In the next few weeks I will launch a comprehensive Online Course and Live Event that is designed to help these folks Get Working NOW. I know the course materials will upset the HR and career industry because it exposes the futility of conventional job searches for most people.  A lot of people make money on job clubs, networking events, resume design, coaching… that doesn’t work .

Stay tuned…

To start with lets mention the resume style and content that is most likely to get you the interview.

One of the most frustrating parts of a job search is dealing with all the advice you get about resumes. The best approach is a resume that gets you the interview, and helps you get the job! If we have one piece of advice it would be… Don’t make the person reading your resume, work hard to figure you out.

If you have a (numeric) results-oriented, functional style resume you are showcasing… WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU and not just everything that you have done.

Don’t make the person reviewing your resume work hard to figure you out.

So now you have a great resume and you got the interview! Are you ready for the #1 question you are likely to be asked?

OK here it is…

Tell Me About Yourself

The #1 question is not easy to answer UNLESS you are prepared so PRACTICE in front of the mirror over and over until your answer lasts about 20 – 30 seconds at the most,  you sound natural and confident. PRACTICE.

Tell Me About Yourself

YOU >>>> You need to give up some personal information. Something about YOU. If you don’t, the interviewer will think you can’t fit into the company, or that you are cold, secretive or not someone they want to have around. We suggest you share innocuous info. that is already on your resume such as (1) where you live now and (2) where you are from originally which is easy to figure out by looking at your high school location and finally (3) something personal related to family (spouse, children, parents, siblings. If you resist this question and say something dumb like “You’re not supposed to ask me that question”, the interview is most likely over. But the trick is to move on very quickly, without a beat. Don’t allow the Interviewer time to ask a follow-up personal question. Move on to…

YOUR PASSION >>>> Are you passionate about what you do AT WORK Yes? Great.    No… Whatever, fake it if you have to. Get excited about your career, the things you have done that are connected to WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU. Let the Interviewer start to see that you’re passionate about what you do AT WORK and it is right on target to what they need. Don’t talk about hobbies, trips, your favourite music etc. ONLY AT WORK PASSION. That’s why you are there.

Now just as quick move on to the OPPORTUNITY >>>>

“and,  I am very excited about the opportunity to  _ _ _  here”

This final part should be EXACTLY AS QUOTED ABOVE. It brings back the answer to why you are sitting there. The most likely follow up question in the interview will be about the opportunity, the job and hopefully your passion for it!

You have showed that YOU are going to fit in, and that you are a good trustworthy person by sharing a bit about yourself. You talked with PASSION about your work and then you expressed interest and excitement in the OPPORTUNITY. Don’t worry if you think it will sound prepared – it won’t. It will sound professional and poised;  much better than stumbling for words, or going on and on about things the interviewer isn’t interested in.

Please comment if you found this post helpful or interesting!

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How do you reduce the risks of being self-employed, on commission, or starting a business?

In part 1 we linked to the XL Wealth approach to help identify your success profile.

In part 2, we touched on the difference between self-employment, running a business, and the relative security of being a successful salesperson (and being a revenue & profit generator) vs. having a job and being a cost center.

In this 3rd part we share zenPeak’s risk reduction for self-employment, running a business, and working in a commissioned job.

For self-employed persons needing peak performing assistants or staff, and for businesses needing peak performers in every role, our NO RISK recruitment process and pricing is guaranteed to deliver. We even have special pricing for recruiting commissioned salespersons that are NO RISK to you.

What if starting or owning a business is impractical, and/or your skills are not suited to being self-employed?

Consider the security, and high income enjoyed by successful commissioned salespeople. This week alone we have 3 sales roles, in our client companies, where the top performers (all women by the way) earned $175,000 – online ad listings, $ 160,000 – telecom sales, and $180,000 – mortgage sales, respectively;  each of them can walk into any competitor and get a sales position instantly. That’s security!

zenPeak  has a number of these sales position opportunities that we call “certified”. What does this mean? The bottom line is that we carefully select the positions and companies we recruit for to make sure they offer the potential for high income earnings.

1. The Hiring Company is strong and has been in business for at least 10 years.
2. The Hiring Company has marketing programs in place to support sales and the sales force to grow the business.
3. The Hiring Company has training and support programs in place to assist new hires.
4. The Hiring Company is local and operates out of permanent professional facilities

What are the differences between being self-employed and business ownership?

According to Robert Kiyosaki, being self-employed and earning income based on an hourly rate or owning your job, is different from being a business owner. A business owner can earn income regardless of being at the office and/or working day to day. A doctor or dentist or real estate agent for example, are self-employed but still depend on their own day to day involvement and input to earn the bulk of their income. Being self-employed removes you from the insecurity of having a job and the possibility of being fired.

If you are a high-producing commissioned salesperson, you may not be technically self-employed, but the risks of being fired and not being able to replace your job, are low; since you clearly contribute to revenues and profits vs. being an expense or drain on a business.

If you are not comfortable having your own business, and are more inclined to being self-employed or secure in a commissioned sales role, then give some thought to how to increase your chance for success. It’s not just what you sell, but where and for whom that counts!

1. Are you the right type to be in business for yourself?

Whether you are fresh out of high school with “fire in the belly”  to build an empire, or mid career, out of a job and looking for an alternative to a job search that isn’t going anywhere,  being in business for yourself will be easier with self-awareness of what you are “good” at, and best suited for.

One of the most interesting approaches to developing self awareness and understanding how you fit is offered by Roger Hamilton’s  XL Wealth Dynamics.

Each of us has a path of least resistance that is based on our natural habits and talents – the ones we were born with. If we are not on our path, life can be a struggle. When we follow our path – and begin to play the game that we most naturally play, we begin to excel. We also find we are doing what we love. These are the eight wealth profiles.

The message is not about whether you should be in business, but discovering what role, or wealth profile  you are best suited for in order to be successful.

• Mechanic
• Creator
• Star
• Supporter
• Deal Maker
• Trader
• Accumulator
• Lord

• fear: not being a good salesperson
• misunderstanding: thinking every sales role is the same
• laziness: really don’t want to work hard
• ego/status perceptions: salespeople have a bad reputation

How about you… Have you ever thought about a SALES job?

Common Answers… “I’m not a salesperson” or… “I don’t like sales”

Are you currently looking for a job?  Frustrated?  Not getting good interviews? Did you know that hundreds and thousands of people compete against each other and apply every single day for every single salaried job,  they never get an interview and they are still unemployed. Did you know many people are under-employed, making less $ than they should based on their efforts, talent, education or experience?

zenPeak has a number of jobs currently available.

We can help you. Even if our Clients don’t offer you a position, you will learn and benefit from our recruitment process. Our process includes interviews, testing, assessments, interview coaching, resume repair and it costs you nothing.

Who is zenPeak?

Our company recruits peak performers for our Clients. We have a system that makes sure a person is right for the position, and that they will perform at a high level.

zenPeak has a number of jobs currently available.

Technology companies
Software companies
Mortgage companies
Financial Planning and Investment companies
Administrative Services companies

Are you ready to TAKE ACTION and get on track to making GOOD MONEY and having REAL SECURITY?  Did you know that the most secure job is always in sales? Top performing salespeople never have to worry about finding a job. We have a number of SALES positions in the GTA and Ontario available NOW for the right person.

Are you ready to work hard and change your life and get real job security!?

Our Clients don’t just hire anyone. Many of these opportunities include base salaries and a guaranteed flow of business. You need to go through our zenPeak recruitment system which is built to recruit peak performers for our Clients.

The good news is that our assessment looks past your resume, and looks at What You Can Do For The Company and for Yourself.

Why do some people not like the idea of sales?

1. They are lazy and they don’t want to work any harder than they have to once they get a job – please please look elsewhere
2. They want a steady salary – no problem! many of our opportunities include a base salary
3. They think they won’t find customers – no problem! many of our opportunities hand you fresh quality business leads from multi-million $ advertising programs
4. They think they are not good salespeople – there are different types of sales. Our system can determine which you will succeed at
5. They think it is not a good career – the truth is… the wealthiest and most successful people have always been salespeople selling products and services

Our company recruits peak performers for our Clients. We have a system that makes sure a person is right for the position, and you will perform at a high level.

Are you ready to TAKE ACTION and get on track to making GOOD MONEY and having REAL SECURITY?

call me now

Frank Abrams
CEO and Founder
zenPeak
416 733-3001
fabrams@zenpeak.com
www.zenpeak.com

podcamp Toronto

One week to podcamp toronto #pcto10 and it is truly amazing to see this come together from the hard work of a few people. Over 900 people have registered last time I checked. I picked out the sessions I plan to attend and am crossing my fingers that they won’t conflict, and I can get a seat! Happy we are a sponsor and able to support podcamp toronto 2010.

to register for podcamp toronto

http://2010.podcamptoronto.com/register/

Our sponsor blog post

http://2010.podcamptoronto.com/02/08/sponsor-spotlight-zenpeak/

sessions that I am planning to attend – what about you?

http://speakerrate.com/talks/2094

http://speakerrate.com/talks/2109

http://speakerrate.com/talks/1963

http://speakerrate.com/talks/1997

http://speakerrate.com/talks/2100

http://speakerrate.com/talks/2055

http://speakerrate.com/talks/2096

http://speakerrate.com/talks/1984

First, I’m on my way to Kitchener Waterloo to the Total Woman Show this weekend to meet some great business people and to talk and share the excitement of what’s happening in Waterloo with zenPeak.

Its a role for an Inside Mortgage Salesperson; a licensed position at a great company that has a steady flow of quality leads and potential business. Yes, you have to work hard and generate your own business too but almost everyone need a mortgage!  and imagine being given the support, training AND qualified potential business leads ready to be serviced. Another great aspect of this opportunity is the office environment; professional and low-pressure. Not licensed? The company will help you quickly get trained and government licensed.

details if you are interested: Inside Mortgage Salesperson – full-time.

This position is ideal for a person looking to earn between $50,000 and $80,000 in their first year, at one of Ontario’s largest financial companies. Location is near Steeles and Woodbine.This opportunity is unique. It is suited to a person who is driven to succeed, and wants to work in an office environment at a great company and get a steady flow of potential business, along with support and training to be a licensed mortgage salesperson.

Next step is to send us your resume, and request to arrange a short telephone interview to determine your potential fit to the opportunity. These telephone interviews are conducted 7 days a week every morning. zenPeak employee recruitment has a system to recruit peak performers for our Clients. Save all your questions for the telephone interview. We will discuss this position and any other jobs that we have to fill that make sense for you. Even if you are unsure of this particular opportunity, we have other positions.

Interested? Know someone who may be? Here is what the Candidate needs to do as next steps…

(1) follow this link and go to this calendar on the zenPeak website http://zenpeak.com/job-candidate-interviews/#calendar

(2) Request a telephone interview. Pick a day on the calendar email us with your selection of a date and the telephone number you want to be reached at for your 15 minute telephone interview and don’t forget to attach your resume. We recommend this style of resume

(3) If selected for the telephone interview, we will confirm back the exact time on the day you picked if that day is available. You will be called at that time.

What’s it all about?

If you’re trying to figure out how to use 140 character status updates like twitter in your business, or wondering what role social networks like facebook can play in your success, then  get yourself a spot at podcamp Toronto. You won’t regret it… but act fast!

PodCamp Toronto 2010 is a FREE “unconference” bringing together professionals and hobbyists from Toronto and the surrounding area to explore the cutting edge of new and social media. If you are an online content creator – hobbyist and professionals – who are building communities online in a variety of ways, then PodCamp Toronto 2010 is for you. Share ideas, discuss theories and learn lessons from an audience of experts. Network, network, network. All are welcome.

I’ve attended the past few years and this year we  took the step of zenPeak being a podcamp Toronto 2010 sponsor.

How important is this “unconference”? Consider that you will be exposed to many leading edge players doing great things in digital media, marketing etc. and they are ready to share what they know. Unlike many conferences which are venues for a lot of corporate shilling this is truly a learning environment that is laid back, with little time wasted. Sessions are short and the rooms are packed.

You will likely bump into some kids from junior high school doing interesting things, as well as top global leaders in social media.

Its about a lot more than podcasting but given that Youtube is the #2 search channel after google, it wouldn’t hurt to learn ways to use video in growing your business or getting more out of the activities you are passionate about! Sign up here

unemployment by gender

Suze Orman shared some great insights on CNN last night about how men differ from women in looking for work. Male unemployment is significantly higher, and she attributes a few reasons.

(1) men look for a new job at their old salary level – women will take lower paying jobs to earn money

(2) women are paid less and thus employers save money by hiring women, and

(3) men turn job hunting into a full-time effort, or take time off, rather than settle for a lower paying job like women

The conventional modern wisdom was that you would have many jobs in your career vs. having a job for life. It looks like that is changing for men and women.The new reality is men may go from job to contract to partnership to contract to business to job to job. Today, don’t bet on one job after another.

Imagine going to an interview with loads of experience (most of which is quickly outdated) competing with someone younger and cheaper.

You will likely strike out.

Why? The interviewer knows that you will be chronically unhappy at a fraction of your previous pay. The person interviewing you  is likely to be closer in age to the younger and cheaper candidates. Union and Government jobs may be an exception.

So what is the answer?

The solution is to change your approach and by that I don’t mean buy a franchise or start a business. The new approach is to…

• shed your pattern of job hunting and stop applying online for dozens of jobs. Spend your time each day on the 1 or 2 jobs in your “sweet spot”. Stop applying to those online jobs that aren’t 100% on target for you. And when you find a job that is a perfect fit, pick up the telephone and start calling the company to get an interview asap
• stop going to job networking events, filled with other jobseekers – go to events every night and on weekends like special interest meetups etc. – anywhere that career or jobs IS NOT THE FOCUS. Never say “I’m looking for a job”  If the subject comes up, and you think you can help someone, or someone they know,  talk for a few seconds about… “What I Can Do For You” and then shutup.  Be in demand and be busy. and of course get enough contact info. for follow up.
• build a unique “What I Can Do For You” resume for each opportunity follow up. see here
• Learn how to “Create Your Own Opportunity”

“Mancession.” The term may spur a few smiles and snickers, but for thousands of men, it is no laughing matter. For the first time in economic history, the male unemployment rate has surpassed the female unemployment rate. The December 2008 unemployment rate for men was 7.9 percent, versus 6.4 percent for women. The U.S. economy lost 2.956 million jobs in the last year, and a full 82 percent of pink slips have been handed to male workers. This translates to more than two million unemployed men in America compared to about 460,000 jobless women. The worse news for men is that the gap in jobless rates between men and women has been increasing for the last eight months and may continue to do so. – Bright Horizons