Stop Searching, Start Creating Demand
By Brandon Gutman

Some people never have to look for a job. Companies and recruiters are constantly knocking on their doors. Wouldn’t you want to be one of those people? It’s easier than you think. Here are five tips you can follow to help build and maximize your candidacy value in any industry.

Evolve with the Market

If you work in a space that thrives on being cutting edge, you need to follow the curve. For example, the advertising and media business is becoming more and more digital. People in this industry must embrace new learning in order to remain relevant. I recently attended a conference on Social Networking that was produced by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and met many senior executives who hold very key positions. When I asked one of them their primary reason for attending, they answered, “job security.”

Keep a Brag Book

In addition to having an updated resume, keep track of all of your accomplishments such as new business wins, awards and press. If you have less work experience and feel like you haven’t hit many homeruns yet, build a file of complimentary letters and emails, successful project reports and positive annual reviews. You can even put active campaigns in a case study format, outlining the Challenge, Action and Results to accentuate your success. Include positive comments from a manager or client in quotes with your “case study.” This brag book will become your personal marketing brochure – just be sure to update it constantly.

Get in the News

Build your reputation and “Google factor” by being printed online. You don’t have to rely on the press to interview you. Get yourself published by contributing to a trade publication. If you’re like me and think you’re too busy, make the time anyway because it will pay off when a potential employer (or your mom) types your name in a search engine. The more consistently your name appears in the news (positively, of course), the higher your credibility. Ultimately you can become that much more attractive to potential hiring managers and search consultants.

Speak Up

Just like getting writing published online, it might seem that speaking at conferences or events is difficult to secure. The good news is that it’s not and you don’t need to retain a PR firm. Many of the people you see talking on panels arranged those gigs themselves. The more you speak, the bolder your name will become to upper management, executive recruiters and other industry leaders. Go to the websites of conferences that interest you and look up the content producers – they’re usually listed with their phone and email information.

Network Persistently

It’s often said that it’s all about who you know. We should live by the philosophy of it’s all about who knows you. Isn’t the sound of your phone ringing more pleasurable than making a cold call? If you’re not already a networking dynamo, get out there and start attending as many conferences, workshops and cocktail events as possible. You’ll find the more people know you, the more opportunities will come your way and the more help will be there when you need it.

Think of yourself as a brand and follow these tips. Your phone will ring more and you’ll have greater opportunities to choose from.
Brandon Gutman is the Director of Marketing & Business Development at Stephen-Bradford Search. Stephen-Bradford partners with companies to recruit top sales, marketing and business development professionals. Having always been a successful connector, Brandon spent his earlier years with RSL Communications, a marketing consultancy that helps sales teams reach brand marketers. His peers label him as a guru of sales, networking and business matchmaking.

Are You Employed? Update Your Resume
By Cheryl Harland

Yes, you read that right. Resumes are no longer just for job seekers. A professionally written resume is vital in today’s competitive marketplace and to those of you that have procrastinated in keeping your resume up to date – beware. Companies merge, consolidate, relocate, expand, close or get sold. Change is a constant, and it is important that you be proactive, not reactive, regarding your career.

However, change is uncomfortable for most people. Some of us tend to get comfortable and complacent in our careers, and take the easy way out. We wait for the company to make a decision on our employment destiny instead of realizing that we are the ones that need to take responsibility for our own careers.

Listed below are a few reasons why having a professionally written resume updated and ready for distribution can be crucial:

Succession Planning
Your company needs to build internal bench strength and will be putting a succession plan in place. Does you resume capture your leadership talent and position you as a potential successor?

Internal Advancement Opportunities
See your ideal job posted within your organization and you have only a few days to apply? Don’t wait to have your resume professionally updated and submitted.

Corporate Restructuring
Your company is rightsizing and they want to ensure their top talent is in place. You know they are going to be reviewing your resume on file. Have you updated it with your accomplishments since joining the firm?

Annual Reviews
It is review time and you know that you deserve to be promoted or, at the very least, maximize your annual increase. Does your resume ‘tell them’ or does it ‘sell them’?

Board Appointments
You have been asked to serve as a director on an industry board and you haven’t updated your resume since college!

Solicitation by Executive Recruiters
An executive recruiter calls you out of the blue to let you know of an opportunity that sounds too good to pass up. You are embarrassed to send them the resume you have, or even worse, you sent them your resume and are told to have it professionally written.

Nonprofit Associations
A nonprofit organization that is near and dear to your heart would like you to serve in a leadership role. Are you proud of the way your resume looks?

Company Acquisition
Your company has just been acquired and now there are too many people vying for fewer positions. Is your resume going to showcase your talent and attributes effectively?

Company Merger
It was announced that your company is going to merge with XYZ Corporation and they also have a CFO, VP, Sales & Marketing, etc. How confident are you that they will keep you on?

Searching the Web
You just happen to be surfing the net – and voila! – a position that looks like it was written for you appears out of nowhere, but the submission deadline is tomorrow.

Testing the Waters
You’ve been at the same job with the same company for many years. You need to confidentially explore other opportunities to ensure you are being fairly compensated. Sometimes the only way to advance your career or to receive a large salary increase is to make a move.

Don’t wait until you find yourself unemployed before you seek professional resume help. When you are gainfully employed and working from a proactive strategy, you are far more marketable, you exude an air of confidence, and you possess stronger negotiating power. Take command of your career! If you have not done so, start compiling a folder of your success stories and employ a certified professional resume writer to create your resume. Your career success depends on it.
Cheryl Harland, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Job & Career Transition Coach (JCTC) is Founder and President of Resumes By Design, a fifteen year old Houston-based career services company.

Dress the Part
By Ilona Vanderwoude

During an executive job search, your resume is your stand–in. You have to dress it up and make it present you as well as you would if you were there in person. So when your resume opens the door to an interview, you should be just as presentable in person.

In a sense, you have to make a first impression all over again. Besides being judged on your general business etiquette, your prospective employer will make mental notes about the way you look and present yourself – whether the person interviewing you is conscious of this or not.

We all know that appearances matter, and as much as we like to deny that society isn’t that superficial, research has shown that physical appearance affects people’s opinions, not only in the U.S. or in the western world, but across cultures worldwide. As an executive, your personal image plays a big role in your career, and especially in your job search. Most people realize they need to dress well for an interview. So then why do we still see so many ill prepared and poorly presented candidates?

Part of it may be due to confusion. In today’s work force, it’s often not clear what is considered appropriate business attire. This is especially the case with the introduction of business casual protocols – or lack thereof.

Different industries tend to have their own dress codes and offering uniform advice (no pun intended) on how to dress for interviews is simply not feasible. However, let’s look at some basic ideas, culled from common situations, that incorporate image management to maximize your job search.

1. Reap the dividends of a strong personal image.

You’ve determined your personal brand in the work place and integrated this into your resume, cover letter, and other career documents. Yet many forget to make sure that your physical appearance underscores this brand. You want to present a congruent message on paper and in person. Show people how you think about yourself by the amount of attention you pay to your appearance and, in doing so, tell them where you see yourself going in the future.

Research suggests that physically attractive employees earn more. The Wall Street Journal once reported on a research project that indicated that out of 2,500 lawyers (both men and women), attractive attorneys earned as much as 14% more than their less–handsome colleagues. The point is: we can create a version of ourselves that capitalizes on our most attractive aspects and present ourselves, through proper dress and grooming, as highly respectable and professional.

2. Look good, feel good, and work effectively.

Realize that the way you look doesn’t only affect how others perceive you, but it also influences how you feel about yourself. It affects how you feel, think, act, and speak. You might even find yourself speaking more confidently and walking taller.

3. Forget about trends and focus on what works for you.

For most executives, classic attire will do the trick. Trends are a wonderful invention of the retail industry to keep us buying. This does not mean that you should look outdated. It simply means that trends tend to be distracting. They reduce your effectiveness in leadership or professional roles. Trendy items also tend to look good on a few people only. It is much more important to learn what suits you as a person, as someone with your body type and coloring, and within the context of your position and industry. Above all, dress with integrity.

Companies also benefit when employees – and especially executives – clearly represent the brand. When you demonstrate an understanding of this principle, you will be able to set an example for your staff, your new hires, and the people you supervise. Dress the part, and dress for success!
Ilona Vanderwoude, owner of Career Branches, is one of 21 Master Resume Writers worldwide and holds additional certifications in Career Management Coaching and Image Consulting. Using a personalized approach, she helps mid-career and senior-level professionals position themselves competitively in the job market and expedite their career transition. Her work is featured in 15+ nationwide career publications and bestsellers.