Greenville JobSpot

We've Moved!

2009-01-16T08:35:00.001-05:00

We've moved this blog together with all of our other Carolina blogs. Check is out here at ncjobs.blogspot.com and update your RSS feeds to that address.

Employers Banned from Using Facebook?

2008-05-12T09:07:00.001-05:00

Awhile back I wrote a post over at the Charlotte Job Spot on Personal Brand and the Job Search. Basically cautioning job seekers to be mindful of what they put out there on the web because essentially if you post something for your friends to see, more than likely, your potential employer can see it too.

Today while browsing through the latest kirtsy links in Internet and Technology, I found this: Bosses Could Be Banned from Digging Up Facebook Dirt. Now this article is from a paper in London and so it doesn't really have a whole lot to do with us at present. However, the controversy over whether or not it's right to penalize someone for their online profiles is still being debated.

Whether you think it's fair or not, the fact is that it's happening. Facebook and Myspace are easy ways for your employer to see what kind of individual you are. I always feel like it's better to be safe than sorry and to keep your profile pictures down to an appropriate level. There's no need to share with the world the photos of your binge drinking adventures. Utlize privacy features of websites, too. What can hurt you can be turned into something that can help you. Your profile can project you in a positive way depending on the information you provide. Show off your wide array of interests or your expertise in your field.

- Rosie Reilman

Spartanburg Job Fair

2008-04-29T07:59:00.002-05:00

If you're looking for work, you might want to stop by the 2008 Upstate Workforce Investment Board Job Fair today, April 29th at First Baptist Church of Spartanburg (209 E Saint John St) from 10am – 4pm. Presented By Upstate Workforce Investment Board in partnership with Upstate Career Source.

Medical and Healthcare Jobs in the Carolinas

2008-04-25T09:53:00.002-05:00

The Employment Guide, employmentguide.com and healthcareerweb.com have joined forces to host the first Carolinas Healthcare Virtual Job Fair.

Simply visit any of the Carolina home pages of employmentguide.com during the week of May 19th through May 25th and click on the Virtual Job Fair Banner. Presto.....you can view hundreds of healthcare jobs in the Carolinas, and you can even apply online. Find a Job On Your Schedule!

A New Career With A Top Healthcare Provider in North or South Carolina is Only A Click Away!
Access The Job Fair Anytime Between Monday May, 19th and Sunday May, 25th.

For More Information, watch our video by clicking on the box below.

Guide 2 Careers Series: Security Guards

2008-04-09T09:40:00.002-05:00

Although all security guards perform many of the same duties, their specific tasks depend on whether they work in a “static” security position or on a mobile patrol. Guards assigned to static security positions usually stay at one location for a specified length of time. These guards must become closely acquainted with the property and people associated with their station and must often monitor alarms and closed-circuit TV cameras. In contrast, guards assigned to mobile patrol drive or walk from one location to another and conduct security checks within an assigned geographical zone. They may detain or arrest criminal violators, answer service calls concerning criminal activity or problems, and issue traffic violation warnings.

The security guard’s job responsibilities also vary with the size, type, and location of the employer. In department stores, guards protect people, records, merchandise, money, and equipment. They often work with undercover store detectives to prevent theft by customers or employees, and help apprehend shoplifting suspects prior to the arrival of the police. Some shopping centers and theaters have officers who patrol their parking lots to deter car thefts and robberies. In office buildings, banks, and hospitals, guards maintain order and protect the institution’s customers, staff and property. At air, sea, and rail terminals and other transportation facilities, guards protect people, freight, property, and equipment. Using metal detectors and high-tech equipment, they may screen passengers and visitors for weapons and explosives, ensure that nothing is stolen while a vehicle is being loaded or unloaded, and watch for fires and criminals.

Guards who work in public buildings such as museums or art galleries protect paintings and exhibits by inspecting people and packages entering and leaving the building. In factories, laboratories, government buildings, data processing centers, and military bases, security officers protect information, products, computer codes, and defense secrets and check the credentials of people and vehicles entering and leaving the premises. Guards working at universities, parks, and sports stadiums perform crowd control, supervise parking and seating, and direct traffic. Security guards stationed at the entrance to bars and nightclubs, prevent access by minors, collect cover charges at the door, maintain order among customers, and protect patrons and property.

Benefits and Salary
Median annual wage-and-salary earnings of security guards were $21,530 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $17,620 and $27,430. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,030, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $35,840.

Daily Routine & Work Environment
Most security guards and gaming surveillance officers spend considerable time on their feet, either assigned to a specific post or patrolling buildings and grounds. Guards may be stationed at a guard desk inside a building to monitor electronic security and surveillance devices or to check the credentials of people entering or leaving the premises. They also may be stationed at a guardhouse outside the entrance to a gated facility or community and may use a portable radio or cellular telephone to be in constant contact with a central station. The work usually is routine, but guards must be constantly alert for threats to themselves and the property they are protecting. Guards who work during the day may have a great deal of contact with other employees and the public.

Guards usually work shifts of 8 hours or longer for 40 hours per week and are often on call in case of an emergency. Some employers offer three shifts, and guards rotate to divide daytime, weekend, and holiday work equally. Guards usually eat on the job instead of taking a regular break away from the site. In 2006, about 15 percent of guards worked part time, and some held a second job as a guard to supplement their primary earnings.

Experience & Required Education
Generally, there are no specific education requirements for security guards, but employers usually prefer to fill armed guard positions with people who have at least a high school diploma. Gaming surveillance officers often need some education beyond high school. In most States, guards must be licensed.

Many employers of unarmed guards do not have any specific educational requirements. For armed guards, employers usually prefer individuals who are high school graduates or who hold an equivalent certification.

Read more about Security Guards
Search for Security Guard Jobs
Photo by jae_yong

CareersinGear: Getting Started as a Trucker

2008-04-01T14:55:00.002-05:00

Are you a company driver or owner-operator looking to make big money in trucking? Let me share with you a little industry secret...

Typically, owner-operators lease on and get their loads from motor carriers. Carriers often get their loads from freight brokers. Brokers, in turn, usually deal with shippers directly but sometimes take their loads from other brokers ("double-brokering"). Therefore, when you haul for a motor carrier, you have at least one-- if not three "middle men" in between you and the shipper.

You could be a company driver and make $0.45/mile. Or you could get your own truck and lease on to a carrier and earn $1.15/mile. Or, you could cut out the middle men and earn the whole rate that shippers pay. Put another way, you could have 75% of the pizza... or the whole pizza pie. The way to make the most money in trucking is to operate as an independent owner-operator with your own operating authority... and work with shippers directly.

As a USDOT Practitioner, I've worked with thousands of truckers just like you through my consulting practice and professional development workshops. I've helped them take the next step in trucking.

Read the rest of this article by James P. Lamb, USDOT/FMC PractitionerPresident, DOTAuthority.com, Inc. at CareersinGear.com

Don't Sweat the Competition, Don't Ignore it Either

2008-03-20T07:30:00.002-05:00

At the Employment Guide Job Spot, Kevin Donlin wrote a guest post about Tips for New Grads landing their first job. It was pretty standard advice from networking more to compensate for a weaker economy, having perserverance through thick and thin but without being annoying to recruiters, getting experience when you have none, and fixing up your resume. All good advice but the fifth tip was particularly interesting to me and I wanted to reiterate it.

Get used to competition.

Here's what Kevin says:

"As a student, you were graded on your efforts alone. If you scored 90 percent on a test, you got an A -- no matter how anyone else did. As a job hunter, employers grade you against your peers. Suddenly, a performance that might otherwise have earned an A might earn you an F -- failure to get hired -- because another candidate did just a little better," says Vogt.
To compete in today's job market, start with your mindset. Whether you're writing resumes and cover letters, preparing for interviews, or out there networking, keep reminding yourself that good enough is... not. According to Vogt, "Your #1 job-search thought at all times must be this: How can I outdo my peers?"

It's interesting that we forget that we are probably competing with a lot of other individuals for a position. What are you going to do to stand out?

- Rosie Reilman

Guide 2 Careers Series: Waitress / Waiter / Restaurant Server

2008-03-18T09:28:00.003-05:00

Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers.
Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals and take action to correct any problems.
Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.
Collect payments from customers.
Describe and recommend wines/dishes to customers.
Escort customers to their tables.
Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.
Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers.
Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving.
Inform customers of daily specials.
Perform food preparation duties such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee.
Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine.
Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware.
Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens.
Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.

Benefits and Salary
$5.79 to $10.16 an hour. Although some combined food preparation and serving workers receive a part of their earnings as tips, fast-food workers usually do not. Tipped employees are those who customarily and regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips. The employer may consider tips as part of wages, but the employer must pay at least $2.13 an hour in direct wages.

Many employers provide free meals and furnish uniforms, but some may deduct from wages the cost, or fair value, of any meals or lodging provided. Food and beverage service workers who work full time often receive typical benefits, but part-time workers usually do not.

Daily Routine & Work Environment
Waiters and Waitresses are constantly moving around in a fast-paced environment. You'll have to weave in and out of tables and other coworkers, deliver food and drinks to your table in a timely manner. Food and beverage service workers are on their feet most of the time and often carry heavy trays of food, dishes, and glassware. During busy dining periods, they are under pressure to serve customers quickly and efficiently. The work is relatively safe, but care must be taken to avoid slips, falls, and burns. Food service and drinking establishments typically maintain long dining hours and offer flexible and varied work opportunities. Many food and beverage serving and related workers work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Experience & Required Education
There are no specific educational requirements for most food and beverage service jobs. Many employers prefer to hire high school graduates for waiter and waitress, bartender, and host and hostess positions, but completion of high school usually is not required for fast-food workers, counter attendants, dishwashers, and dining room attendants and bartender helpers. For many people, a job as a food and beverage service worker serves as a source of immediate income, rather than a career. Many are full-time students or homemakers. Food and beverage service jobs are a major source of part-time employment for high school and college students. It also serves as a great way to gain customer service experience.

All new employees usually receive some training from their employer. They learn safe food handling procedures and sanitation practices, for example. Some employers, particularly those in fast-food restaurants, teach new workers using self-study programs, on-line programs, audiovisual presentations, and instructional booklets that explain food preparation and service skills. But most food and beverage serving and related workers pick up their skills by observing and working with more experienced workers. Some full-service restaurants also provide new dining room employees with some form of classroom training that alternates with periods of on-the-job work experience. These training programs communicate the operating philosophy of the restaurant, help establish a personal rapport with other staff, teach formal serving techniques, and instill a desire to work as a team. They also provide an opportunity to discuss customer service situations and the proper ways of handling unpleasant circumstances or unruly patrons.

Personality
Those likely to enjoy a job in waiting or as a server, you'll enjoy working directly with the public. You're constantly on your feet and on the go so this is a good job for someone who doesn't like to sit still during the day. Most times waiting staff develop relationships with "regulars" or customers who will visit daily or regularly. Sometimes when waiting you'll deal with some upset customers and can sometimes be high stress so individuals who can handle these types of situations calmly would be a good fit.

Read more about being a Waiter or Waitress or Food and Beverage Servers

Search Restaurant Jobs in Greenville, SC

Guide 2 Careers Series: Manufacturing Jobs

2008-03-07T11:45:00.002-05:00

In conjunction to our Employment Guide to Careers and the help of the Department of Labor Career Guide, I'll be doing a blog post series on different careers that are popular on EmploymentGuide.com. This hopefully will give you insight as to what a particular job will entail, the types of qualifications and skills that you'll need to get the job and any other relevant information. Please feel free to comment or email suggestions as to what you'd like to see in this series.

Manufacturing Jobs: Machinery, Machine Operators, General Manufacturing

On the Job
Most manufacturing machinery is made of metal, which gives the end product strength and durability, but which necessitates specialized procedures in production. Each part needs to be designed to exacting specifications to ensure proper function of the finished product. Techniques such as forging, stamping, bending, forming, and machining are used to create each piece of metal, thousands of which then need to be welded or assembled together in the largest machines. At each stage of production and assembly, extensive testing takes place to maintain quality control standards. Due to the great variety of machinery produced by this industry, firms specialize in designing and producing certain types of equipment for specific applications.

Production workers account for over half of all jobs in the machinery manufacturing industry. First-line supervisors and managers of production and operating workers oversee all workers in the production process and ensure that equipment and supplies are available when needed. They usually report to industrial production managers, who watch over all activities on the factory floor.

Metal workers and plastic workers create all the various parts that are needed in the production and assembly processes. As production becomes more automated, the jobs of most metal and plastic workers are becoming more complex. Fewer workers simply operate machines; most are now also responsible for programming and performing minor repairs and maintenance on the machine tools.

Among the most skilled metal and plastic workers are tool and die makers, and machinery manufacturing has about 28 percent of the Nation’s jobs for these workers. Tool and die makers create precision tools and machines, often using computer-aided design software, that are used to cut, shape, and form metal and other materials to exact specifications. Operating computer-controlled machine tools, they produce devices, such as jigs and fixtures, to hold metal while it is being worked on. They also produce gauges and other measuring devices, and dies that are used to shape the metal.

Tools, dies, and jigs are used by machine tool cutting setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic who set up and operate machines that make parts out of the raw materials. Because most machines now operate automatically, machine tool operators primarily monitor the machine and perform minor repairs as needed.

Computer control programmers and operators manage the automatic metalworking machines that can mass produce individual parts. They also write programs based upon the specifications of the part that defines what operation the machine should perform.

Machinists produce precision parts that require particular skill or that are needed in quantities too small to require the use of automated machinery.
Welders, soldering, and brazing workers operate machines that join two or more pieces of metal together; they may also weld manually as well.

Once all of the parts have been made, it is the responsibility of assemblers and fabricators to put them all together to finish the product. Some assemblers specialize in one particular stage of the process, while others, such as team assemblers, work as a group and may contribute to an entire subassembly process. While there has been increased automation of the assembly process, many parts of the products still have to be put together and fastened by hand. When assembly is complete, painting workers apply paint or a protective coating to the exterior of the machine.

While quality control is a responsibility of all production workers, it is the primary focus of inspectors, testers, samplers, and weighers. These workers monitor the entire production stage, making sure that individual parts, as well as the finished product, meet the standards set by the company.

Benefits and Salary
The earnings of workers in the machinery manufacturing industry are relatively high, primarily because of the high productivity of workers in this industry. Weekly average earnings in 2006 for production workers in machinery manufacturing were between $568 and $729. Earnings vary by detailed industry segment and are usually based upon a worker’s particular occupation, experience, and the size of the company employing them.

Daily Routine & Work Environment
Most workers in machinery manufacturing work 8 hour shifts, 5 days a week. Also shift work varies depending on company. Some offer rotating shifts or regular shift hours. We've even seen options for 3 12-hour shifts with 4 days off. Overtime can be common, especially during periods of peak demand. As a result, the average production worker worked 42.4 hours per week in 2006. Opportunities for part time work are rare, some plants are capable of operating 24 hours a day, but some shifts are able to operate with a reduced workforce because of the automated nature of the production process.

Production workers in the machinery manufacturing industry generally encounter conditions that are much improved from the past. New facilities in particular tend to be clean, well lighted, and temperature controlled. Noise can still be a factor, however, especially in larger production facilities. Most of the labor-intensive work is now automated, but some heavy lifting may still be required. Some workers may also have to work with oil and grease or chemicals that require special handling.

Experience & Required Education
The composition of employment in machinery manufacturing continues to evolve as automation of labor-intensive tasks raises the skill level required of production workers. Nearly all jobs now require that entry-level workers have at least a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Employers also seek people who have good communication and problem solving skills, since new manufacturing processes, such as lean manufacturing, require workers to be able to perform many different tasks depending on where they are most needed. Strong basic mathematical skills are also essential.

Skilled production workers, such as tool and die makers and machinists, usually must have previous experience or must have completed a training program at a local college. Some companies also train workers entering the field in apprenticeship programs that can last between 1 and 5 years, depending on the specialty. These programs combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction, either within the company or at local technical schools. Apprenticeship topics include mechanical drawing, tool designing, programming of computer-controlled machines, blueprint reading, mathematics, hydraulics, and electronics. Workers also learn about company policies on quality control, safety, and communications.

Experienced workers may advance into higher skilled positions within their field or into supervisory positions. Because advancement is based on experience and merit, even those workers who enter in low skilled positions can advance to significantly higher skilled jobs by working to improve their skills.

Personality
Manufacturing jobs work well with people who are precise and have strong attention to detail. Those who enjoy getting their work out of the way can usually find a longer shift for 4 or 3 days a week and enjoy the rest of the week off. People who like constant change of pace or don't like working the same hours everyday can enjoy the rotating shifts. This is also great for people who like to work with their hands (heavy lifting, loading, packing) or for those who are mechanically inclined working with the machinery. Even computer programmers who have knack for engineering might enjoy creating the programs to get the machines to create a great product or part of a product.

Read more about Manufacturing Jobs.
Search Manufacturing Jobs in Greenville.

Inside Trucking: Healthy Living for Drivers

2008-03-06T11:23:00.003-05:00

Inside Trucking has an article about healthy living for druck drivers. I can only imagine it's pretty hard to be on the road constantly. It would seem that you'd probably hit up a lot more McDonald's or other fast food chains moreso than healthier home cooked meals.

Dr. Martin Moore-Ede found that truck drivers have a 10- to 15-year lower life expectancy than the average American male, who lives on average to age 76. This statistic has served as a life-changing jolt for some drivers.

Read the full article. That is a pretty big difference! I'm also wondering how female truck drivers compare as the study seems to only mention male life expentancy. What are some ways that you try and stay healthy while on the road?

Related Posts:
Career Related Dieting Advice

- Rosie Reilman

New Look: EmploymentGuide.com

2008-02-25T16:25:00.001-05:00

Check it out! EmploymentGuide.com's got a new look! It's now easier to use and find your new job! Let us know what you think!

New and Exciting Ideas!

2008-02-21T15:21:00.002-05:00

I just returned from The Employment Guide's National Leadership Conference at our home office in Norfolk, VA. The entire conference focused on the many new and exciting products that we have developed to better serve recruiters and job seekers. I thought I would share some of the most exciting and innovative with our readers.

Healthcareerweb.com

Healthcareerweb.com has been a very useful tool for healthcare recruiters and job seekers for several years, but the newly redesigned site will quickly become an indispensable resource for anyone in the healthcare industry. The site is not just a job posting site. The new forums section will allow users to discuss anything from the newest technology and scientific breakthroughs to career opportunities or just their "gripes". The MedCom section allows users to meet other people with the same interest. You can meet other healthcare professionals! From RNs to doctors, MedCom brings the medical community together. And of course there is a jobs section with opportunities to work in the healthcare industry. If you're a doctor or nurse, an allied healthcare professional, or are looking to start a new career in the healthcare industry, this is the place for you.

Video Ads

Were you one of the 58 million visitors to watch a video on youtube.com last month? Over the course of a year that is almost 700 million visitors. WOW, streaming online video is really HOT!
Employmentguide.com is the first major job board to add video ads to our job postings. These ads allow recruiters to provide more information about the jobs they have available and jobseekers can learn more about a company they may be interested in working for. Check out an example of what Teleperformance is doing to better promote their openings in Columbia, SC.

If you're a recruiter looking to get an edge over your competition, videos are the way to go. Call you account representative today to find out more.

Job Alerts

Why not let your next job find you? Sign up for Job Alerts and we will email you when new jobs are posted in your area. Simply go to employmentguide.com, click on the "Sign Me Up" for Job Alerts button in the center of the page, enter your email address, zip code, and the industry you want to work in, and every time a recruiter posts a job in your field, we will send you an email with the information. It couldn't be simpler.

The Employment Guide and employmentguide.com are always looking for better ways to serve both recruiters and job seekers. Healthcareerweb.com, video job postings, and Job Alerts are just the latest innovations we have designed to help you get ahead, whether your a recruiter looking to fill those empty positions or a job seeker looking for a new career.

Guide 2 Careers Series: Customer Service Representative

2008-02-21T12:51:00.006-05:00

In conjunction to our Employment Guide to Careers and with the help of the Department of Labor's Career Guide, I'll be doing a blog post series on different careers that are popular on EmploymentGuide.com. This hopefully will give you insight as to what a particular job will entail, the types of qualifications and skills that you'll need to get the job and any other relevant information. Please feel free to comment or email suggestions as to what you'd like to see in this series.

Customer Service Jobs: Customer Service Representatives

As a Customer service representative you'll have an opportunity to work for all different types of companies to serve as the point of contact for customers. These customers will call you to assist them in help with their questions and concerns. These customers may be individuals or other companies, and their service needs can vary considerably.

On the Job
Customer Service Reps communicate with customers through telephone, e-mail, fax, regular mail; or in person. So the ability to use all types of equipment, sometimes at the same time, is important. Some handle general questions and complaints, whereas others specialize in a particular area.

The ability to multitask will help you a lot in this career field as often, companies have large amounts of data, such as account information, that is pulled up on a computer screen while you'd be talking to a customer so that you can better answer specific questions. A lot of times, Customer service representatives also usually have pre-scripted answers to the most common customer questions, or guidelines for dealing with complaints.

Benefits and Salary
Depending on your area and the job market, Customer Service Representatives can make anywhere from about $9.00 to $17.00 per hour according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Sometimes if you work nights, weekends and holidays you'll receive extra compensation for your time and shifts. Because a lot of call centers operate 24 hours a day, customer service hours might not always conform to the traditional 9-5 office hours. Other benefits can include life and health insurance, pensions, bonuses, employer-provided training, and discounts on the products and services the company offers.

Customer Interaction
As portrayed in the job title, you'll have a lot of customer interaction. Many customer inquiries involve routine questions and requests. For example, you may be asked to provide a customer with their credit card balance, or to check on the status of an order. However, other questions are more involved, and may require additional research or further explanation on your part.
In handling customers’ complaints, customer service representatives must attempt to resolve the problem according to guidelines established by the company. This may involve asking questions to determine the validity of a complaint; offering possible solutions; or providing customers with refunds, exchanges, or other offers, like discounts or coupons. In some cases, customer service representatives are required to follow up with an individual customer until a question is answered or an issue is resolved.

Some customer service representatives help people decide what types of products or services would best suit their needs. This requires good listening skills and the ability to problem solve in matching products to their needs. They may even aid customers in completing purchases or transactions. Although the primary function of customer service representatives is not sales, some may spend time encouraging customers to purchase additional products or services.

Daily Routine & Work Environment
In some organizations, customer service representatives spend their entire day on the telephone. In others, you may spend part of their day answering e-mails and the remainder of the day taking calls. For some, most of the contact with the customer is face to face.
As a Customer service representative, you'll need to use some time management skills and remain aware of the amount of time spent with each customer so that they can fairly distribute your time among the people who require their assistance. This is particularly important for those whose primary activities are answering telephone calls and whose conversations are required to be kept within a set time limit.

For those working in call centers, there is usually very little time between telephone calls. When working in call centers, customer service representatives are likely to be under close supervision. Telephone calls may be taped and reviewed by supervisors to ensure that company policies and procedures are being followed.

Experience & Required Education
Most customer service representative jobs require only a high school diploma. However, because employers are demanding a higher skilled workforce, many customer service jobs now require an associate or bachelor’s degree. High school and college level courses in computers, English, or business are helpful in preparing for a job in customer service.

Personality & Compatibility
People who would probably enjoy working as a customer service representative are people who love to talk on the phone and problem solve. Also, those who don't like to have much down time on their job and stay busy would like the high call volumes and the busy shifts during the day. Those who work hard can usually advance pretty quickly in management as well.

Read more about Customer Service Representatives.
Search Customer Service Jobs in Greenville, SC.

Desperate Times Call for Creative Measures

2008-02-13T10:56:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you need to do something different to get noticed at least according to David Perry. He says, it's a war out there. He writes a blog called Guerrilla Job Hunting to equip job seekers for this war. He has very unique tips for adding some fresh ideas and flare to your job hunt. While these ideas might not work for all industries or positions, sometimes it's worth a shot. If anything, they'll get you noticed. And if you're experience and talent can keep an employer's attention, you might just be able to get a hired using these tactics. Here's some guerrilla tactics for the fight:

#44 - DVD Audition/Resume. Complete with customized label and DVD. While video resumes may not work for all industries (they require a lot of time) but for the right job and company, they can get you noticed. Make sure to include your paper resume so that the recruiter can glance it over just in case they are in a rush and need a reason to view the DVD.

#42 - Job Wanted Billboard. Incredibly unique idea but I have doubts that most people looking for a job will have the money to get a billboard. However, it definitely will get you attention.

These are great ideas and no doubt creative but I'm a firm believer in having a well-written resume and then using networking skills to wow employers. Have you seen any other creative ideas from other job seekers? What do you think?

Related topics:
Should I include my hobbies on my resume?
Resumes in Action!
5 Job Fair Resume Tips

-Rosie Reilman

Making a Career Change

2008-02-08T10:53:00.000-05:00

When trying to decide to change your job is hard enough but to change your career? It can be just as refreshing as it is full of apprehension. Scott over at Career Waymark has a great list of 50 different tools to help you with your career change. Complete with assessment (deciding what career path to choose), exploration (researching the career you do like), getting hired, advice and transitioning. It's a great list. Check it out!

-Rosie Reilman

What matters to you, Greenville?

2008-01-31T11:18:00.000-05:00

Those of you who are reading our Greenville blog, what is it that you want to know more about? What is something that you are most challenged by in the Greenville and Upstate area in terms of your job search, work situation or recruiting candidates?

Here's your chance to get questions out there and see future posts to answer them. You can leave a comment or email me at scjobs@employmentguide.com

-Rosie Reilman, Photo by e-magic

South Carolina in Presidential Recruitment Process

2008-01-18T13:16:00.001-05:00

Well South Carolina it's your turn. Your turn to interview all the candidates and help in the recruiting process for a good presidential candidate.

So get out and vote for your party's candidate at the primaries. Even if you've not declared yourself as part of a political party, this is a great time to learn the candidates' platforms.

Here's some frequently asked questions about voting in the primaries from SCVotes.org.

CNN has a great overview of what candidates are favored so far in SC.

If you're not yet registered to vote, you won't be able to make it for this round on Saturday but definitely register to vote now to help make the final decision. The job of president is a big deal and we all have a part in the recruitment process. If you're not sure about if you are eligible to vote, here's the South Carolina requirements to be a registered voter.

The GOP primary is this Saturday, Jan. 19. Polls open at 7 a.m., close at 7 p.m.
The Democratic Party primary is Saturday Jan. 26.

For more information about where to vote, check out South Carolina Election Commission.

Spice Up Your Office & Your Employer Brand

2008-01-10T09:03:00.001-05:00

Sometimes you just need a little spice in your life. (No, I'm not talking about the Spice Girls.) Here's a fun little post from the Meebo Blog on spicing up the office. Meebo does a great job of giving their users insight to what it's like in their office. This is great for Employer Brand. Employer what? Just like job seekers (and any online user) can develop a Personal Brand, Employers should be mindful of their own brand.

Any marketing professional knows that how your consumers view you is important. When you're hiring, how much more important is it to portray your company as an attractive place to work?

Employer Brand starts at your corporate website, reputation and presence on and offline and then moves to your job descriptions and your interview process. That's just the beginning of it and a very summarized version. It's so important because if you read any of the linked articles and blog posts, they all say that employer brand directly affects retention, hiring and bottom line.

It's also important to remember that this adds some responsibility of the employer to back up their brand. You can produce the best videos and present a pristine image of your company, but follow through is paramount. It's similar to candidates who lie on their resume. Without it, your employer brand means nothing.

Related Articles:
Take Care of Your Candidates; Take Care of Your Employer Brand
More Facebook Headaches for Employers and the Brand of You

Any questions, please feel free to ask! Use the chat box or email me rosemary.reilman[at]employmentguide.com.

- Rosie Reilman

Ring in the New Year With a Laugh

2007-12-31T14:39:00.001-05:00

Here are some funny New Year's Quotes that Dawn sent me today, enjoy!

"Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to." - Bill Vaughn

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." - Bill Vaughn

"A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other." - Anonymous

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." - Oprah Winfrey

Happy New Year everyone!

-Rosie Reilman

Writing an Effective Job Description 101

2007-12-26T14:19:00.000-05:00

Part of what I do is help write job descriptions. I see a lot of jobs from a lot of companies that write very good job descriptions. However, a lot of times I'll see ads like this one:

Now Hiring
Customer Service Positions
Call Today!

With the dozens of other staffing agencies and companies looking to fill the same position out there and what makes you stand out? This as an advertisement says nothing about if this is going to pay me enough, what the work environment or hours are like, what kind of benefits do they offer? Part of my job is to help optimize postings like this one. However, when I do it most the time there will only be very general information about what the job entails or maybe a little bit about the company overview. I can only do so much, but as a recruiter, you know more about the environment, the benefits and reasons why a jobseeker should want to work for your company. So here are some ideas to help you write better job descriptions for your postings on EmploymentGuide.com.

Getting the Word Out
Before I go into how to attract candidates to apply, let's talk about getting the information to them. Not only does the ad above have no information that will attract the candidate it most likely won't be found by search engines. While EmploymentGuide.com tries to partner with various associations, search engines, websites and job boards to maximize your jobs' exposure online, unless you have the content, it's not going to be found by Google or any other search engine.

Joel Cheesman has a great post on how to optimize your job posting content and drive traffic to your job postings. He specifically writes for optimizing for Indeed but the post offers good rules to keep in mind for general online search engine optimization. Not only that but if you post jobs on EmploymentGuide.com, they also show up on Indeed.

So now you know that you need content to get your job posting to candidates. So what kind of information should you include that is going to attract the right candidates and get them to choose your company over anyone else?

Getting the Message Across
CareerJournal had an article about Employers Using Plain English to attract candidates. It's not something you always think about but if you think about it, putting things in a way someone will understand gives them a clear idea of what a job is going to entail. For example, this Morris Jenkins posting, instead of saying, "Must have good communication skills" they say that they are looking for someone that has, "a personality that shines through the phone lines and enjoys working with people!" It's just small example but from this statement you now know that you'll be using personality to deal with customers over the phone. Whereas, from the previous statment all you knew is that you'll be communicating.

Getting Jobseekers To Apply
According to Mo Edjlali at ERE there are two things you should focus on when writing a job description: stressing benefits and calling the candidate to action. Use the work environment; if you get donuts or celebrate birthdays use that. Mention overtime pay or wages if they are competitive or advancement opportunities. You might find it surprising what difference little things like recognizing birthdays or if a company really does promote from within. What makes you stand out? What makes your company different?

Take those benefits and paint a picture of how that is going to change their lifestyle for the better. Then call them to action. Give them multiple ways to apply and make it easy. There are several ways you can set up your EmploymentGuide.com account to receive applications. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me so that we can discuss these options and what will be best for your hiring situation.

Also check out:
How To Get The Best Response Out Of Your Job Posting
What is that Job Posting Really Saying?

There are tons of other ideas but ultimately the more specific you are in your job posting, the more likely you'll get qualified applicants. If you'd like to add your ideas, please do so in the comments. Or if you have questions about how to optimize your postings or want ideas on how to write a more effective job description, feel free to contact me.

- Rosie Reilman
Originally posted on Charlotte Job Spot
Photo by tnarik

Should I Include My Hobbies and Interests on My Resume?

2007-12-12T14:26:00.000-05:00

On doing some resume research, it seems there is some debate over whether it's ok to include personal interests on a resume. Does listing interests or hobbies on your resume really show you are a well-rounded candidate or does it just add extra unneeded information on your CV?

According to AttourneyResume.com, a resume writing service for attorneys, say this:

Your resume needs to present you as a qualified candidate for a job. Even if you are fluent in Swahili and a gourmet chef specializing in white truffles and the interviewer happens to have those exact same talents, he/she is not going to give you a job for which you are completely unqualified.

Their stance is that most recruiters will assume that you have other interests besides what you do for work. A company generally doesn't really care what you do outside of work and even if it makes for good conversation, just because you can converse well with the hiring manager or recruiter doesn't mean you'll necessarily get the job. All good points.

Let me offer this example: one of my hobbies is learning HTML and other website coding. I don't do it professionally but I like learning and my newest venture is PHP. So that I have added as a skill set on my resume, because in this case, my hobby or interest was relevant to the profession I was trying to find work in. In fact now that I find myself maintaining a blog that interest has become a great help to me!

Try including association membership or leadership roles that you have taken on. Personal interests that showcase your leadership skills or some other skill set that can translate into your ability to do a job and do it well. While these may not fall under the interests category, it will fall under Groups/Professional Associations or Community Leadership Roles. But your resume should only display information that shows your qualifications for the job you are applying for. The fact that you are a dog lover or love to watch Carolina Panthers and Clemson football is not usually relevant (unless you're looking to become a vet technician or a sports writer.) Even then I think that information is best suited for your cover letter where you can explain your qualifications.

I don't think that employers are going to think because you don't list crocheting or that you dress up every year for the Star Trek convention you are not a well rounded individual. Just remember, the purpose of a resume is supposed to show your professional qualifications, show your mad skills and help the recruiter to know why you're the best person in Greenville and the Upstate area for the job.

Live Long and Prosper... and Good luck!

-Rosie Reilman
Photo by greggoconnell

CareersinGear.com: Trucking Stories

2007-12-04T13:33:00.000-05:00

Our most recent edition of Careers in Gear came out this week! You can pick up a CareersinGear magazine at Petro's, Love's, Flying J's and other truck stops on the interstates. Not only will you find great trucking jobs across your region, but you'll also find interesting industry information and stories of other truckers around the country. In the most recent Midwest edition, we have two great stories about a couple who work together on team routes. Here's an excerpt from The Trucking Tandem:

As the Baby Boomer generation has started to make its way out of the office and into retirement, many are looking for ways to stay active without having to work a traditional nine-to-five job. In addition, couples and good friends who want a freer schedule and the ability to be their own boss choose team driving. For the husband and wife duo of Mark and Lori Crocker, team driving seemed like a perfect fit for their lifestyle.

Mark and Lori Crocker hail from Bastrop, TX, and drive for Schneider National. Mark and Lori are very different in their trucking backgrounds. Mark has been in the trucking industry for ten-and-one-half years and has traveled all over the country hauling loads. Lori, on the other hand, just received her CDL from Schneider National approximately two months ago and is new to driving big rigs. “I’ve had to shift gears between being a mother, being a truck driver, being a wife, being a daughter … so that’s really been quite an adjustment, but you just hang with it,” commented Lori...

When asked to give advice to future team drivers, the couple felt that meeting the driver before getting in the truck was essential in determining compatibility. A common theme seemed to be communication between the two drivers in order to make long travels as smooth as possible. The couple advised that a new driver should be open about pet peeves (i.e. loud radio, smoking, snoring, etc.) so that their partner can do his or her best to accommodate. While the couple admits that not all drivers paired together will make a good team, Lori concluded by stating, “There will be some days when all you want to do is just hang it up--but stay with it.”

Read the full article by Matthew Harrell here.

The Southeast edition will soon be out so truckers in North and South Carolina, be on the look out for it. It'll have more great articles like this one, plus the latest trucking jobs in your area.

-Rosie Reilman

Tips on Attending a Conference or Trade Show

2007-11-27T09:51:00.000-05:00

Depending on what your job duties entail, you may be asked to attend a training conference or trade show. I went to an unconference back in August. These events are great for networking, getting new ideas and learning new tricks of the trade. So how do you get the most out of these events?

Plan Ahead
This can be difficult. For me, I went on a Friday which meant I had to get everything done before and Friday usually is our busiest day. But pick out a goal or two that you want to accomplish. Maybe it's making 2-3 key contacts, maybe it's to find a cheaper product or solution for your business, or a specific topic you'd like to learn more about. Think about any vendors or customers that you might want to make an appointment with during the event and set those up as well.

The Logistics
Usually trade shows offer discounts for hotels via the event website or other media. You'll probably want to book your reservations early and close to where the conference or event is being held. If you have contacts who live near where you're going, ask them to help you with the best places to stay for cost efficiency and quality. Wear comfortable shoes (some events you do a lot of walking), wear casual business attire, bring a paper and pen or your laptop to keep notes from talks or to keep track of purchases. Don't forget business cards either! Gather information about the city you're staying in! During your down time, take advantage of exploring a new city.

During the Event
Introduce yourself to others, pass out business cards and network! It's amazing what the power of networking can do. Don’t worry about excusing yourself from a conversation if you're not interested in doing business with a vendor or someone you meet. Keep in mind your goals! If you can, attend a session that's a little off topic. This might help get you thinking differently about a topic. Stay realistic and ask questions. Sometimes speakers can hype up a topic so think practically and relate it to your job. Most sessions have a question and answer period. If you're confused about something or want to ask about your situation do so. Others in the room might approach you later with similar situations or offer help. If you'd rather not ask your question within a larger group, approach the speaker and ask them after the session or make an appointment to discuss your issue later. Take notes on vendors or talks you hear.

Afterwards
Look at a few things you learned and try and apply them to your workplace. Right after the conference write out and/or organize your notes. If you're like me and take very random notes, 3 months later I have no idea what I was writing the note about. So right after the conference, you'll want to organize what you learned. Evaluate the benefit of attending and follow up with people you made contact with.

In Terms of Your Job Search
If you're a job seeker or looking to get into the industry, trade shows or conferences can be a great way to not only increase your knowledge of a particular field but also gain contacts that can help you find employment! While sometimes these events can be costly, sometimes there are grants or scholorships that attendees can apply for. Ask the event organizers about scholorship opportunities.

Resources
About.com: Maximize Your Trade Show Time
5 Gen-Y Tips for Going to a Work Conference

- Rosie Reilman

Dealing with Employee Turnover

2007-11-16T12:29:00.000-05:00

It's not secret how the job market is pretty tight. Turnover is greater and it's harder to find qualified people (who want to stick around.) I found a really great article that provided some really good thoughts on Turnover, particularly in the retail industry. You can read the full article by Dr. Charles Handler here at ERE.net. But here are his conclusions and reflections from the article:

Even though job duties are standardized and some work environments rely on workers having a core set of traits to carry out these duties well, everyone is still very different and comes to the table with a totally different history and context. This context often has more of an impact on tenure than anything else because it represents a reality that is highly personal and often transcends things like money and time.
There are a lot of folks out there who may be seen as overqualified for some jobs but whose life-reality places them in situations where they end up needing the job to make ends meet. This can have both positive and negative impacts depending on the person, the environment, or even things such as the person's relationship with management.
The staggering number of options for doing something with oneself and the reality of the opportunities provided to those of us living in the United States often compels people of all ages and races (not just Gen Y or whatever other "Gen") to look at jobs as temporary.
In many cases, hiring people for their raw abilities rather than for their experience or technical skills can be a good strategy, especially if one is having trouble getting butts in seats. Someone who is passionate about customer service and can relate to people can probably do well at jobs that require these things, even if they have no experience. This is one of the biggest value propositions for personality and work-values assessments.
It is important to be honest about opportunities and what they offer to a job applicant. The reverse also applies; applicants should be encouraged to be honest about their goals for the job. Anything less is going to accelerate things like turnover.
Organizations need to understand the demographic from which they hire. It is important to understand trends in how job seekers view employers and to do one's best to adapt hiring practices to account for these things. This also applies to sourcing and even employment branding.
Understanding of context should drive creativity. If the cold, hard reality is that a worker isn't expected to stay at the same job long enough to make the hire pay off, seek creative ways to change this equation. This may include offering flex time, telecommuting, or benefits that are of value to the employee.
Hire and/or train management to be understanding of the context that each worker brings to the table so that they can relate to that person and understand the value that his or her unique circumstances bring to the table.
And, most importantly, tracking the relationship between data collected in the hiring process and objective, measurable outcomes is absolutely critical for understanding the economic impact of the reality that is our workforce. From this information springs the power to justify processes or to understand the need to adapt and change them.

Handler has some interesting thoughts and good ideas on dealing with turnover. Feel free to post your ideas in the comments if you know of any other thoughts or ideas on how to retain employees.

- Rosie Reilman

Resumes in Action! Writing an Active Resume

2007-11-06T12:11:00.000-05:00

The hardest thing for me when I was on the job hunt was writing the resume and cover letter. I guess I felt so pressured to put on paper everything that a recruiter could possibly want to know about me and why I was qualified for the job. So when I recently came across a post on UltraJob Blog about action words to use on your resume, I thought this was a great idea to add some flare to your resume (and cover letter) without getting too crazy.

The whole purpose of a resume is to address and showcase your skills and abilities. A great question asked by Christopher in an interview with Rachel and Jon, authors of Resumes from Hell really showcases this:

Christopher: How can the job seeker personalize their resumes without making them too informal or becoming a parody of themselves?
Rachel: The only type of personal information a hiring manager wants to see on your resume is information that demonstrates how your skills will impact their bottom line.

And Jon agrees and adds,

I think people need to let go of the resume as an opportunity to "express themselves." Every resume is personalized because every person is different. But beyond that, the focus on a resume is presenting your experience in the best possible light. There is a level of creativity in that, but a resume is not meant to be as much fun as writing a poem or playing a guitar solo. The best resumes are written by people who accept that there are rules of the job search that are to be adhered to.

However, I think that adhering to good writing techniques, such as using action verbs instead of passive verbs will not only sound better but can better convey what you actually DO and can do. (Plus it's better grammar.) Here's a great list to help you get started.

- Rosie Reilman