D-Backs get 800 resumes for PR opening

By Len Gutman on October 30th, 2009 In Jobs

I have to admit I thought about it for more than a minute. I’ve been self-employed for 10 years, but if there was one job that would get me to consider leaving my comfortable little world it would be PR director for a major league baseball franchise. But something deep down told me I had the perfect little life and not even doing PR for the Diamondbacks was worth giving it up. Turns out there were 800 people out there who couldn’t resist!

The Business Journal is reporting this morning in a piece by Mike Sunnucks that the D-Backs received 800 resumes for its open PR job. Is this the state of the job market in Phoenix, or is this just a special opportunity that caused people who wouldn’t ordinarily send their resumes to polish it up and fire it off?

Shaun Rachau, the D-backs’ vice president for communications, said the number of people applying for his organization’s PR job is substantially higher than in previous years, when he might have received 200 applications for the post.

“I’ve been surprised,” he said, adding he’s getting resumes from individuals ranging from out-of-work, overqualified professionals to those with little or no sports marketing or PR experience. This particular position, he said, will focus on the D-backs’ corporate communications and social media efforts.

Did you apply?

D-Backs get 800 resumes for PR opening

Comments

rolomonkey Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 7:29 am

It may take 800 PR people to generate interest in a below-average team in which baseball fans no longer care.

Tyler Hurst Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 7:32 am

For an organization that has shunned most new media ways of communicating. Can’t say I’d be excited to work for them.

Linda VandeVrede Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 9:35 am

I think it would be cool, depending on how much you’d get to interact with the baseball players/team (prob not much). I wouldn’t want the commute, tho.

Pat Elliott Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 9:45 am

Nothing unique about this. Phoenix is the #1 US city in terms of percentage of jobs lost. Most businesses here are being flooded with resumes at a volume that’s impeding the hiring process and frustrating job seekers.

As far as PR jobs, it reflects a lack of understanding of the profession. Just ask anyone with an open PR position about the type of resumes/cover letters they get.

I’m also seeing,in my volunteer work, a continued interest from people in other states wanting to move here with no understanding of local market conditions. Online application methods, especially the major job boards like Monster, attract hundreds of out of state applicants, both qualified and clueless.

All of these factors are resulting in employers avoiding job boards and proactively seeking qualified candidates through professional online networks such as LinkedIn. Social media is also playing a larger role.

Just like public relations, the employment game is changing in major ways. Getting a gig today is significantly different from the last time most people had to do this, even if that last time was just three months ago.

RSS Ray Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 10:58 am

Does anyone worry about earning a living anymore? That amount of interest in a job lucky to pay $50K? Let them have it.

Mike Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 12:14 pm

Rats. I was hoping to hit you up for a bunch of free tix!

A career change into PR – Textifying Says:
November 1st, 2009 at 10:52 am

[...] Valley PR Blog, Len Gutman provides the insight in the post, “D-backs get 800 resumes for PR opening.” The Phoenix Business Journal originally posted the information, however, Gutman is trying to [...]

Alison Says:
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:59 am

Who is leaving their PR team?? Not Catherine?

Tony Felice Says:
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:37 pm

I can’t tell you the number of unqualified applicants who send me resumes every week, especially ones from out-of-state. Everyone thinks “they’d like to get into PR.” Truth is, our jobs are really hard, take a lot of effort and creativity and absolutely REQUIRE solid relationships with local media.

BTW good luck to the winning applicant who will have a real challenge navigating that front office mindset.

Mariane Maffeo Says:
December 10th, 2009 at 8:53 pm

Well? Who got the job?

Add your Comment


Want Your Picture Icon? Go to gravatar.com and set a picture up to your email address for free. It also works on thousands of other websites, too!