Every Employee is Different. Or Not.

The other day, my wife and I were discussing the challenges of managing many different personalities on the same team.  With the help of some wine, I deduced there are really only four with regards to your management style.  Check out this article to see if you agree.  As always, comments welcome.

AOL/emurse article: All Employees Are Different. Or Are They?

Fired? Laid-off? This Might Be Your Lucky Day.

Has Jeff finally gone off the deep end?  Lost his marbles?  We’ll save that debate for another day.  Meanwhile, the title above MAY be true for some who are forced to make a career change.  Read more on why in my AOL/emurse article.

AOL/emurse article:  Fired to Hired–Layoff to Payoff

Are You a "Know-It-All?"

Recently I was asked by a colleague of mine, Ryan Leary, to write an article for the Recruiting Carnival (a month of daily articles from recruiters from all over) on CruiterTalk.com.  What’s great about this concept is it is unique opportunity to learn from people you may never even meet in person.  This concept (and hiring a new cycling coach) inspired my article for Ryan.  Although directed at my recruiter friends, the idea applies to everyone.

Article: Are You a “Know-It-All?” Ask Your Mentor.

Do You Give as Much as You Take?

Many recruiters have shared with job seekers it is important to consider their working relationship a two-way street.  Unfortunately, the vast majority don’t fully understand this and the bond is usually short-lived.  Check out this article about a candidate of mine who stands out in my mind as one who “gets it.”

AOL/emurse article:  You Need to Give to Get

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Stay Put?

Your job sucks.  You can’t stand another day.  You worked on your resume last night.  Today you plan to go into the office and tell your boss….nice tie.  Nope, not “I quit.”  Although many know it’s best to look for a new job while you still have one, you’d be surprised how many don’t.  Read more about this in my article in AOL’s emurse.

Article: Don’t Quit Your Day Job

Recruiters’ Pet Peeves

Some job seekers who interact with recruiters have concerns and bad experiences.  This bad vibe could be eliminated if candidates know what mistakes to avoid while working with them.

Recruiter Community:  please share in the comment section your #1 Pet Peeve you’ve experienced working specifically with candidates.  Please keep it professional, as I very likely will quote you in an upcoming AOL blog post.

Meanwhile candidates, you are getting the bottom line from some of the best recruiters in the country.  Heed their advice before calling, tweeting, linking-in  or emailing a recruiter.

 

February 1st Update:

I shared the highlights from the feedback I received in the comments section in my AOL/emurse column.  Thanks for all your thoughts Recruiter Community!

Link to Article: Are You Pressing Your Recruiter’s Hot Button?

What Is Your Specialty?

Sometimes candidates have so many great experiences and abilities they forget what makes them stand-out.  In order to outshine other candidates for a job, you simply need to determine the most important requirements of the role and ensure they match your strongest capabilities and attributes.  Additionally, you need to make sure you are effectively communicating these in your resume and during an interview.  Read more about this in my Job-Hunt article for January.

Article:  What Makes You Special?

Even Executives Can Interview Poorly

No matter how long your career path is…no matter how many people you have hired…no matter what your title, you can still interview poorly.  Recently, I posted an article on 15 mistakes you can make in the interview.  I offer you one more perspective as Katharine Hansen outlines pet peeves of hiring decision-makers who interview executives.  It’s a nice compliment to the other list (and happens to include one from me, #19).  Got any to add? Feel free to leave a comment.

Link to article:  Top 20 Executive Interview Pet Peeves from Hiring Decision-Makers

Jeff is Now Blogging on AOL’s emurse

There’s a new blogger in town at AOL’s emurse Web site: me. 

emurse is a web portal dedicated to helping job seekers with posting resumes, interviewing, and the job search process.  I’m on a small team led by Barbara Safani who will be supplying all kinds of content in these areas and more.  I’m providing the “recruiter’s perspective.”  Let me know what you think of my first two articles launched this week:

Is Working with Recruiters like Pushing a Rope?

Jack of All Trades and a Master of Some

What’s Your Take on 2010?

I’ve been hearing a lot of conflicting information and opinions about 2010.  What better way to add to my confusion than a poll of my friends, Tweeps, colleagues, blog followers, and maybe a few folks who actually have data analysis under their belt.

By they way, here’s a few snippets from CareerBuilder’s 2010 U.S. Hiring Forecast:

Twenty percent of employers plan to increase their number of full-time permanent employees in 2010, up from 14 percent in 2009. Nine percent say they plan to decrease headcount in 2010, down sharply from 16 percent in 2009. Sixty-one percent don’t plan to change staff levels, while 10 percent say they are unsure.

When asked which areas employers plan to hire for in 2010, one-third pointed to technology followed by 28 percent in customer service. Nearly one-quarter (23 percent) plan to add sales people, 18 percent will add in research/development, 17 percent in business development, 15 percent in accounting/finance and 14 percent in marketing.

Perhaps your vote is gut instinct. Perhaps it’s based on company budgets set for this year. Maybe it’s based on your January activity.  Whatever.  Let me know your thoughts and we’ll see how it compares to the rest of the voters. Feel free to provide comments substantiating your vote, too.