Newsletter February 2020

Recruiters for the Copier Channel® for more than 30 years, Copier Careers® has been the only recruiting firm exclusively dedicated to connecting Copier Channel employers with experienced service technicians, copier sales representatives, sales managers, service & operations managers, controllers, support staff, and MPS/MNS experts. Start your month off right with the Newsletter February 2020: Copier Channel news and career advice. Search copier jobs now.

IN THIS MONTH’S NEWSLETTER

Top 5: Bad Boss Behaviors
News from Xerox & HP
Sound Off: 2020s Copier Channel Expectations
Poll-of-the-Month: For the last job offer you refused, what was your #1 reason?

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Top 5: Bad Boss Behaviors

With all the work that goes into applying for a job and trying to make a good impression during the interview, it’s easy to forget that interviewing is a two-way process: you’re evaluating your potential employer as much as the employer is evaluating you. Avoid signing up to work for a bad boss by staying alert to these five warning signals:

1. They ask illegal questions in the interview. It sounds crazy, but it happens all the time: the hiring manager asks illegal questions during your interview. Questions about how many children you have, or about your race, religion, gender, age, marital status, military status, or disabilities are not allowed. Best case scenario: this hiring manager is incompetent. Worst case: they’re unethical. Either way, consider this a red flag.
2. They talk too much about themselves. “I once interviewed with a manager who kept interrupting me, so he could tell me stories about himself,” writes Lisa Quast, a contributor for Forbes. “These are managers who have an excess of self-importance and are extremely preoccupied with talking about themselves. These are also the bosses most likely to steal your ideas and take credit for your work. Run quickly in the opposite direction.”
3. They reminisce about the good old days. In this industry, there are still some managers who miss the days of selling standalone photocopiers and who haven’t quite wrapped their heads around the value (and inevitability) of the managed services model. Working for people who have one foot in the past will restrict your income and stunt your professional development. Avoid it.
4. Other employees don’t like them. As you arrive for and leave your interview, observe how other employees interact with the manager. Do they greet the manager warmly as they walk down the hall, or do they avoid their gaze? Are interactions friendly and cordial, or cold? Look for signs that other employees dislike or distrust the manager. If you are lucky enough to see the manager feeding into some workplace toxicity take that as a sign and run!
5. They don’t pay attention during the interview. Employers often pass on candidates who don’t seem passionate about the position, and candidates should do the same with bosses who aren’t giving it their all. The manager’s focus during the interview should be on finding out whether you’re the right person for the job. If they’re checking email, answering calls, or texting while you’re speaking with them, their mind is elsewhere. A boss who can’t give you their full attention during the interview certainly won’t listen to what you have to say once you’re hired. Be wary.

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Xerox Plots Hostile Takeover

On the rebound after breaking it off with Fujifilm, Xerox floated an unlikely proposal to buy out HP in November 2019. The $22 per share or $33.5 billion bid has been unanimously rejected by the HP Board multiple times, driving Xerox to go to the shareholders directly.

Investor Carl Icahn, who holds a 10.85% stake in Xerox and recently acquired a 4.24% stake in HP, has been the biggest proponent of the deal. In December, Icahn published an open letter (as he often does) to HP shareholders calling the proposed deal a “no-brainer.”

Seemingly unconcerned about the HP Board’s stance on the matter, Xerox announced in early January that it had secured $24 billion in financing for the $33 billion bid. HP responded to this and the push to meet in-person to continue negotiations: “Your letter dated January 6, 2020 regarding financing does not address the key issue – that Xerox’s proposal significantly undervalues HP – and is not a basis for discussion.”

In mid-January, Xerox announced its intention to nominate “11 independent candidates” to HP’s Board of Directors. Xerox CEO, John Visentin, stated, “We believe HP shareholders will be better served by a new slate of independent directors who understand the challenges of operating a global enterprise and appreciate the value that can be created by realizing the synergies of a combination with Xerox.” Read more…

Read more news from around the industry on our News & Resources page.

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Sound Off

Our readers respond to last month’s poll question

The 2010s was a decade of change. From our annual salary surveys, we’ve seen increases in compensation, changes in workforce distribution, shifting demographics, and increasing personnel shortages. From our news stories, we’ve seen quite a few mergers and acquisitions among OEMs and independent dealerships; shakeups and scandals, layoffs, and more! So we were curious to hear what your 2020s Copier Channel expectations were. We had a solid turnout of 7,499 votes this month!

Most of you expect to see continued growth and evolution (51%) in the next decade! Another 29% predict continued consolidation, whether through mergers or outright acquisitions. After that, we had a big drop-off with 11% expecting continued personnel shortages, 8% predicting more disruptive innovations, and only 1% expecting little-to-no change in the coming years.

POLL QUESTION: