A Job You Love

Do you still send Linkedin (or viadeo) invitations without personal message?

So you get it wrong!

Networking and social networking is all about quality and not quantity.

In their brilliant article, Networking Reconsidered, the authors go even further and explain that Networking is about genuine relationships where you exchange issues and real knowledge. And only time and trust will ensure this kind of relationship.

By building long term relationships and getting the trust of your contacts you will be able to develop collaborative work.

I know that I don’t share the philosophy … Continue Reading

The other day I got an email from Andrei Parakhnevitch, here it is:

“I have applied your recommendations to my current situation.
Here are some results:
- focusing on the industry / sector I am experienced in (maximum 5 tailored files sent per day) – I don’t know whether you’ve heard about a student who had sent 800! CVs and couldn’t get a job before he broadcasted his case on the BFM radio;
- networking by using alumni contacts from ESCP and joining Groups on LinkedIn;
- not posting “looking for a job” on the … Continue Reading

A couple of months ago, I lost a big project with a client. I was really gutted and wanted to get some work quickly. The day after I received a phone call from a recruiter: a company is looking to recruit a recruitment manager. I thought it would be a good idea to have different income streams. So I went to the interview to see what it was about.

The company is in the gaming industry (called W) and they were offering very good compensations. So I decided to proceed and … Continue Reading

Everyday I receive emails from people asking for free advice. I don’t know them, they don’t know me but they hope to get something for free.

Even if time is short, I always try to reply back to all the emails…Sometimes I just say I won’t be able to help you (if it is something too big as reviewing a CV or a profile).

But the worst case is when someone ask for a piece of advice and once I send an email does not reply back.

It happened to me … Continue Reading

What is a CV in 2010? (click on the link do download it!)

- You will find suprising figures

- You will find a model of CV in 2009 and a model of CV in 2010

- You will find ideas on how to develop your reputation and how to write a new CV!

Share it, criticize it, love, hate it, whatever but leave a comment on changes I should make.

For those who are doubtful about the figure “80% of companies used linkedin in 2008 as the primary source of recruitment”, here … Continue Reading

I am always amazed that recent graduates don’t know how to look for a job! (I still receive emails from graduates asking for a job!)

This article of Chris Russell made me think of the lack of job search courses at universities and business schools.

Imagine that universities spend 90% of their time (and money) to teach their students technical skills and technical courses but when these same students go out to look for a job, they don’t know some basic rules. They are unprepared and struggle to find a job…

Basically … Continue Reading

When writing this title for the post, I realized that it was a bit harsh but so true at the same time.

I mean it, it is unfortunate but true. My article, Don’t put “Looking for a job” on your linkedin status embraced exactly the same idea. I understand all the reactions I got on linkedin but I am trying to explain why this tip is valuable…

I still think that it is not an efficient way of looking for a job especially in the long run. For recruiters you have … Continue Reading

I have been receiving dozens of emails wishing me a happy new year and a merry Xmas from clients, providers, or contacts. But it is highly impersonal, I am just one of them.

Handwritten cards are a much more efficient way to let you contact remember you, it is a polite and delicate way of paying attention to someone. In this world of automation and paperless, a handwritten card is another way of communicating how much this person is important to you.

I must say that it is not green … Continue Reading

The more I spend time with job seekers and career changers, the more I realize that the most important thing in your career is not your CV, neither your network…but to be focused.

A lot of people want to be everything to everybody, “I am looking for a job in that industry but as well I want to do things in this industry as well…”. They want to keep all options opened, so they try a little of everything. But it does not work.

As long as you want to … Continue Reading

I see many people updating their status with “Looking for a job” or “Looking for new opportunities”

But do you think you make the most out of Linkedin? Do you think it is going to attract recruiters?

I think it is not the best thing to do for your reputation or your personal brand.

Why?

Because you position yourself as someone asking for something, asking for a job, waiting for things to happen, you are being passive!

Instead you could put on your linkedin status that you attended a … Continue Reading

Yesterday night I was watching a show on BBC called “the Restaurant” and I have been watching it since the beginning.

It is a show where 9 couples go through tests to see if they are able to set up their own restaurant. And on their way, they are evaluated by 3 professionals of the restaurant industry.

And as a recruiter I failed.

I spotted a couple, JayJay and James, and from the outset, I found them arrogant, even cocky, and one of the guy could not cook. So to me they did … Continue Reading

This is a guest post from François Teyssier, a public speaking and body language expert, www.actingadvantage.co.uk

Betty B is a gorgeous girl of thirty. A brilliant and successful manager, she is running a company organizing events all around … Continue Reading

Someone I know was contacted by a headhunter the other day…She was not interested in the position at all.

But she realized that it gave her a boost in self-confidence….yes she became aware that she is desirable on the job market and that some people try to reach her.

So what?

Generally speaking recruitment agents waste people’s time with positions that don’t fit or are inadequate. And sometimes even if you don’t fit in the position or you are not really interested they will try to make you fit. You think it is … Continue Reading

Let’s face it: in 2 years as a Recruiter, I never read a cover letter.

And you know what? My colleagues did not either.

Ah sorry actually I read one cover letter because I found the CV funny…

I do remember in 1998, when I was looking for a job, I used to spend hours and hours crafting a very good cover letter for each job I was applying for. If I could send 4-5 cover letters a day, it was a good day.

You know what, when I have clients using the same … Continue Reading

I am French so I am a fanatic supporter of France but what happened on Wednesday can teach us a lot.

Yes Thierry Henry made a handball, and yes it was on purpose.

On the short term, France fans are happy because their team is going to be in the world cup. French players, French broadcasters…almost everybody in France says: “sorry for that but at least we qualified”.

I think the handball of Thierry Henry is a short term solution. On one hand it pleases everybody and qualifies a … Continue Reading