Product Life Cycle

by Doug Berube

            This is about managing your product to maximize success and the product I need to manage is me. For the past seven months, I have been unemployed and have been seeking work the conventional way. I’ve been applying for employment using search engines, headhunters, and job fairs, which have not produced a job. These job applications totaled eighty seven resumes, and counting, with resumes posted on dozens of sites. I’ve had one in person interview and four phone interviews without current success. It is time to change my approach and the way I manage my career as a product that is marketable.

            I’m reading a book called “The Start-up of You” by Reid Hoffman and Ban Casnocha. I’m going to write a book report next week, and if there were any tips I could use to start up me. Reid Hoffman is the founder of LinkedIn, and I have been using it to increase my professional network. I’m still learning how to take advantage of the network, and I’m hoping I will get some insight that will help me network.

            The next blog after the book report, will be a business plan. My current class at ODU is marketing and writing a business plan is a major part of the class. I will refine my business plan during the course and post it on this blog.