Five Golden Job-Search Rules

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On this, day five of your job search, let’s jump right in with five “golden” rules to help you get hired faster. Hold up one hand and count along with me …

1. It’s not about you – it’s about them. I cannot over emphasize this! Employers don’t care about what you want to do or even who you are until after they’ve hired you. So stop telling them about your dreams and start selling to their needs.
2. No doesn’t mean, “No.” It just means, “Not today.” An employer’s needs change day-to-day, in real time. Yet, few job hunters will approach an employer more than once – ever! Learn to repackage and represent your skills in a new light. Sales guys know that most sales are not made until the seventh call! So … start repackaging yourself and make a point of being persistent. None of the other candidates are, in all likelihood, so you have almost not competition this way.
3. You are the brand. In today’s world of sensory overload, when hiring managers are literally flooded with applications for every job opening, you need to create a resume that stands out. Your resume must be a reflection, not only of your past experience, but of who you are as a unique individual. Because, in many cases, personality counts as much as credentials.
4. Sex sells. Like lingerie, a good resume should heighten your reader’s awareness of what’s possible… ;-)
5. You need to become a Guerrilla Job Hunter. In the new economy, jobs are temporary. That means you need to be permanently looking for your next opportunity. For example, if a recruiter contacts you, never turn them away without first hearing the offer. You might never get called again! Plus, no real executive search professional would ever try to talk you into something that wasn’t right for all parties. To illustrate, I helped one Marketing Communication Manager upgrade her salary from $41,000 to $95,000. If she had hung up on me, she might still be toiling away at less than half what she’s making now. But she was open to new career intelligence. You should be, too.

Guerrilla Marketing is an attitude. And, according to Zig Ziglar, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” These five golden rules will help you reach new heights in a new job.