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What’s Your Big Idea? Use It to Snag That Job

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January 28, 2011


If you watch enough old movies and television, you might think having a big idea is a bad thing, the sort of item gangsters and slapstick comedians asked each other if they had.
It could lead to a pie in the face, or worse.
These days a big idea could be your ticket to the big time, or at least an interview.
I, for one, am glad to see this, because maybe, just maybe, it might replace the dreaded elevator pitch.

Or, at least, the elevator pitch dreaded by me. Self-promotion is not my strong suit, even though I know that what was once considered a pleasant humility is a decided liability in today’s hyper-competitive job market.
The prospect of condensing everything I could bring to a job into a 30 second to 1 minute sound bite (I think my imaginary elevators run a bit slowly) makes me choke.
It’s not because I think I have so much to offer. Or so little. It’s because it all seems so forced to me. And obvious.
I need to get over it, I know.
I’m thinking the big idea thing could help me, and I bet it could help you, too. It even jives with what experts tell us about writing resumes, cover letters and contacting employers in general.
The key is not to rattle off previous responsibilities and attributes, but to show potential employers what you’ve actually accomplished and could do for them.
Instead of dozing through the 114th letter from a “self-starter,” hiring managers will have their interest piqued by an operations manager who thinks green business is the key to a sound financial future and who cut waste disposal costs by 30% at her last job.
Now that’s a big idea.
Before your next job application or interview, try imagining what you’d do in that position that would be truly unique. Without a lot of specifics to work with, your idea will, of necessity, reflect you, your approach.
And it will be your big idea.
Once you’ve identified it, shape it into a concise little statement. Find ways to support it with specific examples from your past, such as, “I think successful marketing is based on a laser-like focus on the target market’s needs, and by concentrating on my previous employer’s key constituency, I developed an ad campaign that exceeded expectations by 10%.”
I guess I find it easier to talk about my ideas than my self, and I bet hiring managers find it easier to listen to.
Even in a fairly quick elevator ride.
Article by Danielle Dresden and courtesy of WorkBloom, an employment blog incorporating a comprehensive career resources section, including the largest database of professionally written resume and cover letter samples on the Web.

Originally posted by Candice A

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