First Contact with the Candidate: Tips for Success

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apply now dallas, attract candidate, dallas jobs, dallas temporary staffing, potential candidate, recruiting company, searching for jobs, trend personnel dallas, trend personnel services

by Stephen Bruce | BLR

Your technique may vary, but you should have a basic process to follow when getting ready to call your candidate. First, prepare what you need to make the call. Next, rehearse what you have prepared so your words sound natural when you say them. Now you are ready to make the call. Regardless of what happens when you call, don’t forget the crucial step that many ignore—following up.

A Matter of Perspective

When you pore over résumé after résumé , especially if you work for a recruiting company, the candidates can seem like just a bunch of files or a set of numbers. But remember, on the other end are living, breathing people who have no idea you exist. Furthermore, if they are searching for jobs, it’s possible that more than a few less-reputable companies have tried to take advantage of them already. They could be on guard. They could be suspicious. Or they could be a delight. The point is, you won’t know until you call—and putting the wrong foot forward could cost you a perfectly good employee. Perspective counts, and taking a moment to remember that really helps.

Prepare and Prevail!

Again and again, experts underline the absolute need for preparation before you make a call. Calling without preparation makes you sound unsure and might cause a potential candidate to leave the recruitment process before you have a chance to assess his or her potential or attract him or her to your organization.

Here are some good ways to make sure you’ll be ready for whatever happens when you call your candidate. A little bit of homework can make all the difference.

1. Know what you are going to ask. Even spending a short time jotting down some general questions you want to ask is better than no preparation at all. If you have the time, a complete list of questions works best.
2. Keep it concise. Summarize who you are and what you want with a few sentences and have it on hand. This way, if someone other than the candidate picks up, or, more likely, the call goes to voicemail, you’ll have a quick, to-the-point response ready to go.
3. What do you already know? Construct a fairly detailed list of everything you already know about the candidate. This serves two purposes: first, you can tailor your conversation around those points; second, simply confirming these points with the candidate is a decent good way to organize an interview.

Rehearse First

You’ve done your preparation. So you’re ready to pick up the phone right away, right? Well, if you want to sound natural (and unlike a telemarketer), you might want to take a few moments to read what you wrote down. A few quick things to consider at this point.

• Make absolutely certain you can pronounce the candidate’s name. It’s amazing how well a call can go when the candidate’s name smoothly rolls off your tongue. It’s equally amazing how defensive candidates can become if you botch their name.

• Be ready to go off-topic. While you may have an agenda for the conversation, sometimes you can learn a lot about a candidate based on how they direct the conversation. Don’t become annoyed if they wander; instead, take notes. However, try to stick to business and the job at hand, as casual conversation can lead to finding out things you don’t want to know, for example, race, religion, or disability.

http://trendpersonnel.com/en/news/item/148-first-contact-with-the-candidate-tips-for-success

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3 Tips for Keeping Your Spirits Up During a Lengthy Job Search

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dallas staffing, dallas temporary staffing, dfw area jobs, finding a new job, hiring process, hiring professionals, interviews, job search, rockwall jobs, trend personnel services

by Gina Belli

Looking for a work can be the hardest job you’ll ever have, and sometimes it can go on for quite a while. It can be a daunting, frustrating, humbling, and nerve-racking experience to search month after month for the right opportunity. New research suggests that having a positive attitude can have a profound impact on your job search.

You’ll be happier, more optimistic, and have more energy if you have a good attitude during this time.  It will help you stay motivated and allow you to put your best foot forward during interviews and throughout the hiring process.

Here are a few tips.

1. Schedule your job search like it’s a job.

Set a schedule for yourself.  Decide when you’ll look for work and where you’ll do it. This can be essential when you’re already working, in order to put in the necessary time at the end of the day and on weekends to pursue your search. But, even if you’re looking for work full-time, scheduling a time and place for your job hunt will help you stay on track. Some people find that spending time in a public place, like a library or cafe, can help them enjoy the process a little more, and it can also help with focus and motivation.

2. Allow yourself to take mental breaks for the process.

When you’re not looking for work, in the evenings for example, try to give yourself a rest from thinking about it. You know that you’re putting time and effort into it, and you know you’ll be back at it tomorrow, so spend some time thinking about other things and giving yourself a break intellectually and emotionally from the process.

3. Know that it could take awhile.

For professionals, finding a new job generally takes anywhere from six months to two years.  Various factors contribute to the duration, but either way you cut it, this could take some time. Try not to get frustrated or discouraged if you don’t land on something great right away.  You want to find a job that is the right fit for you, and that takes time.

Once you know that you’re putting the appropriate amount of time into your search, that you’re allowing yourself to take breaks, and that it could take a while, try to find a way to enjoy this time. There are probably opportunities available to you now, because of your flexibility, that won’t be there once you land that new and exciting position. Try to take advantage of those opportunities and enjoy this time. Keeping your spirits up during a job search isn’t easy, but it could be the key to finding and landing the job you’re looking for.

http://trendpersonnel.com/en/news/item/140-3-tips-for-keeping-your-spirits-up-during-a-lengthy-job-search

5 Ways To Get Noticed By Recruiters

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application tips, dallas jobs, dallas temporary staffing, dfw careers, Get Noticed By Recruiters, interviews, potential employers, recruiting employees, recruiting tips, resume tips, rockwall jobs, stand out to recruiters, trend personnel services

by Catherine | Monster

1. Show No Fear

“The best way to stand out to recruiters is to stand up to them” says Joseph Terach, CEO at career services firm. “Don’t let them overly influence your preferences for work responsibilities, arrangements or salary based on their reported understanding of the employer.”

Your job search is your own, even if they are helping. Terach recommends listening to the insider information recruiters can provide, “but keep in mind that recruiters have split allegiances and are salespeople at the end of the day.”

2. Communicate

Knowing what you want is a great way to stand out, Terach says. You’re not just looking for “a job”; you can tell the recruiter the job you want.

“If you come to the table with a crisp professional pitch, not only will your recruiter know exactly what it is you want (and don’t want), but they will also be more able to discuss you and communicate your background to potential employers,” he says. “It will save you time because you won’t be getting calls for interviews that don’t interest you; and when your recruiter finds the right job for you (one that fits your pitch), he/she will have zero reservations to get behind your candidacy 100 percent.”

3. Be Honest

You of course want to put your best foot forward when dealing with recruiters, but it’s important to be candid about any shortcomings you have as well, says Heather Neisen, talent coordinator. “Self-awareness and honesty are extremely important. Be proud to share your strengths and passions, but also be able to openly discuss areas where you need — or better yet, want — to improve.”

Many candidates don’t realize being honest about their shortcomings actually offers a chance to shine, she says. “Admit them and offer ways you’re trying to overcome them. Few things are worse than a candidate who believes they have nothing left to learn.”

4. Highlight Your Tenure

If you’ve got staying power, promote it, says Andy Barberio, account executive at Fortus Healthcare Resources. “I always look at tenure — tenure is really big. When you find somebody that’s been with an organization for a long time or has helped build it up, they are marketable. Switching jobs every year or year and a half over a five to six year period doesn’t present the best on a resume.”

5. Let Yourself Shine

Barberio says you can’t teach personality, but if you have it, flaunt it. “Personality and fit and being able to relate to staff is tough,” but it’s what recruiters are looking for. Some positions just require “a special kind of person,” he explains, and recruiters will try to get a feel for who you are when they are meeting with you. Being yourself will help the recruiter find the best fit for you and your skills.

http://trendpersonnel.com/en/news/item/139-5-ways-to-get-noticed-by-recruiters

Interview Take-Along Checklist

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apply now dallas, applying for jobs in dallas, carrollton staffing, Company Research, dallas temporary staffing, dfw area jobs, Interview Checklist, Interview preparation, interview questions, Professional References, rockwall jobs, trend personnel services

By Christine F. Della Monaca | Monster

You’re interviewing for a job tomorrow, and you think you’ve done all the interview preparation you need to do. You’ve practiced your answers to a multitude of common interview questions and have thought up some questions to ask the interviewer. Your interview suit is pressed and ready. But what do you bring to the interview?

We’ve created this handy checklist, with the help of Interview Expert Marky Stein, so you won’t forget a thing.

Interview Checklist Items for Your Briefcase

• Your Resume and Job/Professional References: But don’t just throw these crucial documents in your bag. According to Stein, linguists and psychologists have found that 93 percent of all communication is nonverbal. How you present this information says a lot about you.

To that end, Stein recommends you buy an inexpensive two-pocket folder in blue, since this color appeals to both men and women and conveys a business feel. On the left side, place your resume, and on the right, your letters of recommendation and list of references. When you get to the interview, say, “I wanted to bring an extra copy of my resume — here it is,” and open the folder, turning it around for the interviewer to read.

“This is a sign you are open and honest as well as organized,” Stein says. “The more you show you are prepared, the more you are showing respect.”

• Pad and Pen: Taking a few notes during your interview (while being careful not to stare at your notepad the whole time) is another sign of respect. “It makes them feel you are listening,” Stein explains.
• Business Card: People either take in information visually, audibly or through touch. “The more you give them to touch, the more real it seems to them,” she says.
• Directions: “These lower your anxiety,” Stein says, adding that it’s preferable to drive to your interview location in advance and park so you can see how long the journey takes.
• Cellphone: You can always leave this bit of modern life in your car, but if you must take it with you, make sure it stays turned off and in your briefcase; it’s a huge sign of disrespect to be interrupted during an interview or give the appearance you’ll be interrupted. “If you’re a man, don’t even wear it on your belt,” Stein recommends. “Keep it hidden.”

The Intangibles

• Company Research: In almost every interview, you’ll be asked what you know about the company, Stein says.
• A Smile: It may sound sappy, but this nonverbal clue is an immediate rapport-builder. Interviewers are often nervous, too. “In one-sixteenth of a second, we assess whether someone will harm, help or hurt us,” Stein says. “(A smile) immediately tells someone that you’re not going to hurt them.”

http://trendpersonnel.com/en/news/item/134-interview-take-along-checklist

Interviewing Behavior

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applying for jobs in dallas, carrollton texas staffing, dallas temporary staffing, dfw staffing, hiring temps, job search dfw, staffing agencies, trend personnel

by Steve Bruce 

Always  go after behavior during your interviews. The best-qualified  candidate may be miserable, grumpy, and complaining. You don’t want that in a  coworker. On the other hand, you don’t want a happy-go-lucky accountant,  either.

Here are some suggestions for interview questions:

• Describe your typical workday from start to finish.
• What was the last thing you did to make your job easier?
• What have you done to reduce costs or save time in your current position?
• Tell me about your last workplace evaluation.
• Give an example of how you adapt to change.
• Give an example of how you solved a specific problem.
• Give an example of your creativity at work.
• What is the biggest misperception of you?
• Describe something you have done that shows your commitment to ensuring customer  satisfaction.

‘Please Sue Me’  Interviewing Horror Story

A lawyer tells of one manager he encountered who was proud of his cleverness in  interviewing young ladies. He asked them, “Are you going to be ‘in the family  way’?” He hadn’t mentioned the word “pregnant,” and he thought that meant he  was legally in the clear.

http://trendpersonnel.com/index.php/en/news/item/104-interviewing-behavior