Getting into the Wine Industry: 2019 Redux

The most popular post on my blog is Getting into the Wine Industry that I posted back at the end of 2010.  With over 9,000 views of that post, I've gotten a great response over the years, and also have learned about a lot of successful transitions into the wine biz that the post facilitated.  Recently, a finance professional reached out to get a bit more personalized information on that.  Here's his query, along with my answer for today's job market.

Hi Amy,

I hope this note finds you well.  After spending 15 years in finance across various industries (wine/alcohol not being one of them), and getting my MBA along the way, I've decided that I want to work on the business side of wine.  However, getting the transition started has been rather difficult.  I wanted to reach out to see if you can provide any advice on how I can make the transition.

My ultimate goal is to be CFO of a winery but I understand I may have to take some intermediate steps before landing a finance role at a producer.  I live in New York City and job postings for companies in any part of the wine business seem to be few and far between.  And relocation most likely isn’t an option, although my wife has said she’d be willing to relocate if I land the right role in the right geography (i.e., northern California).  I’ve contacted the very few alumni from my business school who work in the industry and scheduled one informational interview so far.  I’m also considering sitting for Level 1 of the WSET certification so that I can add it to my resume.

I wanted to see if you have any additional information to offer, or if there’s anything you can recommend specific to my situation, such as types of companies I might not be considering, how to go about finding networking opportunities, or anything else I can do to make myself more attractive to potential employers.  I’d greatly appreciate any guidance you can provide.

Sincerely,

NYC MBA

Dear NYC MBA,

I'm glad you found that post from 2010, and it is definitely time to put up a new take on getting into the wine business.  Reading my post from 2010, I think a lot of it is relevant for your situation.  First of all, finance experience translates well to a broad array of businesses, including wine.  Having your MBA, from a very prestigious east coast school, is also very impressive and gives you a great foundation in business management that many companies will find valuable.  So you have a strong footing to get this transition going.

As you mentioned, networking is key.  I'm glad you put out calls to fellow alumni.  That's a great first start in building your network.  And you've reached out to me, which is helpful for us to build a relationship and for you to gain more industry information.  Keep doing that with others.  I would recommend reaching out to finance people at some of the wineries you like, and see if they would be up for an informational interview.  Most likely it would be a phone interview, given that you are in New York City.  

You mentioned that you would relocate to Northern California.  What about looking at finance positions that are in smaller markets?  Sometimes there are more viable candidates in the epicenter of the wine business than there are in smaller geographies, and you could set yourself apart by bringing an MBA and business experience to an underserved location.  And some of the other markets outside of Napa have major players in the wine business including Oregon, Washington and Upstate New York.  

But perhaps your goal is also to work in the wine industry in Northern California.  There are bigger companies that have more finance and business management needs in the major winemaking areas.  They also are facing fierce competition from their neighbors for the same talent.  The salaries and compensation packages do tend to be better in the bigger winemaking regions, with Napa Valley leading the way (please see the Wine Business Monthly Annual Salary Survey for more information).  Also, larger companies tend to be more willing to bring in professionals from outside of the industry, partly because many industries are so closely related, especially in finance, and because they have more ability to train and develop employees than smaller companies do.

Now, while the product wineries make gets all of the attention, there are a lot of ancillary businesses that need finance professionals.  Vineyard management companies, equipment suppliers, software development companies, fulfillment operations and packaging suppliers all support the wine business.  Don't forget to look at positions with companies that sell products and services to the wine industry.

And with three-tier distribution still alive and kicking, most states have importers, distributors and brokers supporting wine suppliers efforts to sell their wine.  These companies also need finance people, and have locations nationwide.  New York City has many importers and distributors right in your neighborhood.  

I do encourage you to dip your toe in wine education.  Right now, your LinkedIn profile doesn't reflect any wine knowledge.  Getting a first level certificate from WSET or the Court of Master Sommeliers will be a badge you can put front and center on your LinkedIn profile, and on your resume.  As I've blogged about before, you must show some interest in wine in your job search communications and your resume needs to show your strengths.  

I hope this is helpful, and I look forward to staying in touch.  Keep me posted if you head out to Northern California!

Sincerely,

Amy Gardner

WineTalent

Desperately Seeking YOU: Passive Job Seekers Need to be Found Too

With the continued need for top-notch talent and tight labor market, we recruiters are working overtime to find the right people for the job.  Time spent in front of our computer terminals is increasing, and our searches in LinkedIn, Facebook and our other toolboxes are our lifeblood.  Recruiters need to find passive job seekers, those of you who are possibly interested in a new job, but are fairly content in your current position.  So it is heartbreaking when one of my searches turns up the ideal candidate, but there is no way to reach this person.

My Mission:  My mission today is to get people to put their personal contact information into their professional profiles.  Whether that is in my main tool, LinkedIn, or if you are an active user of Facebook, CareerBuilder, The Ladders, or another online site, make sure you are reachable.  I know you want to control your privacy settings, but if you lock me out I can't reach you.

Here's my action plan to be found if you are possibly thinking about a new job:

1. Make a LinkedIn profile that is similar to a resume.  
2. On your LinkedIn profile, use an email that is active and you will receive messages for.  Seems simple, but too often we set up our profile with an old address, or that personal email we seldom check.  Well, guess what, if I send you a message in LinkedIn, probably you won't ever see it.  Opportunity is knocking.....
3. Check your LinkedIn messages often.  Respond to them, including the best way to reach you if you are interested in hearing about possible opportunities.  I do encourage you to use a personal email account so that there is no issue with your current employer.
4. Add contacts that you know.  The larger your network is in LinkedIn, the more likely you are to be found in a search.  

Help me out!  Desperate times call for desperate measures.  This post is completely self serving.  In turn, I look forward to helping you out with a great career advancement opportunity.  

Quick and Dirty: What Cranky Recruiter looks for on a resume first

I have exactly five minutes to write this.  So please excuse any mistakes, errors or crankiness.  Those who regularly read my blog will understand that last part. 

I am always being asked for advice with resumes.  Happy to help, when time permits.  Right now time is of the essence.  But I thought I'd give you the quick and dirty version of what I, and most hiring managers, look for in a resume.

1.  A resume that is appropriate for the position.  If I've posted a job and I get a resume out of left field that doesn't match the description at all, it tends to get very little interest.  I do understand that I often post positions and note that I also recruit on other jobs in the wine industry.  So, I do want to hear from job seekers out there, and am happy to get your resume--it just may be reviewed later than a resume that is spot on.  Patience, my friends.

2.  Location, location, location.  I look at where someone is living and consider that heavily in their ability to take the job I'm working on.  Yes, people relocate all the time for work.  People also get through the entire interviewing process all the time and decide that, no, they don't really want to leave (insert home town here).  This really doesn't help me, and can hurt my business, so I do weigh a person's current location in my decision to contact them about a position.

3.  Education.  I want people to have a Bachelor's Degree at least for most jobs.  I do understand that going to school and working can be hard, but do it.  Get that degree, even if it takes 10 years or more.  I love seeing it on a resume.  AA degrees and advanced degrees are also great to see.  But yes, if you have been going to an institution of higher learning for the last 15 years and have no work experience I worry about your ability to work in an industry job.  Just saying.

4.  Lengths of employment.  I like people who have been in a job for a few years.  More than two.  If less, I may wonder why, and sometimes know why, but give me a good 4 years at your last employer, and I'm in heaven.

5.  Gaps of employment:  You hear about this problem.  Yes, I wonder why you weren't working for 2 years.  I often will contact you, but you better be able to address it.

Remember,  no one is perfect.  I understand if your resume doesn't meet my top five points exactly.  I'll often give you a chance.  But just thought many people would like to see what my eye scans when I open up a resume.  Hey, five minutes and five talking points--not bad.  Back to work. 

Reading Between the Lines: What a Job Description Can Tell You

Last week I was glancing through the Winejobs.com listings, and read this in a job description, "ability to adapt to and thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment."  This made me laugh.  Often you can get a glimpse of what the potential employer's culture is like by reading the job descriptions. 

Let's take a look at some recent job descriptions:

• Looking for an enthusiast and honest person with integrity, energy, drive and persistence, emotional intelligence and good interpersonal skills.  To me, this position outlines the perfect person.  If only it was this easy to find Mr. Right.  Maybe the last person here wasn't the right one.
  
• Must be able to juggle multiple situations, and able to work independently.  Reading this one leads me to believe that this company needs someone who can work on their own and who can make decisions and has good follow-through on projects.  Additional skills that often go along with this are organization, goal setting and problem solving.  Often these qualities are needed at a company with looser corporate structures or macro-, not micro-management.
• Strong leadership, self-starter, interpersonal skills and good communication skills. Yet again looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right. 
  
• Tenacious, unflappable, not easily discouraged.  This leads me to think that the company needs someone who is able to work in a dynamic environment and someone who is self motivated to work hard.  This may not be the best environment for someone who has worked in a structured environment or has not had their ideas challenged in the past. 
  
• Excellent active listening skills.  If you can't listen or follow directions, probably not the best place for you.
• Solid business and financial acumen as it relates to operations.  Perhaps this position has not brought in strong profits in the past but needs to.  Also, you should be good at running numbers and reporting them to ownership/management. 
  
• Versatile, flexible, and a willingness to work under competing priorities with enthusiasm.  This may mean you have several different supervisors.  Also could demand someone who can "grin and bear it" while working very hard.  Could be a situation where others have gotten discouraged in the past.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.  There's that dynamic word again.  What does this really mean.  I always take it to mean an environment that is quickly changing, of shifting priorities and results oriented. 
  
• Must have good organizational skills and attention to detail.  If you don't have them, don't apply.  You won't be happy pouring over spreadsheets, reviewing numbers and keeping track of things if you take this position.
  
• Professional attitude and a strong work ethic.  While this should go without saying, in this role you will be required to always act professionally, no matter what is going on around you, and you will be expected to work hard.  You should have a good head on your shoulders to do well in this job.
  
• Demonstrated ability in multi-tasking and prioritizing workload while keeping in check quality and time constraints.  This sounds like the mantra we should all have to get ahead in life.  Often this implies a need for self-management and someone who can get things done.  May not be an overly structured environment. 
  

While job descriptions can be boring, these little descriptors can let you see a little bit about the inner workings of a company.  Also, reading through this list, it makes me think sometimes what they list are the qualities previous employees lacked.  Do you have what it takes to succeed in a possibly dynamic, unstructured environment?  Do you have strong attention to detail?  Well, then go after a job with those requirements.  When you send in that resume, you may know a lot about the company from reading between the lines.


Cranky Recruiter Note:  No job descriptions were harmed in the making of this list.  This list is for illustration and entertainment purposes only.  Any similarities to actual jobs is not intentional.

Less Cranky Recruiter: Must Have Wine Experience

Back to my usual self, and have gotten through my inbox now. For anyone who is looking to make the change into the wine industry, please continue to make your plans, and send me those resumes. I am happy to help with feedback, and hope my last post simply shines light on your need to make your resume relevant to the reader. I think I'll keep that last post up, FYI.

Sign up with the Temporary Staffing Firms Pronto

Just back from a quick vacation and company retreat, and getting through my emails. I have been noticing that a lot of people are asking for resume advice and for ideas on their job hunt. Happy to help. I was just looking at a resume of an educated scientist who has made the switch from food science to winemaking. She has very good experience at several well-known and respected wineries. Her recent positions have been harvest jobs. Her resume is very good, but I think finding a long-term position would be helpful to anchor her work in the wine world. I suggested applying to temporary agencies for hospitality roles. And then I thought that while I may know this, not everyone has worked in staffing for the last couple of decades. And now I'm telling you.

Temporary staffing companies have been doing very well during the recent economic recovery. While companies may not be hiring regular, full-time employees, they are hiring people to handle the work while they assess if the economy is really coming back. Staffing companies have seen a lot of new business and many positions are long-term temporary positions and temp-to-hire positions. When you are brought in for a temporary gig, the company can see your work style and get to know your personality--and if it is a good fit with the culture there, oftentimes will hire you on as a regular employee.

When companies start struggling to keep up with demand and need more employees, they often turn first to an agency. This flexibility allows them to stay focused on their business, and add workers quickly and as needed. While this isn't good if you are only seeking a permanent position, if you are willing to come in as a temp, you may stay on as a regular employee before you know it.

While the ideal role for the job-seeker I referenced would be more production oriented, harvest comes but once a year (or twice if you travel to the southern hemisphere), and in the meantime, a hospitality or related position could give some additional insight into how the wine industry works.

So, go, sign up for a temporary position immediately. It can give you a little cash, let you experience some different companies, and maybe lead to a long-term job down the road.

Working with a Recruiter or Talking with Myself

Yesterday I got a call from a recruiter who was seeking help for a friend in the wine business. This recruiter has been recruiting in a separate technical field for the last 20 years. When her friend returned from an international stint she started to think about how he could find a job in the wine industry. Talking to her on the phone yesterday was a breath of fresh air, and a bit like talking to myself. I noticed some great traits that transfer well to job hunting.

1. Leave a message with the reason for calling, your phone number, and repeat the information. Yes, I've written about it before, but there is an art to leaving a good phone message. Always give your name and reason for the call. Let the person know when you are calling. Then leave your phone number, and if necessary a good time to reach you. Then repeat your name and number. With the wide-spread use of cell phones, bluetooths and call waiting, it isn't unusual for a blank spot to hit right when you are leaving those final digits of your phone number. It might seem trivial, but your phone number is very important to get right if you expect a return call.

2. Be responsive when you get a call back. When you get your message returned, appreciate the call. My contact let me know she was doing some research on WineTalent and explained why she had reached out to me.

3. Be prepared to explain your situation. My recruiter was calling on behalf of a friend, and she quickly caught me up to speed on her search. If you are calling to find out how to work with a recruiter, let them know that. If you are following up on a resume submitted, let them know...etc. A few things that are worth mentioning is if you were referred by a colleague, if you are currently working but looking for a new position, or if you were just laid off. Make your case with the recruiter, concisely.

4. Ask for advice if you want it. Being in the recruitment business, this woman and I look at resumes constantly. She wanted to find out if wine industry resumes were different from other industry resumes, and we discussed it. If you have a burning question or need advice, now is the time to ask. Recruiters are in the business because we love helping people advance their careers. We know what works, and are happy to talk about it. Just ask.

5. Plan next steps. This could be sending a resume, setting up a call for later to discuss options further, or getting references to your recruiter. Make sure you know what your recruiter is looking for, and do it.

6. Schedule a time. This is when I knew I was dealing with a professional. When I advised my contact to have her friend get in touch with me, she scheduled a time with me that worked for both of us. Recruiters are experts at this--nailing down a time when a client and a candidate can interview is crucial to moving the process forward. By doing a "presumptive close" me on a time, I knew when I would be talking to her friend, I was sure to make myself available then. This helps avoid a long game of phone tag. I cannot stress enough how important and helpful this is--try it.

7. Follow up. Nothing can get accomplished if you don't follow through with your side of the equation. If you said you would send a resume, do it. If you are gathering names of references, get those sent along as soon as possible. Success has always come to people I know who are masters of following up on things--myself included.

8. Keep it personal and professional. When I was talking to my fellow recruiter, we were both interested in each others' business while maintaining a professional demeanor. Job hunting and career advancement is a very personal matter. Recruiters understand that, and knowing a bit more about you helps. While we want to know what makes you "tick", you need to make sure you present yourself in a professional light.

9. Network. Yes, I got the call from this recruiter because she had been talking to her friends about her friend's job search. This is networking 101 and crucial to a job search.

Just looked at my watch and it is time for that call that she booked. Gotta Go.

Cranky Recruiter: Don't Take it out on Me

I am just getting back in the swing of things after taking a few days off to recuperate. This summer has been very busy for WineTalent. Now that most of my positions have been filled, I had to take a bit of time to just relax. Well, now that's over. Back to work.

First of all, let me apologize to anyone that I owe a call to. I do keep track of all my voicemails, and will get back to you one way or another. Sometimes I can't return all the calls during business hours, and will send you an email. Yes, I know if you've left me a couple of voicemails, and will touch bases soon.

Second, my inbox often comes first. This might be sad to say, but I do try to get through all my emails first. This may be a function of our new electronic society--or just how I work. I do receive 10 times the amount of emails than I receive of voicemail, and have to start somewhere.

Third, I do keep your resume in my database and always look there first when a new opening comes up. I always encourage you to check in with me from time to time. You don't know how often that pays off for people. Check out this related post: Where do I find Candidates.

Okay, now why I'm cranky. I have been working in recruitment for a long time. Recently, I have been getting more angry candidates. This could be because I am working on a wider array of positions. Or maybe because by being in business for many years, I know a lot more people, some of which are grumpy. But I think I know what the situation is: the job market. With so many people laid off and the job hunt being tough, I may be a convenient whipping boy when someone doesn't get called for a job, or isn't getting hired as quickly as they would like.

Job hunting is never fun, I know. And if your hunt is stretching on longer than you envisioned, it may be psychologically and financially unnerving when you don't get called about a job. But lashing out at your friends, your family, and yes, even your recruiter isn't the solution. Get up and get back in the hunt. Start at square one. What job do you want. Then, what job can you get, and what job are you willing to take. If you have steered away from lower level jobs, time to get your name in there. If you haven't let some of your old colleagues know you are looking, call them. If you aren't looking at many different sources for jobs, broaden your search. If you are showing up for interviews in business casual attire, take that suit to the dry cleaners, shine your shoes and iron that dress shirt. Kick it up a notch.

And turn that frown upside down! A positive outlook and sunny demeanor help tremendously when you are interacting with colleagues, friends, recruiters, and interviewers. A smile and firm handshake go a long way in the business world--so stand tall, be proud, smile and tell them you want the job. You always want the company and hiring manager to know that you want the job and to work with them. We all want to be wanted, so make sure you express your interest in any job opportunity you hear about.

Okay, back to the inbox, and yes, the voicemails.

Getting Framed: Ask for Timeframes.

Currently in the throes of a busy recruitment. I've posted the position on Winejobs.com and now am slogging through my inbox and voicemail. Also putting out all those feelers to people I know who might be interested in the position--or know someone who is.

The last couple of days I have been discussing the position with several people. I am learning about their backgrounds and interest in the job I'm working on. This allows me to make a "short list" of potential candidates. Determining who the best candidates for any job is always a learning process, and does take some time. This is where I encourage the job seekers to stay on top of their application.

When you are looking for a new job you can send your resume to black holes and never hear anything back. While I have given advice previously on how to manage this, it happens to the best of us. If you are fortunate enough to hear from a prospective employer, it indicates real interest and possibly a job down the line. Now is the time to take advantage of that contact. When you are on the phone or in an interview, ask the interviewer what the time frame is on this recruitment. Some time frames that would interest you are how long they have been looking to fill this position, when they are scheduling interviews, and when they want the position filled. This shows you how the process will unfold.

In addition to the time frame of the hiring process, try to get some time frames for YOUR process. Ask when your resume will be submitted to the hiring manager, when interviews will be going on, and when you can expect to hear back. If you hear that they are scheduling interviews next week, you know to be on top of your schedule and ready to book the meeting when that call comes. If they are waiting to finish publishing the position on the company's website before scheduling interviews--things might drag on awhile. I try to let candidates know what the timing will be on recruitments, and when they should expect to hear from me. I often let them know to contact me in case the window of time passes without hearing from me.

Here's a little secret. I get a lot of people interested in the jobs I am recruiting on. A lot of them are very viable candidates for the position. While I'm recruiting, there are a lot of people I interact with. If I haven't heard from someone in awhile, they may drop off my radar. If you are one of the people I'm considering--you should make yourself visible. A polite follow up call in a week let's me know you are thinking about the job, and interested in continuing the process. The person I don't hear from may have taken another position and is no longer in contention. Those follow-up calls keep me on my toes, and thinking about you for the job. This is what you want.

Where do I Find Candidates

I have worked in recruiting for 15 years now, and have always told every candidate who submits their resume or contacts me that I will keep them in mind for current and future positions. I think this is easy to say, good to hear, but not always believable. Having amassed a lot of resumes, referrals and contacts over the last five years for WineTalent, I was recently thinking about how I have found my recent hires. Here's what I have found.

In the last two years, about half of the candidates that I present to my clients come from ads I run and the other half are from a variety of sources. These sources include my professional networks, referrals from colleagues, job fairs and my database.

The candidates who ended up being hired were sourced many different ways. Several were from contacts I made over the years and finally the right position came up for them. Others were people I had talked to over many months or years, and then they saw an ad for a position I was recruiting on that they wanted to be considered for. Some hires were people who have submitted their resume in the past from an ad I posted, continued to check in with me over the years and ended up getting a different job through WineTalent. Additionally I have hired people that were referred to me by other qualified applicants. I have also placed people who years ago I met at a job fair.

As a recruiter I know that everyday I need to talk to people and find out who is looking for what position. I also continuously talk to my clients to find out what openings are coming down the line. I am checking in with people at various levels and keeping my ear out for any changes that may affect my clients or job seekers. By doing this, my database of great candidates has become a great tool for placing employees. It also allows me to say with certainty that I do keep all resumes under consideration, and perhaps one day the resume that came in my inbox will end up being the resume of the candidate who gets the job.

As a job hunter I think this is great information for your job hunt. While people always think that it is who you know, it is also what you do with what you have. If you are looking for a job, keep the hunt alive. If you are working with a recruiter, let them know you are still interested in being considered for other openings. Check in with your contacts from time to time to let them know you want to hear about any openings that might be out there. And look at all opportunities to meet recruiters and hiring managers--whether it be by responding to an ad, meeting at a job fair or doing an informational interview with a company. These options could lead to the job you get.

Is the Wine Industry a Growing One?

Back in 2004 I started up WineTalent after years of dreaming about it. I had always enjoyed working with winery professionals. I also believe that great talent is needed to continue to push the industry forward.

One of my first WineTalent meetings was with an industry veteran. He asked me why I was focusing solely on the wine industry, and didn't I think there wasn't much future in the industry. I started sweating bullets. What? I was thinking it was a growing industry. I wanted to focus on the wine industry because I believe a focused approach in business is the best. I also thought there was enough business to sustain a recruiting company for the unforseeable future. I stuck to my guns and expressed those thoughts to him. Luckily, he was only playing devil's advocate, and agreed that the industry was seeing a lot of growth, that there were a lot of changes coming to the industry, and that dedicated, personalized service is a very good approach in the wine industry.

Fast forward to 2009. The US and world economy is reeling from the meltdown of 2008. Wine companies are feeling the squeeze from people not eating out as often, and from people trading down to lower priced wine. But the bright spot is that wine consumption is up. For decades the US consumed more beer than other alcoholic beverages, and only about three years ago did wine consumption eclipse that of other alcoholic beverages. Wine has also been embraced by the millenial generation--those coming of adulthood in 2000 or later. The Millenials are a large generation, second to the baby boomers I believe. Much of the snobbery of wine is being replaced by enjoyment of wine with family and friends in a social atmosphere. This is all good news for wineries, wine employees, and related services, such as me.

With the rising tide of lay-offs I am getting more calls than ever from people hoping to make the move from another industy into wine. Are they just looking to do it because they are drinking more wine--hopefully not. I do believe that most of these people enjoy learning about and drinking wine, and would like to combine that interest with a career in an expanding industry.

I counsel people regularly about switching industries. While many positions require previous wine and spirits experience, there are several positions that can easily allow a career transition. Another point that I mention to people is that many of the people in the wine industry have themselves made a career path move to get into the wine industry. These career-switchers are somewhat more open to looking at people with diverse job experience, and will take the time to discuss possible areas of employment. It isn't that far off that a highly successful person has decided to take some of her earnings and start up a winery. This leap is celebrated often--and can be duplicated on a smaller scale in lots of winery jobs.

So, I do see that there are many areas of growth in the wine industry, and that it is a business with some transition possibilities. It is never a snap to make a industry change, but it is better to look to go into a growing industry than a stagnant or shrinking one.

Don't Call Me on a Friday After Tying One On

While many people get into the wine industry for the love of wine, handling yourself professionally is always a top priority. There are many situations that call for winery personnel to drink wine while working. As in any workplace, handling your liquor well is extremely important. This is true when conducting your job search too.

I regularly will get phone calls from job seekers on Friday afternoon. Most of the time these calls are normal, but sometimes they tell me far more than I should ever know about the candidate. When a person calls me and their words are slurred or they have trouble consistently staying on topic it sends up a red flag. Does this person possibly have a drinking problem? If they do, wouldn't it affect their work performance at a client that I place them at?

Over the years I have had clients look for signs of alcohol abuse during interviews. They look at a person's physique to look for signs of long-term alcoholism. They may have them join in a tasting to see how they handle themselves in front of a large selection of wine. They also may arrange calls in to them after hours to see how they handle themselves.

Think about this when you are conducting a job search. The wine industry thrives on people enjoying a glass of wine. It has never been a negative mark to hear someone sitting down to dinner with a glass of wine. Downing the whole bottle personally while at a lunch interview is another matter.

What to put on your resume.

One of my readers recently wrote to me about writing a resume for the wine industry. With permission, here's the email followed by my suggestions.



Hi Amy,I have recently come across your wine talent blog and I am hoping to get some advice from you on how to develop an effective resume. I am not currently in the wine industry but, I am hoping to enter into it. I am currently a product manager and have a lot of transferable skills. I'm not sure how to create a new career change resume. Do you have any tips that you can share? or sites to direct me to?Any advice you can give will be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much.



My suggestions:

• Having transferable skills is the most important element, and the part I would promote on your resume.


• Chronological resumes with your most recent position listed first are the best format.


• Put an experience section first on your resume. This is where you can highlight what you have done, and what is easily transferred into the wine biz.


• Use bullet points. Recruiters, HR managers and hiring managers get resume fatigue. We like to have your abilities pointed out to us--easily found and easily understood.

After the format of the resume, I would encourage you to highlight the areas which are easily transferred. Program management is a discipline that can be used within sales organizations, marketing departments, management and administration. Think about what areas could use your skills, and then write your resume addressing those areas. For other disciplines, look at them from a new perspective, and figure out new areas where you can capitalize on them.

Get involved. I say this from a wine perspective. I often see that people who successfully have made a transition steeped themselves in wine knowledge, news and started making contacts. This commitment shows potential employers that you are serious about your change. I recommend taking classes online, going to wine education courses and reading everything you can get your hands on.

Good Luck!

Is that a real job posting?

As a recruiter, I am continuously searching for new candidates for openings. While I have several open positions I am working on, I also know that certain positions are soon to come open. I do my fair share of advertising for current openings. I also post common job titles that I frequently have openings for. What I don't do is post phony listings to attract job seekers.

Today's Wall Street Journal had an interesting article in the Career Journal about phony online job postings. The article, It Isn't Always a Job Behind an Online Job Posting, by Sarah Needleman, discusses some of the ploys used by job placement companies as well as of scammers.

I do advise against sending your resume out to any posting you see. Recruiting and staffing firms often post general job descriptions to lure prospective job seekers to submit a resume. Often, these resumes will be useful for current or future positions, and adds more candidates to the search firms coffers. But if you are hoping to have a confidential search, make sure you contact the company and find out as much as you can about the opportunity. If it doesn't sound real, hold off on submitting your resume. If you have skills that closely match a true opening, a good recruiter will follow up with you to find out more about you.

Also, with the tough economic times, beware of putting too much information out for scammers to see. Online job sites are reporting increased scams. Scammers use postings to get personal information, including full names, addresses and job information that they can use for identity theft. Also, career services firms may be phishing to get people who might pay for their services. If your resume submittal turns into a come-on for services--beware. A job posting should be just that--an opening for a real position.

Getting Motivated in Your Job Hunt: Goal Setting

Looking for a job can be one of the worst things to have to do. With lay-offs mounting, the wine industry is not immune to the economic crisis. More and more of my contacts are calling up to say they are looking for a job. It can be hard to get motivated to keep making calls, sending out resumes or searching job boards. But a proactive job seeker will find a job much faster than someone who throws their hands up in the air and hopes for something to turn up. When things get hard, put together some goals, and act on them.

Your goals don't have to be monumental. Sometimes putting together a list of 10 things you can actually get accomplished is the best plan. Having that list, working through it and seeing that you managed to do it will make doing it again tomorrow easier.

A job search goal list could look something like this: talk to two former colleagues, search winejobs.com and winerysite.com for any new postings, review business section to see if any companies announced any new initiatives, send out five resumes and follow up on all emails. It sounds simple, and it is. But doing routine job search activities takes time, patience and persistence. Surprisingly, you will look back on these goals and see where you are successful. Take those successes and increase the activities that are worthwhile. If your networking with colleagues is getting you insight on possible job openings, increase your networking. If you have exhausted all the places you can send a resume, search for upcoming events that might be a better use of your time.

Now just do it! Good Luck.

Why Do Companies Use a Recruiter?

Often people ask why companies use a recruiter. Here are some of the reasons why.
1. The company does not have a Human Resources department. While most large companies do have an HR department, many wineries are small operations. After hiring a General Manager, a Winemaker, a Sales and Marketing person and someone who is in charge of the Tasting Room, most wineries have the main managment positions filled. Then the responsibility gets put onto one of those manager's shoulders--while they still have their day to day work to do. While most winery professionals have experience in hiring, many don't enjoy doing it. Taking the time to post a job, go through the resumes, interview the top candidates and then perform references is very time consuming, and not something that they have time for. A recruiter does those functions for them, and presents the best candidates to them for their review.
2. The company requires confidentiality about the opening. Executive searches are often conducted when a company is planning to change the direction of the company, when a current executive is underperforming, or when a key executive is planning a departure. With a high profile management position, the health of a company is brought into question when an opening goes unfilled. Proactive companies want positions filled to prevent any undue attention. This is frequently when I work with wineries to find a new employee. Through my search services I can network with executives, advertise about the opening, and address questions and concerns that job seekers may have about the management change of the company.
3. A company needs to look at a broad spectrum of candidates. Several of the larger wine and spirits companies work with recruiters to make sure they are talking to all of the available qualified employees. Sometimes companies get a reputation of not hiring people from certain competitors or without a certain degree. When companies change directions, they sometimes need the input from people throughout the industry. By using a recruiter they can talk to some people who previously may have avoided submitting a resume to the company.
4. A company wants someone with a particular talent, but doesn't have the resources to recruit. When a special skill is required, the talent pool is much smaller than for a general experience level. To find the best and the brightest, research is required to find out who the qualified people are, and then who might be interested in the new position. HR departments aren't always equipped to do this, and smaller operations don't have the resources to do it. That's when a recruiter is contacted. Having the recruitment experience and contacts within the industry, I'm able to quickly ascertain who the right candidates are, and work to find who might be interested in looking at a new job opportunity.

Are you there recruiter, its me, Perfect Applicant?

Recently I was speaking to a job seeker who had solid experience in both sales and marketing. I was urging her to tailor her resume for specific job openings, and expanding her descriptions related to the job description. By focusing a resume to the job, it allows you to present yourself well to the reader.

When you are applying to a position directly with a company, often all the resumes are sent to a general delivery email address. A Human Resources recruiter then slogs through the inbox to find out who has responded to the ad. As when I post a job, lots of relevant resumes come in, but also a lot of unqualified but interested job applicants apply. The company recruiter is tasked with finding those applicants that come closest to the job description, and making those resumes available either to an HR manager, or to a hiring manager. Within big companies, the recruiters are going through tons of resumes for all sorts of open positions, from winemakers to CFOs, viticulturists to sales managers. It only makes sense that the concise, clear resumes make it out of the inbox, and onto someone's desk.

While tailoring your resume is important, keeping it readable to the recruiter is crucial. Explaining your work experience clearly and thoroughly is important. Also, keep a handle on your use of buzzwords. While everyone in your industry may be able to quickly ascertain your knowledge when looking through a list of acronyms, to a company recruiter it may be all gibberish. A happy medium is to explain your background in plain words, and list technologies, systems, etc at the bottom of each entry. This allows your resume to be understood by anyone who is looking at it, which is exactly who you want looking at it. Now you just want it to get out of the inbox and into the hands of the decision maker. Good Luck.

Salesperson seeking new opportunities

Recently a wine salesperson contacted me for advice on how best to look for a new position. I frequently get this inquiry, so I thought I’d post what my response was. Hope this is helpful for others trying to move within the industry.

“I'm glad you were able to find me on the web. With your education, you have many options in the wine industry, and I'm glad to see that you are already working within the industry.

With your sales experience, I'm sure you have cold called clients. I think there is nothing better than stopping in to the tasting rooms and seeing what you can find out. And since you are in the industry, most wineries offer free tastings to the trade. Not everyone you talk to at a tasting room will know about hiring plans of the winery, but it's a start. Some of the smaller wineries have been bought by bigger wineries, so find out who is who through the web or winery directories (Wines and Vines puts one out, and there are a couple of others). You should also see if the wineries have an HR department, and maybe try contacting the General Manager to find out if there are any openings. Selling yourself is just like selling a product, so act professional yet approachable, and trust your instincts when you are talking to someone. You are currently employed, so keep your inquiries confidential. Take a look through my blog to find out other advice, like places to look for jobs, etc. “

Another question frequently asked by jobseekers is how I get paid. Here is my response: “As a contingent recruiter, I am compensated by my client, a winery, when I find the right employee for a position they have open. I have never charged a job seeker for my services, outside of a gift of a bottle of wine for resume advice.”

Cranky Recruiter: Whoa Texas, Slow Down When Giving Me Your Number

I have my pen poised, my speakerphone on, and listening intently to your message. You are a perfectly skilled, well-liked and hardworking winery professional--all I need to do is call you back and you will be perfect for my client. And then you race through the 10 digits of your phone number. Luckily while you were leaving the message you also had a call coming in so part of it is cut off. Over and over I hit the #1 button to replay the message, only to get 8 of the 10 digits. So, forever I will be ruing the day I missed your call. But if you want me to call back, slow down, and, just for a lark, repeat your number. This is a good rule of thumb for all messages. I always leave my name and number, and then repeat. Kind of like hairwashing instructions, lather, rinse, repeat.

Comedic Tips on Job Hunting

And now for a little humor. I'm a huge fan of Stephen Colbert and "The Colbert Report" Two days ago Colbert did a piece on effective job hunting. Take a look at it, but take it with a grain of salt! The Colbert Report