Alright, maybe not cheating, but a lot of dating!!
I've been visiting many bars recently, such as Workopolis and Monster, and thrown out a few pickup lines like "I'm the ideal candidate you've been seeking to fill your opening." Occasionally, the lines would work and I'd get asked out on a date or interview....whatever you want to call it!
I've been on dates with CTVglobemedia, Maxxium and Rogers Communications, among other suitors. On one date I was considered too good for them. On others, they were not good enough for me. Oftentimes, I would get callbacks for another date with the same suitor. On a couple of occasions I'd realize during the date that they were not who they seemed when I originally found them at the bar. These were the same people who'd want to settle down with me and wanted a commitment.....only to have me reject them!
I'll admit that I've tried a couple of dating services, like Hays, Mandrake and Altis HR. All of this was done so that I may find the one! Maybe I'm being stubborn. Maybe I should've taken the first offer I received. But then, how committed would I really be if I just settled?
So, here I am, sitting at home, typing into this journal, waiting......hoping to find that perfect relationship.
Don't worry about my wife......she's been very encouraging!!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
You Can't Deny It.....We're All Marketers!
Last week, I reminded you that Marketing is everywhere. Since that's the case, wouldn't we all be marketers then?
For businesses everywhere, each and every employee is a marketer for your company. Yes, the C.E.O. and V.P. are out representing the company trying to improve their bottom line one investor at a time, but what about everyone else? Having an ineffective advertisement campaign is EXACTLY as ineffective has having employees who are not ambassadors of the company. Imagine you're a client sitting in another company's lobby. What kind of image is portrayed when you notice the receptionist is chatting away on the phone about their weekend adventures, while chomping on gum like a cow chews grass? How about a help-desk professional who assists a customer over the phone. What if he/she was very helpful, but short-tempered and rude at the same time. Would you want to continue doing business with this company?
From top to bottom, marketing exists. Similar to last week's post about wearing 9 different logos simultaneously, think of your company as a single human being. The President of the company may be symbolized by the face, the V.P. Operations may represent the nice Armani suit that this human being is wearing, the Sales Manager may represent nicely coifed hairstyle. But what about the ugly, yellow sneakers? Wouldn't that throw off the image of the human being / company?? Maybe it's a fashion trend that you can get away with in some respects, but for the most part, the image is tarnished and the marketing has failed.
So, try as you may, you can't deny that, as employees, we're all marketers for our employer!
For businesses everywhere, each and every employee is a marketer for your company. Yes, the C.E.O. and V.P. are out representing the company trying to improve their bottom line one investor at a time, but what about everyone else? Having an ineffective advertisement campaign is EXACTLY as ineffective has having employees who are not ambassadors of the company. Imagine you're a client sitting in another company's lobby. What kind of image is portrayed when you notice the receptionist is chatting away on the phone about their weekend adventures, while chomping on gum like a cow chews grass? How about a help-desk professional who assists a customer over the phone. What if he/she was very helpful, but short-tempered and rude at the same time. Would you want to continue doing business with this company?
From top to bottom, marketing exists. Similar to last week's post about wearing 9 different logos simultaneously, think of your company as a single human being. The President of the company may be symbolized by the face, the V.P. Operations may represent the nice Armani suit that this human being is wearing, the Sales Manager may represent nicely coifed hairstyle. But what about the ugly, yellow sneakers? Wouldn't that throw off the image of the human being / company?? Maybe it's a fashion trend that you can get away with in some respects, but for the most part, the image is tarnished and the marketing has failed.
So, try as you may, you can't deny that, as employees, we're all marketers for our employer!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
TO-MAY-TO, TO-MAH-TO! PO-TAY-TO, PO-TAH-TO! MAR-KET-ING, EVE-RY-WHERE!!!
During these difficult times, I'm hearing more and more that marketers are the ones being let go first.
WHY?!?!?
Yes, yes, you have every right to assume I'm biased, but the facts speak for themselves. Let's look at the major departments within an organization:
Accounting - Money's going down the drain, but somebody's got to count it!
I. T. - Company's going down, but at least the server is operating as it should!
Human Resources - Time for layoffs.....somebody's got to be the bearer of bad news!
Marketing - Who needs marketing?? Is that H.R. knocking on your door??
Companies need to understand the importance of marketers. We're not just useful for advertising, or P.R., or sales.....without us, companies wouldn't last their first month!
Take a look at what you're wearing right now. Nike shoes, Reebok socks, Levi jeans, H&M tee, Mexx cardigan, New Era cap, Diesel watch, Ray Ban sunglasses, Jansport backpack (this combo doesn't sound too stylish, but please bear with me).....that's 9 different brands you're advertising!!!
Think quick, who would you call if you wanted to save money on car insurance? I'm willing to bet that over half of you named one of two insurance companies; the one you're currently using, or GEICO. Alright, alright, I'm not proposing that you spend millions on advertising, but the important fact is top-of-mind awareness.
This is it for part one. I could rant for pages and pages on the importance of marketers, but I don't want to steal too much of your time.......and I don't have to think of another topic for tomorrow's post! For now, do you agree? Disagree? Let me know.
WHY?!?!?
Yes, yes, you have every right to assume I'm biased, but the facts speak for themselves. Let's look at the major departments within an organization:
Accounting - Money's going down the drain, but somebody's got to count it!
I. T. - Company's going down, but at least the server is operating as it should!
Human Resources - Time for layoffs.....somebody's got to be the bearer of bad news!
Marketing - Who needs marketing?? Is that H.R. knocking on your door??
Companies need to understand the importance of marketers. We're not just useful for advertising, or P.R., or sales.....without us, companies wouldn't last their first month!
Take a look at what you're wearing right now. Nike shoes, Reebok socks, Levi jeans, H&M tee, Mexx cardigan, New Era cap, Diesel watch, Ray Ban sunglasses, Jansport backpack (this combo doesn't sound too stylish, but please bear with me).....that's 9 different brands you're advertising!!!
Think quick, who would you call if you wanted to save money on car insurance? I'm willing to bet that over half of you named one of two insurance companies; the one you're currently using, or GEICO. Alright, alright, I'm not proposing that you spend millions on advertising, but the important fact is top-of-mind awareness.
This is it for part one. I could rant for pages and pages on the importance of marketers, but I don't want to steal too much of your time.......and I don't have to think of another topic for tomorrow's post! For now, do you agree? Disagree? Let me know.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Free Coffee? So what!!
The latest buzz going on from a marketing perspective is the McDonald's free coffee giveaway.
While it's getting a lot of publicity, and McDonald's is a lucrative business that can afford to run this promotion, it's not even the best coffee promotion of 2009!!
From February to March, Tim Horton's ran it's yearly "Rrrrroll up the rim" contest. As 95% of the general public know by now, you're better off buying lottery tickets than seeing if you've won so much as a cookie!
For a short while, Country Style Donuts tried to capitalize by offering a free cup of coffee to anyone who brought in a "Please Play Again" cup from Tim Horton's. GENIUS!!!
It's quite unfortunate that this campaign was not as highly advertised as it was. This was a wonderful plan to try and steal some Tim Horton's customers.
When you think of coffee shop, these brands come to mind: Tim Horton's, Second Cup & Starbucks. Country Style may have the best coffee in the country, but no one would know since the public already has 3 major outlets to choose from. The marketing gurus at Country Style broke through the clutter in order to get people to just sample their coffee.
The flip side of this campaign was that it was executed poorly. Along with minimal advertising of the promotion, the customer service I received was unsatisfactory. The staff seemed unhappy to be giving away free coffee, and my cup was nothing to brag about.
What's the moral of the story? Country Style, you've got the right idea.....just make sure that everyone knows, the public and your own staff. You've created a wonderful opportunity to break into the top 3.......which is something that McDonald's is also trying to do!
While it's getting a lot of publicity, and McDonald's is a lucrative business that can afford to run this promotion, it's not even the best coffee promotion of 2009!!
From February to March, Tim Horton's ran it's yearly "Rrrrroll up the rim" contest. As 95% of the general public know by now, you're better off buying lottery tickets than seeing if you've won so much as a cookie!
For a short while, Country Style Donuts tried to capitalize by offering a free cup of coffee to anyone who brought in a "Please Play Again" cup from Tim Horton's. GENIUS!!!
It's quite unfortunate that this campaign was not as highly advertised as it was. This was a wonderful plan to try and steal some Tim Horton's customers.
When you think of coffee shop, these brands come to mind: Tim Horton's, Second Cup & Starbucks. Country Style may have the best coffee in the country, but no one would know since the public already has 3 major outlets to choose from. The marketing gurus at Country Style broke through the clutter in order to get people to just sample their coffee.
The flip side of this campaign was that it was executed poorly. Along with minimal advertising of the promotion, the customer service I received was unsatisfactory. The staff seemed unhappy to be giving away free coffee, and my cup was nothing to brag about.
What's the moral of the story? Country Style, you've got the right idea.....just make sure that everyone knows, the public and your own staff. You've created a wonderful opportunity to break into the top 3.......which is something that McDonald's is also trying to do!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Top Ten: Updating Your Resume
Get ready to read these same three words throughout this post: you never know!!
Whether you're employed or not, updating your resume is a critical practice that should be observed regularly. Why? Here are my top ten reasons (feel free to agree or disagree, but comment either way):
10: Because you never know what can happen with your current job situation. It's best to stay up to date with everything you've done in your career.
9: Boost your job satisfaction - Once you start realizing how many different tasks you're responsible for, it can give you a lot of confidence in your abilities.
8: Recognize your worth - Continuing from the previous point, you may then realize that you deserve a raise, or can take on more duties, and being able to prove your worth.
7: Much easier to gradually update - A lot of people don't touch their resumes until they're looking for work. Try remembering every task you did at a job you just spent 3 years working at!
6: You never know - The job market is so volatile, there's really no harm in being a little prepared.
5: Better employment - By making your resume public on a site like workopolis.com, a recruiter may find your resume appealing and rescue you from your boring, mundane job.
4: Update can be minor - Even if your resume is up to date, by changing one word, all the recruiter sees is that your resume has been updated recently. You are more likely to get a call, the more recent your update is.
3: Reminding tool - The more you read over your resume, the more engrained the information is in your head. Often times we forget to mention a duty we performed at a previous position that may be extremely important to a current job we are interviewing for.
2: Develops your communication skills - By constantly looking for better action verbs or editing statements more concisely, you are also improving your own written communications skills.
1: YOU NEVER KNOW!!! If your whole department was laid off tomorrow, who'd be the first individual sending out resumes because it was always kept up to date?
Let me know what you think......I never know, maybe I've missed some relevant points!
Whether you're employed or not, updating your resume is a critical practice that should be observed regularly. Why? Here are my top ten reasons (feel free to agree or disagree, but comment either way):
10: Because you never know what can happen with your current job situation. It's best to stay up to date with everything you've done in your career.
9: Boost your job satisfaction - Once you start realizing how many different tasks you're responsible for, it can give you a lot of confidence in your abilities.
8: Recognize your worth - Continuing from the previous point, you may then realize that you deserve a raise, or can take on more duties, and being able to prove your worth.
7: Much easier to gradually update - A lot of people don't touch their resumes until they're looking for work. Try remembering every task you did at a job you just spent 3 years working at!
6: You never know - The job market is so volatile, there's really no harm in being a little prepared.
5: Better employment - By making your resume public on a site like workopolis.com, a recruiter may find your resume appealing and rescue you from your boring, mundane job.
4: Update can be minor - Even if your resume is up to date, by changing one word, all the recruiter sees is that your resume has been updated recently. You are more likely to get a call, the more recent your update is.
3: Reminding tool - The more you read over your resume, the more engrained the information is in your head. Often times we forget to mention a duty we performed at a previous position that may be extremely important to a current job we are interviewing for.
2: Develops your communication skills - By constantly looking for better action verbs or editing statements more concisely, you are also improving your own written communications skills.
1: YOU NEVER KNOW!!! If your whole department was laid off tomorrow, who'd be the first individual sending out resumes because it was always kept up to date?
Let me know what you think......I never know, maybe I've missed some relevant points!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
What's Your Slogan?
Each and everyone one of us is a brand!
You've heard that one before, right? Whether you're interviewing for a job, or meeting someone for the first time, the image you portray is the impression you create.
To my family, I can be the one-line-cracking comedian. To my friends, I can be the married guy who's got his head on straight and knows exactly what he wants. To my former colleagues, I can be the most accommodating co-worker they'd ever met. Now, I may or may not be any of these statements, depending on how past actions have created certain assumptions of myself.
Nike creates an impression with, "Just Do It"
McDonald's creates an impression with it's grammatically incorrect, "I'm Lovin' It"
Just as companies are brands with slogans, we, as individuals, are also brands with slogans. It's just a matter of figuring out what each of ours is! My slogan, you ask? It's the name of my blog! I'd like to think that I break through the clutter and differentiate myself from whichever social setting I'm in, while still pleasing those around me.
So, then, what's yours? I can't tell you what it is.....you're your own brand!
You've heard that one before, right? Whether you're interviewing for a job, or meeting someone for the first time, the image you portray is the impression you create.
To my family, I can be the one-line-cracking comedian. To my friends, I can be the married guy who's got his head on straight and knows exactly what he wants. To my former colleagues, I can be the most accommodating co-worker they'd ever met. Now, I may or may not be any of these statements, depending on how past actions have created certain assumptions of myself.
Nike creates an impression with, "Just Do It"
McDonald's creates an impression with it's grammatically incorrect, "I'm Lovin' It"
Just as companies are brands with slogans, we, as individuals, are also brands with slogans. It's just a matter of figuring out what each of ours is! My slogan, you ask? It's the name of my blog! I'd like to think that I break through the clutter and differentiate myself from whichever social setting I'm in, while still pleasing those around me.
So, then, what's yours? I can't tell you what it is.....you're your own brand!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Know Your Interviewer!!
How would you like to be a Psychic?!? By reading into your interviewer's mind, you can make an impression that no other candidate has!
Early last year, I was in the process of switching jobs. So, I was entrusted with the responsibility of interviewing my replacement. While paring the number of potential interviewees down, I used an unorthodox method to eliminate a candidate......by visiting their Facebook page! She had made the mistake of making her page 'public' and I noticed that she was planning on "touring the world" within the next year. Why hire someone who'll be taking a long leave of absence?
That got me thinking.....couldn't I flip the script and grab the upper hand on an interviewer?
I've used Google, LinkedIn and Facebook to get to know the individual interviewing me. You don't need a whole lot of information. Even one little tidbit can create that lasting memory!
I had an interview last week (a product of my Tim Horton's tactic!) and used Facebook to research my interviewer. Her profile was mostly private, except for one line which indicated she was a fan of international soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo! BINGO! There's my ticket. During the interview, she mentioned how sore her feet were. Noticing the opportunity, I replied, "Can you imagine how sore the best soccer player in world, Cristiano Ronaldo's feet feel after each match?"
Yes, I know it was cheesy (even by my own standards), but it struck a chord with her. "How did you know he was my favourite player?" She now has the following impressions:
- i've done my homework
- i've got some sort of research skills
- i'm a quick thinker, to have thrown that into the interview
- most importantly, i've connected with her and created that memory!!!
That last point is especially critical and elaborated further in this blog: http://www.jimpagiamtzis.blogspot.com/
Ideally, you want to make the connection work-related. If you're able to locate the interviewer's LinkedIn page, you can try to create a connection with a previous employer of theirs or the school they attended.
Did you think this post was informative? I thought so! No, I'm not Psychic....I've just done my research!!
Early last year, I was in the process of switching jobs. So, I was entrusted with the responsibility of interviewing my replacement. While paring the number of potential interviewees down, I used an unorthodox method to eliminate a candidate......by visiting their Facebook page! She had made the mistake of making her page 'public' and I noticed that she was planning on "touring the world" within the next year. Why hire someone who'll be taking a long leave of absence?
That got me thinking.....couldn't I flip the script and grab the upper hand on an interviewer?
I've used Google, LinkedIn and Facebook to get to know the individual interviewing me. You don't need a whole lot of information. Even one little tidbit can create that lasting memory!
I had an interview last week (a product of my Tim Horton's tactic!) and used Facebook to research my interviewer. Her profile was mostly private, except for one line which indicated she was a fan of international soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo! BINGO! There's my ticket. During the interview, she mentioned how sore her feet were. Noticing the opportunity, I replied, "Can you imagine how sore the best soccer player in world, Cristiano Ronaldo's feet feel after each match?"
Yes, I know it was cheesy (even by my own standards), but it struck a chord with her. "How did you know he was my favourite player?" She now has the following impressions:
- i've done my homework
- i've got some sort of research skills
- i'm a quick thinker, to have thrown that into the interview
- most importantly, i've connected with her and created that memory!!!
That last point is especially critical and elaborated further in this blog: http://www.jimpagiamtzis.blogspot.com/
Ideally, you want to make the connection work-related. If you're able to locate the interviewer's LinkedIn page, you can try to create a connection with a previous employer of theirs or the school they attended.
Did you think this post was informative? I thought so! No, I'm not Psychic....I've just done my research!!
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