What Can a Kirby Salesman Teach You About Looking for Work?

Baby boomers find job search success by applying tried and true sales techniques.

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) January 13, 2006 –- Not many people truly aspire to be a door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman, but baby boomers, thrust back into the job market as a result of company downsizing, may find quicker success in landing a job by recalling what the Kirby salesman said and did.

The employment market has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. Massive layoffs have replaced job security, leaving thousands of baby boomers looking for work for the first time in decades. The simple three-step process—fill out an application, interview, get hired—that may have launched a career no longer seems to fit. Upbeat television commercials for Monster.com create the impression that all you need do is post your resume online and jobs will come knocking at your door. If only it were that simple.

“I frequently meet with professionals who may have been with the same company for 20 years or more and are suddenly unemployed,” states Norine Dagliano, Certified Professional Résumé Writer and president of ekm Inspirations, a professional resume writing and job search-coaching firm. “They contact me because they know they need a resume, but in talking with them further, I find they really want to know how to effectively look for work.”

Dagliano, who conducts job search workshops for dislocated workers, takes a unique approach to helping people understand the job search process. Creating analogies between job search activities and some common life experiences, she helps clients to recognize that they already have the knowledge and skills to accomplish their goals.

“Most people over 40 remember the Kirby vacuum cleaner salesman coming to their door, so I begin by brainstorming some sales techniques he used,” stated Dagliano. “I remind them that looking for work is all about selling their knowledge, skills and experience and the prospective employer is the buyer.”

Dagliano has captured some of the key points that surface from these brainstorming sessions:

1. No one ever bought a vacuum cleaner because the salesman needed money. If you are looking to earn an income, position yourself as a solution to someone’s problems instead of a problem looking for a solution.

2. Vacuum cleaner salesmen really know their product and know why it beats the competition. Market your features, benefits and value to the company. Brand yourself as unique and outsell the competition.

3. People in the market for a vacuum cleaner normally do not advertise. Stop spending all your time looking on line and in the newspaper. Scope out the territory and identify potential buyers. Cold-call and tap into your network to make contacts.

4. Vacuum cleaner salesmen give dynamic sales presentations. Prepare and practice your interviewing skills. Know how to answer key question and confidently overcome objections.

5. Vacuum cleaner salesmen always ask for the sale. Sell yourself then ask for the job.

Perhaps the most difficult thing for job seekers to deal with is not making the sale. Dagliano offers this last important bit of advice: “Try not to let your ego get in the way by taking rejection personally. Quite simply, the employer may not be in the market for what you are selling, or already has another product in mind.”

For more information about using sales tools, techniques and strategies to find employment, you can contact Norine Dagliano, CPRW at (301) 766-2032 or visit her Website at www.ekminspirations.com

Fax Machines Proving More Successful to Job Hunters than High Tech and Traditional Routes

Job hunters across the U.S. are achieving greater success using fax machines to send their résumés than using the more standard newspaper and technology-driven searches.

Virginia Beach, VA (PRWEB) January 11, 2006 –- The growth of the Internet and the inevitable switch to applying for jobs online has not really changed the time and frustration involved in job hunting. However, a handful of resourceful job seekers like Judy Green are finding that fax machines are opening a whole new door with exciting results. These job hunters are marketing their skills by faxing résumés to employers with the service www.JobsByFax.com.

Instead of sending emails that often get deleted without ever being read, faxed résumés are finding their way into the hands of the highest-level decision makers. Judy Green from Tarpon Springs, Florida used the service in November and states, “I had a job interview today because my résumé had landed on the desk of the VP of Administration courtesy of www.JobsByFax.com.”

Apparently when applying online and using the newspaper, a job hunter’s résumé does not get the same attention as when faxed. Judy Green goes on to state, “When I checked my job search records, I found out that I had already applied for the same job twice. Once in response to an advertisement the company placed in the newspaper in September, and a second time in October in response to an advertisement they posted on an internet job board. But only when I faxed my resume using JobsByFax did I get noticed.”

Kimberly Slabotsky, a Customer Service Specialist at JobsByFax says Judy’s success is not unusual, “JobsByFax is an extremely successful service that provides job hunters a one-of-a-kind strategy for marketing their skills. By faxing their résumé directly to decision makers, their résumé ends up in the right hands. When e-mailing résumés, you are just one of many unopened emails that ultimately may never be read.”

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Career Services Expert Receives Distinguished “Credentialed Career Master” Designation

Credential validates expansive knowledge across all areas of the employment industry.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) January 3, 2006 -- Kathy Sweeney, CPRW, CCM and president of The Write Resume, (www.awriteresume.com) has completed a rigorous evaluation process to earn the "Credentialed Career Master" designation, becoming 1 of only 45 career services professionals to hold this credential on a world-wide basis.

The CCM credential is awarded to individuals who possess expertise across all facets of the career and employment industry. The criterion by which career service professionals are evaluated for consideration include authoring of articles, conducting seminars, participating in continuing education in their field of specialization, and dedicating time to helping less-fortunate individuals through pro bono work.

“I am thrilled to have been awarded this designation and be recognized once again as an expert in my field,” said Sweeney, who specializes in resume writing and interview coaching for entry to executive level clientele. “I believe it is important, as a career services practitioner, to have extensive knowledge in my field to better serve my clients and the community.”

In addition to the CCM credential, Sweeney also holds certification as a Certified Professional Resume Writer. Recognized as an expert in the field of resume writing, interview coaching, career guidance, and human resource practices, she is the author of many articles published online and in magazines. Sweeney also serves as the career expert for many online job boards.

Sweeney has been a partner with Phoenix-based Jobing.com for several years, providing career advice through articles and television appearances on JobingTV, as well as conducting seminars at the Jobing.com career expos.

“I am proud of Kathy for earning this credential. She has continuously proven her commitment to providing her knowledge and expertise by agreeing to speak to any community agencies when we need her assistance,” commented Greta Suda, Director of Community Relations for Jobing.com. “She has been a presenter at Jobing.com career expos for the past three years and we are fortunate to have her as one of our partners.”

In line with her commitment to providing pro bono support, Sweeney will be conducting the seminar, “Unlocking the Mystery of Government Hiring” during the upcoming day-long Jobing.com career expo scheduled to take place in Phoenix on February 8, 2006. (For further information regarding the job fair please visit http://pce.jobing.com/.)

Kathy Sweeney is the president of The Write Résumé, a Phoenix-based Resume Writing and Career Consulting Firm established in 1987. Ms. Sweeney is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and Credentialed Career Master. She specializes in preparing job seekers at every level to maximize their ability to gain employment through the composition of effective career marketing documents and conducting personalized interview coaching sessions. To contact Ms. Sweeney, call 866-726-9052 or visit her website at www.awriteresume.com.