Category Archives: Media

Venturion president Don Huse appears on NBC affiliate KXAN in Austin

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AUSTIN (KXAN) – The holidays may be a time of cheer for some, but for others it may signal a time to look for a new job.

Don Huse of Venturion talked to anchor Brian Sanders on Sunday morning about the fact that companies may be cutting personnel at what is often viewed as the happiest time of the year.

Often the signals are there: a boss who makes less eye contact; less face-to-face time with a manager; receiving a poor evaluation when you’ve had good evaluations in the past; and extensive department cutbacks.

Be prepared, Huse said. Offer to work in a contract basis for your company. Know your company’s severance policies and request outplacement services if they are not part of your severance packages.

Whether or not the top termination warning signs apply, employees should continually update their resumes, build and maintain their career networks, and keep their professional knowledge and skills current.

There are also measures employers can take to ease the transition of departing workers until they find new jobs. A Venturion survey of displaced employees the firm has counseled during the past two years validates the value of providing outplacement career counseling services.

After receiving outplacement assistance, more than six times as many displaced employees reported having excellent or very good job search skills than before they entered the programs.

“Terminated employees continue to enter a very challenging job market. Some have not looked for new employment in several years and their job-search skills are rusty or outdated,” Huse said. “Other former employees are experiencing their first reductions in force and need additional resources and support to cope with the stress and anxiety.”

Companies can provide outplacement career counseling to departing employees to ease their transition.

“Outplacement assistance upholds the morale of workers who remain as well as those who are displaced. It reduces employees’ anxiety and reflects corporate social responsibility,” added Huse.

And evaluate whether you want to continue on your current career path or strike out on your own.

“Many people are too upset and emotional after losing their jobs to quickly launch a search. Give yourself some time to re-assess your career and determine what you want to do next. Conduct a thorough career check-up and develop an action plan,” said Huse.

Holiday parties may not be the time to ask for job leads, but it could be a time to gather business cards. People you mingle with may be your step to your next job.

WOAI – Companies are Hiring Again, But the Way You Get That New Job has Changed

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  After hunkering down and dealing with the impact of nine to eleven percent unemployment for more than three years, indications are emerging that the long jobs drought is lifting, but local experts say the types of jobs that are available in the marketplace, and even the process for getting a job has changed dramatically since before the recession, 1200 WOAI news reports.

  Don Huse, President of the San Antonio office of OI Partners-Venturion, the global talent management firm, says the hiring process will be new to people who have not gotten a job since before the recession began.

  First of all, he says the process will take more time, and more than just the manager will interview you, and will have input into the hiring process.

  “If more people have a good feel for that candidate, then the likelihood that the candidate will fit in as part of the team increases,” Huse says.

  He says the chances are far better than before that you will be hired without having seen the new office, he says flying in a dozen candidates for in person interviews has changed.  More interviews are being connected via Skype, through traditional phone calls, and even through social media interaction.

  And while previously, ‘lone warriors,’ people who could go out and get results on their own were valued, today’s work place demands more teamwork.

  “I think one of the biggest things is to have a reputation as a team player,” he said.

  And he says, thanks to instant information through the Internet and social media sites, reputations, both good and bad, that a worker obtained in the past is more likely to follow them to a new job.

  “The person that works hard but is a little abrasive, a little harder to work with, that person is going to have more and more trouble,” he said.

  While computer and Internet savvy is important for any job, Huse says the business site ‘Linked In’ is more critical than Facebook in conducting a job search.

  “Linked In is definitely used more,” he says.  “Facebook is used, but so many people have their Facebook sites private.”

  54% of companies say they will hire ‘more employees’ in 2011 than they did last year, and half of all companies are far more concerned about retaining employees than they were in past years.

  He says the number one trait that employers are looking for in new hires is ‘related experience in their industries,’ followed by ‘team oriented,’ ‘customer focused,’ and ‘track record for achieving employers’ goals.’

  Interestingly, ‘work hard’ is just the fifth most important qualification, with only 56% of companies saying they are looking specifically for that quality in new workers.

New Year, New Job?

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 Venturion President Don Huse was interviewed by Kens 5 reporter Nadia Ramdass:

http://www.kens5.com/news/local/kicking-off-the-new-year-could-mean-a-new-job/353031507

Kicking off the New Year could mean a new job

What s a new year without making those New Year s resolutions?

While many people pledge to start the year by shedding a few pounds, others want some more weight in their wallet. And for some, the resolution is a new job or perhaps a promotion.

To turn your career advancement resolution into a reality, we sought the advice of one of the country s leading career assessment experts.

Don Huse is the president and chief executive officer of Venturion. It is the oldest career management firm in the San Antonio area.

Through our Q&A session, this career coach provides proven advice on how to market yourself in this job market. He also offers strategies on how to ask your current employer for a promotion and even a raise.

Q&A with Don Huse 

Q: How often, if at all, do you hear from people making a New Year s resolution that involves finding a new job? Is this a realistic resolution to have? 

Huse: It is natural at the beginning of a new year to take stock of our lives. Evaluating how we feel about our work is an important part of this. I would encourage anyone to determine what they would like to change in the next year, and then map out the steps to realize the change. The problem is that, as with most resolutions, we tend to be long on intention and short on execution.

Q: For those seeking a new job, what advice do you offer to make this happen? 

Huse: Be purposeful. First, determine what you would really like to do. Then do some investigating to determine the organizations for which you would like to work. The key is to work informally, to have conversations with people who know the organization, and can make referrals deeper into it. Be prepared to discuss your value proposition to the employer. This kind of targeted strategy is more work, but the results are far better than clicking the mouse and hoping to get a response. If you are unable to achieve your objective on your own, it may be time to seek out a qualified career coach.

Q: From your experience, what are the most effective platforms to identify and locate new jobs? 

Huse: While there clearly are exceptions, most studies indicate that the majority of the jobs are found informally. Suppose there is going to be an exciting job opportunity with a company that is known as a great employer. They treat their people well and pay them well. Before this job gets published, word of mouth is spreading. People who work there are telling people they know about the opportunity, offering assistance in pursuing it. By the time it gets published, they likely have a candidate in mind. Don t ignore the published openings, but the best strategy is to find and talk with people in position to know about the kind of jobs that interest you.

Q: for those who are out of work, how does one stand out from the pack? 

Huse: Most people will present what they have done in the past in the form of a resume and hope that a prospective employer will figure out where they might fit in their organization. I encourage people to do the opposite. Do some research. Figure out what the employer needs and where you can contribute. Tell them specifically what you can help them do; then let your past accomplishments support that value proposition.

Q: For employees who are currently satisfied with their employers yetare seeking a job promotion, how should they approach their supervisors?

Huse: Be clear about the difference you have made in the past and why you are a fit for the new position you seek. People get promoted when an employer believes that the promotion is in the best interest of the organization and will help achieve organizational objectives.

Q. How should you ask your current employer for a raise? 

Huse: You are in a strong position to ask for a raise when you can clearly demonstrate the value you have brought to an organization. People don’t get raises because they need one or want one. They get raises because of their value to the organization. If you’re unable to clearly articulate the reasons you deserve a raise, it is likely your employer will be unclear as well.

So, for those with a New Year s resolution to either find a new job or seek a promotion in your current one, we learned a few things. First, you are not alone as many people consider such a change in the new year. Second, from the advice of our resident expert Don Huse, we now have some helpful tips that will hopefully set us up for success in 2011 and beyond.

Express-News interviews Venturion President Don Huse

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Many people complain about the difficulty they experience in trying to change careers. Express-News writer Jessica Belasco interviewed Venturion President Don Huse regarding how to successfully change careers:

If you’re contemplating switching to a new profession, the pros suggest:   

  • Identify your skills – things you’re good at and enjoy doing, says Don Huse, president of Venturion, a San Antonio career-management firm. Analyze your accomplishments. What do they have in common? Reflect on your passions and interests.
  • Investigate industries, companies and jobs your skills might match. Talk to people in that field to make sure you understand what’s involved.
  • Figure out how to communicate your value to a new organization or industry. Targeted networking is key. Try social networks such as LinkedIn. “People make big changes of careers all the time,” Huse says. “They rarely do it being discovered in a résumé on a desk or in an in-box. They usually do it talking to people.”
– Jessica Belasco

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/People-who-ve-turned-their-passions-into-new-678910.php#ixzz2RTUGj1vb