Category Archives: proactive job search

Informational Interviews

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Steve

We’ve been working on networking and “informational interviewing” in particular the last couple of weeks in the NFJS groups.  Doing this has brought home some of the challenges this process represents. For most of us, the very idea of going … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviewing, Networking, Persistence, proactive job search, research | Comments Off

The value of focus

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Steve

The NFJS groups have been have been working on researching companies and opportunities and this process re-enforced the value of having a specific goal.  There are all sorts of great old clichés for this, “If you don’t know where you … Continue reading →

Posted in budget, examples, finances, job search, links, Networking, Persistence, proactive job search, reference, tools | Comments Off

Working a Room

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Steve

One of my favorite people and a former client, George Gibbs turned me on to a really terrific book on networking that I simply must pass on.  The title is, How to Work a Room by Susan RuAne.  As I … Continue reading →

Posted in links, Networking, peer support, Persistence, proactive job search, resilience, resources, tools | Comments Off

Lessons Learned from Charlie Sheen

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Steve

First, I have to say thank you to Christopher Poreda for a great post by the same name.  I’ll also steal his lessons: “1) Be an original. Copies can be replicated and as such are cheaper the more you make. … Continue reading →

Posted in Charlie Sheen, Interviewing, Networking, peer support, proactive job search, Social Networks, visibility | 1 Comment

Caveat Emptor

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Steve

Seize the Day. Amazing how important that is and how often we don’t. Fundamentally, job search is about researching the world around us until we find a problem we can help with.  At every step of this process, caveat emptor applies. … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Practices, Networking, prejudice, proactive job search, professional development, resilience | 2 Comments

Stories from NFJS

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Steve

My desperate hunting for blog ideas has been solved! I mentioned that I joined a “support group for reluctant bloggers” in an earlier blog and this week I was able to get to there for the second time. While participating, … Continue reading →

Posted in branding., Interviewing, Networking, proactive job search, resumes, strengths | Comments Off

Creating the "Value Proposition" letter

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Steve

Coming back to the Value Proposition process.  You’ve gone through Dunn and Bradstreet, identifying target companies. For each of these you have the name and address of the “Principal”. The titles vary a lot, but D&B has a primary contact. … Continue reading →

Posted in cold calls, Dunn and Bradstreet, examples, proactive job search | Comments Off

Value Proposition Campaigns

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Steve

Pretty much all of my posts so far have been about how to get a “job”, as in an existing, defined role in an existing, defined company. You know the drill, create resume, find an opportunity, then apply or try … Continue reading →

Posted in cold calls, proactive job search, research | Comments Off