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/

In this exceptionally competitive job market, job seekers need to put their best forward on an interview and differentiate themselves as best as possible! Here are a few pointers to make you stand out and leave the most favorable impression with the hiring manager.

1. Align yourself with a reputable recruiting firm: Recruiters are a good source of connecting with firms that you might not otherwise have access to while also facilitating the entire interview process from inception to offer stage. Keep in mind that there are a lot of firms out there but there are only a handful of solid, reputable ones. Do your research and ask friends or colleagues for referrals. Only work with a firm and a recruiter that you feel comfortable is going to work hard on your behalf to represent you in an honest and effective way. 

2. Be on time for interviews: Leave extra early and be sure to arrive a few minutes before the interview, as arriving late always leaves a bad first impression. If you find yourself in an unavoidable situation which could cause a late arrival (i.e., traffic or train delays), call your recruiter to let him/her know you’re running late. If you can’t reach the recruiter, bring the # of the person you’re meeting to show a respect for his/her time and will be arriving late. On the opposite end of the spectrum, don’t however arrive too early (20 minutes or more) as that doesn’t always sit well with hiring managers. 

3. Research the company and the reasons you want to work there: Research the company and learn as much as possible about the company’s mission, objectives, goals, and future plans. Have questions prepared to show that you’vbe showing much initiative on your part. (One candidate who said that during an interview was understandably not asked to return.)

4. Come prepared with a list of relevant accomplishments or projects: Be prepared to give examples of projects and accomplishment (professionally or personally). Examples are memorable and will help your interviewer better envision you in the role.

5. Be enthusiastic about the opportunity: Acting excited about the position and firm will help differentiate you from the others. A client once told me that the candidate he interviewed seemed totally uninterested in the role. He said the way she acted, “if I were on a date, I would’ve asked for a check.”

6. Bring extra copies of your resume:  It’s always a good idea to have copies in case your interviewer doesn’t have one handy. Also if the meeting is going well and someone else is called in, it’s good to have spare copies – it shows you’re prepared and serious about getting the job.

7. Bring a notepad:  Take notes when appropriate as it shows initiative and interest. However, don’t overdo it. One candidate scribbled notes during an entire interview and the hiring manager was so distracted, she found it unappealing and passed on pursuing the candidate further.

…stay tuned for Part 2!

Shana Cohen
Director – Human Resources / Office Support

When being considered for a new opportunity, many job seekers are so concerned with having the right level of experience and industry background that they lose focus on other important aspects of the interview. These other aspects of the interview could make or break a job opportunity, regardless of your resume. What am I referring to?  How you present yourself in an interview.  This is not just about whether or not you should buy a top of the line business suit or have a new leather portfolio to tote copies of your resume in. Presenting yourself is also about having a certain level of passion and enthusiasm.
 
We spend more time at work than we do at home and with our loved ones, right?  With this in mind, it’s only natural that employers are ultimately concerned with hiring someone they feel will seamlessly transition into their “family.”  Employers ALWAYS want to hire the job seeker that is polished, professional, and asks the right questions, but they also want to hire candidates who come across as genuine, upbeat, and passionate about their skills. Before going into an interview, you should know how you can contribute your skills to the opportunity and to the company as whole, and be able to express that to the interviewer. If you aren’t looking the interviewer directly in the eye, smiling, and “selling” yourself as a valuable, excited, and interested candidate, then that resume you have worked so hard to tailor won’t matter.

Joy Kahlenberg
Human Resources / Office Support

Years ago, when I was on my way to an interview, I learned a lesson that I will never forget.

As children, we are taught to be polite, use manners, and of course, implement the golden rule, “if you don’t have anything nice to say/do, don’t say/do it at all.” I’d like you to keep my story in mind, especially when you forget the childhood rules you learned so many years ago, because it might save you a job … you can thank me later.

As I was driving down to Albany, I continually went over answers for tricky interview questions. I thought about my past experiences, what I found to be rewarding, how I would answer “what’s your biggest weakness,” or, “if you could be an animal, what would you be and why?” I had reviewed books, consulted the website of the company I was interviewing at, double checked my resume, I was in a brand new suit, light perfume, light make up, hair pulled back … I was ready to go.

Before I knew it, I was almost to the location of the interview. Since I didn’t travel to Albany much, and was trying to follow directions while driving, I started to feel a little lost. Pulling into the complex, I felt extremely overwhelmed; there was traffic everywhere, a million different buildings that looked identical to the one described to me, stared back at me while I tried to navigate around the complex. I must have driven around for 15 minutes before I found the building. (Always give yourself plenty of time to find the location of the interview- being late is not an option.) Now I had to find a parking spot … another challenge.

Perfect! It only took a few minutes for someone to pull out of the spot to my right, and I could get into the office with plenty of time to spare. As I turned my wheel to the right, a speeding car cut me off and drove right into the spot. I literally could not believe this person. I was so frustrated, I almost beeped my horn and said some choice words to the guy, though something told me to hold my tongue. I put the car in reverse, didn’t stare at the annoying gentleman who took my spot, and drove on to find another one.

As the clock was quickly ticking, I again started to panic. I could not be late for this interview! Finally, a few football fields away, I found a parking spot. I quickly switched into my heels, freshened up, and ran to the building. Another five minutes went by until I found the right entrance, where finally, I found the area I was supposed to be.

A lovely assistant escorted me into the room, where I would wait for Quinn, Managing Director, to see me. Again, mentally preparing for my interview, I was feeling confident and ready to present myself and my qualifications, without flaw. Reaching into my bag for a quick sip of water, I heard the door open. I turned to see, and immediately recognized him … the man that stole my parking spot.

Of course he pretended like he didn’t recognize me, and before I knew it, the interview was over.

Do yourself a favor, and learn from this story. I could’ve easily shown my frustration when my parking spot was stolen, but thank goodness, I didn’t; my embarrassment for the gentleman was a far better victory than what I would have felt if the roles were reversed. Additionally, I had prepared and allotted for circumstances out of my control, and though lots of annoying things happened, which impeded on my time, I still had time to spare, because I planned ahead.

Key Takeaways:

• Plan ahead for things out of your control
  
• Make sure you have excellent directions to the interview location
  
• Do your research prior
  
• Prepare for tricky questions, and the like, don’t be caught off guard by questions like, “what animal would you be and why.”
• And most importantly: Always treat people well, even in situations like mine

Erin McCarthy
Staffing Coordinator – Non Profit & Office Support