Help Them Say Yes: Provide a 90-Day Plan

My latest article, Help Them Say Yes: Provide a 90-Day Plan, has just been published by TheLadders.com:

It's one thing to be able to answer interview questions well. It's something else entirely to be able to get an offer. One way to 'sweeten the pot' is by offering something that most applicants do not -- a written summary of the steps you'd take during the first ninety days of employment.
In doing so, you show that you're:

• seriously considering what it would mean to work there
• completely understanding what the job entails
• taking the initiative to further differentiate yourself from the other applicants
• able to communicate through the written word
• willing to share your insights and observations, without cost or obligation

Focus on the Foci

While creating a 90-Day Plan may seem onerous, it doesn't have to be. It doesn't even have to provide a calendar of events. All it needs to do is provide some additional insights into how you'd approach the job if it was yours. Think of it as providing a few missing pieces to the puzzle they're trying to solve about which applicant would be best-suited for the position.

The key is to focus their attention on your understanding of -- and ability to address -- four major aspects of the work at hand: problems, processes, projects, and people.

Remember, you don't have to completely address each of these foci to maximize the impact of your 90-Day Plan. You just need show that you (a) understand the issues involved, and (b) have a plan for working them. Let's take a closer look at doing exactly that:

continue reading Help Them Say Yes: Provide a 90-Day Plan.