Or did it put you to sleep?

With the prevalence of email and online job boards as part of most job searches, the “art” of the cover letter may very well be lost. But it should still be a major component of your job search. Effective cover letters:

• Complement a strong resume
• Help you stand out to potential employers
• Add a “human” element to your job application

Despite the benefits of creative, effective cover letters, they are oft forgotten. Take advantage of other job seekers’ mistakes and increase your odds of landing the job by following these three tips, designed to make your cover letters sizzle:

1. Sound like a person. Yes, despite what you may have been taught, your cover letter shouldn’t be a stuffy introduction. Instead, cover letters are a way to demonstrate your writing skills (a must-have in just about every industry and position in today’s workplace), show some personality, and stand out from hundreds of other candidates who are just as qualified as you are (or even more so). Taking a somewhat conversational tone can help you build rapport with someone you have never met. Sounding familiar, yet still professional, can help you keep your resume at the top of the pack – and out of the recycle bin.

2. Use names. Avoid “To Whom it May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam” at all costs! Starting off a cover letter with these greetings is a surefire way to end up in the garbage can. With online professional networks like LinkedIn, and often comprehensive company websites, there is no excuse not to identify the person in charge of hiring. Direct your letter to this person, specifically, or following the other tips will be pointless. Would you want to read a letter addressed, “To Whom it May Concern?”

3. Don’t regurgitate your resume. Companies today are looking for creative professionals – whether you’re an accountant or a receptionist. You may not be in a creative trade, but showing some creativity is a necessity to stand out in this job marketplace. And while your resume offers some room for creativity, it’s the cover letter that will get you noticed, and help you land your next job. Regurgitating your resume shows a lack of creativity and initiative. The cover letter should illuminate and complement your resume, and provide additional insight into who you are, and what makes you a great hire. On your resume, you get to highlight all your accomplishments. In your cover letter, you need to brag about them!

Looking for a job?
Here at Masiello Employment Services, we work with employers in Springfield and Northampton, Massachusetts, as well as employers in Vermont and New Hampshire. We’ll help you find job to meet your career goals!

Production Line Workers

• Date Created : 05/02/2012
• Category : General Labor
• Job Type : FT Temporary
• Location/City : NH – Keene
• Recruiter Name : Joelle Phippard
• Recruiter Email : joelle@masemp.com
• Salary Range : 8.50 – 8.50 per hour (FT Temporary)

TEMPORARY WAREHOUSE WORKERS NEEDED!

Fast pace production warehouse seeking motivated and dependable entry level help in their warehouse temporarily. These positions are immediate needs and the hours will be 8am to 4:30pm offering $8.50 an hour.

Must be able to lift 20 pounds and work at a fast pace!

Production Workers

• Date Created : 05/02/2012
• Category : Manufacturing
• Job Type : FT Temp-to-Hire
• Location/City : NH – Jaffrey
• Recruiter Name : Joelle Phippard
• Recruiter Email : joelle@masemp.com
• Salary Range : 9.00 – 9.00 per hour (FT Temp-to-Hire)

Our client is seeking two quality candidates for their well established manufacturing company in the Jaffrey area. These 1st shift entry level Cross Trainer positions will pay $9/hour; have a 4 day work week (M-TH) and great hours, 6am-4pm!

These positions are temp to hire for the right candidates!

These positions will involve training in a variety of areas including, packing, inspection, assembly and basic machine operation.

If chosen to come onboard this client offers an excellent benefit package which includes medical, dental, life insurance, 401K and much more!

Production Assistants

• Date Created : 04/27/2012
• Category : Manufacturing
• Job Type : FT Temporary
• Location/City : VT – Brattleboro
• Recruiter Name : John Osterhout
• Recruiter Email : john@masemp.com
• Salary Range : 12.00 – 12.00 per year (FT Temporary)

An excellent entry-level temporary assignment is currently available at one of our Brattleboro area clients.  This position requires the ability to work any shift, including rotating swing shifts. Some 12 hour shifts may also be required. This position will involve a variety of tasks in a manufacturing environment.

Requirements

Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
Willingness to assist with tasks as needed/requested
Ability to work rotating shifts
Excellent work history

This is an immediate opening, please apply today!

Bridging the Gap - How Your Experiences Can Create Value

The year was 2010.  I was a recent college graduate with minimal experience in the workforce, left wondering which path to choose.  My concentration in school was criminal justice and I knew, with the economy faltering, jobs in the criminal justice field were few and far between. Without a clear path set out for me, I knew gaining experience would eventually get me where I wanted to go, wherever that may be. My answer was a local staffing agency… Masiello Employment Services.

I prepared my resume, dressed professionally, and visited their local office. I completed the application, interviewed with a Staffing Consultant to discuss what I was hoping to find, as well as describe the skills that I had acquired from schooling and my previous employment.

Within a week of my initial visit and interview, Masiello Employment received a job order from a local client, and based on the experience and skills I had from previous employment and what the client was looking for, I was fortunate enough to be placed!  My interest in employment had focused on administrative positions, with the intention to be able to work with and help people, and support an office.

With an open mind and full of energy I was off to my first assignment! This position as an Administrative Assistant taught me skills that you cannot learn in a classroom. After this assignment was complete, it was on to three other assignments as a Receptionist. Each placement required different skill sets. I could clearly see the skills I was learning creating value. My resume was beginning to take form; I now had some valuable experience in the workforce. My assignments for the time being were complete and I was left wondering where the path would take me next. However, I knew the lessons, skills and experiences I had been gaining over the past few months would put me in a far better position than the college graduate I had been a few months prior.

It all came full circle for me.  Masiello Employment, with the want to expand their business and services, was opening an office in Northampton.  Based on the skills that I had acquired from the various assignments I was placed at, and the experience I had prior to applying, I was fortunate enough to be hired at Masiello Employment, the same company that had been helping assist me with my career search!

It’s been 8 months in my new role as Administrative Support and I couldn’t be happier.  The ability to be able to assist with applicant’s career searches is a great feeling.  Having been in their place a year before, I am able to relate to their situation, and it is fulfilling to be able to assist them.

I believe that many people have a misconception of temporary agencies, and do not know all of the great services they provide to job seekers as well as companies. Temporary and contract work provides a bridge to permanent employment. Many people choose temporary and contract work as an employment option. They can select their work schedules and choose among a variety of diverse and challenging assignments that are available. People can try out a prospective employer and showcase their skills for a permanent job, as well as gain additional skills and experience for their future endeavors.

Did you know these facts?

• 2.98 million people are employed by staffing companies every business day
• 88% of staffing employees say that temporary or contract work made them more employable.
• 77% of staffing employees say it’s a good way to obtain a permanent job.

The moral of the story is no matter how much you think you know, or how overqualified you think you may seem, the more experience you have, the more value you will bring to a future employer.

1. Please, No Cell Phones

Those who work with me, or have every tried to have a cell phone conversation in our lobby, know that I have never been afraid to ask someone to either a) please step outside to finish the call, or b) please turn your phone on silent. Remember two things when you reach for your phone: the receptionist is acting as the “eyes and ears” before the actual interview (see our previous blog posting First Impressions Are Important, But When Do They Happen?). If you ignore the “Please No Cell Phones” sign, the recruiters will notice. The other is during the actual interview; you want to dedicate that time to selling yourself to the interviewer. Your friends will understand if you can’t text them back right away.

2. Keep Humor Appropriate

It is easy enough to get caught up in the humor we use with friends that sometimes we forget about where we are when we attempt to make a joke. Keep focused during the interview, and remember why you are there. You never know the personal humor of the person interviewing you, or what their background may be. Before you make a potentially offensive joke or comment, think to yourself “Is that appropriate?” Just remember, if you wouldn’t say it to your grandma…

3. Make Good Eye Contact

Along with a strong handshake, keeping good eye contact with someone is a sign that you respect them. It lets the interviewer know that you are listening, you are genuinely interested in what they are saying and you are honest in your responses.

4. Be Friendly and Outgoing

A positive attitude goes a long way, especially in a job interview! It makes the interviewer want to know more about you. It always sticks with me when someone comes in with a good attitude. I am also a big believer in smiles. You never know what kind of day someone else is having- so give them a smile! You may just brighten their day. Need help seeking positivity? See our previous blog posting, The Power of Positive Thinking.

5. Always be Early, or On Time

Everyone’s work environment runs on a schedule, so being respectful of someone else’s time is important. Of course, we all know the standard rule of showing up ten minutes early for an appointment. About ten minutes should be the earliest arrival to an interview. Keep in mind that the recruiter is running on a schedule full of interviews, on top of their everyday workload, so showing up to an interview forty minutes early can be interpreted the same way as being forty minutes late. Let them know that you respect their time, and always thank them for taking the time out of their busy day to meet with you.

6. Share Your Goals and Accomplishments

Sell yourself! This is your time to shine. Your interviewer has stopped what they are doing mid workday. You brushed your hair and have your nice pants on… On your mark, get set, go! If you aren’t sure what to say or how to sell yourself, just think “Why would I hire me?” Of course, your first thought is, “Well, because I’m awesome!” So what makes you so awesome? Tell the recruiter. Do not just leave this up to your resume. While it should list your accomplishments from your work history, really hit home with it and use it to convince the recruiter of how awesome you really are.

7. Dress for Success

I love clothes as much as the next person. I have bright pink sneakers for the gym, with workout clothes to match, and I own a cardigan in almost every color (that is not an exaggeration). I have always taken to heart the saying “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” When I decide what to wear in the morning I try to think to myself, “will I be respected by others when I wear this?” Make sure to know what clothing is appropriate, and what is not, for the employment opportunities you are looking for. Whether it is a matter of professional attire, office casual, or t-shirts without offensive sayings, employers are looking for someone who can present that they have it together, so give them a visual!

8. Ask Questions!

There are no stupid questions. Whether it is the smallest question you could think of, or the biggest, questions show interest and engagement in the conversation. The recruiter is prepared to answer questions, so don’t be afraid of wasting their time. That is why they are there!

The impression a new employee forms during the on-boarding time period and the first few days with your company will have an enormous impact on their feeling about your organization. It is well worth your time and attention to make a new employee’s welcoming both positive and exciting.

A thoughtful new hire orientation will engage your new employee right from the start and can reduce turnover, saving an organization thousands of dollars. One reason people change jobs is because they never feel like part of the organization they join. The most important principle to convey during an orientation is your commitment to continuous improvement and continual learning. This allows your new employee to become comfortable with asking questions in order to obtain the information they need to learn, problem solve, and grow within your organization.

Here are some tips to prepare for your new employee’s first day: 

• Be excited and upbeat with them and let them know you are glad to have them “joining the team”.
• Be sure to give a tour of the office building and/or department they will be working in.
• Introduce your new employee right away to co-workers, upper management and anyone they will be in regular contact with. This allows them to immediately start building relationships with team mates.
• Have someone designated as a “go to person” or mentor.
• Offer someone to be a “lunch buddy” on the first day to relieve them of feeling uncomfortable sitting alone in a break room. This should be someone that will be working with or training the new employee.
• Be sure they know where office supplies are so they are able to organize and set up their work station comfortably.

Make sure that the on boarding schedule fills only part of each day so that your new employee can feel productive immediately in his or her new job. Check in frequently to see how they feel things are going and ask if they have questions. Above all have a positive and friendly attitude.

First impressions are not only important for the employer but also the employee. Making your new employee feel welcome and comfortable from day one can lead to a long and happy working relationship!

The Staffing Manager is responsible for providing best-in-class service to Masiello Employment’s customers and temporary employees. It is a highly visible, key role responsible for building and maintaining relationships with customers. In this role, you will focus on maintaining a strong team and you will contribute directly to the satisfaction of our clients, job seekers and employees.

Account Management services include:

• Generating, taking and filling orders with a strong focus on understanding your customers’ needs and managing their expectations
• Managing the job order lifecycle and exceeding customer’s desires
• Resolving problems in a timely and effective manner, handling rejection with a positive attitude
• Developing business through a persuasive, “selling” style of communication
• Proactively marketing candidates to current and prospective client companies

Temporary employee-related services include:

•  Sourcing, recruiting, screening, hiring, training, and assigning employees
• Conducting new hire orientation with help from office staff
• Resolving problems and managing employee relations

Our ideal candidate is a team player with:

• A bachelor’s degree and a background in sales and recruiting
• Two plus years staffing industry experience
• Ability to maintain a strong sense of urgency to keep everything going smoothly

As a part of the Masiello Employment Services team, you will enjoy a very competitive benefits package, including:

• Competitive salary plus commissions on hourly and direct placements
• Safe Harbor 401k with 4% match
• Profit Sharing Retirement Plan
• Performance Bonus
• Health insurance, long term and short term disability insurance and life insurance
• Paid continuing education opportunities from the American Staffing Association and SHRM
• Respect, support, and a positive and rewarding work environment within a mission driven company committed to having fun at work

Masiello Employment Services, headquartered in Keene, New Hampshire, provides employment and staffing solutions to client companies and job seekers. For more than 26 years we have helped employees with skills in office services, accounting, engineering, information technology, light industrial, and advanced manufacturing. Our innovative spirit, community focus and time-honored integrity set us apart as a leader in the staffing industry.

Interested?  Apply Now

There are other benefits to positive thinking, actual health benefits!  Researchers have found that positive thinking enables an individual to cope better with stressful situations, which in turn reduces the harmful effects of stress on your body, resulting in better health!

Benefits of positive thinking are shown to include:

• Increased life span
• Lower rates of depression
• Lower levels of distress
• Greater resistance to the common cold
• Better psychological and physical well-being
• Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

There’s an additional benefit to adopting a positive thought process.   The bulk of what determines a person’s level of happiness is thoughts and behaviors, so by learning to modify your thoughts and behaviors, you will learn to be a happier person.

By now you might be wondering, “Where do I begin?  How can I become more optimistic and enjoy these benefits?”  Positive thinking often starts with self-talk.

Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head every day.  These thoughts can be positive or negative.  Hopefully the majority of your self-talk is positive, but if not, don’t despair.  Positive thinking and positive self talk can be taught.  The best way to approach this is to periodically throughout the day, stop and evaluate what you’re thinking.    If you find that your thoughts are mainly negative, try to find a way to put a positive spin on them.   You can also follow one simple rule:  Be nice to yourself!  Don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to anyone else!  With practice, eventually your self-talk will contain less self-criticism and more self-acceptance.

Other ways to cultivate a positive attitude:

• Surround  yourself with happy people.

Being around happy people builds up your own sense of contentment.  And by being happy yourself, you give something back to those around you!  Let people know that you appreciate what they do for you and that you’re glad they’re part of your life.   When you share your positive mood and positive experience, both you and those around you enjoy an emotional boost.

• Express gratitude.

Gratitude is HUGE in my life.  It’s more than saying “thank you”.  Gratitude is a sense of being thankful for life, every day, and finding the joy in the present moment.  It’s as easy as identifying one thing that enriches your life.  Hopefully you can come up with many more than one, but that’s where you start.  If you make a commitment to practice gratitude every day, your life will be enriched.

• Find your purpose.

People who meet a goal or fulfill a personal desire are happier than those who don’t have such aspirations.  Having a goal provides a sense of purpose, bolsters self-esteem, and brings people together.  Research shows that relationships provide the strongest meaning and purpose to your life, but other ways you can find your purpose include asking yourself some general questions.

What excites and energizes me?

What are my proudest achievements?

How do I want others to remember me?

• Live in the moment.

 “Enjoy the little things, for one day you make look back and realize they were the big things.” ~Robert Brault

Take time to smell the flowers.  Don’t postpone joy waiting for a day when your life is less busy or less stressful.  That day may never come.   Take every opportunity to savor the small stuff, the pleasures of everyday life!    Breakfast in bed, a great cup of coffee, the feeling of sunshine on your face, a smile from a stranger, a visit with a loved one, a heartfelt laugh, the first snowfall…  Make up your own list, and review it often!

Don’t wait for happiness and contentment to come find you.  Persevere and practice these tips, and you will transform the way your mind thinks.   A positive thought process will help lead you to happiness and success!

Responsibilities

• Write programs
• Set up and operate CNC optical machines, including Diamond Turning, Polishing, Centering, and Generating
• Test parts to finished spec
• Maintain accurate documentation
• Lead team members

Requirements

• High level of experience in optical manufacturing methods
• Must be competent in setting up and running CNC optical machines
• Advanced understanding of blueprints
  Knowledge of machine controls, feeds, speeds, depth of cut
• Experience in troubleshooting radius, irregularity, and surface requirements
• Knowledge of A sphere Diffys correction
• Knowledge of optical inspection techniques and metrology equipment

Please contact us today to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Category : Manufacturing

Job Type : FT Temp-to-Hire

Location/City : NH – Keene

Recruiter Name : John Osterhout

Recruiter Email : john@masemp.com

Salary Range : 20.00 – 24.00 per hour (FT Temp-to-Hire)

Masiello Employment Services provides employment and staffing solutions to client companies and job seekers. Our offices are conveniently located in Northampton, MA, Greenfield, MA and Keene, NH. For more than 25-years we have helped employees with skills in office services, accounting, engineering, information technology, light industrial, and advanced manufacturing. Our innovative spirit, community focus and time-honored integrity set us apart as a leader in the staffing industry.

As a result we launched the first ever Masiello Employment Services Weight Loss Challenge.  We formed 3 teams: The Keene Team, The Northampton Team and the Corporate Team.  We are using the honor system and recording our weight weekly through a confidential on-line form on our company Intranet.  Over the 12-week challenge, teams are being judged based on percentage of weight lost, not on total pounds lost.  Just over 6 weeks into the challenge Jason also announced each member of the winning team will receive their very own Apple iPad, talk about motivation!!

Throughout this challenge we have each individually lost weight, but what is more remarkable is what we have collectively gained.  What started as a employee wellness initiative has turned into a priceless team building experience.  The individual work groups are bonding and have become stronger, employee morale is up, teams are enjoying a little healthy competition and most importantly people are smiling, laughing and having fun.  So if you want a happier, healthier team, consider starting your own company weight loss challenge and let us know how it goes.  We will happily share your success stories on our Facebook page and LinkedIn page.

While losing weight is a good thing, losing a key employee is not.  If you want our happy and healthy team to help you lighten your workload, give us a call today.  Masiello Employment can help with more than just staffing.  If you are having morale issues or want to launch a wellness or safety program, call us – we can help for free!