It is up to you to be sure a hiring manager knows these two things about you – because these are what drive his/her decisions. So let’s look at how you can ensure they know how you add value and what difference you will make, whether they ask or don’t ask.

First: If the hiring manager asks, be ready to share how you add value and make a difference with real examples, and that make sense for the job for which you are applying.
1. Know what matters in the job – so you can show how you can make it happen.
2. Know information about the company and how you will be able to add value and make a difference in the rest of the company.
3. Openly share your thoughts; don’t hold back.

Second: If the hiring manager does not ask about how you add value and make a difference, you need to bring it up – because you need them to know this about you.
1. Tell how what you do well will make a difference in the workplace. Start with something like, “Can I tell you how I think I can make a great difference here?”
2. Show how you created value in your last job. Again, say something like, “In my last job, I …..; this was very important for the company.”

So whether they ask you, or you have to bring it up, you have to ensure the hiring manager knows how you add value and how you make a difference. Share your story of the great things you do and have done. This is what gets you noticed for the right reasons. This is what gets you hired.

Please forward this to someone who can benefit from it and be sure to see more “get hired” information at www.LiveFiredUp.com, click on “Job Seeker.”

What gets hiring managers’ attention is when they see that you want more than just to do the job. People who are committed to making a difference, approach their lives and their work with greater focus and effort; they are more committed and more energized. Hiring managers want this. At a time where most companies have to get more done with less, you stand out when you showcase how you make a difference.

Here are two tips:
1. In your correspondence including your cover letter and on your resume: Summarize the difference you made with customers, your team or the results in your last job or jobs. Give details. Don’t follow the old format of boring cover letter; use your first paragraph to draw attention to your ability to be counted on and make a difference – and how you have already done this. Highlight lines on your resume where you did more than the job required and the difference it made.

2. In your interview: Ask about the most significant difference others have made in the job. Offer some ways you can add to their impact. Explain the places in your work history in which you personally made a meaningful difference. Identify the places in your life that you continue to make a difference (with your family, church, community, organizations, etc).

Today’s hiring managers want those who know what extra effort is – and have exhibited it in their work and lives. Another way to say this is that hiring managers are looking for candidates who are committed to making a difference.

For sample talent-based interview questions and my list of the hot industries and hot jobs; click on “Job Seeker.”

So to determine if you are a good fit for the job, hiring managers need a new style of resume – one that gives them these three things:
1. What are you great at (what are your talents and passions because they reflect your greatest performance areas)?
2. How have you used what you are great at (in other jobs so they can see it in action)?
3. What value have you created for other companies (so they can see the value you can bring to their company)?

See a sample of the new Talent-based Resume.

Here is what the captions mean:
#1. What are you great at?
List your talents and the things that make you successful. Are you great at building and sustaining relationships? Are you focused, driven and goal-oriented? Are you great at solving problems and paying attention to details? Are you great at inventing, creating and innovating? Don’t be humble, be bold and confident.

#2. How have you used what you are great at?
Hiring managers want to see you in action. Were you able to diffuse angry customers successfully? Were you able to keep a project on track or under budget? Were you able to work with a variety of personalities, and get the job done well? Hiring managers are not interested in everything you have done; they don’t have time for that. They want to see you use your talents – they want to see that you can do what you say you can do. Provide work experience that supports your talents.

#3. What value have you created for other companies using your talents?
Companies are hiring you because they want you to create value for them. They are investing in you and for this investment they expect a return (the same way you expect a return when you invest your money in a mutual fund or bank). The greater the return, the more valuable you are to a company. Tell them how you saved 5% on overtime costs by rearranging the work schedule. Tell them how you invented a new service that added $30,000 to the bottom line. Show your impact with numbers. Show the specific value you have brought to your other employers.

New workplace – new resume. Use the new talent-based resume because it provides the meaningful information hiring managers want. It helps you stand out and get hired.

Please forward this to your friends who are job searching. Help them get hired in 2010.

1. Get Fired Up! about finding a job. Love the process because what you love, you are more committed to. If you hate the job seeking process, several things will happen:
a. You will not put your best effort in. Today, you have to be your best to get noticed and hired.
b. If you are not excited about the process, you won’t have the energy and focus to keep moving on your search. And at the same time, you won’t show the world that you have the personality, tenacity and focus to get things done and are an ideal choice to be hired.
c. If you do not find a way to get fired up about the job hunting process, you just won’t do it. You’ll find reasons why you should not network, not create a better resume, not invent a new approach to get noticed, or not polish up your cover letter.

So get up, get going and get fired up about getting the best job. See yourself in a great job and stay focused on how good you will feel when you get the job. Be positive, upbeat and enthusiastic. Apply for jobs in which you are the most competitive. Be open to talking to anyone and everyone about what you do well because that random person you happen to meet, may be a manager looking for a high quality, high energy and focused employee like you. Get Fired Up! about finding a great job. Attitude is critical to Stand Out and Get Hired.

For more help see the new web resource “Stand Out and Get Hired” on this site. Good Luck. Be Great. Get Hired.

Hiring managers want to know these three things; moreover, they want to see that you know what you are great at, what you are passionate about, how you use what you are great at in the workplace, and how it all creates value. Provide this, you’ll stand out and get hired. See the full resource above for more information.