What the Heck Do I Do?

We live in a world of paradoxes: of things that seem absurd – yet are true. Who do we take our sex advice from? Dr. Ruth – who looks remarkably like Radar O’Riley in a dress. Who do we take our weight-loss advice from? Richard Simmons – who is always 20 pounds overweight.

Paradoxes extend into the world of job searches. If you asked any job search coach or professional resume writer, they would share the following with you. One of the biggest mistakes people make in their job searches and resumes is to try to be all things to all people, and they don’t know who they are.

Which leads us to dating. Imagine going on six dates. And you tried to please each date, i.e. you changed who you were for each date. How would you feel at the end of that road? Tired? Frustrated? Yet this is exactly what the great majority of people do when it comes to their job search and resume: they try to be all things to all people – and, in the end, they have fogotten who they are today.

So, before we go out on that date, we stand back from the mirror. And ask 2 very critical questions:

a.) As a sales professional, what are my “Top 5″ areas of expertise?

b.) How would that list look if ranked in order of my current passions?

We need to build the job search and resume around that newly ordered list. If we don’t? We’ll probably end up in interviews for jobs similar to the one we currently hold. If we do this exercise? This is consistently the tried-and-true way to land interviews for positions you are excited about!

You see where we’re going here. See that person in the mirror? That’s not the same person you saw 5 years ago – you have changed. And you need to know how you’ve changed – in order to understand who you are today – in order to know your unique value (this is Marketing 101). The result? You now only date someone who appreciates who you are today – and understands your unique value = no more bad dates.

Which brings us to your job search and resume. Be sure you “brand” yourself for who you are today; this means you may be getting into areas of interest that you are not yet an expert on – that’s OK. And it means you know – without hesitation – what your top 2-3 areas of expertise are – for which you have a great passion right now – today. Remember – there is a whole cottage industry of “tests” now given by employers to be sure they don’t hire you for things you are good at, but burned out by. That’s smart business: it helps the employer hire right and retain the best talent.

But it’s a free country. You can always go back to trying to please all your dates. Here’s a tip in that regard, when they ask if you are a democrat or a republican, state “Yes”. And keep the wine flowing.

Being the sort of fellow who hates theories – and loves real-world intel fresh from the field, here’s the latest of the “Cool New Stuff” you are really going to enjoy: IT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER.

Let’s be brutally honest (you’ve figured out by now I am that sort of fellow who says it like it is), what was one of the greatest classes you ever took? Which classes do you use nearly every day in your life? I can think of 2 classes. One is typing. Come on – admit it; one of the best classes you ever took. Second (for me) was a Kepner Tregoe Decision Analysis course. This is “Great Stuff” that really works in our everyday lives.

So – we’re starting a new series – I’ll report to you great – can’t live without it ”stuff” – you try it out, and tell me what you think. We report back to the group regarding what works and what does not work. This is sort of like the theme of the “secret shopper” who provides retailers with brutal candor regarding their experience buying in the retailer’s store.

First up: you are flying from where to where? Now do you see that crazy- looking woman waddling down the aisle and probably suffering from a.) tourettes, or b.) a nervous bowel disorder? Where do you think she is going to sit? Yup – you just know it, don’t you. Sort of like when the toast with jam falls to the floor – which side will it land on? To protect yourself from this sort of scene, consider this great service (which is free): Seat Guru.  

And do you remember, as a kid, discovering a cool new place – a cave – a place in the woods that no one else knew about (obviously I didn’t grow up in NYC)? Check this out: Click Here 

As products come off that assembly line and get FDA approval, employers (many of whom you may have never heard of and who don’t yet have an HR group) are seeking. . . you got it: top Medical or Pharma sales reps. You definitely want to approach these companies BEFORE they start posting for jobs. Get on the phone and call them today – before someone else does.

Happy hunting – I’m reviewing more “Cool New Stuff” for my next report. Let me know what you find.