How to Effectively Market Yourself in the Evolving Business Continuity Job Market

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How to Effectively Market Yourself in the
Evolving Business Continuity Job Market
Presented by Cheyene Haase of BC Management, Inc.
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Introduction to BC Management, Inc.

• Founded in March 2000
• Headquartered in Newport Beach, CA
• An executive search firm exclusively placing
  business continuity, disaster recovery,
  information security and emergency management
  professionals internationally
• Confidential assistance in career searching
• Free monthly e-Newsletter to keep BC/DR
  professionals informed
• Annual BC/DR salary survey results

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Topics of Presentation

• Evolution of the Business Continuity Field.
• Hiring Trends.
• Skills in Demand.
• Increase Your Marketability.
• What is Your Fair Market Value?
• When should You Change Jobs?
• How to Conduct a Job Search?
• Final Tips to Strengthen Your Career

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The Evolving Business Continuity Field

• Contingency planning is becoming an enterprise
  focus.
• Corporations are combining business and
  information technology under one umbrella.
• Where should the BC program report?

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Hiring Trends in Business Continuity

• Budgetary constraints ? less jobs and combining
  jobs within a company.
• Less jobs and a greater candidate pool ?
  selective hiring decisions.
• The hiring process has slowed down in comparison
  to 1999 and 2000.
• Companies are shying away from relocating
  candidates with or without assistance.

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What Skills are in Demand?

• Certified professionals (CBCP, CISSP, CEM, PMP,
  etc.)
• Degreed professionals (Bachelor required, prefer
  Masters)
• Strong understanding of both business and
  technology issues in contingency planning
• Previous experience developing contingency
  programs globally
• A wide array of skills from contingency planning,
  information security, emergency response and
  risk management.
• Strong soft skills

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Soft skills Desired

• Polished presentation skills to CXO and executive
  board members
• Strong, experienced project management
• Training expertise
• The ability to engage all employees from users to
  the CXO level
• The ability to make a business case for an
  enterprise contingency program
• The ability to understand what type of
  contingency program fits the company culture.

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Increase Your Marketability in a Tight Job
Market?

• Brand yourself
• Become certified or dual certified
• Get your bachelor degree
• Improve your presentation skills take a public
  speaking class
• Sharpen your business or technology knowledge
• Sharpen your expertise in other tangent fields
  (information security, emergency management or
  risk management)
• Be an expert in the field serve on a board,
  become published, and take on public speaking

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What Determines Your Salary?

• Years of Work Field Experience
• Job Title Where do you report within an
  organization?
• Geographic Location
• Technical Expertise
• Certification
• Advanced Degree
• Industry Specialty
• Percentage of Travel
• Project Management People Management Experience
• Work History

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Indicators for a Job Change

• Lack of Challenge
• Lack of Career Growth
• Direction of Company is Questionable
• Lack of Support
• Salary
• Boss

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How should you conduct a Job Search?

• Constantly network (work associates, friends and
  family)
• Search the Internet (job search websites and
  local company websites)
• Engage in a recruiting firm
• Research companies listed with the local Chamber
  of Commerce
• Join a local association
• Attend BC/DR related seminars
• Sign up for all BC/DR related newsletters and
  trade journals

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Youve Identified a Job Now What?

• Tweak your resume for the job opportunity
• Submit a cover letter with your resume stating
  why you are qualified
• Tailor the email subject line
• Stand out above the rest

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Writing a Resume that gets Attention

• Resume Dos
• Sell yourself on your qualifications and
  accomplishments.
• Trim the resume down
• Chronological not functional
• Summary of qualifications instead of objective
• Use short concise sentences with bullet points
• You have 30 seconds to get their attention

• Resume Donts
• Never lie or inflate the truth
• Dont list personal information
• Dont go into detail with irrelevant jobs you had
  11 years ago
• Eliminate paragraphs
• Do not include salary history
• Dont submit a resume without spell checking and
  a friends review
• Do not include references

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Interview to Get the Job

• Research the company and position
• Dress as a conservative professional - Nothing
  too trendy
• Be prepared with 3-4 copies of your resume,
  letters of recommendation, samples of work,
  questions to ask and portfolio to take notes
• Be prepared with an ice breaker
• You are the BC/DR professional - Determine what
  their need is, then state why you are the
  qualified candidate
• Do not mention salary or benefits
• Always listen and clarify a question if you are
  unsure
• Do not dominate the conversation
• Never be negative
• Always express your interest in the job and thank
  them for their time

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Final Tips to Strengthen Your Career

• Always strengthen your skills.
• Always be networking with colleagues.
• Brand Yourself.
• Do not wait until a job search to increase your
  marketability.
• Changing jobs may not help your career in the
  long run.