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Interview Guide: How do you ace a job interview?

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A job interview seems to be tiring, even though you have gone through many interviews that you can count. With each job interview, you are meeting new people, selling yourself and your skills. This can be a challenge especially when you’re interviewed for a job you would love to get hired for.

These are the common interview questions asked by interviewers.

  • Tell me about yourself

    Talk about yourself in summary and avoid rambling. Focus on the elements that you want to highlight rather than going through everything.

  • Can you list your strengths?

    Think about three things that you do well and give concrete examples. An exhaustive list of adjective, such as ‘capable’, ‘hard-working’ or ‘diligent’, won’t really portray you well because anyone can make such claims about themselves.

  • What weaknesses do you have?

    Remember that being able to identify a weakness is a strength. Focus on the area of your work that needs to be improved.

  • Why should I consider hiring you?

    Focus on what else you can bring to the job, perhaps with your soft skills set. Appeal to the interviewer’s desire to hire someone with drive.

  • Where do you see yourself five years from now?

    This is your chance to talk about your wider ambition and goals. Bosses want to hire people with determination so don’t be shy about sounding ambitious or hungry for success.

  • Why do you want to work here?

    It is your chance to show that you have researched the company you are applying to work with. Typically things you might say are that the company operates in your chosen sector, that it provides a clearly structured career path and that the organization has a good reputation.

  • What is your salary expectation?

    It will depend on your personality as to how you feel talking about salary expectations.

  • What motivates you?

    Motivation is personal, so there is no wrong answer that you can give.

  • What makes a good team leader?

    Answering this question well is especially important for people who want to learn leaders or to manage a department.

  • Is there anything that you would like to ask me?

    Always have at least one question prepared I advance. This is your chance to drill down into an area of the business that might not have been covered in the interview.

A job interview is the most important step in taking a job search journey. It would be the best chance to show the company and to the hiring manager that you deserve that position. Remember that a job interview is not an exam, rather you need to understand exactly what the company is looking for in a new hire. Ensure that you’re able to discuss your experience and what makes you a great fit for the job. With some advance preparations, you’ll be able to grasp the interview and showcase the experience that makes you the ideal candidate for the company’s next new employee.

Here are some tips to ace up a job interview.

  1. Prepare and Practice

In a job interview, you will never get a second chance to make a great first impression. Being well-prepared increases your chances of landing that dream job.

It is also important to wear the proper attire for an interview, usually, companies have gone to corporate casual. There is one rule that stands above all: Dress professionally. Wear business attire appropriate for the role, to make you feel comfortable. If possible, call to find out about the company’s dress code before the interview.

The most important thing is to read and review the job description. Analyze the job description, it will align your competencies with the skills that the job requires.

  1. Research the Industry and Company

Researching the aspects will be a long-term guide investment to your future employment.

Here are some aspects of the company you should be researching for:

  • Company Financials: Checking the company website. Doing a Google search about the current state of the company.
  • Culture: LinkedIn, Facebook or Google Reviews for comments by former and current employees.
  • Executive Team: Find out who the executives or the company hierarchy through their company websites.

  1. Get ready ahead of time

A failure to a plan is a plan to fail, you need to prepare ahead of time. You shouldn’t do your practicing when you’re “on stage”, rehearse before the interview.

  1. Be on time

Make sure you arrive 15-30 minutes before the interview. Being punctuality is a subtle clue about attitude and behavior. Tardiness, no matter the excuse, is a major blunder. Arriving early to an interview will give you time to prepare and gives you time to calm your nerves. This will allow you to enter the interview as relaxed and comfortable.

  1. Follow-up after interview

After a job interview, it’s important to follow up with the hiring manager. Express your appreciation, a thank you letter, email, or a call is an opportunity to:

  • Highlight your relevant qualifications
  • Show enthusiasm for the role
  • Mention important details that didn’t come up during the interview.

Since part of your task in the interview involves selling yourself as the right person for the job, and convincing the interviewer that you’re going to get along just great with everybody. It’s important to appear confident and cool for the interview. One way to do that is to go on an ample number of interviews so you get comfortable with the process.

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How to Solve Conflicts at Work

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Before we can handle clash and fights between employees, we need to know what conflict is.

Most books and articles almost say the same exact thing, “Conflict is not that bad”. Shifting our sights into the viewpoint of an optimistic person, we will see that conflict is a good thing. Not because of the tension that it builds but how it makes an opportunity for growth and development.

Of course, there is a certain degree of conflict that is healthy in the workplace and when to say it’s already toxic. Let’s not put it to the point that the managers will wonder “Why did our good employees quit?”.

Psychologists would say that conflict is a normal thing. Blaming the so-called Human Nature. With different backgrounds and personalities, conflict is inevitable. The workplace is where you get to meet different kinds and types of people. The workplace becomes the breeding ground for conflict and disagreements.

There are things that can cause conflict in the office and it does have its consequences. Loss of productivity, poor employee health, and the high risk of litigation are the primary effects of an unresolved conflict. Any company would do their best to resolve it as soon as possible to get their company back on track.

There are diverse ways of solving conflicts in the office as an HR:

  1. Set the ground rules by asking both parties to respect and be reasonable to each other.

    Let them try to understand each individual’s viewpoints.

  2. Ask both sides to describe the problem at hand and ask them how can the conflict be disengaged.

    The HR should notice that when this step is happening that employees may use the “you” and “I” statements. They should focus on the behavior problem, not the person itself.

  3. Let each other repeat or restate what the other had said.

    This step will ensure the person will get each other’s point. In a similar way make them feel what it’s like to be in each other’s shoes.

  4. Summarize what is the problem and try to get an agreement from them.

    Now that you have both sides of the story create a summary accommodating the needs of both parties.

  5. Create solutions that will address the problem.

    Analyze each option and make sure there is an understanding between both parties.

  6. Let the parties shake hands, say sorry and let them say thank you before ending the meeting.

    It might be a little cliché for adults to do this kind of thing, but it is important for them to end the meeting by reconnecting themselves.

It is normal to have arguments and misunderstandings in the workplace. We should act as professionals and learn to adapt to different people. We should not make mountains out of molehills. Conflict can change the productivity in the office, so we should learn to avoid or at least mitigate them. Always try to build a good relationship with your executive researchers, fellow employees, managers, and your bosses.

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Do You Have What It Takes to Be an HR?

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The main reason why most people want to be in the HR department is that they would want to help people out.  Helping people out is great but you need to have a clear grasp of what is the real role of HR.

An HR has basically 6 main roles in the office; they are mostly in charge of professional development, maintaining work cultures, hiring resources, training candidates, resolving conflicts and the management of employees.

Being nice does help, but sometimes you will need to be straightforward and decisive. You will need to provide feedback for rejected candidates, you will need to tell people they are fired or maybe you will need to give someone a bad behavior warning. Working in HR is not a ‘walk in the park’.

In the same time, it has its advantages. An HR can change a person’s life and influence so many people around him. As an HR you’ll get to guide people and see the solutions you’ve created unfold and solve problems.

You will also have to do countless things like making sure that the manager has hired the right person as well as make sure that the company’s good employees do not quit.

So Here Are Things to Consider If You Plan to Be in the HR Department.

  • You Always Have to Be Fair

– Let’s be realistic for a minute, An HR’s job is not to make everyone happy but to keep things fair. They ensure that employees have a suitable workplace environment. They try to handle problems and solve conflicts with their sense of justice. You are always supposed to look at things from two perspectives and keep peace in the company.

  • You Need to Build Barriers

– One bad thing to consider is that an HR should build barriers or in short restrict work friendships. The idea is to build a credible reputation in the workplace. Employees should not get the idea that you are being biased in your judgments. Having a good friend in the office may affect proper judgment in a case. So, to be fair you need to reconsider building walls around you.

  • You Can’t Be Naïve

– There’s a reason why when looking for an HR, the most potential candidate for the job is a Psychology Graduate. The point is that an HR should understand people rather than judging through looks. HR’s need to look far and beyond those things. They need to learn when a person is lying and perceive how this person thinks.

If you are planning on becoming a successful HR someday you need to understand that it’s not as easy as it seems. Being an HR is like being the judge, you need to uphold peace and judgment in your respective companies. Having the right skills might mean the augmentation and further growth of the company you are working for.

 

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The 3 Reasons Why Good Employees Quit

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Losing a good employee can disrupt the flow of productivity in the office. There are several types of managers but the state of mind is that bosses can replace employees in a cinch.

You need to do another set of interviews ensuring that you are hiring the right person for your company. Likewise, you can always lean towards an executive firm to find you the right candidate.

With that in mind, you might ask yourself what are the reasons that make good employees bid farewell.

Here are 3 possible reasons why a good employee leaves a company:

  1. They’re Overworked

– Managers may not notice the burden of overworking their good employees. It might be quite tempting to always rely on and give more work to them but you shouldn’t over exceed their workload.

When good employees receive too much work, they might get the wrong idea that great performance would always mean more work. It might be quite vexing but sometimes the wrong idea does come to mind.

A recent Stanford research was also able to find out that the productivity per hour does decline when the workload of the week exceeds 50 hours. After around the 55th hour, it comes to the point that they might not even get work done anymore.

  1. They’re Not Recognized for Their Contributions

– An employee who has made a big contribution to a project should exhibit that they are of value. When harsh efforts go unnoticed, the tendency is that employees would feel unimportant to the agency. Thinking of things like other institutions may actually appreciate my efforts.

Show appreciation to your employees, never underestimate what a pat on a back or a simple thank you can do. Being shown that an employee is important can help them boost their morale and make them feel happy that they were a part of the project.

If the employee is doing a great job, think of things that would make them happy and try awarding them. An outstanding performance needs some kind of recognition. Try giving them a raise that they deserved or even a promotion.

  1. They Can’t Pursue Their Passions

– Some managers want their employees to always be in the safe zone, thinking of things outside the box. They trap creativity and the room for learning and growth diminishes over time.

Most employees want to expand their horizons and do more. They can’t improve and develop themselves if you have a status quo that limits and cages their potential.

Treat your employees with care, give them the attention they need. They will stay and make the company better. Imagine the managers are the ones taking care of the ‘fertile soil’ of the company. The employees are like seeds. If they have the right conditions, they will grow and flourish, as will the company.

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Hiring the Right People for Your Company

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An employee can either be the key to your success or be the reason for your crushing downfall. As the manager of an immense or compact company, you yourself will have to interview lots of potential candidates that will be suited for the job and the person that will be working under you.

The interview process is quite important because here you can investigate, learn, ask questions and meet the person that is applying to your company. The emerging markets and competitions will need you to overcome this challenge in finding the right candidate to be your asset.

With a lot of people with various different backgrounds and attitudes to choose from, it is inevitable or normal to ask yourself “Who should I hire and how will I interview this person?”. Here are some quick tips to help you with your dilemma.

  1. Be Creative

    Throw some curveballs at your interviewee, try not to ask very common interview questions because they will be expecting those queries and already have a strategized answer for that. A creative approach to questioning your respondents will let you know who they actually are rather than hearing them say scripted or rehearsed lines.

  1. Be Challenging

    Put the interviewee or candidate into a position that will make them uncomfortable. The challenge is to see how the person would handle troublesome situations and how the person would think and work under pressure. A person who is in a tough spot usually shows his personality and true colors.

  1. Allow Your Employees to Help

    You and your employees will have to work with this specific candidate in the workplace for some time, teamwork is very essential for harmony and better productivity, so you need to make sure your candidate and employees will get along and have synergy with one another. You don’t have to decide by yourself, get your employee’s insight and opinions to clarify your decisions.

  1. The Right Attitude

    A great addition to your team will always be a person with great skill sets, but most of the time a person with the right attitude already plays a big role in the success of a company.

Look for a person that actually cares, someone, you can say that he is accountable for his actions, and a person who has a strong sense of learning mentality.

Caring in the sense that the candidate will care about what the future holds and what will happen in the company. Accountable in terms of taking responsibility for his actions and a strong sense of learning mentality by the never-ending effort to learn new things and expand his horizons. Try to reflect on what kind of manager you are, and try to find those good aspects of your hiring candidate.

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Look Beyond: How Executive Search Works?

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The Executive Search or the “Headhunting” is the process of recruiting individuals to fill executive positions in organizations. Executive Search firms also help clients draft accurate and enticing job descriptions to draw in a pool of qualified candidates. The Executive Search profession ranges in models from “Retained” search to “Contingency” search and “Delimited” search. Retained search firms are paid a retainer up from the start of the process, another portion of the process and balance when the candidates begin work. While, Contingency search firms, receive their entire fee at the conclusion of the search process. Delimited or Engaged search is similar to retained search with a certain difference, but with the condition that the fee is refundable in case if the firm is not a suitable executive for the post. An Executive is an important part of the firm and it may not always possible for the company to find the best talent in the market, it is advisable to hire a firm that can do the task.

Since Executive Search firms are specialist in what they do and the way they operate is also very consultative; understanding the client’s business need, defining it into hiring requirement, defining the roles specs, vetting seasoned professionals against those specs, managing the offer making process and making the candidate join.

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5 main phases of Executive Search to exceed client expectations by providing the meaning choices of candidates a smooth and thorough process.

Establishment Search Priorities

Analyses the challenges unique to the organization and the role. They determine the skills, knowledge, and abilities on how clients can think about their needs. They develop a customized position and candidate specification, detailing the company, the role, responsibilities, goals and key challenges of the position as well as the experience, qualifications, and competence required for success.

Determine Search Strategy

Conduct targeted research into companies and sectors to find those with relevant skill-set and qualifications, supplementing extensive knowledge of and relationship with board directors and senior executives. Develop a long list of prospects best qualified for the role, with the goal of providing real options for clients. Talking to third-party contacts to identify and qualify prospects, preliminary referencing work for more productive long-list discussion.

Attract and Evaluate Candidates

Approach potential candidates to test their interest in the role. Conduct a rigorous competency-based interview with candidates based on the proven skills, knowledge, abilities and attitudes outlined in the position specification.

Present most Qualified Candidates for Client Interview

Drawing informal external views on each candidate to confirm and enhance knowledge of the candidate’s achievement and track record, provide meaningful insight past performance and reputation.

Complete the Search

After the client has selected its preferred candidate, conduct thorough background checks and references to further assess competencies. They conduct a client satisfaction survey to improve service and refine the approach. Assists in negotiations over compensation and other terms to be able to finalize the search. Once, the client follows up the candidate then the search is closed.

Executive Search firms are specialized recruitment services that find top-level candidates for senior, executive or other highly specialized positions for clients. Headhunters usually use a number of different tactics in their executive search to ensure their clients receive the best executive candidates. The unique method helps to find and attract a wide range of professionals. In addition, recruiters have access to “passive candidates” or individuals who are looking for a new position. These candidates often represent the most qualified talent in their industry. During an executive, the main role is to identify the best passive and active candidates for their clients. Usually, they have a more sophisticated and creative method of identifying and screening virtuoso in any field. Further, an executive searcher can execute a discreet search to find the right match, which can be appropriate in specific solutions that contributes more to an organization in terms of profits and savings compared to the cost to find them. Here are several ways they establish a talent pool.

Personal Networking

Executive recruiters are active relationship builders. By networking themselves, job seekers raise their chances of coming into contact with associates of recruiters by establishing steady and meaningful contact with acquaintances, friends, university alumni and industry influences who might be the perfect candidate for a job opening.

Referrals

Recruiters also become confidantes who can recommend individuals who might be right for job openings and provide first-hand insight about them.

LinkedIn Recruiters

The recruiter’s section of LinkedIn’s Talent Solutions programs has been a major hit with executive recruiters. The design makes it easy for headhunters to search the full profile like make notations, about prospects, send messages, collect responses and store reports.

Other Online Social Platform

Recruiters scour all types of blogs, social media websites, and forums that cater to specific professional niches. They also regularly track trending industry topics on Twitter and Facebook, nothing professionals that provide expertise, unique ideas, and engaging discussion.

Professional Organization

Recruiters frequent the conference circuit, taking note of dynamic speakers and panelist headlining events for membership associations in industries that match their specialized recruiting areas. Job seekers should attend as many professional conferences as they can and assume active roles.

Boolean Search

Recruiters use a few search tricks to find professionals in the right location, with the right certification and endorsement.

The News

The executive recruiters always have their antennae up for professional lauded in industry media sources or watching industry news.

Social Recruiting Apps

Social recruiting sites and applications are made exclusively for recruiting which provides an automated search for recruiters to find and track job candidates across the entire web.

 

References:

  1. https://www.ginkgosearch.com/the-steps-of-the-executive-search-process/
  2. https://www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/unusual-recruitment-better-candidates
  3. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-ideas-for-recruiting-great-candidates-1916798
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When To Use An Executive Search Firm?

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An Executive search firm is something that affects every business and every level of management. The ability to recruit great talent is key to the ultimate success or failure of a business. Companies will use executive search firms so that they do not have to sort through possibly hundreds of applications for a job. These days, there are more people applying for the same position and companies do not have the time to sift through that many applications. They will, therefore, hire a recruitment agency to take care of this part of the process and to whittle the number of candidates down to a manageable level. Business owners and executives do not have the time and in many cases do not have the skills to find the perfect candidate, so outsourcing to an executive search firm will be the best solution.

Executive search firms are retained by clients in an advisory capacity. Typically used for senior-level executive positions and board directors, executive search firms partner with clients to identify, assess and select the very best possible candidate. They identify a slate of the most qualified candidates that would fit well with the client’s culture and have the right background and experience for the specific opportunity.

There are many reasons why companies are hesitant to engage an executive search firm to help them hire leadership talent. Whether it’s because they think they can hire an executive leader on their own, they don’t want to pay the cost of retaining a firm, or they’re just skeptical of the process, these companies are ultimately missing out on an opportunity to hire the best leader for their company. There’s a lot of benefits of using an Executive Search Firm, they help you find the best person by providing access to a wider, deeper pool of potential candidates. For critical roles, there’s a huge difference between an adequate candidate and an outstanding one, so you don’t want to limit your possibilities to the 5 to 10% of people who are actively looking for a new position right now. By proactively seeking out people who fit the profile, whether or not they’re in the market for a new opportunity, search firms provide you with more and better options for high-level positions.

Employers use an executive search firm when a search is important enough to warrant the investment and they are relying on search firms to help fill their executive ranks with the talent they need to stay competitive. Even with the use of executive search firms on the rise in the quest for top talent, many companies still rely on their own in-house resources to fill most of their open positions. The reasons for this are varied. Some companies believe they have sufficient resources and knowledge in-house, whereas others simply want to avoid paying a fee to outside search firms, regardless of their ability to fill mission-critical positions.

There are eight scenarios when investing in a search firm is a good idea. These eight scenarios are common cases for when it makes sense to hire help.

  1. Chase for the best

    If you use an executive search firm you’re statistically more likely to access the best job-seekers on the market (both active and passive). If you’re looking for an ideal candidate who will check all the boxes, of course, you need to work with someone who really knows what they are doing because recruiting is one of those things that anybody can do and just about anyone can find a person to do a job. Recruitment agencies may have some of the best talent already registered on their books and it could mean finding the perfect candidate sooner than later. Not only will an executive recruiter have the best jobs, but   they may also have access to the best candidates. Companies will benefit from the fact that a recruitment firm may have some of the best talent already registered on their books and it could mean finding the perfect candidate sooner rather than later.

  2. You’ve tested but have not experienced success

    Working with a recruiter open your pool of candidate beyond your network, either you have an active search that has been open for too long or you’ve used up your knowledge and recruiting tricks and you are not sure what to do next because failing to use recruitment agencies means that some candidates will not see these fantastic job advertisements and may miss the opportunity to work in a fantastic company with an excellent package.

  3. Confidential Search

    Sometimes you may need to replace an underperforming executive while they’re still in their current role. This type of search requires confidentiality and trust to get the job done. Companies conduct confidential searches when they want to replace someone who is still with the firm. In these situations, the criteria generally include a need for confidentiality, speed and finding a person with a highly specific skill set. If you have an employee that is under-performing, you may want to start recruiting before you let them go. Or you may need to recruit talent from organizations that your company does business with. In these cases, a search firm may be used to help keep things quiet until the new executive is ready to step into the position.

  4. Time & Resources

    The hiring process can be very time consuming, and especially the initial stages of sorting through applications. If your ‘day job’ is not recruiting, you may not have the time or focus to dedicate to an important search. Or your day job may be recruiting but you have too many open and not enough time. When you lack the time and resources, search firms are a great resource for giving an executive search the time and resources necessary. Giving a recruitment agency the task of creating a shortlist of candidates for a position in a company is good business sense.

  5. The most Standing out

    Most often, employers call on an executive search firm for most important roles, especially c-suite or executive leadership roles like CEO (Chief Executive Officer), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), CTO (Chief Technical Officer), CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer), etc. Making a bad hire in your C-suite can have disastrous consequences. There’s an art to finding qualified, top-performing executives and the search for the right candidate can make the process far longer and far tougher. Not only are leadership positions crucial to the success of the business, but it’s helpful to have a third-party perspective to avoid blind hiring because sometimes internal team members see only what they want to see.

  6. Fresh Roles

    Generally, companies are used to filling their core positions, why go to an outside firm when you are in a rhythm? But then they create a brand-new position in the company and they don’t know where to begin. New roles are particularly difficult to recruit for because, typically, there is no benchmark to serve as a point of reference when determining the skills and temperament needed. This is also true for roles in which the predecessor was unsuccessful, and the role will need to be redefined/department rebuilt, etc. The need for guidance increases exponentially when the position falls outside the standard scope or target profile at other companies. Generally, successful companies find themselves in this position and quickly lean on the experience of an executive recruitment firm. Hiring them to come in and assess your workforce is a reliable way to get a fuller picture of the in-house talent you already have and also lets you know which options are available to you externally.

  7. Underwater Basket Weavers

    Several candidates may have the necessary skills on paper, but an executive firm will be able to tell which candidate has the right potential and personality for long term success and will ultimately contribute to the business’s future growth. In addition to executive-level positions, some companies offer such a unique product or service that they require rare skill sets that are essential for driving core, strategic areas of the business. Pop culture may refer to these candidates as unicorns, they call it Underwater Basket Weavers because, well, how many of those are there out there? Executive recruiters are used to developing a strategy for finding this ‘ needle in a haystack’ candidates.

  8. More passive candidates, less active job seekers 

    Executive search firms often have more connections with passive candidates, those who are not actively looking for a new job and can tap into their pipelines to search for candidates that might not otherwise be on a company’s radar. While active job seekers aren’t necessarily bad, chances are good that passive candidates aren’t going to apply to online job postings. In fact, some of them aren’t even really looking for a new job. However, they would be open to considering a new opportunity if that opportunity was presented to them. Executive recruiters know where these passive candidates are and how to present such opportunities.

Choosing the right executive recruiting firm to fill your organization’s next senior management vacancy starts with committing to some research before the search process even begins. This is one of the most important decisions your company will make, in part because of the potential upside the right executive can deliver and in part because of the huge cost of making a bad executive hire.

Whether you decide to use in-house resources or hire an outside consulting firm, your goal should always be to ensure that you will be able to identify and attract top-notch candidates for each position and build or restore your company’s talent pool. Nothing is more critical to your company’s long-term success.

References:

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A Guide on Building a Good Relationship With Executive Researchers

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Upon entering the industry you want to pursue a lot of people you will meet along the way and one of them is the Executive Researchers, also known as Executive Recruiters. Their main responsibility is to help employers fill the senior and highest-paying positions in a company. They are one of the many people one would like to have a good relationship with because they might be the key for one to move up in their career.

Developing a relationship with headhunters as early as now is a very good strategy, especially that building this kind of relationship takes time. Having headhunters work with you side by side can be very advantageous, as they can be a good help in future endeavors. There are different types of recruiters that one can meet along the way but with the right recipe for brewing a good relationship and they might just call you when they land a research assignment that compliments your background.

Being approached by an executive researcher can be confusing at times. Some might be persuaded but some might think that it is a prank call done by someone they know. If you are a rising talent or starting to build a career for yourself there is a great chance that you will be approached by one. Especially now that business leaders are more visible and accessible because of online professional networks. On the other hand, some might be wondering why they have not yet experienced being approached by one. Maybe there is something missing, or that you have exceeded their expectations. But nonetheless, once those mistakes are corrected, sooner or later an Executive Researcher will contact you.

Once you are approached by executive recruiters or planning to approach one, you should remember that they are not all the same, they work for their clients and building relationships with them is a two-way process. To help you with that, here are some tips on how to build a good relationship with Executive Researchers.

  1. Know Their Industry

    Executive Researchers will greatly appreciate when one has a background on what they are doing and know their real intention. In addition, knowing their industry will give you an advantage when talking to them. When you know how they feel and how they do things, you will be able to speak with them with higher confidence than usual.

  2. Extend Help

    In situations when you feel that the position offered to you does not suit you or different from what you are imagining, you can suggest possible candidates that might be well suited for it.

  3. Explain Rejections

    When you reject an offer, there is a possibility that headhunters might misinterpret your decision. So, it is better to let them understand why the job is not a good match for you, also, this can clear false impressions.

  4. Never Lie

    Always be honest about your capabilities and credentials. This is one key to landing a new opportunity. Honesty gives you additional points, not only to the recruiter’s side but also to their clients.

  5. Be Certain

    Always be sure about your decisions, it will not hurt to take a minute or two to reflect on the action you are about to do. One might leave a bad impression on recruiters once you did not stick to your word. And if there are changes to your plan, always update your recruiter ahead of time and let them know your whereabouts before an interview or any special appointment with their client. This way, the possibility of a misunderstanding will be lesser.

  6. Stay Involved

    Make sure that you never lose connection with them. When you accept a job offer, always keep them updated, whether you are up for an interview or you encountered a problem and need to cancel the latter, always update them ahead of time. As well as in future employment, it will also be great for you to keep in touch with them, with this they will also feel involved with you.

  7. Share Knowledge

    Once you share knowledge with a search consultant they will also share theirs. They can also make suggestions and provide you with information that can help you broaden your network for future endeavors.

  8. Be Calm

    There might be instances when an Executive Researcher happens to call on a bad time. During these situations always keep your cool so that there will not be a misunderstanding between the both of you. Better, explain your current situation and wish that they would understand.

  9. Be Friends with them

    There are chances that you will be able to be friends with Executive Researchers and this is a very good thing as they would really like it to have a candidate as a friend. Also, this will make the environment between the two of you comfortable.

  10. Respect them

    Having respect for an executive researcher is the most essential thing one must do upon meeting one. Whatever industry you desire to go to will always tell that respect is very important as how important EQ is in the workplace. This is one factor that shows what kind of person one is and the one that helps a recruiter decide whether they are fit for a job or not.

It is important to be one of the top candidates for a job, but it is not everything. Leaving a great impression toward an Executive Researcher, on the other hand, is everything. Once you get stuck on their mind there will be a greater chance that they will contact you in the future and might even give you a boost towards their candidates. Just remember that whatever you do or wherever you go, there is a chance that you will meet a headhunter, so always be prepared and ready yourself for what is about to come.

Reference:

Koshu Raghunandan featured image

An interview with the HR Guru, Ms Koshu

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I had the opportunity to talk to Ms. Koshu Raghunandan. A seasoned HR Generalist and an HR Business Partner. She contributed on a strategic level and provided high-quality HR services in the organizations. She handles the full HR spectrum – recruitment, compensation & benefits, manpower planning, employee relations, performance management, expatriate management, formulation and implementation of policies and procedures, streamlines and enhances workflows – to achieve business goals.

She successfully designed and implemented various HR Projects. Managed a Shared Services Center in a Global Employment Company for offshore teams and international mobility. Oversaw complete office administration, facilities management, and travel management.

Her exposure in HR is both in Local and Regional & culturally diverse multinational companies in the Middle East and the Asia Pacific.

See below some of the key highlights of our discussion.

1) What is your expertise? 

I am an HR Generalist with 20 years’ experience in various multinational companies covering full spectrum of HR in the Asia Pacific and Middle East, specializing in setting up of HR function and/or revamping the HR function. Areas include the full spectrum of HR include recruitment and selection, international mobility, employee handbooks, enhancing policies & procedures, workflows, compensation benefits, performance management. I have been contributing to strategy level & business partnering, managing teams and overseeing the operational and transactional activities.

2) What are the key industries you specialize in?

FMCG

Oil & Gas and Chemicals

Marine industries.

3) What are the important factors of being an Internal HR?

  • Playing the role of a consultant within the organization
  • Sharing of HR knowledge within the team and the organization
  • Keeping track of industry and the best practices
  • Making recommendations for change management and/or HR transformation.
  • When recommendations are accepted, seeing them implemented and achieving the positive results is rewarding and motivating

4) What is your Leadership style?

I work with different stakeholders, seniors, peers and subordinates. With subordinates, sharing of knowledge to develop and coach them is one of the things I do. With peers, I prefer a consultative style – so that there are participation and involvement for better buy-in on ideas. With seniors, it is a concept of sharing of knowledge of the best practices in the industry and making recommendations and influencing decisions that will be meaningful for the organization’s growth and bottom line.

5) What are the challenges of an Internal HR 

  • The role has evolved from the HR Administration to HR Business Partnering. And to be a successful business partner, it is essential to have business acumen.
  • Another challenge for an HR practitioner is to ensure Employee Engagement in the organization.
  • Creating a good employer branding with a culture that attracts job seekers.
  • Using and providing value-added HR analytics.

6) Factors and steps to consider when creating changes?

For Change Management, it is important to know:

  • Plan the Change – this must be tied to the overall company strategy. It should not be just a quick fix with a short-term perspective.
  • Important to determine what should be changed and what kind of change is required e.g. Structure of the organization, People in the organization or is it the technology.
  • How and who are the stakeholders that will be affected.
  • The change should be communicated to the various stakeholders as generally people are afraid of the unknown.
  • A change agent with good leadership qualities, must be appointed who can manage the workload and is someone with confidence.

Feel free to connect with her in LinkedIn to know more about her passion and expertise.

Ms. Koshu Raghunandan

Regional HR Manager and Business Partner

Thanks for reading! 🙂 If you find it interesting, hit that thumbs up button above and share. Feel free to post your comments.

Feel free to reach out with us if you want to be part and featured in our Monthly Session with HR Experts. You can drop me a short email at angelovaldez@harperandhill.com for selection process and shortlisting.

Pls see relevant articles.

What industries promote and provide long-term careers in Asia Pacific Region?

What are the types of managers you will meet?

Why do some employees become job hoppers?

Five common mistakes that prevent you from getting that prized job offer

How can an organization lessen the risk of attrition?

How reliable are personality tests in assisting in the recruitment process?

Types of Jobseekers

Types of recruiters you will meet

Booming Industries in the Philippines?

Overcoming Challenges in the Emerging Markets in Terms of finding the Right Candidate

The Author 

Angelo is the Managing Director of Harper & Hill Executive Search Inc, specializing in Senior Management positions in executive search in Emerging Market in Asia. He managed full spectrum of senior-level placements and worked with multinational clients in Asia, Africa and Europe. He travels across Asia pacific region for his assignments. 

Feel free to connect with him or follow him on LinkedIn. Angelo Cenon Valdez

Long-term careers featured image

What Industries Promote and Provide Long-term Careers in Asia Pacific Region?

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Some people would look at their jobs and just see it as it is – a job. Meaning, they are just doing something and performing various tasks every now and then for the reward or compensation. But the majority would agree that people are working hard to create a suitable and sustainable career for themselves. People would want to create a career that for them is significant and where they can experience opportunities for progress.

However, are industries different from one another in terms of creating a career for its workforce? What industries can provide long-term advancements to professionals and why is it that they are able to do so?

This article is created to understand which industry can provide and promote long-term opportunities and careers for professionals.

  1. LOGISTICS INDUSTRY. 

    This industry has been observed to become a stable industry by providing various windows of opportunities in the market. People who are employed in this industry find their careers stable and sustainable. The logistics industry is typically a high-performing market and can sustain its business regardless of economic difficulties. This is the industry is expected to expand into new locations for the development and adoption of other innovative businesses. Through this, employees are able to create and manage their employment platforms by simply looking out for opportunities within the industry that they specialize in. When expansion of this industry will be experienced, there will be the need to promote employees who are capable to handle functions that will be created for these developments, meaning, when an employee is promoted, the position will be vacant thus having the need to fill in the role creating numerous career ventures for these logistics professionals.

  2. DIGITAL, TECH and ONLINE INDUSTRY.

    This industry focuses on a wide range of work in technology, computer programming, high-tech electronics, information systems, computer programming, mobile application and multimedia development. In brief terms, this industry focuses on the modernization of things. This industry is experiencing developments and innovations that aim to propel profits and sustainability. This can provide long-term careers for people who are employed in this industry simply because modern technology greatly impacts how people would deal and go on with day-to-day businesses. This becomes a market where employees are needed because this industry is also becoming a necessity for many types of businesses as well. This industry can provide different career opportunities inclined with analytics, data processing, and digital computing.

  3. LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & RETAIL INDUSTRY.

    This industry has not really experienced difficulties in sustaining and promoting careers. Employment demands for this specific industry have been large and continue to grow in number due to the developments that the lifestyle products and retail industry is experiencing. This can create different avenues for professionals to establish long-term careers given that the focus is on the manufacturing industry.

  4. BPO & SHARED SERVICES INDUSTRY.

    This industry continues to grow and drives profits and revenues that contribute to economic growth and development. With the growth that this industry is projecting, this will also open up different career opportunities to professionals in this field. The demand for workers in this industry is expected to grow and through this expected growth comes long-term careers for professionals who continue to excel in this industry. It is also seen that career promotions are most seen and experienced in this industry making the work professionals achieve value and employment growth.

  5. BANKING & FINANCE INDUSTRY.

    This industry is slowly advancing with respect to growth and development providing more opportunities to professionals in this respective sector. Financial Services, especially, creates different opportunities to professionals since there are now different roles and functions where one can progress.

These industries create different platforms for professionals to manage their career mobility and various avenues for career opportunities. However, it would also be traced to a professional’s motivation to strive and work hard to be able to maintain a sustainable and long-term career. It is important that one should have the initiative and motivation to do great in his job and in the actual work setting.

Recruiters, from a hiring perspective, should be aware that employees aim to land a job that will be able to make them valuable in the company. In return, recruiters should be able to promote different career goals when talking and communicating with applicants. There are industries that are able to sustain career growth and development but it would also depend on one’s motivation, ability to perform, and character that they are able to create a sustainable career for themselves.

Harper & Hill Executive Search caters to different industries and aims to provide candidates who are motivated to do great. We assist our clients in their hiring needs and provide them with people who are able to see the company’s outlooks and perspectives.

Thanks for reading the article! 🙂 If you find it interesting, hit that thumbs up button above and share. It helps other people see and read the article. Feel free to post your comments.

Pls, see relevant articles.

What are the benefits of a contract job?

What are the types of managers you will meet?

Why do some employees become job hoppers?

5ive common mistakes that prevent you from getting that prized job offer

How can an organization lessen the risk of attrition?

How reliable are personality tests in assisting in the recruitment process?

5 Types of Jobseekers

7 Types of recruiters you will meet

6 booming Industries in the Philippines?

Overcoming Challenges in the Emerging Markets in Terms of finding the Right Candidate

The Author

Angelo is the Managing Director of Harper and Hill Executive Search Inc, specializing in Senior Management positions in executive search in Emerging Market in Asia. He managed the full spectrum of senior-level placements and worked with multinational clients in Asia, Africa and Europe. He travels across Asia pacific region for his assignments. 

Feel free to connect with him or follow him on LinkedIn. Angelo Cenon Valdez

 

Marketing Communication

Harper & Hill Marketing and Communications Team

Contact Us: recruitment@harperandhill.com

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What Are The Types Of Managers You Will Meet?

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Companies need leaders to rule over the business, organize the company, and manage their employees. These leaders come in the form of company managers. But what is a manager and how should they function? In simple terms, a manager is someone responsible for controlling or administering all or part of a company or any other similar organization. Despite this simple explanation as to what a manager is, a lot of things are being overlooked – not all managers are exactly the same.

If you are an employee and have been exposed to several companies already, you will agree that there are different types of managers. You might have realized that they have different management styles and techniques. You might have noticed that they have different personalities and traits. You might have felt that they all have different approaches in terms of dealing with employees.

Read through the article to see if you have met and dealt with these types of managers already – or if this is the manager you have now.

  1. AUTHORITARIAN. This type of manager favors enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of an employee’s freedom. Whatever an employee does, either remarkable or effective, this manager is never satisfied. At some point, this manager is difficult to get along with and he has the mentality that the only competent person working in the company is himself. Authoritarian managers are tough, this is true, but they have been through a lot to be able to stand where they are now and have overcome difficulties in order to reach their positions. If you are an employee dealing with this type of manager, it is important to know their objectives and that both of yours are equally aligned. This is because you want their objective to be your objective too. This type of manager are always clear with what they want, and as an employee, you will need to support that. By doing so, you are able to contribute and assist this type of manager in accomplishing a specific objective. Authoritarian managers are after employees who are team players and competent workers.
  2. PERFECTIONIST. This type of manager is someone who wants to be updated always and is always in need of constant information. He wants to know everything that is happening and if it is being followed accordingly. Perfectionist managers want to be consulted if there are any critical decisions to be made. They always have this urge to be kept in the loop. They are very keen and detail-oriented and they study and analyze every information, regardless of it being big or small. This is someone who will call you at any time for an update or ask the status of the task. If you are an employee dealing with this type of manager, it is important that you always inform him of what is happening. The only way to deal with a perfectionist manager is to accept that you cannot change your manager and that you will need to understand why he acts this way. Simply because he wants to know if a job is done or if there is any progress. Or if there is any conflict or problems that he can easily address. As an employee, delivering what they want and gaining their confidence is very critical for your success with working with this manager. One way is to give him the updates he wants daily – or at least create an agreement or a timetable for sending updates and information.
  3. EGOTISTICAL. This type of manager is conceited and excessively self-centered. What is important to him is that he looks good, even if that means that he needs to take credit for something that he didn’t do. Egotistical managers will not accept full responsibility for mistakes and errors that may happen. Rather, it will put the blame on an employee and will let the employee fix the problem – alone. This manager loves to point out what needs to be done and should be accomplished but he does not even know how to get things started. This type of manager loves to go around and point out peoples’ mistakes and shortcomings just to give everyone the impression that he has none and that he is above and better than anyone else. When a problem arises, he is quick to delegate it to someone else and let the employee handle it. And when something good comes from the deed – he then will take full credit as if it was him who handled the problem. Employees need to deal with this type of manager by having proper documentation and details of every conversation, e-mail trails, or anything that the manager has to say. Through this, if the manager screws up and does not accomplish anything, you are able to avoid accountability and will reflect who it is that should be blamed.
  4. KIND-HEARTED. When an employee meets this type of manager, he will think that this person is the sweetest and most wonderful boss in the world. This type of manager is more focused on what he wants to say rather than what he is supposed to say. He will tell you positive and nice things even when you are doing a bad job at your task. Kind-hearted managers will tell you what you want to hear. This type of managers want their employees to like them and that they are avoiding conflict or having the need to explain any difficult situation. Employees who have this type of manager want to hear honest and direct feedback but kind-hearted managers fail to do so. Kind-hearted managers should also be sincere but straightforward. They should consistently aligning their words and action and should be able to speak up if there are problems and concerns. Employees can deal with this type of manager by understanding why he sees the world is fine and beautiful. When asking for feedback, I also request to point out points of improvement and development opportunities.
  5. THE CAPABLE. Capable managers are the type of managers who employees want to work for. They possess wonderful qualities that make them fit for a manager. Capable managers have the perfect leadership strategy and equipped with the right character and motivation. These are managers who are open to change and to hearing suggestions from employees. They teach employees what should be done and let the employees learn at their own pace as well. They also resolve employee concerns and are very professional, they will tell you when you need to improve on something but will also acknowledge your accomplishments. Capable managers know how to build a team and can decide on their own. Employees will learn a lot working under capable managers that will help them add value to themselves. When capable managers make tough decisions, they can do it in a way the employees will respect it and everyone involved will be professional about it.

You might have met at least one of these types already – or maybe you have managers who are a combination of those mentioned above. As employees, we have to realize that we can never change who they are as a manager, but we can always adapt to how they are. We can adjust so we can properly work with them and become successful.

Working with people is never easy but it does not mean that you will have to compromise the objective to be successful. Also, it depends on how we view our managers whether we put them in a negative or positive light. If you think that you are not a match for your manager or you doubt the style your manager implements then maybe you will not achieve success and are both being a burden to one another. Managers are different from each other – but that does not mean that it will hinder you from finishing a task or accomplishing a goal.

Harper & Hill Executive Search have assessed and employed a lot of managers to several clients. We make sure that these managers are equipped with the right attitude and character. We aim that our clients have the best managers not just to keep the business running but to also handle employees.

Thanks for reading the article! 🙂 If you find it interesting, hit that thumbs up button above and share. It helps other people see and read the article. Feel free to post your comments.

 

The Author 

Angelo is the Managing Director of Harper & Hill Executive Search Inc, specializing in Senior Management positions in executive search in Emerging Market in Asia. He managed a full spectrum of senior-level placements and worked with multinational clients in Asia, Africa and Europe. He travels across Asia pacific region for his assignments. 

 

Feel free to connect with him or follow him on LinkedIn. Angelo Cenon Valdez

 

 

You can contact our Executive Search Team

 

Marketing Communication

Harper & Hill Marketing and Communications Team

Contact Us: recruitment@harperandhill.com

Mistakes That Prevent You From Getting That Prized Job Offer featured image

Five Common Mistakes That Prevent You From Getting That Prized Job Offer

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Since April 2016 of this year, Harper and Hill Executive Search Inc team have been planning on how HR and Recruitment Industry will be much more interesting and innovative. With the help of our Candidates, Clients and other Consultants and HR Professionals in Asia. We will be launching a series of Videos of Exciting real-life situations of HR Professionals and Candidates.

Here is the first of a series of Videos.

Here are the five common mistakes that prevent you from getting that prized job offer:

Number one – You’re not virtually out there.

You’re not on social media or online job boards. Leverage on social media to have different avenues and opportunities for employment. The Internet is a great networking platform, make it easier for us to find you.

Number two – You tend to oversell.

There’s nothing wrong when you tell us about your success stories and achievements. But please don’t go overboard, you don’t have to brag about everything you’ve done. Because if you know everything already, what’s left for you to learn? How would you grow? And how would you achieve career satisfaction?

Number three – You’re making people adjust to your schedule.

We understand that given your executive role and function, you’re doing a lot of things. But if you really want that change, then learn to adjust and value others people’s time. Setting up interviews for people at your level is already difficult, so please make time to entertain our messages. We’re sure we’ll make great things together.

Number four – Your goals are not aligned with what you want to achieve with your career.

Don’t share false information so we won’t set false expectations as well. Let us work with you for the right reasons so we can come up with a greater offer at the end of the day.

And finally…

Number five – You’re forgetting the basics of an interview.

Do you even remember when was the last time you got interviewed? If it’s a virtual interview, please have a pleasant background. Never have your kitchen as a background. It would be great to have a simple painted wall so the focus is towards you and not the things around you. If it’s a face-to-face interview. Please wear business to formal attire. Wear a smile on your face and arrive on time. Look sharp and be sharp when having the interview.

And those are the five common mistakes that prevent you from getting that prized job offer. If you’d like to add more, share it with us on the comments section below

“Our goal is to help you get the job. But to get the job, you should help set your goals as well. Assess yourself and try to understand what’s lacking – in you and in your profile. Once you overcome those mistakes that hinder you, rest assured, you will have the career move you are aspiring for.”

For more tips on landing your dream executive job, visit us at update.harperandhill.com. Also get updates on the latest executive job openings all over Asia, like us at Facebook.com/harperandhill

Enjoy your business nights! Let the Harper and Hill Executive Search Team bring you the best executive positions all over South East Asia!

The Author 

Angelo is the Managing Director of Harper and Hill Executive Search Inc, specializing in Senior Management positions in executive search in Emerging Market in Asia. He managed a full spectrum of senior-level placements and worked with multinational clients in Asia, Africa and Europe. He travels across Asia pacific region for his assignments. 

Feel free to connect with him or follow him on LinkedIn. Angelo Cenon Valdez

You can contact our Executive Search Team

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