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• In memory of Bob Gatti, an HR legend
• Senior Strategic Market Research Analyst
• Job hunting tips for recent college grads
• Part-time role in Cambridge
• Can you file for unemployment benefits after signing a release?
• When I walk into a networking event…
• Marcomm role for power company
• How to follow up after an interview
• Account Executive
• Hundreds of resumes mailed and no response

In memory of Bob Gatti, an HR legend

The HR Community in New England is mourning the death of a legend.  Bob Gatti, a well-known HR leader, died earlier this month at his home in Norfolk, Massachusetts.

Bob Gatti was a trusted advisor and mentor to many in the HR world and the Boston business community. Bob held several senior-level corporate HR positions before starting his own firm, Gatti and Associates in 1985. Gatti and Associates quickly established themselves as the “go to” resource within the HR community, focusing exclusively on the placement of HR professionals.  Judy Banker, EVP and Managing Director of Gatti and Associates, joined Gatti’s firm in 1987.  Banker remembered Bob as a leader who “ran a firm where honesty and integrity were paramount.  He was particularly committed to helping those whose careers were in transition.  His kindness to others was legendary.”

Janice Forster, a former Boston banking executive, now retired and living in Florida, said Bob was “a good friend for the entire HR community. He was so supportive of the many HR organizations within the Boston area.”  Forster and Gatti worked together at Bank of Boston from 1983 to 1985.

Brendan King, President of King & Bishop, described Gatti as both “a friend and a mentor.”  King and Gatti shared business referrals for over two decades.  King recalled that he relied upon Gatti for both advice and counsel. King believes that Gatti will be remembered for “helping grow and develop hundreds of successful Human Resources careers.”

Bob was the first member of the Northeast Human Resources Association (NEHRA).  Thirty years later, NEHRA has more than 2,000 members.  Gatti also served as President the Human Resources Leadership Forum (HRLF) from 1994-1995.  During his tenure as President of HRLF, membership doubled.

After returning to the Massachusetts area in 2002, I re-connected with Gatti. I emailed him to ask if he had time for a quick call.  Instead, though not surprising, he invited me to his Medfield office.  Bob spent a solid hour with me and introduced me to many of his newer team members.  Always a positive and generous spirit, Gatti praised me for earning my MBA.  “You were ahead of the curve!  Now all of our clients expect that of senior-level HR leaders.”

In our rushed and hurried world, Gatti was known for giving his time and attention to others.  The Boston HR community has lost a friend, a mentor and a leader.

Pattie Hunt Sinacole is a human resources expert and works for First Beacon Group in Hopkinton, an HR consulting firm. She contributes weekly to Boston.com Jobs and the Boston Sunday Globe Money & Careers section.

Job hunting tips for recent college grads

Q:  My daughter is graduating college in the spring of 2017.  She has replied to many online postings and seems to be getting frustrated.  Many of her friends are landing jobs.  I am sure that job hunting has changed since I graduated from college.  Can you share any tips on job hunting, more specifically for recent grads?  We thought after laying out some pretty big dollars for an undergraduate degree, she would have job offers coming through our front door.

A:  How wonderful that your daughter has just graduated from college!  Congratulations to her!  Finding a job, especially a first job out of college, can be a challenge.  Here’s some practical job hunting advice for your daughter:

1. Make sure that your daughter is using the career services office of her college or university. Part of your tuition likely funded this office! A career services office can help with development of a resume, coaching in interview skills, and connections to employers.  Some employers even visit college campuses with the intention of hiring graduates or students.   Your daughter should also become active in alumni groups.  Fellow alumni are often very helpful in finding job leads and contacts within companies.
2. Review her resume. No typos, spelling errors or wild fonts are allowed.
3. She has probably already received this advice, but your daughter should consider joining LinkedIn. Recent college graduates will often protest and explain that they don’t have any connections. Now is the best time to start building a professional network.  Your daughter can connect with fellow graduates, professors, friends and neighbors.
4. Your daughter should have an elevator pitch. This is a 1-2 minute summary of who she is and where she hopes to land in her next job.
5. Introductions to others can lead to job opportunities. She should never say no to an intro. It is not just the person with whom you are meeting, but all of their contacts too!
6. Your daughter should stay close to email. Email should be checked daily, even on weekends.
7. Sometimes recent grads need to be reminded to send thank-you notes or emails. Even if someone has just met her for coffee, a quick note of thanks should be sent.
8. If your daughter interned with a company, she should re-connect with that company. Companies like to hire interns into regular full-time roles, if they have appropriate roles available.
9. Networking is more valuable than spending time behind a laptop. A reasonable guideline is 75% of a job hunter’s time should be devoted to networking, while the remainder can be spent behind a PC.
10. A social media check-up may be smart. College grads need to make ensure that their social media pages portray them in a positive light.
11. Finally, stay positive. Every interview is helpful, because every interview practices a skill.  Interviewing is a skill!  No recruiter wakes up in the morning and says, “I am eager to hire a negative person today.”  Even though your daughter might be getting frustrated, it is important not to share that frustration with a prospective interviewer.

Your daughter will land.  Have faith!

Pattie Hunt Sinacole is a human resources expert and works for First Beacon Group in Hopkinton, an HR consulting firm. She contributes weekly to Boston.com Jobs and the Boston Sunday Globe Money & Careers section.