This is the last installment on words that are common to job searchers. You may have heard them networking or read them in articles and have been uncertain about what they mean. I have provided the best practice for each word.
Résumé—your ticket to the interview. Your résumé only has one purpose, and it is to get you noticed and invited to an interview. Resumes should be tailored for each job you apply for using keywords you find in the job posting.
Skills—what you need to do the job. They need to be updated. Some skills become outdated without use. Keep up with your skills by volunteering. Learning new skills will keep your candidacy viable.
Thank you notes—the best way to follow-up after an interview. Thank you notes are should also be sent after you have a meeting with someone in your network. Thank you notes show you are professional and have good manners. They are one of those things that people don’t notice when you do it, but surely notice when you don’t. Each note should be addressed to the person by name.
Unique selling proposition—is what makes you the best candidate for the position. It is something that you can do better and allows you to stand out. Look for what you unique selling proposition is and be able to explain it in an interview.
Volunteer—a win-win for you and the organization you give your time. Volunteering fills gaps in your résumé. It’s a networking opportunity. You can use your skills or learn new skills. The organization benefits from receiving help they don’t have to pay for. Use your time to help an organization and keep an eye out for networking opportunities.
Wait—looking for a job is a waiting game. Sometimes the wait is short other times the wait is long. Either way, you have to be ready to wait and have tools to cope with the wait.
dropboX—an app for your phone, laptop or tablet. It can be used on the Dropbox website or directly to your electronics. Items placed in Dropbox can be shared by others when files are too large to send by email. Knowing how to use Dropbox is a good way to show hiring managers that you are up on technology and not too old to learn new things. Learn to use Dropbox and put it on your résumé.
Yawn—is an interview killer. Yawning shows boredom, uninterested in what is going on. When this happens in an interviewer, you can be sure the person interviewing you will red flag it. You will need to be outstanding in the rest of the interview to overcome the yawn. It’s always best to get a good night sleep before the interview.
Zero—the number of errors on your résumé that will be excused. Needless to say, it’s imperative that your résumé be flawless without typos, misspellings, grammar errors. It’s been said that your résumé will be tossed aside if the reader finds an error. It’s best to proof read your résumé and ask another person to proofread it, as well.
Understanding the job search words can help you with your job search. There maybe things you haven’t done because you didn’t know about it. The more you know, the better your job search is and will result in a shorter search. Don’t take things for granted. If you don’t know something, find out and see how you can use it to your advantage.
How can I help you in your job search?
Image: freedigitalphotos.net Stuart Miles
