They Don't Teach Corporate in College (6 page)

Keep the document to one page.

Check for typos and inconsistencies in format.

Online services such as Vine (vine.co) and VisualCV (
visualcv.com
) allow you to take your resume information to a more sophisticated level, but don't let too many bells and whistles detract from the basics. Make sure that all
forms of your resume have up-to-date contact information, including a cell phone number and email address. And yes, you need a voicemail greeting for your cell. Replace the cutesy one with a message that is tailored to your most important audience: your potential employer. (See
Chapter 5
for voicemail greeting tips.)

Burning the midnight oil to write a spectacular cover letter to send with your resume is not the best use of your time. Why? It's critical that the right people read your materials, and that probably won't happen with a traditional cover letter and resume addressed to a human resources manager. Your resume could be better than Donald Trump's, but if it sits in Mr. HR's inbox for six months, it's useless.

A few years back, when I was looking for a job, I read two resume-writing books cover to cover. After I applied to a bunch of jobs using their advice, I received form letters from 20 percent of the companies and no response at all from the other 80 percent. Desperate, I tried the following method—and got a job offer the first time.

No matter what the recruiters say, the best way to land a job is to communicate directly with the individual who can hire you. It's easier than you think. The first step is to ask everyone you talk to if they know someone at your target company. Inevitably, you'll be chatting with someone at a party and will find out that her sister-in-law works for “Fab Company.” Should you find yourself in this situation, don't waste time reflecting on the coincidental nature of the world. It's your lucky day! A lot of experts say that the best way to proceed from here is to ask your party friend if she would feel comfortable introducing you to her sister-in-law. I agree that this is a good idea in principle. The only trouble is, then you have to rely on the party friend to follow through. Instead, maintain control over the process by getting the sister-in-law's name and ask your party friend if she'd mind if you emailed her sister-in-law. She'll probably say yes to your request, because most people like to help someone out. Be sure to thank her profusely. Then go home right away and draft a cordial message resembling the one on
page 31
.

Ideally, you should use an email address from your own personal domain (such as
[email protected]
) and not something unprofessional (in other words, NOT
[email protected]
). Mention the name of the family
member you met at the party in the subject line so that your contact will open the message instead of deleting it with her spam. The tone of the message should not be wishy-washy or vague. Keep it short and sweet, ask for what you want up front, and be specific. Include a signature line with full contact information at the bottom.

So what happens if you've shouted Fab Company's name from the rooftops and you still can't make a connection to someone who works there? The situation is not hopeless by any means, but you will have to do a little more digging. Call around, look online (LinkedIn is an absolute goldmine), and query trade associations to find the names of people who work in your proposed department. You don't need to locate a senior manager—anybody with a similar job function will do. If you've found a name, but not a corresponding email address, check the company Website or call its reception desk to get the format for email addresses at that organization—you'll find they are usually
[email protected]
,
[email protected]
, or
[email protected]
. Google the person to find out as much about him as you can, and then craft a short, friendly email introducing yourself and explaining what you're looking for. Here's an example:

In your initial communication with Mr. Smith, do not ask him for a job. Rather, gently probe him for information about career opportunities once you're chatting on the phone or have met in person. The point is to establish a personal relationship with Mr. Smith, because, even if he's not the person who would ask you in for an interview, you've now made it inside the company. Mr. Smith probably has the internal contacts to introduce you to the person who can hire you. Perhaps he will forward your information directly, or mention to several of his colleagues that you'll be contacting them.

Even if you can obtain an important person's phone number, I wouldn't call until you've exchanged a few communications via email. For one thing, the chances of getting a higher-level executive on the phone are pretty slim. If the exec doesn't know you, getting past her assistant will be like robbing a
casino. Also, leaving a voicemail message has the unsavory intrusiveness of a cold sales call. In the beginning, stick to email—it really is your best opportunity to knock the socks off someone who matters.

I left my last job under pretty dismal circumstances. HR had failed to settle an ongoing dispute between me and my boss, so I quit. I was so depressed and unmotivated, I thought of leaving the professional world for good. But then I got an interview opportunity at a really prestigious company in the city, so I dusted off my resumes and went. My interviewer and I bonded immediately. We had been talking for about half an hour when she asked me why I left my last job. She was so nice and understanding that I felt perfectly comfortable telling her everything. I didn't regret it until I got the letter telling me they were hiring someone else.

Olivia, 23, Missouri

The key to stress-free interviewing is to prepare, but not too much. You want to do just enough research so that you know what to expect and can speak intelligently on the points related to your job function, and it helps to jot down a few “wow'em” facts about the company that you would never know unless you did your homework; however, don't spend too much time on the company's Website that you end up sounding like Wikipedia in the interview.

It's in your best interests to find out as much as you can about the person or people interviewing you so that you know whom you're dealing with. A Google search will prove helpful in this regard. Determine in advance what type of interview you'll be having so that you aren't caught off guard. Will the meeting be one-on-one, or will you be sitting in front of a panel of executives? Will you be asked to consider a real-life business problem? Will any type of written or computer test be required while you're there?

I also recommend putting together an interview portfolio. A portfolio is an online and/or physical display of your business achievements that shows your level of commitment to previous positions. For example, as a marketing communications executive, my portfolio included press releases and business plans I'd written, magazine articles I'd contributed to, and print advertising
campaigns I helped develop. A neat and professional portfolio can be an excellent tool to refer to during an interview. Most people outside of creative fields don't bother to create anything like this, but it really does speak volumes about your ability to package yourself.

Although it's a good idea to be conversational during an interview, be careful how much personal information you divulge. There is never a good reason to bad-mouth your previous employer, even if everything you say is justified. While he is listening to your sob story, your prospective employer is thinking how in a year you will be sitting in front of another interviewer complaining about his company. Don't be fooled by an interviewer who seems compassionate. Remember, the two of you are not friends, and the interviewer's first loyalty is to the company he's hiring for. If you are asked why you left a job, answer with a neutral statement, such as, “The commute didn't allow me to spend enough time with my family,” or “I wanted to gain experience working in a different industry.” Here are some other things to keep in mind as you undergo the interview process.

Pre-Interview:

Familiarize yourself with basic interview questions such as “Tell me about yourself.” Don't forget doozy interview questions such as “What is your worst quality?”

Assess your own skills and career path in the context of the position.

Brainstorm three to five of your most important business accomplishments and practice succinctly communicating the challenges and results of each one.