“It is not the lawyer who knows the most law, but the one who best prepares his case, who wins.”
~ Napoleon Hill
It’s a beautiful morning here on St. Thomas today. I enjoyed a great night’s sleep, and awoke early, dreaming that I was working in some type of large animal rehabilitation preserve. Maybe my subconscious is telling me something LOL …
Over the past few days, Napoleon Hill has been convincing us that if we are to become abundant, we will most likely need to sell our services. And to do so, we will need to learn how to be a good leader of people. We can’t do it all alone!
But how do we get our foot in the door and market our services effectively?
The next section of Hill’s chapter on Organized Planning discusses when and how to apply for a position.
The editors of the book make mention to the fact that the internet has radically changed the way employers and employees come together. And that if we are tempted to think that the suggestions I’m about to share are too obvious, simplistic or out of date, we should be assured they are not !!
Think and Grow Rich was never intended for “most people”. It was written for those who want to stand out !!
Where do we begin looking for work? Hill offers 5 avenues for a job search:
1) Employment Agencies – chose only the best
2) Advertising in newspapers, trade journals, magazines – look for expensive ads
3) Personal letters of applications – have the letter & resume prepared by an expert
4) Application in person – accompany yourself with a written statement of qualification
5) Application through personal acquaintance – advantageous if you don’t want to appear to be “peddling” yourself
Once we know where to look, we are then offered tips on what information should be supplied on a written Resume.
“A good resume should be prepared as carefully as a lawyer would prepare the brief for a case to be tried in court.”
The editors offer two notes of caution:
1) Make sure your presentation does not look like something turned out by a resume mill. Your intent should be to make yours stand out.
2) But, don’t go overboard in trying to stand out. There is a fine balance between catching an employer’s attention and looking like you are trying too hard.
Hill writes that the following should appear in your presentation or written resume:
1) Education: Stated briefly, but definitely, never exaggerated.
2) Experience: Be sure to clearly point out any special experience as it relates to the position.
3) References: Attach copies of letters of recommendation (and get them if you don’t have them!)
4) Photograph of Yourself: Make your appearance good & professional. It should be understated as not to appear vain or self-centered.
5) Apply for a Specific Position: Never apply for “just a job” which indicates you lack specialized qualifications.
6) State Your Qualifications for the Particular Position. This is the most important detail of your application.
7) Offer to go to work on probation. This indicates self-confidence.
8) Knowledge of your perspective employer’s business. Do sufficient research so as to express your imagination & true interest.
Remember:
“It is not the lawyer who knows the most law, but the one who best prepares his case, who wins.”
At KL&CO, I prepared alot of presentations. And often, we were really under the gun. The partners had a saying “Form over Substance”. If we didn’t have all the pieces in place when the presentation deadline hit, we better impress the client with a beautiful looking presentation that might even get them to overlook the true lack of content !!
Neatness is paramount!
“Successful sales people groom themselves with care. They understand that first impressions are lasting. Your presentation is your sales rep!”
When your package is complete, personalize it for each and every company to whom it will be presented. Have it neatly typed, proofread, printed, and properly bound on the finest paper you can obtain.
In other words … If you want to stand out from the crowd, you need to be creative 🙂
Have a great day! I’m feeling pretty inspired to update my resume today !! How about you?
