Guerrilla Job Hunting

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.

Desperate times call for ... creativity!!

Lee Silber is one of my favorite authors.  [Yes writers have favorite authors as too.]  I've always  enjoyed Lee's books because he makes sense.  He's just downright practical. 

Lee has nothing to do with the "employment market".  He's not a resume writer or job search coach.  I want you to read a piece he wrote talking about ordinary people like you and me who did something creative to get noticed. 

Lee's piece features among others the story of the Johnson brothers (Johnson & Johnson), Dave Matthews Band, The Grateful Dead, Kathy Najimy, Sara McLachlan, and Helmut Lang.  All of whom were desperate and responded by doing something different. {I'll give you a link to the article soon enough but I have something to say first.}

Why do I want you to read about something that's not job hunting related?

Because desperate times call for - CREATIVITY.  And the job search industry needs to stop writing in their client's resumes that they're "creative, entrepreneurial, different" and show them how to actually demonstrate that with their resume and their approach to job hunting.  Because desperate times call for - CREATIVITY.

Why do so many authors preach from on high that there's only one way to do things and that's their way?

Resume writing is a good example.  There are hundreds of books on resume writing and thousands of online resume writers who've had at least one of their resumes published in one of those books.  The accepted format of black text on white paper hasn't changed for years.  Okay, some suggest "cream" colored paper.  Yippee! 

Boring!

Just like your old B&W television.

I ditched my black & white television years ago.  Why?  Come on... color brings action to life.  You know that.  And sports in High Definition is so much more real.  Rock concerts in stereo or surround-sound makes you feel like your there. No what I mean!

Why then, do you persist in writing resumes like your grandfather did? 

Oh yeah, sorry, granddad only worked at one company.  He lived in a century where you worked for one company all your life. 

That's so 2000 and late! 

The old social contract between employee and employer - do a good job for the company and we'll take care of you - got shredded decades ago.  You're now referred to as "human capital", as if you can be moved around the shop-room floor in order to maximize your employers revenues.

You can't take your employment for granted anymore.  You know you have to actively manage your brand to stay "top of mind" and fully employed.  You have to become a master marketer, able stick out and being found.

So if You need to become a master marketer to keep an edge, I have to ask...

Why hasn't the resume writing industry kept up? 

They don't type your perfect resume on manual typewriters anymore.  So what's up? Who says you must have a 2-3 page resume consisting of black text on white paper? Your mother? Neighbor? Best friend?  HR? The resume consultant you found on the Internet?

Who???

Authors and wannabee anything-but-a-resume-writer-but-couldn't-get-another-job-but-this-one-rewriting-resumes... that's who. 

Come on! Seriously now, they have to tow the company line.   They sell books based on their methods or the methods of some other guru.  They have to sell books and encourage their resume and job search coaching clients to parrot the guru's methods to make a living.  That's how they make a living and it is a very big business indeed.

How's your black & white industry accepted perfect resume working for you? 

Got a lot of calls this week?  Go on a lot of interviews?  Have to turn down any offers because they just weren't quite perfect?

Sorry, I didn't think so. 

But it's not you.  It's not your fault.  It's your resume. 

You're brilliant! Spectacular! An achievement based mover and shaker!  But your resume makes you look like all the rest. So I have to ask...

When are you going to break away from the pack and try something new and innovative?

Are you going to wait until your car gets repossessed?  You lose your house?  Your spouse? Or worse your TV?  When your "social assistance" gets cut off? When!

What's it going to take to jolt you out of your doing-the-same-thing comfort level? 

Before they take away your color TV and you have to bring the B&W one up out of the basement I want you to read Lee's Q&A section on his web site.  I'll give you the link in a moment. 

Aren't you a write too Dave?

Yes.  And by-the-way "Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0" is my 3rd book.  But NO, I  don't tour around the country selling books for a living.  I don;t write resumes for aliviing and I certainly don;t coach job hunters for a living.

I'm a Head-hunter.  One of America's best - the Wall Street Journal said so nicknaming me the Rogue Recruiter last year - you can read about it on my web site www.perrymartel.com.  I have made my living as a professional recruiter for more than 20 years. 

I may be a simple head-hunter but I know exactly what it takes to get noticed and get hired.  AND it isn't a dull boring resume.  People get hiored when they get in front of an employer and make a case for themselves.  So, it's You telling them what you're going to do for them...

And you can't get in front of an employer anymore with conventional thinking.  Need more?  Get your copy of this free audio CD i did with Mark Haluska  and Kevin Donlin here: www.gm4jh.com

Now, as promised here is the link to Lee's site and this article: http://www.leesilber.com/HTML/Free_Readers_Write.htm

Please read it. Be inspired.  Go be creative!  Get a job you love and then help others breakaway from the ordinary.. because desperate times call for - CREATIVITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David Perry

Managing Partner Perry-Martel international Inc. and co-author, Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0

Great article on LinkedIn Etiquette for Business Professionals

Ten Rules of LinkedIn Etiquette for Business Professionals

Unlike Facebook and the like, LinkedIn is strictly a social network for professionals with over 48 million members in over 200 countries. Working like a sophisticated online business card, members from those new to the workforce all they way to CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies utilize the free service. However, there is a right and wrong way to do it, and below are the top ten rules of LinkedIn Etiquette for Business professionals. 

MORE

What is the better “value,” the book Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0, the Guerrilla Job Search Home Study Course or the Guerrilla Job Seekers Boot Camp ?

This is Part 1 of a 4 Part Discussion.

I have been asked this question many times over by job seekers via email, a blog posting or in an informational phone call. Not to be presumptuous but what most people are really asking when I drill down is; what is the most economical way to become a Guerrilla at little or no cost. As a side note, Outplacement counseling is roughly a 3 Billion dollar business in North America.  

But back to the question: 

Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 - is your best value “if” what one is really wants to know, “what is the cheapest” way Guerrilla tactics can be learned. For about the cost of taking three people to McDonalds for an Extra Value Meal, you can purchase the book and within days start putting to use the tactics that thousands of other people already have done to land their next job.

Imitation may be deemed the best form of flattery, but we’re finding and pursuing outplacement people /companies who are using our material and putting it out as their own. This practice IS NOT authorized for any reason, and a subject for later, but my point is that others are repurposing our information and are presenting it. That in and of itself should tell you something if one has to mull over the small cost of the book !

Quite frankly though, if you could invest in only one of our products, one "might" say there is a shortcoming to purchasing the book say as opposed to the Home Study Course or the 10 Week Guerrilla Job Seeker Boot Camp. (David is going to kill me for this :) 

The first down side is that the publisher of the book (Wiley Brothers) would permit only so many words that could be printed in order for Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 to be retailed at a certain selling point. That is simply how things are done in the world of big time publishing. As a result, it was not possible to make the book as all-inclusive as we would have preferred.

In fact, there was enough material left over that we could easily put to market “Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.1, the unpublished chapters” if we chose to do so. (More about this exciting and unknown bit of news later in this 4 part article--- and how You can gain access to this information)

Also on the down side in regards “Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0” is the fact that the book was intended for people who will “on their own accord,” get off thier duffs, step away from their computer, stop reading endless job board listings and be daring enough to step out on a ledge and do things that others simply would not to attempt to do. I’m not talking about purchasing costly bill board space or walking around with a sandwich board strapped to your chest and back. Thankfully, we’re a little more sophisticated than that.

In the book we don’t ask job seekers to take any risks what-so-ever, but rather the reader is taught how to keep their opportunity funnel filled and genuinely stand apart from the crowd. The reader is also shown how to and deliver their value proposition in a clear and concise fashion that will garner the attention of the right people within an organization. So this book like any other informational publication where one has to literally “put words to action” is not for those who at least without being literally pushed, are reluctant to follow instructions to the letter.

Lastly, the single biggest down side of purchasing the book versus our other products, is that the reader is not entitled to have the advantage of receiving “free” phone access to author David Perry, or contributing co-authors, Kevin Donlin or myself (Mark J. Haluska) or all three of us together for that matter; to acquire additional one-on-one advice or coaching when it might be needed at a most critical moment in your job search.

Due to space limitations I have to run for now. Tomorrow I'll talk about the upside of investing in the book, Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters, 2.0  and why contrary to the belief of some, why the book is also very suitable for most blue collar workers !  

In closing, if someone you know is out of work and would benefit from our FREE audio on How to Land a Job Even in the Recession of 2009 (a $ 50 value) simply send them to my link at: http://tinyurl.com/cpkwha         Supplies are limited !

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 Guerrilla job search assistance, contact me at: theguerillajobcoach@comcast.net or 724-495-2733 for information.

Mark J. Haluska

• A Contributing Co-Author of "Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters" and "Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0," 1,001 Unconventional Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Landing your Dream Job.

* Certified Guerrilla Job Seeker Instructor

 

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.

I'm not getting any response from recruiters after I contact them with my resume ! (Part 2)

 

* It could be the case that your resume and cover letter looks like everyone else’s. In a word boring. My time is limited and the only non-renewable resource I have. Therefore, like all the other executive search professionals I know in North America your resume has 30 seconds or less to impress me. If your resume and cover letter grab my attention, it would be because you’ve gone above and beyond what most job seekers do to clearly show me your value proposition. Doing so would prompt me to call you as soon as possible !

You asked about follow up and how. I would suggest you do so, and the phone should to the trick; but be mindful of the fact that the recruiter does not work for you as s/he is not on your payroll. Even if you feel justified in giving him/her a piece of your mind because of the time it has taken to reach that recruiter, be on your best behavior otherwise your resume will end up in the shredder before the phone conversation is over. Putting your best foot forward and making a call every couple of weeks, if just to leave a voice mail should eventually result in contact with the recruiter.

Your question does not hint at what your profession is, but I would suggest that you seek out a few recruiters who specialize in your field as they are most likely to be the people who may have something for you and if not, they may know another recruiter who does. If the recruiter belongs to a split network such as Top Echelon (www.topechelon.com) he/she will be highly motivated to share you with another recruiter because the fee would be split between them should you be hired.

One final suggestion is to use Google. Suppose you were in Human Resources. Simply go to the Google search bar and type in “recruiters who specialize in human resources.” That will result in 10,100,000 results. The above search string works for any profession.

Once you have checked out some of the firms who specialize in your area expertise reach out to some of them. Try one or two local ones first but don’t feel hesitant to talk with other firms hundreds or thousands of miles away. As long as they specialize in your field is all that matters.

Hopefully I have answered your questions. By following the advice I’ve “hinted” at herein, recruiters will get back with you.

Best of luck with your job search !

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 

 

 

 

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 !

*****************************************************************************************
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

Is Guerrilla Marketing Right for You? Part Seven in an Eight Part WebUrbanist Gmarketing Series

Job Hunters beware...   could this be your inspiration?

Guerrilla Job Search tactics in Christian Science Monitor

By Kevin Donlin | May 22nd, 2009

David Perry and I were in yesterday’s Christian Science Monitor  in a story about extreme job-search tactics.

Here’s how one woman found work using our tactics:

Then there’s Jann FritzHuspen. After 18 months of looking for work, in September she express-mailed a coffee mug along with her application to three prospective employers, asking each if they’d meet her for coffee. Two ignored her. The third agreed and, a month later, offered her a job as executive director for a nonprofit organization in Roseville, Minn.

Here’s more about Jann and how she got hired:

Ms. FritzHuspen wasn’t the first to send a coffee mug to a prospective employer. The idea came from a guerrilla job-search boot camp she’d attended, hosted by Mr. Perry and Kevin Donlin, author of “51 Ways to Find a Job Fast – Guaranteed!” Mr. Donlin and Perry call the tactic “the coffee cup caper” and claim it yields phone interviews 100 percent of the time and an in-person interview about 30 percent of the time.

“This was just one of my tools in the toolbox,” says FritzHuspen. “[I]f I didn’t set myself apart, I simply wouldn’t get myself in the door.”

Jann was a member of our last job search bootcamp. Membership is closed for now, but her “coffee cup caper” is described in full detail, with step-by-step instructions, in our Guerrilla Job Search Home Study Course.

Guerrilla Job Hunting Tips 2.0 with Kevin Donlin co-creator of the Guerrilla Job Search System

Several of the totally new job search tips from the Guerrilla Job Search System.

Zoom Zoom ZoomInfo - here's why I insist my job huntering friends need a ZoomInfo profile

Sometimes FREE is good - especially if you're job hunting - but in ZoomInfo's case it's absolutely essential. 

People that know me well and understand how the recruiting and search business function know why I'm a HUGE fan of ZoomInfo.  It works.  It makes my life simpler by doing the upfront grunt research work involved in every search project faster and in a lot of cases more meaningful. 

ZoomInfo makes gathering a long list of potential candidates blindingly fast.  Now our database is 2.2 M strong [which rivals the largest search firms] but ZoomInfo's is 42M.  Cross referencing our info with theirs helps us start every search on a solid foundation. 

Why should you care as a candidate?  If you're not found in the research phase of a search you'll very likely never be called.  The search project will be completed before you even know it's happening. It doesn't take the "art" out of the recruiting process but it sure adds a depth of rigure to the science of sourcing.

So listen to Peter Clayton's pod cast and you'll understand why need to be in ZoomInfo if you value your career.  Did i mention it's FREE?  Who cares!  Some day ZoomInfo may wake up and start charging for this.  In the meantime click quiockly over  to ZoomInfo.com . 

Job Hunting Case Study: Kevin Watson – Supersizing your LinkedIn Network

Kevin needed a job - fast.  The job market was getting worse by the day.  Trouble was, Kevin had a great resume , but his network was out of work too.  As the old saying goes, Network or No work. 

Kevin’s situation is common.  He was so focused on creating value for his employer he neglected to establish a safety net for himself.  Yes he had a lot of senior level contacts but they were all looking for new opportunities as well.  He had no idea how to build a network of powerful people who can help you move you career forward in a crisis.   

What do you do if you’re looking for a job today because you got axed yesterday or might tomorrow – and need to build your network as quickly as possible? 

You apply a “loose connection” strategy on LinkedIn.  This will get you the most number of 2^nd and 3^rd level connections in the least amount of time. 

Here’s how Kevin did it.

Network OR NO-Work! Why I nag job hunters about their Zoom Info profile.

Network, network, network >>>> OR no work. 

You know the mantra BUT do you embrace  it?  Do you leverage it?  Are making the most of your limited time and resources?  These are rhetorical questions because I know that if you're looking for a job the answer to all three questions is NO!

WHAT!!!  That's right if you're looking for a job you're doing it wrong OR at least you're only doing it 1/2 right!  And you're doing it the hard way.  Anyone who's spent more then ten minutes cold-calling employers to try and get an interview knows that it's hard work.  And there is an easier way.  Try being found instead.

The easiest way to be found?  Zoom Info.  Hands down this tales the least effort as the following video shows. [ Download Zoom info video]

There are 4 million HR managers and 174,932 professional recruiters in America today.  Recruiting is a $197 billion business in America.  What do you want to bet that right now more than a few thousand are looking for someone your 1st Law of Interview Strategy exact skill set and experience.  The 1st place they'll go is Zoom Info and make a top 100 list.  If you're not there you can't be found - in fact you don't exist.  Then they'll go to LinkedIn and do the same thing.  Then they cross reference the two lists.  If you're on both AND have a picture on Zoom Info you'll be one of the 1st ones to be called about the opportunity.  Effort?  Zero on your part.  Result... it could be your dream job. 

So if you haven't already done so go to ZoomInfo today and claim your profile- it's FREE.

- David Perry, Perry-Martel International Inc.,co-author Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters

"It depends what you mean by sex" - Bill Clinton

The last several weeks we’ve been working with a candidate (we’ll call  him Bob) with whom I sent to a client. I’ve been endeavoring to fill this position for many, many months. This client, a very good one I might add is on the extreme end of being “selective “when it comes to hiring its management talent.

When I uncovered Bob, it did not take long for me to come to the conclusion that he was simply the most talented manager I had ever sent to my client and I knew they would be thrilled.   He was interviewed several times by my client and they were more than thrilled--- they were ecstatic !  

Back when I first interviewed Bob, and in my subsequent conversations with him, I’d ask Bob a very simple question:  Are you currently employed ?  He answered “Yes.” 

During the several interviews my client had with Bob, he would be asked, “Are you currently employed? “  He would always answer, “Yes.”

Early last week we are at the offer stage and preparing to fly him to my clients corporate HQ to close the deal. My client does a background check going back 15 years on Bob.  Everything he told us about himself and his stellar work history was absolutely true……except for one little thing:

·        With all the opportunities Bob had, he never conveyed to me or my client that he had in-fact resigned his position with his company. He never gave us any “indication” of such as he always spoke as if he was still reporting to work every day, though he never actually said it in those words.

Sure enough, when the background check was returned, it was only then that we discovered that he did in-fact resign from his well paying position !

When Bob was confronted with this newly found information his response (paraphrased) was, “Ok, I should have told you I resigned, and for that I am sorry. I am embarrassed about it, but I didn’t lie to you or your client as when I resigned, I still had 3 weeks paid vacation on the books and therefore I was “technically” still employed there.   

When I talked with my client, they said, just as I had to Bob, “You had plenty of opportunity to tell us you resigned, but you didn’t and now your credibility is greatly in question. Had you just told us the whole truth, it would not have been any big deal.”  Then the client stated that this deal is in all probability good as gone.    

In Bob’s mind he truly believed he was employed by that company due to the fact he was still on paid vacation.  “Technically” Bob would have been correct.  Obviously though, the way he went about playing word games with us in the end robbed him out of a $ 94,000 starting salary BEFORE bonus, immediate benefits, a chance to enjoy a paid relocation to a part of the country that he and his wife always wanted to move to and lastly belong to a company that has never had a lay-off.

We all recall Bill Clinton’s infamous comment, “It depends what you mean by sex.”  In Bob’s mind he believed, “It depends what you mean by currently employed. “

Although Clinton was impeached, he for all intents and purposes got away with being less than truthful. The former president probably was embarrassed; although remorseful is something we’ll never know.  In Bob’s case, I believe he is both embarrassed and remorseful, but Bob is no Bill.

Mark J. Haluska

Founder and Executive Director

Real Time NetWork    

5 Ways to Stimulate U.S. Employment — At a Savings of $786,999,999,984.58

The “American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan” is now law, aimed at creating or saving more than three million jobs at a cost of $787 billion. read more

A must read for anyone whose job search is stuck in neutral

Louise Fletcher over at Blue Sky Resumes shares her insight  Soak it up.

The Wackiest Thing You've Done to Get a Job

From Meridith Levinson, Senior Online Editor, CIO.  These ideas will work for anyone in ANY industry.  Come on you know you want to CIO Magazine

Job hunters need to imagine their skills are more in demand

"Imagine a Bigger Market and You'll See a Bigger Market" is a great post by uber blogger Guy  Kawasaki and so relevant to job hunters.  Before you click to read the post I want to point out its relevance on two levels: a.) employers constantly need to capture new markets AND your perception of the "market" may be just the edge they're looking for to grow it [and hire you to do it], b.) your perception of the current marketplace for your skills has everything to do with how long it will take you to land your dream job.  If you believe the market's tight or that many others have the same skills you do you're job search will take longer than it needs to.   Now please read Guy's blog

NOTE to Guy:  Let me know if imagining the net larger helps the next time you play hockey.

Mortgage and banking professionals should look at Europe

There's been no shortage of doom and gloom in the financial sector in America this last year.  Europe is facing a different crisis according to Forbes online. If you've always wanted to live in Europe but never had the opportunity or budget - now may be the exact right time to do both. 

Thank You notes for job hunters: a new twist on a classic idea

Greetings from my cottage fellow Guerrilla Job Hunter.  It's now the middle of July and my boat is making waves. Is your job hunting campaign doing  the same for you?

How's it going?  Are you continuing to find unique ways to communicate your unique Value to employers?  To outshine your competition and land interviews?  I was reminded by a Guerrilla Boot Camp recruit the other day of the importance of saying thank you after an interview.

I know it sounds so passe but few people remember and those who do normally just dash off an email note [which may or may not ever get ever find its recipient's desktop].  It's is often the critical factor when a coin toss is all that separates two great candidates.  So if you really really really only have time for an email - good for you if you have that many interviews today - then how about doing something the interviewer might remember for more than a second?  Send an email with a card of your own design like the one above.

Check out www.despair.com  And follow the instructions under the DIY tab.  But make sure you shave before your daughter takes your picture...

Did you send Santa a Thank You Note?

My youngest daughter Shannon sent Santa a thank you note today for her Christmas presents.  I thought that was pretty thoughtful.  She's right -- Santa probably doesn't get many cards after he delivers the presents.  Oh sure he gets loads of mail before hand with interesting demands full of vivid claims from good children ... not unlike those HR Managers receive from candidates... 

Everyone's focused on getting the interview.  They write.  They call.  They send emails - chocolates - flowers and more all to get the interview. But then what?  The interview is just one step in the process.  Want to get to step #2?  Then send a thank you note.  Why?  It's courteous and it'll make you stand out: 99% of people won't bother.  God forbid if their waiting to see if you really do have great follow through....

So next time, don't just tell them you're different and better than the others - show them.  Send a Thank You Note.  Let the other guy get coal. 

Summer Jobs for Dummies - How to get a job without experience

In our house everyone works once they hit the age of 8.  Yes that’s right - 8. The day after your 8^th birthday you better have a plan…  All kidding aside [not that I am], I’ve always told my friends that it’s a bit too late for their children to develop good work skills and deductive reasoning abilities when they graduate college.  They need to start when they’re in their mid teens or they’ll be living in your basement forever.

Take my daughter Christa for example.  [She’s the one on the left.] Brilliant girl. Wants to go into sales, PR or marketing when she graduates. So what’s she doing for the summer? Flipping burgers? Working at the car wash?  Retail? Helping dad? Nope. Christa decided she needed to hone her leadership skills and become a better presenter – so she’s a staff cadet at the local army base teaching methods of instruction, leadership and drill.  In French no less.

Perry's Rules for Job Hunting: 10 Rules in 10 Days

Rule 9: Consult THE NEW VALUE TABLE for everything you do and every job you apply to.

Especially for management and senior positions, companies are rarely looking to fill in a box on a standard employee recruitment form. Usually, companies are looking for something more nebulous, and more important. They are looking for a senior person who can deliver a QUALITY, not a quantity, someone who can explode out from an open-ended initiative-driven space.

Perry's Rules for Job Hunting: 10 Rules in 10 Days

Day 6- Rule 6: When you do finally land the job of your dreams remember how you felt along the way and make a personal commitment to go out of your way to help everyone who calls you looking for help or advice.

 

Perry's Rules for Job Hunting: 10 Rules in 10 Days

Day 5 - Rule 5: Thank everyone you come into contact with through the process.

Networking – only her hairdresser knows.

As a friend of mine recently discovered, Networking is one of the fastest ways to find a new career opportunity in today’s job market.   I spend a whole chapter in Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters showing you how a Guerrilla would network but there are other ways and that’s what I’m going to explain this morning.  And even for the shy and uninitiated it doesn’t have to be scary or cheesy. Being a Guerrilla Job Hunter means learning how to do things differently and sometimes being just slightly different is enough.

Christmas interviews: Are you ready?

More hiring happens during Xmas than you would imagine. I’ll blog another day on the reasons – in the meantime are you ready?

Here are six questions many employers use to get at the true motivation of a job hunter. Can you answer them? Your answer needs to role off your tongue without much thought. You need to appear relaxed and confident in your answer. For sales people this is easy because it’s a feature-benefit discussion with you as the product.

Ask for what you want

I love courageous people.  Today my hat goes off to a young university grad I know.  He's had multiple offers over the last few months and each time we reviewed them he's always had reservations on accepting.  I like that. 

He knew what he wanted BUT he wasn't finding it - until I suggested he write down the 5 companies he wanted to work and why they should hire him.

Deal Sheets for Job Hunters

Sales guys --- show      them proof! Keep an up-to-date deal      sheet – instead of a resume - on your PC at work which you can share with      recruiters when they call. Your IT      department won’t accidentally find it and automatically assume you’re      looking for a new job. Employers      care 1^st about who you’ve sold – 2^nd how much you’ve      sold – and 3^rd is your rolodex useful to them. While you may not want to have a resume      in circulation with contingency recruiters, a deal sheet can only help      you.

The 3 R’s of successful job-hunting: Resiliency

If the last few years have taught me anything it’s this: the one thing you will need more than anything else – more than even proper research and interview preparation - is resiliency. Resiliency is the winner’s edge in this, or any market.

“Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit”, so says Vincent Lombardi, football’s winningest coach.

Resiliency – the Winner’s Edge

Winners share one special quality - resiliency. As defined by The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language:

The 3 R’s of successful job-hunting: Research

In grade school we learned the 3 Rs of Reading, wRriting and aRithmetic. Those were our most important lessons [ok so I’m dating myself here]. For job-hunters it is Research, Relevancy, and Resiliency that will deliver an A+ interview.

Research

As a job-hunter you need to research and determine:

♦ which are your marketable skills;

♦ which industries/companies you should target that use those skills;

♦ what are the specific needs of each company in your target market;

♦ who’s in a position to hire you in those companies; and

♦ what’s the best way to approach them?

The way you approach people will be determined by your research. We’ll talk a great deal more about research specifically in the book. 

For now understand that your research will help you determine what your going to sell to whom - with YOU as the product.  It may sound silly or even daughnting if you don't have any  formal slaes trainging but really it's very straight forward.   I can do this and so can you!

The Force Multiplier Affect - Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters

There's an old sales adage that applies to job hunting which goes something like this: "success is 98% just showing up". I want to expand on the use of technology and how to apply it to your job search.

The new rules of modern job hunting change daily as does the technology and counter-technology companies use. Because of that, a traditional staple in the

5 Email Rules for Job Hunters

  Just like any other direct marketing piece, you only have 3 seconds to make an impression. Here are the rules for effective use of email:

      0. Direct your email to a specific person by name – sir, recruiter,  hiring manager, etc aren’t acceptable. Bob Smith, Suzy Brown or David Perry are.

Free Agent: Job hunting for success

Want to be paid like basketball MVP Steve Nash? Then act like an MVP. The more you appear to be instrumental to a company’s success the more bargaining power you have. 

Qualify your prospects.

Like any good sales person, before you start job hunting you need to know what a qualified prospect for YOU looks like. Here's how to do that:

1^st, Choose the selling cycle that suits you best.  [what type of firm gets you excited?]

2^nd, Ascertain where you can best leverage your rolodex. [ which comapnies will pay the most to have you?]

3^rd, Match your style to the market. [are you a Hunter, Farmer or Commando?]

Line up all three elements successfully in one job and you’ll triple your income. Try using the One Minute Resume as your calling card.

Employers Scrutinizing Web Alter Egos

Is your freedom of expression holding back your job hunt?  Here's a great article you should read that might just prompt you to clean up any "digital dirt" you have lying around on the Internet. click here

Job Hunting Prep

Over prepare. An interview IS the ultimate sales call. YOU’RE the product! You not only need to understand your product, you must understand the employer's needs. Prepare a T-account on yourself and the opportunity AND then overlay it on the company’s competitors as well as the industry. Position yourself relative to the industry not just the company you are interviewing with.

Your job hunting web site

You should have one, and be sure to make it look professional. If you’re not artistic or technical by nature surf over to www.templatemonster.com and buy one from them. Template Monster’s templates are second to none as far as I’m concerned. They look professional and you can buy one for $20-$60. You add your own words and customize it to fit your needs or you can hire them to do the job for you.

SKILLS THAT WON’T BE OFFSHORED

With a radically smaller pool of skilled workers and the increased demand for profits, the original War for Talent of the late 1990s has morphed from a quantitative to a qualitative one, best described as the War for the Best Talent by authorPeter Weddle in Generalship: HR Leadership in a Time of War (Stamford, CT: Weddle’s, 2004). The old “bums on seats” mentality of many employers is quickly being replaced by “brains on seats.”

 

Faced with stiffer competition and tougher hiring requirements, companies of every sort are becoming single-minded about productivity and bottom-line performance. Consequently, competition for jobs is increasing as management seeks and hires only those persons who appear to have the most potential for helping to boost the company’s profits. For many companies, employees are now viewed as a variable cost—hence the term human capital—to remain “on the books” only as long as they continue to produce. Looking for an old-fashioned job like the one “Dad used to have” is a waste of your time— Jobs are temporary in the new economy—henceforth you always need to be looking for the next opportunity.

 

The people who market their talent the best will win!

 

Leadership Skills

Self-confessed team players are often regarded as “followers” or “hangers-on” by senior management. I know you have been told: “We are supposed to be team players!” The Human Resources department may have told you that, but there’s a difference between leaders who can follow others, and those people who always need to follow others. My advice to you—forget about buying another power tie, instead invest in a course on leadership and look for opportunities to test your new-found skills within the company or outside as a volunteer. The ability to lead will be the number one requirement for guerrilla job-hunters.

 

Project Management Skills

Develop the fine art of managing people and projects. Learn how to deal with customers, work with vendors, and interact with management in ways that satisfy the needs and objectives of the organization. This elusive talent is of great value and will support

the notion that you are becoming a person who is of great value to your organization. My advice—look into a formal accreditation through the Project Management Institute (http://www.pmi.org/info/default.asp ).

 

People Skills

If you become the person who can pull teams together, support communication,

and make things happen, that will help make your position and perceived value within the organization more visible and support the argument that leaving your job intact is a good business decision. My advice—learn to be likable and how to work a room without looking like a self-obsessed shark.

 

Communication Skills

Writing and public speaking are critical skills whether you are representing your company or merely trying to sway your boss. A public speaking course will have you on the podium and in the limelight faster than any other single action you can take. Your value and confidence will increase dramatically. My advice—join a Toastmaster’s

networking group near you today.

 

Sales Skills

There are many jokes about salespeople: What do they really do besides lunch and golf? Bring in the business, that’s what, and today that’s everyone’s responsibility. New business is the lifeblood of every business. When you become known as a rainmaker, the

chances of your job being offshored diminish dramatically. My advice —become great at it. Start with a few books like Selling to VITO by Anthony Parinello (Cincinnati, OH: Adams Media Corporation, 1999) and Advanced Selling Strategies by Brian Tracy (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996). Devour those books and then take a formal course.

Listen as 2 Guerrilla Marketers tell you how they're landing so many gigs.

Listen to the full story on LandedFM.com now:
Turn up your speakers and click the link above.

OVERVIEW from LandedFM.com:  Using Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters, Darryl Praill and Allan Zander are hot in pursuit of a new gig. And we're along for the ride.

"Darryl Praill and Allan Zander were part of a highly successful marketing team at a Ontario based telecom. So successful that the company was acquired, and through the merger, their jobs- in fact, the entire marketing department was eliminated! We've all heard that story before, but how Darryl and Allan have approached their search for new employment is unique. They are actually putting into practice the strategies outlined in Jay Conrad Levinson and David Perry's excellent Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters. And David, a Canadian headhunter, is playing an active role in their search. A fascinating story!"

*************************

Today is also the last day to purchase a copy of  "One Minute Resumes" for $10. Tomorrow the new price will be $39.  So if you're still looking for an edge over other job hunters... today's the day to buy it.  With nearly $500k in consulting gigs in front of them in less than 4 weeks it's worked well for Allan and Darryl.

*************************

To your success Guerrilla!

 

David Perry

Trade shows: Don’t get stuck on booth duty.

Go spy on your competitors. Guerrilla intelligence is invaluable.Do they have new products or services? Are they expanding or contracting?

Does their booth look old and tired? Talk to their people (without
revealing your identity) to see if they’re hiring.

Use LInkedIn.com and Zoominfo.com to follow up on leads and/or prepare for the event aead of time.

Anatomy of a Job Search

There are lots of career books out there (including   Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters), that talk about what to do and how to do it when it comes to a job search, but here's the first time ever, someone has stepped up and shown how they're actually doing it in real time.  Follow this summer's hotest new reality show on LandedFM.com   Send me your ceative ideas - you may be next!
http://www.landed.fm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=345&Itemid=154

How To Find A Contact Name In A Company

See Robyn at The Social Networking Weblog
and The Microsoft Ma'am.

Both are long and detailed and useful.

The Canadian Headhunter

Why you need to be a Guerrilla

With a radically smaller pool of skilled workers and the increased demand for profits, the original “War for Talent” of the late 90’s has morphed from a quantitative to a qualitative one, best described as the ‘War for the Best Talent’ by author

Peter Weddle

in Generalship. The old “bums on seats” mentality of many employers is quickly being replaced by “brains on seats”. 

Faced with stiffer competition and tougher hiring requirements, companies of every sort are becoming single-minded about productivity and bottom-line performance. Consequently, competition for jobs is increasing as management seeks and hires only those persons who appear to have the most potential for helping to boost the company’s profits. For many companies, employees are now viewed as a variable cost – hence the term human capital – to remain “on the books” only as long as they continue to produce. 

Recognize that looking for an old-fashioned job like the one, “Dad used to have”, is a waste of your time - Jobs are temporary in the new economy - henceforth you need to always be looking for the next opportunity. 

The people who market their talent the best will win! 

The #1 Rule for Job Hunters in 2006

the #1 Rule for Job Hunters in 2006 – untersBe found - 5 Free ways to ensure you’re on every employers’ radar

Despite strengthening economy, the tried-and-true methods of finding a job will no longer suffice.

Becoming a guerrilla job-hunter and making yourself easy-to-find is the best way to consistently move your career forward. The market is geared toward those who effectively brand and market themselves as the ultimate commodity across multiple distribution channels. AND it won’t cost you a cent.  As Charles Darwin said, “It’s not the strongest of the species, nor the most intelligent, that survive; it’s the one most responsive to change.”

Serious job hunters should make the following 5 resolutions for 2006.  I will:

1. Package my experience to astound employers [FREE]
2. Quantify my accomplishments in $$$ and ### and %%% on my resume [FREE]
3. Become easy to find and manage my on-line profile through ZoomInfo.com [FREE]
4. Supersize my network using LinkedIn the leading social networking software [FREE]
5. Build an eResume that is Google friendly so recruiters can find me [FREE]

The average “career book” looks at life from the job-hunters point of view - which of course is wrong.  If you want to get a rewarding job you need to look at the process from the employer's perspective. Why should they hire you?  What's in it for them?  What can you bring to the table as an employee that will improve shareholder value?   Answer those questions and you’ll be hearing, “You’re hired”, every time.

LinkedIn is a networking dream come true

LinkedIn is honored to have the endorsement of this highly acclaimed book:

    “There are many online sites that facilitate networking. LinkedIn is my favorite. For job-hunters this is a treasure trove of leads.”        

    “Before you do anything else, I want you to establish your LinkedIn profile and invite your network of friends and colleagues to join you-right now! I’m serious! Joining LinkedIn is free and not something you want to ‘get around to.’ It’s very likely your next job won’t be your last. You must do it now.”

        “From a job-hunter’s standpoint, LinkedIn represents an opportunity of a lifetime to establish a powerful network of influential colleagues and friends.”       

Cracking the code!

Are you tired of having your job search slowed down by Interactive Voice Recognition systems?  Can never get to a live person?  Try "The IVR Cheat Sheet™" by Paul English

Thank you notes for when you don’t get the offer

It's Friday Guerrilla and Friday is the best day to do two things:

• book interviews for next week
• fill your opportunity pipeline

It's also a great day to examine your job hunt progress. 

What progress have you made this week?  [Which employers are you going to speak with next week?]  How where your interviews?  Did you send thank you notes to everyone you talked to? Even the ones where you where not successful.... that's an often over looked source of leads.  Just because you didn't get the job or even the interview shouldn't stop you from saying thank you. 

Stop and think about this for a minute.  Have you ever gotten a thank you card from someone whom you didn't hire?  What would you think?  Crazy *&%#* Let me tell you how I would react -  yes I know CEOs and hiring managers in general will react this way – remember I do this for a living.

One of your best sources for leads to fill your pipeline are the people who turn you down. That’s right – and it doesn’t matter at what level in the company they’re at. They know who else is hiring … they also know which companies may have a problem you can solve BECAUSE they’ve just spent more than a few hours interviewing a ton of people. Talk about competitive intelligence!

Now you just need to follow up with a thank you note for the interview – expressing your sincere gratitude for their time and your interest in staying in touch.  And 5 days AFTER you mail the note you call them and ask who else among their colleagues has plans to:

• Increase their sales this quarter
• Take market share from competitors
• Open new markets

Or what ever it is you specialize in....

PS. THEY ALSO KNOW WHERE THE PERSON THEY JUST HIRED IS COMING FROM. Think about that …

Now drop and give me 20 and then get back to work!