I Can't Take It Anymore!

Why are you special?

I interview a lot of people.  Most tell me what they've done.  Some tell me what they want to do.  A few even try to just give me verbal repeats of what I've already seen on their resumes  When I ask the BIG BANG question, the majority of respondents freeze the question is easy to ask, difficult to answer!  "Why are you special"?  Usually, after several seconds of silence and followed by silly irrelevant answers to the question, I offer some help!  And I explain! 

How many interviews have you had and how many times have you been asked the same questions and how many times has someone said to you take me through your resume?  Its usually then that I explain that if no one has really asked them why they are special then that's what makes ME special and we start over!

Some get it, most don't.  I guess its a good question!

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

"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!

"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?

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!

Its all about the FIT.

Remember President Clinton's #1 and his now classic, "It's all about the economy stupid"  Well there is a similar mantra in executive recruiting that many don't get, "its all about FIT stupid"  Beautiful shoes are worthless if they don't FIT That great outfit in a store window doesn't look so good if you try it on and it doesn't FIT A little too much stuff in your carry-on and the airline makes you check the bag because it doesn't FIT A resume viewed on a job board Is nothing more than those pretty shoes or that good looking outfit.  A retained recruiter who knows his client and understands the culture is the difference between FIT and Unfit!  Remember if it's pretty and doesn't FIT you wasted your money.

Recruiting and Executive Job Hunting.

Follow-Up is a very important part of recruiting and executive job hunting.  I'm always hearing about the lack of follow-up on the part of recruiters as they handle candidates and on the part of internal talent teams who usually don't do as good a job as Executive Recruiters.  Anxious candidates usually do too much of it and busy recruitment professionals usually forget that follow up reflects on their own work their company and those who they represent

"YOU MUST NOT COMPROMISE!"

I can't tell you how many times clients list their "Musts" when I begin a search and by the way that's a good thing because there's nothing better than a focused client.  But how do you transmit "Musts" to a job board!

Must be employed!

Must have a personality

Must have a good reason for being available and unemployed Must fit with our culture.

There aren't enough KEYWORDS in the universe to do this properly! Funny, how saving a few bucks on a search eliminates the MUSTS.  At the end of the day, you just need one MUST to hire a great candidate!

YOU MUST NOT COMPROMISE!