We have had a run up on new jobs in the Lumber and Building Materials industry, all of which have been posted to our website.
The market continues to be tough on job seekers who are frustrated with the process of waiting. That is the norm now to wait as employers are taking their time in the hiring process not wanting to miss on a better candidate. True and it is hard to swallow but as candidates, we must be patient and jump through the hoops of a very unfair market.
Posted at 04:48 PM | Permalink
2010 is just around the corner! Plan on it being a good year!
I met with a client today and our discussions turned to how tough a year it has been and I asked what he felt that 2010 would look like and what his plans were. He surprised me when he said, he was not making any plans for 2010 and would take it as it came. Like so many people, the current state of things has some of us down and feeling like the road ahead is going to be tough. While that may be true it is always critical to plan for yourself and your company. The old saying “Plan your work, work your plan” instantly comes to my mind when I start thinking about next year. If I don’t plan I usually get the results associated to having no plan.
Planning is not difficult, it’s relatively simple yet so very critical to our success as individuals and companies. A plan is like making a wish or a promise. If I were a salesperson, I might plan on securing two new clients a month next year. Of for a business owner, I might plan on making face to face visits to my clients next year or build an Olympic quality team. Regardless of our plan, it is important to incorporate goals into our planning which give us something to strive for in our work. If you are going to make plans, set goals which are obtainable yet challenge us.
For me, I am going to plan on having a great year and increase sales by working with my staff to deliver top level services and results. I am going to meet with more of my clients face to face and re-kindle old relations.
2010 does not have to be a great year to make it one. Plan on it!
Posted at 05:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
John Curtis has joined the SnapDragon Associates, LLC recruiting team as Executive Recruiter for the Millwork and Building Materials Industries.
A proven track record in increasing sales in both retail and wholesale, John has the ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with the decision makers. John is a long term recognized name in the northern New England millwork industry with in-depth understanding of merchandising and proven ability to convey product knowledge. "john's knowledge of the industry and his drive to provide service to his clients is a huge plus to the company. People like doing business with industry experts who know the niches and who's who." said Mark Barnard, President and Co-Founder of SnapDragon. He continued,"John is one of the most likable people you will meet in the LBM industry and he brings so much to the table with him and hit the ground running with our client base."
Welcome John!
Posted at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
It is amazing how few candidates are listing accomplishments on their resumes in this tough economy. Listing duties and tasks or responsibilities lead the reader to say, so I guess you failed which is why you are out of work right now...Change that thinking by listing what your job details accomplished. I tell candidates daily, when you read each line in your resume, ask yourself one question after: So What? What was the result, what did this lead to, how did this impact the bottom line? Answer questions and you will find more people asking to meet you.
Companies are hiring people who impact the bottom line, tell your story!
Good luck in your search!
Mark Barnard, President.
Posted at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Hiring companies: We have been asked daily what we are seeing in the market in regards to opportunities and jobs. Right now the big push is for companies who want to strengthen their ranks with better sales and sales management candidates. The market is hot for strong salespeople with a book of business and managers who know how to build those teams and drive sales success. Top management is looking at it's infrastructure and identifying areas of weakness and looking to rebuild with stronger professionals now available in the market. There are pockets of needs across the country and it is hit or miss. Retailers are still hiring and wholesalers are looking for better sales professionals.
Candidates looking for work: There is a tremendous amount of frustration on the part of people looking. Because of the high volume of applicants, most companies have abandoned their policy of responding to all applicants as they are overwhelmed with respondents. The on line websites which allow for on line applications are not helping with the situation as they allow unqualified candidateses to submit a resume without the required skills/experience. This creates a tremendous amount of congestion and because of it, many qualified candidatees are being overlooked in the frey.
A candidate lookingfor work sent in his resume and cover letter to us a week ago and we called him because his work history was a good match for the job we were filling. When called, the candidate could not remember sending his resume in and had to ask what job, location, etc because he had submitted to so many. Being recruiters, we gave him some slack but a hiring manager will not be so accommodating. Folks, take notes about what jobs you send you resume to and try to remember when you get a call...
Posted at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
We are excited to have Gary Whitmarsh returning from his leave of absence and back with the team. Gary will be working from his home office and has taken on a few old clients and working on developing new clients. Welcome back Gary, we missed you! Give Gary a call at 603-621-9037 X 7.
Posted at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
"In tough economic times, there are no magic beans to find a job for you. You must create your own magic to be seen and it's not impossible, regardless of what you are hearing on the news." excerpt from presentation given to U-Mass Building Materials Program April 15, 2009 by Mark Barnard
A good friend and industry colleague called me yesterday to ask if I knew of a good resume service/outplacement service he could use to jump start what was looking like a dead search effort. I asked him what he was looking for and he explained that he had found a company who was going to re-write his two page resume into a more concentrated one page document and then they would market his resume to 5000 recruiters, employers and others employers. My questions went to what they were going to do that he could not do himself? Then I asked him costs and found that this “service” would cost him a few thousand but at this point, nothing was happening and he wanted to think outside the box. People need to keep their money and if you want to pay someone for help finding work, hire a coach for an hour or two and go to work with suggestions they can make. There is no magic bean that anyone can sell you to give an advantage that you cannot find yourself. Use of websites such as LinkedIn.com, Executnet.com or similar sights are networking spaces where you will find 1000’s of contacts. You have to put in the work to find them and it’s not easy, nothing worth doing ever is. You need to think of job searching as an Olympic event and that requires an Olympic effort. As my father used to say to me as a young boy, you get out what you put in. If you would like some advice, call our OSG staff and they can help you formulate a plan, build a knock out resume and save you thousands. About the author: Mark Barnard is President of SnapDragon Associates, LLC, a full service consulting and recruiting company. They offer a common sense approach to problem solving in the lumber and building products industry where they have spent the majority of their careers. SnapDragon’s focus is on consulting and recruiting for businesses and professionals in the Building Materials and Lumber Industries. For more information and contact information go to www.snapdragonassociates.com or call them at (603) 621- 9037.
Posted at 09:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
In today’s job market, having a resume that stands out from the rest is imperative.
As recruiters, we review hundred’s of resumes on a daily basis – We know what it takes to maximize your visibility and ultimately get you invited to interview. For as little as $99, we will rework and tune-up your current resume to give it that professional look needed to excel in the job market. We also offer full resume writing services, proofing, cover letters, personal ‘sizzle’ sheets, reference reports, follow-up letters and much more!
Spring Resume Tune-up Special
o Entry Level: $99
o Mid Level: $149
o Executive Level: $199
Looking to advance your job search? We provide Career Coaching in areas of Interviewing, Networking, Negotiation skills and much more. Our career specialists can assist you in optimizing your job search success by customizing a marketing plan that is specific to your needs.
Take 20% OFF all coaching and writing services this month only!
*Ask about our bundle options as well.
For a complete price list and more information on our Outplacement Services, Contact us at: 603-621-9037 ext 3 or OSG@snapdragonassociates.com
**Spring Special offer ends May 31st. Contact a Career Specialist today!
Posted at 09:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
“Despite current market trends, more and more companies are stepping up and investing into their teams. If you can drive sales, lower costs, improve the bottom line, people want to meet you.”
Mark Barnard Consultant to the LBM Industry.
Investigating: The Key to Finding a Solid Company
Are People Hiring? This is a question we are getting daily and the answer is yes, they are. However, you won’t find the job of a career listed on some Monstrous website. If you want to find a new job, do some digging and be prepared to get to the top decision makers. For most companies, the idea of bringing in additional bodies is not on the front burner just for the sake of adding to payroll. On the other hand, if you are an impact player who can drive down costs, increase market share and profits, there are many companies who want to talk to you. It is our experience that in these markets where profits are down, sales forecasts are dismal, companies want to re-tool and improve their management in all facets from operations to sales to management and marketing. It is an excellent time to test the waters and find a new home if you are a star player. We specialize in finding top performers new positions based upon getting to the top executives and planting seeds in their minds on how they can benefit from adding to their teams. If you are interested in knowing more, give us a call and have a confidential talk with one of our staff.
About the author: Mark Barnard is President of SnapDragon Associates, LLC, a full service consulting and recruiting company. They offer a common sense approach to problem solving in the lumber and building products industry where they have spent the majority of their careers. SnapDragon’s focus is on consulting and recruiting for businesses and professionals in the Building Materials and Lumber Industries. For more information and contact information go to www.snapdragonassociates.com or call them at (603) 621- 9037.
Posted at 09:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Presenting…The Outplacement Services Group
v FACT: The Ability to find a job has never been more difficult than it is today. Online submittals yield little to no response.
v PROBLEM: With Hundred’s of people fighting for job openings, how will you compete and get the chance to interview? A simple resume submission is not enough…
v SOLUTION: Market yourself to the hiring managers or decision makers so they want to meet you. Want to get invited to interview? We’ll Show You How!
The SnapDragon team is excited to announce the launch of our new outplacement services division, The Outplacement Services Group. The OSG offers a variety of professional resume writing and career coaching services assisting job seekers in their hunt for the Right Job. In today’s challenging job market, it’s not uncommon to have hundreds of candidates applying for the same job. Hiring managers and recruiters are looking for a reason to toss your resume; a simple resume and cover letter no longer cuts it. As a nationally recognized recruiting firm, we review hundreds of resumes daily while placing top candidates in crucial roles – we know what it takes to get your resume noticed. The OSG’s professional and comprehensive services put your resume and cover letter above the rest, getting you in the door faster.
More job seekers than ever are in need of developing a career path and understanding the steps involved in locating the Right Job. Our career coaches can assist you in optimizing your job search success by providing a customized strategic plan, employing a step-by-step approach that is specific to your needs. We offer career development training in areas of interviewing, negotiating, and networking, as well as career tools such as personality testing, online video interviewing and “Snapshot” candidate job sourcing.
Our mission at The OSG is to train you to create a irresistible presentation, find opportunities and market yourself in a way that gets you invited to interview.
For more information on our Outplacement Services and how The OSG can help you advance your career search, contact an OSG Career Specialist Today: (603) 621-9037 or OSG@snapdragonassociates.com.
Posted at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
