Your Job Search Toolkit (part 3)

We have reviewed the three main formats for resumes for your job search toolkit. Today, we will talk about your Position and Departure Statements. Although I suggest you prepare these statements in advance, ideally they will be something you can repeat without having it sound like a memorized speech. So I do encourage you to practice your statements, once you have written them.

When I talk about a Departure Statement, I'm referring to a brief statement that explains why you left/or are planning to leave your previous position - your departure. This could be particularly beneficial when your reason(s) are not within your control, but when well written, could also help explain situations where you were "at fault".

Your Departure Statement should be brief - about 30 to 40 seconds - and should be positive in tone. It should include why and how you left your previous employer or why you are seeking a new position. It should reflect that you have a clear idea of where you are headed professionally, and that you are prepared to do what you need to do to get there. It could be used when you are networking or looking for leads to potential employment opportunities and may be appropriate to share in an interview when asked why you are looking or why you are available.

A Position Statement is also known by other names, including an Introductory Statement or an elevator speech. This statement should also be brief - about 30 seconds - and be positive in nature. It should address your individual attractive factors (to be covered in a later post on toolkits), your professional reputation, and the kind of industry and position you are looking for.

The Position Statement is also very valuable when networking and can be crafted as a response to the frequently asked interview question, "Tell me about yourself." It could also be used when you unexpectedly meet someone in a professional situation you would like to introduce yourself to. This statement should also reflect your knowledge of who you are, professionally, and what you are looking for, which should be a reasonable goal, based on your background.

Obviously, if you are currently looking for more than one type of job, you would need to adjust your statements accordingly, so they are appropriate for what you will share otherwise about your background.


Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including a career or job change, planning for retirement, coping with a job loss, preparing to return to work or school, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning concerns. She meets with individuals in person and via telephone to assist them with finding solutions to their life planning issues. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). For more information on her services, please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.