I have long suggested that steps one and two of our 12-step Process M.A.P. give us all the ingredients we need to “get in the galley” and cook up a three course meal of our personal marketing collateral materials. While most job seekers seem to prefer starting with a resume, so that they can begin simply applying to any job that seems remotely close to what they can do… I encourage you to work with all your ingredients at the same time…if your desired result is a nice prime rib dinner, don’t start with the meat—start with the seasonings and vegetables, even get your dessert started…
THIS Week’s Session, Thursday, March 16th: IMPLEMENTING Your PMP
Because that “meaty” resume is the easiest and quickest of what you need to prepare, let’s look at the ingredients that you have identified through assessment of your galley shelves, and your dinner of choice.
WHERE To Start PMP Implementation
As a contact sport, networking is about interaction between sender and receiver, buyer and seller… job seeker and potential employers. The great news is that you get to start from YOUR ‘sweet spot’ or middle ground where all this interaction occurs the easiest!
You start with people that you already know or have some connection to. If your ‘natural network’ doesn’t have a regular meeting—most do not, by their very diverse nature—groups of like-minded people are easy to identify and attend. As you begin to reach out and broaden your ‘sweet spot,’ be selective in your attempt to create a supportive ‘community’ grouping close to your targeted marketplace.
THIS can be accomplished without a resume, but, after all, Step#3 in our process is to develop your in-sync personal marketing materials. Your collateral materials might be grouped into three categories:
VERBAL COLLATERALS…
- A well rehearsed “two minute commercial,” your answer to the most asked question during career transition, “Tell me about yourself.”
- Several, well though out, “elevator speeches,” examples that support your primary, positioning, key words. These are usually your representative accomplishments under the SUMMARY of your resume. (30 seconds to 1 minute )
- A succinct “qualification statement” that you can use as an introduction at networking events. (usually 20 – 30 seconds)
- An “exit statement” which explains your availability, to address the second most asked question during career transition.
Be working on both your written and verbal collaterals at the same time. One will help you “edit” and practice the other. Having your collaterals prepared and rehearsed prior to active personal marketing is central to your success and builds confidence. Consistency in the delivery of your message is what creates memory… and frequency of your message helps you get there.
WRITTEN COLLATERALS…
- A GREAT Resume that positions you clearly as a terrific FIT with your career objectives… and in today’s technologies, a database-friendly, asci version;
- A correspondence template package that consistently carries your communication strategy, your message… and in today’s technologies, a reformatted, text only version of your resume ready for email needs;
- A high impact, personal biography and/or NETWORKING PROFILE that you can lead with in your referral based networking strategies.
- And, after you have coached your REFERENCES, a complete and clearly positioned LinkedIn Profile, written to reflect your communication strategy and in synch with your other collaterals.
NON-VERBAL COLLATERALS…
- Personal appearance, dress and grooming;
- Positive attitude and bearing, a sense of purpose and worth;
- Presence + Preparation = Confidence
- Be prepared for phone calls and interviews: Research
- Confidence feeds on itself and provides a pathway to success!
- Practice the “learnable skills” consistently PRACTICE TO GAIN CONFIDENCE IN PHONE CALLS… and remember, there are only TWO reasons to be on the phone during active job search networking:
- To gather information, advice, referral names and opportunities.
- Second, to secure actual interviews.
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