10/3/07: Priorities of Selling Your Skills

by Dalya Massachi
In my last column, I discussed the purposes of both your cover letter and your resume. What, specifically, do they need to accomplish to land you a great job? I explored some answers.

Today I want to cover the essential priority information you need to focus on. Make sure you address these things in your cover letter and resume, and you will be well on your way to selling yourself to a potential employer.

Cover Letter

• Your top priority should be to show how your specific skills and experience can benefit the employer. That is, that you are a great fit and will be an asset to the organization. Note that its NOT how you love the organizations mission or have always dreamed of working there. Your enthusiasm, commitment, passion and interest are very important (especially for those moving away from the traditional corporate sector) but secondary.
• In the practical context of your skills, demonstrate your knowledge of the target organization issue and niche. This may take a bit of research on your part.
• Point out how you meet every major need listed in the job description. If you can reflect any key words they use, do so! Pull out the juiciest nuggets from your resume to go into your cover letter. Pinpoint the specific ways that you and the job match up.
• Illustrate your main points with a few well-chosen examples. You want to show how your past successes are relevant to the specific job youre applying for.

Resume

• Highlight your professional and volunteer experience more than education (if possible). Practice is much more important than theory.
• Describe the major skills and leadership abilities you used in each previous position, especially those that are particularly relevant to the job youre applying for. Be as concrete as you can about your contributions to projects, products, campaigns, etc.
• Almost everyone has at least a couple transferable skills that they can bring to a new nonprofit job. Be sure to tease them out of seemingly unrelated past positions.
• Examples may include: customer service, presenting persuasive arguments, training others, public speaking, prioritizing, and multi-tasking.
• Quantify your results as much as possible. That is, use numbers! This is no time to be bashful. Trot out evidence that your work made a difference at your previous organization and helped serve your constituents.
• If you are asked to list references, be sure to include at least one from a nonprofit – and from someone in the highest position you can find.
• If you have foreign language, cross-cultural or travel experience, describe it (especially if its related in any way to the job).
• Yes, nonprofits can be as computer-focused as any others (although they often lag behind a bit in new technology know-how or equipment). If you have computer skills, talk them up. The organization might be looking for someone with those skills on the side, and that might push you to the top of the list.
• List professional associations and committees you have been involved in “ especially any leadership positions youve held.
• If you have experience working with a religious organization, consider describing the group in generic terms if youd rather not reveal your specific religious affiliation.
• List any relevant research, publications, or awards. Anything you can do to establish your credibility and expertise “ as well as dedication to hard work “ will go a long way.

Now that you know the topics you want to address, you need to know what your reader is specifically looking for. The next installment of The Writers Block will cover exactly that, as well as how to refine your documents so that they get noticed. I’ll even share a tip about approaching employers who are not currently advertising a job opening.

Until then, Happy Writing!





Dalya F. Massachi specializes in helping nonprofit professionals advance their missions through outstanding written materials. She has worked with community-minded organizations for more than 15 years: authoring countless successful marketing pieces, articles, and grant proposals; teaching popular writing workshops; and coaching professionals one-on-one. She will soon publish “Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact.”


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Dalya’s 2009 book, “Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact,” is now available for pre-order at 15% off: www.dfmassachi.net/wmd.html