January 13, 2016

“Are You Looking For Any Good People?”

If you ask this question of any hiring decision-maker (DM) that you know,  the resounding reply is “Hey, I’m always looking for good people,” even though there are no positions posted from his/her company, especially in the current energy sector. What does that mean?
It means that every manager/executive always has employees on the lower rung of performance, issues, et al that they would replace IF they found a great candidate.

​Why aren’t these positions posted?

​Most DMs use their network to find talent and there could well be a hiring freeze. That doesn’t necessary mean that they can’t replace someone, only that they cannot add to staff at present, therefore nothing is posted.
 
Despite our president mentioning “big oil” as an (implied) uber-rich, controlling industry in his final State of the Union address, according to John Graves, president of Graves & Co., a consulting firm based in Houston, the oil and gas industry saw around 250,000 layoffs last year alone. Additional layoffs have been announced and other layoffs have yet to be announced, but are on the horizon. Most DMs in oil and gas (and every other industry, for that matter) still would replace their poor, or marginal performers IF they found a great replacement!

A vibrant company MUST get more done with fewer people and only automating further and surrounding oneself with brilliance will make that happen!

Are you part of the “brilliance” in your position? Do you have a current resume that is a marketing masterpiece instead of the normal ‘chronological obituary?’ Are you awaiting a job posting that is very rare in O&G with thousands of competitors, or are you proactively emailing your possible, future boss (based upon job title) to showcase that you have, and can add brilliance with viable solutions and leadership to his/her staff? Do you know how?
 
The entire energy sector was down in 2015; expected to remain so in 2016 with a chance of some recovery in 2017 (barring some catastrophe somewhere in the world). If you are unemployed, you cannot wait THAT long, can you? Leave the industry after so many years, skills, achievements? Maybe it’s time, but maybe it’s time to get after those DMs! Maybe it's time for professional assistance with something(s) you only do a few times in a lifetime? Help is only a click away!