A Short Guideline for Interview Preparations

For those job seekers who have never had the opportunity to work with a recruiter, I have a few suggestions. One of the strongest reasons for enlisting the help of a recruiter in your job search is to have access to job opportunities that not might not be otherwise advertised – the hidden job market. Not only do recruiters have access to positions that might not be posted, recruiters are able to give you helpful insight into company cultures, reasons why the position is open and nuances that

We are a staffing agency, bringing together the best people with the best clients. We act as an “outsourced, remote” HR department for our clients and one of the many things we do for our clients is interviewing candidates. Even though we are not the client, we still represent the client in this matter. This means that if you are interviewing with us, you are actually interviewing with the client. Some potential candidates might not take this into consideration when they show up for an

I receive many resumes every day. Some are very well done, some are not. What I have encountered quite often is, that the resume does not reflect the applicant’s skills and experience for the job they are applying for. Let me give you an example. A few days ago, I received a resume for a receptionist position. The resume showed work experience for the last five years, working as a bartender, as a caregiver.  Nothing indicated any experience as a receptionist. However, in the cover letter the

In my interviews I often ask candidates “what sets you apart from your competition”? and over the years I have received a wide variety of answers, both good and bad.  While, this is a question you should always be prepared to answer during the interview, there is another question worth considering.  What sets you apart from your competition after the interview? My answer?  Sending out a thank you note.  I am not talking about sending the standard email—this is certainly better than nothing,

Job Hunter's beware! Social media is being used by prospective employers to learn more about you prior to inviting you in for an interview. The pictures you post, the language you use, the interests you have are all a reflection of you and judgements are being made as to who you are. One helpful tool to utilize to ensure that you are putting your best forward while job hunting, is an app you can download called Sweepster. "Nowadays, 91% of employers search your social media for any red flags.

To reference check or not to reference check: Most emphatically, yes! One of the most critical components, in my opinion, of making a successful hire is to secure at least two business references from either current or previous supervisors. Why? Because, making a poor hiring decision, can cost companies hundreds if not thousands of dollars, disrupt the company culture and have a negative impact on the moral of your team. The policy at Aspen Personnel Service is that prior to sending a potential

How to Ace your interview: One of the biggest challenges facing job seekers is how to set yourself apart from your competition. Here are some of my recommendations: Come prepared, make sure you have a crisp copy of your resume, dress professionally and research the company you are interviewing with. What do you say when asked about your strengths or what sets you apart from your competition? Don’t just give one word answers, think about specific examples that highlight your strengths such as

What to Expect From a Recruiter: Conducting a job search in our competitive market can be a daunting endeavor. My recommendation to all job seekers is to utilize all of your resources. Let you friends and business acquaintances know you are looking, check out job boards and social media, directly approach companies you are interested in working for and utilize recruiters. Why reach out to a recruiter? Many companies choose to use an employment agency rather conduct a search on their own for a