Management Consultant, Executive Recruiter, Author, Public Speaker;
My blog, "Fighting Alligators" is geared to the over 50 job-seeker; people interested in starting their own business; and freelancers looking to become more successful.
I have 22 years of experience with Fortune 500 Brands in Strategic Planning and General Management. For the past 22 years, I have been President of New Century Dynamics, Inc., an Executive Search Business I started and own. My company is in the business of providing Consulting and Executive Search Support to our client base. In 2014, I helped create ITB Partners, an Association of freelance management consultants.
Join Byron Duncan (New Catering Connections) and I as we host Part 4 of the 6-Part series: The Catering Customer Journey, Wednesday, September 10th, at 3:00 pm Central time. Part 4 will focus on “Commitment” — and how to move leads from Qualified to Close. Chintan Patel from Meals Now is our vendor of the month.
We will also touch on the October Strategic Targets.
Even if you cannot attend, please still register, as we will send you the recording and link after the call.
We had 175 on our Part 3 series. We are shooting for 250 for September’s call. Please continue to share this message so that more people can take advantage of this incredible and free Playbook: catering-journey-compass.
I appreciate your interest in ITB Partners. For further information about ITB Partners and its Value-Added Strategy, please visit our website at www.itbpartners.com, or contact Jim Weber.
I hope you enjoyed our perspective and would like to receive regular posts directly in your email inbox. To this end, please put your contact information on my mailing list.
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is essential to me, so please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts.
“Why do you want to leave your current employer to work for us?” That question was the topic of a recent coaching session. My client, let’s call him Dave, scheduled a call to discuss an upcoming interview. He wanted to validate his interview strategy and thought my feedback would be helpful. He was particularly interested in my counsel on this one question: “Why do you want to leave your current employer to work for us?” I told Dave that it is a good question and commended him for seeking my advice. I went on to say that this question is typically one of the first asked in an interview. It is an important question that requires a thoughtful answer. It is an excellent opportunity for the candidate to answer strategically and set the tone for the complete interview.
Dave’s inquiry pertained to the second question an interviewer is likely to ask a candidate. The first being, “tell me a little about yourself.” This question is often used as an ice breaker to establish rapport. However, both questions are opportunities that the experienced job seeker uses to capture the interviewer’s interest and guide the direction of follow-up questions. To achieve this, compelling answers are crucial.
I explained that when an interviewer asks, “Why do you want to leave your current employer to work for us?” he is asking you two questions. The interviewer is listening to determine if your motivation to change jobs is sound and realistic. Your answer will reveal much about your ethics and your conscientiousness for job responsibilities. On a more subjective level, he is listening for clues that you may be disingenuous, which could be a potentially poor fit for their needs. The interviewer is looking for red flags that would disqualify your candidacy. They don’t want to hire a problem employee or a poor performer. In this regard, I told Dave that above all, his answer should be upbeat and positive. He must not disparage his current employer. Otherwise, he could be viewed as a troublesome employee, a negative influence if hired. This would likely eliminate him as a viable candidate.
Reasons to look for a new job.
Professional growth- Greater responsibility, challenge
Leadership
Compensation-Benefits
Better working environment/culture
More stable company
Pursuing a new industry/career
Facilitate relocation
Better work-life balance
Employers want to hear a clear, concise answer to the question. They want to understand your intentions for a job search. They want to know if your interest is genuine. They want to know that your motivation aligns with their needs. You must memorize a good, well-rehearsed answer to the question. The interviewer will notice any hesitation in your voice, so practice your delivery until it is second nature. That will alert them to red flags for further exploration.
To answer the question most effectively, one must know the target employer. The candidate must be familiar with the employer’s culture, strategy, and key initiatives, and understand how their skills, experience, and interests align with the company’s objectives. The most effective response will demonstrate that you have researched the company’s situation to learn about its employment needs. Furthermore, you can explain how you plan to use your skills and experience to support the target company’s culture, key initiatives, and competitive strategy.
This is an opportunity to speak about your career interests with enthusiasm and excitement. You can talk about job skills and personal strengths that have contributed to your success. You can point out accomplishments that align with your career goals and those of your potential employer. Concentrate on the plan for your career; career growth and new challenges, to be a part of a broader vision of your ultimate career goal.
The question, “Why do you want to leave your current employer to work for us?” presents the job seeker with an excellent opportunity to make a positive impression and influence the direction of the interview. It provides an opportunity to showcase how your experience, skills, and interests align with their requirements. However, the most effective answer requires the job seeker to complete due diligence on the target employer. They must have a clear understanding of the company’s strategy and key initiatives. The job seeker must understand the company’s culture and their value system. Armed with this information, the job seeker can craft answers that demonstrate how their skills, accomplishments, and career goals align with the employer’s needs.
I appreciate your interest in ITB Partners. For further information about ITB Partners and its Value-Added Strategy, please visit our website at www.itbpartners.com, or contact Jim Weber.
I hope you enjoyed our perspective and would like to receive regular posts directly in your email inbox. To this end, please put your contact information on my mailing list.
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me, so please don’t hesitate to leave a comment.
New Catering Connections and RevGen Marketing are building something incredible – a one-of-a-kind Catering Playbook – but it’s so much more than a playbook. It is the go-to resource for restaurants that want to WIN at Catering. Those who are leaning into these strategies are stealing their share of this $72 billion market. Check it out: catering-journey-compass
If you need help building (or leveraging) a catering program. Go to: revgenmktg.com and sign up for a free consultation. We would love to help you grab your share of this $72 billion market.
The Count Down is On! We are just one week away from Part 3 of our Catering Customer Journey webinar!
Please join Byron (NCC) and RevGen Marketing next Wednesday, August 6th at 3pm Central/4pm Eastern, where we will focus on “Connections” and will take a deep dive into both Inbound Sales and Outbound Sales — and how you can maximize your time to drive the best results efficiently and effectively.
Thank you to everyone who joined Parts 1 & 2 of the Catering Customer Journey webinar that Byron and I hosted last week — what a huge success!
In case you missed it (or want to revisit), check out the spectacular Playbook we’ve been building: www.thecateringspace.com. We’ll be adding to it continuously — and trust me, as a CMO who’s built catering programs from the ground up, I would’ve killed for a resource like this. It’s truly invaluable.
Be sure to sign up for Part 3 of this incredible journey we are taking.
Next up: Part 3 – “Connections”
🗓 When: August 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM CT / 4:00 PM ET
📍 Topic: NCC – Catering Customer Journey – Part 3: Connections
New Catering Connections (NCC) & RevGen Marketing will be hosting a 3-part Webinar Series starting in July. The Catering Customer Journey series will be built around helping Catering Sales Managers, Marketing Leaders, Owners, and General Managers understand a Customer’s needs at each stage.
The Six Stages are:
1. Awareness
2. Exploration
3. Connection
4. Commitment
5. Experience
6. Care
The first webinar: July 9 – 3pm Central – will cover “Awareness and Exploration.” NCC & RevGen Marketing will demonstrate to attendees how to approach these 2 stages as well as highlight: What works best, common mistakes, and when time is tight. For each section, attendees with receive a Takeaway Toolbox…because a Webinar without usable Takeaways is a waste of everyone’s time. So please join Danielle Guzzetta, Byron Duncan, and our team: (New Catering Connections ).
ItB Partners is pleased to announce the execution of its Value-Added Strategic Initiative by implementing three important programs.
These programs are designed to facilitate our consultants’ client service by improving their effectiveness, while providing our clients more options to improve their businesses.
The Three Programs we are launching at this time include:
In Kind Capital offers a program that includes restaurant business financing, a secure customer transaction system, and a marketing program to drive business to participating restaurants.
REVGEN Catering offers a turn-key catering program for restaurants.
The Travel Reservation System offers an easy-to-use meeting and travel planning and reservation system while enjoying the most competitive rates available.
Thank you for your interest in ITB Partners. For further information about ITB Partners and its Value-Added Strategy, please visit our website at www.itbpartners.com, or contact Jim Weber.
I hope you enjoyed our perspective and would like to receive regular posts directly in your email inbox. To this end, please put your contact information on my mailing list.
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me, so please leave a comment.
Interested in Unlocking 10–15% More Revenue—Without Adding Costs?
There’s a lot of money to be made outside the four walls of your restaurant—and RevGen Marketing can help you take your share.
Catering is a $70+ billion industry, yet most restaurants are either underleveraging it or not doing it.
At RevGen Marketing, we specialize in building catering programs that work with what you already have—no new SKUs, added resources, and zero startup costs. We can get your program up and running in under 60 days.
A well-run catering program can drive 10–15% of your total sales
With the holidays just around the corner, now is the time to act.
Up to 40% of annual restaurant catering revenue is generated in Q4. Let’s make sure you’re getting your piece of the pie.
In an era where every minute counts and every error can carry a steep cost, modern industrial environments are rapidly adopting smart technologies to stay ahead. From sensors embedded in equipment to wearable safety devices and automated systems that think ahead of human operators, the rise of smart technology is transforming how factories, warehouses, and production floors operate. The goal is not simply to add gadgets for the sake of innovation, but to meaningfully increase productivity, reduce injuries, and ensure facilities meet the ever-tightening web of regulatory compliance. Today’s facility managers aren’t just running machines—they’re running ecosystems, and smart tools are their new lifeline.
Leverage IoT to Monitor Everything, All at Once
You can’t fix what you can’t measure, and that’s exactly why the Internet of Things (IoT) is such a valuable ally in the industrial sector. With smart sensors monitoring temperature, pressure, humidity, vibration, and countless other variables, your equipment becomes a source of insight rather than guesswork. This constant stream of data doesn’t just help identify when something goes wrong; it helps predict problems before they occur, slashing downtime and allowing proactive maintenance. Whether you’re running a small facility or a sprawling complex, IoT turns your operation into a living, breathing organism that reports on its well-being 24/7.
Navigate the Tech Maze with a Consultant
Deciding which smart technologies will help, not hinder, your workspace can be overwhelming. That’s where bringing in an independent management consultant can be a game-changer, especially one with experience bridging operations and digital strategy. A consultant acts as a translator between what your facility needs and what vendors are selling, helping you avoid costly missteps and focus on solutions that truly move the needle on safety and efficiency. For expert guidance, it’s worth checking out ITB Partners, where seasoned professionals specialize in aligning technology choices with business goals across a wide range of industrial sectors.
Integrate Smart Oversight Through Industrial Servers
When you’re dealing with dozens of machines and hundreds of sensors, industrial servers make it possible to bring all that real-time data into one centralized location. This kind of consolidation lets teams spot inefficiencies, react faster to anomalies, and make smarter decisions backed by live information. To keep things running smoothly, it’s essential to work with servers that offer enough memory to quickly access and store vast amounts of operational data without lag. You’ll also want systems built with industrial-grade durability so they can stand up to heat, dust, vibration, and other harsh conditions commonly found on the floor, especially for applications utilizing edge servers where responsiveness and reliability are non-negotiable.
Wearables: The Safety Net That Moves with You
Smart helmets, connected vests, and wristbands that monitor fatigue are no longer futuristic accessories—they’re today’s essential safety gear. Wearables can track workers’ vitals, detect falls, and even issue real-time alerts when someone enters a high-risk zone. This not only protects individual workers but creates a culture of accountability and care that ripples through the whole team. For industries where danger lurks around every corner, these devices offer peace of mind and a tangible reduction in incidents, all while generating data that can improve training and workflows.
Find Automation That Thinks Ahead
Automation has been a fixture of industrial life for decades, but recent advancements have given rise to systems that go beyond pre-programmed motions. Today’s robots and automated platforms adapt to the environment, learn from past tasks, and even collaborate safely alongside human colleagues. These systems don’t just replace manual labor—they elevate it, taking on the most repetitive and dangerous jobs so that your team can focus on what requires human creativity and oversight. In the long run, smart automation doesn’t just boost productivity; it reshapes what your workforce is capable of achieving.
Energy Efficiency Through Smart Grids and Controls
Energy waste is both a cost issue and a sustainability one, and smart controls can drastically cut both. Smart grids analyze usage patterns and automatically adjust energy consumption based on real-time demand, reducing waste without sacrificing performance. When integrated with IoT sensors, these systems can even shut down unused machinery or reroute power to where it’s needed most. This kind of adaptive control not only cuts utility bills but supports your facility’s green initiatives, something that’s becoming increasingly vital in attracting clients and staying ahead of regulation.
Train Workers for the Age of Smart Industry
All the tech in the world is useless without a workforce that knows how to use it. That’s why forward-thinking companies invest just as much in training as in hardware. From VR-based safety modules to hands-on tutorials with wearable tech, training programs today are as smart as the systems they support. When workers understand how and why these tools exist, they’re more likely to embrace them and identify issues before they escalate.
The industrial world is no longer a place of brute force and blind repetition. It’s becoming smarter, more connected, and infinitely more adaptive thanks to technologies designed to work with human beings, not around them. Whether you’re investing in wearables, deploying IoT sensors, or building a server system that ties it all together, the goal is the same: make your operation faster, safer, and more resilient. As the line between digital and physical continues to blur, the most successful facilities will be those that embrace smart tools not as novelties but as necessities. The future is already here—it just depends on whether you’re ready to plug in.
Discover how ITB Partners can solve your toughest business challenges, fuel your growth, and help you reach your goals with their expert management consulting services.
I hope you enjoyed our perspective and would like to receive regular posts directly in your email inbox. To this end, please put your contact information on my mailing list.
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me, so please leave a comment.
“Why do you want to leave your current employer to work for us?” That question was the topic of a recent coaching session. My client, let’s call him Dave, scheduled a call to discuss an upcoming interview. He wanted to validate his interview strategy and thought my feedback would be helpful. He was particularly interested in my counsel on this one question: “Why do you want to leave your current employer to work for us?” I told Dave that it is a good question and commended him for seeking my advice. I went on to say that this question is typically one of the first asked in an interview. It is an important question that requires a thoughtful answer. It is an excellent opportunity for the candidate to answer strategically and set the tone for the complete interview.
