CLASS - Connection Camp for Job Seekers

As Announced at yesterday's LPJC Meeting:

I'm conducting my first "Connection Camp for Job Seekers" class on August 11th and August 18th (it's a 2 part class). The first part is about identifying who you want to connect with. The second part is about opening that conversation.

Bridge ATX Connection Camp
When: Tuesday, August 11th and 18th
Time: 2PM - 4PM
Where: 8403B Shoal Creek Blvd., Austin, TX 78757

I'm trying to pick up 5 more people for the class and I'm giving people discounts to be able to do it. Normally the class is $200, but

Use the coupon code: FirstClass
Receive a $75 discount
Attend the class for $125

Sign up at - http://classes.bridgeatx.com

More classes will be available soon, I'm offering this kick-butt deal for the first class only. :)

I wish I could make it even cheaper on you, but I have to be able to pay for the materials that you will receive with the course. I also have to pay for the marketing efforts and the venue rental.

I guarantee that at the end of the class you will:
• Be able to identify all of the companies that you are targetting in Austin (some you may not even be aware of yet)
• Know how to open the conversation with anyone that you want to talk to
• Be able to tap into my vast amount of connections in Austin to find your next job

Still not convinced?

I have done a poll via Twitter to find people who have been hired to work in a new job within 6 weeks of starting their search. Every single one of them got into that position via some sort of personal connection.

I have asked various different recruiters in town about how they are finding the candidates that they are hiring. Most of the hires come through direct referrals. Some of them come via searches done by the recruiters via the job boards and Linked In (without actually posting the job). It is a rare occassion that someone is selected via an application sent electronically.

I had a conversation on behalf of a job seeker that I was working with. In talking to the recruiter I discovered that the reason that the job was still open after having been posted for 2 months was because the hiring manager went on a 3 week vacation in the summer and then was attending various different conferences. So, even though the job had been open for a while he was in fact still looking and has not been able to schedule any interviews. I then found out that the hiring manager had already chosen the 3 people he wanted to interview. ALL of the candidates that the Hiring Manager had chosen had come in through internal referrals. We still need to find out if the candidate I submitted is one of those internal referrals. So, even though the job is still out there and posted live. The hiring manager is not even considering any online applications, unless none of the 3 he has chosen work out.

Still not convinced?

Read these conversations:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-13875-NY-Career-Search-Examiner~y2009...

http://dlairman.wordpress.com/2009/08/01/networking-skills

Connections are ABSOLUTELY essential for your job search in this job market.

Sign up today to find out how you can use your contacts (and mine) to make for a stronger, more effective job search!

If you have any questions - please email me at classes@bridgeatx.com