New online sourcing tool - it's AMAZING!

Has anyone used PDeGrabber’s new sourcing software for Recruiters? It’s great!

While consulting with companies on the most effective and efficient method of sourcing candidates, I recently stumbled on this software. It’s AMAZING! As owner of PARADIGM, I never intended to get involved with software; but once I realized how much more effective it was at identifying candidates, I wanted to share it with everyone in my network. We all know that the most time intensive part of a Recruiters job is finding the right candidate. And Rifle hunting is always more effective than using a shotgun.

PD eGrabber’s Resume Grabber acts as a super search engine that creates search queries and then combs every portal on the internet – Linkedin, Craigslist, job boards, Google, Yahoo, etc. You input the title you are searching for, it populates a customizable list of words that are the definition of what your targeted position is. So, if you input “Financial Analyst”, the list will include “financial analysis”, “modeling”, “ad hoc” “financial statement analysis”, “macros”, “MBA”, etc. The software allows you to add or subtract words from the list, as well as select which ones are more important (or required). You click “Search” and within minutes PDeGrabber returns a list of candidates in a neat Excel file with all of the candidates’ contact information separated into cells. You can then download all of the resumes (or only the ones you select) directly into your database.

Why this is so great?
• With only a few clicks, you can search every portal on the internet rather than having to log into each job board separately.
• PD eGrabber’s semantic search technology allows you to source job seekers (both active and passive) to find exact matches. If you input “Financial Analyst”, you’ll get a true “Financial Analyst” rather than a bank teller who has added key words to his/her resume.
• Searches can be fully customized for your company and can be saved for future use.
• The boss will be amazed at your ability to identify perfect candidates for his/her hiring need almost immediately

Please join me any time for a quick 15 minute demonstration of how this software can save you both time and money. As the economy rebounds, hiring will increase – and there’s nothing worse than scrambling for candidates to fill a dozen urgent new openings at the same time!

Send me an email and I’ll send you the Webex information to see the demonstration. It's really helped me a lot in my recruiting firm.

Happy Sourcing!
Stacey Relton

Make New Friends and Advance Your Career

We have all heard that we should grow our professional and personal network, but that’s easier said than done. Who has time to attend lunch or after work meetings? With family who depend on us, friends whom we haven’t visited in a while, and pets that need to be fed and walked, squeezing in one more meeting seems impossible.
However, making time to meet new people is an investment in both your career and your personal life. Whether you are an Accountant, an Engineer, or an Actor, career advancement opportunities are all around and they are often offered to professionals within a hiring manager’s network.

Select two organizations to join or become more involved in. One should be a professional organization and one should be a social or volunteer organization. Set a goal to attend two events per month – one for each organization. Make friends, find commonalities, and commit to sharing your network with others.

You’ll be surprised of what you’ll gain from your new networks – whether you are looking for a new career opportunity or not.

Can Employers Find You Online?

Employers are increasingly using online tools as their primary means of sourcing new employees. Job boards such as Monster and Careerbuilder have long served as the places that job seekers think to list their resumes. But what about the newer “upcoming” networking sites such as Linkedin?

Whether you are searching for a new job or simply use Linkedin as a networking tool, your profile and resume should portray your credentials and professionalism at their best. Online profiles should also include an easy-to-download current resume. The best career opportunities often arise unexpectedly when you are not “looking for a job”.

2010 is the year to invest in yourself professionally. Invest in your online presence, ensure your resume is perfected and easy for employers to review, and increase your network. Those are the three keys to success in today’s online recruiting.

Why are so many “Career Coaches”, Recruiters, and Resume Writers Scheisters?

A struggling stock market, high rate of unemployment, and worldwide corporate cutbacks in employee headcounts seem to have brought out both the worst in some people.  This is particularly true in the professions related to job seeking. 

Everyone has his/her own reasons for becoming a recruiter.  Some are lured by the prospects of high commissions that are tied directly to the quantity of people they convince to take jobs.  These people typically care more about making the “sale” rather than ensuring that the person is the best person for the job and that the job is the right fit for that person.  We all know these recruiters.  They are smooth talkers who share plenty of great things about the company/opportunity but never disclose the drawbacks – and every opportunity, no matter how great, has drawbacks.  They are too busy to take your calls and emails and do not listen to your individual needs/desires.  Job seekers should RUN from these people.  Most of us in the workforce spend more time at the office than we do awake in our own homes!  Changing jobs is a BIG decision!

Secondly, career coaches are popping up from nowhere! Unfortunately, many of them are self-proclaimed experts.  Their job is to provide advice and unfortunately often do not provide tangible results.  Most professionals don’t want advice and fluff to make them feel good.  They want results – how do I find a job?  Can you introduce me to people in your network?  What are the honest things that I can do to improve my marketability? What is your honest opinion of my interview answers and interview skills?  Are my presentation and communication skills as solid as they need to be?  What am I saying or not saying that may be costing me the offer?  These tangible pieces of advice and assistance can help greatly in your job search and career.

Lastly - resume writers.  I have heard so many stories about people spending thousands of dollars on resume writing services.  My question is WHY?  It is absurd to spend that much money on a resume!  A good resume writer should never charge more than $200 for the resume and no more than $100 for the cover letter, unless there is a very compelling reason to charge more.  A good resume writer’s job is to correct your grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc while also ensuring that the wording on your resume conveys your skills in the most impressive manner possible.  Your skills and credentials are yours and no matter how great the wordsmith is, the facts do not change.  Now, wording is important! Your resume is your first impression and shows your communication skills, so using powerful words and details such as percentages and dollar figures are very important.

Here is my advice to ensure you aren’t “taken” by a scheister.  Ask to see credentials.  Does the person have a professional website?  If they don’t care enough to invest in their own presentation, how are they going to help yours?  What are their credentials?  Do they have experience in recruiting?  If not, how do they know what employers want to see on a resume?  Who is actually doing the work?  If you hire a professional resume writer, who will be writing your resume?  Will it be the former recruiter that you spoke with or will it be someone who is being paid $10 per hour to take your resume and put it into the format that the resume firm has provided.  Some firms are like sweatshops – the people writing the resumes have no experience and no idea what employers want to see.  They care more about “fluff” and being a wordsmith.  If your resume resembles an English paper with the accomplishments complete separate from the positions at which you accomplished them, they might as well be in a separate document.  Employers want to see at which job you accomplished each item.

Lastly, how successful has the person been in their career?  Were they laid off or fired from their recruiting job?  Is that the only reason they are now “career coaches”?  I was in the top 12 nationwide for my former employer.  I made the decision to leave recruiting because I felt that I could genuinely help people more if I spent my time consulting, writing resumes, and providing networking assistance rather than cold calling. I do what I do to HELP people.  That’s why my fees are reasonable – I’m not looking to become rich off of my clients. And there are many others like me – we care about people and provide tangible results.  We are committed to your success!  We have a LONG list of referrals.  But, unfortunately, there are those who are simply looking to take advantage of job seekers.

Not all recruiters, career coaches, and resume writers are scheisters!  The old adage “You don’t know what you don’t know” stands true. I would not do my own taxes or attempt to fix my own car – neither task lies within my expertise.  Hiring the right recruiter, career coach, or resume writer can give you a significant advantage over others.

Do your own research and you won’t be “taken” for your hard earned money.

Professional Branding - What is it?

Everyone has a professional brand. What's yours?

Quick thinking - what comes to mind with these brands: Nike, Oprah, Coca-Cola, Harley-Davidson? Their commercials? Their market share and value? Now, what comes to mind when you think about your manager and your peers at work? Why do some people get promoted more quickly and have an easier time finding a new opportunity than others who have a similar skill set? The answer - the value of their professional brand is easily recognized. Every one of us has a professional brand or a professional reputation. When you are searching for a new opportunity or applying for a promotion, your boss or potential boss makes decisions based on his or her evaluation of your professional brand. What is your brand and how do you increase its value in the market? A better brand = more job offers and higher compensation.

Everyone knows that the Harley-Davidson brand carries prestige and high value - but did you know that wasn't always the case? Spend a few minutes reading about the turnaround of Harley-Davidson and you'll see how improving your own professional brand can have both a significant short-term and long-term impact on your career. Call us today. We will guide you through increasing the value of your professional brand and will put your career on a path to reach new heights. Your career will thank you!

Copyright PARADIGM 2009

Tips for Standing Out in the Crowd

Your choice - Stand Out or Get Passed Over.

If you are positioning yourself for a promotion or a career move, you MUST stand out from the crowd. Employers are receiving 400% more resumes than they were a few years ago. Here are a few tips to help you "Stand Above Your Competitors"....

• Have a perfected resume and cover letter that has been professionally reviewed and/or written. Ensure that both documents display and maximize your professional accomplishments and value.
  
• Take a professional portfolio to all interviews and networking events.
  
• Get your resume into the hands of the decision makers. Work with an Agent such as PARADIGM who has a network that you can access.
  
• Ensure your online presence is professional.
  
• Perfect your interview answers and skills through hours of practice and mock interviews. Interview skills are the #1 factor that separates those who receive first interviews and offers. If you are not getting to the final interview for every position you apply, it could be due to one small answer that we can help you identify.
  

PARADIGM can ensure you Stand Above Your Competitors and get your professional portfolio into the hands of decision makers. A perfected professional portfolio = more interviews. Better interview skills = more offers with better companies and higher compensation. Our goal is your success - call us today to get started!

Copyright PARADIGM 2009

Beating Job Search Stress

Keeping a positive attitude during your job search is one of the most influential factors on your success. It is easy to become frustrated and down with the current economic situation, unemployment rate soaring, and companies laying off employees. Whether you are making a voluntary job move or have been unemployed for several months, you must remain positive. Managing your stress and creating a positive influence will give you a positive outlook.

 

Use these tips to reduce your job search stress and boost your positive vibes.

• Spend time improving your marketable skills. Improve your software skills, begin classes towards a higher degree, learn a foreign language, or obtain a certification. In addition to giving you that sense of accomplishment, you will have increased confidence and an additional selling point to discuss in your job search interviews. Prospective employers love tangible ambition.
• Commit to being the best you. After all, you are marketing yourself in this job search. Just as companies focus on improving their product before an important demonstration, use your job search as a time to focus on YOU. Be your best you.
• Channel positive thinking. Reflect on your accomplishments, your family and friends, and how fortunate you are to be YOU. Meditation, yoga, and active positive thinking are proven to increase personal and professional success, even if you are typically skeptical of motivational methods. Try something new.
• Eat healthy. How we feel truly is reflective of what we eat. It is common for stressed job seekers to eat more fast food or unhealthy food. Begin eating healthier and it will have a positive affect on your skin, confidence, how you physically feel, etc. 
• Begin a workout routine. If you do not typically exercise, start with something small like walking or jogging for 15 minutes at least three times per week. From there, you can increase your routine accordingly. Before long, you will notice an increase in your confidence and a significant reduction in your stress.

Contact us today for a full list of Telephone Tips!  There are more where these came from!

Copyright PARADIGM 2009