CTV News Ottawa

Updated: Fri Sep. 11 2009 3:31:36 PM
ctvottawa.ca

Canadian job hunters have "got no balls" when it comes to pushing the envelope. That's the view of David Perry an Ottawa based head-hunter who's placed nearly a thousand executives in the past 15 years. He's written two books, the first for tech executives, the second for job hunters, especially those in tech.

Now his third book is out called "Guerrilla Marketing for Job-Hunters 2.0".

It likely took you about 3 seconds to read that previous sentence and that's how long Perry says you have to impress a hiring manager, to get a smile and a desire to read more. He contends anything that's different and not in poor taste can help. Perry's book, DVD, blogs, podcasts and websites focus on the innovative. He says American's embrace his style of job hunting, Canadians have shown little interest. Next week in Detroit he'll kick off a 25 city tour called "Put America Back to Work ".

Here's some of his tactics in this war for work.

Make a list of about 20 companies you want to target. Find and network with the "newly departed", those who've left the firm and find out who hires, what are the0 problems and can you offer a solution. Perry says more than ever the hidden job market is where you need to look. Companies don't advertise most of the jobs they have.

Bypass HR people, go right to those who have a problem and need a solution.

One client produced his resume in comic book form, with himself as the super hero. Or package up and send an empty coffee cup to a hiring exec inviting them for coffee. Or create an ad on Facebook targeting the execs you want to reach. Or analyze a product from the company you want to work for and how it stacks up against a competitor - show what you can do and give the company information they can use.

Perry says you need to be creative, and with the job market opening up competition will just increase. The first thing you need to do is know who you want to work for and what you bring to the table.

Web site of the week:

www.mynewjobhunt.com Perry's newest jobsite

This Sunday one of the stories on TECH NOW is a look at how Europeans are dealing with the start of a ban on incandescent light bulbs. 

This Sunday one of the stories on TECH NOW is a look at how Europeans are dealing with the start of a ban on incandescent light bulbs.