Comments (0) Executives are used to being in control. They know the outcome they need and how to get it. During a job search, there is little they can do to get what they are after. Sometimes, this results in fatal mistakes.
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I wore my jeans to interview
’cause that’s what they all wear
My job coach told me not to
but I really didn’t care
.
I waited in the Lobby
what seemed a very long time
no one offered eye contact
a wall I sought to climb
.
I thought I was invisible
worst fears of the night
no one took me seriously
could it be the coach was right?
.
Next time there was an interview
I definitely suited up
The receptionist’s eyes told me
my apparel said, “not pup.”
.
The next advice I passed on
with an even worse result
I gave too much information
from childhood to adult
.
I saw the eyes glaze over
no way that she could listen
I kept on giving bio
though I knew I’d blown my mission
.
They asked me about money
and I evaded an actual answer
she glared at me with venom
as if I’d promised her cancer
.
Coach told me to give a number
and not negotiate sans offer
but I argued most effectively
imagining an empty coffer
.
The interview ended quickly
and I was not called back
I guess I didn’t listen
my future looked quite black
.
Why did I pay her money
and then not take her heed
if I knew how to do a job search
I’d have a damned job already.
Original Poem by Rita Ashley, Job Search Coach
One of my clients asked me for a template or guide for building a resume. I responded as I always do, use the most ordinary format available; show the reader a resume with everything where they expect to see it.
Now this client has hired dozens of people in his career, executives and individual contributors, yet he was puzzled about what a standard format should look like. I suppose that shows how little attention one pays to format when it is exactly what is expected.
Use 11 or 12 point font and one inch margins. Only two pages allowed and forget colored papers.
Let the content be the surprise; the enticement, not the format. Here’s the tried and true that has worked for executives and technology leaders for decades:
OBJECTIVE: Develop and implement compelling marketing communications strategies and tactics that enable an organization to enlarge marketshare, expand their audience and surpass its competition.
EXPERIENCE:
Washington Employee
Directed targeted marketing collateral programs for xxx Channel. Developed materials through collaboration with internal and external partners. Migrated 300+ marketing materials to two new intranet platforms, managing content revisions in tandem with technical conversion of PDF templates. Monitored mortgage industry updates to shift marketing strategy plans to capture new sales opportunities.
EDUCATION:
University of Memphis, Memphis, 6/2002 TN Bachelor of Business Administration | Major: Marketing Management
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