IN THIS ISSUE:
The Feed For some - but not all - sluggish economy means sluggish sales
The Top 7 Resume blunders, and how to avoid them
News In Brief Announcements from Canon, Lexmark, Microsoft, HP, Xerox, and CompTIA
New Feature! Sound Off: Our Readers Speak
Copier Careers Poll-of-the-Month Is the slow economy hurting copier sales?
Featured Job Listings
For Some - But Not All - Sluggish Economy Means Poor Copier Sales
When Dickens wrote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," he was talking about the French Revolution. He was also trying to be funny. This sentence, which opens his novel A Tale of Two Cities, seems as good as any other to describe the current state of copier sales-though for some there's nothing funny about it. Others, however, are laughing their way to the bank. Is it the best of times? Is it the worst of times? The answer depends on who you talk to.
"It's really interesting," says Paul Schwartz, president of Copier Careers. "Some of our clients are saying their sales are better than ever. Others report that their customers are cancelling orders, afraid to buy. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it."
In a recent Copier Careers poll, 61% of respondents said that the slow economy was hurting copier sales. A majority, yes, but not an overwhelming majority. Despite the supposed slowdown in sales, the number of copier dealerships seeking new salespeople is at an all-time high. It isn't clear whether they're hiring to meet demand, to create demand, or for another reason entirely. Maybe, unbeknownst to anyone, all the best salesman in the industry have run off to become Dickens scholars. It seems crazy, but then again so does the economy.
No matter how stormy the market becomes, Schwartz believes that copier dealers will weather it. "Copiers are a staple product," he says. "Regardless of what's going on in the economy, people still have to make copies."
THE TOP 7...Resume Blunders (and how to avoid them)
Tips from the trenches to keep your copier career on track
Hiring managers are busy, and they rarely have time to read all of the resumes they're sent. If yours isn't close to perfect, it doesn't stand a chance. Keep your resume at the top of the pile by avoiding these common blunders:
1. Not tailoring the resume to each employer. Sure, revising your resume each time you send it out is a lot of work, but it's worth it. Most employers clearly state their requirements in their job postings, and smart job seekers mimic that language in their resumes. Employers want to see that you're responsive to their specific needs.
2. Stating an objective rather than a skills summary. An "objective" is about what you want from your employer. A "skills summary" is about what you can offer an employer. Which do you think is more attractive?
3. Describing yourself generically. Employers don't care that you're a "hard worker with a lot of experience." They want details: if you're a Ricoh technician with thirteen years of field experience, tell them so.
4. Making typos. Have someone proofread your resume for spelling and grammar mistakes. Errors make you seem uneducated and sloppy-not exactly the impression you're going for.
5. Lying or exaggerating. It takes only a few phone calls to verify your story. Don't disqualify yourself by overstating your achievements.
6. Formatting poorly. Nobody likes reading long, inky blocks of text. Leave plenty of white space and use bullet points and short sentences to keep your resume interesting and readable. Don't even think about using weird fonts.
7. Skimping on supplies. If you send your resume by mail (rather than by email), make sure to use heavy paper and good ink. It makes a difference.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Canon Introduces Two New Laser Multifunction Printers. The new imageCLASS MF9150c and MF9170c were designed for small offices and workgroups. "Canon continues to bring big office innovation and technology into our line of small and home office MFPs," said Jim Rosetta, VP of Canon's Imaging Systems Group. "Our new imageCLASS offerings incorporate many advanced technologies found in other Canon high-end commercial copiers, and deliver them affordably."
Lexmark Provides Output Technology for 2008 Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup took place September 16-21 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, KY. Lexmark provided laser printers, MFPs, and on-site personnel to take care of all printing and copying needs during the tournament. "We are honored to have a leading role in one of the world's most distinguished golf tournaments," said Lexmark vice president Marty Canning.
Microsoft and HP Announce Stock Buybacks. Microsoft's board of directors has approved a plan to buy back $40 billion worth of stock, having just completed its previous $40 billion stock repurchase program. HP's board of directors has approved an $8 billion stock repurchase plan. These and other buybacks are intended to increase the per-share value of a company's stock.
Xerox Introduces New "Green" Initiative. The company has unveiled new resources and Web tools to help customers identify which papers, supplies, and printing practices will have the least detrimental effect on the environment. Visit www.xerox.com for more information.
CompTIA to Update Network+ Certification. The 2009 edition of the CompTIA Network+ certification exam is scheduled for worldwide release during the first quarter of 2009. "Expansion and growth of wireless networks in the corporate environment have generated administrative and security challenges on the network, said Michael Robie, VP of Skill and Development for CompTIA. "The updated exam will be more reflective of current networking technologies.
Sound Off: Our readers speak
You, our readers, know the copier industry better than anybody else. You're out there every day selling machines and fixing them, working with customers and vendors, managing and being managed, keeping up with the newest technology, and living the trends that we write about. In short, you're our eyes and ears. Now we're giving you the chance to mouth off.
Starting next month, Copier Careers will begin publishing reader comments in this section. Have an opinion on one of our stories? Want to explain your Poll-of-the-Month vote? Feel like ranting, raving, or otherwise commenting? Put your two cents in here. And be sure to check back next month to see your name in print. We can't publish every comment we receive, but we'll do our best to represent your viewpoints thoroughly and accurately.
POLL OF THE MONTH
Have copier industry salaries kept pace with inflation?JOB LISTINGS
We have over 700 jobs currently listed online
Here are just a few of the jobs currently listed:Chief Financial Officer - TX
Sales Manager - CT
Sales Representative - DC
Field Service Technician - IN
Field Service Technician - IL
Controller - Washington DC
Sales Manager - C0
Sales Representative - MN
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