The writing was on the wall, your company’s profits were down and cost-cutting programs were in effect everywhere. And even though you’ve had a stellar performance record for 10 years, you’ve just been advised that you’re being downsized.  Downsized – a nice way of telling you that your head is on the chopping block.

Having spent most of your employed life with this company, you’re at a loss.  You’ve never formally sought or interviewed for a job, and you’re not sure where to begin…

Start by thinking of the things you’d like to do – list the jobs you’d enjoy and know you’d do well.  Then list the companies you’d like to work for and the different industries for which your skills are applicable.

Self-Evaluation

Self-evaluation can help you determine what you are looking for in a career, as well as what you have to offer. Below are 20 questions developed by executive recruiters to help you know yourself and your career aspirations better.

1. Would I work better in a large or small organization?
2. How important is geographic location to me? To my family?
3. Am I a loner, or do I work better as a member of a group?
4. Am I more comfortable following than leading?
5. Do I analyze better than I execute?
6. Do I prefer to work with people or things?
7. Do I work more successfully under pressure?
8. Am I a good planner or idea person?
9. Am I a good listener?
10. Do I think well on my feet, make decisions well?
11. Do I express myself well orally? In writing?
12. What characteristics do I admire in others?
13. Which function of my job do I perform most effectively?
14. Which function of my job do I perform least effectively?
15. What do I enjoy doing most?
16. In the past six months, what accomplishment has most satisfied me?
17. What have I done to correct my shortcomings?
18. What level of responsibility do I aspire to in five years?
19. What should I be earning then?
20. How will I achieve these levels? What skills do I need?

Source: Seton Hall University

What Are your Accomplishments?

Now the hard part begins – analyze what you’ve done over the past decade.  This is no easy task and requires consideration of the following:

• Identify the different industries in which you have worked and describe the responsibilities and areas of expertise you developed in each
• List the industries with which you came into contact as part of each of the jobs you’ve held
• Identify other industries to which your skills/areas of expertise are applicable
• Identify the industries in which you would like to work
• List the job titles you would like to have
• Describe why you have the skills to do these jobs
• Write down your educational degrees, certifications, awards, professional licenses, college activities, professional societies, memberships – community and professional organizations, etc.
• Describe the companies you’ve worked for, type of business, total sales/profits, number of total employees, number of employees in your division and under your supervision
• Describe the industry in which you currently operate and where the companies you worked for stood among their competitors
• Explain the purpose of the major jobs you have ever had, budget(s) you managed, functional areas of authority and responsibility, scope of your function, did you liaison, serve on committees, develop policy, etc.
• List all major achievements during your employment with those companies (situation when you got there, what actions did you take, what tangible benefits/improvements did they result in, etc.).

Developing An Effective Resume

Once this arduous task is completed, you’re ready to construct your resume.  Begin with a bulleted synopsis of your areas of expertise and be specific.  Don’t give a generic description, like, “possess 10 years of senior management experience as Director of Finance.”

Instead list areas of expertise that are applicable within and outside of the gaming industry; such as, internal audit, statistical analysis, payroll, collections, record retention, budget development, tax filing submissions, etc.

Your resume needs to be written based on your quantifiable accomplishments, not where you worked –it needs to convey what you can do for any company, in a concise, easy to read format.

Have several friends, both in and outside of your present industry read your resume and provide their input.

Where to Look for a Job

Now you’re ready to start the job hunt. Begin by networking – contact all of the friends and associates you have made over the years.  Solicit their suggestions about potential career opportunities.

Visit niche web sites with jobs in the industries in which you have an interest (job boards, professional associations, industry newsletters, etc.). Identify the most successful companies in those industries and explore the career listings on their web sites.

Sites like CareerBuilder are affiliated with a host of newspapers and feature their print classifieds that you can browse online.

When you find an opportunity to which you wish to apply, review the responsibilities and required qualifications of the job.  List your accomplishments relative to each. Use them to write an eye-catching cover letter.  It’s a time-consuming process, but well worth the effort if it sets you apart from other candidates and lands you the interview.

Developing Interviewing Skills

Every company and hiring manager will have different interviewing skills and tactics. You may interview with a highly structured manager that will ask every official question, or you may experience a friendly chat with a manager who wants to determine if your personality will “click” with the rest of the staff.

The format of the interview may also vary:

• Panel interview – mainly performed for upper management positions.  The purpose of this interviewing procedure is for the key members of the staff to meet and question each candidate, enabling them to discuss them afterwards to determine which is best suited for the position.
• Phone interview – this type of interview is becoming more popular because it is more casual and allows the interviewer the opportunity to discuss matters with a candidate prior to an official meeting.
• Interview discussion – this can be a boring and meaningless conversation. Take the opportunity to discuss your skills that can increase the company’s bottom line and productivity. Show how you can produce results.

Prepare for the interview by being fully knowledgeable about the position and the company. Obtain copies of the annual report and search the Internet for SEC information, or information about the company and recent events.

Make sure you know the interviewer’s first and last name and can pronounce both properly – remember the commercial about the candidate who referred to his potential employer (Mr. Du’mass) as Mr. Dumb Ass?

Effective communication is a key element in your job search strategy. How you communicate affects the lasting impression, so select your words carefully.

• Be able to articulate what you can do and give examples of work-related accomplishments that demonstrate competency in the areas of expertise required for the position.
• Describe your education/experiences to reflect a well-rounded knowledge of the position’s responsibilities and elaborate on why they make you the ideal candidate
• Practice your responses to different questions in front of a mirror or with others.
• Be able to walk through your resume with no mistakes on dates and titles, articulating your progress in each position, the challenges you encountered and why and when you left each position.

Be Aware of Body Language and Demeanor

There are many signals you can convey during an interview. In addition to a professional appearance, consider the following tips:

• Make good eye contact
• Do not fuss with your hair, jewelry, fingernails, or clothing
• Be careful not to cross your arms or tap your fingers and appear defensive or nervous
• Watch how you position yourself and your posture
• Stay relaxed and attentive – listen carefully
• Watch the signals from the interviewer, read their body language and adjust your comments if you appear to have lost their attention
• Be confident and non-critical
• Avoid apologizing profusely
• Avoid making similar comments and being repetitive
• Admit when you do not know something as opposed to trying to fake it
• Never smoke, or do anything that is physically unappealing
• Never appear agitated, argumentative, or give the impression of being overqualified

Questions You Can Ask

The interviewing process is a two-way communication. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, such as:

• What goals/accomplishments will be expected of the person assuming this position?
• What resources are available to him/her?
• What is his/her level of authority – for operational expenses, hiring staff, formulating policy/procedure, etc.?
• Do not discuss compensation in the first interview. When appropriate, respond to questions about what salary you expect by asking what is the current salary range. If a specific number is suggested that is lower than you expected, ask if it is negotiable, or indicate that you must take time to consider it, as well as other options.

Handling Sensitive Questions

• Be discreet and professional when responding to questions about former employers and co-workers
• Be prepared to answer questions about areas where you have no practical experience
• Practice answering questions about your weaknesses – you can’t hope to improve personally and professionally without being cognizant of your strengths and weaknesses
• If confronted with a question that makes you uneasy, respond to the question with a question; such as, “I’m not sure I understand what you are asking, could you rephrase the question?”

What the Interviewer Is Looking For

Use the interview as your opportunity to explain:

• What you do best and how you do it
• What you are looking for
• What you can do today and in the future
• Key elements that qualify you for the position
• Things about you personally that provide information about your ethics and work habits
• What you know about the job and the company
• Your strengths and an awareness of your weaknesses

If you successfully land the job, you’ll need to learn how to negotiate your employment agreement.  There are articles on this site that address that topic.