Guerrilla Job Hunting

The 12 Days of Christmas Job Hunting 2010: Day 7

{Hummed to the tune "The 12 Days of Xmas}

On the 7th day of Christmas - Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 revealed to me -

“Seven Social Networks”

 

The key to expanding your network and finding job leads is, of course, to add more people to your network. Fortunately, the Internet has made it easier than ever to meet more people – and you never have to leave your keyboard!

I’d like to tell you about seven of the best online networking sites. Each is based on the “six degrees of separation” principle – you’re never more than six contacts away from any person you want to meet, anywhere on earth, including Kevin Bacon.

Check out these sites if you want to “e-network” your way to a new job …

Free DVD Offer

MySpace and Facebook are several magnitudes larger than the largest job boards and LinkedIn – combined.  If MySpace were a country it would be the 5^th largest in the world by population.  Facebook has undergone similar growth and don’t think for a moment this hasn’t gone unnoticed by recruiters who are always trying to find people who don’t want to be found by conventional methods.  In fact, there are multiple courses on line which expressly teach recruiters how to find whomever they need using MySpace and Facebook.  So a little known secret... MySpace and Facebook have a lot of their jobs fed to them by SimplyHired.com  so it you want to tap into Facebook and MySpace for jobs without setting up a profile.. go to

SimplyHired.com   Linkedin.com – From a headhunter’s standpoint, LinkedIn has it all. It is the opportunity of a lifetime to establish a powerful network of influential colleagues and friends – can you tell it’s one of my favorites? Free to use, Linkedin.com first requires you to set up a profile, then invite your friends to join your network. After those people join, they can ask their friends and colleagues to join, etc., etc. For job hunters this can produce a treasure trove of leads.

Classmates – This may be the grand daddy of online networking sites. At Classmates.com, you can join a network of alumni who share an affinity with you – they went to the same school (high school, college or university), or were in the same military branch, industry or company. The challenge, when finding potential contacts, is that you must search by state. But, if you want to reconnect specifically with people you went to school with, Classmates is the way to go.

ExecuNet – If you make $100,000 or more in salary, this networking venue is for you. ExecuNet was founded 18 years ago as the premier networking web site. They make it easy for senior-level professionals to connect directly with business decision-makers, executive recruiters, and peers. Not is this site chock full of helpful advice that’s not found anywhere else, they also host well-known speakers and authors. Of course, I’m biased because founder Dave Opton wrote the foreword for my book, Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters.

Here are two more networking sites with benefits too numerous to list. The first one you’re absolutely not supposed to know about unless you’re a headhunter so I wouldn’t go and join...

6 Degrees from Dave – this Dave is Dave Mendoza the ubber connector A classic social engineer Dave’s network spans the globe.  Dave’s a wealth of information and his site is too.  Want to know how to maximize LinkedIn.  Dave’s the guy to know.    Want to connect with the LinkedIn LIONs?  Dave’s your guy.   And so it goes.  Want to know what’s hot in recruiting...   

Spoke -- Great for connecting with sales people of all types and Fortune 1000 companies in particular. Sales people, by the way, are great resources for job hunters – they’re naturally outgoing and often willing to help. This site boasts more than 30 million contacts and 900,000 companies.                                                                                                                   Double bonus! Here are two more sites to help grow your network … The Social Networking Web Log is loaded with tips to help you reach inside target companies.

Quintessential Careers isn’t a social network. OK, so sue me. But it should be on your networking read, especially if you’re a college grad. There’s an encyclopedia’s worth of advice there. 

Article by David E. Perry, author of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters and the Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters Blog. Kevin Donlin, also contributed.

 

 

The 12 Days of Christmas Job Hunting 2010: Day 2

{Hummed to the tune "The 12 Days of Xmas}

On the second day of Christmas - Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 revealed to me - "Two strategies to crack the hidden job market.."

 

Click HERE for FREE DVD that gets you hired - “New Job Search Secrets"

You know, most people put more time into writing down a shopping list for the grocery store than a list of employers they want to work for. Totally illogical, isn’t it? I mean, why be happy working just anywhere? Why not work for a company that excites you?

Instead of blindly sending out résumés to companies you’ve never heard of before, it’s far better to first select potential employers that meet YOUR criteria and then contact them with an offer to help.

Which is what you’re going to learn to do today.  And one of the ways to do that is with Google.

To get the best results focus all your time and effort on the companies you’ve identified as being the Tier 1 buyers of your product - you.  Anything else is a waste of your time, energy and money.  Target your campaign at those companies where you know you can help solve a problem.  Nothing beats a direct approach for speed and accuracy.

Because of the current recession caused by the sub-prime meltdown, employers have different hiring expectations. The direct approach has replaced networking as the best way to break into the hidden job market.
 
The hidden job-market isn’t really hidden.  It’s just not in plain sight.  It’s referred to as the hidden job-market because of the way jobs are created and filled.  Most jobs are created in a company in one of three ways. 
1.     The company is growing;
2.     Someone quits, leaving a vacancy; or
3.     Someone is being replaced and the employer doesn’t want the employees to know about it.
 
When the company is growing, the owner, president, or someone else may know they need to hire but haven’t initiated the process.  They may not have had the time.  They may not quite have the budget.  They may not want to go through the hassle of advertising and interviewing.  So while the need is real, the job itself remains hidden inside the hiring manager’s head. 

When someone quits, managers will first decide if they can eliminate the job, or combine it with another position.   Needing a new person, they will look inside their organization to see whom they can promote into the role.  If they can’t find anyone they’ll likely ask their co-workers for referrals.  If that doesn’t work, depending on the size of the company they may opt to run an ad through HR, or hire a head-hunter.  

Companies will contact a head-hunter when secrecy is required because “loose-lips-sink-ships” and the recruiter can conduct a search without anyone ever knowing.
In all of these cases, the job remains hidden to the outside world for weeks if not months.  Hence the term “hidden” job-market. 

And TODAY the ability for job hunters to “click and apply” for every job they see on the internet has given employers good reason to NOT let it be known n they have an opening.  The onslaught of emails, phone calls and resumes that result from an advertised position is enough to CRUSH an HR department.

The only way for you to access the hidden job-market successfully is to reach out to the hiring managers directly before they opt to go the advertising or HR route OR ask their buddies for referrals.  The hidden job-market is your private laboratory to test out the best methods for finding your dream job.  Now let’s look at two of the Top 10 Strategies Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters use to access the hidden job market.
 

Job Search Strategy # 1 – Targeted Research 

One quick way to discover new opportunities is by doing structured search engine queries. And it’s fairly easy to do.   The video above gives you a good overview of how to do it for yourself:

Step #1

Develop a target list of companies you want to work for.  That list of companies is your baseline query for your search.   Now, here’s how you get the list.  The video above is an example using Google.com in which the job hunter want sto work in advertising in New York City.  {You  just do what I'm doing BUT substitute your industry parameters.}

1.     When you do targeted research, generally you concentrate on an industry or a geographic preference (in this case, New York City).  Substitute your city for your search. 

2.     You need to find the names of all the advertising companies in New York.  There are easy ways to do this using the Net.  Go to Google. www.google.com and type the following words in the “advanced” option box in Google.  The search string shown below instructs Google to search for a directory of advertising firms in New York or a conference on advertising held in New York.  We want this list to garner leads for companies.

Your text needs to be filled in exactly the way I did in the video. 
 
My search returned many hits including one for AD:TECH  “The Event for Interactive Marketing”.  This is a conference held in New York for the Advertising industry.  There where also hits for directories of advertising companies in New York, complete with web site addresses, phone numbers, and profiles of the owners.

Step #2 Find People Who Can Hire You:

Once you have a target list of companies to work with, you need to find out who the people are in those companies that can actually hire you.  A good headhunter would pick up the telephone. You might not be so inclined, so here’s another way to accomplish your objective.

Go to each company’s web site and gather the names of the people who can say yes.  Those people are the executives not the human resource people – they can only say NO! unless you’re a human resources professional.  If you’re lucky, every web site will identify their senior executives, including names, titles, phone numbers, career summaries and sometimes email and photos!  Web information should be up-to-the-minute accurate, but I would call the receptionist and confirm it.   

For this example I’m looking for a sales position.  Therefore I’ll seek to locate or research the VP of Sales, VP Sales & Marketing, VP Marketing or General Manager. You would focus your research on the functional areas of interest for your search.

If you’re experiencing difficulty finding names on the site, then go back to Google’s advanced search box and type in the company name in the first box and (Vice President Sales Marketing Director)in the third box.  By-the-way, you don’t need to place the words in brackets and don’t put in any commas or punctuation. 

That search string will bring you:
All the people who are, or have ever been, VPs OR President OR Directors of Sales and/or Marketing for that company.
The resumes of a whole pile of people from that company whom you may be able to phone to coax information from them.

OR

You can skip all that and use LinkedIn, Spoke, or ZoomInfo

Once you have the name of the individual who is one rung up the ladder from the job you want, you need to process their name through Google again.  This time you put their first and last name in the first box and the company name in the third box.

This will produce a list of press releases, and news articles in which they are mentioned, as well as conferences they’ve attended.  Read an article or two and clip something memorable to use in a  NarrowCast letter.

When you send them the letter, you’ll be able to say.  “I read your article in… about… which prompted me to write.”  Very powerful.
 

Job Search Strategy #2 – Targeted Networking

Today networking can either be the shortest route to your dream job or a lengthy series of unsatisfying lunches – the difference lies in how you approach it.  Let me show you how a Guerrilla job-hunter would network.  The easiest way is to learn how to network like a Headhunter.  I suggest you download for

The 12 Days of Christmas Job Hunting 2010: Day 1

{Hummed to the tune "The 12 Days of Xmas}

On the first day of Christmas - Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 revealed to me - "A Plan with Clarity..."

Click HERE for FREE DVD that gets you hired - “New Job Search Secrets"

The best advice you'll ever receive is  start your job hunt with absolute clarity. All of the best job search advice in the world can be boiled down to three steps:

1. decide what job you want;
2. tell the right hiring authority about it;
3. prove to them you’re the one to hire.

Pretty simple summation of the facts.  Create a plan that is clear and detailed in every way --- then give it some panache!

If you want to get hired you have to get noticed.  You have to raise your voice above the crowd to be heard.  So when everyone else is doing more of the same - things that aren't working - you have to be more focused.  Your job search needs to be focused and very clear.

It must also be:

• Clever,
• Results driven,
• Marketing oriented,
• Inexpensive to execute,
• Realistic, and
• Achievable.

Clever - That’s because the most qualified job hunter is rarely the one who gets hired. The positions[s] invariably go to the person who does the best job at positioning themselves as the solution to an employer’s problem. Often the employer doesn’t realize they have a problem and it’s your job to bring that to their attention.

Results driven - You must measure your progress. You need to do this so that you’ll understand how close you are to achieving your goal and stay motivated and committed to your plan. Measuring requires tracking the metrics which drive you to your finish line. Here are a few of the dozens of proven tactics Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters shows you how to measure:

• How many out of the box activities have you deployed?
• How many you’re sending out,
• How many guerrilla networking activities you’re engaged in.

Marketing oriented - Because the market is geared toward those who effectively brand and market themselves as the ultimate commodity across multiple distribution channels. Winning the War for Talent requires you to become great at guerrilla marketing yourself. Looking for a job is a sales and marketing activity where you’re the product.

Inexpensive - In 1997, Tom Peters introduced the concept of “Brand U” in his book Re-Imagine! At the time, self-branding was an assertive marketing concept best reserved for high-flying techies and senior executives who wanted to maximize the financial returns of their biggest asset—their career. Today personal branding is a matter of survival. Here’s how Tom McAlister turned himself into a comic book hero and landed a job.

Realistic - Knowing what you want to do is great. Combining that with what you’re ‘qualified” to do is the secret. You may be pleasantly surprised at how your current skill-set maps to other industries. For a clear picture of what’s possible to do with your skill-set I suggest you visit America’s Career InfoNet. If you’re not qualified for what you want to do get moving and determine how you can become qualified. In my 20+ years of executive recruiting the biggest problem I’ve run into is that people aren’t realistic – especially job hunters who are unemployed. If this describes you - STOP!  You’re setting for disappointment if you apply for jobs you’re not qualified to do. Sometimes you may have to take a temporary step backwards to move forward in a new career BUT the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll hit your goal. If this even remotely applies to you then you need to make one New Years Resolution – and it’s to yourself – I will check out America’s Career InfoNet.

Achievable - Knowing the exact title and function of the future role you want gives you a realistic goal with no excuses. Get specific. The more detailed the better.

For example, I’ll bet you Vicky Vlachakis new exactly what she wanted to do and who she wanted to work for before she started her job search. When the opportunity came along to design the new two-seater convertibles for Saturn and Chrysler she recognized her chance to knock not one - but two home runs - out of the park!  You can be that focused too.

Nothing is more important to your success than a clear “picture” of your goal. If you can envision your dream job AND you’re qualified to do it then you can find it. With a specific goal in mind you can organize your job search and networking efforts with a laser like focus. Yes some people are lucky and fall into great jobs but luck [as Tom Peters says] is so unpredictable.

The dramatic changes we’re witnessing in the marketplace mean that the tried-and-true methods of finding a job will no longer suffice. Those old ways should remain a part of your plan, however by themselves they don’t provide the horsepower to get the heightened attention of employers.

Clarity of purpose is both energizing and enabling.

Click HERE for FREE DVD that gets you hired - “New Job Search Secrets Get You Hired”

Corporate Heroes - FlightNetwork.com

The recession is a Game Changer for millions of unemployed people. 

You'd have to be living under a rock not to notice the changes in the job market. 

Now finally a few corporations are coming to the rescue of job hunters.  Hat's off to FlightNetwork.com  who have been offering job hunters discounts on flights for job interviews.

Of course doing so is smart business because eventually job hunters become job holders and will remember their generosity and thoughtfulness.  

Let's hope others follow Naman Budhdeo's lead and embrace future customers in this manner.

David Perry

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

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.

5 Ways To Beat a Tough Job Market

Yes it can be tough out there right now BUT summers coming to a close and it's time to kick it into high gear because employers are making plans for their Fall hiring RIGHT NOW!

So click over to this Fortune Magazine piece and pick up some quick tips by me and several other brilliant people :-)

It's audio enhanced so turn on your speakers and click the photos to get extra advice.

Good luck.

David

Phone interview jitters? Stop Guessing - learn what to say right now!

Phone interviews have become standard fair in this job market.  I could write a book on it BUT thanks to Peter Clayton I don't have to and you don't have to wait.  Peter's just recorded a fantastic informative pod cast with Paul Bailo.  Click over now to TotalPicture.com and listen for youself.

Amazon Best Selling book for job hunters being retired.

Yes it's true folks Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 
the book is nearly sold out AGAIN but will NOT be reprinted.

You can however, still get 3 chapters, including the one
one on Radical Networking from this blog, for a few
more days.  The chapter on negotiating your best deal
is also included.

Thanks for all your support.

David Perry
co-author of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters.

Managing Director

Perry-Martel International Inc.

Guerrilla Job Search video cleverly 'Forces' Employers To Call YOU To Interview

Many people have asked Kevin Donlin and I to record our Guerrilla Job Search Boot Camp seminars which we've been giving around the country. 

Up until now the challenge has been to get a video crew who were talented enough to do it outside a high end TV studio. And believe me we tried - several times [and paid a lot each time] but the quality was never there - until now. 

Kevin and I finally went into the TV studio and spent the time and money to have it done.  You can preview what's covered by clicking this link.  You can even buy your own copy AND it's inexpensive.  When you buy it and get a job because of it - please record a thank you video and send it to us. 

Here’s what you’ll discover ...

·         Should you include a picture on your resume? (Answer: Yes! But not a picture of your face.) And should you print your resume in color? Revealed live onstage.

• How a “cup in a box” can get you a job interview, even when hordes of people are competing against you for advertised positions. It worked for one California woman, for a director-level woman in St. Paul, for a Washington lobbyist -- and it can work for you too.
• What to do FIRST in your job search. (Get this wrong and no hiring manager or recruiter will return your phone calls. Period.)
• Fact: Most people put less time into choosing employers than they do in writing a grocery list -- and then struggle to get hired. We’ll fix that and show you how to make job leads appear where before you saw none, almost as if by magic.
• What to write in the one part of your cover letter that EVERY employer reads (and how to know with certainty that it will get read -- nobody else will show you this.)
• How to legally “hack” into Monster.com and clarify your employment goals in only minutes -- with almost no effort on your part.
• Finally! How to REALLY prepare for a job interview. You can banish the jitters, walk calmly into almost any hiring manager's office, and blow them away if you do one simple thing. It lets you set the agenda and take control of the entire conversation.
• How to leverage social media like LinkedIn, MySpace, Facebook and other web sites to take advantage of “the secret lives of recruiters.”

Kevin and I are the only speakers in America teaching these “Guerrilla Job Hunting” tactics.

You can read more about us and our techniques in: CNN/Money, Fortune Magazine, The Wall Street Journal,The Washington Post, CIO Magazine

How Microsoft can help you blow away the competition at your next job interview.

Many people have asked me how they can continue to impress interviewers after their guerrilla resume gets them an interview.  It's easy.  Show them that the creativity you used to get their attention spills over into your ever day work life by signing up for a Microsoft Office Live Workspace and make a presentation or folder just for them.  You can take them through it during the interview or send tham a link to it afterward instead of a tired old "thank you" note.   Best of ALL it's free. 

"FREE Audio CD Gets You Hired, Even in a Recession"

"New Recession-Proof Guerrilla Job Search Tips ..."

Looking for a new job?[click]

If so, you can be listening to one of the most important job-search audios ever recorded, within 60 seconds ... FREE.

Here's what you'll discover on this brand-new 60-minute audio seminar, featuring David E. Perry and Kevin Donlin ...

• Hear the true story of one woman who walked in off the street, "took a manager to lunch" and got hired ... almost before she knew what happened! Best part: You can do exactly the same thing -- today!

• Why the "hidden job market" is about to go even further undergound in the Recession of 2009 ... and how you can benefit. (If you spend any time surfing CareerBuilder, Monster, or other web sites, you MUST know this.)

• Learn to avoid the habits of highly INEFFECTIVE job seekers, including the mysterious "but-head" (sic) phenomenon that has left thousands of people mired in unemployment. Don't let it happen to you, too!

• How to create your own "board of directors" and supercharge your job search using OPI (Other Peoples' Ideas). Based on a simple, forgotten method from The Depression that has created millionaires for 72 years.

• Why traditional networking is a total waste of time -- and what to do instead. Hint: It's a simple mind-shift you will use to meet more people and get more job leads in 24 hours -- or less.

• How deadlines can quickly "trick" your mind into getting you hired -- it produced a new job for one woman in only 1 week ... after she had been unemployed for 2 years!

• How to "audition" -- and get hired for -- your ideal job, just like a contestant on American Idol. You'll hear the story of how a humble IT guy with few "people skills" did this in one afternoon. If he can, so can you!

• How to humanize the job market and stand out to employers ... while ordinary job seekers are still waiting for jobs to appear on Monster or CareerBuilder

• How to get hired by "closing the sale" with employers. You'll hear the story of one savvy job seeker who was hired over another candidate because he said something special after his interview. What was it? (NO special knowledge, experience, or college degrees required!)

• Why you *must* be relevant to hiring managers -- and why they'll hang up on you if you're not.

• And much more ... click here to get it

 

Unemployed? You May Be a But-Head (sic)

Kevin Donlin, Creator of TheSimpleJobSearch.com So listen up if you're looking for a new job and need to get better results.

Which group are you in — Guerrillas or But-Heads?

David Perry
Co-author of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters
Managing Director of Perry-Martel International Inc.

I LOVE YOU TOO: How to close the interview and get the job offer

I am amazed at how many people forget that an interview is a "personal selling" situation.  Obviously I don't mean jumping up and down and doing a raw-raw sis-boom-bah chant but I do mean turning in your best effort AND asking for the job at the end.  Just the other day I witnessed a candidate not get an opportunity because the employer didn’t think they where all that interested OR at least, “not as interested as another candidate”. 

 

When I asked what the employer meant by that statement [because the prospective candidate had professed his interest to me - very enthusiastically after the interview] the employer explained it like this.  The choice between who would be the next VP of Sales for this company literally came down to a coin toss - the talent match was that close.  They had two outstanding individuals to choose from and they literally could not make up their mind.  What broke the tie?  "The younger candidate seemed to want it more'" my client said.  When I asked him how he came to that conclusion he said that Candidate “A” said when he was leaving the client office for the airport, "I had a great day and it appears we both have a lot to think about."  Seems innocent enough doesn't it. Whereas Candidate “B” said, "I'm glad you invited me down to meet the rest of the management team because I'm even more convinced now that this is the right opportunity for me".   Now, in truth neither had made up their mind that it was indeed the right opportunity BUT the second one closed the deal and told the client they where interested – very interested, whereas the first was non-committal.  Can you see the difference?

Let me explain it another way.  Perhaps this has happened to you.  Could be it’s just me again… 

Do you remember the awkward moment when you told someone you loved them for the first time?  If - as was the case with me - their face contorted with “an oh no - what do I say now”, expression then you appreciate the awkward emotional vacuum I'm talking about. 

 

Well let me tell you, employers experience the same thing.  After courting a candidate for weeks or months there's nothing worse for them than telling a candidate "we love you" or "you're our top pick" only to have them say... "I have to think about this...".  It’s like NOT saying I love you too!  And believe me it matters.  I know.  I know it’s not just about what the employer wants BUT remember the first Rule of Job Hunting… It’s not about you.

How might this have been avoided?  Bottom line is this guerrilla.  You have the right to do your due diligence on the employer at your own pace.  It would be nice if it matched their pace but likely it won’t.  Know this, you never and I mean never ever let them see you're still thinking about it.  It doesn't strengthen your bargaining position to play hard to get BEFORE YOU GET THE OFFER.  In front of the employer you should always be "in love".  You close and close and close until you get the offer then hopefully you tell them what they want to hear.  AND this applies at all levels.  In this instance it was a $300K position.  I'm used to seeing this at the 50-80k level and not in executives but as I said it doesn't take much to tip the decision in the other guys favor.  So moral of the story is do your do diligence behind the scenes as you go through the process and don’t forget to tell them “you love them” too even if you’re not 100% sure yet.

You have to close the interviewer at every stage.  They aren't mind readers... neither was my girl friend a the time - BUT I DIGRESS.   Tell them you want them.  Be sincere!  Negotiate the package AFTER you get their first offer.  Focus son getting the offer!

What do you think?  Learn anything new? Could this have helped you get the last offer you didn't?  

- David Perry

co-author Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters

Managing Partner, Perry-Martel International Inc.

www.perrymartel.com

The Original Boss-from-Hell

One day while walking down the street, a headhunter was tragically hit by a bus . He was Catholic, so shortly his soul arrived in heaven where St. Peter met him at the Pearly Gates.   “Welcome to Heaven,” said St. Peter. “Before you get settled in, it seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we’ve never once had a headhunter make it this far and we’re not really sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in” said he.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have higher orders. What we’re going to do is let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose which one you want to spend an eternity in.”

“Actually, I think I’ve made up my mind. . . . I prefer to stay in Heaven.”

“Sorry, we have rules . . .” and with that St. Peter put the headhunter in an elevator and it went down-down-down to Hell. The doors opened, and he found himself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf course. In the distance was a country club and standing in front of him were all his friends and fellow headhunters cheering for him. They talked about old times. They played an excellent round of golf and at night went to the country club where he enjoyed an excellent dinner. He met the Devil who was actually a really nice guy. He was having a great time and before he knew it, it was time to leave. Everybody shook his hand and waved good-bye. The elevator went up-up-up and opened back up at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter was waiting for him.

“Now it’s time to spend a day in Heaven.” So he spent the next 24 hours lounging around on clouds playing the harp and singing. He had a great time, and before he knew it, St. Peter came and got him.

“So, you’ve spent a day in Hell and you’ve spent a day in Heaven. Now you must choose your eternity.” The headhunter paused for a second and then replied, “Well, I never thought I’d say this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a better time in Hell,” so St. Peter escorted him to the elevator and again he went down-down-down back to Hell.

When the doors of the elevator opened he found himself standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. He saw his friends dressed in rags picking up garbage. The Devil came up to him and put his arms around him.

“I don’t understand,” stammered the headhunter, “yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a country club and we ate and danced and had a great time. Now all there is, is a wasteland of garbage and all my friends look miserable.” The Devil looked at him and smiled, “That’s because yesterday we were recruiting you, but today you’re staff.”

Don’t choose the wrong person to work for. It’s important that you recognize that employers also put their best foot forward, especially when they recognize “star material” like you.

JibberJobber, the ultimate tool for job hunting - and it's FREE

Jibber Jobber – These days, no job is immune to cutbacks, downsizing, “rightsizing” or off-shoring. Like a politician whose first job is to get re-elected, your first responsibility to yourself and your future is to be continually looking for new employment opportunities. But who has the time to track down job leads and still have a life? Well, now you do, thanks to Jibber Jobber. It’s lets you manage a serious job search – while you focus on feeding your opportunity funnel. Very Guerrilla.   And you can't beat Jason's always "up" blog on job hunting.  Of course it also doesn't hurt to know he's an author and authority on LinkedIn and Facebook.  

Job-hunting tips in a post Wall Street meltdown economy.

I was answering questions with online readers of the Globe and Mail when the question was asked about smart tips for job hunting.  You can click the link below to read the entire discussion if you like. My experience has shown [22 years as a headhunter] that common sense needs to prevail when panic sets in. 

Here's what I tell my best friends to do and what I suggested the Globe's readers do:

"The smartest thing to do is focus on a target list of companies where you know you can add value.  That's not that hard to figure out. What is hard is to do the research to find who inside the companies you want to work with who has the responsibility for the issues you can solve and then craft a compelling message to reach them.  Start your research online with industry associations. Look at the trends and issues. Then use tools like LinkedIn and ZoomInfo to find people within the organization.  You can download three free chapters of my latest book by going here: www.gm4jh.com. Chapter 9 [it's free] is all about extreme networking and how to use LinkedIn and Google to find jobs and do background research." 

If you're facing an unprecedented amount of competition because you're one of many people laidoff in the same industry all at once then the design of your marketing materials - your resume and cover letter - need to be outstanding.  Click here for a quick cost effective solution with You Inc.—Extreme Resume Makeovers

Landing a job in a softening economy

Have questions related to recruiting? Wondering about the best way to get a headhunter's attention? Want an insider's view about job-hunting tactics in a softening economy? Like some tips on the smart ways to always approach the search for a job? Mr. Perry is online at ReportonBusiness.com to answer your questions.

Why your resume may be being overlooked

If you think you've written the perfect resume but you aren't getting interviews - read this!

Like most husbands, my wife will periodically call me at the office and ask me to pass by the supermarket on my way to pick up bread and milk to tide us over until her next trip to the store [we have four growing children]. Like most “men” I enter the supermarket with list in hand and head straight for the items I need. The nice displays and weekly specials blur past me because I’m on autopilot.

The way I shop for groceries is not unlike how your resume gets screened when you apply for a job. Generally the people who do the first pass on a stack of resumes are working off a list someone handed them. Their instructions are, “just whittle down this pile by looking for these Skills/competencies or technologies”, so that’s all they scan for.

Job Hunting is just like courting

Do you love me?  Will you love me forever...

I am amazed at how many people forget that an interview is a "personal selling" situation. Obviously I don't mean jumping up and down and doing a raw-raw sis-boom-bah chant but I do mean turning in your best effort AND asking for the job at the end.  Just the other day I witnessed a candidate not get an opportunity because the employer didn’t think they where all that interested OR at least, “not as interested as another

Please don't Fart!

I was suddenly reminded last night that there are a few things you just can't get away with in an interview.  Farting is on the top of my list.  My fee was lost in less time than it took to find fresh air. 

Besides ruining the atmosphere and clearing the room the shock factor is too great for most to get over.... especially if you're a stunning redhead with a flawless resume.

If this comes as a great surprise let me tell you a few other things you can't do during an interview:

• after gazing at the picture on the mangers desk - tell him his wife is hot [even if she is]
• ask to borrow money to pay for parking
• excessively wipe the seat your about to sit in
• take a bathroom break
• refer to his secretary as "toots"
• pick your nose
• offer to share your sandwich
• ask for a swig of their coke
• make a big deal about suddenly realizing your fly is down.

I offer these tips up in the hope you will pass it on to your job hunting friends and candidates.

I will never be able to enjoy a cinnamon dolce latte grandee again - the memory will linger for ever.

Interview Questions: Do you generally speak to people before they speak to you?

The interviewer probably needs to know if you're introverted or extraverted with this kind of question You're best off answering " It depends on the circumstances."  Let them explain more and put your answer in context with the position.  Are you being interviewed for a sales position or executive secretary.... it matters.

The 1-2-Punch Interview Answer

A bold solution for Interview Bores.

I look the boring candidate right in the eye and say, "You're wonderful. Your experience is unbelievable. But I'll bet you're having a tuff time getting the type of gigs you deserve".

As she smiles and nods her head, I go for the jugular. "I can tell you why but you need to be open to hearing what I have to say." When she agrees, I proceed:

"You're really smart but you're boring! Fortunately, you can fix that in about 10 seconds by learning how to give a 1-2 punch interview answer.

"Answer the question by summarizing at a high level in under 30 seconds and end your summary by asking, 'Would you like me to elaborate on that or fill in any details for you?' "

If she wants to know more, she'll ask and then you're having a real conversation between peers and not a dull, endless monologue.

Now, I admit, some people are shell-shocked but I've never been punched or had anyone stand up and leave. Most appreciate the honesty and everyone of them has called back (sometimes years later) and said it was the best advice they ever got. So for what it's worth, try it.

Interview question: Greatest Strengths and weaknesses?

If I spoke with your previous boss, what would he or she say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

First of all.. you better have expected this question. If you didn't shame on you. If you did I hope you asked your previous boss this question --- after you left the job so they'll tell the truth --- that way there will not be any mistakes or inconsistencies.

So you forgot or your ex boss was the moron brother of the owner. Now what?

Be consistent with what you think they would say as a reference. Always turn a negative into a positive. Cite an example of a minor weakness and how you have overcome it or are currently working on it. This is no time to be honest about your compulsive pencil stealing habit.

Interview Questions: What do you know about our company?

Do your investigative homework before the interview! Take a look at the Internet for information or at the library researching the company. Research as much information as possible including products, history, size, financial status, reputation, image, management talent, people, and philosophy.

Interview Questions: Why should we hire you over another candidate?

Obviously if you're being interviewed it's because the company sees you as a solution to a problem they have identified. 
Relate past experiences that show you've had success in solving problem(s) that may be similar to the ones they are currently facing. Succinctly tell them what you bring to the table. What sets you apart from your competitors.

Interview questions:Why should we hire you over another candidate?

Relate past experiences that show you've had success in solving problem(s) that may be similar to the ones they are currently facing. Succinctly tell them what you bring to the table. What sets you apart from your competitors. Don't be a bragard --- just the facts!

[That's it.  Now it goes without saying that how you sum your life should have something to do with why you're qualified to do the job they're interested interviewing you for.]

   

Interview Questions: Dissected

What are your greatest strengths?

ISSUE:  This question seems like a softball lob. Don’t kid yourself - be prepared. Don't come across as egotistical or arrogant. Humble is out too. In America you're expected to “pitch” yourself.

Prior to any interview, you should have a list mentally prepared of your greatest strengths.

Interview questions: Tell me about yourself.

Tell me about yourself.
Focus on relevant skills and experience. Be on guard against the interviewer who gives you free rein. Don't spend too much time answering (1-2 minutes). Avoid details. Don't ramble. Touch on four areas: Born and Raised, Education/Military Background, Work Experience, Current Situation.

[That's it.  Now it goes without saying that how you sum your life should have something to do with why you're qualified to do the job they're interested interviewing you for.]

Between a rock & a hard place

As a candidate what would you do if the company you where interviewing with wanted to offer you a job but told you that they did not want the headhunter who made the introduction to get paid?