Amanda, a director from our Health Services division, talks a little bit about our upcoming HEDIS/QARR Training for RNs in the New York City area:

HEDIS/QARR TRAINING

WHAT: The Execu|Search Group is offering local RNs an extensive HEDIS/QARR training course run by a reputable healthcare consulting firm. A consultant will train the RNs on medical record abstraction for the latest HEDIS hybrid measures.
WHEN: Choose from the September 24th, 2010 OR October 1st, 2010 sessions (NOTE:These are full-day, 8+ hour training sessions)
WHERE: The Execu|Search Group, 5th Floor, 675 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
WHY:

• This training course will make you a viable candidate for consideration on all future HEDIS/QARR projects.
• If you end up working 40+ hours on a HEDIS/QARR project for The Execu|Search Group, your training fees will be reimbursed!
• HEDIS/QARR projects will begin in January 2011 with positions available in all NYC boros as well as Long Island and New Jersey.

TRAINING FEE: $150/person (Training fee will be reimbursed if you work 40 hours on a HEDIS/QARR project for The Execu|Search Group in 2011)

How to Apply: E-mail kylem@execu-search.com a copy of your most recently updated resume. This is a highly competitive program and slots will fill up quickly, so submit your resume as soon as possible.

With the current state of the economy, it’s important to keep track of important economic indicators such as the employment situation across the country. The national unemployment rate for July, released earlier this month, was unchanged at 9.5%. At first glace, this seems to be a very good sign as it looks in recent months that the unemployment rate is beginning to fall.

However, when you break down the numbers the situation is much trickier than first perceived.  While the national average remains unchanged, employers cut 131,000 jobs in July with 14 states reporting an increase from June’s unemployment numbers. Additionally, 11 states posted rates of 10% unemployment or higher, though this is a decrease from 18 states in June. Currently, Nevada boasts the highest unemployment rate at 14.3% with North Dakota at the lower end at 3.6%. In general, the Midwest seems to be doing better than the country as a whole with unemployment rates well below the national average.

Another important employment indicator is weekly initial jobless claims. Jobless claims is the number of people filing new unemployment insurance claims, released every Thursday. Last week, jobless claims rose to 500,000. This continues a recently upward trend in jobless claims, indicating weakness in the labor market. However, it is important to note that this is still well below the highs of the recent recession.

The employment numbers are sending mixed signals to the public. While national unemployment is steady, the economy lost jobs last month. Yet fewer states are reporting rates over 10%. Jobless claims increased again for the 4th straight week, but is still well below last year’s numbers. Overall, the employment situations looks to be improving, but there is still severe weakness in the economy.

Marina Gurland
Recruiting Coordinator – Legal Division

You have probably heard this before, but searching for a job really is a full-time job – and searching for a career can take even longer. As a job seeker, you have a variety of responsibilities to fulfill if you want to have a successful job search:

• 

  Get the wheels in motion – get the momentum going – do your due diligence and find the right recruiter. 
• Define what you want and map out a path of how to get there – and a recruiter can certainly help you with this plan.
• Break out of your comfort zone – sometimes the most rewarding opportunities are the ones you might be most afraid of.  Utilize uncertainty and lack of familiarity as motivators – you’ll never know what you’ll find outside your comfort zone until you take that leap. 
• Take control of your situation, your career, and your life. Your future will be a definition of your thoughts and actions – take the time to make the most of both – and really focus – for this exercise might lead you to exactly where you want to be, both in your career and in life. It might not be immediate, but it will happen eventually. 
• Enlist a professional recruiter to help you – one who has knowledge, has patience, has the time to listen to your requests; one who is very proactive, and one who is very well networked.  There is a lot of competition out there and if you have someone in your corner who has a direct line to the hiring manager and the partners of those specific companies, your chance of starting or continuing your career greatly increases.

Spencer Smolinsky
Director – Legal Support

Regardless of the economy and your current job, a career awaits. However, there are three main things that lead to a successful search:
1.    Focus
2.    Determination
3.    A Professional Recruiter

Focus and determination are two very important ingredients for success, for without them you might not find your path.  The other very important ingredient is a recruiter – a knowledgeable recruiter is a free resource and a wealth of knowledge. Seasoned recruiters have an incredible network, they have the knowledge of their specific industry, and their guidance can help refine your search and make the most of your time.

A good recruiter will listen to your wants, understand your needs, help direct your actions, and be a springboard to help you succeed in your journey to hopefully find your career.  A recruiter who specializes in a specific industry will know the companies, the personalities of the people in those companies; they will know the cultures, both the good and the bad. 

If you truly partner with your Recruiter and listen to his/her advice and guidance, his/her expertise, and know that he/she is committed to your search, you will be that much closer in achieving your goal to find the perfect career.


Spencer Smolinsky
Director – Legal Support

The Execu|Search Group’s HealthServices Division will be attending the Nursing Spectrum Career Fair this Friday, July 30 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  THE ONLY CAREER FAIR EXLUSIVELY FOR RNS & GRADUATE NURSES IN THE TRI STATE AREA!
 
Opportunities abound at 2010 Nursing Spectrum Career Fairs! Explore RN job options with local and national healthcare organizations, discover the latest in healthcare trends by attending free educational seminars, and enjoy a fun and rewarding day designed just for registered nurses.
 
The Execu|Search Group will be hosting a RN Resume Revision Clinic.  Please stop by our booth for pointers on format, content, and keywords to turn your resume into an interview!

Nursing Spectrum Career Fair
Friday, July 30th
10am – 2pm
Crowne Plaza, 66 Hale Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601
Parking: Parking at the Crowne Plaza is $10.00
Register to attend (Free!) here: http://nscfhudsonvalley.eventbrite.com/

JOB FAIR SCHEDULE

8:00 AM – Doors Open
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM    Boost Your Brain Power! Cynthia Saver, RN, MS, President, CLS Development, Inc.
10:00 AM    Exhibit Hall Opens
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM    Never Stop Learning, Muriel M. Shore, RN, EdD, NEA-BC, DPNAP – Dean and Professor, Felician College
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM    Resume Review Clinic
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM    Finding Happiness in Challenging times (exhibitors only) – Cynthia Saver, RN, MS, President, CLS Development, Inc.
1:45 PM    Grand Prize Drawing $500 VISA Gift Card
2:00 PM    Exhibit Hall Closes
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM    Take A Vacation from Stress, Luanne Pennesi, RN, MS, CNAT – Founder, Metropolitan Wellness
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM    Special Student Panel “Straight Answers for Nursing Students” – A straight forward panel discussion with leading nursing professionals. (Seating is limited to first 75 students)

We hope to see you there!

  Amanda Bleakney
  Director- Healthcare

It’s summer in New York City, which means fundraisers and networking opportunities abound! As part of our community initiative, members of the Execu|Search healthcare team have been joining organizations throughout the area to help support our clients and candidates. Here are a few things we have done so far this summer to show our support in the city:

Case Management Society of America New York City Chapter Meeting

The Case Management Society of America, “is the leading membership association providing professional collaboration across the healthcare continuum to advocate for patients’ wellbeing and improved health outcomes by fostering case management growth and development, impacting health care policy, and providing evidence-based tools and resources.”  CMSA-NYC, previously known as CMSA Metro, is the official chapter for Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. CMSA-NYC represents nurses, social workers, and allied healthcare professional dedicated to the practice of case management.

Ali Klass, a Director in Our Temporary Health Services Division joined me at the event at the New York City Chapter Meeting on Wednesday, June 23rd at the New Yorker Hotel.  The hotel offered excellent accommodations and a sit down dinner. Over 75 people were in attendance.  Patricia Ghikas PT, M.Ed, CWS spoke at the event on the topic of “Wound Care: Transitioning Your Patient Out of Acute Care.”  She provided an interesting and unique perspective on the topic for clinical and non-clinical members of the crowd. 

Execu|Search was happy to support NYC CMSA, which has a reputation for the quality of their annual conferences and for the outstanding and insightful educational presentations that it brings to their membership and to other professionals in the field of Case Management.  We always suggest our candidates to take their careers to the next level by joining professional organizations such as this one. Their next dinner meeting will be on September 14th, and all of the information is available on their website.  In addition, check out their website to learn more about their organization and how to join: http://www.cmsa-nyc.org/.

Wall Street Run & Heart Walk

On Thursday, June 24th employees of Execu|Search joined the New York Presbyterian team to compete in The Wall Street Run & Heart Walk.  The event was a 5k (3.1) competitive run and non-competitive walk to raise awareness and funds to support the American Heart Association’s mission to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke—the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, claiming nearly a million lives annually, more than 27,000 in New York City alone.

Maliza Sarimento, MA, APRN, one of the organizers of the New York Presbyterian – Weill Cornell team graciously invited us to join their team at this event.  The team had over 108 participants and raised over $9,000.  Maliza did a great job of organizing the team and providing moral for the team on race day!

It was a pleasure and privilege to be involved in such a great cause and to help support one of our clients, New York Presbyterian Hospital System.  We joined thousands of others, including many survivors of heart disease and others running/walking in support of family members and friends who were affected by the disease.  There were many teams there from the local hospitals and other businesses.  The routes were downtown along the Wall Street area, including fabulous views of the water. 

It was an event celebrating life and supporting a disease that affects so many.  It was great to see so many people come together support the cause.  The event raised over $1.3 million and there’s still time to fundraise. Follow This Link to visit web page if you want to donate (The website will be open until July 12th for online donations.)

Achilles Hope and Possibility Race

This past Sunday, June 27th Execu|search employees joined the United Cerebral Palsy team for the 8th Annual Achilles Hope & Possibility Race in Central Park.  The five-mile race was hosted by the New York Road Runners to unite athletes with disabilities with their able-bodied counterparts. Besides the main 5-mile race, the day included children’s races, raffles, music, celebrity guests and prize money for racers in many different categories. Participants have the option of completing 5-mile or 1.7-mile races and no matter what your distance or speed; ALL racers receive a medal at the finish line.

Over 6,000 runners were in attendance including New York Governor David Paterson and Prince Harry.  Founded in 1983 by Dick Traum, the first amputee to complete the NYC Marathon, “Achilles International provides athletes with disabilities with a community of support where these racers can gain measurable physical strength and build confidence through their sense of accomplishment. While Achilles programs focus on athletics, the truth is, sports are simply the tool for accomplishing the organization’s main objective: to bring hope, inspiration and the joys of achievement to people with disabilities.”

Execu|Search was happy to be a corporate sponsor for one of our clients, United Cerebral Palsy of New York (UCP).  They are the leading nonprofit agency in New York City providing direct services, technology and advocacy to children and adults of all ages with cerebral palsy and related disabilities. 

Jill Bragg, who works closely with UCP, helped organize the team and the runners.  The members of the Execu|Search team were Laura Arnold, Derek Eassey, Becky Garson, Matt Rosenfeld and Katie Warnock.  They ran along side other members of UCP including people with Cerebral Palsy who came out to participate in the event.  It was an awe-inspiring experience to be able to run along side athletes with disabilities and see everyone come together for such a great cause.  All in all, it was a day that truly celebrated life and showed the power of the human spirit.

  Becky Garson
  Executive Recruiter – Healthcare

Team Execu|Search showed off their athletic abilities this weekend at the YAI Network’s 25th Annual Central Park Challenge. The YAI/ National Institute for People with Disabilities Network provides opportunity to people with developmental and learning disabilities, within the New York Metropolitan Area.

On Saturday, June 5th, thousands of families, celebrities, and members of the community came together to raise awareness for the rights and aspirations of people with disabilities. 10,000 walkers and 2,000 runners filled Central Park for the fundraising event, which offered a 3K Walk, 5K Run, a Play Area, and the Children’s Jr. All-American Races.

The Execu|Search Group assembled a team of 10 to participate in the organization’s 5K Run. The team felt it was truly an incredible experience to join thousands of other participants at the park and support the developmentally disabled community. The Execu|Search Group recognizes and values the tremendous work that YAI does for people with disabilities.

YAI’s fundraising goal of $1,500,000.00 has already been exceeded with $1,515,395.79 in donations, but if you would like to contribute, donations will be accepted through July 31st on the YAI website.

   Allison Klass
   Account Executive- Temporary Division, Health Services

Recently, I was scheduled to meet a candidate with a pretty decent resume. The day of our meeting he showed up not at our scheduled time of noon, but at 9:30am.  He said he was in the neighborhood. He was in his shorts.

After our interview, he proceeded to email me for a good month, sending job postings from our company with subject lines such as:  “submit me for this job” or “submit me for that.”

This candidate’s resume could have mirrored Donald Trump’s and I still would not have worked with him. Why? Because he had no respect for my time, dressed unprofessionally when we met in person, and then acted in a manner which suggested that I owed him something. 

This is not a new concept- but it is good to keep in mind that interviews are like dating. You want to make sure your putting you’re best foot forward at all times. It’s important to think of the interview as an introduction to a company.

What if you spent as much time preparing for an interview as most people spend preparing for a first date? Be prepared to communicate clearly, share some basic background information, and highlight your best assets. Get the interviewer to fall in love with you and what you have to offer, and then walk out on a high note.

When you go on a first date it is best to be:

•    Confident, not cocky
•    Smart, but not a know it all
•    Personable, but not a chatty Kathy
•    Dressed appropriately and in a presentable manner
•    Interested and engaged in the conversation

If you follow these basic dating rules as you go into your next interview, you just might land your dream job!

Good luck!

Stacie Renna
Staffing Coordinator

Well, we’re finally back in the office, having just returned from the NALP (National Association for Law Placement) Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
 
All things considered, there was an incredible turnout, with about 1,000 legal professionals in attendance.
 
Over the four days that we were there, we had an opportunity to interact with a tremendous amount of industry personalities, many of whom were familiar faces, and a great deal more of whom we had a chance to meet with for the first time. 
 
In speaking with so many law firm recruitment departments, the conference also confirmed what we’ve been sensing for a couple of months, which is that the associate market, dormant for a couple of years due to the recession, is now thawing out considerably.  This was a consistent theme that resonated with just about everybody we met with.  Geographically, this confidence went beyond just the NYC legal market.  We spoke to people representing firms from California to Chicago to DC, as well as major international financial centers such as London and Hong Kong, which echoed the same feelings of optimism.  We’re expecting a major up tick in associate hiring heading into the fall.
 
Todd & Andrew

In today’s job market, technology dominates the selection process from every angle.  Job seekers hit the internet for postings and apply online.  Once your resume is submitted, it often automatically enters a database with thousands of other resumes.  Even with the advanced software available today to recruiters and hiring companies, these technologies primarily rely on keyword searches to make a match between a candidate and an open position.  A well-written cover letter explaining how this is your dream job will not get you far when submitting applications to these types of databases- but keywords will.

Here are a few ways to ensure you have the keywords necessary to stand out from your competition!:

1. Having a separate Special Skills section in addition to your Employment section is also a good way to make sure nothing you have done or can do has been omitted.

2. Even if it puts your resume past that one-page limit that is often recommended, don’t leave out important bullet points about your experience. 

3. If you work with a certain computer program at work or you have worked on specific projects, make sure you detail these on your resume. 

4. Take a look at job postings in your field to determine some keywords that you should include.  If a posting lists certain skills as being required to apply, make sure you are including those on your resume. 

   Katie Niekrash
   Executive Recruiter, Healthcare