Create a Personal Marketing Plan for Career SuccessPerri Capell

In tough times, the good will survive, but only the best will Thrive! Are you thriving? Visit Thrive NOW and see how to:Enhance your technical skillsAdvance your careerElevate IT as the business leader. Advance your Career with Training and CertificationIt's the perfect time to get ahead of the curve through training and certifications. Not sure where to begin that journey? Start off by reviewing the value of certifications and then building your own learning planwww.microsoft.com/thrive

Enhance your technical skills

Advance your career

Elevate IT as the business leader.

Who is Perri Capell? Perri Capell is a recognized authority on career issues. As a journalist and editor, she provided job-search and career advice to millions of readers of The Wall Street Journal and wsj.com, answering their questions directly in her weekly column, Careers Q&A.Perri is a certified resume-writing professional (CPRW) and has worked as an outplacement firm counselor, helping executives and high-tech pros during career transitions. She is the author of job-search training manuals used by thousands of clients of outplacement firms who are experiencing job transitions and co-author of the book “Diary of a Job Search.” Perri graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Journalism from Penn State University. She has received numerous journalism awards and fellowships

After A Job Loss: Don’t Panic!Change your visionChange your goalChange how you measure successExamine your current assumptionsRevise how you view a job seeker

Think DifferentlyView the process of job hunting in a new wayIt’s not asking for approvalIt’s finding what you want – a journey of discoveryBefore: a victim who needs helpAfter: a skilled professional with solutions to offer

Poll QuestionHave you recently lost your job?YESNO

Finding Your Value to EmployersIt isn’t what you did; it’s how what you did helped the enterprise and its mission Start by thinking about the end result, rather than day-to-day activity

Value: “I kept track of widgets”Knowing exactly how much material is on handCoordinating with departments using widgets to determine needs and usageOrdering supplies at optimal timesQuality controlComputer programming1. Company succeeds in getting work done (+ revenues)2. Company has no down time (- losses)3. Company meets production goals (+ revenues)4. Company has no returned products (- losses)

Resume qualificationEXPERIENCETallykeeper, XYZ Co. 2001-2005Fortune 500 company in Omaha, NEInventory control and supply-chain management of critical widget. No assembly line shutdowns in 4 years, while company achieved daily production goals with minimal errors. Helped team achieve awards for accuracy; received spot award for perfect attendance. Promoted to position of Assistant Inventory Manager.

Value: “I supervised a team”Broke projects into achievable parts and created time lineDetermined and secured needed resourcesMatched work modules to team members and set completion goalsMotivated team to achieve excellenceFound new solutions to project hurdles Finished project while meeting all deadlines set by managementCommunicated and coordinated with cross functional teams to ensure goals met (+ revenues)Analyzed potential problems to ensure no delays (- costs)Tracked expenses against budget to prevent cost overrunsTeam received group bonus for performance 3 years in a rowHelped company gain and keep reputation as quality leader in industry

Resume qualificationEXPERIENCEProject manager, IT Solutions Co. 2007-09World leader in software design, MemphisPM of 18-person graphics team designing visuals and formats for more than 200 programs, updates, and Web sites for global customers annually. Designed new tracking system adopted company-wide to solve scheduling problems without sacrificing quality. Volunteered to coordinate implementation of new system. In 2008, more than 90% of release deadlines met, compared to 67% in 2007 before new system.Reduced turnover in group by 20% after meeting with individual team members and resolving problems regarding communication, recognition and compensation. Deadlines met consistently following subsequent gains in morale.

Communicate Your ValueWhat you achieved for your employerHow you helped other employees succeedHow you helped your boss look goodMeasured in terms of:Cost savingsProfit gainsProduction and quality gainsGoal achievementTrouble shooting problemsCustomer satisfactionAwards

What you achieved for your employer

How you helped other employees succeed

How you helped your boss look good

Cost savings

Profit gains

Production and quality gains

Goal achievement

Trouble shooting problems

Customer satisfaction

Awards

Determine DirectionKnow what you DON’T want to doDiscover what makes you LOVE going to work (“I can’t believe they pay me for this”)What gives your work MEANING?Look for THEMES in past rolesDo the hard brain work involved in SELF-INVENTORY

Career Change Rules

Poll QuestionIf you are currently looking for a job or might be looking in the future would you be looking:Same industry, but different functionSame function, but different industryDifferent function + different industry

Create a Personal Marketing Plan Marketing materials (resume, introductory statement, cover letter)Product packaging (hair cut, dress appropriately) Customer research (Internet, networking, informational meetings)Sales calls

Marketing materials (resume, introductory statement, cover letter)

Product packaging (hair cut, dress appropriately)

Customer research (Internet, networking, informational meetings)

Sales calls

A Resume is Your Primary Marketing Tool!Do not pull out your old resume and put your last position at the top of your experience section and call it done.Do not use a computer format that can be downloaded from the Internet. The format will dictate your document, rather than your information dictating the format

Writing a Resume Takes Time!Review all jobs for past 10-15 yearsWhat did you accomplish? (awards, recognition, promotion, performance review remarks, etc.)Write it all down!

Resume TipsEmployers prefer experience to be in reverse chronological orderPersonal contact information at topPowerful summary statement + 4-6 top credentials (software, programming, work on significant product)Experience section (relevant jobs since college)Education, professional memberships, 1-2 memorable activities (Idaho kayak champion 2007 and 2008; swam English channel, etc.)No more than 2 pages; error-free

Next StepsThink of yourself as a package with valueCreate documents to market this packageFind job openings that match your skills, passions and abilities (Thrive Live! July 22nd )Convince employers that you will meet needs and solve problems (Thrive Live! August 5th )