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Kallie's Keys to PDA: Makin' Moves
1/15/2010
by Kallie Bonnell

It seems Kallie’s Keys to PDA has been MIA. What started out as a fall frenzie parlayed into the holidays and then there were more holidays, and pretty soon it’s been three months since I posted a column. So, here it is 2010 and I think it is appropriate to add writing regularly to the resolutions list.

So, what’s been going on? (Queue drum roll) I got a new job! That’s pretty exciting stuff, in my opinion. Writing about the process that led to my new employment seems a fitting topic for a professional development column, eh? So here it goes, this is the path I took and a few tips I learned along the way.

We’ve all heard to start at the beginning, which is very applicable advice for a job searcher. I suggest asking yourself a few questions; why do you want a new job?; what kind of job do you want?; what are the main goals of your next career step? Knowing the answer to these questions will help to narrow your search and better prepare you to answer interview questions.

Next, get it together. Specifically you’ll need your resume, your references and your online profile to be up to date. I’ve heard many different thoughts on resume length. My personal thoughts - if you have enough content to mostly fill two pages with relevant information then have two. If your second page is a widow, or even close, then scrap it. Do use bullet points to highlight success in an easily scanable format. Do list an objective and core skills. Don’t list your references, or put ‘available upon request’. Seriously, the HR person assumes this.

Even though the references aren’t on the resume you’re handing out (anymore), you still need to reach out to them. Inform them you’re starting to job search, what types of jobs you’ll be looking for, and ask if they are willing to still serve as a reference. Also, while you’ve got them see if they have any leads for your job search.

Next Google yourself – (as if you haven’t already). Your online profile is whatever comes up in your Google results combined with what is visible on your personal social media accounts like Facebook, etc. Where you should/should not have a presence is, A. arguable and B. a topic I will cover in another post. Regardless, clean it up, look professional, be hirable.

Once you’re all in order, it’s time to find jobs and start applying. Be strategic in your approach. Find a system that works for you to track what you’ve applied for and when. Always keep the actual job description somewhere instead of the URL. Often times jobs are taken down from the Web sites once they’ve stopped taking resumes. The interview process can be long – you’ll need a refresher.

Great, now that you’ve got the interview, do your research; see how you might be connected to potential folks at the prospective company. LinkedIn is a great tool for this. From what you learn, develop some intelligent questions. Next, pick out your outfit. It should be a suit, a matching suit. Do NOT give them a reason to question your decisions making skills. Stand out by being a rock star in your interview not with your attire.

In the interview pay real attention, take notes, and jot down highlights and lowlights. If you struggle with a question or don’t like whatever you spew out as a response, write that question down. Then, after the interview, think about a better answer for next time.

Lastly, send a thank you note to everyone who interviewed you and try to reference something specific from the interview. I go the hand written, snail mail variety, personally. Also, be sure to follow up expressing your continued interest.

There ya have it, that’s what I did. If you have any specific questions feel free to inquire. I’m a pretty open book in the PDA department. ;)

Hi, I'm Kallie Bonnell, and I am pretty pumped to pass along an assortment of thoughts on Professional Development Advancement - PDA. (If you thought,by the title, you were going to get some insight into my personal life - think again!) Coming from what feels like the smallest town in the state only to move onto the largest (and greatest) university in Indiana (IU), I was out of my element, taking on a brand new world alone. It was during this timeframe my initial passion for professional development ignited. I brought that passion, as well as a journalism and psychology degree, with me to our monumental capitol city and have been honing my interest ever since. My other interests include strategic public relations, branding, new technologies, current events, reading, traveling, golfing, concert going, socializing and sipping on vino - red, of course! If you'd like to contact me please do so at kjbonnell@gmail.com

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1/21/2010 7:59:53 AM
Nice column
...although I was expecting it to be about a Personal Digital Assistant like the iPhone. Excellent PDA tips. Keep sipping the vino and riding the spin bike!

1/15/2010 3:12:19 PM
thank you note
I too, dig the handwritten thank you note. It beats the canned email and is more personal.