Going Up?

The importance of an elevator--or escalator--speech cannot be emphasized enough, especially when you're at the ASAE conference. You take more rides every day than you normally would in a month, and every three-minute trip is an opportunity to network. At a terrific session this morning in the CAE Lounge (15 floors down the Renaissance elevator and just past the escalators on the convention center's ground floor) I heard job-hunting advice from executive recruiter Jim Zaniello, president of Vetted Solutions, and ASAE Career Services program director Catherine Lux Fry. They reminded us to develop a strong, concise introduction to use when meeting colleagues and interviewing for positions. Deliver an intro that communicates clearly and quickly who you are, the most important work you've done and what type of opportunity you're seeking. Make sure your passion shines through.

The same advice applies to your resume. The top half of your first page must grab the prospective employer's interest to encourage further reading. Introduce yourself with a skills summary that highlights your strengths and allows your passion to pop off the page. Spend time and money on your resume--like your elevator speech, your resume is your first chance to make a great impression.

Jim and Catherine also talked about the impact of thank-you notes. Send them to every person who takes time to interview you--and don't forget recruiters. Figure out whether the best format is an e-mail or a handwritten card. Consider the nature of the organization and the job. For example, if you're interviewing for a position focused on digital publishing, it might be best to e-mail thank-you messages.

Thank you, Catherine and Jim, for sharing your valuable perspectives.