Be Prepared for a Months-Long Job Interview

Posted on January 20, 2016 by bermanevansretail
We know that the job hiring process is much tougher today than in the past — due to companies’ use of key-word computer software to pre-screen resumes, the downsizing of several major companies, and the number of applicants for each good job. But, another disheartening trend for job seekers is the longer hiring process used by many firms. Job seekers must be ready to deal with these trends without getting overly frustrated by them. A positive attitude, and endurance, are essential.
For example, in  today’s print version of the Wall Street Journal, Sue Shellenbarger’s report is titled “The Six-Month Job Interview”:
“It has never been easy to land a job, but a rise in hiring has added a new twist: Employers are taking nearly twice as long to hire people as they did several years ago. ​Companies need an average of 23 days to screen and hire new employees, up from 13 days in 2010, says Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist at the jobs and recruiting site Glassdoor, based on a study of nearly 350,000 interview reviews by the site’s users. Applicants run a gantlet of multiple interviews not only with bosses but with teams of prospective co-workers. Also, more people are being asked to submit business plans or face a battery of personnel tests.”[Click here to access the full Glassdoor report.]
“For job seekers, performing well during decision-making marathons requires a thick skin and new skills. Some get frustrated or blame themselves for delays in the hiring process. ‘It can be debilitating. It goes on and on,’ says Carole Osterer, Wayland, Mass., who completed a job search late last year. A human-resources manager at one employer called her with glowing comments. A month later, he called to say the company wasn’t interested after all. After another month, he reversed himself again and asked her to interview, says Ms. Osterer, a university research administrator. She did the interviews but never heard from the employer again.”

 

To read more about the elongated job search process (and see more tips like those below), click the image.

“HURDLE: You’re invited to a 12-hour visit at headquarters to meet, eat and schmooze with hiring managers. DO: Ask thoughtful questions of each participant about their specific goals and challenges. DON’T: Relax when dinner finally arrives, have a few drinks, let down your guard and crack some jokes.” ILLUSTRATION: TIM BOWER FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Posted in Career Useful Information, Careers in Retailing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Consider These Tips in Your Career

Posted on January 19, 2016 by bermanevansretail
Here are a number of leadership tips in the form of quotes by prominent retail executives as compiled by the National Retail Federation.
Click the image for a larger version.

NRF Quotes
Posted in Career Useful Information, Careers in Retailing, Part 1: Overview/Planning, Part 2: Ownership, Strategy Mix, Online, Nontraditional, Part 3: Targeting Customers and Gathering Information, Part 4: Store Location Planning, Part 5: Managing a Retail Business, Part 6: Merchandise Management and Pricing, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Part 8: Putting It All Together | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The NRF’s Top 25 People Impacting Retail in 2016

Posted on January 18, 2016 by bermanevansretail
Each year, the National Retail Federation Foundation recognizes 25 “disruptors, dreamers, givers, influencers, and power players.”

Read on to access the 2016 list:
  • 2016’s Disruptors — They “are true originals who rock the boat with ideas so crazy, they just might work. These are the people who make you rethink what you thought you knew about retail, opening you up to new possibilities for your customers, your business and your world.”
  • 2016’s Dreamers — They “are rising stars who might be light on experience, but their heart, energy, and passion inspire everyone around them. They’re already making waves in their store, company or hometown with their fresh ideas, big dreams, and sky-high goals.”
  • 2016’s Givers — They “are inspirational change-makers and big-hearted optimists who make retail shine as a force for good. They see a need and use their skills and resources to fill it to the brim, bringing joy and new opportunities to their companies, communities and the whole wide world.”
  • 2016’s Influencers — They “are champions of retail, bridging the gap between the industry and the rest of the world. Whether they’re journalists, activists, innovators, or business leaders, they don’t work in retail — but they’re helping it evolve. They’re passionate, persistent, and intelligent, and their work is paving the way for innovative retailers everywhere.
  • 2016’s Power Players — They “are fearless leaders who never shy away from what others may see as insurmountable challenges. These top retail executives have more than just elite status — they have vision, passion, and heart. Their forward-looking decisions have a ripple effect across the industry, but they’re not afraid to take risks or push boundaries. They guide, inspire, and challenge us to move beyond the status quo.”
Posted in Career Useful Information, Careers in Retailing, Global Retailing, Part 1: Overview/Planning, Part 2: Ownership, Strategy Mix, Online, Nontraditional, Part 3: Targeting Customers and Gathering Information, Part 4: Store Location Planning, Part 5: Managing a Retail Business, Part 6: Merchandise Management and Pricing, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Part 8: Putting It All Together, Social Media and Retailing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments