Valuing Courage over Security

I once read an article about valuing courage over security.  I was struck by this article that most people, time after time, placed more value on security over just about everything in their lives.  In today’s world, you can hardly pick up a newspaper or watch and/or listen to a news show without the knowledge that we are highly focused on security first, security over freedom and everything else.

Think about the things in your life that you “put up with” because you at least have security in it; marriage, job, government, your community, the list goes on and on about how we sacrifice almost everything in the name of security.

I once lost a job (got fired, ok, there I said it).  The truth is that after I got over the initial shock, I was actually relieved.  Why?  Because I realized that I had spent the last several years trying to improve my rut in that job rather than getting out of the rut and finding something better.  Again why?  Because of the security of what I knew as opposed to the fear of what else was out there.

This taught me a valuable lesson.  Have the courage to step out from the security of what you have and look for other opportunities.

This does not only apply to your job but to everything in your life.  Taking an even broader look at this issue of courage over security, think about all the freedoms we are sacrificing in the name of security.  Not to get into a political discussion here, this is mostly about the personal things you control, but Benjamin Franklin once said; He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.

As the article concluded; You must decide, once and for all, that it's more important for you to have the courage to do what you must to succeed, rather than to cling to the things that make you feel safe.  What will you do?

David (Mac) McElhaney, Managing Partner
Global Recruiters of Huntsville

102 Clinton Ave, West

Suite 201

Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: 256-533-1444 Ext 201

Fax: 256-418-4485

Mobile: 407-341-4462

dmcelhaney@grnhuntsville.com

www.grnhuntsville.com

What's that Smell?

The marketplace has clearly shifted to a candidate driven market.  What that means is that a lot of qualified people are on the move.  With all that activity and interest in you, it is easy to overlook some very critical, very obvious things (conditions) that can make your new move, your “great” new job a disaster.

One of those critical factors, perhaps the most critical of factors is the culture of the organization.  If you make a move into a new company with a culture that doesn’t match up with your style, you will struggle to keep your balance.

There are a number of key indicators that you should consider.  I’m reminded of an old Lynyrd Skynyrd song titled “What's that smell?”  Pay attention to the atmosphere in an organization.  You can “smell” a company when you are talking on the phone to someone inside the organization.  You can “smell” a company when you are sitting in the lobby, waiting for an interview.  When you are walking to the interview location, pay attention to how the people interact with each other.  Pay attention to the interviewer’s attitude toward you, the other people, the process itself.

Next, pay attention to the interviewer’s answers to your questions.  You should always go to an interview prepared to ask your own questions.  Remember that the interview process is a two-way street.  You are interviewing them as well.  Ask real, important questions and write down the answers.  These answers will serve you well as you review your day, compare one person’s answers to another in the organization and to judge the reaction of the answer given. 

Finally, your research into a company will give you some additional background and insight into the organization. 

All these indicators can be insights to the culture of the new company.  Pay attention to these subtleties and remember, you are planning to spend more time with this company than you do with your family.

David (Mac) McElhaney

Managing Partner
Global Recruiters of Huntsville

102 Clinton Ave, West

Suite 201

Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: 256-533-1444 Ext 201

dmcelhaney@grnhuntsville.com

Mac’s 10 Rules for Successful Interviewing

Mac’s 10 Rules for Successful Interviewing

•      Be on time- this means between 5-15 minutes early.

•      Be confident-  Tell yourself “I’ve Got This!”

•      Dress for success- You don’t have to wear a Tux, but dress one level above your target.

•      Take the Initiative- Know the job specifications and how you fit that role.

•      Don’t oversell yourself-  Answer the questions but don’t talk yourself out of the job.

•      Always have your own questions (written down)- You are interviewing the company too.

•      Carry a portfolio- It gives you something to do with your hands.  Take notes.

•      Don’t let them see you sweat-  Don’t scratch, wipe, scooch or squirm.

•      Ask for the job- You don’t get if you don’t ask.

•      Follow up Today- to paraphrase Elton John- Don’t let the sun go down on your interview.

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David (Mac) McElhaney

Managing Partner
Global Recruiters of Huntsville

102 Clinton Ave, West

Suite 201

Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: 256-533-1444 Ext 201

Fax: 256-418-4485

Mobile: 407-341-4462

How do you spell Potatoe?

How do you spell Potatoe?

We all know that the resume doesn’t get you a job, it gets you an interview.  It can also stop you dead in your tracks if you have spelling and grammar mistakes.  The quickest way to put yourself out of the hiring funnel is having misspelled words on your resume.

While the interview will land you the job, the resume gets you in the door. Your resume is your first chance to make a good impression, so don’t screw it up with easy-to-correct errors. Proofread, proofread, proofread and for goodness’ sake, proofread!

Before you hit the send button, have someone else look over your resume to catch any errors you might have missed. (Remember: Computer spell-check functions don’t catch everything).

For college students, utilize the career services center, as its staff members are there to help you.

Mistakes are a direct reflection of you and your personal brand. Don’t let your first impression also be your last.

One more thing; Are you still putting “References available upon request” or actually listing your references and their information on your resume?  We are all aware that you’ll provide references when they are needed.  Don’t waste valuable space on your resume be stating the obvious.

David (Mac) McElhaney

Managing Partner
Global Recruiters of Huntsville

102 Clinton Ave, West

Suite 201

Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: 256-533-1444 Ext 201

Fax: 256-418-4485

Mobile: 407-341-4462

You’re not still using an Objective statement to start your Resume, are you?

You might be old if your resume looks like this;

Objective

A confident, detail-oriented, resourceful professional with excellent organizational skills and ability to function at a highly efficient level in a fast-paced environment.  Ability to liaison adeptly between executive, management and support levels.  Professional relationship builder with the capability to establish and maintain relationships in a wide variety of aspects.  Proven leadership skills, ability to work within a team and exceed goals. Excellent interpersonal skills, presentation skills, sales and project coordination experience.

Since no one really reads your resume, you need catch the reader's attention.  A job summary does that, an objective statement doesn't.  The Summary should be built from the job description, pulling the key words out and using them to describe how you can fill the role.

Summary

Your job description calls for a confident, detail-oriented, resourceful professional with excellent organizational skills and ability to function at a highly efficient level in a fast-paced environment.  As you can see from my qualifications below, I have these attributes and I’m looking for a fast-paced environment such as yours.  I have the ability to liaison adeptly between executive, management and support levels.  Over the years, I have developed my professional relationship building skills with the capability to establish and maintain relationships in a wide variety of aspects.  As you can see, I have proven leadership skills, ability to work within a team and exceed goals. My excellent interpersonal skills, presentation skills, sales and project coordination experience are leading indicators my ability to not only hit the ground running with your company but to quickly become you star team member.

Now, here’s the hard part.  You have to write this summary for every job you apply to because every job has its own key words and hot buttons.  Catch the Hiring Manager with a quick, to the point statement about how you can fill their role.

See our job board at; http://www.grnhuntsville.com/candidate/jobs.aspx

David McElhaney

Global Recruiters of Huntsville

256.533.1444

dmcelhaney@grnhuntsville.com

www.grnhuntsville.com

It’s not what you’ve done; it’s what you have accomplished that matters- Part II

Just so we’re clear, people don’t read your resume, they scan it.  In an eye-tracking study, we found that the average recruiter spends about six seconds on a resume before deciding if it’s worth their time for a closer inspection.  If you don’t grab our attention in that window, you may be overlooked.

So how to you get my attention? Be Brief, Be Brilliant.  It’s those accomplishments that we talked about last week that will make a difference.   Stay focused on the very best accomplishments that will tell the Hiring Manager what you can do for them.

Remember that a accomplishments, for the most part, comes down to three things; How much money did you make the company; How much money did you save the company; What process improvements did you develop and implement in the company.

Please let us know how we can assist you or your company.

David (Mac) McElhaney

Managing Partner
Global Recruiters of Huntsville

102 Clinton Ave, West

Suite 201

Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: 256-533-1444 Ext 201

Fax: 256-418-4485

Mobile: 407-341-4462

dmcelhaney@grnhuntsville.com

www.grnhuntsville.com

It’s not what you’ve done; it’s what you have accomplished that matters

As a recruiting and placement firm with 7 search consultants, we look at hundreds of resumes a day.  The one thing that is lacking in almost every resume is a list of things you accomplished, not what team you were on or what your team did, what we need to know is what did you personally accomplish.  Take a serious look at your work history.  What we see most often is something like this;

·         Developed, initiated, maintained and revised policies and procedures for the general operation of the compliance program and its related activities to prevent illegal, unethical or improper conduct.

·         Managed day-to-day operation of the compliance program.

·         Developed and periodically reviewed and updated Standards of Conduct to ensure continuing currency and relevance in providing guidance to management and employees.

·         Collaborated with other departments to direct compliance issues to appropriate existing channels for investigation and resolution.

·         Consulted with general counsel as needed to resolve difficult legal compliance issues.

·         Responded to alleged violations of rules, regulations, policies, procedures and standards of conduct by evaluating or recommending the initiation of investigative procedures.

·         Developed and provided oversight for a system for uniform handling of such violations.

Accomplishments, for the most part, that comes down to three things; How much money did you make the company; How much money did you save the company; What process improvements did you develop and implement in the company.

Accomplishments show the reader what’s in it for them.  What is the compelling reason for the Hiring Manager to pick up the phone and call you?  ACCOMPLISHMENTS.  After all, the resume doesn’t get you the job, it gets you the interview.  Make the Hiring Manager say “AHH” with your list of solid accomplishments.  Help the Hiring Manager tune into their favorite station; WIIFM

David (Mac) McElhaney

Managing Partner
Global Recruiters of Huntsville

102 Clinton Ave, West

Suite 201

Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: 256-533-1444 Ext 201

Fax: 256-418-4485

Mobile: 407-341-4462

dmcelhaney@grnhuntsville.com

www.grnhuntsville.com