Insider Secrets: How To Get A Job -- Get Prepared Inside and Out (Part 1)

Get Prepared, Inside and Out
"Help! I need to get a job." Are you a professional finding your career in freefall, or know someone who is? You might want to follow this series of four posts.

My intention is to help you get there faster. I have asked one of the nation's top Fortune 500 recruitment experts, Nicole Spicer, to share insider secrets, tips and tricks to make your job search successful.

The first step is to get real. Take the quiz to see how you fare.

Are You Prepared To Get A Job In This Market?
Are you prepared to take a salary cut, quite possibly a severe decrease?
Are you prepared to do work you thought you had progressed far enough in your career that you wouldn't have to do again?
Are you prepared to have a full-time job finding your next job?
Are you prepared to consider and apply to many different opportunities?
Are you prepared to accept the harsh reality that there is a serious dearth of open positions?
Are you prepared to do whatever it takes, stay open to all possibilities?
Are prepared to do a fearless inventory of who you are, personally and professionally?
Are you prepared to reach out and ask for help from family and friends? 


If you didn't answer yes to each one of those questions you are out of touch with today's job market.

Step Up and Step Out

Many folks are feeling that finding a job right now is an impossible task. That isn't true. The paradigm has shifted. In order to get a job, you will need to step up and step out. Step up your game and step out of your comfort zone.
If you are not personally empowered and professionally self-aware you will not stand out among the other 500 competing applicants for the position. There are two over arching components that are systemic to a successful job search; believing in yourself and being able to promote your self professionally.

Inner and Outer Marketing
In this market you will have to know how to market yourself from the inside out. "As a recruiter, the first thing I notice in a "star" candidate is his/her confidence. It shows up early on paper and later in person. A trained eye can spot them with the first email, phone call and as they walk through the door." says Fortune 500 recruitment expert, Nicole Spicer www.OARIP.com.

So first you have to ask yourself: am I aware of my power and will it show up for me throughout the job search process?
This is not about your ego or telling someone how good you are, it is about knowing your personal power and being confident in your abilities. It is authentic; you cannot fake it (or at least not sustain it for long if you do.) If you hesitate on this concept you probably are not there - yet.
The good news is, it can be learned.

First: Your Personal Empowerment

You Are Mayor
What is it like inside your skin? Regardless of outer circumstances you have the power and responsibility to be good to yourself. It may sound cheesy, but you are the only person that can empower you. Most decisions to hire a candidate are made in the first 10 seconds. The only way to really show up is to be empowered.
Listen To Your Self
Are you so busy tweeting and texting that you have lost track of who you really are? Take at least 15 minute each day to honor the authentic wisdom of your body, mind and Spirit. I know of many a client who has gotten a job by following a "hunch."
Don't Be The Lone Ranger
Get and give support as part of a team. Mammals are pack animals. During a job search, time of stress (or any time for that matter) you need to be part of a group. Women in particular thrive when they 'Tend and Befriend' as the landmark UCLA study found.
Be Accountable
Tell someone your goals. Check in with them daily if possible. It is very easy to watch the last the episodes of Oprah instead of making sales calls if you don't. Although the statistics vary by study, most reports show that goals that have.

Second: Your Outer Marketing

Professional Promotion - Burn Your Resume!
"Don't rewrite that resume! I hate "the" resume. One size does not fit all, not in a bathing suit and not in a resume. Long before an employer meets you (if you can get that far) they will see your career profile. Burn your resume. Spicer instructs those looking for a job to write a "Professional Promotional Profile." Take it seriously, take in your entire professional career and invest some time in writing it.
Ancient History
The Professional Promotional Profile is your work bible.
Create a timeline of your entire professional history. Go back to your very first job. Write down everything you have done since then.
Organize
Your Professional Promotional Profile into action statements with the results whenever appropriate.
Head's Up
When you see or hear about a position you would like to apply for, you will pull (cut and paste) all your relevant experience off your PPP into specific document(s) for that position.

From your Professional Promotional Profile (PPP) will flow all other career documents - one of many custom profiles (resumes, if you must) specific to the position you are applying to, cover letters germane to a specific job, bio's for business networking websites, executive summaries for direct introduction and stimulating conversations for those interviews.
Once you have completed your PPP it will be easy to develop every other document you might need to promote yourself or might be required in your search. You will be at the ready with details fresh in your mind of everything your career has spawned, making it easy to sell yourself on paper and in person. Next week we will dive into: How To Burn Your Resume To Get A Job.

Do you have job search questions? Ask Eli a question at [e-mail] or go to http://www.elidavidson.com today.

***

Eli Davidson is a nationally recognized executive coach and motivational speaker. Her book, "Funky to Fabulous: Surefire Success Stories for the Savvy, Sassy and Swamped", (Oak Grove Publishing) has won three national book awards. Eli is a reinvention catalyst, who can transform your professional and personal life from Funky to Fabulous with her ten, trademarked Turnaround Techniques that create rapid and remarkable results.

Comments

[CwComment]

another way to make sure your are prepared inside and out is by using the power of small- keep a litte list of 5 daily accomplishments. that way ou can talk about how youve been spending your time since your last job.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Great blog Eli.
But it does make me very grateful that we have somehow managed to find a way of living that means we can be self-employed. I never did very well being told what to do!!

Happy Mother's Day
Deb

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Eli,

Wonderful post! Great energy! Almost makes me want to go out and pound the pavement and see how all this works.

Ahhhhh...... but on second thought, my curriculum is pretty full right now, so I'll just enjoy reading your informative and entertaining posts.

You make me smile, Miss Eli. The world is a brighter place because you're in it.

Love and blessings,
Judith

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

My Beloved Judith,
I am always so happy to see a post, an email, a FB..an anythng from you!

You are so gracious and generous. Please don't pound the pavement! We need your amazing writing and wisdom.

Your Fan,
Eli Davidson

[AngryDebutante]

Terrific post, Eli -- positive, insightful and spot on. The jobs are out there and we need to empower ourselves to find our employment match. Nicole Spicer helped me formulate a "functional resume" years ago and doing so brought a tremendous boost to my confidence just to see exactly how much I had accomplished over the years. Looking forward to the two of you bringing your workshop to the DC area!

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi There Angry,
I love your screen name!

My last response seems to have been eaten by the jaws of HP in some way.

What I term "Spicer's Secrets" work. I am glad that you have used them to enrich your professional advice. There are so many people that need this information. It will be great to meet you in DC!

Be Your Fabulous,
Eli Davidson

[NicoleSpicer]

Dear Not-so-Angry Debutante:

Thank you for the plug but YOU did all the work and reinvented yourself with grace and pride!

Kudos to you, moved to DC - materialized a new career in a new industry - no small feat in the economy!

Pride to have helped.
Nicole

[NicoleSpicer]

MG: I don’t think Eli’s message is to fuel panic but to give hope and a how to best succeed messages, in a difficult job market.

Here is California we are at a real 12% unemployment. People need all the information, good and bad, in order to secure the best advantages.

If information is power than I believe Eli’s is giving that to us – an informed advantage.

Best regards,
Nicole

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

The truth may be unsettling...and it will also help folks to treat getting a job like going to the Olympics.

When you are the best prepared, offer the best of who you are and are well qualified for the job you have the best shot at getting it.

Thanks!
Eli

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Great post Eli,

I love the PPP process - it makes a lot of sense to me. You create a wonderful case for empowerment - it could be usefully taught at school level. Authentic empowerment is what will equip a young person for life.

I appreciate the work you are doing and the insights you are offering here!

Love and blessings to you,
Anne

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

Dearest Anne,
I am so glad that you like the PPP Process. We just did a program for the Brown University Alumi and have been speaking about doing the program for the Ivy League Alumni.

However, your idea about teaching this in schools is an inspiration.

I am do blessed to have you in my life!
Eli

[NicoleSpicer]

Thanks Anne! I have been promoting the PPP process for some time now. I am ecstatic Eli was so smart to get the theory instantly and then chose to write about it.

Great idea about teaching it in school… along with how to balance a check book! I would volunteer for that duty.

Best regards,
Nicole

[Dr. Cara Barker - Huffpost Blogger]

What a beautiful article, Eli, and great, timely subject! I look forward to Part II!

All good things to you, Eli,
Cara

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Cara,
I am always inspired by your posts!
What a delight to share this space of encouragement and community with YOU!

Love,
Eli

[BitterSpiritualist]

Dearest Eli -

What a Birthday treat! Thank you for your beautiful insights. Exactly what I needed this morning, as always. Fantastic food for thought.

Love and Light,
Brendan

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENDAN!!!

I am singing as I type!

Yipee!!! and HBD!
Love,
Eli

[mg moore]

Hi Eli! (if I might be so bold)

I have two reactions to your post;

1. Thank You for laying so groundwork for people to build from and take some control of their lives.

2. Please don't fuel the panic. There are a lot of people out there who have portable enough skills and education to accept a wide variety of challenges.

While the US unemployment figures seem high it is worth noting a couple of things;

Even 'hot' area have 2 -4 % annual unemployment (economic definition of full employment is 0 - 4%)
So in some regions there is only 3 -5% REAL unemployment (which isn't a consolation to those individuals) but also isn't a reason for the panic that we see.

Unless you are in some of the very affected sectors (or their supply chains) your prospects for a job aren't all that bad. I applaud you for pointing out to people that , in the search for a new job, there are no promises that;

- it will be exactly what you want.
- it will pay what you previously made.
- you won't have to work harder to secure.

Our reaction to adversity is where we define ourselves.

Keep up the good work!

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

HI MG.
Thank you for sharing your perspective. One of the best ways to overcome a challenge is to face it head on.

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but I live in Los Angeles where even award winning top producers have been looking for work for over six months. One Emmy nominee I know is going to 3 separate interviews...for a 2 week production job.

If you don't understand that you will need to overcome incredible odds to get a job, you may not pull out all the stops. The cream of the crop are the ones getting jobs in this market.

I have a client that recently got her dream job...there were 800 other applicants. So, I am confident that this approach works...if you work it.