Blackhawk Executive Search, Inc.

Candidates

The Blackhawk Executive Search

We work dynamically with our candidates - from discussing your career goals, to analyzing your resume impact, to improving your interviewing techniques, to resigning your current position. In other words, we are your personal coach and counselor. Communication and feedback are critical; you will always know what to expect during each phase of the process.

With over 30 years experience in financial services, we are very well connected with the clients in our areas of specialization. We are privy to future plans of our clients, therefore, we are in a position to present top-quality candidates for consideration, even if we are not involved in a current search.

Our fees are paid by our clients.

Your Career Goals

• Do you follow your career or does your career follow you?
• Do you have a PLAN for your future?
• Have you given much thought to where you will be in 5 years? Are you on track to reach that goal?
• Do you pay attention to industry trends, upward mobility opportunities in your industry.
• Are you staying/leaving for the wrong reasons?

Most likely you are are on a different career path than you chose in college. Experts predict that workers will have at least 3 careers in their lifetime. To be competitive, candidates must continually educate themselves. It is not what you have done in the distant past, but what you are accomplishing today that employers consider. Have you considered a graduate degree in your field? Are you taking additional courses leading to a certification or special license? Grab that edge over your peers! You are the CEO of your own personal corporation! You must plan, organize, develop, advertise, as if your whole future depends on it - It Does!

Resumes

Just as meeting someone for the first time leaves an impression, so does your resume. You only get one chance to entice a hiring manager or the HR professional to call you for an interview. The purpose of your resume is primarily to give enough information to secure that initial face-to-face meeting. Keep track of when and where your resume is submitted. Do not circulate your resume indiscriminately to companies, recruiters, or on the internet.

Tips for a Better Resume

• Since strong communication skills are a prerequisite for most positions, it is imperative that your resume is well written. It represents a sample of your writing ability. Read, proofread, edit, rewrite. Ask someone you trust to do the same. If you use your spell checker, make sure the proper word is utilized.
• What is it that you do better than anyone else in your position? Sell yourself! Put it on your resume!
• What have you done to either make money or save money for an employer that makes you valuable? Does your resume reflect those accomplishments?
• Are you currently enrolled in education pursuits such as finishing your degree or taking additional courses? Have you included those facts under your Education heading?
• What positions do you hold in organizations either related to or outside of your given field?
• Proofread again and again looking for grammatical errors and misspellings.
• Consistency is a must. Make sure your format for each position is carried throughout the resume exactly the same.

Interview Process

Preparation for an Interview is more than picking the correct suit or knowing the directions to the site! Before the interview, our candidates are asked to review a list of potential role-play questions. We provide an in-depth role play in a non-threatening situation that allows our candidate the opportunity to answer specific questions that employers "may" ask. We will give feedback as to your attitude, areas that need attention, performance, etc. Our candidates face their potential employer with confidence and professionalism. The following are a few excerpts from our interview questions:

Personal Perspectives

• Tell me about yourself. What is unique about you?
• Why should we hire you?
• What is your greatest strength? Weakness?
• What do you really want to do in life?
• What have you learned from your mistakes? Tell me about some of them.

Company Concerns

• What do you know about our organization?
• Why do you want to work for us?
• What important trends do you see in our industry?
• What is your opinion of your present company?
• Why do you want to leave there?

Management/Supervisory Skills

• What kind of supervisors do you like most? Least? Why?
• What do you think of your present boss?
• What are your supervisor's strengths and weaknesses?
• How has your supervisor helped you grow professionally?

References - How to select and why

Prepare a list of three to five of your previous supervisors or managers. Include the name of their present employer, their current title and a contact telephone number. It is always best if you have a brief statement as to why you listed them. You should always contact them in advance and obtain their permission to use them as references.

FAQ

“Many of my colleagues are switching jobs more frequently. How do employers react to frequent job changes?”

Employers still want to see a history of stability in your job experience. A company has a substantial investment in their employees from signing bonuses, relocation fees, to training or relationship building. If you have less than 3 years with multiple employers, you may not be considered a good return on investment. Take a good look at your employment history and decide if you need to make a longer term committment to your existing or subsequent employer. Most employers feel 4 - 7 years is ideal.

“I have 10 references including personal ones. Is that enough?”

Limit your references to 3-5 professionals all of which should be former supervisors or managers. Before listing the individuals contact them personally, tell them about your job search and ask if they will be willing to speak to a hiring manager about you. Since you do not give your list unless you are being seriously considered for a position, tell your reference what company will be calling, the position you are applying for, and suggest the areas you want emphasized.

“I am currently out of work and need a job now. How should I circulate my resume?”

If you think you are temporarily unemployed - you are not! Your full time job is finding a position which will lead you along your chosen career path. Don't just send out 100 resumes and wait for a company to call you while you play golf or watch daytime TV. Take control. You are now a salesman - selling your background and experience. Review and adjust your career goals. Identify the type of position you are seeking. Rewrite your resume to show experience and achievements for that position. NETWORK! Call professionals with whom you have worked in the past along with current colleagues. Contact other individuals outside of your organization who know your work, e.g., vendors, affiliates, professional organization committee members, clients, etc. Keep a positive attitude with every encounter. No one wants to hire a person who portrays negativity. Put a mirror in front of you when making phone calls and be sure you have a smile on your face.

“I am 12 credits short of my bachelors degree and feel I don't need it because I have over 15 years experience. What is your opinion”

Since you are asking the question, I think you already know the answer. Get your degree. Many companies won't even consider a non-degreed individual. Do not let fear be the reason you fail to complete this important facet of your resume. Many colleges will give credit for experience. With your backgound you are most likely head and shoulders above the inexperienced young collegiate. Stimulate your thinking, refresh your attitude. Go back to school. Check with your current employer to see if tuition and educational costs are reimbursed...a valuable benefit!

“Should I quit my existing job to devote fulltime to job hunting?”

Absolutely not! You are much more interesting to an employer if you are presently working. If you have your career plan set, your resume written, and companies to target, you have done the ground work. Choose one or two recruiters who specialize in your field and work with them over a period of time (up to a year or so) to look for the right opportunity. Know where and when your resume has been submitted and avoid mailing it out to all of your targeted companies. Most recruiters work within a network of associates who service different organizations. Experienced recruiters usually work with the hiring managers and not just through Human Resources, where your resume could be bypassed. If your resume is submitted from more than one source, employers may reject you and you will never know the reason. Also, like in many other fields, there are unethical individuals who only care about their commission, not about your career; they will "shotgun" your resume to everyone in their database. If you want to work with a professional, be cautious. Discuss with the potential recruiter what he/she will do to market you. Get their personal committment to you.