job hunting

Confessions of a Job Hopper

Danny Flamberg on March 20, 2013

Very few us of are one-dimensional. Most of us have a spectrum of skills and interests which can be ordered, emphasized and monetized in different ways at different times. So far, I’ve had seven careers ranging from educator to government worker to journalist, consultant, publicist, Internet entrepreneur, and ad man. Who knows what will be next?

Job change is personal growth. But change needs to be carefully considered and actively chosen. I use three criteria for assessing new opportunities. Read More →

28 Days Q+A | How Long Should My Resume Be?

Ryan Galloway on March 18, 2013

Last month, I wrote a piece called Conquering the First Obstacle: How to Write a Great Resume. I touched briefly on the problem of length, but that seems hardly to have been enough. Here’s one of the scores of emails I received about resume length:

Should my resume be one page or two? I hear SO many differing opinions.

Here’s the answer. Read More →

28 Days Q+A | When the Job Ad Asks for an Innovator, What Do They Really Mean?

Allison Hemming on March 13, 2013

Today’s question comes from an anonymous but thoroughly frustrated digital innovator:

Companies often advertise for “thought leaders” and “game changers,” but during the interview process, they usually reveal that they really just want to build incrementally on what they’ve already got. In a second interview with a major company, I realized that although they want to be recognized as an innovator in their industry, their major focus is on building the adoption for their current technologies across the company. I can do this, but I have the skills, insight, and passion to build the next generation. Is it worth continuing the conversation with them? Do I stand a chance of convincing them to innovate?

That’s a great question. It’s actually pretty rare for prospective employers to be guilty of outright false advertising. It’s way more likely that they’re “aspirational innovators,” meaning that they want to innovate. Someday. When the stars align and everything is perfect, they’ll take that leap. Unfortunately, that’s not quite your timeline, is it? Read More →

All the 28 Days to a New Job Links In One Place

The Hired Guns on March 11, 2013

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve received a boatload of requests for a post with all the 28 Days links in one place. Ask and ye shall receive, friends. Here they are! Read More →

The Surprising Story Behind February’s Positive Job Numbers

Allison Hemming on March 11, 2013

February’s BLS Jobs Report landed on Friday, and the numbers were surprisingly positive. A healthy 236,000 jobs were added to the private sector, a whopping 71,000 more jobs than expected. While you might think this would be cause for celebration, the reaction among major news outlets was decidedly mixed. The Gray Lady — followed by scores of other outlets – unleashed a frenzy of upbeat articles, each presenting a rosy outlook for the still-wobbly economy. NPR was more measured in its coverage, being bold enough to give some airtime to the falling participation rate (this number measures the amount of employable adults actively engaged in the labor market). It also balanced Friday’s good news with coverage of the continuing challenges faced by the long-term unemployed. Naturally, The Wall Street Journal did what the Wall Street Journal does best: rain on everyone’s parade.

In short, the numbers are more promising than many observers expected, but change is still to come. Here’s what the situation looks like from our spot in the jobs space. Read More →

Internship Doom: Landing a Full-time Job Without Letting Go of Your Life

The Hired Guns on March 8, 2013

Not all internships include a creepy little dude following you. But some do.

by Tyler Bradford

We recently wrote about how to act (and not act) during your entry-level job, but, admittedly, I skipped a small step: actually landing that first job. Gone are the days when companies willingly hired scores of college graduates, paying them a living wage and starting them on the upward professional track. Twenty first-century twenty-somethings can no longer rely on such linear development, faced instead with such ambiguous prospects as scores of unpaid internships which may or may not convert into full-time employment and companies who simply refuse to invest in the emerging work force.

In this weekend’s Style section, the New York Times featured profiles of several such disheartened young professionals, exposing a life defined by nonfat soy lattes and incessant iPhone 5-checking (this is the Style section, after all). If you’re in your 20s (I am) or care about the state of employment at all, the article might just make you cry. Maybe you’ll want to throw your computer against the wall (not going to help your career). But if you take a second to take some deep breaths, there are actually some key points to take away. Besides, you’re never going to be able to beat the odds if you don’t know what you’re up against (that’s what we tell ourselves, anyways). Read More →

28 Days Q+A | How Much Back-Channeling is Too Much?

Ryan Galloway on March 5, 2013

Our inboxes have been overflowing since we launched 28 Days to a New Job. We’ve gotten tons of great questions, and we want to make sure we address as many possible. So without further ado, here’s our first question from a fellow who calls himself Beantown Product Guy:

If you find a great opportunity on LinkedIn or another job board, how much “back-channel” networking is appropriate? What’s acceptable? What’s crossing the line?

That’s a very, very common question, and the answer may not be as straightforward as you think. Read More →

Five Tips for Entry-Level Job Seekers

The Hired Guns on March 1, 2013

One of the most difficult transitions you’ll make in your career is the switch from sheltered academia life into the dog-eat-dog world of corporate America. The Red Bull-powered all-nighters in university libraries and the professional work environment can seem like two irreconcilable worlds, but surely four years and $200k must be worth something more than one line on the resume. Entry-level jobs are also often hotbeds of user error: they’re where we screw up our work the most.

But entry-level jobs aren’t just for recent grads; often when switching careers, we have to restart at the bottom of the food chain to establish a new professional record. So wherever you are in your career, if you’re planning to enter a new industry, here are a couple tips to bear in mind, courtesy of LifeHacker. Read More →

Day 28 | Saying Goodbye: How to Resign On a High Note

Ryan Galloway on February 28, 2013

Here we are, friends. The final day of 28 Days to a New Job. By now, the ink has dried on your offer letter and you’ve got a firm start date at your company. With any luck, you’ve also gotten all your salary and benefits wishes, too. But amid all the joy of landing a new job, there’s still one more difficult task to handle: resigning from your current job.

Whether you love or hate your current gig, there’s no excuse not to leave on as positive a note as possible. Burning bridges won’t benefit you at all. You’ll need to keep your current boss and your coworkers in your network for years to come. They’ll be references and valuable networking contacts. They might even be friends. Whatever they may be, it’s best to keep them close. That means there’s way more to resigning than just submitting a two weeks notice. Read More →

Day 25 | Before You Say “Yes”: Your Job Offer Checklist

Ryan Galloway on February 25, 2013

There’s a certain thrill in receiving a job offer. You feel wanted. You feel needed. You know that your skills are appreciated and that all the hard work and long hours have been validated. You’re practically aglow with self-confidence. But even if the company is exploding, even if the title sounds incredibly impressive, and yes, even if the money is almost too good to be true, you need to take a step back and review your situation before you accept.

The best way to do this is to make a checklist and use it to evaluate each offer. Write down all of the criteria (comp, benefits, skills, etc.) that matter to you, and arrange them in descending order from most to least important. If money is your prime motivator, start with comp. If your skill set is getting rusty, put it up top. The process itself is a very uncomplicated one, but it’s one that few job seekers take the time to do correctly. As a result, many hires find that their new situation is just as unfavorable as their old one, if not more so. Prevent yourself from pulling the trigger too quickly by mapping out your needs and giving them a thorough examination. Read More →

Day 24 | Try Before You Buy: How to Hire Your New Boss

Allison Hemming on February 24, 2013

You’re finally at the offer stage. You’re thrilled by the role you’ve been handed. You adore the company. And know you can make an impact there.

But do you love your new boss?

Before you accept that job, you need to really ask yourself this question (and — for once –listen to your spider sense). If the answer is no, then you need to press on and find a boss you can jibe with.

Not picking your boss is a J.V. move that can negatively impact your career for years to come. Today, tenures may be short, but memories and reputations are long and back-channeling is just one click away. These days, it’s essential to show meaningful impact in your first 90 days. To achieve that, you need to have a boss under whom you can thrive, not just survive. Read More →

Day 23 | When It Comes to Negotiating, Time Kills All Deals

Allison Hemming on February 23, 2013

Anyone who negotiates for a living knows that time kills all deals. Say that aloud — and slowly — right now. Time. Kills. All. Deals.

If and when negotiations starts dragging out and response time lags, it usually means a deal is going to fall apart. To prevent this, you need to have your ducks in a row and be ready to jump into action when you get the call, lest you lose the opportunity. This means you need to know in your gut if you’re going to take the job before that call comes in. That’s why “Time Kills All Deals” should be your mantra during the offer stage. Read More →

Day 22 | Figure Out Your Compensation Needs Before the Offers Start Rolling In

Allison Hemming on February 22, 2013

We’re in the final week of 28 Days to a New Job, and by now we hope you’re feeling the transformational powers of editing your toolkit, targeting only the right jobs, tailoring your messaging, and engaging your network. Today, and for the next seven days, we’ll begin to really test your mettle as we get to the final stage of our series which is devoted to helping you close the deal and actually land that new job. But before you start to think about accepting an offer, you need to step back and take stock of your compensation needs. Read More →

28 Days to a New Job: Week Three Checklist

The Hired Guns on February 22, 2013

You probably never thought you would make it through the dreaded interviewing stage, but you did! Hopefully, this week’s posts made you realize that interviewing is a chance to show off your skills and personality, and not just a necessary bullet to dodge. Interviewing mode is difficult for everyone — especially if it’s been a while – but being a star interviewee just take a little prep work so you can present your authentic self in a polished and articulate manner. Before we move into the ever-delicate hiring process, let’s tick off some boxes before we abandon interviewing for the light at the end of the tunnel. Read More →

Day 21 | Double Your Chances: How to Write a Post-Interview Thank You Note

Ryan Galloway on February 21, 2013

Today is the final day of Week Three, and the final day of our Interviewing section. Naturally, we’ve saved the final step in the interviewing process for last. Writing a post-interview thank you email is an absolute must after every interview, and it may make all the difference when it comes to progressing to the second round. It will also be the simplest task in your entire job search. Here’s how to do it well.
Read More →

Day 17 | Nightmare Scenario: Preparing for the Three Worst Interview Questions

Ryan Galloway on February 17, 2013

You’ve got your suit pressed. You know your resume backwards and forwards and you’ve got an anecdote at the ready for every one of your accomplishments. You’re poised. You’re prepared. You’re master of all you survey. You’re ready to walk into an interview and absolutely crush it.

Great. So tell me about yourself. Read More →

Day 15 | Blow Them Away: How to Ace an Interview

Allison Hemming on February 15, 2013

Only 4.7% of online applications actually converts into an interview. Given how dire that is, if you actually get called in for an interview based on an online application, you’ve earned a hearty pat on the back. But don’t bask in the glow for too long, because it’s time to get your game face on. The competition is on, baby! The next seven days in our 28 Days to a New Job series are going to be devoted to nailing the interview and getting to the fun part: the offer process. Read More →

Day 14 | The New Rules: How To Network Using LinkedIn

Allison Hemming on February 14, 2013

Back on Day 5, we talked about how you can amp up your LinkedIn Profile. Today, we’re going to talk about actually putting that bright shiny new profile to work. Since 80% of your job hunting time needs to be devoted to networking, think about using LinkedIn as the place where you do your up-front work in the networking process. Then, as fast as you can, turn those online interactions into meaningful offline ones. Lord knows you don’t want to become the Manti T’eo of job hunting. Read More →

Day 13 | Blame the Machine: Why Your Online Applications Don’t Get Answered

Ryan Galloway on February 13, 2013

There is a specter haunting the modern job search. It is a hollow and unfeeling thing, and it seeks only to separate us from our best work. It absorbs. It destroys. It breaks us down into data. It’s called an Applicant Tracking System, and if you’re not hearing back from online applications, it’s probably the reason.

An Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS as they’re commonly known in the industry, can be found in nearly every major company and recruiting shop out there. An ATS is a piece of software that takes job applicants’ data and renders it as searchable bits for the sake of making a recruiter’s job easier. It sounds like a great idea, right? It certainly would be, if it actually worked. Read More →

28 Days to a New Job: The Story So Far

The Hired Guns on February 12, 2013

Here’s a quick list of links help you get where you’re going. We’ll be adding each day’s link to the list below as they’re published. So if you’re stuck, struggling, or just need a little reassurance, drop a comment on our Facebook page or tweet using the hashtag #NewJob28Days. We’ll get right back at you and do our best to help put your job search back on the road to success. Read More →

Day 11 | Do Some Digging: How to Research a Company Before Applying

Ryan Galloway on February 11, 2013

Congratulations! All that work you’ve done on your resume and cover letter has finally paid off. At long last, your application has made it onto someone’s desk.

Good news: now there’s a human reading your resume. Bad news: they’ve read a hundred other resumes before they got to yours. They’re tired. They’re stressed. They’re maybe a little hungover. All they want is one qualified candidate who sounds like they know what they’re talking about. Unfortunately, the entire morning has been a thankless slog through waist-deep job board dreck. Few if any applicants have addressed the key points in the job ad. Not even one person has bothered addressing the company’s buzzworthy new product. All hope is lost, and it’s not even lunchtime.

And then it’s your turn. Read More →

Day 10 | Empathy for the Devil: Move to the Top of the Pile with Smart Keywords

Allison Hemming on February 10, 2013

As a modern job hunter, you need to not only be smarter than the Average Joe applying for a job — you literally have to put yourself into the recruiter’s shoes. This requires doing the very thing that most people won’t have the guts to do: being empathetic.

You read that right: having “Sympathy for the Devil” or that Evil HR lady who, on a whim, can decide if you move on to the interview process, is one way you can get ahead. That’s because the HR lady isn’t actually evil. She’s just slammed. Read More →

Day 9 | How to Decode Job Board Postings: A Codex

Jennifer Pugh on February 9, 2013

Sometimes it feels like reading a job description is like trying to decode Kryptos. No matter how long you look at it, it still doesn’t make much sense.

From epic wish lists of skill sets that no one person could ever encompass, to posts so brief and nondescript that it’s hard to tell it’s whether it’s a job description or someone’s random Facebook post, job boards are filled with the nonsensical, the ludicrous, and the downright outrageous. Before you throw up your hands and resign yourself to sending out resumes on blind faith, take a deep breath and a step back. Here are some tried and true methods that can help you dig below the surface requirements and hone in on what the role is really all about. Read More →

Day 8 | The Internet is Ruining Your Job Search: How Applying Works in 2013

Allison Hemming on February 8, 2013

I you haven’t looked for a job in the last couple of years, you’re in for an extremely rude awakening. A lot has changed, even for the best candidates with the most in-demand skills. There are the added factors of online networking, learning to manage a profile, a brand new etiquette when it comes to approaching recruiters, and the list goes on.

One huge problem we see on the recruiter side is that it’s easier than ever to apply for a job. Features like LinkedIn’s one-click application turn the job search into impulse shopping, which means that everyone applies for everything, which means you’re just that much more likely to get ignored. The black hole of job hunting is bigger and darker than ever. It’s also exhilarating, dynamic, and the best source of increasing your wealth and fulfillment, if you do it right. Read More →

Day 7 | Make a Great First Impression: How to Write an Effective Cover Letter

Ryan Galloway on February 7, 2013

This could have been avoided with a good cover letter

Here’s a question: when does a job interview begin?

The answer isn’t “with the handshake” or “when you arrive at reception.” The interview process begins the second a recruiter or hiring manager receives their first piece of correspondence from you. In almost all cases, the first thing they see is your cover letter. The cover letter is the first test, and if you haven’t taken the time to prepare one that’s tight, compelling, and good at selling your skills, you’re already blowing it. Read More →

28 Days. 28 Lessons. One New Job.

Ryan Galloway on January 28, 2013

Last February: 7th Avenue at 23rd Street

On the surface, there’s not much to like about February. It’s 28 cold, grey, dreary days filled with excuses to stay indoors and count the days until spring. Sure, it could go down like that. Or you could use every one of those 28 days to get yourself in gear and finally score that job you’ve been eyeballing since it was t-shirt weather.

This February, instead of hurrying home from work to hunker down with a toddy and re-watch your Arrested Development DVDs for the ninth time, The Hired Guns invite you to invest that time in finding a new job. And not just any new job — the right job. We know you’ve been thinking about it, and next month we’re going to help you. Every single day. Read More →

Introducing Boots to Bytes: A Digital Re-Skilling Program for Returned Veterans in NYC

Allison Hemming on November 15, 2012

Monday was Veteran’s Day. Today, unemployment for post-9/11 veterans still sits at a staggering 10%. That’s a pretty grim employment picture to return to after serving your country. Not only do you risk your life, but you also risk your retirement. It doesn’t seem quite fair, does it?

Returning servicemen have two really hard battles to win when it comes to job hunting. First, vets have to figure out how to translate their military skills to what’s needed in Corporate America, but in many fields — digital in particular — those needs are constantly evolving. Maintaining relevancy, by which I mean “applying your work experience to what’s needed in a new job,” is a challenging task for even the most seasoned of job seekers, so imagine what it’s like for a returning vet. I’ll give you a hint: darn near impossible. Read More →

Revive NYC While Networking Your Way Into a New Job

Allison Hemming on November 7, 2012

Occupy Sandy Distribution Center at St. Jacobi Church in Sunset Park

Like many offices in Silicon Alley and lower Manhattan, The Hired Guns was closed all last week due to Hurricane #Sandy. The good news is that even through rain, dark of night, and a near total lack of connectivity, our clients kept calling and emailing. We were lucky, because as a team we could work completely remotely (those of us who had power or didn’t have trees falling on our houses, that is). We were also very, very busy. Read More →

Lies Can Cost You Your Job, Unless You’re a Politician

Bruce Kasanoff on November 7, 2012

Can he count on your vote in 2016?

In an editorial yesterday, the Columbia Journalism Review suggested that political fact checking is at a crossroads, pointing out that for all the media’s efforts to keep candidates truthful, the results were “less evident than one might hope.”

In other words, candidates continued to distort, exaggerate and flat out lie, even when they knew they’d get caught. Read More →

Salary Negotiation Isn’t Just About the Money

Jim Hopkinson on October 29, 2012

Let’s be clear. If I took a poll of all the students I’ve worked with and asked them why they signed up for my How to Negotiate Your Salary Like an FBI Agent class, the number one reason would be: “I want to make more money.” But when I talk to them after the course and ask them what they took away from it, they tell me so much more. Read More →

Payback Time: The Recession’s Accidental Upside

Allison Hemming on October 25, 2012

A timeless classic.

If you’ve had more work foisted upon you during this recession than you thought humanly possible, raise your hand. Now pat yourself on the back. You’ve made it.

Because you’re a good soldier — and because you wanted to keep your job — you shouldered the burden and trudged along, doing the work of two or even three people (even if you’re top brass). You may have even assumed not only the work of your peers, but of your managers as well. So far, it’s kept a paycheck coming but you’ve earned yourself a few premature grey hairs along the way. But as it turns out, this might be a huge win for you right about now. Read More →

The Debates Are Rigged. Your Job Interviews Can Be, Too.

Allison Hemming on October 17, 2012

Stan Honda / AFP / Getty Images

Yesterday, we tweeted that you should watch the #debates from a hiring perspective. @dbenk replied: “Well, yeah, that’s what we’re doing, right?”

Totally right. Americans are in the process of hiring the next president. And instead of being the job hunter, we get to play the role of the hiring manager. But I had an epiphany during last night’s debate: in America, presidential candidates definitely have it easier than job candidates.

A Must-Have You Probably Don’t Have
In a debate, the candidates get to stop answering questions and then turn to the audience and offer their closing remarks. They’re saying, in essence: “Here’s why you should hire me.” In the real world of getting hired, most candidates never do this. And that’s a mistake that I’d like to correct. Read More →

How the VP Debates Can Make You Better In Job Interviews

Joel Schwartzberg on October 12, 2012

AP Photo Pool/Michael Reynolds

Last week, I wrote about what the first presidential debate can teach public speakers. This time around, I decided to switch gears a bit and consider the vice presidential debate with an eye toward those in Guns-land who are currently (or hoping to be) interviewing for gigs. Because I found myself traveling home via NJ Transit during the debate itself, I was forced to follow the whole thing on Twitter using a CNN hash tag. But being left to my devices gave me a great perspective on what TV audiences found most affecting, effective, distracting, and annoying – much of it focusing on Joe Biden and Paul Ryan’s presentational styles. When it was all said and done, I came away with four themes interviewees can learn from. Read More →

The Recovery is Here, Part I: Here’s How We Know

Allison Hemming on October 11, 2012

In the first of a three-part series, The Hired Guns’ Top Gun Allison Hemming discusses the signs of recovery and the new rules of the road.

Working in the talent and hiring business means you have no choice but to learn to read the economy’s tea leaves. Just before the dark days of 2008, we were the scary canary squawking about the imminent doom headed our way. You might say that it wasn’t well-received. I got hate mail by the score. Nobody wanted to hear it, but that didn’t make it any less true. No one knew how long that disastrous roller-coaster ride would last. And no one expected it to get remotely as bad as it did. We all went through rough patches and almost no one’s career got through unscathed.

But just as we felt the weight of the recession before others, we’re now beginning to see a genuine recovery taking shape. As we noted last week, the September jobs report looked good. On the surface, it’s clear that unemployment is starting to edge down and the private sector is hiring. But what looks like simple green shoots is actually much more complex and vastly more exciting. Read More →

Promising Job Numbers and Resume Advice from an Unlikely Source, Plus What We’re Reading

The Hired Guns on October 5, 2012

Happy Friday, Guns. ADP and the Bureau of Labor Statistics released their monthly job numbers for September this week, and the overall outlook continues to improve:

BLS: “The unemployment rate decreased to 7.8 percent in September, and total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 114,000, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment increased in health care and in transportation and warehousing but changed little in most other major industries.”

ADP: “Employment in the U.S. nonfarm private business sector increased by 162,000 from August to September, on a seasonally adjusted basis. The estimated gains in previous months were revised lower: The July increase was reduced by 17,000 to an increase of 156,000, while the August increase was reduced by 12,000 to an increase of 189,000.”

In sum, growth is happening, if slowly. We’re seeing the first green shoots emerging from the soil after the spring thaw here. ADP’s hedging on their previous numbers makes this month’s performance all the more noteworthy. It’s also worth noting here that as we move into Q4, we’re likely to see sharp spikes in hiring due to temporary, seasonal jobs being added. That’s why September’s numbers are so crucial: it’s the last true measure of employment statistics that we’ll get for the rest of the year. And it looks promising. Read More →

Share Your #presentastrophe, Win A Seat At Our Public Speaking Class

The Hired Guns on September 28, 2012

You know that dream where you have to give a presentation and you’re woefully unprepared? The one where everyone laughs at you? The one that makes you wake up in a cold sweat?

Of course you know that dream. We all do.

That’s where Joel Schwartzberg comes in. Joel, our resident Hall of Fame public speaker, is hosting a class on that very subject this Wednesday, October 3 at The Hired Guns Hive. He’ll rework your sentences, polish your posture, and give you some invaluable tips to warm up, calm down, and get focused before a speaking engagement. Better still, you can go for free. Tell us about your worst #presentastrophe. The Gun who shares the most dire presentation moment will be given a free seat at Joel’s upcoming seminar.

Tweet your story to @TheHiredGuns using #presentastrophe or leave your tale of public speaking woe in the comments below. We’ll round them up, have Joel pick his favorite, and announce our winner on the blog next week. We’ll also share the best of the rest with the Guns’ very sympathetic audience.

What We’re Reading: A Google VP Steps Out, A New Take on Job Vacancies, and #CoffeeMugMurder

The Hired Guns on September 28, 2012

Happy Friday, Guns. Here’s a look back at the week that was:

Google parted ways this week with Dave Girouard, VP of their burgeoning Enterprise business. Girouard will head up UpStart.com, a crowdfunding site that helps young professionals and recent grads start their own businesses. via Wired.com
There are 20,000 real estate brokers in New York City. The Gray Lady talks to three new agents about what made them want to join such a crowded field. via NYT
In the brave new world of the 21st Century, your current skills are never enough. via NYT
With 3 million open jobs in the US, why is unemployment so high? It’s easy to point to a lack of skills in the available workforce, but Wharton School professor Peter Cappelli blames the employers themselves. via PBS
There’s still time to sign up for Joel Schwartzberg’s public speaking class this Wednesday! via The Hired Guns Academy
Nancy Grace is the #QueenOfHashtags via Gawker

More Than Hot Air: The Presidential Debates, Public Speaking, and Presenting Your Personal Brand

Joel Schwartzberg on September 27, 2012

Joel Scwhartzberg is the Michael Jordan of public speaking. Sure, that’s a cliche that gets thrown around a lot these days (“My uncle is pretty much the Michael Jordan of dishwasher repair”), but in this case the comparison is apt. He won the U.S. National Championship in after-dinner speaking. He won the Massachusetts State Championship in persuasive speaking. He was ranked among the top ten public speakers overall in the US. The man is in the National Forensic Association’s Hall of Fame for his public speaking.

Let that sink in for a moment.

We asked Joel to share his thoughts on the upcoming presidential debates (the first of which occurs the night of his Guns Academy class) and what the Guns’ audience can learn from them. Below is the first of several posts on the debates and career management.

The upcoming presidential debates aren’t real debates at all, of course, but a series of well-rehearsed, carefully-worded, tiny speeches written by committee. (So much for candid truths). But while not much new can be learned at this point about Obama and Romney’s policy positions, a lot can be learned from their public speaking styles. Read More →

What the NFL Referee Debacle Can Teach Us About Salary Negotiation

Jim Hopkinson on September 27, 2012

via Gawker.com

The first three weeks of the 2012 NFL Season brought lots of excitement, with rookie Robert Griffin III tossing bombs, the Arizona Cardinals starting 3-0, and receiver Calvin Johnson already hauling in 9 touchdowns.

But none of that compares to the largest underlying theme of the season: the dismal job performance of replacement NFL referees, some of whom were fired from the Lingerie Football League (yes, that’s a thing and no, we’re not linking to it) for incompetence. The replacements botched call after call on national TV while the league negotiated a new contract for their regular full-time officials.

As the league finally reaches an agreement to end the embarrassment, what can we learn from their negotiation? Read More →

Six-word CVs, Four New Classes, and One Chance to Win.

The Hired Guns on September 14, 2012

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. Read More →

THG in the News: AOL Jobs Quotes Our Outlook for a Sunny September

The Hired Guns on September 7, 2012

When The Guns tweet, the web listens. Just this morning, AOL Jobs quoted The Hired Guns’ optimistic outlook for September hiring:

Unemployed workers looking for more evidence of a pickup in hiring this month might take some inspiration from The Hired Guns, a New York City-based employment agency focused on the high tech and creative fields.

Via Twitter on Friday, the firm said that it expects hiring in September “will be strong based on the brisk biz we’ve been seeing.” Read More →

So What If You’re Not Perfect? Apply Anyway!

The Hired Guns on July 26, 2012

Just because you don’t hit every bullet point in a job ad that sounds like a great fit for you, don’t let that deter you from applying. Harvard Business Review notes that 4 in 10 employers have at least one position for which they cannot find an “ideal candidate.” Quite frankly, that sounds on the low side to us. Companies have gotten so accustomed to finding excuses not to hire over the past four years, they’ve forgotten that when you actually need to hire someone, you don’t get the luxury of waiting for perfection. So take a risk! Read More →

Pre-Interview Research: It’s Easy, and You’ll Reap Big Rewards

Allison Hemming on July 17, 2012

Want to know the quickest way to end an interview early? When the hiring manager asks you, “So tell me what you know about our company,” just stare at her blankly, and then make up a bunch of bullshit. (True story: a newly minted MBA we know was in and out in five minutes.)

If you think you’re too busy in your current job to do your homework, you’ll stay busy in your current job for a long time to come. Because you’re missing a golden opportunity to impress the hiring manager, set yourself apart from your fellow job-seekers, and (no less important) get under the hood and see if a company is really for you (or if they’ve just fired their whole management team, missed a key launch date, and delayed their IPO for the third time).

The best part is that it’s just not that difficult to be the golden boy or wonder girl when it comes time to wow the interviewer with how much you know. Here’s how to get your investigation underway … Read More →

Business Etiquette 101: The Thank-You Note

Mandy Gresh on July 17, 2012

Back when I was a hiring manager, it always amazed me when candidates didn’t send a thank-you note after an interview. In a time when communication is as easy as picking up a smartphone, there’s just no excuse not to. Read More →

Give ‘Em a Taste and Leave ‘Em Wanting More: Your Job Search and the Little Pink Spoon

Todd Cherches on July 12, 2012

Mint Chocolate Chip

It’s all about the Little Pink Spoon.

One of my all-time favorite summertime pleasures is going to Baskin-Robbins and trying out a few new flavors with those little pink spoons of theirs. Ninety percent of the time I just end up getting Rocky Road, but I always enjoy tasting a few other flavors before ordering my cone.

Why is Baskin-Robbins so willing to give away their product for free? It’s obvious: they hope that by giving us a free taste, we’ll end up buying a cup or a cone or a pint or a gallon. So they gladly give away millions of little pink spoonfuls in order to make many millions of dollars more in return. It’s the same reason movies show trailers, cosmetics companies offer samples, and car dealers offer test drives: people want to try before they buy.

So, how do you bring the Little Pink Spoon Principle into play in your job search? By giving a prospective employer a “free sample” of what you have to offer, you’ll dramatically improve your chances of success. Here are three ways to do it … Read More →

Survey: Job Vacancies Are Hard on Those Left Behind, Too

The Hired Guns on June 28, 2012

According to a recent Careerbuilder survey, some companies believe that job cuts have left their organization a little too lean and mean.

Some 34% of employers believe that unfilled jobs have left the remaining staff overworked, resulting in lower-quality work. Roughly the same number of employers surveyed believed that the job vacancies caused a loss in morale; 17% thought the vacancies led to higher turnover.

And 23% of employers also believe that their companies suffered a loss in revenue because of those vacancies.

How Good People CAN Get Jobs: Four Great Ways to Beat the “System”

Allison Hemming on June 14, 2012

We knew our post last week, Why Good People Can’t Get Jobs, was going to touch a nerve. It’s like there are two job markets out there: one where companies can’t find skilled candidates, and another where qualified applicants apply and never hear a peep. Something’s broken, and a big culprit is the multiplicity of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs) that many companies use to handle online job applicants. But good news: there are ways to up your chances of success. Read More →

How to Handle the World’s Worst Interview Question

The Hired Guns on June 12, 2012

You know the one we’re talking about: “What’s your greatest weakness?” If you’re at a job interview and you’re not ready to say what your greatest weakness is, then your greatest weakness is being unprepared.

In a recent “Dear Lucy” column, Lucy Kellaway of the Financial Times looked at the right way to go about concocting an answer that will pass muster with the interviewer.

She says it’s dumb to name something that’s obviously a strength, e.g., “I’m too demanding,” “I’m too hardworking.” At best, you’re not fooling anyone, and at worst, your interviewer might think you’re “insufferably smug, deceitful, or [have] no self-knowledge.” (And it might even prompt the interviewer to ask the same thing all over again, in a slightly different way.) Read More →

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