Odd things that help get me a job offer by Tony Green

Author 's Note: This article was intentionally intended to be posted in an article website. Since I have not decided what would be the most appropriate site for now I will post it here on my blog.

Image of frogs - who will stand out 

I was thinking back over the years when I have been in between positions looking for employment.  I am sure you know, there are typical ways in which unemployed people find work. Among them are using the Internet job boards and plain old fashioned face to face networking. However, on occasions I have used other methods than these to land myself job offers.

I was interviewing for employment with a software company who worked in the defense space. Normally when I conduct research ahead of a job interview I pound the Internet to see what I can find out. Most people search the first few pages of search engine results. In this case, I checked the results all the way to Page 30. Interestingly enough some M.B.A. students at the Monterrey Naval post graduate school had written a business plan on the company as part of their requirements to receive their degrees. I printed out 120 page document and crammed as much as my memory would allow beforehand.

The interview unfolded and from the puzzled looks of the interviewers clearly, I knew some details I should not have since some of what I read on line happed to be confidential. I finally confessed to where I had obtained the information. Sometimes, digging a little deeper than the normal person does have its benefits.  For the record, I did receive an offer for the job; however, I did not take since I chose not to relocate to where the position was eventually offered.

I recall another instance where I had finished my second interview for a position I had applied for and another candidate and I were the last two in the running. Our prospective employer was planning to offer the job to one of us.

I maintain a personal blog on the Internet in my spare time and I try to complete postings a few times a month. My blog is designed to document my thoughts and feelings in my own words. The people who had interviewed me came across the blog and after reading a few entries walked away with a favorable impression.

If you get to choose what is out on the public domain why not make sure your postings reflects you in the most positive light possible? In the end, I accepted this position as soon as it was offered.

I recall one browsing the various presentations one evening on slideshare.org. On occasion, PowerPoints are available which are useful in preparing for job interviews. I stumbled across a presentation a woman looking got a marketing job had submitted as part of her application. The document described her professional and personal life in way that, at least for me, allowed a much better feel of her background more than a resume or VC would allow. I decided to use it as a model for a template detailing my career and the knowledge which had been obtained as its various stops with snippets of my personality mixed in. After the second interview I sent the presentation to my employer as I understood he would be making his choice and anything I could do to influence his decision was fair game. I did receive the offer. To be honest, I am not sure if what I sent swayed him or not. The professional presentation about your career is still is useful tool to keep in your professional toolbox to be ready if ever needed in the future.

        In closing, I cannot guarantee any of these tactics will work for you in regards to seeking employment, however, but it never hurts to try.

We do not forget but we still do not know why by Tony Green

I spent much of the evening on the 11th anniversary of 9/11 watching the History Channel’s programming about the people of New York City who witnessed the worst terrorist attack in American history up close and personal.

I remember vividly listening to a voice message left by my mother who at the time lived close enough to the Pentagon to smell the smoke from the fire caused by United Airlines Flight 77. I will always be able to recall the sound of fear in her voice.

Image of Manhattan Skyline

I do not think any of us will forget what they were doing or where they were at the moment we found out the Twin Towers had collapsed. I was at the Alameda County courthouse in Oakland attending jury duty. After some reflection I wish I had a better understanding of why the hijackings took place. From most biographical accounts the hijackers were educated and articulate young men who instead of living their days and nights to the fullest chose to sacrifice their lives along with many innocent bystanders.

The best idea I can think is I know radical Islams are upset at U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, particularly Palestine, and its support of Israel.  In short, the aggressive policy has placed the interests of the U.S. government and its allies ahead of the well-being of the people residing in the Middle East. This, in turn, resulted in many Palestinians living very difficult existences to which these radicals blame the United States.

In light of the successful mission by the Obama administration and Seal Team 6 in particular to kill Osama Bin Laden and the military’s effort to dismantle Al Quida as a terrorist organization I still wonder, as many American might be asking themselves, when are the next group of young men are going to concoct a plan designed at injure and kill as many Americans as possible?

Until a definitive answer as to why the attacks were planned and its corresponding solution it will only be a matter of time before this happens again.  Eight years have passed between the bombing on the World Trade Center in 1993 and the 9/11 attacks. Since that fateful September day 11 years ago I cannot help but to wonder are there people making plans for additional attacks as we speak?