This is your first impression and it must be your best impression. You only have one opportunity to make a first impression. Should I mail my resume everywhere or to a select company for a specific job? Don’t saturate the job market and employment agencies with your resume.

1. Quantity vs Quality: My resume should explain who I am and the duties that I have performed. I must be specific with my accomplishments so that the reader will have an appreciation of what I have done. Stay away from the generic terms. You only have a short period of time to grab the reader’s attention. You should personalize your cover letter and resume so that the employer knows you took the time to apply.

Take the time to personalize the cover letter; don’t use ”dear sir“. Use cover letters that target the company contact instead of ”to whom it may concern“. Be prepared to use multiple resumes. Have resumes that specifically address the job you are applying for. Whether you receive a reject letter or not, follow up with a ”thank you…keeps me in mind for future considerations“ type note.

2. Job Interest vs. Money (Job vs. Career): Do I want the career or the money. If  I need a job, it becomes a no brainer, that I will take the job. If I‘ve been out of work for a short period of time, can be selective on what job I will accept.

If I have been out of work for quite some time, will I accept the lowest level position that I could accept to get my foot in the door and back in the job market.  Be prepared for the long haul. Let’s set-up them for success and if we believe that they are the unemployable, then they will be.

3. Identify Skill Sets (transferable job skills): What are my job skills? Am I a great salesman? Do I follow instructions? Do I need to be supervised closely? Am I a self starter? Am I detailed-oriented? Do I like numbers? Do I write well?

4. Networking: This may be a challenge for entry level or lower paid positions.  A formal networking link is not in place at this time. You will have to become creative. Write personalized letters to the Human Resource Department at companies where there is an interest. You may receive copies of job descriptions that might allow you to direct your outside or formal training for that position. Write personalized letters to successful key individuals that may appear in articles in major newspapers or special interest magazines.

5. Setting Realistic Goals: The question has always been asked. ”where I will be in for five years.“ The answer might be, I may be in the same position longer than expected, can I handle this? I have taken a job with lesser responsibility, can I handle sitting in this position longer that anticipated. I’m qualified do the next level position, but it was given to a person with lesser responsibility.

6. Acceptance of Opportunities (limited): Opportunities are not always upward. I know you have heard that before, you may not see the opportunity as growth. Designed moves are usually decided by someone with greater responsibility. Where there is limited growth potential, ask if you could stay late to cover peak periods or train on other positions to

provide back-up during vacations or illnesses.

7. What Will It Take To Keep This Job: Do I start to work on time? Am I regularly absent, i.e. Mondays, Fridays paydays? Can I be counted on to work overtime so that deadlines are met? Before I leave for the day, do I ask, ”do you need anything before I leave for the day“? Do I make a lasting impression? Can I deal with being known as a ”suck up“?

8. Be Successful Within The Organization: Will I do whatever it takes when asked? I know the line of positions (food chain). I am aware of the critical positions within the group as well as within the company. Managers can count on me, other employees can count on me and even the customer can count on me. I know the product line and I know where I fit in within the company. Ensure that areas of improvement that are reviewed with me are not repeated over an over again. I am receptive to constructive criticism and managers can approach me easily. This doesn’t mean that I am easy going; it means that I am respected for what I do. Always seem like you are doing something. If there is downtime, always ask for something to do.