A note from Bonny...How is the average job seeker supposed to know how to actually DO this?

A note from Bonny...

Recently I attended a seminar titled “Employment in a Changing Economy”, and presented by a panel of Human Resources representatives from several major local companies. Their advice was very clear -- candidates looking for positions within their organizations need to:


· Network, network, network!
· Have a ton of skills: technical and “soft” skills (communication, interviewing, etc.)
· Be flexible and willing to adapt
· Have a compelling resume


They also said that the best way to get a foot in the door at their companies was through networking, so as to get an introduction through someone in their company. But when asked about specifics as to how to do all this, they couldn’t provide any real help.


I left that seminar frustrated…thinking how incredibly incomplete the presentation was. How is the average job seeker supposed to know how to actually DO this? Take networking, for example. Joining a social media group such as LinkedIn, or simply letting friends know that you’re looking for work is only the most basic start, but people really need a road map…a “how to” guide.


That’s exactly why we created the Staffing Solutions Career Café -- for you. Companies expect a lot, and we want to provide that "road map" for you! The café is available weekdays from 9-4, and offers:


· A step-by-step guide to networking, phone scripts, email templates, AND an opportunity to network with other job seekers

· Software skills development with self-paced training, so you stay sharp with the skills you have and can develop new ones

· Interviewing advice, support and follow-up – if you don’t have interaction with peers, it’s all too easily to lose this skill

· Resume help and training on customization for different positions

· Weekly seminars on interviewing, resume development, and other informative topics for job seekers





CAREER CAFÉ…FREE HELP





Regards,

Bonny

Another Thank You....

We just received a Thank You note from an applicant.....

"Afternoon Ms. Bonny,

I just wanted to say thanks for all your efforts and also extend my services to you & your staff. I enjoyed our meeting(s) and was impressed by your services. For some reason you inspired me, I really enjoyed our meeting. That says a lot. Sorry, I wasn't the right fit for your client. However, If I can be of further assistance to you (Les, even if she just have few questions)please feel free to contact me. I'll do it on a volunteer basis for you.

Best Regards,
Lee

P.S. I apologize that my energy level was down that day, I had worked on a project the previous night and I was zonked. :) "

We know that the job market is tough. Job searching is tough and can be tiring. We do see people that come into our office with low energy, but we are here to help! Visit our Career Cafe today! Our unique space is dedicated to providing a peer network for the unemployed. Being with other job seekers, our professional staff, and “mascots” Hymie and Chi Chi keeps everyone socially engaged and connected to others in order to improve job search outcomes.

We are receiving great feedback on our seminars!!

As you may already know, SSInc has been hosting seminars on Fridays for our talent pool. The series of seminars consists of presentations, panels and informal chats, led by community leaders and HR professionals committed to helping job seekers discover the tools and strategies for a successful job search and career transition.

Here is a recent email we received from someone who attended out last seminar that was lead by Monica Black - Etiquette Consultant - member of The Etiquette Institute. Visit our website at www.staffingsolutionsinc.com and click on career cafe to see a video of this presentation!!

"Dear Bonny,

Thank you for allowing me to attend today's seminar.

I learned several valuable things. The most interesting part of the presentation was listing of the 12 P's. I was aware of many of the points, but I really liked the way all the points were pulled together in one list. I will definitely use this as a checklist.

Thanks again,

Mary Ann"

In case you are wondering what the 12 P's are......here they are below!

The 12 P's to Manage your Attitude for your Career Search:
Positive
Persistent
Pragmatic
Professional
Prepare/Predict
Passionate
Presence
Posture
Pliable
Philter (filter)
Pieces
Photographic

A nice thank you note....

We received a very nice thank you note from an applicant....and she included a job lead for us to pass on to our network!!!

"Ms. Huddleston,

Thank you for taking the time to follow up with me. I am still actively seeking employment. Please continue to keep me in mind when new opportunities come your way........

.......I also want to thank you for inviting me to the seminars you are hosting. After working with your team and listening to Ms. Wilbraham, I am much more confident during the interview and am aware that my body language plays a big role in the perception of my skills and personality. I feel Staffing Solutions, Inc. is pioneering the way of job searching and is making a big impact in the community. I hope the seminars and career cafe get the attention they deserve as they are truly powerful tools for anyone in the job market.

I will be in contact with Lisa if I am able to make it to the upcoming seminars and to schedule time in the Career Cafe. I truly appreciate your guidance and your team's support!

Warmest Regards,

Vanessa M"


Thank you so much for the sweet thank you note Vanessa!! It keeps us committed to our cause! Also, thanks for forwarding us a job lead to pass along to our network. Lets work together to get people working!

6 Job Market Trends to Watch

According to a Career Builder article, "6 Job Market Trends to Watch" by Matt Ferguson, the United States has lost about 8.4 million jobs since the start of the recession in December 2007! According to a new survey from CareerBuilder and USA TODAY, some employers are finally feeling a renewed sense of hiring optimism.

The article stated that within the next three months, 23% of employers are planning to add full-time, permanent headcount and 8% are planning to downsize staffs. The majority surveyed (64%) anticipates no change in staffing while 6% are undecided. While the job market recovery will take some time as employers face new market realities and evaluate staffing needs, this is a positive sign for job seekers!

Here are six trends hiring managers and human resource professionals said they foresee regarding staffing in the second quarter of 2010 in the article:

1. Hiring contract workers Do not overlook job listings that indicate "contract" or "freelance" work. Employerse still are cautious of hiring of permanent staff, 25 percent of employers expect to employ contract workers or freelancers in the second quarter to help fill productivity gaps. Thirteen percent said they are likely to hire these workers on a permanent basis.


2. Offering internships No matter your age, consider applying for an internship. You will gain experience and exposure. Employers are upping their number of interns to cost-effectively add resources in the interim. Nearly one-quarter of employers said that they will be hiring interns at their location in the second quarter.


3. Hiring for social media Market your social media savvy. As social media rapidly gains popularity among consumers and businesses, employers are taking notice and plan to add jobs and responsibilities related to Web 2.0. Nearly one-in-ten employers plan to hire a new employee in the second quarter to focus on social media. An additional 13 percent plan to add social media management to a current employee's responsibilities.


4. Adding bilingual staff In order to appeal to broader consumer segments in the United States who may not speak English or speak it as a native language, employers are looking diversify their personnel. One-third said they plan to hire bilingual candidates in the second quarter of 2010. Half said that if they had two equally qualified candidates, they would be more inclined to hire the bilingual candidate.


5. Replacing lower-performing employees Don't get lost in a false sense of security and prove you're irreplaceable. Companies are re-evaluating their current staffs to prepare for the upturn ahead. Twenty-eight percent of companies said they plan to replace lower-performing employees with higher-performers in the second quarter.


6. Holding on to talent If you are that exceptional employee, your employer may likely prove it. 32 percent of employers are concerned that some of their top employees may leave their organizations in the next few months as market conditions improve. To help retain workers, 14 percent are offering more flexible work arrangements, 14 percent are investing more in training, 10 percent are promising future raises or promotions and 9 percent are offering more performance-based incentives such as trips and bonuses. Another 5 percent are providing a higher title without the salary.

To view full article: http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-1554-Job-Search-6-Job-Market-Trends-to-Watch/


If you are still currently job seeking, submit a resume to Staffing Solutions, Inc. today via our webiste www.staffingsolutionsinc.com! We are a boutique agency that specializes in placing professionals in the St. Louis Metro Area on a temporary, temporary to hire, or direct hire basis in the following areas:

o Administrative/Executive support
o Receptionists
o Human Resources Coordinators
o Human Resources Generalists
o Recruiters/Sourcing Specialists
o Benefits Analysts/Specialists
o Compensation Specialists
o Marketing Coordinators/Specialists
o Accounting Support
o Customer Service

"Interviewed for a job? Not selected? Wondering why?"

We had the grand opening of our Staffing Solutions Career Café last Friday April 9, 2010! We kicked off the grand opening with our first speaker who is from one of the largest employers in St. Louis: Nerida Wilbraham, Supervisor of Talent Acquisition at Ameren.

"Interviewed for a job? Not selected? Wondering why?" Ms. Wilbraham shared with us little details the can derail you from landing a job offer! Check out our website and click on "Career Cafe" and then "Seminar Videos" to view Ms. Wilbraham's Power Point Presentation.

One size does not fit all – tailor your resume to the position description. Click on "hand out" to view Ms. Wilbraham's great example of tailoring your resume to the job. Be sure to READ the job description and include experience that is relevant to the position. On the "hand out," you will notice that Resume 2 fits the job description better than Resume Also, video of the seminar soon to come!

We will be continuing to host free seminars, presentations, panels, and informal chats on Fridays featuring Community Leaders and HR Professionals discussing topics relevant to job seekers. Stay tuned for additional details!

Thanks to everyone that came to our grand opening! Hope you enjoyed the presentation!

Staffing Solutions Career Cafe

Attention Staffing Solutions Applicants!

Staffing Solutions, Inc. Announces the Opening of Our Career Café........A New Approach for Your Job Search!!

Feeling isolated and have no place to go? Tired of being on the computer alone at home in your robe? Losing a job is not only bad from a financial perspective, but also from a psychological AND social perspective. You lose ties to other people, structure, as well as a paycheck. Considering that the average job search is now up to 26.5 weeks, most people have lost much of their day-to-day contact with a variety of other people.

Findings from modern neuroscience suggest that the brain needs interactions with other people to: regulate mood, solve problems, and to be responsive and alert. When people are in isolation, their brain waves slow down,they become withdrawn...and just don't "feel like themselves."

How does this affect YOU?

You begin to notice a remarkable change in your ability to respond quickly in networking situations, to calls from recruiters/potential employers, and ultimately in interviews.

In fact, our clients are reporting many disappointing interview experiences: Highly qualified individuals with great resumes "weren't able to answer our questions with any detail; they just walked us through their resume; they weren't engaged and seemed anxious." DON'T LET THIS BE YOU!

At Staffing Solutions, Inc., we recognize that job seekers need to avoid isolation to stay engaged in the job search process. With longer periods of unemployment - and fewer opportunities available - one "blown" interview can be devastating.

The Staffing Solutions Career Cafe... It's a place to be when there isn't a workplace to go to! Studies show peer-to-peer camaraderie is a great antidote to isolation and anxiety. Our Career Café offers our applicants a "coffee house" experience...all in a warm and engaging environment!

*Conduct job search activities
*Do research
*Peer networking
*Wi-Fi available
*Utilize our research library and advanced job search tools
*Help yourself to free coffee and tea!!!

We will also be hosting seminars at the Career Café to provide our applicants career tips, news on the job market, and more. We are offering all of this at no cost!

Being with other job seekers, our professional staff, and "mascots" Hymie and Chi Chi keeps everyone socially engaged and connected to others in order to improve job search outcomes. Stay tuned for announcements on upcoming seminars!