Why Hire Me?

This is the value added proposition you are presenting to a potential employer. This is the question that they are asking themselves every time they communicate with you. You would be well advised to have done your homework. That is, be certain to do the research on the company, perhaps even the industry, you are interested in pursing long before you step foot through their doors.

It is so important to remember that the way you approach getting employment with a potential employer is the first reflection of the type of employee you are. Are you prepared? Are you thorough? If you are, you will know what value you can bring. Only then can you begin to address the possibility of increasing the profitability of their company or the enhancing the performance of their operations.

Too many times, job candidates decide to simply ‘wing it.’ That is, job seekers stay generic in their responses to questions during the interview process, so much so that the answers given can be used time and time again. Good experienced human resource specialists can tell if the answer is a pre- programmed response. They can also get a sense if there was any time vested in reviewing their company just by the nature of the candidate’s questions and responses. The front-end preparation will pay dividends, by increasing the odds in your favor!

In addition, you may find this company is not the right fit for you. Do yourself a favor then, do not try to fit a round peg into a square hole. If you are not right, say so. It will only end up being a lesson in frustration for you and for them. Frustration leads to job dissatisfaction. Inevitably, the end product of this is you resigning. Thus, another job-hop on your resume that could have been avoided.

Unfortunately, too many of us look back on our careers and see all the warning signs we ignored on some of the positions we have held. The red flags were going off and perhaps, our sense of pride did not allow us to fess up and admit we were not the perfect fit. As we moved forward, a great deal of time and energy, and the employer’s money, went into trying to right a wrong. It becomes a mission to prove your gut reaction was inaccurate. All this could have been avoided by moving forward to another career opportunity that did feel like the right one for you. And in doing so, you will have done this employer a service.

Take the time, up front, to ask yourself the ‘why hire me’ question as if you are the employer. Do the legwork by learning as much as you can about the position and the company. Only then, can you truly listen to your instincts and say with certainty, when asked the question, “Because I am the best candidate for this job!”

God's Protection - A Closed Door?

Today I had an appointment with an executive search firm. I knew of this agency through a dear friend who heard the CEO publicly speak. She immediately called me on the telephone speaking high praises for his rhetoric and his quest to follow God’s path in every aspect of his life. Her enthusiasm was contagious. “ I listened to him speak and just felt inside you two were destined to meet each other.” After a year of battling cancer, my life is surrounded by truth, joy and thanksgiving. A man that built a business paradigm on Christian values intrigues me and seemed a perfect place for me to be.

The communication with the CEO and I began with an email exchange. Unlike eharmoney.com, I feel this type of communication can only begin to scratch the service of the ‘getting to know each other process. This contact reviewed my resume and told me he did not have any existing clients looking for someone with my background. In spite of this, he offered to meet with me in his offices. I was delighted!

The day arrived and I was excited. I had already decided, after viewing his website at great length, this would be a wonderful place to work. I liked the fact that his business was built on true relationships and not a shotgun approach to filling employer’s needs for employees. This man’s work experience and prayerful review of his life had led him to this place in his life, his own Christian company. He understood and combined both missions, being successful professionally and a disciple of Christ.

As I sat in the lobby, I noticed the surroundings of his offices. Everything was calm, soothing but yet deliberate in its choice. It was high quality, but down to earth. I knew instinctively this man was capable of having balance. The offices look that way the minute you walk inside the doors.

At first glance, this CEO is not an overpowering intimidating man. He appears soft spoken, thoughtful when he speaks and an avid listener. Those outstanding listening skills had to be an asset for his large clients to know for certain; they have their business challenges in the right hands. Once he began speaking, quickly it becomes clear he listens intently to God for direction with his life.

My direction, which was more or less, his question to me, is not as clear-cut. I know what I do well, what I enjoy doing and what I would like to do. I said a silent prayer that the right words would come from my lips. My hope was that this man would look at me, listen with an open heart and mind and say, “Where have you been? We have been waiting for you to come in so we could get our business to the next level!” When I opened my mouth, I elaborated some on what I can do and why I was excited to be meeting with him.

The CEO then took the lead, explaining his business design. He went to great lengths to show and demonstrate one of his client’s needs being met, including the complete visual proposal. I understood completely why clients pay him a retainer. It was, by far, the most thorough job I have ever seen of not wasting a clients’ time and finding the cream of the crop in the industry for an executive position. He has a complete approach that leaves little room for error. It is no surprise that most of his business is repeat business and referral work.

Unfortunately, when he then turned the focus back to me and asked me what he could do for me, something in the way he asked it made my heart drop. I felt that sense of dread come over me; I had not sold myself to him. I had not delivered the goods. I had hoped my enthusiasm for his company, the appreciation of his design, and my honesty at where I was at in my life would make him see, perhaps God wanted me sitting right there in front of him. Just maybe God wanted him to create an opportunity for me to join his mission. What he felt was different, I am sure because what came out were these important words of advice, “Rejection is God’s protection.”

It was a gamble to go there and speak to him of sorts. I wanted to try to convince him that his company could be marketed in more ways than just relationship building. Though I am a strong proponent and successful myself at that skill set, I do feel there are other things business owners can and should do to improve visibility and add brand identity.

This was a good man I met today, an awesome choice for anyone looking for the best executive team for his or her company. I admire him greatly! I also think his idea of tithing about 10% of his business is a great idea all companies should implement for the good of mankind. I could not help but wonder, while I was sitting there and he said it, was I part of the 10% tithe?

Our meeting ended with him giving me some prized reading materials. I was touched by his generosity to give me reading materials that touched his soul. He also gave me some ideas to contemplate about my career search. His enlightenment was wonderful, e.g. only 10% of jobs are filled off job boards.

At the end of the day, he is right, though, one can only do what one can do and have faith we are walking God’s plan. We can pray that one day, the right door will open. I did what he said, I reached out and knocked on a door. But, what was on the other side was the message relayed to me, “Rejection is God’s protection’ but I really did not think I needed that protection this time. Sometimes I guess I am wrong.

Rejected, Dejected

Job prospecting is the one of the only times you run to your mailbox, anxiously hoping you do not get a piece of mail in it! That would be, the dreaded rejection letter. The anonymously written letter that makes you feels that you are not good enough. They all state the same sort of line, “We found another candidate who better fits our criteria” or “We feel you are not a good match to our qualifications.” Either way, you are not moving forward in your quest to start your career with them!


Every time I hear the words ‘rejection letter’ the same memory comes to mind. My younger sister attended Miami University in Ohio. Once when I visited, she took me to this bar known for honoring these “rejection letters” in a special way. Anyone that brought the dreaded letter in to the bar, and had identification to validate that they were in fact, the rejectee, was treated to a free drink of their choice. And, to make you feel even more special, your personalized letter was plastered on their walls along with all the others that had came before you and would come after you! Yes, there was a sea of these letters lining their walls. I can remember sitting there, reading them and laughing at how blasé they all read. The content and verbiage was the same in so many of the correspondences. You could not help but get the feeling it was the same person at each of these different companies writing the letter

The only thing worse than getting one of these letters is no response at all. Then you are left wondering if you prized document submission went into a black hole, never to be seen again. This is truly frustrating. Even more so when this happens and it was one of those positions you wanted so desperately that you spent extra time tweaking your resume and cover letter to state exactly why you are a perfect fit! You thought, at the time, you looked like an outstanding candidate, looking over your paperwork but the silence tells you someone else saw it completely different!

This is par for the course, this rejection and the moments of feeling dejected, for anyone seeking a career change. Just as with looking for a prince, given you have to kiss 10 frogs first, you must be willing to accept the rejection, repeatedly, to find the right position at the right time for you and for them, the employer.

It is important to keep your morale and attitude positive. Perhaps consider developing your own personal mantra to say for times like this. Verbal pep talks are important. Remember you will spend the majority of your waking hours at your career choice so being positive about the search is critical. You reap what you sow. Your internal dialogue is the best source to lift you up by your bootstraps, hit the job boards again searching and apply, apply, apply!

Intution, Our Best Friend

In my quest for the perfect career opportunity, I have been offered many jobs. I started keeping count but when I got to 10, I quit. In the past, I would have jumped on them immediately without a backward glance. I truly do believe we make our own opportunities in life. So I would have moved forward with a good offer even if it did not feel quite right, reassuring myself, I could turn the job into something I could love.

Time has taught me well to rethink this pattern. Too often we do not trust our own instincts. I have learned that about 80% of the mistakes we make in our life easily could be eliminated if we simply trusted ourselves.

Having survived cancer, I have the faith in my Higher Power and myself that a plan has been set for me. I pray, work hard and have a positive attitude while searching. I believe the plan for my professional career will materialize into something so wonderful that I will be humbled. Too often in the past, I have moved too quickly into a job that, from the initial stages, did not feel right. When my intuition was confirmed, I found myself looking in the mirror trying to see if I saw the word “Why’ tattooed on my forehead.

Intuition is priceless. It can be God steering us in the right direction. Too often, we let our egos grab the wheel right out of His hands and say, “Let me drive.” The signs are there, we just never pay attention to the red flags going up as warning signals. This time of my life I am going to watch, wait and listen.

Those of you that are now following this site and have offered me career opportunities and/or know of others I have received, please know I am touched by your willingness to consider me worthy to work for you. I am grateful for the consideration always!

I do have a non-compete from my previous employer and have the integrity to honor it. Plus. I believed in what I sold and really have no desire to compete against them for a client base. Webb/Mason does an outstanding job on many fronts and I remain proud to have been employed by them. They are known for hiring some of the best sales folks and personnel in the industry. I think my employment with them speaks volumes about the caliber of individual I am. My exposure to so many new diverse situations during my employ at Webb/Mason made it possible for me to leave confident, marketable and yet grateful.

I wanted time to think about where I want and need to be with my career. My motivation is to find the right career position, and not settle for just taking an employment offer that may or may not be a good fit for me and my personal goals. Taking a job offer is a lot like a marriage. It is a vested relationship. Too much job-hopping reminds me of divorce. Make the right commitment to the right person in the first place and then the hard work that follows is so worth it!

Head Hunter Marketing?

I have been told Head Hunters are a great tool to use when trying to market yourself for a new employment opportunity. They basically are your personal sales team. The commodity on sale is you, the potential employee.

So, with a positive attitude in check, I set out to investigate and find one that would be a good match for my career goals. Hence, I picked one that is in the category, Executive Search. This area made me feel certain it would be a classy organization. When I viewed their website, I was met with images of potential candidates that had landed positions, professional looking business head shots. All the content on the site made me confidant I had made the right choice.

The dialogue began with email exchanges between the administration contact and myself. I had asked if, after viewing my resume attachment, they could contact me if I was a potential candidate for them. The response came in the next day, via email and was brief but stated that I was indeed a good prospect. The manager of this office location wanted to interview me and solicit for opportunities in my behalf. A date was suggested to meet but I responded to her that I was already committed on that date. I gave this contact several alternative times and dates.

The next time I heard from this woman was literally weeks later. So much time had passed that her email actually began with an apology for the passage of time. It also freely admitted that I had been forgotten. She wanted to appease her boss and set up a new appointment for us to meet. I gave her optional days of the following week that I could meet and time slots as well. I got back an email confirmation that began, “It was a pleasure to talk with you this afternoon on the telephone” followed by an appointment confirmation that I would be seen on this particular day of the week at 1 p.m. I did indeed think it was odd she was referencing a conversation that had never taken place. We had never spoken!

When I arrived at my scheduled appointment time, the front desk personnel looked quite unsettled as to why I was there. I told him that I had an appointment at 1:00 p.m. I noticed immediately the large oversized clock in the center of the wall stated 12:00 p.m. He told me I must have missed my appointment time, it must have been an hour earlier. The gentleman I was to speak with was already in discussion with someone else. I then asked if the clock was not working, thinking perhaps they were confused as to the time it was. He simply stated that it works but is on the wrong time. This comment made no sense and my red flag immediately went up!

By this time, the slight noise in the otherwise quiet office led to a woman quickly appearing asking why I was there. Again I repeated my earlier statement and was met with an apologetic look and a patronizing tone of “You missed your slotted appointment time. ” Then, as if I was invisible, the two individuals conversed about how unfortunate it was that I had missed my appointment time. I interceded by pulling out the printed email with my confirmation on it and stated, while pointing at her email, that clearly states 1 p.m. and that is the current time.

She quickly ushered me in to her office and said she would just have to reschedule me due to this misunderstanding. I think she was careful that the man in the other office, with his door open, did not hear what was transpiring. At this point, I felt that he probably should have been made aware of it though.

Her office was as beautiful as the outer office, definitely decorated upscale with the utmost class. She whispered to me than that there were several good shops around the area if I could perhaps hang around them for about 2 hours and thus, return for the interview. I felt over dressed in my business suit to be out window shopping and felt this was becoming a complete waste of my time. I reclined her offer and told her point blank this needs to be rescheduled. An appointment was made for the following week and shortly thereafter, she popped up her head, all smiles saying “Hey, guess what, we had you down for next week for your appointment. You must have read the date I sent you wrong.” I then referred again to her printed email that she did not want to view up close and personal and told her that her confirmation did not include a date. The email had clearly been sent last week and had a time stamp on it. One would think that an interview was the very following week unless stated otherwise. She did not respond to this other than wishing me well and telling me she would see me next week.

I doubt that, that she will see me next week, or the week after, or even the one after that! My reputation is not going to be handed over to an agency that lacks the professionalism to admit when they made a mistake. I don’t trust the follow up to be there when their own large-scale clock is ticking on the wrong time. I wonder how many corporations or organizations are sold on the fact they deliver quality candidates here? No I don’t think I will trust an agency that does not keep track of appointment times to sell my ability to be punctual and thorough. I can market myself better than that. Thank you very much for the confidence boost in my skill sets!

Take a good look at me now!

I am on, what is commonly referred to as 'the job hunt.' I am searching for an exciting opportunity where I can use my skill sets and creativity in my career. And I am shocked at how difficult a job this is, looking for an inspiring opportunity. My heart goes out to the thousands of other folks out there traveling this same journey. Please know that you are not alone!

Most of us want a job that will help us achieve our dreams but to accomplish that, we need a paycheck. Without an acceptable income, though, it is hard to make dreams come true! Try it sometime and let me know how successful you are. It is not as if you hitch hike to Hawaii easilym given that it is surrounded by water! Going to the Hawaiin Islands would be another dream of mine, a place where beautiful beaches are easy on the eyes and flowers are worn around the neck as the norm.

Let me introduce you to me, I am Miss Queen of Networking. My contacts can tell you stories of how I have helped them make productive business connections and how I have helped open doors for folks seeking to make career changes. I have religiously delivered results. The irony here is that I have been more successful at connecting others to where they want to be than I have with myself. However, never before I have truly set my sights on connecting myself with the perfect job. Not before now...

Recently, I met Genma Holmes, a wonderful successful business woman. Genma was intrigued by my goal, that is, to find the career opportunity that allows me to reach my full potential. I exhibit a great deal of passion in all that I do and believe we can accomplish our goals if we take the steps. Genma suggested a new important step, "Veronica, you need a blog page. You need to expound on this search." Genma got it much quicker than I. Having just recently recovered from breast cancer, this is more than a career search for me...this is a journey towards what I am destined to do with the rest of my life. God has graced me with so much more time; I have came through this battle healthy on the other side.

After cancer, a survivor is overcome with the feeling of "Ok, where do I go now, now that all the doctors appointments and chemo sessions are over?" This is an important question for not only cancer survivors but anyone contemplating transitioning their career. Jobs give us a sense of value. Our careers help validate our existence.

Please travel along with me as I share some of my experiences with searching for the perfect opportunity. This journey will be a learning and growing experience for us all. I hope you enjoy the ride. Take a good look at me now!