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You never get a second chance to make a first impression, says the old-but-still-true adage. Your resume is the first impression hiring managers have of you. Is it saying everything you want it to say? Does it stand out from the crowd — in a good way?   At Integrity Staffing Solutions, we see tens of thousands of job applications per month, and resumes from all levels of experience, first-job-seeking newbies to seasoned professionals. Now we're going to share our insider secrets about the resumes that get our attention.   Highlight Skills Pertinent to the Job Your generic resume should be only the starting point. From there, create a custom variation for each job you're applying to.   Give more space to describing your most relevant experience and skills. Also, cut down on the details that aren't applicable to this specific job.   For example, an accountant might apply for positions at a medical billing company, a business bookkeeping firm and a tax specialist. The...

In the current economic uncertainty — what with employers furloughing, laying off and not knowing when/if they can reopen — recruiters with open roles have an unprecedented number of candidates to review. It’s up to you to ensure that you are noticed and make a great impression on them.   Integrity interviews thousands of applicants per year — sometimes even per month. Check out these insider tips from our Director of Talent Acquisition.   Your Resume   File Name – Don’t save your resume with any of the following: MYRESUME, FINALDRAFT or a date that is not the current date. When I see a resume file named with a previous year, I question why this person has been in the job market for so long, as well as their attention to detail. Contact Information – Triple check that your phone # and email address are complete and correct on your resume document. Email address – Should be professional. In other words, nothing like partyanimal666@emailhost.com. If necessary, create a...

  The current pandemic didn't start this trend, but it has definitely accelerated it. Even before COVID-19 came on the horizon, Gallup research showed that 43% of U.S. employees work remotely some or all of the time. And some predictions have the traditional 9-to-5 job being pretty much history by 2030.   Now, thousands of businesses all over the world — beginning with the financial centers in Shanghai and Hong Kong — have practically shuttered their physical offices and converted to the new virtual reality of remote workers.   Here's how to join what Time Magazine calls the "World's Largest Work-from-Home Experiment" with minimal friction and maximum productivity. What you learn now by necessity will likely benefit your company even when the need is past.   Establish Expectations from the Start Workers should know exactly what they need to produce and on what timetable. Make instructions as detailed as possible.   Communication is Key Teams should hold regular...

In our white paper "Are You Ready for Generation Z?" you will discover the impacts this new generation will have on the way we recruit, train and retain employees. In this article, we'll discuss the generation's strengths and weaknesses which may require you to make some changes in your training protocols.    Generation Z (born 1998 – 2005) is both more independent and more in need of skill-building than previous generations. Here are some of the factors you're likely to encounter.     BE ready to help them build their soft skills  As the first generation of true digital natives, Generation Z brings the technological skills that are in high demand, even in entry-level positions. At the same time, 92% of HR leaders believe that having emotional and social skills is increasingly important. However, a side-effect of their constant online interaction is that many of them are deficient in soft skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking and interpersonal relationships. Most...

  As a millennial in the workplace, I always dreaded networking events. I would find myself miserable in a black or navy suit and after a few less than successful events, I knew I needed to make a change. One afternoon I headed to Macy’s on a mission and found an all pink sports coat that changed my life. Here’s how:   I stand out At a networking event, there will be tons of people. Upon entering it may be tough to differentiate between who you’ve talked to and who you’ve haven’t. When you network, you want to be memorable. Trying to stand out to potential clients and employers is tough enough but especially when you’re in a sea of black and navy blue attire. However, nothing says “Remember me!” like a bubble gum pink sports jacket.    It Makes Me Confident I’ll be honest, when I wear my pink jacket, I think I look great! And because of that, my confidence skyrockets. Where I’m usually shy or more reserved, I’m able to come out of my shell and speak up. I’m not afraid to...

  As we all know, high school is a world unto itself. Its definitions of success, expectations of behavior and tactics for achieving your goals are all quite a bit different from those of adult employment. Here are some things you should know to lessen the culture shock.   Be a self-starter. You see this phrase a lot in help wanted ads, but what does it mean? It means that you will no longer have parents and teachers repeatedly reminding you to get your tasks done. Your boss certainly won't do it. It's all on you now.   What was uncool is now cool. In high school, it was definitely not cool to be the eager beaver who was the first one in the classroom door and stayed late to ask questions. In the working world, it's the eager beaver who gets the pay raises and promotions.   Be flexible. The words "it's not my job" should never come out of your mouth. As the rookie on the team, you're expected to do anything and everything that's asked of you — and do it with a...

    Maybe you've been looking for a while and have become discouraged. Or maybe you were distracted by holiday responsibilities and festivities. In any case, you're in dire need of some motivation.   Here are 5 ideas for re-energizing your job hunt and starting off 2017 with a bang.   1. Focus more on networking than job postings. If there's nothing on the boards except the same old positions you've seen — and applied to — for months, it's time to look in a new direction. Consider everyone you talk with, from your neighborhood barista to old school buddies, as a potential link to an unadvertised job opening. Candidates who are personally referred have more credibility with hiring managers than unknown applicants from the job boards.   2. Widen your job target. Think outside the box of your desired career path. Your strengths may be equally well suited to related fields where opportunities are more plentiful. What you consider a detour on your route to success just...

    You've probably heard that nobody hires in December. So you might as well take the month off from your job hunting efforts and enjoy the holidays, right?   Wrong. The truth is that two out of three recruiters say they'll place as many candidates this month as any other month. In fact, it's much tougher to land a job in January than December.   Want some more reasons why December can be the most wonderful time of the year to job hunt? Check these out:   1. Beating out your competition. Everyone else has heard that same thing about December being a slow hiring month as you have, and decided to slack off looking for work. So if you get your resume out there now, you'll be competing with fewer other candidates for the job. Plus, it puts recruiters under more pressure to fill the position so you're more likely to have an easier, quicker path from first introduction to job offer.   2. Easier access to hiring managers. With many support staff away on holiday break...

In every job, there will be things you find difficult to deal with — stressful deadlines, uncooperative co-workers, counter-productive processes, lack of recognition for your efforts, etc. Although some challenges may just be the nature of the job and there's nothing you can do about it, it's always worth considering if something CAN be done about it.   At Integrity Staffing, we want all our associates to feel empowered to take positive action towards resolving challenges, and unblock their road to career success. If you believe you're in a difficult situation, here are 5 steps you can take toward making your work life better.   1. Define the challenge. Rather than focusing on how the challenge makes you feel, try to analyze why that challenge exists in the first place. For example, if a team member rubs you the wrong way, why is that happening? Is the person's family problems causing him/her to be short-tempered? Is he/she from another culture with different norms of...

  Congratulations, you've been placed on assignment! To help you start off on the right foot, here are some great tips from our supervisors as well as associates like you.   Ask away. There's no such thing as a stupid question. As a new team member, you will have a lot of information thrown at you very fast. Don't hesitate to speak up if you need something explained or repeated. Team members and leaders will be delighted to help, because when you succeed at your new tasks you make them look good too.   Aim to arrive early. If you give yourself only the minimum amount of time to get to work, the least little thing that goes wrong will make you late. One associate we know goes by the clock on her kitchen wall which is set 10 minutes fast. She says this saves her from having to calculate extra time allowances.   Have a transportation backup plan ... or two. Cars can refuse to start. Carpool buddies can let you down. Don't wait until you're in panic mode to come up...