We see it every day!  A candidate with outstanding qualifications not getting noticed or receiving that first call from the HR department.  You are an outstanding candidate and may have years of qualified experience.  You may even be the perfect fit for the opportunity you seek.  Still, no phone calls, no emails and no response from the HR department after sending your well-intended resume.

Well, the silent show stopper is likely your resume. Indeed, the construction and content of your resume maybe the only thing preventing you from even getting noticed.

The Symicor Group, and many other talent acquisition firms across the United States, receives feedback from HR Directors lamenting the fact that candidates continue to send them resumes that do not inspire or warrant further review.  These demanding HR leaders readily admit that many candidates may likely be a good fit but these candidates never reach a state of relevancy because of their substandard resume.

Bottom line, your resume must be value-based and enticing. Further, your resume should make irresistible!  It must quickly convey the notion that you are the solution your next employer has been seeking.

Now more than ever, it’s time for your resume to stand out among the sea of resumes competing against you.  A value based resume that is clear and compelling may put you at the front of the line. Call for your free consultation today.  It is time to get you placed with the company and career that offers you challenge and fulfillment.  Call Kelly or Tom today at (847) 325-5457 or email us at resumes@symicorgroup.com

Join the Symicor Team on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at Library Park, West Main Street, Lake Geneva, WI between 7:00-9:00 a.m.  This is a non-competitive walk raises funds to fight breast cancer.  This year proceeds go to the Aurora Health Care Breast Treatment Assistance Program. This program helps educate women and defrays medical expenses for uninsured and under-insured women for mammograms.  The Symicor Group is a proud sponsor of this event.

If you cannot join us we ask you make a denotation to this worthy cause.

For more information about the event go to the even webpage at: http://lakegenevahopewalk.com/

See you there!!

Part Three – Money and More

In this final part of our 3-part series “Time for a Job Change?” we are going to discuss a little about money, job offers and moving on with your career.

The Money Factor

We all know that money can be a motivating factor on your decision to changes jobs, but be very careful of changing careers simply because of the almighty dollar. Remember that you may make more money, but if you dislike your new career, you’ll probably be spending that money on stress and health related expenses. So before making a jump be sure that you do your research so you know that the new position will be a cultural and professional fit for you.

You Get a Better Offer

Out of the blue you get a call from an another company offering you more money, more flexibility or better benefits, all in an effort to convince you to join their team. If this does happen, remember that you are the one holding the power.  Ask tough questions about the company’s business and its work culture. If the answers you receive are not right for you, you can simply reject the offer and stay in your current position.

A solid outside offer may also put you in a position to ask for more of your current employer.  It is a common and courteous practice to give your current employer a chance to make a counter-offer and keep you on the team. With proper negotiations and you could end up receiving a raise, promotion or other benefits without having to change jobs. On the other hand if your employer won’t negotiate you should take that as a sign that you may be better off in a new job. 

Getting Help in Your Career Search

In this series we have discussed many factors to consider when thinking about a career change.  Once you have decided to make a change you may need help in jump-starting your search.  You may want to consider engaging a professional recruiter who specializes in your industry.  These professionals will work on your behalf to find a position for your unique skills and experience that have shaped what kind of professional you are. Professional recruiters can provide career counseling as well as helping with your resume and interviewing skills.

We hope this series has been helpful to you in your pursuit of your dream career.  The Symicor Group is here to help you though the process.  Please take a few minutes to scan our website to see all of the services we can provide you to help you with your banking career.

 

Part Two – Personal Factors

In part-2 of our 3-part series “Time for a Job Change?” we are going to explore some personal factors that may play a part in the decision process on whether it is time to move forward in your career.

You Can Gain a Broader Base of Knowledge

Like with anything thing new you try there is a learning curve, the same applies to your job.  When you are first hired you are thrust into a face-paced indoctrination.  You have to learn the basics of your new position coupled with learning about your co-workers and how you fit into the organization.  That is then followed by a longer period of fine tuning your skills and mastering your position.  Experts express that this period of time is approximately 3 years for the typical worker.

But is that all that there is?  Are you capable of learning more? Is it possible that you can advance your personal base of career-specific knowledge by repeating this learning process in a new position? The answer could be “yes.”

Changing position within your industry may force you to gain new skills that can complement those you already have, allowing you to become a more well-round, and capable professional.  If this is something you personally feel is needed in your career it may be time to start seeking a job that will provide you that growth.

 Your Job Does Not Challenge You Anymore

Have you ever said to yourself “This job has become boring?”  You have mastered the requirements of your position and cruise through it day after day.  You find that your job no longer provides any challenges.  Working at a job that lacks challenges can often result in negative work habits such as surfing the web, playing games, etc. to kill time.  Lack of challenges can also often lead to a lower morale and a lack of enthusiasm on your part.

If you find yourself in this situation you should seek more challenging work assignments within your current organization.  If more challenging assignments are not available to you, you may want to consider moving to a new job where you are again challenged on a day-to-day basis.

 Major Changes in Your Personal Life

There are many different personal circumstances which may necessitate you finding another job.  They can range from wanting to shorten your daily commute time to your spouse has been offered a tremendous opportunity in another city.  Some employers may be willing to work to keep you, especially if you are a key employee, by offering you a transfer to another location.  The key is to keep your employer informed of any pending life-style changes so they are not surprised when your time comes to make a decision.  If however they unwilling or unable to help you in your situation you may be forced to seek out other employment.

The Symicor Group understands how these factors play a part in your decision to look for other work.  A very important part of our process in finding you an opportunity is we take time to get to know you.  Our recruiters spend time talking with you to understand you, your personality, and your unique situation.  Contact us today and let us help move you forward.

You can view Part-One of the series at: http://symicorgroup.com/2013/06/06/time-for-a-job-change/

 

Having been within a few organizations for several years I personally know it is often hard to leave due to friendships you have made, the routines you have established, and familiar environment you have been accustom to.  Other times you just know it is time to seek other opportunities because of issues within the workplace.  This 3-part series will examine some of reasons you might be ready for a change in careers.

Part One – Work Environment Factors

Here we will explore three factors, which certainly can cause undue day-to-day stress in your working environment.

Negative Issues with Your Boss

If you stay at any job long enough you are likely to get a new boss or two.  The person who hired you may have moved up or moved on, and you just might not click with the new boss for a number of reasons.  You may feel that your boss does not do their job as well as they could, or you do not like the direction they insist on leading the organization. Or you may have clashing personalities making every conversation tense and filled with second-guessing and distrust.

You Don’t Fit into the Company’s Culture

A company’s culture will determine whether employees are happy or not. Often executives are too busy managing finances and launching marketing campaigns and do not spend the time to create the company’s culture. Without leadership involvement, a culture will emerge and typically it’s a negative culture.  Creating and managing the organization’s culture is imperative to keeping the best employees.

If you find yourself in a work environment where the culture is not conducive to your productivity, happiness or comfort, determine root cause of the discomfort.  If you find that the cause is something nonthreatening, such as the group’s love of football, for example, perhaps you can find other co-workers who share your outsider interests.

If you find however that the culture is based on unhealthy themes, such as sexual discrimination or the use of drugs and alcohol you must make a decision on whether you want to be part of that culture or find a new job where the culture suits you.

The Company is About to Fail

Companies fail for many reasons, but the end result is the same: the company shuts its doors and stops providing much-needed services and paychecks.  If you can see that your company is in trouble or on its way to failure, it’s probably a good time to find a new job.  Some of the warning signs you should watch for are:

• Cutting down operational expenses.
• Hiring freeze.
• Hours cut at work
• Downsizing: lay-offs
• The company is cutting back on staff perks

If you find yourself looking to move on from your current career, The Symicor Group can help.  At The Symicor Group, we know you’ve worked hard to get where you are.  And we know a job is about much more than the skill set.  It’s about the person who does it.  So we’ll take the time to find out about you—where you are and where you want to go.  And we’ll find you the positions that will help you get there.

We recognize that you have unique skills and experience that shape what kind of employee you are.  And we believe that cultural fit is one of the best indicators of success for both employee and employer. So we take measures to ensure that every employee is placed in a work environment where they can succeed and thrive.

As they say “knowledge is power”.  Knowing what the average banking positions pay can help you determine how you rank among your peers.  We have taken information supplied by Salary.com created a list of common banking position along with the U.S. average salaries including bonuses, compared to those banking positions in the Chicago area.

Position	U.S.	Chicago
Branch Manager I  (Small Bank)	$   55,021	$  58,451
Branch Manager II (Medium Bank)	$   63,438	$  67,392
Branch Manager III (Large Bank)	$   70,598	$  75,000
Chief Credit Officer	$ 187,191	$ 199,631
Chief Retail Banking Executive	$ 292,706	$ 310,953
Commercial Loan Officer (Sr. Level)	$ 104,611	$ 111,132
Commercial Loan Workout Officer (Sr. Level)	$ 103,173	$ 109,604
Compliance Coordinator	$   46,147	$   49,024
Group Branch Manager III (Sr. Level)	$ 129,036	$ 137,080
Head Teller	$   32,056	$   34,054
Loan Workout Officer III (Sr. Level)	$ 108,861	$ 115,648
Mortgage Closer	$   42,820	$   45,489
Mortgage Loan Processor III (Sr. Level)	$   45,417	$   48,249
Mortgage Underwriter III (Sr. Level)	$   68,057	$   72,300
Private Banker III (Sr. Level)	$ 114,999	$ 122,168
Regional Retail Banking President	$ 190,179	$ 202,035
Relationship Manager III (Sr. Level, Business)	$ 112,716	$ 202,035
SBA Banking Manager	$ 138,586	$ 147,226
Teller III (Sr. Level)	$   29,103	$   30,922

 

Now that you know some of the average banking salaries, are you happy with your current salary?  Do you enjoy current working environment?  Do you love going to work every day?  If you answered “No” to any of these questions contact The Symicor Group and discuss your situation and your options.  Let one of our banking recruiters (former banking executives) work with you to find that perfect position that matches your unique experience, skills and personality.  Submit your resume today to get things started.

An article we recently found on Yahoo! Voices, submitted by Lisa Ann Burke, lays out several reasons why working with a recruiter during your jobs search can be beneficial to your job hunting success. Listed below are just some things a recruiter may be able to do for you that you are unable to do by yourself in securing employment.

1. Chance to Apply for Un-Advertised Jobs.

Often companies choose not advertise job openings but rather use the services of staffing professionals to locate suitable and pre-screened candidates for them. Many times, their openings are listed with recruiters before they even appear on the company website. The job seeker may be missing out on a number of available positions by simply searching the job boards and applying to companies directly rather than working with a recruiter.

2. Recruiters Market Candidates.

Recruiters take the time to get to know the candidate’s work experience, personality, and other factors in order to match them with positions. When an ideal match is found by a recruiter, they will actively sell the candidates to the employers by highlighting their experience and accomplishments. The relationship that a recruiter has with the employer is a large benefit when presenting a candidate for consideration.

3. Assistance with Your Resume.

Recruiters can assist you with highlighting your most relevant accomplishments and marketable qualities so that your resume will set you apart from the crowd of other candidates. Often employers use software to pre-screen candidates by searching for keywords within your resume. Resumes submitted directly to employers from a recruiter are considered as being pre-screened and are almost sure to get into the hands of the hiring managers.

4. Assist with Targeted Job Search.

As stated above, an effective recruiter takes time to get to know the candidates. In doing so, the recruiter will submit your resume for those openings that most closely match your qualification, greatly increasing your changes for interviews and job offers. Recruiters may also send your resume to employers who are not actively looking for employees to see if they might have an interest in someone with your unique qualifications.

5. Interview Feedback.

In many cases, due to the relationship between the recruiter and hiring manager, the recruiter can obtain feedback and insight regarding your interview that you could not obtain. This information is valuable as it may prepare you for your second interview with that company or with the next company.

6. Offer Negotiation.

When it comes to the subject of compensation, it is generally not wise to bring it up during early-round interviews. However, the recruiter will often know the compensation range for the position and will share that with you unless the employer requested that they do not. The recruiter is also there to help if you receive an offer below your expectations. The recruiter can step in and help you negotiate the terms of your offer.

These are just a few of the many things a good recruiter can do to help you land your perfect job. Choosing the right recruiter is important. We suggest you start by seeking out recruiters who specialize in placing people in industries that interest you.

The Symicor Group specializes banking and finance positions. Our goal is to find you that perfect position that matches your unique experience, skills and personality. The Symicor Group includes former bank executives who truly understand the unique demands of this evolving industry and have deep connections within the industry.

If you have any questions about The Symicor Group, contact us and we will put you in touch with one of our recruiters.

Is your past performance transparent to your interviewer?  I’ll get back to this question a bit later.

During your interview, you are on the receiving end of a bevy of questions designed to predict the future…based your real past performance.  As a candidate, do you fully understand behavior-based interviewing?

You see, the whole idea behind behavior-based interviewing is to authenticate your ability to do the job.  So many candidates don’t get this! Good interviewers who use this questioning style will ask a series of past performance questions.  Then, they will ask the questions again and again until you offer them detailed examples of how you did it.  The definition of ‘it’ is up to you.  What do you want them to remember about you?  That’s the real secret, standing out among the ocean of other candidates.

So, what are examples of behavior-based interview questions?  Try these on for size:

• tell me about a time when…,
• give me an example of what you mean…,
• give me another example of…
• tell me more about that…,
• what were the specific results and how did you achieve them…,
• could you be more specific…
• and this is one of my favorites… please give me another example of when…
• Not to worry, if this happens, someone is very interested in your story.  Just remember, the story you tell needs to have legs. The answers you give should be rooted in your own actual experiences.

So, do you want to nail that interview?  Here are a few musts:

Be prepared… no I mean really prepared. 

Go on the internet and find a list of behavior-based interviewing questions.  Then, print them off and ask someone (with experience) to interview you.  If you cannot find these important questions, call any one of our Symicor Group recruiters for help.  Your interview partner should insist that you provide specific behaviors and results about how you did it and how you could do it again for the company you are dying to join.

Be Truthful. 

Behavior-based interviewing is designed to catch you puffing or exaggerating. Try to avoid this.  Your clarity and facts will leave the right taste in your interviewer’s mouth.  Think about three to five work related stories that showcase your skills.  Remember to include those failures that taught to you the best lessons. As you recall these examples, try to remember all the important details.  The secret sauce is embedded in those details.

Be Convincing. 

With the same detail, convince the interviewer that no one will add more value to the company then you.  Remember, you are on the field of battle with other formidable foes.  Transform the interviewer into a believer…a believer in you!  Your potential employer must believe that you can and will duplicate your past success

So, do your homework. 

Find out what is important to your new company.  Using your new behavior-based interviewing skills, make it your mission to learn about this company’s priorities.  If I had a nickel for every interview I sat through with candidates who only knew what was important to them…not me (or my firm).

This research requires an innovative spirit.  I had a candidate once tell me that she called other employees of my company to discover:  if they liked working for my company and why, what were the top issues or priorities, or what are the top challenges facing my company.  Don’t press them for company secrets, just a few high level themes.  Now indeed, many employees may not be able to clearly outline these priorities or challenges.  You will get the idea as you gently nudge them for their thoughts (employees enjoy offering opinions – don’t you?).

Remember that crystal ball question?  If your interviewer can clearly see that you enjoyed previous success, you can clearly describe how you did it, and he/she clearly believes that you can do it again, you become their clear choice.

Everything you ever learned about managing time is a complete waste of time because it doesn’t work.  A bold statement, yes, but one that is made clear in an article found in Entrepreneur.com.  The article provides 10 techniques to become a master of your own time.  Click on the link below to read the entire article.

10 Time Management Tips That Work

We at The Symicor Group use our time wisely as we work with you to find that perfect position that matches your unique experience, skills and personality.  Whatever role suits you, from administrative assistants to CEOs and everything in between, contact The Symicor Group.  We would be honored to help.

Every job seeker wants to present to prospective employers a resume that is both professional and effective in hopes of getting noticed in a positive way.  Often resumes fall short of that goal and the job seeker is passed over not because they don’t have the qualification for the position, but because the way they information is presented.  The folks at DailyWritingTips.com have pulled together 44 resume writing tip that can help anyone prepare a resume that will help them get noticed.

44 Resume Writing Tips

Now that you have read this informative article and have put together that great resume, let The Symicor Group help you in your job search.  If you are looking for a new career opportunity send us your resume and let us help.  We also can have your resume professionally written if needed.  Click here to learn about our Comprehensive Resume Service