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.