Berks & Beyond Blog

G2G.  OMG. LOL!!!

Using digital shorthand like this may be fine when you’re texting a friend, but it won’t convey a professional image in the world of work.

Let’s face it.  E-mail is an essential component of your success, whether you’re currently employed or on the job hunt.  As a primary means of communication between you and your current (or potential) employer, your professional digital communications need to follow certain guidelines to be effective.

So before you hit the “Send” button on your next work-related e-mail, be sure you’re following these critical “rules of engagement”:

1. Fill in the “To:” e-mail address last. Wait until you are completely through proofing your e-mail to fill in the recipient’s address.  This will keep you from accidentally sending an e-mail prematurely – and save you from the potential embarrassment of typos or forgotten attachments.
2. Be professional. Skip abbreviations, texting lingo and emoticons.  Mind your manners and follow the basic rules of courtesy you learned while growing up – like using the words “Please” and “Thank you.”  Keep your tone professional at all times, striving to come across as respectful, friendly and approachable.
3. Create a descriptive subject line. Make it easy for your recipient to tell what your e-mail is about; otherwise, it may be overlooked or deleted.
4. Address the recipient by name in the body of the e-mail. It adds a personal and courteous touch to your communication.  Only address someone by his first name if he implies that it’s okay to do so.
5. Avoid the following: USING ALL CAPS (it’s the written equivalent of YELLING!); over-using punctuation!!!!!!; HTML (not everyone can view it); forwarding unsolicited e-mail (not everyone will think it’s cute or funny, and you may wind up offending or annoying someone).
6. Be concise, but thorough. Respect the recipient’s time by getting to the point of your e-mail as quickly as possible.  Additionally, make sure you include all relevant information the recipient needs, to avoid a string of unnecessary additional e-mails.
7. Use office e-mail exclusively for office communications. Work e-mail is official company property.  If you want to e-mail friends or family, use a separate Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail account.  Remember, your IT administrator and/or boss has the right to open work account e-mails at any time.
8. Always use a signature line. Do not assume that the recipient knows who you are.
9. Use your spellchecker, but don’t rely on it. Spellcheckers have their value, but may not catch missed words, incorrect information, etc.  Always proof your e-mail yourself before sending.

A final note to job seekers:
When you are applying for a job via e-mail, follow the instructions given to the letter.  In general, you should copy and paste your cover letter into the body of the e-mail.  If the posting asks you to send your résumé as an attachment, send the file as a .doc (Microsoft Word document) or .pdf (Adobe Acrobat file).  Before sending the e-mail, send yourself a test message to make sure everything displays properly.

Looking for more great career advice?
Visit Berks & Beyond’s Candidate Resource Center.  It contains a wealth of information to help PA job seekers land a great position, maximize on-the-job performance, create a healthy work-life balance and more.  Have a specific question?  Contact a Berks & Beyond Recruiter today.

How many years of experience do you have?  What kind of work are you looking for?  How many hours per week are you available?

As a candidate registering for employment with a staffing service, you expect to answer questions like these during the interview process.  But did you know that you should also come prepared with your own list of questions?

Staffing and recruiting firms come in all shapes and sizes.  The range of services, niche specialties, industries served, employment policies and payroll schedules can vary greatly from company to company.  And logically, you’re more likely to find rewarding employment with a firm whose services match your needs.  So how do you choose the company that’s right for you?

Consider the following list of questions:

1. Who are some of your clients?
2. What industries and/or job assignments do you specialize in?
3. Do you charge any fees for finding me work?
4. What pay rate can I expect for my skills?
5. What is the best time / way to contact you, to check if there’s work available?
6. How / when will I be paid?
7. Do you offer any employee benefits?  Skills training?  Referral bonuses?
8. What happens if I show up for work, but the company doesn’t need me?
9. What is your overtime policy?
10. Will my job search be kept confidential?
11. If a company wants to hire me full-time, what is your policy?

Most reputable staffing services, like Berks and Beyond, have comprehensive web sites - including  FAQ pages - that provide answers to questions like these.  Still, it’s always best to ask for clarification of anything you do not understand.  So do your homework and come prepared to your interview with a list of your own questions.  Turn the tables, and get the answers you need to choose a staffing firm that’s the right fit for you.

When you walk into a job fair, do you get down to business, or freeze like a deer in the headlights?
Networking can be a powerful job search tool, but only when you have confidence in your interaction skills.  If yours could use a little boost, you’ll want to read this post by Jill Corkindale called 6 Networking Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.  While originally intended for managers, the advice is useful for all types of job seekers.  Here are the 6 key points:

1. Figure out who you really know.  Spend 15 minutes compiling a list of co-workers, business contacts, school contacts and friends.  Use this as your initial contact list to mine for job leads and introductions to other friends.
2. Develop a good self-introduction.  When you introduce yourself, emphasize your interests and capabilities in potential new job opportunities – not just what you’ve done in the past.
3. Use STAR examples to demonstrate your skills.  To avoid merely reciting a laundry list of your assets, prepare a few STAR stories based on your work accomplishments:  Situation, Task, Achievement, Results.
4. Learn the art of working a room.  Don’t just show up to your next networking event.  Ask questions, exchange cards, and request additional introductions.
5. Never criticize a former employer.
6. Remember to say, “Thank you.”

When it comes to networking, Berks & Beyond is one of the most valuable contacts available.  Because we have long-standing business relationships with the area’s leading employers, we can quickly connect you with a great job opportunity.

Berks & Beyond is currently searching for a TIG Welder.
Job Details:
A manufacturing company in Reading, PA is seeking a TIG Welder for a temporary-to-hire position, performing quality and specialized work.
Job Requirements:
Steel-toed shoes, own transportation and experience in TIG Welding are required.  Must be able to work Mon. – Thu. 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Friday 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Pay Rate:
Pay is $10.00/hr.
Apply for the TIG Welder  job here.  Or search other welding jobs here.

Q:  What do Donald Trump’s hair and your dusty old paper resume have in common?
A:  They could both use an update.
The way employers use resumes has dramatically changed over the last decade.  So should your resume writing and distribution strategy.  If you want to stay ahead of your competition, use these quick tips to leverage technology and create a 21st century resume:
Update your tone.
Take a confident, assertive stance when writing about your skills and experience.  Use powerful action vocabulary (focus on measurable results) to market yourself as a strong candidate.  Show how your achievements and skills will meet the company’s needs and solve their problems.
Customize your resume for each job opportunity.
Make the employer’s selection process easier by including key words or phrases that relate to the opening.  If your resume has more matches than someone else’s, yours moves to the top of the stack.
Create two versions of your resume.
Create a regular one to print and hand out or e-mail to anyone.  Then, create a stripped-down version that can be easily customized (with relevant keywords) and uploaded to job boards and/or recruiters.
Watch your formatting.
While a plain text format is universally acceptable, it doesn’t allow for much in the way of organizing your work.  You can use a rich text format, but avoid using fancy text enhancements (multiple fonts, bold, italics, etc.).  Use size changes to emphasize headings.
Only include relevant work experience.
Don’t dilute your application with details of previous work experience.  Instead, highlight work experience which proves your suitability for the available position.  Underneath, you can detail previous employers and dates worked.
Skip the cliches.
Employers expect you to be a “self-starter” and “team player.”  So skip these and focus on the aspects of your personality that would most appeal to the potential employer.  For example, a salesperson could be a well-connected and patient relationship builder.
Make your resume flexible.
As a 21st century job seeker, you need to organize the info in your resume based upon the available job and company needs. So don’t worry about starting out with Career Objective and following up with Education.  Instead, begin with the aspects of your experience and achievements that exemplify the attributes the company is looking for.
Do your homework.
Before uploading any resume, do a little online research to find out more about the company and its key employees (LinkedIn is a great place to start).  Find out if there are any connections you can leverage to get you to the next stage.
Link to your web presence.
If you have a LinkedIn profile, professional blog or professionally-oriented Twitter account, add these links to your resume.  This demonstrates that you’re up-to-date with new social media and professionally active even outside your current job.

Even if your current resume is stuck in the Dark Ages,  Berks & Beyond can help you get started on the road to employment today.