How to Get a Job
(By Dr. Bruce M. Firestone)
¨ Build a Personal Web Site (PWS).
¨ Use a domain name that is meaningful to you and won’t embarrass you over the long term (i.e., don’t use www.CoolDude1984.com).
¨ Put your CV there and your best work too.
¨ Keep your PWS up to date and keep it for life.
¨ Develop your own personal network and keep all your email addresses.
¨ Use an email address that is not betty109@hotmail.com but is elizabethsmith@mypersonalwebsite.ca or whatever. Make it dignified and professional.
¨ Make sure you host your PWS somewhere that is independent of your current job or even your own business—that’s so if you leave your job or sell your business, there is no debate about who owns it and you don’t lose all those email addresses.
¨ Keep in touch with the great people you met in High School and University.
¨ They can be a great source of leads—who is hiring, who is great to work for (and who isn’t).
¨ When looking at job websites or websites for companies you think you might want to work for, don’t send your résumé in; send your URL. (Mine is: http://www.dramatispersonae.org/ShortFormResumeParsed.htm.) People much prefer being able to go to your PWS to look at your résumé than have their inbox filled up with your attachments.
¨ It is also easier for them to show other people what you have to offer.
¨ Plus, your résumé is never out of date—you don’t have a zillion CVs floating around out there that are old copies since you have total source control and can update your online CV whenever anything good happens to you.
¨ For companies you want to work for, call the manager you want to work for and ask if he or she has 20 minutes to offer you some ‘advice’.
¨ If you can’t get a meeting, then drop off a paper copy of your CV anyway.
¨ After that, call their HR department and show keen interest.
¨ There are many companies that treat new hires like salmon—they might turn you down once or twice, just to see if you have the guts to come back and try again. Rumor has it that Google makes new hires go through 12 (twelve!) interviews. Applicants brag about getting to Level 8 before getting the boot (i.e., they brag about how well they did at Google and didn’t get the job!)
¨ Come up with unsolicited ideas and proposals for target companies—call them up and tell them you have come up with a solution to an issue they face.
¨ Use the six degrees of separation to get an interview and advice from someone you respect and would like to meet.
¨ Carefully use Guerrilla Marketing to market yourself but don’t do anything illegal, unethical or distasteful.
¨ Try to get some earned media exposure—people are impressed by (good) news stories and newspaper clippings. Newsprint exposure is far more lasting than video so getting written about in a newspaper is better.
¨ Try to get some of your work published.
¨ Present a learned paper at a conference.
¨ Give a speech.
¨ Use a win-by-losing approach—apply for a job you probably won’t get but in the process you get to know a whole lot of new people and they get to see what you can do.
¨ Put testimonials on your PWS and in your CV.
¨ “Read Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” and “Think like an owner”—it’s the only way to become one.” (From Joe Kowalski, President, www.WildernessTours.com).
¨ “To get a job, you need to have a fairly targeted "campaign". What I've found useful is learning as much as possible about the activities, ambitions and needs of the prospective employer, and making myself as educated as possible in the areas in which they are looking for expertise, before making contact and especially before going for an interview. You need to come out of the gate with ideas and suggestions. I find, being on either side of the hiring process that people are generally looking first and foremost for a feel that someone is a go-getter, who will not sit in a corner but will actively look for ways to get the job done and create new value. One can do things to deliver this impression before, during and after an interview.” (From Chris Janz, www.ciena.com).
¨ “I'd have to say the biggest thing for me was my network of people I knew. When I had a professor at university that had an interesting background and who I had respect for, I would go out of my way to meet them. One of the managing partners here was a Professor I had in fourth year. I kept up to date with my Prof, and I didn't even really apply here... they just asked to meet me. After your first job, it's basically all networking. I really find it hard to fathom anyone in this industry hiring anyone without knowing them first. I'm sure it happens, obviously, but it's all about who you know. I think the best thing to do is to call people in your industry, explain that you're a recent graduate looking for work, and ask if they'd have 10 minutes to meet you and give you some advice. Don't take more than that, bring your resume and your portfolio and ask them for the benefit of their experience. Before you leave, ask if there is anyone else that they know that they would recommend you speak to. As long as you're respectful and make a good first impression, chances are you'll find one or two leads. Other than that, volunteer. I owe most of my career to being a volunteer and working with and in the theatre.” (From Ryan Anderson, www.deltamedia.ca).
¨ “My number one tip is to send a hard copy letter and CV *directly* to a senior manager in the area that you are interested in. The easiest way to find out their name is on the company web site under corporate information. Another great way to find contacts is in your university 'news' section (look for promotion announcements, news, etc.). Follow up with a phone call to the individual. Also send the same package via e-mail. And it goes without saying: - research the company- have an impeccable *personalized* cover letter- have an impeccable *company specific* resume.” (From Bruce Gan).
¨ “Here are a couple more suggestions: a) Keep in mind the person filtering the resumes, and often the person doing the hiring, might not understand the technical details of the position you are applying for. This is especially true when applying for software development or government positions. For example, if a position requires 2 years of experience with JavaScript, don't tell them you have 3 years of experience with Java. The person filtering the resumes will not know that JavaScript is a subset of Java. For government positions, resumes are filtered by HRDC regardless of the department actually doing the hiring. What works best is copying the requirements directly from the position posting and pasting them into your cover letter and resume with an added paragraph for each requirement explaining your experience; b) Write cover letters. If you've put a lot of time and effort into writing a cover letter for a specific company, a potential employer is more compelled to take a little bit of extra time to thoroughly look at your resume instead of skimming through it.” (From Robin Chahal, former Entrepreneurialist Culture Student).
¨ “Don't be
afraid to pick up the phone and directly call the person you are interested in
working for. It shows that you are motivated, confident, and have thought
about the direction you want your career to move in. Even if it
doesn't result in a job, you may make a valuable contact, and receive helpful
advice!” (From Brad McBride, Policy
Analyst, Industry
¨ “Spend the time to develop a good resume; Increase your knowledge about the job market (i.e. what are you looking for? Be as specific as possible...); Do your research before you go job hunting (company, the various departments, how you can contribute...); Network (join clubs, committees, volunteer); Strive for constant improvement (set yourself apart, take additional courses, increase your skill set {Remember, it’s all about lifetime learning not just you learned when you were at University (Ed.)}); MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL: Be persistent! If you know what you want and knock on enough doors, someone will eventually notice!” (From Tanveer Islam, former Entrepreneurialist Culture Student).
Network like Crazy
How to network in your community:
1. Join the Kiwanis Club, other Service Clubs, Associations or the Committee of 100 (if it exists in your city).
2. Join a golf, tennis, karate or fitness club.
3. Wangle invitations to suites at the local sports and entertainment complex.
4. For
techies in
5. Go to conventions and trade shows in your field.
6. Do charitable work and become a volunteer.
http://www.dramatispersonae.org/Networking.htm
http://www.dramatispersonae.org/PersonalWebSite.htm
http://www.dramatispersonae.org/GuerrillaMarketingAndFinance/GuerrillaMarketing.htm
http://www.dramatispersonae.org/DesignEconomicsFrontPage.htm
http://www.dramatispersonae.org/EntrepreneurialistCultureFrontPage.htm