Focus on what you can give versus what you can get

I was listening to some of my motivational tapes and this subject came up, and I started thinking how true this can be when looking for a new career.

Of course people want work; they want a paycheck, they want to be productive.

The key is you will receive this if you genuinely give of yourself. If you do, it will come across to the people that want to hire you. They will unconsciously feel that you have interest in them the company and that you have a desire of serving them.

For that service, you will receive the work, the paycheck, and the opportunity to contribute and be productive.

So before you call for a position, or an interview, review in your mind what do you have to offer? How you can benefit this company? This position? What skill, characteristics, and abilities do you have to give?

By reviewing and focusing on those attributes, you will come across as giving of yourself without expecting a return.

Dennis

***COACHING SESSIONS
Coaching is available through any combination of in-person, telephone, or email support.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market? If you would like to increase your chances and give yourself a real chance to win the next position. I have developed a simple easy to use and affordable product that I sell for $4.99 send me an email and I will tell you more at dennis@apvantage.com

Email me or call Dennis Scherer for more information!
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Get the Bat phone

An email address tells a lot about someone, this particular email was batman@....com and I should of known by the email that this position wasn’t for them.

We have a job opening that requires flexible shifts, where people are REQUIRED to be available till Midnight. This was clearly stated in the ads we posted. Now I know this schedule is not for everyone but Batman sent in his resume.

We sent him an application and he filled that out and he looked qualified for the position.

We go to set him up for an interview, and Batman tells us that he can only work till 6:00 p.m.

Well, I should have known that he needs to be available just in case Commissioner Gordon calls.

P.S. Thank you again for wasting my time… please refers to yesterday’s blog. Because I am sure that this is the type of person complaining on the Job Boards about nobody offering him a position.

P.S.S The good candidates of the world should be aggravated as well since this person is taking my time , time that I could be spending on getting you work.

Dennis

***COACHING SESSIONS
Coaching is available through any combination of in-person, telephone, or email support.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market? If you would like to increase your chances and give yourself a real chance to win the next position. I have developed a simple easy to use and affordable product that I sell for $4.99 send me an email and I will tell you more at dennis@apvantage.com

Email me or call Dennis Scherer for more information!
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Thank you

I have been reading on a variety of Job Boards that as a Recruiter or HR representative that I am supposed to take my time and call each of you and give you continuous status on your e (internet) application or on the resume that you sent me.

I have also read as well about how after we place you or we see you for an interview that we should send you a thank you letter. And lastly I read that if you worked for me and the assignment “ended” that I need to keep in touch with you.

So here it is THANK YOU for:

Sending me a resume that doesn’t fit my job specification
For misspelling words in your resume
For not attaching your resume
Applying to a job posting weeks after I posted it
For applying to a position you are over qualified, under qualified or not specifying why you would be qualified
For not including your email on your resume
For not including a working phone number
For not returning my call when I do call you
For not showing up for interviews I have scheduled
For showing up late for an interview
For dressing in your worst clothing for an interview
For accepting a job and not showing on the first day
For not passing the drug screen
For lying about your Background
For no call no shows
For calling off
For being tardy
For quitting without notice
For getting terminated, and wondering what else I can send you to!

For thinking I have nothing better to do, I THANK YOU.

I know people are frustrated when they can’t find something, but in most cases the person to blame is the one in the mirror. I do call the most qualified candidates, and yes, I get them work. And I will get them more work as long as they worked well for me.

And when I read that it is good PR and builds loyalty, give me a break! If you had the chance to be loyal to a recruiter that called you back or make $5 bucks more an hour you will take the $5 bucks.

So next time your looking for a Thank you, why don’t you make the recruiters job easier and they will thank you!!

WITH A NEW POSITION

Dennis

***COACHING SESSIONS
Coaching is available through any combination of in-person, telephone, or email support.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market? If you would like to increase your chances and give yourself a real chance to win the next position. I have developed a simple easy to use and affordable product that I sell for $4.99 send me an email and I will tell you more at dennis@apvantage.com

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Circumstantial Evidence

I know you are trying to better your life. I know you are trying to give yourself options. I applaud you for going back to school, to learn and be more.

All these good things could be keeping you from getting work.

How could school keep you from a new position????

Hiring managers are hiring for their position, for now, and for the future. If they are going to train you, they are not looking for someone to leave them for a better position or pay.

By going to school it shows that you want out of what type of work your doing. So why would they hire you?

They are looking for long term commitments!

In your resume or in an interview you come across with your focus “schooling” in a different direction they might pass on you.

I have seen it happen many times, I just had a person get passed on a warehouse position because they were studying at night for their HVAC position. Could he have gotten the position based on past skill? Yes! But the manager figured once he was HVAC certified he would leave, so she chose someone else.

So what can you do? Don’t tell them!! What does it matter what you do after hours if its not interfering with your potential work schedule? What is the difference?

Let your work history speak for itself.

Again continue to improve yourself and your chances, when it comes to getting work, get it with the information that matters.

Dennis

***COACHING SESSIONS
Coaching is available through any combination of in-person, telephone, or email support.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market? If you would like to increase your chances and give yourself a real chance to win the next position. I have developed a simple easy to use and affordable product that I sell for $4.99 send me an email and I will tell you more at dennis@apvantage.com

Email me or call Dennis Scherer for more information!
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Hiring Manager 'just not that into you

Maybe it’s not the recession.

Maybe you just have a “I am everything attitude”.

Hiring managers see right through the pay me now, I will show you what I “bring” to the table later.

There is a fine line between cocky and confident, especially when presenting yourself for positions.

The hiring managers are trying to find people that fit the position. They are looking for all the skills and price range, and someone that will work with their current staff well.

Coming in with “I am everything attitude” or "this position is under me," might make you come across as to good for the company and turn off Hiring managers.

So you know you have all the skills, you probable are over qualified, so how can you present your skills??

If you haven’t noticed, you are being rejected. – just not directly.

You don’t change or feel you need to change.

However, by changing your approach, YOU CAN OPEN DOORS.

There are ways to improve your chances to obtain a job!

Dennis

***COACHING SESSIONS
Coaching is available through any combination of in-person, telephone, or email support.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market? If you would like to increase your chances and give yourself a real chance to win the next position. I have developed a simple easy to use and affordable product that I sell for $4.99 send me an email and I will tell you more at dennis@apvantage.com

Email me or call Dennis Scherer for more information!
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Failure to find a job

Woman survives polar bear mauling at Berlin Zoo Photo: WENN

Teacher who survived polar bear mauling at zoo 'was depressed over job'

On Monday it emerged that she is a teacher who had been driven to despair by her failure to find a job.

Her former boyfriend - identified only as Lars, the Danish father of her seven-year-old daughter - said: "She loved caring for kids and really enjoyed all the special trips that she could arrange for them like going waterskiing in summer and swimming after school.

"It really affected her when she lost her job and she just couldn't see any future," he added.

Rifles had already been issued to marksmen and Heiner Kloes, a zoo spokesman, said: "This woman's behaviour not only put her life in danger but also that of the staff who had to rescue her.

"However, we do have guns and we would have been prepared to use them without hesitation if it was felt it was the only way to save the woman."

The woman - named only as Mandy K - was mauled and bitten by the polar bears after climbing over safety walls and swimming out to meet them at feeding time. She was saved when zoo keepers pushed away one of the animals when it attacked her.

The keepers' bravery was praised after they dragged the 32-year-old German mother out of a moat for the animals. They had to shove the animal out of the way after one of four polar bears dived into the water and attacked her, inflicting serious bites to her legs and arms.

There are other ways to improve your chances to obtain a job!

Dennis

***COACHING SESSIONS
Coaching is available through any combination of in-person, telephone, or email support.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market? If you would like to increase your chances and give yourself a real chance to win the next position. I have developed a simple easy to use and affordable product that I sell for $4.99 send me an email and I will tell you more at dennis@apvantage.com

Email me or call Dennis Scherer for more information!
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Twitter gets you fired 140 characters or less

A little bird told your boss you think he sucks.

The 'it' social networking tool of the hour streamlines your humiliation

By Helen A.S. Popkin




Why waste valuable social networking hours getting yourself "Facebook fired," when Twitter allows you to humiliate yourself quickly, and in 140 characters or less?

A recent tweet by one would-be Cisco employee proves that when it comes to placing a permanent black mark on your resume via the Internet, Twitter is now the tool of choice. To illustrate, here’s the tweet the now Web-infamous "theconnor" shared with the world:

"Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.”

It wasn’t long before Tim Levad, a "channel partner advocate" for Cisco Alert, shared this open response:

"Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web."

Was "theconnor’s" job offer rescinded? Nosy netizens have yet to suss that out — but they’re doing their darndest to make "theconnor’s" life miserable in the meantime. It didn’t matter that "theconnor" almost immediately set his Twitter account to private and deleted all information from a home page. It was already too late.

This social networking comedy of errors spread like dancing hamsters across Twitter. In the retelling, "theconnor" earned the nick, "Cisco Fatty." Before the work day ended, Web sleuths revealed "theconnor's" true identity. "Theconnor" was lampooned in a popular YouTube meme. And thanks to Google Cache, the deleted content of "theconnor’s" homepage resurfaced on CiscoFatty.com, a Web site erected to commemorate this cautionary tale.

Even if the good folks at Cisco somehow see their way past "theconnor’s" monolithic lack of inner monologue, there’s a lesson here: The Internet can get you fired.

Unfortunately, it’s also a lesson even people apparently smart enough to get offered a "fatty paycheck" are incapable of learning. So let’s review: The Internet is not your BFF. Everyone has a "My boss sucks" moment. But the prudent know to express this sentiment away from the keyboard because they also have the "My boss knows how to use the Internet” sense they were born with.

"Cisco Fatty" and all those who came before, and those who will inevitably come after, are breaking the cardinal rule of the Internet: Never post anything you wouldn’t say to your mom, boss and significant other. Alas, if that message hasn’t sunk in by now, it never will. And thanks to Twitter further eroding the wall between your big mouth and a moment required to download some good sense, the Internet is now empowered to get you fired faster than ever.

It’s like virtual Darwinism. The "Cisco Fattys" of the world are damned by their own senselessness. It’s only a matter of time before each they stumble on the Twitterific platform of their ruin.

It almost makes one misty for the early era of Web 2.0, way back when getting yourself “Facebook fired” took a couple of days following an unfortunate post … or at least a couple of hours, before your co-workers, boss, friends and/or family caught on. Sigh.

Who doesn’t have fond memories of the Kevin Colvin Halloween Pixie Fail of aught-eight? He’s the young man who took time off work for a “family illness” only to turn up in a time-stamped Facebook photo at a costume party in full fairy regalia.

Why it was just last week Philadelphia Eagles stadium employee/football fan Dan Leone lost his job of six years for this overzealous complaint posted to his own Facebook profile that read:

"Dan is [expletive] devastated about Dawkins signing with Denver ... Dam Eagles R Retarted!!"

Sure Leone’s got a potty mouth and his inability to spell an archaic adjective is unfortunate, but that’s no reason to fire a guy — especially a guy so passionate about his employer. It’s not like "theconnor," whining about Cisco’s "fatty paycheck" and hating the work.

Whether unfairly "Facebook fired" in the past or "Twitter fired" in the future, what’s fair won’t change the fact that you didn’t think before you posted, and now you can’t pay the rent.

Internet culture smarty pants Clay Shirky speaks of a day in the not-too-distant future when human resources departments will have the wisdom to look beyond social networking faux pas — at least in some small part because by then, everyone will have made at least one.

One only need look to the government to see this may already be happening. The government, where Twittering through the president’s speech to Congress results in nothing more damning than a perturbed mom pointing out to Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. that such behavior is simply rude.

In the government, even compromising the security of a Congressional delegation in Iraq via Twitter is no biggie. Back in February, Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., tweeted this as-it-happens update regarding his group’s location and destination:

"Moved into green zone by helicopter Iraqi flag now over palace. Headed to new US embassy Appears calmer less chaotic than previous here."

Such a status update on old-timey Facebook wouldn’t have been nearly as potentially deadly. Happily, it seems, guys who may wish America ill weren’t following Pete’s feed. But I bet he’s getting a good ribbing from his fellow Congressmen for that one. As the Cisco Internet meme demonstrates, sometimes the possibility of losing a job (or your life) may not be as painful as the humiliation that ensues.

Another government guy who failed to get fired for his Twitter blab might agree. In early February, Jeff Frederick, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, thwarted his own party’s coup with this tweet:

Big news coming out of Senate: Apparently one dem is either switching or leaving the dem caucus. Negotiations for power sharing underway.

Unfortunately Frederick never figured the Democrats were following his feed, and said negotiations were quickly quashed. While this historic loss of Republican power may mean Frederick’s eating his lunch alone for a long long time, Frederick still has his job. and like "Cisco Fatty," he’s experienced one inalienable truth: Live by the social, die by the social. © 2009 msnbc.com Reprints


***COACHING SESSIONS
Coaching is available through any combination of in-person, telephone, or email support.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market? If you would like to increase your chances and give yourself a real chance to win the next position. I have developed a simple easy to use and affordable product that I sell for $4.99 send me an email and I will tell you more at dennis@apvantage.com

Email me or call Dennis Scherer for more information!
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I am watching you

Who am I …

I am
your future boss
your next career
your future coworker
the person who will be interviewing you

I have the software, the search engine, the videos, the pictures. I can see your friends. I can tell what you like, dislike, what sport teams you cheer on. I can tell your political views. I can see your work history. I can see what people say about you, and what you say about others.

I can track everything you let me track, and once I started tracking, I can continue.

I am following your social networks.

Thank you for allowing me into your world, now let me think about hiring you.

Dennis

***COACHING SESSIONS
Coaching is available through any combination of in-person, telephone, or email support.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market? If you would like to increase your chances and give yourself a real chance to win the next position. I have developed a simple easy to use and affordable product that I sell for $4.99 send me an email and I will tell you more at dennis@apvantage.com

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You are what you say you are

I have talked about email addresses reflecting who you are in the past. I have a staffing firm, maybe it's me, that I see so many mistakes on resumes and applications. Maybe not. You decide.

I was with my family over the weekend. As am talking to my sister and she tells me their company is hiring and she is in charge of doing the initial review of resumes, since they got so many for the position.

She tells me she found a candidate that had all the qualifications she was looking for. She then goes on to tell me, as she went to call her, she noticed her email address; “sweetlittlebitch@---.com. My sister then said, "I’m sure she is and she won’t be working for me."

I invite you to submit your funny stories. Well, they might be funny to us but the actions people make are keeping them from working.

I hope that if people see that it is the simple things that are easily corrected, they will increase their chances of getting a new position.

Submit stories to dennis@apvantage.com

Dennis

***COACHING SESSIONS
Coaching is available through any combination of in-person, telephone, or email support.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market? If you would like to increase your chances and give yourself a real chance to win the next position. I have developed a simple easy to use and affordable product that I sell for $4.99 send me an email and I will tell you more at dennis@apvantage.com

Email me or call Dennis Scherer for more information!
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Need to be confident

MASSILON, Ohio — Evidence of the slumping economy is stacking up at an Ohio school which has nearly 700 applications for one open janitorial job.

Officials at Perry Local Schools near Canton in northeast Ohio say they've extended the deadline until Monday to accommodate the overwhelming response to the week-old posting.

The full-time position at Edison Junior High School pays $15 to $16 an hour plus benefits.

Superintendent John Richard says many applicants are laid-off workers with heart-wrenching stories about the tough economic times.

Forty-nine-year-old Donna Croston says she applied after losing jobs at two nearby factories that closed.

Croston says her chances of being hired amid the hundreds of applicants are slim, but she's hoping to get lucky.


_________________________________________________________________________________
Believe the job is yours

As you can see, there is a lot of competition for positions.

How do employers pick one person out of 700? Well, they start by eliminating the unqualified.

1) Do they have any applicable skills – guessing most do, but which ones have the closest skills or background that is listed and obvious in the resume or application?

2) After narrowing it down, they will review applications, if they see a mistake or empty fields they will probable consider the application incomplete and pass on the person.

3) They will then interview people to see if they have the meet the demeanor and characteristics of what they are looking for in a new employee. They are looking for people that can make this a career, not just a stop over. They are looking for positive attitudes and a desire to work.

Read the bottom of the article again.

Forty-nine-year-old Donna Croston says she applied after losing jobs at two nearby factories that closed. Croston says her chances of being hired amid the hundreds of applicants are slim.

What ever you think, you are right. If that is her thoughts that is what she will probable get.

I feel that people need to be confident that the position is theirs. That they want it , they can do it and that they are the right person for the job.

Dennis

***COACHING SESSIONS
Coaching is available through any combination of in-person, telephone, or email support.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market? If you would like to increase your chances and give yourself a real chance to win the next position. I have developed a simple easy to use and affordable product that I sell for $4.99 send me an email and I will tell you more at dennis@apvantage.com

Email me or call Dennis Scherer for more information!
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Why can't I get a job!

Dennis: I see your have sent us your resume

Jobseeker: Yes

Dennis: Are you currently employed?

Jobseeker: No

Dennis: What type of work are you looking for?

Jobseeker: What do you have?

Dennis: Okay, tell me about your background.



Jobseeker: It’s on the resume

Dennis: Thanks for applying.

Spruce up your résumé for FedEx’s free copies day

Hello!

I found this today. Nice and thoughtful of Fed Ex.

Dennis

As the recession deepens and the stock market drops, some U.S. corporations are offering a helping hand to those most afflicted -- job seekers.

February job losses brought the nation’s unemployment rate to 8.1%, so there are plenty of people out there looking -- another 651,000 joined the jobless ranks last month, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

If you’re one of these people -- and even if you’re not -- you can get copies of your résumé made at the FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko’s) store near you -- for free.

On Tuesday, March 10, all customers can have 25 résumés copied free during regular business hours at any FedEx Office Print and Ship Center. The one-day-only event is good for black-and-white copies and valid only for orders placed and picked up at the store. Orders may be submitted in printed format or as a digital file; copies will be printed single-sided.

“We understand that the economy has affected many people in a very profound way, and we want to help,” said Brian Philips, president and CEO of FedEx Office, in announcing the offer. “Printing résumés is one small way we can use our resources to help those who need it.”

Bravo!

To find the FedEx Office center closest to you, visit FedEx Office or call 1-800-Go-FedEx (1-800-463-3339).

***COACHING SESSIONS
Coaching is available through any combination of in-person, telephone, or email support.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market?

Email me or call Dennis Scherer for more information!
Dennis@apvantage.com
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Recruiter P.H.D.

I understand that things are awful, that the economy is not doing well, that you might have financial struggles. I want to see you succeed.

One way to succeed is not to utilize recruiters, human resource personnel, or any hiring personnel, as your therapist.

Lately, I have been getting calls for positions we have posted and I can tell by their words and their tone that they are frustrated, tired, depressed and stressed.

I understand those feelings. But when you call or get a call regarding a position, you need to keep your personal situation separate from your professional wants and needs.

If you are being contacted and connect with some one this is your opportunity to impress.

You will improve your situation financially by getting back to work.

So, going forward in your search, when you get these calls “act” positive and "focus" on the task at hand, which is to get a new position.

I can tell you that it is one of the most disheartening things I have to do is to tell someone that is not sounding positive that there isn’t that many available positions, or that they are not qualified.

I have been working with a variety people one on one to help them with their psychology regarding their work search and they have seen improvements dealing with their search and just their life attitude in general.

I know it can be rough but if you find you can focus on what you want and strive for it , soon it will come to you. It will take a full time effort, If you find yourself down you might want to search out some help or some groups to get you through these times.

Dennis

***COACHING SESSIONS
Coaching is available through any combination of in-person, telephone, or email support.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market?

Email me or call Dennis Scherer for more information!
Dennis@apvantage.com
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Dress for Success

I have had the question come up a lot lately.

How do I stay motivated?

How do I get going?

I’m having a tough time staying focused.

If your looking for work, I am sure you ask yourself similar questions. I find that you need to get your mind and body in a state that will help you be more productive with your search.

One of the ways that many of my clients have found successful is Dressing for Success. I suggested that they put on their work clothes. Get the suit out, put on the tie the shoes.

Get ready for a day of working for you. Working on you.

Yes, looking for a new position takes work! If you change the way you feel by changing our clothes, you will find that you will see a shift in attitude. That shift can lead you to being more productive, more focused, and yes more motivated! It will also put you back in the mind set that you are working.

I also suggest that you schedule time for your search as you would if you were working. When your done take off the work clothes as you would during a regular work week.

One of my clients took it a step further, he actually dresses for work takes a drive gets his cup of coffee and comes back home to work on his search. It has improved his motivation, his attitude, his focus and his outlook.

Dennis

Bank intern busted by Facebook

I saw this article and had to laugh, this will follow him for sometime in his career. Not only are employers looking at their current employees the are looking before you get hired. They are searching on your name, and email address from your resume, to see what they can find.

What you have on your “social network” might effect your career.

Dennis

Your Privacy Is An Illusion By Owen Thomas

Kevin Colvin, busted by Facebook

Who says Facebook is the province of the young? Increasingly, the 30something bosses of naive recent college grads are proving adept at turning the social network against its earliest adopters. Kevin Colvin, an intern at Anglo Irish Bank's North American arm, was busted when he told his manager, Paul Davis, that he'd miss work due to what colleagues took to be a "family emergency". Davis turned up the photo above, freshly posted to Facebook from the Halloween party Colvin apparently missed work to attend, and attached it to his reply, copying the rest of the office as he did it. The email thread is now spreading around the net. After the jump, the entire exchange, and the incriminating photo.

It's a Conspiracy - Stealing your time

"Companies are just out there trying to waste my time! It must be a conspiracy!" Now that's a common (and ludicrus) sentiment I hear from candidates I coach.

I'm not sure how this conspiracy started, perhaps in the backrooms of a big corporation one day. Maybe it started just as a joke, and then spread to other corporations.

I can see it now... managers sitting around with HR people, laughing, about how they post job ads, receive resumes, make phone calls, set up and conduct interviews, have applicants fill out paperwork, take notes and make applicant files, and in truth, It's all fake! There's no job opening. They're not wasting their time, they are wasting yours. Oh my! I can see how funny this must be. How productive it is for the company!

From a candidate's point of view

They took:

Ten maybe fifteen seconds to click on a job posting

Three to five minutes on a phone interview

Time for the commute both ways

Thirty minute interview

Then they get rejected and think to themselves, "What a waste of time. They brought me in just to reject me!" They "wasted" two hours of your time collectively, yet how much time did they "waste" writing job postings, screening applications, reading resumes, making phone calls, scheduling interviews, conducting interviews, deciding on who (one person out of many) to hire, and filing necessary paperwork?




Something tells me that for the ONE person that got the job, it wasn't such a waste.

Maybe you need to be the ONE or notice why your not, in lieu of thinking the company is out to waste your time.

Dennis
(Video snip is property of IBM corporation)

American Idol

Yes, I watch American Idol. Why? I find it entertaining, funny, and it shows the psychology of the way people think, act, and how others respond to them.

It is great to watch the judges and their initial response to people auditioning. Let us look at the bikini girl, which is all over the news and internet. If you watch Simon, he already had her picked to be “in”. She didn’t have to even sing, and Simon seemed to like what he saw.

If you watch the judges, they respond to the contestants based on how the dress, how they walk in. Do they have the right attitude, confidence? How do they address and impress the judges all on the few seconds up to them saying hello.

Then they tell a short story. The judges ask “Tell me about yourself”, or “Why are you here”, and “Are you the next American Idol?”

That’s funny! These are very similar questions that are asked by hiring managers when they are judging you for a new position.

So at this point either you are winning them over, have lost them or are neutral.

Now comes to the singing, their skill, their craft, what they do. If they are winning a good to great performance might get them to move forward. If the are neutral chances are less. If they start off losing the judges, only a great performance might sway them to have the singer to move on.

When you watch the show, of course for TV entertainment, your only seeing the really good and the really bad.

What happens to the other ten’s of thousands? Well, they get prescreened, they never make it to the final judges, the never get the chance.

Taking out the entertainment value of seeing the bad performers. This is similar to the hiring process. We filter people, screen them, then the final few make it to see the hiring managers.

Just realize that your initial presentation is setting the tone and direction for the rest of the hiring process.

Total of 2.6 million jobs lost

Below is the latest results from the Labor Department.

I don’t believe it will be getting better anytime soon. So, the question I have for you is what are you going to do to make your self outstanding?

There are companies still hiring, and in the future they will hire again. Are you going to be prepared to stand out above the rest of the crowd? Realize it is a big crowd. Are you going to put in a full day effort, every day?

I read a statisic that less then 10% of people find jobs on the classified ads, this includes Monster, Careerbuilder, and the internet postings. Let us say the statisic is wrong and 15% of people find jobs online. That still leaves 85% of the job openings being filled in other ways.

Do you how those other 85% of others are getting noticed? Do you know other ways of being hired besides internet? If you are getting calls on your resume or even interviewing, are you getting hired? Why not?

As a career coach I will ask you, when would now be a good time to get yourself some help? Do you buy a book, join a club, get advice, or hire a coach? I have had people tell me I can’t afford it. Well, you can’t afford not to have it.

I hope you have found my blog useful, and maybe I can help you one on one in the near future.

Dennis



BREAKING NEWS
updated 1 hour, 13 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The U.S. unemployment rate bolted to 7.2 percent in December, the highest level in 16 years, as nervous employers slashed 524,000 jobs. The labor market is expected to remain weak as mass layoffs continue.

The Labor Department's report, released Friday, underscored the terrible toll the deepening recession is having on workers and companies, and highlights the hard task President-elect Barack Obama faces in resuscitating the flat-lined economy.

For all of 2008, the economy lost a net total of 2.6 million jobs. That was the most since 1945, when nearly 2.8 million jobs were lost. Although the number of jobs in the U.S. has more than tripled since then, losses of this magnitude are still being painfully felt.

Hello, My Name is

Hi Dennis! How are you???

If I only interviewed one or two people a year, I might recognize your voice. Otherwise when you call, I probably don’t know who you are. I know you might think you are the only one applying for the position, but I hate to break the news to you, your not.

We are not your career psychologist; we are not mind readers, we don’t know you before you call. Help us, and stop asking questions I can’t answer without twenty more questions like:

• Did you get my resume I emailed it 2 minutes ago (again I don’t know your name)
  
• Are you hiring?
  
• Can I work from home (when I list a location)
  
• Is this part time (when I list it is full time)
  
• Telling me I’m un-American because I want bilingual speaking people
  
• What kind job is this (its on the posting)
  
• Where is it (again on the posting)
  
• Your life story and your full work history (breathe, pause let us ask you questions
  

Here are some things to use to make your communication clearer if you are responding to a job posting or inquiring about a job.

First READ the ad. Now I know that takes a minute of your life but trust me it will help you with understanding what kind of candidate they need and if you qualify.

When calling, let us know this;

• Who you are, not just first name, for I know a lot of Bobs
  
• What you are calling for.
  
• Hello, My name is ….. “I am calling in regard to…….” I feel I would be a great fit because I have …… skills”
  

Be clear, direct and to the point.

Why do I write this article? Because we have received over 200 resumes and almost as many calls from a local craigslist ad we placed. The phone was ringing non stop. I understand you want work, and I want to hire someone. To be that someone , please help me out, by letting me know how you fit the job.

Dennis

Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats averaged $100.

Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, on one of the finest instruments in the world - how many other things are we missing?

Readers, I find this to be an amazing example of perception and what we do and don’t pay attention to. Here is a person that was worth $100 a seat two days earlier and no one will pay him, in his subway presentation. What is different?

This is a great example of what Apvantage is based on, the fact that the way you are perceived by people that want to hire you, that want to pay you, is based on your presentation.

It isn’t your talents, Joshua Bell is very talented, but he received little attention that day in the subway. And only received a little money all based on how people perceived him at that moment. Make sure your presentation is always worthy, so people can recognize your true talent.

Dennis

Clearly Stated

If you are going to scan a resume, make sure people can view it.

FREE CAREER ADVICE FORUM

If you are in the Chicagoland area.

Greetings! After 10 years of providing recruiting and staffing services, we are expanding our services.

It's a new year. For some of you it might be a new year for a new career. As someone that has applied for or has worked for Jobco Staffing Professionals we would like to offer you this opportunity to attend our FREE CAREER ADVICE FORUM.

With unemployment being so high and open positions becoming more scarce, getting great career advice will be critical for you to WIN the next position.

After a decade of running Jobco, Dennis has expanded his efforts to help jobseekers find employment. His new company, Apvantage, the Applicant Advantage, is performing seminars and forum to help you understand and learn what it will take to succeed in this current employment market. After years of observing hiring managers' unspoken expectations and witnessing surprisingly common applicant mistakes, he discovered his mission is to educate, coach, and motivate job seekers to find work quickly and efficiently.

It may have been a few months or a few years since we've worked together. We'd like to catch up to see how you're doing. If you are currently unemployed or know someone who is, you are invited to attend our :

FREE CAREER ADVICE FORUM

Join us every Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

1000 Jorie Blvd. Oak Brook, Il 60532

At our conference room in the 1000 building is down the hallway from our office.

• Get answers to your questions about resume writing, jobsearch techniques, interviewing etiquette, communicating effectively, andmore.
  
• Meet and talk to other people looking for work, discussing best practices.
  
• Learn about future Apvantage group coaching events and individual coaching sessions.
  

SPACE IS LIMITED & REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

PLEASE RSVP BY PHONE OR THROUGH OUR WEBSITE!

630.571.6025 or www.apvantage.com

If you are currently in the job market, we invite you to resubmit an updated resume. Our new and improved software will allow us to quickly and accurately match your skills to our available job openings at www.jobcostaffing.com

Sincerely,

Dennis Scherer

A great time to set those career goals

I set goals often, and have utilized a variety of goal setting means taught to me by some of the best motivators out there. I am going to give you a list of goal setting exercises you can try. I believe that you will find doing any of these will get your mind set in the right direction.

So here is some bases for setting goals:

Stated in the positives

I believe what you focus on you will get, you set your mind into action and you start to bring information into your awareness. This is so true when you see a new dress or looking at a new car, That all of a sudden you start to see it everywhere.

The downside is true as well. If you if your focus on what you don’t want you will get that as well. The mind does not calculate don’t. It has to make a picture of what it is that you “do” not want

If I ask you don’t think of the color blue. What happens? You have to think of the color blue to not think of it.

If your not wanting to be unemployed, you need to change that into being employed.

We are in control of only ourselves, our own behavior and our own feelings;initiated and maintained by you, the individual. You maintain the quality of all rapport systems.

Set your goal and the state you desire so it is something you can see happening, something you can hear happening, and something that you will feel happening.

Here is one exercise if find valuable at the beginning of a new year.

Write down what you want quickly of what you want. What you want to accomplish, what you want to have financially, spiritually, physically, and relationship.

Just let the pen flow take about 5 minutes. Then pick out 5 goals you are committed to having happen in then next year. Write those goals out clearly why you will accomplish these goals. And then take the paper and with the 5 goals and the list of why you want each goal. Now take that list and seal it in an envelope to open next year, it will amaze you that you have either accomplished or are on your way to getting these goals.

Happy New Year,
Dennis

Unemployment rising, Who's hiring? 2009 job outlook

Unemployed people are the busiest people I know!

This statement came from one of my customers, We had two office personnel lined up to start, and both after getting the offers, had other plans scheduled.

So, your not working and this is a good time to take care of personal items in your life. Also as a employer, I understand you have items that need to be taken care of. but ask yourself is it something that really needs to be done or do I need a new job so let us look at a list:

Get car fixed or have a new job
Get eyes examined or have a new job
Dentist appointment or have a new job
Emissions test or have a new job
Hair cut or have a new job
Pick up dry cleaning or have a new job
Take friend to airport or have a new job
Cut grass or have a new job
Clean house or have a new job
Plan a long weekend or have a new job
Wedding (not yours) or have a new job


Go on an interview, this is one of my favorites. I offer you work, you have been looking for some time , you get what you want WORK and you still want to know from me your employer if you can have the third day your supposed to work off, so you can go on an interview with another company.

So you have things that are scheduled. Maybe it is your wedding, how do you approach your potentially new employer?

I like when people tell me in advance. They let me know the dates, what the occasion is, and let me know why its important that they have that time off. Also that they will do what ever it takes to get the position, maybe put some extra time in.

You need to consider changing your schedule, so you can keep the job. As far as the office people I was going to place, we found someone else that could work.

Staying positive in hard times

Desperation, doesn’t sell.

I have received a variety of calls this week of people looking for work. They use terms like I will take anything, I don’t care what it pays. I will drive anywhere. I feel for these people. It is the holiday season and people want work. I want to give you some advice because the desperation plea doesn’t help me, help you.

If you have the opportunity to contact staffing firms, like I have, start by contacting them with curiosity. I would ask them if you might be considered for one or more openings if you changed some of your parameters, like pay or level of work. This approach is much more acceptable then the cry of desperation.

If your applying to new openings, and are looking to work at something less then you had, make sure you state it with positive intent and objective. Let them know that you want to be part of their company, offer all the skills you have, earn a position. You need to offer value.

Be very cautious of just “taking” or “doing” work. From a hiring point of view, that behavior comes across shallow, with no investment.

Keep your head up, know that you have skills. You need to offer a great service for better value.

Dennis

Clarify your ability to work

I was just reviewing some resumes of students that are going to school away from home. The person I just reviewed lives in the Chicago area but is in school out of town. From the resume, I could not tell if they are back in Chicago, or if still away at school. I couldn’t tell if they are ready for work, full time? Part time? Or looking just for the Christmas vacation.

By defining your ability to work in the beginning of your resume, hiring managers will clearly understand what you are looking for. If your going to be back home from school, list only the home address, if you need work at your school, make a separate resume with that location. If your looking for part time or seasonal work, make that clear on the resume.

Our applicant tracking systems keys the zip codes of your resume. If you list both addresses you might be getting keyed as your school location vs. your home location.

So as hiring people are looking for candidates. You want to be found and found with clear intent.

Take this first step to clarify your ability to work and you will start to find more opportunities.

Dennis

How far is too far?

Ask yourself this simple question how far is to far.

Maybe it is the excitement that you are getting a call for an interview. Maybe it is the thought that you can get back into the workforce. Or maybe it is that you have been sitting on the couch long enough that when you get a call for work you figure you might as well check it out.

So you get a call, and you discover the company is over 40 miles away. You look up that it will take you over an hour to get there. At this point do you call them and let them know its to far, or do you just continue through the process? Also, keep in mind you were the one that started this exchange by sending them a resume

I have had many applicants continue through the process. The process of multiple interviews, driving to the company more then once, getting an offer.

I just had happen here at our staffing firm. A candidate accepted the offer, completed all the drug and background tests (which costs me money), then call on the day they were to start and tell me it is to far.

My question is why would you want to take your time to go through all of the travel, cost, paperwork, and time wasted when you should realize in advance that this is to far?

You might have missed out on other opportunities! You just have made yourself look bad in front of that company or firm that is trying to get you work.

You’re not helping anyone by interviewing; knowing in advance that you can’t make it to work daily!

Do yourself a favor and map out how far you can work, what hours you can work, in advance. This will help you build a focus on positions that are favorable for you. And stop applying for jobs you can work at. It’s a waste of everyones time and you need to focus your time and energy on presenting your best to companies that you can truly work for.

Dennis

Jobless claims at 26-year high

Number of people filing for initial unemployment insurance surges to 573,000 in latest week. By Catherine Clifford, CNNMoney.com staff writer

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The number of Americans filing new unemployment insurance claims jumped last week to a 26-year high, surpassing the number of filings economists had predicted.

The Labor Department reported Thursday that initial filings for state jobless benefits surged to 573,000 for the week ended Dec. 6. That was an increase of 58,000 from a revised 515,000 claims in the previous week.

It was the highest number of jobless claims since Nov. 27, 1982 when initial filings hit 612,000. Economists were expecting jobless claims increase to 525,000, according to a consensus compiled by Briefing.com.

The four-week moving average of jobless claims, which works to eliminate fluctuations in data was 540,500 last week, an increase of 14,250 from the previous week's revised average of 526,250.

One economist said the number of initial claims decreased in the previous report because the data from that report represented the week of Thanksgiving. Some of the surge in initial filings in this current report could be a bounce from that week.

However, "the underlying trend in the labor market is that it continues to weaken," said Jay Bryson, global economist with Wachovia Economics, and that is evident in the 4-week moving averages of initial claims.

The number of people continuing to collect unemployment rose to 4,429,000 in the week ended Nov. 29, the most recent week available, which was also a 26-year high. The measure was an increase of 338,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 4,091,000.

The last time continuing claims was at such an elevated level was Dec. 4, 1982, when continuing claims hit 4,509,000.

Meanwhile, the 4-week moving average of continuing claims was 4,133,500, an increase of 130,750 from the previous week's revised average of 4,002,750.

With the U.S. economy officially in a recession, unemployment has been on the rise. The economy shed 533,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate rose to 6.7% from 6.5% in October, according to a government report released last week.

So far this year, the economy has lost 1.9 million jobs.

The economy has fallen into a recession, and the nation's gross domestic product - the largest measure of the economy's health - contracted by 0.5% in the three months ended Sept. 30. Bryson said that he expects the GDP to contract even further in the coming quarter.

When companies see their orders decrease, they simply don't keep as many workers on the payroll.

As workers lose their jobs, that hits states particularly hard.

"Not only, when people get laid off do income taxes go down, but they start drawing unemployment compensation," said Bryson. "So whenever you are in a recession, you see the deficit widen."

According to a report from Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 43 states are facing shortfalls in their budgets for this year, and as people continue to lose their jobs, states are pinched further.

The largest increases in initial jobless claims for week ended Nov. 29 - the week before last - were in Wisconsin, Iowa, Arkansas, Mississippi, and North Dakota. The largest decreases in initial filings were in California, Florida, Missouri, Michigan, and Texas.

First Published: December 11, 2008: 8:39 AM ET

Are you ready to compete?

Dennis

What is your Resume saying about you?

I was coaching someone who was looking for a Marketing position. Verbally, he had all the skills, but according to the resume it had a feel of a sales person, or an account manager.

I asked, "Where is the marketing skills in this resume?" We found one word that said marketing. Eight words that said sales.

So, from a quick glance the resume reflected a sales person.

Try this exercise. Take 6-10 seconds, and take a look at your resume, you can even have someone else do it. Off of this quick glance what do you see? What stands out? What is your initial reaction? If it is not what you are looking for then you need to change some of the wording you use.

I was mentoring at a local school. As I was thumbing through their resumes, one of the students asked me “Are you looking at our resumes? Because you don’t seem to be spending much time on them." I told them on average I take about five to ten seconds to skim key words and experience on a resume to see if has some of the things I am looking for. Then I might read further.

The class was floored. They thought as recruiters we sit and read each resume all the way through and that we have the time to figure out what they did, how they did it and how it might apply to the position we have available.

So the student that asked me the question wanted to know what feed back I had on their resumes. Most of these students were looking for technology positions. So when I read through their resumes, with a six second glance, I got pictures of warehouse people, stay at home moms, students, carpenters, firefighters. Their resumes were not reflecting what they wanted.

Working with them after to change, not only the focus of the resume, we also changed where the information on the resume went.

Your resume is your marketing material , market your past in a direction that leads to your future.

Self Discrimination via Voice Mail

“Hello me, the wife, the kids and the dog are not home now, please leave a message and we will call you back”.

Seems harmless, other then the fact is that I know your married, have children. If their voices were on the voice mail, I can guess their ages approximately.

I also know you like dogs, or at least have one.

If it happens to be your voice on the recorder, I know how you communicate. Do you use slang? Do you have an accent? Are you upbeat? Are you funny?

Or have you taken your job search seriously and designated a separate phone line or voicemail for finding new work.

Flexibility

So you are looking for work. There is a reason you are looking. Either you are not working, or you know things are getting to a point you might not have a position. Or are concerned for your future. Whatever the reason, in these economic times you are going to be the one that needs to be flexible.

There is more and more people available and less and less available positions. Companies are going to look for people that are flexible and meet the companies goals and needs.

What are some of the areas to be flexible?

Travel – You might have to travel farther to get your next position.

Hours – You might have to put in different hours, or you might have to work flex or even less hours. I have seen people earn more hours by taking less. The person that shows flexibility also shows a sense of wanting to work.

Pay – What you were making before might not be what you are going to make today. If this a company that you have wanted to work for, you might want to consider that the alternatives might not be so positive.

Dress – You might need to change your wardrobe to match the new environment.

Duties – In a down economy, companies expect more for less. If you are looking for a new position you might have to down grade your position wants and needs to get that new position.

** Something to note regarding looking for a lesser skilled position; Companies are still looking for the right person, not just someone to show up and “take” the job. Its not yours to “take”, it is their position to give, you need to earn and want it, even if it is not at your skill level. They might pass on you if they feel your not truly interested, and your just taking the position till you find something else.

Dennis

Giving Thanks, ask friends and family for help

You might have heard the term “networking.” That it is a great way to meet people. That by networking, it can help you get a new position. Well, I have advised people to something similar to networking. But to do it with their friends and family. It is what I call “Building your Team”.

Your team is anyone you know that you would consider family, friend, relative, and close acquaintances.

I have done a variety of seminars and I will ask, “Who in your close circle of friends and family has your resume? Who knows what you do for a living? Who knows what you are looking for?” The answer usually is not many, or no one.

I find that people will not talk to family, either because they think that looking or a job is embarrassing, or they felt they could not help.

Why would you go work with a group of strangers in a “networking” environment and not work with people you know?

So where do you start?
Start with describing what you do.

This way people in your team can describe it to people they know. My father got me a job when I was back from college. Now he didn’t know anything about computers, but there was a computer department. He knew that I worked with computers, it seemed simple enough, and yes they did need help. I got the summer position.

If you make it too hard on your team, they won’t be able to promote you …. Keep it simple.

Next let your team know what you are looking for in very simple and clear language.

Have them ask around. Do they have a department that deals with “your wants”? Have your team look at internal job postings. Have them gather contacts and phone numbers for you.

Now It’s up to you to take any information you get and run with it. You need to send the resume, make the call, it is not for your team to do the work. It is you to you.

Be thankful for your team this holiday, help them help you.

It’s cold and flu season

I found myself at home because I was not feeling well. It got me thinking about how people approach the cold and flu season when time is needed to get well.

First, you need to pay attention to your time off policies. Have you used them all? How many days do you have, and how many do you have left?

You need to consider when you call off. If you are supposed to start work at 8:00 and your calling in sick at 8:10 that not a real good sign that you are concerned about work or having your work place function properly with out you. In this world, with multiple means of communicating, there is no excuse for not letting your supervisor know what is going on.

Also, how was your communication, was it a voice mail, did you talked to a coworker? If you did not talk to your supervisor directly, I find it best if you make a secondary call and talk directly to them.

If your not well after the first day, I find it best to talk to your supervisor and find out what you should do. Maybe you can pick up your work. Maybe you can still come in for a half day. Just the idea that you are willing to make the effort to come in will make your supervisor feel you have interest in your work and your company.

By keeping your supervisor informed on your progress, will help you maintain your position. Keep your position, yes, I have terminated many people over my 12 years of employment from no calls, no shows, and too many days off. And in these economic times companies are looking for reasons to terminate people, its an easy way for them to reduce staff.

Illness will happen to you or your family, and it is something that needs to be addressed. The key to make sure you can take care of your self now, and continue to take care of your family by maintaining your position.

Dennis

Separate yourself, by making the hiring manager’s job easy

In these times, with unemployment rising, more and more people are applying for less and less available positions. One way you can separate yourself from the masses of people applying for the same position is to make the hiring manager’s job easy.

The more hoops a hiring manager needs to go through, the more likely it is that they will respond poorly to you, especially if you have similar or equal skills to other candidates applying to the same position.

Yes, we have a database of information. We probably have your resume. And when we send you an email asking for more qualifications, it is up to you to help clarify the information and to included it in your response. This is your job to clarify in your email, verbal response, and even in the interview.

I have heard responses for information come back to me with, “Well, it is on my resume” Basically, they are telling me, “Duh didn’t you see it? I wrote it.” And I think, “Why are you wasting my time.”

Here is a response to an email for a job posting we had.

“I love to be considered for this job. I think, I am qualified for the job. I have attached my resume and will like a response on what is the next step.”

The problem with this, he had not a single skill that matched the specifications for the position.

I also received a call this morning from someone referred my way. She wanted me to call her and tell her about the open positions. She might want consider this approach. She could have asked me to contact her to see if she is qualified.

This might seem small, but what makes a makes a great first impression is a person that wants to present their skills and desire to work. Versus me having contact them, to tell them what I have available.

So how can you make it easier?

Be responsive – respond quickly to a request for information, even it your not interested in the job.
Be kind – We get many resumes, so understand that you are one of many and leave messages or talk in a respectful manner.
Be giving - Make sure you give the information requested, do not make us look it up.
Be interested – So interested that you want to earn the job, not have it given to you.

What is the intent of your communication?

Communication is not the intent but the response. How you communicate can leave a great impression on the hiring person trying to fill the position. Who knows they might have another position that you qualify for.

As a staffing firm we sent out a mass email to our top candidates if their resume had “keyword” skill that matched our job specification. Our goal is to find the right person fast, since we too are in competition to fill the position with the most qualified candidate.

In these times, we do not have the time to initially review everyone’s resume. We do not know what is their current working status. They might have a new job since the last time submitting. Maybe they moved. Whatever! We need someone available immediately. Therefore, we send out the email to gage response.

If you have the skills, great, you will be considered. You will also be noted on your response to the question. This email did not require a response and still we had many.

Here is a section of the email we sent

I have a downtown Help Desk phone Support position currently available. My client is looking to interview immediately. This is a contract to hire position. Hourly rate is $17/hr. THE HOURLY RATE IS NON NEGOTIABLE. 40+ hours a week.

If you are qualified, available, interested, planning to make a change, or know of a friend who might have the required qualifications and interest, please reply or forward this email. In considering candidates, time is of the essence, so please respond ASAP. Thank you

Seems straight forward.

What is the response you should have to this email? Let us consider a few:

• Accept it – you feel you are a good match and you attach a resume, write up a cover letter letting us know why you fit and drop a phone call to make sure we got it.
• Delete it – maybe you make too much , still working, don’t have the skills
• Decline it --with future prospect – So you send a thank you for considering, maybe a highlight of what you do, and what expectations you have and let us know what is your current status.


Here is an example of what we look for in a response:

“I am still working xxxx, so I don't think this opportunity is for me, but please keep me posted on new openings in the future.”


Or, you can respond as some people did to our email:

“The rate for this position is to low my min is $40/hr I am not sure if you reviewed my resume. Thank you.”

(your pay isn’t listed on your resume…)

“A little on the low side for me - can the work be done remotely?”

Does it matter if it remotely or not, I have $17.00 an hour downtown.)

“I would like to have at least 22 an hour”

(thanks for the long answer, that convinced me I should give you more money.)

“what is the length of contract”

(hmmmmm Contract to hire as listed in the email)

"No thanks.. pay rate is too low for my experience."

(and what is your experience, or required pay or any thing. Really, this was the reply I got.)

What is your intent?

Your intent should be to get a positive response from the hiring manager. Something that makes me want to review your skills more. Something that makes me consider you for another opening. Or reply with positive intent, just to keep the lines of communication open. So when a great opportunity does arrive, I have YOU in mind and at the top of the list.

Your email as a reflection of self

I just received a change of email address from one of my past candidates. And the email is praisethelord@....com. Not that it is good or bad, it just is. My perception or any other hiring managers perception that it can be either good or bad. I feel the key to getting a new job is to avoid the hurdle of the hiring process, don’t give them a reason to pass on you.

We are creatures of learned habit, I have found that managers make decisions on what they like in a resume based on past experience. Most of this does not have to do with the person that is applying , it is a learned pattern.

You touch a stove its hot, are you now more cautious to touch the stove again? Same mentality.

I have seen people that express there values, beliefs, hobbies, lifestyle you name it in their email. Well, if that expression was a “stove” for the hiring manager before, you might be the one getting burned.

So I took a quick glance at resumes I have received and here is a few examples of email address

Flyguy
Tagteam
Dreamgirl
Streettrigger
Munchies
Clunky
DaOne4u
Dragon
NinjaDeathGrl
Warlock
Therighthand
Zorker
Toobuff
Granddad
Rockhead
Diva

There are many more, some not publishable.

What do you want your email name to reflect to an employer?

Dennis

Monster and Careerbuilder Search Tips

I wanted to shed some light on what we see as recruiters in our search databases. I believe if you understand what we see you might make adjustments to help us find you!

You might feel that your resume covers all the criteria or skills you have? However, the real question, does it match the job specification search criteria?

So how does this work?

If you go to an advance search page in Google, you will see a variety of ways to narrow your search to find what you are looking for. It is that simple when we are narrowing our focus on people we need.

Recruiters start with keyword searches

• Last employer
• Degrees obtained
• Location
• Skills

Matching keywords is the area that you need to take into consideration when you are writing your resume. You might need to modify key phrases for each position as well.

If you write you have knowledge of Macintosh computers, and I do a keyword search on “Apple” your resume will not come up in my search.

If you list yourself as a secretary and I search “Administrative Assistant”, again, your resume might not be found.

The words that are in the job description are clues to what the hiring managers are looking for in a candidate. So, you need to pay attention to see if your resume has those keywords included.

I am sure you have the talent and probably can do the work. You need to get noticed. This is just one of many ways to get in front of the hiring personnel.

Who do you work for?

I received an email asking me if a person should put the staffing firm on their resume.

You might know, besides career coaching, we also do contract consulting, which means we have people out at our clients. I just received a call from a credit company. One of my employees was looking to purchase a car. She listed the fortune 500 client as where she works. She did not give a name or number. That did not matter. The credit company called the fortune 500 company’s human resource department and found out she is not employed there.

Fortunately, I got involved and straightened it out for my contractor.

So, should you list staffing firms as your employer on resume, applications, or credit based applications? The answer is yes.

You need to make sure that the staffing company is representing you for what you are. If you worked for someone full time for 3 ,6 or even 12 months, well that’s a full time job to me. In this economy, I have a friend that put in 26 years at one company and is now out of work. I have contractors that are still working for me with no end in sight. So what is more stable?

I have advised people to list on resume and application, to show some form of stability. The staffing company, and then the company they are working for.

Jobco Staffing/Apvantage, Oak Brook, Il November 2006-Present
Help Desk Associate

• Answered incoming calls and requests.
  
• Provided support for hardware, software, communication, and procedural related issues.
  
• Prepared documentation of all case information and updates.
  

Listing properly helps with establishing your work history

This is very important. If you list the wrong company, it could be a reason you are getting turned down or denied a loan. In addition, if you do it on a work application, you could be turned down for falsification.

Again, staffing companies are companies as well. Many of them are very large. It is how you present your work and capabilities. Convincing employers that you are full time candidate versus a day temp here and there.

Have a great weekend,
Dennis

Advertise Self

Have you ever noticed how many times a product is shown or talked about in advertisement? Why do they spend so much money and time to get their product and name out? Because it gets us to buy.

You need to advertise and promote yourself. I would like to give you some key tips on how to get your name out.

1.) The biggest key is to make a signature. Your contact information seems simple enough, but I see so many resumes without it or with that information in only one spot. When I am talking about contact information I am referring to all.

Contact information on all areas

• Name
  
• Email
  
• Phone
  
• Address
  

2.) It seems obvious but make sure your contact information is on your resume. Also make sure it is on the second page. I have seen resumes get separated and not be able to be linked together.

3.) Contact information on cover letters.

4.) Contact information on your email and email replies as well.

5.) Your resume file is your name. (Example: DennisSchererResume.doc)

6.) Your email address reflects your full name (Example: DennisScherer@email.com)

How can this be useful? Let us consider that you are one of many resumes being submitted for a position. This will help you stand out. You are promoting yourself by getting your name in front of the hiring manager multiple times.

If they save your resume on their system, it will already be named, with your name, instead of just saying resume ( which most of the say.) By doing this, it will make it easy for the hiring person to call or contact you no matter where they are in the process.

I can tell you from my own experience, when I need to get people lined up right away, it is never funny if I have to go back to the original document or a prior email to look up a number.

Dennis

An Attitude of Gratitude

Driving in to work today, I forgot my I-pass in my other car. I had to go through the pay toll lane. I went to the first person, gave my money, received no look, no acknowledgement; just a scowl on his face. He couldn't be any slower in getting the gate up, so I can go. I said, thank you, and received no return sound at all. So I think, well maybe that's just him.

I was wrong. At the next toll, I came up to the next lady, waited a few minutes. She was doing something, she looked out at me like I was bothering her day. I said thank you, and drove on.

Maybe they don’t need to say thank you. Maybe they don’t need to smile. Maybe the don’t need to work quickly. Maybe they don’t need to be grateful to me. Or... maybe the should be grateful they are working, that the machines haven’t taken over their jobs! Maybe they can be grateful that they can feed their families. Maybe they can be happy that they have an income ..or maybe not.

I’m sure there are a few people that would do that work, and show it with a smile and a thank you.

Dennis

**From the bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nonfarm payroll employment fell by 240,000 in October, and the unemployment rate rose from 6.1 to 6.5 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. October's drop in payroll employment followed declines of127,000 in August and 284,000 in September, as revised. Employment has fallen by 1.2million in the first 10 months of 2008; over half of the decrease has occurred in the past 3 months. In October, job losses continued in manufacturing, construction, and several service-providing industries. Health care and mining continued to add jobs.

Hello! I will only take a few minutes of your time

Have you ever got that call? I received two of them this morning.

I am talking about sales calls. I like to take the calls to see what techniques they use and how they handle rejections.

I noticed with each rejection I threw out there, their tone changed. One was getting frustrated. The other guy actually got angry! Now he is trying to sell me something?!?!

Part of their frustration is that they talked for a long time, (I purposely let them). They were not looking for a response; they were paying attention to themselves and not to me.

Then my favor line came up. “Let me be honest.” Hmmm, you weren’t before you just said that, or only this one item is honest? I am always curious why people say that.

Now how does this little story apply to you the career seeker? Well it does in many ways! I hope you realize that you are selling yourself,your skills, your worth, every time you interview. So what do you need to be aware of?

• Sell yourself but don’t ramble on. Make sure you pause enough to let the other person respond. I know people sometimes ramble on because they are nervous. But I have never heard of anyone getting hurt during an interview.
  
• Watch your tone. When a hard question comes or you start getting uncomfortable, take a deep breath, pause and get yourself back in a positive state.
  
• Be honest all the time. If you say the “let me be honest” unconsciously the person interviewing will think what I think. So everything up to this point is not honest?
  
• Pay attention, look for the response, listen to their response. If the interviewer seems resistant of an idea or part of your presentation, take it another way.
  

Both guys might have sold me something, first if they would have backed what they said . They made factual statements and I asked them to send me the data and they couldn’t . Sell yourself as yourself.

Dennis

Meet the Parents

I love meeting people. Mom, Dad, Husband, Wife, kids, cousins, brothers, sisters and even best friends. I wish I wasn’t meeting them at the interview!

Yes, that is what I said, "at the interview" for a new position. They come walking right in with the candidate, hang out in my office. Today, one mom actually followed her son in the interview room. Mom even answered some of the questions during the interview.

One of the HR managers that I work with called me about my candidate. She told me she would not offer her a position. The candidate's husband got tired of waiting in the car, came in the corporate office, and wanted to use the bathroom. They would not let him in for security reasons and he threw a fit.

I’m sure you can guess the ending of that interview.

What do I hear as poor excuses to bring the family to the interview?

• Sonny doesn’t have a car.
  
• We were going shopping afterwards
  
• He doesn’t like to drive on the expressway
  
• I had no babysitter
  
• Thought you had a waiting room.
  

When I advise people on what to bring to an interview, family is not one of the items.

Dennis

Simple actions makes the big difference

I was having lunch with one of my hiring managers yesterday. He works at a IT consulting company. We are talking about candidates and the funny things we have seen them do.

It reminds me of America’s Funniest Videos. Have you ever watched it? You see people just do some extremely stupid things and wonder why. You think that they might learn from someone else but every week you see different people doing similar things.

Our lunch started with the thought that maybe this is only happening in a select instances. I thought because I have a contract staffing firm, maybe it’s the type of people I get. As I was listening to his outrageous stories, I discovered that it is happening everywhere. The stories are the same just different names and different actions.

We were both curious what has caused what we referred to as an entitlement attitude. The fact that people expect the job to be handed to them instead of earned. Some candidates feel they do not have to impress, that they do not have to show up on time, that they do not have to dress properly. Some candidates ask, “So what do you have for me”, instead of “What I can provide your company”.

We agreed it is the very simple things that makes the big difference. How they sit in the chair when interviewing. How they greet someone. How they answer the question. Do they use full sentences or do they just respond yes or no. In some cases we might just get a yea, out of them!

From the hiring manager’s point of view, the way you come in on the interview is the highest presentation you will have. And that during your work it will only be that good or worse as time goes on.

So, if you impress poorly we assume that you will work poorly. In addition, it does seem a bit disrespectful to not even try to impress your future employer. If anything, it is a disservice to yourself not to be your best!

I hope that you are a person that wants to learn from someone else.

Dennis

Preparing for a pink slip

With all the unemployment news, you want to be prepared. An unexpected layoff can come without notice. One day your working then next your not. Therefore, it is up to you to be prepared.

Here are a few simple things to keep in mind.


Contacts are key:

Get your coworker and supervisors contact information. Many people do not think about obtaining this information until after they are let go. Contact information can be personal email, personal cell phone or home number. This may sound simple, but when a large layoff happens finding key coworkers for a reference is difficult.

Have pertinent information about your current position:

Know your location, headquarter location, HR contacts. Why is this important? Well, if the company closes several locations, you need to have a way for a new employer to verify information. Also, try to find out which employees will be left behind.

Outside contacts:

Keep contact information on vendors, customers, other companies that you have worked with. You have information at your office but remember that you will not be there.


Keep your nose clean:

During layoff times, upper management will start to utilize other means of cutting back on labor. You need to shine. You need to be prompt. You need to do what it takes. I know you might be thinking, “Well, they aren’t going to take care of me so why should I care?” The caring reason will be different for everyone. Think about why you need the paycheck, food, house, kids. These are reasons to keep up the good work. You want to be in line for a severance, if given, and not let go for disciplinary actions. Do not give them the excuse to let you go early. If you give them the excuse to terminate you, then you might not get unemployment and jobs are not plentiful during these times.

Start looking

Start looking for positions that match your skills. Now I give you this advice for something you can do after hours. This will help you target companies that might utilize your skills. I find it easier to look will working then after you are let go.

Dennis

*** Caution on posting your resume, HR departments might be scanning for resumes of personnel of that company, and letting those people go first. If you can, post your resume confidential.

Unemployment Surges

Private employers made their deepest job cuts in six years last month and companies' planned layoffs surged to their highest in nearly five years. A key gauge of the service sector fell to the lowest since the index was launched in 1997.

U.S. private employers cut a larger-than-expected 157,000 jobs in October in a deteriorating labor market that will get worse in the months ahead, according to a report by ADP Employer Services.

ADP also said it revised the number of jobs lost in September to 26,000 from the originally reported loss of 8,000. The ADP Employer Services report was jointly developed with Macroeconomic Advisers LLC.

ADP said the private sector job losses in October were the highest since November 2002. Joel Prakken, chairman of Macroeconomic Advisers, said it was "entirely likely" to start seeing job losses of 200,000 per month.

"This is a weak number by any reckoning," Prakken told a teleconference of journalists about the report. From Reuters.

if you are one of the unfortunate people that just got let go, or if you might know your heading that way, what does this mean for you? More people looking, less jobs available. It means more competition for the position. What are some steps you can do to help you start the process?

I would like to talk about gathering your history. What did you do everyday? This might not be the easiest time to think about ,but I find it important to think about your daily routine and note every aspect. I then want you to look at the big picture of what you did and then focus on the details as well.

This is a good day to just take note, focus on the people, their titles, your interaction, the customers, the vendors, the forms, the computers, the software, the machines, the product. There are so many things we do and take for granted as just part of our day, that we need to get them out on paper to help with our presentations for our future employer.

So for today just recall and note your accomplishments. You will find this helpful.

Dennis

Election Day

The choice is between two candidates. The choice started off as many more. I am curious what made us choose these two. What is going to make us choose out of these two.

So what made the difference? Is it something you want to move toward or something you want to move away from? Is it what you hear? Is it what you see? Is it what you feel?

Do you make your choice on their past performances?

Do you make your decisions based on some one else’s opinion, your family, the media?

Do you make your decision because that’s the way we have always done it?

So how did they impress you? Or is it that the other choice is not as impressive?

So what is it that makes you make that choice?

The reason I bring this up is that this is the same decision making process that hiring managers go through when they are deciding who to hire.

More then likely something about one of these candidates made you feel good. Made you feel you are making a good decision.

Just something to think about when you are campaigning for a new position.

Dennis

You have two ears, USE THEM

I've written today's post so you can learn from the mistakes of others. All my coaching is based on that model. I see and hear what keeps others from getting hired and I want you to understand why and learn from it.

This morning one of my recruiters asked someone to email us his updated resume, a common routine procedure that automatically populates into our database. He called back and said it would be easier to fax, but for whom? Him, of course. It's one thing to ask for another method of sending a resume, especially if you don't have access to a computer. That's understandable and I'm not inflexible. However... this person has Internet access, and he told my recruiter he didn't want to use it because, for him, it's quicker to fax. But the fact that he didn't want to follow directions made the hiring process harder for me. Now, instead of working with clients to find him a job or make his information easily available to interested companies, my recruiter has two choices: manually enter in his information into our database before we can begin matching his skills with clients, or just find another candidate already in our database and place that person instead.

He didn't want to put in the effort, so why should we? It's supply and demand, folks. In today's job market, there is no short supply of people looking for work. In addition to making my recruiter's job more difficult, it gives me a good picture of how well he listens and follows directions.

We all have the ability to hear, but listening is a skill everyone should learn. Each of us has our own model of the world, our own agenda, and our own voices in our head. If you don't pay attention, you can hear what others are saying, but not listen to what it means and tune out what they want from you. Companies are looking for people that can follow directions, pay attention to detail, and can accomplish tasks. When someone is talking to you, listen intently, pause, comprehend, and respond. This is very important when your looking to earn a new career.

Did you know that you are being interviewed every time you interact with a potential employer, and you increase your chances of scheduling an interview or getting the job if you listen and follow their directions. So if you are asked to fill out an online application, email or fax a resume, complete a drug screen by a certain date, or given any other set of instructions.... not only should you do it, but do it their way. There is no room for Frank Sinatras in this job market. If you do things "my way," then don't be surprised if they tell you to hit the highway!

Dennis

Finding Work through Staffing firms

Being in the “staffing” industry for more than a dozen years, I am curious why more people do not look to staffing firms as a means to getting a new position. I have placed many people into full time positions through our contract to hire agreements. Others I have kept employed for years full time.

Staffing firms do all the work for you. You submit your resume, go in for an interview, and fill out some forms. Let them market you to their clients.

I have heard many interesting comments regarding the staffing industry, and yes, some might or might not be true. Much of my book and website that I will be releasing at the beginning of December is based on my view of what I see and hear from candidates. And how they can improve their presentation.

I have heard comments like: “They never call me back”, or “It was a waste of my time” “They are making money from my hard work”, and finally, “they are keeping me from getting into the company I am working at.”

Well I can tell you from my experience and what I write and coach people is that, it is not the companies obligation to contact you, they are not wasting your time. Staffing firms want you to do well because, they are making money, but what company is not making a profit because of your work?

An hour out of my day = getting a new position = paying bills=taking care of family….hmmm yes I would consider a waste of time.

As far as keeping you from working with a particular company, I have had many people tell me they tried applying for a position with the same company, and no response. More than likely they found something wrong with your resume, your presentation or something wasn’t right. I get them in and they are hired.

OMG…….

As I am typing this blog, my recruiter is on the phone with someone that has a resume out on the job boards, this indicates that they might be looking for a position, I hear her let him know that if you are to tired to answer the phone in a professional manner it might be wise not to answer it . Yes, imagine the sound of a person just answering the phone from their bed from a long night, that sleepy tone is very impressive to me.

This will be the same person that will bad mouth my company for not employing him.


So what should you do to help your marketing efforts:

• Get rid of the attitude “I have people call me and they say “Ewww, you’re a staffing firm?”
• See if they place people with your qualifications
• Make sure there are no candidate fees
• Find out the process for applying for positions
• Make sure your prepared to apply and present your skills, if not my book and website will be helpful
• Set reasonable boundaries for working. In many cases, a contract staffing position might not pay you as much as you were making, they might not have benefits, and they might send you to a position that is a bit below your skill. Know your limits!
• Ask about the position, get the details, and find out if this is long term, contract to hire, hours, and dress, everything you need to start. Also, find out what contract obligations you have. Make sure it feels right to you
• Make sure you are ready to work, and if you are getting a contract offer, know it is work.

We employee everyone full time W-2, same as if you worked directly for any other company.

So utilize staffing and employment firms as and added mean of getting work. If your not getting response from them, this is probable an indication that something is wrong in your presentation. If you are unemployed, the rewards might be worth the risk. You might want to consider getting some help. I am available.

Have a great weekend,
Dennis

Click and Sit isn't working

In my classes and coaching I have asked, “So how many resumes have you sent out?” I get incredible responses, “Oh I have sent hundreds!” Then I ask how they applied, and I get the same answer. "Well, I responded to all the openings on Monster and CareerBuilder."

There is no thought, no direction with that approach. Just a click and sit approach is not going to get you noticed.

I find that seeking work should be as much of an effort as if you were working. You need to find, locate and then impress. A position is not given, it is earned.

So did you see what happened on Jerry Springer today?

I hope not. If you find yourself looking forward to the next episode, you might want to consider another approach to getting a new position.

Simple ways to change your state

Wow! With all the recent news – down markets, layoffs, it might be tough to stay in a positive state. If you have been recently let go, or you know something is coming, this is a very important time for you to manage your state. What do I mean by your state? I find it best if I describe a state. If I asked you to describe someone that was sad, how would you describe that person? Shoulders down, slouched, eyes down. What would be the language or tone of this type of person? I am sure we have all met someone in this state.

Managing your state starts with you doing something else.

Focus on something else!

Make quick movements. And if you are not in an area where you can do jumping jacks, I find that by taking a deep breath letting it out slowly, raise your head and your eyes and you will find a change of state.

Also try this:

Stand up , move your hand out to your sides like wings and move your hands together in front of you quickly, then move them back out rapidly. Notice a change, Take a deep breath and do it again.

Why is this important? Well if you are in a better state, you will be able to focus on your job search better. You will find that your emails, your cover letters, your tone on the phone have a positive feel to the other person. If you are meeting with people, having a more positive outlook and state will come across.

So next time you are ready to start your job search, or if you have an interview, just before you proceed, check your state. Make sure it is positive! If not, break your current state and find yourself ready to get that new position. - Dennis

Job Fair Etiquette

Now this was front page in one of the local papers of a job fair in my area. It was for drivers and labor based positions. What struck me about this picture is I did not see one person with a suit. Ok, maybe a suit would be too much. How about a tie, hmmm didn’t see one of those , how about a collared shirt, not much of that either. What about leaving the hat at home, wouldn’t want to do that. I’m curious if the person interviewing didn’t like Dale Jr. “88” , would he pick some one else? No, that wouldn’t happen or could it?

I know that this might be their normal wear, but this is your opportunity to stand out! Be different, impress. Please notice and remember the hiring people, as you can see in the picture, are dressed business casual. Maybe you can raise the bar up to that level. I’m sure there is a collared shirt in your closet. And leave the hats behind!

The other thing about standing out, and you might notice, there is many people in the picture. I'm curious if people realize this company is not hiring everyone, just the ones that impress them. If it’s a close decision, the ones that stand out the might be the ones they like.

No, that wouldn’t happen or could it?

Dennis

Playing Dress Up

So watching my kids getting ready for a Halloween party I realized that Halloween is a time for us to let go , to ACT out, to dress up. Which brings me to getting a new position, ACTING and dressing the part.

Now my kids don’t go around in their regular clothes and say, "look at me I’m a scary monster." No, they get a costume and dress the part. On top of that, they ACT the part, they enjoy it and get in to the character of what they wanted. They play full out.

So two things I like to get across to candidates; first to dress the part. Coming in your regular clothes and saying I am a professional, won't be believable; you need to wear that “costume”.

The second thing is to ACT the part, you want to be what you want to be, so act the part. And enjoy it and play full out.

And even if it is a position that is less then you want or something to get you by, you need to ACT the part and convince the hiring person you want to be there.

So I suggest that you find your way in the door, what you really do after that is up to you. The way to get in the door is to ACT the position you want.

Have fun, enjoy and play full out.

Dennis

Please, keep the resume

If you are going to send a resume this bad, don't bother calling to follow up!

OBJECTIVE:
My objective is to find me a form of employment, I have certain skills in allot of fields that might be useful in the area of the job that i am applying for. I currently am in school for certifications that are needed to get me a better form of employment. I was employed from January of last year to December of this year. The reason that i am not employed anymore is because the owner decided to go back in to his old country to live out his retirement days. Now i'm back out looking for me another form of employment, My duties at the job in which i was previously employed was Technician,take phone calls,salesman. The reason that i had so many titles is because the owner found out that i could do other duties that came useful in the envoirment of work. I was okay with it, and i know if my previous boss was still here in our country i know he would highly recommend me. I am a easy guy to get along with, and get along with others. I always leave room to learn something new so i am willing to sit and listen to what my instructure is telling me because i know when i get out in the field i don't want to make any mistakes.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
I have made many accomplishments in my life. My latest personal accomplishment I have just learned how to install an engine inside of a car. This is my latest accomplishment. These are some of the accomplishments that I have achieved. I now know how to install cable lines through an entire house, I have learned how to type not excellent but really well now, i have no idea how much i can type a minute now but if i had to guest i'l say about 40 maybe 50 words per minute, this is just a educated guess. I can really do almost anything with my hands. Theres always room to learn new things. I hope that the form of employment that will hire me teach me new things to learn or the things that i already know help me and the employer. An accomplishment that I really need to try and get is the ability to write a good resume. Right now i go to college part time to try and accomplish certifacations to show employers what i am able to do,instead of employers going off word of mouth.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Technician,Salesman,Customer Service,Stock.
My duties was to install and rearange the store for the owner to see fit. I installed cable lines, Installed televison wall mounts. I also installed electrical outlets and ran lines for the electrical outlets. I built walls for the inside of the store to block off what the owner did not want the customer to be able to see. I took all phone calls no matter what I was doing, that was my responsibility to answer the phone and deal with the people. I had to interact and socialize with all the customers that came inside the store to get whatever. I also was the salesman i had to sale most of the items in the store because i was in charge of three departments in the store,Clothing,Housing,Accessories, I was in charge of these areas because the owner saw how well i reacted wit people, and how I was able to talk with the customer like we was friends known for years. Since these was the departments with the most population in the store and how i was able to handle it I was put in charge. There was other departments also those was just the departments i was chosen to run.

EDUCATION:
I currently go to a community collge so that i can get credits so tha i can go into a University. I have a long way to go until that will com up so i am seeking employment so that i can work myself through college. My field of study is left open because currently while i'm in this community college i'm taking classes like Math classes and English classes because these classes offer the most credits and if i get enough credits when I go into the University then they will benifit me there. I currently hold a 3.6 gpa at this school and hoping that this will all help out for me in the long run.

INTERESTS:
My interests are to reintroduce myself to the working world. I just go to school and do nothing else except for personal things like installing my new TV or doing some car work or something like that. It's no need for me to be sitting around the house in a world that we live in today. I feal like that the demand for certain items and also other things that Americans want is in high demand, I want to be that person that brings it to them or calls for that certain item that they want. I feal that the demand in our society for certain things are very high and it is better to me to be out working in this fast paced world other then sitting on my couch waititng until i have to go to school. I only go to school twice a weak, all the rest of the weak i feal that i am letting life past e by. I am used to working , being in the work field and i would like to stay in that field.

KEYWORD SUMMARY
I am a indivusual that would like to reintroduce myself into the workforce. I go to school two days out of the weak in the evenings. I would like to be a part of this fast paced world that we all currently live in. I have certain skills that vary by which catogory in which my skills will be needed. I can do allot of things with my hands, I would like to think that I am almost excellent with using my hands. I am also good with my min. I would like to say that I am also almost excellent with using my mind and I am able to sit down and learn something new I have no problem with learning somwthing new. I am a cool gut to get along with, rarely in trouble, almost never in trouble. Nevr in trouble with the law I have a clean name and I am also a clean person well dressed and well spoken.

Thoughts from today's candidate

Well, today is the big day! I finally got a call for an interview, hmm what to wear? I think jeans and a polo shirt, that should do it. Boy, I can't wait till they offer me the position. So what do I need to bring with me? I can’t think of anything, they have my resume via email so I should be all set. I’m sure they have pens as well.

Just need to stop and get gas before I get there. Wow! Look at the traffic. That’s ok I’m sure they won’t mind if I’m a bit late.

Wow where is this place? I’ll give them a call. "Hello , yes I have a 10:00 interview , yes I know its 10:10 already, I’m lost , no I forgot to print the directions. I will be there shortly."

"Sorry I’m late, no I didn’t bring a copy of my resume, you should have it, oh you want me to fill out an application? Well my information is on my resume, could you print that for me?"

"I can’t remember the address of the my previous employer from a couple years ago, and I didn’t bring my references , can I get those to you?"

I think I got this position.

A little more about me

My name is Dennis Scherer and my company, Apvantage Corp., was created to help job-seekers market themselves efficiently and effectively. After 12 fulfilling years in the staffing industry and owner of my own staffing company for over a decade, I have interviewed thousands of people, many of which have the same destructive patterns and attitudes that keep them from getting jobs. With my insider knowledge of how and why hiring managers make decisions, I have coached numerous job-seekers on how to recognize and break bad habits, develop a stronger sense of self, polish their interview skills and resume, and motivate them to strive for their dream career – not just another job.

Are you currently unemployed, unhappy with your job, or overqualified for your current position and ready to make a change?

Are you presenting your resume over and over again without receiving positive response?

Have you heard the following phrases?
“You’re over-qualified.”
“The position was filled internally.”
“We’ve eliminated the position.”
“We will consider you for future positions.”
“We will maintain your information on file.”

If you are interested in learning how to enhance your career, Apvantage is here to help.

Executive Job Coaching Services

Apvantage - The Applicant Advantage
Executive Job Coaching Services

Clearly communicate why you command your salary.

You’ve worked your way to the top.
Climbed that ladder of success.
Earned every dollar you make.
And now it’s time to move on to the next best thing.

Are you prepared to navigate the current job market?

At your current salary, every day in the job-market takes it’s toll on your pocketbook, family, and standard of living. Rewarding long work histories, taking experience into consideration, and increasing payscale according to salary history is giving way to younger, less-expensive, executives. Now, more than ever, companies are taking any measure they can to preserve their bottom line. Are you prepared to compete?

• Does your resume resonate with employers?
  
• Are you clearly communicating your capabilities and accomplishments?
  
• Are your words and body language saying the same thing?
  
• Are you sending the appropriate message through the right channels?
  
• Could you use a little coaching and motivation?
  

Apvantage’s mission is to quickly and efficiently get you back to work!
Through our coaching sessions, we make sure you are communicating the right message to hiring managers by: writing a clear and concise updated resume, conditioning positive body language, teaching you to sync-up to your interviewer and develop rapport, and break any habits, negative thinking, and other factors that may negatively affect your marketability.

An initial consultation will determine what you need to work on: your resume, your speech, your body language, your habits and patterns, your job-search techniques, and so on.

ABOUT DENNIS SCHERER
After 12 fulfilling years of marketing job-seekers to employers as the owner of my own multi-million dollar staffing firm, I have helped thousands of people make the next step in pursuing their careers by helping them break bad habits and create new thought and action patterns. After so many years, I’ve learned what hiring managers and companies look for in resumes and employees and I want to share that knowledge with you.

My coaching techniques utilize Neuro-Linguistic Programming, hypnotherapy, and even Reiki, to help focus your direction, set goals and targets, and achieve favorable outcomes.



Dennis@apvantage.com