Hire Me, Pal! - The Revisitation

As many of you know, I've been....well, you know that term "underemployed" that gets bandied about?

I'm one of them.

But I've been working hard to try to get more work - I have a little freelance work, but the nature of it is that it's short-term by nature. So I'm always seeking work, even to the point of having to endure well-intentioned, but faulty, advice, including:

• You Need To Send Your Resume To A Bunch of People - or "spray and pray"? Not really a good idea.
• Customize Your Resume To Each Job - that I can do, but still lack of response.
• Be Aggressive In Follow Up - When I follow up with potential employers, I either get the calming chirping of crickets....or the abrupt "We'll call you if we need you."
• Why Not Start Your Own Business? - Well, I am doing that, but it also means spending time collecting from deadbeat clients, dealing with the usual "we've gone with a more junior candidate", etc. I'm willing...and that's my purpose in writing today's post

Now, this isn't going to be a self-mocking, despairing post - I'm actually using the power of the Internet to take control. So here's my challenge to you, dear reader - I'm posting a link to my Linked In profile, and I'm asking you to connect me with potential clients.

Yes, just check out and forward the link http://linkd.in/gordondym...and if you know a small business, a comics/publishing company, or someone who can use a whip-smart online communications consultant, make the introduction!

Here's what I'm bringing to the table:

• Experience not just in social media, but also public relations, online marketing, and copywriting
• Knowledge of nonprofits, social enterprise, and small business marketing needs
• A strong, dedicated work ethic geared towards delivering positive results, and
• Dedication to thoroughness, honesty, and diligence

Yes, you're more than welcome to link and forward this post via social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc), because I don't want to be another person who bemoans their fate online without taking positive action. This isn't about self-obsession or self-pity; it's about taking a stand and moving forward. And quite honestly, this is much easier for me to do than to create a Kickstarter campaign.

Thanks for reading - and for your help!

Flying Just Like Rocky BalBoa

[Minor spoilers follow]

One of the advantages of being in the "job market" (and yes, you have helped me use the power of social media to get employed, haven't you?) has been the opportunity to catch up on many of the movies in my collection, as well as at the local library. (Well, that and Doctor Who.) Although I am following the admonition that "finding a job is a full time job" (I spend about 30 to 35 hours a week on that), sometimes, I need to take a break.

One of the movies that I've found particularly inspiring, believe it or not, is Rocky.

That's right, Rocky

Admittedly, there is a tinge of nostalgia - after all, I did have a Sylvester Stallone poster in my room when growing up. But the film itself....actually, it's a lot better than I expected and remembered.

Ironically, the original Rocky is not the traditional "underdog comes from behind to win" movie - in fact, much of the movie is a street-level examination of a man only learning his full potential. Rocky Balboa is....well, he's a mug; when he's not sparring at the local gym, or attempting to flirt with a worker at a local pet shop, he's an enforcer for a local crime boss. (Think "thumb breaking" not "cement overshoes"). When a more flamboyant boxer selects Balboa as an opponent for a bicentennial-themed fight (ah, yes, this was the 1970s, after all), Rocky finds himself with a unique opportunity to live up to his full potential.

And that's....well, for years I had poor memories of the film, believing that Rocky put his all into the fight....and lost, and that the message was that sometimes, even with a shot, you still lose. However, in a key scene, Rocky himself puts it into perspective: he doesn't expect to win, but to "go the distance". He isn't so much concerned with the outcome as the fact that, with this opportunity, he can focus on preparing himself physically and mentally for such a high-level fight.

And that's part of the outlook that I am trying to adopt with my job search: with two interviews in the past month (neither of which panned out), it means that I'm doing something correctly. It's meant pruning some job search resources which have done little (if anything) to move me forward. It's been taking honest feedback seriously, and being patient with those who provide...well, poor guidance. (So many people have sent me links to NPO.net when I've asked for contacts....but that only means that I need to use Linked In more effectively.) It also means taking on work which will potentially bring in some income while I continue to look, and which can serve as a side gig once I gain full time work

But like Rocky, my goal isn't the "big job" - it's going the distance and finding work which not only fits my talents, but also allows me to grow and develop. It's often not about winning so much as performing....and that, I can live with.

Update: The HIRE ME, PAL! Initiative

I thought it was the craziest idea I ever had - create a social media campaign to not only sharpen my marketing skills, but also engage networks online. After all, if I could hear of how others received fame and fortune through social media, I could receive....a modicum of attention.

Simple, really - encourage people to share the link http://bit.ly/HireMePal (or my Linked In profile) on social media (using the #hiremepal hashtag on Twitter), and those who did would receive a free PDF e-book. (If you've done so and I've missed it, just leave a comment below). Although I haven't seen much traction (after all, it's been active for less than a month), I have had one interview, and a plethora of leads that I am pursuing....but I also have some observations and conclusions:

• For my non-profit minded friends; when I network and ask for contacts, please don't just send me NPO.net's job listings. I am well aware of them; what I'm looking for is to reach out to decision makers so that I can get the inside track. 
• Roger once asked why I wasn't hired yet - and sadly, many employers are choosing to delay new hires for a variety of reasons.
• Just a note - if you run a networking event, and you continually brag about the number of attendees over a certain amount (say, 100), you've just crossed the line to becoming a cocktail party. Nothing wrong with that, but as someone with limited resources, I'm looking to make connections, not meet a two drink minimum.
• Personal highlight: a recruiter reached out to me for a position in the northwest surburbs. I ask if it is accessible by Metra or Pace (i.e., public transportation). Via e-mail, I'm told "No, but would you be willing to purchase a car for a full-time job"? I'm not sure if this question is legal (the job involved no travel, and was strictly a 9 to 5 desk job) - any thoughts?
• For those who would state that "Finding a Job Is a Full-Time Job"....I broke down my efforts, and I'm spending 25 - 30 hours finding leads, following up, applying (including customizing my resume) networking and interviewing. Besides, I would rather place my efforts where they're needed than mindlessly spraying the Internet with resumes.
• For my local (and not quite local) pals who've sent me leads and opportunities - thanks. You have my eternal gratitude and I promise, once I'm employed, I will purchase for you the beverage of your choice. 
• By the way, I'm also available for freelance. For a career overview, you can visit http://www.gordondymowski.com
• Also, I do have some potential cool projects that I am waiting on, and I can't talk about them privately. Mostly because they're very tentative, but if they work out....who knows? But I'm keeping active in the meantime.

So I'm still in it to win it, and I'm seeking both freelance and full-time (would prefer the latter, but the former's nice). I'm looking for a social media position, preferably in non-profits and/or the comics and/or popular culture field. So please feel free to spread the word - simply write/podcast/blog/Tweet/engage online around http://bit.ly/HireMePal, and you'll get my eternal thanks, a free ebook....and the fact that you helped someone who is in their hour of need. 

Sunday Morning Blogaround

Increasingly, my days are becoming busier; spent all of this week prepping for a job interview where, within 24 hours, I was politely informed that they were moving forward with other candidates.

(Don't worry - I'll have a Hire Me, Pal! Initiative update tomorrow).

But that doesn't mean that several other cool things didn't happen - in fact, it's nice that although I'm posting this on a Sunday, rather than a Friday (and no, it's not because I only made a token appearance on this week's Zone 4), but it has been...well, my online profile has definitely improved.

• My monthly column for Comic Related focuses on one of my favorite shows, and this week, I'm hoping to write a special Doctor Who-themed post for later this month.
• This past week also saw the revival of Net2Chi (formerly, Chicago Net Tuesday) after, well, some benign neglect. You can read about what I did to prepare for Tuesday, as well as what we discussed on Tuesday
• After too long, a return to the Baker Street Blog, with a book that I strongly recommend you purchase

And with that, I'm off for a meeting working on a super-cool project, and remember: you'll get an update on the Hire Me, Pal! Initiative tomorrow!

Announcing: The "Hire Me, Pal!" Initiative

As many of you know, I've been in the job market for....oh, quite a while now. Although I've had some successes in interviews, I'm always looking out for new ways to connect. In fact, reaching out to my professional colleagues has provided somewhat mixed results, but I realize that I have a whole network of friends and readers that I haven't tapped into....

....until now.

Since I'm looking to work in the wonderful exciting field of social media (possibly either for a comics and/or pop culture-related business or a non-profit), I'm introducing the "Hire Me, Pal!" Initiative. If you want to participate, it's easy - all you need to do is forward this blog post (either to your friends and/or potential hiring contacts) via Twitter (with the #hiremepal hashtag), Facebook, or other social network, let me know via e-mail (I suggest using my personal site's contact page) and voila! It's my effort to create a campaign which not only allows me to build my community, but to drive conversation and awareness, hopefully expanding my professional and personal networks.

For those of you wondering "why?", quite honestly - I'm registered with several staffing/ recruiting agencies, I've been applying for jobs, and whenever I reach out to key contacts, all I get are links to job boards. I'm looking to get "inside information", and quite honestly, it's also a way for me to empower those friends who aren't "movers and shakers". If you need some backup, let me offer the following:

• As you can see by my Linked In profile, I have experience working in communications - helping non-profits, companies, and small businesses shape their messages and engage their potential advocates. In short, I help people build their communities online and offline, and I would be an asset to any company
• I am also very versatile - for example, I have been told that I should use my recent interview with Dirk Manning (as part of Zone 4) as a "demo tape"....but I need some place to send it. Hence, if you know a producer who would take me on as a host.
• Finally, if you participate (and you ask nicely), I'm more than willing to send you a copy of Read This, Pal!, an anthology of comics and stories - yes, I thought it might be cool to provide something unique and talkable as part of this campaign

My goal is simple - I want to demonstrate my social media mojo, but ultimately, get some paying work. It's my way of encouraging myself to work a little smarter - not harder - when trying to find a job.

In other words, I want to encourage employers to "Hire me, pal!". But I'll need your help.

As always, thanks!