I am, I said.

Category: tips for candidates
     Over-use of the "I" word is sometimes discouraged in polite society because it may seem self-absorbed or boastful. But a job interview is one time when it is appropriate to tout your strengths and trumpet your accomplishments using the "I" word confidently and often.
     During interviews, I have noticed a tendency for job candidates to speak of their achievements in terms of "We" rather than the more personal and specific "I". When this happens, I often find myself wondering exactly how much or how little my candidate had to do with these achievements.
Compare and contrast the following pairs of statements:

# # #

WE increased sales by 20% in the Midwest Region in 2009.
I increased my sales from 5 million to 6 million widgets in 2009.

# # #

WE initiated procedures that would more accurately track sales vs. cost of sales.
I created a spreadsheet that automatically updated all tracking information whenever a new sale was entered.

# # #

WE won our hot dog eating contest by downing 75 hot dogs in an hour.
I ate 27 hot dogs in our hot dog eating contest and promptly threw up.

# # #

    In each case, the "I" sentence provides more accurate information about the speaker's level of involvement in an activity. "We" connotes an undefined level of participation; "I" connotes ownership, for bigger or smaller, for better or worse. At a job interview, you must own your accomplishments.
    (Of course, you do not want to claim ownership of an achievement that is not, in fact, yours to own. Better to claim the gold nugget that you deserve rather than grab for the gold bar that belongs to someone else.)

So Bob, can you get me a job?

    Many people do not know exactly what a headhunter does.  There are times when I am one of them, especially after a long day of phone conversations when I no longer know which end of the phone receiver is up. A brief explanation is, "headhunter" is a commonly used term to describe an executive search professional.  See how much easier it is to say "headhunter?"
A headhunter is paid by an employer to recruit candidates for a specific position that the employer needs filled.      
    There are several categories of headhunters:
    My firm, Ward & Associates, is a retained executive search firm.  This means that we are paid in advance to act as a company's sole recruiter for a given position.  A retained firm generally establishes all contacts relating to a position and consequently is the only point of entry into that position.  A retained firm is often selected to fill middle to upper level management positions.
    A different type of search firm is a contingency-based firm.  A contingency-based firm receives no upfront fee, so has no exclusive rights to an assignment or responsibility to fill an assignment.  An employer may engage one or more contingency-based firms to fill positions where a broad reach of candidates is considered desirable or multiple identical openings are available.
    Temporary placement firms can help a candidate find temporary work while seeking a full-time opportunity.
A common misperception is that a headhunter hunts for a job for a candidate who needs one. 
    This misperception can result in unrealistic expectations (and the subsequent disappointment) of friends and family members who are in the job market.  While I am always happy to provide help, I work on only a limited number of assignments at a given time.  So my assistance may be in the form of one or more phone calls to contacts within my network.
    There are several important things everyone should know about headhunters:

1. Candidates should NEVER pay someone to find them a job. A headhunter is ALWAYS paid by the employer.
2. Many search firms specialize in an industry such as finance, medicine, or information technology.  Before hiring or contacting a search firm, do your research and make sure the firm is knowledgeable in your field.
3. Reputation is important.  Employers and job-seekers utilizing a search firm must be sure that the firm will maintain their privacy.  It is advisable to know that a firm is reputable before entrusting that firm with confidential or personal information.
4. Headhunters are not miracle workers.  Job searches and assignments take time, depending on the economy, the marketplace, and other factors. 
5. Always be nice to headhunters. In very few instances over the course of my career, my overture has been received with a less-than-polite response. (CLICK!!!) It never hurts to leave a positive impression with a headhunter. You may need him someday.