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"You Never Get A Second Chance to Make Your First Impression"  

     We know that changing careers is one of the most difficult decisions you can make. We are here to make that transition seamlessly as possible.  First things first . . . your first step is to submit your resume.  Once we have received your resume you can expect one or more of the following:

bulletWe confirm receipt of your resume within one business day.
bulletBased on your qualifications matching immediate needs we will contact you within three to five business days.
bulletWe work on confidential basis.
bulletYour resume will not be sent out without your consent.
bulletFor your protection, we do not provide full contact information to employers without approval.
bulletWe discuss your specific career search and inform you of any general trends existing in your marketplace.
bulletYour Career Search Profile Matrix will not be presented to potential clients.
bulletSelected information from the Search Profile Matrix will be used to promote potential hiring interest and placement closing.
bulletWe will email / call to determine your interest in new opportunities.
bulletWe conduct reference checks / verify previous employment and conduct background investigations when requested.
bulletWe will prepare you for telephone and personal interviews.
bulletWe will not use your name to recruit others unless you recommend or authorize us.
bulletNo cost to the Job Seeker.

We value and respect your privacy therefore you can count on us with confidence in our expertise, capability and our discretion to locate your next position with the right employer meeting your criteria.  We look forward to working with you in your next career search.  If you need a resume let us know.

 

Tips & News You Could Use . . .

 

 Protect Your Identity While Looking for Work

True to the old adage that Internet fraud goes wherever the traffic is, identity thieves and hackers are taking aim at a growing online population: people looking for work.

Continued rising unemployment has led more people to apply online for jobs, both through online job aggregators and through individual corporate sites. And, in turn, hackers have attacked into corporate job sites and set up fake sites in the hopes of collecting applicants' personal information.

In a difficult hiring climate, you may be tempted to give a potential employer whatever information they ask for — even if it's your Social Security number — or you may be so thrilled to get a call out of the blue from a purported recruiter that you don't stop to wonder how they got your information.

However, a little caution can save you from a world of harm. Don't ever put your Social Security number on your resume. It's best to contact employers directly rather than post your resume on a large career site that can be easily trolled by hackers. And if you do get that call out of the blue—ask the recruiter for their name, employer, and phone number and do some research before calling them back to make sure they're legit.


 

     Survey Says: Job Seekers are Stretching the Truth . . . State Facts On Your Resume

There's marketing yourself on your resume, and then there's flat-out lying.  Many job seekers are crossing the line.

5 percent of workers actually admit to fibbing on their resumes, 57 percent of hiring managers say they have caught a lie on a candidate's application, according to a survey.  Of the hiring managers who caught a lie, 93 percent didn't hire the candidate.

When resume inconsistencies surface during background checks, they raise concerns about the candidates' overall ethics. 43 percent of hiring managers say they would automatically dismiss a candidate who fibbed on their resume. The rest say it depends on the candidate and situation.

Stretched dates to cover up employment gaps is the most commonly-caught resume lie, with nearly 1-in-5 hiring managers saying they have noticed this on a candidate's application.

Other top resume lies include:  Past employers (18 %), Academic degrees and institutions (16 %), Technical Skills and Certifications (15 %), and Accomplishments (8 %).

Reasons for lying range from the innocuous (not being sure of the exact employment dates) to the more sinister (intentionally being deceitful to get the job). To ensure your resume is accurate but still portrays you in the best light, please heed these tips:

If you don't have much formal experience - Highlight any activities or coursework that could be relevant to the position. Volunteer activities, part-time jobs and class projects can all provide transferable skills and training.

If you didn't quite finish your degree - Do not indicate on your resume that you graduated. Instead, name the university and list the years in which you attended. 

If you were out of work - Don't stretch the employment dates to cover the gap.  Instead, keep the dates accurate and address the gap in your cover letter. Be sure to mention any classes you took or volunteer work you performed during this time to keep your skills up-to-date.

If your company uses unfamiliar titles - This is one of the only circumstances in which it's acceptable to change your title to something more recognizable. For example if your title was "primary contact," and you performed the duties of an administrative assistant, you can clarify your title by writing "Primary Contact/ Administrative Assistant." Giving yourself a promotion to "Office Manager," crosses the ethical line.

Keys to Better Networking

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 5 percent of job seekers obtain jobs through the open job market which consists of help wanted ads, the internet and print publications. Another 24 percent obtain jobs by cold-calling companies directly. Twenty-three percent obtain jobs through employment agencies, college career-services offices and executive-search firms. The remaining 48 percent obtain their jobs through referrals or “word of mouth.” These individuals get the job referrals by networking.

A job search that targets only advertised job openings will likely miss more than half of the available opportunities. Once armed with a powerful resume, Networking is one of the most important skills for job seekers to master to be truly successful in their job search.

Some tips to get you started:

The time to network is now!

Many people start networking only after they’ve lost their job. Effective networking means creating contacts and relationships while you are still employed. Networking is a way to tell your story, get the message out that you are open to new opportunities and let people know what you have to offer.

What is your story?

 Treat each networking endeavor as a sales pitch for your story, practice what you want to say and consider in advance answers to questions about your career goals that might arise during a networking opportunity.

When crafting your story consider the following:

          What are your core values?

          What kinds of things do you like to do?

          What are your key talents?

Pull this information together and develop a statement that summarizes your most important values, passions and skills. This becomes the boiler plate or script for networking discussions.

Think of everyone you know

 When you decide to build up your list of networking contacts, reach out to everyone you know. Go to your immediate and extended family, friends of the family, religious community, volunteer connections, old college friends or clubs, past employers, and anyone you deal with on a daily basis. Remember that kindness and courtesy go a long way here. Always say please and thank you and reciprocate if a contact asks for your help in return. People will remember you if you are thoughtful and polite.

Networking requires tact

 Networking is a skill and a social grace. It also has a practical aspect that allows you to create and maintain a list of contacts. Much of the method involved in networking boils down to exercising common courtesy in asking questions and saying thank you. Every job seeker can network, and networking may take different forms in different situations.

 
Make it second nature

 Follow the demand for your talent by continuous networking, making it second nature. Make your own connections and be your own agent. Networking in professional, social, and other settings has become an increasingly important aspect of a job search.

 
How and where do I network?

 There are networking opportunities everyday. The key is to find them and capitalize on them. Suggested avenues include:

 
bulletConduct social networking at parties, dinners, events, small gatherings, birthdays, volunteer activities, and ceremonies.
bulletKeep open and pleasant communication with past employers, being careful to not burn bridges when you leave a company.
bulletJoin a professional organization or utilize your University’s alumni association. Social events organized through these groups offer an informal setting where you can meet industry veterans and begin a personal relationship with them.
bulletVolunteer for committees or events through the associations you are affiliated with or within your local community.
bulletCreate a newsletter or a blog to help get your name out there. Include stories about what you learned in your job and summarize big tasks or accomplishments.
 

Use informational interviews

 Another networking avenue is an informational interview which is a formal discussion in which you ask someone to talk about his or her work without trying to squeeze a job out of the experience. These interviews can help you get a detailed picture of the industry since you are free to ask absolutely anything and can more often expect a frank response than a regular interview.

Ask your contact:

bullethow he or she got into the industry and why
bulletwhat skills are most in demand in the industry
bulletwhat type of jobs that are hot in that industry and how to find them for additional contacts.

 

Use resumes like personal flyers

It is a good idea to have business cards ready and available at all times, but consider having resumes on hand as well. Resumes can serve as detailed business cards, reminding contacts of you and your accomplishments. Create a version of your resume for networking purposes alone, one that can be pulled out on short notice.

References that Help You Seal the Deal

If you are like most people in the midst of a job search, you probably haven’t given your references much thought. You’ve likely spent more time on your resume, cover letter and networking activities. But references can have a significant impact on the final hiring decision. You need to be ready at a moment’s notice to provide potential employers with at least three solid references.

Human resource managers almost always ask for references when they are seriously considering someone for a position. You want to make sure that you provide a list of individuals that will speak about you in a positive way. Potential employers will also look for inconsistencies between information from your interview and on your resume and what they hear from your references.

Here are some things to consider so you can be sure that your references are the best they can be:

Don't leave anything to chance
References carry a lot of weight and can really make or break your chances of landing that new job. References and past employers won't call and warn you that they are not going to be complimentary. It is wise to take more control by finding out what every potential reference will say about you. This way you can weed out the weakest references and keep the top three or four for the final list to share with potential employers.
Keep it current
 
Try to keep a running list of recent references if possible. Ask for references before you leave your current job. Say something like "If I need a reference, would you feel comfortable offering a positive recommendation?" Avoid using that person as a reference if there is any hesitation on their part.
Verify information
 
Make sure that your records are correct. When listing your job with a previous employer, be sure that your job title matches the information that organization has on record for you. This can be resolved by a quick phone call to the HR department. Don’t let inconsistencies of this sort reduce your chances of getting the job you want.

Don’t surprise anyone

Stay in touch with your references and let them know that you are currently seeking employment. Don’t let them be blindsided by a phone call from a potential employer. And make sure that the contact information you provide on your reference list is accurate and up to date.
Don’t rely on relatives as references or a letter of recommendation

 
Potential employers want to hear about your work experience so references of a personal nature are not the best choice. Additionally, although letters of recommendation can be helpful, information such as title and contact names can change over time. Make sure that the information in your letter of recommendation is correct and up to date by contacting the author of that reference periodically.

Make it easy

People are more likely to be a reference for you if you help take the weight off of them. Make it easy for references to say good things about you.

Let them know what you’ve been up to and provide them with an updated resume.

Give them warning that a potential employer has asked for references.

Ask them to let you know when or if they have been contacted.
 

Always follow-up and say thank you

After your job search is over, contact your references to thank them and let them know how their referral paid off.  Be sure to ask if there is any thing you can do for them in return.

 

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Send email to pcal@bellsouth.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2008 Philippa Callender
Last modified: 05/22/09