How to Land That Job – Part 4

/
help-wanted.jpg

As the hiring market picks up and new technologies put marketers in high demand, it is important to be ready to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. With that, welcome to our weekly blog series on getting that marketing job you’ve always wanted. Each week we will discuss a new tip or technique you can use to land that job you’re after. Last week’s topic was Create a Portfolio.

This week’s topic = Do Your Research

The first three posts in this series all dealt with topics related to getting the interview. That is step one. Step two is preparing for the interview.

So how do you prepare for an interview? You learn as much as you can about the company, the position, and how your skills fit exactly with what the company is looking for.

For most positions, the company or the person doing the hiring has a picture in their head of the candidate that will eventually get the job. They are looking for some specific areas of experience and expertise, and when they see the right candidate, they will know it.

That does not mean that you aren’t in control of your own destiny. Because if you can be the most knowledgeable candidate they interview, and blow them away in the interview, you can be the one they’re looking for when the process is all said and done.

Interviewers expect you to have some knowledge coming into the interview. And you can impress them by reviewing the company’s website, social media profiles, advertisements and marketing messages, LinkedIn and other company profiles, etc. Learn as much as you can about how they operate so you can ask serious and thought provoking questions about how your role would help the business achieve its goals.

While you are doing this research, you can prepare a cheat sheet for the interview. Write down some key strengths and weaknesses that you see. Include key questions that you want to ask them during the interview.

Remember, the interview is not just about them finding the right person for the job. It is also your chance to find out if this is really the right job for you.

Have anything to add? Keep the conversation going in the comments below…

How to Land That Job – Part 2

/
help-wanted.jpg

As the hiring market picks up and new technologies put marketers in high demand, it is important to be ready to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. With that, welcome to our weekly blog series on getting that marketing job you’ve always wanted. Each week we will discuss a new tip or technique you can use to land that job you’re after. Last week’s topic was Where to Look.

This week’s topic = Your Resume

When I was in school, I took a communications course that seemed to focus solely on how to prepare a resume and write a cover letter. The professor made it abundantly clear that there is only one way to create a resume, and that whoever was doing the hiring would simply look the other way if you did not follow “the rules”.

Unfortunately, that’s not the way the world works. And so too often people end up creating a boring, form-fitting resume that does not attract attention.

Your resume is the thing most employers see first. It’s the first impression that you’re making on the people who you hope will hire you. So why be boring?

First, let’s go over what to include on your resume. Your resume should tell your story from a professional point of view. Include any and all relevant information that the hiring manager should know about you in order to take the next step. This includes relevant work experience, specific areas of interest and great skill, education, professional training or certifications, and goals.

Next, let’s talk about the appropriate layout. There is none. Feel free to be creative with the look and feel of your resume. No matter what anyone tells you, it does not have to look like everyone else’s. In fact, the less it looks like all the others, the better chance you have of standing out from the crowd and getting an interview or call back.

Use bold text and design elements as call outs to highlight key information. Use columns and more than one page if you need to. Use different font sizes, even images. It’s up to you.

Having said all that, I must also say to keep it within reason. Don’t be so creative that you lose focus and include things that don’t help you get noticed or get the job. Limit text and work history to the most crucial and relevant to the position you’re looking to get. Short and sweet with powerful, active words will make it more likely someone will read your resume, rather than toss it in the trash.

And don’t ever forget the pertinent contact information. Because your resume is like an advertisement for you, and it needs a call to action!

Have anything to add? Keep the conversation going in the comments below…