Contacts are Key

Photo by: Stoker Studios

Contacts are Key
By Jessica Watts (c) - www.racingjob.com

In an attempt to get a job most people send out hundreds of resumes, however, this strategy rarely works and no matter how good your resume is you are still only one sheet in a stack of papers. To guarantee you a position you must have contacts and know someone in that field, company, or on that team.

When I was looking for my first job I had only a few skills. I did a typical job search and sent my resumes out to a variety of people and businesses. I did that for a few weeks and waited, but no responses.

I had been getting things printed at the local copy center for years, but little did I know I was building a relationship with their employees. By expressing that I was looking for a job, they told me a position was opening there at the copy desk. By knowing them I had someone to vouch for my work ethic and character. Because of these contacts I got my first job.

After this experience I realized it is vital that wherever you go, you need build relationships and keep them - Ex-employers, old team members, managers, anyone that can help you get your foot in the door. Don’t be afraid to ask or express that you need help - most people are happy to help if they know your character and think you would be a good candidate for the job.

Employers are looking for hard workers, good teammates, and knowledgeable employees, but a resume is still just a piece of paper. With valuable contacts that can vouch for you and your skills, the employer can see the whole picture. Resumes and cover letters are a nice reference piece, but it all comes down to who you know and what they can do for you. Getting your foot in the door could be just a phone call away.

In racing today, here are some ways to build great contacts:

• Keep in touch - With old coworkers or teammates. You never know where they might go and who they might meet next.

• Take someone out to lunch - If there is a crew chief, team manager, or someone in a position you hope to achieve, then take them out for a meal and pick their brain for a while. People like to talk about themselves and will enjoy that you want to listen.

• Make friends - If you work at a new shop or for a new team, try to make as many friends as possible - You never know when it will lead to that dream job.

• Trade Shows – Go to different trade shows like PRI http://www.performanceracing.com/tradeshow/

• Ask – Ask current contacts if they can help you meet others.

Sending out resumes can not hurt, but I would recommend you spend the majority of your time making contacts.

I Don't Need You - You Need Me

I Don't Need You - You Need Me
by Beverly Terrill (c)

We would never say this to a prospective employer, but it doesn’t hurt to have that attitude.

This shouldn’t be misconstrued as an excuse to be cocky and an a----hole. This is an approach that offers the employer YOU as an asset to the company.

To go to an employer and explain that your mortgage is due, the triplets are hungry and you lost your job 6 months ago, makes you sound desperate. This may in some instances work in your favor but rarely. An employer is not looking for another employee with his life in shambles. That doesn’t paint a picture of a high energy, productive employee.

Put yourself in the Employer’s shoes. If you have a race team that goes to the track every weekend, you must have a group of dedicated employees that know their jobs and do not need constant supervision.

I want you to work through this exercise;

Which job are you seeking?

What are the job qualities for this job?

What additional skills do you possess that would make you an even better candidate for this job?

Let’s say you want to be the truck driver for the team. This is your background and you have the licenses and certifications to prove it. But in addition, you were a short order cook or you hold the neighborhood barbecue at your house because of your excellent ribs! This would be a huge asset to a team. You are going to be there anyway and you can cook for the crew.

You should focus on being able to do 2 or more jobs. Most teams use the same guys who work in the shop as the pit crew on the weekend.

It is also very important that you get along with your teammates. If you want to find the biggest egos in the world, look at professional sports. The sport of racing is no different and may even be worse. You cannot have a bad attitude or chip on your shoulder, although I have heard that if you are in R&D it may be OK.....just kidding! You want to get this quality (if you possess it) across to your perspective employer.

Basically, you want to show the employer that he needs you. You don’t NEED this job although you certainly want it. And it is perfectly fine to have some enthusiasm for the job! Make yourself an attractive candidate for multiple positions and who is going to turn you down.

Regardless of the type of business, all employers are looking for some specific attributes:

Punctual - Always be on time or EARLY

Self Starter - Don’t stand and wait to be told what to do, find what needs to be done and do it.

Work Unattended - If someone has to stand over you or continually answer questions, it now takes 2 people to do this job.

Get along with people - I cannot stress enough how employers love this quality in an employee.

Able to work long hours - Every industry has a peak time. If you plan to be a long term employee, commit to the long hours. It won’t be every week and you just have to remind yourself (spouse, kids etc) that this doesn’t go on forever. There are however times when there is no getting around it.

So there you have it. You are a huge ASSET and you just need to work on getting that across to your employer-to-be. Otherwise, his loss will be the next company’s gain.

photo by shazbot

More Nascar Jobs

From Nascar.com:

Below you will find links to Web pages that will list openings within NASCAR, Inc. and select NASCAR sponsors, teams, tracks, licensees, and media partners.

Simply click on a link to see openings advertised by each individual organization, and if qualified, follow the resume submission directions given on each site. You will be contacted by the individual organization if there is interest in your candidacy, and any follow-up on your part should be made directly to the organization to which you applied.

Please note that some sites require that you type in a keyword to search job openings, such as "NASCAR" or "motorsports."

• Atlanta Motor Speedway: View jobs

• Drive for Diversity: View jobs

• Edelbrock: View jobs

• GMR Marketing: View jobs

• HDNet: View jobs

• Honeywell: View jobs

• Kellogg's

Get an insider's perspective of careers at Kellogg and ways your experience can be applied toward your personal goals. Learn more about our company including our departments, philosophies, opportunities, contact information, locations and more. There really is no other company like Kellogg. Come on in and see what we mean. View jobs

• Lincoln Electric: View jobs

• NASCAR, Inc.

We appreciate your interest in employment with NASCAR. View listings of current open positions within the organization, qualifications for filling those positions and information on how to apply. NASCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer that provides competitive pay and excellent benefits. employment.nascar.com

The NASCAR Diversity Internship Program will provide meaningful opportunities for qualified candidates to work with NASCAR's sanctioning body, NASCAR sponsors and licensees, NASCAR teams and tracks, and other motorsports-related companies. The Program will employ college/university students in a ten-week summer program designed to introduce them to the world of NASCAR and the exciting career opportunities available throughout the motorsports industry. The Program is designed to support deserving students with an interest in the motorsports industry, who are of Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian/Pacific Island, African American, Hispanic, or of other racial minority descent. For more information about the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program please visit our website at www.diversityinternships.com

• Orleans Racing: View jobs

• Sirius Satellite Radio: View jobs

• Tissot Swiss Watches: View jobs

• Universal Technical Institute (UTI): View jobs

Camping Out - To get a job in racing

Camping Out
By Don Terrill (c)2006

I only use this tip to get someone to do what they're supposed to do, but there's no reason you can't use it to get people to do what you want them to.

Now, when I say camp out I don't usually mean literally, but sometimes I do. Sometimes it takes showing up and staying until you get what you want.

Examples of "Camping Out":

• Show up at their home
• Show up at their business
• Email them
• Call them
• Send a letter
• Doing SOMETHING every day

The Fine Line:

• Push too far, piss them off.
• Push too little, get nothing.
• Push just right, get what you want.

Not everyone is going to have the stomach for this, but the fact is, it works. It's easy for someone to blow you off once or twice, but make them do it everyday and they will finally stop and listen.

And when they stop to listen, you'd better be ready to deliver - but that's for another article.

A cut above the rest!

A Cut Above The Rest!
By Beverly Terrill (c)2006

Do you have any idea how many people apply for jobs in the auto racing industry everyday? I don't know the stat but I read a story about a guy who showed up for a job as a tire changer for one of the lesser known teams and found 300 others dying for that same job. This is good and bad for teams. The jobs are coveted no doubt and they have a large pool to choose from. Applicants come from all over the country. Did the guy hiring miss the best candidate because so many applicants overwhelmed him? The down side for you is, what if you were #150 in that crowd of 300? When all those applicants file through how do you stand above the rest?

The fact is that if it is the tire changer job, you can show your work at the interview, which is a little different from other jobs. But if you are given a couple of minutes, with everyone watching you, how can you possibly show your talent in that amount of time and under that much pressure?! The answer is you can't. What if you got up that morning and smashed your hand in the car door? My point is that in addition to any hands on demonstration you might give, it will never represent a total picture of your abilities.

So what do you do to stand out and create an impression? You have to write about, talk about and show proof of your accomplishments. That's right - not just skill set, actual accomplishments. I recently went back to work after a 2-year absence for a company that I worked for previously for 15 years. All my experience had been at this one company. The interviewers were also long time employees of this company and knew the job descriptions of the positions I had previously held. What they didn't know was that I had been very successful! For example, as a customer service representative, I helped clients with software issues. But instead of saying I had technical expertise in trouble shooting blah blah software, I gave my phone stats and my quality survey scores. That's what was important to my managers. Every person on the CS team can troubleshoot software, but a true measure of my performance was the statistics. Now to parlay that to the tire changer; don't say on your resume, I can use an air gun. Every person who changes a tire can use an air gun! But you say that you worked on a team that consistently had pit stops of 18 seconds when the average for other teams were 21 seconds. Or don't say I'm 6 ft and weigh 250 pounds, tell them how often you work out and how much you can bench press. By the way, state that in your cover letter or interview. There's no place on the resume for weight, etc, but if its relevant its perfectly fine elsewhere.

I'm not saying don't list all the experience you have or all the tools you can use, but also list accomplishments that you are proud of. If I have an ad that says, "must be able to use jackhammer" and every resumes says "can use jackhammer", how do I know who's the best candidate? But if you say I have used a jackhammer for 20 years working on NC state highways, then I know without a doubt you can use a jackhammer.

You need to practice using your accomplishments in place of your skills so that when writing your cover letter or speaking in an interview you do it automatically. It will go a long way to put you a cut about the rest.

Leapfrog the Competition

Leapfrog the Competition
By Don Terrill (c)2005

Watch on Sundays and know you could do better, but hate the idea of having to start at the bottom of a team? Well, you don't have to.

The Leapfrog Theory:
"The quickest way to the top is not by fighting your way through the pack; the quickest way is to leapfrog over the pack. All you need is the ability and knowledge necessary to play the game on a higher level, plus the courage to stake your claim to your rightful place on the ladder."
---Robert J. Ringer - author of Winning Through Intimidation - Forget the title, this is a must read book.

There's just one catch? You've got to deliver when you get there! I can't stress this enough - you've got to be able to do the job, or learn very quickly, the day you arrive. Or as Ringer says, you'll soon be knocked back down to where you belong.

How to use this theory:

• Apply for bigger jobs - Think Big! Stop applying for the simple crew jobs, when what you really want is to be the crew chief.
  
• Start a public relations campaign - You've got to do everything you can to get your name out there. For example: you could write a column for a racing publication or go to the PRI show and network.
  
• Act the part - This works for a lot of situations in life - just act like you know what you're doing, know one will know the difference.
  

If you're not ready to leap:

• Continue your education - You should use everyday as an opportunity to learn. If this is not you, you're probably not cut out for racing.
  
• Put yourself in position to learn - This could be anything from surrounding yourself with smarter people to changing jobs.
  
• Hone your skills - Already have the basics, but not ready for the big leagues? Just keep working - practice, practice, practice.
  
• Move up a level or two - Nothing with improve your skills faster than competing against better racers. This could go for any skill you're trying to improve - play against people better than you.

The Leapfrog Theory is not hypothetical - it's works. It's a psych "trick" that makes people think you can do something, just because you act like you can.

The Leapfrog Theory only gets you into a position, it's your job to stay there.

Power to the Bold

Power to the Bold
By Don Terrill (c)2005

There are two types of people working in Nascar racing, the bold and those who were recommended by the bold.

Being the bold:

• Call the team owner at the shop - You'd be surprised how many decision makers you can get on the phone if you ask. Just be persistent.
  
• Call the owner at home - Just showing up at their home is probably over the top, but a phone call may just show you're a go-getter.
  
• Introduce yourself at trade shows - The Performance Racing Industry trade show is a great place to meet and mingle. I've seen careers launch at this yearly event.
  
• Show up at the shop - Not getting an appointment? Forget it, just show up. If you're not getting an appointment anyway, what do you have to lose?
  
• Ask someone to introduce you - This is a biggie and will get you further than any other method.
  
• Don't be shy - You can be shy and still get a job in Nascar, but it's not easy. You'll need someone to go to bat for you (see below).
  
• Don't worry about offending - Besides, the easily offended are no fun to work for anyway. Actually, you rarely see the easily offended in positions of power. A lesson here?
  

Getting recommended by the bold:

• Meet the bold - You may know them more commonly as the jerks. Say what you will, but these people will open a lot more doors than the timid.
  
• Work with the bold - To what extent you can, try to get on the same team or in the same shop with a rising star.
  
• Befriend the bold - You may think they're jerks, but I think they're the most interesting people on the planet - you never know where they'll end up.
  
• Impress the bold - You may meet, work with or become friends with the bold; but if you can't impress them, they're not going to open any doors for you.