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"The combination of T.J.'s business acumen, career/life counseling, and long-term vision are invaluable in this economic climate. T.J. is the type of teacher, advisor, and business partner that every business professional needs." M.S. Director of Operations and Finance — Industrial Manufacturing
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"I have been very impressed with the professionalism and expertise of Centennial, in the way they listen to their clients needs and have the ability to find the type of talent my organization is seeking. I have rarely come across talent searchers that genuinely want to understand the needs of the clients through a series of well prepared questions and can convert that into win-win results. Mike Jr. is enjoyable and sociable individual and I would not think twice about asking Mike and his firm to do more searches for us." R.C. Vice President of Sales — Consumer Package Goods
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"It's really simple...Trust, Integrity and Expertise. Whenever there is a recruiting, search, talent or business adviser needed, I personally turn to Mike at Centennial because I trust him, he is a man of integrity and has exceptional expertise." D.D. President — Marketing Communications
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"From the initial contact throughout the entire process, Centennial was top-notch in identifying our needs and then meeting them. The process and interactions were consistently positive, professional and enjoyable. Consequently, the next search assignment will begin with Mike & Centennial." D.B. Human Resources Director — Consumer Package Goods
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"As Vice President of Supply Chain, I have had the pleasure of working with Mike Sipple Jr. on several assignments that required professionalism, compassion, and confidentiality. Mike and team have exceeded our expectations in all categories. Mike has proven to be a great resource and partner when called on for general questions regarding topics related to human resource trends." M.L. Vice President of Supply Chain — Distribution
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"Mike is a detailed professional recruiter and talent coach. Mike communicates clearly and timely, and maintains a high degree of patience with his clients as they identify the right candidate for the position to be filled. Mike maintains a high level of ethics and professionalism." D.C. President — Industrial Manufacturing
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"I've worked with Mike in several capacities, most recently when he recruited me into a new marketing management position at my current company. Very professional, open, and helpful; good sounding-board. I highly recommend him. Additionally, I've had a mutually beneficial professional relationship with Centennial (not as an employee) for nearly 15 years." B.P. Marketing Manager — Transportation Services
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"Centennial's genuine interest in both candidate and employer, and ensuring a good match between them shines through. It does not end with job placement. Three years later, Mike Sipple Jr. and the team still display an active interest in my career and personal growth. I regard the Centennial team as friends and partners." B.D. Director Corporate Services — Global Communications
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"Centennial has always impressed us as a creative hard working partner of clients AND as an organization of impeccable character. It is rare for one to work w/ persons who have a level of conscientious and humble attitude AND gifted talent for their profession. I would trust the Team @ Centennial with any aspect of my business or life as well as hire their organization for any mission critical talent acquisition issue or opportunity." M.F. Chief Executive Officer — Corporate Consulting
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"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your guidance and leadership throughout my career transition. I admit I was apprehensive when first introduced to the idea of using a career coach, but after our first session I knew that I had made the right decision. I needed a person that could give me direction, coaching and accountability, but most of all needed to know that someone was on my side. I not only accomplished my goal of a career in a new field, I also feel that I gained a friend."
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"I would recommend to anyone who is struggling in their job campaign to enlist the help of you and your associates. You are very knowledgeable and up-to-date about the job market; you are professional, yet personable; and you are patient and understanding towards the frustrations we deal with as job seekers. If I had to do it over again, I would have called you sooner…much sooner!"
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"The challenge you helped me most with involved showing myself in the broadest terms possible. As a professional pilot and manager of aviation operations, I had difficulty communicating the breadth of my experience and allowing others to see me in a way that would be valuable to their organizations. Once you identified my strengths and experience in information technology, team leadership, process improvement and training, a whole world of opportunities emerged. Your coaching during the offer/negotiation process enabled me to leverage this opportunity to maximum financial compensation."
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"The point you make of networking to find the unadvertised positions is right on track. Developing a target list of companies and than utilizing a methodical approach to network into these organizations really works. I will always be grateful for your assistance and could not have succeeded without it."
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"This letter is to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Mike Lynch for his tremendous contribution to the success of my campaign. His dedication, professionalism, knowledge, and encouragement were a constant source of positive reinforcement, which always managed to keep me focused on the objective. Mike’s logical approach to career search challenges and friendly, professional coaching enabled me to establish a solid foundation of incremental successes on which to build. It was these successes that validated the effectiveness of Mike’s methods and served as the motivating force in my campaign. This week I accepted a new management level position in a completely unrelated industry, with a salary increase of nearly 25%. Thank you Mike!"
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"I want to take a few moments to thank you for your assistance in my job campaign. It is like a jungle out there, and, fortunately, you were my guide. I soon realized that working hard in your career search does not always mean quick and definite results. It depends on what you know about today’s job market and of the proven tactics that will make a difference. That’s where you came in, Mike. The tools you gave me made the difference."
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Mike Sipple, Sr. President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: What are the top three challenges facing leaders today?
View his answer >
Mike Sipple, Sr. President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: What's next after we get good candidates in the door?
View his answer >
Mike Sipple, Sr. President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: How do we attract the best talent that will be successful in our company?
View his answer >
Mike Sipple, Sr. President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: What should be included in a job requisition to ensure that we get highly qualified applicants?
View his answer >
T.J. Bugg
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: What are the top three challenges facing leaders today?
View his answer >
T.J. Bugg
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: What's the best way to find the "needle in the haystack" when we get hundreds of resumes for every job posting?
View his answer >
T.J. Bugg
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: How can we ensure we're spending time with the "right" candidates?
View his answer >
T.J. Bugg
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: How can companies benefit from partnering with us, even with internal corporate recruiters?
View his answer >
T.J. Bugg
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: What are the top three challenges facing leaders today?
View his answer >
T.J. Bugg
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: As a job seeker, how can I differentiate from the masses?
View his answer >
T.J. Bugg
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: How can we attract people who will be successful in our company?
View his answer >
T.J. Bugg
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: When evaluating multiple job offers, how can I decipher which is the best one for me?
View his answer >
T.J. Bugg
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: What should be included in a job requisition to get highly qualified candidates?
View his answer >
T.J. Bugg
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: Should a job description double as the job requisition?
View his answer >
Mike Sipple, Jr.
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: What are the top three challenges facing leaders today?
View his answer >
Mike Sipple, Jr.
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: How can we find the "best" people for our company?
View his answer >
Mike Sipple, Jr.
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: How can we encourage "A" talent to choose our company?
View his answer >
Mike Sipple, Jr.
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: Should we try to hire talent on our own before engaging a recruitment firm?
View his answer >
Mike Sipple, Jr.
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: Why should you partner with a recruitment firm if you have in-house recruiting?
View his answer >
Mike Sipple, Jr.
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: As a job seeker, how can I differentiate myself from the masses?
View his answer >
Mike Sipple, Jr.
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: How can I be enthusiastic in my job search without appearing desperate?
View his answer >
Mike Sipple, Jr.
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: How can a Career Coach help me in my transition?
View his answer >
Mike Lynch
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: As a job seeker, how can I stand out from the crowd?
View his answer >
Mike Lynch
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: Networking. Everyone is doing it. Do you know how to be strategic about it?
View his answer >
Mike Lynch
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: What are some effective resume tips that will help get me noticed?
View his answer >
Mike Lynch
Vice President
Centennial, Inc.
Q: When evaluating multiple job offers, how can I decipher which is the best choice for me?
View his answer >
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Career Management Resources
Networking to Land the Right Job
Relationships + Networking + Little Things = Success
In this age of increasingly short-term job cycles, networking is an essential skill for managing your career. Many people think that networking is simply a euphemism for asking for a job--nothing could be further from the truth. If you are truly networking you are building resources, acquiring information, and offering assistance to others all at the same time.
What is Networking?
Networking is the art of building relationships for the purpose of acquiring and disseminating information; it can be done informally and naturally every time you interact with another professional. When you network, your objective is to learn about the other individual and to seek his or her advice on your project. In the case of job searches, the project is about locating resources--including individuals--that will help you learn about the job market specific to your particular expertise and interests. It's a good idea to network while you are still happily or moderately happily employed. Once you've established a professional network, you can more easily expand on and give focus to this process when the need arises.
Getting Started
Some of the best networking can be simply talking to people you know well. If you are new at networking and are just beginning career research or a job search, begin by making a broad list of people you know--even those people you hadn't thought of as network contacts. Your list should include friends, relatives, work colleagues (past and present), and service providers such as your accountant, physicians, and others with whom you do business on a personal basis. Also include neighbors, club members, teachers and professors, alumni contacts, social and community contacts, and local merchants. Informal discussions with these various individuals can often lead to more helpful, formal networking contacts. Be prepared to discuss your career background even with people who know you well. You'd be surprised how little others may know about your work accomplishments. You can also start networking by joining a professional association. Gales Directory of Business and Professional Associations--located in the reference section of your local library--can help you identify the organization most appropriate for you. Web sites such as the Internet Public Library's page Associations on the Net can also help you find professional associations and contacts.
Setting Up a Meeting
Once you've made the transition from informal to more formal contacts, assess whether it is better to call or write to request a meeting based on the nature of your relationship with that individual. In some cases, you may want to do both--send a letter or an e-mail message, then follow up with a phone call. Whatever the medium, you can set the tone for the meeting and provide your contact with some general background if you include the following points:
Opening lines that express interest in this person and a reference to the last time you met
- A brief update on your professional status
- A statement about your interest in investigating a new career direction
- A request to discuss these ideas and obtain some advice on your endeavor
- Asking the Right Questions
Asking the Right Questions
The questions you ask depend on the nature of your career investigation and the person with whom you are networking. You might want to pose questions that relate to the following:
Who they know and what are the companies they are most impressed with
- The key skills and core competencies that employers are looking for in the field
- The hottest sectors of the job market for this type of work
- Three to five of the most important issues currently being addressed in the field
- The professional resources used by the movers and shakers in the field
- Changes that could impact the field and industry
- How to gain field or industry status and recognition
Organizing Your Networking Activities
If you are networking while currently employed, you might want to set a goal of five networking conversations per month. These could occur in person or over the phone. If you are actively job-hunting, you should aim at having several networking conversations per week. Very quickly you'll find that you need a tracking system to record names of initial contacts, referrals obtained from those contacts, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses. You'll also want to note the source for each referral; dates when you've made contact, and any follow-up conversations you plan to have with that individual. Use a Rolodex or contact management software like Microsoft Outlook to help you to keep track of this information.
Executive Recruiters
Developing a relationship with a good recruiter that specializes in your industry and discipline is essential to your career. The greatest chance of success still comes from your own network of acquaintances, business associates, etc. However, search firms are constantly handling assignments, which are not publicized or perhaps even known outside of the executive office.
Go to the following links for more information on networking with recruiters.
Read and Learn More About Networking
New networking resources and books are published regularly. Here are a few of my favorite resources:
Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty: The Only Networking Book You'll Ever Need - by Harvey Mackay
Power Networking - 59 Secrets for Personal and Professional Success - by Donna Fisher
today to discuss how Centennial
can add value to your efforts.
Reach Centennial directly at 513.366.3760.
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