To be Done

It is better to be done with a project than it s to be perfect. There have been so many times when I started a project and continued to work on it striving for perfection.  It would have been much easier to get the job done and worry about fine tuning after the fact.  Striving for perfection can be an excuse for procrastination.

The Interview

The interview is an opportunity for candidates and employers to mutually evaluate the match between the candidate's qualifications and goals and the company's needs.  Both the candidate and the client have only one opportunity to make a good first impression.

Passe Job Search Technique Number 1

Don’t use nubby beige or pink or stone-grey resume paper, or any other kind of special paper or matching envelopes, in your job search. Dedicated-use resume paper is a 1980s artifact. Most of your resumes will reach employers electronically, in which case the employer will print it out. For resumes you print on your own, use plain white bond paper. (If you want to use a heavier stock than usual, do it.) Keep resume formatting simple. You don’t need horizontal lines or curlicues, unless you are yourself a creative person, in which case you can go hog-wild with artistic expression. What matters in your resume is its content and accomplishments.

Insanity

I am sure that you have heard that the definition of insanity is to continue doing the same thing and expecting different results.After 25 plus years as an executive recruiter I have changed the way I do business and I am getting different results.

Previously I spent a considerable amount of time on the phone "dialing for dollars." and while I had good connect time time (3-4 hours perday) the quality of my calls both on the lcient and candidate side were moderate at best.

With the chnages I have implemented I have much less connect time but the quality of the calls are much greater and my success rate at surfacing good clients and candidates has exponentially increased.

I guess an old dog can learn new tricks.

Preparation sis the key tp succes

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe. “                              -   Abraham Lincoln   Lincoln is very much in the news these days with examinations of his character, his leadership style and his actions.  Not to mention the movie about his presidency that has gotten so much attention.  Although Lincoln’s quote is short and to the point what he is saying is that preparation is the key to success.    Over my 25 plus years as a recruiter I have planned my work and then worked my plan on a daily basis.  That being said, there are always the emergencies and last minute changes to deal with; but I always had a plan to go back to!   Much has been written about how to ace an interview and get the job.  Part of my daily plan, when needed, is to set aside time to discuss interview preparation with candidates going out on interviews and preparing the client to meet the candidate.  I cannot tell you how many times a client did not want to take the time to hear about a candidate, and ever more surprising was how many times I heard from a candidate that they had never blown an interview and did not need to have any information from me.   Needless to say, in both of these situations the interviews did not go well and both the clients and candidates were looking to me for answers.  My response was and is that preparation is the key to success.

Qualities of a Successful Recruiter

Qualities of a Successful Recruiter

The most successful recruiters are part salesman, career counselor, consultant, advisor, fact finder, archaeologist, and “shrink.” They are balanced in their advice. They present both sides of the story, ask candidates a multitude of questions geared directly toward their professional needs and wants, and work to build relationships based on trust with candidates. This is something that takes time and commitment. A successful recruiter will always put the needs of the candidate and client first.  It must be a win for each of them and then and only then will it be a win for the recruiter.

What not to do on an Intervew

After 25 years of recruiting it never ceases to amaze me that the candidate who says they will ace the interview usually ends up being the joker.  Many articles have been written about how to ace the interview but here are a few tips on what not to do:

1.  Wear unkempt clothing
2.  Do not clean or shine your shoes
3.  Use a heavy perfume or after shave
4.  Do not bring copies of your resume to the interview
5.  Do not bring a pen or pencil to the interview
6.  Do not research the company your are interviewing with
7.  Do not roll play possible questions you may be asked
8.  Do not be a good listener
9.  Do not know your accomplishments and how they would help the
     company
10.By all means ask about salary and benefits on the first interview