Job Interview Blunders

This list of jokes has been around as I have seen it before. Yet, it is worth a quick read for a good laugh. Supposedly, this list was complied by Vice Presidents and personnel directors of the one hundred largest corporations when they were asked to describe their most unusual experience interviewing prospective employees. While some of them seem absolutely unbelievable, I have actually heard a few crazier from my own hiring managers that I have worked with over the years!

A job applicant challenged the interviewer to an arm wrestle.

Interviewee wore a Walkman, explaining that she could listen to the interviewer and the music at the same time.

Candidate fell and broke arm during interview.

Candidate announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewers office.

Candidate explained that her long-term goals was to replace the interviewer.

Candidate said he never finished high school because he was kidnapped and kept in a closet in Mexico.

Balding Candidate excused himself and returned to the office a few minutes later wearing a headpiece.

Applicant said if he was hired he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.

Applicant interrupted interview to phone her therapist for advice on how to answer specific interview questions.

Candidate brought large dog to interview.

Applicant refused to sit down and insisted on being interviewed standing up.

Candidate dozed off during interview.

The employers were also asked to list the "most unusual" questions that have been asked by job candidates.

"What is it that you people do at this company?"

"What is the company motto?"

"Why aren't you in a more interesting business?"

"What are the zodiac signs of all the board members?"

"Why do you want references?"

"Do I have to dress for the next interview?"

"I know this is off the subject, but will you marry me?"

"Will the company move my rock collection from California to Maryland?"

"Will the company pay to relocate my horse?"

"Does your health insurance cover pets?"

"Does your company have a policy regarding concealed weapons?"

Free Resume Writing & Advice Website

I stumbled across a great website the other day that is geared towards writing a winning resume. There are an overwhelming number of resume writing, critique and miscellaneous other resume related services sites out there to attempt to navigate through. However, this one by far was one of the best I have seen in a very long time. In addition to providing some great tips on resume writing, the site also provides an unbelievable amount of other great resources, such as; free samples of resumes, interview and negotiation tips, ways to overcome stumbling blocks such as gaps in employment, no degree, etc. One of the things I really thought that made the site stand out from the crowd was the site owner, Susan Ireland, has many quick tip videos posted throughout the site, by topic, giving the site a personal and very genuine type feel. I suppose the very best part of this site is that it is completely free…right down to the free resume software they let you use.

In case any of you are struggling with perfecting a resume, or just want to browse through some great interview or salary negotiation tips, here is the site for you to check out: www.susanireland.com (You will have to copy and paste the link in your browser...sorry!, for some reason it didn't copy in here as a link you can just click on).

Enjoy!

Take the Right Job/Wrong Job Quiz!

A good friend of mine recently emailed me a link to a career assessment quiz. He swore to me his results were dead on. I pretty much laughed at him, as I have throughout my own career taken a myriad of these things…some simple and also some mirroring mini SAT tests. While I am not a big fan of tests of any kind, I went ahead and took the quiz. The online quiz itself was quick and painless, almost generic in nature which led me to think there was no way I would get back anything accurate or of worth. However, the results did in fact yield a few things that I thought were worthy of sharing.

As simple as this quiz was, it managed to peg me pretty perfectly with my results and also give me some good food for thought. The bonus and fun part of the results were by far the detail they give you back. The test provides your career personality type (i.e., I am a “strategic/creative”). It also elaborates to give you tips on how to improve your current work situation and some good, probing questions to ask yourself to better determine if you are in the right job. While these kinds of quizzes aren’t always 100% accurate, and aren’t necessarily rocket science, this one I felt provided some worthy feedback, so thought I’d share it with you all. I am also doing so as I promised that I would publicly admit to my friend that this fun little quiz had some worth after I laughed at his urging for me to have taken it! (Thank you and sorry JT!).

Probably worth mentioning is that I was all the more surprised to get any useful info from the site link that is entitled tickle.com…as this is the kind of site that will also provide you with silly tests to let you now what kind of superhero or cartoon character you would be, etc. : )

***Before you take the test, note that the site will require that you set up a free account (enter your name and email), right after completing the test, hit "skip all offers", then you will see a brief overview of your results. They will email you the detailed report which is free, yet when you click on the link in your email to get your results they are of course trying to sell you this report. In small letters at lower right of screen…you can click "get my free report" at the bottom of the page, then hit "skip offer" on the next 2 pages to truly get the report/results free. Quick and simple, I promise!

Here is the link if you want to try it for yourself…Right Job/Wrong Job Quiz: www.web.tickle.com/tests/rightjob/index_main.jsp

While there are many sites that offer free career tests , quizzes , and assessments these sites generally use them as a lead in for you to purchase more materials from the site. However, you can still get a lot of useful information without buying anything. And some tests are actually totally free. Here is the link to a site that lists many different career related tests and quizzes...some of these are more fun in nature versus giving you any real substance, yet there are several other interesting and ones of substance hereas well: www.zcareer.com/freecareertests.html

Enjoy!

To post or not to post...

I have received many questions recently on the subject of whether or not job seekers should post a resume online. While posting your resume on a Monster, Careerbuilder or any job site for that matter may seem like a good idea, it can also thwart your job search pretty quickly if you go about this the wrong way. Yes, when you are looking for a job you want to get the word out and have your resume be accessible and readily found to help land you in your next dream job. However, it is not necessarily true that the more you put your resume out there, that the more it will benefit you in your job search. In fact, exactly the opposite may be true. I am not saying not to post, what I am saying is throw caution to the wind and be extremely careful with how and where you go about posting your resume publicly.

Things to think about when you post your resume online:

Limit and be selective of where you post your resume. Don’t over saturate the job boards with your resume. There is nothing worse than having recruiters and employers who search these boards find your resume over and over again. This lessens your value immensely. If you must post your resume, pick only one or two of the larger and reputable job boards and also post it in a more niche job site that ideally is targeted to your industry or specific job function.

The more you post your resume online, the more likely it is to spread in reach and availability. This lessens your control over who sees your resume and whose hands it may land in. A word of caution – just because you post your resume online, does NOT mean that recruiters will respect your privacy. I have heard numerous horror stories from job seekers I have worked with about them having experienced first hand a shady recruiter or two picking their resume off a job board and sending it into a company without their permission. If you put your resume out there, it could literally be ending up just about anywhere and everywhere.

Any time you post your resume, you run the risk of having your current employer or someone your current employer knows finding it. Most companies have staff dedicated to searching job boards for positions they are looking to fill…chances are that person may easily stumble across your resume while they are searching. In addition, many companies are now searching job boards by using their company name and key words in an effort to find current disloyal employees who may be out there looking for a job. I probably don’t have to tell you the horror stories I have heard about the many recruiters who use this same practice and in turn will go to the clients and unethically tell them that they saw your resume online in some twisted effort to build loyalty or gain allegiance form them. (It’s no wonder recruiters get such a bad rap and reputation from the many unethical ones that there are out there!!!).

Never ever pay someone to distribute your resume or use one of those resume blasting services. They often sound good and offer all sorts of appeal if you are a job seeker in desperate search of a job. Trust me, these sites do nothing other than distribute your resume to everyone’s email address they can find. A sure fire way for you to over saturate yourself in the marketplace. Worth mentioning is that throughout my own career as a recruiter, I have tried tapping into many different resume blasting services and have yet to ever have received one resume that matched my industry let alone a job that I was recruiting for.

My absolute best piece of advice based upon all of the above comments, is that if you are going to post your resume online, do so confidentially. Most reputable job boards will allow you to list your resume as confidential. Do not post your contact or identifying information (name, address, current employer, etc.). Where many job seekers trip up is by clicking on that option, yet then downloading their resume without remembering to remove their name, contact info and current employer from that resume they download. Trust me, this happens lots!

Don't let your resume sit out there. Many job boards sort resumes by date of submission with the newest first. Renew your resume every few weeks to keep it looking current and new. If you don't get any response to your resume within 20 or so days of posting, remove it from that location and post it elsewhere. It could be that employers are not looking for people with your skills in this particular database, but it could also be that there is too much competition between candidates with the same skills and your resume is not rising to the top.

And finally, when your job search is over, delete all resumes out there. Do not continue to "dangle the hook" and see what offers may come up. Your new employer (or those shady recruiters mentioned previously) may find you still fishing and demand an explanation.

Always remember that most job sites make their money by selling access to the resume database! Many want you to post your resume in their database, but few really work for you.

Tips to providing and getting better references

Reference checking is a big part of my job. It is also one of the most frustrating areas that I and many employers have to contend with. All too often, attempting to reach a reference that a job seeker provided results in playing a seemingly never-ending game of phone tag...or endless hours of waiting for the reference to find the time to call back. This is par for the course as they are busy with their own jobs and as such, calling back to provide references is often one of the last things they have time to do in their busy schedules. Unfortunately in many instances, sluggish return calls of references holds up the process and utimately getting you an offer in hand.

Also, the ultimate worse case scenario is finally getting a hold of a reference and having it result in negative things being said about the job seeker. While this rarely happens, it does occur and can be a quick means to cutting all chances of you landing your dream job...regardless of whether the recruiter or employer is checking your references. Although recruiters work on your behalf, they also work on the behalf of and for the companies they recruit for and ethically they should divulge the good, the bad and even the ugly to the employers they are partnered with. After all, every candidate they present to their clients is a direct extension of their reputation.

Tips to ensure that you are providing and also getting stellar references:

WHEN PROVIDING REFERENCES:

Keep them current! Make sure you stay in touch with these people frequently, that their contact information is correct and up to date so they are easily reachable and accessible.

Call your references each time you hand them out! A quick phone call to give your reference a heads up that they may be receiving a call will serve you well! This lets them know to expect the call, that is important they return the call and also an idea of what position you are applying for so they can put some thought into comments they want to provide on your behalf.

Have backups! It is always best to provide 3-5 professional references to provide to the prospective employer or the recruiter you are working with. On the off chance that these references cannot be reached or found when reference checking is conducted, protect yourself with having a few backups to provide as additional security that your job offer will not get held up by references that are not reachable or are taking too long to call back.
HOW TO GET BETTER REFERENCES

Interview your references! To ensure you are providing references that will provide an honest and clear picture of your skill set and other questions they may be asked, ask them questions about yourself and your performance in a prior job. This will enable you to know how they will respond when answering those same questions to the recruiter or company that calls them to ask about you. Better to be safe than sorry! And while I don't recommend ever hiding anything as honesty is always best, should you hear anything negative from your references, this will give you a chance to learn, improve and also tackle resolving potential areas of issue that could potentially arise in a reference check.

Get it in writing! When you leave an employer, get as many letters of recommendations as you can. This will serve you well in many scenarios down the road...such as, in the event your reference changes jobs, moves or is unreachable, and also in the event whoever is checking your references cannot get a hold of one of your references. Often a letter of recommendation will suffice and be a possible substitute if this is the case. As a final note, if you are working with a recruiter who conducted your reference checks, ask them for a copy when they have completed it. Not a bad idea to have this in your files and also to be able to see first hand what and how your references responded about you.

International Builders Show - Orlando

Hope you all have a successful Builders Show this year! This is the first time in several years that I will not be in attendance at the show as timing wise, my daughters birthday celebration coincided with the show. As such, me making the trip was just not a possibility - unfortunately! I do however look forward to hearing all about how the show was from each of you as I have spoken to so many of you who will be there - or are already there setting up. Should be a great show as always...Have fun!!!

Google yourself!!!

I have seen many (although often really funny) completely inappropriate personal email addresses that have been listed on job seekers resumes lately. Keep in mind that when you send your resume out, it is the first impression the prospective employer or recruiter will get of you. Having your email read things like pimpdaddy@yahoo or idealdrugs@yahoo most definitely may hinder your shot at having someone take your resume seriously or even give you a second glance.

Along that note, as it has been referenced in many articles and even in the news lately…be careful what you post online at personal networking sites such as facebook, friendster, myspace, etc. You would be surprised how many employees are technically savvy enough these days to check these sites to try and get a glimpse into what they may be getting in an employee they are considering hiring. Although your personal life is indeed just that…best to make sure that you don’t let the two intertwine and possible affect getting that next interview or job of your dreams!

My best advice to you is to:

1. Set up a separate email account specifically for your job search. Use this account solely to send our resumes and communicate with recruiters or potential employers. You can get a free email just about anywhere these days (yahoo.com, gmail, com, hotmail.com, etc.). Total bonus that this will help keep you organized in your job search and keep all your correspondence in one place separately from other personal or work related emails.

2. Keep the email address simple! Restrict it to your name or you can even get a bit creative and use key words that describe your career background versus words that may border on being risqué and unprofessional. For example use windowsalesguy@yahoo or johndoe123@yahoo. Keep it simple!

3. Google yourself! It will take you seconds and will possibly save you some heartache down the road from sitting in that final interview and having an employer know a bit too much about you. I am not saying stay away from personal networking sites as they are fun and often a great way to meet new people…yet they should not interfere with your professional life. Just be careful what you post on there. Last thing in the world that you would want would be to have the person who you may soon report to find risqué photos of you on myspace or read the slang terms you write to all your friends on facebook, etc. Aside from that, there is a website out there for just about everything these days for people to publicly complain about anyone…bad neighbor, bad boyfriend, etc. The internet is a vault of information, but what you and others put out there about yourself can all too easily be found by just about anyone!

And, YES, I did google myself prior to writing this post! Ha ha! And phew! 

Network your way to a new job!

There seem to be an endless and never-ending array of professional and also personal networking sites popping up these days. It can easily become all too harrowing to try and navigate through the maze of networking sites available and truly determine which ones are worthy of investing your time at. Whether you are a job seeker, an employer, a recruiter or just want to reconnect with former colleagues, there truly are some great sites and resources out there to tap into these days.

I have links to most of the sites I personally recommend here on this Blog, yet I continue to check out several of the new and also older ones occasionally as they are great sources for me as a recruiter to tap into the more passive candidate and also gain some phenomenal industry referrals from. In an effort to help you all tap into some good networking sites, here are both my recommendation of sites and also some sites that I have heard of, yet cannot vouch for as I have yet have to check into yet fully.

Good luck with your job searches and networking efforts...and while I truly hope that I am the recruiter who places you in your next dream job, I am also hopeful that some of these sites may be of use and benefit to you in your career search or just to network more extensively with industry contacts. You all continue to be so wonderful in providing me with some great references (thank you!), so I am hopeful this list may help give you ways to connect you with new industry contacts, former colleagues, etc.

Sites I recommend:

www.linkedin.com Most of you who know me and are in my network, know that I am a big fan of LinkedIn. A great and easy tool to keep in touch with your contacts and also reach out to many new contacts across just about any industry. I rank this site top of my list!

www.konnects.com This is a newer site for me and I have not diligently checked it out in great detail yet. However, as new as it is to me, it appears the site is growing rather quickly as I have received many communications or request through the site thus far.

www.xing.com This is another site that I have received several communications and requests form professionals looking to reach out to me at, ye have not researched it heavily enough to form an opinion one way or another yet.

www.naymz.com

www.spoke.com

Other sites that may be worth checking out that I have heard or seen reference to these, yet just haven't had enough time to thoroughly research and personally review all of these yet. Please let me know your experiences on any of the below listed sites and I will post a follow up here in a few months to give everyone an update:

http://www.fastcompany.com/cof/

http://www.ecademy.com/

http://www.jigsaw.com/

http://www.networkingforprofessionals.com/

http://jobs.realcontacts.com/home.asp

http://www.ziggs.com/

http://www.zoominfo.com/ (this is more of a great researching tool - much like a Hoovers, you can search for company data or by individual name - a great resource!)

Hot Positions!

There are several really hot, urgent, high priority positions that I am working on right now. As always, with such a variety of searches throughout the country...some move incredibly quickly and others take a slower pace. It seems that lately most are moving forward very quickly with getting candidates in and moving along quickly through the interview process - a great sign! Things within the industry continue to be great in my opinion, based upon the high level of activity that I am continuing to see with the job requisitions that I am receiving to fill. Of course much, if not all of this focus continues to be focused on the remodeling and replacement side of the business versus new construction - for obvious reasons. I have also noticed that many of you who I have spoken with recently have gotten new career opportunities in record time - amazing! Please continue to keep an eye out on the list of jobs that I am actively recruiting for to the lower right side of this Blog. You all have been wonderful about providing me with some great referrals and I appreciate it tremendously...keep them coming!! I am really looking forward to continuing to work hard to assist each of you in your current and future job searches and am so excited at the way things are looking within the industry!

Steps to Finding Your Dream Job

Life's far too short to not be doing what excites you for a profession! For the amount of time we spend working, thinking about work, stressing about work, talking about work, commuting to and from work, etc. it is truly amazing how many people are not in professions that make them happy. Easier said than done of course...as it involves taking that often much harder and rougher path to set out and follow your heart to be doing what you have a passion for. My father recently gave me an article relating to this topic - a seemingly invaluable read for me especially with having recently started my own business. The article my Dad gave me was far too long to post here, and is actually is a famous speech from a few years back...if you want a copy, just email me and I will email it to you. Because the gist of that article hit me in so many powerful and different ways, I sought out to find a briefer cliff notes version of steps to following the path to your dream job. Not anywhere as powerful as the article I referenced above, yet some good tips provided here nonetheless from forbes.com on steps to finding your dream job. Good luck!!!

Is It Time To Go?

If you're filled with dread late Sunday afternoon or if little things become big chores or unbelievably annoying at work, it may be time to think about changing careers. If you're routinely in a deep funk, a new job in the same field probably won't make much difference.

Current Job Bugaboos

Make a list of what drives you crazy at your current job. Is it your co-workers, short-sighted management, mindless repetition of the same stuff every day? Defining the cause of your dissatisfaction will help point you in a new direction.

Make A List

List the components of your dream job, including as many details as possible. But don't let fine points become deal breakers. Think: What do you really want to do? Where do you want to do it? What will it take to make the switch?

Follow Your Passion
The key to launching a new career is to match your passion with your talents. What are you good at? Can you pay the bills doing it? Are you willing to take a pay cut? If so, where do you and your family cut back financially?

Basic Research
Research your proposed new field. Does it require special training? A license? An additional college degree? Can you perform your dream job in your current location or will you have to move? Are your spouse and family willing move to a new city or even a new state?

Include Your Spouse
A successful career switch must involve your spouse, especially if the change means lower pay. You can do without the fancy car and spiffy clothes, but you've got to think about the kids' braces and college education. Everyone will be a part of your new career, so make your spouse a partner in making the right decision.

Take Notes

Talk with others in your proposed field to better understand what you're getting into. Ask a basic question: What are the joys and frustrations? Take notes to chart your progress. If you decide to look for work in a new field, make a list of all contacts and interviews. Above all, keep at it until you find what you want.

How to handle a layoff

With recent news of some of the larger companies such as Pella and Peachtree shutting down plants and continual lay offs within the industry, this article seemed timely to share with you all. I will stress however, that things in the job market within the industry remain quite strong in my view. As I have referenced in many recent posts here, I am busier than ever recruiting for a variety of positions throughout the country. As the bigger companies slash their workforces in an effort to cut costs...many of the smaller to mid size companies seem to be reaping the benefits and hiring up a storm!

The below information came from a mix of an article from about.com and also msn money...as I thought they both offered some good and worthwhile tips.

What to do if you're laid off

Visit or call your state unemployment office

Ask your current employer about severance pay, accrued vacation and sick pay

Request information on continuance of health and life insurance benefits

Ask about outplacement resources

Request a reference letter for your files

Update your resume so it is ready to go when you come across opportunities that interest you and match your skill set

Research and determine career options

Create a job search action plan

Use this time as as opportunity to reassess your career goals

Treat your job search like a full-time job

Contact industry specialized recruiters to get your name thrown into the ring quick and often for opportunities that are not advertised

Other tips worth mentioning:

Try to negotiate a better severance package. Some (employers) will negotiate. The more senior the people, definitely. The more rank-and-file, it might be more difficult. It might be just based on the number of years you've worked there. If you don't ask, you won't know. The worst they can say is no.

Leave on good terms. You never know when that president or CFO goes to another company and you're looking to hire on with that company. Just don't burn bridges.

Get a recommendation. Especially if it's a mass layoff and really has nothing to do with your job performance, get a letter of recommendation explaining that so you can use it in your next job interview.

Roll over your retirement plan. Make sure you roll your money into an individual retirement account using a trustee-to-trustee transfer to avoid any penalty or tax hit. Don't take a check,or you could be subject to taxes.

If you're short of cash, tapping your retirement accounts should be "a choice of last resort," Still, he noted, such withdrawals become necessary at times. If so, check to see whether you qualify for your plan's penalty-free hardship withdrawal (though a job loss is often not covered).

Even if money's tight, resist using credit cards. Plus, if a big annual insurance payment is nearing, consider switching to smaller monthly or semiannual payments to avoid an immediate big hit to your pocketbook. And if necessary, put a hold on any automatic savings plans.

Calling all Sales Reps!!!!

Wow! I cannot honestly remember a time over the past 6 years that I have recruited in this industry where there was such a surge (and sudden one) for sales reps at this time of year! While I still continue to have several operations and manufacturing positions to recruit on...it seems sales positions are hot, hot, hot right now!

I am currently looking for great sales people in Atlanta, Dallas (2 here), KY, CA, NJ (3 here, different companies!), NY (several here, different co's), Dallas/Ft. Worth (another one!), and Sales management roles in the Midwest and also west coast! The best part is that I can honestly say each and every one of these companies are ones that I am personally impressed with and excited about that have great opportunities to offer along with great company and product reputations!

Nothing could be more exciting to be swarmed with so many sales positions to fill...what a great sign for the industry especially with all the bad news we have been hearing lately! I have heard from many of the companies and also candidates that I work with that several of you anticipate a tough and rough year ahead in 2008. I am hopeful and extremely optimistc that we will all pull through it unscathed and even more hopeful that this influx and demand for sales people will start the year off great for all of us!

On the manufacturing side of things my hottest and most urgent positions currently are for a Quality Manager in TX, a Plant Manager on west coast and a Design Engineer in FL. All great companies and fantastic opportunities!!

Please remember to keep checking my list of current positions to the right side of this Blog in the event you or someone you can refer or recommend to me may be a good fit for one of them! Thanks as always for all of your support and fantastic referrals over recent months especially!

Ways to Boost Your Interview IQ

It never hurts to beef up your interview skills...and as such, here is an article on tips to boost your interview skills/IQ that I thought was worthy of mentioning. Much of it seems to be basic, common sense...yet you would be surprised to know just how many people don't put many, if any of these to play when it comes time for the interview.

Ten Tips to Boost Your Interview IQ (by Carole MartinMonster Contributing Writer) Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job interviews. Why, you ask? Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. So study these 10 strategies to enhance your interview IQ.

Practice Good Nonverbal Communication. It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a good, firm handshake. That first impression can be a great beginning -- or quick ending -- to your interview.

Dress for the Job or Company. Today's casual dress codes do not give you permission to dress as "they" do when you interview. It is important to look professional and well-groomed. Whether you wear a suit or something less formal depends on the company culture and the position you are seeking. If possible, call to find out about the company dress code before the interview.

Listen. From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not hearing it, you are missing a major opportunity. Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what was said. Observe your interviewer, and match that style and pace.

Don't Talk Too Much. Telling the interviewer more than he needs to know could be a fatal mistake. When you have not prepared ahead of time, you may tend to ramble, sometimes talking yourself right out of the job. Prepare for the interview by reading through the job posting, matching your skills with the position's requirements and relating only that information.

Don't Be Too Familiar. The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer's demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.

Use Appropriate Language It's a given that you should use professional language during the interview. Be aware of any inappropriate slang words or references to age, race, religion, politics or sexual orientation -- these topics could send you out the door very quickly.

Don't Be Cocky Attitude plays a key role in your interview success. There is a fine balance between confidence, professionalism and modesty. Even if you're putting on a performance to demonstrate your ability, overconfidence is as bad, if not worse, as being too reserved.

Take Care to Answer the Questions When an interviewer asks for an example of a time when you did something, he is seeking a sample of your past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you not only don't answer the question, but you also miss an opportunity to prove your ability and talk about your skills.

Ask Questions. When asked if they have any questions, most candidates answer, "No." Wrong answer. It is extremely important to ask questions to demonstrate an interest in what goes on in the company. Asking questions also gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you. The best questions come from listening to what is asked during the interview and asking for additional information.

Don't Appear Desperate When you interview with the "please, please hire me" approach, you appear desperate and less confident. Maintain the three C's during the interview: cool, calm and confident. You know you can do the job; make sure the interviewer believes you can, too.

2008 Forecast

Seems to be continually dismal news relative to the housing market and construction industry as well as another pretty bleak article/cover story on DWM this month regarding the down turn in the housing market. While true, I have to say the job market seems to be withholding relatively well based upon what I am seeing. I have mentioned in prior postings how busy I am with jobs to fill and what a good sign it is when an industry recruiter stays busy in what appears to be a fairly dismal time for many. Yet, seems worthy of mentioning again. I currently have several urgent, priority positions that I am working on so please be sure to keep an eye out on the listing of current jobs I keep updated here on this Blog. And thank you to so many of you for what have been some fantastic referrals lately! It seems when it rains it pours and I appreciate all of your help in helping me identify and find good talent for the positions I am working on!

New Years Resolutions for Job Seekers

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and New Years! It is certainly good to be getting back to work after the long holiday! I look forward to assisting many of you with finding new career opportunities in the coming year!

Here are some good tips that were posted on about.com in regard to job seekers new years resolutions by Alison Doyle, who writes a fantastic job searching blog. Also below is a link to some additional worthy tips from a myriad of other staffing experts that are worth checking out.

The start of a new year is always a good time to assess where you are in your job search, and to get back on track if your job search has faltered during the holiday season. That happens to the best of us, and a break can be a good thing, especially during the busy holiday season. The new year is also a good time of year to consider whether the timing is right for you to begin looking for a new job or a career change, and, if so, to get started. If you're not in job search mode, take some time to begin building or to expand your

professional brand. Branding is something every professional should be doing, even if they are not in job search mode at the moment.

This is also the time when we typically consider some resolutions for the future. Some of the top experts in job searching and career development have been kind enough to share their advice on how to effectively job search with us. (Click on link in blue text to read some additional good tips from other staffing experts). Consider adding some, or all, of them to your list of New Year's Resolutions and best wishes to you all in landing that perfect dream job in 2008!

Happy Holidays!!!

Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday! Hard to believe how quickly this year has passed and how much has occurred with many changes and ups and downs within the industry! Hiring continues to be strong with many new jobs coming my way to recruit for. Ironically most have been sales and sales management roles over the past few weeks which is a great sign!

I will be on vacation starting later today (Friday, 12/21) through next Wednesday enjoying the holiday with my beautiful 6 year old daughter! She is so excited for Christmas and reminds me daily how many days are left until Santa comes! I will be putting many calls out on some of the newer searches I have received to work on once I return to the office on Thursday. Please remember to check my active jobs posted to the right lower portion of the blog here to let me know if you or someone you know or can refer to me may be interested in one of the positions listed.

Enjoy your holidays and time spent with your families!!!

Establishing a Better Network

This was an interesting and timely article on networking that I saw on the subject of networking. I have recently had many conversations with people who looking for work within the industry to who I always suggest tapping into their network of industry contacts to help them in their job search. All too often I hear back that many don't feel they have a strong enough network or know enough people who are decision makers to make that effort worthwhile.

Help, I don't have a network (article from Yahoo-Hotjobs/author: Liz Ryan)

I suppose it's possible for an adult to have no network at all -- if he or she has been living in the Biosphere laboratory for the last few decades. But that is unlikely. You DO have a yep; everyone has a network! You just haven't been thinking of the people you know as a network.

Who Do You Know? A useful exercise for the person who thinks "I don't know anyone" is to sit down with a blank sheet of paper and write down 100 names. Write down the names of everyone you know. Here's what happens: the first 10 names are easy. Sometimes the next 10 are pretty easy too. Then, you sit.

You wonder: Who else do I know? You think: I don't know anyone else! But that's not true. You know people at work. You know people in your neighborhood. You know people at your gym, or your place of worship, or your kids' school. You know people through your parents, your friends, and your book club. Keep writing! It may take you an hour. If you stick to it, you'll list 100 people. Most of us know more people than that.

You have never thought of these folks as your network before. But that's what they are. These are people you will tell if you're looking for a job, but don't wait until you're job-hunting to cultivate your network.

Tending Your Network. Make sure you have contact information for everyone on your list. If you don't want to use technology in your network-management, use a plain old-fashioned address book. Next, reach out to your network, one by one. Touch base with the people you don't see often, and offer a coffee date to catch up. People are aware of their networks when they need them, but that's the worst time to reach out to seldom-seen contacts and say, "It's been too long!" It's so much better to strengthen your connections when you're not in need of a favor -- like right now, for instance.

Something incredible happens when you have lunch or coffee with a colleague or friend you haven't seen in awhile. You wonder why it took you so long to re-establish contact! Networking is not just for job-seekers; keeping up your friendships and work relationships gives you moral support, fresh ideas, and the reminder that the people around us add so much to our lives, personally and professionally. The new people you meet after you develop your "network awareness" will become part of your network, too.

Renew Old Ties In reviewing your network, you may think of someone you lost touch with long ago. "Well, it's too late now," you may think, "I can't contact that person, 10 years later." Well, why the heck not! There is no statute of limitations on networking, or on friendship. That person will very likely be delighted to hear from you. Networking is not just (or even mostly) about making new contacts -- it's cultivating the trusty old ones, as well.

They say no man is an island, and I have yet to meet the person who's truly unconnected in this people-packed world. You've got a network, whether you know it or not. Your job now is to behave like a person who's got a network -- keeping up with your contacts, being a friend and a resource to them, and letting them know what they mean to you.

Lots of new jobs!

Several new positions have come my way to recruit for over the past week...the majority of them are sales roles which is a good sign for the industry! The better news is that most of these are urgent with companies wanting to hire by year end! The exciting part for me is that many of these positions are with such fantastic companies that I think very highly of and will be great oportunities for some of you in the industry!

Please review the list of my open jobs that I am recruiting for to the lower right portion of this Blog and let me know if you or anyone you know may be interested and a good fit for any of these positions! Thanks as always and in advance for all of your referrals...they help me tremendously and are very much appreciated!

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Things continue to look good within the industry as far as hiring goes, regardless of all the negative news it seems. There is nothing I like more than to be able to spread good news and it seems the tail end of the year continues to be as busy as ever with hiring needs. Always a good sign when recruiters are kept busy with having many jobs to fill!

Trend wise, I am seeing a wide array of hiring needs. In the positions I am getting to fill these days. Still lots of needs for strong engineering and engineering management candidates along with several sales positions. I have not seen as many higher level executive positions come open these days, however they are still out there and I have seen more and more companies promote from within when these vacancies arise.

Many candidates think that things slow down this time of year...but nothing could be further from the truth. Don't let the holiday season allow you to think that hiring gets put on hold until the new year! Many companies are in a full push to close out the year strong with hiring top candidates and also in an effort to utilize remaining recruiting and hiring budgets.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving celebration! There is no better time of year to express to each of you how truly thankful I am for getting to work with you all. I am extremely appreciative of the wonderful professional relationships that have grown into close friendships with many of you in the industry!
Now more than ever with having recently started my own recruiting firm, I realize and appreciate all the more so, the incredibly amazing people that are drawn to this industry. It is an honor to work alongside each and every one of you!
Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and Holiday season!

Tips for acing the interview

We all dread that big interview...nerves get jittery and we tend to overanalyze even the smallest detail. Here are some tips to go in prepared and ace that next interview.:
Be Concise
Interviewees rambling on is one of the most common mistakes you can make. Listen to the question, and answer the question, and answer it concisely. So many candidates hear a question, begin to answer then go off on a tangent and end without provising the answer to the question at all.
Provide Examples
It's one thing to say you can do something; it's another to give examples of things you have done. You should come and anticipate the questions you are going to be asked based on the requirement of the role. Think of recent strong strategic examples of work you've done, then when the question is asked, answer with specifics, not in generalities. You should say, ‘Yes, I've done that before. Here's an example of a time I did that…,' and then come back and ask, ‘Did that answer your question?'"
Be Honest
Somehow, candidates get the impression that it's best to try to dance around difficult questions. If you don't have a skill, just state it. Don't try to cover it up by talking and giving examples that aren't relevant. You're much better off saying you don't have that skill but perhaps you do have some related skills, and you're happy to tell them about that if they like.
Keep Your Guard Up
Even as well as you may feel you may have gotten to know the hiring authority after a handful of interviews...it is always best to keep your guard up. I am not suggesting not being yourself...but I am suggesting not to give away too much. Candidates all too often get a bit too comfortable and say or do things they shouldn't have during the interview process. Remember: Always maintain your professionalism.
Ask Great Questions
Nothing impresses more than a really good question that not only shows you've researched the company in general, but the specific job you're hoping to land as well. Do your research and go in prepared armed with knowledge about the company.

Announcing...Prolyn Executive Search!

Many of you already know that I have left MRI and have branched out on my own...having started my own executive recruiting firm. For those of you who do not have my current, updated information, here it is:

Email: ceb@prolyn.net

Website: www.prolyn.net

Telephone: (803) 829-8368

Toll Free: (866) 566-2372

Fax: (803) 548-3792

This Blog will stay in effect as I will continue posting industry and other staffing relevant articles here. The Blog name of "The Windmill" will remain the same. Looking forward to continuing to partner with all of you in the future!!!

Exciting News - I am going out on my own!!!

Hello Everyone!! It is with great excitment that I tell you all that I have resigned from MRI and have started my own recruiting firm! I am busy working on closing out all active searches through MRI...my old contact information at MRI will remain in effect through October 31st...and I will be posting my new contact information here shortly! I am just putting the finishing touches on the new website prior to unveiling it all to you!

You will all be receiving an email announcement from me here within the next few days...but figured I'd post my announcement here as well to keep you all updated.

I am beyond excited about this new venture and am looking forward to continuing to partner with all of you going forward. My industry focus will remain the same - Windows & Doors and I will be working harder than ever to help you fill positions and/or find that next dream job!

More details coming your way soon!!! Enjoy your weekend!

Follow Your Bliss

This is a great article that I received in an email newsletter...it is geared or written more towards recruiters...but the tips and advice truly are transitionable to any profession. As such, I took out much fo teh bulk of the article as it just listed real life examples that a recruiter experienced in trying to follow/find his bliss...but hope that some of the below will be of us or of interest to you.
FOLLOW YOUR BLISS

"If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a track that has been there all the while, waiting for you. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you. Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls."

How to apply this to your desk or office:

1. Follow your bliss when selecting the clients you'll work for.

2. Follow your bliss when deciding what niche or sub niche to focus on.

3. Follow your bliss when it comes to the parts of the recruiting (sales) process to focus on vs. the parts you'll outsource to others.

4. Follow your bliss when it comes to the new projects, strategic alliances or business relationships to take on.

5. Follow your bliss when deciding what terms you'll accept.

6. Follow your bliss when setting goals and deciding how large or small your business should ought to be.

7. Follow your bliss in regards to work/life balance and time off.

Career Assessment Tests

Most people in general, that I have crossed paths with anyway are not huge fans of taking any sort of tests. The career assessment test, however, when used properly can be an invaluable tool...if utilizing a good solid test and taking a very open and honest approach in the way you answer your questions. The downside is that in my opinion it can also throw you of your course pretty quickly as to what your right or dream profession should be.

Using my own personal experience as an example...I will tell you that after taking a myriad of career assessment tests way back when, and even reading through the infamous "What Color is Your Parachute" book (more than once!)...my test results could not have been more off in many ways! Turns out according to my results I should have been a social worker, teacher or something relating to the arts. I will tell you that I am a sales person at heart and through my work as a recruiter have learned quickly that I thrive on the charge and often chaos of closing the deal, getting the sale, etc. I am one of the lucky ones...having found my dream job, having a strong passions for it and never in a million years being able to imagine doing anything else. As such, thought this article may be of interest to some of you who are in that state of questioning what career is right for you.

CAREER ASSESSMENT TESTS:
As a child, you were sure you were going to grow up to be a cowboy. But somewhere between waking up for Saturday morning cartoons and staying up for Conan, you traded in your cowboy hat for a briefcase.

While it's fine that you never became a cowboy, you can't say that you've ever pursued anything with the same passion you once had for life on the open range. For whatever reason, you sort of just "fell" into the job you have today, and honestly, you're less than thrilled. So why stay?

If you've ever considered changing jobs or careers, you're not alone. Results from a recent CareerBuilder.com survey indicate that three quarters of American workers have changed career paths at least once, and one third of American workers are interested in changing careers right now.

With one-in-five workers having utilized them, career assessment tests ranked among the most popular methods respondents used to research a new job (in addition to exploring Web sites and consulting with friends, family, former co-workers and others in the industry). Despite their popularity, however, how effective are career assessment tests in helping people find jobs that they're not only good at, but passionate about as well?

"An assessment can be very useful in conjunction with other activities to help a person find or create the best path," says Gayle Lantz, an organizational development consultant who specializes in leadership and career development. She says there are a variety of career assessments in the marketplace, some more helpful than others; however, the majority of the problems people encounter with career assessments is not the tests themselves, but how to apply them.

Andrea Kay, career consultant and author of "Life's a B*tch and Then You Change Careers: 9 Steps to Get Out of Your Funk" and on to Your Future, agrees. "Most people are looking for shortcuts to find just the right career and are hoping that a test will be their answer," she says. Approaching a test in this manner, however, will only lead to disappointment. In Kay's experience, tests don't give people the necessary information needed to make a wise career decision.

But while they might not be a magic bullet, Kay admits that tests can be effective in giving people ideas of possible careers that might match their skills and interests, get them thinking about how well-suited they might be for a particular career, and measure their interests, skills or values.

Steve Bohler, the director and head career coach of the career guidance program The Oxford Program, offers the following tips to help people make the best use of career assessment tests.

Don't expect a career assessment to point you to your dream job. Most career tests measure one aspect of a person, such as interests, personality or aptitude, and the results are merely suggestions based on that one area of assessment. Just because a person has an interest in marine biology doesn't mean he or she has the natural abilities for the work.

Do make sure the test meets the two primary criteria: valid and reliable. Validity indicates how well the test measures what it says it measures, and if a test is reliable, the results of the test will be consistent if taken multiple times.

Do give honest answers. If an individual consciously or subconsciously answers questions to fit an outcome he or she has in mind, the results will not be very useful.

Career assessment tests can be extremely valuable in giving people a jump start in choosing career paths that fit their interests, best utilize their skills or match their personalities. "What is most important is making sure you understand the purpose of the assessment and work with a professional who is skilled in helping interpret results," says Lantz.

If you're thinking about changing jobs but aren't sure quite how to start, try an accredited Web site like CareerPath.com, which offers resources to direct you to make career choices that fit your interests, personality and strengths.

Five Reasons to Send Thank You Letters After Interviewing

You would all probably be quite surprised at how many people don't send thank yous out after having interviewed with a company as well as what a critical factor it is in the interview process! Thank you letters are an excellent self-marketing tool and a critical component of your job search strategy. The time you spend crafting a targeted thank you letter after an interview will be well spent, and it will help you create a credible and efficient search. Here are five reasons why you should incorporate thank you letters into your search strategy.

1. A thank you letter creates an opportunity to reconnect with employers.Chances are you aren't the only candidate being interviewed for an open position. Writing a follow up letter allows you to build a relationship with the interviewer and develop rapport. By expressing your gratitude for the interview and recapping the highlights of the meeting, you revisit the reasons why you are the best fit for the position.

2. Following up keeps your candidacy top of mind.Candidates often make the mistake of putting too much control in the interviewer's hands. They believe that, if they're the best candidate, the interviewer will remember them and keep them in the loop regarding the selection process. Unfortunately, this doesn't often happen. It's critical that candidates remind prospective employers of their interest in a position. The thank you letter is the perfect vehicle for communicating this interest.

3. Written correspondence gives you another chance to sell your strengths.While the thank you letter expresses gratitude for the meeting, it also serves a much more strategic purpose. It provides an opportunity for the candidate to present their skills and accomplishments in another format and market the value they'll add to the employer.

4. The document enables you to address points you neglected to discuss during the interview.Many candidates, after leaving the interview, think of other things they could have said during the meeting. Don't label this a liability; turn it into an asset by discussing these points in the thank you letter. Remind the reader of your ability to produce similar results for their organization.

5. A letter helps develop rapport and increases the employer's comfort level in your candidacy.A good strategy is to recap a part of the conversation where you and the interviewer shared similar views on a job-related topic. The thank you letter can also be a forum for demonstrating your consultative problem solving skills. By addressing current issues the employer is facing and proposing solutions, you are contributing to the company's success even before you are on board!

Thank you letters continue to be an important component of a successful job search campaign. But the focus has shifted from a simple courtesy and show of appreciation to a targeted self-marketing tool. By creating letters that validate your candidacy, build rapport, and remind the reader of your value added, you can significantly influence potential employers and -- most importantly -- increase your chances for subsequent interviews.

Glass Build Trade Show - Atlanta

Just a quick post to let you all know that I will be in attendance at the Glass Build show in Atlanta this year. I will be there one day only on Tuesday, 9/11. If you will be in attendance there, drop me an email or give me a call to let me know. It is always a real treat to be able to meet both candidates and clients that I know and work with in person!

Finding Your Dream Job

Walt Disney once said, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."But what about dream jobs? Can we truly love what we do and get paid for it?

Recently, CareerBuilder.com and Disney Parks took a look at the idea of dream jobs and the people living out their fantasies. According to their survey of over 6,000 workers nationwide, a staggering 84 percent of people say they aren't in their dream jobs. What's the biggest thing missing? Fun.

"What defines a dream job is surprisingly reminiscent of childhood wishes for many workers. Workers said they want to enjoy their work experience, apply their talents and feel like they're making an impact," says Richard Castellini, senior career advisor for CareerBuilder.com. "Having fun at work was the most important attribute of a dream job for 39 percent of workers, which heavily outweighed the 12 percent who said salary was most important.

Who's Living the Dream?Professions reporting the highest percentage of those feeling they are already in their dream jobs included police and firefighters, teachers, real estate professionals, engineers, travel professionals and nurses. Those professions with the least amount of workers feeling they have their dream jobs included accommodations/food services, manufacturing and retail. As children, excitement and imagination played a major role in defining career paths. We dreamed of becoming firefighters, princesses and dancers," says Castellini. "But today, a majority of workers aren't living out the aspirations they had 20, 30, or even 40 years ago.

So, how do you go about landing your dream job?Learn more.Research your dream career and investigate those industry trends. Sign up for a class related to your dream job or one that will teach you relevant skills.

Investigate similar jobs and their pay.Find a success story.Talk to someone who has your dream job and ask about the steps taken to get there.

Ask for advice and any secrets for success. You may be surprised to learn the downsides of your dream career. But don't get discouraged -- this can help you fine-tune your goals.Take inventory.What's keeping you from going for your dream job? Is it lack of training or education, the desire to pay off debt, family obligations or relocation?

Map out a specific strategy for tackling each factor that might be an impediment. Step back.If you can afford it, consider accepting a lower-paying position that may get you closer to your dream job. People sometimes sacrifice dreams in lieu of short-term gains. Your decision could ultimately help you achieve your goals. Seek expert advice.Visit a career counselor to discuss your interests and help you establish a path and stay on it to attain your desired outcome. Before taking a job for less pay, talk to a financial planner who can suggest ways to budget if you to take a job for less money.

Back From Vacation

Sorry for the delay in getting some postings on this site...after spending a week and a half on the road with my daughter traveling up and down the east coast by car visiting various friends, family and a few clients...I am finally back to work! Mondays are hard enough to adjust back to the work week...but after 10 days of vacation...I am finding it even more difficult to re adjust back to the daily grind! I have several new positions to post that are hot and urgent needs...please review the list posted to the right on my Blog and let me know if you or anyone you can think of may be a good fit for one of the positions i am recruiting for. I am finding that it is more and more difficult to find and successfully recruit good talent these days. Mainly, I think this is due to how strong of a candidate driven market it is - a good sign for all of you job seekers that is for sure as it gives you leverage when it comes to negotiating and going after job opprotuities. I have definately noticed that many companies are feeling the pain of finding good talent too. More often than not the job seekers I talk to lately seem to have several offers in hand with the ability to pick and choose prior to accepting that new job! I love nothing more than to share encouraging news...so thought those of you who are still on the hunt for that next perfect job would be encouraged by what I am seeing out there in the industry these days!

Hiring & Compensation Article I was Interviewed For with Window & Door Magazine!

I know many, if not most of you receive the W&D magazine and stay on top of the articles they also post on the windowanddoor.net website...yet because I was interviewed last month for one of their featured articles appearing in this months issue, thought it was worth sharing here in the event any of you missed it. I have highlighted my quotes in bold text. Drop me an email and let me know your thoughts...it is always interesting to hear your perspective and thoughts, whether you are a hiring authority or candidate in the industry seeking work. Thanks!

Featured Articles - Windowanddoor.net / Window & Door Magazine MANAGEMENT: Headhunters Weigh In On Hiring and Compensation Industry companies attracting and retaining key industry players with more than just salary, recruiters say By Christina Lewellen June 2007

Some of the biggest window and door manufacturers have had a rough year. The downturn in the residential housing market has led to layoffs, pushes to streamline operations and slicing of employees’ work hours. But this is not why the headhunters who specialize in the residential fenestration industry are busier this year than ever. Recruiters are not scrambling to find work for displaced employees—they’re scrambling to fill positions for the up-and-coming window manufacturers that are growing successfully, despite the market conditions.

“We are unusually busy for the down market that people are talking about,” says Don Hall, founder of Don Hall & Associates, based in Waco, Texas. “We have more companies searching for candidates right now than we’ve had in our history. The economy is certainly down on the lower-income housing range—the track development—and that’s affecting a lot of manufacturers. But the middle- to upper-end market is still strong, and I think very strong.”

It’s also the replacement market that’s keeping the job market stable, adds Carlyn Burns, account executive for Management Recruiters of Lancaster County, Fort Mill, S.C. “I’m going to tell you something you may not be expecting, but as a recruiter, I’ve been busier than ever,” she says. “The replacement window side of things, versus new construction, is booming—skyrocketing even. It’s where the market is right now.”

Burns, who specializes in recruiting for both manufacturers and dealers and distributors, says small and mid-sized retailers, especially in the replacement side of the business, are seeking qualified candidates to keep their growing companies on the right track. Manufacturers—especially those who fall into the bottom categories of Window & Door’s Top 100 list and below, she notes—are looking for successful leaders for management roles and innovative thinkers for their design and engineering teams. “Companies are still trying to stay ahead of the competition and be innovative, so those are exactly the positions that are keeping me busy,” she says. “A lot of companies are going lean but the fact of the matter is that new product development is so critical to getting ahead. That’s why those positions are so hot right now.”

What’s not particularly hot right now is the market for sales positions, Burns says. Some companies are scaling back on their sales force while the market goes through its correction. Still, Hall says there’s always a need for specialized sales personnel, regardless of the pace of sales. “You can’t just be an ordinary salesman anymore,” he says. “You have to be a specialist in a certain product line. There seems to be an increasing level of specialization, in what the distributor carries and what the dealer stocks, and even what the manufacturer makes.”

For the most part, salaries and compensation packages in the industry are on the upward trend. Referring back to a compensation article he contributed to Window & Door in 2000, Norm McKibben, a senior partner with Aspen International Group Inc., says the past seven years and the construction boom that marked the period have had positive effects on base salaries and benefits. “You have to remember that in the period of time between 2000 and 2007, we went through a complete business cycle,” he notes. “Companies were making money hand-over-fist. They had to step up to get the good people, and that raises the whole salary and incentive level up two pegs.”

And when the market cooled, bonuses might have receded but salaries stayed put, he adds. “The downturn of this year and last year is only going to affect the bonuses because now their figures are way off,” he says. “In general, the salary levels are maintained at that same level, which is pretty high up because of the good times we just went through.”

SHOW ME THE MONEY McKibben pointed out seven years ago that the consolidation and influx of investors in the industry meant that a growing number of top executives were getting in on a “piece of the action” with equity stake in a company. That hasn’t changed, he says, and may be an even more significant compensation consideration today. “The equity situation is still true,” he explains. “A larger group of managers have had exposure to equity primarily because investment groups like to feel that their managers are invested. They want them to feel more like owners rather than employees.”

Executives’ base salaries have increased from about $150,000 annually in 2000 to upwards of $250,000 (Table 1). What has changed even more dramatically, McKibben points out, is the structure of the bonus system. Company CEOs and presidents often have the carrot of a bonus dangled in front of them, but they can also earn “super bonuses” for exceeding the parameters of the baseline bonus. With the current downturn in the market, bonuses might not be too impressive this year, but the incentive will still be in place when business starts picking up, he notes. “This is not going to be a good year for the bonus side,” he says. “But [executives] can make a lot of money in the best of times.”

Plant managers and sales managers are also bringing home more money than they did in 2000, due in large part to the fact that the companies for which they work and their list of responsibilities continue to grow, McKibben says. Plant managers can make anywhere from $90,000 to $120,000 annually, and sales managers generally fall into the $80,000 to $110,000 range (Table 2). Like executives, these positions also have opportunities for bonuses on top of the baseline salary.

McKibben says one area that hasn’t seen much in the way of salary growth is marketing professionals working in the industry. Some of the bigger corporations have recognized the importance of having a strong marketing team, but the growing window and door companies are slow to get on board with investing in employees who can take their branding and Web presence to the next level, he observes. “The [leaders] in the entrepreneurial companies might be afraid of that high-tech communication and they don’t really put a lot of money into it,” he says. “It really hasn’t been pushed, but it is a growth area because the bigger corporations have it.”

McKibben says marketing professionals probably fall into the $80,000 to $100,000 salary range, which is about the same level as 2000.

Burns adds that marketing professionals are not often industry-specific. “Regardless of the down- or upswing of the industry, usually a marketing person can come from any industry, sort of like a financial person,” she says.

Another growth opportunity within the industry is among supervisors and managers of field or production crews, McKibben says. Companies are placing a premium on supervisors who are bilingual—communicating effectively with crews—and can keep the quality of workmanship consistent despite blue collar turnover. “Supervisors are getting paid handsomely to manage the crews,” he says, adding that managers can sometimes creep above the six-digit salary line.

QUALITY OF LIFE INCENTIVES Salaries and titles are a “given”—people generally change jobs because they want to make more money and have more responsibility. But our panel of recruiters warns companies to not underestimate the importance of “quality of life” incentives when it comes to recruiting and retaining key industry employees. “I just placed a plant manager who left a big company to go to a smaller company,” Burns explains. “What sold him was not just the money but the whole package. I think smaller and mid-sized companies have the opportunity to cater the package to the individual.”

Burns cites as examples companies offering car and travel allowances, on-site daycare and health care services and even lunch break dry cleaning and car wash services. “It sounds silly but it really adds up,” she says. “You ultimately get that closer knit feel, that family environment.”

Four-day workweeks and flexible vacation packages are also a draw for busy executives trying to juggle work and home responsibilities, Hall adds.

For sales people, a category of employee that is still primarily money-driven, Burns says some companies have turned to sign-on bonuses as a way to draw in the top candidates. “Sales people are out there to earn money,” she says. “That sign-on bonus generally puts them over the edge.”

Regional considerations are also sometimes categorized as a perk, with some candidates seeking a position that will take them to a warmer climate or away from a high cost-of-living area. “There are certain parts of the country that are almost impossible to move somebody into because of the economics,” Hall explains. “If you move somebody from Texas to California, they might find it hard to pay the taxes or get an affordable mortgage. It’s easier the other way around.”

Despite the setbacks in the market, headhunters reiterate that it is a candidate-driven market right now and companies are moving quickly and aggressively to snag good employees when they become available. The companies that are the most successful are the ones that have something besides dollars to attract the attention of potential workers, Burns says. “I don’t think most companies realize that you’ve got to grab good candidates quickly,” she says. “The companies that move fast are at an advantage. The ones that are hiring actively know they have to have something above and beyond a good salary package to get them and keep them on board.”

THE NEXT GENERATION Knowing that not many children aspire to enter the window and door business when they grow up, companies are putting more effort towards recruiting young workers into the industry, recruiters note. As the Baby Boomer generation moves toward retirement, a new generation of leaders will have to be primed to take over the increasingly complex fenestration businesses. “I think more companies are starting to see the value and power of hiring college kids,” Burns says. “A lot of my clients have a specific person who goes around the country and targets college career fairs.”

There are some challenges, however, in attracting young and/or non-industry workers. Just like seasoned employees, younger new hires don’t always come at a bargain to companies. According to a survey conducted by the Employee Relocation Council, organizations may find themselves competing for new hires in the areas of offers from other companies, cost-of-living and relocation expenses, and the general lack of qualified candidates.

The payoff, however, for fighting for fresh workers could be a stronger work force down the road, recruiters say. “I think you’ll see a lot more companies gearing toward the younger, just-out-of-college workers to build up a strong work force,” Burns notes. “The problem is that they’re going to have to woo them and give them a reason to stay loyal.”

Like many industry professionals who stumbled into their first window and door job and ended up making a career of it, Burns expects the same type of relationship-building will work with the incoming generation of employees as well. “The products may not be that sexy but it’s the company that can draw them initially,” she says. “Once they’re here, it’s the people that keep them here.”

Burned Out on the Job?

From a posting on MRINetwork...thought it was worth sharing as I only all to ooften encounter individuals who seem to lack enthusiasm and excitement for their current jobs.

It's been a while since you've felt the exhilaration that comes with starting a new job. And you're wondering: "Has that professional spark been extinguished or is it flickering faintly, waiting to be reignited?"

Are you burned out or just exhausted? "Take a real vacation to find out," Burnout: If you dread returning to work, you may be burned out. Temporary Heat Wave: If you come back rested and recharged, you just needed a well-deserved break.

Are you reacting to a passing moment or an entire movement? Burnout: Your company recently underwent a major restructuring, doubling your responsibilities, and there's no end in sight. Temporary Heat Wave: You're buried in work because it's your 'busy season.' But you do see light at the end of the tunnel.

Are the demands of your job weighing too heavily on you? Burnout: Your supervisor is too demanding and you just can't keep your head above water. You know you'll never get her to change. Temporary Heat Wave: You're too demanding on yourself and it's causing you undue stress, not only at work but most likely in other aspects of your life as well. Time to let a few things go, like the perfectly clean house or some volunteer responsibilities.

Do you find it difficult to focus on your job? Burnout: You face your projects with total apathy and feel you have nothing left to give. Temporary Heat Wave: Your lack of focus is rooted in the nebulous mess you call a workspace. Get organized and get rejuvenated!

Have you got the urge to find greener pastures? Burnout: You're feeling more and more detached at work and catch yourself fantasizing about walking out the door to find that 'dream job' and leaving these 'little minds' behind. Temporary Heat Wave: You're in a rut and ready to venture past the usual lunch crowd and meet some new peers.

So You're Burned Out… If your situation is illustrated by more 'Burnout' descriptions, it's likely time to start down a new career path or follow a new opportunity to professional happiness. Get your resume together and begin your search.

Temper the Warming Effects
If you saw more of yourself in the 'Temporary Heat Wave' scenarios, then you might need a new focus and new challenges to recharge your professional energy. "You don't have to leave your employer to energize yourself,"

Here are some suggestions for putting the spark back in your career:

"Look for a new position within your organization," she says. Network internally -- try to catch key people in the break room to get the scoop on a position or new project team being assembled.

Examine your current position to identify a new responsibility or element you could include that would refresh your focus.

Assess what aspects of the job you really like and do well and then concentrate on expanding those activities.

Make sure you get meaningful feedback from your supervisor. Without clear feedback, Lewis warns, you are apt to burn out faster because you will not have clear goals or accurate measurement.

Read relevant trade publications to stay up on the latest issues and trends.

Find ways to incorporate these into your job.

Delegate or eliminate non-essential tasks. Sometimes we get mired down with minutia and lose sight of what we really need to be doing.

Investigate opportunities to transfer to a new city. Working in completely new surroundings with different peers could get your professional juices flowing again.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!!!

Just a quick post to share with you some positive news - that things really seem to be heating up relative to job openings within the industry! In just the past week alone, I have received numerous - record breaking in fact - calls from many manufacturers and distributors who have put in requests for me to fill jobs. This is always a treat for a recruiter, as it means I don't spend my time out there cold calling and marketing into companies in an effort to find good jobs to work on and recruit for. The trend certainly seems widespread not only by location but also in the wide array of position titles and functions such as; Plant Manager, National Sales Manager, Design Engineer, Product Manager, Project Manager, Estimator, Sales Reps...just to name a few! A good sign indeed that things seem to be picking up. Even some of the companies that have gotten lots of press for recent layoffs and downsizing are starting to hire again! As for locations...things seem to continue to be hot up and down the east coast. Running a close second are OH & IL and some other Midwest states as well. Please look over the list posted on this site as to my active, priority jobs that I am working on. As always, if you know of anyone that may be a good fit or interested in one of them, I always appreciate the referral! Have a great week!

8 Ways to Research Your Prospective Employer

The amount of knowledge you have about a potential employer, and on the industry in which you hope to work can give you a competitive edge. This pertains both to making initial contact with employers and before going on interviews. In addition, having information on a company is also invaluable when it comes to evaluating a job offer.

You should know the company's industry, what they do, who some major clients are, and the names of some of the company's higher-ups. You should also know who is in charge of hiring for the position you are seeking.

Here are some resources to find company information.

Corporate Websites—Most businesses use their home pages as a marketing or communication tool for generating and retaining business. They may also provide annual reports, news articles, business ventures, and information about products and services. You should spend a good portion of your research time reviewing the information available at your company's home page.

Directories—Here you can get information on public and private companies, although you may be limited with private company information. A couple sites to check out are: http://www.corporateinformation.com/ & http://hoovers.com/free/. Press Releases—Like an annual report, press releases present information in a way that appeals to the media, and in turn to the consumer.

Local newspapers—Local newspapers usually publish articles about companies in their city or town. This is often the only place you will find information on small, local companies. Some newspapers publish special business sections once a week. You will also find information about employees at those companies. Should someone win an award or special recognition, a local newspaper is where you would find it. National Newspaper—While the New York Times is not planning to change its name to the U.S. Times, it can serve as a source of national information. The same can be said of other newspapers across the country, like The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, and The Washington Post, to name only a few. Articles on larger U.S. and international companies are featured in the pages of these publications.

Business Journals—The most well known is The Wall Street Journal. There are also smaller, more local business journals. You can find information on local companies as well as companies with a wider geographic scope. These journals provide a good way of tracking who has moved where, what companies have what clients, and which companies are relocating to your area. Openings of new businesses should also be announced in a business journal.

Industry Journal—These publications follow companies within different industries. This is a great way to become more knowledgeable about the industry in general. You can look at trends and upcoming changes to determine how you can best make an impact. Remember, you are trying to show potential employers what you can do for them.

Professional Journals—These journals keep you apprised of goings on in your field. In addition to providing company information, professional journals give insight into changes in a particular field. These publications also contain advice about how to do your job better. Being able to discuss new medical billing software with the office manager of a doctor's office will show your level of expertise and interest in the field.

Job Searching on Company Time?

Some good pointers on how to manage your job search and also your current job...

You’re told to treat your job search like a full–time job. But when do you have the time to look with a schedule that includes working 50–plus hours a week, going to school, caring for a family, running errands and trying to squeeze in some shut–eye? Simple. You do it at work.

Whether scouring job boards, searching company Web sites or monitoring list servs, 11 million people on average look for jobs online every week. One–quarter of workers who use a computer at work admit to searching on company time, according to a survey by staffing company. And, job site traffic spikes on weekdays during lunchtime hours.

But proceed with caution when searching for a job on company time; the key is to keep your current job, and income, until you find a new one. Follow these tips:

Know the rules

A growing number of employers have established policies on employer Internet use including monitoring employee personal e–mail abuse, personal instant messenger use, operation of personal Web sites on company time, personal postings on corporate blogs and operation of personal blogs on company time. Those companies are putting their policies into action: 26 percent of employers have fired workers for misusing the Internet and another 25 percent have terminated employees for e–mail misuse, according to a 2005 survey by the American Management Association (AMA).

Play it safe.

The AMA study found 76 percent of businesses monitor employee Web use and 55 percent keep and review e–mail messages. Use a personal e–mail account when discussing job search–related items and applications. Plus, employers would rather receive correspondence from personal accounts than from competitor addresses. And most importantly, you don’t want to send a message to a potential new employer that you conduct job searches on company time.

Don’t advertise your search.

Don’t wear your interview suit to your biz–casual office. Nothing sets off a red flag like wearing a suit to your dressed–down office. So how should you handle the wardrobe dilemma? For both men and women, suit bottoms (i.e. pants, skirts) are always passable for business casual. Bring a shoulder bag/duffle with a jacket in it, and change en route to/from the interview. For women, it is especially easy to wear a casual shell under a suit – once a jacket and stockings are removed, no one will detect an afternoon interviewee. For men, make sure your shirt stands on its own without a tie and you can easily make the switch.

Choose references wisely.

Former co–workers who have left to go elsewhere are usually the first ones to turn to if you want to keep your search confidential. But current co–workers are really the ideal names to pass along to your potential employer. Put a significant amount of thought into who will keep your confidence at your current job. Oftentimes, people find peers rather than managers to be safer bets. As long as your reference can speak to your work ethic, enthusiasm, drive and accomplishments, you don’t need to search high and low for a senior executive to speak on your behalf – go with who knows you best.

Timing is everything.

The breakfast interview is an ideal forum. Meetings scheduled at 8 a.m. are often finished in time to arrive at work by 9 a.m. If they run over, any number of reasons can be offered for a delayed arrival, but don’t go over the top. "Personal time" for a relaxing respite is still an acceptable reason for taking vacation time. Claiming sick runs you the risk of being asked to log on and work from home, or at least making yourself available. The best maneuvers are those when an interview can be tacked onto other pre–planned time off (long weekends, etc.) or non–work hours.

Never stop giving your all at work.

Job seekers can experience intense paranoia at work. If you devote yourself fully to what you’re doing in the hours you’re there (and job search with a vengeance in the hours when you’re not), you’ll continue to get the praise and recognition to keep you on track at your current job. In the end, the possibility always exists that you’ll stay. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by making co–workers suspicious and then maybe not landing a new job.

How to Judge a Recruiter

This is a long one...but a good read. I came across this article recently and thought it was worth sharing due to the many number of people and also client companies that I have talked to lately that have expressed bad experiences with recruiters.

How To Judge A Headhunter/Recruiter

Headhunters earn their living by finding and evaluating job candidates for the benefit of their clients. Some are better at this than others, and you should know what distinguishes a good headhunter from a not-so-good one -- at least from the standpoint of the job hunter. This will help you avoid (a) wasting your time, (b) divulging confidential information to the wrong people, and (c) developing false hopes.

There are a lot of headhunters out there, and they tend to come in two types:

Those who get into the business because the cost of entry is low. They're looking for a quick buck. They're in a big rush to close deals, and they aren't very concerned about what anyone thinks about how they're doing it. That's not to say they're all dishonest; just that they aren't taking the long view. You'll get pretty frustrated working with them because of the way they treat their clients, their professional community, and their job candidates.

Those who are building a business based on reputation, relationships and trust -- and on making a contribution to their professional community. They're in less of a rush, are more willing to take time to establish long term relationships, and they seek to establish their credibility as much as to earn a buck. This doesn't mean they'll take anyone's call, just that they'll act responsibly.

How does a job hunter separate a knowledgeable, trustworthy, conscientious, effective headhunter from the rest? Assess him (or her) on these four attributes:

Knowledge

A good headhunter will have tons of valuable information about the company he or she is representing, about the job, the manager and his team, about why the job is open, and about the technology (if applicable). He'll be able to tell you about the interview itself: how the manager evaluates candidates, how his team will be involved and how the selection process will play out. Most important, the headhunter will be able to coach you in a way that will maximize your chances of winning an offer.

Even good headhunters don't have all the answers. But the good ones will tell you when they don't know something.

Integrity

A trustworthy headhunter is proud of his business and glad to talk about it. His success depends on you trusting him. So, ask him thoughtful questions about himself and his work. How many years has he been in the business? What areas does he specialize in? Who are his client companies? What specific positions does he usually recruit for?

The answers matter, of course, but what you're really looking for is an indication that the headhunter is forthright and willing to tell you about himself. A headhunter who's in the business for a quick buck won't have much of a story to tell because he's operating on the fringes, picking up fees wherever he can. A good headhunter will demonstrate that he has good clients who respect him, and that he knows the in's and out's of the industry he recruits in.

Conscientiousness

A good headhunter tries to locate and separate out the best qualifed talent for his client company. That's why he won't take cold calls or waste time with people who want a "job handout". His focus is on the companies and people who will help him do his job. When he's working on a search that has led him to you, he will be 100% attentive to you.

To a good headhunter, your resume is a follow-up, a kind of background material. It isn't his objective when he calls. If a headhunter just asks for your resume and says, "I'll get back to you", you know you're dealing with a guy who's too busy dialing for dollars and not taking the time to do a great job for his client.

By investing the time to get to know you, a headhunter demonstrates his conscientiousness. So, pay attention to the questions the headhunter asks you: he's revealing himself as much as he's probing you.

Effectiveness

A good headhunter finds the right candidate and fills the job. That's his business. To accomplish this, he has to gain the respect of the people he is recruiting, and he must demonstrate his ability to be right. If he makes a few "wrong" placements, his reputation is shot.

When people get frustrated because a headhunter won't talk to them, it's often because the headhunter is very good at what he does. And talking to just anyone isn't his job. A good headhunter usually does not have the time to spend with individuals who contact him unless they happen to have expertise in the exact assignment he's currently working on.

What does all this mean to you? If you are actively looking for a job, then take control of your own job search, because the good headhunters won't talk to you. That seems contradictory, but it makes perfect sense when you consider what we've said about the headhunter's business: he can't be an effective headhunter if he starts acting like a career counselor. If you're the person the headhunter is looking for, he prefers to find you himself. Believe it or not, this is one of the best ways to recognize a good headhunter: he's the one who calls you.

But to judge him properly, evaluate the headhunter carefully on all four of the attributes described above. When you encounter a good headhunter, do your best to help him with his search. Because there's one last attribute you should know about: a good headhunter remembers

You're Hired! Now the hard work begins...

Here's an interesting and hopefully helpful article that was in our local Charlotte paper today...most people appear and act overly eager to show their stuff when starting a new job. The following tips may help you keep your excitment in check while gradually adjusting to your new office and work environment.

Learning Your New Office...

You made it past the multiple rounds of interviews, background checks and countless hoops. Congratulations -- you got the job! So now what?

Many employees forget that the real hard work begins after they start a new job, not in the steps it took to get it. Yes, you've sufficiently wowed your future employers so that they have decided to hire you. But it's important to make a solid first impression on the job and assure them that they did not make a mistake.

Martin Yate, professional development counselor and author of "Knock `em Dead: The Ultimate Job Seeker's Guide," says there are several things to keep in mind when starting off at a new company.

• Learn your environment. Your first goal should be to understand how your new office works. How and why do things get done the way they do? Learn how the company operates and the people who run it.

• Don't start re-inventing the company. Focus on learning, not doing at this point. If you suggest grand changes from the start, your co-workers may see you as arrogant or be offended by your ideas.

• Be a team player. Always be ready to take on any task and help colleagues willingly during this period. During the probationary period (typically the first 90 days), your colleagues will be watching and evaluating you to see how you fit in.

• Ask for advice from your peers. They will feel flattered, you'll get some insider information and you'll probably bond along the way.

• Save your big ideas for when you are more firmly entrenched in the company culture. "Smaller ideas are easier to sell and help you build a foundation of credibility," says Yate. "And, god forbid should something go wrong, it's no big deal."

How To Resign From Your Current Job

It sounds easier than it is...you find yourself with a great employment offer for a new company that really excites you....and resigning from your current job seems like it will be a piece of cake. Not necessarily! I have heard many stories from candidates who I have placed that were amazed at just how difficult it was to face their current boss and even peers and give their resignation. It is continually amazing to me the tactics that current employers will use to try and keep an employee on board when they hand in their resignation. Here are some tips to help you through the process:

How To Resign
A sample resignation letter is shown below. Once you have accepted a new position, consider the following:

Do Not Delay - give you notice on the day you make your decision.

Keep it Professional - focus on your new opportunity.

Keep Your Distance - they do not have a right to know where you are going.

Write it Down - hand your boss a resignation letter before talking.

Request Confidentiality - inform only those that need to know.

Don't Listen to Counteroffers - they for the benefit of employers, not employees.

Sample Resignation Letter:
Date
Dear Immediate Supervisor,
Please accept this letter as my formal resignation as (Your Current Title) from (Your Present Employer). I have accepted another career opportunity.

I, as well as my family, believe my new position will offer increased challenges, opportunity and financial rewards.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you and all my other acquaintances at (Present Employer) for your support in the past and trust that my association has been meaningful.

This has not been an easy decision, or one based on short-term thinking, and therefore I am not open for a counter offer.

I leave (Present Employer) with wonderful memories; but renewed enthusiasm and excitement for the future.

Sincerely,