Yosemite National Park

A Message from the President

Hello everyone,
I’m sure the current financial crisis hasn’t escaped any of you, and here at Keifer professional search we have noticed it too.  I would like to tell you about the Theory of Holes.  The Theory of Holes is that once you’ve hit the bottom, you stop digging.  It means that every single company in our industry is doing everything it can to cut costs and conserve cash.  The companies that will survive this recession/downturn are the ones that take a long term view.  I hear some people say that this seems like 1929 to them.  But, I would tell you that the future is much brighter.  The economy of the United States in 2009 is much more dynamic than in 1929.  My personal opinion is that if we could all take a small step backwards in our lifestyles and make an investment in our families and our country, we will get through this just fine.  

I want to say how proud I am of the citizens of our country that organized a tax protest on April 15.  I am sure that the irony of the date did not escape our elected officials.   To quote one protester that I heard on CBS news “We are mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore”.    I really hope that the people will get what they want, and what they want is reform. 

I know that unemployment in our industry is at an all time high.  There are a lot of really amazing people that are looking for work.  If you are one of them, I want to tell you about a site called www.jobseekerinfo.com.  It gives you lots of practical advice and tips in addition to the information on my web site.  I want to do everything I can do to help you become a better job applicant. 

I am working on some business development positions in the renewable energy/solar power industry.  Check out the links below and let me know if you are aware of anyone that would be a fit for these positions.

Kevin A.P. Keifer
President

Open Positions

Account Sales Manager

Senior Account Manager

US Sales Director

Interview Questions

Here are 10 behavioral-based questions. Have an answer for each prior to your next interview:

1. Describe for me your greatest accomplishment up to this point in your career. When was it? What did you do? What was the outcome?
2. Tell me about a time when you didn't accomplish the original objective. When was it? What was your role? What was the outcome?
3. Describe the most prominent mistake you have made during your career. What did you do? What were the results? What did you learn from it? Have you ever repeated the same mistake?
4. Walk me through the last time you worked in a team and didn't get along with one of its members. When did this take place? What did you do? What could you have done differently? What was the outcome?
5. Tell me about the toughest decision you have had to make in the past three months. What made this decision so tough? What information did you consider when deciding? How did you reach your decision? How did it turn out?
6. Take me back to the last project that your were involved with that required extra effort on your part. When was it? What adjustments did you have to make to meet these demands? What was the outcome?
7. Describe the last improtant task you delegated. What instructions did you give? How did you check on the progress of the assignment? Was the outcome satisfactory? Why or why not?
8. Describe a recent situation that best illustrates your style in leading others to accomplish a task. When did this occur? What was the situation? How did you motivate the team? Who was the hardest team member to get on your side? How did you do it?
9. Tell me about the most recent goal that you achieved. When was it? what was the goal? How did you set up an action plan to achieve that goal? What did you do? How did you do it?
10. Tell me about a recent customer complaint that you handled. When did this take place? What was the complaint? How did you learn about it? What did you do? How did it turn out?