A true business partnership

Brad Golden has worked as a consumer products marketer and as an information and data services consultant in senior positions. He recently accepted a position as the CEO of a private equity-sponsored market research services company.

How did you learn about Kelleher Associates?

Kelleher Associates came highly recommended to me by multiple people whose opinions I trust, including some close colleagues and an employment lawyer.  Their recommendation of the firm was very positive, emphasizing its highly personalized and strong counseling, career transition and search process knowledge.

Why did you choose Kelleher Associates for your Career Transition services?

Prior to engaging with Kelleher Associates, I did quite a bit of research, met with a number of outplacement firms face-to-face and gathered a great deal of input.  I decided to choose Kelleher because of its personalized services, extensive knowledge of the Delaware Valley marketplace and the quality and experience of its counselors.  Of all the career transition firms I researched, Kelleher Associates was the most personalized and the most knowledgeable about the local business landscape.  This paid off many times during my search, as Kelleher counselors introduced me to many new contacts.

What Kelleher services proved to be especially valuable during your search?

All of the Kelleher counselors have extensive personal contacts and are very willing to share these contacts with their clients.  In fact, many of the networking meetings I attended were based on Kelleher contacts, ensuring that I had a high quality “foot in the door” as I began exploring a company.

My primary counselor, Mitch Wienick, provided terrific advice for handling the most delicate, sensitive aspects of the search process, including how to respond to difficult interview questions and how to consolidate and present my personal value proposition in the most compelling way.  He was also extremely available – willing to talk during the day or night – even over the weekend, and especially during the “crunch” time of negotiation when things were moving quickly.

The entire Kelleher team also acted as another set of trained eyes, closely reviewing not only my resume, but the myriad other documents I developed in preparation for interviews and evaluative processes, such as presentations, business plans and pro forma go to market plans.  In my Kelleher counselors, I always found a willing, objective audience whose sole purpose was to help me excel in the job search process – whether by conducting corporate “role plays” or providing technical tips and tricks for resume formatting and the creation of my Senior Executive Profile document.

You recently accepted the position of CEO of a private equity-sponsored company. How did Kelleher Associates help you in the process leading up to the offer and your acceptance of it?

Kelleher Associates helped me in countless ways – from navigating the search process and interview preparation, to offering tips for conducting due diligence and obtaining the necessary background information to present myself as a serious, strong and high-potential candidate.

At the beginning of our engagement, we also completed video interview training, helping me recognize both my strengths and weaknesses and, in turn, sharpening my interview technique – an extremely valuable exercise I recommend every candidate do.

Of the many “lessons learned” while working with Kelleher Associates, one of the most important was an education on how to provide structured responses to interview questions using the SITUATION-ACTION-RESULT (SAR) method. By utilizing this method in interviews, I was able to express myself as a high quality candidate with relevant experience for the role at-hand, making me a strong fit.

What did you like best about working with Kelleher Associates?

I would have to say the close and personal relationships that I developed with a number of counselors.  These relationships were characterized by mutual respect and support, and they often evolved beyond mentorship into true friendship.  In fact, I was so appreciative of the support I received that, throughout my engagement with the firm, I tried to find ways to “give back” – whether by serving as a reference for prospective clients of the firm or connecting others to Mitch and his associates for potential business partnerships and alliances.

What were some of your key learnings during your search process, and what would you recommend to others seeking their next position?

I learned that the key to finding a senior-level position among a flood of other well-qualified job seekers is to strategically network with as many people as possible – past employees, former colleagues, classmates from college and graduate school, neighbors, members of professional associations and contacts of contacts.  The list really goes on and on.  It’s crucial to network extensively, effectively and, of course, politely.

I would also recommend that job seekers try to walk into an interview with some type of pre-identified “sponsor” – such as a friend or former colleague who now works at said company and can vouch for the added value you can bring to the table. It gives you immediate credibility and a leg up on other candidates. Plus, you gain an insider’s view of the company to leverage in your interviews.

You also want to be out there; don’t be idle.  You should keep your calendar full, going to formal and informational interviews, attending networking meetings and participating in job-related events at least a few times a week.

Additionally, I would recommend active job seekers develop a support group of kindred spirits, people they can turn to for advice, encouragement and even compassion.  My new friends and I found many ways to support each other throughout our searches and were terrific resources.

Examine your expenses and make sure you are economizing during your search process to conserve cash. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, remain positive and optimistic.  You really do need to bring your “A” game to every meeting, because as the recent economy has showed us, if you don’t, someone else will.

Would you recommend Kelleher Associates to others and why?

I would definitely recommend Kelleher Associates to others.  Each and every Kelleher counselor is knowledgeable, supportive and adept at giving advice in a constructive and consistently helpful way.  They served as a source of inspiration and motivation whenever I needed it – and – most importantly, provided wise counsel as I navigated the often ambiguous, circuitous and frustrating search process.

I’d recommend that all job seekers conduct face-to-face meetings with multiple outplacement firms, evaluate whether the firm’s culture, processes and industry focus areas are consistent with their own career goals and approach and make their decision based on the one firm with whom they feel the most comfortable.  At Kelleher Associates, my experience was one of a true business partnership – and that served as the overall key to my ultimate success in landing a new position.