Monthly Archives: December 2010

6 Reasons Why a 30-60-90-Day Plan Gets You the Job

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A 30-60-90-day plan is a written document outlining what you will do as an employee within the first 3 months of your employment.  It’s broken up into sections:  the first 30 days usually includes training, as well as getting to know the company and customers; the next 30 days are more focused on getting out on your own and into the swing of things; and the last 30 days are often more about branching out and bringing in new business.

As a sales recruiter, I encourage all of the people I send to companies for interviews to create this kind of document and learn how to present it.  It really sets them apart from other candidates, and the ones who have done it usually see tremendous results.  But why is it so important?  Why does it make a difference?

  1. It shows initiative.  You are already doing something that’s not required, but that would be helpful.  It gives hiring managers a clear idea of what they can look forward to if they hire you—an outstanding, take-charge, thoughtful, focused employee.
  2. It shows preparation.  A 30-60-90-day plan can’t be done at the last minute.  Creating one shows you are thinking and planning ahead, and know how to work.  If you’ll do that for the interview, it’s a good bet for them that you’ll do that in the job.
  3. It shows your written skills.  That’s important.  It shows your communication skills, your Word Document skills, and your ability to put something together.  It shows that you know how to impress.
  4. It shows that you’ve done your homework.  You took the time to get to know the company.  When you can name specific things relating to the company in your document (types of clients, types or even names of competitors, top products, customer-relationship management systems, what their initiatives are or what their credo is) it presents you as a very desirable candidate who is interested in THIS job, not A job .
  5. It shows that you know a lot about the position.  You’re already writing down what you will do in the first 3 months.  You know what’s going on, and what you’re getting into.
  6. When you present a 30-60-90-day plan correctly during the interview, it shows that you can control a client-customer interaction or a presentation, that you can effectively communicate the points you want to make, and that you can gather information because hopefully you’re asking questions as you present it.

Then, if you re-send the 30-60-90-day plan along with your thank you note after the interview is over with the changes that the manager has suggested during your presentation, it shows follow-up–along with focus, presentation, communication, and all those things that make a wonderful employee…and THAT’S how you get the job offer.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

After the interview: What to do when you don’t get the offer

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There may be nothing more frustrating to a job seeker than going through several rounds of interviews with a company, only to not be offered a job—or an explanation.  What should you do if you find yourself in this position?

Ask for feedback

If you feel like you established a solid rapport with your interviewer but didn’t ultimately land the job, you can always ask them if there’s anything you can do to improve your performance going forward in the interview process.  You may receive very positive feedback to the tune of, “You were absolutely great, but we hired someone who was just a little better qualified.”  Conversely, you might receive constructive information to help you improve, such as, “We didn’t think that you adequately researched the position before we talked.”  Either way, if you feel comfortable asking for feedback, getting another person’s perspective on your interviewing skills can be invaluable.

Connect on LinkedIn

Let’s say that you come in second for a job, and the company you interviewed with lets you know their reasoning when they deliver the bad news.  If you got beat out by someone who was just a slightly better candidate, you might consider connecting with your interviewer on LinkedIn and asking them to keep you in mind for future opportunities.  If the interviewer was truly impressed with you, you can capture that momentum and use it to establish an ongoing relationship.

It’s important to realize that some people you meet during the interview process will not feel comfortable continuing to communicate with you afterward.  Don’t take this personally—company policy may not even permit them to do so.  However, for those who work in an environment that allows them to provide you feedback or continue building a professional relationship with you, making the effort to build that connection can be an asset to your job search.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

6 Creative Ways to Stand Out in the Job Search

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Can’t get an interview?

Can’t get past the first interview?

Are you demonstrating the levels of commitment, drive, tenacity, skills and organization employers want?

Here are 6 tried and true ways to separate you from other candidates and be the candidate everyone wants to hire:

1.  Preparation = SWOT Analysis:

SWOT is a strategic planning tool.  It stands for Strengths (attributes helpful to achieving the objective), Weaknesses (attributes harmful to achieving the objective), Opportunities (external conditions that will be helpful to achieving the objective), and Threats (external obstacles or conditions that will harm the process).  Look at the picture – it helps.  Doing a SWOT analysis on the company demonstrates your drive, commitment, and skills, along with helping you create a better 30/60/90-day plan.

2.  30/60/90-Day Plan:

A 30-60-90-day plan is a short, 1-3 page outline for what you will do when you start the job.  Essentially, you spell out for your future employer, in as little or as much detail as necessary, how you will spend your time: in training, learning company systems, introducing yourself to customers, and your initial plan to build sales.  It demonstrates exactly how you’ll be an asset.  A 30/60/90-day plan is an almost-guaranteed way to impress any hiring manager or hiring team.

If you absolutely can’t get an interview, you could try e-mailing your 30/60/90-day plan to the sales manager.  It’s an attention-getter, and it could be the key to get you in the door.

3.  Video or Audio Communication:

Send the interviewer an audio or video clip of yourself.  Keep it short and sweet, and make sure you’ve checked lighting, background, and sound quality.  One idea:  Structure it like an elevator pitch: what can you do for the company and why can you do it?

4.  Brag Book:

A brag book is a folder/ binder that you can use during your interview process to clarify your skill sets.  It can include letters of recommendation, “attaboy” notes (or any notes commenting on what a good job you’ve done), staff ranking, annual reviews (if you include some, include them all), rewards letters, your resume, types of equipment you’ve used or marketed, certifications or other educational courses, any financial or PowerPoint presentations, copies of articles you’ve written, brochures you’ve helped develop, and a college transcript (though ONLY if you’re just getting out).

5.  References:

It’s critical that you have winning references.  Some people believe that references never get called, but they do.  You should know how to choose a good reference, and know with stake-your-job-on-it certainty what they will say about you.  You can (and should) even coach them beforehand, to help them tailor their answers to the job.

6.  Follow-up/Thank You Notes:

Don’t underestimate how important thank you letters are in the job interview process.  Everybody “knows” they’re critical, but unbelievably, not everyone writes them.  Thank you letters accomplish several things:

  • They get your name in front of the hiring manager one more time.
  • They are your last chance to package yourself as the best, most qualified person for the job.
  • They are polite, and manners count.
  • They can be an example of your ability to take in information (the interview) and process and provide feedback or new ideas about whatever the problem was. For example:  “I thought about your concerns about how to handle xyz delivery issues, when I was a product manager at ABC corporation, we used…”

(See what I mean?)

Handwritten thank-yous are nice, but e-mail thank yous are fast.  Sometimes, hiring decisions are made quickly, so a timely note can be critical.

I know these things will help you become an outstanding candidate!

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.