Tag Archives: online recruiting

career blogs

PS&R’s Top Blogs for Job Seekers

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Summer is a great time to do more reading, for work and for pleasure. We at Preferred Staffing & Recruiting love discovering new blogs and broadening our knowledge of all things job search related. Here are some of our favorite career related blogs that we’re reading right now:

Career Sherpa

Career Sherpa is full of helpful tips, tricks, and motivation for job seekers. We love the author’s positivity and focus on taking control of your job search. The site offers checklists and sample resume-related documents, as well as affordable virtual workshops. The Career Sherpa has been featured in many major publications, including USA Today and Forbes.

 

Ms. Career Girl

Our favorite part of this site is the Resume Optimization Tool that allows you to upload your resume and the job description of the position you are applying for. The tool then gives you a match rating and helps you optimize your resume so you can make it a better fit for that job. Ms. Career Girl also offers relationship advice, tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and help with planning your next vacation.  This blog hits the perfect balance of work and play!

 

Career Contessa

The founder of Career Contessa was a recruiter with the goal of helping women build successful and fulfilling careers. Her team has succeeded by offering articles on everything from cover letter advice to cultivating confidence to salary negotiation.

If you searching for a job opportunity OR if you are looking to hire new talent at your organization, PS&R is here to help. Reach us at 617.723.1919 or visit www.psandr.com. Happy reading!

staffing agency near me, recruiter near me, job search

How To Impress A Potential Employer

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The saying is true, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. Your first contact with a new company is typically an online application or submission of your resume and cover letter. Follow these tips from PS&R to make that first impression perfect!

Pick jobs you are qualified for.
Online applications have made it easy for employers to get spammed by unqualified candidates. The person reading your online application is not going to make the stretch to fit your qualifications to the position at hand if it is not obvious. Our advice is to quickly qualify yourself as a potential candidate in the very beginning of your email, your cover letter, and your resume. Most resumes get about 30 seconds of review time, so make your relevant skills obvious.

Write a killer cover letter.
Again, you want the employer to see your eligibility right away, so focus your cover letter on your key qualifications. If you know the person conducting the search, address the letter to them using their surname, i.e. “Mrs. Jones”. Make sure you specifically mention the job title for which you are applying, and check spelling and grammar carefully.

Customize your resume.
If you have a career objective on your resume, use it to promote yourself rather than describe the type of company you want to work for or position you are seeking. List your qualifications and tailor them to match those required for the position. Be sure to show progression in your job history and use measured results to describe your accomplishments. Customization is key to impressing your potential employer!

PS&R is a leading staffing and recruitment agency in Massachusetts. Be sure to read our blog Hired for more tips on landing the perfect job.

Understanding the New Massachusetts Equal Pay Law

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Our home state of Massachusetts is on the forefront of the movement for equal pay and rights for employees.  Last month the equal pay law was updated to provide clarity on what constitutes unlawful wage discrimination. A key piece of the July 1st update made it unlawful for employers to ask candidates for salary history information.  Massachusetts is one of only a handful of states that have adopted this kind of law.

To help you understand this new law, PS&R has gathered some questions that employers are able to ask, and some you need to avoid.

Employers CANNOT ask:

  • What is your current salary?
  • How much did you make in your last job?
  • How much of your compensation is base salary versus commission?
  • Why do you think this salary is appropriate for you?

Employers CAN ask:

  • What is your salary requirement or expectation?
  • What value would you bring to this job?
  • Did you meet your sales goals in your last position? (but don’t ask about earnings through sales)
  • Is there a type of pay structure you would be most comfortable with?

Remember that job candidates can volunteer pay history information on their own, it just can’t be actively solicited by a recruiter or human resources manager. Don’t forget to eliminate pay history questions from paper or online documents, such as employment applications.

Working with a Massachusetts recruiter like PS&R is an easy way to navigate this new law effectively.

Making the Most of Online Recruiting

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Online recruiting is how recruiters and candidates connect using the web.   Job recruiting websites offer an efficient way to share job posts and resumes.  With the use of Skype, Facetime and other video call apps, interviews and meetings can take place anywhere and anytime.  Online recruiting has saved job seekers and hiring agencies both time and money.

One thing to keep in mind is that internet recruiting makes job opportunities more accessible to everyone.  The ease of applying means that any single job post can be flooded with applicants.   A human resource manager or recruitment specialist may see hundreds of resumes per post. This is great news for that recruiter, as they can quickly scan and pluck only the top applicants.  But if you are looking for employment, you want to do what you can to stand out.

Here are some things for job seekers to keep in mind as you navigate the online world of recruiting:

  • Pay attention to detail– Make sure your resume is updated, proof-read, and that it is appropriate for the job you are seeking. If you are sending your resume via email, be sure to use correct grammar and spelling.  Your resume is less likely to be opened if an employer sees errors right away.
  • Network – Check in with your professional network or use LinkedIn to see if you already know someone who works for the company. An internal referral can go a long way.
  • Clean up your social media presence – Don’t be surprised if your Facebook and Twitter accounts are being viewed by hiring managers. Delete incriminating photos and inappropriate posts – these could turn off potential employers.

Find the best recruiting website for you and consider the tips above, and you are one step closer to your next great opportunity!