Maximize Your Job Search Self-Marketing with Mike Kohler

Compete and Succeed:

Maximize Your Job Search

Self-Marketing

Mike Kohler

Business Training Coordinator

Larimer County Workforce Center

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Before:

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Maintaining a positive attitude during job

hunting can make all the difference.*

*The Easier-Said-Than-Done Department

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After:

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“can make 

a

 difference”

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Attitude + Action = Success

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MIKE KOHLER, BUSINESS EDUCATOR

Professional Experience



Managed annual budgets of $2M+ Operating, $1M+ Capital



Management Level: Executive, reporting to CEOs/Division Sr VPs



Management Scope: integrated marketing and communications; government affairs; media relations;

community relations; event planning; television production and programming; internal communications



Program coordination: leadership and management training program

Higher Education Teaching Experience



Purdue University: Brian Lamb School of Communications (graduate program)

o

Strategic Communications 610

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Crisis Communications 611

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Business Ethics 617



West Virginia University: Integrated Marketing Communications (graduate program)

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IMC 637: Internal Brand Communications

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IMC 633: Entrepreneurship in IMC

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University of Nebraska-Omaha

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Electronic Media Management

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English Composition

Education



Bachelor of Science, Communication (Journalism)



Master of Business Administration (International Economic Development)

Select Achievements and Activities



Alexia Vanides Teaching Award, West Virginia University



Cox Communications Vision Award: Commitment to Diversity (Co-Founder, Cox Cultural Growth Group)



Distinguished Service Award, University of Nebraska-Omaha College of Public Affairs and Community Service



Distinguished Service Award, University of Nebraska-Omaha Department of Communications



Regional Emmy Award, Sports Television Production (Mediacom Communications, Iowa State University

Football)



Community Spotlight, 2

nd

-longest running public affairs television program in a top 50 television market



Chamber of Commerce Boards of Directors: Omaha NE; Olathe KS; Lenexa KS

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Alexia Vanides Teaching Award,

       West Virginia University



Cox Communications Vision Award:

Commitment to Diversity (Co-Founder, Cox

Cultural Growth Group)

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Distinguished Service Award, University of

Nebraska-Omaha College of Public Affairs

and Community Service

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What is the difference? Which of these

do we have control over?

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What assumptions do some employers

make based on age or other biases?

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Other people compliment me

on my ability to …

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I am proud of my ability to …

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Something I would like other people

to know about me is …

*The Interview Bookend Questions

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Question 1:

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Tell us a little bit about yourself.

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Questions 2-9: The Banana Peel Questions

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Question 10:

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Do you have any questions for us?

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Silver Bullet Answers

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“6 months from now, what will success look like in

this hiring decision? ”

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“There’s something about me you should know.”

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Example 1: Dead Giveaways

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Useful for online applications

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Example 2: Based on 

Relevant

 Skills

and Experience

*Volunteer work – it is REAL work!

Samuel Johnson

555 Taft Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538

Telephone: (970)555-1234 (home)

e-mail: johnsonsamuel45@yahoo.com

Objective:

  To obtain a high level position in a fast-paced, solution-oriented production environment that utilizes my 38 years of expertise in cost

and inventory control.

Professional Summary:

  Broad experience in cost tracking, standard cost systems, project management, cycle counting and variance analysis,

including materials and labor standards. Accurate and detailed oriented with a proven ability to initiate and accomplish tasks independently.

Successfully manage multiple, diverse responsibilities.

Work History

ABC COMPANY

, Fort Collins, CO

Cost and Inventory Control Analyst

 May 2000-Aug.

2013

Developed annual production cost standards for labor and materials providing information for cost effective selling prices.  Reviewed unusual cost

records and assured costing data was allocated correctly, keeping overall production costs as low as possible.  Supervised and participated in

annual physical inventories and cycle counting resulting in accurate inventory dollars for procurement as well as tax assessments.  Traveled to

remote warehouses to participate in annual physical inventories in , eliminating the need for outside personnel.

SUCH AND SUCH COMPANY

, 

Loveland, CO

Cost Accounting and Inventory Control Analyst

Jan. 1993-Mar. 2000

Supervised data entry staff activities to ensure accuracy of input and consistency of  inventory data.  Reconciled the general ledger accounts and

prepared journal entries for the financial statements for work in progress, inventory re-classes and cost of sales.  Performed time studies to

determine labor standards, used by management to maintain proper labor costing. Conducted random audits of account receivable and account

payable , allowing any discrepancies to be caught and corrected in a timely manner.

Education

INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING SOCIETY

. Baltimore, MD

Cost Accounting Diploma

May 1974

PARKS BUSINESS SCHOOL

. Denver, CO

General Business Courses 

May 1968

References:

  Available upon request

v.01.16

Larry Smith

555 Taft Avenue / Loveland, CO  80538 / 970.555.1234 

/ SmithL@gmail.com

 / 

www.linkedin.com/pub/Smith-Richard

Cost Analysis and Inventory Control

Broad experience in cost tracking, standard cost systems, project management, cycle counting and variance analysis, including

materials and labor standards.



Accurate and Detail Oriented

: Proven ability to initiate and accomplish tasks independently.



Effective Communicator

: Work well with management and personnel at all levels.  Equally comfortable dealing with customers,

vendors and the general public.



Computer Literate

:  Knowledge of database systems.

Relevant Experience

Cost Analysis



Developed annual production cost standards for labor and materials providing information for cost effective selling prices



Reviewed unusual cost records and assured costing data was allocated correctly, keeping overall production costs as low as

possible



Reconciled the general ledger accounts and prepared journal entries for the financial statements for work in progress, inventory

re-classes and cost of sales



Performed time studies to determine labor standards used by management to maintain proper labor costing

Inventory Control



Supervised and participated in annual physical inventories and cycle counting resulting in accurate inventory dollars for

procurement as well as tax assessments



Traveled to remote warehouses to participate in annual physical inventories, eliminating the need for outside personnel

Supervision/Training



Supervised data entry staff activities to ensure consistently accurate input of  inventory data



Trained staff members in procedures and protocol for high quality, accurate inventory collection

Employment History

Cost and Inventory Control Analyst

 / ABC Company / Fort Collins, CO / 10+ years ending 2013

Cost Accounting and Inventory Control Analyst

 / XYZ Company / Loveland, CO / 5+ years

Education

Cost Accounting

 / International Accounting Society / Chicago, IL

General Business Courses

 / Denver Business School / Denver, CO

What areas may be

impediments for me?

1.

Predispositions/biases

1.

“The Black Hole”

2.

Social media presence

What are some possible

solutions?

1.

Fight fire with fire

2.

Hub & Spoke Strategy

3.

LinkedIn is your new

best friend

Hub-and-Spoke Strategy

Hub and Spoke Strategy

Hub and Spoke Strategy

Hub and Spoke Strategy

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Hub and Spoke Strategy

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“People do business with …

people they like”

“We need the service of others to make our lives complete.

In all of life, 

we’re looking for who we can trust

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We want to be with those who value what we value, who are

inspired by what inspires us.”

Thank you!

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Mike Kohler, Communication Strategist &

Business Training Coordinator,

Larimer County Workforce Center

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mkohler@larimer.org

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(970) 498-6658

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@execprcoach

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekohler1