Getting your player ready...
Dear J.T. & Dale: I’ve never had a real career. I’ve had 10 years of odd jobs while I’ve pursued my dream as an artist. Now I want some stability, but without real work experience, I can’t get hired for anything decent. I’m 27 years old and feel like I’m dead in the water. – Josh
DALE: It’s useful, when contemplating a traditional job search (that is, responding to job ads/postings), to envision the people reviewing the applications. To get an interview, you need to be one of five or 10 resumés plucked out of that pile of a hundred or more. Will that be you, Josh?
Probably not, given your lack of experience. So, if you aren’t careful, you’ll fall into an endless cycle of applying, caught in the Average Resumé Syndrome. This is where you keep fiddling with improvements to your resumé while getting more skilled at finding places to send it. However, it’s still an average resumé in a job market where you need it to be in the top 1 to 10 percent to be considered.
J.T.: There are two ways to overcome that problem. First, Josh, by pursuing your passion for art for 10 years, you have unique knowledge and experience. If you can partner that with your history of odd jobs, you can create a compelling story. For example, if your past jobs included retail work, you have potential for working at an art gallery or museum. The second strategy is to find companies that you admire in the art industry and contact them directly. Could any of those companies be a place where you can pair your knowledge and experience with what they sell? In short, you need to imagine the possibilities and connect the dots, using your creativity as an artist.
DALE: Doing so, you get out of the big pile of resumés and start pursuing one-on-one connections. Instead of an HR screener asking, “Is this one of the top 10 percent of resumés in this pile?” you’ll get into situations where a manager is asking him or herself, “Could Josh be of help to me?” That’s where your creative skills can help a manager visualize the two of you working together.
Dear J.T. & Dale: I have a really good resumé, but what’s the best way to write a cover letter? – Abby
J.T.: Cover letters are your chance to make a connection with a potential employer. Don’t blow that chance by trying to “act professional,” using canned, formal text that has you coming across as sterile – that’s the fastest way to get yourself in the “no” pile. Instead, get your cover letter to stand out in the right way. The secret is to focus on the company, not on you. Do your research, and figure out what attracts you to this employer. For example, if you’re applying with a pharmaceutical company, share a story about how a family member’s health was positively affected by one of its drugs.
DALE: That gives you a shot at making an emotional connection. However, you still need to make the factual connection that you are fully qualified. The best way to do so is with a technique I learned from Kate Wendleton, founder of The Five O’Clock Club. She advises her clients to turn the job requirements specified in the job posting into a list. Next to that list, put a second column showing how you meet each of the requirements. You can see the beauty of this: The person screening applicants can’t miss the fact that you are qualified.
J.T.: Then you connect the emotional and factual, saying something like: “I have the experience and qualifications you are looking for, and based on my story above, you can see I have a passion for what you do. I’d love the chance to share more with you in person.”
