Simply put, Recruiters are trying to get you a job. Their repeated phone calls are for one purpose, to fill the orders presented to them by local companies. Today, a majority of companies are starting to turn to staffing companies to source for their internal openings for the simple reason of saving time. If you are thinking about jumping back into the job market or are thinking about changing careers, a Recruiter can be one of your best resources. Check out a few key reasons to make sure you take that call:

• They are the first line of contact with a potential future employer. If you do not make it past the first interview with the Recruiter, your chances of landing that job are slim to none.
• Networking is extremely important. In today’s job market, it’s all about who you know. If you are not a good fit for the position you applied for, they know of other opportunities in your area.
• The Recruiter was assigned to the job opening and is entrusted by the client to find the right fit. This in and of itself adds to your credibility when your resume is presented to the client. The Recruiter knows who you are and is aware of your skill set. You would only be contacted by the Recruiter if they felt you were a good fit for the position.
• The best part is, working with a Recruiter is a FREE service for job seekers.

Recruiters are, in essence, Human Resources people who track down potential employees for their clients. Equipped with only a rough job description and their knowledge of the industry, they dive headfirst into resumes to find the perfect candidate for each position. Who knows, it could even be you! What are you waiting for?! Be prepared for your next great opportunity to come through a phone call!

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information, please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Your cover letter should make you stand out. In order to do that you need to get the reader’s attention. This is your opportunity to convince the hiring manager that you’re the right person for the job. For example, give specific examples of your own accomplishments that relate to the position you’re applying for. Cover letters also demonstrate your writing skills, so make sure everything is grammatically correct and spelled right. Do not use the same cover letter for each position you apply for. In order to tailor the cover letter to each specific position, do research about the company to prove you are truly interested in joining their team.

However, not every position you apply for requires a cover letter. If the company doesn’t ask for one, provide one anyway. This shows true initiative and that you are willing to put in more effort than your peers. The key factor to remember is that you are not the only person applying to an opening. Any opportunity that is available to push ahead of your peers, should be taken. This includes providing a professional cover and concise cover letter. Summarized tips to remember are below:

• Give specific examples of accomplishments that may pertain to the job you are applying for.
• Do research about the company to ensure that what is stated in your cover letter jives with the company’s ideals and mission.
• DO NOT make the cover letter about why you want the job, but rather focus on how you can help the company.
• Keep the cover letter short and concise. The typical hiring manager will only glance at a cover letter for a few seconds so make sure there is as much bang for your buck with as little words as possible.

Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, driver, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job board  for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

The average time to fill a position in the U.S. is 25 working days, unless you’re a larger corporation which comes in at an average of 58.1 days. As long as the hiring process can seem on the employer end, from an applicant’s perspective it can seem even longer. For an applicant who is actively entertaining other offers, the time to hire can be the determining factor in their career search.

Reducing your time to hire may be as simple has implementing some changes to how offers are extended or who has the authority to extend them. Most HR departments are juggling several responsibilities that are time sensitive and have to resort to compiling and presenting job offers after other responsibilities are handled. Allowing department managers to present and extend offers to applicants may quickly cut several days, up to a week off of the hiring process. Having a strong idea of what offer you may be comfortable presenting before an interview can allow you the opportunity to compile an offer that could be extended immediately following an interview.

Here are just a few obstacles that can be avoided with a more streamlined hiring process:

• Losing applicants to another offer. Candidates who are juggling multiple opportunities are not likely to decline other offers while waiting several days or weeks for your company to produce an offer, even if it is more competitive. If they do receive other offers while awaiting your decision they are also more likely to counter your initial offer.
• Costly additional travel expenses. If you are working with candidates who are traveling for interviews, the additional expense of bringing them back to your location for a job offer presentation can add up quickly.
• Indecisive candidate response. Many applicants are less likely to decline or counter a job offer in-person than they are by phone or email. By identifying an offer that you are comfortable with and being prepared to offer them the position immediately after concluding the interview you greatly increase your chances of an accepted offer.
• Decrease in productivity and morale. Decreasing the time to fill can have a very positive impact on a departments productivity and morale. The less time you are understaffed, the less burden the entire team fills with the vacancy.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent?Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Look Sharp

Before the interview, select your outfit. Depending on the industry and position, get out your best duds and check them over for spots and wrinkles. Even if the company has a casual environment, you don’t want to look like you slept in your clothes. Above all, dress for confidence. If you feel good, others will respond to you accordingly.

Be on Time

Never arrive late to an interview. Allow extra time to arrive early in the vicinity, allowing for factors like getting lost or traffic. Enter the building 15 minutes before the interview.

Do Your Research

Researching the company before the interview and learning as much as possible about its services, products, customers and competition will give you an edge in understanding and addressing the company’s needs. The more you know about the company and what it stands for, the better chance you have of selling yourself. You also should find out about the company’s culture to gain insight into your potential happiness on the job.

Be Prepared

Bring along a folder containing extra copies of your resume, a copy of your references and paper to take notes. You should also have questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview.

Show Enthusiasm

A firm handshake and plenty of eye contact demonstrate confidence. Speak distinctly in a confident voice, even though you may feel shaky.

Listen

One of the most neglected interviewing skills is listening. Make sure you are not only listening, but also reading between the lines.

Answer the Question Asked

Candidates often don’t think about whether they are actually answering the questions asked by their interviewers. Make sure you understand what is being asked, and get further clarification if you are unsure.

Give Specific Examples

One specific example of your background is worth 50 vague stories. Prepare your stories before the interview. Give examples that highlight your successes and uniqueness. Your past behavior can indicate your future performance.

Ask Questions

Many interviewees don’t ask questions and miss the opportunity to find out valuable information. Your questions indicate your interest in the company or job.

Follow Up

Whether it’s through email or regular mail, the follow-up is one more chance to remind the interviewer of all the valuable traits you bring to the job and company. You don’t want to miss this last chance to market yourself.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent? Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

“Be honest in the application process, Interview the interviewer…ask questions. Share your interests and goals with your interview/prospective employer. Follow up after interviews….shows initiative, sets you apart from others that do not”

– Jeff W. , Branch Manager, Trillium Construction

 

“Do your homework!  There is so much information available at your fingertips.  Research the company you are interviewing with.  There is no excuse for not being informed.  Have questions prepared about the company and/or the position.”

-Anne M. , Regional Vice President, Trillium Staffing

 

“No matter how disenfranchised you may be with your current employer and/or situation it is important to accentuate the positive experiences you have had. Employers are just as interested in the “soft skills and attributes” you will bring to the position as they are the “hard skills” and education you possess. A positive attitude and bright outlook can do wonders in an interview to push you to the top!”

-Jennifer M. , Recruiting Manager, Trillium Staffing

 

“Sell yourself!”

-Becki O. , Branch Manager, Trillium Staffing

 

“If you do not understand a question during the interview, ask for clarification.  It is acceptable to ask the interviewer to rephrase the question if you are unsure of the meaning.   Take your time when answering tough questions.”

-Anne M. , Regional Vice President, Trillium Staffing

 

“When the job posting asks for a resume, please send one!”

-Stu C. , Project Manager, Trillium Construction

 

“Work with your recruiter understanding that they are your advocate. Be honest and straight forward about what exactly you are seeking in a new opportunity and what your expectations are in working with them. When all the cards are on the table you won’t have any surprises in the end!”

– Jennifer M. , Recruiting Manager, Trillium Staffing

 

“Be prepared to answer questions about your strengths. Focus on the attributes that set you apart from the crowd – such as ‘I’m excellent at time management;’ or, ‘I have a high sense of urgency when working on a deadline.’  Avoid generic statements that are often overused in interviews such as, ‘I’m a people-person.’ ”

-Jeannie B. , Regional Vice President, Trillium Staffing

 

“Your resume is the first impression of you and will determine whether you ever get the opportunity to sell yourself in person during an interview.  Be sure to proofread your resume carefully and do not depend on the spell check function.  Typos very well may prevent you from ever getting an interview for the perfect job.”

– Anne M. , Regional Vice President, Trillium Staffing

 

Stay tuned for more tips this month, straight from our team!

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent? Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

 

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

 

 

 

• Poor hygiene. Whether you arrive wearing stained clothing, have a strong odor, clothing that does not appear to fit, or you appear to have just rolled out of bed; chances are you’ve already made your impression. Any of these could give the impression that you have lack of interest in the position or attention to detail. Your goal should be to look professional, prepared, and interested in the position. Avoid anything that could distract the hiring manager from focusing on your skills and abilities.
• Arriving late. Many hiring managers book interviews back to back and are working with a tight schedule. Arriving late can demonstrate that you have punctuality problems, poor planning skills, do not see the interview as a priority, and do not respect their time. Plan ahead for traffic, road construction, and plan to arrive early to ensure that you are able to find parking and the correct building entrance while still arriving a few minutes early.
• Lack of preparation. Applicants who forget who they are supposed to meet with, do not bring a clean and professional copy of their latest resume and references, or seem unsure of their answers tend to fall short of an employment offer. The interview is your opportunity to sell your skills, professionalism, and prove to an employer that you are the best candidate to represent their organization; be sure to start by showing them that you can represent yourself well.
• Falsify your information. Whether you falsify your resume, an application, or your experience in an answer; chances are the truth will come out eventually. Most employers have a policy against falsifying an application which can even lead to termination if you do obtain the position. Chances are between reference checks, background checks, skills testing, and their previous knowledge; a hiring manager will likely catch on to your lack of honesty and look to other applicants.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent? Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Today, most in-person job fairs are far less successful than they were even just a few years ago. What candidates want to spend half a day getting ready, printing a resume, driving across town, waiting in line to speak with someone, only to turn around and drive back home? Only those who know there is a direct benefit to them and that they’ll have an increased chance of being hired for their dream job. So how do you make that happen? Just like this…

• Ditch the tombstone ads. If people aren’t looking for jobs in the newspaper, they certainly aren’t looking there for a job fair ad.
• SEO is your new best friend. Power pack your social media channels, blog, company site, and internal job board with SEO rich content for the event. Speaking of friends, have them “like”, share, and comment on your event.
• Clearly outline the benefits to attending. Will the hiring manager or decision maker be present? Are you offering on the spot interviews? Are you willing to schedule meetings ahead of time so candidates don’t have to wait in line? Can someone be hired “on the spot”? Give your audience a clear picture of what they can expect and a call to action.
• Have the right players present. Don’t send interns, assistants, or those who aren’t directly responsible for hiring for your positions. Why waste their time or yours? Candidates feel that they have a more direct avenue through emailing a resume than meeting with a non-decision maker in person. Show them that you value their time enough to show up.
• Make your process smooth and modern. Are you accepting paper resumes? Don’t be. Have candidates apply online ahead of time so that the time spent with you at the event is spent discussing their qualifications and goals instead of how to apply for the position. This also allows you to schedule appointments in advance, giving candidates a sense of purpose for attending.
• Follow up. Don’t return to the office and dive right into what you missed. Follow up with candidates first and schedule any second interviews necessary while the information is still fresh with you.
• Measure your return. If you find that you are only seeing a very small number of candidates at these events but the quality of candidate is high it may justify the efforts. If you have a large turn out but few qualified applicants, a job fair may not be your best recruiting avenue. Don’t be afraid to stop participating in job fairs that traditionally were a large part of your recruiting process, the job market has changed and it may be time for a change in recruiting strategies.

Each industry and set of positions has it’s own set of unique recruiting challenges. Certain skill sets just aren’t likely to engage in an in person job fair. For those technical and more professional candidates, consider hosting a virtual or online job fair. This will appeal to passive candidates who are in confidential job searches or unable to attend your event.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent?Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Whether you are overbooking interviews or struggling to book them at all, take a moment to consider what an applicant has invested in the interview. With many hiring managers and recruiters targeting passive candidates or finding that many of their qualified applicants are currently employed, your applicant may be investing more than you have initially considered. Here are just a few of the investments an employed candidate may have made in order to interview with you:

• Hourly compensation
• Vacation or sick time
• Time away from their current workload that they’ll likely have to make up another time
• Jeopardized their current employment
• Made arrangements to have others assist with their duties in their absence

Even if the applicant is a salaried employee and has been able to use paid time off to participate in the interview they have given you valuable time that they could have used for other occasions. Now consider the likelihood of them landing the position.

If you already have hesitations about their qualifications for the position, you may want to reconsider asking them to commit to the interview considering their investment in doing so. If you are struggling to attract candidates to attend an interview consider alternatives such as phone interviews, off-site interviews, after hours interviews, or video interviews to accommodate their schedules.

Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, driver, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job board  for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

]]> /blog/how-to-land-a-job-at-a-job-fair/ Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:49:15 +0000 /blog/?p=1517 Continue reading →]]> Let’s face it, most job fairs are filled with hundreds to thousands of applicants like yourself that are all chasing the same positions. Standing out against the competition, especially when the hiring managers and recruiters are likely to be overwhelmed by the end of the day can be very difficult. Here are some great tips to help you land a job at a job fair!

1. Come prepared. Sounds simple right? Some simple steps such as dressing professionally, researching which employers will be on hand that you are most interested in meeting with, researching those companies, and having a professionally built resume are the biggest steps to achieving success at a job fair. Many applicants consider a job fair to be a less formal setting and may appear more relaxed in their dress, often run out of a resumes, and can be seen wandering about hitting every booth. Walking with confidence to the locations that you are most interested in pursuing a career with can quickly set the tone for your conversation. Better yet, have a personalized cover letter for each of those employers to demonstrate that you came to the event seeking a career opportunity with them specifically.

2. Have your pitch ready. You’ll likely have 60 seconds or less to speak with a hiring manager or recruiter. Creating a strong first impression is key. Speak confidently, be to the point, and make sure you are express your strongest skills and accomplishments during this time. There is plenty of time in the future to discover what positions they have open currently and what they anticipate for the future. This is your time to convince them of why they need to meet with you formally.

3. Demonstrate professional etiquette. Similar to any job interview you should come dressed professionally, avoid chewing gum, silence your mobile devices, and avoid strong smells such as smoke, coffee, or cologne. Make sure that the employer is focused on your skills and abilities, not something with your presence. Be sure to stand a safe distance behind the candidate ahead of you in line allowing them to speak confidentially with the hiring manager and not making either party feel rushed.

4. Leave with information. After meeting with each employer make any notes from your conversation on the back of their business card. This will allow you to follow up with information that may trigger them to remember your conversation such as “We had spoken in regards to your desire to expand your engineering services into the Phoenix market, that is something that I would have a strong interest in participating with”. Be sure to note any follow up actions that were requested of you such as submitting an electronic version of your resume. Remember to send a personalized thank you card within 24 hours, expressing your continued desire to speak further with them in regards to career opportunities and what you can bring to their organization.

Taking the time to practice answering the questions and being fully honest with yourself can prepare you to determine what type of roles may be the best suited for your future career plans. It’s just as important that the career is a good fit for you as it is for you to be the right fit for the company. If you have to lie, deceive, or change your responses to obtain the position; chances are it won’t be the right position for you in the long run. Take some time to review the most popular interview questions and analyze your responses. According to Forbes the most popular interview questions are:

1. What are your strengths?
2. What are your weaknesses?
3. Why are you interested in working for [insert company name here]?
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
5. Why do you want to leave your current company?
6. Why was there a gap in your employment between [insert date] and [insert date]?
7. What can you offer us that someone else can not?
8. What are three things your former manager would like you to improve on?
9. Are you willing to relocate?
10. Are you willing to travel?
11. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.
12. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
13. What is your dream job?
14. How did you hear about this position?
15. What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days on the job?
16. Discuss your resume.
17. Discuss your educational background.
18. Describe yourself.
19. Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.
20. Why should we hire you?
21. Why are you looking for a new job?
22. Would you work holidays/weekends?
23. How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?
24. What are your salary requirements?
25. Give a time when you went above and beyond the requirements for a project.
26. Who are our competitors?
27. What was your biggest failure?
28. What motivates you?
29. What’s your availability?
30. Who’s your mentor?
31. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss.
32. How do you handle pressure?
33. What is the name of our CEO?
34. What are your career goals?
35. What gets you up in the morning?
36. What would your direct reports say about you?
37. What were your bosses’ strengths/weaknesses?
38. If I called your boss right now and asked him what is an area that you could improve on, what would he say?
39. Are you a leader or a follower?
40. What was the last book you’ve read for fun?
41. What are your co-worker pet peeves?
42. What are your hobbies?
43. What is your favorite website?
44. What makes you uncomfortable?
45. What are some of your leadership experiences?
46. How would you fire someone?
47. What do you like the most and least about working in this industry?
48. Would you work 40+ hours a week?
49. What questions haven’t I asked you?
50. What questions do you have for me?

Most often times your gut instinct is the most accurate and true. If you have questions that you struggle to answer, now is the time to identify your true strengths and passions. If you continue to question your responses, consider speaking with someone who is familiar with your work who can share with you an objective opinion. Sometimes we forget our biggest strengths and our greatest assets because they become second nature to what we do.

Keep in mind interviewing can be a difficult process. For more information on interviewing, resume writing, and follow up tips visit our job seekers section.

Are you a stand out professional, skilled trades person, or technical professional seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job seekers section for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.