30
September
2014
How to Mitigate Your Job Search Stress
Author:
Stephanie
0
Job searching, whether you are employed or not, can be a stressful process. In fact, waiting for a call from a recruiter or hiring manager, submitting dozens of resumes per day, and constantly prepping for interview questions can even make the most easy-going person anxious.
Regardless of how stressed you feel, don’t let it get the best of you! After all, the key to job search success is persistence – in order to receive an offer, you must continue to look for and apply for jobs. As a result, if you are starting to feel discouraged and burnt out, here are some steps you can take to keep yourself productive and remove (at least some) stress from your search:
Stay Organized
It’s all too easy to browse through a job search engine, submit your CV for a few jobs, and then lose track of what you applied for and on what days. This can not only lead to unnecessary stress, but also to embarrassing mistakes such as applying to the same job twice and getting caught off guard when you do get a call from a hiring manager or recruiter. In an effort to minimize these faux paus and make your search a little less overwhelming, we suggest creating a master spreadsheet that includes a row for each job you apply for with detailed columns for: the date you applied; the company; the contact; the position for which you applied; how you applied; if, when, and with whom you interviewed; when you should next follow up or what your next steps are; and the current status of the application.
Track Your Progress
On a related note, it’s important to set shorter-term goals for yourself. While these goals can be as small as applying to 3 jobs per week or as large as going on one interview a week, it’s important to keep track of them nevertheless. Why? When you are doing so many job search related activities at once with the end-goal of ultimately receiving an offer, it can be discouraging if you don’t see results as soon as you would like. However, by tracking your progress through your spreadsheet, you will be able to see tangible accomplishments throughout the entire process, not just at the end.
Create a Master Resume
When submitting applications, it’s considered a best practice to tailor your resume to each job you are applying for. However, without a template to work off of, this can quickly become an overwhelming process that job seekers tend to stray away from. To make it easier to customize your resume, compile your complete work history, an up-to-date list of personal and professional accomplishments, and any specialized skills into one document that you can refer to when applying to jobs. Although you won’t send your master resume to anyone, you’ll want to present your skills and accomplishments in polished, specific language. That way, when you are applying for a job, you can quickly and easily identify your relevant experience without having to think back or rephrase.
Change Your Routine Up
In addition to searching for and applying to jobs on the internet, there are a variety of other resources you can utilize to learn about new opportunities. For instance, signing up for job alerts, working with a recruitment firm, attending networking events and job fairs, and reaching out to your existing network of contacts, are all great ways to generate new leads. In addition, if you are looking for an outlet to break up your hours spent on job searching, creating a blog and/or an online portfolio, and actively participating on networking sites such as LinkedIn, are all great ways to build your professional brand.
Take Breaks
Good news – you don’t need to spend every minute of your spare time applying to jobs in order to be productive! In fact, it’s actually better if you don’t. Just like it’s important to uphold a work-life balance to unwind from a busy day at the office, it’s also important to maintain this same sense of balance when job searching.
In order to ensure you have the time to relax and refresh, we advise you to evaluate your schedule and map out as many hours as you can to devote to activities outside of work and job searching. After all, the most successful job seeker is the one that is least burnt out.
25
September
2014
6 Characteristics of An Attention-Grabbing Resume
During the few short seconds spent perusing your resume, hiring managers typically focus on a few key areas, such as your most recent work experience and your education. However, according to an eye-tracking study performed by The Ladders, certain important sections can be overlooked if your resume isn’t up to par, possibly resulting in key information being missed.
Reasons for recruiters losing interest in your resume can range from a cluttered appearance to incomplete information to simple typing errors. But while there are countless faces of a “bad” resume, many great resumes have several core characteristics in common.
Some such characteristics are:
Sufficient spacing. While it can be difficult enough to fit your credentials into a page or two, be sure to leave enough white space to separate sections and draw the hiring manager’s eyes to important information. Resumes have to be legible and easy to scan, and presenting an employer with large blocks of unbroken texts works against that goal.
Results-orientation. Not only does a good resume focus more on accomplishments than duties, it puts the results first. It’s much more effective to say “Achieved X by Y” than “Performed Y and achieved X,” as the achievement itself is the first thing the recruiter sees. It’s also shorter to do so, saving you space for better use.
Statistics. Results should include specific keywords and numbers, where possible, to quantify accomplishments. For example, a great sales resume will often feature a statistic like “increased sales by x%.” This gives the recruiter an idea of how much of an impact you made at your previous position and what you’re capable of bringing to the table in the next company.
No objective. In most cases, an objective statement is unnecessary, outdated, and too space-consuming. Instead, try including a small blurb at the top of your resume similar to an elevator pitch that sums up your professional brand and goals. This is a great way to introduce yourself to the employer and show that you have a consistent, representable brand.
Clear, concise contact information. Every resume should have a name, phone number, email, and a link to your website, blog, or LinkedIn profile. Great resumes display this information clearly at the top and only include one phone number and one email address to make it easy to contact you.
Strategic organization. The best resumes not only make excellent use of the space they’re given, they also make use of the organization of that information. Listing most recent work history first, for example, is a great way to ensure the right information is seen first.
Of course, every resume is different and many aspects of resume building can change by employer, industry, or personal preference. Some do still prefer to see an objective, for example, while others consider it unnecessary and outdated. Similarly, some employers may ask you to arrange your work experience in order of relevance rather than chronological order. This is where knowing how to tailor your resume to each application comes in handy—but for a resume you can hand out to networking contacts and present yourself with in general, the above tips can help you be on your way!
23
September
2014
[New Whitepaper] Public Accounting Forecast: Q4 and Beyond
Author:
Stephanie
An Execu|Search Update on the State of the NY Market
The Execu|Search Group is proud to announce the release of our new whitepaper, Public Accounting Hiring Forecast: Q4 and Beyond!
22
September
2014
Apply Today for Our Annual HEDIS/QARR Training Program!
Author:
Stephanie
The Execu|Search Group would like to invite you to apply to our Healthcare Effectiveness and Information Set (HEDIS)/ Quality Assurance Reporting Requirements (QARR) training class! Upon completion of the annual class, you will be an eligible candidate for all of our future HEDIS/QARR projects, which start this fall and are available in all NYC boroughs as well as on Long Island and in New Jersey through Spring of 2015.
The class will be held on Thursday, October 23rd from 8:30am-5:30pm at The Execu|Search Group’s corporate headquarters located at: 675 3rd Avenue (5th floor), New York, NY 10017. The training fee for the class costs $150/person, which will be reimbursed if you complete 40 hours of HEDIS/QARR project work through The Execu|Search Group.
“Since governmental regulations mandated the use of these reporting tools, there has been a major uptick in demand from clients for candidates who possess HEDIS/QARR experience,” explains Amanda Bleakney, Senior Managing Director of The Execu|Search Group’s Health Services division who oversees the training program. “We know that a lot of our candidates have the ability to successfully work on our clients’ HEDIS/QARR projects, but don’t necessarily have the experience, so we offer this class to give them the opportunity to attain it.”
To be eligible for the class, you must:
Be a Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or Foreign MD
Have experience with: Managed Care, Quality Improvement, Performance Improvement, Case Management, Chart Review, Utilization Review, and/or Precertification/Authorization
To apply for the class, please email your resume to Amanda Bleakney (ableakney@execu-search.com) with the subject line 2014 HEDIS/QARR class.
19
September
2014
Red Flags to Look Out For When Interviewing
Author:
Algerson
As a job seeker, in an effort to increase your chances of landing a job, you know it’s important to polish your interview skills and build a rapport with your interviewer. Although most prospective candidates seek to impress their interviewer through such efforts, your interviewer should be trying to accomplish the same thing. If you don’t get a good vibe from them, it’s important to remember that the type of attitude your interviewer exhibits can be indicative of what your working relationship may be if you accept the position.
Here are 5 negative nonverbal cues that will help you decide if this is truly a colleague you’d like to work with.
Body language – Throughout the interview, body language can say a lot about what the person might be feeling about the interviewee. For example, if your interviewer is slouched in their chair, this can usually indicate negative feelings or lack of interest in the conversation. Similarly, fidgeting tends to express boredom, anxiety, or most importantly that your listener is not engaged with the conversation.
Lack of enthusiasm – Most people that are looking to bring someone new to their team(s) are generally excited about meeting prospective candidates. As a result, if you notice that your interviewer lacks enthusiasm when they talk about the position or company, this may be a red flag to consider when making a decision to move forward in the interview process. If the current employee doesn’t seem excited about the role, why should you be?
Eye contact – One nonverbal cue that should be weighed in your decision to accept an offer is your interviewer’s eye contact. A lack of eye contact could either mean a lack of interest on your interviewer’s part, or could impact your ability to communicate with the hiring manger if offered the position.
Hesitation – When answering questions about their experience at the company, it’s important that the interviewer speaks with positivity and confidence. Unfortunately, if they hesitate to answer questions about what they like about the company or struggle with their answer, this may be a sign that the organization might not be a great place to work.
Overall professionalism – While it is important to show your interviewer that you are the right person for the job, the interviewer is equally responsible for showing you that their company is a good fit for you. Lack of professionalism during the interview can be indicative of how the rest of the organization operates.
19
September
2014
TESG’s Women’s Network Attends Event at The Grace Institute!
Author:
The ExecuSearch Group
On September 19th, The Execu|Search Group’s Women’s Network attended their first charity event at the Grace Institute. As a nonprofit organization that aims to assist underprivileged women through a tuition-free program that teaches the necessary skills to find jobs, create resumes, and interview and secure a job, the Grace Institute was a natural choice for the Women’s Network’s first partnership.
Women who attend the Grace Institute are a varied group, including single mothers, abuse victims, and those who were unable to afford a college education. Our Women’s Network, consisting of recruiters and career experts across a number of industries, attended the charity event to help inspire, encourage and build the confidence of the women who belong to the organization.
The event began with volunteers arriving for breakfast and an orientation with the students and Jessica James, the Grace Institute’s Director of Development. It then progressed to each woman sitting one-on-one with a recruiter or career expert from The Execu|Search Group to tell their stories, review resumes, and discuss professional presentation in an interview. The women also worked on interviewing skills through practicing questions and assessing the strengths and weaknesses in their answers.
From there, the event moved on to a career panel. “We shared stories of how we got to where we are today and what we do, how staffing agencies work, and what our role is in helping people find jobs,” says Daniela D’Alessandro, Director at The Execu|Search Group and co-founder of the Women’s Network. “It became an open forum in which we all shared our experiences, answered questions, gave feedback, and extended our recruiting expertise to these women during their job searches.”
Throughout the course of the day, the Women’s Network got to know each woman personally, from her own individual strengths and weaknesses to her dream job and goals.
“Our experience with The Execu|Search Group was a highlight of the entire semester. Each one of the women who came to Grace wanted to make a real difference in the lives of our students,” says Jessica. “The one-on-one time spent refining resumes and the group discussions about interviews, job searching, careers, and the world of staffing agencies gave our job seekers critical, relevant information that they would not have had access to otherwise. The Women’s Network’s very presence was a shining example of what is possible in their own lives.”
18
September
2014
Building Blocks to a Successful Travel Healthcare Career
Author:
Algerson
Whether you’re a new graduate in search of a challenging opportunity, or a seasoned healthcare professional looking to further develop your expertise, building a career in travel healthcare could be a rewarding option. According to Marc Malpeli, a Staffing Manager on The Execu|Search Group’s Travel Nursing Health Services team, “A travel career provides you with new experiences, flexibility in location and occupational settings, and the opportunity to proactively develop your clinical experience to remain competitive in the healthcare market.”
Therefore, if you have a genuine passion for helping people no matter where that might take you and you consider yourself to have a “traveler spirit,” a career in travel healthcare might be a great path to pursue. To break into this high in demand field, here are some areas to think about to get you on your way.
The high demand for travel healthcare professionals
In a field that is constantly evolving and sometimes highly unpredictable, demand for health services from insured Americans has reached unprecedented levels. As a result of this demand, healthcare facilities are increasingly turning to travel healthcare professionals to step in during times of need in order to continue to operate at an efficient level. For example, here are a variety of scenarios that can arise where your expertise may be needed:
Healthcare epidemics – A major epidemic can call for an influx in healthcare professionals to take on the increased patient load. Travel healthcare professionals aid the understaffed facility for a finite time period in order to maintain regular patient care.
Medical leaves of absence – Unforeseen accidents may force employees to take medical leave in order to recover. During that time period, a travel professional could fill the role of the staff member for as short as 4 weeks or as long as 26 weeks.
Maternity/paternity leaves – When healthcare professionals take maternity or paternity leave a travel healthcare professional would provide their services for the employee on leave in order to maintain regular workflow until they’ve returned.
The right candidate profile
While there are a variety of specialty areas within travel healthcare, travel candidates must possess a graduate degree from an accredited institution in a medical-related field, such as Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Physical Therapy, or Nursing and pass the essential licensing exam(s) to practice in the state of your choice. “After this, gaining hands-on experience at a particular type of facility will help (i.e., hospital, nursing home, school, etc.) you hone in on what specialty area you might want to practice,” says Robert Palermo, a Staffing Manager on Execu|Search’s Travel Allied Health Services team. Job seekers who are licensed and fully credentialed, who know what patient population they want to work with, and what type of facility they like working in, are excellent candidates for travel opportunities.
In order to thrive as a travel healthcare professional, it’s also important to stay at the forefront of changes in technology, government regulation, and industry changes, so it may be helpful to acquire additional specialty certifications that may help you stand out throughout your job search.
Soft skills to enhance your travel career
A travel career could take you to the chilly peaks of Maine or to the cool beaches of California, and as a result you will have to possess the right type of transferable skills in order to hit the ground running in your new location with your new employer. “In the end, it will be a combination of your soft skills and overall professional background that will help you thrive in the travel healthcare industry. As long as you maintain a flexible approach to your career, the possibilities are endless,” says Marc. Agencies are constantly searching for travel healthcare candidates that possess these soft skills:
Confidence – As a travel professional, you should be unafraid of new challenges and should also be confident in your ability to join pre-existing teams in order to make the most of your new role.
Adaptability – Since a travel position can take you to many different places, how you’re able to adapt to the company culture and/or work ethic of different employers will play a major role in how effective you can be as a travel healthcare professional.
Ability to work in a fast environment – The unpredictable nature of the healthcare industry entails being able to work in a fast-paced environment and often under pressure. Being able to operate under such conditions is a useful skill to have as a healthcare professional.
Willingness to take criticism – Different facilities have varying ways of doing things, so if you’re doing something incorrectly or inefficiently that worked at your last place of employment, you should always be willing to take constructive criticism in order to be a better asset to the facility.
To learn more about our Travel Allied Healthcare & Travel Nursing Services, please contact:
Robert Palermo | Staffing Manager – Travel Allied Healthcare | rpalermo@execu-search.com | 212.871.0621
Marc Malpeli | Staffing Manager – Travel Nursing Services | mmalpeli@execu-search.com | 212.204.5105
16
September
2014
Java Developers: How (and Why) To Make The Move To Android Development
Author:
The ExecuSearch Group
In today’s fast-paced technology landscape, it’s no surprise that Java developers are in high demand. From healthcare to accounting, all industries are seeking professionals proficient in Java to develop software applications for their unique needs. But while these needs are very much present and pressing, another field is quickly becoming equally, if not more so, demanding: mobile application development.
For those who have spent their education and/or careers focusing on Java, making the transition specifically to Android development may be the most valuable next move. Mobile applications coded for the Android operating systems are written in Java, making for a smooth transition from the competitive client applications field that many Java developers are looking for work in.
Moving from Client Applications to Mobile Development
“Making the move from client application development to android mobile development is fast and simple for those who are well-versed in Java,” says Joe Schott, Director of The Execu|Search Group’s Information Technology division. “The only missing piece linking the two together is the Android Software Development Kit, which can be easily learned in one’s own time.”
The Android Software Development Kit, often referred to simply as SDK, is a comprehensive package of development tools necessary to building a well-rounded, interactive application for the Android operating system. For those who are unfamiliar with it, learning is as simple as referring to the tutorial materials included in the package and practicing. “I recommend that anyone looking to break into the Android mobile application market takes the time to develop a practice application at home,” says Joe. “Start your own project and add it to your portfolio. That way, when you’re job searching, you have something to refer to in an interview to demonstrate your skills.”
Even if you’re not looking to focus solely on mobile application, simply learning how to work within the SDK can add tremendous value to you as an IT professional. Businesses across all industries are looking for those who are at least familiar with mobile application development, so if you’re looking to gain a leg up on your competition, still consider adding one or two related projects to your portfolio and updating your skillset on your resume to highlight your competencies in the mobile space.
The Benefits of Being a Mobile Developer
In mobile development, needs are so great for experienced candidates that job seekers can expect to see quick, competitive offers. Since mobile applications are still relatively new, the marketplace is becoming extremely candidate-driven as more and more businesses seek mobile application skills. This is where adding a project to your portfolio can come in handy, especially if you don’t yet have any work experience with mobile development and are looking to break in.
This also gives those looking for work an opportunity to shop around for the best cultural fit within his or her desired industry. Mobile developers are so in-demand that many businesses are reassessing their hiring strategies when seeking them. As a result, in this candidate-driven market, companies are focused on securing the best talent against their competition—and they’re willing to make the best offer in order to do so. Therefore, those with these highly sought-after skills can assess which company would be the best fit with the assurance that wherever they land, they are likely to be given or have the ability to negotiate a great offer.
Overall, obtaining these skills not only gives you an edge on your competition and contributes to a better job search, it gives you access to what is becoming a very fun, engaging, and challenging specialty. “All learning Android mobile development can do is open more doors and provide you with more opportunities,” says Joe. “This is especially true in regards to those looking to work in a specific industry. By working on your mobile development skills, you’ll be in-demand across the board.”
11
September
2014
Should I Stay or Should I Go? 4 Signs That It’s Time To Leave Your Job
Are you unhappy with your job? Do you find yourself feeling unmotivated to get out of bed in the morning because you dread going to work? If so, you’re certainly not alone! According to a study conducted by Gallup World on the State of the Global Workplace, 63% of employees worldwide are “not engaged” with their jobs meaning they lack motivation and are less likely to make an active effort in company goals or outcomes. In addition, 24% of employees worldwide are “actively disengaged” or unhappy and unproductive at work.
If you find yourself in one of the two categories mentioned above, you may want to evaluate your current employment situation and figure out if it’s time to start thinking about leaving your job. But how do you know when it’s time?
Here are 4 signs that it may be time to leave your job:
You lack motivation and passion for your job
Your motivation and passion for your work is what will fuel your career and push you towards advancement. Without it, there is no real desire to perform to the best of your ability, which may result in unproductive days and subpar work. If you find yourself lacking excitement about your work, we recommend finding new ways to rekindle your passion for your job; otherwise it may be time to think of new career opportunities.
You don’t believe in your work anymore
Working for a company whose goals and ethics are not in line with your own can be extremely frustrating. In order to produce results and succeed, you really need to believe that your company is making some type of difference, whether that means helping others or making industry strides. Working towards something that you don’t believe in is not only difficult, but aggravating as well – leading to a very unfulfilling experience.
You’re not being challenged
Not feeling challenged can be very detrimental to your career because it makes it very easy to become complacent in your role. On the other hand, going into work knowing that you have challenges to face and problems to solve may motivate you to keep pushing yourself to learn more about the industry and acquire new skills. Without any challenges, your growth becomes stagnant.
There’s no room for growth
At some point in your career, you may hit a wall where there is no longer room for growth at your current employer. Once that happens and you stop learning and advancing, it’s time to leave. Why? Without any opportunities to grow, you may lose motivation to excel and keep up-to-date with new industry demands and skills. While it is okay to be comfortable at your job, it’s never a good idea to get to a point where there is no real challenge and hardly any opportunities for professional development. You never know when you’ll have to look for a new job, so it’s important to keep your skills and experience up-to-date!
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