Posts Tagged looking for a job
Volunteer to be a Speaker will get you Noticed
Posted by Steve in For Job Seekers on October 6, 2009
Someone needs to get their name and face out there. Maybe they are looking for a job?
Groups need speakers because they want to make the meetings more interesting. Maybe they need more members? Unfortunately, many people who attend these groups do not want to speak; and the groups do not have money for a speaker.
There is an opportunity here. If you are looking to generate more business, more contacts, more likelihood of people knowing who you are when they need you, then you need to get in front of more people.
Come up with three different topics to talk about for five minutes, 15 minutes, and 45 minutes. Maybe not that excessive, but you get the idea that you need to have more than one topic and be flexible on the time. Offer your services for free (maybe they give you a free meal) at different events.
Go to these events. Hand out your business cards. Be memorable. Connect to people on Linked-In and Facebook. Follow up with them and keep them involved.
Volunteering to be a speaker and entertaining people will do more for your networking and contacts than many one on one meetings. You not only met them but gave them an interesting presentation. You are stronger their memories. Your name is more likely to come up when they need someone with your skills (or business).
Now, is that not what you want? More business?
Market yourself…
Posted by Steve in For Job Seekers, Miscellaneous on May 26, 2009
Everyone is the CEO of … themselves. Regardless of whether you have a job, are looking for a job or manage your own company, you are always in charge of yourself. Therefore, as the head of your own marketing, you should manage a marketing campaign to the masses on bringing them your key product: YOU.One great example is Kenrick Chatman. He is currently looking for a position in strategic consulting and his web site is at www.kenrickchatman.com. The focus is on sales strategy. He identified the one key thing every company needs in these troubled times, more sales, and he is delivering that advice. If you want execution, then you need to hire Kenrick. Kenrick is also doing a blog which you can follow on his site.
I like his site because it is professional and provides information for a variety of business types. He can use this as a way of marketing himself to a variety of people without constantly saying: I am looking for a job; but implying that he is a person that gets results. He found an area that interests him and as he continues to update the site and do research it can provide a source of constant training.
Sell Yourself, sell your products, sell your company
Posted by Steve in For Job Seekers, Plan, Strategy on April 21, 2009
Whether you are looking for a job or looking for a customer you have to sell yourself.
What are the benefits and advantages you bring to the buyer?
Why you?
Can you state tangible data?
Unless you can tell them how your product (or yourself) can provide a benefit or advantage rather than just fulfill a need for a feature, then you are just a commodity. There are tonnes and tonnes of commodity products just like you out there. However, when you provide tangible data, they see the benefit.
Example 1.
1. Created a program that automated the analysis of client data increasing productivity and saving money.
or,
2. Developed automation to analyze client performance and opportunities; cutting cycle time from 3 days to 15 minutes and creating the equivalent of two full time analysts.
Statement 1 is generic. Statement 2 shows how I increased productivity and saved money providing the actual benefit.
Example 2.
1. Analyzed modifications to call center sales teams to improve performance and lower costs.
Or
2. Identified over 6 MM dollars (~40% of budget) in improvements to department financial results.
Statement 2 shows the tangible improvement was quite significant while statement 1 leaves it vague.
Whether you are selling yourself or your products, focus on the benefits and the advantages. The features are helpful, but they should be used as stepping stones to educate the potential buyer on how that product (or you) can improve their situation.
Advertising publicly is tricky – Be clever, consistent, and tangible
Posted by Steve in For Job Seekers, Plan on April 16, 2009
[Correction: Pasha's last name was incorrect in the first post. I have corrected it to Pasha Stocking. Check out her web site at www.hirepasha.com]
Would you use a billboard to advertise your company? Yourself for a job? Your company for investors?
The answer to the first is it depends. The answer to the second is probably not. The answer to the third should be an absolute No. If you do not understand why you would not use a billboard to advertise for investors, then ask any lawyer about SEC rules.
Pasha Stocking is using a billboard to advertise herself for a job. Visit www.hirepasha.com. CNN wrote about her on April 13, 2009.
Mark Heuer is doing the same thing on www.mark4hire.com. Pasha got her idea from Mark when he was featured on the news.
There are so many things I could talk about regarding these two people. Instead of talking about personal brands, or going crazy with your job search, I will focus on these three recommendations.
Recommendation 1: Be clever with a new media for your activity. Use it to generate buzz and interest in you.
Clearly, both Pasha and Mark do this because a billboard is UNUSUAL and got them on the news.
Recommendation 2: Be very consistent (and clear) on your message.
When you advertise yourself publicly, people will remember this message. On his web site, Mark is great at just writing about his successes and what he can do for you in sales or management. On her web site, Pasha writes about her marketing/PR, but she misses the point in just looking for a job. Her site has links to where she is looking for clients for one of her many businesses. Which is it? Is she looking for a job, or looking for clients.
The answer is simple: She is looking for both, but prefers a steady job where she can make a difference and grow. In the meantime, if someone would like her service for short-term, then she is available. Or, if someone just wants to try her out before hiring her permanently then she is also available.
Unfortunately, she causes the public to have to think about this. The reality is that most do not. People will think that she is just hopping from job to job. There are ways she can spell this out.
Recommendation 3: Focus on TANGIBLES (accomplishments) on your resume. If you post it publicly make sure it dazzles.
Let us be really unfair and compare Mark to Pasha. Mark lists specific accomplishments on his resume. He has 29 bullet points. 17 of them cover accomplishments that show how he grew his company. Pasha does not have a single specific accomplishment like this. I am sure Pasha has these accomplishments. Only Mark’s dazzles.
Same thing applies to when you talk to investors: if you have accomplishments and successes then use them!
Both Mark and Pasha get many points for guts and getting their names on the news. Pasha is looking for a position in PR and/or marketing and consults in this area. For getting on CNN alone, she should be considered by some firm as someone eager to learn, able to think outside the box, and gutsy enough to do something with it.
However, for looking to someone to grow my company, I would only look at Mark. He talks about successes.