Work Smarter Not Harder

• 1. Work Smarter, Not Harder Creating a Job Search Strategy in a Tough Economy
  • Usman Chaudry, Volt Workforce Solutions

Presentation for APICS MM.DD.2008 | 2008 Volt Information Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. Proprietary & Confidential. 2. Overview

• Creating a Job Search Strategy:

• Building a resume

• Building a virtual presence

• Finding opportunities

• Interviewing

3. Building a Resume

• 2 Formats:

• • Chronological

• • Functional

• Does your resume

• • ScreamCall me!!!

• • HaveMSAs ?

• • • (If not,get them !!!)

• • Keywords

4. Made, Saved, and Achieveds

• Made:

• • Products/Services youve created,

• • Ideas youve created

• • Sales

• Saved:

• • Time

• • Money

• • Reduction in costs

• Achieved:

• • Greatest Accomplishments

Quantifiable 5. MSA Example

• What have youmade ,saved , orachievedfor your employers?

• • Provide example

• • Give quantifiable results

• MSA Version

• • Iprovided technical support to 300 employeeswith computer difficulties locally and remotely using Altiris Remote Control,

• • resultingin areduced response timefrom 3 hours to 2 hours.

• • and Ireduced number of service tickets 30%from 100 to 70 in my first month.

6. Building a Virtual Presence

• Attract Attention

• Choose appropriate site

• Prepare profile carefully

• • Post picture

• • Experience and education

• • MSAs

• • Keywords

• • Contact information

• Create network

• Update frequently

7. Building a Virtual Presence

• Create On-line Profiles on Social Media Sites

• LinkedIn

• Facebook

• Twitter

• Google

• You Tube

8. Finding Opportunities

• Where do you find jobs?

• What is the most effective method?

• Post and Pray?

• Submit to jobs on job boards?

• Networking?

9. Finding Opportunities

• Where do you find jobs?

• If your only answer is

• Applying tojob ads and postings

• thatsNOT ENOUGHin todays economy.

10. Finding Opportunities

• Apply directly to company websites

• Apply directly using Job Aggregators

• • Indeed.com

• • Indeed.ca

• • Simplyhired.com

• Join groups to network

• • Ning.com

• • Google Groups

• • Yahoo! Groups

• • MSN Groups

11. Job Search Strategy

• Take a comprehensive approach

• Update your resume with MSAs... Very important!!!!

• Add keywords to be searchable

• Post to the major job boards..i.e Monster, Workopolis, CareerBuilder etc.

• Apply directly to target companies

• Network

• • Family

• • Friends (Friends of friends/family)

• • Colleagues, Managers(Past and present)

• • Associations/groups

12. Job Search Strategy

• How will they find you?

• Tweak your resume for each job.

• Applying via e-mail

• • Include your resume and cover letter in the body

• • AND

• • Attach resume and cover letter soft copy

• Create a follow-up spreadsheet to track applications

• Follow up with applications on a weekly basis.

13. Interviewing for Success 14. Interviewing for Success

• Know the job description

• Research the company

• What can you contribute? (MSAs)

• • To the position

• • To the company

• What personal characteristics make you successful? (Examples)

• Why do you want the position?

• Prepare questions

15. Interviewing for Success

• Be prompt

• Dress appropriately

• Treat everyone with respect

• Bring your resume

• Turn off your phone

• Give a firm handshake

• Be positive and make it a conversation

16. Practice, Practice, Practice

• 5Ps:

• James Baker

TOINTERVIEW 17. Follow Up

• Thank everyone you spoke to

18. In Review

• Creating a Job Search Strategy In a Tough Economy

• Working Smarter not Harder

• Perfecting your resume and cover letter each time

• Building a virtual presence and networking

• Finding opportunities use a comprehensive, proactive approach

• Prepare and practice for interviewing

• Follow up

19. Questions 20. Thank you