Smith James Group, Inc.-Frequently Asked Questions



Frequently Asked Questions 6) Why can’t you share the salary range? There are a number of reasons why we don’t share a salary range. The simplest answer is this: our clients will pay what you are worth. We conduct a real-time salary survey to offer our clients insight into the market, and set their expectations for compensation. Salary ranges can be helpful, but we don’t want to run the risk of setting improper expectations for anyone. Ranges can be dangerous: people tend to focus on the highest number, if it isn’t high enough, they assume it is not a financial opportunity, even though the client company may be willing to dramatically change their expectations for the right person; if it is much higher than what someone is currently making, they tend to assume any offer will come in at the highest number, and forget to consider all the other factors that must be considered in putting a package together. If there is not a financial gain for you in making a change, we will tell you. It isn’t in anyone’s best interest to string someone along when the numbers don’t make sense. 7) Why do I need to complete the Essay Questions? Most people are not terribly excited about the idea of completing Essay Questions, but they generally tell us afterward what a great experience they had in putting their thoughts on paper. For the candidate, the Essay Questions will offer insight into the position, the company, and the type of person that will be successful in the position. They also prove useful in giving candidates the opportunity to think through their responses, rather than answering on the fly in a traditional interview. The Essay Questions allow for crisper interviews, and more targeted interview questions, and the opportunity to consider your goals and expectations as you consider your next career move. For the client, the Essay Questions almost like a first interview. They allow our clients to learn more about you than a traditional resume allows. Clients get a feel for your written communication style, and your general thought processes. The Essay Questions can provide additional talking points for our clients, and the chance for them to ask more pertinent questions when you ultimately interview. And they prove to our clients that you are willing to put some skin in the game. They know that the process in important to you, and you don’t take career changes lightly. Our clients read these responses, discuss these responses, and make better informed decisions because of these responses. 8) Why do you conduct a digitally recorded interview? Our digitally recorded interviews are somewhat unique, and most people are surprised by this part of the process. The primary goal of this interview is to allow everyone on the hiring team of our client company to hear the same interview, without bias, and at a time that works best for them. It is often difficult to coordinate executive schedules, and spending an entire day working through initial interviews is time consuming, for both you, and our client company. The digitally recorded interview is burned to a disc, and multiple copies are sent via FedEx to everyone involved in the hiring process. The individuals can listen to your interview when they have the time to do so; we often hear stories from our clients about where they were when they listened, and the crazy times of day when they did so: on the ride to work, on the ride home, at a baseball game, at Starbucks, in the middle of the night. It removes the obstacle of scheduling, and it allows the hiring team to also listen to the interview as a group, should they wish to do so. 9) Why are there so many steps in the process? We know you are eager to meet with the decision makers at our client company, and the number of steps may initially seem daunting. Most people find that the process is relatively quick, and they learn a lot about themselves, and the company, as they move through each step. Having gone through the process, the time you spend face to face with the decision makes at our client company is much more valuable time: they are fairly certain you are the right person for them, this is your chance to learn whether this is the right organization for you. The questions you will be asked are much more pertinent to the position, and the duties and responsibilities, rather than where you went to college, and the chronology of your career moves. And you have a greater insight into the areas of greatest importance to them. You will ask better questions to make a truly informed decision, and you will have the opportunity to really get a feel for the company, the people, the location, and the position. One of our clients summed it up best, “By the time our candidates meet with us on site, it’s more of a ‘meet and greet’ than an interview. All the boxes have been checked beforehand, and we get the chance to get to know our candidates personally. It’s a great process.” We trust that you will find this to be the case as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

6) Why can’t you share the salary range? Chart
There are a number of reasons why we don’t share a salary range. The simplest answer is this: our clients will pay what you are worth. We conduct a real-time salary survey to offer our clients insight into the market, and set their expectations for compensation. Salary ranges can be helpful, but we don’t want to run the risk of setting improper expectations for anyone. Ranges can be dangerous: people tend to focus on the highest number, if it isn’t high enough, they assume it is not a financial opportunity, even though the client company may be willing to dramatically change their expectations for the right person; if it is much higher than what someone is currently making, they tend to assume any offer will come in at the highest number, and forget to consider all the other factors that must be considered in putting a package together. If there is not a financial gain for you in making a change, we will tell you. It isn’t in anyone’s best interest to string someone along when the numbers don’t make sense.

Typing 7) Why do I need to complete the Essay Questions?
Most people are not terribly excited about the idea of completing Essay Questions, but they generally tell us afterward what a great experience they had in putting their thoughts on paper. For the candidate, the Essay Questions will offer insight into the position, the company, and the type of person that will be successful in the position. They also prove useful in giving candidates the opportunity to think through their responses, rather than answering on the fly in a traditional interview. The Essay Questions allow for crisper interviews, and more targeted interview questions, and the opportunity to consider your goals and expectations as you consider your next career move.
For the client, the Essay Questions almost like a first interview. They allow our clients to learn more about you than a traditional resume allows. Clients get a feel for your written communication style, and your general thought processes. The Essay Questions can provide additional talking points for our clients, and the chance for them to ask more pertinent questions when you ultimately interview. And they prove to our clients that you are willing to put some skin in the game. They know that the process in important to you, and you don’t take career changes lightly. Our clients read these responses, discuss these responses, and make better informed decisions because of these responses.

8) Why do you conduct a digitally recorded interview?
Our digitally recorded interviews are somewhat unique, and most people are surprised by this part of the process. The primary goal of this interview is to allow everyone on the hiring team of our client company to hear the same interview, without bias, and at a time that works best Voice for them. It is often difficult to coordinate executive schedules, and spending an entire day working through initial interviews is time consuming, for both you, and our client company. The digitally recorded interview is burned to a disc, and multiple copies are sent via FedEx to everyone involved in the hiring process. The individuals can listen to your interview when they have the time to do so; we often hear stories from our clients about where they were when they listened, and the crazy times of day when they did so: on the ride to work, on the ride home, at a baseball game, at Starbucks, in the middle of the night. It removes the obstacle of scheduling, and it allows the hiring team to also listen to the interview as a group, should they wish to do so.

9) Why are there so many steps in the process?
We know you are eager to meet with the decision makers at our client company, and the number of steps may initially seem daunting. Most people find that the process is relatively quick, and they learn a lot about themselves, and the company, as they move through each step. Climbing the ladder Having gone through the process, the time you spend face to face with the decision makes at our client company is much more valuable time: they are fairly certain you are the right person for them, this is your chance to learn whether this is the right organization for you. The questions you will be asked are much more pertinent to the position, and the duties and responsibilities, rather than where you went to college, and the chronology of your career moves. And you have a greater insight into the areas of greatest importance to them. You will ask better questions to make a truly informed decision, and you will have the opportunity to really get a feel for the company, the people, the location, and the position. One of our clients summed it up best, “By the time our candidates meet with us on site, it’s more of a ‘meet and greet’ than an interview. All the boxes have been checked beforehand, and we get the chance to get to know our candidates personally. It’s a great process.” We trust that you will find this to be the case as well.