THE TALENT MAGNET - CAREER MOVES

The Talent Magnet has been busy introducing some really exceptional candidates to the most sought after employers in NYC...and the country for that matter!!! The past few weeks our hard work has resulted in the successful match of more than a half dozen unique candidates with employers that are: in the industry they targeted, provided them with the title and scope of responsibility they desired and paid them an average of 10K more in base pay!!! The reason for our success is rooted in our tremendous listening skills! It sounds simple...but the biggest complaint I hear from both my clients & candidates is that the recruiters they are working with...do not listen to them. Clients are frustrated by candidate referrals that are made that lack the skill set, interpersonal skills or education they specified as NECESSARY in order to be considered. Candidates are repeatedly frustrated by the calls they get & pressure they receive to pursue opportunities they are NOT interested in. My ...

The marketplace continues to heat up as the need to identify "talent" is becoming more urgent! The following are a sample group of some of the "HOTTEST" spots we are looking to fill!!! ______________________________________________________________ MEDIA PLANNERS - all levels needed for various MEDIA AGENCIES - especially anyone with INTERACTIVE experience - must have at least a year as a Planner (salary is negotiable & based on current compensation) AD SALES COORDINATOR - (Outdoor Ad Agency) college degree & 1 year of experience as a Coordinator or Assistant in a Sales environment - support of ad sales is strongly preferred - will handle day to day client contact - contracts - proposals - presentations (salary to 35K + up to 15K in bonus based on sales team production) ACCOUNT MANAGER (Internet Marketing Company) - Bachelors degree & 1 year of current experience in a cutting edge Interactive Marketing environment - this is a CLIENT SERVICES role - expos...

Things have picked up tremendously over the past 2 weeks with the addition of 3 new clients and over 50 new job openings!!!! One thing that has not changed is the expectation of clients. They want to meet unique & highly skilled candidates. We have been very fortunate...as a result of an extensive referral network to identify & develop relationships with some ALLSTARS!!! My clients(EMPLOYERS) are not only paying me to expedite a screening/referral process, but also to introduce them to someone who is NOT posting their resume online, NOT sending their resume repeatedly to the corporate website, and NOT those jobseekers that have been "around for 6 months". To this end, I am actively "scouting" for "undiscovered talent"...candidates NOT actively out there...but instead open to hearing about exciting opportunities - NOT desperate to make a move just to get out of where they are currently. To promote an active referral program, The Talent Magnet offers...

The following is for the benefit of those jobseekers that have truly never worked with a recruiter...and for those who like to "run game" on recruiters and pretend they have never used a recruitment service to find a job!!!! First, I'd like to share a bizarre, but extremely relevant story. A colleague of mine has "Jane" as a candidate. Jane is an accomplished Finance professional from the world of Advertising. She has a strong educational background, 2 jobs over a nine year period (STABLE!!!???) and has held progressive roles that suggest her abilities are extraordinary. BTW- The advertising industry is an industry that is dominated by recruiters! Meaning that perhaps 1/3 of the positions filled/openings above entry level are "called out" by agencies to recruiters Jane is in the industry 10 years and therefore you would assume is familiar with most things inherent to the business of advertising. My colleague has an opening with a Media giant that repre...

Happy New Year to all of you!!!! This past year was a fantastic one for The Talent Magnet...and 2006 is shaping up to be even better!!!! That means MORE NEW CLIENTS, MORE NEW JOBS & MORE EXCEPTIONAL JOB SEEKERS to represent!!!!! The end of the year was painfully slow. However, just as I predicticted, Clients are waking up and are looking for "TALENT"!!!! The new budgets are in...people got their bonuses (and are NOW leaving), ineffective managers have been "relieved" of their duties...everyone is looking forward and wiping the slate clean!!! The Talent Magnet is actively engaged in searches for extraordinary professionals in the following categories... HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT MARKETING ADVERTISING (AGENCY ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT & MEDIA) LUXURY PUBLISHING COSMETICS/BEAUTY SALES INTERACTIVE FASHION/RETAIL PROMOTIONS ACCOUNTING/FINANCE and more......... If you were an athlete or an entertainer, you would have an Agent!!! The team at The Talent Mag...

The year continues to fly by and we have moved into the final stretch for fourth quarter! Many candidates frequently ask about the status of their search and how many viable openings exist? Traditionally, from Thanksgiving to the New Year, the number of NEW opportunities decreases dramatically. Many companies have spent their 2005 budget and place hiring needs "on hold". You will hear HR tell you that they "don't have the headcount" or there is a "freeze" at the moment. This is a result of both financial and organizational structure. Companies function just like people do at this time of year. They reflect on the past year - take inventory of where they are at - look at short term & long term goals - and look to put a plan in place for growth and success in the coming year. This lull does not mean that you as a jobseeker should take a vacation from looking! Instead, you may need to alter your short term goal from landing a new job in a few weeks t...

"And just like the prodigal son...I've returned, try to step closer to me , you'll get burned!" - HOUSE OF PAIN As we move further into 4th quarter; many candidates are becoming stressed about landing their new job before the year is out. Historically, the job market slows considerably a week or so after Thanksgiving and remains that way until the end of the year. There are several reasons for decrease in new opportunities offered by employers during this time: 1- Many times, annual budgets have already been exausted - leaving the Hiring Manager to ask that money be allocated in the 2006 budget for a "new hire" 2-Most jobseekers that currently hold positions that offer a "year-end review" or "annual bonus" will remain in their position through the end of the year...so their vacancies won't become opportunities for others until mid-January 3- In general, people associate "change" with calendar year benchmarks - both employer...

Leaves are turning color, tans are quickly fading, football now competes with baseball and The Talent Magnet enters an exciting 4th Quarter!!! ZACK STEINER JOINS THE TALENT MAGNET TEAM The Talent Magnet is proud to announce that Zack Steiner has joined our team as an Account Executive!!! In this role, Zack will be actively recruiting and seeking to establish new client relationships. Zack is a recent graduate of Syracuse University, where he attended the prestigious Newhouse School of Communications. His fantastic interpersonal skills, high energy and engaging personality have him poised for major success!!! Here are a few of the HOT openings at The Talent Magnet: > >VP, Corporate Communications (Entertainment) - 150K >Administrative Assistant (Media) - 42K >Executive Assistant (Marketing) - 55K >Administrative Coordinator (Advertising) - 40K >Senior Accountant (Online Marketing) - 75K >Account Executive (Sales/Online Marketing) 60K Base + Commission >Human R...

Like most of you; I was deeply moved by the scenes coming out of Louisiana & Mississippi following the devastation by Hurricane Katrina. Together with a PR professional, I have put together a program to target survivors of Hurricane Katrina that may have been relocated to the New York City area. The Talent Magnet is offering "PRIORITY" services to these folks such as: resume writing & distribution, computer tutorial programs, interview & job search tips, and most importantly...immediate introduction to one of nearly a dozen prestigious employers that have expressed interest in assisting me!!! If you know of anyone that has been relocated due to Katrina and is in need of work; please reach out ASAP!!! _____________________________________________________________________________________ THE TALENT MAGNET “SEARCH & RESCUE FOR HURRICANE KATRINA SURVIVORS” In a further attempt to “do my part” to assist some of the folks so deeply impacted by Hurricane Katrina; The...

The summer is over and everyone is once again focused on getting more money, new responsibilities, a new title, or simply...a new job! Let's tackle one subject at a time! RAISES Everyone wants one...everyone feels they are deserving of one...not many people feel comfortable asking for one...not many people know when the "right time" to ask is... My approach to the subject of raises is much like an attorney building a case for the person he/she is representing. It is always better to allow your actions/accomplishments/contributions to do the talking for you! It just may require you to subtly remind management what you bring to their organization. The subject of a raise should always be based on your merit/performance. It should not be approached from the standpoint of "I know other people that do the same job and make more money" or "The company is doing very well and you could afford it"! You need to build your case by clearly demonstrating how you g...

More Under-40 Success Stories Oswego Magazine Sean Koppelman Magnet for Success Linking talented people with the companies that need them is the mission of a company founded by Sean Koppelman '90. After graduation, Koppelman pursued a career in sales. By 1994, he was among the top producers in the nation for two different Fortune 500 companies, Siemens and Del Mar Avionics. Simultaneously, he quenched a thirst for entertainment by appearing as an extra in several movies, including Spike Lee's "Crooklyn." Koppelman was also fortunate to have several "voice-over" commercial spots air on television and radio. He made a career change in 1994 to the recruitment/personnel industry. That year he assisted in launching Access Health Professionals, recruiting high-level clinical professionals on behalf of hospitals, nursing homes and Homecare agencies. In 1996, he was recruited away by the prestigious staffing firm CTI Personnel in New York City to start a Healthca...

After a rather stressful few weeks spent hustling to get some of NYC's most talented jobseekers new positions; I feel the need to share with you some tales that need to be told! SCENERIO #1 When I launched The Talent Magnet in January, I was very excited to sign a contract with a fairly well known boutique publishing house to handle some recruitment needs. Within 2 weeks of my visit, the Director of HR reached out to ask me to introduce an Administrative Assistant for the Editor of their most popular magazine. I was thrilled to get the call and to have the opportunity to present such a "cool" position to candidates. For the next 2 weeks, I recruited and interviewed more than 30 potential candidates and presented my top 5. Almost 3 weeks passed before I heard any feedback...and when I did, it was to tell me that had no interest in ANY of the resumes I presented. I asked for some feedback as to why all were passed on...and was told they just did not have the "right bac...

Greetings once again and thanks for all the fantastic feedback; I love to hear what's on everyone's mind! The topic I would like to explore is the motivation behind making a job/career move. It has become clear to me that better than half the candidates I meet are making a move primarily just to get the hell out of where they are now! Typically; I am all for any catalyst for action. However, I am afraid that if the ONLY motivation is to get out of the situation you are in; you are probably going to be looking again in 12-18 months. Too often; we are so caught up in how miserable, bored, overworked, under-compensated we are that we fail to really examine what we are looking for in a new job. REMEMBER: There is @#$%^& in every workplace...although you may leave the #$@%^& you know...rest assured there is a new set of @#$%^& waiting for you at a new job! With this in mind; jobseekers need to have a clear idea of what they expect from their new employer. The intervi...

Hello to all my friends in the "wonderful" world of job seeking!!! Like all the young kids say; "It has been a minute" since I last had an entry to my my blog. It has been a wild and busy month or so in the recruitment arena. The Talent Magnet has been busy introducing some of the best candidates in NYC to new career opportunities. Since the last time I checked in, we have been engaged to search by more than a half dozen new employers. These organizations represent some of the most sought after entities in BEAUTY, FINANCIAL SERVICES, ENTERTAINMENT, ADVERTISING and more!!! Since I last blessed you with my sharp wit and tremendous sense of humor; The Talent Magnet has placed people in these titles with following types of organizations: SVP, ADMINISTRATION - GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT/MOVIE COMPANY MANAGER, HUMAN RESOURCES - GLOBAL ADVERTISING AGENCY FACILITIES SUPERVISOR, #1 LAW FIRM IN THE COUNTRY ACCOUNT MANAGER - LEADING ONLINE INFORMATION PROVIDER GROUP ADMINISTRATIVE ...

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...