Job Search 101: Know Your Audience

I learned years ago that it is critical to “know your audience” for anything work or life related.  Example, as a freshman in college we all had to take the requisite English class. I loved English all through high school and enjoyed creative writing. My English professor though, didn’t like my choices of creative writing topics and as a result was marking them with C’s. 

One day I wrote about a verse in the bible; I selected Corinthians 13:4-8. It is the one that says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud…” I’ll be honest, I selected that verse because I had a crush on the guy who sat next to me. Well, wouldn’t you know that I got an A on that assignment? I wrote a spiritual piece for my next creative writing paper and received an A again. I learned at 17 years of age that an easy way to get an A was to know my audience and in this case it was my professor, who happened to be married to a minister. 

Over the years this motto has stuck with me; whether it was in designing training programs, giving presentations and now helping people write their resumes. Today I had a meeting with a client who was looking for some job search coaching. Prior to meeting with him I looked at his LinkedIn profile, read his work experience and titles and googled his company. I also went to the career pages of his company and looked up the jobs that are similar to his. Doing this better prepared me for meeting with him and preparing for our conversation.

You can use the same, “Know your Audience” tips in your job search.

Resume:

1.    Tailor your resume to the open position. Use key words and make sure that your Summary Statement reflects a need that that company may have.

2.    Align your accomplishments to the needs listed in the position. Include your measurable results.

Interview:

1.    Research the company. This includes management, products, services, locations, culture, staffing.

2.    Research the position. Come up with examples of your accomplishments that support the position requirements and be prepared to explain the steps that you used to get there.

3.    Come up with questions to ask the interviewer.

4.    Be prepared to ask for a business problem that needs to be addressed immediately. Based upon the requirements of the position, can you envision what that problem might be? Can you articulate how that problem might be addressed?

5.    Ask the manager how they might address a business problem (this may lead you to understanding their style of leading a staff).

Networking:

1.    Use social media or your professional contacts to meet people who may work for that company.

2.    Ask about the culture and style of the organization.

3.    Use this information to better plan for your interviews.

Some people wonder why they never hear from a company once they submit their resumes. Others wonder why, after interviewing, they didn’t hear back or they weren’t selected for the position. Both of these problems may be narrowed down to better preparation by knowing your audience.