Job Search Guidance for the Quality Professional - presentation by James Moore to ASQ Tampa (Oct 2009)

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