Guerrilla Job Hunting

Landed a six figure job in one week - Thanks to concepts in this book!

Landed a six figure job in one week - Thanks to concepts in this book!, September 26, 2009 By  William Mccausland Guerrilla Marketing for Job Huners 2.0 is a "must have" from those thinking of a career change or the hopelessly unemployed. Take it from me a white collar automotive professional living in the state with the highest unemployment, I found success in one week with the concepts in this book to land a higher paying position than the job that I was laid off from 90 days earlier. After reading and applying the ideas from other career changing self-help books, I was not making headway. This is the most up to date current resource to address the issues that are unique in today's economy. When there are 1,000 applicants for a single job, how do you position yourself to be one of the few to be selected for the interview? The answer is in this book regardless if you are looking for an entry-level position or your mid-career professional looking in the six-figures this is the resource for you. David Perry, author, goes one-step further and unlocks the secrets of how recruiters operate and how to land a job / career where there is no job posting. This is how I landed my job where I did not have to compete with others for consideration. This book explains, illustrates and demonstrates when everyone is zigging you need to be zagging. It is fun to read and real life examples of the principles in action. After you do land the interview with this book, it shows you how to handle the interview and negotiate the compensation. During my period of unemployment, there were so many people who attempted to take advantage of me with big $$$ commitments that make claims on getting you a job fast. All you need is this book, Guerrilla Marketing 2.0 for under $20.

Job Hunter turned Comic Book Hero: BrandMan

You can call him BRANDMAN - thank you very much. 

In the war for jobs - he's a super hero who even inspired me - and I wrote the book on guerrilla job hunting tactics!

I interviewed Tom  McAlister who recently went guerrilla on his resume and transformed himself into a comic book hero - BRANDMAN

Download Comic Book Caper --- it's a large file but it's worth it!

I had the pleasure of speaking with Tom McAlister a few weeks back about his resume being turned into a comic book. 

• Why he did it. 
• How he did it [Craigslist to the rescue again...] and
• What the reaction was from potential employers. 

It's all here folks. sit back and take notes from a modern day job hunting super hero

- David Perry

Resource: if you’re in the Detroit area and want “live” exposure to the same tactics Jeff used, come meet David Perry and me in Troy, on Sept. 17, at the Guerrilla Job Search Secrets Revealed event — Michigan edition.

Otherwise, grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search audio here.

Tough Times Don't Mean Tough Luck on Salary

In great economic times AND bad your "value" is a matter of perspective and positioning.  There is a talent crunch in America - that's a fact - your choice of industry is crucial to maximizing your compensation.  Sarah Needleman at The Wall Street Journal reveals some of the hot spots in this article.

10 New Year’s Resolutions for Job Hunters

Faced with a career change in the new year you can – pull in your horns and settle for an uninspiring routine job that doesn’t challenge you - or seize the moment and work through the problems.

By now you know full well that finding a job is a full time job. There's no silver bullet. Finding a job is a lot of work… mapping out a career even more so, but it does work - if you make the commitment to your self to work at it.

The big question is “do YOU think you're you worth it?” Are you worth the investment you're about to make in yourself?  only you can convince yourself you are.  The strategies in the book will produce interviews for you but wishing you had a new job or “getting around” to acting on the advice won’t. You can’t keep the book under your pillow and expect to find your dream job.

If you’ve finished reading Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters then in a nut shell here’s what you must do next:

1. Define the environment that gets your motor running. [Chapter 1, 2, 3]
2. Detail your career history with absolute precision.
3. Define the industries of interest to you. [Chapter 5]
4. Analyze your skills and personality characteristics. [Chapter 5]
5. Draft your Resume. [Chapter 6]
   1. Actually --- draft 2 – one Guerrilla Style for knocking down doors and 1 regular for leaving behind after you have an interview.
6. Determine your attack strategy [Chapter 6, 7, 8, 11]
7. Draft your cover letter templates. [Chapter 6]
8. Organize your computer for highly effective and rapid response. [Chapter 4]
9. Prepare for future interviews. [Chapter 9, 12, 14]
10. Concentrate on filling your Opportunity funnel.  [Chapter 7, 8, 10]

My wish for you this year is that you take your job search seriously and that means carving time out of your schedule EVERY DAY to work at it. That’s the only way to ensure success.

Happy Hunting,

 

Assurance - Get Solid

I like tennis. Started learning it as a teenager with my dad. There was one thing in particular I noticed as we practiced and my shots and volleys got wilder or more controlled and purposeful. It was my feet. When I was moving my feet about trying to get into position and then moving again and shifting (I began to call it "waffling"), my shots had little accuracy. I'd lose the volley. But when I firmly planted my feet and stood in solid, square position, my shots went exactly where I wanted and I'd win the point.

Many times job seekers do the same thing but in regard to the presentation they make. Now the presentation can be multi-dynamic -- body language, voice, inflections, posture, handshake, eye movement and contact. And the presentation comes through in the resume and correspondence. But let's deal with the physical today. Anyway, there's a parallel between solidly planted feet while playing tennis and making a lasting, good impression during the job search. It's part of gaining the point.

The thing that wins anyone over is a positive, self assured attitude. When you go into any type of encounter, stand straight, square your shoulders, look the other person in the eye. Looking down at your feet or askance says you're trying to hide something or you're really weak. Either way, it isn't giving a good impression. Being self confident conveys itself as competent.

Let's say you're asked a question or asked to take a stance on some topic. What the interviewer wants is to see how well you can talk about the subject. If you have expertise in the area, this is your time to show off and go into some detail. The best way to drive the interviewer up a wall is to take first one stance and then backpedal while trying to figure out what they want to hear. Don't waffle! It isn't necessary to please people. What is necessary is to take a stance and be able to follow up on that stance with reasonable, well-founded, supporting statements.

Going into an interview, conducting a job search, meeting other people is sort of like playing tennis. The more you let your feet dance around, the more you waffle, the less likely you're going to make your point. But when you stand solid, when you're sure-footed with feet planted and squared, looking directly at your target, the more confident you'll appear and the more your shot will go exactly where you want it.

Yvonne LaRose, CAC
The Desk : Blog Swap

Who's holding you back?

I just came back from the gym and I’m all pumped up [pun intended]. I had a breakthrough day on the bench press and it’s directly relevant to job hunting. I practice what I preach in all areas of my life yet sometimes I erect barriers to success subconsciously. A few months ago I finally stopped talking to myself [I’m lonely what can I tell you] about how I should join a gym and just did it. In high school [late 70’s] I was somewhat of a body builder, primarily because I’d survived 4 heart operations and my doctors and father told me I couldn’t participate in sports [or have sex] --- ever!  And I wanted to know for myself if that was true so I started working out to increase my stamina.

Anyway, I’ve been going to the gym religiously for two months now every M-W-F. I’ve stuck with a regime designed to build stamina and not muscle mass so I’ve increased my sets of 15 reps @ 120 lbs from 2 -3 -4 sets. Well this morning just for fun I decided to see if I could actually bench-press 150 lbs. As a 18 year old kid of 125 lbs I could lift 260. That was the most I ever did when I was in my best shape.  I didn’t think I could but to my surprise it rose easily off my chest into the air, as did 180 then 200 then 220 and finally 260. 300lbs was beyond my capacity. It was electric!

Perhaps it’s silly, but I haven’t felt that jazzed in ages!!!

So I started to reflect on where I’d done that in my business career lately. A few minutes ago I just cleared my desk top [into a box] and I’m setting my sites on new mountain peaks – specifically clients I want and business goals which others have previously told me where impossible. [Point of fact when I began writing my first book colleagues told me I’d never finish and no one would read it. Now I’m on my third [I swapped out that group of colleagues] and I still have detractors].  It seems the do gooders never cease.

How about you? What’s getting in your own way? Have your friends and colleagues gently encouraged you not to think too big? Not to go after that new job too hard. They don’t want to see you crash.  Funny how sometimes people encourage you to think big while indirectly discouraging you from acting. Don’t listen to them. Go after what you want …. Sometimes it’s just best to not tell anybody else until you’re finished.

Attitude is everything

It’s rarely the best qualified that win the most coveted positions.  It’s often the person who displays the best attitude. Employers want to hire positive people as much as they need to hire people who are competent.  If you have both, the employer’s decision becomes all too obvious.  Most employers I know, including yours truly, would rather have an employee with a great attitude and some related work experience, than a more experienced one with a poor attitude.

BUT it’s hard work staying focused on your job search AND keeping a POSITIVE mental attitude… even for the best sales guys out there, looking for a job can be downright discouraging.

Fortunately there are a few absolutely brilliant resources on the web to keep you pumped up and focused AND possibly the best is a newsletter from a master sales trainer out of Atlanta --- Jeffrey Gitomer who is Author of The Sales Bible, and Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless. Jeffrey gets it like no other and he’ll deliver a silver bullet of motivation straight to your email inbox for FREE every week by just signing up What are you waiting for go sign up!

Here’s this week’s Gitomer GIT BIT:

To have your BEST year ever, you gotta believe.

Two truths: You are looking to have your BEST year ever, and you have already broken all your New Year’s resolutions.

Last week I gave you the first two elements of how to have your BEST year ever:

1. Define yourself.

2. Develop a sales mission statement.

Here are the next three elements to master:

Good Jobs Replace Old

An article in Toronto's Globe & Mail claims that the jobs leaving Canada for China and India are being replaced by better jobs.

The bulk of new positions are in professions that pay higher than average. And the jobs that are disappearing are in low-paid industries.

"I don't know where this idea came from that manufacturing jobs are great, There's nothing exciting about hacking away at a pig carcass outside of Brandon, Man. said Phil Cross, chief of economic analysis at Statistics Canada."

That's strange. The Economist that said that financial service jobs will soon be following the manufacturers' they support to China.

And, if a low-priced Chinese car hits the North American market, what's going to happen to the auto industry which fuels Ontario's economy?

Canadian Headhunter

Courage

Courage is what separates people who succeed from those who don’t.

I often here the phrase “I’ll try” when people are referring to their job hunting activities.  I quickly disappear from the scene when I hear this because I've learned that trying is a weak phrase mouthed by people who have already given up.  Bluntly - “trying” is for losers. Stop trying and start doing.

On the other hand some people never ever give up - in spite of mounting odds and a court of opinion stacked against them.  Some people just have an abundance of courage. 

That certainly was the case for singer/songwriter Marcia Golding last Saturday night when she unveiled her first album to a sold out audience of friends and neighbors. And I have to tell you, the last time I saw that kind of energy and stage presence the singer was a younger turned-up Tina Turner.  But that’s not the amazing thing.  Not for you.   There’s more. 

It’s not just that Marcia is returning to her first love – singing – after a 15 year hiatus to raise a family.  Not even that Marcia is 43 years old.  It’s her drive an ambition to be the best singer she can be – in spite of a pronounced stutter which would keep most people from ever steping foot on stage.   Not Marcia, she hits life square in the face with everything she’s got - and she's got lots.  How would she ever have known he voice is pure silk if she had given up? 

What about you?
What’s holding you back from reaching out and creating your dream job? Time – money – good looks?  Are these really road blocks or do you just lack the courage to try and fail and try again?

My favorite football coach best sums up those rare people like Marcia - "it’s not how many times you get knocked down but how many times you get up that really counts" Go-Marcia-Go! You're looking great girl.

Bono vs The Job-Hunters

Last Friday night I had front row seats for U2 [well ok row 4]  but zealot that I am triple booked - now I WILL Use just one daytimer.  I was also supposed to be in the Santa Clause  Parade [I'm a Beaver leader] and I had also originally agree to speak at the Kanata Kareer Group - on Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters.

I hear Bono was great - so was my presentation.  I started talking at 730 and finished at 1145.  I suggested to the audience that I'd do 3 sets of 20 minutes with 10 minutes of questions in between.

 Well, the questions just kept coming, and they where great questions – no holds barred. For me the time just flew and since I’d locked the doors behind me no one could leave.  None of us realized what time it was until the custodian of the church said he needed to lock up by midnight

So we called it a night and a few of the job hunters in the group wandered down to Timmy's to finish up.  I got in at 130 am.  So I had fun but I missed the concert AND I missed the traffic!

What I find really interesting about last nights audience and job hunters in general is that while they intuitively understand that job hunting is a sales and marketing exercise - few are comfortable stretching their imaginations beyond responding to newspaper and job board postings with typical Black & White resumes.  Perhaps this is what it was like when the first color televisions came on the market. Maybe B&W was deemed good enough.

I also find it mildly curious that people will subject themselves to an hour and a half of questions without first asking a few basic questions of the interviewer at the front end. Is it just me or are people who’ve been out of work longer than they expected afraid to ask tough questions for fear of loosing the opportunity. Once again is it just me or do other recruiters favor interviewees who are confident and take the time to question us about the job as much as we question them?

I applaud Bono for working to make a difference in the world.   I’ll settle for making a difference in my corner … at least for now. How about you?  Who have you helped this weekend?

Turkeys Need not Apply

So what are you giving thanks for today?  Your family?  Your Spouse? Your Children? 

What about your job?  Do you love what you do?  Would you rather fight than switch or could a sharp headhunter like me lure you away to a better life with out much hassle?

I ask this question because I had breakfast this morning with an HR type. Oh, think of the scandal if any of my colleagues had seen me.  But this lady got it.  She understands her purpose in life.  And the company she works for is in alliance with her purpose, so that makes her a zealot!  And zealots beget more zealots. 

So what’s my point?  She’s in HR that forgotten science which traditionally gets lip service only, from the Big Boys upstairs.  Yet she loves her job.  And she wasn't selling me because I wasn't there to interview her.   She’s got a seat around the big table which most HR people only dream about because she absolutely loves her job and it infects everyone she comes in contact with.

Now don’t get me wrong – she’s no bubble headed cheerleader [I know that comment will come back to bite me – so forget it – move on.]  She and here team deliver real ROI.  The type of ROI eevn an MBA could appreciate.  She’s an anomaly and as a job hunter you need to know that some HR people get it and when you find one that does fight like crazy to join the firm because I’ll guarantee you the rest of the company gets it too. So as you go through your job search be prepared to ask tough questions to everyone you meet – even HR – or you may end up the Turkey!

And oh yes, if you run into one of these HR types you better know what your passion is.  They’ll be very very interested if it lines up with the company’s vision.  They know passion comes with other virtues with real ROI like drive, ambition, and all around excellence.  So while you may not be the best qualified for the job you could be the most passionate - which counts for more than you know - and you get the job anyway.

Rule # 1: Guerrilla’s are passionate

 

Are you desperate for date?

Where you one of those guys in high school that always seemed desperate for a date? A real pleaser. An eager beaver? Did it annoy you that the guys who seemed indifferent where the ones the girls where most interested in? You know the Captain of the football team couldn't brush them off fast enough AND the more he brushed the more they swarmed.

 Have you ever noticed that passive candidates, those who seem to be the least interested in a particular job - often because they're already employed - are the most sought after? Is there a lesson to be learned here?

Yes. If you're consistently getting the interview but not the offer it's probably because you're too nice. Too easy. Too ready to please.

Its kind of like going fishing and the fish jumps in the boat - not much challenge in that. Employers want to be drilled by candidates just as much as they want to drill the candidate themselves. So the next time you go in for an interview prepare questions about the business NOT the job.

Be prepared to talk about the future of their industry and what keeps them up at night. Don’t ask them what keeps them up at night – research it through their association ahead of time and be prepared to talk about the issues and ideas as it applies to the interviewer’s firm. 

The passive candidate gets the offer BECAUSE they'll take the time to assess the opportunity being presented against their current one.  They have detached interest which forces/encourages the employer to sell more than they would to a job hunter who's desperate for a date - any date.

Guerrilla - set yourself up for success by setting yourself apart from ALL the other job hunters.  Do your home work.