Career Management and Job Search for Top Talent Blog

Isn't there a saying  about an ounce of prevention?

We often do one-on-one search coaching with candidates. This is a program covers all aspects of a person's search. We work weekly to ensure all is being done to expedite their search. We cover issues that might arise before they arise, discuss areas of conflict, develop a marketing plan, perform interviews, resumes, interviewing tough questions, compensation negotiations and pre-checking references. It is very comprehensive and often hidden issues that might prevent the candidate from getting an interview or job are discovered and addressed before they become an issue. Too often the candidate never finds out why they didn't get an interview or offer. When a little up front work would solve the problem before it becomes a problem.

As part of this coaching, the candidate develops a complete set of references. The candidate always assures us that the reference has told them "They would give me a good reference." A CEO I was working with had a board member as one of the references. I called to talk with this reference just to make sure all was well. It didn't take long to realize that the reference although not bad was only average to barely passing. It wasn't what the reference said, as much as how he said it. Not something the candidate would want a company to hear. We went back to candidate suggested they use other board members (at least two) instead of the first one. They both had great things to say and in fact one was going to recommend the candidate for another position. It turned out the first person had a grudge to bear against the CEO for leaving. These two then became the reference. Had we not done this the candidate would have never found out why he didn't get the position.

This is just one of many very easy things to deal with before they become a problem.

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