Jobseekers Employers Applicants Inc.   Testimonial Blue Jay Tickets... Emily Harlick.....Bank Hold Ups The Buckinghams, A Birthday And Doing What You Love To Do Grumble, Family, More Grumbles, And Guitar Playing Plant Tours, GM, and Levers Preparation and More Preparation Spring, Freda And The News Job Searching 2 Fingers, 2 Kids And An Xbox New Camper, Barking Dogs and Too Long Christmas and the New Year 2012 Testimonial Martin, I just wanted to mention to you that I have been very impressed with your role. I believe that I mentioned to you that I have had some experiences with other recruiters and those experiences have not been nearly as positive. I've been wanting to mention this to you for a while but thought it would be more appropriate if I waited until it was figured out what was going to happen with the position. Specifically, I was impressed that you listened and that you were respectful of my current situation. You communicated by email where appropriate and you called the correct phone numbers at the appropriate times of the day or on the weekend as we had discussed. You also kept me well informed at all times which was much appreciated. I know that the points that I am mentioning are likely second nature to you, but it has been my experience that you are the exception in the industry. Please keep up the great work. Thanks, Ryan Blue Jay Tickets... Emily Harlick.....Bank Hold Ups This summer we had purchased online a pair of Blue Jay tickets (best seats) for a Saturday afternoon game. At 8.00 pm Friday evening Emily checked the tickets and saw that they were for Friday night and not Saturday aarrrgh!!! Unperturbed we went back on line and reordered best available for Saturday. We were in the process of purchasing the tickets when a message popped up "Time Out" aarrrgh! We dove back in and reordered and voila we finally had purchased 2 tickets for Saturday. We printed our receipt and realized that the online non human system had billed us for 4 tickets aarrrgh!! A pair of Blue Jay tickets had now cost us 6 tickets. After many early morning phone calls and emails to Blue Jay headquarters we were refunded one pair. The cost of 4 tickets, then a couple of beers and dogs, and roast beef sandwiches at the game and we were in a deficit situation.....highway robbery My partner Emily returned to the banking industry in 2006. She had been considering this spring rejoining Applicants Inc. full-time. I wanted her back as she brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and positive personality with her. After a number of years of marriage I knew best not to push the subject as Emily is very much her own person. Her decision was spurred by 2 hold ups at her branch. Both crimes involved armed perpetrators. The first one said to Emily "Don't make me use this thing`. In the second the two thieves ran in guns drawn.....real robbery. Welcome back Emily. She continues to tell me daily what a pleasure it is working with me again: Martin Harlick The Buckinghams, A Birthday And Doing What You Love To Do As a teenager of the sixties I enjoyed the music, politics and changing times. Many weekends to my parents chagrin were spent in Yorkville walking the streets and visiting the clubs. One evening upstairs in one of the psychedelically painted houses a 16mm projector played a radical film produced by North Vietnam; a different perspective. One of my favourite 60's groups was The Buckinghams. While walking to work at my Dad`s variety store (Becker's) in Toronto on Sunday afternoons, I would listed to Chum AM on a little 6 volt radio with the one ear plug. I would sing along to what I thought was ``Canada Drag`` (lousy reception or poor hearing) found out I later had the lyrics wrong....... the song was' Kind of a Drag'. I rediscovered on the web The Buckinghams, who had the #1 hit and ordered a recent CD. It was great to revel in the old and new sounds of the band. I recently celebrated a birthday and realized how far I've journeyed from the 60's. It was illuminating and a downer. I received an email from The Buckinghams asking me if I would like to purchase their new 2010 DVD. I was in. My old band still doing it 40 years later and l could watch and hear them. What could be better? The following are two emails between Carl Giammarese the lead singer of The Buckinghams and me. By the way Carl is older than me: Carl, Emily and I watched your DVD. Your show was brilliant. The sound was tight, the vocals were resonant and on key. And it looked like the band was enjoying themselves ; more importantly Emily was looking to see if you were wearing a wedding band Cheers, Martin, Martin Thank you for your input, I'm glad to hear you are enjoying it. We really enjoyed making that DVD, and we do still truly have a great time performing. I must admit, I have the same enthusiasm performing as I did in the late 60's. Our band has been together a long time so we are a very tight group. I don't wear a wedding ring, but I am married. I hope Emily is okay with that, ha ha. Take care, Carl Grumble, Family, More Grumbles, And Guitar Playing This past Saturday Emily and I drove down to Hamilton invited to my niece's wedding. My sister has 4 daughters and this was the 3rd wedding. The wedding service was long and the minister lost me at "Hello". I grumbled on the way to my sisters, continued grumbling on the way to the service and peaked as we drove to the dinner reception. I was horrified to find out that we were sitting at the 1st table right at the front with my sister and brother-in-law. We were joined at the table by my brother, sister in law their daughter and my 86 year old mother. Emily ignored me because of my mood and only spoke with my mom and sister in law. Then the clouds broke and the sun shone for the next hour and a half because my brother Mark, brother in law Steve and me discussed nothing but sports, movies and more sports. It was nirvana. I 'm warming up to the 4th wedding invitation and I'm looking forward to more discourse on important sport subjects. My son the nurse has joined a band in Peterborough called Union City. He plays bass. And I like to tell anyone who will listen that they have an important gig in Toronto November 3rd at the Mod Club. The evening is for the Alzheimer's Foundation. I was relating this to my brother at the wedding and I puffed up as I said "the tickets are $50.00 in advance or $75.00 at the door" (as if the cost equated to their excellent musicianship) my brother answered "Yes I know that already and their next gig is in Montreal. All you want to know is on his Face Book page". I tried note to show how crestfallen I was. The next day, I phoned my son. With indignation and grumbling ringing in my voice, I asked "Hi son, how come you didn't tell me that you're playing in Montreal and it's on your Facebook page?" He answered laughing "Dad, The Montreal House is a club in Peterborough". (He lives in Peterborough). Hey dad how was the wedding....??? I'm chastened, wiser, and happy that my assumptions would bestow such a great weekend...... Martin Harlick President Applicants Inc. Plant Tours, GM, and Levers Over the years I have toured a number of manufacturing facilities and have gleaned a little bit of knowledge and experience from each tour. The current manufacturing favorites are 'LEAN' and the ERP 'Visual Manufacturing'. In the late 80's GM coined or borrowed the term 'Synchronous Manufacturing'. At that time I toured a brand spanking new, JIT, Tier One facility that manufactured a complete automotive assembly that was shipped to the AMC (now Chrysler) facility in Brampton and GM Oshawa. The Plant Manager gave me a very detailed tour. The processes included; leading edge robotic welding, bar coded parts and automated assembly. The completed assemblies were packaged and carried by robot carriers and placed into waiting trucks. The trucks arrived JIT at AMC and GM to unload their cargoes so that the assemblies would be matched to specific cars that were travelling down the AMC assembly line. The plant tour ended at the quality inspection station. I believe the quality program was the GM 'Targets of Excellence.' The overhead conveyor paused in front of this very tall, large woman. She visually and manually inspected each assembly which included a lever. The assembly's lever wouldn't budge. The Plant Manager looked at me smiled and said, "Martin, we have invested millions in this facility and have the latest technology however all is dependent on a Canadian Tire product" The Quality department lady picked up a large rubber mallet and hammered the lever with force. She put the hammer down and pulled on the lever which now moved easily. In the 1390's a rhyme was coined that starts and ends "For want of a nail…….a kingdom was lost" GM is now advertising that they are 'Reinventing Themselves' and will be 'The new GM'. I wonder where that mallet is. Martin Harlick President Applicants Inc. Preparation and More Preparation Today’s job market is fiercely competitive as companies have a wider selection of candidates to interview. It is up to you to prepare for each and every interview. I am continually surprised by candidates that do not do the required due diligence prior to the interview. I have listed below some common sense reminders of what to do before and during the interview. Check out directions to where you are going and if time permits drive to the interview site prior to the interview Investigate the company on the web including news articles, web sites and competitors Review the job description or job advertisement Write down the names of the individual (s) who will be interviewing you Prepare some questions. The interviewer usually asks at the end of the interview, “Do you have any questions?” A poor answer would be “No you have explained everything” or the interviewer is met by silence. A positive answer could be “What are the short term expectations for the person in this role?” Or “Will the company be implementing equipment, systems or software that could impact this position?” Rehearse the answers that you have prepared on why you left your recent position or why are you looking List your strengths and weaknesses and please be realistic. A weakness that might be perceived as a strength….’I tend to take on too much work’ or ‘I like to do it right’ Spring, Freda And The News We finally got a taste of spring this week (Feb. 10th - 11th) the temperature soared a few degrees above freezing and the snow banks at the end of the driveway are no longer colossal pillars. A little warm sun goes a long way. I'm trying my darndest not to read or listen to all the negative news. It's like a cold, dark, long winter pockmarked with bailouts and stimulus things. All we need is a little ray of sunshine in the news and people will start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 'It's amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world every day just exactly fits in the newspaper'. Jerry Seinfeld We have a friend and her name is Freda and this Saturday (Feb 14th) she is celebrating her 80th and she is blind. I'm a wee bit of a church goer, Freda… well she has a prayer line, goes to church regularly, and doesn't drink. Her standard is well beyond my poor example. When we're together she gently teases me about what my life is missing. She is irritatingly pleasant, happy and a ray of sunshine; in her company she always makes you feel at home. I wonder what the economic news would be like if Freda were composing and reading it. She's a realist and would tell it like it is however; it would be mixed with more hope, laughter, common sense and the warmth of soon to be spring. Freda's news would most probably start like this. Freda's news would most probably start like this. "Hi everyone, it's so nice to be talking to you. Touching my apartment window the sun felt warmer on my face. It seemed a little brighter. Yes sirree I think spring is on its way. And now for the news."……. Job Searching So here are 12 days of New Year job searching Martin Thoughts/Tips/Opinions 1. Clean up your resume and have it retooled by a professional 2. Ask a colleague to interview you and find out how bad you are 3. Get a haircut, clean your shoes and suit 4. Interviews are like pearls so prepare, prepare and prepare and rehearse, rehearse and rehearse 5. You have a network so start talking to it or find it 6. Go find a part time or contract position ASAP while you’re job searching 7. Go to the library, get on the internet to learn and talk to colleagues about job searching 8. Keep notes and document your search 9. Attitude is 99% 10. Project a positive, polite aura when dealing with prospective employers and recruiters 11. Recruiters don’t find you jobs 12. Happy New Year 2 Fingers, 2 Kids And An Xbox I hope you had an enjoyable summer. There has been some change with our small family. Our son has been working as an RN this past year and a half and now our daughter also an RN has started employment this September on the Psychiatric floor. You know the inside joke, 'living with us prepared her for this choice'. I wish them and your children well as they embark on their careers. When I started (many moons ago) as a career recruiter everything snail mail was in vogue. I remember our first fax machine and Bob S, setting up our first on line computer. I still type with 2 fingers, put real 1st class stamps on all the Applidex envelopes, care about doing the right things for my clients, and hope the Toronto Maple Leafs will contend. Both kids now have Blue Ray Xboxes and that's pretty cool technology. It's tough keeping up with new technology. I try to stay current, in the loop, modern, with it, and hip. I silently lust for an IPod, IPhone or Blackberry but I'm not sure I need one. My cell phone keeps receiving marketing text alerts and I ask why. I try and check out all the things my phone does and when I experiment it costs me at the end of the month with surprise extra add ons to my bill. I am a technological newbie who enjoys playing with the gadgets. Much to the chagrin of commuters and baseball fans I enjoyed snapping pictures this summer with my camera phone of Emily and me on the subway and at the ball games. When I visit my son I'm going to ask him how the Xbox controller works. I have two very strong typing fingers; it's the thumbs I worry about. Cheers to snail mail to email, Pong to Halo 2, and Atari me and to my 2 kids who grew up in the technological revolution. Martin Harlick President Applicants Inc. New Camper, Barking Dogs and Too Long Last month we purchased a small camper called an R POD and decided on a return visit to the Barrie KOA, where we enjoyed camping years ago with our children. On Friday night we were up at the game center sitting on a picnic table under the stars, watching the Argo game on an outdoor 50” TV. Groups of young children all sun tanned and energetic would run past us screaming in delight. You couldn’t ask for a better evening. Saturday morning I walked over to the dog park. Why dogs need a park, I don`t know. One camper was kneeling outside the dog park with her pet. I asked “Why you don’t join in?” She replied, “Boris has issues.” Later a camper arrived and set up behind us and to my dismay the owners brought along their children, a pair of barking, emotionally unstable miniature Daschund/Jack Russell crosses (why I asked would you want to cross those breeds). The dog owner called them his girls. The quiet afternoon was punctuated with the two dogs incessant barking. A dog walked by......bark......a person spoke...bark.....a door opened... bark. The oblivious owner sat in his chair smiling at his perfect, little creatures. It started raining and the girls went inside their camper, bliss, not a bark for the rest of the day. I know I’m barking up the wrong tree here, so let’s get to the point. You are reading this because you are looking for a new opportunity or you want that right employee. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, this old dog however, is open for business and still learning. So please connect with Emily and Martin at harlick@applicants.ca .......Emily wants a new a dog...mmm!! Christmas and the New Year 2012 It is the season to give thanks. It is also a time to reflect upon those less fortunate: the hungry, the homeless, the sick and most importantly the children of the world who are in need. Charles Dickens wrote “And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us and all of us, And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless US, Every One!” Thanks and best wishes to all the people we worked with this year. Emily and I wish you a very Happy Christmas and a terrific 2012 Martin Harlick   © 1998- Applicants Inc.