The job market in some industries show a slight increase. However, secondary markets haven't seen much improvement. Ca tech positions are slowly opening up, as indicated in the recruiters circle. Companies are also hiring contract staff in those areas. Currently my networks are seeking the following
in CA: Cloud Computing Engineers contact Jeff Morse of The Quintasgroup.com
In Boston: Education Entry Level Positions and tour guides are picking up contact David Williams at EF Education
For the latest tips on jobs make sure you join JobAngels on Linkedin where local recruiters send out posts. Also feel free to follow my tweets and blog posts.
Good Luck Searching,
Sue
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
SIMPLE Tips for sourcing language specific positions
Here are some quick tips for all you out there that are seeking positions that require fluency in a specific language or languages. Its Simple.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting,
Sue
- Source what is closest to you and keep it simple. The local community and government resources are filled with great companies, and diverse talent. Post at the unemployment office, and the local community groups. If you have a local high school, college, or language group---seek them out. Contact the Japanese or Spanish clubs, and ask the professors for national resources, job boards or community organizations more specific to your needs of your job description.
- Investigate and think about the position needs and where the perfect candidate gets their information. If you are an accountant where do you go to get accredited, learn of new IRS regulation, or research an answer? Find it out and then go there, often there are sub groups. Or better yet check the DOL list of companies operating in that native languages country, there may be employees in the US that communicate regularly.
- Make friends, Or Meet UP face to face. Join the social events, email list, or go to local events--its a great way to network, and if you are lucky they may even let you post your roles.
- Participate, and network. I attend the events, and actively read the news letters, authorships, etc...its a great way to grow relationships. I also offer something back through participation or assistance, its community helping community.
- Learn from everyone you meet. Even if a candidate or a company isn't a match, take something away through learning. Every culture is a window to a larger more encompassing YOU, take advantage of it. I once spoke with a taxi driver, and let him know I was looking for Japanese talent. He was from Persia, however, about a week later, I got an email from a candidate that was a perfect fit--he said a taxi driver had my card, and told him he had to speak with me as he was leaving for a trip to Japan, so upon his return the candidate called me.
- Encourage and Enjoy: Take on every assignment, and every sourcing challenge as if you were investigating your next major enjoyment. Enjoy what you do, and do not get discouraged. Keep it simple, learn about the native country of the specific language, retain what you learn as you go, if something fails it is one step closer to success. Encourage others to spread the word, and be Grateful when they do.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting,
Sue
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Tips for job seekers
1. Read your resume from top to bottom. If you don't have a resume, get one.
2. Get familiar with talking about your accomplishments, achievements, and results in one sentence. e.g., I created a process and tracking system that resulted in increased profit and decreased waste.
3. Make a list of every company you know, or want to get to know. Do a drive around, and mark down companies you see that you don't know about.
4. Take that list, and start figuring out who you know at those companies, or whom you know who knows people at the company. Write down all the contacts, and prioritize by hitting up the decision makers first.
5. Join the following, and read their getting started info., before you use them. LinkedIn, Twitter, JobAngels, Alumni Associations, Old employer networks.
6. Constantly try and meet people face to face, even if its other unemployed or job seekers. You need to believe and acknowledge others are in the boat with you.
7. Tell people you are looking for a job, and you would like their help. Do not exclude agencies, employers from your past, or family. Everyone might have a connection, or learn about an opportunity. e.g., my 8 year old niece asked me why I didn't apply for a job at a local employer--when I researched that employer they were hiring!!!!!
8. READ AND USE THE NEWSPAPER---even if you have to go to the Library to get it. Read it, what you learn about local people, businesses, and trends---can be job saving, and job finding. You also support a local business by doing it.
2. Get familiar with talking about your accomplishments, achievements, and results in one sentence. e.g., I created a process and tracking system that resulted in increased profit and decreased waste.
3. Make a list of every company you know, or want to get to know. Do a drive around, and mark down companies you see that you don't know about.
4. Take that list, and start figuring out who you know at those companies, or whom you know who knows people at the company. Write down all the contacts, and prioritize by hitting up the decision makers first.
5. Join the following, and read their getting started info., before you use them. LinkedIn, Twitter, JobAngels, Alumni Associations, Old employer networks.
6. Constantly try and meet people face to face, even if its other unemployed or job seekers. You need to believe and acknowledge others are in the boat with you.
7. Tell people you are looking for a job, and you would like their help. Do not exclude agencies, employers from your past, or family. Everyone might have a connection, or learn about an opportunity. e.g., my 8 year old niece asked me why I didn't apply for a job at a local employer--when I researched that employer they were hiring!!!!!
8. READ AND USE THE NEWSPAPER---even if you have to go to the Library to get it. Read it, what you learn about local people, businesses, and trends---can be job saving, and job finding. You also support a local business by doing it.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Volunteer for Katrina Victims
My original blogs for Katrina network, and Boston Care events are located at http://susanhand.blogspot.com/
You may look for my additional blogs as Susan Hand in Boston, Dear Global Warming, BostonRecruiter and on ERE and Recruiterblogs.
You may look for my additional blogs as Susan Hand in Boston, Dear Global Warming, BostonRecruiter and on ERE and Recruiterblogs.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Web 2.0 organizing your hiring resources
Are you unemployed and looking for a position on every job board and social network under the sun?
Are you a company looking to brand and market your goods or services in online media?
Do you have so many resumes coming in that you don't know how or where they came from?
Are you seeking some talent for a niche job, and can't seem to get a pool of qualified candidates?
Are you on Google, Facebook, linkedin, and My Space all the time, but don't seem to get the nuggets and gems you truly need?
Well maybe its your Web 2.0 strategy, or lack of it. Information and Resource overload is a common problem in todays world of email, twitter, and blackberry euphoria. I have a list of tips that have assisted me in my navigation that many of you have asked me to share. You can get the specifics of each resource from the horses mouth...I.e., Google has their tips for searching, Linkedin has podcasts (recruiters listen for me on Bill Vicks podcast), etc...
However, if you are like me--and want it boiled down this might help.
1) Align your vision, values, and mission with your web plan. In short: What is the purpose of using Web 2.0 technology? and what is the preferences you have established to be viewed with or for?
Companies: Do you have values that you want reflected in everything your marketing dept. sales, or recruitment says online, or in distributed format? Do you want one story told or several?
Personal: Are you an individual or family? Do you want to be viewed by all, or just a small group? What do you want...are you the type of person whom wants to see everything in one place? Do you use the Web for communication only? Do you want to stick with an industry or a company or a product you have used in the past?Do you want to mix business with pleasure or keep it separate?
2) Plan, Budget and Purpose:
Company: Is this important to IT, Marketing, Recruitment, Engineering, Customer feedback, Academia?
Business: Is this being used for freelance, or contractual agreements? Some software licenses prevent business use, for applications, or groups formed with Web 2.0. Do you have all parties involved, accountant, lawyer.. Don't forget your customer or potential customer--can they find you?
Personal: Is this for your self proclammation, entertainment, career? Are there parties that if you link to them it will expose private information or risk the wellbeing of data, or person?
Children: Plan for accessibility and controls.
3) Research and Investigate. Research different mediums, products and avenues of Web 2.0. Your goal is to learn the definition of the source, and understand how you can use them, and if they align to your mission and values. Also if there are products you need--ie) speakers or a mic to use non-paying services. Is there already someone in your team, or company currently a member or using a resource? Can they filter data, or do you need to link directly? What are your options and what is the success rate.
4) Record Keep: Gather up hardcopy files of agreements with companies, or search engines. i.e., you pay for Monster and have a contract, or you are a member of an organization that shares its member list with Monster--make sure you know your agreements. Can you copy information, can you email it? If you have the information in hardcopy, keep it, but also scan it in so you can organize it in one folder, or location. i.e., You post on Monster, make sure you know the title of what you posted, and the information released. REMEMBER Once you post electronically, it can be uncovered for much longer and is exposed to many more people than your lonely file cabinet. Make sure you understand the documents, agreements, and resources security and policies.
5) Contact and Track: Know the owner of your websites, administrative options internally, and externally know the addresses, posts, locations of all the information that may link, or gain access to the information i.e.) you have an association of marketing personnel--who is the contact, address, etc. Track the websites, or feeds in one location.
6) Organize: Look over your plan, and organize accordingly. Are you someone who checks email everyday? Can you create templates and send them to multiple places with one link? Create filters, folders, and links that automate it for you. Plan to set aside hours in a week to re-organize as you share information. If it involves a Team, plan organizational meetings once weekly.
7) Assess, Trial, Test and User Groups:
Assess all the technologies regularly, reassess occassionally, and track the metrics, performance, and optimization weekly. Ask if there are demos of new products, and releases. Regroup with all levels of people involved and check that your Web 2.0 is still aligned and delivering to Plan.
8) Listen to your Pain. If something isn't working or is costing pain of resources, then re-think its use. Use what you use and get rid of what is not working. So many companies keep writing programs to amend a bad choice. However, the opportunity costs, and readministration costs can be greater if tracked, then scraping a plan in its early trials. Work with your vendors or resources, and see what really is working, is it worth revamping? If you aren't using or updating a resource with ease, and regular changes. Then think about deleting it from the plan. If its impossible, then try coaching a few specialist within your team--or if its just you--then think about scheduling some training or reading time, to see if you can learn a shortcut.
9) People before Product.
It is critical to any web 2.0 plan to make sure the people, resources, and customer are being serviced. You can have a dynamic website, but if no one gets back to customers in a timely fashion from those web postings then nothing will help you regain that customer appreciation. So make sure there are people along the way.
Are you a company looking to brand and market your goods or services in online media?
Do you have so many resumes coming in that you don't know how or where they came from?
Are you seeking some talent for a niche job, and can't seem to get a pool of qualified candidates?
Are you on Google, Facebook, linkedin, and My Space all the time, but don't seem to get the nuggets and gems you truly need?
Well maybe its your Web 2.0 strategy, or lack of it. Information and Resource overload is a common problem in todays world of email, twitter, and blackberry euphoria. I have a list of tips that have assisted me in my navigation that many of you have asked me to share. You can get the specifics of each resource from the horses mouth...I.e., Google has their tips for searching, Linkedin has podcasts (recruiters listen for me on Bill Vicks podcast), etc...
However, if you are like me--and want it boiled down this might help.
1) Align your vision, values, and mission with your web plan. In short: What is the purpose of using Web 2.0 technology? and what is the preferences you have established to be viewed with or for?
Companies: Do you have values that you want reflected in everything your marketing dept. sales, or recruitment says online, or in distributed format? Do you want one story told or several?
Personal: Are you an individual or family? Do you want to be viewed by all, or just a small group? What do you want...are you the type of person whom wants to see everything in one place? Do you use the Web for communication only? Do you want to stick with an industry or a company or a product you have used in the past?Do you want to mix business with pleasure or keep it separate?
2) Plan, Budget and Purpose:
- People: Are the people who need to be involved involved? If yes, then Plan what the goals are, and what resources really are preferred. Do you need to update or notify others?
- Budget of time, money and resources: What are you willing to spend, what have you already invested in, and what resources will take time?
- Process: Do you have people along the way to test the data, do the links work, and will the process catch failures? Have you planned for success in numbers, if volume of information comes in, have you planned for response, or filters? Does the flow of technology align to the use and the customer?
- Make sure the plan includes templates to disseminate information, and performance metrics that you can track to re-assess the plan in the future.
- Milestones and timelines should be set with metrics aligned i.e., the web analytics will track the hits to those jobs by resources and feed in monthly. Metrics will track and be available by week-end.
Company: Is this important to IT, Marketing, Recruitment, Engineering, Customer feedback, Academia?
Business: Is this being used for freelance, or contractual agreements? Some software licenses prevent business use, for applications, or groups formed with Web 2.0. Do you have all parties involved, accountant, lawyer.. Don't forget your customer or potential customer--can they find you?
Personal: Is this for your self proclammation, entertainment, career? Are there parties that if you link to them it will expose private information or risk the wellbeing of data, or person?
Children: Plan for accessibility and controls.
3) Research and Investigate. Research different mediums, products and avenues of Web 2.0. Your goal is to learn the definition of the source, and understand how you can use them, and if they align to your mission and values. Also if there are products you need--ie) speakers or a mic to use non-paying services. Is there already someone in your team, or company currently a member or using a resource? Can they filter data, or do you need to link directly? What are your options and what is the success rate.
4) Record Keep: Gather up hardcopy files of agreements with companies, or search engines. i.e., you pay for Monster and have a contract, or you are a member of an organization that shares its member list with Monster--make sure you know your agreements. Can you copy information, can you email it? If you have the information in hardcopy, keep it, but also scan it in so you can organize it in one folder, or location. i.e., You post on Monster, make sure you know the title of what you posted, and the information released. REMEMBER Once you post electronically, it can be uncovered for much longer and is exposed to many more people than your lonely file cabinet. Make sure you understand the documents, agreements, and resources security and policies.
5) Contact and Track: Know the owner of your websites, administrative options internally, and externally know the addresses, posts, locations of all the information that may link, or gain access to the information i.e.) you have an association of marketing personnel--who is the contact, address, etc. Track the websites, or feeds in one location.
6) Organize: Look over your plan, and organize accordingly. Are you someone who checks email everyday? Can you create templates and send them to multiple places with one link? Create filters, folders, and links that automate it for you. Plan to set aside hours in a week to re-organize as you share information. If it involves a Team, plan organizational meetings once weekly.
7) Assess, Trial, Test and User Groups:
Assess all the technologies regularly, reassess occassionally, and track the metrics, performance, and optimization weekly. Ask if there are demos of new products, and releases. Regroup with all levels of people involved and check that your Web 2.0 is still aligned and delivering to Plan.
8) Listen to your Pain. If something isn't working or is costing pain of resources, then re-think its use. Use what you use and get rid of what is not working. So many companies keep writing programs to amend a bad choice. However, the opportunity costs, and readministration costs can be greater if tracked, then scraping a plan in its early trials. Work with your vendors or resources, and see what really is working, is it worth revamping? If you aren't using or updating a resource with ease, and regular changes. Then think about deleting it from the plan. If its impossible, then try coaching a few specialist within your team--or if its just you--then think about scheduling some training or reading time, to see if you can learn a shortcut.
9) People before Product.
It is critical to any web 2.0 plan to make sure the people, resources, and customer are being serviced. You can have a dynamic website, but if no one gets back to customers in a timely fashion from those web postings then nothing will help you regain that customer appreciation. So make sure there are people along the way.
- Establish Relationships beyond technology; Keep human contact, if your system is automated and your voicemail is automated--make every effort to send a personal note, or call person to person monthly.
- Allow personal responses to be changed or addresses by administrators or contacts. ie) nothing bothers me more than getting a spam email addressed to Cindy at Networks,,,when I'm Susan. Allow your sales associate the freedom to say thank you..I know you love the Celtics so here is a link to our internal Celtics pride day.
- Human Responsiveness and Contact: Allow an out for a candidate, or a customer that isn't technology savvy. Think of the environment...if your customer is in India without a laptop, but has a cell phone call them, or allow them to dial 0 and get an operator. If your candidate is on a manufacturing line all day, with no access to a computer, mail them a response card.
10) Keep informed and Current:
Read the information, metrics provided, Understand your customer base, Research new frontiers, and resources , and always know that its not what you have its how you use it.
Tips for Resume Writing
1.) Short: Two pages or less.
2.) Sweet: Reflect results or accomplishments not responsibilities. i.e., Increased sales by 20%
3.) Professional Profile: Some people include objectives or a summary. This should be a line or two , specifically highlighting what you do or have been successful doing that introduces you to the potential employer "an elevator speech--can you introduce yourself and state the purpose of your visit before the next floor". i.e., I'm a certified auto mechanic with 15 years experience repairing, installing and re-building foreign and domestic vehicles. I have experience in supervising a team of 5 mechanics, and am flexible in work schedule .
4.) Company Name and Description: If a company is recognizable write only the company name. However, if it is not well known or you are trying to make an industry switch..a brief detail like plastic manufacturer may help. The more obscure or specialized the company, the more title becomes important. List what you need the recruiter to see, but don't go into too much detail
5.) Titles: Make sure each role has a title or a brief description if the company or title is obscure
6.) Accuracy: If you aren't sure, check with your former employer or on your tax documents--know what dates, or titles, or reason you left.
7.) Specific: Don't apply to a software engineer if you aren't a software engineer. This will get you tossed in the out pile, and may hurt you later when a job aligned with your skills opens up. Make sure you read the posting, role, or company need--don't send a resume blindly--adapt your results around the need, highlighting similarities, and recognizing gaps. Also, have a contact, a position, or a request(intent) in mind. i.e., sending for an informational interview
8.) Approach (Technology vs. HardCopy): If the company requires you apply online--do so. Hard Copy resumes may go in the shredder. However, if its a local business without any technology at hand....garage, etc...then go in person, or mail a copy of your resume.
9.) Contact information: Full Name, and telephone number is mandatory. Email can be used if its relevant, home address is often required. Note: If the job listing notes that only local candidates will be considered, make sure you are local or have a local address.
10.) READ and Approve: Make sure you read the entire resume before sending it, have it proofread, but more importantly make sure you are comfortable with every detail on your resume and it describes you, your accomplishments and what you are open to consider.
2.) Sweet: Reflect results or accomplishments not responsibilities. i.e., Increased sales by 20%
3.) Professional Profile: Some people include objectives or a summary. This should be a line or two , specifically highlighting what you do or have been successful doing that introduces you to the potential employer "an elevator speech--can you introduce yourself and state the purpose of your visit before the next floor". i.e., I'm a certified auto mechanic with 15 years experience repairing, installing and re-building foreign and domestic vehicles. I have experience in supervising a team of 5 mechanics, and am flexible in work schedule .
4.) Company Name and Description: If a company is recognizable write only the company name. However, if it is not well known or you are trying to make an industry switch..a brief detail like plastic manufacturer may help. The more obscure or specialized the company, the more title becomes important. List what you need the recruiter to see, but don't go into too much detail
5.) Titles: Make sure each role has a title or a brief description if the company or title is obscure
6.) Accuracy: If you aren't sure, check with your former employer or on your tax documents--know what dates, or titles, or reason you left.
7.) Specific: Don't apply to a software engineer if you aren't a software engineer. This will get you tossed in the out pile, and may hurt you later when a job aligned with your skills opens up. Make sure you read the posting, role, or company need--don't send a resume blindly--adapt your results around the need, highlighting similarities, and recognizing gaps. Also, have a contact, a position, or a request(intent) in mind. i.e., sending for an informational interview
8.) Approach (Technology vs. HardCopy): If the company requires you apply online--do so. Hard Copy resumes may go in the shredder. However, if its a local business without any technology at hand....garage, etc...then go in person, or mail a copy of your resume.
9.) Contact information: Full Name, and telephone number is mandatory. Email can be used if its relevant, home address is often required. Note: If the job listing notes that only local candidates will be considered, make sure you are local or have a local address.
10.) READ and Approve: Make sure you read the entire resume before sending it, have it proofread, but more importantly make sure you are comfortable with every detail on your resume and it describes you, your accomplishments and what you are open to consider.
Great Companies doing Great things for job seekers!
I ran into a co-worker yesterday, that had been denied application to a high profile (government vendor) company, because she was unemployed. I couldn't believe it. Yes, I hear from hiring managers that they don't want someone out of work because the stigma is the candidates are lowest performers. However, in this economy??? Get real. But its happening, and it's happening at companies receiving benefits from the bail out. Okay so that is disappointing, we could moan and complain. However, I'm going to focus on the complete opposite.
Let's focus on the Companies doing what they can to minimize job loss, or encourage labor. Lets talk about great Recruiters that can't help but get back to the applicants, or help those applicants network.
Here are My Three GREAT CHEERS for People and Companies doing great things.These companies should succeed, because they put People, and Our Country First.Hurray of the weekBiggest Hurray for FEDEX. Fedex (Kinkos) is giving free copies of resumes (up to 25) on March 10th.....YES FREE. They want to help!!!
Other companies have great reach and hiring practices that encourage awareness of opportunities. Kudos to those who post at the local DET office and actually answer applicants...Like Raytheon, L3 communications, and BAE systems.
There are also great Companies that have a GREAT employees like Iron Mountain, that had closed a job, but got back to every applicant with honesty and responsiveness. They showed they cared.Kudos to all in this Economy doing what they can and not waiting for it to Pass. I'm on my way to Fedex to mail off some resumes......see you next week!
Let's focus on the Companies doing what they can to minimize job loss, or encourage labor. Lets talk about great Recruiters that can't help but get back to the applicants, or help those applicants network.
Here are My Three GREAT CHEERS for People and Companies doing great things.These companies should succeed, because they put People, and Our Country First.Hurray of the weekBiggest Hurray for FEDEX. Fedex (Kinkos) is giving free copies of resumes (up to 25) on March 10th.....YES FREE. They want to help!!!
Other companies have great reach and hiring practices that encourage awareness of opportunities. Kudos to those who post at the local DET office and actually answer applicants...Like Raytheon, L3 communications, and BAE systems.
There are also great Companies that have a GREAT employees like Iron Mountain, that had closed a job, but got back to every applicant with honesty and responsiveness. They showed they cared.Kudos to all in this Economy doing what they can and not waiting for it to Pass. I'm on my way to Fedex to mail off some resumes......see you next week!
Fedex Kinkos to offer Free Resume Printing March 10
Hi All,
I wanted to share this great news. It's so nice to see some Companies stepping up to help the unemployed.
Here is the press release: http://news.van.fedex.com/freeresumeprinting
All my best,
Susan Hand
I wanted to share this great news. It's so nice to see some Companies stepping up to help the unemployed.
Here is the press release: http://news.van.fedex.com/freeresumeprinting
All my best,
Susan Hand
Friday, April 28, 2006
Boston Recruiter moves to Microsoft
Seeking Programming Geniuses
Only the creative techies need apply. If you have C, and C++, and the desire to learn and grow in a dynamic environment. Email your resume to day.
Only the creative techies need apply. If you have C, and C++, and the desire to learn and grow in a dynamic environment. Email your resume to day.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Director of Recruitment Speaks on Ethics
Our local recruitment network in Boston recently had a survey and meeting surrounding Recruitment ethics. I was surprised to find so many of the cutting edge recruiters to be more concerned with Ethics than our traditionalist counterparts. Why? Well if our meeting is any indication of market trends in recruitment suffice it to say that if you have been gainfully employed as an internal recruiter at all times in the past 10 years---there is CONCERN. Most of us, have lost or quit jobs because we morally have more courage than the average HR yes person. That said, if you are seeking a recruiter, or director of Recruitment--my advice. Look for someone with consulting, or contract recruitment exposure. They have been exposed to all political structures, and have stronger code of ethics than the yes persons.
Labor Market in Boston
Holiday Season is a great time to recruit. We have found numerous candidates are seeking positions this holiday season. Volume in recruitment calls are up 35% over the last two weeks. Is this just that the passive job seeker is home on vacation, and has more time to chat?
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