The latest employment numbers are out and it doesn’t look good (emphasis mine). US employers added 430,000 jobs to nonfarm payrolls in May, but 411,000 of those were temporary census workers. That number was also well short of the more than 500,000 economists had expected. The unemployment rate, however, fell to 9.7 percent from 9.9 percent in April. I still don’t expect to see significant hiring gains until Q4 of this year at the earliest. My highly non-scientific polling (talking to customers) shows that most are still in a tentative mode. Perhaps some more enlightened analysis will surface later today.
Continue ReadingHiring Stunts
Here is a quick read from Yahoo Hot Jobs about desperate hiring moves from candidates. The examples are entertaining – I suggest you read the article to see the different extremes some candidates will go to for a job. My favorite line from the article (emphasis mine): Career coach Bettina Seidman advises sending little “extras” when they are relevant to the job: “If a graphic designer sends a fabulous storyboard or another example of his or her work along with a resume, then that can work. If a labor-relations expert sends a copy of a new collective bargaining that he or she negotiated, that’s good. However, stalkers or flower senders… Read More
Continue ReadingGetting Back To The Basics
I’ve been assessing many existing salespeople over the past couple weeks and have seen many different levels of abilities. The ones that stick in my mind are the salespeople who are presently struggling with their revenue production. Sales is one of, if not the most stressful positions within any company. The overt issue with a lack of sales performance is that everyone in the company can see it. The numbers are very visible. One underperforming salesperson I talked to recently has hit a true low point. He’s not certain where to start. I thought about that discussion for quite some time afterwards. The lack of performance becomes a spiraling nose… Read More
Continue ReadingSales Departure Time
I do think there is an impending, colossal jump of sales talent in the very near future. The Herman Trend Alert speaks to this potential in their latest report: According to a new CareerBuilder survey, more than one-quarter (28 percent) of sales employers are concerned about losing their high performing workers in the second quarter, while more than one-third (35 percent) of sales workers said it is likely they will start looking for a new job when the economy picks up. And here is why: Increased workloads, longer hours and fewer resources related to the recession may be contributing to job dissatisfaction. Looking at key factors that influence job satisfaction… Read More
Continue ReadingThe External Focus Of Sales
I’ve bumped into a common tension point within a company – the battle between Human Resources and Sales. My observations (and participation) of this feud is that it comes down to a fundamental difference in perspective between the two departments. Human resources has the strongest internal focus of any department. Their world exists within the walls of the company and then spend most of their time examining, building, adjusting, etc. that world. Clearly this is an important aspect of building corporate culture. A weak HR department has a significant negative impact on the entire company. I have worked in those environments and they are tortuous at times. Sales as the… Read More
Continue ReadingDetails Matter
From a sales employment ad I read this morning: Job Location: Minniapolis, MN
Continue ReadingA Marketing Tell
If you are not familiar with poker parlance, a tell is a subtle but detectable change in a player’s appearance, movement or expression. In essence, it is a clue as to the strength of the cards they are holding. Poker players are masters of reading body language and movement for these signs. I find this information fascinating in the context of hiring. When is a candidate lying? What signs can you read to know when they are stretching the truth? I’ve seen a new tell that I think has legs – marketing approaches of decision makers. Here is where this thought developed; the top executive at one of our customers… Read More
Continue ReadingCommunicate They Do Not
One of my favorite anecdotal websites is Killian Advertising’s Cover Letters From Hell. I promise you will laugh so check it out. In the meantime, here is a sample of the some “unique” writing: “It is my desire to develop and generate the revolving scheme to filter to the consuming public in.” “I’m looking for work because even though my company was profitable last year, this year they are expecting a large defecate.” “A flaw that I must point out because it even bothers me is that I am impatient. I hate waiting, but then again who does?”
Continue ReadingNow Hiring – The Federal Government
Here is an interesting poll from Gallup – the Job Creation Index. I was not familiar with this one until seeing it on Drudge. I always have a tinge of skepticism for any poll, but this one has a staggering finding (emphasis mine): Gallup’s Job Creation Index clearly indicates that state and local governments are in the midst of significant downsizing, no doubt reflecting budgetary issues resulting from recessionary pressures on the tax (and other) revenue that funds these governments. Hiring at the federal level has apparently to date escaped these same fiscal pressures. Indeed, the federal government appears to be significantly outpacing the private sector in terms of the… Read More
Continue ReadingHeart Attack Hiring
The company name listed in a sales ad I read this morning: Type A personalities wanted
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