THE CAREER SECRETS™ NEWSLETTER
Revealing what’s “working” for you…
FREE Career Management and Job Change News and Ideas from Darrell W. Gurney, CPC, JCTC, For Working and Careers Industry Professionals.
June 12, 2001. Copyright Hunter Arts Publishing.
Published continually since the issue before last.
Editor@CareerSecrets.com; http://www.CareerSecrets.com ; 1-877-5-RECRUIT
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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. Welcome from the Publisher
2. CareerTips
3. CareerNews
4. CareerResources
5. CareerThoughts
6. CareerOptions
7. CareerCalendar
8. CareerQuotes

<1>-----------------WELCOME FROM THE PUBLISHER------------------<>

Welcome to the third issue of our monthly newsletter. A very special welcome to all of our new subscribers who saw our article appearing on MSNCareers, which I'll share more about later. This is an opt-in only publication and I want to thank you for accepting the invitation to subscribe, whether from an article, a forwarded newsletter from a friend, or the opt-in box on either of our related Web sites, http://www.CareerSecrets.com or http://www.HeadHuntersRevealed.com. Responses and questions continue to pour in, and we'll address several in this issue. (If this was forwarded to you by a friend, please feel free to opt-in at either of the above sites and join us!)

Hopefully, we have fixed the spacing issues of the former issue. Again, if the formatting on this edition is not the best, we'll catch the problems next time around.

Please send us your articles, comments, questions, Career Secrets™, humor, and anything else you think will support the cause. Remember: DON’T sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. Participate! Give what you can, and you'll get credit.

All the Best, and Happy Hunting!

Darrell W. Gurney, CPC, JCTC
Hunter Arts Publishing & A Permanent Success National Career/Search Partners
http://www.HeadHuntersRevealed.com and http://www.APSCareerSearch.com
Editor@CareerSecrets.com

<2>---------------------------CAREERTIPS-----------------------------<>

This month, we're sharing some tips we've offered subscribers. These are freebies and, hey, you get what you pay for. Actually, it's good advice but, remember, the opinions expressed represent those of the author/editor alone, and bear no relation to what you might actually agree with. Also, they're created on the fly, so we claim artistic consultant's license when it comes to grammatical concerns.

We can't get to all the questions so, if it's really important, remember our career coaching services (see below). Better to get the most time-sensitive and critical advice on the buy rather than on the fly. You never know how much that little bit of input and support could save you/make you in the career long run.

QUESTION:
Robin wrote:
Darrell,
I need a little help/advice. We just had a big lay-off at work, and although I kept my job, I have a good friend that lost hers. Anyway, she found a job on the website and the position was located in Southeast Texas, near where she lives. The guy that she needed to contact was a headhunter in New Jersey or somewhere up north. How does that work? Why would a job position down here need to go through a person up there?

ANSWER:
Robin,
Headhunting is not only a national business...but truly global. Headhunters specialize in various industries/fields and cover those specialties no matter where they themselves are located. Technology, the Internet, and the coming together of recruiters into various trade associations has given recruiters the ability to be one-stop shops, no matter what the position, no matter where it is. So, it's not strange at all that she's working with a recruiter in the Northeast. I place people all over the country myself. If she is working with recruiters, mention the book to her--it will help her understand the process so much better.

QUESTION:
Michael wrote:
Dear Career Meister:
I have spent the last 23 months in looking for a management position in Marketing. I have an excellent resume that has generated over 20 interviews but no job offers. The feedback that I have received is “too much Telco experience”, “I don’t trust the internet for finding anyone”, “We feel that you are over qualified for any technical position that our startup venture currently requires”, or “We need someone who'll get their hands dirty”. I would never think there may be a little age discrimination going on (I am 54) and that there is some fear that I may take over their jobs.

I’d appreciate your referral of a good Retained Executive Search Firm. The current Job Market is very small for Executive Positions. Having the right person represent you in an Executive Search is half the battle.

ANSWER:
Michael,
God's honest truth is you never know what's really going in in the hiring manager's mind, regardless of what they say. And, despite laws, you also never know their position on age.

Look, don't think you need to work with just "retained" recruiters. As a matter of fact, you may often get more play from "contingency" recruiters because 1) they'll generally have more opportunities they're working on, since they are less "exclusively" contracted with by the hiring company, and 2) they'll generally work you harder because they only get paid when they've made a hit. They rely on their database of candidates much more than retained firms, who often have to go out and find a very specific and targeted person (like they already know their name!) for a specific job.

QUESTION:
Debra wrote:
I currently live in New York and would like to relocate to the San Francisco area. I can't really move before the end of May (when the lease is up), when do you suggest looking and how? I am not sure how to proceed.

ANSWER:
Debra,
It always pays to get your feelers out early because, especially when it comes to getting assistance from recruiters, they need lead time to get you into their system as well as get their antenna up for what you want. Depending on your level, you can at least be pursuing phone interviews with interested companies if not actually getting flown out to meet them for second or third interviews. If you're not at a middle-management level or above, you may just need to wait until you actually get to San Francisco to begin interviewing. It won't hurt to begin connecting with recruitment firms local to that area though...as soon as possible. Of course, be sure to peruse the Web in the meantime, responding to anything that might fit your field, level, and location preferences.

Darrell W. Gurney, CPC (Certified Personnel Consultant), JCTC (Certified Job & Career Transition Coach)
http://www.HeadHuntersRevealed.com and http://www.CareerSecrets.com

<3>---------------------------CAREERNEWS----------------------------<>
We recently posted an article on MSNCareers. Before referring you to it, first know that 1) the article was dramatically edited, sometimes changing entire meanings of passages, and 2) we are now aware that the quote is attributed to Calvin Coolidge. (Thanks for the throngs of contributors passing on that input!) Overall, it speaks well to the main point: that there are many factors in career success, in addition to degrees. Degrees are incredibly valuable, and we support all who can find there way to completing one or many. However, certain "life skills" also contribute highly to one's long-term achievements. Our main point of contention with the editing is in the line "A non-degreed person can get just as much attention from recruiters and hiring companies--if they know how to present themselves effectively." It should have read "A non-degreed person can get just as much attention from recruiters and hiring companies--if they haven’t allowed their degree-less-ness to hinder their success." Also, there aren't that many "demanding recruiters who want more" degrees out there (not our words). As long as you produce results and can claim your stake in the top 15-25% of what you do, headhunters will be after you.

Please refer all the new grads you know to this article. It's great food for thought in entering the job market.

http://content.careers.msn.com/WorkingLife/GettingAhead/Cced050105.asp

<4>------------------------CAREERRESOURCES-------------------------<>

The Pause that Refreshes
Did you know that a simple pause in conversation can result in thousands more in your pocket? Knowing when to hold your lip upon receiving a job offer, and letting the employer sweat as you siliently milk them for more, is an education every career-minded individual should gain. Companies usually have more budgeted for the position than initially offered, so why not get the money that will leave you all the more tickled in your new job? That's just one of the brilliant insights veteran career coach, Jack Chapman, shares in his classic book "Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1000 a Minute" ($12.95). If you're currently out of a job, or employed but looking, this is the time to invest small in something that could return big for you. Check out http://www.salarynegotiations.com for more info.

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Know anyone who could benefit from the info in this newsletter? Please forward it on to them. They’ll appreciate your career support.
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Darrell W. Gurney, CPC, JCTC, offers job search and career consulting services, from reviewing and commenting on your resume to helping create a structured game plan for your career and/or job transition. Besides experienced information (details at http://www.advicezone.com/experts/expert_profile.jsp?profileId=519), he offers a supportive presence. If you're like most people, when going through major changes/shifts in life, it helps immensely to simply have someone keeping your thoughts straight and directed.
If you go through Advice.zone.com, the rate is $198 per hour. However, contact him directly for the The Career Secrets™ Newsletter recipient rate of $125 per hour, with greater discounts on “long-term care” packages. Resume review with comments: $50. E-mail for more information: Editor@CareerSecrets.com.

<5>---------------------------CAREERTHOUGHTS-----------------------<>

It’s a Jungle Out There:

7 Immediate Steps for Every Laid-off Individual


1. Prepare a “keyword searchable” resume: today’s companies and recruiters use databases for information storage and retrieval-quite different from the non-electronic filing cabinets of past recessions. If an appropriate position isn’t available immediately, only the right words in your resume will have you “found” in a search later on.

2. Create a simple cover letter: state positions and industries desired, preferred locations, and salary range. Drop the salary info for letters going directly to companies, but definitely include it for placement services-it’s a critical piece of the placement puzzle and they need to know up-front.

3. E-mail (don’t snail-mail) your info to every recruiting firm in your niche: check the yellow pages, recruiter directories (available at your local library), or research online to find firms dealing with what you do, from administrative and clerical employment agencies to retained executive search firms. There are headhunters for every level and discipline, and it’s completely FREE for job seekers. If you’re open for temporary work (even as a high-level executive), be sure to include appropriate staffing firms.

4. Now forget about recruiters: you’ve given them everything they need to determine their ability (or inability) to help you. They live to “place” anyone they can, and will respond accordingly if you have any placement potential. Don’t take it personally if you don’t get called right away…they’re only doing their job. Call to confirm receipt of your info if you like, but just consider it a message in a bottle that, hopefully, will catch some trade winds. If at some point you are contacted, begin to evaluate not only the opportunities presented, but whether or not this recruiter might become a career partner for life. Always wanting to make an immediate placement when possible, they also want to stay permanently connected with great candidates. So, whether or not they land you an immediate position, keep these individuals updated with your particulars…even after you get settled into your next job. Better to cultivate long-term relationships than to start over every time you need help.

5. Post onto all the free job boards/sites available: there are always the biggies like Monster.com, HotJobs.com, CareerBuilder.com, Headhunter.net, but look beyond these into even more specialized niche sites related to your field. You’re unemployed, so you might as well get the word out in every way possible. For a fee, you can post to more “exclusive” sites, as well as have your resume “blasted” to thousands of recipients (mostly recruiters).

6. Network like a shameless self-promoter: There’s nothing wrong with being unemployed, so don’t consider it a personal black mark. Treat it like a new job. You’re now in Sales, or, if it fits better for you, in the Research Department. Make sure that your friends, family, and neighbors know you’re on the lookout. Send an e-mail outlining your qualifications and desires and ask them to forward it to anyone they think might be interested. It’s called viral marketing. Don’t hide from the world, because the miracle connection might be right in front of you…or only three degrees of separation away.

7. Organize your life around your new job-finding a job: Get up in the morning as usual, exercise/eat on the same schedule, and finish the day to be with your family as before…but plan everything in between for success around landing your next position. You’ll stay sane, and be a lot more effective, by keeping your other life structures consistent.

More great tips, and a Lifetime Career Management™ philosophy, available in Headhunters Revealed! Career Secrets for Choosing and Using Professional Recruiters

Darrell W. Gurney, CPC, JCTC, is Principal of A Permanent Success National Career/Search Partners (http://www.APSCareerSearch.com) and author of “Headhunters Revealed! Career Secrets for Choosing and Using Professional Recruiters” ($14.95--Softcover), reviewed in Publishers Weekly, the American Library Association's Booklist, and featured in nationally syndicated career columnist Joyce Lain Kennedy's "Careers Now." © Hunter Arts Publishing

Have a Dad or Grad to think about in the coming month? We don't often take the proactive time to stay abreast of our career options. With Father's Day coming up, and Dad and/or Mom hopefully getting to enjoy a vacation this summer, give them something to read that can propel, if not secure, their careers for life. How about a signed copy? Pick up two copies of "Headhunters Revealed!" at either Barnes & Noble or through http://www.HeadHuntersRevealed.com/order.html, send one to the address at the bottom with a photocopy of the receipt, and the author will autograph it personally for you, Mom, Dad, or Grad...and send it back postage paid!

<6>------------------------CAREEROPTIONS----------------------------<>

What good is a headhunter without some great positions to tell you about? Only thing is, even in the midst of current downsizings, top talent is still highly valued and sought after. So, in addition to promoting the opportunities of our clients, we want to promote an opportunity with us! A Permanent Success National Career/Search Partners just celebrated its 10th anniversary in providing quality contingency and retained search services to companies such as Microsoft, American Express, America Online, and Hunt-Wesson…and we’re now opening up our doors for possible partnership/expansion. Los Angeles-based, yet affiliated with over 700 executive search firms worldwide, we are in integral player in a vast recruitment machine. So, if you know anyone who’s grown tired of the standard corporate game and is interested in making a career investment to reap a substantial return, please have them give us a call--we’d like to talk. E-mail Editor@CareerSecrets.com.

Want to marry your business acumen with sunny and healthy Southern California? A pioneering $6M Healthfoods Company desires a General/Business Manager to carry forth its message...and run its ship. Small, friendly, and in a gorgeous location. Includes management of both an extensive healthfoods/vitamins product line as well as related publishing concerns. 8 full-time staff and 12 part-time. Prefer someone local to So Cal. $70-90K. If, and only if, this sounds like your cup of mint tea, e-mail aps@APSCareerSearch.com with "HEALTHY MANAGER" in the subject line.

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Want to Sponsor this newsletter? With over 1000 subscribers and growing, your message will reach a hungry careers audience. Contact: Editor@CareerSecrets.com
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Might not make a living at it, but if you are a Careers Industry professional with a Web site, check out our Affiliate Program at:
http://www.HeadHuntersRevealed.com/educate.html for a 20% commission on every book sold from your site’s sent traffic. Help a career-minded individual…and buy yourself lunch.

Lastly, refer a hiring company to our nationwide search firm through your inside connections and, if we secure a placement, you earn $500. Send all referrals to Editor@CareerSecrets.com.

<7>-----------------------CAREERCALENDAR----------------------------<>

Darrell Gurney, CPC, JCTC, will be speaking at the following upcoming events:

Darrell will moderate a one-day program of expert panelists entitled “Pink Slip Boot Camp” hosted by The Learning Annex from 10am-5pm on June 23 in Los Angeles. Panels will focus on knowing your options, the nuts & bolts of finding a job, turning your passion into a paycheck, and job-search strategies that work. Cost is $39 for members and $49 for non-members. You and your friends can sign up at http://www.LearningAnnex.com

The Learning Annex will host Darrell for the topic “How to Ma$ter the Hidden Job Market” on July 23, August 21, September 24, and October 23 in Los Angeles. Cost is $29 for members and $39 for non-members. You and your friends can sign up at http://www.learningannex.com

Hearing something explained often enhances what is read. Join Darrell live on radio through your computer on August 4, 8-9am Pacific, when he will be Barbra Alexander's guest on "The Money Hot-Line". Go to http://www.money-hotline.com and click the "On Air" link at the bottom to listen to Barbra's show live. Our first show with Barbra last Saturday morning was a huge success, so they've invited us back. With enough support and call-ins for this show, it may become a series--a free career coaching avenue for you! Tell them you were referred by The Career Secrets™ Newsletter.

<8>---------------------CAREERQUOTES--------------------------<>

Balance these various points on the spectrum of activity...and tell us all how it works:

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle--when the sun comes up, you'd better be RUNNING."--Author Unknown

"Thy lot or portion of life is seeking after thee. Therefore, be at rest from seeking after it."--Caliph Ali

"What we are to do is work, work, work...and leave the rest to God."--Mother Theresa

"I have so much to accomplish today that I had better meditate for three hours instead of two."--Mahatma Ghandi

E-mail your CareerHumor and CareerQuotes to Editor@CareerSecrets.com.

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THE SMALL PRINT

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Hunter Arts Publishing, Darrell W. Gurney, Certified Personnel Consultant, Certified Job & Career Transition Coach, Author, Publisher, Speaker
P.O. Box 66578
Los Angeles, CA 90066
http://www.HunterArts.com with free online career tips, resources, and excerpts.
Tel: 310-821-6303, Fax: 310-821-6308
Editor@CareerSecrets.com