I have come across this fact with many of my customers and it always surprises me that they are taken aback by candidates who want to negotiate. One thing that business development salespeople do is negotiate. They live for the hunt which includes qualifying a deal and influencing the money structure to their benefit. Generally speaking, a good hunter knows he or she is good at what they do and they also know that companies are willing to pay for their skills. That being said (or written?), hiring managers should not be put off by sales candidates who want to discuss (i.e. negotiate) the salary of the position. Salary.com ran… Read More
Continue ReadingA Shorter Presentation
Here is a great, short article from Selling Power about an ad agency’s sales call with Steve Jobs at Apple. A taste of the setup: When Steel and his two partners arrived at Apple, they were met by two senior members of Apple’s marketing department-employees Jobs had inherited from the former CEO. "Steve’s running late," announced one of the executives. "We’ll get you up-to-speed while we’re waiting." And they ushered Steel’s group into a darkened conference room. They droned on for 2 hours as you will read. The saving point in the article is the second Steve Jobs entered the meeting. You’ll have to read it to see the marked… Read More
Continue ReadingHiring Better
Well, I am back from an extended summer vacation. Ok, it wasn’t a vacation, we have been swamped which is a good thing. Our activities have all been tied around hiring which seems to be bubbling up slightly in highly-selected areas. One thing I have noticed percolating this summer is the use of assessments. This has been our business since 2004, but it is truly taking off now which seems counterintuitive to me. However, I heard an interesting Wall Street Journal interview this morning where the reporter stated that companies hiring today have to make the right hire. Each position is crucial as most companies are running with lower numbers… Read More
Continue ReadingThe Value Of An Updated Resume
I am stuck in an ongoing cycle of sourcing. Just when I am about to be worn down, I come across a resume that lists the candidate’s technical skills. The first thing listed: -MS Windows 98 Seriously…Win98? My guess (hope) is that the candidate simply has overlooked that part of his resume for years. That is about the only explanation because I certainly hope he isn’t touting his technical proficiency with an operating system from 13-14 years ago.
Continue ReadingOf Scary Fonts
Just reviewed a resume written entirely in Comic Sans font. Scary.
Continue ReadingA Not So Amazing Stat
Just read a resume that boldly stated, “Made over 500 cold calls in 1 year.” One year. In my younger days, I was in sales jobs that required at least 50 cold calls a day so cranking out 500 in a year is…underwhelming.
Continue ReadingResume Writing
I am filtering through many resumes right now and having a wonderful time examining some of the unique stylings of candidates. Some flavor: -One candidate listed his core competencies…TWENTY FOUR of them -Another stated this, “Subject Matter Expert in dilemma analysis.” -Another misspelled his name – his name Never ceases to amaze me when sourcing.
Continue ReadingMost Overused Word
My vote for the most overused word in resumes: Dynamic It has become cliché in my eyes.
Continue ReadingCandidates Are Negotiating Pay
I can attest to the findings referenced in this Manpower survey: Just last week, ManpowerGroup released the results of its sixth-annual Talent Shortage Survey. The survey included almost 40,000 employers across 39 countries and territories. Globally, 34 percent of employers say they are having difficulty filling positions. The three most challenging occupations are Technicians, Sales Representatives, and Skilled Trades. The reasons most often cited are lack of experience, lack of available applicants and lack of technical skills. In the US, there is the added reason that candidates looking (sic.) for more pay than is offered. Don’t you find that last line interesting? Candidates are negotiating the compensation plans. In sales,… Read More
Continue ReadingIt Is All About Communication
From today’s Herman Trend report (emphasis mine): The other highlights of the study are fascinating: the least happy of the generations is the Baby Boomers. They expressed the strongest discontent with their employers and the greatest frustration that their loyalty and hard work have been neither recognized nor rewarded. “Almost one-third (32 percent) of Baby Boomers surveyed say a lack of trust in leadership is a top turnover trigger—the highest ranking by any workforce generation.” Employers are most vulnerable to lose their Generation X workers. Lack of career progress is their top exit trigger (65 percent). Only 28 percent of Gen X employees surveyed expect to stay. This intention to… Read More
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