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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT CONDUCTING A JOB SEARCH
…AND SUCCEEDING!
FEI National Career Services
www.financialexecutives.org/careers
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THE RESUME
•
FICTION: Recruiters and HR staffing personnel read every resume
they receive.
•
FACT: Recruiters and HR staffing personnel receive 100-400+
resumes a day if they have posted a job on the open market.
•
TACTIC: Your resume…
…should be a current document of your experiences, results
and achievements; with content and style changes to
target the situation sought; should focus on organizational
and interpersonal skills along with your technical expertise.
…is your marketing tool, designed to sell you to a prospective
employer; should be organized, reader-friendly, direct and
concise.
…should contain “power verbs” which convey action and
results; e.g., directed, implemented, created, developed,
etc.
REMEMBER:
Resume writing is an art, not a science.
Don’t be modest about your accomplishments.
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THE COVER LETTER
•
FICTION: The cover letter should be a narrative version of your
resume.
•
FACT: The cover letter gives you another opportunity to
emphasize what you can contribute to the organization.
•
TACTICS: Your cover letter…
…should be limited to 7-8 word sentences in 4-5 lines per
paragraph, that emphasize the most notable highlights of your
career, or the unique skills you have that meet the specs of the
position.
…should show you’ve researched the company and industry;
that you know who they are, what they do, why you have
chosen them, and how you will fit into the job and the culture.
…should use terms and phrases meaningful to the employer: key
words from the ad or from the information shared with you from
your networking contacts. If you know what they are looking
for, stress those words as well.
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THE COVER LETTER (cont’d)
REMEMBER:
• A proactive cover letter requesting an interview will
be more effective if you promise to follow-up the
letter with a phone call, and do.
• Be natural and conversational. Don’t make the
cover letter sound like it’s been copied from a
book. Let it show knowledge, enthusiasm, and
focus.
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THE NETWORK YOU BUILD
•
FICTION: The person you are networking with will help you get
a job.
•
FACT: Networking builds your confidence, and provides you
with the opportunity to meet those experts in your field who
are well connected to other experts who might be looking for
the talent you bring.
•
TACTICS: Consider the network to be like the Web: Establish
links to others who will provide information and help in your job
search. Therefore:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Make a list of everyone you know, letting them know what you
are trying to achieve.
Ask each person on your list for at least one referral.
Use a disciplined, organized approach: Maintain a calendar,
send thank-you notes after every visit; conduct timely follow-ups.
In preparing for each networking meeting, review your goal
statement, develop a list of questions or topics you want to
discuss, and get to know as much as possible about the person
you’ll be meeting with.
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THE NETWORK YOU BUILD (cont’d)
REMEMBER:
• Chemistry plays an important part in
networking, so to get better results, ask for
a 15-20 minute meeting. If the chemistry is
there, the meeting will more than likely last
longer than the allotted time.
• Following up on all networking meetings
with a thank-you (e-mail is OK, but a
written note works best) will give you the
privilege of going back for more referrals.
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THE RECRUITER
•
FICTION: Mass mailings to recruiters are effective, and get
timely and positive results.
•
FACT: Unsolicited recruiter contact can be an effective
search tool, so initial contact should be an early step in the
search process.
•
TACTICS:
1.
2.
3.
Don’t limit your search by geography. Many recruiting
firms work nationally, with offices from coast to coast.
Consider using recruiters who specialize in
Finance/Accounting as well as those Executive Search
Firms that place senior executives.
Make a good impression on your recruiter by being
knowledgeable and helpful to them, recommending
others for positions they are seeking to fill.
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THE RECRUITER (cont’d)
REMEMBER:
• Finding the right recruiter and maintaining a good
relationship can be the key to landing the perfect new
position.
• Consider using Kennedy Information’s Directory of
Executive Recruiters by visiting www.kennedyinfo.com
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THE INTERNET
•
FICTION: The effectiveness of the Internet’s job listing
sites is very high for non-computer-related jobs.
•
FACT: The Internet can help you…
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Look for job listings
Post your resume
Obtain career counseling/advice
Provide networking contacts
Find career management tools and resources
Conduct research and find information
TACTICS: Since the Internet’s offerings can be
overwhelming and distracting:
•
Start by visiting jobhuntersbible.com, a great source
for every kind of career topic.
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THE INTERNET (cont’d)
•
TACTICS (cont’d):
•
Search for job sites that offer you the largest
number of job openings in your field. Take the time
to register with them. Consider the following sites:
FEI Job Center (www.financialexecutives.org/careers)
6FigureJobs.com (www.6figurejobs.com)
ExecutivesOnly.com (www.executivesonly.com)
ExecuNet.com (www.execunet.com)
NETSHARE.com (www.netshare.com)
JobsintheMoney.com (www.jobsinthemoney.com)
FinanceLadder.com (www.financeladder.com)
Finance Leaders Association (www.financeleaders.com)
CareerJournal.com (www.careerjournal.com)
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THE INTERNET (cont’d)
•
TACTICS (cont’d):
 Do your research on the companies you are interested in
at the following sites:
Reuters.com (www.reuters.com)
Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com)
Marketguide.com (www.marketguide.com)
The Dun and Bradstreet Million Dollar Database
(www.dnbmdd.com)
CEOExpress.com (www.ceoexpress.com)
Hoovers.com (www.hoovers.com)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
(www.sec.gov)
•
REMEMBER: The “hidden job market” still exists, and 80% of all
jobs are never advertised.
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THE INTERVIEW
•
FICTION: Impressions of people are not based on how
they look, dress, sound, act and move.
•
FACT: Body language and tone of voice speak louder
than words.
•
TACTICS: You can’t control if you are the person who
will be chosen, but you can control the interaction with
the interviewer.
1.
Always be prepared for the “tough” questions you
will be asked by preparing a list of them and
rehearsing them, so that your answers sound
natural and well thought out.
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THE INTERVIEW (cont’d)
TACTICS (cont’d):
2.
Bring a list of the questions you would like to ask about the
position, the culture of the organization, what kind of
candidate they are seeking, etc.
3.
During the interview, display a positive, enthusiastic
attitude about working for the prospective employer.
REMEMBER:
•
The interview is a “dance,” so be prepared to waltz, tango or
foxtrot as the situation demands, always remembering that
what you bring to meet their needs, no one else can.
•
Practice, practice, practice. It will help you get over the
jitters, help you feel more natural, comfortable and in control
of yourself.
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THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE
• FICTION: You can do a job search in between cleaning
out the garage, painting the house, or building a deck.
• FACT: Conducting a job search is a full-time job, and
you will need to stay on top of some of the latest ideas
and trends in this very tight job market.
• TACTICS: The longer you have been in a position and
never had to search for a job, the more your skills will
need honing to bring you up to date on what’s going on
in the marketplace.
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THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE (cont’d)
TACTICS (cont’d):
• Your FEI association is the very best place to start. It offers a
wide array of career services that you can take advantage
of and get the help and support you need immediately.
• Books:
What Color is Your Parachute
The Three Boxes of Life (Author: Richard Bolles)
• Newspapers:
The Wall Street Journal
The New York Times
• Manuals: (from jobhuntersbible.com)
The Career Planning Process
Creative Job Search
Career Development Manual
The Riley Guide
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FEI NATIONAL CAREER SERVICES
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
FEI NATIONAL CAREER SERVICES,
E-MAIL
careerservices@financialexecutives.org
or
Susan Cully
Manager, Career Services
scully@financialexecutives.org
Diane Albergo
Vice President, Human Resources & Member Career Development
dalbergo@financialexecutives.org
OR VISIT
www.financialexecutives.org/careers
TODAY!