Strategies For Executives Seeking an Industry Change Without Breaking the Bank

Changing industries can open up a broader range of opportunities for executives who want to reinvigorate a stalled career, seek to combine their skills and interests in a new arena, are stuck in a dying/declining sector, have limited options in their desired geographic location, or are impacted by the increased outsourcing of operations overseas. According to a study by the New York-based Association of Executive Search Consultants, nearly 50% of the executives surveyed are searching for brighter horizons by considering an industry change.Although product and industry knowledge are important to some companies in certain industries, it is possible to make a successful industry transition through a focused, systematic process-without having to reduce your compensation level. Unless a position requires industry-specific technical knowledge or contacts, you can build a clear case that will illustrate your ability to succeed in a new industry. In fact, some employers relax their search criteria as hiring picks up, opening up the door to industry transitions.The secret is to move to a related field. The closer you stay to your industry, the greater the probability of obtaining a comparable salary because there is a shorter ramp-up period for learning the new business. Such factors as the complexity of the business, number of product lines and customer groups, culture and size of an organization, and similarity in marketing or manufacturing methods also play a role in how readily you can transfer your skill set to a new environment.If the thought of marketing yourself to an industry in which you do not have expertise seems daunting, here’s how to gain the confidence you need and avoid vital mistakes in your search.
The following six steps can guide you to make an industry change happen more effectively and with fewer roadblocks.1. Choose a sector that is aligned to your current industry. Your transition will be easier if you choose an industry with a similar focus to your current industry. For example: if you are in the transportation industry, moving from the railroads sector to trucking and freight, airlines, shipping or air courier services, would be a more closely aligned transition. If you are in finance, related sectors include commercial banks, insurance companies, savings and loans, or government insurance. If you are in health care, closely aligned areas include drugs and pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, outpatient care companies, packaging and container companies supplying the health care industry, and manufacturers of electronic instruments for health care equipment.Therefore, recruiters or hiring authorities will consider your abilities more closely aligned and many of the business issues you’ve solved will be similar to those experienced in the new industry. Because you will have a shorter learning curve than candidates from completely different industries, you will have more of an edge in salary negotiations, as well.2. Select a high-growth industry. Industries that are flailing are not going to be as viable as an industry that is experiencing growth. In downward turning industries, there’s an abundance of unemployed executives with industry experience to choose from, so your chances of getting the attention of a hiring executive are slim. However, high-growth industries are generally more open to change and fresh ideas, and are in greater need of candidates than large corporations.3. Conduct extensive research on potential new industries and specific employers. Don’t attempt a search to enter a new industry without performing due diligence first. Utilize the extensive resources available to you on the Internet, in your public library’s reference department, by reading trade/industry publications and by talking with professionals to learn about their industry and future trends. Immerse yourself in the new industry. Attend professional conferences and seminars. The more you understand about the new industry, the more confident you will be and the more capable you will be of accomplishing the next vital step on this list (identifying your transferable skills).4. Identify your transferable skills and create your unique selling proposition. Once you understand the inner workings and trends within the new industry you have chosen, you will have a better understanding of the challenges and needs faced by that sector. Determine the particular skills that are required-again through your research and by talking to industry professionals. Ask probing questions to learn what the critical things are that you will have to do well. Are those the skills that you know how to do? If not, what’s missing and is it something you can readily develop?As an executive, you possess a number of core competencies that can cross over to new industries and organizations-strategic planning, operations management, business development, marketing, selling, financial planning and analysis, profit and loss management, people management and so forth. Review your career with a focused eye to identify relevant skills and accomplishments you’ve made that you could also potentially achieve in your new industry.5. Write a focused resume and cover letter directed toward your new target industry. Focus on those related success stories and skills in both your resume and during interviews. When writing your resume, downplay your current industry and jargon associated with your specialty. Avoid generic/vague phrases in the profile such as “visionary executive with extensive experience in managing departments and people”.Select relevant responsibilities and success stories and present them in a manner that illustrates the connection to the target industry. This will prove that you can produce the results that they need. At the interview be prepared to convince the hiring authority how your skills and accomplishments can be applied in that organization to solve their business challenges.6. Consider applying for positions in smaller firms in your target industry where the opportunities may be more abundant. Smaller firms are also more likely to consider hiring those without industry experience. Small-to-medium-size organizations have fewer management levels and may not have the right talent to promote from within. The criteria may also be more relaxed in smaller companies.On a final note, as with any job search, doing your homework is paramount. Although changing industries can pose quite a challenge, thorough preparation, a written plan, solid execution and persistence can yield the results you desire-a more personally and professionally rewarding career.

Basics Functions of a Construction Manager

Construction management is a field that focuses on the professional aspect of construction. It gives a larger picture about each of the minute details of construction. This field encompasses residential sites with multi-unit dwellings, commercial buildings, and large scale mass construction.The construction site is being maintained and monitored by either a general contractor or another individual entity but the one who answers to the developer is the construction management personnel, also known as the construction manager. The construction manager is the one who sees through the minute details of the project from its start until its finish taking into consideration each and every detail of the construction process.Being a construction manager is not that easy. It is a requirement to have at least a four-year degree in an undergraduate program and may or may not require a master’s degree. Some huge projects require a construction manager to have at least a Masters Degree in Construction Management. The areas of specialization should be related but not limited to architecture, design and construction laws, probability and estimates, business, accounting, engineering, an applied Mathematics.Since construction business is one of the fast growing and one of the largest industries of the world, the field promises career opportunities and favorable compensation.In a general note, a construction management sees through each and every aspect of the construction process, while resolving any irregularities and discrepancies on the dummy design or the blueprint of the actual structure.At the same time, construction supervision are responsible for controlling the expenses towards construction and labor cost, while monitoring the cost of the project and the estimated overall budget and the projected material and labor costs. The construction leader collaborate with the jobs of an architect, project managers, and site engineers for efficient outcome and results.Construction supervision is a tough job since most of the time, you will be hands on and requires knowledge in almost everything regarding construction and buildings. Sometimes, most companies require construction managers to have knowledge about building codes and laws. Construction managers are versatile workers, encompassing the job for an architect, statistician, designer and draftsman, an engineer, or a foreman.For construction management firms, they vary in size or region, and mostly render their services exclusively with the small scale general contractors. Large construction companies, on the other hand, hire their own construction manager to manage everything that requires a manager’s attention. Do you know that most of the time, with proper training, work experiences, and efficiently, a construction manager can have an earning that could reach up to six to seven digits?With proper time and resources, if a construction manager is skilled in handling multi-million dollar projects, their earnings can reach up to millions as well, depending on the scale of construction and the company hiring them.The complexity and versatility of a construction manager is far beyond compare. They have almost all things set in their shoulders.It is true that they are earning too much, but the implication of a wrong decision will impact every aspect of the construction. It is very important to have proper training and incomparable skills to fulfill this job. It is also rewarding at the same time challenging since you will have the tendency of learning everything outside your chosen field.

Live Entertainment For Your Wedding Or Event

Live entertainment can take many forms and can be more exciting than other forms of entertainment. Live entertainment can be one of the single most important factors in determining the success of your event or wedding. Some of the things to take into consideration when booking your live entertainers are what kind of entertainment would suit my wedding day or event.When choosing the music for your event, think about the ambience you’re trying to create. Choose a band that are flexible and have a wide range of music genres. For a touch of romance you may want mellow or jazz music to be played during cocktails and meals. To create the upbeat atmosphere to get your guests up and dancing, make sure your live entertainment have a range of dance music to perform in between the meals. In addition some romantic music for the first dance is a must. Decide on the type of band or live entertainment you want, whether it’s male or female vocals you prefer or perhaps a combination of both. An instrumental band would be beautiful during the wedding ceremony.Your live entertainment needs to be flexible in order to create the different moods of your wedding or event. Think about your guests and the type of music that would be suitable for the different age groups. Entertainers with a large musical repertoire is best so that you can make some choices about what you would like for the bridal waltz and the choice of numbers for some of the dance sets. The live entertainment you choose should have the equipment to either play indoors or outdoors. In between sets your live entertainment or band should be able to play music to maintain the ambience at your wedding or event.A professional entertainment group or band will spend some time with you discussing your music preferences and song selection. They will also create a run sheet to ensure that they are playing as much as possible and having breaks during formalities. If the band or group has not performed at a venue in the past they should contact them to investigate the sound facilities, and to advise them of their power requirements. They should arrive at the venue early to set up and conduct sound checks.The live entertainment at your wedding will ensure that your guests have a great night. They will be charming and engaging. They should interact with the guests whilst yet remaining unobtrusive. A professional band or group will know when to engage the crowd and when to change the tone of the music. Deciding which music should be played is one of the more important decisions you need to make when planning your big day. So choose well and make sure your band or live entertainment hit all the right notes to make your wedding or event a success.Enjoy your night!