Improvise, Adapt, Overcome!

I’m a business analyst by training. I spent the early days of my career in corporate finance and then as a strategic analyst. I found that I had a passion for strategy and planning. I enjoyed getting to know a company’s business model and its competitive strategy. I wanted to understand how a business fit within its industry segment and the economy as a whole. It wasn’t long before I migrated into general management where I enjoyed twenty-two years of steady progress. I developed a strong portfolio of skills supported by a broad base of experience. While building my corporate career I became caught up in mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, reengineering, rightsizing and downsizing, and Chapter 11 reorganizations. I saw most of our major industries move overseas, while the service sector steadily grew and technology became a dominant player. I knew that major forces were in play, transforming the economy. I moved from Tampa to Toledo, then Denver, Dallas, Kansas City, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and finally, in 1996, to Atlanta. The moves were getting tiresome, and my daughters were entering High School. Whatever free time I had, the company demanded it. The only friends I had were other employees. I did not have the life I wanted for my family. A career in Corporate America had become too volatile for me. I realized that my future was better spent elsewhere.

It was time to go out and become my own boss. That is how I found my way into executive search. The skills I learned in my corporate career have served me well as a recruiter and consultant. I never lost my passion for strategy, however. I still want to understand my client’s business model so that I can be more helpful to them. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been exciting. I have learned many new skills, like business development. I have refined other skills, like negotiating. My communication ability has improved significantly, especially my ability to listen. I started blogging regularly over five years ago. I thought that was a good strategy to reach more candidates and clients. This skill has been developed and is becoming more refined. I have learned how to weather business downturns and to recognize opportunities. I have learned that the customer is always right, but not all customers are right for me, and I am not right for every customer. Most importantly, I have learned that the market will tell you where you are needed if you pay attention to the signals. I have learned to improvise, adapt, and overcome! I have become a big supporter of entrepreneurial pursuits.

Over time, I have come to know many professionals. As one would expect, most of these folks were between jobs, looking for a new situation. I tried to provide guidance and counsel as to how they should conduct their job search. The landscape has changed dramatically over the past seventeen years and with those changes, my advice has changed. Today, I tell them to consider multiple options like starting a business or becoming an independent contractor. After all, finding work of any kind is about networking and selling oneself.

Currently, I am putting the finishing touches on a presentation I will make next month. It is more of a set-up to facilitate a group discussion about the “New Normal.” The title of the presentation is "Improvise, Adapt, Overcome!" More about that in my next post.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search

Current Assignments

1. GM, Private Club based in Southeast, Confidential Search: New
2. Director of Business Development, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: New
3. Training Director – Southeastern-based Restaurant Group: New
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer. New
5. Controller – Orlando, FL-based Restaurant Company: New

July 28, 2016

On Millennials

I was excited to see Cliff’s name pop up on my caller ID. I was hoping that he wanted me to join him in a round of golf. Well, he did present me with a great opportunity, but golf would have to wait.

Cliff told me that he had met a guy named Chris at a Porsche event. He said that Chris, a millennial, had written a book on Millennial Happiness. He went on to say that Chris needs help launching his book. He thought I would be a natural connection for Chris. I agreed, and Cliff made the introductions.

Chris and I made contact and scheduled a meeting at The Corner Bakery Café in Buckhead. I enjoyed our visit! He told me that after graduation from Vanderbilt he joined a major consulting company. Although the money was good, he did not have a life. He wasn’t happy, so he quit his job. Instead of looking for another job, he launched a project to write a book that would help Millennials create a life of happiness. I was fascinated listening to him talk about the people he had interviewed, including many of his friends. He spoke a bit about the values shared by Millennials. Very interesting stuff! Who doesn’t want to learn more about Millennials? It seems that everyone wants to know what makes them tick.

December 4, 2013, LinkedIn Talent Connect: “Millennials: How to Attract, Hire, & Retain Today’s Workforce.” Lead by Sondra Dryer of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Barry Sylvia of TripAdvisor, and Melissa Hooven of Cornerstone OnDemand. The following bullet points list their values, followed by recommended employer responses.

Multi-taskers: Keep them focused on their work and its importance.
Connected: Make good use of social media.
Tech Savvy: Be current in technology.
Instant Gratification: Reinforce the value of their work, keep them on track.
Work-life balance: Communicate company, flexibility as the work is completed.
Collaboration: Reinforce the value of teamwork.
Transparency: Maintain open communication.
Career Advancement: Communicate opportunities and requirements to advance

As I talked to Chris, he told me that he had a resource lined up to manage publication. This company will print his book, and upload the digital version to Amazon.com. What he needs is funding. He needs to expand his network.

After I fully understood his needs, we focused on contacts who might be helpful. I told him of several local authors that he should meet and a few networking groups who might like to hear him speak. I mentioned one of my clients who employs a large contingent of Millennials. When we parted, we agreed on next steps including a follow-up meeting to include Cliff, preferably over cocktails.

It is safe to say that my generation doesn’t understand Millennials. Except for military leaders, I have not heard much praise about their generation. Frankly, I am confident that my parent’s generation had doubts about the Baby Boomers, and for good reason. The Millennials will shape the future. Even if they don’t have all of the answers, they have a better handle on the digital age. Understanding their values and the way they approach life must be a high priority for anyone trying to reach them.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search

July 17, 2016

Small Changes, Big Results

I am up to my neck in work. I have a full-plate of search assignments and a consulting gig. I have a major presentation to deliver in September. I am talking with a client about beginning a C-level search. That is the good news! The bad news is that I am six months behind on some tasks, like completing my expense reports, and three months behind in balancing my accounts. Am I worried? No! I learned a valuable lesson (not sure when) that eliminates the stress of dealing with past due work. Now, don't misunderstand, these tasks are not customer related. They are merely administrative; important, but not urgent. The secret I learned and came to embrace is that a little effort, over time, can support big results. By investing just ten to twenty minutes a day, I will be back on schedule.

You may be wondering why I am completing expense reports given that I own my business. Well, honestly it is a hold-over from my corporate career. It is a useful discipline that I have maintained in my executive search business. Quick Books allows me to print out weekly expense recaps which make it easier to compile my expense report. Of course, those reports do not include cash expenses or mileage.

I have learned that investing a few minutes a day on important but not urgent tasks improves my effectiveness. It might not seem like much, but, I continue to become more productive. It is far better than procrastinating until one is forced to make an investment in time to tackle the issue. When I look back, I am reminded of a habit I developed early in my career. I began each day by reading a chapter of a non-fiction business book, or the Wall Street Journal. That practice helped me steadily advance my career.

Not long ago, I took some advice from Bill O'Reilly, the host of The Factor on the Fox News Network. Mr. O'Reilly caught my attention when he suggested that a glass of water with a lemon wedge before every meal would help prevent overeating. It was not the first time I had heard that, but I was receptive to the idea. I had lost control of my weight and knew I must make some changes. I tried it, and it worked. Creating that habit was a small step. It led to additional dietary changes. Over time I shifted toward more fruit, vegetables, and protein. These adjustments have allowed me to maintain my weight without spending time in the gym or on crash diets. Significant changes begin with a single step.

Last week I met a CMO, who noted that I had recently published my first book. He asked me how long it took to write. Somewhat tongue-in-cheek, I told him that it took five years o f weekly blog posts. The book did grow out of my Blog, so my respo nse wasn't entirely facetious. My colleague Stan, and I have a running joke about ideas for his book. I ask him why he doesn't start by writing a blog. He tells me that his working style is to sit down and bang it out all at once. I just laugh. We both know he is too busy to block out that amount of time, so I keep poking him.

In my view, productivity improvement is all about replacing less than optimal work habits with more productive behavior. Technology is very helpful. The voice to text service on my landline eliminates the need to check my voice mail box. Using the "rules" option in Outlook helps me organize my email by topic, client, and assignment. It is another valuable time saver. My iPhone has been a major productivity enhancer. Now I need to find an app to integrate my mileage and cash expenses into my Quick Books account. If I can eliminate that irritant, well, you get the idea.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search

July 5, 2016

Conflict Resolution 101

I was talking with a friend this week, well listening actually. He was venting about difficulties he was having with a client. He was agitated. It seems the client’s demands are beyond their agreement. Meeting their needs is taking time away from other, more substantial clients. He said that he needed to find a way to end the relationship and move on. No value judgments here. Finally, he asked me how I would deal with this client, based on my experience. "How do you handle conflicts like this, Jim?" I quipped that I preferred a flanking maneuver over a frontal assault. In other words, find a way to finesse the situation. Look for a win-win outcome. Then I explained that I liked to step back, confer with colleagues, and take the time to craft the proper response. That seemed to make sense to my friend, and we moved on to other matters.

Later, our conversation got me to thinking. Building a productive business relationship requires an investment of time and energy. Protecting those relationships is fundamental to success. How does one protect that relationship if conflict develops? So much of our contact today is via email. Communication moves very fast. It is easy to misinterpret one's intent. Often, we don't take enough time to evaluate the tone of our missives. It is easy to talk past one another and raise the ire of the reader. Consider the crass language one encounters across social media sites.

Early in my career, back when we had secretaries typing our memos, my boss continually reminded me that the written word, by its nature, tended to be cold. It is all too easy to misinterpret one's intent and to take offense. He coached me to be careful with my tone to ensure that my message was accurately received. Believe me; I needed the coaching as I carry the "snarky" gene. I haven't always followed his advice, but when I have the result is always better. I have had situations with clients that were going in the wrong direction, possibly to a dissolution of our relationship. In very few cases a divorce was the best outcome, so I let it happen. Usually, the association was too important to lose.

I have found that conflicts can be resolved by whatever media one chooses, mail, phone, or face-to-face. My preference is via phone or in person as we all tend to behave better and can assess the other's emotional response. Often a two-step process can be effective. I like using a dispassionate email to outline the situation and then request a phone conversation or personal meeting. The important point is to step back, cool off, and get the perspective of a trusted colleague. Never respond in the heat of the moment, unless you want to end the relationship. Even then, terminating a relationship has consequences. Your reputation is at stake. However, that is a topic for another post.

In a recent situation, following this process, I presented the facts from my perspective. Based on those facts, I outlined the strategy I was following. I did not make any attributions to the other party as to his intent, motivations, or the validity of his position. At best, that would have been speculation which would further inflame the situation. I did suggest some actions that would put the project back on track, and invited the other party to schedule a phone conversation. The outcome was the win-win situation I had hoped for. The project was put back on track and successfully concluded.

Our actions have consequences which impact our reputations and livelihood. Resolving conflicts require a cool head and a good plan. You must keep your emotions in check even if it means biting down hard on your lip. Remember Steven Covey, seek first to understand. Let the other present their position and suggestions to resolve the impasse. Repeat back their statements to ensure that you understand their concerns. Make your points while working to find common ground. Most of all, never, ever respond to any email or voice mail message while you are angry.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search

July 2, 2016

Current Search Assinments

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search

June 27, 2016

Beginning A New Job

Beginning a new job is exciting. So it was for me this week. I began work for a new client, a small but established professional services company. My sponsor and I have been talking about this project for three years, and now we are on. The client employs about 20 people. They are dealing with the same issues and stresses faced by most small businesses today. The competitive landscape is changing, along with technology, and the needs of their customers. I have been hired to help this company build and manage an internal recruiting and selection function. In the past, whenever they needed to hire someone their recourse was to use external recruiters, at great expense. The client understands that their recruiting and selection function is not working. It is not supporting the needs of the business. There have been too many misfires.

When starting a new project, as with any job, it is a good idea to get to know who you will be working with, how they view the business and the capabilities of the organization. It is just basic onboarding. It is important to build relationships with key team members. It is important to understand the decision process so recommendations are well-received, without distraction from protocols one doesn't understand. It is important to know the technical capabilities and limitations so that recommendations will have validity.

This first week was about cultural immersion and learning their management style. I was encouraged to attend the Monday morning staff meetings where the team updates current projects. Later in the day, I discussed my assignment with the Executive Steering Committee to ensure that we are in agreement on goals and deliverables. The client currently lacks a Director of Business Development. Filling that position is my first milestone.

During the remainder of the week, I spent time with the individuals on the team. My client wants to ensure that the team understands my objectives to be clear that their jobs are not at risk. I want to understand the culture so as to learn how things are done in this company. I also want to learn their capabilities around social media in support of their recruiting efforts.

Everyone was very friendly and helpful; however, some were more guarded than others. They want the company to be successful and to share in that success. Some of the employees have been with the company for over ten years, with a few over 20, and one over 30-years tenure. Then there is the other half of the team who have been with the company three years or less. A few of the employees have only six months’ time on the job. The culture is changing, but full alignment still needs to be achieved. There is some concern that the company is falling behind technologically and that they could be more efficient. Since they work on a project basis, there are issues around communicating updates. The reporting structure is another opportunity which is understood by the client.

I thought this would be a fun and exciting project when I accepted the contract, and so far that seems to be the case. By the end of the week, I had talked with all but four team members and had completed the communication plan to begin the search for the Director of Business Development. I have a better understanding of the client company and how it works. Getting off to a good start on any new job or assignment certainly improves the likelihood of a successful engagement. Based on my assessment of this week's work, this project is right on track.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment. Anchor

Jim Weber, President
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search

June 19, 2016

What Is Your Story?

I’ve been spending a lot of time pouring through resumes this week. It has been a disappointing effort. It hasn't been disappointing because the quality of candidates is poor, far from it. It hasn’t been disappointing because the formats are poor, generally speaking, they are fine. It hasn’t been disappointing because the candidate's contact information is missing either. Well, one resume was missing an email address. They are disappointing because the content was poorly structured and tedious. The prose lacks critical information making the resumes less than compelling. It also costs me more time! Looking at resumes is fundamental to my work. I see a lot of them. It’s the resumes from two current assignments that are giving me angst.

One of my searches is to find a new Financial Controller for a small, but successful company. The job specs call for someone with Controller experience in the restaurant industry. Many of the candidates have experience with companies I don't recognize. No problem. I don't know all of the employers in the market. The problem is that these folks do not provide a description of their employers . Their resumes lack company revenues, product lines, years in business, and industry sectors. This is a problem because it makes the reader's job much more difficult. The other problem is that these resumes don't make a clear distinction between roles and responsibilities and accomplishments. That creates, even more, work for me. I might not like reading resumes that are poorly constructed, but I know from experience that good candidates don't necessarily have the best resume. I have also seen excellent resumes from candidates I would not present to a client. I will invest the extra effort to find viable candidates for my client. On the other hand, I am confident that many of these poorly constructed resumes are going into the circular files of other recruiters.

Also at this time, I am working with a Senior Executive to help him craft a new resume and rebuild his LinkedIn page. He is a smart guy who knows that he needs help. He is willing to hire a professional to solve his problem. His issue is similar to those of my Controller candidates as he doesn't showcase his accomplishments as distinct from his job responsibilities. His biggest issue, however, is that his verbiage is confusing and doesn’t position his capabilities appropriately. I will fix his resume and dramatically improve his digital presentation.

We all know that recruiters and software quickly scan resumes. Job Seekers have precious little time to make an impression that will lead to an interview. Putting extra effort into the quality of your resume is vital to your success as a job seeker. Make sure to provide a short sentence that describes your employer by industry segment, sales volume, and whether it is public, private, or a PEG portfolio company. Provide a short sentence or two to describe your job responsibilities. Use bullet points to list your accomplishments at each job. Also, it can be very helpful to mention the circumstances for leaving you employers.

Your resume is not just a job history; it is your career story. By describing each employer, your job responsibilities, and accomplishments your story is revealed. Your strengths and interests become evident. In all likelihood, you will find a common theme to your work, your positioning statement. You will become a compelling character in your play, stimulating interest on the part of the reader.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President

Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search

June 5, 2016

Wantrepreneur:

Do You Have What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur?

Business is picking up, and so are my networking activities. Of course, a lot of my networking lately is about creating "buzz" for my new book, "Fighting Alligators." Perhaps, you have heard about it. Creating buzz is an indirect way to attract new searches, consulting business, and help those people between jobs, so it is all good. One recent networking meeting was brokered by my friend Brownell who has been very helpful in the process of publishing my book. Brownell introduced me to Mark Myette. Mark is also in private practice as an Alternative Career Coach. He helps people determine if they have what it takes to become an entrepreneur and guides them through that process. He published his first book, Wantrepreneur, in February. Brownell surmised that our work is complementary, so she thought we would be able to help each other.

Mark and I scheduled an early morning meeting last week for breakfast at his club. As we are both Fortune 500 refugees with similar entrepreneurial pursuits, we connected immediately. We began by exchanging background information and our connection to Brownell. I told him about Fighting Alligators and its underlying thesis, and he presented the theme for "Wantrepreneur," which he described as the "One Minute Manager" version of becoming comfortable with franchising. The book's subtitle is "Do you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur?" Wantrepreneur is a clever bit of “word-smithing” that speaks to people who would like to be their own boss, but can’t or don’t know how to get started. Mark's book dovetails nicely with Fighting Alligator's message about building a career in the "New Normal."

To say that it was a productive meeting would be a gross understatement. Mark gave me a copy of his book and an intelligent bookmark he created as a marketing tool. He confirmed my thinking that the opportunity for speaking engagements would increase significantly now that I am published. We explored ways to collaborate, and help each other. Some follow-up steps were discussed and confirmed.

Over the next few days, I made a point to read Mark's book. He was right about the reference to the One Minute Manager. Wantrepreneur is a short read, but very much to the point. Much of the book summarized the current employment statistics and trends in small company formation and related career opportunities. He also broke down employment by industry sector with each sector’s contribution to GDP. He went on to talk about the general dissatisfaction many people have toward their jobs, especially the middle-aged. These folks are not happy with their careers and want to find a new situation, something more fulfilling. I am confident that job security is a major part of their angst. Mark spoke to an epidemic of addiction, depression, and suicides among this group, rooted in economic despair and hopelessness. People are looking to create a better life by "doing their own thing."

The remainder of Mark’s book is about defining alternate career options, including entrepreneurial pursuits, so the reader can better understand each path. Finally, he presented a template to assist in determining one's suitability for those options.

Mark did a thorough job describing the New Normal, without getting into cause and effect. The current economic situation is part of a much larger transformation as we move further into the Digital Age. Traditional employment is in a state of flux. There is no going back to an earlier time. Understanding the current playing field and one's options is a critical first step to building a successful career in the New Normal. Wantrepreneur is an excellent companion to Fighting Alligators, which I recommend to anyone who is serious about managing their career. Wantrepreneur by Mark Myette is available on Amazon.com.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so, please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com

May 22, 2016

LITTLE THINGS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

By this time, you know that the inspiration for these posts come from my actual experiences. When I encounter three similar situations in the same week, that usually becomes the topic of the week, and so it is with this week's post. A lot has probably been written about business lunch etiquette and the protocol of payment. It may seem like a little thing, and to some extent it is, but the ritual of paying for a business meal is important. A little faux pas in this connection can turn a productive meeting into a questionable situation. Furthermore, all other things being equal, fumbling this event can become the difference between closing the deal, or not. This week I experienced one of those situations, and it gave me pause.

Among other events, I had three luncheon meetings scheduled this week. One I called to talk with a friend who has been helping me launch my book. The other two were with people who wanted my help. One is a good friend and networking contact, the other a referral from a friend. In the first case, the last meeting of the week, I needed some additional information from Brownell, an experienced e-book author who knows her way around Amazon.com. I wanted to confirm one final bit of information. She is moving away from the Atlanta area in a month, so all the more reason to treat her to a nice lunch.

The first lunch of the week was with Don, a referral from another friend. Don is in his early fifties and having difficulty finding a new situation. As he was in town on personal business, we decided to meet for lunch and to include my business partner, Stan. Don reached out to me, looking for my help and advice. Now, I was not expecting Don to buy me lunch, but I was a bit surprised that he did not offer to cover his portion of the tab. His decision to stick me with the check was a blemish on the meeting. Granted, it was a little thing, but if our situation were reversed, as with Brownell, I would have gladly paid for lunch. Little things speak volumes.

The third meeting was a late breakfast meeting with my friend Charlie who reached out to me. I have not seen Charlie in a few years, but we are connected on LinkedIn and Facebook, so we have not lost contact completely. Charlie saw that I was near the publication date for my book and called to schedule a meeting. After a good breakfast and a complete debrief on the other’s activities since our last meeting, we got down to business. To make a long story short, Charlie is involved with a cloud-based Training and Development Company which he thought would benefit me in my efforts to market my book. He was also looking for some introductions to help him with another consulting project. When we completed our discussion, Charlie grabbed the check. I asked to share the bill, but he would have none of that. Charlie is still the class-act I have always known him to be. Needless to say, I got right to work making the connections we discussed.

When you are trying to build a business relationship, remember that you are being evaluated by the other party. People want to know that you are professional, competent, and trustworthy. They want to have confidence in your integrity. They want to ensure that an association with you will not reflect poorly on them. Rest assured that little things could make a big difference. I learned this lesson the hard way, fortunately for me, while I was still a young aspiring professional.

The simple rule of thumb is "he who calls the meeting picks up the check." If in doubt, offer to pay your share of the bill, or pick up the tab. Don't leave your luncheon partner in an awkward position. If you do, an otherwise useful and productive meeting may become a wasted effort. Little things can make a big difference!

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so, please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com

May 12, 2016

Another Step Closer To…

Another week, and another step closer to publishing “Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal.” The artwork for the cover has been finalized. Actually, I hired a freelancer through Upwork to complete this task. Upwork is one of a number of on-line resources that connect freelancers to the market. Fiverr is another widely used service. I posted my job on Thursday afternoon, and by 10:00 a.m. Friday I had a finished product. Upwork operates like any other job board where employers post jobs for permanent hires with some notable differences. The service is menu driven, which is similar to Job Boards, but the overall feel is much more like a community. Think of Monster meets Facebook. UpWork is very interactive, unlike your typical job board.

Thursday afternoon I posted my job. The posting included a description of my need, my budget for this task, and my contact information. My project was open to all freelancers registered with Upwork. However, Upwork also provided me a list of highly qualified freelancers to consider. I sent those people a personal invitation to bid on my work. Within a few hours, 16 interested respondents had expressed interest in my job. These folks came from the four corners of the planet. The biggest concentration of applicants came from the U.S., the Philippines, Pakistan, and Eastern Europe. By clicking on their name, I was able to view their recent projects and references. Upwork helped the process by allowing me to archive people who were not a good fit and “like” candidates who I wanted to consider. I sent thank you notes to everyone I could. For those I considered serious contenders I sent a more detailed message and directed them to my web page. Imagery with an Alligator seemed obvious, but the cover still needed to be conservative, appropriate for my target audience. I also wanted a subtle reference to the digital age.

Friday morning I was in a text conversation with Vanessa, a highly recommended freelancer from The UK. Upwork provides for instant messaging and video conferencing through their portal. While we were chatting it up, so to speak, Vanessa offered a few mock ups that were most impressive. It was her responsiveness and speed of service that made the difference. I made her an offer and she accepted. Working with Vanessa was fast and effortless. After we had arrived at the basic layout and the correct species of reptile, we worked on my need for a subtle reference to the digital age. Within minutes, she provided three more mock ups with a bit of a digital feel. I settled on the least obtrusive of the three, and the project was complete. I am very pleased with Vanessa’s work, and so far, all of the critiques have been positive.

Completing this task is a great example of employment options in the New Normal. In a brief period of time, I evaluated the work of potential vendors from all over the globe. I chose my preferred freelancer, and we worked together in real time, arriving at a finished project within an hour. As soon as I was satisfied with the end result, I notified Upwork that the contract was complete and authorized payment to Vanessa. With the project completed, we provided each other with references.

While evaluating the freelancers interested in my project I learned that many of these folks are gainfully employed, earning extra money on the side via Upwork. Others are full-time freelancers who are active over a number of platforms. This is the “Gig Economy” sector of the New Normal.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so, please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com