Sell Yourself into your "Dream Job!"

On the first birthday of Competent AdvantageTM, I’m excited to launch a NEW FEATURE for our online community. Each month, one of my HR colleagues will give us an “inside scoop” on career development and transition strategies.

Our first HR professional to share her views is Karen Robinson, Account Manager with Career Blazers, Inc. Career Blazers offers Temporary Staffing, Legal Staffing and Permanent Placement services to Fortune 500 companies in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

Since January 2003, Karen has managed recruiting for Career Blazers’ premier clients. (Think financial services, advertising, and other leading industries!) Karen describes recruiting as a “puzzle” – the client has one piece, the candidate another. She enjoys helping make the pieces fit together. Blazing her own trail in staffing and recruiting since 1992, Karen knows a thing or two about how to position oneself during a job search or career transition.

Here are Karen’s TOP 10 Suggestions to “Sell Yourself into Your Dream Job!”:

1. Network, network, network – in creative environments so that you can practice telling your story in a relaxed environment.
2. Join and participate in organizations – be active so that you can be noticed for your talents and “competent advantage.TM”
3. Identify the trends and changes in your field of interest.
4. Incorporate visualization into your life. – If you can see it, it will become your reality.
5. Research, research, research – identify competitors, latest news or anything that will give you an “educated edge.”
6. Set goals – daily, weekly and monthly to help you plan ahead.
7. Incorporate time management into everything you do.
8. Have a current reference letter from a former supervisor or someone in upper management that highlights your accomplishments.
9. Go on “Interview Runs” – Seek out opportunities to practice your interviewing skills, especially if you have been out of the market for a while.
10. Once you “land,” spend the first few weeks getting the lay of the land. – Figure out who’s who, how the team works, and how upper management handles team relations.

So, what do YOU think? Have you tried any of these strategies? Which ones have worked best for you?

It's hard to pick the best one, but I rely a lot on # 5 – research. With all of our gadgets and technology, you can stay on top of trends in your industry in so many ways! It’s important during a search or transition to demonstrate how you can add value to an organization (using your skills and competencies). Staying aware of “in-demand” skills in your industry will help you know which previous experiences to highlight in an interview, or what training you might seek to improve your proficiency.

Thanks, again, to Karen for sharing her tips with the Competent AdvantageTM community!