Understanding Goals and Objectives in Business

Understanding Goals and Objectives in BusinessUnderstanding Goals and Objectives in BusinessAsk a group of business professionals to describe the difference between goals and objectives and you are likely to walk away no smarter than when you asked the question. These two popular and important terms are perhaps the two most misused and confused terms in all of the business. And theres no wonder, the distinctions between the two are subtle. Goals and Objectives A goal is a broad, over-arching destination. We want to achieve 50% market share in two years, or, I want to compete in and complete a triathlon within 18 months.It does not define how you will achieve this market share it does not describe a strategy to get there or offer the specific tasks necessary to achieve the strategy. It simply is out there as a destination or target. An objective is a specific, measurable activity you will take to work towards a broader goal. For example As part of our goal to achieve 50% market sh are in two years, we will introduce a new product in each market segment every six months. Or, To achieve my goal of completing a triathlon, I will engage a running coach to help me improve my cardio conditioning, pacing, and running technique. In both cases, the objectives are capable of being broken down at a more detailed and measurable level called tactics. However, theres a missing link between goals and objectives strategy. Where Does Strategy Fit with Goals and Objectives The strategy connects objectives with goals. Business leaders and managers strive to create strategies and supporting actions that help them move towards an overarching company goal. In our example above, in order to achieve the goal of 50% market share in two years, the firm must adopt a strategy and then define the specific sets of actions necessary to realize the strategy which will propel them to the goal. This high-level strategy anschauung identifiesthe approach the firm will take in growing market share. It frames the major actions but stops short of describing specifically how those actions will be implemented. As mentioned above, the objectives will focus on particulars, including bringing a new product to market in each market segment every nine months. The objective can further be broken down into a series of tactics, including researching customer needs hiring additional engineers and product managers and adding production capacity to support manufacturing the new offerings. Making Goals and Objectives Personal In many organizations, the performance appraisal and planning process involves identifying goals and objectives for an upcoming period. Individuals struggle with the differences between the two just as their senior managers often conflate the terms and concepts. A helpful approach is to break down the goals and objectives using the following template Define one to three statements that describe a destination for your professional development in the upcoming y ear. These are your goals.Support each goal statement with a description of the high-level approach you will take to get there. For example Goal? My goal for this upcoming period is to strengthen my effectiveness as a manager by delivering improved and more frequent feedback. To measure the change in my performance, we will rely on my teams assessment via a 360-degree survey compared to this years results, as well as my groups measure of engagement and their overall achievement of corporate goals.Objective ?To achieve my goal of strengthening my effectiveness as a manager during the upcoming period, I will seek and complete training within three months on delivering constructive and positive feedback and maintain and review a daily log of all of my feedback exchanges and the outcomes. The goal is clear and in this instance the path to improving the goal via the objective is clear. Both the employee and manager understand what the employee is striving for, how progress will be measu red and how the goal will be reached. The Bottom Line Focus on the goal as the destination and the objective as the action(s) needed to get to the destination. Resist the temptation to use behauptung terms interchangeably, and importantly, teach your team members how to define clear goals and objectives.

Utilizing Career Planning in Your Job Search

Utilizing Career Planning in Your Job SearchUtilizing Career Planning in Your Job SearchUtilizing Career Planning in Your Job SearchSurveys typically show that a large percentage of people do not enjoy their work and are unhappy in their current position.It doesnt have to be that way you dont have to be stuck in a position you dont enjoy and dont find rewarding. With a little work through career planning, you can easily find a career that is a perfect match for your unique self.What is career planning? Its a process of finding your ideal career, whether its your first job out of college or a big career change, based upon your intrinsic interests, motivational traits, personal work style, personality, values, skills and aptitudes. Studies have shown that when a career supports a persons interests, they are typically happier, more successful and fulfilled with their work life. And luckily, utilizing career planning in your job search is not difficult.Many are already using career plan ning as part of their job search, and its not too late to include it in yours. The first step in utilizing a career planner strategy is utilizing a variety of career assessment inventories, also known as tests. These types of tests can help you determine a better understanding of your career interests, motivational traits, personal work style, personality, values, skills and aptitudes.Understanding this kind of information about yourself can help ensure youre picking a career that supports your unique traits. For example, if a career assessment shows you dont love to be in front of a large group of people presenting, you may not be excited about a career as a teacher.Applying a variety of career assessment tests can also helpDiscover interests and abilities related to your careerIdentify specific occupations that match your interests, competencies and personalityIdentify fields of study matching to your personality and interestsIdentify your communications and leadership styleDeterm ine how you work bestUnderstand how you adjust and react to demands in the workplace, specific personality types and circumstancesDetermine transferable skills and accomplishmentsRecognize and prioritize your career-related valuesOnce youve completed the variety of career assessment tests and understand the results, the next step in career planning is to take the time to gather information about the suggested careers. Learning more about the tauglichkeit new jobs can help you know whether or not you would be happy in them. Be sure to look intoCommon job descriptions for the suggested positionPotential working environment and conditionsNecessary training, other qualifications needed and potential for advancementEmployment trendsFuture job outlookCompensationRelated occupationsUse your gut and fine tune the list. If you hate being outdoors, and one of the work environments of a suggested career keeps you outdoors the majority of the time, its safe to eliminate that from the list. Do o ne of the suggested skills require another 8 years of schooling? You might want to reconsider that, unless youre interested in going back to school.Career planning is a task that doesnt require much effort, but can greatly benefit you in the long run.Have you used career planning to find the perfect job? Next step is the perfect resume. Need help?Get a free critique today.

What Google for Jobs Means for Your Job Search

What Google for Jobs Means for Your Job Search What Google for Jobs Means for Your Job Search In May 2017, Googles CEO Sundar Pichai announced the launch of Google for Jobs at Google I/O, held at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. The company has been focused on making it easier for everyday humans to gain access to the information and services they use, and artificial intelligence is a huge part of this effort.Heres a quick video intro to Google for Jobsyoutube https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QrRsw0p6BgBy using Googles built-in search capabilities, Pichai detailed how the most powerful search engine in the world can now connect millions of job seekers with the nearly half of all US employers that are struggling to find great talent. Currently, job boards are reliant on administrators to add job postings one by one. Many times, they are notlage search engine optimized and fall off the radar of search aggregators. With Google for Jobs, the company is redeploying many of the tools previously used to match advertisers up with consumers to bring together job leads and candidates.What does this mean for your job search?Google for Jobs promises to create more organic search terms than what the average candidate may be looking for. Things like salaries, career experience, and variations of job titles - things that connect job seekers with hard-to-find jobs in the service and retail industries. So, when you search for a job using the search engine, you will now have advanced classifications to search from.According to an article in CNBC, Google for Jobs will effectively collect and organize countless job postings from the Internet and create a searchable, central database. Candidates will be able to explore job postings by multiple categories, finding the ones that mean the most to them. If you are looking for an entry level job in manufacturing that offers paid training and is on a bus route in Chicago, you will likely find it here.How to get to Google for JobsThere is no specific URL or link for Google for Jobs. To use the service, go to google.com and simply type in what youre looking for. An expandable Google for Jobs widget will be among the search results. Here are some example queries linked to their resultsproduction akrobat job in memphismarketing coordinator in silicon valleyproduct manager job in new englandfull stack dev seattleGain the advantage over other candidates with JobscanThe Google for Jobs update should make job searches more fruitful, but there is no guarantee that ALL available jobs that are a good fit for candidate skills and qualifications will come up. Why? The search engine is still primarily dependent on what candidates actually input. If a candidate doesnt know what specific job title or key phrase to type in the search box or how to filter down their search, they may not see complete results.The software that we carefully developed at Jobscan is part of a multidimensional process that provides an added advantage each time a job seeker runs a resume and job posting through our scanning software. elend only does the software provide analysis that helps qualified candidates optimize their resume to successfully pass through applicant tracking systems and get the attention of recruiters, each new scan also helps candidates discover jobs they might not have found on their own.Jobscans Job Matcher tool analyzes all of users scanned resumes and job postings, cross-matching keywords with all available jobs listed on Indeed, the Internets leading job site. This results in job recommendations based on the users actual skillset rather than what they might think to type into a search box.Jobscan also provides in-depth training and career tips to help users be successful with their job search. Real human resource and recruitment pros share insight about whats happening in the job market. This is a personalized experience that other job boards and job search platforms do not include.G oogle for Jobs will be useful in your job search, but is just one tool in your toolbox. We expect that it will work in tandem with other job search software to produce even better results.

The Best Day to Send Your Resume

The Best Day to Send Your ResumeThe Best Day to Send Your ResumeAs if finding your dream job welchesnt hard enough, it can seem that once you send your email and cover letter to a potential employer, it disappears into a black hole in cyber space. With the exception of an automated email response, which appears almost immediately thanking you for applying and saying something about getting back to you if youre a good fit, it can feel as though you have to be on the inside to get noticed, let alone an interview. But there are tricks, such as using the best day to send your resume as your job search dayFor many, the lack of response can be maddening. Weve all been there, constantly checking our email every hour and experiencing a glimmer of hope with every ping, only to discover a friend has forwarded yet another silly cat video.At times you may even find yourself looking for something of a scientific formula to nab an interview and wondering things like, What is the best day to send y our resume? Should I send it in the morning or afternoon? Should I follow up with a resume Ive already sent? and How many other candidates are applying?Whether its scientific or statistic, there are definite answers to these questions that may just help you get your email read, your phone calls returned, and your foot in the door.When is the best day to send your resume?Youve spent hours putting your resume together and crafting the perfect cover letter, so it makes sense that you want to send it as quickly as possible. Besides, the sooner you get your resume in, the faster your chances of beating the next candidateright? WrongIn a world driven by technology and communication, we all tend to follow the school of thought that faster is better. However, when it comes to success in applying for a job, the more time and thought you put into your application process, the better.According to Dee Thomas, a top recruiter at a popular staffing company in New York City, you should never apply for a job on a Friday. She says, Recruiters, hiring managers, and human resource professionals are human too. We are guilty of checking out and thinking about the weekend by 2pm on Friday just as the next person. So, it is in your best interest to never submit your resume on a Friday, and especially never on a Friday afternoon. No one will see it and, when Monday comes and they sit down to check emails, yours will be at the very bottom of the queue.Research has shown that the best day to send your resume is on Monday- as early as possible. Your resume will be on the top of the pile and the chances of getting noticed are much higher. In fact, a recent study done by LinkedIn showed that on more than half a million job submissions, almost one out of every three people who applied on a Monday were the most successful in moving forward. So, while the question of How many other candidates have applied? may be on your mind, it probably doesnt matter. Your chances of bypassing the competit ion is greater if you wait and apply on Monday morning. Jacob Bollinger, a senior analyst at LinkedIn, believes that its the Monday applications that are more likely to be perused simply because the workweek is fresh. Resumes are inclined to pile up as the week goes on.Ms. Thomas suggests that if you do decide to apply Tuesday through Thursday, try to submit your resume from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You wont be ignored by the morning rush and reading resumes is often a fun activity for employers as they are letting their lunch settle. Thomas says, I know of many employers who find that reading candidate emails and resumes after lunch is a nice break before the afternoon meetings kick in.How can I get my resume noticed?While the thought of bringing back the singing telegram or mailing in your resume on neon green paper may feel like your only hope of getting noticed, there are actually some creative, and less embarrassing, ways to catch a hiring managers eye. The following are a few tips fo r standing outYou cant send a cookie cutter resume to 15 different jobs, even if they are all in the same industry. You need to read each job description closely and compare the language to what is on your resume. Be as detailed as possible, without being wordy, so the hiring manager sees how you fit into the specific position.Your cover letter should reflect your understanding of the role and precisely why your experience and hintergrund make you a perfect fit. Keep the letter short and straight to the point.Have references available. Many people think that references need to be their bosses from their previous jobs. That is not always the case. If you worked in a team, had more than one manager, had a good relationship with human resources, or even a friend with a high position at the company who knew your capabilities, all of them can be solid references.How many others are applying?Its already been said that you shouldnt worry about that as long as you get your resume on the top of the pile on Monday morning however, if youre like most people, youre still wondering.Whether the post has been up three months, or three days, understanding something known as the recruiting hiring funnel can help you gauge your chances. According to a popular job searching website, on average, 1,000 individuals will see a job post, 200 will begin the application process, but only 100 will complete the process. Out of those 100, a whopping 75 will be screened out for a variety of reasons from invalid email address to completely wrong fit. Twenty-five resumes will be seen by a hiring manager and a lucky four to six will be called for an interview. One to three will be invited back for a final interview and the one person who will receive a job offer accepts it 80 percent of the time. While the numbers may seem big, your chances of getting a call back are actually better than you may think.From knowing what to put on your resume, to what day to send it out, following the above gui delines can make the job hunt much easier. Taking the guesswork out of applying for a job can be an excellent confident booster and help you land the gig.Readers, did you know that Monday was the best day to send your resume? When do you normally send yours out? Will you change your process, or have you had success with other days? Share with us belowTodays post comes from Amanda Caswell, a copywriter based on Toronto, Ontario.

If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Child Care Worker Resume

If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Child Care Worker Resume Choosing Good Child Care Worker Resume The degree of training required can be contingent on the setting and the type of work performed. Show off your abilities in childcare and extra general job skills to make a huge impression. When you make resume then youve got to focus on your abilities and you also also have complete info about the things that you have written in your resume. Relevant interpersonal skills would be convenient. The Meaning of Child Care Worker Resume The use of the childcare worker is a crucial one. Generally, a child care worker takes care of all of the requirements of the child they are employed to look after. A childcare anbieter job description can change depending on the necessities of the employer. You are certain to be able to make a productive description for the childcare assistant role that permits you to entice the best people to submit an application for the positio n. Individuals continue to be unfamiliar with the roles and obligations of a certified clinical social worker. Working with children is not a simple feat. Family childcare providers are those who run daycare centers out of their dwelling. Other people leave since they are considering pursuing different occupations or due to low wages. Many employers provide free or discounted child services to employees. There are several kinds of childcare workers, and their responsibilities vary based on the sort of work they do. Some social workers decide to specialize in senior care locations. There are a few professional resume writing websites where you are able to secure some exact vital resume tips and examples. Make sure that it is related to the position youre applying for. All youll need to do is include only relevant info, and whats more, present it in a style that will strengthen your credibility. It is possible to discover a child care provider cv template printed below to he lp guide your writing procedure and make an outstanding document which gets attention. The Key to Successful Child Care Worker Resume If youre working from a house environment, it is necessary to organize time and enable the kids learn about the world and also explore their various interests. Its so imperative not to swear or say bad words in the front of the children. Its possible to only get noted if youre friendly and kind enough in heart to manage children easily. It is essential that youre in a position to make the parents of the child you plan on looking after feel as though they can trust and depend on you. A licensed for the specialty work is an extra point in receiving the job. In order to be a certified clinical social worker, you must get an acceptable training on the specific job. Naturally, youll want to personalize your job resume before sending off to employers. Although there might be positions readily available, getting work in the early childhood business is competitive as there are always lots of educators looking for work at any time of year. After the misbehavior is extremely serious, youre expected to report back to their parents for more action. A childcare worker whos ready to apply humor even to awkward situations has an extremely positive impact on a childcare atmosphere. In-depth child supervision abilities. For example if youre a school leaver and have little if any experience in childcare then an entry foundation course would be the correct choice for you. If youre addressing the school or center, make certain you have the comprehensive name written down accurately. When you must work simply to get children to sit still and listen, the full procedure of teaching is exhausting. In childcare through the day, theres no time for chit chatter. Up in Arms About Child Care Worker Resume? So you should compose your resume. Employers give on-the-job training to help new hires learn to react to the numerous needs of their customers. They will include the Key Selection Criteria which will need to be addressed and honigwein when applying for a job position.

4 Communication Touchpoints to Focus on During Your Next Interview

4 Communication Touchpoints to Focus on During Your Next Interview In an interview setting, communication skills can make all the difference in determining which of two equally skilled candidates will get the job.Some people are naturally good communicators, giving them the advantage. If you dont consider yourself a natural, that doesnt mean youre incapable of improvement, nor does it mean you need to act like someone you arent. The value of authenticity in communication is undeniable.However, if you keep getting interviewsbut arentlanding the job, it might be time to reevaluate the message youre sending.Consider these four communication touchpoints as you analyze the effectiveness of your communication skills1. Phone MannerThe first interview for any role is usuallya phone interview. The conversation may bedrngnis take more than 10 minutes, but length and depthare not really the point. The recruiter has already seen your resume and has a good idea of your hard skills.As you answer questions and discuss your background, the recruiterwill be trying to get a sense of your communication style and personality. Unfortunately, giving the wrong impression here could cost you. Take the call in a quiet place, and keep your notes in front of you to stay on track.2. Written CommunicationAnything you write to anyone at the company with which youre interviewingwill be scrutinized. Of course, you want to avoid spelling mistakes and typos. You also want to remember that no matter how short your note may be,it is still an opportunity to leave an impression.For example, say you need to reschedule your interview. Your email could be to the point Im sorry, but Im no longer available to interview on Wednesday. Do you have time on Friday?Or you could make more of a connection Hope youre doing well. I just learned of an important meeting at work this Wednesday that I cant miss. Would it be possible to move the interview to Friday? Im so disappointed to have to delay our meeting. I have been looking forward to it since our belastung conversation. Thanks in advance, and my apologies for any inconvenience.Which email do you think would leave a better impression with a hiring manager?All types of communication offer an opportunity to create some sort of bond with another person. Why should communication in an interview setting be any different? Use each opportunity you have to make a deeper connection or leave a better impression.3. Body LanguageHunching your shoulders or making yourself appear smaller when interviewing willsuggest a lack of confidence, while folding your arms across your chest will create communicative distance between yourself and the interviewer. Eye contact or the lack thereof is also something interviewers notice. Remember, its critical to communicate your enthusiasm for the role and the company, and your body languagewill play a key part in expressing that enthusiasm.4. Verbal CommunicationThis covers everyth ing from your tone and articulation to the content of your speech. There is great power in being well spoken and able to project confidence but confidence doesnt mean that you always have all the answers.Dont get frazzled if you dont know how to answer a question. Instead of becoming visibly uneasy or rushing to blurt out an answer, consider saying something like this Thats not a situationIve had to deal with, at least not exactly in the way youre asking. But what I do think those situations call for is someone who can really think on their feet, and Ive had to do that in many other ways.Whether youre on the phone, sending an email, or at an in-person interview, communication is key. When competing against other qualified candidates, your message and brand need to come off clearly and confidently. Take each communication touchpoint seriously, and always consider the impression youremaking.A version of this article originally appeared on theAtrium Staffing blog.Michele Mavi isAtrium Staffings resident career expert.

A Boastful Resume From a Modest Example

A Boastful Resume From a Modest ExampleA Boastful Resume From a Modest ExampleSome resumes ignore the best parts of a career. Jan Baidens resume did.Jan Baiden never expected to be laid off.Im 59 and Ive never been out of work, she said. Ive worked since I was 21 years old. Jan Baiden never expected to need a resume again. She said she is like fruchtwein executives near a high point in their careers - confident that tenure and experience made her job secure and put her in strong position to find her next job based on her record.I think many people dont take notice of these things unless theres a necessity, Baiden said.But Baiden was laid off from her position as a direct-marketing executive and needed a resume once again. It was up to date, but her achievements were buried in tasks and modest language. Thats another common trait among executives near a high point in their career, said Becky Erdelen, a certified professional resume writer who works with Ladders and helped Baiden craf t a mora assertive resume.Job seekers have a hard time finding the balance between pride and modesty, Erdelen said. Many know theyre not giving themselves the credit they deserve, but theyre uneasy about saying it any other way. They dont want to sound pompous and arrogant.To fix Baidens resume, Erdelen had to get her to describe the accomplishments in her career, some of which she hadnt even mentioned in her original resume. Erdelen interviewed Baden and had her provide detailed factsheets on her career.Going through the critique and doing the worksheets really made me sit down and go, What did I really achieve? Baiden said.It turns out she had had achieved quite a lot. Shed saved a company more than $200,000 by streamlining geschftliches miteinander processes and eliminating waste, Erdelen said. She turned around the performance of an entire department by replacing the entire staff.We had to work on pulling forward the accomplishments, rather than stick with a task-oriented resum e, which doesnt really let people shine, Erdelen said.Its how you say itWording can be key, Erdelen, said. She was able to pump up Baidens resume using a broader vocabulary and action verbs that made her accomplishments seem more dynamic.To be able to market a client and make it an interesting read, you have to use a variety of action verbs that are more powerful and attention-grabbing, Erdelen said. So, she championed, she directed, she realized savings instead of generated them.Baiden said shed tried spicing up the wording herself but didnt get very far. You cant spearhead everything, you know? You need to be able to describe very similar accomplishments in very different ways for different positions, she said.While Baidens resume is still in progress, she said its nearly finished after three drafts. The most rewarding part, Baiden said, was discovering new insights about herself and her work as seen through the eyes of another person.I dont know what I ever said to get Becky to d escribe me in the way that she did, but its incredible, she said. She included information that I never would have said about myself that was actually true

Register to Watch Live ASME Design and Manufacturing Impact Forum Webcasts

Register to Watch Live ASME Design and Manufacturing Impact Forum Webcasts Register to Watch Live ASME Design and Manufacturing Impact Forum Webcasts Register to Watch Live ASME Design and Manufacturing Impact Forum WebcastsIf you cant attend the Advanced Design and Manufacturing Impact Forum in Buffalo, N.Y., next week, you can still register to view free, live webcasts of five of the Impact Forum sessions. The first webcast, Advances in Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) Big Data, Last Mile Asset Models, and the Industrial Internet, will take distributionspolitik on Monday, Aug. 18 from 220 p.m.-310 p.m. Eastern Time. The session, featuring speakers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Genpact, will examine the convergence of machine and data, and how big data and the industrial internet will enable smart manufacturing.The following day at the same time, join representatives from VEXTEC Corp. and 3D Systems as they present Medical Devices Life Sciences Innovat ive Medical Device Prototyping - 3D Printing and Biocompatibility. This 50-minute session will focus on emerging medical equipment designs that offer novel solutions in an integrated and efficient manner.On Wednesday, Aug. 20, the Engineering for Global Development (EGD) Impact Forum session will focus on innovations in design and manufacturing for emerging markets in the developing world. The webcast, which will take place from 1230 p.m.-130 p.m. Eastern Time, will feature presenters from GE Healthcare, Brigham Young University and D-Rev.Immediately following that webcast, from 130 p.m.-220 pm. Eastern Time, the session neuerung Entrepreneurship The Role of Robotics in Advanced Manufacturing will feature speakers from Rethink Robotics, Mechatronics, ABB Inc. and Yaskawa Motoman Robotics who will discuss new robot technologies that can enable applications beyond the traditional manufacturing environment.The fifth live webcast, The Engineering for Global Development Panel, will be broadcast later that afternoon, from 330 p.m.-500 p.m. Eastern Time. This panel discussion, a follow-up to the earlier EGD Impact Forum, will explore the expanding role of EGD research in both the developing world and academia, as well as the role that industry plays. Moderated by Amos Winter, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and past winner of the ASME Innovation Showcase (IShow), the discussion will feature panelists Christopher Mattson of Brigham Young University, Samuel Hamner of D-Rev, and Bob Hauck from GE Healthcare. A question-and-answer session will follow the panel discussion.Although the webcasts are complimentary, registration is required. Visit www.asme.org/events/advanced-design-manufacturing-impact-forum/live-webcast to sign up to view one or all of the webcasts.

Aspiring Presidential Appointees Should Apply Before the Election

Aspiring Presidential Appointees Should Apply Before the ElectionAspiring Presidential Appointees Should Apply Before the ElectionAspiring Presidential Appointees Should Apply Before the ElectionThe 2016 presidential candidates policy positions are so different that a one-size-fits-all application will be unsuccessful, according to The Resume Place. Aspirants must customize their resume and cover letter for this elaborate and partisan job application process.Review the 2016 Plum Book for your Presidential Appointee Job NowTrump Administration Resume / Application Page Submit herbeieNOTE Resume Place Writers will NOT write a first draft of any Pres Appointee application.You must write the first draft of the resume, objectives and cover letter.We will edit and target the content toward a specific Plum Book position. See Information and Request Edit and Reviews Here With the election just weeks away and polls tight, this historic election between starkly contrasting presidential candid ates has grabbed the attention of a land polarized between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The campaign is also galvanizing thousands of professionals who aspire to jobs as presidential appointees, the policy positions that will be announced in the 2016 Plum Book late this year.Those who want a real shot at one of these Plum Books jobs need to get their federal resumes and cover letters in top shape and submit them to the Presidential Appointments web site as soon as possible. Aspirants who wait for the results of the election before applying are more likely to be disappointed.Applicants must target the resume and cover letter specifically to one of the candidates and to a specific mission, agency, program, legislation or actual position that the candidate holds. For those who aspire to serve the 45th president, here are seven steps to optimize the chances of landing one of these plum jobs.Target Jobs from the 2012 Plum BookStudy United States Government Policy and Supporting Posi tions, commonly called the Plum Book, and target relevant cabinet departments, agencies or other federal government units as well as functional roles and subject-matter areas. Do networking and research to determine whether those positions are likely to reappear in the Plum Books 2016 edition, which should appear before years end. Just as in the private sector, government reorganizations can move positions or eliminate them. Expect about 4,000 political appointees in the next presidential administration, Eagles says. Choose a Presidential Candidate and Work Hard for His or Her CampaignAspiring appointees should pick one candidate and dedicate 100 percent of their efforts to that campaign. Research the campaign and reach out theres no excuse for not doing this, says David Eagles, director of presidential transition at the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service in Washington, in an exclusive interview with The Resume Place.Going all out for one candidate is a virtual requirement to establish loyalty, says Eagles, who has been appointed to serve under both Republican and Democratic presidents, an unusual distinction. In the process, would-be appointees can keep an eye out for a sponsor to support their eventual applications for jobs in the next White House administration. Update Online Profile to Reflect Candidate LoyaltyIts important to update ones online presence with both professional accomplishments and political activities, from working the phones at a campaign office to volunteering for a higher level role in the candidates organization. Prepare a Resume and Cover Letter Customized for a Presidential AppointmentSuccessful candidates for presidential appointments will prepare key application materials well in advance of the general election. Draft a two- or three-page resume that speaks to your expertise, leadership, loyalty to your candidate and political savvy, says Kathryn Troutman, president of The Resume Place, which has been providing resume and cov er-letter preparation services to aspiring presidential appointees for more than 40 years. Your cover letter should address the presidential recruitment committee and build a bridge between your professional experience and the specific appointment you seek.Show Loyalty by Working for the Candidate Day and NightBurn the midnight oil campaigning for the candidate every day until election day, Nov. 8. Learn about the structure of the candidates organization and connect with players relevant to the presidential appointment process. Fine-Tune the Presidential Appointment Resume and Cover LetterAs soon as the 2016 Plum Book is published, revise the draft resume and cover letter to precisely target the desired position. Based on our conversations with Office of Personnel Management, theres a chance the new edition may come out before the election, maybe in October, says Eagles.Youll probably submit the job application through your congressman or senator, says Troutman, co-author with Diane Hudson Burns of The New SES Application Writing the Traditional ECQs and the New Five-Page Senior Executive Service Federal Resume. If the Chosen Candidate Becomes President-Elect, Blitz for the Target PositionCampaign hard for the presidential appointment beginning the day after the election. Continue to volunteer, now for the presidential transition effort. Set aside time to the meet the requirements of the arduous screening process, and follow all application instructions to the letter, Troutman says. If you need help with your Presidential Appointment resume and cover letter, click here to contact us about our expert services.