I want to give you all a quick heads-up that I will be traveling for the next several weeks, and so won’t be posting on the blog.
I’ll still be available by email if anybody needs to reach me (and comments left on the blog go straight to my email). So if you have a question, ask away!
I’ll be back to my usual posting routine around mid-September.
Cheers everyone!
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
A couple of weeks ago, I posted some links to a couple of great articles by Sital Rupalia. He left me a comment to say thanks, and I said that as long as she keeps writing great articles, I’ll keep linking to them.
It didn’t take her long to post another great one. This one talks about 13 ways to stay positive during an economic downturn – and you should definitely read it!
Posted in Job Search, The Economy | Tagged Economy, Goals, Routine | Leave a Comment »
I’ve referred a few times over the past few months to posts by Hannah Morgan on Secrets of the Job Hunt Network. She recently posted a particularly valuable article about why job searches sometimes don’t work. It’s short and very much to the point. Read it here: http://www.secretsofthejobhunt.com/profiles/blogs/why-isnt-my-job-search-working
Posted in Job Search | Tagged Job Search | 2 Comments »
I want give you all a quick heads-up about a new eBook coming soon from Tim Tyrell-Smith at Spin Strategy, called “30 Ideas”. It isn’t released yet, so I haven’t read it, but from everything I know about Tim and his work, it’s going to be top notch.
Subscribe to his blog here so you can get it when it comes out: http://blog.spinstrategy.com/2009/08/30-ideas-the-ideas-of-successful-job-search-the-new-ebook.html
Posted in Job Search | Tagged eBook, Job Search, Networking | Leave a Comment »
Often these days resumes are sent exclusively by email. I advise against this – whenever possible, send a paper copy by snail mail as well. But I realize that often, it’s only email.
Which means that you need to get your emails opened and read, even when they’re one of a thousand new emails received by the person you’re sending to.
So how do you stand out?
Well, this is a problem that marketers and copy writers have been dealing with for a long time, and there are three main ingredients to writing headlines that get read (including email headlines):
1 – They need to be question-based, rather than statement-based.
2 – They need to be problem-based, rather than solution-based.
3 – They need to evoke curiosity, rather than giving it all away.
Sean D’Souza, over at Psychotactics, has written a great free report explaining each of these three steps. Get it here: http://www.psychotactics.com/why-headlines-fail
Posted in Finding Opportunities, Job Search, Prospecting | Tagged Cold Calling, Prospecting | Leave a Comment »
I sent an email to the readers of my free “Where are the JOBS?” special report, explaining how to use Google Alerts in their job search. Here’s what I wrote:
Let’s pretend that I’m a potential employer, and I did hear some bad stuff about you… that would be pretty bad, right?
Hence my job search tip for you today: Google Alerts.
Google has a service that will automatically notify you when something is posted online with the terms that you ask for (like your name).
If there’s something floating around the internet about you, then you want to be the first to know.
Homework for today: go to http://www.google.com/alerts and setup an alert for your name!
A couple of days ago, I got an email back from one of my readers, with some extra tips. Here’s what he wrote:
There are some other ways to user Google Alerts. You can setup:
1 – Your ideal job title and get alerts for new jobs;
2 – Specific companies you are interested in (you’ll get news items which will include new contracts, projects, etc. usually with names of company executives and employees for you to write to, express congratulations, etc. as a “door opener”)
3 – Locations you are interested in. e.g. I happen to be here in Montreal but, I have US citizenship and I know that Plattsburgh has a lot of new manufacturing going on. There are government incentives for companies to locate in Northern NY. Canadian (esp. Quebec) companies are setting up shop there to capture more US market share. I have actually had 2 interviews with Quebec companies’ US operations. In my alerts I see companies relocating there, getting new contracts, opening new facilities, etc. Again, all great dialogue starters without saying: I am looking for a job!
Do you have any more tips about using Google Alerts with your job search? What’s your favorite trick?
Posted in Finding Opportunities, Job Search | Tagged Job Opportunities, Prospecting | Leave a Comment »
A friend of mine shared a great prospecting trick with me. The problem he was looking to solve is that it’s very hard to talk to the actual hiring manager when calling a large company; the gatekeepers are trained to divert you to HR (where your resume will be buried under a sea of paperwork).
Here’s my friend’s solution to this problem. He calls the company, and dials a random extension. Whoever picks up, he asks them “is this Mr. Jones?” (assuming Mr. Jones is the manager that he wants to talk to). When they say no, he explains that he dialled the wrong extension (which is true), and asks if they can transfer him.
What do you think? Would you try this?
Posted in Job Search, Prospecting | Tagged Cold Calling, Interviews, Job Opportunities, Prospecting | Leave a Comment »
Here is a great job search trick offered by a reader of the free “Where are the JOBS?” special report:
When I answer an ad I create a matrix with 2 columns: left side = the list of the job’s requirements (or Job Description, etc.), the second column shows how I fit each requirement.
I have used this in the body of my e-mail cover letter so the recipient doesn’t even have to open any attachment.
Aside from making it easy for a human recipient to see that I am qualified for an advertised position, it has another advantage (and I am not making a joke): some resumes are scanned for keywords by computer, since I am using the advertisers requirements, my initial document will always pass the computer scan and get to the first human reading (like I said: no joke!).
When I apply for jobs where I may be overqualified I may just send the matrix cover letter as a resume; this has gotten me at least one interview.
Posted in Job Search, Resume/CV | Tagged Job Boards, Job Opportunities, Resume/CV | Leave a Comment »
A very common problem that I’ve noticed for job seekers is that they don’t want to let people know that they are looking for work. What a mistake!
Sital Ruparelia recently wrote two great posts about this, that you should definitely read:
4 Reasons Why You Stop Yourself Getting Support After Redundancy
and
Success Story – The Value of Reaching Out to Your Network
Posted in Networking | Tagged Job Opportunities, Networking | 3 Comments »
A couple of weeks ago I found an amazing tip in a great blog post by Amy E Andrews, titled “Keeping Momentum during the Holiday”. Here’s the tip:
“Check out the Inc 500 & 5000 index for small, private companies in your local area that are experiencing large growth. These companies have made these lists due to their great growth, which often translates to jobs. Many times they’ve grown so fast, they don’t have the sophisticated recruiting processes of large companies and are more open to accepting direct inquires for informational interviews.”
The Inc 500 & 5000 index is at http://www.inc.com/inc5000/
Oh, by the way – today’s my birthday! If you don’t want to send a gift, how about telling a friend about my blog?
Posted in Job Search | Tagged Job Opportunities | Leave a Comment »
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