1. Job Search Guidance for the
Quality Professional
Presented by James S. Moore, CSCP
Monday, October 12th, 2009
American Society for Quality
St. Petersburg-Tampa Section 1508
2. This is my story…
Cheese started moving in 1998
• Downsized in 2000
• Downsized in 2001
• Consulted 2002-2004
– Cofounded Transitioning Professionals
• Downsized in 2005
• Career Services Director, APICS-FLWC
• Career Ministry Facilitator, Your Career Calling
www.APICS-FLWC.org
3. This is what I have learned…
• A job search is a marketing project
– The product being marketed is you!
– No different from any other project
– Use project management tools!
• Establish what you want to accomplish
– What do employers want?
– What is your unique brand?
– Quantify your value to the marketplace
• Create a plan for conducting your search
www.APICS-FLWC.org
4. Preparing to Market Yourself
Project Plan
• What’s my purpose in life?
– What do you want to accomplish…
– What impact do you want to make…
– What do you want to be remembered for…
• Pursue purpose…
– Radically rewarded – WIIFM?
– Enthusiastically engaged
– Add value to others
www.APICS-FLWC.org
5. Preparing to Market Yourself
Project Plan
• Understand the product!
– Knowledge, skills, values
– http://www.CareerDirectOnline.org
• How long will your search take?
– Functional skills and industry experience
• Similar position, same industry
• Similar position, different industry
• Different position, same industry
• Different position, different industry
www.APICS-FLWC.org
6. Preparing to Market Yourself
Project Plan
• Establish SMART goals
– Specific, Measureable, Attainable,
Realistic, Time-specific
• Example:
– Become employed in an operations,
engineering, or manufacturing management
position with a $65-85K salary in the Medical
Device or Electronics Manufacturing industry
within Hillsborough, Pinellas, or Pasco county
before March 31, 2005.
www.APICS-FLWC.org
7. Preparing to Market Yourself
Project Plan
• Organize your work area
• Set up your tracking system
– www.JibberJobber.com
• Document jobs and accomplishments
• Academic institutions
– Educational achievements & transcripts
• Professional societies
– Membership & certification status
• Volunteer Organizations
www.APICS-FLWC.org
8. Preparing to Market Yourself
Project Plan
• Verify job dates and achievements are accurate
• Build an accurate salary history
• Determine who should be your references
• Develop a budget for marketing materials
– Introductory & cover letters
– Resume
– Envelopes & postage
– Networking cards
• Contact references
www.APICS-FLWC.org
9. Preparing to Market Yourself
Project Plan
• Create rough draft of resume
• Review, refine, and target your resume
• Have resume critiqued
– http://www.SandraKischuk.com
• Develop introductory and cover letters
• Design networking cards
• Incorporate input from critiques and proofread
• Create a social networking presence
– http://www.LinkedIn.com
www.APICS-FLWC.org
10. Preparing to Market Yourself
Project Plan
• Order networking cards
– http://www.VistaPrint.com
• Compose a 30 second self-introduction
– http://www.15SecondPitch.com
• Obtain professional job search email address
– http://www.Gmail.com
• Compile list of questions asked by employers
– Formulate answers
www.APICS-FLWC.org
11. Preparing to Market Yourself
Project Plan
• Compile target list of prospective employers
– http://www.ReferenceUSA.com
• Compile informational interviews list
• Place professional message on all
telephones
• Verify all office equipment and supplies
• Start attending weekly job seeker support
group
– http://www.YourCareerCalling.org
www.APICS-FLWC.org
12. Preparing to Market Yourself
Project Plan
• Review, revise, and proofread your resume!
• Compose list of questions to ask interviewers
• Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals
– Send introductory letter to one company
– Have one networking lunch
– Attend professional society meeting
• Track all activities
– http://www.highlyeffectivejobsearch.com/findaj
ob/progressmeasurements.htm
www.APICS-FLWC.org
13. Marketing Choices:
Your Resume
• Your resume is a marketing brochure
• Markets your assets to a particular job
• Persuades a company to interview you
• What makes a powerful resume?
– Well written document
– Assertive marketing tool
– Sells your value
– Communicates what employers want!
• Functional and chronological formats
www.APICS-FLWC.org
14. Skill-Based/Functional
Resume
• Name, credentials, contact information
• Professional Summary
• Skills and Achievements
• Brief work chronology
• Academics, training, credentials
• Volunteerism and professional memberships
• Bibliography, when applicable
www.APICS-FLWC.org
15. Chronological Resume
• Name, credentials, contact information
• Professional Summary or Qualifications
• Chronological (reversed) work history
• Academics, training, credentials
• Volunteerism and professional memberships
• Bibliography, when applicable
www.APICS-FLWC.org
16. Your Resume:
The Solution
• Should not exceed two pages in length
• Include professional development activities
• Describe your volunteer activities
• Use industry standard terminology
• Use powerful descriptors
• Use measurements
• 15 to 20 years of experience is sufficient
• Personal information is inappropriate
• Use all available proofreading resources!
www.APICS-FLWC.org
17. Your References
• Your choice of references is important
– Knowledge of your experience & accomplishments
– Value to the marketplace
• Make sure you have your reference’s permission
• Name, title, company name, contact information
• Avoid using personal references
• Should have the same look and feel as resume
• Provide reference list when requested
• Present portfolio if appropriate
www.APICS-FLWC.org
18. Salary History
• Salary information is expected at the interview
– Communicate your reservations in a
professional manner
• Communicate your salary requirements
accurately and concisely
– Compensation earned by salary, wages,
bonuses, etc.
– Does not include benefits
• Should have the same look and feel as resume
www.APICS-FLWC.org
19. Correspondence
Typical Correspondence:
• Reference request letter
• Informational interview request
• Letter of introduction
• Cover letter
• Interview thank you letter
• Removal from consideration letter
• Offer acceptance or rejection letter
• Resignation letter
www.APICS-FLWC.org
20. Seven Search Techniques
• Walking in
• Cold calling
• Using direct mail
• Completing applications
• Responding to job ads
• Using staffing firms
• Networking
• Is there a search technique missing?
– The internet is not a search technique….
www.APICS-FLWC.org
21. Internet
• Research companies or industry of interest
• Subscribe to industry associated blogs
• Post your resume on job boards
– Local www.jobing.com
– National www.CareerBuilder.com
– Specialty http://jobs.isixsigma.com
– Professional Associations
• http://careers.asq.org/search.cfm
• http://time2meet.com/asq1508/seekers.htm
• Design and create your own website
www.APICS-FLWC.org
22. Career Fairs
• Research companies at Career Fair
– Rank them in order of importance
– Visit in order of interest
• Bring plenty of resumes & networking cards
– Refine your 30 second introduction
– Dress for success
– Carry portfolio
– Wear name badge
• What happens after the Career Fair?
– Follow-up
www.APICS-FLWC.org
23. Interviewing
• Prepare, Prepare, Prepare…
• Types of interviews
– Telephone, Behavioral/Stress, Panel
• The interview
– Application is a legal document
– Introductions
– Questions you may ask or be asked
• Illegal questions
• What happens after the interview?
– Follow-up!
www.APICS-FLWC.org
24. Once you are re-employed…
• Establish a strategic plan for yourself
• Always have a current resume
• Network at every opportunity
• Pursue professional certification
• Attend professional association meetings
• Continue professional development activities
• Create a presentation on yourself
• Consistently document your accomplishments
• Stay current on industry information
www.APICS-FLWC.org
25. If you’re currently employed…
• Always deliver!
• Get frontline experience
• Build the right alliances
• Surround yourself with the best
• Look for the gaps, and fill them
• Volunteer to fast-track skills and experience
• Count to 10…
• Associate yourself with something valuable
• Get the training you need
www.APICS-FLWC.org
26. Questions and Answers
Job Search Guidance
for the
Quality Professional
James S. Moore, CSCP
Career Services Director
APICS Florida West Coast Chapter
csd@APICS-FLWC.org
www.APICS-FLWC.org
813.765.5718
www.APICS-FLWC.org
27. Thank you for attending!
Be sure to visit the www.APICS-FLWC.org website
for information about upcoming and archived
presentations.
This APICS presentation is the property of APICS-
FLWC, and is protected by the United States and
international copyright laws. All rights are reserved.
www.apics-flwc.org
www.APICS-FLWC.org