Why you should ask for and check references.
Over the years I have worked with managers that have varied ideas on checking references. Some insisted, some liked to have them and some couldn’t have cared less. Here’s why I always asked for and checked them.
Here is why I think it’s important to the hiring manager.
1. It saver the managers ass if the hire doesn’t work out.
2. It makes the manager feel better about their choice in candidates
3. It could potentially bring up red flags that need to be addressed or change the decision of the hire (a good thing)
Here is why it’s important for you as the recruiter to do it.
1. Having them done saves you time and effort if the manager asks for them
2. It’s part of your value ad to the hiring process
3. Here’s the big one. Every reference that you speak to is a potential candidate. They typically have similar experience or industry knowledge. If you’re worried about them being a manager or too senior, ask the candidate for peers.
Assume that they are on the market and interested. Don’t say “you’re not looking right? I didn’t think so”. Pitch Lowe’s like crazy to them and talk about a specific job. If they are not interested ask them this “who else are you a reference for right now?” Do this after you have pitched Lowe’s and I guarantee they will give you a name or say “I do know someone else that is looking”
Make sure you ask the candidate for email and phone numbers for the references (some of this is on record in the candidates forms they fill out in LCP). I send outlook invites to the references so I have a scheduled time to talk only after the candidate has given me permission or the go ahead to do this.
If you are concerned that this will add hours of time to your already busy schedule I can tell you that this will actually save you time in the long run. This will generate candidates and hires. It’s a good meeting to have with your managers and directors to formulate a list of reference questions to ask. They will like to get these, trust me. It will continue to increase your credibility with hiring managers and candidates and over all it will make for a strong candidate experience. Good luck!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Why I never ask how much money the candidate is making.
One of the most awkward moments for a candidate in the interview process is the dreaded question by employers “how much are you looking for”. Seriously you might as well ask them how many people that have slept with as well. Obviously they both have different answers depending on who's asking. Ha!
Here is why I don’t ask about it or talk about it unless asked.
1. Many people are getting severely over and under paid in their current role. I don’t think it is fair to judge someone on their current or past pay and we subconsciously do this all the time. As a society we are trained to think that people that make more money are better at what they do. This is a dangerous way of thinking and constantly proven wrong.
2. When it comes down to it, it really doesn’t make a difference. Mangers ask but they never match an inflated previous salary anyway so what’s the point. Let’s have the managers look to us to give them the number that we know the candidate will accept and not except. This will make our pre-closure conversations extremely important. It will also make having backup candidates a necessity.
3. The “good” candidates see beyond the salary and take the job for other reasons, career growth, technology, team, work they will be doing. Make sure your candidate knows all of this before you offer them the job. Don’t assume they do, ask them.
4. Know what is really important to the candidate when they make their decision about a job. Ask multiple times throughout the process and don’t assume anything.
5. By not talking about salary we will have to make sure we are selling every other piece of the job, culture, team/department, benefits package and what you found out in point 4. All of which are as important as the $.
6. If you’re thinking that this would be a huge waste of time cause you might get turn downs, think of this. Most of the candidates that we are prescreening are within 10% of the base pay we can provide. So we are making it uncomfortable for 90% of the people for the 10% we can’t afford anyway. If you do this the right way you will turn the 10% into the 90% and your declines numbers will shrink.
The side effect of doing this:
Recruiters learn the intimate details of the groups, managers, directors that they support. They learn about what the jobs are and why they are important to the company, they start to really listen to the candidates. If this is done the right way we will see the hiring managers looking to the recruiter to come up with the final number for the offer and we will start to build a true business relationship which will allow us to target and attract better talent.
Please let me know your thoughts.
Ted
One of the most awkward moments for a candidate in the interview process is the dreaded question by employers “how much are you looking for”. Seriously you might as well ask them how many people that have slept with as well. Obviously they both have different answers depending on who's asking. Ha!
Here is why I don’t ask about it or talk about it unless asked.
1. Many people are getting severely over and under paid in their current role. I don’t think it is fair to judge someone on their current or past pay and we subconsciously do this all the time. As a society we are trained to think that people that make more money are better at what they do. This is a dangerous way of thinking and constantly proven wrong.
2. When it comes down to it, it really doesn’t make a difference. Mangers ask but they never match an inflated previous salary anyway so what’s the point. Let’s have the managers look to us to give them the number that we know the candidate will accept and not except. This will make our pre-closure conversations extremely important. It will also make having backup candidates a necessity.
3. The “good” candidates see beyond the salary and take the job for other reasons, career growth, technology, team, work they will be doing. Make sure your candidate knows all of this before you offer them the job. Don’t assume they do, ask them.
4. Know what is really important to the candidate when they make their decision about a job. Ask multiple times throughout the process and don’t assume anything.
5. By not talking about salary we will have to make sure we are selling every other piece of the job, culture, team/department, benefits package and what you found out in point 4. All of which are as important as the $.
6. If you’re thinking that this would be a huge waste of time cause you might get turn downs, think of this. Most of the candidates that we are prescreening are within 10% of the base pay we can provide. So we are making it uncomfortable for 90% of the people for the 10% we can’t afford anyway. If you do this the right way you will turn the 10% into the 90% and your declines numbers will shrink.
The side effect of doing this:
Recruiters learn the intimate details of the groups, managers, directors that they support. They learn about what the jobs are and why they are important to the company, they start to really listen to the candidates. If this is done the right way we will see the hiring managers looking to the recruiter to come up with the final number for the offer and we will start to build a true business relationship which will allow us to target and attract better talent.
Please let me know your thoughts.
Ted
Monday, August 8, 2011
Thnigs to do after the interview.
The interview may be over, but your chance to make an impression is not. Here are 10 strategies to continue boosting your candidacy.
1. Show that you're still interested
Leave no doubt in the interviewer's mind about where you stand. Ask for the job at meeting's end with a phrase such as, "I would really like to contribute to this company and am hoping you select me."
Also, don't leave the room without a clear idea of what will happen next in the hiring process. Will select applicants be invited back to meet other people? By what date do they hope to fill the position? Such questions demonstrate enthusiasm for the job, and knowing the hirer's timeframe will help keep you from panicking if a week has passed without a phone call.
2. Set the stage for further contact
Nobody wants to be a pest, but could your silence as days pass be misinterpreted as indifference? Avoid the guesswork by finding out before heading home what the employer prefers in terms of checking in. Lizandra Vega, author of "The Image of Success: Make a Great Impression and Land the Job You Want," suggests asking the recruiter about her preferred method of follow-up communication and whether it would be okay to touch base again.
3. Be punctual
If you tell the interviewer you'll send a list of references tomorrow morning, make sure you do it. Keeping your word and answering requests in a timely manner speaks volumes about the type of employee you might be.
4. Know when to sit tight
If an interviewer requests that you follow up by phone in a week, respect her wishes. Calling the next day can be construed as pushy and desperate.
5. Send a prompt thank-you note
A positive, nonintrusive way to stay on an employer's mind is to send a thank-you note. Vega recommends emailing one within 24 hours of the interview, then following up with a handwritten note that arrives one to three business days later.
6. Send each interviewer a personalized, powerful follow-up letter
This piece of communication is another chance for you to shine, so don't waste space with generalities. Ford R. Myers, a career coach and author of "Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring," recommends including specific references to each person you met and tying your accomplishments directly to the company's stated challenges.
You also can use the letter to introduce achievements that didn't get discussed and to elaborate on interview answers that you felt lacked punch.
7. Address one of the company's needs
Another effective way to follow up is to act more like a consultant than an applicant. "During the interview, you learn a lot about a company's weaknesses and/or areas where the company wants to expand," states Linda Matias, president of CareerStrides.com and author of "201 Knockout Answers to Tough Interview Questions."
"Consider creating a proposal on how you would address one of those areas. Doing so will demonstrate that you have the knowledge and also the enthusiasm to make a significant contribution."
8. Keep thinking and learning about the company
Be prepared for additional interviews or follow-up phone calls by continuing to research the organization and the field. Gain new information about a topic brought up in conversation. Think of additional questions you'd like answered. These actions show the hirer that you didn't stop caring about the company after the interview was over.
9. Leverage outside resources
Networking should never stop. "If you have contacts and connections with anyone who might influence the hiring decision, or who actually knows the interviewer, ask her to put a good word in for you," Myers says.
10. Accept rejection with grace
Finally, keep emotions in check and don't burn bridges if someone else gets hired. One never knows what the future might hold. The accepted candidate may not work out, or a different position may open up.
"If you are rejected, the first thing you should do (ironically) is send a thank-you note," Myers says. "This will help distinguish you from other rejected candidates and put you in a positive light."
1. Show that you're still interested
Leave no doubt in the interviewer's mind about where you stand. Ask for the job at meeting's end with a phrase such as, "I would really like to contribute to this company and am hoping you select me."
Also, don't leave the room without a clear idea of what will happen next in the hiring process. Will select applicants be invited back to meet other people? By what date do they hope to fill the position? Such questions demonstrate enthusiasm for the job, and knowing the hirer's timeframe will help keep you from panicking if a week has passed without a phone call.
2. Set the stage for further contact
Nobody wants to be a pest, but could your silence as days pass be misinterpreted as indifference? Avoid the guesswork by finding out before heading home what the employer prefers in terms of checking in. Lizandra Vega, author of "The Image of Success: Make a Great Impression and Land the Job You Want," suggests asking the recruiter about her preferred method of follow-up communication and whether it would be okay to touch base again.
3. Be punctual
If you tell the interviewer you'll send a list of references tomorrow morning, make sure you do it. Keeping your word and answering requests in a timely manner speaks volumes about the type of employee you might be.
4. Know when to sit tight
If an interviewer requests that you follow up by phone in a week, respect her wishes. Calling the next day can be construed as pushy and desperate.
5. Send a prompt thank-you note
A positive, nonintrusive way to stay on an employer's mind is to send a thank-you note. Vega recommends emailing one within 24 hours of the interview, then following up with a handwritten note that arrives one to three business days later.
6. Send each interviewer a personalized, powerful follow-up letter
This piece of communication is another chance for you to shine, so don't waste space with generalities. Ford R. Myers, a career coach and author of "Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring," recommends including specific references to each person you met and tying your accomplishments directly to the company's stated challenges.
You also can use the letter to introduce achievements that didn't get discussed and to elaborate on interview answers that you felt lacked punch.
7. Address one of the company's needs
Another effective way to follow up is to act more like a consultant than an applicant. "During the interview, you learn a lot about a company's weaknesses and/or areas where the company wants to expand," states Linda Matias, president of CareerStrides.com and author of "201 Knockout Answers to Tough Interview Questions."
"Consider creating a proposal on how you would address one of those areas. Doing so will demonstrate that you have the knowledge and also the enthusiasm to make a significant contribution."
8. Keep thinking and learning about the company
Be prepared for additional interviews or follow-up phone calls by continuing to research the organization and the field. Gain new information about a topic brought up in conversation. Think of additional questions you'd like answered. These actions show the hirer that you didn't stop caring about the company after the interview was over.
9. Leverage outside resources
Networking should never stop. "If you have contacts and connections with anyone who might influence the hiring decision, or who actually knows the interviewer, ask her to put a good word in for you," Myers says.
10. Accept rejection with grace
Finally, keep emotions in check and don't burn bridges if someone else gets hired. One never knows what the future might hold. The accepted candidate may not work out, or a different position may open up.
"If you are rejected, the first thing you should do (ironically) is send a thank-you note," Myers says. "This will help distinguish you from other rejected candidates and put you in a positive light."
Monday, October 4, 2010
I hate the Fall. I know some of you out there are going to be like "what are you talking about, I love the cooler weather and the apple and pumpkin picking etc. etc. etc." Well all of you liberal hippies that like that stuff go F yourselves. Here is why fall is the worst season.
1. Leaves that change colors will fall off your trees and you have to pick them up. It sucks. This year I will be blowing them into my neighbors yard so she can pick them up.
2. Apple picking isn't fun. The apples end up costing like $5 buck a pound for apples that don't taste that good. Oh yeah you get to put on a North face vest and some brown leather boots so you'll look the part. Great. I'm not even going to start in on the picking of pumpkins where you don't even pick them.
3. Hot cider. That shit is always way to hot when you first take a sip and then your tongue is totally burned and you can't taste shit for the rest of the day. And why is it always served in the cups from a dentists office. You wait in line and get a 2 oz. serving. Since when is apple cider $8 bucks a gallon. If I'm not mistaken its just Apple juice that's a couple weeks past its prime.
4. Sweaters. I hate sweaters. I really hate sweater vests. If a guy is wearing a sweater vest he is saying he's held another mans penis in his hand by choice.
5. Women think fall is an excuse to dress like janeane garofalo. Goodbye sundresses and bikinis. Goodbye sexy tanlines and saving. Hello corduroy jeans and turtlenecks.
Fall is the worst season every. I moved south to get away from all that crap and its slowly creeping its way down here. I'll be going to the beach next weekend to take my son surfing and fishing and I'm making my wife wear something sexy.
1. Leaves that change colors will fall off your trees and you have to pick them up. It sucks. This year I will be blowing them into my neighbors yard so she can pick them up.
2. Apple picking isn't fun. The apples end up costing like $5 buck a pound for apples that don't taste that good. Oh yeah you get to put on a North face vest and some brown leather boots so you'll look the part. Great. I'm not even going to start in on the picking of pumpkins where you don't even pick them.
3. Hot cider. That shit is always way to hot when you first take a sip and then your tongue is totally burned and you can't taste shit for the rest of the day. And why is it always served in the cups from a dentists office. You wait in line and get a 2 oz. serving. Since when is apple cider $8 bucks a gallon. If I'm not mistaken its just Apple juice that's a couple weeks past its prime.
4. Sweaters. I hate sweaters. I really hate sweater vests. If a guy is wearing a sweater vest he is saying he's held another mans penis in his hand by choice.
5. Women think fall is an excuse to dress like janeane garofalo. Goodbye sundresses and bikinis. Goodbye sexy tanlines and saving. Hello corduroy jeans and turtlenecks.
Fall is the worst season every. I moved south to get away from all that crap and its slowly creeping its way down here. I'll be going to the beach next weekend to take my son surfing and fishing and I'm making my wife wear something sexy.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Space balloon wipes out car! NASA Fails Again
Hooray for Nasa and the stupid shit they do. This is a great fucking video brought to us from our sometimes friends in Australia. Who I might add are completely fucking stupid for standing less than 100 feet away of the launch pad. Hey morons, Lately Nasa's safety record hasn't been that stellar. It's a hair better than a Korean woman behind the wheel of a Toyota on the 405 freeway in LA. Try backing up a little.
Lets be honest Nasa is a complete waist of fucking time and Money. Unless we're putting missiles and lasers into space to kill aliens and lost storm trooper, I couldn't care less about this except that is funny to watch really expensive shit get wrecked.
I was thinking that this would be a great new ride for Morays pier in Wildwood, NJ. It would be like the sling shot but better. At least we could get rid of some fist pumping scumbags from North Jersey.
Hey Barak, Let's keep cutting the manned space programs and putting money into the Birthday balloon program. At least its funny to watch. Good luck and Gods speed to you NASA and the Stupid shit you do.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Parenting 101
OK this is a tricky subject to write about. You have to watch what you say these days when it comes to parenting philosophy. Luckily this is my blog so I'll say what I want.
Here are a couple Parenting things I saw recently that disturbed me.
Girl no more that 6 years old riding the subway with her Dad. Cute right, nope Dad was reading the WSJ and the girl had iPod on. Are you fucking kidding me. I would kill for extra time with my son. Actually I quit a job for it and this prick of a father is pretty much ignoring his daughter to catch up on the mornings financial news.
Father is at a dinner with his 3 year old son who is a little bit of a handful. It is clearly Daddy's weekend and it isn't going well. The son is talking loudly and playing with the silver wear and almost spills his drink a couple times. Really nothing that is that bad, normal stuff in our family these days. the problem is that the father is talking to the son like he is a work colleague. He is seriously saying things like "Come on Jordan, your acting childish" Seriously he said that and just FYI (childish: A adjective 1.childish, infantile,indicating a lack of maturity) Isn't that how he should be acting you dummy. This banter went on for about 15 minute with the father getting so worked up that he has to tell the waiter to wrap his dinner up and take it home. The real kicker was that the dinner is a well known kid friendly place and it was packed with kids so know one really cared. I felt like telling the Dad "yo Dad go get a bucket of KFC and go to the park across the street and let your kid run around and play" I didn't because D- wouldn't let me.
D- told me this one. this was a comment from a 4th grader to one of his classmates after he was invited to come over to the kids house. "I don't like going to your house because you don't have Grand Theft Auto" FYI that is a totally inappropriate video game for kids to play. this is a subject that really get my goat. I am totally against kids having video games period. I never had video games and when I went to my friends houses that had them I would have to watch them play for hours. When I would get my turn I would die after 15 seconds because I wasn't good and then have to watch them try to beat the level. I grew up playing outside in the woods or the street. Since I didn't have video games I became wicked good at sports and was able to play division 1 athletics. My best friend became a world famous rock climber and extreme skier and our other friend was playing scratch golf in High school, non of us had video games in our houses. So you know what... no video games are going to be in the P's house sorry Liam. You'll thank me later in life. I'm sure that I begged my parents but they refused and that is what I'll do. So when I tell other parents this and they say "we'll see when your kid is older if you keep that promise". I'm not that worried, I like playing with my kid and will make sure he has other things that interest him like playing sports of playing fun activities outside. The best video game of all is the human imagination and everything that our great earth has to offer. I haven't played a video game that gives you the taste of the ocean in your mouth when you fall of your surf board or the feeling of snow under your feet when you are sledding. What game lets you smell the sent of fallen leaves in the fall or fresh cut grass in the spring. None of them do so do you and your kids a favor say no to the video games and invest in their imagination. That's just my rant but Liam's future is to important to waste on a PS3.
Here are a couple Parenting things I saw recently that disturbed me.
Girl no more that 6 years old riding the subway with her Dad. Cute right, nope Dad was reading the WSJ and the girl had iPod on. Are you fucking kidding me. I would kill for extra time with my son. Actually I quit a job for it and this prick of a father is pretty much ignoring his daughter to catch up on the mornings financial news.
Father is at a dinner with his 3 year old son who is a little bit of a handful. It is clearly Daddy's weekend and it isn't going well. The son is talking loudly and playing with the silver wear and almost spills his drink a couple times. Really nothing that is that bad, normal stuff in our family these days. the problem is that the father is talking to the son like he is a work colleague. He is seriously saying things like "Come on Jordan, your acting childish" Seriously he said that and just FYI (childish: A adjective 1.childish, infantile,indicating a lack of maturity) Isn't that how he should be acting you dummy. This banter went on for about 15 minute with the father getting so worked up that he has to tell the waiter to wrap his dinner up and take it home. The real kicker was that the dinner is a well known kid friendly place and it was packed with kids so know one really cared. I felt like telling the Dad "yo Dad go get a bucket of KFC and go to the park across the street and let your kid run around and play" I didn't because D- wouldn't let me.
D- told me this one. this was a comment from a 4th grader to one of his classmates after he was invited to come over to the kids house. "I don't like going to your house because you don't have Grand Theft Auto" FYI that is a totally inappropriate video game for kids to play. this is a subject that really get my goat. I am totally against kids having video games period. I never had video games and when I went to my friends houses that had them I would have to watch them play for hours. When I would get my turn I would die after 15 seconds because I wasn't good and then have to watch them try to beat the level. I grew up playing outside in the woods or the street. Since I didn't have video games I became wicked good at sports and was able to play division 1 athletics. My best friend became a world famous rock climber and extreme skier and our other friend was playing scratch golf in High school, non of us had video games in our houses. So you know what... no video games are going to be in the P's house sorry Liam. You'll thank me later in life. I'm sure that I begged my parents but they refused and that is what I'll do. So when I tell other parents this and they say "we'll see when your kid is older if you keep that promise". I'm not that worried, I like playing with my kid and will make sure he has other things that interest him like playing sports of playing fun activities outside. The best video game of all is the human imagination and everything that our great earth has to offer. I haven't played a video game that gives you the taste of the ocean in your mouth when you fall of your surf board or the feeling of snow under your feet when you are sledding. What game lets you smell the sent of fallen leaves in the fall or fresh cut grass in the spring. None of them do so do you and your kids a favor say no to the video games and invest in their imagination. That's just my rant but Liam's future is to important to waste on a PS3.
Hot Diggity Dog
Last week a friend of mine recommended a local landmark eatery. This well known establishment just happened to be a Hot Dog stand. Know before we get into the dirty details I think that you should know a little history about me. I'm what you would call a Hot Dawgasouir. I have been to the promised land and have seen the light when it comes to the Frankfurter. It all started at an early age for me when my father magically convinced me that dogs were meant to be served burnt. Still loved 'um. My obsession blossomed when an old man with a push cart in Cape May NJ set up shop 2 blocks from our house. My taste quickly refined the older I got and in High school I discovered an eatery known for grilling and then deep frying their dogs. I've had dogs in every ball park you can think of and at every back yard cook out. I dare someone to step to my Dawgness.
Here are a couple things that makes it or breaks it for me in a Dog place.
1. the ambiance- must be a shit hole type of place (tables carved with initials, standing room only sort of thing)
2. family owned with college drop out son running the grill. No chains sorry Nathans, good history but you sold out to the man when you went global.
3. toasted bun, this is a commonly overlooked must have.
4. self serve condiments. Only I know how much ketchup I like and god forbid that D- doesn't have a strip of relish on both sides of the bun.
5. make a solid milk shake with real hard ice cream. Black and white for me.
6. salty fries.
7. relatively cheap
8. a line, if there is no line it ain't worth stopping(if construction workers are in line I stop even if I'm not hungry, those guys know good food)
9. no waitress, I'll never eat a dog that isn't handed to me with dirty cashier hand.
10. Solid Name (some of my favorites: Swanky Franks, Texas Tommy's, Art's Cart)
FYI. If you are going to recommend a place to me, make sure it has at least 5 of these things otherwise don't bother. If your thinking your local place has all 10 or more.....Prove it. Invite me to join you for a footlong, wiener, frank or what ever you call it. Just remember, I fly, you buy. Till next time.....Peace
Here are a couple things that makes it or breaks it for me in a Dog place.
1. the ambiance- must be a shit hole type of place (tables carved with initials, standing room only sort of thing)
2. family owned with college drop out son running the grill. No chains sorry Nathans, good history but you sold out to the man when you went global.
3. toasted bun, this is a commonly overlooked must have.
4. self serve condiments. Only I know how much ketchup I like and god forbid that D- doesn't have a strip of relish on both sides of the bun.
5. make a solid milk shake with real hard ice cream. Black and white for me.
6. salty fries.
7. relatively cheap
8. a line, if there is no line it ain't worth stopping(if construction workers are in line I stop even if I'm not hungry, those guys know good food)
9. no waitress, I'll never eat a dog that isn't handed to me with dirty cashier hand.
10. Solid Name (some of my favorites: Swanky Franks, Texas Tommy's, Art's Cart)
FYI. If you are going to recommend a place to me, make sure it has at least 5 of these things otherwise don't bother. If your thinking your local place has all 10 or more.....Prove it. Invite me to join you for a footlong, wiener, frank or what ever you call it. Just remember, I fly, you buy. Till next time.....Peace
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