Unfortunately, this week we laid my mother-in-law who lived to the ripe old age of 94 to rest. She left a family of ten grandchildren, and as the designated two grandchildren got up to speak and share their thoughts about their loving grandmother Ethel, they decided to build a theme in their speech, “You know you are a grandchild of Grandma Ethel if…” They then went ahead and shared loving but sometimes quirky habits that she developed over the years. As I was getting ready to write this week’s blog, the thought came to me to discuss, “You know you are in demand if…” How do you know if a hiring manager will or has already noticed you?
Below you will see noted the traits that any hiring manager is looking for in today’s marketplace. These are in no set order; however, the more characteristics that you display, the more you will be in demand.
You Know You Are In Demand If…
- Your name is known as the “go-to” person in your field. A recruiter only has to mention your name and the hiring manager is immediately intrigued.
- Your current firm is well recognized; thus, by association, you are also well respected because of your employment by that firm for a considerable amount of time. Here we are talking about at least five years or more.
- You have been at the same firm your entire career. This is becoming even more important to a hiring manager today than it was years ago. Where you went to work for IBM for life, that syndrome was well recognized.
- You own your specific niche. Your name might not be known as well but the specific niche in your marketplace is controlled by you.
- You are the main originator and you are not necessarily part of a team origination. This is because your current revenues can be 100% attributed to you, not split with other members of your team, and easily verified.
- Speaking of team, you have the ability to help initiate a “team move.” Most firms would much like to hire more than one new professional at a time, especially if they are contemplating opening a new office.
- Continuing on the team concept, you are currently working for a manager or team leader that is approaching retirement, and his or her book is going to have to go to someone, and the likelihood it is to go to you. A new firm and hiring manager is going to be extremely interested in jumping into this position.
- Your origination revenue numbers are off the charts, and they are solely your numbers as mentioned above.
- Your current clients are going to follow you to a new firm, as they know you are the reason for their successful issuances and creative financing ideas that have consistently saved them money and helped them finance needed infrastructure.
- Your current platform has held you back from generating even more revenue. Here we can be talking about not only the desk but other professionals in your current firm that may be covering areas that are preventing you from “breaking out” and having banner years.
What You Should Consider When Thinking About Firms And Any Hiring Manager…
Hopefully, these ten ideas above will help you realize that you are more in demand with other firms and their hiring manager than you may have thought. It may be time to start the process of looking for that final firm that you can successfully stay with till your retirement if you are not feeling the love you used to feel; if you are getting concerned that your current firm’s future vision is not matching up with your current vision for your future; if management is getting stale; if you find yourself getting stale or complacent and you want to re-ignite the fire that you had as a young road warrior. Let us help you bridge that gap.
Conclusion
If you would like to discuss your options, please reach out for a confidential conversation at 760-477-1284 or email at [email protected]. He can also be reached on LinkedIn. Harlan publishes a blog every Thursday here. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter here, which is a compilation of our weekly blogs, so you never miss one. You can find our listing in the “supplier and services” section of the Red Book under the title of “executive recruiting.”
About Harlan Friedman, JD & Founding Member, H. Friedman Search LLC. Harlan is a thirty-year veteran Public Finance Banker turned recruiter who specializes in the placement of all levels Public Finance Bankers, Healthcare Bankers, Municipal Advisors, Compliance Officers, Issuers, and Bond Counsels.