Letters to SC&C:

New Position Accepted

One of our executive candidates was recently placed with a Fortune 500 company in a senior technology position. She was having great difficulty getting past gatekeepers and into the offices of the hiring authority to get a decent interview at the level she was seeking. Here are her comments:

"Just a note to thank you again for your terrific assistance with my job search! Your guidance and support were just what I needed at all the right times. I feel that you made a huge difference, particularly at the very end when I suddenly had offers that I didn't ’t know what to do with! Your advice and counsel were right on target, and you gave me the edge I needed.

By the way, the web portfolio was perceived very highly by both employers who eventually offered me a position. That document set me apart from others and gave me an advantage by showcasing my accomplishments in an easy, clear format. I also felt that the changes to my resume recommended by SC&C were very good and made a great deal of difference. Two of my offers came from recruiters who obtained my resume off the Internet. The documents (you prepared) made a lot of difference in getting me in front of people.

I started with (XXX) in Texas. So far, it feels like a good match for my skills and style. They are very interesting folks and (XXX) is a great organization."

Exec. VP & COO – $500 MM Corporation

"Dick, thanks for your email. I am doing well and, honestly, I am very happy, as well.

The new job SC&C helped me acquire, has been great, although it has been like drinking from a fire hose at times. I am excited about the future and my part in it. Anyway, it has been good. I feel respected, and it feels like "home". My efforts to assimilate into (the company name) quickly are perhaps somewhat hampering the amount of time I can spend working on my SC&C career plan. However, I am glad with my decision to retain my involvement with SC&C. I know my schedule will settle down once we have the move behind us.

I feel fortunate and blessed to have "bumped" into SC&C during a tumultuous time. I remain thankful for your approach and counsel. If I can be of assistance to you or SC&C with any interested candidate, please don’t hesitate to call me. While I cannot speak to every search issue, because we have just started, I can speak rather prolifically on the comfort level I have. Perhaps I can share my confidence by saying that I "enrolled" even though I had just successfully landed a spectacular career opportunity."

"... per our brief phone conversation on Monday, I wanted to update you as to my interview on Wednesday.

The recruiter has not officially heard from the hr mgr, post-discussion with the hiring mgr. However, she did talk with the hr mgr briefly, and that mgr was quite impressed with me, especially the preliminary work I showed them of how I'd take their existing brand valuation efforts in additional directions.

My discussion with the hiring mgr was a bit rushed, as he was running late, and a crew from cnbc was waiting to interview him. nonetheless, we had a good 25 minutes, at the end of which, he said he wanted to continue the talk, and we would, and that he wanted me to see some other people. his words were implying 'I have to have the hr mgr's agreement,' but his facial signs and tone were 'I want to know more about you and think you can help me.'

I credit much of these responses to your firm's help in interview prep. Reading Fred's book chapter, prepping for some expected hardball questions, and following, in spirit, the interview control guidelines, worked amazingly well. There was not a single 'tough' question for which I was not ready, with a prepared, but not 'rehearsed' sounding, strong, positive, and credible replies. Questions like, 'so, why do you not want to be an entrepreneur anymore,' your weaknesses,' 'what will you do for us here,' 'what is your most unique strength (I cheated on this one and said it is "my blend of analytical AND creative skills").

I was never so prepared and confident for an interview in my career as I was for this one, and both discussions flowed easily and confidently, in my opinion.

I'll keep you posted on the formal response thru my recruiter. She is already optimistic, saying that nobody is ahead of me in the process, and having Gary say he wanted me to see others was a major good thing.