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1. How long have you been in business?Formed in 1998, we consolidated talent who worked together for up to 20 years in the career field. This team attracted leading technology, creative and executive talent.2. Who owns ITS... How strong are you financially?The firm is privately owned and the employees are the shareholders. The firm has no debt and is in excellent financial condition. With over 300 associates, we serve several thousand professionals each year.3. May I visit your regional centers or National Center?Yes. Staff members are available to provide a tour of our facilities and spend time discussing your situation.4. How many offices do you have?At our National Center in Denver, we have a large staff who play a role in supporting all clients. We have regional centers in New York, Roseland, NJ, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Chicago, San Ramon, CA, Atlanta and Dallas. We also have many satellite offices. Importantly, we serve clients worldwide, with or without a need to visit our offices.5. What is the background of your staff?Our staff includes hundreds of people from many disciplines... former CEOs, military officers, educators, nonprofit executives... attorneys, marketing, IT and HR executives and others.6. What is so unique about your online resources?Perhaps the main reason is that with them, you can access 85% or more of your possibilities, not just the customary 2%. However, this is such a powerful set of resources in so many ways, that you should review our separate literature on this subject.7. What does your staff know about my local job market?An extraordinary amount. Our website is the most extensive source for local job market information in the U.S. It gives you local openings, leads to openings, emerging jobs, potential contacts and more.8. How close a relationship do you have with your clients?Exceptionally close. In fact, through our Executive Advisory Group, many remain close throughout their careers.9. How does your approach differ from traditional job hunting?Most people have inadequate resumes and take limited actions. Their market exposure is a fraction of what it should be. We develop an agressive marketing plan to guide the search, write all resumes and letters, and supply continuous openings, leads and contacts. We also market you to thousands of growth firms, VCs, recruiters and large employers, and assist in all your interviews and handling negotiations.10. Why do you favor growth industries?A fast-growing firm generally means higher pay, faster promotions and valuable stock options -- giving you a better chance of accumulating wealth and job satisfaction.11. Why has demand for your service grown?People can no longer rely on random actions... a few ads, a few recruiters and networking friends. They choose to have their search managed by others so that they can search the market with both greater speed and effectiveness.12. Do I have to visit your offices to use the service?No. Executives worldwide can utilize our services without visiting our offices. The level of excellence remains equal.13. If I change jobs again, is further help available?Yes. Your history forms remain on file. We will meet with you to discuss your career, without cost.14. How do you differ from recruiters?Traditional recruiters work for employers. We work for individuals seeking a new job.15. How do you differ from career counselors?Counseling firms only offer to advise you on how to do a job search. Our services go much further. We take on a major portion of your marketing effort.16. How do you differ from outplacement counseling firms?Traditional outplacement counselors warehouse unemployed people in shared cubicles or offices, provide workshops and counseling. This concept is unchanged since the 1970s.17. Some firms claim they do the same thing as you. Your comment?We know of no one in the U.S. who has anywhere near our capabilities. Wall Street analysts say we are a minimum of two years ahead of the field.18. What is "full disclosure marketing"?We disclose everything about our service through written materials, our client handbook, extremely high-content websites and an on-line job market tour. Details on every aspect of the firm and its service are publicly available.19. Why does the job market require new approaches?The main reason is that it has become more complex and competitive. Thirty million resumes are now in circulation all the time.20. When is the right time to search?Whenever your situation dictates. During a recession, hiring declines sometimes by as much as 20%. However, our experience is that if you compensate by being more aggressive, you will be relatively unaffected by economic conditions.21. I'm not highly marketable. Am I a candidate for your service?Before we could provide an intelligent answer, we need you to fill out our marketability evaluation profile and then have a discussion with you.22. I am highly marketable. Why would I need your service?The more marketable you are, the more important it is to uncover the maximum number of opportunities available. If you run a "minimal" search and choose less than an exceptionally good offer, you run the risk of lowering your long-term success curve.23. How can you expand my marketability?We analyze your strengths, transferable skills and achievements. Then, we develop 10-20 key phrases which focus on your skills and what you can contribute. They are used in all communications... resumes, letters, emails, phone discussions and face-to-face meetings. We found this approach can often dramatically expand your marketability, far beyond your factual credentials.24. Why are transferable skills so important?Employers place a premium on versatile people who have diverse skill sets. Those in highest demand can move from project to project and handle assignments that draw upon these different skills. Properly communicated, they increase your credibility for new industries.25. I am concerned about my age. Realistically, what can I expect?Age will eliminate many opportunities. But most people can lift their marketability by communicating all their skill sets, know-how and strengths. If you run an aggressive campaign, you can often compensate for age bias in the market. Furthermore, if you can contribute and can convince people of that, age can be irrelevant. For more on this subject you can review The ITS Professional Job Changing System... our complete system, elsewhere on this website.26. I am uncertain about my career goals. How do you help?We offer every client our complete analysis and recommendations as to the specific job titles you should go after... and in what industries. We also address the income implications... both short and long term.27. I need to relocate. How can you help me?Our service can be targeted to anyone's geographic preferences. The depth of our information about local job markets and individual employers can be invaluable.28. What is your experience with people in my industry?There is virtually no major area of industry experience we have not dealt with before.29. Does the firm maintain my confidentiality?We will not release your name or personal information to any outside party without your permission. However, when it comes to your campaign, with the range of actions that most people take, total confidentiality can never be completely guaranteed.30. Can you tell me what is wrong with my resume?Yes. Our staff will review your materials and offer our concrete suggestions for improvements. Our market tour also contains what we have learned about the design and styles of resumes that work best today.31. Will all recruiters like the resumes you prepare?Not always. We do not serve the interests of recruiters. Rather, we develop presentations that will produce the best results for each client. You should know, however, that our materials have been consistently praised by seasoned recruiters.32. What response can I expect from your resume distributions?Our role is to capture the best possible expression of your experiences, skills and future potential. If you are not happy with every word of our written materials, we will make adjustments to ensure your satisfaction. After that, response is a function of the demand for your credentials and your field. Professionals in major career fields normally experience greater demand. For example, people in sales, marketing, operations, accounting, finance, manufacturing, HR and mainline staff functions. Responses can come in for a long time.33. Why is it necessary to go to so many recruiters?The odds of a recruiter having an assignment for an opportunity that is right for you, at the moment you contact them, are slim. The more recruiters you contact, the more the odds are in your favor.34. Who should consider board member mailings?This is only recommended for senior executives. It involves our identification of board members of public firms that we approach on your behalf. Custom written communications of an extensive nature, are mailed under our letterhead every week.35. Who should be in touch with venture capitalists?Clients who generate the most interest are typically executives who are candidates for "C" level positions (COO, CTO, etc.) or who can fill a role as head of a line function (VP Sales, etc.). Most often, they are in their 30s or 40s, although there are exceptions.36. Who should consider your more aggressive direct marketing efforts?Extensive direct marketing is always recommended for the majority of professionals with an interest in a specific geographic area. It is also for those who want more speed and convenience, or who have chosen to target specific industries.37. I am good at interviewing. Why would I need any help?To succeed, at the very least, you need to maximize chemistry. But, you also must be prepared with memorable stories that give the employer a comfort level about hiring you. And, you must be able to overcome any objections without dissolving personal rapport. We make sure that each of our clients are equipped to handle these factors.38. Why is communicating "stories" so important in interviews?Without them, most people will forget what you say in a matter of minutes. We forget facts and concepts, but we all like good stories and remember them.39. How do you help with negotiations?We equip you with our system for negotiating and we work with you on every response and counter-response as you go through negotiations. Given today's complex financial packages, this assistance has become very important.40. What quality control measures do you have?Every phase of our service is monitored by the lead marketing director and a number of local and national staff members. Our system helps make sure that you are satisfied with every aspect of the service we perform for you.41. What is your success rate?We wish we could claim 100%, but we can't. Success rates vary by a client's background, income level, industry specialty and other criteria. Everyone who executes our marketing plans gets activity. But, some choose to stay where they are when their situation improves, or leverage offers for a promotion. Others do not accept offers, but decide to invest in or buy a firm, or to discontinue their search for personal reasons.42. How many of your clients change industries?Over 60% take positions in new industries and many join growth companies.43. Are there long-term benefits for those using your service?Many clients comment on the long-term benefits of investing in themselves. Others say the new marketing skills they've developed gives them more confidence and will be invaluable in future searches. The close future relationships we enjoy also benefit our clients in many ways.44. What financial considerations do your clients weigh?Job search expenses are normally tax-deductible. This makes the true net cost of our service generally 25% to 35% less. In addition, while income is rarely the top priority, our clients often accept positions that offer 10% to 30% more. Our assistance in negotiations, where signing bonuses and other considerations can be significant... are also factors that can have a major impact on your financial situation.45. My spouse is hesitant about my using a service. What is your advice?If a spouse would rather you spend the money on something else, and if it is not self-evident that an investment in yourself can pay dividends, it is not likely that you would make a suitable client for our firm. Changing jobs is rarely just about money. We would be happy to teleconference or meet with you and your spouse to provide a full understanding of the benefits of what we do.46. Can I see a copy of your agreement with clients?Yes. We recommend you review it carefully.47. I am in an outplacement program. Can I also use your service?Yes. Many professionals retain our service privately as a supplement to the outplacement their employer has provided. Our assistance goes far beyond outplacement counseling.48. My employer uses a counseling firm for outplacement. Could your services be used instead?In many cases, yes. A recent trend in outplacement has been to allow the executive being outplaced to choose their own service. If you can provide us the name of the HR executive, we will be happy to make contact, supply various materials about our services and see if they will sponsor our service for you. |
