Be organized. You should track every move you make to help facilitate
the tactics needed to land the big job. Every job description you
apply for should go into a folder (paper or online depending on your
style), while every piece of contact information gathered via LinkedIn,
email, etc., should go into your contact repository. Beside it, include a
potential action to call, send an email, check out their webpage, or read
their LinkedIn profile, for example. You never know when you will use
it or need it. It’s a good idea to create a tracking sheet that includes who
you contacted, the date of actions taken with the outcome, and follow-up
date with next steps. I liked to transfer my written notes to a central reference
location to keep everything in one place for summary purposes and
for efficiency with my next steps.

Job-seeking Tracking Example can have the following columns:
Contact Name Company Contact Made (email, phone) Date
Next Follow-Up
Date
Follow-up
Action
Comments

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

Similar to the SWOT Analysis blog, the multi-generation plan takes the
brainstormed strategic ideas from the SWOT analysis and turns them
into tactical ideas. We are often asked in interviews, “What would you do
on day one?” The multi-generation plan answers what you will do on Day
30, Day 60, and Day 90.

I like to create a simple grid with columns labeled 30 Days, 60 Days,
and 90 Days. The rows along the left side can be labeled and organized
any way that you want. My favorite labeling method usually revolves
around how I would address needs specific to people, process, and technology
in my new role, while more technical roles are better suited to use the
DMAIC methodology from process design in the category column (e.g.,
design, measure, analyze, improve, and control). Again, you’re invited to
use what works best for your particular situation.

More than once during the job search process, a hiring manager was
impressed with the plan and actually used it—even when I wasn’t hired.
The plan leaves a lasting impression and differentiates you. I don’t always
share it unless it naturally fits into the conversation. My goal for doing
this work is related to being prepared, and having a literal plan of attack
for when I get hired. On my first day of work with my new employer,
I was able to turn my multi-generation plan into a task list, and hit the
ground running. Please note that due to the length of time to complete,
it’s recommended to be selective in the use of this tool. However, it is
highly suggested for use with the best leads.

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 is imperative to differentiate yourself.
One way to do this is by being more prepared than any other job
candidate. According to Wikipedia, a SWOT Analysis is:

“…a structured planning method used to evaluate the Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business
venture. A SWOT analysis can be carried out for a product, place,
industry or person. It involves specifying the objective of the business
venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that
are favorable and unfavorable to achieving that objective.”

SWOT Analysis is most often credited to Albert Humphrey, who led
the work through the 1960s and 1970s based on data from Fortune 500
companies. The following is a high level description of the characteristics
of each of the main components:

• Strengths: What are the differentiating factors that are advantageous
to the proposal?
• Weaknesses: What are factors that are a disadvantage relative to the
team, process, business, or product?
• Opportunities: What features could be exploited to the advantage
of the team or product? This is often related to controllable and
internal to the company.
• Threats: What external factors, often outside of the control of the
team, business, process, and project that can be a concern?
I started integrating SWOT analysis by creating four blocks on one
sheet of paper and brainstorming specifics related to the company role for
which I was applying. One of the main reasons was to see if it would be a
position I would like, a position I could succeed in, and a position where
I could have an immediate impact.

When I first talk with people about SWOT analysis, they think it’s a
fancy way of kissing up. Actually, the primary goal for me when doing the
analysis was not to benefit the people I was potentially interviewing with;
I needed to believe I was a good fit for a role before I could have a genuine
conversation convincing someone else that I was the right fit. The SWOT
analysis became a tool to allowing me to do that. If the secondary goal is
to show your work and how you prepared for the interview, it can only
help in the goal to differentiate yourself.

I defined each block so I stayed focused and consistent within its context.
Since SWOT analysis was originally created for project settings, it’s
important to understand how it can be used effectively in the job-search
process with a little modification and clarity.

– The strengths represent the skills you can bring.
– The weaknesses are specific to the role, the department, or even the
company, based on your insight gathered from interview preparation,
from articles, current/past employers, and other factors.
– The opportunities should be a direct reflection of the action you can
take to address the weaknesses (internally focused).
– The threats are more externally focused and most of the time are out
of your control. For example, could new federal regulations create
issues in the industry you’re looking to get into?

Historically, the SWOT has had great results for me by ensuring that I
was fully prepared for any interview and knew that the job was definitely
something I wanted. In some cases, when asked how I prepared for the interview,
I might mention the SWOT analysis I completed. On more than
one occasion, the interview became focused around the SWOT work itself.
When that happened, I knew I had the advantage by discussing a
document that I had put together, and in many cases, took some control
over the flow of the interview. Although you should never manipulate an
interview, having some control to play to your strengths can be the extra
advantage you’re looking for.

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

What do you want to do when you grow up? Does your target audience
know your desires? Do you know your target audience?
If you don’t know the answers, it’s time to figure them out. If you don’t
know what you want for yourself or how to market yourself, how can
people help you get you what you want? Even for someone like me who
teaches résumé writing, I had enough critical feedback from readers of
my own résumé as being “too dense” or “too broad” to know that I had
to make some significant changes. For example, that flexibility was easily
identified as a marketable trait on my résumé since I averaged many positions
in a short period of time at the same company. This strength of being
flexible was a nice-to-have, but people making the hiring decision needed
to know what competencies I had, what skills I possessed, and what I
could do for them. The companies I was pursuing couldn’t be expected to
guess what path I wanted to take. I had to find a way for people to know
that I was both flexible and competent. As much as I thought I was giving
companies options, I found that they didn’t have time to be too interpretative.
The message is to still cast a broad net, but be more targeted with
the approach so people know exactly what you want.

An effective way to be precise about what you want is by putting together
a marketing plan. I used this tool in networking situations and
found the murkiness cleared up not only for me, but for the people who
could lead me where I wanted to be. You can still have multiple options
based on your various pursuits, but the key is to have a targeted approach
that aligns your skills with a field of work. The marketing plan can have
fluidity for different fields you are looking into, but should be stable
enough that you don’t need one for every person you meet or for every
different company you are looking into.

There are a variety of types and definitions of marketing plans. My
advice is to look at the purpose of a marketing plan first, and keep it
simple. The purpose is to make your goals as clear as possible to someone
reading the document. The design of your marketing plan should be
based on the harsh reality that someone may well glance at it for less than
thirty seconds, so make the layout count. For example, you might put a
clear statement expressing your interest at the top of the page, followed
by examples of the types of positions you want to pursue, skills and/or
competencies you possess, strengths, and accomplishments. It should be
in a table format to pack a punch with an economy of words. In sessions
that are truly networking only, you can also list all of the companies you
are looking into so the person you’re meeting with gets a sense of the
direction you’re taking. Your marketing plan can be adapted for different
fields you are pursuing, but don’t put yourself in a position where you’re
constantly revising it. My rule of thumb is that 85 percent of the story of
you should remain the same regardless of the positions or fields you are
looking into. Remember, the importance of a marketing plan is to market
yourself in order to give someone a very clear picture of what you want.

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

As someone who has written up many job descriptions, what do you
think I’m looking for? I’m looking for the perfect candidate, just like
every other hiring manager and recruiter. The chances that I will find the
perfect candidate are always slim. As I talked with fellow unemployed
individuals, I discovered that many people read job descriptions and gave
up without any further action. They made no call to the recruiter or hiring
manager, and chose not to fill out applications for positions they were
actually qualified for. Mary LaFontaine, who works for the Maine Career
Center said, “Apply if you meet more than 50 percent of the job description.”
It is not an exact science or math equation. If you feel that you
meet enough of the criteria, then go for it. Even if the “requirements”
are not fully met, you should take a serious look at applying. I am realistic
enough to know that perfect candidates most likely don’t exist, but
qualified candidates do. The ones who take the most shots increase their
chances significantly. A colleague in the sales world used to say, “If one
in ten buy, and you are only asking/offering to one in fifty…it’s going to
take you a long time to get that ten who say yes.”

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