We don't get paid to find candidates!!

Wow… stop and think about it. Anyone can find a candidate – that is, anyone with a computer and a little know-how about Boolean searches. Simply put in some key words and "voila”… out pop dozens of candidates. Or how about putting a half decent posting together and sticking it on some job boards. Easy – right?????


Here’s where we differentiate ourselves as professional recruiters (yes, I did use the term professional!)….


Adding Value – a commonly misused phrase. What does "adding value” really mean? So many of our clients (or potential clients) think that all we do is to grab resumes from job boards and flog them. No wonder we get objections about having candidates submitted who are already on the boards. What we fail to do is to EDUCATE our clients on the PROCESS of what we do as professionals.


Think about it… we can find a resume, chat with a candidate and even get them interested in going to an interview. However, that is not what makes a PLACEMENT!! Here’s where our expertise comes in.


The ability to assess the appropriate "fit” of the candidate to your client’s particular position is paramount. No matter how "technically qualified” the person is, if they are not a fit, the placement won’t fly. You don’t just need to know, "Can they do the job?” but "Will they do the job well?”


Ask yourself, "How well do I know this candidate?” The more information you have about the candidate, the higher the chances are that you will have a successful placement. You know how many times you have presented a candidate – only to find out that they turn the job down. 
Did you stop and examine, "What could I have asked or learned about the candidate to mitigate the potential of a turndown?” Sometimes we fool ourselves into believing that they will say "yes” when it was a "no” all along.


You should be asking for more info about the candidate – things like… what motivates them? 


Why would they consider moving from where they are? What’s missing in their career now? 


What do they value (as opposed to what you value)? How long have they thought a potential career move through (people don’t tend to change careers overnight… it takes time!)? So many questions we fail to ask and yet it really is part of the overall process of making a successful placement. Is there a "favorite” question you like to ask, no matter what? I tend to close the interview with… "Name three things that are important to YOU as you consider moving from one career to another.” Expand on each thing and write them down… go back and reflect on this as you work through the recruitment process because that is the benchmark that the opportunity will be measured against. 


Restate this wish list to the candidate throughout the process to remind them of what they said was important to them. Draw parallels between your job opportunity and what they consider to be important to them. As you work through the process you will find it easier, the more information you are armed with!


So you see… we don’t get paid for finding candidates and submitting resumes! We get paid for our ability to bring the placement to a successful close

Tips to Successfully Interview over the Phone

Employers use telephone interviews as a way of identifying and recruiting candidates for employment. Phone interviews are often used to screen candidates in order to narrow the pool of applicants who will be invited for in-person interviews. They are also used as a way to minimize the expenses involved in interviewing out-of-town candidates.
While you're actively job searching, it's important to be prepared for a phone interview on a moment's notice. You never know when a recruiter or a networking contact might call and ask if you have a few minutes to talk. Review these tips on how to pull off your phone interview without a hitch.

Be Prepared to Interview

Prepare for a phone interview just as you would for a regular interview. Compile a list of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as a list of answers to typical phone interview questions. In addition, plan on being prepared for a phone conversation about your background and skills.

• Keep your resume in clear view, on the top of your desk, or tape it to the wall near the phone, so it's at your fingertips when you need to answer questions.

• Have a short list of your accomplishments available to review.

• Have a pen and paper handy for note taking.

• Turn call-waiting off so your call isn't interrupted.

• If the time isn't convenient, ask if you could talk at another time and suggest some alternatives.

• Clear the room - evict the kids and the pets. Turn off the stereo and the TV. Close the door.

• Unless you're sure your cell phone service is going to be perfect, consider using a landline rather than your cell phone to avoid a dropped call or static on the line.

Practice Interviewing

Talking on the phone isn't as easy as it seems. I've always found it's helpful to practice. Have a friend or family member conduct a mock interview and tape record it so you can see how you sound over the phone. Any cassette recorder will work. You'll be able to hear your "ums" and "uhs" and "okays" and you can practice reducing them from your conversational speech. Also rehearse answers to those typical questions you'll be asked.

During the Phone Interview

• Don't smoke, chew gum, eat, or drink.

• Do keep a glass of water handy, in case you need to wet your mouth.

• Smile. Smiling will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice.

• Speak slowly and enunciate clearly.

• Use the person's title (Mr. or Ms. and their last name.) Only use a first name if they ask you to.

• Don't interrupt the interviewer.

• Take your time - it's perfectly acceptable to take a moment or two to collect your thoughts.

• Give short answers.

• Remember your goal is to set up a face-to-face interview. After you thank the interviewer ask if it would be possible to meet in person.

After the Interview:

• Take notes about what you were asked and how you answered.

• Remember to say "thank you." 

• Follow with a thank you note which reiterates your interest in the job.

14 ways to get INSANELY motivated!

Here are 14 quick strategies to get and keep yourself motivated:

1. Condition your mind. Train yourself to think positive thoughts while avoiding negative thoughts.

2. Condition your body. It takes physical energy to take action.  Get your food and exercise budget in place and follow it like a business plan.

3. Avoid negative people. They drain your energy and waste your time, so hanging with them is like shooting yourself in the foot.

4. Seek out the similarly motivated. Their positive energy will rub off on you and you can imitate their success strategies.

5. Have goals–but remain flexible. No plan should be cast in concrete, lest it become more important than achieving the goal.

6. Act with a higher purpose.  Any activity or action that doesn’t serve your higher goal is wasted effort--and should be avoided.

7. Take responsibility for your own results. If you blame (or credit) luck, fate or divine intervention, you’ll always have an excuse.

8. Stretch past your limits on a daily basis. Walking the old, familiar paths is how you grow old. Stretching makes you grow and evolve.

9. Don't wait for perfection; do it now! Perfectionists are the losers in the game of life.  Strive for excellence rather than the unachievable.

10. Celebrate your failures. Your most important lessons in life will come from what you don't achieve. Take time to understand where you fell short.

11. Don’t take success too seriously. Success can breed tomorrow's failure if you use it as an excuse to become complacent.

12. Avoid weak goals.  Goals are the soul of achievement, so never begin them with "I'll try ..."  Always start with "I will" or "I must."

13. Treat inaction as the only real failure.  If you don’t take action, you fail by default and can't even learn from the experience.

14. Think before you speak.  Keep silent rather than express something that doesn’t serve your purpose.

Should YOU use a Recruiter?

Why should I use a recruiter?

You are at your desk, or at home watching TV when you get a call from a recruiter who has found your contact information using the many secrets of the trade (sorry – that’s our secret!). Before you hang up the phone, remember that recruiters can hold the keys to the hidden jewels of the job market. Use them and they may just open the door to a new career opportunity. What I have learned working in this industry for over 20 years is the important role a recruiter can play in a persons career path. Even if you are not looking now, you may need their help later, so this applies to those who are blissfully happy with their careers, as well as those looking for a new opportunity. Here are the top 5 reasons why you should use a recruiter.

1. Hidden Job Market. I said earlier that recruiters hold the hidden jewels of the job market, and here they are – undisclosed jobs. Many times, especially with Sr level positions, companies have confidential roles that are for restricted eyes only. Companies then turn to recruiters for help with these positions. You cannot find these positions listed on Monster, or the various other job sites on the web. Imagine - your dream job may just be a recruiter away. This point goes hand in hand with #2.
2. Connections. Recruiters have clout with hiring managers and sr. level executives - many of us do not. You send your resume to numerous companies, and post your resume on various job sites to no avail. You still haven’t heard a peep. Recruiters have the connections to not only get you in the door, perhaps even the back door, but also get feedback – whether positive or negative – rather quickly. Think of how many others are applying to the same job you are…tons. Hiring managers and HR personnel simply cannot and do not have the time to review every resume. A recruiter can guarantee that you won’t be just another resume in a pile; you will be sent to Sr manager who will review your resume. Don’t you love recruiters just a little bit more now?
3. Expertise. Are you underpaid? Overpaid? Are you ready for a Sr role? Are your technical skills up to par? Are you doing the job you'd really like to be doing today? There are a number of questions that can help you make an informed decision when it comes to strategic career planning, and a recruiter is a great resource to utilize. They can help you find answers and ask questions that will guide you to the right job and the right steps to take in order to advance your career. Best of all, this information is free, unbiased and essential when determining your position and worth in today’s job market.
4. End Game is the same. You and your recruiter have the same goal, and that is to make sure you are putting your best foot forward, meeting the right people, and hopefully getting you an ideal role that is a perfect fit for both you and your future employer. They're on your side. This leads me to point #5…
5. Long-term ally. Let’s say you found a recruiter, you find a job (whether it was their role or not), and you are now perfectly content, remember this may not always be the case. Come 3-5 years down the line you may decide to try your hands at a new company/role again. Or you may spend the rest of your days in the company you are working for, but may need advice when it comes to compensation, employee rights, etc… You now have an ally that is there for you to utilize. Recruiters (meaning legitimate, professional recruiters) are in it for the long haul. They are in the business of building relationships with both candidates and clients, and making sure both parties are equally satisfied. Therefore you not only gain a new role, but you also gain an important ally to guide you through your current and future career path.

So the next time a recruiter calls you, you just might want to pick up the phone.

Let's GO CAPS!

Let's GO CAPS and beat the Bruins today!!

SHUTTLESWORTH!!

Amazing shot from the roof of our favorite client's building overlooking Dulles Airport. Cool.

7 Things You Should Never Do During An Interview

Here's some good old fashioned EWSG sage advice!


With the job market extremely tight, even the small stuff counts, especially when you’re on a job interview.  That’s why it’s so important not to say or do the wrong things, since that first impression could end up being the last one.

With that in mind, here are seven deadly sins of job interviewing.

1. Don’t Be Late To the Interview

Even if you car broke down or the subway derailed, do everything you can to get to that job interview on time.

If you have a legitimate excuse it’s still hard to bounce back and people are suspicious because they hear the same excuses all the time.

On the flip side, you don’t want to show up too early and risk appearing desperate, but you do want to be there at least five minutes early or at the very least on time. 

2. Don’t Show Up Unprepared

It seems simple, but countless people go on job interviews knowing very little about the company they are interviewing with when all it would take is a simple Google search to find out. As a result, they end up asking obvious questions, which signal to the interviewer that they are too lazy to prepare.

Don’t ask if the company is public or private, how long it’s been in business and where they do their manufacturing. Sharpen your pencil before you go to school.

3. Don’t Ask About Salary, Benefits, Perks

Your initial interview with a company shouldn’t be about what the company can do for you, but what you can do for the company. Which means the interview isn’t the time to ask about the severance package, vacation time or health plan. Instead you should be selling yourself as to why the company can’t live without you.

Your interest should be about the job and what your responsibilities will be. Asking about vacation, sick leave, 401K, salary and benefits should be avoided at all costs, unless the interviewer brings it up.

4. Don’t Focus On Future Roles Instead Of The Job At Hand

The job interview is not the time or place to ask about advancement opportunities or how to become the CEO. You need to be interested in the job you are actually interviewing for. Sure, a company wants to see that you are ambitious, but they also want assurances you are committed to the job you’re being hired for.

You can’t come with an agenda that this job is just a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

5. Don’t Turn The Weakness Question Into A Positive

To put it bluntly, interviewers are not idiots. So when they ask you about a weakness and you say you work too hard or you are too much of a perfectionist, chances are they are more apt to roll their eyes than be blown away. Instead, be honest and come up with a weakness that can be improved on and won’t ruin your chances of getting a job.

For instance, if you are interviewing for a project management position, it wouldn’t be wise to say you have poor organizational skills, but it’s ok to say you want to learn more shortcuts in Excel. Talk about the skills you don’t have that will add value, but aren’t required for the job.

6. Don’t Lie

Many people think its ok to exaggerate their experience or fib about a firing on a job interview, but lying can be a surefire way not to get hired.  Even if you get through the interview process with your half truths, chances are you won’t be equipped to handle the job you were hired to do.  Not to mention the more you lie the more likely you are to slip up.

Don’t exaggerate, don’t make things bigger than they are and don’t claim credit for accomplishments you didn’t do. You leave so much room in your brain if you don’t have to fill it with which lie you told which person.

7. Don’t Ask If There’s Any Reason You Shouldn’t Be Hired

Well meaning career experts will tell you to close your interview by asking if there is any reason you wouldn’t be hired. While that question can give you an idea of where you stand and afford you the opportunity to address any concerns, there’s no guarantee the interviewer is going to be truthful with you or has even processed your information enough to even think about that.

All you are doing is prompting them to think about what’s wrong with you!

Just a few cents worth of advice from the search group...