Comments on: Job Seekers Getting Attention: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly http://mikeurbonas.com/2009/08/06/job-seekers-getting-attention-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/ My blog for Product Marketing, Business Intelligence, Personal Branding Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:20:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Nic http://mikeurbonas.com/2009/08/06/job-seekers-getting-attention-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-781 Nic Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:20:31 +0000 http://mikeurbonas.com/?p=503#comment-781 Yeah, I just don't understand the logic of what Trina Thompson did. Whether she won or not, she was making herself unemployable. <a href="http://www.graduate-jobs.com/" rel="nofollow">Graduate jobs</a> are difficult to come by for anyone, let alone anyone who has proven that they will sue at the drop of a hat. I hadn't heard the billboard story but there was something similar here, a guy wore a sandwich board and wandered up and down one of the busiest streets in London, Oxford Street I think. I'm guessing that would come under your definition of "negative attention" and some of our national newspapers did cover it in that way. But it worked for him, he was not only noticed but also employed as the result of it. So it can work. But in general, I think I agree with you. It does tend to attract the negative attention you describe, or is at least considered to be a poor or even desperate technique. Whether or not that is true, I don't know but if the perception is there, then perhaps it isn't a wise tactic. Yeah, I just don’t understand the logic of what Trina Thompson did. Whether she won or not, she was making herself unemployable. Graduate jobs are difficult to come by for anyone, let alone anyone who has proven that they will sue at the drop of a hat.

I hadn’t heard the billboard story but there was something similar here, a guy wore a sandwich board and wandered up and down one of the busiest streets in London, Oxford Street I think. I’m guessing that would come under your definition of “negative attention” and some of our national newspapers did cover it in that way. But it worked for him, he was not only noticed but also employed as the result of it. So it can work.

But in general, I think I agree with you. It does tend to attract the negative attention you describe, or is at least considered to be a poor or even desperate technique. Whether or not that is true, I don’t know but if the perception is there, then perhaps it isn’t a wise tactic.

]]> By: Pasha Stocking http://mikeurbonas.com/2009/08/06/job-seekers-getting-attention-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-168 Pasha Stocking Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:55:06 +0000 http://mikeurbonas.com/?p=503#comment-168 Hello Mike. I have to tell you that before resorting to a billboard (that I knew might be a risk but I am a risk taker sometimes) I was and continue to be on every social media platform that I thought/think would benefit my cause,even setting up a youtube channel about branding for women who want to start their own cosmetics line which I am an expert in. I attended countless job fairs, temp agencies,volunteering, etc; You name it I did it.I did all the traditional things I was supposed to do. I do believe that the whole thing was very novel to some and people seemed more intrigued by the story than actually hiring me but what people need to understand is that I was totally prepared for what may or may not come.It was not supposed to be some big witch hunt for people to say "Good she didn't get a job, that's what she gets!" What is that? As much as what I did angered people, it also inspired people to think differently about finding employment, maybe not putting up a billboard but other creative ways. I don't regret what I did one bit and if I could do it over again, the only thing I would change is my shirt....LOL!!!! Listen, the bottom line is that I am a positive open minded person that is not afraid to take a good ol'fashion risk sometimes. My kids are happy and we have our health and that is all that matters to me at this point. I could care less about the billboard the publicity, fame, whatever. Some people that have been following my journey tend to send me over interesting blog articles that they think I might be interested in reading and that is how I was led to you. I also want you to understand that before I was laid off from my marketing job, I had left a decent management position of 16 years, so I don't normally go making habits of stirring up "attention" from the general public or media. I do thank you very much for the well wish in regard to my new business, I hope it does well too! Keeping my fingers crossed. Best, Pasha Hello Mike. I have to tell you that before resorting to a billboard (that I knew might be a risk but I am a risk taker sometimes) I was and continue to be on every social media platform that I thought/think would benefit my cause,even setting up a youtube channel about branding for women who want to start their own cosmetics line which I am an expert in. I attended countless job fairs, temp agencies,volunteering, etc; You name it I did it.I did all the traditional things I was supposed to do. I do believe that the whole thing was very novel to some and people seemed more intrigued by the story than actually hiring me but what people need to understand is that I was totally prepared for what may or may not come.It was not supposed to be some big witch hunt for people to say “Good she didn’t get a job, that’s what she gets!” What is that? As much as what I did angered people, it also inspired people to think differently about finding employment, maybe not putting up a billboard but other creative ways. I don’t regret what I did one bit and if I could do it over again, the only thing I would change is my shirt….LOL!!!! Listen, the bottom line is that I am a positive open minded person that is not afraid to take a good ol’fashion risk sometimes. My kids are happy and we have our health and that is all that matters to me at this point. I could care less about the billboard the publicity, fame, whatever. Some people that have been following my journey tend to send me over interesting blog articles that they think I might be interested in reading and that is how I was led to you. I also want you to understand that before I was laid off from my marketing job, I had left a decent management position of 16 years, so I don’t normally go making habits of stirring up “attention” from the general public or media. I do thank you very much for the well wish in regard to my new business, I hope it does well too! Keeping my fingers crossed.

Best,
Pasha

]]> By: mikeurbonas http://mikeurbonas.com/2009/08/06/job-seekers-getting-attention-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-166 mikeurbonas Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:40:35 +0000 http://mikeurbonas.com/?p=503#comment-166 Hi Pasha. First, I and I'm sure all my readers, far from being angry, are sorry you spent $2,500 (not a trivial amount of money) for a billboard that did get attention but did not help you get a job. That was one point from the blog posting. The main point was there are ways in which a job candidate can get "good" attention that helps their job search by publicly asserting themselves as experts in their field. That includes blogging about your chosen field(s) of expertise; networking in professional associations for your chosen profession and industry and online using <a href="http://www.linkedin.com" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>; speaking publicly on work related topics whenever possible; presenting yourself using the <a href="http://nejs.org/" rel="nofollow">New England Job Show</a> (I think you're in CT), and more. And some candidates are doing things that will attract generic "attention" from the general public and media, but those things will not help get you a job and in some cases might even hurt some candidates in the long run. I hope your business works out well. Hi Pasha. First, I and I’m sure all my readers, far from being angry, are sorry you spent $2,500 (not a trivial amount of money) for a billboard that did get attention but did not help you get a job. That was one point from the blog posting. The main point was there are ways in which a job candidate can get “good” attention that helps their job search by publicly asserting themselves as experts in their field. That includes blogging about your chosen field(s) of expertise; networking in professional associations for your chosen profession and industry and online using LinkedIn; speaking publicly on work related topics whenever possible; presenting yourself using the New England Job Show (I think you’re in CT), and more. And some candidates are doing things that will attract generic “attention” from the general public and media, but those things will not help get you a job and in some cases might even hurt some candidates in the long run. I hope your business works out well.

]]> By: Pasha Stocking http://mikeurbonas.com/2009/08/06/job-seekers-getting-attention-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-164 Pasha Stocking Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:09:36 +0000 http://mikeurbonas.com/?p=503#comment-164 You know I can appreciate people that have their own opinions about the way they choose to seek employment but then I have asked myself this question countless times......Why are people so [angry] about the way I chose to look for employment? I don't get it really. Who cares how I did it. Also this experience has been wonderful for me and although it didn't land me the exact job I wanted, I realized that I needed to create my own job and have since started my own business if you must know. I don't have anything negative to say about this article because as I said before people have the right to their opinion and I in fact put myself out there in a way to be talked about. Fame???? Not what I was looking for at all trust me, if I wanted it I could have had it by now but that is not what interests me. My main goal is to support my family and yes to get away from the everyday boring resume! Resumes [are awful]! The bottom line and you should hear the stories I have been told about HR and how they handle resumes now. I wanted to have some fun because I am a fun down to earth person so if that is a crime and everyone feels so compelled to [berate] me then so be it. You know I can appreciate people that have their own opinions about the way they choose to seek employment but then I have asked myself this question countless times……Why are people so [angry] about the way I chose to look for employment? I don’t get it really. Who cares how I did it. Also this experience has been wonderful for me and although it didn’t land me the exact job I wanted, I realized that I needed to create my own job and have since started my own business if you must know. I don’t have anything negative to say about this article because as I said before people have the right to their opinion and I in fact put myself out there in a way to be talked about. Fame???? Not what I was looking for at all trust me, if I wanted it I could have had it by now but that is not what interests me. My main goal is to support my family and yes to get away from the everyday boring resume! Resumes [are awful]! The bottom line and you should hear the stories I have been told about HR and how they handle resumes now. I wanted to have some fun because I am a fun down to earth person so if that is a crime and everyone feels so compelled to [berate] me then so be it.

]]> By: Barbara Tallent http://mikeurbonas.com/2009/08/06/job-seekers-getting-attention-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-160 Barbara Tallent Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:42:38 +0000 http://mikeurbonas.com/?p=503#comment-160 Great article Mike! It is interesting, there are creative ways to go about getting attention as a job seeker that are not negative (oops, a double negative!) I've been watching, with some interest, this teacher who put together a binder of all his qualifications - resume, lesson plans, even a video. I think it is this type of creative use of social media that will get the attention of employers. Here is his binder: http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=2393 Great article Mike! It is interesting, there are creative ways to go about getting attention as a job seeker that are not negative (oops, a double negative!)

I’ve been watching, with some interest, this teacher who put together a binder of all his qualifications – resume, lesson plans, even a video. I think it is this type of creative use of social media that will get the attention of employers. Here is his binder:
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=2393

]]> By: Rich DeMatteo http://mikeurbonas.com/2009/08/06/job-seekers-getting-attention-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-124 Rich DeMatteo Fri, 07 Aug 2009 04:18:09 +0000 http://mikeurbonas.com/?p=503#comment-124 Hi Mike - Wonderful article. I've made contact with Mr. Christman and plan to set up an interview in the next couple weeks. I'm interested to see exactly what happened that day. I also enjoyed reading Jayna's story. Unemployment is a time to reinvent oneself. Well, maybe not reinvent, but definitely improve. While bettering oneself, people need to relax and have as much fun as possible before landing the next job. Look forward to more of your posts! Hi Mike – Wonderful article. I’ve made contact with Mr. Christman and plan to set up an interview in the next couple weeks. I’m interested to see exactly what happened that day.

I also enjoyed reading Jayna’s story. Unemployment is a time to reinvent oneself. Well, maybe not reinvent, but definitely improve. While bettering oneself, people need to relax and have as much fun as possible before landing the next job.

Look forward to more of your posts!

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