Ask The Headhunter: The Four Best (Not Easiest!) Ways to Land a Job By Nick Corcodilos, PBS Newshour
Successful Headhunter Nick Corcodilos. Photo- courtsey PBS.
Introduction: “Nick Corcodilos started headhunting in Silicon Valley in 1979, and has answered over 30,000 questions from the Ask The Headhunter community over the past decade.
In this special Making Sense edition of Ask The Headhunter, Nick shares insider advice and contrarian methods about winning and keeping the right job, on one condition: that you, dear Making Sense reader, send Nick your questions about your personal challenges with job hunting, interviewing, networking, resumes, job boards, or salary negotiations. No guarantees — just a promise to do his best to offer useful advice.”-PBS-
Excerpt:
“Because I can’t explain all these tips in detail in one column, I’ve included plenty of links to related articles. I hope you find this summary a helpful resource whether you attend today’s chat or not.
Go where the people are. Gathering of TechCrunch in San Francisco, 2013. Photo- Courtesy TechCrunch.
1. The best way to find a good job opportunity is to go hang out with people who do the work you want to do — people who are very good at it.
Insiders are the first to know about good opportunities, but they only tell other insiders. To get into an inside circle of people, you must earn your way. It takes time. You can’t fake it, and that’s good, because who wants to promote (or hire) the unknown? Start by identifying an online (or in-person) professional community where you can meet people who do the work you want to do. Join, participate, and start contributing to the dialogue.
The best way to get a job interview is to be referred by someone Photo: Quantum Diaries.
2. The best way to get a job interview is to be referred by someone the manager trusts.
Between 40 and 70 percent of jobs are filled that way. Yet people and employers fail to capitalize on this simple employment channel. They pretend there’s some better system — like job boards. That’s bunk. If companies took more of the money they waste on the big job boards and spent it to cultivate trusted personal contacts, they’d fill more jobs faster with better hires.
Demonstrate to the manager how you will do the job. Photo-Job Interview perfection.
3. The best way to do well in a job interview is to walk in and demonstrate to the manager how you will do the job profitably for him and for you. Everything else is secondary (or a total waste of time).
Research and study the business (not just the job description) before you approach the boss. Photo Job Stop.
Don’t believe me? Ask any good manager, Would you rather talk to ten job applicants, or meet just one person who explains how she will do the job to boost your company’s profitability? I have no doubt what the answer is. But it’s up to you to research and study the business (not just the job description) before you approach the boss.
The best way to get a headhunter’s help is to manage your interaction for mutual profit from the start. Photo- PBS.
4. The best way to get a headhunter’s help is to manage your interaction for mutual profit from the start.
Hang up on the unsavory charlatans who are dialing for dollars, and work only with headhunters who treat you with respect from the start. (How can you tell the difference?
Instead of “pitching” yourself to a good headhunter, hush and listen patiently to understand the headhunter’s objective. Proceed only if you really believe you’re a match. Then show why you’re the headhunter’s #1 candidate by outlining how you think you can do the job profitably for his client. Headhunters adopt candidates who make the headhunter’s job easier, and who help the headhunter fill the assignment quickly. (Surprise: If you follow suggestions 1-3 carefully, you won’t need to rely on a headhunter.) hope these “nutshell” tips and today’s Ask The Headhunter Chat help you get an edge in this difficult job market. We will continue to discuss the details of the methods outlined above in upcoming columns.” Read more…
Language Skill Activities
Pre-Reading
Directions: Have students study the photo(s) and describe what they think is happening in the picture-
Vocabulary
Directions: Have students read infer the meanings of the words (in bold) from the article.
- In this special Making Sense edition of Ask The Headhunter, Nick shares insider advice and contrarian methods about winning and keeping the right job.
- The best way to find a good job opportunity is to go hang out with people who do the work you want to do.
- Start by identifying an online (or in-person) professional community where you can join, participate, and start contributing to the dialogue.
- The best way to get a job interview is to be referred by someone the manager trusts.
- The best way to do well in a job interview is to walk in and demonstrate to the manager how you will do the job profitably for him and for you.
- Hang up on the unsavory charlatans who are dialing for dollars.
Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
Questions for Reading Comprehension
Directions: In groups have students discuss the following questions.
- According to the article, why is it a good idea to “hang out” with people who are already working in the same field you want to?
- What is the percentage of jobs filled by referrals to a manager?
- What is the best way to do well in a job interview?
- What advice are you given during a meeting with a good headhunter?
- After you have listened to (and understood) the headhunter’s objectives, what are your next steps?
Writing
Directions: Choose one of the four tips provied in the article and write a paragraph describing how you would apply this tip.
ANSWER KEY
Vocabulary
- headhunter |ˈhedˌhəntər|-noun-a person who identifies and approaches suitable candidates employed elsewhere to fill business positions: a headhunter offering you a wonderful new position at a higher salary.
- hangout |ˈhaNGˌout|-verb-informal spend time relaxing, enjoying , and sharing information with others who have the same interests: musicians hang out with their own kind.
- dialogue |ˈdīəˌläg, -ˌlôg|(also dialog )-noun-a discussion between two or more people or groups, esp. one directed toward exploration of a particular subject or resolution of a problem: the U.S. would enter into a direct dialogue with Vietnam.
- refer |riˈfər|-verb ( refers, referring , referred )-(refer someone to) send or direct someone to a specialist: typically one with more authority or expertise) for a decision: disagreement arose and the issue was referred back to the Executive Committee.
- demonstrate |ˈdemənˌstrāt|-verb-• show or express (a feeling or quality) by one’s actions: she began to demonstrate a new-found confidence.
- hang up on-verb-end a telephone conversation with (someone) by abruptly cutting the connection.
- unsavory |ˌənˈsāv(ə)rē|(Brit. unsavoury )-adjective-• disagreeable and unpleasant because morally disreputable: an unsavory reputation.
- charlatan |ˈSHärlətən, ˈSHärlətn|-noun-a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill; a fraud.
Questions for Reading Comprehension
- Insiders are the first to know about good opportunities, but they only tell other insiders.
- Between 40 and 70 percent.
- Demonstrate to the manager how you will do the job profitably for him and for you.
- Instead of “pitching” yourself to a good headhunter, hush and listen patiently to understand the headhunter’s objective.
- Proceed only if you really believe you’re a match. Then show why you’re the headhunter’s #1 candidate by outlining how you think you can do the job profitably for his client.
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