For those of you busy with job-hunting, have you ever considered taking up a temporary position instead of holding out for the permanent position of your dreams? Well, why not? In a Forbes.com blog post from earlier this year, Kerry Hannon points out the many benefits that temporary positions offer to weary job-seekers.

Here are some of Hannon’s reasons Why Temporary Work Is Worth It:

• Gets you out of bed in the morning. You’ve got something to do.
• Gets you in the door. It may lead to full-time work with an employer eventually. Don’t miss the opportunity.
• Gets you decent pay. You can make your experience a plus. Employers are typically willing to pay you generously, providing you have the chops, if you solve their problem or need quickly. It lets them bypass the hand-holding and learning curve stage that a younger, less experienced, but lower-paid worker, might require.
• Builds your professional network. Nurture relationships with co-workers during your assignment. You never know where a contact may lead you, and who they might be able to refer you to for future jobs.
• Lands you new and au courant references for future employers to contact about what you’ve been up to lately.
• Keeps your resume alive. It’s a bone to stave off the disgrace of those gaping holes of idleness in your resume.
• Keeps your skills sharp. You know the mantra: Use it or lose it.
• Lets you get psyched about a work project–without the pressure of long-term expectations. No job is forever, anyway. This one just might be shorter than most, and that can be tremendously freeing.
  

     Along with outlining the networking, mental-health, and resume-boosting benefits that temporary jobs can provide, Hannon also uses data from a survey of over 3,000 hiring managers and human resource professionals to describe why temporary staffing is “the bee’s knees these days”.

     A CareerBuilder survey shows that 36% of companies will be looking to hire temporary workers in 2012, marking an 8% increase from 2009. Nearly a third of those employers are looking to hire their temporary staff members before April.

Read Kerry Hannon’s full blog-post here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryhannon/2012/01/19/why-temporary-work-is-worth-it/2/

This month’s charitable organization is Leake & Watts in conjunction with the Young Professionals Committee! Each month, The Execu|Search Group partners with an organization or charity to raise funds; in exchange for a donation, employees get to wear jeans to the office!

To learn more about Cases 4 Kids, or to get involved with the YPC, please email: leakeandwattsypc@gmail.com

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!

The New York Association for Ambulatory Care held the first part of a three part series titled “Building Your Brand” on Thursday, May 5. The first program focused on developing organizational brands of patient care and further building those brands through an organization’s employees.

We invited prominent Human Resources and Healthcare professional speakers to share their insights and expertise on building organizational and personal brands.

The first speaker was Mark Dumoff, Founder and CEO of Docinsight. Docinsight is committed to improving the quality of healthcare and reducing costs by enhancing doctor-patient relationships. Dumoff’s presentation covered developing an organization brand of patient-centered care and finding Dr. Right.

“Our health care system is evolving quickly and we as health care leaders, have to assess our current medical practice. Quality health care requires strong communication and follow-up between patients and their providers during the course of their care,” said Allison Klass, NYAAC committee member and Director of Health Services at The Execu|Search Group.

“In addition, the staff you hire must reflect these same principles. Another way to ensure organizational branding is to make sure the staff you hire is reflecting your organizational brand,” said Klass. “A key way to make sure this happens is to focus on retaining members that share that mission.”

Terri Klass of Terri Klass Consulting presented a comprehensive lesson on understanding generational differences in the workplace and incorporating them into an organization’s business model. Klass encouraged the leaders of today to give the future leaders of healthcare the resources and understanding they need per generation.

The second part of the Building Your Brand series will focus on Personal Branding. Marc Cenedella, President and CEO of TheLadders, will speak about the history of job search and climbing the ladders of success. The program is slated for Wednesday, June 1 at 5:45 p.m. at Beth Israel’s Phillips Ambulatory Center; find out more about it by clicking here!

Amanda Bleakney
Director - Healthcare, Temporary Division

I constantly come across the same five outdated resume-writing methods, which keep getting passed down from generation to generation of job seekers. It's time to break the cycle and dispel some common resume-writing myths once and for all.

1. Keep the resume to one page. Whether you have a one-page resume or a 300-page resume, no one is reading it word for word. They are skimming it. Your job isn't to squeeze as much information as possible onto one page; it's to prudently edit the content to focus on shining accomplishments and the most relevant content. Sometimes this takes one page; sometimes it takes two pages. Just because something is on one page doesn't make it easier to read. Aim for a user-friendly design strategy with clean lines and information that is easy to find, and stop getting so caught up in the length of the document


2. Always include an objective. An objective is of no use to a hiring manager. It doesn't tell them how you will fix their problems or the unique value you can bring to the company. It's generally all about you and what you want in your next job. And hiring managers don't really care about what you want. Explain how you can ease their pain, up front at the beginning of the resume, and increase your chances of getting an interview.


3. Never add color to a resume. Years ago, color wasn't really an option on a resume. Today, color, shading, bold, and other design elements can be incorporated into a resume quickly and easily to make key information stand out. Have you ever read a marketing brochure that used graphic design and other visual elements to improve their messaging? Make no mistake ...your resume is a marketing brochure. Why shouldn't you use similar design techniques to get noticed by hiring managers?


4. Left justify dates of employment. Dates were left justified when people were writing resumes on typewriters and there was really no better way to do it. If your resume looks like it was done on a typewriter, that's a problem within itself. Beyond that, left justifying dates is a poor use of valuable space on a resume. Right-justify employment dates and save that space for more important information about the value you bring to employers.


5. List references on your resume. This may have made sense if you were conducting a search prior to 1999. But now, no one is going to solely rely on the references you list on a resume. Most hiring managers Google candidates before ever calling them in for an interview. They don't need to look at the references you supply; they can dig up all kinds of information about you online.

  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!

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

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