Guerrilla Job Hunting

The 12 Days of Christmas Job Hunting 2010: Day 11

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

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On the 12th day of Christmas - Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 revealed to me

12 Ways to Renew Your Job Search

1.     Begin 2010 with clarity-- know your target job and the top 10-20 employers you want to work for (you will start seeing opportunities where before you saw none, just like buying a new car and seeing it all over the road)

2.     Network with former employees -- find them on Google, LinkedIn, or your own network

3.     Be easy to find -- create your free profile on ZoomInfo.com, America’s largest database of working professionals (used by thousands of recruiters every day). Download fresh contacts from FreshContacts.com

4.     Stop sending cover letters -- send sales letters instead (you can’t bore anyone into hiring you, which is what most cover letters attempt; you must sell employers)

5.     Stop sending resumes -- send resume lingerie instead (your goal is a phone call from the hiring manager; hit their hot buttons with one page and you can make the phone ring)

6.     Let others sell you -- use testimonials in your resume and cover letter (because one testimonial from another person is worth 10 claims made by you)

7.     Do the thinking for the employer -- figure out the specific value of your past achievements, in numbers, dollars, percentages (never, ever assume that busy readers will figure out your value)

8.     Get on LinkedIn -- it’s America’s largest social networking site for job hunters (if you’re not there, you simply do not exist to most recruiters and savvy employers)

9.     Sell money at a discount -- tell employers how you can make or save more money than you’re asking for in salary

10.  Remember “No” simply means “Not today” -- it does not mean “Never call us again”

11.  Target employers precisely -- when reading your cover letter, employers should think, “Hey! This is all about me!”

12.  When in doubt, do the opposite-- be suspicious of what “everybody” else is doing: “everybody” waits for jobs to be advertised before contacting employers, “everybody” emails their resume, “everybody” knows you don’t have to mail a paper thank-you note after an interview … so, how’s that working for everybody?

Now go enjoy the Holidays!  America is slowly dragging it self out of this economic mess and 2010 looks to be a banner year for hiring!

David

Article by David E. Perry, author of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters and the Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters Blog. and Kevin Donlin, creator of Guerrilla Search International.

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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 …

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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.

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 !

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to get employers to read your resume and call you for an interview

Did you know that your first impression with an employer is not the first 5 minutes of your interview—it’s the first 3 seconds when they  look at your resume. Does yours include a statement  that’s so powerful it transforms their initial scan into a lengthy read and a direct call to you?

It must.   If you can't cause an employer to stop dead in the middle of their first cup of coffee you won't get that call.  No call.  no interview.  No job offer.  Job hunting is that simple! 

Intuitively you know that looking for a job is a sales and marketing activity.  Is your resume the best it can be?  Is it designed to be used as a marketing tool? 

Yes, your resume needs to be a reflection of your past experience but it also needs to represent you as a unique individual who can contribute value to the employer. 

Does your resume convey who you are as an individual?  Because face it, personality counts just as much as your credentials - especially in an ultracompetitve job market.

In today’s post Wall Street credit crunch - bank failure - meltdown world, you need to create a resume that makes you get noticed.  This is especially true if you're a victim of the latest meltdown or at all involved with the mortgage finance business.  [Wachovia, Bear Sterns, Washington Mutual, Merrill Lynch Lehman Brothers American International Group

 

You Inc. — Extreme Resume Makeovers 2009 will show you how to stand out from the crowd and make that difference. Within these 78 pages you'll find two real life makeovers and 25 other 1 page Guerrilla Resumes which landed each of it's owner a well paying job.  Often in as little as a week.

A Guerrilla Job Hunter's

resume is like lingerie 

- its only purpose

is to solicit an invitation

to discover

more...

 

 

All 25 resumes were written by me - David Perry - personally.  there are two of them included in my book Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters  The other 25 in You Inc. — Extreme Resume Makeovers are unique to this offer.

So why should you care about who I am and what I know?  Well, I can tell you I'm one of North America's most successful headhunters and have personally negotiated more than 994 deals totaling $174M over the last 22 years OR you can read this article from the Wall Street Journal on some of the Guerrilla Marketing techniques which I use in my own business AND then the reviews on my book Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters.

OR you can stop wasting time with a resume you know doesn't work and invest in yourself.  if you're willing to live with out Starbucks for a week you can afford an ecopy of You Inc. — Extreme Resume Makeovers 2009

 

- David Perry

Perry-Martel International Inc. www.perrymartel.com

co-author Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters www.gm4jh.com

Guerrilla Resumes Halloween Sale

An entertaining video with a serious offer for people who are struggling to have their resume standout in a sea of competition.  click here for video

Resume Secrets from America’s Top Headhunters

eXtreme Resume Makeovers - In today’s post Wall Street credit crunch bank fialure meltdown world you need to create a resume that makes you get noticed.

Your resume needs to be a reflection of not only your past experience but who you are as an individual because lets face it personality counts just as much as your credentials.  The Extreme Resume Makeover will show you how to stand out from the crowd and make that difference.

It’s a guide to painting zebras. In the end, your first impression is not the first 5 minutes of your interview—it’s the first 5 seconds when they look at your resume.  Need an exceptional executive resume?  Need a game changing resume?  Follow this link

Non-Guerrillas do the following when they are looking for a job:
Write a resume that details their responsibilities, ask their friends and neighbors if they know of any job openings, respond to newspaper ads, and a few of the tech savvy ones will reply to job board postings. That’s it. That’s not enough anymore because that’s the bare minimum everyone else does too.

Non-Guerrillas can count on the competition for the few advertised or known jobs to be fierce. Good luck to them!

Your resume is a marketing tool. Does it include a statement about your background that’s so powerful that it transforms the reader’s initial scan into a lengthy read and then into a call to you? It must. Here’s how to do just that and make them
beg to hire you!

eXtreme Resume Makeovers

Stand Up and Stand Out
I get a lot of flack for some of my ideas but between you and I --- frankly you know you're doing something right when people start copying you're work.

My eXtreme 1-page resume make overs are a good example. I'll save you the boring details but suffice it to say the average resume is a boring collection of pulp fiction. Here's a typical resume Download john_walton_before.pdf and here's the same resume reduced to one page Download john_walton_after.pdf with the salient features up front. Which would you be more inclined to look at and read if you where an employer - especially if it was sent unsolicited and you had no clearly defined open position?

The answer is the "After" one. And that's the ONLY right answer.

If you're the type who likes to copy or extrapolate you'll find 25 more examples here but I warn you they're not free.

Having said that - what's your time worth? if you make $50k per year it's $25 per hour. If your experience with unemployment fits the norm then every extra day you look for your next gig costs you $200. The average job search is 180 days [BTW it's not when you have a plan and understand how to communicate your Value]

Well I don't know about you but I have a lot of things i could do with $25k --- that little sports car i've been wanting for example. At $25 per hour that's how much you save buying the booklet.

Personally I'd rather have a template to copy from I mean... improve upon... any way.

Why your traditional resume isn’t working for you

Non-Guerrillas do the following when they are looking for a job:
-write a resume that details their responsibilities,
-ask their friends and neighbors if they know of any job openings,
-respond to newspaper ads, and
-a few of the tech savvy ones will reply to job board postings.

That’s it. That’s not enough anymore because that’s the bare minimum everyone else does too. Non-Guerrillas can count on the competition for the few advertised or known jobs to be fierce. Good luck to them.

Resume lingerie: How to get invited to the party!

Like lingerie, the purpose of a good resume is to heighten the reader’s interest in what’s possible. What might be if only…

Sex sells: Resume lingerie for job hunters

Much like lingerie, the purpose of a good resume is to heighten your reader’s awareness to what’s possible

 It’s not your life story [nobody cares]. It’s not a manual [no one has time to read it]. It’s not a manuscript [they're not that interested yet].

It’s a marketing brochure. A tool to get you a face-to-face interview – that’s all. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have 10 seconds to make an impression you have 3 if the company has no opening and your networking.

That’s a harsh reality. Now you know why the analogy applies. Sex sells. Are you desirable? Is your résumé eye-candy in a sea of deadly dull and boring?  If so you’ll miss your opportunity to impress them and regale them with your accomplishments.

Don’t save the best to last. Lead with your best foot. Put your accomplishments up front.