If you don't have a degree and you're looking for ways to land a job in spite of it, here are some tips on how you can sell your experience, regardless of your education.
1. Be a problem solver "Millions [of people] graduate with vague degrees that only attest to one's ability to read books and take tests, but not necessarily solve problems," Murphy says. "Industry experience conveys that you can solve problems for an employer right away or with little learning curve. Examine your experience and spell out how you helped solve problems, any problems. Competitors with degrees won't be able to compare."
2. Tell your 'Rocky' story"Not having an impressive academic pedigree -- or any degree at all -- can be a plus if you've found a way to succeed to this point without one. The more you can demonstrate a history of success relative to more pedigreed peers the better. You can paint yourself as a self-made professional, as compared with the silver-spoon Ivy Leaguer who had all the odds in their favor.
3. Be open to education,Many companies have favorable back-to-school plans for their employees. If you're speaking with a prospective employer that places a large emphasis on you might want to indicate a desire to take advantage of their plan. Demonstrating a desire to make up any gaps in your résumé while on the job might just tip the scales in your favor."
4. Don't make it a big deal. If it is an impediment to you, then you are going to reflect that when you talk with the company. There are really very few companies where the degree will stop [someone] from hiring a person if they are the best out there.
5. Focus on achievements over education. If you don't have a degree, it's very important for you to shine in every other aspect of your résumé.Don't settle for a list of tasks, but really demonstrate how you can do the job better than anyone else can. The best way is to do this is by providing concrete evidence of how you have excelled at similar tasks in the past through accomplishments."
6. For the interview, prepare several stories of success that showcase how you have accomplished tasks similar to others who possess a degree. If you are a sales professional for example, focus on how you exceeded your sales targets and have done as well as or better than your colleagues. If you are an accountant, prove how you have uncovered errors and recouped money for the company -- despite the fact that you didn't formally study accounting. If you are a high school graduate competing against a recent college graduate, talk about the experience you have garnered injobs you had while others your age were at college.
7. Create a combination résumé, The most important task is to market your key skills and accomplishments to the employer by creating a résumé that focuses on your contributions to your previous employers and your experience that is most relevant to the position for which you are applying. By creating a combination résumé that lists your relevant skills and experience first, you are sure to capture the hiring manager's attention. You initially want the employer to be able to fold your document in half and just by reading the top portion they know you are someone they should contact to schedule an interview. Does that top portion list education? Not necessarily.
For more resume and interview tips Check out the world's *only* Guerrilla Job Search System caught on video -- www.careerspro.com/program.htm
I've watched the DVD done by my colleagues David Perry and Kevin Donlin, and I can tell you it can absolutely help you find a job faster in this economy.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
WORK
It's such an important part of our lives. And not just because of the money. Work gives life meaning. Purpose. It contributes to our sense of worth...our self-concept...even our mental and physical health. Work helps keep us centered-grounded-and that's so valuable during these times of chaotic change. But here's the paradox. The only way our work can carry this kind of positive, steadying influence on our day-to-day lives is for us to keep changing our approach to the job. As the world evolves, so must we.
Our work will slowly destroy us if we don't update our methods and mindsets. Imagine if we had quit evolving at the invention of the wheel! We are gifted with a great capacity for change, it is that ability to adapt that is the solution to our future. Our instincts towards exploring, innovating, pioneering are excellent tools in today's changing career climate. These powerful resources, together with our ability to manage our actions, position us to take advantage of the rich and amazing array of opportunities the next millennium will bring.
Change will continue to accelerate., technology will see to that and our world will become even more complex. But we are bigger than the challenges we face. The one inescapable requirement for success is that we ourselves must change. Born into one era, we must build our careers in another. Quite naturally, this calls for new behavior, New thinking, And maybe a little more nerve. Reluctance and fear are the number one stifling roadblock to any successful job search. In order to excel we must take risks, in today's job economy the old saying "nothing risked, nothing gained" has never been truer.
Check out the world's *only* Guerrilla Job Search System caught on video -- www.careerspro.com/program.htm I've watched the DVD done by my colleagues David Perry and Kevin Donlin, and I can tell you it can absolutely help you find a job faster in this economy.
It's such an important part of our lives. And not just because of the money. Work gives life meaning. Purpose. It contributes to our sense of worth...our self-concept...even our mental and physical health. Work helps keep us centered-grounded-and that's so valuable during these times of chaotic change. But here's the paradox. The only way our work can carry this kind of positive, steadying influence on our day-to-day lives is for us to keep changing our approach to the job. As the world evolves, so must we.
Our work will slowly destroy us if we don't update our methods and mindsets. Imagine if we had quit evolving at the invention of the wheel! We are gifted with a great capacity for change, it is that ability to adapt that is the solution to our future. Our instincts towards exploring, innovating, pioneering are excellent tools in today's changing career climate. These powerful resources, together with our ability to manage our actions, position us to take advantage of the rich and amazing array of opportunities the next millennium will bring.
Change will continue to accelerate., technology will see to that and our world will become even more complex. But we are bigger than the challenges we face. The one inescapable requirement for success is that we ourselves must change. Born into one era, we must build our careers in another. Quite naturally, this calls for new behavior, New thinking, And maybe a little more nerve. Reluctance and fear are the number one stifling roadblock to any successful job search. In order to excel we must take risks, in today's job economy the old saying "nothing risked, nothing gained" has never been truer.
Check out the world's *only* Guerrilla Job Search System caught on video -- www.careerspro.com/program.htm I've watched the DVD done by my colleagues David Perry and Kevin Donlin, and I can tell you it can absolutely help you find a job faster in this economy.
Monday, April 6, 2009
So, tell me about yourself ?
This is the most often the lead-off question in any initial interview. Of the thousands of job seekers I have interviewed, it is almost unanimous in that people have found this to be the most difficult question to answer. In baseball, there is a number 1 batting (lead-off) position and the player in the lead off spot is expected to at least get on base, any base. While the "so tell me about yourself "question is typically viewed by some job seekers as a mere formality; an icebreaker if you will, you better at least hit a single or you'll be relegated to the bench and sent packing in short order. It's that important !Seasoned hiring authorities will always ask this question almost immediately. Making a good first impression with an organized, smooth, well scripted and concise answer will set the tone for a positive interview experience. The should be answered in a minute and a half to two minutes maximum. The interviewer is not looking for dissertation but rather a thumbnail sketch of your experience and education. Unless you are a recent college grad, what is the interviewer looking for here ?• A brief introduction. Your education, where your work history and your job titles at each employer (even though your resume already states those facts do it anyway) and what led you into your profession would be a good opening.• Major accomplishments that would be of interest to that particular employer.• Prominent strengths as confirmed by those major accomplishments.• How you see yourself progressing within that organization assuming of course you are not knowingly applying for a dead in job.Remember, a "maximum" of two minutes ! If you do keep it succinct but interesting from the employers point of view, you'll leave the interviewer just salivating to ask you to get into more detail on the points you've momentarily touched on. You'll notice I did not mention anything about openly discussing your personal life. I did that on purpose. Suggestion: Thoroughly plan out your point-by-point answer. Now, record and listen to your response focusing in on relevant content, tone of voice and over all delivery. Practice, practice, practice until you get it just right ! Don't hit a single; the bases are loaded, there are two outs and you're in a clutch game situation here. You'll hit a homerun if you have invested the time.
This is the most often the lead-off question in any initial interview. Of the thousands of job seekers I have interviewed, it is almost unanimous in that people have found this to be the most difficult question to answer. In baseball, there is a number 1 batting (lead-off) position and the player in the lead off spot is expected to at least get on base, any base. While the "so tell me about yourself "question is typically viewed by some job seekers as a mere formality; an icebreaker if you will, you better at least hit a single or you'll be relegated to the bench and sent packing in short order. It's that important !Seasoned hiring authorities will always ask this question almost immediately. Making a good first impression with an organized, smooth, well scripted and concise answer will set the tone for a positive interview experience. The should be answered in a minute and a half to two minutes maximum. The interviewer is not looking for dissertation but rather a thumbnail sketch of your experience and education. Unless you are a recent college grad, what is the interviewer looking for here ?• A brief introduction. Your education, where your work history and your job titles at each employer (even though your resume already states those facts do it anyway) and what led you into your profession would be a good opening.• Major accomplishments that would be of interest to that particular employer.• Prominent strengths as confirmed by those major accomplishments.• How you see yourself progressing within that organization assuming of course you are not knowingly applying for a dead in job.Remember, a "maximum" of two minutes ! If you do keep it succinct but interesting from the employers point of view, you'll leave the interviewer just salivating to ask you to get into more detail on the points you've momentarily touched on. You'll notice I did not mention anything about openly discussing your personal life. I did that on purpose. Suggestion: Thoroughly plan out your point-by-point answer. Now, record and listen to your response focusing in on relevant content, tone of voice and over all delivery. Practice, practice, practice until you get it just right ! Don't hit a single; the bases are loaded, there are two outs and you're in a clutch game situation here. You'll hit a homerun if you have invested the time.
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