After just a few days of being open to the public, Google+ has nearly 3.5 million members and counting! With its multiple features and easy to use platform, you can already tell it’s going to be significant in the future of networking and job searching.

Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter take some time and patience to learn but Google designed Google+ in a way where it’s clear-cut and self-explanatory—even my mother understood it immediately. There’s also no need to create two profiles, one for your professional life and one for your personal life, since you can separate these in multiple “circles”. Simply drag and drop your contacts into buckets, one at a time or multiple at a time, to form these groups or circles.

Once Google launched this social network a few weeks ago, they also released the +1 button. Google stated: “When you click +1, you’re telling your friends, your family and the rest of the world, ‘this is something you should check out!’” The +1 button is essentially the “Like” button on Facebook, but instead your ‘+1’s’ are collected in your profile and presented to your connections. When you share articles, videos, and other information, you decide who gets to see it—select ‘public’ if you want it to be visible to everyone, or select certain circles to post it to.

Google+ also gives you a chance to network face-to-face with employers, experts, and recruiters, by incorporating the ability to “facechat”. Skype is already a popular form of interviewing, but when you include a profile filled with articles and work history; this gives the interviewer a greater idea of your interests and expertise!

Lastly, make sure your profile is complete and honest since this is what hiring managers and recruiters will be seeing first. Make sure you add a professional profile photo, work history, and links to your current blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Good luck in your Google+ adventures!

Dustin Willoughby

Marketing Department

It is Charity Day again at TESG! This month we are supporting Raíces de Esperanza. These individuals seek to inspire young people to think outside the box, and proactively support their young counterparts in Cuba through academic and cultural initiatives guided by three basic principles: amor, amistad y esperanza (love, friendship and hope). If you are interested in learning more about their projects, check out their website here.

One of the simplest ways that you can enhance your resume is through altruistic initiatives. By donating your expertise or time to a worthy cause you can gain serious brownie points with a potential employer. Here are some ways that volunteering can help you with your job search or career advancement:

•  You Will Expand Your Network – When it comes to finding a job you can never have too many people on your team! Volunteering helps you expand that group of people in the most organic way. You never know whom you might make a connection with…

•  You Can Gain New Skills – Even if you feel confident with your present skill set there are always things that can be improved upon. Volunteering allows you the opportunity to enhance those existing skills or learn new ones to augment your current proficiencies.

•  It Looks Good On Your Resume – A volunteer position might not be an exact match for what you aspire to do career wise but, it is beneficial to show that you are keeping active professionally even if you are not currently working. If you are currently employed volunteering might give your resume the boost it needs if you are looking for new business contacts or a new career.

•  You Feel Good – You might be going though some tough times finding a job right now but, working in a place where you are making a difference can be it’s own reward. It is also a welcomed and necessary break from the minutia of your job search.

Iris Colon

Internal Recruiting and Training Coordinator

Congratulations, recent college graduates! Now that your caps and gowns have been put away, what’s next? That’s right, the dreaded job hunt begins.

Have you considered a career in sales? You should, these openings are listed as one of the top ten jobs for college graduates. In the present economy, companies are looking to hire sales people first to beef up their business.

In these roles, entry-level candidates can gain valuable skills that will serve them well throughout their careers. As a bonus, compensation is growing at a rate of almost two times that of other corporate positions.

All that being said people are still skeptical about entering a career in sales! Why? Stereotypes. Here are some of the negative stereotypes about sales and reasons why they aren’t true at all:

• Sales people are dishonest – Honesty is the best policy when it comes to sales. People want to be able to trust you and you want them to come back with any future needs they might have. The most successful sales people know that it is in everyone’s best interest to stick with the truth.
• Sales jobs are not secure – Job security feels like a very elusive thing these days. With any job you need to be motivated and passionate to succeed. The same is definitely true in sales.
• Sales jobs require considerable travel – Long gone are the days of the traveling salesman. With email and phone you can connect with your potential clients almost instantaneously. When you need to communicate face-to-face, online video calling is right at your fingertips. You don’t even need to leave your office!
• Sales positions are more stressful – It is true that sales can lead to high-pressure situations but with the right skills you can easily and effectively navigate the challenges you are faced with without worry or stress.

Hopefully, you can now see how positive a career in sales might be for you. If you are interested in exploring some career opportunities and obtaining an invaluable professional skill set please visit our Careers Page!

Iris Colon

Internal Recruiting and Training Coordinator

I wanted to let you know about an exciting event taking place TOMORROW, Wednesday June 1st and invite you to attend!

It’s the second session of the New York Association for Ambulatory Care’s (NYAAC) “Building Your Brand” session and it’s all about personal branding!

Personal branding is key to success in your professional life! Come join other professionals and learn how you can use your talents and skills to promote yourself!

• • • • • • •

New York Association for Ambulatory Care (NYAAC) Presents:

Building Your Brand: A Three Part Series
SESSION TWO: Wednesday June 1st, 2011 5:45 pm – 8:00 pm
Beth Israel Medical Center
Phillips Ambulatory Care Center
10 Union Square East New York, NY

Personal Branding “The key to success lies within yourself.”

• How to develop a personal brand and represent yourself appropriately in today’s increasing job market
• The importance of networking to present your personal brand
• Working with recruiters and executive search firms
• Climbing the ladders of success – how to partner within your own company for advancement
• What key executives look for -The WOW factor -how to set yourself apart

Featuring renowned speaker Marc Cenedella, Founder and CEO of TheLadders

To register for this event, click here!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

  Allison Klass
  Director – Healthcare, Temporary Division

Career expert Barbara Safani responds to job seekers‘ most common questions about post-interview Thank You letters.

• Do hiring authorities really read thank-you letters? Some do, some don’t. Some hiring managers feel that the thank-you letter is a good indicator of the candidate’s professionalism and proof of their interest in the open position. Others don’t read the letter, but still expect one. Some don’t expect them or read them, but it doesn’t hurt to send one. Since you never know what type of hiring manager you are dealing with, it’s always best to send one.

• What information should be included in a thank-you letter and how long should it be?
  • The first paragraph should communicate gratitude for the opportunity to meet.
  • The second paragraph should recap your strengths and draw a connection between those strengths and the needs of the employer.
  • The third paragraph should reference something specific from the conversation with the hiring manager that shows your interest in what the person said and proves that you understand their hiring needs.
  • The fourth paragraph should reiterate your continued interest in the job and express that you look forward to hearing from the employer regarding the next steps in the employment process.
  Keep the thank-you letter to four paragraphs and approximately a half page in length.

• Should I send the thank you letter via email or snail mail? While both methods are acceptable, I recommend sending the thank-you letter by email. It’s best to write the thank you letter within 24 hours of the interview. By using e-mail you expedite the delivery process and create another touchpoint with the hiring manager while you are still “fresh in their mind.” In addition, the email serves as an “electronic breadcrumb” that can be easily and quickly shared with others in the organization.

• Which is more appropriate: a typed or a handwritten thank-you? I recommend sending a typed thank-you letter. This way you can be sure that the receiver can clearly read and understand your message. I recognize that some hiring managers do like the personal touch of a handwritten note, but in general the typed note is a more effective strategy.

• If I interview with more than one person, do I have to send them all a thank-you letter? Yes! Send a thank you note to anyone who assists you in your job search, including networking contacts and recruiters. If you meet with several people for interviews related to the same position, try to pick out one specific highlight from your conversation that personalizes the letter. For example, you might write, “I appreciate the information you shared with me regarding the company’s global expansion plans and I am confident that my background is a strong match for your company’s future goals.”

If you have a question about your job search for Barbara or any of our recruiters, ask us in the comment section below or visit us on Facebook!

  Barbara Safani
  Career Solvers

This article originally appeared on the AOL Jobs Blog. Career Solvers is a career counseling service in partnership with The Execu|Search Group. Learn more about Career Solvers here!

Today, May 12, marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale and the end of National Nurses Week, a celebration of nurses around the country aimed to recognize their commitment to healthcare and caring for patients.

Here’s a brief history of National Nurses Week:

1953 Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a “Nurse Day” in October of the following year. The proclamation was never made.

1954 National Nurse Week was observed from October 11 – 16. The year of the observance marked the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s mission to Crimea. Representative Frances P. Bolton sponsored the bill for a nurse week. Apparently, a bill for a National Nurse Week was introduced in the 1955 Congress, but no action was taken. Congress discontinued its practice of joint resolutions for national weeks of various kinds.

1972 Again a resolution was presented by the House of Representatives for the President to proclaim “National Registered Nurse Day.” It did not occur.

1974 In January of that year, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) proclaimed that May 12 would be “International Nurse Day.” (May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale.) Since 1965, the ICN has celebrated “International Nurse Day.”

1974 In February of that year, a week was designated by the White House as National Nurse Week, and President Nixon issued a proclamation.

1978 New Jersey Governor Brendon Byrne declared May 6 as “Nurses Day.” Edward Scanlan, of Red Bank, N.J., took up the cause to perpetuate the recognition of nurses in his state. Mr. Scanlan had this date listed in Chase’s Calendar of Annual Events. He promoted the celebration on his own.

1981 ANA, along with various nursing organizations, rallied to support a resolution initiated by nurses in New Mexico, through their Congressman, Manuel Lujan, to have May 6, 1982, established as “National Recognition Day for Nurses.”

1982 In February, the ANA Board of Directors formally acknowledged May 6, 1982 as “National Nurses Day.” The action affirmed a joint resolution of the United States Congress designating May 6 as “National Recognition Day for Nurses.”

1982 President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation on March 25, proclaiming “National Recognition Day for Nurses” to be May 6, 1982.

1990 The ANA Board of Directors expanded the recognition of nurses to a week-long celebration, declaring May 6 – 12, 1991, as National Nurses Week.

1993 The ANA Board of Directors designated May 6 – 12 as permanent dates to observe National Nurses Week in 1994 and in all subsequent years.

1996 The ANA initiated “National RN Recognition Day” on May 6, 1996, to honor the nation’s indispensable registered nurses for their tireless commitment 365 days a year. The ANA encourages its state and territorial nurses associations and other organizations to acknowledge May 6, 1996 as “National RN Recognition Day.”

1997 The ANA Board of Directors, at the request of the National Student Nurses Association, designated May 8 as National Student Nurses Day.

Are you a nursing professional? How did you celebrate your career this week? Visit us on Facebook and let us know! If you’re looking for a career in nursing, be sure to check out the hundreds of jobs we have available, or join our LinkedIn group for the latest news and jobs in healthcare and to connect with other professionals!

We all know how important it is to correctly represent yourself in today’s tough job market. As a Program Coordinator within The New York Association for Ambulatory Care‘s series on “Building Your Brand,” I wanted to extend the invitation to any professional looking to learn a bit more about social networking in healthcare from the employee, job seeker, employer, and human resources perspectives!

Session one of the series is on Thursday, May 5th and you can read more about it below:

Organizational Strategies

“The people you hire are a direct reflection of your organizational brand.”

• • • • • • •

If you are interested, click here to register for the program or contact me at 212.204.5164 if you have any questions!

Amanda Bleakney
Director – Healthcare, Temporary Division

This past Friday, April 15th 2011, I had the honor of speaking to 9th and 10th grade students of Democracy Prep Charter School in Harlem about my college experiences, career path, and my current role at The Execu|Search Group. The experience was truly fulfilling, and gave me the opportunity to give back to students in my Harlem community. The students were quite receptive to spending time with me and discussing their career and college aspirations.

Democracy Prep Charter School strives to prepare students for successful futures in higher education and in their careers. This opportunity came to fruition thanks to a good friend of mine who sits on the DPCS Board; all in all my fellow volunteers and NYC professionals who participated were able to make College Day a true success!

Nkrumah Pierre

Account Executive, Temporary Division

Are you wondering what you are going to do after graduation? You could attend a Career Day at a company in which you’re interested!

The Execu|Search Group is hosting a College Grad Career Day on Wednesday, April 13th where interested entry-level candidates will meet with senior members of our team to learn about the exciting, fast-paced world of recruiting. All attendees will interview for some of our open positions and could potentially walk away with a job offer!

Not sure how to stand out at a company’s Career Day like this one? Here are some tips to keep in mind!

• Timeliness – Make sure you arrive 15 minutes early, at most. Since Career Days generally take up a 6-8 hour time span over the course of one day make sure you come back promptly from allotted breaks. You don’t want to be singled out as the person who showed up late or is holding up the group.
• Attire – Make sure you are impeccably groomed and dressed to impress as if you were headed to an interview or even your first day of work with the company.
• Interview Readiness – Do your research prior to the event and try to be as well versed with the company and their products or services as you can. Have extra copies of your resume on hand and a few questions in mind to ask during the interview.
• “Always Be On” – Show consistent interest and enthusiasm throughout the day! Although every facet of Career Day might not be as interesting as others you should appreciate the time and effort that goes into each piece and stay engaged until the end.
• Professional Attitude – Turn your phones off and don’t chitchat with your fellow attendees! Be respectful of the professionals’ time and give them your undivided attention. Make notes regarding things that you might be interested in discussing at a later point during the event.
• Follow Up – At an event like this you will probably walk away with more than a few business cards. Make sure you send a brief email to each of those individuals thanking them for their time and the experience you had at their firm.

If you are interested in attending our career day please submit your resume to icolon@execu-search.com. Qualified candidates will receive a phone call with further details regarding our College Grad Career Day.

   Iris Colon
  Internal Recruiting and Training Coordinator

Want to network your way to a new job but don’t know where to start? Check out these great starter tips from Nkrumah, an account executive here at Execu|Search!