Not that long ago, the four steps to apply for a job went something like this:

• Completed application; check.
• Sent cover letter; check
• Attached resume; check
• Submitted references; check

Today, there’s fifth step; cleaning up your social media profile(s). Jacquelyn Smith, Forbes Staff writer recently published an article on ‘How social media can help (or hurt) you in your job search’. In it, she references a survey that CareerBuilder.com did last year that asked 2,303 hiring managers and human resource staff if, and how, and why they incorporate social media into their hiring process.

The survey revealed that 37% of employers use social networks to screen potential job candidates. This translates to about two in five companies who browse your social media profiles to evaluate your character and personality. Some even base their hiring decision on what they find.

So, if you’re among the 89% of job seekers that use social networking sites, you’ll want to be careful. Rosemary Haefner, vice president of HR at CareerBuilder recommends, “If you choose to share content publicly on social media, make sure it’s working to your advantage. Take down or secure anything that could potentially be viewed by an employer as unprofessional and share content that highlights your accomplishments and qualifications in a positive way.”

Further, Brad Schepp, co-author of How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google+ adds, “Make sure any profiles you write are free of typos, the information is coherent and applicable to your industry [or job you’re trying to land], and your photos present you in a favorable light. You can verify the applicability of the information by checking profiles of others in the same field.”

So, you might want to replace that photo of you playing beer pong with something more appropriate and copy and paste your profile to Word and run it through spell check. Remember, your online persona is an extension of your in-person persona. Think about it. If the shoe were on the other foot, would you hire someone like yourself after reading your online profile(s)? If the answer is ‘no’, you’ve got some clean up to do.

About ABR
ABR Employment Services provides employment opportunities to job seekers and staffing solutions to employers throughout Wisconsin and in Winona, MN. ABR provides temporary, try-before-hire and direct hire job opportunities in: customer service, data entry, receptionist, office assistant, administrative assistant, assembly, packaging, machine operator, warehouse, janitorial, CNC, welder, forklift, maintenance, and call center. Connect with us on Facebook or LinkedIn for job seeking tips and advice.

While it’s true the Wisconsin unemployment rate has come down since it peaked during the recession at 9.2% in early 2010, there are still folks that have not found employment.

Long-term unemployment can take a toll on your well-being, your family, and your lifestyle. Sometimes you need someone to grab you by the shoulders and shake a little confidence into you. Consider this your shoulder shake. You can get through this!

Stay positive.

It’s hard not to beat yourself up. But you have to stay motivated throughout your search, even when all hope seems lost. It takes only one job offer to get you out of unemployment status. Plus, have you considered these three reasons why you didn’t get hired? (Hint: it might have been totally out of your hands!)

 Change your direction.

If you’re not finding success with your current search, give it a revamp. Reassess your skills and qualifications and translate those skills into a new career. Yes, it’s really possible!

Set goals.

You won’t get through an extended job search without a daily schedule that commits a certain amount of time to your future career. Maybe it’s “Work on my job search at least 2 hours per day,” or “Apply to 10 jobs each week.” Don’t let a day go by until your goals are met.

 Branch Out

A job search isn’t only about sending out applications online. Your time can – and should – be spent networking, attending job fairs, browsing potential opportunities, or getting a free resume review with ABR Job Connect.

Service Resources

You may also want to look to Forward Service Corporation for assistance. FSC offers a wide range of services to help adults develop the skills, attitudes and commitment necessary to fulfill their educational and employment goals and succeed in today’s world of work. The FSC mission is to “promote self-sufficiency for individuals in disadvantaged situations through education, employment and support services that ensure quality engagement and personal choice”.

A big challenge facing HR and other hiring managers is finding candidates who are the “right fit” for their respective organizations.

But just what, exactly, is the “right fit”?

For many employers, it means finding a candidate who shares the same belief systems and values as the company, and who meshes with the corporate culture.  To identify this type of individual, these employers often turn to values-based recruiting.

Values-based recruiting goes beyond examining competencies and experience.  It’s about creating a values match by building a model that outlines behaviors associated with corporate values, and then assessing candidates for those behaviors.  The process typically yields hires whose thinking, values and ways of doing business closely match those of the employer.

But what if your company needs a  new direction, fresh business perspective or innovative ideas to re-energize your organization?

In a case like this, the right fit for your organization will be an individual who, by definition, is not a perfect values-based match.  Rather, this candidate should be selected based on a model that outlines behaviors associated with leading your company in a new direction.  To begin this process, your company must first determine new goals, create a list of competencies and values for the available position that will support those goals, and then recruit and select accordingly.

Which type of recruiting is right for your business needs?

ABR Employment Services’ recruiting experts will work with you to determine how to find the right fit for your company’s needs.  Our comprehensive testing modules screen out applicants that do not meet your specific job performance standards, promoting work efficiency and expected results. Our behavioral-based interviews and reference requirements identify the “best of the best,” making our talent the type of people you would normally hire for permanent positions.

In addition, ABR Talent must sign a Performance Pledge, which is a commitment to the following behaviors as portrayed in our Expectations of Excellence:

• Trustworthy

• Respectful

• Responsible

• Reliable

• Professional

By signing the Performance Pledge, ABR Talent agree to demonstrate these behaviors in their interactions with ABR, co-workers, supervisors and other company employees.

Contact us today to find out how our Work Ready Talent can create successful hires in your organization.

ABR Employment Services of Manitowc is hosting a job fair on Thursday 4/25/13 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

We are actively recruiting candidates for the following positions:

Press Operator
Sales Administrator
Customer Service/Administrative Assistant
Customer Service/Repair Technician
Freezer/Warehouse
General Labor
Inspection
Machine Operators
Maintenance Mechanic
Packaging
Production worker
Racker
Spray Gun Operator
CNC Machine Technician
Maintenance Personnel

Join us at 1011 Washington Street, Suite 1, Manitowoc, WI 54220.  Please apply online at abrjobs.com before the job fair. Questions? Call us at 920-684-8324. We look forward to working with you!

AA/EOE

We live in a world filled with recommendations. User reviews on sites like Yelp point us to the best restaurant in town. Avid travelers help us choose the best hotels by leaving tips on sites like TripAdvisor. Recommendations and endorsements on Linkedin let hiring managers know the skills and expertise we excel at.

When it comes to hiring employees, recommendations – otherwise known as references – act in the same manner. It’s that little nudge a company needs to put you above the other candidates. It might land you an interview. Or a job offer. And most importantly, it instills confidence in you and your work. A great referral is worth more than that person’s weight in gold.

When gathering references only reach out to people who you fully trust, who you’ve established a great rapport with, and who you’ve truly worked with. Although a friend or family member knows you very well, his or her recommendation is not going to hold the same weight as someone who managed you for two years.

Whether you’re leaving a job or just starting a new position, references should always be top of mind. Don’t be afraid to gather the contact information of any important coworkers or managers who are leaving a company before you do. Ask if they’d be willing to refer you in the future (if the time ever arises) or send them a note at a later date. The important thing is that you keep in touch occasionally.

If you don’t have any great references right now, start building up your arsenal. Make meaningful connections. Get to know your manager better. Do great work that won’t go unnoticed. Remember – the key to that next great position could be in the hands of one of these people.

Have other tips to share on what you did to get a reference? Comment below.

ABR Employment Services opens our 12^th ABR branch office in Winona, MN on May 1.

Account Coordinator Jesse Sievers, CSP, will oversee day-to-day branch operations.  Jesse commented, “As a graduate of Winona high school and a Winona resident, I am personally excited to have a presence in the local community and look forward to serving clients and the talent we place in jobs”.

Have a colleague in the Winona, MN area looking  to hire Work Ready Talent? Refer them to Jesse at 608-782-9700 or share
your connection with him on LinkedIn.

Founded in 1987, ABR Employment Services (www.abrjobs.com) provides administrative, call center, light industrial and skilled industrial employment opportunities to talent and workforce solutions to companies throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.  ABR is a 2013 Best of Staffing Talent and Best of Staffing Client company.  ABR’s subsidiary, Kinsa Group, provides executive search and placement services for the food and beverage industry.

I would highly recommend using ABR Employment Services to help anyone with their job placement needs.  I was looking for employment and reached out to them and received a temporary assignment within days and then was hired on full-time with my temporary company within 1 month.  I am so happy and really am enjoying my new career.

My experience with ABR was very thorough and professional.  When doing a phone screen with them we went over all of my work preferences and then from there had an interview to go over my work/school experience and my interests for my future career further.  They found a job that they thought would be a great match for me and they were great at doing so.  They were so wonderful with following up with me and touching base with me while on my temporary assignment.

The whole team has been so wonderful to work with, they are such a great team.  I would definitely reach out and use them for any employment issues or career changes in my future.

Kara Volz

What has your experience been like working with ABR? Share your experience below.

Some companies conduct mandatory annual check-ins or quarterly career goal assessments. Whether you can count on sitting in one these meetings with your manager or not, it has to be said: goal setting is integral for career success. And the same strategies can be applied to your job search. Here’s how you can begin outlining career goals that will help you succeed:

Step 1: Write it down.

Sit down and really think about what you want to accomplish in the next six months, the next year, and the next 5 years. Is it a promotion? A career change? A new life skill? You must be able to communicate your dreams and aspirations before you can achieve them.

Step 2: Break it down.

If you want a promotion, how will you get there? By taking on a new project? By showing off your leadership skills? Write down three small steps you can take now to help you achieve each goal later.

Step 3: Set deadlines.

Force yourself to complete those three small steps within a certain time period. For example, “I want to take on a new project by the end of June.” Be realistic with yourself, but also push yourself a bit. This deadline is motivation.

Step 4: Revisit your goals. Often.

At the end of each week, or each month, revisit that original document. Review the progress you’ve made and analyze what steps you can take to continue moving forward.

Bonus Step: Share your goals with a spouse, friend, or coworker. Sometimes knowing that someone else is watching you is that little kick in the rear you need to succeed.

Do you have tip to offer about what goal setting tactic worked for you? Share it below and connect with us on Facebook or LinkedIn for more job seeking tips and advice.