Posts Tagged ‘LinkedIn’

Preparing For The Interview

By Kathy Keshemberg, NCRW, CCMC

So, you’ve got your resume in order, have searched for openings, networked extensively, and finally, you have an interview. And then the panic sets in! Job interviews can be very stressful, but if you spend some time preparing, your stress level will be reduced. Here are a few tips to get you started.

First, research the company. Google will be a very helpful tool. Find out as much as you can about their products/services, challenges they currently face, upcoming expansion plans, new product releases, etc. Also find out as much as you can about the person(s) you will be speaking with. Once again, Google him or her, but also search LinkedIn and Facebook. Knowing that he is an avid golfer or she is very involved with a local charity will give you ammunition for “small talk.” Finally, set up a Google alert about that company so that you are armed with the most current information before going to the interview.

Next, you want to prepare yourself by knowing your own personal brand inside and out. What is it that you offer that others do not, or what sets you apart from the competition? Special aspects of your experience, key areas of expertise, strengths, transferrable skills, and personality traits— these are all components of your brand. Once identified, weave this information into well-rehearsed “sound bites.” And speaking of rehearsing, do so out loud with a family member or in front of a mirro — you will be surprised at how differently the words come out of your mouth vs. in your head!

Finally, develop answers (and rehearse) for questions you anticipate will be asked. For instance, the “tell me about yourself” can be answered with your branding sound bites, while “walk me through your resume” will require you to be able to succinctly move through the highlights of your experience and accomplishments. If you’ve been let go from your last position be sure to have a positive “spin” prepared to explain the circumstances. If you’ve been looking for a job for many months, be prepared to talk about professional development or volunteer activities that you’ve devoted time to.

My April teleseminar featured Carole Martin, the Interview Coach. To listen to the recording of that call, click here and sign up for the Recorded Teleseminars. While you are at my site, be sure to register for May’s Teleseminar, which will be about developing your personal brand.

For more than two decades, Kathy Keshemberg, NCRW, CCMC and her team at A Career Advantage have been providing professionals with world-class resume consultation and writing, career coaching and personal branding services.
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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Kathy Keshemberg - April 21, 2010 at 12:36 pm

Categories: CPG Industry, Contributor, TIPs   Tags: , , , , , , ,

Calling All “Big Fish”

Calling All “Big Fish”

If your base salary is $140K or above, you are what I am calling a “Big Fish”, and I want to hear from you! Let me explain.

CPGjoblist has a good number of registered candidates in the $140-$400K+ salary range— that’s pure compensation, before bonuses. These are the “Big Fish” in our “Pond” of candidates. In this salary range, professionals simply don’t have a lot of options when seeking a career change; traditional choices being retained search agencies or personal networking. If you fall into this Big Fish category, then read on.

You already know that many companies are moving away from the use of retained agencies to save money on “big ticket items” like you.  It is likely that you also know that there are fewer jobs at the top of the corporate pyramid these days and consequently, good positions with solid organizations are harder to find.  The jobs you are looking for seldom if ever appear on boards like CPGjoblist…or anywhere. However, all of our client companies are currently trying to fill these kinds of top positions; and that’s where you come in.

Here’s the idea. With the permission of self-identified candidates who are in this salary range, we would like to allow our client companies access to a “Pond” that is “stocked” only with Big Fish (like you).

The highly-sought top positions our clients are trying to fill would likely not be public on our site, however, Hiring Managers with high level jobs will be looking at you— highly qualified, executive level, CPG-experienced professionals that they simply cannot find anywhere else. These Hiring Managers would be made aware of the fact that you are not necessarily actively looking, but are open to checking out their “bait” and having a conversation. Candidates looking for a full-time job or contract consultancy will be included in the Big Fish Pond, and inclusion in the Pond will be strictly voluntary; you must opt-in to be included.

So I ask you…as a Big Fish in our Pond of candidates? Does this idea interest you?

Undoubtedly, you want more details.  Just exactly how is this going to work?

I’ll be honest and tell you that right now all the details are not worked out.  There is a reason for this— I don’t know what you want. Based on conversations with many of you, I’m pretty sure that you want unconditional privacy and the ability to get out of the Pond when you desire.  Beyond that, I don’t know. What I really need from you to make project Big Fish viable is feedback.  I need to know what you would like to see in this program. What are your “must haves”? What is on your wish list?

Right now, this is what I propose:

  • Strict permission-based Pond opt-in.
  • Direct access to your CPGjobs personal “Big Fish” Manager
  • Ability to get your paper into any of our clients’ hands at your request
  • Sounding board and resume assistance
  • Various levels of privacy and protection for your confidential information —your choice.

I will be starting this program with only 100 Big Fish candidates. Those of you who self-identify directly to me will be placed in a Big Fish database.  Once I get all of your questions and suggestions, I will contact you personally to explain this program in more detail, and to discuss the cost of participation. If you would like to be one of the initial Big Fish candidates, let me know.

The price structure we are currently considering for this program is as follows:

  • 3 month (minimum) – $299.
  • 6 months -  $499.
  • Monthly after either of those two, will be $99.
  • Credit card billing only.

This project cannot be initiated without your input and comments, and I welcome your questions and suggestions, which will help us, put together a program that best meets your needs.

You can email me your feedback at penny@cpgjoblist.com, or give me a call at 626-535-0143 by May 15th.

I would like to move forward fairly quickly, so let’s go fish!

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Penny Sallberg - April 14, 2010 at 6:56 pm

Categories: CPGjobs, Contributor, Penny Sallberg   Tags: , , , , , , , ,

New Clients for CPGjobs

Thank you to the following companies in the last 60 days for becoming a part of our CPG Talent Network.  Far from “just another job board,” CPGjobs offers clients personal service (yes, we mean a real, live person), industry leading technology and value “beyond the board,” saving you time and money as you build your recruiting pipeline.

I welcome you to our CPGjobs Talent Network.

Pinnacle Foods
Beach Body – Partner Products
Bob Evans Farms
National Cooperative Grocers Association
G L Mezzetta
Curtis Circulation Company
Farmland Foods
Aquahydrate
Foster Dairy Farms
Perrigo Company
United Dairy Farmers
Straus Family Creamery
Rosina Foods
Buxton Company
JT International USA
JD Power & Associates
Airbourne
Big Train
Ghiradelli Chocolates
Visual Latina
Canine Hardware
Peapod

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by Michael Carrillo - April 7, 2010 at 1:27 pm

Categories: CPG Industry   Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

CPGjobs Continues to Grow

600,000 page views, 57,000+ candidates

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Michael Carrillo - March 4, 2010 at 8:56 am

Categories: CPG Industry, CPGjoblist, CPGjobs, CPGjobs Candidates, CPGjobs Clients, Penny Sallberg   Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

New and Renewing Clients

I want to thank our newest clients:
Johnson and Johnson for purchasing our CPGjobs Network Access Package of services. They one of the premier companies in the consumer packaged goods industry.
Liberty Distribution Company, LLC – with a job posting package

We also have returning clients:
Chemtura – Biolab Consumer Division with an unlimited job posting package
Fiskar’s and Gerber Legendary Blades with a Network Access Package
Belkin International with a Network Access Package

I look forward to supporting all of you.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Michael Carrillo - September 25, 2009 at 6:05 am

Categories: CPG Industry, CPGjoblist, CPGjobs, CPGjobs Candidates, Network Access Packages, People Search   Tags: ,