Ashton Kutcher hits a home run

Ashton Kutcher hits a home run

Now, I must admit, I am not an Ashton Kutcher fan.  I didn’t watch “That 70’s Show”.  I don’t particularly care for his run on “Two and a half Men”.  But, with that said, I hope you caught some of the information about his speech at the Teen Choice Awards because his speech has gone viral.  If you missed it, here is a link to the You Tube posting; http://youtu.be/FNXwKGZHmDc  

Just a word of caution, you will have to get over the screaming of young females throughout the speech.  I had to listen to it twice to get past all the screams.

Why is this speech so memorable?  Because it’s not your typical Entertainer/Actor babble about what is wrong with our society or some special interest.  It is spoken from the heart about value and responsibilities.

Here are some of the highlights;

“I believe that opportunity looks a lot like work,”

 “I never had a job in my life that I was better than. I was always just lucky to have a job. Every job I had was a stepping stone to my next job and I never quit my job before I had my next job.”

“The sexiest thing in the entire world is being really smart. And being thoughtful and being generous. Everything else is crap,”

 “I promise you. It’s just crap that people try to sell to you to make you feel like less. So don’t buy it. Be smart. Be thoughtful and be generous.”

“Steve Jobs said when you grow up you tend to get told that world is the way that it is.” Kutcher said that’s not the way to go through life.

“Everything around us that we call life was made up of people that are no smarter than you,”

 “And you can build your own things and you can build your own life that other people can live in. So build a life, don’t live one, find your opportunities and always be sexy.”

Yes, I’m now a fan, a BIG FAN.

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

 

 

Why Don’t I Ever Hear Back From Companies?

Why Don’t I Ever Hear Back From Companies?

Candidates ask me this all the time.  Why can’t companies just take a minute to let me know what’s going on.  Why do I have to assume that because I haven’t heard from them that I am not being considered?  How do I know that I am even being considered? 
Let's face the first question should be; Am I being considered?  Did the hiring manager even get to look at my resume?  

When a hiring manager brings a job description to HR to be a recruit assignment, they will typically want to see the top 10-15 candidates to perhaps phone screen for a face-to-face interview.  The reality of today’s job market is that a company posting any job will get hundreds, maybe even thousands of resumes for a single posting.  This response will include the unemployed, the unqualified and the unhappy candidates out there that are scouring the web for any job opportunities.

So, you may be the best candidate in the in-basket but there is a good chance you won’t even get looked at because of the pressure to submit the top 10 or 15 resumes that match the key word search for the job in question.

The reality is that companies go into a defensive posture and are screening out people rather that screening in.  You might be well qualified for the job but might not even get looked at by anyone.  You probably won’t hear from anyone.  At best, you might get an auto response that your resume has been received and loaded into the system.

This is where a good recruiting firm can be your best friend.  In our case, we don’t just send out your resume and hope like you do, that it gets looked at.  We seek out the hiring manager and present your profile, you skills, your accomplishments.  We market candidates to specifically targeted customers to get you in front of the people who can make a decision.

Reach out to us and let us make a difference.

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: 407-341-4462dmcelhaney@grnhuntsville.com

 

Why Should I Work With Just One Recruiter?

Why Should I Work With Just One Recruiter?

We hear that question almost every day, and it is a great one.  Why should a job seeker work with just a single recruiter?  Why not hook up with a bunch of recruiters; won’t that increase my odds of getting a job?

The short answer is probably not.  The long answer is about 10 pages, but I’ll keep this short.

Just as there are good, bad and ugly jobs to work, there are good, bad and ugly candidates to work with as well.  Now, I’m not talking about looks –  I’m talking about evaluating a candidate to decide if we are going to 1) market that candidate to our clients, 2) match that candidate to jobs we currently are working or 3) put them into our system in case their skills match a job farther down the line.

If we have a Qualified, Committed Candidate that we can take to the marketplace, we develop a confidence in that candidate.  We want to know what jobs you have already applied for, where you have posted your resume and what jobs you have in play (in the interview process).  These things help us determine if you are the QCC we want to assist in his or her job search.

If we submit you to a job opening and we are told that you were submitted by another recruiter, you just determined your own fate with us, and it is definitely not happily ever after. On the other hand, this is not a till-death-do-we-part thing.  If we can’t meet your needs in a timely manner, you should move on to a recruiter that can help you. Just make sure that we are on the same page regarding that time frame so there are no surprises for anyone.

Remember – we work for the companies where we are trying to place you in a job.  It is in our best interest to present someone who is qualified for the position, excited about the company, motivated to make a change and not looking for a counter-offer from his or her present employer. If you have all of that along with a fantastic set of skills and work experience, then we are ready to give you priority status and take you to market.

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

You Gotta Network

Don’t you just hear that from everyone these days?  Don’t you Just hate to hear that?

Let’s face it; some of us are just not very good at networking.  Networking means that we actually have to talk to someone.  If you’re shy or not outgoing, this can be a real nightmare.  What do you do about it?  How do you overcome the fear?

Some of my more outgoing friends talk about the four foot circle.  They mean if someone is within four feet of them, they will engage them in conversation.  Most of us however, aren’t like that.  How many strangers do you talk to in the grocery line?  If you’re like most of us, no one.  For most of us, it depends on how we feel, if we’re in a hurry or not, how we are dressed and if we are in the mood to engage a stranger in conversation.

Networking is a critical function in today’s job market.  If you are looking for a new job or if you are thinking about looking for a job, you have to learn to network.  You have about a 60-70% chance of finding your next position through someone you know, meet or have a connection.  In today’s job market, it is a critical skill you need to develop.

Here are some pointers for you to help get you out of your seat and onto the dance floor;

1. Make easy conversation first.  Take a deep breath and pick out a friendly face and say Hi to them.  Ask them if they are as new to this as you are?  That is an easy to get started.

2. Now that you have broken the ice, ask them about themselves.  Get them to talk about their job, what brought them here, how many people they have met.  

3. Remember you have two ears and one mouth for a reason.  You don’t have to talk a lot.  People will think you are a good communicator if you are a good listener.

4. Look them in the eye and respond to their information.  Don’t be looking over their shoulder for an escape route.  Stay focused on them.

5. Keep your conversation light, remember that you aren’t interviewing here, you are making contacts.  Don’t even think about asking them if they know of any jobs or anyone hiring.  

6. Remember you didn’t come to the event with them so don’t spend all you’re networking time with one person.  When It is appropriate, ask for a business card or a way to stay in their professional network and move on to another networker.

7. To paraphrase an Elton John song, don’t let the sun go down on your contact.  Send them a follow up message thanking them for their time and information.  Now ask them for a follow up meeting so you can get down to business.  Start networking with their contacts and built your confidence with the process.

8. Try it again.  Get out there to another networking event.

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

Companies are hiring again but, you still have to do your homework.

Companies are hiring again but, you still have to do your homework.

As a recruiting organization, we receive lots of calls in a week about the job market.  As you know, the numbers are all over the board.  In the unemployment rate really 7-8% or is it 13-15% counting all those who have dropped out of the job market?

Recent surveys indicate that what ever the real rate is, the job market is improving.  In our recruiting industry, we look at the marketplace much like a realtor.  There is a buyers market and a sellers market.  In our industry there is a company market and a candidate market.  When the economy gets tough (like the last few years) the companies drive the market.  But we are quickly moving into a candidate driven market and it is going to take special skills to find the talent companies are looking to hire.  Companies added 188,000 jobs in June, according to the ADP National Employment Report http://www.adpemploymentreport.com/2013/June/NER/NER-June-2013.aspx , up from 134,000 jobs added in May.

In our conversations with candidates, we try to focus on their accomplishments rather than the normal fluff you see in a resume.  It is the accomplishments that will show a potential employer what you can bring to the table.  It’s what we call a Features/Benefits/Accomplishment profile and it is what gets a Hiring Manager’s attention.

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

http://globalrecruitersofhuntsville.blogspot.com/

Why Get Linked In?

Linked In is the top social networking website for job seekers. As Jeff Weiner, CEO of Linked In, explains it, “Post a full profile and get connected to the people you trust, because if you’re connected to those people and you posted a profile, then when other people are searching for people, they might find you.”

With more than 120 million registered users (at the time of this printing) — and adding two new members every second — the rate at which your network expands on Linked In can be truly amazing. A hundred strategic contacts could mean access to millions of people in a short amount of time. You’d have to attend hundreds — of in-person networking events to equal the reach you can get on Linked In.

Linked In allows you to leverage the power of your network — the people you know, and the people those people know — to help you connect to the person (or people) who are in a position to offer you a job.

As the co-founder of Linked In, Reid Hoffman, puts it, Linked In is about “connecting talent with opportunity on a massive scale.”

Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are on Linked In. And 59 percent of folks who are active on social networking sites say Linked In is their platform of choice, according to a June 2011 report from Performics and ROI Research.

But author Guy Kawasaki puts it best, “I could make the case that Facebook is for show, and Linked In is for dough.”

Why Linked In Is Important In Your Networking Plan

Once upon a time, attending networking mixers, industry events, and Chamber of Commerce meetings were the best way to make new connections and build business relationships. Now, these activities have moved online within the Linked In community. Much like networking in person, professionals interact on LinkedIn with the explicit intention of making business connections. 

With Linked In, you get all the benefits of networking in person, with less of the hassle. Instead of going from business lunch to business lunch hoping to meet people, Linked In provides a platform for you to specifically search and research individuals who you know will directly add value to your job search.

Businesses can search for other businesses to buy from, network with and sell their products and/or services.  Employers and recruiters use Linked In to locate both active job seekers and those who aren’t necessarily looking (passive candidates). They also use Linked In to vet job candidates before making an interview invitation or extending a job offer.

The ability to identify, research, contact, follow-up, engage, and maintain your contacts in one place is the power of Linked In. Its ability to facilitate business networking is unmatched by any other social network.  Essentially, your Linked In profile is a résumé, business card, and elevator speech all rolled up into one.

However, your Linked In profile is not your resume. Linked In is a personal branding page. You need both a resume and a Linked In profile, and they should be in sync with one another, but not be exact copies. The information on your resume should match your profile (in terms of positions you’ve held, your educational credentials, etc.), but the content you include on your Linked In profile will be different than what is included on your resume.

How To Set Up A Basic Account

Setting up a Linked In account is a quick and easy seven step process. You can be listed in just five minutes. However, speed is not the objective if you want to use Linked In to facilitate your job search. Rushing could lead to a sloppy profile that doesn’t represent you well — or may even prevent you from getting called for an interview.  In fact, slow and steady wins the race.  Work slowly, get it right and get additional update postings along the way.

Basic memberships in Linked In are free. For most job seekers, the free option is adequate enough to effectively network on the site. (If you find you need the paid functionality, you can always upgrade your account later.)

To get started:

Go to www.linkedIn.com and fill in your first and last name, email address, and password. Then click “Join Now.”  Here is what the screen will look like at the time of this printing.  As Linked In is a dynamic system, they are constantly changing and updating screens.

Application Engineer

Title: Application Engineer

Location: Midwest

Industry: Information Technology

Required Experience:

Experience Managing enterprise software, particularly MFG Pro, (QAD), SQL,

Progress, Unix, Windows, SharePoint, web applications

Required Education:

Bachlors in Computer Science Preferred

 

Job Description

This unique individual will be responsible for enterprise software management including maintenance and new deployment projects. Also responsible for ensuring that Sarbanes Oxley requirements are met. Responsible for ensuring that process for Sarbanes Oxley compliance are robust and strictly adhered to.
Will be responsible for supervising three direct reports: Custom Application developer: customizing any enterprise application. managing contract work doing the customization. including web applications for data input, reports, etc. MFG Pro customization, future applications such as SharePoint.
Database Administration for database development including managing database design standards. Processing Network Administrator managing process interfacing software. Configuration including security and reliablity.

 

Knowledge & Skills

Experience managing enterprise software, particularly MFG Pro, (QAD), SQL, Progress, Unix, Windows, SharePoint, web applications. Prefer experience in process control software management particularly Ifix, Rockwell suites.
Personnel management experience with developing direct reports.
Project management experience using outside contract work.
Multi site support experience.