People..
It is never too early to reevaluate how you are communicating your personal value proposition nor to take the time to examine your resume and cover letter. I conducted a few search assignments for senior positions. My goal was to find the passive candidates with the expertise in a particular market for a particular function, someone who out shined their counterparts through the printed word and presented their business acumen and credentials powerfully. Hundreds of resumes submissions later, my colleague and I were completely underwhelmed at the resumes put forth.
Here is what we noticed:
Candidates are not skilled in writing their own career documents. They are not taking the time to examine if the contents in the cover letter and resume are aligned with the specific requirements in the job posting. There were NO concrete examples of how one's experience specifically maps to the requirements in the cover letter nor resume. Candidates haven't taken the time to define their business value for each position for which they are applying. Rather they use one generic resume and cover letter. Don't fall in this trap, people! These documents are important to advancing you to the next stage of consideration.
For those who are busy, employed, and pulling down a solid income, there is a remedy: Pay for a resume critique and hire a professional to write your career documents. Skip a few beers or bottles of wine! We are professionals and that needs to be reflected career documents. For those or aren't or choose not to have them professional written, make sure you take the time to thoroughly critique your documents. Make a few drafts, read it to yourself and see if what you do is clear to someone who doesn't know you. And for the love of all good things, don’t EVER assume that a gate keeper or HR person understands what you do and will align your qualifications back to their position. They won't! You have to make the alignment for them. State clearly, the problems you got hired to solve, how you solved them and then quantify that with percentages or $$$. Does the words, what have you done for me lately, ring a bell?
Be mindful that these documents are also a reflection of your written communication skills. Perspective employers want to see it and so do recruiters. Your written skills provide insights to how you approach business problems, how you will communicate with your peers and how you add value.
Also, if you are networking with a recruiter, don't shoot over and email that says " here is my resume. I look forward to your feedback." We are screening candidates to find the best and the brightest. We are looking for people who are prepared. Our client's put a very high standard on us to find the best as they are paying us! So you better impress us!
It's time to get focused in 2011! What is your 2011 career plan? Are you going to looking for the next great opportunity? Are you in transition? If so, take the time to take a personal inventory of your personal assets, building your personal brand, crafting your career documents and building a search plan. This all requires time and focus. If you are looking to get more detailed career planning, I am for hire and positioned very well to provide excellent career coaching advice.
Get on your game, people.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Career Focus 2011: Are You Really Ready for Your Career Search and Interviews?
Get your game on!
This year brings unexpected and new challenges to career paths. It also brings new opportunities. Success is not a spectator sport, people! It requires careful planning and execution, especially in today’s economy. There are tons of Career Boards that enumerate relevant information on Resume Writing and Job Search Strategies. But what industry professionals know is that there is a distinct difference between reading this valuable information and actually executing on it, appropriately and confidently.
Career Documents are critical and should be reviewed by professionals, not your colleagues, even if they do have great writing skills. They are not industry professional resume writers. At your level, you can't afford not to make the investment to have your resume professionally written.
Interview prep is even more critical. Conducting mock interviews with a coach proves to be an invaluable exercise. Having your coach focus in on your responses and build your career story, provides a venue to gain the clarity required to build an effective personal value proposition.
Are you really prepared for your career search or upcoming interviews?
• How are you planning your Job Search?
• Is your resume aligned to each position you apply for?
• Have people who are educated in resume writing preparing your career documents? Or have the colleagues who you feel have good writing skills helped you prepare your value proposition?
• Have you practiced your interviewing skills with a Coach? Or are you practicing on a friend who is not at all skilled with Interviewing?
Given my position as a search consultant, I get hundreds of resumes and interview tons of very accomplished leadership and sales candidates. Some have not been on the job market for some time. This is reflected in the way they tell their stories. Some have been at the same position for 5 - 10 year. Many have never had to compete for a position, as they were able to leveraging their own network.
The game has changed, folks! Now, candidates even have to compete within their own network. You need to raise your own bar and practice translating your business expertise and accomplishments. Trust me. I have seen some of the most accomplished individuals poorly deliver the strategic value they have brought to their organizations.
In today’s job market candidates must be prepared like a politician! Career documents, value proposition, and interviewing prowess must be ready to execute at all times. Reading career tips is simply not enough. You must practice with a coach. Often, after I interview candidates for a specific position, I provide honest feedback. Candidate's then realize how they missed the mark! While they didn't advance to the next step in the interview process, they had the foresight to take a few interview coaching sessions with me. They changed their approach, reconstructed their resumes, and better positioned their business accomplishments for the interview.
Don’t practice on a recruiter, my friend! And don’t wing it on the interview!
Call me to schedule coaching sessions that will help you:
• Identify Your Career Goals
• Plan a Strategy for your 2011 Career Search
• Execute Interview Strategies through Role Play
• Achieve Focus, Self-Confidence, & Fulfillment
Donna Valente
President Career Strategist
Leadership Placement International
Phone 610.449.5653 http://www.lpifirm.com/
This year brings unexpected and new challenges to career paths. It also brings new opportunities. Success is not a spectator sport, people! It requires careful planning and execution, especially in today’s economy. There are tons of Career Boards that enumerate relevant information on Resume Writing and Job Search Strategies. But what industry professionals know is that there is a distinct difference between reading this valuable information and actually executing on it, appropriately and confidently.
Career Documents are critical and should be reviewed by professionals, not your colleagues, even if they do have great writing skills. They are not industry professional resume writers. At your level, you can't afford not to make the investment to have your resume professionally written.
Interview prep is even more critical. Conducting mock interviews with a coach proves to be an invaluable exercise. Having your coach focus in on your responses and build your career story, provides a venue to gain the clarity required to build an effective personal value proposition.
Are you really prepared for your career search or upcoming interviews?
• How are you planning your Job Search?
• Is your resume aligned to each position you apply for?
• Have people who are educated in resume writing preparing your career documents? Or have the colleagues who you feel have good writing skills helped you prepare your value proposition?
• Have you practiced your interviewing skills with a Coach? Or are you practicing on a friend who is not at all skilled with Interviewing?
Given my position as a search consultant, I get hundreds of resumes and interview tons of very accomplished leadership and sales candidates. Some have not been on the job market for some time. This is reflected in the way they tell their stories. Some have been at the same position for 5 - 10 year. Many have never had to compete for a position, as they were able to leveraging their own network.
The game has changed, folks! Now, candidates even have to compete within their own network. You need to raise your own bar and practice translating your business expertise and accomplishments. Trust me. I have seen some of the most accomplished individuals poorly deliver the strategic value they have brought to their organizations.
In today’s job market candidates must be prepared like a politician! Career documents, value proposition, and interviewing prowess must be ready to execute at all times. Reading career tips is simply not enough. You must practice with a coach. Often, after I interview candidates for a specific position, I provide honest feedback. Candidate's then realize how they missed the mark! While they didn't advance to the next step in the interview process, they had the foresight to take a few interview coaching sessions with me. They changed their approach, reconstructed their resumes, and better positioned their business accomplishments for the interview.
Don’t practice on a recruiter, my friend! And don’t wing it on the interview!
Call me to schedule coaching sessions that will help you:
• Identify Your Career Goals
• Plan a Strategy for your 2011 Career Search
• Execute Interview Strategies through Role Play
• Achieve Focus, Self-Confidence, & Fulfillment
Donna Valente
President Career Strategist
Leadership Placement International
Phone 610.449.5653 http://www.lpifirm.com/
Sunday, May 1, 2011
LMS Sales Engineer ( pre-sales) Northeast and West Coast
About you: Before you respond, please read. To be considered, you must have LMS experience ( Angel, Bb, D2L and/or Moodle). Must have Higher Ed Experience.
You must sent a cover letter highlighting your experience a must as it demonstrates your communication skills. Send resume as well to hr@moodlerooms.com and donnam@lpifirm.com
You will be mostly responsible for covering the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic and you can work from your home office. Must be willing to Travel at 50-77%.
Any questions about the position be responded to only after resume is received.
The Best Company to work for in 2011 and beyond!
This is an organization you want join! A quickly-growing organization with great capabilities and even greater expectations. We are looking for creative, energetic individuals with a positive attitude and great work ethic that can excel in a fast-paced environment. "
Sales Engineers deliver critical pre-sales support to the sales organization by providing outstanding application and technical support to our prospective customers and our internal sales teams. This position works closely with many departments to answer deep product and technical questions, and acts as a subject matter expert for RFP responses. The ability to understand customer needs is paramount, as is the ability to communicate effectively in person or in written communication. The successful candidate will use his or her professionalism and consultative approach to leverage the products and services we provide to address our customer’s specific needs. This position reports to the Vice President of Sales.
• Ensure accuracy of customer product functionality needs (customizations, SIS integrations) pre-sales to improve customer satisfaction and adoption
• Provide on site support of sales presentations
• Conduct administrative perspective demonstrations
• Serve as Subject Matter Experts (SME) for RFP responses
• Create and maintain pre-sales demonstration environments for Sales team and prospective customers
• Field deep dive product and technical questions around Moodle, joule, third party blocks, modules, and plugins with accurate, detailed responses
• Experience administering Moodle site(s)
• Excellent written and oral communicator
• Responsive in both internal and external customer requests
• Ability to learn new product and technical concepts quickly
• Ability to translate prospective customer needs into products and services solutions
• Knowledge of Learning Management Systems (Blackboard, D2L, SAKAI, WebCT, ANGEL) (desired skill)
• Polished presenting skills
Base salary is commensurate with experience. Other benefits include medical, dental, holiday and vacation pay, direct deposit, 401(k) savings plan, attractive equity and new employee referral bonus.
You must sent a cover letter highlighting your experience a must as it demonstrates your communication skills. Send resume as well to hr@moodlerooms.com and donnam@lpifirm.com
You will be mostly responsible for covering the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic and you can work from your home office. Must be willing to Travel at 50-77%.
Any questions about the position be responded to only after resume is received.
The Best Company to work for in 2011 and beyond!
This is an organization you want join! A quickly-growing organization with great capabilities and even greater expectations. We are looking for creative, energetic individuals with a positive attitude and great work ethic that can excel in a fast-paced environment. "
Sales Engineers deliver critical pre-sales support to the sales organization by providing outstanding application and technical support to our prospective customers and our internal sales teams. This position works closely with many departments to answer deep product and technical questions, and acts as a subject matter expert for RFP responses. The ability to understand customer needs is paramount, as is the ability to communicate effectively in person or in written communication. The successful candidate will use his or her professionalism and consultative approach to leverage the products and services we provide to address our customer’s specific needs. This position reports to the Vice President of Sales.
• Ensure accuracy of customer product functionality needs (customizations, SIS integrations) pre-sales to improve customer satisfaction and adoption
• Provide on site support of sales presentations
• Conduct administrative perspective demonstrations
• Serve as Subject Matter Experts (SME) for RFP responses
• Create and maintain pre-sales demonstration environments for Sales team and prospective customers
• Field deep dive product and technical questions around Moodle, joule, third party blocks, modules, and plugins with accurate, detailed responses
• Experience administering Moodle site(s)
• Excellent written and oral communicator
• Responsive in both internal and external customer requests
• Ability to learn new product and technical concepts quickly
• Ability to translate prospective customer needs into products and services solutions
• Knowledge of Learning Management Systems (Blackboard, D2L, SAKAI, WebCT, ANGEL) (desired skill)
• Polished presenting skills
Base salary is commensurate with experience. Other benefits include medical, dental, holiday and vacation pay, direct deposit, 401(k) savings plan, attractive equity and new employee referral bonus.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Higher Education, Ed Tech Reps. West Coast, and Northeat Don't miss the Career Opportunity
You dont want to miss this career opportunity! This company enjoys a great leadership team, corporate cultural and is in a growth market! You need to be passionate, you need to understand the Higher Education Market, and you need to be a producer!
The Process:
You must send a cover letter that demonstrates concrete examples of how your background aligns to the job description. Send that along with your resume to mariaf@lpifirm.com
Territory (1 West Coast Position, 1 position, Northeast)
Job Description
Client facing individual responsible for selling my clients’ full range Solution and
Service lines to new and existing customers in the Higher Education market.
Service and relationship focused, the Senior Sales Executive is responsible for
generating, identifying, planning, driving and closing of all opportunities within
their identified Region.
Job Specifications
To qualify, Candidate must have proven track in ERP/CRM/ Services type enterprise sales record annd consistently achieving targeted sales goals and lead virtual team in planning and executing complex sales
process including the following skills and competencies to:
• Proactively participate in lead generation, executing marketing
campaigns and opportunity qualification
• Effectively engage in customer discovery and bids to identify customer
business challenges and requirements; recommend and propose
appropriate Services
• Presume overall accountability for all aspects of opportunity
management including bid and proposal response, negotiation and
closure
• Sell consulting services and provide on‐going communication to ensure a
consistent and cohesive message
• Effectively manage pipeline, forecasting and bookings reporting including
periodic updates on business development and goal attainment
• Candidate should have experience selling consultancy services or complex,
managed projects with 5 – 10 years experience in the higher education market
and new account acquisition.
• Candidate should demonstrate exceptional
communication skills and confidence in briefing and presenting to customers,
sales teams and all levels of management including executives such as CIOs, VPs
and Chancellors.
My client is a leading provider of help desk support, customer support services
and business intelligence to higher education. This company was
founded in 2004, has grown rapidly from a standing start to a national
company and employer of over 150 full‐time employees and over 100 clients.
They operate a 24x7x365 IP based call centers in Cleveland and Phoenix and
currently supports over 1,200,000 end‐users with Information Technology,
Financial Aid, Human Resources, Recruitment, Admissions, Enrollment,
Retention, Facilities and General Switchboard. Their clients range from large
public universities to community college districts to small, liberal‐arts colleges.
Targeted Compensation Range
Base: $95,000
Commission: $65,000 (no cap)
OTE: $160,000 year one
Large Territory
The Process:
You must send a cover letter that demonstrates concrete examples of how your background aligns to the job description. Send that along with your resume to mariaf@lpifirm.com
Territory (1 West Coast Position, 1 position, Northeast)
Job Description
Client facing individual responsible for selling my clients’ full range Solution and
Service lines to new and existing customers in the Higher Education market.
Service and relationship focused, the Senior Sales Executive is responsible for
generating, identifying, planning, driving and closing of all opportunities within
their identified Region.
Job Specifications
To qualify, Candidate must have proven track in ERP/CRM/ Services type enterprise sales record annd consistently achieving targeted sales goals and lead virtual team in planning and executing complex sales
process including the following skills and competencies to:
• Proactively participate in lead generation, executing marketing
campaigns and opportunity qualification
• Effectively engage in customer discovery and bids to identify customer
business challenges and requirements; recommend and propose
appropriate Services
• Presume overall accountability for all aspects of opportunity
management including bid and proposal response, negotiation and
closure
• Sell consulting services and provide on‐going communication to ensure a
consistent and cohesive message
• Effectively manage pipeline, forecasting and bookings reporting including
periodic updates on business development and goal attainment
• Candidate should have experience selling consultancy services or complex,
managed projects with 5 – 10 years experience in the higher education market
and new account acquisition.
• Candidate should demonstrate exceptional
communication skills and confidence in briefing and presenting to customers,
sales teams and all levels of management including executives such as CIOs, VPs
and Chancellors.
My client is a leading provider of help desk support, customer support services
and business intelligence to higher education. This company was
founded in 2004, has grown rapidly from a standing start to a national
company and employer of over 150 full‐time employees and over 100 clients.
They operate a 24x7x365 IP based call centers in Cleveland and Phoenix and
currently supports over 1,200,000 end‐users with Information Technology,
Financial Aid, Human Resources, Recruitment, Admissions, Enrollment,
Retention, Facilities and General Switchboard. Their clients range from large
public universities to community college districts to small, liberal‐arts colleges.
Targeted Compensation Range
Base: $95,000
Commission: $65,000 (no cap)
OTE: $160,000 year one
Large Territory
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Great Sales Career Opportunity. Arizona, Nevada, Oregon- Experienced Ed Tech Reps
Start the New Year at a Dynamic Growing Company! We need an experienced Higher ED, ED Technologies REP!
The process:
Send cover letter that highlights contrete ways that you meet the requirements. Include Salary requirements. Salary based on experience.
Send a resume: Please have your revenue quota and attainment for each company.
Send to mariaf@lpifirm.com This is a priority project and we will move quickly on the right candidate.
Title: Regional Sales Manager
Reporting to: Director of Sales
Position Summary: This position is responsible for selling the Company’s products and services to Not-for-Profit and For-Profit higher education institutions. The representative will be responsible for developing and maintaining critical high level relationships with college/university leadership, and to generate new sales opportunities for the Company.
Responsibilities:
• Provide expertise in the ERP space, with emphasis on solutions for Education customers
• Prospect and develop leads through telephone, e-mail and direct customer contact
• Develop relationships and sell into Not-for-Profit and For-Profit institutions in the West Coast (to include California)
• Take responsibility for driving the sales cycle which includes:
o Prospecting
o Lead follow-up and management
o Identifying and scheduling technical and other resources
o Proposal writing
o Forecasting and deal management
o Negotiating and closing sales
Qualifications:
• Enterprise application sales experience (5+ years) with ERP and/or Solution vendors.
• Proven ability in a complex sales environment, including ability to call on senior level administrators and business function executives at colleges and universities
• Demonstrable experience with major ERP business applications including Operations Management, Financials and CRM
• thorough understanding of all stages of the sales cycle with ability to take primary responsibility for maintaining sales motion in all phases
• History of meeting quota
• Sales expertise of products/services to the higher education market is preferred
• Knowledge of customers within academic environment is preferred
Extensive travel required 50-75%; remote office must be appropriately equipped and be ergonomically acceptable.
Base Salary 90K-100k, total comp 230K
Education: Bachelor's Degree required.
Location: open to candidates in Arizona CA, Nevada, Oregon
The process:
Send cover letter that highlights contrete ways that you meet the requirements. Include Salary requirements. Salary based on experience.
Send a resume: Please have your revenue quota and attainment for each company.
Send to mariaf@lpifirm.com This is a priority project and we will move quickly on the right candidate.
Title: Regional Sales Manager
Reporting to: Director of Sales
Position Summary: This position is responsible for selling the Company’s products and services to Not-for-Profit and For-Profit higher education institutions. The representative will be responsible for developing and maintaining critical high level relationships with college/university leadership, and to generate new sales opportunities for the Company.
Responsibilities:
• Provide expertise in the ERP space, with emphasis on solutions for Education customers
• Prospect and develop leads through telephone, e-mail and direct customer contact
• Develop relationships and sell into Not-for-Profit and For-Profit institutions in the West Coast (to include California)
• Take responsibility for driving the sales cycle which includes:
o Prospecting
o Lead follow-up and management
o Identifying and scheduling technical and other resources
o Proposal writing
o Forecasting and deal management
o Negotiating and closing sales
Qualifications:
• Enterprise application sales experience (5+ years) with ERP and/or Solution vendors.
• Proven ability in a complex sales environment, including ability to call on senior level administrators and business function executives at colleges and universities
• Demonstrable experience with major ERP business applications including Operations Management, Financials and CRM
• thorough understanding of all stages of the sales cycle with ability to take primary responsibility for maintaining sales motion in all phases
• History of meeting quota
• Sales expertise of products/services to the higher education market is preferred
• Knowledge of customers within academic environment is preferred
Extensive travel required 50-75%; remote office must be appropriately equipped and be ergonomically acceptable.
Base Salary 90K-100k, total comp 230K
Education: Bachelor's Degree required.
Location: open to candidates in Arizona CA, Nevada, Oregon
