your job search promotional materials (resume, cover letters, and pitch)

Your Job Search Promotional Materials (resume, cover letters, and pitch)

Presented at Baruch CollegeOctober 15, 2009

Robert Hellmann, Presenter

Five O’Clock Club Career Coach

www.hellmannconsulting.com

2Material based on Five O’Clock Club MethodologyCopyright 2009, Robert Hellmann LLC / www.hellmannconsulting.com [email protected] / 917-825-9595

Introduction

• I’m Robert Hellmann, a certified Five O’Clock Club Career Coach and an

Adjunct Professor of Career Development at NYU

• The material I’m sharing with you is based on the Five O’Clock Club

methodology for the job search.

• All resume and letter examples are from real clients. Some are excerpted

from Five O’Clock Club materials, others are personal examples that either I

or my clients have used.


Which Statement is True?

Your Resume should fit on one page.

Your Resume should be no more than two pages.


Which Statement is True?

Answer: Neither- they are both false!The key is that you need to have your "pitch" jump off the page in

the 15 seconds the reader is going to look at your resume and

decide whether they want to talk to you or not!

Your Resume should fit on one page.

Your Resume should be no more than two pages.


The Summary Section

Elliot wanted to get

back into Sports

Marketing, but his

‘before’ resume

positioned him in

the ‘Shelter’

business!

*Example excerpted from Five O’Clock Club Materials


Use a Summary Section

� Brings out the accomplishments that you want them to know

about

� So you’re not just defined by your last job

� First line: Categorizes You (Sue’s a Marketing Executive)

� Second line: Separates You (and she’s an expert in Viral

Marketing)


Resume Do’s / Don’ts

Do…� Have a summary section

� Make sure your summary matches your pitch

� Make sure your resume positions you for the particular job.

� Make every point have a “so what”

� Use the jargon of your target, not your last job

� Use boldface and underlines for emphasis

� Use bullets, single sentences, or very short paragraphs

� Use action verbs- “Created”, “Led”

� Use white space for easier reading

Don’t…� Use dense paragraphs

� Have an “objective”

� Write superfluous things like “References Available…”

� Use a non-chronological format

� Throw in ‘no kidding’ phrases, e.g. “results oriented problem solver”

� Be overly concerned about resume length (copy sells!)


Resume Samples


“After” Resume, first of

three pages


Page 1 of 3

In Julie’s prior jobs, she was a therapist, a health center counselor, and a candy business

owner. But she positioned herself successfully for her Senior Sales Professional target.

*Example from one of my clients.


“Before”Resume, first of

three pages


“Before”Resume, second of

three pages


Resume Exercise

Start writing your own Summary Section, or

Start writing Helen’s


*From Five O’Clock Club book “Packaging Yourself, The Targeted Resume”

“After”Resume, first of

three pages


Powerful Cover Letters

� Know the pros and cons of ‘asking for a job’ vs. ‘asking for an informational meeting’.

� If you’re positioning your letter as having an informational meeting, attaching your

resume could be confusing to the recipient.

� Sometimes you can get attention if mention vulnerabilities with company, based on

your research.

� If an e-mail, the subject line is crucial

� Most cover letters work well with the following structure:

� Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself- say something specific about company. If

networking, say who you were referred by.

� Paragraph 2: Pitch- summary about yourself

� Paragraph 3: Bulleted accomplishments

� Paragraph 4: Ask for a meeting


Direct Contact Letter, e.g. when know of opening via an Ad

*From Five O’Clock Club book “Shortcut Your Search: The Best Ways to get Meetings”


Direct Contact– Targeted e-mail, didn’t know of an opening

Subject: Open to discussing Development/Fundraising at Ivy University?

Dear John,

Upon reading your bio on the Ivy website, I thought I would reach out to you, as I myself have experience that could

support fundraising and development efforts.

I currently work in New York City (at and teaching part-time at ), and in the long run am looking to work in

the Hudson Valley where my wife and I live, preferably at Ivy or one of the other area Universities. Though not yet

looking for a job, I would greatly appreciate 20 minutes or so of your time to gain your insight on how my experience

might be a fit in a University setting. Given my many years of experience with Data Mining and DataMart design, perhaps I could also share with you some knowledge that you would find useful for Ivy's fundraising efforts.

Some background: I currently develop Marketing and Sales strategy at and teach at part-time.

My experience includes nearly 14 years in Database Marketing analytics/Data Mining, that is, turning raw data into

actionable knowledge for Marketing or Sales teams. I believe that a University would find this experience valuable in helping to optimize fundrasing contacts, target enrollment prospects efficiently, and improve retention. Highlights from my background include:

• Doubled Marketing's ROI to 23% by adopting a "test-learn-enhance" approach to campaigns, and by developing segmentation/modeling strategies.

• Increased retention by 57% for high potential customers, and increased new account acquisition revenue by 79%, by developing segment-based targeting strategies.

• Led development of DataMarts that dramatically increased marketing analytics capabilities.

• Created a 3-D, 360 degree view of potential customers, both across the customer lifecycle and by relationships, which led to profitable, highly targeted marketing campaigns.

• Drove enhancements in service delivery that are resulting in substantial client satisfaction gains, by

leveraging relationships with clients and establishing metrics.

I also notice from your bio that you made the transition from corporate to university that I'm looking to make. I would greatly value your insight regarding this transition I'm seeking. Would you be available for a brief meeting?

This e-mail, and others like it, resulted in

interviews for me. Note: no resume attached,

asked for “20 minutes” made it clear not asking

for a job, pitch is in e-mail..


You Must Have A “Two Minute Pitch”

� Positions you correctly to your audience

� Answers the questions “why are you here” or “tell me about yourself”

� Should be able to recite a two minute pitch right from your resume

� Very important in forming a positive impression

� You'll use it in job interviews, networking and direct contact

meetings, and in your cover letters.

� Use a 30 second version when appropriate


Two Minute Pitch- Structure

� The whole pitch should be conversational.

� Use details and illustrations to make it interesting. Tell a story.

� Open with what you’re going for- so they can “categorize you”.

� Next mention what else you bring, how you are “different from the competition”.

� Then give supporting facts, right from your resume, to support your opening.

� Close with a summary that can help to move the conversation forward, e.g. ask a

question in closing.

� Should be able to tell your level.

� Use filler words- “One of the most interesting things I’ve ever done was”, “that

was the most satisfying thing…”, “For example there was the time when I…”

� Tell them what you want them to know- how your background fits in with their

needs.


Five OFive O’’Clock Club BooksClock Club Books ---- www.fiveoclockclub.comwww.fiveoclockclub.com


[email protected] / 917-825-9595

� Feel free to e-mail or call me with any questions.

� Check my website for updates to career links, job search tips,

and other places I’ll be speaking.

www.hellmannconsulting.com

your job search promotional materials (resume, cover letters, and pitch)

Career

pages material

cover letters

material based

informational

minute pitch

based

pages

summary