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| From the Desk of Julie Laufer |
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 What makes a person lucky? Often it's less about actual luck than it is about a person's general outlook. Here's why.
Former Wall Street Journal and Fortune writer Erik Calonius points to a fascinating study by a psychologist Richard Wiseman. Wiseman surveyed a bunch of people to find out who considered themselves lucky or unlucky, then performed a very interesting test:
[Wiseman] gave both the "lucky" and the "unlucky" people a newspaper and asked them to look through it and tell him how many photographs were inside. He found that on average the unlucky people took two minutes to count all the photographs, whereas the lucky ones determined the number in a few seconds.
How could the "lucky" people do this? Because they found a message on the second page that read, "Stop counting. There are 43 photographs in this newspaper." So why didn't the unlucky people see it? Because they were so intent on counting all the photographs that they missed the message.
So what does this mean? From the article:
"Unlucky people miss chance opportunities because they are too focused on looking for something else. They go to parties intent on finding their perfect partner, and so miss opportunities to make good friends. They look through the newspaper determined to find certain job advertisements and, as a result, miss other types of jobs. Lucky people are more relaxed and open, and therefore see what is there, rather than just what they are looking for."
People who we often consider lucky are more relaxed and open to what's going on around them. They're not focused on a single task, blocking out everything else so much that they miss something important and unexpected. What this experiment demonstrates is that luck may not so much be luck, but whether or not our mindset leaves us open to opportunities we would otherwise miss because we're so absolutely sure of what we want.
The above is taken from writer, Adam Dachis's article on What Lucky People Do Differently than Unlucky People. With a little 'lucky' mindfulness, along with a healthy approach to your job search, your new job could be just around the corner – keep your eye out.
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| Success Story: Devon Marquis |
 "I recently relocated to Massachusetts and was eager to find a great position in the Boston area. A close friend of mine had started her career in Boston several years ago and had found her first position using Laufer and Associates. She has since had a very successful career, including multiple promotions and opportunities for growth. When she found out that I was starting my own job search, she referred me to Julie right away and told me that she had no doubt Julie would find me the perfect fit. I knew from my first meeting with Julie that this was true. Julie was very professional yet so easy to talk to. By asking great questions and digging deep into my professional background, she really helped me to clarify exactly what type of company I was looking for and what I truly wanted to do in my career moving forward.
After our first meeting, she immediately recommended a company that she felt would offer the type of environment that I was looking for and a position that would be a great fit for my personality, background and experience. After I began the interview process, I realized that she was right on the mark. Her first choice for me was definitely my first choice too, and I was thrilled when they offered me the position!
Throughout the entire interview process, Julie worked with me every step of the way. She was always readily available to talk, wanted to hear feedback, and was truly involved in the process. I was continually impressed by how pleasant, upbeat and enthusiastic she was and I felt that she was really pulling for me. She gave me the one-on-one attention that made me feel like she had a genuine investment in my success and it goes without saying that this is a crucial piece when you work with a recruiting firm. The quality of service that I received was beyond my expectations and I would certainly refer my own close friends to Laufer and Associates!"
– Devon Marquis
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| Temp of the Month: Ralitsa Larsen |
 "I was fortunate to work for a small start up company in upstate NY for seven years. I had many job functions– Project Manager, Executive Assistant and HR Manager at the same time. The company's main activity was the development of a new surgical instrument, which has the potential to bring minimally invasive surgery from the OR to a doctor's office by making the procedure much faster and safer. My work was completed in April of this year, and I decided to move to Boston, a city I had visited for meetings and vacations as often as I could in the past.
In the challenging job market, I was prepared to search for a position for two or three months. I believed that having a solid and current business education and a stable work history would surely help me to find a job in this period. In August, still unemployed, I decided to explore the option of using the assistance of a recruiting firm in my career search process. The help of Laufer and Associates was strongly suggested to me by an acquaintance, who insisted that Julie is the one and only to go to in Boston. I made an appointment for the next Monday.
I loved meeting Julie! She is professional, personal, supportive, and very honest. I left the office feeling assured, that I was working with the right team. When did I begin work? The next day! The position I was assigned to was the perfect fit for my educational background, and it matched my personality traits. I continued to evolve with my assignment from a general Administrative Assistant to an AP Coordinator. I am now beginning my third month with the same company, and I am so glad that I am a part of an amazing team.
My career search is not complete, but I am not worried because I am working with a great recruiting team, Laufer and Associates. I am confident that whatever the future holds, it will be a great new adventure!
Thank you Julie and Cristin! I am grateful for your help and continued support!"
– Ralitsa Larsen
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| Healthy Steps to Job Searching |
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As the temperature drops and the petri dish of colds and flu bugs spread within offices, keeping your immune system in check is a must. Taking preventative measures and educating yourself on best practices is the smart route to take. The same goes for your job search. You may be wondering, what in the world is a healthy job search? Here is what you can do to promote a healthy job search.
Pay attention to your feelings. If you have recently been fired or laid off, it is ok to feel sad and confused. If you acknowledge your feelings, you should be able to use them as the impetus to move forward. If you are feeling low, take small steps to achieve your goals. The completion of those first small steps will give you a sense of accomplishment.
The job should not be your only goal. Break it down into incremental goals; what did I learn on the interview? How will this experience help me gain further insight into performing better next time? If you look at interviewing as a learning experience, the process will feel much more natural. Set concrete goals for yourself, such as, "I will send my resume to X amount of companies by the end of the month."
Apply for jobs that match up with your interests. Just because your experience appears to be a fit for the role doesn't necessarily mean it's the right job for you. It's always best to research the companies you are applying for, or ask the recruiter you are working with about the company's unique culture. The same goes for the opposite – just because you are interested in a job doesn't mean your experience is a fit. If the job description says you have to have at least 10 years of experience, but you only have three years, it is most likely not a fit. This will give you more time and energy to focus on applying for jobs for which you are perfect.
Avoid the phrase, "I need a job". Yes, you may truly need a job, but saying this comes across as desperate. Focus on your skills and what you are really good at. Sometimes it can be difficult to talk about yourself, but a good career coach or your favorite recruiter can help you come up with great things to talk about.
Proper follow up. If you are working with a recruiter, we love to hear about your interviews. If you feel uncertain about anything, we can help guide you in the right direction. Something we cannot stress enough is the art of the well-crafted thank you note. Thank you notes give you a chance to assert any points that you may have missed during the interview, to genuinely thank the interviewer for their time, and to reinforce your interest in the position.
Along with your flu shot and hand sanitizer, make sure you are keeping your job search healthy as well!
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| LauferTrend |
 An annual survey conducted by Universum, found some interesting statistics after gathering the data found from 400,000 students and professionals (worldwide). Percentage wise, they were able to crack down which personality traits were most desireable to employers in 2012.
The first three can be evaluated within the first 30 seconds of meeting a job candidate, which makes them extremely critical:
86% Professionalism
78% High-energy
61% Confidence
The last two are a combination of self, experience, and interview preparation:
58% Self-monitoring
57% Intellectual curiosity
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| 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.
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.
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