Actively Seeking Candidates!

Great news- we are finally starting to see some regular job activity here at SSI! Most of the positions that we have seen have been on a contract (i.e. "temporary") basis, which means we are on a tight deadline to fill the job and usually don't have time to advertise the position. Because of this, many candidates are missing out! They are waiting for us to post opportunities OR to contact them directly about a specific job...and we aren't able to make the connection in time!

Therefore, we are actively seeking candidates to add to our pool of temporary candidates! Here are the most critical areas that we are looking to supplement:

- HR support: HR Coordinators, Recruiters, HR Generalists, Benefits Specialists
- Accounting support: A/P and A/R Clerks, Bookkeepers, Accounting Clerical
- Administrative support: Administrative Assistants, Office Assistants, Executive Assistants

We currently have a ton of great applicants who have registered at our office...but we need more! Clients today are extremely specific in their qualifications and if we do not meet their needs exactly within a day or two, we often lose the opportunity. When we do fill a job in a timely manner with a "perfect fit", clients call us to fill other jobs!

So we are asking those who have not yet contacted SSI to please send your resume! Or if you have been contacted by SSI but haven't yet got around to scheduling an appointment, let's discuss! Or if you know someone who's still looking and has experience in the areas listed above, send them our way!

Visit our website www.staffingsolutionsinc.com to submit a resume and find out more about our services!

Conducting a Confidential Job Search

This morning I received a phone call from a job seeker who was calling from her employer's phone during work hours. Apparently she was not supposed to be doing this, because she whispered through our entire conversation. And she told me that she didn't want anyone at the office to know that she was actively looking for a job. All the while, she was asking very specific questions related to SSI and how we submit applicants for our openings.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time that I've taken a call like this! The interaction prompted me to pull together a list of things to keep in mind when attempting to conduct a confidential job search while still employed.

1. Phone calls should be done away from your desk. Whether it's you that's reaching out to an employer OR the employer wants to do a phone screen/interview, it's better to take these when you're away from your desk. Make these calls while on a break. Or ask if the caller is available either before or after your work hours. From an employer's perspective, it's better to excuse yourself and go to a private area where you can speak freely about your situation than whisper secretly from your desk.

2. Apply for positions from your personal computer. From your personal email account. On your own time. Missouri and Illinois are both "employment at will" states, meaning an employer can fire you for any reason, including utilizing their resources (time and equipment) to find another job. We often have interested candidates send us their resume in the middle of the day, from their work email, which leads us to believe that this person would probably waste our client's time and resources if we placed them in a different job! Always send your resume or maintain contact through your personal email!

3. Make sure you know where you are applying. We have run into situations where a person employed by one of our clients sends us a resume and wants help finding a new job. That is most definitely a conflict of interest and against our policy; however, we would never tell the client that their employee is looking elsewhere! Some job seekers are not so lucky and have been "outed" by the hiring manager in charge of resume submissions. Be careful of where you send your resume...at the very least, make sure it's not your current employer!

Being careful about how you search makes most job seekers sleep better at night, but it also makes you appear more polished and professional to potential employers.

A Nice Thank You Note

Received an especially nice thank you from an applicant whom we recently placed. Here's what she had to say about SSI:

"I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the flowers and the work that all of you do at Staffing Solutions. I have been to three or four staffing agencies and was never treated like I was there. Anytime you heard anything from my company you called and let me know what was going on (and it was nice to be in the loop). I hope I don't ever need an agency again but if I do it will be Staffing Solutions. You do a great job!

Thanks again,

Angie"

Your Civic Duty - AND an Employment Oppotunity!

For the many who are currently unemployed and looking for "something to get me by", consider working for the St. Louis Board of Elections during elections on November 3. You could earn up to $180 for your time and efforts!

Workers are paid for their training and on election day, so it's a great opportunity to make money and help out our local government. For more information or to sign up, please contact Keith Walston: 314-615-1804 or email: kwalston@stlouisco.com

Job Fair Tips

Fall is here, which means it's time for job fairs! For those of you who have never been to a job fair OR have not been to one in a long time, I thought it necessary to share some important tips on how to prepare for and behave at a job fair.

1. If you are unsure about what jobs you are seeking, either do some research on your own or solicit the assistance of a career counselor before going to a job fair. As someone who has been on the employer side of a job fair, it's not our job to tell you what kinds of positions for which you are qualified or seeking. If you don't know, that's a problem! Most career centers offer free assistance to help you in this matter. Or you can also check out the Occupational Handbook or Career Guide from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for more information on viable careers that match your background and experience.

2. Research the companies who will be there. Most job fairs are planned weeks in advance and the list of companies who will be attending the fair can be obtained beforehand. Go online and see what these companies do and if they are the type of place where you would like to work. That saves you from the trouble of asking every booth, "What kind of company are you?". Employers are impressed when a job seeker approaches them a career fair and already has some prior knowledge of the company.

3. Dress appropriately. I can't stress this one enough! It never fails that to see at least one or two people dressed inappropriately at a job fair. Ladies- club/bar clothes are not OK (i.e., spaghetti strap tops, tight skirts with a slit up the side, spiky heels, body glitter, etc.). Men- even if your Addidas shoes match your Addidas pants, you're still wearing Addidas. And please wash your hair and go without a ball cap for one day! For more information on what to wear, click here

4. Have your "elevator pitch" rehearsed. If you are going to approach an employer at a job fair, be ready to answer the question, "What kind of work are you seeking?" in 60-seconds or less. Those who say, "I dunno" or ramble on and on for 10 minutes are going to go in the "no" pile. Same goes for most questions...you need to be keep it short and sweet so the company representative doesn't feel cornered by you or your responses.

5. Stay home if you are sick. If you wake up the day of the job fair and aren't feeling well, do everyone a favor and stay home! There's too much hand shaking and face-to-face interaction at these events to risk anyone's health, including your own! Most places that plan the fairs can collect company information for you (and send it electronically) in lieu of your attendance. OR if you feel that you must go, refrain from shaking hands or coughing in anyone's face.

I'm sure you can picture some of the "characters" that appear at job fairs...or any public event for that matter! But many job seekers are guilty of one of the above offenses and don't even know it. If you know someone who is looking or you are looking for a job, please prepare yourself appropriately for job fairs and make a good, lasting impression on employers.

Unemployment up to 9.8% Or is it higher?

Unfortunately, the latest reports from the Labor Department indicate that unemployment rates are still rising. However, the is some good news to think about:

"It's clearly disappointing, but probably does not indicate that the situation is deteriorating. The issue is whether this is a turn for the worse or just a bump in a trend that is still improving," Pierre Ellis, senior economist for Decision Economics in New York told Reuters.

PBS also reported that the numbers from the Labor Department aren't completely accurate if you take into account the people who are not actively looking, underemployed or are dependent on disability. Those who are actively looking think that the unemployment rate might actually be closer to 15-20%. Scary!

Please read the entire article from PBS and watch the video to find out more about the current U.S. Labor market.

New LinkedIn Tool - Making Social Networking Easier!

LinkedIn launched their Profile Organizer tool today. It allows you to save profiles (rather than printing a hard copy or scribbling down your own notes on paper) and make notes about particular individuals on LinkedIn.

Watch the tutorial video:



This would be a great tool for job seekers to use when doing a search for a particular company OR in trying to manage contacts. For working professionals, it helps to categorize your current contacts and easily add to your network.