Crain's Detroit Business - 25th Anniversary Issue, May 3, 2010 - (Page 14)

Page 14 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS May 3, 2010 CareerWorks online Visit www.crainsdetroit.com /careerworks to search for jobs, post a résumé or find talent. Help for job seekers CareerTransition Name: Chris Raymond, 40. Education: MBA in international business and marketing from University of Detroit Mercy, 2000. Last career: Raymond worked for Ford Motor Co. for 15 years in sales and marketing. He held 10 different positions in that time, which he says is typical for someone in his field at Ford. At different times, he was a brand manager, worked in export operations and, when he left, was district manager for Lincoln sales and marketing over five states. New career: In 2007, Raymond bought an Express Employment Professionals franchise. The company provides full staffing solutions, from temporary and flexible staff to direct hire and executive recruiting, either short or long term. Why did he decide to change careers? “In 2007, Ford went through its third restructuring in 12 months. Pretty much everybody in sales and marketing was offered a voluntary separation package. I decided that it was a good time to look at a change of careers. I didn’t want to strike out on my own entirely, so a franchise seemed to be the way to go. Express Employment Professionals had an impressive business model.” How he made the transition: “I was referred to a franchise consultant. I was shown a number of options that fit, but I liked this one the best. It was overwhelming at first because, as a business owner, you have to wear a number of different hats. I work in sales operations, but I also have to deal with everything else. “I’m fortunate that I held a number of different positions at Ford, so I was used to working in different areas, but it’s not the same at all. When I was working for a big corporation, I certainly took my work home with me, but I was nothing like as fully invested as I am now that the company is my own.” Obstacles overcome: “When I opened the business in 2007, we were on the cusp of things getting rough. I soon found that the staffing industry provides a lot of opportunities in difficult times. When companies do need staff quickly, they’re often ill-equipped to deal with the issue so we’re always the first people they call. “When I first started, the portfolio was 90 percent automotive, but we’ve made a conscious effort to get that down to around 50 percent at this time when the automotive industry is suffering. It’s not been a challenge to get former automotive workers to look into work in other industries, though. People welcome the opportunity to look outside of what they have been doing in these difficult times.” Advice for others: “You need to be absolutely 100 percent committed. When you work for a big company, you have a lot of support. When you start your own business, you have to get used to wearing many more hats quickly. Choose your industry, or in the case of a franchise, your company carefully. Choose a business model that is well established.” — Brett Callwood If you have made a similar change in your career, or know someone who has made an interesting career transition, contact Andy Chapelle, managing editor at Crain’s Detroit Business at achapelle@crain.com. C areerWorks is a weekly collection of advertising, news and information geared toward readers in career transition or looking for new jobs. CareerWorks is also online. On our Web site, at www.crainsdetroit.com/ careerworks, you can post an anonymous résumé and attract employers. You can scan the newest jobs from our area or all of Michigan. You can set up e-mail alerts so whenever a job that interests you is posted, you’ll know about it. Employers can post jobs or search résumés for talent they seek. Chris Raymond Former career: Automotive sales and marketing New career: Staffing company franchise owner In Your Corner. Restructuring Experience EMPLOYMENT CALENDAR WSU to offer program for displaced professionals Wayne State University is offering a re-employment program for displaced professionals at its Macomb Education Center. A grant from the Macomb/St. Clair Workforce Development Board will fund 350 jobless whitecollar professionals to attend WSU’s Executive and Professional Development re-employment program through Sept. 30. The program offers personalized professional training, executive education, consulting and individual coaching. For information and registration, call (313) 577-4449. MCC sponsors job fair Macomb Community College Career Services is sponsoring a job fair on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. on its south campus in the Sports and Expo Center (P-Building). Employer representatives from business, computers, design, health, industrial and technical areas are expected. The event is free and open to students, graduates, alumni and the community at large. Attendees should wear business attire, bring résumés and be prepared to interview. For more information, call (586) 445-7321 or e-mail careerservices@macomb.edu. Bob Mollhagen rdmollhagen@varnumlaw.com 866-4VARNUM I www.varnumlaw.com I Novi (Metro Detroit) I Grand Rapids Kalamazoo I Grand Haven I Lansing  http://www.crainsdetroit.com http://www.crainsdetroit.com/careerworks http://www.crainsdetroit.com/careerworks http://www.varnumlaw.com http://www.universalwatch.net http://www.varnumlaw.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crain's Detroit Business - 25th Anniversary Issue, May 3, 2010

Crain's Detroit Business 25th Anniversary
Looking Forward
25 Companies to Watch
25 Mainstays
25 People Then and Now
25 Scandals and Dubious Deeds.
25 Philanthropic Gifts
25 Newsmakers of the Year
25 Big Stories
25 Innovations
25 Gone But Not Forgotten
Health Care
Defense
Suppliers
The Internet and Communication
Energy
Finance
Signs of the Times

Crain's Detroit Business - 25th Anniversary Issue, May 3, 2010

https://www.nxtbookmedia.com