The Wooden Group

Randy Wooden from The Wooden Group takes calls and answers on questions on how to find a job, including networking and utilizing your current connections.

To learn more, call us at (336) 793-8040 or visit: http://www/woodengroup.com!

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Have you ever finished an interview with a potential employer and thought, “I really messed that one up.”

Have you ever had your resume overhauled by a professional?

Are you networking with the right people?

Come to our free workshop where we’ll cover all these questions and much more! Also, receive a complimentary resume critique!

The Wooden Group’s one-hour “Get Hired” workshop is every Thursday at noon where we’ll discuss how you can improve your marketability,  make your resume stand out,  figure out the best way to network, improve your interviewing skills…and more!

We cover all aspects of a job search.  Workshop content is largely driven by you – the attendee.  So, bring your questions!

The Wooden Group’s office is located in the Broyhill Office Suites on Clemmons Road next to the Clemmons Public Library.

Seating is limited, so call 336.793.8040 or email randy@woodengroup.com to confirm your spot.

Learn more about us at www.woodengroup.com.

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By: Randy Wooden

With summer almost over and school starting, many job hunters who’d taken time off to travel and otherwise spend family time now look to resume their search. 

Fall is traditionally a good time for hiring.  So is the first quarter.  Current economic circumstances suggest there is no “good” time for companies, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t jobs out there.  It does mean they’re fewer and harder to obtain, so don’t give up.

First, assess where you stand regarding your network.  If you haven’t had contact in several weeks, find something of interest to your intended contact (an article, for instance) and share it with them.  Use that as an intro to help keep you front of mind.  Offer to help their friends who may be looking.  Seek to give, first… receive, second.

Update your online presence.  Tweak your resume on the job boards to keep it fresh.  Make a couple changes each week to your LinkedIn profile and rejoin its group discussions.  Check your resume and add any recent self-employment achievement or relevant volunteer activity.  Rehearse your answers to interview questions. 

In short, hit the job trail with enthusiasm and a game plan.  Easier said than done, yet you and I both know it’s critical.

Learn more about us at www.woodengroup.com.

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Randy Wooden from The Wooden Group discusses how to handle being told you’re overqualified for the job. 

Learn more about us at www.woodengroup.com. 

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Parents / Students FAQ

What are you able to do for my child?

We aren’t miracle workers. No one can guarantee your child a dream job. However, we do impact students in a variety of ways. These include detailed work on networking and interviewing skills from a real world perspective, tips on creating an effective resume even when you may have little work experience, and guidance on salary negotiations. Through dialogue with your child we offer ideas on how to choose a career path in line with ones skills and preferences. We’ll monitor your child’s progress, holding them accountable for implementing what we cover. This is vital as too many students don’t faithfully work their plan, either because no one is prodding them or because they don’t have a plan to begin with.

Why should we pay you when the college already has a placement office?

Schools are in the business of educating your child and granting a diploma. While they make efforts to help your child, they deal with a large number of students and rarely are in position to offer sufficient individual time with your child. With a great deal of your money, time and hope for a solid future invested in your child, doesn’t it make sense to have a third party bring a “reality check” to the situation?

Can you work with my child when you’re in a different city?

Yes, we can.

Do you work with students of any specific backgrounds?

We work with students of all ages and all disciplines. Certain students, based on their major, will logically fall into certain career fields. Still, identifying and securing suitable employment in those fields present challenges in today’s competitive workplace.

Do you work with high school students?

Yes. We realize teenagers have many questions and, unfortunately, don’t always listen to their parents’ advice. Working one-to-one with your child provides him with a real world perspective on not only what he might want to pursue, but how to get it.

To learn more, call us at (336) 793-8040 or visit www.WoodenGroup.com!  

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By: Randy Wooden
www.WoodenGroup.com

The Triad’s first quarter, 2010, hiring outlook is not encouraging.  Similar forecasts abound throughout the nation.  What’s a job hunter to do?

First, maintain a positive attitude, particularly when in an interview.  Allowing frustration and desperation to seep through doesn’t help your cause.  And while the media preaches gloom and doom, remember it only takes one qualified yes to end your journey.

Just as salesmen can get deflated by hearing “no,” job hunters can find themselves battling self doubt and perhaps depression as they are turned away.  Bear in mind the rejection isn’t typically directed at you personally.  I realize that’s sometimes of little consolation, but it’s the truth.

Second, stay focused on your “big” goal (a good job) by consistently doing the “little” things well.  This means diligently maintaining and building your personal network, scouring job boards, sending thank you cards or emails, and “getting out of the house” to social or other events.  Treat your job hunt as a full time job.

A past employer and big baseball fan once told me one thing which kept him motivated in his sales role was seeing the singles and doubles he’d hit.  Sure, the occasional home run was satisfying, but his seeing progress… albeit sometimes only incremental progress… kept him mentally in the game.  He stayed focused by continuing to do the little things, knowing those little things would lead to more substantial results.  Good advice.

To learn more, call us at (336) 793-8040 or visit www.WoodenGroup.com!  

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By: Randy Wooden
www.WoodenGroup.com

The month or so between Thanksgiving and Christmas means many things to many people.  From quiet time with family to shopping to parties to traveling to catching up on household projects, many people put aside the job hunt until after January first. 

My suggestion?  Don’t put off the search.  Here’s why.  Think of the supply and demand issue.  Sure, many employers hold off on hiring until January.  But think of not only how many out-of-work folks take time off during the holidays, but also consider the number of “New Year’s Resolution” folks who decide to hit the job market in January.

Keep up your job search momentum.  Continue to network with as many people as is possible.  Many of your competitors are sitting it out this time of year.  By staying the course you’re setting yourself up for a more productive first quarter in your search.  Good luck!

To learn more, call us at (336) 793-8040 or visit www.WoodenGroup.com!  

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By: Randy Wooden
www.WoodenGroup.com

During my career I’ve not only provided private and corporate outplacement, but I’ve also spent years as a headhunter (executive search) and have worked inside corporations as an in-house recruiter.  And I’ve been a job seeker myself.  So I bring a diverse experience when assisting someone’s job hunt.

I’m often told, “I’ll hold off on contracting with you because I want to have a recruiter place me for free.”  The reality is that recruiters are in the “round peg – round hole” business.  They place people who possess very specific industry, functional and educational backgrounds.  The fact you might possess transferable skills is all well and good, but put yourself in the shoes of a company paying the fee.  Would you pay a hefty fee for someone coming from a different background?  Why?

Executive recruiters are commonly referred to as headhunters.  If your industry and function are on target… if you have the required education, salary and are in the approximate experience level (age) range, then you MIGHT have a shot.

I say MIGHT, because you also must possess reasonably good interviewing skills.  This is, after all, a competitive environment and you must be better than what the company can find on its own for free.

But an even larger hurdle is the economy.  With a glut of supply (job seekers) a company often times feels it doesn’t need a recruiter’s help in finding that ideal candidate.  Web-based searches can often turn up a wide selection of qualified candidates.  So the recruiter is at the mercy of their client company’s willingness to pay fees to begin with.

A very small portion of our workforce is placeable by headhunters at any given time.  If client companies aren’t paying fees for someone just like you, your resume becomes inventory on a recruiter’s shelf.

The Wooden Group guides you through each aspect of a job search to increase your effectiveness and, logically, shorten your hunt time. If you’re serious about your career, why not contact us for an initial interview?

To learn more, call us at (336) 793-8040 or visit www.WoodenGroup.com!  

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The Wooden Group offers private and corporate outplacement to professionals at all stages of their career.  We aren’t a recruiting firm.  Instead, we work directly on behalf of the job seeker to develop effective strategies to help them land a fulfilling position.

These include helping determine career alternatives; developing a campaign marketing plan; incorporating techniques to penetrate the unadvertised job market; resume development; and coaching on networking, interviewing and negotiating.

Call our office at 336.793.8040 or visit www.woodengroup.com.

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