How to Ace Your Job Hunt and Work with Recruiters The Ultimate Guide

How to Ace Your Job Hunt and Work with Recruiters The Ultimate Guide Over the years I have spoken with hundreds of people who need some general job hunting (and staying at a job!) advice. I started compiling some hints, tricks, tips, thoughts, aphorisms, maxims, adages, proverbs, truisms and the occasional soliloquies. After awhile, I stopped talking and started sending people a document. The document grew and grew. I am sharing it with you below. I hope it will help with any job hunts you do and I also hope it will save you time with candidates. Take a read of my article and get back to me with any specific questions in the comments below. (An important note, I have been using this so long I have no idea what is 100% mine, what I “borrowed” from elsewhere, and what I simply cut and pasted. So, if I used your work, MEA CULPA!) Job searching is a full-time job: You need to wake up early apply to every job you can find! Call companies and ask to speak to HR and dont be shy. What is your search strategy? IMNSHO, leveraging connections is the best way. After that, what I do is set myself a goal of 10 resume sends a day. I email 5 to jobs that are posted, and 5 Pro-Active ones to HR Managers (Who I find via LinkedIN) of companies that I’d like to work for. I keep a spread sheet of everything, and do a follow-up call one week to the day later… Resumes: Every job you send your resume too is different. Why would you send the same resume to every job? Change your summary/objective to reflect the role you are applying for, and use the language of the job… Move bullets around to match what is important in the description. NEVER EVER LIE But it is often not what you say, but how you say it. Job hunting is a series of hoops that all lead to an offer. The first hoop is getting an interview request based on your resume. Interviews: Do your research before an interview real research, understand the company and what your role is. If you go to an interview without knowing about the company, youll fail. Dont go to an interview more than 15 minutes early 5 minutes is perfect. If youre late to an interview or work, call ahead. That will probably make it insignificant. Most managers interviewing are NOT professional interviewers. Memorize the job description and ask questions about the position early gear your answers to that. Dont mention kids, marriage, your gender or race. The EEOC scares everyone hiring, you dont want them worried about making a decision about you because they now know this. Dont forget its an interview. Stay professional, great interviewers will make you laugh and comfortable and dont use any inappropriate language. Working with agencies and recruiters: By: ExecutiveSearch Toronto If youre working and an agency says something is temp to hire, ask if they’ll hire you will they be continuing the job search? Has HR/finance approved the headcount/budget? Ask both the recruiter and the hiring manager this. Make sure if you use a staffing agency they call you before sending your résumé, especially if you use more than one. If a recruiter keeps trying to get you jobs out of your field, ditch them. You need to stay in your field. General job hunting advice: Have a legitimate LinkedIn profile and connect with everyone! Stay working in your field. If you lose a job spend every waking moment applying and calling into your profession. Nothing hurts a job search more than time not working. Do not sound desperate, sound inquisitive, be receptive but question the company and if it is good enough for you. Don’t put the job on a pedestal. Dont be late or miss any days of work in your first 180 days. Just dont. It leaves a very sour taste in your manager’s mouth. It doesnt matter how good the excuse is. Get sent home, dont call out. Dont ever send a mass thank you email. Set up job posting alerts on job sites. When you get an email that a job youre interested in has been posted, stop at nothing to apply instantly. Pay your cell phone bill, dont change your number and answer every call. A lot of recruiters dont always call people back or play phone tag well (we kind of suck at that!) Leave a voicemail if you call someone and they dont pick up. Speak slowly, keep it brief and leave your number. Dont use slang. Dont say ax instead of ask. Dont say we was or we were. Ditch your accent and try to sound like Brian Williams or Barbara Walters. No weird piercings (ie: no nose or tongue rings), hair colors tattoos etc be professional! Suit up. This is Non-Negotiable. If its retail or fast food, if they dont hire you because youre wearing a suit (it happens) you dont want to work there, and you can find a good manager that wants you there. Unless you have a uniform or its explicitly stated to you, on your first day suit up. The next day you dress like the rest of your team. Dont be one of the cool kids. Every company has a group of employees that are too cool to buy in to the company. They dont want to hang out with their coworkers or follow rules. They like to ignore duties, complain and gossip. Dont join them. Stroke egos. Dont suck up, thats annoying. Ask advice from managers, follow their advice. If youre in college get an internship. Your degree is worthless without it. Any other tips? Let us know in the comments!

4 Important Health Benefits for Breastfed Babies

4 Important Health Benefits for Breastfed Babies Women have often heard the health benefits they receive when they breastfeed their children. This includes but isn’t limited to a reduced risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis later in life. It also helps them lose weight and naturally delays the conception of another child. However, the greatest health benefits of breastfeeding are reaped by the child. And there’s growing evidence that shows the different benefits children can get from breastfeeding, not only on a physical level but on a psychological level as well. The following are five important health benefits for breastfed babies. The Improved Immune System New research released by Antibodies.com has highlighted all the benefits of breastfeeding for infants. One of the biggest benefits is the immune system boost the child gets from the mother’s milk, which is why exclusive breastfeeding for more than four months has been shown to reduce hospitalisation risks for respiratory tract infections by up to 72%. It was also shown that pre-term babies who were fed breast milk had 60% fewer chances of developing enterocolitis, and the odds of a gut infection and inflammatory bowel disease were also cut by two-thirds. This is probably due to the colostrum the first form of milk produced by the mammary glands which contains antibodies to protect the newborn against disease that coats the baby’s digestive system with good bacteria before harmful bacteria can colonise it. The immunological benefits extend to the child’s own immunological responses. For example, breastfeeding a child for at least four months cuts their risk of eczema, dermatitis, and asthma by a third. These same children have half the risk of developing celiac disease, and they are less likely to suffer from ear infections and colds. This may or may not explain why breastfed children have half the risk of SIDS or cot death as other children. Breast milk provides a number of antibodies to the child that reduces their odds of contracting other infections such as diarrhoea which have historically been life-threatening in the developed world, and still kill millions of young children in the developing world today. This is why the study suggested that universal, exclusive breastfeeding would save the lives of over 800,000 children a year. In less serious cases, children who were breastfed generally recover faster than a formula-fed child because the baby picks up the mother’s antibodies. It is generally safe for the mother to breastfeed when ill, and in fact, the protective components in her milk typically increase in response to her infection. Research has also shown that breastfed babies are less likely to develop leukemia and lymphoma, which means that breastfeeding lowers their odds of developing cancer later on. The Metabolic Benefits Mothers have probably heard about how breastfeeding helps them return to a healthy weight faster, and it turns out that breastfeeding provides metabolic benefits for the child as well. For example, the child’s odds of developing Type 2 diabetes are up to forty percent lower, while the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes is up to thirty percent lower. These benefits last a lifetime too, as breastfeeding lowers the odds of your child becoming obese as an adult. The Psychological Benefits Breastfeeding could also literally boost your baby’s brainpower as well. In recent studies, it was shown that infants who were breastfed tend to do better on IQ tests. This is correlated to the extra 20 to 30 percent white matter found in toddlers and pre-schoolers who were breastfed exclusively for the first three months of life. One of the reasons why this could be so is because of special nutrients found in breast milk. Breast milk has been shown to be high in various long-chain fatty acids, such as DHA, for instance. DHA has been shown to have a positive effect on brain development and brain health in general. Children who were breastfed were also less prone to behavioural problems at school. For example, one study has shown that breastfed children were one third less likely to show behavioural problems at age five. This all adds up, and more importantly, the benefits extend beyond their early years. A British study found that infants who were exclusively breastfed for the first six months or more earned higher grades at age 16. Meanwhile, a Brazilian study found that breastfeeding for the first year was correlated with higher average wages at age 30. This was even seen when factors like mother’s education and household income were considered. This is aside from the intense emotional connection breastfeeding fosters between mother and child. Simply breastfeeding the child creates a secure, loving relationship. Breastfeeding will soothe an ill or upset child, too. In fact, you could breastfeed your child while they are receiving their vaccinations to provide natural relief to the pain. And because breastfeeding raises levels of oxytocin, the bonding hormone, it may help your child cope better with stress later in life. Recent studies have dispelled the myth that breastfed infants wake more often for feedings at night, and have found that breastfed infants actually get back to sleep sooner. This is because the oxytocin created when breastfeeding makes both mother and child more tired, and other hormones created when breastfeeding help the child develop a healthy sleep-wake cycle. The Overall Benefits Seen in Preemies A number of health benefits of breastfeeding are seen in premature infants in particular. Breastfed premature infants have a lower risk of sepsis and chronic lung disease. Breast milk is also the ideal food for them, helping them to gain weight as quickly and healthily as possible, which means they are more likely to come home early from the hospital. This is why breastmilk is considered a medical intervention for premature infants. Conclusion Breastfeeding has been shown to provide an amazing array of health benefits, and the evidence to support this is building. Furthermore, breastfeeding benefits your child for their entire lives. This is why you should strongly consider breastfeeding as an option, if this is a possibility for you.

About CareerSource Northeast Florida

About CareerSource Northeast Florida In February 2014, WorkSource changed its name to CareerSource Northeast Florida as part of a statewide rebranding initiative. We’re now part of a network of 24 regional CareerSource Florida organizations, and our unified brand makes it easier for jobseekers and employers to find services throughout Florida. CareerSource Northeast Florida has the tools you need to improve your ability to market your most valuable assetâ€"you.   Visit our career centers in Jacksonville Florida for  help with your job search. Visit us on the web for information about your  job search, job leads via the Employ Florida Marketplace, a schedule of career events and job fairs, and much more.

7 Popular Business Uses for Microsoft Excel - Classy Career Girl

7 Popular Business Uses for Microsoft Excel To the average person Excel is a number crunching program, used to track household expenses or calculate complex formulas for school homework. However, the program is capable of so much more and can be an incredibly powerful tool for businesses. Here are a few of the ways that businesses utilize Excel in the workplace. 7 Popular Business Uses for Microsoft Excel 1. Data entry and storage At its most basic level, Excel is an excellent tool for both data entry and storage. In fact, an Excel file’s size is only limited by your device’s computing power and memory. Worksheets can contain at most 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns. So obviously Excel can store a lot of data. Not only that, features such as Data Form make it easy for data to be inputted and viewed, where users can create customized data entry forms tailored for their specific business needs. This can be used to build and maintain customer mailing lists or employee work shift lists. 2. Collection and Verification of Business Data Businesses often employ multiple systems (i.e CRM, inventory) each with its own database and logs. All of which can be exported into Excel for easy access. The program can also be used to clean up data, by removing incomplete or duplicate entries; eliminating such data from the beginning is necessary as it can impact later analysis and reporting. 3. Administrative and managerial duties One aspect of managerial duties is creating and outlining business processes. This aids in process optimization and is an effective tool for organizing procedures and scenarios. Excel offers tools that allow users to create flow charts, which can include text, pictures, and animations. 4. Accounting and budgeting Excel even includes accounting and budgeting templates for easy use. From there the software’s built in calculating and formula features are available to help you organize and synthesize results. [Related Post:  13 Free Tools I Use to Improve My Productivity] 5. Data Analysis So you’ve been dumped with a giant pile of data and charged with drawing insights from it. Not to worry as Excel can also help you manage and synthesize clear communicable results from it. One of the best features to do this is called Pivot Tables. They allow users to consolidate and focus on certain segments of data from a large data set, creating concise snapshots that can be used as an interactive summary report. By applying filters or swapping out data segments, the table can be effortlessly changed to display desired data fields. 6. Reporting + Visualizations Data from both raw data sets and Pivot tables can even be used create charts and graphs. Which can be used for formal reports, presentations, or aid in one’s data analysis. As they can provide another perspective on trends and performance. Excel again offers a variety of ready-made chart templates but also allows users to fine-tune details such as colors, axis values, and text comments. Visual reporting can be used in all sectors of business. For instance, marketing teams can use a column chart to report the efficacy of an ad campaign over time and compare it to previous campaigns. 7. Forecasting While reporting and reviewing results is an important aspect of any business, forecasting and being prepared for various scenarios and changes is just as vital. Excel in conjunction with a third-party software can be used when simulating financial projections by using past data. Excel can also use a chart’s data set to create a formula which can be used to calculate future values.

How to buy meaningful presents on a budget - Debut

How to buy meaningful presents on a budget - Debut This post was written by an external contributor. Olivia Church gives some top tips for any students or graduates who need to purchase a present for a friend or loved one.   Taking the time to select gifts with a little added extra thought and effort always makes a great impression. Presents are a way to prove that we care about someone, and providing your relationships aren’t based solely on gift-giving, it can impact on another person’s life in a positive way. It can be difficult to allocate some time away from your work to find a gift for someone who means a lot to you. However, I can prove that in just a few steps you can come up with a present with meaning, which wont leave you out of pocket. Just listen This has to be the cheapest part of the process, and it doesn’t have to be specifically for the purpose of getting someone a gift. Listening to someone and learning about their passions, dislikes, interests and perspectives are all key when building up your impression and relationship with another person. If a special occasion arises and you want to give them more than just a listening ear, then making a physical or mental note of the little things is what will really amplify the impact of your gift. So listen carefully â€" the details that someone reveals about themselves could be the very springboards you’ll need. Think beyond the obvious Planning a bit in advance is always a good idea. Do you want to spend your money on a gift that is useful? Or would you prefer to something that is a bit more fun? Is it going to be your present or are you going to pitch in with other people? Are you going to a shop or are you going to order something online and pray that it will arrive on time? When you’ve got the logistics sorted, think of a few imaginative ideas. Let’s say you have a friend that loves coffee. Consider presents that are far from the shape of an average coffee mug. How about a coffee scented candle or a coffee themed I-phone case instead? Unidays currently offer a 15% off all orders from Casetify.com and the site has a wide range of cases to choose from. Alternatively, say you have a family member that loves a bit of shut-eye, think about purchasing a piece of funky sleep-related wall art or some late-night reading. ‘The 4 Pillar Plan’ by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee is worth a look. Plus with an Amazon Prime Student Membership  (discounted with NUS extra), you can get unlimited one day delivery on hundreds of products. One big or three small? Sometimes, you can’t go wrong with the rule of three. In my experience, a meaningful present can be encapsulated successfully in either three individual small gifts for a bit of variety and to create a little intrigue or one main present for maximum impact. Depending on the relationship you have with someone, you could splurge and use your budget on one item or divide it in to three and purchase smaller gifts. They could end up making a nice little gift set. Just don’t forget to remove the price label! Use your student discounts Unidays, NUS extra, Student Beans, Save the Student, Young Scot â€" all these sites will give discounts for high-quality and branded items. Every penny counts when you are in education (or have just come out of it) and so to have access to hundreds of deals without the high price tag is a great benefit. Always order items in plenty of time and if you are genuinely unhappy with your purchase, you can always negotiate a refund or a replacement â€" it’s your money after all! Plus you wouldn’t want to feel like you’ve let someone down when youve put a bit more thought into this than in the past. If you don’t want the fuss of online shopping, you can cut out the middle man by going out and checking if any independent or high-street shops promote specific student deals. Plus by doing this, it demonstrates extra thought, as opposed to just saying here’s-an-Amazon-voucher!. Good luck and happy gift giving! Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

New Year Resolutions versus Swing Thoughts

New Year Resolutions versus Swing Thoughts Instead of New Year resolutions, I have decided to go with the suggestion made by Chris Brogan in his end of year blog to identify three words to live by during the next year, or in his words, “my guiding pillars for what I will focus on in the coming year… a lighthouse for my actions and efforts”. For 2011, mine are: Fearless â€" to experiment forward boldly with no fear, to face situations without anxiety or worry Faith â€" to trust myself as I explore and have faith that it will all work out Fun â€" to enjoy every day, have more fun with what I choose to do, be more fun and laugh more; life doesn’t have to be so serious all the time so lighten up! Chris’ concept is consistent with another idea I like: of having a “swing thought”, which golf pro Gary Smith introduced to me as I struggled with the act of swinging the club and getting the ball in the air. Gary pointed out that if you try to apply the dozens of “how to swing a club” instructions all at the same time (e.g., keep your head down, keep your head still, grip the club like this, stick your backside out, drop your back shoulder…you get the picture) then it becomes almost impossible to hit the ball. Much better to focus on the single idea that most improves your swing at that point in time.   This is your “swing thought”.   It will change as you progress, but it is your focal point and allows you to do everything else in a free flowing and natural way.   I liked that idea so much that I incorporated it into my mentoring of others and found that the concept also works in the rest of life beyond golf. Just as Gary’s input helped me improve my golf game and mentoring outcomes, I look forward to Chris’ improving my focus this year â€" thanks guys.   And best wishes to all on your own New Year Swing Thoughts.

McMahon Writing & Resume Services

McMahon Writing & Resume ServicesThe McMahon writing & resume services are a great option for individuals who want to present their resumes in a professional way. This type of service provider specializes in producing cohesive resumes and allows people to fill them in the way they want.The company claims that these tools provide individual the chance to create a resume that reflects their strengths, talents, and capabilities. You can browse through a number of professional resume templates online and find one that will help you create a professional, accurate resume in a matter of minutes. This is possible because the companies have the knowledge and experience to create comprehensive, modern resumes that are both eye-catching and professional looking.With the help of the professional resume that the company produces, you will be able to boost your chances of getting the job you want and getting it quickly. These services are available at a reasonable cost, which means that y ou won't have to worry about spending money on professional writing services that might not be useful to you. However, you do need to be careful when looking for a company to provide you with the resume writing service.To ensure that you get what you want, it is advisable to go through a few companies to determine which one provides the best resume services. You should only hire a service provider that is experienced in creating compelling resumes. Because of this, you should compare all the services offered by the companies to see which one can give you the best result. Some other things to consider before choosing a company are the cost, professionalism, and speed of the response.The McMahon writing & resume services might also have professional writers that provide high quality services. These writers are experienced with different types of resumes and have the skills to match the needs of a resume. They are trained to make sure that the job applicant receives the right infor mation and that the resume is professionally designed. For those that have specialized knowledge in a certain area, this service provider is a good option for getting a great resume.Another thing to consider when choosing a company for the professional resume is the quality of their work. Although there are other companies that claim to offer high quality services, it is important to find a company that can produce a professionally written resume that gives your resume a professional touch. With the many resume service providers available, you should find one that is trusted and knows how to write well.While some companies might claim to offer cheap services, it is essential to find a company that is reliable. It is also important to check if there are other people who have worked with the company to determine how good the resume writing service is. With these tips, you can easily find a company that can fulfill your needs.Finding the best service provider for the resume services th at you need is not difficult. Just be sure to do your research so that you don't waste your time on companies that aren't worth your time. You can always make use of the Internet to look for a company to help you write your resume and the search engines can also be used to find a company that offers resume writing services.