Sunday Funday featuring a Daily Show Excerpt

John Sterwart comments on today's unemployment numbers and does his part to "fill openings."

In today's economy, people have to take work where they find it. But it can be hard settling into your new role.

Today's news

Explaining gaps in job history.

People Performing Their Job Poorly

Stalk the Talk: How Far is Too Far?

With the amount of information easily accessible on the internet, it makes sense to use it to your advantage. For instance, I have had success in looking a person up on the internet before making a sales call. I would see where they went to college on LinkedIn and if we had any shared connections. Then when I called them I might casually drop a line like “I can’t believe that OSU game this past weekend. What an amazing 3rd quarter.” Yes, it is cheesy, but even if they didn’t watch the game (unlikely knowing most Buck-Eyes) the contact would more easily warm to me. They would get all excited, tell me they went to OSU (what a coincidence ;) and then continue speaking to me with more openness. In this regard, the internet and the information it houses is a wonderful tool.

But how far is too far? When does being clever turn into being creepy? Within 5 minutes you can find a person’s college, grad school, marital status, home address, past work experience, politics, pictures of their children and friends, learn their favorite movies, books and quotes, etc.

Example: You decide you want a job at Company X so you do some research on the internet. You quickly find out on LinkedIn that a Ms. Smith at Company X went to your alma mater, Drexel University. You also see on facebook that she has several children, loves the movie Say Anything and is a Republican. Before you know it, you have gone too far and now you feel like you really know Sally (Smith) and that you can relate to her. She is no longer a scary unknown person that you are cold calling. She is a mother with great taste in movies and you have a common link in where you went to school.

However, when you call her she will know nothing about you. You don't want to show your cards too fast and sound scary. Imagine you used this as your openning line: “Hi, Sally. This is JobSeeker. I wanted to talk to you about my work experience and see where there may be an opportunity for me to interview with your company. I went to Drexel University and upon graduating began working in your field. I have always been a hard worker, probably because I grew up in a large family, and believe my experience would translate well into Company X. I know it is a tough job market right now, no thanks to that Obama fellow, but I would like to sink my teeth into a great job opportunity. However, I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that....Just kidding. I will do whatever is needed. I just love Cameron Crowe movies, don't you?"

Basically, the internet offers a lot of information for you to sink your teeth into and it can be a useful tool, but don’t overdo it. Relationships are a two-way street. So yes, look someone up on the internet and do some research, just don’t go crazy. Leave yourself some room to learn about someone through real interactions. And if you have a shared connection with a contact, talk to your shared connection first. Don't just drop their name. You need to find out how good of a relationship they have with the contact first and whether or not your friend can help you.

And on the other side, think about how much information you want people to know about you? Think twice before you share your autobiography on the internet because there will be people out there who will try and use that information to manipulate you.

Seriously?!? The Job Referral Pony Show

I have been applying to a company of interest for some time. They continually update their website with new openings and my various job alerts all confirm to me that this company is hiring. I have been excited and frustrated by this for some time; excited because I want to work there and frustrated because I know no one there and they never ask me to interview.

This is a new day, however, and on this new day, it turns out one of my new MBA classmates is an employee of this company and is interested in referring me. Can you say “Sweet!”?

You think this would be simple, right? The company already has various cover letters and a copy of my resume. I input all of my information into their database. All they need to do is look me up and call me in. Unfortunately, this is a company, and it is part of a larger company, so they have systems and processes and red tape and stupid, nonsensical rules.

Since my resume and information were put into the system prior to my friend’s offer to recommend me, I cannot be referred. It is too late and database information cannot be edited.

The company, however, did offer an alternative to this rule. They said that if I change my email address on my resume and re-input my information into their database using this new email address, I can have my friend refer this new account.

My name is the same, my credentials are the same, and my experiences are the same. Yet, this new account with all of this repetitive information will be tracked independently from my original information.

How ridiculous is that? Granted, I will be creating a new email address as soon as I get a chance and will create a new profile in their database ASAP, but I feel like I am on a low-budget-comedy TV show…like the ones where people do stupid things and make gag jokes (usually involving animals) for the enjoyment of easily-amused, simple-minded folk (You know the kind. People who would laugh at videos like this one).

I hope my friend’s referral helps me get an interview. I then hope I don’t ruin the opportunity by mentioning how stupid of a process this all is.

And on another note, my friend told me that a large number of the company’s hires are done based on referrals, yet they post positions all over the internet. Why post if you are looking for referrals? And for that matter, why might my resume look great for a position if I am referred, but not even spark their interest without one?

Seriously?!?

Network Contacts: Quality vs. Quantity

                  Niche  Network                                                                  Broad Network

Let’s discuss the strengths and weaknesses of a niche network (everyone in your group knows everyone else in your group (i.e. your best friends in high school)) versus an broad network (an individual is connected to lots of people in different groups, but does not have as close of a relationship with the people in these groups (i.e. your high school class president, assuming he was also the football captain, valedictorian, lead in school play, and main drug dealer on campus)).

Assuming you could only pick one type of network, which would you prefer in your job search?

A broad network values quantity over quality. You try and collect business cards and meet people in various fields and industries. Maybe you collect contact information at industry trade shows or networking events. You know their name and perhaps have similar career interests, but not much else. You might feel confident reaching out to when a position opens up at their company, but it might be a little uncomfortable to ask them for an interview or vouch for you when nothing is available. These contacts have little to no reason to trust you other than the fact that you seemed nice upon first impression (hopefully). A broad network is much larger than a niche network, however, offering you broader search opportunities for employment.

A niche network on the other hand, values quality relationships over quantity. This network consists of close peers within your industry, former co-workers that you have bonded with, high school and college friends, etc. I would expect that many of your contacts in this group know one another as well. When job searching, you would feel comfortable asking one of your contacts to vouch for you or recommend you to their boss for an interview. They would be more willing to stick their neck out for you and put in some extra effort to help you out. However, these contacts are less broad and when you find an open position, there is less of a chance that someone in your network actually works for that company.

Obviously, you can see the benefit in having a hybrid network (niche and broad). However, if you could only have one network for your job search, I think I would choose niche. In this economy, with the amount of unemployed people vying for a very small number of open positions, I would much rather have a friend vouching for me. It may take me a while to find the right opportunity, but once it presents itself, I feel confident my network will be there to support me.

I feel that a contact in a broader network would be less likely to recommend me for a position in this economy because there is more risk involved. Companies are acting much more carefully in their hiring decisions (when and if they are actually hiring). At the same time, many employees are still worried about the security of their job. In this instance, I imagine a weak contact would not feel confident vouching for a person they have a loose connection to.

In practice: Social networking and any leveraging of your network is becoming more important in the search for the perfect job. Think about your networks and plan ahead. Don’t just connect to 1,000+ people on LinkedIn and Facebook. You can, but don’t expect that to translate into job offers. Begin to strategize who you would like in your niche network and then make it happen. Make an active effort to befriend certain contacts. Learn about their hobbies, family, career paths, etc. When a job opportunity presents itself one day, you will be better off having a stronger relationship with this contact. Knowing their name and phone number just isn’t enough (yes, I see some contradiction between this advice and my recent Stategies to acquring new contacts).

Strategery: Acquiring Contacts (Part 2)

As promised, here are the additional five sure-fire strategies guaranteed to give you some potential success at getting closer to acquiring most people’s contact information. As I mentioned in Part 1 of this 2-part post, acquiring pertinent contact information can be difficult. However, it is an obstacle, not a dead-end, on the path towards getting your resume in the right hands, speaking to a person of interest, pitching the final decision maker, etc. So don't get frustrated when you can't find a person's information easily. Get clever instead.

1. Hoovers/Spoke/Redbooks/Plaxo
• These are professional sites similar to Capital IQ and Bloomberg. However, the focus of these sites is more informational and less financial. They are less robust, and cost less to subscribe to (I think Plaxo is actually free (though I am not sure how much different it is from LinkedIn). Hoovers tends to have contact information for most companies. Redbooks information can be dated and sometimes you will see information for someone that hasn’t worked at a company for several years. I have never used Spoke, but it always pops up in Google when searching for people. I would appreciate any insite on Spoke from anyone who has used it.
2. Facebook
• A recent study showed that if Facebook were a country, it would be the 4th largest country in the world. With numbers like that, odds are the person you are looking for is on Facebook. So look them up. See what information you can find. Perhaps you share a friend. Maybe you will learn where they went to college. If so, ask a friend that also went to that school to look them up in their alumni network for you. I would suggest you DO NOT try and friend random people on Facebook, however. This may hurt your cause and make a cold contact even less interested in communicating with you. Use Facebook for research and to learn about a person, not to start a relationship with them.
3. Twitter
• I have found that some key executives have begun using twitter to share their insights, work-related anecdotes, lunch habits, etc. Start following people you are interested in talking to. Not only will this help you learn more about the company and the person, Twitter allows you to do something that you can’t do as easily in LinkedIn or Facebook. Twitter allows you to tweet to someone directly. Send a quick note to your contact and give them a reason to tweet back. It could be a great first impression if you can say something relevant in less than 140 characters.
4. 10-Qs/10-Ks
• These financial documents are made public for all publically traded companies. While they may seem long, scary and confusing, they are not as complicated as you think. And for most of you, you can ignore a majority of the information within. Try searching these documents for key executive names and see what pops up. You may end up with email addresses, corporate addresses, etc.
5. Guessing
• Guessing has worked out very well for me. For the most part, email addresses at companies follow consistent formats (i.e. first.last@company.com, firstinitial.last@company.com, first.middleinitial.last@company.com, etc.). If you are able to find the email address for one person, chances are you can guess the email address of the contact you want to reach. I have had great success guessing and getting my information in front of the right person. I do get Mailer Deamons from time to time, but when those come, no one knows but you!

These tactics have worked. I have tried all of them. I have had more success with some than others, but I have reached most of the people I have tried to contact. If you have had success with any of these strategies, please share. If you have better or different ideas, I’d love to hear them too.

Strategery: Acquiring Contacts (Part 1)

Whether you are looking to get a job, make a sale, or just tell Steve Jobs how much you love him, it is always much easier when you have the appropriate contact information. Unfortunately, most of us do not have a rolodex as robust as Will Smith’s. Us commoners need to be crafty.

Through my trials, I have devised 10 strategies that 60% of the time, work every time. Some are free and some require subscribing to paid sites, but these strategies have helped me reach top names at Fortune 500 companies and small boutique agencies.

1. Alumni Network
• Fortunately, I have access to a digital alumni network at both my undergraduate and graduate schools. These databases are filled with past student’s information and are sortable by industry, location, graduate year, etc. I have learned that alumni are more willing to help fellow alumni (some psychological satisfaction in helping fellow alums). This is usually a first great step. Even if the person you want to contact did not go to your school, perhaps one of his/her fellow employees did. That person may be willing to connect you.
2. Work/Friend Network
• Similar to your school’s alumni network, your friends, coworkers and people you have done business with may be able to help you out. Ask around and see if anyone knows anyone that works at the company you are trying to reach. From there, see if you can sugar-talk your way into getting the appropriate contact information (Note: if you feel uncomfortable asking friends and coworkers for help, how do you think you are going to feel talking to a cold contact you did not even have information for? Man up! Or Woman up!).
3. LinkedIn
• You’d be surprised how well LinkedIn works. You can sort by company and then see how many connections link you with someone in that company. From there, perhaps you can ask a friend to connect you or you will realize you already know somebody that works for or used to work for that company. This information can also help when you finally talk to your cold contact. If they have a LinkedIn profile, they most likely updated it with some personal information (i.e. college, past jobs, clubs, etc). See where you have ties. If the contact went to Wisconsin, maybe you should look up the Badgers football score before contacting them so you have a conversation starter you know they will be interested in.
4. Google Search
• Try searching for the contact name and the company name you are trying to reach. See if there is any contact information in news articles, interviews, press releases, etc. It is not as easy as the three tips listed above, but I have had success digging through the internet. Along the way, it also helps me learn more about the company and the contact I am trying to reach. In the end, this will never hurt, whether you are trying to get a job with this company, or make a sale with this company
5. Capital IQ/Bloomberg
• These sites require a subscription, but if you have access to them or know someone who does, it can be very helpful. These services offer complete information on numerous companies. This includes financials, board members, key executives, contact information, corporate addresses, etc. If you can find a way to use these services, you should be in good shape.

Tomorrow, I will conclude with 5 more strategies for acquiring contact information. In the meantime, if you have alternative methods, or ways to enhance those I already mentioned, please comment.

Sunday Funday: Unemployment

People Amazing at Their Jobs

I don't know about you, but I want what this guy is dishing out!

Kitten Mittons
by phycojoe

Career Workshop: Career Transition

I recently attended a Career Workshop that catered to people looking to transition careers. I went with an open mind hoping to learn valuable tips, use them and then share them with you. Sadly, the event felt less like a optimistic workshop and more like an AA meeting. Everyone seemed depressed and most of the anecdotes were about struggles and frustrations rather than about what tactics are working for people.

The average age in the room was a bit unsettling as a majority of the attendees were in their middle-ages (Unemployment and career frustration is no fun for anyone, but I imagine it is even more daunting when you are 45+. It seems like the deck is even more stacked against you.). I got the sneaking suspicion that most of the room was not voluntarily looking to transition their career, but rather, like me, in need of a new career.

I am not trying to sound all high and mighty when it comes to job searching (I am unemployed and clearly not succeeding at finding employment), but the event did not provide me with any new tactics. However, it was nice to hear that most of what I am currently doing matches the strategies taught during this workshop. Simple things like:

• Leverage your network
• Work to increase your network through social networking sites (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter)
• Read industry-specific blogs and keep up to date on industry trends, business dealings, and news
• Use Job Postings to alter your resume, but try and apply through a company contact rather than through a job site
• Create a personal cover letter that incorporates company knowledge and shows a clear correlation between the job requirements and your experience
• Understand this transition takes time, and do little things on your own to help increase your opportunities (go to industry networking events, take skill-specific classes (i.e. Excel, Photoshop, Flash, etc), attend tradeshows, go on informational interviews)
• STAY POSITIVE!

One big tip from the Career Workshop and one strategy that I believe is important to follow is this: Whenever possible, find a power player in the company you are applying to and try to connect directly with them.

You will have better luck reaching out directly to the Department Head (DH) of the area you want to work in than going through HR. If you can, write the DHa personal letter and attach your resume and cover letter. Follow my Interview Tips (one, two and three) for how to draft this letter, how to format it and when to send it. Worst case scenario, you get no response, in which case, apply online. Best case scenario, you get a direct response from the DH. Most likely, the DHwill forward your information to HR -- HR will be more inclined to review your information since it came directly from the DH.

I know getting the DH's information may be difficult. I have some strategies to help here as well and hope to share them next week.

Finding the Employable in the Unemployed

A recent CNN article discusses how there are many open positions languishing unfilled due to lack of qualified candidates. Despite record numbers of unemployed numbers, employers are unable to find what they determine to be “qualified candidates.” You can read the article in its entirety here.

Despite the recession, more than half of employers recently surveyed by the Human Capital Institute and TheLadders said “quality of candidates” and “availability of candidates” are their greatest challenges (from article).

I understand that there are a lot of job openings concentrated within specialized industries like health care and energy and that there may be a shortage of workers within this industry. I also believe that in general, HR departments are having a more difficult job with the inundation of severely unqualified candidates looking to pepper the job market with their resumes in the hopes of one or two call-backs. So, I agree with the article to this point: It is harder to find a great candidate in a pile of crap (To all of you doing this: STOP! You’re making it harder for employers to find qualified resumes like mine, which is amazing and full of awesome skills and sweet formatting (my use of bulleting, bold and italics is to be envied)).

The article goes on to talk about Mary Willoughby, a HR director in Rochester, struggling to hire registered nurses for $30,000-$45,000. She says she gets loads of resumes, but not from highly qualified candidates. In this instance, Mary is defining a “highly-qualified” candidate as a RN with 2-years of experience.

I imagine Mary has to sift through loads of resumes from people with no health care experience that think they should be considered because they are really caring and have seen every episode of Grey’s Anatomy and House ever. I agree this is annoying and makes her job harder. However, I am not in agreement if Mary is also dismissing newly graduated nurses short on experience, but capable. In professions with quick learning curves and robust opportunities for mentorship, such as nursing, I would give a recently-graduated nurse a chance. Especially at a salary of $30,000-$45,000, I do not think that is a very competitive salary for a nurse with several years of experience. I could be wrong, but I’d expect a higher base pay if I was considered “highly experienced.”

Further, Mary recently added a bounty on the position. She is offering $5,000 to any person responsible for bringing in a new qualified hire. I would think Mary’s job would be easier if she put that bounty onto the salary itself, increasing it by over 10%. Highly qualified employees may be more likely to apply if the base were raised substantially.

The article goes through other examples involving higher salaried, more experienced positions in other industries and how hard it is to find the perfect candidate for these positions.

My challenge is this: In this economic climate, with talented, intelligent and capable people aggressively looking for an opportunity, why not take a chance? The unemployed are eager. They are motivated to work hard and prove their worth. They are humble and would be very grateful for an opportunity to perform. They will do whatever is necessary to succeed once given the chance.

I am not saying employers should consider everyone that applies. But they should consider “close enough to job description,” “almost enough experience” and place extra value on education and strong foundational skills necessary to perform the job (quantitative abilities, communication skills, detail-oriented, etc). I bet that hiring based on this model will result in more successful hires than failures.

Networking Rules! Job Sites Drool!

A recent report states that 80% of all jobs being obtained these days are on a personal basis. Basically, 8 out of every 10 new hires got their job through a friend or a friend of a friend. Only 2 out of every 10 jobs were found through Monster, CareerBuilder, TheLadders, Indeed, Craigslist, HotJobs, etc.
First, WTF? If you don’t know the right person, especially at the right company, it looks like you’re screwed…well, 80% screwed anyway.

OK, that sucks. But instead of saying “that’s not fair” and throwing in the towel, look to see how you can succeed playing this game. Ask yourself who you know; then contact them. Leverage sites like Doostang, LinkedIn and Facebook; see who your friends know. Once you have an understanding of your network, use it. BUT use it intelligently. Do not just mass email your resume out there and ask for a hook up.

Also, remember that despite their 2/10 job placement rate, Job sites are still important. Look at them and see what positions are open. Mark down the ones you have the most interest in. Apply online through these sites AND then reach out to your network. Explain that you recently applied and think you would be a viable candidate (make sure you actually are. Do not ask a friend to vouch for you if you are not qualified. You will make yourself look like an ass and your friend will never vouch for you again (if they are smart)).

If you do not have a contact at a company, your resume really needs to look great. You want it to be easy to read and full off all the information the recruiter is looking for. Basically, make sure your resume fits the position you are applying for. Make sure keywords from the job posting are in your resume. If the employer has some struggle connecting your resume with the open job, you are done.

Reposted from Around the Couch:

Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Hot Entertainment Job Listings
By Doug Lieblich * Other Doug Lieblich Posts

New Media Upstart Company seeks Assistant who can figure out this gosh-darn Internet. TVFeeder is a hot young production company designed to distribute high quality shows virally. We are looking for an assistant who can tell us just what this Internet hooplah is all about. The assistant will deliver our emails to other computers and take us to the Worldwide Website. If all goes well, we will buy more Internet as the company expands. Can we use the phone at the same time? Let’s take America Online by storm! See you in the chatrooms!

Studio Exec seeks Intern to vicariously live as his son. Busy-high level executive at a major studio is looking for an intern to become his son, Todd. You will wear Todd’s clothing, listen to his music, and join his track team. On weekends we’ll go fishing, build model airplanes, and other hobbies that are not skiing accidents. We’ll also visit your grandma (read: Todd’s grandma) on the holidays. This is a great growth-opportunity for getting the family Toyota Camry, and a chance to learn the ins and outs of being my son. Interns already named Todd are a plus.

Top Production Company seeks slaves to build Top Production Company Pyramids. We are looking for unpaid slaves to construct Production Company Pyramids. Slaves must be willing to work against their will, as they drag enormous Production Company Granite Slabs up a steep stone slope. We need creative problem solvers! The pyramids must be grand enough to house the Production Company Pharaoh, but strong enough to protect against looters. They will also serve as a promotional tool for the new ABC series Modern Family.

FOX Diversity Group desperately seeks a black guy. As a team dedicated to ensuring ethnic and racial diversity in the workplace, the Fox Diversity Group is in desperate need of a black guy to chair the meetings and “keep it real.” The ideal applicant should have an MBA from a top-tier business school, 5+ years of industry experience, and a sassy jive-talking mouth that just won’t quit! Please fax resume and a photo of your favorite basketball jams to whitejews@foxdiversity.net

Network News Division hiring upgraded News-Reporting Android. News Division of a major television network has recently lost its News-Reporting Android and is now looking for a replacement. The Android should deliver news stories smoothly and efficiently, and speak with an odd inflection no normal person would use. It should also robotically chant sports scores with a serenely placid, human-like face. Job starts immediately. We cannot report the news without this android! Please hurry as Katie Couric has already been scrapped due to a critical hardware malfunction.

Documentary Filmmaker hiring assistant to have sex with. I believe in honesty: having sex with you is much more important than editing this documentary on the Khmer Rouge. Ideally, I would like to have sex with you in my apartment, specifically on the Murphy bed, and with time permitting, the backseat of my ‘98 Ford Windstar. Once again, faulty agricultural reform, and Pol Pot’s ruthless torture of Cambodians are ancillary compared to our imminent fornication. Assistant will literally work under an accomplished documentarian who, until your employment, spends lonely tear-soaked nights, wondering if he’ll ever again feel a woman’s embrace. Knowledge of Final Cut Pro a plus.

Hollywood Job Listings Company seeks a new Job Listings writer—aww fuck! God damn it! Who the…who? Please send resumes to joblistwriter48@hotmail.com

Cable network seeks Janitor to head scripted drama division. We’re looking to take our drama line-up in a new direction and are therefore hiring a confident, experienced janitor to lead our scripted drama division. The candidate should be handy with a mop and comfortable scrubbing neglected urinals. The “Drama Janitor” will supervise and schedule all scripted drama shows for the network, and negotiate advertising with investors. This is a high-pressure job with high rewards. Candidate must have at least 7 years of toilet cleaning.

CBS is looking for an Administrative Assistant to assist in Development Programming and Programming Development. The assistant will develop programming for our development programming team, which will then be passed on to programming development for further development. Assuming the developing programs meet our approval, the assistant will program a development program for primetime programming. You’ll be working in tandem with the Production Coordinator and Coordinating Producer.

A-List Talent Agent seeks Worthy Opponent to Battle in the Warrior’s Fire Ring. Well-reputed motion picture talent agent (Robin Williams, Sandra Bullock, Seth Rogen) requires a new foe to combat against in the dreaded Warrior’s Fire Ring. This is a great opportunity to become the next agency tribe chief and please the all-watching war god Golgar! Opponent must be willing to work shirtless and able to wield a bronze trident. Must have flexible schedule. Opponent’s heart may be devoured for Warrior Strength. College credit only.

FOX Diversity Group desperately seeks an Asian girl in a wheelchair Know any? whitejews@foxdiversity.net

PR Agency seeking a Temp to work the phones for like 5 minutes. It’ll be just like five minutes. Are you in the chair OK? I’ll be right back. This button puts them on hold and this is the call-forwarding, but you probably won’t even use it because I’ll be gone for like seriously five minutes. I just need to make myself a ham sandwich. Thanks so much, you’re a doll. Please email resumes to PRbetty212@hotmedia.net

NBC executive seeks ball washer. NBC studio exec needs a responsible, friendly, thick-skinned ball washer to wash his balls. Whether in a golf tournament, or just hitting the links, this busy executive needs his little white balls, waxed, tidy, and immaculate. Washer must be willing to thoroughly wipe his balls and not afraid to put a little elbow grease or some spit-shine should the occasion call for it. If you can cradle both balls in one hand--even better. Note: applicant must also be willing to scrub testicles.

Paramount Vantage seeks intern to put tape on shit. We have a lot of shit that needs taped and are hiring interns to put tape on said shit. Boxes, posters, broken windows--you name it--it needs tape. Job requirements include having two hands, basic motor-skills and a fun enthusiastic attitude for taping. Must have 4-year degree at Ivy League school. Interns will not be compensated for tape.

Sunday Funday

Happy Halloween