Employment
Andy Beal, CEO of the social media monitoring platform Trackur.com, says jobseekers should assume potential employers will do a Google search of candidates' names. Social media profiles typically appear near the top of the search page.
If you have questionable pictures or posts on a public profile, take them down or make the profile private to avoid trouble.
Also, steer clear of negative talk about a prospective employer on any social media platform, Beal says. Many companies monitor mentions of their brand throughout the Web, he says.
He cites the case of a Twitter user who posted about a new job offer from Cisco, but expressed doubt about "the daily commute" and "hating the work." A Cisco employee noticed the tweet and demanded to know the name of the user's hiring manager.
Even employees who think their jobs are safe can sabotage themselves by being too honest online about their personal lives, or by posting feelings regarding a boss, client, co-worker or company for whom they work.
"We've seen a lot of cases of people publishing status updates that have gotten them in trouble," says Justin Smith, founder and editor in chief of Inside Facebook. "People have said things that have caused problems with their boss because of what they said about their work or because they've shared some other kind of private information about work online."
Caroline McCarthy, a staff writer at CNET News, says the best defense against such mistakes is to use plain old common sense. Remember, anything that appears on the Web is just a screenshot away from spreading quickly, despite the best efforts of social media users to keep it private.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Pit Falls of Social Media
Yahoo! Finance posted this fantastic article on the Financial Dangers of Social Media. We encourage you to click on the link to read the entire article, but below is the section about employment. However, there is a lot of great additional information on Debt Collection and Scams and ways to protect yourself.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
"Tough Love" Advice on Why Your Job Search Isn't Working
MSN Careers, one of my favorite sites for career and job seeking advice, has this article from Careerbuilder posted today.
10 Reasons Your Job Search is Failing
By CareerBuilder.com writer
On paper, the prescription for unemployment is rather formulaic: send in résumé, go on interview, be your charming self, get hired.
The frustrating reality isn't nearly as simple. Getting an interview alone is an exercise in persistence and patience.
Here are 10 reasons for why you're not landing that interview and what you can do to reverse the trend.
Your résumé and cover letter are as articulate as Courtney Love's Web blog. If your application materials contain typos, grammatical errors and irrelevant or inconsistent information, employers will take notice -- in a bad way. Once you've looked over your résumé and cover letter to the point of dementia, take this advice from Joyce Gioia of the Herman Group: have three people, for whom English is a first language, review your résumé and cover letter before you send it.
Your cover letter is generic. Make it personal by tailoring it to the particular job and addressing it to a person, not "To Whom It May Concern." And include a sentence or two about how you are the right fit for that particular job. If no contact is listed, take the initiative to find out who the hiring manager is by searching the company's Web site or calling the reference desk.
Your letter is a CliffsNotes version of your résumé. Instead of simply restating what's on your résumé, include new information like how you found out about the job, why you want to work there and what you can do for them. Finally, close with something that will encourage a response, such as a request for an interview.
Your letter exudes self-consciousness, not self-confidence. If you don't feel qualified for a job, why are you applying for it? Don't call attention to your shortcomings in a letter; emphasize your strengths by focusing on your skills, experience and ability.
You cross the line from sounding confident to sounding cocky. Don't mistake selling yourself with bragging. Putting "I would be an asset to your company" in your cover letter catches the eye; writing "You would be crazy not to hire me" turns the stomach.
Your MySpace page lists "binge-drinking" as a favorite pastime. Don't post anything on a publicly accessible Web site that you wouldn't want a potential employer to see. Not all hiring managers run searches on job candidates, but some do, and it's better to err on the side of caution. Google yourself to see what comes up, because recruiters will see the same results.
You assume e-mail is enough. Hitting the send button on an online application is only the first step in landing an interview. For one thing, not every e-mail is received or read. Try following up your application by sending a paper résumé and cover letter via snail mail (indicating you've already applied online). After that, call the hiring manager to see that they've received your application and check on the status of the job in question.
You assume the Internet is enough. The majority of all employment opportunities aren't advertised, so be proactive: Contact human resources managers at companies you want to work for inquiring about positions available; register with a job recruitment agency; attend industry events to stay on top of news; and devote energy to meeting like-minded professionals who will be the keys to discovering more opportunities.
You misrepresent yourself. It may sound like a no-brainer, but misrepresenting yourself on a résumé is bound to catch up with you. Upon performing a reference check, Denise Moorehead, communications director of a non-profit service agency in Boston, once discovered a job candidate had left her previous job a year earlier than she'd admitted. It turned out that the candidate had gotten burned out and decided to take a year to temp and regroup, but thought the obvious employment gap would be held against her, so she simply lied about it. "I figured if she'd lie about something this easy to explain, she might lie about the deadline-driven work she would have to do with me," Moorehead says.
You give up. Remember that looking for a job is a full-time job. If you're not hearing back from employers, considering changing your strategy. Experiment with different cover letters, revise your résumé on a regular basis and look for opportunities to add to your experience even when you're not working (i.e. taking classes, participating in workshops, volunteering).
10 Reasons Your Job Search is Failing
By CareerBuilder.com writer
On paper, the prescription for unemployment is rather formulaic: send in résumé, go on interview, be your charming self, get hired.
The frustrating reality isn't nearly as simple. Getting an interview alone is an exercise in persistence and patience.
Here are 10 reasons for why you're not landing that interview and what you can do to reverse the trend.
Your résumé and cover letter are as articulate as Courtney Love's Web blog. If your application materials contain typos, grammatical errors and irrelevant or inconsistent information, employers will take notice -- in a bad way. Once you've looked over your résumé and cover letter to the point of dementia, take this advice from Joyce Gioia of the Herman Group: have three people, for whom English is a first language, review your résumé and cover letter before you send it.
Your cover letter is generic. Make it personal by tailoring it to the particular job and addressing it to a person, not "To Whom It May Concern." And include a sentence or two about how you are the right fit for that particular job. If no contact is listed, take the initiative to find out who the hiring manager is by searching the company's Web site or calling the reference desk.
Your letter is a CliffsNotes version of your résumé. Instead of simply restating what's on your résumé, include new information like how you found out about the job, why you want to work there and what you can do for them. Finally, close with something that will encourage a response, such as a request for an interview.
Your letter exudes self-consciousness, not self-confidence. If you don't feel qualified for a job, why are you applying for it? Don't call attention to your shortcomings in a letter; emphasize your strengths by focusing on your skills, experience and ability.
You cross the line from sounding confident to sounding cocky. Don't mistake selling yourself with bragging. Putting "I would be an asset to your company" in your cover letter catches the eye; writing "You would be crazy not to hire me" turns the stomach.
Your MySpace page lists "binge-drinking" as a favorite pastime. Don't post anything on a publicly accessible Web site that you wouldn't want a potential employer to see. Not all hiring managers run searches on job candidates, but some do, and it's better to err on the side of caution. Google yourself to see what comes up, because recruiters will see the same results.
You assume e-mail is enough. Hitting the send button on an online application is only the first step in landing an interview. For one thing, not every e-mail is received or read. Try following up your application by sending a paper résumé and cover letter via snail mail (indicating you've already applied online). After that, call the hiring manager to see that they've received your application and check on the status of the job in question.
You assume the Internet is enough. The majority of all employment opportunities aren't advertised, so be proactive: Contact human resources managers at companies you want to work for inquiring about positions available; register with a job recruitment agency; attend industry events to stay on top of news; and devote energy to meeting like-minded professionals who will be the keys to discovering more opportunities.
You misrepresent yourself. It may sound like a no-brainer, but misrepresenting yourself on a résumé is bound to catch up with you. Upon performing a reference check, Denise Moorehead, communications director of a non-profit service agency in Boston, once discovered a job candidate had left her previous job a year earlier than she'd admitted. It turned out that the candidate had gotten burned out and decided to take a year to temp and regroup, but thought the obvious employment gap would be held against her, so she simply lied about it. "I figured if she'd lie about something this easy to explain, she might lie about the deadline-driven work she would have to do with me," Moorehead says.
You give up. Remember that looking for a job is a full-time job. If you're not hearing back from employers, considering changing your strategy. Experiment with different cover letters, revise your résumé on a regular basis and look for opportunities to add to your experience even when you're not working (i.e. taking classes, participating in workshops, volunteering).
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Current Available Positions
DISCOVER STAFFING specializes in Office Support and Light Industrial positions of various types. We staff throughout Cobb County, North Fulton County and Gwinnett County. Our available positions change frequently for various reasons. Here are some of the openings we have currently:
Inside Sales - Suwanee
Invoicing - John's Creek
Switchboard Receptionist - John's Creek
General Office Clerk - Sandy Springs
Health Insurance Data Quality Analyst - Alpharetta
Medicare Analyst - Buckhead
Administrative Assistant - Alpharetta
Customer Service Representative - Alpharetta
If you are interested in finding out how DISCOVER STAFFING may be able to work with, please send your inquiry and a resume to alpharetta@discoverstaffing.com
If you are interested in finding out how DISCOVER STAFFING may be able to work with, please send your inquiry and a resume to alpharetta@discoverstaffing.com
Friday, January 22, 2010
Spell Check Your Resume for Typos
I saw this post on a mailing list that I subscribe to.
DON’T FORGET THE SPELL-CHECK
Survey Finds a Single Resume Typo Can Ruin Job Prospects
The adage "It’s not what you say, but how you say it" holds particular weight when it comes to resumes, a recent survey shows. Eighty-four percent of executives polled said it takes just one or two typographical errors in a resume to remove a candidate from consideration for a job opening; 47 percent said a single typo can be the deciding factor.
The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 150 senior executives at the nation’s 1,000 largest companies.
Executives were asked, “How many typos in a resume does it take for you to decide not to consider a job candidate for a position with your company?” Their responses:
One typo 47%
Two typos 37%
Three typos 7%
Four or more typos 6%
Don’t know/no answer 3%
"Resumes often are a job seeker’s first contact with prospective employers," said Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Candidates who submit application materials with typographical or grammatical errors may be seen as lacking professionalism and attention to detail, and thus spoil their chances for an interview or further consideration."
Domeyer noted that in addition to running a computer spell-check, it is crucial for job seekers to proofread their resumes and ask friends and family members to do the same. "A fresh pair of eyes can help candidates spot mistakes overlooked by the spell-checking function," said Domeyer. "I've often seen simple errors -- such as a job seeker applying for the position of 'office manger' -- derail even the most talented applicants."
DON’T FORGET THE SPELL-CHECK
Survey Finds a Single Resume Typo Can Ruin Job Prospects
The adage "It’s not what you say, but how you say it" holds particular weight when it comes to resumes, a recent survey shows. Eighty-four percent of executives polled said it takes just one or two typographical errors in a resume to remove a candidate from consideration for a job opening; 47 percent said a single typo can be the deciding factor.
The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 150 senior executives at the nation’s 1,000 largest companies.
Executives were asked, “How many typos in a resume does it take for you to decide not to consider a job candidate for a position with your company?” Their responses:
One typo 47%
Two typos 37%
Three typos 7%
Four or more typos 6%
Don’t know/no answer 3%
"Resumes often are a job seeker’s first contact with prospective employers," said Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Candidates who submit application materials with typographical or grammatical errors may be seen as lacking professionalism and attention to detail, and thus spoil their chances for an interview or further consideration."
Domeyer noted that in addition to running a computer spell-check, it is crucial for job seekers to proofread their resumes and ask friends and family members to do the same. "A fresh pair of eyes can help candidates spot mistakes overlooked by the spell-checking function," said Domeyer. "I've often seen simple errors -- such as a job seeker applying for the position of 'office manger' -- derail even the most talented applicants."
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Data Quality Assurance
DISCOVER STAFFING is currently assisting a company in Alpharetta with a Data Quality Assurance Analyst position. Qualified candidates will have 5+ years experience with Data Analysis, Quality Assurance, Vendor or Client Management, Crystal, Excel and Access Software and the Health care Industry.
Please send your resume to laura@discoverstaffing.com for consideration. Candidates must be local to Alpharetta. Only qualified candidates will be considered.
Please send your resume to laura@discoverstaffing.com for consideration. Candidates must be local to Alpharetta. Only qualified candidates will be considered.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Human Resources Generalist
DISCOVER STAFFING is currently seeking a Human Resources Generalist for a position in Alpharetta. Client is looking for someone with a minimum 5 years HR Generalist experience including work with HR Systems, reporting and training. HR Managers or Directors are not being considered at this time. Will be responsible for employee benefits, employee relations, policies and procedures, maintaining employee records, training and development, compliance and reporting. Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with focus on HR preferred. Proficiency in MS Office required.
Please submit your resume to laura@discoverstaffing for consideration. Only qualified candidates will be considered at this time. No phone calls please.
Please submit your resume to laura@discoverstaffing for consideration. Only qualified candidates will be considered at this time. No phone calls please.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Follow Us On Twitter!
DISCOVER STAFFING is now on Twitter. Get "realtime" updates by following us on Twitter. You'll receive immediate notifications of our newest job postings, tips for your job search and helpful articles.
http://twitter.com/discoverstaff
http://twitter.com/discoverstaff
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