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

May 21, 2012

CEO Job Network and A Plan of Action

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Interviewing,Network,Unemployed — Tags: , , , , , , , — Admin @ 4:18 am

Having a plan of action means you will get an executive job just that must faster. You need to have a plan, but also set goals for what you want to reach along that way to ensure you are hitting you stride while looking for a new career. Many do not think about this and are not as well prepared when it comes time to be noticed and get interviews.

Over the years, we have seen equally talented people producewidely varying results. One will struggle while the other moveswith speed. Those who move rapidly usually have had the benefi tof a game plan—a step-by-step track to follow.In today’s competitive arena most people will never get enoughinterviews with a hit-or-miss approach.

This leaves too much tofate. Think of it this way. Chances are you’re marketing a “product”with millions of dollars of earnings capacity remaining in yourcareer. That much value deserves your best effort. Besides, jobhunting is a numbers game.

So, why take a chance at doing alot of things haphazardly, without a well-designed plan?Since job hunting is a matter of having the numbers on yourside, your action plan should be targeted to produce 25 to 35responses that result in a phone discussion.

The goal is to haveseveral offers maturing at the same time, and you have to berealistic about rejections in the interview process.Similar to any company who is about to market a newproduct, a good plan can cut job hunting time in half and savemoney. It also helps people produce better results, and whenpeople generate a lot of activity in a concentrated time period,they feel better and do better. Much better.

To begin with… (1) Surface the right information about yourselfand set clear goals

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

(3) identify industry alternativesto target

(4) if you have liabilities, you need strategies toneutralize 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 thatmight restrict your success… and arrive at ways for minimizingtheir impact in all written materials and conversations.

Assets, transferable skills & how to market them: All of yourassets and skills need to be identified. Then, they need to beincorporated into your resume and letters, and your personalmarketing website.

May 14, 2012

CEO Job Network and ALL the Skills

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Network,Portfolio,Unemployed — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Admin @ 12:14 am

When you are looking for an executive opportunity or CEO position, make sure you are selling all your skills. Many think they are, but do not realize that there is more they can do. Take a long look at yourself and all you have to offer. The skills you have may go further than what you have done in the past or what you got your degree in. Many have transferable skills from other work and life experiences that will serve them will as they look for a new chapter in the career.

You’ll need to do more than just present your background. Don’ttrap yourself by thinking, “This is simply who I am, where I’vebeen and what I’ve done.” People fail because they never surfaceand communicate all that is marketable about themselves… and they never build their appeal beyond factual credentials.

Your starting point is to organize your lifetime of experiencesand achievements. Whether you are a young attorney ora company president, there is probably much more to your storythan meets the eye.Experience has proven that many people never identify 50% of their own assets, simply because they’re so close to their ownsituation.

We’ve learned that most people need to identify 10to 20 skills that, if properly communicated, can make a majordifference in their career opportunities. Each year, about 20% of the clients who come to us havesettled for less, simply because they are not able to communicatetheir real skills. For example, one client was earning a $65,000base after almost 20 years.

Three years later, she is earning$180,000. Another executive came to us at $125,000. Three yearslater, he is a CEO at many times that amount. The key in bothsituations was to market their true assets.It has been said time and again by psychologists, spiritualleaders and coaches 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.

Do you have knowledge of a job, a product, a process or a market…from work, hobbies, alumni relationships, research or suppliers? If so, it may be marketable.

Personality, of course, is just a word for that combinationof traits that either attracts us to someone or leaves us unimpressed. More employment decisions are based on personalityand chemistry than any other factor. For example: “He’s certainlyprofessional and quick-thinking. I like him, and better yet, Itrust him. He’ll fi t in with our team. I need to get him into the firm.” The perception of your personality has to do with yourinterest and enthusiasm. How many people get hired becausethey showed real interest? A lot.

 

 

April 30, 2012

CEO Job Network and the Salary

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Interviewing,Unemployed — Tags: , , , , , , , — Admin @ 2:24 am

Once you have an offer on the table for an executive level job, comes the time for the salary negotiations. Make sure you are getting what your skills are worth without coming off rude when talking to the bosses. Money is a touche subject, so make sure you know what you are doing when you name your price.

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

Now, the fi rst thing you need to decide… is when to starta negotiation process. Some people mistakenly think negotiationis a continuous selling situation that occursthroughout their interviews. However, before youever attempt to negotiate, you have to make surethat the employer is “sold on you.”

Once an offer has been presented, you can’tnegotiate unless there is some hope you can getthe employer to offer new terms. You need to sensethis on an individual basis. That’s where negotiationsbegin.What to negotiateComing to grips with what should be negotiated is, of course,different for everyone.

Not too long ago we handled a marketingexecutive from Kellogg in Michigan. His primary goal wasto have his family move to a new area that met outdoor lifestylerequirements, 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 positionin Boca Raton. When we fi nished helping with his negotiations,his compensation ended up 15% higher, and he receiveda signing bonus, as well.Another executive was with J & J. He wanted out of the majorcorporate environment. He left his large company career behindwhen he landed with a venture capital group. His assignmentwas to oversee ventures that the fi rm funded by serving as actingCEO. He was to complete the initial setup, fi nd a permanent

CEO, and then move on to another assignment, but remain onthe board. Based in Castle Pines, Colorado, he will handle twoventures simultaneously for six-month periods—eight over twoyears. 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 fi nal staging of his executive level negotiationsdidn’t just happen. In the discussion that follows, thebasics of our system are outlined in the most simple terms. Ifyou don’t have success, shift from the “present” and focus on the future: a review after six months, a better title, an automaticincrease after time. These are easier things to get.

 

January 16, 2012

CEO Job Network and Reaching People

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Network,Unemployed — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Admin @ 7:37 pm

Today there are more options than ever to network. If you think you know them all, there is a chance you do, but most likely a new one has just started, which is the new rage. You need to know all the best ways to reach people if you want to network for the chance to be in the best place for a great job opportunity. The old fashion ways of drinks and golf are nice and still work, but there is so much more you can be doing.

The growth of the Internet and social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Zoominfo, Zing and others, combined with personal marketing websites and the use of email… are ushering in a new era of networking. And, it is a much easier and more effective way to network.

All you need are some superior resumes and an attractive personal marketing website that display your formal credentials, accomplishments and transferable skills in an impressive way. Then, instead of asking for “an informational interview,” you can just send off a well designed email with a link to your website.

People on the receiving end will get it and be impressed and you will have their time. And, you can use this method to contact hundreds of people in a very short time… people who have a high probability of being able to help you.

What kind of people? I’m not suggesting that you do this with your genuine personal contacts and real friends, who will look forward to visiting with you on a personal basis. However, they would also be very interested in seeing your personal marketing website.

You can also target industries of interest and get contact information on key executives who would be good targets. Infl uential alumni have also proven to be very responsive to this approach. Other possibilities to contact include executive directors of associations who have many “lines” into their industries.

Editors of business magazines and newsletters may also have an inside track on the needs of specifi c organizations.Other good executives to target can be those who have been quoted in articles. This makes an introduction easy and natural.

Also be sure to track down lost contacts in past organizations. As far as informational interviews go, you can do that while abiding by some time tested rules. For example, your discussions must be kept brief, and you need to have your list of questions prepared. You will do better when you have researched a fi rm and are asking for feedback on ideas that may benefit them.

December 23, 2011

CEO Job Network and Man of Action

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Network,Portfolio,Unemployed — Tags: , , , , , , , — Admin @ 4:25 pm

You have always been a person of action, that is why you have risen to the top. Now that you are here, you can’t stop. When looking for your next great career opportunity, you need to be a man of action with a plan of action . This is the best way to have the most success in your search for a great CEO-executive career choice.

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 benefit 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.

To 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; and (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 specifi c 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.

Industry alternatives: More and more people are changing industries. The key is to identify industries with characteristics that match those where you have experience.

Action plan for getting interviews: You want to lay out a step-bystep plan… a weekly agenda… that will guide your search. This is your complete track… a game plan. This includes a plan for interviewing and negotiating (your approach to these important matters)… which should be decided on in advance.

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 29, 2011

Getting Your Credentials Out There with CEO Job Network

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Portfolio,Unemployed — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Admin @ 8:27 pm

You may have a lot going for you and be the perfect candidate for a great CEO or executive level position, but if they right people are not seeing your credentials, then all that is lost. Now is the time to make sue the right people are noticing you so you can land that next great career opportunity.

Why does direct mail work? Every day we all receive direct mail. However bad junk mail looks, the ones you see again and again are working; otherwise, the senders wouldn’t be wasting their money.

One thing that makes it work in many cases is that long copy is used. That’s what it takes to motivate all of us to action from unasked-for correspondence. Here’s an example. Let’s say a lawn mower shop has a new product. And you and your next door neighbor are both out cutting your lawns on a hot day. However, your lawn mower breaks down. Then, the mail carrier arrives at both residences with mail that tells you all about a new lawn mower.

It gives a long explanation of why it’s superior. Now, your neighbor will look at the mailing piece for two seconds and toss it. He isn’t in the market for a lawn mower. On the other hand, they have reached you at the right time so you are likely to read it. Now when you job hunt, your situation is similar. You need to reach the right person.

No one else counts. Some people don’t believe in direct employer contact. They think that anything you send to an employer is thrown away. Certainly, this has some truth, since the great majority will throw away your materials in seconds. But if you’ve ever needed someone with certain skills… then you know you want the easiest way to find a good candidate. And if a good resume or letter reached you at the right time, you would take action on it.

Sending the right materials… to the right person… will get the attention of some decision makers. But, timing is very critical. You need to reach a decision maker that might be looking for someone like you. Even if your timing is bad, companies scan the resumes of the better candidates into their database. Then, as they develop a need… this is usually the first place they turn. Contacting employers directly allows you to reach potential buyers quickly. If you want… you can reach the entire universe of all your best prospects.

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.

August 23, 2011

On the Move

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Admin @ 3:00 pm

As a younger person making your way to the top, or someone who is there and wants to stay successful, knowing all your options when making decisions with your career is vital.

These executives are typically 28-46 years old, B.A./B.S. or M.B.A., doing well financially, either highly marketable and confident, or concerned because they have been blocked for some time.

Many of these people are at an important crossroads. And many potentially great careers are lost at this critical stage. Some, of course, are highly marketable. It’s important for these executives to explore all their options when making a move, not just one or two. On the other hand, some executives are less confident. Some fail to discover the importance of broadening out before it’s too late. Age can be a factor here.

They’re well aware of the bottlenecks that may prevent their growth where they are. Some are in situations where they have not attracted attention from top management. Other talented people may be just ahead of them - or they may not be aligned well enough politically. Because they value their careers so highly, a bad move at this stage can be tragic. They must make the right move. Here, one of the keys is to uncover and market their full range of assets and transferable skills.

If these people don’t control their career direction, they may lose the advantage of their good beginnings. Others are facing a marketability decline. These people are often wise to consider new environments in smaller and medium-sized firms, and in emerging industries—where they can receive greater responsibility.

Working in an entrepreneurial environment and combining it with large corporate experience can be an excellent platform for future moves. Or, it could be time for some to take a calculated risk to make a dramatic move up financially. They are ready to do their boss’s job, and perhaps much better.

People like this have often made the mistake of just dabbling in the market, answering ads, speaking with a few recruiters. The trouble is, that while they might have surfaced something sooner or later, it would only have been one offer—requiring a one-shot leap of faith.

For these people, having a structured system for developing the right interviews is critical. Good numbers are necessary because executives  have to be realistic about rejections. And, the higher you go, the truer this is.


 

 

August 19, 2011

A Little Easier

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Network — Tags: , , , , , , — Admin @ 9:08 pm

Anything you can to meet people and make contacts is gong to be huge through the course of your career as an executive. No matter where technology takes us, the human interaction is still supreme and needs to be doe often in order to keep with with the amount of faces you will meet while an executive and CEO.

Networking is a pyramiding strategy… one where you capitalize on one name to gain an interview with another. The most popular style of networking involves seeking informational interviews. Your purpose here would be to get an appointment with executives and ask them to share with you some information about their industry challenges. Naturally, if you happened to be well connected, and you maintained a list of contacts into the hundreds, that could help give you a fast start.

Unfortunately, the problem with this is that it usually takes a long time. And, some people find it demeaning to approach friends and acquaintances to ask for help in finding a new career position. Nevertheless, it does work if you have the time and inclination to approach your job search this way. Hopefully, some of your discussions will result in referrals to another executive who might have something for you, and be able to use your talents.

While this traditional networking can work, besides taking time, networking people with a new job in mind has become overworked. Just about every executive has been networked over and over again. What’s more, who has 45 minutes to an hour to devote to someone else? Or even 30 minutes?

The growth of the Internet and social networking sites such as LinkedIn, ZoomInfo, Zing and others, combined with personal marketing websites and the use of email… are ushering in a new era of networking. And, it is a much easier and more effective way to network. All you need are some superior resumes and an attractive personal marketing website that display your formal credentials, accomplishments and transferable skills in an impressive way. Then, instead of asking for “an informational interview,” you can just send off a well designed email with a link to your website.

People on the receiving end will get it and be impressed and you will have their time. And, you can use this method to contact hundreds of people in a very short time… people who have a high probability of being able to help you.

 

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