The Search for Work

Copyright 2009 - J. T. Pedersen – www.jtpedersen.net

JOB SEARCH BROWN BAG:

THE SEARCH FOR WORK 03.26.2009J. T. Pedersen

[email protected]

734.516.0139

mailto:[email protected]


Introduction & Welcome

In 2005, I left my employer of 13 years. My most recent prior job campaign had been in 1992.

A lot had changed in that time…

Rather than have you go through his painful learning process, I want to share some of my lessons-learned with you.

24-pin dot matrix | color laser

classifieds | internet job boards

landlines | no lines

typewriters | keyboards

letters | email | IM | SMS


You’ve Gotten a Jolt! Now What?

Core Job Campaign Components Personal Website

Email Campaigns

Direct Mail

Job Boards

Networking

Recruiters


PERSONAL WEBSITES & BUSINESS CARDS


Your Personal Website

•Online PresenceHelp Them, Find You

•Works 24 hrs a Day

•Landing Point for Marketing Efforts

• Email campaigns• Email Signatures• Business cards /

networking

•Gauge Interest LevelsGoogle Analytics


Business Cards

Business cards are like currency. They’re quick, easy, and unobtrusive.

A personal business card:

•More subtle than carrying resumes

•Convey a positive impression

•Useful in business & social settings

•Useful for note taking

•Where your business card isn’t ideal

Take a look at http://www.quintcareers.com/networking_business_cards.htmlfor more ideas and info.

1,000 = $40 + 3 hrs

http://www.quintcareers.com/networking_business_cards.html



Business Cards

Business cards are like currency. They’re quick, easy, and unobtrusive.

A personal business card:

•More subtle than carrying resumes

•Convey a positive impression

•Useful in business & social settings

•Useful for note taking

•Where your business card isn’t ideal

Take a look at http://www.quintcareers.com/networking_business_cards.htmlfor more ideas and info.




CONTACT INFORMATION


Who’s In Your Who’s Who?

Category A ‘Best’ contact Return calls within 24

hrs Multiple calls Ok

Category B May have been an A Last contact >12

monthsCategory C

Met at an event; have a card; no real relationship

Case Study:• 4,316 contacts• 15 years of info• Rarely deleted much• ‘Review’ even more

rare

• Complete review• 125 Cat As• 800 Cat Bs• Cat Cs removed

http://jtpedersen.net/2009/03/24/whos-who


Cleaned Contact Database

Results in: Better Return on Effort

Email marketing Direct mail Phone calls Knowing who you’re talking to (e.g.

titles, roles)


EMAIL CAMPAIGNS


Email Campaigns

An Email Campaign can be an essential part of your job campaign…and networking in general.

•Easy to personalize one-to-one

•Target by group:• Colleagues

• Customers

• Friends

•By Intent:• Holiday

• Nice to Know

• Network Outreach

Email Campaig

ns

Stay In

Contact

Target-able

Easy to Do

Low Cost


Your Email

Make sure your email is always working for you.

Always have an email signature that includes whatever info is important to you.

If you have a website, include a pointer to it if appropriate.

Always communicate formally:

• Greeting• Body• Closing• Signature


DIRECT MAIL


Direct Mail Campaigns

In an increasingly digital world, Direct (U.S. Post) Mail still has its place.

•Easy to personalize one-to-one

•Target by group:• Colleagues

• Customers

• Friends

•Very Professional, Formal

Direct Mail

Campaigns

Physical

Target-able

Easy to Do

Impress

Lingers



Mailing lists come from any number of sources. They vary dramatically in cost and quality per contact

•Newspapers

•Associations

•Directories

Mailing ListsCrain’s Book of Lists• $350 – 3000 contacts• High Quality (5-10%

failure)• ~12¢/contact

Directory of Mgt Recruiters• $400 – 4000 contacts• Print form (you key in

~400)• Lower Quality (25%

failure)• ~$1.33/contact



“Brand” Your Materials

You are presenting yourself as a solution to someone’s problem. You like your clothes to match. Your cover letters, resumes, and related material should match too.

•Common letterhead

•Same weight paper (e.g. all 24lb)

•Same color ;)

•Fountain pen for signature

•‘Live’ stamp; no postage machines


JOB BOARDS


Job Boards

Job Boards are, in my opinion, a necessary evil. Statistics show <10% of all jobs are found through job boards.

•READ their privacy statements

•Watch how much info you provide

•You’ll Need Multiple Resume forms

• Plain text• Narrow Text• .DOC• HTML

•Sooner or later…’Rabbit’

Pro Con

Low Value: Flexible Roles

Privacy Concerns

100s of Job Boards

Lots of SPAMLow-Grade

Traffic

Visibility

Drive Some Good Traffic

Best for Discrete Roles


RECRUITERS

Copyright 2009 J. T. Pedersen - www.jtpedersen.net

Recruiters

Remember:•They work for the employer:

NOT YOU•They are paid by the employer

NOT YOU•Lower value in today’s market


NETWORKING!


Networking

“A network is an organized collection of your personal contacts and your personal contacts’ own contacts.”

Harvey Mackay, author of, “Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty.”

People fear networking…without realizing they’ve done it all their life.

Movie

Dinner

Gym

Personal Trainer

Service Shop

Motorcycle Dealer

If you’ve recommended a…

You’ve been networking!


Networking

What is it?Creating ConnectionsSharingReciprocatingNOT Job Searching

Prune Your Contacts dBase

Movie

Dinner

Gym

Personal Trainer

Service Shop

Motorcycle Dealer

If you’ve recommended a…

You’ve been networking!


Networking

Key goals:

•Meet people. Introduce yourself.

•Listen

•Have Your Own Story ready to go

•Quality time for a few; not the room

•Come away with new contacts

Business cards

Your calendar (planner, PDA)

To take quick notes

Your ‘30 second’ About Me story

Be prepared with

Don’t worry about meeting ‘every’ person at an event. You’re better off with (1) good contact, than a bunch of blank business cards.


Networking

Social Networks

Not all networking groups will pan out for you.

Go to different ones, see which add value, which ones don’t, repeat as necessary!

Ann Arbor SPARK

AIIM.org (e.g. Data Mgt Pros)

Parties (pro or social)

Dinners

Sports venues

Motorcycle rallies


Networking

Online Social Networks

Incredible resources for finding people, lost colleagues…

Incredible resource for being found…

When you research a company, they’re excellent resources for finding people you know that may be able to help.

• www.linkedin.com• Professional networking

only

LinkedIn

• www.facebook.com• Social networking

Facebook

• www.twitter.com• Mental grunts ;)

Twitter

http://www.linkedin.com/

http://www.facebook.com/


The ‘Other’ Category

Track Your Job Search Expenses!

Mileage

Networking meals

Print Supplies• Inkjet/Toner Cartridges• Paper• Envelopes

Postage

Resume Writing Fees

Advertising, Agency Fees, & More

Talk to your accountant

Job Search expenses > 2% of your Adjusted Gross Income may be tax deductible.

Copyright 2009 J. T. Pedersen - www.jtpedersen.net

Time Is Precious

5% Job Boards 5% Recruiters10% email/Direct marketing80% Networking

Today, its all about:Who you know;

Who They know; and,What they know.


The ‘Other’ Category

Books to Read

• Harvey Mackay• ISBN-13: 9780385485463

“Dig Your Well Before You’re

Thirsty’

• Rick Frishman & Jill Lublin

• ISBN 1-59337-020-2

“Networking Magic”

• John Kotter• ISBN 978-1-4221-7971-0

“a sense of urgency”

• George Leonard• ISBN 0-452-26756-0“Mastery”

• Tom Peters• ISBN 0-375-40772-3

“The Brand You 50”

THANK YOU!J. T. Pedersen

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Self Improvement

The Search for Work