The Perfect Fit

The Greatest Opening Line . . . Ever!

It figures that after my post of just over a week ago, "Opening Lines For Cover Letters" that I would receive another cover letter with an opening line that just blows the others away.  I couldn't stop myself from sharing this one too.  I'm not trying to be cruel here.  I'm sure the writer sent this with sincere feelings and in the hopes that it would in some way provide insight into the personality, goals and values of the candidate.

I'm afraid it probably does just that.  The reader of this opening line has to assume that it is heartfelt and appropriate.  The only other possible assumption is that this person has a rather oblique sense of humor that was lost on me.

What's the line you ask?  Here you go:

"Hi, my name is Tom and I'm a Taurus. I enjoy long walks on the golf course, Cajun food and Rock and Roll. I'm looking for someone who shares my passion for great creative and who isn't afraid to take things to the next level. Let talk and see if we connect – I could be the one you've been looking for."

That's the opening line for a Creative Director position.  Sounds sorta like a personal classified looking for someone to date.  I suppose it might have impact on some employers . . . but I'm inclined to doubt it.  Maybe Tom pasted in the wrong copy from a document he was previously working on . . .

I had to respond and let him know he wasn't quite right for this particular search.

We work in a glorious industry.  You never know what might be next!

REBUS Visits NGAGE

What a spectacular event last Tuesday's REBUS meeting at NGAGE was!  In addition to the hospitality and sharing of social marketing insights and execution by Dan Curran and Dave Johnson (Creative Director), for me there was a sort of renewal, or "passing the torch".  NGAGE's new space at 411 North 10th, is just being finished . . . literally.  Apparently, the carpet was laid in 24 hours prior to the REBUS visit  The space is spectacular and distinctive . . . in pristine white.  By the way, check out NGAGE's new website!
 
(later Dan was at the door, shaking hands and welcoming everyone to the new digs.  I couldn't help but feel like I'd been here before, and I told Dan so as I shook his hand, looking around and marveling at the reception area.  Well, I actually had been there before, literally standing in exactly the same space, getting one of my first advertising photography assignments from Harold Jones, a Creative Director at Batz, Hodgson, Neuhoener (later re-named BHN) that was 1975.  It's now almost 40 years later, and there's a new agency with a new approach.  It felt like a wonderful renewal of historic passion, energy and competence and leap forward, all at the same time.  It all seemed "just right", somehow tapping into and taking advantage of part of St. Louis' storied advertising history and moving it into the next century.

Somehow, it all tied together with the topic for the evening's presentation "How Innovation and Optimism Can Prevail In A Struggling Economy". 

While Dan was presenting case studies to the attendees, I did a headcount.  I counted 52 attendees without counting the NGAGE folks who were there.  I think that's a new REBUS record!  Next month's meeting will be at TOKY Branding and Design, on February 10th.  We're looking forward to that event.

Opening Lines for Cover Letters

I was speaking with a candidate yesterday for this Dallas CD search, and he mentioned he'd read my last posting on job descriptions and cover letter responses.  He made the comment to me that he had a lot of friends who didn't think the cover letter was "very important".  It is.

I thought maybe a good way of illustrating the point from my side of the desk would be to share some "opening lines" with you.  It didn't take me more than 15 minutes to go through responses and pick these as examples.  I don't want to be cruel or rude about this.  I realize that everyone isn't an expert in how to respond to an employer or recruiter to express interest in a job opportunity (which is part of the reason I'm writing this blog to begin with!).  My goal is to help you understand from the recipient's perspective (mine) that some of this just doesn't work.  A typo is death.  You will (instantly) be disqualified for a typo!  Take your time.  Think about what you're saying and target your response.

Here are some examples:

"As a Creative Director, I am currently looking to make a transition into a more challenging position . . ."

"Please recognize that my formal education and recent job experience are exactly what your organization needs to expand in a positive direction."

"Hi, my name is Annie, I read the requirements and qualifications posted about this job and would like to know more. It definitely peaks my interest, and is the avenue I want to take in the next step of my career."

"I am a talented and fun designer looking for employment in the Dallas area."

“Creating enticing visual concepts for direct mail, catalogs and target base marketing, I am experienced and well-versed in SC3, InDesign . . . “

“Your open Creative Director - position caught my attention because my experience aligns nicely with the requirements.  I would be interested in learning more.”

"I am interested in the position you are looking to fill. I believe that I am uniquely qualified and have the skills that you are in need of."

"“I am an inspired and highly experienced communications professional who partners with my clients and colleagues to create brands that are differentiated from the competition and highly relevant to the customer. I am well qualified for this position. What more, one of my strongest abilities . . . “

"I do work that works.
Work available upon request."

Read That Job Description More Closely

I'm coming to the conclusion that candidates don't "really" read job descriptions.  It's just amazing!  (It's one of the reasons a phone is a much better recruiting tool!)

I'm currently working on a search for a Creative Director in the Dallas area.  My job description clearly states that the client is not willing to provide any relocation assistance, because we don't believe it's necessary for this particular position.  That fact is not stopping Creative Directors from all over the country (world) in applying for the position.

Candidates apply for the position by (you've heard this before) sending along the same cover letter and resume that they send to every other job they apply to.  They're probably sitting there wondering why they aren't getting any response . . . not just from me, but from any of the other employers or recruiters they've applied to.  The reason they're not getting any response, is because they're not paying attention, or creating enough interest with their own response.

I can understand that there will be some candidates who might be willing to pay their own expenses to move to Dallas.  If that's the case, wouldn't it seem like common sense that they'd mention that fact in a cover letter?  I'm becoming convinced that they're just not reading the job description, and then considering whether or not they're a good fit.  I've talked to candidates many times about how surprised I am that someone doesn't research a company before they apply for a position with that company.

I think all a Creative Director (this applies to any job title!) has to see is the title "Creative Director" on a job description, and they fire off their info as quickly as they possibly can.  There's no tailoring the cover letter to the specific requirements of the position, or saying how they have experience in the areas needed.  It's apparent that they believe "one portfolio fits all" in the same way one cover letter and one resume fits all.

In this particular CD position, our client needs candidates with packaging experience, which I mention in the job description.  I would think that adding some packaging samples (assuming they exist) to an existing pdf e-book would be an obvious thing to do . . . apparently, it isn't.  If you have a website with lots of samples, but maybe not specifically what the job description is looking for, direct me to the website, and say in your cover letter that additional samples can be sent separately, if a level of interest is established.  I understand that every candidate doesn't have exactly the right samples prepared at exactly the right time.  I'm willing to wait to see their best work most closely related to my search.

This whole effort is not a race.  This is about trying to have impact and stand out from the crowd in the way you respond.  The additional time spent reading, re-reading and trying to understand the job description is well spent as a first step in developing a thoughtful response . . . one that will command the reader's interest . . . and get a response!

The Fastest Search . . . Ever!

I had hoped to be able to take the week between Christmas and New Year's off.  It ended up not happening because of two different searches that started on December 23rd and 24th.  I'm thrilled to be busy.  Vacations and time off can wait! (This is part of the "glamor" of self-employment!)  This is also the reason my blogging has ground to a halt recently.

I previously posted the job description for a Marketing Brand Manager.  I received a phone call at noon on Christmas Eve day from this new client.  When I picked up the phone, she said "Wow!  I can't believe you're there!", to which I responded "I can't believe you're calling me at noon on Christmas Eve day.  We must be two of the last people still working!"

I'm excited about the fact that this new client found me through the internet.  That doesn't sound like such a shock, but I took it to mean that all the time and effort spent over the past several months, trying to improve my online presence is working.

This is an extremely challenging search in that the client is moving its Corporate Headquarters to St. Louis.  The CEO, CFO and Sr. Director of Marketing and the rest of the senior strategic team will be visiting town this coming week.  Interviews for the final candidates will take place during their visit.

For those of you counting, that's two weeks from engagement through interviews.  It's far and away the most compressed time line I've ever had to deal with . . . virtually unrealistic, especially considering the nature of the long Holiday Season this year.  We play the hand we're dealt!

Many of you probably received an email from me over the past week.  I want to sincerely thank those of you who took the time to respond, and/or refer friends or colleagues who you believed to be qualified and might be interested.  I've spoken with dozens of you.  I'm pleased that I have highly qualified candidates for my client.  I'll let you know how the interviews go this week.

I also want to thank Walt of AdSaint for his support and ever present clever sense of humor:

"Urgently?" There's a word AdSaint hasn't seen in a job description lately. But Bob Bishop says a client has a truly urgent need for a Marketing Brand Manager, and we love the fact there can still be a sense of urgency in filling marketing jobs, so we're urgently posting it.

If you're not staying in touch with AdSaint, you're not staying in touch with the St. Louis Marketing, Advertising,  PR and Promotions Industries.

I had confidence in my ability to provide premier candidates in such a short time line for two reasons.  The first and most important is the network of friends, colleagues and candidates I've been able to develop over time.  The second is that I knew that St. Louis had a robust pool of potential candidates who were outstanding marketers and who had the required pet food experience and an MBA.  The fact that Nestle Purina, Purina Mills, and other manufacturers are in the region provides plenty of qualified candidates.

It's wonderful to actually have a corporate headquarters moving to St. Louis for a change!  We've lost too many over the past years.

Urgent Need: St. Louis Brand Marketing Manager #8124

This posting was originally published on December 26, 2008.  This posting was causing technical problems and had to be deleted, then re-posted.

The Holiday Season has been unexpectedly busy, I'm pleased to say.  It's a pleasant surprise considering the economy, time of the year, etc..  I hope you're enjoying this Holiday Season, and getting some time off.

We're working on a search for a brand new client!  If you know of anyone qualified for this Brand Manager position, I'd appreciate the referral.  This is an extremely urgent search.  We will be working with our client and interviewing candidates the second week of January (really)!  If you know of someone qualified, who might be interested, I encourage you to let them know as soon as possible!

General Description:
This new position results from our client’s rapid growth.  Our client is looking for an experienced brand manager with pet and/or consumer products, with a new product marketing background.  We need experience to help lead the development and roll out of new pet food products.  Our client is passionate about developing natural, healthy pet food products and treats.  Our client has a long history of providing top of the line natural, nutritional products.  This position will be responsible for involvement in innovation and new product development, brand management, new channels account specific marketing and consumer/account promotions.