| Maybe you're just out of College or High | | | | |
| School, looking for your firstfull-time job. | | | | Everything you say, and how you say it, |
| Maybe you're looking to change careers after | | | | should convey self-confidence. |
| years in thesame job. Maybe you're just | | | | |
| curious about what's out there. No matter. | | | | Awkwardness is in your own head. What are |
| | | | your accomplishments? Make a listof things |
| There's only one place to start your search - | | | | that you've done that set you apart from |
| | | | others and then beprepared to talk about |
| | | | them. |
| When you're looking for a job, no matter what | | | | |
| form of communication you use,you have only | | | | Practice this pitch, preferably in front of |
| 30 to 60 seconds to really grab someone. You | | | | the mirror, to get connected toit and believe |
| need to get tothe point: Why should a hiring | | | | in it. |
| manager hire you? | | | | |
| | | | This will allow you to feel confident, |
| Hiring managers are looking for people who | | | | comfortable in your own skin. Peoplewho are |
| make things happen. Focus yourpitch on your | | | | unemployed or struggling in their careers |
| accomplishments and results. | | | | often have a lack ofself-esteem. You need to |
| | | | feel confident that what you have to offer |
| Examples include: | | | | someoneis important. |
| | | | |
| · In my current position with ABC | | | | Be Prepared |
| Company, I put together a team to developnew | | | | |
| sales strategies and ultimately increased | | | | When selling yourself, prove that you're a |
| sales by $100,000. | | | | well-prepared, smart, no-nonsenseperson from |
| | | | the get-go. |
| · I implemented a new process to | | | | |
| handle customer service complaints | | | | Ask well-thought-out, specific questions. |
| thatimproved customer satisfaction by 50 | | | | (It's helpful to write them downin advance, |
| percent. | | | | so that you don't forget them under |
| | | | pressure.) |
| · I landed a client that my company | | | | |
| had been courting for five years. | | | | · What's your organization's biggest |
| | | | challenge? |
| Your results are what give your pitch the | | | | |
| critical edge, recent grads shouldfocus on | | | | · If you could find a star performer, |
| educational achievements and/or internship | | | | where would you put her in theorganization? |
| successes. | | | | |
| | | | · Of all the people you've ever hired, |
| Be Confident | | | | who was the best and why? |
| | | | |
| To get a job offer, you must convince hiring | | | | Be prepared to interview the interviewer. |
| managers that they need you. | | | | Sometimes all it takes to get thehiring |
| | | | manager's attention is asking the right |
| Attitude is key: Focus on the positive. If | | | | question or, better still,the right question |
| you're out of a job or have beenfired, don't | | | | that no one else has asked. |
| bring it up. | | | | |