Guerrilla Job Hunting

Ask The Magic Networking Question

If your network is smaller than you'd like, think of it as a yeast cell, with the power to expand from its tiny origin until it produces something wonderful. In this case, a new job!

 

Tell everyone you know that you're looking for a job. Call or e-mail every single person in your address book. Now, here's the magic question -- at the end of every conversation, ask:

 

“Who else do you know that I should be talking to?”

 

This is how you expand your network by leaps and bounds! If everyone you talk to gives you two more names, and those people give you two more names, your network will explode like crabgrass in July -- try it and see.

 

Eventually, someone should be able to put you in touch with a decision maker who can hire you.

 

Even former employers can help. If you parted on good terms with your last boss, he or she might be able to refer you to hiring managers in other companies.

 

 

Action Step: Stop thinking that your network is only as large as the people you know. It’s not. It’s FAR bigger and more valuable. When you ask: “Who else do you know that I should be talking to?” the sky is literally the limit – you could be only one or two phone calls away from talking to the CEO of General Mills, the owner of your dream company down the road … or Kevin Bacon. But you’ll never know unless you ask.

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Follow These 3 Networking Tips

“Networking for a job change or to get off unemployment is nearly essential, since people -- not computers -- hire other people,” says Matt Noah, CEO of Chanhassen, MN-based, NetSuds.com, a firm that helps professionals build and enhance their network of contacts.

 

Here are 3 ways you can network better and find your next job faster …

 

1) Attend Industry Events

No matter what you do, there’s probably a regular event of some kind where potential employers in your industry gather. Identify events or venues that will most likely help your job search, then go there!

 

“Typically, the more focused the event, the better,” says Noah. “If you are a plumber, don’t go to an electrician’s trade show, for example. And size matters -- events are popular and well-attended if they provide value to the people in attendance.”

 

So, attend well-focused, popular events. You can find them advertised in trade journals, the business section of the Sunday paper, or search for them online at www.google.com

 

2) Join a Job Club

These aren’t very high-tech or exciting. Just plain effective.

 

In a good job club, you’ll meet weekly or monthly with 10-30 other people to share leads, provide support and practice such skills as interviewing and negotiating for salary. Job clubs are usually free, so don’t fret about membership costs.

 

You’ll find job clubs all around you. Contact your local library, church, community groups and state employment agency for help in contacting one or more that suit your needs.

 

If your city publishes a free employment weekly newspaper, be sure to check the announcements section to find job clubs; you may also find them listed in your phone book.

 

3) Perfect Your Pitch

No matter how you network, you’ll eventually have to tell people what kind of job you’re after. So develop a 20-30-second “pitch,” describing who you are and what you do.

 

Focus on your unique combination of specific skills, knowledge and experience.

 

Example pitch: “I’m a tech support professional with five years of helpdesk experience. I’ve encountered and solved just about every problem imaginable. Before that, I completed officer’s training as an ROTC student while earning my MIS degree. This gives me a broader range of technical, leadership and problem-solving skills than most folks.”

 

According to marketing expert Larry Chase at www.larrychase.com, “I find people appreciate it when you can deliver your pitch in less time than they anticipated. It telegraphs that you are clearly focused and waste no time getting to the point.”

 

 

Action Step: People – not computers, Web site or fax machines -- ultimately hire people. You’ll have to work effectively with people AFTER you’re hired, so you might was well get skilled at meeting and networking with people BEFORE you’re hired.

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Send The Right Meta Message

 

Your job search could be in deep trouble … and you may not even know it. All because you’re sending a negative meta message.

 

A meta-what, you ask?

 

The term “meta message” is a marketing concept referring to the overall impression you give when communicating with others. It’s the “vibe” that extends beyond (meta) what you say (your message).

 

Here’s an example.

 

You’re sitting across from a prospective employer during a job interview. You say: “I’m really eager to be a part of your company, Mr. Jones. My five years of experience and training give me the tools to succeed as a Sales Rep for you.”

 

On the face of it, that sounds like a convincing message.

 

But if you’re saying this with spinach in your teeth, a razor cut on your chin and wearing socks that don’t match, here’s your meta message: “I’m not really that eager to join your company because I couldn’t find time to groom myself properly. If you let me anywhere near your clients, you’ll be making a big mistake.”

 

That’s just one example of how a botched meta message can ruin an otherwise favorable impression. To avoid this and keep your career on track, it’s crucial that you carefully analyze every part of your job search campaign.

 

Here’s a short list of areas to focus on, based on my experience helping nearly 3,000 clients since 1996.

 

Resume.
Make sure yours is concise, clear and convincing. Use high-quality stationery to present the best possible meta message here. I recommend laser printing your resume on ivory-colored paper, too.

 

E-mail address.
The address you use on your resume must look professional. If your current handle is “iluvbeer@party-time.com,” consider changing it to “SMJohnson@hotmail.com,” or something similar.

 

Answering machine.
Make sure your outgoing message is brief and to the point. That means no laughing, loud music or dogs barking in the background. (Unfortunately, I’ve heard each of these on clients’ messages.)

 

Personal grooming.
Comb your hair neatly every day, to prepare for that one day when it has to be perfect. Clean and press your clothes, too. And never eat spinach salad before a job interview ….

 

 

Action Step: Your meta message speaks volumes about you. Make sure yours says: “Hire me. You won’t be sorry.”

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Look Only For Jobs That Excite You

Here’s the story of “Tommy” (not his real name), who is making a critical, but common, mistake in is job search. It’s robbing him of the satisfaction and salary he deserves.

 

Tommy first called me three weeks ago, asking if I could help him write a resume. He said he wanted a pharmaceutical sales job, but he had no experience in sales or health science.

 

When I asked him why he wanted to enter the field, he said he heard it was interesting work and, besides, his aunt and a cousin made good money at it.

 

Fine. But he said nothing about actually WANTING to do this job. When I pressed him further, he replied: “Everyone says I should give pharmaceutical sales a shot.”

 

Tommy is setting himself up for misery by pursuing a job based on the “helpful” advice of others, as opposed to his own gut instincts.

 

Quick solution: go over to www.hotjobs.com or www.monster.com and search for jobs using the 3 skills you most enjoy using. Examples: sales, customer service, management … or training, writing, translation.

 

See how many advertised job listings pop up. Are the job titles you see similar to the jobs you’re hunting? Good – there’s a match between what you enjoy doing and what you want to do next.

 

If you don’t turn up jobs that match your 3 favorite skills, it’s time for some soul searching. You can refine your skills (change “training” to “teaching” for example) or search for jobs using entirely new ones.

 

Let these job boards tell you what the market demand is for your favored areas of expertise. But ultimately, you should decide to pursue a job based on what you LOVE to do, not what you SHOULD do.

 

 

Action Step: Unless you’re passionately committed to the job you seek, you won’t pursue it with enough gusto to be successful in the long run. Follow your passion.

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Email Your Resume Correctly

If you email your resume to employers and they can’t open or read it, what chance do you have of getting called for an interview?

 

Roughly zero.

 

So, how can you e-mail your resume to ensure that employers can read it?

 

For best results, send your resume INSIDE and ATTACHED to your e-mail. That way, even if you have Windows and the employer has a Mac, for example, you're sure that your documents can be read.

 

Follow these steps before e-mailing your resume to employers:

1. copy and paste the text of your resume and cover letter into the body of an e-mail;
2. attach the document (in Word or WordPerfect) to the e-mail;
3. send a test message to yourself and a friend, to see how the whole thing will look and print -- if it's a mess, adjust and test until it works.

 

 

Action Step: Practice emailing your resume following the instructions above. Send it to at least 2 friends and ask them to report on what they see. Do this until you’re 100% certain you’re emailing your resume correctly.

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

How To Recover From A Bad Job Interview

You got the interview. You went to the interview. You blew the interview.

Sound familiar?

Lots of folks come home beating themselves up after getting stumped with tough questions and coming up short in a job interview.

But here’s good news.

You can still get a job offer, even if you interviewed poorly. Do this by using your thank-you letter as an opportunity to recover and re-sell your skills.

Here’s how one client of mine did that brilliantly, and was offered a position at higher pay just a few weeks ago, despite the intense competition for jobs in this recession.

“I interviewed for a job I really wanted. But I was angry with myself afterwards because I realized I didn’t sell myself as well as I should have,” says Shelly, a high-tech sales rep from Minneapolis.

So Shelly wrote the following “recovery letter” and emailed it to all three of the hiring managers she had interviewed with. She did that on a Friday. She received a job offer the following Tuesday.

Thank you for taking the time last Friday to interview me for the sales position.

I am very impressed with XYZ Corp., from both a business and cultural standpoint. It is obvious to me that XYZ has an exceptionally bright future and I would like to be an integral part of it.

You mentioned in our interview that a fast start is essential for the person you hire. Since history typically repeats itself, I have noted a few of my accomplishments at former employers below.

 here is no question I can/will do the same for you.”

Shelly then went on to list her top 2-3 achievements for each of her previous three employers, focusing on what she accomplished in the first few weeks on the job.

Examples from her letter:

 

ACE Electronics

First year in the position I ranked #1 in the country. My quota was $6.2 million; I ended the year with 9.3 million. 

 

DEF Consulting

In my first 30 days I won a 6-month contract for 5 consultants that resulted in $360,000 in business within my first year.

 

GHI Group

In my first 90 days, I produced a Web project for $25,000 that turned into a $35,000 project and an additional proposal in the pipeline for a supply chain project proposed at $65,000.

Shelly succeeded by using her thank-you letter to prove she could do that job she had just interviewed for.

 Action Step: Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t knock their socks off in your next job interview. Instead, feel good about yourself. After all, they thought highly enough of you to call you for an interview in the first place, right?

 Then, go home and prove they were right – and that you deserve the job – by writing a “recovery” letter that resells your skills and proves you can do the job.

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Avoid The 2 Most Common Resume Blunders

Mistake #1: Focusing on you and your needs.

This is the worst mistake you can make. Unfortunately, it's also the most common.

Look, no employer wants to hire you. Employers hate hiring! They only hire employees when they have problems to solve. And no employer wants to spend a lot of time hiring you, either, just as you wouldn't want to spend more time in a dentist's chair than you had to.

 

So, your résumé must quickly answer the one question that's on every employer's mind: "What can you do for me?"

 

Unfortunately, most résumés don't.

 

Most résumés start out like this: "Seeking a position where I can utilize my skills in an atmosphere with potential for career advancement ..." And so on. This sounds fine and logical to the person writing the résumé. But it completely alienates the person READING the résumé. Because this person -- your potential employer -- has his own problems. He could care less about your career aspirations or desire to make more money.

 

Instead, tell the employer how you can add value to his/her operations, or contribute to efficiency. Notice this opening summary again:

 

SUMMARY

Seeking a position where 10 years of sales, marketing and management experience will add value to operations.

 

Now, what employer wouldn't want to talk to someone like you, who's offered to add value to his operations? You could also say: "... will contribute to operations" or "... will add to profitability." The exact words don't matter. What does matter is your focus on helping the employer meet his goals. If you do that, your career will advance and you'll make more money.

 

Mistake #2: Focusing on responsibilities instead of results.

While it's important to tell the reader what you've done at each job, it's far more important to spend most of your time talking about what you accomplished and how you made yourself valuable to past employers.

 

It's easy to do. Just think back on your daily duties. What good things happened when you did your job well? Write them down! Focus on results. The more specific, the better!

 

Instead of saying this: "Responsibilities included (but were not limited to) implementation of policies and procedures, training of new employees, interfacing with subordinates and vendors, and light correspondence duties."

 

Say this: "Worked with staff and vendors to increase product turnover by 15% and sales by 23% in five months. Also trained 14 new employees, five of whom were rapidly promoted."

 

 

Action Step: I’ve read close to 5,000 resumes over the years, and more than 80% made one or both of these blunders. Avoiding them will put your resume ahead of the pack.

 

NOTE: you can download a proven how-to guide on resume writing, with dozens of copy-and-paste examples. It’s called Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed and you can find it at this link – www.gresumes.com/book.htm

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Avoid 4 Job Interview Blunders

The following tips are from my conversation with Carole, the Job Interview Coach for Monster.com and the most capable interview expert I know, with 15 years of human resources management experience (www.interviewcoach.com).

 

 

Blunder #1: Poor Non-Verbal Communication

“Interviewing effectively is about demonstrating confidence. Things like standing straight, making eye contact, and connecting with a good, firm handshake are all vitally important,” says Martin.

 

Think of it like this: we humans have only been using words for the past 10,000 years or so, right? Before that, we communicated by grunting, posturing and clubbing each other over the head.

 

We humans have been paying attention to non-verbal cues for many thousands of years longer than we have verbal ones. It’s in our genes.

 

The person who interviews you is no different. That's why your body language plays such a vital role in shaping the first impression you make. It can be a great beginning to your interview. Or a quick ending.

 

Practice accordingly.

 

 

Blunder #2: Failure to Listen Actively 

“From the moment you start talking, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not listening actively, you’re missing out on a major opportunity,” says Martin.

 

Make sure you take copious notes, jotting down every key phrase and idea that your interviewer uses. Doing so will demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job, your attention to detail … and it will help you recall what is said. So you won’t ask a question that’s already been answered, for example.

 

Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what they said. Observe your interviewer and match their style and pace.

 

 

Blunder #3: Talking Too Much

“Telling the interviewer more than they need to know can be a fatal mistake. Candidates who don’t prepare ahead of time tend to ramble, sometimes talking themselves right out of the job,” says Martin.

 

Remember that you’re at the job interview to get information as much as you are to give it.

 

“Prepare for the interview by reading the job posting thoroughly. Try to focus on the skills you have that match the requirements of the position, and relate only that information,” says Martin.

 

 

Blunder #4: Appearing Desperate

This can be tough to avoid in the current job market. After all, you need a job! But you must rein in your emotions.

 

“As a rule, if you interview with a ‘Please, please, hire me,’ mind-set, you will appear less confident. Maintain the three Cs during your next interview: Cool, Calm, and Confident! You know you can do the job. Make sure the interviewer knows you can, too,” says Martin.

 

 

Action Step: Follow these 4 bits of hard-won interview advice, gained during 20+ years of HR experience. Nearly all the job seekers I speak with try to “wing it” during interviews … and nearly all of them regret it later. Don’t make that mistake. Heed Carole’s advice.

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

 

You Are More Qualified Than You Think

Job search expert James Adams, based in California, once advised an applicant to talk about her hobby as a private pilot when interviewing for a position at a utility company.

 

Why?

 

The job required a manager to oversee a plant delivering electricity to consumers across California. Making the wrong decision -- or no decision -- would put thousands of people in the dark.

 

As a private pilot, this woman had safely landed a crippled aircraft not once, but twice. Had she not made the right decisions fast, while focusing on a solution, she wouldn't have survived.

 

By proving her decision-making ability, which transferred easily from piloting to power plant management, she aced out dozens of other applicants -- and got the job.

 

 

Action Step: I’ll say it again -- you are more qualified than you think.

 

If you need confirmation of this, ask the opinion of at least 3 friends or family members whose judgment you trust. They can provide insights on how your hobbies, interests and experience (paid or unpaid) have given you a valuable set of skills.

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

 

Walk Right In, Sit Right Down

Robbie Brawner Ouzts, Director of Career Services at Oglethorpe University, tells the story of a gung-ho job seeker who got hired after walking into a job interview meant for somebody else! “An administrative professional, we’ll call her, ‘Shirley,’ got so frustrated after sending out resumes with no response that she decided to call on companies in person.” At 10:00 one morning, she walked into the lobby of a local business. Unknown to her, the hiring manager was expecting another woman for a 10:00 job interview. “Shirley walked in and looked dressed for an interview, so the employer thought it was his 10:00 appointment. He started talking to her and thought she was wonderful,” says Ouzts. After 10 minutes, the hiring manager realized his mistake, but Shirley handed him her resume for review. The interview continued … and she got a job as an office manager. What about that candidate who was originally scheduled to interview at 10:00? “She never did show up,” says Ouzts. Action Step: Shirley’s stroke of good fortune seems pretty incredible, like winning the job lottery. But before you dismiss her tactic as something that could never happen to you, understand this critical point: Shirley created her this break all by herself. Put another way, this could have never happened to Shirley if she had spent that morning at home in front of the TV, sulking about her job search. You can literally make your own luck if you get proactive and seek out hiring managers in person. If you’re at all reluctant about calling on employers in person, you have company. The thought of cold calling can be intimidating. Yet, ask yourself this: if you go out to meet hiring managers, what’s the worst that could happen? They say no. Big deal. Dust yourself off, and try again. But what’s the worst that can happen if you sit idly at home and wait for the phone to ring with job offers? The bank could foreclose on your mortgage. Your landlord could evict you. Your significant other could leave you for someone else. Hmm. That’s an easy choice, isn’t it?

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Network Smarter, Not Harder

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again – networking is how 70-80% of the best jobs are filled. But in today’s economy, don’t expect a plum position to fall in your lap. You must network smartly and more creatively. “Try calling on vendors and suppliers who know of companies that might be hiring. These include your local banker, CPA, lawyer and real estate agent. These people all have a great deal of knowledge,” says Bob Picha, founder of San-Diego-based Ideas At Work, a company dedicated to the release of human potential in individuals and organizations. When you call or meet networking contacts, ask for names of growing companies who could use someone with your experience. Ask for a contact person at the target employer(s), but avoid the HR department, since they often act as gatekeepers and may shun you. Action Step: Call people who may owe you a favor for past business you’ve done with them. This makes them more likely to assist by helping you find companies that are hiring.

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Read The Paper, But Not The Want Ads

Here are 3 ways to locate job openings using free resources at your disposal.

 

I interviewed Bob Picha, founder of San-Diego-based Ideas At Work, a company dedicated to the release of human potential in individuals and organizations.

 

Based on 30 years of career-consulting experience, Bob’s insights are sure to surprise – and more importantly – help you find a job faster.

 

Research is your first step in ferreting out job openings. And since almost everyone gets a daily newspaper, why not start there? But don’t spend a lot of time on the want ads, advises Picha.

 

“I take an indirect approach in looking for companies that might be hiring. For example, I skimmed today’s Wall Street Journal and found these tidbits: 

• “Toyota now wants 15% of global market share, which means they’ll be expanding worldwide and perhaps hiring locally; 
• “China is buying $1.2 billion in telecom equipment from Lucent and Motorola, which points to both firms needing new personnel; 
• “Earnings for Cendant rose 19%, so they may be hiring …

 

“The list goes on,” says Picha.

 

Two more ways to use the newspaper to uncover expanding businesses are: 

1. Monitor the business section for firms signing new commercial leases, a sure sign of a need for increased capacity, and
2. Look for companies receiving venture capital -- since it’s so difficult to get these days, such firms are likely to have a viable business model … and a need for new employees.

 

 

Action Step: With a little digging, you can uncover the employment clues that point you toward companies in need of new employees. And you’ll have almost NO competition, since 99% of job hunters look only to the help-wanted ads when they read the newspaper.

 

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Keep Detailed Records

One client, Rebecca, told me how she regretted not keeping detailed records in her job search.

 

Reason?

 

She got calls after submitting her resume to positions, but had forgotten all about what jobs and companies she had applied to! Needless to say, she didn’t get any interviews this way, and all her efforts in sending out resumes to those companies were wasted.

 

Don’t let this happen to you.

 

 

Action Step: Write down the following every time you send out a resume:

• title of job you applied for,
• company name,
• name of person addressed in cover letter,
• source of job lead,
• date resume and cover letter were sent,
• date of your intended follow-up, and
• any other notes that will help you talk intelligently should that company call you for an interview.

 

You should also keep a copy of the classified ad or Internet job posting you applied to, if one is available. That way you’ll be able to discuss the job when you get called to interview.

 

 

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Network Using Your College Career Office

You already know that most of the best jobs are found through word of mouth, right? Co-workers, friends and acquaintances sharing information -- this is how 70-80% of all people get hired, according to many estimates.

I’ve regularly written here about how networking can help you gain access to this “hidden” job market and meet decision makers who can hire you.

But today I want to share a nifty twist on networking that worked during the last recession, and can give your job search a boost in this economy, too.

 

This week’s job search tip, from Faith Rothberg, Vice President for Strategic Development at CollegeRecruiter.com (www.collegerecruiter.com), will help anyone who went to college.

Kevin: “Let’s jump right in. What’s the networking ‘twist’ that worked so well for you and how can it help others find a job right now?”

Faith: “In a nutshell, I called the career office at the University of Michigan, where I got my MBA, and asked them for a list of Business School alumni here in Minnesota that I could contact for advice on getting a job. I made some phone calls, did a few interviews and got hired by a prominent bank in Minneapolis. And I did this during the last recession, in 1991, when there were threats of war, just like now.”

Kevin: “So, you networked your way to a new job by calling people you already had an affinity with -- they went to the same school as you. That must have made it easy to start a conversation, right? You already had something in common.”

Faith: “Yes. One week after I called my career office for help, a list of about 20 names arrived in the mail. I started calling them during my lunch hour or before work.”

Kevin: “What did you ask them and what happened?”

Faith: “I asked, ‘Can I meet you for coffee and a quick informational interview?’ I ended up with about two in-person interviews and three other people gave me names to call at other companies.”

 

 

Kevin: “Describe the informational interviews. What did you do?”

 

Faith: “I asked questions about their jobs and engaged them on why they liked what they did. I tried to let them talk about themselves, which puts anyone at east. Then I handed them my resume and asked, ‘Where would a person like me fit into your organization?’”

 

 

Kevin: “How long did it take to find a job?”

 

Faith: “About 90 days. I kept calling new names as I got them, saying, ‘So-and-so suggested I call you for an informational interview.’ Sometimes I was more direct and said, ‘I heard about your opening for a ____ from my interview with so-and-so and I’d like to discuss your needs. When can I come and see you?’”

 

 

Kevin: “What’s your final bit of advice to job hunters in this economy?”

 

Faith: “Talk to anybody you know. Friends, family, friends of friends -- anyone who will let you use their name when contacting companies you want to work for. Because you never know -- it could be your friend’s dad who makes the hiring decision.”

 

 

Action Step: No matter how long ago you graduated, put your college career office to work for you. When you network with other alumni, you instantly have something in common, which builds rapport and can smooth the way toward finding a decision maker who can hire you!

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Use Temp Agencies To Get A Full-Time Job

Ever considered temporary work? For many job seekers, it’s the pathway to a full-time position with a dream employer. And it may be easier than you think.

 

To give you the inside scoop, I tracked down a veteran job seeker and an employment expert for their views.

 

According to Chad Deckard, CEO of InfoGeneratorPRO.com, an Internet marketing consulting firm, you can use temp agencies to uncover good jobs with top companies. He should know.

 

He first arrived in Atlanta, Ga., with no local contacts or job prospects, and went on to get hired for full-time positions at CNN, the advertising firm BBDO, and Time-Warner. All by using local temp agencies, with a twist that can work in any city, in any economy.

 

“After I arrived in town, I pulled out the Yellow Pages and started calling temporary employment agencies. I asked them: ‘Who are your biggest clients?’ With that knowledge, I was able to pick the right agencies to get me into the companies I wanted to work for,” says Deckard.

 

Of course, he didn’t strike gold right away. He first had to take on three short-term assignments with companies he didn’t care for. But because he completed every task with enthusiasm, he built up a record as a conscientious, hard-working employee. This led to his big break.

 

And how did he turn a temp assignment at CNN into a permanent position? He did something unusual. He asked!

 

“I did the obvious things, like showing up on time every day and doing everything that was asked of me. On top of that, I studied the company, its products/services, market, competitors -- everything -- thoroughly, until I knew more than most permanent employees. Then I just asked my supervisor for a full-time position. She hired me,” says Deckard.

 

He also turned a temp job into permanent work as an Advertising Rep at Time-Warner. “After building a solid track record, I called the same temp agency and asked them to place me directly at Time-Warner,” says Deckard.

 

By doing good work and having the right attitude, he was able to turn that temp assignment into another full-time job, again, by asking his supervisor.

 

Chad’s experience dovetails nicely with advice given by Bob Picha, founder of San-Diego-based Ideas At Work, a company dedicated to the release of human potential in individuals and organizations.

 

“Many savvy employers use temporary agencies as a screening device. It’s a chance to put temp workers through a trial period. And, if the employee is talented enough, a job can be created just for him or her,” says Picha.

 

Temporary agencies are all around you, too.

 

In addition to your Yellow Pages, you can visit www.google.com, search for “temporary employment,” and you’ll find a huge number of temp agency listings. You can refine your search by adding terms to locate agencies them by city/state, industry, etc.

 

Action Step: With a little hard work and the right attitude, you can turn a temp agency into your own personal headhunter, at no cost. Why not start today?

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Contact Employers Directly

In my ongoing series of interviews with job search experts, I tracked down Marky Stein, a career coach in San Jose, Calif., who’s perfected a strikingly innovative approach to finding a job fast – in any economy.

 

She’s the author of "Fearless Interviewing: What to Do Before, During and After an Interview" (iUniverse.com Press, 2001). Her Web site is http://www.markystein.com.

 

I questioned Marky to get her very best tips to help you access the “hidden job market,” where upwards of 70% of all jobs are filled. Here’s our conversation …

 

 

Kevin: “Let’s cut to the chase -- what’s the very best way people can uncover and apply for job openings right now, in this time of economic uncertainty?”

 

Marky: “Study after study and my own 10+ years of experience have proven that, hands down, cold calling employers is superior to all other methods.

 

“Now, before your readers say, ‘Yuck! I don’t want to cold call anyone – I’m not a sales person,’ read the following facts.

 

“The firm JIST Works, in Philadelphia, trained 1,000 job seekers in cold calling during the last recession, in 1990. These 1,000 people were trained to devote 25 hours per week to their job search and cold call employers to ask for a face-to-face meeting. As a result, 66% of them were employed within 2.3 weeks and 90% of the rest were employed within 90 days.

 

“In my own study, from 1992 to 1998, I trained over 700 disabled job seekers to spend at least 17.5 hours per week cold calling employers. Of those I counseled during those six years, 90% found jobs within 90 days.

 

 

Kevin: “OK. So what is cold calling? How is it done?”

 

Marky: “It’s simply direct contact to set up an interview. And it works for anyone, from entry-level job seekers to CEOs.

 

“To succeed, you must stop seeing yourself as a job seeker and think of yourself instead as a business person making a proposal. Instead of thinking ‘Please give me a job,’ think, ‘Here are all the good things I can do for you.’”

 

 

Kevin: “Who, specifically, should job seekers try to get on the phone?”

 

Marky: “Try to connect with a decision maker above your future boss. This is important.

 

“The person directly above you may, and often is, threatened by such a call. They may figure, “If this person is so assertive NOW, they may be after MY job in the future”.

 

“Also, a more senior person, such as your potential boss’ boss, has a more expansive view of the kinds of changes that could result in a new job being created or in someone being replaced.

 

“Third, executives often enjoy mentoring junior people, and those with a generous character can do wonders for job seekers, even if that means referring you to someone DOWN the ladder. If you get such a referral from an executive, other members of the team are likely to be open to meeting with you.”

 

 

Kevin: “Is there a script job seekers should use?”

 

Marky: “Yes, you can use the following example script to get started:

 

“Hello, my name is _________. I have _______ years’ experience as a ____________, specializing in _____________, ____________, and ______________. I have a (B.A., M.S., certificate) in _______________ and I recently completed (name a recent successful project with a measurable result). When may I come for an interview?"

 

 

Kevin: “What can job seekers expect when they start calling employers?”

 

Marky: “Cold calling has about 1 in 20 success ratio, in general. Of course, 19 ‘Nos’ on the phone may hurt more than 1,000 rejection letters, but you’ll hear it less often. Just make those calls until you connect!”

 

---

 

Action Step: Cold calling can dramatically shorten your job search, by putting you in direct contact with employers who can hire you. You’ll have no competition, because 99% of job seekers would rather answer classified ads and complain about the economy than be assertive and proactive.

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

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.

Find And Work With A Recruiter

Want to access the hidden job market and find a job faster?

 

Working with a recruiter may be just the ticket.

 

But how do you locate one? What should you look for? And what should you expect?

 

To find out, I interviewed two experienced recruiters: Rick Fox, Branch Manager at the Minneapolis office of MRI (www.mrimpls.com) and Pat Riley, principal of Houston-based, 10 Abbott Street, a national search firm (www.10abbottstreet.com).

 

 

Where do you start looking for a recruiter?

An excellent ways to locate a recruiter is the same way you’d look for a barber or dentist -- ask around, according to Pat Riley. “I suggest using the ‘friend network’ first by asking friends and family if they know any good recruiters,” he says.

 

Other avenues include the Yellow Pages (look under Employment Agencies) and the Internet (visit www.google.com and search for “recruiter” plus any industry or geographic terms that apply to you; example: “recruiter retail Chicago”).

 

“Look for a recruiter who specializes in the industry you’re in and want to stay in. Recruiters really can’t help those who want to change industries or careers -- this is a common misconception,” advises Rick Fox.

 

 

What are the benefits of working with a recruiter?

A good recruiter can introduce you to good jobs before they’re ever advertised.

 

“If an opportunity is available in your industry, you may get a call from a recruiter with information that very few people are going to know about,” says Fox.

 

A recruiter may offer tips on interviewing, too. “The headhunter will probably know at least a couple of questions the hiring manager is going to ask you. They should never put words in your mouth, but they can at least tell you what to expect,” says Riley.

 

 

How much, if any, should you pay a recruiter?

“Not one red cent,” says Riley. “The hiring company should pay the recruiter to fill the position. This is known as a contingency search, and it forces the recruiter to find the right person more quickly and work harder for you.”

 

Fox concurs. “If you’re a candidate going to a search firm, you should never pay a fee.”

 

 

Is it OK to work with more than one recruiter?

In a word, yes. “I view recruiters as strong horses that you hitch to your wagon -- you want to have as many pulling as you can,” says Riley.

 

Every recruiter understands that you want a job and that you’ll work with whoever can help, so don’t worry about hurting their feelings.

 

BUT … if a recruiter takes you to market and starts shopping your resume around heavily to companies, it’s wise to stay loyal. “They may feel cheated if you use someone else,” says Fox.

 

 

How can you get the most from working with a recruiter?

It may help to call and offer to sit down face-to-face with a recruiter. “Only 5-10% of job seekers do this. I respect the initiative of those who come and see me, and I tend to work a bit harder for them,” says Riley.

 

You can research your way to better results, too. “If you call up and say, ‘I’ve prepared a list of 15 companies I should be working for -- companies that need me -- and here’s why,’ that recruiter will be all over you, because you’ve just made their job really easy,” says Fox. You can do corporate research and find target companies at both www.hoovers.com and www.referenceusa.com.

 

 

Action Step: It’s easier than you think to find and work with a recruiter. There’s one for almost every career and level of experience, so why not hook up with one this week?

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Follow Up After You Interview

Another client, we'll call him Chuck, hand-delivered the resume I wrote for him. He applied for a warehousing/electrical position at a local firm near Detroit, Mich.

 

When I called the next day to check on his progress, he told me the hiring manager loved his resume and that the interview went well. So far, so good.

 

Then I asked him if he had written and mailed thank-you letters to the people he had interviewed with.

 

"No, gosh, I forgot. Oh, well," he said.

 

Fighting the urge to jump through the phone and strangle him, I said: "Chuck, you're making a critical mistake. Never assume the interview went perfectly. It's essential that you sit down right now (it was Saturday), write and mail a thank-you letter to everyone you spoke to. Thank them for their time, restate your best qualifications and tell them how much you look forwarding to working with them."

 

"OK," he replied.

 

Two days later he called back.

 

"I got the job!" he said. "The hiring manager appreciated the thank-you letters I sent. He said nobody he's interviewed in the past year did that, so I really stood out."

 

Normally, I hate to say, "I told you so." But not this time!

 

You've heard it again and again that you must send a thank-you letter to everyone you interview with. Yet, so few people take the two minutes to do it. Their loss is your gain.

 

 

Action Step: Assume nothing. Diligently follow up, before and after the interview, until you get that job. You and your family deserve nothing less than your best efforts here.

 

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Follow Up After You Send Your Resume

 

It's vital that you call, email, fax and/or write to every employer you send your resume to, to make sure they received it.

 

If you think this is a lot of wasted effort, think again.

 

It's possible -- even common, given the blizzard of resumes most employer get -- for the hiring manager to never receive your resume, even if you follow the instructions in their want ad or online job posting.

 

And if they don't get your resume, how can you get an interview?

 

So, keep this in mind each time you contact an employer to follow up on your resume -- you're doing them a big favor. After all, why would they spend all that time reading resumes and interviewing people if they didn't want to hear from every qualified candidate, especially you?

 

This happened two weeks ago to a client of mine, whom we'll call Stacey.

 

She faxed her resume to a Fortune 500 company in Bloomington, Minn., to apply for a job she was eminently qualified for. But she never heard back. After three days, she called to ask if they had any questions about her resume.

 

Surprise! They never got her resume.

 

Stacey sent it again, this time by email. And she was called for an interview. Which would have NEVER happened if she hadn't taken two minutes to call and follow up.

 

 

Action Step: Trust, but verify. Send your resume with the expectation that it will be read by the right person. Then call to make sure that it actually was.

 

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Job Hunter turned Comic Book Hero: BrandMan

You can call him BRANDMAN - thank you very much. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

- David Perry

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

Otherwise, grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search audio here.

Move Up Inside Before Going Outside

 

If you're currently employed, why not ask your manager about the possibility of creating a new job that suits you better? Or, ask your co-workers to see if any job functions were created for them. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find!

 

Here are two ways to create a new job in your current company.

 

1) Add Value

“Adding value is the single most powerful personal attribute you can possess,” says Les McKeown, President & CEO of success-at-work.com and author of numerous books on career achievement.

 

Did you ever hand a job or task to someone, knowing you would have to go back over it once they finished, to fix the inevitable errors and generally “mop up” after them?

 

“People who add value are just the opposite. You *know* when you give them a task that it will be completed on time, the way you want it, with no loose ends or unfinished parts,” says McKeown.

 

However, really successful “value adders” see the completion of an allocated task as only the starting point.

 

Maybe it’s by turning an event into a process. Example: not just clearing up a filing mess, but putting a filing system in place to avoid future backlogs.

 

“In whatever form it shows itself, naturally successful people consistently and appropriately add value -- all the time,” says McKeown.

 

 

2) Become an Expert

A sure-fire way to increase your value on the job is to keep learning. This can be as complex as getting your MBA or as simple as reading a book every week.

 

Whatever you do to increase your expertise, make sure your boss knows about it! Completing training, such as Microsoft’s MCSE certification, can make it more likely that you'll be rewarded appropriately in your next performance review.

 

Here’s an example from the field of medicine.

 

I’m told the average physician makes $160,000 per year. Not bad. But I know a liver specialist in Michigan who makes $500,000 and lives in a house the size of an airplane hanger. He’s a recognized expert. And he’s rewarded appropriately.

 

What subject can you become an expert in for your employer?

 

 

3) Be There Every Day

Can 80% of success really come just from showing up, to paraphrase Woody Allen?

 

In the minds of many, the answer is “yes!”

 

“I still remember my first promotion with a mixture of pride and amusement,” says McKeown.

 

“I was a young kid back in Ireland, and I had a paper-route before school. I needed the money and never missed a morning.”

 

“After 3 months, the owner pulled me aside and said: ‘Les, I’m going on vacation for three weeks. I want you to be in charge. I’ll give you an extra five shillings every week.”

 

When McKeown asked his manager why he had been chosen over older, more-experienced newsboys, he got this reply: “Simple. You’re always there. That means more to me than anything else. I wanted piece of mind on vacation. I knew you’d be there every morning.”

 

Are you THERE every day for your employer? If so, you may find your steady presence makes you more valuable than less-dependable co-workers.

 

 

Action Step: By adding value, becoming an expert, and “being there” every day, you can make yourself indispensable to any employer. Which can lead to faster promotions, keys to the executive washroom -- whatever it is that defines career success for you.

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

 

Write Down -- And Follow -- A Job Search Plan

 

The successful job search all boils down to one word -- synergy.

 

Synergy is defined as “the interaction of two or more agents so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.”

 

Synergy explains the difference between John, Paul, George and Ringo (individual musicians) and The Beatles (a magical combination).

 

Most job seekers apply for positions haphazardly -- sending out an email resume for this opening, a printed resume for that one, sometimes following up and most often not.

 

But you’ll get far better results -- and create synergy -- if you first write out a job search calendar, to schedule your efforts over the next 60-90 days. Then, follow your plan and systematically use as many tactics as possible for each job you apply for. Organizing your efforts this way will focus your job search, like sunlight through a magnifying glass.

 

Here’s how to create synergy and job search magic, in 5 easy steps.

 

 

Step 1 -- Choose your target job

You can do so by picking a job title (example: Sales Manager) or skill set to shoot for (example: sales, marketing, management). No target job = no results in your job search. Because you can’t score if you don’t have a goal.

 

 

Step 2 -- Choose your tactics

There are many. Among the most effective is networking with your personal and professional contacts. Let people know you’re in the job market and tell them what you’re looking for. Then ask this question: “Who do you know that I should be talking to?” This one question can double or triple the size of your network.

 

Other job hunting tactics include submitting your resume to online job postings, the newspaper classifieds, recruiters and temp agencies. But try to spend 80% of your time networking.

 

 

Step 3 -- Plan your work.

Create a job search calendar. This time of year, you can get free wall calendars from many stores and businesses. Any calendar will do, so long as there’s room to write brief notes for each day.

 

Map out the next 30-90 days with specific goals for every day, such as visiting 5 Web sites, calling 10 networking contacts and mailing 7 resumes.

 

Post your job search calendar prominently. Then …

 

 

Step 4 -- Work your plan.

Devote at least 3-5 hours a day to your job search if you’re currently employed, and 5-8 hours a day if you’re unemployed.

 

Recognize that your job search is a job in itself, the most important one you have right now. And that means you look for work EVERY day, Monday through Friday. Because just one day skipped per week equals a 20% loss in output. You can’t afford that.

 

 

Step 5 -- Fail your way to a new job.

As you follow your job search plan and contact all those people every day, you’re going to hear one word more than any other: “No.”

 

Learn to embrace failure like Thomas Edison, who “failed” 10,000 times before inventing the light bulb. He said: “Every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”

 

Every “no” you hear in your job search is another step closer to the one “yes” you need to get that position you really want. It’s simply a numbers game. Take heart in this fact.

 

-=-=-=-

 

Action Step: By following this five-step formula, you can create synergy, magic and the job offer you’re dreaming about.

 

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Realize The Awesome Size Of Your Network

Did you know there’s an army of volunteers -- 62,500 people strong -- sitting right under your nose, waiting to send you job leads?

 

It’s true.

 

Now. do you think you MIGHT get an interview or two every week if you had 62,500 pairs of eyes and ears on the lookout for job openings?

 

Well, you do! Because, according to most research, the average person is acquainted with about 250 other people. And those 250 people know 250 more. Multiply the two and you get 62,500 people, enough to fill Ross-Ade Stadium at the University of Purdue.

 

This huge figure is the true value of your network. Because it’s not just who YOU know, it’s who THEY know. That’s what counts.

 

So right now -- today -- please do these 3 things.

 

Step 1) Write down the name of every single person you know, from friends and family to casual acquaintances. That includes your CPA, attorney, hair stylist, manicurist, pastor, dentist, banker, real estate agent, neighbors and pastor, to name just a few.

 

Put special emphasis on listing affluent people (most wealthy people own their own business or know someone who does) and centers of influence (local leaders who know the movers in shakers in town, like pastors, superstar real estate agents and attorneys).

 

Don’t stop writing until you have at least 250 names.

 

 

Step 2) Contact 10 people a day for the next 25 days and say these words when you call or write: “I’m looking for a position where I can help a ___ company with my expertise in ____. Who do you know that I should be talking to?” Try to get at least 3 names from each person.

 

Be sure to thank your contacts for every name they give you. Then, ask each contact to please pass your name and number on to anyone they think of later whom you might be able to help.

 

(Notice, you’re not begging for a job here. You’re offering to help a company with your expertise. Big difference. And it gives you the enthusiasm that encourages others to respond.)

 

 

Step 3) Pick up the phone, call each potential job lead and follow this script: “My friend, Joe Jones, in Chicago told me to give you a call. I’m a manufacturing manager in Minneapolis and Joe said you would know who to talk to for advice. For the past ___ years I’ve specialized in ____ and I’m looking for a company that needs to get the most out of its ____. Who do you know that I should be talking to?”

 

If that person can’t help you directly, he or she should give you the name of someone who can.

 

Use of a script is important, since you can practice until it flows naturally. And be sure to stand up when you make your phone calls -- this gives your voice an extra dose of vitality, a definite plus.

 

 

Action Step: It’s not who YOU know, but who THEY know – that’s what you should focus on. Doing so will help you tap into the HUGE power of your network, right now.

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Networking Begins At Home

When networking and sending out resumes, most folks tend to search far and wide for job leads. But don't overlook your own family as a potential gold mine of employment information.

 

One client of mine, Paul W. from Columbia Heights, Minnesota, found a job this way in accounting and financial management:

 

"I emailed over 100 resumes to employers and was networking seriously, eventually getting 8-10 good interviews. But it was my wife who helped me find my new job," says Paul.

 

His wife told her friend, who told her boss about Paul's qualifications. That wife's friend's boss offered Paul an interview, and eventually, a job. It's proof that you should leave no stone unturned in your networking efforts, even under your own roof!

 

Other examples: my wife got a job interview from a contact she made at our daughter’s school … my brother got a phone call and an interview from an old high school buddy. And that was just during one two-week span, in my own family!

 

There are thousands of job leads out there, most of them unadvertised, waiting to be uncovered by you. Go get them.

 

 

Action Step: Every single relative in your family is a potential gold mine of employment information, especially those who are in positions dealing with management, human resources, sales and marketing – they will interact with hiring decision makers every day.

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Reject Rejection

Your response to a letter of rejection may, incredibly, get you the job, according to California-based James Adams, a career expert and former job-search consultant to the U.S. government.

 

"I was consulted by a woman who interviewed very well for a position, but still got a letter of rejection after applying. Most people would have torn up the letter and gone on to other things," says Adams.

 

Instead, Adams told her to write a gracious reply, thanking the company for their time and reaffirming her strong desire to work for them.

 

Did it work?

 

"The top contender for the position had to relocate on short notice. The hiring panel remembered the letter they got from the really eager and pleasant woman who replied to their rejection letter. She got the job," says Adams.

 

 

Action Step: Write a polite reply to every rejection notice you get. Thank the company for their time and restate your strong desire to work for them.

 

One more thing, I would suggest you include a final sentence requesting that the hiring manager(s) pass your name on to other fine companies who may be looking for talented employees.

 

Say something like this: “Because you saw enough value in my background to consider me for this position, would you be so kind as to pass my name and resume on to anyone you know who would benefit from my skills and experience? Thank you very much in advance!”

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

Network Backwards

 

One client, Jeff R. from Prior Lake, Minnesota, hit pay dirt in February by networking among contacts most people would never consider calling. He contacted potential employers from his LAST job search – companies he had interviewed with but not accepted job offers from.

 

"I emailed a manager I had interviewed with two years ago, before my latest job. He had moved to a different part of the company, but he referred me to the right decision maker. That new person interviewed me and offered me a job," says Jeff.

 

Action Step: Don't forget to look both ways when you network -- forward and back, all the way back to your college career office and internships, no matter how long ago you graduated.

 

And … don’t stop with your last job search. Ask your spouse/significant other, friends, family, neighbors if they have contacts from their last job search you could talk to. You’re sure to find something. But you have to ask!

Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin

Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.

FREE: Job Search - Job Hunting Flowchart

For year I looked for a flowchart that outlined the sequence of steps in the job search process because – for  me at least – flowcharts help me keep on track visually.  I couldn’t find one so I developed this one in Visio to highlight the process presented in Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0.  

Here's how to organize and think about your job hunt as a process of steps, and take appropriate action based on where you are in the process.  Now I admit this isn’t as complicated as Six Sigma or a Business process Improvement diagram – but it’s a start.  Download a full-size copy by clicking here.

Let me know what you think.

FREE audio CD gets you hired, even in "The Great Recession of 2009." Grab your Free CD of our recession-proof Guerrilla Job Search tips ($50 value). Plus, get $200 in Extra Resources if you bought the book. http://www.gm4jh.com/

- David Perry, managing director of Perry-Martel International Inc, Co-author of "Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0"

It’s No Act, I Need a Job

THE posting jumped out from the thousands of others in the résumé section of Craigslist/New York City.

 “I will give you more than a million dollars for a well-paid sales job,” it all but screamed. I clicked on that and read more. “If you are willing to employ me in a position in Manhattan with a strong salary, I am willing to draw up a legal document making you my sole heir when I die.” MORE

Why you need to become a Guerrilla Job-Hunter

“It’s not the strongest of the species, nor the most intelligent, that survive; it’s the one most responsive to change.” - Charles Darwin

Under siege from layoffs, outsourcing, off-shoring, rightsizing, downsizing and bankruptcies,  America is  in the midst of a profound business transformation. It’s the result of developments in information and communications technologies, changing human values and the rise of the global knowledge-based economy. The sheer complexity and technical sophistication of business has transformed the job market. Business is becoming knowledge-based as well as technology intensive. i

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

Rule 7: Part 1 of 4,Become a source for Headhunters. They’ll appreciate it, remember you, and reciprocate.

Today we'll start to look at how to work effectively with 3rd party recruiters: sometimes known as headhunters, recruiters and/or executive search professionals.

“Third Party recruiter” is the generic term that human resource people use to describe individuals or companies that work on contract or assignment to help them with their recruiting needs – professionals such as myself for example. You’re probably more familiar with term “head-hunter”, also a generic term used to describe the many flavors of recruiters that currently exist in America.

Get Hired Faster -- Become a Matchmaker

Here's a great way to network better, uncover more job leads -- and get hired.

Because it's a true guerrilla job search tip, you won't find it in any traditional job search book.

Instead, you'll find it in The Little Black Book of Connections, by Jeffrey Gitomer. He's a favorite of both David and myself.

Gitomer says that the key to making good networking connections is to start with your own. "Your lawyer knows other lawyers. Your accountant knows other accountants. And they both know all of their clients and can potentially leverage your position with a third-party introduction," writes Gitomer.

What does this mean for you? If you introduce the professionals in your network to each other, you can leverage the resulting good will to find new job leads.

Example: Introduce your banker to your lawyer, or your accountant to a friend who owns a small business. They will all thank you ... and be more likely to introduce you to decision makers who can hire you.

Action Steps: Why not get on the phone today and set up one lunch or coffee meeting for later this week? Matchmaking like this can increase the value of your network exponentially -- and get you hired.

- Kevin Donlin
Co-Author, Guerrilla Resumes

How to Blog your way to a Job

If you follow my blog regularly then you've probably listened to the podcasts on the adventures of Darryl Praill and Allan Zander - 2 candiates/clients/friends I spearheaded a Guerrilla Marketing campaign for.  If you haven't already listened to the blow-by-blow podcast, it's available here in the column to the left under my LinkedIn profile.
    This morning's Globe & Mail article focuses on the blog we started to underpin other elements of the multi-pronged marketing attack which included 4 color guerrilla resumes, newspapers, podcasts, television news, seminars, direct mail, cold-calling, a website and a blogg. 
    In a new world, where you always need to be looking for your next gig, it just shows you that it's easier to be found than to find a job.  And with with the right strategy your hunt will assume a life of its own - even after you're happily employed. 
    This is likely not the last chapter in the Darryl Praill and Allan Zander story which we launched with TotalPicture.com 

the Key to Networking

I was reminded the other day of a comment I made at a  speech I delivered following the Tech-Wreck crash in 2000, "the key to networking is to find people you can network with." Fortunately, for those of us who are terminally shy the Internet has made it possible to network from our computer keyboard and avoid those awkward mixers most people associate with networking events. There are many of online networking sites now to facilitate networking. All of the sites are based on the “six degrees of separation” principle which recognizes the actor Kevin Bacon as the center of humanity. Each site has slight variations on how you build and grow your network.  The following are the leading sites for job hunters who want to e-network their way to success.

Linkedin.com From a head-hunter’s standpoint, LinkedIn has it all. From a job-hunter’s standpoint LinkedIn represents an opportunity of a lifetime to establish a powerful network of influential colleagues and friends, Linkedin.com {www.linkedin.com} is my favorite. You can open a linked in account for free. It works by first requiring you to set up your on-line profile and then invite your friends to join your network. After people join they ask their friends and colleagues to join. For job-hunters this is a treasure trove of leads.  For recruiters it's one of the 1st places we all start searches.  Like ZoomInfo, if you can't be found on LinkedIn

JOb Hunting: You're Hired!

Know who you’re negotiating with. Ever drive a great deal on a car only to find the salesman couldn’t approve the deal?  Knowing where a company is in the hiring process gives you power.

To leverage the situation you need to figure out:What’s their time frame for a hiring decision? How long has the position being open? What kind of deal can you get with their competitor? Have then made any offers yet?

Lastly, do your homework to understand what’s in the deal for the interviewer. Can they afford to walk away?

Like Donald Trump said: "The Worst thing you can possibly do in a deal is seem desperate to make it.  That makes the other guy smell blood, and then you’re  dead.The best thing you can do is deal from strength, and leverage is the biggest strength you can have. Leverage is having something the other guy wants. Or better yet, needs. Or best of all, simply can’t do without."
—DONALD J. TRUMP, TRUMP: THE ART OF THE DEAL