October Program: Surviving a Changing Job Market  

An air of anticipation fell over the room as Lynn Hazan held up two rubber duckies and spoke what might be her most explicit mantra: “If they want a duck, be a duck!” In line with much of the advice she gave Wednesday evening, this summed it up pretty nicely. A smart, successful job searcher must learn what employers are looking for and adjust oneself accordingly.

Using enthusiasm and pointed gesticulations, Hazan imparted a veritable cornucopia of job-seeking survival skills for the October program, “Challenges and Opportunities for a Changing Job Market.” As an experienced executive recruiter and president of her own company, Lynn Hazan & Associates, Inc., Hazan knows what she is talking about. Using a PowerPoint presentation, she gave an expansive overview of her knowledge.

Know the Job Market
Hazan believes it is important to study market trends in order to better position yourself as a job seeker. Business is always changing and the publishing industry is no exception.

Not too long ago publishing was limited to print material. Books, magazines, and newspapers are not so much getting replaced as supplemented with new technology that requires us to rethink how we define publishing.

Blogs, audiobooks, podcasts, and online journals are just some of the many new forms of communication that traditional publishers are taking under their wings. The job candidate who understands new forms of media and is willing to learn to use them will find herself at an advantage when applying to both established and emerging companies.

Make Yourself Indispensable
For success as a job candidate, Hazan recommended figuring out what you have that no one else has. What makes you stand out? How can you make yourself in demand? The market is very competitive and employers are getting more specific about what they are looking for.

Resume Tips
When emailing your resume, Hazan said to use the subject line to your advantage. “Resume” doesn’t cut it since that is probably what is on everyone else’s subject line. You should always include a cover letter and not rely on the Internet as your only job source. Also, pull out case studies from your jobs to differentiate yourself from other job seekers. Job descriptions are repetitive when all of the candidates have done the same thing.

Cover Letter Basics
The top things to keep in mind when writing a cover letter, for Hazan, are personalizing your salutation, weeding out spelling errors, avoiding generalizations, using an active voice, and offering a definitive follow-up.

Help with Interviews
Hazan said a good way to prep for the interview is to practice your “elevator speech.” You should come up with a 30–60 second pitch on why you should be hired. Practicing in front of the mirror can be a big help.

Also, when interviewing, Hazan said that candidates who are dazzled by a job opportunity should dazzle employers back with a “Wow!” project. This is your chance to show the employer how you would work for them by bringing in a PowerPoint presentation or an interesting article, for example. You’ll take them aback, shift the relationship, and find yourself in control.

Tamara Matthews is a part-time freelance writer and a part-time bank teller who, admittedly, is not afraid to be a duck. She can be reached at tjcricket@excite.com.

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