Mitt Romney has the sort of resume that would make any employer swoon.
He was an accomplished governor of Massachusetts. He ran the 2002 Winter Olympics, and helped it to turn a profit. He revolutionised the private equity business as the head of Bain Capital.
Yet like lots of today's upper-level executives who aren't entirely comfortable with the job search process, Romney is struggling: he hasn't yet figured out how to convince the majority of American voters, his potential employers, that he's the superior choice for the job of President.
As someone who has successfully helped workers of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds to present themselves as essential solutions for organisations, I'd give Governor Romney the same guidance that I've offered to other job hunters. These tips usually take time to develop and execute, but once launched, they deliver superb results:
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR FEATURES AND YOUR DELIVERABLE BENEFITS
For job hunters, your features are your achievements and credentials. Your benefits explain what an employer would gain by hiring you. Rather than simply listing his features, such as his job titles and the highpoints of his career, Governor Romney must clearly, concisely, and convincingly explain how his features would yield the specific benefits that voters expect their next President to deliver.
MATCH THE BENEFITS THAT THE JOB CALLS FOR TO THE BENEFITS THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE DELIVERING
If you're a sales rep trying to get hired by an aluminum manufacturer, you wouldn't emphasize your past experience as, say, a graphic designer when attempting to persuade the company to make you an offer. Likewise, in his quest for the Presidency, Romney must spend less time discussing the benefits that he delivered for the Olympic Games and Bain and more time discussing the benefits that he delivered while Governor. His work in the private sector, while impressive and successful, is less relevant to the job requirements of being President than are his accomplishments as Governor of Massachusetts.
When Ronald Reagan ran for President, he didn't focus on his accomplishments as a spokesperson for General Electric or as President of the Screen Actors Guild; he emphasised the results that he achieved as Governor of California. Since he's seeking to convince voters that he'd be an effective President, Romney must therefore explain how he was an effective Governor.
USE DATA TO VALIDATE YOUR ABILITY TO DELIVER THE BENEFITS THAT YOU'RE PROMISING
Rather than putting forth the empty assertion that he's an experienced fiscal conservative, it would be much more significant for Romney to follow up that claim with a reminder to voters that in his four year term as Governor, the state's $3 bln deficit was eliminated. Such a tactic shouldn't be difficult for him to implement: he's a savvy numbers guy. Therefore, each benefit that he asserts he'll deliver should be supported with and accompanied by a solid, data-based example so as to validate the reliability of his assertion.
While most job hunters aren't competing for an open job role with a well-funded incumbent who's also trying to claim the prize, these ideas would nonetheless be helpful for Governor Romney. They'd sharpen his message, empower his presentation, and vastly improve his prospects of becoming a successful Presidential candidate by upgrading his abilities as a able job candidate.
He was an accomplished governor of Massachusetts. He ran the 2002 Winter Olympics, and helped it to turn a profit. He revolutionised the private equity business as the head of Bain Capital.
Yet like lots of today's upper-level executives who aren't entirely comfortable with the job search process, Romney is struggling: he hasn't yet figured out how to convince the majority of American voters, his potential employers, that he's the superior choice for the job of President.
As someone who has successfully helped workers of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds to present themselves as essential solutions for organisations, I'd give Governor Romney the same guidance that I've offered to other job hunters. These tips usually take time to develop and execute, but once launched, they deliver superb results:
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR FEATURES AND YOUR DELIVERABLE BENEFITS
For job hunters, your features are your achievements and credentials. Your benefits explain what an employer would gain by hiring you. Rather than simply listing his features, such as his job titles and the highpoints of his career, Governor Romney must clearly, concisely, and convincingly explain how his features would yield the specific benefits that voters expect their next President to deliver.
MATCH THE BENEFITS THAT THE JOB CALLS FOR TO THE BENEFITS THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE DELIVERING
If you're a sales rep trying to get hired by an aluminum manufacturer, you wouldn't emphasize your past experience as, say, a graphic designer when attempting to persuade the company to make you an offer. Likewise, in his quest for the Presidency, Romney must spend less time discussing the benefits that he delivered for the Olympic Games and Bain and more time discussing the benefits that he delivered while Governor. His work in the private sector, while impressive and successful, is less relevant to the job requirements of being President than are his accomplishments as Governor of Massachusetts.
When Ronald Reagan ran for President, he didn't focus on his accomplishments as a spokesperson for General Electric or as President of the Screen Actors Guild; he emphasised the results that he achieved as Governor of California. Since he's seeking to convince voters that he'd be an effective President, Romney must therefore explain how he was an effective Governor.
USE DATA TO VALIDATE YOUR ABILITY TO DELIVER THE BENEFITS THAT YOU'RE PROMISING
Rather than putting forth the empty assertion that he's an experienced fiscal conservative, it would be much more significant for Romney to follow up that claim with a reminder to voters that in his four year term as Governor, the state's $3 bln deficit was eliminated. Such a tactic shouldn't be difficult for him to implement: he's a savvy numbers guy. Therefore, each benefit that he asserts he'll deliver should be supported with and accompanied by a solid, data-based example so as to validate the reliability of his assertion.
While most job hunters aren't competing for an open job role with a well-funded incumbent who's also trying to claim the prize, these ideas would nonetheless be helpful for Governor Romney. They'd sharpen his message, empower his presentation, and vastly improve his prospects of becoming a successful Presidential candidate by upgrading his abilities as a able job candidate.
About the Author:
Rafe Gomez is a business
consultant and the author of the audiobook What's In It For Me: A Powerful New Interview Strategy To Get You Hired In Today's
Challenging Economy. Follow him @rehirementcoach
consultant and the author of the audiobook What's In It For Me: A Powerful New Interview Strategy To Get You Hired In Today's
Challenging Economy. Follow him @rehirementcoach
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