would be a great addition to your team.’

Preparing this statement ahead of the interview will give you the edge when asked questions like, ‘Why should we hire you?’ or ‘What can you bring to this position?’ This will be your chance to let the interviewers know that you are the solution to their problem.

About The Author

Carole Martin is a celebrated author, trainer, and an interview coach. Her books, ‘Interview Fitness Training Workbook’ and ‘Boost Your Interview IQ’ (McGraw Hill) have sold thousands of copies world-wide. Receive Carole’s FREE 9-week job interview e-course by visiting her web site at: http://www.interviewcoach.com or http://www.interviewfitnesstraining.com.

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Write a Perfect CV

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Write A Perfect CV – AdvancingWomen.com

Your CV is a gateway to getting an interview for that ideal job. It is your opportunity to provide a good first impression but you only have two sides of A4 paper in which to do it. It is not surprising then that most people have trouble getting started.

Firstly, you need to know what the employer is thinking.

The employer suddenly has a vacancy. Filling the vacancy is going to take up valuable time that he would rather spend doing his normal job.

He would love to find the perfect person immediately rather than plough through hundreds of CV’s. It is often a dull, thankless task.

The employer has a job description in front of him. It includes experience or qualifications that are essential for the job and some attributes that are desirable but not absolutely necessary.

He starts going through the pile of CV’s on his desk. He scans each one for about 30 seconds and makes a judgement.

He simply hasn’t got time to read the CV that is more than two pages and all the relevant information is hidden in long paragraphs. – He files it in the bin.

Fancy formatting, coloured text or multiple fonts do not impress him. Is this person trying to hide their lack of experience for the job behind an artistic CV. – He files it in the bin.

He notices spelling mistakes and poor punctuation. This person is just sloppy! – He files the CV in the bin.

He breaths a sigh of relief, the pile on his desk is smaller already. He makes another coffee and then starts reading……………………….

This should tell you a few things about writing your CV.

Keep it concise and to the point. The employer needs to see your work experience, skills and achievements in the first 30 seconds of scanning your CV.

He knows what he is looking for. You have what he is looking for. Don’t distract him from your relevant skills by adding in lots of unnecessary information.

Keep it simple…..

Finally: Make it easy for him!

Remember, the employer has very little time. He doesn’t know you yet and is only interested in what you can offer him and his company.

Make it easy for him to:

Scan your CV,

Identify that you have the skills he is looking for.

Pick up the phone to invite you in for an interview.

For more on this go to Write A Perfect CV – AdvancingWomen.com

Resume or Curriculum Vita Tips

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