January, 2008

Problem Identification

Submitted by Corey Smith on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 14:57
How do you know when you have a problem or not? Following this chart should help you know when you have a problem to worry about or not.

Problem Identification Chart

Corey Smith is a co-founder of Resumango where you can build a better resume for free. 

Problem Identification Chart

Submitted by Corey Smith on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 14:55
If you want to know if you have a problem or not, you need to follow the right steps to figure it out.

Obama, Kennedy and your business

Submitted by Corey Smith on Wed, 01/30/2008 - 09:34
I am sure that in the last few days countless thousands of people who were supporting Hillary now find themselves in a position where they can do nothing but support Barack Obama... especially since Teddy Kennedy supports him. I am sure that so many people are now willing to jump ship because of the endorsement. Does that sound like a stupid thought? I hope so. Just because one politician endorses another, does that really change your attitude about where that politician stands on a particular subject? It shouldn't. I think that your customers have the same attitude about your business. Just because you might decide to get a paid, celebrity endorsement, it doesn't mean that your customers will change their attitude. Sure, there are a few people that will like your product because of a celebrity endorsement. But, the best endorsements that you can get are from your customers that love you. A friend will tell a friend to do business with you in a way that no celebrity can. Barack Obama isn't gaining steam and momentum because an endorsement. He is gaining momentum because some of what he says and who he is resonates with people more than the other candidates. That is the same thing that can happen with your business if you provide the best service at a reasonable price and have the goal to absolutely delight your customers.
Corey Smith is a co-founder of Resumango where you can build a better resume for free. 

Recruiting Spam

Submitted by Corey Smith on Tue, 01/29/2008 - 10:43
Last year, I had a post titled, "Dear Candidate" where I related an email that I received for a job offer. I pointed out that:
When you are looking to fill a position, it is probably a good idea to at least read the résumé of the individual before you offer to schedule an interview
Since that time, I have received not less than seven emails from the same person at the same company offering me the same position. Since that time, I have responded every single time with my displeasure in receiving these emails. What does this say about the Farmer's Insurance brand if they can't recruit the talent they want and have to ask the same disinterested people over and over again? Do you find yourself using these tactics to hire? If so, what does this say about your ability to find and hire the right people? The thing that also strikes me is that I received this post from a résumé posted at Monster. That means that each time this recruiter has viewed my résumé this recruiter has paid to view that. What a waste of money!
Corey Smith is a co-founder of Resumango where you can build a better resume for free. 

It must be true

Submitted by Corey Smith on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 08:00
I love this.

If said on TV

Since when does anything being on TV make it true?
Corey Smith is a co-founder of Resumango where you can build a better resume for free. 

Being a leader

Submitted by Corey Smith on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 13:07
I was doing some work for a client and noticed on a web hosting company's website that they are "the leader in web hosting." Wow, that is a pretty bold claim. So, I decided to do a little research to see if it was true. I performed a simple Google search on the term "leader in web hosting." Some things I noticed right off.
  1. There are a lot of web hosting leaders. (2,310 hits on my search)
  2. The company that boasted the claim wasn't number one.
  3. Appearently there are different classifications (Global, World, World-Wide, The, etc)
  4. There appears to be no controlling authority on who is actually the "leader in web hosting."
  5. They all seem to provide the same services.
Just saying you are a leader doesn't make it so. Providing the same product and services definitely show that you are not a leader. Oh... and the site that I was looking at... I had to log in to configure my client's account and had to call tech support to figure it out. Doesn't sound like a leader to me.
Corey Smith is a co-founder of Resumango where you can build a better resume for free. 

Results not typical

Submitted by Corey Smith on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 07:53
With January comes the resolution to lose weight. Of course, the weight loss centers, gyms and "nutrition" experts all know this. So, with January also comes the onslaught of advertisements... not to help you reach your goal, but to help lighten your wallet. It just brings to light another advertising problem.

NutriSystems - Results not Typical

When you advertise based on atypical results, what are the expectations that you set with your customers. What happens when you fail to meet those expectations... since you will?
Corey Smith is a co-founder of Resumango where you can build a better resume for free. 

Time is running out!

Submitted by Corey Smith on Mon, 01/21/2008 - 09:06

Okay... sometimes this helps people to move a little faster. But, if the time limit is too long, how can it possibly help?

Hilton - Time is Running Out

Corey Smith is a co-founder of Resumango where you can build a better resume for free. 

Know when to walk away

Submitted by Corey Smith on Fri, 01/18/2008 - 10:41
I was watching the Celebrity Apprentice last night. (I don't think the Trump has much more of this show left). This is what I find interesting. One of the contestants is Omarosa from Season One.

Omarosa

First thought... what is a "reality star?" Second thought... if you constantly appear on reality shows, is it reality? Third thought... haven't you just taken your 15 minutes a bit too far if this is your profession? How does this apply to business? How often do you try to squeeze every bit of life out of your outdated product or service? How often do you think that your old product is so cool that you just keep trying to push it? Refresh your products. Refresh your services. Refresh your marketing approach. Then you can maintain your image and reputation as something more than a has-been.
Corey Smith is a co-founder of Resumango where you can build a better resume for free. 

Pay for performance

Submitted by Corey Smith on Thu, 01/17/2008 - 19:01
In Idaho right now, there is a lot of talk about teachers being paid for their performance. More success equals greater income. Fundamentally, I agree with this because in business, like in life, the greater the performance, the greater the pay. I don't get more money for what I do because I have been doing it for so long. I don't get more money because of some union negotiation. I get more because I work harder and smarter. So, what is the proof? I was watching TV tonight and there was a teaser for the news that is going to discuss this topic tonight. So, they want to show what the reaction of teachers is. But, that is not what the text of the teaser says.

Teacher’s Reactions

If the news can't get the grammar right on a teaser about teachers, then we really need to look at docking the pay of teachers who don't perform and increase the pay of those that do. I know, I am opening myself up to a lot of criticism because of my poor spelling and grammar, but I don't claim to know better... fire away if you want.
Corey Smith is a co-founder of Resumango where you can build a better resume for free. 
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