Focus Minded for Job Seekers

Focus Minded
for Job Seekers
By Daniel St.Pierre

Focus Minded
for Job Seekers
By Daniel St.Pierre

01
The National Motivation Network
Based in Tampa, FL
PH: (727) 674-5681
www.nationalmotivationnetwork.com

Focus Minded
for Job Seekers
By Daniel St.Pierre

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Now more than ever millions of Americans find themselves either unem-
ployed or working a less than satisfactory job. While job seeking is no rocket
science, it is a process by which method dictates the outcome. This white
paper provides insight that will help you find that dream job or at least im-
prove on your current work situation.

Table of Contents
1. Focus - Get in the Right Mind Set

2. Method - Create an Engaging Resume
A. Comply with employer’s resume requested format
B. When no formats are specified, PDF is best
C. Be colorful, use bold and large type
D. Be creative, use a photo or logos
E. Be outstanding, use testimonials, case studies or success stories
F. Don’t lie, exaggerate or mislead
G. Tell it like it is, with bells on
H. Resume Comparison

3. Method - Write an Effective Cover Letter

4. Method - Properly Fill Out Job Applications

5. Method - Conduct Successful Interviews

6. Conclusion and Words of Encouragement

02
Based in Tampa, FL
PH: (727) 674-5681

Focus Minded
for Job Seekers
By Daniel St.Pierre
Focus Minded for Job Seekers
Reach or Surpass Your Employment Goals.

According to surveys conducted by our marketing research partner, the Ponce Foun-
dation 8 our of 10 Americans are either unemployed looking for work or, working and
seeking better employment.

If you are among the 80% described above, you
should know less than 12% will reach their goal.

In order for you to maximize your chances at finding
that dream job you will need focus and method.
Focus will allow you to manage your efforts while
method will help you maximize from these efforts.

1. Focus - Get in the Right Mind Set
The right mind set will allow you to successfully plan
your job search. In order to achieve the right mind set
you first need to complete a self assessment. The ultimate
goal behind a self assessment involves confirming your qualifications. In plain Eng-
lish you should only seek a job if you qualify for it. Though this is a simple concept it
is too often ignored by job seekers which results in unsuccessful job
searches.

One of the foremost resource in self assessment can be found online at
http://www.quintcareers.com where candidates of all ages or career levels can
evaluate their worth according to various industries and markets.
Once you know you qualify for a position and have an idea what
you are worth you are ready to take the next step: Your resume.

03
Based in Tampa, FL
PH: (727) 674-5681

Focus Minded
for Job Seekers
2. Method - Create an Engaging Resume By Daniel St.Pierre
Resumes are essentially your calling card when it comes to applying for a job. Faux
pas include generic template or plain text resumes which are not only a complete
waste of time, they are gateways to disaster. As an employer since the mid 1990’s I
have seem 1000’s of resumes, most of which generic, boring Word templates used
by generic, boring candidates. On average over 99% of those resumes ended up in
the trash, the occasional keeper was either accompanied by a captivating cover let-
ter or a lucky recipient of my attention in a desperate time dictated by shortage in
human resources. Trust me you do not want to be hired based on desperation which
often leads to an early layoff.

Resume Tips
E. Use testimonials , case studies or success stories

When applying to a position candidates are often required to submit their resume in
a specific format. In a digital age and in most cases Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF are
the standard. While resumes are typically expected to be in black and white the re-
cent evolution of human resources trend shows color resumes are now given priority
over grey scale entries. What’s important is that resumes are submitted
according to employer specification.

Unlike word processor documents PDF files are pre-formatted, print
ready documents that convey a more professional approach. PDFs
are not only considered as the cream of the crop, statistics show
candidates using PDF resumes are 45% more likely to get an interview
and 18% more likely to get hired vs applicants using other formats.

04
Based in Tampa, FL
PH: (727) 674-5681

Focus Minded
for Job Seekers
By Daniel St.Pierre
Unless you are applying for a job with a small company whose human resources
representative’s experience is limited, your resume will need to STAND OUT. There
is a fine line between outstanding and over kill. While appropriate use of bold and
large type will get you noticed, too much text formatting will get you ignored. Good
taste goes a long way when text formatting is concerned.

Unless there is absolutely something awfully wrong with your physical image
using a creative photograph will positively impact your resume’s success rate.
Though snapshots are good, creative shots are better. The internet is crawling
with neat ideas how to produce photographs that will significantly impact your
job search. Photographs should portray you in a current, relaxed, joy filled work
related environment. High paying jobs seekers should retain the services or a
student or professional photographer to achieve results in tune with the position.

E. Be outstanding, use testimonials, case studies or success stories
If your past or current job produced testimonials your resume is the place
where 2-3 of these testimonials should be creatively embedded. When tes-
timonials are not available case studies and success stories can be used to
enhance your areas of expertise, keeping in tune with your resume’s ultimate
goal to present your skills and qualifications to a prospective employer in a
user friendly format. When using testimonials make certain to use names and
references that can be verified.

Though resumes are not actual federally mandated job applications and therefore
not considered by law as legal documents, applicants who lie on
their resumes are not likely to face state or federal convictions.
With this being said, anyone with such a despicably insignificant set
of morals and ethic should know lying on a resume will likely result in
termination and in some cases, legal action. Being honest on your
resume is not an option, it is an essential step toward success.

05
Based in Tampa, FL
PH: (727) 674-5681

Focus Minded
for Job Seekers
By Daniel St.Pierre
There are countless ways to brieﬂy describe your work experience. A common faux
pas involves obvious underselling yourself, another thing to avoid is obvious, over-
selling. Below are examples of such occurrences:

Undersold Job Description and Duties
July 2000 - June 2002
Web Guy, Acme Design, Orlando, FL.
• Worked on many web site and other projects for 2 years.

Oversold Job Description and Duties
July 2000 - June 2002
Internet Architect, Acme Design, Orlando, FL.
• Developed over 100 web sites for clients all over the world.
• Produced over 30 multimedia projects.
• Worked on and mastered state of the art web technologies.
• Superior quality of my work resulted in more sales for my clients.

Alternatively the right job description and list of duties will have signiﬁcant impact on
the reader while conveying the proper information. Here is an example of a success-
ful job description and list of duties:

A Successful Job Description and Duties
July 2000 - June 2002
Web Producer, Acme Design, Orlando, FL.
• Involved in over 130 web design and multimedia authoring projects.
• Implemented web technologies as they were introduced.
• Played key role in increasing revenue stream for clientele.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with dressing up a job description
and duties performed. Since you never know who will be reading this
information it is up to you to explain, in plain, educated English what
it is you did and the duties your job entitled.

06
Based in Tampa, FL
PH: (727) 674-5681

Focus Minded
for Job Seekers
H. Resume Comparison By Daniel St.Pierre
This visual display was used in a survey conducted by the Ponce Foundation for the
U.S. Government’s Board of Education. At ﬁrst glance which of the following 2 re-
sumes do you ﬁnd more appealing?

Both resumes target the same Restaurant Assistant Manager position and feature
exactly the same work experience and education copy. The difference is the
resume on the left was produced by an amateur while the more
striking resume on the right was designed by a pro at a cost of $50.
The resume on the left is likely to be sent out 3-5 times more to
produce the same number of interviews as the resume on the right.
While an attention grabbing resume won’t get you the job, it will get
you more interviews, it’s up to you to perform well during interviews.

07
Based in Tampa, FL
PH: (727) 674-5681

Focus Minded
for Job Seekers
By Daniel St.Pierre
3. Method - Write an Effective Cover Letter
Cover letters are your first chance (and often BEST chance) at making an impression
on your potential employer. A standard in most industries cover letters typically con-
tain the following:

• The position you are applying for
• Your interest in filling this position
• Your qualifications and skills related to the position
• Coordinates where you can be contacted

There are countless ways to express your interest in a position. For samples of ef-
fective cover letters visit www.about.com where you will find samples resources to
assist you in writing your cover letter.

4. Method - Properly Fill Out Job Applications
Employment applications allow for human resource staff to collect and arrange appli-
cant information in a standard method to be used in the selection process.

When required job applications should be neatly filled out and contain all pertinent
information you feel will maximize your chances of getting hired. Much like resumes,
applications should be truthful, without exaggeration or misleading information.

Job Application Tips:

• Be prepared, armed with a good pen, a resume and possibly some references
as many applications give you the opportunity to list references.
• Read through the entire application before filling it out, this
minimizes mistakes or surprises.
• Use your best handwriting, your application should be
neatly written and legible.
• Tailor your answers to be relevant to the position.
• Avoid leaving blank fields or writing negative information.
• Proofread your application before submitting it.

08
Based in Tampa, FL
PH: (727) 674-5681

Focus Minded
for Job Seekers
By Daniel St.Pierre
5. Method - Conduct Successful Interviews
It is a fact job interviews are among the most stressful experiences in one’s profes-
sional life. Statistics show over 94% of all job seekers describe their interview skills
as “average” or “below average”. This means only 6% of applicants consider them-
selves as “above average”. What empowers such a small percentage
of job seekers? The answer to this question is this: Knowledge!

When is comes to interviewing knowledge is indeed king.

Job Interview Tips:

• Do your research so you are prepared to answer and pose questions
about the company, the position and its challenges which you plan
on overcoming. Research is a critical part of your preparation.
• Dress the part, and ensure your ﬁrst impression
is a good one. You should ALWAYS wear
business attire when applying for a job.
• Bring your resume, note pad and pen just in
case. Better safe than sorry!
• Practice our interview skills with a partner and
in front of the mirror.

Sample Interview Questions
To the unprepared interviews are stressful because they often feature surprises. The
key in mastering interview skills is to minimize or even entirely eliminate the element
of surprise by familiarizing yourself with the typical interview questions:

• Tell me more about yourself and your experience.
• If you could describe yourself with one word, what would it be?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• Why are you leaving your current job?
• Tell me about a challenge in your previous job and how you
overcame the challenge.

09
Based in Tampa, FL
PH: (727) 674-5681

Focus Minded
for Job Seekers
By Daniel St.Pierre
Sample Interview Questions
To the unprepared interviews are stressful because they often feature surprises. The
key in mastering interview skills is to minimize or even entirely eliminate the element
of surprise by familiarizing yourself with the typical interview questions:

• Tell me more about yourself and your experience.
• If you could describe yourself with one word, what would it be?
• If your co-workers could describe yourself with one word, what would it be?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• Why are you leaving your current job?
• What have you been doing since your last job?
• What was your last salary and/or compensation?
• Tell me about a challenge in your previous job and how you
overcame the challenge.
• Tell me about one of your biggest accomplishments.
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• What is your goal with our company?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• What sets you apart from other candidates?
• What motivates you?
• Do you prefer working independently or as part of a team?
• When can you start?

Things You should Ask
Alternatively you should feel conﬁdent to ask questions of your own, interested, in-
telligent candidates pose questions during interviews, for example:

• When are you looking to ﬁll the position?
• When should I expect to hear back about the position?
• What is the next step?

10
Based in Tampa, FL
PH: (727) 674-5681

Focus Minded
for Job Seekers
By Daniel St.Pierre
6. Conclusion and Words of Encouragement
Looking for work is no rocket science however it can be quite a complex process. The
key to a successful job search is preparation, focus and method.

What you must remember is to have a plan and the energy required to implement
this plan. Without a plan anyone looking for a job is bound for failure.

Part of your plan should include an engaging resume, an effective cover letter and
interview skills. Your plan should also include focus and a time table by which you
must abide to maximize your chances at getting the dream job.

Make certain to allocate time everyday toward your job search, use all available re-
sources and whatever you do, DON’T QUIT!!! Remember winners are losers who got
up and gave it one more try...

Focus Minded for Job Seekers
Produced by Daniel St.Pierre

Daniel St.Pierre is the co-founder of the National Motivation
Network with 15 years experience motivating clients in
Canada, the United-States, Europe and Africa.
All Contents ©2009 The National Motivation Network

11
Based in Tampa, FL
PH: (727) 674-5681

Focus Minded for Job Seekers

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