The HeadHuntress Blog

It's Go Time.

2009-10-14T18:43:30-04:00

It's time to consider your options. February, I would have and likely did, advise you to sit tight, April - I would have said to research but hold firm we're not quite there yet, July I told you to start peeking around, its looking good out there...October? If you're not satisfied/challenged/happy with your current role? Now is the time - we've got ourselves a recession window - the start to that "V" everyone is talking about? Possible. You have a four to five week time period which will have companies saturating the hiring market to fill roles by the end of the year - with hope to solidify before the holidays - I know because we've signed on four companies in the last week on an exclusive contract with this exact goal in mind. So its now, or February. Make your choice, call your recruiter, and collaborate on your next move. It's go time.

The Big Dogs are Quoting and We're Rallying. Right? Right.

2009-09-23T18:42:14-04:00

Summer’s over, but for those of you in Job Hunt Mode, its more bittersweet than sad – after all, its back to work – Fall is infamous for its activity. Companies are not hiring quite at 07/08 levels, but they are absolutely heading in the right direction for the remainder of this year. Already I’ve seen a significant increase in Tech hiring in the Boston area, and too, people are feeling stable enough to consider a new opportunity, as long as it’s the right one – naturally. Though you’ll still hear about lay offs, you will hear less and less – after all, who wants to come this far only to fail? Basic human nature tells you - no one. Ben Bernanke said “the recession is very likely over, but the labor market still has a long way to go”. Though a statement centric to the national audience and not specific to either Information Technology or the greater New England area, it was good news for the lot of us who are heads down, push forward, don’t look up until you can breathe without pain – a little dramatic? Likely – But I’ve heard enough stories this year to know I’m not reaching too deep for that analogy. Combine Bernanke’s statement with Warren Buffets proclamation that the recession “past the critical point” and we have us a little hope on the horizon. Now is NOT the time to give up – it is at this point you will feel the temptation to run to Vermont and decide you’re quite suddenly into making Maple Syrup; its just when you are about to find your way out of this mess, that you want to give up – Don’t. Stand up – edit/update the damn resume (again), and let’s get back to work, find a role that actually challenges you or one that gets you out of that incredibly long commute. Hey, the way things are going, we might even be able to nudge in a pay increase, slight, but possible. But then, anything is, right?

An added note: In addition to the roles we are currently searching on, (All of which are posted on this blog, please take a moment to review – if not for you, for someone you know who may be interested and/or a good fit for the position.) we have recently entered into another exclusive arrangement, this time with a company I have grown quite fond of, for their innovation, forward thinking strategy, and the initiative to drive their business with the latest technology. The entire company is comprised of bright, fun, hard working and talented people – they operate like a start up, but are not venture backed and are profitable – in this economy, a thing to be proud of. You’ll love working here. They are located on the Newton/Needham line – if the role and location suit you, I’d love to hear from you.

Two of the roles are buried under July, as we were working on them and then held off to negotiate our agreement with them before moving forward. They are: Account Coordinator and Client Services Representative – a similar description for both…essentially looking for a bright college grad who is personable, with a year or two under their belt in a client service oriented role. There is tons of room for growth and a team that will show you the way. Kinda cool.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Being Good at Being You.

2009-08-29T15:50:48-04:00

It’s not all fun out there – I get it. It happens, in business – someone heads you off at the pass, steals your idea, your client…your job. They attempt to undermine you, frustrate the hell out of you, clip their nails, schmooze the boss, and read your email….and well – there really isn’t much you can do about it.

You get laid off after twelve years of kicking ass for your company and the guy right out of college is retained, you lay someone off and find out they logged into your database in the wee hours, stealing company info – it takes all kinds. What kind are you?

I sincerely believe most people are well intended – but sometimes, let’s face it…there is a side to our humanity that is as present as the good, and that is the desperate and the insecure. Battling that personality type takes a little finessing, and a lot of patience. Just be damn good at what you do and the rest will fix itself.

There are one hundred moments like this in all of our lives, and hopefully no more than a few people in a lifetime – and they can be either little annoyances, or they will distract you from success. It really is up to you. If someone steals from you, it’s because you have something they want, if they mimic you it’s because they wish they had your style, your manner, your talent.

It’s a cliché for a reason: Attitude really is everything.

Happy Swaggering.

Time Flies on a Bumpy Road?

2009-08-17T12:19:54-04:00

Yes, it really is August.

August is the land of 90 degrees – from both a weather and a business perspective.

On the weather front (yea, I did that) – we’ve had a tough summer, and to bask in weekends of hot beachy weather and BBQ’s has the average consumer – though still tentative spenders – enjoying the backyard, the local beach, and friends and more friends. It feels like a good time to rest, and we’re having fun with the whole less is more. August is our vacation from the agony that has been 2009. We all know the market is showing signs of life – the economists are all predicating that the bottom has been found, we wallowed in it for a month or two, and now we’re just putting our feet up, flipping the burgers, and getting ready to bring home a little (a lot!) less stress.

That said, it is relegated, for the most part, to the near perfect weekends of late. Monday through Friday, we’re planning, strategizing, and ok…taking brief moments to look out the window - wishing we could take the whole damn month off to reset ourselves, instead of the all American average week. We’ve got work to do though, and using these next couple of weeks to plan out the flow of that work is something we all need to do.

The economy may not turn 90 degrees this year, but it will head in that direction before we see the end of 09. To capitalize on that trend, set your sites and your goals to capture market share, visibility, and watch your options materialize.

Tips:

1. LinkedIn is your online portfolio – treat it as such. Post your best presentations, make sure your information is clean, neat, and accurate. Your photo should be professional, your status updates geared toward your business flow. If you have a professional blog – link it to your profile. LinkedIn is your professional foot in the door – have a few references completed, and do the same for people you regard in your industry as the best in the business.

2. Privacy settings: Is your Facebook personal? Make it Private. Are your Tweets more about the latest episode of True Blood than relative industry news/feedback/insights? Private. Attend a wee hour’s party and a friend posted photos on their blog? Yea, no one looks pretty at 4am on too many Cosmos – get those photos taken down…You are searchable people – keep your private life private. What you wouldn’t tell your Grandmother, you shouldn’t have on the web.

3. Pick a goal for each month for the rest of the year. One thing you want to accomplish each month. Tape that bad boy to your monitor – or maybe “there’s an app for that” on your phone. That goal is yours - So write it down, yes, now is a good time. Go!

4. I keep a close eye on sites like www.cnnmoney.com – and – www.theeconomist.com to stay up on my “what is going on out there” – I steer clear of T.V. – the sensationalism just kills me. The point is to stay educated, not terrified.

5. And of course – the “quote” factor…when I’m getting my (beep) handed to me, and I really am feeling that strong desire to move to VT and run a Maple Sugar Farm…I read my favorite quote: “Many men fail because they quit too soon. They lose faith when the signs are against them. They do not have the courage to hold on, to keep fighting in spite of that which seems insurmountable. If more of us would strike out and attempt the "impossible," we very soon would find the truth of that old saying that nothing is impossible...abolish fear and you can accomplish anything you wish.” - Dr. C. E. Welch (founder, Welch's Grape Juice)

Divide and conquer – educate and own – live and learn – love and laugh. Ya got one life peeps – go git it.

When It Rains, It Rains Some More.

2009-07-31T14:30:18-04:00

For the first time in a long time, I actually feel sorry for Weather “persons”; trying to find a glimmer of hope (read: sun) in the “wettest summer on record” cannot be a fun job, not to mention this summer is also the “coolest” we’ve experienced in about a decade.

Makes me whining about not being able to find everyone in my network a new job seem, eh, well, like whining.

Well, my glimmer of hope has nothing to do with the Doppler and everything to do with the Dow. Seeing the Dow in the 9k range again is relieving. There is still a ton of work to do, with over 14 million people out of work – we all have a job to do to help these folks “get back to it” as soon as possible.

I’m doing my share – below is an update on some of the roles we’re working on here at FootBridge – ALL the roles posted on this blog remain active, and have interviews in process. Share this info with anyone who needs it and we’ll take it from there.

I hope you enjoy your weekend – dry Saturday, more rain Sunday afternoon – and for the record peeps – showing up for an interview in your swim suit, though funny, not appropriate. Try to resist.

“We’re all in this together”

2009-07-16T16:29:44-04:00

As a well networked recruiter, I’m hearing this a lot lately and I like how it sounds. I got into this work on purpose – I wasn’t a failing massage therapist who decided “hmm, recruiting seems interesting, think I’ll give it a go” – I actually chose this profession – and fell madly in love. I fell for two very distinct reasons: A. Financial Independence and B. I help create opportunities for people. LOVE that.

In this economy the hardest part of my job is shouldering the knowledge that I cannot help everyone. Makes me itch. I can ride out an economic downturn, adopting more frugal habits like the rest of the planet – but tell me you’re losing your house or close to it, that you’ve been laid off for three months with no end in sight and I literally feel frustrated. It bothers me.

It’s not keeping me up at night – my sixteen year old holds that candle – but it’s not a good feeling and one I spend all day, every day, closing the gap on - to the best of my ability.

“We’re all in this together” – someone said this to me again today and it left me feeling good in a way that only a downturn can – if you’ve been laid off, you are not alone – 2009 has been humbling for a lot of us.

Taking action:

1. Don’t request referral fees – everyone is feeling the crunch – and quite frankly, it should be about helping, not about personally benefitting from someone else’s misfortune. Capitalizing on your referrals has a time and place, now is not the time or the place.

2. Be collaborative. If you follow my blog or have exchanged any kind of career oriented conversation with me, you know my take on this already: collaboration is the best avenue to success in challenging times especially – team together with a “board of directors”, namely a good recruiter, a well networked executive in your area of expertise, an optimist, a realist (not negative, but someone who isn’t prone to sugar coating), and a career specialist – talk to each once a week to keep you focused on your goals – be they solidifying your position at your current job or obtaining job post layoff or right out of college.

3. Believe in yourself – don’t ever stop, never falter – ok, that’s unrealistic…just have your woe is me moment privately and quickly, with a big glass of wine in a dark corner somewhere and then get over it and get to work. Wallowing will deplete you and who has time for that anyway.

4. Every few weeks have a chat with someone who knows what the hell is going on with the economy – someone who can make sense of all the info. What’s great about now vs. January or February – is that we are improving, there IS a recovery in process – its slight, but its there and gaining momentum – so hang in there, you’re going to make it.

5. Give someone a pep talk – see someone worried about money, their job, the economy? Just look up – we’re everywhere – everyone has been in worry mode for months…pick a friend any friend who needs it and remind them we’re all in this together, it will benefit YOU as much as them.

Self Value - Empower it.

2009-06-30T10:40:34-04:00

Experience and Education is not just for the prospective employer to evaluate - its something for you to consider as you review your own value and consider what to do with it.

My son started his first job yesterday. I did my best to hold in the excitement and fear and awe I was experiencing, and just kept it to sound and reasonable advice – and a “just the facts Ma’am” tone. I mean, consider the alternative...me whipping out the camera and taking a photo of him with his new boss...it ran through my brain I assure you.

Walking him through the whole application process, interview tips and advice, what to wear, say, do...I thought back to my first job, the horrid uniform, the awkwardness of learning new things; the lessons from those Salad Bar/Hostess days are ones I still consider in my work today – work ethic, customer service, dependability, and that I look terrible in Maroon.

My son won’t always be a dishwasher (This is me praying) – this job will not be his last and is certainly not his passion –it’s the work of the inexperienced. As we gain value through experience and education, we have a right and a responsibility to align ourselves with work we both love and feel productive in – to find work that rewards us financially and interests us enough to enjoy the workday, much more often than not.

The risk is – in my opinion - worth the reward...and the reward of doing work you enjoy is enormous, with untold ramifications: Happier home life, stronger self confidence, positive role modelling for future generations, less stress, better balance, richer financial reward (as oft comes from developing a passion with energy and hard work) – its endless really.

I know I am one of the lucky few who enjoys her work– there are so many who do not...if I had my way I’d love to see everyone realigned into work that both suited their passions and their financial needs. Perhaps I’m naive to think it’s possible or just a little stubborn...but I believe we all can do and be what we choose to do and be. Clearly its not easy, or we’d see more people excited to get to work, but what if it were easy? What would you be doing now if it was easy to choose work that thrilled you?

Acting "As If"

2009-05-13T09:05:06-04:00

I imagine if I spend too much time gloating about my fabulous and relaxing vacation in Puerto Rico, you might just skip this part and head right to the openings – and who would blame you. I will say this: The closest I came to working was sending my boss a photo of my feet against the backdrop of the ocean-side pool….it was payback, in case you’re evaluating the cruelty factor.

It’s the hardest thing to do sometimes, to simply let go and take a break – at least it is for me. In this economic climate I just want to push push push – stay in touch and keep trying to open as many doors as possible – because, if for a second I let seep in, the fact that we are in a global recession – I will start acting "as if" and lose momentum. All I control is my little corner, and my attitude.

I am not suggesting denial – there is no way to deny what’s going on out there – but we can act “as if” in the most positive fashion – a downturn does not make us less valuable, less productive, less in demand – it does provide us with opportunities for creative approaches to problem solving, a chance to look at things differently and try something new.

I know this, with absolute faith: You have the ability to change your circumstances – you simply have to choose it – you also have to know that it may not show up in the manner you expect – so be flexible, and creative in your solution to the problem.

Whether currently employed or out there looking – try a different approach today and see what comes of it.

The Relevancy of Imitation

2009-04-10T16:10:06-04:00

One of my clients sent me a link to another recently created HeadHuntress blog – with the cheeky quote that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. Am I awful that though a very true statement, I’m still secretly pleased that my own blog is more refined, better worded, and more relevant to IT folks?

Grin. I almost feel guilty. Almost.

It reminded me – this whole sitchew – that how we respond to any nudging in business highlights both our strengths and weaknesses. I’d love to be the one and only “HeadHuntress” – but that’s my ego talking; at the same time I love that I’m being copied – means I’m innovative and inspiring, not something you stop and think about very often and a good reminder to appreciate what you bring to the table, especially while taking it on the chin in a tough economic climate.

Take away points:

1. Give your absolute best and the rest will follow (read: Success, not Pied Piper metaphor....although...)

2. Be open to mentoring without competitiveness – we are a community, competition is natural, just keep it healthy - if you believe otherwise, question your own insecurities - its not them, its you. The bottom line? Scarcity thinking brings you scarcity, apply similarly with abundance and reap the rewards.

3. Know your strengths and weaknesses, how they work for and against you. Get real, get honest – look hard, and then use it to shove you head first up that ladder. One way to get action on this (and make it less abstract) is to look at your greatest strength and your worst weakness, write them both down then list below how they serve you and how they work against you – the answers are interesting.

4. Love that you’re human – it’s natural to respond to any circumstance with both a negative and a positive reaction. If its all positive, you’re either in denial or the family dog, because let’s face it – they’re never bitchy.

March Shows it's Horns - Love it.

2009-03-27T16:06:03-04:00

If you’re on my Facebook or LinkedIn, you know I am the type of person that parses information as positively as possible. Here’s what I know. The Dow went up 170 yesterday, and though a bit down today, we’re rallying in true Bull form at the strongest return in months (years??!) Considering our Jan/Feb – to be looking at 7800 again is a relieving step in the right direction - something we knew was coming but are happy to see - sometimes faith alone is hard to maintain, we are, after all - driven by evidence. We’ve got the next few weeks to get through – quarterly earnings won’t be a fun read, but the rally has begun – and once we’ve put another month or two into this positive swing, we’ll all begin to solidify our belief in its authenticity and truly step into "As if" thinking, pushing us toward the greatest market return in history - we can do it people - we have enough evidence to bolster our faith in the short term, and more will accumulate as we shift our thoughts in a cash positive direction.

As far as the job market – we’ve had more activity in March than we can keep up with. The roles posted remain the toughest out there to fill – and very niche focused, so the general IT populace – ah, you – is still wondering where the activity is. Its there, and the options are diversifying. Hang in there.

The money is there, companies are still holding tight to their security blankets, but they are hiring at a steadily increasing rate. Tell me what you’re seeing, what companies interest you, what role you saw posted - what you want a shot at – I may know the company, contacts, who’s who and what’s what – utilize me. Outside of capitalizing on your personal network, this is the best way in right now – working with someone who’s job it is to know this market inside and out, and I do.

Bring IT.