HOW TO GET HIRED

When you apply for a job, there are some simple ways to ensure your résumé is read. With a greater number of applicants than ever before, you want, no, you need, every advantage. The economic downturn seems to have changed how employers hire. They seem to be making do with fewer employees. The employees they do hire, need to be able to fit in with the existing team. The unity of the workplace is very important. The solution to ensure your résumé is read AND fitting in with the existing work team is the same. You start with the job posting or want ad. Highlight all the keywords. Put all of those keywords into your application materials (résumé, cover letter and application). Yes, you will be rewriting your application materials for each and every job you apply for. A computer makes this a simple process. Let’s run through a sample:

The Mid-Level Staff Geologist/Hydrogeologist will work on a variety of projects including Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments, geologic and hydro-geologic characterizations, and soil and groundwater remediation. Field activities may require working independently on smaller projects or as a team player on larger projects. In addition, the Mid-Level Staff Geologist/Hydrogeologist will be responsible for directing and coordinating activities relating to projects, supervising and controlling the work and progress of a field team and subcontractors. This position will be responsible for developing plans, specifications, creating representative maps and figures of project sites, and preparing final reports. Excellent understanding of the principles of groundwater movement and hydrogeology and experience in the collection of defensible environmental data as well as assist with interpretation/evaluation of scientific data.

I have used orange text to indicate the keywords. Some of these words are industry or job specific. An environmental assessment is a specific process. If this is you, you want to describe when and where you have used “environmental assessments.” This is straight forward so far, yes? The key is to also use the company’s words from the job posting for the non-industry or job specific requirements. Those are:

• Working independently
• Team player
• Directing and coordinating activities
• Supervising and controlling
• Work and progress
• Field team
• Defensible environmental data

Let’s use the first two as examples, working independently and team player. You may have something in your résumé or cover letter stating, “I work well independently or in a team environment.” Does this cover what the job posting states? No, it does not. To “fit in” and to match the company, you need to use their word choices and phrases; not something close or something more creative from a thesaurus or something more useful. All you need to do is tweak your sentence to say, “I work well independently and as a team player.” Subtle? A meaningless change? Not to the employer. To the employer this demonstrates how you already fit in to their corporate culture, because you already SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE. Look at the last item in the above list: defensible environmental data. As a geologist, you know you collect data all day long when you are drilling. That is not what this company is looking for, however. They want to know if you have had your data sample rechecked by a laboratory. Your résumé before: Prepared Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessment, site closure, soil and groundwater investigation and well installation reports. Your résumé after: Using defensible environmental data, prepared Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessment, site closure, soil and groundwater investigation and well installation reports.

In my example above, the "defensible environmental data" was previously implied, now explicitly stated. The employer has to know you realize what defensible environmental data is, they will not assume that. So tell them what they need to know.

Here are some more application tips:

• Post your résumé without your home address or other sensitive contact information. Use an e-mail address and cell phone number. If they exist for your job search only, even better. This will protect your privacy and you will know the call on that phone is employment related only. So you will know to answer the call professionally. Check that your voice mail greeting is aslo appropriate.
• For your privacy and protection, when applying to a job online: Never give your social security number to a prospective employer, provide credit card or bank account information, or perform any sort of monetary transaction. (a CareerBuilder online warning worth repeating.)
• Update the résumé you post on the Internet on a DAILY basis, even if you only change one word. Recruiters avoid résumés that are dated and search regularly for the latest talent.
• Write a résumé with a clear direction. Be as specific as possible. Determine the specific industry and function you want to pursue and write a résumé showing how your accomplishments match the market's requirements.
• Remember that there is no such thing as a perfect job candidate. Apply for jobs even if you do not meet every requirement. If you match 60% to 80% of the requirements, apply. Let the recruiters decide if they want to interview you. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
• Write a cover letter that lists the exact requirements of the position (spelled and listed exactly as it is in the job announcement) and then list your related capabilities. See my previous post on this subject for more guidance. This will ensure that you capture every key word in your application and shoot to the top of the list.

Use these tips in combination with your networking plan. The Internet is only one tool of the many you need to get hired. You can do this. There are jobs out there. You just have to demonstrate that YOU are the perfect fit. One way to do that is to consistently use the company’s language and word choices. Now - Go get hired!

Let me know how your job hunt is going. What are your particular challenges. Share your experiences in the comments section. Or, send me an email to eal@EALCoaching.com . I’d love to know how you are doing and what strategies you are using. A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com