Michael Surkan - Optimistic Bear

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In this episode of “Tales from the job search trenches”, Kevin Kermes explains that today’s challenging employment market requires a different approach by job seekers. Candidates need to find activities which allow them to both demonstrate their skills, learn, and network at the same time. Offering free advice, and help, to companies you are interested in working for can build those relationships you will need to get your job. Don’t just send a resume asking for a job, tell people how you are going to help them.

Check http://www.kevinkermes.com/ezinesignup/ for more of Kevin’s ideas on how to build a successful job search strategy.

NOTE: Please contact Michael if you are interested in being a guest on “Tales from the job search trenches” podcasts. Michael would like to discuss your job search strategy, and brainstorm ways to improve it with you.

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In this episode of “Tales from the job search trenches”, Mark Hovind explains that 6 figure executives approach job searches in a very different way from the average job seeker. They pay good money to market themselves. Networking is certainly a good tool, but it has its limitations, and highly compensated individuals understand the need to run marketing campaigns. In particular, Mark has seen that mass mailings by post can bear real results in small to mid-sized organizations, which don’t typically post their openings on public job boards.

Check out http://www.jobbait.com/ for information on how job-seekers can hire a service to market them, or see the free information on how to do-it-yourself.

NOTE: Please contact Michael if you are interested in being a guest on “Tales from the job search trenches” podcasts. Michael would like to discuss your job search strategy, and brainstorm ways to improve it with you.

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In this episode of “Tales from the job search trenches”, Christian Buckley talks about how job candidates have to stay busy, doing projects, and work, to keep them mentally fit, and in an optimistic mood, even if that next great role is taking a while to appear. After departing from Microsoft, it took Christian nearly 6 months to find his new position, and this was with a company who had talked with, and kept meeting with, from his first days as a job seeker. His efforts of providing free consulting, and help with clients, with his new employer eventually landed him the job he was after. Candidates need to be patient, and willing to give their time and expertise freely.

Check out http://buckleyplanet.typepad.com/ for more information on Christian’s journey in the job search world, and his happy ending with a new employer.

NOTE: Please contact Michael if you are interested in being a guest on “Tales from the job search trenches” podcasts. Michael would like to discuss your job search strategy, and brainstorm ways to improve it with you.

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In this episode of “Entrepreneurs Northwest” Rob Mathewson explains how Geedra (his latest startup) has been turning heads with plans to simplify job site photo management for the construction industry. Instead of just blindly dumping pictures into dumb folders, or requiring extensive efforts in naming, Geedra automatically generates meta tagging and associates pictures with the relevant parts of blueprints. Geedra has been a finalist in Seattle area startup competitions, for best business plans, and already has letters of intent from customers. All Rob needs now is to close on angel funding to complete development.

Check out http://www.geedra.com/ for help managing photos.

NOTE: Check out the complete podcast directory of discussions with entrepreneurs. If you would like to be a guest on Entrepreneurs Northwest, to talk about your business venture, contact Michael Surkan.

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In this episode of “Entrepreneurs Northwest” Bob Scheier explains how entrepreneurs can learn a lot from curmudgeonly reporters. He can’t begin to count the number of product pitches he heard in his years as a tech reporter that made his eyes glaze over. If you can’t articulate what is new, or uniquely compelling, about your product to a reporter, then you likely won’t have much luck making headway with customers.

Check out http://scheierassociates.com/ for more of Bob’s thoughts on marketing and PR.

NOTE: Check out the complete podcast directory of discussions with entrepreneurs. If you would like to be a guest on Entrepreneurs Northwest, to talk about your business venture, contact Michael Surkan.

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In this episode of “Entrepreneurs Northwest” Chris Early explains how the Founder Institute can be a great resource for aspiring tech entrepreneurs to learn from others who have built successful businesses of their own, as well as network with other attendees. A unique equity sharing system for all attendees, giving everyone a stake in their respective ventures, fosters a great spirit of cooperation that lives on. Chris also talks about the discipline, and approach to innovation he learned at Microsoft, and believes there are plenty of ways that nimble startups can compete with with the giant.

Check out the Founder Institute at http://www.founderinstitute.com/. They offer courses in several cities including Seattle.

NOTE: Check out the complete podcast directory of discussions with entrepreneurs. If you would like to be a guest on Entrepreneurs Northwest, to talk about your business venture, contact Michael Surkan.

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In this episode of “Entrepreneurs Northwest” Neicole Crepeau explains that Twitter can be an effective marketing tool for small businesses but that it takes persistence. It doesn’t make sense for businesses to engage in one to one conversations on Twitter, but they do need to be consistently broadcast useful information throughout the week. She suggests that businesses use tools that allow them to write all their weekly tweets at the same time and schedule the broadcasts throughout the week.

Check out http://nmc.itdevworks.com/ for more of Nicole’s thoughts on Twitter and web marketing.

NOTE: Check out the complete podcast directory of discussions with entrepreneurs. If you would like to be a guest on Entrepreneurs Northwest, to talk about your business venture, contact Michael Surkan.

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In this episode of “Entrepreneurs Northwest” Sam Beamond explains how to create a winning search optimization (SEO) strategy that ensures your web sites are number one on search engines. Web sites should be built from the ground up with SEO in mind. Usability and the quality of content are also critical components in ensuring your web site does well in searches. Other internet marketing venues, like blogging and social networking, may appeared over the years, but SEO is still the corner stone of any web marketing effort.

Check out http://www.beamondcreative.com/ for more ideas about web marketing, and to contact Sam.

NOTE: Check out the complete podcast directory of discussions with entrepreneurs. If you would like to be a guest on Entrepreneurs Northwest, to talk about your business venture, contact Michael Surkan.

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In this episode of “Entrepreneurs Northwest” Bryan Cox explains how his experience in the entertainment industry has taught him a lot about entrepreneurship and marketing. The new world of Internet Radio is hungry for content, and on-line resources make it easy for entrepreneurs to issue press releases and volunteer to help jouralists as experts. With a combination of press releases and direct e-mailing to internet radio shows, Bryan has been able to build an audience of 500,000 for his most recent commedy sketch. Tune in to hear Bryan explain how any entrepreneur can publicize themselves, and their products.

Bryan also put his expertise with Radio to work by producing the great new introduction piece you will hear on the Entrepreneurs Northwest show.

Check out http://www.coxmarketing.ca to get in touch with Bryan, and get links to all the resources we discussed in the podcast.

NOTE: Check out the complete podcast directory of discussions with entrepreneurs. If you would like to be a guest on Entrepreneurs Northwest, to talk about your business venture, contact Michael Surkan.

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