For Companies - New Prolyn Fee Menu

In upcoming weeks we will be mailing Prolyn's new innovative pricing menu to you. Our new fee menu was designed with all companies in mind and in an effort to be able to provide services at a variety of levels for any company's hiring needs. Some of you have already seen this menu and we appreciate all yoru input and feedback in helping us perfect it! It was really a lot of fun developing our pricing menu on what many of you hlped us understand was most important to you! We realize not all companies will require all of the services of a full recruitment search. Our fee menu was designed to in an effort to assist all companies regardless of their hiring needs and to assist in meeting any hiring budget. We realize tough economic times require creative and innovative alternatives to your recruitment costs without sacrificing the superior service from your recruiter. Keep an eye out for our mailing...or feel free to email or call us for additional information! Enjoy your Holidays!

Have you picked up employees from struggling industry companies?

As a follow up from my post last week, I wanted to share with you all the follow up from John Swanson (Editor at W&D) from the weekly email newsletter. I had emailed John my thoughts after reading last weeks issue, and he was kind enough to share my thoughts in his follow up along with their poll results - which were rather interesting! As always, would love to get your thoughts, input and opinion on this topic and any others that are important to you!

John G. Swanson
September 24, 2008
THE TALK... | Management

Survey Results for 09/17/2008:

We have:

Kept things pretty tight in our own company, so we're not hiring. 69%

Looked at possibility, but not found right people 15%

Picked up a few key people from struggling industry companies 13%

Hired many people from struggling industry companies 3%

The results from this week's poll make clear that most industry companies are in a "hold tight" phase. That's not too surprising--given the industry headlines we've seen lately. Some respondents indicate they are looking at picking up talent, however. Thirteen percent have taken the plunge and added a couple of people and 3 percent indicate that strengthened their workforces more substantially.

She admits it may not be easy to do, but Carlyn Burns, a recruiter in the industry with Prolyn Executive Search, emailed me to wrote to say "now is a better time than ever to hire people if you can afford it. It is beyond amazing how much great talent is out there for the taking right now. One company's layoffs or downsizing is another company's dream come true to often pick up a caliber of candidate that they would otherwise never get the opportunity to hire or even find."

Burns also reports, however, there's been a change in the past year, with more companies hiring outside the industry. The main reason behind this, she says, is that many companies are finding it harder to relocate candidates--"as in getting candidates that are willing to take the risk to sell their house and/or take a huge hit on the sale of their house to pick up and move."

She also suggests that "many companies are almost dissuaded by hiring industry experienced folks because they are so negative in attitude about prior window companies they have worked for and may potentially bring that negativity to their next company. " Burns goes on to note: "As I am sure you know all too well, many life long employee in this industry have given up total hope of the industry recovering and the industry being sustained and of course bad news travels quicker than good news. I think it is personally crazy and the industry will be just fine, if not better here soon. Yet, the majority of candidates I speak with are so down in the dumps and negative about the down turn in the industry that many of them are fleeing to other industries as well. That is the scary part to me."

Interestingly, and perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Burns reports that despite the struggles in the industry, "I have never been busier. It is baffling to many, as this year has most definitely been the one year within my involvement in the industry that I have seen so much distress and struggle with many companies in the industry, with layoffs, continual plant closings, etc. In any event, I remain busy…companies in the industry continue to hire me to find them people to fill their open jobs."

In light of the poll results, my take on her last observation is that more than a few companies are positioning themselves for the future. They have the resources--and probably don't carry the debt that other companies have--to invest for the long term. One thing I do know is that we have a lot of private companies in this business--family owned--that don't have to focus on the quarterly numbers and how financial analysts and other third parties will react. These companies have always focused on the long term and I suspect they're doing it now too.

Hire now if you can!

While I am sure many of you have already read the W&D weekly email newsletter, thought this snippet from John Swanson, Editor/Assocuate Publisher of W&D was worth repeating. His point makes great sense and I have personally seen many industry companies doing exactly this right now as there has never been a better time to pick up great industry talent.

A manufacturer contacted me not too long ago to see if I had heard any news about one its local competitors. The reason he inquired is that he was seeing an influx of people from this competitor looking for jobs at his operation.

While I hadn’t heard any news in this particular case, and I wasn’t much help, it reminded me of something said to me not too long ago. “If you can afford to do it, it’s a great time to hire people,” an industry supplier told me. “With some companies cutting back, there’s a lot of talent and knowledge available.”

September 11th Anniversary

We wanted to take a moment to honor and remember the 7 year anniversary of the traumatic terrorist attacks of 9/11. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragic day!

Reasons to Run From a Job Interview

Here's an excerpt from a great article on interview flags from Business Week (written by Liz Ryan). It is often difficult to gauge when to walk away from a job opportunity after a company has wooed you and put you through the interview wringer...hopefully the tips in this article will help provide some clarity on when to run and when to stick the process out! Enjoy!

When a prospective employer makes unreasonable demands on you before things start to get serious, it's a strong signal to hit the road.

Here's our list of Six Reasons to Run:

1) Your employment references are requested before a strong mutual interest is established. Any employer who values a job candidate also values his or her time and relationships. When a headhunter or company recruiter tells you "We'll need to call your references" too early in the game, they're sending a signal that the valuable time of your reference-givers is not nearly as valuable as the time that the company would waste in interviewing you before checking up on you. Your cue to bail.

2) The employer asks for your Social Security number or your approval for a credit or background check before strong mutual interest is established.

When a company says, "We need to check on you before we can spare the time to talk with you," it's time to get out of Dodge. A talent-focused employer will call you for a phone interview (at a minimum) before bothering you for personal information that they won't require if they don't make you a job offer. This type of batch processing shouts, "Get in line to genuflect." Keep looking.

3) You're sent a questionnaire (not a job application) or online test to complete before you've had any human contact with the employer, including a phone call. When a company makes its selection process more efficient by shoving tests in your face before so much as chatting with you, they're sharing their views on reciprocity. "Prove to us that you're worth our time" is not the message that a talent-aware employer sends to the talented people applying to use their talents on its behalf. Reciprocity works in the same that permission-based marketing does; you give something to get something at every step in the process. A smarter company will chat with you, answer your questions about the job, and then ask, "Would you mind filling out our questionnaire, as the next step in the process? Can I answer any questions for you, to help you feel comfortable investing more time in our company?"

4) Unreasonable or short notice to travel for interview. The Vortex becomes more powerful over time, and many a job seeker has called me excitedly to report, "They're flying me to New York City, tomorrow," without stopping to think: "Wait a second, they didn't ask me whether it was convenient for me to fly to New York City, now that I think about it." I know of one situation in which a candidate was pressured to fly to the company's headquarters on his wife's birthday. He was told, "If this isn't a priority for you, it isn't a priority for us, either." He wavered for an hour or two before telling them: "If my personal life and my most important relationship isn't important to you, I don't want to work for you." If they really want you, they can wait a day or two.

5) You're told you can't meet the team, or see the employee handbook, or meet clients (if appropriate) before an offer is extended. This is a big, neon red flag that plenty of job seekers miss in the swirling colors of The Vortex. You need to meet your co-workers. Period. You need to see the employee handbook, which you'll be expected to adhere to during your tenure with the company and which will govern your working relationship. If you will work closely with a client at a senior level, it could make sense for you to meet with someone from the client's team before accepting the job. Ask yourself: Why wouldn't they let me meet the team or read the handbook? What is this employer afraid of?

6) All communication is funneled through the HR rep or the headhunter. Practical matters, like interview times and paperwork flying back and forth, doesn't need to take up a hiring manager's time. It makes sense to have an HR point person or third-party recruiter handling communication with a candidate over these "mechanical" issues. But if you're really interested in a job and have a question for your prospective manager, the manager absolutely needs to take that call. If you can't get the manager's attention now, what makes you think you'll be able to when you work there?

Leave any of these six scary Vortex situations behind and don't look back—you'll have dodged a bullet. You have a lot to offer, and if an employer can't see it as the selection process unfolds, your talents are better used elsewhere.

Using Voice Mail to make a great first impression

Here's a great article my older brother sent me that provides some great tips on leaving impressionable voice mails during your career search. Enjoy!

Job seekers know there is more to a job search than want ads and e-mails. But when it comes time to make that phone call, are you really prepared? You might think leaving a message isn't a big deal, but it really is. Look at it this way; first impressions are always important, and sometimes a phone call is the first impression people have of you. So make the most of the phone calls you make. Job searching is a process, so take every aspect of it seriously. You never know what just might seal the deal.

Speak With Confidence There's not a lot you can do on the phone to sell yourself, so set out to perfect the basics. To start with, prepare what you're going to say and then make sure you feel confident saying it. The phone call should be brief but factual. You want to leave the most informational message possible without talking their ear off. If they're bored of you on the phone, they probably won't want to wait to see what you're like in person. Be clear and concise and tell them what they need to know. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Leave a message for a specific person. Anyone can call and say they're simply calling about a job or possible opening. If you do a little research to find out who you should speak to, it will only pay off. It will show that you have a sincere interest in the job and you're not afraid to go the extra mile to get what you want

Always know your employer. Find out about the company you're applying for so you can communicate to them how compatible you are as a candidate.

Practice what you're going to say. You don't want to sound like you're reading a script, but the more prepared you are, the more confident you will sound. Not to mention, if you're prepared to leave a message and you get a person instead, your delivery will be that much better.

Don't let an answering machine or voicemail scare you. You may be eager to get the ball rolling, but don't think of it as a blockade. Instead, consider yourself lucky. If you don't get a "live" person, you'll have more time to prepare what you want to say. This will give you time to get all your thoughts in order and make little or no mistakes.

My personal advice is to be cautious in who and how many sites you post your resume to as ther are uos and downs to utiliaing a resume blasting service. Downside is that your resume gets overstaurated and possibly sent out numerous times to teh same person making you look somewhat desparate...Upside is that the more it is out there, the more accesibility recruiters and hiring managers will have to be able to find you. If you decide to go this route, here are a few sites that may help:

If you're not getting as many leads as you think you should, try using the ResumeDirector service. It lets you get your resume posted on over 90 job sites at once, including Monster, HotJobs, CareerBuilder, etc. To find out more, visit: http://www.jobsearchinfo.com/rd.htm

To find out about ResumeArrow, a service that can get your resume sent instantly to thousands of recruiters specializing in your industry and geographical location, visit this web address: http://www.jobsearchinfo.com/dist.htm
Good luck!!!

Join me on Facebook!

Hi everyone!! I hope your summer is going well! Hard to believe how quickly it has flown by.

I have started to become more involved in different venues and resources in my recruitment focus and wanted to share with all of you what a possitive and powerful experience Facebook has been for me thus far. Not only is it completely addicting in reconnecting with old classmates or friends...but as you all know networking is the number one way to land that next dream job you are searching for! I have networked and tapped into so many amazing people thus far!

If you are already on Facebook or decide to join...please visit Prolyn's page at: (you will have to copy and paste the link!)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Prolyn-Executive-Search/41805329304?ref=nf

And also feel free to link into my personal profile that has both hints of my personal life (lots of pictures of my beautiful daughter) and also hints of Prolyn throughout as well! To link into my personal profile, you will have to send me an invite through Facebook asking me to be your friend (sounds funny I know!! - it is just Facebook terminology!) as with Facebook one of the benefits is having to approve anyone that wants to link into your profile.

Look forward to linking in with you all and helping you all find your dream jobs...or candidates for that next hard to fill search!

Finding a Job Using Uncommon Search Tactics

Thought this was a great article as it focuses on out of the box thinking in relation to your career search. There are definately some worthwhile tips in here and seemed timely as tough times require more inventive and creative tactics in your job search. Article courtesy of msn careers.com Enjoy!

Rules are meant to be broken. Think outside the box. Be original. These are all clichés meant to inspire and remind you that creativity can often be rewarded in life.

Yet, even the most adventurous of us can't overcome our reservations when it comes to job hunting. Everything you've been told about the application and interview processes emphasizes being professional. Don't try to be funny in your cover letter. Wear a conservative business suit. Show how you'll fit in as one of the team. In other words, do what everyone else is doing. For some people, that just won't do.

Tony Beshara, author of "Acing the Interview," has seen his share of unusual job search methods over the years, ranging from quirky to bold. And several of them have been successful. "For a marketing job, the candidate bought a pair of baby shoes, wrapped one in a box along with her résumé and sent it directly to the hiring authority," Beshara remembers. "The box had a tag that said 'Let me get my foot in the door and you will be pleased.' When she went to the interview, she took the other shoe with her, which was a great way to start the interview."

Another job candidate who was hoping to land a sales position sent his résumé to the hiring manager with miniature star tickets that fell out when you opened it up. Across the top he had written "Hire a Star."

Quiet and clever tactics don't work for everybody, though. Beshara recalls another job seeker who decided to wear a sandwich board that read, "Brand new, hardworking MBA needs work." He then stood at one of Dallas' busiest intersections during the morning rush hour. "He had a job by noon."

Other tactics aren't as premeditated or elaborate.
When marketing and management expert Mark Stevens met with a candidate whose credentials showed great promise, he was disappointed when the interview didn't go well. The applicant wasn't engaged in the interview and as soon as he left he threw away his résumé. "The next day, I received a FedEx package from him, with a book of poetry on human loss and a loving letter about how his mother had died that week," Stevens remembers. He knew he hadn't made a good impression and asked for a second chance. Stevens gave it to him and ended up hiring him.

When you're hunting for a job, keep in mind that these unorthodox methods worked for these job seekers. Not only did they have the guts to try them out, but they also encountered hiring managers who were willing to take their efforts seriously.

Although wearing a sandwich board on a highway isn't the most reliable way to land a job, that job seeker did set himself apart from the thousands of other new MBAs fresh out of school. In a competitive job market, look for any opportunity, big or little, to give yourself an edge over the other applicants.

How to get hired by a 'Best' company

This article caught my eye from cnn.com. Although the focus of the article is providing tips on how to get your foot in the door with the top ranked fortune 100 companies...many, if not all of the tips translate well to targeting any company you are trying to go to work for. Enjoy!

Even during economic downturns, Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For are constantly scouting for talent. Here's how to get your foot in the door.

It helps to know someone. Almost all of the 100 Best rely heavily on employee referrals. Principal Financial Group and many others get about 40% of their new hires this way. At Wegmans it's a family thing: About one in five employees is related to at least one other staffer.

Play up volunteer work on your résumé. These companies are enthusiastic about community outreach, and they prefer to hire people who are too.

Get ready to interview and interview... and interview. The process varies wildly from one company to another, but you could be facing a series of 12 to 15 one-on-one chats or one long interview with a panel of up to 50 current employees.

Unleash your inner storyteller. By far the most popular interview style is what's known as behavioral, meaning that you will be asked to describe troublesome situations in past jobs and tell exactly how you handled them.

Do creative research. A proven way to stand out from the hordes of other candidates is to know more about the place and the industry than your rivals. A Google search won't do it. Says Jay Jones, recruiting manager at Alcon Laboratories: "Detailed research, including talking to our customers, is so rare it will almost guarantee you get hired."

No lone rangers need apply. By and large, the 100 Best want team players. "I actually count the number of times a candidate says 'I' in an interview," says Adobe's recruiting director Jeff Vijungco. "We'd much rather hear 'we.'"

If you've moved around a lot, be ready to explain why. A checkered past won't disqualify you, but most of these companies are looking for people who want to build a career over the long haul. Be persuasive about why you're ready to settle down here.

Be open to learning new things. Showing passion is a must, and most of the 100 Best pride themselves on creating "learning environments," so talk about the skills you'd like to acquire or polish. A turnoff: declaring that you're already the best at what you do.

If at first you don't succeed, don't give up. Almost every Best Company keeps track of what FedEx calls "silver medalists" - people who barely missed getting hired - and alerts them to new openings. If possible, register on the company's website. Four Seasons, for one, has hired people seven or eight years after an initial meeting.

Don't coast on their reputation. One final tip: Don't apply for a job just because the company is on our list. In the words of Mike Gallagher, HR director at SAS Institute, "We know we have a reputation as a great place to work. But if the reason you want to work here is that you want subsidized day care or a great gym, you won't last." Or, for that matter, make it through the first round of interviews.

Alternatives to Salary Negotiations

This article on alternatives to salary negotiations caught my eye that may be of interest to some of you. It seems that now more than ever many companies are focusing and offering alternatives and other perks to compliment salaries in many creative ways and to also build stronger employee loyalty. This article was from hotjobs, by Todd Anten. Enjoy!

You think interviews are scary? There's one part of getting a job that can be even more intimidating: Negotiating a salary.

But what happens when a prospective employer just won't meet your salary request? Should you tuck your tail between your legs and accept the job anyway? Or should you politely turn down the job, even if you really need it?

Fortunately, you have a third alternative: You can ask for other benefits that can adequately replace an instant salary boost.

For instance: Consider requesting that you can get a performance review six months after you start. This request will show that you're willing to stand behind your work and prove yourself to the company. Then, in six months, you can request a salary increase.

Here are other things you can ask for at the negotiating table OTHER than money.

An Extra Day Away Don't think you can ask for more money? Then consider asking for a few more days of paid vacation time instead. Even though asking for a few extra vacation days seems like a small request, those days can make a big difference in your happiness in the long run. And from the hiring manager's perspective, granting extra vacation time is much cheaper than a salary bump.

You'll Like Doing This Homework One of the biggest trends to hit U.S. workplaces: Working from home. As technology improves -- from cell phones to home DSL connections -- your home may already resemble your office. So when negotiating a job offer, instead of asking for more money, consider asking if you can work from home once in a while. Think about if you would prefer a structured work-from-home schedule (e.g., every Tuesday) or a looser arrangement (e.g., twice a month).

Moving Money If you're planning to move to a new city or state for a job, you should consider negotiating for some extra money for your relocation costs. Companies realize that moving can be expensive and they are often willing to offset some of the expenses.

Would a Job by Any Other Title? ... If a company doesn't want to offer you more money, perhaps it would be willing to offer you a snazzier job title. While some companies have strict policies regarding job titles, others can be quite flexible. Changing "administrative assistant" to "executive assistant" costs the company nothing, but it might make you feel better. And it could help make your resume more impressive.

One last thing to remember: No matter what extra perks or benefits you score when negotiating a job offer, be sure to get them all in writing.

Tips for job hunting in an unsteady economy

Although there continues to be some pretty dismal and negative news within our industry and others as well with continual news of lay offs, pending closings, etc., there are still many jobs out there that are open and waiting to be filled! As I always remind you all...if a recruiter in this industry remains to be be busy...things truly are not that bad. I remain to be busy - which is a great sign and underlying strength in our industry regardless of the downturn and recent chaos in the housing market!

Nonetheless, these are indeed different times and many of you have expressed concern and also frustration to me in your job search efforts. Here are some tips from an article I read recently on how to best go about your job search in an uncertain economy. Hope it helps some of you...enjoy and hope you all have a great day!

Experts recommend the following actions to increase your job-search success in an uncertain economic climate.

Tailor your presentations; don't be generic. "In developing a resume and other promotions materials, think about how your current skills and talents apply directly to the responsibilities you'll hold in the new job.

Create a target list of companies," says career coach Julie Jansen, author of "You Want Me to Work with Who?" She suggests sending the list to 25 people, asking them if they can put you in touch with an employee at one of the listed companies.

Make yourself and your skills more visible. Post and refreshing your resume in more places, such as online job boards, and going to job fairs.

"Create an advisory board of smart and empathetic people and confer with them regularly about your job search," says Jansen.

Hone and utilize your 'elevator pitch' as often as possible, referring to a 30-second summary of your professional assets.

Keep your spirits high. Don't let the process overwhelm you or weigh you down. Jansen advises, "Make a list of your five favorite things to do, and do them!"

Make an effort daily. "Do one thing each day -- like emailing a new contact or attending a networking event -- that moves your job search forward. Your worst enemy is inertia.

Interview Follow Up Do's & Dont's

Having seen my fair share of interview follow up blunders throughout my recruiting career and have also made some myself over the years when I have been in job search and interviewing mode. This article below provided some good tips and reminders on what to do and most importantly not to do when you follow up after an interview. Enjoy!

Do ask at the end of the interview when the employer expects to make the hiring decision.

Do be proactive and consider follow-up a strategic part of your job search process. Follow-up can give you just the edge you need to get the job offer over others who interviewed for the position.

Do use these follow-up techniques to continue to show your enthusiasm and desire for the position, but don’t make it seem as though you are desperate.

Do obtain the correct titles and names of all the people who interviewed you. Get business cards of everyone you met with!

Do write individual thank you notes or letters to each person who interviewed you -- within two business days. Each letter can be essentially the same, but try to vary each a bit in case recipients compare notes.

Don't ever have any errors (misspellings or typos) in your thank you letters.

Don't worry so much about hand-written versus typed thank you letters, but don’t make a mistake by sending it through the wrong medium; make sure you know the best method of reaching the employer, whether by regular mail, email, or fax.

In your thank you letter, do show appreciation for the employer’s interest in you and do remind the employer about why you are the perfect person for the position.

Do alert your references -- if you have not done so already -- that they may be getting a phone call from the employer.

Don't stop job-hunting, even if you feel confident that you will get a job offer. Do continue to interview and attempt to find other opportunities.

Do follow-up with a telephone call to the employer within a week to ten days (or sooner, if the employer had a shorter timetable) to ask about the position. And do continue to build rapport and sell your strengths during the phone call.

Do be patient. The hiring process often takes longer than the employer expects.

Do continue following-up, especially if the employer asks you to. Just don’t go overboard and annoy or bother the employer.

Don't burn any bridges if you do not get a job offer. And do try and turn the situation into a positive by bringing the interviewer(s) into your network, possibly even asking them for referrals to other contacts.

Job Hopping Pros and Cons

Many people that I speak with often express concern over how having changed jobs so frequently may affect the way they may be viewed as a job hopper by a new potential employer. Quite honestly, most people I speak with these days have resumes that include changing jobs every few years or so and do so for a wide variety of reasons. It is a rarity to see someone that stays with a company 5-10+ years. As such, here is a portion from an article I saw on yahoo this morning that I thought may interest some of you...enjoy!

Job-Hopping Pros & Cons

Ultimately, it's important to plan carefully when evaluating a job change and not switch too often, experts say, citing the following pros and cons

*Pro: Pay increases. "The way you make a large jump in your pay scale is when you leave a company and go to another one. It's proven time and time again.

*Pro: Networking. Different gigs expose you to new networks of people, which can be a real asset.

*Pro: Learning new skills. New environments sometimes teach workers new skills and how to function more quickly, says Kathy Jeffery, vice president of human resources at WhittmanHart Consulting in Chicago.

*Con: Landing in a worse situation. "You might jump into a new job that's worse than your old job," Gee explains.

*Con: Moving too soon. "If you're really leaving places rather quickly you may not be extracting the full value from what that particular workplace has to offer you,

Leave this info out of your interview!

I recently read a great article on things to leave out of an interview. I would even take it a step further and suggest that much of the below items be left out of most workplace conversations. I think we have al had "that co worker" who shared a bit too much, a bit too freely! Going in line with my last post about bad interviews and ways to improve your interviews, I thought some of these rules of thumb on what not to discuss may help some of you ace those interviews! This article was courtesy of msn careers written by Rachel Zupak. Enjoy!

Everyone knows someone privy to sharing too much information – the TMI, if you will. TMIs have no boundaries and no shame. They will tell you any and every piece of personal information, whether it's filling you in on her latest try at the fertility doctor or the dream he had about your boss last night.

Sharing too much information with your co-workers is an office no-no; sharing too much personal information during the interview is an entirely different ballgame.

Need help deciding what information crosses the line and what doesn't? Here's a list of what personal information Lopeke says is safe, borderline and absolutely forbidden in your interview.

Green light: Go ahead with the following personal info.

Goals. It's OK to talk about what you want in your next assignment and what inspired you to apply for the position. "This is the 'what you want, why now, why them' conversation," Lopeke says.

Growth. You can and should talk about the things you've done up to this point to invest in yourself and your professional development.

Highlights. "Relate the highlights of your greatest professional achievements to date without exaggerating or pontificating," she says.

Motivations. Talk about what motivates you, excites you, what brought you to that particular industry and what attracted you to that specific employment opportunity.

Yellow light: Discuss with caution.

Vacations. If you can chat about a past vacation in relation to the company, it might be OK for your interview.

"For example, if you know the prospective employer is a big supporter of Habitat for Humanity and you vacationed in the same spot where a new housing initiative was just built, it could work for you," Lopeke says. But, if you're bragging about the six month trip around the world you took during your unemployment, you should probably refrain.

Allergies. "If the interviewer is suffering from allergies and you do too, it could be a bonding moment," Lopeke says. But, "if you use the moment to declare you're allergic to stupid people, you'll get tagged as arrogant."

Pets. Talking about your furry friends at home can work for or against you. Dogs and cats shouldn't get you into too much trouble, but exotic or high-maintenance companions can be perceived as an issue.

All skills. It's not necessary to possess every quality the employer has put on its wish list. If you mention only a couple of skills, it shows you have both initiative and growth potential.

Red light: Do not delve into these personal topics during your interview.

Lifestyle choices, politics, religion or family plans. "Controversial topics may make for stimulating conversation but an attractive employee does not stimulate water-cooler frenzy among the masses," Lopeke advises.

Endless name dropping. You can establish that you know some of the same people as the interviewer to build rapport, but don't think you're upping the ante by upping the volume. "While you may know certain people who work for the company already, you don't always know how they are perceived by their employer," Lopeke says. "If they're on the hit list for any reason, you could be painted with that 'birds of a feather' brush instead of being evaluated on your own merit."

Health history. Stay away from your health history – mental and otherwise. "You're supposed to be positioning yourself as dependable and reliable; not as a candidate likely to spike the bell curve on benefit-related expenses," Lopeke says.

House problems, nanny drama or rehab trips. Employers don't want to know much about your life except as it relates to what you've done professionally and what you're likely able to do for them.

Bosses from hell. Simply put, no prospective boss wants to hear a litany of "boss from hell" stories. They'll hate you for it.

Four Steps to a Better Interview

After reflecting on the past month that was filled with lots of interviews with candidates that I presented to many different companies, a common trend seemed to be many candidates not interviewing as well as we thought they would. As such, this article from Yahoo hot jobs (by Brad Karsh) on tips for interviewing better seemed fitting and also very timely. Have a great day!

Here's a question I often hear: What are some things I can do to prepare for a job interview?

Answer: There really aren't too many things in life more awkward than a job interview. You're dressed in formal business clothing, sitting across from a stranger. This stranger has the right to ask you anything from the most elaborate to the most mundane questions. And you have to spend an hour talking about nothing but yourself. Actually it sounds pretty similar to a blind date!

Just like a blind date, there are some definite no-no's you need to avoid if you want to make it to the next level.

Don't try to outwit or outguess the interviewer. Most candidates go into a job interview thinking it's a contest where the goal is to defeat the interviewer in some type of battle of wits.
"Aha, Brad has asked me this question. Clearly, that is some type of trick question. I just don't know what the trick is yet. Here's how I would normally answer the question, but instead I should say what he probably wants to hear." That thinking is when good interviews go bad. Sit back, relax, and pretend it is a conversation with a friend. Those are the best interviews.

Read the job description. I call the job description the "cheat sheet" for the interview. Chances are the items listed on the job description will come up in the interview. For instance, if the job description says, "looking for creative problem-solvers" one of the questions you will receive is, "Give me an example of when you creatively solved a problem."

Have reasons for everything you've done. Most companies conduct behavioral interviews. It means they are more interested in the hows and the whys as opposed to the whats. They want to know what makes you tick. An interviewer is not simply going to say, "Oh, I see that you worked as a sales rep in your last job. Cool." That interviewer may spend about 10 minutes asking questions about the job: "What did you like about the job? What were your accomplishments? What were your biggest mistakes?" And on and on. Be sure you have answers.

Ask questions. There is nothing more damaging than not having a single question at the end of an interview. It shows that you have no curiosity or interest in the organization. Almost every interviewer will leave about five minutes at the end of the interview to answer questions. Make sure you have a couple. Two or three questions is appropriate, and they can be either personal questions -- "What do you like about working here?" -- or they can be business questions -- "How has the Internet affected your business?" There you have it. Four quick ways that you can make sure you ace the interview and have the job offers rolling in. Good luck!

Urgent Positions!!!

Things continue to heat up and keep us busy with a good variety of positions we are recruiting for currently! There are a few really urgent and hot positions that we could use your help with! As always, please keep an eye out on the list of current jobs we are recruiting for that are listed to the lower right side of this blog. Listed below in this post are the most urgent positions that we are seeking individuals for. If you or anyone you know of may be interested and a good fit, please let us know!

Remember, when you give us a referral name, whether it is someone you know well or someone you just know of in the industry…we will always keep the referral confidential unless you tell us you want us to let them know you referred them. We are always truly appreciative for all the help and many great referrals so many of you continue to provide us with – thank you!

Design Engineers – 3 positions! Must be able to relocate.

Outside Sales – NY (several areas) & NJ (central/southern)

Project Managers – several positions all over country! Must be able to relocate. Some great opportunities/companies here!

We have a constant and continual need for CAD specialists – all over the country!

Rules to Relocation

There is no perfect formula to moving and it is true (speaking from my own experience!) that relocating can be one of the most stressful life experiences you encounter. After all, you are not just moving your stuff…you are moving your life! If you go into the relocation well planned, there are many ways to ease the potential stress of the move. Here are some tips that will help you breeze through a relocation:

Do your homework. Taking the time to research the area you are moving to will save you a lot of hassle and headache down the road. Take advantage of many free resources you can tap into such as local realtors, churches and a myriad of websites that will practically do your research for you (www.move.com, www.moving.com, http://www.usps.com/receive/changeaddress/movingtips.htm. The best resource is tapping into the people that you have met during your interview process, as these folks obviously already live in the city you are moving to and can be an instant wealth of knowledge for you to benefit from.

Get a floor plan. If possible, get a floor plan of your future residence or draw one yourself to scale on graph paper. This will help you map out your furniture to fit. If it won’t fit on paper, it won’t fit when it arrives. This rule holds true whether you are renting or buying a home.

Make the most of what you have. Whether it is buying groceries, dog food, etc.…heed caution when replenishing your pantry if you are nearing the date of your move. Frozen foods cannot be shipped and the last thing you want to do is pack boxes full of canned foods…so eat up!

If in doubt…throw it out! Get rid of anything prior to your move that you are in doubt of needing. Chances are you won’t need that riding lawnmower if you are planning in renting an apartment for a year or so. If you don’t need it or haven’t used it for a long time…get rid of it! Moving costs are typically calculated on weight so why not lose some dead weight and save some money! Not sure what to do with all your old treasures? Have a garage sale and earn a profit from your old treasures versus paying the moving truck to haul what may be a ton of junk that will just collect dust in a storage garage or attic in your new place. There are also many companies that will handle your sale or people that will ebay your items for a small percentage of the profit. An easy alternative is also to donate your things to a local charity and get a tax deduction.

Get quotes. It is always recommended to get at least 3 quotes from professional movers prior to selecting the one who will move your belongings. Get a referral for a reputable mover from friends, family…or you can call us as we are partnered with a free relocation services that can provide that as well.

Allow time for packing. Moving requires lots of organization and patience. Decide if you want to put the effort into packing yourself or paying a bit extra to have a reputable moving company pack for you. If you have the extra cash to do so, it is highly recommended to pay the movers to pack for you as it can be a big stress reliever with all else you have going on in coordinating your big move.

Make a list and check it twice. There are many free checklists out there for you to better organize your move to ensure you are not forgetting a vital task of your move. The post office has a list included in their change of address packet that is quite helpful as well. There are so many obvious tasks that you will seemingly have to tackle…so having a list may help keep you organized and a bit more stress free throughout the relocation.

Breathe! Bottom line is to take a deep breathe and tackle one task at a time. While it is always exciting to think about a new home, a new city, new friends, new surroundings and environment, relocation does come with its fair share of hassles. Staying organized and on task throughout the process will help make the move and transition into your new city and hopefully dream job much more enjoyable!

Job Interview Blunders

This list of jokes has been around as I have seen it before. Yet, it is worth a quick read for a good laugh. Supposedly, this list was complied by Vice Presidents and personnel directors of the one hundred largest corporations when they were asked to describe their most unusual experience interviewing prospective employees. While some of them seem absolutely unbelievable, I have actually heard a few crazier from my own hiring managers that I have worked with over the years!

A job applicant challenged the interviewer to an arm wrestle.

Interviewee wore a Walkman, explaining that she could listen to the interviewer and the music at the same time.

Candidate fell and broke arm during interview.

Candidate announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewers office.

Candidate explained that her long-term goals was to replace the interviewer.

Candidate said he never finished high school because he was kidnapped and kept in a closet in Mexico.

Balding Candidate excused himself and returned to the office a few minutes later wearing a headpiece.

Applicant said if he was hired he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.

Applicant interrupted interview to phone her therapist for advice on how to answer specific interview questions.

Candidate brought large dog to interview.

Applicant refused to sit down and insisted on being interviewed standing up.

Candidate dozed off during interview.

The employers were also asked to list the "most unusual" questions that have been asked by job candidates.

"What is it that you people do at this company?"

"What is the company motto?"

"Why aren't you in a more interesting business?"

"What are the zodiac signs of all the board members?"

"Why do you want references?"

"Do I have to dress for the next interview?"

"I know this is off the subject, but will you marry me?"

"Will the company move my rock collection from California to Maryland?"

"Will the company pay to relocate my horse?"

"Does your health insurance cover pets?"

"Does your company have a policy regarding concealed weapons?"

Free Resume Writing & Advice Website

I stumbled across a great website the other day that is geared towards writing a winning resume. There are an overwhelming number of resume writing, critique and miscellaneous other resume related services sites out there to attempt to navigate through. However, this one by far was one of the best I have seen in a very long time. In addition to providing some great tips on resume writing, the site also provides an unbelievable amount of other great resources, such as; free samples of resumes, interview and negotiation tips, ways to overcome stumbling blocks such as gaps in employment, no degree, etc. One of the things I really thought that made the site stand out from the crowd was the site owner, Susan Ireland, has many quick tip videos posted throughout the site, by topic, giving the site a personal and very genuine type feel. I suppose the very best part of this site is that it is completely free…right down to the free resume software they let you use.

In case any of you are struggling with perfecting a resume, or just want to browse through some great interview or salary negotiation tips, here is the site for you to check out: www.susanireland.com (You will have to copy and paste the link in your browser...sorry!, for some reason it didn't copy in here as a link you can just click on).

Enjoy!

Take the Right Job/Wrong Job Quiz!

A good friend of mine recently emailed me a link to a career assessment quiz. He swore to me his results were dead on. I pretty much laughed at him, as I have throughout my own career taken a myriad of these things…some simple and also some mirroring mini SAT tests. While I am not a big fan of tests of any kind, I went ahead and took the quiz. The online quiz itself was quick and painless, almost generic in nature which led me to think there was no way I would get back anything accurate or of worth. However, the results did in fact yield a few things that I thought were worthy of sharing.

As simple as this quiz was, it managed to peg me pretty perfectly with my results and also give me some good food for thought. The bonus and fun part of the results were by far the detail they give you back. The test provides your career personality type (i.e., I am a “strategic/creative”). It also elaborates to give you tips on how to improve your current work situation and some good, probing questions to ask yourself to better determine if you are in the right job. While these kinds of quizzes aren’t always 100% accurate, and aren’t necessarily rocket science, this one I felt provided some worthy feedback, so thought I’d share it with you all. I am also doing so as I promised that I would publicly admit to my friend that this fun little quiz had some worth after I laughed at his urging for me to have taken it! (Thank you and sorry JT!).

Probably worth mentioning is that I was all the more surprised to get any useful info from the site link that is entitled tickle.com…as this is the kind of site that will also provide you with silly tests to let you now what kind of superhero or cartoon character you would be, etc. : )

***Before you take the test, note that the site will require that you set up a free account (enter your name and email), right after completing the test, hit "skip all offers", then you will see a brief overview of your results. They will email you the detailed report which is free, yet when you click on the link in your email to get your results they are of course trying to sell you this report. In small letters at lower right of screen…you can click "get my free report" at the bottom of the page, then hit "skip offer" on the next 2 pages to truly get the report/results free. Quick and simple, I promise!

Here is the link if you want to try it for yourself…Right Job/Wrong Job Quiz: www.web.tickle.com/tests/rightjob/index_main.jsp

While there are many sites that offer free career tests , quizzes , and assessments these sites generally use them as a lead in for you to purchase more materials from the site. However, you can still get a lot of useful information without buying anything. And some tests are actually totally free. Here is the link to a site that lists many different career related tests and quizzes...some of these are more fun in nature versus giving you any real substance, yet there are several other interesting and ones of substance hereas well: www.zcareer.com/freecareertests.html

Enjoy!

To post or not to post...

I have received many questions recently on the subject of whether or not job seekers should post a resume online. While posting your resume on a Monster, Careerbuilder or any job site for that matter may seem like a good idea, it can also thwart your job search pretty quickly if you go about this the wrong way. Yes, when you are looking for a job you want to get the word out and have your resume be accessible and readily found to help land you in your next dream job. However, it is not necessarily true that the more you put your resume out there, that the more it will benefit you in your job search. In fact, exactly the opposite may be true. I am not saying not to post, what I am saying is throw caution to the wind and be extremely careful with how and where you go about posting your resume publicly.

Things to think about when you post your resume online:

Limit and be selective of where you post your resume. Don’t over saturate the job boards with your resume. There is nothing worse than having recruiters and employers who search these boards find your resume over and over again. This lessens your value immensely. If you must post your resume, pick only one or two of the larger and reputable job boards and also post it in a more niche job site that ideally is targeted to your industry or specific job function.

The more you post your resume online, the more likely it is to spread in reach and availability. This lessens your control over who sees your resume and whose hands it may land in. A word of caution – just because you post your resume online, does NOT mean that recruiters will respect your privacy. I have heard numerous horror stories from job seekers I have worked with about them having experienced first hand a shady recruiter or two picking their resume off a job board and sending it into a company without their permission. If you put your resume out there, it could literally be ending up just about anywhere and everywhere.

Any time you post your resume, you run the risk of having your current employer or someone your current employer knows finding it. Most companies have staff dedicated to searching job boards for positions they are looking to fill…chances are that person may easily stumble across your resume while they are searching. In addition, many companies are now searching job boards by using their company name and key words in an effort to find current disloyal employees who may be out there looking for a job. I probably don’t have to tell you the horror stories I have heard about the many recruiters who use this same practice and in turn will go to the clients and unethically tell them that they saw your resume online in some twisted effort to build loyalty or gain allegiance form them. (It’s no wonder recruiters get such a bad rap and reputation from the many unethical ones that there are out there!!!).

Never ever pay someone to distribute your resume or use one of those resume blasting services. They often sound good and offer all sorts of appeal if you are a job seeker in desperate search of a job. Trust me, these sites do nothing other than distribute your resume to everyone’s email address they can find. A sure fire way for you to over saturate yourself in the marketplace. Worth mentioning is that throughout my own career as a recruiter, I have tried tapping into many different resume blasting services and have yet to ever have received one resume that matched my industry let alone a job that I was recruiting for.

My absolute best piece of advice based upon all of the above comments, is that if you are going to post your resume online, do so confidentially. Most reputable job boards will allow you to list your resume as confidential. Do not post your contact or identifying information (name, address, current employer, etc.). Where many job seekers trip up is by clicking on that option, yet then downloading their resume without remembering to remove their name, contact info and current employer from that resume they download. Trust me, this happens lots!

Don't let your resume sit out there. Many job boards sort resumes by date of submission with the newest first. Renew your resume every few weeks to keep it looking current and new. If you don't get any response to your resume within 20 or so days of posting, remove it from that location and post it elsewhere. It could be that employers are not looking for people with your skills in this particular database, but it could also be that there is too much competition between candidates with the same skills and your resume is not rising to the top.

And finally, when your job search is over, delete all resumes out there. Do not continue to "dangle the hook" and see what offers may come up. Your new employer (or those shady recruiters mentioned previously) may find you still fishing and demand an explanation.

Always remember that most job sites make their money by selling access to the resume database! Many want you to post your resume in their database, but few really work for you.

Tips to providing and getting better references

Reference checking is a big part of my job. It is also one of the most frustrating areas that I and many employers have to contend with. All too often, attempting to reach a reference that a job seeker provided results in playing a seemingly never-ending game of phone tag...or endless hours of waiting for the reference to find the time to call back. This is par for the course as they are busy with their own jobs and as such, calling back to provide references is often one of the last things they have time to do in their busy schedules. Unfortunately in many instances, sluggish return calls of references holds up the process and utimately getting you an offer in hand.

Also, the ultimate worse case scenario is finally getting a hold of a reference and having it result in negative things being said about the job seeker. While this rarely happens, it does occur and can be a quick means to cutting all chances of you landing your dream job...regardless of whether the recruiter or employer is checking your references. Although recruiters work on your behalf, they also work on the behalf of and for the companies they recruit for and ethically they should divulge the good, the bad and even the ugly to the employers they are partnered with. After all, every candidate they present to their clients is a direct extension of their reputation.

Tips to ensure that you are providing and also getting stellar references:

WHEN PROVIDING REFERENCES:

Keep them current! Make sure you stay in touch with these people frequently, that their contact information is correct and up to date so they are easily reachable and accessible.

Call your references each time you hand them out! A quick phone call to give your reference a heads up that they may be receiving a call will serve you well! This lets them know to expect the call, that is important they return the call and also an idea of what position you are applying for so they can put some thought into comments they want to provide on your behalf.

Have backups! It is always best to provide 3-5 professional references to provide to the prospective employer or the recruiter you are working with. On the off chance that these references cannot be reached or found when reference checking is conducted, protect yourself with having a few backups to provide as additional security that your job offer will not get held up by references that are not reachable or are taking too long to call back.
HOW TO GET BETTER REFERENCES

Interview your references! To ensure you are providing references that will provide an honest and clear picture of your skill set and other questions they may be asked, ask them questions about yourself and your performance in a prior job. This will enable you to know how they will respond when answering those same questions to the recruiter or company that calls them to ask about you. Better to be safe than sorry! And while I don't recommend ever hiding anything as honesty is always best, should you hear anything negative from your references, this will give you a chance to learn, improve and also tackle resolving potential areas of issue that could potentially arise in a reference check.

Get it in writing! When you leave an employer, get as many letters of recommendations as you can. This will serve you well in many scenarios down the road...such as, in the event your reference changes jobs, moves or is unreachable, and also in the event whoever is checking your references cannot get a hold of one of your references. Often a letter of recommendation will suffice and be a possible substitute if this is the case. As a final note, if you are working with a recruiter who conducted your reference checks, ask them for a copy when they have completed it. Not a bad idea to have this in your files and also to be able to see first hand what and how your references responded about you.

International Builders Show - Orlando

Hope you all have a successful Builders Show this year! This is the first time in several years that I will not be in attendance at the show as timing wise, my daughters birthday celebration coincided with the show. As such, me making the trip was just not a possibility - unfortunately! I do however look forward to hearing all about how the show was from each of you as I have spoken to so many of you who will be there - or are already there setting up. Should be a great show as always...Have fun!!!

Google yourself!!!

I have seen many (although often really funny) completely inappropriate personal email addresses that have been listed on job seekers resumes lately. Keep in mind that when you send your resume out, it is the first impression the prospective employer or recruiter will get of you. Having your email read things like pimpdaddy@yahoo or idealdrugs@yahoo most definitely may hinder your shot at having someone take your resume seriously or even give you a second glance.

Along that note, as it has been referenced in many articles and even in the news lately…be careful what you post online at personal networking sites such as facebook, friendster, myspace, etc. You would be surprised how many employees are technically savvy enough these days to check these sites to try and get a glimpse into what they may be getting in an employee they are considering hiring. Although your personal life is indeed just that…best to make sure that you don’t let the two intertwine and possible affect getting that next interview or job of your dreams!

My best advice to you is to:

1. Set up a separate email account specifically for your job search. Use this account solely to send our resumes and communicate with recruiters or potential employers. You can get a free email just about anywhere these days (yahoo.com, gmail, com, hotmail.com, etc.). Total bonus that this will help keep you organized in your job search and keep all your correspondence in one place separately from other personal or work related emails.

2. Keep the email address simple! Restrict it to your name or you can even get a bit creative and use key words that describe your career background versus words that may border on being risqué and unprofessional. For example use windowsalesguy@yahoo or johndoe123@yahoo. Keep it simple!

3. Google yourself! It will take you seconds and will possibly save you some heartache down the road from sitting in that final interview and having an employer know a bit too much about you. I am not saying stay away from personal networking sites as they are fun and often a great way to meet new people…yet they should not interfere with your professional life. Just be careful what you post on there. Last thing in the world that you would want would be to have the person who you may soon report to find risqué photos of you on myspace or read the slang terms you write to all your friends on facebook, etc. Aside from that, there is a website out there for just about everything these days for people to publicly complain about anyone…bad neighbor, bad boyfriend, etc. The internet is a vault of information, but what you and others put out there about yourself can all too easily be found by just about anyone!

And, YES, I did google myself prior to writing this post! Ha ha! And phew! 

Network your way to a new job!

There seem to be an endless and never-ending array of professional and also personal networking sites popping up these days. It can easily become all too harrowing to try and navigate through the maze of networking sites available and truly determine which ones are worthy of investing your time at. Whether you are a job seeker, an employer, a recruiter or just want to reconnect with former colleagues, there truly are some great sites and resources out there to tap into these days.

I have links to most of the sites I personally recommend here on this Blog, yet I continue to check out several of the new and also older ones occasionally as they are great sources for me as a recruiter to tap into the more passive candidate and also gain some phenomenal industry referrals from. In an effort to help you all tap into some good networking sites, here are both my recommendation of sites and also some sites that I have heard of, yet cannot vouch for as I have yet have to check into yet fully.

Good luck with your job searches and networking efforts...and while I truly hope that I am the recruiter who places you in your next dream job, I am also hopeful that some of these sites may be of use and benefit to you in your career search or just to network more extensively with industry contacts. You all continue to be so wonderful in providing me with some great references (thank you!), so I am hopeful this list may help give you ways to connect you with new industry contacts, former colleagues, etc.

Sites I recommend:

www.linkedin.com Most of you who know me and are in my network, know that I am a big fan of LinkedIn. A great and easy tool to keep in touch with your contacts and also reach out to many new contacts across just about any industry. I rank this site top of my list!

www.konnects.com This is a newer site for me and I have not diligently checked it out in great detail yet. However, as new as it is to me, it appears the site is growing rather quickly as I have received many communications or request through the site thus far.

www.xing.com This is another site that I have received several communications and requests form professionals looking to reach out to me at, ye have not researched it heavily enough to form an opinion one way or another yet.

www.naymz.com

www.spoke.com

Other sites that may be worth checking out that I have heard or seen reference to these, yet just haven't had enough time to thoroughly research and personally review all of these yet. Please let me know your experiences on any of the below listed sites and I will post a follow up here in a few months to give everyone an update:

http://www.fastcompany.com/cof/

http://www.ecademy.com/

http://www.jigsaw.com/

http://www.networkingforprofessionals.com/

http://jobs.realcontacts.com/home.asp

http://www.ziggs.com/

http://www.zoominfo.com/ (this is more of a great researching tool - much like a Hoovers, you can search for company data or by individual name - a great resource!)

Hot Positions!

There are several really hot, urgent, high priority positions that I am working on right now. As always, with such a variety of searches throughout the country...some move incredibly quickly and others take a slower pace. It seems that lately most are moving forward very quickly with getting candidates in and moving along quickly through the interview process - a great sign! Things within the industry continue to be great in my opinion, based upon the high level of activity that I am continuing to see with the job requisitions that I am receiving to fill. Of course much, if not all of this focus continues to be focused on the remodeling and replacement side of the business versus new construction - for obvious reasons. I have also noticed that many of you who I have spoken with recently have gotten new career opportunities in record time - amazing! Please continue to keep an eye out on the list of jobs that I am actively recruiting for to the lower right side of this Blog. You all have been wonderful about providing me with some great referrals and I appreciate it tremendously...keep them coming!! I am really looking forward to continuing to work hard to assist each of you in your current and future job searches and am so excited at the way things are looking within the industry!

Steps to Finding Your Dream Job

Life's far too short to not be doing what excites you for a profession! For the amount of time we spend working, thinking about work, stressing about work, talking about work, commuting to and from work, etc. it is truly amazing how many people are not in professions that make them happy. Easier said than done of course...as it involves taking that often much harder and rougher path to set out and follow your heart to be doing what you have a passion for. My father recently gave me an article relating to this topic - a seemingly invaluable read for me especially with having recently started my own business. The article my Dad gave me was far too long to post here, and is actually is a famous speech from a few years back...if you want a copy, just email me and I will email it to you. Because the gist of that article hit me in so many powerful and different ways, I sought out to find a briefer cliff notes version of steps to following the path to your dream job. Not anywhere as powerful as the article I referenced above, yet some good tips provided here nonetheless from forbes.com on steps to finding your dream job. Good luck!!!

Is It Time To Go?

If you're filled with dread late Sunday afternoon or if little things become big chores or unbelievably annoying at work, it may be time to think about changing careers. If you're routinely in a deep funk, a new job in the same field probably won't make much difference.

Current Job Bugaboos

Make a list of what drives you crazy at your current job. Is it your co-workers, short-sighted management, mindless repetition of the same stuff every day? Defining the cause of your dissatisfaction will help point you in a new direction.

Make A List

List the components of your dream job, including as many details as possible. But don't let fine points become deal breakers. Think: What do you really want to do? Where do you want to do it? What will it take to make the switch?

Follow Your Passion
The key to launching a new career is to match your passion with your talents. What are you good at? Can you pay the bills doing it? Are you willing to take a pay cut? If so, where do you and your family cut back financially?

Basic Research
Research your proposed new field. Does it require special training? A license? An additional college degree? Can you perform your dream job in your current location or will you have to move? Are your spouse and family willing move to a new city or even a new state?

Include Your Spouse
A successful career switch must involve your spouse, especially if the change means lower pay. You can do without the fancy car and spiffy clothes, but you've got to think about the kids' braces and college education. Everyone will be a part of your new career, so make your spouse a partner in making the right decision.

Take Notes

Talk with others in your proposed field to better understand what you're getting into. Ask a basic question: What are the joys and frustrations? Take notes to chart your progress. If you decide to look for work in a new field, make a list of all contacts and interviews. Above all, keep at it until you find what you want.

How to handle a layoff

With recent news of some of the larger companies such as Pella and Peachtree shutting down plants and continual lay offs within the industry, this article seemed timely to share with you all. I will stress however, that things in the job market within the industry remain quite strong in my view. As I have referenced in many recent posts here, I am busier than ever recruiting for a variety of positions throughout the country. As the bigger companies slash their workforces in an effort to cut costs...many of the smaller to mid size companies seem to be reaping the benefits and hiring up a storm!

The below information came from a mix of an article from about.com and also msn money...as I thought they both offered some good and worthwhile tips.

What to do if you're laid off

Visit or call your state unemployment office

Ask your current employer about severance pay, accrued vacation and sick pay

Request information on continuance of health and life insurance benefits

Ask about outplacement resources

Request a reference letter for your files

Update your resume so it is ready to go when you come across opportunities that interest you and match your skill set

Research and determine career options

Create a job search action plan

Use this time as as opportunity to reassess your career goals

Treat your job search like a full-time job

Contact industry specialized recruiters to get your name thrown into the ring quick and often for opportunities that are not advertised

Other tips worth mentioning:

Try to negotiate a better severance package. Some (employers) will negotiate. The more senior the people, definitely. The more rank-and-file, it might be more difficult. It might be just based on the number of years you've worked there. If you don't ask, you won't know. The worst they can say is no.

Leave on good terms. You never know when that president or CFO goes to another company and you're looking to hire on with that company. Just don't burn bridges.

Get a recommendation. Especially if it's a mass layoff and really has nothing to do with your job performance, get a letter of recommendation explaining that so you can use it in your next job interview.

Roll over your retirement plan. Make sure you roll your money into an individual retirement account using a trustee-to-trustee transfer to avoid any penalty or tax hit. Don't take a check,or you could be subject to taxes.

If you're short of cash, tapping your retirement accounts should be "a choice of last resort," Still, he noted, such withdrawals become necessary at times. If so, check to see whether you qualify for your plan's penalty-free hardship withdrawal (though a job loss is often not covered).

Even if money's tight, resist using credit cards. Plus, if a big annual insurance payment is nearing, consider switching to smaller monthly or semiannual payments to avoid an immediate big hit to your pocketbook. And if necessary, put a hold on any automatic savings plans.

Calling all Sales Reps!!!!

Wow! I cannot honestly remember a time over the past 6 years that I have recruited in this industry where there was such a surge (and sudden one) for sales reps at this time of year! While I still continue to have several operations and manufacturing positions to recruit on...it seems sales positions are hot, hot, hot right now!

I am currently looking for great sales people in Atlanta, Dallas (2 here), KY, CA, NJ (3 here, different companies!), NY (several here, different co's), Dallas/Ft. Worth (another one!), and Sales management roles in the Midwest and also west coast! The best part is that I can honestly say each and every one of these companies are ones that I am personally impressed with and excited about that have great opportunities to offer along with great company and product reputations!

Nothing could be more exciting to be swarmed with so many sales positions to fill...what a great sign for the industry especially with all the bad news we have been hearing lately! I have heard from many of the companies and also candidates that I work with that several of you anticipate a tough and rough year ahead in 2008. I am hopeful and extremely optimistc that we will all pull through it unscathed and even more hopeful that this influx and demand for sales people will start the year off great for all of us!

On the manufacturing side of things my hottest and most urgent positions currently are for a Quality Manager in TX, a Plant Manager on west coast and a Design Engineer in FL. All great companies and fantastic opportunities!!

Please remember to keep checking my list of current positions to the right side of this Blog in the event you or someone you can refer or recommend to me may be a good fit for one of them! Thanks as always for all of your support and fantastic referrals over recent months especially!

Ways to Boost Your Interview IQ

It never hurts to beef up your interview skills...and as such, here is an article on tips to boost your interview skills/IQ that I thought was worthy of mentioning. Much of it seems to be basic, common sense...yet you would be surprised to know just how many people don't put many, if any of these to play when it comes time for the interview.

Ten Tips to Boost Your Interview IQ (by Carole MartinMonster Contributing Writer) Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job interviews. Why, you ask? Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. So study these 10 strategies to enhance your interview IQ.

Practice Good Nonverbal Communication. It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a good, firm handshake. That first impression can be a great beginning -- or quick ending -- to your interview.

Dress for the Job or Company. Today's casual dress codes do not give you permission to dress as "they" do when you interview. It is important to look professional and well-groomed. Whether you wear a suit or something less formal depends on the company culture and the position you are seeking. If possible, call to find out about the company dress code before the interview.

Listen. From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not hearing it, you are missing a major opportunity. Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what was said. Observe your interviewer, and match that style and pace.

Don't Talk Too Much. Telling the interviewer more than he needs to know could be a fatal mistake. When you have not prepared ahead of time, you may tend to ramble, sometimes talking yourself right out of the job. Prepare for the interview by reading through the job posting, matching your skills with the position's requirements and relating only that information.

Don't Be Too Familiar. The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer's demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.

Use Appropriate Language It's a given that you should use professional language during the interview. Be aware of any inappropriate slang words or references to age, race, religion, politics or sexual orientation -- these topics could send you out the door very quickly.

Don't Be Cocky Attitude plays a key role in your interview success. There is a fine balance between confidence, professionalism and modesty. Even if you're putting on a performance to demonstrate your ability, overconfidence is as bad, if not worse, as being too reserved.

Take Care to Answer the Questions When an interviewer asks for an example of a time when you did something, he is seeking a sample of your past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you not only don't answer the question, but you also miss an opportunity to prove your ability and talk about your skills.

Ask Questions. When asked if they have any questions, most candidates answer, "No." Wrong answer. It is extremely important to ask questions to demonstrate an interest in what goes on in the company. Asking questions also gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you. The best questions come from listening to what is asked during the interview and asking for additional information.

Don't Appear Desperate When you interview with the "please, please hire me" approach, you appear desperate and less confident. Maintain the three C's during the interview: cool, calm and confident. You know you can do the job; make sure the interviewer believes you can, too.

2008 Forecast

Seems to be continually dismal news relative to the housing market and construction industry as well as another pretty bleak article/cover story on DWM this month regarding the down turn in the housing market. While true, I have to say the job market seems to be withholding relatively well based upon what I am seeing. I have mentioned in prior postings how busy I am with jobs to fill and what a good sign it is when an industry recruiter stays busy in what appears to be a fairly dismal time for many. Yet, seems worthy of mentioning again. I currently have several urgent, priority positions that I am working on so please be sure to keep an eye out on the listing of current jobs I keep updated here on this Blog. And thank you to so many of you for what have been some fantastic referrals lately! It seems when it rains it pours and I appreciate all of your help in helping me identify and find good talent for the positions I am working on!

New Years Resolutions for Job Seekers

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and New Years! It is certainly good to be getting back to work after the long holiday! I look forward to assisting many of you with finding new career opportunities in the coming year!

Here are some good tips that were posted on about.com in regard to job seekers new years resolutions by Alison Doyle, who writes a fantastic job searching blog. Also below is a link to some additional worthy tips from a myriad of other staffing experts that are worth checking out.

The start of a new year is always a good time to assess where you are in your job search, and to get back on track if your job search has faltered during the holiday season. That happens to the best of us, and a break can be a good thing, especially during the busy holiday season. The new year is also a good time of year to consider whether the timing is right for you to begin looking for a new job or a career change, and, if so, to get started. If you're not in job search mode, take some time to begin building or to expand your

professional brand. Branding is something every professional should be doing, even if they are not in job search mode at the moment.

This is also the time when we typically consider some resolutions for the future. Some of the top experts in job searching and career development have been kind enough to share their advice on how to effectively job search with us. (Click on link in blue text to read some additional good tips from other staffing experts). Consider adding some, or all, of them to your list of New Year's Resolutions and best wishes to you all in landing that perfect dream job in 2008!