You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August 2010.
Here are two great articles that provide starting points for organizing your job search.
What is the Best Way to Prepare for Finding a New Job?
by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran
Source: The Career Rocketeer
Rather than reaching for the word processing to create your resume, your first step is to pull together a full plan or strategy on your job search. Your plan needs to include these parts:
1) Get clear on 2-3 jobs/titles you are pursuing.
2) Define your criteria for a place to work that includes those jobs
3) Do research to find those companies (that meet the criteria you just developed) and if you need a refresher on the hiring criteria, go update yourself.
4) Figure out a schedule you will do your job search (and stick with it)
5) Identify 2 different search methods you will use
6) Refresh your network and then
7) Create your resume.
The work you do in the steps preceding working on your resume will help immensely. Too many people think the only step to a job search is the resume but it is really the “thought time” and planning that will make for a successful search. As you are putting together a resume, you may want to create a “master resume” that you will do that has too much information about you in it. You can then take that resume and trim it each time you give it so it is more customized and oriented to the specific job you are discussing.
3 Keys to a Successful Job Search
by Jessica Holbrook Hernandez
Source: Great Resumes Fast
With all the layoffs that have taken place over the last couple of years, it’s no wonder that many of those who are still employed often feel stretched to the maximum of their productivity. It can be very demanding looking for another job when your current one is continually stressing you out. After all, when you get home from a long and frustrating day, the last thing you want to do is give any more thought to the world of work. Unfortunately, most new jobs don’t just fall into your lap—you have to go out and get them. Approaching your job search as strategically and as systematically as you would approach your next business deal can help keep the process manageable.
Initiation
If you were going to start a huge new project at work, would your first step be to just sit down and start the project? Of course not! A lot of planning and preparation go into any major project, and your job search should be no different. Therefore, the first step is NOT to sit down and start sending out dozens of generalized resumes to any job that sounds OK. Your first task should be to determine exactly what you’re looking for in your next position. Just like you can’t write a project plan until you know what the project is, you simply cannot write an effective resume or cover letter without some idea of where you’d like your career to go. You may find this part of the process to be the most time-consuming, as it requires some soul searching, however, it’s an essential step in the process that must not be skipped.
Planning
Once you’ve determined your professional goals, you’re ready to spend some time assembling your marketing tools—a cover letter, resume, and any other pertinent documents that support your message. This is essentially the same process as setting up a project at work; you need both plans and human resources for an effective job search. A professional resume writer can be an invaluable tool for a job seeker who’s incredibly busy with his or her current vocation. Any resume writer will need you to gather and submit information about your past positions and achievements, but then let go of the reins; allowing the professional to agonize over each individual line on your resume will remove that weight from your own shoulders.
Execution
Only when you’ve established a goal and pulled together the tools needed to accomplish it should you actually start looking for and applying to jobs. Setting up e-mail alerts through sites like simplyhired.com or indeed.com can save you hours of scouring through online employment ads. If you tackle your search in a strategic and systematic manner, you should soon reach a place where you can go to your inbox, look through positions that may be a good fit for you, and then simply customize your polished resume for each application. Consider each quality job application you send off as a deliverable in the project of finding yourself another job. Whenever you successfully land your next position, you’ll be able to close out this project and move on to the next one!
Great opportunity with this private, rapidly growing and stable communications giant. Our client’s remarkable growth has landed them on Puget Sound Business Journal’s list of “Fastest Growing Private Companies in Washington” five times, qualifying them for Hall of Fame status. This dynamic organization has also landed itself on Inc. magazine’s list of “Fastest Growing Companies in the Country” twice.
We are currently seeking competitive, high-energy individuals for a lucrative Major Account Executive role with this telecommunications company. Your primary responsibilities will include selling our products and services to “C” level prospects.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree, preferred, but not required
- 3+ years documented success at high levels in outside sales in the telecom industry
- Proven ability to penetrate, engage and win business from sophisticated businesses
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- $$$ motivated
Compensation:
- Strong base salary, commissions, and residuals with earning potential over $100K
- Comprehensive benefits; includes Medical and Dental
- Awesome location and company morale and culture
- 401k with match
- Paid vacation and holidays
- Car allowance and free parking
Our client is a leading petroleum distributor providing valuable fuel management solutions to businesses nationwide. They have been serving Western Washington for more than 70 years and are well-recognized as a market leader. This is a phenomenal opportunity to work in a beautiful office located in the heart of the action, close to all transit options.
As an Inside Sales Rep, you will be responsible for 25-40 outbound dials per day to corporations operating fleets of vehicles across the United States. This is for an inside, outbound role selling to 90% provided leads. This is a high demand product that will allow you to utilize your developed sales skills in maximizing potential income while at the same time truly helping customers save money. The sales process is well-structured and you’ll work for an awesome company with values that are becoming harder to find these days: Respect, Honesty, Value, and Service that exceeds client expectations.
Qualifications:
Previous inside, outbound sales experience,
Energetic goal-oriented self-starter,
Professional phone skills, Proven track record
Compensation
Base salary of 36k with uncapped commissions and great year one earning!
Excellent benefits including Medical, Dental, 401k, PTO, vacation
Strong room to grow!
Here is an excerpt from great article by Harry Urshel over at The Wise Job Search. To read the full article, please go here.
Leaving Effective Voicemails In Your Job Search!
by Harry Urschel
I recently received an email from someone asking what they can do to improve their chances of getting a call back. Good question!
Here are some points to consider:
Be prepared! Many people prepare well for their introduction and presentation should they get the intended person on the phone. However, most are unprepared and stammer or ramble on if they get a voicemail instead. It is just as important to be prepared for a voicemail as it is to talk to the person directly. Just as you should have a script prepared for a conversation, you should also prepare a script for a voicemail. Having a well prepared message to leave will keep you from rambling, stammering, or leaving a message you may regret.
Make it brief! The fact is, a lengthy voicemail is not likely to be listened to in its entirety. And even if it is, it will likely hurt the impression you leave rather than help it. If they are trying to get through their voicemails quickly, a lengthy one quickly becomes annoying. Briefly state your name, the reason for the call, 1 or 2 very brief reasons you would be of interest to them, and be sure to leave your name and return number at the end. The impression you leave will be much improved by being succinct, substantive, and upbeat. Your voicemail should never be more than 30 seconds or so.
Let them know you’ll be back! If you make it clear that you will be following up again, it may improve your chances of getting a call back. If you leave a voicemail without any indication that you will be following up, it’s very easy for them to delete it and forget about you. The likelihood that they might call you first, or at least remember your call is greatly improved if you indicate you will be persistent. Let them know you’ll be reconnecting.
Be Pleasantly Persistent! Keep trying! Only leave a voicemail once, however, keep trying to reach them often. Many times it’s easier to catch a manager before or after “core” hours. They may be easier to catch at their desk before 8:00 am or after 5:00 pm. Try several times throughout the day to improve your chances of actually catching them by phone versus getting their voicemail. While a call back from them is fine, you will invariably be better prepared for an effective call when you are the one making the call to them rather than receiving one at a random time.
Rapidly growing, faith-based IT SaaS development organization has immediate need for a Business Development Manager to build relationships with organizations that provide leverage and will enable continued growth.
This company is owned by one of the world’s largest media conglomerates, giving you the excitement of a start-up company with the security and benefits of a global enterprise. Additionally, you will have the rewarding opportunity to have a positive impact on users and churches.
Responsibilities:
- Create and executive business development plan defining key partnering strategies
- Solidify and expand strategic business relationships
- Develop a channel partner sales strategy
- Effectively educate potential partners
- Participate in industry conference, seminars and trade shows to find and engage partners
- Travel to and from national conventions being the “Face” of our client
Requirements:
- 4-5 years demonstrated experience in business development, preferably for software, a SaaS ultimately the best
- Proven ability to execute complex sales process as well as negotiate partner and alliance relationships.
- Values aligned with company mission
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Strong planning and organizational skills
Compensation:
- Salary commensurate with market rate for the role (DOE)
- Comprehensive Medical, Vision & Dental benefits
- Employee discounts with parent company
- Welcoming, growth-fostering work environment
- 401k with match
- Vacation, Sick Leave & Personal Days
Our client is the worldwide leader in clustered storage systems for digital content providers. The organization’s award-winning family of products optimizes customers’ business performance while dramatically reducing the cost and complexity of storing it. Our client has peak positioning in this budding market. Due to their growing demand, the Company is currently seeking to expand its sales team with the addition of a Territory Development Representative. You will serve world-class companies with a focus on media and entertainment.
As a Territory Development Representative with this client you will be responsible for a given geographic territory, lead generation, account management and teaming with Outside Sales Reps to complete the sale. You can be proud to represent a Company whose product line has earned “Product of the Year”, “Best in Show” and was awarded the “Pick Hit Award” placing it at the top of this mounting industry. If you are a tech savvy and passionate individual, don’t pass up this opportunity! This is a key position where your drive, determination and creativity will have a large impact on the success of this Company!
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred, but not required
- Minimum 2 years outbound calling experience
- I/T sales experience considered a PLUS!
- Understanding of the sales cycle
Compensation:
- Very attractive salary!
- Comprehensive benefits package; includes Medical, Dental and Vision
- 401K
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Transportation Allowance
- Fitness Stipend
- Wonderful reputation to support your success
- AMAZING office location with views of Puget Sound!!
Nationally recognized financial and business services leader seeks high-energy outside sales representative for lucrative Seattle area territory. This Company’s brand is synonymous with success throughout its industry, as well as with the over 500,000 clients it serves nationally. Our client continues to pull in award after award, landing on Training Magazine’s list of Top Training Organizations six consecutive times, leading its category each year. The Company’s dedication to its employees has also landed it on Fortune Magazine’s list of Best Companies to Work For along with a spot on Business Week’s list of 50 Best Performing U.S. Companies.
We are currently staffing for an exciting sales role for the Company’s 401(k) division. As Sales Account Executive you will sell expanded services to the existing client base as well as new clients. You will prospect, network, and sell to your designated territory.
Requirements:
- Bachelors Degree preferred, but not required
- Successful outside B2B sales experience
- Hunter/Prospector mentality
- Organized, high-energy relationship builder
Compensation:
- Base in the upper $40k’s, 1st year to $90k
- Uncapped commissions
- Outstanding benefits package, includes medical, dental and flex spending
- Award-winning training program!!!
- Monthly car allowance and expenses
- Matching 401k
- Bonus and Stock purchase plan
Here are four tips for accessible resumes from a great article posted over at Great Resumes Fast. Read the full article here.
1. Include the appropriate industry keywords
Although the hiring manager will certainly understand the specific programming languages and software you’ve used, the HR screener may very well just be matching up keywords.
2. Talk about the end result
Did you create a Web site that saved your company $50,000 a year in outsourced expenses? Did you administer a company network that successfully protected confidential information for 5,000 customers? Did you supervise an IT department responsible for every single piece of computer equipment in a 500-employee company? Regardless of how you went about it, results make sense to just about everyone.
3. Include a technology skills section
If you are applying for a “worker bee” sort of technology job, such as Web developer, you will want to be very specific about the different types of development programs in which you’ve been trained or certified. If your career has progressed to an executive level, such as chief technology officer, you will want to focus more on your success stories.
4. Strike a balance
The key to a readable IT resume is to strike a balance between identifying overall results and achievements, while providing enough specifics for your document to appeal to both an HR screener and a technology hiring manager.
by Jessica Holbrook Hernandez
Have you always known that you wanted to be in sales? Can you paint a picture with your words? If you think that this describes you, then we have a great opportunity for you. We are currently seeking enthusiastic individuals to become a valuable member of a successful recruiting firm. This is a great opportunity to work with a mid and upper management firm whose clients are some of the best known, and highly regarded companies in the consumer industry. You could work with companies like Kraft and Coca-Cola! Our client wants an energetic and sales-minded individual to fill their Junior Recruiter role.
As a Junior Recruiter, your primary focus will be to learn the business. This position is designed as a transitional role into a Senior Recruiter position that focuses on placing marketing professionals within consumer goods companies. In this position, you will learn to effectively source candidates and will assist recruiters in placing 20-25 candidates per year.
Qualifications:
- Proven sales ability
- 0-3 years sales experience
- Bachelor Degree preferred
- Enthusiastic and energetic
- Great phone skills
Compensation:
- Base $30K+, with $45K 1st YR on target earnings
- Comprehensive benefits package; includes medical, dental and vision
- 401K
Our client is an award-winning design software reseller, as well as 7 time “President’s Club” award recipients. This is the largest North American vendor for the market leader in its 3D design software market. It is due to this continuous growth that our client is currently seeking a Sales Representative for its Washington territory. This is a wonderful opportunity to become part of a dynamic and entrepreneurial sales environment with small company flexibility. Enjoy wonderful opportunities with a very stable company that has never had a layoff.
In this Sales Representative role, you will be work with two senior Sales Reps to generate leads. You’ll set up demos and work closely with Sales Engineers and other support staff.
Qualifications:
- Degree preferred, but not required
- Passion to be a professional sales representative
- 1+ year B2B, or B2C inside-outbound professional sales experience
- Demonstrable history of success
- Industry related experience a PLUS!
Benefits:
- $60K+ possible 1st year!!
- Uncapped Commission & Bonus Plan
- 401K
- Comprehensive Medical & Dental benefits
- Exceptional Company paid training
