Most people know Doug Hindman professionally as a leading authority in job search having been quite literally born and raised in that business. Not many fourth grade students take their resume to “show & tell” – but Doug did! Now, many call Doug the “Tony Robbins of Job Search” because he offers effective, expert advice and inspires a “can do” attitude with his audiences.
You see, Doug was born into an entrepreneurial family that founded the largest resume writing company in the country with offices coast-to-coast in the 1970s. This company eventually helped create the new field of executive marketing and by the 1980s was firmly established as the industry leader.
As an undergraduate student at the University of Richmond, Doug set up a job search service to help his fellow classmates find employment. He also volunteered his time at the Better Business Bureau where he interacted with company executives and community leaders and was recognized for his achievements at the annual BBB awards dinner – all by the age of 21.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing in hand, Doug elected to proceed directly into an accelerated MBA program at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed this rigorous program and received his MBA within 11 months (most MBA programs take 2 years).
Summers and holiday vacations were spent working in the family company, learning from the ground up the intricacies of job search methodology, the employment market, and executive marketing. After graduation, he decided that this work was his life’s passion. Since 1989, Doug’s entire professional career has been devoted to helping others advance their careers.
He is a dedicated volunteer freely offering his time to church and community organizations. He is a featured guest speaker at career fairs, national conventions, and on radio and TV programs. From entry level to executive, his goal is to help people take control of their lives and careers. As he tells those attending his workshops, “We are all in this together and we will help each other achieve success!”
Hi Doug,
Just came across your web-site and I am blown away. I am a recent college graduate with a BSc. honors in Neuroscience. Lots of people say that I should go and do more schooling and that my degree is useless on its own when looking for work. So I have some questions of where I should start and what kind of positions I can look for. It looks like pharmaceutical sales is an option, and may be some entry-level biotech positions. I got a decent GPA (3.5), some lab work, and some sales experience in an attractions park. Currently, I live in Edmonton, Canada, AB, but I am willing to relocate to any place (Canada, US, Asia, etc..) where salary is able to cover living expenses. Any tips? Do you do individual consultations? I really want to get this thing issue down. I am so sick and tired of job applications that produce 0 results and take a lot of time. I wish colleges taught us how to find work, but they do not
Stan
Hi Stan,
Thanks so much for your nice compliment!
Your question is a HUGE one … meaning, you are beginning to set a course for the rest of your professional life. And, what an exciting time it must be for you!
My first advice is to identify the types of work that stimulate you, because you will be spending 80% of your waking hours doing your job. So, if it is something you do not like, then you will be quite unhappy. For example, pharmaceutical sales could be a fantastic opportunity for you … if you enjoy the functions of that position (establishing relationships with doctors/clinics/hospitals, maintaining accounts, local/regional travel, etc.). If you do not enjoy those functions, you will hate pharmaceutical sales.
Once you identify your goal, then you can chart a path to it. Once determined, then you will know whether you require more schooling or not.
I predict that you will have a very bright future (and do very well financially also) because you DO have many options available to you with your background and education!
Jayobi Step 1, found here http://jayobi.com/jayobi/jayobi-step-1-the-plan/ , will greatly benefit you. Watch the video and prepare the worksheets for your “wants and needs.”
You are taking the rights steps to launch your career correctly and I am very confident you will find a perfect position!
Doug
Hi Doug, i have a question i have been to many interviews and each time get knocked backed for the same reason not enough industry experience, i do not get any constructive feedback where i can learn from my mistakes how can i improve as im doing something wrong here. thanks Tina
Hi Tina,
Luckily, it seems to be the same “objection” — not enough industry experience. Knowing that may be an objection during a future interview, you can now plan preventative measures to counter this. Basically, you want to focus on your other stronger characteristics to downplay the lack of number of years of experience in their industry.
For example, you can tell them, “While I do not have any experience in your industry, per se, because I come from a different environment I can help identify deficiencies in your current operating process that would be overlooked by someone without my ‘outside perspective.’”
By initiating this kind of a preemptive strategy, you can eliminate that “objection” and guide them to the realization that because you come from a different industry that will benefit them more.
I hope this helps and I wish you great success in your next interview!
Doug
What are people to do if they have never had a job–I have a teenage son (soon to be 19)–he has no resume–he is a college student. He would be willing to work for Walmart but no one is hiring.
Hi Mary,
Your son will need a resume, so I would recommend he watch the resume writing video and use the samples I supplied on that page to create his. Since he does not have experience, he will need the resume to focus on the skills and accomplishments he has gained at college.
For example, he should detail his classwork/courses, list any groups/organizations he is a member of at school (especially if he holds an officer position in one of those groups), and he should list his GPA if above 3.0.
Retail (like Walmart) often hires college students, but he may want to target companies that fit his future aspirations. For example, maybe he wants to be employed with an Advertising Agency when he graduates. Well, using the techniques I show in “Jayobi: Step 3 Identifying Employers” he can target Ad Agencies now for a part time/internship now that will not only give him a job now, but experience for when he graduates — he will be ahead of his classmates graduating with the same degree.
I wish your son the best in his new career!
Hey Doug! It was a pleasure watching your tutorials.They are not only great learning tools for job search but they are truly empowering tools helping us to have the right mindset towards how to approach a problem and how to network more efficiently.
Thanks!
Hello Andreea,
It is with great appreciation to read your comment — thank you. I hope that Jayobi will empower all in need during this difficult economic time.
Very impressive!
Thank you Anne!
Hi Doug, I took the workshop at Forest Hills but was only able to attend 2 sessions so I’m going back now and working through the series.
Thank you.
Maria
I am wishing you great success Maria … once you know the correct method, job search can actually be fun!