The Job Nobody Dreams Of

Accomplishments vs Duties

Whether you are filling out a job application, building your resume or in a job interview, at some point you have to communicate what you did in your previous jobs. Accomplishments are the points that really help sell yourself to an employer (see you ARE a salesperson!) and carry more weight than everyday job duties.

Accomplishments can leverage your your job-searching success at every stage of your job search; the introductory letter. your resume and application and especially in the face-to-face interview.

Companies don't care what your duties or responsibilities were in your previous job, they want to know what you accomplished with those duties or responsibilities. Can't think of anything to brag about? You're in trouble...but there is help. Think about these things:

In each job, what special things did you do to set yourself apart?

How did you take the initiative? How did you go above and beyond what was asked of you in your job description?

How did you leave your employers better off than before you worked for them?

Have you received any complimentary memos or letters from employers or customers?

What tangible evidence do you have of accomplishments -- publications you've produced, products you've developed or awards you have won?

Quantify. Employers love numbers. Examples might be:

• Increased sales by 50 percent over the previous year.
• Produced total meal sales 20 percent higher than those of the other servers in the restaurant.
• Supervised staff of 25.
• Served a customer base of 150, the largest on firm's customer-service team.

To separate yourself from the 300 other people going after the same job you are, you need to highlight "how well" you did in your previous jobs...not just "what" you did.

Happy Selling!

I Am Told These Were Good

I do a monthly email newsletter for my job...a little bit of propaganda and some actual useful (I hope!) information. Yesterday I sent out my July edition and got quite a bit of great feedback on two of the items I wrote. Here for your reading pleasure are the items.

One Minute at a Time – Most people try to live their lives as a total picture, instead of living them one minute at a time. They think about the future and feel as if they just can’t cope. Yet anybody can handle anything a moment at a time. Let me give you an example.

It is a typical New Year’s resolution. For instance, the easiest thing in the world to do is quit smoking. Anyone can go a minute without a cigarette. If someone asked you if you could go an hour you’d say “Sure!” So go do it! When the hour is up you’ll have to decide whether you’ll go another hour without one. But don’t try to decide NOW what you’ll do then. Live now. It’s easy to use the excuse that you’ll only want it (cigarette, candy bar, Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon PopTarts…whatever) tomorrow anyway, so why not have it now.

Your mind is VERY powerful. Unfortunately, a lot of people use their minds in negative ways. They begin to tell themselves self-defeating things and then they stop trying. Next time you want to do “it,” tell yourself to wait for five or ten minutes. When you can go 10 minutes shoot for 15 or 20. You’ll feel better and gain the confidence to do for an hour or a day or month without “it.”

Someday – It's a pretty useful word…”someday.” It gives people the chance to put everything off until another day. 'It will happen,” they tell themselves, 'but not right now.' Unfortunately, it hardly ever works this way (I speak from experience!). Millions of people will tell themselves that a happier, more successful life will happen someday - but it never will.

They'll continue to put off the things they want to do with as they grow older and older, until the day comes when they run out of time.   All of their someday's keep adding up until an entirely new life is planned to take place somewhere down the road; the happy, successful life they've always dreamed about. Until then, they drag through life looking forward to that magical 'someday.' And the reason so many people believe it will all work out in the future is because of another seductive trap. They may be afraid to go for it right now, but this 'someday' they talk about is completely free of fear and worry. In other words, they've convinced themselves that a time will come when they won't be afraid to go after their goals.   Have you done this? H

Have you convinced yourself that the right feeling will hit you and you'll live the life you've always wanted to live? Chances are good that you have, and that's why we have to kill the myth with the truth...You will always, always, always feel out of your comfort zone when it comes to changing and improving your life, and that 'special' time when everything falls into place will NEVER come! Successful people aren't lucky enough to be free of fear and worry; they move forward in spite of it.

Happy Selling!

Two Completely Different Approaches

I recently posted a rant about supposed consultants and the dangerous advice they give out.  I guess there is a market out there telling people what they "want" to hear instead of telling them what they "need" to hear. Besides I am not a consultant...I actually have a job in the field in which I speak and write..."boo...yeah!"

So we are back to the cold calling debate. Is it outdated? Is it unprofessional? More importantly does it work? Simply put..."no"..."no" and "YES!" I wrote about cold calling in one of my first posts and it is still one of the most important tools I utilize in my job. That post is an important overview to a grossly misunderstood tool that could change your life in terms of having a great job.

I recently came across two articles in Inc. Magazine about cold calling. The first is almost 20 years old and is available online. The subject of the article is known as the "King of Cold Calls" but surprisingly he cold calls in person and sells debt collection services. I know...I've lost you already...an article on cold calling AND debt collection! One of the most important tips he gives is, "Never assume the person you are talking to isn't the decision maker." Having a title doesn't necessarily make you the person who who says "yes." Quite often the owner, manager, etc. will say "no" but leaves the decision to say yes to a trusted worker.

The other article is in the current issue (July/August) of Inc. Magazine and is not yet posted online (those people are sneaky...making me go pay for the actual magazine instead of reading their articles for free!). The title is "There's No Such Thing as a Wrong Number." The subject of this article is a wine salesman who sells over the phone and uses the Internet to research his prospects. 

He offers 9 tips and my favorite was that "Customers Know They Are Customers." He makes fun of himself and the sales process. I do the same thing and it works because people enjoy and trust those who are self-deprecating...even if it is self-serving. If I make a mistake instead of throwing out an excuse I will say something like, "Clearly I am an idiot." Most people are impressed I took ownership in my mistake and feel a little connection...because EVERYONE makes a mistake. In reality I kind of fib to my customers because I only make one mistake a year.

Both articles give great insight to the power of cold calling and offer up real life examples of what successful people do to earn a great living. If you need additional examples of success stories don't forget yours truly. I have been a successful cold calling enthusiast for years...and clearly I am an idiot!

Happy Selling!