25 Jun 07 Ron Hittle inspired me with one sentence

“To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground.” – Stephen R. Covey, via QuotesBlog

I met Ron Hittle about 3-1/2 years ago at a career workshop at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. I remember that it was an encouraging and inspiring time for me, since I was really struggling for direction in my career. The encounter and events since then have showed me how powerful connecting with one person can positively affect another.

That year I also met a recruiter in the Dayton area, and we’ve exchanged e-mails and phone conversations over the past three years or so, having become part of each other’s professional network.

She mentioned early on that I must have met Ron Hittle.

“How did you know that?” I asked.

“From then ending of your voicemail message,” she replied. “I do that, too.”

Imitation, it’s been said, is the sincerest form of flattery. This recruiter and I at different times had adopted Ron’s way of closing a message as our own.

It’s a little bittersweet that I share all of this, because a few moments ago, she called me to say that Ron Hittle passed away this weekend. He’d retired some time ago and had been dealing with some health issues, but it still came suddenly. My thoughts and prayers go up to the family, as well as those who knew Ron well. He will surely be missed.

As I mentioned, I didn’t know Ron that well, but he left a lasting impression on me just from one statement from his voicemail message, because it points to my own ability to do something about my life versus letting something happen.

If you’ve received an email from me or have heard me sign off on my mostly music podcast, you probably already know what I’m about to say.

Most people I know usually end a conversation by saying, “Have a great day!”

Ron Hittle would say, “Make it a great day!”

Thanks, Ron. I think I will.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development daniel+johnson+jr ron+hittle sinclair+community+college

Find information on Diversity recruiting at DiversityJobs.com.

20 Jun 07 Edvisors/Student Loan Network Hiring Developers (video)

Christopher Penn, the Chief Technology Officer at Edvisors and the Student Loan Network in the Boston area, just put out a Jobcast, stating that they are looking to hire some developers. Find the job details at www.Edvisors.com/jobs, but also check out this video to see what might be in it for you:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZJW2Cb6aJs]

Christopher also hosts and produces the Financial Aid Podcast, which you should definitely check out. Here’s a tip that might help you rise to the top of the pile of applicants: why not record a response to the video, post it on YouTube, and send Christopher a link to it?

Please let me know how this goes for you. I love sharing success stories here at Get That Job!

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search video boston edvisors student+loan+network developer+jobs

Find Diversity employment at DiversityJobs.com.

30 May 07 Run a background check on yourself

Clark Howard, syndicated columnist, radio show host, and consumer warrior, provides resources for running a background check on yourself so that you can see what prospective employers and college admissions officers might find out about you. You may have seen this information in the Wall Street Journal.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice background+check employment+screening clark+howard

17 Feb 07 Job-hunting success story – right out of college

I am very proud of how I landed my first job out of college. I had spent lots of time at the library, researching the hidden job market and looking for leads. I had posted a resume at the University of Cincinnati’s Career Development and Placement office, and I guess they made a database available to recruiters.

My sister had recommended a book entitled “300 New Ways to Get a Better Job”, and, for the life of me right now, I cannot remember the author’s name. Nevertheless, I found that very useful.

One summer day in 1994, Mark, the Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager for a company that manufactured decorative items for homes, called me. What was meant as an initial screening call turned into a full-fledged telephone interview. When I hung up, I had made an appointment for an in-person interview. Not having a car of my own, I was able to borrow a friend’s. I spent the next days before the interview at the library, researching all I could on the company.

At the interview my enthusiasm for the position as an Environmental Engineer was strengthened, especially as I convinced Mark to take me on a quick tour of the plant. I made sure to share some of the information I had found from my own research, which seemed to impress Mark and Jim, the HR Manager who also attended the interview. At the end of the interview, I asked what more I could do to qualify for the job, conveying my strong interest.

Immediately when I returned home, I typed up a thank you note to both Mark and the HR Manager who also interviewed me. Then I both faxed and mailed it.

Within a week Mark called me to offer me the job. I accepted it and wound up moving an hour north to Dayton, Ohio, where I lived for ten years.

Do you have a job-hunting success story you’d like to share? Please send it to me at danieljohnsonjr [at] gmail [dot] com.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search success+stories daniel+johnson+jr