With the year-end approaching and downsizing picking up again, particularly in the telecommunications, health care, and industrial goods sectors as well as financial services, Ayers’ Career Services Group continues to see successful landings across a variety of other industries.  Following is a sample of how we’ve partnered with candidates.

Case study #1:  In his previous position, the candidate had jumped into the world of online business as Director of Product Marketing for a Web-based medical-services firm.  With successful start-up experience on his résume and a personality well suited to that kind of environment, he was a good fit for a West Coast online company that wanted to expand its footprint in the East.  The company, an established provider of Internet-based software solutions for medical groups, was looking for a Regional Director of Operations.  The Ayers Group helped the candidate position himself with the C-level decision makers and negotiate a compensation package that included future stock options if and when the company goes public.  Today, he is expanding and managing a sales force and employing his entrepreneurial skills to grow the operation in a new marketplace.   

Case study #2:  The former Director of Design for a nationally known consumer products corporation was contacted by a headhunter to interview for the Design Manager position at a leading bedding and bath-products firm.  Ayers worked with the candidate on packaging her superior creative talents and design ability with her in-depth experience in production management to make a compelling case for hiring and counseled her on interviewing strategies.  The result was a huge move for the candidate in the design world to a very well-known brand name where she is now in charge of designer collections.  

Case study #3:   Through networking, the candidate—a former Senior Director in the Special Markets Department of a large publishing house—learned of a position as Vice President for Sales and Marketing in an expanding publishing house.  The job involved hiring and training a sales force and structuring operations in New York to build a division and establish a strong regional presence for the company.  Ayers helped prepare the candidate to showcase her extensive corporate background and the best practices she would be bringing to the new role by speaking specifically to the employer’s growth and marketing issues.  Following this strategy, the candidate “sold” herself into one of the highest paid positions of the company.   

Case study #4:   One candidate, a former senior financial executive, decided to focus exclusively on the private-equity world.  He recognized that this strategy would require more than the usual investment in time and patience because it involved getting onto the radar screens of a broad universe of private-equity firms to find the right opportunity.  Ayers assisted on strategy and research, helping the candidate define and identify that universe, and invited him to remain as a member of an  Ayers-sponsored senior networking group after his formal outplacement program was completed.  This gave him continued access to a peer-level support group and to his consultant, who facilitated the biweekly meetings.  After an extended search, the candidate landed a CFO position with a private-equity firm that was purchasing a cosmetics company in southern California.  The objective was to expand the company’s product lines, possibly merge it with another small firm, and take it public after three to five years.  The candidate received an excellent compensation package with an equity component.  Although the search lasted nine months, the position was a perfect fit for this individual.  

Candidates’ names are withheld to respect their privacy. To arrange to speak with any of these candidates regarding their job-search experiences, contact Doug O’Connor at doug.oconnor@ayers.com.