To Get The Job…Get Noticed, Get Passionate
HIRE ME! Unfortunately, that’s the basis of communication for most career searches at any level. Rarely do I see anyone impart an understanding of the position and how the opportunity is important to them. Here are some tips for standing out among the masses and relating to your (future) new boss.
Determine Your Genuine Interest
You won’t be interested in every new career opportunity that comes your way, right? So, something about the position you are contacting a company about caught your attention. Ask yourself these questions before communicating:
- Would this position challenge me?
- What do I bring to the position?
- Would I be happy doing the work for the next 3-5 years?
- Is this the kind of company for which I want to work?
- Am I willing to make the sacrifices required to be successful?
Answering these pre-contact questions will help you create a case for your involvement with the company and give you fodder for the next step, declaring your interest.
Declare Your Interest
At your level, many people have achieved a great deal of career success and have the resume to back it up. The people making the hiring decisions are looking for something else. Your declaration is what truly credentials you. It sets you apart from your competition because it’s YOU who’s declaring who you’ll be in the future, what you want to achieve. This heartfelt message of commitment makes you memorable. Spend more effort in your communication letting them know why the position matters to you, then you can let them know that you have the skills to generate results. But do you know what result they’ll want? You’ll need to do some due diligence.
Understand and Relate to Their Needs
Remember, your future employer doesn’t yet know who you are. Therefore, you’ve got to touch him/her in such a way that compels them to reach out to you. Before doing that, you have to understand their company and needs. You must complete your due diligence, like a sales person would do before a meeting, researching the company to determine their mission for the upcoming year and beyond.
From there, you can then explain why their organization is important to you and your future. Present achievements you’ve had that align with their direction and a vision you’ve synthesized from your diligence of them. Make the connection between their goals and your skills for them. Whether its perfect or not, you will have illustrated a plausible positive relationship.
Complete these steps as you craft your communication to the hiring company and you will have demonstrated more motivation, creativity, passion and authenticity than most of your “competition.” You will get noticed because optimism is contagious!
