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30-60-90-Day Plans: The Savvy Candidate's Secret Weapon

7/8/2019

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The 30-60-90 day action plan is a great tool to introduce to employment decision makers as (1) part of your follow up/thank you correspondence or (2) at the conclusion of a crucial interview. There are several ways you can format these; a PowerPoint presentation is just one option. It can be as detailed as you'd like. When you prepare your plan, remember to review the job description and the company website to address/acknowledge specific pains the employer may be experiencing.

A 30-60-90-day plan isn’t a normal expectation for the interview - it’s an above-and-beyond standard interview preparation tool offered to position you to stand out as a top-notch candidate. Knowing that, you should be on the lookout for lead-ins like “How do you see yourself in this job?” Other questions like “Why should we hire you?” or even “Tell me about yourself” can provide an opportunity for you to transition your answer to introducing your 30-60-90-day plan.

To assist you with developing your plan, please schedule a com plementary discovery session with one of our certified career development practitioners or transition specialists. You may also visit the Help Center, call 866.827.7302, email us, or use the "Feedback & Support" link located on bottom right side of the page. We also invite you to continue the conversation by sharing your suggestions for advancing in the selection process by adding a comment below.

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Discover the Hidden Job Market: Targeted Company Lists

1/20/2013

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Career experts estimate 75% of employment opportunities are never formally announced to the general public. Of the remaining 25%, employers can receive literally thousands of inquiries depending on the position’s industry, job function, and specialty area. Because this job search strategy yields low ROI, I recommend that jobseekers spend no more than 15% of the time they allot to their search responding to job ads. Instead, use the rest of your time to tap into the hidden job market through networking and direct contact. This approach is most effective for uncovering new job openings within a challenged economy.

The following five action steps are strategies candidates can use to immediately design and activate a targeted company list that yields lucrative informational interviews and job leads.

First, define company requirements using the following criteria:

Size of company based on revenue, # of employees, where they are in the product development stage (if applicable), or if they’re public or private Industry
Job function; will this be a management or direct contributor position
Environment: company culture
Management-style: highly structured or not
Location: geography, will you relocate, will you travel
Other parameters you determine based on your particular job search criteria

Second, confirm what companies and positions you are not interested in.

When doing so, be sure to consider previous positions you didn’t enjoy because of culture or job fit.

Third, begin to create your company target list:

Identify select companies using various research methods (i.e. LinkedIn, Hoover, GlassDoor, etc.).
Obtain applicable hiring managers and other key contacts via referrals, LinkedIn, Plaxo, Facebook, company websites).

Fourth, conduct preliminary research on company and industry to prepare for initial contact.

Finally, make initial contact to schedule an information interview. During the interview, only ask for advice, ideas, leads, and referrals. DO NOT ask for employment.

By carefully executing the above strategies, you will be that much closer to securing the job of your dreams. Good luck and happy hunting!

Article reprinted with the permission of Examiner.com and author, Margi Williams

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10 Tips to a Winning Telephone Interview

11/16/2012

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Have you ever wondered what you need to do to conduct a successful telephone interview? The following are 10 tips you can use to outperform your competitors and move that much closer to receiving your dream offer.

1. Choose a location that provides minimal noise disturbance. In situations where this is not possible, reduce negative fallout by mentioning potential interruptions at the onset of the appointment.

2. Carefully review the job posting and for each performance requirement, identify one achievement you accomplished for a previous employer and present it during the interview using the STAR method (i.e. situation, task, action, and result).

3. Identify two or three questions you can ask the interviewer that demonstrates your understanding of the industry as well as your competency.

4. Research the company and their industry and be prepared to strategically reinforce your interview responses with information you gleaned during your research. Further, if possible discover who will conduct your interview ahead of time and learn as much about them as you can. Great sources of information are company blogs, Twitter feeds, and even LinkedIn profiles!

5. Draft your thank you letter in advance and plan to send it immediately after the interview concludes. Be sure to insert a sentence or two regarding a topic you discussed during the call.

6. Dress for the interview as if it is being done in person. This will mentally prepare you to conduct yourself professionally and position you to advance to the next stage of the process.

7. Do not consume any food, candy, or gum during your phone interview. This is extremely unprofessional as well as distracting.

8. If it can be avoided, try not to conduct the interview when you are ill as you only have one opportunity to present a good first impression.

9. Do not schedule the phone interview to occur during your commute time. If possible, schedule it when you have access to a landline phone. Otherwise, be sure to be stationary and somewhere where your cell phone has optimal coverage.

10. Consider investing in an interview coaching session to fully prepare for your phone interview. Recruiters and hiring managers frequently use these to whittle down the applicant pile to a more manageable number.

11. Bonus Tip: Offer to conduct your interview via Skype. Even if the interviewer declines, you will quickly differentiate yourself from your competitors by emphasizing your willingness to utilize video conferencing capabilities.

What other suggestions do you have? What differences have you experienced when preparing for a traditional interview versus a telephone interview? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Article originally printed on Examiner.com by Margi Williams

Image credit: Gettys Photo on Examiner.com

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30-60-90-Day Plans: The Savvy Candidate's Secret Weapon

Discover the Hidden Job Market: Targeted Company Lists

10 Tips to a Winning Telephone Interview

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