I Can't Take It Anymore!

"Clean House"

Don't you think that if every incumbent in Congress were challenged by someone who was smart, accomplished and successful at their previous job that the next election could clean house and get some fresh faces in to replace all those jerks?

Of course, there's no guarantee because, except for a few life time politicians, most of the people in office now are people who were just that before they got elected...Smart, Accomplished and Successful at their previous job!  The spec is the same we just need to admit that these guys were a mistake and we need a "do-over"!

Unemployed Executives

I don’t want to really “knock” any of the people at the airports who work for the TSA but I can tell you that I have a better idea in view of the most recent headlines!

There are thousands, if not millions of people who are out of work who have had more responsible jobs than those people currently doing the screening!..Why don’t we take the current screeners (God forbid we should fire them) and have them check BAGS not PEOPLE??

Why don’t we then take these “more skilled” unemployed executives, send them to an intensive training program and give them permanent jobs checking PEOPLE.  A large percentage of these folks already know that they are in need of a career change!  Then lets pay them a really good salary to do this really important job the best part of my idea is how we would fund the program!

Lets get this guy Feinberg who is in charge of limiting the salaries of those executives in companies that have received government bailouts and just have him say to them and their companies….”you guys can get paid whatever you want, you will just have to kick in 10 or 15% of your salary to pay for our NEW TSA TEAM! …And your “contribution is tax deductible!

Everybody wins..the current TSA employees, the unemployed executives looking for jobs, the public looking for safety and politeness in the screening process, Feinberg who wants the citizenry to think he’s doing something, the highly paid executives who certainly can afford the money and the politicians who would look smarter than they are, for creating the program>>>>>>The only losers……The Bad Guys!

Executive Search Consultant

One of the most important jobs I have as an executive search consultant is to do reference checking.  Hiring a retained search firm comes at a higher cost than using a job board or surfing the internet for candidates and resumes....BUT....there is a real value attached to the additional costs.  I'm not going to get into the detail of all the other services provided to justify engaging a retained search firm.  This posting is about reference checking and how important it is to the hiring process.

I don't know how Nike, Accenture or Gillette decided to use Tiger Woods as their spokesperson.  I don't know what media or advertising genius concluded that Tiger's image in an ad would increase sales.  But I do know that the same search firm that reference checks the executives that these companies are so careful to hire could have saved them a lot of trouble and money...if someone had bothered to do some "good old" reference checking!  That old golf adage.  "Its all in the swing" may have to be changed to, "its all in the reference checking".  But then again you need three things to play the game, A good golfer The right clubs And of course Balls

I find people jobs!

I find people jobs!  I fill jobs that need to be filled within companies, both large and small.  No matter what industry you are in, we seem to have opportunities in the ares of CRISIS MANAGEMENT!  This week you can chose from the following industries!

GOLF

GOLF

GOLF or

HEALTHCARE

If you have the skill these businesses have the crisis!

"Players who make great plays"

I love Sunday in the fall and early winter...that's when Pro Football really gets exciting!  After a good game, some great plays and a game winning catch, I begin to wonder!

Where do they get these players?

How do they find them?

How do they know they're even good before they sign them?

The answer is always the same:  Every Pro Football team has a group of people who are responsible for finding talent for the team's management to evaluate and ultimately hire so the team can win games!  That's what I do!  I'm a HEADHUNTER!  Companies hire me so they can find players who make great plays and win games.  And not just on cold Sunday afternoons.

"CASH FOR CONSUMERS"

Economics has always fascinated me!  My world is divided into 2 economic sectors:  There is the group that makes and sells things you know manufacturers, retailers etc.  Then there is the group that services you know accountants, doctors, lawyers and executive recruiters in NY, like me!

OH!  I almost forgot, that there's the Government that provides financial stimulus to keep some of these groups afloat!  The holiday season would seem to be a great time for all these groups to work together and get us out of this mess!  Everyone is waiting to hear and see how many people are shopping...a lot of shopping will be good for business and good for the mood of the country!  So I have a plan!  The consultants should recommend that the government do something for the consumer so that he/she will shop!

"CASH FOR CONSUMERS"

And they have to spend the money in December in a store or on line!  Don't you think that would work??..The amounts would not matter, finally everybody would be in a good mood!

What were they thinking?

I am a Headhunter, I get paid to do senior level executive search and my specialty is being creative.  Some headhunters know important people I KNOW IMPORTANT IDEAS.  Here's an Important Idea:

GM just fired its CEO and now a really experienced guy from AT&T is the running the place!

Are these guys nuts!....

If they want a telephone guy why didn't they go to APPLE!

Just getting Steve Jobs or one of Apple's senior executives on loan to GM is the right call on the right phone.

"Invaluable Resource"

How many times have I heard from a recently displaced executive, "I wish I had taken all those Headhunter calls over the years.  I would have a built-in network and wouldn't be starting from scratch now that I need them"?

The facts are simple: It's to your benefit to have relationships with good executive recruiters.  If you are in a management position, a good recruiter will demonstrate value and trust in order to win your business. The recruiter's presence in your life can shine light on obstacles and can offer staffing solutions if you involve ( I didn't say ENGAGE) that person.  In a like manner if you are in a management position but it is your own career that is of immediate concern, the recruiter who is already "part of your life", will be an invaluable resource!

Is there anybody out there who buys your favorite headhunter a cup of coffee even if you are not giving him business or looking for a job?  Let me know who you are because you and that coffee treat are certainly not the everyday JOE?

"I've never seen anything like this before"

If I hear one more person say, "I've never seen anything like this before".  I will go bonkers!  Wouldn't it be great if every time you hear this now familiar phrase, that people were referring to things like:  How nice people have been to other people in their job search!  How many have offered to be of assistance!  How strangers take a few minutes to lend a hand or give advice How so many have offered encouragement and networking opportunities Wouldn't it be nice if, "I haven't seen anything like this before" was referring to good and happy things and not to the disappointments that are inevitable during an economic downturn.

The Executive Search

I have been in the Executive Search business for quite awhile.  I've advised middle and senior level executives on job moves and opportunities during this time as a Headhunter.  In a like manner, I have guided Corporate Executives in line management and Human Resources on organizational change and executive selection.  From now until the end of the year I will offer anyone who is interested, a telephone conversation structured to revive a lagging job search or a critique of a failed hiring process.  Just send me an email letting me know that you would like to take me up on my Blog offer and don't forget to include your telephone number.

Happy Holidays!