April 2010 « Laufer and Associates

This month we're highlighting the perils and pitfalls of social networking websites and how they may affect your job search for the best – or the worst. Stay tuned for next month's issue; we're going to take a stab at helping to unravel fact from fiction surrounding our groundbreaking new healthcare bill and how it affects you, employed or not, your kids, seniors, and college students. We will provide resources and tips for maximizing coverage for you and your family.

Wishing you a joyful tulip and daffodil filled splendid spring!

Exactly the Position I Envisioned
Success Story: Laura Jeddrey

My working relationship with Laufer and Associates began years ago. I was immediately drawn to Julie, her team, and the customized career search Laufer and Associate's offer. I recently spent months reaching out to my network, considering positions in the industry, and leveraging resources. Julie and her co-worker, Eve, were the first to identify and present to me exactly the position I envisioned!

During an interview for my new role, I was asked a great question: "how much of your resume is the result of your own doing?" I explained that I attribute a great deal of my success to discipline and initiative. However, success cannot occur in a vacuum; it requires teamwork and the ability to align yourself with great people – great people like those at Laufer and Associates.

I'm beyond thankful for the support and opportunity Julie and Eve have given to me and would recommend that you reach out to them today!~ Laura Jeddrey

Gaining Confidence
Katie Hallahan: Our FeaturedTemp

I am very thankful to Laufer and Associates for helping to find my perfect job!!

After being at my job for 11 years I was nervous and afraid of changing careers. However I was working for a company that did not appreciate all my hard work and I was working like a robot, so I knew I needed a change!

I interviewed with Kelly Shalk after applying for a position that was posted on line. We immediately hit it off and Kelly wanted to recommend me for the job. She reassured me that I was perfect for the position and that I was going to do great!!!! After many pep talks with Kelly, she completely gave me the
confidence that I needed.

I got the job!!

I've been with my new company now for a couple of months and couldn't be happier. I'm told constantly to keep up the good work AND I have so much more time for me. I feel like I have a new family and love coming to work every day. I never thought in a million years that was ever possible.

I wouldn't be where I am today without Laufer and Associates, and especially without Kelly's pep talks. I recommend them to everybody I know. I'm the happiest I've been in a long time and I can honestly say that I owe all to Laufer and Associates!! ~ Katie Hallahan

Not so Tweet
How Social Networking Affects Your Career Search

Hey, you should Friend me.

Most of you who are reading this probably know what I am talking about. With the advent and popularity of Face Book, Twitter, LinkedIn and a myriad of other online communities, online networking has become a way of life. It allows us to connect with long lost loves, forgotten relatives, friends at work, college roommates and your future boss. As society continues to strive to become an online community, employers are becoming savvier and are resorting to social networking tools, not only for recruiting, but to check you out. Employers not only read your resume with a fine tooth comb, conduct extensive testing, and run background checks, but they also google you to find out exactly who they may potentially be hiring.

Microsoft recently commissioned a study to examine the impact your online reputation has on hiring and what consumers are doing to manage it. The study was conducted in Germany, France, the UK and the USA from December 10, 2009 through December 23, 2009.

Microsoft states: "An online reputation is the publicly held social evaluation of a person based on his or her behavior, what he or she posts, and what others (such as individuals, groups, and Web services) share about the person on the Internet." Most job seekers underestimate the impact their online reputation has on their job search. Less than 15% of those polled don't think their online information impacts their job opportunities, while 70% of hiring managers consider an applicant's online reputation, when hiring a new employee. In fact, 75% of the professionals polled claim to have formal workplace policies requiring an internet search of potential employees!

Employers want to know who you are after the suit comes off and the jeans go on. They are not only looking for what's been posted online by you, but also what's been posted about you, or to you. Your value is now not only determined by your actions and/or words but also any comment posted by your "friends" connected to you that a future employer is able to view. Nearly half of the hiring professionals polled in America did not hire a candidate based on inappropriate comments written by friends.

So what are some steps you can take to manage your online reputation? We're not recommending that you deny yourself an online social existence to keep us all informed of your "status updates," rather, we suggest taking another approach in representing yourself as a future employee. Use your privacy settings; keep your profile picture clean and appropriate; create separate profiles: a "professional" one with only work-appropriate pictures and comments that is search-able (and viewable) and a "private" one that only people you approve can see. Remember your friends are not the only ones who are reading what you put on the web.

To read the full study click here.

Become a fan of Laufer and Associates on Face Book! And follow us on Twitter!

Resume Tips!
The Look of a Wining Resume

Previously, I talked about details you should include in your resume, like bullet points. In this article I'm tackling a broader subject: the length and look of your resume. You want to make sure your resume is relevant and honest and shows you in the best possible light. And most importantly you don't want to lose your reader's attention.

Length:
A general rule of thumb is to keep your resume between one and two pages. If you are a recent grad with minimal experience your resume should be shorter. There is no need to bulk up your resume with a list of short-lived jobs. Go ahead and leave off that one month stint at McDonald's. Highlight your most recent, and most relevant positions. Don't have many of those? Then bring your educational background, volunteer experience, leadership examples and extracurricular activities to the forefront.

Conversely, if you are a more senior candidate with a lot of experience in your field, then your resume should be longer to reflect that. Include all the jobs that are relevant to your new search, but perhaps leave off the minute details of each position. You were in charge of making coffee every morning? That detail can probably be left off. You were in charge of calendar management for the CEO? That definitely needs to be included!

Look:
You want your resume to stand out because of the great experience and amazing skill set you have that it so expertly displays, and not because it is pink and scented.* Your resume should be printed on good quality plain paper. Unless you are a graphic designer, there is no need to have color, pictures, or borders on your resume. This also applies to your emailed submission. Our recruiters tend to view flowery backgrounds, and any online "stationary" to be less professional in appearance.

You want your resume to present you as an ideal employee. You want potential employers to read your resume, and remember it. Most importantly though, you want it to be remembered for all the right reasons.

* Yes, that is a reference to Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.

Don't Forget About Our Referral Program!

The rules are simple. Tell everyone you know about Laufer and Associates and have them view our website and contact us directly, or provide us with the names of qualified professionals. Once a person whom you have referred works as a temporary employee or gets placed permanently by Laufer and Associates at a client company, you will receive the cash amount listed below.

$100 Permanent Bonus — You are eligible for our $100 Referral Bonus if Laufer and Associates place your referral in a permanent position. Referral must stay employed in position for the length of our guarantee period, commonly 90 days.

$100 Temporary Bonus – You are eligible for our $100 Referral Bonus if Laufer and Associates place your referral in a temporary position. Referral must work as a temporary employee for at least 1,000 hours to qualify. There is no limit to the number of employees you may refer.

writer hands

We love hearing feedback and stories from past and present candidates; please email them to [email protected].

Our experience has also taught us that great candidates often know other great candidates, so be sure to take advantage of our referral bonus program.

Sincerely,

Ellinor Chandler