Comments on: Research Report: Top 25 Most Wanted Personal Brands of 2008

By: ....

.... — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:52:51 +0000

Great Post. We just did an article on our blog about how the Software Marketplace is not in a Recession and it will not be affected by it

By: Kapachino » Blog Archive » The Job Hunt Begins

Kapachino » Blog Archive » The Job Hunt Begins — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:48:13 +0000

[...] heard on the radio this morning that nursing is the #2 most wanted profession in the U.S. So surely I will be able to find a job that I like, right? Right?So far I have applied to three [...]

By: Maria Elena

Maria Elena — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:19:24 +0000

Dan,
I love the quote you highlighted on “the best times for professionals to look…” I couldn’t agree more! Yet, everyone seems to wait. It’s very much along the same train of thought as Mackey and his “dig your well before your thirsty”.
I believe that’s a mantra for personal branding and networking. Professionals often “wait” until they are in need of something, or a connection or an introduction and then start looking to be “referrable” and to make connections – too late! Worse time to ask for something is when you’re desperate to have it – you appear hungry and hunting.
Interesting to see the fastest growing occupations. I would be interested in seeing the fastest growing businesses, too.
Thanks, as always, for great info and insight!
Maria Elena

By: David Sandusky

David Sandusky — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:42:56 +0000

Good info and the comments are particularly interesting to me.

Keep in mind that it is the managers who are often polled for such hiring needs…for every manager there are X individual contributors. X is determined by the delegation ability of said manager.

When cuts are necessary, EVERYBODY must justify value for cost. Mid-management tends to be in a brand extension mode. Needs to be able to handle consolidation or become a “technical” skill contributor again – or gone.

Managers also need to learn how to communicate transferable skills and track strong industries – some industries or parts of the country are hiring a lot of mid managers and up today. Keep an eye on your environment folks. The vision of who you want to be is your greatest asset.

By: Scot Herrick

Scot Herrick — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:29:21 +0000

The manager position has gone several directions. For a long time, managers were considered as individual contributors who also happen to manage. There are good reasons for this.

Lately, there has been a resurgence in the manager who is really a manager. It is a profession, one meant to not only lead teams, but develop individuals on their team.

Right now, I’d say there is a good amount of both types of managers.

When interviewing for positions, it’s important to know what kind of management approach is being done in the company you are after.

Managers as individual contributors who also manage require a lot more work on your part to keep them updated, knowledgeable about your skills and career desires, and simply available to discuss issues. But they will leave you alone if you are doing well.

But, important to know which you are getting.

By: t h rive

t h rive — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:10:09 +0000

That’s right. I think your point is right about people ‘joining’, you need to admit to the same agenda as a manager, or else they’re just a ‘boss’.

p.s – new to your blog (stopped in maybe once before), I’ll have a look around.

By: Dan Schawbel

Dan Schawbel — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:01:56 +0000

@Thrive – You raise a good question. People need leaders..they need to bed led. People are fixated on others leadership and will join them, while remaining independent. There is a place for managers in this world, there just will be fewer of them.

By: t h rive

t h rive — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:30:34 +0000

I think team accountability is going to become more important than, say, department managers as they used to be defined…but can they really do away with managers completely? There will still be the need for someone to be a delegator, even in a team environment.

Then again, delegators can just step up, make themselves known as a personality within the team.

Still again, they’ll demand that manager status eventually, which is what I’ve seen in my workplace recently.

By: Dan Schawbel

Dan Schawbel — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:38:56 +0000

@Scott – No mention of managers. My thoughts on that are that individual contributors do the bulk of the hands-on work, so they are more necessary than managers. A lot of middle managers are being laid off as we speak, to cut costs (their high salaries).

What do you think? Are you seeing this?

By: Scot Herrick

Scot Herrick — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:32:38 +0000

Dan, any mention about managers in any of those areas?

I can see individual contributors in those areas and assume that managers would be needed as well, but that’s an assumption.

This is good information.