The #1 Resume Success Strategy -

The 1 Resume Success Strategy -The 1 Resume Success StrategyIm often asked by my clients if theres one secret resume success strategy or tip that can help them stand out from their competition. Job seekers often think their resume lacks something, and they use many words to describe what that one thing is keywords, PIZZAZZ, WOW factor, the right words the list could go on. What theyre really saying is they lack confidence in their resume and whether it will get them the position they want.While I often share with my clients that a resume is no job search magic bullet, there is something you can do to ensure its successful at generating interviews for the types of positions you want.ITS ALL ABOUT HOW YOU FITWhen youre writing your resume do it from the perspective of how you fit. Your fit for the role can be demonstrated in many different waysfrom your branding statement, to the accomplishments you share, to the culture of the company.How do you address fit on your resume?TARGET A CO MPANYFirst, departure by TARGETING A COMPANY. You need to know who you want to work for if youre going to research how youll fit into the company. For some people this is easy they already have a list of their top companies they want to target. For others of you, it will take some time and thought. Once you have your list, start doing your research.DO YOUR RESEARCHNow that you have a list of companies youre interested in working for start researching those companies. Heres a great article that shares 6 Ways to Learn a Companys Culture. Use the ideas in the article to find out mora about the organization, and make sure the company and its culture are what you want to pursue. Once you have your answer, and your research, youll know how you fit into the company and what you can offer them.SHARE HOW YOU FITYou did your research, and you know what the companys bleeding need or biggest pain point is, and you know exactly how you can stop the bleedingso write about it Write in your resume about how you are the solution to the companys problem Create your branding statement around it, use examples of how youve resolved identical problems/needs before and how you positively impacted your client or employer. You can do this over and over again in your resume using different examples with different positions in your career history.PROVE ITI talked about sharing your career stories as you share your fit on your resume, and another great way to prove youre the best fit is by using visual images. Create charts, graphs, or flow charts that create a visual image to support what youre telling the employer and then incorporate that into your resume. Images are a powerful tool theyre mora easily recalled than plain text, they generate emotions, and stick with us much longerincreasing the likelihood the employer will remember you and your resume. You could even take it a step further and utilize the companys colors in your visuals depending on how creative you want to be.Remember , a successful resume (and cover letter for that matter) demonstrate fit.how you fit in with the employers culture, the department, what you bring to the position, and how youre the solution to their biggest pain point.Having a hard time writing your own resume? Lets chat Visit my website, call my office at 1.800.991.5187, or connect with me on LinkedIn and lets discuss how I help busy job seekers create interview-winning resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles that cut their job search time by 50% or more and generate interviews in two weeks or less.WANT MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS? Check out INFOGRAPHIC What Employers See When You Apply on LinkedIn

How To Be Assertive

How To Be Assertive Communication experts agree that themost effective way to communicateis honestly and openly meaning, assertively. However, this is one of the biggest challengesambitious womenface in the workplace today being assertive without being overly aggressive.We are told that in order for us to be considered for a leadership position, we must be assertive expressing yurself and standing up for what you believe and direct in ur communication. Yet when we do assert ourselves, we are viewed negatively, labeled as bossy and no one wants to work with us. If, on the other hand, we focus on being likable and soften our message, we arent viewed as having leadership potential. See the problem here? Its often referred to as the double bind doomed if you do, doomed if you dont.Astudyfrom Stanfords Graduate School of Business shows that in the business world, women who areassertiveand confident, but also able to turn these traits on and off depending on the social circumstances, ge t mora promotions than either men or other women. Therefore, its essential that women learn how to be assertive in a way thats acceptable (for a woman that is). I know Dont get me startedBut we need to deal with the reality, and the reality is that women are judged differently than men when it comes to the qualifications for leadership, and that assertive communication for women is tricky at best.One of my coaching programs includesgetting direct feedbackon my clients from their boss, colleagues, and direct reports. This feedback is invaluable to better understand the way they are perceived in the workplace. A client of mine whos an attorney in California welches labeled as being aggressive by her male boss in an initial feedback form I sent out. However, when I had a direct conversation with him, I asked him specifically what he considered aggressive. The example he gave was indicative of thegender biasmany women facewhen it comes to assertive communication. He described a situatio n in which she delivered clear and direct communication, which was in actuality assertive rather than aggressive.Given the challenge that bias presents, women must learn the skill of assertive communication without coming across as bossy, and feeling comfortable enough to express their opinions honestly and openly. They must still demonstrate their competence and confidence without intimidation or forcefulness. Its often a delicate balance, but it is definitely doable.Are you up for the challenge?Examples of assertive behaviorAssertiveness can manifest itself in body language, attitude, and, of course, behavior. These factors play a role in whether you come off as aggressive versus assertive. For instance, an aggressive partie might speak loudly over colleagues, while an assertive person carries on a conversation. An aggressive person tries to be in control, while an assertive person maintains personal control, while still acting as a participat in a group setting. Read on for more specific examples of how to incorporate this behavior into your daily work life.How to be assertiveHere are some tips on how to demonstrate competence and personal power without overwhelming your audience.1. Avoid minimizing language.In a Harvard Business Review article, Replace Meaningless Words with Meaningful Ones, author Jerry Weissman advises us to replace weak, meaningless words with stronger ones. He talks about how a simple word replacement can change the impact of our overall communication so it becomes more assertive. Weissman suggests we replace the weak words I think, I believe, and I feel, for stronger options like Im confident, Im convinced, I expect. These simple replacements can make a difference in how our message is perceived. Dont sabotage your effectiveness withweak language. A stronger choice of words supports your assertiveness without giving the impression youre bossy.2. Dont over-apologize.Apologizingunnecessarily robs women of their power and puts them in a subservient position. Sometimes strong women feel the need to find ways to temper their personalities or otherwise risk being called bossy or abrasive, so they use Im sorry to soften others perception. But over-apologizing too often can sabotage your executive presence and career. Its best to eliminate the word unless there is a real reason for the apology. If you need to apologize, simply state your apology and move on.3. Dont be overly emotional.We all have feelings and sometimes our emotions get triggered by another person or situation in the workplace. A wise woman, who has had a very successful career in a male-dominated industry, told me a mentor once suggested to her if sheneeds to cry at work, go to the ladys room or take a walk outside to clear your head. Emotional communication is not well received in the workplace, and its almost impossible to be emotional and assertive. People only remember your emotions, not the message. They see you as weak and too hysterical to be con sidered for a leadership position.But dont confuse emotion with passion. You can state your opinions clearly and passionately without losing the impact. In fact, your passion will reinforce your message and your influence.4. Get to the point.I have coached many women on the importance of clearly stating their objectives and conclusions without telling a long, drawn-out story about their effort in reaching those results. This is assertive communication Until you get this right, do your homework, prepare, write down the bullet points, and speak to each one. It will help organize your thoughts and stay on point. Over time, as you practice this technique, you will train yourself to speak assertively.5. Make eye contact.Makingeye contactalong withdirect and clear communicationis a strong signal that you are confident and competent. Dont stare people down, but dont look away either. When you avoid their gaze, you decrease the impact of your message and you appear insecure and unsure of wh at youre saying. Eye contact reinforces your assertiveness and effectiveness without seeming bossy.6. Use I statements.Start your sentences with I and avoid blaming others. When you begin a sentence with you, you run the risk of being perceived as aggressive. It definitely sounds bossy. Instead practice beginning your sentences with I I have reached this conclusion, I am confident that x, y, and z, I know. After you say that, avoid the tendency to backpedal or soften your statement. Practice this because it is challenging to so clearly state your opinions and feelings. In the end, however, this ability is crucial to assertive communication7. Take credit for your work.Many of us in the workplace have experienced this. You bring up a point in a meeting and it goes unnoticed. Later, someone else (usually a man) will repeat your thought and people will applaud his great idea. When we stay silent and let others take credit for our ideas, we give our power away. If we object and point th e finger accusing them of stealing our idea, thats aggressive. Thats not a good approach.Instead, I coach my clients totake back the creditin an assertive and effective way. Thank you for bringing up this idea that I proposed earlier. I appreciate your support. Make a statement that will remind the attendees of your ownership of the idea. This is persuasive and direct without being too forceful. 8. Self-promote but dont brag.Nothing turns people off more than a braggart And though its essential that you advocate for yourself in an assertive manner, coming across as a know it all, especially for a woman, can ruin your reputation. Think of self-promotion as aleadership skill. It is your responsibility to talk about what you and your kollektiv have achieved, not only for your own benefit, but also for the kollektiv and the company. Its how you create influence. Its how you sell your ideas across the organization. Its the basis of building relationships with key stakeholders and gaining access to the power networks, yet its also not bossy, pushy, or egocentric.A2011 Catalyst studysupports the importance of communicating your value. After following 3,000 high potential MBA graduates, Catalyst found that doing all the right things like being proactive, requesting high-profile assignments, and asking for promotions and raises, didnotsignificantly help women advance their careers. What Catalyst found did have a positive impact on womens careers, however, was the communication of their achievements. In this way, women were able to advance their careers and increase their compensation.Letting others know of your accomplishments and your value proposition is a win-win. Your team benefits from your promotional efforts. They receive recognition for their efforts and success, while you benefit as the team leader who spearheaded the project or initiative, and the company wins as well.9. Be aware of your audience.Who is your audience? Is there a sensitivity or bias against as sertive women? Look at women in your company who have been promoted. How do they communicate? What is their communication style? Use them as a role model for success.It is important to understand that communication is a two-way process, so understanding your audience helps you position yourself appropriately and walk the fine line between assertiveness and likability.Why its essential to be assertiveIt takes conscious effort to be assertive, but using these techniques for standing up for yourself can carry you far in your personal and professional life. Its a delicate balance, but taking control of your presentation, understanding how you come across to your audience, and making your presence known will have enormous benefits and gear you up for success.--Bonnie Marcus, M.Ed, is an executive coach, author and keynote speaker focused on womens advancement in the workplace. A former corporate executive and CEO, Bonnie is the author of The Politics of Promotion How High Achieving Women Get Ahead and Stay Ahead, and co-author of Lost Leaders in the Pipeline Capitalizing on Womens Ambition to Offset the Future Leadership Shortage.