Helping you stand out

Your career is one of the most important aspects of your life, and when your passion, your talents and your career blend seamlessly together amazing things will happen. That's why we strive to understand your expectations, your goals and your personal style to guide you through to the next stepping stone in your career.

We work closely with our clients to gain a deep understanding of their corporate culture and leadership character. We are accountable to our clients to deliver on our promise to find the most qualified and best fit individual for their organization. As such, we also spend significant time and effort working with you, our candidate, to ensure compatibility with the organization and most importantly the team. We offer more than simply matching job requirements to desires, skill set and experience. We strive to build long lasting relationships between the people we connect through personal character strength and synergy.

Interview tips

Here are 5 of the most common "advantage killers" and how you can steer clear of them during your next job interview:

1. Not knowing your aim - Too often candidates think their purpose in an interview is simply to ask for a job. Your goals are to demonstrate how you are a good fit for the organization, and to assess whether the job is really right for you. You need to put yourself already in job, businesses don't have time for "ramp up"  they need individuals who can do the job now!
2. Being too needy - Neediness is probably the No. 1 advantage-killer in an interview. Remind yourself before walking in the door: you do not need this job. The most important thing in life is your family, take a picture of what is important to you and right before you go into the interview, look at the picture, and remember that this is what is important, the rest is just an interview.
3. Engage your audience - This is about demonstrating confidence. Your first impression makes the difference. When you enter the interview room, stand up straight, make eye contact, and offer a strong handshake with your interviewer. They are trying to see if they want to work with you day in and day out, and so are you!
4. Damned if you do and Damned if you don't - Remember that most interviews are less than an hour, so don't go on and on and have your audience go to sleep! But don't be so concise, that they get the impression that you know all of the clique words, but lack the substance.  So make sure you engage the board and take the verbal and body language clues that they are following what you say. 
5. Show enthusiasm for the opportunity -  Make sure that you thank them for their time and if you feel that it is a good fit for you, ensure that they know that you are interested in the position.  I wouldn't outright ask for it, but enthusiasm ensures that they remember you and can see you as part of the team.

Headhunter Humour

Moral to the Story - Pay attention!

A recruiter dies and goes to heaven. St. Pete meets her at the Pearly Gates and says "before you go into Heaven, I want you to try out both Hell and Heaven, and then you decide where you want to spend eternity".  The recruiter thought to herself, that seems fair, choices! 

So St. Pete sends the recruiter off to Hell.  Hell is fantastic, people are drinking Margaritas, playing great golf, having fun!  The next day she goes back to St. Pete and she is sent to Heaven.  Heaven is everything that the recruiter thought it would be.  It is beautiful, people are floating around on clouds reading.  It is so quiet, and beautiful, everything she imagined Heaven to be. 

So the next day she goes, back to St. Pete. St Pete asks her, "so you have tried out Heaven and Hell, where do you want to spend eternity?"  The recruiter looks at St. Pete and says, Heaven was everything I imagine it to be, but damn, they were having fun in Hell,  I want to go to Hell!  St. Pete, says "so be it" and off to Hell the recruiter goes.

It is HELL, everyone is moaning  and groaning, they are miserable, she looks around and asks to speak to the Devil.  The Devil walks up to her and says "What do you want?"  The recruiter asks the Devil, what happened?  I was here less than 48 hours ago and everyone was having a great time, what changed? ...The Devil looked at her and said "48 hours ago, we were recruiting you!"

Sage Advice

Preparing for your next "dreaded" interview? Here's a mindset shift: think of it as a briefing instead. Approach it like you would a conversation with your superior or their superior - natural, not rehearsed!

Consider these three key questions:

1. What is the question asking me? Understand the context to provide a tailored response.
2. How can I contribute to solving the identified problem? Show your ability to think strategically.
3. What past experiences align with the current challenge? Highlight your relevant expertise and readiness for the role.

Remember, readiness for the next step lies in your ability to demonstrate it confidently!

Counter-Offers: A Thoughtful Perspective

Receiving a counteroffer can be a complex experience. It might not always feel flattering, as it raises questions about how your worth is perceived by your current employer. The dynamics of trust can shift, potentially impacting the relationship. It's essential to address the underlying reasons for seeking new opportunities rather than just focusing on external offers.

Recruiters often present tempting statistics, which may not always reflect the full reality of a situation. When contemplating a career move, various factors come into play, leading to a decision to explore new horizons. Despite the uncertainties that come with change, it's crucial to remember the core reasons that prompted the initial search for new challenges.

Retirement or Next Journey?

For me, retirement signifies a chance to give back to the community, cherish quality time with family, and pursue that long-awaited venture.  It's a time to reflect on the new mission ahead - how can we make a positive impact and leave the world better than we found it?

Transitioning into retirement can be daunting, but it's not the end; it's a new beginning filled with possibilities. Embrace volunteering, mentoring, and nurturing relationships - the avenues for growth are limitless!

As we navigate this phase, let's remember to celebrate our achievements and acknowledge the resilience that brought us here.  Now, let's channel that energy into creating a legacy that extends beyond our professional journey.

Promotion vs Lateral

Considering the importance of evaluating our career moves thoroughly, it's crucial to weigh the benefits of promotions versus lateral transitions. Sometimes, in our rush to progress, we overlook the value of broadening and deepening our skill set, akin to the tortoise and the hare analogy.

Fear of missing out on the next big thing can cloud the advantages of lateral shifts. Remember, the finish line is within reach, but the path we choose is ours to determine. Take a moment, breathe, and explore the possibilities.

Personally, I advocate for seizing lateral opportunities that enhance knowledge and expertise.