Blogging4Jobs

Part of my own strategy to build my brand, gain business, and establish myself as an expert in my field is by using my blog to write and interview other experts and companies promoting them while continuing to build and strengthen my own relationships. Last Friday was no exception. Through a simple LinkedIn invitation to connect message, (Yes, LinkedIn) I was able to secure an interview with best selling author, Jeffrey Gitomer. Jeffrey Gitomer is one of my favorite authors and speakers. While his followers and fans are generally sales professionals, I am a firm believer that each and every person works in sales in some form either as a job seeker selling yourself to a company, when dating or meeting your prospective mate (the ultimate sales job), and when making a major life purchase like a car or house. Solid sales, negotiation, networking, and presentation skills are all very important in all three of these scenarios.

Jeffrey’s three hour seminar touched a great deal on how a solid sales marketing and branding plan can impact your success. The bottom line is that people buy from people and those that are ordinary end up in second place. Sitting among the more than 300 in attendance, I was surprised to learn that less than 10% utilized social media tools as part of their sales, branding, and lead generation strategy. While Jeffrey discussed the power of social media and how it can help you engage decision makers as well as hiring managers.

He says, “The challenge is for you to understand is that we are the bailout. The challenge is not just about sales tips and ideas but what you do that’s pretty ordinary.”

Jeffrey encourages everyone to take control of their bailout and suggested that we can accomplish this in the following ways:

• Get a creative voice mail. Be different from everyone else. Humor is an excellent tool to define who you are and differentiate yourself from the rest.

• Schedule a three way lunch. If someone you want to meet is giving you the run-around, invite someone you know that they need to know with you to lunch. Call your contact & invite them again. You will build instant rapport and credibility with both parties.

• Be the Best. Don’t settle for ordinary. When you are the best at what you do, everything else shows up.

• Business cards matter. Find creative ways to keep people talking. Your business card is a representation of yourself. How do you want people to remember you?

• Get a flip. Video testimonial and video references are extremely powerful on your blog or website lending you instant credibility. Use a flip to interview experts and promote them on your blog or website building solid rapport and relationships not only with the interviewee but also your blog audience.

Check out my video interview with Jeffrey Gitomer below and don’t forget to visit his website at JeffreyGitomer.com. A special thanks to the Journal Record.

Photo Credit Gitomer.com & Active Rain.

As job seekers enter into the job search, research and preparation are the two most important and also overlooked parts of the job search.  Eager candidates often dive into the super competitive world of resumes and personal branding without developing a proper self-marketing strategy.  Just like any project, it’s important to understand your product’s (you) features and benefits, your target market, as well as your current competition while having a clear plan and strategy to ensure success.  Whether you are currently waist deep in the job search or preparing to enter the race, here are some books to consider when developing your personal marketing strategy.

• Internet Your Way to the Job Search:  How to Really Find a Job Online. by Alison Doyle.  Alison is one of the leading job search experts on the internet and is a featured contributor on About.com.  Her book in its second addition includes expert advice and opinions from recruiters and career coaches to help you navigate the world wide web as a job seeker.  She discusses the importance of social media strategies, personal branding, and how to use technology effectively in the job search.  Her book is a must read for the serious job seeker.

• Crucial Conversations.  Tools for talking when stakes are high. by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, & Al Switzler. I am currently half way through this book but am loving every minute of it.  I have already begun using and taking steps to have those difficult yet crucial conversations not only in my professional life but also my personal. life  I recommend this book for employees who are considering taking the plunge into the job search but are reluctant.  This book can help you work with difficult bosses and destructive co-workers.  Vital Smarts, the company behind Crucial Conversations offers real world case studies, webinars, and other resources.

• Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Red Book of Selling. by Jeffrey Gitomer.  I had the pleasure to listen to Jeffrey speak several years ago.  He is no-nonsense, engaging, and motivating sort of way.  I left his seminar pumped up and ready to take the tips and tools he provided me out into the real world.  Sales is so much a part of the job search.  It is most important to understand how to sell yourself and this book does that.  One of my favorite Jeffrey Gitomer quotes, “In sales, it’s not who you know.  In sales, it’s who knows you.”  This is equally true for job seekers in the job search.

• Hire With Your Head. by Lou Alder.  Lou’s company, The Adler Group as well as his book discusses the concept of Performance Based Hiring.  His book discusses how companies should use a combination of techniques to ensure that they are hiring quality candidates who will meet and exceed performance expectations.  One bad placement or hiring decision can cost a company thousands and thousands of dollars.  This book discusses techniques on how businesses can go beyond going with their gut when making a job offer.  As a candidate it is important for you to understand the methods, strategies, and decisions businesses make when making a candidate job offer.

• Me 2.0. by Dan Schawbel. Dan is the leader in personal branding.  At age 24, he wrote, Me 2.0. Although Me 2.o is geared to young professionals, it provides insight to professionals of all ages whether you are in the job market or as a professional interested in development and personal marketing.   Dan’s book is easy to read and offers a real-world 4 step strategy for discovering, creating, communicating, and maintaining your personal brand.  Additionally, Dan offers insight to how businesses can grow and develop their own personal brand to promote their products, service, or attract qualified candidates.  For more information surrounding personal branding, visit his Personal Branding Blog.

Get Paid To Sell Your Boss!! Isn’t Youtube wonderful! See the video below.

The job search isn’t just about resumes, responding to newspaper job ads, and interviewing anymore. It’s all about selling yourself. Here are some important points to consider as you begin your job search.

1. Follow the Girl Scout motto: Be Prepared. Do your research prior to meeting or contacting the company you are interested in working for. This means a variety of things inlcuding visiting the company website, researching their stock performance, and knowing that position qualifications and speaking to them. Have marketing tools ready to go including your sales pitch, resume, coverletter, business cards, and portfolio.

2. It’s a numbers game. Sales is a numbers game. I often use a deck of cards as an example. Consider the face cards as sales or interviews. The remaining cards are all no’s. As you flip through the deck of cards you may come across 12 consecutive no’s before coming upon a yes.

3. Be confident. Part of being a successful sales person is being confident, and it all starts with you. Dressing the part, a firm handshake, and good eye contact are a good start.

4. Keep it professional. Unless you are indepently wealthy or just lucky, having a job means being able to pay your bills. It’s very easy to cross the line from professional to personal. Always try to keep an open mind, an even keel, and keep your focus.

5. Opportunity knocks. Your sales opportunity can happen anytime and anywhere. Greet everyone you meet. Be ready with marketing materials and be prepared to sell. Networking opportunities happen at the most unusual places including Starbucks, the grocery store, movie theatre, and a Halloween party.

Finding the right job that meets your personal, professional, and finaicial goals is a full time job. However, with proper preparation, research, and a little bit of luck you’ll be off to a great start.

Next time. . . More Job Hunting on the Edge. Crazy, creative networking and job search ideas to get you noticed.

An important part of the job search process is selling yourself. An easy read is Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Red Book of Selling. Check out his website at http://www.gitmore.com/. In addition to a large selection of inexpensive books, Gitmore has sales training and seminars at various locations and venues throughout the country. I, myself will be attending his Little Black Book of Connections Training in late January here in OKC and I’m totally psyched about it!!!!

A quote from his book, Little Black Book of Connections I felt really hit home. “To climb the ladder of success, you don’t need more techniques and strategies, you need more friends.” I’m considering this as my mantra for 2008.

Happy Reading!