10 Things Hiring Managers Won’t Tell You

Posted on February 9, 2010 by meghan_ntroduction

In a highly competitive job market there are certain realities that job seekers need to face. Things like there are jobs that you will apply for, that you’ll never hear back from. Or that the sometimes education doesn’t replace experience and sometimes vice versa.

Here are a few things that you may want to think seriously about when looking for work. A few things that Hiring Mangers know but aren’t willing to share with you.

A Hiring freeze is in place – every head count is important. They’ve only got one shot at hiring the right person and don’t have the option to split that one job into two positions. Which means they may be cramming more than one position into the one you’re applying for. Be prepared and willing to perform multiple roles, Analyst, Manager, Technical and non-technical.
That Hiring Manager is looking to hire the best talent/skill/experience in economical locations – may not be in Bay Area, may not be in US, maybe in Asia. Though this could sound discouraging, it could actually work for you. Sometimes the cheapest location is virtual. If you see a job that could conceivably be done virtually, apply for it. Be sure to include the ways that making the position virtual is going to save them money. If not, think about relocating to where they want you to be.
Hiring Manager gets bonus and credit for getting results – not for hiring a new team member. The hiring manager wants proof that you can deliver results. A good handshake and pleasant smile are great, but show him proof that you can get the job done.
Hiring Manager cannot make the decision right away because requirement is not finalized. Basically the age old “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” saying applies here. The hiring manager may just be checking to see who’s out there and how the hiring manager can achieve that goal, may not be ready to hire anytime soon. Just because the interview went well, doesn’t mean you’re going to be getting a call soon.
The job title is not final – it may change probably to a lower title. These days’ titles change more times than Paris Hilton during a magazine shoot. That also means when searching the jobs ads, don’t just look at the title in the heading. Look closely at the description itself before deciding whether to apply or not. Also, Don’t count on the title of the job as the one you’ll actually be using. When you present yourself for the interview, be prepared to explain tasks you can/have performed in the lower titles too. You might get a job with lower title but you can grow quickly, given your previous experience in higher title
He/She is looking for personal references – from people he/she knows closely. Nothing gives you a boost more than a first person reference. That is the Ntroduction’s core value – Which is also why LinkedIn is becoming more and more popular with hiring managers.
He/She is looking for certifications as well as brand name company experience (such as Big4). The importance of secondary education has never been more important than it is today, but so is the importance of some real valid experience from reputed companies
They’re looking for a team member, not a leader – the Hiring Manager wants to retain that role of leader. The Hiring Manager isn’t looking to hire someone to run the show, so don’t go into the hiring process acting like you’re going to do so. Demonstrate flexibility that you can lead as well as be a contributor.
The hiring manager is looking for somebody who is available almost all the time to perform tasks – not somebody with commitments. Make sure when you interview that you make it very clear you’re willing to work overtime, be on call and go above and beyond the call of duty. These days hiring managers are looking for people who can do more than just pull their own weight.

Keep these things when looking for work and going on interviews. But don’t be discouraged, it may be slow going but things are definitely starting to turn around for the job market and hopefully, the long hours or lower titles will improve. In fact a government report released today and mentioned on CNN.com shows that the number of job seekers competing for each job opening has dropped from 6.4 to 5.9, according to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It’s still tough out there, but it’s getting better.

Job Fairs: Are They Worth It?

Posted on February 4, 2010 by meghan_ntroduction

Job fair attendance across the country has increased dramatically over the last year. With job fairs usually offering a handful of jobs to hundreds or even thousands of attendees (depending on where you are) you may ask yourself, why bother? Well don’t be so quick to dismiss the oversaturated job fair scene.

First and foremost, you never know. Armed with some good looking resumes, a few references (many people at job fairs don’t bring these along, so set yourself apart by having some handy) and the right attitude you just maybe walking into a great opportunity. And that doesn’t necessarily mean the companies who are there looking for a few new hires.

One of the greatest things about a job fair, especially ones with a lot of people, is it gives you a chance to network with other people looking work, in your field in particular. Today’s job hunter could be tomorrow’s hiring manager.

As mentioned in this week’s earlier post, Avoiding the Black Hole When Job Hunting, a good way to open doors is by working together with friends and colleagues who are also looking for work.

Follow up with contacts you make at a local job fair. Ask them about what kind of work they’re looking for and tell them that you’ll them to a list of other contacts looking for work and that you’ll be sure to send them any job leads you find that may be w2ell suited to them. Ask them to do the same.

Soon you could find yourself with a great circle of contacts all working together to find work.

And hey, you never know! You could find yourself being wooed by any one of the companies hosting a booth at the local job fair too.

Be sure to check with your local paper or Chamber of Commerce for job fairs in your area. You can also visit sites such as, EmploymentGuide.com to find job fairs near you.

The 20 Most Overlooked Tax Deductions – Part Two

Posted on January 14, 2010 by meghan_ntroduction

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Earlier this week we began out two part series on the blog, 20 Most Overlooked Tax Deductions. Here are the second set of ten deductions you may not be taking advantage of come tax time. Remember though, it’s always a good idea to talk to tax professional (especially if you’re self-employed). So get your printer ready and keep your receipts on hand!

Gambling losses. Speaking of vices, did you lose big in Vegas this year? The IRS feels your pain. Since the IRS makes you pay taxes on your gambling winnings, they will also allow you to deduct some of your gambling’s losses as well.
Natural disasters and theft. Though the IRS can’t quite make up for being a victim of a natural disaster or theft, they do allow you to claim a deduction.
Charitable contributions. That doesn’t just mean the check you write for your local church, but everything else including the cost of ingredients for the beef stew you made for the soup kitchen down to the stamps you purchased for your child’s school fundraiser.
State sales tax. Even though everyone has a chance to take this deduction, it makes more sense for folks in states that don’t have a sales tax. The choice must then be made between state income tax and state sales tax. Even though the IRS gives folks who live in states with sales tax a clear table of what they can deduct, that’s not always the end. You can add the sales tax you paid on a vehicle, boat, or airplane that you purchased. In some places You can even add home building materials. Check with your tax person to see what you qualify for.
Job related. This is another category that includes numerous deductions. Things like education to improve your skills, clothing needed for work, tools, union dues, are all fair game. If you spend money out of your pocket on something work related, ask your tax person and see if you can deduct it.
Owning a home. The deductions that fall under the category of home ownership add up, and shouldn’t be missed. Keep track of your entire home owner expenses and again, go over all of it with your tax preparer.
Last years lost deductions. Did you not qualify for certain deductions last year because of income? Maybe a technical glitch kept you from claiming one. In most cases the IRS will let you have this year.
Investment Expenses. Investment advisory fees, Fees for a safe-deposit box to hold investments, Margin account interest expense, IRA trustee’s administrative fees, Worthless stock or securities, as well as Theft or embezzlement losses are only some of the legitimate deductions related to investment.
Mom & Dad. That’s right, if you furnish more than half of the support of your parents, you can claim them as dependants.
Last year’s preparation fees. So are ready to make your tax preparer earn their money this year? Don’t forget to deduct the money they earned last year too!

Now that your armed with a wealth of information about what you may or may not be able to deduct this year, what are you going to do with it? Keep clear track of all your expenses and if you plan on taking advantage of these deductions it’s always best to have a tax person you trust to help guide you. It’s your job to make sure they have all the information, but it’s their job to make sure that information is used to your full advantage.

Making an Introduction on Ntroduction (Part One of a Two Part Post)

Posted on December 16, 2009 by meghan_ntroduction

One of the great things about Ntroduction is how in can help you make the most of an otherwise bad situation, namely being laid off. Just because you’re no longer employed at a company doesn’t mean that you can’t turn your experience and the contacts you’ve made into something positive or even another opportunity.
That’s where Ntroduction steps in. Maybe it’s time you think about using the contacts you’ve made to help someone make an introduction and help you make a profit in the mean time.

This is part one of two posts that will help you through the steps you need to take before and after making an introduction through Ntroduction. Part one will list the steps you should follow before listing an introduction:

Make a list of friends in your own department and related departments. In this list, create a smaller list of very close friends.
Meet with them for lunch or call them and propose the idea of Ntroduction in this meeting and how you can help find suitable candidates for their business.
Make sure that you let them know that you are not getting paid from the company but from the candidate through Ntroduction.com if the candidate gets hired.
Keep in touch with them once every other week at least with a simple email “Hi, I am touching bases with you to see if you have any current needs. Simply reply back to this email with details about any positions you are in need of filling and I will try to find the candidate that is right for you – Thanks!”
You can probably do this with your close friends at other companies – after all you have the experience and skills.
Be clear when you place your listing with Ntroduction who you want to meet, what you need (Tax Director Job or Accepted Vendor at Fortune 500 company), when you want it and what is your differentiator from others preferably a strong opening statement that raises interest to respond back to you.
Keep the details about your or your companies accomplishments simple and detailed – preferably bullet points.
Clearly explain what you will do to them in future if the introduction is successful. For example “I know several finance auditors at Fortune 500 with financial service experience and can provide introductions as well as opinions when needed”
Clearly explain how you want to provide introduction or seek introduction – whether you want to meet people face-to-face or would an email or phone be sufficient.

Now you’re ready to list an introduction, so go for it! Be sure and subscribe to the Ntroduction blog so you can follow up with the second post in this series to find out what to do AFTER you’ve made your introduction.

5 Reasons You Should Be Doing Virtual Events

Posted on September 20, 2009 by meghan_ntroduction

1897096770_9846164fcc One of the fastest growing areas of business is the Virtual Event arena. As many companies look for ways to cut costs yet boost company promotions they find the best answer lies in the world of virtual events. It just happens to work out that as more people look to cut costs in their own household, many people opt to attend virtual events from the comfort of the home instead of forking over the big bucks for a plain ticket, hotel, gas and the many other numerous costs of attending an event away from home.

There couldn’t be a better time for companies to start diving into the world of virtual events and virtual event marketing. With the incredibly low cost of putting on a virtual event the risk is minimal plus companies have a larger pool of possible attendees to promote an event too.

If your company is on the fence about holding a virtual event for your business, here are five simple reasons why it’s time to get off the fence and get to planning.

Cheap, cheap, and cheaper. The first and most obvious reason of course, it saves you money. With virtual events there are no expenses for air travel, catering, event venue rentals, hotel and time away from the office, the average virtual event can save almost 80% on what a live event would cost.
Higher Attendance. A recent survey commissioned by ON24 of 5,000 marketing executives found that 63 percent were more likely to attend a virtual conference than an in-person event. People are much more likely to attend an event online then spend the money traveling to the event and covering all the associated costs. Not to mention, some people just can’t. With virtual events you’re opening the door to a people all over the world who would otherwise not be attending.
Social Media Tools. Using the social media tools that are already in place, Twitter, Facebook, Ning, LinkedIn, etc. you can draw on a community that’s already set in place. Within the virtual world you have an entire set of tools that help you target and promote your event to the very people who want to hear about it.
Greener is Better. On top of the struggling economy there is currently a struggling environment as well. By using virtual events many companies are able to greatly reduce their carbon footprint Sixty-six percent of marketers polled said they plan on implementing or have already added a Green Initiative, up from just 32 percent in 2007. Good for business and for the environment.
Information. One of the most difficult parts of any event is getting feedback and a true idea of the ROI. Virtual events offer an easier way to track those things and then integrate that data into a CRM program.

Virtual Events are truly the wave of the future. It’s no longer a matter of when your company will jump on the bandwagon; it’s a matter of when.