Moving Along In the Toy Industry

by Celia Bechtel
Bechtel Executive Search

The toy industry, as with all the other industries, is moving along in a time of uncertainty and hesitation. Even the healthiest of companies are being very careful in all aspects of their business. The economy is forcing manufacturers to focus on the bottom line. They are being very cautious about adding new executives to their staff.

The industry is always in a state of flex and, fortunately, most of my clients still want to hear about good talent. From time to time, clients are especially interested in a female perspective and specifically indicate, discretely, that it would be a plus if a qualified candidate is a woman. It is always exciting talking to strong, talented women who have worked very hard to get the recognition they very much deserve.

Women in Toys is an excellent organization to meet and network with successful women in executive roles. It is always good to brainstorm with others in the industry because it makes you realize that they are experiencing the same situations. It is refreshing when I hear that a successful woman has been hired by a good company.

The toy industry traditionally has been thought of as a “good, ole boy” industry and sometimes it is very difficult to break through that barrier. When starting a job search, the candidate should research the company and find out what type of climate it has. This is extremely important. The chemistry between the people is as important as having the right background. For those of you who are in an active job search, always make your decision to join a company is based on the opportunity and not just the compensation. You have to be able to get excited about what you do everyday.

I am a seasoned executive recruiter in the toy industry. I place all levels of candidates, ranging from product managers and designers to presidents and general managers. I would love to hear from you if you have made a decision to make a move.

Please call me to discuss what your needs are and what you are looking for your next move. It is just as important that the move is the right one for you as it is for the client. Make sure you have updated your resume and it is ready to send to a client. It is also a good idea to put together a page of accomplishments to compliment your resume.

I firmly believe that we are all in this together and, if I can help in any way, I would welcome your call. Good luck in all your endeavors.

♦

Celia Bechtel
Bechtel Executive Search
508-543-9425 – phone / 508-543-9427 – fax

This entry was posted on Friday, August 14th, 2009 at 1:37 am. It is filed under Toy Industry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.