Persuasive Job Search Organization

What is Persuasive  Job Search Organization?  When  and how do I use it?

Persuasive organization is a combination of persuasion and audience-centereness.  You write to the reader in the way that the you believe the reader relates to the world.  You answer the questions the reader wants to know BEFORE they ask it.  Therefore, it is core that you understand your audience!

Let’s apply this to your job search package.  What does your potential employer want to know?  The two fundamental questions are (1)  ‘Can you do the job,” and (2) “Will I like working with you?”   Now, let’s take it to the next level…what do they want to know specifically?

Part One:  The Application Letter

Find a job advertisement and do this exercise with me.  Our task is to understand our audience so that when we write the application letter, they will like us enough to want to call us in for an interview.

1.  Notice the first sentence in the job description.  The author most often puts the information that is most important to them in the first position.

2.  Now, let’s look at the rest of the job advertisement, what did they say repeatedly, yet in a different way.  For example, did they say, they wanted an ‘excellent presenter’, and someone with experience in cold calling, and perhaps someone who leads meetings well.   Notice that all of these are the same skill – a person who is comfortable leading an up-front conversation.  That is what they want.  Now, look at your advertisement…what did they say over and over but in a different way?  What are the core skills?  Do this throughout the entire document and ‘see’ what shows up?  What do they want – make a list.

After you work through the document you will have a list of perhaps 10 items.  Now we need to cull it to write the application letter.  What are the top three ‘things’ that they care about?  KNOW these.  Now on to the resume.

Part Two:  The Resume

Here are the specific ways you take an ordinary resume and make it persuasive – it’s your authenticity that needs to be showcased and you what you have to offer – that they care about.  What I mean is…

1.  Objective.  You will hear others say this is optional, I say it’s one of the most important pieces on the page.  One, it’s located near your name therefore write the job title of the job you seek and the company name.  By this appearing close to your name, it’s like the job title on a business card.  It starts the reader’s mind to picture you in this position.

Secondly, the Objective is critical as it is the purpose for the document.  All the information below it tell the reader that you are ready for that position.  Some of you might want to think of it this way – this is your hypothesis statement and all that follows is the evidence to prove it.

So, let’s prove it now.

1.  In my opinion, put your education next.  At this time in your life, your education is fresh and the most current.   This puts you ahead of some other applicants.  Do NOT list honors and awards, etc. in a separate section – they are part of education.  List them indented here.

If you do not have lots of work experience, expand your education (to the topics the reader want to know).  Add a section called Related Course Work (or something similar) and perhaps add a section called Academic Projects.  If you are an accounting/finance major, you’ve done a great project called The Rockford.  If you are a marketing student perhaps you have engaged in Export Odyssey.   And perhaps you, as an international business student,  completed the X-culture project.  These are great involvements to showcase your knowledge and experience.

2. Experience

Call it Experience, not employment.  The word Experience is active.  Don’t use the word Work as it’s too vague – the reader can’t picture work.  Instead use a word like ‘Business’ Experience or ‘Marketing Experience.’  The persuasion is so that they can feel you and see you in their mind.

Now, here comes more decisions for you.  The additional categories are based on what you know and what to showcase and what the audience wants to know.

If the audience asked for leadership skills, think of creating this grouping.  Where and how have you been a leader, in ways that you have not already listed.  Continue this thinking by looking at the list you created from the job advertisement.  Answer their questions – what do they want to know.

Next level:

When you write the bullet points, write to answer their questions instead of 100% describing the job you did.  Tell them what they want to know that is your truth – your authenticity – your personality. (It’s okay to show your personality, you want to be a fit, you want to be liked and enjoy working with this company.  Just be yourself all polished up.)

This is organizing to the audience in a persuasive way.

P.S.  When your job search package gets you that job that you wanted, send me an email.  I never tire of hearing the success stories.

Prof G