(I am suspending my nine-part “Chapter Update” series this week to present the following important public service announcement. The “Chapter Update” series will resume next week.)

Some of you will remember that my April 2004 Golf Course News magazine column initially introduced the concept of golf course superintendents developing their own personal career web sites. Response to this then new concept came slowly but has escalated today to the point where:

• +/- 18% of all superintendents have developed a career web site to date.
• +/- 60% of all interview slots are being assigned to candidates with quality career web sites.
• +/- 70% of all new jobs are going to candidates with quality career web sites.

All of the above percentages will continue to grow indefinitely because candidates with career web sites are “stealing” jobs every day. Join the party, or resist at your career’s peril.

“Submitting an address for a quality career web site within a job application cover letter today virtually guarantees that a candidate will be granted an interview …

I have been waiting for six years to find a reliable source where I could refer the many constant requests I have received for help in designing personal career web sites. That day has now arrived:

The company is Playbooks For Golf, whose principals are Greg Wojick, CGCS (a respected former superintendent) and Matt Leverich (a high-tech former assistant superintendent). Visit Playbooks web site for a first-hand look at actual quality web sites developed for superintendents and assistants – among other appealing services and products.

Fee Schedule: (Guaranteed through September 15, 2010)

• For assistants and superintendents who have lost jobs: $500 due when request for a web site is accepted; with the balance of $450 not due until a job is obtained.

• For presently employed superintendents: $350 payable when request for a web site is accepted; with the balance of $600 due when client approves and accepts the final web site product.

This is an ideal opportunity for presently employed superintendents to prepare career web sites in anticipation of their applying for new jobs either out of choice, or by necessity because they have lost a job. Always be prepared!

Service Profile:

• Playbooks will require clients to submit: (i) an informal career summary that Messrs. Wojick and Leverich will re-write into professional web site text; (ii) from 8 to 12 supporting digital photographs; (iii) a copy of a recently updated resume; and (iv) a viable credit card number.

• Playbooks will present clients with three web site format options to pick from.

• Playbooks will provide web site hosting for $150 per year (standard industry fee). While clients would be free to find another hosting site for their new web sites, this is not recommended because it will always be easier and less expensive to update a web site where it was initially developed.

• Playbooks will update web sites once developed without a fee for reasonable minor revisions; but will charge a to-be-negotiated fee for more major web site revisions.

• Playbooks will revise layout and custom design submitted resumes to match visual web site theme for inclusion in the final web site product.

• Playbooks (without an additional fee) will also custom design stationary, envelopes and business cards to match the visual web site theme and forward – along with the final custom-designed resume – to clients via pdf, which will allow clients to produce final products at their own cost.

• Playbooks will maintain strict confidentiality with all client products produced.

Development Time: It takes Playbooks approximately two months to develop a final web site product provided the client submits information requested and reviews web site drafts on a timely basis.

Submit questions and requests for web site development to: Matt Leverich at: matt@goplaybooks.com. Web sites will be developed on a “first come first served” basis.

Spread the word to friends and associates; i.e., web site utopia has arrived.