This example is near and dear to my heart – I have used variations over and over to make sales and land a job.
After mailing in a resume, Kevin was called by a receptionist to schedule an interview. During our conversation, he asked if she could send Kevin back issues of their corporate publications. Kevin explained that he wanted to research the writing styles of the magazines and newsletters he would be editing if he got the job.
She immediately agreed, and had a nice package of materials couriered over the same day.
It turned out to be a gold mine.
Kevin found three typos in one back issue of a magazine . Here was the proof he could do the job.
Two days later at the interview, the subject of proofreading skills came up. Kevin pulled out the magazine (with post-it notes marking the typos) and said: “I’ve been researching your publications and found these three errors. I can improve your image by preventing this kind of thing from happening again.”
They hired Kevin.
Action Step: do whatever you can to research your target company and “start working” for them before the first interview. It’s one thing to claim you can do the job. It’s quite another — and much more powerful — to prove it.
Another application of the same idea. I want other small businesses near my Curves location to co-market with me. So instead of pushing my Curves location – I provide them some marketing suggestions for the their business. After they say thank you or in some way acknowledge they are happy, I then offer to co-market with my Curves. I now have several different co-marketing partners.
Give before you take.
Service with a Purpose. The Service is helping the other person, the purpose is to demonstrate your expertise and ability.
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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.
Kevin and David have been interviewed by CNN, New York Times, Fortune magazine, and the Christian Science Monitor about their method to finding a job.
Get a free audio from Kevin and David on how to get your job search into high gear
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