"Don't Send Me Your Résumé!"

What do you mean, "Don't Send Me Your Résumé!"

Then what do you expect me to do?

Don't let the title fool you! All it means is that you need to do some creative "outside-the-box-thinking".

Use every possible means for marketing yourself vigorously. We are talking about visibility and credibility. Sell yourself as a problem solver. For example:

- Networking and word-of-mouth
- Direct marketing letters
- Professional industry publications
- The Internet and a personalized web site or blog
- Writing articles
- Giving speeches
- Taking an active part in professional organizations
- Attending job fairs and trade shows

(For additional details, see Chapter 15 in Don Sutaria's highly-acclaimed book, 'Career And Life Counseling From The Heart'.)

Personal Marketing Letters

Do Personal Marketing Letters Work?

Do you want to be distinctive and stand out from the rest of the herd?

The answer to both these questions is an unequivocal 'yes'!

The person who advertised an open position has probably received hundreds of resumes and cover letters. That person is bleary eyed just looking at them. Now up pops a one-page, personalized letter, addressed to him/her by name. Intrigued, because this sender thought outside the box, the hiring person reads on.

This one-page letter is in a Problem-Action-Result format and highlights at least two major experiences which this hiring person is looking for. This is flattering to the reader....wow, someone really read the advertisement before replying to it! A 'you' orientation has been used instead of the typical 'me' orientation.

The hiring manager will give you a call because of your uniqueness. Now the rest is up to you.

(For additional details, see Chapter 14 in Don Sutaria's highly-acclaimed book, 'Career and Life Counseling From The Heart'.)

How Can I Start a New Job on the Right Foot?

How Can I Start a New Job on the Right Foot?

One of the trick questions asked during job interviews is: "What would you do immediately after joining us?"

Beware! The interviewer wants to see if you are a bull in a china shop or a true professional who will be a team player and make appropriate contributions after studying the situation. No one likes a know-it-all or a ninety-day wonder.

You need to:

1. Understand the Nature of the World of Work.
2. Analyze and Utilize Your Company's Formal and Informal Communications Networks.
3. Develop Your Own Survival Techniques.

If not, you will be in-and-out of the revolving door within six months!

(For a complete treatise on this topic, read Chapter 13: How Can I Start a New Job on the Right Foot? in the classic career book, Career and Life Counseling From The Heart by Don Sutaria. Good Luck!)

Salary Negotiations.......Scary?

"He who speaks first loses." A saying from India

Would you like to leave $5,000 to $20,000 per year on the table when you accept a new job, and later on kick yourself for doing it? Salary negotiation is a very tricky issue.

In American culture we do not like to haggle or bargain. It is a normal pattern in other cultures.

Let me give you three top tips on salary negotiation.

1.   If the company has fallen in love with you, they will go through great lengths to satisfy your salary requirements.

2.   Know the salary ranges from surveys for your type of a job. Try http://www.salary.com/.

3.   Do not blurt out your salary requirements or your present salary until the time is ripe!

(This topic of Salary Negotiations has been discussed very thoroughly in my book, Career and Life Counseling from the Heart - Don Sutaria)

How to Develop and Execute Your Personal Marketing Campaign

It is very hard work! Here is my seven-step method.
1.   Know exactly what you want to do.
2.   Know exactly where you want to do it.
3.   Find the people in your selected companies who have the power to hire you.
4.   Develop a separate and distinctive resume for each company.
5.   Address a punchy cover letter to the hiring manager.
6.   Follow up is very vital.
7.   Write separate thank-you notes on the same day to all interviewers.
Unless you consistently and systematically follow all these steps you will not be assured of success.

(Details can be found in the book, Career And Life Counseling From the Heart - Don Sutaria.)

Steps to Career Assessment and Career Change

We are cut out to succeed in more than one career. People presently in their 20's and 30's may have two or three careers in a lifetime of work, and possibly more than a dozen jobs.

No matter what stage of life you are at, if you do not get pleasure from your work at least 80% of the time, perhaps it is time for self assessment, career assessment, and, possibly, to seek a new career.

Your hobbies and volunteer work provide some clues about a new profession you would enjoy. You can gain a great deal by reading books and possibly taking on-line tests. However, for maximum effectiveness, seeking the services of a competent career counselor or career coach is a wise move.

(This topic is thoroughly covered in my book: Career And Life Counseling From The Heart - Don Sutaria)

HAVE YOU "GIFT WRAPPED" YOUR RESUME?

A good cover letter is personalized and perhaps even more important than a resume.

The seven most important points to remember for a cover letter:

1.   One page on white or ivory letter size paper and error free.
2.   Addressed to a specific person.
3.   Maximum four paragraphs.
4.   Connection between you and the company.
5.   Try not to repeat the bullets from your resume.
6.   Ask for an interview and end on a positive note.
7.   Mail cover letter and resume in a flat 9" x 12" envelope.

[ See Chapter 9: Your "Gift Wrapping" for a Resume: A Punchy Cover letter, in the book, Career and Life Counseling from the Heart, by Don Sutaria.]     

SURVIVAL KIT FOR JOB HUNTERS

Job hunting is a lonely pursuit most of the time. It is a rare person who would not be discouraged at times. When you go into this 'Jungle', what can you carry with you to survive? Here it is:

A tea bag to remind you to relax daily and count your blessings!
A candy Kiss to remind you that everyone needs a hug everyday.
A Band Aid to remind you to heal hurt feelings.
A rubber band to remind you to be flexible.
A toothpick to remind you to pick out the best qualities in others.
An eraser to remind you that everyone makes some mistakes.
A chewing gum to remind you to stick with your goals.
A mint to remind you that you are worth a mint.

Try it! It works!  

IS YOUR RESUME EFFECTIVE?

Let's get real!
A resume alone will not get you a job!
A resume is only a calling card, a door knocker, a door opened, a tool, an advertisement to buy your services.
Your resume may get only a 5-10 second scan by the reviewer before landing in the WPB (waste paper basket!). What can you do to prevent that from happening to you!
A few sensible tips:
-- Use standard letter size paper, white or ivory, and standard type faces.
-- One-page if you have less than five years experience and up to two pages if more than five
years.
-- Bulleted format of your accomplishments, each consisting of Problem-Action-Result
(P-A-R) concept. Use dollar savings, percentage improvements, sales increases, and
numbers.
-- Chronological resumes are preferred in 90% of the cases instead of Functional resumes.

[ There are at least fifteen tips I can give. For more details, please see Chapter 8: Is Your Resume Effective? in Don Sutaria's book, Career and Life Counseling from the Heart.]

"ON-CAMERA FEEDBACK FOR INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES!" WHAT IS THAT?

Many companies are conducting preliminary video interviews of potential candidates because of the high cost of face-to-face onterviewing. If you have learned some techniques through on-camera feedback, your chances for success improve dramatically.

Consider a camera as a neutral observer. It is non-judgmental and non-critical, unlike us human beings. What you see in the video playback is how people see you. What you see is what you get!

A good career counselor or career coach can do this drill with you.

[This topic is covered in Don Sutaria's book, CAREER AND LIFE COUNSELING FROM THE HEART, Chapter 7.]

DO I NEED AN "IMAGE CONSULTANT?"

You judge a book by its cover. (True or False)
First impression is the only impression. (True or False)
Well reader, what do you think?
Regardless of the maxims we have been taught, I would venture to say that we do try to judge a book by its cover and, unfortunately, the first impression is the only impression that is very long lasting. And you get only one chance to make the first impression!
Image consulting and subsequent enhancement should not be looked upon as a frivolous expense, but as a long-term investment in yourself, akin to any self-improvement program.

[For a more in-depth discussion of Image Consulting, consider buying the book, Career and Life Counseling from the Heart, by Don Sutaria.]

HOW TO MAKE THE INTERNET YOUR SERVANT, NOT YOUR MASTER, IN YOUR JOB SEARCH

You would not believe me if I told you that several of my educated clients spent 80% of their job search time trying to find jobs only on the Internet. The overall results were dismal! None of them had ever landed a job with a salary exceeding $50,000 per year.
Of course the Internet is a valuable tool during the job hunting process. But that's exactly what it is, a tool! A servant! Not your master which envelopes you and consumes all your time.
I would give the Internet a 1%-2% chance of getting you a job lead in the well-paid professional categories.
I am not saying do not use the Internet.....what I am saying is guard your time during job search, and use the Internet judiciously!

NETWORKING (PROFESSIONAL FRIENDSHIP DEVELOPMENT - PFD) IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK!

The cardinal rule to observe here is that every human being we come into contact with daily in our lives is capable of helping us and we are capable of helping them.

It is a fallacy to think that PFD is only for extroverted people. It is a skill, which can be learned with practice, like swimming!

The quickest way of showing appreciation to your networking contacts who have helped you is to write prompt and meaningful thank-you notes, including a statement of how of how you plan to follow through on their suggestions. This is the sincerest form of flattery.

PFD is not all peaches & cream. Be prepared for a few rejections. Don't internalize rejection. Like a salesperson, move on to the next step.

(Read this full chapter in Don Sutaria's book, Career And Life Counseling From The Heart.)

UNHEARD OF JOBS IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

Are you surprised to be told that ten years from now, half the population will be in jobs that have not yet been invented?

Did you hear of any of these jobs ten years ago?

Bioinformationalists who work with genetic information.

Innovation Officers who interact with all employees to improve business practices.

Cybrarians who will monitor and enforce policies on the Internet.

Global Work Process Coordinators to coordinate activities of employees worldwide.

Geomicrobiologists to study microorganisms to clean up the environment.

Telemedicine Technicians to provide medical treatments in remote areas.

Whisperers who are skilled at calming irate customers.

So, be prepared!

DON'T NEGLECT LOOKING AT GOVERNMENT JOBS TODAY!

Regardless of what you have heard from the media, it is now a fact that The American Recovery Act has created over 2 million new jobs.

A good website to look into is www.FindGovernmentJobs.info.

(Call CareerQuest - Don Sutaria - at 908-686-8400, for career coaching and career counseling.)

How to Choose a Career Counselor, Coach or Advisor

Many of you have asked me how to select a career counselor, coach or advisor. Fair question.

1. Get names from friends and past clients.

2. Call at least three counselors and evaluate them based on your needs.

3. If you have a gut feeling that the personality match between you and the counselor is poor, it is a danger sign - STOP!


(If you wish to see a more detailed 20-point plan of approach, you will find it in the book, Career and Life Counseling from the Heart, by Don Sutaria.)

How to Discover Your Passion and Calling in the World of Work
(Where Do I Go From Here with My Life?)

Folks, check your coffee cups from Starbucks. You may find Po Bronson's quote, "Failure's hard, but success is far more dangerous. If you're successful at the wrong thing, the mix of praise and money and opportunity can lock you in forever."

Note that the choice isn't about a career search so much as an identity quest.

You must know what you love to do, and make that passion your work.

[ If the above statements intrigue you, buy the book, Career and Life Counseling from the Heart (Your Career is a Pathway to Your Soul!), by Don Sutaria.]

Dear Blog Hunter,

CareerQuest has a wonderful assortment of contemporary articles on careers. Please go to our website at www.careerquestcentral.com and click on Newsletter Archive on the first page. We have newsletters of the past three years. Suggest checking our Newsletter Archive at least once a month. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you for visiting us.

Don Sutaria, MS, IE (Prof.)
Founder, President & Life-Work Coach
CareerQuest

My book, Career and Life Counseling From the Heart, got a rave review from Richard Nelson Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute?, for which I am grateful.

"Don Sutaria is one of the career counselors I most admire, in the U.S. He talks about things other career counselors don't, like "your soul." Now he has written a book I like a lot, with brilliant short chapters you can digest day by day. I recommend it unreservedly to everyone."

This book has been publihed by iUniverse in a paperback format and also as an e-book. It can also be ordered through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and your local bookstore.

  

PRESS RELEASE (December 10, 2008)

NEW BOOK ENHANCES CAREER AND LIFE COUNSELING

Career and Life Counseling from the Heart (Your Career is a Pathway to Your Soul!)

Don Sutaria

Published by iUniverse. This book can be ordered from iUniverse, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or your local bookstore.

Look for more details on www.careerquestcentral.com.