Career Hub

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

When I was in recruitment, one of the biggest 'fears' we had was that a really good candidate would get a counter offer from their existing employer and turn down our clients. All that hard work, phone calls, interviewing, coaching etc and then the number one candidate says NO!

Believe me when I say that many clients (let alone the recruiter) did not want candidate number two!

In fact we developed a whole strategy around the counter offer dilemma, even to the point of having a check box on the file - "Counter Offer Question Covered". There was one recruiter I knew of that even offered to resign on behalf of the candidate so the question never came up!

In the current market, where the talent shortage is even more acute you might well be in the envious (or NOT!) position of needing to consider the counter offer. I had it twice in my corporate career - first time turned it down and it was the right decision, second time took it and that was a bad decision (although eventually led me to do what I do now).

I wish in both cases I had some impartial counsel from somewhere (and believe me you will not get that if there is a recruiter involved - they are being paid by the hiring company so no way do they want your taking the counter offer).

If you are in that situation or expect it soon, check out this list of 10 tips to consider about counter offers that was posted on the 6 Figure Career Management blog by Sital Ruparelia.

Cross posted on the Reflections of a Square Peg blog. 

The reality of working with a recruiter

A reader of my personal blog wrote this morning to ask about recruiters. Having not looked for a job in sometime, he wanted to know whether I could recommend a headhunter in his area.

I actually don't know anyone, but even if I did, one headhunter would not be enough.

Many people share the misconception that, for senior level positions, contacting a headhunter is the way to find a job. To understand why this is wrong, you have to understand how headhunters work.

A headhunter (or recruiter) is engaged by a company to fill a specific position. She is given very specific qualifications, and she is paid for her services by the company. Sometimes she is paid on a retainer basis, but most often she is paid only when she successfully fills the position.

So her compensation depends on finding people who exactly match the specifications she has been given, and her client is the employer NOT the job seekers.

Depending on the size of her practice, she may be working on just one position at a time, or several, but she doesn't have hundreds and hundreds of openings. And because she is paid for filling a position, she doesn't have time to spend on candidates who don't match the job criteria.

This means that it's not likely you will be a match for the position she's currently trying to fill. It's not impossible - but the odds are not in your favor. Which is why you need to contact multiple recruiters to have any good chance of receiving a call back.

You must also understand that most recruiters specialize in either an industry or a field (marketing, sales, finance etc.) and sending your resume to someone who doesn't hire for your profession is just a waste of time.

So to work effectively with recruiters, you need to contact a large group of people who specialize in your industry or profession.

I recommend Executiveagent for this purpose - it compiles a list of recruiters based on the criteria you determine, and once you pay, your resume is emailed to all those recruiters. The fee is relatively inexpensive, and it's an efficient way to reach a lot of people at once.

The alternative is manual research. Buy a directory of recruiters from a bookstore, or use Google to track down as many names as you can.

Just remember - the recruiter is working for the company, not for you. You should not expect any personal attention or time to be spent with you, if you are not a match for a vacant position.

Cross-posted at Blueskyresumesblog.com

 

Twitter Etiquette

I just read a great post over on the Exalt Creativity blog about Twitter Etiquette. The blog's author, Rebecca Coggan, reminds us that the etiquette rules for Twitter are similar to those of other social networking sites and that it's important to observe the community first and post content that adds value. She also warns that posting too frequently may be perceived as spamming. I've heard that people who misuse Twitter are sometimes referred to as twits. Perhaps we should refer to spam on Twitter as spit???

Keep your posts relevant and think of ways to share information that will help those who read your tweets. Just like traditional networking, be cognizant of what you can give, not what you can get. Enjoy!

Posted by Barbara Safani

Never Have to Job Search Again -Network Purposefully!

By now, you may already know that networking is an important job searching technique. But how do you find the networking contacts needed to find the unadvertised jobs in your field? How do you get started on building a productive network of the right kind of contacts? Here are some clever and effective ways to begin to create your Network Purposefully, to connect directly with hiring decision makers at your target employers.

If you develop these important relationships now, then when you need a job lead, you may have the inside track through the people you know or from referrals from these strategic contacts to individuals in their network who can help you with your job search. In fact, if you continuously expand your network, your exchanges with your contacts may suggest your next career challenge even if you are not officially a candidate meaning that you may never have to proactively look for a new job ever again.

   1. Create a list of target employers and identify current contacts affiliated with these companies. Reach out to each insider offering something to attract their attention- not by asking about a position opening. Make your communication about them, not you!

   2. Re-establish and promote/maintain existing connections through scheduled email exchanges, invitations to events, sharing relevant resources and links, occasional phone calls, holiday cards, inperson meetings, etc.

   3. Initiate new networking connections with employees at target companies identified through corporate research, conference listings, author by-lines, letters to the editor, trade publication and business press citations, personal introductions by mutual contacts, affinity group connections, etc.

   4. Expedite your insider networking contacts by a third party referral - ask each of your contacts if they will personally recommend you to one of their connections inside a target employer on your list

   5. Be proactive-  set up a three way discussion, make an introduction or referral by email, send an appropriate gift, subscription, blog quote, to start a conversation and interact one on one,etc.

   6. Promote your online visibility – publish and promote a blog, establish a web portfolio, join and interact on email lists or chats, develop a video resume, give an interview, produce a podcast, give an interview, publish an e-book, etc. Periodically update these and inform your network contacts about them and about all revisions.

   7. Offer to chair an industry conference section or social meeting at a industry event. Follow up on the contacts you make for this event.

   8. Volunteer for community education programs, school events, sporting activities, etc. where you can demonstrate your expertise and be remembered.

   9. Write a book, or column or article for your professional association – differentiate yourself as a niche expert.

  10. Organize monthly or quarterly inperson networking gatherings (eg., breakfasts, lunches, dinners, cocktails) at an attractive and convenient venue and invite targeted contacts- organize around a shared interest or event.

  11. Send your compliments to journalists, academic pundits, etc. and offer to help by sharing your knowledge, contacts and expertise. Stay in touch and promote a relationship through multiple exchanges, not a one time comment.

Debra Feldman, the JobWhiz

Will a Google Search Knock You Out of the Competition?

A recent ExecuNet article indicates that, according to their survey results, approximately 44% of executive recruiters say that they have dropped a candidate from consideration for a position due to information they learned about the candidate after Googling them. This startling high number is starkly up (nearly 10 percentage points) from responses they received to the same question just 2 years ago.

Top-ranked reasons for elimination were:

1. Police arrests, felony convictions, legal entanglements, and a career track record of firings.

2. Resume fraud.

3. The candidate's background was shown not to be a match.

Combine this information with statistics gathered in the same survey that nearly 86% of recruiters say their firms use Internet search engines to uncover information about potential candidates, and it becomes obvious that negative information about you that is on the Web can be detrimental to your career health.

It is a wise practice to conduct an online search for your name at least every month or two, something that ExecuNet reports about 44% of executives surveyed say they do. Knowledge is power: If there is false information out there about you, you can work to correct it. If there is negative but true information about you out there, you can work to create a positive online reputation to counteract it. Methods to build this positive reputation include publishing articles online, maintaining a blog, participating in online networking through sites such as LinkedIn, and creating a website or online portfolio that showcases your background, knowledge, and expertise.

Posted by Laurie Smith

Planting Seeds

This past weekend, I spent hours planting all types of flowers and seeds. Trips to garden centers and big box stores produced a plethora of plantings for the abundantly rich soil here in the Heartland. From Impatiens to daisies to a Ballerina rose from my favorite gift and garden center in Chicago, the flowers were carefully poised and planted in their new environment. Did you know that before planting morning glory seeds, it's best to soak them in water for 24 hours? I didn't know that, but thanks to one of my recent clients, a Master Gardener, it's a good tip to know. Now, back to planting seeds...

Are you in a job search? Is it progressing the way you thought it would? Are things moving along fast enough for you? Have you tended your network, both online and offline? Are you cultivating relationships for a future of abundance, or are you more focused on what's not happening at the moment? Are you weeding out job search strategies that aren't working for you? Are you constantly thinking of creative ways to plant seeds, or have you given up trying to grow something new?

In one of my favorite works by Stephen R. Covey, Principle-Centered Leadership, he writes about The Law of the Farm, page 161:

"The only thing that endures over time is the law of the farm...I must prepare the ground, put in the seed, cultivate, weed, and water if I expect to reap a harvest."

And so it goes with a career transition; consider planting some new seeds today for a more prosperous tomorrow. How does your job search grow?

posted by: billiesucher

Manufacturing Jobs – Where Will They Come From Next?

The short answer is that more than half of the new Manufacturing jobs created in the 10 years ending 2016 will be in 2 industries:

1. Pharmaceuticals and medicine ... 69,000 new jobs
2. Animal slaughtering ... 60,000 new jobs

Our data source includes the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) projections from 2006 to 2016, and BLS employment data through April 2008. 

An additional 122,000 new jobs will be created in aerospace, architectural and structural metals, ship and boat building, cement and concrete products, plastics, engineered wood product and a few others.

Overall, the Manufacturing sector will add 252,000 new jobs in these industries while losing 1.5 million jobs overall. Most of the losses will be in fabricated metal, computer, machinery, printing and apparel.

INDUSTRY DATA

Here are the details, abbreviated and summarized, with the projected new jobs highlighted in bold.

• In Food Manufacturing, animal food, grain, sugar, fruit, dairy and seafood will lose 62,000 jobs. Animal slaughtering, bakeries and tortilla will add 64,000 jobs.
• Beverage, Tobacco, Textiles, Apparel and Leather will lose 106,000 jobs.
• In Wood Product Manufacturing, sawmills and wood preservation will lose 33,000 jobs. Engineered wood products will add 10,000 jobs.
• Paper Manufacturing and Printing will lose 241,000 jobs.
• In Chemical Manufacturing, basic chemical, resin, synthetic rubber, pesticide, fertilizer, paint and soap will lose 90,000 jobs. Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing will add 69,000 jobs.
• In Plastics and Rubber Manufacturing, rubber will lose 46,000 jobs. Plastics will add 13,000 jobs.
• In Nonmetallic Mineral Manufacturing, clay and glass will lose 22,000 jobs. Cement, concrete products, lime and gypsum will add 21,000 jobs.
• In Primary and Fabricated Metal Manufacturing, iron, steel, aluminum, foundries, forging, cutlery, boiler, hardware, spring, machine shops and coatings will lose 292,000 jobs. Architectural and structural metals will add 23,000 jobs.
• Machinery, Computer and Electrical Equipment Manufacturing will lose 385,000 jobs.
• In Transportation Equipment Manufacturing, motor vehicle and railroad rolling stock will lose 157,000 jobs. Aerospace, ship and boat building will add 43,000 jobs.
• In Furniture Manufacturing, household, institutional, kitchen, office and fixtures will lose 37,000 jobs. Other furniture related products will add 1,000 jobs.
• In Miscellaneous Manufacturing, miscellaneous will lose 56,000 jobs. Miscellaneous medical equipment will add 4,000 jobs.

METROPOLITAN AREA DATA

The metropolitan areas that show the most manufacturing growth in the last 12 months AND the last 10 years include Las Vegas, Bakersfield, Napa, Stockton, Amarillo and Salt Lake City. Projections to 2016 are not available by metropolitan area.

Other metropolitan areas show recent manufacturing growth BUT significant 10-year declines. The Seattle area for example added 6,000 new jobs in the last 12 months BUT they are recovering from a loss of 47,000 jobs in the last 10 years. The same pattern of recovery is true for Houston, San Jose, York and Wichita.

THE TAKE AWAY

Finding a job in the Manufacturing sector will be easier in the industry/location combinations that are growing. The pharmaceutical industry for example is growing the fastest (based on the last 12 months and 10 years) in California and North Carolina ... and the pharmaceutical industry is projected to have the most new jobs by 2016.

Forget Elevator Pitches, Twitter is Taking the Escalator

Whether you "Twitter" or not, you need to know about Twitter.

Why? Because Twitter is fast becoming a powerhouse business and social tool that has the potential to change the way businesses (and you) communicate. Check out today's article in BusinessWeek "The Escalator Pitch" (coined "Twitpitch").

Twitter is "a micro-blog" that allows messages of just 140 characters. It's brevity forces precision messaging -- you'll need to start thinking in "essential vs. important" terms. And even then, you'll likely need to edit down. In fact, the article suggests that for the best impact, you get your Twitpitch down to 10 seconds and 8 words! Try that out -- NOT easy! I'm not talking about idle Twittering (the "I'm going to lunch with Aunt Sally today" 8-word messages). I'm talking about concise brand- and value-driven pitching for business, and even for employment.

Twitter is relatively new, and it's suffering some growing pains, but it has a loyal following of early adopters and a growing community of new and consistent users who are building buzz around products, creating networks, creating touch points with a legion of "followers," and delivering notices of blog posts and other activities. Yes, you've got the "I had spaghetti for dinner" crowd in there, but there are many individuals and business who are using Twitter as a serious business and social tool.

I'm a "Twitter novice" myself and just signed on today (I have to thank Jason Alba of JibberJobber and Sabrina Compagno of Netshare for leading me to that decision). I'm curious to see how I'll use it. So far it's a grand experiment. (Then again, so was LinkedIn and now I can't imagine doing business without it.)

For more on Twitter see an earlier CareerHub post by Barbara Safani as well as another BusinessWeek article.

poted by Deb Dib (http://twitter.com/CEOCoach)

Mental Imagery Mastery and Career Transition

Can being optimistic and visualizing "success", whether attaining a new job or a stretch of a goal, actually play an important role in achieving that goal? Many notable individuals, from Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus to Shaquille O'Neal and Olympic Gold Medal winner Janet Evans would heartily concur.

What do these sports greats know about achieving goals and success that could be put to use in a career transition? Well, that question is what prompted Dr. Lynn Joseph to research guided mental imagery and advanced visualization techniques. Her ground-breaking Job-Loss Recovery study (published in the prestigious Consulting Psychology Journal) demonstrated that guided mental imagery CAN shorten job-loss periods for out-of-work professionals by as much as 50% (from 4 months to 2 months).

In fact, her Job-Loss Recovery Program garnered a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Award from the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Join Dr. Lynn Joseph as she is interviewed by William Arruda of the Reach Branding Club (RBC) on Thursday May 22, 2008 (12 noon EST) on "Self Leadership: Achieve Career Transitions and Goals More Quickly and Powerfully with Advanced Visualization Techniques". She will cover:

• What is guided imagery?
• How have world-class athletes used this tool to reach their goals?
• How could this apply to job search and career transition?
• How important is our expectation of success or failure to the outcome?
• What are some suggested uses of guided mental imagery?

Dr. Joseph has been an executive search consultant and has worked with Fortune 100 companies in the management of sales, training, and human resources. Her broad background in the careers arena combined with her Ph.D. in Psychology, has made her a thought leader in visualization techniques and their practical application to real-world goals.

If you are interested in boosting self-confidence, relieving stress, improving your job-search skills, revitalizing your hope for your future, and/or landing a new job more quickly, be sure to register for this mental imagery teleseminar. Having trained with Dr. Joseph on the use of guided mental imagery in career transition and job search, I can personally attest to its powerful impact in creating the kind of positive mindset that can achieve what might seem to be impossible goals.

Cross-posted at Career Goddess Blog

Staying Young, Staying Competitive

In my practice, I work with persons of all ages. It's fun and I get to learn from all of them. Recently, with some of the Boomers I've worked with, the conversation has been about "staying young" and "staying competitive." The question posed to me last week by a 54-year-old female executive was this:  What are some things I can do to make myself seem younger? Having thought about it for a while, here are some things you might try to make yourself seem younger if that's important to you:

1. Act young, vibrant, and energetic. You don't have to act like you're worn out, tired, exhausted, and ready for a nap, even though you might be.

2. Choose words that don't date you. By that I mean, stay away from lines like back in the day or when I was a kid, or young pup, or little whippersnapper.

3. Look in the mirror. What do you see? What, if anything, can you do about it if you don't like what you see?

4. Females, enlist the services of a make-up specialist if you desire an updated, fresh look. If you don't have funds to do that, ask a friend, family member, or colleague for some ideas.

5. Hire a professional image consultant to give you some tips on how to revamp your wardrobe, image, brand, or look. Follow through on ideas that make sense to you (and your pocketbook).

6. Exercise and try to get yourself in better physical shape. Personally, I'm no spring chicken : - ) and I'll never see sample size 4. And that's OK; when I do work out, I feel better. It's that simple.

7. Go through your clothes closet. Anything that's old and doesn't have some huge emotional significance, ask yourself...can I part with this? do I even fit into this? will I ever wear this again? (I cannot part with the shoes I wore on my wedding day; they are permanent closet keepers, along with the dress, etc.)

8. Take a good look at your teeth; are they dull, yellow, or unattractive? If so, check with your dentist to see what, if anything, you can do to achieve a whiter, brighter smile, if you so desire.

9. Consider your eye apparel. Does your eye wear look current, or is it the same pair of glasses you wore in the 20th century? Visit your local eye care center and inquire about 21st century options.

10. Learn something new in the realm of computers and technology. Take a class on how to use a computer; get an e-mail address; learn the basics and proceed from there. Then you can share with others what you do know versus what you don't.

What strategies have you incorporated to keep yourself looking good, feeling good, regardless of your age?

posted by: billiesucher