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I am excited to have Mark Jaffe as my guest to talk about his new book, Let Me Give it to You Straight: An Outspoken Guide to Working with Headhunters, Advancing Your Career and Reaching Enlightenment…Without the Sugarcoating. Mark drops some valuable gems about executive recruiting. But listen to his advice on how anyone can successfully interview near the end of our conversation. Mark drops some valuable gems about executive recruiting. But listen to his advice on how anyone can successfully interview near the end of our conversation.
Have you ever worked with a recruiter? What has your experience in working with a recruiter? I would love your feedback on these questions or anything that you’ve heard on any of our shows in one of the three ways:
1) Leave a voice mail or text message at 708-365-9822. Let me know if I can share it on future shows
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If you are a career coach or career advice professional and would like to contribute advice or voice your opinion, leave a message along with your name and website. I will include both on an upcoming show and show notes on the blog.advice professional and would like to contribute advice or voice your opinion, leave a message along with your name and website. I will include both on an upcoming show and show notes on the blog.
Mark has been an executive recruiter for more than 30 years and quoted in many national news outlets such as Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal. He was ranked by BusinessWeek as “One of the World’s 100 Most Influential Headhunters.”
Here are some of our talking points:
- I asked Mark to describe the differences between recruiting now and back in the late ‘90s/2000s. His dating analogy made it clear that job stability was prominent as most executives had many career choices. Therefore, recruiters had to reach out to those who barely qualified for the position they were recruiting for. In today’s job market, the executives who are stable and thriving, and have their heads down are the ones that are being sought-after and are being sold on the idea of working for someone else
- In his recruiting practice, they are agents of their clients (like all recruiters). They do not shop around candidates.
- They do “de Novo research” (keep in mind these are executive searches), not relying on any current databases, or list of waiting candidates (keep in mind these are executive searches), not relying on any current databases, or list of waiting candidates
- Essentially, there are two types of managers in the corporate world, those who play (or hire) to their strengths, and those who spend equal or greater amount of energy or cover their weaknesses. The first is about the team, who can run circles around them in certain areas, and the latter manager hires the candidate who he or she can control
- Job seekers should think of themselves as the solution to the company’s problems by understanding the needs of the business, and wrapping his or her head around the company’s goals and objectives. Mark advises that during the interview to be a consultant and draw information out of the interviewer information about the business solutions the company needs. Talk with the interviewer collaboratively, creatively, and constructively
- Mark says that the great candidates know what they are good at and go into interviews knowing what he or she like to do, and see if they can understand the company’s challenges, objectives, and goals
- Learn what is keeping the interviewer up and night instead of trying so hard to sell yourself. Mark says,“You be the doctor and let the company be the patient. Don’t be a screaming advertisement.”
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About Mark Anthony Dyson
I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.