It’s Easy to Land a Job — Just Do Something Different!

It's-Easy-to-Land-a-Job-Just-Do-Something-Different

 

In any career, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. Performing the same tasks and taking on the same types of projects can be a safe place. But, if you are searching for a new job, you will quickly find out that what counts is your ability to stand out from other candidates. How do you do this? By being different!

Ways to Be Different and Stand out as a Candidate

You don’t have to do anything crazy to stand out as a candidate. Instead, you want to find something that you feel comfortable with and can use to shine. Use these tips to get started.

Create some buzz around YOU

Before you even apply for the job you want, you need to develop a buzz around yourself, essentially creating a brand presence for your career. Make it a point to develop a blog and share your best creative and written works. Develop a group online and stand out as a thought leader in your industry. Get involved with a cause you care about.

Network with the right people

Getting in front of the best hiring companies is all about meeting with and networking with influencers. You can do much for your career by using social networks and local networking groups to meet new people in your areas of interest. LinkedIn can be a powerful place for joining groups for your industry and connecting with people. Be sure to connect with the hiring managers at the companies you want to target.

Use an outstanding cover letter and resume

Most job seekers send a very bland resume and many others forget to use a written cover letter. Worse yet, they may send a form letter. Instead, do something different and create an interesting and attention-grabbing cover letter and resume that hiring managers will enjoy getting. Start with a great template, and then create your opening statement. Use a fun fact about yourself, list your best skills, and wrap up the cover letter with a call to action including your phone number where you can be called. Match your resume to your cover letter in the template, tone and style.

Follow up the smart way

Do you know how to effectively follow up with hiring managers, in a different way? Instead of sending a boring email or picking up the phone, why not send a nice thank you card to the hiring manager? This is more personal and it’s amazing how many candidates forget to do this simple thing. It will help you to stand out as a professional and your card may trigger a call to come back in for a second interview, or better yet – a job offer.

Do something different today – pick up the phone and apply as a temporary employee with Advance Staffing Services for part time and full time jobs.

How to Stay Off a Recruiter’s Blacklist

How to Stay Off a Recruiter's Blacklist

Trying to find a job today is not easy. Even with the help of the Internet and social media, landing a job you want can take months because hundreds of people apply for the same jobs as you. Turning your job search into a success can be done by working with a recruiter. One thing you must know when working with a recruiter is that you need to stay off of their blacklist. Being on a recruiter’s blacklist can ruin your job search, so follow these tips to stay off this list!

Exaggerating Skills or Claims

One of the biggest reasons why a recruiter will put you on their blacklist is because you have been caught exaggerating your skills or claims on your resume. It is understandable that people exaggerate a little bit on their resumes, but it can be very detrimental their job search. Recruiters will be able to see through lies on your resume because they read thousands of resumes per year. Avoid exaggerating about your skills or claims on your resume to stay off a recruiter’s blacklist.

Self-Employed Viewed as Unemployed

Even though this seems a little harsh, many recruiters view self-employed job seekers as unemployed job seekers, even if the job seeker has been running a successful business independently. It is difficult to change this perception in front of recruiters, but it can be done. Make sure you include some stats about your independently owned business that proves you have been working for the past five-to-ten years, and not just sitting around the house.

Aggression Does Not Work

Even though being an aggressive job seeker can be better than being a passive one, it can get you blacklisted by a recruiter if you work with one. Contacting a recruiter multiple times per week via phone or email will get you blacklisted for sure. There is no need to constantly bother a recruiter about an open job or an interview you had with a company. If the company liked you, the recruiter will reach out to you when necessary.

Failure to Fit the Culture

Job seekers could have an incredible resume and all the references in the world, but not fitting in with a company’s culture could cause you to hit the blacklist. This can be determined through screening processes, an interview with the company and much more. If this happens more than once, a recruiter might have to blacklist you to avoid wasting anyone else’s time.

Stay off of a recruiter’s blacklist by keeping aggression to a minimum, avoiding exaggeration on your resume and by fitting into a company’s culture.

 

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Referral Contest – Win Thanksgiving Dinner on us!

Refer a friend and when they complete our application process

You will be entered in a drawing for a Thanksgiving Dinner Gift Basket that includes a gift certificate for a turkey & all the ingredients for side dishes and dessert!

Applicant must register at one of our Branch Offices between the dates of October 5th – November 13th.

(apply on-line or call branch for appointment time)

Drawing will be held on Monday, November 16th

turkey

** In addition to this referral bonus you will also be eligible for our regular $25 referral bonus**

(To qualify for the $25 referral bonus the applicant or employee must complete 80 hours of work)

 

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Internal opportunity for a Sales Rep/Business Development – Downriver territory

At Advance Staffing Solutions, placing talented professionals with successful businesses is a core focus of our business. As a trusted staffing solutions provider, we’ve fostered relationships with the top businesses in our region.

A strong ability to build relationships with new and existing accounts will ensure your success in this dynamic sales role. If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow your career in sales in a team environment and with a company that’s well respected and growing rapidly, this is the place for you!

Job Responsibilities:

  • Identify and generate new sales opportunities via research, lead generation, prospecting, networking and in-person appointments
  • Develop strong relationships with customers and create a business relationship whereby Advance Staffing Solutions is the service of choice
  • Prepare proposals and negotiate sales contracts
  • Resolve customer service issues quickly and efficiently to maintain the highest level of customer satisfaction
  • Manage territory and targeted clients in an efficient manner in order to maximize revenue opportunities
  • Partner with recruiting team in order to facilitate a successful, streamlined process and delivery with customers
  • Meet weekly activity and revenue targets and goals

Desired Skills and Experience:

  • 1+ year of sales experience preferred
  • Bachelor’s Degree preferred
  • Excellent organization, time management and communication skills
  • Self-motivated team player who can work independently
  • Ability to excel in a goal-driven sales environment

Base Salary, Commission, Bonus and Incentives! Advance offers a comprehensive benefits package to our employees that include: Health, Vacation, Holiday pay and 401(k) Plan.

For additional information, contact Tara Robinson 734-457-0056.

 

How to Avoid Adding These Red Flags to Your Resume

How-to-Avoid-Adding-These-Red-Flags-to-Your-Resume

 

Your professional resume speaks loudly to recruiters, even if it’s not a human being. What you put on a resume, what you leave off, and how you present your career and educational history impacts the way that recruiters will react. Does your resume include any potential red flags that could be blocking your way to success? Here are some of the top no-no’s that have no place on your resume.

1. The resume lacks excitement.

Your resume is written out neatly on a standard resume format, so what’s wrong with it? It’s boring and lacks any kind of attention-grabbing elements. Recruiters spend literally 10 seconds or less looking at each resume, even less when they have a large stack to go through. If your resume bores them, you can bet it’s saying you are also a boring person and probably won’t be a good hire. Spice it up with powerful words and a fun-to-read format.

2. No clear career direction.

If you have held a number of jobs over the last couple of years, how do they show that you are progressing in your career? If you are all over the place, we suggest you work with a career coach to determine what your goals will be and how you can best present them on your resume. Make sure you can highlight your growth as a professional, taking on more responsibilities and achieving your goals.

3. Big gaps between jobs.

Many recruiters are still fairly “old school” when it comes to evaluating candidate resumes. If they see large gaps in time between jobs, or dates of employment and education that don’t make sense, this is a huge red flag. Make sure you indicate on your resume what you were doing in between jobs (for example: attending college, volunteering, caring for a child, etc.)

4. Careless mistakes.

If your resume contains spelling mistakes, errors in grammar, and odd sentence structures you can bet that a hiring manager will note this as a sign you are also careless about your work. Make sure to go over your resume with a fine-tooth comb, use a spell checker software, and have another set of eyes on your resume before you send it (and your cover letter) to a company.

 

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Choose Staffing as a Career and Love What You Do

Our mission at Advance Staffing Solutions is to become a true resource to our client and candidate partners for general hiring and recruiting, and executive search recruitment. We work hard to provide innovative staffing services to our employers and opportunity to our candidates. We create a fun and challenging workplace where we continue to learn daily, achieve success and grow our business.

As a growing business, Advance Staffing Solutions has internal positions available.  If your are looking for a meaningful and rewarding career, please email your resume to stacey@advancestaffingsolutions.com.  We have opportunities in sales and recruiting in NW Ohio and SE Michigan.

Learn more about an exciting career in the staffing and recruiting industry.

 

 

 

 

Waiting to Hear Back from a Recruiter? There May Be a Reason Why…

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Imagine a scenario where you are unhappy with your current job, and are contacted by a recruiter who tells you that the company they represent is interested in hiring. They fill your head with a list of job benefits that far outweigh what you are currently receiving, and you naturally say that you are interested in getting involved in the interview process. It may sound like a pipe dream, but this is actually something that happens on a fairly regular basis. It’s all rather exciting, but what do you do when it happens to you and it suddenly seems as though the recruiter has dropped off the face of the earth?

There is always the possibility that you simply didn’t make the cut, or that the needs of the company changed during the interview process.

They may have chosen to go in another direction completely, or they may even have decided that the position that they were trying to fill was not as essential as they had first imagined. It’s also worth noting that it can take as long as six months for the search and interview process to be completed. If you were among the first wave of potential candidates, you could be waiting a long time to hear from the recruiter again.

The job is still up for grabs but is in the negotiation phase for the moment.

Another reason why the recruiter may not have gotten back to you just yet is because they may be in the negotiation phase with another candidate who interviewed first. They will not call and inform you of their decision until that negotiation is complete, as it may end up falling through. If that is what happens, they will either abandon the search, which happens quite often, or they may turn to their second candidate, which may well be you.

While your natural instinct will be to call to find out what is going on to get recruiter updates, this may not be the best approach. Believe it or not, recruiters are very busy people who simply don’t have time to regularly update every person that they contact. When you talk to the recruiter, do all that you can to make a positive impact, as that will make them keep you in mind if this particular opportunity falls through. Most recruiters will eventually call you to make you aware of the final decision made by the company, so just remain patient until that call arrives.

 

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Stop Getting in the Way of Your Dream Job

DreamJob

You might think that finding a better job or obtaining a higher standing in your career is impossible, but this is more than likely not the case. The reason behind your failure to obtain a better job might just be yourself. If you are struggling to find a better job, you might find that you are actually self-sabotaging your own efforts along the way. You might just be what is holding you back from the job that you have always envisioned for yourself. Here are some ways to stop getting in your own way of a dream job in 2016.

The Fear the Failure

Sometimes we are so afraid of failure that we don’t even try. This is the reason that many people do not pursue their dream job. They are much more satisfied with never trying and never failing than actually putting themselves out there and facing rejection. Failure is not fun or enjoyable, but it is often something that you have to experience on your way to the top. This means that if you are looking to achieve your ultimate goals and obtain your dream job, you will undoubtedly face failure along the way. How you react in the face of failure is what will predict your success.

Entertaining Negative Thoughts

You might not think that your thoughts have that much power, but you would be mistaken. Every negative thought that you have about yourself poisons your subconscious. You are putting self-doubt at the forefront of your thoughts and this can be a major detriment to you. Your mind will eventually view these thoughts as reality over time. This means that you need to be careful of your thoughts and always remain positive about obtaining your career goals.

Write Down Fears, Let Them Go

It is difficult for some people to just push through their fears on their own. Some people need to focus their thoughts and boost their confidence in order to get the ability to push past fear. It might be a good idea to write down your thoughts and put your fears down on paper. When you see them in writing, it might give you the ability to determine how invalid these fears really are. Make sure that you are clear about what exactly you are afraid of. If you are afraid of your inability to perform, or of the stress that a new job may bring. Becoming aware of your fears is the first step to overcoming them in the long run.

Need help landing your dream job? Contact the career experts at Advance Staffing, or click here to browse our open jobs today!

 

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Start Being Confident in Your Career This Year!

January_2016_Confident

 

Do you struggle with confidence in your career? You are not alone. Some people are naturally confident. Some people are shy. There are many who doubt themselves or perhaps are shaky in specific circumstances. Whatever the reason for your lack of confidence, you need to work on it. If you want to make steadfast progress in your career, you need to be confident.

Here is how you can start being confident in your career this year:

Stop doubting yourself.

While there will be people trying to outdo you and even downplay you, the worst thing you can do to yourself is indulge in negative self-talk. Stop questioning your abilities and stop wondering if you will fail. Confidence stems from positivity. And positivity stems from developing the right mindset or thought process to develop strong perceptions about yourself. When you don’t trust or believe in yourself, why should anyone else?

Decide what your strengths are.

You need to figure out your strengths and play accordingly. If you follow a sport and are a fan of a certain sportsperson then you should observe how he or she tries to play to their strengths. Every person in the world has certain shortcomings. However, confident people smartly conceal their weaknesses and work on their strengths.

Build on your achievements.

Accomplishments and talents are the foundation of confidence. The more talented you are and the more accomplishments you have, the more confident you can be. Remind yourself of everything that you have done well in your profession. Consider the skills you have. Work on your skills to get better. Sign up for temporary jobs, and take some courses that will help you to develop a new skill. Learning and developing new skills or knowledge can be a real boost to your confidence.

Mingle with other successful people.

Try to associate yourself with colleagues who can make positive contributions to your career. When you team up with people who would want to put you down, you are inviting them to cause a dent in your confidence. While you should appreciate others and yourself, others too have to appreciate what you have or do. Appreciation from fellow workers or people you look up to will always be a confidence booster.

Remember to focus on the nice things in your life and be happy. You would be amazed at what a smile can do to your confidence and what kind of an impact it has on others.

 

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7 Career Tips for Work-at-Home Professionals

February_2016_WorkAtHome

Working from a remote location might seem like a dream come true, but it has its own set of challenges that you need to be prepared for. If you have just landed a new work from home job or you have the opportunity to work from home a couple of days a week, there are some things that you need to do to make this a successful experience. This is especially true if you have never worked it work from home before.

Follow the below seven career tips to make your work from home experience a positive and prosperous one.

1. Get your home office set up for productivity

First and foremost, it is important that you set up your home office so that you can be as productive as possible in your new job. You do not want to set up a home office and the area of your home that is high traffic or noisy. You also don’t want to set up a home office in the bedroom. Instead, select a room or area of your home that is not distracting to you and, if possible, has a door so you can close it during work hours.

2. Set clear boundaries with your family

Let your family know what your new working arrangements will be and prepare them because they may not understand your need for quiet during office hours. Don’t allow friends and family to call you during work hours. If you have young children at home, you may want to arrange for childcare. Your spouse or partner should also be on board. This can be a big adjustment for anyone and it is also important that your family understands how working from home may impact your life.

3. Understand and clarify your employer’s expectations

Unlike a regular workplace where you are face-to-face with your manager, in a work-from-home position, you may be working hundreds or thousands of miles away from your supervisor. You may rarely even travel to your work place. This is why it’s important to understand clearly what your employer’s expectations are of you. These are things like work hours, communication, handling clients, technical issues, and procedures. You will also want to work closely with your co-workers so that they understand that you are, in fact, working and available for team collaboration and meetings.

4. Separate your personal and work life

It can be very tempting she get into the habit of working 24/7 when you work from home. That’s because the presence of your work desk in your home is a constant reminder of projects and tasks that need to be completed. However, you never want to get into the habit of working more hours than you would if you worked outside the home. Set a schedule and stick to it. This includes taking regular lunch breaks and bathroom breaks as needed throughout the day. Get up and stretch every so often, and don’t forget to interact with your peers.

5. Create a task management system

When you work from home, very often you will be asked to handle a variety of tasks and projects. This is where your task and project management skills will come into play. Make sure you have an organizational system that helps you stay on track with important tasks, deadlines, and milestones along the way. Use a web-based project management system so that you can share updates with your co-workers and your boss.

6. Don’t disconnect from others

One of the biggest issues with working from home after a while is feeling isolated. It’s very important to stay connected with your co-workers and your peers when you work remotely. Schedule time each day to communicate and interact with others in your company. Join professional associations so that you can continue to network with others in your industry and your region. Make it a point to set up a lunch date at least once a week.

7. Learn to be a better communicator

It’s often unexpected, but working from home can make you feel invisible at times. This is why it is very important to develop above-average communication skills and be proactive about this communication so that you are continually in touch with your peers. Check in with your supervisor at least once a week, if not more frequently. Stay on top of tasks and bring others into your loop as you complete them.

By following the above tips you will be more successful as a work from home professional. If you need more help, or help finding a career that suits your needs, contact Advance Staffing Solutions today!

 

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There’s Such a Thing as Being “Too” Relaxed at Work!

Theres Such a Thing as Being Too Relaxed at Work

 

Has your job become dull and uninspiring? Have you begun to get too relaxed and lazy on the job? You are not alone. As many as two-thirds of all working adults become disengaged when it comes to their jobs. And another major percentage find themselves searching for other opportunities while on the company clock.

This is never a good place to be. But you can get back that excitement of your job if you take the following steps.

Go back into the past.

Think back to when you first started your current job and how you looked forward to getting started. Were you anxious to prove yourself to your new employer? Was your brain filled with new ideas? Take a look at your career now. What has transpired since then? Chances are, you are just getting settled in and taking things for granted. Try to find some aspect of your work you can get behind again, and go for the gusto!

Find your passion.

Instead of sitting back and just watching the clock each day, why not discover something about your work that gets your wheels turning? Think about the things you are passionate about – be it a cause, a personal interest, or a way of doing things. Integrate this into your daily tasks and projects. For example, maybe you enjoy planning parties. You could ask your boss if you can head up a team celebration committee!

Consider how in-demand you are.

If you were to leave your job today, what marketable skills can you bring to the table? When you become too relaxed at work, it’s easy to take this for granted. Someone more skilled, or with fresher skills just out of college may be thrilled to take your place. Get some training in an area that honors your job and industry, and appreciate your job a little more.

Share your ideas more often.

When is the last time you contributed a new idea to improve things at your workplace? It’s common to “shut down” when you feel like you are getting accustomed to the job and no one cares anymore because you are not the new person. However, you do have great ideas to share so make it a point to connect with your supervisor on a regular basis to share new ideas for improving things around the office.

By taking the above steps, you must step outside of your own comfort zone and stay motivated. In the end, however, you will enjoy your job more and grow as a working professional. If none of these tip work, and you want to find a new job altogether, click here to see the open positions available through Advance Staffing Solutions!

 

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Want to Move Your Resume to the Top of the Pile? Use These Tips!

Want to Move Your Resume to the Top of the Pile

 

It’s been estimated that for each and every job posting advertised that recruiters can receive as many as 300 – 500 resumes from eager candidates. That’s a lot of reading and screening! Unfortunately, most recruiters have very little time to spend on each resume, so they skim through them looking for specific things, make a pile out of about 1/10th of the original resumes, and start calling people in for interviews. In other cases, the applicant tracking system may scan resumes first and only kick out those that meet the job descriptions.

Sadly, your resume could end up at the bottom of the pile, or worse yet, in the bottom of a garbage can – that is, if you don’t know the secrets of success (that we are about to share with you now). If you want to move your resume to the top of the pile, read on.

Use a standard resume template

Any recruiter will tell you that they cannot stand it when people try to ‘reinvent the wheel’ with their resumes. They don’t want to see a resume that’s super creative (unless they are hiring for a creative role), with fancy colors and head photos of the candidate. Instead, stick to the rules and use a simple format with defined headings for Skills, Education, Career History, etc. These will have a better chance of being read properly by the ATS, and by the recruiters.

Try a nicer paper

If you plan to mail your resume in (who uses snail mail anymore?) be sure to invest in high-quality paper that has a nice texture and is slightly off-white. Your local office supply store can help you pick out the best paper and matching envelopes for this purpose. Have your resume professionally printed out. Don’t turn your resume in on brightly colored paper or poorly printed from an at-home machine.

Call the recruiter

It may seem simple, but taking the extra step to call the recruitment office 48 hours after sending in your resume can alert the hiring team that you are an interested candidate. Provide the recruiter with your full name spelled out, the job title you are applying for, and your contact phone number where they can reach you. Don’t ask them to interview you on the spot or take up too much of their time. Just say thanks and that you hope to hear back at their convenience.

Get recommended

Another way to ensure that your resume makes it to the top of the hiring pile is to ask for a direct employee referral from a colleague who works there. If you can, send this person a copy of your resume and ask them to walk a copy down to the HR office in person. If you don’t know anyone who works there, you can also reach out to the staffing agency you are registered with and ask if they are recruiting for the job, then get them to send the employer your resume. This can be a very effective way to get called in for a job interview sooner.

 

The last secret to success in a job search is to partner with a staffing agency like Advance Staffing Solutions. We have staffing experts on hand in Michigan and Ohio to help you land whatever career you’re aiming for!

 

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