Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Current Available Positions

DISCOVER STAFFING specializes in all levels of Office Support positions as well as some light industrial. Here is a current list of our available positions.

  • Temporary Receptionists! Potential ability to work same day assignments. North Fulton, Cobb and Gwinnett Counties.
  • Client Advocate in John's Creek
  • Marketing Analyst in John's Creek
  • Repair and Fabrication Tech: Computer Hardware experience in Norcross
  • Inside Sales in Alpharetta
  • New Business Processor in Norcross Thank you for your interest in this position. Our client has made a hiring decision at this time.
  • Administrative Assistant in Alpharetta Thank You for your interest in this position. Our client has made a hiring decsision at this time.
  • Bilingual Spanish Health Insurance Customer Service Representative in John's Creek
  • Executive Administrative Assistant in Alpharetta Thank You for your interest in this position. Our client has made a hiring decsision at this time.
  • General Warehouse in Alpharetta

    Please submit your resume with the job title for which you are applying in the subject line resumes@discoverstaffing.com. Local candidates only and must have reliable transportation.

    Our positions change frequently to please check back to see what is currently available.
  • Friday, June 25, 2010

    6 Shocking Job Search Facts

    I just love Liz Ryan's Savvy Networker column over at Yahoo! Hotjobs. This is a great list of things that job seekers might not know about their job search.

    The Savvy Networker
    6 Shocking Job-Search Facts

    by Liz Ryan

    If you've been job hunting for a while, it's likely that nothing can shock you. Still, these job-search realities may give you pause. The 2010 job market is different from what many of us are used to, and some job-hunt tactics that used to work well are now ineffective (or should at least be reexamined). These six points represent the new reality--is your job search on the mark?

    1. Most resumes submitted through company websites don't get read.
    The biggest problem with the "spray and pray" approach to job hunting is that most resumes thrust into the Black Hole (that is, official job-search channels such as a company's website) don't get read. Even in organizations that search electronically for keywords, too many candidates have the right words on their resumes, and there aren't enough HR screeners to review all the resumes that pass the first screen. That's why you're better off networking your way into an interview, or reaching the hiring manager directly, than trying to be found in the Black Hole.

    2. Most screeners have zero understanding of the job.
    If you've spent time on either side of the hiring equation, you already know that most of the clerical screeners who separate resumes into "Let's Interview" and "No Thanks" piles have almost no experience with the function they're screening for. That's why your best bet is to avoid the screener altogether by reaching the hiring manager via LinkedIn, snail mail, email, telephone, or an intermediate connection (you'll likely find him or her on LinkedIn, too). You know what the job is about, so talk about what's important in the role--not the endless list of posted job requirements.

    3. Most of the stated job requirements aren't required.
    Employers dream up job-spec requirements the way little kids pad their holiday-gift wish lists. Most of the formal job requirements given for a job are not essential. Don't be deterred from applying for a job because you miss a few of the "must-have" bullets listed on the job ad. In most cases, if you can solve the pain the employer is facing, a missing certification here or a slightly different degree there won't amount to a hill of beans.

    4. Most job ads that say "Salary History Required" are fibbing.
    An employer wants to know that your salary requirement is not completely out of the company's hiring range. You need to give them a salary target, either in your cover letter or in your resume. They don't need to know every salary you've ever in your life. If you're filling out a web form that forces you to input a salary for every job you've held since high school, put your current salary target in the "salary" field every time. Then, at your first opportunity (an open comment box, for instance), say something like "All salary figures reported in this form are my current salary target."

    5. Most managers don't want to ask all those interview questions.
    If you think the interview is grueling and tedious for you, imagine it from the hiring manager's side--and then imagine the conversation repeated eight or ten times! Most hiring managers don't relish the idea of interrogating candidates about their backgrounds. Go into the job interview ready to talk about what the job requires, and what you've already done that's similar. That's the key. Don't sit passively and wait for the next question--join in the conversation with a question or two of your own: "So, I'd imagine that here at Acme Dynamite, a good knowledge of roadrunner behavior is pretty important--is that your view, also?" (Though this active approach works well with hiring managers, it doesn't work as well with HR screeners.)

    6. Most of the hiring decision is "fit."
    Don't pretend to be shocked! I'll bet you always knew that most of the hiring decisions at most companies focus on "fit" rather than textbook qualifications. How can you improve your "fit" for the hiring manager's sake? I wouldn't bother. Be yourself. The right employers will love what you bring, and the ones who don't love your persona wouldn't appreciate your gifts if you did get the job. Keep putting irons in the fire, and go to every interview you're invited to (if the job is too far from your house or the people in the company seem evil or crazy, you can always back out later). Fit is a two-way street, anyway. If the folks at a given employer don't get you, save your talents for somebody that does.


    Liz Ryan is a 25-year HR veteran, a former Fortune 500 VP, and an internationally recognized expert on careers and the new-millennium workplace. Connect with her at www.asklizryan.com.

    (The opinions expressed in this column are solely the author's.)

    Monday, June 21, 2010

    Purchasing Agent Needed with Computer Industry Experience

    Thank you for your interest in this position. The client has made a hiring decision at this time. We change the content of this blog frequently, so please check back for the most updated job postings.

    DISCOVER STAFFING is seeking a temp to hire candidate for an experienced Purchasing Agent. This position is responsible for purchasing used PC equipment from various manufacturers. Must also have experience in outsourcing used PC equipment and hardware as well as a thorough understanding and working knowledge of contract management and negotiations.

    Some of the duties will include:

  • Obtaining vendor quotes and processing purchase orders.
  • Request and review pricing and delivery of materials.
  • Must have experience working with websites such as E-Bay.
  • Must be aggressive in proactively seeking new sources of products.
  • Salary range is $40K-$50K.

    Please submit resume to resumes@discoverstaffing.com. Only qualified candidates will be considered.
  • Tuesday, June 15, 2010

    Procurement Specialist

    Thank you for your interest in this position. The client has made a hiring decision at this time. We change the content of this blog frequently, so please check back for the most updated job postings.

    DISCOVER STAFFING is currently assisting a client in Alpharetta with a Procurement Specialist Position.

    This is a newly created position designed to work with the GSA Advantage Program. Candidates must have experience with GSA Advantage to be considered.

    Duties include:

  • Vendor Registration
  • Setting up new accounts
  • Working with contracts
  • Completing and auditing government forms.

    Please send your resume to resumes@discoverstaffing.com for consideration. Only qualified candidates will be considered.
  • Wednesday, June 9, 2010

    Your Cell Phone Can Ruin An Interview

    MSN Careers never fails to hit the nail on the head.

    Should You Leave Your Cell at Home During an Interview?
    By Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder.com writer

    True story:

    After a move to a new city, I finally land a job interview after weeks of sending out résumés. The company offers good pay and great benefits -- not to mention that the job is right up my alley and right down the street from my apartment.

    The interview is humming along nicely, when "BLEEP BLEEP BLEEEEP! ... BLEEP BLEEP BLEEEEP!" My interviewer is mid-question when she jumps out of her skin at the sound of my cell phone loudly ringing from my purse. I could have sworn I'd shut it off.

    I spend the next 20 seconds rifling through my bag to find the offending device and another 10 seconds powering it off. As I apologize and refocus my attention on the interviewer, I can tell our whole vibe is off balance. She is clearly annoyed and I feel like a fool (both of which are total confidence killers). In case I left any doubt in your mind, I was not called back for a second interview.

    Lesson learned: Don't let your cell phone get the best of you.

    "In many cases, attitude trumps aptitude when it comes to candidate selection. Bringing a cell phone with you says a lot about your attitude," says Laurent Duperval, president of Duperval Consulting in Montreal. "It sends the message that your focus will not be on your job. If I, as an interviewer, can't get your full attention for a few minutes, what will it be like once you have the job? "

    Chris Laggini, vice president of human resources for information-technology service provider DLT Solutions, echoes Duperval's sentiment, saying, "Bringing or using a cell phone or BlackBerry during an interview would only indicate to the interviewer a general lack of respect and good judgment, and would indicate that they would exhibit the same behavior during working hours if they were to be hired."

    Laggini adds that the only acceptable reason for bringing a cell phone to an interview is if you need to be connected to receive an emergency call of some kind. In that case, he suggests that you discuss the matter with the interviewer beforehand.

    So what's the best way to make sure your phone doesn't interrupt your interview? Leave it at home or in your car. That way, you'll be assured that your phone won't disrupt your interview.

    If you have other obligations that day and can't leave your phone at home, or if you take public transportation and can't leave it in the car, at least make sure you turn your phone off before going into the interview. Sue Thompson, a career consultant and founder of Set Life Free Seminars, provides the following advice to her clients: "Become proficient with your phone's voice mail setup so you are able to quickly record a new voice mail [greeting] as you go into a meeting or interview, something along the lines of, 'I'm about to go into a meeting. I will return your call by 4 p.m.' Then turn it off."

    Despite our best intentions, though, sometimes -- like in my own interview -- plans go awry. Should your cell phone unexpectedly ring in the middle of your conversation, Duperval advises that you apologize and quickly silence the phone or turn it off. "Most phones have a button that allows you to send the caller to voice mail or to silence the phone immediately. As long as you don't answer the phone or say, 'Oh! I have to take this,' the interviewer should understand," he says.

    Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, "The Work Buzz." She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

    Tuesday, June 8, 2010

    Bilingual Customer Service Representative

    DISCOVER STAFFING is currently seeking a bilingual customer service representative for a client in John's Creek. Must be extremely knowledgeable in the insurance and benefits industry. Will be taking calls regarding coverage, benefits availability, doctors in network, deductibles etc. Must be fluent in English and Spanish and will be interviewed in both languages.

    Please send resumes to resumes@discoverstaffing.com for consideration.

    7 Tips for Resumes in the Digital Age

    Yahoo! Hotjobs has this great article today:

    Resumes for the Digital Age
    7 tips for mastering keywords and electronic formatting
    by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs

    When you're applying for a job, you work hard to make sure your resume will command the attention of the first person who reads it. But it's increasingly likely that the first reader of your resume won't be a person at all.
    Inundated with hundreds--or thousands--of resumes for some positions, many companies are using technology to streamline resume screening.

    "Any time you submit a resume, you should expect to have your resume scanned for keywords," says Chandlee Bryan, career coach and owner of Best Fit Forward.

    Companies use applicant-tracking systems to electronically sort through and store resumes. The systems search for keywords, sort the resumes, and give hiring mangers the most-promising candidates.

    Although designing a resume that will impress both a computer and human readers may seem intimidating, there are some advantages.

    "It used to be that when a recruiter said, 'We'll keep your resume on file,' it meant it was going in the garbage can," says Barbara Safani, owner of Career Solvers and the author of "Happy About My Resume." Now, they may actually mean it.

    Experts offer these tips for making sure your resume stands out electronically and in person:

    Choose the right keywords. Hiring managers and recruiters will use the applicant-tracking system to search for keywords related to the job they're looking to fill. To make your resume rise to the top of the list, you need the right keywords.

    "Review the job posting for the position and try to mirror that language," Safani says. Find words and phrases that describe what the company is looking for and use them as much as possible.

    Use variations of keywords. Some systems check how often a particular word or variation on a word is used. For instance, if you're looking for a job in accounting, use both "accountant" and "accounting."

    Use keywords smartly. Some resumes have a keyword section that simply lists keywords for the computer to pick up. Others include a keyword list in white text on white paper, so that it is read by the computer but not seen by a human reader. Safani and Bryan don't recommend these techniques, though, because although they might help your resume get picked out initially, they can hurt you when a human reader takes a look.

    "You don't want to write something that doesn't read well just because you're trying to get the word 'accountant' in 10 different ways," Safani says.

    Make your job title generic. If most companies would call you a business analyst but your title is "process improvement specialist," consider listing "business analyst" on your resume (and perhaps putting your actual title in parentheses after it). Do not, of course, give yourself a loftier title than you actually have.

    Don't go overboard. It can be useful to have a list of key skills on your resume, both for search engines to scan and to give human readers an idea of your strengths. But Bryan recommends listing no more than nine: "I don't think it fools anyone if it's not very deep."

    Use text only. If you're asked to paste your resume into a website text box, make sure you use a text-only version. If you copy and paste from a Word document, for example, some characters and formatting may not translate properly (em dashes, bullets, indentations, italic or bold type, and even quotation marks, for instance)--making your resume illegible (for machines and people). You may want to save a copy of your resume as a plain-text file and make any adjustments in that file before you paste the text (plain text is offered as an option when you save a file in almost all word processing programs).

    Follow directions. Every system is different, so the most important thing is to follow the directions on the site that's accepting your resume, Bryan says.

    Monday, June 7, 2010

    What to do if that offer falls through.

    MSN.com features "Careers" every monday on their front page. Today's offering includes this great article about what to do if that job order doesn't quite work out.

    You Got the Job! (Just Kidding...)
    6 things you should do if an offer is rescinded

    By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

    Marleen Graham has been offered two different jobs in the past few months -- but both offers were retracted.

    The first time, she worked for a small consulting firm and the contract for the account she worked was cut short. A couple of days later, the account requested to bring her back on board. After filling out some paperwork, she waited -- and waited, and waited -- to start work again. Two months later, she figured out that the account had imposed a hiring freeze.

    The second time, she was told orally that a bank wanted to hire her and that it was a "done deal." She waited two weeks for an offer letter. Finally, Graham received an e-mail stating that the job was placed on hold indefinitely.

    "The first time I was very disappointed because I really wanted to return to my contract assignment. The second time I was in disbelief because the vice president told me it was a done deal," Graham says. "I wish that I continued searching for a job while I was waiting for my offer in writing and for the paperwork to be approved. I should have kept my search going so that I could have a fallback plan."

    Fired before you're hired
    Graham, like many other job seekers, fell victim to a trend that's becoming more common as the economy continues to stagnate. While companies downsize and institute hiring freezes, job seekers are finding start dates pushed back and job offers withdrawn.

    "Job offers are rescinded for a variety of reasons. Some [are] external, such as the overall economy, some [are] internal such as a department's funding is cut," says Laura George, author of "Excuse Me, Your Job is Waiting." "There are also times when it's determined that a person is needed but it would be more cost-effective to hire one person to work in two or more departments and spread the costs."

    No matter the reason your job offer is repealed, experts agree that you should respond to the situation in a professional manner and get to the bottom of what happened.

    "If your offer has been rescinded, you must find out what the exact reasons behind the decision were. Were they economically based or due to a background, drug or reference check?" says Jonathan Mazzocchi, partner and general manager of the New York accounting and finance division of Winter, Wyman. "As hard as it is, gather the facts. Try to separate the people you interviewed with from the organization's decision, and keep all of your interactions professional."

    In Graham's case, for example, when the first offer was revoked, the company never explained what was going on; it just said that the paperwork was in and it was waiting. In the meantime, she lived off her savings and put her job search on hold. The second company, which told her the job was placed on hold "indefinitely," said it would keep her mind for the future, but she hasn't heard anything yet.

    "Once I found out that my offer was no longer viable, I quickly started to search for another position, but it was more difficult to find something by that time," she says.

    Now what?
    Unfortunately, you don't have many legal rights in this situation. Most states have employment-at-will policies, which means employees can be terminated at any time, for any reason. You should think long and hard before pursuing legal action if a job offer is revoked -- litigation costs will be extensive and you will undoubtedly burn bridges with your would-be employer. Consult an HR expert or lawyer in your area about your options.

    It's important to handle the situation professionally if you find yourself with a rescinded job offer. Here are six steps you can take to protect yourself:

    1. Find out why
    Find out the exact reason behind the withdrawn offer. Ask the potential employer if it was something revealed in a reference check or if it had something to do with the economy.

    "Let the hiring manager know you are interested in working at the company if there [is] a change of circumstances," George says. "If you really are the best candidate, the hiring manager will contact you when the circumstances change."

    2. Be open and honest
    "Once you've got a company that wants to hire you, you've cleared the tallest hurdle. How you react [to a rescinded job offer] can determine if that offer might return," says Jim Luzar, president of Sales Consultants of Brookfield, a Wisconsin recruiting firm. "Be open and honest with [the employer] about your situation. If you are still interested in the job, let them know your finances. Can you wait six months to start?"

    Or, if you can find a way to earn some money in the interim, let the employer know you will wait for the full-time position.

    "If you simply can't wait for the position to reopen, don't be shy about it," Luzar says. "You came looking for a job because you needed one. [Respectfully] tell them, so that if you are looking for a job again in the future, they will still have a high opinion of you."

    3. Prepare yourself
    "In this economy, expect anything," says Carolyn Dougherty, executive search consultant. Do not stop looking for work until your first day at a new job. Graham says the biggest lesson she learned was that nothing is a done deal until you are sitting in your new office or cubicle.

    4. Do your homework
    Before accepting a job offer, it's important to evaluate what's been offered. Ask about the employer's financial health and find out if the position is approved, Dougherty suggests. Ask if the company has ever withdrawn an offer and if so, what the company has done in the past. If the withdrawal of a vacant position is a real threat, ask if your offer letter can state what the company will do if the job offer is withdrawn.

    5. Negotiate
    If you left an old job to work for a new company and your offer was retracted due to the economy, you can try to negotiate unemployment benefits or a severance package from the employer, Mazzocchi says. Or, if you really want this job, you can try negotiating for a lower salary or position. "Some companies may opt to help you out as the right thing to do," he says.

    6. Move on
    If nothing comes from negotiating with your would-be employer, it's time to move on. Contact companies that have expressed interest in the past and let them know you are still available, suggests Roberta Chinsky Matuson, president of Human Resource Solutions. Whatever you do, resist the temptation to badmouth the organization that pulled back your offer.

    In the meantime, Graham keeps busy by continuing her job search, going to school to maintain and enhance her skills, volunteering with nonprofit organizations and growing her own business.

    "It is important to maintain your positivity in spite of the circumstances. Know that something viable will eventually come your way if you don't give up."

    Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

    Wednesday, June 2, 2010

    Advice from Costco

    As a business, we receive the monthly Costco Connections newsletter. This month's issue included a quarter page article titled Terry Kohl: Marketing Yourself. Good advice.