Move Your Career Ahead by Focusing on One Thing at a Time
If you are like most people we know, you lead a busy life. When do you have time to think about moving your career forward? What we have learned, both as career coaches, and in our professional lives, is that the key to making any change is to slow down and focus on just one thing at a time. It is the same when you want to move your career forward. There are techniques you can learn about...
Read More
New Directory of Staffing Professionals
Net-Temps, a leading job board for locating both full time and temporary jobs through staffing companies, has released a new directory for staffing companies. Recruitment and staffing companies can add themselves for free to the directory. The staffing directory appears to be primarily a resource for finding recruiters in a particular locale. Job seekers looking to find staffing companies in...
Read More
Canadian Labour Congress Strategizes to End Unemployment
The United States isn't the only 0ne with unemployment problems. One might look in many directions to see the effects of the economy on workers, but one might do well to focus northward for a moment. In January, 1,449,600 Canadians were unemployed. These numbers are much higher than as recently as October. The 6.1% unemployment in October grew to 7.8% this January - an unacceptable jump...
Read More
My Next Move an Educational Site for Recruiters
Recruiters may notice that sometimes a job candidate's self-assessment does not jibe with the industry's expectations for qualified applicants. It may be helpful to refer a job seeker like this to a new online tool, created by the U.S. Department of Labor. My Next Move is a tool to educate jobseekers about the ins and outs of 900 occupations. On this website, job seekers can explore...
Read More
Wonders and Woes in the West
Wyoming's state motto is "Equal Rights." This state was the first state in which the suffragists secured women's right to vote and hold public office. When good news happens in Wyoming, one can't help but wonder if perhaps the pressure to maintain equal opportunities for men and women has something to do with it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that urban areas in Western states have...
Read More
Protecting Your "Bottom Plane": Full vs. Partial Opportunity Costs
Note: This is an updated version of the second of a series of Michael Moffa articles reporting, analyzing and creating "opportunity-cost"-related concepts. The first, available here at Recruiter.com is "You Think You Understand Your Opportunity Costs?" Bottom Lines vs. Bottom Plane "Bottom line"..."double bottom line"...."triple bottom line"—net income; net income with...
Read More
Satisfying the Peckish and Ravenous Reader
Back in the 1700s, Francis Bacon wrote, "Some books are meant to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested." Bacon's language suggests a bias toward the reading material which can be thoroughly incorporated into one's corporeal experience. However, all you need to do is attend one lecture on education or one training session on working with diverse audiences to...
Read More
Beef Suppliers Beef it Up
Back in 1919, Curly Lambeau worked for the Indian Packing Company and asked his bosses for money for football jerseys and use of the company's athletic field. Out of this partnership, the Green Bay Packers were born. Many people are more familiar with the green and gold uniforms of the Green Bay Packers than the daily realities for workers in modern meatpacking facilities. Until now, football...
Read More
728,000 Positive Changes
Any number of job losses feels like too many when you imagine the human experience behind it. In the last quarter of 2010, the number of gross job losses from closing and contracting private sector establishments was 6.2 million. These losses, however, were ameliorated by the creation of 6.9 million new job gains from the opening and expanding private sector establishments. This means that...
Read More
The Simple Math Underlying Why We Hate To Lose
"The only thing I hate more than not winning is losing"—something Yogi Berra could have said, even if he didn't Although our reactions to losing a job, a client or a wallet seem transparently "natural" and negative, there is something strange about our attitudes towards losses and gains that is revealed when we are asked which matters more: not losing any of these, or gaining...
Read More
Innovation Worthy of Recognition
When recruiters talk to job candidates, they may notice a reoccurring line of thought. When asked about favorite places to work, people will often wax on their good experiences working with wise and creative bosses. These qualities of leadership can transform a job that seems decent to something extraordinary. With a sensitivity to the importance of these experiences for workers,...
Read More
Keep Nurturing that network – Especially after you land that job!
A lot of you have spent weeks, even months, looking for a job in the midst of this latest economic catastrophe. This has been a tough road, indeed, but you've finally landed a new job – congratulations! If you are like many of the folks I've been working with you've been building or rebuilding your network – as a necessary part of job hunting. Before that, you essentially ignored...
Read More
Forget my past... I can do this job!
"Past performance is the best predictor of future success." That's a phrase many hiring managers live by when evaluating candidates for a job opening. HR Managers often preach that mantra, and it certainly is the safest route to take when they want to be sure of making a good hire. Job seekers, on the other hand, often want the company to overlook their track record and see the unproven...
Read More
Keys To A Great Email In Your Job Search!
Most opportunities you have to present yourself to a hiring decision maker will involve sending an email. The form and substance of that email will have a great deal to do with whether you get a response or not. As a recruiter, I receive a lot of emails from job seekers looking for leads, looking for help in their search, or pursuing specific job opportunities I'm working on. On average, I...
Read More
Follow up, Follow up, Follow up!
"I had a great informational interview but that was the last I heard..." "I had a phone conversation with a good contact in the company..." "I have almost 100 people I've networked with in my job search so far..." "I met someone, at (an event) that said they knew someone, but haven't heard back..." "...should I follow up?" I teach an 8 week class on job hunting...
Read More
Nail the Interview!
Prepare for each interview with the Audience in mind This month's article is born during a fishing trip I recently enjoyed with my family. After a day in gold medal waters there are many stories to tell: the big one, the monster that got away, the fierce fighter, you get the picture. So as I sit down to write about interviewing, I'm inspired by hearing differing versions of the same story....
Read More
Where do job leads come from?
That's what most job seekers want to know! "What is the most likely source for finding the right job?" ...and "Where should I focus my time?" Questions that make sense to ask... however, are very difficult to answer! MANY times, the best job leads come from the most unlikely sources! The best job lead may come out of the blue! Over the last four years, I've helped lead...
Read More
Stupid Girl Loses Job Because of Facebook Status
Some people are stupid. You know this, right? I mean, all of us can think of a handful of dumb people in our lives. So, this post isn't a lecture. It's not a "don't do this", warning post. What we have here today is simply you, me, and countless others laughing at someone's stupid use of social media. I've been finding myself on Lamebook often these days, and sometime last week I came across...
Read More
Resumes vs. Online Profiles... What's the Difference?
I was recently asked about the difference between a resume and an online career profile. Is there a difference? Should there be a difference? Are they considered in different ways? What should be included or avoided? Good question... short answer... YES! They are different. There are a number of things to consider when creating a professional profile online vs. creating a resume to email or...
Read More
Dealing With Inappropriate Questions in an Interview
In your job search, if you are interviewing regularly, it's highly likely that sooner or later you will be asked a question that may seem inappropriate or legally dubious. How you view that question, and how you respond will very likely have a great impact on your success. I recently had someone in my job search class tell me about an interview he had at a small company. The hiring manager...
Read More
Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife – The Keys to Personal Happiness
As we kick start into the spring and start hearing Jimmy Buffett and laying on the hammock under the sun, I thought I would provide a little Recruiterpoet insight on the keys to personal happiness. Surround yourself with good vibes! Today I was on Sullivan's Island Beach with an amazing view of Fort Sumter, sailboats and children playing in the water. That made me happy. Sunsets on the beach,...
Read More
Are You a Resistor?
Over the past 5 years, having taught over 20 – 8 week classes on job transition skills, I've consistently seen many people resist applying the ideas and techniques I talk about. Although they nod in agreement in class, they rarely, if ever, change any of their activities throughout the week. They continue doing the same things they've always done and expect different results (isn't that...
Read More
You won't hire me because I'm unemployed? REALLY???
CNN.com posted an article titled "In the job hunt, the stigma of being laid off is hard to erase". In it, Stephanie Chen, writes: "As if securing work in a jobless recovery isn`t tricky enough, being labeled unemployed brings additional obstacles." I was privileged to be interviewed by Stephanie for this article and quoted briefly: "Many companies will consider hiring jobless...
Read More
Degrees and Expectations
As recent college graduates hit the job market, and time goes by for some of them without any prospects, I often hear the expressions of "shock and awe" that they spent four or more years earning a degree and now they can't seem to find a job! For many, they are surprised that they are not being considered for jobs when they thought that coveted sheepskin was the ticket to success and...
Read More
Finding Your Targets With LinkedIn!
However, people often miss another way LinkedIn can be used to help them greatly in pursuing their job search with a more laser-like focus... finding and defining your target companies and positions! In a job search, many people have difficulty articulating the type of position they are looking for, a title, or specific companies they are interested in pursuing. LinkedIn can be a terrific...
Read More
Branchout = Facebook Plus Linkedin Divided By Job Search
Branchout, a new application that helps job seekers makes Facebook work like Linkedin opened in beta this week. Branchout helps Facebook users leverage their network for job search in a similar way that's common to Linkedin users. Why is this important? There are a number of reasons - for starters, Facebook just passed 500 million users making it more than 7 times larger than...
Read More
Filling Out Job Applications
In an age of online application processes, and emailed resumes, why do so many companies still have you fill out a paper job application when you arrive for an interview or before they make you an offer? You would think they have all the information they need from you already, why is it necessary to have you fill out the paper form? Is it necessary to duplicate everything on your resume onto...
Read More
Always Be Your Best
Every now and then, I have a job seeker tell me... "I really wasn't that interested in that job, and so I didn't do my best in the interview." I always think... what a wasted opportunity! People often close off the possibility of a hiring process moving further because they decided in a moment that this wasn't a job they wanted. Perhaps they didn't like the role, the company, the...
Read More
Your Job Search Won't Likely be "One and Done"
It's probably not news to many people that there are not many "lifetime" jobs available anymore these days. My dad worked at the same company for 35 years before he retired in 1993. At the time, it wasn't that unusual to hear similar stories as his. In the last 20 to 25 years though, even the companies considered the most stable and secure have had massive lay-offs at one point or...
Read More
Google for Job Search
You can use Google for your job search! Google has many tools that can make it easy to find and target the jobs and information you need to run ahead of the pack at the companies you want to pursue. Used wisely, some of these tools can help you find job postings, company news, contact information and many other valuable pieces of information that can help you set yourself above the crowd. Here...
Read More
What's Factoring in Business?
In my normal course of daily activities, I talk to a lot of entrepreneurs and business owners. We discuss everything from how they may have gotten started in their particular line of business, current production and sales activities for their company, business processes, the state of the economy, and the general outlook and prospects for future success of their enterprise. Eventually, the...
Read More
Are You Missing out on Staffing Business?
It's no secret - the economy is currently in the tank. Businesses are laying off workers, bankruptcy is at an all-time high, the housing market is terrible, and companies are cutting expenses to survive. To say the least, the forecast for success, for the most part, is bleak for the foreseeable future. However, there are some areas that are seeing some slight growth, or growth potential, to...
Read More
Do You Want Recruiters to Call
One complaint from many job seekers is that they can't seem to get recruiters to call them back when they're looking for a job. You'd think they'd love an opportunity to place a good candidate... so why don't they call? They often know the market in their field of specialization better than most people. Is there anything you can do to get them to be a little more proactive in helping...
Read More
Starting Your Own Staffing Company
So you've decided to start up a temporary/contract staffing company, and you would like to know what's involved in ensuring success in your new venture. To follow are 10 tips for making your new venture a success. 1. Define Your Market - Most entrepreneurs that start a staffing company come from within the industry. Some have worked for other agencies as a branch or regional manager,...
Read More
Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast
Last weekend I was sitting around with a couple of friends, who all work in a diverse cross section of businesses, discussing the current economic situation and how it impacts upon each of us, when the subject line of this blog was dropped into the conversation. The instant response from most of us was: no! Or words to that effect. However, once you actually start to dissect it and think about...
Read More
Do You Know What's in your Personnel File?
Did you know that on 8/30/10, Governor Patrick signed a new economic development bill that contains an amendment to Massachusetts personnel records law? The new law (Chapter 240 of the Acts of 2010, section 148) implements a dramatic change in the employers' legal obligations regarding personnel records. The amendment requires employers to notify employees within 10 days of the addition to...
Read More
Is There a Link Between Economic Expansion and Jobs?
We operate under the impression that the past continues to repeat itself and therefore patterns can be traced and the leveraged to make more informed decisions when a similar scenario presents itself. But what if the scenario is the same but the architecture that has repeated itself for years has changed, possibly without the world recognizing it? We have heard consistent comments and...
Read More
You Live Longer When You Do Something You're Good At
The constant motto when people graduate college or the whispers over the years from concerned parents is "Do what you love!" Well, let us just put it out there - that is wrong! Do what you love is such a generic phrase it nearly applies to all situations and to pin that upon one of the most critical parts of your life - career choice - let us just say is not a wise decision. Why don't...
Read More
Dressing for Work versus Job Interviews
I laugh continuously at the tenuous debate over what to where and when reference work. Is this the red carpet, are we attending a formal reception, do we need to know the dress according to what time of the day the marriage ceremony is? It is simply another issue to add to the useless list (that is becoming exceedingly long) that are thrown on to the shoulders of workers across the country by...
Read More
The Magic Bullet for Recruiting
Technology is becoming an increasingly strong asset in all areas of business. As companies become more complex, the need for technology grows and management is turning to technology for answers in all verticals. Have we asked ourselves - is technology the answer at all? Managers look to technology approaching issues with the question "What technology will solve this issue?" They need to...
Read More
Today is the Day to Change your Career
I went home this past weekend and I felt like Dr Phil for about the whole time with my brothers and sister. Not about feelings and family issues, but about career management and decision making. Not the position any of else wishes for however turned out to be a good way for us to bond. With a large family, six siblings spread across 17 yrs there tend to be some lost communication and...
Read More
Bullying on the Job
I read this amazing article yesterday on one of my favorite blogs (glassdoor.com). Take a quick look at the survey that was conducted by AOL - According to an AOL Jobs Survey,"22 percent of the respondents have personally felt threatened or bullied at work. Of those, 57 percent state it was from their manager, while 47 percent say it was from a peer, and 79 percent say that the abuse they...
Read More
Does Empowering your Employees Work?
Empowerment of employees - does it work and should you do it? Being part of an integrator gives me a view into the minds of some of the most interesting managers, some great, some just poor. What makes the difference, empowerment? Every company has a different calling for the people they empower, from SMEs to HEROs, etc. but they all do the same thing, they are trusted professionals in...
Read More
Seven Tips for Successful Team Building
Team building is a straight-forward process that yields many rewards once you get it going. Savvy leaders use team building to help their employees get along better and get more done. Here are some key ideas to help you get a team building program started in your workplace. 1. Set up a weekly, ongoing team building meeting. This shows everyone you are committed to the program. 2. Find...
Read More
Will the Phone Ever Ring?
I must say I get more phone calls from professional IT staff looking for new opportunities this year than we did last. I was asked by one why we do not call every single person that applies back. I thought about it a moment and actually believe that it would be a huge difference between us and other companies if we simply called each and every applicant. But the time involved with the...
Read More
Laid-off Texans Receive Federal Grant
Many people may consider the job loss in their community an emergency. When recruiters hear stories from job candidates about their needs for work, surely, they feel the effects of the job market on a personal level. Some workers in different states in the U.S. are qualifying for federal assistance. The U.S. Department of Labor announced a $1,179,312 increment to continue providing...
Read More
The Bosses' Bucks
It's not surprising to hear that bosses are making the big bucks. But it may be interesting for recruiters to see which professions have the biggest percentage increase between second line and third line management. This distinction may help recruiters better understand the hiring practices of the companies they serve. Government findings show that in financial management, there is a major...
Read More
Locals Band Together for Just Jobs
Recruiters may be accustomed to thinking globally and acting locally, as they consider the economies of the communities they serve. But perhaps there are resources that you have not tapped to help support your local economy. Are there any local efforts that you can utilize as a recruiter? Although the praises of huge search engines can and should be sung, there may be something helpful to...
Read More
