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The most important thing a job seeker can do
September 28, 2010 · 7 Comments
Being able to tell your story — and to tell it well — is one of the most important skills a job seeker can have. My friend, Ken Revenaugh’s blog, Fast Track Tools, shares information about how to tell good career stories. He reminds us that being a good communicator relies on collecting factoids and being able to share them with an audience.
Another resource for job search storytelling is fellow Career Collective member, Katharine Hansen’s book, Tell Me About Yourself. You may not have realized that interviewing is mainly about being able to tell a story well.
The most important thing for job seekers? Learning how to SHOW, not just TELL. This applies to the resume, all written correspondence, networking meetings, online profiles — any place where you have an opportunity to detail exactly how you can help the organization solve its problems. Maybe you can touch on problems the organization does not even know that it has? If you can network your way into a company, you have a chance to show why they need you.
A great example of how to show, not tell is the OnStar commercials. They say, “Whether you need help to get to where you’re going, or want peace of mind with safety and security in an emergency situation, OnStar has your back.” But, they don’t leave it at that. Their commercials vividly recount situations when having their system made the difference between life and death. I admit that most of the commercials give me goosebumps. (No, this is not a sponsored post!)
Take a look at their latest ad and think about how you can do a better job of being the person your target organization cannot do without.
If you want to learn how to look for a job today, check out The Career Summit…more than a dozen online presentations to help you land that next job!
Related Posts:
- Get a job — even if you don’t have a network
- Time for a new job?
- Using Facebook to find a job?
- New job — more than a dream
- New tools for your job hunt

Article by Miriam Salpeter
Miriam Salpeter, author of Social Networking for Career Success, is a CNN-named "top 10 job tweeter" and contributor to U.S. News & World Report's "On Careers" column. Quoted in major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and NBC news for her cutting-edge career advice, Miriam is an in-demand writer and speaker regarding job search and social media. She offers custom packages for job seekers and business owners, including transforming resumes and creating social media profiles/personal websites for clients. Keppie Careers has you covered. Let's get started!




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