Hire Power

Does your email inbox stress you out? Well spring cleaning doesn’t have to be just about getting rid of the dust bunnies hiding under your couch! Set a plan to de-clutter your inbox and relieve some stress.

Our May spotlight shines on Managing Autism Together Today (MATT) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit charitable organization that was founded in 2010 by Connie and Kevin Schoenl and named after their son, Matthew, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

As if looking for a job isn’t already hard enough, try looking for a job AND being pregnant. Disclaimer: I am not speaking from experience on this one, so as usual, this is just my opinion. Let me start by saying, it’s completely illegal for a hiring manager/recruiter to ask you if you’re pregnant. However, if you are obviously showing, it’s usually best to address the topic (you’re not fooling anyone).

There’s no better time to look for a new job than when you actually have a job. Consider yourself lucky that you are gainfully employed and are choosing to seek alternative employment. It can, however, get tricky to find time to job search, interview and maintain your cool during the process. The following tips should help you as you embark on your job search while you are already employed:

As the social media world changes, so do hiring techniques and practices. The newest, although still uncommon, form of recruiting for job candidates is Pinterest. For those of you unfamiliar with Pinterest, it’s a new social media site similar to an online pin board. Users “pin” photos of their favorite items, crafts, recipes, etc.

Just as it’s important in everyday life, it’s even more important to learn how to accept constructive criticism in the staffing and recruiting world. When you are able to take advice from others you will see yourself in a whole new (and better) light.

As is the case in all industries, there can be some shady business in the staffing world, too. Today it’s my mission to help you recognize shady recruiters and shady job-seekers. First, it’s best to learn what a recruiter should do before you understand what they shouldn’t do.

The purpose of a personal pitch is to get the person hooked and eager to learn more about you. This pitch is often called an elevator pitch as you should be able to get your point across in a short amount of time as if you were on (yes, you guessed it) an elevator! Here are the three most import things to remember when preparing and perfecting your pitch:

You probably studied a foreign language in high school and college to get those mandatory credits needed for your degree, but have you kept up with your skills?

I read a great article a few weeks ago by Shawn Parr of Fast Company, titled “Culture Eats Strategy for Lunch.” I found it to be such an eye-opener. The premise of the article is that without the appropriate work culture, a business strategy is basically useless. Every company has (or should have) a core set of values. These values are often written in brochures, and maybe scrolled across a white board. But how are you actually practicing and living the values that you have established? Without a solid team and shared values, your strategy will undoubtedly fail.

So how do you create a winning culture?

Have you ever been tempted to add something to your resume because it sounds good? Or on the other hand, maybe you conveniently decided to leave some key details out of your resume in hopes that no one would notice? If there is one piece of advice I could pass along to job seekers it would be this: Honesty is the best policy! Lies will always catch up with you, it’s just a matter of time.

Have you been unemployed for too long and you just can’t seem to catch a break? Maybe it’s time to evaluate your job search strategy and make some changes.

Job seekers, how often have you taken advantage of the information on Glassdoor.com? For those of you who are unfamiliar with the information-packed website, Glassdoor.com is a compilation of reviews about companies, bosses, salary ranges, etc. Past and current employees go online and rate their companies and offer details on the reasons for such ratings. Another huge benefit? Past interviewees share some of the oddball questions you can expect during an interview with a particular company!  

Our January non-profit spotlight shines on Alternatives for Battered Women (ABW). Their missionis to enhance the quality of life and empower individuals affected by or at risk of domestic violence. ABW is the only licensed provider in Monroe County of shelter and services for women and children who are affected by domestic violence.

With the job market continuing to struggle, an influx in workers’ comp cases is not helping the matter. An increasingly high amount of employees are taking advantage of their employers and insurance companies. Injured workers are frequently cheating the system by exaggerating injuries and collecting money from workers’ comp suits.

Even with a struggling economy, companies realize that their employees are in need of some holiday cheer. This year bosses are handing out more bonuses and gifts than ever before. In fact, according to a CareerBuilder survey, “40% of employers plan to give their employees holiday bonuses this year, up from 33% in 2010.”

Has your job search slowed during the holiday season? Just because the hiring manager isn’t getting back to you doesn’t mean you should give up the search. Try using this downtime to study up on companies you might be interested in and set your sights on starting a new job in 2012!

Our December non-profit of the month is the Hillside Special Santas Program of the Hillside Family of Agencies (HFA). The program goes to benefit children and families served by Crestwood Children’s Center, Hillside Children’s Center, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection and Snell Farm Children’s Center. Without the Hillside Special Santas, many of these families would not have gifts to open or holiday meals to enjoy. HFA has set a goal to provide each child three gifts and each family a grocery card for their holiday meal.