An epiphany hit me recently after reading an article about the current status of job loss in Washington State. Reporting “no jobs” does not necessarily mean there is “no work available.” The term “jobless,” doesn’t have to mean “without work.”
I’ve been staring at this blank page for weeks. In the past couple of months I’ve heard from two very different contacts that they’ve gotten pretty far in the recruiting process, only to have the recruiter disappear. They don’t call, they don’t write. They certainly don’t pick up the phone when it rings. Why is that?
My grandmother, who lived with us, had the foresight to see that this was going to be a developmental problem, and intervened. During the hot Louisiana summers where most kids were not in the classroom, she subscribed to a correspondence school and delivered lesson plans which involved a lot of reporting and speaking on my behalf.
Then there was the time she sat me down and sprung this exercise on me: “Dawn – you have something important to tell me. Your plane is leaving in 2 minutes. Now tell me what it is that you want to say before you go.”
Read more: Learn To Be A Public Speaker And Energize Your Career
Landing an interview, let alone a job has never been tougher as we enter 2013. Job seekers still outnumber jobs available by four to one, not very good odds. And one of the biggest obstacles job hunters face is how to present and describe themselves in simple yet compelling language. Do you know who you are?
I've been recruiting for a long time, over 18 years and it feels like I've checked a million references. One thing that comes up over and over again when talking to candidates, is their desire to get promoted. To move to the next level, take the next step to a manager or Director or VP, even CMO.
