October
2002
Bob Schubert, formerly the Vice President of Marketing of Sermatech International become a Kelleher Associates client in February, 2002 and landed in a new position with Greene Tweed and Company in September, 2002. We caught up with Bob on the Friday before his Monday start with his new employer.
KAI: Bob, you must be really excited about starting a new position with a new company.
Bob:
I am energized, enthusiastic, and really ready to go. As much as I liked working with Kelleher Associates, I'm really anxious to start in my new position.
KAI: Bob, how did you select Kelleher Associates as your career management firm?
Bob: Sermatech gave me a choice when I left and Chuck Soltis, a well respected executive recruiter in the Philadelphia area who had placed me at Sermatech, recommended Kelleher Associates. Interestingly, I met Sermatech's primary provider first, when I let go, and was unimpressed by the lack of insight and experience right off the bat. When I visited Kelleher Associates two days later I met the guy with his name on the door, Ed Kelleher, the first time I walked into your offices, and Ed became my coach and counselor, and I never looked back. I was impressed with the personalized process and the personal chemistry I immediately had with Ed.
KAI: Does that mean you only worked with Ed himself?
Bob: I started with Ed, but also spent time with Al and Mitch who made critical contributions to different aspects of my job search. For example, Al worked with me on interviewing techniques, including taping me during "mock interviews" and providing constructive feedback on my performance, while Mitch was invaluable in helping me in my final negotiations with Greene Tweed.
KAI: What were some of your early challenges in your campaign?
Bob: One surprising challenge was a difference of opinion among two members of my Personal Board of Directors about one part of my resume. However, in the end, I was able use feedback from each of them to strengthen my resume.
Another challenge was conducting a very local campaign because my wife and I had agreed we didn't want to move from the Philadelphia area. This affected my strategy and tactics and probably contributed to my search taking longer to find an appropriate position that I originally thought it would.
KAI: What were some of the frustrations you experienced during your search?
Bob: Early in my search I was frustrated by a the lack of return phone calls from some people and the lower than expected response level to my mail campaign. But this really changed for me when I incorporated a unique selling proposition, about a paragraph long, in my cover letters and resume. Things really started to improve after that.
KAI: How did you work with your references?
Bob: Well, before important interviews I briefed my references on who might be calling, their position or title, what they might be asking, and I highlighted key parts of my resume that were pertinent. After my references were called, I thanked them for taking the time and debriefed them on what they were asked and what they answered, trying to discern patterns to the questioning.
KAI: Are there any key lessons you can provide to others in career transition?
Bob: There are a number that come to mind:
First, leave no stone unturned.
Second, even in the age of the internet, don't ignore newspaper ads. That's how I found my position with Green Tweed.
Third, and this is really important, the easier to identify an opportunity the more competition you have. In contrast, the harder it is to find, the less the competition and the better your chances. The Green Tweed ad ran for exactly one day in the Philadelphia Inquirer and I don't think many people saw it.
Fourth, searching for a new position can be a tough process, but you have to stick with it in a disciplined way. That includes making calls to people you don't know and asking for their help.
Fifth, try to get some professional help. It gives you a chance to get out of the house with a place to go and to learn from others And the people at Kelleher Associates constantly helped me deal with rejection and move past it.
Sixth, practice your interviewing techniques, and refine those techniques based on your actual experience.
Finally, it took me a few months to really get my search campaign going and one thing I needed to do is create a contact network. Even though I've found a position, I don't plan to turn my network off; rather I expect to spend some time every day keeping it up.
KAI: We appreciate your taking the time with us. We much you every success on your new position!
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