The Importance of Details

We have all heard the saying "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." but I wonder how many of us in the professional world actually see the validity of that statement. With the job market being what it is, you really have to work with what you have. What is it that you have? Why that is an excellent question. The trick to making really good lemonade is knowing how to work with you lemons so to speak. There are so many tools that each one of us has the capability to wield, and yet most of the time this details can be overlooked. One of the best tools that you can have at your fingertips is a good resume.

Resumes are wonderful things. To start, you have complete control over your resume, therefore you have the opportunity to control most first impressions. It is key to leave out all of the negative things you may have encountered at a previous job, and really highlight not only your assets and capabilities, but to demonstrate what kind of employee you are going to be. Don't be afraid to talk yourself up. If you're resume shows clear and precise objectives for instance, as opposed to generalized overused objectives, you are demonstrating that you are very driven towards a specific goal, not a general idea. If your resume is clear and concise to read and looks pleasing to the eye, you are proving that you took time to put this together, and that this is the image you want portrayed of yourself. If you're resume looks like something you put together at the last minute, it could be foreshadowing that you will wait until that last minute to throw something together at the work place, and that is not the best way to start out an interview.

You must always take into consideration that your resume often gets seen before you do. Employers judge if they even want to take the time to meet with you and interview you on the basis of whether or not they were pleased with that piece of paper. Offering references is always a way to show confidence in the work that you completed at a previous job, but you must make sure that that confidence will be confirmed if your reference is to be contacted. References aren't the tinsel on the tree; they aren't there just to give your resume that extra something. You should only include a reference if they can truly contribute to your further employment.

To be able to have a hand in controlling how a first impression goes gives you a huge advantage, but you should be very clear on how you want to market yourself. You are your best advocate. As as staffing specialist I have seen many a resume come through this office, and the ones that you know took time to put together and were worded just so, are the ones that we are eager to place. We can only work with what you give us. You may be the best server in town, but if your resume doesn't reflect that there isn't much we can do. Do yourself a service and let the details speak for you, so that when you get the chance to speak for yourself, everything matches up.

Getting the Job One Step at A Time

It’s no secret that today’s job market is a tough one. We have seen first hand those who are extremely qualified and educated with jobs that were once secure now pounding the pavement handing out resumes for jobs they would normally be over qualified to take. This can be very discouraging to say the least, especially when even the jobs you loath to take can’t offer you employment. Here at Lori Lane Personnel, we not only strive to place you in a job that meets your qualifications, but hope to provide tips to help you on your search for that one perfect job. Yes it is important to be qualified, it is also important to be eager, but the most important thing to remember is that you are your biggest asset.

In an economy like this, it is easy to lose your confidence. If you lose your self esteem and confidence in your abilities, you might as well stay home until you find it again. No one wants to work with someone that is unsure. Keep your head up, keep eye contact and be confident, even if on the inside you are shaking in your boots. There is something to be said about someone who takes pride not only in what they do, but who they are as a person. A carefully chosen outfit and for men a clean shave can go a lot farther than you may think. A smile and remembering that please and thank you more often than not really are the magic words can make you a cut above the rest, and a desire to be the best you that you can be within a company can often get you the job.

A recent study states that a strong work ethic is the most desirable skill in applicants today. In addition to general education and meeting basic job requirements, having a go get em’ attitude is what will set you apart. A strong work ethic, being a team player, flexibility, being a good problem solver, being self directed, working well under pressure, being a quick learner, having organizational skills and creativity were also sited as sought after qualities in job candidates in corporate jobs today. Knowing that staffing choices have been widely broadened for employers while positions to fill have diminished, it is important to keep in mind that you are going to be up against many applicants that may be just as qualifies as you are. Demonstrate a willingness to learn new skills and show an eagerness to improve in  the areas where you may not be proficient. Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know. Employers are aware that there is no perfect fit, and that you will have to be trained in one way or another. In fact over one third of executives have stated that they are looking to hire and develop new talent for their company. Molding new talent is often proved more beneficial for companies as opposed to hiring someone with more experience because the employee can be trained in the exact way the company would prefer them to work, as opposed to trying to break bad habits.

We here at Lori Lane Personnel encourage you to be proactive. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Play up your strengths and find a way to put a positive spin on your weaknesses. Being organized, goal oriented and confident can only aid you in your search for the job. Lori Lane Personnel has serviced applicants in South West Florida for the past fifteen years and has strived for nothing less than perfection. In order for us to help you, you must first help yourself. Don’t allow this hard market to keep you from the job. “Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist, but the ability to start over.” – F Scott Fitzgerald.