Welcome to Lessons of the Hunt – strategies for your job hunt. Finding a new job is rarely easy; in a tough economy it’s downright painful. Nonetheless, job hunters will find and win new positions. Your search, however, can be made easier if you understand and apply the “Lessons of the Hunt”.

Tim McMahon is the bestselling author of four books on personal and business success. His articles and commentary have appeared in hundreds of leading magazines including Fortune and Forbes and he has appeared on CNN and CNBC International.

Lessons of the Hunt Job Searching in a Tough Economy Original photography shot in Kenya and Indonesia – by tim mcmahon Job

Hi, I’m Tim McMahon. In my career of over 25 years I’ve hired hundreds of people and helped thousands more find the job they want. As a national “headhunter” I set records for numbers of successful job searches. And as a professional speaker, I’ve advised leading corporations around the globe on how to best recruit and retain exceptional performers. Bottom line, I know how to impress a prospective employer and get a job offer. It’s not rocket science but there are rules to be followed – use them and your chances go up dramatically; ignore them and you may miss the opportunity of a lifetime. Here are my Five “Lessons of the Hunt” – and best of luck in your job search!

It’s not easy being a cub! You’re the new kid, the one they don’t know yet, the one who wants a job in their company. It’s not easy and you’re going to have to convince them you deserve a place in the employment jungle …

It’s a madhouse out there … It’s crazy out there. For every job there could be fifty or more applicants and a lot of them are determined to win. It’s going to be survival of the fittest and you need to give yourself every possible advantage!

Dog eat dog? Yeah, it can be tough but remember that someone is going to get the job you want … and it likely won’t be because they were more qualified! Companies hire the people they want to hire and there’s no reason that can’t be you!

The Lessons of the Hunt! 5 Here in the Job Search Jungle there are Rules for a Successful Hunt … and the “big cats” who not just survive but thrive follow them religiously and for good reason: they work!

The 1st Lesson: All cubs are equal … it’s about showing potential An employer wants the person who will do the best job. They’re looking for the highest POTENTIAL! Experience and education are indicators but not guarantees. Plan to convince them that you have the highest Potential for Success!

The 2nd Lesson: You can’t make it alone! Most jobs get filled because someone knew someone who knew someone who worked at … Networking is the great secret of the Job Hunt. The more contacts you have – the bigger your herd – the greater the chances of success…

The 3rd Lesson: If you don’t believe in yourself , don’t expect anyone else to… Employers hire people who appear confident and believe they can master the challenges of the new job. No one will take a risk on someone who is unsure when they know they can find someone with confidence!

The 4th Lesson: Being Liked goes a long way! People buy from people they like. People hire people they like. People rarely if ever hire someone they don’t like! Making the effort to be friendly, be interested, ask questions, listen well, dress nicely, say thanks, and follow up all contribute to being liked!

The 5th Lesson: Run Hard, Run Fast! It’s You or Them! Determination wins jobs. The person who an employer sees works hardest to win a job is likely the person who will also work hardest on the job. How will you outrun your competitors today?

The “SECRET” of Interview Success … “yes, no, & maybe” There is nothing uncertain about a Lion … no shades of gray, no “maybe he’ll do what lions do”. You always pretty much know where you stand with a lion … and that’s generally a good thing! There are only 3 answers to any interview question and one of them is a guaranteed “deal killer”.

The Rules of the Hunt … DEMONSTRATE YOUR POTENTIAL NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF WORK TO BE LIKED! RUN HARDEST AND FASTEST

Jambo!