The Recruiter

Time to quit?

Do you have a wandering eye?  No, I'm not prying into your personal relationship, I mean when it comes to your job are you "still looking?"  Don't feel guilty; there are clearly issues that impact people everyday that lead them to wonder what else is out there.

Forbes recent ran the article "Do you hate your job?"  which explores why certain people leave, and why they stay.  It comes down to articulating what it is at work that is bothering you.  This may require more than a simple statement, it might take an entire notebook to write down all the reasons you are dissatisfied.  The key is that once you've gotten it all out in the open, so to speak, really analyze what you can change and what you cannot.

Here are links to some other helpful tools and articles on this subject that appear on Monster.com.

Quitting Time - The Quiz

Ten Signs You Should Keep Your Job

When Is It Time to Go?
Posted by Veronica R.

Counter-Offers, the Career Killers

As the war for talent becomes hand-to-hand combat, counter-offers are becoming commonplace.  If you are part of the small fraction in your specialization that produces extraordinary results, keeps your skills up-to-date and plays nicely in the sandbox, you should expect to receive a counter-offer eventually. 

The counter-offer occurs when you submit your resignation to your current employer to peruse another career opportunity, and your current employer tries to keep you onboard.  The tactics used in counter-offers sited by careerjournal.com range from:

• Pay increases
• Promotions
• New responsibilities
• Promises
• Different reporting structures

Change is difficult; staying at a company where you know everyone is easy. If your boss is telling you how valuable you are and how the company just can’t afford to lose you, it is too easy to believe every word you’re being fed.

Even if your current employer steps up to the plate and follows through on all the promises made during the counter-offer (yeah, right), things will never be the same at work.  You are now a traitor.  Once an employer knows you looked elsewhere for employment, your future at the company is far less bright.  You are often perceived as a short-timer or as someone whom may be bought.

Beyond implications from your current employer, you burn serious bridges with the new prospective employer.  If they were expecting for you to put in your resignation and start next Monday, they will often let all the other leading candidates for the position know.  In turn, you are perceived as flaky and they are in a serious pickle.

The National Business Employment Weekly (a newspaper covering available business opportunities and career information affiliated with the Wall Street Journal) reports that four out of five professionals who accept counter-offers are gone within the year.  Sometimes on their own accord, other times they are terminated by their employer just months later. 

If you’re ready to leave your current position at your company, the reasons are rarely just compensation.  A fat raise procured from a counter-offer can’t resolve all the other issues that forced you to look for a new career in the first place. 

Be prepared for a counter-offer before you submit your resignation.  Go into your boss’ office with your resignation letter in-hand, and just say no.   

Posted by Christy H.

Networking For Fun and Profit

I just read an article by Dean Lindsay in a publication for sales professionals.  Mr. Lindsay reminded me that meeting people is one of the steps to building business relationships.  How well connected you are determines your access to the right people, and the right opportunities.

This holds just as true for job seekers as it does for sales people.  Effective networkers connect with new people everywhere they go.  They also research the various networking event options and commit to a networking strategy.  They proactively open face-to-face relationships.  Be aware that it's possible to go to a networking event and not have any "networking moments."  It's about connecting with people and finding ways to help them progress.

Securing a job is one of the most important sales pitches you'll ever make.  And since we never know when the best opportunity is going to happen, it pays to be prepared with a large, diverse network of contacts.  So, step away from the computer and go talk to someone!

Posted by Veronica R.

10 Avoidable Interview Flubs

I just finished reading an article on eWeek that discusses “avoidable” IT interview flubs and how these flubs are interpreted.  Most of these tips apply to any interview, not just for IT jobs. 

For example, don’t show up late…or that may lead people to think you will be late with deadlines and projects.  Being too quiet or dominating the interview sends signals about your work ethic as well, as do your appearance, mannerism and vernacular. 

The synopsis here is that, although much of this is common sense, when it comes to interviewing we get nervous and forget the basics.  So brush up using this article before you head out on your next interview.  Good luck!

Posted by Veronica R.

What Talent Shortage?

Interesting story in Information Week from Marianne McGee: What Keeps CIOs Awake at Night. A recent survey by SIM (Society for Information Management), says that the top three IT management concerns of CIOs in 2006 are the alignment of IT and business at their companies; attracting, developing, and retaining IT talent; and security and privacy issues.
Of course, we’re most interested in the talent piece.

About 37% of the surveyed CIOs expect their IT staff to increase in 2007 from 2006. About 28% expect to have fewer IT staffers, and 35% expect head count to be the same. About 70% of CIOs project that their staff salaries will increase next year, with about 9% predicting salary budgets to be less, and 20% expecting salaries to remain flat.

With a war for talent in full swing, what are those 9% thinking about?

Posted by Jim L.

Growth Sectors for IT and Telecomm

Healthcare continues to be one of the fastest growing sectors for IT and telecomm services.  A recent report indicates that hospitals, physicians, pharmaceutical companies and insurance providers will be spending nearly $43 billion on telecommunications services over the next five years, with wireless services used by hospitals showing the fastest growth.  So polish up your resume and freshen up your skills sets…it’s going to be a techie’s job market and you will want to be the most qualified candidate.

Posted by Veronica R.

Is Your Resume Working for You, or Against You?

I don't know about you, but my last resume was built using a Microsoft Word template.  Turns out that is akin to a cardinal sin in the job search world.

After reading Monster's Resume Critique Checklist, I find it hard to believe I ever got a job!  OK, maybe I'm being a little hard on myself, but I have certainly broken my share of these resume rules in the past.

My friends often come to me for help writing and updating resumes.  Now I'll keep this guide handy as a reference tool.  Another great reference is this posting by my co-blogger Christy.

Posted by Veronica R.