May 28th, 2010 by Ralph Burns, a top-performing sales manager with over 20 years of sales and sales management experience.
When you were interviewing for your current job, you probably prepped yourself for days, making sure you did all your research on the position, spoke to the few people who know the job well, maybe got a little background information on your boss-to-be.
On the day of the interview you woke up that morning, you might have rehearsed your answers to some of the potential interview questions while you were in the shower.
Maybe you made extra sure that you got a nice haircut was just so and wore your best suit and even shined those beat up Bostonians.
The point is this, when you interviewed, you made every possible attempt to represent yourself in the best possible way.
In short, that day, unless you were sick, you presented yourself in the best possible way you knew h
May 24th, 2010 by Amanda Musto, Social Media Marketing Representative at Treeline, Inc
Treeline is happy to announce the newest member of the team, Alex Bender. His high energy, positive attitude and sales experience are a great addition to Treeline.
Alex possesses a passion for sales, which he attributes to being born into a family of sales professionals. Born Edward Alex Bender, a family name that he shares with his father and grandfather, he entered a world full of hardworking and driven sales representatives, vice presidents, and CEO’s. It seemed inevitable that Alex would also chose to go down the same sales career path.
When asked why he wanted to go into sales and not chose an alternate career, Alex replied, “I love that with sales you have the ability to control your own destiny. I quickly realized at a young age that if I worked hard I could have any lifestyle that I desire.”
Alex graduated from the University of Massachusetts in May 2009. While at UMass, he was the Vice President of a business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, and was responsible for recruiting new members. He also worked at the college newspaper as an Advertisement Representative and after two years he was promoted to Advertisement Manager.
Alex’s dedication and passion for sales make it no surprise that he quickly attained a job after college. He recognized the tough job market, but was optimistic he would be one of the few graduates to obtain a full-time job.
Alex’s optimism and hard-work paid off because a month after graduating he obtained a position at a software company in Boston as an Account Executive. Alex enjoyed selling software, but he knew that he wanted more. The fast-paced, evolving environment he desired in his career was missing. He contacted one of our consultants at Treeline and was told about an open recruiting position, which happened to be at Treeline.
All the pieces fit together; with the attitude, personality and sales experience Treeline looks for in their consultants he was offered the position and he accepted. Alex’s acceptance comes at the perfect time with the new launch of Treeline’s search tool, DADO as well as recent reports that the job market is picking up. Welcome, Alex!
Join Our Network! Treeline, Inc. has created one of the largest sales communities on the internet.
May 21st, 2010 by Sean Cashman, Senior Consultant at Treeline Incorporated
“Some days you are the pigeon, other days you feel like the statue.”
Every day I wake up, get out of bed, start the coffee, turn the shower on and as I brush my teeth, I look in the mirror and ask myself, “What kind of day am I going to make it, today?” I take full accountability that no matter what events occur today – I will always have full control over how I react to those events and how I let them affect me. In the book, Man’s Search for Meaning by Dr. Viktor Frankl (which I am currently re-reading), he talks about that, as humans, the only thing that we have absolute control over is our attitude and how we react to what is happening to us. Dr. Frankl mastered his ability to control his attitude while being held captive in concentration camps during WWII. He paid witness to some of the most brutal and savage events of modern history and he gives thanks to his ability to control his attitude and outlook on life for his survival.
The book is humbling but it certainly gives you some long lasting perspective as to how we handle ourselves, day in and day out. Some days, the events lead to having a good day full of good conversations, good dealings and ultimately, for us sales people, good money. Then there are those other days…those days where nothing is going your way, nobody is happy with you, and it seems as though the bad news won’t stop coming. I’m talking about bad days. These are the days where you are truly tested – can you keep going or do you pack it up and call it quits. Do you allow the frustration from one event carry over and affect your whole day?!
We have all done it. Walk out to find an unjust parking ticket on your car and then you get on a sales call that goes south – you’re fed up and frustrated. Because your fuse is short, you blow up at a friend or colleague and then it spirals out of control…bad day.
If you control your attitude from the get go, you can stop the bad day from spiraling out of control. Parking ticket?! – bummer, but could have been worse, you could have been towed. Lost a deal?! – happens every day and it will never change. Better now than later, a ‘no’ is always better than a ‘maybe.’ Now, you are free to go hunt another prospect that will ultimately be a better client.
Whatever is happening in your day – stop reacting and think about it. Are you going to let this single event ruin your entire day? Make the choice to control your attitude – don’t let someone else control what kind of day you are going to have – that is in your hands. This approach will not magically prevent bad days from occurring, but it will help give you a better perspective and a better chance to get your day back on track. After all, without bad days – how would we recognize the good days?
Have you had a bad day at work that you want to share with us? Leave us a comment and let us know.
Join Our Network!Treeline, Inc. has created one of the largest sales communities on the internet.
May 17th, 2010 by Dan Fantasia, Founder and CEO of Treeline Incorporated
Dan Fantasia, the CEO of Treeline, Inc has been a member of the Dana-Farber Leadership Council since 2005. The Leadership Council was founded in 1999 and aims to raise money and increase awareness of the lifesaving work that goes on at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
For the past 5 years, Treeline has attended their educational gatherings, orientations, and networking events, such as the Eaton Vance Rooftop Reception (see picture above). The Eaton Vance event is a great way to network with fellow members, as well as learn firsthand from the Doctors that work at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute about the accomplishments and struggles they currently face. We gained insight into what they have accomplished due to contributions from leadership members, and what they hope to accomplish in the future with our aide.
Treeline also participates in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, taking place on September 12th along the same route as the Boston Marathon. Last year, the event had more than 7,700 walkers participate from around the world and since it started in 1989 it has raised more than $60 million. All proceeds of the walk go to the research and care to support patients with all forms of cancer. Our goal is to walk 5 miles and we would really appreciate your encouragement and support.
If you would like to help us raise money for the Jimmy Fund please go to the Jimmy Fund Website.
May 14th, 2010 by Amanda Musto, Social Media Marketing Representative at Treeline, Inc
Most people are on their best behavior when meeting with hiring managers during a job interview, but sometimes, interviewing applicants do things which are nothing short of bizarre. Executives were asked to recount the most embarrassing job interview moments they had heard about or witnessed themselves. Here are some of their strangest, embarrassing, amusing, and often unbelievable responses:
One candidate sent his sister to interview in his place.
One person was dancing during the interview. He kept saying things like, ‘I love life!’ and ‘Oh yeah!
A job applicant came in for an interview with a cockatoo on his shoulder.
The candidate stopped the interview and asked if the interviewer had a cigarette.
One group had a man who walked out of an interview into a glass door and the glass shattered.
It’s helpful to do your homework before a job interview and truly understand the position, and the company you are interviewing with. Taking the time to do the right research is very important, and can really affect the outcome of your interview. Here are some examples of job seekers who would have benefited from more preparation:
The candidate got his companies confused and repeatedly mentioned the strengths of a competing firm, thinking that’s who he was interviewing with.
A guy called the hiring manager by the wrong name during the entire interview.
A prominent retail company asked their job candidate why she wanted to work for them, and she said she didn’t want to work in retail anymore.
Most employers observe applicants’ body language to better understand how friendly and honest they are. Unfortunately, these job candidates could have used some improvement in that area:
An interviewee put his bubble gum in his hand, forgot about it, and then shook the hand of the woman conducting the interview.
A job seeker gestured with his hands so much that he sat on them to stop it.
A candidate fell asleep during the interview.
Dressing appropriately and professionally can dramatically increase your chances of landing the job. Regrettably for these next job hopefuls, the wrong attire took them out of the running:
Someone showed up for an interview in pajamas and his hair not combed, like he had just rolled out of bed.
The candidate had a big rip in the back of his pants.
While job seekers should give complete and compelling responses to the set of questions asked of them during their interview, saying too much can work against you, as these next examples demonstrate:
An applicant was doing really well in the interview until she got to the reason she left her other job. She told them everyone was out to get her.
A candidate insulted the interviewer on his tie.
Although extreme, these examples illustrate the importance of interviewing basics. To be considered for a job, candidates must prepare well, dress appropriately and provide compelling information about themselves to persuade their interviewers . They should not babble and offer too much information which could negatively affect the outcome of the interview. They should also stick to the questions asked of them, and keep their responses simple.
Tips to avoid embarrassing job interview moments:
Do your homework. Study the company and ask the interviewer relevant questions that demonstrate your interest in the firm and show your desire to succeed.
Dress to impress. Err on the conservative side with a suit in a neutral tone. For woman, make sure your skirts and blouses are not too tight, or too short. “Test drive” any new interviewing outfit before the interview to make sure it’s comfortable, fits correctly, and presents the right impression.
Don’t delay. Plan to arrive at your interview at least 15 minutes early. Give yourself extra time if you are unfamiliar with the area.
Keep it real. Offer examples and anecdotes that help illustrate your strengths, but do not embellish or lie.
Resist rambling. Once you have answered an interview question, stop talking. Allow for periods of silence while the hiring manager formulates the next query.
Remember, even careful preparation can’t prevent all mishaps:
A candidate cut his lip shaving, and it was bleeding profusely during the interview.
The applicant became ill during the interview.
The applicant spilled coffee on her suit.
Handling problems gracefully may actually impress your interviewers. But if the situation can’t be overcome, you should quickly move on and focus on the next opportunity. Your mishap might be embarrassing at the time, but it’s is often a learning experience that will someday make an entertaining story.
Comment and let us know about an interesting interview you or someone you know has experienced!
May 11th, 2010 by Amanda Musto, Social Media Marketing Representative at Treeline, Inc
DADO: a very functional and strong method for connecting two pieces of wood; when both pieces fit together snugly, the result is a “perfect fit”. Our innovative web based job search tool does just that: matches qualified candidates to a company’s hiring needs; ultimately, achieving a perfect match.
The idea is so simple; a company inputs information on the type of sales person they are looking for by means of filling out a questionnaire about their company and existing sales force. The result: their ideal candidate. Treeline has completely streamlined the entire recruiting process, saving our clients and candidates the frustration and hassle of combing through job boards, only to be disappointed.
For job seekers, by joining DADO you become part of a community of sales professionals and have the ability to demonstrate what makes you stand-out among countless others vying for the same positions. With a click of a button, your Treeline Consultant has increased your chances of getting noticed by potential employers.
Thousands of sales professionals have already joined DADO and our clients are already experiencing the benefits. DADO creates a clearer picture of who employers are hiring and a better understanding of how that person fits into their organization. A candidate’s profile includes a photo and video of their potential new hire and presents their sales stats, as well as references and their resume.
With the launch of DADO, we hope to have changed the way the recruiting industry does business.
May 7th, 2010 by Amanda Musto, Social Media Marketing Representative at Treeline, Inc
One-Liners Hiring Managers have seen on Job Applications:
1. I procrastinate, especially when the task is unpleasant.
2. Personal interests: donating blood. Fourteen gallons so far.
3. As indicted, I have over five years of analyzing investments.
4. Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chainstore.
5. Note: Please don’t misconstrue my 14 jobs as ‘ job-hopping’ . I have never quit a job.
6. Marital status: often. Children: various.
7. Reason for leaving last job: They insisted that all employees get to work by 8:45 am every morning. I couldn’t work under those conditions.
8. The company made me a scapegoat, just like my three previous employers.
9. Finished eighth in my class of ten.
10. References: none. I’ve left a path of destruction behind me.
“Funny Resumes – Will and Guy’s Humour – One Liners from Job Applications.” Web log post. Will and Guy’s Funny Jokes, Short Stories and Amusing Pictures. Web. 07 May 2010. <http://www.guy-sports.com/humor/jokes/jokes_resume.htm>.
