THE TALENT MAGNET - CAREER MOVES

In the poetic words of Wyclef Jean...it appears as if I have been GONE TIL NOVEMBER...especially when it comes to updating the blog! So...just to recap since I last checked in...THE NEW YORK YANKEES HAVE WON THEIR 27 th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, THE NY FOOTBALL GIANTS AFTER WINNING THEIR FIRST 5 GAMES...HAVE HAD A COMPLETE COLLAPSE...THANKSGIVING HAS COME & GONE... AND MOST IMPORTANTLY; IN THE PAST 6 WEEKS - THERE HAVE BEEN DEFINITE "SIGNS OF LIFE" IN THE JOB MARKET! I am happy to report that I am now working on multiple searches ---instead of CALLING, EMAILING, NETWORKING...and everything short of BEGGING for job openings to work on! Traditionally; the job market lags behing the general economy in recovery by about 3-6 months. In NYC specifically...the recovery happens GEOGRAPHICALLY . This is evident in the increase in hiring seen by my peers working in the FINANCIAL SERVICES/BANKING/IT sectors. So...it has begun DOWNTOWN...and over the next few months; we will see acti

The summer is over... Fantasy Football is dominating online chats (for guys)...The Yankees are heading into the post season...but what has really changed in the job market? In my assessment...not too much has changed. The economic analysts continue to speak of moving out of the recession...but many of the country's largest employers have just recently completed their latest rounds of lay-offs. Yes...there is a lot to be said for REMAINING POSITIVE, NETWORKING, BEING PROACTIVE, and all that other GOOD STUFF! However, you and I cannot create job openings. It is important to continue to do all those things you have control over to put you in the best position of connecting with a new job....as we all know...doing the right thing...does NOT pay the bills! Unfortunately, budget allocation, retail markets, consumer spending, product/brand performance, and consumer confidence all impact an employer's willingness/ability to add to staff - and there's not a damn thing we can d

The summer is rapidly coming to a close... Fantasy Football is on the minds of many...The Yankees are comfortably in FIRST PLACE...and the dismal job market is beginning to show signs of life! Historically, the job market lags behind the "general economy" by 6-12 months. So...this means that despite the stock market stabilizing & all the experts/analysts claiming "the recession is over!" - we will likely not see much hiring that will make a dent in unemployment until well into 2010. In this market...desperation makes people BEND THE TRUTH in order to secure an opportunity more than ever. This is evident in the number of people applying for positions so far outside their educational/professional background - it is scary. The other side of the equation is those candidates who have superior interpersonal skills/writing talent. These folks understand that employers are VERY STRINGENT in their screening process and will rule out candidates that do not match nearly 1

So...I guess we can all breathe a sigh of relief...according to the "experts"; we are coming out of the recession! Economists and leaders of industry are appearing on all types of news programs, websites and publications - declaring the end of this economic struggle. Apparently, some of the banks the government gave billions to - are beginning to show signs of stabilizing. In addition, "PRODUCTION" numbers look to be on the rise. However...UNEMPLOYMENT remains HIGH...and NEW CLAIMS are continuing to increase. The nearly 14 month period of DOWNSIZING, LAY-OFFS, RESTRUCTURING has resulted in the WORST JOB MARKET IN NEARLY 30 years! Yes...it does appear that the FIRING has slowed considerably. Unfortunately, companies have not yet begun to HIRE at a rate that will put even the slightest dent in joblessness. For the past year; I have received approximately 200 resumes/day from candidates that are out of work. The jobs that were eliminated were NOT specific to a particu

Stop the presses...forget about the Yankees being in first place...don't worry about Obama's new Health Care Plan... THE TALENT MAGNET HAS A NEW SEARCH!!! Although Charley's Cradle ( http://www.charleyscradle.com ) is gaining momentum; The Talent Magnet has been BATTLING to get some of the VERY FEW job searches that are still going out to RECRUITMENT FIRMS. I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN "EXCLUSIVE" ON A SEARCH FOR A PERSONAL ASSISTANT . For those of you unfamiliar with the term "EXCLUSIVE"...it means that NO OTHER RECRUITER HAS THIS OPENING. It's a big deal in the recruitment world! BELOW IS A BRIEF SNAPSHOT OF INFO RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE THIS IS SUPPORTING & THE JOB REQUIREMENTS ... * This executive is widely recognized as a MARKETING GURU * The executive has accomplished truly amazing BUSINESS FEATS all before his 45 th birthday! * This executive has a reputation for "taking care of those who take care of him" and unlike

In 1992 I began my recruitment career and was was given an opportunity to launch a new Health Care Staffing Division for ACCESS PERSONNEL. We specialized in providing Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapists. In the first year; I was able to recruit hundreds of Therapists and had successfully formed staffing partnerships with dozens of Hospitals, Home Health Agencies, Clinics & Special Needs Schools. In 1994; I had the good fortune to breathe life into a fledgling Health Care Staffing Division for CTI Personnel. We called the division MedCore ! MedCore was a full service staffing operation that provided both Administrative & Clinical professionals. It was during my tenure at MedCore that I established strong working relationships with HR Executives and Hiring Managers at some of the most prestigious Health Care organizations in the NY metro area. The following is a snapshot of some of the Clients I had the good fortune of partnering with... Maimonides Medical Center

As a TRUE Libra; I have been on a lifetime quest for BALANCE. The "scales" have been representative of different parts of my life at different times - but the desire for harmony/equality have been a constant. I find that this is a goal that I share with most people in my life and candidates I meet. We tend to divide or compartmentalize our lives into segments we attach a title to. For me; I always saw my life in the following distinct areas : PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS/LOVE * PROFESSIONAL/MONEY HEALTH/WELL BEING * FAMILY In my "adult" life; I cannot recall when I felt all of the above areas were ALL equally POSITIVE. Perhaps it is naive to expect that this ever happens? I have come close...and had 3 of 4 in a "good place". These quadrants are an oversimplification of very complex, dynamic categories. I believe that BALANCE is so difficult to obtain...in part - due to the fact that they are so connected. For example; when my professional life is th

http://www.charleyscradle.com/ GUIDE TO FINDING, CHOOSING & PREPARING FOR A BABY NURSE So…your due date is around the corner - you have set up the Nursery – your state-of-the-art stroller is in the hallway…and now you feel that you would really benefit from the help of a Baby Nurse when you come home from the hospital. Most expectant Moms rely solely on the recommendation of their friends/relatives to connect with a Baby Nurse. If you do not have a NEW MOMMY network to tap into – you then begin GOOGLING “Baby Nurse”, “Child Care”, and “Nanny”. The internet is rich with online resources/communities specific to BABIES, EXPECTANT/NEW MOMS. These sites often have areas/discussions/advertisements dedicated to resources for newborn/infant care. In fact, many sites RATE the quality of Baby Nurses provided. However, if you are fortunate enough to have a HEALTHY BABY; you do not need a REGISTERED NURSE. Many Nursing Agencies do provide REGISTERED BABY NURSES – but at a very high hourly rate

Over the past few months, I have been hard at work establishing the foundation for CHARLEY'S CRADLE. One of the most rewarding things about my time in Healthcare Staffing was the fact that I was contributing to the health and well being of people everyday. The professionals I recruited were providing much needed medical care to patients in Hospitals, Clinics and Nursing Homes. I now have the same opportunity to provide a valuable service that will truly improve the quality of life for my Clients. Being a new Dad - I am extremely aware of the overwhelming responsibility of caring for a newborn/infant. Especially...since I am a first time parent - everything was new to me. I had to learn how to swaddle, how to properly sterilize bottles, how to EFFECTIVELY diaper my son and much, much more! My wife and I were fortunate to have been referred to a lovely Baby Nurse. This referral came after a week of frantic searching, researching & calling to locate a Baby Nurse on my own. I

So...The Yankees have a new stadium...but get the worst beating in their history (22-4)...Obama decides that a low FLY OVER NYC of Airforce One and an F-16 Fighter Jet is a GOOD PHOTO OP...SWINE FLU has hit and reminds everyone to wash their hands frequently. BUT WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE JOB MARKET? Overall...not too much has changed. Most of the leaders in BEAUTY, ADVERTISING & ENTERTAINMENT that I recruit for are still in some type of HIRING FREEZE. There have been "FLICKERS" of activity...but nothing to indicate any significant hiring will be happening. For example...I have had searches called out to me to replace employees that "left suddenly". One expectant mother gave birth a month earlier than expected - and another spot opened as a result of an employee moving cross country because her husband received a major job offer in LA. I am fortunate enough to be working on some CONSULTING positions for one of my biggest Beauty clients. These spots are specif

Banks, Insurance Giants, Automotive Manufacturers...all received tremendous sums of money to help them survive during this challenging economy. How much money did you get to "bail you out"? Chances are...that you got the same thing I did...NOTHING!!! So...what is your plan to remain afloat in this sea of economic uncertainty? What are you doing to re-invent yourself? Who are you reaching out to? Have you identified those skills and traits that set you apart from all those other "HIGHLY SKILLED" people competing for the same job? Are you projecting a positive/upbeat attitude...or is the frustration, anxiety and bitterness you feel...completely visible to those you are meeting? ARE YOU TRULY FLEXIBLE? Are you living in REALITY or are you in denial when it comes to your job security, financial stability, and professional future? The above questions I have posed are ones I ask everyone I interview & have attempted to answered myself... They seem very basic in nature

So...are you DEPRESSED or MOTIVATED? INSPIRED or CATATONIC? HOPEFUL or DISTRESSED? It is all about perspective...and your ability to adapt/adjust to CHANGE. You can choose to FIGHT or exist in a state of FEAR. Can you take some comfort in knowing that "WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT"? I am envious of those people who seem to have the ability to BELIEVE that some how...some way...things will just work out! I subscribe to the practice of focusing on those things I have control over & am trying to be PRESENT. I...like many people spend too much time focusing on what I could have done differently or worrying what will be happening in the future. You cannot change what you already did & losing yourself IN worry about the future takes you away from focusing on what you CAN control TODAY!!! by being PRESENT...you have the ability to enjoy your day on an hour to hour basis. We cannot control: THE ECONOMY, CORPORATE HIRING FREEZES, TERRORISM, CONSUMER SPENDING, THE WEATHER,

Does the title of this entry sound familiar? Four times in the last month...this sceneraio has gone down... THE DREADED "INTERNAL REFERRAL" has become the latest in a long list of reasons why companies are NOT "PULLING THE TRIGGER" and opting to save any money they can... HERE ARE SOME "POPULAR"REASONS/EXCUSES FOR NOT HIRING YOU AFTER SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWS: 1- "Oh...we didn't mention that Sally in Marketing had referred her friend...who we met 2 weeks ago and loved???" (always seem to conveniently forget that info) 2- "CFO has frozen the budget..." 3- "It looks like we are going to move someone from another department..." (we don't want to spend money & we are going to give much more responsibility to some other poor sould & not pay them for it) 4- "The sales reports just came in...and we did not meet our goals..." 5- "Ultimately...there was just not a chemistry/cultural match" (in

CHANGE ...it is something that is certain...most of the time is done reluctantly...but at this time...appears to be welcomed!!! The key to CHANGE is how you adapt! The common trait that all SUCCESSFUL people share is their ability to adapt & re-invent themselves. This is especially true as it relates to your career. You cannot CHANGE things you have no control over...( ie the economy)...however, you do have the ability to change things that can make your job search, resume & interviewing more successful. One thing to consider is your ability to identify skills/qualities/ characteristics that you possess that distinguish you from those you are competing against. Once you take inventory, you then need to SELL these to employers. You need to do this bearing in mind the NEEDS of the employer. So...what is UNIQUE to you...may have NO APPEAL to a prospective employer. Therefore...in addition to understanding what sets you apart - you need to package and sell this information i

With all the overwhelming numbers and disappointing news - it is easy to get discouraged about a job search in this climate. Frankly, this is the worst market I have seen in 16 years! After 9/11...at least there were still jobs being offered...it was just that nobody wanted to work in NYC. It is very important to remember...YOU ONLY NEED ONE JOB! You just need ONE EMPLOYER to extend an offer to have a new job. So...now it becomes a NUMBERS game...even more so than in a "NORMAL" search. Slowly but surely...companies have thinned out their mid-level staff that are not directly tied to generating revenue. My client base is comprised of some of the most prestigious and historically SUCCESSFUL organizations. Methodically...these companies have slowed their hiring to the point of a FREEZE. Due to the fact that my clients' success is directly tied to CONSUMER SPENDING...a fearful consumer NOT spending money impacts them immediately. Like in 2000 and the DOT.COM BUST...comp