Know Thyself! Slimmed down slides from last year, added in an interactive session as follows: 2 student volunteers come to the front, one blindfolded. Other student picks from a tray of common kitchen utensils and describes it. Blindfolded person identifies it (easy). Then reapplies blindfold and other student describes the strengths and qualities of a third student in the room who s/he knows. Person sits. Blindfolded student will 1) not know who was meant and 2) realise that the qualities listed will be true for everyone in the room. Hence the need to work on your personal story to differentiate yourself.

1. © 2011 IBM Corporation1
Differentiate your professional
representation in CV’s and
application forms

2. © 2011 IBM Corporation2

3. © 2011 IBM Corporation3
A model for career management
The elimination process
How to identify your strengths and
competencies
How to write your story and create
your….
Getting your story out there

4. © 2011 IBM Corporation4
ReputationCircles of
influence
Strengths
Preferences
Skills
Values
Stories
Competencies
SELF KNOWLEDGE
INTERVIEWS &
MEETINGS
NETWORKING
CV’s
Applications
Cover letters
Online presence
REPRESENTATION
Research
Preparation
Planning
Delivery
Dress
Social media
F2F
Managing
Yourself &
Your Career

5. © 2011 IBM Corporation5
Strengths Stories
Competencies
SELF KNOWLEDGE
CV’s
Applications
Online presence
REPRESENTATION
Your CVs, job applications
and online presence depend
on a large degree of self
knowledge and will
differentiate you from the
crowd

6. © 2011 IBM Corporation6
Spelling, grammar, punctuation and CV formats are also
critical, but not covered in this presentation

7. © 2011 IBM Corporation7
A model for career management
The elimination process
How to identify your strengths and
competencies
How to write your story and create
your….
Getting your story out there

8. © 2011 IBM Corporation8
At this stage, it’s an
elimination process,
not a selection
process

9. © 2011 IBM Corporation9
Your CV or application has about 8 seconds to make an
impression. You must convince me that you will:
•Do the job
•Add value
•Be motivated

10. © 2011 IBM Corporation10
The winning CV is the story that is most consistent,
convincing, provides assurance through example that
the competencies I’m looking for are already there

11. © 2011 IBM Corporation11
STRENGTHS
+COMPETENCIES =

12. © 2011 IBM Corporation12
A model for career management
The elimination process
How to identify your strengths and
competencies
How to write your story and create
your….
Getting your story out there

13. © 2011 IBM Corporation13

14. © 2011 IBM Corporation14

15. © 2011 IBM Corporation15
Successful careers are not largely
planned. They develop when you are
prepared for opportunities because you
know your strengths, your values and
your preferences.

16. © 2011 IBM Corporation16
Customer service
Organisatio
n
Responsibility
Workingunder
pressure
Trust
Leadership
Motivation
Staff managementCreativityDecision-making
STEP 1: List EVERY job, activity, and club you
have participated in. NOTHING is too small.
STEP 2: For each job or non-work achievement,
write down learnings/www/criticisms
STEP 3: For each of the same, analyse and rank
yourself against your peers (did you...?)
STEP 4: Map your achievements against
competencies e.g. Communication, Teamwork,
Leadership, Adaptability, Client Focus, etc

17. © 2011 IBM Corporation17
You will need feedback from employers, customers,
teachers, friends, family and peers to check your analysis

18. © 2011 IBM Corporation18
All good books on CV writing include a register of skills.
Some may apply to you – if so, note them down.

19. © 2011 IBM Corporation19
A model for career management
The elimination process
How to identify your strengths and
competencies
How to write your story and create
your….
Getting your story out there

20. © 2011 IBM Corporation20
The stories we tell
reveal the image we
want to project
about ourselves

21. © 2011 IBM Corporation21
Introvert
Mature
Leader
Support a cause
Listener
People
trust me
Creative Make my own style
Thinking
Passionate about
making the world a
better place
Driven

22. © 2011 IBM Corporation22
“Millions of people
curate stories of their
lives on Facebook
every day…(Timeline
is) the story of your life
and a completely new
way to express
yourself.” Mark
Zuckerberg
Your story is an orchestrated image that you convey to others

23. © 2011 IBM Corporation23
• Your strengths, experiences and competencies build your story
• You control your image: on-line, on paper and face to face
• Your stories provide structure and content of that image
• And another word for that image is……

24. © 2011 IBM Corporation24
your BRAND

25. © 2011 IBM Corporation25 http://www.ibmfearless.com/

26. © 2011 IBM Corporation26

27. © 2011 IBM Corporation27
Write your CV and applications:
• Use your achievements and moments of truth from positive
stories to inform your competency based applications and CV
bullets
• Know your audience and modify to suit their needs
• Use specific examples!

28. © 2011 IBM Corporation28
The STAR method ensures your story
captures all relevant elements
S ituation
Detail the background.
What was the context?
Where did it happen?
When?
T ask
Describe the challenge.
What needed to be
done and why?
A ction
Elaborate. What did you
(not others, not your
team) do? What tools
did you use?
R esults
Explain the results and
quantify. What was
accomplished? Why did
it matter?

29. © 2011 IBM Corporation29
A model for career management
The elimination process
How to identify your strengths and
competencies
How to write your story and create
your….
Getting your story out there

30. © 2011 IBM Corporation30
YOU

31. © 2011 IBM Corporation31
Leading business social media tools
Source: Social Media Marketing Industry Report 2010 Michael Stelner

32. © 2011 IBM Corporation32
Is your personal on-line identity like
this?

33. © 2011 IBM Corporation33
Or is it like this?

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Take the time to work on your “digital
footprint” so a Google search points to you

35. © 2011 IBM Corporation35
Optimise your LinkedIn profile
• Nail your summary
– Use your pitch and personal profile
– Think key search words – list skills and competencies at the
bottom of the profile
• Complete your profile as prompted!
• Craft your headline – not just a job title, but a
description of what you do / what you want to be
• Add apps & other social media

36. © 2011 IBM Corporation36
Use on-line CV tools like projeqt.com,
slideshare.com, visualcv.com, resumUP.com,
@twit_res, even You Tube, etc.

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39. © 2011 IBM Corporation39
And please, don’t
be this guy.

40. © 2011 IBM Corporation40
Words! Words! Words! I'm so sick of
words!
I get words all day through; First from
him, now from you!
Is that all you blighters can do?
Don't talk of stars burning above; If
you're in love,
Show me!
Tell me no dreams; Filled with desire. If
you're on fire,
Show me!
Audrey Hepburn, My Fair Lady
source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/
Show some passion and
remember to tell your story!