You know, applying for the full-time gigs on the LinkedIns really is a bit of a game. I guess it's really not that different than how it used to be, whenever that used to be, was. Truthfully though, even after well over a year, I'm not convinced there is an appropriate way to conduct a search here; playing a game while the rules are being written, a worthwhile challenge none-the-less.

I've tried four approaches which can be divided into two categories… The thoughtful, contextually relevant approach which can be subdivided into the "laboriously personal" and "insertionally relational" hardcore cover letter tactics; AND then, scatter-shot approach which takes on two easy-breezy forms… blasting out the not so cleverly crafted formulaic cover-note and the, eh, what the heck, you get NO note at all click, click send methods.

Now… Always know your market.

I do know that 90% of the applications I submit are headed directly to the assistant to the the intern whose job it is to sort through all this before passing them along to the person responsible for making sure the hiring manager has the time they need to do their job today… The HR person or… (hey there HR person, thought I'd take this moment to say, I love you; oh and you there, hiring manager, been there, I know your pain) ...I am well aware of the insta-vetting tactics required to sort through the pulp, rind and CV bombs tossed so freely by the CV tossers (such as myself). But, this is after all... social (content) and really, I make no excuses. AND… here's why.

Belabouring over a cover letter, speaking to each and every salient point in order as they appear on your three page job posting has indeed netted me some coveted traction; I've spent whole days crafting a response to describe how I understand the needs as expressed, have the experience and skill-set to contribute AND… allude to that extra special something that may be of value and up for further discussion.

Results: 3% success, 97%... in the can they go!
(obviously these results are skewed by my inability to spell and my lack of understanding of basic english grammar; two requirements they always forget to post on these damned job postings.)

Now, firing out 10, 20, 30 (I think my record is 50) one, two, three liners + my oh so cleverly canned intro to myself, in a day. You know... this gets results as well, honestly way more than 3% when the intended result is simply… a response.

And… it is this response we're after after all… response is engagement, engagement is traction and you're a lot easier to catch up to when you're sliding away from me on a sand-papered floor.

Now, I'm not talking about those responses that include "given the number of applicants we will likely…" (be pitching your application into an armageddon sized bucket of flaming red hot burning coals). I'm talking about, they "hey there now, you sound kinda interesting tell us a bit more about yourself" style responses... The response that get the preverbal foot in the door. The opportunity to reply further and seek that next response ...the opportunity to meet.

Really, all joking aside (for at least a split second). It's a tough game out here. There are thousands upon thousands of great things to be done for good people on behalf of great clients in search of good customers. There is a non-equal, over-in-abundance pile of bright and brilliantly talented folks to fill these thousand upon thousands of… jobs. So, that just makes this tough for everyone along the food chain… eh, I guess it's called work for a reason.

So I'll continue to fling my facts out in every and each of the ways I've described above; Trust me, I only apply for jobs I could envision myself doing, jobs for companies in which I could see myself contributing to in a positive fashion, but really… that I've sat and thought it through enough to spend an afternoon writing volumes proves no more or less my interest in the position I've submitted with a mere flick of the "send' button.

…and you'll never know how much I'd like to be there for you if you don't give me "traction" Furthermore, trust me, I know this traction is a precious possession, in short supply and, will you look what time it's become. TY

So, here's the little "in progress" mid-streamer update on this "wish it were more of a" side, be less of a shitty twitter'er - project.

"You got to get to 10,000 followers :)" 
-signed (txt'ed) from a trusted, supremely talented and accomplished business man; a mentor and life long friend of mine.

Anxiety? How could a number-junkie excel-addict not be anxious over… his number?

So, you see… regardless of how well intended we are in expressing this, "it's all about engagement", the importance, our K-redability et al appears to be established almost solely by, that damned NUMBER. It would seem even the brightest among us eventually easy-out and focus on that one damned NUMBER, how many? How many friends does he have; how many connections. How many likes has he collected, how many followers… It's the easy damned NUMBER, the number that's not all that easy to achieve now that billions are seeking it.

For sure… I could simply go out and buy 5, 10, 15… 30,000 Russians and simply to put a big fat (K=1,000 times X) in my followers count. It wouldn't even be cheating, might have an upside, but it would be completely counter to the spirit of my mantra, "it's simple, not easy". You see, I hold the word "simple" far too dearly to waste it trying to make something, easier. Slog-on and enjoy, the slog I say.

By way of a quick and dastardly, backhanded aside; funny how nature dictates the loudest of those touting "its all about the engagement" are those with the biggest NUMBERs...

The NUMBER vs. the ENGAGEMENTs

The stated objective of this little project being... push this channel until I reach 2,000 was set, more to establish a time line rather than to seek the NUMBER itself. SO yes, I'm driven to reach this number. Driven, primarily as I'd rather finish this off and focus on other things. How's it going? Well, it's going brilliantly actually; and here's why...

1) I've met the collolry objective of "dusting" off the tools in the old toolbox, and have given myself the good reason to explore new ones...

2) focussing on engagement in pursuit of the NUMBER has actually lead to near a dozen or so fair engagements and one true assignment; I'll nurture the former and pursue the latter with vigour 

3) eh… the number is going up, weee! (I am a number-junkie after all, and as such, I enjoy counting by ones as much as 5s, 10s and 100Ks)

...here are some additional spin-offs.… ON K-redibility. 

Funny how we're responding to Klout & Kred scores. These number are likely more important than, the count, the number itself - Yet we all publicly cringe at the mere mention of these scores, hide and/or hold them close. Is it modesty or is it simply we don't understand, trust or are just plain old ashamed of what we may have had to do to grow them? (More thinking on this K-redibility, is, in the works).

As a another spin-off benefit to this "it's not about the numbers" be less a shitty twitter'er project; my Klout and Kreds are going uppity-up. I guess that's only a good thing right. Maybe even more of a good thing when I'm actually allowed to wave 'em around, tattoo 'em on my resume and/or paste them to the footer of my "not a blog", site… whatever.

I am certainly suspicious of the weighting both these scoring tools, in so much as my K-redibility scores have gone UP while I've been focussing almost exclusively on Twitter,at the expense of being formerly far more active on Facebook and Linkedin (I need interns! and not just for typos, spelling and grammer). 

…and then, there are a few unexpected spin-offs by way of: Pinterest & Instagram (which, I'll get to later)

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This is just a mid-streamer… In the original post, I mentioned my hope in my having my ah-ha moment, haven't yet. I'm simply suspending my mis-beliefs again; diving back into where I shouldn't have slinked out of; holding my nose and taking on this Twittering with a little more vigour and a, let's call it a renewed, bight and shiny attitude. I've reminded myself of how it's to be used. Re-learning can be as rewarding as learning after all. That said, sure I'm dusting off the old tools, but… indeed I've found some new ones too.

…and there'll be a lot more about this and that when I finally hit that 1/5th fraction of the damned NUMBER (my good friend) wants to see at the wrap of this adventure. (10,000/5 = yup, 2,000)

AND so... (my friends): If the sheer volume of my posts are annoying you… simply, work your lists better (I know, its not easy).

Update: March 8th (International Women's Day)... I now find myself at that awkward moment where I cannot follow all those I would like as I need keep room for following those who choose to follow... No worries, I've put you on a list; I'll get to following you again once I break free of these Twitter limitations.