telling your story: differentiate yourself through your cv & application form

© 2011 IBM Corporation1

Differentiate your professional representation

in CV’s and application forms


A model for career management

The elimination process

How to identify your strengths and competencies

How to write your story and create your….

Getting your story out there


ReputationCircles of influence

Strengths

Preferences

Skills

Values

Stories

Competencies

SELF KNOWLEDGE

INTERVIEWS & MEETINGS

NETWORKING

CV’s

Applications

Cover letters

Online presence

REPRESENTATION

Research

Preparation

Planning

Delivery

Dress

Social media

F2F

ManagingYourself &

Your Career


Strengths Stories

Competencies

SELF KNOWLEDGE

CV’s

Applications

Online presence

REPRESENTATION

Your CVs, job applications and online presence depend on a

large degree of self knowledge and will

differentiate you from the crowd


Spelling, grammar, punctuation and CV formats are also critical, but not covered in this

presentation


At this stage, it’s an elimination process, not a

selection process


Your CV or application has about 10 seconds to make an impression. You must convince me that you will:

•Do the job

•Add value

•Be motivated


The winning CV is the story that is most consistent, convincing, provides assurance

through example that the competencies I’m looking for are already there


STRENGTHS+

COMPETENCIES=


Successful careers are not largely planned. They develop when you

are prepared for opportunities because you know your strengths, your values and your preferences.


Many of the skills you learnt are transferable

Customer service

Organisation

Responsibility

Working under pressure

Trust

Leadership

Motivation

Staff management

Creativity

Decision-making

STEP 1: List EVERY job, activity, and club you have participated in. NOTHING is too

small.


1. What did I learn?

2. What did I do well? (Note all praise and compliments, no holding back)

3. Any criticisms?

STEP 2: For each job or non-work achievement, write down:


STEP 3: For each of the same, analyse and rank yourself against your peers on

the following:

1. Did you have any positions of trust? (key, cash, security)

2. Suggest anything that was acted upon?

3. Given extra responsibilities?

4. Solve any problems/make good suggestions?

5. Were your contributions measurable?

6. Did you work on your own initiative?


STEP 4: Map your achievements against competencies such as

• Communication

• Teamwork

• Problem solving and Creativity

• Leadership and Drive

• Adaptability

• Client Focus


You could set it up like this…

* Modified version from Rowan Manahan’s “Where’s My Oasis?”

Achievement Result Outcome CompetencyTargets met?

New business/members gained? Increased membership by 55%

Raised enough funds to support additional activities

Leadership; Motivation; Organisation; Communication

New process or approach suggested?

Etc.

New ideas/products/services?

Problem solved?

Costs saved?

Trained/motivated others?

Special relationships developed?


Or like this…

*Gwynyth Moore’s Mind Map, IBM Recruitment website: http://www-05.ibm.com/employment/uk/graduate-programmes/apply/Gwenyth_s_Competency_Mind_Map.pdf


You will need feedback from employers, customers, teachers, friends, family and peers to

check your analysis


Can I count o

n you to

provide feedback fo

r me?

It will b

e useful for m

y

future career

development!

This is not as cheesy as it sounds

It works

If you have to, set up a short form that

asks people to comment on

competencies


All good books on CV writing include a register of skills. Some may apply to you – if so, note them

down.


“Happiness lies in knowing that life is not a check list of acquisition or

achievement. Your qualifications, your CV, are not your life, though you will

meet many people of my age and older who confuse the two.” -J.K. Rowling


The stories we tell reveal the image

we want to project about

ourselves


Introvert

Mature

Leader

Support a cause

Listener

People trust me

Creative Make my own style

Thinking

Passionate about making the world a better place

Driven


“Millions of people curate stories of their lives on Facebook every day…(Timeline is) the story of your life and a completely new way to express yourself.” Mark Zuckerberg

Your story is an orchestrated image that you convey to others


• Your strengths, experiences and competencies build your story

• You control your image: on-line, on paper and face to face

• Your stories provide structure and content of that image

• And another word for that image is……


your BRAND


You have your story – now create your pitch

• Rank your top 7 achievements

• Note your core competencies

• Review your story – note key “moments of truth” – find the positive story about who you want to be

• Create the Pitch: up to 2 sentences that describe who you are and what you want to do


Write your CV and applications:

• Incorporate your pitch into your profile

• Use your achievements and moments of truth from positive stories to inform your competency based applications and CV bullets

• Know your audience and modify to suit their needs

• Use specific examples!


The STAR method ensures your story captures all relevant elements

S ituation

Detail the background. What was the context? Where did it happen? When?

T ask

Describe the challenge. What needed to be done and why?

A ction

Elaborate. What did you (not others, not your team) do? What tools did you use?

R esults

Explain the results and quantify. What was accomplished? Why did it matter?


YOU


Leading business social media tools

Source: Social Media Marketing Industry Report 2010 Michael Stelner


Is your personal on-line identity like this?


Or is it like this?


Take the time to work on your “digital footprint” so a Google search points to

you


Optimise your LinkedIn profile

• Nail your summary– Use your pitch and personal profile– Think key search words – list skills and

competencies at the bottom of the profile

• Complete your profile as prompted!• Craft your headline – not just a job title, but a

description of what you do / what you want to be• Add apps & other social media


Use on-line CV tools like projeqt.com, slideshare.com, visualcv.com,

resumUP.com, @twit_res, even You Tube, etc.


And please, don’t be this

guy.


Words! Words! Words! I'm so sick of words! I get words all day through; First from him, now from you! Is that all you blighters can do? Don't talk of stars burning above; If you're in love, Show me! Tell me no dreams; Filled with desire. If you're on fire, Show me!

Audrey Hepburn, My Fair Ladysource: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/

Show some passion and remember to tell your story!