5/12/2015

Executive Placement

In case you were wondering, the average amount of time that a recruiter spends looking at a resume is 6.25 seconds. Human Resource Managers tend to spend a little longer, maybe 10-12 seconds because they are looking for something special, a skill that has been requested by a Department Head.


The conventional way to look for employment when one is unemployed is through the classified postings in the newspaper or at online websites. But, 80% of those jobs at the Executive level and sometimes below have already been filled, the company is simply posting to be EEOC compliant.

So, what does one do, given these scenarios?

These days, it is not easy looking for employment at least not like it was 20-30 years ago when you could leave one place of employment and walk down the street to another place and be hired on the spot.

My first suggestion to you is to start looking for your new job, the day after you get your current new job because that first day is spent filling out paperwork.

It is easier, much easier to find a new job while you are working at your present job and these types of jobs are discovered by talking with one's suppliers and customers on a regular basis. But, never ask your questions when you are around other people or even on the telephone as some companies record employees phone calls.

With that said, do not look for employment on your office computer because most IT Departments have software that can identify keystocks. Even ipads and tablets will be monitored if you connect to the company's wifi.

You can purchase a portable wifi connection for about $25/month which is well worth the expense to keep from being terminated prematurely.

A company can typically expand operation through either horizontal integration or vertical intetration. Horizontal integration is when one merges or acquires another similar company. Vertical integration is when a company acquires one of their suppliers or customers.

There are both written and unwritten rules against poaching employees from horizontal companies but nothing really exists between vertical companies which leaves the door(s) wide open for employees to brouse.

Let me also suggest that you join professional organizations and attend their monthly meetings with regularity and sign up for committees and get involved there as well as attend their national conventions.

When attending these meetings it is imperative that you dress successful as well as act successful as anything less than this because you want to feel comfortable (like wearing jeans) will influence how others perceive you.

So, you have done all this but one day you find that you have been downsized which is a huge blow to your ego and self-esteem not to mention your pocketbook.
What do you do?

Over the course of my 45 year career, I have been downsized 3 times so I know how one feels when that happens and believe me, the first week is the hardest emotionally.

But then, it is time to get down to business and looking for work should be treated just like you are going to work.

Determine 3 people that you know and make an appointment to see them. Have copies of your resume if they ask but that is not the intent of this meeting.

Tell them that you are not asking them for a job nor to help find you a job; all you want from them is to give you the names of 3 people who would be in a position to point you in the right direction.

After each of those 3 meetings send them a hand written thank you letter within 24-72 hours of that meeting.

After these meetings, you should be armed with 9 people. Make appointments and do exactly the same thing with them, making sure to send them hand written thank you cards as well.

This second round will give you 27 meetings to arrange and the next round will give you 81 and that round will give you 243 potential meetings to arrange. And, as you no doubt have realized, doing all of this is going to take time.

Be sure to do research on the person you are meeting with so you will have some guaranteed conversation starters and all you want to know is who they know who is in a position to point you in the right direction.

Along the way of this process, referred to by Executive Placement Firms as NETWORKING, one of these people will be so impressed with you that they will offer you a job where sometimes no current job exists. When you talked a little about yourself to help him determine which 3 people to select, it will dawn on him/her that you are a perfect fit for that idea he/she has been rolling around in the back of their mind.

The short of it is that you do not need to hire an Executive Placement Firm when you are smart enough to do this yourself.

Companies do not hire you because of all the “A's” you made in college or the degree(s) you have earned or the experience you have had; they hire you pure and simply because they perceive that you can add value to the company and secondly because they perceive you will be a good “fit” with the rest of their employees.

It is just this simple.


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