JDResources, Inc.

Companies run on people

Article written by Jill Herrin, Founder and CEO of JDResources

Companies run on people; people create processes to make work efficient and profitable. Put yourself in a position to help your company make money (sell more product or service); or reduce cost (lower expense equals higher net profit). All companies expect you to bring in 5x your salary - make sure you far exceed that to keep employed.

Work only for a company that you believe in: what they sell, the people they employ, and their ethics must align with your beliefs. We will call this your IJ-ideal job.

If you show up each day and do just enough to get a paycheck you will ultimately lose that job.

If you complain how hard everything is or how wrong things are you not only bring yourself down but you will also be let go.

If you love your job and are in an IJ now but need to make more money, do not ask for a raise. Instead do the following:

• Figure out the things that you are really good at and continue to improve on those skills to generate more or even better results. Make sure these contribute to more sales or reduced costs. You don't have to be in sales to generate customer revenue: better processes can speed sales cycles; finding less expensive ways to do things can increase profits.
• Apply these skills to make more money or cut costs above and beyond what is expected for you to do and/or is done by others.
• Take credit for your accomplishments but be sure to recognize those that also contribute positively to the bottom line success of the company.
• Always keep your company's products and services in mind whenever you talk to people and brag a bit about what a great offering they have. This should be done subtly and sincerely; pick an appropriate times to do this when you can as sales often come in via indirect methods and something you say could influence a revenue generation for your employer that will help you solidify your IJ and will continue to pay you more.
• Be a leader and inspire others. Be adaptable and embrace problems as a challenge to be overcome. Present solutions and deliver results. Change and self-renewal are how people and companies thrive and grow. Be self assured and display competence and intelligence along with a certain amount of wit and humor. Arrogance and brashness are unappealing on a regular basis.

Job Search:

If you are unemployed or unhappy in your position take the steps to find an IJ. Work as a temp or consultant until you find your IJ. Let a professional recruiter be your agent (never look for a job while being paid to do another job).

Be sure to find 1-3 recruiting firms that have long-term results representing people with your skills. We will call these your PR -partner recruiter. The number PRs needed depends on the scope of your search in terms of breadth of positions and geographic parameters.

Network with everyone you know to find a potential IJ. Once a lead is found pass info to your PR to present your qualifications. If they are unable to get you introduced and/or interviewed they will let you know and help you find someone that works there to get you in the door.

Pass all position and people leads to your PR. When they fill the position or place the person you may get a referral fee; some people make excellent secondary income by regularly doing this. Either way your PR will work extra hard to find you your IJ. Do this all the time and you will rarely not have IJs to go to as your recruiter will always keep you in mind. Be sure its a partnership where you both help each other. Your PR won't be to get you in to every company but they can probably find out and tell you how to do so; as you are trusted partners it will be a win/win whether or not they place you directly as they will have ongoing revenues from your leads.

In economic down- times businesses shrink their Human Resource and internal recruiting departments so the people remaining don't have time to review and screen all candidates. They don't advertise all their openings and temp/contract posts for the same reasons.

All companies laying off and downsizing still need great people to keep them in business.

JDResources Co-Founder and CEO article in MBJ 'Women in Business'

On August 26, 2005

Women in Business -- Courtesy of Memphis Business Journal

Feb/March 2008

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Entertainment & hospitality seek IT suppliers to complement customer diversity--Courtesy of DiversityCareers.com