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February 2005
When Jim Devine first began working with Kelleher Associates, Inc., he went for business advice and ended up President and CEO of MidAtlantic Employers Association. Kelleher played an integral part in his transition process.
How did you first start working with Kelleher Associates, Inc?
I had been in the corporate environment for a number of years, including a position as VP of HR at a major technology company. When that position shifted, I was offered a similar position in another part of the country but I chose to stay in the Philadelphia area.
After another corporate position, I decided to develop a boutique HR consulting firm, offering employee relations, organizational development and rewards compensation assistance. It was then that I chose to engage Kelleher for some recommendations on networking and business building. I was not averse to another corporate position at this time, either, if the right one became apparent.
How was Kelleher Associates helpful to you as you pursued both your own business and a job search?
I went to Kelleher primarily for business development, and Mitch Wienick, my advisor, was great for that. The other clients I met were all in similar places in their career to where I was. In contrast, I had worked with a national outplacement firm as part of my previous severance package, and the program was too structured and populated with people who were in various places in their careers. It was hard to make meaningful contacts.
Kelleher unites you with industry connections that are helpful in business development and in job development as well. There are people there who can assist you with your different needs—for me, Mitch acted as my career advisor and Ed Kelleher was helpful in business development. Their connections are so broad that they ended up helping me with both of my goals. Mitch was easy to work with in this aspect—he knew when to switch gears and help me look for a job and his connections were priceless.
What was the highest value for you in working with Kelleher?
I took away a lot from this experience. To a person in transition, one of the most beneficial aspects of a place like Kelleher is that they think of you as unique and treat you with the highest regard. They don’t hesitate to introduce you to people they know and put themselves out there, so it helps you deal with your own confidence. If Kelleher thinks you can do it, why can’t you?
What assistance did you receive in the interview process for your current position?
Mitch and I went through role-play and went through strategic and specific questions that he thought may be part of the interview. He also helped me create a 90 day plan as part of my interviewing tool kit. This was extremely helpful, as I felt prepared, ready for the actual interview and uniquely positioned relative to other candidates. We also talked through various issues and goals, and I felt that this position was a perfect fit for me, and that showed.
Would you recommend Kelleher Associates to other executives? If so, why?
Yes, I have already done so. I really believe that the individual attention and the open door approach speak better to an executive level person. The program-oriented approach offered by some national organizations has value, but if you could be spending your time getting so much more out of Kelleher, why wouldn’t you want to do that? I think everyone should get the best they can, and for many executives who need strategic advice and customized counsel, that’s Kelleher.
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