There’s an old saying that goes something like “there’s only one way to really get to know a person; either live with them, or work with them”.

Well there’s nothing like finding out the hard way is there?

And while as a job hunter we can never really “try before we buy” when it come to getting the low down on a new boss, it is now possible to gain some sort of idea.

eBossWatch is a new service that allows job hunters (only in the USA at the moment) to search for a prospective new boss on a database and for a small cost, receive an email report which offers a six point review, based on feedback received from past employees.

I recently wrote a review of this new job hunting tool over at my personal website disassociated.com if you are interested to read more about it.

A few weeks ago Sydney fashion designer Lang Leav invited me to the opening of her first solo exhibition at the Kinokuniya Gallery, located in The Galeries Victoria. Lang is well known for her design work, and the Akina fashion label which she created in 2005.

Her business card is almost like a small sample of her work, and I thought I would feature it in a short post.

It is a great example of how something like a business card, that is commonplace and usually taken for granted, can with a little imagination, still be functional and useful, while also making a statement at the same time.

I realise, by the way, that not everyone has the same artistic talent as Lang, so I’m not attempting to set any sort of benchmark here.

Still, as a promotional tool, I think there are a few tips and some inspiration, that can be drawn from her design concept, in much the same way as the letter box drop campaign I mentioned last month.

Since I have been writing about networking in the last few days I thought a mention of business cards was apt since they are a requisite part of most networking activities.

There are several features of Lang’s card that catch the eye at the same time, due to its unique design.

While most cards tend to have a landscape, or left to right, orientation, Lang’s is portrait, or top to bottom. This obviously suits its movie ticket style of design, which initially made me think it was actually a ticket of some sort, rather than a business card!

If you look closely at the above photo you will notice that perforations have been stamped into the card, which further add to the vintage style movie ticket feel.

All up it’s a novel and eye catching way to make an impression, and in a world that loves something that is a little different, and stands out in the crowd, a business card with some unique design elements, and theme, will certainly get people talking about you and your card.

As I say not everyone is a designer, and rather than using a self made logo or image on your cards, you could instead consider using a thumbnail of an unusual, or otherwise interesting photo of yours for example.

Lang’s cards make my relatively new business cards look very plain in comparison, and when the time comes to reorder I think I’ll be making a few changes to the design!

Elevator statements are usually the domain of marketers and small business owners, but with a little adaption can also prove useful for career changers as a self promotional and networking tool.

Far from being some sort of presentation you make to the occupants of a lift (though I could imagine one or two would be stand up comedians, or politicians, relishing such a captive audience), an elevator statement is in-fact a way of effectively conveying information quickly, and where time is short.

Such as the brief amount of time you are in an elevator.

Here’s how it works. You walk into a lift and another occupant nods at you, and you nod back. By the time you have reached your floor, they have introduced themselves and explained their company provides various training and motivational courses for small to medium size enterprises.

You marvel at how, in the space of what seems like ten seconds, you have the lowdown on the services offered by the business of a complete stranger whom you are sharing an elevator with!

In a way an elevator statement is like a small pitch for business, and in a competitive marketplace such a simple device could be all it takes to snare a deal.

Despite the name though, they can be used in any situation where an opportunity to mention your work, or business, arises and time is very short. This could be in the queue at a bank, a taxi rank, or a chance encounter with a former associate as you are hurrying along the street to an appointment.

And while being great for those in sales and marketing, the concept can also be used by career changers as a way of networking and generating job leads.

Now I’m not suggesting you devise a self promotional spiel and then start eyeballing everyone you meet in an elevator. Rather, what you can do is prepare a short statement outlining your career change ambitions, that can be dropped into everyday conversation.

And sometimes just the simple fact that you are looking for something new is going around the grapevine can be enough to bring opportunities your way.

So think of your “elevator statement” as being more of a way of networking and spreading the word, like a mini press release if you like, that summarises your career change intentions.

Now it’s time to get to work. What’s the best way to describe the sort of work you are looking for, while being descriptive and also concise? How much could you say in the space of 20 seconds? In ten seconds?

Time yourself, you’ll be surprised at just how much information you can convey in that sort of a time frame, if you think it through carefully.

Try this “elevator statement” as a starting point:

“I’m a photographer but have spent the last few months doing IT courses, as I would like to do some web development work going forward.”

You are not only clearly expressing your intentions to become a web developer, but also conveying your commitment by mentioning your studies. Now start telling people, anyone, family, friends, neighbours, whoever you come into contact with.

It may only take the single instance of a say a neighbour, to hear that a business colleague is looking for a web developer, to set things in motion!

Here’s a summary of the benefits of a career change elevator statement;

1. Not only are you creating an elevator statement for public consumption, you are also composing a personal “mission statement” of sorts, as it put your objectives, and the way you intend achieving them, in clear focus.

2. Getting word about your career change intentions around through interpersonal networks just may generate the job lead you are looking for. Remember personal recommendations are often highly regarded, we all like hearing a “good word” about something, or someone, from a person we know or trust.

3. Also, bear in mind that only a quarter to a third of jobs are ever advertised, meaning the rest are filled by other means. Having word going around the streets you are after work can therefore only be a good thing.

4. Crafting a personal elevator statement is relatively quick and simple, and there is really nothing to lose from having one, even if nothing comes of it.

As a quick follow up to yesterday’s article, Tips for fine tuning your CV, I thought I would point out a few examples of what a little creativity can do to spice up a resume.

While the CVs I have featured are mostly those of web or graphic designers, if you study them closely you may find one or two simple ideas you could apply to your own resume.

You don’t need any design expertise, or even the ability to produce graphics, but see if you can simply draw some inspiration from the layout of the information, or the way the headings are styled, for example.

• Michael Efford is Perth based a multimedia and graphic designer, and uses a combination of two font colours and a two column layout to produce a CV that is very simple, yet very striking.
• Lee Stephens an Australian web designer currently based in Europe, has an elegant, classically styled resume, which also features images of some of his work.
• Lily Feng is a New York based photographer and designer, whose CV is just one page in length! I know she’s only been working a couple of years, but this is a great example of how less is more.
• Adrian Redman also uses a two column layout. Notice how the spacing of the information and the truncated headings create a document that is eye catching without really trying to be.
• Tony Cormack uses a splash of colour to make his CV stand out in the crowd! Another example of a one page CV.

A CV that just stands out that little bit more could prove a valuable asset for career changers, especially if it catches the eye of the right person.

Think of it as being an attention creating gimmick that isn’t trying to be such!

Most mornings I can usually be found around to the local cafe looking for my daily coffee fix. I usually order takeaway, so I can drink it back here while reading emails and planning the day, but the other morning, just for a change, I decided to stay there and read the newspaper instead.

Two people arrived and sat down at the table next to me. In a nutshell Person A, as we shall call him, needed some advice from, shall we call him, Person B.

Person A explained his problem while Person B listened carefully. Without going into too much detail, Person A was having trouble with an employee. Person B, judging by his comments, sounded quite familiar with Person A’s sort of issue.

While Person A had done the right thing in seeking the counsel of someone with the expertise he required, he was unfortunately doing himself a disservice by NOT listening to a single word that Person B was saying.

Person A was almost instantly dismissing every suggestion and idea that Person B was offering. In fact Person A sometimes wasn’t even giving Person B time to finish his sentence before interrupting and saying, “no, that would never work”, or, “no, that couldn’t be done.”

It made me wonder why Person A had bothered asking for Person B’s advice in the first place. It was also, I thought, quite rude of him to waste Person B’s time like this.

Eventually Person B managed to prevail with his initial suggestion, but only because Person A had little choice to do so anyway, due to what employment laws say in regard to his situation.

It almost seems that if the law hadn’t have intervened, as it were, Person B would have completely wasted his time travelling out to the cafe to try and help Person A.

And out of this situation I could see a lesson for us all, including those of us changing careers.

If you’re seeking advice from someone, make sure you listen to them. If you’ve asked someone to give up their time to help you, at least have the courtesy to hear them out. Don’t go rejecting every last word, like Person A in the cafe, did.

Every idea, or suggestion, no matter how apparently outlandish or ridiculous it seems, should be taken on board and considered. Keep an open mind. One quite “extreme” idea may lead to another you consider a little more plausible.

Indeed let one idea lead to another. Consider radical ideas the beginning of the thought and problem solving process, rather than something to be dismissed.

Remember, the person you are asking may know you better than you think, and what they say may be of more value than you initially realise.

Here’s something we’ll be discussing in more depth later, but I thought I’d touch on the topic today since this little promotional gimmick from Sydney plumbing company, Chiswick Plumbing, arrived in my letter box this morning.

So let’s open it up and have a look. The “letter-box drop” essentially comes in two parts. First up there is a “cash back” offer if you use this particular company’s plumbing services.

While that is an enticement in itself, what for me makes this particular gimmick eye catching is the inclusion of a “lucky penny”. By the way, the term “gimmick” is used in its most positive connotation here.

The lucky penny is something that definitely makes this promotional campaign all the more unique, and most importantly, memorable.

And finally, that staple of all letter-box drop campaigns, the “fridge magnet”.

But what a simple, yet effective, way to make an impression! Out of all the fridge magnets that arrive in my letter box, vying for attention, this one wins it hands down!

To me this stresses the importance of self marketing and promotion, during the career change process, especially while searching for work in a new field. Particularly a field, or industry, where you have little or no experience.

If the proverb “first impressions last” holds true, promoting or marketing yourself in a unique and specialised manner may work wonders. Doing something that draws attention to yourself could very well tip the scales in your favour, and lead to the opportunity you are looking for.

In summary, don’t worry so much about who to impress, but rather how to impress.