FREE ADVICE

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#000033" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Ansley Consulting Group</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>    |</B><B>   </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ansley Consulting Group"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABOUT US"><U><B>ABOUT US</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ATLANTA"><U><B>ATLANTA</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CHICAGO"><U><B>CHICAGO</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DALLAS"><U><B>DALLAS</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NEW YORK HQ"><U><B>NEW YORK - HQ</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#999966" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>FREE ADVICE</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id194.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OTHER SEARCH FIRMS"><U><B>OTHER SEARCH FIRMS</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="8" CELLPADDING="4" CELLSPACING="3" WIDTH="119" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#000033" BORDERCOLORDARK="#000033" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 172 WIDTH="87"><div> Ansley Consulting</div> <div> <IMG SRC="82750860.jpg" border=0 width="80" height="134" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Sylfaen" > Est. 1999-Atlanta</FONT></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><U>FREE ADVICE</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="5" CELLPADDING="8" CELLSPACING="4" WIDTH="743" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#000033" BORDERCOLORDARK="#000033" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 3065 WIDTH="707"><div> <U>Free Advice for Finding that Perfect Job</U></div> <bR> <div> In the Spring of 2003, I met a Career Coach at a business meeting and learned some information that should be very helpful to you in your job search.</div> <bR> <div> 1.  70% of job seekers find their jobs through personal networking.</div> <div> 2.  5% of job seekers find their jobs through the internet, newspapers, and other published sources.</div> <div> 3.  There are between 2000 and 5000 responses to the average internet job posting.</div> <div> 4.  80% of all executive recruiters (headhunters) have gone out of business in this economic downturn.</div> <div> 5.  99% of unsolicited resumes go straight into the trash can.</div> <div> 6.  30% of job seekers land jobs that did not exist before they visited the employer.</div> <div> 7.  Persons reviewing incoming resumes spend an average of 15 seconds on it before deciding what to do with it.</div> <div> 8.  The average length of a job search at the $100k+ level is just over 8 months. </div> <bR> <div> Some of the above is pretty grim news, but you should consider all of it when planning your job search. When I got back to the office, I visited the career coach's web site and found this handy little quiz that I think you should take right now.  Answer True or False for each of the ten statements:</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="466" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 39 WIDTH="462"><div> 1.  I am getting at least 3 desired <I>job interviews</I> per month.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 39 WIDTH="462"><div> 2.  I am having lunch or coffee with at least 20<I> employed people</I> each month in order to expand my networking.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 39 WIDTH="462"><div> 3.  I am confident in interviews and am asked back for <I>second interviews</I> at least one-third of the time.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 39 WIDTH="462"><div> 4.  I am spending less than 10% of my job search time on <I>the internet</I>.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 39 WIDTH="462"><div> 5.  I am devoting >50% of my job search time to <I>networking </I>with employed people.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 57 WIDTH="462"><div> 6.  I am <I>following up</I> with thank you notes, letters, and emails after the majority of my meetings/lunches/coffees.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 39 WIDTH="462"><div> 7.  I am confident that my <I>resume </I>presents me very positively and it clearly identifies my career objective(s).<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 39 WIDTH="462"><div> 8.  I am mailing targeted letters to hiring authorities, following up effectively, and getting meetings.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 58 WIDTH="462"><div> 9.  I have a detailed, written marketing plan that defines my target market, my unique value, and my desired goals.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 58 WIDTH="462"><div> 10.  I have an overall strategy, I am proactively working my plan, and I know what I need to accomplish each week.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="462"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="462" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="462"><div> Score 1 point for every "TRUE" answer.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="466" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 96 ><NOBR><div> <B>1-4, </B>a long search of 9-15 months is likely<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>5-6, </B>an average search of 7-9 months is likely<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>7-8, </B>doing well and likely to land in 3-6 months <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>9-10, </B>doing great and likely to land in 1-3 months <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Book Antiqua" > </FONT></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> If you already know how to score 9 or 10 on the above quiz, then you might not need someone to help you find a job.  But if you do need some help, you might want to give Richard Kirby a call. You can find him at <A HREF="http://executive-impact.com/index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://executive-impact.com/index.html"><U>Executive-Impact</U></A> in Atlanta.  He is in the business of helping you shorten the amount of time it will take for you to get a job.  He charges a fixed retainer, half up front and half when you land a job.</div> <bR> <div> If you are thinking of going into business for yourself, you might want to take a look at our <A HREF="id273.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ENTREPRENEUR"><U>Entrpreneur Page</U></A>.  </div> <bR> <div> The remainder of this page is some of my own personal advice for jump-starting your job search.</div> <bR> <div> GET INTERVIEWS, then do three things...</div> <bR> <div> 1. FOLLOW-UP</div> <bR> <div> 2. FOLLOW-UP</div> <bR> <div> 3. FOLLOW-UP</div> <bR> <div> No one ever got a job from just a resume.  People get jobs as a result of getting in front of people who can hire them. </div> <bR> <div> More free advice...</div> <bR> <div> 1.  Treat searching for a job like a real job. Put in a solid 8-10 hours a day; always striving to get in front of people who can hire you.</div> <bR> <div> 2.  Early in the process, try to think a lot about what you really would like to do with the rest of your life. Many of us have just drifted from job to job over the years and have never really taken charge of our careers. Being out of work is a good time to give this topic a lot of thought.</div> <bR> <div> 3.  Simplify your life and lower your expenses as much as possible. Those two moves enabled me to be in a position to start my own executive search firm in June of 1999.  Had I "taken over my career" earlier, I might have been able to make that move ten years sooner...but my life was too complicated and I could have never afforded that kind of move from a financial standpoint.  </div> <bR> <div> 4.  It's real important to have a job that provides you with an opportunity to do the kinds of things that you like to do. Otherwise, you are like a slave to your lifestyle and the money that it requires. Now that I am doing what I really like, it looks like the money will be there as well.</div> <bR> <div> 5.  Start right now with a commitment to spend less than you make. Like the "Millionaire Next Door", earning lots of money is not the answer...the real secret is having a positive cash flow and spending a lot less than you make.</div> <bR> <div> 6.  Here is my list of six things one needs to feel in order to be happy while <I>working for someone else: </I></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f033000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Needed</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f033000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Wanted </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f033000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Trusted</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f033000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Respected</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f033000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Empowered</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f033000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Appreciated</div> <bR> <div> Did you have all of those things in your last job?  Have you ever had all of those things in a job?  I only had all six in one job and then it was only for about three years. If you haven't had those things, then you might go back and try to figure out what you should be doing in order to get what you want out of your career. By the way, notice that a hefty salary did not make my list...I actually conceived of this list when I was earning a half million dollars a year (in 1992) and did not feel even one of the six things mentioned above. </div> <bR> <div> 7. Go see a career counselor, industrial psychologist, therapist, whomever...and delve into your inner self; making sure that you point yourself in the right direction at this critical crossroad of your life.</div> <bR> <div> 8. Back to getting interviews. Try not to turn down any real interviews. At a minimum, you will add polish to your own presentation and you just may get a lead that will result in your finding exactly what you are seeking. You also might make a contact that will benefit you in some unknown way several years down the road.</div> <bR> <div> 9. Don't be so quick to talk about the fact that you don't want to move or that you don't like the way the company is structured or whatever you might say or do that would lessen the chance of you getting an offer. I always tell our candidates...until you get an offer, you don't have a decision to make. After you get the offer, you can then work on negotiating any other things you might like to see as well as carefully determining if this is indeed the right step for you at the time.</div> <bR> <div> 10.  Keep the "O'leary Factor" in mind when preparing your resume or career summary (He was the Notre Dame coach who lasted about a week...until they found out that he lied on his resume). Make sure that you are precise & accurate and that you do not imply anything at all that is untruthful. A good interviewer will eventually find out the real truth; so any attempt on your part to mislead the headhunter will only serve to prevent you from meeting the client. </div> <bR> <div> 11.  My own philosophy on resumes:  Use multiple versions as the situation warrants, but prepare at least one SINGLE PAGE IMPACT resume.  It should grab the attention of whoever is going to spend t<I>he national average of 15 seconds</I> looking at it.  My personal preference is that all resumes have start and end dates for each position and graduation dates from college. </div> <bR> <div> 12. One final point...GET CREATIVE. Example...My son interviewed for a job a few years ago and really felt like it was the IDEAL place for him to work. Unfortunately, they did not feel his background was appropriate since he had just graduated from college and had no meaningful work experience.   I suggested that if he really wanted the job that he propose that he work for the summer as an intern at whatever wages they chose to pay. Under his proposal, either party could end the relationship after 90 days with no hard feelings whatsoever. I told him at the very least that they would probably be in a position to help him find his next job. Guess what? He got the job and was made a permanent member of the firm in less than 100 days...he wound up flourishing in the environment and spent almost four years there before moving on to a great new position in Supply Chain Management with Staples in Boston...<I>that was easy!</I></div> <bR> <div> Good luck to you as you sort out your career and set your sails for your new horizons. We hope that you have found this special "Jobseekers" section helpful.</div> <bR> <div> Sincerely, </div> <bR> <div> Jim Hicks (pictured at left)</div> <div> Founder & President </div> <div> The Ansley Consulting Group, Inc.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>The Ansley Consulting Group</U></B></div> <div> --Delivering Value Well Beyond Executive Search--</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>