CM Access

Imagine that headline! Or if you saw this in your inbox: “We’re looking forward to meeting you. Please bring a certified check for $200 for the time the interviewer will spend with you.”

I don’t think very many people would be happy with either scenario.

This article on Inc.com talks about a website called Notchup.com that is setting up a system for passive job seekers (those not actively applying to jobs posted on job boards or telling everyone they know they’re looking) to be paid when asked to interview with hiring companies.

The argument is that companies looking for the A players in their market are struggling to even get people to listen to their offers. So throw them a couple hundred bucks to listen to your pitch and maybe they’ll be that much closer to joining your team and bringing more success to your organization.

The nay-sayers claim that passive seekers will become serial interviewers and only go on appointments to gain pocket-cash. They’ll be “psychologically” turned OFF from considering the position because they’re only there for the money.

I am not so sure anyone would be willing to make up excuses to leave the office during the business day to go and listen to an interview, AND get paid for it, if they’re NOT still willing to listen attentively to what’s being proposed.

I also think that, when I work with and meet people everyday who would pay employers to interview them for informational meetings, just to get some knowledge and start a new professional relationship, maybe there are other things that need to change before companies start forking over money to interview candidates.

The article mentions that guest columnist for Inc.com Joel Spolsky recommends companies find good interns, and treat them so well they don’t want to leave. You’re then able to train them in YOUR methodology and values, and they grow with the company, instead of throwing away millions in a high-turn-over world when you hire someone who’s simply out of the highest bid. Why is this concept so hard to conceive?

It seems a bit like Notchup was getting some cheap PR from Inc.com. I bet you’re going to go look at the site, right? Isn’t that what they’re hoping? Isn’t it half the battle to just get a top-level candidate in the door to consider the options?

Technorati Tags: paid to interview, hire young, passive candidates, try something new, cheap public relations

Since there are always things to do around here, and this never seems to be at the top of the priority list, I thought I’d just write a quick note to keep you all intrigued!

I have been asked numerous times what our perspective on the status of the job market is at this time of year. Toward the end of 2007, the standard response was always “It’s a crazy time of year, budgets are in review, people are travelling, decision making is slowed down.” All of which were true to different magnitudes for each client and every company.

However, what’s been going on now that 2008 is in full swing, people are “back to the grind” and hiring needs still exist? As mentioned previously, most growth in hiring is going to be seen in healthcare and in technology. But that isn’t directly applicable, right?

I am hearing from designers and talented marketing professionals that they’re not finding a lot of movement on their resume submissions and applications.
Does this mean companies that post open positions aren’t actually hiring for these available opportunities?
Does that mean that candidates aren’t qualified for the positions to which they’re applying? Does this mean so many candidates are being considered that no one has time to even respond that a resume was received?

From my seat, we’re seeing a lot of positions that are more technical in nature than we have in the past. And, according to Monster, more technical and analytical positions are going to be the increasing demand at all companies in the coming months.

Also from my perspective, while the occasional production artist or print design contract has become needed by companies struggling with maternity leave and other temporary scheduling changes, the highest demand in the communications and advertising industries is for web-savvy design and strategy professionals.

Suggestion? Bone up on your SEO/SEM knowledge, learn a coding language and build a personal website to showcase these skills, tinker around with Flash or take a course in web design. Smaller companies will be looking for more versatile multimedia designers who can also handle print collateral, while larger companies are seeking those who can take the great design concepts of their current staff and translate it into usable, strategic web pieces.

I am one of those people that sees coding letters like HTML and XML and kind of shuts down. “That’s for the programmers to worry about.” But the increasing demand is going to be for people who understand why a PHP format is required for certain projects, or why Java and .Net are kind of like two paths to the same destination. WhatIs.comcan help you get quick answers, or talking to a developer will help you, too.

Key point: Make yourself aware of the technology happening in the creative industries. It’s not going away, and it’s likely to be a key desire for many of the open positions in 2008 and beyond.
additional key point: why not think about exploring temporary or contract positions? Especially if you’re miserable in your current situation? You might be able to expand your knowledge and portfolio of experience, and you could just end up falling into a perfect position for something you never thought of before!

Technorati Tags: employment outlook 2008, hiring status, technical positions, web design, career advice

I was at PodCamp Boston 2 back in October, unfortunately only for a short time, but enough to see how far the unconference has come since September 2006! It was held at the very new, and gorgeous,
Boston Convention and Exhibit Center and even though it was gray outside, inside it was bright and buzzing with creative conversation, networking and technological innovation!

CM Access was able to host a session about Job Searching in a 2.0 world, and to hold a forum where concerns, topics and ideas related to technology in career management could be shared.

In many ways, the PodCamp Boston 2 was very much a typical conference or seminar: nametags, t-shirts, PowerPoint presentations, and give-aways from vendors. ‘

But in many more important ways, it was an evolution of the gathering idea, a more inclusive and interactive community-building event. And I have to say, the coolest thing of all (aside from getting to walk around my session room with a wireless mic like Bob Barker) was meeting the guy who designed our blog! Special shout out to Nico from Snowy Day Design. I was commenting on his BarCamp Buenos Aires tshirt, about how that must have been a really cool event, and he introduced himself: “I’m the guy that designed your blog!”

What a small world, it was really a reminder.

Technorati Tags: PodCamp Boston 2, PCB2, podcampboston2, Snowy Day Design, job search 2.0

Happy Holidays! Just wanted to mention a few things that might seem like common sense, but as I’ve heard someone say recently: common sense ain’t that common!

If you’re looking for a new job, or at least open to hearing about new opportunities that might be better than the one you’re in, have you made sure to cover the following bases?

Is your voicemail still set to “YO! It’s the T-dawg, leave it!”
[tip: You’re not going to leave a good impression when a recruiter hears that after being interested in your resume.]

Is your resume error-free? Have you had an objective set of eyes thoroughly read through the whole thing?
[tip: You’re not going to be regarded highly for a writing or editing position if your resume has typos and formatting errors, or words that spellcheck won’t pick up, like “there/their/they’re”]

Do you have a professional email address?
[tip: If you’re not in college any more, then you shouldn’t use a .edu address. If you’re not in a gang, you shouldn’t use “T_dawg@juno.com” E-mail addresses are free, so you should really have one that uses your name.]

Is your resume in a Word or PDF format, and saved with an identifying filename? [tip:”resume.doc” increases your risk of your document getting lost on someone’s desktop, and it’s tough for some companies to open documents saved in formats or programs they don’t have in their system.]

Does your email cover letter clearly state what job you’re applying for? [tip: Many hiring managers are working to fill more than one position, so if you’re not clearly stating your objective, you’re making me work too hard.]

Remember, the goal of the job search is to get a job, right? The goal of the hiring process is to get someone hired? You will have much more success on either side of the process if you make it easier for your target.

Companies should have an easy-to-navigate application process, or a quick response time to make it easier for candidates and job seekers. And job seekers NEED to make the process easier for the hiring manager, the one reading and sorting through the resumes.

Technorati Tags: Job Search Tips, Resume errors, hiring process, job seekers

My coworker and I were just discussing the new LinkedIn feature to include a photo of yourself on your profile.

We were discussing how this can be seen as the perfect next step in a “complete” profile, but also how it might be a deterrent to someone contacting you, or you reaching out to connect to someone else. And, if you know your contacts face-to-face, do you really need the photo to remind you what they look like?

Would a photo put someone off? What if your photo isn’t the best representation of you? Or if you have changed visibly in the recent months or years, what purpose would it serve?

Although, if you’re seeking a job outside of your local area, and speak with someone over the phone for first round interviews, perhaps the link to you LinkedIn profile is a more professional way to share what you look like than sending a huge .jpg file, or worse, a resume with your head shot!

What do you think?

Oh, and I also wanted to mention a really cool new site we found: Kijiji I found out it’s a part of the eBay network, but it’s basically a prettied-up Craigslist. Superneat!

Technorati Tags: Craigslist, Kijiji, LinkedIn, online profile, professional, photo, eBay, opinion, photo on resume

(I just read about how blog post subject lines are supposed to be really great in order to grab and hold a reader’s attention, and yet…that will have to do!)

I wanted to put in a plug for next weekend’s PodCamp Philly! It’s really going to be a fantastic weekend, as the organizers have done such a terrific job of getting sponsors, and ensuring that this event, on the anniversary of the first PodCamp (Boston)–the idea of which has spread across the globe to include PodCamp Perth (Australia) and PodCamp Capetown (South Africa)–will be spectacular!

I’m also really excited that CM Access is going to be a part of it, since we definitely acknowledge how much we have to learn from the talented, technologically-advanced professionals in the new media space. And for those of you who’ve been craving another CreativeCamp to get all your inspired thoughts out in the open, we’re having a miniCreativeCamp session on Saturday of PodCamp.

If there are topics you’d like to discuss, questions you want to ask, or just want to know what the heck this PodCamp thing is all about, definitely come on down to this free event! First 350 registrants get a free tshirt, and I’ll be there, so come find me!! More information, and SIGN UPis at this wiki site.

Oh, and in case you can’t make it down to our city of Brotherly Love, PodCamp Boston is in October, and you can bet there will be a major turn out for that one!

Technorati Tags: podcamp philly, networking, podcasting, blogging, CreativeCamp, Philadelphia, PodCamp Boston

Busy Busy CM Access–welcoming two new team members in our Philly office–YAY.

But they’re now able to see the joys of being at the other end of a job posting: misdirected applications, three page cover letters, and my personal favorites: “Dear To Whom it may concern” and “I’m a perfect accusation for your team.”

But I wanted to comment again on why spelling is so important when communicating with anyone who will be involved in your career development or job search. It’s culturally significant that e-mail and texting and instant messaging is such a big part of daily activities. But that means we need to be more aware of how we are perceived to the receiver.

Just like online dating. The online job search is just like online dating. (and in a broader sense, the whole process is: both situations should include a variety of tactics and approaches, not just e-mail or chat).

Maybe spelling isn’t a big deal for you. You don’t mind if someone has a typo, or if they use a word incorrectly. But there are people who do mind, and you’d never know it.

So err on the side of caution and have someone else read your resume, your e-mail cover letter, your dating profile. Nowadays, misspelling is hard to differentiate from typos, and both look like laziness.

Would you hire someone who’s lazy? Would you want to date someone who doesn’t take the time to put their best foot forward? If you’re not taking yourself seriously enough to take the time to spell-check, grammar-check, and get a second opinion, why should anyone else?

Technorati Tags: spelling, online dating, effort, second opinion

Just wanted to update my millions of readers that CM Access is increasingly busy! We’ve been adding to our team of dedicated and passionate career advocacy professionals, and we’re still keeping busy learning about how tactics and strategies are changing in this crazy world of ours.

Among others, the most important thing I’ve learned is that it’s no longer acceptable to admit defeat when it comes to using the Internet. “Oh that’s too complicated for me!” just won’t cut it. Your job search shouldn’t rely solely on internet job boards, but neither should it ignore that realm of limitless information altogether!

But the Internet changes so quickly, one could hardly keep a handle on the new vocabulary and the instantly popular pages that might just as quickly recess back into obscurity. Here’s where the blogosphere enters the conversation…”How?” you ask?

Join me at BlogPhiladelphia on July 12 and 13 at the Radisson in Rittenhouse to come out and see what’s going on in Philly and beyond in the world of the Inter-web-net. And if you can’t make it on such short notice, be sure to check out PodCamp Philly in September!

Be a part of the future!

Plus, I’m working on having a mini-CreativeCamp session so we can get the creative types together and talk about job searching, a self-marketing campaign strategy for more clients and more money, and whatever else you’re dying to talk about!

This will probably sound like a rant, but if perhaps, just maybe, someone reads this and takes a couple of minutes to change something about their standard job search habits, then I’ll have done my job. We (my former self included) can get so stuck in our habits, and the easy way of doing things, we don’t see what could be a more effective way to get results.

I always ask how the job search is going, and what resources are being utilized for that process. The answer almost always includes “CraigsList.” And that’s fine. But it also includes the following comment: “but I don’t get many responses.” Here are a few of the possible reasons, directly from the horse’s mouth:

Suggestion: Do NOT send a resume attachment to a CraigsList posting without any information in the body of the e-mail. What makes a prospective employer interested in giving up 5 minutes of their time to open the resume, when you clearly didn’t spend 5 minutes of your time to write some more information about why you’re the right candidate?

Suggestion: Please proofread your resume and your cover letter, AND your email. If there is a misused word, or misspelled word, or grammatical error, you’re significantly lowering your chances of being called back.

Hope this sheds some light! I don’t intend for it to be harsh or mean, but maybe it will give you some motivation for ways to get a bit more response when you’re applying to the black hole that CraigsList can be!

Technorati Tags: CraigsList, job postings, resume submission, e-mail applications, job search habits

Probably not, since your mother likely didn’t have the same job search strategies and tactics that are quickly becoming the staple for any job seeker. (I mean, typewriters?? come on!)

But what I’m referring to in particular is e-mail. There are all sorts of uses for the e-mail when seeking a job, or maintaining professional relationships and networking connections. But there’s also varied opinions about how to most effectively use this relatively new communication tool.

Jeffrey Gitomer is a nationally-reknowned sales guru, and author of “The Sales Bible” and “The Little Red Book of Selling”. You might say, “why is a sales guy’s input relevant to my job search or career development?”

Answer: Your job search is the marketing and sales of you.

Gitomer’s suggestions for using e-mail are simple: it should be used in conjunction with other forms of communication — in person, over the phone, hand written; it should add value to the recipient; it should not be instantaneous, but it should be short.

This applies to a job search in a very straight-forward way: think about who you’re writing to, for what reason, and whether you would read it if you were in their shoes. Do they know who you are? Are they expecting some form of communication from you? Are you adding value with interesting industry facts, ways you can help their business, and not just something you “thought was funny”?

I am guilty of writing wordy e-mails because I like to write in general. But they don’t need an introductory paragraph, or a closer. This is precisely what causes e-mail tone and etiquette to get confused, because the other end of the spectrum is that they are so short they become impolite. This isn’t a good way to err either. They should be very concise. If you don’t know the person, more explanation is necessary. But don’t go overboard.

E-mail shouldn’t be instantaneous because that’s when mistakes can happen. If you don’t stop and think, and reread and edit your e-mail, you could send to the wrong person, or with typos, that could significantly alter the reader’s perception of the sender: YOU.

It’s always great to discuss the etiquette involved in a business setting, but sometimes you wonder who to ask, and what if their perspective isn’t quite the same as yours? CM Access offers this kind of support, we’ll work through it with you, to assess the situation when thanking an interviewer, when making first contact, etc. We can be that buffer, that perspective, that editer, for you.

I find Gitomer’s information on this and other sales-related topics increasingly relevant and motivating. Give it a shot! Let me know if your e-mail tactics change and get you some more results!

Technorati Tags: sales tips, job search strategy, e-mail etiquette, Jeffrey Gitomer