First Impression, Hopefully Not the Last

A first impression can last a lifetime! The job interview process can be one of the most important and intimidating parts of trying to land a job.  In order to make a good first impression you must be well prepared for the job interview. Here are some tips for before, during, and after the interview.

Before the interview:

1. Researching the company and position. Come to the interview well prepared to answer questions about the company’s history, current projects, and the duties and responsibilities of the position that you wish to fulfill.

2. Mock Interviews. If you have the opportunity to partake in a practice interview, go for it! The more practice you have answering questions on the spot the better you become at doing so. Also, reviewing standard interview questions and planning responses will only benefit you during the interview.

3. Know your Objectives. Make sure you have a clear idea of your own personal goals and abilities. Be able to explain why and how you are qualified for the position.

4. Dress to Impress. Dressing appropriately in the professional industry is important when making a good first impression. Make sure you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing; this will boost your confidence and employers are likely to notice.

5. Proper sleep and nutrition. Ensure you get a good night’s sleep the day of the interview, and eat a hardy meal an hour or so before the interview.

During the Interview:

1. Arrive with time to spare. The last thing you want to do is be rushing around in order to make it to the interview on time. So give yourself an extra 30 minutes or so to ensure you’ll be prompt.

2.Be active. Actively participate in listening, asking, and responding. Be sure to answer the questions being asked and don’t hesitate to ask the interviewer to repeat themselves.

3.Be yourself. Be honest. Be personable

4. Ask questions. Come prepared with a few questions you have about the company or position.

After the interview

1. Thank you note or email. Writing a thank you to everyone that interviewed you will let them know you appreciate the time they spent to interview you.

2. Follow up. Be sure to contact the interviewer within 2 weeks if you don’t hear back from them first.

Making a good first impression can be overwhelming, but being prepared for the job interview can eliminate some of these feeling. And don’t forget to be yourself!!

All work, No Play? No Way!

Using humor and having fun within the workplace improves your performance and creates a positive work atmosphere. When employees enjoy going to work, tardiness and absenteeism decrease and turn over rates are likely to decline as well. A pleasant, happy, and laid-back work place leads to loyal and productive employees. Laughter and fun help generate the following benefits that improve your performance. Declines boredom and fatigue. Satisfies your social needs and preferences. Increases your creativity and flow. Enhances communications within the work environment. Minimizes workplace conflicts and tension among co-workers and staff.

1. Declines boredom and fatigue.
2. Satisfies your social needs and preferences.
3.  Increases your creativity and flow.
4.  Enhances communications within the work environment.
5. Minimizes workplace conflicts and tension among co-workers and staff

Creating fun and laughter within the workplace also has health benefits that include, increased oxygen intake, improves your pain threshold, boosts your immune system, and decreases stress, and burns calories.

 

Ideas for increasing the laughter:

1. Dress the part day: Have staff take on a theme for the day. For example bad tie Tuesday, silly socks Saturday, or mustache Monday.

2. Having fun contests within the work place. For example: baby/wedding photo contest, ugly sweater contest, or karaoke sing off.

3. Let the staff get to know each other: Hold monthly functions that bring the staff together as people, not co-workers. When you understand more about a person, it creates more opportunities for humorous interactions.

Don’t forget there’s a time and place for everything, so ensuring appropriateness is key when bringing humor and fun to the workplace.

Are there no more boundaries in social media for jobseekers and employees?

Where does the line get drawn in terms of using social networks to make hiring decisions?  

Nearly 90% of employers already use social media to scout talent via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, with nearly half of all employers always thoroughly searching applicant profiles.  That’s why best practices for job seekers now involve a thorough review of social media profiles to remove anything that may be construed as inappropriate.

However, it’s one thing for employers to search through what someone has publicly chosen to post in cyberspace, and another to sort through a profile using an applicant or employee’s own login information.

Recently, reports have surfaced of companies and organizations asking employees and applicants for this information for social networking and email accounts:

• Job seekers getting asked for Facebook passwords
• The Social Media Interview – What Employers, Employees and HR Should Realize

In their defense, employers are saying that it helps ensure employees aren’t participating in any illegal behavior and reflects favorably on anyone willing to undergo such a search.

In response to these incidents, Facebook has announced that they will challenge employers participating in such snooping.  They are encouraging employers to stop this behavior to protect themselves–and for good reason.  Poking around an applicant’s personal information, including gender, religious, and political affiliations, and then failing to extend a job offer can lead to some very sticky equal opportunity issues.  Facebook is also threatening to revoke app access to those companies that offer job applications within the social networking site that they feel may be abusing user information, and may even go so far as seeking legal action to protect users’ rights to privacy.

It is not our policy to screen applicants using social media, but what do you think?  How far should employers go in investigating your private life online?  Is it okay for certain jobs and not for others?  

Why should I consider a career in home health care?

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Whether you’re looking to start a new career or you’ve had experience in other industries and are looking for a change, a career in healthcare is worthwhile the time.  Consider these top 3 benefits:

1. Flexible scheduling.  Home health care positions are an excellent opportunity for nursing students and others interested in healthcare to gain real-time experience while earning money in between classes and/or busy family schedules.  Most clients are flexible and willing to work with the agency coordinators and aides on a mutually beneficial schedule.

2. Job Security.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2008 there were 1.7 million home health aides and personal care aides.  In 2018 they project a total of 2.6 million, an increase of nearly 50%.  The healthcare field overall is expected to experience the most extensive job growth over any other industry in the next few years, largely due to the increase in elderly population.

3. Opportunity to help those in need.  Like any human services orientated profession, home health care can be a very rewarding career choice.  Whether it’s an elderly person looking to regain independence as she/he ages at home, to someone who’s recently undergone surgery and needs a little extra help or to a family with a special needs child looking for some short periods of relief, home healthcare aides provide instant help to people in their day-to-day activities.

If you’re interested in a career in home health care, consider taking a PCA training class.  Stafkings Healthcare periodically offer these free training classes as part of their dedication to the industry, and invites interested applicants to contact their nearest Stafkings office to learn more.

If you’d like to do more research…

• Nursing as a Second Career
• BLS Statistics on Home Health Aides & Personal Care Aides

How to Ace an Interview!

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Interview coming up? Congratulations! You’re a few stepping stones away from that new job.  Here are a few tips to help you do your best:

Ask questions.  Pertinent questions.   “How would you describe the working atmosphere here?”  “Do you offer any in-house or off-site training to keep up with new software, techniques, etc. to help your employees advance skills?”  Keep in mind that as much as this is an interview of you, it’s also an interview of the company. You want to make sure that you’ll be happy there too.

Do Research, Research, Research.  It will show.  If the hiring manager asks you what you thought of their website, or if you saw that they recently launched a new media campaign, giving a thoughtful response will mean a world of difference in some instances.   Visit the company website, ask around, visit the location, Google them and read up on recent news items.  If you can during the interview, add in a relevant piece of information you’ve discovered about the company.  Ex: “I saw that you updated your website to include this.”   Recent research may also come in handy when you’re asked if you have any questions. Ex: “I recently saw that your company acquired a new property downtown, do you believe a new location will impact the position I’m interviewing for?”

Thank yous, small as they are, speak volumes.  They show the employer how invested and interested you are in the company and the position.  Even a short email in lieu of a handwritten card is just enough to show that you appreciate the time they took to meet with you.

Even if your interview doesn’t go as smoothly as you’d have hoped it would, make mental or literal notes on what you could have done or prepared for differently to be more successful at your next one.

Do you have some interview clincher tips to share?  Please do!

I’ve made my references list…now what?

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Putting together a list of references and stapling it to your resume and cover letter aren’t always enough.  You want to make sure that you’re getting the most out of those carefully chosen names you sent to your prospective employer.

1. Stay in touch.  Whether it’s via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, email, postcards, Christmas cards, etc., make sure that you stay in some sort of contact with your references.  The last thing you want to do is have a potential employer make a phone call about you and your reference doesn’t even remember who you were.  Small gestures sometimes speak volumes, so don’t be afraid to check in every now and then and see how the person is doing.

2. Make sure that your reference knows she/he is a reference.  Check in with them first and ask if it’s okay to use you as a reference.  Not only will this prepare the person for that phone call or email, but if they really like you, they may be more inclined to provide  information about you as opposed to if a potential employer called asking out of the blue.

3.  Never limit yourself.  Make sure that your references list accurately reflects you.  Are your professional references five years old or more?  Consider rethinking listing them as a personal reference.  Potential employers want to talk to someone who’s worked with you recently.  They’ll certainly be looking at past references as well, but if all of your references are from positions you held several years ago, reach out to new contacts.

Keep in mind that in the legal-centric world we live in, professional references aren’t always so easily given.  Past employers may be afraid to say too much about an applicant and risk being sued if the applicant doesn’t get the job.  At the very least your reference can provide dates of employment, wage and title to a prospective employer, but if you’ve played your cards right, at the very most your reference can give a glowing review of your work ethic and talent.

4 Tips for Writing Your Best Cover Letter Yet

Cover letters can be intimidating to write, and the last thing you want to do is regurgitate your resume.  Here are four steps to get you started on writing your best cover letter yet:

1. Show what you know about the company.  Cover letters should always be specific.  Generic ones, while they might have taken just as long to write, don’t always come off as genuine.  Taking the extra time to include information specific to the company demonstrates that you’ve done your homework and have a serious interest in the position.  When at all possible, find out the name of the HR person who will be reading your cover letter and address it directly to him/her.  Also, research recent news about the company, and if you find something relevant to the position you’re applying to, make sure to incorporate it where you can.

2. State what you can bring to the company.  This is where you can play up your skills and qualifications.  Mention things you haven’t already mentioned in your resume, or elaborate more on them.  However, beware of space — the whole point of a cover letter is to be simply an introduction to you, and should really be only about a page in length.

3. State what you hope to gain from the position you’re applying to, or the company in general.  Every new job offers you an opportunity to grow.  Be sure to mention how you can benefit from the position (think outside of the box — don’t mention that you’re looking forward to the paycheck!).  Showing not only what you can give, but what you expect to learn and gain from the position helps the employer realize how you’ll be a great fit and that the hiring can be mutually beneficial.

4. If you’ve got a name?  Drop it.  If you were referred to the position by someone inside the company, don’t be afraid to mention it.  Showing you already know and get along with someone from the company is a good sign, just make sure the person you’re mentioning is aware that you’re applying for a position.  The hiring manager will have an easy reference to turn to, and you want to make sure the person you mentioned knows what to expect.

For more tips on cover letter writing, check out these sites:

• ResumeBear: Knock Them Dead With Your Cover Letter
• Forbes: How to Write a Cover Letter

2012 Top Job Search Resolutions!

Happy 2012!  I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday with friends and family!

Now that the festivities are over, it’s time to buckle down and think about putting any resolutions you made for the new year into action.  If you happen to be in the market for a career change, consider mixing up your job search with these 5 resolutions for the new year!

1.  I will use social media to job search.  Make sure you’re liking and following companies you’re interested in working for to stay up to date on new openings and news they publish on their social media feeds.  Traditional job boards are just as important as ever to keep checking, but don’t discount the growing importance of social media in job hunting.

2.  I will reach out to new contacts on LinkedIn. Because you never know where your next employment lead will come from, make sure you put yourself out there!  Stay active on your LinkedIn network by engaging in group discussions and connecting with new professionals in your city.  Ask colleagues and friends to write you recommendations and introduce you to new connections.

3.  I will not let my resume get stale. Keep your resume fresh and updated with these resume must haves.

4.  I will send thank you emails/notes to interviewers.  These small, personal touches show that you genuinely care and are interested in the position you applied for.  Send them within a day of the interview and mention your interviewers by name.   If you didn’t get the contact information for one or more of the managers you spoke with, try to find it online or call and see if the receptionist will give it to you.

5. I will learn a new skill.  Whether it’s an online class, tutorial, local college class, or having a friend or family member teach you something new, try to learn how to do something new related to your field of interest.  Staying sharp on your skills shows you’re invested in your field and can be a great point to mention during an interview.

What are your job resolutions for 2012??

5 Resume Must-Haves

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Job searching or just looking to freshen up your resume?  It can be a trying process,

but stick with it and don’t get careless!  Here are 5 tips to keep in mind whether you’re starting your resume from scratch or making minor changes:

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1. Up-to-date contact information.  If you’ve changed your phone number or email address or moved recently, make sure to update your resume.  It’s easy to forget and makes it more difficult for hiring managers to track you down for an interview.

Speaking of locations, if you’re looking to relocate to a new city, make sure the hiring manager is aware of that–either note it on your application or cover letter.  With no explanation in either your application or cover letter, your resume might be viewed as spam.

2. An objective/career summary.  A clearly written, focused statement at the top of your resume is a quick way to sell yourself.  Your work history, skills, education, etc. speak for themselves, but this is your chance to sum up your value as an exceptional candidate.

While doing so in just a few words can be harder than writing pages about it, don’t just copy something you said in your cover letter word-for-word.  Here are some sites devoted to helping you get started writing cohesive objectives:

• About.com Objective Statement Samples
• Broward College Objective Statement Samples
• Money-Zine.com Objective Statement Samples

3. Past work history with dates.  If you’re in a situation where you have gaps between jobs and hesitate to put down your employment dates, note what you did in the mean time.  Whether it was taking a class or being a stay-at-home-parent, this helps hiring managers get a sense of what kind of person you are and what kind of talent you bring to the table.  If you don’t have anything to fill in the gaps, consider noting how you left your last job.  If it was a lay-off, explain that.  Being up front about your employment situation is better than trying to hide it behind a lack of dates.

4. Spell check.  Make sure your resume is free from spelling and grammatical errors.  Have a friend or family member read over it once or twice to catch any possible errors.  A small typo might not seem terribly important to you, but if caught by a hiring manager, it’ll be glaring and annoying.  To them, these kind of mistakes may make you appear unprofessional and lacking in attention to detail.

5. Concise length.  Resume length can be a matter of personal preference.  Many favor a simple one page resume from applicants, but two pages (both of which would have your contact info in case they get separated) can be acceptable so long as it’s absolutely necessary.  In other words, try not to run onto the second page for only two lines that could have been squeezed in the first by playing with margins or font size.

Anything longer than two pages encroaches on curriculum vitae territory. A CV is great for education or research professionals because it offers a more comprehensive look into work history and abilities and can include publications, classes taught, fellowships earned, etc.

If your recruiter or hiring manager only asked for a resume, it’s best to keep it as a simple as possible.  Not that the information on those extra pages is necessarily useless, but it’s something that can be worked into pieces of a cover letter or discussed at an interview.  Condense what you can and leave those extra details as they are–extra little bits of information brought out either in a cover letter or interview as additional support for what makes you a great candidate for the job you’re after.

What are some of your biggest resume hang-ups?  Please feel free to share!

5 Myths Scaring You Away From Employment Agencies

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Many people may be apprehensive about applying to work for an employment agency because they have preconceived notions about them.  Here are five myths we’re busting to show how employment agencies are great for your career:

Myth #1: Employment agencies = temporary work.
Truth:  This varies client-to-client and is not always the case.  Yes, many assignments can be temporary, but this may include temp-to-perm situations where after a contracted period the employee is hired on permanently by the client.  In addition, some positions are direct-hire where a staffing agency has agreed to find a suitable applicant for a fee, and that employee is immediately placed on the client’s payroll.

Myth #2: The jobs available probably aren’t for me.
Truth: Depending on the agency, their specialty, and client demands, the positions available can vary widely.  You might see ads for accounting managers, billing clerks, biomedical engineers, catering staff, computer specialists, data entry clerks, IT professionals, nurses, legal secretaries, sales representatives, warehouse workers and everything else in-between.  Don’t discount an agency just because you don’t think they have jobs that fit your background.  You never know–by the end of the week they might have something that would be a perfect fit for you!

Myth #3: Temp jobs make you look bad to other employers.
Truth:  Working with the same agency over and over actually demonstrates the opposite.  While having a list of temporary assignments may seem to make it difficult to show a consistent work history to other employers, if you completed all assignments within the same agency, use it as a strength when talking with future hiring managers.  Why else would an agency keep calling you for assignments if you weren’t hardworking, dependable, and capable?

Myth #4: Temp jobs have no benefits.
Truth: Many agencies like us actually do offer benefits to our temporary employees.  Always ask what benefits an agency offers.  Just because you’re in a temporary assignment doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits a typical employer would offer. Some temporary opportunities even offer the opportunity to make commission.

Myth #5: Temp jobs are going away.
Truth:  The industry is experiencing significant growth.  According to the Bureau of Labor’s Current Employment Statistics report from October, between July and October, 18,000 jobs were added per month whereas previous months showed only 5,000 jobs being added per month.

While there are many factors at play, temp jobs are in part growing because companies hit hard by the economy want to start hiring, but are afraid to take the risk.  Enter in a staffing company which handles an employees’ insurance, workers comp, etc. during the length of the contract.

As employment agencies continue to increase their hiring, keep them in mind as you job search!   Already tried a temp agency?  Please feel free to share any personal experiences below!