Harper Hewes Blog

An Executive Recruiter’s Guide to Hiring Top Talent Step 2: Sourcing

Debbie Harper — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:00:53 +0000

Come out, come out wherever you are! We’ve defined what we’re looking for…now the fun starts! We get to go find them! We all want to hire the best person for the job. There’s a catch, though. At any point in time, and depending on whose statistics you’re reading, 10-20% of the workforce is actively pursuing new jobs. [...]

Since 1993 Harper Hewes Executive Search has been a trusted partner to companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 corporations. We build high performance technology leadership, professional services, consulting and sales teams. Visit Us at: http://harpershewes.com

An Executive Recruiter’s Guide to Hiring Top Talent Step 1: Definition

Debbie Harper — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:23 +0000

“If you don’t know what you’re looking for how will you know when you’ve found it?” The ultimate success of a project can be traced to preparation and planning. In this post we’ll define three crucial aspects that lay the groundwork of a successful search project. The Job: Defining Successful Performance The Flow: Detailing the [...]

An Executive Recruiter’s Guide to Hiring Top Talent

Debbie Harper — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:30:09 +0000

You can teach a turkey to climb a tree… But wouldn’t you rather start with a squirrel? Looking for Top Talent? It isn’t magic, it isn’t luck and it isn’t happenstance. Check out my recruiter’s guide… In business today we’re pushed to perform faster, better and more effectively. Hiring top talent is no different. We’re [...]

Have You Thanked Your Mentor Lately?

Debbie Harper — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:59:08 +0000

Thanksgiving is less than two short weeks away. For many of us Thanksgiving marks the start of the “year end crunch.” Yearly and quarterly numbers have to be met. Business plans completed. Budgets finalized. Staffing plans approved. Next year’s kick off coordinated. New hires onboarded so they can hit the ground running in 2012. Add [...]

Are You Ready to Compete?

Debbie Harper — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:20:32 +0000

Dice.com saw a 35% increase in first quarter. eFinancialCareers was up 48%. Monster reported a 25% increase in bookings across all industries. What does this influx of job postings mean to you? It’s classic supply vs. demand. For the past several years companies could afford to be ultra choosy, often subjecting candidates to long and [...]

Hiring Mistakes – Vetting the Candidate

Debbie Harper — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:53:32 +0000

“But he was such a good fit on paper!” How many times have you heard that description of a failed hire? Unfortunately, the paper is only part of the story. It’s the person behind the paper that matters. The answers to three key questions will most often determine the success of a hire. CAN they [...]

The Rise of the Written Interview

Debbie Harper — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 05:10:27 +0000

You thought you were done writing essays when you graduated from school, didn’t you? Think again. More and more frequently our clients are requesting writing samples from all candidates, not just those being considered for a formal communications role.

What I Learned as a Yo Gabba Gabba Groupie – and how it can make your recruiting process stronger

Debbie Harper — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:58:52 +0000

I spent Thanksgiving week as a Yo Gabba Gabba Live! groupie. My son is a producer for the YGG Live show and couldn’t make it home so I joined him on the tour for the holiday. Unless you have small children or grandchildren you may not be familiar with Yo Gabba Gabba. Suffice it to say it’s like catnip to the under 5 set - and it was an eye opening experience for me! Producing a live show and producing an ongoing talent acquisition and recruiting process aren’t as different as one might think.

Why You Didn’t Get the Job – Really

Debbie Harper — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:10:05 +0000

You interviewed for the perfect position. It was a perfect fit for you. You presented all of your qualifications in great detail. You told illuminating anecdotes that documented your achievements. You may even be the greatest candidate to have ever crossed their threshold. Yet you didn’t get the job. Why? The answer is simple - because it’s not about you. I know this sounds cold, but read on.

Facebook Faux Pas

Debbie Harper — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 01:59:08 +0000

Facebook privacy concerns are back in the news with the announcement of its new enhancements and collaboration tools. The reality is that anything you put on web will be accessible to someone, and Facebook is no exception.