War Stories of a Recruiter

How Are Recruiters Utilizing Social Media?

2012-02-15T14:56:00.002-05:00

Hello All,

Bullhorn just announced The 2012 Social Recruiting Report & Infographic, using data from 35,000 Recruiters. Interesting info as companies and candidates push themselves more and more to gain social media presence. The big daddy so far is LinkedIN (no shock their) but there are definitely other resources that are being utilized. Tools and sites are being developed on a daily basis. See below for the AS IS scenario (SUBJECT TO CHANGE IMMEDIATELY)

-The Warrior

Defeat In Victory

2012-02-06T08:37:00.002-05:00

I call it the recruiting roller coaster. When they say “childrenare for the young” they also say “recruiting is for the thrill seekers whounderstand that even when you have done an outstanding job it could lead to alot of nothing with a little stress on the side.

So I will briefly take you through my 3 month painfulprocess of finding my purple squirrel, hitting the timing perfectly with thecandidate, having the job offered and accepted. This man would not make it tohis first day due to a counter offer to stay at his current company.

The goal at this point is to work twice as hard to fill the positionbecause now you have aggravated the manager at put his deliverable's dates in jeopardy.The recruiter spends WAY to much time on try to fill the need when the positionhas been filled by another recruiter/company. Painful, very painful, you feelself defeated as this is a high level consultant that would bring in a lot ofsales.

BUT WAIT!!! The other candidate did not pass his backgroundcheck!!! As luck would have it (even though it was two weeks ago) you stillcontinued your search on and off in the mere case that the situation wouldhappen. The phone rings, and you are doing the running man in your head (ohyah!!!). Within 24 hours you are able to line up a phone screen that goesunbelievable well. You meticulously prep the candidate on every question theywill ask him, coach him on the feedback on the previous candidates sent over.What do you know OFFER on the tale and ACCEPTED all within one business day.

Drawing up the paperwork you smell victory in the air andfollow up with the new hired consultant to go over any questions that he mighthave just to make sure that nothing goes wrong.

EMAIL over the WEEKEND from Mr. Director

Subject: Position is on hold

Todd please hold off as we have decided to push out the roleuntil next quarter.

Ahh recruiting, it’s not for everyone, definitely anemotional roller coaster.

-The Warrior

Understanding The World Recruiters Live In

2012-02-02T14:01:00.000-05:00

For all those folksout there that think that we are the unnecessary evil, understand theimportance of a good recruiter, networker, and ally within your search for aposition or hiring decision.

At first we can appear rough around the edges,a little cocky, and only seem to get the specifics at a very high level. Onceyou get to know the good ones and allow them to get within your inner circleyou will soon realize that candidates and hiring managers have a friend forlife.

Yes agency recruiterswork on commission, yes we are only as good as our last placement, blah, blah,blah…….. All stuff we know, recruiters are not reinventing the wheel when itcomes to the hiring process. We feelfrustrated at times, where are my resumes? Where are my resumes? “Where’s myfeedback?” “I’ll get back to you ASAP.” The frustration from the lack of feedback fromthe hiring manager leads into stressful credibility situations with candidates.

We are hired guns, inthe middle of a strategic process that could make or break the group’s goalsand deliverables. We are loved at times of victory, fight for a voice whenthings are slow, and have to be accountable and relentless during the chase andclose of the deal (typically an after-hour conversation).

Reputation iseverything, filling jobs, letting people go, counseling, checking-in,recruiting pre-approval, having a lifeline to the manager 24/7.

Recruiting is not foreverybody, that’s for sure BUT it’s the world that I live in and

I kinda likeit!!!

-The Warrior

Avoiding Recruiter Burn Out

2012-01-31T10:29:00.000-05:00

One of the hardestthings to prevent in this demanding industry is recruiter burnout!!! In aprofession with very high turnover, how does a recruiter last? All recruitersgood and bad will go through a phase in their career where they are not sure ifthey want to be a career recruiter.

At times recruitingis looked at as a stepping stone to in ones career path on the agency side. Forothers it can be a struggle as you at times can pigeon holed into a career paththat pay well but limits opportunity for career growth. Any recruiter who stays in the profession formore than five years will more than likely hit a point in their career wherethey have to get creative or fizzle out of the recruiting world.

In order to be a goodrecruiter you have to be motivated by sales, aggressive, and have a competitivedrive to be the best. We all know that that can only take you so far!!!

So if this is thecareer for you make sure you manage your own career and constantly keep up withnew technology and networking sites.

The biggest challenge you will face willbe:

1) Think twicebefore hitting that send button when writing emails

2) If it’s notin writing it never happened

3) Perceptionand reality are two different things

4) You can sayanything as long as you are smiling

5) At the endof the day, live, learn and never change or take anyone’s crap

-The Warrior

Are Resumes A Thing of the Past?

2012-01-29T17:19:00.003-05:00

Interesting article below, more and more companies are not excepting resumes as applications!! In order to apply for positions within these companies you have to submit your social media profile (blog, LinkedIn, member of networking groups) along with answering two behavioral interviewing questions.

Interesting, could this be a phase or is this the next big thing in the recruiting industry!! Will recruiters be able to adapt to this new style of finding and submitting candidates to managers. It is a creative way to find talented individuals that would might have been discounted in a typical process.

-The Warrior

No More Résumés, Say Some Firms

By Rachel Emma Silverman | The Wall Street Journal – Wed, Jan 25, 2012 4:52 PM ES

Union Square Ventures recently posted an opening for an investment analyst.
Instead of asking for résumés, the New York venture-capital firm—which has invested in Twitter, Foursquare, Zynga and other technology companies—asked applicants to send links representing their "Web presence," such as a Twitter account or Tumblr blog. Applicants also had to submit short videos demonstrating their interest in the position.

Union Square says its process nets better-quality candidates —especially for a venture-capital operation that invests heavily in the Internet and social-media—and the firm plans to use it going forward to fill analyst positions and other jobs.

Companies are increasingly relying on social networks such as LinkedIn, video profiles and online quizzes to gauge candidates' suitability for a job. While most still request a résumé as part of the application package, some are bypassing the staid requirement altogether.

[More from WSJ.com: Your Résumé vs. Oblivion]

A résumé doesn't provide much depth about a candidate, says Christina Cacioppo, an associate at Union Square Ventures who blogs about the hiring process on the company's website and was herself hired after she compiled a profile comprising her personal blog, Twitter feed, LinkedIn profile, and links to social-media sites Delicious and Dopplr, which showed places where she had traveled.

StickerGiant's John Fischer, right, and interviewee Adam Thackeray shoot a video Monday.
"We are most interested in what people are like, what they are like to work with, how they think," she says.

John Fischer, founder and owner of StickerGiant.com, a Hygiene, Colo., company that makes bumper and marketing stickers, says a résumé isn't the best way to determine whether a potential employee will be a good social fit for the company. Instead, his firm uses an online survey to help screen applicants.

Questions are tailored to the position. A current opening for an Adobe Illustrator expert asks applicants about their skills, but also asks questions such as "What is your ideal dream job?" and "What is the best job you've ever had?" Applicants have the option to attach a résumé, but it isn't required. Mr. Fischer says he started using online questionnaires several years ago, after receiving too many résumés from candidates who had no qualifications or interest. Having applicants fill out surveys is a "self-filter," he says.

[More from WSJ.com: Meet the Marriage Killer]

A previous posting for an Internet marketing position had applicants rate their marketing and social-media skills on a scale of one to 10 and select from a list of words how friends or co-workers would describe them. Options included: high energy, type-A, laid back, perfect, creative or fun.

In times of high unemployment, bypassing résumés can also help companies winnow out candidates from a broader labor pool.

IGN Entertainment Inc., a gaming and media firm, launched a program dubbed Code Foo, in which it taught programming skills to passionate gamers with little experience, paying participants while they learned. Instead of asking for résumés, the firm posted a series of challenges on its website aimed at gauging candidates' thought processes. (One challenge: Estimate how many pennies lined side by side would span the Golden Gate Bridge.)

It also asked candidates to submit a video demonstrating their love of gaming and the firm's products.

IGN is a unit of News Corp., which also owns The Wall Street Journal.

Nearly 30 people out of about 100 applicants were picked for the six-week Code Foo program, and six were eventually hired full-time. Several of the hires were nontraditional applicants who didn't attend college or who had thin work experience.

[More from WSJ.com: Christian Louboutin and the Red-Soled Shoe Case]

"If we had just looked at their résumés at the moment we wouldn't have hired them," says Greg Silva, IGN's vice president of people and places. The company does require résumés for its regular job openings.

At most companies, résumés are still the first step of the recruiting process, even at supposedly nontraditional places like Google Inc., which hired about 7,000 people in 2011, after receiving some two million résumés. Google has an army of "hundreds" of recruiters who actually read every one, says Todd Carlisle, the technology firm's director of staffing.

But Dr. Carlisle says he reads résumés in an unusual way: from the bottom up.

[Also see: Four Things That Can Send Your Resume into the Trash]

Candidates' early work experience, hobbies, extracurricular activities or nonprofit involvement—such as painting houses to pay for college or touring with a punk rock band through Europe—often provide insight into how well an applicant would fit into the company culture, Dr. Carlisle says.

Plus, "It's the first sample of work we have of yours," he says.

Interview with Carlos Vasquez (Director of Div. Opps)

2012-01-28T12:17:00.000-05:00

Carlos brings certain karma and vision to the Adecco E&T organization. His work ethic and determination makes him one of the key leaders in Adecco's operational team.

Interview with Jesse Wright (Adecco's Top Recruiting Manager)

2012-01-28T09:21:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

I had the pleasure to sit down With Jesse Wright, top recruiting manager for Adecco NA. Check out what Jesse has to say, his knowledge and experience in the industry is bar none.

Getting Ready For Day One

2012-01-27T10:14:00.000-05:00

Well finally here!! Stay tuned for some 1-1 interviews fromSome of the top players in the recruiting industry.

On My Journey to My Meeting

2012-01-26T09:49:00.000-05:00

Hello all, Interesting start to this road trip but I am excited to Meet with the top execs of my company!! Oh yeah note to self...make Sure to bring back Evelyn a new toy!!!

Recruiters Or Career Consultants?

2012-01-24T16:20:00.000-05:00

As agency recruiterswe have to be polished, ready to go at all times and show value quickly. Beingat the top of your game 100% of the time can be difficult especially with allthe conflicts and interrupts that you deal with on a daily basis. In order fora recruiter to remain sane and not burn out in the industry you have toconstantly be willing to learn new technology and have a sense of humor.

Yes that’s right people,the ability to keep up with technology, partner with an individual, gain theirrespect and MAKE them laugh. Always see the humor in a situation and of coursehave some value that helps the candidate out and makes it profitable for allparties involved.

Whether it is amanager asking crazy interview questions, the craziest one that I have heard sofar was: “If you were two inches tall and you were in a blender and I was aboutto press the button, what would you do? Geese!!! How are you suppose to answerthat question and is that appropriate? Orhow about the candidate that is in complete denial that thinks he aced theinterview. “I definitely got the job, he absolutely loved me!!! I struggle alittle bit on one of the questions but it was a minor detail.

We are careerconsultants, sales people, recruiters, and more importantly professionals. Becareful of what you say, although it could give you instant gratification itwill come back to haunt you. Do not try to oversell a job or a candidate. Unfortunatelyrecruiters sometimes have a misunderstanding of a role or the specs can changeor the position could go away. Spending 20 minutes on the phone with acandidate telling him that he is the “best thing since sliced bread” for therole might be overkill.

Good recruiters canpiece together resumes/requirements, have a strong relationship with the hiringmanager, and have the ability to have a transactional/business professionalrelationship with a candidate. Recruiters are career consultants by trade, butthe bottom line is that the good ones “put people to work”, get to know theneeds of their clients intimately, keep up with social media/networking, andlearn to laugh it up with managers, co-workers and candidates.

-The Warrior

Top 10 Things Not To Do At Your First Regional Company Conference

2012-01-20T15:09:00.003-05:00

Hello All,

This next entry is inspired by my first appearance to a Northeast Regional Meeting that I am attending later next week. I have learned from stories from friends, co-workers and managers that I deal with there are definitely some precautionary measures one should take while entering this political waters.

Top 10 Things Not To Do While Attending Your Companies Regional Conference

• Do not show up late for a meeting claiming that you took BAD cough medicine the night before!!!

• If there is three days of meeting make sure to bring three days of clothes

• When inviting people into the hotel hot tub do not mention “bathing suits optional”

• When going out with Sr. Leadership make sure not to lean back on your chair and fall flat on your behind

• Business casual does not mean jeans and a flannel shirt tied behind your waste

• Don’t jump in the pool off hours and do laps around the pool WITH CLOTHES ON

• At company Karaoke don’t be the guy hogging the mike and being to serious

• When accepting an award do not consider saying “looking at my competition this was a NO BRAINER!"

• If you don’t know who your roommate is DO NOT answer your door NAKED!!

• When all else fails, DENY, DENY, DENY

-The Warrior

Happy New Year to All!!! Strategies for 2012

2012-01-03T08:22:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to all!!!

It has been awhile since my last post, a little too long!! My New Years Resolution is to re-focus on my social medial strategy and to stay focused on my blog. The one major lesson I learned was to remain credible, consistent, and be as brutally honest as possible (case by case). Stick to your core belief system while keeping an open mind, do not let your talent or your sanity go to waste.

With the economy getting stronger a lot of companies are going to revisit their strategies on retaining there top producers. There are many reasons why top talent will be looking to make a move and as a recruiter you need to tap into those individuals. Ask the right probing questions to gain interest and respect from them, make sure that you do your home work before picking up that phone!!!

A lot of people that I have connected with feel that there is no career path for them at their current company; they are stuck in a position with no ability to move up in the organization. Whether it is lack of mentoring, lack of interest or acknowledgement by upper management or someone who has reached their plateau, more and more people are leaving their current companies for growth, opportunity, and more $$$.

As the overworked and under appreciated look to make a move the unemployed battle to make their mark in the business sector. Don’t get me wrong there are some extremely talented people in this pool as well; especially the ones that have polished up their skills and by necessity have had to become excellent interviewers, continuing to remain a prime-time contender in the market place.

What does this mean for the recruiter in 2012? The competition will be tight but more importantly recruiters are going to have to stop burning their bridges with candidates, continue to re-invent their networking and social media strategies, and most importantly continue to keep their passion, creativity, ego, and demeanor at a elite level. The ADD tunnel visions that recruiters tend to have will cause them to burn out and fizzle away. Submitting resumes off job boards and advertisements may get you through a 40 hour work week but will not allow you to polish up the required skills for you to remain competitive and sane.

Best of luck to all in 2012!!

-The Warrior

Take A Shot:Think Outside The Box

2011-04-19T15:59:00.001-04:00

With marketplace at an all time competitive high how do you stand out from the crowd? How do you differentiate yourself from your competition? You get creative, break the mold, change the mind numbing delivery that hiring managers hear day in and day out.

If you are willing to step out of your comfort zone and try something new you just might stand out from the pile. Creativity and thinking outside of the box is not for everyone….…. or maybe it’s not something that everyone has the capability to do or appreciate :-) .

I have never met a successful person that was normal!! Why be normal???

Warning: If you decide to be creative and abnormal you might like it. If you get good at it you just might find the right people that will appreciate it.

The Art Of Interviewing: Caveman Style

2011-04-13T17:11:00.002-04:00

The art of interviewing started way back in the caveman days. Your ability to persuade a group is half the battle in a job interview. Unfortunately the best man/woman does not always get hired for the job, the best interviewer wins!! There are many people that can get the job done but can you relate to group and articulate your experience to the interview team.

Whatever the jobs is that I am recruiting on the feedback that I receive on a A+ resume that fails in the interview stage is fairly standard across all skillsets and levels. “He came off to aggressive”, “The candidate did not have good eye contact”, “The interview was going great BUT they made one comment towards the end of the interview that really shot themselves in the foot”, “they wouldn’t admit what they didn’t know and went and tried come off as a subject matter expert”.

Getting the interview is half the battle, the hardest part in the interview stage. When you are on center stage make sure that you are prepared (don’t sweat or give them a bunch of baloney that even you would find hard to swallow).

-The Warrior

The Sky Is The Limit

2011-04-01T16:29:00.000-04:00

This video has received over 10,000 hits since yesterday!!! It truly amazing and shocking to watch someone excel in their profession or ability. I always root for the underdog!! I love watching people stun an audience, never pre-judge or discount someone at first glance.

As we head into a stressful period within the employment sector of long hours and extended work weeks we are reminded that commitment, confidence, passion and pure talent will conquer all odds.

Take a look at Jacob Tucker, a 5’11” guard from Illinois College who has a 50” vertical leap!!! Jacob hits center stage at this years dunk contest almost receiving a Perfect Score of 50 on all five dunks that he performed. There were rumors about a kid from Illinois that could jump through the roof becoming a overnight celebrity BUT this was the first time anyone has seen him perform his dunks in front of an audience.

-The Warrior

Take A Step back And Put Things In Perspective

2011-03-18T16:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday!!

As Americans we can easily take things for granted. People get tied up and stressed out over being able to purchase material things while putting far to much emphasis on climbing up the corporate ladder.

It is never as bad as it could be, below is a remainder of how people's lives can be tragically altered in a matter of minutes. This six minute video was taken by a witness on the street right as the tsunami struck Japan.

-The Warrior

Buyer Beware: Be Careful While Developing Your Social Media Profile

2011-03-15T08:57:00.000-04:00

Hello All,

Uncle Eli Reminds up that we must be extremely careful when putting ourselves out their in cyber space. Remember it is standard protocol for recruiters to view your LinkedIN page, blogs, and face book (MySpace is a little outdated, poor Uncle Eli does not know that).

So as you look for your next role or connection on LinkedIN make sure that you audit any material that you think would not cast a strong first impression!!

-The Warrior

Monday Therapy Session

2011-03-14T09:16:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday to All!! Well I have realized that the weekend many miles away and I need to re-focus and get back into the recruiting game. So as I need some therapy from time to time I need to hear from my mentor “THE PSYCHO COACH!!”

-The Warrior

Back in Action: My Journey Back to My Blog

2011-03-11T11:26:00.001-05:00

Hello All,

It’s been awhile since my last entry, time flies when you are in the weeds. Recruiting is not a 9-5 job and can be an uphill battle at times as you aim to fill every position that you are working on, of course the manager needed someone yesterday!! One of the hardest things for people to do is to keep up with your social media profile. A lot of companies/individuals play in this space but few have the stamina to maintain their profiles.

People get bored or burnt out from the maintenance and upkeep that is required. For some it is a phase that one goes through, for awhile they are active participants on Facebook and LinkedIn but have filtered into the background or cease to exist.

In order to be successful you have to look at social media as a unique way to get your message out. If you don’t have a passion to stay the course you can become yesterday’s news.

I have taken a small hiatus but have come back re-charged and ready to go. Although I have been busier than ever I have realize the need to get back in the game and back into the networking/blogging world. I have made many connections (personnel and professional) since my entrance and hope to continue where I left off.

Stayed tuned for some informative articles and videos with a touch of sarcasm and laughter to brighten your day!!

-The Warrior

Friday Video: The Art Of Road Rage: Stress Relief At Its Finest

2011-01-28T16:53:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

It has been a crazy month of activity, growth, and if you are from the New England area an exhausting marathon of blizzards. The stacks of snow are piling up, crews work non-stop prior to each storm, filling dump trucks with snow to be stacked on a city plot TBD.

As we hit our tolerance of freezing temperatures, school cancellations, and delays to the office we can look back on January with a smile. The activity level has been strong through the holidays and beginning of the first quarter. Of course you have to take the good with the bad, with all of the interviewing and hiring us New Englanders have built up a tremendous level of stress that at times is released in the art of ROAD RAGE.

Whether people forget how to drive in the snow or grasp the concept of black ice or driving defensively in blizzard conditions the bumper to bumper traffic has led to “Road Rage Release Syndrome”

Warning: Although extremely therapeutic at first R.R.L can lead to high blood pressure, increased anxiety, physical violence and in worse case scenarios an interesting debate/discussion with your local law enforcement.

Just remember deep breaths :-)
-The Warrior

Just One Of Those Days A Recruiter Goes Through: Thurs. Stress Relief Video

2011-01-13T17:20:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

Well after spending many hours shoveling three feet of snow yesterday it felt great to be back in the office. The morning was a flurry of activity BUT by the end of the day I kinda hit the wall and needed some stress relief.

So here it is!!! I was inspired by a true friend and co-worker of mine (Thank You Christine :-) ) My conversations with this co-worker led to my creative research on YouTube. Key word search: "Calgon Take Me Away!!! "

Enjoy the humor and relief that this video brings.

(PS: Make sure you find your "Happy Place" before playing)

-The Warrior

Money Can't Buy Memories Or Accomplishments

2011-01-04T17:25:00.001-05:00

Is it better to be feared or loved? “Feared it Last Longer” - A Bronx Tale. People are feared for many different reasons: money, power, influence but it can be lonely at the top. How does one value his/her self-worth? Are you judged by your title? You’re Salary? You’re Car? These are all “wants” in are lives in order for us to feel valued in the economic rat race that we live in. Don’t get me wrong money can’t buy love but it can by a lot of happiness!!! (to an extent).

When it is all said and done and you look back on your profile with a fine tooth comb you will see that all of these trophies that you have acquired will come secondary to the friendships and relationships (personal and professional) that you were able to develop. These friendships will lead to legendary and unique moments in your life that can not be replaced by your individual accomplishments.

Over the past year during our economic disaster many people have been overwhelmed with anxiety. Our workforce has been thinned out and pushed to the limit with the amount of workload that has been mandated by the executive leaders. It has given us all a vision on survival Vs. living in the moment. In times like these we tend to have a unique case of dysfunctional amnesia, forgetting the value of developing new friendships and cultivating old ones.

As I look at the many professionals that I have placed over the past months as the economy has started to thrive they all have one thing in common. It was not their talent or their ability to “do the job” that got them the offer. It was their personal network that was will to vogue for them and give them the inside scoop on what groups were hiring and who they should contact.

“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means."
- Albert Einstein

Warrior Receives Adecco E&T's Prestigious Top Recruiter Award

2010-12-14T13:34:00.000-05:00

December 7, 2010
Philliadelphia, PA

Todd Schecter receives Adecco E&T's Top Performer Award for 2010 presented by Diana Fitting (Sr. VP Of Adecco North America: Engineering & Technical/Medical & Science Divisions). The award was presented during Adecco's E&T Northeast Regional Meeting.

Looking forward to a repeat in 2011!!!

-The Warrior

Why Be Normal??? Microsofts CEO Firing Up The Staff!!!

2010-12-10T17:12:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

Happy Friday!! TGIF :-) ....As I have just been pumped up and refocused from my annual regional meeting at my company I was inspired to select this video as my next entry. To the VP and RVP that I report to thank you for a great year and thank you for allowing me to think outside the box :-).....

"If it was easy everybody would be doing it!!"

-The Warrior

Recruiting Through The Holidays

2010-12-06T13:47:00.003-05:00

Ho! Ho! Ho! Happy Chanukah!!! Even though Santa is get ready to jump down the chimney and we are into the 6th day of the festival of lights recruiting is going strong.
Companies are on a big rebound in the Healthcare and Telecom sector and have been hiring all sorts of candidates to fill there needs. Contract hiring continues to be on the rise while permanent headcount is increase as well.

So as we head to the holiday break there is no slow down!! It is going to be a sprint into Q1 of 2011. The numbers will continue to rise as the end of 2010 spree of hiring will filter into 2011. There will be a lot of activity but on needs that are needed, required, and approved. How many offers will be presented is still uncertain as people start taking there “use it or loose it” PTO time. No more carry over's of time allowed!! P.S.” don’t use up all of your time, work still has to be done!!

The holidays will be a lot more joyous this year!! Not sure if all wishes will be granted BUT who knows maybe Santa will bring and I-pod touch to a lucky individual in my family this year!

Shalom,

-The Warrior

Top 10 Reasons You Might Be Overlooked For A Position After The Interview

2010-12-01T17:31:00.003-05:00

#10: Intoxication

#9: Not doing your homework on the company prior to the interview and having questions prepared

#8: Bashing Your Old Company

#7: Inappropriate Dress (This should be a given but we have had people show up in Jeans for Interview!!)

#6: Inappropriate Language (Don’t drop any F’BOMBS!!)

#5: Revealing to much about your private life

#4: Lying on your resume

#3: Talking over the interviewer: AKA Mr. “used car salesman”

#2: Arriving late for your interview

#1: Not being truthful on what you know and what you don’t know (claiming to be an expert on a subject is biggest pet peeve of managers that I have worked with)

Happy Chanukah!!

-The Warrior

Classic, Don't be Like Chip!!!

2010-11-26T14:38:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

This is a good example on what not to do as a career sales/recruiting professional. Too funny, how many people have we come across are careers like this fellow????

Happy Friday,

-The Warrior

Make Your Name A Brand That People Can Not Live Without

2010-11-22T17:12:00.000-05:00

Your professional instinct (better know as gut feeling) will turn on and guide you through the barriers and conflicts that arise. The goal is to realize that you need to react and execute with the understanding that you are taking risks that will lead to big payoffs and have consistently worked in the past.

    The more chances you take your importance, stability and strength rises. One chance and victory compels you to emulate your successes and strategies. This process creates an individual branding and professional seal of approval that can not be sold as a “knock off” by any vendor or person that tries to enter in to your marketplace.

    When you have the ability to create influence at this level every impossible task is completed with meticulously precision in record time. People look at you in amazement as you shake it off and chalk it up as following a process that works. Your success is your ability to listen, fully understand the objectives at hand and be lucky enough to hit the timing just right (A little skill is involved in the mix as well).

    Watch out for the predators who want to takeover: 1) The peanut gallery of people blowing the way the wind blows, 2) The very large and the dense population of the force who work in fear of giving out credit that is deserved.

    As you walk through these muddy paths and battle through the pile of tension from the beehive you start to see the reflection of the golden pass beyond. “Follow the Yellow Brick Road”!!!, “Follow The Yellow Brick Road”!!!! NEVER look back at the people left behind and the spoils that follow them.

-The Warrior

Yeah Baby!!! I Dig IT!!!

2010-11-11T15:44:00.000-05:00

         Credibility, credibility, credibility!!! When I think of this word many thoughts come to mind. Credibility is crucial but is not required by all and will not be granted by all. There is no such thing as a universal product or recruiter that is good for the population. If you are looking to please the entire spectrum go order fifty “Big Macks” with a side of fries for the next function that you are in charge of. You won’t be a hero BUT you will have consistency for everyone showing zero favoritism, producing the same mediocre result for all.

       As we get back into reality we are able to view the rainbow of colors, people, personalities, skill sets, cultures and environments. You soon realize that there are many needs and interest that go into the political and social campaign. The goal is to have that cushion of credibility within several environments. As a recruiter you need to develop and adapt too many different technologies, titles, managers and pay scales. During this process one thing remains constant: who you are, they way you operate and your process and personality used to achieve success.

      Like me, hate me, friend, co-worker there are a couple of things that people will take away from my interactions with them. 1) My ability to get the job done 2) An understanding of how I operate 3) My credibility and reputation that will allow me to “agree to disagree” and work with you to accomplish our task as our worlds connect to complete a task.

     You are not able to survive in this industry if your communication is not clear and effective. Win or loose you need to be able to end your transaction in a professional manner closing the loop and providing feedback. I do my best to follow these basis guidelines during my day-to-day transactions. If I make a mistake I “MAN UP”, don’t hide or justify. This might make you feel better but it leads to a negative environment blowing up your chemistry and focus.

So as my thoughts have been inspired by a couple of recent transactions I have learned a valuable lesson.

Don’t fall for the bait!  As I relive my many years as a basketball player it comes back to your ability to filter all of the trash talking and PLAY YOUR GAME!!! The person throwing the stones will foul out and throw a temper tantrum from the sidelines.

NANAH NA NAH, NANAH NA NAH, HEY!, HEY!, HEY! GOODBYE!!!

- The Warrior

Video Blog#3: Why Has Our World Become Black & White???

2010-11-02T15:09:00.000-04:00

Hello All,

Let's pump some color into our lives as we hit the final months of 2010!!!! Never lose the ability or interest to think beyond the barriers that have been created!!

-The Warrior

Technology Vs. Effective Communication: Winner TBD!!

2010-10-27T17:34:00.000-04:00

You would think that in this day in age with all of the high-tech devices that we obsess over that our ability to communicate would be at a high level. It might be that technology has made use more like droids following a protocol. Sitting in the passenger seat of my wife’s minivan I have observed her obsession with her TomTom. We do a lot of traveling with our kid’s and at first the TomTom seemed to be the answer to our prayers.

Unfortunately this square 12inch GPS system is not always right, in fact the stupid thing has taken us to dead ends, around in circles, and one time lead us to a never-ending dirt road in the white mountains at 10:00pm!! So as we implement and digest all the gadgets that are MUST HAVES in order to be human in the year 2010 (smart phones, GPS systems, Ipods, webcams) hopefully we all can remember not to hide behind the tools and learn to effectively communicate.

As I relate this to my professional career I seem somewhat annoyed and frustrated at my ability to communicate my message. You might think that you are getting your point across but as you enter into areas that are uncharted territory all you are able to do is make educated guesses based on your past experience. The delivery of a message may or may not be understood BUT on the flipside you have to have the ability to absorb the information and listen. The issue is that we all half-listen as our minds tend to be thinking about the next though that you are trying to communicate to the other party.

As I slowly comeback to my happy place I realize not to take anything personal. My goal moving forward as a recruiter (who is embedded into the technology and makes his living as a professional matchmaker) is to go through a business process re-engineering initiative and change my best practices :-) !!!!

- The Warrior

Video Blog #2: The Cirlce Of Influence

2010-10-15T11:16:00.000-04:00

Hello All,

Happy Friday!!! Let's all close some deals and enjoy the weekend!!!

-The Warrior

Video Blog Entry #1: Tips & Tricks

2010-10-11T12:47:00.000-04:00

Hello All,

This is the first episode of War Stories Of A Recruiter's Video blog. Entry #1 comes on a slow moving Columbus Day. Stay tuned for the next entry, they will get better as they come :-)

-The Warrior

Don’t Let Selective Hearing Get The Best Of You!!!

2010-10-08T16:00:00.000-04:00

I always have said that 70% of someone’s success in an organization is directly related to their ability to listen. Believe it or not the art of listening and being able to fine tune your radar so that you present “A” and not everything but “A” is a trait that some people have a hard time with.

For example (names and places have been modified/changed ); If Mr. Hiring Manager says “please do it this way” and DO NOT do it the easy way or quick way or the way that you are used to shouldn’t you do it the way he wants? There is a hierarchy and like it or not the manager/director can be your champion or make your life a living hell.

I have seen to many cases where people take their process/work way to personal. The worst thing you can do is go against the grain of what you are directed; depending on your history and credibility with the manager you can SUGGEST a different approach. If your suggestion is bypassed then you have to shelf-it, either you go down in flames with the manager or the manager goes down in flames with his boss. I have seen people use the “bobble head approach” and yes their manager to death or even worse have decided to empower themselves and bypass the manager through the change of command. You may be right BUT you will make your manager look very poorly in the eyes of his boss (never a good strategy if you are looking for a promotion or job security).

I have caught myself in these situations and have learned to interject only when I understand the complete issues or problem and understand that in my manager’s eyes I am there to protect the interest of him and the organization.

Good Stuff!!!

Happy Friday to All,

-The Warrior

Worlds Craziest Jobs!!!

2010-10-07T09:49:00.000-04:00

Wow I though some of my jobs were a needle in a hay stack!!! Imagine recruiting for this job!! I can't imagine the Liability :-) let along a candidate that would be interested in risking their lives for this role.

Worlds Most Craziest and Dangerous Job - Click here for the most popular videos

-The Warrior

Video Of The Day: If It Was Easy Everybody Would Be Doing It!!!

2010-10-06T11:44:00.002-04:00

Too Funny,

Gotta love the sarcasm in this!! Adding a little levity always helps :-)

-The Warrior

Make Sure You Are Targeting The Right Audience

2010-09-27T16:29:00.000-04:00

There are many reasons why a recruiter is a great fit for a candidate during their job search. The same recruiter will not be loved by all; there is a reason why people associate with certain personalities, professional and social groups. The process of identifying your fan club is not black and white;it is one of trial and error. To be loved by all seems like a great concept but not one that can be fully executed. The goal whatever your role (parent, friend, relative, co-worker, professional) is to maintain your credibility. Stand your ground, be consistent on your views and respect the views of others (agree to disagree). The person who has found their niche can not and will not appeal to all parties. If you make the mistake of going against your core beliefs you will lose the respect and credibility of the one person that determines your fait: you.

Your role in maintaining your inner circle is not one of a salesman. The need to persuade an individual to see your point of view will lead to a obnoxious level of stress and anxiety that could have and should have been avoided. Agree to disagree with the understanding that both parties need to walk away. In today’s economy there are no winners or losers. There are the survivors who stay the course and the others that feel that they are slighted, piling up anger and resentment as they are left behind.
“All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination and then works its way out. Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
Albert Einstein
Happy Monday
-The Warrior

Modern Marvels: "The Bright Boys" : Profile Of Tom Green

2010-09-02T08:58:00.002-04:00

Hello All,
During my daily recruiting efforts I come across many individuals that pose a high level of technical skills as well as creativity, imagination and entrepreneurship. My last submittal was Mr. Tom Green, as I reviewed his social media profile/blueprint I realized how creative Mr. Green was. I was inspired to share with my network the ability to be great and creative. This ability to publicize his works makes him a SLAM DUNK candidate in a tough economy.

Take a look at his promo video for his book that he wrote about the legendary "Bright Brothers" from Massachusetts that became the Albert Einstein’s of Information Technology.

-The Warrior

Days of Summer

2010-08-27T11:03:00.001-04:00

Hello All,

It’s been awhile since my last page in my blog. I am coming back to my roots as the summer ends and the waters finally calm down. WOW!!! The summer months flew by!! Business was busier than ever and I probably took on more than I could chew in my endeavors outside of work.

You can rest when your retired, when your kids are out of the house (just make sure that you keep the boss happy so that she is around for the next chapter of your life). One of lessons that took me a long time to realize was that you have to separate your professional life from your personal one. The tools that make you successful and the strategy/approach you take have to be modified (very easy to get caught up and mix the two).

I am not married to a Director of a Global organization; I am married to a teacher/educator. The intensity, political environment, approach is like comparing a company like Raytheon to Ben & Jerry’s!! Life is not black & white, you don’t not have to always be right and tout your horn when the other person is called out on something .

As I move on from the Summer months of a business explosion, refinance and wrapping up several coaching obligations I have come to the realization that I need to adapt to my environment in order to remain successful in all areas of my life (personal & professional).

A fellow colleague always tells me “it is what it is” SUCK IT UP AND DEAL WITH IT!!!

Great advice, hopefully I learn to follow it.

-The Warrior

The Miracle Of The Oil

2010-06-11T17:00:00.003-04:00

In good times and bad there is a unique karma in the air that brings out the best in people. These moments stir up folk tales of: The Good Guys vs. The Bad Guys, David vs. Goliath, and the underdog who steals the thunder and leads there team into a moral, spiritual, and ethical victory.Moments like these are when people’s true character shines through, “A Zebra never changes its stripes”.

Leaders and heroes are born during these very sacred and life-changing events. Most people wait their whole lives for ability to act on one of these moments, moments of epic proportion that will be talked about long after your paths have crossed in your journey in life.

Coming from a sports oriented family I dreamed of these moments as a player; few and far between I can give you a play by play description of these events as a child, re-lived and played back, forever etched in your memory. As a coach you dream of the ability to outwit, outsmart, another coach, leading your team to victory. You become a coach to mentor your students, soon realizing that it will take many years to be in a similar situation. Then the day comes, the intensity, leadership, and athletic ability wrapped in the perfect storm. I never thought I would say this but to relive a moment like this as a coach puts you in another world.

In your career you will hit many highs and lows, I call it the bi-polar/manic curve. People will love you, love to hate you, and some people will despise you from day one, never being able to see eye-to-eye, always ready to rev up the engine and throw you hard underneath that bus. So be it; can’t be loved by everyone. When you hit these successful and well-deserved epic moments in your career you hit the career “Rock Star Profile”.

Career Rock Star Profile: Credibility, trust, “Circle Of Influence”, your own brand, given the benefit of the doubt, people becoming of fan, and most importantly the ability to laugh and joke about the times when people absolutely hated you!!!

-The Warrior

Do You Buy Into The Program?

2010-06-03T15:25:00.000-04:00

This concept has been on my mind for the last couple of weeks. It is an idea/philosophy that can be addressed in every aspect of ones life. Why has this come up for me? Thought you would never ask, let me explain.

In your career or personal life the constant theme of credibility, responsibility, and likeability is required. Earned first, understood secondly, and last but not least, bought into and sold to all players involved. In my career people forget very easily, “you’re as good as your last fill”, as good as how you handled your last transaction, and only as good or successful as people let you be.
You could be great, have excellent references, be one of the highest performers within your organization, but if the new team that you are working with does not buy into your program, you are toast!! The constant need to re-invent your credibility and your ability to tap into other organizations/teams will allow you to have a successful career wherever you land.

I call this area that lays in between you and your newfound success the combat zone. This area relies on a battle of wits, tenacity and the ability to “FIGHT THE FIGHT”. You need to learn that you can’t take anything to heart. People by nature are skeptical and by all means do not like change, especially when the change is mandated.
The combat zone has many casualties; people who hold a grudge, people who do not have the stamina to win the war. It takes a lot of soul searching at times to get to the other side. I have realized that those who get there have certain traits/skill sets that give them the confidence to battle through.
Intensity: A core belief systems that is not and will not be compromised. The work ethic of a bull. The ability to develop chemistry amongst strangers. The ability to not get caught up in the hype, politics, and BS that can spread like a virus.

-The Warrior

Moments Etched in Stone

2010-05-25T15:25:00.000-04:00

Have you ever looked back in your career, personal life, and athletics career when you were over looked or told that you wouldn’t be able to compete? Even if you are confident in your ability to produce there will be many times in your existence where your strength has to come within. Everyone has been in the rookie seat (“even if you claim never to be a rookie”). Everyone has gone into a situation where you were the underdog, out matched, and told to not even bother.

You will hit this at least once in your professional career; the people that pull it off are the ones that have gained the confidence and respect within friendships and athletics. People full of passion, piss and vinegar, and the ones who have tasted victory before will have the confidence to compete. Whether you believe it or not everything is a competition, everything counts (especially how you handle victory and defeat).

Flaunting your spoils will lead you to a one-time transaction. On the flip side your inability to lick your wounds and congratulate your opponent will lead your voice unheard and overlooked.

As I look back on my 12 years of recruiting I have realized that you have to be confident and cocky to be successful (let’s face it, this industry is brutal!!!).

You will succeed as long as you follow the golden rules of the Recruiters Bible:

• Never withhold information

• If you are questioning whether you think you are following protocol your not

• Never assume or expect things are a lock because there is always one factor that is uncontrollable and unpredictable: Human Beings!!

-The Warrior

TGIF VIDEO: Meet Bizket The Sleep Walking Dog

2010-05-21T16:18:00.000-04:00

Hello All,

Every now and then you hit a week where you are on fumes by Weds. and have the Ren & Stimpy eyes by the time lunch time hits on Friday. My week was full of up & downs, drama, victory, defeats, etc., etc., etc.

As 4:00 hits my clock this Friday afternoon I have received a very small and brief second wind. My second wind quickly becomes a dream as I am to coach my daughter’s softball game. I have very quickly remembered that I rather be at work this weekend with the amount of stuff I have going on!!

I introduce you to Bizket, "The Sleep Walking Dog". After viewing his sleep walking nightmare I quickly caught a very inspiring Doc Rivers third wind.

Happy Friday!!!
GO CELTICS!!!

Here Comes The Pitch!!!

2010-05-12T10:21:00.001-04:00

Curve ball, strike 1. I wasn’t looking for a curve ball, thought the slider was going to be the first pitch for sure. Man, now he throws the slider!!! Strike 2!! Down to my last strike, I have gone through the scenario in my head several times. I have utilized the feedback from the team, asked detailed probing questions, interpreted the feedback that I received from the candidates, and have the perfect picture in my head of this manager’s rockstar for the role.

So many factors go into the process of finding the right person for an organization, As you develop your relationships and credibility with a manager you are no longer perceived as the necessary evil that he has to engage with. You are viewed as a key commodity that shares the responsibility of the success of the organization and the fait of the managers career path.

Different strokes for different folks. The recruiters ability to have a Sr. Manager/Director/VP spend the time and effort to disclose his gut feelings about a candidate, perception that each candidate left with him, and for the manager to unlock the untold secrets of his agenda will lead you to victory. It is a partnership, one that consists of business objectives, rules of engagement, and the ability to establish friendships and loyalty that is worth its weight in gold.
You can not always hit this sweet spot with everyone you work with but when you do your drive and passion kick in to full gear. You are motivated, inspired, and willing to go the extra mile(s) to hit victory lane. Why? Because you been their before and there is nothing like it. When you forfill your task, you are given legendary status, you are looked at as your own brand and not the brand that you work for.

Full count, you had a couple of close calls as you need to straighten the bat (Foul Ball!!) Alright I am ready here it comes, my homework tells me that this is going to be a screaming fast ball high and to the left. Time it right, choke up the bat, and don’t second guess yourself. You wipe of the sweat that is pouring down your head, step into you swing and..........................BOOOOOM!!!!
- The Warrior

Video Of The Day: Tough Times = Creative Measures For Hiring

2010-05-04T16:59:00.000-04:00

During these tough times let's make sure that we don't put yourself in a grey area and cross the ethical line between cost effectiveness and illegal activity.

Keeping a sense a humor in my mind will keep you sane and rejuvenate your battery.

-The Warrior

Friends, Allies, Archrivals, Enemies

2010-04-28T10:58:00.000-04:00

These terms come to mind as I reflect on the past several months in my recruiting world. There is always a basic protocol or rules of engagement when you are involved with a transaction, process or initiative. Personal or professional, there is a right way to approach something, a wrong way, and a way that will automatically trigger an explosion.

There are some people that you will connect with right away, others will rub you the wrong way in a matter of 30 seconds, and some people that are so insecure about their selves and their livelihood that the opportunity to relate and collaborate does not exist.

Over time I have come across just about every situation possible in the recruiting world, my thought process and interpretation have remained constant, my delivery, approach, and perception have changed dramatically. Being aggressive and passionate is one of my best traits as a recruiter but at times has got me in trouble. It is not always about being right or wrong at the end of the day. It is about the way you handling the situation and the impression that you have left.

Whether you have to “kid glove a situation”, add a little finesse or realize that you need to agree to disagree, make sure that you avoid any behavior that will lead you down the wrong path. Even in mind-numbing situations where the solution is so obvious that my three-year-old daughter could figure it out, you must keep your composure.

The one thing that you must not compromise is your belief system, your character and your loyalty to your friends and allies.
-The Warrior

Cross Roads In Life

2010-04-16T14:36:00.007-04:00

Unfortunately in life you have to make unpopular decisions that go against the grain of popularity but are true to your belief systems. Each individual has their own agenda, ideas and concepts that they are apart of that separate themselves from others. This identity blueprint steers in you in the right direction and sends a lightning bolt down your spine when you go against your own judgment.

So the journey doesn’t end (never ends), it continues down another path, hopefully the path that can morally and ethically sit well with you. The hope is that through learning from your mistakes and poor decisions you have come in sync with yourself while you are in the process of making life-changing decisions. The people’s majority is not always viewed and the correct path to take, it revolves around the popularity amongst the decision makers.

Good leaders will do what is best for the whole, having the ability to separate their own game plan. Poor leaders will do what is easiest and make judgments based on their belief systems, which is never good for the whole.

As we part ways and move forward on our journeys, you realize that their day in court will come. The spotlight will shine on them as they move around, fear will hit their soul and change there thought process for ever.

Happy Friday to all!!

-The Warrior

Clean Up Your Act Online, It Could Lead To Your Next Opportunity!!!

2010-04-13T17:14:00.002-04:00

Hello All
The activity is up, candidates are interviews, positions are getting filled. I have been so busy that my blog entries have been minimal over the past couple of weeks. As the activity floods the market it is important to realize that recruiters (myself included) are getting savier in the social media world. Recruiter are checking linkedIN profiles, facebook, and googling your name to see what your online presence/appearance looks like.
The initial phone conversations have a lot more meat to them, especially if there are different topics that can connect and influence a candidate in a positive direction. That being said, if you do not have an online presence you need to get one, if you are currently online make sure your appearance is fit for an interview.

,Below are some recent articles that discuss how to give your online presence a facelift.

HOW TO: Clean Up Your Facebook Profile
http://mashable.com/2010/04/08/clean-up-facebook/
3 Tips for Managing Your Online Reputation
http://mashable.com/2010/04/08/managing-online-reputation/

6 Ways Brands are Using Social Media For Real-World Action
http://mashable.com/2010/04/08/social-media-real-world-action/

5 Ways Mega Charity Events Can Harness the Power of Social Media
http://mashable.com/2010/04/09/charity-events-social-media/

- The Warrior

Winners Never Cheat, Cheaters Never Win!!

2010-04-02T13:08:00.003-04:00

On occasion you will get involved with individuals that hold certain titles and influence within and organization where you will quickly ask yourself HOW??? How the heck did this individual climb the ladders, move from title to title, and function within the world they live in.

I chalk it up to the enablers within the group, very similar to someone with an addiction, people will shadow the individual, fulfilling each request, in fear that this individual could make their life miserable. The workload for one becomes the workload of many, the credibility and respect dwindles as your good deed does not get recognized. In fear of looking inferior to their superiors the individual will take full credit for the work you did. This starts the beginning of a tension in the air that can not overturned without admitting their wrongdoing.

Rather than create peace and admit their faults, the so called leader starts to get defensive closing the door on their inability to reason and communicate effectively. The co-workers get disgruntled, uneasy and uptight as the individual that represents them no longer shares the ideas and values of the group.The only thing that keeps the workers sane is that they know that some day their day will come. Everybody has been in a situation where they had an unbelievable job that they loved. You go into work knowing that there are many people who would die for your job. All good things come to an end, just like all bad things are never overlooked.

The bottom line is that wherever you work or whoever you work for you need to realize that your career is in your hands. Your professionalism, your style, your ability to network and develop key relationships, your focus on your career as a professional (not just your current job).
Just remember when your day comes lead by example and understand that credibility and trust is far more valuable than a title with a window view.
-The Warrior
Happy Passover & Easter to all!!!

Start Spreading The News!!

2010-03-22T08:47:00.000-04:00

Below is another inspiring success story from one of the networking groups that I belong to (Acton Networking Group (one of my favorites)). As we all have been the grind and find it difficult to stay the course I believe it is important to get the success stories out.
Some on the content (names, companies, etc...) have been removed to protect their privacy.
-The Warrior

Hi All,Some thoughts: I had been out of work since September, though I knew in July. I took the lazy summer approach. I now think that perhaps I should have jumped into high gear immediately, keeping in a productive daily routine.

Speaking of time management, in general I found job fairs to be an unproductive use of my time. The exception was the Dice job fair in Burlington in December where technically savvy hiring managers were on hand and ready to talk. There’s always the question of which job board to focus on. Craigslist worked best for me, by far. More real people responding in seemingly real time. And then there’s the subject of recruiters. I submitted to a firm through a recruiter, but then later found a much better avenue into the company. The recruiter hurt my chances in that case. Other times their relationships with the firms got me in the door. You’ve got to estimate their value add but still take the good with the bad I suppose. But do they call back with other opportunities if something doesn’t work out – as if they were working for you (which they are not)?

As a software developer I found user’s groups to be a useful way of keeping up on technology and keeping in contact with other developers. I think the Chelmsford Skills Share group is useful. The Java User’s group – nejug.org – has great monthly talks at Sun (err, Oracle), though now I find myself working in a Microsoft shop. The Google Technology User’s group, if you want to venture into Cambridge, is a good group of smart folks too. The Virtualization Users group – virtg.com – is not writing code, but it’s interesting IT stuff and helpful networking. And of course there is this group. I found morning meetings with fellow networker’s very useful.

And thanks to those who forwarded my resume to their contacts, too many to name. Former co-workers were great too. A guy I worked with in the early 90’s had very useful contacts and was very helpful. My takeaway from that – go way back in your connections. I feel I owe time back to the community. Let me know if there’s a way I can help out. If you find a LinkedIn connection of mine that may be useful, let me know and I’ll see what I can do

I’ll continue to monitor the mailing list, for a while anyway, to see how I can help. Good luck to all!
Sincerely,

Employed worker

References Here!! Get’um While They're Hot!!

2010-03-19T16:41:00.002-04:00

References were always looked at as the necessary evil in the recruiting industry. Always apart of the process, historically difficult to connect with. Times have changed!!! In this economy verifying dates of employment and getting the old “ Per company policy I can not give out references” will put your resume at the bottom of the list.

It is always a tight race to the finish for the interviewee’s, nothing is guaranteed until there is an offer at hand. If you are in the final stretch and your peers and former managers will not return phone calls the red flags start to wave and the disqualification process begins.
More than ever people can relate to the process of finding a position. The character witnesses of individuals truly understand this and are eager to call back recruiters to help their friends and allies out. Although the responses and return calls have been better we have to be careful not to overstep our boundaries.
Both recruiters and people offering references to candidates have been more strategic in their approach. Each party has been more engaged as there is a high interest to network and discuss possible opportunities within their own inner-circles.
Long story short, make sure that you have your references ready to go earlier on in the process. Be selective as you pick the individuals that will speak highly of your confidence, capabilities, and the ability to over achieve.

These people just might be the icing on the cake that lands you the job!!

-The Warrior

When in Rome!! How To Celebrate With The Irish

2010-03-17T10:28:00.000-04:00

Top of the morning to ya ladies and lads,

Today's video is in celebration of. ST. Paddy's Day, everyone is Irish today, cornbeef and cabbage for all!!

-The Warrior

My Advice To All: Speak Up Or Shut Up!!

2010-03-16T11:15:00.000-04:00

I have been labeled as a passionate and somewhat controversial character throughout my career and social life. Here is my two cents on the subject for what it’s worth: be a leader, stand up for your cause, don’t be that person that does not speak up and allows your anger and frustration to build within. Always keep an internal pulse check with your moral and ethical values. Being assertive will not always lead to end result that you were looking for but it will lead to a black and white understanding on the stance that you take.

Make sure that you add a little finesse while presenting your assertive and passionate feelings towards your cause. Adding a professional polish (learned and delivered by few) will allow you to get your point across effectively. Your objective is to have the other side either left backpedaling, apologetic, or hung out to dry. Be selective in the causes that you fight for, the success lies in picking the ones that dig deep into the inner core of your values and are well supported by peers, friends, and allies.

The best man does not always win; it is the one with the most support, influence, and best presentation. Hopefully everyone is a winner in these situations that we have all faced at one point in our lives. The goal should be to come up with a proposal that is agreeable to all, incorporating bits and pieces of all agendas. After all is said and done if the parties are at a standstill, the one with the most influence will win the battle; the others either accept the decision or depart. In the Aftermath, win or lose make sure that your decision is not done in spite.

-The Warrior

Take the Survey: Important Factors while searching for a new opportunity!!

2010-03-12T09:31:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

Below is a survey that I created based on the many conversations that I have had with candidates who I have presented for openings over the past 2-3 months. There are several factors that are weighted during a candidate’s decision to pursue a role, each individual has different needs that attract them to a specific role/company.

These is a brief survey, take a minute and give me your input, I will follow up with the results.

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

-The Warrior

True Leaders in Action

2010-03-08T09:57:00.004-05:00

As I reflect back on my journeys over the weekend I witnessed many positive and negative situations that made me reflect on the life lessons that we learn on a daily basis. I duely noted the true spirit of good vs. evil, hard work vs. jealously, and cheating vs. beating the odds.

You never know how people are going to react when everything is on the line, when the pressure is so intense that you can feel it in the air as the pressure pushes it weight against you. I love these situations; people’s true colors bleed out as their instincts take over. Their impulses are due to whom they are as an individual, a byproduct of their blueprint; you get a true view of someone’s belief system (the BS and politics aside).

Some become leaders, showing their true passion and skill when it counts, committed to the task, always showing true sportsmanship. Others fall short to the pressure, frustration get's the best of them. Stress levels become so intense that they either beat themselves up or become aggressive and launch into attack mode amongst others.

It was truly amazing to watch these mentors in action, the professors guiding their pupils outside the classroom. Although I found it very interesting to watch the pupils, watching the wise ones provided a combination of entertainment and understanding of their success and failures.

In one hand I witness a passionate leader who was true to their cause, instructing their students, insisting on positive reinforcement. The achievements and success of the individuals shined through as their leader guided them with their sportsmanship and wisdom.

In the other hand I saw a leader with a taste of anger and fear in their mouth. Their aura was one of a wounded warrior who had their ego completely stripped. As the crowd watched the leader fight to the end you saw their ship slowly sinking as the troops looked for guidance and direction but instead were led into a storm of chaos.

"In the end, it's extra effort that separates a winner from second place. But winning takes a lot more that that, too. It starts with complete command of the fundamentals. Then it takes desire, determination, discipline, and self-sacrifice. And finally, it takes a great deal of love, fairness and respect for your fellow man. Put all these together, and even if you don't win, how can you lose?" - Jesse Owens

Thanks for having my back SB, you have made a friend for life!!

-The Warrior

Need Some Friday Morning Motivation!!!

2010-03-05T09:11:00.001-05:00

Get Motivated!! Sports played as huge role in my childhood and adolescence. Sports builds character, teamwork, and the competitive spirit. You learn to unite as one group, working together to beat the odds. In victory or defeat you put everything on the table, having the satisfaction of knowing you gave your all, developing everlasting friendships amongst your team members.

It has been long times since I have played in any meaningful games but my previous experiences have allowed me to enjoy being career focused, family oriented, and believe in myself.

TGIF!
-The Warrior

Money is just An Illusion???

2010-03-02T16:31:00.000-05:00

When it comes down to it money is just printed paper, value or perception of value is determined by people. If the government prints up money to clear their debt their will come a point where $100 bills are worthless. I am not sure that we are there yet but it is not to far fetched!!!

-The Warrior

U.S. Economy Grinds To Halt As Nation Realizes Money Just A Symbolic, Mutually Shared IllusionFebruary 16, 2010 Issue 46•07 The Onion

WASHINGTON—The U.S. economy ceased to function this week after unexpected existential remarks by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke shocked Americans into realizing that money is, in fact, just a meaningless and intangible social construct.

Calling it "basically no more than five rectangular strips of paper," Fed chairman Ben Bernanke illustrates how much "$200" is actually worth.What began as a routine report before the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday ended with Bernanke passionately disavowing the entire concept of currency, and negating in an instant the very foundation of the world's largest economy.

"Though raising interest rates is unlikely at the moment, the Fed will of course act appropriately if we…if we…" said Bernanke, who then paused for a moment, looked down at his prepared statement, and shook his head in utter disbelief. "You know what? It doesn't matter. None of this—this so-called 'money'—really matters at all."

"It's just an illusion," a wide-eyed Bernanke added as he removed bills from his wallet and slowly spread them out before him. "Just look at it: Meaningless pieces of paper with numbers printed on them. Worthless."

According to witnesses, Finance Committee members sat in thunderstruck silence for several moments until Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) finally shouted out, "Oh my God, he's right. It's all a mirage. All of it—the money, our whole economy—it's all a lie!"

Screams then filled the Senate Chamber as lawmakers and members of the press ran for the exits, leaving in their wake aisles littered with the remains of torn currency.

U.S. markets closed as traders left their jobs and resolved for once to do or make something, anything of real value.

As news of the nation's collectively held delusion spread, the economy ground to a halt, with dumbfounded citizens everywhere walking out on their jobs as they contemplated the little green drawings of buildings and dead white men they once used to measure their adequacy and importance as human beings.

At the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday morning's opening bell echoed across a silent floor as the few traders who arrived for work out of habit looked up blankly at the meaningless scrolling numbers on the flashing screens above.

"I've spent 25 years in this room yelling 'Buy, buy! Sell, sell!' and for what?" longtime trader Michael Palermo said. "All I've done is move arbitrary designations of wealth from one column to another, wasting my life chasing this unattainable hallucination of wealth."

"What a cruel cosmic joke," he added. "I'm going home to hug my daughter."Sources at the White House said President Obama was "still trying to get his head around all this" and was in seclusion with his coin collection, muttering "it's just metal, it's just metal" over and over again."The president will be making a statement very soon," press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters. "At the moment, though, his mind is just too blown to comment."

A few U.S. banks have remained open, though most teller windows are unmanned due to a lack of interest in transactions involving mere scraps of paper or, worse, decimal points and computer data signifying mere scraps of paper. At a Bank of America branch in Spokane, WA, curious former customers wandered aimlessly through a large empty vault, while several would-be robbers of a Chase bank in Columbus, OH reportedly put their guns down and exited the building hand in hand with security guards, laughing over the inherent absurdity of the idea of $100 bills.

Likewise, the real estate industry has all but vanished, with mortgage lenders seeing no reason to stop people from reclaiming their foreclosed-upon homes.

"I don't even know what we were thinking in the first place," said former banker Nathan Collins of Brandon, MS, as he jimmyed open a door to allow a single mother and her five children to move back into their house. "A bunch of people sign a bunch of papers, and now this family has no place to live? That's just plain ludicrous."

The realization that money is nothing more than an elaborate head game seems to have penetrated the entire country: In Wilmington, DE, for instance, a collection agent reportedly broke down in joyful sobs when he informed a woman on the other end of the phone that he had absolutely no reason to harass her anymore, as her Discover Card debt was no longer comprehensible.

For some Americans, the fog of disbelief surrounding the nation's epiphany has begun to lift, with many building new lives free from the illusion of money."It's back to basics for me," Bernard Polk of Waverly, OH said. "I'm going to till the soil for my own sustenance and get anything else I need by bartering. If I want milk, I'll pay for it in tomatoes. If need a new hoe, I'll pay for it in lettuce."When asked, hypothetically, how he would pay for complicated life-saving surgery for a loved one, Polk seemed uncertain.

"That's a lot of vegetables, isn't it?" he said.

Video Of The Day: Friday Funnies!!!

2010-02-26T15:07:00.000-05:00

Today's video was inspired by the amount of stress that we have all felt in one shape or form over the last couple of months. I have seen stress levels rise, people put into positions due to connections vs. skill, and the individual contributors of the workforce get piles and piles of work thrown on their desk.

"Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods." - Albert Einstein

Happy Friday to all!!!

-The Warrior

Another Success Story!!!

2010-02-19T16:45:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

TGIF, slowly but surely the job market is getting better. The ability to stay focus has led many people into new and creative strategies upon their employment quest. “It’s all about timing”, you never know when or where your next opportunity is going to come from. Here is another story of an individual’s journey that finally led to his ultimate goal of finding employment in an area and company that excited him.

-The Warrior

Hello All,
- After working 28 years for the same company I was out of work in April 2009.
I immediately started outplacement training and relearned how to resume, market, and research for work.

I decided on a new career focus using my outplacement training, preferences, work outlook, and some of my previous work experience in *Filtration - Water & Wastewater Treatment*. 12/09 I completed a series of additional training, certifications, and higher licensing to make myself more hire-able at better pay.

The best work research and searches I used were *Trade* associations, memberships, on-line subscriptions, and the class room trainers and trainees. The better cross links for me were NEIWPCC, MWPCA, WEF to simply hired, indeed, jobquest, monster.

Before Christmas and into New Year 2010 I had 4 Hot job prospects calling and was interviewing.
EVENTUALLY one offer was low, one decided not hire anyone, one decided no and then changed their hiring positions titles down to Interns, and one was still maybe active. As these prospects dragged out I started more networking to: 1) Meet more contacts for better research on employment and employers 2) Structure and Even out the Up and Down of working for work.1) & 2) This is where our ActonNetworkers is a Big Lift!

"My 2 Cents"
You have to figure out what is best for you.
The biggest favor I did for myself was surrounding myself with Nice People.
If I can't help myself I will feel better by trying to help someone else.
I can help someone else feel better by letting them try to help me (even when I don't want help).
Try not to take the latest adventures too seriously.
This is what I work on to keep my outlook up, which other people read and feel off you.
Some gaffs and mistakes I made got me way better results than from being 100% proper and pretty.

- Newly Employed Worker

To Work Or Not To Work

2010-02-17T09:19:00.000-05:00

Wow!! I was very disturbed with this recent article from the Boston Globe. I knew the system had problems but penalizing people that are trying to get back into the workforce is crazy!! A lot of employers are hiring contractors, especially on a part-time basis as their business slowly gets back on track. The IT & Engineering sector typically avoids this issue to due their skill set but there are many technical and non-technical individuals that are willing to take any temporary position to get back in the workforce. With the continuous extension of unemployment benefits why would the government make it harder to for someone to get back into the workforce???

-The Warrior

When stints on payroll hurt the jobless

Temporary wages lower the calculation for unemployment benefits
By Robert Gavin
Globe Staff / February 17, 2010

After nearly a year without work, Gary LaPlante was happy to take a three-week construction job. What he didn’t know was that the job would cost him more than two-thirds of his benefits when he went back on unemployment.

LaPlante, a union carpenter, is among thousands of unemployed in Massachusetts and across the nation who are discovering an unexpected kink in the system that can mean drastic cuts in their unemployment benefits.

Workers who seek to renew their benefits for a second year - not uncommon during this recession - are finding that their new benefits are based on their most recent wages, even if it was low pay for temporary or part-time work.

LaPlante’s benefits, for example, were slashed to $178 a week from more than $600. He was forced to move in with a friend, who supported him for several months before he found a full-time job a few weeks ago.

“You can’t take care of yourself with that amount of money,’’ said LaPlante, 42, a member of Carpenters Local 40 in Cambridge. “I don’t think people should be penalized for working.’’

Workers who do not work during their first year of unemployment do not risk changes in their benefits when they refile for a second year.

The danger of cuts when refiling claims for a new year applies even though Massachusetts allows people to work part time and earn up to one-third of their weekly benefit without reducing their unemployment checks.

The state has no firm estimates on how many workers have been affected by the glitch, but thousands of claimants work temporary or part-time jobs while they are receiving jobless benefits. In the week ending Feb. 6, about 15,000 unemployment recipients reported part-time earnings, according to the state Division of Unemployment Assistance.

The depth and duration of the recent recession have twisted a system designed to help people through short bouts of unemployment, officials said. Normally, unemployed workers in Massachusetts do not collect benefits for an entire year. The limit is 30 weeks, with workers allowed to refile a claim after a year if they worked in the previous 12 months. That rule was meant as an incentive for unemployed workers to take part-time or temporary jobs.

But with federal extensions making unemployed workers eligible for nearly two years of benefits, that incentive has become a penalty. Federal law requires states to adjust benefits after a year for people who worked in the previous 12 months. Workers who were unemployed more than a year, and who took a short-term job during that time, have benefits based on the wages from that temporary position, which are often less than their permanent wages.

Chi Ming Lau, 48, of Billerica was laid off from his manufacturing job in October 2008. Nearly a year later, in September, he was called back for three weeks. When he refiled his unemployment claim a few weeks later, the callback cost him a quarter of his benefits, slicing his weekly check to $475 from $624 a week.

--“I should just have sat home and done nothing,’’ said Lau.

Worker advocates such as Greater Boston Legal Services and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO said they are hearing from more and more workers who sustained deep benefit cuts because they took part-time or temporary work over the past year.

“Unemployment is supposed to get people through these tough times, not make it harder,’’ said Tim Sullivan, spokesman for the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “This is punishing the people who went out and did the right thing.’’

The Patrick administration has been pressing Congress for months to change the law and correct the situation. As early as November, state labor officials sent a letter to congressional leaders to make them aware of the problem and to push for a fix.

“We’re pressing as hard as we can,’’ said Joanne Goldstein, state secretary of Labor and Workforce Development. “Individuals are ending up in a worse situation because they want to work.’’

US Senator John F. Kerry, meanwhile, has cosponsored legislation to fix the problem. The Massachusetts Democrat is also seeking to extend federal unemployment benefits, which expire at the end of this month, and include provisions to stop penalizing people for working.

In a letter to the Senate Finance Committee chairman, Max Baucus, Kerry cited an unnamed Billerica electrician whose benefits were slashed to $400 from $678 a week because he worked part time as security guard. Workers, Kerry wrote, are being “discouraged from working part-time or losing benefits from working part-time - exactly the opposite of what should happen in an economic downturn.’’

Sara Scott, 36, of Somerville, was laid off just over a year ago. She took a three-week temporary job in May, processing applications for a charity. She earned nearly $1,500.

When she recently called the state unemployment office to file for an extension, she learned that her benefits, now $468 a week, could be cut because of that job. Her claim is still under review, and a final determination hasn’t been made.

“It’s incredibly stressful,’’ she said. “I thought I knew how I was going to pay my rent. I thought we were supposed to work when we could.’’

Images Speak Louder Than Words

2010-02-11T16:06:00.000-05:00

Go away mean people, go away!!! Selective hearing people your ok, at least I know it’s not your fault. Neurotic and egotistic people, I understand, in fact I know a couple of good shrinks I can recommend (what, I didn’t say that I am seeing one (currently)). You know what; I am even ok with the simple minded, they are nice people. I always liked telling the story of Passover to the simple child who couldn’t understand (the wicked son was the jerk!!!).

We all come from many walks of life. Everyone has had their stupid moments, their drama, their obsessions, and yes we have all cross the line in one shape or form personally and professionally.

These mean people that I talk about, well they just suck. I mean that in the nicest way possible (if you know what I mean). I certainly do not agree with a lot of people’s views and processes but you need to respect their decisions/way of life and “agree to disagree”. I envy the individual who beats the odds, who works hard, and is passionate about their cause.

RUDY!! RUDY!! RUDY!! , “It’s about time that I start playing basketball again. One condition coach goes, I go”, “What is a man without his FREEEEDOM!!!!!”

Sometimes in life we roll the dice, take the educated risk and hope that it pays off. Life is about risk assessment, credibility, and success. In recruiting you’re only as good as your last fill.

The time will come (if it hasn’t already) when you will role the dice and loose. The attack dogs will be waiting, foaming at the mouth, ready to take advantage of your situation. It could be for there own cause, ego or pure hatred. When you hit this rock-bottom moment you will get a pulse check on the people that surround you. During this pulse check in life you will get a true test/flavor of others identity, personality, and allegiance.

The few but strong that remain will pick up your wounded soul and re-instate your confidence.

-The Warrior

It's Video Time!!!

2010-02-05T09:04:00.000-05:00

TGIF!!

What a week. A lot of tough lessons that we learned this week. Time to count down to the weekend and lightened up a little. Check out these clips from our favorite gameshows.

-The Warrior

Artlice Of The Day: In The Job Hunt, Beware Of Scams

2010-02-04T13:31:00.002-05:00

Hello All,

Is it Friday yet? I guess it is going to be Thursday all day today. As an Agency recruiter you learn very fast that honesty and credibility better be apart of your belief system. We live in a world where it's not good enough to be great at your profession, walk-on-water references will only get you to a phone screen and a 90% match is no longer a guarantee.

It has become a game of wits, strategy and ethics. The issues in this market are that some people tend to compromise their business ethics. You may get away with this for a short period of time but remember your day will come and when it does your bridges will have been torched.

Remember if it does feel right and look right, it isn't. Your ability to retain your trust and credibility is worth far more than any compulsive unethical thought that will patch up your problem.
-The Warrior

In the Job Hunt, Beware of Scams
Diane Stafford--The Kansas City Star
In depressed job markets, where job hunters vastly outnumber job openings, there are people who try to profit at desperate job hunters' expense.
There are "headhunters" who charge for access to a "hidden job market."
There are Web pages that charge searchers to see "top-dollar" job opportunities.
There are scam artists who present job offers that are attempts to steal your identity.
Even veteran job hunters tell me they sometimes get sucked in by the offer that looks too perfect to pass up.
Repeat after me: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Lyn Chitow-Oakes, an officer with TrustedID, an identity theft protection company, says work-at-home and pyramid business offers should send red lights flashing.
Overseas scam operators particularly are e-mailing people with offers to be their U.S. financial agents, she warns.
Do not even click on their come-ons!

You should always check out the veracity of the company that reached out to you before responding to any offer. Don't respond directly to the e-mail address or the Web page without checking into it first.

Can you find other evidence of the company's existence? Do an online search, get help from reference librarians, check the Better Business Bureau and your state attorney general's office. Look for news stories.

Never, ever fall for a pitch that asks for your Social Security number or any bank account information.

There are some legitimate work-from-home companies. If you're sure you've found one, ask to speak with some current employees and read their online employee chat boards. Most legitimate work-from-home employers will help you gain access.

And don't get sucked in by big income promises. Those often rely on getting others to buy into the sales system, too.

Chitow-Oakes suggests that when you post your resume on job boards, you can reduce the risk of your private information falling into evil hands if you use a separate e-mail address solely for your Internet-related job-hunting efforts.
Source: (c) 2010, The Kansas City Star. Distributed by Mclatchy-Tribune News Service.

The Rules Of Success: The Untaught Secrets That Successfull People Learn

2010-02-01T11:39:00.001-05:00

In the recruiting world it’s always about business intelligence. Your ability to minimize the risk on the factors that you can control and build a strategic game plan for the events/situations that come up during the process. This strategy is not rocket science but there are a tremendous amount of factors that go into the recipe of failure or success for each situation.

Rule # 1 “Do what you love, love what you do”
Have a passion for whatever it is that you decide to do in your career. Americans spend the majority of their lives sleeping and working. We all love sleeping, most people would rather not work if they didn’t have to.

Rule #2 Build your own identity
No matter what position/title or industry you are in your professional world is smaller than you think. Your reputation, your success, how you were able to resolve/troubleshoot problems, and your ability and willingness to mentor others carries you throughout your career. People change companies, evolve into senior executives, and are extremely influential in hiring decisions that will eventually affect you.

Rule #3 “Failing to plan is planning to fail”
This is a common theme that I come back to in my blog entries. Based on your past experiences try to find any “red flags” and factor in past failures to your current strategy. Although people tend to react on instinct (I definitely do), breaking the steps down and understanding the pro’s and con’s for each decision along the way will put you in the best possible situation to succeed. In order to be successful you have to take risk, when you roll the dice if you fail you will realize many different things. The one lesson that you will never forget for the rest of your career is that you will find out the true identity of ones character and backbone. The small inner circle that is left standing is your professional lifeline.

Rule #4 Understand you credibility & influence among the decision maker
This concept took me awhile to fully understand. Even if you are successful and people speak the world of you if you do not have a history with the decision maker make sure that you factor that into your game plan. You have to constantly prove yourself and constantly have the ability to build and develop trust.

Rule #5 Have a passion to learn
The person who loves to learn new processes, technology and environments will succeed. Every company, every industry, every position, every manger has a different need and a different process to acquired that need. Your ability to understand the unique needs and process will gain your credibility.

Rule #6 Understand all of the rules of engagement
There are steps in every process that can be skipped but make sure that don’t skip the ones that can’t be forgotten. Guidelines change all the time but there is typically one or two that have to be done that can be easily overlooked.

Rule#7 It is never a one shot deal
Your wins and losses will carry you through out your career. Everyone will remember your accomplishments but more importantly they will remember the process, ethics, and credibility that were involved during the final outcome. There is a price to pay for every decision you make, after the celebration/defeat is over people will remember their specific interaction with you (good or bad).

Rule #8 Realize that not everyone is your Allie
Everyone has enemies, it doesn’t matter who you are or what title you posses. There are certain people that you will not click with; whether it is business style, personality, or another reason that you don’t fully understand. The resentment typically evolves from a specific misunderstanding or confrontation that you had with the individual. Do your best to make amends with the individual, easier said than done your ability to accomplish this task will help you out in the long-term.

-The Warrior

The Aging Workforce and Unemployment

2010-01-26T22:26:00.000-05:00

There are a lot of highly skilled talented individuals on the market. The majority of skilled workers that I run into have many years of experience. Discrimination? It depends, in the contract world I am always looking for the skilled workers with years of established experience and credibility. There is no age discrimination in my world, if you have the right skill set and picked the right industry you are a big fish in a small pond.

The issue lies with the professional who has not carved out his niche, not developed strong and strategic relationships, and whose tactics were not well thought out. Below is an article that talks about the aging workforce and the issues they have as they try to re-invent themselves. I personally believe that the seasoned professional is going to play a vital role in the workforce as our economic conditions rebound.
-The Warrior

Seniors Struggle to Rebound from Unemployment Jan. 19, 2010
Cindy Krischer Goodman--The Miami Herald

At age 69, Mario Gutierrez arrives at the Pepsi Bottling facility at 5 a.m. and ends his work day about 12 hours later. By the time he heads home, he has visited about a half dozen customers, buying one a cup of Cuban coffee or chatting with another about their sales. While traditional retirement age was four year ago, for Gutierrez it's not even in his near-term vision. "I feel satisfied," Gutierrez says.

In many workplaces during the last year, older workers haven't fared as well as Gutierrez, a 40-year veteran of the Pepsi system who still receives company awards for performance. In workplaces of all sizes, many older workers were the first to get the ax, mostly because of their higher salaries and health-care costs.

As a group, they are finding it most difficult to rebound from unemployment. The number of unemployed workers age 55 to 64 has nearly tripled since the recession began, to about 1.6 million of the nation's 15.4 million unemployed as of November, according to the Labor Department. These unemployed jobseekers say it is even more difficult for them to find work because of what they see as age bias.

But even though they are looking for work in record numbers, demographers insist older workers represent the future. According to 2009 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people age 55 years and older in the labor force is expected to increase by 43 percent by 2018 and workers 55 and older will represent 35.4 percent of the labor force. The 21st century demographics have people asking: Can and will workplaces accommodate increasing ranks of older workers?

For now, they don't have to because unemployment is so high. "Employers haven't felt the pain yet," says Kathy Lynch, director employer engagement at the Sloan Center on Aging and Work at Boston College. "But the demographics are the facts."

Recently, more than 44 medium and large employers participated in an interactive remote meeting organized by the Sloan Center. The organizers discovered most companies recognize the potential impact but don't consider the aging workforce a top priority. But there is awareness, Lynch says. "Awareness is good because you can't have action until there is awareness."

Lynch says ignoring the aging workforce will affect employers differently. For some, it may result in a disconnect with an aging customer base. For others, it might lead to a talent shortage or exacerbate a knowledge transfer issue.

Smart companies recognize the advantages of a multigenerational workforce. At Miami's Pepsi Bottling facility, about 30 of the 200 workers are 60 plus.

Paula Hopkins, regional sales director, says she has seen why companies need a blend. Her younger sales workers carry BlackBerrys and call on Wal-Mart. Her older workers, like Gutierrez, build deep-rooted relationships by being visible in the Hispanic community and create loyalty from the smaller grocery chains. "They both have the same passion for the customer."

Some employers are figuring out how to make the aging workforce work for them. Knowing that older workers would want seasonal jobs, Phil Clark, president and CEO of Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition, hires seniors as ticket takers, ticket sellers or security during the 18 days the fair is open each spring. "Our oldest worker is 88," Clark says. "They are great employees. They are punctual, they're dedicated, they have a strong work ethic, some of them have been working for us for 20 years."

Of course, seniors still battle the perception that they are outdated, more expensive and difficult to terminate. "We see that older workers are bypassed for training opportunities because of myths that older people can't learn new things," says Sara Czaja a professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and co-author of Aging and Work.

Ultimately, the impact of technology will affect all age groups. Rene Ward, founder of Seniors4Hire. org, says the recession has changed the attitudes of older workers. "I see seniors taking initiative to retrain themselves."

In Miami, Barry Johnson, chief executive officer of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, says he wants to help older workers with their networking skills, too. Many of his older members have been downsized or are confronting a gray ceiling, limiting their advancement at work. "A lot of them have experience but skills that are no longer relevant." Johnson says the chamber likely will create a task force or a networking group to help these workers.

In the near future, Czaja says, employers will accommodate the increasing number of older workers through the work/life benefits traditionally requested by young parents - flexible schedules, telework arrangements, contract work. She believes keeping older people productive over the next decade is crucial to a strong economy. "We need to prepare for it."

The Big Pay Off

2010-01-20T09:14:00.000-05:00

There comes a time in one’s life when you realize that all of your preparation, determination, and hard work was not done in vain. We tend to live in the world of instant gratification, letting our compulsive thoughts and ideas take over as we crave for immediate results. “The Big Payoff” although few and far between is the Super bowl of all victories. The recipe requires resources, a well thought out strategy and an intense focus that allows you to stay the course. When everything lines up you create a combination of gut feeling and professional instinct that develops a natural high.

Draining at times, your determination and ego pushes you to your outer limits. Failure is not an option, stopping the process prior to a successful result is unthinkable. Although the situation and approach will vary, the process is universal. It could be the perfect job interview, the presentation that left people speechless or athlete who somehow does the impossible. Whatever the scenario, your hard work and dedication will make the process seem effortless. The moment is etched in one’s memory and continuously talked about as the act reaches legendary status.

These moments are few and far between but when they erupt, the aftermath creates a life changing event for all parties involved.

Here’s to “The Big Payoff” that we all inspire to reach and to the individual whose actions we witness inspired us to dream.

-The Warrior

“Life is a compromise of what your ego wants to do, what experience tells you to do, and what your nerves let you do.”

~Bruce Crampton

TGIF VIDEO: What Not To Do On An Inteview

2010-01-15T09:41:00.001-05:00

Hello All,

TGIF!!! Half way through January and things are looking good!! Lots of activity out there, most candidates that I speak to are getting phone calls and going on interviews. It is still a tight market; a good resume may get you to an interview but make sure you can back it up!! Be prepared, confident (not cocky) and if you haven't interviewed in awhile make sure that you do a couple of dry runs prior to the big day.

Here is an example of an interview that had no chance.

-The Warrior

Article Of The Day: 7 Ways To Flunk A Job Interview

2010-01-08T08:42:00.000-05:00

New Year, New Leaf, we will have to learn to forgive but we will not forget. The opportunites are starting to slowly come back, the people that are prepared have the best chance of getting the job.

Good Luck to All!!!

-The Warrior Seven Ways to Flunk a Job Interview
by Adriana Gardella
You don’t need interview advice, right? After all, you’ve got stellar credentials and years — maybe even decades — of work experience. To be completely honest, you’re actually overqualified for the job. In fact, you shouldn’t even have to interview.

Stop right there! In this age of shrinking workforces and shuttering businesses, you’ve also got plenty of equally qualified company. And when was the last time you interviewed? Chances are, those skills could use a little polish. Fear not. But make sure you don’t throw yourself out of the race by committing one of these common — and fatal — faux pas.

Mistake #1: Drop your guard in front of “the help.”

Interviewing is stressful. Sometimes you just want to explode. But don’t. At least not in front of anyone who could influence the hiring decision.

Ron Panaggio, regional HR manager for security systems provider SimplexGrinnell recalls one candidate who took himself out of the running when he thought no one was looking. After meeting with Mr. X, a strong contender, Panaggio, who was then working for Emery Worldwide in New York, asked the receptionist who greeted the candidate to share her impressions. Turns out, Mr. X had launched into a profanity-laced tirade about the company’s lack of visitor parking spaces.

Panaggio notes that although the guy may have had a point — the parking situation wasn’t ideal — his delivery, and his questionable decision to attack his would-be employer set off warning signals. “If he was that critical about parking, we could only imagine how he was going to react to substantive policies that he disliked,” says Panaggio.

Employers know that job seekers interact with receptionists and other support staffers — often with their guards down. “They don’t see those people as decision makers, so they tend to be more genuine in their interactions with them,” says Panaggio. But employers routinely ask these employees for feedback. “We like to see whether the interview persona matches the unscripted persona that walks through the door,” says Panaggio. Consider that the next time you’re waiting for a tardy interviewer (who’s probably busy and making do with a reduced staff).

Mistake #2: Over share.

Candidates worried about explaining employment gaps on their resumes have been getting way too personal, says Wanda Cole-Frieman, an executive recruiter for Blue Shield of California. While she enjoys building rapport with the applicants she meets, certain topics are off-limits — or should be. They include descriptions of your medical conditions and information about your sick parents or childcare woes.

It’s not just a matter of propriety. Chatty candidates put interviewers in an awkward position when they raise issues that could identify them as members of a legally protected class. Cole-Frieman recalls that one of her colleagues was forced to contact the legal department for guidance after a candidate announced that he used marijuana for medical purposes. The legal drug use wasn’t a dealbreaker, but raising such issues won’t endear you to interviewers. “We’re trained to say, ‘Thanks for sharing, but Blue Shield doesn’t consider those factors in its hiring decisions,’” says Cole-Frieman.

Mistake #3: Assume your resume speaks for itself.

Your resume may have helped you get the interview, but it won’t get you hired. Susan Strayer, a career coach who also works in corporate HR for a Fortune 500 company, urges job seekers to go out of their way to connect the dots for interviewers, highlighting their work experiences with stories that clearly describe what they accomplished in each role and how it relates to the position they are seeking. Don’t assume that your interviewer is familiar with obscure acronyms and non-intuitive job titles that have no significance outside the organizations that use them.

Strayer recalls meeting with an unsuccessful candidate who breezed through his resume, touting his “A-76 experience,” a term that meant nothing to her at the time, and never pausing to explain it. Strayer says he would have been better-served by taking a moment to add, “If you’re not familiar with A-76, it’s a government mandate to ensure tasks are performed in the most cost-efficient way. My role on the A-76 project was to...”

Mistake #4: Show the interviewer how important you are.

You’ve got places to go and people to see — we get it, you’re a big deal. But when an employer has taken the time to meet with you, your undivided attention is a must. “You’d think it was a joke, but employers tell us about candidates who check voicemail and e-mail, text, and even take phone calls during the interview,” says Corinne Gregory, president of Social Smarts, a program that teaches social skills, primarily to young people.

Note to Gen-Yers (and iPhone addicts of all ages): Acing the interview is your primary mission. If you lack the impulse control to keep your hands off your phone, leave it behind.

Mistake #5: Talk the employer out of hiring you.

Especially in this tight job market, you may find yourself interviewing for positions you would ordinarily consider beneath you. That’s what happened to Russ Merbeth, now an attorney with Integra Telecom when he applied for an in-house counsel position with another company. During two days of interviews, Merbeth says he expressed his doubts about the position, which he viewed as poorly conceived and not perfectly suited to his talents. “I basically rewrote the job description for them,” he says. Not surprisingly, they hired someone else.

While Merbeth’s story ended happily — eventually — he would have been wiser to keep his options open. “Always close strong, and get the job,” he says. “You can reject it later.” It’s advice you likely won’t hear from recruiters, but then they’ve already got a job.

Mistake #6: Stalk your recruiter.

There’s a fine line between enthusiastic and desperate, and you don’t want to cross it. Human resources consultant Jessica Miller-Merrell was impressed following her interview of a VP-level candidate for a position with OfficeMax, where she worked at the time. The guy was one of two finalists for the job — until the phone calls.

Two days after the interview, Miller-Merrell was out of the office, attending an all-day training. She had forwarded her office calls to her cell phone and noticed 15 hang-ups, all from the once promising candidate. Though he finally left a message (about a matter so trivial that Miller-Merrell can’t remember its substance) the obsessive hang-ups left a negative impression on her. “Someone at this level should be able to maintain composure and professionalism at all times,” she says.

Mistake #7: Treat social media communications casually.

These days, many employment relationships begin — or end — with social media. To ensure that yours falls into the former category, heed this tale.

Mark Sullivan, director of talent acquisition for Time Warner Cable in Austin, Texas, posted a link to a Senior VP-level job description that he needed to fill on LinkedIn. Among the candidates who responded, was a woman who wrote, “Dear Mark, That link don’t[sic] work.” Her next sentence began with a lowercase letter and was missing a crucial “the.”

“Whether you’re using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or instant or text messaging, you still have to be professional in every communication related to your job search,” says Sullivan. So, keep yourself in the running by proofreading before you hit “send.”

Warrior Chicken Soup For The Soul

2009-12-31T14:00:00.002-05:00

Goodbye 2009!!! You caught me offguard, changed my views, and made me think. I end this year with my final thoughts.

-The Warrior

Your quality of life is determined by a series of events and decisions that you make along your journey. Do not second guess your intuition or “gut feeling”, danger will lie with the individual that decides to go against the grain of their instincts. Your gut feeling does not always produce the best end result but If you force yourself to operate against your intuition will cause your body to produces a lethal chemical byproduct called P.U.K.E.

P.U.K.E
(Psychotic Undesirable Kinetic Energy): A dysfunctional behavioral pattern that leads an individual down the wrong social and career paths. Although the levels of PUKE one produces varies, the symptoms are constant. PUKE has the ability to quickly adapt to you body chemistry, distort your core values, and cause erratic behavior. The infected immune systems will send out a “Code Red” signal, forcing operations to shut down in order to conserve energy. If this virus is left untreated it will mutate, dissolve your identity blueprint, and cause your belief system to crash and burn.

Prevention
Go with your gut!!! If your actions are done without malice, you will allow yourself to keep your integrity and prepare yourself to walk away from a situation if or when necessary. Easier said than done, preventative maintenance of this disease lies heavily on a person’s communication skills and ability to establish relationships that are valued, desired, and difficult to replace.

Warning!!!
End results will not always match your expectations.

Money Back Guarantee!!!
If you listen to your gut feeling you are guaranteed to be at peace with yourself and learn from your experiences. You will have multiple opportunities to communicate your gut feeling to others; your success depends on carefully selecting your battles, developing a well-thought out strategy, and the strength of your execution.

Warning!!!
Moral victories can come at a very high price. Make sure you understand the implications of your actions and long-term costs of your decision.

Conclusion
Whatever the outcome, your actions will determine your credibility, self worth, and confidence. The rules of engagement are very simple to follow: Believe in your cause, prepare yourself to go out of your comfort zone, and never let your ego get in the way of the big picture.

Holiday Video: The Inner Cirlce

2009-12-23T16:09:00.002-05:00

Ahh Family, the tale of two groups uniting to form one happy pigsty. Great concept in theory but in reality we just learn to move around in the same space without tripping all over each other. We choose our spouse, we do not choose our in-laws and the majority of sons and daughters choose not to divorce their parents ( I said majority :-) )

Good Bye 2009!!! You will not be missed

-The Warrior

Attitude, Effort, Ability

2009-12-21T22:39:00.002-05:00

There are many factors that you cannot control in your environment; one’s goal is to control the ones that you can. Everybody writes their own novel in their career, whatever road that you take you are the driver (“When you come to a fork in the road, take it” – Yogi Berra). As you go around the windy path of life you will come across some interested characters that can be influential, mentoring, individuals that have a different or hidden agenda and people who have a different game plan than you.

Some people are protected, a part of an inner circle that lives by golden rules that are different from the norm. Some people just do all the wrong things, their inability to react or respond are due to their unwillingness to change or comprehend the new factors in their environment, making them a replaceable commodity. Others are perfectionist, strive for the best. Their need for friendly competition drives their personality, persona, and the will to allow them to challenge themselves to their fullest.

Where ever you stand in this wide spectrum you should realize that your day will come. Even though we work for someone else, we drive our own business, our own network, and our own connections. When the time comes and you are called upon or put on the line, be ready for the challenge. Your successes or failures will be written on your permanent record, a career imprint that cannot be changed. Realize that the factors that you can control (YOU) in due time will show off their true colors.

We can control some variables, your drive and passion will lead the way, in the end it is Bashert (Yiddish for “What was meant to be”)

-The Warrior

Video Of The Day: The Power of Persuasion

2009-12-17T14:39:00.000-05:00

It’s not what you say it’s how you say it! In the game of life everyone has to abide certain rules and regulations while having our own hidden agendas. Playing by the rules and accomplishing our own agenda is an art form that takes years to master. In order to claim victory you have to have strong values, an ethical belief system, believe in your cause, and have a true sense of the players and emotions involved.

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
- Martin Luther King Jr.

Happy Holidays!!!

-The Warrior

No When To Hold Them, Know when To Fold Them

2009-12-15T14:55:00.000-05:00

This past year our ability to change with times has been tested to its fullest. We have all made sacrifices as we all have re-evaluated our “quality of life” status while debating our necessities and requirements.

Things have changed but people have not. The core of an individual, a person belief system and their ethical and moral values that are instilled in them is a foundation that does not break. The professional who can view the world through the eyes of another, understand and empathize with them, and then make a decision that goes along with their core values and belief system will succeed in the game of life.

Listen below to a recruiter that wants to close the deal, has an offer in hand but ultimately will not sacrifice who he is and what he believes in to close the deal.

You never know who you are going to cross paths with or what situations you are going to run into; although this clips is an example, it was a role-playing exercise that was based on a true story.
-The Warrior

Money Vs. Quality Of Life

2009-12-13T21:46:00.000-05:00

In this day and age the company that offers the highest salary does not always attract the most candidates. Job stability would be nice but who can guarantee that in this job market? Career growth, technology, commute and working remotely have become a part of the negotiating process when selling a job offer or when accepting a position. The experts say that moving forward professionals in the US market will change positions once every three years.

The economy is getting better, highly skilled professionals are starting to have more and more options. The talent poll is starting to decrease, don't make the mistake of looking at recruiting as a transaction based business. The individuals who can look outside the box and understand the motivating factors for candidates while developing their inner circle will add an element of credibility and value that cannot be touched.

Below are the remarks of the Recruiters Roundtable, a yahoo network group that polls recruiters for best practices.

Be Honest and Accurate
Quite often, a candidate's compensation numbers change as they go through the interview process. What started as "around $150K base" in early discussions suddenly becomes $167,500 when they realize they are actually in contention. The best formula is to write out, in detail, all elements of your remuneration over the last few years to ensure you have a true picture. This becomes more important for senior executives with complex stock positions.

-- Anu Datta, executive recruiter, Korn/Ferry International

Look at the Big Picture
Candidates forget about the total compensation package and focus exclusively on base salary as the sole determining factor when deciding to accept or reject an offer. There are many other items to consider, such as benefits, short- and long-term career growth, personal satisfaction, company philosophy, reputation and size of the organization, and work/life balance. Many of these items can't be quantified, but often they can make or break a team member's long-term satisfaction with a company.

-- Jill Davis, recruiter with Wells Fargo's operations team

Focus on Career Goals
The biggest mistake candidates make is that they believe they will get a huge increase in salary simply because they are moving on to another role. While in some cases that may be true, the reality is that a new opportunity does not guarantee new fortunes. Do not let money be your highest priority. Look for a role that suits you best and concentrate on impressing the recruiter/hiring manager with your career goals, not financial goals. Once your offer is presented, chances are your compensation package will be a fair one based on your skills and the organization's needs.

-- Bob Hancock, independent staffing consultant

-The Warrior

Failing to Plan Is Planning To Fail

2009-12-11T06:46:00.001-05:00

It doesn’t matter what it is that you are tasked to do or looking to achieve you always need to have a game plan. Easier said than done, the idea is to create a blueprint for you to succeed. The concept involves running through various scenarios, game plans and outcomes to put yourself in a situation where you are not caught off guard. It’s your own play book that you have developed; you are the quarterback who determines what plays to run during the two minute drill as you proceed to put together the winning drive. The objective is to create a situation where you understand the players involved, the political environment, and how you are perceived so that when you get to the red zone you do not fumble the ball or throw an interception.

In the real world the most qualified individual does not always win, it is the individual who finds the right road map and plays the game to perfection. It is not the smartest person or the person with the most amount of experience or the person who has achieved the most success. The individual who truly understands the way to attack the problem and solve the puzzle wins. The physical and mental preparation along with the ability to influence the decision maker’s during this transaction will lead to the ultimate goal.

A lot of times people fall short on achieving their goals; the questions is why? Was it that they did not prepare correctly or enough? Was it because their ego distorted the clarity or resolution of their game plan? Could it have been because they wanted to achieve success but did not want to take the time and effort in their strategy which diverted them to more of a tactical or “fire fighting” approach during the process. There are many different reasons and factors why a task (interview, presentation, competition, offer) are not met with a positive outcome, some of the factors are out of our control. What you need to do is to take control of the factors that are not.

When it is all said and done and the wins and losses are recorded it is important as a professional to contemplate the outcome. You are your own worst critic but the most honest one to the one person that matters the most (you). When you debrief with yourself ( I have some of the best conversations with myself) you understand the real picture. You know why you didn’t put the time in that you should have, you realize that your game plan had holes in it. It would have been nice to achieve ultimate success but you realize that you didn’t want to make the necessary sacrifices; there were either other things that were more important to you or too many game plans for other task running simultaneously.

Whatever the answer is there is always a lesson to be learned and a new game plan to prepare,

-The Warrior

The Key To Sucess: Problem Solving

2009-11-23T12:09:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday All!! On this very short holiday week it can be very hard to focus on the task at hand. Remember to stay focused!! Here is a little brain exercise to see if you are up to the task.

-The Warrior

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Video Of The Day: Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better!!!

2009-11-18T12:13:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

Happy Weds. everyone!!! Friday is around the corner. Everyone can relate to this video. Whether it is a co-worker, friend, or family member there is always that one person who tries to ONE UP YOU!!! Sometimes it is friendly competition but in can lead to friendly fire!!!

-The Warrior

Rules of Engagement/ Code of Conduct

2009-11-17T10:08:00.000-05:00

When I first started out in the recruiting industry I had no idea what to expect. As a college graduate heading into my first role I was intrigued by the recruiting process and industry. I wanted to be in a position that was sales focused as well as sell something that people wanted and needed. The other day my seven year old son asked me what I did for work? How do you break down this concept to a seven year old? I told him that my job was to get other people jobs; he looked at me and said “huh”.

Eleven years later I am still in the recruiting field, with the same organization ( very unique in a high turnover industry) as an agency recruiter hiring IT/Engineer consultants. Over the years I have fine-tuned my recruiting skills and realized the importance of establishing relationships with both clients and candidates. In order to be successful you have to develop an understanding of the unwritten rules and professionalism that makes a recruiter credible, a great candidate, and a hiring manager that you will go above and beyond the call of duty before.

There are many bad habits that can be formed from the parties involved during the hiring process. Recruiters get a bad rap for not following up with the candidates and not giving detailed feedback during the interview process. Candidates can be harassing at times, respond to positions that they are not remotely qualified for and try to empower themselves during the recruiting process ( this can be a major turn off to the hiring manager and burn a bridge with the recruiter).

During my career I have viewed thousands of resumes, called hundreds of candidates, hired many engineers, and have worked with a variety of managers. I have realized that there are certain rules of engagement and code of conduct that one has to abide by in order to achieve success with the parties involved.

• Do not take anything personal, always keep it professional
• Keep the lines of communication open with the understanding that lack of communication means lack of interest (timing is off)
• Timing is everything, make sure that you understand why the position is open, why the candidate is looking for work and how critical the need is for the organization
• Candidates: Make sure that you re-write your resume specifically for the job description ( a detailed cover letter is not enough)
• Candidates: Make sure to disclose any and all information during the interview process (vacations, other interview activity, interest in the role etc..)
• Recruiters: Be responsive and make sure that you follow up with the candidates that have interviewed for your opening
• Candidates: Recruiters are a lot more responsive to email
• Recruiters/Managers: counter offers are rarely successful and can delay the process of finding the right candidate

-The Warrior

Video Of The Day: Job Satisfaction is Key!

2009-11-11T11:01:00.001-05:00

Happy Wednesday to all, we are half way there!!!

The video of the day is brought to us by careerbuilder.com. I am not bias to Careerbuilder but they have an outstanding marketing and advertising team. Their ads also tend to feed into my mid-week theme (stay-focused and a little humor goes a long way).

-The Warrior

Sr. QA Engineer Get’s Hired !!

2009-11-09T09:10:00.003-05:00

Professionals having to look for work over the last 6-12 months have had to remain focused, keep their spirits up, and take nothing personally. For a lot of candidates this is a difficult task as there are many approaches to take and unfortunately it is a trial and error process to determine what will work for you ( “timing is everything”).

Below is another success story or “Landing” from a network group that I belong to. I believe that these stories are inspirational and for those that feel like they are in the weeds and hitting dead ends, these stories can offer a lot of suggestions.

-The Warrior

Sr. QA Engineer Get’s hired !!
I have decided to accept a job offer as a software QA engineer at Company XYZ. This comes roughly six months after I was laid off. It's been a busy half-year, filled with networking events, company research, interviews that did not pay off, and constant modification of my resume and cover letter. I did not have to take a lowered pay rate, so I feel that my career is continuing on its path.

I first found the job listing on dice.com. I did not have a contact within the company, so I sent my resume to the HR department and hoped for the best. However, networking played an important part in redoing my resume over the last few months such that it caught the attention of the HR department. In the end, the fact that their product was very similar to the one I had worked on at my prior company gave me the edge over other candidates.

During the course of my job search, folks in my network were very helpfulin polishing my documents. This is especially true with people who regularly look at resumes. I would strongly recommend other job seekers do the same, i.e., find someone you know who works in a company you aren't applying to and ask for feedback on your resume. I now get to change my mindset from searching to filling out all the new hire forms.

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You Got Personality!!! Take the Quiz To Find Out What The Experts Think!!

2009-11-05T17:07:00.002-05:00

Caution: If you have a split personality please make sure to discuss this with yourselve prior to answering any questions.
-The Warrior

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Video Of The Day: Acessing Your Work Place Worth ( AKA The Birthday Party)

2009-11-04T08:44:00.000-05:00

Happy Hump Day!!! How are you perceived and valued amongst your co-workers will determine your fait and destiny within your organization. Take a look at the CBBCOS Model. I am not sure if this model is geared to everyone but it certainly has some good suggestions. Although birthday parties don't tell everything they can be highly subjective in the workplace.

-The Warrior

What Makes A Great Candidate An Employee?

2009-11-02T12:37:00.002-05:00

Networking, survival, what to do, what not to do, family, and career are constant thoughts that a candidate thinks about during their job search. Our economic conditions are unheard of (certainly for GenX). Growing up I never lived without, for the past ten years I have seen an economy that has thrived, an economy that has bared many fruits of labor to those that were driven without distraction. Over the past year the tides have changed, I have seen a depressed economy with an intelligent workforce that is doing its best to remain on top.

Those that are employed are fighting the battle to position themselves for a successful outcome once the recession has past. Those among the unemployed are trying to climb to the top of a growing and highly skilled talent pool. What is the definition of Networking in 2009? I call it “back to the basics”. It is getting advice from contacts that you have developed, critiquing your online presence, understanding how to evolve as a professional, and separating your personal life from your professional life.

During my recruiting efforts over the past year I have been able to indentify the traits of people that have achieved success during their job search. These candidates understand how to network and have developed references that will go above and beyond the call of duty. They have a unique skill set that that make them an exceptional candidate for the specific position they have applied for, a candidate that former managers would rehire in an instant. Once the individual has successfully leveraged their network, massaged their resume to the specifics of the position that they are applying for and researched the company their preparation for the interview process begins.

During the interview process there are many barriers to overcome. Candidates have to sell the recruiter, pass multiple phone screens, and go through an extensive half day interview process to convince the team members that they should be the candidate of choice. Hiring managers have been extremely selective, calling for a unanimous vote among the team as one bad hiring decision could lead to their downfall. The interviewee's that succeed are the ones with stamina, focus, and the ability to articulate in detail there skill set and responsibilities.

I have gone through the interview process with kid gloves. There is a high sensitivity and frustration to those that have gone on multiple interviews while being away from work. I do not discriminate against any individuals, I discriminate towards the position, skill set, resume, references, and interview skills of an individual that is the right fit for the position I am recruiting for.

-The Warrior

The Art Of Acing A Phone Interview

2009-10-27T13:35:00.001-04:00

As a recruiter I have spent many hours on the phone screening candidates for positions. There are certain protocols that go along with a phone interview that candidates should follow. Your resume is your first shot of capturing a recruiter’s attention but the interest can escape very fast depending on your communication skills during the screening process.

Top 10 Things Not to Do On A Phone Screen

#10) Use a Lan Line: We live in the world of cell phones but nothing is more annoying than a dropped call or a bad signal during the phone screening process

#9) Do not use a speaker phone ( nothing worse than hearing the echoing voice on the phone, especially when the candidate is trying to impress you)

#8) Do Not chew gum, eat, or drink (sounds like common sense but you would be surprised)

#7) Do not interrupt or talk over the person interviewing ( pet peeve of mine)

#6) Remember to smile: smiling keeps you positive!!!!

#5) Pick a quiet place with no background noise: I had a person once call me from a train station and another candidate call me in the mist of a howling lesson with their dogs ( not to good)

#4) Treat the phone interview as important as face-to-face interview as it will determine if you move forward in the process

#3) Watch your er’s, um’s, ah’s, Oh’s, and especially the “you knows”

#2) Disable call waiting

#1) Listen, talk slowly and talk as articulately as possible ( There will be moments of dead silence, don’t let your nerves take you over).

-The Warrior

Video Of The Day: Techniques During the Interviewing Process

2009-10-23T00:03:00.001-04:00

TGIF everyone!!!
Let's face it in today’s economy candidates have to be creative during the job interview process. You have one chance to make a first impression and if things start to go south during the interview you got to react quickly. Below is a clip of some creative interviewing techniques, the idea is to find out what works for you (obviously this is a trial and error process)

-The Warrior

Topic Of The Day: Stress Management

2009-10-21T17:43:00.000-04:00

Stress can be a good thing (right?). Stress is a motivator; keeps you on your feet, it allows you not to be complacent. When stress levels are not managed correctly you loose your ability to focus on the big picture. How you deal with your stress level will determine your success within your organization; to much stress will lead to your downfall, not enough stress will lead to a deterioration of you creativity and passion.

-The Warrior

Managing Job Stress in a Struggling Economy
How to Improve Productivity and Manage Extra Demands
© Joseph Wilner
Oct 18, 2009

Managing extra job responsibilities can be taxing. That's why it's important to develop habits to improve productivity while still leading a balanced life style.

In a struggling economy where unemployment is high and job roles are ever changing, there are ramifications for those whom are employed as well as unemployed. There are significant sources of added job stress that are related to job insecurity through downsizing and corporate mergers, as well as through high turnover from burnout and fatigue. The coinciding impact of layoffs and the expectations for employees to increase performance to compensate for a decreased work staff, contribute to job stress and can become difficult to cope with and manage

With downsizing comes an increased responsibility for many workers. Employers expect one employee to blend responsibilities and take on tasks previously managed by numerous people. This can lead to work overload, which involves having excessive demands and too much work at one time, and causes fatigue and lack of productivity due to the person perpetually being behind in schedule. Similarly, jobs with high turnover tend to lack the congruence of establishing role responsibilities from lack of new employee training. This can lead to ambiguous job expectations where the employee is unsure of responsibilities and must self-manage and deal with problems without managerial support.

Improving productivity in a time of intense job competition is one way to begin managing the increasing work load of many positions and the stress of uncertainty in job security. Changing work habits and values are ways to begin improving personal productivity and balancing work responsibilities.

Improving personal productivity: Procrastination

Dealing with procrastination is one area to begin improvements. Having many undone tasks and playing catch-up can make things more confusing and lowers productivity when important tasks are continually not getting done.

According to DuBrin, one technique to manage procrastination is the WFO principle, which stands for “worst in, first out.” This involves focusing and completing the more cumbersome and time consuming task first to be able to better manage the other smaller tasks that can smoothly be completed afterwards. It can also be beneficial to break tasks into manageable chunks when a starting point is not apparent. Preparing a to-do list and setting priorities helps to stay organized and cuts down on major tasks that seem overwhelming.

A very important part of changing the habit of procrastination is to decrease the rewards and pleasures that come from procrastinating, such as socializing with co-workers, or surfing the internet instead of focusing on the task at hand.

Improving personal productivity: Work habits and skills

One major principle in enhancing productivity while managing stress is the idea of “working smarter, not harder.” This relates to taking the time to plan and prepare for implementation of a task, and deliberately focusing on enhancing strengths and working on areas of improvement. This may require changing some values and attitudes related to work habits that have been established.

For instance, valuing orderliness and cleanliness provides the means to bypass time wasted on searching for misplaced items or information. Also, making an effort to maintain good attendance and punctuality provides immediate benefits of more time and involvement in the job. This is also a way to show an employer how engaged an employee is in the job by sheer presence, which ultimately improves productivity.

Lastly, overcoming time wasters, or those filler activities that consume large amounts of time, such as checking an email countless times, playing computer games, and surfing the internet opens up extra time to enhance productivity. Being able to focus on essential work activities when necessary each day will add up in the long run.

Balancing work and Life

Within the process of deliberately improving productivity it is important not to disregard priorities outside of the job. Being aware of our work habits also means making sure not to develop workaholic habits or traits. A balance between life and work is essential for managing stress and avoiding burnout.

Dedicating time to exercise, getting plenty of rest, and having a healthy diet are invaluable when managing a stressful schedule, and maintaining time for these crucial healthy habits is essential for improving productivity. Being able to exemplify what it means to be an engaged employee, that is dedicated and willing to put in the extra effort, while still having time to devote to enjoyable and healthy leisure activity, is the balance that must be achieved in coping with job stress.

Reference

DuBrin, A. J. (2009). Human Relations: Interpersonal Job-Orientated Skills. New Jersey: Pearson.

Success vs. Ego

2009-10-16T00:10:00.006-04:00

I can succeed I will succeed, and I have succeeded. This is the formula that is embedded to people with the motivation, drive, and passion to achieve. Successful people never focus on the failures, they build on their accomplishments. Each time an individual goes back to his play book they review and emulate their top accomplishments of all time. Every time they call a play their execution gets better and confidence levels soar. Showered with positive reinforcement, driven by some motivational factor (money, power, popularity) successful people believe that they can achieve anything.

What’s wrong with success? Success in itself is a good thing; your ego can get you in trouble. One of my co-workers asked me if I could recall the best day of my professional career. The one day that you were the cat’s meow; the day of all days where nothing went wrong and everything you touched turned into gold. Everybody has had a day like that in their lives whether it was personal or professional. When I was asked the question it took me a split second to recall my day. The memory was etched in stone; I remembered every single event that happened like it was yesterday. Having an ego is a good thing if you manage it correctly. Your ego builds confidence and is beneficial to your image and self-worth as an individual.

What wrong with having an ego? If not managed properly your ego can create a false sense of reality. People with big ego’s can be resistant to change, have poor listening skills, and become defensive. If you are not careful your ego can sabotage your success. Your intelligence and skills will be suffocated by your inability to learn from your peers, willingness to take constructive criticism, and your need and desire for acceptance.

Managing our successes with our egos is not an easy task as it is human nature to be competitive and build up our self esteem.

- The Warrior

Business fact taken from the book Egonomics MarcumSmith, LC. (Simon and Schuster, 2007)
53 percent of business people estimate ego costs their company six to 15 percent of annual revenue; 21 percent say that cost ranges from 16 to 20percent. Even if ego were only costing six-percent of revenue, the annual cost of ego—as estimated by the people working to produce that revenue—would be nearly a $1.1 billion revenue hit to the average Fortune 500 company. That $1.1 billion nearly equals the average annual profit of those same companies.

Over one-third of all failed business decisions are driven by ego.

Nearly two-thirds of executives never explore alternatives once they make up their mind.

Eighty-one percent of managers push their decisions through by persuasion or edict, and not by the relevance of their idea.

Now Hiring: Contract Workers?

2009-10-13T23:06:00.006-04:00

There has been a big push over the last two months in hiring contract workers. It’s been great to see that companies are still being conservative but understand the need to hire highly skilled people.

As a recruiter that mainly hires contract labor I am dealing with an interesting candidate pool that is far from the norm. Companies are either looking to fill the gaps with their short-term needs or they are hiring consultants with the hope that they can transition then into full-time employees.

If you are looking to get back to work quickly contracting can be an excellent way to network, learn new skills, and earn a premium for you skills set ( although the premiums for contractors in this market have gone down significantly)

Below is an Article from Business Week discussing the demand that companies have had in the contract labor market.

-The Warrior

Now Hiring: Contract Workers?

May data show employers are hanging on to contract workers since they remain wary of bringing on full-timers

By Prashant Gopal

The good news for unemployed Americans is that companies seem poised to begin hiring. The bad news is that these are likely to be temporary jobs, often without health care and other benefits.

In a recession, contract workers are often the first to go. But often, they're the first to be hired back, because in an uncertain environment, employers want to be flexible.

"I think it's coming," said Gary Chaison, professor of industrial relations at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. "We might be at the trough of the recession, and we might be heading into a time of large-scale hiring of contract workers."

Since November, employers—reacting to the economic meltdown—have been shedding temporary workers at an alarming pace. The number of U.S. temporary help services workers dropped by 90,000 in November (on a seasonally adjusted basis) and fell by more than 70,000 every month until March, when the reductions suddenly began to slow, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In April, 55,000 temp workers were cut. But in May, the number of temp workers fell by only 6,500.

The Cuts Were Too Deep

"In the last few weeks we're seeing some stabilization," said Bill DeMario, chief operating officer for Ajilon Professional Staffing, a recruitment firm in Melville, N.Y. "Companies are looking to bring in temporary workers for workloads where they had cut too deeply."

It's not that employers see a light at the end of the tunnel yet, but "they see that the tunnel is not pointing downhill into an abyss anymore," DeMario said. They are hiring back temp workers, but often at a lower pay, he said.

BusinessWeek, working with Seattle's PayScale, came up with a ranking of the highest-paid contract workers. Database administrators—the top-paid category on the list—earned an annualized salary of $80,300 and were paid 22.6% more than their permanent colleagues. Of course, permanent employees enjoy benefits and can more easily advance within the company.

"It's a way to get in the door," Chaison said of contract workers. "But it doesn't have full benefits, and you could get caught in that second, lower-paid stream of workers that never has advancement or training."

Strut Your Stuff

Sara Horowitz, founder and executive director of the Freelancers Union, said contract workers have few protections.

"You and I might have different reasons to claim discrimination," Horowitz said. "A contract worker has no rights."

But for people who have been unemployed for months or years, a temporary job is better than nothing. Employees who take temp work not only get a salary that is sometimes higher than what a permanent employee gets (though usually without comparable benefits), but they can gain valuable experience and set themselves up for a permanent job when the economy recovers.

If somebody is out of work, what better way to network, display your skills, work ethic, and commitment to a position to an audience that maybe in a position to hire you," said DeMario.

TGIF: Video Of The Day: The Art Of Interviewing

2009-10-09T22:03:00.000-04:00

Hello All!! TGIF,

Now that the economy is coming back it is important to fine tune your interviewing skills. There is so set recipe for each job interview, sometimes you have to improve. You just never know what will land you that job that you have been craving.

Disclaimer: The gentlemen is a trained expert, please use extreme caution if you decide to use his technique.

.

The Jobs Are Coming, The Jobs Are Coming!!!

2009-10-08T13:33:00.000-04:00

Extra Extra!!! The jobs are coming, the jobs are coming. We are seeing a lot of jobs pop up or the last several months and believe it or not they are getting filled!!! It is back to the basics for candidates and recruiters. Highly skilled candidates are in demand, it’s a matter of timing and networking. Below is another success story from a networking group that I belong to. I post these for all the candidates and recruiters out there. We all need a little push to be inspired and stay the course.

-The Warrior

A true success story:

I'm kind of a generalist, without lots of deep experience in any one technology. In my opinion my breadth of experience makes me move valuable, but I found that most job postings require specific experience which I don't have. I'm confident that I could do well at many of those jobs with a short learning curve, but those companies will end up with a less capable engineer who happens to have the narrow experience they're looking for.

When I started my search I concentrated only on companies with employees that I'd worked closely with. I got a few interviews that way, but no offers.

I interview poorly, so I had more success in getting interviews than getting offers. I was even told from a past manager (long ago) that I definitely wouldn't have been hired based on my interview, but was hired based on a recommendation from somebody I'd worked with at school. I especially answer open-ended questions and behavioral questions poorly. But I interview much better than I used to, and the ten interviews I had since December helped me get better. You don't want to waste a company's time, but if you think there's a possibility of a match even if you aren't real psyched about a job, interview practice can help. (And my first job out of college was from what I considered a practice interview, so as it ended up I definitely didn't waste their time by interviewing. )

I watched for jobs on Indeed, headhunter web sites, a college web site, target company web sites, and occasionally Craigslist. I never used big sites like Monster, because Indeed carries their listings. I used changedetection. com to notify me when specific companies I was interested in added (or removed) job listings from their sites. I recommend you check it out.

I didn't post my resume on any generic web sites. I did post my resume for a few specific jobs that I found listed. I was about to say they were all black holes, but I just checked my records and that's how I contacted one of the companies I ended up interviewing with, so it can work.

After about ten months of job hunting I shortened my hair by about a foot.

As it happened I found the job on Craigslist. It was also listed on Indeed (via Monster), so just keeping track of Indeed would have been sufficient. I didn't follow the instructions for applying. I checked LinkedIn to see how I was connected to the company and found that a fellow networker that I've gotten to know pretty well previously worked with a current employee there. I've been attending a whiteboard programming group with my fellow networker, so she has some idea of my competence in programming. I asked her if she could electronically introduce us and she offered to forward a message/resume from me to him. She included a glowing recommendation. The job happened to be in his group, so he gave my resume to his manager.

Four days later I received email from the hiring manager setting up a phone screen, did a phone screen with him the next Monday, interviewed on site Wednesday, and got the verbal offer on Friday.

I accept LinkedIn connection requests only from people that I've worked with or know well. Although this is what LinkedIn recommends, it's controversial, and some people argue that the bigger your network the more opportunities you have for useful connections. My policy worked for me in this case, since I knew my fellow networker well enough to connect. Thought I think it may have alienated at least one recruiter that tried to connect before an interview.

When the company asked for references I supplied them via email and also suggested they look at my LinkedIn recommendations, which happen to be from different people than the references. I think that helped.

I wish you all success in your searches.

- Mr. Hired Employee

Top 10 Things to Remember While in the Job Hunt

2009-10-03T21:43:00.000-04:00

Jobs are on the horizon but buyer beware companies are looking for the elite. Only the best of the best, the exact match for the need that a company has will get through to the interview process; one will be picked. The phones are ringing!!! The recruiters are selling with excitement!!! Feedback will be quick with little meat to it as hiring managers are too focused to worry about

second place candidates.

Second place candidates can easily turn into first with another opportunity!!! Candidates and recruiters have to remember a few things as we both sweat this one out.

TOP 10 Things to Remember while in the Job hunt

1) Relationship building and Networking is everything, there is no such thing as a one shot deal

2) Agency recruiters can add a tremendous amount of value but make sure you are extremely selective with the recruiters that you work with

3) Candidates applying for positions must have all of the desired and required skills sets to get a phone call from a recruiter

4) Borderline harassment will not get you closer to a position ( some people think that this is a good tactic but trust me it doesn’t work)

5) Most recruiters are more responsive to emails while inquiring about status updates and job inquires

6) Bring you’re A game to the interview: Do your homework and ask for the Job!!

7) Counter offers almost NEVER work out and burn a lot of bridges for future opportunities

8) There is no such thing as a permanent position; contract opportunities are a great way to get into a company and typically lead to other opportunities

9) Never talk bad about your prior company that you worked for

10) If the managers give you his business card after an interview send ONE thank you note. Do not continue to send emails ( the is a huge pet peeve)

-The Warrior

Video Of The Day: 2 Minute Motivational Drill

2009-09-30T08:10:00.001-04:00

Hello All,

Since it's hump day I figured we all needed a little inspiration to pass the day.40 of the best motivational speeches that Hollywood has produced.

A Journey Into One's Success Story: The Jobs are out There!!

2009-09-26T22:02:00.001-04:00

Keep the faith!!! There are jobs out there; it’s more about fine tuning your skills and techniques from the networking to interview process to asking for the job. Below is another success story from one of the networking groups that I belong to. This group is an amazing group and the only one that I recommend to people that I speak to. Below is one individuals long journey that finally lead to the grand prize; a job. I love this post because the individual truly realized the value-add the great recruiters can give during the process.

The name of the individual and networking group have been left anonymous

-The Warrior

Hi All,
I've been out of work since April, although I'd started looking quietly before that. I've done a lot of networking, including being on the administrators committee of the XYZ Networkers Group. Some of that may yet pay off in the future, but I didn't actually get this position from networking.

I was contacted by a recruiter via LinkedIn.

I'm surprised to say that the best leads I've had in this search cycle were from recruiters. I usually try to avoid them ( Sorry, recruiters! ) unless I'm employed while I'm looking - figuring that if I find the opportunity myself, the lack of fee might make my chances better. I'm not sure the reason but recruiters have come up with openings that my networking contacts aren't aware of, that aren't on the websites, or otherwise advertised.

The process for this position was unusual all the way.

The job is one of the situations I've heard about, where the "employer" has decided to have a department of contractors, instead of employees.

The recruiter actually works as the HR department for the group. The recruiting firm's "account manager" took over from the person who found me on LinkedIn and coached me through the interview process. Odd. He actually sat in on some of the interviews, and threatened ahead of time to kick me under the table if he thought I was talking too long, or heading off track. (He never did...)

The job is odd for me too. I'm a software developer. This job is in an IT Support department. The reason they want someone like me is to write small applications to automate data collection from scientific instruments (thus supporting their in-house customers). Since the department is "Support" not "Development" part of the coaching he did was to make it very clear that I needed to voice the fact that that was OK with me. Ever see Lilo & Stitch - the scenes where Nani is looking for a job? Even though she was overdoing it and patently false to my ear, the idea of making sure the employer knows you want THIS job was stressed. "I'm all about support. Support is what I love to do!" (sic)

The two main things I took away from his coaching were:

Make sure the hiring manager knows you want this job, are qualified for this job, and are enthusiastic about working for them. Say it in actual words; like "I'm confident that I'm the right person for this job" I'm sure other people are a bit like me - more likely to be modest, and cautious about such bald statements. Fergit it! Toot your own horn.

Make sure you have a strong idea (early in the interview process) what they want from you. (Asking them is a good way to find this out, if you don't have a 'coach as I did) They told me that another promising candidate, when asked what to do in the face of a particular 'customer' problem, said "tell them to contact the Help Desk". Duh. A help desk is 1st level support. This job is 3rd level support. The help desk has already vetted the problem and sent it on to those more qualified to fix it (the new employee). ...Kind of like asking a doctor what to do about your illness, and having him respond that you should talk to the receptionist. **Knowing what they want from you in the job can be critical to answering interview questions in a positivemanner.**

LESSON: Don't be shy about this sort of thing, within the limits of rationality and standard business practices. The worst they can do is say "take it or leave it" (unless you are rude, hostile, etc). In this case lots of the wording wouldn't ever stand up in court, but I didn't want to be paying legal fees to prove it.

I start Monday. We'll see how it goes! All the above left me feeling a bit more cynical than I usually feel at the start of a new job.

Cheers

Articel Of The Day: Careerbuilder Survey, More Workers Living Paycheck By Paycheck

2009-09-23T21:51:00.000-04:00

Many Americans are barely making it, no one is immune to the economy and it's downfall. As we still try to live the "American Dream" there are many things that people are cutting back on. Luxury items are a thing of the past, babysitters are recruited family members, and filet mignon is know bologna ( $1.99/pd); don’t get me wrong we doesn't like a nice bologna sandwich with a little mayo.

Below is an article by CareerBuilder describing their results of their survey:

Have you been overhearing your employees talking about living on ramen (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and refreshing the computer screen a hundred times a day to spot the exact moment that paycheck deposits? That may not come as a huge shock, but current worker struggles may be deeper and more common than you realize.

As we continue to experience the effects of a sluggish economy, many workers are struggling with household budgets. A whopping 61 percent of workers report they always or usually live paycheck to paycheck just to make ends meet, up from 49 percent last year and 43 percent in 2007, according to a new nationwide survey of more than 4,400 workers by CareerBuilder. Thirty percent of workers with salaries of $100,000 or more report that they too live paycheck to paycheck, up from 21 percent in 2008.

So, how are workers getting by?

• More than one in five (21 percent) workers say they have reduced their 401(k) contributions or personal savings in the last six months to get by. (Six-figure earners aren’t exempt, either; 23 percent report doing the same to make ends meet.)

• More than one-third (36 percent) of workers say they do not participate in any programs such as 401(k), IRAs or retirement plans at all, up from 31 percent in 2008.

• In addition, one-third (33 percent) report that they don’t put any money aside and into their savings each month, up from 25 percent in 2008

• Of those who do set money aside for savings, 30 percent set aside $100 or less per month and 16 percent save less than $50.

“Workers are employing a variety of tactics to help make ends meet in this economy,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder.

“Whether it’s by keeping a tighter budget, finding ways to bring in additional income or adjusting their savings strategies, workers are doing their best to weather the current storm. These good financial habits will not only help workers in the short-term, but better position them for the future.”

But just because your employees are employing their own survival tactics doesn’t mean you don’t have a responsibility as an employer to do what you can to help. Haefner offers the following tips to help your employees ride out the economic downturn and prepare for the future (full tips here):

• Keep track of spending – Help employees create a spreadsheet to analyze what they spend each month, including the money spent on those inevitable invisible expenses, such as a morning coffee, cab rides or afternoon snacks. Once they can see where their money goes, they can more clearly see where they can cut back.
• Speak up – Set up a meeting with your employees and members of your HR department, in which employees can learn or be refreshed on what is available to help them save on monthly expenses. Is your company still offering flexible spending accounts, wellness benefits, retail discounts, transit reimbursement or anything else employees may not be aware of? An informal meeting in which employees can ask questions and clear up uncertainties may be extremely helpful for them.

Video Of The Day: The Boss asks for a favor

2009-09-21T21:19:00.001-04:00

Happy Tuesday!!! It is time to lighten up a little; take a couple of deep breaths and start the day with a smile.

It is always good to get on your bosses good side but sometimes the big guy crosses the line. My friend Tim is put in a tough situation where his boss wants him to take the fall. Make sure that you don't cross the line because if you do there is no turning back.

Artice Of The Day: Tips on finding work, even as the jobless rate nears 10 percent

2009-09-20T19:22:00.000-04:00

This is an interesting read as the economy is getting better for some industries but worse for others. Now that we are in survival mode, what are the techniques and wisdom that the pros have to offer? I think that we have all realized that not every technique or suggestion will work for all but we have to go through the pain staking trial and error fine-tuning process to find out what will work for our specific needs.

-The Warrior

Tips on finding work, even as the jobless rate nears 10 percent
By Rachel Beck, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK -- As the unemployment rate climbs to almost 10 percent, no industry or profession has been spared when employers needed to cut jobs. That includes fields once considered untouchable.

Big national law firms are letting partners go. Following them out the door are senior associates who were on the partner track. The same is true for tenured teachers and professors, high-ranking accountants at top-tier firms and white-collar corporate managers.

"Imagine along your career, you never were thinking about the possibility of being laid off. You might not have a financial cushion on place. You haven't spent time networking. You haven't kept up your skills," said Peter Cappelli, a professor of management at the University of

"It is a worse situation than for folks in jobs who had some expectation that their jobs weren't safe," he said. It's difficult to deal with the reality that your seemingly secure job is gone, but there are ways to get back into the working world. First, you need to formulate a plan:

Stop the blame game
No one is saying you have to wake up the morning after a stunning job loss recharged and ready to pursue the next phase of your life. When you've built a career at a particular job, there's likely to be a mourning period after a layoff. Accept that you are going to feel down, and don't beat yourself up for what has happened. "This is such a bad economic downturn that it is crushing organizations," Cappelli said. "It's like a one-in-a-100-years flood." Understanding that should help get you back on your feet faster.

Face the facts

More than 6.9 million jobs have been cut in the United States during the recession, and there is a good chance many won't come back as soon as economic growth picks up again, or possibly ever.
For instance, 1,004 teaching jobs in Detroit have been cut, and 397 were tenured positions, which typically means they have seniority and are covered under strict termination and due process requirements.
The layoffs were forced by economic necessity. The school district is projecting budget deficits as its enrollment plunges, according to Keith Johnson, president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers.
That means those teachers can't count on being rehired by the Detroit school district anytime soon. They will have to find work elsewhere.

Get smart
It's easy to get complacent with your skills when you work at the same place for a long time. A job loss forces you to break out of the comfort zone.

Teachers might want to consider different subject areas -- for example, a high-school history teacher might want to think about switching to literature. Accountants might need to become proficient in other areas of corporate financial reporting or the tax code.

Sam Pollack was laid off from the law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in August 2008 as the financial crisis began to intensify. The 32-year-old had worked on deals involving mortgage-backed securities, a market that completely froze as demand for such assets evaporated amid the downturn in real estate.

"If you work hard, go to good schools, you believe you will be in a good place," Pollack said. "I knew my layoff wasn't due to my personal performance, but it still hasn't been easy."

To make himself marketable to new employers, Pollack is trying to sharpen his skills. He has taken continuing education courses in areas of the law where he isn't as knowledgeable, such as bankruptcy, and he's making sure he's up to date on new securities rules and regulations. He also is networking "like crazy," hoping that will land him an in-house legal job at a company.

Ramping up your knowledge doesn't have to be costly. Seek out free programs, which often can be found through trade organizations or businesses in your industry.

For instance, LexisNexis is offering the Lend a Hand program for out-of-work attorneys. The program includes a free six-month profile to both its Lawyers.com Web site, which consumers and small businesses use to find lawyers, and its Martindale.com Web site, which provides information on attorneys and law firms. In addition, participants can get access to the company's Martindale-Hubbell Connected site, an online community for legal professionals, and the Martindale-Hubbell Career Center, which is a resource to help attorneys find legal jobs in local areas.

Don't be too proud
You got to a comfortable place in your career by working hard. Unfortunately, you'll have to do it all over again. That means being flexible in your job search. It's OK to accept positions below your previous title if it gets you into the door. Then you can prove yourself a valuable asset to your new employer, said Mickey Matthews, vice president for North America at the executive recruiting firm Stanton Chase International.

For instance, if you worked at a big firm, don't look down your nose at a boutique firm that is offering you a position as partner. Same goes for someone who was a vice president of a company but now can only get a job with a director title.

"You have to get over the embarrassment factor," Matthews said. "You can't take a job loss personally today."

Wanted: A little Office Humor To lighten The Day

2009-09-16T22:47:00.002-04:00

We seemed to be so serious and intense lately that I thought it was a good idea to bring some office humor to my blog. This stuff I am about to show you is real and is certain to tickle your funny bone.

These are some excerpts from articles by Ms Lynn Lievonen on HR.com
Sick Leave:

I urgently needed a few days off work, but I knew the Boss would not allow me to take a leave. I thought that maybe if I acted "CRAZY" then he would tell me to take a few days off. So, I hung upside down on the ceiling and made funny noises. My co-worker asked me what I was doing.

I told her that I was pretending to be a light bulb so that the Boss would think I was "CRAZY" and give me a few days off. A few minutes later the Boss came into the office and asked, "What are you doing?"

I told him I was a light bulb.He said, "You are clearly stressed out. Go home and recuperate for a couple of days."

I jumped down and walked out of the office.

When my co-worker followed me, the Boss asked her, "And where do you think you're going?"(You're gonna love this.....)She said, "I'm going home too, I can't work in the dark."

The resume bloopers

These are taken from real resumes and cover letters and were printed in Fortune Magazine:

• I have lurnt Word Perfect 6.0 computor and spreadsheet progroms.

• Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year

• Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave.

• Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details.

• I am loyal to my employer at all costs... Please feel free to respond to my resume on my office voice mail.

• I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely no one and absolutely nothing.

• I procrastinate, especially when the task is unpleasant

• Marital status: often. Children: various

• References: None. I've left a path of destruction behind me.

-The Warrior

Video Of The Day: One of the most influential people of 2008

2009-09-15T23:06:00.000-04:00

Professor Randy Pausch made a surprise return to Carnegie Mellon University to deliver an inspirational speech to the Class of 2008 at the Commencement ceremony on May 18, 2008.

Pausch was included in TIME Magazine's 2008 list of the world's 100 most influential people.

You never know exactly where life is going to take you. The good, the bad, the ugly; It’s about living life to it’s fullest, understanding who you are and what you believe in.

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total; of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.

- Robert F. Kennedy

Want To Land Your Next Interview? Think Like A Recruiter

2009-09-12T18:53:00.001-04:00

There are so many professionals on the market that a candidate’s frustration kicks in pretty fast at recruiters for their lack of response. Why does this happen? Just like the SDLC (software development lifecycle) recruiters go through their own lifecycle process which is different and unique for each position, company, and manager that they work with.

Seasoned recruiters that have an establish a relationship with a hiring manager will go through an extensive Q/A process with them prior to posting a position online or searching for resumes via the internet, networking, or internal databases that they have.

The good recruiters will go over a job description with a manager and dissect it line by line. They will find out specific details of the project and get intimate details of the exact skill set, skill level, and personality of the individual that the organization is looking for. Our job is to be detectives asking probing questions concerning the “must haves” and “desired skill sets” within a job description. We have the inept ability to unveil other skills and characteristics that are needed but not originally disclosed (always happens).

When a recruiter gets their blueprint, the adrenaline kicks in as the journey begins to match the needs of the organization. The recruiter already knows how much they are willing to pay, what desired skill sets are actually required, and has scoped out other specifications that the manager has revealed through conversation (subject to change).

Recruiters are not bias towards people, they are bias towards the resumes that they believe fit the bill. Hundreds of resumes poor in but only a handful meet the requirements at a high level. Once the recruiter has identified his dozen or so candidates that appear to be a good match they use their knowledge of the position and company to sell the position to the candidates. Once they sell the candidates on the role they then have to sell the hiring team on the resume. This is a trial and error process as more feedback and specifics about what a team is looking for come out during the first resume submissions.

If a recruiter is lucky he bats .350 on his first round of candidates and is able to schedule some interviews. As the interviews are scheduled feedback is given as to why the team made their selections (unfortunately the team usually does not give feedback on candidates that they didn’t choose). During the first round of the interviewing process the hiring team usually critiques the specs for what they are looking for. The recruiter then has to fine tune their recruiting efforts based on the feedback they receive from both ends of the spectrum (candidates & interview team).

Sometimes recruiters hit a home run their first round of interviews and are able to extend an offer out to a candidate ( this is getting much harder to do in this economy). The majority of the time it is back to the drawing board but this time the recruiter has enough intimate knowledge about the position that the second round will typically lead to multiple interviews and an offer on the table. Depending on uncontrollable factors that a recruiter faces it may take them to round three or four to land the knock-out punch and make a match made in heaven.

So if you want to land your next job think like a recruiter. Do you have all the desired and required skills sets that they are looking for? Are your compensation level/title /years of experience exactly what they are looking for? Make sure to ask the recruiter if there have been any interviews/phone screens for this role? If so what was the feedback? Do you need to re-write your resume to highlight the skill sets that the team is looking for? Do you have all of the “must haves” and “highly desired” skill sets that are on the specs? Are you an “A” candidate for this role (unfortunately “B” candidates are not hired in this environment).

Not only is thinking like a recruiter not a bad thing, thinking like a recruiter may alleviate some of your frustration, critique your process, and land your next interview.

-The Warrior

Video Of the Day: Life is about inches and the people that will take you there

2009-09-09T00:12:00.000-04:00

Life is about forming a variety of unique teams (family, sports, co-workers, friendships). We succeed and fail by our decisions and the groups that we associate ourselves with. In life one has realized that there is more to life than ego and that the spirit of the whole is far greater than the spirit of the individual. In my old age I have realized that we all want to be a part of something great, this greatness is a choice we make based on the road we take and the people that we meet and associate with.

-The warrior