THE TALENT MAGNET - CAREER MOVES

For the past several weeks, I have been meeting excellent candidates/jobseekers with a stable work history and terrific skills. Unfortunately, they have all wanted to pursue a career distinctly different from the one they built their professional resume with! Don't get me wrong; I am all for the pursuit of something that is a PASSION or a CALLING...but that's not what my clients are paying for. When an employer contracts with a recruitment firm; they are expecting that they will be introduced to a professional that VERY CLOSELY matches the job specifications they have provided. Therefore; the odds of me securing a candidate that has been an Executive Assistant for the past five years a position as a Marketing Coordinator are slim! It does not matter that you are "willing to take a pay cut" or that you are "willing to start at the bottom"! I as a recruiter am being paid to present EXPERTISE...not POTENTIAL. This should not discourage all of you from going ...

The newest hurdle to overcome may be that you are too open or too flexible for various roles and responsibilities! There has been a desire on the part of my clients to see candidates that are "specialists" in a particular area/discipline. This is in complete contradiction to the need that has existed to "wear many hats" . It is still an employer's market and they are taking full advantage. This means they will see three times the number of candidates to get "the perfect fit". My clients want to see expertise, focus and commitment. This is as true for Executive Assistants as it is for Marketing Managers. Employers are now expecting that you come with a skill set specific to the position you are applying for. The days of being "well rounded" have passed and have been replaced by a clear career path in a chosen industry or discipline. Human Resource professionals and hiring managers want to feel that you bring an advanced knowledge, interest ...

It has been a while since I've shared my thoughts and extraodinary sense of humor and wit with everyone! The truth is, I have been hard at work getting new clients and finding some of NYC's most "talented" jobseekers new opportunities! To date, The Talent Magnet has registered more than 250 of the finest candidates now looking to make a professional move. Their educational and professional backgrounds coupled with fantastic interpersonal skills make every search a "competitive" one! After a short "lull" in activity, it seems that clients are once again moving the interview and hiring process along. Over the past two weeks, The Talent Magnet has sent more than 50 candidates out for interviews. In addition, we have been engaged by 5 new clients. These clients are amongst the most prestigious names in ADVERTISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT, GLOBAL LAW AND FINANCIAL SERVICES!!! As a result of these new searches and previously "signe...

We are almost two months into 2005 and many of you are asking "Why don't I have a job yet?" Patience my friends...your time is going to come! There was quite a flurry of activity in January. However, the last three weeks have been painfully slow! There is a bit of a drop in the number of jobs. More importantly, the process has gotten extremely slow. It is not uncommon to get a new job opening - get three resumes to my client within twenty four hours - only to wait up to a week to get any feedback! The hiring process has gotten prolonged for a number of reasons. Even though many companies are seeking the same talent; it is still an employer's market. The most sought after companies will continue to take their time and work at their pace, confident that candidates will wait. The other factor effecting the length of time between receipt of a resume and an offer is the number of people involved in that hiring decision. The following is a typical flow chart: 1) resume...

The title is just a fancy way of stating how important both ATTITUDE and the manner in which you PRESENT yourself are in a successful interview. Regardless of whether your interview is with a recruiter or Human Resources; these two components play a major role in determining whether you will be introduced to key decision makers. Attitude... When someone that is vibrant, energetic, enthusiastic and friendly comes to see me; I feel more motivated to refer them to my clients. It is basic human nature. Energy and excitement are part of the "sales" process. They must be present to ensure success. Conversely, when someone comes to me and offers the "dead fish" handshake and makes me feel that they are "going through the motions", I am far less apt to introduce them to my client. It has been my experience that a terrific attitude can often make up for a lack of experience. However, a bad attitude can disqualify the most brilliant, experienced candidate. ...

The most often repeated terms used by candidates seeking a new opportunity are "growth potential" and "creative environments"! All jobseekers feel that they are in a situation that allows for little or no professional growth. In addition, 90% of the candidates I meet express their strong desire to be in a "creative environment". The problem is that for each person, the definition of "growth" and "creative" differs greatly! This is especially true for those making their first or second job change ever! When I probe into motivating factors for their departure from their current job, the most popular answer is "a lack of growth potential". If you are in a 10 person company; then this is probably true! However, candidates often overlook the upside to the experience they have had and how it might taint their view of their next opportunity. Although the potential for growth in a very small company is a reality...there is a flip...

When I lauanched The Talent Magnet, I was very concerned that we would not have enough jobs or candidates. I am extremely happy to report that we have plenty of both in just our first month of operation! This month The Talent Magnet has introduced 5 outstanding candidates to their next professional home! In addition, their are 15 candidates pending at multiple organizations. This is success is based on partnership. The partnership exists between The Talent Magnet and both our employers and exceptional candidates! We are proud that in such a short period of time, we were able to establish strong bonds that resulted in mutually beneficial outcomes! The Talent Magnet has placed candidates with the most prestigious names in Advertising, Publishing, Financial Services, Communications, Internet/New Media and Fashion! We are proud that such prestigious organizations have entrusted us with improving the quality of their workplaces! Our team is excited and honored to have the opport...

This is another "strange but true" tale from my days as a Temporary Placement Counselor. I had been working with a prestigious medical school in NYC and filling many administrative and clerical positions. My contact phoned me and asked if I could provide a "top-notch" Executive Assistant for their COO. Of course, I told my client I would find a dynamic administrative pro! After searching through a vast database, I narrowed the field to three potential candidates. All of the candidates had phenomenal computer skills and experience supporting a senior executive. I forwarded the resumes for review and my client chose the one they wanted me to send. The candidate was a polished gentleman that had over 10 years of experience in the corporate sector as a "right hand" to very demanding people. This person came with terrific references that spoke of his professionalism and dedication. I prepared my "temp" that he was going to be working in t...

One of the first things a prospective employer focuses on are "gaps in employment" when I present a resume! Human Resources and hiring managers definitely want to see your title, responsibilities and dates of employment. However, explaining what does not appear is sometimes more important! Employers want to know why you left or are leaving. The explanation you provide gives great insight to what motivates, upsets and discourages you. In addition, they want to know how you spent your time while "in between" jobs. Were you actively looking? Were you temping? Were you watching Jerry Springer and eating boxes of Oreos? Why did you leave without having another job to go to? This is the million dollar question! It points to your judgement, maturity and ability to handle difficult situations. This explanation or as I like to call it "ACKNOWELEDGE, ADDRESS & DISMISS" could mean the difference in securing an interview or an offer! Too often, can...

Whew!!!! The first full week back to reality has come to a close. The Talent Magnet was fortunate to meet and register more than 50 fantastic candidates for employment. The most interesting aspect of this week for me as an "Interviewer" was the amazing diversity the candidates represented. Usually, diversity is a blanket term used to describe specific ethnic/cultural groups as it applies to employment. Yes, I did meet quite a few wonderful African American, Latino, and Asian candidates. However, the diversity that I found so wonderful went beyond Nationality, Race or "standard" categories! I truly enjoyed meeting people with such dramatictally different educational qualifications , socio-economic backgrounds, family structures , religious beliefs, cultural customs/traditions, interpersonal communication styles and physical appearance! To me, that is what makes America and NYC in particular so vibrant and exactly what will make The Talent Magnet suc...

Professional Salespeople are taught to follow a basic credo, "ABC"! This is the acronym for ALWAYS BE CLOSING . This is to remind them that if they are in the company of a prospective buyer of their product/service, they should never forget to ask for their business or close them! This is a good motto for job seekers to follow as well (with a less aggressive approach perhaps). When you enter an interview setting, anyone you come in contact with could potentially impact your chances of employment! This means that if your interview is with Human Resources, you should not only focus on them. From the moment you walk into an office, you should be mindful of everyone and how you interact. The Receptionist may not be the decision maker, but he/she could very well voice their opinion of you to those people. This is true for anyone you come in contact with. From the guy in the elevator who got off on the same floor to the person you discussed the weather with in the rest...

I find it so annoying that candidates point to being a "people person" as if it is a skill that makes them somehow unique! Of course you are a "people person" or you would have pursued Veterinary Medicine or Zoology!! But are you really a people person? Do you enjoy constant interaction with a diverse group of people? Do you accept constructive criticism? Do you ask questions when you do not understand something? Are you "service oriented"? Are you a "team player"? Do you like solving other people's problems? Are you accepting of other's limitations? The questions above all relate to the scope of your interpersonal skills. The manner in which you answer (if you answer honestly) will give you greater insight into your PEOPLE SKILLS! To be successful...truly successful in a position that requires heavy interaction, you need to be responding in the affirmative on all! OK...you may achieve success but you will not be happy! ...

Well...while most people were nursing a hangover, The Talent Magnet was hard at work recruiting! Candidates always ask me "What does the market look like?" I wish I could predict the future...I do have "mad skills" but not even I can do that. Honestly, the market began to pop June and July, died in August and September, and rallied back in October only to slumber into the New Year! By the end of the month, we should have a better idea of where we stand. New budgets will be in! Employees that waited to get their bonuses or take vacation will move on to new organizations. Firms that put spots "on hold" will begin again to interview. This is all positive stuff! The most visible change with regard to recruitment is a company's willingness to pay a recruitment fee for Entry Level and Administrative Support professionals. Traditionally, these groups were "easy" to reach directly. It seems that employers are coughing up the cash to be intro...

The following is a true account of one interview I had arranged for a "seasoned" Executive Assistant to meet the SVP of a major record label in NYC! (For anonimity, we will refer to the candidate as "Ms. Blue" and the record label as "Client") I was very excited to finally have the opportunity to perform a search for a hot record label in NYC that I had been calling on for nearly a year! Their SVP of Marketing was losing his assistant to relocation and he was in need of a new "right hand". The Client wanted a polished, articulate candidate who could work long hours, had great skills and came out of the music industry. Two days into my search, I came across the resume of Ms. Blue. Ms. Blue had a college degree, had held only two jobs in the five years since graduating and had worked in support of senior executives at two record labels based out of LA! She looked perfect! I connected with her to find she had recently relocated to NYC and w...

In the immortal words of Led Zeppelin; "...yes there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on....I hope so!" I hope all of you feel as I do that you have a fresh start as we enter 2005! We should feel much like we did when we were kids beginning a new school year. Remember how excited you were? You were going to meet new people, make new friends and learn new things. I think if we approached the new year with a similar optimism, we could have tremendous impact on how the year unfolds! This is an ideal time for change, intraspection and "realistic" goal setting. Think about what you truly want in the new year. What steps can you take to achieve them? Start small, with attainable aspirations. They could be anything from losing a few pounds to spending more time with a loved one. Your list will reflect those things that are most important to you. As you write your list, be sure to notice how...

JOBS...JOBS...JOBS... So... you have decided that you have waited long enough to make your move! You have not had a raise since 2001 and you have watched many of your peers get their walking papers! Now, you feel comfortable exploring other options and realizing your market value! Great!!! Where do you start? Many of the most sought after jobs are not easily found by the average job seeker. Despite corporate websites that list openings and all of the job posting/resume posting sites....it still takes a human being to express enough interest to invite you for an interview! Personal referrals are and always will be the best means of introducing yourself to a new opportunity. If you are not lucky enough to have a friend who knows a guy that once worked with the Chairman of your "Dream Company", than you have to be resourceful! You must know that regardless of your profession; when you are conducting a job search, you are a SALES/MARKETING professional! After you have d...