In addition to SWOT Analysis and multi-generation plans mentioned in previous blogs, it’s imperative
that you do your homework prior to meeting with people from
any company—even if it’s not an interview. Homework goes far beyond
a company’s website. Doing your homework includes using LinkedIn
individual profiles prior to networking sessions and engaging in group
discussions on pertinent subject matter. Just because it’s not an interview
doesn’t mean you can go in and wing it. You need to be ready to be engaged
in a dialog rather than simply begging for a job. During a networking
session, I once asked the individual how to get actual interviews with
some of her peers whom I had already networked with in the past. Her
response was, “You already had the interview when you networked.” That
was a powerful statement that has remained with me: every conversation
is a potential interview.

If you are fortunate enough to get an official interview, you must start
digging in even further to gather more information. You can start by going
on the company website—the operative word is start. In your effort to
be seen as unique among the masses, understand that going on the website
is what everyone else does, too. It’s important to understand the company’s
mission and culture, but that is only surface information. How do
the mission and culture come alive? Who do you know working there or
who previously worked there? Do you have anyone in your Facebook or
LinkedIn contacts? Can you look at current employee or alumni groups
on LinkedIn, looking for people you may know or can connect with prior
to the interview? Do you know people at a career center who may have
contacts? Look for HR connections though LinkedIn or group discussions.
If you have Twitter, look for how the company is sending out their
regular messaging. Look for news features or articles about the company
to get a holistic view. It’s vital to do more than read the company’s mission
statement.

Homework may also include role playing, mock interviewing, or
bouncing ideas off your mentors in preparation for job interviews and
networking. You can read the “Practice Interviewing” chapter for more
tips.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

MP3 Downloads of “From Fear to Success:  A Practical Public-speaking Guide” are available at Apple iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Emusic, Nokia, Xbox Music, Spotify, Omnifone, Google Music Store, Rdio, Muve Music, Bloom.fm, Slacker Radio, MediaNet, 7digital, 24-7, Rumblefish, and Shazam “From Fear to Success” MP3 on CD Baby

Your résumé should tell your story based on your set of experiences.
Although you must manipulate your résumé to match the job requirements,
it’s important that you feel good about the product you’re
putting in front of people. One version of my résumé was described as
“wordy,” which was an accurate assessment. I did need to cut it down,
but I was still judicious enough to know that it might be scanned and run
through algorithms that would be picked up online. I took some chances
in assuming that those formulas were looking for specific words, not word
counts. The reason I noted that I still needed to reduce the total number
of words is because, anecdotally, most people give your résumé no more
than a thirty-second look. An economy of well-thought-out words became
important over time—but it had to be done within my own story
framework.

As for my story, I was told to remove a “Personal” section from the
bottom. I know that interviewers aren’t allowed to ask personal questions,
such as, “How many children do you have?”, unless it’s relevant to a specific
job. My “Personal” section included, “Married with three children…
Excellent health; runs 20+ miles per week…Published Two Books.” In
a split second, a reviewer will know that I’m stable (on paper at least),
won’t miss work, and probably know how to communicate effectively.
Although a pessimist may say that you will miss work because of sick children
or school obligations, I was willing to show pride in my family and
courage to be just a little different. In the many years I’ve asked training
groups and experts what they thought when they read it, it was very rare
that anyone saw anything but positive signs. I chose to keep it because it
distinguished me from the crowds and was my story. Remember: sameness
and conformity are not okay unless you have a reason for them.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

MP3 Downloads of “From Fear to Success:  A Practical Public-speaking Guide” are available at Apple iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Emusic, Nokia, Xbox Music, Spotify, Omnifone, Google Music Store, Rdio, Muve Music, Bloom.fm, Slacker Radio, MediaNet, 7digital, 24-7, Rumblefish, and Shazam “From Fear to Success” MP3 on CD Baby

It’s important to stay away from descriptions on your résumé that simply
show you were along for the ride with respect to job responsibilities.
For example, supported and assisted don’t show your leadership skills.
Avoid words that make it sound like you simply did what was asked of
you. Although that’s a good trait, it’s also expected. It’s important to use
strong and active words that clearly define the type of work that you
executed. For example, enhanced, exceeded, formulated, generated, implemented,
increased, and influenced are just a few power words that grab the
reader’s attention. The list can go on forever. The Internet and a thesaurus
are great resources to find strong, active words that can help shape your
résumé. If you are applying at larger organizations or online, there is a
high likelihood that your résumé and cover letter are being scanned for
many of these key words. Even though I’ve stressed being unique and
differentiating yourself, some conformity is important to ensure that your
résumé stands out.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

MP3 Downloads of “From Fear to Success:  A Practical Public-speaking Guide” are available at Apple iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Emusic, Nokia, Xbox Music, Spotify, Omnifone, Google Music Store, Rdio, Muve Music, Bloom.fm, Slacker Radio, MediaNet, 7digital, 24-7, Rumblefish, and Shazam “From Fear to Success” MP3 on CD Baby