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Career Strategy Checklist
Guilty of procrastination?It is very common for people to START the Resume building process a week out from a closing date. Ask yourself, is that a reasonable investment in your future career and perhaps why you're stuck in a rut of your own making? |
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Don't have a Master Resume?An expert discipline is to keep a Master Resume that contains all key aspects of the knowledge, skills, achievements, experience, job record, references and qualifications updated. This provides everything that you need to select and prioritize each element for an opportunity as it arises. |
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Haven't considered the employer's perspective?An employer's interest is only piqued when you speak to their problems, opportunities and challenges. To ignore this is to attempt to sell something that your client doesn't want to buy. |
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Not focused on accomplishments?In very simple terms, your Resume should demonstrate your critical thinking abilities to make money, and/or save money, and/or save time and improve productivity for the enterprise. Extra points for giving quantified 'PAR' examples (Problems->Actions->Results) of how you have done this previously. |
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Haven't built your brand?Developing a reputation takes time and a plan, but can open doors otherwise firmly closed. It's plainly easier to get interviews if you're known and well-regarded within your profession or industry, and investments in building networks and goodwill through positive PR are part of every effective career strategy. |
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Not good at blowing your own trumpet?To humbly state that you 'participated' in a major accomplishment is to sell yourself short. That's where 'action verbs' must come to the fore. "Was responsible for assorted program roll-outs" should instead be "Led and completed nine multi-million dollar program roll-outs that were delivered on time and under budget". |
My 'The CV Times' newspaper is updated frequently with news and views on Executive Recruitment matters and tips on taking control of your career.
Accomplishment Checklist
What is the PAR Technique?Problems->Actions->Results (PAR) is a discipline to help you focus on your career accomplishments. Statements derived from this populate the 'experience' sections of your CV or Resume, and illustrate you have the expertise and functional skills to meet an employer's needs. |
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Resolving problems through personal actionsA 'problem' in this context is an issue restricting an enterprise, so you must consider this from a prospective employer's point-of-view. Which problems or challenges that you've faced in your career did you resolve or contain? Which opportunities do you help exploit? |
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Financial AccomplishmentsDid you implement actions that saved or made money, improved efficiency or productivity? Did you boost sales, open a new territory or establish a new office, department, branch or facility? Did you reduce waste, save time or minimise effort? Did you help to limit liability by suggesting WHS or security improvements? Did you redesign, streamline or reorganise; or implement any projects, plans, programs, processes, or introduce services or products? |
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Creative and innovative AccomplishmentsDid you introduce a technical, e-business, marketing, logistical, IP or creative innovation that was adopted? Or identify a need for a product, service, plan, program, system, method, procedure, technique? Did you develop or design a new plan, program, service, product, process, project, system, method or strategy? |
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Interpersonal and leadership accomplishmentsDid you help improve employee relations or morale; facilitate or improve communication among employees, with clients, or with the community or other stakeholders? Did you train, present or mentor managers, staff, trainees or interns? Did you collaborate/liaise with others and act as a contributing team member? Did you influence various audiences through improved communications? |
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Quality and added-value accomplishmentsDid you improve quality or standards for the recruitment or retention or staff and associates, products, services and customer experience? |
Similar techniques include STAR: Situation or Task -> Action -> Results (government, academia, nursing) & SAO: Situation -> Action -> Outcome (education).
Client Testimonials
The above are genuine reviews that are obviously anonymized. I can provide referees upon request.
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