3 Keys to Getting Hired!

[JasonKiesau]

There are a large number of people “out there” who are looking for a job!

Whether they have a job or not, millions of people are doing the same thing everyone else is doing; going on the internet, posting their resume on the job sites, and applying for jobs. If they’re lucky their resume will WOW who ever is reviewing them and they will get moved on to the next round in the process, typically a phone or face to face interview.

If you are doing things like everyone else, what are you doing to be different or separate yourself from everyone else out there?

A few years ago I submitted my resume to a fairly large organization that posted their opening on the internet. At the top of my cover letter and resume I put a quote that an industrial psychologist had said about me a few years before when I interviewed for a copier sales position

Her quote was:

“He is the type who manages to see the bright side of challenging situations. If anything, he may underestimate the level of difficulty a situation might be.”

When I received the call from the regional manager he said he received hundreds of resumes and mine was the only one to catch his eye right away. Eventually he offered me the position.

My point is . . . DON’T BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!

Starting with your cover letter & resume and all the way through your interview process, I believe there are three things you HAVE got to communicate if you are going to have any shot and landing a position.

1. You Are Focused

If you are applying for a sales position in a technology company you better be able to articulate your focus in that area. We have a million distractions on a daily basis . . . that is one complaint about the younger generations. Distractions ARE NOT profitable and if they sense you are not focused you will not be considered.

2. You Are Stable

This means both physically, mentally, and emotionally. You have got to be able to communicate that you are at a stable place in your life ESPECIALLY in times like this. Today people are applying for jobs out of reaction and fear and when they are talking to a potential employer they are showing instability and fear. These are not good qualities . . . and certainly not ones that an employer are going to invest money in. It doesn’t matter your past. It doesn’t matter your current situation. If you give any indication of instability that will not be looked at favorably and could cost you that opportunity.

3. You Are Profitable

Bottom-line . . . if you can’t make the company money they aren’t going to hire you. If you do get hired and you aren’t making the company money . . . you aren’t going to be around long. Anyone who is applying for a position needs to understand how the company makes their money and most importantly how you can help them do that. If you can communicate that during an interview you will have the person eating out of your hands. The bottom-line is the businesses bottom-line . . . it’s about making money.

I remember when I was 21 and I got my first job out of college as a graphic designer at a growing advertising agency. The Creative Director I interviewed with was so impressed with my portfolio and professionalism he created a position and hired me. I only worked there for one year. Looking back I know I was focused and stable, but I didn’t know how to be profitable for them. After the first year I thought I deserved a raise simply because I showed up everyday. It was a painful, but great learning experience.

Whether you are unemployed or just seeking other opportunities, your ability show that you are focused, stable, and profitable can be the difference between landing the ideal position or having to keep on looking.

Be different!