‘This is part of a series about business–in a point and counterpoint style between Eric Chen and me. Chen had a stirring career as a young Wall Streeter who knew how to take companies “public.” I had background as a business development consultant for Fortune 500 companies and we connected. Chen was prescient, he went back to school for advanced degrees (law and accounting), he teaches at St. Joseph College in Connecticut and is also management consultant, telecommunications is one of his niches.’
”Rath”: This may sound quaint: From my perspective, resumes
aren’t for mass distribution. A resume is selling tool directed
to a particular organization to show how your experience applies
to your perceived needs of the organization for which you would
like to work. That requires more effort and focus on your part,
as does your preparation for an interview. Please share your
perspectives.
”Chen:” It takes me around three to four months to get to know a
company really well. I tend to start with learning what the
company is all about. Public companies (those that trade on an
exchange) must file documents at regular intervals with the
Securities and Exchange Commission; their Form 10-K, or the
Annual
Report, is a great place to start because it contains all sorts
of
great information, such as how the company divides up its
business
lines, the number of stores opened last year, who the executive
officers are, the company’s financial performance for the past
few
years, and the litigation currently ongoing. Be forewarned