How to present an idea to your employer

After getting a great job using your skills, you develop several years of experience. All at once, you have a sensational idea to improve company productivity.

But you're not the brass. Getting someone in charge to listen to your idea seems like a remote possibility. Yet there are things you can do to get the attention of a supervisor for a quick pitch of your proposal. Here's what to do:

1. Streamline your idea. Make it smooth, sharp, and clear. Avoid clumsy wording, vague references, and faulty grammar. Trim it to a length of no more than three pages, and preferably just one. Use bolded or bullet headings to highlight key areas. Then list short phrases that describe how the plan will unfold. Ask a trusted co-worker or family member to go over it with a fine-toothed comb, then revise to strengthen the final draft.

2. Make an appointment. Work with the administrator's secretary to choose a date and time when the person will not feel rushed. Wait until an important project is concluded or the supervisor's work load slows down. A mid-week day, just after lunch (perhaps 1:30), works well for many proposals.

3. Look your best. Following the usual office dress code, wear an outfit that makes you feel confident and competent. Style your hair neatly. Don't wear much jewelry, cosmetics, or fragrance. Wear comfortable shoes, and when invited in for your pitch, sit straight but comfortably.

4. Behave professionally. Don't come on too strong. Smile a little, but not in a way that seems silly or non-serious. Thank the administrator for allowing you to stop by, and promise not to take too much time.

5. Present your idea in less than five minutes, preferably three. Start with a title or summary, then state a few key points with details or examples. Emphasize benefits to the company, such as saving time, cutting costs, or pleasing customers. Provide a "back door" to let the boss refuse, if necessary, such as "I realize you may need time to think it over" or "We haven't tried this approach before, but I believe it will work." Invite questions at the end of your overview. Leave a fact sheet or one-page summary of your proposal for later review.

6. Whatever your listener's response, offer thanks for the time and appreciation for hearing you out. If a "no" response is given on the spot, still say thanks, and ask if it might be considered a little further down the road, say in six months, unless you feel this would be too pushy. If the administrator requires time to think about your idea, offer to provide additional information if needed. You can mention checking back in a week or two if that is convenient.

7. Follow up courteously, without being pushy. If you promised to check back in two weeks, don't call before then. If you hear the administrator has been out of town on travel, allow some time for him or her to catch up with the work flow before checking on your proposal.

Whatever the final response, maintain a polite air of gratitude. You never know when the door that has just shut firmly in your face might open unexpectedly. Keep a record of your meeting and its outcome for future reference; another administrator might be looking for a similar idea later. Never give up with sharing suggestions or proposals. That is how great things come to pass, sooner or later.

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Acing a Job Interview After Age 50

 By : Joe Turner

Have you used one of these common complaints?

    * "I was fully qualified, and it makes no sense.”
    * “They simply don’t know how to hire.”
    * “They told me that I was overqualified.”

These are the sort of comments job seekers often make to Randy Block, a seasoned career-transition coach and consultant in the San Francisco Bay area.

If you're an "older" job hunter, more than likely you already know that the ultra-competitive job-search process is especially hard on you. Part of the challenge you're facing is a major generation gap between Baby Boomer job hunters and the Gen-X hiring managers of today. As Block noted, "Thirty-somethings don’t want to hire their parents. Unfortunately, that's how we often come across — as their parents."

You can succeed during interviews with younger hiring managers, but you'll want to think and act differently. Here are five places to start :

Show passion for your work

As Block notes, relationships are based on shared values. He believes that shared values make up most of what we call “chemistry.” Chemistry is enhanced when we meet others share an interest. This extends to your work, profession or industry.

If there is little passion or commitment from you for your work, how can you expect others to get excited during the interview? On the other hand, if you consider yourself driven or committed to what you do for a living, you'll most likely hit it off with a hiring manager who has the same interest — whatever that person’s age.

Be upfront about what’s in it for them

Nowadays , employers want to know what you can bring them. Older job seekers may shy away from bragging opportunities like this. But this is one talking point you need to be prepared to get.

Tenure and duties won’t cut it. The best way to prepare for an interview is to focus on your personal brand. Prepare a personal brand statement for yourself — a simple sentence that offers three very important selling points about you. First, it should say who you are. Second, it should articulate your greatest strength(s). Third, it should explain the biggest benefit that you bring to your next employer.

The purpose of your brand is to go beyond mere duties and job listings and get to the "what's in it for them" benefit that will make the employer sit up and take notice.

Offer guidance

Block has found an important disparity between older job seekers and younger hiring managers: Boomers want to be led, while Gen Xers want to manage. Yet in coaching sessions with young managers, he observed that their leadership skills typically lag behind their management skills.

If you're a Boomer, take note and realize that you might not get the visionary leader you hoped for in your next hiring manager. However, Block says that this might just be an opportunity.

He has discovered that most young managers need help and guidance. They actually appreciate being mentored, coached or advised. They recognize the need, but look at it as a temporary or project-based opportunity.

This may open up an opportunity to sell yourself as a consultant whose many years of expertise can be useful in the role of a temporary coach or mentor. This may be a great meld between the "management versus leadership" dichotomy and increase your opportunities, especially considering companies are hiring more consultants during this economic downturn. As the economy improves, that 1099 contract could well turn into a salaried position.

Think short-term

According to Block and other employment analysts, many companies today view their short-term survival needs as paramount . They're looking for players who can hit the ground now and help them grunt through the next six to nine months. That will require a change in your marketing approach : P hrases like "long-term" and "strategic" won't have the sales impact of a year ago.

Rather than emphasize the long haul in your resume and interview marketing, look instead at selling yourself as an expert who can get in and fix immediate problems quickly and efficiently. Downplay any talk about long-range solutions ; instead, focus on clear, results-oriented achievements for short-range problems.

Talk money

Money talks, and it talks loudly. Money can also trump age, so try to get as close to the money as you can when you describe who you are and what you bring to the table.

Keep in mind that all organizations have only two basic needs: revenue and productivity. This is what keeps any top manager up at night. If you can help them, they will seek your advice and counsel. Therefore, come to the interview armed with specific examples of how you can solve their money (or productivity) problem. Your past achievements are examples of how to tackle the similar problems they face today. If you can show yourself to be the problem-solver they need, you'll quickly rise to the short list of candidates. Your goal is to become the "go-to" person for their short-term revenue or productivity problems.

Summary

Gen Xer s need your help. Focus on ways you can help their short- term "survivability" through this recession, and get as close as you can to their revenue or productivity concerns. Talk money, and focus on how you can help them produce immediate results. A younger manager would have to be very shortsighted not to explore a working relationship with someone more experienced. Capitalize on your wealth of experience to make a positive difference in the lives and careers of Gen Xer s.

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Send your resume directly to employers and hiring managers

Staff Writer, The Career News

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA -- There's nothing easy about job searching. What's frustrating for many job seekers is a disappointing response rate. However, it's important to note that a job search is a numbers game. For example: If you get your resume in front of 1000 employers, you should get 10-50 quality responses leading up to 5 interviews. If you don't pay attention to 'how' you are sending your resumes, your actions might only serve to put your resume in a pile with hundreds of others.

Consider a more focused approach to your job search. A search that increases the number and quality of responses by using a targeted list of industries and decision makers who are looking for people with your skills. This new type of search also employs an affordable delivery system that ensures your resume will be seen by the right person.

We recommend using a service called JobsByFax. This service is simple to use and an affordable way to ensure a more focused and satisfying job search. You'll have instant access to information on thousands of companies and their decision makers. JobsByFax combines quality and quantity by faxing your resume to potential hiring managers. In fact, it's been statistically proven that sending 1000 resumes using JobsByFax can yield from 10 to 50 quality responses. Take control of your job search by going to JobsByFax.

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