Tag Archive for: employment

Let’s Talk Resume Boosters!

As we move full-force into the new year, it’s time to update our resumes! For those who are in a job transition, job hunt, or soon to be college graduates- let’s discuss some ways to boost your resume. Your resume gives the hiring manager a first glimpse of who you are and what you have accomplished.  Adding role-specific or software certifications to your resume is one way to raise your value as a candidate.

Role-Specific Certifications

Online certifications are popping up everywhere and they are very accessible to everyone. Make sure you are taking the time to complete certifications that are tailored to your field of work. This will help ensure that your certification can make a difference on your resume. A recruiter might not take a second look if you are certified in something that is not applicable to your field. With the right research, you will be able to find a certification that is helpful for your job/role. To get started, a few role-specific certifications are listed below.

Software Certifications

Software certifications are very relevant in our world of technology. This certification can help any resume stand out, not just people in the field of IT. Careers like digital marketing, software engineering, data science, etc,  can all benefit from a software certification. Read below to find out more about these software certifications.

Google: Analytics, Publisher, AdWords

  • Google has plenty of free online certifications that you can complete. You simply make an account and start the certification courses. Google Analytics is especially useful for students who are going to be graduates soon and on the job hunt. Adding a certification like Google Analytics will show the hiring manager that you can analyze reports, track data collections, processing and configurations, and many more.

Salesforce: CRM certifications

  • Salesforce is a website that offers customer relationship management services. This can be useful in any career where you are directly working with other people- like sales, marketing, customer service, etc. Completing a Salesforce certification will help you to be well-versed in analytics.

Not all certifications are useful, in fact, some can be pointless to add to your resume. Do your research before completing a certification in order to know it will benefit your resume. Certifications can be time-consuming, but they can also be worth it. Your resume might stand out more to the hiring manager if you have appropriate certifications.

Working on your resume? Read here to find out what fonts to use!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Benefits of Keeping Family in the Business

In our last article, we pointed out some interesting cautions to take when thinking about hiring friends and family. However, just as many endeavors come with pros and cons, so does this one! So, if you’re in the position of expanding your business and taking on new employees, make sure to keep reading about why it may benefit you to consider close friends or family…

Keeping Family on Board…

  1. You Know Them Best: We hope this does not come as a surprise that whether we’re talking about your spouse, partner, friend, family member, sibling, past coworker, or any other close relationship you have, you likely know more about them than most other people in the world! Knowing all of the strengths of the person you hire before even placing them in a position is an enormous benefit for your business model. We encourage you to, again, evaluate the responsibilities of your open role in detail to be able to fully consider if this person would take over in a positive way.
  2. Surpassing Onboarding: Especially for those of you in a time crunch, on a start-up timeline, or crammed for expansion, hiring someone that you know, love, and trust will allow you to diminish the time it takes to run background checks, tests, and a whole bunch of time-consuming onboarding tasks. Time, as we know it, is the most scarce resource in the world! So lack of it may prove one of the best moments to ask a favor of a loved one.
    • Extra Tip: Look out for opportunities where you may require a temporary, informal favor! While this by no means should encourage you to ask for hours of volunteer work from your friends or family, bringing someone on to nail out a quick business problem, solidify the launch of a new role or opportunity, or to take some of the burdens off of your shoulders could prove enormously useful and beneficial to your entire company.
  3. Pre-Established Trust: In the same way that you will most likely be well aware of this person’s strengths to use to both their and your own advantage, it is more likely than not that you will be taking someone on with an already solidified level of trust. When this comes to delegating tasks and giving up certain responsibilities that you are used to mandating on your own, it is crucial to be able to hand off your duties to someone you know will prove their worth!
  4. They Care About You! While your business will always be your own “baby,” the people closest to you will also feel a personal investment in your success. Hiring someone who already feels an attachment to your company and its initiatives is someone who will stand by your side through thick and thin.

Now that you know the pros and cons of including those that you love in your business, you are ready to take on the hiring process!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Missed Monday? Find out why NOT to hire people you “cannot” fire here!

Why NOT to Hire People You Can’t Fire

Attention all business owners and start-up entrepreneurs! Are you battling the task of expanding your team, hiring new members, or deciding whether to add on new roles within your company? Well, we’re sure that during the time between the start of your company and today, you’ve been faced with the opportunity (or favor) to hire a family member or close friend. While there are pros to doing so, we definitely want to make you aware of some cautions to look out for in your business model.

To Hire Close Family and Friends…?

  1. Emotional Involvement: Most likely the first thought to cross your mind when you think about walking into an office alongside your spouse, sibling, college roommate, best friend, cousin, or any other person of a close relationship is the emotional attachment. After all, these people aren’t just strangers that you met during an interview, they are some of the most important people in your life! We hope that the relationships you hold most closely to you are those that will last a lifetime. However, having the emotional capacity to leave your thoughts and feelings out of business decisions is no easy feat. Make sure to weigh the concrete, measurable value each of these people brings to your business model. Are they going to act as resources or are you going to hire additional work obligations?
  2. Superiority and Business Hierarchy: You must remember that you are, in fact, the boss of this organization. The blood, sweat, and tears implored into this operation are those of your own, and there is no one else in this world who values the success of this company in the same way that you do! For that reason, you must remain capable of implementing orders, providing direction, and ultimately offering critique to each of your employees. If you are someone who will be more uncomfortable than confident in this type of setting, think twice before adding someone you feel close to to your team.
  3. Others will Assume Favoritism: There is no doubt about it… the moment that you add a family member or friend to your team, they will immediately become the perceived favorite amongst all of your employees. Battling this assumption will not prove easy, and in some instances may lead you to feel as if you must treat this person unfavorably just to prove a point. Be cautious of this when determining which role to place your friend/family member into so as to maintain a fairly perceived environment as a collective team and company.
  4. Unequal Expectations: This point relates most closely to the employee that you are actually hiring. This person may come in with preconceived notions about how you run your business. Whether this benefits or hinders your ability to set expectations of this person’s responsibilities, it is crucial to both your and their success to set measurable and clear goals for the month and/or year. This way, there will be no room left for debate as to whether this person is performing well based off of their perception, or below the belt.

We hope that you each find yourselves in the position of hiring others at one point in your professional lives! What an accomplishment to be had, and also one that comes with a massive responsibility. Follow these guidelines and you are set to make clear cut and beneficial decisions for both yourself and your corporation.

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list! 

Read our recent blog to find out the benefits of exploring different internships during your college career!

Benefits of Accepting a Second Internship

In the heat of career fair season, we understand that many of you are faced with the decision to either return to the company you worked for this summer or pursue a new opportunity. Today, as part 1 of our 2 part saga, we’re hoping to teach you about some of the benefits of following a second-year internship at the same company.

Benefits of Returning . . .

  1. Sense of Role-ownership: One great aspect of returning to the same company you’ve worked at before is the relationships you’ve already built. Utilizing those connections, especially with hiring managers or internal recruiters, may allow you to gain some freedom in choosing which role you pursue in your second year. Whether this means transitioning to another team, project, or an entirely new subset of a company, taking advantage of internal resources will prove highly valuable.
  2. New Mentors: Another way to make use of your experience is by beginning to envision the type of mentor, or mentors you can pursue upon your return. Building additional connections to expand your internal, and potentially external, network is a great way to continue to gauge your own career interests and desires.
  3. Even Larger Network: While you have likely already built a sturdy network within the company you worked for, returning will allow you to build an even larger number of connections by surrounding yourself with employees of all different backgrounds, job functions, and teams. While this is especially useful for interns or graduates returning to larger companies which offer a greater and larger variety of employees, deepening connections will always prove useful. You never know if the connection you built may find themselves in a leadership role and in need of a new employee on their team. Better yet, mentors often transition into higher roles where they may then recommend you to take their previous spot!
  4. Opportunity to Relocate: If you work for an organization which houses several locations across the United States, returning to your previous position as an intern may allow you to internally “build your roots” within the company and, later on, have a greater say in where you are placed permanently. This is a huge component of your future and definitely important to continue to keep in mind! If you are happy where you live, you are much more likely to enjoy what you do!

Now that you’ve seen some leading factors in the benefits of returning to a company for a second-year internship, we’ll introduce you to a few reasons that may lead you to decide to explore elsewhere. While we don’t have the right answer for you, we’re hoping that you can lead feeling educated, well-versed, and with multiple different perspectives!

Missed our last blog? Check out what to look for before accepting a position here!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs!

What to Look Out For Before Accepting

If you’re a college student or recent graduate applying to a full-time position or internship, I want you to take a moment to acknowledge your value in today’s workforce! You are among the top talent entering each industry and bring with you a plethora of unfounded knowledge based on a new digital age. In understanding the intelligence and talent you behold, I hope that you weigh the aspects of a job offer than I present to you today. Keep reading to find out…

What to Consider In a Job Offer:

  1. Salary and/or Hourly Wage: Although it may feel daunting to discuss money as a student or hopeful intern, it is important to be aware of the typical pay of an employee of your age, major, experience, commitment, geographical location, etc. We encourage you to utilize online job resources such as Glassdoor.com to try to gauge what a typical salary of someone in your same position should be expecting. Additionally, if you are under the impression that you may be shorted (potentially through conversations with an advisor, mentor, or colleagues), it is crucial to understand the pay you are foregoing for the offer at hand. Pay may not be your highest priority, but if it is, this is super important to look out for!
  2. Benefits: Evaluating the benefits associated with your offer is undeniably one of the most vital aspects of your offer (especially if you are searching for a full-time role). However, I am directing this more towards interns because… believe it or not, there are several benefits to think about (even if not monetarily based!). Some of the most valuable include:
    1. Networking Events, Ability and Encouragement to Connect with Company Leaders
    2. Intern Events to Stimulate Relationship Building Among Your Co-workers
    3. Mentorship Opportunities
    4. Autonomy in Choosing Your Role … Depending on your industry of choice, this one may waiver. However, if you are focused on an area of business that provides diverse roles (such as Marketing), we encourage you to inquire about your ability to voice your hopes and desires for your role and what you hope to take away at the end of summer.
    5. Volunteer Work
    6. Internal Networking and/or Coffee Chats with Employees
  3. Full-Time Role: Especially for those of you entering your senior year after next summer, it is key to begin thinking about what your life may look like if you choose to work for the company you are accepting a role within. Can you see yourself working here after graduation if given an offer? Is this organization part of a loose “5-year plan”? Will this company help you achieve career goals or aspirations?
  4. Lateral Movement: We encourage you to begin your career within an organization that will allow you to pursue a variety of goals within its own walls. The last thing we hope is for you to accept a role and have second thoughts after a few months. For that reason, we hope that you try and visualize all of the opportunities that come with every company. Is there room for you to move around and try some different roles before committing to a long-term position?

These are only some of the many components of a job offer to think about before accepting! We hope you are beginning to create a mental list of everything valuable that you hope for in your new role.

Missed last weeks article? Find out the Top 4 Difference Between Large and Small Companies here!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Tips for More Productive Meetings

Meetings can often be a blessing or a curse. Some people may feel they are a waste of time while others find them to be productive and helpful. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, meetings are an easy way to help your team regroup and communicate effectively. Continue reading below to find out some ways to have productive meetings!

Productivity Tips

Agenda and Time Limit: You may not like meetings because they are long, boring, and seem like a waste of time. That is why every meeting needs a strict time limit! Create an agenda with all the talking points and topics/tasks that need to be completed. once the agenda is made, you will have a better idea of how much time you need for your meeting. The shorter the meeting, the better the outcome. This will help you be organized and keep the side chatter and off-topic comments on track!

Use Technology and Media: This is a fresh and exciting way to present information. People may get distracted or not pay attention if someone is talking the whole time. If you have a presentation set up- it gives a new take on information and keeps people interacting. At the same time- try to keep people using their devices to a limited. That way they will not be distracted by their emails or social media during the course of the meeting.

Limit Number of Attendees: Conducting a meeting with the whole department in attendance may be unnecessary and a distraction. Make sure you have everyone in attendance that needs to be there but don’t over invite. If it isn’t crucial for someone to attend- don’t force them. This will help with the productivity and time limit on your meetings. When there are too many people in a room, it can get hectic.

Use these tips to help your meetings run smoothly. These ideas don’t work for everyone depending on the size or morale of your company. Try to find what works best for your team and stick with that!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Use our guide here to learn how to make effective presentations!

 

Habits of Likable People in the Workplace

Getting through a workday is much easier if you have colleagues that like you! If you feel that all your colleagues hate or dislike you, it can make your days long and hard. You won’t feel miserable at work if people actually enjoy being around you. Understanding and using the following habits should help you gain your fellow colleague’s trust and acceptance!

Self Awareness

Self-awareness is a key factor of likable people. If you are able to recognize your strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and emotions, then you are a self-aware person. Self-awareness can help you consciously identify how people perceive you, which can be helpful in the workplace. Taking ownership of our behavior is one of the first steps of becoming more likable. Sometimes it can be hard for a person to admit their wrongdoings or faults. If you are transparent about your flaws and take accountability for your actions, you will be able to gain that approval from your colleagues.

Managing Stress

One of the reasons you may not be liked in your office could be the way you react to stress. Everyone reacts to stressful situations differently, and some people let these situations get the best of them. Pay attention to how you are treating your colleagues when you are dealing with a difficult or stressful circumstance. Are you taking it out on them or letting it affect your mood? Find new ways and outlets to manage your stress so you can maintain peace with your colleagues. If you feel a stressful task or moment is about to happen, play your favorite music or take a deep breath, and give yourself a moment to calm down. Your workplace will be happier and your coworkers will appreciate you more if you manage stress in a practical way.

Judgment

Passing judgment happens all day long. It can happen by staring at someone as they walk by or correcting someone who is speaking. These are some of the things you may do subconsciously every day. In order to be likable at work, stop judging your colleagues. Accept people for who they are- flaws and all! Beating yourself or a colleague up over a mistake isn’t productive, it just shows that you are judgmental. Everyone makes a mistake here and there, it is a part of being human. If your colleagues see you as a nonjudgmental person, they will be more open to the idea of liking you.

Try to make these things a habit and you will find that you will be more likable at work!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Read here to find out about mistakes you should never make at work!

What Happened to the Esquire Blog? Updates, Recruiting and Employment Advice

Welcome to the new and improved Esquire Recruiting blog: your one-stop shop for company news, job-search updates, interview tips, recruiting and employment advice, and more! With decades of varied experience between our small staff, we know the details of recruiting and the specifics of each industry we serve. Whether you’re a job-seeker or employer; in accounting, marketing, manufacturing, law, or sales; we can find you the right connections or guide you to the right strategies to make each new position filled a success!

 

Some of the content you can expect to see in the next few months:

– Esquire news and staff features

– New technological advancements in employment practices

– How to answer tough interview questions

– How to write your best resume, now and later

– New takes on old tips

– How to make the most of unemployment

– Advice on employment in various industries and fields

– Whatever you want! Leave feedback and requests here on the blog, by email, and on our social media pages!

 

Esquire Recruiting Employment Advice

Follow Esquire’s blog for the latest employment advice from the experts.

 

A little bit (more) about yours truly:

As a recent graduate of Emory University, I joined Esquire’s team as a part-time blogger working remotely from Georgia. This virtual link between my hometown in Illinois and my work from halfway across the country is far from unusual. Instead, it encapsulates Esquire’s balance between its boutique-style organization and nationwide clientele.

What kind of recruiting and employment advice can a freshly employed college grad give? You’d be surprised. For one, I’ve lived, breathed, and researched the job search for about a year. Like most college graduates, I have been scouring the web and the world for workplaces that need my talents. Similarly, my generation has taken the best of traditional wisdom and added new technology and resources. So we know how to identify the best practices in job searching and cover letter writing. Furthermore, as an employee of a recruiting firm, I can share inside information about what we seek and how to make yourself more presentable to recruiters and higher-ups alike.