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

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.

 

August 11, 2011

True Help and Inspiration with ERI

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network — Tags: , , , , , , , — Admin @ 4:23 pm

It is not always enough to have the tools you need when looking for a job, but to also have someone who is a great guide and offers encouragement when needed. I decided to do an extra blog this week on this topic because I was so impressed with a letter I recently received from a woman who said the help and guidance she was given from ERI Personal Marketing is what made all the difference in finding her current job, where she is earning $250,000 a year.

Bonnie Nelson said she needed the support and advice from the staff at ERI in order to get the job she wanted in the industry she had been in all of her life. She said her greatest resource while looking for work was her career coach at ERI, which she referred to in her letter a “the angel on her shoulder.”  That told me that her career coach made a huge difference in her finding success in a high-paying career. She said she had no complaints even though finding work is stressful.

Having the staff be there whenever she needed them and knowing that she had the full support of all she needed, when she needed it, is what Nelson said gave her the greatest aid when finding work. She said she would have found success with just the tools alone that ERI offered, but it was also important to have people who helped her persevere while not getting too down concerning the hard road that is finding employment in a struggling economy.

Nelson said she is making more money than she had been since she entered her industry and was able to get a great benefits package as well. She said there is always opportunity for those who seek it, it is just a matter of seeking the aid of those, like at ERI, who can help propel you back into the working world.

The important part is to not get too down or be too hard on yourself, Nelson said. Having a great support system, like Nelson received at ERI, made all the difference in her success.

For more information on ERI Personal Marketing, visit executiveresumes.com.

 

August 10, 2011

See the Sites, then Join

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network,Network — Tags: , , , , , , , — Admin @ 1:33 pm

Think Facebook, Twitter and blogging are just fads your children are into?

Think again.

In this day of technology and communications growing at rapid speed, you must know all the social channels for creative approaches to making contact with an employer.

Whether you are looking for employment, or want to advice at another company, social networking is a key into today’s market.

Facebook

In the article “Businesses but best Facebook forward,” appearing in the Denver Post a few months ago, businesses interviewed said they are turning to Facebook to market new products and to look for possible employees. This means social networking has gotten to a point where employment may actually be seeking you — don’t miss out.

Facebook not allows you not just to stay in touch with friends from college and past jobs, but also to discover more businesses and to sell your skills to those who are looking.

Don’t be afraid to ask someone for help, even if is your own children. Knowing how to network, and where information is these days, is imperative, but also simple once you know your way around.

Twitter and Blogs

Use all the tools at your fingertips when looking to make contact for employment or better opportunities. Read blogs by companies you want to become a part of, and follow updates on business and economy news by joining Twitter. Use these sources to contact jobs if you have skills that are being sought.

Don’t get left behind because you think social media is a fad, it’s not. Not only is it here to stay, it is going to become stronger and become even more prevalent in how we operate as a society.

Jump on the social networking bandwagon now and begin to see where the job market and businesses are going.

How It’s Done

The sites, Facebook and Twitter, are all free to become a member of and relatively easy to join, it’s just a matter of getting started.

Begin with just one site; Facebook. Set up a profile. Once done, search for a company you’d like to work for. Do they have a page? Odds are they do, which is full of information you probably wouldn’t see other places.

Now you have begun to make your repertoire even stronger to look for employment. The more you get your name out there, the better. Don’t be the invisible man looking for work, get your name and face out there every way available to you.

 

July 27, 2011

Map out a Plan

Filed under: Advice,CEO Job Network — Tags: , , , , , , , — Admin @ 5:14 pm

No matter how much experience you have, and how many executives you’ve lead, you have got to have a plan when you are looking for the next amazing career opportunity. A plan needs to be put in place. The best chance of finding success in the shortest amount of time with be done with a plan set in motion.

It may surprise you, but many people actually pursue the wrong job titles. However, if they understood their real transferable skills, they could be repositioned for different goals, and sometimes for much more advancement than they thought possible. Regardless of your most recent position, you need to think of yourself as “one of a kind” with diverse potentials.

We all have seen many career fields change dramatically over the last decade. Fields that once offered great opportunity have become financially confining with limited growth possibilities.

Does print advertising offer the same career possibilities as it did a decade ago? Does selling in the steel industry? Does being a doctor and a general practitioner? Career fields change at a much faster pace than most people realize. Experience has proven that if you take a narrow view of yourself, you could be making a mistake. For example, if you see yourself as a specialist (e.g., a banker), you may believe you are locked into a given career. On the other hand, you may feel you have few options because you are too much of a generalist.

More and more professionals are finding that they can have several different careers over the course of a lifetime. Sometimes you can’t see them and you stumble into them. Someone could be a radio sports broadcaster, then become an actor, then a politician and subsequently governor of a major state and president of the United States (Ronald Reagan). And, of course, we all know many other examples, many famous and millions not so famous, but successful at many levels.

It may be that you should consider positioning yourself for more than one possible goal at this time, and running what we refer to as a “dual campaign.” For example, a logical step may be seeking a new job as a VP of Marketing. But you might also have accumulated knowledge and experience that would allow you to seek a position as a General Manager, or perhaps Chief Operating Officer, or even Chief Executive Officer in the right type of organization, in the right industry. Or you may wish to run a search for a higher paying job as a sales producer, while also exploring situations to move into a sales management role.

 

 

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