The Hired Guns Blog

As impossible as it may seem, summer’s already over. It’s time to put away the board shorts and flip flops and start thinking seriously about honing your professional skills. But unlike your kids, your fall schedule has something to look forward to. This fall, The Hired Guns Academy offers four distinct courses to help you take the next step in your career.

First off is What’s Your Story? Master the Art of the Elevator Pitch and Harness the Power of Short-Storytelling. On Wednesday, September 19, Larry Smith, founder of SMITH magazine and author of It All Changed in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure, helps you hone your “elevator pitch” and teaches you how to make it “flex” depending on the audience you’re speaking to and the stage of your career you’re in, so people remember your name and what you do best. Sign up here.

But wait – there’s more (yes, we just went there.) We want you to take a crack at crafting your own six-word CV. Make them funny, make them heart-wrenching, make them suit-and-tie serious — just make sure they sell you in just six words. Tweet them @TheHiredGuns using #6wordCV, email them to us at hired.guns.editorial@gmail.com, or just leave them in the comments below. The best six-word CV, as determined by our eminently qualified and highly vetted panel of celebrity judges, wins free admission to Larry’s September 19 class. We’ll share the best submissions on our blog, but only the best six words will win.

We’ve got 3 more upcoming classes to help you master your career. No matter what your field is or where you are in your professional life, our coaches can bring you to the top of your game.

Nail That Presentation! Wed Oct 3
Great presenters aren’t born, they’re trained. And we’ve got just the instructor to train you: Joel Schwartzberg. A top public speaking instructor and former national champion public speaker, Joel will teach you how to take your presentation to the next level by adopting techniques he honed over his 15 years in public speaking competition and university coaching.
Sign up here.

Be Your Own Publicist: How to Use PR Techniques to Get Hired, Noticed, and Rewarded at Work Wed Oct 24
In one of the toughest job markets in over 20 years, standing out and making a good impression is more vital than ever. But how do you go about promoting yourself and your talents in the workplace? By being your own best publicist, of course! In our class, public relations experts Jessica Kleiman and Meryl Weinsaft Cooper will show you how to use tried-and-true public relations skills to achieve your goals.
Sign up here.

How To Negotiate Your Salary Like An FBI Agent Wed Nov 14
Learning how to negotiate salary is the single most important skill you’ll need to enhance your total income throughout the duration of your career. So give yourself the gift that keeps on giving! With Academy coach Jim Hopkinson, you’ll go from fearful to fearless — and own each and every negotiation. Isn’t it time you got paid what you deserve?
Sign up here.

There are plenty more on the way, so stay tuned!