How to sell yourself, applying Richard Branson's 5 key elements to pitching

Having recently read a recent article by Virgin Group Founder Richard Branson, I thought it might be interesting to apply his 5 key elements on how to pitch to selling yourself as a candidate for a job:

1. What’s in it for them?

Branson informs us that any entrepreneur that is hoping to launch their first business often neglects to put much thought into the concept and this can therefore lead the investor to feel that they “lack clarity in the proposed deal.” What we can take from this from the perspective of a candidate pitching for a job? Remembering that you need to be specific in how you are selling your skills: “I have experience from X,Y and Z company undertaking skill X. Here is an example…” Being specific enables the employer to not only understand your abilities, but also to assess your transferability to their specific role. It is then that they realize what is in it for them. Your skills can be an asset to their company.

2. Be Clear

In a business sense, being clear according to Branson means “demonstrating a knowledge of your concept or industry and laying out a step-by-step plan.” This is excellent advice for job seekers. Be clear on what you have done and what you hope to gain from the position you are applying for. Tell the interviewer a story: “I single-handedly handled the compliance project for X company, whilst doing this I encountered an issue, I overcame the issue by…this meant that going forward..” This shows them in a very straightforward manner you have previous experience, encountered and issue, resolved and learnt from it. Sold.

3. Demonstrate smart disruption

Branson tells us that this means emphatically explaining how your new company can give the customer a better deal than competitors. In the employee/employee situation, demonstrate exactly why they should hire you over any other candidate. What makes you different?

4. Plan for sustainable growth

“explain how to tackle inevitable technological changes and market shifts that are heading your way” he tells us. In a situation where you are on the job hunt, plan for sustainable growth by keeping up to date with the latest technological changes and market shifts personally. Enroll on courses, volunteer, keep up to date with the latest news and market developments in your field. Don’t get left behind. The longer you are out of a role, can often meant he harder it is to secure your next role – why not bridge the gap, keep your skills up to date?

5. Show your strengths

Showing perspective investors that you have the right people working in your new company is the key to pitching according to Branson. This goes without saying, when selling yourself as a candidate – you have to show your strengths! It never amazes me how many times in interviews, candidates openly provide their weaknesses or explain the skills that they do not have rather than truly selling with a passion, the skills they do have or even the transferrable skills they have. Be your own cheerleader!

Selling does not come easy for everyone, but if you plan and deliver with confidence your audience will be receptive. Whether you are selling an inanimate object or your own skills and experience. Set yourself an objective. What do I want to achieve from this?

See more on Richard Branson’s “how to pitch in 5 steps here: http://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/richard-branson-how-pitch-5-steps

This blog was written by Chelsea Flynn, Staffing Coordinator at SteppingStones Recruitment Ltd. For our latest jobs visit our website: https://www.steppingstonescayman.com/

The Balance of Benefits

It used to be the case that candidates were only concerned with the base salary – how much they would earn on a monthly or annual basis. But times are changing and over the past few months there has been a significant shift in looking at the overall remuneration package, and not just the figures on the page.

As a legal requirement in the Cayman Islands, employers are obligated to contribute a minimum of 50% towards your health insurance, therefore leaving the employee to pay an equal 50%. We have seen a noticeable shift with this – some employers are now offering 70%, 80% and sometimes up to 100%. In some cases this coverage would be for not only the employee but their dependent(s) as well thus making a significant difference to the take-home pay.

In addition to the health insurance benefit, vacation days seem to be on the up. Although 10 days is the statutory minimum, we are seeing an increasing number of organizations offering up to 20 days. This seems to be representative of the recognized need for a stronger work/life balance and healthy staff morale.

So, next time you are looking into a new job, think beyond the salary, ask questions about the organization and the overall package offered.  It makes a difference to not only your overall income but your whole working attitude. 

For additional information on current vacancies, please visit our website: www.steppingstonescayman.com 

Getting noticed for all the right reasons

Do you feel that your talent and potential has gone unnoticed or that others of equal experience are rising up the corporate ladder much faster than you?  In an interesting article, Jappreet Sethi, Consultant with JPS, offers five essentials for mastering the fine art of increasing your visibility at work:

• Increasing visibility not self-promotion
• Increasing business knowledge and hands-on experience
• Developing effective communication skills
• Offering creative input
• Demonstrating teamwork 

The final key element Sethi suggests, is keeping track of your work and achievements, especially where you have performed over and above the call of duty.  Click here to read the full article.

To find out more about job opportunities and new careers in Cayman, visit our website at www.steppingstonescayman.com

Negotiation matters

We all want to get the best deal in life but there can often be things that hold us back from asking for what we want.  Deepak Malhotra offers some interesting insights in his article for the Harvard Business Review, 15 Rules for Negotiating a Job Offer.  Click here to read the article in full.

For further information on new jobs in Cayman, visit our website at www.steppingstonescayman.com

Clifton Hunter Year 11 Mock Interview Day

On Friday 17th January 2014, Rosie Dunsford and Chelsea Flynn spent the day at Clifton Hunter school on Frank Sound Road, interviewing Year 11 children who had applied to a variety of role. 
The students had been given a number of job advertisements to choose from and had officially applied by way of cover letter and tailored resumes. 
Rosie and Chelsea interviewed 6 students each and then provided constructive feedback and guidance on future interview techniques and resume writing. 
A great event that allowed the SteppingStones team to interact with some very impressive young adults. 

For more information, please see: Cayman 27 report

To view all of our current opportunities, please visit: www.steppingstonescayman.com 

Breaking through the glass ceiling

Cayman has its fair share of high achieving women within the workplace, especially within Government. The Chief Immigration Officer, Information Commissioner, Complaints Commissioner, Education Minister and Speaker of the House are all women.  Still the scales are largely tilted in favour of men when it comes to the board room, echoing the US statistics that only 4.2 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. How many law and accounting firms here have women as the managing partner? How many banks or insurance companies have women as their CEO?

So what can be done to fix the trend?

1. Better career management and guidance from managers right from the start
2. The introduction of a lifelong focus on learning within the workplace targeting women in particular
3. A drive by women to want to reach the top and a clear plan outlined to make it happen. Focusing on opportunities and growth in general is fine, but a targeted approach that includes clear goals to success is needed if you want to reach the top
4. Gain a wider perspective of the organisation within they work, understanding how it makes money and who the key people are 
5. Women need to make their voices heard, especially when it comes to promotion possibilities. Don’t let management opportunities pass you by without grabbing them
6. Take the chance to network. Don’t miss out on that after work drinks session or seminar at which all your peers will be in attendance. Make yourself be seen and connect with the right people
7. Female senior managers should recognise their responsibilities to junior females and not shy from offering mentoring. Remember you were once there, too.

Resume or CV?

Do you have a great resume….but what about your CV?  Your what?  A Curriculum Vitae is what a ‘resume’ is most often referred to outside of the US.  If you are looking for jobs in a different country, be sure to research what is standard practice for that country. 

Read more information here about job-hunting across borders

Networking is not always easy

Successful networking is not always easy, particularly if your personality is not particularly geared to establishing relationships with complete strangers, even if it is important for your business to do so. However there are some simple steps to take that will make the process as painless as possible.

The number one priority for anyone hoping to successfully create business relationships from scratch is to establish credibility from the offset. People can see through phonies straight away so it is never good to pretend to be interested in someone and try to fake it.

Once you have found the person with whom you want to network, beginning by simply asking their opinion of the conference or seminar so far is a good way to break the ice.

Once they respond, ensure you are fully listening to their response. Don’t be distracted, don’t look around the room and flag down the waiter for a drink; give them your full attention. If they feel they have been listened to you have almost instantly established your credibility.

If they are as interested in you as you are in them, they will inevitably turn the conversation round to you and ask your opinions. It is then that you can direct the conversation to the particular subject that you had in mind.

Make sure at all times that you are authentic, transparent and genuine in your efforts to get to know the individual. Of course, if you find you really don’t have anything in common, you can bow out of the conversation as gracefully as you entered and move onto the next person.

Stay motivated during your job search

Looking for a job can sometimes be a stressful process, but it doesn’t have to be.  During your job search, set yourself realistic goals each week.  Whether it is to send five or fifteen CVs per week -don’t lose sight of your goal.  Once you’ve reached it, be sure to reward yourself.

Why isn’t the phone ringing?
Landing a job doesn’t happen overnight for most.  Understand that finding a job takes time and effort. Be patient. It will come.  Set realistic expectations for your job search and don’t get discouraged.  Many times an employer may collect CVs for a month or longer before they start responding to candidates.

How SteppingStones Recruitment can help
We offer recruitment services and job placement for professionals in the Cayman Islands.  Take a look at our Job Page or send us your CV and we can help in your career path. 

Image courtesy of Graur Razvan Ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Set yourself apart in the interview

There are many steps an individual takes when preparing for an interview. They dress in appropriate clothing, they bring copies of their resume, they update their portfolio and they go over their expected questions and answers in their head. But there is one thing that most people forget to do and it can be the one point to set you apart from all the other interviewers: doing research on the company you will be interviewing with.

Spend time looking at their website and become familiar with their line of business and the company’s values and culture.  Search past news articles to see what kind of community involvement they may have or other fun facts.  You should also research their competitors and see how they differ from each other. This information will take some time to put together, but your background knowledge of the company will pay off and the interviewers will surely notice.

Make your research your competitive advantage. When the all-important question arises of “Why do you want to work with us?” you will have all of the right answers. This will show you are interested in being a part of their team, which will surely make you memorable and desirable to the company.

Are internships really that important?

For most students summer is about having fun and getting a break from school. But a lot of young people this also means getting a summer job or internship. This is rewarding for them because it means they are one step ahead of the rest of their peers. There are so many reasons why getting an internship is better than bumming it at the beach.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Internships are great for your resume. Employers are always looking for people who not only have work experience but also experience in managing responsibilities and their time.  Internships provide a place for a young professional to develop new abilities which could be as simple as developing Microsoft Office skills or more advanced like technical career specific skills.

Having internships in multiple fields is great too, especially for those young people who have not decided what their career will be. These opportunities allow you to discover and develop your strengths, finding out what you like to do and what you are good at. For many people internships have been the little push needed to determine a career path.  It has been said that ‘if you choose a job you love, you will never have to work another day in your life’.

Even if it is only for a month or a few weeks, it is important to get to know your employers during your internship. After the internship is over, whether you decide to go back or not, there will always be that bridge built for networking. Having that professional bridge may come in handy later down the road when looking for a job or when you need some resources.

Of course, we can’t forget the obvious: some internships are paid. Yes, that means spending (or saving) money just for you.  You have the satisfaction of working hard for your money. Your parents will love this because it typically means young people learn how to be responsible with their funds and ‘hopefully’ don’t have to ask mom and dad for money.

Internships are extremely valuable, as they provide a structured environment for students. Although they involve a lot of work, the experience will provide new insights and knowledge. Going into the working world at a younger age allows you to learn the ins and outs of having a job. They teach you how to dress right, how to interact with employees, and it helps encourage organisation.

Why not to say ‘I don’t know’

There is a moment in the office when all time stops and you are frantic, thinking of how to answer the boss’ question without sounding unprofessional. Your boss will not take “I don’t know” for an answer.

What do you say or do?

Do you use your pause button on that mystical universal remote and Google it? No…one could only wish. Whatever you do, do not say “I don’t know”. No job position warrants the use of the phrase. It is okay that you do not know everything. Show your boss that you are ambitious and care about your job by continuously learning. Step up and do the research, but first find a better response for your boss.

Read the full article for other ways to say “I don’t know”

Stand out during your job search

Looking for a job can be tough. That is no secret. An employer goes through numerous interviews and resumes at a time when trying to fill a position.

There are many ways to make yourself stand out today. We live in a technological world, so use resources that are available to you. Video resumes (keep it short) are a great way to show your personality and strengths, even before a potential employer meets you. Keep up with ‘who is who’ in the company and learn what qualities they look for in their employees.

Here are five things to do when job seeking:

1.    Find ways to let your creativity shine
2.    Think outside the box
3.    Social media espionage
4.    Study the company’s top performers
5.    Be proactive

Read the full article with examples of how to stand out during your job searching

I love my job... I love it, not

No matter how old you are or where you work, the question always arises whether or not you love your job. When most people try to answer this question the first thing they think of one of two things. The first is the one person in the office who gets on their last nerve, or makes them laugh hysterically. The second is whether or not they make enough money.

But do you really know if you love your job? You should be thinking of how optimistic you are, the people you work with and what successes you have accomplished.

The following statements will put into perspective just what your job does (or can do) for you.  If after some deep thought you discover that you don’t love your job then set your sights for happiness and start the search for a new one. 

Visit our Available Jobs page for our most current listings.

How best to sell yourself

One of the most ‘difficult to answer’ questions during an interview is often “How would you best describe yourself?”

This question can be tricky as you need to say something positive without sounding conceited or too full of yourself.  Think about incorporating your response into an actual work situation. 

For instance:
“I would describe myself as being proactive to workplace situations or problems that might arise”
“I would describe myself as someone who has high expectations of my employer as well as myself”
“I am someone who is confident with tasks I am given, regardless of its complexities”
“I consider myself very trustworthy and hold myself accountable for my responsibilities and any outcomes that may be a result”

The way these are worded can give the interviewer a vision of you in the workplace.

Some descriptions to steer clear of may include:
“I am the best at everything I do”
“I am smarter than most people I know”
“I can’t think of a good way to describe myself”

Be sure to take advantage of speaking highly of yourself, as this is something that you often don’t have the opportunity to do.

It is important to prepare for an interview and have in mind what your answers will be to possible questions.  For more information about available positions, visit https://www.steppingstonescayman.com/jobs

Fighting the Counter Offer

You have made the decision to leave your current position, and then your boss presents you with a counter-offer in a bid to convince you to stay. What is the right thing to do?

Whilst the offer is probably very attractive with a salary higher than what you have just accepted with the new company, the reasons why you wanted to leave in first place have not changed.

One of the speakers at the recent CISHRP Conference made a very good point – people don’t leave the job, they leave the people. This includes the manager, culture, and work environment.

Therefore, offering more money still doesn’t change the fact that you felt another opportunity would better meet your overall career needs.

Furthermore, if they feel you are worth more when you’re leaving then why weren’t you worth more when you were staying?

These are all things to consider when you’re faced with the counter-offer. In the end, you have to remember why you decided to leave and ask yourself whether anything will really change if you stay with the company.

Employer Brand: The Alternative to Job Postings

As part of the recruitment process, HR professionals and hiring managers are likely to post a description of the job they are trying to fill onto internal and external job boards, and shortlist suitable candidates from the applicant pool.

While this method is still widely used among organizations today, employer branding has become extremely important to the practice of recruitment in terms of attracting candidates and eliciting applications.

Employers have to sell themselves as much (and as effectively) as the employees they are interviewing. Candidates not only want to land the job but they also want to work for a good, reputable company that they can trust and will be proud to work for.

Job postings are great for drawing in the active applicants, but what about all those brilliant passive candidates out there? Having a strong employer brand will allow you to reach top talent and attract candidates that you may not find through traditional methods.

This is an investment that will have massive returns for your organization, not only for recruitment but for overall success of the business.

Is experience overrated?

It's not unusual to find a certain level of relevant experience as a requirement in a job description or posting - employers want to see that you have gained enough experience in the area to be able to do the job effectively. 

However, a lot of candidates are often burdened with the catch-22 phenomenon of "how can I get the experience if no one will hire me without the experience?" On a similar note, there are many candidates who may be looking to venture into a new industry or field, and although they are probably capable of doing the job, they may be overlooked for their lack of previous relevant experience. 

Lou Adler, best-selling author of Hire With Your Head (Wiley, 2007), poses the following question: "Who’s the better candidate: someone who can do all of the work with half the skills and experience, or someone with all of the skills and experience?" 

Here are some lessons he shares with us in a recent article: 

1. Experience and skills are overrated. A continuous track record of exceptional performance in a variety of increasing complex situations isn’t.
2. When interviewing someone for any job, get into the weeds and benchmark their performance against their peers. Look for the “Achiever Pattern” in each of their positions. This indicates they’re always in the top 25% of whatever they’re doing. Mary is clearly an Achiever.
3. The best people are those who accomplish the most with the least amount of skills and experience.
4. If you’re a candidate without the full complement of skills and experiences, make sure you can demonstrate you’re an Achiever and someone who can get great results regardless of the circumstances.

As a recruiter or hiring manager, you do need to follow certain guidelines in terms of job requirements and necessary skills and qualifications. However, we should try not to overlook candidates who have a prove track record of high performance and achievement, just because they don't have "5-7 years previous relevant experience." 

Do you agree with Lou? Have you ever potentially overlooked a great candidate because they didn't make it through the rigid filters? Do you feel you have been overlooked as a candidate when you know you are fully capable of succeeding in a role? 

Is there anybody out there?

One of the most common complaints from candidates in 2012 was that they never heard back after they have applied to a company for a job.   Since the onset of the recession, the marketplace has definitely seen an increase in job seekers in all areas of business.   While this will inevitably put a strain on the ability of any Human Resources team to respond to every applicant it is definitely not the only reason why  candidates don’t hear back.

So why might you not hear back after you have applied?

You are just not qualified for the position.    If the job description demands a certain qualification/certificate or a number of years experience in a specific field and you don’t have it then avoid disappointment and don’t apply.   Read the job description carefully and apply only to those for which you truly are qualified and experienced.

You have applied to every job on the company website.  This relates to the point above.  If you are a suitable candidate for the Assistant Accountant position, it is unlikely that you have the experience for the Senior Accountant, Corporate Administrator and Secretary positions also advertised.  Multiple applications are off-putting to HR professionals as this demonstrates that you have not read the job descriptions and applied appropriately.  It can also make you look desperate and, while you may be in need of a new position, you want to find the right position in order that you can succeed.

Your resume is badly presented.   Candidates may think that distinctive formatting such as using a variety of fonts, colours and borders etc will get their resume noticed but more than likely this will not be in a positive way.  These ‘decorative features’ actually detract from the content of your resume and can land your resume in the rejection pile.   Don’t waste time on artwork and embellishment when you could be focusing on tailoring your resume to best effect, making keywords prominent and ensuring there are no grammatical errors or omissions.

Your resume and your online profile are not the same.  With more and more Human Resource professionals and Recruiters using social media such as Linked In to research candidates it is important that your online profile and resume match.

Your resume was number 199 out of 200 applicants!  Try to stay ahead of the competition.  Make it a priority each day to search the paper for suitable positions and apply straight away with your resume and a tailored cover letter/email highlighting your suitability.  Know the companies that you would like to work for and monitor the careers/jobs sections of their websites again responding quickly to new roles that you are interested in and qualified for.

 

Hopefully putting these tips into practise will help make your job search in 2013 a success!

 

 

 

If you would like to find a new job, take a fabulous next step in your career and gain international experience working in Cayman explore the new jobs section of our website and contact us today!

 

 

What do you want to do when you grow up?

Children are constantly asked what they want to do when they grow up, but what happens when you grow up and you still don’t know what you want to do?

There are the usual ways to combat this problem: research things that interest you; carry out some work experience; try temporary work in different fields; speak with your friends about what they do. A recent article on LinkedIn actually pinpointed something else you can try, something that definitely struck a chord with me as being rather a full-proof-test. It’s simple: tune in to when you feel jealous. If you hear about a job or a project or an experience and it stirs a feeling of envy in you, perhaps that is for a reason, perhaps you need to stop and think about why it’s made you feel like that and if it is something that you too could see yourself doing.

You may or may not end up with the job of your dreams, but you owe it to the child in you, and the adult in you, to give it a try.

To look for a new an exciting opportunity for 2013 visit our website: www.steppingstonescayman.com