Thursday, July 28, 2011

Good Night America...

In light of the events going on in Washington....may I refer you to my blog entries dated December 4, 2010 and February 19, 2011.

Before you go to bed tonight, hit your knees and say a prayer for our nation.

Good Night America....Sweet Dreams

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Under Pressure

“Life at the Top: Rank and Stress in Wild Male Baboons,” published in the July 15 issue of the journal Science, found that in wild baboon populations, the highest-ranking, or alpha, males have higher stress-hormone levels than the highly ranked males below them, known as beta males — even during periods of stability. The study was led by a Princeton University professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, Jeanne Altmann.
The findings have implications in the study of social hierarchies and of the impact of social dominance on health and well-being, according to a statement released by Princeton.
Princeton researchers worked with researchers at Duke University, the University of Nairobi and the Institute of Primate Research in Kenya, Altmann said.
The stress, researchers suggested, was probably due to the demands of fighting off challengers and guarding access to fertile females. Beta males, who fought less and had considerably less mate-guarding to do, had much lower stress levels.
“We’ve known for decades that alpha males have an advantage in reproduction, but these results show that life at the top has a real downside, and that being an alpha male comes at a real cost,” said study co-author and Duke University biology professor Susan Alberts.
So how much application does this study have for humans? In my opinion, it all depends on the human and the situation. We know that NOT having control or NOT having the necessary resources for that “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” thing is very stressful. So being at the “bottom” has plenty of stress. Now we’re told that being at the top has more stress than being farther down the ladder. In general, that’s probably true. Being a “highly ranked” person just below the top is indeed sometimes the best place to be.

But is stress really all that bad? Again it depends. For those at the “top”, stress comes with a lot of perks. Power, status, control, money…it’s good to be the king. For those at the bottom, stress is literally about survival. Survival stress is really what the baboon’s stress is all about. The fact that the Beta baboons have less stress than the Alpha baboons may just be because the Betas are too stupid to realize that their survival is also at risk.

It comes down to this. The more you have to fight for survival the higher the stress. Stress is nature’s way of telling you to get off your ass and do something before a big and hungry Alpha-type has you for dinner. If you’re lucky enough to have one of those Alpha-types around for protection, go ahead and be a Beta. Perhaps the Betas, like the meek, shall one day inherit the earth. In the meantime, I’m betting that the stressed out Alphas will own the land and the mineral rights.

Friday, July 15, 2011

What Was Said, What Was Heard...Part 3

Well, we skipped a week. I spent my blog time planning a trip to the mountains. Need a break from 100+ degree weather. This is getting ridiculous.

So on to Part 3 of What Was Said, What Was Heard. This time the Headhunter speaks and the candidate listens. What Was Heard often depends on the Candidate’s outlook? Is it one of sunny optimism or dark pessimism?

What the Headhunter said:
“We are waiting on the client to give us interview times”
What the Optimist heard:
“We’ll have interviews nailed down in a day or two.”
What the Pessimist heard:
“Don’t hold your breath waiting for an interview.”

What the Headhunter said:
“In addition to a competitive salary the position also offers a great bonus plan.”
What the Optimist heard:
“It’s a great paying job.”
What the Pessimist heard:
“The salary is low and once in a blue moon you might get a bonus check.”

What the Headhunter said:
“The company will assist with relocation. That will be part of the negotiation.”
What the Optimist heard:
“Company paid relo. Woo-hoo”.
What the Pessimist heard:
“Hello U-haul”.

What the Headhunter said:
“There have been several people in this position in recent years. But the company now acknowledges that they didn’t reach for the right level of talent and experience. They are upping the ante and want someone like you.”
What the Optimist heard:
“This is a great opportunity.”
What the Pessimist heard:
“This job is a career killer. You are being hired to be fired.”

What the Headhunter said:
“Your chances of being hired for a job like this are one in a billion.”
What the Optimist heard:
“So you saying there is at least a chance that I’ll get the job?”
What the Pessimist heard:
“Finally, an honest answer from a Headhunter”.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

What Was Said, What Was Heard...Part 2

When the Candidate speaks, what does the Headhunter hear? Well that depends a lot on the headhunter. This week, we’ll consider what the Rookie Headhunter hears in comparison to the Old Veteran Headhunter. These are only slightly exaggerated.


What the Candidate said:
“I’m making around 100”
What the Rookie Headhunter heard:
“I’m making 100”
What the Old Veteran Headhunter heard:
“I’m making less than 100, actually a lot less and I like to add my bonus potential (not actual bonus earned) into my compensation since I really think I’m worth at least 100”.

What the Candidate said:
“I just decided it was time for a change.”
What the Rookie Headhunter heard:
“I’ve really evaluated my situation and decided that working with a search professional like you is the best way to advance in my career.”
What the Old Veteran Headhunter heard:
“I quit before I got fired”

What the Candidate said:
“I went to State U”
What the Rookie Headhunter heard:
“I graduated from State U”
What the Old Veteran Headhunter heard:
“I went to State U for a couple of semesters, partied, ran out of money, had to get a job and dropped out.”


What the Candidate said:
“My company does not make counter offers and I don’t see myself accepting one if they did. Once I accept a new job, that’s it”
What the Rookie Headhunter heard:
“No way I’m taking a counter offer.”
What the Old Veteran Headhunter heard:
“If my company surprises me with a counter-offer, I’ll consider it.”

What the Candidate said:
“I don’t include the month with dates of employment on my resume because I don’t recall the exact months on some of my old jobs”.
What the Rookie Headhunter heard:
“I honestly don’t remember the exact months I was employed with XYZ company back in the 90’s”
What the Old Veteran Headhunter heard:
“I’ve got some significant gaps in my employment and it’s easier to cover them up if I just use years without months.”

What the Candidate said:
“I’m just not comfortable having you contact references.”
What the Rookie Headhunter heard:
“I’m concerned about confidentiality and nervous about you speaking with any of my references.”
What the Old Veteran Headhunter heard:
“I really don’t have any legitimate references who could verify the BS I have on my resume”.

What the Candidate said:
“I’ve only sent my resume to one or two other search firms and responded to a few job postings.”
What the Rookie Headhunter heard:
“I’m haven’t gone very far in my search efforts.”
What the Old Veteran Headhunter heard:
“I’ve blasted my resume out to dozens of search firms, it’s posted on multiple job boards and I’ve responded to virtually every job posting for which I am remotely qualified. It will be a freakin’ miracle if you have a client who doesn’t already have my resume.”

What the Candidate said:
“I have dotted line responsibility over several departments and functions.”
What the Rookie Headhunter heard:
“I have a lot of responsibility”
What the Old Veteran Headhunter heard:
“I’m a staff person.”

Next week we’ll flip it around. The Headhunter we’ll speak and the candidates will hear. We’ll see what the optimistic candidate hears in comparison to the pessimistic candidate.