Love Your Work!  |  Secure that Job!  |  Blitz the Interview!  |  Retain & Engage your Staff!

In this issue...

   


 

Greetings

Connections: Career Communiqué Radio & TV:
Career Success Strategies: Accelerating your level of success in the job market and the workplace

Coach's Corner: 
Career Sustainability:Five essential career management strategies to bolster your employability status during turbulent times.

Ace that Interview:
Mature-aged Candidate and Overqualified?

Your question answered:
How to’s: Résumé Development for a career change candidate

Resources & Tools to Catapult Your Career

Annemarie recommends...

Friday 07, November 2008
ISSN:1835-8551

Volume XXIII, Issue 42

Published every fortnight on Friday. To change your subscription, see link at the end of the email.

Career Communiqué x-Press supports people in accelerating their level of success in the job market and the workplace; and businesses in boosting their staff performance and profitability!


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Note from Annemarie...

 

Hi,

Welcome to another issue of Career Communiqué x-Press, and especially a warm ‘hello’ to all of our new subscribers. We consider it a real privilege to have you join us!

For those of you residing in Victoria (Australia), I hope you enjoyed the long weekend, due to the Melbourne Cup horse race. It’s amazing how one horse race can stop the entire nation!


My husband and son took the opportunity to go four-wheel driving with a group of friends, so my daughters and I had a very relaxing and quiet weekend at home. The Victorian mountain bushlands are truly breathtaking and I was able to share in some of the amazing scenes through the video and pictures that my son took. They were often so high up that they encountered snow on the mountain. Amazing considering we are in the middle of Spring. Here is one of the photos that was taken from one of the highest mountains they were on – Enjoy!


Hope you enjoy this fortnight’s article!


Remember, we always welcome your feedback and suggestions, so pop across to our Ask Annemarie site and submit your topic of interest or questions.


Career Sustainability: Five essential career management strategies to bolster your employability status during turbulent times.

The media’s frenzy surrounding the ‘c’ and ‘r’ words has certainly caused worry and concern among many workers. In this fortnight’s article we identify five important career management strategies to support you in strengthening your employability status despite current market conditions. Note: this topic was also discussed in this week’s Career Communiqué Radio show, so if you prefer to listen to our podcast, pop across to Career Success Strategies: Accelerating your level of success in the job market and the workplace and turn up your speakers.


Until next time, to your success!
Remember: If you can dream it...you can achieve it!


Annemarie Cross
Career Management & Personal Branding Strategist

   
Connections: Career Communiqué Radio
   

Bringing you empowering career related topics every week to support you in accelerating your level of success in the job market and the workplace.
Co-hosted by Annemarie Cross and Keith Keller.


When:  
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Listen to Career Communiqué Radio on internet talk radio

What's coming up on our next show - Monday 10th November 2008?

Topic: Mature Age Job Seekers: Powerful Marketing strategies to win that job
Are you a mature age job seeker currently in the job market and have put what seems to be blood, sweat and tears into your résumé, however don't seem to be getting any interview call backs? Or perhaps you are securing interviews but no firm job offers? We will be joined by our special co-host Imogen Lamport - expert Image Consultant this week, so if you are struggling with your résumé, your interview skills (or unknowingly your overall professional appearance), this show is a must-listen for you!

Previous Show:
Career Success Strategies: Accelerating your level of success in the job market and the workplace

   

 Coach's Corner

 

 

 

 


Career Sustainability: Five essential career management strategies to bolster your employability status during turbulent times.

 

Due to the instability across many industries, never before has it been more important for people to begin implementing some key career management initiatives to strengthen their overall employability.


Here are five key career management initiatives you should begin implementing today:


1. Be relevant


Gone are the days where you attain your degree or diploma and never have to undergo any further professional development throughout the rest of your career.


Companies are continuing their development and advancements so they can maintain their competitiveness in constantly evolving marketplaces, and so should you. Ensure your knowledge and skills don’t become stagnant by undertaking ongoing professional development so you are familiar with latest technologies and methodologies in your specific industry.

2. Be significant


Avoid building a reputation for being a complainer and bearer of bad news whenever a problem, obstacle or issue arises within the workplace. Rather than complaining, be proactive and bring forward some suggestions on how you believe the problem can be overcome. This way you become known as a problem solver, an initiator and a can-do person that can face a challenge head on, rather than someone who is negative and constantly complaining about arising challenges.


3. Be known


Develop a reputation throughout the organisation as a valuable team player that continuously adds value to whatever task or project you are working on. To connect with people outside your immediate team, become involved in special projects that may include people from other divisions/departments that you ordinarily may never have had the opportunity to work with. This will allow people in other departments to become aware of your strengths, enthusiasm and valuable contributions, thus enhancing your overall value to the company.


4. Be prepared


Whether a career change is on the horizon for you, one of the most important tools that you will need during your transition is your personal marketing document – your résumé. Make sure your résumé is up-to-date and identifies your strengths, achievements and overall promise of value, so that you can begin marketing yourself as a valuable addition, should an opportunity arise.


If you want to make sure your résumé positions you as the ideal candidate so you are able to leverage each and every opportunity to position yourself in front of key decision makers, however are unsure how, consider leveraging our multi award-winning résumé development services.


5. Be positive


This is probably the most crucial of all six steps, with your entire persona (either in the workplace or job market) strengthened or weakened, depending on the level of your positivity and ability to bounce back should you be faced with the situation of having to make a change. Every situation can be viewed from a positive and negative viewpoint – how you choose to look at it is entirely up to you.


Remember: what you concentrate on expands, so if you continue to buy into the fear and hysteria the media continues to portray, it will make it all the more difficult for you to survive and thrive.


How are you going to maintain relevancy, significance and positivity during these turbulent times?


I’d love to hear your feedback, so please feel free to leave your post on our blog.


Till next fortnight!


 

To your success!

Annemarie
 

 Ace that Interview!

 

 


Mature-aged Candidate and overqualified?


If you’re a mature aged job seeker and want to minimise the interviewer's perception that you are 'overqualified', when attending the interview it is best that you address this issue directly rather than letting the interviewer bring it up.

Here are three tips that will allow you to address the ‘overqualified’ syndrome:


  • Ensure you give good reasons why you are changing industry or seeking a less senior role. Confirm that you still want to remain active and be a contributing individual within the workplace without the stress and difficulties generally associated with a more senior-level role.
  • Re-state your eagerness and dedication to their organisation.
  • Identify that they will not be required to put a lot of time and cost into training you due to your experience and credentials.

Want to learn more about how you can prepare for your next interview? Grab your copy of 10 key steps to Ace that Interview! Today! Send me Ace that Interview today! 

Need to get your hands on 10 key steps to Ace that Interview! immediately for an unexpected interview? Get a copy of our new e-Book version delivered to your inbox today! Send me Ace that Interview today!  

Note: Want to learn more about how our laser-focused interview telecoaching sessions can drastically improve your interview performance? Click here to find out how.

   

 Subscriber Spotlight: Your questions answered…

 

 

How tos: Résumé development for a career change candidate

Hi Annemarie

My problem is that I'm trying to switch careers, moving from non-profit into finance. I have a degree in psychology and used to work as a counsellor. Right now I have a lower level job in finance, but I'm going to school in the evenings taking business and accounting classes so I'll be able to get a higher level position. I'm not having much luck with this - I'm not getting much response from employers or recruiters. I do have my previous and current education listed on my résumé – I have 21 new credits.

Thanks for your help -- Donna

Hi Donna


Changing careers can certainly be an exciting time however can be hindered if your résumé fails to portray transferable skills and competencies relevant to your target role.


Here are some résumé writing strategies which will allow you to powerfully position your existing experience and current academic pursuits, and that will have employers knocking on your door.

  • Your recent studies are relevant to your target role and therefore must be portrayed at the front of your document. Consider listing:
  • the subjects that you have completed and ensure you identify the topics that you scored top marks in.
  • list relevant projects and assignments (particularly if you secured an impressive result) to identify your knowledge and ability within relevant topics. For instance:
  • Scored top marks (91%) when working on 4-person team-based Accounting Principles project involving the review and analysis of multimillion dollar winery’s financial data.
  • As you are currently working within a role that is relevant to your job target, I would certainly portray the knowledge and experience you have gained in this role, as well as the most important aspect – your achievements.
  • How have you supported the company in increasing their efficiency through performing your role professionally? Perhaps you may have adapted some of the processes and procedures thus allowing you to save time in performing your work? Or, you may have made a suggestion that has now become a standard practice within the workplace.
  • Have you overcome any challenges or obstacles in your work to ensure you have been able to perform your role? If so, what was happening; what actions did you take to overcome the obstacle; and what has the outcome been for the organisation?
  • Consider the relevant skills you have gained from your previous roles and how they can add value to your candidacy as you target a role in finance. What successes and achievements have you delivered that can demonstrate your strengths and value offered to a potential employer?
  • Highlight some of these relevant and impressive achievements in a section titled: Relevant Career Highlights, at the beginning of your document (beneath your academic studies). This will allow the reader to see these achievements (and of course relevant skills and strengths) on page one of your résumé.

As you can see from the above strategies, it’s important not only to demonstrate relevant transferable skills, but also the value you offer a potential employer with your professionalism.


All the best!


Drop me a line at info@a-e-c.com.au and let me know how you go Donna.


Annemarie


   
Resources & Tools to Catapult Your Career
 
Career tools Annemarie recommends...

ATTENTION JOB SEEKERS!
Want to seize control of your job search and ensure you maximise your chances of snaring that interview by making yourself irresistible to a potential employer?
Did you know that:

in today’s fast paced and competitive job market your resume will only receive about 15-20 seconds to make an impression, and thousands of job seekers are loosing out on job opportunities due to a dull and
uninspiring resume?

So what lasting impact is your resume making?

Powerful Resumes!: x-POSED - 6 crucial writing strategies to Secure that Interview! e-Course shows you how to create a powerful marketing tool that will allow you to outshine your competitors and catapult your application to the top of the pile. [Fast-track your application to the top of the pile today!]
   
Want to use this article in your ezine or website?
 
You can as long as you include this complete copy with it:

Annemarie Cross is a Career Coach, Trainer, Speaker, Personal Branding Strategist and Author of ’10 key steps to Ace that Interview!’ She is also the founder/principal of Advanced Employment Concepts (AEC) – Career Management and Corporate Career Development Specialists offering powerful programs for people striving for career success and fulfilment, as well as savvy companies committed to building and retaining their most important asset – their staff.

A champion for her clients, Annemarie’s motto ‘Your catalyst to success’ perfectly encapsulates what she desires for everyone she and her team at AEC works with. To learn more about her book, 10 Key Steps to Ace that Interview! and sign up for more F*REE tips and solutions like these, visit the AEC site at www.a-e-c.com.au

Have a question you'd like answered in this ezine? Contact: enquiry@a-e-c.com.au 

   
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