CEO Job Network The Best Information on Today's Top Jobs

February 6, 2012

CEO Job Network and Taking Action

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Interviewing,Unemployed — Tags: , , , , , , — Admin @ 5:52 am

When looking for a great opportunity at your level, you need to have a plan of action. This might sound like something you already know or have given thought to, but you should really give some more time to figure out how this could best asset you. When looking for a job, you need to know that your work history and references will take you far, but a plan of action will take you to more places that you may not have thought of originally.

Over the years, we have seen equally talented people produce widely varying results. One will struggle while the other moves with speed. Those who move rapidly usually have had the benefi t of a game plan—a step-by-step track to follow.

In today’s competitive arena most people will never get enough interviews with a hit-or-miss approach. This leaves too much to fate. Think of it this way. Chances are you’re marketing a “product” with millions of dollars of earnings capacity remaining in your career.

That much value deserves your best effort. Besides, job hunting is a numbers game. So, why take a chance at doing a lot of things haphazardly, without a well-designed plan?Since job hunting is a matter of having the numbers on your side, your action plan should be targeted to produce 25 to 35 responses that result in a phone discussion.

The goal is to have several offers maturing at the same time, and you have to be realistic about rejections in the interview process. Similar to any company who is about to market a new product,  a good plan can cut job hunting time in half and save money.

It also helps people produce better results, and when people generate a lot of activity in a concentrated time period, they feel better and do better. Much better.

The components of a personal marketing planTo begin with…

(1) Surface the right information about yourself and set clear goals

(2) pinpoint what you should be marketing, especially your transferable skills

(3) identify industry alternatives to target

(4) if you have liabilities, you need strategies to neutralize them

(5) you need a step-by-step game plan… an action agenda… to get your story told to all the right people. Here’s a recap of what our plans cover:

Job hunting goals: Surface all critical information about yourself and then decide on the goals that will advance your career. This includes specific job titles and income goals.

Liabilities & solutions: You need to identify liability issues that might restrict your success… and arrive at ways for minimizing their impact in all written materials and conversations.

Assets, transferable skills & how to market them: All of your assets and skills need to be identified. Then, they need to be incorporated into your resume and letters, and your personal marketing website.

January 28, 2012

CEO Job Network and Being Remembered

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Interviewing,Unemployed — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Admin @ 6:34 pm

When you are interviewing for a new position at the top, you need to know that experience alone will not seal the deal these days. You nee to be someone who can be related to, but at the same time, seen as a leader who people will follow and respect. In order to make sure this is done, you need to interview like a pro. Here are some ideas to keep in mind once you are to that point.

Tell stories that  make people remember you -

In these stories indicate positive things you did to help organizations. The idea is to show how you demonstrated a particular skill or a personal quality.

Develop SOAR stories that cover situations where you can demonstrate the value of fresh thinking as a means to improve productivity or solve problems. Employers need to feel that you are the answer to one of their problems. If you can show them how you met or exceeded the needs in other places, they may conclude that you can do the same for them.

So, why play this by ear? Here is a simple method for handling objections, the “ARTS method.” The letters stand for the following:

A = Acknowledge the objection.

R = Redirect the person’s concern.

T = Test to be sure you’ve removed the concern.

S = Use a story to make your point.

Whenever someone raises an objection, the tension level rises. In step A reduce the tension level.

A = Acknowledge the objection“I can understand your concern, and I would like to address it for you.” Or “You’ve raised an interesting point. It deserves some frank discussion.”

R = Redirect their concernLet’s say the interviewer raised the fact that your experience was in a different industry. “What qualities are you looking for in an ideal candidate that prompted this concern?” Now, you can’t change your past, but you can show that you are someone who contributes quickly.

T = Use a testing questionThe idea is to see if you removed their concern. Here is an example of asking a testing question: “If I could show that I could contribute quickly, even when learning new information, would that help?”

S = Use a supporting story to confirm The final thing is to use a supporting story. Remember, what really counts is the fact that you did not get fl ustered. If you’ve done it right, interviewers won’t be that concerned about your exact answer.

January 22, 2012

CEO Job Network and The Questions

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Interviewing,Unemployed — Tags: , , , , , , — Admin @ 7:20 pm

When looking for a great new CEO or executive opportunity you need to be sharp when you interview. Now, this you may know and be really good at, as you have been high up in the ranks before. However, there are always a few new questions which maybe you have not thought of that will throw you when asked. Here are some thoughts to keep in mind for that situation:

How good is your health?

Besides saying your health is fi ne, you should go on to state that you are accustomed to working long hours and are quite capable of keeping up a fast pace. If you have a health problem that the interviewer could fi nd out about, give a truthful answer. However, point out that your condition has had no adverse effect on performance, attendance or ability to give 100%.

If you started over, what would you do differently?

“On the whole I would have to say that I am extremely proud of my career achievements and quite happy with my career progression to date.”

What do you think of your boss?

If you think your boss is great, it is pretty easy to answer this question. On the other hand, if you really didn’t get along with your boss, then this question becomes challenging. Never discuss the shortcomings of your boss. Doing so will make you sound like a whiner or troublemaker. Instead, comment briefl y on some positive aspects of your boss, be they in his personality or her management style… and leave it at that.

Why haven’t you found a job so far?

Being apologetic or simply saying that it’s a tough market in your fi eld will not help you. Depending upon the length of your unemployment, it may be enough to respond that you are not seeking a job, but are selectively looking for the right career opportunity and have not yet found it.

What was the last book you read, movie you saw, or sporting event you attended?

Unless the movie or book is controversial, tell the truth. But, it’s important that you have read, seen, or attended whatever you claimed, since more detailed questioning may follow.

What’s your major accomplishment in your last job?

Pick those that seem to line up well with the major elements of the position. For example, if you have accomplishments in both cost and general accounting, and you’re interviewing for a general accounting position, you obviously want to bias your answer toward the position for which you are a candidate. The goal is to always show the interviewer that your accomplishments line up with the company needs

 

January 1, 2012

CEO Job Network and Basic Tips

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Interviewing,Network,Unemployed — Tags: , , , , , , — Admin @ 7:20 pm

Yes, after you have been an executive and CEO, your name will carry more weight in your industry. This will of course work in your favor when looking for a new job. However, do not make this mistake of thinking networking alone will open all the doors for you. There is more that can be done to give you all the best opportunities when looking for a new corporation or business to be a part of for the future.

There are a lot of discouraged job seekers out there, with good reason.  Job recovery is lagging behind economic recovery.

 

But there are still over 4 million good jobs going unfilled.  So how do you get considered for them if you’ve gotten no responses from answering ads and your personal network is limited?  Take heart.

 

Most people never distribute more than 100 resumes, contact just a few recruiters, and don’t network effectively.  They aren’t even aware of creative things they could do, so they should be encouraged because there is still a lot they can do.   Here are some things to keep in mind:

 

Use Active Approaches, not Just Passive

Answering ads and going to recruiters who advertise are passive approaches, where the employer takes all the initiative to make the opening known, and you throw your hat in the ring along with hundreds of others.  The odds are high.  Why limit yourself to them?

 

Instead, take the initiative.  Contact employers who have not advertised, but are the most likely to need your talents.  Before a job ever gets advertised, it is often filled by referrals, networking, recruiting from competitor firms, or a letter hits the desk of the decision maker at just the right time.  It could be yours.

 

You need to contact a lot of employers because only two or three out of 100 will have a need at the moment you contact them.  SET makes it easy to identify hundreds of prime target companies and decision makers, so people can “beat the odds,” “but even without our technology, if you are willing to put in the hours of research, you can uncover a lot of good prospects.”

 

Get Creative in Your Networking

Instead of just asking a few friends to let you know if they hear of anything, get creative.  Develop some ideas about how you can make contributions to employers, in light of trends in their industry.  Then identify key people in companies in the industry, and write them, letting them know you’d appreciate feedback from a knowledgeable industry source as to whether your ideas make sense.

 

When you follow up on the phone, even if they don’t think much of what you proposed, you’ve added to your network!  You can thank them and ask if there is anyone else they’d advise you to talk with, or any actions they’d recommend.


 

 

December 19, 2011

CEO Job Network and the Money Talk

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Interviewing,Unemployed — Tags: , , , , , , , — Admin @ 1:47 am

You need to know what you are doing when it comes to getting all that you are worth in your new position. People who are not good at this will leave a lot of money on the table, or be insulting, when it comes to what they think they should be making salary wise. Knowing when to have this talk and how best to do it, will be the best way to make sure you get all you are worth on your paychecks.

Since most people seldom face a personal negotiating experience, it should come as no surprise that few of us are real experts at negotiating for ourselves. While they may be excellent company negotiators, we have seen many strong people leave serious money on the table when it came to negotiating their own package.

Now, the fi rst thing you need to decide… is when to start a negotiation process. Some people mistakenly think negotiation is a continuous selling situation that occurs throughout their interviews. However, before you ever attempt to negotiate, you have to make sure that the employer is “sold on you.”

Once an offer has been presented, you can’t negotiate unless there is some hope you can get the employer to offer new terms. You need to sense this on an individual basis. That’s where negotiations begin.

Coming to grips with what should be negotiated is, of course, different for everyone. Not too long ago we handled a marketing executive from Kellogg in Michigan. His primary goal was to have his family move to a new area that met outdoor lifestyle requirements, and he started by suggesting to us that a 20% reduction in income would be acceptable.

However, after a three-month search, he accepted a top position in Boca Raton. When we fi nished helping with his negotiations, his compensation ended up 15 percent higher, and he received a signing bonus, as well.

Another executive was with J & J. He wanted out of the major corporate environment. He left his large company career behind when he landed with a venture capital group. His assignment was to oversee ventures that the fi rm funded by serving as acting CEO. He was to complete the initial setup, fi nd a permanent CEO, and then move on to another assignment, but remain on the board. Based in Castle Pines, Colorado, he will handle two ventures simultaneously for six-month periods—eight over two years. His base of $200,000 was a decrease, but if just one fi rm goes public, his equity benefi t will be in the many millions.

Needless to say, the fi nal staging of his executive level negotiations didn’t just happen. In the discussion that follows, the basics of our system are outlined in the most simple terms. If you don’t have success, shift from the “present” and focus on the future: a review after six months, a better title, an automatic increase after time. These are easier things to get.

November 20, 2011

Top Dollar and CEO Job Network

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Interviewing — Tags: , , , , , , , — Admin @ 2:40 am

Once you land that great job as a CEO, you better make sure you get every dollar you are worth. Many who are not strong negotiators will leave money on the table, make sure you are not one of these people.  There is a real art to getting what you are worth without be insulting or sounding greedy, make sure you know how best to get this done.
Since most people seldom face a personal negotiating experience, it should come as no surprise that few of us are real experts at negotiating for ourselves. While they may be excellent company negotiators, we have seen many strong people leave serious money on the table when it came to negotiating their own package.

Now, the first thing you need to decide… is when to start a negotiation process. Some people mistakenly think negotiation is a continuous selling situation that occurs throughout their interviews. However, before you ever attempt to negotiate, you have to make sure that the employer is “sold on you.” Once an offer has been presented, you can’t negotiate unless there is some hope you can get the employer to offer new terms. You need to sense this on an individual basis.That’s where negotiations begin.

What to negotiate:

Coming to grips with what should be negotiated is, of course, different for everyone. Not too long ago we handled a marketing executive from Kellogg in Michigan. His primary goal was to have his family move to a new area that met outdoor lifestyle requirements, and he started by suggesting to us that a 20 percent reduction in income would be acceptable.

However, after a three-month search, he accepted a top position in Boca Raton. When we finished helping with his negotiations, his compensation ended up 15 percent higher, and he received a signing bonus, as well.Another executive was with J & J. He wanted out of the major corporate environment. He left his large company career behind when he landed with a venture capital group. His assignment was to oversee ventures that the firm funded by serving as acting CEO.

He was to complete the initial setup, find a permanent CEO, and then move on to another assignment, but remain on the board. Based in Castle Pines, Colorado, he will handle two ventures simultaneously for six-month periods—eight over two years. His base of $200,000 was a decrease, but if just one firm goes public, his equity benefit will be in the many millions.

October 31, 2011

Get Your Point, Skills Across with CEO Job Network

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Interviewing,Portfolio — Tags: , , , , , , , — Admin @ 5:19 pm

If you want to be in the best possible position to move up, then you better have all the skills needed to show you can do it all.This might sound like a wild idea to some, but the trick is to know what you can  do that will crossover skills wise. The more you can do, the more valuable you are to a business. Having a single skill set is not longer good enough to make it to the top, you need to do it all. So make sure you take a long look at yourself and know what you have to offer.

You’ll need to do more than just present your background. Don’t trap yourself by thinking, “This is simply who I am, where I’ve been and what I’ve done.” People fail because they never surface and communicate all that is marketable about themselves… and they never build their appeal beyond factual credentials.

Using our career history and marketability profile, our starting point will be to organize your lifetime of experiences and achievements. Whether you are a young attorney or a company president, there is probably much more to your story than meets the eye. We’ve learned that people need to identify 10 to 12 skills that can make a major difference in their career opportunities.

About 20 percent of the clients who come to us have settled for less, simply because they are not able to communicate their real skills. One client was earning a $65,000 base after almost 20 years. Three years later, she is earning $180,000. Another executive came to us at $125,000. Three years later, he is a CEO at many times that amount. The key in both situations was to market their true assets.Psychologists, spiritual leaders and coaches have often said that the most restrictive limits you face are those you put on yourself.

So, don’t put any limits on your thinking, and look at some factors that you may have overlooked… which will expand your marketability.

Identifying transferable skills is critical (e.g., organizing, group presentation skills, problem solving and so on). Employers place a premium on men and women who can move from challenge to challenge, handling assignments that draw upon skills.

Your experience can also be reviewed according to various “functions” that apply to most businesses, such as sales, production, accounting and human resources. All areas in which you have knowledge should be identified. At the same time, you need to think of your experience in terms of “action words” that describe what you did, and then translate those activities into achievements, e.g., controlled, wrote, reshaped, etc.

October 21, 2011

CEO Job Network and Talking the Talk

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Interviewing — Tags: , , , , , , — Admin @ 6:45 pm

To be as successful as you strive to be, you need to know how to be a good negotiator to get all you are worth. This is an art and a skill you need to have or you will leave more than money on the table.

Since most people seldom face a personal negotiating experience, it should come as no surprise that few of us are real experts at negotiating for ourselves. While they may be excellent company negotiators, we have seen many strong people leave serious money on the table when it came to negotiating their own package.

Now, the first thing you need to decide… is when to start a negotiation process. Some people mistakenly think negotiation is a continuous selling situation that occurs throughout their interviews. However, before you ever attempt to negotiate, you have to make sure that the employer is “sold on you.” Once an offer has been presented, you can’t negotiate unless there is some hope you can get the employer to offer new terms. You need to sense this on an individual basis. That’s where negotiations begin.

What to negotiate:

Coming to grips with what should be negotiated is, of course, different for everyone. Not too long ago we handled a marketing executive from Kellogg in Michigan. His primary goal was to have his family move to a new area that met outdoor lifestyle requirements, and he started by suggesting to us that a 20 percent reduction in income would be acceptable.However, after a three-month search, he accepted a top position in Boca Raton. When we finished helping with his negotiations, his compensation ended up 15 percent higher, and he received a signing bonus, as well.

Another executive was with J & J. He wanted out of the major corporate environment. He left his large company career behind when he landed with a venture capital group. His assignment was to oversee ventures that the firm funded by serving as acting CEO. He was to complete the initial setup, find a permanent CEO, and then move on to another assignment, but remain on the board. Based in Castle Pines, Colorado, he will handle two ventures simultaneously for six-month periods—eight over two years.

His base of $200,000 was a decrease, but if just one firm goes public, his equity benefit will be in the many millions. Needless to say, the final staging of his executive level negotiations didn’t just happen. In the discussion that follows, the basics of our system are outlined in the most simple terms. If you don’t have success, shift Our client handbook 91from the “present” and focus on the future: a review after six months, a better title, an automatic increase after time. These are easier things to get.

 

September 30, 2011

A Great Interview and CEO Job Network

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Interviewing — Tags: , , , , , , — Admin @ 4:30 pm

Making sure you are at your best in an interview is important. This is where you will seal the deal on your new position, and, in your case, show you have what it takes to be the leader of the company. Make sure you are at your best when you go before a boardroom of executives.

Are interviews just question-and-answer sessions? This may happen, but an interview that turns into a good offer involves far more. Last year there were more than 800 million interviews, and no two were the same. So how do you prepare? Compare this to a sports contest—there were millions of them and none were the same.

In an interview or a contest, you can’t plan exactly how things will go, but you can have a game plan for coming out on top. We guide clients in achieving personal chemistry with executives of all personalities. Here are some ways to make sure that you build maximum chemistry with everyone.Research the firm and be informed.

Did you ever meet a person for the first time who knew a lot about you? It takes you by surprise, doesn’t it? It’s a great way to make a positive first impression. One friend of mine, an attorney, attributes his success to research he does ahead of time. Four out of every five of his clients tell him that he wins their business because he knows a lot more about them than anyone else.

When you arrange an appointment, use the opportunity to gather more information. Many people have been able to get job descriptions and brochures ahead of time by requesting them over the phone. Visit the firm’s website, but go further to learn about their industry and the person you will be meeting.Impress the front office staffBuilding chemistry with the front office staff can also make a difference.

Can you guess what percentage of executives say their secretaries influence them? One-third? One-half? Well, about two-thirds of them do. Not too long ago, I was interrupted by Carol, who stated that Mr. Baxter had arrived for his interview. I had forgotten about the appointment, and it was a busy day. I immediately asked, “What do you think of him, Carol?” She didn’t say a word. She just gave a thumbs-down signal. That was the end for poor Baxter. No one ever taught him how important it is to make a positive impression on the front office staff. I told Carol to have him see one of our assistants, and to provide her opinion first. So, please be attentive to the front office staff.

September 8, 2011

CEO Job Network Knows the Power of the Phone

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Interviewing — Tags: , , , , , , , — Admin @ 11:00 pm

In this day or emails and texts, a phone call is still very powerful when it comes to making things happen for a job hunt. Knowing the power of the phone is a great way to better your chances of finding that next executive level, high-paying position.

This can be a fast way to get the right interviews, and using the phone is easier than you think. Of course, some people are totally confident in their ability to use the phone. However, 90% of all job seekers are reluctant to make a “cold call.”

Believe it or not, it’s a mostly friendly and helpful world out there. Most executives are courteous and polite and go out of their way to project a good image of themselves and their company. The same holds true for others such as secretaries or administrative assistants. Still, there is a certain misconception that all secretaries and assistants will always keep you from speaking with their bosses. They do screen calls, but it is part of their job to make sure that contact is made when appropriate.

Using the phone to set interviews is especially important if you are in a small or mid-sized population area… a market not generally considered to be in the country’s top 100 markets. It’s easy to target your best prospects, and you just need to get into action. And, don’t be deterred if your first call doesn’t get you in the door. If it is a company you would really like to join, just call other executives in the organization.

Proven telephone guidelines that work

* Standing will give you a power assist.

* Do your phone work in batches. You need only one success each time to sustain your morale.

* Make sure you know how you will be answering your phone. List questions you may be asked and write out the answers.

* Prepare a 30 second commercial of your most important selling points. Rehearse it. Tape it and critique it.

* One of the best times to reach executives is before 7:30 a.m. or after 5:30 p.m. Use their directories to go direct.

*Smile while speaking over the phone and your voice will sound more pleasant. Be friendly, enthusiastic and positive.

* Project a natural, confident tone—as you would when talking with a friend. Lower your voice. Speak slowly.

* Be prepared for rejection. This is a numbers game. You can easily make 15 calls an hour.

* Be sure your phone is answered properly. No clever answering machine messages.

* The screener doesn’t know who you are or your purpose. Focus on advice and information. No one has a reason to shy away from you. When speaking with the screener, get her name and use it. Be confident, positive and polite.

 

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