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Job Search – 5 Things You Must Have to Succeed »

By krisplantrich on May 25, 2009 in Career Development, Featured | 0 Comments

1. Resumes and Cover Letters - that are current, concise, and targeted to a specific position not a hodge-podge of experience from the past 10 or 20 years. Target 5-10 companies and customize each resume and cover letter you send out for your biggest bang. Find actual contact names and addresses for each cover letter and make sure the resume is in line with each company’s expectations. 

2. Recommendations – Get permission from each referral on your list – every time you look for a job. Remind them of achievements you would like shared when they are called for a referral. If you have reference letters make copies and keep the original at home so it does not get worn or damaged and can be used as a master copy. And don’t forget the Thank You letter! 

3. Computer – Job seekers need to be able to be contacted and be able to contact others during their job search. You must know how to send and receive emails, open attachments, send attachments, search the web, and post your resume online. If you do not know how to do some of this – go to the library, take a class, get a book or ask someone for assistance. There are just no options here. If you are not comfortable on the computer start playing around on it. You won’t break it – make it your friend! 

4. Networking Cards/Business Cards – While networking, attending social groups, joining associations, or just going to the car wash or gas station you need to be prepared for any opportunity. Instead of using a business card from your previous employment, invest in a set of networking cards. Include your contact information such as your name, address, phone, and email address. You can also include a website address, blog address, or a LinkedIn profile or VisualCV URL. Some job seekers have even included a set up Career Highlights on the back of the card that showcase their unique strengths. 

5. A Right Attitude! - The best resume in the world is not going to get you an awesome job that you deserve if your attitude is in need of a serious adjustment. Make sure you are grateful and positive, helpful and aggressive during your search. Don’t let yourself get too down, it will be noticed and could be a deciding factor – or deal breaker. Stay motivated by helping others, sharing knowledge and moving forward. 

Once you’ve got everything in place, you are ready to aggressively pursue your ideals jobs with confidence. Use your tools to garner leads, contacts, new friends and interviews and enjoy the journey!

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Increase Your Job Search Success by Enlisting a Job Search Partner »

By krisplantrich on Oct 5, 2009 in Career Development | 0 Comments

A few days ago I met with colleagues for a meeting of the minds. It was a fun time, listening to others share their successes; ask questions and offer support and answers when ever possible. I always seem to learn something new and leave with a new technique to try, blog to read or others to follow on
Twitter or Facebook.    

As a professional resume writer and career coach the main way I stay connected with others in my industry is through email, forums, e-lists, and social networks. So it is really a treat to be able to spend uninterrupted face-to-face time with colleagues. 

During our visits I always try and bring something to the meeting that will help my colleagues. Although we are technically competitors – we all improve by sharing our knowledge and things we’ve learned form our successes and mistakes.  

For job seekers, it can be equally lonely and uncertain going through your job search. It is especially difficult if you have not looked for a new job before or at least not in the last five years. Now job seekers must understand new technology, new resources, social networking and the importance of developing and enlisting an effective network. 

A great way to get ahead in your job search is to find a job search partner to “workout” with. Just like when you are starting a new physical workout program or working towards a new goal, having someone to assist, support and hold you accountable can really make a difference. The most effective partner is one that is also currently looking for a job. They know first hand the stress, frustration, fears, and problems that come up during a job search. 

A job search partner reminds you that you are not alone in your job search. We all hear the high unemployment rates on the news, but sometimes it feels like you are the only one going through it. A partner is someone to vent with, share with, laugh and cry with, and someone to keep motivated. By helping someone else stay motivated you have a better chance of staying motivated and working daily at your job search. 

The person can also be very helpful in your search. The two of you can share strategies, useful websites, blogs, and social networks. Together you can cover twice the number of job boards, networking groups, and search strategies, even if you are not looking for work in the same industry or field.  

You also can help each other by telling others about your job search partner. If you are in the same field or industry you may find many contacts that may be able to help you and or your partner. Acting as their personal promoter and sharing their information with who ever will listen will help to spread their value to others. 

With so many advantages to having a partner in your job search – don’t wait. Find someone (and these days it is pretty easy) that is motivated and willing to work together to wade through the process. Two sets of eyes are better than one -  start today.

Could This Be The Perfect Sales Career For Today…And The Future? »

By admin on Apr 29, 2009 in Featured | 0 Comments

The Independent Sales Rep…by William Cornell

I’ve been an indie rep for 20+ years and I’m convinced being independent is the way to go.  Here are reasons why:

  • The Rep is in control—no need to worry about layoffs or companies going out of business because, if you’re doing it right, you have multiple lines and sources of income.  And you should always be adding new lines, as many as you can handle.  Office politics, obnoxious bosses?  They won’t matter as much if you’re independent.  You can concentrate on the lines that treat you best. Read the rest

What Do You Want Your Resume To Say About You? »

By krisplantrich on Mar 23, 2009 in Career Management, Career Development, Featured, Sales Jobs | 2 Comments

 Who Are You? Who-Who, Who-Who?

Remember that Who song? “Who Are You – Who-Who, Who-Who?” Great tune! Always made me stop and think for just a second about who I was at that point in my life when I heard the song on the radio. For job seekers it can serve the same purpose when looking at your resume and trying decide what to put in it to make it work for you.

Who are you? Who do you want readers to meet? What do you need to let the reader know that will lure them in and make them want to read more about you? These questions are crucial in writing a powerful and effective resume. Three questions to ponder when developing your resume:

What do You Want Others to Know About You? – It is important to look ahead when writing your resume, look forward. What do you want to do now and in the future, not only what have you done in the past? Read the rest

How To Make Yourself Indispensible - Tip#2 - Love Your Boss »

By admin on Mar 23, 2009 in Career Management, Career Development, Featured, Sales Jobs | 0 Comments

Many comapanies are trying at this very moment to determine how to maintain the skills within their company whilst balancing shareholder interests of obtaining the best possible financial results.

The lessons learnt through the last couple of recessions is companies that slash their workforces may enjoy the benefits of short term financial success but ultimately lose more money in the long term through the shedding of its best and brightest talent. Read the rest

How To Make Yourself Indispensible - Tip#1 In A Series Of Career Management Articles »

By admin on Mar 16, 2009 in Career Management, Career Development, Featured, Sales Jobs | 0 Comments

It is simply amazing how quickly things have turned around in relation to where the power lies between employer and employee.

Less than a year ago, you might have been searching a site like this because you felt you could get a better car elsewhere or you were not happy with your commission structure or you wanted to get what your colleagues were getting or even because the boss never smiled at you.

Fast forward to the present day and it is all about survival now.

This series of tips is all about not being the one to get the pink slip when your company starts letting go of people in the sales team. Read the rest

Do You Want Your Resume to Get You Noticed? »

By krisplantrich on Mar 9, 2009 in Career Management, Career Development, Sales Resume, Featured | 0 Comments

We all know what the economy is like right now and how fierce the competition is for finding new jobs. Having a well-written resume will get you noticed but isn’t always enough. Having a well-targeted resume will get you notice and get you an interview! Remember to keep in mind that a resume is as an advertisement, commercial, or flyer with one goal in mind - to gets results and get you an interview. So use it the way it is meant to be used by having one focus and making it powerful and attention-grabbing.

Most job seekers want to use a generic resume as a bit of a one-size-fits-all resume and try and squeeze in 20 or 30 years of experience into 2 pages. Job seekers also think they can use one resume for 2 or 3 jobs searches and that by putting in every important thing they’ve ever done in their career is the best way to get notice. Usually they couldn’t be further from the truth. A resume that works and does its’ job, is one that is well written and focused on one specific job or position. Hopefully this article will help you realize the importance of having a well-targeted resume and its benefits. Read the rest

Recession Facts Of Life - Recruiters Do Not Get Back To Me »

By admin on Feb 14, 2009 in Career Management, Career Development, Featured, Sales Jobs | 0 Comments

It seems like only a few months ago when recruiters could not get enough applications to fill the mountains of jobs that were available.  

Now they have a mountain of candidates to choose from but not enough jobs to go around.

How times change!  Read the rest

Job Search Strategies: Don’t Forget to get Letters of Recommendation »

By krisplantrich on Jan 29, 2009 in Career Management, Career Development, Featured | 0 Comments

Letters of recommendation can often be as relevant and as important as referrals. As I have learned recently in my own business, consumers want to be sure that their outlay of money is going to bring them value whether buying food, clothes, fun stuff, or using professional services. I do the same thing when I am looking to make a purchase. I look for the research the product or company, check out the warranty and ask my friends for their opinion or experience of how they liked a certain brand, food or business to work with.  

As I said, I recently experienced this in my own business. I was talking with a potential client and getting ready to begin their project when they first wanted referrals. It isn’t a question I often get asked. I’ve got my credentials, experience, and testimonials on my website, my LinkedIn Profile, on several association and job board websites and many other places on the web, so it usually isn’t an issue. They even had one referral already from another client of mine but still wanted more. It got me thinking of my own buying habits, what I look for and expect. It also reminded me of the importance of strong referrals and top-quality recommendation letters for my clients. Read the rest

As Unemployment Rises So Do Scams »

By admin on Jan 9, 2009 in Career Management, Career Development, Featured | 0 Comments

It is human nature that the more desperate we become, the more we want to believe in those that make us feel good.  And scamsters do best in hard time because they are more likely to reach out to people who feel lost, lonely, betrayed and vulnerable. 

And when it comes to Sales Jobs, the mantra is let the buyer beware. 

What this means for you is to do your due dilligence to ensure that you do not fall victim to the fraudsters, tricksters and various con artists out there.  Read the rest

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