Guest Post: Communicate Your Value to Potential Employers Through Career Success Stories

Photo by altemark

What is the best way to communicate your value to a potential employer? Through the use of career success stories. A career success story simply recounts a specific example of how you solved a problem for or added value to a past employer. The career success story has three basic parts:

• Challenge – Describe the situation you faced.
• Action – What steps did you take to solve the problem or get results?
• Result – What was the end situation? (Use quantifiable figures when appropriate)

Career success stories are particularly useful during an interview because many employers rely on the use of behavioral interview questions. Behavioral interviewing is based on the premise that your past performance and behavior is a good indication of how you will perform and behave in the future. It offers a glimpse of how you've added value to past employers and makes it easier for hiring managers to envision how you can benefit their organization.

Employers don't want to hear about what a professional, customer service-oriented team player you are. They want you to prove that you were a valuable asset to your last employer. Relating a compelling career success story is an effective way to do this.

Think back to past situations in which you've demonstrated the qualities or skills that a potential employer is seeking. Prepare five to seven career success stories and practice relating them to a friend or family member. You'll be better prepared to communicate your value to a potential employer during your next interview.

Roxanne Ravenel is a Job Search Coach & Consultant; author of The Savvy Jobseeker's Guide & Workbook; and host of The Savvy Jobseeker Podcast. Visit SavvyJobseeker.com to learn more.

Snow on it's way?

Maybe we'll all get snowed in and you'll get some extra time to make some phone calls and fine tune your resume. Or maybe just some time to telecommute and watch the Inaugurational ceremony tomorrow morning.

Raleigh, NC -- Snow began falling Monday across the Great Smoky Mountains as a frosty system swung toward the Carolinas, threatening the region with several inches of snow that are sure to stick as temperatures linger below freezing.

The fast-moving and intensifying disturbance was diving from Canada to the Carolinas, moving so fast forecasters were having trouble predicting which areas would face the most intense snowfall. It was moving over Minnesota by midday Monday but expected to hit the Carolinas at night.

Read full article on DigTriad.com

Be careful on the roads, everyone, if we do end up getting some snow.

Part Time Work is Tougher to Find

The job market is changing. Well, we didn't have to tell you that. But recently the Fort Mill Times reported just how things are changing, particularly restaurants. They asked local restaurant managers about the situation in Fort Mill:

The food industry, typically an area where part-time work is available, has been closing its doors to new workers in recent months.

... Although many food service workers are high school or college age, there has been a recent shift in the types of people applying for part-time work, according to Patel. Many of the applications Subway has received come from people with full-time jobs looking for extra work on the side. Some come from people who have been laid off from corporate offices, Patel said.

This just means that those of you seeking out hourly jobs need to be on your game too.

"What the employers are looking for is the right attitude," Stone said. "Is this person going to be a good fit, or an irritant? If the people at the counter don't care if you're there, they're not going to keep their jobs."

This news isn't so that you will panic but realize that there is some competition out there, even for part-time employment. The story even tells accounts of some places getting up to 4,000 resumes from walk-ins in one day. It just requires a little more effort on the job seeker's part and fine-tuning of your job search strategies.

Read the full article from Fort Mills Times.

Related Stories:

• Recession Recruiting: What to do when the budget is cut
• WCNC: Where to apply for work in Charlotte

- Rosie Reilman, Photo by Bob Jagendorf

New Blog Design

Hey NC Job Spot readers! As you may have noticed, we updated our blog look. Our blog has had the same design now for a couple of years so it is time for a little change. You'll see most of our content is all the same. However, we did add a Featured Employers section where you can find employers in North and South Carolinas that we're featuring at any given time. Just another addition that we think might be helpful for those who visit us here on the blog.

Also be sure to check out upcoming job fairs in Charlotte and Greensboro, and as always please email us your suggestions or questions! We'd love to hear from you.

The Carolina Panthers Playoff Game and Your Job Search

Congrats Carolina Panthers, you've made it to the post season! This weekend the Panthers take on the Cardinals! It's been an interesting season for the Panthers and there have definitely been some ups and downs, but they haven't given up yet. This is the kind of determination that is needed in your job hunt, especially in our economy right now.



The South Carolina Employment Security Commission wrote an article about Keeping Your Spirits Up during the job search. Some of that advice included:

• Listing out your positives. In the same way we can recognize key players, you need to know your key strengths. By doing this you can recoginize the things you are good at that will give you confidence to address them in your cover letter and interview. Use these to relate to the job tasks that are listed in the job description.
  


• Remind yourself. Sometimes you need to remind yourself of the good when you don't get the call back or land an interview on an application. Remember the things that you have been successful at and the things you've accomplished. This will help you know your strengths and weaknesses so that you can build upon your strengths, instead of focusing on your weaknesses.
  


• Picture and Build Success. Visualize positive outcomes: like a touchdown pass for example. Play out the scene in your mind and make a to-do list of the things that will help you to get there. Imagine that great Hail Mary pass and then set up the play. Make sure they are small and acheivable. Setting good goals will keep you positive and your confidence high.
  


• Surround yourself with positive people and help others. Good vibes and positive energy will come that much easier if those who are around you are supportive and encouraging. Sometimes, too, helping others who are also in need not only will fill up some of the time while you are not working but also take your mind off of your own needs for awhile. Plus volunteering is a great way to build your network and sometimes get experience for a new career.

So hopefully the Panthers can visualize the win this Saturday night, stay positive and keep their confidence high to actually succeed in a win--So far the outlook is good. Especially in times like this when there seems to be more people without jobs than jobs available. Still, a positive attitude can go a long way - it may very well be the thing that gets you the job (or a ton of great touchdown passes and a killer defense, perhaps?).

To follow the Panthers through the playoffs, check out Panther Tracks Blog from the Charlotte Observer.

- Rosie Reilman, Photo courtesy of Carolina Panthers