August 2010 « Laufer and Associates

This month I am pleased to announce the addition of a highly lauded member to our ranks at Laufer, Bonnie Thorpe, Senior Staffing Manager. Having had the pleasure of partnering with her while she was in corporate HR at Bain & Co., we are now enjoying the melding of our firm's culture combined with her strong foundation in HR and recruitment. Bonnie will be able to leverage her strong relationship management, recruitment and HR expertise on behalf of our discerning clients and candidates. Welcome Bonnie!

For more on Bonnie, please see her full bio on our webiste here.

Corinna Noering – Success Story

Laufer was my invaluable job resource!

While searching for my next job, and trying to start a new career Laufer and and Associates were an invaluable resourse to me. Julie and Kelly constantly had new ideas, were quick to set up a new interview or have a new temp opportunity available. While the process of finding a new job was by no means seamless, Laufer was able to take a great deal of the stress out my search with outstanding feedback and advice.

The team at Laufer was always available to me, whether it was to provide insight on interview or helpful hint to make my resume stand out.

I now find myself finishing the first month of a job I love in a global design company, in position that allows me to grow with company and do something that I greatly enjoy. Thank you Laufer for all of your hard work – I could not have done this without you!

Our Featured Temp of the Month:
Jocelyn Williams

Jocelyn Wiliams I worked with Julie years ago before she even started Laufer and Associates and knew she was a find. I was then laid off last year, like many people, and started my job search. I interviewed and started working with four placement agencies until I ran across Laufer. When I found out it was Julie, I was thrilled. I arrived at their funky and fabulous offices and found what I was finally looking for in a placement agency.

Julie and her team blew me away. Julie, as I remembered, was warm, friendly and eager to help. But beyond that, she conducted an interview like I had never experienced before. She asked the most thoughtful questions about me and what I was looking for: things like what I thought I was good at, what I was missing in my career, and what parts of my resume really spoke about who I was, etc. It was the most in depth and complete interview I had ever had. Julie and her team were the ONLY ones to even get me interviews! And the interviews were spot on for what I was looking for in a company and in a job.

I got the job I was looking for, and it is all thanks to the Laufer team! They guided me through the interview process by prepping me, helping me write thank you notes and following up after the interview. They kept me in the loop and made sure I felt positive and motivated through every step of the process.

I cannot thank Laufer and Associate
enough!

Seven Ways to Survive Unemployment:

Staying in bed until noon, not changing out of pajamas, and eating pints of Ben and Jerry's straight from the container are all sure signs you've been hit with the unemployment blues. After months of job hunting with little or no success it is natural to spiral into a depression and adopt a self-defeating attitude. But to make a more enjoyable and successful job search and keep your sanity, it is incredibly important to remain proactive and positive.

The best word of advice for interviewing as well as maintaining general sanity is to stay positive. Don't sit around and stew about how hard the market is, how unlucky you are to be out of work, or how unemployable you've become. This attitude will just make you unhappier and in an interview put off potential employers.

During your job hunt, it's important to present an optimistic attitude whenever you're conducting a job interview. As Prudence says in her advice column, "…answer all their questions without sounding bitter, defensive, or desperate. I know it's hard to stay positive, but by doing so, you will make your return to the work world that much more likely."

So you've just been laid off or didn't get the job, again, what should you do?

Cry it out. Spend a day in front of the TV with Oprah to keep you company and eat Chinese take-out straight from the box. Give yourself that time to be upset. Then move on. Dust yourself off, get dressed and go out into the world.

Here are just some suggestions on how to keep your spirits up and make the most out of your unemployment.

Structure your day and set up a disciplined game plan that you stick to each day. Sleeping late, surfing channels in your pajamas, grazing at the fridge, doing crossword puzzles and otherwise "taking it easy," while tempting, will not boast your self esteem, or help you find a job.
Consider contract or temp work. This might not be your long-term goal, but temping does offer many benefits, including generating income and keeping you in the workforce. (With Laufer, you may qualify for benefits after a waiting period. Speak with your consultant to learn more).
Volunteering. Find a project where you can keep skills honed and leverage those talents by helping others.
Join a job hunting support group like the ones listed on the Riley Guide. Share your experiences with others in the same situation and build a network.
Waiting all day for a response on your resume? Don't obsess over e-mail or voice mail. Set up three access times a day – and then let it go. The reality is you won't hear from every company you submit your resume to.
Keep the fun in your life! Go to a movie matinee, read a mystery, fiddle with plants, or take your dog for a long walk in a fun park. You're going through a difficult, frustrating time and deserve a little self-care.
Keep perspective! While your situation may seem overwhelming, take a step back and understand the reality of your circumstances. Find the positives in your life and appreciate that you have good health or a loving partner or great kids. Unemployment can be a blow to our egos and finances, but it can also be a time to realize that in general, things are pretty good in our lives compared to others who are less fortunate.

Keep your chin up. The right job for you is out there and you will find it. Life is full of unexpected turns, like being laid off, but if you can roll with the punches and keep a positive outlook and the bad times won't seem so bad and won't last so long.

Interview Tips Corner

The hardest tumble a man can make is to fall over his own bluff. ~Ambrose Bierce

You got the interview! You're dressed appropriately, you've done your research and have intelligent questions to ask. You're on time and ready to ace the interview! When asked questions, how do you respond?

With three words: Keep it Honest.

There are obvious reasons to tell the truth. Aside from a nagging conscience and possible sleeplessness, background checks and simple reference checks will catch you in an lie or an inaccurate date; as a result, any interest a potential employer may have in you is gone, and the job offer is rescinded. Exaggerated experience or inflation of job title may land you in a job for which you are not qualified — and submerge you in some hot water. You could very well be let go due to poor performance.

We have seen tragic cases of candidates' offers rescinded because of circumstances like the following: a degree was not awarded even though coursework was completed because school payments were not made, and the candidate still added a graduation date to his resume. Misinformation is an indication of a bigger problem, if not the more nefarious action of outright lying.

Your Laufer and Associates recruiter can provide sensitive advice on what is best to say for each particular situation.

For a list of responses to questions from your interviewer, check out this article from US News and World Report.

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.

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
Laufer and Associates
Marketing & Communications Manager