Thursday, February 17, 2011
How many of you know people that have been unemployed for 1-2 years and are lamenting that there are no jobs to be had? How many of you are those people?
It's not something to be ashamed about, but if you're going to fix it, you need to change your outlook on things. First of all, you need to stop looking to others to give you a job. I'm not saying to stop applying for work, going to interviews and the like. What I'm saying is that you need to stop being passive about it.
I recently had a conversation with somebody that has been out of work for nearly a year. She was stressing because her unemployment was potentially going to run out if her extention wasn't approved. I asked her how many interviews she had been to recently and she told me none.
Does this sound familiar?
I asked why she hadn't been to any interviews and her reply was "because nobody has called me to come into an interview".
People, wake up. When the economy is down and unemployment is high, you cannot be passive about getting a job. You have to assume that there are 400 people applying for the same job you are.
There are 2 ways out of this scenario - landing a job or creating your own. I recommend a hybrid of the two. Read my article, Teach your kids to build a business instead of working fast food for excellent tips on how to create your own job. Doing that takes time; however, so you'll want to start as soon as possible. In the meantime, you're going to need to land a job working for somebody else.
To get your name to the top of that list of 400 applicants, you have to be aggressive. Learn everything you can about the company. Read their website and all their press releases. Try their products, if possible. If they're a public company, check out their financial statements and see if they're making a profit or not. See if their PR department and their Accounting department are saying the same thing and use this to your advantage.
If they are hurting, how can you solve their problems? If they are doing well, how can you make them even better? Be prepared. Become a salesperson because that's what you are.. you're selling yourself. How would a salesperson handle it? Would they come in with powerpoint slideshows, marketing materials, and other things to land the sale? Sure they would. If you take charge of the interview and prove to them that you are their solution, not just more overhead then they're going to be impressed - and you're going to get hired.
And then call them. And call them. And don't let the receptionist filter you. Use LinkedIn and other sources to find additional contacts in the company that you can use to finally get to the right person.
Do this for several companies and one of them is sure to hire you. You may even be surprised at the outcome. Sometimes the company realizes that you're of a higher caliber than the position you're applying for and may offer you a better job.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Marketing is a technical business with a great deal of components that must be considered no matter what business you are in, however there are fundamental basics and strategies that are applicable to all business'. My goal for this blog is to generate thought and discussion around general marketing and sales strategies that any business will find value in. I will provide personal insight and experience around proven marketing ideas and strategies in the hope that someone may be able to apply these ideas to their business and see it grow.
Please feel free to ask me questions about marketing hurdles your business is facing and I will then post marketing blogs addressing your hurdles with my own marketing advise and suggestions. As mentioned before there are fundamental basics to marketing so it is very likely that others who view this marketing blog will have similar marketing questions and hurdles. My expertise is limited to my experience and education so not only will you hopefully find value in my ideas but also in the ideas and expertise of your peer's who are going through the same thing as you or have successfully passed through your stage of business development.
Please come, enjoy, and most of all....
Best of Success,
Nate Barnhill
