EXCEL PERSONNEL'S BLOG

With gas prices so high, how is this affecting your job search? It seems to me that more and more candidates applying with us are requesting shorter commutes due to the increasing gas prices, but I’m wondering if that’s truly in their best interest. If you restrict your commute too much, that perfect opportunity that’s just one more mile away will be missed. Is it worth it to limit the distance?

An article posted on May 6th, 2011, by Alexis Grant at www.money.usnews.com states, “ Pam Lassiter, a career coach and author of The New Job Security….recommends going all out to land a job that's a good fit, regardless of distance, then negotiating the commute as part of the offer.”

What are your thoughts? Are you leaving your options open on commute or are you limiting the distance you prefer to travel due to the high gas prices?

Excel Personnel wants to know! Please share your thoughts.

Jennifer Griswold
Regional Operations Manager at Excel Personnel

Source: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2011/05/06/are-gas-prices-affecting-your-job-search

Hi Everyone,

A few thoughts on resumes.

I ran across an on-line, free resume builder that I think is easy to use and turns out a nicely formatted document. www.howtowritearesume.net Check it out!

Always ask someone to proofread your resume. There are several items that a spell check and even grammar check function simply will not catch. There, they're and their. To, too. Your and You're. And that's for starters! :)
For me, a great resume is one page, chronological, contains a skills section and has a generic objective or none at all. I can always ask you to tailor one for a specific job.

We are always glad to help if you feel your resume is lacking. Proof reading, formatting - we are here to help!

Keep those great resumes coming!

Julia Miller
Account Manager

Why do we blog?

Why do we blog?  That is a good question.  Some people blog to get information.  Others blog to get their opinions out there.  We want you to blog with us.  Tell us what you think of our website, our job postings or tell us what you thought of your experience with our offices.  We are here to help you and we can't do that with out some kind of feedback.  Help us help you by getting on our website and telling us what you think.  We look forward to having you blog with us and keeping us in the know! 

Is it better to pay cash for car or finance?

So what are your thoughts on purchasing a new vehicle?  Do you think financing, paying cash or leasing is better?  Not eveyone can pay cash, but is it worth your while to not have a car payment.  Some say that you should finance and take some of the money that you were going to put on the balance of the car and put that in a CD so that the money can be earning interest.  Some say that you should lease because a car depreciates as soon as you drive it off the lot!  Others say that you should finance to build up your credit report.  Please give me your feedback on this posting.  Your opinions are truly appreciated! Also it keeps others interested in our blogs.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

When I woke up this morning, I realized the clothes I had selected to wear for work were NOT green. The idea of getting pinched didn’t amuse me, so I immediately changed into a green blouse and matching green socks.

Then I started thinking, “Why do people get pinched for not wearing green?”

According to Wiki Answers, someone else had the same question and the answer is:

“Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle. Green is traditionally worn on St. Patrick's day to honor the Emerald Isle. Tradition holds that on that day, people who do not wear green are pinched as a reminder to wear green to honor the Emerald Isle.”

“It's thought that the pinching started in the early 1700s, about the time that awareness of St. Patrick's as a holiday came to the fore, too, in Boston, in the Massachusetts colony. They thought if you wore green, it made you invisible to the Leprechauns, which was good because they would pinch anyone they could see. So the pinching is to warn and remind you about the Leprechauns.”

Although pinching on St. Patrick’s Day is traditional for those who don’t wear green, I’m wondering though…. in today’s “politically correct” world…. a world where workplace harassment is a common concern…. should we continue this tradition? Is this appropriate in today’s society?

Readers…..What do you think? Please share your thoughts on this…To pinch or not to pinch, that is my question!

References:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_people_pinch_on_Saint_Patrick's_Day#ixzz1GsEwRKMm

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_people_get_pinched_on_St._Patrick's_Day_if_they_do_not_wear_green#ixzz1GsEh43Bo

Keep an eye on our postings!

As I'm writing this I would like to remind all of you that it is important to keep an eye on our postings!  Remember that it is that time of the year when business's work loads pick up.  Our postings change quite often because we are filling them so quickly.  We have all sorts of postings anything from Light Industrial to IT positions.  We are here to help you and your friends find work.  If you see something you feel you would be interested in you can always email the contact person on the posting or you can contact either office by phone and we will be more than happy to assist you with any questions or concerns that you may have.  Don't stop looking for new postings we are here to help you!!

Today is a full moon. I’m using this as the reason as to why I received such a negative email from a candidate who was just applying for work. But then I started thinking perhaps the candidate didn’t realize their email was written in such a negative tone and would be interpreted as such?

It’s very easy to show emotions in emails so it’s important to stay positive when contacting a prospective employer, asking questions to your current employer, etc. Emails with negative inflections will typically receive negative results or no response at all.

An article published on the Microsoft website states, “Remember that your tone can't be heard in e-mail. Have you ever attempted sarcasm in an e-mail, and the recipient took it the wrong way? E-mail communication can't convey the nuances of verbal communication. In an attempt to infer tone of voice, some people use emoticons, but use them sparingly so that you don't appear unprofessional. Also, don't assume that using a smiley will diffuse a difficult message. “

So please, always read your drafted email and put yourself in the recipient’s eyes. Make sure it sounds positive. Make sure nothing seems offensive. But if you’re worried at all….pick up the phone and just call!

More email etiquette can be reviewed the following link:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/12-tips-for-better-e-mail-etiquette-HA001205410.aspx

Career Tip: Customize your resume for each job you apply to so your relevant qualifications are highlighted. Look for key words in the job description, and appropriately sprinkle those terms in your resume. Need help with creating a resume??? Visit our resume builder tool at www.excelpersonnel.com

Valentine's Day Contest: Give us your best and your worst!

 We want to read about your best and worst memories of past Valentine's Day experiences!  Please comment on this post with your story, and perhaps you'll win a gift card for a romantic restaurant!  We'll select a winner for the best "good" story and another for the best "bad" story.  Hit the comment button and tell us all about it!  

Become a Writer, if Only for a Moment
A few short sentences or a long vague description on any position simply isn’t sufficient – even in a great economy. To create a solid job posting, think like a journalist, making sure you answer “who,” “what,” “when,” where” and “why.” And like any writer, you need to put yourself in the candidates’ shoes. Ask yourself what you would want to know about a position if you were the job seeker.
Staffing Industry Analysts did a study to find out what applicants want. So, speak to what is important to them through the posting. If you utilize the following info when crafting a job post, you may just be able to better target the right people:
• Only 54% think there isn’t a fee when working with an agency. People need to know the staffing service is free to applicants up front.
• 72% of respondents say pay is most important. So, focus on pay if it is a good rate to promote.
• 56% say quality assignments are important. Posting jobs often is a good idea so your staffing company is considered a great resource with quality openings.
• 25% say communication about jobs is important. The more detail you can give about a position, the better.
• 16% say location of agency is important. If you have multiple locations, are attending job fairs or have off-site recruiting events, this helps to entice applicants to work with your staffing company.

What else would you like see??