Killer CVs and hidden approaches : give yourself an unfair advantage in the job market

Ever get the feeling that the new jobs are not always advertised? You'd be right. To give yourself the best chance of landing that dream job you can't rely on responding to job ads and waiting for the headhunter to call. The new edition of bestselling __Killer CVs and Hidden Approaches__ is the perfect aid to developing your creative job campaign. From opening hidden doors to making a fantastic impression on paper - and then in person - this is the book packed with all the hints, tips and techniques to get you an interview and then the job. Dare you leave your dream job to chance? Now more than ever, you have to know how to sell yourself in the job market, and have the guile and determination to get yourself through the door and to the interview. This classic jobhunter's bible is the essential practical guide to finding a way in with inventive jobseeking methods, overcoming obstacles, networking effectively and shining both in CV and interview. This book is bought to you by an author who knows what makes a difference, having spent many years sitting on the other side of the table. With insider tips on preparing for interviews, doing your research, presenting yourself on paper and in person, Killer CV's will ensure you land your dream job. Cover 1 Killer CVs& Hidden Approaches 2 Contents 8 Introduction 14 Part one The creative job campaign 20 Cobblers’ children 22 Why even marketing specialists fail tomarket themselves 22 The marketing concept 24 How to become a marketing pro 25 Know thyself 26 A helping ear 29 Knowing the product 34 From famine to feast 38 Not quite unique 39 The other acronym 40 Knowing the market 44 What you have 46 What they want 48 Research 48 Market segmentation 51 Shooting for the stars 53 Yes, but . . . 54 Overcoming the obstacles 56 Too old 56 Too young 58 Lack of experience 59 Returning from career breaks 61 There just aren’t any jobs 62 On the transfer list 63 Don’t limit your options 68 Do you need another job? 68 Flexible working 70 Going it alone 71 Freelancing 72 Changing direction 73 What is your return on investment? 78 Target practice 79 Budgets and plans 79 Daily tasks 80 Weekly and ad hoc tasks 81 Time management 83 Facilities management 83 Project management 86 Where there’s a will 88 The psychology of success 88 When the axe falls 89 What goes up . . . 89 A smoother ride 91 Financial constraints 91 Pride and prejudice 92 Keeping your chin up 93 Sources of support 94 Dealing with rejections 96 Part Two Opening the hidden doors 98 The odds against ads 100 And how to improve them 100 Being choosy 101 Being professional 103 Being creative 105 Bypass surgery 107 The dreaded form 109 The value of feedback 110 Don’t call us, we’ll call you 114 Headhunters and agencies 114 How to handle headhunters 114 Researchers and databases 115 Sourcing and sources 116 Shapes and sizes 117 The bottom line 118 Upmarket, downmarket 120 Agency use, and abuse 121 Networking 1: getting started 124 Not just for the unemployed 125 What? No network? 126 Listing your contacts 127 Spoilt for choice 129 The numbers game 130 Networking is not discrete 131 Networking 2: getting results 136 Before you make contact 137 Making the most of the meeting 139 Managing the meeting 141 Windows of opportunity 141 After the meeting 143 Performance targets 144 Networking 3: Internetworking 148 Chat rooms 148 Newsgroups 149 Message boards/forums 149 Networking websites 150 Time budgetary control 151 Traditional networking v Internetworking 151 Blended networking 152 Getting started 153 On spec 156 Shotgun or rifle? 157 Cold calling 158 How many hours in a day? 158 Rifle practice 160 Slaying the dragon 162 Through at last 164 See and be seen 168 More hidden approaches 168 It’s not what you read 169 Getting into print 171 Appearing in public 173 When it pays to volunteer 174 A final tip 175 Temporary assignments and part-time work 178 Who’s who and what’s what 180 A question of commitment 182 The best of both worlds? 183 A final thought 185 Part Three Your marketing brochure –the killer CV 188 Why most brochures don’tget read 190 And how to make sure that your CV does 190 A means to an end 191 Horses for courses 192 Vested interests 193 The personal profile 194 The skills summary 196 The achievements summary 197 Which format? 198 Alternative formats 199 Keeping the customer satisfied 202 The killer CV 206 What it is and how to produce it 206 Getting started 207 CV suicide 208 How to present yourself 209 Be verbally lean 210 Finding fresh words 212 Choosing the format 214 Sample CVs 215 Reviews and wraps 228 E-mailing your CV 228 Sending hard copy 229 Belles lettres 232 The other half of your marketing brochure 232 Not just an ad on 233 A letter without a CV 235 Writing on spec 236 Headhunters and agencies 237 Examples and excesses 238 Part Four Closing the sale 250 Interviews 252 The myths and the reality 252 The big fight 253 The Gestapo 253 The stress interview 254 Turning the tables 255 But don’t be passive 255 The truth, the whole truth 256 Being smart 257 A confidence trick? 258 Too keen? 258 Winning ways 259 On video 260 The chapter you can’t affordto skip 262 Preparing for the interview 262 But who are they? 263 Where it’s at 265 Doing your homework 266 Filling the gaps 268 The glass slipper 270 Watching your back 270 Looking to the future 272 And other gaffes 273 A professional image 276 Mirror, mirror 277 Bearing up 278 What to wear 279 Looking your age 284 Health and fitness 285 Why the best candidate doesn’t always get the job 288 Establishing rapport and controlling the interview 288 Spotting the clues 289 What’s in a question? 290 The other side of the coin 292 The mob scene 293 Don’t relax 294 Thanks for the memory 295 Dos and don’ts 296 Interview add ons 300 Tests, assessment centres and otherselection tools 300 A testing time 300 How to respond 308 Graphology 309 The bird in the hand 312 Job offers: decisions and negotiations 312 What to check 313 How to check 315 Negotiating the package 316 Evaluating the offer 316 Elements of the package 318 Final details 319 Buy-backs 321 Keeping one step ahead 324 Your new job, and the one after that 324 A final thought 325 Index 326

In a crowded executive job market, can you really afford to sit back and wait for opportunities to materialize? You need to stay two steps ahead of the crowd. Traditional approaches are important, but you need to look beyind the norm to stay ahead. You need to be aggressive, resourceful, and creative. Open doors for yourself and make sure the job you want is yours before anyone else hears about it.

This book shows how to deploy cutting edge techniques and unconventional tactics to secure the career you want. Learn how to: market yourself with a professional career campain

identify your competitive edge and develop a winning psychology

create killer CVs and winning speculative letters

build a great network

and get the most from head-hunters and recruitment agencies.

Management Information Systemstakes a management perspective towards IS identifiing the issues of organisation and strategy that managers face as they decide how to respond to technological opportunities. The book draws on extensive research to present a distinct organisational perspective on the management of information systems, following the argument that managing successive IS projects as part of a coherent organisational process (rather than as isolated technological events) will produce an information system that enhances broader strategy. The book also includes many case studies which w Reflects on the information you need to know to successfully tackle challenging job market. From helping you to develop creative job campaigns to leaving a winning impression in writing and in person, this book includes hints, tips and techniques to get you the job you want. Packed full of hints, tips and techniques to give you the edge in the job market, this book demonstrates how to create CVs to catch the attention of potential employers, as well explaining how to prepare for interviews