Professional Search of Atlanta Recruiter
A journal of events, trends,
challenges and opportunities
in the employment marketplace.

Holiday 2008 Issue

Professional Search of Atlanta
1949 Brownridge Drive
Atlanta, GA 30062-2673
770-952-0009
 recruiter@psa-recruit.com  
Employment Trends . . .

Handling Rejection
by JD Harvill CPC

Some people are adequately thick skinned to take rejection as it comes. Most of these individuals are actors, sales people, or politicians. The rest of us suffer self doubt every time our resume gets shuffled into the stack that doesn’t move forward or worse yet we don’t get called back for that vital second interview.

But, to succeed at finding a new job, or harder still a new career, we must send out those resumes, make those phones calls, smile and shake hands at every meeting, and get those interviews. Hesitation in pursuing any of these tasks can multiply the work ahead of us, and create additional rejection to contend with as we fail to appear assertive and self-confident in our dealings.

The most successful way that I’ve found to get past rejection is to remind myself that what appears as rejection on the surface is actually a decision on someone’s part to pursue a different path. The decision maker has chosen to pursue someone else because of some set of criteria only they can know of, and frequently even the hiring official isn’t fully cognizant of the instinctive reactions that guide their hand.

Once you understand that they are simply choosing to move in a different direction you can set aside all the “perhaps I didn’t present myself well enough” doubts and let it go. You may never fully understand the criteria underneath their criteria, so find your next target and go for it.

Professional Search of Atlanta, with an industry focus of manufacturing and logistics, is the premier recruiting firm for technical managers, engineers and supply chain executives in the Southeastern US.

A member of the Georgia Association of Personnel Services (GAPS), our president has been active with the local professional associations; APICS (The Association for Operations Management) and ISM (Institute of Supply Management) for over 15 years, and provides each association with Career Center Assistance.

Our consultants, with decades of experience, provide candidates for: materials management, engineering, production control, supply chain management, logistics, distribution, warehousing, high-tech manufacturing, purchasing, start- up projects, turn-around projects, human resources, maintenance, validation, documentation, quality systems (including ISO 9000 and Six Sigma), research, design, telecommunications, as well as many other aspects of general business management.

Our staff of search professionals has extensive experience in placing quality technical personnel and executives. Because we stay current with companies in your field, we can provide you with:
Advice on salaries & benefits;
Vital industry contacts; and,
Early access to critical jobs.

Perhaps most important, we are uniquely positioned within your industry to provide the coaching you need to land the job you want. Click below for some examples:

Develop a Job Search Plan
Resumé Tips
 Networking
 Interviewing Skills

If you do get feedback from either a recruiter or hiring official, realize that this feedback can be valid and even helpful to you, but may not be the elusive “truth” that you were hoping for. It is a rare gift when another human being finds a way to communicate to you what they were thinking and feeling while they interacted with you, so keep your expectations from overwhelming you.

And make those calls, and shake those hands! Keep that momentum going, as it will be that momentum that finds you the options you deserve. Good luck!

JD Harvill CPC, jd@psa-recruit.com

ASK THE EMPLOYMENT EXPERTS

Steve Hines Dear Steve and Jon,

I have taught math and science for 8 years and want to move into a commercial job as an inventory control analyst or purchasing agent. How should I structure my resume most effectively 

 Signed: Ready for a Career Change		 Jon Harvill
Steve Hines, consultant, career coach and author of Atlanta Jobs
http://www.ajobs.com/

Dear Ready,

If I am doing my math correctly, that makes you around age 30, an excellent time to change careers. Be aware that the first question from a recruiter will be “Why do you want to go into inventory control [or purchasing]?” You need to have substantial reasons for your decision and then show that you understand how your skills fit into that career path. For now, forget about your resume and start attending the meetings of Professional Associations in inventory control (APICS) and/or purchasing (ISM). Learn as much as you can about your chosen field, even taking courses either at a local college or through the association. Develop a Job Network through these groups, to help when you begin your job search. Then when you construct your resume, you can refer to the classes and the association, thereby proving your intentions...
Jon Harvill CPC, consultant with Professional Search of Atlanta
 http://professionalsearchatlanta.com/

Dear Ready,

In a ‘functional’ resume you have the opportunity to elaborate on the ‘Qualifications’ and ‘Accomplishments’ that will support your candidacy for the Inventory Analyst position. Detail only those items that can be clearly adapted to an Inventory position, such as math skills, leadership skills, work ethics, computer skills and people skills,. Upon reflection, you may come up with examples from your previous part time work, volunteer organizations, military service, sports, community or church work. These could be as a bookkeeper, or a storekeeper or maintaining a budget, or possibly teaching computer or business classes. Finally and briefly, document your employment history.

Winning the Job . . .

The Value of Professional Certification
by Jon Harvill CPC

Every day we see higher starting salaries being strongly correlated with the possession of one or more an certifications awarded by professional associations.  Involvement in those organizations continues to be looked upon as a value add by smart hiring officials.

Just as a diploma, a four year degree or an MBA imply a level of capability and therefore create an expectation of a certain level of performance, a professional certification raises the bar of expectation. Frequently, work capability and performance follow that expectation. "We expect more and therefore we get more."

In APICS, the Association for Operations Management, the new CSCP is getting good reviews for preparing individuals with supply chain body of knowledge and with the ability to apply best practices.  The old CPIM and even to some extent the CIRM have not lost their value, but the addition of updated materials has bolstered the value of candidates with a CSCP certification.

Within the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), formerly known as the National Association of Purchasing Management (NAPM), the newest certification is the CPSM, and here in Atlanta the first certifications have been handed out very recently.  The C.P.M. is still considered the standard for sourcing professionals, but the value of the new certification will certainly be felt over the next several years.

The kind of individual who puts forth the effort and sacrifice to attain certification, typically also does other job related activities with the same relative excellence and professionalism:

  • They are more active in APICS, ISM, and other professional associations, which leads to extra knowledge and stronger personal and professional networks.
  • They know ways to get the job done and to make their employer more profitable. If they do not have the answer, they know others who do and who are willing to assist them.
  • Their accomplishments testify to superior performance and, when asked, professional references may be more enthusiastic.

There are many qualified workers looking for the right opportunities in the present economy, and so hiring officials are looking for ways to seek out individuals who can exceed expectations and increase productivity. Therefore, an inflated premium is building for the more promising job seekers.

You personally need to be that exceptional performer. Better yet, create a team of exceptional performers.  You will find that the results can be astounding.

Jon Harvill CPC, jharvill@psa-recruit.com

Are you interested in receiving more information of this kind?  Visit our website at professionalsearchatlanta.com. There will be more to come here, too. This e-zine -- the “Professional Search of Atlanta Recruiter”-- is published  periodically and is dedicated to providing employment market trends and job winning tips to our Candidates.

Copyright © 2008, Professional Search of Atlanta  All rights reserved. Published in the U.S.A.