Author: Joe Giacomin (248) 453-0092 | jgiacomin@asgteam.com
The High Demand Employee
When we are engaged by a client company to perform a search for a specific career position, we start off by conducting an in-depth intake conversation with the hiring authority and designated staff members. We want to ensure that we comprehend the specific job duties and preferred qualifications along with company history, product information, benefits, long-term opportunities, and the profiles of the contemporaries, subordinates, and superiors…as well as customers the candidate will need to interface with when in that position. It’s very important that we get this right …and deliver what will work best for our client.
Several key qualifications are important to hiring authorities: specifically, technical skills and a verifiable track record of success in their field along with education and insight into key markets or individual accounts. All are important in any hiring decision, but these specs are only the “cost of admission”.
Without question, every executive at every client company at some point in our conversation will offer similar comments. Yes, the hiring authority has a wish list for the ideal candidate … i.e., boxes to check… but what really strikes a chord are those special attributes that are not on any resume.
The client will often say: “I can train the candidate in this (product, system, customer, process) or that but I can’t give them a great attitude. I can’t train them to have a solid work ethic, to be enthusiastic, to have the right motive for wanting our company, to fit our culture – to be just plain smart. I’ll take those qualities over just about everything else.”
This, especially in 2023 is what “high demand” employees represent. Best suggestion: maintain an open mind when you’re exposed to what is often referred to as “Halo Effect” qualifications, and instead look for the attributes that you can’t train into a person.
Maintain an open mind when you’re exposed to what is often referred to as “Halo Effect” qualifications, and instead look for the attributes that you can’t train into a person.
Closing Comment:
When I was the Cleveland Branch Manager for a major company specializing in business products, I received a phone call from Terry, a recent college grad.
He was calling to schedule an interview for a sales position. I asked Terry, “Our company hasn’t advertised for a sales representative… why us?”
He replied, “I’ve been doing some research and have discovered you are in a major growth industry, so I opened the phone book and started calling companies in your industry. I called your main number and asked to speak with you.”
Impressed by his analysis, organization, and execution, I scheduled an interview and ultimately hired Terry. The qualities he displayed didn’t appear on his resume, but as any sales manager will agree, he was “high demand”.
Fast Track to Electric Vehicles
Propulsion Convulsion?
Certainly, the big news in personal transportation is all about auto companies on a fast track to Electric Vehicle Heaven. While most major manufacturers have been involved at various levels of EV development for quite some time, Tesla was the first to break through on a broader market level and has “jump-started” an industry that, up to that time, had been a bit more evolutionary.
What I find confusing – and even a bit amusing, are some of the product offerings currently available on both the EV side of the spectrum and vehicles continuing to demand attention, which are the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) variety.
General Motors is hawking the new fully-electric Hummer –an amazing all-terrain vehicle, weighing in at 9,000 pounds…with one thousand horsepower…reaching sixty (60) MPH in Three (3) seconds. Expect to pay north of $100K for this monster. It’s great for traveling to the supermarket, driving off-highway, visiting Aunt Clara…or maybe going off to war!
Parallel to this, The General will be thrilled to sell you every gas-powered Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Suburban, Yukon, etc., they can move out of the factory door.
Then, we have the recently introduced, extra-special Dodge Challenger SRT 170 “Demon”. It’s gasoline (or who knows, maybe nitroglycerin?) fueled, with horsepower beyond o
ne thousand. It’s so fast that it has an optional parachute (yes, just like the dragsters) to assist with slowing it down. Want one? Bring money.
Their Jeep sister division has two super-fine, internal combustion powered SUV’s… the Wagoneer and the Grand Wagoneer. From what I have been able to learn and observe, both vehicles are exceptional and feature beautiful interiors. With a whopping sticker price to match, you can own the road.
Ford also has a combination of products (think the EV – F-150 Lightning and conventionally- powered Lincoln Navigator), and when fully equipped, arrive at your friendly dealership with stratospheric sticker prices.
All the vehicles mentioned are grabbing considerable attention and selling very well.
So, what is this automotive “Disneyland” indicating? I don’t think anybody knows for sure –even at the very top. When questions like infrastructure, environment, economics, government regulations, electric grid, and public opinion (to name a few) are considered, it starts to resemble a game of roulette. Auto Makers might be wagering their money (billions in this case) on number 22 or 23, but still hedging their bets by throwing a few chips on black and red.
