I started my career in recruiting in the mid 1990's.  I left in 1998 to pursue a career in sales.  I re-entered the recruiting realm in 2008 and have not looked back.  Here is a story about one of my sales positions and why ultimately I ended back into recruiting.  I truly struggled trying to find my own niche.  

From 2000-2003 I worked for a…

Why?  

Why did that happen?  Why didn't that deal close?  Why did the company fail? Why did you get let go?…

I have very fond memories growing up.  I had the best father and mother a child could ask for in parents.  My mother was always there for me.  She had a hot meal ready for our family every night.  We always had everything we wanted, and more than we ever really needed.  Both parents taught me morally what was right and wrong. My father taught me how to be a man and…

Today I dropped off Kennedy, my daughter, at Kindergarten just like I do every day.  When I was walking her to class, I was deep in thought.   Kennedy was holding my hand tightly and my 2 year old son, Trace, was in my arms.  I passed the cross-guard and said “hello” just like I do every morning.  I walked in the school doors and dropped her off in the cafeteria with…

Blogging.  Like all things, it will eventually die.  Not totally, but we are witnessing the beginning of it right now.  Why?  People are growing tired of reading articles from so called “experts” who really have no credentials. 

We are beginning to see way too many people attempt to write when they have absolutely no business writing.  There ARE great bloggers out…

Every morning I get up and ride the light rail from my house in North Austin to Downtown to go to work. Traffic didn’t used to be a problem in Austin, but as major corporations such as Apple, Ebay, Oracle, VM Ware, Facebook and others came here, the roads got more and more congested.  Austin is working on the problem, but it didn’t really prepare for such…

There is something about the Fall that puts everyone in a good mood.  After a hot August and a great summer, a new and exciting season is upon us.  Before we know it Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas will be here.  As Kenny Chesney says “Don’t Blink”. 

I put my daughter in Kindergarten this week and I watched the streets of Austin once again get packed…

Today was a big day for my family.  My daughter, Kennedy, went to her first day of Kindergarten.  She is our first child, and I remember her being born just like it was yesterday.  Those of you who have children can relate to this experience.   Your kids may be older, but I can guarantee that you remember that specific day. Those of you who have younger children will…

In 1957 Jerry Lee Lewis recorded "A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On". It was an upbeat, feel- good song that topped the charts at #3 on the US pop charts. The lyrics were contagious and has had dozens of other artists release the single since Jerry Lee released it back in 1957. Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Chubby Checker, The Georgia Satelites, Elton John, Conway Twitty are just a few of the artists…

***This post was originally posted on Bulls Eye Recruiting (www.wthomsonjr.com) and has been extremely controversial.  Love to hear your thoughts.  

There has been a lot written about the job market lately.  “The good jobs” aren’t posted anymore.  Don’t apply to jobs on the Internet!  Don’t bother putting your resume in…

Yesterday was a sad day for the baseball profession. 13 major league professionals were handed suspensions for steroid use. I think a better use of words rather than sad, would be embarrassing.  This is not the first time we have seen this happen and it certainly won't be the last.  The names are astounding.  Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta were the 3 biggest…

It is approaching quickly.  1 year.  1 year ago I wrote my first blog.  It was called "The Simple Things" http://bit.ly/MjKaeQ  it trended better than I would have ever imagined.  I had never written anything other than a college paper.  Why did I start writing?  Why did I start blogging?  I think I wanted to tell a story.  I wanted to help…

As most of you know, if you have followed my blogs for a while, I am a Texan. A proud Texan. I have lived in Austin my whole life. No, I don't have cattle or horses at my house, but I can easily make a 4 hour drive down to south Texas and get my my fill of country living.



My whole life I have always worn boots. Not cheap ones either. My preferences are…

The one thing I have learned over the years is that a sale is only half the battle.  Yes, it is tough to gain a client.  Yes, sometimes a sale can take a while to close.  Yes, there are objections you have to overcome.  The number one thing that you need to understand, though, is that selling is just the beginning.

Once you have won the business, you have to…

Oxford, MS is God's country.  Truthfully, I ended up going to Ole Miss for just a few reasons.  First things first, I could get in.  I never could figure out those SAT tests.  The University of Texas Austin was never really in the cards for me.  I was bright, I had a A minus GPA  from Westlake High School, but that just wasn't good enough for a school when everyone…

I want to  make a sports analogy.  Sorry, Dallas Cowboy fans.  It pains me to say it, but Jerry Jones wants a puppet as a head coach.  It has always been that way. He wants someone who he can push around so he can ultimately do what HE wants YOU to do.  The last person who he let have control won a Super Bowl.  That was in 1994.  Nothing since.  Jimmy Johnson is a…

Coming off an awesome Father's Day, I felt it was appropriate to do one of my non-recruiting posts again.  These are never as popular, but seem to resonate with a lot of people. Hopefully by now, most of you who are regular readers of my blogs know me.  I am a passionate person, Christian, and a true family guy.  I'm a recruiter by day, a blogger by night.  Between…

The other day I read that Forbes ranked Sales as the second most difficult profession to recruit  http://onforb.es/12AbJtI . I just couldn't…

I just don't get it?!!  Why didn't I get called back?  I thought I interviewed great!  What do you mean "We decided to go another direction"?

Have you ever heard these words or thought these thoughts?  If you haven't, you are one of the few.  Interviewing for a job is tough.  It is frustrating.  It can be a long process.  You develop a rapport with your…

A wise man once told me, we all are in sales.  Do you believe that statement?   I don't care what profession you are in, you have sold.  My whole life I have fought it.  I didn't want to be labeled "the sales guy".  You know what?  I am over it.  I am a sales guy.  You are too.  We all have varying levels of sales in our blood, but we are always trying to convince…