Business Overview
How does a fast tracking project manager at mid-level in career make that leap to the dream job that’s not the next rung up but 10 rungs up? With targeted, relevant help that’s how! The client said ‘The main reason I undertook the exercise, other than getting my dream job, was because the commercial world is so fiercely competitive. Most organisations are looking for an ‘A’ player – someone that consistently pushes for and achieves results. I really wanted that to come across in my CV. I knew this was the key to getting me through the door and one step nearer to the job of my dreams. My CV needed to stand out from those of everybody else. The options available to me within my current company I realised weren’t what I wanted. So I chose not to renew my contract which meant there was a definite timetable. I had 6 months to get another job so that my employment record would be continuous. I set my goal and made my plans very single mindedly.
Delivery
The ‘version’ effect works on many levels and helps select the job. It was version 7 that was the key to me getting everything in a job that I had wanted. It demonstrated my worth and the company that employed me was very impressed and have fast tracked me. Note to self: get to version 7 quicker!
Together we created a biog of me. It wasn’t what I could do or describing me as a commodity. Career highlights were an excellent way of presenting just what I could do but in a very matter of fact way.
Working with another person was of huge value and a major investment in me and my future. I asked myself frequently how could a measure be put on a dream job. And the outcome was that I now have that dream job in a dream location.
How we did it
Preparation is key. Truthfulness is essential. A truthful account certainly helped at interview. Feel proud of your achievements. Be realistic.
Be really really very specific about what is involved in one’s current role.
Important to include what else one does in addition to one’s day job both for the company and outside. Include on-going CPD and interests.
Apply for what capable of, something that’s a challenge and not beyond. To be able to say I can do this and what it will help me to do. What skills do I have and how can I apply them? Work from a perspective of confidence.
The company needs to get the person they need hence the crucial piece of work which is to research the company inside out so you can discuss from knowledge.
If you have any ambition, self-belief goes a long way. Halina enabled me to tap into, and empower my self-belief.
Working in partnership
It’s not cheap but you get what you pay for definitely. I put my new CV on the internet 2 days ago and have had 2 calls already from 2 major banks. I know it is difficult to think about these things right now but it’s the right time to think about oneself as a priority. You also get lots of telephone support from Halina, and she is very motivating. What is amazing is that she really makes you feel like she is working with you and no-one else. I am absolutely sure that it will end up being the best ROI that I have had in a very long while
Achievements
In 2 weeks Halina helped me to get my CV up together plus prospective letters. Truly I never thought that my CV could look as good as it does and I haven’t had to over-egg the truth either! A question to ask yourself is: Are you earning what you are worth or are you worth what you earn? Interestingly we identified 2 people who were in fact the same person … me … but I hadn’t realised that. Examples were most useful. I was encouraged to ask myself the question – if I was employing or interviewing this person whom would I choose. What would stand out positively as well as negatively and what would the implications be? Very interesting that there wasn’t an emphasis on a job description at all but what I did/achieved. I did this and it enabled me to do ‘x’ e.g. income generated. A measure and I knew exactly what it all meant. Be specific and state that for example we were ‘up from £x to £x against target’. Words like decreased, reduced, increased are all good. Everything has a monetary benefit/cost attached to it to demonstrate one’s achievements. Add in budget responsibilities. There’s the ‘putting down’ piece which is very interesting. Most people put down their job description. Much better to put down what you do. Much easier for selectors for interview if everything is based on what you do and have done and is qualified and quantified. Then at interview you can be asked relevant questions rather than leaving it to the interviewer/s imagination. The ‘putting down’ piece keeps one in the competition because there’s an affirmation of your worth.
Quotes
“Paying for this service was the best thing that I did when looking for that dream job. Definitely I’d spend the money all over again to update my CV whether I was applying for an internal promotion or looking to move to another company. Halina works in a very practical way which means that it was actually all my work so I knew it inside out.
It gave me clarity as to what I was worth to another employer which was hugely empowering and gave me that precious confidence that we all seek.”
“I know it is difficult to think about these things right now but it’s the right time to think about oneself as a priority. You also get lots of telephone support from Halina, and she is very motivating. What is amazing is that she really makes you feel like she is working with you and no-one else. I am absolutely sure that it will end up being the best ROI that I have had in a very long while.
Truly I never thought that my CV could look as good as it does and I haven’t had to over-egg the truth either!”
Fast tracking Project Manager
Financial sector