Posted on Mon, Jan 18, 2010 @ 01:06 PM
By Mike Spinale, PHR, Human Resources ManagerOne of the most common questions I get asked when someone finds out I work in Human Resources is whether or not their resume really needs to be only one-page long. My answer? No, it doesn't.
Why do people think this? Certain books suggest it. Some career counselors swear it's the way it should be. The truth is, no self-respecting HR professional is going to look at a resume and say "Oh, this qualified candidate's resume is two pages...they're out!"
But there is a benefit to keeping your resume to one-page (or as few pages as possible)...the more concise you can be on your resume, the more likely the items you want to highlight will be read by the person reviewing it. Resume reviewers, in many cases, receive hundreds of resumes from job seekers; and to get through them all requires screening for key words and information that matches the requirements being sought. Only when the screener finds information of interest will they stop and read more. If they find nothing of interest on page one, they most likely won't turn to page two. If all the good stuff is on page two, it may never be seen!
So, what's important is not keeping your resume to one-page, but structuring your resume in such a way as to highlight the most relevant and important information about your qualifications and experiences by locating them as close to the top of the first page as possible. That's why you'll see many resumes begin with a "summary of qualifications" or a list of achievements. Just like a good book, if the beginning grabs the reader's attention, they will keep reading further.
Posted on Thu, Jan 14, 2010 @ 07:49 AM
By Mike Spinale, PHR, Human Resources Manager
Everyone knows the importance of making a good first impression. It’s why most people work hard to prepare for the first face-to-face meeting with a potential employer. They pull out their suit, iron their clothes, get the hair done, clip their nails, etc…all with the hope of leaving the hiring company with a positive feeling about your candidacy.
But the real first impression a candidate makes is over the phone. Most employers initially reach out to applicants through the phone. This may include a quick call to schedule an interview or an impromptu phone interview. A job seeker must survive this stage of the interview process to succeed in obtaining a position.
Here are some tips and tricks on how to handle the initial contact from a company:
• Speak with enthusiasm – Don’t speak like you just got out of bed…even if you did! From the moment you answer the call to a cheerful goodbye, showing your enthusiasm about the position and the company will energize the company representative about your candidacy.
• Know who’s calling – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called someone for an interview and they’ve said “Who is this again? I’m sorry I don’t recognize the name of your company…I’ve applied for so many jobs”. This tells me the job seeker has no real interest in my company and is just looking for a job.
• Find a quiet space – It’s completely appropriate to ask the caller if you can call them back from a private area, especially if you are at work. One time, I was speaking to someone who was at work in their cube. They kept getting interrupted and whispered in response to my questions. They left an impression alright. Also, be careful of TVs blaring, dogs barking, and children crying in the background.
• Get rid of ring back tones – While music is better to listen to than a ringing phone line, I would prefer not to listen to “My Humps” as I’m waiting to speak to a candidate for an accounting position.
• Professionalize your voicemail greeting – Sound pleasant and confident in the greeting that awaits your unanswered callers. Don’t sound meek, sluggish or stern. And please please please don’t record music from the radio.
Remember that your first, first impression will likely occur over the phone. While a phone interview alone won’t win you the job, it is absolutely the first step to getting the coveted interview.
Posted on Wed, Dec 09, 2009 @ 09:26 AM
From OneDayOneInternship.com: Posted by Willy Franzen on Wednesday, July 22, 2009
In the environmentalist's ideal world there would be no such thing as hazardous waste. Everything would be pure and natural and "green." Unfortunately, that will never happen (partially because every living thing is its own little hazardous waste factory). How we deal with this hazardous waste is what truly determines the future of our environment. Triumvirate Environmental has figured this out, and they've spent the last 21 years building a business that provides "turnkey environmental and hazardous waste management services to clients across four niche sectors; Education, Healthcare, Industrial, and Life Sciences." They're based in Somerville, MA with locations across New England, New York, and the Mid-Atlantic, and they also appear to be masters of social media.
Join the Triumvirate
I'm surprised that I hadn't heard of Triumvirate Environmental until today. They're totally on top of employment branding and social media use, so you'd think they'd be on my radar screen (I actually have an internship radar that gives me ideas for posts). This is impressive because they're doing a great job making hazardous waste management exciting for job/internship seekers and customers alike. Triumvirate Environmental has 9 blogs on topics that include The Environment, Environmental Careers, Higher Education, Healthcare, Industrial and Manufacturing, Life Sciences and BioPharma, Engineering Blogs, National and International Environmental News, and Social Media. It almost seems like too much, but if blog readers turn into customers, employees, or interns, then it's well worth it. Triumvirate is all over Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube as well.
Although I find Triumvirate's social media use impressive, I'm more impressed with their customer service philosophy, which is built off of their mission to "build the most productive, long-term, customer-intimate, environmental services firm by WOWing! each employee, and each customer, every day." It's all about WOWs! I've found that companies that treat their customers well, also treat their interns well, and the same can be said for companies that have Career blogs. That's why you should definitely check out Triumvirate's Career Center. Right now they have two unpaid Fall internships at their Somerville, MA office posted: Human Resources Intern and Marketing/Communications Intern. Additionally, Mark Campanale from Triumvirate recently tweeted that he's looking for Fall interns in SEO/Web Marketing. Triumvirate's interns are very active on the blogs, so you can even get an inside look at what it's like to intern at Triumvirate. You can apply for internships at Triumvirate online, but I'll bet that using social media to reach out to them may be a more effective way to get noticed.
Posted on Thu, Oct 01, 2009 @ 12:41 PM
How transparency in HR leads to hiring the right employees
By Mark Campanale, Marketing Manager and New Media Trainer
No phone calls please.
It is the swan song, the signature sign-off, of most job postings. To some extent, I totally understand; I work very close with our HR folks that receive more that 400 resumes a week for the 7-8 job openings we currently have. I could not imagine getting that many phone calls, never mind speaking to half of them. But what about the HR departments who don’t encourage any contact? Isn’t it human nature to want to know the status of the job or to be sure that your resume was received?
Which brings me to Triumvirate’s Career Center – a department that encourages open dialog between HR and potential hires. It may not always be via phone, but AnnMarie Blunda, HR Generalist & Mike Spinale, HR Manager are both bloggers that write on Triumvirate’s Career Center Blog; are available to speak with via Live Chat on our website; and are on LinkedIn as active members of several groups. Mike Spinale is also active on Twitter (You can follow him @MikeSpinale).
First, they blog. They blog about current HR topics, share professional development tips and review many career-oriented books, websites and other media.
They chat. Yep, both AnnMarie and Mike talk to potential hires from the Live Chat feature in the Career Center section of the website.
They interact: In the groups they belong to on LinkedIn, they join in the conversations and answer posted questions and have started to post some of their open positions through their profiles on LinkedIn and have found great new team members.
So, in essence, the Triumvirate Career Center exceeds expectations. Where other companies are hiding behind a job posting and a catch all e-mail, Mike and AnnMarie show their expertise, share their contact info and even their pictures! You can follow Triumvirate’s Career Center on Twitter @TriumvirateHR.
What other ways can an HR department be transparent in order to attract potential candidates?
Posted on Wed, Sep 09, 2009 @ 11:21 AM
By Ian Lanza, Life Sciences Operations Coordinator
Though I have really enjoyed my online educational experience and have learned a lot, there are some negatives or important considerations you should be aware of before making the plunge.
• Independence. Though professors and students respond well to phone calls and emails, online students must be self starters and disciplined enough to stay on track and problem solve on their own.
• Time Commitment. It has been my experience that I spend more time on school than my brick and mortar peers, because I have to read everything and take the little extra time to understand concepts and problems. My program also requires attendance five days a week. Though participation may not always be as long as a class period this is more frequent than most brick and mortar programs.
• Verbal Presentation Skills. Though my writing has greatly improved, other than the residencies, I do not get to practice public speaking and communicating face to face. This is one of the reasons a residency or a few on campus courses are valuable.
• Team Work. Team work is a plus and minus in online programs. I have greatly improved my team work and leadership skills through online team assignments. However, some teams just don’t work and can be very challenging to work with, especially given the online forum.
• Relationship Building. Again, this is a double edged sword with online programs. Commiserating, and battling through similar experience builds relationships and networks. However, the human moment can be elusive with online programs. This is why I place so much value on the residency and in-house courses. I also try to get together with peers in the area as much as possible.
I place a lot of value in education. The experience is providing me with valuable analytical and professional skills to open new career doors and increase professional opportunities. There are many factors and variables to consider when deciding between an online program and traditional education, as well as selecting a specific program. There are personal, professional, financial, and geographically variables that will influence your decision. The best piece of advice I was given during my search for a program came from my College Counselor; He said “Select the program that is the best fit for you, not what your peers say, your boss says or the Princeton Review says. If there is a program out there which fits your needs, it is important that you pursue it.”
Posted on Wed, Sep 09, 2009 @ 11:14 AM
By Ian Lanza, Life Sciences Operations Coordinator
I have really enjoyed my online educational experience through Green Mountain College. The online format has accommodated my professional development at TEI while giving me the analytical skills and business background of any reputable MBA program. The following are some of the benefits of an online education at TEI over a traditional brick and mortar.
• Flexibility. Flexibility to attend class and complete work any time during the day. This is especially beneficial at TEI; where else could I work around the clock responding to an environmental emergency threatening the environmental and public health of the greater Boston area while learning about research methods?
• Career Development. In addition to the flexibility of working long TEI hours and participating in as many of the TEI jobs and cultural events, I can continue my career in the environmental industry with TEI. I place a lot of value in an education, but I also really wanted to continue my professional career with TEI. Many online programs are designed for working professionals. Note: this doesn’t mean you put in less time, see ‘Negatives to Online Programs.’
• Writing Skills. The large emphasis on writing will greatly improve your writing skills.
• Team Skills. If you can coordinate a 30 page research paper with three other team members around the country leading very different lifestyles, you will be successful in any team setting.
• Cost. Online programs tend to be less expensive than brick and mortar.
• Diversity. Online programs attract a much more diverse student body than brick and mortar because of time and location are not as influential variables. I attend class with students throughout the country and in three countries, from a CEO in Washington DC, a stay at home mom in California, to a Caterpillar Salesman in Germany, to a former Wall Street stalk broker turned small business owner in Telluride CO.
Posted on Wed, Sep 09, 2009 @ 10:25 AM
By Ian Lanza, Life Sciences Operations Coordinator
In a recent interview with the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner Gary Becker, he stressed the importance and value of human capital in today’s job market. Becker explained that the value of human capital and an advanced education should not be under estimated and that an education is worker’s most valuable asset.
Becker pointed to the fact that college educated adults earn 80% more than adults with only a high school education, and that the percentage only increases with adults with graduate or advanced degrees. Additionally, continued education becomes a worker’s greatest asset in the uncertain economy and evolving U.S job market.
With more and more people earning undergraduate and advanced degrees it is imperative that you are always learning and increasing your human capital. From obtaining professional certifications to enrolling in a fulltime or part time graduate program, it is vital that you continue to invest in your human capital in order to increase your value as a professional and your earning potential.
Becker also points out that the more education and certification you has an adult, the more flexible your skill set become and the more jobs you may be qualified for. With an uncertain economy, where major service and manufacturing processes and markets are evolving coupled with new governmental regulations changing the business landscape, a diversified and rich educational background maybe your greatest asset in the volatile and changing job market.
To increase your human capital look for both industry specific trainings and certifications as well general management or technology educational opportunities. A complete and diversified educational toolbox is essential for getting ahead and staying on top of the labor market.
http://moneywatch.bnet.com/career-advice/article/gary-becker-how-to-survive-in-an-uncertain-economy/331638/
Posted on Wed, Sep 09, 2009 @ 09:46 AM
By Greg Roninski, Chemist II
The other day the power window motor in my car broke leaving my window wide open with threats of hurricane bill ripping through my interior like a raccoon and a dumpster. I called my local mechanic to see if he had time to help out even though he was only open for another hour, and without hesitation he said, “I always have time to help out”. After an hour of dismantling my entire door casing we got the window closed. I offered to pay or buy him an Ice coffee and he said no to both. As I was leaving he said, “Greg, whether the economy is up or down people shouldn’t focus on being just an employee making a profit for a company. People need to build a relationship with their customers so that a relationship builds resulting in a long term situation versus a one time customer.”
It was nice to be apart of this conversation with the mechanic, because it emphasized a key value at Triumvirate Environmental, Inc. It is important every day to really build a relationship with our fellow employees and customers we are serving. It is one thing to go to work every day routinely zoned in on the task at hand, collect a pay check, and go home. However, a whole other level of playing field evolves as customer intimacy is built. Taking time to help out clients or employees in need at random times of the day can mean the worlds to that person, and build a life long customer. Such was the case with my mechanic. I have been going to him for over eight years now, because this gentleman understands customer intimacy. The extra hour this person put in to fix my car built a life long customer.
The take home is to remember the importance of customer intimacy is, building a relationship with a customer or going the extra mile can win a customer for life.
Posted on Wed, Sep 09, 2009 @ 08:52 AM
By Christine Tierney, Administrative Assistant
Motivation means different things for different people; motivation by definition, “is the internal condition that activates behavior and gives it direction; energizes and directs goal-oriented behavior”. For some the motivating factor is obvious: weight loss, healthier lifestyle, increasing running mileage, beginning a workout program, etc. Others may have a less obvious motivator perhaps it is just to satisfy the basic need of not being in pain, or to maximize their general abilities.
Regardless of what you want to get motivated for, what is it that motivates you? Is it that 2 pounds you lost, is it your children, competition, what gets you out of bed every day? This is important to think about, how can you get motivated to do more; more work, more play, more…..?
What if the owner of Dunkin’ Donuts didn’t get up to make the donuts, or hire the properly motivated people to come in a make the donuts, he would never have built it up to what it is now (which in some cases is motivation in of itself). We would be without the fantastic beverage that I see most of us consuming in the office each and every day.
Think about what you want, why you want it? How do you get there? What is it that will DRIVE you to that “finish line” or next level, whatever that means for you? How will you stay motivated, as motivation is not something that often stays with us long term, you need to renew it every day, sometimes more than once a day. Get results, you have to be able and willing to work hard enough to get results, whether this means an A in a class or weight loss, or a promotion, in order to succeed you have to work hard, in order to work hard you have to stay motivated, it is cyclical.
Sometimes it is going to be harder than others, sometimes things will just work, your schedule will be calm, no emergencies, no disruptions, but there will be times when there will be bumps in the road, or major mountains, just keep focused on the goal, on the motivators and you can overcome them.
Have motivating people around you, find those friends, co-workers, or family members who move you to want to go to the next level and have them to rely on when you need an extra boost. This is very important; having that “go to” person can help you get over that bump, or help move you to the next level.
I found these top six ways to stay motivated online (courtesy of Woopidoo! Articles):
1. Get motivated every day.
2. Have a vision for your life.
3. Fuel your passion.
4. Work hard enough to get results. .
5. Put good materials into your mind.
6. Ride the momentum when it comes.
These are simple principles, that when you put them to work regularly, will change your life by keeping you motivated all the time! Get going!
Posted on Tue, Sep 08, 2009 @ 01:04 PM
By Amanda Mendonza, Technical Services Representative
Even the most project-driven individuals struggle with getting started. It can be overwhelming to execute a project, especially one that is going to be long-term, time-consuming and require additional help. The following guidelines can be used as a project development tool to help you kick-start yourself through the procrastination step and get planning. :
1. Plan and Schedule- a quick brainstorming session of the aspects that need to be addressed and conceptualize how much time is needed to complete them
2. Delegate- portions of the project to the most qualified individuals
3. Trade – if you have been delegated a responsibility that you don’t want to do but someone else is proficient then trade tasks with them
4. Break Down the Project- Set aside easy tasks from complex tasks and tackle the easier items first
5. Plan a Reward- Do this as early as the brainstorming session. Incentives always make work more enjoyable
6. Plan an Event- For large scale projects that finally get rolled out, set up an event for all colleagues to experience it together
7. Work Together- negativity makes me people want to procrastinate. Focus on the positive aspects of the project at hand but always listen to the complaints and address the team’s concerns
8. Establish a Standard Starting Format- if you always kick-off with a brainstorming session you’ll have the material fresh in your mind to keep moving forward.
9. Tell Others- telling your peers about the project will place accountability on you to complete it. Having to keep telling people “it’s not ready” will wear you down and you will eventually pump out subpar work
10. Set a Deadline- At the brainstorming session, once the smaller time frames have been conceptualized set a broad deadline to shoot for.