This document outlines six essential steps for job seekers to improve their chances of being hired, emphasizing the importance of a tailored job search strategy and effective personal branding through resumes and cover letters. It highlights the role of networking in finding job opportunities and provides tips for successful interviewing, including understanding employer needs and maintaining a positive presentation. The overall goal is to empower candidates with knowledge and tools to navigate the job market successfully.

1. The Hiring Manager's Perspective:
6 Steps for Getting Called Back, & Getting Hired!
DANA LEAVY-DETRICK | BROOKLYN RESUME STUDIO
www.bklynresumestudio.com | dana@brooklynresumestudio.com
Copyright 2013 Brooklyn Resume Studio |
www.bklynresumestudio.com

2. ABOUT DANA LEAVY-DETRICK
As a certified career coach, resume writer, recruiter, and blogger on
all things career and job search-related, Dana has helped hundreds
of professionals across different industries and experience levels in
creating and executing effective job search strategies and career
plans to find the work they are passionate about.
She has presented seminars on job search strategy and career
change to multiple colleges and universities, led regular workshops at
Brooklyn-based 3rd Ward, and her career advice has been featured
on MSN Careers, CareerBuilder, Newsday, Forbes, and About.com.

3. YOUR GOAL FOR MOVING FORWARD
Success in the job search and career transition process is all about going into it with the
right expectations, the right knowledge, and the right tools.
There will always be an element of uncertainty and factors that are out of your control in
this process.
The goal for you is to know where you do have control in the process, and best
position yourself as the right candidate for the roles and organizations you are
targeting.

4. 6 STEPS TO GETTING HIRED QUICKER
1. Outsmart the Competition: Understand the biggest mistakes your competition doesn’t know
they’re even making, and how to avoid them.
2. Diversify Your Job Search Strategy so you’re only spending your time on the right types of
prospects and the best resources for your particular targets.
3. Perfect the art of the Resume so that your branding, message and design are the absolute
best it can be (SO MANY people don’t follow this). When in doubt, have a trained professional
review or rewrite it for you!
4. Master the Cover Letter: None of this “Dear Hiring Manager,” business– your cover letter is
a highly valuable tool in your branding toolkit, and it needs to be done effectively.
5. Get Great at Networking (and have fun): More than 75 percent of jobs are found through
networking, and there’s a good reason for that . Get your slice of the cake!
6. Nail the Interview: More people mess this up than anything else. Anyone can look great on
paper, but this is the absolute hardest part of selling yourself (And we’ll change that).

5. AVOID THESE BIGGEST MISTAKES:
PEOPLE REMAIN ON THE JOB MARKET…
Ø Without a solid resume that effectively brands and markets you by delivering a clear
message of your qualifications.
Ø By getting stuck in the negative - focusing on what’s wrong with the situation, versus
understanding where they have control to be successful.
Ø By not spending time doing the right types of search activities, or just not doing them
effectively.
Ø By assuming “one size fits all” when it comes to resumes.
Ø By not maintaining a positive online presence.
Ø Assuming the job market “is just really bad right now”.
Ø By setting unrealistic expectations about the transition process.
COMMON MISTAKES

6. DIVERSIFY YOUR JOB SEARCH STRATEGY
Where does it make sense to focus your time and efforts, based upon the opportunities you’re
targeting, and where they’re likely to be found?
It’s about QUALITY, not QUANTITY, and working smarter rather than harder.
YOUR JOB SEARCH
STRATEGY
THOUGHT
LEADERSHIP
SEARCHING
JOB BOARDS
RESEARCHING
TARGET COMPANIES
STRATEGY
NETWORKING
FACE-TO-FACE
NETWORKING
ONLINE

7. CREATING AN EFFECTIVE RESUME
THAT BRANDS & SELLS
Ø Understand who your target audience is and create a clear, compelling message that
tells them why you are uniquely qualified for the role you applying for. Don’t assume they
already know what you do, and what you do best.
Ø Pay attention to the readability & format of the document.
Ø Avoid titling it something generic like “resume.doc”. Include your name, and the date:
Dana Leavy – Account Manager– June2011. Only save it as a PDF or Word document.
Ø Never send an email that’s just a resume attachment. Utilize the body of the email as
your cover letter and compel me to read your resume by introducing yourself, reiterating
what position you’re applying to, and then sell yourself in a few sentences as to why you
are qualified.
Ø Avoid cliché phrases that don’t uniquely describe you, i.e. “great communicator”.
Ø Give context to your skills with a summary statement, and context to your experience
with examples of key accomplishments.
RESUMES
Copyright
2013
Brooklyn
Resume
Studio
www.bklynresumestudio.com

8. WHERE DOES THE COVER LETTER FIT IN?
A cover letter is your formal introduction, and it also sets the context for the resume, and fills in
the gaps with additional helpful information. This is where you can make a clear connection
between your qualifications and your personal interest in the particular role or organization
you’re targeting. How you can make it work for you:
Ø Make a positive first impression that compels your audience to want to read more about you.
You are marketing yourself.
Ø Never assume that the cover letter will be read its entirety or at all; Make sure the resume
can stand on its own if this is the case.
Ø Personalize it by making reference to why you want to work for that particular company or
organization, and relating that back to your related experience, accomplishments and skill sets.
Ø Keep it concise & to the point. Half a page is ideal, but three quarters page is acceptable .
Ø Include your availability to interview & start, as well as an action item to contact you via
phone/email to discuss next steps.
COVER LETTERS
Copyright
2013
Brooklyn
Resume
Studio
www.bklynresumestudio.com

9. NETWORKING AS PART OF YOUR STRATEGY
Networking is about connecting with people to exchange information and build long-term,
mutually-beneficial relationships. Even if there isn’t an immediate opening, the idea is to
remain on people’s radar as an interested & qualified candidate, if an opportunity does
present itself.
Ø More than 70% of jobs are found through some form of networking (word of
mouth, referral, internal, etc.)
Ø Upwards of 90% of jobs are not advertised, i.e. the “hidden job market”.
Ø Almost any contact you want to meet is within 4-5 degrees of you.
Ø A referral generates 80% more results than a cold call.
NETWORKING
Copyright
2013
Brooklyn
Resume
Studio
www.bklynresumestudio.com

10. MAKING NETWORKING WORK FOR YOU
Ø Be clear on how they can help you. Have your “pitch” prepared so you can
clearly communicate what type of work you do, if someone asks you how they can help
Ø Approach networking with a mindset of wanting to learn about and help
others, and take an interest in their success. This makes introductions and
conversations less intimidating.
Ø Set appropriate goals to get the most out of your activities (i.e. “talk to 5 people” or
“make at least 1 quality connection whom I can help or can help me”).
Ø Ask those you wish you remain in contact with if you can follow up with them;
sets the context for continuing to build the relationship and stay on their radar by
sharing information, events, etc.
Ø Tend to and continually develop your own existing network by providing news,
updates, discussions and other quality information.
NETWORKING
Copyright
2013
Brooklyn
Resume
Studio
www.bklynresumestudio.com

11. NAILING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
The Goal: Speak their language by telling them what they will get out of hiring
you, and why investing in hiring you is a good decision.
Ø Know your target audience and understand how to best communicate what it is you can
bring to the table in the role you’re applying to.
Ø Avoid negativity when discussing past employers or positions.
Ø Pay attention to body language and eye contact. As much as 80 percent of your message
comes across through non-verbal cues (gestures, posture, facial expressions). Smile &
exude enthusiasm through the process.
Ø Repeat yourself to everyone you meet.
Ø Make sure your communication focuses around the needs of the company & the role,
versus what you want from the position.
INTERVIEWING
Copyright
2013
Brooklyn
Resume
Studio
www.bklynresumestudio.com

12. COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Ø About Your Background
- Why did you leave your last role / want to leave your current role?
- What unique qualities do you bring to the table?
- What do you consider your strengths?
- What do you consider your weaknesses?
- Describe a situation where you had a real success and made a difference.
- What was an example of a challenging situation you were able to work
your way through successfully?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Ø About the Job
- What attracted you to this position?
- Why do you want to work for our company?
- What do you think makes you the best candidate for this role?
INTERVIEWING
Copyright
2013
Brooklyn
Resume
Studio
www.bklynresumestudio.com