Category: Job Seekers

Most job seekers know the benefits of working with a staffing firm. However, when they think about “benefits,” they mean the term in a general sense. But what about literal benefits? What about those added elements of compensation that often come with full-time employment?

Those kinds of benefits are a different story. People often rely on their employer to get things like health insurance and retirement savings. However, job seekers don’t usually associate these important benefits with staffing firms.

It’s a key concern and one that often holds people back from using recruiters to ignite their careers.

The Other Kind of Job Security

The concern over benefits permeates job searches in general. As companies shift to a gig-economy model, fewer and fewer employers offer their workers full benefits.

It leads to a situation where workers never feel truly secure. They always feel like they have to keep hustling, keep working, keep looking for that next job. The drive feels especially acute in the world of temporary work, where even paid days off seem like a mythical luxury from some bygone era.

In this environment, many job seekers feel silly even asking a recruiter about benefits. They think, “if many employers don’t offer ... Read More

Careers don’t develop in a straight line. There are always plenty of twists and turns. These can include times away from the workforce. Now, that you’re ready to return to the professional world after a long break, how do you find that perfect position?

It’s often necessary to step away from the working world for a period of time. Whether you were raising your kids, going back to school, caring for an ailing loved one, or any of the myriad of reasons that a person might need a time out from the workforce, the transition back can be tough.

However, it’s not impossible. With a little creativity, you can build up your resume and get your career back on track.

Here are five steps you should take when you re-enter the workforce after a long break:

Engage Your Network

Everyone knows what a strong network in central to securing long-term career advancement. You may have been out of contact with many of your professional acquaintances over the last few years. However, you were going to need them in order to jumpstart your career.

Contact the people in your network. This includes both the people you’re still close to and the more distant folks that you ... Read More

Many job seekers delay contacting a staffing agency because they believe they can find a better job on their own. However, recruiters offer significant advantages and even the most demanding candidates can benefit from the assistance staffing agencies provide.

Seeking out help can be tough. As you start your job search, you’re confident you can find a position on your own. After all, no one can understand your background better than you and only you can properly steer your career toward your desired trajectory.

Right? Well, not exactly.

Working with a recruiter doesn’t replace your understanding of your skills or change the direction of your career. Instead, staffing agencies are there to amplify those powers. They can unlock possibilities you didn’t know existed.

Here are some of the ways you benefit from working with a recruiter, rather than trying to land a position on your own:

Unadvertised Opportunities

Employers don’t always publish their open positions. This is especially true if those companies work with a staffing firm. Instead of going through the trouble and expense of soliciting applications from the public, they will go directly through the recruiter to get the workers they need.

By signing up with a staffing agency, you ... Read More

It may seem like a simple ice-breaker-type question, little more than an excuse to recite your resume, or maybe just a lead-in to more meaningful inquiries. However, the query “tell me about yourself” can represent a trap. In fact, it can become as much a trap for unprepared job seekers as more obvious head-scratchers like “what’s your biggest weakness?”.

However, it doesn’t have to be. Instead of becoming an awkward point in the interview, the question offers you a significant opportunity. You can use it to set the tone for the rest of the meeting and outline your baseline case for getting hired.

Here are some things to include as you respond to the all-but-inevitable “tell me about your yourself” prompt.

Briefly Rundown Your History

The bulk of your answer should involve your biography. At this point, you should mostly stick to your education and work history, as this is most pertinent to a job situation.

However, look to include more personal elements, as well. These can help make a connection with your interviewers. Mention details like where you were born, where you grew up, how many brothers and sisters you have, etc.

One warning, though: Make sure not to dip into things like politics or ... Read More

Staffing agencies provide all types of jobs. However, many people have the impression that recruiters only make temporary assignments. This misconception keeps many job seekers from taking advantage of the benefits a staffing agency brings.

That’s unfortunate because it leads candidates to close the door on a number of meaningful opportunities. Even in situations where a position starts out as a temporary assignment, there is a chance it could evolve into something more permanent.

There are a few steps you can take to make that transition more likely. Keep these tips in mind if you want to turn your temp job into a permanent position.

Do Your Job Well

Companies ultimately make their decisions based on value. If you prove yourself worthwhile to the organization, they will want to keep you around. That should be your goal during your temp assignment: To convince your bosses they are better off with you around.

Think of your temp assignment as a tryout. If you’re looking to transition from your initial role into a more permanent one, perform your tasks at the highest possible quality level, and exhibit an ability to handle more complicated tasks.

Ask About Permanent Roles

Usually, to get what you want, you have to ask for ... Read More

Beginnings are hard. First dates. First days at new schools. And, of course, your first time walking into a new job. In each case, first impressions make all the difference.

Starting a new position comes with significant anxiety and a high level of stress. But you have to suppress your butterflies and muster all the confidence you can find. Easier said than done? Maybe…but there are ways to make the process easier.

Here are four ways you can overcome your nervousness and make a great impression on your first day on a new job:

Come Early and Stay Late

A new employer wants to see that you’re willing to go the extra mile. Establish that precedent early in your tenure. Show up early, ready to work on your first day. Come prepared and excited.

Meanwhile, carry that enthusiasm through until the end of the day. Don’t leave until your boss does, or at least until they clearly instruct you to go. (Unless, of course, your new boss has a tendency to duck out early. In that case, take your cues from your most committed coworker.)

Offer to Take on Responsibility

Many people come into a job looking to hang back. They want to figure out the ... Read More

A persistent myth about staffing firms is they are all the same. This is far from true. However, a wide gap exists in quality among recruiters. There are bad ones, which can actually represent a liability to your long-term development, and then there are the great recruiters; ones that act to amplify your career ambitions, becoming a major asset to your development.

But how can you tell the difference? How do you separate the winners from the losers without wasting a large amount of time?

Here are some signs you can use to separate the good from the bad, helping you find the right recruiter to push your career forward:

Good Recruiters Give You Specific Details 

You can tell early in your conversations with a recruiter whether or not things are going well. A good staffing partner will provide detailed information, rather than vague promises. Ideally, they should have a specific plan for you soon after your first meeting, using your skills and background as a basis for a way forward.

You shouldn’t be left waiting and you shouldn’t be forced to follow up continuously just to get information. At the very least, your recruiter should offer a timeline of when they can give you ... Read More

It’s the moment you dreaded. The interview started pleasantly enough. You went through some small talk, a list of your qualifications, some banter about where you went to school, and a long recitation of your best qualities.

But now the discussion has taken a turn toward an interrogation. The trick question of all trick questions has been asked: “What is your biggest weakness?”

It’s a difficult query that requires self-reflection and a higher degree of openness than most people usually allow themselves in front of strangers. However, it’s also a common question you’ll face at most interviews. You should have an answer prepared.

With that in mind, here are some tips in crafting your response to the dreaded “what’s your biggest weakness?”

Be Honest …

You want to be honest in your interview. Part of the purpose of the “biggest weakness” question is to test a candidate’s ability to handle a seemingly unwinnable situation. They want to see how you’ll handle the pressure.

Try to evade the question and you’ve effectively failed the test. They know you have weaknesses, so presenting yourself as perfect will only hurt your cause. So, don’t attempt the cutesy tactic of listing an obvious strength as a weakness (“if anything, I’m ... Read More