2. Winning The Job-Search War IEEE January 27, 2003 Jim Lemke

3. "If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." - Milton Berle -

4. Guerrilla Job Searching Basics Pounding the virtual pavement Guerrilla name generators Guerrilla web tools All about you Reflections – interests, skills & abilities Your resume Closing the interview Selling your skills and experience

5. The Leads Gorilla name generators –Unconventional, non-traditional, not by-the-book, and inexpensive. –Think like a headhunter News stories (re: organizational changes, grants, new business and employee promotions) Company website –Press releases –Events Stock site message boards Job Fairs (not just in your field) Former interviewers –Hoovers.com – Website/Book –Executive search type marketing letters Create a fictional candidate

6. Guerrilla tools Free –IEEE.com –Flipdog.com –Truecareers.com –Zillionresumes.com Monster.com Dice.com Hotjobs.com –Jobsearchlink.com –Careersurf.com Fee for use –Grassisgreener.com – Job spider - $12 for 3 months –Infogist.com – Job spider - $29 for 3 months –ResumeRabbit.com – Resume blasting tool - $59 unlimited use –ResumeDirector.com - Resume blasting tool - $59 unlimited use Research –CareerXroads – Website/Book –110 Best Job Search Sites on the Internet – Book Lead – cross sharing

7. Preparing to market yourself

8. You Your Passions Your best attributes –www.emode.com What makes a job exciting What makes you unique Your resume – it’s your marketing tool Tailor it for every position –It is not a legal document – but don’t become too creative. It should be compelling. Use action verbs. Use numbers to indicate volume. Use adjectives. SPELL CHECK!! Ask others to read it. Get constructive criticism. –Your contact information If you don’t have a personal email address…GET ONE –Don’t use a silly Email addresses such as; – moosehunter@hotmail.com –moviegoer@yahoo.com –lovleylady@excite.com –isleeponthejob@qwik.com, etc. If you change email addresses, broadcast the changes –www.freshaddress.com Use an answering tool that can be remotely accessed with a professional message – no funny messages.

9. Selecting The Job Look for the “hard skill” job requirements Do your skills directly align with the job requirements? –If not, can you truly align your skills with a spin? What to you bring to this job that gives you a competitive edge? What excites you about the job? –Write it down and then put it in your cover letter Send a resume & cover letter to HR and to the hiring manager

10. Interview Due Diligence Do your homework Research their web page What Products/Services do they provide? What is their market position? Who are the key managers? Who are their competitors? Have they been in the news? What is the corporate culture?

11. Interviewing

12. Prepare For Your Interview Rehearse your answers to common interviewing questions. Video tape yourself practicing to interview. Would you hire yourself? Show you want the job. Tell them what you could do that would benefit the organization. Tell them what you’ve done for employers in the past that could benefit them. Ask for clarification. It shows an interest in the position and what the interviewer has to say. Remember to listen. Communication is a two-way street. Take time to reflect before answering difficult questions.

13. Interview Basics Be on-time. Be well-groomed. Wear a suit. Wear sensible, well-polished shoes. Bring a resume, references, and samples of your work, if appropriate. Bring a pen and notepad. Jot down information, but don’t take excessive notes. Make eye contact. Be confident. Try to relax. Be honest. Sell yourself, but don’t claim skills you don’t possess. Be aware of your body language. Be positive and try to make others more comfortable. Send a thank-you note within 24 hours.

14. Your pitch Selling yourself You should be able to say what you want to do, and you are prepared to do, for your next employer. You should be able to say it in 25 words or less. Be prepared to say it to anyone in the industry. Back it up Be prepared to give specific examples of your achievements. Think on your feet - highlight the skills that would be most important to the person that you’re talking to.

15. Reference Books Resumes,Cover Letters & Interviews for Dummies – Joyce Lain Kennedy Job Searching Online For Dummies – Pam Dixon The Interview Rehearsal Book -Deb Gottesman, Buzz Mauro Resumes in Cyberspace - Pat Criscito Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer - Susan Britton Whitcomb Best Answers to the 201 Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions - Matthew J. Deluca

16. Remember….Job searching is a full-time effort! Questions ?