Job hunting? Check out the benefits of working with a staffing agency.

In recent years almost every professional field has become more and more competitive, making it difficult and stressful to find a job. Job-hunting certainly takes a lot of time, patience and dedication in order to craft the right messages and deliver them one at a time. But there is no reason to try to do this alone; employment agencies are a great asset for active job seekers. Here are some benefits of choosing employment agencies in your quest to find the right job.

Get a team. Employment agencies act as your representative. Job seekers don’t have to hand out tens or hundreds of resumes and cover letters one at a time or try to get potential interviews alone. At JPS, our staffing managers are always ready and available to represent you in your job search. Read the rest of this entry »

Celebrating 25 Years In Business!

To err is human, but did you know there are certain mistakes an interviewee can make that can hurt their chances of getting the job? We have searched far and wide for the most common interview blunders an interviewee can make. Here are the top five mistakes and how they can be avoided.

Arriving late. We have all heard about this one over and over again, but arriving late is one of the most common interview mistakes interviewees make. The problem is obvious; arriving late to the interview gives the impression of disregard for the interviewer’s time and Read the rest of this entry »

Do you know what steps to take to get hired in 2013?

More and more news outlets are reporting a hiring boom in 2013. Companies are gearing up to hire in the New Year and as the new business cycle starts you can take steps to ensure you get hired for the job. So with all this talk about the workforce changing and hiring rates growing, here are some tips to help you get hired in 2013. Read the rest of this entry »

What are your career goals for 2013?

Every business professional is looking for one thing and one thing only, success in their field of work. Success can be described differently, depending on the individuals’ wants and needs, but at the end of the day, we all have one thing in common: the desire to better ourselves. With 2012 wrapping up, the New Year is the perfect time to start thinking about setting career goals to propel us to the next level. Here are some tips to help you set meaningful career goals in 2013. Read the rest of this entry »

“All our dreams can come true—if we have the courage to pursue them.”
- Walt Disney

Goals are what drive innovation.  Goals propel people to do amazing, extraordinary things.  And goals are what have turned seemingly ordinary individuals into leaders of industry.

So, what’s your goal?

Not sure?  Unhappy with your answer?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone.  Goal Setting 101 isn’t a popular class at many universities.  It’s not something that many of our young children are taught in elementary school.  But it should be!  Setting goals is the foundation for career success.

Where should you start with setting long-term goals?

Here are a few tips from the career experts at Josephine’s Personnel Services:

1. Determine what you want.
   Sounds like common sense, but it really is the first step to setting goals.  Some people are looking for an even mix between work/family.  Others only want part-time work so they can focus on raising children.  Still others want to climb the corporate ladder as quickly as possible.  Pinpointing what you really want is the first step to setting your long-term career goals.

1. Develop a road map.
   Most vacations don’t start by just jumping in the car and driving.  Instead, you begin with a map and directions.  You know what stands in between you and your desired destination, and you have clear direction on how to get there.
   The same is true with your career.  Look at where you want to go and work backwards.  Examine every step and every turn to determine what you need to do to reach your career destination.

1. Find a mentor.
   Mentors can play a very important role in your career success.  They can help keep you on target.  They can help with making connections.  And they can share mistakes they’ve made along the way so that you can learn from them instead of making the same mistakes yourself.To find a mentor, look at your industry.  Who are the biggest influencers?   Who are the leaders?  Learn from them.  Connect with them.  Ask questions.
2. Never stop learning.
   The world is constantly moving.  Technology is always changing.  You will need to adapt and learn new skills.  Invest in yourself and seek out new training opportunities.  These might come in the form of classes, certification courses or simply reading new books.
3. Self-evaluate.
   Finally, make sure you continually self-evaluate.  Take time at least once a year to sit down and recap what’s happened.  Examine the past year and ask yourself if you’re closer to your end goal.  Make sure you stay on target and you continue to move forward.  If you get off track, it’s okay.  But it’s important to recognize that and get back on course quickly!

Bonus tip: Contact Jospehine’s Professional Staffing

As a leading employment agency in Santa Claraand beyond, we have helped thousands of people find truly rewarding careers.  Contact us today to learn how we can help you achieve your career goals.

When I say “social networking” what do you think?

If you said, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, you’re right, but then you’re not.

In the business world, although online social networking sites are great tools to stay in touch and in marketing, it’s not quite enough. It’s not enough to be the profile picture with the witticisms. You have to be apparent to the greater public.

Business/social networking events are great opportunities to get known in the industry community you want to be in. Meeting someone in person and wowing them speaks volumes over your special #FF (follow Friday) shout out on Twitter.

Why should you spend more time networking at business functions? Here’s why.

1. Making contacts, making impressions. Nothing makes an impression quite like being able to speak eloquently, use appropriate humor and wit, and making yourself likable. People tend to remember the small things, like firm handshakes, the way you interact with other people, and how you conduct yourself in public. If you do it all well, they see how this can all translate to a possible opportunity with their company/organization.
2. Keep things in context. The funny thing about the Internet is that people read what you say. Sometimes, when people read what you say without any real context clues to decipher what you mean, they can take things out of context. Being able to meet someone in person can help eliminate any misunderstandings. You especially don’t want to accidently offend or anger someone who can be potential business contact.
3. So you’re qualified, but would you fit in? A lot of companies are specifically looking for the best qualified for the job. But sometimes, the best qualified wouldn’t mesh well with the team or would create a mess out of an already symbiotic and cultured office. Meeting those in charge of hiring (or people who can influence the hirers) and showing off your dazzling personality might just be to your benefit. Never underestimate the power of being relatable.

There is so much value in meeting with people in real life. It’s more memorable than a “Friend Request” and being able to connect face-to-face is more memorable than a Twitter handle.

Business networking events should be considered great networking opportunities. Meeting some movers and shakers would be great for your career, and you never know when these newly built bridges will be handy.

Want help networking and meeting people in your business? Contact Josephine’s Professional Staffing for more information.

What’s going to happen in terms of job searching and employment in 2012?

In short, it’s going to be all about mobile, using social networking sites to job search, and going after a new job if you are unhappy in your current position.

Prediction #1:  You’ll need a strong online identity if you want employment success. Social networking is playing an increasingly important role in the employment process, so it’s important for job seekers to choose which networks they want to participate in and shape their online identities accordingly. 90% of recruiters check social networks before hiring a candidate, which means that your online persona should properly represent you and show that you’re the right person for the job.

Prediction #2: You’re going to want to be mobile. The explosion of mobile usage will continue to grow in 2012, causing a shift in the way people exchange information. With more and more people using smartphones, traditional means of networking like exchanging business cards are almost gone. Instead, people are connecting digitally. 77% of job seekers are already using mobile apps when searching, and this figure will rise in the coming year.

Prediction #3: If you don’t like your current job, you can start looking for another. In recent years, many people took positions that weren’t necessarily ideal, simply because they needed a job. As the economy improves and unemployment rates decrease, more people will look to change jobs that make them happier. Just be sure to make the most of your current job while looking for a new position, since it’s easier to get a job when you have a job.

Prediction #4:  Things will finally start looking up—for everyone. There is cautious optimism that the economy — and the job market — will improve in 2012. The recently released National Employment Report from ADP, a private staffing and business services firm, showed private employers added 206,000 jobs in November 2011. University of Michigan economists are predicting a brighter 2012; according to a recent study, the jobless rate should continue to drop to 8.8 percent by the end of 2012.

And some industries are already seeing growth — so much so that some can’t fill their positions fast enough.

If you’re a job seeker, here are nine occupations that are expected to grow in 2012:

1. Biomedical engineer
2. Computer software engineer
3. Customer service representative
4. Home health aide
5. Management analyst
6. Medical assistant
7. Network systems and data communications analyst
8. Registered nurse
9. Retail salesperson

If you have any questions about the job market or your job search in 2012, don’t hesitate to contact us. We predict great success for you if you do!

Despite the high unemployment rate, college grads can find jobs in this job market — after all, business is still going on. Opportunities do exist, but today’s college graduates may have to take a different approach to accommodate the drastic changes in the job market, like a longer hiring process and greater competition.

Getting a post-college job in this economy requires a new way of thinking about the job search and looking for work. Here are a half dozen ways to get yourself ready and get a job.

1. Organize Yourself If your parents are your main source of job hunt guidance, consider how much job searching conventions have changed significantly in the last decade. Unless your parents have also had to find new employment in the past few years, you’ll want to seek more current advice.
2. Sell Yourself Make sure your resume doesn’t look like a student’s.  Instead of submitting a resume where the first half of the page is taken up by education, notes on coursework, and honors, play up work experience—internships, volunteer work, and so forth. When a hiring manager makes an initial scan of your resume, you want her to see skills and experience she can use, not a list of college courses.
3. Think Broadly Don’t limit your job search into too narrow a slot. If you’re interested in a particular field, think of all the jobs related or even vaguely related to that field. Do a brainstorming session with friends and family, and search the Internet for even more ideas. This might double, triple, even quadruple your job prospects and your internship possibilities — and may even change the way you were thinking about your future career.
4. Act Globally If you can’t find a job in the United States, consider working abroad. First, it shows initiative, a willingness to learn and adaptability and desire for personal growth. It also will give you a breadth of experience and an edge that other grads won’t have. In today’s world of increasingly globalized activities, being cognizant of other cultural differences and proving that you can operate efficiently in them is a major plus. If you have language and managerial skills that go across countries, you can only help those businesses looking to expand markets in other countries, as most businesses are doing today.
5. Be Productive  If you can’t get a paying gig, take an unpaid internship or volunteer. It’s important to show employers that you know how to use time productively. You don’t want to give employers the image of a college grad hanging out at home or doing odd jobs. You should strive to appear to be progressing and challenging yourself at all times, even if it’s not in a conventional position of employment.
6. Get Help  Use your college’s career office. You may think campus resources are only for current students, but many campuses’ career offices cater specifically to grads. Ask them to connect you with alumni who work in the field you’re interested in.

As the saying goes, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, and your resume is usually the first impression you give a potential employer. So make sure you’re not making these common mistakes on yours.

1. Attempting One Size Fits All
Employers want you to write a resume specifically for them. They expect you to clearly show how and why you fit the position in a specific organization. An effective resume leaves no doubt as to the job seeker’s career objective, while a one-size-fits-all resume gives the impression that the job seeker has no specific career goals. If you have more than one career objective, you need more than one resume.

2. Highlighting Duties Instead of Accomplishments
Your resume shouldn’t just be a listing of your past job duties. You need to include quantifiable statements so that employers understand what you’ve truly accomplished. For example, instead of saying:

• Attended group meetings and recorded minutes
• Worked with children in a day-care setting
• Updated departmental files

Say:
• Used laptop to record weekly meeting minutes and compiled them in a Microsoft Word-based file for organization’s future reference
• Developed three daily activities for preschool-age children and prepared them for a 10-minute holiday program performance
• Reorganized 10 years worth of files, to make them accessible to department members.

3. Neglecting to Sell Yourself
Job seekers need to remember that a job search is a sales campaign. Your resume is marketing material so make it effective by showing how you can solve problems, save money or increase profits.

4. Going Old School
These days, you need to remember that resumes are screened by both humans and computers. If your resume lacks the keywords that the screeners are looking for, you run the risk of it being tossed aside. The average resume screen takes 15 seconds or less and will look for the same words found in the job description. A keyword-focused resume will put you front and center.

5. Coming Across as Careless or Lazy
Make sure your resume doesn’t contain typos or grammatical errors. If it does, employers will assume you can’t write or don’t care. Speaking of writing, make sure your language is strong. Instead of using wimpy, passive phrases like “responsible for providing IT support,” use action verbs: “Resolved user questions as part of an IT help desk serving 4,000 students and staff.”

When you’re applying for an out-of-state job, it may seem like the odds are stacked against you. And depending on what type of job you’re applying for, you may be right. But like all challenges, there is a way to overcome them, if you just know how.

The level of the position can be an obstacle when you apply for a job out of state. Entry-level jobs are generally more abundant and easier to fill locally. If you are seeking an upper management or executive level position, you might have more luck.

However, out-of-town applicants can get around that in a couple of ways:

• State in your cover letter that you are planning to move to the company’s location (if you can mention a specific ETA, that’s even better) and don’t need relocation assistance.
• Make it clear in your cover letter that you would be happy to get yourself to the employer’s location for an interview.
• On your resume, list your contact info like this:
  Joe Smith
  Relocating in [month, year] to [target company's city]
  jsmith@email.com
• Or, borrow a local address: if you know someone in or near where you want to work, ask if you can use their address on your resume and cover letters. This will help you avoid being eliminated from consideration just for not being local.

Other obstacles that job seekers might encounter when searching for a job in a different state include:

• Traveling for multiple interviews
• Fewer (or no) opportunities to attend networking events
• Lack of contacts
• Difficulty obtaining current and accurate information on the local job market

To get around these issues will take a bit of planning and some creative effort.

1. Take a Trip to Your Destination City. Many employers are unwilling to fly candidates in for job interviews. Why not solve this problem for them? If you can’t use a local address, be up-front in your cover letter and say that you will be in town on certain days and would like to come in for an interview. Try to arrange phone interviews before you go, so you can maximize your results by holding second- and third-round interviews in person, after you arrive.
2. Avoid the Competition from the Get-Go. Hunting for jobs is a competitive sport, and the less competition you have, the better your chances of winning. Instead of searching for jobs on the usual web sites, try reading the trade journals and magazines for your profession. Search both the print and online editions for job postings. There may be fewer applicants for jobs advertised in less popular locations.
3. Find Local Allies. Make personal connections in the city where you want to work. Find out who you know in your target city. Ask them if they know of anyone you should meet. Work your connections on sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to get introductions.
4. Become familiar with your target location. Subscribe to the on-line edition of the local newspaper, especially the Sunday edition. Pay attention to articles on businesses, expansions, and notices of promotions and new hires, as well as job postings. – Contact the Chamber of Commerce, Office of Tourism, and the Department of Labor to request a relocation packet. Most states and cities also have specific information online for people who wish to relocate there.