At Bell Oaks, we understand the critical role we play in supporting our candidates and assisting you throughout the search process. Our consultative, relationship-driven philosophy drives us to ensure that your career growth and professional goals are considered every step of the way. Our consultants are knowledgeable resources available to you, as well as some of the tools you will find here.
Job Search 101: A Tool Kit for Job Seekers
By Randy Hain, Managing Partner of Bell Oaks
Based on interviews with literally thousands of job candidates, author Randy Hain shares the collective wisdom and experience of the partners and consultants at Bell Oaks on how to effectively manage a job search through four phases: Losing Your Job & Starting Your Search; Building A Network; Interviewing; and Negotiating an Offer & Landing a Job.
"Many of the candidates we meet are specifically recruited for searches we are running for clients, many are referred from our large network and others seek us out because of our reputation for treating candidates professionally and offering candid, helpful advice. As you can imagine in these difficult economic times, we are dealing with a large population of good people affected by corporate layoffs. Our company has observed common threads which link the vast majority of these candidates together.
There is no guarantee that a new job will result from these suggestions, but we do have the unique perspective of interviewing thousands of candidates and interacting with hundreds of clients to gain insight into best practices and “what works.” The following information is a collection of the on-target strategies we have observed, but you should always feel comfortable experimenting and thinking creatively when developing your own strategy for finding a new career."
Practical LinkedIn
By Randy Hain, Managing Partner of Bell Oaks
How we build personal and business connections is ever evolving, and in today’s culture and economic environment it is a constantly moving target to keep up with the latest tools and trends. One of the fastest growing connecting tools of the past few years is LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com). According to a New York Times article on Aug. 13, 2008 by Sarah Jane Trimble, LinkedIn has more than 25 million members and is adding new ones at the rate of 1.2 million a month—equaled to about one new networker every two seconds.
Connecting … The Forgotten Art of Social Interaction
By Randy Hain, Managing Partner of Bell Oaks
First and foremost, this is not another article on networking. Most business people have been inundated by countless tips on how to meet people and exchange business cards. This is also not an article on building relationships. I’m talking about the often-overlooked, elemental skill you need before you can form a true relationship or become adept at productive and meaningful networking … the forgotten art of connecting.
Keys to a Successful Interview
How often do you get a first chance to make a great impression? More importantly, how often will that opportunity materially affect where you work, where you live, who you interact with, how much you earn and the general course of your life? There are very few experiences in your professional career like an employment interview.
Counteroffer Acceptance: Road to Career Ruin
By Paul Hawkinson
The litany of horror stories I have come across in my years as an executive recruiter, consultant and
publisher, provides a litmus test that clearly indicates counteroffers should never be accepted … EVER!
Sample Resignation Letter
A sample resignation letter that you may customize and send to your current employer. Remember to keep it short and professional.
