Guerrilla Marking for Job Hunters 2.0 Part 12

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A WAR STORY.

Jim Reil

In the mid-1980s, my cousin Randy Smith graduated from the theater program at the University of Victoria. He wanted to be a director, not an actor. He directed a few small productions in Victoria but then what? How could he start the kind of career he wanted?

In a newspaper, he read that the great American theater and opera director Robert Wilson was staying at the Hotel Vancouver in Vancouver, a ferry ride from Victoria. So Randy called the front desk and asked for Robert Wilson's room. He was put through, and Robert Wilson answered the phone. Randy said something like, "Mr. Wilson, I just graduated from theater studies and I want to study with you because you are the greatest living director in the world. I will do anything that needs doing so I can learn from you." A pause. Then Wilson said something like, "I've never got a call like this before. The answer is yes."

A short time later, Randy was on his way first to Italy and then to Germany, where Wilson was directing. Everyone who knew Randy was astonished. He was a shy, quiet person. But he had a great pa.s.sion for theater and knew that it was his vocation. He ended up in senior management at the Vancouver Opera. His story will always be an inspiration to me.

Compliments of Jim Reil,

LOGISTICS-BUILDING YOUR WAR ROOM

Next to knowing what kind of job you want, there is nothing more important than being organized. You will need to compile research, track your job leads, schedule calls, follow up your interview activities, and send correspondence. While this may not sound like much, it is a lot to keep track of, and if you misplace or lose information, it could cost you your dream job.

Here is what I suggest. First, find a s.p.a.ce in your home where you can be out of everybody else's way-an area that you can get other family members to agree is yours and yours alone. Having said that, I must add that the lack of s.p.a.ce is no excuse for failure.

When I started looking for my second job, I was working full-time 50 to 70 hours per week. My works.p.a.ce was the dining-room table in my d.i.n.ky little apartment-until my best friend needed a place to stay. After he showed up, I put a filing cabinet in the trunk of my car with all my doc.u.ments and resumes and a suitcase with 2 suits, 4 shirts, and 2 matching ties. I landed 14 interviews and 13 offers in a 4-week period.

The Ultimate Collection of Absolute Must Have Free Job-Hunting Tools-Download Them Now * Jibber Jobber: Jibber Jobber: These days, no job is immune to cutbacks, downsizing, rightsizing, or off-shoring. Like a politician whose first job is to get reelected, your first responsibility to yourself and your future is to be continually looking for new opportunities. But who has the time to track down job leads and still have a life? Now you do with Jibber Jobber. It lets you manage a serious job search-while you focus on feeding your opportunity funnel. Very Guerrilla ( These days, no job is immune to cutbacks, downsizing, rightsizing, or off-shoring. Like a politician whose first job is to get reelected, your first responsibility to yourself and your future is to be continually looking for new opportunities. But who has the time to track down job leads and still have a life? Now you do with Jibber Jobber. It lets you manage a serious job search-while you focus on feeding your opportunity funnel. Very Guerrilla (www.jibberjobber.com/signup.php).* Natsjobs.com: This is a must-have applet. This is a must-have applet. Natsjobs.com searches over 328,173 web sites, including corporate, government, and major job boards in North America looking for unique jobs that suit your parameters. It then e-mails them to you so you can spend your time applying for jobs and not surfing the net looking. Think about it. Try to track 100 of your favorite companies. If you spend just 3 minutes per company, that's 5 hours a day-time you should be spending in interviews, not surfing ( searches over 328,173 web sites, including corporate, government, and major job boards in North America looking for unique jobs that suit your parameters. It then e-mails them to you so you can spend your time applying for jobs and not surfing the net looking. Think about it. Try to track 100 of your favorite companies. If you spend just 3 minutes per company, that's 5 hours a day-time you should be spending in interviews, not surfing (www.natsjobs.com).* Google Local: Google Local: Do you hate to commute? Want to relocate? If where you work is as important as whom you work for, you can limit your job search to a specific location. Google can help. At Do you hate to commute? Want to relocate? If where you work is as important as whom you work for, you can limit your job search to a specific location. Google can help. At local.google.com you can search for employers and businesses in a specific area. Simply type in a business name or industry, as well as your city (the more specific the better). Example: "advertising agencies near Detroit, MI." Take this string complete with the "" and put it into Google local. Always leave in the word "near" but play around with keywords and the city or address. you can search for employers and businesses in a specific area. Simply type in a business name or industry, as well as your city (the more specific the better). Example: "advertising agencies near Detroit, MI." Take this string complete with the "" and put it into Google local. Always leave in the word "near" but play around with keywords and the city or address.* Message Tag: Message Tag: Everybody loves e-mail. It's cheap, quick, and easy. But how many times do you find yourself wondering what happened to that message? Should I call to see if they got it or should I wait? You'll never wonder again. Don't let the technology derail your job search one more minute ( Everybody loves e-mail. It's cheap, quick, and easy. But how many times do you find yourself wondering what happened to that message? Should I call to see if they got it or should I wait? You'll never wonder again. Don't let the technology derail your job search one more minute (www.msgtag.com/download/).* Phrase Express: Phrase Express: Filling in forms and/or remembering that ideal phrase you used last week will never be a challenge again. This free program can save you a lot of typing ( Filling in forms and/or remembering that ideal phrase you used last week will never be a challenge again. This free program can save you a lot of typing (www.phraseexpress.com).* Google Docs: Google Docs: Ever need to change something in your resume at the last minute, or wish you could show a recruiter or prospective employer your portfolio? Google to the rescue again-this time with Google Docs Ever need to change something in your resume at the last minute, or wish you could show a recruiter or prospective employer your portfolio? Google to the rescue again-this time with Google Docs www.google.ca/intl/en/options/. Make yourself 2 separate accounts, one for you to keep your private doc.u.ments on and another which you allow employers or recruiters to view relevant material such as references, resume, transcripts, and sample projects. You will be able to access your account from the internet during your interview. You could show the employer your portfolio on the employers computer screen.* News Search Engines: News Search Engines: Keep on top of breaking news on your desktop. News search engines automatically collect stories from thousands of sites on the Internet. They then cl.u.s.ter the stories and photos into an online magazine format. It is like having CNN right on your desktop, but you get to decide what you want to see. The top news search engines are: Keep on top of breaking news on your desktop. News search engines automatically collect stories from thousands of sites on the Internet. They then cl.u.s.ter the stories and photos into an online magazine format. It is like having CNN right on your desktop, but you get to decide what you want to see. The top news search engines are:- Google News ( Google News (news.google.com)- Yahoo News ( Yahoo News (news.yahoo.com)- Alta Vista News ( Alta Vista News (www.altavista.com/news/)- All the Web News ( All the Web News (www.alltheweb.com)- MSN News ( MSN News (msnbc.msn.com)* Google Alerts: Google Alerts: Even more impressive for my money are Google Alerts, Even more impressive for my money are Google Alerts, a service a service available at available at www.google.com/alerts/. Essentially, these are updates delivered by e-mail once a day based on information you tell Google to watch for. Use it like the job board agents to establish daily feeds of the information you need. It's a fundamental tool and it's free.* eVoice: eVoice: Need a telephone number you can always rely on for free? Want to have a number in a different city because you're moving and employers will screen you out if they think they have to pay for your relocation? Want a phone your thoughtful children or roommate can't tie up? Then you need eVoice. Did I mention it'll deliver messages to your desktop ( Need a telephone number you can always rely on for free? Want to have a number in a different city because you're moving and employers will screen you out if they think they have to pay for your relocation? Want a phone your thoughtful children or roommate can't tie up? Then you need eVoice. Did I mention it'll deliver messages to your desktop (www.evoice.com)?* Grand Central: Grand Central: if you're on the go and live on your cell, then you need to check out if you're on the go and live on your cell, then you need to check out www.grandcentral.com by Google. It's your one-stop solution as a guerrilla job hunter: voicemail, e-mail, and a whole lot more to your cell phone. by Google. It's your one-stop solution as a guerrilla job hunter: voicemail, e-mail, and a whole lot more to your cell phone.

GUERRILLA INTELLIGENCE.

Guerrilla Googling and the Job Hunter's Dashboard Amitai Givertz

Google's search engine has become an indispensible tool for everyone who spends any amount of time online. In the hands of a highly motivated operative, Google can be a job seeker's most powerful weapon.

When Google's various products and services are integrated for the single purpose of landing a job, that's "Googling." Using Gmail for sending off resumes; Google Docs for writing cover letters; Google Calendar for rescheduling the latest sorry-something-just-came-up-can-we-reschedule-the-interview-for-next-week-speaking-too-fast-to-catch-my-number-click is at best, ho-hum.

But when those same tools are applied for the sole purpose of gaining a compet.i.tive advantage to ensure your job search goals are attained, that's "Guerrilla Googling." What's more, while potentially quite dangerous, it's also a lot of fun.

Your Job Hunter's Dashboard Guerrilla Googling is about replicating the enemies' process and systems to gather and monitor actionable intelligence so they can be engaged on the battleground of your choosing. All that is needed is a computer with Internet access and resolute determination.

A carefully chosen alias and pa.s.sword will give you access to your Job Hunter's Dashboard, a command-and-control center, if you will. And because Google is providing the platform, conceivably you could conduct your job search in places as far flung as the Smokin' Sadhu Cyber Cafe, Katmandu, or closer to home in the Kansas City Library.

Here are the first steps for getting your Dashboard up and running:1. Create a Google account. Because we will be using this account for covert operations, choose an innocuous user name that cannot be traced back to you.2. Register for the following services: iGoogle, Gmail, Google Reader, Google Docs, Notebook, Talk, and Google Sites. Other products and services will be added later.3. If you'll be using a personal computer, you should also download the Google Toolbar and Google Desktop.4. While you're at it, if you are not already using the Firefox browser, you should be. Firefox has a number of very useful extensions that will enhance your experience. Gmail s.p.a.ce, GMarks, Integrated Gmail, Google Date Keeper, and other add-ons will give you significantly improved results.

Next, sign into iGoogle where you'll see that everything you'll need to create a customizable homepage has been provided.

By configuring the various gadgets that are publicly available with some of our own creation, an innocuous iGoogle page can be transformed from something that's cool to something that is a mission-critical technology-your Job Hunter's Dashboard!

Armed with the same expertise as a top-notch recruiter, you can now wreak havoc by doing things like inserting yourself in the recruiting process before the recruiter even knows there is an opening coming down the pike.

Of course, we haven't discussed how to use Google Sites or Google Base to make your online resume easier for recruiters to find or how to text a recruiter who rarely, if ever, gets a resume delivered to his or her mobile.

We haven't discussed how to use Google for a soup-to-nuts direct marketing campaign or how to back up your most important files using your Gmail account. And we haven't mentioned yet that, with the exception of $0.51 paperback, all of this can be done without spending a dime.

Because all this and more can be achieved using a single Google account, and a well-managed command-and-control center, I hope you'll find some reason to explore these possibilities further.

Jump online and visit http://jobhunters.g-recruiting.com when you have a few minutes to spare. There you'll find a number of easy-to-follow tutorials that will guide you through the setup and configuration of your dashboard. You'll also find shortcuts and off-the-shelf gadgets that will save you time and effort as you get started. when you have a few minutes to spare. There you'll find a number of easy-to-follow tutorials that will guide you through the setup and configuration of your dashboard. You'll also find shortcuts and off-the-shelf gadgets that will save you time and effort as you get started.

All of the things described here can be achieved using Google products and services combined with a determination to get the job you really you really want. want.

Amitai Givertz is Princ.i.p.al, AMG Management Advisors. Fast becoming a central theorist and pract.i.tioner in twenty-first century online recruiting, Ami is widely recognized for his active partic.i.p.ation in the ongoing debate on how social media, networking, and "2.0 values" can help advance the recruiting industry's progress in a fast-evolving world. He is the editor of RecruitingBlogs.com, a contributing editor on Recruiting.com, and sits on the Advisory Board for Kennedy Information's Recruiting Trends. Ami is also a member of the Human Capital Inst.i.tute's Expert Advisor Panel, Internet Recruiting 2.0. Reach him at www.linkedin.com/in/amitai001.

MANAGING YOUR SCHEDULE AND PLANNING YOUR WORK

Looking at your job hunting as flextime or a mini-vacation is a mistake. If you want to succeed, you need to stay disciplined. I have met too many people who have said, "I'm going to take the summer off," only to be scrambling before winter comes. Good for you if you can do it, but while you are lounging by the pool, guerrilla job hunters are taking opportunities away from you. My advice: take 2 weeks off after after you land your job. you land your job.

Your full-time job is now looking for a job. Begin your day around 6:30 to 7:00 AM. That time of the morning, you will be free from distractions and many executives will be in their office waiting for your call (I'm kidding). They will be in the office trying to get a jump on their day's work, and you will be a nice distraction-after you learn how to talk to these people (discussed in Chapter 9, Fearless Warm Calling). It is also a mental conditioning exercise.

When you're job hunting, you need to maintain a regular day schedule. You must start your day at the same time every morning. You also need to finish on schedule and walk away at night or you'll quickly go nuts. My suggestion has always been to start at 6:30 AM working the phone and doing the related record keeping until 3 PM. At 3 PM, you start planning your activities for the next day and take any calls that come in from employers.

Balance your activity levels carefully. You need to plan your attack, and be immersed in the minutiae of your campaign on a daily basis. There is no point in firing off a thousand resumes and not following any of them up-because the follow-up is what gets you the interview. Nor is it sensible to forsake uncovering new opportunities while you are interviewing because you may not land any offers and then you will have to start from ground zero all over again.

Your day should be organized around calling employers to arrange interviews, networking, researching new opportunities, talking to headhunters, sending correspondence, and interviewing. To the best of your ability, you should establish a routine for your activities. You want to do high-stress things when your energy level is at its highest, and call employers when they are most receptive to a call.

If you wake up each day in a cold sweat, start your day by networking with your friends because they are more likely to be pleasant than will a complete stranger. If you have a heart of stone, you can begin calling employers first thing in the morning.

I have included an organizer in Appendix 1 for planning and monitoring all the essential components of your job search. I suggest you take it to your local photocopy center and have it copied onto an 11 17 sheet of paper. Keep this organizer on your desk: 1. Make the calls to employers to set up interviews first thing in the morning (6:00 to 8:00 AM). Employers will be easier to reach and are likely to be in a good mood because they haven't had time to spoil their day yet. You are a solution to the problems they had yesterday-a welcome distraction.2. Next, move on to making networking calls to friends and a.s.sociates to whom you've sent your resume. Put your effort where the results are going to appear first. You also want to make these calls first thing in the day because generally you won't have been rejected by many people yet and your voice will project enthusiasm (if you have already been rejected, it likely wasn't work related).3. Call recruiters next. Recruiters block out 8:00 to 10:00 AM for marketing calls, so although you want to get them early in the morning, don't interrupt those marketing calls ... ... after all, they could be marketing you. after all, they could be marketing you.4. Next, call those companies you identified yesterday as potentials.5. Last, make a list of companies for tomorrow and start researching them on the web.

Some people think that getting an offer is the only indicator of success in job hunting, but they are wrong. Job hunting is a process with a beginning, middle, and end. If you nail the beginning and middle part early in the game, the end comes quickly.

THE GOLDEN SELLING HOUR(S)

If your calls are constantly being blocked by secretaries or receptionists, change your tactics. The best times to reach an executive are before 8:30 in the morning and after 5:30 PM. Most are at their desk early in the morning and leave late. Support staff generally only work from 9:00 to 5:00. When in doubt, call the main number until you don't get a receptionist.

GUERRILLA INTELLIGENCE.

Common Ground-Online Job Searching for Women Alison Doyle

When it comes to job searching and building your career, what you have in common outside of your job can be just as beneficial, or even more so, than what you have in common when it comes to your work, your career field, and your business connections.

I have Facebook friends who started out being friends on an e-mail list for working moms, back before Facebook existed. We're still in touch and those friends have helped boost my career and I've helped them with job searching.

Some of my closest LinkedIn connections became so partially because of job searching and career interests, but also because of other things we have in common-dogs with one group, politics with another, and our families with a third.

* Discover your common ground. Discover your common ground. One thing women do well is talk and it doesn't have to be on the phone or in-person. That dog connection has helped my book and my web site gain attention in a nationally syndicated column and on the Internet. How? The author and I became friends when our e-mails went beyond business and we discovered we were both "dog" people. A business relationship developed into a strong connection with someone who has helped my career immensely. One thing women do well is talk and it doesn't have to be on the phone or in-person. That dog connection has helped my book and my web site gain attention in a nationally syndicated column and on the Internet. How? The author and I became friends when our e-mails went beyond business and we discovered we were both "dog" people. A business relationship developed into a strong connection with someone who has helped my career immensely.* Expand your network. Expand your network. Be open to accepting new connections and friends because you never know who might be able to help you in the future-perhaps referring you to a job list or providing a reference. Be open to accepting new connections and friends because you never know who might be able to help you in the future-perhaps referring you to a job list or providing a reference.* Join a group. Join a group. When you join a LinkedIn or Facebook group, you'll be able to add even further to your network. Join Facebook groups that have everything to do with what you're interested in outside of work, in addition to those that are career focused. Again, you'll have contacts that can a.s.sist when you need them. When you join a LinkedIn or Facebook group, you'll be able to add even further to your network. Join Facebook groups that have everything to do with what you're interested in outside of work, in addition to those that are career focused. Again, you'll have contacts that can a.s.sist when you need them.* Talk to your friends and contacts. Talk to your friends and contacts. Pay attention to what your connections post. Add comments, share information, answer questions, and offer to help (networking works both ways-you get help and you provide a.s.sistance). Pay attention to what your connections post. Add comments, share information, answer questions, and offer to help (networking works both ways-you get help and you provide a.s.sistance).* Share your situation. Share your situation. When you're looking for a job and you're still employed, discreetly let your contacts know. Discreetly is the important part. I know one person who messaged all her LinkedIn connections including her boss to let them know she was job searching. Her boss wasn't amused and she ended up looking for a new job sooner rather than later. Message your friends and contacts privately to let them know. You'll be able to get advice, tips, job leads, references, and everything you need to job search effectively. If you are out of work, tell the world. When you're looking for a job and you're still employed, discreetly let your contacts know. Discreetly is the important part. I know one person who messaged all her LinkedIn connections including her boss to let them know she was job searching. Her boss wasn't amused and she ended up looking for a new job sooner rather than later. Message your friends and contacts privately to let them know. You'll be able to get advice, tips, job leads, references, and everything you need to job search effectively. If you are out of work, tell the world.Alison Doyle is a job search and career expert with many years of experience in human resources, career development, and job searching. She has covered job searching for About.com ( (jobsearch.about.com) since 1998.

Chapter 4.

Your Research Plan

Research: The Guerrilla's Compet.i.tive Edge

We will either find a way, or make one.

-HANNIBAL

Research is a guerrilla's compet.i.tive edge. It is an integral part of your job search. A company's web site and corporate marketing materials are designed to promote the best possible image; by learning a few clever research skills, you will be able to uncover and a.s.sess information that ordinary job hunters won't have. This information will help you make informed career choices.