Posted by ResumeHelp on December 23, 2009
Mary Berman, from Farmington Hills, Michigan, had been looking for work since February 2009 before starting a “Guerrilla” job search, in late September.
Up to that point, 20 weeks of job hunting had produced zero job interviews.
Just 7 weeks later, she accepted a job on Thursday, November 12, as a marketing executive assistant.
How did she use Guerrilla job hunting tactics to find work 65% faster?
“I saw a job advertised online and applied by mail. I sent a box with a paper Starbucks coffee cup, my cover letter, and resume inside. On the side of the cup, where it has boxes for the type of coffee, I made my own box that said, ‘Hire Mary’ and checked it with a black marker. I heard back a couple days later to get my first interview,” says Berman.
After her first job interview, which went well, Berman followed up with panache.
“It was Halloween time, so I decided to send them a chocolate covered apple with my hand-written thank-you note in a bag. I had a friend of mine, who was off work that day, take it over and deliver it to [the employer]. That was a big hit — they were thrilled — and I got the second interview out of it.”
Berman’s second job interview was with the executive vice president. Afterwards, she followed up diligently. “When I came home, I wrote a 30-60-90 day plan. I had taken copious notes during the interview and used that information to create suggestions for what I would do in my first 30, 60, and 90 days. I sent that to them via FedEx with another thank-you note. And I got a job offer.”
Now. Let’s break this successful Guerrilla Job Search down …
1. Start smart
The Coffee Cup Caper — a paper Starbucks cup, full-color Guerrilla Resume, and a cover letter (asking to meet for coffee), shipped in a box — gets extraordinary results. By contrast, ordinary resumes and cover letters, sent by email, get ordinary results.
2. Follow up with style
Delivering a Halloween treat with her thank-you note was correct seasonally, if not politically. Use good judgment before sending items that might be perceived as bribes by employers sensitive to such things, such as universities or public-sector organizations.
In Berman’s case, however, it worked like a (chocolate-covered) charm.
And, leaving out the gift, think of the impact a hand-delivered thank-you note can have on an employer, versus standard U.S. Mail or email. Could you arrange to have your thank-you note delivered by a courier, or a friend acting as one? Of course you could!
3. Give employers another reason to hire you
Mary did this in spades after her second interview, when she sent a written plan of action that outlined her first three months on the job.
A 30-60-90 day plan is a way of proving you can do the work — before you’re even on the payroll — by describing how you would learn the job, build rapport with employees/customers, and contribute to the bottom line.
Mary’s plan was 8 pages long and took the better part of a Friday night to prepare. (Before you balk at spending an entire evening at home researching and writing a 30-60-90 day plan, ask yourself if you wouldn’t trade a night out for getting a steady paycheck again.)
4. Score style points with your delivery
Mary’s first follow-up, the chocolate-apple-thank-you note, was delivered by a courier, not by email. Her 30-60-90 day plan was delivered by FedEx, not by email.
Do you not see a pattern? Email should NOT be the delivery method for your career documents. Because you can’t delete a courier, and a FedEx envelope can’t get caught in a spam filter.
Bottom line: This smart Guerrilla had failed to get even one job interview in 20 weeks of job hunting with conventional tactics.
After adopting unconventional Guerrilla tactics, she found work in only 7 weeks.
If Guerrilla job search methods can work in Michigan, where the unemployment rate tops 15%, they can work where you live. The only thing stopping you from thinking and acting like a Guerrilla is you. Why wait another minute? To get started with your own Guerilla search plans here’s where to start!
About Kevin:
Kevin Donlin is contributing co-author of “Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0.” Since 1996, he has provided job-search help to more than 20,000 people. |
Posted by Readers Digest on February 11, 2009
These industries project promise-and jobs-for the future, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Occupational Information Network database.
1. Education
Math and science teachers will be in demand as the U.S. struggles to compete with other countries in engineering, technology, and medicine. A growing immigrant population means more English-as-a-second-language classes will be needed.
- Postsecondary teachers – Median salary: $56,120 Education: bachelor’s degree and often a master’s or doctorate
- Teacher assistants – Median salary: $21,580 Education: some post-secondary education or vocational training
- Educational, vocational, and school counselors – Median salary: $49,450 Education: secondary education, associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s
2. Energy
Some of the jobs in this field are the result of projects started a year or more ago. But the real boost will come from the new administration’s commitment to a more efficient national energy system. “Growth of energy consumption around the world will keep this sector strong,” says Laurence Shatkin, coauthor of 150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs.
- Power plant operators – Median salary: $56,640 Education: vocational training and several years of on-the-job training
- Insulation workers – Median salary: $31,280 Education: secondary education and vocational training
- Electrical power-line installers and repairers – Median salary: $52,570 Education: vocational training and several years of on-the-job training
3. Environment
Green is getting the green light in a nationwide push to make homes and office buildings more energy-efficient and to develop alternative energy sources (solar, wind, nuclear) as well as fuel cell technology. “Anything involved with wind power, either the design or related products, will be big,” says Laurence Stybel.
- Environmental scientists – Median salary: $58,380 Education: master’s
- Environmental engineers – Median salary: $72,350 Education: bachelor’s
- Hydrologists – Median salary: $68,140 Education: master’s
4. Financial Services
Rising from the ashes of a very bad year, financial services have a bright future. Corporate America’s wretched excesses mean more government regulation. Workers who are retiring will need advice on how to make their money last. Small businesses may outsource accounting services. As we get to the middle of the recession, there will be a wave of mergers and acquisitions, Stybel predicts. “People with experience in managing the process-corporate attorneys, investment bankers, and accountants-will be in demand.”
- Financial advisers – Median salary: $67,660 Education: bachelor’s
- Accountants and auditors – Median salary: $57,060 Education: bachelor’s
- Sales agents (securities and commodities) – Median salary: $68,430Education: bachelor’s
5. Government
More than half a million federal employees will retire by 2016, leaving open positions at agencies from the CIA to AmeriCorps to NASA. There will also be opportunities at the state and local levels. “In addition to police work and homeland security, government inspects and regulates many industries,” says Shatkin. “Workers can sometimes capitalize on their experience in an industry by moving into a regulatory job.”
- Government property inspectors – Median salary: $48,400 Education: vocational training, associate’s or bachelor’s
- Immigration and customs inspectors – Median salary: $59,930 Education: bachelor’s
- Urban and regional planners – Median salary: $57,970Education: master’s
6. Health Care
Health care pops up at the top of just about every list of hot careers. All of us are getting older and living longer, sometimes with chronic health conditions. What’s more, health insurance practices may undergo a radical revision during the Obama administration, which has announced plans to address three central issues: coverage, cost, and quality of care. “Health care is a growing industry,” says Bettina Seidman, “and not just for health care professionals. There will also be jobs for secretaries, accountants, and administrators.”
- Registered nurses – Median salary: $60,010Education: associate’s or bachelor’s
- Dental assistants – Median salary: $31,550Education: secondary education, plus a few months to one year of on-the-job training
- Medical records and health information technicians – Median salary: $29,290 Education: associate’s
7. International Business
Corporations, consulting firms, nonprofits, and even governments are going after global markets. People with international expertise, foreign-language skills, or a willingness to move abroad will be in demand. “The global economy is only going to grow,” says John Challenger. “U.S. involvement will expand, short and long term.”
- Interpreters and translators – Median salary: $37,490 Education: bachelor’s
- International management analysts – Median salary: $71,150 Education: bachelor’s or master’s
- Market research analysts – Median salary: $60,300 Education: bachelor’s or master’s
8. Law Enforcment
International terrorism makes daily headlines, and fear of financial insecurity is matched only by concern for our physical safety. “Crime doesn’t go down in a recession,” says Shatkin. “It may even increase.”
- Probation officers – Median salary: $44,510 Education: bachelor’s
- Court reporters – Median salary: $45,330 Education: postsecondary vocational training
- Paralegals – Median salary: $44,990Education: associate’s degree in paralegal studies
9. Technology
New uses of technology in services and products like electronic health records mean that this sector will continue to be strong. “We have just begun to use the Internet as an entertainment medium in publishing, music, and film,” says Peter Weddle.
- Computer systems analysts – Median salary: $73,090 Education: bachelor’s
- Network systems and data communications analysts – Median salary: $64,600 Education: bachelor’s
- Computer, ATM, and office machine repairers – Median salary: $37,100 Education: high school or vocational training
And We’ll Always Be Looking For…
“Think of basic human needs, the things we can’t do without,” says Shatkin. They provide what he calls “little islands” of employment in this economy. For example, he says, we will always need sewage and water treatment. Challenger says the food industry is a core area: “People have to eat, and the global population is increasing.”
In a down economy, people don’t buy new cars-they repair their old ones. People turn to their clergy for comfort. Funeral directors will always have jobs. And since pets are very much a part of the family, veterinarians and veterinary technicians will continue to be in demand.
Reference: Readers Digest March 2009
http://www.rd.com/advice-and-know-how/9-recessionproof-careers/article119897.html
Posted by ResumeHelp on January 28, 2009
Although the news seems grim when you turn on the TV or read the newspaper I believe we are in the most exciting time to be alive – ever!
Now I can hear what you’re saying – “you have to be out of your mind!” So let me explain. Like you, I know there are many people out of work and maybe you are one of them. However this is the information age and there is more information available than at any time in history.
If you are having a hard time financially – I remember something said by Michael Todd a Hollywood mogul of a decade or so back. He said; “I’ve been broke many times but never poor. Being broke is a temporary situation, being poor is a state of mind”.
Though 2008 has had more than its share of layoffs and economic struggles, the New Year means rejuvenated hope for job seekers.
While it is true that several companies continue to make mass layoffs, there are other companies that are shifting their focus to hire aggressively in the beginning of 2009. While other people are taking a risk and starting their own in-home businesses.
I subscribe to Guideposts magazine. In this last issue was a story of such a family. The husband was 60 and laid off. The wife had not worked in years, so what to do? The wife loved chocolate and she started making various chocolate recipes and her husband took them to the markets in their city. Within a very short time they had so much business they had to get friends and neighbors to help. Within six months they had 20 people working making truffles and various other recipes and more business than they ever imagined.
In preparation for this article I did a little investigative work on the internet and found a variety of top companies in various industries that are looking to hire a diverse selection of jobs in 2009, despite the tough economy. Here is just a partial list:
7-Eleven
Who They Are: A leader in convenience retailing, with approximately 7,600 7-Eleven stores in North America [and] more than 35,000 stores in 17 countries, according to Jim Wahl, the company’s manager of talent acquisition systems.
What They Are Looking For: “At 7-Eleven, we believe your work should be more than a job. It should be an investment in your future and ours,” Wahl says. “In 2009 we will be seeking candidates for operations, accounting, information systems, merchandising and marketing.”
Banfield
Who They Are: Banfield is the largest pet general veterinary practice in the world, says Mike Mason, senior director of team resources. It offers a full range of comprehensive medical services and a quality assurance program.
What They Are Looking For: “Banfield is looking associates who love pets and who share in our mission of treating pets like family and increasing the value of pets in families and communities,” Mason says.
“Our plan for 2009 calls for replacing new positions as they become open in our main campus in Portland, Oregon, and in our hospitals, as well as hiring quality associates to staff our new hospitals. To staff our hospitals, we are looking for veterinarians, PetNurses, office managers and client service coordinators.”
Farmers Insurance
Who They Are: Farmers Insurance is the nation’s third-largest personal lines property and casualty insurance group, according to Andy Reser, vice president of agencies. It provides homeowners, auto, business, specialty products, life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households.
What They Are Looking For: “We offer the opportunity to build your own business. You’ll have the latitude to set your own professional goals and income potential,” says Luisa Acosta-Franco, assistant vice president of diversity and emerging markets. “Farmers has a strong commitment to diverse markets, therefore the need for qualified bilingual individuals is an important component of the overall strategy to attract and retain the right people for opportunities with us.”
Gentiva Health Services
Who They Are: Gentiva offers a range of highly skilled in-home care services, including nursing, therapy, infusion, pharmacy, respiratory, orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, senior health, neurorehabilitation and hospice, says Angela McClure, assistant vice president of recruitment and staffing.
What They Are Looking For: “We have career opportunities for dedicated, compassionate nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and other clinicians; as well as sales, management and administrative support professionals,” McClure says. “At Gentiva, our clinicians have a lot of flexibility and autonomy, so they must demonstrate a high level of clinical excellence and customer service.”
HealthMarkets
Who They Are: A nationwide individual health insurance provider that aims to simplify the health insurance experience for its members and enhance the career experience for its agents, says Andrew Fortunato, senior vice president of recruiting strategy.
What They Are Looking For: “Our focus is on individuals with the desire and drive to be part of a team dedicated to delivering highly personalized health protection solutions to self-employed individuals and their families across America,” Fortunato says. “Our agents are the main point of contact with people who must purchase health insurance on their own.”
ITT Corporation, Advanced Engineering & Sciences Division
Who They Are: A division of ITT’s Defense Electronics & Services group that provides leading-edge product development, technology, engineering, research and project management services to government, industrial and commercial customers, says Steve Kotecki, recruiting manager.
What They Are Looking For: “At ITT, we are looking for talented people to develop and implement innovative solutions to complex problems. We are looking for candidates with long-term vision who enjoy working in a strong team environment,” Kotecki says. “We will be looking to fill a wide spectrum of positions in 2009, which are both demanding and rewarding. Our primary focus will be on candidates with a strong engineering background or those with prior military experience.”
M.A.R.S. International
Who They Are: A franchise that offers mobile cosmetic repair and reconditioning services to industries including hotels, motorcycles, boats, automobiles, RV’s and more. It specializes in the repair of the wear and tear that damages the look and functionality of items people use daily, says Allan Kelsey, president.
What They Are Looking For: “[We] have positions open for technicians to execute these kinds of repairs and for managers to oversee the technicians,” Kelsey says. “These technicians will have some aptitude for working with their hands, enjoy working outdoors and managing their own time. They will be self-starters that are motivated, friendly and determined.”
ServiceMaster
Who They Are: A company which provides such services as lawn care and landscape maintenance, termite and pest control, home warranties, cleaning and disaster restoration, house cleaning, furniture repair and home inspection, Hough says. Its brands include TruGreen, TruGreen LandCare, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and AmeriSpec.
What They Are Looking For: “We are a service-based organization that strives to earn our customers’ business, build trust and exceed our customers’ expectations,” Hough says. “In addition, we are a relationship-based firm that prides itself on employing hard working, ethical employees that our customers can trust to invite into their homes and enrich their lives.”
State Farm
Who They Are: A provider of insurance and financial services products that insure more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., says Rich Garcia, director of enterprise recruiting and retention. It has 68,000 employees and 17,000 agents who service more than 78 million insurance policies and 1.9 million bank accounts.
What They Are Looking For: “In 2009, we will continue to look for a wide range of candidates with various experiences to fill internships and opportunities ranging from entry level to management,” Garcia says. “Frequently posted positions include opportunities in claims, underwriting and systems/IT. We are also always looking for that next State Farm agent.”
Sutter Health
Who They Are: A family of doctors, not-for-profit hospitals and other health-care service providers that share resources and expertise to advance health-care quality and access, says Mike Helm, senior vice president of human resources.
What They Are Looking For: “Health care is about people and at Sutter Health, our commitment is to put the patient at the center of everything we do. Our aging population and Sutter Health’s continued investment in technology are two important forces that are fueling our need for skilled employees,” Helm says. “[We] seek to hire individuals who embrace our values. From providing care at the bedside to implementing lifesaving technology and administrative professionals, there are a variety of positions available throughout our Sutter Health network.”
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company/Scotts LawnService
Who They Are: Scotts LawnService is a division of The Scotts Company supplier and marketer of consumer products for do-it-yourself lawn and garden care, says Peter Korda, senior vice president. It was founded in 1997 to provide products and services for customers who desire someone else to take care of their lawns for them.
What They Are Looking For: “We are looking for people to join our team and help us deliver the very best in professional lawn care. Joining our team allows you to grow green, healthy and lush lawns, trees and shrubs, and provide the service and support customers have come to expect from a premium brand such as Scotts,” Korda says.
“You will have an opportunity to grow your career; we’ll provide you with the knowledge and opportunities you need to succeed. ["We're hiring for territory service representatives, sales representatives and customer service representatives."]
URS Corporation
Who They Are: A provider of engineering, construction and technical services for public agencies and private sector companies around the world, says Marian Hyder, vice president of staffing for the EG&G division. URS provides services for power, infrastructure, industrial and commercial, and federal projects and programs.
What They Are Looking For: “We seek high quality talent in key areas of focus for our business and offer exciting domestic and global assignments for employees at every career point,” Hyder says.
“In 2009, we will be looking for talent in key areas such as engineering, construction management, program management, power, environmental, health and safety, homeland security, logistics, operations and maintenance and more. Positions are available at all experience levels — from new graduates to seasoned professionals.”
Source: cnn.com
