Success, at last!!!

To my friends and followers,

 I would like to share the good news of my recent job offer.  As of May 23, 2011 I will be joining AT&T as Sr. Product Marketing Manager for the company's "As a Service" offers. I will be joining a newly formed team of 13 to help AT&T develop and launch new cloud computing offers. I'm really excited about this job, as it's a great opportunity to be a part of one of the hottest topics in technology.

So...back to my telecom roots I go. While I have spent much time over the past 1 1/2 years following the energy sector and gaining first-hand solar experience, I think it's the best place for me, given my need for financial stability.

Is there a lesson to be learned from this experience?

Absolutely. If you are passionate about something, you should pursue your dreams and interests, but do so with the understanding that you may be starting all over from the ground floor and facing significant competition.  Given these challenges, there are other ways to pursue your interests then through full-time employment. Look into clubs, volunteer organizations, or part-time employment to fulfill your needs and interests. For example, I'll be continuing my interest in "green" initiatives through my affiliation with Sustainable Lawrence, a local non-profit committed to educating the community on sustainable practices, www.sustainablelawrence.org.

Best of luck to you in your search. Remember, use your network and keep the faith!

Paula

Stay fresh and stay focused-jobs are coming!

Hi,

Good news continues along the job search front. Unemployment levels are starting to drop and the government is showing renewed interest in job creation. All good.

Just read these pointers to help you prep for a job search and thought they were worth sharing.

Best,

Paula

1. Make sure your resume is current, proofread and has two or three powerful summary statements at the top of the first page.
2. Know your 60-second elevator pitch and rehearse it so it becomes second nature.
3. Reconnect with your support network. Meet with them and new contacts on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
4. Focus your search using websites that cater to the jobs you’re looking for and upload your resume to them. Employers increasingly search resume banks to find talent.

Praise the Lord and Pass the Plate-Get ready for new job growth!

Happy 2011!

And it looks like to could be a very happy year for many of the nations 15 million who are looking for work. Per Thursday's (1/6)Wall Street Journal, based on payroll processor Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Inc. data, 297,000 new private-sector jobs were added in December. If the numbers are correct, this is the largest gain shown in their 10 year history.

Before you jump for joy, be advised, ADP's numbers don't always match those of the Labor Department. While the Labor Department's December numbers are still being tabulated, they are expected to show an increase of 165,000 private-sector jobs. Even if the Labor Department's numbers don't jive with ADP's, other market indicators, such as the Institute for Supply Management's reports on the services, non-manufacturing and manufacturing industries, are also showing positive growth.

While the exact growth is being debated, this news still represents some light in a very dark tunnel.  And, as noted by many publications, half the trick to restoring our nations economy is in restoring overall confidence. As we move forward into 2011, let's do our part in helping the economy, and enhancing our search, by facing the year with renewed enthusiasm and optimism.

Here are some great resume and cover let tips to help you in kicking off this year's search.

All the best,

Paula


Resume and Cover Letter Tips - Employment-Find.com

Coping with rejection-harsh realities of marketing hiring trends

Just had a local interview that went seemingly well. I had spent over 4 hours with various heads of a software company and felt a strong report with each member of the management team. I was well prepared, enthusiastic and genuinely interested in their marketing management position.  As a result, I was told I made it to the final round as one of the top 2 candidates.  Within days the recruiter called and delivered the bad news. The company decided to change their direction and go with someone  who had "social media expertise".  (I think this is the new code in marketing for younger and less expensive.)

What's a woman to do?

1) Vent
Social media, really?! I can do that and then some. Do they not see my tweets and blogs? Did they not view my prior employees website that I helped create and launch within 4 months?

 Ok companies, we get it-social media is cheap and it does help reach some of your market. But....with all the focus it's generated during our economic downturn, it's created a backlash that is diminishing its effectiveness.  How many times do you delete messages from solicitors without reading them? How many times do you "opt out"? How many times do you filter your email? Then there's the issue of organic rankings. With Google and Bing fighting over top bill for search engines, it's becoming harder and harder to rank on the coveted first page of your search.

Without the adherance to solid marketing principles-the 4,5 or 7 P's-depending who you ask, your messaging will lost in the black hole of the internet. I know, I've been conducting a social media test for the last 4 months, since launching my second blog, to see how well you can pick up traffic w/o marketing yourself. The answer...not very well.

So, my marketing friends, when assessing your requirements please see social media for what it is, a communication channel. Whether it's your best or only vehicle should depend on your targeted audience, their habits, your product/service and your budget. When hiring you should think of your candidates in terms of who's best placed to add value to your organization. And, as with anything else, you'll ultimately get what you pay for.

2) Look in the mirror

What have I learned from this experience? Perhaps I should have emphasized my social media experience more. Perhaps I should sign up for more marketing webinars to pick up a few new tricks. There's always more to learn.

3) Brush yourself off and move on

I firmly believe things happen for a reason.  I am currently pursuing my "dream job" and hoping to close something in the first quarter of 2011. Until then, I will continue to make lemonade!

Happy job hunting and happy holidays!

Paula