Headhunter Secrets

• What You Need To Know
• Don't lie about your background. Be honest about why you left your last gig.
• Stand out from competition by sending a thank-you letter. So few candidates do.
• Do your homework before negotiating salaries - like the going market salary for your position.

"In this job market, if there are 10 requirements, a hiring manager wants you to have 11."

You already know you need a great resume and a sharp suit, but in today’s economy, that’s just not going to be enough to get ahead. To get exclusive insider advice, you need to talk to the top headhunters who are shaping the senior corporate landscape right now, the ones placing guys like you in $300,000 positions. When it comes to job searching, interviewing and high-poweredsalary negotiations, this is the headhunter secrets cheat sheet you’ll want to have stashed up your sleeve.

Be Honest About Your Background

Executive interviewers are seasoned lie detectors and have years of experience cutting through bullsh*t. Chris Von Der Ahe at global headhunters Korn/Ferry International says, "When asked during an interview, 'Why did you leave your former employer,' don't say, 'It was a mutual decision.' It is never mutual. One party has to make the first move, and typically when we hear this from a candidate, it means that they were let go. It is best to be upfront about your departure regardless of circumstances. When we are interviewing candidates, we appreciate the ones who are direct and forthright."

Neal L. Maslan at Caldwell Partners in Los Angeles agrees: “Don’t mislead, don’t omit positions from which you had a short tenure or were terminated, and don’t overstate accomplishments.”

Set Yourself Apart From The Competition

Michael Reamy at top headhunting firm Accountants International in Washington D.C. says:

 “Make sure you have fully read over the job description and be prepared to address every single point. In this job market, if there are 10 requirements, a hiring manager wants you to have 11. There are two things at the end of the meeting that might set you apart from the herd. Wrap up the interview with a very strong close: ‘I’ve really enjoyed learning more about the opportunity and am prepared to accept this position if offered.’ In fact, toss out a potential start date to show you are truly committed. Do this in a professional manner without coming off as desperate."

He also recommends: "Follow up the interview with a thank-you letter immediately -- even if it has to be via email. I would say that only 10% of candidates follow up on an interview with a thank-you note today.”

Be Self-Aware

With a highly educated workforce on the prowl, employers are taking things like MBAs and advanced diplomas for granted. Among several candidates who all fit the position on paper, personal qualities are what can swing it for the one who gets hired. Michael Kelly at Caldwell Partners International in Dallas says that one of the most important qualities they look for in senior executives is self-awareness. “I always ask two questions. The first is: ‘When you have received criticism in the past, is there a recurring theme?’ Often, people are told that they’re too impatient or too hands-on. If a candidate says, ‘I’ve never really received criticism,’ then they’re out the door. The second question is: ‘How do you lead or manage differently now than you did 5 or 10 years ago?’ Those who are self-aware will recognize how they have grown and changed.

But you should also be well informed about market salaries in your field so that you are asking for a reasonable salary that matches your experience and education."

Be Tactful And Flexible During Salary Negotiations

If you’re lucky enough to have been offered a position, the next step is package negotiations. “You don't get what you don’t ask for, so feel confident in your abilities and be prepared to ask for what you are worth,” says Lindsay Fluke with Accountants International in Atlanta. “You should be prepared to confidently, yet tactfully, recap your relevant skills and how they will benefit the organization. But you should also be well informed about market salaries in your field so that you are asking for a reasonable salary that matches your experience and education.” Be careful not to get petty about your requests. Remember that this negotiation is one of the first impressions your future employer will have of you, and you don't want to start off on the wrong foot. “Be flexible,” she says. “Working together with your future manager to come up with a solution during the negotiation process will help develop a bond.”

Use All Available Resources When Job Searching

While applying for jobs online is a start, you also have to networkwith former colleagues, classmates and other professionals in your field. “Never say ‘no,’” says Angelica Mirza at Caldwell Partners in Vancouver. “Don’t refuse when a headhunter wants to meet with you or discuss an opportunity,” even if it’s not technically your area of interest or you’re not planning a job change. “I find it amazing when people refuse to just meet and listen. A meeting with a headhunter enhances your chances for future opportunities.”

Lindsay Fluke agrees: “Meet with recruiters, often several, who specialize in your field. They will all have different networks of contacts. Also, sign up for association meetings and get there early to make new contacts and let people know about you.”

Two Ears, One Mouth

Dennis Carey, the vice-chairman of Korn/Ferry International, recruits for elite executive positions. He says that the best way to get noticed by a top headhunter is to keep your head down and perform brilliantly in your position. “There’s no need to wave a flag,” he says. “If they’re doing well, I will find them.” He insists that although things like track record, skill set and references are important, the right personality is essential. “It’s true that people who are better listeners make better CEOs,” he says. “We have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Find a good mentor, surround yourself with excellent people you trust and listen.” 

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Friendship

DreamWorks SKG

• What You Need To Know

1. The deeper your social connections, the longer and happier you live.
2. True friendship influences happiness more than money does.
3. Friendship is one of the reasons women consistently outlive men in our society.

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In another study, those who had the strongest friendship ties over a nine-year period cut their risk of death by more than 60%."

All humans are driven by shared needs: the need for power, accomplishment, beauty, self-esteem, love, etc. These needs are universal and have been with us since the beginning of time. But over the past year something interesting has happened. There’s been a shift in how our society is prioritizing these needs. Our current decade isn't about the pursuit of money or power or even love. So what's it about? It’s about friendship. And not those Facebook friends of a friend of a friend, but honest to goodnessmale friends you share a deep connection with -- the people who know what you’re thinking before you even think it.

By now it’s well researched and documented that the deeper your social connections, the longer and happier you live. Intimate social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol. In one study, for example, researchers found that people who had no close friends increased their risk of death over a six-month period (yikes). In another study, those who had the strongest friendship ties over a nine-year period cut their risk of death by more than 60%.True friendship is one of the reasons that people in the poorest nations aren’t any less happy than those in the richest of nations. They might not have Prada, but they do have an enviable set of best buds.

Male Friendship On The Decline

Friendship is also the reason women consistently outlive men in our modern society. Women also do better as widows than men, having spent their lifetimes prioritizing and building a rich support network of friends to rely on.What about men? Research shows the number of true friends an adult male has has been steadily decreasing for decades. It seems once you guys leave college, and especially once you get married and have kids, true friends become a thing of the past.Women’s approach to friendship is better. And new research indicates men are starting to notice. But the reasons women approach friendship differently isn’t biological; it’s historical.Increasing mobility during the 20th century contributed to a decline in the quality and quantity of male friendships. Most men had to travel far and wide for work, which made it tough to create strong, lasting ties with anyone. Men got used to living without “friends of the heart” and instead passing their time with “friends of the road” -- friends that are good for a laugh and a beer, but not much else.

Poker buddies are fun, but they’re not going to lower your cholesterol level. "

Intimacy Vs. Isolation

As the industrial revolution enabled more leisure time, men began to prioritize having more fun and friends in their life. But instead of basing friendships on stronger emotional bonds, male friendships were cemented around shared activities like bowling, golf or poker, activities that don’t necessitate intimacy. In research conducted by my company, Audience Theory, we discovered men in their 40s can play a regular poker game every Sunday afternoon for years and not be able to share one intimate detail about the other players.

This style of male friendship set the standard for the generations to follow. Boys model themselves after their fathers and so we have generations of men today who practice friendship just as their dads did. When boys are young, they prioritize best friendsjust like girls do, but as boys age, they lose sight of the value of sharing emotional bonds with other guys.

Hollywood’s caught on to this gap in the male friendship world. There are tons of movies that connect in part because they show a style of adult male friendship that’s super rare. But why should it be? In today’s modern society, where the pursuit of happiness is taking precedence, having a true buddy to take on the world with isn’t just fun and good for your health; it’s the latest trend.

Develop Meaningful Friendships

Prioritize friendship: That means calling your true buddy more than once a year and not spending that entire time on poop anecdotes (or maybe it’s just my husband that does this). A landmark UCLA study conducted in 2009 found only those committed to tending intimacy in friendships on a regular basis gained the long-term health benefits of close-knit ties.

Know the difference between “poker” buddies and true buddies: Poker buddies are fun, but they’re not going to lower your cholesterol level. Several studies conducted in three decades around male vs. female differences found that women’s friendships cover the spectrum of emotional needs. So women have their poker buddies, too, but not at the expense of other types of more intimate friendships.

Don’t count on your female partner to fulfill all your emotional needs: Multiple studies found that many men inmarriage do an intriguing thing: They promote their wives to the role of sole confidant. It may sound counterintuitive, but psychologists consistently report that marriages are actually stronger when men have other men to turn to for advice and comfort.

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How To Wear: The Trench Coat – Spring/Summer

Current Season Trench Coats

Here is a selection of trench coats on the market right now. There is definitely something for everyone, whether you are looking for cropped, long, military inspired, single breasted or double breasted.

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Spring/Summer

Today we will be taking a look at how you can utilise the trench coat in both the unpredictable weather of spring, and the warmer months of summer. In spring the weather can change at the drop of a hat; one minute you are standing in a warm spring breeze, and the next you are running for shelter from an April shower. The trench is the perfect choice of outerwear for such a situation.

For spring/summer the trench of choice would be a cropped version which finishes around waist length. This would give you the most versatility and flexibility when it comes to pairing with shorts or jeans/chinos.

In terms of colour, you can opt for bold striking colours if they are available, but for me the choice is easy; a light stone or beige trench is perfect for these seasons. This is because they can easily anchor (and even neutralise) the bold colours commonly used in these months, they are timeless shades which coordinate well with any other colours you have in your wardrobe, and they also do not attract heat like a dark trench coat would. My second choice would be navy, as it fits in with the nautical trend you find prevalent each and every year, and again it is a timeless colour which would work well with the earth tones and neutral colour palettes of the spring/summer seasons.

Look Book

How To Style

Above you can see a variety of very different outfits which would be considered spring/summer looks. First we are going to start with the summer neutral outfits [bottom right and bottom centre]. These both pick up on what I mentioned in my last look book about mixing neutral tones in order to create a great summer outfit. By varying the shade of the neutral from white to beige, to cream and even light brown, you can create outfits that coordinate beautifully but still have enough change in tone in order to make each individual piece stand out. This would be an approach you could take if you invested in a stone, beige, cream or camel coloured trench.

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The next two outfits show that you can mix your trench with shorts if it is a warm day. The look which utilises a cream trench with green khaki shorts is my favourite [top right], as it keeps to the same principle as above by mixing neutrals and earthy tones together. Green tone shorts are a great way of standing out in spring/summer, and surprisingly easy to coordinate with. Here the cream trench coat neutralises the effect of the green shorts and instead allows the similar shaded boots become the focal point. By keeping the top half fresh and clean, it means that even on those warmer days you are not going to feel smothered and too hot.

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You can swap out the trousers for red, green or purple, and the best thing is this outfit still works with a simple change of footwear. The white tee and trench coat anchors the whole look, allowing you to experiment.

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For those of you who are a little bolder with their outfit choices, I can’t recommend the last outfit enough [top centre]. It is the perfect mix of style, arrogance and individuality. This is for the the guy who dresses well, but knows it. Bold white trousers are perfect for making a statement, and just scream confidence in yourself and your personal style. I love this slim fit pair, and when paired with the great suede shoes (with coordinating white sole no less), the contrast is perfect and suitable for the warmer spring/summer seasons.


Read more : http://www.fashionbeans.com/2011/how-to-wear-the-trench-coat-springsummer/

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How To Wear: Bold Coloured Tailoring

Stand Out, Be Bold

At NewMenMagazine we are always stressing the importance of a versatile and timeless wardrobe; it is cost effective, helps you adapt to current and future trends, and will never date. However, building a traditional capsule wardrobe is not the be all and end all. There are guys who do like to follow trends – whether that be integrating small parts each season or going all out – and there are guys who already have built a classic wardrobe and want something a bit ‘different’.Something that will make them stand out from the crowd and have eyes focussed on them.

Today I am hopefully going to help you achieve this in the form of bold coloured tailoring. With menswear becoming increasingly smarter and more refined, introducing bold and vibrant colours into traditionally formal pieces is sure to get you noticed. And hopefully with the tips and looks we create today, you will be getting noticed for all the right reasons.

Bold Coloured Tailoring

Let me preface this article by stating categorically that these looks would NOT be for the workplace. Not many of you would be able to turn up in a green or yellow blazer, never mind a suit, without it following with a complimentary coloured pink slip. Furthermore, although you can buy full coloured suits these days, they are not necessarily something I could endorse as an investment.

We will be more concerned with separates, and utilising smart trousers or blazers in bold colours on their own to create modern smart looks with a twist. Of course, if you feel you will get suitable use out of a red suit – using both the trousers and blazer separately – then feel free to purchase one; only you know your personal style and I am not here to preach.

The 3 main colours I am going to approach today are those that are readily available on the market, and I think you will get more than one season’s use out of. We still want to stick to our basic principles of not buying throwaway fashion pieces. If you were looking for yellow, bright green, or purple; I am afraid you can turn away now.

So without further ado, let’s dive into our first colour…

The Blues

As a way of easing yourself into this, I thought I would start with a colour that is already associated with formal wear. The navy suit is a fashion essential and we have repeatedly given you multiple reasons why you should all own a navy blazer. But this is not the tone or hue we are focussing on today. I want to guide you away from the safety of navy and onto the lighter pale blue and bold cobalt variations.

Both of these colours happen to be a favourite of mine, because the majority of us already know the basics of what to pair with blue tones. We have been doing it most of our lives through our jeans and suits. Choosing a more striking colour is just a way of separating yourself from the crowd, without having to go over the top. If male 1 was dressed in exactly the same outfit as male 2, except male 2 had substituted cobalt chinos in instead of navy – who do you think would stand out more? Who do you think would look the most confident? And who would you sub-consciously think knows how to dress best? It would be male 2, just because they had taken a piece you don’t see everyday and pulled it off – even though the tone is not all that different from standard navy chinos.

Look Book

Anyway, let’s take a look at some look book images I have found to inspire you:

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How To Style

Hopefully the images above will of provided you with some inspiration about the items you could pair with bold blue tailoring. However, I am going to give you some general tips about colours and combinations you can use to your advantage. First we will start off with the colours. If you are utilising a striking colour like cobalt, it is generally best to tone down the rest of your outfit by pairing it with neutrals. White, grey and even black work very well with this tone; black being much more suitable now than when paired with navy, as the contrast is much more pronounced. Take a look at the ASOS images above [top row right and bottom row centre] for reaffirmation.

A colour that works very well with pale blue is navy. As they are in the same colour family it makes it easy to coordinate and contrast layers using different shades of blue. This could mean using a navy blazer with a pair of pale blue tailored shorts, or simply throwing on a pale blue blazer with navy trousers. The perfect example of how to pull it off is shown above, using pale blue trousers/shorts and then opting for your classic navy blazer [middle row right] – something you should all own by now. In this outfit I particularly love the use of a pale blue shirt as well, producing continuity throughout the whole look, but also creating a stark contrast to the anchoring navy blazer.

Other colours that can be integrated with these bold blues are generally yellows and reds. Pale yellow works extremely well with pale blue [middle row centre] as it has roots within Preppy styling and creates a very bright summer look that is bound to catch the eye. With cobalt you would want to adjust the complementary hue darker to match the deeper blue shade, so look towards beige and khaki colours [top row middle] – again these colours provide a beautiful contrast, and as evidenced, you can create some smart looking formal outfits.

Finally, the red family can produce some interesting colour combinations when paired with blues. As you should know from Matt’s introduction to colour article, they are what’s called contrasting colours, meaning they have 3 colours between them on the colour wheel. These are good to mix but you have to be wary of the hue; one should be lighter than the other in order to stop them competing. The outfit above which pairs cobalt trousers with a pink tone shirt and burgundy tie [top row left] is the perfect example. In this look the shirt is a lighter shade than the cobalt trousers, whilst the tie is a deeper shade – all anchored by a great grey blazer.

Pair With

• Neutrals: Brown, Black, White, and Grey.
• Blues: Vary your shades to create coordinating outfits. Navy is a great anchor choice.
• Colours: Red and Yellow. Be wary of your hues and make sure you play them off against each other (light and dark).

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The Reds

Red leads perfectly on from blue, because as we have seen above, they can be combined to great effect. Red tailoring is definitely one for the confident amongst you, but if you pull it off you can create some unforgettable statement looks. For the sake of this article we are going to be concentrating on hues of red, varying from deep red to pale pink.

With this in mind we will be looking at everything from red blazers to pink trousers (yes, you did read that right). Before you all skip to the next section, take a look at the look book inspiration below to see just how great this colour can look if you surround it with the correct pieces.

Look Book

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How To Style

As we are dealing with a very bold and generally uncommon colour for many males, we can take tips from Paul McGregor about neutralising it within our outfits. The easiest way would be to pair red tailoring with your neutral dark colours such as black, brown, navy and grey. You are never going to be able to completely take the focus away from red/pink trousers, but by adding a long navy mac or overcoat over the top [top row middle], you can begin to negate the effect. However, I would like to make it clear that all these looks will definitely draw glances and catch the eye. If you don’t have rock solid confidence then I would not recommend you suddenly start including these pieces within your wardrobe.

With that out of the way, there is one neutral I would particularly like to draw your attention to when combining with red hues. Grey looks particularly great in the look book images above, whether you are pairing a pink blazer with grey check shorts [middle row left], using a grey jacket (could swap in a blazer) to complement red trousers [middle row centre], or simply using grey footwear as the finishing touch to your deep pink trousers [middle row right]. The reason it looks so good is because the colour contrast is not as stark as white or black, meaning it anchors the outfit, but doesn’t take the focus away from the statement pieces.

In terms of colours you are going to have to look towards the complementary colour of turquoise, or the contrasting colours of blue and orange. In this case, with the red/pink tailoring being so bold by itself, I wouldn’t recommend trying to integrate other colours. Stick to your neutrals, and if you go with blue tones then just make sure you are looking more towards the darker navy end of the scale.

My two absolute favourite looks are created using the shorts and blazer combination. Pink and red are colours I would usually associate with summer, so by using shorts with tailoring, you can create some amazing outfits which straddle the line between smart and casual perfectly. Let’s break them down:

1. First, we have a way of integrating two pieces within the same family in the form of pale pink tailored shorts and bold deep pink t-shirt [bottom row left]. This combination is using a similar technique to what we described above when mixing blue hues; vary the depth and shade of colours within the same family in order to produce coordinating outfits which contrast at the same time. The white blazer allows you to anchor the whole outfit, whilst helping to neutralise the bold pink tee.
2. My other favourite look is firmly rooted in the nautical trend, but uses a red blazer to make a real statement [bottom row centre]. By throwing a red blazer over a Breton stripe tee and anchoring it with white neutral shorts, you have made sure the focus stays on your bold tailoring and destroyed any link with caricature naval uniforms – the perfect subtle nod to the trend.

Pair With

• Neutrals: Brown, Black, White, and Grey in particular.
• Blues: Make sure you either go lighter or darker than the red you are pairing it with. Navy is generally the best choice here.
• Colours: Reds/Pinks/Purples. All these colours are similar colours which will mix well if you vary the hue and shade significantly.

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The Summer Neutrals

Summer neutrals reside within the white family – this includes white, off white, creams and beige. A lot of men are not sure how they could possibly pull off a white blazer, white trousers or even a white suit without coming across all Miami Vice or man from Del Monte. However, these are all colours [whether you consider white a colour is up to you] that can look amazing if you get it right. The look book below should emphatically show you this.

Look Book

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How To Style

As white is a neutral and can anchor most colours (see blue and red sections above), I am going to be concentrating on 3 particular ways to make it work today. These are:

• Pairing with other summer neutrals.
• Pairing with military/outdoorsy type clothing.
• Pairing with our other colours featured – blues/red.

So let’s start with pairing white with other summer neutrals. This means pairing whites with the off whites, creams, khakis and beiges of the world. By doing this you are creating a true summer formal look, which would not be suitable for winter – surely I don’t need to spell out that rain, snow, mud and white clothes do not mix? However, in the height of summer combining these different hues creates perfectly coordinated outfits that can look as smart or relaxed as you wish. Taking a look at the look book above to see white trousers mixed with a cream polo and double breasted jacket [top left], or white trousers mixed with a beige/khaki blazer and simple grey top [top right]. These are two relaxed formal looks that would look great at summer garden parties, wedding receptions or any other event.

The top middle outfit might be my favourite look in this whole article. Mixing beige trousers with a white shirt and light brown blazer allows each individual piece to contrast just enough with each other to make them all stand out. This is the perfect way to wear a ‘white’ suit, and we could all learn a lot from this particular gentleman. To summarise, building a wardrobe around these classic summer neutral tones will provide versatility and a wealth of formal (or smart formal) outfit combinations each and every year.

The second row shows how we can dress down white trousers by using traditional military inspired pieces and colour tones. First we have white trousers paired with a Breton tee and superb grey military jacket by H&M [middle row left]; the jacket is so good, and such a statement, that I wouldn’t be surprised if it took the attention AWAY from the bold white trousers. A perfect example of Paul McGregor’s neutralising technique.

The other two looks are very similar and use white trousers with very earthy colour tones [middle row centre & right]. The waxed jacket in the centre picture is particularly amazing, and the colour tone is brought out very well by having such a bright neutral colour anchoring it (white trousers). Again my eyes are naturally drawn to either the top half of this outfit or the very bottom khaki green coloured desert/chukka boots, proving that you can wear white tailored pieces without it having to define your whole look.

Finally, throughout this whole article you should of noticed how each colour we have broken down today can be combined with the other. I have done this on purpose, as I wanted you to be able to build a versatile wardrobe which can be mixed and matched together in any combination you prefer. Here we have blue white and red mixed together [bottom left], beige mixed with pink [bottom row middle] and finally white mixed with blue [bottom right]. White is an amazing anchor for every single colour you have in your wardrobe, but when you start to combine it with contrasting colours such as red and blue, it becomes the perfect 3 tone combination which is interchangeable and will never go out of fashion, due to the influence the Nautical trend has each spring/summer.

Pair With

• Other Neutrals: Brown, Black, Navy, and Grey. Be very careful mixing in a black shirt with a white suit though, unless your ‘suit’ varies the white tone.
• Red & Blue: As seen throughout the article, white will anchor red and blue based outfits very well.
• Colours: Any and every. White can be paired with any colour imaginable.
• >Summer neutrals: Beige, cream, off white, khaki and light browns will all work extremely well with white. Create contrasting outfits quickly and easily with a wardrobe full of these pieces.
  
• Earth Tones: Khaki green and brown will work very well with white in order to create summer military or country inspired looks.

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