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The Six-Figure-Job Hunt

December 11, 2008 by Jeremy Caplan

As the financial sector crumbles, six-figure stars are increasingly among those getting the pink slips. When Citigroup, for example, announced recently that it was booting some 50,000 employees--many of them high-paid managers--the departing bankers joined more than 20,000 workers the company had already laid off this year. Many of the newly axed at Citi and elsewhere have left behind cushy paychecks that covered their jumbo mortgages and kids' tuition bills. That ominous sound you hear? It's all those $200 pairs of shoes pounding the pavement.

The hiring machine, however, hasn't shut down altogether. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits may have hit a 26-year high, but there are still lots of jobs open, because no matter how grim the economic forecast, at least some workers will change jobs voluntarily or retire. "Companies may not be making expansionary or discretionary hires," says Marc Cenedella, founder of TheLadders.com a subscription service that lists only jobs that pay $100,000 and up. "But even in a downturn, there's still 20% to 25% natural turnover per year." In the six-figure category, he estimates that will mean 3.2 million hires a year instead of 4 million in a normal market.

TheLadders currently lists about 60,000 positions at companies that pay a hefty fee to put their openings in front of high-potential recruits. The site tries to weed out unqualified applicants by charging $30 a month or $180 a year to access listings for such positions as accountant, financial analyst or director of sales, as well as more unusual jobs like "senior-level food technologist" or "business-strategy ninja."

But before you whip out your credit card to sign up for the site, check the free portion to see if it covers the industries you're targeting. Here are a few other important things newly unemployed execs should keep in mind:

Get professional help. One frequent blunder even million-dollar-job seekers commit is deciding to write and edit their résumés without expert input. "Your labor is the most valuable thing you're going to sell," says Cenedella. "Would you have an amateur copywriter write copy for the most valuable product you have? Then why would you write your résumé yourself?" Those seeking solid counseling on the résumé front can get it through the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches or sites like ResumeWriters.com where a résumé overhaul starts at $200.

Off Ramp to On Ramp: It Can Be a Hard Journey

December 6, 2008 by Hannah Seligson

Jamie Markovitz Hoffman, 40, a former senior vice president at UBS, the global financial company, had what she describes as “one of those extreme jobs.”

“I loved working,” she says. But her career path reached a crossroads when her second child was born, and she left her job in February 2007.

Ms. Markovitz Hoffman is one of many people who have left the work force to take a break. Sylvia Ann Hewlett, founding president of the Center for Work-Life Policy, has described this type of career detour — which is more common for women than for men — as “off-ramping.” Typically it occurs when the balancing act of parenting and work becomes too arduous.

A study by the center found that more than 90 percent of women who off-ramp want to on-ramp back into the work force eventually. But making the transition back to work is rarely easy, and it is even harder in this economic climate of layoffs and hiring freezes.

To address some of the obstacles faced by on-rampers, Merrill Lynch recently held a three-day program called “Greater Returns: Restarting Your Career” at Columbia University. Attending the program were 37 women — including Ms. Markovitz Hoffman — who had taken breaks from high-level jobs in fields like finance, law, technology and retail.

The women met with a cross-section of leaders from a range of businesses, including Ernst & Young, KPMG and Intel. They also attended sessions on topics like how to re-enter the job market in a down economy, how to differentiate yourself from the competition and how to tap into your ambition.

One woman who successfully made the transition is Lori Brown, who left her job as a principal at a consulting firm in 2004 to spend more time with her two young sons. She was recently hired as the director of benefits, strategy, and compliance at L’Oréal in Clark, N.J.

Ms. Brown, 48, found the position on TheLadders.com, a site for jobs that pay more than $100,000. She said her search, which lasted seven months, was much more involved than just mining postings on the Internet.

Not only did she “network like crazy,” she said, but she also went to see a career coach to ensure that her re-entrance looked more like a pirouette than a clumsy stumble.

“Coming back into the work force after five years means you have to be incredibly clear about what you value both personally and professionally,” said Ms. Brown. “Seeking outside help was helpful in setting that direction.”

As economy tanks, employers take on role of Grinch

November 26, 2008 by Cindy Krischer Goodman

This year, the Grinch may not have stolen Christmas, but he definitely will invade workplaces.

From holiday bonuses to office parties to vacation time, expect less holiday cheer and more creativity as employers try to survive the slumping economy.

As the economic crisis has worsened, offices have become more short-staffed than usual and employers less generous with paid days off. That means getting time to visit relatives or take advantage of holiday sales will become even more of a challenge for employees.

Across the nation, companies are canceling or scaling back annual end-of-the-year holiday celebrations to cut costs, or just to accommodate the overall mood of people too worried about money to feel like a party. Two annual holiday-party surveys back up anecdotal evidence that a record number of companies have dropped holiday parties this year -- more even than in 2001 after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Along with downscaled parties, executives are bracing for their bank accounts to take a hit.

A new survey conducted by TheLadders.com, an executive jobs website, finds that the outlook for raises and year-end bonuses is downright dismal.

People-Powered Internet Grows Up

November 24, 2008 by Chris Dannen

The question of the next decade is: How can we find what we want -- the perfect job, just the right pair of shoes, exactly the news that's important to us -- amidst the maelstrom of information that's available on the Web? Google, of course, is the de facto answer, it's algorithms generating a ballpark guess at what we want when we type in a few search terms. But the burgeoning mass of data on the Internet is threatening to outmode such robotic tools. So a growing number of start-ups is putting forward another strategy for filtering the Web: Use human judgment first, computer power second.

Of course, human judgment is unreliable, inefficient, expensive and difficult to scale. It's also a relatively scarce resource compared to data, which grows online at an exponential rate. Here are four people-powered sites, and how they plan to keep their people-powered business models durable as the Web shifts and swells.

TheLadders is a career site for finding and listing jobs that pay more than $100,000. To ensure that every listing and every user meets that standard, TheLadders employs 45 full-time in-house screeners. (Sites like HotJobs and Monster have none.) As of mid-2008, those screeners are approving about 10,000 job listings per week.

Marc Cenedella, CEO of the 5-year-old company, says the model scales well -- up to a point. If the site grew to, say, 30 times its current size, "you couldn't keep the community together," he says. "It really has to be a human-sized group. At over 1,000 people, you couldn't have the elbow-to-elbow passing of knowledge. That shared judgement pool is essential."

A Wall Streeter's Guide To Finding A Job

November 20, 2008 by Tara Weiss

Citigroup will lay off 53,000 employees. JPMorgan Chase plans to cut one in 10 people from its investment banking staff. The drumbeats grow louder for an ailing financial services industry. Where will all these people find work?

Not on Wall Street.

They might try Main Street. Wall Street refugees will be able to put their deep experience to good use at finance jobs in the hot fields of health care, government and alternative energy. The bonus structure won't be as lucrative, but in many cases the hours won't be as punishing. (The cost of living also drops outside New York City.)

Did you work on the sell side of a bank? Start your job search in the industry you covered. Your knowledge of the business, the players and the emerging trends make you uniquely suited for in-house finance positions. Play up that angle when networking and in cover letters. Reach out to former clients to see if there are openings. Canvas companies throughout the industry.

The in-house job prospects - for example, at a company like Pepsi - include financial analyst, business analyst, budget analyst or research analyst. Salaries hover around $115,000, according to data from TheLadders.com, a job site that posts positions that command salaries of $100,000 and up.

Higher-level jobs include vice president of strategic planning (the person who determines how the company should expand), vice president of finance planning and analysis (operations on a short-term basis) and vice president of corporate development (mergers and acquisitions). Average salary for those jobs: about $221,000, according to TheLadders.com.

Fired Wall Street workers seek jobs at 'Pink Slip Party'

November 11, 2008 by Elizabeth Hester

As many as 500 fired Wall Street workers will pay US$20 on Tuesday night to network, commiserate and drink discount beer for a good cause.

The Pink Slip Party, to be held at midtown Manhattan bar Public House, will also feature at least 15 recruiters and performance coaches, according to one of the organizers, Rachel Pine. It aims to raise US$10,000 for Ronald McDonald House of New York, which provides temporary housing for pediatric cancer patients and their families.

"I'm absolutely going to sniff around and see if I can pick off some talent," said Joseph Saluzzi, co-head of equity trading at Themis Trading LLC, an eight-person firm in Chatham, New Jersey. "If I see somebody who lives out in our area who is interested in setting up, we'd give them a shot."

The party, sponsored by Wall Street blog Dealbreaker.com and TheLadders.com, a job search site, mimics events held after the Internet bubble and the Sept. 11 attacks. The credit crisis that claimed Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co. and Bear Stearns Cos. may cost New York about 45,000 finance- related jobs, according to Governor David Paterson.

"If you've got misery, we've got company," is Dealbreaker's way of advertising the party on its Web site.

Are you on the layoff list? How to tell signs of trouble at work

November 1, 2008 by Diane Stafford

U.S. employers eliminated a net 159,000 payroll jobs in September, and economists predict similar cuts for October. We’ll know more when the numbers come out Friday.

Meanwhile, everyone who has a job should do a quick gut check. Ask yourself: Am I layoff fodder?

With acknowledgment to advice on TheLadders.com, here’s a checklist to help you answer that question.

If you notice:

-Your company isn’t doing well.

Even if you’re great at your job, layoffs may include you if you’re in an area that might be cut. Don’t wait for a surprise notice. Update your resume and start looking, at least casually, for what else you might do. Pay attention to corporate financial news.

-Your project is killed or people are pulled off your work team.

Ask questions so you understand why. Then work hard to find something else to do. Tell your boss you want to stay busy and you’d welcome change. Try to make yourself look indispensable.

-Important meetings are held without you.

Have you accidentally fallen off an e-mail distribution list? Or are you excluded intentionally? Ask. Tell your boss that you have something to contribute and would like to be involved. Then be sure you actually add value.

-Your job description shrinks.

If something you’ve always done is transferred to someone else, don’t ignore the warning sign. Do whatever you can to take on more work. Look for opportunities, even the volunteer kind, outside of your particular work area.

-Management changes (especially your own boss) as part of a reorganization or merger.

Get to know your new boss and be supportive. Don’t spend an ounce of effort talking about the old ways or the old boss. Show that you’re on the new team with no regrets.

Sometimes, staffing decisions are determined before you’re aware of them. A history of performance evaluations and company priorities factor in to the decisions. You may not be able to change them.

But pay attention and try.

Applying for the Presidency

October 22, 2008 by Lee Ferran

During an interview with CNN, Tuesday, Sarah Palin mused about what would happen "if [she and John McCain were] hired by the American people to work for them."

The presidential race is not commonly phrased in that way. Journalists, pundits, representatives and even the candidates generally use words like "elected," "selected" or "chosen," but usually not "hired."

But the presidency is, at the end of the day, a job -- even if the application process is a bit more brutal.

"It boils down to both hard and soft skills," ABC News workplace contributor Tory Johnson said of the presidential race. "Hard skills are education, experience, knowledge required to do the job. The other half is soft skills. Is he going to be the right personality? Is he going to mesh well with the needs of the job?"

The 'Hard Skills'

When the online career resource center TheLadders.com asked contributing resume writer Wendy Enelow, owner of Enelow Enterprises Inc., to create a sample resume for McCain and Barack Obama for use on its site, she approached it the same way she would to write anyone's resume.

"How do I determine what's most relevant? It's a combination," she told ABC News. "What have they done in their careers? What are the key issues to their audience, in this case the American people? Where have they had the most success?"

The resulting unofficial resumes, which can be found at www.theladders.com/career-advice, highlight McCain's contributions to political reform, veterans affairs and military experience as well as Obama's contributions in alternative energy, crime prevention and grass-roots organization.

Six-Figure Green Jobs

October 16, 2008, 2008 by Anna Vander Broek

Most kids want to be firemen or princesses when they grow up. But Jeni Rogers was different--she wanted to save the world.

Now Rogers is living her dream. The 35-year-old is working a job she helped define, as director of strategy and sustainability at the brand strategy and design firm Addis Creson in Berkeley, Calif. That means she brainstorms eco-friendly branding ideas for green companies. So not only is she working toward making the planet green, she is making a pretty decent living, too.

These days, you can make green by being green. No longer do environmentalists need to take a vow of poverty before starting their careers. Global giants ranging from Google to General Motors are making room in the corner office for executives with titles like chief sustainability officer and chief environmental officer.

In further proof that it's possible to support the environment while living a comfortable lifestyle, postings for environment-related jobs on TheLadders.com, a job search site for $100,000-a-year and more jobs, have increased by 25% over the past year.

As companies become more open-minded about corporate sustainability, Rogers believes the flexibility she found in her company will become more common.

What can you do to develop your own eco-friendly career? One option is to work for a company that will train you in the field, or you can search executive job sites such as TheLadders.com for green jobs you may not even know exist.

Finding a Master Résumé Writer

October 07, 2008 by Joann S. Lublin

Hoping to find an Internet marketing spot fast, Christopher Cicero hired a professional résumé writer last winter. He paid her about $500 and completed her 20-page worksheet. She promised to polish his résumé soon.

The revamped document didn't arrive for nearly four months, however. And Mr. Cicero disliked the result. He believes the résumé failed to describe his accomplishments because the writer never interviewed him.

Anxious applicants increasingly use professionals to assemble impressive-looking résumés, forking over as much as $2,000. TheLadders.com expects its 100 writers will prepare more than 20,000 résumés this year -- quadruple the number in 2006, the year its service began, reports Marc Cenedella, president of the Web site for high-paid candidates.

In today's tight market, the right résumé can land you the right interviews and job. Thanks to Wall Street's recent turmoil, many people in the financial-services industry are losing their jobs or jumping their sinking ships. A late September poll by Doostang, a career-networking site, found more than half of 338 financial-service industry professionals plan to look for a new job in the next three months.

But as Mr. Cicero learned, the wrong résumé writer wastes your time and money. The unregulated field has attracted so many unscrupulous players that one trade group of résumé writers plans to post names of individuals and businesses falsely claiming membership.

There are satisfied users of résumé writers, of course. David Goldenberg tapped TheLadders.com's service last spring mainly because he hadn't looked for work in 20 years. When his revised résumé arrived, "I didn't even recognize myself," he remembers. Yet it correctly described his contract-negotiating skills, citing the value of several big deals.

Strike Holdings, an owner of U.S. bowling and entertainment venues, invited Mr. Goldenberg to an interview the same day he applied. "The résumé got me in the front door," he boasts. He started work Aug. 4 as its business-development director.

Job Hunting Is, and Isn’t, What It Used to Be

September 26, 2008 by Alina Tugend

When I think back to my job-hunting days, my methods seem as quaint as comparing a Victrola to an iPod.

With all the innovations since then, what hasn’t changed is how frustrating it can be to get the right job. Or even a personal response to a résumé.

And while many of the tools available through the Internet can help searches, they can also become obstacles to actually finding employment.

“Online sites tend to overwhelm people,” said John Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a firm that helps place people in jobs and does business consulting. “The key for most people to realize is that you can’t conduct your search from your computer. You have to get in front of prospective bosses to get an offer.”

It is too easy, Mr. Challenger said, to spend hours trolling job sites instead of doing the harder work of calling and meeting people.

But it’s no wonder that people become addicted to the online searches. The Conference Board, a business research organization, estimated that 4,833,700 job vacancies were posted online last month.

The big three sites are Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com and Yahoo HotJobs.com. Craigslist is also a popular option, as are those like Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com, which aggregate big and small jobs sites.

Niche sites are also growing. Doctors can check out PracticeMatch.com; those seeking nonprofit work can go to Idealist.org. TheLadders.com is popular for job seekers looking for executive positions that pay more than $100,000 a year.

How to Protect Your Job in a Stormy Industry

September 20, 2008 by Phyllis Korkki

Q. You work in the financial services industry, and you’re worried about your job. What can you do to prevent the ax from falling on you, or at least lessen the blow?

A. First, don’t let rumor and fear take over. That could cause you to make an impulsive decision that you will regret. “Fear is your biggest enemy right now,” said Marc Cenedella, founder and chief executive of TheLadders, a job site for six-figure workers.

Gather as much information as you can about your company and your industry; that will calm you and give you a sense of control amid uncertainty, he said.

Where the Jobs Are For Wall Street Pros

September 18, 2008 by Sarah E. Needleman

As the latest crisis on Wall Street unfolds, recruiters say their phones are ringing off the hook with anxious finance professionals on the line.

The sale of Merrill Lynch & Co. and the bankruptcy-court filing of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. have prompted workers from those firms to launch immediate job searches. Recruiters say newly displaced finance professionals should consider other types of employers or fields, and consider opportunities at smaller banks -- which are ramping up hiring right now.

A small firm looking to scoop up displaced talent from Lehman or Merrill is Kaufman Brothers, a 60-person investment bank in midtown Manhattan. "We're excited about the opportunity to meet dynamic professionals who are looking for a calm port in the storm at a growing [company]," says Robert Kaufman, president and director of research. This week, the company increased the number of job ads it placed on job sites such as efinancialcareers.com and theladders.com.

The New Power Suit: Power Less? The New Power Tie, the Power PDA?

September 17, 2008 by Michelle Conlin

The Street is burning. So is the idea of the power suit actually conveying any power.

Since I am obsessed with all things sartorial, I couldn’t help but be riveted by a recent Wall Street Journal story about fabulously powerful people who self-ban the wearing of suits.

Is wearing a suit now the sign of a macher manque? Is the new power tie the power PDA? So says the researchers over at TheLadders.com.

After all, when was the last time you saw Barack or McCain in a tie?

Local Tech Firms Gain From Wall Street Pain

September 17, 2008 by Amanda Fung

The Wall Street fallout has opened the flood gates for New York City tech companies’ that are seeking talent.

Investment banks are the largest employers of information technology professionals in the city. The turmoil, culminating this week with the demise of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and the forced sale of Merrill Lynch & Co., has left thousands of them out of a job.

Local tech firms that have struggled these past few years to fill openings said Wall Street’s pain is their gain.

Traditionally, Wall Street has been the tech industry’s stiffest competition on the hiring front. Banks typically beat out tech firms because they offer bigger paychecks and better benefits.

But the changing landscape on Wall Street will help level the playing field.

TheLadders.com, a site for $100,000-plus salary jobs, expects to add about 50 employees to reach 300 in Manhattan by the end of the year. Marc Cenedella, who founded the company in 2003, has already hired several tech professionals from big banks.

“I think we will see more and more people send in resumes,” he said.

Looking For Employment In Tough Economic Times

September 12, 2008 by Hanah Cho

It's a tough time to look for a new job, whether you're unemployed or looking for a better opportunity.

Employers are skittish about hiring, while the pool of job seekers is only getting larger.

Some signs are indicating it is taking more than the typical six months to land a new job. Marc Cenedella, chief executive of search site TheLadders.com, which focuses on executive jobs that pay $100,000 or more, says the company's recent survey found that fewer executive-level job seekers expect to land a job in six months or less.

Layoff Lessons

September 9, 2008 by Tara Weiss

The U.S. Department of Labor reported there were 85,000 jobs lost last month. But if yours was one of them, there's little comfort in knowing you weren't alone. Being laid off is traumatic and life-changing, especially if you've been working at the same company for a long time.

After having a regimented daily schedule, it's unsettling to have to suddenly have to figure out how to fill your time. But there are some practical steps you need to take right away, and it's important to quickly re-establish a new routine and take the free time you now have to learn new skills and polish up your résumé.

Treat your job hunt as a job in itself. Don't sleep until noon and spend the day padding around the house in bunny slippers and sweatpants. Set your alarm clock for the usual time, get dressed and get to work.

"It puts you in a different mindset," says Marc Cenedella, founder and CEO of TheLadders.com, a job site that only posts positions with salaries of $100,000 and higher.

It's normal to feel grief--and anger. So write (but don't send) a letter to your boss explaining exactly how you feel. Put in a drawer, and then shred it in a week.

"Writing it down is a release," says Cenedella. "But sending that letter is never a good idea."

To End Gossip: Stop Sharing Juicy Items

September 7, 2008 by Peter Post

Interestingly, managers are starting to crack down on gossip. A recent TheLadders.com survey of managers found that 69.7 percent of them would be willing to fire an employee for bad office manners. Excessive workplace gossip was one of the bad manners cited in the survey. The fact is that gossip is an insidious evil in the workplace. And, as you've seen, it is easy to get sucked into participating.

 

Missed Manners

June 9, 2008 by Chris Erikson

Swearing may not be such a great idea even once you're on the job, according to an office etiquette survey by TheLadders.com. Of 2000 executives queried, more than a third have issued formal warnings to foulmouthed workers, and 6 percent have fired one, making it the top etiquette related firing offense. (No. 2: excessive gossiping). Still, swearing wasn't deemed the worst affront to office etiquette. That honor, by a landslide, goes to "eating someone else's food from the office fridge."

Watch Your Mouth

May 27, 2008 by Erin Conroy

A recent poll of more than 2,000 executives found that more than 80 percent find a foul-mouthed colleague unacceptable to work alongside in the office. More than a third of bosses have issued a formal warning for using inappropriate language, and 6 percent have fired someone for swearing.

The majority of those who responded to the online survey, conducted by recruiting company TheLadders.com, said they have given an official warning for personal calls, loud talking and revealing clothing.

Beyond swearing, nearly 98 percent of those polled rated refrigerator raiders those who take someone else's food from the communal fridge the worst offenders of office etiquette. Bad hygiene, drinking on the job and wasting paper also made the list.

Climbing To Job-Board Heaven

May 16, 2008 by Gary M. Stern

For most people, earning a six-figure salary is a sign of making it.

At TheLadders.com, an online business that connects job seekers earning $100,000 or more with corporate recruiters and HR departments, everyone is making it, or at least aspires to.

The burgeoning success of TheLadders proves that online businesses must offer premium services to a targeted audience to succeed. They must also fill a specialized niche.

When Gregory Griffin, based in Liverpool, N.Y., left his job as a fundraiser in higher education in October 2007 and wanted to move into another specialty, a friend suggested TheLadders.com. In the past, Griffin had posted his resume on Monster.com and Yahoo's HotJobs.com but found them ineffective.

Monster and HotJobs declined to comment on how they provide jobs of $100,000 or more to applicants.

Griffin enrolled in TheLadders' premium service at $20 a month for six months (or $180 a year), posted his resume and was interviewed for two jobs by executive recruiters. In four months, he found a job as northeast regional development director at the Christian Brothers mission, a worldwide nonprofit that helps the blind and disabled.

The Ladders also strengthened Griffin's resume by offering free tips and provided a weekly newsletter on finding a job. But users who want more extensive help will pay for it, since TheLadders charges $600 to $900 for customized resume critiques and offers online profiles and e-mail updates for added fees.

Millions Served

TheLadders, which is privately owned, now numbers over 2.2 million members and posts 10,000 new jobs a week, amounting to 76,000 listings at any given time. Recruiters post half the jobs, with corporate HR departments and Fortune 1000 companies posting the remainder. Executive search firms and corporate HR pay TheLadders $6000 to $10,000 a year per recruiter.

Marc Cenedella, TheLadders' founder and CEO, said the company's revenue was $30 million in 2007 and should double to $65 million in 2008. Its staff numbered 89 in December 2006 and had increased to 225 employees by spring 2008.

Rating Resumes

Screening candidates to make sure they fit the profile of $100K earners is a prerequisite for the site. Its proprietary algorithm rates a resume to determine whether the applicant fits. Moreover, Cenedella said that two staffers review every applicant's resume and each job posting to make sure it meets set criteria.

Most people don't lie about their salary, Cenedella says, and if they did, they'd be discovered rather quickly. "We don't get many reports of outright fabrications," he said. If someone applies for a job who has been earning $50,000, TheLadders will politely explain that he is not yet ready for this market.

Its target audience is 76% male, median age 46, and most applicants reside in the top 50 cities by population. However, Cenedella noted that if a $100K job for a software developer arose in Peoria, Ill., TheLadders could track down a candidate.

When it first debuted, the site didn't charge corporate and executive recruiters. "When we were free, we found that Fortune 1000 companies couldn't make good use of a free product," Cenedella said. Charging them enabled TheLadders to boost its revenue, hire more staff and offer customized service.

At the beginning, it handled mostly midlevel executive jobs in enterprise software sales, brand marketing and corporate finance. Now it has added better-defined jobs such as Sarbanes-Oxley specialists, medical device sales and nuclear medical technicians.

While the $100K salary is a starting point (the site won't accept $99,000 jobs), job postings include roles for senior executives up to $500,000. Cenedella says TheLadders.com hasn't handled CEO, COO or general manager jobs in North America for most Fortune 500 companies. Those jobs are generally handled in-house or by executive recruiters.

Many Applicants

TheLadders says it has 2,274,359 applicants. Despite that huge number of job seekers, Cenedella says each posting attracts 11.7 applicants per job.

That large number of resumes didn't deter Greg Bennett, a Durham, N.C.-based technology sales and marketing director at the Mergis Group, a professional placement firm, from finding several suitable candidates on TheLadders for jobs he was hired to fill.

When Bennett posts senior software or IT sales job on TheLadders, it only takes a day or two for him to receive two or three resumes of candidates who fit the job description. When he used the larger employment Web sites, they generated interest from "bricklayers and dishwashers to CEOs," he said, which wasn't very helpful.

TheLadders narrows Bennett's search by focusing on candidates who already earn six figures and specialize in marketing, sales, operations, and accounting or finance. Still, Bennett doesn't rely on TheLadders alone: He taps his own network and database and uses LinkedIn and Jigsaw, a Web site that offers online business cards.

TheLadders adds one more option in Bennett's repertoire for finding the right candidate. "If I go out fishing, I don't just use a cast and a reel," Bennett said. "Why not use a net or different bait?"

Currently, TheLadders says it lists about 13% of all six-figure jobs. Its goal is to double that figure in the next few years, Cenedella says. TheLadders is also mulling a separate Web site for $75,000 jobs, which is an altogether different market, the CEO said.

Cenedella attributes its success to its discriminating job seekers and its delivery of customer service to each applicant. "The old model was get as many listings as possible and inventory every job seeker," he said. The goal of TheLadders is, "Are we getting the job seeker hired?" he said.

A New Job in Six Months Or Less

April 8, 2008, by Tali Arbel

Recent employment data has economists and working Americans jittery, but jobseekers with salaries higher than $100,000 aren't so worried.

The survey, conducted by executive jobs Web site TheLadders.com, found that while 74 percent of those looking for new employment said there are fewer interviews available, 65 percent still think they'll get a new job within six months. That number hasn't changed much since late 2006, when 70 percent were sure they'd land a new job in six months or less.

"They're still optimistic," said Robert Turtledove, chief marketing officer of TheLadders.com. "This group is used to some of the vagaries of the job search market."

And while hiring by consumer goods companies, construction and manufacturing may be taking hits, pharmaceuticals, the health care industry and high-tech companies are reassuring pockets of strength, he said.

TheLadders.com surveyed 655 of its members online in March 2008.

High-Salary Career Site Starts Marketing Push

April 4, 2008, by Amanda Fung

TheLadders.com, the Manhattan-based career site for $100,000-plus salary jobs, plans to expand its national television marketing blitz this year.

The company launched its first-ever traditional ad campaign with the help of ad agency Fallon Minneapolis in late January. The 10-week campaign consists of print ads and TV commercials. TheLadder.com's last TV spot will air on CBS during the finals of the 2008 Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament on Sunday.

"We are delighted with the success we have seen so far," says Robert Turtledove, chief marketing officer of TheLadders.com, who said the firm spent at least $1 million on the campaign. "We are taking a break with the TV commercials, but we will be back."

TheLadders.com has seen an increase of at least 40% in traffic and new membership since the launch of the campaign. It currently has 2 million members and lists more than 68,000 jobs from 35,000 recruiters and employers.

The 30-or-45-second long TV spot called "Tennis Court," depicts a tennis match where mayhem occurs when crowds of people run onto the court to play the game. It has been appearing on cable networks that include CNN, MSNBC, ESPN and Bravo. The national campaign also consists of print ads, which will continue to run throughout the year in national papers such as The Wall Street Journal. The ads target affluent 35- to 54-year-olds.

"It's a great way to express how TheLadders.com is different," says Mr. Turtledove.

Reader to Reader: I Made Over My Office's Kitchen!

April 2008 by Shape Magazine Staff

"Last year I helped start a nutrition team at my company, TheLadders.com. We petitioned for healthy snacks. Now our kitchen is stocked with lowfat string cheese, almonds, and yogurt - not greasy chips. Everyone's eating better and has more energy." - Jane Hugentober, 31, New York City

10 Secrets for Searching for a Job During a Recession

April 2, 2008, by Mark Cummuta

With the U.S. economy inching closer to a recession, the job market is changing dramatically. Competition for jobs is heating up as an increasing number of skilled professionals, laid off from their companies, flood the market.

If you're tired of struggling to find a job and don't want an economic slowdown to hurt your chances of landing a new one, follow the best practices outlined in this story for conducting a job search when times are tight.

Your resume is a marketing tool, not a bio.

Resume writing is tricky business. You have to provide just enough information to pique the recruiter's or hiring manager's interest in learning more about you. But if you offer too much, they can make a snap decision that lands your resume in the trash.

Complicating matters is the need for resumes to address three different audiences simultaneously: a junior recruiter or HR person screening for certain keywords, the senior recruiter looking for skills and experience, and the hiring manager, who is looking for team fit and specific relevant successes, says Marc Cenedella, founder, president and CEO of TheLadders.com.

The Bald Truth About CEOs

March 13, 2008 by Del Jones

CEOs seem to instinctively know that it's better to be authoritative than indecisive. They know about the vision thing and the passion thing. They even know a few leadership lessons that aren't taught in business school such as, it helps to be tall.

But an unscientific survey of USA TODAY's panel of CEOs and other evidence suggest that baldness might be a blind spot for many.

There was a lower response rate than for surveys on other topics, but 95% of the 74 who responded said, if given a choice, they would rather be bald than short. More telling is that the 31 CEOs who identified themselves as bald or "headed in that direction" in the unscientific survey were unanimous in saying that being vertically challenged is more detrimental to an aspiring executive's career.

USA TODAY asked TheLadders to follow up with a survey. The job-search site for high-income professionals got 1,138 responses. Half said they still had as much hair as they did when teens, while 15% said they were bald, and 35% said they were headed in that direction. Among all respondents to the unscientific survey, 67% said 2 inches more in height would be better for career success, vs. 33% who said a full head of hair.

Landing a Job is Hard in Tough Economic Times, But Persistence is the Key

March 9, 2008, by Christina Salerno

Job hunting during tough economic times can be an overwhelming task, with scores of people competing for a small number of jobs.

It's an especially difficult job market in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, job seekers say, where the housing fallout has resulted in layoffs in the mortgage and construction industry and the unemployment rate is at a three-year high.

Stay focused on your area of expertise and the geographic area where you want to live, advised Andrew Koch, co-founder of TheLadders.com, a job search site that specializes in high-paying positions.

"If you start applying for jobs that are not a fit, you will get less response and that can be frustrating," Koch said.

Use industry "buzzwords" in your résumé so it pops up in résumé database searches online, he said, and choose a slightly different, but professional, font on a printed résumé so it stands out from the others.

Looking for a job should be treated as a job, he said.

"The people who are consistent and are actively looking for jobs each week and each month, or however long it takes, those are the people who get jobs," Koch said.

Seattle's Job Market Among Hottest For Executives

February 3, 2008, by Andrea James and Craig Harris

Looking to make six digits? At the end of 2007, the hottest job markets for executives were New York, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle and Chicago.

The number of positions that pay more than $100,000 per year is growing, according to research compiled by TheLadders.com, which tracks hiring patterns in 20 major cities.

In Seattle, the ratio of job seekers to high-paid positions available was 3-1, the same as New York.

The top companies hiring people for local positions were Amazon.com, Microsoft, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and T-Mobile, according to TheLadders.com's most recent Seattle trend report.

Steps To a New Career

March 4, 2007 by Patricia Kitchen

Career change can be a messy process, and forward movement can proceed in fits and starts. To help you get started - and stay on track - here's a look at some career-change essentials, based on advice from career experts and people who have negotiated such a change.

For more and more people, that template includes a need for work/life flexibility in addition to career fulfillment. That was the case with Michael Hirsch, former general manager of the Long Island Ducks. That job was so enjoyable, he says, that he "never woke up and didn't want to go to work."

Yet, early in his career, Hirsch, 37, of Great Neck says he recognized the grueling hours of sports management would not make for a balanced family life and knew he would make a change when family was on the horizon.

He got engaged in July - and found that his job demands meant he was spending little time with his fiancee. So when a relative spotted an ad on TheLadders.com, a job site for those making more than $100,000 a year, for a Manhattan opportunity with a mobile technology start-up based in Menlo Park, Calif., Hirsch decided the time was right.

He started the new job in the fall - and says it has the added benefit of helping satisfy his need to "feel like I'm a part of something."

Fast Track to the Top: Marc Cenedella of TheLadders.com

March 2008 by Lisa Gschwandtner

2003: Marc Cenedella founds TheLadders.com.

2008: TheLadders.com is now the #1 worldwide source for $100k+ jobs.

What TheLadders.com Does: Hosts 80,000 jobs a week through eight specially targeted sites geared to experienced industry professionals and the recruiters and employers looking to hire them. 10,000 new positions are added each week.

The Concept: After Monster and Yahoo started a buyout bidding war which Yahoo won, Cenedella decided to build a system that would reverse the model and charge the job seeker $30 a month or $180 a year for a high-salary search that would serve as a screening mechanism to make sure there were only really good candidates calling on companies.

The Result: More than 1.7 million subscribers. 361,888 on SalesLadder. 200 employees. Presence in the UK.

Is It a Recession? Marketers Seem to Think So

January 28, 2008 by Stuart Elliot

Let the economists and politicians debate whether the American economy is in a recession. Madison Avenue is already battening down the hatches.

Since September, Wal-Mart Stores, the nation's largest retailer, has built its entire current advertising approach upon this bald premise: "Save money. Live better."

Customers can find plenty of companies following Wal-Mart's lead, with many campaigns speaking to Americans as if a recession were already under way.

But while many marketers may be looking to adjust the contents of their campaigns, forecasters believe overall advertising spending will remain strong as a recession looms.

Here are some other campaigns suggesting that advertisers already believe the wolf is at the door:

TheLadders.com, a job Web site, sent e-mail messages last Monday bearing this subject line: "Recession is coming, get your job insurance now!"

The List: The Web Secrets of FT Readers

January 26, 2008 by Bob Ivins of comScore, Inc

There are many ways of tracking internet usage. ComScore, Inc measures the online behaviour of a globally representative sample of more than 2m consumers' browsing and buying habits. We then map this data on to the wider population, so audience sizes for websites such as FT.com, online categories such as social networking, and geographic regions can be estimated and a picture of the average internet user developed. Because comScore tracks users, we are able to measure cross-visitation - for example, what other sites do British users of FT.com visit? Using data collected in December 2007 and analysed in January 2008, here's what we found.

Careers Most Popular Site: TheLadders.com - FT.com users were seven and a half times more likely than the average internet user to access this site, which specialises in positions paying £50,000+ per annum and had 245,000 unique visitors in December 2007.

Do Job Hunters Need Camouflage?

January 26, 2008 by Diane Stafford

On one hand, we have news of layoffs and news of fears of layoffs. On the other hand, we have survey reports that say most of the U.S. work force is "disengaged" or at least passively looking for work.

Career advisers tell workers to be in charge of their own careers ... to have a Plan B ... to keep their resumes up to date.

Given all that, no one should doubt that workers are scouting the job market while they're currently employed.

Sometimes the boss finds out and takes a hard line: If you want to leave, consider yourself gone as of this moment.

Marc Cenedella, founder and CEO of TheLadders.com, a job site for professionals and executives, says that doesn't happen as often as some workers fear. But the discovery of a job search will generate discomfort and possibly some hard feelings.

"The question," he said, "is how mature people are going to be about it. Testing the job market is what it is. It's going to happen."

Cenedella's advice to the boss who discovers an employee is job hunting: "Ask yourself, 'Do I want to keep this person?' If the answer is yes, sit down and say: 'Is something wrong? What can I do to make the situation better?' Don't panic and don't be accusatory."

His advice to the employee who gets discovered: "Specify the problem or the reason why you're looking, and be ready to suggest solutions. Know what it is that you really want and what it will take to keep you." Cenedella also countered what he says is a myth about putting your resume out online while employed.

"Being discovered in a job search is really not all that big a problem," he said. "You have better odds of being struck by lightning in a year than having your boss discover your job search online."

Tory Johnson's Work-From-Home Tips

January 24, 2008 by Tory Johnson

Whether you're looking to contribute to your family's finances or earn some cash to cover special or unexpected expenses, many people want more ways to make money at home.

From freelance to full-time gigs, we have a range of fields and resources below to help guide you in discovering the options that exist. Only you can decide if an opportunity is right for you.

Maximize Online Job Boards:

The big job boards are filled with thousands of work-from-home opportunities. The key is to search all of these Web sites by using the words "virtual" or "home-based" when looking for opportunities advertised online.

TheLadders.com, which focuses on positions paying in more than $100,000 annually and requires a monthly fee to join, features a wide range of senior-level positions from home in sales, technology, finance and marketing.

A Job Site for '$100K+ People': Avoid the Commoners

January 23, 2008 by Jeremy Mullman

A print, online and TV campaign from newly hired agency Fallon, Minneapolis, shows a tennis court mobbed by too many players, many of whom, a closer inspection shows, are either overweight, elderly, poorly groomed or dressed shabbily. "Quick, find the most talented player," the print copy reads. "[Ordinary job-search sites] let everybody play, so nobody wins."

The exclusive, country-club attitude befits TheLadders' business model. Unlike the larger and better-known jobs sites, it costs $180 a year (or $30 a month) to use and restricts membership and listings to "$100k+ people looking for $100k+ jobs."

The site boasts 1.7 million registered readers or subscribers (though not all are paying) and typically features about 70,000 active job listings.

The tone of its spots, Chief Marketing Officer Robert Turtledove said, is markedly different from those used by CareerBuilder and Monster, which have tended to focus on job seekers' unhappiness at their current workplaces. "So much of it is 'I'm surrounded by monkeys or jackasses' or 'It's a jungle out there.' It's a bit negative," Mr. Turtledove said, ticking through recent CareerBuilder slogans. "We're telling people, 'There's a place where you can stand out."

My Hunt for Work-at-Home Job Boards - And Pie

January 16, 2008 by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen

Whenever I post about telecommuting or working from home, I hear a bunch of smack from those of you who'd like to do just that. So I should point you to a short Q&A in The Wall Street Journal in Sue Shellenbarger's column on how to find just such a job.

Not to be outdone, I did (five minutes of) reporting myself. Shellenbarger doesn't mention TheLadders.com, which caters exclusively to job seekers who want salaries of $100,000 or more. Which - let's face it, folks - is all of us, right? Who the heck wants minimum wage when we could be pulling 100 Gs? (The catch, of course, is that the jobs favor workers already making that much. Talk about the rich getting richer.)

I went to visit the offices at TheLadders.com a while ago. It's this neat loft space in downtown Manhattan, jammed with young people tapping away at computers. The outfit is run by this excitable dude named Marc Cenedella whose resumé included stints as a senior exec at HotJobs and a pet-food salesman in Japan. (He likes to take his top managers to my home country on annual junkets that have something to do with learning customer service techniques.)

Anyway, I logged onto TheLadders this morning to see what they had in the way of work-at-home or flexible jobs. Even under the free account, you can browse available jobs by region, industry and rank. I looked for marketing jobs because a) everybody knows writer pay is crap and b) I think I know what marketing is, while I'm not at all sure what people in "tech telecom" do (sell phones? wire phones?).

And there it is: a selection for "work-at-home jobs," listing 143 openings. For instance, there's an ad for something called a Games Services Manager that allows the person to telecommute to the HQ in Montreal (to apply, I'd have to sign up for a paid account of $30 a month or $180 a year). I could also be a Carbon Analyst Evaluator or a Customer Loyalty Director or a Food-Service Manager. For six figures! Working in my PJs! Hot dog!

Water Cooler: $100,000 Jobs Not So Easy To Find In Tampa

January 13, 2008 by Times Staff

When it comes to hot markets for jobs paying more than $100,000, Tampa Bay is positively chilly. So says TheLadders.com, an online service that tracks hiring patterns in 20 major cities. The hottest $100,000-plus job markets range from New York and San Francisco to Seattle and Chicago. Tampa and Detroit continue to be among the tightest markets in the 20 markets surveyed. For $100,000+ jobs, the survey says PriceWaterhouseCoopers, MetLife and JPMorgan Chase tend to post the most jobs in the pay range. And which companies do those surveyed most want to work for in the area? Ceridian, L-3 Communications and Wachovia. For every job paying $100,000 or more here, there are on average eight candidates.

What Your CEO Drives Says A Lot About The Dude

December 11, 2007 by Del Jones

How the boss gets to work might seem a relatively innocuous thing. But people pay close attention to what their CEO drives. Only 10% of nearly 3,000 people asked didn't know what their chief drives, according to a survey by TheLadders.com, a job-search site for those making $100,000-plus. While that might not represent the typical employee, it shows that there is a keen interest in what kind of wheels the person at the helm of the company has.

BMW was the most popular make driven by the C-level executives on the survey TheLadders.com conducted for USA TODAY. Yet BMWs accounted for only 13% of the total, followed by Ford at 7% and Lexus at 5%. A separate USA TODAY survey of 90 CEOs found 13% drive a BMW, 12% a Mercedes and 10% a Toyota.

Of the nearly 3,000 who responded to TheLadders' survey, 116 identified themselves as C-level executives. Of those 116, 76% said their car "says something about me," the same percentage as non-executive respondents. Seven percent said that they have intentionally tried to hide their car from co-workers, vs. 9% of all respondents, while 5% of executives have timed their departure at the end of the day so that more people get a glimpse of their car, the same percentage as all respondents. Two percent of C-level execs said they have pretended that someone else's car was their own, more than the 1% of all respondents.

RELAXED FIT: Watch Out Power Suit. In The Office, Khakis Are Beating The Pants Off You.

September 11, 2007 by Jackie Farwell

"Bosses are much more concerned with the quality of your work than the price of your clothes," said Marc Cenedella, president of TheLadders.com, a job website for high-end professionals, which conducted the survey.

The trend appears to be catching on: 42.2 percent of executives said more companies are adopting a less formal dress code, and 22.3 percent said the definition of "business casual" has stretched to include attire such as jeans.

The nonscientific survey was conducted online in August and included more than 1,100 executives who earn $100,000 or more annually and are members of TheLadders.com.

Job Seekers: Put Your Web Savvy to Work

September 9, 2007 by Sarah Needleman

Whether seeking career advancement or scrambling in response to job cuts like those hitting the mortgage industry, many workers are hunting for new jobs.

And many of them, even those who changed employers as recently as a few years ago, are finding a job marketplace transformed by the Internet -- and one where Web savvy can be critical for success.

Senior-level candidates should check out job boards such as TheLadders.com, which lists only positions paying annual base salaries of $100,000 or more.

Firms Hit Wall On Tech Hiring

September 3, 2007 by Amanda Fung

High-tech employees are virtually so hard to find in New York City that some firms are giving up and expanding elsewhere, threatening one of the city's fastest-growing industries.

Not all tech employers are ready to give up on the Big Apple. Some companies are pouring more money into recruiting efforts. It used to be common to offer employees $250 to $500 per referral, but now companies are paying thousands, said Rick Dionisio, a director at executive search firm Staffmark. Manhattan-based online job site TheLadders.com offers employees bonuses of up to $5,000.

The talent shortage is also forcing companies to be more creative. TheLadders.com plans to rent out a billiard parlor in the city in October and host a one-day event of fun and games where local techies can win cash prizes. It will be a first for the 4-year-old company, which has grown to 146 employees.

David Carvajal, a vice president at TheLadders.com, doesn't know how much the event is going to cost yet, but if the company spends $20,000 and can find two or three good people, he said, the event will be worth it.

"We are not ready to abandon New York," said Mr. Carvajal. "Talent is here, you just need to know how to compete."

The Care And Feeding Of References

September 2, 2007 by Phyllis Korkki

Q. Will some employers refuse to give references, even if you were a good employee, because of fears of lawsuits?

A. Legal experts warn of the dangers of giving references, both bad and good. A bad reference can draw the ire of a candidate who isn't hired, and a good one can anger an employer who later regrets hiring someone. That is why some companies make it a policy to provide only the most basic information, no matter how stellar the employee was.

Co-workers who have moved to a different company are particularly valuable as references because they may no longer be bound by the former employer's policy, according to TheLadders.com, a Web site for high-salary job seekers.

Surfing For Six-Figure Posts

August 7, 2007 by Teresa M. McAleavy

Maybe you're already out of work. Or it's clear your seat at the company's table will be gone once the restructuring is complete.

The question is, would you pay to find your next paycheck?

If you're among those individual executives who earn at least six figures, the answer increasingly is "yes" these days. Instead of waiting for a headhunter to call or going to some job-placement agency with limited resources, plenty of top earners are paying to use the Web to land their next lucrative gig.

Instead of posting her resume on free job sites, Morristown's Renee De Franco focused on those geared toward filling executive positions. The $30 she paid each month to join TheLadders.com proved fruitful. She's currently vice president-human resources at Symrise Inc., a chemicals maker in Teterboro that specializes in fragrances and food flavoring. She found the position on TheLadders.com.

"I just found the quality of the jobs listed by TheLadders, plus the ease of using the site, to be well worth it," De Franco says. "Yes, they charged a fee, but I had access to positions I didn't see anywhere else."

TheLadders.com took a chance in 2003 that folks in the six-figure league would be willing to pay to find their next job when the company debuted with its paid job-search service for the $100K-plus executive market. Since then, it says it has grown from two employees to more than 100, who service more than 1.4 million paying subscribers. And it counts Microsoft, JP Morgan, eBay, Google and other companies among its corporate clients.

In Hunt for High Pay, Be Specific

July 31, 2007 by Sarah Needleman

When Scott Wood began his search for a job paying around $130,000 earlier this year, he did what many senior professionals do. He reached out to recruiters at executive-search firms about his interest in a senior law position at a large East Coast company. But recruiters typically pursue job candidates, rather than the other way around, so it wasn't surprising that his efforts failed to generate any interviews.

Eventually, Mr. Wood, 36 years old, tried TheLadders.com, a job site that advertises positions only if they pay salaries of $100,000 or more. Within a few weeks of signing up, he says, he applied to 40 employers, landed six interviews and secured three job offers. In April he accepted a counsel position at Lowe's Cos., a publicly traded chain of home-improvement superstores based in Mooresville, N.C. "I got the salary I wanted, and I like the benefits," he says.

If you're in the market for a high-paying job, consider narrowing your search to online career resources specifically aimed at experienced professionals. Many job boards that service professionals at all career levels don't list salary ranges, leaving job hunters uncertain as to how a position fits with their financial expectations. Meanwhile, a growing number of lucrative opportunities have been showing up on job sites in the high-paying category in recent years. For example, TheLadders.com now averages about 70,000 job listings at any given time, up from around 40,000 in 2005, according to a company spokeswoman.

Hunting For Another Job On The QT

July 31, 2007 by Diane Stafford

Some surveys say that up to two-thirds of workers are at least passively looking for different jobs. And it's not uncommon for employers to find out employees are searching, leading to all kinds of loyalty vs. betrayal issues.

Here's how one online job board is addressing that problem. At TheLadders.com, a job site aimed at the executive-level job market, a confidentiality feature has been introduced to protect job hunters until they want to be "outed."

The "Bio Confidentiality" option lets workers post their biographic information ? basically, the stuff they'd put on a resume ? without revealing their names or their current employers.

Job recruiters can scroll through the bio section and contact promising candidates through the Web site, but they'll only learn the identification details attached to a bio if the candidate chooses to respond.

$100,000-A-Year Jobs Are Out There: More Of Them Are Offered In The Buffalo Area Than You Might Think, Recruiters Say

July 23, 2007 by Matt Glynn

Jobs paying $100,000 or more are a dream opportunity for Buffalo Niagara residents.

The challenge, of course, is finding such high-paying positions in a regional economy not known for robust employment or wage growth. But they're out there.

From June 2006 to June 2007, about 4,100 jobs paying more than $100,000 or more were offered within a 100-mile radius of Buffalo, according to TheLadders.com, a Web site started by a Fredonia native.

Using that radius, the jobs could be in places as far away as outside of Toronto, east of Rochester, or around Erie, Pa. But Marc Cenedella, the founder of TheLadders.com, said it indicates high-paying jobs are out there, even if some of them are a bit of a drive from Buffalo.

That "quiet" approach toward filling high-paying jobs gave Cenedella the idea to start TheLadders.com. While he was an executive with HotJobs.com, before it was sold to Yahoo, users would tell him the site was great for middle-management jobs, but not so hot for upper-end jobs.

"I heard that over and over again," said Cenedella, 36.

Cendella's solution: create a site specifically for jobs paying $100,000 or more, and charge job seekers a fee to participate, to try to reduce the pool of candidates to serious job hunters. A job hunter pays $30 a month to belong, or a lower rate by signing up for longer subscriptions.

Why $100,000 as the threshold? The figure represents about the top 10 percent of jobs, he said. "That [dollar amount] is the psychological level people think of as high paying."

The four-year-old site, which is based in New York City, has attracted 30,000 recruiters and 1.4 million members, he said. Within a 100-mile radius of Buffalo, about 450 recruiters are registered to participate in the site.

'Business Casual' Causes Confusion; Are Flip-Flops A Faux Pas? It Can Be Tough To Tell As Line Keeps Moving

July 10, 2007 by Stephanie Armour

Business casual has become a staple of the office, but more companies are trying to enforce rules that set at least a minimum standard of dress, and an increasing number also are enforcing more formal attire -- especially at meetings or on days when clients may visit the office. And as summer heats up and fashion trends become even more laid back, employers are wrestling with how to adopt dress-code policies that encourage both productivity and professionalism.

How employees look can affect how they're perceived: Thirty-six percent of respondents said those who dress casually are perceived as more creative, yet 49% said they run the risk of being taken less seriously, according to a 2006 survey by online job service TheLadders.com. The survey was conducted in August 2006 and included 2,243 executives.

Recipe For Career Success: Invite The Boss To Dinner

June 6, 2007 by Jim Myers

So, you've invited the boss over for dinner. How did that happen, you wonder? What were you thinking?

It happened because somewhere in the back of your mind, you thought it might be good for your career. And you know what? You're probably right.

"Face time with your superiors is critical to career success," says Marc Cenedella, founder and president of TheLadders.com, a job search firm that caters to high-income executives. In a recent study, they found that among social activities with supervisors, dining ranked the highest.

How to Keep Your Job, Or Decide to Leave, If New CEO Arrives

April 24, 2007 by Erin White

In 2005, Rick Snyder learned his company had hired a new chief executive. That led the senior technology executive to wonder, "Am I viewed as one of the previous CEO's guys?" He was well aware that new leaders often bring in their own team.

Many senior executives face that situation when a new CEO arrives. And a study to be published in the May issue of the Harvard Business Review, online tomorrow, indicates good reason for concern. Turnover among senior management increased after the appointment of a new CEO, whether from inside or outside the company, according to the study.

One of the most important steps is to decide whether they want to stay. If a senior executive completely disagrees with the new CEO's strategy or style, then he should find another job, said Marc Cenedella, CEO of TheLadders.com, an executive job-search site. "Make your decision in the first 30 days whether you're on or off the bus," he said. "You're not going to do yourself [or the new CEO] any good if you're half in, half out."

Listing Top Jobs but Charging Candidates to Seek Them

June 4, 2007 by Bob Tedeschi

Recruiters with six-figure jobs to fill know better than to post them online and start a stampede of marginally qualified job seekers. But they also know that the Web is the easiest way to find applicants.

The Web's surprising answer to the problem? Charge them to look.

A growing number of niche sites devoted to high-end jobs are finding that applicants are willing to shell out a few dollars? or a few hundred, in some cases ? for the chance to get access to job ads. The strategy will not help the big online job boards find more applicants for entry-level positions, but analysts say it is ideal for sites like TheLadders.com, ExecuNet and others seeking the senior executive crowd.

Several former HotJobs executives introduced TheLadders.com in 2003, with the mission of posting only those jobs with annual salaries of $100,000 or more. At the time, the company made an odd bet ? that it could attract more applicants if it charged them a monthly entry fee of $30.

That is precisely the opposite of the approach used by mass-market employment sites, which charge applicants nothing but charge companies varying fees to post job openings.

In its early years, TheLadders.com was slow to grow, partly because it did not attract enough job postings to justify the site's cost. But as employers and corporate recruiters learned that they could find qualified applicants for nothing, the number of job postings jumped.

Now, according to Marc Cenedella, the chief executive of TheLadders.com, the site listed 70,000 jobs last week and is on pace to exceed $30 million in sales this year from about 1.4 million subscribers. And the site now counts Microsoft and the EMC Corporation as clients.

"We're doing the same thing that's done in national parks: put a price on it so you get the right number of people," Mr. Cenedella said. Mr. Cenedella said that the company is not yet profitable, but is "cash flow positive." The number of subscribers who hear about the site from word of mouth, he said, has nearly doubled, to 34 percent, in the last three years.

Mr. Cenedella, who was a senior vice president at HotJobs when the company was acquired by Yahoo, said TheLadders would expand in the coming months to include jobs with annual salaries of $75,000 or more. (Only about 10 percent of the roughly 150 million workers in the country earn $100,000 or more, he said, while 20 million earn from $75,000 to $100,000.) Even that lower salary threshold, however, is high enough to attract job candidates who will pay to see the listings.

"We get a lot of people who e-mail us and say they shouldn't have to pay for a job," he said. "Our thing is, if you're a professional consultant, you have to learn how to market yourself. Besides, if I didn't charge, every wannabe in the world would come in."

What Am I Worth?
How To Increase Your Value To Your Company

February 14, 2007 by Tennille M. Robinson

At a time when companies are measuring every business initiative against how it affects the bottom line, do you know what your contributions are worth as an employee? Being able to determine your worth will not only help you leverage monetary compensation but also provide you with better self-awareness about your role within your company.

"I have a radical suggestion for somebody trying to figure out how much their contributions are worth to their [organization]," says Marc Cenedella, president and CEO of TheLadders.com, "Ask your boss."

Cenedella contends that the level of conversation between staff and management about meeting the goals of a company is surprisingly low.

"I think it's really ultimately part of the boss' job to explain to people how their contributions in the work place matter to the person's themselves, to their boss, to their group, to their company, to society as a whole. But if your boss hasn't done that, ask."

"If you don't understand how your highly valued skills do or don't play into the company's goals then you are really selling yourself short," he continues. "In any human relationship, it's really about 'what am I capable of and what does this relationship need?' And that's exactly what a working relationship is."

Job-search 101: Experts Recommend The Best Employment Web Sites

January 28, 2007 by Patricia Kitchen

TheLadders.com, a fee-based job site for those earning $100,000 a year and up, was one of 30 sites to receive a 2007 Weddle's User's Choice Award. The award is overseen by Weddle's, a Stamford, Conn.-based research, publishing, consulting and training firm that specializes in recruiting, job search and career management issues. But the choices are actually made as job seekers, recruiters and others in the online employment field cast their votes. Weddle's is run by Peter Weddle, who is also executive director of the International Association of Employment Web Sites - Employmentwebsites.org - a group whose members agree to adhere to certain standards related to privacy and accuracy.

Ken Rose, 53, of Massapequa Park, got a job lead through the site last fall that led to an account manager job with a document management firm in Manhattan. What did he like about the site? He says it caters to those with some workplace seasoning.

ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF (PROPERLY)
Being the new player on the team is tough, but you can make an easier entrance with these four steps

December 27, 2006 by Sam Grobart

Making a first impression is tricky business, and overdoing it, even with the best of intentions, is a classic mistake.

You have a critical window of opportunity when you start a new position; botch it and you can wind up paying (in loss of effectiveness, resentful co-workers and no lunch buddies) for months, maybe years.

Remember, "your co-workers thought they were doing pretty well before you showed up," says Marc Cenedella, founder of the executive-search site TheLadders.com.

Product & Services: Executive Searchers

November 2006 by Sara E. Savage

TheLadders.com has launched My Jobs, a new feature on its Web site that allows job seekers looking for executive-level positions to save job postings found on TheLadders.com and import job listings from other sources.

My Jobs allows users to create and store notes about each listing, create reminders and "to do" lists and submit their applications. A tracking calendar can also transfer dates to a printable calendar to ensure that important deadlines are not missed.

Features include: recruiter feedback, suggested job lists, side panel tool bar, featured recruiters and a new main page.

Work-From-Home Tips: Maximize Online Job Boards

November 20, 2006 by Tory Johnson

TheLadders.com, which focuses on positions paying in more than $100,000 annually and requires a monthly fee to join, features a wide range of senior-level positions from home in sales, technology, finance and marketing.

As with any advertised opportunity, you must do your homework to determine if something's right for you. That means talking to a live person and not just relying on an e-mail exchange to learn in-depth about the requirements, challenges and potential earning power.

Best News For Dads (And Their Kids)

November 2006 by Amy Levin-Epstein

The more time you spend with your kids, the better you'll be at your job. In a national survey of executives by TheLadders.com, an online recruitment service, 79 percent of respondents reported that being a father made them better professionals.

Six-Figure Career Track

October/November 2006 by Cora Daniels

Earning six figures does not have to be out of reach.

TheLadders.com, an online job site for jobs with a minimum salary of $100,000, lists more than 30,000 jobs a month. Could you see yourself as the director of table games at a casino in Vegas? A media company is looking for someone to do multicultural market development. Or maybe you are made for vacation – a travel company in Texas is in need of a manager of leisure marketing. Enjoy wine? Winery managers make six figures. So do "shopper researchers" for those of you always at the mall. And who said teachers can't get paid? A pharmaceutical company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is looking for a manager of medical education.

Work Clothes Send Signals: Outfits Are Noticed By Colleagues And Affect How We View Ourselves

October 25, 2006

You dress up for job interviews and meetings with clients. That's a given.

But making a good first impression isn't the only way your fashion style comes into play. Colleagues size up your outfits to decide whether you're stodgy or fun, among other things.

That's according to a recent survey by TheLadders.com, a job site for executives. More than 70 percent of respondents said that employees dressed in suits are seen as more senior-level, while 60 percent believe those workers are taken more seriously. The survey, with a margin of error of 2.08 percentage points, polled more than 2,200 executives.

Here's the downside: Twenty-seven percent of respondents see workers who are buttoned-up as rigid, while 16 percent say they are less creative.

Software Industry Most Popular for Senior-Level Sales

October 17, 2006 by Renee Zemanski

According to TheLadders.com, a company providing the world's leading online recruiting resource to recruiters and job seekers in the $100k+ employment market, the software industry tops the list for the most popular executive-level sales jobs for the second quarter of 2006. Moreover, it looks like it will stay that way through the remainder of 2006, says TheLadders.com CEO Marc Cenedella.

"The Internet has changed how every industry, business, and company interacts with customers, so I expect the software industry to continue to play a leading role in how all of us do business in 2006 and beyond," says Cenedella.

Whether or not companies are in the "hot" industry right now, Cenedella says that they still need a qualified sales team to help them grow their business. And finding that competent team is tough. "The top sales executives are pretty savvy at marketing themselves," says Cenedella. "Companies have to continue to innovate and find the best way to market themselves to connect with the best candidates. That means using new tools, like ours, to help them quickly identify and connect with top talent."

Pay Your Dues, But Be Sure To Get Change

October 11, 2006 by Eve Tahmincioglu

Loyalty in the workplace is scarce, meaning a company where you put in a lot of sweat equity might end up laying you off before you reap your dues-paying benefits. Moreover employees, both right out of school or embarking on new careers, don't want to wait years before they see the big job and the big money.

Take Maria Plantilla, 30, of New York City.

She graduated from the prestigious Williams College with a BA in psychology and had dreams of a management job in human resources. She ended up as a floating office assistant for a headhunting firm getting people coffee and filling in for the receptionist when she went to the bathroom.

"There were times when I thought: 'Is this always going to be my career? Is this what people will always see me as, an office assistant?'" she recalls.

Today she is human resources manager for TheLadders.com, an online recruitment service for $100,000 plus jobs. "I love my job," she raves.

Cracking the Office Dress Code

September 22, 2006 by Laura Rowley

TheLadders.com, an executive-level job-search site, surveyed its members last month and found that 70 percent thought employees dressed in suits are perceived to be senior level; 60 percent said people in more formal attire are more likely to be taken seriously.

While more than one-third of TheLadders.com's respondents thought casually dressed employees were likely to be more creative, nearly half agreed that such people run the risk of being taken less seriously -- especially if they wear jeans.

"If you have to ask yourself if you could get away with wearing a certain outfit to the office, it's best to avoid it," advises Marc Cenedella, CEO of TheLadders.com. "A vital part of succeeding in the office is knowing the company's culture. If the dress code is important to management, you should pay attention to it, too. If management has a relaxed stance, then it's fine to follow their lead."

What Your Clothes Say About You

September 18, 2006

Whether you prefer khakis and a sweater vest or a pinstriped suit, your office threads speak volumes about your personaility, according to a survey by TheLadders.com, an online recruiting resource.

"Presenting yourself in the best possible light, whether you're dressed for a relaxed or formal environment, can help to boost your confidence level," said Marc Cenedella, President and CEO at TheLadders.com

Dressing For Success

September 13, 2006 by Sarah Needleman

Wearing a suit to the office, even if the dress code at your workplace is casual, may boost your professional image, according to a recent survey from TheLadders.com, a job site that lists executive-level openings. Respondents included about 2,000 of the site's members, with incomes of $75,000 or more. Around 70% of the respondents said employees dressed in suits are perceived to be more senior level, while 60% said these folks are taken more seriously.

Office Etiquette

September 12, 2006 by J.W. Elphinstone

Whether you prefer khakis and a sweater vest or a pinstriped suit, your office threads speak volumes about your personality, according to one survey by TheLadders.com, an online recruiting resource.

More traditionally dressed employees are perceived as more senior level, 70 percent of surveyed executives said, while 60 percent said that they're taken more seriously.

"Seventy percent of executives said that clothes can help present the right image. I agree with them," said Marc Cenedella, president and CEO at TheLadders.com. "Presenting yourself in the best possible light, whether you're dressed for a relaxed or formal environment, can help to boost your confidence level."

To Leave, Or Not To Leave?
That Is The Question, Now That Lifelong Employment Is Out, And Job Hopping Is In

August 28, 2006 by Virginia Backaitis

"YOU'RE changing jobs again?" your mother says. She wrings her hands as she speaks. "Where will you be working this month?" your father ribs.

He smiles, but there's concern on his face. This is the second time in eight months you've stopped by to update your contact info on their phones and in their e-mail address books.

"You're supposed to congratulate me on my new position," you remind them. You were in such a great mood before you walked in the door. Your buddies had all been high-fives and handshakes when you told them your news. "Be happy for me," you say. "I'm just worried you're going to get labeled as a job frog," says your mom. "Job hopper," you say. "And I'm not one of those."

"Employers like to see individuals with diverse backgrounds," says David Carvajal of TheLadders.com, a leading job board. He recommends "four or five jobs in 20 years, each with a broader range of experience or a higher rung up the ladder."

Internet Multiplies Options
But Don't Expect To See Top Jobs Listed On Biggest Boards; They're More Likely To Be on Niche Sites

August 27, 2006 by Andrew Smith

Director. Comptroller. Vice president. Companies have traditionally used social networks to fill such top posts discreetly. Even today, the best way to land a senior financial position is to build a great professional reputation with industry colleagues. That said, the Internet is beginning to broaden the field of candidates. More companies are advertising prime jobs online, which means more chances for job seekers – if they know where to look.

"The Internet will never eliminate the need for highly skilled professionals who help companies choose the best candidates for senior jobs," said Marc Cenedella, chief executive at TheLadders.com, an Internet career site that specializes in six-figure jobs. "Instead, the Internet will help those professionals find better candidates in less time. It will also help good candidates find far more opportunities than they could find through networking alone."

For Those Searching For Employment, The Internet Can Be A Way To Go Beyond the Résumé and Showcase Talents And Skills
Many Are Wielding The Web As A Job-Hunting Tool

August 25, 2006 by Abby Terrell

For those job seekers who know how to take advantage of new Web sites and services, the Internet can give them an edge. From sites that allow job seekers to post biographies, photos and samples of their work -- along with a résumé -- to sites that provide detailed information about the companies job seekers are considering, it's getting easier to find the right job using the Internet.

Marc Cenedella, president and CEO of TheLadders.com, a search engine that targets executive-level jobs, said that although high-tech résumés are appealing, the bottom line is still the information. "Just because a technology exists, that doesn't mean you should use it," Cenedella said. "Video résumés and things of that nature are always a big temptation for people but don't actually help you get the job. The recruiter wants to see your accomplishments."

Where The (Best) 6-figure Jobs Are

July 13, 2006 by Jeanne Sahadi

While entering six-figure territory can be a marker of a certain level of success, it's not always a marker of a lot of buying power.

In some cities, a $100,000 salary sounds a lot better than it is because the cost of living is high, taxes are high and, as Murphy's Law would have it, even the rate of inflation runs higher than in other parts of the country.

We asked job listing site TheLadders.com to provide us with a snapshot of where they have had the greatest number of listings for six-figure jobs in the past two months.

Predictably, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. were in the top 10. But there were also a relatively high number of such jobs in Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Cleveland, Denver, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Houston, Dallas, Minneapolis and Charlotte, NC.

Getting the Inside Scoop On a Future Boss
Web Sites Help Job Hunters Talk to Potential Colleagues

July 13, 2006 by Anjali Athavaley

There are now more ways to get the inside scoop about an employer – before you are hired.

In the latest expansion of the Web phenomenon of social networking, more sites are launching features that make it easier for job seekers to connect with the employees of prospective hirers. Still, before you gather around the virtual water cooler, keep in mind that on many sites, what you post can be viewed by anybody – including your current or future boss.

"It is very difficult to make the experience something other than disgruntled ex-employees venting about their former employer," says Marc Cenedella, president and CEO of TheLadders.com, a Web site that posts jobs that pay more than $100,000. TheLadders.com has considered adding a space for employee comments but so far has rejected the idea. "We have not yet found the secret to eliminating that noise and distraction to make something of real value for the job seeker," he says.

Chief Executive Dad

June 20, 2006 by J.W. Elphinstone

Today's executives are working on being better fathers, while still handling the demands of a high-level position, according to one survey.

Two-thirds of executives who are also fathers said they spend more time with their children than their own fathers spent with them. Some are managing this by mixing work and family. For example, 31 percent of executives take their children along on business trips.

Executives are also staying in touch with their kids while at the office using today's technology. Three out of four stay connected by cell phone, while 56 percent touch base with e-mail.

More than three-fourths of executives have mementos of their children in the office. Photos and artwork are the most popular reminders, while four out of ten executive dads have a family screen saver or wallpaper on their computers.

Even though 72 percent of executive fathers sacrifice some family time for work, almost eight out of ten believe that being a father makes them a better professional.

The survey was conducted by TheLadders.com during the first week of June.

Move Over, Monster
Niche job-listing sites catch on among those looking for more-relevant searches

June 19, 2006 by Jeanette Borzo

Last year, when Craig Lund decided he wanted a new job, the media sales manager chose a common path: He posted his résumé on Internet job boards. In less than a month, he was named Toronto account director for Aquent Marketing Staffing, a division of Boston-based staffing consultants Aquent Inc. But Mr. Lund didn't land the job through one of the giant boards, like Monster.com or its Canadian equivalent, Workopolis.com. He found it on a much smaller site -- one that targets a select group of job seekers based on salary, profession and experience.

On TheLadders.com, a New York-based employment site geared toward professionals earning $100,000 or more, "the caliber of the jobs was far different from Workopolis and Monster," says Mr. Lund. (TheLadders.com recently entered a two-year subscription-sharing partnership with CareerJournal.com, a unit of Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal.) As the online job-listing market matures, niche sites, with their fewer and sometimes more relevant listings, are gaining in popularity. Like Mr. Lund, many job candidates have launched searches on both large and niche sites at the same time and say the niche sites produced faster results that were more targeted to their interests.

Not All Successful CEOs Are Extroverts

June 7, 2006 by Del Jones

It seems counter-intuitive, but introverts and closet introverts populate the highest corporate offices, so much so that four in 10 top executives test out to be introverts, a proportion only a little lower than the 50-50 split among the overall population age 40 and older.

Research on introverts and extroverts in leadership goes back at least to World War II and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a personality test now given to about 2 million people a year.

In an online survey by TheLadders.com job site for USA TODAY of 1,542 senior-level managers making at least $100,000 a year found that only 6% think introverts make better CEOs, vs. 47% who say extroverts are better. A sizeable 47% say it makes no difference and that other factors matter more, but 65% say introversion is an impediment to climbing the ladder.

More Mothers Are Balancing Babies And Briefcases

May 15, 2006 by Sharon Linstedt

On this Monday after Mother's Day, it's time to declare Working Mother's Day.

While it's great to have a day that focuses on the nurturing, "hearth and home" side of mothers' work, there should also be a day to salute all the moms who perform the daily balancing act of keeping the home fires burning while stoking the engine of the American work place.

More moms than ever before are part of the working world, balancing babies with briefcases, and "Clean up in Aisle 3" with clean up at home. From doctors to teachers, waitresses to CEOs, there are now nearly 9 million working mothers in the U.S.

A new "moms and work" survey from TheLadders.com found that the Holy Grail for working mothers is flexibility. More than 70 percent of the women it surveyed said flexible schedules and opportunities to work from home are the greatest benefits that employers can provide.

Working

August 11, 2005

It seems that the best way to celebrate doing well on the job is to get as far away from the office as possible. Twenty-nine percent of executives who responded to a survey by TheLadders.com, a career site specializing in executive jobs, listed taking time off as their favorite way to mark major career milestones... The least attractive option of all: staying home (2.3 percent). Now, maybe if it were a new home . . .

Job Web Site Zeros in on Higher-Paying Work; $100,000 a Year and Up

August 10, 2005

Marc Cenedella knows all about job posting Web sites. He worked for about two years at HotJobs.com, helping to shepherd the sale of that company to Yahoo. Shortly after the Yahoo acquisition -- a $436 million deal that closed in February 2002 -- Cenedella left the company. Though out of a job, Cenedella wasn't out of ideas. A year later he started TheLadders.com, another employment posting site. TheLadders.com is no clone of HotJobs, though. The company focuses solely on jobs that pay $100,000 a year or more. And TheLadders charges job seekers for leads. Other sites, such as HotJobs and Monster Worldwide, charge companies to post their job listings… Why charge job seekers? 'Recruiting and head hunting firms say they get a deluge of inappropriate applicants when they post jobs on places like Monster and Craigslist. A cover charge keeps out inappropriate applicants. If you are a dishwasher, chances are you are not going to pay the $30 a month or $150 a year to look through the jobs.'

Is a Job Offer a Moving Experience?

August 9, 2005

A 'great' executive job offer just came through. It involves relocation. Would you take it? According to a survey by TheLadders.com, a job site for the $100,000-plus sector: 32 percent would "go anywhere in the U.S." 17 percent said they'd 'go to any G8 country outside of the U.S.' 17 percent said they'd 'go to a different state within the same region.' 15 percent said they'd 'go absolutely anywhere in the world.' 13 percent said they 'wouldn't relocate even for a great opportunity.' 6 percent said they'd move but would want to stay in their home state. Career counselors in the Kansas City area say that executives' desire to stay here -- once they're convinced to come here, in some cases -- has made many re-employment searches difficult in the last few years. Options increase with willingness to move.

Lily of the Valley

July 29, 2005

A survey by TheLadders.com caught Lily's eye this week. Seems executives seeking advancement are increasingly seeing an overseas assignment as 'an exciting opportunity,' according to the folks at 'the world's leading $100,000-plus jobs Web site.' While 23 percent said they wouldn't entertain an overseas posting, just 3 percent told pollsters 'concern over adapting to a new culture' was a factor. 'It's an absolute fact that multinational corporations groom their top talent in international posts,' said Marc Cenedella, president and CEO of The Ladders.com 'But just as the offer of an overseas assignment is likely to be a vote of confidence, a refusal to take that assignment can hinder an executive's ascent through the ranks.' That got Lily thinking: What would a similar poll in Bangalore show about the prospect of an overseas posting to Silicon Valley?

Job-seekers glum about 6-figure paychecks

July 2, 2005

If you think finding a high-paying job is tough, you're right. A quarter of job- seeking executives looking for positions paying more than $100,000 said they expect to be on the hunt for 6 to 12 months, according to second-quarter results of the Executive Employment Outlook, a survey by TheLadders.com…In Indianapolis, it could be even longer. The city didn't make the cut of the top five cities to find a $100,000-plus-per-year job... But execs, don't get discouraged. TheLadders.com, an executive job Web site, reports it has 4,000 more postings for $100,000-plus jobs than six months ago.

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