Author Archives: Albert Klein

Are You Still Wasting Time with Inefficient Meetings due to Endless PowerPoint Slides?

Many meetings are time-consuming and end without concrete decisions. Here are proven principles for efficient meetings that lead to fast, informed decisions:

  • Use Meetings Only for Decision-Making, Not for Information Exchange: Ban PowerPoint presentations from your meetings. Instead, send a Word document with facts, conclusions, and recommendations before the meeting. This allows participants to prepare in advance and focus on decision-making during the meeting. Require confirmation from attendees that they have read the information beforehand to ensure everyone is prepared.
  • Clear Agenda with Meeting Leadership and Timeframe for Each Item: The meeting leader ensures that the agenda with timeframes is adhered to and that all participants are guided toward a decision. If the meeting deviates from the topic, the timeframe is not adhered to, or unnecessary details are discussed, it is crucial to postpone the decision.
  • Meeting Summary with Decisions and Who Does What by When: After each meeting, a brief summary needs to be written within 24 hours, clearly documenting what was decided, who is responsible for each task, and by when it should be completed.

Efficient meetings are key for a productive and goal-oriented workflow. Optimize your time and resources with precise meeting preparation, a clear agenda with timeframes, a summary of decisions, and follow-up on results.

Contact me at ak@aklein-consult.com if you want to improve your meeting culture!

Have you tried ‘PITA’ in your Food or Beverage Company?

 

Having worked in Marketing roles for P&G and The Coca-Cola Company, I have observed significant differences in Consumer & Shopper Marketing strategies and plans for Laundry/Personal Care Products vs. Beverages.

 

Great Laundry or Personal Care Consumer & Shopper Marketing can stimulate trial and purchase and convince shoppers to buy larger quantities/multi-packs. However, larger purchase quantities will NOT increase usage. This is because you won’t wash your hair multiple times/day or do more laundry washes just because a larger amount of product is at home. The only advantage is that you won’t buy a competitive Brand as long as you’re fully stocked.

 

In Food & Beverages, however, it’s all about identifying and driving purchase and consumption occasions in the Home and Out-of-Home Markets.

  • Within the Home Market, large purchased amounts do increase consumption behind purchase and consumption occasions such as Xmas, Easter, Halloween, or BBQ.

 

  • Within the Out-of-Home Market, there are many different purchase = immediate consumption occasion, i.e. thirst quenching, socializing or travel occasions with specific opportunities for real-time communication.

 

PITA, stands for Population x Incidence x Times x Amount and thus, defines the magnitude of the business opportunity.

 

  • Population is the overall size of the Target Group (i.e. teens 12-19 yrs.)

 

  • Incidence is the % of actual shoppers/consumers with key volume drivers such as:

 

  • Times a Brand is purchased, i.e. 1x/month, 1x/day or multiple times/day. This correlates with the number and type of communicated purchase and consumption occasions.

 

  • Amont, i.e. the product sizes; 0.3L, 0.5L, 1.0L or 1.5L, depending on the occasions, i.e. 0.3L/0.5L for on-the-go consumption or 1.0L/1.5L for household/family consumption.

 

Thus, PITA is key to the success of each Food & Beverage Brand!

 

Just contact me via ak@aklein-consult.com when you need assistance to launch PITA in your Food or Beverage company.

Why use a Professional Recruiting Agency like AKlein-Consult?

 

In the past, you could fill a vacancy by advertising the role on your website or online. This is no longer the case because you only reach the candidates that are actively searching for a new role.

However, using AKlein-Consult to fill a vacancy comes with the following advantages:

 

Access to the Hidden Talent Pool: Based on a client briefing, AKlein-Consult actively approaches the hidden market of passive candidates. They are not actively looking for jobs but might be open to new opportunities. This can be invaluable to find top talent, especially for hard-to-fill positions.

 

Specialized Expertise and Networking: AKlein-Consult specializes in FMCG, Life Science and Asia searches with an extensive network in this industries & regions. This goes hand in hand with a deep understanding of the respective candidate markets as well as the skills and qualifications needed for specific roles.

 

Time-saving: Advertising a role on your website or a job portal gives you a large number of candidate applications. The downside is that many applications do not meet the requirements. They are thus irrelevant and it’s time consuming to check and to send a rejection. Also conducting initial interviews and checks if a candidate fits is time-consuming. Outsourcing these tasks to AKlein-Consult saves your time and allows you to focus on a short-list of pre-screened and handpicked candidates.

 

Cost-effective: While there are fees associated with using AKlein-Consult, the cost of a position that is vacant over a long time or hiring the wrong person can be much higher. Thus, AKlein-Consult helps to mitigate this risk by finding candidates quickly who are a good fit for the role and the company culture.

 

Confidentiality: In some cases, you may need to keep their hiring processes confidential. Using AKlein-Consult ensures discretion, especially when recruiting for sensitive or high-level positions.

 

Streamlined Process: AKlein-Consult is experienced in managing the entire hiring process, from sourcing candidates to negotiating offers. This leads to a more efficient and streamlined hiring process overall.

 

AKlein-Consult: Große Rollen in FMCG 🛒, LifeScience 🧪 und Asien 🌏.

Why Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) enhance the effectiveness of your CV?

 

Your CV is an important tool to showcase your skills and experience to potential employers and recruiters. However, you might have experienced that your CV did not trigger an interview when you applied for a role. Here’s why that could have happened:

Professional recruiters and employers skim your CV in just a couple of minutes to search for evidence in your past career which is comparable to the challenges in the vacant role. Based on that, they decide if they want to continue the dialogue with you.

However, many CVs just list roles and respective responsibilities. Including KPIs in your CV sets you apart by proving your actual achievements like % vs. py or % vs. objective in previous roles.

Thus, quantifying your past impact helps recruiters and hiring managers to understand not just what you did, but how well you did it compared to expectations.

In addition, tailoring your CV with specific KPIs relevant to the vacant role, makes your application more targeted and compelling and demonstrates your understanding of the job and how well you stand out from other candidates who may have similar skills and experiences but do not prove that in their CV.

 

AKlein-Consult: Great Roles in FMCG 🛒, LifeScience 🧪and Asia 🌏.

Have you already worked with a Boutique Recruiting Firm?

 

If not, let me briefly share the advantages a Boutique Recruiting Firm offers over larger, more generalized agencies:

  • Specialized expertise: Owners of Boutique Recruiting Firms are mostly specialized in specific industries like FMCG or Life Science. Own management experience within an industry and a deep understanding of role requirements enables Boutique Recruiting Firms to better understand the unique needs of both clients and candidates.
  • Personalized service: Boutique Recruiting Firms provide a truly personalized and attentive service. Unlike larger agencies where most of the project work is conducted by junior consultants, the owner of a Boutique Recruiting Firm works on eye-level with both senior client management and senior candidates, tailoring their approach to meet individual needs and preferences.
  • Flexibility and agility: Boutique Recruiting Firms are typically more agile and adaptable than larger agencies. They can very quickly adjust their strategies and processes to accommodate changing market conditions or client requirements, providing more customized solutions and faster turnaround times.
  • Access to top talent: Despite their smaller size, Boutique Recruiting Firms have access to the same pool of top talent as larger agencies. Their specialized focus and personalized approach attracts high-quality candidates who prefer working with senior recruiters who understand their industry and career goals because of own management experience in a specific industry like FMCG or Life Science.
  • Focus on quality over quantity: Boutique Recruiting Firms prioritize quality over quantity. They are focused to find the best-fit candidates and they present only a limited number of short-listed candidates. In addition, long-term service levels of a Boutique Recruiting Firm owner does result in higher-quality placements and better long-term outcomes for both clients and candidates.

Overall, Boutique Recruiting Firms offer a unique combination of specialized expertise, personalized service, and agility that can provide significant advantages for clients seeking top talent in specific industries or niche areas.

AKlein-Consult: Great Roles in FMCG 🛒, LifeScience 🧪and Asia 🌏.

6 reasons why your LinkedIn profile needs to be up to date

When contacting potential candidates for great job opportunities, I often see outdated LinkedIn profiles. Here are some reasons why it makes a lot of sense to keep your LinkedIn profile always up to date:

 

  1. Professional Image: Your LinkedIn profile is the first impression you make on recruiting agencies. An up-to-date profile shows that you are actively engaged in your professional life and that are serious about your career.

 

  1. Career Opportunities: Recruiters use LinkedIn to search for promising candidates, and having an up-to-date profile will increase your chances of being discovered for great job opportunities.

 

  1. Networking: LinkedIn is a powerful tool for networking. An up-to-date profile can help you to connect with other professionals in your field, join relevant groups and discussions, and showcase your expertise and accomplishments.

 

  1. Branding: Your LinkedIn profile is an extension of your personal Brand. It establishes you as an expert in your field and increases your visibility among your professional network.

 

  1. Time Management: An up-to-date LinkedIn profile saves time; both yours and the recruiters. This is because a recruiter would not contact you when you’ve just changed your company. With an outdated profile, you’ll spend time responding and the recruiter to follow-up.

 

  1. Industry Insights: LinkedIn provides valuable industry insights, news, and trends, and an up-to-date profile helps you to stay current with the latest developments in your field.

Overall, keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date is essential for maintaining a professional image, expanding your network, and advancing your career.

 

AKlein-Consult: Great Roles in FMCG 🛒, LifeScience 🧪and Asia 🌏.

Does your LinkedIn profile show your People Skills?

 

Your LinkedIn profile is your professional online presence and a digital representation of your career and capabilities. Highlighting your people skills on your LinkedIn profile is crucial for the following reasons:

Attracts Opportunities: Recruiters use LinkedIn to search for management candidates with mandatory people management skills. Demonstrating strong people skills makes you stand out for great roles.

Leadership Type: Highlighting your people skills on your LinkedIn profile establishes your credibility and authority. Specifically, it#s important to differentiate between your functional and disciplinary leadership experience.

Team Size: Management roles come with various team sizes. Often expertise in leading large teams is mandatory for a role. Thus, your LinkedIn profile should identify the size of your team responsibility.

Overall, your LinkedIn profile serves as a digital resume and personal Branding tool. Highlighting your people leadership skills will enhance your professional reputation, attract opportunities, and advance your career.

AKlein-Consult: Great Roles in FMCG 🛒, LifeScience 🧪and Asia 🌏.

 

🌟 Are you looking for the best talent in 2025? 🌟

Have you lately struggled to fill key open positions? That’s completely understandable. Much like the quest for the finest truffles, finding the ideal candidate in today’s competitive job market can be quite challenging.

I’m here to help you successfully fill your vacancies in the new year! 💼✨.

With my industry expertise and management experience from Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola, combined with 20+ yrs. of active sourcing for FMCG and Life Science roles, I am well-equipped to assist you.

By leveraging your detailed brief, I will personally reach out to and identify the best candidates who align with your company’s needs.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch for a no-obligation conversation. Let’s collaborate to attract the best talent for your team! I look forward to connect and support you in filling your open positions.

AKlein-Consult: Great Roles in FMCG 🛒, LifeScience 🧪and Asia 🌏.

Do your Job Interview Questions focus on Facts?

Do you still use hypothetical rather than fact-based interview questions? Let me briefly share with you why fact-based job interview questions are state-of-the art and when hypothetical questions might make sense?

Objective Evaluation of Real Examples: Fact-based interview questions focus on past candidates’ examples that are relevant for the vacant position rather than relying on speculative answers which candidates can make up. Thus, 3 points are crucial:

1.      What was the concrete objective of a project? (i.e. %-change vs py)

2.      What has the candidate done? (he himself)

3.      Which KPI results were achieved? (in comparison to the objective)

Predictive Validity: Past behavior is a strong predictor of the future. When you ask fact-based questions about past successes, you obtain insights into how candidates are likely to perform in similar situations in the future.

Structured Interviews: When you conduct multiple interviews by different interviewers, you obtain comparability via a structured interview process with similar fact-based interview questions. Thus, you reduce a potential bias in the hiring decision as al interviews are done based on consistent criteria.

Examples when Hypothetical Interview Questions Do Make Sense:

1. Case Study Questions which are typical for the interviewed role, i.e. an annual employee appraisal, a change of priorities/timings, or an unplanned event. Thus, a case study provides insights on candidates creative & innovative thinking and their ability to tackle issues that are relevant for the role.

2. Future Orientation questions on the first 100 days on the job. This allows you to gauge candidates’ vision, goals, and aspirations within the context of the role and the organization.

In conclusion, fact-based questions that focus on candidates’ past experiences and achievements are key for a successful job interview while hypothetical questions like a case study or a plan for the first 100 days are a good addition.

AKlein-Consult: Great Roles in FMCG 🛒, LifeScience 🧪and Asia 🌏.

Have you ever ghosted a recruiter?

Candidate ghosting in recruitment refers to the abrupt and unexplained cessation of communication between a candidate and a recruiter. This can occur at any stage of the hiring process, from initial contact to post-interview follow-ups. Ghosting can be no response to emails, neglecting scheduled calls, or simply disappearing without notice.

Here’s why you should not ghost a recruiter:

You’ll miss learning opportunities: Constructive feedback is invaluable for professional growth. When you ghost a recruiter, you deny the opportunity to receive insights into your strengths and weaknesses, you hinder learning and improve for future interviews and career endeavors.

Your reduced job market visibility impacts your overall career path: Ghosting can contribute to your invisibility in the job market. A recruiter recalls your reputation for ghosting and thus is inclined not to contact you again for future opportunities. This will limit your opportunities, making it challenging for you to secure positions aligned with your skills and aspirations.

In summary, candidate ghosting has profound consequences for you as a job seeker. Professional recruiters play a crucial role in mitigating these effects by fostering a culture of open communication, providing constructive feedback, and treating a candidate with respect. A commitment to transparency not only benefits you as a candidate in the short term but also contributes to a healthier and more ethical recruitment ecosystem in the long run.

AKlein-Consult: Great Roles in FMCG 🛒, LifeScience 🧪and Asia 🌏.