Worse Times Ahead

The first thing I read today was that Citigroup was cutting 53,000 jobs. Unemployment is already at its highest point since 2001, and will probably get much higher. Now, it does not mean that companies aren’t hiring for certain positions, because they are. It does mean that, in most cases, the people that are let go are the ones that either are not performing at the highest level or those that are causing a problem within the company.
With cuts being made in several departments in corporations around the world, make it impossible for them to let you go. Here are some things that might help you keep your job or even get you promoted in due time:

Come to work early-

If your schedule is to work from 8-5, you are probably allowed arrive early. This shows your supervisor that you care and that you are committed to the company.

Stay late-

Nothing says "go-getter" more than making sure your work is finished before you go home. This can also be a mental stress reliever. What a nice feeling it is complete your work and have nothing to stress about when getting home. Being one of the last cars in the parking lot does get noticed by the higher ups in the company.

Take on additional responsibilities-

The more you volunteer for your employer, the more valuable you become to the company. A few weeks back I was speaking to a candidate who was in the finance field. A few years ago his company unveiled a new software enrollment program. When cuts came to his company in 2001 he avoided them, he was too valuable as he learned a new skill that was in demand. When seeking a job recently, he wasn’t looking for a job in finance; he was seeking a position in IT. When he took on the additional responsibilities, his company trained him in the new areas, and for the past 7 years has changed fields by volunteering.

Avoid Work Drama-

This one is pretty self-explanatory but needs to be said as well. When employees are not getting along and are distracting people from their work responsibilities, changes need to be made. If an employee is acting in a nonprofessional manner, tell your supervisor or if it is your direct supervisor, tell a human resource employee. In this economic downturn there is no need for office drama.

Times are tough-

If you are one of the lucky ones and have a job, do not jeopardize it. This is not the time to be outwardly seeking another job while employed. If a company is laying off, they will without a doubt, let go the person(s) that is seeking other employment. If you are exploring other avenues of employment, get your resume off the career sites, and refrain from mentioning it to your co-workers. The company might be deciding between you and the coworker you revealed your secret to on whom to layoff.

Some times there are no answers-

In some cases, massive cuts are necessary no matter how you perform. In these uncertain times there are several industries that unfortunately have had the need to eliminate jobs across the board. I have seen many great workers, in all areas, who have lost their jobs. If you are someone that currently has a position, please follow the steps above and hopefully they will work in time of recession. For those of you who have fell victim of the economy, do not hesitate in your job search.

Interviewers are Sellers too

I give advice to people on both sides of the interview process. One thing I often neglect is to make sure the person conducting the interview lets the candidate know all of the perks about the company. I always tell the candidate to sell themselves from the resume all the way through the handshake goodbye and beyond. As a company, the selling starts with the receptionist’s demeanor, the lobby, and obviously the person conducting the interview. At my company, we have a dozen people coming in everyday looking for a position. Even though I just might pass by, I try to make sure everybody feels welcome. I want them to think highly of our company, and thus work for/with us. Make sure to let people know the benefits of working for your company. If you have monthly happy hours, or quarterly picnics, that can be a deciding factor on whether the candidate accepts the job. Make sure all of the employees are all on board. A simple smile can go along away towards company morale and the caliber of employee your company attracts.

Take the Time Necessary

Today I was taking a few job orders from a specific company. They had a few needs and were clearly short staffed. I was asking questions that were necessary to fill the positions. The hiring manager was very busy and I don’t have all that I need to fill the position. Sure, I have the basics. But I don’t know about the culture of the company. I don’t know the dress code or the schedule. Until I find all this information out, I am not really going to be able to best exemplify my company the first try. I know I am not always a fun person to talk to and some of my questions may seem trivial, but I am only trying to get things right. A few extra minutes in the beginning may save days to weeks in the long run when searching for a candidate. Please take the time initially to allow the recruiters to do the best of their abilities.

Homework is not Just for Students

You have a big interview tomorrow. You have already made your dry run to the company. Make sure to do the next obvious item, do research on the company. Do not come unprepared. You should know every product/service this company offers. If there is something you do not understand, that is a good question to pose during the interview. You should always have a few questions that have nothing to do with salary. In fact, on a first interview, don’t even mention anything about salary. Remember, an interview is a two way street. Just because they want to hire you, does not mean that the company is a good fit for you. Do your homework. If you have any specific questions regarding what to look up, email me at this link.

Q+A

So many of you have asked me to write on a variety of topics. Without these questions, this column will not be able to last. I appreciate that, and want you to continue to come up with different topics to cover regarding the job world. As much as I think I know (a lot), I continue to read up on so many issues and ask the experts the questions. If you have a question that I cannot answer, it is my job to find the answer through the proper channels. I won't even give you my old teacher response and say "great question, why don't you look up the answer and tell the class". I have said that at least once in my life, but I promise not to do that again. If you have any questions regarding hiring, or you are looking for a position or might some day, please email me here.

Resume 101

As a former school teacher it amazes me what we teach and don't teach students today. I know how important all of the subjects in school are (especially Social Studies). But every day I see resumes that will not land even the best students a job. There should be a mandatory workshop in every high school and university in the country teaching these kids how to build a proper resume. Not only that, but popular programs like Microsoft Word and others even have a template that you can copy and put your own information into the proper places. If you are struggling for a position, and you think your resume might have something to do with it, contact your local staffiing company or a resume expert.

Give Yourself Credit

Hiring managers and most professionals are very busy people. If they are looking to hire somebody that has previous experience, they want to see that on a resume. For a typical position a manager might receive 30 resumes for an open position. Out of those 30 resumes, only three might get a chance at an interview. Now while scanning resumes, they might be looking for certain buzz words and or positions. If these words, phrases, or titles are not there, the resume will get recycled. Make sure you explain all of your duties at your previous positions. It might not seem important, but it might cost you an opportunity for an interview. And remember this is only the first step. Make sure to spell out all the duties of your previous positions, because if it is left off a resume it can your chances at lending your next job.

Check References

I know that there are several steps in the hiring process. I know how important they all are, but no matter what, check references of previous employers. It costs roughly 7K to enroll someone on your benefits, not to mention the thousands of dollars in training you are spending on your new employee. Make sure the candidate worked as hard and had the same attitude at previous workplaces as she/he claimed to have in their interview. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please email me.

Social Networking

I've already touched up on what the impact of Myspace and Facebook can have on the hiring process. On the flip side there is valuble networking and information on these sites. Just remember to scan the content and make sure only information you want hiring managers and bosses to see is visible.

If you have any questions regarding the hiring and or interviewing process, please email me at dweiss@att.net. I promise to get to it as soon as possible. I have also been lucky to get feedback from many hiring managers. Thank you everbody.

More Important than a Resume

A lot of things I say on here tend to be a contradiction. Unfortunately, the people business is not a science. We also get a feel for the intangibles that might not show on a resume. We might see the energy in our initial conversation with candidates that might not be visible on a resume. When and if you choose to go to an agency to fill a position, ask why we sent a specific resume. Know that some firms might be sending you an unqualified candidate, but that others might have found that rising star that might seem like a stretch, but is the perfect fit and the start of a long and mutually beneficial relationship.

Independence Day is Near

Enjoy this time with your friends and family. The economy is growing at a slow pace. Prices at the pumps are through the roof. I can't even get a BLT in many places with the salmonella scare going on. Friends and family that is what we can celebrate. When the holiday weekend is over, it is time to get ourselves in gear and get that resume, job description, and everything we are working on completed. But enjoy the weekend and the festivities and remember what the holiday is about. Happy Independence Day and have a safe holiday weekend.

Dress to Impress

I have interviewed hundreds of people over the last 3 years. The first thing I notice when interviewing a candidate is what is she/he wearing? It shows a lot when the person takes the time to look their best, and it does go a long way. I know this may seem obvious for many, but a lot of people don’t understand, that there is usually more than one person interviewing for a job. That is the first portion of the competition and sometimes the last impression you will leave after the interview. No matter the position, over dress for the interview. Give yourself the best opportunity to land the job. Have everything ready the day before and that way you still have the opportunity to find replacement clothes or alterations.

Driving to the Interview

Right after I graduated college, I didn’t have any direction. I was looking for a job out of my major and did not know where to begin or to look. I went to a few career fairs and saw a few interesting opportunities. I finally got an interview with a major telecommunications company outside of Baltimore. I think my interview was either at 10 or 11 in the morning. I looked up directions on Mapquest the night before and printed them out. It said it would take me 20 minutes to get to the interview. I wasn’t taking any chances; I left an hour and 20 minutes in advance. I figured that I’d hang out in the lobby for a while and prepare for my interview. Besides, I didn’t know the traffic pattern all that well anyway. Well, my plan backfired and I made a wrong turn. I drove around in circles and never made it to my interview. What I learned from all of this, was I should have made the trip the day before while I had the time. Preferably, 24 hours before the interview, so I could get a feel for the traffic time. But either way, give yourself plenty of time to make sure you are there with minutes to spare. I travel for work a lot and know that when I arrive for a meeting a few minutes early, I get to look around and calm myself down for a few minutes. Also bring the phone number of the company with you of course, and if you do get lost, make sure to call for directions.

Personality Plus

There are several key aspects to bringing on a new employee. It will take a career to really fully cover them. Today I am going to look at something that many people don’t really think about, which is personality. You must bring on people that will get along with the rest of the group. A simple interview is not a large enough sample to determine if the candidate will fit in with the rest of the employees. Bringing on an employee is not easy and is very time consuming. Make sure to check references. Even that is not enough. With today’s technology make sure to do your homework and find out if this candidate fits in your companies culture. Between Facebook and Myspace, there is a lot of information that is just there for the public eye. Skills and ability are obviously essential, but if there are personality conflicts and other drama, performance will suffer for everybody.

Actively Seeking Employment?

A friend once told me, "Weiss, if you are really looking for a job, you should be spending 40 hours a week working on it". That did not make sense to me at the time. Why should I spend 40 hours a week doing something when I don't have a job? That's not fun. I would wake up at 10 or 11 every day. I would probably watch Sports Center more than once, and before I knew it, I was ready to start my day just as companies were closing. Especially while unemployed, you must spend 40 hours a week seeking employment. Searching job boards online a few minutes a day is alright, but most jobs posted on there are not legitimate. Visit your local library. Check out the Dalton's Industrial Guide and look up various companies in the area. Make sure your resume is ready to go. Check out what local networking events are going on. A lot of human resources organizations have free events for those that are in transition. Reflect on what aspects you liked about your job and what you see yourself doing. Remember the longer you go between jobs, the less desirable you become to an employer. If you are having trouble seeking employment, or don't know what it is that you want to do, register with your local staffing company.

Know What You Are Looking For

Sometimes when a person leaves a company either voluntarily or not, there is a mad rush to fill the position as quickly as possible. That is fine and dandy, but make sure to know exactly what it is that you are looking for first. Have an accurate and detailed job description of the position. This will allow you to better mine through resumes and narrow your search. The last thing you want to do is to go through the process (which can be time consuming and costly) more than once. That is why you must take the time in the beginning to save you time in the end. If you need assistance in creating a job description, check out the Perry Temps website and contact a rep.

Summer Time

Although things are a little slower this time of year right now is a great time to get your resume together if you are unhappy at your current position. Spend a lot of time and make sure the resume is not only clean of typos, but also accurate with information. The slightest mistake could cost you a position. Having this completed now will enable you to get a head start on the competition and allow you the chance to enjoy the summer.