Lately, in my Executive Search work, I have more and more conversations with candidates about how to market themselves. Yes, the job market is tight right now, even in the burgeoning solar industry, but there has to come a time when job seekers take it upon themselves to get ahead of the competition if they really feel that they’re the right person for the job.

Most conventional recruiters will tell you that they have the responsibility of positioning you to a prospective employer, while this is true, their methods can often be outdated and disadvantageous to the candidate. Recruiters are paid by employers to find the best possible candidates, and in the process of their candidate sourcing, they will inevitably be drawn to resumes that match keywords with a particular job description. This works, but in the case where the true need of the employer goes beyond what is often stated in a job-description, where the qualitative factors come into play as much as the quantitative ones, supreme candidates can be left out of the running completely.

For this reason I’ve been challenging more candidates to move away from trying to convince me that they’re a great candidate based on what they’ve done, but to give me a compelling reason to promote them to employers based on what they’re capable of, and what it is that they really want to do. As I do this more and more, I find that candidates are now starting to self-select themselves, and the ones that make the best case are inevitably very strong contenders.

We’ve all heard the old adage that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same result. With this I challenge you all to think differently, to be visionary, to commit yourselves not only to finding a job, but to committing to only finding a position that you’ll be great at.

Confucius said “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”. Now more than ever we need to emphasize this above all else. Let’s be straight, the job market is pretty tough right now, and that’s probably not going to change for a long time to come. Focus yourself on where you will fit in based on what you are great at, and more importantly what you care most about. This will tell you where you can make the greatest contribution to your employer, and put you in a situation where you’re valued beyond just what results you can produce based on your history. In short, it will raise you from the level of “producer” to the level of “asset” to the organization.

This process is a lot of fun too. Imagine doing something that you feel good about every day. Something that you want to continue to think and learn about even when you’re not on the clock… That’s the ultimate way to create job security. Your employer will pick up on these things and be more interested in understanding how he or she can take the skills and passion you bring and put them to best use, rather than reviewing your skills on your resume and evaluating how much you might be able to produce before feeling overwhelmed, burning out, or being lured by another opportunity.

Stay ahead of the competition. Know why you’re the best for the position, the company, and the industry you’re targeting. This will project an aura of trustworthiness and loyalty to the employer that they do not see very often. It will make you special. This will be particularly pronounced in small businesses and start-up organizations who are more dependent on each individual than big multinationals. They are hiring right now, and their top executives are more accessible than those from the larger companies. Most importantly, they’re the ones who can give you the opportunity to grow and fully utilize your skills and passion to make a difference. Align yourselves with them first, and the resume will become a secondary resource rather than the first method of screening you.

More on this in coming articles. In the meantime, check out who’s hiring on SolarVisionaries Career Page.

Have feedback? Leave a reply and let’s discuss!

You can read the article I mentioned here. http://bit.ly/9TN3Z9

Great job, great life.

-Joe

1. I have easily transferable experience.
Before you interview, you need to understand and be able to clearly articulate how your prior work experience could be directly transferred to the position you’re looking to get. Discuss any training, coursework, or seminars that you have attended that will positively impact your contribution within the role. Give examples of your experience that speak directly to the requirements of the open position.

2. I’m interested in your company as well as the position.
Even if the solar is considered one single industry, there are endless nuances that make each and every company in the space highly unique. Make sure you do your homework before talking to anyone in the interview process so that you can easily discuss the specific technology, market, and value they’re promoting. Know the latest milestones they’ve hit as a company, and ask questions about their significance on the future development of the company. The work you do in advance will not only help illustrate your confidence and qualifications, but also show them that you’re truly intereted and likely to accept a job offer.

3. I can be flexible.
In the most innovative companies, whether in solar or any breakthrough industry, change is a constant. High growth companies are always challenged with “growing pains” which can affect worker productivity and attrition. These are the most important things for great companies to avoid in order to maintain their fast growth rates. Let them know that you’re adaptable, and embrace change as it comes along rather than being afraid or more comfortable in a status-quo environment.

4. I can Multi-Task.
In today’s fast paced business world, employees must have the ability to multi-task. Along with adaptability, it’s important to let employers know that you can multi-task without breaking down or becoming frustrated. Multi-tasking is something that all growth companies need to look for in their employees. As they take on new challenges in product or markets, let them know that they can count on you to manage a few different types of duties rather than to simply do the duties listed in the job-description.

5. I am full of positive energy.
When employers evaluate candidates, they invariably discuss attitude and energy in addition to qualifications and experience. Being an optomistic person with a great attitude makes you a great co-worker and potential leader. Attitudes, whether positive or negative, are contagious and employers know the benefit that positive, energetic people can have on their peers and the general morale in the office. Most importantly, speak positively about all your prior experiences, managers and companies, and do not yield to the temptation to go negative, even if the interviewer seems to be looking for that kind of response. This is often a test of how you will respond to them if things happen to not work out.

6. I am a team player.
The most important “intangible” quality that employers are looking for is how the candidate approaches their role in the workplace and their “fit” with the culture. Employees that are willing to cooperate with peers and management in the interest of the company rather than trying to stand out by going at things their own way or differentiating themselves by demanding more credit than others can have a negative impact on morale and results. Let the employer know that you are willing to focus on the company goals as part of a team, and willing to share credit and blame for jobs well done.

7. I want to become an expert
Employers love to hear that their applicants are still in “learning mode”. Contrary to the way many applicants define themselves, the emphasis on learning is far more powerful than claiming your full competence and expertise prior to having the opportunity to prove it. This is also an important way to illustrate your focus on being the best you can be, and being someone they can trust to remain with the company for the long haul.

8. I am motivated to do a great job
It’s a sad fact that employers are having a more difficult time finding employees that really want to make a difference. Discuss your accomplishments as if they’re more than the product of your superior intelligence and skill, but due to your high level of motivation and willingness to do more than the role requires. Let them know that they can trust you with important projects and in times of unusual need.

Although these tips seem simple and straightforward on the surface, I find that the majority of candidates fall into a pattern of selling themselves by offering a laundry list of qualifications or experience, or highlighting the things that they’ve already decided will be most important to the employer.
The Bottom Line: Always put your best foot forward and don’t be afraid to let the employer know that you have great intangibles that go beyond what can be put into a resume.