From Fired to Hired
You ever read a job description and think “This is me; I could totally see myself in this position!” So, you apply and then you don’t hear anything back from them? Trust-that’s happened to me so many times. Then I figured out that I had a really wordy and crappy resume. You have 7 seconds to impress hiring managers and recruiters, so you have to make it count. It can be stressful and there are a lot of What Ifs, but don’t fret my pet, I’ll help you navigate and create your best resume yet!
First let’s begin with the reason why you want to apply for this position, what makes you a professional in your particular field and why should they want to sit down and interview you. I’ve been noticing while working with some of my clients most of them couldn’t quite articulate what makes them really good at their profession, and that’s a problem! You’re selling yourself on paper, so it’s important that the overall tone is one of confidence and assurance. As I’ve matured, I’ve been more specific with my words and have gotten better with descriptions without using cliches like everyone else uses when job hunting. And let’s be serious, we just don’t want any Ol job, we want a place where we can be heard, contribute, have longevity, grow, & professionally develop. Let’s dive into some Dos & Don’ts and discuss how to stay true to ourselves while keep respect at the forefront of our minds.
I have a lot of work experience for only being 32 years old. I’ve also been working since I was 13, which is more than half my life, so I know very specific dos and don’ts simply because I have lived it, made the mistakes, and had the successes. I’ve landed the job, been so close as a final candidate but received the “thanks but no thanks email," walked out of jobs, & yes, I’ve been fired-a few times, but It’s all a learning experience. And through those experiences, I want to help you succeed and achieve the job you deserve.
Resume Dos & Don’ts
DO:
Keep it to one page (400 words is the sweet spot)
Cater the resume to the specific job title/description (no one cares about your experience at the local restaurant if you’re applying for a marketing position).
Use key words that they used in the job posting
Show Data/examples of your work (showcase what growth you’ve given to the company since you were hired).
DON'TS:
Don’t have more than 5 bullet points
Keep it impersonal (no one cares if you’re married and have kids)
Use a tasteful email address (hotmama69@hotmail.com won’t land you the job).
Don’t list your GPA unless it’s a 3.5 or above.
Interview Dos & Don’ts:
DO:
Make eye contact
Give them a firm handshake
Do your homework: Know a bit about the company before walking into the building
Look professional: Stay away from prints and trendy clothes. Keep it simple.
DON'TS:
Having poor posture and/or body language (slouching, crossing your arms, fidgeting)
Stop bringing in your Stanley full of ice-cold water or your Starbucks cup-it’s tacky.
Lacking personality (provide a little humor, & warmth).
Failing to set yourself apart from the others
Stop saying what you think they want to hear-it’s disingenuous. Just have an organic conversation.
boundaries and standards
DO:
Show up on time, nothing is worse than wasting someone else’s time because you can’t manage your time appropriately.
Smile & say Hi. Treat everyone with the utmost respect.
Ask questions: If you don’t know something, it’s OK. Just ask!
Show interest & enthusiasm, even when you could care less. (I’d like to thank my acting background for this one, because I’m getting really good at this on a daily basis). But in all seriousness, try to find the interest and the silver lining, not everything is going to be thrilling, but still, just try.
Butter their toast (I can thank an ex-boyfriend for this phrase), but allow me to tell you, this is imperative. Buy another latte for your boss while you’re on your morning coffee run, bring the Box of Joe and a dozen donuts on a Friday just because, pick up that $5 something you found at Target that reminded you of your manager or co-worker for their Birthday or Just Because. Once you know someone’s personality, do these things sporadically, and it’ll get you farther than you think. It shows you care and that you have good intentions.
DON'TS:
Gossip! There’s a fine line with expressing what someone is or isn’t doing, and then there’s just plain 'ol talking shit. Be the bigger person, and don’t talk shit. It makes you look really bad; I promise. And if you have to because you feel like you're suppressing your inner Regina George then call your mom, like I do, and vent it out while she listens to you without judgement because she knows that you're just having a moment & this too shall pass. If that person isn’t your mom, that’s fine, just have A person, not a co-worker, and make sure they’re a great non-judgmental listener.
Beginning an email with "Per my last email.” This one is really hard for me, because people literally DO NOT Read, but trust me, refrain, it’s backfired one me and I was perceived as bitter and disrespectful.
Oversharing your personal life with a co-worker (unless you’ve created a really badass bond & you trust them 100% and now you consider him or her a true friend). This also leads me to over-explaining yourself. If you're taking a personal day, that’s all you need to say, because it’s personal and 100% none of their business.
Dress according to the culture of the workplace. I work full time at a performing arts center therefore, I can get away with a lot more now than when I was working in a corporate business setting, or the classroom, but if I’m meeting new people, or I’m going to be with executives, I make it a point to dress for my audience.
My hopes for you all, is that even if you’ve heard this all before, it's a friendly reminder for you to put the work and effort into something you really want. I have to remind myself of everything you read above more often than one may think. Value yourself, value your story and know that you’re human and it’s OK if you fail. When you need help, ask for it, when you need support, let people know, and when you don’t know what else to do, come back here and re-read this, I’m here to help!
XO,
Heather