Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Elevator Pitch – Micro Tips

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I’ve written before about the elevator pitch – your value proposition or a personal infomercial. This pitch is a brief introduction to you with a focus on what you have to offer your target audience. I’ve offered tips about writing a succinct pitch that is useful and to the point.

Recently, I presented on this topic to a group of women considering making changes in their lives and careers. In my presentation, I suggested an elevator pitch of 35 words or less.

Today, I noticed that Netshare Inc’s blog focuses on the “micro pitch,” which is an “escalator” pitch that is complete in 140 characters, the number allowed on Twitter. The key is to “get to the point.”

Since not everyone will need to condense a pitch to 20 words or less, I’m suggesting thinking of the answer to the question, “What do you do?” in 35 words or less.

Answer these questions in your pitch:

  • What do you do? What do you offer? What makes you special and unique? (Relative to the person you’re meeting.)
  • What is your goal/objective? What do you WANT to do?
  • What impact do you have? What results do you create?
  • How do you create positive results?

Use this template. Note that the information doesn’t need to be in this exact order (see sample):

I work with (target audience) to (situation/solve what problem_). This is how (results/impact).

Here’s a sample pitch for Keppie Careers:
I encourage, enlighten and empower job seekers for success by writing top-notch resumes and providing a toolbox of practical tips and advice to help them overcome obstacles and approach job searches with clarity and confidence. (35 words)

Do you think you can narrow down your value and explain it in 35 words or less? I’d love to know your pitch. Add yours to the comments for the chance to win a 30-minute free career coaching session with me!

Keppie Careers will help with every stage of your job hunt: www.keppiecareers.com.

It's Never Too Late to Network for Success

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Photo by dsevilla

Recently, Brazen Careerist blogger Monica O’Brian posted a blog titled, “Need a Job? Forget About Building a Network Now.” I am a big proponent of networking all of the time and agree that it takes consistent effort to nurture and grow a strong network of people who will support your career and job searches. I also believe that ANY time is a good time to network; it’s never too late. Monica’s post made me think that many job seekers may believe that it is too late to network if they are thrust into a job search. I would like to offer a different opinion:

It is never too late to network successfully.

Monica notes that “Building a network is a lot like planning your retirement; it takes a lot of little inputs over a long period of time.” Yes, ideally retirement planning should start from day one of your working life. The compounding nature of investing money over decades will (hopefully) lead to a nice nest egg when it is time to stop working. However, if you haven’t started saving money in your 40s or 50s, does it mean that you shouldn’t bother to start? Of course not. Any money that you save will help you in the long run. Similarly, even if you are networking at the 11th hour, any one contact you meet is better than having none.

Let’s face it, you could make one connection that leads you directly to information or the job of your dreams. It does not necessarily take a slew of meetings, coffees and large networking events to find that one person. Any networking is better than no networking at all, so don’t be discouraged. Look ahead and move forward with a positive attitude and a plan.

Many people assume that only strong connections are likely to lead to a job. Monica suggests that job seekers should rely on friends who know them well to connect them to appropriate opportunities. In fact, research demonstrates that “weak ties” are always more important than strong ties for job searching. This comes from Malcolm Gladwell’s book, The Tipping Point. He says,

“Your friends, after all, occupy the same world that you do. They might work with you, or live near you, and go to the same churches, schools or parties. How much, then, would they know that you wouldn’t know? Your acquaintances, on the other hand, by definition occupy a very different world than you. They are much more likely to know something that you don’t” (p.54).

In order to network beyond your immediate circle of friends, you will need to make an effort to extend yourself. Use linkedin or other appropriate social networking sites and attend meetings or programs where you are likely to encounter people in your field who could offer information and resources that you need.

If you sit around and bemoan the fact that you don’t have a network, you are only wasting more time! If you plan to drive you own career bus, get behind the wheel and start networking. It’s never too late to start a good thing!

Keppie Careers will help you network for success. Need a great resume? Linkedin profile? www.keppiecareers.com.

Why Hire a Career Coach?

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As college graduation season wraps up soon, it seemed like as good a time as any to remind everyone why hiring a career coach can be the difference between getting the job and NOT even getting an interview. ..

Would you pull your own tooth? Wire your own home for electricity? Do you cut your own hair? Most would say “no.” If it is important (involving our health, safety or appearance), we hire an expert.

The same principle should apply when job seeking. Your career is one of your most crucial financial investments. Whether you are actively engaged in a search, underemployed or unhappily employed, it makes sense to consult an expert as you embark on your search for a new job.

Most people don’t welcome the idea of a job hunt. It is hard work and may seem scary. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an experienced ally who will help you every step of the way? Keppie Careers’ mission is to encourage, enlighten and empower job seekers and provide a toolbox of practical tips and support. When we work together, you will overcome obstacles keeping you from making positive changes in your life. We offer confidence, clarity and job search know-how!

Career coaches add value on a number of fronts. Keppie Careers can help you with any of the following:

Goals assessment. Are you at a transitional point in your career? You aren’t sure what your next step should be? I can help you identify what you want next and get you on the right path to achieving your goals.

Social media presence. Do you need help optimizing LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook for your job hunt? Need a social resume? Want to create an online presence and tell your OWN story? This is my specialty!

Critique and rewrite your resume and letters. Do you really want to face the job market with documents that are not optimized? Often, job seekers don’t view their resumes objectively. Misplaced modesty prevents them from incorporating their very best accomplishments. Ignorance of the resume’s purpose (it’s a sales document, not a laundry list of things you did) precludes them from producing a top-notch result.

Many job seekers don’t stop to consider how much money a less-than-optimal resume costs them. Consider, if you are unemployed, how much money you lose for every day that you are out of work? If your resume isn’t top-notch, you may not appear qualified for the salary that you seek or deserve. A professionally written resume will help shorten your job search and may qualify you for a higher salary. Your return on investment in yourself may pay off substantially!

Learn how to sell yourself. You must identify and be able to effectively describe your skills and accomplishments. I will your resume and help you recognize your marketable skills. Once you know what you have to offer, your ability to sell yourself via networking and in interviews increases exponentially!

General job search skills. Do you know how to look for a job? How savvy is your networking plan? Do you know where hiring managers are sourcing candidates? Do you know how to avoid common pitfalls?

Interview preparation. Tell us about yourself? What’s your weakness? What do you have to offer? Why should we hire you? Do you know the answers to these and other important interview questions? More importantly, do you know how to structure and deliver your answers to ensure optimal results? If not, you may be wasting your time. We all know that “time is money.”

Negotiating. Entering an interview or negotiation unprepared will cost you. I can help you prepare so you don’t lose money.

Career market knowledge. We spend our time keeping up with the market. We learn about new technology and approaches and stay plugged in because you don’t have the time, expertise or desire to do it. Helping people along their career path is our passion.

Do you want to achieve your career goals and save money? Hire an ally for your job hunt. An ally tells it like it is and helps you get where you need to be. Are you committed to discovering what you have to offer an employer? If you are motivated to make a change, Keppie Careers is here for you!


Pros and Cons of Working on Wall Street

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Photo by Epicharmus

Yesterday,  Lindsey Pollak, an author and speaker specializing in career advice for young professionals, posted a guest blog of mine on her site.  It’s about the pros and cons of starting your career on Wall Street based on my personal experience and in consultation with a friend of mine who is still in the business. (Lest things changed since I left.  They haven’t!)

I hope you’ll click over and take a look at the post on Lindsey’s blog.

If you are a new college graduate (or even a not-so-new graduate), I highly recommend Lindsey’s book Getting from College to Career.  With 90 tips to help get your job search on the right track, you can’t go wrong.

No matter what type of job you are seeking, Keppie Careers is here for you. Let us help by writing your resume, directing your search and coaching you every step of the way:  www.keppiecareers.com.

The Most Important Interview Questions

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What’s the question that every interview includes? It may be phrased in a number of ways, but it is the underlying question in every single interview query:

“Why should we hire you?”

After all, interviewers want you to sell yourself. It’s not up to them to figure out if you are a good match; it is up to you to draw the lines, connect the dots between your skills and their needs. If you don’t know why they should hire you, you certainly won’t be able to convince anyone else!

What’s the other most important interview question?

“Tell me about yourself.”

Even if you are an “experienced” or “seasoned” professional – do NOT consider this question an opportunity to launch into your life story. If you can’t zero in on a few brief autobiographical details and connect them to the position, you will be wasting your time and the interviewer’s patience.

So, how should you prepare
to address these questions?

Refer to your elevator pitch. Your pitch, which should contain information about you and your skills (customizible to individual targets) will focus on what problem you can help solve, include specifics about your abilities and accomplishments and demonstrate your expertise, interest and enthusiasm for their organization. Of course, all of these will be focused on the organization’s needs.

Your answers should NOT focus on what they can do for you – make sure you demonstrate how you can impact them in a positive way.

I invite you to refer to some of my earlier blogs for more advice about how to respond to interview questions to GET the job:

5 Tips to Turn Your Interviewer Into A Fan
Behavioral Interview: Have STAR Stories to Share

Keppie Careers will help you figure out why the interviewer should hire you – and give you the tools and information to make sure that you can do it! Do you need a resume? A mock interview? Keppie Careers can help: www.keppiecareers.com.