Job Hunting-Week 6

First day of Snow! This is another post that will be posted after the fact. I am very conscious of being 'unemployed' but the fact is there are a lot of people out in the market in the same situation. A lot of talented executives looking for work. As scary as the economy is right now I am pleasantly surprised with the level of activity I am seeing in my search. I looked back at the first post and all of those opportunities are still alive with the exception of the one I was expecting an offer on. It goes to show you that no matter how confident you are the key is to not let up on the networking until you have an offer in hand. One person said to keep going strong until the first pay check is in your bank.....I am realist but I will be satisfied once an offer is made and accepted (in writing).

Here is my current list of active companies:
1: Sr. Dir of CRM/Loyalty. This is now my number one opportunity. I have met with HR, Recruiter and Hiring Mgr. All solid. References have been sent and I am waiting to meet with the CEO.
2: Category directory. Still active. Met with hiring mngr and waiting for feedback. Could be a good opportunity but the culture is a bit off
3: Dir of Mtk. Another educational company. This would be a great opportunity but very unstable. I would definitely need an exit package before going
4. Dir of Loyalty Banking company. Meeting with the bosses boss next week. Not interested as the commute would be hell (40+miles each way)
5. Dir of digital Mtk This is a new one that just surfaced today. I am being introduced to the hiring mgr by the recruiter. This is a solid opportunity and #2 on my list
6. I continue to log some time consulting for a loyalty company in St. Paul. This could be a great fit but there is not a full time offer
7. Just spoke with a former colleague who is now the CEO of a SaaS company that is back in the hospitality space. These guys are doing it right but I have little interest in going back to the hotel software space......but it is an option.

Then I have three agencies I am talking to. All three are in a wait and see mode.
8. Agency 1 (Plymouth)
9. Agency 2 (downtown)
10. Agency 3 (downtown)

Bottom line in week 6. I am still in a great mood. The fact that I do not have any more income coming is a concern but I am confident that something will surface. It has to. To have 10 legitimate opportunities going is good. I would just to hate to see "Job Hunting- Week 10 because that means that nothing has come to fruition.

Plus I am getting sick to death of the coffee office. Although I prefer Dunn's coffee I have to say that Caribou's free wireless beats the hell out of having to log into the Starbucks ATT system. Need to prepare for my next call....#11. I won't add this to the list yet as it is for a job "near St. Cloud". Talk about a lengthy commute. Hopefully that will not be necessary but as I wrote early....never give up until an offer is in hand.

Blog Management

I decided to modify my blogging efforts and try to keep some 'theme' consistent for each blog. So I have now migrated my fire related training to a new blog called www.2in2out.blogspot.com

This blog will continue to focus more on my professional business life and my adventure racing will still be on www.tmmar.blogspot.com

Holiday Inn

I started the following blog a few days ago after seeing this new commercial by Holiday Inn. I was interrupted by false alarm fire call (a story for another day) and I am finally getting back to finishing it.

Awareness. Retention. Acquisition. Trial. Loyalty. Repeat. Engagement.
These are key terms I think about when I am 'thinking' about how drive more revenue. Any good marketer is looking for a strategy that can be measured. It might be as simple as reservations or units sold or more complex like a percentage increase in click through’s on a specific site over a defined period of time. This commercial is funny. It is very creative. And yes it is even getting me to write about. But is going to drive more revenue? Will it encourage a frequent traveler to ask....maybe I should stay at a Holiday Inn? Will remind a family that Holiday Inn provides accommodations? Will it encourage someone to take a trip that would never be taken before? Upgrade to a more expensive room? Order a movie? Anything incremental?



I am all for entertainment. Even at the expense of marketing and advertising dollars....but what value is being driven?

One Cool Video

The CMO at BestBuy posted a link to this video on Twitter. I am glad he did as it really made me smile today.


Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Great Post on Blogging

I picked up this post on Twitter from Desarev . Great overview on blogging.

Response to the question about customer loyalty vs loyal customers

David Gandrud: Good question. Customer Loyalty is not a result of a good marketing strategy or even a well planned rewards program. Customer loyalty is the byproduct of providing an exceptional service or product that, at a minimum, meets the needs of the customer and at a price point and convenience factor that places your product/service in the mindset that drives repeat business above and beyond other solutions or competition. Loyalty Marketing is the strategy that is used in a heavily commoditized space or one with significant competition and minimal differentiation. This strategy is used create a point of difference that says, all things being equal, I might as well get rewarded for my behavior.

See posting on Linkedin.

Job Hunting - - Week Two

I am writing this blog with the intention of posting after I have firmly landed on the ground with a new job. I am officially one week into my official transition from SoftBrands and I have three more weeks of being on the payroll.

Over the last two weeks I have spent nearly every business day meeting with at least one or two individuals...building the network. This week the 'opportunities' have seem to come fast. As it stands now I am interviewing for the following:

Company "A"--Publisher, Director of Marketing. This is a solid opportunity and one that I think I will get an offer on. I am currently one of two remaining candidates.

Company "B" -- Category Director. This opportunity came about from an inside contact who was able to get me in front of the recruiter after they had conducted the first rounds of interviews. Feels good but there are a lot of candidates.

Company "C" -- Consultant and Full time. This came about from a placement agency. This is one of those large, institutional companies that is low on my list of "ideal" situations. But an opportunity (two) none the less

Agency "D" -- just met up with this one today. Had not expectation that they were even looking but it appears they might be and it could be a great opportunity. Excellent culture. Great people.

Company "E" -- This one just surfaced as well today. Another institutional company that is low on my radar screen.

Agency "F" -- This one actually started in mid-September. This one is a Q1 opportunity that still needs a requisite.

As 'good' as this seems I am still a pessimistic realist when it comes to my own doings. I plan for the worst......even though I know I am doing everything I can.