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More than one Option

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Two times today I was reminded that the skills and experience that FMCG jobs provide, can open up many more options than you think.

The first came in the form of an email from one of my clients. They required me to start the search for a Marketing Manager to replace one of their employees who was leaving to start their own business.

Leaving a stable secure role with a Blue Chip employer to jump into the relative unknown world of managing cash flows, negotiating leases and trying to make a profit was the option they had decided to take.

The second was a call referring a candidate to a role I was looking after. The call was from another candidate “Harry”, whom I had been working with to secure a senior sales management role. I always welcome referrals and in this case it was a strong candidate with great experience so I immediately rang his number and booked him in for a chat.

So I asked “Harry” if he had secured a role since our previous discussions. He explained that he and few other senior FMCG experienced ex-colleagues had put a syndicate together to launch a retail concept. He was a bit secretive with the details and explained he couldn’t say much at the moment.

In the above two cases the people obviously had experience,  resources and the ability to take the leap of faith and start these businesses. But what if you are young, keen have the ability and desire but not the capital to make the dream of running your own business happen?

Well this opportunity is now being offered by Bakers Delight in the form of a new concept called MTO – Manage To Own targeted at young inspiring entrepreneurs.

The idea is for potential franchisees to get the training and management experience of running a Bakers Delight franchise and once they have successfully completed the program, which would take around 12 months, they are assisted by Bakers Delight to purchase their own franchise business.

The program overcomes many of the financial constraints for potential franchisees by paying them while they do the 5 month Franchise Training Program and also while they get the practical skills by managing a Bakers Delight for 6 months.

I think it is a great idea as takes out much of the risk associated with taking on a small business, not only because it is part of a franchise system, but also because you have the security of an income while getting the experience required to be successful.

It also gives you the opportunity see if you can cope with the early starts and if you can count to 13.

Tim

Posted under Retailers

This site is getting an increasing number of hits from people searching for advice on CVs and Cover Letters.

Please read my article on putting a CV / Resume together and comment if you agree or disagree with my advice.

In regards to cover letters, I will put my list of Do’s and Don’t’s below and add some links to examples of what I think are going to give you a better chance.

Do’s

• Always attach a cover letter to your CV or Resume
• Make sure you address it to the relevant person in the business
• Use key words from the advertisement in your letter
• Address both the Skills and Experience Requirements identified in the Ad
• Put the most convenient and accessible ways to contact you ie Mobile and Email
• Space it out and make it easy to read
• Differentiate between sending it to a recruiter or the company itself
• Make it one page
• Make it unique to you and what you can offer
• Include call to action – Request an Interview, Tell them you will call to follow up in 2-3 days
• Be confident

Don’t’s

• Make spelling mistakes
• Address it to a different role or company or person by mistake
• Send a generic cover letter
• Make it more than one page
• Include unnecessary filler such as “Please find my resume enclosed”
• Explain why the role will be good for you
• Waste the first paragraph with filler, make an impact so they keep reading

So here are some example templates I have put together;

Cover Letter No 1

Cover Letter No 2

Please tell me if there are any mistakes and email me any improved versions.

Thanks

Tim

Posted under Jobs

Contracting can best be described as the ultimate try before you buy!

Rather than jumping into a long-term commitment it provides an opportunity for an employee and an employer to work together to see if the fit is right for both parties. It can however be a double-edged sword. As there is no commitment either can pull out of the arrangement if things don’t go to plan.

In recent times we have seen a shift in how employers and employees feel about contract work. The demand for contract roles has increased as the workforce continues to change under new pressures. As companies respond to financial pressures, shrinking resources and ever expanding workloads often their demands do not reduce and they need to find a solution. Staffing is kept lean and mean with no slack for over-and-above projects. Sometimes the only cost effective way around this is to hire contractors to ensure timeframes are met on those non-negotiable projects. Read More…

Posted under Jobs, Marketing

I have just finished reading an article in Forbes magazine with the title How to Manage your Business in a Recession; written by Geoff Colvin. It was in the Jan 26 issue and I loved it.

One of the paragraphs or tips that really related to FMCG people is the one titled Reevaluate people – and steal some good one. The point that is made that is you ask all your employees to take the same hit in terms of salary and bonus then you may have negative impacts. The across the board action give the sense that “we are all in this together team”. But it ignores that fact that you have a number of high performers who are still performing and don’t deserve the same hit as those who are not performing.

It is is time to reassure your high performers and continue to reward them. Otherwise your competitors will be scouting for talent and find your disenchanted “punished” talent.

Remember across the board cuts is not management, it is just reactionary, manage expenditure and people to get the best results.

Tim

Posted under News

Job ads took their biggest monthly fall since internet and newspaper ads were combined in 1999, dropping 10.4per cent in February to 161,583 a week, or 39.8per cent lower than a year ago.

Posted under Uncategorized

Hi,

I am fascinated by these Craig posters. Who is he, does anyone know him?

Signed Craig No.3

Signed Craig No4

Tim

Posted under Uncategorized

Hi,

this is way off topic but very strange and amusing. Has anyone else spotted these posters appearing in Melbourne. They are signed Craig and he has some strange ideas.

Here is the first two, I have more to post but I will put them up progressively.

Craig's Poster No.1

Craig's Poster No.2

Tim

Posted under Uncategorized

The Age has picked up on the Coles Trading Terms issue in today’s paper and online. In an article by Ari Sharp it highlights the tension between Coles and Suppliers and indicated that there are ongoing demands for more terms and the offer of nothing in return. That is except if you count maintaining your listings or reducing your losses as nothing.

Bend Over

The money is being earmarked by the buyers as for “Store Refurbs”, and there is no negotiation, it is take it or leave it.

Have a read of The Age article and comment if you dare!

Tim

Posted under News, Retailers

Interviewed on the ABC’s World Today last Friday, Woolworth’s CEO, Michael Luscombe described the job losses at Pacific Brands as a “Tragedy”. As reprinted on the ABC website;

“MICHAEL LUSCOMBE: I think it’s a tragedy that we are talking about anybody losing their job let alone 1800 people. We have worked very closely with Pacific Dunlop because, you know, this has been a business that has not been without its challenges for a number of years.”

Give me a break, it is Woolworths and Coles who brought these job losses about. The vast majority of PacBrands products are sold through these two retailers and their subsidiary outlets.

Coles’ and Woolworth’s buyers have continued to put pressure on prices, both everyday and promotional deals as well as adding to the costs of doing business. Increase in trading terms, pushing logistics costs back onto suppliers, reduced ranging, increase in Home Brands etc.

It is a tragedy that people all over the country are losing their jobs, but take some responsibility Mr Luscombe, don’t start crying crocodile tears.

Tim

Posted under Jobs

I am starting my Twitter experience today and will start posting FMCG jobs on Twitter.

Please sign up to my posts at http://twitter.com/fmcgblog

please give me any advise or feedback.

Thanks

Tim

Posted under Uncategorized