Devon and Thomas Executive Search Consultants

02/17/2014

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Your Interview is scheduled…….

Remember, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” That’s especially the case when it comes to a job interview. Here are some tips to ensure that you leave a great first impression.
Dress to Impress
Most interviewers have made a determination about you within the first minute based on your appearance and hand shake; if you are dressed appropriately have a good firm handshake, more than likely they have a positive impression. When you meet with your interviewer, dress for the position that you want. Men should wear a suit and tie, and women should wear an interview-appropriate blouse and skirt, or pants. For both men and women, clean hands and fingernails are crucial. And you should keep jewelry and fragrance to a minimum.
Shake Hand and Eye Contact
When you first meet the interviewer, be sure to shake hands and make eye contact as you exchange initial greetings. But if your interviewer doesn’t offer his hand, the protocol is to extend yours anyway, as a sign of good will. And if your nerves have gotten the best of you (leaving your hand moist mess), keep a tissue in your pocket to wipe it off before walking into the interview. Remember to make eye contact, if you avoid eye contact the interviewer my think that you are being deceptive.
“UM” is not a word
Your potential boss just asked you one of those interview questions that would stump most candidates. Don’t let your nervousness show though. Avoid using words, such as “like” or “um” to fill the air, which doesn’t look professional. You can buy a few extra moments of thinking time by saying, “That’s a great question,” and then launch into your answer.
Sit up never slouch
Imagine that you get into the hiring manager’s office and all of the furniture in uncomfortable. Resist the urge to slouch over as you sell yourself. Slouching can mean that you’re sloppy or that you don’t really care about the interview. It may seem silly but you may want to practice your sitting style before you get into the interview, to ensure that you sit up straight the entire time.
Show that you are Grateful
Your interview is finished and you have answered every question confidently and to the best of your ability. But nothing can kill that your hard work faster than saying goodbye as you are running towards the door. Instead, thank your interviewer for taking the time to meet with you, shake hands again, and say that you’re available if they have any follow-up questions, also ask what the next step in the process is. After bidding your interviewer a good day, you can let out your breath in the hallway and pat yourself on the back for surviving a job interview — in style.
Selling yourself can be a stressful experience; no one likes a person who brags, as we have always been taught never to brag about ourselves. But if done correctly, only your confidence you will show. Practice your interviewing skills to ensure that you are always putting your best foot forward to get the job that you really want and deserve.

02/13/2014

Devon and Thomas is proud to announce the Promotion of Stan Williams


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE




(Press Release) - Feb. 13, 2014 - KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- B. Jenkins

South East Region VP of Operations

Devon and Thomas LLC

Contact: 816 698 9342 Fax: 888 710 0373

www.devonandthomasllc.com

Devon and Thomas is proud to announce the Promotion of Stan Williams

Stan Williams promoted to Midwest District Manager

Kansas City MO: Today Devon and Thomas LLC is a professional Healthcare Accounts receivable and Healthcare IT search consulting firm, is proud to announce the promotion of Stan Williams to Midwest Regional Manager.

Stan is replacing Carl Dukes who retired in December 2013. Stan has over 15 years as a Sr. Search Consultant working in the Healthcare Receivable Management arena with sales and operations talent. Stan joined Devon and Thomas in January 2014 as Sr. Search Consultant. When asked about his keys for success His answer was “Networking, The most successful professional build and excel in their careers by networking.

About Devon & Thomas is a professional search consulting firm that partners exceptional candidates with professional organizations. It is our mission to maintain a reputation of integrity, growth and quality.

Media Contact
Devon and Thomas LLC
8167295366
[email protected]

Devon & Thomas is a professional search consulting firm that partners exceptional candidates with professional organizations. It is our mission to maintain a reputation of integrity, growth and quality.

02/12/2014

Americans are responsible for the vast majority of all health care innovations. The top five U.S. hospitals conduct more clinical trials than all the hospitals in any other single developed country. Healthcare A/R and IT professionals are key ingredients to maintaining that healthy and vibrant status that we all enjoy. My name is Stan Williams with Devon and Thomas LLC, I am a professional search consultant exclusively in the Healthcare A/R and Healthcare IT arena with over 15 years matching talented sales and operations human talent to outstanding companies. At Devon & Thomas our main goal is to help companies maximize their performance and growth as well as partnering with talented individuals to unlock career opportunities. Building good business relationships on both sides is at the top of our priority list. My single best tip is to continually update your professional network. Ask any senior executive, politician, community leader or successful salesperson which single skill or habit helped them excel in their career the overwhelming majority will respond with one simple word… Networking.

01/28/2014

5 Mistakes not to make when interviewing

5 Interview No NO's



The most important steps in landing your next job is the job interview. The job interview is literally the doorway to the job you want. It's your best chance to show just how much you have to offer. It's your opportunity to demonstrate by your sparkling personality, knowledge of the industry and great communication skills that you are the perfect match for the job.
With so much pressure to be, say and do just the right thing, it's understandable that some otherwise sterling job candidates might crack under pressure. Most managers and interviewers agree, there are certain "red flags" they look for when interviewing prospective job candidates. With a little practice and a lot of preparation, you can be ready for even the toughest interviews.

Don't fall victim to one of these big interview blunders and lose your chance to land a great job.

Sloppy Appearance

It has been said that many interviewers make up their mind about a perspective job candidate with in the first 30 seconds of the interview. If this is true, your appearance will be the major factor in that first impression.

No matter how casual the work environment, don't make the mistake of dressing sloppily. It gives the impression you don't care and are not taking the job interview seriously. You may not need to wear a Brooks Brother's suit, but you should dress a step nicer than the current employees. Do some research to find out what the work environment is like. People hire people like themselves, so the more you can show how well you will fit in, the better your chances of getting a job offer.

Don't forget to shower and attend to all issues of personal hygiene. This includes brushing your teeth, using deodorant, shaving, and maybe even getting a haircut.

Avoid wearing too much perfume or cologne. In fact, with scented laundry detergents, body washes and shampoos, you can probably do without additional scent altogether. Also, resist the urge to wear a comical tie, too many chains or rings, and remove all facial piercings.

Poor Attitude

One of the biggest pitfalls in interviewing can stem from the very real need to sell yourself. There is a fine line between appearing arrogant and confident. Know the difference because appearing too timid will also be a big turn-off to a prospective employer.

Avoid speaking negatively about anything, especially a former boss or co-workers. No matter how horrible it was, you will never come off looking good when you trash your last job. A little practice and role play ahead of time will help you practice what to say when you are asked about your previous employment. Focus on the positive things you learned.

Avoid discussing your personal life, unless asked specifically about it. If you are asked about yourself, stick to interests and hobbies that would increase your ability to perform the job.

Finally, do not tell off-color or racist jokes.

Weak Communication

It's important to show that you are an effective communicator in an interview. Keep answers to questions succinct and relevant. Use proper grammar and avoid slang and foul language. Role playing with a good friend will definitely help to prepare you for showing your communication skills, especially if you are easily flustered and have trouble speaking off-the-cuff.

Shabby Social Skills

Show that you are confident and comfortable doing the right thing in a given social situation. To do otherwise could be the kiss-of-death for your chances getting a job offer.

Don't eat during the interview unless you have been invited to do so. Don't comb your hair or clip your nails. Don't interrupt your interviewer and do not try and tell him or her how to do his job.

Definitely turn off your cell phone during an interview, and if by chance you forget and it rings, do not, under any circumstances, take the call. Simply turn it off and apologize.

Do offer a firm handshake and smile. Make eye-contact at all times, and if you are being interviewed by more than one person, be sure to make eye-contact with each one. Sit up straight and compliment the office environment, neighborhood and surroundings.

If you are offered a cup of coffee or water, take it. Even if you are not thirsty, taking it will show that you are a team player. It will also be a nice way to buy time while you think of answers to questions. Take a sip and think while you swallow.

Lack of Integrity

Employers are looking to hire people they can trust and who will give an honest day of work. Your interviewer may never know whether you were honest or dishonest, since integrity is more about who you are and what you do when people aren't watching, but there are certain no-no's that will tip off a future boss to a job candidate's lack of integrity.

Don't lie on your resume, especially about your education. It's one of the easiest things to check on and lying about it will say a lot more about who you are than the fact that you are a few credits short of graduation.

If you have lied to your current employer to get time off to interview, don't share this information with your interviewer. This will portray you as someone who would lie to them too in order to satisfy your personal needs.

Honesty is always the best policy and an invaluable trait to offer a prospective employer.

Practice and prepare before you set foot in your job interview and you will be less likely to fall victim to one of these common interview mistakes.

01/24/2014

•Tell me about yourself. You will be asked this question (or one very similar to it). It’s a great question that allows you take command of the interview by selling your accomplishments and capabilities. A neat formula to use when answering this question is to identify a professional quality you possess then tell the hiring authority about an accomplishment or mini-story, which exemplifies the quality. Then move to the next quality, etc. You should be able to talk about yourself in this format for at least 3 to 5 minutes.


•Why are you looking? Briefly describe the circumstances of your employment. But, by no means should you disparage your current or previous employer. No one wants to hire a complainer. Be honest, but tactful.


•What do you know about our organization? You will be prepared for this one when you do your research ahead of time.


•Why are you interested in this position? Relate how you feel your qualifications really match the requirements of the job. Also, express your desire to work for that company.


•What are your most significant accomplishments in your career, so far? Pick recent accomplishments that relate to this position and its requirements.


•Describe a situation in which your work was criticized. Focus on how you solved the situation and became a better professional because of the criticism.


•What would your last/current employer says is your greatest strengths? Weakness? Pick a strength which relates to the position requirements. When talking about a weakness, focus on the steps you have taken to correct this. You can also disguise a strength by saying it is a weakness. For example: "I have often been criticized for being a workaholic. I need to remind myself to take a break and spend some quality time out of the office."


•How would you describe your personality? Focus on the aspects of your personality which allow you to get along well with others, manage effectively, and get a job done efficiently.


•How do you perform under pressure? Be positive. Use an example to back up your answer.


•What have you done to improve yourself in this past year? If you have not taken formal training classes, talk about books you have read or cross training you have done at work. This may even be something as simple as controlling the stress in your life.


•What did you like least about your last position? This is not an opportunity to complain! Focus on something that is not really "bad," but simply a preference of yours. An example could be: "In my last position, the work environment was such that each person was their own separate business unit, working independently of others. Although I succeeded in that environment, I prefer to work in a more team-oriented atmosphere."


•How long would you stay with our company? Emphasize that you will stay as long as you are being professionally fulfilled and you are able to add value to the company.


•Why are you leaving (why did you leave) your present/last job? [This is a variation of the question Why are you looking?] Focus on the future opportunities, not past problems. Even if you were laid off from your last position, be positive and emphasize your willingness to embrace the situation as an opportunity to explore new career possibilities.


•Describe what would be your ideal working environment. Use descriptions which match the company and position.


•How would your co-workers describe you? Use adjectives which would be helpful in this position.


•What do you think of your boss? Be positive.


•If you had your choice of jobs and companies, where would you go? Describe something similar to this company and this particular position.


•What kind of hours are you used to working? Employers are looking for the answer, "Whatever it takes to get the job done."


•Are you a good supervisor? Do you feel you have management potential? Don't just say, "Yes." Give a situation that backs this up.


•Have you ever fired anyone? What was the situation and how did you handle it? Explain the problem briefly and the procedures you took. Emphasize your attention to legal issues and seriousness of the situation.


•Are you creative? Give an example of your creativity or out-of-the-box thinking.


•What are your goals in your career? Focus on those goals which match what you feel this employer can offer you from the position you are interviewing.


•What position do you expect to have in two years? Be realistic and non-threatening to your interviewer. Don't say, "I want your job!"


•Why should we hire you? Match the qualifications you have with the requirements of the position.


•Why haven't you found a new position yet? Explain that you are not just settling for a "job," but are looking for a career opportunity. You just haven't found the right fit yet.


•What kind of salary are you looking for? Careful not to give an exact figure. Say that you are more interested in the opportunity than salary and know that whatever is offered will be fair. If the employer pins you down, give a fair, wide range.


•What other types of jobs/companies are you considering? Don't name specific companies. Simply explain the positions in general. Certainly don't say, "This is the only interview I have had." If this is the truth, explain the types of positions you have applied for.


•What does a company owe its employees? The interviewer is seeking information about what your true expectations are from the company.


•What websites do you visit on a regular basis? The interviewer likely wants to know if you are aware and staying current with industry-related websites and therefore trends and news. A poor answer would be a social networking or some online retail website.


•If you were to be hired, what do you think would be a reason you would leave this position or the company? The interviewer is searching for red flag areas, such as more money, moving back home, and so on.


•What risks did you take in your last position? The issue here is whether you will take a calculated risk and think / do something outside-of-the-box.


•For management candidates: If an employee did a task in such a way that contradicted your instruction, but was highly successful, how would you handle it? Tough question. The interviewer is looking to explore your management style and how you would handle the employee.


•Things don’t always go the way we’d like. Sometimes we cannot deliver on a deadline. Describe how you deliver negative news to your superior or a customer. An answer to this question should show honesty as well as tactful presentation.


•What was the most useful criticism you ever received, and who was it from? The answer to this question reveal what someone else thought was a weakness. When answering, inform the interviewer that you have learned from past experiences and criticisms to improve your performance.


•What sort of trends do you think affect our business? The interviewer is looking to discover if you understand the bigger picture, business influences, and trends.


As you interview, you will encounter questions that you simply are not going to be able to prepare for. If you encounter one of those questions, after the interview write