For those of you who may have missed it, here’s the recap of Phase 1 of the cover letter tri-blogy, Creating your Cover Letter, Gently: Read the job description carefully. (Very carefully.) Contact people you know. Contact people who know people you know. Contact people you don’t know at all. Find out more about life on the inside of your target company and/or the ins and outs of the target position. Study the company website. Become familiar with current events and news associated with your target organization. Identify 3 or 4 key characteristics that qualify YOU for this position. Sit back, relax, and brainstorm ways in which your educational, professional, and volunteer…
A lot of talk in the business school classroom, the boardroom, and on the job search is about “telling your story”–making your ideas, your concerns, and your accomplishments a compelling narrative though the use of classic story-telling structure, rich in relevant detail. Focusing on such topics as leadership, overcoming obstacles, failure, teamwork, and communication, the behavioral interview as part of the job application process rests upon the premise that your past actions and behaviors offer a pretty good window into your future professional performance; consequently, it is critical that you as a job searcher communicate that slice of your professional past in a brief (90 seconds or so), compelling, and clearly structured…