Stalking the Job: On the Importance of Clarity

"Biggify the words and make it kinda sparkle? What?"

Hello again everyone, and welcome back to another edition of Stalking the Job. As per the title above, today I'd like to discuss the importance of clarity - and how the ongoing  use of clarity in communications can help to save time, grief, and possibly ones' own sanity in the workplace.

When taking on any task - whether in a freelance capacity on a project for a given client, or as part of an assignment in a salaried gig, the need for clarity cannot be underscored enough. Of course, not everyone you'll encounter in the working world will necessarily understand that need. And as annoying as this particular lack of insight can be, the best policy is (and always should be) to compensate for their poor communications skills by ratcheting up your own. No matter what your field of endeavour, clients, co-workers or department heads can - however inadvertently - serve to hamper, hinder or hamstring progress. Let's look at a few examples and anecdotes so that we can explore this idea of clear communications and how we can use clarity to make the world a better place for all.

Don't lose it!

"Grrrrrraaaaarrrgh! John no like meaningless critique!" 

Okay, so say you've been burning the candle at both ends creating a series of product labels for a new line of beverages. Your client has an unfortunate habit of contacting you by phone to relay feedback in a scattershot fashion, rather than relying on email (or even text messaging) to give concise, written critiques. Worse, he/she has difficulty describing exactly what they'd like changed or how they'd like it to be changed. The trick is to always keep your cool, to never let yourself give in to frustration, and to simply be as constructive, helpful and accommodating as humanly possible.

There have been times I have received feedback from a client that's been illegibly scrawled on the back of a paper napkin, photographed (badly) and sent to me as an email attachment. No kidding. Other times I have followed a series of revisions to the letter, only to receive client feedback running along the lines of "biggify the words and make it kinda sparkle", which apart from being non-specific is almost entirely without meaning - given that they could be talking about any number of different text elements within the full scope of the project-at-hand.

In the situation I just outlined, the only reasonable course of action to take is to confirm the nature of the direction or revisions that have been provided prior to committing to making those changes. And don't rely on a verbal exchange, either; collate their requests, asking for further/added details where necessary, and send them back as part of an email. After all, you're (presumably) not a psychic or a mind-reader, and as such - you're just as likely to go tilting at a metaphorical windmill as you are to achieving a (highly unlikely) slam-dunk!

Know your limits

"Assumption", as Eugene Lewis Fordsworthe once said, "is the mother of all mistakes" - and when confronted with assumption in the working world - it rarely ever pays to shrug it off, or to act as though it's of little or no consequence. There will be times that you will find yourself being called upon to fulfill requests that might appear to the person making the request to be relatively straightforward, but which you know full well to be unrealizable, especially when the turnaround times are almost non-existent. 

That sinking feeling? That's the weight of assumption.

A close friend working for an ad agency was once asked by an Accounts Manager (halfway through a Friday afternoon) whether she could add an animated, talking dog to speak the contents of an email blast he was planning to send by 4 o'clock that same afternoon. Her response was to (after laughing uproariously) say no - as there really was no way on Earth that she could have fulfilled his request in less than a couple of hours, and that it was an open question as to whether it would be possible to fulfill it at all. But rather than simply saying "no", she was able to detail exactly why she would not be able to fulfill his request. By clearly communicating the hard limits such a project would entail under an extraordinarily tight deadline, she did herself a tremendous favour: in future, the Accounts Manager in question would be nowhere near as likely to proceed from false assumption and would himself be more inclined to ask - in a timely fashion - what the logistics of such a project would be. And everybody concerned would be all the happier for it.

It's a two-way street

Of course, it's always worth bearing in mind that clear communications are - or certainly can be - a two-way street. Not everyone you'll find yourself working with will necessarily share your first language, and even if they do, it's unlikely that everyone you'll work with will necessarily possess language skills greater than or comparable to your own. In this respect, it's up to you to gauge a given situation and to govern yourself accordingly. 

Nobody enjoys feeling that they're being "talked down to", and while I, for example, might not think anything of using relatively uncommon terms or phrases in correspondence, I will (after having given due consideration to the people and personalities concerned) make a point of using language in as inclusive a way as possible. No matter the situation - clients, co-workers or department heads - we're all in this together. Clarity in communications can (and almost invariably, will) help to ensure the happiest possible outcome for the greatest number of people.

Clear communications make for a happier - not to mention a more productive - working environment. So be happy, people!

Thanks again, and until next time - this is John Currie, your faithful scribe - wishing you all the very best, whatever your employment situation may be.

Stalking the Job presents: Words of advice for would-be freelancers

 

"People often ask me if I have any words of advice for young people. Well, here are a
few simple admonitions for young and old..." - William S. Burroughs

1) If something sounds too good to be true, chances are it IS too good to be true.

One should always make a point of looking into the background of any potential client to see whether they're as good as their word. I have at times refused to listen to the angels of my better judgement (if only because I've found it all too easy to allow a bit of wishful thinking to get in the way of my common sense), and reaped an unfortunate whirlwind of disappointment. Simply put: it always pays to look beyond a big promise.

2) Get it in writing!

Written agreements - agreements that clearly spell out the goals or expectations of a project, one's specific role in a project, that set timetables and/or deadlines for project milestones and deliverables (as well as establishing a framework for client revisions) - can and will save both you and your client unwanted and unnecessary grief or misgivings should things ever go pear-shaped.

3) Know and set limits.

If a client approaches you with a "rush" project that needs! to be out! this time tomorrow! - Well... that's a very real situation that can crop up from time to time, and if it can be managed, it's usually fine - but: it's important to underscore for your client that this must be considered an extraordinary circumstance, and most importantly that in future, new business should (or must) be discussed and arranged in a timely manner. In rushed situations, when one finds oneself in the position of having to "burn the midnight oil" on a project, missteps and mistakes can creep in no matter how diligent one can be. I've found the best policy is to (whenever possible) establish and stick to set "hours of operation", like you'd reasonably expect of any business - which is what you are, really: a business.

4) Don't make promises that YOU can't keep.

There will be times that a client may ask you to step outside your own skill set - say perhaps to design a print-ready brochure (after having completed work on their promotional video), or to model/animate/render a 3D corporate mascot (after having designing their business cards & letterhead). This sort of thing can and does arise, particularly when a given client hasn't quite wrapped their head around the fact that you're not necessarily a one-stop shop for all their various graphics needs. The question you need to ask yourself is, "can I realistically deliver on a project when I have a less-than professional knowledge of the software required?". If the answer if yes, well you can always give it a go. Who knows, you might discover you've got a knack for it. If the answer is no, then the thing to do is to politely bow out. And should you feel that this is a skill you'd do well to possess in future, then move to acquire that skill. Agreeing to operate outside your professional comfort zone is done at your peril as well as that of your client.

5) Network.

Yes, this is something we all hear about on a near-constant basis, but it is true: it really is a good  idea to keep abreast of what others are doing, whether by joining online groups and associations dedicated to your chosen field of endeavour, keeping in touch with past colleagues or even attending a backyard barbeque or two. There's no hard or fast rules as to how or where you might find yourself learning of potential opportunities or making solid connections. Just keep your eyes (and ears) open, remember to bring a few business cards with you wherever you go, and be ready to talk shop - or to pitch yourself in a confident, casual manner. You never know who you're likely to meet.


6) Grow your skills.

I'll refer back to point number 4 on this one. You might be the best at what you do, but what's the guarantee there'll be an ongoing demand for your particular skill set? The best way to circumvent a slow spiral into irrelevancy is to move with the times and expand the arsenal of professional know-how. This might be a question of going back to school for a semester, or a short, in-depth course of study; it might be as simple as availing yourself of online webinars and/or tutorials. Whatever the case, you're hardly going to hobble yourself by growing your skills. So get cracking!


7) Respect yourself. 

Whether you're freelancing by choice... or you're simply trying to maintain a liveable income stream between salaried gigs, there will always be bad patches. Quiet times. A lack of paid projects. However you choose to characterize these moments, it can be all too easy to find oneself easing slowly into despair. Anxiety. Depression. Anger. Self-pity. Self-loathing. Hard as it may be, you've got to stop doing that to yourself. Stop beating yourself up - respect yourself! And part of respecting yourself is making sure you're not selling yourself short. Not allowing others to take advantage of you in business. Not allowing circumstance (however unpleasant it may be at times) to dictate your outlook upon the world and upon yourself. Remember, you're not in this alone - you may have family or friends depending on you. You may have a mortgage to keep on top of, student loans to repay, a much-needed new computer to purchase. Heavy responsibilities, all. But the key to coping with these responsibilities is to bear in mind that you are a valuable human being, worthy of the respect and the admiration of others. And draw strength from those friends and family... feeling the need for love and support is not a sign of inherent weakness. It's altogether human.

8) Don't forget to take time to smell the roses.

In some ways this relates directly to point number seven. You're a freelancer... not a Borg drone, a design algorithm or someone's Genie in a bottle. I strongly suggest (even to those professionals most dedicated to their craft) that it is both relevant and necessary to ones' career to cultivate interests that lie outside the pervue of that career. For example, I have come to enjoy gardening. There is a palpable sense of satisfaction that I feel when I tend my garden, or when harvesting fresh vegetables for the dinner table. Part of my garden is given over to flowering plants; many is the time I've found myself watching with wonder the innumerable varieties of pollinating insects coming to pay visits to my stands of lavender, hyssop and joe-pye weed. It's relaxing, pleasant and it's life-affirming. What I'm trying to get at is that there really is more to life than the artful arrangement of 1s and 0s on a computer screen - and that you do yourself a disservice by tuning out the world in which you (or I, or anyone you know and/or care about) live.

Kicking the traces: the (semi-triumphant) return of Stalking The Job

It's all a question of balance.

Hello again, world-at-large. It's been some time (well over a year) since last this blog was active. And it's been quite a year! I intend to detail some of what's happened to your faithful scribe over the weeks and months to come, but for now I simply wish to tip my hat to those of you who took the time to read along with last year's (admittedly, somewhat outlandish) campaign to both raise my visibility in the Toronto area and to interface directly with those rarefied few who find themselves in a position to recognize personal initiative, self-motivation and the discipline necessary to pursue and realize creative solutions to challenging circumstance.

I'll look forward to adding further updates, tips, words of advice, and true tales of the trials & tribulations of getting ahead - or at least, of keeping ones' head above water - in tricky economic times.

Stalking the Job presents: The Tenth Labour of That QR Code Guy

The lighter side of Social Media

This day in #HarperHistory

Greetings, friends & neighbours - your faithful scribe has of late been extending his reach (and that of Stalking the Job) further into the realm of Social Media, shoring up his formerly-minimal presence on FaceBook and forging a brand-new Board on Pinterest. But a funny thing happened late last night, by way of checking my Twitter feed: #HarperHistory. 

Now, bearing in mind that this StJ is most decidedly not a political blog by nature, I'm not about to get into any mudslinging or finger-pointing (that's what Parliament is for, after all), but I'll be honest - I was in stitches while reading the spontaneous outpouring of humorous tweets from Canadians across the nation. To understand why this hashtag got started in the first place, you'd have to go back to yesterday's Question Period on Parliament Hill... in an exchange over Canada's current mission in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Stephen Harper accused the NDP of having been insufficiently opposed to Adolf Hitler in 1939 (but unfortunately for Mr. Harper, the NDP did not actually come into being until 1961, some sixteen years after the conclusion of the Second World War).

Soon thereafter, and continuing well into the night and onto the next day, people on Twitter began posting a raft of sarcastic tweets claiming morally & ethically questionable stances on the part of the NDP throughout human history (and in some cases, works of fiction) along with the hashtag #HarperHistory. Before anyone realized it, "#HarperHistory" and "The NDP" had begun trending worldwide. At certain points the tweets were coming in so fast, it was like one of those moments in time where you find yourself unable to stop laughing in order to breathe. There's simply too many to reproduce here, but I've put together a small sample for you:

"Damn you NDP for not standing up to Genghis Khan!!!"

"The NDP made the Tower of Pisa lean (to the left of course)"

  

"The NDP didn't support our troops in the Boer War either"

"the NDP was the second gunman on the grassy knoll"

"Neil Armstrong quoted on the moon: One small step for man, one giant leap for the NDP"

And in all honesty, faithful readers - I couldn't resist joining in the fun, and added in a few observations of my very own:

"The NDP did nothing to prevent the Holocene extinction."

"The NDP pointed and laughed as the island of Atlantis sank."

"It was the NDP who willfully led Sir John A. MacDonald from the path of sobriety."

For me, the most hilarious part was that I somehow managed to boost my rating on Klout from a 32 to a 36 by making those posts - an unintentional side-effect of just letting my hair down on Twitter for a spell. And perhaps there's a lesson to be learned from that. Social Media is... well, social by nature. Never mind that I'm making use of it to advance my ongoing job search; there must and should be equal amounts of laughter to compliment ones' hard work and dedication to promoting oneself.

 

Weekend happenings

 This weekend will once again see me toiling away to produce the 10th edition of my web-comic, "That QR Code Guy". I've already begun to assemble the raw materials necessary for the story, and it promises to be a good one. However, this Saturday afternoon I will be attending a fund-raiser for Artheart, the Regent Park-based art community center. Concurrent to working on the web-comic, my friend and former colleague Todd Ivey of Wabunganung Films has asked me to provide a bit of spec work for an upcoming project requiring some character style-sheet designs. I finished the first of three illustrations yesterday evening (so as to give me a bit more leeway over the next few days), and Todd seemed fairly happy with the results, but I'll refrain from posting that work here (for now, anyways) as I don't want to overstep anybody's bounds. Rest assured, as soon as I've been given a green-light, I'll get 'em posted.

Have you seen that QR code guy?

Taken by Ron McEwen along Front Street, April 13th.

Well just in case you haven't, don't worry - I have a wealth of photos to share with you, my faithful readers. But if you see me around (and you'd like to have your photo skills featured here on Stalking the Job) don't hesitate to ask... I'm always happy to stop for a snapshot or a scan!

For Stalking the Job - this has been your correspondent, John Currie. And remember folks... I'll be seeing you!

Afterword

A special thank-you to Twitterer Brian Badillo for including my new Pinterest board in his online newspaper, The QR Code Chronicle:

http://paper.li/bbadillo/1303504696

Have a good weekend, all!

By the numbers: three noteworthy articles

Good afternoon, faithful readers - as you might already know, the springtime weather here in Toronto has been less-than ideal for the second day in a row. Stalking the Job has capitalized on this recent spate of malodorous meteorological conditions by spending some quality time applying for positions through standard channels... and by combing the internet for articles, stories and anecdotes relevant to the ongoing theme of this blog.

Before I begin, I'd like to thank a few people: first, a tip of the hat to Volker Schäfer, a recent contact made via LinkedIn who asked that we connect via Facebook. I'll admit to having been ambivalent about my presence on FB, as my focus these last few months has been primarily to do with re-entering the workplace, not socializing or catching up with old friends. That being said, I agreed to Volker's request and soon thereafter chose to "flesh out" my profile page. It must have worked in my favour to a certain extent, as the pageviews for yesterday's edition of my webcomic serial ("That QR Code Guy") topped out at a number I've never seen before - though this might also be due to some helpful retweets on Twitter, courtesy of @HiMYSYeD and my friend and fellow traveler @lisahorvat.

Further thanks are given to Paul Moyer of Optix Digital Pictures, who graciously invited me around for coffee and a good long chat yesterday. Having sent Paul some relevant links earlier today, I hope we'll continue our discussion to some mutually-gainful conclusion. And yes - Paul's coffee bar is both aesthetically pleasing and very nicely stocked. Thanks again for having me, Paul! And now, those articles:

10 Things You Need To Do While You're Unemployed

(from the original article by Jacquelyn Smith, at Forbes.com:)

1) Take a temporary or contract assignment.
As the article asserts, "If you do a great job, even if it’s for a temporary job, whoever hired you is more likely to recommend you for a permanent position" - and I'd be hard-pressed to disagree, faithful readers. The key to successfully re-entering the workforce is to keep your visibility high and your skill-sets in proper working order. Good advice!

2) Take a class.
While the following is certainly another piece of good advice - "when you take a class in your field, you are also showing that you are serious about your work and that you take initiative" - it's worth bearing in mind that classes aren't necessarily a panacea with regards to attaining gainful employment, although it certainly can be (as suggested in the article) a "great networking opportunity".

3) Volunteer.
Some have a difficult time understanding the value of giving your free time while in search of new opportunities, but the rewards are palpable - as per the article, "when you volunteer for something, you are telling potential employers something about you as a person". Having volunteered my time with Artheart, in Toronto's Regent Park, I am certainly not one to disagree with this point.

4) Start your own business.
Of all the advice given in this article, this is the one thing I am somewhat ambivalent about, as it smacks of the sort of glib responses friends and family are prone to deliver on hearing of your employment status - and (at least in my own case) though I may be many things, a full-blown, dyed-in-the-wool businessman I am most assuredly not.

5) Start a professional blog.
Well, considering I'm writing about this article on my own blog I suppose this is a bit of a no-brainer, although I would caution those considering this route to make a point of delivering something of value to your readership - and also, to be prepared to work at it. After all, everybody and his monkey seems to have a blog these days, so ask yourself: what differentiates your own from any of a thousand others like it? But (as per the article), "Potential employers will see you as having taken the initiative during your job search to blog about something you truly care about: your career", so take heart - even if you're no pro when it comes to the written word!.

6) Follow stories on hot industries and job functions.
Yes, there is a very real and abiding value to keeping on top of what's hot in your chosen field of endeavour. What's more, it pays to follow the news and associated job opportunities.

7) Use the time to come up with ideas.
"Whether it’s an idea for a marketing campaign, new revenue stream, cost savings, etc., the candidates who show up at an interview with ideas demonstrate that they are passionate, knowledgeable, and excited about the opportunity", quoth the article. Well, if there's one luxury that unemployment can afford, it's time, so I must agree. Having used my own time to constructive ends, I decided upon my own unique strategy to raise my visibility in the Toronto job market - and while my own strategy might not be suitable for others, it is the very definition of this this piece of advice.

8) Make connections.
Networking comes in many different forms. The article advises you to "Let friends, family and professional contacts know that you’re looking for a job, and ask for their help in finding connections to the organizations you’re interested in", but I would add that you should also use any and all aspects of social media to greater effect - as well as attending industry functions and/or discussion groups related, or pertaining to, your area of expertise.

9) Follow up.
According to the article, "It's important to take that extra step to let the employer know you’re interested, and make sure you always send a thank you after an interview. Handwritten notes will set you apart from the pool of candidates, but e-mails are acceptable, too." I must agree; follow-ups lend a human touch to an otherwise dispassionate aspect of professional life. 

 10) Use key words.
Now this is most interesting: "...most employers use electronic scanning devices to screen and rank candidates. You’ll want to tailor your resumé for each position you apply for, and include specific words from the job posting. Do this and your resumé will come up higher in employer searches." Yes, this is quite true, and you really do owe it to yourself to take the time to familiarize yourself with the type of language or terminology used by job posters. In some cases, you might want to have a (knowledgeable, trustworthy) third party read through your materials prior to dispatching them. But this should be part &parcel of researching your prospective employers - something I cannot recommend highly enough. 

 Some very useful info from Forbes - which is fast becoming one of my favourite sources online, by the way. However, I also came across an equally valuable article this past Sunday afternoon, thanks to LinkedIn Today:

5 Ways to Lose Your Dream Job During the Interview Process

  

(from the original article by Mona Abdel-Halim, at Mashable.com:)

1) Blow off the phone interview

 Phone interviews are "...how employers whittle down their list of applicants to decide who they want to bring in for an in-person interview - so you need to be prepared and take the opportunity seriously". Got that, folks? The original article contains an interesting anecdote or two on this, and - given that phone interviews are becoming increasingly de rigeur - I find I cannot disagree.

2) Talk about other job opportunities

According to the article, "...some job seekers feel the need to be overly honest when interacting with potential employers. There’s always the chance that one opportunity might fall through, so don’t jeopardize one position because you think you might get another". Indeed! Try looking at it from the point of view of a prospective employer: would you be inclined to hire someone who seems preoccupied with some other employment opportunity - during the job interview?

3) Provide TMI (too much information)

I think it's important to always remain as professional as possible - especially during job interviews - and if you know yourself to be of a chatty disposition, try keeping that in check. It could definitely work against you, should you choose to divulge too much information and, as the original article points out, it's "not going to get you the job".

4) Talk negatively about former supervisors or positions

This should be completely self-evident to anyone and everyone. I can't think of a single instance where trash-talking has netted an applicant a position - can you? Learn to let go, it's healthier in the long run!

5) Act cocky

"Confidence is key on the job search, but cockiness is less than appealing", quoth the article. There can be a fine line between the two, but it's important to be aware of the distinction.

Lastly, I'd like to share this recent post from Boing Boing - truly, this has to be the singlemost appealing workplace ever:

Valve employee manual: the greatest workplace I've ever heard of

 (from the original article by Cory Doctorow, at Boing Boing:)

If you’re working here, that means you’re good at your job. People are going to want you to work with them on their projects, and they’ll try hard to get you to do so. But the decision is going to be up to you. (In fact, at times you’re going to wish for the luxury of having just one person telling you what they think you should do, rather than hundreds.) 

How does Valve decide what to work on? The same way we make other decisions: by waiting for someone to decide that it’s the right thing to do, and then letting them recruit other people to work on it with them. We believe in each other to make these decisions, and this faith has proven to be well-founded over and over again. 

But rather than simply trusting each other to just be smart, we also constantly test our own decisions. Whenever we move into unknown territory, our findings defy our own predictions far more often than we would like to admit. We’ve found it vitally important to, whenever possible, not operate by using assumptions, unproven theories, or folk wisdom. While people occasionally choose to push themselves to work some extra hours at times when something big is going out the door, for the most part working overtime for extended periods indicates a fundamental failure in plan- ning or communication. If this happens at Valve, it’s a sign that something needs to be reevaluated and corrected. If you’re looking around wondering why people aren’t in “crunch mode,” the answer’s pretty simple. The thing we work hardest at is hiring good people, so we want them to stick around and have a good balance between work and family and the rest of the important stuff in life.

This, in turn, emanates from the Valve Handbook for New Employees.What can I possibly say, other than "please hire me"? I still can't quite believe that there's any organization as forward-thinking as Valve operating in our current economic climate!

Have you seen that QR code guy?

Taken by Agustin Inda on Lakeshore Boulevard, April 17th.

Yes, as always, Stalking the Job is still quite keen to receive any and all photos that you, the viewing public may have taken of That QR Code Guy in his journeys around our little metropolis. Of course, I'll endeavour to seek proper permission and provide full attribution whenever and wherever possible, so - don't hesitate to send in links to your stuff!

I recall the day this particular photo was taken, although I'm sure you'll understand if I say I was unaware of being photographed (and to be honest, I'm still somewhat unsure as to which building the photographer, Mr. Inda, was standing atop when he took it). Further complicating matters, Mr. Inda speaks english only as a second language - his native tongue being spanish (a language I am in no way adept with) - but, once we were able to surmount the language barrier, we were eventually able to come to an amicable agreement. Thank you, Agustin!

Once again folks, this has been John Currie for Stalking the Job, signing off... and leaving you to your regularly-scheduled internet.

Remember, I'll be seeing you!

Stalking the Job presents: The Nine Lives of That QR Code Guy

Smart money: Spend money, make money

Taken by Jessica Lepik, April 18

Hello again, all. In-between jaunts around Hogtown, Stalking the Job has this week found the time to schmooze and time to read some news, and in so doing have found my groove. Well, a groove, anyway. Or maybe it's more of a furrow. Whatever. Last night my friend and colleague Vince Vaitekunas attended the "Liberty Social Hour: Carnival del Sol" with me at Bar Vespa along East Liberty Street, and from what I could see, it was a smashing success - the planners should all be congratulating themselves on a job well-done. I'd already planned to attend, but yesterday's daily horoscope made my decision a somewhat of a moot point as it exhorted me to "jump on an opportunity" last night. And you know, faithful readers? That was good enough for me.

Of course, as previously mentioned in these pages, Liberty Village is a bit of a hike from my neck of the woods - not so bad on the King streetcar, but quite a ways away by foot - but I nonetheless rose to the challenge and headed out early in the day. I'd hoped to engage people sitting out on patios as the end of the workday approached (but as I found out, the warm sun could not overcome the chill mid-april air, and so those patios were a little less than overwhelmed with patrons). To my surprise, I found it far easier to cover the distance than I had on previous occasions. No doubt this has a lot to do with having improved the strength in my upper and lower legs the last couple of months, as well as my overall endurance. But once there, I shed my ubiquitous QR code harness as it's a tad bit bulky for confined, crowded spaces such as Bar Vespa.

Vince & I chatted, mixed & exchanged business cards with a variety of people at the event, and also enjoyed some excellent finger-foods. The bar staff were knowledgeable and certainly knew their way around a proper Whiskey Sour, I'm pleased to report. Capping the evening off rather nicely, Vince won a gift-basket door prize - but his lactose intolerance prompted him to pass part of his prize (a gift certificate for a free large three-topping pizza from Pizza Pizza) on to me. What a guy! Oh, and I'd like to give a small shout-out to the unnamed woman we encountered on our way out of Liberty Village - yes, it really is a working QR code, your bicycle really was very cool, and I'd be only too happy to explain the thinking behind it in greater depth, so... if you're reading this blog, friendly marketing/advertising stranger... please, feel free to get in touch sometime. I'm always available for a chat.


I got the message (and the message is clear)

Last week I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Frank E. D'Angelo, owner of The Messengers International. The Messengers is a Toronto-based express courier company that I know I've certainly seen around town on more than one occasion. At the time of our impromptu chat, Frank was talking about how he has plans to introduce dress uniforms for his employees (so as to shift his workforce up a tier, in terms of how the public-at-large perceives his company). It's important to note that, like so many other businesses in 2012, times have been tough for Frank's operation. But perhaps more importantly, Frank himself recognizes the need - the very real need - for a growing business to tackle tough times head-on.

Sure, there might be a tendency to want to ride out stormy economic weather by way of emulating the turtle, pulling oneself tightly into ones' own shell and hoping for the best - and that tactic might very well work in some cases - but the smart money knows that, in times of a downward spiral it makes better sense to raise your profile than to hide away. Basically, in order to make money you've got to spend some money (and spend it wisely). Frank talked at length about an idea he's had for a series of cleverly-conceived radio commercials, which he'd like to have air on the more-popular radio stations in the GTA.

The ads would feature an ongoing narrative involving a character not unlike a Dashiell Hammet creation - a sort of gumshoe detective figure - which would undoubtedly not only raise the visibility of his brand, but would also hold terrific appeal for listeners. D'Angelo really and truly impressed me with his natural savvy in the approach he's considering for growing his business; he understands full well that, once we've finally moved past the current (and somewhat bleak) outlook for business, The Messengers International could be properly positioned to capture a far greater share of the market. Hats off to you, Frank - you are by far one of the more astute individuals I've met in my journeys, and I hope to hear from you soon.


Further thoughts on money, courtesy of Daily Kos

The other day I ran across an article from Daily Kos, a portion of which I'd like to share with you, as I feel strongly that it addresses some of the concerns prevalent in these times (in particular, the concept of "austerity") - and does so in a way with which I can wholeheartedly agree, especially in light of my recent encounter with the very forward-thinking Frank E. D'Angelo:

That we are even discussing economic austerity is itself proof that the political systems of the developed world are but servants to private industry. We know how the world dug itself out of the Great Depression, and it wasn't economic austerity. It was deficit spending. It was Keynesian economics. It was a widespread series of policies that laid the foundation for true economic growth. From the ground up. The top resting securely on a solid base rather than on the shoulders of an overburdened populace. And as more and more people had the means to participate in the economy the short-term deficits began to resolve themselves. When people have money to spend they also have taxable income. When people have money to spend the businesses that profit off their spending also have taxable income. A reviving economy means greater government revenue because more people and businesses are contributing to it. A reviving economy means fewer government outlays, not as a form of social punishment but because there is less social need. It's not complicated.

As I said earlier, the smart money knows to spend money in order to make money. As Laurence Lewis (the author of the originating Daily Kos article) says, "it's not complicated". In light of that, let's all make a point of raising a toast to better days to come - and hopefully, smarter stewards for the worlds' economy.


A shout-out from the wilds of Front Street East

I'll admit to having been slightly embarrassed yesterday, as I completely and utterly failed to recognize a man I'd once interacted with on a number of occasions: Paul Moyer, President of Optix Digital Pictures. It was okay, though - as Paul didn't recognize me either. Well, certainly not until he'd had a chance to look at my business card.

It's just that, as we've shuffled along our own respective lifetimes, we've evidently both had cause to re-invent ourselves at one time or another; the last time I'd stopped by Optix, I still had hair down to my posterior and a full Fidel Castro-style beard while Paul had his own facial hair thing going on. These days, Paul has opted for the sharper appearance afforded by close-shaving his face and scalp. I think I'll try making a point of paying Paul a visit at Optix in the next little while... as it was darned good running into him, and I'd be quite curious to see what they've been up to in the last few years. In fact, having had the chance now to look over the Optix website I've already got a bit of an idea, but I'd sooner hear about it from the horses' mouth - As, if there's one thing I've learned from this campaign, it's that a few minutes' time spent conversing in person far outweighs any amount of solitary research one could hope to perform on ones' own. Besides, this blog is about Stalking the Job, not Stalking the Internet!


Have you seen that QR Code Guy?

Taken by Mark Muralla at Queen & Spadina,  April 17

Twitter is my friend. No, really - it is! Without Twitter, I'd have a much greater task trying to find photos people have taken of me over the course of this campaign. Heck, nowadays it's kinda like a real-time audience participation tool... when I encounter people keen to take a photo (assuming they're being upfront about it and not peeling off a snap or two of me from behind) I ask flat-out whether I can include it on my blog, and as you might expect, the response is usually pretty positive! With that in mind, I'd like to thank Mark Muralla for this one - and yes, I did have to ask his permission after the fact, but I really don't mind. I'm just happy for the added content!

And so before I go, let me just re-iterate that if you're amongst those who've taken a photo of That QR Code Guy in the course of his travels around the City of Toronto, Stalking the Job wants to feature your pics. For StJ, this is John Currie - your faithful scribe - wishing you all the very best for the upcoming weekend. Remember folks... I'll be seeing you!

Bursting forth on a bright April day

Even the jumping-spiders, my favourites, made an early appearance this year.

Good morning friends and faithful readers - it's a bright (if somewhat chilly) April morning, but - all around us, the sights and sounds of new life are irrepressibly making their way to the fore. I've seen large numbers of recently-emerged tiger moths recently-migrated red admiral butterflies flitting about the blossoms of red maples in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood this week, grackles and red-winged blackbirds congregating in the tops of budding trees, and a whole host of flowering plants bursting forth to meet the rays of the Sun. At home, my own garden has seen exceptional growth - lilies coming up in record numbers, bergamot seeming already to be well-ahead of itself (by several weeks, at least), and our patch of wormwood coming nicely along. I've finished planting our green beans along the top tier of the planter-box garden, and soon we'll be tying our hand at growing onions for the first time. We'd grow tomatoes, but we learned our lesson after spending a great deal of time trying to ward off the rapaciousness of the local foraging squirrel population (darn tree-rats, eating everything in sight - and well before any of it is even close to being ripe!) But truly, with fresh new life springing up from every corner, who could have the time for lingering self-doubts or undue negativity? Not this green-thumbed guerrilla-marketer.


Happy Birthday, Liz

Today is a most special day for our household, as it marks another trip around the Sun for my lovely (and supportive) wife Elizabeth. I began the day by serving her a fresh cup of coffee while serenading her with a deep-voiced, mellifluous rendition of "Happy Birthday" set to the tune of the William Tell Overture. You're the reason I persevere, Liz. You're the reason I want more from Life - more than some might meekly choose to accept. This year will see great changes, and I have a strong sense that they'll be changes for the better. Happy Birthday, my love.



Get your network running: Carnival del Sol

Spring is, of course, a time for optimism and renewal, and all the more so this year in light of the ongoing difficulties facing professionals in our industry due to the sluggishness of our economy. This is not the time to cringe in fear for ones' future, faithful readers - Heavens, no. This is instead the time for us to extend our individual reach far beyond our own selves, and expand our influence beyond whatever tightly-drawn circles we might have relegated ourselves to over the leaner months of winter. Yes, the time of professional networking is clearly upon us once again... and what better way to kick it off than to pay another visit to Liberty Village? This evening will see Stalking the Job attending an event at 167 East Liberty Street. Yes, tonight (starting at 5:30) Bar Vespa will be playing host to the Liberty Social Hour: Carnival del Sol, so don't hesitate to stock up on business cards and stop in for a drink and a chat.

Bar Vespa, 167 East Liberty Street.

Shouting out loud

I'd like to give a shout-out to my old friend (and pillar of inspiration) M. Michelle Nadon of Media Intelligence. It had been some time since we'd spoken, but after seeing a number of updates appear on Mich's LinkedIn profile I shot her a quick message just to check in and see how she was doing. She had me give her a phone call the following morning - and I'm positive she gave up a portion of her morning in order to do so (thanks, Mich). Talking with her was probably the best thing I did all day. She helped me to later look myself squarely in the mirror and ask tough questions of myself.

In many respects, I was already doing just that - this being one of the benefits (or drawbacks, depending on your point of view) of my ongoing initiative, having the time for contemplative thought and rumination on the goals I've set for myself. But I did not find myself especially wanting, instead I found myself redoubling my resolve. This is the right time and the right way for me to rise above my current station in Life - and (as always) I must endeavour to be the best person I can be. Do what you love; do it well. Do it to the best of your abilities, and never stop trying to surmount whatever odds the universe conspires to throw your way. Perseverance is king; and good things come - eventually - for those who strive for something better. Smile, or even laugh in the face of adversity. And in all things, be yourself... be authentic, genuine, and above all be honest - not just with others, but with yourself.

Have you seen that QR Code Guy?

Taken by Chris Smart near Lansdowne April 13th

Remember now, if you've taken a photo of That QR Code Guy walking about Toronto, this blog wants to hear from you! While I can't promise you wealth or fame, I can promise to provide attribution for your content, so please don't hesitate to get in touch. For Stalking the Job, this is your scribe John Currie signing off. And if you're in Liberty Village this evening folks, well - I'll be seeing you...!

The whirlwinds of Wellington

Good afternoon, faithful readers - I'd have preferred to follow up with you sooner, but the better weather has been seeing me out & about for longer periods of time, leaving me feeling somewhat depleted in my off-hours. That being said, I am pleased to report that Stalking the Job has, in recent days, made forays all across the city. All last week I found myself making many connections in-person, both on the street and in the foyers of a number of offices and studios.


A flying start

The week got off to a good start, keeping an appointment with Malcolm Jusamani of The Creative Group. I'd worked for Perennial, Inc. through TCG a number of years back, and Malcolm and I seemed to hit it off quite well. Of course, my goal remains to find myself full-time, gainful employment (as opposed to part-time, short-term or contractual situations), but I'm only too happy to have someone like Malcolm working on my behalf.

Increasingly, it's becoming apparent to me that my (very real) need for a revenue stream threatens to derail my QR code initiative, and there may soon come a day when I will indeed have to forego this strategy in order to take on work that might be far-removed from my own field of expertise. By signing on with TCG, I'm hoping to avoid putting too many eggs in one basket - even if it does mean working part-time, short-term or contractually. Besides, should Malcolm manage to line something up, I would at least stand a chance of impressing upon his clients my indispensability... which could lead them to picking me up for good. Hey, it's a long shot - but it's hardly as though I'm a stranger to long shots, now is it?

Whirling winds on Wellington Street

I spent a fair amount of time walking up and down Wellington Street just west of Spadina last week, and I'd like to think it was to good effect, even if the high winds occasionally blew my sandwich board up and into my face. More than once I found myself wishing that, rather than canvassing, I could instead be in  a park flying a kite - which is something I used to love doing. But as I said, my time was spent to good effect, as I found myself interacting with quite a number of people working in related fields, all of whom wished me every success in my bid to re-enter the workforce. Now, if only I could move past the well-wishing and onto something well-and-truly-wonderful...!

In fact, Sheila Jacklin, whom I encountered outside of Bensimon Byrne, gave quite a boost to my spirits late in the week when she (rather thoughtfully) engaged me in conversation about the working world and life in general. In talking with Sheila, I came to realize that what I value - what gives me satisfaction - is not simply to work, nor to simply earn a paycheque. What I most wholeheartedly want is to be a part of something bigger than myself. To find myself once again in the fast-paced (and dare I say it, "synergistic") environment that only a studio-type environment can afford. To once again be a member of a team, and by hard work and dedication, to prove to the members of that team that I am a valuable resource - that I possess insights, talents and highly-developed skills which frankly need to be tapped.

More hoops

As previously mentioned in these pages, while I've been mounting this campaign I've also continued to use more traditional means to pursue opportunities - mostly through applying for positions posted online. I tend to think of this as "jumping through the standard hoops", and yes... I jumped through a whole series of hoops last week, applying for seven or eight jobs, mostly via Media Job Search Canada and LinkedIn. One position in particular seemed quite ideal, and a small technical issue with the company's website led me to speak directly with one of the members of their HR department - I'll choose not repeat the name of that company at this time, however (as I'm just superstitious enough to not want to jinx my chances).

In fact, on Wednesday morning - after having dispatched two new applications online - I'd headed out to canvass the area just north of my neighbourhood, only to find that I'd not stocked sufficient numbers of business cards (I'd had cause to hand out more than a dozen in a very short period of time). On returning home to pick up another small stack, I found that another promising opportunity had just been posted on MJSC, so I took some added time to jump that extra hoop!


Inspiration from the unlikeliest of places

Friday was a real stand-out, as far as I'm concerned. Perfect weather saw people out en masse wherever a patio was to be found, and if there's one thing I've learned it's that people love to scan QR codes once they've had a pint or two. Seriously, though - the good weather seems to prompt people's innate curiousity - and what's more curious than a man out walking around with a giant QR code hanging off his shoulders?

Taken by Gene Sasso on Queen St. West, April 5th

But I wanted to say a word or two about inspiration, specifically how I've been inspired by one man I've encountered any number of times in my journeys on the streets of Toronto. He's the man you see on the left of this photo - and he goes by the name of "Irish". Irish is, by his own admission, what some might call a "bad risk"... living his life on the streets, a habitual drinker, he's nowhere near to being anybody's poster-child. But for his faults, he is nonetheless a perfectly honest man (if occasionally brutal in his honesty), particularly where his own life is concerned.

He does not assign blame to anyone or anything for his circumstances; he takes full ownership of - and responsibility for - his life. Mind you, his responsibilities are comparatively few; it's really more a question of him setting the bar fairly low for himself, but nonetheless, he acquits himself quite well given the low standards he chooses to apply. Would that he could confront and wrestle his personal demons to the ground, I've no doubt at all that he could go relatively far in life. Further, he is of a generous disposition. In spite of being on the lowest rung in society, he does not let the people in his orbit go wanting for a bite to eat, a place to sleep or simply someone to talk to.

A towering figure, with eyes cocked so wide as to make it near-impossible to ascertain where exactly he's looking at any given time, many would no doubt find Irish to be an imposing man - just the sort of man that we as a society tend to try not to notice to as great an extent as possible. But, in all truth, it's a very rare thing indeed to meet someone who is as honest and as forthright as the man called Irish. Sláinte!


Another evening-time experiment

Perhaps it's due to all the walking around I've been doing, but I've found recently that my stamina has increased dramatically in the last little while. I was able to walk from Ubisoft's offices (out at Lansdowne & Bloor) down to the Entertainment District without the need for a break, and still had sufficient energy to canvas from University to Portland, between Wellington and Queen several times over. As the sun was still shining quite warmly at dinner time, I decided to extend my walkabout and headed south to the Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays were due to take to the field at 7 PM that evening.

Wishing to remain firmly on the right side of the law, I made a point of approaching a security guard and an on-duty member of Toronto Police Services standing adjacent to Gate 1, just a short distance from the suspension bridge linking the Rogers Centre to Front Street West. I wanted to know the specifics as to where I could reasonably go about my business without rankling anybody unduly - but I was somewhat put-off by the frankly hostile reception I received from the TPS officer, who clearly did not take any of what I was saying at face-value. Indeed, he seemed to want to ticket me (for panhandling, of all things faithful readers). I was sternly advised to restrict my movements to the suspension bridge - some thirty feet away from Gate 1 - and ironically, this is where ticket-scalpers loudly, openly hawk their (illegal) wares... within earshot of the police. Props to the security guard however, who wasn't behaving at all like the TPS officer, and who did wish me the best in my endeavours.

Not the droids I was looking for.

As for the crowd? Well... now, after experiencing them first hand, I think I can report truthfully that for the most part, they're not the droids I'm looking for. After all, it's not necessarily the quantity of hits that I'm concerned with so much as it's the quality of the hits that I am getting. No, the people I was hoping to intersect with weren't turning out in great numbers for the ball game - which did surprise me somewhat, as many guys who I've worked with in the Entertainment District over the years have been fairly rabid sports nuts! But as tough as I might've had it, the well-dressed men trying to flog photocopied "Black History Month" pamphlets were the ones fighting the steepest uphill battle that evening. I had to admire their thick skins, as some of the Blue Jays fans were behaving in a downright belligerent manner towards them. Still - all in all, a worthwhile experiment... and one that I may choose to repeat should I find events somewhat better-suited for my campaign to target.


Have you seen that QR Code Guy?

Taken by Nadia Beja (of Zoom Media) on Berkeley Street April 5th

I mentioned that Friday was an exceptional day, and I wasn't lying...! Indeed, Friday saw quite a few people taking photos - which I will endeavour to feature here on the blog in the days and weeks to come. The photo above is slightly back-dated,  however: On a chance encounter on Berkeley Street, near to where I live in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood, Nadia Beja of Zoom Media was kind enough to ask if she could take a picture to upload via Instagram. Not missing a beat, I asked Nadia for her permission to reproduce her photo here - and so here it is, folks. And remember, if you've taken a photo of That QR Code Guy in his journeys around Toronto, I want to hear from you.

Once again, this is John Currie for Stalking the Job, signing off. It's been a wonderful weekend, folks - and don't forget to keep your eyes peeled, because I'll be seeing you...

The Good Friday roundup

Salutations to you all on this very good Good Friday, faithful readers. Today I'll try catching up on some of the places I've been, the people I've connected with, the mentions made online and the real-world opportunities I'm pursuing here in the Big Smoke. Just as in the natural world, the month of April is proving to be a time of change and growth... and as such, I feel it's incumbent upon Stalking the Job to make the most of it.

Say "wat?"

Late Wednesday evening, after publishing the last post appearing on these pages, I decided to try combing Google for recent photos people may have taken, using various search strings. This is something I'll do from time to time in order to shore up content to include in the recurring StJ feature, "Have you seen That QR Code Guy?". To date, it's netted me quite the burgeoning collection of photos (thought they've mostly been taken from behind - darn our Canadian tendency to be as unobtrusive as humanly possible!). Anyway, on the second or third search attempt, I came across the following  photo:

Taken by Jason Last, March 29.

For the most part, when I find photos they're usually included in online photo-galleries with a minimum of tags to identify them. What set this particular image apart from others I've included as part of the "Have you seen That QR Code Guy?" feature on Stalking the Job is that the photographer (Jason Last, strategic planner at john st.) had included the photo as part of a post on his ongoing blog, "wat?". I must say it felt somewhat rather odd to learn that I'd made enough of an impression on a stranger that they'd felt moved to write about it - especially insofar as we didn't actually interact!

I contacted him that same evening to provide some context for the scene he ran across (the young painter to my left, a fellow by the name of Adam, had unfortunately just learned of a death in his family), and found him to be a most engaging personality. And to my delight, I learned that Jason is on the periphery of my own social and/or professional circles - proving yet again how much smaller a world it is than we might otherwise believe it to be.

Having discussed the matter (and having received Jason's blessing - thank you, Jason), I will now reproduce his thoughts and ruminations on that day's near-encounter on Queen Street West here for your edification, faithful readers. Oh, and I should add that after establishing contact between us Jason saw fit to provide his readers with an update to his original entry. So without further ado, here's the "Interesting People" article re-posted from Jason's own blog:

I was taking a little stroll around the block the other day when I came across the guy pictured below…

…and for one of the first times in my life I became interested in scanning a QR code.

What was it about this otherwise non-descript man that made me interested in taking the effort to scan him? Why did I want to learn more about whatever it was that he was hoping to communicate rather than all the other messages that were (and are) constantly competing for my attention?

It was a combination of two things, I think.

1) People are inherently more interesting than brands. Advertisers have known this for a long time, which is why hiring the right spokesperson to represent a brand has traditionally been one of the best ways to change or improve its perception. We care about other human beings – even ones we don’t know. We want to know their stories. We wonder what they’re thinking, feeling, doing. People provide us with ideas and perspectives that are important assets in a world where social interactions are fundamental to survival and success.

With the sheer amount of brands in the marketplace today, it can be very difficult for us to differentiate one from another – if for no other reason than we simply don’t care enough to make such categorizations. Gareth Kay spoke to this fact during his presentation on “Radicalism” in Toronto last week, noting recent studies that suggest brands in 4 out of 5 categories are seen as “increasingly homogenous” and that regular folk think that less than 1 in 10 ads today are different from one another (to see Gareth’s full presentation, go here…it is excellent). But it’s very easy for us to differentiate people from one another, to notice when a person does something unique or out of the ordinary. And it’s all the more powerful when we can experience that uniqueness rather than simply watching, reading, or hearing about it. This is a nice little feather in the cap of experiential marketing that puts people, and not just things, at its core.

2) He didn’t care whether I scanned him or not. He wasn’t pushy. In fact, he acted like nothing was out of the ordinary, as if he weren’t walking around wearing a big QR code on his front and back, asking everyone to scan it.

It’s natural for us to be more interested in things that aren’t overtly interested in us. This is why “hard-to-get” is a game we often play with one another during courtship, and why we become almost immediately turned off by someone who seems too interested. Surely, we think, anyone who is that interested must be desperate; it must not be worth it to spend time on them.

Yet, most marketers ignore this basic human truth. So often we lay it on thick with people in a desperate attempt to get their attention and to try to make them care about us, when the truth is that this strategy is, more of than not, entirely counter-productive. If we want to create relationships between brands and people, we’d all do well to acknowledge the manner in which people create relationships with one another.

Pinterest is a good recent example of a brand tapping into our psychology of attraction. By making us wait days to receive an invitation to join their social networking site, they appear confident, in demand, and powerful. It says, “we don’t need you, so just wait a couple of days and we’ll see if it’s worth it for us to let you in on our world.” And because of the laws of attraction, we wait and feel excited when we’re accepted.

Two good questions come to mind, then, in evaluating a new communication idea:

1) Can we make this idea stronger by using people as a vehicle through which to deliver the brand’s message?

2) Are we behaving discreetly enough to actually attract people? Could we make this idea more interesting by leveraging the laws of attraction?

 Hoops and shout-outs

Never let it be said that I am passive in my pursuits - in fact, passivity is anathema to the goals I've set for this jobsearch initiative. While I do try to spend a fairly considerable amount of time out in the public eye, I still make every effort to seek out and apply for positions online (or as I tend to think of it, "to jump through the usual hoops"). This week saw me sending a number of cover letters and CVs to prospective employers who'd posted available positions through Media Job Search Canada and LinkedIn.

I've been a fan of LinkedIn for several years, now - I've always seen value in their network, and my profile there has been complete for quite some time - so I found it terribly kind for social media strategist & consultant Anita Windisman to have taken the time from her busy schedule Thursday morning to both evaluate and to suggest improvements I could make to my existing LI profile.Thank you once again, Anita. I've effected all the changes you'd recommended. First order of business: using a photo where I'm not wearing sunglasses!

Finally, I'd like to mention a few of the folks I have had the pleasure of meeting in recent days:

• Vergel Evans, Certified Usabilty Analyst and Information Architect
• Chris Spavins, Senior Marketing Representative at Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishing Group
• Nadia Beja, Intern at Zoom Media
• Paul Bennett of 3M Canada


Happy chocolate rabbit day

Before I go, let me wish a Happy Easter to all my Christian friends, with apologies to Mr. Christ: while I might not be a member of your many fan-clubs, I can't help but recognize that you were a really very thoughtful and kind fellow who wanted a better world for all... and for that, sir you have my appreciation.

Also (as mentioned to me a few minutes ago by my Sister-in-Law, Joanne) a very happy Passover to my Jewish friends. So, whether you're enjoying chocolate rabbits or attending a Seder with friends and family, have a great weekend - whatever your personal belief system may proscribe! For Stalking the Job, this is John Currie signing off. And as ever folks, I'll be seeing you...!