Job Seeking TipsBy Millennium Personnel Corp.

When Your Job Search Flatlines…

When you’re job search has become stale there are options one can take instead of just giving up altogether. The first step is to review your resume. If you are sending out your resume to many different places and you’re not getting any calls for interviews, then maybe your resume needs a facelift. Many employers will turn away resumes with poor spelling and grammar. Therefore, one should always proofread their resume and have at least one other person review it before sending their resume out to potential employers.

And maybe you don’t meet the qualifications required for the position. The reason could be that you only meet one of the five or six requirements. It is recommended that job seekers apply to positions where they meet at least half of the qualifications for the position. This way it will not waste your time and the interviewer’s time. In addition, it should minimize the job seekers chances of being disappointed for not getting the job.

Another option a person can take is to think about how they presented themselves in their interview. There are many times when a job seeker receives a call for an interview but never lands the job. The reason might be the job seeker wasn’t articulate enough or the person was underselling him or herself on the interview. In addition, the person might have asked “over anxious questions” about salary or benefits before being offered the position. These kinds of things can make the employer have doubts about hiring a job seeker.

A third way of jump starting your job search is by going to a career counselor. Going to a career counselor can be very helpful, especially when you’ve been unemployed for a long period. He or she will assist you with your search and also give you honest career advice. In addition they might make suggestions on how to improve your resume or interviewing skills. A career counselor may recommend a career change.

Let’s face it: there are just times when maybe it’s not your resume or how you did in an interview. It may simply be that there’s someone else that is more qualified for that specific job than you. The key is to not to give up and explore all of your options.

In today’s job market, there are a lot of people looking to change careers. Everyone goes through a career change, for better or worse. While it’s also an opportunity to try something new, switching careers isn’t as easy as a snap of a finger.
A career change requires research. The new career may have requirements that you, as a job seeker, may not meet. A new career means having to meet new requirements just to get an interview. You may need to go back to school for a degree or you may need to work on your computer software skills. Perhaps you have the necessary skills, but they may be outdated. An example would be a computer skill. Computer software is constantly changing and being updated. If you do not update your skills along with the software, you will fall behind and the interviewer will hire someone who keeps up with the updates. This “someone” is your competition and they come in large and diverse numbers, especially in this tight job market.
In this competitive market, most companies look for someone with experience. A career change can either make or break your experiences. You may go for a job that is looking for your experience or a job that isn’t. It takes more than just research, it also takes transferable skills.
Don’t know what transferable skills are? They are your set of skills that you picked up from a previous work that you can use in future work. An example would be a waitress turned salesperson. What do they have in common? A waitress will have you to try a new dish. A salesperson will have you try a new product. Having a set of transferable skills will compliment what is on your resume.
Before making a career change, make a list of your transferable skills and see how well it compliments your existing experience on your resume. Double check your resume to see if you meet the requirements of a career change. Be sure to do your research. Take what you have and sell yourself as hard as you can.

Going to a job seminar can be beneficial for those who are unemployed or looking to advance their careers. A job seminar teaches those who are either looking for another job or unemployed tips on how to land a job. For example, a job seminar will teach you how to write an effective resume. You will learn to put your transferrable skills to the position that you are applying for. People will learn what to leave out in a resume like personal information such as their social security card number, religion and political party. In addition, they will receive good advice, such as:  make sure to always double check spelling and grammar when completing a resume. This is important because a simple error in one’s resume can result in the employer rejecting that person as a possible candidate.

Another way attending a job seminar is helpful is the interview advice you get. For example, you will learn what you should not say during an interview and what is appropriate attire to wear. In addition, a job seminar shows one how to present themselves to the interviewer during the interview. You learn what to do after the interview is over to show the interviewer you are serious about getting the position.

After attending a job seminar one will be able to use what they learned at the seminar to their advantage on their next interview and land that potential job.

Have you ever wondered why you were denied potential jobs? Well, the reason could very well be your resume! While it is understandable that you may want to cram all of your job experience into the document to make a good impression, doing so may turn off the employer looking at your resume. The employer may not have the time to sift through all the pages or unnecessary information. Therefore, you should trim down your resume as much as possible.

You can achieve this by only listing the most recent jobs you have had in the past 5 years if you worked at more than three jobs. Also, it is recommended that you delete all the irrelevant jobs from your resume that are not suited for the position in which you are applying for. In addition, it is not really required that you list all of your references’ contact information; the employer would ask you in the interview for this. The same applies for any physical copies of certificates, awards or ID; please do not attach those to your resume. A resume should not be more than one or two pages, unless you have multiple jobs over a 5-year time period that are strongly related to the job you are seeking. Another exception to this rule is in the case in which you are a writer; you should list all of the works you have published on your resume to make it very appealing to employers.

With all of this considered, you are sure to make a good impression on the employers reviewing your resume. You will likely stand out amongst all the other candidates’ resumes who are applying for the same position. Just make sure to assemble your resume with the related job experience that accommodates each job position, and you should be all set to get to work!

It’s no longer enough to just HAVE a job- you need to get ahead!  In order to get ahead in the workplace at your short- or long-term job as an employee, you should ensure that you are applying the following four essential workplace habits into your daily job routine. If you follow these practices on your job, whether it’s a real estate, insurance, medical, or law firm, you will have tremendous success at that job and throughout your career.

1) BEST FOOT FORWARD

It always essential to exhibit a professional appearance, as well as a professional attitude. For example, it is recommended to articulate clearly and have an enthusiastic attitude when dealing with clients. Lacking this quality would give your fellow co-workers and employers the impression that you are too shaky in performing your work duties. Also, do not dress as if you’re looking forward to meeting with your friends at a local party or festival. For example, wearing very casual attire such as jeans, mini-skirts, flip-flops or shirts that are inappropriate for the workplace will most likely ruin your credibility due to the negative image you are sending to other workers in that firm.

2) SAVE THE DRAMA

It is best to keep casual conversations with fellow employees and employers as basic as possible and stay away from engaging in office gossip. Also, it would be advisable to avoid talking about politics and religion; as well as other controversial topics that might make for an uncomfortable working environment or lead to office gossip.

3) PERSONAL WORK ON PERSONAL TIME

You should limit the amount of personal time you must spend on your social-networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn and MSN Messenger, unless you are required by the firm spend most of your work day on these sites. Doing so typically reduces work productivity. In fact, studies have shown that on average, every user spends about 18.5 billion minutes each day on these kinds of sites in the workplace.

4) WRITE ON!

It is recommended to frequently jot down all notes from meetings, instructions for projects and messages that originated from phone calls, in-person meetings and conference calls on a message pad or in a note book. This may sound a bit obvious; however, this will strongly help avoid mass confusion in the office by being careful and well-organized.

By following these tips, you will stay ahead of the pack and get a job you love at a salary you deserve!

Asking for a raise can be a very strenuous and nerve wrecking experience. There are steps that one could take to make this experience a lot more successful. Remember that before asking for a raise you must evaluate your job performance and whether the contributions you have made to you workplace has helped it run more efficiently and effectively. Having examples of how you have contributed more than your job has required will help you better make the case that you deserve a pay raise. Your job performance is a key figure that your employer will look into when evaluating your request for a raise, the extra hours and effort that you put into your job will greatly increase your chances of getting the raise that you want. The time in which you ask for a raise is also very important when submitting your request. Researching your company’s status and how they are doing in this tough economy is something you need to consider carefully when asking for a raise. A company that is doing well will be more likely to give you a raise than one that’s just getting by. Next you want to research your company’s salary practices, this can give you a better idea of when the right time may be to ask for that well deserved raise. Your fellow co-workers are a great resource for getting some of this information, but remember that a person’s salary is sometimes a personal matter for them, talk to close friends and long time employees from your company to get the information that you need. Once you get a good feel of how your company works, try researching what the market pay is for your current job. If you pay is less than what the other companies are paying their employees for your type of work, it is likely that you may get that raise. Remember to be respectful when approaching your boss for a chance to talk to him about getting a possible raise. Be prepared to give him some time to do his own research on your job performance and talk to his superiors about your request. Do not approach your superior with an ultimatum since this will not reflect well on your future with the company, but try to highlight how your relationship with the company will benefit you both for years to come.

Ever wonder what to do about those gaps in employment on your resume?  It could be that you were in school, or perhaps stayed home to care for a child or an elderly relative, but those gaps can prove to be a dilemma in your search for the perfect job!

While you have most likely furnished the other sections of the resume with seemingly flawless skills, and educational endeavors, as well as countless awards and achievements, the odds are that since you did not provide a written reasonable explanation as to why you were not in any job position in the “gaps,” per se, between the dates of the positions you posted on your resume, you may get passed over for employment.

One way to bridge the “gap” is to address it in your cover letter.  Explain why you were not in the work force at the time in writing.  Or you can just face the music on the job interview.  Since any employer would immediately observe and ponder over those dreaded “gaps”, it is imperative that you muster up a sufficient response when an employer does ask about a “gap.” If the subject does not come up, just take the bull by the horns, and be honest and forthright about your absence from the work force. Whether you were on a medical leave or maternity leave or you opted to carry out an internship program or volunteer program in order to enhance your job skills, be ready to discuss it in a confident and professional manner, instead of making apologies.

The more prepared you are, the better results you will get!  Employers will appreciate the explanation so that they can make a more informed decision on hiring.

You have spent months and months emailing or handing out your resume to various companies with no response. Before you start damning these companies for not recognizing your potential, consider the main culprit. Your resume! It has been limiting your display of talents. There are certain things that your resume no longer needs and that will hinder your chances at finding a job, should you choose to include them.

Let us begin with the objective where you state exactly what type of position you want. Unfortunately, that is not how a resume works. It is not about what YOU want, but rather what you can bring to the COMPANY.

Next, remove your high school education, especially after you have graduated from a university. Only place it if you never had any post secondary education.

Third, leave out the litany of irrelevant jobs, particularly after you have moved up the proverbial career ladder. The summer jobs you spent at McDonalds and H&M have no business being on a resume that is intended for an office manager at a law firm. Therefore, it is imperative that you customize your resume to fit the job description. Jobs that fail to highlight the required experience will only prove to hiring managers that you are not fully ready to enter the job market.

Then, nix the sentence “references available upon request,” because it is evident to any hiring manager that you will provide them if he asks.

Also, do not include your biography on the resume. Hiring managers are inundated everyday with resumes and cannot waste time reading through every detail of your life. Including impertinent hobbies, skills, family history, and individual statements is the quickest way for your resume to get up close and personal with the garbage can.

Finally, do not turn your resume into a novel. A good rule of thumb is that if you have less than ten years of working experience, your resume should only be one page long. However, in that one page do not wax poetic about every detail of experience. Use succinct, key action words to captivate the employer and your resume will be more effective than a three page composition.

In conclusion, please remember that the purpose of a resume is to serve as your personal advertisement. You want it to be catchy, not cliché, succinct and effective. It needs to convince a hiring manager of your potential in the same way that an effective commercial convinces you to try a product.

As a young and naïve 18 year old, I entered college with the desire to become a doctor. However, after 3 years of intense courses, and one ugly C- that blemished my transcript, I decided that it was not for me. Since graduating, I have once more been bitten by the medical school bug, contemplating if I should return and complete a post bacc and then apply to medical school. At the moment I work in retail, constantly folding clothes, dealing with the most irritating customers, and the most obnoxious managers. Often, I check the employment sites and find wonderful jobs as research assistants, lab technicians, or other medical internships that I must sadly ignore because I do not have possess adequate knowledge and skill for.

Many people are in this similar situation, particularly new college graduates or those stuck in dead end jobs. Ideally, a new graduate would love to walk into a law firm and immediately be made partner; however, what qualifications does he have? A few semesters as an administrative assistant? Basic-intermediate computer skills? Two years working in retail? What does he know about writing briefs, presenting a case at trial or sifting through complicated legal rhetoric? With no skills, education, or experience, what person would be gullible enough to retain this person as counsel? Also, just because a job sounds interesting or fun does not mean that one will ever be qualified to perform the skill.

His only prospects would be jobs that require some experience as an administrative assistant, return to retail, or to take a job, in a field that he may not, that is willing to train him. If he truly wants to make partner at a law firm, he must first take the LSAT to enter law school. Before even that, it is imperative that he meets the requirements to take the exam; if that means complete a post bacc, then so be it. The process to becoming a lawyer is stressful, expensive, and long, during which he will need money. Since no law firm will hire him, he must accept lower paying and less glamorous jobs in order to maintain some financial independence.

So for all the new graduate students or the current employees, who feel trapped in a job, fear not. Should you feel that you are doing something that you despise merely because you qualify for it, then try and take steps to find that career that offers a vital mixture of personal and financial satisfaction.

One of the ways to do so is by volunteering, taking an internship, networking, or returning to school. Basically, you should attempt anything that will increase your skills and your marketability.  Unfortunately, many are too far jammed into their own personal lives, children, bills, mortgages, to ever make the attempt at another career. But for those that are willing to, please know that it will require more personal sacrifice, dedication, courage, and willpower than practically anything else in life and that the reward might be that much sweeter.

I have been looking for a job for little over four months now.  I decided to research some job agencies and see if I would have more luck with them than on my own.  I came across millennium personnel and based on the good reviews that many people gave them online I decided to try them and come in for a walk in interview.  In the interview I was informed that because of lack of office experience, it was going to be hard for them to place me with any of their clients.  They recommended that I take up an internship that they were offering in their own office so that I could work up some experience and create a better opportunity for me to get a job.  It took me a night to decide that I would rather take the internship, work up some experience and try looking for something again in the near future.

I graduated from Syracuse University in the winter of 2008 with a B.A in American History.  I was in quite a bit of debt and have had previous experience as a cook so I decided to get a job as a line cook and work off some of the debt so that it wouldn’t become a huge problem in the future.  A year later I decided to try and get a different job and started sending out resumes to different companies and firms with little to no luck, this is when I came to millennium personnel.  I have been interning at Millennium Personnel Corporation for a week now and have received some great insight into how an office is run on a daily basis. My responsibilities vary from day to day but they include answering phone calls, organizing files and folders, updating payroll sheets and greeting new applicants in the office.  I am looking forward to what else I could learn and any new responsibilities that come my way.