Archive for February, 2008
Employment Contract Advice
February 22, 2008 3:44 pm
I am pursuing upper level management employment (SVP) opportunities with established national non-profit organizations. Would you please advise me on the most effective way to secure an employment contract with the organization to protect me against changes in upper management (CEO) direction which may also result in a change in my employment?
In today’s world, employment contracts are not as prevalent as they once were. Once signed the offer letter is “a contract” in essence, since its legally binding. Most firms state in their offer letter, employment at will. Either in the offer letter or the contract you would seek to include language for severance compensation. You would have a clause that includes protection for yourself in the event there is a change of senior management where your position responsibilities would change. The details of this agreement sometimes impacts rank and duration of employment and what you are able to negotiate upfront. May I suggest that in all circumstances you should contact a labor attorney since this is a legal matter and one of great importance.
How to Represent Your Breadth of Interest
February 21, 2008 1:03 pm
I am an entrepreneur and for the past 11 years I have been in the real estate industry. As with most entrepreneurs, I feel that opportunity is all around, and thus I do not want to come across as being focused entirely in the real estate field. How do I represent my breadth of interest on paper / in my resume?
In any search for a new position, and particularly when one wants to change careers or is open to new careers, there are certain messages and objectives that one tries to get across. At times its better to represent these messages on paper, and at other times it’s more important to do it verbally.
Given that you are looking to make a possibly revolutionary, rather than evolutionary change in your career, whenever possible you will optimize your job search by presenting your case verbally rather than in writing.
You need to bridge the gap between what you want to do and what you have done. You should determine the skills and talents that are transferable from the real estate industry (sales, relationship building skills, management etc). To accomplish this on paper and verbally, be clear point for point about how you can make that transition - don’t leave it up to the reader/listener to draw that conclusion. You have to be passionate and present a concise, clear, and cogent story about yourself that will cause the person to highly value your background and experience, in the context of their industry and company.
I suggest talking to people in the various industries that you are seeking positions in. Think about what you need to learn to bridge the gap in your experience and their requirements. Join a trade group in that industry, network and gain knowledge. You need substance rather than sizzle. When someone looks at you as a potential employee, they are risk averse and looking for someone who has applicable work experience, so you need clearly state how your skills/expertise/experience can be transferred.
Communicating Effectively in CV/Resume & Cover Letter
February 12, 2008 4:28 pm
How should I communicate in my CV that I left my previous company as of December 2007 and I am not employed now? Shall I put it into the cover letter only? Or should both CV and Cover Letter contain it?
Based on the resume you shared with me, your stability and success of seven years with progressive promotions with P&G and five years with Magyar Telekom positions you well for your next opportunity. The best way to explain your situation is through direct and transparent communication. Since prospective employers and executive search consultants are interested in “reasons for transition” and “current employment status”, I would state your reason for departure in your resume AND in your cover letter.
In terms of the resume, I have advised clients to put a short explanation under their company and title in parenthesis that states the following for example:
Reason for leaving: Company underwent a reorganization, largest ever merger in Hungary, of the Wireless and the Internet Service Divisions.
In your cover letter be careful not to use the reason for leaving as the focus of the letter. Instead focus on your accomplishments and how those accomplishments could benefit the needs of the company.
Global Career Transition
February 8, 2008 3:23 pm
As a European based professional, what can I do to increase my chances of receiving a US based offer? I have US and European work experience.
As with any job search, the first order of business is to determine what your objective is. To maximize your chances of success consider what industries are currently expanding. In terms of industry trends, the best opportunities would probably be in healthcare, engineering and a more narrow area in finance. Some European banks, for instance, are closing US units. UBS recently spun off its mortgage securities holdings, slashed staff in real estate securitization, and cut proprietary trading in the US. Overseas sales at some companies are doing much better than US sales (at IBM, for example).
To identify what industries are currently expanding in the US try contacting the following organizations:
- Kompass - a for-fee company database in Europe, can give you a list of companies that are expanding into the US.
- Uniworld - a database of foreign companies operating in the US. It will have lists of companies that already have branches.
Once you have your target position and industry identified, use your network to find leads and get introductions. As a European based professional you will be required to obtain a green card, obtain a position with a US based company that will sponsor you for an H1B Visa or obtain an L1-A Visa from a European firm where you are currently employed in order to work in the US.
The first step is to obtain a job with a US company that will sponsor the visa, because they are only available to H1B employers. Individuals cannot apply for these visas.
A maximum of 65,000 H-1B Visas are issued every year. The H-1B Visa is issued for up to three years but may be extended.
The H-1B Non-Immigrant Work Visa may be issued to applicants seeking temporary work in a Specialty Occupation which requires the skills of a professional. Specialty Occupations include e.g. accounting, computer analysts, programmers, database administrators, web designers, engineers, financial analysts, doctors, nurses, scientists, architects and lawyers. The petitions are submitted by employers based on their need for the non-U.S.-resident employee. You may possess a bachelor’s degree or requisite experience to make up for the lack of a master’s degree.
As a European professional with a rich work history remember to highlight what differentiates you from the competition in the US market. Be positive, persistent and open about your reasons for relocating. Good luck with your search.
Resume Writing Tips
February 4, 2008 4:39 pm
I plan to make a change and use my considerable work experience at a new company. I have not been in the marketplace for 20 years. Please provide any advice you can with regards to improving my resume.
In terms of format, line up the dates on your resume to the right. It’s easier on the eye to go from right to left and those who read hundreds of resumes can read your resume faster. Since you have been at one company for many years, be sure to differentiate your responsibilities/new promotions and the challenges you faced in each position. Potential employers will look at progressive promotions and diversity of experience within the company.
With regards to your accomplishments, always show how success was measured and achieved. Did you save or make the company money? Is there an estimate percentage that you can give? What was the problem and how did you solve it? If this is not possible think about performance ratings or client reviews. Be creative. If possible, call the department and get the stats on how certain initiatives 10 years ago have impacted the company today.
Also think about your resume in terms of what you want to do next and not just what you have done. You may want to rewrite portions of it to reflect a new industry. For example you may not have thought about how much negotiation it took to get the last project off the ground. You may need to accentuate different strengths for a new position.
Think about what responsibilities and initiatives you took on informally and make sure you add them to your resume. If you were a mentor, to 10 new recruits in the last year, but this was not a formal management position, it is still worth mentioning.
