One is not the “magic number” as the song says. Listen toThree Dog Night as they sing the song One. Three is the magic number. When you think about your career, start with three questions:
What is your passion? What are your skills? How are your finances?
Action Plan
After you determine your focus and check your finances to determine how much you must make vs. want to make, it’s time to create your action plan.
Your Action Plan contains three distinct parts that you capture on a spreadsheet.
Page 1-Friends, relatives, co-workers who would be willing to help your search
Page 2-Target companies which hire people with your skills
Page 3-“Shotgun” page to track submissions and activity for random companies (when you see something that appeals to you and say, “I could do that).
By managing your spreadsheet for your marketing plan, you can find the company quickly when the recruiter calls you six weeks later. Create columns for when and where you send documentation with at least three more columns for LinkedIn, web addresses, follow up and comments. Color coding allowed!
Resume Review
Don’t confuse duties with accomplishments. Duties are expected, daily tasks and responsibilities. An accomplishment demonstrates how you went the extra mile to exceed expectations. Each job should have duties with a minimum of three bulleted accomplishments. If the job was short term or a disaster, you can shorten the text and omit accomplishments.
Duty
Supervise six Accounts Payable clerks and two Payroll Administrators. Oversee the operations and activities of a centralized accounts payable system.
Accomplishment
- Created new database to track project tools at all times with reduction in tool expense of $4500.
Cover Letters
Do not regurgitate your resume in a cover letter. You cannot omit a cover letter, as you never know whether someone will read it. With careful research analysis of the job description, you can easily show three reasons your training and experience makes you the top candidate. Some Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) prohibit entering it into the database. Don’t worry about it.
Interviewing
Your resume helps you open the door. The interview closes the sale. Underline all the key items the job description requests. Write questions for each, as if you are the hiring authority. Practice interviewing in front of a mirror. Attitude and like-ability are inherent in the process that can readily be visible in the interview. Take a good-looking leather folder with a pocket for 5-10 resumes and your tablet for notes.
Three things you might forget:
- Like-ability
- Listening
- Asking for the job ( or closing the sale)
When asked a question, look down, and take time to focus your thoughts before you respond to questions. Then look the interviewer in the eyes, smile and answer concisely. Watch for the chance to mention how much you want to work for the company.
Near the end of the interview, you will need good questions to show interest for the interviewer or team. Since your palms and pits may be dripping by the end of the interview, write down at least three potential questions in that nifty notebook beforehand.
Once you start thinking in “threes,” your research and preparation provide more confidence and greater potential for success. Maybe you’ll have three offers before the end of the week! Follow up three times and then move on. Listen to the song again. Yes, THREE is the magic number, which will make you a “rock star” candidate!
Ruth Glover is a career coach and author, former technical recruiter and outplacement consultant. You can purchase her book, MORE than a Paycheck, online on this website or through Amazon.