ITB Partners Networking Meeting; Oct. 19, 2018

Please join us for next Friday’s ITB Partners Members meeting.  Be sure to RSVP by clicking HERE.

Our featured Speaker is Leslie Kuban, owner/operator of FranNet-Atlanta.  Leslie will be speaking on entrepreneurship and selling skills.   Leslie is a Subject Matter Expert on entrepreneurship, business ownership, franchise ownership, who has been interviewed by business publications on the radio, and television.

Leslie is a Guest lecturer for MBA, EMBA, and undergraduate business programs at Emory University, Georgia Tech, and Kennesaw State University. Founding member of the Georgia State University Franchise Entrepreneurship Advisory Board.

To put us in the proper frame of mind for Leslie’s presentation, our Agenda has been modified to accommodate a contest to determine the best elevator pitch.  1st and 2nd place prizes will be awarded.  I know that will be fun!  So, practice your elevator pitch and become a winner.

REGISTER NOW

For more information, please contact Jim Weber:  Jim.Weber@ITBPartners.com

Effective Networking Requires a Strategy!

Apple gave me a nice gift this week. Yes, I updated my iPhone and iPad to iOS 12 which I think is really cool, but that is only half the gift.  The upgrade helped me finalize the topic for my weekly blog post. Very nice of them I must say. To be honest, Apple gave me the “angle,” or focus on my topic. It’s still good. A good post needs to be a story with an interesting perspective.  The iOS 12 upgrade provided that perspective.
My last two posts spoke about innovative networking ideas so I needed a transition that would add value to that theme.  I had just completed my monthly update for ITB Partners and thought about recapping the productivity apps I had uncovered during the past few months. An article summarizing five productivity applications might be very interesting, I thought. Seriously though, who needs to take that tact when the iOS 12 update provided so many productivity-enhancing features. It did cause me to think about networking strategies, however.
Why talk about networking and productivity, one might ask? Good question! At a fundamental level, our most precious resource is time.  The way we allocate our time, our priorities, determines our ability to achieve our goals and improve our lives. Any tool or process which helps us become more productive is worth consideration.
Whether one is between jobs, actively looking for that next opportunity, or gainfully employed and building a career, nurturing relationships is important.  Networking factors prominently in either situation, albeit, networking strategies may be different. It’s about time. If you are gainfully employed you may limit yourself to a few regular group meetings each month.  They may be industry-specific, and/or occupation-specific, such as professional associations. You might also include a more personal interest group centered around hobbies, sports, or alumni chapters. In the course of regular day-to-day activities, you will meet people who can help you achieve your job goals and broader career interests. Even with these limited options, one must set priorities and budget their time.
If you’re out of work, looking for a job, networking is your job. You must meet people who can connect you to jobs, directly or indirectly. You may be interested in attending group meetings to develop and refine your job search skills. Professional development may take a backseat for a while even though industry organizations and professional associations can offer opportunities. The agenda for the meeting will be your guide to make those decisions.
Effective networking requires a strategy.  That strategy is derived from an overall job search plan. A good job search plan begins with a list of suitable employers to actively solicit.  It follows that an appropriate networking strategy would be to identify employees of those companies, who can connect you with hiring managers.
Internet-based tools should not be considered networking by themselves. LinkedIn and other social media is a great way to connect with people who may be helpful, but it is just a starting point. Your objective is to schedule face-to-face meetings where you can build a relationship by establishing your credibility.  Credibility leads to trust which gives your network confidence to connect you with other helpful people.
I am not a big fan of participating in networking groups specifically oriented to the unemployed. Unless those groups are providing useful job search skills training, networking with other job-seekers can devolve into a pity party. This is not good for one’s psyche. On the other hand, one should seek out groups that include the gainfully employed, who know of job opportunities, and those looking to hire someone with your credentials.
Use your time wisely.  Develop a networking strategy that supports your job search plan.  For one-on-one networking, seek out people connected to companies of interest to you. Remember networking is a two-way street. A ‘pay it forward’ mentality is required.   Finally, remember to thank your networking contact with a follow-up note.  It is a big thing!  If the contact is a coffee drinker, enclose a pre-paid gift card.  It is a little thing that goes a long, long way!

Thank you for visiting our blog.

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, Managing Partner

ITB PARTNERS

Jim.Weber@itbpartners.com

Join Us for the September 11th BENG Meeting featuring Stan Stout

Join Us for the September Atlanta BENG Chapter Meeting at our NEW BENG MEETING LOCATION featuring Stan Stout who will present:

“Stupid Things We Encounter in Job Search”

 

Stan Stout: an Experienced leader with a unique blend of strategic focus / forward thinking, strategic focus and the ability to lead and manage execution. Linkedin

 

 

 

To Register click here…

 

 

Join us…

Tuesday, September 11th
7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
$10.00 Fee includes a Continental Breakfast Buffet!

LOCATION:
Bella’s Kitchen
6600 Peachtree Dunwoody
350 Embassy Row
Atlanta, GA 30328
Directions

To Register click here…

 

The Atlanta – Business Executives Networking Group (BENG) is a non-profit networking organization for mid to senior level professionals with over 10 years of business experience. BENG provides its members with:
  • A supportive atmosphere of high-value, face-to-face networking opportunities.
  • Relevant professional contacts for the unemployed, employed and self-employed.
  • An emotionally supportive environment for those in career transition.
  • Education and assistance for those members desiring to build, maintain or expand their professional network.
Click here to learn more about becoming a member and joining BENG.
Note: Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month.
For more information about BENG or to RSVP,
Please visit http://bengatlanta.eventbrite.com or contact
Jim Weber at jim.weber@itbpartners.com.

 

 

Adapt Your Recruiting And Selection Program To The Economy!

This past Friday, the Commerce Department reported the second quarter Gross Domestic Product, GDP. As anticipated economic activity was robust, increasing by 4.1%. This compares favorably to an adjusted 2.2%  increase for the first quarter. The principal drivers of this growth were consumer expenditures up 4.0%, business investment up 7.3%, exports up 9.3%, and federal expenditures up 3.5%. This is the strongest activity we’ve seen in about four years. Hiring for factory jobs is reported to be brisk.  Concurrently, the unemployment rate is 4.0%.
The economy is awesome!  Companies that haven’t considered expanding for a while, are investing in their businesses.  Expansion requires them to hire more employees.  However, the economy is at full employment.  With respect to the labor market, it is no longer a buyers market.  Now, it’s a seller’s market. Finding the ideal candidate is becoming more difficult. In fact, the tight labor market in the restaurant and foodservice industry has increased the demand for automated equipment.
The improved economy and the increased demand for labor is forcing employers to develop competitive employment offerings. When hiring full-time equivalents employers have three options:  recruit those currently employed in a similar job, looking for a better situation; hire people who don’t have the full set of skills necessary to do the job but can succeed with training and development; or take a risk by hiring from the pool of partially or long-term unemployed. Of course, another option is to find temporary workers or freelancers who are ready to go to work for a single employer.
An employer trying to recruit from the pool of the gainfully employed should understand why employees leave their jobs. They will leave their job if they feel unappreciated and under-utilized. They may be motivated to leave their current situation if it does not provide opportunities for professional development or advancement. Employers seeking to attract candidates currently employed must give these issues careful consideration as they craft their job specifications. To compete in a full employment environment, employers must offer a compelling alternative to compensate for the risk and uncertainty of leaving one’s job. Those employed understand that the market is volatile, given mergers and acquisitions, re-organizations, and the effect of systems and automation that reduces the need for some jobs.
Employers with budget constraints who cannot offer a competitive salary may consider hiring someone with the potential to grow into the requirements of the job. This is a viable strategy, however, it requires a commitment to training and development for the recruit.  This is similar to a Promote From Within Strategy, although these employers will likely focus on hiring entry-level employees.  Employers will not be successful with this strategy if they don’t invest in training programs.
Considering applicants with a lot of job changes, or those who have a been sidelined for significant periods of time should be your last consideration. There may be people in that pool who have faced circumstances beyond their control, not reflective of their work ethic or job skills. To identify viable candidates from this pool requires extra time and effort. In this case, the use of diagnostics is warranted.
Other alternatives to hiring full-time equivalents, either for short-term or long-term situations, are temporary workers or freelancers. These people choose not to work for one employer exclusively due to lifestyle considerations or personal issues. Their hourly rate may be higher than that of a full-time equivalent, but they don’t require benefits, and the additional cost might be worth the flexibility available to the employer.
From what I’ve observed, many employers are lagging in their ability to adapt to the current labor market. Whereas they became creative during the last administration, finding solutions around the regulations created by Obamacare, such as job sharing between employers, many employers have been slow to respond to the challenges resulting from the current economy.  If they are serious about expanding their businesses, they will eventually adapt and become competitive recruiters.  To do so requires that employers understand the nature of the market, then consider all options to arrive at the most effective recruiting and selection strategy.

Thank you for visiting our blog.

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so; please leave a comment.

 

Jim Weber, Managing Partner

ITB PARTNERS

Jim.Weber@itbpartners.com

 

 

Current Assignments

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