Now HotJobs.com offers up their survey about job seekers in 2007 – Many workers to consider new jobs in 2007. No surprises in that headline. Their stats: The survey — in which nearly two-thirds of respondents (66 percent) said they would consider new job opportunities in 2007 — suggests the U.S. workforce is full of “passive job seekers” looking to improve their prospects.Optimism about new jobs in 2007 was also common among survey-takers, as approximately 70 percent believe opportunities for job seekers are better or the same as one year ago. These numbers are similar to SHRM’s results. There is a stark contradiction later in the article. Salary ranked as… Read More
Continue ReadingAd Format
I saw this section in a sales ad this morning: Day to Day – At a glance The section contained seven bullet points explaining the tasks of a typical day in this role. It was a quick read section that provided enough insight into the position to pique the interest of the right candidates. The brevity of the section is the factor that makes it work. I would not recommend 25 bullet points with every daily task – just provide the flavor for the candidate.
Continue ReadingThe Perfect Storm
CNNMoney.com offers this quick story – Planned job cuts take big Dec. dip. The phrase “planned job cuts” is a poor construction, but it essentially means expected layoffs. Planned job cuts for all of 2006 fell below 1 million for the first time since 2000, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., an employment consulting firm. Be wary of the naysayers spouting an impending doom for our economy. The economy is robust and it truly is an employee’s market right now. The reason why you should be aware of this fact: “With the American economy at full employment for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001, the latest job-cut data… Read More
Continue ReadingSales Traits Series – Self-Management
Today we are focusing on an aptitude that has become more prevalent with the advent of remote salespeople. When we assess sales candidates for home-based or remote office positions, we place a higher significance on this trait. Self-Management An overall trait comprised of multiple factors which involve a person’s ability to manage his or her own self. This trait is similar to a person’s ability to manage others which involves empathy, understanding, gaining commitment and various other leadership qualities. This trait measures a person’s ability to marshal similar abilities toward managing themselves. A salesperson with strength in this aptitude will be able to objectively and accurately assess their own strengths… Read More
Continue ReadingPsychologically Unemployable
CareerJournal.com – Returning to the Corporate Fold After a Stint As Your Own Boss: “After seven years of running your own business, you’re a renegade,” Mr. Eberharter says. “I call people like this ‘psychologically unemployable.’ “ What a fantastic saying – I laughed out loud when I read it. I often tell the Rock Star I am unemployable. There is a good piece of advice for any jobseeker tucked in the article: If you’re determined to find a corporate job, you likely need to redo your resume since yours isn’t opening doors to the higher-level positions you should be targeting, says Jewel Bracy DeMaio, a resume writer in Sanatoga, Pa.… Read More
Continue ReadingTop 10 Hiring Mistakes
Inc.com offers up this slide show that nails it – 10 derailing mistakes that can short circuit any hiring process. A couple of my favorites: Jumping to conclusions Don’t be too hasty when reviewing resumes. A 30-second glance isn’t enough to eliminate a candidate. Be fair, and take the time to discover the truth behind a resume. I would take it one step further – don’t jump to conclusions after interviewing the candidate either. We have sat through many interview debriefs where the hiring manager took one piece of data from the interview and ran it out to a sinister trend in the candidate. There is nothing more frustrating than… Read More
Continue ReadingJanuary Is Active
From a promotional email from CareerBuilder.com: Last year, job searches on CareerBuilder.com increased by over 60% in January, breaking all previous job search records. Obviously, CareerBuilder is trying to sell employment ads, but the quoted statistic is remarkable. We hear people complain about finding talented salespeople using the big online boards but we have consistent success with them. The boards may be a problem for some positions, but I don’t think that is the common cause. From what I see, many companies post ads that are . . . well, atrocious. Here’s my Minnesotan view on it: Imagine you are on a large lake that is renowned for good fishing.… Read More
Continue ReadingPour Some Sugar On Me
Each morning I peruse the sales employment ads to see who is hiring and what ads they are placing. I came across a local company I have never heard of and was impressed by a bullet point in their ad: Accountable for achieving sales goals within an assigned territory which has key accounts. The emphasis was theirs. This approach may seem trivial, but it is important in putting the right bait out their to find the right salesperson. Companies often have glorified visions of a single salesperson with minimal marketing help being able to take a zero revenue territory and grow it into a highly profitable territory. This can happen… Read More
Continue ReadingLosing Your Job Via MySpace
There is a fine line that has yet to be determined when it comes to blogs, social networking and other web 2.0 tools. Case in point, this post from Podcasting News: Last year, she was dismissed from the student teaching program at a nearby high school and denied her teaching credential after the school staff came across her photograph on her MySpace profile. She filed a lawsuit in April this year in federal court in Philadelphia contending that her rights to free expression under the First Amendment had been violated. No trial date has been set. Her photo, preserved at the “Wired Campus” blog of the Chronicle of Higher Education,… Read More
Continue ReadingOvertime Pay for Salespeople?
From our local Pioneer Press – Drug company sales reps sue for overtime wages. Her lawsuit, part of a series of class action claims filed in November against nine major drug companies, seeks tens of millions of dollars in back pay for the thousands of drug company salespeople across the country. Honestly, I have never in my life heard of such hogwash. The victim mentality of the plantiff is only outdone by her lawyer’s quote in the article. If you employ an outside sales force, you need to read this article. The one bit of common sense comes at the end of the short article: Not all sales reps support… Read More
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