Three Tips for Successfully Working With a Temporary Staffing Company

Temporary Staffing is a great way to find a new job, transition a career, or be able to work a flexible schedule. Many people find that their experience with a temporary staffing company is not what they were expecting, but there are ways to improve your chances of getting an assignment. These three tips for working with a temporary staffing company will help make your experience more pleasant.

1) Make sure you maintain a positive and professional attitude. Make sure your resume is clean and concise showcasing your best experience. Make sure you are using a professional sounding email address. When the recruiter asks why you left your last position, leave any negative feelings out of your answer. Also, the more flexible you are in regards to length of assignments or the hourly pay rate, the more possible opportunities you will be offered.

2) Even if you are unemployed, make sure you are continuing to keep busy. When your recruiter asks you what you have been doing most recently do not answer with "Looking for a job." The recruiter at the staffing company is your representative and advocate, but they can't lie about your experience. The first question a client is going to ask about a candidate is what have they been doing most recently. If you haven't been working spend some of your time volunteering or doing freelance work or any number of other engaging things that will give you and your recruiter something to talk about. And put this information on your resume.

3) Don't expect a job immediately. Temporary staffing companies don't create the jobs, they receive jobs from their clients and each individual position requires different skills based on the client's requirements. A temporary staffing company is unable to guarantee a position for each applicant. The company will likely instruct you to contact them once or twice a week to let them know you are still available, so make sure you are maintaining positive contact even if they don't have anything available when you call. Once a position becomes available that matches your background and skill set, the temporary staffing company will be sure to contact you.

If you make sure you keep a professional attitude, continuously improve your experience by keeping busy, even if unemployed, and understand that the staffing company can't promise employment for every applicant then your partnership with a temporary staffing company can prove to be a great relationship.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6898642



Military to Civilian Transition: Virtual Commuting

Not long ago, when people talked about virtual commuting they were referring to a tactic used by downsizing companies to trim expenses. They reasoned that if we could find a way for employees to work at home and still be productive, then they could eliminate the overhead costs associated with having them onsite.

Today, virtual commuting is altogether different. Physical location is less important in a digitally connected world. When creating this website, for example, members of our team moved about from the Boston area, NYC, Richmond Virginia, Washington DC, and Toronto Canada...and those are just the places we know about! Many companies today, especially Gen-Y companies operating in the digital sphere, are happy to let their employees work from home, understanding the importance these "millenials" attach to personal freedom and autonomy.

Not all work lends itself to these kinds of arrangements, but you might be surprised what is possible today given the resources technology has placed in our hands.

Here's a very short list of careers that can easily be done virtually:

• Academic or business research
• Business or financial analyst
• Coaching
• Computer programming (all types)
• Consulting
• Customer service and support (e.g. "help desk" technician)
• Internet marketing
• Search Engine Optimization
• Social media marketing (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)
• Teaching
• Web design
• Web content producer (video, audio, etc.)
• Writing and other forms of content creation

And the list will only get longer.

How to Transition From the Military to a Teaching Job

There is a strong record of military members obtaining teaching positions in the education sector. School districts often find former military personnel to be an excellent asset in the classroom as well as in helping to build leadership skills among students. The retention rates among students are also much higher with teachers who have been part of the military in comparison to teachers who finished a degree in college and recently graduated. So as a former military member, how do you go about transitioning into a career in teaching?

Former military members with a Bachelor's degree or other higher degrees are eligible to obtain a teaching certification that in turn will provide them with the necessary qualifications to teach academic subjects. Most military members can qualify for a vocational or technical teaching position since they only need an equivalent of one year in college and at least six years vocational or technical experience in order for the certification process to begin. And in order to complete the certification process, military members who want to be teachers can make use of the ACP (Alternative Certification Program) through the University Teacher Preparation Program or UTPP.

The Military Career Transition Program is one of the alternative certification programs that can help pave the way to a fulfilling and highly rewarding teaching career. However, there are several factors that can affect the success of your career transition, and these include the school collaborative and placement efforts, effective mentoring and counseling, continuous program assessment, and career follow up. Military members who are interested in pursuing a teaching career after spending several years in the Force only need to meet the basic educational requirements of the school or college where he or she is planning to obtain employment. The number and level of courses that make up the training program for the teacher's certification may vary depending on the work experience and educational background of the applicant.

So if you plan to transition into teaching after a career in the military, you must first check on your state's basic requirements. More often than not, teacher certification is done by state, although some states must recognize certifications that have been issued from another state. Teaching positions for military members are available from the elementary level up to high school depending on the preference of the applicant as well as the type of certification they have completed.

Once you complete the certification process, the job search will be a lot easier since you will have the right qualifications and requirements desired by potential schools. One thing you must remember, though, is to include all your transferable skills in your resume because, aside from your teaching qualifications, your transferable skills will play an important role in enhancing your employability. Avoid making your resume sound more like a military file and make sure to include your job objectives and educational background. This will help guarantee a position for you in the education sector.

About the Author: Candace Davies, Owner of A+ Resumes for Teachers is a Global Career Management Professional dedicated to assisting educators worldwide leverage their strengths, accomplishments, and unique selling points to capture their dream career. Her team has successfully assisted 3500+ education professionals by transforming their talents into concise documents that secure numerous interviews. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6561643


Federal Agencies Hiring More Veterans, Report Says

In June the President’s Council on Veterans Employment, which is made up of 24 Cabinet-level and other independent agencies, outlined the progress made in implementing Executive Order 13518, Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government.  Council Co-chair and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, Acting Co-Chairman and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Labor Seth Harris, Vice Chairman and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director John Berry, and other agency heads noted that thousands more Veterans have been recently hired by federal agencies.  Also in attendance were other senior administration officials.

“President Obama has charged us with honoring the nation’s sacred trust with our Veterans by doing all we can to help them find work when they come home.  They fought to protect the American Dream, and they should never feel that it is out of their reach.  That’s why we have focused so intently on hiring Veterans in the public service – men and women who understand the sense of duty and country that should define our federal workforce,” Veterans said Director Berry.  “We have successfully increased the percentage of Veterans hired in the federal government.  Due to general employment patterns, the first quarter numbers tend to spike, but we are still encouraged by the fact that in the first half of this fiscal year, our percentage of Veterans hired is better than during the same segment of time in any of the last six years.  This is a testament to the hard work and diligence of our partners on the Veterans Employment Council, and our dedicated employees here at OPM.”

The federal government hired 34,788 total Veterans in the first half of Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 (between October and March) compared to 32,825 in the first half of FY 2010; approximately 2,000 more Veterans.  Additionally, Veterans were 33.3 percent of total new hires across the federal government in the first half of FY 2011.  This is an increase of three percentage points from the same period in FY 2010.

The goal of the President’s Veteran Employment Initiative is to help federal agencies identify qualified Veterans, clarify the hiring process for Veterans seeking employment with the federal government, and help them to adjust to the civilian work environment once they are hired.  Much has been accomplished since the signing of the Executive Order in November 2009.

The following additional milestone accomplishments also highlight the progress made in support of the initiative:

• The launch of “Mil2Feds” in May 2011, the first ever military occupation to federal occupation translator.
• The adoption of a Hiring Percentage Model by members of the President’s Interagency Council on Veterans Employment in September 2010, which guides an agency’s goal setting based on the current percentage of Veterans hired, to include disabled Veterans.
• The establishment of Veterans Employment Program Offices in 24 federal agencies in March 2010.
• The development of a governmentwide Strategic Plan on Veteran recruitment and employment which was released in January 2010.
• The creation of a governmentwide marketing campaign on the value of Veterans, which launched in November 2009, and launching the www.FedsHireVets.gov website in January 2010, which established an information gateway on federal employment for Veterans.

For additional information please visit www.FedsHireVets.gov.

Best Paid Careers for 2011 and Beyond: Masters or Less

1. Financial Analyst:  Financial analysts work for banks, investment firms, and insurance companies, earning a median annual salary of $85,240. The majority have a four-year degree in finance, business, or accounting. Many employers also prefer candidates hold a master's in business administration.
2. Physician Assistant:  Every state seems to have a different requirement for educational requirements. In general, becoming a physician assistant requires some college or experience, such as military training, coupled with a two-year training program offered by a community college or health occupation schools. Physician assistants are supervised by a doctor, but may see patients, order tests, and write prescriptions, depending on state laws. Physician assistants earn a median annual salary of $84,830.
3. Radiation Therapist:  Radiation therapists operate the machines used to fight cancer. Oncologists (doctors who specialize in cancer) and radiologists develop a treatment plan, which the radiation therapist executes. While a bachelor's degree is preferred by some employers, a two-year degree in radiation therapy is acceptable to others. Some employers will accept a degree in radiography supplemented by a one-year RT certificate program. On average, radiation therapists earn about $77,340 annually, although the top ten percent report earnings in six figures.
4. Nurses:  Nurses are in high demand in virtually every state. The exact education requirements depend on the ultimate career goals, specialization, and state licensing requirements. As a general rule, expect to spend three to four years in college to prepare for the best paying jobs. Nurses may work in hospitals, doctor's offices, laboratories, or research facilities. They may educate patients on health care, exercise, and diet. Some nurses work in private homes, either as a full-time nurse or a visiting home health care aide. With further training, they may become nurse midwives or nurse practitioners, who are allowed to write prescriptions. Registered nurses earn a median wage of $66,530 annually.