Why isn't anyone interested in the circulation marketing spot on your team?

-THE RECRUITER For the last couple of years, magazine circ directors have been having a bit of a hard time filling open positions on their team. They have tried everything to make the job appealing to young energetic individuals. Some directors have re-edited the job description so many times and paid for a feature posting that they end up running out of things to do to attract that perfect someone. Then again there is no such thing as the perfect employee. One of the reasons circulation gigs are sometimes hard to fill these days is because of the way job postings are written and the directors themselves. Some of you take yourself too seriously and try too hard to be professional. Don't forget that you too are being interviewed because the person sitting in front of you wants to make sure that you're not a douche bag who is too high strung. So for you Consumer Marketing, Circulation, and Audience Development Directors, here are some tips (in no specific order) that you should consider when looking for and/or interviewing a prospect. Continue... Take your expectations and qualifications down a notch. It's just marketing, to beg subscribers to stay, or to beg subscribers to sign up, not science. Most of you in your job postings ask for the minimum 2-3 years experience for a manager spot, but then list Director level like duties. Don't mention too much about budget reforcasting, or other financial duties that may come with the gig in the job posting, because even though an individual may have the experience working numbers, they still can get turned off because of your emphasis on this in the job posting. Save that part for during the interview process. Don't make the job sound more important than it is, and try to limit your use of the word "Must". Be honest. Don't list a coordinator level job, as an assistant manager, because whoever gets the gig, will realize that all they're doing is pushing paper, being swamped with administrative stuff and will end up leaving for another job, sending you back to the drawing board. Don't think that all circulation departments use the same lingo. Speak English to the prospect during the interview. When you call a prospect to come in for an interview and you ask them their current salary and what they're looking for, make sure you write it down and pay attention to it. So in other words, if David tells you he is currently making $55k, don't bother with the interview if you can't top that. In these times, no one will take a pay cut. Tell the prospect coming in for an interview to come casual, because chances are you're casual in a button down and khakis. This creates an instant relaxed environment, making the prospect comfortable. What's the purpose of the choked up suit and tie? Aren't you hiring based on experience? During the interview, keep it short, fun and to the point. Don't get into how you got into the business and the school you went to. Who cares. The prospect wants to be in and out because chances are they have another interview lined up in the same building or up the street. You are on their time. Don't spring a surprise test on a prospect so they can proof to you that they know how to create a spreadsheet because you're a paranoid mess. This is in a way very unprofessional and rude. Remember the individual already has a manager gig at another company. They are just looking to leave because they need more money. Don't be fooled. While you're checking references on a prospect, they may be doing the same thing on you. After all, they may end up working for you right. The magazine publishing circle is a small one, so chances are the prospect knows a few people who worked for you in the past. Hopefully for you, you weren't the boss from hell. When first meeting the prospect and you're introducing yourself, give a firm genuine hand shake, not a soft, limpy, oh my god germs, handshake. This will give the prospect some idea what kind of boss you are.

Are you a Mega Millions Jackpot Winner? If so hide from the media

-Shomari Hines So far the media is reporting there are two winning tickets for yesterday's Mega Millions Jackpot. Our advise to the winners, hide from the media, because they will ruin your lives. Take your money and go underground. Do no interviews on the Today Show or American Morning, or any other shows for that matter. This was the mistake Jack Whitaker made when he won a $315 Million powerball jackpot a few years ago. The man was on TRL, and every other major cable and television show he could roll his self on to. Now look where he is today. His granddaughter is dead after an overdose and he is claiming to be broke after falling victim to strippers, booze, gambling and fraud. Print a picture of this guy and keep it on you at all times to remind you of what will happen if you act stupid.