Steve Jobs on Finding Talent

Steve Jobs was recently interviewed by Fortune Magazine. When asked on how he chooses the best talent for his executive team, here was his reply:

He said, "When I hire somebody really senior, competence is the ante. They have to be really smart. But the real issue for me is, Are they going to fall in love with Apple? Because if they fall in love with Apple, everything else will take care of itself. They'll want to do what's best for Apple, not what's best for them, what's best for Steve, or anybody else."

"Recruiting is hard. It's just finding the right needles in the haystack. We do it ourselves and we spend a lot of time at it. I've participated in the hiring of maybe 5,000-plus people in my life. So I take it very seriously. You can't know enough in a one-hour interview. So, in the end, it's ultimately based on your gut. How do I feel about this person? What are they like when they're challenged? Why are they here? I ask everybody that: 'Why are you here?' The answers themselves are not what you're looking for. It's the meta-data."

If you are trying to discover "Why you are here?" (career wise) Then maybe it's time to hire a career management coach!

Good Hunting!
Coach Mark
Hire Consulting Services
Career Transition Coaching
San Diego, CA

Interview Blunders and Bloopers

With layoffs mounting, gas prices surreal, mortgage defaults on the rise, the stock market in a swoon, and much of the U.S. staggered by truly awful weather of one kind or another, we could all use a good laugh right about now. So how about a look at the results of a new poll of hiring managers, by staffing firm OfficeTeam. The firm's researchers spoke with executives at 1,000 big U.S. companies, plus 100 in Canada, and asked them to recall the most embarrassing or bizarre interview moments they had witnessed or heard of.

Here is short sampling of their answers:

"The person was dancing during the interview. He kept saying things like, 'I love life!' and 'Oh, yeah!'"

"One job applicant came in for his interview with a cockatoo on his shoulder."

"The candidate sent his sister to interview in his place."

"The candidate stopped the interview to ask me if I had a cigarette."

"We had one person who walked out of an interview straight into a glass door. The glass shattered."

"The candidate got his companies confused and repeatedly mentioned the strengths of a competing firm, thinking that was who he was interviewing with."

"A guy called me by the wrong name during the entire interview."

"We're a retail company, and when we asked the candidate why she wanted to work for us, she replied that she didn't want to work in retail anymore."

"An interviewee took his bubble gum out of his mouth and held it in his hand. Then he forgot about it and shook hands with me."

"A job seeker gestured with his hands so much that he then sat on them to stop it."

"A candidate fell asleep during the interview."

"An applicant was doing really well in the interview until we got to the question about why she had left her previous job. She told us everyone there was out to get her."

"A candidate insulted the interviewer's tie."

Need help with your interview skills? Click Here

Good Hunting!
Coach Mark

Tips on Selling (Consulting)

Tips on Selling - Part 1

Once you understand some of the low opinions most sales prospects, customers, clients, hiring managers, or any "buyers" have you'll be in a better position to make the sale.

Buyers believe their time is more valuable than your time.
Buyers believe that it's OK not to answer your unsolicited phone call.
Buyers believe that it's OK to mislead you.
Buyers believe that most sales people are trained to manipulate.
Buyers expect to feel pressured.
Buyers feel that giving in too early is losing the game.
Buyers believe it's OK to get free consulting or information from you.
Buyers believe that stalling and delaying are right and necessary.

Next time a buyer exhibits these traits do not be surprised.

Tips on Selling - Part 2

Some of buyers may be leading you along or treating you disrespectfully and you may be helping them get away with it! When you stop doing the following things you will start gaining more respect and getting more sales:

Don't give buyers free consulting services.
Don't prepare detailed, time bound, and costly proposals without assurance that the proposal will receive serious consideration.
Don't allow your proposal to travel up and down the company organizational hierarchy.
Don't tolerate open-ended indecisiveness or you'll never get a decision.
Don't let your services, products, affiliates, co-workers or your industry be demeaned. If you don't stand up for them who will?
Don't enable buyers to put you in ethical or legal dilemmas.
Don't allow deadlines and agreements to exceed time limits without addressing the issue. Buyers who waste your time have their own reasons and they must be investigated and dealt with quickly.

Remember, your job is to provide solutions to those who have genuine problems and needs. It's okay to say "no" to any buyer if your terms are unacceptable or they are unwilling to co-operate.