Perspectives

General ·

‘The perfect candidate?’ Sure. And you must be ‘the perfect employer’

Almost always in a search, the client wants the perfect person, someone who can do it all, take control and need little if any on-boarding. That’s possible–if it’s the top job. As it should be; chiefs surround themselves with those they can trust, loyalty and past relationships count, hence the predictable ‘re-org’ once a new…

Hints & Tips ·

Can’t–or don’t want to–interview candidates? 15 tips to raise your game

If I could impact more on how my clients do their collective interviewing, I would tell them the following: [framed_box]I can help bring strong and motivated senior level candidates to you. Your job is to close the sale, not mine. The way your company organises candidate interviews is nothing short of reprehensible. A smart candidate…

CVs ·

The CV–and the person–no one sees

The Wall St Journal runs a ‘Careers’ section, which lists tips to job-seekers. A column this past week was entitled “Your Resume vs Oblivion”, and particularly snide title which attracted my attention. (Link) The article highlighted the woes of job-hunters who answered job adverts on-line or off websites, juxtaposed with the in-house company recruiters and…

General ·

Interviewing? Ears wide open, please…

Some interviewing comments from Ruth Simmons, the President of Brown University. Her pointed words on what she looks for when hiring should be read carefully by both management and those looking to interview. Wise words from a wise woman: I look for people who are supremely self-confident, very secure, but also profoundly interested in other…

Inspirational ·

Mens agitat molem

Years ago I worked in LA, in the airport area of Inglewood. Next door to the office was an Exxon station, run by an older Egyptian man. We’d often exchange a few words when I’d fill up the tank. I recall one day pulling in to the station in a foul mood, whatever had happened…

Communication ·

Interviewing protocol–Listen up, y’all

An interview is a two way street, more so with senior level hires. Most candidates who take the time to interview are otherwise engaged in a day job, but interested enough to pursue a new possibility. The company doing the interviewing often falls flat on their corporate face, misunderstanding the protocol of interviewing, from timing,…

Communication ·

We come bearing presence… 3 holiday tips

I recently had a lunch conversation which centred around C level people whom my lunch companion’s company thought needed help getting to that next (and near) top-level. Mostly Asian, with the company for a good stretch, all considered valuable and high potential. What is the help they need? Accordingly to him, better English. Come again?…

General ·

Say wha’? Communicative cha cha cha..

People like to hire their own, often assuming everyone understands the same goals, and ‘speaks the same language’. I had breakfast in Beijing not long ago with a friend. A mainland Chinese who’d gone to grad school in the US and ended up working for a well known US private equity company. Back in China…

Hints & Tips ·

ABCs of hiring in Asia

[framed_box]A) My contrarian position that there is no ‘shortage of talent’ continues. There is plenty of talent, and thus plenty of potential. No new hire is a ‘finished work of art’, ‘ready made’, and knows the job to be done at the outset. Yet many internal stakeholders are too busy or seldom in the office…

Corporate culture ·

Those corporate games, Part II

On to Part II, highlighting some of the games at work most of us have experienced, or participated in.. [framed_box] Selective editing Ubiquitous at the office,but some take it to heights that are pernicious or worse. Example: a report or presentation is due, and the only information presented is to support a certain point of…