| Last week, I had the chance to dine at a truly | | | | everyone can appreciate a well-cooked meal! |
| exquisite gourmet restaurant. Lucky for me, I | | | | Are You Fast-Food or Gourmet Cook? |
| didn't have to pick up the check! The meal was | | | | And yet, I continue to hear stories of job |
| more than delicious - it was forever memorable. | | | | seekers who act more like line cooks at fast-food |
| The presentation, the pace, and of course, the | | | | restaurants than gourmet chefs. They blast their |
| food itself were all amazing. Suddenly, as I sat | | | | resumes out to job openings without the slightest |
| there, I realized what many job seekers are failing | | | | bit of research on the companies they are |
| to do these days could be compared to cooking | | | | sending them to. They don't bother to try to find |
| techniques. | | | | a networking connection within the organization to |
| Let me explain... | | | | see if they can learn the 'tastes' of the hiring |
| Hiring Managers = Food Critics | | | | manager. And they definitely don't spend time |
| For starters, hiring managers are like food critics. | | | | crafting compelling introduction letters and career |
| Their jobs are to identify talent capable of making | | | | stories that will get them recognized as top talent |
| meals that are tasty, one-of-a-kind and | | | | who should be granted an interview. In short, |
| well-executed. They need to find the right | | | | they don't bother to put the time and energy into |
| candidate who A) has the skills, B) is a fit for their | | | | the prep and presentation of themselves so vital |
| unique corporate culture, and C) is professional by | | | | to being chosen for consideration. |
| their company's standards. Starting to see the | | | | So, as a new day of job searching begins, I ask |
| connection? | | | | you: "Are you going to cook a gourmet meal with |
| Job Seekers = Chefs | | | | your talents, or are you going to go the fast-food |
| Now, the job seeker is the chef. It is up to her to | | | | route?" If you want to WOW hiring managers and |
| identify the right ingredients and cooking style (i.e. | | | | be memorable (in a good way), I suggest you try |
| assess her professional strengths), put them | | | | investing in the gourmet chef approach. |
| together in a way that is tasty to the hiring | | | | What do you think readers? How else can job |
| manager (i.e. create strong introduction e-mail | | | | seekers approach the process like an |
| cover letter/resume/social media profiles/etc. that | | | | accomplished cook? What are you doing to put |
| connect with the company) and then present it in | | | | your 'signature touches' on your job search |
| a way that leaves the hiring manager craving | | | | efforts to help yourself stand out from the |
| more (i.e. great interview skills and follow up). | | | | crowd? |
| Make sense? Of course it does, because | | | | |