Online MBA in Job Hunting - Finding Employment during Tough Economic Times

As if it wasn't apparent...finding work these days can be a herculean challenge.  If you're not searching for a job...consider yourself blessed.  For those who find themselves in the search mode, there is a paradigm shift going on and if you don't change the way you search then you're not likely to get the result you want.

First off, 30 percent of all open positions last year were filled by internal transfers and promotions. At nearly 29 percent, referrals were the No. 1 external source of hiring, and between 80 and 90 percent of those referrals came from employees. Alumni and other types of referrals are growing rapidly, which is why Facebook and LinkedIn are important.  Hires attributed to job boards accounted for 25.7 percent of external hires. Among job boards, the company’s own site accounted for 54.4 percent of the hires, which means you have to go to individual company websites to find jobs and post resumes. Monster represented the source of hire for 19.7 percent of positions, followed by CareerBuilder (17.4 percent) and Yahoo HotJobs (4 percent).


Okay, here's the latest update on the Online MBA in Job Hunting, an Executive Search summary. Most of this is current, but with so much uncertainty in the marketplace and companies failing at an alarming rate, I can't guarantee that all the following will be working. The following is the Top Ten list of Executive Search firms:

1. Heidrick & Struggles Int'l. http://www.heidrick.com/

losangeles@heidrick.com

2. Korn/Ferry Int'l. http://www.kornferry.com/

3. Spencer Stuart http://www.spencerstuart.com/

contact@spencerstuart.com

4. Russell Reynolds Assoc. http://www.russellreynolds.com/

info@russellreynolds.com

5. DHR International http://www.dhrintl.net/

resumes@dhrintl.net

6. Egon Zehnder Int'l. http://www.zehnder.com/

ezilosangeles@ezi.net

7. TMP/Highland Partners http://www.tmpw.com/

contact_tmpsearch@tmp.com

Robert Rollo, Managing Partner, Los Angeles, robert.rollo@tmp.com

Neal L. Maslan, Managing Partner, Encino, neal.maslan@tmp.com

Michael Ballenger, Managing Partner, San Francisco, ESSanFranWriteInResumes@tmp.com

Kristine M. Anderson, Consultant, Los Angeles Office, Kristine.Anderson@tmp.com

Stephen R. Bochner, M.D. - Practice Leader, Healthcare Technology, San Francisco, CA

Stephen.Bochner@tmp.com

Natasha Ciancutti, San Francisco, Natasha.Ciancutti@tmp.com

Darin DeWitt, Healthcare Sector; Technology Sector; Internet/eCommerce Practice

Encino, CA, darin.deWitt@tmp.com

Bethany George, Global Board of Directors Practice; Consumer Products & Services Sector; Human Resources Practice, Los Angeles, CA, Bethany.George@tmp.com

Kristin Hebert - Leader, Global Legal Practice, Partner, Chair, Legal Practice Group

San Francisco, Kristin.Hebert@tmp.com

Martin J. Hewett, Global Technology Sector, Encino, CA, Martin.J.Hewett@tmp.com

James Quandt, Partner, Board of Directors Practice, Los Angeles, james.quandt@tmp.com

Hamish Shaw, Technology Sector, San Francisco, CA, hamish.shaw@tmp.com

Jennifer Shenbaum, Consultant, Global Board of Directors Practice; Los Angeles, CA

Jennifer.Shenbaum@tmp.com

8. A.T. Kearney http://www.atkearney.com/

executive_search@atkearney.com

9. Christian & Timbers http://www.ctnet.com/

ResumeAdmin1@ctnet.com

10. Witt/Kieffer http://www.wittkieffer.com/

nicke@wittkieffer.com

You can find a list of the 20 Best Job Search Websites was published at http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2342781,00.asp, so here is their list in order:

http://www.beyond.com/

http://www.careerbuilder.com/

http://www.craigslist.org/

http://www.execu-search.com/

http://www.hound.com/

http://www.indeed.com/

http://www.jobcentral.com/

http://www.jobserve.us/

http://www.jobster.com/

http://www.linkedin.com/

http://www.monster.com/

http://www.oodle.com/job/

http://www.ontargetjobs.com/

http://www.simplyhired.com/

http://www.snagajob.com/

http://www.theladders.com/

http://www.trovix.com/

http://www.tweetmyjobs.com/

http://www.usajobs.com/

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/

Online Executive Search submittals:

The "mecca" of online job hunting is of course http://www.monster.com, and I'd encourage you to create an account, post your resume and then create up to 5 different "Search Agents" which will identify different keywords and allow you to keep track of different search criteria. You will be amazed at the number of postings this site gets on a daily basis, not always relevant, but definitely encouraging that there's lots of hiring needs out there.

The best resource to immediately get your resume into TONS of recruiters hands is;

http://www.resumeblaster.com/

You can argue about the shotgun approach, but this has definitely opened up opportunities for folks in the past. There are other similar types of services out there, but they don't do as good a job of screening and qualifying who they're sending the blast to, so just be aware that results will vary from different resume blast services.

The second best resource I've found is http://www.execunet.com. They have a subscription service, but I guarantee you that it's worth the time and money to investigate the jobs that they've got posted.

In terms of high-class top-notch executive search firms, the best is of course Heidrick & Struggles which has developed their online presence at http://www.leadersonline.com. I would highly recommend that you spend some time going through their process and submitting your resume.

The second best firm in the country is Korn-Ferry and their site is http://www.futurestep.com.

Local online recruiters which likely have local versions in other geographic areas include;

http://sandiego.techies.com/  

http://www.sandiego-hightech.com/

http://www.alcockmcfadden.com/  

http://www.mrisandiego.com/

http://www.romac.com/

http://www.asajobs.com/ 

National online recruiters with San Diego jobs include;

http://www.headhunter.net/

http://www.brainpower.com/

http://www.career-index.com/

http://www.careerpal.com/

http://www.theworksite.com/

http://www.jobplex.com/  

http://www.prorecruiting.com/

http://jobs.careermosaic.com/

http://www.careeradvisor.com/

http://www.buschint.com/

In terms of companies with whom I've personally worked and have a contact name, they include;

http://www.iccjobs.com/  Mason Chu (mason@iccjobs.com)

http://www.primeforce.com/  Leah Blalock (leah@primeforce.com)

http://www.talentlab.com/  Brian Margarita (brianm@talentlab.com)

http://www.dmgusa.com/  David Preston 312.397.0101

http://www.rhic.com/  Brett Letterman 858.558.6990 (brett.lederman@rhic.com)

http://www.searchnet.net/  Paul Korn 858.756.1631

Feel free to mention my name if you contact these folks.

JOB SITES I have other than monster & career builders.

a. http://www.ivyexec.com/  http://www.davenportmajor.com/

b. http://www.theladders.com/  - fee required

c. http://www.linkedin.com/

d. http://www.indeed.com/

e. http://www.glocap.com/

f. http://www.invitrogen.com/  - company site with a lot of openings

g. http://www.biospace.com/

h. http://www.srasf.com/  - search firm that lists jobs

i. www.netshare.com/main.aspx?pg=jobs  - requires fee – can see w/o names of co/industry

j. http://www.beaker.com/  – life science job site

k. http://www.meddevicejobs.com/

l. http://www.masimo.com/  company site

m. http://www.ritesite.com/

n. http://www.dice.com/  – technical jobs

o. http://www.keyrecruit.com/  - search firm that lists jobs

p. http://www.spghealthcare.com/  – search firm that lists job – firms does not have Medical Device expertise

q. www.edsjoblist.com/  - bio tech positions – BN not use

r. http://www.edwards.com/

s. http://www.ventureloop.com/

t. http://www.devicecareernetwork.com/  – replaced biospace site

u. http://www.realmatch.com/  - the e-harmony for job searches

Here's what I'd suggest. Get your resume together and have it in both a Word format that you can attach to emails, as well as plain text form from which you can cut and paste into web page submission forms. I'd spend between 1 and 2 hours a day just regularly submitting to all these sites.

If you have been searching for your next opportunity for a few weeks or longer, you should find the following information useful. I find that too many job seekers limit their search to just one or two job sites. This strategy is extremely limiting. There are a lot of opportunities on the Internet but they will not be found with limited research.

Most of the best jobs are not advertised; those jobs are only found through networking or by reaching out to new recruiters in your field of expertise, on a large scale, before they recommend candidates to their clients. Even in today's economy, the independent recruitment business is alive and well. Recruiters are responsible for placing 50% of jobs between $50,000 and $90,000 per year and 85% of jobs over $100,000 per year. Love em or hate em, they are still in business. If this is your target salary, you need each other for mutual success.

JOB SEARCHING -- You can search for jobs at no charge on virtually every job site. These sites make money by charging recruiters and employers to post jobs. The drawback is that the best jobs are not posted here or anywhere. Here are a few well-known examples.

http://www.monster.com/  (for general jobs)

http://www.dice.com/  (tech jobs)

http://www.vault.com/  (general and various jobs)

http://www.recruiterconnection.com/  (for middle/upper management jobs)

http://www.headhunter.net/  (lots of tech jobs, as well as many general ones)

RESUME POSTING -- Posting your resume is also free most everywhere. The drawback is, in order to be effectively 'found', there are a few hundred places where you need to post your resume. All 'top level' job sites (the ones with television ads) charge large sums of money to search that resume database. This pricing model virtually guarantees that most employers and recruiters will not find your resume. Posting your resume to lesser-known job sites is often more effective because most have a larger recruiter and employer user base (those sites charge little or nothing to search for resumes). There are a few online services that take the pain out of posting your resume to 30 or 40 effective job sites. Each site charges a nominal fee for the time they save finding and posting to that many job sites. Here are a few examples.

http://www.resumevalet.com/

http://www.careerexpress.com/

CAREER COUNSELORS -- Realizing a need for career marketing services a few companies are successfully assisting executives with a personal direct marketing campaign. Their services include resume writing, counseling, and resume distribution via regular mail. This type of marketing effort will uncover the hidden job market for the few professionals smart enough to recognize the benefit. The personal attention they offer is great but you will spend as much as $8,000 with no guarantee of a job. Here are two established firms that help many people.

http://www.wsacorp.com/ and

http://www.job-hunting.com/

TARGETED RESUME DISTRIBUTION -- For proactive job seekers who earn between $40k and $260k and want an intelligent connection to the executive recruiters that serve their industry, profession, and location, this is the best answer. This service focuses solely on the distribution of your resume, via email, to over 10,000+ executive recruiters. It is much better than being lost in a database and putting your life on hold while waiting to be found.

Use this approach on a daily basis. This approach builds an instant network for the job seekers who have been too busy to cultivate one while they were working. This instant network helps find rewarding jobs close to home or in another part of the country. With a proactive approach on a large scale, you will uncover all the opportunities you really have, rather than accepting the ones that find you.

Keep in mind that traditional boundaries in recruiting have been eliminated due to the Internet and low-cost phone services. Simply put, the more targeted recruiters you contact, the more opportunities you will uncover... even in your own city.

Here are two older established firms that are leaders in filtering technology. They will help open the doors of opportunity, targeted to your background and interests. So small an investment into your future; I encourage you to take a look at two of the best firms we use.

http://www.recruiterconnection.com/

http://www.xpostit.com/

I hope that you found this information useful and will use it in your job search. Pass it on to a close friend, but only if you wish.

You now have the Kendell Lang MBA in online job hunting. I'd be surprised if you didn't have your first interviews within a week. Keep me posted as things progress.

Best regards and best of luck,

Kendell

If you'd like any assistance in creating a Personal Brand Management Plan, please shoot me an email or check out the scope of services at WorldClass Brand Management.

WorldClass Personal Brand Management

Personal Brand Management

by Kendell R. Lang

When talking about personal brand management, I am talking about my personal brand, my executive brand, my intellectual brand, my brand statement, and my personal value proposition. As a technologist, writer and change management specialist, there is a tried and true methodology which I've personally used many times in the past which I believe applies to this phase of my personal brand assessment.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, yes...the old SWOT analysis is an ideal way to understand your strengths and weaknesses, and where the opportunities and threats lie with regard to selling my, my brand.

In this post I'm talking about using the SWOT analysis to help me address the ever-present question of strengths and weaknesses, but if you think about it, it’s the perfect way to identify some very personal areas of opportunity.

Of course there is also the definition of insanity by trying to get a different result by doing the same thing. In this case I am seeking a specific outcome so I have to be willing to get outside my box and use proven tools in a new way. When I go about performing this self-analysis, the most difficult task is going to be realistically, as independently and as honestly as possible consider my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in light of my objectives, my experience, my circumstances, my sphere of influence, my chosen vertical market and the technical skills of my chosen profession.

I am thinking about this not purely from a competitive position, but I'm think about this as war. Psychological Warfare. The Art of War put into the form of a Thought War. In my personal brand continuum "space", who is vying for the same results, the same objective, the same partnership, the same engagement or the same job? I have to so fundamentally shift my thinking to be radically focused on and genuinely most interested in the needs of the target, partner or hiring company. What makes me stand out to solve their problems? Here’s how I am using the SWOT assessment process to define my personal brand and find my next book agent, production company, joint venture partner or maybe even a job :)

Strengths:
· What advantages do I have?
· What do I do better than anyone else?
· What unique or low-cost resources do I have to offer?
· What do others see as my strengths?
· How do I help close the sale or reduce overhead?

Weaknesses:
· What areas can I improve?
· What areas should I avoid?
· What do peers in my market see as weaknesses?
· Where do I fail when trying to close a sale or reduce costs?

Opportunities:
· What opportunities am I seeing?
· What interesting trends can I identify and take advantage of, such as changes in technology, regulations, social patterns, etc.?
· What is happening in my market that can promote new business development?

Threats:
· What obstacles do I face?
· What interesting trends can I identify which I should be worried about?
· Are the required specifications for my project, my venture, my job, products or services changing?
· Is changing technology threatening my personal brand position?
· Do I have bad debt or cash-flow problems?
· Could any of my weaknesses seriously threaten my business?

Once I actually complete my SWOT analysis I expect to have a clear picture of how I fit in my target market, my strengths and weaknesses, and what will differentiate me from the competition.

Now I can then get to work on distilling my findings into a succinct pitch that really shows my strengths and why someone will seek me out.

Controlling Your Personal Brand - Managing Your Online Reputation

Personal Brand Management
by
Kendell Lang, New Media Consultant

I am going to outline the facets of your “personal brand” and that often overlooked aspect of our relationships with others, your reputation.  Does your reputation stand to scrutiny when you’re not around. What do people say about you when you aren’t around? Or more importantly, what does your boss, current (or future) client, or other key stakeholders and partners say about you when you aren’t around? In a compensation review meeting when promotions to key positions are being discussed are you being considered?


The things that people say about you when you are not around is usually called your reputation. The way people think about you is not something you can control.  What you can control is your conduct, including the information that people can find about you and on which they will form an opinion leading to their perception of your reputation. A better way to think about reputation is that it’s your "personal brand.” Personal Brand Management is one of the biggest factors in your ultimate success on the job, with clients and around your community. Here’s the good news: for the most part, YOU completely control the information flow! Here’s the challenge – to control it appropriately, you may need some essential business coaching, to learn some essential facets of personal brand marketing, reputation management and talent management (a.k.a. “human resource management”).


Three things make up your personal brand – your experience (i.e. what you’ve done in the past), your skills (i.e. what you are capable and comfortable doing), and your attitude (i.e. how you conduct yourself, particularly under stress). These are the things that others remember and discuss when the conversation becomes about you, without you. However, having a great personal brand may not be enough by itself – like any developing brand, marketing yourself is required. Key stakeholders need to know your skills, experiences, and attitudes…so check out your reputation by starting with evaluating your online personal brand. What does a search on Google for your name yield?  Is it correct, is it what you want other people to know about you, is it formatted the way you want to be viewed?

This sort of internal “reputation management and personal brand marketing” is essential in your career, especially if you’re seeking a career change or in fact re-entering the workforce from a layoff, as a Mom returning to work, or establishing new independent career goals. If in fact your career change results, like so many of these actually do, in reliance on decision makers and stakeholders you don’t actually know (for example future clients or employers learning about you on the Internet), your personal brand and reputation management actions require a degree of Internet Information Marketing and Management skills. This is to ensure you come across the way you desire when people search for you, or your services, on the Internet, in social media channels, or through business and information directories.


If one needs to treat ones self on the web as a brand, then how do I manage my Brand, reputation, build a trusted profile, keep it alive?  You need professional assistance to do Career Management, Personal Brand Managemnt, Reputation Management. Are you prepared to manage twitter, facebook, flickr, delicious, linkedin, tweety, blog and do your job?

There is a streamlined approach to dealing with all this, so for more information regarding personal online marketing, personal brand management and reputation management, please contact Kendell Lang at 760.445.3315 or kendell.lang@gmail.com.

Internet Marketing 101 - Personal Brand Development Components

Internet Marketing 101

Personal Brand Development Components

In a recent article titled "Personal Brand Management: The Secret to Career Mobility" by Todd Rhoad he states, "Developing personal brand equity is a key element to establishing and maintaining your career mobility. Increasing manager equity is the quickest method for improving and selling your brand throughout the organization. It requires an understanding of what managers like, how to measure your changes and how to influence their perceptions with less effort."


Developing a compelling personal brand image still remains essential to positioning yourself. Everyone is overworked and unable to focus entirely on any one thing, so your ability to have someone managing your personal brand is essential. Professional development in the corporation has morphed into the reality that you have to manage your own personal development. In other words, management doesn't have time to help you develop your career. Sure, they'll take a few minutes to help you jot down your goals but it won't go much further than that. Employees don't get the kind of attention nowadays that helps develop careers. The best way to promote yourself is to promote your personal brand and that is what I deliver for my clients, personal brand management.

Personal brand management has a variety of components and you should carefully consider how to integrate all of the following into your personal brand strategy.

Internet Marketing

Methodology. Strategy. Technology. Execution.

These elements are the foundation to delivering powerful results. Having the ability to do a 360 degree evaluation and to seamlessly implement all aspects of an Internet marketing plan provides my clients a single source solution when partnering with me.

Pay Per Click Management

Pay Per Click Management (PPC) - My personal brand management implements a pay per click strategy which has a solid track record of delivering superior ROI.  My results are certified by Google, Yahoo!, and MSN.

Search Engine Optimization Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - My experience as an SEO analyst provides my clients with efficient, high ROI producing organic search engine optimization campaigns that are part of a fully integrated Internet marketing strategy.

Paid Inclusion (SSP)

Paid Inclusion - I help businesses extend their Internet marketing reach at a low and controllable cost through paid inclusion marketing also known as Yahoo SSP.

Content Advertising

Content Advertising - My Interactive marketing expertise continuously maximizes content advertising opportunities for my clients and refines a placement strategy to give my clients new leads, eCommerce sales, and millions of impressions.

Social Media Marketing

Social Media Marketing - My targeted social media marketing will help you personally or your business control, protect, and grow your brand.  There is a huge brand awareness developed through social network marketing and you need someone with my experience to help you protect your personal brand.

Website Design Website Design & Development - As a full service Internet marketing specialist, my ability to create custom websites and landing pages that blend visual appeal with usability for the end goal of conversions is part of the overall personal branding strategy.

Online Video Marketing

Video Marketing - I cannot underestimate the importance of developing compelling, rich media content to effectively communicate your value proposition and convert visitors into customers. I spend a great deal of time getting my customers into the studio to produce effective video interviews to share their personal brand via video.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate Marketing - I have broad experience managing affiliate programs in various industries, including one of Commission Junction's top 10 affiliate marketing programs. If you are providing a service and are looking to leverage your solution, you must have an affiliate marketing strategy and I can help you accomplish this.

Discovering your personal brand is the most challenging part because it takes the most thought. I can help you find yourself.  Once you understand that, it is time to create your brand. Once the creation process completed, you are now able to deliver this content, both verbally and electronically, to whoever you want to understand who you are and what value you provide.

Even with a strong Personal Brand, over time it may decay or be out-of-date. That is why the third strategy is to maintain your Personal Brand over time. The brand must be updated with the latest technical competencies, attire, and feel in order to survive. The market changes rapidly and corporations transition, forcing you to evolve in the same fashion. It's all about knowing where you are, who you want to be, and strategizing how to get there.

 

Top 5 Personal Branding Tips for Success

1. 
   
   Start by letting me help you discover your personal brand.
   
   
   
2. 
   
   Ensure your skills, competencies, interests, and personality match your objectives.
   
   
   
3. 
   
   Network with peers, professionals in your field, and family members.
   
   
   
4. 
   
   Create all tangible pieces simultaneously with your intangible core message for maximum consistency.
   
   
   
5. 
   
   Send out as many invitations to network as you can, with the strongest content you have.
   
   
   

Career development is dead and Personal Branding is in. There are far too many job applicants for you not to take into account the entire personal brand management issue. Personal Branding is about differentiation, positioning, and creativity. It allows you to have a better insight into what you're interested in, your career, and your pursuit of happiness. Ask yourself this: Do I want to be like everyone else? If you do, then you will not be chosen for a competitive position. Those who aren't distinct are known, in marketing, as commodities. Commodities have to battle on price and you want to be compensated for your value, so stick with Personal Branding. Commodities are easily replaceable and unrecognizable by the target audience.

There is an even bigger picture with Personal Branding and that is life. Those who have strong brands will not only succeed at their profession, but will also have a better life experience because they will gain confidence in their skills and feel unique in a world where there are billions of people. Career development was only the beginning and now Personal Branding has taken over and you must brand yourself!

Let me help you, so call me at 760.445.3315 or email me at kendell.lang@gmail.com

Personal Brand Continuum

Personal Brand Continuum

Kendell Lang, new media consultant, presents to the San Diego City Council

This Presentation was made by Kendell Lang, new media consultant who was the CEO of SensorWave Technology at the time, given to the San Diego City Council as part of the Amerland Review of Sea Breeze Gardens, a project of The Amerland Group.