Program Helps Clients Find Jobs in 28 Days

In a world where 85 percent of available jobs are never advertised, "Get Hired Now!" authors C.J. Hayden and Frank Traditi have developed a practical, hands-on program to help job-seekers -- and the career development professionals who serve them -- to tap into the hidden job market. This inspirational and motivational program (based on the book) helps job seekers benefit from the single most important factor to a successful job search -- the power of personal relationships.

At the heart of the program is a structured 28-day system to lead job seekers through the three key components of a successful job search:

1. Identifying the best job search strategies for the job seeker's professionals goals.
2. Helping the job seeker know exactly how and when to take action.
3. Keeping the job seeker motivated in the face of frustration and rejection.
   

Consistently directing job seekers to the most practical "next step" in a job search, "Get Hired Now" helps job-seeking individuals identify personal goals, find opportunities and contacts, connect with potential employers, get interviews, and land the job.

Bridget (Weide) Brooks, CPRW, has recently become a licensed facilitator for the 28-day "Get Hired Now" program. More information about structured programs and teleclasses will be forthcoming. The program is also available through one-on-one coaching with job seekers. For more information, call Bridget Brooks at (402) 393-4600.

About the Authors/Program Developers:
C.J. Hayden is a Master Certified Coach and author of the best-selling "Get Clients Now!"™ book and program. Since 1992, she has helped thousands of professionals achieve career success. A recognized leader in the coaching professions, Hayden has taught career skills at Mills College, Chevron, and Federal Express.

Frank Traditi is a career strategist and executive coach with more than 20 years of experience in management, sales, and marketing for Fortune 500 companies, including MCI. He has taught job search skills for the Information Technology Institute, the Universities of Wyoming and Colorado, and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

Resumes Have Their Own Language

When you read a resume, you may wonder why there are few pronouns. My clients wonder the same thing -- and it's sometimes a question that comes up when they review their first draft.

Résumés use a unique style of writing to emphasize brevity in order to maximize the reader’s time. Many individuals find this style of writing a bit confusing, but there are a few guidelines that will make it more understandable.

• Résumés use a version of first-person style, but omit the subject (“I” / “me” / “my”).

• We use present tense for activities you currently perform, and past tense for past activities and achievements (particularly for older positions on your résumé, but also to describe responsibilities you once performed in your current job, but no longer do).

• To emphasize brevity, we remove most articles (“a” / “an” / “the” / “my”), except when doing so would hurt the readability of the sentence.

• We write in a strong, active style, emphasizing action verbs (“direct” / “manage” / “conduct” / “develop”) instead of passive descriptions of activity.

• Most often, numbers one through nine are spelled out; numbers 10 and above are expressed as numbers.

Your resume should conform to these generally-accepted rules as well.

Why Company Research is Important

You might assume you know what a company does ... but it's best to do some company research before you go on your interview. This was apparent to me today when I was talking with a resume client who related the story about her boyfriend, who was interested in applying for a job with Oriental Trading Company. However, he shared with her that he was concerned about the warehouse job being "too dusty." She wondered why he would think that -- and he responded that he thought the rugs would get dirty and dusty in the warehouse.

Those of you who know Oriental Trading Company (better than my client's boyfriend, anyway), know that they specialize in novelty toys and gifts, and not oriental rugs.

My point, and it was well understand by the boyfriend in question (when he said, "I guess it was good that I found that out before I went on the interview!") is that it's important to research a company before you even apply for a job with them (and even MORE important once an interview is scheduled). Understanding the specific needs of the company will help position you as a solution to one of their problems -- and that's why companies hire employees ... to solve problems.