The perfect job.  It is what everyone dreams of, but the path to finding it can be tough.  From stringent hiring requirements to difficult interviews to the second-guessing that consumes any attempt at follow-up, the process can be challenging.

But there are choices when it comes to the path that you should follow.  Not all people find their “best-fit” job through online advertisements, or job fairs, or even newspaper ads.

At Snelling, we focus on finding you your best-fit job – the job that, right now, fits your needs, your lifestyle and your standards. This focus is summed up in our People + tagline.  With Snelling’s People + you know that you are able to leverage a resource that focuses on who you are and what you can offer.  We work hard every day getting quality workers into quality jobs at quality companies. When you work with Snelling, you get:

People + Opportunity

We help people get to work – in the way they want to work.  We can do that for you, too.  Whether you are testing the waters with a temporary or a temp-to-hire position or are looking for full-time employment, Snelling can help.         Read the rest of this entry »

By Christiane Soto, Snelling.com

Historically, college seniors did not start their hard-core job search until the spring semester of their senior year….and by historically, I mean 2-3 years ago.  However, that has changed.  Employers are now coming to campuses early.  By last fall, employers had already completed 68% of their college recruiting effort for the 2012-2013 school year.

This early push seems to be a by-product of the much-talked-about skills shortage.  Recruiters are showing up on campus early to try and snatch the best and brightest.

What if you have not locked in that job offer? 

What should you do if you find yourself having not even started because you thought there is still plenty of time? Here are 3 things that you can do to present yourself in the best way possible:

Read the rest of this entry »

According to a 2012 Future Trends Survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 90.7% of respondents use Facebook in their job search.  Half of employers in the U.S. use Facebook during the hiring process, with 54% planning on using it more in the future.

But for what types of jobs?

Recruiters generally focus on Facebook when look to fill entry-level and/or hourly positions.  Look at a sample of the companies that claim that Facebook is a powerful recruiting tool.  Ben & Jerry’s…. McDonalds….Starbucks…Hard Rock Café…all are overwhelmingly looking to fill entry-level and hourly positions.  Facebook can be highly effective when recruiting these workers, but it is not the “go-to” platform to leverage for salaried, managerial or professional openings.

However, there is one statistic that is worth noting when talking about the viability of using Facebook to recruit.  Read the rest of this entry »

Spring break.  You know what you are getting into.  Do not lie.  The college ritual that is “spring break” is not a secret to anyone.   Not to you.  Not to the police.  Not to your parents.  Not to your potential employer.

There will be alcohol.  There will large gatherings of people.   There will be promotions “people” trying to get you to do ridiculous things all in the name of brand exposure for their product.

There will be crowded hotel rooms, crowded beaches, crowded clubs, crowded ski slopes, crowded pools.  Finally, there will be people will smartphones…smartphones with cameras and video recorders.

With spring break around the corner, it is time to have a conversation about online reputation.  As you plan out the awesomeness that is spring break, you should keep one thing in mind.  That is….in one silly minute, your dream job can fly right out the window (never to return). Read the rest of this entry »

Work styles, personality, temperament…..it all sounds like a bunch of psychological mumbo-jumbo to many people who are looking for a job today.  Many have the attitude of “I just want a job…I can make any situation work”.

Whereas this outlook is understandable when you just need a job, the fact is that your relationships with your work cohorts and the type of work you do are of vital importance to your success and happiness.

Anyone who has ever spent 8-9 hours of their day in a horrible work environment can attest to this.  Like many, I am guilty of accepting a job strictly because I wanted the job, and I ignored all the warning signs during the interview process….signs that were screaming at me about the obviously bad fit between me and my potential new manager.  I spent a year of misery before I could walk away and look for other opportunities.

As The Snelling Blog introduced yesterday, a person’s temperament is their basic, inherited style; it is not learned.  Personality is acquired on top of temperament.  Two people can have the same temperament, but (due to various environmental and lifestyle factors) they can have different personalities.  The importance of understanding your own temperament and personality, and the ability to be able to recognize other people’s helps everyone become more effective in the workplace.

You need to know yourself. Take one of the many online personality/temperament tests.  This can be an eye-opening experience for you, and will help explain why you do the things you do and why you do (or do not) get along with certain people.

Most of the time, our inability to get along with others is due to nothing more than a misunderstanding.  For example, the Idealist (Phlegmatic or NF) comes across as quiet and reserved.  They are not talkative because they are mad at you or because they do not like you.  They are not talkative simply because that is nature.

You can use knowledge of your own temperament and personality to help you in choosing your job, in targeting certain companies and in forming friendships.  Certain people are simply not cut out to be a good surgeon – myself included – or teach pre-school.  Taking a temperament test can often include suggestions concerning potential career choices.

Now, as stated in The Snelling Blog, no one is simply one temperament.  That is too black and white, and life is not black and white.  There are so many factors that affect a person’s reaction to external events.  However, by understanding the four different types of temperament, you will be able to identify personality “misses and matches” between you and your work cohorts.  This in turn will help you find effective ways to interact with all types and combinations.

In most cases (and I have never successfully met anyone who has), you cannot change your basic temperament style.  So embrace it.   You can influence your behaviors and (over time) your personality, but biggest mistake most people make is to mimic  behaviors that are not natural their own. It is usually not successful and it is often a painful experience (for everyone involved).

NOTE:  A full-color, downloadable PDF is available. 

Even though the U.S. economy is predicted to grow faster in 2012, experts do not believe that this will fully extend to the job market.  The predicted economic growth is not expected to push the unemployment rate down much – perhaps as little as 0.2% before the presidential elections in November.  Economists anticipate barely enough job creation this year to stay ahead of population growth, much less to return the very long-term unemployed back into the labor force.

One bright spot, economists agree, will remain the temporary staffing industry, expanding the opportunities for many workers.  However, “temping” is often seen (unfairly, in my opinion) as an inferior choice when compared to direct hire placement.  In fact, temporary work does offer many benefits that would make it a very attractive choice for many job seekers.

• Flexibility – The very nature of temporary work allows you to attend to personal obligations, take specific time off to travel, and basically fit your career around your life.   No matter what the reason, having a flexible schedule allows you to take care of all of the things that are important while earning a paycheck.
• Gain practical work experience – Different companies use different systems and methodologies to get the same work done.  For example, IT jobs, sales jobs and retail jobs all use different computer programs, databases and different procedures and processes, depending on the company and industry.  A temporary worker who spends time with different companies can learn new skills and see how those firms operate within the same market space.  This will (in turn) make them more marketable when they begin looking for a direct hire position.
• Fill gaps in resume – If you are one of the 13.1 million unemployed workers (as of December 2011), consider temping while you are looking for a direct hire position.  Temporary work is a proven way to “get your foot in the door” of a desired company or with a competitive position, since there are many applicants in the marketplace right now.  The average job posting receives more than 50 resumes.  Working as a temporary in a popular company or in a competitive industry could be a means of access to a direct hire placement.
• Networking – Many people struggle with networking; it is not their within their “comfort zone”.  However, networking is an effective tool that candidates need to use in their job search.  In order to network effectively, though, you must step away from the Internet and go meet people.  You are more likely to receive assistance from someone who has a relationship with you than you are from a Facebook “friend” or LinkedIn “connection”.  Do use these social media sites, but supplement this effort through temporary work.  Whether at temporary job placement agencies or at the hiring companies, temporary positions are a good way to meet new people and grow your job search network.

Whether you’re searching for a new career path, building your résumé or job search network, starting a family or working to support other interests, temporary jobs allow you many benefits and opportunities.  Here at Snelling, we want to help you succeed in your temporary position(s) and get the most benefit from every single assignment.  So contact your local Snelling office to learn more about the services, support and resources we provide.