By Shayna Gaspard –
President, Brand YOU Consulting
With hundreds of resumes dropped and seemingly thousands of
recruiter emails sent, the search process can easily become overwhelming and
frustrating for even the top MBA professional. But don’t let the process
fatigue you to the point of not being on your “A” game when the phone actually
rings and the interview date is scheduled. Here are five ways to reenergize
yourself, best position your candidacy for the opportunity at hand, and
ultimately stand out from the crowd.
1)Know
Brand YOU:Who are you and why
should they care? That is what every MBA needs to answer before even
approaching any recruiter. Especially in these hard economic times, you need to
take the`time`to really explore and define your personal brand. No longer can a
professional just hand over the resume and think that it tells the whole story.
Candidates now need to brand
themselves, fully understanding and articulating both their tangible assets (e.g.,
degrees, companies worked for, financial modeling experience) and intangible attributes
(e.g., exudes passion, shows initiative, build rapport with others quickly)
that make them unique and valuable.
2)Make
it easy for them to love you: Job seekers need to get into the minds of the
recruiters and understand what skills and experiences they are looking for in
the position. That understanding provides the roadmap or checklist. Then, it is
on you to create the sales pitch, explaining what transferable skills you bring
to the table or what experiences you have that will bring value to the
organization. How will your skills help deliver on business objectives? Armed
with this customized approach, you are prepared to address any questions or
concerns the recruiters might have before they are even raised!
3)Connect
the dots: Everyone tells you how important networking is. But many professionals
think that to get the job, the person to target is the recruiter. While the
recruiter is important as a gate keeper, there are others who can help
influence your fate. Reach out to people you know (past colleagues, program
alumni, etc.) who have worked or work for the company, even if not in the area
that you are targeting. You never know who they interact with or how many
degrees of separation they have to someone influential in the group or
department you are targeting.
4)Scope
out the scene: You need to know your facts before you approach recruiters
and managers. Do all the research you can about the company first – its
services and products, competitors, history, etc.Now that you have memorized the 10K, are you finished? NO!
The real research that can set you apart is finding the inside scoop – those
elements that are not written down anywhere but rather only know by those who
work at the company. Talk with alumni or current employees to find out all you
can about the culture, values, and vision of the company. These views will not
only help you decide if you want to work there, they also provide you with
information that can help you sharpen your story to present to recruiters.
5)Find
the roads less traveled: While job search websites are great resources,
they are not the only channel into
the job pool. You need to take more ownership of your career and get creative.
Look into networking opportunities offered through fellowship programs (e.g.,
CGSM, Forte, etc.) or your undergraduate alumni organizations. Also, remember
your MBA program’s career management centers. You paid too much to not take
advantage of all your school’s resources, even after you have completed the
program. Attend special conferences where companies will be present and
recruiting. Finally, look at contract work or independent consulting
opportunities within companies you are targeting.Companies still have a lot of work to do despite smaller
workforces so you could be the temporary answer to their prayers. You never
know, your stellar work could turn into a fulltime offer in no time!
Shayna
Gaspard is an energetic, action-oriented trainer, consultant, coach, and
president of Brand YOU Consulting.As a professional development training and coaching firm, Brand YOU
Consulting works with organizations and individuals alike to develop customized
programming aimed at helping professionals thrive and excel in their careers.
Services include corporate training, skills assessment, leadership development,
career planning, and personal branding. Shayna is committed to
supporting her clients, coupling her extensive leadership, brand marketing, and
strategy consulting experience with her deep desire to facilitate the personal
and professional development of others.
Contact
us for additional information about our services through our website, www.brandYOUconsulting.com.
