Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter : Association of Career Professionals International

AGENDA: Mr. Steve Watson, Executive Resuiter

Mr. Watson is Managing Director for Stanton Chase International, and spoke on “Current Trends in the Executive Recruiting Industry.” His talk focused on:

What CEO’s look for in Candidates at the executive level
What makes a candidate successful
What mistakes candidates most commonly make
Current trends in the local and national job market

Mr. Watson serves as the Managing Director of Stanton Chase International, a world-wide executive search firm and as global practice leader for the technology industry. He started his career with RCA and has held several senior positions with major companies such as Burroughs, Tandem Computers and Micronyx, where he served as President and CEO. His executive search experience started in 1995 where he has specialized in executive management positions within technology, industrial and professional services, and Chief Information Officer assignments across industries.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

He is very active in the community and serves on numerous boards of local volunteer organizations.

Having recently changed companies, I found myself experiencing some of the emotions that our candidates who have gone through a transition at their company feel. Sometimes I forget that we are just as likely to feel the same things. Somehow I felt that I would not.

While I knew the delivery portion of my job, I had to take time to figure out the logistics of the new company. Things like where do I find the fax machine, how do we get typing accomplished, where does my document go when I press the wrong destination for my printer and numerous other questions.

Then it was a challenge to establish a routine. For the past 12 years I knew what I was expected to do when. In my new position, I am establishing a new routine. While this is fun and exciting I forget where in my new office I have filed certain documents so it is taking longer at time to get things done.

What I have come to realize is that we all need some change in our lives from time to time. It helps us put a different perspective on what we do. One of my colleagues mentioned that he had been told that “You are part of the solution for the first 60 days in position and then you become part of the problem.”

As I thought about his statement, I realized how correct he was. For the first few weeks I found myself asking all types of questions about why? Or why not? And have you thought of? Or what if? It is so much easier to think out of the box when I am in a new environment!

I encourage each of you to experience some change and ask questions. Things look different from a different perspective.

Thank you for your interest in ACP International membership. It is one of the best investments you can make in your career.

Career management professional work with individuals or with groups of students, employees, executives to assist in career management, career choice, advancement or transition.

ACP International’s local chapter serves the needs of career outplacement and career management professionals throughout the DFW metroplex.

In addition to enjoying an affiliation with a distinguished international organization, ACP International-DFW provides its members with the following professional benefits:

regular monthly dinner meetings
informative and entertaining speakers
numerous networking opportunities
seminars and mini-conferences
national quarterly newsletter
professional certification process
annual international conference
discounted web page hosting
standards of ethical practice
visibility through leadership opportunities

The DFW chapter meets the last Thursday of every month, from September through May at the Brookhaven Country Club. Please see this site for driving instructions and information about the current meeting topic.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Jill Pfaff at jvpfaff@aol.com or call 817.277.2036.

ACP International now offers business insurance through Hartford Insurance for members of the organization. Check out our International Web site (www.ACP International.org) and see what other benefits are offered.

If you are interested in serving on one of the committees, talk to any Current Board Member. We are committed to expanding the leadership ranks for our chapter.

Did I say VALUE-ADD? As a Professional Member of the Dallas/ Ft.Worth Chapter, you can secure your own homepage on the Internet , as a "sub-domain" with Your Chapter... IMAGINE:

Click on the above URL to view a sample template of a three page site. Contact Bob Maher for details.

The Ever-Expanding Web Address...
If you lined up every Web address in existence today end-to-end, and you used the same lettering that can be found on a standard American Stop Sign, that Web address would be 27,000 miles long! (To put that in perspective, the circumference of Earth is about 24,000 miles.)

The Founding Fathers of Domain Names
What was the first domain name ever registered?
Symbolics.com. The domain name was registered on March 15, 1985.

Many of our candidates place too much emphasis on their ONLINE time, as part of their personal marketing plan. They "trust" the Internet Job Banks to produce contacts and interviews. Coach your candidates to use the Internet "tool", but don't let them avoid consistent and directed personal contact networking.

Even though reliable research is sketchy, we DO know that personal networking is still, by far, the most efficient avenue of career transition.

This Month's URL showcases a FREE SITE where you can interact and share with your colleagues all over the globe... a forum for Career Mgt PROfessionals, let's E-SHARE and grow together!

Involvement in ACP International is one of the primary ways we all have as "Career Management PRO's" to practice what we preach!

Speakers: Dr. Michael Armour

"The Halftime Phenomenon: From Success to Significance in Middle Adulthood"