Revisiting the Recruiter Relationship: Candidate Edition

Have you ever worked with an external recruiter? If you have, you’re very familiar with the benefits. You gain an advocate in your job search and an expert in recruitment in your corner. We can advise you on how to best present your materials to the companies we work with. We can help you prepare…

October 11, 2024
How to Consider a Counteroffer

You completed all the interviews. Your references were contacted. But when you gave notice at your company, you were faced with something you may or may not have expected: a counteroffer.  So now what do you do? There are many considerations in weighing your options.  We always recommend asking yourself why you’re pursuing a new…

August 29, 2024
AI in PR

ChatGPT did NOT write this article. But if we’ve learned anything from our survey, it’s that we might let it write a future one. Well, a future first draft.  Since ChatGPT’s introduction at the end of 2022, generative AI has been of speculation on what we might or might not be able to use it…

June 27, 2024
Year-End Bonuses

Compensation is always a hot topic. If you’ve looked at compensation news in recent years, you’ve probably seen the Gartner HR Research stat that only 32% of employees believe their pay is fair. Or Pew Research’s study from early 2023 that revealed that a mere 34% would call themselves extremely or very satisfied with their…

April 26, 2024
The State of In-Person/Hybrid/Remote Work, Part 2

Following the interest in part 1 of our State of In-Person/Hybrid/Remote Work survey, we designed part 2. We found some interesting trends in part 1, and part 2 did not disappoint.  This time around, we wanted to hear about who has updated or plans to update to their in-person office policy in 2024. We’ve filtered…

March 29, 2024
The State of In-Person/Hybrid/Remote Work, Part 1

We planned our survey about the state of in-person/hybrid/remote work based on feedback we received from clients. While new articles are coming out every week trying to anticipate what trends we’ll see in 2024, nothing brings home the stakes like the recent Kyte Baby controversy.  Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, remote work has…

January 26, 2024
Time To Unwind: Reflections on Time Off for the Holidays

It’s been a well-documented trend that American workers struggle to fully unplug from work while taking paid time off. We wanted to see how true that trend was in our own community over the holidays and how it impacted their satisfaction with their holidays plans. We asked our followers how they planned to spend their…

December 22, 2023
What a Difference a Year Makes: Reviewing Trends in Chaloner’s 2022 and 2023 Pulse Survey Data

Chaloner and PRSA wrap up their series of articles on how candidates and clients can best navigate the recruiting process. Our final post highlights The Timeless Art of Negotiating, which is now live and available to review here.

May 16, 2023
Ditch the Suit: Confidence Over Conformity When Dressing for Your Next Interview

Chaloner and PRSA wrap up their series of articles on how candidates and clients can best navigate the recruiting process. Our final post highlights The Timeless Art of Negotiating, which is now live and available to review here.

March 30, 2023
The Post-Pandemic Workplace – What is the New “Normal” Interview and Job Experience?

It is important to always keep a finger on the pulse of the economy. Every day we experience real-time job market fluctuations based on the active roles and interviews we are managing. However, we saw a need to get feedback from others in the market who are not involved in our company’s inner workings.

July 13, 2022
PRsay & Chaloner Series – The Timeless Art of Negotiating

Chaloner and PRSA wrap up their series of articles on how candidates and clients can best navigate the recruiting process. Our final post highlights The Timeless Art of Negotiating, which is now live and available to review here.

May 15, 2022
PRsay & Chaloner Series – References: The Last But Not Least Step in the Job-Hunting Process

Chaloner & PRSA continue the conversation with the nature of references. The next featured post, References: The Last But Not Least Step in the Job-Hunting Process, is now live and available to review here.

April 15, 2022
PRsay & Chaloner Series – Lights, Camera, Interview

Chaloner & PRSA continue the conversation on virtual interviewing tips & tricks. The next featured post, Lights, Camera, Interview, is now live and available to review here.

February 15, 2022
PRsay & Chaloner Series – Getting on the Right Foot: The Recruiter Relationship

Chaloner & PRSA continue the conversation focusing on “The Recruiter Relationship”. The next featured post, Getting on the Right Foot: The Recruiter Relationship, is now live and available to review here.

December 15, 2021
PRsay & Chaloner Series – When Opportunity Calls: The Candidate Screen

Chaloner & PRSA launch series focused on navigating the recruitment process. The first post, When Opportunity Calls: The Candidate Screen, is now live and available to review here.

November 15, 2021
The Hiring Hole | Impact Over Attention Podcast featuring Chaloner President, Larry Brantley

Podcast host Jake Jordan of Impart Over Attention interviews Chaloner President Larry Brantley. The impact of people working from home and going back to work has changed the fabric of the workplace.

May 28, 2021
Chaloner President, Larry Brantley, featured on The Mind Behind My Business Podcast

Behind every successful business is a successful mind, and we’re here to bring you some of the most successful minds in business today. Are you looking for a job?

April 29, 2021
Inclusive Recruiting: Tips for all Parties in the Hiring Process

There is no question that 2020 has been a unique and arduous year for recruitment. The focus on ensuring that your organization’s hiring process is inclusive is a widely discussed topic. At Chaloner, this is not a new subject for us.

November 10, 2020
A Primer on Networking

Today more than ever, many positions don’t make it to job boards, and when they do, hiring managers can be overwhelmed with applicants. As a result, networking is imperative for an effective job search. And it’s a good idea to practice networking even when you’re not actively looking.

October 30, 2020
With countless layoffs happening amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, our market is overwhelmed with candidates. Now what?

So you’ve been laid-off. Regardless of whether you anticipated losing your job, the experience is unsettling. Even if you were beginning to prepare for unemployment, it’s natural to feel destabilized in the face of it.

October 27, 2020
Chaloner President, Larry Brantley, featured on Breaking & Entering Podcast

Breaking & Entering is a podcast for students, recent grads, or experts interested in advertising, media, and journalism. Listeners are engaged in real conversations from students to CEOs in the communications world.

August 26, 2020
PR Close-Up: Virtual Professional Development

At Chaloner, we often ask our candidates what type of “on-the-job training” they’ve received. Cultivating your skills is an exciting way to take control of your career. PR professionals know that the market has evolving needs; and in recent months we had to adapt how we learn about and answer those needs.

July 27, 2020
Fitting the Job Description

Everyone at one point in their job search happens upon a job they want to apply for, but for which they don’t completely meet the qualifications. When should you still apply, and when should you treat the job description as law?

July 17, 2020
Learning from History, Assessing the Present, Defining the Future

Like many people across the United States, Chaloner has been watching the events of spring and summer 2020 with sadness and also with hope. We witness violence and injustice rooted in a long history of racism in the United States, but also see collective action towards a better future.

July 15, 2020
What I Look For

In the wake of the pandemic, I’m seeing hundreds of Communications and PR pros on the hunt for new positions, when in reality, our industry has never been in more demand. While it may appear to be a seller’s market, the non-negotiables rarely change.

July 13, 2020
5 Tips for a Successful Phone or Virtual Interview

Virtual interviews, that can even lead to virtual hires, have become the new norm. And they may likely be here to stay, saving companies time and money, and offering an efficient path to narrow the candidate pool to a top few.

July 8, 2020
The True Cost of Not Using a Third-Party Recruiter

One of the frequent comments we hear from prospective clients is that they desperately need help filling roles, but did not budget for recruiter fees. They often feel stuck because as much as they need to fill the job, they cannot seem to justify the expense to cover the cost.

June 26, 2020
Graduate Challenges – TCU Interview

Graduate Challenges – TCU Interview (Video). In this video interview, Larry Brantley shares professional insights for college Seniors worried about the advertising job market, while providing strategies to position themselves for success.

June 26, 2020
Recruiting Survival in a Good or Bad Economy

As odd is it may sound, trying to find talent in a good economy can be quite a challenge.  Employers finally have additional dollars to invest in new hires and the “investment hires” only to find the pool of qualified applicants looking to make a job change extremely small. In a bad economy there is…

June 26, 2020
7 out of 10 People Would Accept a Job Without Meeting the Team

As we approached the end of the second quarter of 2020, the world turned upside down. COVID-19 stretched its infectious arm around the globe and brought “business as usual” to a near halt. Now, a few weeks later, people and businesses have adapted to the new routine and it feels as if the wheels have…

June 26, 2020
Pathways to Success – Interview with Chaloner

Julian Placino: Pathways to Success – Interview with the President of Chaloner, Larry Brantley (Podcast). Chaloner is a national executive search firm specializing in communications, public relations and marketing recruitment.

June 26, 2020
Job Search Rule #1 – IT IS Who You Know

And just as important, who knows you. Today we all look to the internet to find new job options.  However, while there is a lot to be found, you must make sure you are on the top of the heap of candidates being considered.  Just posting your resume on LinkedIn will not assure you of…

June 26, 2020
Feature on Biznology.com’s Wednesday Wisdom

In the latest installment of Biznology.com’s Wednesday Wisdom series, our very own Amy Segelin shares her insights on the “holistic communicator” in an article written by John G. Clemons. According to Amy, “The social and digital revolution has changed the specialist function drastically. The internal communications specialist in the past who created a communications plan…

February 21, 2019
Recruiting Survival in a Good Economy

As odd is it may sound, trying to find talent in a good economy can be quite a challenge. Employers finally have additional dollars to invest in new hires and the “investment hires” only to find the pool of qualified applicants looking to make a job change extremely small. In the most recent BLS (Bureau…

May 30, 2018
On Saying Thank You

Today’s #takemebacktuesday recounts the importance of saying thanks. It is only natural to breathe a sigh of relief coming out of a big interview or meeting that you think has gone well, but your work isn’t quite done. Don’t forget the final and significant step: a prompt follow up. In the professional world, a thank…

March 28, 2017
Three Things About Planning for an Interview

    For today’s #takemebacktuesday, we revisit a few thoughts on successful interview preparation. Candidates often ask us for interview advice. There is a wealth of good advice available everywhere these days – just try googling “interview advice” and see how many links pop up! Here are 3 valuable ideas anyone can use to prepare…

March 21, 2017
The Art of Finding Talent

I recently came across a quote that really resonates with me: “It is not possible to manufacture talent – you have to recruit it in the first place.” At Chaloner, we have a long and respected history of being laser focused on finding and vetting the best talent for our clients and creating long-term, mutually…

March 1, 2017
The Compensation Conversation

Let’s revisit how to approach the “compensation conversation” for today’s #takemebacktuesday. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that compensation is a major factor in most job searches. In a LinkedIn survey of over 7500 people who’ve recently changed jobs, better compensation was the third top reason people were compelled to change employers, and the number one…

February 14, 2017
The 30/60/90 Interview Question

For today’s #takemebacktuesday, lets revist the how vital the first 90 days of any job is. It’s the standard grace period for new employees: a time to get settled, but also a time to show coworkers and employers how you plan to handle your new role. It’s because of this that the 30/60/90 Question— “What…

January 10, 2017
Holiday Networking

It’s that time of year again. For today’s #takemebacktuesday, let’s revisit tips on holiday networking. As your calendar fills up (and your shopping list, too), it is tempting to put the pause button on your networking efforts until the new year. You’ll get back out there when you’ve got that 2015 fire in your belly….

November 29, 2016
The Counteroffer Catch

The counteroffer and its impact on your career is the subject of today’s #takemebacktuesday. When you are presented with a counteroffer, how do you weigh the options at hand? What else is at stake beyond the dollar comparison? Here are some questions to ask yourself before running right back to the same desk you were sitting in…

November 8, 2016
The Case Study Question

Let’s revisit a few important questions to prepare for during your next interview for today’s #takemebacktuesday. Many of the hiring managers we work with find situational questions so informative. If you are assessing talent and not asking these questions, you may want to consider introducing some into your interview line-up. Asking a candidate to respond to a…

October 11, 2016
The Qualities of a Leader

Let’s revisit a post featuring leadership qualities during Women’s History Month. #takemebacktuesday Here we are at the end of Women’s History Month and it’s fitting that March featured many well-run, well-attended events at women’s organizations across the country. I had the pleasure of attending the Young Women in Digital event in Boston and most recently a…

October 4, 2016
Be a Candidate for Culture

For today’s #takemebacktuesday, we revisit the importance of company culture. It’s no secret that company culture influences hiring decisions, but at some organizations, (like Zappos) it plays a role in firing decisions as well. Failing to contribute to company culture is a legitimate reason for dismissal according to CEO Tony Hseih. He says, “Our whole…

September 27, 2016
Gaining Perspective

For today’s #takemebacktuesday, let’s reexamine the value of stepping back from a hobby or process to get a different view. The most common complaint we hear from candidates is frustration with the job search, and the most common feedback we hear from hiring managers is frustration with the candidate search. This week I’ll offer three common trouble areas in…

September 13, 2016
You’ve Got to Toss the Hat

For today’s #takemebacktuesday, let’s reflect on how to get your hat in the ring. Jobseekers will often ask me how to get their hat in the ring for certain positions. Maybe you’ve just learned of a role that was filled that you didn’t even know was open. It’s the kind of company you’d love to…

September 6, 2016
How Social Media Can Power Your Search

Lets revisit what to remember about social media when on the job search for today’s #takemebacktuesday. If you are looking for a great job, here are three important things to keep in mind: 1. Tell your story 2. Keep your story up-to-date 3. Broadcast your story Social Media works for all three.  The people you…

August 30, 2016
Defining Success

Today’s #takemebacktuesday reflects on the age old interview question of “defining success”. Over your career, one of the most common interview questions you’ll hear is “How do you define success?” While it’s a favorite of hiring managers and recruiters, it’s widely disliked by many candidates, who feel frustrated by the open-ended nature of the question. However, I…

August 23, 2016
Why It’s Good to Be a Good Alumnus

For this week’s #takemebacktuesday post, we revisit the impact of being a good alumnus. You probably have the number memorized by now. “Hello, I’m calling from the Alumni Relations Department at your alma mater…” Maybe you get emails and direct mail from your university reminding you where you came from, checking up on you and seeing if…

August 16, 2016
An Interview With a Next Generation Publicist

Today’s #takemebacktuesday post recalls a conversation with next generation publicist, Joel Mandina. I recently had the pleasure of reconnecting with a favorite candidate, Joel Mandina. Joel came to us from Keating Magee in New Orleans and we placed him at Mullen in Boston. He went onto launch his own company, VICE Marketing and has just completed…

August 9, 2016
Go Digital With Good-Doing

Today we revisit the importance of incorporating your charitable endeavors onto your digital footprint. #takemebacktuesday Which philanthropic experiences and volunteer efforts make their way into your online profile? You serve on the board of a local non-profit, there was that volunteer effort you coordinated to mentor students at the nearby middle school- oh, and didn’t…

August 2, 2016
Before the Interview

For today’s #takemebacktuesday post, lets look back on a few interview preparation tips. “Being unprepared heightens nerves,” says virtuoso flute player, James Galway. He would know; an unrehearsed performance is as painful as an unprepared job interview. If nothing else, walking in the room with your homework done will give you confidence. Your preparation will…

July 26, 2016
What Makes You Happy?

Lets take a moment to reflect on a previous post. What makes you happy? Sometimes it is the simplest questions that catch us the most off guard. I know several hiring managers who ask a version of the question: What makes you happy in your chosen job or career? If you’re not asking this question of…

July 20, 2016
5 Things About…Dressing for Success

With summer in full effect, lets revisit a few tips on dressing for success. Appearance can make or break an interview. This may seem petty, but the bottom line is that an employer needs to have confidence that you’ll represent them well while on the job. 1. Dress Professionally…even if it’s Friday Unless told otherwise,…

July 12, 2016
Do You Know Your Numbers?

For this week on #takemebacktuesday, we refocus on how numbers impact the interview process. In an interview setting, conversation can tend to live in the land of really good ideas and not enough in the world of nitty gritty numbers. It’s easy for this to happen given that so much of the conversation is hypothetical;…

July 5, 2016
Know Your Skills

For this week’s #takemebacktuesday post, lets review the best practices for showcasing your skills. There is a reason they say, “the proof is in the pudding,” not “the proof is in the pudding’s degree,” or “the proof is in the pudding’s references.” Though these things are factors, at the end of the day hiring decisions…

June 28, 2016
A Primer on Networking

Lets revisit these best practices of networking for today’s #takemebacktuesday post. Many positions don’t make it to job boards. Even fewer are advertised these days. As a result, networking is imperative for an effective job search. And it’s a good idea to practice even when you’re not actively looking. Here are some basic steps to plan your…

June 21, 2016
What to Do (And Not Do) On LinkedIn

Lets revisit what do to and not do on LinkedIn for this week’s #takemebacktuesday blog post. LinkedIn now has over 400 million members and 40% of its users visit the site daily. Used by 98% of recruiters, there is no denying the importance of having a presence on this platform. I spent some time this spring…

June 14, 2016
Lights, Camera, Interview

For this week’s #takemebacktuesday post, I reflect on previous back-to-back Skype interviews with candidates. Although I determined both candidates were qualified for the position I was recruiting for, one Skype session was much more successful than the other. It got me thinking about what contributed to the better interview since the candidates were similar. Location Like real…

June 7, 2016
Crafting a Compelling Job Description

For the final #takemebacktuesday post, we revisit how a job description can play a significant role in the hiring process; from the moment it is created, to its approval within an organization, to being posted, to sharing with candidates, to when it’s used as an interview tool. It will be seen by many, many people and really becomes part of…

May 31, 2016
References, Part Two: The Nuts and Bolts

Last week we continued #takemebacktuesday and reviewed who and how to ask for references. This week will focus on The Nuts and Bolts. What exactly is being checked in a reference check? I compared notes with the rest of our Chaloner team and there is a shared rhythm we tend to follow for these conversations….

May 24, 2016
References, Part One: 5 Tips on Who to Ask and How

We continue #takemebacktuesday this week by reflecting on our previous References series. Even though reference checking typically comes in the final stage of an interview process, it is still a crucial and significant step. Claudio Fernandez-Araoz, a senior advisor at global executive firm Egon Zehnder and career advice author, told Harvard Business Review “Given the option of either interviewing…

May 17, 2016
The Ten Minute Interview (Part Two)

#takemebacktuesday Last week, we revisited how to get the most out of an interview where I posted about helpful interview skills after my stint as a coach at New York Women in Communication’s Night of the Coaches event. Since many of the attendees were just out of college, a lot of the questions centered around informational…

May 10, 2016
The Ten-Minute Interview (Part One)

Lets revisit how to get the most out of an interview. #takemebacktuesday Many blog posts ago we created an interview strategy series. Here are two pesky interviews questions you might not be prepared for. Here are the first two: Tell me a success story Advice: Have at least three at the ready. Consider the audience,…

May 3, 2016
Skills Building: Crisis Communications

Today, I’m continuing our skills building series in which I discuss different techniques, trends and tips in specific communications functions. This week I’ll be focusing on crisis communications and the do’s and don’t’s of social media as a part of a crisis communications plan. When your social media accounts are being bombarded with complains or…

April 19, 2016
Skills Building: Employee Communications

For the rest of April, I’ll be continuing our skills building series in which I discuss different techniques, trends and tips in specific communications functions. This week I’ll be focusing on employee communications and best practices for 2016 according to a terrific article by Edelman’s Amy Kot. Kot, a Senior Vice President of Employee Engagement,…

April 12, 2016
What Can Your Boss Expect in the First Three Months?

When you’re interviewing for a job, you won’t only be getting questions about your previous performance, but you’ll also be asked about what you plan to do once you’re in the role. It’s helpful for hiring managers who are trying to gauge your skills and if you’re a good fit for the company at large….

April 8, 2016
Skills Building: Media Relations

At Chaloner, we work exclusively in the world of PR and communications and have for over 30 years. Because of this, we get to see emerging trends and changes in different communications spaces. Over the next few weeks, I will explore different techniques, trends, and tips in specific communications functions. This week, I want to…

March 31, 2016
In-House Communications Teams of the Future

The world of public relations and communications has always been fast-paced, but it seems that today the needs of companies are shifting quicker than ever. As companies put more emphasis on digital and mobile capabilities, professionals are also adapting. But what can we expect our needs to be several years from now? In a recent…

March 23, 2016
Location, Location, Location!

At Chaloner, we look through hundreds of resumes. As a candidate, your goal is to create a clear, organized resume that summarizes your skills and work history. You don’t want to do anything that would make your resume hard to read or confusing. One recurring mistake that can create an unnecessary obstacle is not including…

March 15, 2016
What Not to Ask in the Interview Room

There always comes a moment in the interview when the people across the table ask the candidate what questions they have. This can be a stressful moment for candidates who may have not have given it thought prior to the interview. While we’ve written about great questions candidates can ask in this scenario, this week’s…

March 8, 2016
Considering Your Future Manager

The interview process is not just about finding out if your work habits and qualifications are right for the role, but also about determining how you’ll fit in with the team both culturally and functionally. This month’s interview question is “What do you want your next manager to bring to the table?” This question does…

March 1, 2016
5 Ways to Make Your Resume Impressive

I wanted to take this week to get back to basics and talk about resumes. At Chaloner, we have a database of nearly 100,000 resumes and our recruiters spend a lot of time looking at incoming resumes every day. While you know some of the bigger rules about resumes, here are tips about smaller issues…

February 23, 2016
PR Close-Up: Why Companies Should Offer Professional Development

Last week, I spoke about the importance of professional development for employees. This week, I’d like to examine the reverse: the need for companies to provide professional development opportunities for their employee base. Employees invest in their companies by handling evolving roles and assuming increased responsibilities. Here is why professional development should be a part…

February 16, 2016
PR Close-Up: Company Culture, Benefits, and Perks

Hiring managers know that when candidates are interviewing, they’re not just considering the job, they’re also considering the company culture. While company culture can mean anything from the physical layout of the office to the company org chart to the culture of communication, this week I’d like to discuss the ways in which a company…

February 2, 2016
PR Close-Up: Work-Life Balance is a Joint Effort

In every search Chaloner takes on, candidates want to know: what’s the work-life balance at this company? In today’s workforce, work-life balance is a buzzword, but it’s important to consider what it really means to you. Throughout the many spheres of public relations and communications, specific roles have their own time demands, but in a…

January 26, 2016
PR Close-Up: What are 2016 Trends?

At Chaloner, we work extensively in the realm of public relations across all services and industries. We get an inside look at how PR is changing and growing. Here are some exciting emerging trends: Thought leadership is a priority As John Halls said in a recent Forbes article, increasing emphasis is being placed on thought…

January 12, 2016
Reach Your 2016 Hiring Goals

Happy New Year, and welcome back to The Interview Room! We have exciting things planned for the blog this year as we continue to investigate and celebrate the ins and outs of hiring and job searches. As many of us emerge from the food- and family-haze of the holidays, we think about goals for this year– not…

January 5, 2016
How Millennials View Reputation

This week’s blog post was guest-written by Nicole Silverberg, executive assistant in Chaloner’s NY office. Here on The Interview Room, we’ve investigated what it means to be a Millennial in today’s workforce. After all, there are more than 53 million employed Millennials: over one third of employed Americans overall. We know that Millennials are invested…

December 15, 2015
Considering Counteroffers

This week’s blog post is written by Chaloner’s Alanna Miller, who joined the NY Chaloner office this summer. Alanna has an extensive marketing background and a deep commitment to creating a seamless experience for her clients and candidates. She moved into executive search in 2013 to build out the marketing and communications practice of a rapidly-growing…

December 8, 2015
What To Do When You’re Feeling Down About Your Job Search

This week’s blog post is written by Chaloner’s Alanna Miller, who joined the NY Chaloner office this summer. Alanna has an extensive marketing background and a deep commitment to creating a seamless experience for her clients and candidates. She moved into executive search in 2013 to build out the marketing and communications practice of a rapidly-growing…

December 1, 2015
Should My Job Search Take a Vacation?

This week’s blog post is written by Chaloner’s Alanna Miller, who joined the NY Chaloner office this summer. Alanna has an extensive marketing background and a deep commitment to creating a seamless experience for her clients and candidates. She moved into executive search in 2013 to build out the marketing and communications practice of a rapidly-growing…

November 24, 2015
In Your Job Search, Think Like a Marketer

This week’s blog post is written by Chaloner’s Alanna Miller, who joined the NY Chaloner office this summer. Alanna has an extensive marketing background and a deep commitment to creating a seamless experience for her clients and candidates. She moved into executive search in 2013 to build out the marketing and communications practice of a…

November 17, 2015
Should You Hire an Entrepreneur?

This week’s blog post is written by Chaloner’s Georgia Aarons. Georgia joined the NY Chaloner office earlier this year. She started her career recruiting for investment banks and Fortune 500 companies before working in London for a PR agency. A graduate of Columbia and Cambridge, Georgia also has a passion for writing and strategic communications. Her recent publications…

November 10, 2015
How to Maximize Your Relationship With A Search Professional

As we’ve featured various voices on the blog over the past couple months covering a variety of subjects and specializations, it occurred to me that we had overlooked one of the more obvious elements of a search: your relationship with a recruiter. This week, I surveyed the recruiters at Chaloner to find out how to maximize…

November 3, 2015
Knowing Your Business

This week’s blog post is written by Chaloner’s Georgia Aarons. Georgia joined the NY Chaloner office earlier this year. She started her career recruiting for investment banks and Fortune 500 companies before working in London for a PR agency. A graduate of Columbia and Cambridge, Georgia also has a passion for writing and strategic communications. Her recent publications…

October 27, 2015
Why It’s Okay to Be Unemployed

This week’s blog post is written by Chaloner’s Georgia Aarons. Georgia joined the NY Chaloner office earlier this year. She started her career recruiting for investment banks and Fortune 500 companies before working in London for a PR agency. A graduate of Columbia and Cambridge, Georgia also has a passion for writing and strategic communications. Her recent…

October 20, 2015
Gaining Perspective

As I’ve read the past couple months of Interview Room blog posts written by our fabulous guest bloggers, Kassie Wilner, Jenn Saldarelli, and Christine Santeusanio, I’ve thought about the value of stepping back from any hobby or process to get a different view. This type of reexamination is also helpful for candidates and hiring managers. The…

October 13, 2015
Reflecting on Young Women in Digital’s “Digital Savvy” Event

I had a wonderful time serving as a panelist at Young Women in Digital‘s “How to Show Off Your Digital Savvy” event last week. YWD has grown to over 1,000 members as well as a team of seven administrators including a social media director, event coordinator, blog director, and founder Melanie Cohn who led the event. Attendees…

October 6, 2015
Chaloner Welcomes Alanna Miller and Georgia Aarons

We are thrilled to welcome Georgia Aarons and Alanna Miller to Chaloner. Both are wonderful additions to the New York office. The press release can be found here, and below! NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Chaloner, a national search firm specializing in communications, public relations and marketing, announced today the addition of two experienced professionals to its New…

October 2, 2015
A Networking Event Q&A with Christine Santeusanio

This week’s blog is written by Chaloner’s Christine Santeusanio. Christine is in her tenth year with Chaloner, in the Boston office. She has led various searches for both PR and integrated agencies as well as corporate communications positions. Christine is involved with the PRSA, Young Women in Digital, Boston Women Communicators and the Boston Irish Business…

September 29, 2015
A Boston Networking Sampler

This week’s blog is written by Chaloner’s Christine Santeusanio. Christine is in her tenth year with Chaloner, in the Boston office. She has led various searches for both PR and integrated agencies as well as corporate communications positions. Christine is involved with the PRSA, Young Women in Digital, Boston Women Communicators and the Boston Irish Business…

September 22, 2015
Agency Season, Part Two

This week’s blog is written by Chaloner’s Christine Santeusanio. Christine is in her tenth year with Chaloner, in the Boston office. She has led various searches for both PR and integrated agencies as well as corporate communications positions. Christine is involved with the PRSA, Young Women in Digital, Boston Women Communicators and the Boston Irish…

September 15, 2015
Agency Season, Part One

This week’s blog is written by Chaloner’s Christine Santeusanio. Christine is in her tenth year with Chaloner, in the Boston office. She has led various searches for both PR and integrated agencies as well as corporate communications positions. Christine is involved with the PRSA, Young Women in Digital, Boston Women Communicators and the Boston Irish…

September 8, 2015
Defining Success

Over your career, one of the most common interview questions you’ll hear is “How do you define success?” While it’s a favorite of hiring managers and recruiters, it’s widely disliked by many candidates, who feel frustrated by the open-ended nature of the question. However, I believe if a candidate understands why this question is being…

September 1, 2015
Looking the Part

This week’s blog post is written by Chaloner’s Jenn Saldarelli. Jenn is a senior associate at Chaloner and has spent a decade in executive search. She has led searches for mid- and senior-level communications and marketing professionals for non-profits, Fortune 500 organizations and PR agencies large and small. Job interviews can be nerve-wracking: have you researched…

August 25, 2015
Curating Your Online Image

This week’s blog post is written by Chaloner’s Jenn Saldarelli. Jenn is a senior associate at Chaloner and has spent a decade in executive search. She has led searches for mid- and senior-level communications and marketing professionals for non-profits, Fortune 500 organizations and PR agencies large and small. One of the first things I do when…

August 18, 2015
The Six-Second Test

This week’s blog post is written by Chaloner’s Jenn Saldarelli. Jenn is a senior associate at Chaloner and has spent a decade in executive search. She has led searches for mid- and senior-level communications and marketing professionals for non-profits, Fortune 500 organizations and PR agencies large and small. You may think the content of a…

August 11, 2015
Determining a Culture Fit

When you’re applying for a job, you’re looking for more than a series of exciting responsibilities. You simply can’t do your best work unless you’re in an environment where you feel at home.  Indeed, the culture of a company should greatly factor in your decision to work there (as well as the company’s decision to…

August 4, 2015
Healthcare Communications Trends from Industry Conference

This week’s blog post is written by Chaloner’s VP, Kassie Wilner. Kassie has been a recruiter with Chaloner for the past 10 years. She has led numerous searches for external and internal communications professionals. Prior to working with us, she was a communications consultant to public agencies in California. Last week I attended the ExL…

July 28, 2015
Doing Your Research

I’m excited to share that the rest of July’s blog posts will be written by Chaloner’s VP, Kassie Wilner. Kassie has been a recruiter with Chaloner for the past 10 years. She has led numerous searches for external and internal communications professionals. Prior to working with us, she was a communications consultant to public agencies…

July 14, 2015
The 30/60/90 Interview Question

The first ninety days of any job are vital. It’s the standard grace period for new employees: a time to get settled, but also a time to show coworkers and employers how you plan to handle your new role. It’s because of this that the 30/60/90 Question— “What are your goals for the first 30,…

July 7, 2015
Hiring Rut, Part Four: The Offer Phase

This is the fourth and final installment of our series on hiring ruts, and we’re nearing the most exciting part of the process. With a well-crafted job description, excellent candidate pool, and revealing interviews behind you, hopefully it’s time for you to extend an offer. However, it’s not time to relax quite yet! Here are…

June 30, 2015
Hiring Rut, Part Three: Asking Better Interview Questions

This week I’m going to continue to explore solutions to hiring ruts, particularly during the interview process. Perhaps you keep hitting a wall at a certain point in your hiring process: the candidates who look good on paper aren’t delivering in person, or are revealed to be a poor fit late in the game. Here…

June 23, 2015
Hiring Rut, Part Two: Filling Your Talent Pool

This week, I’d like to focus on cultivating an exciting talent pool. Of course, every organization has its own hiring process, but no matter the search, there are ways for a hiring manager to build or improve their talent pool. Here at Chaloner, we have a process that helps us move beyond the obvious steps…

June 16, 2015
Hiring Rut, Part One: Change the Job Description

Nearly every company will, from time to time, find themselves in a hiring rut. Over the next four weeks I’ll offer some tips on how to break out of that rut and attract candidates you love and, more importantly, are right for the job. This week I want to focus on the job description. Rethinking…

June 9, 2015
Turning the Tables: 4 Questions the Candidate Can Ask

Getting ready for an interview should include preparing questions, not just answers. Amy Hoover, president of TalentZoo, says “It’s expected- and if you don’t ask at least two questions, you will appear disinterested, or worse, less intelligent and engaged than a prospective employer would like.”  So, what questions will demonstrate your enthusiasm and knowledge about…

June 2, 2015
Be a Candidate for Culture

It’s no secret that company culture influences hiring decisions, but at some organizations, (like Zappos) it plays a role in firing decisions as well. Failing to contribute to company culture is a legitimate reason for dismissal according to CEO Tony Hseih. He says, “Our whole belief is if you get the culture right, then most…

May 26, 2015
References, Part Two: The Nuts and Bolts

What exactly is being checked in a reference check? I compared notes with the rest of our Chaloner team and there is a shared rhythm we tend to follow for these conversations. We identified some fundamental things we hope to learn from a good reference. Getting Down to the Details The reference has information that…

May 19, 2015
References, Part One: 5 Tips on Who to Ask and How

Even though reference checking typically comes in the final stage of an interview process, it is still a crucial and significant step. Claudio Fernandez-Araoz, a senior advisor at global executive firm Egon Zehnder and career advice author, told Harvard Business Review “Given the option of either interviewing a candidate without checking references or checking references…

May 12, 2015
The Question You Know They Will Ask

There may be only one question that you can guarantee will be asked of you in any interview:                        Why do you want this job? And yet, although this question shouldn’t come as a surprise, it is often a stumbling block for even the most qualified candidates. Perhaps it is overlooked in interview prep because…

May 5, 2015
For Millennials, Mission Matters

American author Frederick Buechner says your vocation ought to be the place “where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” His words seem to have taken root in the millennial generation, for whom mission matters as much as compensation, title and lifestyle. Of course those other things are important too, but studies and…

April 28, 2015
The Compensation Conversation

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that compensation is a major factor in most job searches. In a LinkedIn survey of over 7500 people who’ve recently changed jobs, better compensation was the third top reason people were compelled to change employers, and the number one reason that convinced people to change. And yet, talking about…

April 21, 2015
Do You Know Your Numbers?

In an interview setting, conversation can tend to live in the land of really good ideas and not enough in the world of nitty gritty numbers. It’s easy for this to happen given that so much of the conversation is hypothetical; what you might do for this company, what you think could happen in this…

April 7, 2015
Most Wanted: Analytical Skills

This month I’m highlighting the need for analytical skills. Employers want to recruit candidates who know how to look at data, make sense of it, and use it strategically. Understand what data can do To convince a hiring manager that you are comfortable working with big data, stay focused on the specific ways in which…

March 31, 2015
Be More than a Buzzword

LinkedIn has released their list of top ten buzzwords from 2014. This includes the most commonly used words in the summary section of profiles. Here is their list: Motivated Passionate Creative Driven Extensive experience Responsible Strategic Track record Organizational Expert While some of these things may be true, they lose their meaning the more they…

March 24, 2015
Why It’s Good to Be a Good Alumnus

You probably have the number memorized by now. “Hello, I’m calling from the Alumni Relations Department at your alma mater…” Maybe you get emails and direct mail from your university reminding you where you came from, checking up on you and seeing if you have anything to contribute. It is easy to ignore these calls…

March 17, 2015
Tell the Whole Story

  As we get to know our clients and candidates, we ask them to tell us about their previous interview experiences. Hiring managers have countless tales of bad interview experiences ranging from candidates being late, not doing their research and not following up after the interview.  But the most aggravating part of the talent search…

March 10, 2015
What Makes You Happy?

Sometimes it is the simplest questions that catch us the most off guard. I know several hiring managers who ask a version of the question: What makes you happy in your chosen job or career? If you’re not asking this question of candidates, you might want to start. And if you’re not prepared to answer…

March 3, 2015
Big News About Big Data

It would be understandable for PR pros to keep their distance from the hubbub about big data. In all likelihood, it is words and images that make you tick. You have an instinct for people and pathos. And big data, with its numbers and graphs and birds eye view, would seem to invite a different…

February 24, 2015
The New PR Toolbox

Of course every PR job description is its own cocktail of different skills and types of experience, but I hear certain skills talked about far more than they once were. Some agencies that have historically organized their staff according to their client work are now making room for professionals who don’t necessarily fit into one…

February 17, 2015
Before the Interview

“Being unprepared heightens nerves,” says virtuoso flute player, James Galway. He would know; an unrehearsed performance is as painful as an unprepared job interview. If nothing else, walking in the room with your homework done will give you confidence. Your preparation will demonstrate your work ethic to the employer, as well as your sincere interest…

February 10, 2015
Who is Getting it Right Online?

This month’s great interview question comes from our Vice President, Kassie Wilner: Who do you think is getting it right online and why? Kassie hears this coming up a lot in interviews for digital communications and social media roles. Hiring managers want to know who you see as thought leaders in the industry, whose strategies…

February 3, 2015
The Cover Letter and Resume: One Size Does Not Fit All

Rasheen Carbin, of the new job matching app, nspHire, echoes a sentiment that I hear from many hiring managers who lament the amount of generic cover letters and irrelevant resumes they receive. “As a hiring manger, I see this as evidence that you’re applying for jobs en masse without any consideration as to your qualifications…

January 27, 2015
The 2015 Market Forecast: Sunny with a Chance of Jobs

The Forecast The reports are coming in and most polls suggest a healthy job market for the year ahead. CareerBuilder’s annual job forecast suggests that more than one third of employers plan to add full-time, permanent employees in 2015; the best outlook since 2006. And, there’s good news for skilled public relations professionals and marketers…

January 20, 2015
On Recruiting Millennials

Over the years I have had the privilege of meeting and working with some tremendous millennial talent. These young leaders and communicators are highly coveted for their fresh energy, relevance and digital savvy. Of course not every generation X or generation Y candidate is wired the same way, but there are some shared values across…

January 13, 2015
The Case Study Question

It’s the kind of question you cannot prepare for. That may be why many of the hiring managers we work with find situational questions so informative. If you are assessing talent and not asking these questions, you may want to consider introducing some into your interview line-up. Asking a candidate to respond to a hypothetical…

January 6, 2015
Four Reasons Not to Take a Holiday from Your Job Search

There are many people who will take a break from their job search over the holidays, due to a full calendar of activities or a common belief that hiring doesn’t really happen this time of year. And while it’s true that some hiring managers may be slow to respond, it is a myth that all…

December 23, 2014
Know Your Skills

There is a reason they say, “the proof is in the pudding,” not “the proof is in the pudding’s degree,” or “the proof is in the pudding’s references.” Though these things are factors, at the end of the day hiring decisions come down to your abilities. Have you convinced the hiring manager that you possess…

December 16, 2014
Holiday Networking

It’s that time of year. As your calendar fills up (and your shopping list, too), it is tempting to put the pause button on your networking efforts until the new year. You’ll get back out there when you’ve got that 2015 fire in your belly. Besides, isn’t everyone busy around the holidays? You’re wise to…

December 9, 2014
Interview Question: What Inspires You?

Starting this December, I am going to pose one great interview question every month. I will break down what a successful answer to that question might include and also what to avoid in your response. Hopefully, this will be a useful tool for hiring managers and job seekers alike. “What or who inspires you and…

December 2, 2014
Who Do You Follow?

There is one question that is being asked in interviews more and more often these days. It takes various forms but the gist of it is: who do you follow? Who do you read? Who do you listen to? Who do you look to as thought leaders in your industry? It is important to hiring…

November 25, 2014
The Ted Chaloner Learning Fund

Last month, we announced the retirement of our founder, Ted Chaloner, and I have just returned from Boston where we held several events to honor and celebrate his career. This included making a major announcement at the PRSA Boston annual meeting where I unveiled the partnership with PRSA Boston to launch The Ted Chaloner Learning…

November 18, 2014
Go Digital With Good-Doing

Which philanthropic experiences and volunteer efforts make their way into your online profile? You serve on the board of a local non-profit, there was that volunteer effort you coordinated to mentor students at the nearby middle school- oh, and didn’t you do a Heart Walk a few years ago? Or was it a Hunger Walk……

November 11, 2014
What to Expect When You’re Interviewing: Part Four

Task and Final Meetings For communications roles, the interview process will typically include a task designed to further assess your skills. This can be administered at different points, though we typically see it coming near the end of a process. That said, the writing test is extremely important and we have seen it make, and…

November 4, 2014
What to Expect When You’re Interviewing: Part Three

The Callback My coach used to say that a team wins playoffs by doing what they do well better. The same applies to the second round of interviews: the post season. You had to earn some victories to get there so you can feel confident in your standing, but you must now play better than…

October 28, 2014
What to Expect When You’re Interviewing: Part Two

The First Round Good news! After reviewing your resume and being screened by the recruiter, you’ve been invited to speak with the hiring manager. This means you must possess some of the skills and experience necessary for the role and should feel encouraged to be moving into this next stage of the process. Over the…

October 21, 2014
What to Expect When You’re Interviewing

Part One: Talking to the Recruiter In many cases, a conversation with a recruiter is the gateway to your candidacy. Even if you come to the hiring manager’s attention through a referral, if they are partnering with a recruiter on the search you will often be screened by him/her first. How can you prepare for…

October 14, 2014
Thank you, Ted

Over the past thirty-five years, Ted Chaloner built this company from a one-man shop into a well-respected leader in nationwide communications, public relations and marketing executive search. We now congratulate Ted on his retirement and look forward to our future. In his career, Ted offered top-level counsel to hundreds of client companies and thoughtful guidance…

October 8, 2014
Marketing Tips and Trends from FutureM

Three of our team members recently attended the FutureM Conference at INBOUND in Boston. Rebecca, Christine and Swetha were new to the conference, which is only in its second year. Still, 10,000 people came from all over the country for both conferences and there were international attendees as well. Our team came back with fresh…

September 30, 2014
It Comes Down to the Content

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a New York Women In Communications panel around the hot topic of content marketing. Lori Greene, senior partner and content director at Maxus, moderated the discussion that included Alexa Christon, head of Global Media Development for GE; Georgia Galanoudis, managing director at Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, and Julie…

September 23, 2014
Conference Season

With many of our team members making plans to attend conferences this fall- Rebecca is at FutureM this week and will join Amy at the International PRSA conferences in October- I wanted to investigate how one can get the most out of a conference experience. Attending these events often requires travel, and a big investment…

September 16, 2014
Back to School, Back to the Job Search

It’s that time of year: the winds grow cooler, food gets pumpkin flavoring, and kids all over don backpacks and new outfits as they begin a new year at school. Even if you are no longer a student, that rhythm is engrained in us, I think, and this feels like a natural moment to gear…

September 9, 2014
Everyday Networking

It is easy to fall into a work-home-work cycle where you only put effort into networking at big events or conferences. But there are things you can be doing on a daily basis to build and improve your existing network. Stay Focused Good networkers favor quality over quantity. Every so often, reassess whom you might…

September 2, 2014
You’ve Got to Toss the Hat

Jobseekers will often ask me how to get their hat in the ring for certain positions. Maybe you’ve just learned of a role that was filled that you didn’t even know was open. It’s the kind of company you’d love to work for, a position you’re qualified to fill, and you’re confident that had you…

August 26, 2014
On Specificity

As communicators, we know that the effort to appeal to a large and diverse audience can sometimes dilute the message. We are taught to tailor our content and target a segment of the audience, so that we can speak, write and advertise more effectively. But it can be easy to forget or neglect this strategy…

August 19, 2014
Making the Most of an Internship

We are fortunate to have two interns at Chaloner right now – Swetha Nagaraj has just started at our Boston office and Emily Kelly is finishing up a summer working in New York. Swetha is a graduate student at Emerson College and Emily is entering her senior year at Loyola University in Maryland. These women…

August 12, 2014
When You Know You’re the Underdog

A guest blog by Samantha Beach The term “underdog” comes to us from dogfights of the 19th century where, at the end of a battle, one dog would end up on top and one underneath. The dog that lost bore the shame in the books where it would read “underdog” beneath his name and number….

August 5, 2014
The Timeless Art of Negotiating

A guest blog by Samantha Beach While the necessary skills for a successful communications career seem to be rapidly evolving and changing with the landscape, there is one business skill that I have to master in the same way that my dad did and his dad before him. Negotiating requires a gravitas, confidence and savvy…

July 29, 2014
Working with Recruiters

In the war for talent at senior levels, executive search firms are and always will be major players. We are in the business of talent, established or emerging, and it will serve you in the long game of your career to make yourself known to recruiters in your industry. Not only do you want to…

July 22, 2014
The Counteroffer Catch

When you are presented with a counteroffer, how do you weigh the options at hand? What else is at stake beyond the dollar comparison? Here are some questions to ask yourself before running right back to the same desk you were sitting in when you first thought about making a change. What are the circumstances…

July 15, 2014
What to Do (And Not Do) On LinkedIn

LinkedIn now has over 300 million members and 40% of its users visit the site daily. Used by 98% of recruiters, there is no denying the importance of having a presence on this platform. I spent some time this spring counseling young professionals on their online presence through the Step Up organization.  We discussed the…

July 8, 2014
A Peaceful Transition- How to Leave Well

It is an unfortunate fact but a true one: no matter how many years you worked at a certain place, no matter how much you contributed, and how central you were to a company’s culture and mission- a careless exit can cost you your legacy. Of course there are any number of reasons to move…

July 1, 2014
An Interview With a Next Generation Publicist

I recently had the pleasure of reconnecting with a favorite candidate, Joel Mandina. Joel came to us from Keating Magee in New Orleans and we placed him at Mullen in Boston. He went onto launch his own company, VICE Marketing and has just completed a graduate degree in Global Communications at the American University in…

June 24, 2014
Summer Is Prime Time to Increase Networking

A guest blog by Julie Livingston, Strategic Communications Professional and Co-VP, Mentoring, NY Women in Communications Foundation (volunteer role) In conversations with numerous colleagues about my current job search, I often hear comments such as, “networking during the summer can be challenging because so many people are away and out of the office.” While temporary…

June 17, 2014
How Social Media Can Power Your Search

If you are looking for a great job, here are three important things to keep in mind: 1. Tell your story 2. Keep your story up-to-date 3. Broadcast your story Social Media works for all three.  The people you really want to reach – the hiring managers or the recruiters – are already fully engaged…

June 10, 2014
What I Look For

Sometimes our clients will provide us with about five non-negotiable criteria for candidates to meet; skills they must possess or experience they have to have to be considered for a specific role. Of course this varies across positions and companies, but there are several items we see cropping up again and again. I compared notes…

June 3, 2014
How Do You Fare at Career Fairs?

While attending career fairs should only be one part of your job search, they can be a valuable step if you make a plan and assert yourself appropriately. To gain more insight on how to navigate these events, I consulted with the people on the other side of the table. Debbie Gsellmeier is Director of…

May 27, 2014
College Lessons I Keep On Learning

Tonight I will speak at a Step Up event for high school seniors on how to make the most of college. Each girl will be matched to a mentor from Harvard Business School for the evening and they will also receive counsel from a panel of recent graduates. In preparing for the evening, I have…

May 20, 2014
Keeping Pace with Speed Networking

To continue mining some of the expertise around our office, I picked recruiter Christine Santeusanio’s brain this week. Christine attends a lot of networking events, especially of the fast and furious variety, and she has some good advice about how to get the most out of these evenings as an attendee and a facilitator. SB:…

May 13, 2014
A Chat with Rebecca Porter

Last week we welcomed a new recruiter, Rebecca Porter, to our team. I had the pleasure of getting to know a bit more about her: what blogs she reads, what its been like coming full circle in her career and, most importantly, her love for Bon Jovi. SB: Our new hires answer a bunch of…

May 6, 2014
All Aboard: How to Welcome a New Hire

Last week we welcomed our newest employee, Rebecca Porter, to Chaloner and we decided to share some useful information about bringing on new staff. Too often the onboarding process is overly formal or a rushed afterthought (19% of companies have no process in place at all). A comprehensive approach is more effective in reducing turnover…

April 29, 2014
Communicators Wanted

At a recent Young Women in Digital event in Boston, I met many professionals who are just launching their communications careers. As I looked around the room, I felt so excited for them to be entering this field at this particular moment.  I would encourage any young person to consider pursuing a career in public…

April 22, 2014
On Saying Thank You

It is only natural to breathe a sigh of relief coming out of a big interview or meeting that you think has gone well, but your work isn’t quite done. Don’t forget the final and significant step: a prompt follow up. In the professional world, a thank you note should not be an afterthought or…

April 15, 2014
Lights, Camera, Action: The Video Interview

In addition to working at Chaloner, I am also pursuing a career in acting, which often requires me to put auditions on tape. So I was interested to learn that video interviews are becoming more and more common as a means for companies to pre-screen candidates. I know how challenging it is to present an…

April 8, 2014
The Qualities of a Leader

Here we are at the end of Women’s History Month and it’s fitting that March featured many well-run, well-attended events at women’s organizations across the country. I had the pleasure of attending the Young Women in Digital event in Boston and most recently a Step Up Women’s Panel on Women of Character, Courage and Conviction. …

April 1, 2014
The Recruiter Relationship

Since I started working at Chaloner last fall, I have witnessed many ways in which a recruiter relationship can be hugely beneficial to a professional communicator throughout the course of his or her career. Larry Galardi, whom we placed as the Director of Internal Communications at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, says this: “While online media can be…

March 25, 2014
When Networking Works

Last week I attended a great networking event in Boston through the Young Women in Digital organization. Melanie Cohn, their founder, discusses their take on networking: “Networking is at the heart of all of our events. In order to facilitate conversation and keep it pressure-free, each of our events have a topic or theme that…

March 18, 2014
Read Between the Lines

A job description, even one that’s well written, can only tell you so much about the role. It is a useful rough sketch but you must do a little sleuthing to fill in the whole picture. Do Your Research As we’ve said in the past, do your research. Read the job description closely. Words and…

March 11, 2014
Know Your Worth, Show Your Worth: Asking for a Raise

Career coach, Marie McIntyre, says it best: “People get raises because they add value, so instead of pleading for an increase because you need it, explain why you deserve it.” In 2014 employers anticipate doling out raises that average 3%, according to a Towers Watson survey of more than 900 companies. So, how do you…

March 4, 2014
What Do I Value?

Companies expend great time and energy to assess and codify their core values. These values will then determine the work environment, the way they conduct business and the kinds of people they hire. We too should take the time to consider our individual career values; things to do with the corporate culture, work-life balance, compensation…

February 25, 2014
When Opportunity Calls: Giving a Great Phone Interview

Most often, a phone screen is a gateway to a more extensive interview process. It is an efficient means for the hiring company or recruiter to screen candidates before passing them along to the rest of the team. Don’t let the casual nature of a phone call fool you into preparing less than you would…

February 18, 2014
Stepping Up and Following Through

I recently attended an open house for Step Up Women’s Network; a wonderful organization that works to “empower teen girls from under-resourced communities.” Through after-school programming, mentoring, panels and workshops, Step Up provides networking opportunities for teens and young professionals. The evening reminded me that we can set the tone for the generation behind us….

February 11, 2014
Crafting a Compelling Job Description

The job description plays a significant role in the hiring process; from the moment it is created, to its approval within an organization, to being posted, to sharing with candidates, to when it’s used as an interview tool. It will be seen by many, many people and really becomes part of your organization’s reputation. We…

February 4, 2014
Three Ways to Use Mentors

Did you know that January is National Mentoring Month (#mentoringworks)?  Last week, our guest blogger, Samantha Beach shared her take-aways from an event in NYC.  This week we explore how a mentor can help you get to where you want to go. Seek out mentors whose careers you want to emulate. This past week we…

January 28, 2014
The Importance of Mentoring

This week we’d like to welcome Samantha Beach, our guest blogger and recent attendee at the most recent New York Women in Communications event. This week I had the privilege of attending a New York Women in Communications (NYWICI) Coffee & Conversations Panel on “The Fastest Way to the Top.” Erica Hill, co-anchor of TODAY’s…

January 21, 2014
5 Things I’m Going to Do Differently in 2014

How is 2014 going to be different from 2013? Now is the time to plan what you’re going to do for your job and your career. 1. Remember the big picture. We are always getting bogged down in details, and sometimes being able to check off everything in our to do list at the end…

January 14, 2014
Networking at Massachusetts Innovation Nights

In Boston, most PR people go to PRSA, IABC or Publicity Club of New England events.  Marketing folks go to the Ad Club or MITX. Investor Relations practitioners go to NIRI meetings. That makes sense, but there are networking opportunities in unexpected places that can be fun, interesting and useful. In 2009, I heard of…

December 26, 2013
Leading by Example

Here on The Interview Room, we focus on practical advice for job seekers and hiring managers. In most cases, that advice involves thinking about the process and decisions ahead. However, in this season of reflections and resolutions, I’ve been thinking about my own career path – a path I wouldn’t have walked had it not…

December 17, 2013
What’s In a Name?

Here at Chaloner, we’re concluding a yearlong rebranding process in which we’re transitioning from Chaloner Associates Inc., our corporate name for more than three decades, to Chaloner, a bold identity that reflects our brand for the future. If you’d worked here and listed Chaloner on your resume, most people could figure out that the Chaloner…

December 10, 2013
Is There a Holiday Job Market?

We are often asked whether it’s worth the time to continue a job search during the holidays. It’s true that there are a lot of distractions at this time of year and many agencies are closed for the week between Christmas and New Years. However, there are lots of things you can do. In fact…

December 3, 2013
Selfies

Before cell phones and cameras on computers, before LinkedIn and Facebook, before texting with photos and Instagram, most business photos were headshots taken by professional photographers. They were pretty reliable if boring likenesses. They showed up in annual reports, on white papers, on web sites and brochures. You saw them on real estate signs and…

November 26, 2013
How To Work a Room

Here’s an idea inspired by a Kimberly Weisul post on One Thing New. Kim is the founder of One New Thing, was an editor at BusinessWeek and is now Editor-at-Large at Inc. Magazine. Is this you? There’s a PRSA or IABC event coming up and you know you should go and network for a couple…

November 19, 2013
Staying on Track When it’s the Interviewer Who Isn’t Prepared

We counsel candidates to prepare for interviews by doing research on the company history, finding out who the leaders are, looking online for connections they might have with them, talking to people the company knows and who know them, and sharpening their question answering skills.  But how much preparation do the people conducting the interviews…

November 14, 2013
How Are You Intelligent?

I am pleased to introduce Chaloner’s very own Ted Chaloner to the Interview Room. With over 35 years in PR and Communications recruiting, he will be a welcome addition to this blog as it continues to grow. – Amy Yes, not “how intelligent are you?” Howard Gardner defined nine different types of intelligence. Some are…

November 5, 2013
Tech Social Good – Worldwide

Wikimedia, the sixth most visited website in the world, is all about reducing barriers to free knowledge. Did you know that they have introduced a way for even more people to have affordable access to that knowledge base? Their latest initiative, Wikipedia Zero, enables users in developing countries to access Wikipedia free of data charges. Mobile…

October 29, 2013
Exit Strategy

Leaving a job is rarely easy but there are ways to handle your exit gracefully and minimize the awkwardness.  Candidates we place often ask about what to do and say when they resign.  If you are about to move on from your current position, here are seven tips about making it as painless as possible…

October 22, 2013
Lights, Camera, Interview

I recently had two back-to-back Skype interviews with candidates. Although I determined both candidates were qualified for the position I was recruiting for, one Skype session was much more successful than the other. It got me thinking about what contributed to the better interview since the candidates were similar. Location Like real estate, a Skype…

October 15, 2013
Patience Is A Virtue

Searching for a job can be frustrating. You sift through endless job boards and alerts to find the opportunities that look right for you. You send in an application and then wait wondering if you’ll ever get a response. But then, the phone rings and you have a first round phone interview with HR. If…

October 8, 2013
Three Things About Planning for an Interview

Candidates often ask us for interview advice.  There is a wealth of good advice available everywhere these days – just try googling “interview advice” and see how many links pop up!  Here are 3 valuable ideas anyone can use to prepare for an interview. Preparing for three common interview questions: 1.    30/60/90.  If you are…

October 1, 2013
Making the World a Better Place…

What does social good mean to you? The Social Good Summit is taking place at the 92nd Street Y in NYC this week.  The speakers, who range from Sir Richard Branson to Al Gore to Malala Yousafzai, are discussing the intersection of innovation, new media and technology and then translating that into action plans to…

September 24, 2013
Interview Reputation

Employers – interviews are more than just a way to pick the best candidate. I’ve been in the recruiting industry for more than a decade, and I’ve seen many different approaches to interviewing candidates. Some clients have a highly organized, almost clinical approach to vetting candidates. Others are very informal and organic. Since all of…

September 10, 2013
Taking a Risk- Good or Bad?

In our searches for communications and marketing positions, the term “risk taker” is often used when Chaloner clients describe what kind of people they are looking for. We rarely see the phrase “play it safe” in career advice columns or job descriptions.  I am impressed with candidates who take on new challenges in their careers. It…

September 3, 2013
Interview Preparation: Problem, Action and Outcome

I spoke recently with a top HR professional at one of our clients. He spoke about the PAO (Problem, Action and Outcome) method he uses in interviews. Called a few different things (such as Behavioral Interviewing, Situational Interviews and Case Interviews), it’s a interviewing strategy we have long used and find particularly effective in finding…

August 27, 2013
Online Exposure

Online information sharing is hot topic, especially in the wake of national issues, celebrity crises and personal events.  How much is too much, and where do we draw the line when it comes to what we put online?  It’s a good question, especially if you’re using social media to search for a new job and…

August 20, 2013
Be Positive, Focus, and Always Accomplish Something

Last winter I attended the Washington Women in Public Relations’ 2012 Woman of the Year luncheon in DC. It was a great event and I met a lot of outstanding PR professionals. I find that DC is quite different than New York and it shows at events like this where lots of networking goes on. …

August 13, 2013
Still In Fashion-Consistency

It’s not what you do once that shapes your reputation, but what you do consistently. These days, you hear a lot about innovation, and out-of-the-box thinking and risk taking. It’s almost as if you have to be different to succeed. Not that those things are bad or irrelevant, no, they’re important. My last post was…

August 8, 2013
Do You Innovate?

Last week I was honored to be the guest speaker at a PRSA luncheon in Rochester, NY, my hometown. The topic was Job Strategies for the Mid-level Communicator. Retained search firms like Chaloner handle many mid- and senior-level searches for clients seeking top talent and we can use that experience to help candidates plan their…

July 30, 2013
Making the Most Out of Your Recruiter

We Can Help! Although our clients are the companies doing the hiring, we’re often able to help candidates be more successful getting through the hiring process. I recently interviewed a talented digital communications professional with a marvelously diverse background, including a JD degree from a good law school.  He was warm and friendly and easy…

July 23, 2013
Differentiating Yourself From The Competition

Jeff Domansky, the PR Coach, recently interviewed me for an article about what jobs are hot and trending in the PR world.  You can read the whole article here. Two other recruiters and I offered tips such as: ”Treat yourself like you treat your most important client. Craft and tell your story to back it…

July 16, 2013
Consulting? Three Tricky Questions You Might Have To Answer

These days, it’s not unusual to find many PR/Communications professionals consulting. All professions have shown a huge increase in non-permanent positions. In April, the New York Times reported that 76% of all American university professors are adjunct faculty. Some consultants wonder how freelancing will be viewed when interviewing for a full time position. How can…

July 9, 2013
The Ten Minute Interview (Part Two)

Last week, I posted about helpful interview skills after my stint as a coach at New York Women in Communication’s Night of the Coaches event. Since many of the attendees were just out of college, a lot of the questions centered around informational interviews, and how to get the most out of them. Often informational…

July 2, 2013
The Ten-Minute Interview (Part One)

I was grateful this year to be asked to be one of six career coaches and recruiting professionals to lead roundtable discussions at New York Women in Communications‘ popular Night of the Coaches event. The event is aimed at professionals eager to get the inside scoop on professional networking and interviewing. At my roundtable, we focused…

June 27, 2013
We Kiva. Do You?

Here at Chaloner Associates, we believe in business. While most of our client companies are medium-to large-size organizations in the United States, many sprang from the creativity of a single individual or group of individuals who borrowed some money from friends or family to bring their dreams to fruition. Kiva, a nonprofit organization founded by…

June 25, 2013
5 Things About…Dressing for Success

Appearance can make or break an interview. This may seem petty, but the bottom line is that an employer needs to have confidence that you’ll represent them well while on the job. 1. Dress Professionally…even if it’s Friday Unless told otherwise, for communications and marketing positions, wear a suit. For men, this means the obvious:…

June 18, 2013
4 Ways to Keep Your Nerve During an Interview

Let’s be honest, most people feel nervous in interviews. The key is to channel that energy into something positive. Here are four suggestions for dealing with nerves. 1. Our founder, Ted Chaloner, has observed that nervous candidates tend to ramble, whether in an interview with us or with our clients.  One candidate, in an effort…

June 11, 2013
Welcome to The Interview Room

I’m Amy Segelin, president of Chaloner Associates, an executive search firm specializing in public relations, marketing and communications positions across all industries. Our company has been in business for 34 years and that’s long enough to have acquired lots of wisdom. With the support of CEO Ted Chaloner, and our Boston and New York staff,…

June 2, 2013