Author: Jim Weber

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.
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More On Changing Careers

In my March 6 post, I discussed Career Tips For Changing Industries.  Well, I have something to add. I talked with two gentlemen this week who are thinking about changing careers or at least taking a different direction. John, a fellow alumnus, reached out to me because we had met and he follows my blog.  He lives in Dallas and has built a career in banking, working with clients in the Petroleum Industry.  He knows that opportunities in his field are limited in Atlanta, but it is home. He wants to relocate and find something compatible with his skills and experience. Bill recently moved to Atlanta.  He has had a career in finance and accounting and account management with big-name brands. Currently, he is an account executive providing outsourced logistics services. He’s been with his current employer for about eight years but doesn’t see further upside potential, hence the interest in new opportunities.

I had a brief conversation with John early in the week to understand his goals.   John said that he had not done much networking, nor had he paid much attention to his resume as his job changes had been secured through people he had worked with before.  He is not looking for a career coach and does not think he needs professional help with his resume.  In fact, as I came to learn, his resume does need a lot of work.  We discussed some preliminary thoughts and agreed to have a follow on conversation after I had a chance to review his resume.

After a review of his resume, I sent him a copy of The Executive Resume Cheat Sheet. I knew it would be revealing.  He reviewed that document before our second conversation.  He acknowledged the work ahead of him in that regard, so our next call was brief.  I reinforced key points about effective resumes and added a few additional observations.  I suggested that he think about career options to explore while he worked on his resume.  I also suggested that he purchase my modestly priced book “Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal.”  I know, it is a shameless plug, but he could really benefit from the wisdom offered in that book.  It is safe to say that John is at the front end of this process.  I believe that his primary goal is less about changing careers than moving back to Atlanta.  That desire is driving the question about his career.

I met Bill Friday evening.  My networking partner, Faith, invited him to our event.  While sharing a bottle of wine, Bill told me about his background.  He provided an excellent overview of his career and his thoughts about moving in a different direction.  Bill’s goal is to advance his situation by building on his experience and accomplishments.  He is not location focused, as Atlanta offers a lot of opportunity in his field.  He does need some help building his network in the market.  I offered some ideas for his consideration, and we agreed to further the conversation.

Both of these professionals must be careful to protect their current employment as they seek out new opportunities.  John’s situation is complicated by his motivation to relocate.  It is possible but unlikely that he will find an Atlanta-based employer willing to subsidize his relocation.  Bill’s situation is less problematic as he is interested in the search for a different opportunity within his industry segment.   Both of these gentlemen are at the beginning of the process to change their career direction.  They need do a complete analysis to validate and clarify their goals and then craft an appropriate plan.

If you are serious about changing the direction of your career, be clear about your goals.  Make sure to analyze your situation thoroughly so as to better understand your options.  Develop a plan to realize your goals.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, 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.

Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
JimWeber@NewCenturyDynamics.com
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

Current Assignments
1. COO- Atlanta-based Casual Dining Restaurant Company – New
2. Director of Business Dev, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: Complete
3. Payroll-Benefits Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company:  Complete
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer. Offer Accepted

5. Controller – Atlanta-based Restaurant Company:  Offer Extended
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The Day I-85 Fell In Atlanta

OK, I wasn’t anywhere near Interstate 85 during the fire and the subsequent collapse. That event, although tragic, didn’t affect me at all, well, at least not yet. In fact, I was at least twenty miles to the Northwest in Marietta at a networking event. I didn’t learn about the incident until driving home.

Al Maxwell and Dawn Barrs hosted the event I attended.  They are business associates who teamed-up to sell real estate under the Keller Williams brand.  This was the fourth gatherings they have hosted in the past year, with plans to have one event each quarter.    It is a component of their marketing outreach. I’ve known Dawn for over 12 years.   I met Al at their first event last year.  Both are first-rate networkers.

The event was held at Sage Social Kitchen and Bar, which until recently was a Chequers restaurant.  It is a great venue, conveniently located, with a private room to mix and mingle.  The hors d’oeuvre table was strategically located in the middle of the room.

I invited Faith and Hope to attend as my guests.  They were my guests at the last event, which proved to be a productive time for each.  That was my contribution to help Dawn and Al.  Faith couldn’t make it, but Hope was available.  

Click Here to For Our Free Resume Cheat Sheet Offer!

Hope and I arrived at the same time and entered the venue together. We were among the first, my plan to beat rush-hour traffic. Arriving early is a good way to spend quality time with your hosts before they become involved with other guests.  We checked-in accepted our name badges and made small-talk with Al, who was manning the reception table. Dawn was across the room on her cell phone.  She eventually made it over and greeted me with a big hug. Almost immediately she and Hope were deep in conversation, discussing mutual interests.  Hope is an Interior Designer; working for a remodeling company so connecting her to Dawn was ideal.  By this time, I was getting to know Terry, who arrived immediately after Hope and me.

KEY POINTS TO HOSTING A SUCCESSFUL NETWORKING EVENT

1.     Find a convenient location with proper food and beverage capabilities.
2.     Schedule the event so that guests are not fighting rush-hour traffic.
3.     Use a tool like Evite to invite and manage guest communications.
4.     Use a greeting table to welcome guests and provide name tags.
5.     Locate Food and beverage service so as to facilitate mingling.

Terry is a former AT&T executive who became an entrepreneur when he retired.  He owns a business that helps smaller companies manage their IT networks and infrastructure. We had a nice chat about cyber security, the hottest topic in his field, and certainly top of mind with the politicians in Washington. Terry could be a good contact as we both serve similar customers.  I gave him my card, but he did not seem to have one.  Later, I sent Dawn and Al a ‘thank you’ note and asked for his contact information.  I probably spent too much time talking with Terry, but he was interesting and friendly.  Eventually, I made a gracious exit and began circulating.

Two hours into the meeting, Hope had to leave as she had another appointment.   I spent the next twenty minutes or so making my exit, thanking my hosts on the way out. 

I would have to say that this was a successful event. It was well attended, and I met eight people who I plan to see again.  One is a potential candidate and four are potential referral sources. 
My work is all about meeting new people and strengthening existing relationships.  I attend at least one networking event a week.  Some groups are not as productive, and the events are not well planned.  Not a surprise if I don’t accept their next invitation.  Dawn and Al run the model networking meeting, which I always enjoy.   

I will make every effort to attend their future events.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, 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.
Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
JimWeber@NewCenturyDynamics.com
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal








Current Assignments
1. COO- Atlanta-based Casual Dining Restaurant Company – New
2. Director of Business Dev, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: Complete
3. Payroll-Benefits Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company:  Complete
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer. Offer Accepted
5. Controller – Atlanta-based Restaurant Company:  New

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The Costs of Going Alone You May Fail to Consider

Article from Gemma Humphries 

Setting up a new business and deciding to go alone can be many things: exciting, daunting and, above all, expensive. For many people, deciding to go alone is the very best decision they could make, but if you fail to budget properly, it could also end up being a very expensive mistake. Starting out on your own takes bravery, brains, and a huge injection of cash, meaning that many people with young or growing families simply can’t afford to take the plunge. This means that there are a huge number of people choosing to go it alone once their nests are empty, and they have shed many of the financial responsibilities and obligations of family life. Thinking of starting your own business and becoming your own boss? Here are some of the expenses that new business owners often forget to include when calculating the cost of establishing their own business, and how you can avoid making these common mistakes:

Networking isn’t Cheap
It has long been acknowledged that the most successful freelancers and start-up businesses are those that take the time to ensure they have a strong network around them: that means viewing everyone as a potential client, and taking the time to go out and meet as many local businesses, clients and competitors as possible. However what people often don’t tell you is that networking can be expensive: the cost of attending industry-specific conferences, in particular, can run into hundreds of dollars when you consider the ticket cost, travel, hotel accommodation and other expenses. Include a monthly budget for networking in your business plan, so that you view it as a legitimate business cost.
Have the Right Protection
Many new business owners simply don’t think about insuring their business: and many that are aware they need business insurance choose not to purchase it. When money is tight, one of the first things people think about canceling is their insurance. It’s true that, in the short term, the money saved on insurance premiums could be reinvested back into your business, but if you can’t afford your insurance costs then you definitely can’t afford to be uninsured! Business insurance, public liability insurance, payment protection insurance…these all serve to protect you should the worst happen to your business. If someone trips and falls on your business premises and decides to sue you (regardless of whether they are an employee, customer, or client) not having adequate insurance protection could well mean that the costs of a lawsuit. Any associated financial settlement could lead you to bankruptcy, and you may well have to close an otherwise successful business. In both the US and the UK, it is a legal requirement that businesses with employees hold certain types of business insurance. For many freelancers or small content writing companies, the cost of business insurance will be relatively small, but it is important that you ensure you have the right kind of coverage.
Invest in Your Website
With certain industries, particularly if you are a freelance writer or content creator, the web is one of the biggest tools available to you to market yourself. Your website is the perfect place to showcase pieces you have written, who you are and what you can do. However, unless you also side line as a web developer and graphic designer, a good website (no matter how small) isn’t something that comes for free. Set some budget aside to invest in your website and ensure it represents you in the slick and professional way you want it to: and then set aside some additional budget to advertise and promote it! It’s not enough to simply have a great website: you need people to want to view it too!
Make Sure You Get Paid
Finally, don’t forget to pay yourself! Your business may look artificially profitable if you are not ensuring you receive a proper salary from your business (by which we mean enough cash to pay your bills and buy groceries). Many people buy into the ideology of the starving entrepreneur, but in reality, it’s important to acknowledge that your most expensive financial outgoing and investment will actually be you! By paying yourself properly from the start, you will have a clearer picture of your businesses true financial situation, and whether it is actually viable or not. You should also budget to ensure you have some basic benefits, such as medical insurance and the occasional sick day or vacation day, to ensure you maintain a good work-life balance. It is only when you are covering all of these expenses and still running a business that turns a small profit that you can consider your business to be a success.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, 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.
Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
JimWeber@NewCenturyDynamics.com
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal









Current Assignments
1. COO- Atlanta-based Casual Dining Restaurant Company – New
2. Director of Business Dev, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: Complete
3. Payroll-Benefits Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company:  Complete
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer. Offer Accepted
5. Controller – Atlanta-based Restaurant Company:  New

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More Questions On Working With Executive Recruiters.

To complete the recap of my presentation and follow on discussion with the BENG Group earlier this month, this post addresses the remaining questions posed to me.  Those three questions are as follows:

1. After all these years, why are educational credentials still an issue?
One would think that after thirty years of experience, one’s educational credentials would not be such an issue.  Generally speaking, your education is less important over time because employers hire you for your experience and accomplishments.  But, that is not always the case.  
Recruiters and their researchers work off scripts.  They are given Job Descriptions and Candidate Specifications by the client.  In many cases, I help my clients write job descriptions.  Education credentials are usually a baseline, not necessarily a deal breaker.   For the mature executives with long careers, education becomes less of an issue than for someone beginning their career.   For technical fields, where mastery of state of the art is required, academic credentials are more important.  For most of these occupations, it is unlikely to have built a career without the proper educational credentials.

In the service sector, a formal education may be overcome by on-the-job training.  Where interpersonal skills are more important than technical skills, educational requirements may be less relevant.

Sometimes educational credentials are a cultural imperative, especially if the company is a highly desirable employer.  If you have a lot of people who want to work for you, increasing the hiring standards is a natural progression for selection.  The more candidates interested in the job opening, the more discriminating the hiring manager will become.  In this case, if not a match with the hiring criteria, one would be well-advised to look elsewhere.

Click Here to For Our Free Resume Cheat Sheet Offer!

The issue may not be confined to having a College education, but the prestige of the College you attended or the degree you received.  Assuming a leadership role is easier if the employee has a more distinguished education, “street cred,” as it were.  Window dressing or hiring managers with impeccable educational credentials is usually more significant for the most Senior Executives in Public Companies.  However, there are exceptions to this rule as well.

All things being equal, your accomplishments,  history of success, trumps all other criteria.  Overcoming educational deficiencies later in one’s career may not be a productive use of time.  However, a wise strategy for any career-minded person is to invest in continued professional development.  Continuing education and professional certification may well mitigate a weak educational background.

2. How much information should I include in my LinkedIn profile?
Recruiters use LinkedIn to find viable candidates.  If you are looking for a new job, LinkedIn must become a prominent part of your job search strategy.  I recommend that you step up to a paid subscription, as the added features will enhance your ability to find a job in less time.
You must leverage the value of LinkedIn.  Ensure that your LinkedIn profile is a complete representation of your career history. It should include every bit of career information you present in your resume, and more.  Edit your status to indicate that you are between situations and actively looking.  Make sure your contact details are available and easy to find.  Make periodic updates to keep your network engaged.

Use LinkedIn’s full capabilities.  Actively build your network by becoming linked to more people.  Be involved in groups and follow target companies.  Become a subject matter expert and publish articles relevant to your career.  Use industry-specific terminology and keywords relevant to your functional discipline.  Ask for as many recommendations as you can.

3. How does one find an executive recruiter that specializes in my professional niche?
This was the easiest question to answer.  Even so, it was a bit of a surprise.  I assumed that this would be common knowledge for these folks. Lesson learned! The obvious places to find Recruiters that specialize in your industry sector include Trade Associations, The National Association of Personnel Services, and by old-fashioned networking.   Additionally, you can locate this information by searching LinkedIn.

Kennedy Information Inc. and the Association of Executive Search Consultants publish directories and provide database services for a fee.  Before making an investment in these services, check with your local library as they may be a subscriber.

Free directories to consider are RileyGuide.com, recruiterlink.com, onlinerecruitersdirectory.com, searchfirm.com and i-recruit.com.

The role and function of the Executive Recruiter are often misunderstood. One does not need to grope around in the dark, however, as there is information available to improve your knowledge base.  All that is required is a few commands typed into your search engine.  Or better yet, follow my blog for useful tips and insight.


Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, 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.
Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
JimWeber@NewCenturyDynamics.com
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

 Current Assignments
1. COO- Atlanta-based Casual Dining Restaurant Company – New
2. Director of Business Dev, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: Complete
3. Payroll-Benefits Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company:  Complete
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer. In-Process
5. Controller – Atlanta-based Restaurant Company:  New

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WHY THE RECRUITER WON’T RETURN YOUR CALL!


Last week I posted on the talk I gave to the Business Executives Networking Group (BENG) on “Working With Executive Recruiters.”   Most of the discussion following the presentation was on the question of overcoming age discrimination. This is the primary concern for Baby-Boomer job seekers.  Although the issue of age discrimination created the most discussion, it wasn’t the only question we discussed.  The other questions were:

  • Why don’t executive recruiters call me back?
  • Why is it so difficult getting through to a recruiter?
  • After all these years, why are educational credentials still an issue?
  • How much information should I include in my LinkedIn profile?
  • How does one find an executive recruiter that specializes in my professional niche?
The first question is interesting on many levels, as it has both social and technological components.  For Baby-Boomers, a call not returned is a major breach of etiquette.  We were trained to be responsive to phone calls and to ensure a prompt reply.  It was good etiquette and good business.  It was viewed as a reflection of the brand.  That discipline is part of our DNA.   Of course, that was before email, smart phones, voice mail, caller ID, and SMS.  When we began our careers, we had Secretaries and Administrative Assistants to answer our phones and take messages; today, not so much.  I remember the angst created by the introduction of new digital phone systems that automated much of the receptionist function.  The loss of a personal touch was considered abhorrent by many.  The world has changed.  We have more ways to communicate, and fewer human resources to help us.  Technology has made us more capable so we are expected to be self-sufficient.  Technology has changed the communications-etiquette-paradigm.
The issue isn’t exclusive to the Recruiting profession.    I hear the same complaint from my colleagues regarding prospecting calls for new business.  It is very difficult getting through to a decision-maker, hiring manager, or Executive Recruiter.  Everyone is pressed for time and must prioritize their activities.  Telephones are used differently today.   Most people I know don’t even answer their phone if they don’t recognize the caller.  They let the call go into voice mail to be addressed at a later time.  If you are an unknown caller trying to sell your product, I will probably delete your message as if you never called.   I gave up making cold calls years ago, to focus on networking and the use of referrals, (warm calls) to prospect for new business.  It is much more effective.
I receive calls every day from job seekers who need help and want to build a relationship. Some are referrals from friends and associates.  I welcome these calls and make time to schedule a phone conversation.  That is good business etiquette!  It affirms and strengthens my relationships. I invite these people to connect with me on LinkedIn and to join my mailing list.  I use an auto-responder on my email to make the same offer to people sending unsolicited resumes.  I use my website to advise prospective candidates about current search assignments and instruct them on building a relationship.  These digital tools help me to be more efficient and therefore, effective.  If you are a viable candidate for one of my assignments, I will respond to you immediately.  If not, I realize that you might be a fit for a future search.  I cannot talk with every prospective candidate as I am focused on the immediate needs of my clients. 
To be most productive, I am a heavy user of email.  I do much of my marketing and manage my search assignments via email.  My initial contact with a prospective candidate is via email.  I present the basics of my search and invite the prospect to respond back if they are interested or to advise potential candidates on their network if they aren’t.   Only after we have established a level of interest via email correspondence do I schedule a phone conversation.  Even then, that first conversation is limited to 15 or 20 minutes.  It is about productivity.  If the candidate is viable and interested then we will schedule a more in-depth telephone conversation, followed by a face to face meeting.
This is life in the New Normal.  It isn’t personal, it is just business.
Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.  Or, you may be interested in my free resume cheat sheet offer.   If so, click here!
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment.
Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
JimWeber@NewCenturyDynamics.com
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
Current Assignments
1. COO- Atlanta-based Casual Dining Restaurant Company – New
2. Director of Business Dev, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: Complete
3. Payroll-Benefits Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company:  Complete
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer. In-Process
5. Controller – Atlanta-based Restaurant Company:  New
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Conversation With The Business Executives Networking Group


Tuesday, I presented to the monthly meeting of the Business Executives Networking Group (BENG).  The topic was “working with executive recruiters.”  My presentation style is to facilitate a discussion, not a lecture, so I used the following PowerPoint Presentation to frame the conversation.
WORKING WITH EXECUTIVE RECRUITERS
  • —Be competitive; assume that the recruiter has plenty of viable candidates.
  • —Present a resume that includes your complete work history; it is relevant and important.
  • —When you are scheduled to talk with the recruiter, be prepared.
  • —Make it easy for me to find you and don’t make me chase you down when I need you.
  • —Check in from time to time to reaffirm your interest and receive updates.
To help jump-start the dialogue, I asked each of the folks to offer an issue, pet peeve, question, or comment regarding executive recruiters.  I worked this task into the personal introduction period when each participant is given thirty seconds to deliver their elevator speech.  It is also a useful tactic to focus my delivery, and help increase audience participation.  The issues were largely anticipated, as I’ve heard most of them before. They included:
  • —Why don’t executive recruiters call you back?
  • —Why is it so difficult getting through to a recruiter?
  • —After all these years, why are educational credentials still an issue?
  • —How much information should I include in my LinkedIn profile?
  • —How does one find an executive recruiter that specializes in my professional niche?
These questions were quickly answered; however, based on overall discussion time, their most pressing issue was overcoming age discrimination. 

Regarding age discrimination, my recommendation is to take a perceived negative (which really isn’t a negative) and make it a positive. In other words, job seekers should understand that most Fortune 500 companies have a recruiting and selection model that favors young professionals. These companies prefer to hire people they can train, develop, and indoctrinate into their culture for a long-term career. This orientation works against baby boomers at the end of their careers.  I recommend that Baby Boomers internalize this fact and look for employment where their skills and experience is valued.  They should look for mid-caps, emerging brands, and Private Equity portfolio companies which offer the most opportunities.  Our experience is our strength, we should lead with this.

My second point is to present yourself as a specialist as employers are looking for people to solve particular problems during their tenure. Even if you have what appears a generalist background, you will find that you have specialized skills that have shaped your career.
Presenting yourself as a specialist aligns well for the Digital Age. Job tenures are decreasing as people are hired to work on specific projects and then transition out of the company. This is particularly true of private equity groups.

We also discussed the value of resumes presenting only the last ten or twelve years of employment. Whereas that might be a useful strategy when talking to an in-house recruiter, it is just irritating to executive recruiters. We are interested in your total package. We want to know where you came from, the foundation for your career. It is important to understand where someone received their initial training and development.  It is a predictor of your habits supporting continued success. Eventually, I will get your entire work history, so why not save us both some time?

As most of the folks in the room were Baby Boomers with established careers, one would expect they had developed relationships with a few recruiters. I have my doubts, however, as they seem not to understand the differences between recruiters and how they work. That might be an interesting topic for another blog post.

My presentation was well received and generated a lot of discussions. I am grateful for the help I received from Kerri, another recruiter, Beverly, an employment professional, and Julie who hosted the meeting.  I could write a book about working with executive recruiters based on our dialogue. Next month I will make the same presentation to the Financial Executives Networking Group, (FENG).

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, 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.
Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
JimWeber@NewCenturyDynamics.com
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

Current Assignments
1. COO- Atlanta-based Casual Dining Restaurant Company – New
2. Director of Business Dev, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: Complete
3. Payroll-Benefits Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company:  Complete
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer. In Process
5. Controller – Atlanta-based Restaurant Company:  New

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Free Resume Cheat Sheets!



I see a lot of resumes, believe me!  It is a fundamental part of my job.  Most of the resumes I see are dreadful. They are actually working against the job seeker, forcing them into a prolonged period of unemployment.   Unfortunately, most job seekers don’t appreciate that their poorly written resume is hurting them.
If you are unemployed, you can only think of getting another job to protect your financial well-being.  That is understandable.  You might not know that your resume is working against you.  That it is costing you time and money you cannot afford.   It is hurting your career and your financial goals.   Do you want to get back to work, or suffer a prolonged period of unemployment?   The solution is in your hands.
From time to time I help my candidates craft an effective resume for a fee.   My most successful candidates understand the need for an effective resume and are willing to pay a reasonable price for my help.   No, resume writing is not my primary line of business, but I am happy to help when I can. 
I understand that conserving cash is a priority for most unemployed people.  I get it! 
So, what if you knew the secrets to crafting a killer resume; one that would shorten your job search.  A resume that will help you get the job you want.  Wouldn’t you want to know that secret?  Wouldn’t you want to shorten your time between jobs?   I certainly would!
Fortunately for you, I have been presented with a fantastic resource which I can make available to you, compliments of my friends at CareerTuner.   I have been authorized to share the secrets of the best resume writers, at no charge to you. 
That’s right.  I am authorized to help you craft a killer resume at no cost to you.  I have been given the right to send you The Executive Resume Cheat Sheet, free.  This is a fantastic tool which I fully endorse!  It will ensure that you have a professional resume which will help you land that ideal job in the shortest time possible.
Need a Resume for a Manager Level Job?
Need a Resume for a Non-Manager Level Job?
Need a Resume for a Career Change?
Are You a Recent Grad in Need a Resume?
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Three Ways to Win New Clients You Might Not Have Thought Of

“Article from Gemma Humphries“

Being a successful freelancer means achieving the delicate balance between pitching for the clients you know you can achieve and pitching for the clients you really want. The fact is that we are all working to earn a living. We need to pay our mortgages, put food on the table, get our kids through college. Money makes the world go round, and your world won’t go around without it! Unfortunately that often means taking on the bread and butter jobs we’d rather not do more often than we’d like, and leaving the convoluted pitches process for highly sought after jobs we’d really like to do to those that are younger and have more time and less responsibilities. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are three overlooked ways to pitch for the business that you really want and actually succeed:
       
Spend Time Maintaining Relationships

Most small businesses and freelancers understand the importance of generating solid leads, but so often once those leads have been generated they forget to maintain those new relationships and cultivate a culture of mutual understanding and respect. Although it won’t directly add to your revenue, it is important to take a couple of hours out of your week and spend it talking to your customers: existing ones, potential ones, ones that you have been working with for years and those that are newly acquired. Follow up on every business opportunity you are offered and make sure that you are maintaining a good reputation within your community. This might not immediately lead to an uptake in your services (remember that 73% of newly generated business to business sales leads are not ready to purchase) but all of these things are important to building your business  identity and ensuring that, if and when they need the services that you provide, the right people will know where to find you.

Believe in Yourself

It’s so easy to criticize yourself and make excuses for why you won’t get a job, or why it’s not worth pitching to that new client. Often in business we can be our own worst enemies and the more we listen to our inner critic, the less proactive we are in reaching out, networking, and reaching for those goals that might seem unobtainable right now. This is particularly true as our responsibilities grow and we juggle running our businesses with the needs of our family. It may sound a little trite, and like something out of a Disney movie, but believing in yourself is one of the very best things you can do to boost your business success. Confidence comes from many different things, but if you are lacking confidence in yourself or in your brand then why not have a makeover? A new website, new business cards, updated email signature, even a haircut, can all help to increase your confidence in your brand and enable you to sell it to others in much more positive way.

Leave The Comfort of Your PC

We live in a modern internet age that makes it much easier to arrange all the marketing for your business from behind your computer screen whilst you sit in your jammies.  Whilst engaging in online social networking, utilizing social media and having a great website certainly will help you to generate leads for your business, nothing beats leaving the comfort of your PC and going out and meeting people. Show people who you are and what you do: being visible is the very best way of ensuring that you will be remembered by potential clients, and you can impress upon people the wide range of services you can provide for them much more comprehensively in the flesh than you ever could over the internet. Understand your business niche and know who your target market is, then get out of the house and go and target them! You could do this by attending national conferences, professional events for individuals in the same market as you, or even by going out and talking to local small businesses. The key is to put yourself out there and ensure that as many people as possible know who you are.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, 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.

Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
JimWeber@NewCenturyDynamics.com
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

Current Assignments

1. COO- Atlanta-based Casual Dining Restaurant Company – New
2. Director of Business Dev, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: Complete
3. Payroll-Benefits Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company:  Complete
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer. In Process
5. Controller – Atlanta-based Restaurant Company:  New

Posted on

Career Tips For Changing Industries

I talked with two very accomplished job seekers this week. Both have MBA’s from prestigious Universities and twenty-five-plus years with Blue-chip companies. Both are accomplished in their fields, having held senior level positions. Both lost their job due to a company-wide reorganization. However, the similarities end there. After a short hiatus, one found a new situation in a smaller, entrepreneurial company. The other is approaching two years in job search. The difference in their results is instructive.

In my last post, I wrote about the hiring criteria for senior managers in a tightening labor market. I wrote that employers looking to fill senior-level roles expect the new hire to have a very short learning curve. They are expected to make an immediate contribution. Adapting to the employer’s culture should be the majority of their learning curve, a reasonable expectation.

Keys For A Successful Transition

1. Lead with your Leadership skills
2. Be the Specialist
3. Optimize your Network

Much of my work recently has been placing CFOs with Private Equity Groups’ (PEG) portfolio companies. In case you have been disconnected from all economic news for the last decade, PEGs have been reshaping the economy, creating a lot of opportunities. These companies have a defined timetable to divestiture. Their time horizon is relatively short. During their holding periods, they maintain a focus on strategic initiatives to maximize terminal value. They need senior level managers who can help them achieve their goals within the holding period. They seek specialists.

The lack of industry-specific experience is another obstacle facing Baby-boomers in transition. There are many factors in play in this situation; however, this bias is not absolute. To be sure, a transition into some industries is difficult. Job functions like CEO, COO, and senior level marketing positions may require significant industry experience. Hiring a senior manage without relevant industry experience is usually unwise, but not always. Typically, there is somewhat more flexibility regarding specific industry experience for other job functions.

If you want to change industries, focus on your leadership skills. Senior-level jobs are about directing and managing teams, leadership. As a serious job seeker, you will research new industry segments to become familiar with revenue models, customers, and operational challenges. That work will help nullify a lack of industry experience. However, in competition for any job, you must sell your strengths. As a senior executive, leadership should be your greatest strength. As a candidate for a senior position, focus on accomplishments which required effective leadership, then translate those situations to the needs of the employer.

As an effective leader, you will have developed “street cred,” specialized skills. You did not get to this point without becoming proficient in a particular discipline or activity. In the New Normal, employers are looking for people with specialized skills. For example, some people are great at turnarounds, whereas others may be adept at penetrating new markets. Some executives are good at building new companies where others are skilled at protecting mature brands. If you look back on your career, you will find common threads for your success. Do you have particular strength in re-engineering, business development, or maybe, systems implementation? If so, these are your specialties. Your next step is to build a resume that highlights these skills so as to match the job. Skill sets that are transferrable to other industry segments are highly desirable.

Referring to the two Executives mentioned at the beginning of this article: the difference in their results is due to the quality of their networks. More to the point, the successful job seeker (a CFO type) has a contact that is well-networked into the community. His contact made an introduction to a CEO who needed a CFO. The referral source was highly credible, which led to a positive hiring decision. The other candidate’s networking efforts have not been as successful.

Since most job seekers find employment through networking, managing your network is vital. However, the size of your network is not as important as are high-quality, highly-motivated contacts working on your behalf. They must understand your search strategy to best present your capabilities. Actively manage your network to ensure its effectiveness. Make sure they know how to help you.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, 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.

Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
JimWeber@NewCenturyDynamics.com
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

Current Assignments

1. COO- Atlanta-based Casual Dining Restaurant Company – New
2. Director of Business Dev, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: Complete
3. Payroll-Benefits Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company:  Offer extended.
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer. In Process
5. Controller – Atlanta-based Restaurant Company:  New

Posted on

New COO Search Announcement!

3-02-2017:  New Century Dynamics Executive Search is pleased to announce that it has landed a Search for a Chief Operating Officer.

I am looking for a COO to join my client’s team. They are an Atlanta-based, Casual Dining Brand. The position offers a competitive salary plus healthy incentive program. If you know anyone with a Restaurant Company Operations/Franchising background who is looking for a new opportunity, please contact me for further information.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, 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.


Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
JimWeber@NewCenturyDynamics.com

Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

Current Assignments

1. COO- Atlanta-based Casual Dining Restaurant Company – New
2. Director of Business Dev, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: Complete
3. Payroll-Benefits Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company:  Offer extended.
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer. In Process
5. Controller – Atlanta-based Restaurant Company:  New