The Power of Words: Market Yourself by Embracing a Whole New Language
I think we can all agree that long gone are the days of sending out tens or even hundreds of resumes via email or post simply to tell ourselves that we did our best to find the right job.
Assuming it’s fair to say that the right job search is all about the right job and the right employer, then how do you let the right employer know you’re the right employee? Really, when it comes down to it, the only thing standing between you and your next job is a few hundred words that, if chosen correctly, can take you places.
When it comes to knowing and using the correct slang, you’ll want to:
Do your research.
What kind of company is this? Do you know and really understand what they do? What is their culture, are they attached to the book or informal? What ideas and topics do they cover? What does their website, marketing materials, or even the job ad say about them and their needs? Can you get an idea of who will read and evaluate your resume? Show them that you meet the requirements and at the same time show them that you have done your research.
It’s not you, it’s them.
Whatever you do, don’t talk about how cool, wonderful, experienced, and kind you are (even if you really are all of those things!). Talk instead about how the great, wonderful, experienced, and kind things you did while working for other companies helped their sales, marketing, public relations, manufacturing, and retention efforts. Show a direct correlation between what you did and what the lasting effect was. Now is what you did, but what was the result.
Put yourself in their shoes.
You may understand how the ATD results positively affected the GV and YOU, but your potential employer (even if in the same field) may have no idea. Remember, you don’t leave an impression if it means nothing to the reader. So if you did something that you can’t wait to tell the world of work about, be sure to tell your reader in plain language.
Speaking of which…
Simple English is a great thing! Don’t hide a great achievement with one of those high-scoring Scrabble words. The truth is that people really like clear words and concise ideas. Surprise them with what you did, don’t hit them over the head with something that just doesn’t make much sense!
If the shoe fits…
Finally, make sure the company is looking for someone like you. If it doesn’t fit their needs, chances are they won’t seriously consider you or your resume, so use your email, cover letters, resume, and clicks sparingly.
So…
Your resume and experience are powerful things – use them accordingly. Say what you want to say and say it succinctly and precisely. And remember: once you walk through the door, say it with a smile!