CareerFood

Two Minutes with...Doug Franklin

The music industry has Madonna, basketball has Shaq & executive search has Doug! Just in case you're interested Franklin is the last name, but in the industry he's just known as Doug. I recently had the opportunity to spend a couple of minutes with Doug and as always it was enjoyable.

What is your background?
I spent my first 28 years in manufacturing and distribution companies progressing through sales, marketing, engineering, and eventually general management and executive level positions.  Thus, I am most comfortable completing search assignments in sales/marketing, technical, and operations positions.

How does the job market look right now?
The market has improved dramatically for job seekers since the first of 2006.  There are many new positions being opened up at most companies.  Some companies have not responded to this change and therefore have not increased salaries or compensation packages to compete in this heated market.

If you could just find…
Candidates who are willing to relocate to find the best opportunities that match their credentials.  Many of the positions I work on are in remote cities and the difficulty in filling these positions is one reason the client engages a recruiting agency.  Candidates are still reluctant to relocate for some of these opportunities.

One tip for job seekers?
Have your resume reviewed by other members of your network or family.  Make sure it is well written, includes all of your contact information, and accurately depicts your experience and objectives.

I've known Doug for a while and his network of contacts, professionalism and industry experience make him one of the best in the business.

You can learn more about Doug or contact him here Epic Strategies.

Two minutes with...Mike Ferry

I am a big believer that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. That being the case, the folks at Jobster and Tusk should feel extremely flattered. Two Minutes With…is all about Recruiters, Staffers and Hiring Managers in Central Florida, their take on the job market and tips for job-seekers.

We kick off the inaugural Two Minutes With…Mike Ferry. Mike is the mild mannered Vice President of Recruiting for Lear & Associates by day and a surfing, bike-riding, motorcycle-racing extreme athlete by night. He is also someone every insurance professional, from Claims Adjusters to Underwriters, in the Southeast should know.

Mike what’s your background? 
My background has always been in recruiting in one form or another. I got my start out of College in the Temp Medical Staffing industry. I was a Recruiter-Staffer and then regional account manager for a staffing agency here in Central Florida.  I then had a great opportunity to recruit students for Proprietary Schools. The "School Business" taught me a lot of things regarding working with people making life changes, things that still serve me well today. 3 years ago I started Executive Recruitment for the insurance industry, which I enjoy tremendously.

What’s the job outlook like in the Central Florida insurance market? 
Central Florida in general is a transient market. There are always people making moves for one reason or another. The insurance industry in Central Florida is indicative of this.  There are several large insurance companies who have offices in Central Florida so there are always openings to be found. The market right now is very candidate driven. There simply are not enough qualified candidates for available opportunities. It is a very interesting time on our business.

If you could just find…
I always like to speak with good candidates, but right now I would certainly like to talk to any experienced claims adjusters. Also, we are always interested in candidates that are 220 licensed Account Executives and Customer Service Representatives.

Your one tip for job-seekers today is…
Actually I have 2 tips. The first is having a polished resume. It is always wise to have a professional review your resume before putting it out there. This is highly important as it is the only impression you will get to make in many cases. The second tip to target your search. Be specific in what you are looking for in a company and then target those companies that fit your criteria.

Thank Mike! You can contact Mike at mikeferry@learsearch.com.