Beyond The Tassel, LLC
In The News
Written by Joan Lownds
Monday, 29 March 2010 05:55
In today’s competitive economy, college graduates need to package and sell themselves like a product in a marketing campaign. That is the principle guiding Beyond the Tassel, a new business recently launched by Wiltonian John Weidner and his partner,
“There are roughly 1.5 million new graduates entering the job market this year at a time when there is the least money available for hiring new workers,” Mr. Weidner said. “Recent graduates are competing against each other for fewer jobs, and are also up against more experienced workers who graduated years before and have real world work experience.”
The job market for college graduates was bleak even during the more robust economy a few years ago, and has gotten worse, Mr. Weidner said. “In 2007, when the economy was vibrant, only 50% of college graduates got jobs. Now one in five get jobs.”
Beyond the Tassel aims to give graduates “a competitive edge” so they stand out among job applicants, Ms. Tressa said.
Ms. Tressa has had 25 years of corporate and consulting experience including executive recruitment, human resources, executive coaching, and career transition counseling. She had held human resources management positions at Citigroup, American Express and Exxon Mobil, among others. Mr. Weidner has also worked as a corporate recruiter, and in the fields of financial services, technology, media and entertainment, advertising, manufacturing and consumer products, along with executive coaching.
“Combining my background in business with my background in organizational and individual psychodynamics, I have been able to help executives identify, design, and develop the business or personal career strategies necessary to achieve success,” he said.
“We’ve got experience as both recruiters and career coaches,” said Ms. Tressa, who was also the founder of Executive Solutions Consulting Group, LLC, an executive recruitment and human resources consulting firm.
Graduate packaging
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not a college G.P.A. that will carry the most weight with prospective employers, according to Mr. Weidner. “It’s communication and confidence,” he said. “You have to pitch yourself like a product.”
Beyond the Tassel will help a college graduate design a kind of customized marketing campaign — in which the key element is passion.
“At the end of the day, we need to know what their passion is. You have to be passionate about your job to succeed,” he said.
A variety of services are offered at Beyond the Tassel, including Premium Service, a 10-step, individualized coaching program; Virtual Coaching; Job Search Workshops; Interview Intensive Program; and Résumé Development.
One of the first steps at Beyond the Tassel is often a battery of tests, Mr. Weidner said, to show “key personality traits, values, and skills.” Once this is combined with the graduate’s passion and they know exactly what they are looking for, “we help them get focused,” Mr. Weidner said.
The programs at Beyond the Tassel will help graduates identify career direction and hone networking opportunities.
“Eighty percent of jobs are obtained through networking opportunities,” Ms. Tressa said.
Another valuable job search tool is LinkedIn, Ms. Tressa said, which is a favorite site of companies seeking employees. “It is much more effective than Facebook,” she said.
Mr. Weidner said college students should be careful about pictures and information posted on Facebook, since it is now used to screen job seekers by most companies.
Mr. Weidner said one common mistake is writing “too broad a goal” on the top of a résumé, when it can be explained in a cover letter. Also, instead of listing job duties, Mr. Weidner advised highlighting accomplishments.
As for interviews, Mr. Weidner said, “It’s the mosquito that will kill you, not the dragon,” quoting Richard N. Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute: A Practical Manual for Job-hunters and Career-changers.
“Pay attention to little things about your appearance, and say with your body language that you are the person they want to hire,” he said. “Exude confidence, but not arrogance. Showcase your personality and do your homework about the company.”
If an interviewer asks if a job seeker has any questions, always say yes, Mr. Weidner said. “Always have good questions for them,” he said.
Mr. Weidner said there are a range of fees for Beyond the Tassel’s various services, and discounts are offered. “For example, for the young person who attends our Job Search Workshop and then asks for the one-on-one Premium Program, we would significantly discount the fee for the Premium Program,” he said. “Similarly, the student we start working with under the Virtual Coach program while they are at school might want to start the Premium Program once they return home. We would discount the fee based upon the length of time they worked with us under the Virtual Coach program. Perhaps a workshop participant wants interview training — we would likely adjust the cost for that program downward as well.”
Fees start at $500 for “Résumé and Communications Material Development,” which includes two 60-minute consultations, and range up to $3,000 for the Premium Program.
Information: beyondthetassel.com.
