Guerrilla Job Hunting

A Job Seekers Caveat Emptor (Part 1)

Caveat emptor is Latin for "Let the Buyer Beware." Early on and before our time, caveat emptor was acknowledged as the property law doctrine that controlled the sale of real property after the closing date.

In this day and age, it seems to me as a layman that caveat emptor is more loosely and frequently identified as a transaction between two parties when most anything is purchased, be it a piece of property or any type of good or service.

Most of us have learned as adults, for every unfortunate situation where a buck can be made in our society, someone with nefarious intentions will seize an opportunity. In this case I am talking about Job Seeker scams on the part of some so-called "career coaches / consultants."

You'll find these "consultants” on the internet with impressive looking web sites. They'll also typically run large display ads in metropolitan newspapers in the employment section. These companies have been known to make claim to having an "in" with not just a few, but rather many HR departments at the largest most attractive companies. In their ads and on their web sites they will list dozens of blind ad jobs with salaries ranging from $ 50,000 to $ 750,000 or more. Although their marketing materials look and sound too good to be true, it's a fact, desperate people are known to do desperate things and often times become victims.

Here's just one example as to how these people have been known to successfully suck people in: You contacted them so they already assume you are unemployed and desperate so; after you have found their ad, you are directed to call them to set up an appointment to "visit their office" or you can email mail them with your particulars and they will call you for the same purpose.

In this instance, the key is to get you to go to their office. When you arrive on site, they will greet you, tell you how wonderful your background and experience is; then you'll fill out a stack of paperwork, you’ll meet with a couple of people, perhaps be assigned a so-called “specialist” and then they’ll verbally tell you that for X dollars they will "GET you a new job."

Being on their on their home turf you will endure a well scripted nuclear powered sales pitch detailing all ways they can "supposedly" GET you a new job. They'll also try to convince you that you need them more than they need you.

Based on my research on career consultant "scammers," the average fees are just over $ 5,000. I read one article about a man (an ex-employee of one of these consulting firms whose conscience got the best of him) who stated that when it came to job seeker fees, "the sky was the limit." What I gathered from that courageous confession is that attractive commission were tied to closing the deal and to pull as much money out of the hopeful job seeker as possible.

Catch up with me on Tuesday, December 29th when I'll post Part 2
and learn how you can avoid being A Job Seekers Caveat Emptor Loser.

Have a great Guerrilla Day !

For information on corporate sponsored outplacement services, career coaching, resume assistance, the Guerilla Job Seekers 10 week boot camp, or if you would prefer personal one-on-one Guerilla job search assistance, contact me at:

theguerillajobcoach@comcast.net

or call me at 724-495-2733.

Mark J. Haluska
Real Time NetWork & Guerrilla Job Search International
724-495-2733

• Certified "Guerrilla Job Search Boot Camp" Instructor.

• Contributing Co-Author of the highly acclaimed "Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0," 1,001 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing your Dream Job. Released in June 2009

• Contributing Co-Author of the best selling book, “Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters,” 400 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing your Dream Job. Released in 2005

Free Lunch on me, Wednesday November 11th !

To all my fellow Brothers and Sisters who are (former and current)

U.S.

military veterans. Wednesday November 11th is Veterans Day as many of you would already know.

Get this----Applebee’s will feed you a meal for free on November 11th only !

The menu is limited but looks delicious.

This is one company that wants to stand up and say in a small way, “Thank You for Your Service.”

For details simply go to http://www.applebees.com/vetsday

Ok—so in reality I was a little creative and the meal is not actually on my dollar (only David Perry could afford that) but if you did not know about the free meal, and you take advantage of it, in a sense it is on me.  :)

Pass this on to anyone you know who is a current or former Honorably discharged Vet !

For information on corporate sponsored outplacement services, career coaching, resume assistance, the Guerilla Job Seekers 10 week boot camp, or if you would prefer personal one-on-one Guerilla job search assistance, contact me at:  

theguerillajobcoach@comcast.net

or call me at 724-495-2733.

Mark J. Haluska
Founder and Executive Director of
Real Time NetWork
www.rtnetwork.net

 

• Contributing Co-Author of "Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0," 1,001 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing your Dream Job. Released in June 2009

• Contributing Co-Author of the best selling book, “Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters,” 400 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and  Tactics for Landing your Dream Job. Released in 2005

• Certified "Guerilla Job Search Boot Camp" Instructor.

I'm not getting any response from recruiters after I contact them with my resume ! (Part 1)

Question:

I'm not getting any response from recruiters after I contact them with my resume. What does this mean? Should I follow up? If so, how?

Answer:

There could be a number of reasons why the recruiters are not getting back with you regarding your credentials, here are just some of them in this two part series.

• Unlike the days before this current recession when most executive recruiters were snowed under with new search assignments; in the here and now, recruiters are besieged with unsolicited resumes from hopeful job seekers. At the same time owners at many of these firms have cut back on staff due to the significant slow down in hiring by their clients. In many cases, there simply is not enough staff and as a result, time in the day to respond (via mail or by phone) to every job seekers plea for a professional attention.

• As I stated above, the number of active search assignments recruiters have on their desk has by-and-large dropped off significantly in the last year. In fact so much so, it’s driving many firms out of business. In most cases, with what assignments recruiters do have right now, there is a glut of candidates. So, before the recruiter calls you, they are combing through their data base of candidates to see if there is a fit with someone they “already know to be a proven winner.” If that does not pan out, then the recruiter usually starts looking at the unsolicited resumes to hopefully find a candidate that appears to be a potential fit for their client.

• Perhaps the recruiters you are contacting simply do not have any job orders as to where, based on your resume, there is an “exact fit.” "EXACT FIT" are the operative words here and never forget that when working with a recruiter. Therefore, some recruiters will feel there is no reason to call you at this time. Then too, many recruiters may not contact you to acknowledge your resume for that “exact fit” reason. Could one consider that rude ? I suppose so, but with staffs being cut back, there is more to do with less people to do the work so the firm is prioritizing their call back list. That list is comprised only of people who can help the firm earn a fee today !

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Due to space limitations herein I have to go for now, but be sure to join me in the next day or so for Part 2 of this answer. I hope Part 1 has been beneficial and has provided you with a little bit of insight.

For information on corporate sponsored outplacement services, career coaching, resume assistance, the Guerrilla Job Seeker10 week boot camp, or if you would prefer personal one-on-one Guerilla job search assistance, contact me at: theguerillajobcoach@comcast.net or contact my office at 724-495-2733.

Mark J. Haluska
Founder and Executive Director of
Real Time NetWork
www.rtnetwork.net

• I’m a Contributing Co-Author of the best selling book, “Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters,” 400 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing your Dream Job. Released in 2005

• I’m also a Contributing Co-Author of "Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0," 1,001 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing your Dream Job. Released in June 2009

• I'm one of only 4 certified "Guerrilla Job Search Boot Camp" Instructors in North America !

• Recommended reading for Corporate Hiring Authorities: “Executive Recruiting for Leaders,” Insider Secrets for Locating, Evaluating and Retaining Top Talent by David Perry and Mark J. Haluska

World's Best Honored at the "Recruiting Animal" Awards

Forget about the Grammy's the Emmy's and the Oscars - the Animal Awards are where it's at! While non of the award winners - save Mendoza who looks like Enrique - will be familiar to most citizens, this group is HOT HOT HOT!  Everyone who knows anyone looking for a job right now needs to point them to this web site: Recruiting Animal Awards