Calling all St. Louis HR professionals!!!

HR Happy Hour Wine and Cheese Party!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!!

Time: 4:30-6:00 PM
Date: Thurs. Oct. 6, 2011

Location:
Staffing Solutions, Inc.
8012 Bonhomme Ave., Suite 200
Clayton, MO 63105

Last spring we hosted the "HR Meet and Greet in Margaritaville" and it was a GREAT opportunity for the HR professionals in the St. Louis community to come together to meet, greet and network! Now that it's fall, it's time for an encore...

You are cordially invited to our "HR Happy Hour Wine and Cheese Party!" Networking can be an effective way to make valuable connections or find candidates for future opportunities. We'll provide the wine and cheese... and we hope to see you there!

RSVP by Wed. Oct. 5
314-863-0333 or mail@staffingsolutionsinc.com

Limited free parking is available behind our building in spaces marked "Staffing Solutions." After 5:00 PM ALL spaces behind our building are available. Street parking and garage parking at 8011 Bonhomme is also available.

LinkedIn Tips!

If you are currently job seeking, you are probably searching job boards and company websites for positions. But...are you searching LinkedIn? If not, you may be missing out on potential opportunities!

Many people feel LinkedIn is the most professional of the "Big 3" social media sites (other 2 being Twitter and Facebook). LinkedIn it is a GREAT networking tool and can boost your career prospects!

You must make sure you profile at least 85% complete, but we suggest aiming for 100%. The more detail- the better! According to LinkedIn, you are more likely to receive opportunities through the site if you complete your profile by including:

* Your current position
* Two past positions
* Your education
* Your professional summary
* A profile photo
* Your specialties
* At least three recommendations
* Fill out your contact settings! Options include: career opportunities, consulting offers, new ventures, job inquiries, and reference requests.

Also, make your profile is public so recruiters can find you!!

List keywords and skills related to the positions you are targeting so your profile pops up when a recruiter performs a "search" for candidates. Look at a job posting of your ideal position and include those keywords in your summary and also your headline.

Once your profile is complete, it's time to connect! Search for college classmates or former colleagues at previous positions or internships. Send them a personalized invite to connect.

Next, it is time to join groups that target your industry. For example, if you are seeking an accounting position St. Louis, you may join a group called, "St. Louis Accounting & Finance Professionals". Be sure to join SSInc's group, "Staffing Solutions Career Network" where we provide up to date news on the job market, articles relevant to job seekers, job search tips, current openings, and more!

Once you are in a few groups, start joining in on discussions to increase your visibility! Ask and answer questions regarding industry topics.

Remember, you are building your online brand by connecting and engaging with other professionals in your industry on LinkedIn. Make sure to keep your profile up-to-date with current skills and update your status with opportunities you're looking for.

Good Luck!

Best Employment Agencies Finalist... Thanks to YOU!

We'd like to say "thanks" to all our valued clients, partners, and applicants! Because of you, Staffing Solutions, Inc. has been voted one of the top finalists in the "Best Employment Firm" category in the Small Business Monthly!

Calling all St. Louis HR Pros! SAVE THE DATE -- BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!!

Time: 4:30-6:00 PM
Date: Thurs. Oct. 6, 2011

Location:
Staffing Solutions, Inc.
8012 Bonhomme Ave., Suite 200
Clayton, MO 63105

Last spring we hosted the "HR Meet and Greet in Margaritaville" and it was a GREAT opportunity for the HR professionals in the St. Louis community to come together to meet, greet and network! Now that it's fall, it's time for an encore...

Stay tune for an official invitation to our "HR Happy Hour Wine and Cheese Party!" Networking can be an effective way to make valuable connections or find candidates for future opportunities. We'll provide the wine and cheese... and we hope to see you there!

Tips to Make a Great Impression in an Interview!!

We all know interviews can be nerve racking! BUT.....with a little practice and preparation- you can ROCK!!

Here are a few tips for your next interview!!

* Be sure to prepare for the interview – Always research the company and position prior to your interview. Find out exactly what the company does, read recent news or press releases, check out how they are involved in the local community, and review their mission statement. Not knowing about the company is a turn-off for most interviewers!!!

* Arrive on time – We suggest arriving 10 minutes early. If you get there sooner than that, use that extra time to prepare in the car. Arriving more than 10 minutes early may make your interviewer feel rushed!

* Dress to impress – Believe it or not, you are examined from head to toe in an interview. Not only is your experience and personality sized up...but also your appearance. This means dressing professionally, being well-groomed and having impeccable hygiene. In fact, the way you present yourself can actually set the tone for the interaction during an interview and help the interviewer form an opinion about you! This can make or break your chances of getting the job. Check out dress tips on our website site: https://www.staffingsolutionsinc.com/dressingforsuccess.htm

* Act confident – Interviewing may be on your top 10 list of most intimidating moments EVER (next to public speaking!), but try your best to be confident! Be sure to smile, sit up tall with shoulders back, make eye contact with the interviewer, have a firm handshake, and respond to those interview questions with enthusiasm.

* Ask questions – Be sure to ask questions in order to gain a deeper understanding of the actual position and the company. By asking intelligent questions, you'll not only impress the interviewer with your interest but also set yourself apart from the competition. Make sure to think of some questions beforehand in case you freeze up and can't think of any once you are in the interview. Such questions may include:

Why is this position open? (Find out why the previous person left or if it’s a new role)
What traits/experience would a person need to be successful in this role?
What are the top goals for the person you hire in this role?
What are the next steps in this process?

* Say "Thank You" – At the end of your interview, don't forget to thank your interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. The next day, send a personal "thank you" note to each person! If they are making a hiring decision quickly, then send an email. If not, send a hand written note.

The job market is fierce right now and you have to make sure you stand out from you competitors. These small tactics can help you do that! You want to be sure and leave a positive impression on those you meet in hopes to move on past the interview process and land the job.

A very sweet thank you note!

A sweet thank you note that made our day!!!!!

"Dear Bonny and Pam:

Thank you for your time yesterday. For the first time in my job search I feel 'of value' again. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your professionalism and encouragement.

I look forward to working with you both in the near future. I am confident we will have a productive and long working relationship!

Thank you, again.

Sincerely,
Jeannette"

Why did Channel 4’s Marc Cox interview Bonny Filandrinos today about the current job market?

It might be because of her 37 years of experience in the staffing industry…or that she’s seen the effects of several business cycles over the years.

Listen to Marc’s interview with Bonny on Channel 4 at 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM today to hear her take on the current job market situation, and what’s different NOW!!

http://www.kmov.com/news/national/Unemployment-benefit-requests-jumped-to-428K-129917103.html

Google+….Have you heard of it?

Many companies are now using social media as a recruiting tool! By not taking advantage of these online platforms, you may be missing out on job offers as well as valuable connections! Social media is a great way to engage and connect with both your personal and professional network! Check out this NEW networking site and get on board with social media today!

Launched late June 2011, Google+ has already surpassed 25 million visitors! This is a rate of adoption that far exceeds the growth curve of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or MySpace! Google+ is still in Beta mode, but soon everyone will be able to join!
You may already be on Facebook and LinkedIn, so why join Google+ and how is it different? The answer is simple: CIRCLES! Circles lets you segregate your “friends” and contacts in a logical manner, unlike Facebook where everyone is a “friend” (except Facebook does have a new app called BeKnown, which we will discuss later).

Google+ enables you to put people or brands into whatever categories you choose. You can communicate with one person, one circle, a few circles, or everyone! So many options! Circles give users control over who sees their content, and users can create as many circles as they would like!

Google+ for job search? YES! First of all, the networking site connects to Google Docs so you can link out to whatever document you want, including a resume, a whitepaper, exclusive listings, etc. It is also easy to connect and to separate professional and personal contacts.  Just keep you professional contacts in a different circle than your friends and family. Google+ promised that they would roll out pages for businesses and other entities later in the year!

The ability to deliver the right content to the right person at the right time is as powerful as it gets! The key to a fulfilling Google+ experience is Circles, which is the heart of this social network’s organization system!