Comments on: The Career Change Blues (and Other Colors): So, Tell Me A Little About Yourself http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2005/03/the-career-change-blues-and-other-colors-so-tell-me-a-little-about-yourself/ Rethinking Customer Experience & Marketing Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:56:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Matt Sunshine http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2005/03/the-career-change-blues-and-other-colors-so-tell-me-a-little-about-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Matt Sunshine Fri, 18 Mar 2005 17:54:06 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2005/03/11/the-career-change-blues-and-other-colors-so-tell-me-a-little-about-yourself/#comment-10 Many interviews does not have to take many weeks. If there is urgnecy and it is important then we will move quick but not with out our due dilligence. I like your ideas and I too wish that everyone could have a work place where they feel not like 1/x but like 100%. Some may not like our process but I will say this... I work in anindustry where turnover of sales peopl is about 60% a year and in our organization it is around 25%. We have seen by doing a better job of selection that we have decreased turnover and increased productivity. Oh, by the way... I explain to every one that I interview that this is our process and not to be frustrated with the multiple meetings. Once I explain to them that I want them to interview us as much as I wantt o interview them, most people really like it. Many interviews does not have to take many weeks. If there is urgnecy and it is important then we will move quick but not with out our due dilligence. I like your ideas and I too wish that everyone could have a work place where they feel not like 1/x but like 100%. Some may not like our process but I will say this… I work in anindustry where turnover of sales peopl is about 60% a year and in our organization it is around 25%. We have seen by doing a better job of selection that we have decreased turnover and increased productivity. Oh, by the way… I explain to every one that I interview that this is our process and not to be frustrated with the multiple meetings. Once I explain to them that I want them to interview us as much as I wantt o interview them, most people really like it.

]]> By: Christopher Bailey http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2005/03/the-career-change-blues-and-other-colors-so-tell-me-a-little-about-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Christopher Bailey Thu, 17 Mar 2005 15:23:54 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2005/03/11/the-career-change-blues-and-other-colors-so-tell-me-a-little-about-yourself/#comment-9 Matt, I get what you're saying. I did work for an association with 100 staff and there were times I felt like 1/100th of the organization. How did that make me feel many times? Like I have absolutely no reason to give 100% for the organization. In this case, the relationship wasn't set on equal ground. I think this is where organizations and the individuals who come together to comprise them have a new opportunity. What if instead of a mechanistic view where each person is 1/x of the organization (or essentially a cog), we adopted an ecological view where each person is a whole among other wholes. I think this may deserve a post. BTW, I'm curious about the number of times a candidate interviews with you. I'm afraid my impatience would get in the way and I'd say "hire me or not" after the third time. Do any of your candidates balk at the 6-7 interviews? Have you ever lost a promising candidate because of the long hiring cycle? Matt, I get what you’re saying. I did work for an association with 100 staff and there were times I felt like 1/100th of the organization. How did that make me feel many times? Like I have absolutely no reason to give 100% for the organization. In this case, the relationship wasn’t set on equal ground.

I think this is where organizations and the individuals who come together to comprise them have a new opportunity. What if instead of a mechanistic view where each person is 1/x of the organization (or essentially a cog), we adopted an ecological view where each person is a whole among other wholes. I think this may deserve a post.

BTW, I’m curious about the number of times a candidate interviews with you. I’m afraid my impatience would get in the way and I’d say “hire me or not” after the third time. Do any of your candidates balk at the 6-7 interviews? Have you ever lost a promising candidate because of the long hiring cycle?

]]> By: Matt Sunshine http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2005/03/the-career-change-blues-and-other-colors-so-tell-me-a-little-about-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Matt Sunshine Wed, 16 Mar 2005 05:27:09 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2005/03/11/the-career-change-blues-and-other-colors-so-tell-me-a-little-about-yourself/#comment-8 Who is really doing the interviewing. think about this.... if you join a company that has about 100 employees, you become 1/100 of the company, however that company becomes 100% for you. You are much more committed to the company then they are to you. cold but true! that is why you need to make sure you interview a lot before you decide who it is that you want to give yourself to 100%. I do a lot of interviewing. LY I interviewed over 200 potential sales people, and hired about 15 of them. I will tell you that not one got hired until thay had at least 6 or even 7 interviews. I think it is so important that the interviewee has the opportunity to see us in our work enviorment many times before they give us their 100% committment. Who is really doing the interviewing. think about this…. if you join a company that has about 100 employees, you become 1/100 of the company, however that company becomes 100% for you. You are much more committed to the company then they are to you. cold but true! that is why you need to make sure you interview a lot before you decide who it is that you want to give yourself to 100%. I do a lot of interviewing. LY I interviewed over 200 potential sales people, and hired about 15 of them. I will tell you that not one got hired until thay had at least 6 or even 7 interviews. I think it is so important that the interviewee has the opportunity to see us in our work enviorment many times before they give us their 100% committment.

]]> By: Christopher Bailey http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2005/03/the-career-change-blues-and-other-colors-so-tell-me-a-little-about-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Christopher Bailey Sat, 12 Mar 2005 19:17:57 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2005/03/11/the-career-change-blues-and-other-colors-so-tell-me-a-little-about-yourself/#comment-7 Todd, I really think it's important for both sides to be discerning. I like what you talk about in terms of knowing exactly what talents are crucial to your positions. I've been on the hiring side and you can get wrapped up in skills and experiences. However, this whole career change process has convinced me as to how vital talents are. Skills can be taught, but talents are innate and unique to who we are. I'd be curious to know how many organizations include a listing of talents that are beneficial to the position. Actually make it a part of the position description. Perhaps the bigger question is how many organizations understand and promote the idea of talent as essential to the hiring process. Todd, I really think it’s important for both sides to be discerning.

I like what you talk about in terms of knowing exactly what talents are crucial to your positions. I’ve been on the hiring side and you can get wrapped up in skills and experiences. However, this whole career change process has convinced me as to how vital talents are. Skills can be taught, but talents are innate and unique to who we are.

I’d be curious to know how many organizations include a listing of talents that are beneficial to the position. Actually make it a part of the position description. Perhaps the bigger question is how many organizations understand and promote the idea of talent as essential to the hiring process.

]]> By: K. Todd Storch http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2005/03/the-career-change-blues-and-other-colors-so-tell-me-a-little-about-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-6 K. Todd Storch Sat, 12 Mar 2005 16:39:19 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2005/03/11/the-career-change-blues-and-other-colors-so-tell-me-a-little-about-yourself/#comment-6 Thank you for sharing more on your search. As a hiring manager, it was very refreshing to see your thought process and preparation before the interview. What stood out to me the most about your post was the reference that it has to be a fit not only good for you, but the company. We spend a lot of time with interview candidates and it is extremely important to make sure that we are right for our potential employee's. It puts more responsibility on me to truly KNOW exactly what type of talent and job function is REALLY needed (not to just put a butt in a seat). Sure seems like there will be a perfect match right around the corner for you! Todd Thank you for sharing more on your search.

As a hiring manager, it was very refreshing to see your thought process and preparation before the interview.

What stood out to me the most about your post was the reference that it has to be a fit not only good for you, but the company.

We spend a lot of time with interview candidates and it is extremely important to make sure that we are right for our potential employee’s.

It puts more responsibility on me to truly KNOW exactly what type of talent and job function is REALLY needed (not to just put a butt in a seat).

Sure seems like there will be a perfect match right around the corner for you!

Todd

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