Create Your Career Brand and Present a Unique Value Proposition

If you are in the market for a new job, you already know that the competition can be fierce. In our fast-paced business world, employers are looking for outstanding candidates to lead their organizations to success. In most cases, a number of senior-level professionals are competing for one prized job opening. To beat your competition, you must outshine them in your resume and in person. To do this, you need to present the unique value that you bring to the table — this is your

Value Proposition.

A Value Proposition can be equated to a personal career "brand" which candidates will impart to prospective employers. Using this analogy, you are the "product" and your potential employer is the "target market." Your message must compel the target market to purchase the product. A successful Value Proposition does just that.

As a leader, you have a unique blend of qualifications, talents, expertise and accomplishments to offer a potential employer. Determine which special features you have that your competitors do NOT have. This allows you to provide prospective employers with a clear vision of your distinctive value and take the competition out of the equation.

Developing Your Value Proposition

To uncover your Value Proposition, it helps to see yourself as the "product" that you are marketing. Successful advertising agencies know that they need to create a unique message that compels the target market to purchase their product. In your case, the target market is your next employer. To market yourself, it makes sense to create a consistent and convincing message in your resume, professional biography and other career documents. Then, deliver the same proposition during your networking efforts and in the job interview, and you'll have succeeded.

A well-designed Value Proposition presents your very best features as they relate to a specific company or job target. Once you've clearly defined your target and your strengths, you are prepared to develop a powerful Value Proposition by answering three simple questions:

1. Exactly how will your employer benefit financially from hiring you?

2. What special experience or credentials do you bring to the table?

3. What additional talents and expertise do you offer?

Here's a condensed example of how a general manager answered those three questions:

1. The employer can benefit financially from me because I have a knack for penetrating new markets and developing strong relationships with multi-million dollar customers.

2. I have over 10 years of experience in general management within the manufacturing industry and I have a Masters of Business Administration.

3. My additional offerings include extensive experience in implementing best practices within complex manufacturing environments. I am an industry expert and a keynote speaker on lean manufacturing strategies and quality improvement programs.

Designing Effective Marketing Documents

The key to developing effective career marketing documents, such as your resume, professional bio and cover letter, is to use your Value Proposition in each document. Think strategically about every aspect of your career and focus on items that support your Value Proposition. The idea is to create a distinct message that intentionally encourages the reader to pick up the phone and call you.

Here's how a general manager incorporate his Value Proposition into his career profile at the beginning of his resume:

"Dynamic general manager with outstanding educational credentials and over 10 years of experience in general management within the manufacturing industry. Talent for penetrating new markets and developing strong relationships with multi-million dollar customers. Industry expert and keynote speaker on lean manufacturing strategies with a career-long record of implementing best practices to ensure organizational success."

Verbalizing the Message

In order to win the job offer in an interview, it is most critical to articulate your Value Proposition. Since your interview is likely to be conducted in relation to your resume, you must ensure that that the value you communicate in both your resume and your interview are consistent. Develop a number of statements and examples that support your Value Proposition.

To prepare for the interview, practice responding to questions with vivid examples of how you used your strengths to achieve corporate objectives. With practice, you will be able to present a clear and concise response to your prospective employer.

Here's how a general manager answer the interview question: "Why should I hire you?"

"I would like to support this organization by improving our visibility and market positioning. I am able to do this because I have a knack for penetrating new markets and developing strong relationships with key customers. I also bring to the table over 10 years of experience in general management, a Masters degree in Business Administration and a reputation within the industry as an expert in lean manufacturing strategies. Therefore, in addition to expanding the market, I will be able to implement best practices that will contain costs, enhance quality and improve overall efficiency, which will directly translate to positive bottom-line results."

Outshining your competition is easier than you think. Once you have developed your Value Proposition, integrate it into all aspects of your job search. With your consistent, powerful, and compelling message, you will generate top-level interviews and job offers!

BR,

Harikrishna Talent Circle HR Services Vadodara 9274541254

Is Your Online Presence Ruining Your Job Search?

You've readied yourself for an executive job hunt, polishing up your resume, preparing your portfolio and dusting off that interview suit. But as your search starts to fill more and more of your waking hours, you might find out there's another component that needs your attention: your online presence.

Whether you realize it or not, recruiters are turning to the Web in droves to find out as much as possible about you-often PRIOR to contacting you for an interview.

Even more disconcerting, what employers find out about you online may compel them to remove you from consideration for a plum job.

In fact, the term "digital dirt" has been coined for precisely this reason, as more candidates are finding that potentially damaging online information can stop a job search in its tracks.

Here are some strategies for nurturing an online presence that will facilitate your success and help you to monitor your digital dirt, rather than letting it hinder your search:

Google yourself regularly to find out how others will see your information.

Given the importance of online information about you, it's imperative that you monitor the Web for your own data so that you're not caught off-guard during your job search.

Set up a Google Alert on your name, which allows you to monitor any fresh information about you that comes online. (Go to http://www.google.com/alerts to use this feature).

This tool acts as an automatic search agent for the criteria you provide, and allows you to receive quick notification by email of any new Web data that contain your name.

Watch for potentially negative information and address it-quickly.

One strategy for having a common name is to use a unique moniker, such as your first initial and middle name, for all online activities and your resume. This strategy is particularly useful for when someone with your name is garnering negative online attention, since it allows you to differentiate yourself.

Be sure to contact the source of any damaging information and either resolve the situation, or ask to have the data removed. Even if the other party agrees to the removal, it may take a few weeks for the information to slide a bit lower in search engine rankings.

If you find that negative data about you continue to appear, your best strategy is to counteract the effects by placing positive information online. This is best accomplished by creating an online profile through networking sites like LinkedIn or Facebook.

Of course, you'll also want to thoroughly prepare to address any damaging information during the interview process, should the subject arise.

Build your presence by creating at least one active online networking profile.

Creating an online profile practically guarantees that the data you provide-which will accurately and positively reflect your career history, of course-will rise to the top of searches on your name.

The reason? Search engines love fresh content, and the more you update your profile, the more prominently it will be featured at the TOP of search results on your name.

Choose one or two popular sites to get started, and create a profile that includes a professional summary of your skills.

Add a bullet-point list of your top achievements, along with keywords that represent your core competencies, and a description of your leadership abilities, in addition to your work history and degrees.

Keep in mind that the data you add are searchable by others, including recruiters. Add a descriptive title such as "Chief Technology Officer" or "Marketing Strategist" to generate hits on your profile.

Recruiters can and do find executive candidates through direct searches on networking sites-so be sure to add compelling information that enhances your leadership brand.

Be sure to use the networking site's import functionality to add "connections" to your profiles. Doing so will refresh the profile data and ensure that search engines will recognize its relevance for searches on your name.

Carefully monitor and cultivate your online presence over time.

As mentioned before, adding connections to your profiles is crucial to maintaining your online presence-and don't limit connection activity to your first sign-in. Rather, continually invite others to network with you, as this will broaden your exposure and maintain the freshness of your content.

In addition, publish articles or blog posts that add credence to your qualifications. Blogging, in particular, can help establish you as an expert on topics relevant to your field.

As with all online activity, be watchful of the image you create. Less-than-professional photos, casual blogging on an activity you'd rather keep quiet, or other potentially negative information can make its way to the Web with astonishing speed.

It's best to apply the "Wall Street Journal rule" to your online activities: if you wouldn't feel comfortable having it appear as front-page news in this publication, then it's best kept to yourself.

In summary, remember that the Internet is rapidly becoming your source of references for employers, whether you want it to or not.

It pays to be aware of the impact your online presence can have on your job search, and to control the information others can find out about your background.

Work to Create Demand for Yourself, Not Earn a Wage

Your hunt for new employment opportunities, is it all about the money? A job search conducted because you need to pay bills cheapens your credibility and weakens your value to an employer. When your career change is driven by your needs rather than the targeted company, you'll always be held hostage to whatever pressing matter at the time controls the motivation of your search.

Look at your career choices and the professional jobs you've sought. How did you find them; by passive default or proactive strategic design? Your career path is out-of-sync with marketing demand when market positioning is not aligned with customer need. Career misalignment ensures your job search will be long, arduous and disappointing.

A successful search whether for management or executive jobs is identical to a successful sales deal close. A sale is a sale only when the sale is justified. The sale is made only by obtaining customer buy-in that there is a benefit and value in the product promoted to the company's specific needs. Position the product to create demand and you'll make the sale.

The alignment of product (your validated potential for contribution) to the decision maker's needs authenticates the employer's purchase of your talents. These needs are found through due diligence: deep-level research which includes contact development, strategic participation in industry trade associations, events and follow-up.

Prove your value to targeted companies by front-loading your Wow! factor and you'll help a future boss more easily see the necessity to hire you.

Employers hire employees they believe will generate tangible benefits for his or her organization. When finding a new job, create demand and position yourself as a problem solver. Don't waste valuable time hoping that what you have to offer will be magically interpreted by a company's busy management team or executive search committee. You need to communicate exactly how your skills will:

• Save them money
• Increase their revenues
• Improve productivity
• Streamline operations
• Enhance customer / client relations

Your preliminary oral and written marketing communications should be as electrifying and enticing as those high-adventure movie trailers that create convincing first-round interest for you to see the film.

You generally go to the best movies because of a promotional marketing approach that presents the value of watching the moving before you actually do so. Right? The tantalizer, or Coming to a Theater Near You appeals to your sense of emotional need (adventure, laughter, romance, etc.), which then compels you to want to see the movie. When you see the motion picture, you evaluate the degree of fulfillment of the emotional need, and subsequently justify your viewing and its cost to do so.

The right mix of marketing strategies using the same Coming to a Theater Near You model rapidly confirms your value to decision makers. Front-load the sizzle of who you are, what you'll do, and how your contributions will have a positive effect on their organizational growth.

If you've ever been ravenously hungry and caught a whiff of hot, steamy, mouth-watering Fajitas, you know what power front-loading the sizzle has on your appetite. The unique Coming to a Theater marketing tactic has the same compelling effect on employers. Your creating demand at the start of your campaign ensures your career search is hot-wired for success.

What drives your job search? What propels your career change? Boredom? More money? Exit out of an unpleasant environment? Better use of your talents? Enhanced balance in work / life balance? Make sure your market positioning (career focus) creates demand for your skills. Make 'em drool for you and your talents by changing your focus from what's in it for me to what's in it for them. You'll have greater power and control over picking the best career for you if you do.

BR,

Harikrishna Talent Circle HR Services Vadodara 9274541254

Top 5 Tips for Making the BEST First Impression With Recruiters

A recruiter’s success is based on finding the right talent to help client companies hire the best person. Knowing how to help recruiters recruit you will go a long way in demonstrating that you are the best candidate!

This article presents key tips from executive recruiters. Make their job easier, and distinguish yourself in a positive way. The results could lead to your next opportunity.

1. Cookie-Cutter Resumes and Letters Don’t Cut It

Remember that you are unique. What accomplishments, experiences and personal qualities do you offer that will give you an edge over others with similar job titles, employment backgrounds and educational credentials? Communicate what makes you distinct.

Cookie-cutter documents communicate lack of creativity, and mass mailed or generalized materials are easy to spot by savvy recruiters. Avoid large untargeted resumes blasted to search firms who are not specialists in your field; they will likely be relegated to the unsolicited file never to see the light of day.

When responding to a recruiter’s ad, customize your cover letters and resumes to complement the specific requirements of each position. Addressing a letter to “Dear Recruiter” when the ad lists their name will not score points! Recruiters notice the details, so address your cover letter to the recruiter by name.

2. Only the Qualified Get Invited to the “Dance”

The Internet has dramatically changed how job searches are conducted. With the click of a mouse, you can distribute your resume to thousands of employers and search firms around the globe.

With search firms, however, it’s not a numbers game and never has been. The best way to gain credibility with recruiters is to apply only for positions for which you are qualified. Sorting through the large volume of unqualified resumes that recruiters receive takes precious time. Therefore, scrutinize each ad carefully for the list of qualifications. Ads for positions that are not a good match or only vaguely appeal to you won’t get you closer to your ultimate goal of landing a new position. Save your time, and respect the recruiters’ time, by concentrating on the ads for which you meet most, if not all, of the requirements.

3. Accept “No” For an Answer

Recruiters are not shy. If you’re a match for a search they are working on, you will be the first to know. By the same token, know when to accept a “no” and avoid calling repeatedly for months after a search is completed. If you do, this is one bridge you are likely to burn.

If you didn’t get the job because another candidate was more qualified, gracefully accept this decision. Conduct a productive search campaign by focusing your efforts on pursuing multiple opportunities simultaneously so that your entire search does rely on one particular position at a time. This can set you up for tremendous disappointment, not to mention a huge waste of time.

4. Call First and Wait For an Invite.

Unemployed executives have been known to show up unannounced at recruiters’ offices expecting a short interview or conversation. Place yourself in their situation. Would you be willing to be interrupted to meet with some stranger? Even if they are available at that moment, they are not likely to see you. Wait for an invitation!

5. Digital Decorum and Distinction

When communicating by email, recruiters offer the following “digital dos and don’ts” tips for winning them over. Here’s how:

• Avoid writing emails in ALL CAPS and inserting emoticons.

• Email your resume as an MS Word attachment (unless otherwise requested). Don't send a PDF file; they are difficult to forward, need specific software and take too long to download. Don’t send a ZIP file because email cannot detect viruses common in ZIP files, so recruiters often don’t risk opening them. Don’t send MAC files. Time is of essence, and MS Word is the quick and easy business standard.

• Name your resume and cover letter file by LastnameFirstname2006Resume. For example: SmithJohn2006Resume. It's easy to find, easy to file and easy to identify. Recruiters want to match you, but can’t possibly sort through hundreds of “resume.doc” files to locate your documents. Make yourself easy to find and easy to remember. This small professional touch can help make you stand out in the recruiter’s mind—and database.

• Make your ASCII (text only) resume work for you. Avoid tables, columns, boxes and templates since they usually get garbled in translation. Recruiters recommend “taking your resume for a test drive”—check it out first by copying and pasting it into WordPad. Remember, not only does your resume need to be easily scanned, it also needs to be stored for future job matches.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it does highlight the virtually non-negotiable requirements recruiters look for in savvy candidates. Use these tips to effectively manage your search … they can make all the difference in getting recruiters to call YOU over the competition!

BR,

Harikrishna Talent Circle HR Services 9274541254

New Product Launch - YOU!

A job or career change at an executive level is similar to a new product launch. In a job search process, YOU are the new product on the market. But how do you break through the clutter? The key principles of effective marketing apply:

1. Know Your Target Market

In a new product launch, success depends on an in-depth knowledge of your target market. The same is true for a job or career search. What industries are you interested in? How large is the market opportunity within those industries? Are there key trends in the marketplace that make certain industries "hot"? What types of position do you want - what functional area? What size of company do you want to work for? Where? Are there industries or companies that could fuel your passion? Develop your criteria and then a list of target companies that meet your criteria.

2. What Does Your Target Market Need?

Consumers buy a new product when it meets a need. What does your target market need? Understand the strategy, market position, and market outlook for each of your target companies. Understand the broader macro-level trends that impact the needs of industries/firms- such as regulatory, technological, demographic, and consumer trends. For example, if it's a firm in a growth phase, do they need process and structure? Other companies may need to find new markets or new channels to grow. Are they in a turn-around situation? Make sure you understand the strategic needs of the companies you are targeting.

3. Match Your Benefits to Target Market Needs

For a new product, consumers buy benefits, not features. How will the company benefit if they hire you? It's all about what you will do for them. They don't care what you've done in the past, although it may give them comfort if you have a strong track record of success. But that's the past - that's the olD product. If they hire you, what results will you deliver for them?

Start by tying into their strategy and market position. Even if you are in a "support" function such as finance or human resources, you must understand the broader issues and how it will impact your functional area and more importantly, how you will help the hiring firm in achieving their goals.

Then move to specifics of the position. Thoroughly understand the expectations of the position you are interested in. Match up your skills, experiences and results to the expectations and responsibilities of the position. If you are changing industries or careers, you must translate your skills to "generic" skills. How are your skills transferable to the new situation? Match up your "generic" skills with their needs.
Make it easy for the hiring firm and hiring manager. Don't make them dig to figure out how what you've done in the past will translate to what they need. TELL THEM!

4. Differentiate Through Personal Branding/Positioning

Information overload abounds! You need to be able to stand out from the crowd, just as a new consumer product must stand out to get shelf space. You need to identify and concisely communicate your uniqueness - no one else in the world has the same set of experiences and skills that you do. The key is creating a unique position or brand that describes you and is valued by your target market.

What is unique about you that would make a company hire you? What "position" do you want to hold in recruiters' minds? What will you do for the company? How will you do it (leadership style)? Why are you superior to other candidates and the best choice?
This personal brand needs to be more than a generic headline that reads "Successful sales and marketing professional". For example, one client we worked with in the senior housing industry came up with: "Faith-Based Leader Called to Senior Housing Mission". He could then build on three themes in his resume and interviews: 1) faith based/ethics and a "calling" 2) leadership philosophy, skills and results and 3) his industry experience.
Summarize your experience, results, and skills into a concise, hard-hitting phrase that reflects your personal brand - your uniqueness. Be able to use it both in written and spoken form. Then support it with everything you write and say.

5. Communicate through integrated marketing campaign

There are two major aspects of an integrated marketing campaign - the type of marketing collateral to use and the media mix.

In the consumer market, a new product may be launched with print, online, direct response, and point of purchase collateral. With your executive experience, a two-page resume is insufficient to represent your skills and track record of results. You need more marketing collateral.

More frequently, executive job searchers are putting together a portfolio beyond their resume. The portfolio can be used to "seal the deal" in the interview process. This portfolio could include items such as:

1) "CAR" stories - key accomplishments captured in Challenge, Action, Result format

2) Leadership philosophy - develop bulleted list of your key leadership philosophy

3) Graphs/Charts that describe key results. Charts that show improvements you led - cost savings, increased customer satisfaction, employee retention, revenue growth, margin growth, etc. - can be very powerful and grasped much more quickly by hirers than words

4)Testimonials/References

You must also consider the media mix. How are you going to get your message out to your targeted market? Obviously you are unlikely to buy a billboard or do a print ad, but there are various options. Possibilities include personal networking, online networking through sites such as linkedIN, online job boards such as TheLadders, and email or physical letter mail campaigns.

Think of yourself as a new product, then build and execute a marketing plan to successfully launch yourself into a new job!

Best Regards,

Harikrishna Talent Circle HR Services Vadodara 9274541254

Reviewing the Best Job Search Techniques

If you are frustrated and not finding work then perhaps you should rethink your job search plan. Here is a recap of the top job search techniques and how to get the most out of them.

JOB BOARDS

The first thing a job seeker does is head for the job boards. After all, isn't it exciting to find positions that fit you like a glove? The chief problem is that the job boards are the most competitive way to find a position and among the least effective - generally less than 5% of jobs are filled this way. That is not to say that you shouldn't use them - it just means that they should not be the heart of your job search.

Start by using Indeed.com or SimplyHired.com as these are job board aggregators, meaning they pull jobs from all the other job boards as well as company web sites to give you a single place to find openings. Also look at craigslist.org which is becoming a great place to find local job postings. And do NOT apply over the Internet. Yes that's right, pull yourself out of the big pile of resumes in HR and use this simple technique.

First, find out who the hiring manager or key influencers are. You can usually do this by going to LinkedIn.com and doing a company search. Once you have their name and phone number give them a call and say something like: "A friend told me you might be interested in someone with my background. I have (insert your 2-sentence pitch), and I have just a few questions for you."

Then ask them some questions that show you've done some homework on their company. Be very friendly, down to earth and personable and build some rapport. At some point they will ask you for your resume at which point you have now put yourself at the top of the decision maker's pile and skipped the HR screeners. Using this trick can make the difference between being screened out and getting noticed.

RECRUITERS

Recruiters have about a 5-12% effectiveness rate in securing you a new position so you should take that into consideration as you develop your job search plan. In this case we are only talking about those who are paid a fee by the employer. Steer clear of those who want you to pay the fee for their services.

Is this the type of position typically filled by recruiters? For example, recruiters will not generally work with entry level people or career changers as employers are paying them a hefty 8.33-15% of your first year's compensation as a fee for their finding you.

If you decide to work with recruiters, then use a service that will present your resume to the largest number. These are inexpensive and very effective, especially in saving you time. Remember that recruiters in California can be searching for candidates in Texas, so do not limit your search locally.

NETWORKING

Networking is the king of effectiveness in job searching as it has always had over a 50% effectiveness rate. Especially in this market, networking should be the heart of your search plan. Employers are much more inclined to hire someone who is referred to them as compared to a stranger. Networking is not as much fun as applying through job boards and requires a good deal more discipline, but the difference is not only in its effectiveness rate, but also in the quality of the job you obtain.

Networking means more than simply sharing your resume with friends and neighbors. The subject deserves a long article itself, but here are some key techniques.

Develop an "elevator pitch", the three to five sentences that describe who you are and why an employer should want to speak to you. Develop support materials that include a networking business card too. And make sure you have a profile on LinkedIn.com -- the top networking site for professionals.

Now identify the five to ten companies you are most interested in joining. You can use LinkedIn which sports a fairly robust company search tool to do this. Then research the company using a variety of excellent online tools like Zoominfo, Spoke, Highbeam and many others you can easily find. Try to learn as much about the company as possible so you can impress an insider.

The next step is to identify people inside the company which you can also do through LinkedIn. Now your job is to network yourself into a meeting where you can impress them with your knowledge of their challenges, and how you can help them. Start by thinking about people who know someone who knows someone inside the firm. It's great if you can get to the decision maker and it's equally good if you can get an insider to walk your resume into their office. This is your Step 1 in networking.

Step 2 is to expand your search to other firms. Remember that good networking is asking people for advice, as people are much more likely to give you advice than help you get a job. Here you want to know about industries, companies or people you should talk to help you focus your efforts. An easy, painless way to get going with this is to go to the regularly held networking meetings that are advertised in your local paper.

Plan on calling 25 people and having three to five face-to-face meetings per week! This is where discipline comes in, but after you have done this a couple of times, it becomes easier. Ask each person who else you should talk to and add them to your database.

In short, your job search plan should include the three major ways to contact an employer: job boards, recruiters, and networking. Recognizing the different effectiveness rates of each in securing a new position, make sure you put a heavy emphasis on your networking efforts. Remember that although there are far fewer jobs open then last year, you only need one. Follow these steps and you will slash your job search time considerably

BR,

Harikrishna Talent Circle HR Services Vadodara 9274541254

20 Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers in a Down Market

Even in a down market, job seekers and employees are not powerless or without recourse. In fact, you have more control over your career circumstances than you might think. Here are 20 specific strategies and tactics that consistently generate powerful results for job seekers, even when it seems that "no one's hiring."

1. Network, network, network. Continually increase your level of networking and keep expanding your contact database. Reach out to reestablish and nourish business and personal relationships. Offer to help others, even if they're not in a position to help you (because what goes around comes around). There is no substitute for connecting with people one-on-one. Stay connected and don't isolate yourself. Being out of work does not mean you have to be out of touch, so be sure to build and maintain your networking momentum.

2. Seek help.
Get career support from a professional. A qualified career coach can better prepare you to land your next position. If career coaching is unaffordable for you, take advantage of the support provided by government programs, nonprofit agencies, job search groups, college/alumni career centers, or faith-based missions for the unemployed and underemployed. If you're thinking of changing industries, get some career testing. If you're struggling emotionally, get help from a mental health service provider.

3. Read career books and attend career seminars. Take advantage of learning opportunities to improve your job search and career management skills. Keeping informed of business trends will help you gain greater knowledge of the industries and careers that are poised for future growth. Stay plugged into the market and your field to ensure that you'll be current, and to maintain your intellectual capital. Apply what you learn, and generate stronger search results.

4. Leverage technology. Utilize Web sites and online services to connect with your industry and to build greater visibility. Create a career Web site, using tools like VisualCV (www.visualcv.com) and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com). Reach out through social networking sites, such as Facebook (www.facebook.com), MySpace (www.myspace.com), and Twitter (www.twitter.com). Keep in touch with colleagues consistently via e-mail. In addition to leveraging career portals and job boards, learn how to use online tools like blogs, wikis, and virtual job fairs. Focus on optimizing your online identity.

5. Differentiate yourself. Position yourself as an expert by writing articles, giving presentations, or teaching a class. Get involved in professional organizations, and assume leadership roles there. Do something noteworthy in your community that will garner special recognition and build your positive reputation. Focus on what makes you special, and build your brand within your industry.

6. Use your time off wisely Pursue professional development by participating in classes, seminars, certifications, and industry conferences. Take advantage of free and low-cost programs to enhance your credentials. Explore more of your world to generate new ideas. Do the important things that you never had time to do when you were working full-time. Enjoy the feeling of still being productive and making a contribution.

7. Pursue a temporary, part-time, or contract position. Volunteer, provide pro bono work, take on a consulting contract, or complete an internship or apprenticeship. This tactic is especially useful for those who wish to pursue a career in a different industry. Keep yourself in the game, so you won't lose traction in your career growth.

8. Act with speed and urgency. One way for you to get an edge over other candidates is to demonstrate that you're more serious and more determined than the competition. Show up earlier. Arrive more prepared. Move quickly and efficiently. Make an impression by being more responsive and assertive than the others.

9. Take care of yourself. Eat well, exercise, get plenty of rest. You'll need to be healthy and vital to maintain the pace of an active job search campaign. Stay in close touch with friends and family. Keep-up with your interests, hobbies, and activities. Follow your normal routines, even as you work hard on getting the job you want. Maintain balance in your life, and don't let the job search become all-consuming.

10. Be flexible and adaptable. Consider shifting industries and/or being geographically mobile to open-up more career possibilities, even if you would not ordinarily choose these options. Rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity, offer your skills to other industries and lend your experience to different positions. Do whatever you need to do (within reason) to keep your career intact and earn a living. But NEVER lose sight of your career direction and long-term career goals!

11. Improve and enhance all of the documents in your career portfolio. Now is the time to expand your career portfolio far beyond just the resume. You'll need a one-page professional biography, a collection of powerful accomplishment stories, a series of compelling cover letters, a page of professional references, a list of targeted employers, a 30-second commercial (elevator speech), and other items. Craft a unified package that consistently conveys a highly professional image of yourself.

12. Identify industries that will emerge stronger when the market improves. Research emerging opportunities and niches that will offer career growth, and position yourself to take advantage of these trends. (Healthcare, education, and security are some fields that are expected to continue expanding.) If your field has collapsed, be sure to communicate your transferable strengths and the tangible value you offer, rather than focusing on the trade skills from your old industry. Adapt to the realities of the changing work world, rather than holding onto your old career identity out of fear, resentment, or even nostalgia.

13. Practice interviewing and negotiation skills. In an ideal world, you would have been practicing your interviewing and negotiation skills while you were fully employed, rather than waiting for a career crisis to arise. But now that the employment market is in crisis, it's that much more important to polish and perfect these skills. Solicit the help of a partner to role-play with you, and switch roles as needed with the questions and answers. Practice with an audio-recording device, and listen to yourself as you continually improve your performance.

14. Be patient, but persistent. When the job market is bad, employers will prolong the hiring process, and your search is bound to take longer than usual. There is not much a candidate can do to rush things, so you'll need to be patient. However, this does not mean you should sit by the phone waiting for the employer to contact you. You'll want to pursue two basic strategies: (1) Be persistent, but don't be a pest, as you follow up consistently on every opportunity; and (2) Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Instead, keep moving forward as you explore every appropriate opening you can find. One benefit of pursuing multiple positions is that if you don't get an offer, or if an employer never gets back to you, you won't feel crushed.

15. Focus on tangible results and practical solutions. In a healthy job market, candidates can market themselves with their employment history, education, and related assets. But when no one's hiring, there needs to be a relentless focus on tangible, positive results. The primary question in the employer's mind will be, "What can you do for me - now?" This means that you should zero in and quickly identify the employer's most pressing needs and challenges - and then explain exactly how your relevant accomplishments will allow you to successfully address those issues in the short term.

16. Work from a budget. Instead of going into a panic or worrying that you'll lose everything you've worked for, conduct a detailed analysis of your financial situation and develop a family budget. You may discover that you're in a better financial position than you had thought. While you're in transition, cut back on expenses and live as frugally as you reasonably can. Examine and update this budget on a weekly basis. This sort of discipline will pay-off by stretching your dollars and providing some peace of mind.

17. Be kind to yourself. Your experience of being out of work or looking for a new job will be determined by how you look at it. You have a choice. You can beat yourself up, feel like a loser, and be riddled with guilt and shame. Or, you can look at your situation in a more positive way. Realize that you are not to blame for the economic meltdown or the high unemployment numbers. You didn't do anything wrong, and you're still a highly qualified professional. There is no longer the same stigma there used to be about being unemployed, as almost every family in America will be touched by layoffs and downsizings. Forgive yourself, forgive your ex-employer, and forgive the world. Move on toward a better career future.

18. Pay extra attention to your personal image. First impressions count. Make a deliberate, consistent effort to present yourself in the best light. Ask yourself, "How can I enhance my attributes in the following areas: hair, eyeglasses, makeup, hands, clothes, shoes, accessories, posture, smile?" Now is the ideal time to take stock of your appearance, and make whatever changes you feel could improve your job search results.

19. Watch your attitude. Job search is really an inside game, especially when no one's hiring. That is, the outcome of your search will have much more to do with how you think about it than with the external circumstances of the job market. Avoid the gloom and doom messages disseminated by the media, and stay away from any negative people in your life who bring you down. Maintain a positive attitude, and never state anything negative or act desperate. Spend some time each day focusing in and recalibrating your internal attitude. Even if you're out of a job, you probably have many other wonderful things in your life, so remember to be grateful.

20. Be philosophical. Think of the old saying, "Things happen for a reason." It usually turns out to be true. Look at the big-picture view of your recent change in employment. If you're like a lot of my clients, after a time you may come to see this transition as a blessing in disguise. Many candidates go on to find jobs that are better than the ones they had before. Others take the opportunity to explore other careers, rediscover their professional passions, and make important decisions. While you certainly didn't ask to be forced into a job search by the economic crisis, try to find the life lessons and new perspectives in this transition. Commit to yourself that, somehow, you will make this a rewarding and productive experience.

Conducting a successful job search campaign takes energy, discipline, and career support. Despite the pressures you may face in today's employment market, you must stay focused on your goals and search smart.

BR,

Harikrishna Talent Circle HR Services Vadodara 9274541254