The depression was a horrible time. Unemployment at 25% and no Unemployment Insurance.
The economy had just turned from the Roaring Twenties where money and work was plentiful.
There was a massive change in the way people lived due to technology. The life of a twenty year was significantly different than the life of a 40 year old.
In fact, there are many similarities to the job hunting environment of today.
In this series of articles, I want to demonstrate to you, that things are haven’t changed that much. The tactics used by successful job hunters in the 1930′s will work just as well today.Appeal to the self-interest of the employer
In the book, “Pick Your Job And Land It!” published in 1938, the authors, S.W. and M.G. Edlund, share the story of one job seeker, a Barrett Havens, who had put together a seemingly flawless written portfolio of his accomplishments, one that had produced several interviews for the position of manufacturing manager.
Yet Havens received no job offers.
So the Edlunds suggested that in his next interview, instead of emphasizing his achievements, Havens should ask questions of the employer:
- How had they been able to navigate seasonal slumps?
- How did they develop new products?
- How did they get help from retailers in selling their products?
By asking questions, Havens would start conversations based on the employer’s interests, could tell of similar problems he had solved, and then refer to his written examples to back up his claims.
The results were dramatic — within one week, Havens had an interview with an employer who was so enthralled with his questions that he cancelled lunch and his afternoon appointments so he could continue talking to Havens.
(When’s the last time an employer missed a meal to listen to you talk?)
Your takeaway lesson: When you realize that no employer wants to hire you and that every employer has problems to solve, you can start to appeal to their self-interests.
How?
By discovering their problems and proposing solutions.
All you need do is start asking questions. Another Guerrilla Job Search tactic.
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This job hunting post was adapted from content provided to by my good friends Kevin Donlin and David Perry, co-creators of the Guerrilla Job Search System.
Finding a job is hard, most people don’t know how to do it, and the results are months of needless waiting.
I recommend that you check The Guerrilla Job Search System to get a job and stop waiting.
Click here to understand how the Guerrilla Job Search System can shorten your job search significantly.
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