Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some of the questions we get from job-seekers.
What's the average length of
a job search?
At $100k+, you'll spend 18 months on the average using networking, recruiters and job boards.
This is 6 months longer than the past ...it's the result of our last recession.
JobBait strategies by contrast take 3 months.
The graph on the right is an extrapolation of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Will direct mail work for everyone?
Your success depends on your value proposition, the demand for your services, how many letters you send and other factors.
- Our best was a 250% salary increase for a $150k sales executive. He sent 2,500 letters, landed 30 interviews, received 9 job offers, and leveraged his way up to Division President at $400k+ with a 3-year full benefit parachute.
- Our average is 85% in 90 days for those who do it right.
- Our worst was no calls for a $125k manufacturing executive who sent out 2,500 letters locally in a declining market ... despite our advice that he change industries or relocate. He got over 100 unique website visitors in the first two weeks, but no one called.
This is Marketing 101. You may have learned it in college and used it in business. Nothing ever works for sure - it's a numbers game with odds, which you can see right here.
What if I can't afford this?
Look around at the investments you made in your house, your car, your TV, your toys and your career. You decide which is more important - we can't make that decision for you. A better question to ask is, can you afford not to do this?
You can always do it yourself and spend your time rather than money. Our Workshops are designed to help you do just that.
Why should I spend money to find a job?
There are many answers to this question:
- It's 6 times faster than all other strategies combined
- Your salary leverage is much higher (no competition)
- The ROI exceeds 10 to 1
If you're a business decision-maker, you wouldn't ask this question. In fact, the idea of marketing your business with these odds and payback would be obvious and intuitive ... it's an expense that's required to stay in business. The average business spends 20% to 25% of revenue each year on sales and marketing. Microsoft spends 22%. Job seekers spend about 8%, but not every year ... maybe every three years.
Imagine where you'd be now if you had been marketing yourself for your entire career. In fact, not marketing yourself can be the most expensive career mistake you will ever make.
Will email or fax work as well as snail mail?
No. Email and fax cost more per interview than sending a letter - we've tested all three. Plus, decision-makers describe email and fax as tasteless, cheap and unbecoming for 6 and 7 figure executives.
If you'd like to try it anyhow, see how email distribution works.
What if my mailing fails?
If your first direct mail campaign fails, you have the option of progressive mailing. See the success rates page and the prices page for details.
Is direct mail the same as junk mail?
It can be if your letters are addressed to "occupant" or
"hiring manager" or "sir or madam."
A personal letter
addressed to a decision-maker with a compelling
value proposition on genuine,
engraved stationery and signed
in blue by you is not junk mail.
Why not just let the recruiters find a job for me?
You can, but less than 1% find a job this way. Why would you do this when going direct has so many advantages? Here are the differences:
- When going direct, you do NOT have a 30% recruiter fee attached. This gives you an advantage and the employer a big incentive.
- You might get there BEFORE the employer has engaged a recruiter.
- You might prompt the employer to create a new opening for you. This happens for about 15% of JobBait clients.
Recruiters submit multiple candidates to employers. The best you can hope for is that you'll be competing with others - in other words, you'll need to prove that you will do a better job for less money. Don't kid yourself here - employers want the best buy, and recruiters give them what they want.
Why should I use genuine, engraved stationery?
For the same reason you wear nice clothes to formal events. Appearance matters - it's your first impression. As a 6 or 7 figure executive, you should avoid looking tasteless and cheap with plain, laser-printed stationery.
Repeated surveys show that decision-makers are 6 times more responsive to images that express professionalism, attention to detail and a "sense of caring" about identity. JobBait products and services are designed to make your first impression successful. See the prices page for our specification.
How many letters get returned?
This is the most danced-around question in the direct mail business because everyone knows you will not like the answer. Normally you will get 5% to 10% returned. In rare instances this has gone as low as 1% and as high as 18%.
If you are mailing to an industry that is changing rapidly, like the dot coms that went bust years ago, you will get more letters returned than you might expect. Ditto for the rapidly-declining textile industry. And recessions cause the return rates to go up. This disheartening fact cannot be avoided, and it's perfectly normal in direct mail campaigns. When you send out several thousand letters, many can get hundreds returned in a few days!
Do you guarantee replacements for returned letters?
No. If we did, our prices would go up to cover the worst case. Other suppliers sometimes provide this guarantee, and they charge up to twice as much.
Does direct mail work for consulting?
Absolutely. The techniques are exactly the same. The difference is your value proposition. To see more about solo consulting, click here.
