[SIXFIGURESTART] MARCH 15, 2009 NEWSLETTER/ TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR JOB SEARCH

In this issue:

About SixFigureStart

Troubleshooting Your Job Search

SixFigureStart Coaching Gym

ABOUT SIXFIGURESTART

SixFigureStart is a career coaching firm helping Gen Y students and young professionals to launch fulfilling and financially rewarding careers. Founded by two professionals with over 40 years of combined HR and business experience, SixFigureStart coaches have recruited for start-ups through global blue chips, including leading the entry-level hiring efforts for Citigroup, Merrill Lynch, Pfizer, and Time Inc. We have hired thousands of people and bring you the insider’s view into how the hiring process really works and what employers want.

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TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR JOB SEARCH

A recent Inc Magazine article by Joel Spolsky comparing running a business to getting good radio reception made me think about a similar point I often make with coaching clients about their job search: you need to constantly refine your search.

http://www.inc.com/magazine/20090301/how-hard-could-it-be-start-up-static.html

What knobs are you turning on your search? Spolsky makes the great analogy that price, location, employees, marketing, etc are the “knobs” of the start-up’s radio. For a jobseeker, you have your pitch, your resume, your cover letters, your online profile, even down to the detail you provide on an individual project. Are you looking at all the pieces of your job search package to see what is getting good reception on the market? Are you fiddling around with these knobs on an ongoing basis to get better reception?

What can you change? Spolsky gives an example of a pricing change from that greatly improved sales on a languishing product. Similarly, if you are not getting interviews, audit your search. If you are getting leads just from ads and these haven’t resulted in interviews then try something else like calling into firms directly. If you get to interviews and they are focused on a project that you haven’t put front and center in your profile, put it front and center – the market is telling you that this is your hook.

Will you keep trying? Spolsky is very clear that the only reason businesses fail is that the owner stops trying things. Similarly a jobseeker has to put herself out there time and time again to move her search forward. Maybe Lana Turner was discovered in an ice cream shop and catapulted to a dream career while minding her own business, but that probably won’t happen to you and me.

Be proactive. Turn up your job search radio. Fiddle with the control knob. Listen to your market reception. Repeat till you get what you want to hear.

Caroline Ceniza-Levine, co-founder of SixFigureStart, was former head of campus recruiting for Time Inc, and has also recruited for Accenture, Booz Allen & Hamilton, Citigroup, Disney ABC, Oliver Wyman and TV Guide.

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

SixFigureStart Coaching Gym

Here is what one member has said about the SixFigureStart Coaching Gym:

I wanted to thank you for the amazing feedback you and Connie gave on [March 1] call. I must say that even with the help of books, 2 alma maters career centers and a corporate outplacement agency helping me in my job search, I still managed to learn SO much in one hour. – Columbia University Masters student, class of 2010

In just one of the weekly calls we covered a variety of topics including:

How do I get more interviews and networking meetings?

When do I follow up after submitting my resume and how?

How can I translate my Masters in History to the corporate world?

I am losing jobs after getting to the final rounds. What could be wrong?

I’m afraid to switch jobs because I might be the first one let go if something happens at the new company. What can I do?

Do you have questions like these? Don’t miss the next call.

The SixFigureStart Coaching Gym is a 6-month group coaching program that gives you expert information, ongoing motivation, and accountability for your search:

Start with our 60-question SixFigureStart Career Assessment and 40-question SixFigureStart Life Assessment. See exactly what you are doing well and get a customized road map of where to focus;
Then get ongoing group coaching via telephone every week: if you can be on the call live, get laser coaching on the spot. Or email questions in advance, and we’ll cover it on the call. Calls are recorded with playback available so you will never miss a call. Weekly coaching calls are Sunday evenings at 7:30p EST;
Finally get additional coaching with guest interviews, including recruiters, guest coaches, and industry experts, outside of the regular weekly calls. Guest interviews will vary based on scheduling.

Remember, all calls are recorded so you can listen at your convenience and you will never miss a call.

$300 gets you a 6-month membership to the SixFigureStart Coaching Gym.

Special offer for 2009: all memberships purchased before June 30 2009 expire December 31, 2009 so the earlier you purchase the more months you get for free

Contact caroline@sixfigurestart.com or 212-372-0277 for more information and to register.

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