Happy hour is typically known as a great place to blow off some steam and catch up with friends after a long week. It also can be the site where you chat your way into a new job.

It’s always easier to hear about new jobs through your friends and colleagues out in a casual setting than the forced settings of recruitment fairs and job conventions. Everyone is more relaxed and receptive. If you play your social etiquette cards right, you may be able to get some important information that can help advance your career.

Putting a Face to the Name
There is a lot of competition out there for not as many jobs. Getting out there and being social is one way to put yourself at the top of the resume pile. You never know who you will meet at a fundraising event or even at the local food truck. And those interactions can prepare you for more formal interaction.

Going out and meeting new people, striking up conversations, all makes it that much easier when you want to pick up the phone and introduce yourself to a potential employer. Employers get so many resumes for positions—the best way to stand out is to introduce yourself at an event or with a phone call. They just may remember who you are and see that you are an enterprising individual, resulting in an interview and job placement.

Bartenders as Recruiters
Bartenders are good to know. They see all, hear all and know all. They are easily the most popular person at the bar. But bartenders won’t give up their secrets and information to just anyone. You have to develop a relationship with them, just like anyone else. Become a regular at the establishment. Tip well. If you take care of bartenders, they will take care of you. Be real and strike up normal conversations. You never know who they may be able to connect you to.

Striking Up a Conversation
It’s not always easy to make the first move in social situations. Happy hour luckily loosens up quite a few folks. But even if you don’t drink there are certain ways to start a conversation with others that are easy to try.

First of all, be yourself and relax. People can tell when someone is puffing out their chest or putting on heirs.

Next, don’t just talk about yourself. Ask questions about other people. Ask them what they are working on or passionate about or do in their spare time. People like to know that you are interested in them. It makes them feel important.

It’s better to put yourself out there than not, no matter where the conversation will lead.

Dos and Don’ts
Of course, in any situation infused with alcohol; there are some rules and standards you should probably abide by going in. It helps to keep the social aspect under control—especially if you are using it to network.

Number one: Set a drink limit. If you are just out with your friends for a good time, that is fine. If you are looking to network and meet people this is essential. You do not want to get sloppy in front of a potential employer.

Number two: Keep it causal. Don’t get into too many details at a bar. If you make a great connection with someone and want to get into specifics, schedule a meeting for the next week.

Number three: Avoid gossip and negative talk.

Number four: Don’t be pushy. No one likes a salesman at their happy hour.

Number five: Talk about your other interests. Talking about work and your job all the time is boring to most people.

Number six: Follow up. Make sure you stay in contact with those people who you have conversed. Take those business cards you have collected and send an email or note in the following days.

Clark Personnel Service can help you make the right connections. Contact us today!

Interesting article about social media and recruting. Hope you gain some insight on this topic.

http://www.staffingtalk.com/use-social-media-to-recruit-or-die/

Communication is a necessary skill for any job. Even if you are not in an editorial type field, proper written communication is respected and appreciated.

Your first line of presentation when applying to any position is often the cover letter and resume. Within this first impression, many companies can judge what kind of candidate you will be for the organization, and how well you can express yourself within the written word—something you may have to do much of as a manger, researcher, or at any company position.

There are several essential communications pieces to present correctly for gainful employment success. These include the cover letter or letter of inquiry, resume, thank you letter and letter of acceptance or refusal (if needed). Structuring these in the correct form can make or break you as a candidate.

Cover Letter and Letter of Inquiry
A cover letter is used to apply to an advertised position, while a letter of inquiry is sent to a company expressing interest in acquiring any open position at a favorable company. There are ways to structure these that make them easy to read for potential employers and showcase your best assets.

The opening paragraph should wow the employer. You need to explain why you are interested in the company and position, and how your career objectives relate.

The middle paragraph is where you get into details and examples of your skill set. This is the chance to really show off and provide them with examples of your best work.

The other body paragraphs are a bit fluffier, but really get into the how and why you want to work for this company, and how well you would fit in.

The end paragraphs thank the employer for the time to look over your credentials, reiterate your interest in the position and invite the employer to contact you to set up a meeting time.

Resume
Your resume is the main link of communication for selling yourself. It displays your experience and skill set in an organized, easy-to-comprehend manner. The goal of a resume is to give employers an honest and thorough representation of your skills. In each position you reflect specific job skills and strengths. And make sure you always include your contact information!

If you are a recent graduate, include your GPA in the education section.

Make sure each entry includes your company name, position and specific job skills for that position. Use verbs and action words to describe your work.

At the end of your resume make sure to include any community activities, honors or charitable organizations you are involved with.

Thank You Letter
Depending on the type of environment you encountered on your interview and the urgency to fill the position, you can either e-mail a thank you note or send an actual paper note. Keep it short and sweet and make sure to refer to the specific position you interviewed for. Also make sure to reiterate your interest in the company.

Letter of Acceptance/Refusal
If your potential job is located outside of the area a letter of acceptance for a position may be required. You must include confirmation of the position and the salary given, accept, and then thank them for the opportunity to join the company. Many companies also require this just to have something on file.

In a letter of refusal mention the specific position you are turning down and respectfully decline the offer. Make sure you give a specific reason for declining the position and thank the employer for their time and efforts. You never want to burn bridges.

And for all correspondence, no matter what step you are in the employment line, always keep it professional. Keep all letters and resumes to one page in length and proofread, proofread, proofread!

Clark Personnel Service can help you with all of your job search questions. Call us today!

Finding out about a company can be much like detective work. There is a lot of who, what, where, when, why and how. Much like getting to know a new friend or potential date—things may look different on the outside before you get to know them.

When you get to know about a company, apply, and then earn a job interview, these questions must still be continued to be asked—even before you decide to accept an interview.

In an effort to find the best match, consider asking your potential employer these questions to gain a better grasp on what you can expect.

WHO will I be meeting with?  It’s good to know the name and title of the person you are interviewing with before you go in there. You can research their position within the company, as well as the department, and what exactly they do. Plus you’ll probably have different questions for a manager you’d be working with directly versus someone in a senior position.

Plus, knowing someone’s name shows that the company is well organized and serious about filling the position. Otherwise, you may end up in a group interview with 10 other people, and notice that all the company is worried about is filling the position, not your interview experience.

WHERE is the interview? It’s not cool to be wandering around lost outside or inside of a building. You don’t want to be locked out as well. Make sure you get apt directions as well as a phone number in case you have trouble getting into the building.

Also, it pays to know that the company has an actual, physical, real office. Just to make sure they are legitimate.  You never know.

WHY do you believe my qualifications are a good fit for the opportunity? If a company really cares about you, they will know exactly why they want you and why you are a potentially good fit for the role. If they can’t answer this question, they are just looking to fill the position as fast as possible, probably without any good career path plan.

WHAT goals do you have for this position? Know what you are getting into. A company that knows what they want to accomplish is a great company to work for, and you can decide if you are interested or capable in what they are proposing.

And don’t forget when you are in the interview ALWAYS have something to ask THEM. You don’t have to barrage them with questions, but having one or two pointed questions about the company, department or position are always good to bring to the table.

Clark Personnel Service can help you navigate through the interview process. Contact us today!

No one likes to receive a call out of the blue from a stranger. If you do get one, it’s usually to sell something, like insurance, or a magazine subscription, or a collections agency. It’s never just for a friendly, “hello, how are you doing?”

Employers are not big fans of this either. Particularly human resource departments.

So what if you do want to go work at a company, but don’t personally know anyone there for an “in?” Are there ways to get around this and build a relationship with someone in the company?

Absolutely.

There is a right way to go about cold calling a company and seamlessly navigating your way in. Here are some tips on how to do so.

Make them feel important. Don’t talk about yourself. Don’t start out saying, “I’m John, and I’m interested in working for your company because I have fabulous computer programming skills.” Nuh uh. Not going to work. When you do call, ask them questions about the company, or bring up items that may have been in the news about the company. Make them feel like you are truly interested in what THEY do, not what they can do for YOU.

Research and personalize. If you do cold call, you better do your homework. Research the background of the company. Search for the latest projects they have been working on and achievements garnered. Make sure you know exactly what they do. Also, find out a specific name of a contact person. Do not just call and ask for the human resources manager. You are likely to go straight to voicemail.

Be nice to the little guy. Executive assistants and secretaries may seem low on the totem pole, but actually these people usually know EVERYTHING about a company (especially if they are working as an assistant to a CEO or vice president). Get to know these people. They are a treasure trove of information.

Warm up via the Internet. There are tons of ways to get to know someone now, before you even talk to them in person. Connect with them on LinkedIn. Follow and interact with them on Twitter. If they blog, make sure to read it and comment when appropriate. That way when you do give them a call, you will have a wealth of knowledge about what they are about, and they may recognize you from the web.

Call Clark Personnel Service to connect with some great companies—without the cold calling!

The digital era has modernized the practice of good old references. Instead of mailing in a list of references with phone numbers and e-mails on a piece of crunchy old paper, job seekers can now collect referrals at the touch of the button, through LinkedIn.

LinkedIn recommendations provide an opportunity for coworkers and clients to leave a detailed message, on your profile, of a prime experience you had working together. No longer does a recruiter have to search and converse with a list of references, now they can see everything, and find you before you have to find them.

So should you have LinkedIn recommendations? Are they a benefit to you?

Absolutely.

How LinkedIn recommendations help:

Search rankings: You can become a higher result in people and industry searches when other users are leaving fresh content, i.e. recommendations, on your profile.

Credibility: If someone provides you with a thoughtful, well-written recommendation, other recruiters and companies see that you surround yourself and work with high quality people.

Action: Recommendations can tell the world what you can’t explain in a job history list. Recommendations can tell a story of your top accomplishments on the job, and how you got there.

Validation: Recommendations associate you with other credible people who are happy to attach their name to you. Not everyone is comfortable doing that in the working world.

Of course, not every recommendation will work for you. Make sure people put some thought and detail into their recommendations, as you should as well. The more specific, the better, for people that are trying to find out about your strengths.

Example of what does not work:

Jerry was a bright, punctual worker who contributed to the team.

This is too vague and honestly does more harm than good. These, while nice, should be removed from your profile.

Example of what does work:

Jerry helped us boost fourth quarter sales by 60% when he introduced his mobile text marketing plan to three of our largest clients.

Here, the recommender is giving specific results and how they were reached.

What makes a good LinkedIn recommendation?

Details: Have recommendations be specific to your job description, and skip the traditional accolades—punctual, hard-working, etc. What your endorsers don’t say may hurt your credibility.

Writing: The writing must be grammatically correct and well done. Someone who posts a sloppy piece of writing is a poor reflection on you.

Thoughtfulness: Including a story with detailed examples on how that person created change and success.

Human voice: Don’t be so formal. You can write well and tell a story in a casual tone. Formal recommendations can sound robotic, canned and give no insight.

Connect: Say something about how you met and/or are connected with the person.

Remember, LinkedIn recommendations are much more reliable and important than the old school of referrals, because someone is attaching a name and a face and a reputation to what they are saying. It shouldn’t be used for anonymous cheerleading.

And the best way to get great recommendations? Don’t even ask. Give out some great ones. People will gladly return the favor.

Call  Clark Personnel Service for more tips on how to present yourself as the perfect job candidate!

Social media is picking up speed as one of the best ways to search for jobs. One of the newer platforms, increasing in popularity, is Pinterest. Pinterest is a virtual cork board, which allows you to “pin” or upload photos and images from different websites.

Pinterest is great for finding the latest fashions or delicious recipes, but it can also be helpful in a job search. How can this visual tool guide you? Here are some ideas.

1. Find and research potential companies: Many organizations and companies are now creating their own Pinterest boards to showcase different aspects about their company. It’s a very useful human resources tool. From company picnic photos to awards sessions, it’s a nice way to display a work culture.
2. Organize your passion: If you are unsure which field you really want to move in to, Pinterest can help. You can find and “pin” various images of things that interest you, whether it be gardening, economics or home repair. Pinterest is a great tool to organize thoughts and goals.
3. Create a portfolio: If you are in a design field, Pinterest is a great way to show off some of your work. But, because it is not a sales tool, be sure to include inspiring pins from others as well.
4. Find facts on different industries: You can search for any industry on Pinterest. Take a look at different boards from social media employment to medical, and find articles that can teach you more.

Of course, like any other social media platform, there are some pitfalls. A few things to keep an eye out for:

1. Privacy controls: Potential employers could be searching you as well. If you have an entire board of hot CEOs next to “Companies I’d Like To Work For,” well, they may be flattered, but also wary. You can also choose to link your Facebook and Twitter pages. Make sure to check out Pinterest’s help section, to teach you how to privatize your use.
2. Timesuck: Pinterest can be, well, addictive. Make sure to use only 15-20 minutes an hour and take breaks with it, rather than rely on it for your entire job search.

Clark Personnel Service always keeps up with the latest and greatest recruiting and job seeking tools. Call us today for more help on your search!

At times signing on to a certain company can be sort of like dating. Do you want to be with someone whose eyes are always on the prowl looking for the next best thing? Do you want to be with someone who is always interested in connecting themselves with someone better?

Chances are, if a company is the best of the best, it will want to work with the best. If you believe you are the best, you will have a great chance of sticking around.

Many companies advertise that they are “always looking for talented candidates.” They may not have a particular position listed, but if you are outstanding at an aspect of your industry, you can be sure that they will take a look at you. If you are an average candidate, you probably won’t get a second look.

So what exactly does a company mean when it puts itself out there this way?

• They do not have exact positions available but are looking for candidates who can knock their socks off to invest in.
• They are harvesting resumes for when the budget allows for a needed position.
• They are looking to replace a worker who may be nearing retirement or have some padding if an employer leaves.

Many people have gotten jobs through these types of advertisements. There are ways to approach a different sort of recruiting method such as this including:

• Send in a cover letter and resume explaining what you have to offer: You may be so successful at what you do that the company will have to have you.
• Never call: This is like a cold-call for sales. Plus, you don’t want to bother them if they are not looking to fill any positions and have better things to do.

If you want to connect your outstanding skills with the best employers contact Clark Personnel Service today!

Competition in the job market will never slow down. If anything, with the country’s economic strain, many more people are searching for fewer jobs. How do you set yourself apart from the rest? Sell the product of YOU!

Why not manage your career like a startup business?  Invest in yourself, build professional networks, take intelligent risks, and make uncertainty and volatility work to your advantage.

More information on this career philosophy can be found in The Startup of You, written by Reid Hoffman, cofounder and chairman of LinkedIn and Ben Casnocha, entrepreneur and author. Hoffman and Casnocha make some excellent points on creating a niche for your talents and getting the position and earnings you deserve.

The book acknowledges these three pieces to help you develop a competitive advantage:

1. Assets: What you have going for you now.  Your soft assets (like knowledge, skills, connections) and hard assets (like cash in the bank).
2. Aspirations and Values: Where you might like to go in the future.
3. Market Realities: What people will actually pay you for?

Executives continuously reassess these items to determine the right job search mindset and personal marketing strategy.

Other ways to thrive in your career through the startup mentality:

• Adapt your career plans as you change, the people around you change, and industries change

• Strengthen your professional network by building powerful alliances and maintaining a diverse mix of relationships

• Find the unique breakout opportunities that massively accelerate career growth

• Take proactive risks to become more resilient to industry tsunamis

• Tap your network for information and intelligence that help you make smarter decisions

Once you decide what qualities and strengths make you truly unique, your career goals can be achieved much easier. And to truly achieve we much think and work like a startup: no guts, no glory!

For additional help on putting your career on the fast track contact Clark Personnel Service.

When you’re trying to find a job, it’s easy to think of the hiring manager as the villain. Or the dragon you have to get past to get a job. But to increase your chances of getting hired, try to understand the hiring process from a hiring manager’s point of view. Some points to ponder:

1. Hiring managers are human beings too

When you go looking for a job, you’re preoccupied, of course, with your own needs and priorities.  Well, a hiring manager is interested, first and foremost, in protecting and promoting her own career. And she’s not going to willingly make a decision or take an action that might jeopardize it.

Your goal is to help them feel secure about hiring you. Managers want employees who are competent in terms of knowledge and skills, yes—but who can also be managed easily. A hiring decision for a manager is about feeling safe, in terms of protecting her department, her goals and her team.

2. Hiring is a risk assessment exercise

Managers know that nobody is perfect. Everyone has shortcomings, weaknesses, faults, biases and prejudices. And everyone has a downside. There’s a lot of truth to the old cliche that people hire who they know. Why? It’s easier to hire somebody you know because it’s easier to assess their downside.

In formal interviews, many questions are designed to uncover weaknesses and shortcomings: What is your greatest weakness? Describe a situation in which you were unsuccessful achieving a goal, and how did you respond? How would you rate your ability to resolve conflict on a scale of 1 to 10, from low to high, then give me an example?

3. Hiring is about pain relief

Consider the priorities of a hiring manager. Managers are responsible for achieving the goals and objectives of their organization. If it were easy to attain those goals, they could do all the work themselves and wouldn’t need employees!

But, of course, various problems, challenges, issues and pressures get in the way of corporate goals and objectives. To a sales professional, these things are known as “pain points.”

Salespeople need to understand their prospects’ pain points in order to make that pain go away. In a job search, you’re selling yourself as the product or service for the hiring manager’s pain relief.

Your job in an interview is to uncover that agenda.  Listen for clues to the hiring manager’s pain points. Respond not with the features of your value proposition (i.e. your education, experience, personal traits) but with benefits (i.e. how you can help them with their pain points).

Establish rapport with a manager by focusing on their needs and priorities.  Flush out concerns. What challenges, issues, problems, pressure points are driving this hiring decision? Reduce risk. Find out what red flags the manager may have about hiring somebody they don’t know. Make it easy for them to hire you!

For more great interview tips, contact Clark Personnel today!