How to Start a New Job on the Right Foot

Whether you're a recent graduate who recently accepted your first "real" job or a seasoned professional, walking into a new workplace for the first time can be very stressful. Keeping track of new people, processes, policies, and priorities is taxing.

These tips can help you make a positive impression during your first weeks on the job:

Don't be a stranger. You could get off on the wrong foot with others if you sit back and wait for them to reach out to you. Shyness can come across as unfriendliness or even snobbery.

Be sure to make the rounds in your first week on the job and introduce yourself to new colleagues, even those you may be working with only in a limited capacity. The more affable and outgoing you are, the quicker you'll be able to build rapport and gain access to valuable information and resources.

Get a read on the company. Company handbooks aren't necessarily page-turners, but you can't afford to ignore the content within. Making incorrect assumptions about personal web usage, electronic security, the social media policy, or the dress code can cause problems.

While many of these issues will likely have been touched upon during your orientation, taking the time to read up on all protocols and procedures will keep you from accidentally running afoul of rules.

Pay attention to the unwritten rules, too. The nuances of the prevailing corporate culture aren't always spelled out in black and white. Does the boss like to receive updates via email or in-person chats? Are laptops typically brought to meetings? Do people actually observe "casual Friday"? Astutely observing people's behaviors, work styles, and communication preferences--and adjusting yours accordingly--will make your adjustment smoother.

Practice proper diplomacy. Your manager will expect you to offer fresh perspectives and solutions. But be cautious about how and when you present your ideas and feedback.

It's wise to give your thoughts when asked or to occasionally share some initial impressions, but do so in a tactful and respectful manner. There's no better way to alienate yourself than to come across as a brash know-it-all. In addition, avoid overt criticism and comparisons to your previous workplace.

Pace yourself. It's admirable to want to immediately establish yourself as a capable go-getter. But you won't impress anyone if you over-promise and under-deliver.

Give yourself some time to get a firm handle on your core duties and responsibilities before volunteering to tackle every side project you hear about. By biting off more than you can chew, you could burn out or set an unsustainable precedent when it comes to your workload.

Finally, cut yourself some slack. Don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake or have to ask lots of questions during your first weeks on the job. And when you encounter those inevitable moments of self-doubt, remember that your new manager and colleagues know it's difficult to be the new kid on the block. Chances are, they're granting you a grace period to get up to speed.

by Doug White,

Tips for Job Seekers

Whether you are seeking a job with a staffing firm or a Fortune 500 company, the process is pretty much the same. Start by crafting a compelling résumé. This will help you identify your marketable skills. Then, before you apply for a job, make sure that your skills match what the company is looking for. If so, prepare an effective cover letter and send it to the prospective employer along with your résumé.

If you get an interview, get ready for it well before you go. There may be more than one. For example, your first interview may be with a staffing firm and your second one with its client.

Craft a Compelling Résumé

Unless you have more than 10 years of experience, your résumé should be no longer than one page. Use a simple layout.

1. Know what you want.

Compose a clearly stated job objective. State what you want to do, for whom, where, and at what level of responsibility.

2. Stand out from the crowd.

Instead of just listing your job skills, describe the benefits and results of your performance. For each permanent job or staffing assignment, develop a list of major accomplishments, placing the most emphasis on your recent achievements. What problems or challenges have you faced? What actions did you take to overcome them? How did your actions benefit the company? Keep in mind that most companies value workers who enhance profits and save time and money.

3. Sell yourself.

You only have one shot to make a great impression. Your résumé is a word picture of yourself. Showcase your strengths and one or two outstanding skills or abilities. List your education, training, and any relevant awards.

4. Never list the reasons for termination or leaving a job on the résumé.

The reader can find negative connotations for even the best reason. You're far better off explaining employment lapses in person.

5. Make sure the résumé and the cover letter are error-free.

Proofread, and have others proofread them, too. Make your résumé understandable by avoiding jargon and using plain English.

Prepare an Effective Cover Letter

A cover letter allows you to personalize your résumé. Its main purpose is to emphasize your strengths and assets in a way that will interest employers in interviewing you.

1. To attract the reader's attention, the cover letter must look good and be easy to read.

Pay particular attention to spelling, grammar, punctuation, spacing, paragraph length, and margins. Address it to a particular person by name, making sure that the spelling and title of the individual are correct. A good cover letter is not too long, so try to limit yours to a single page.

2. The first paragraph should arouse the reader's interest.

State some particular knowledge you have of the reader's business, or comment on a "timely" issue relating to the company's operation.

3. The body of the cover letter should explain what you can do for the company.

Put yourself in the employer's position as you write. Present facts that will be interesting and that accurately describe your assets and qualifications. Your prospective employer will be interested in your ability to make or save money, conserve time, and effectively assume and delegate responsibility. Do not stress weaknesses, such as lack of experience.

4. The last paragraph should request action.

Ask for an interview, and state specific times and dates when you will call to arrange an interview (allow at least three business days from the day you send the letter). In all circumstances be courteous, but be direct.

5. The letter should end with the formal salutation "Sincerely."

Below the salutation, type your name and then add your signature.

Sending Your Résumé and Cover Letter Via E-Mail

As a 21st-century jobseeker, it's important to have an electronic cover letter and résumé to send at the click of a mouse. Here are some steps for converting your cover letter and résumé from Word or WordPerfect documents into electronic ones.

1. Remove all formatting, including lines, boxes, bold, italics, and underlining.

Change the font to Courier, size 12. Convert your page margins to 1 inch on the left and 3 inches on the right. When you save the cover letter or résumé, choose "Save As" and change the type to "Text only with Line Breaks." A warning box may come up informing you that you might lose some formatting. Click "OK" or "Yes."

2. Launch Notepad (PC) or SimpleText (Mac) to reformat and clean up your résumé.

Move all centered items to the left margin, and make sure all text is flush left. As you scroll through your document, remove all Tabs, replace all bullets with asterisks (*), and change bolded words to all caps. Increase white space by hitting Return twice between sections.

3. Make sure your cover letter and résumé are e-friendly.

Do not send them as attachments, but, rather, pasted in the body of the e-mail. Practice sending them via e-mail to yourself as well as a friend who uses a different Internet service provider—to ensure the documents are clean and professional-looking. Once you've made any required adjustments, your cover letter and résumé are ready for a prospective employer's inspection.

4. Words matter.

Always include keywords in your résumé. Recruiters use keywords to search for résumés. So choose some of the basic, important keywords in your field and pepper them throughout your résumé. For example: Web designer, account manager, communications specialist, to name some.

Deliver a Knock-Out Interview

Your carefully prepared cover letter and résumé paid off. You've landed an interview. Get ready—in advance—to make a good impression.

1. Confirm the interview appointment.

Do this one day before your interview. Know the date, time, and location of the interview. Try to find out how long you'll be there. And make sure you have your contact's phone numbers in case you have to call.

2. Clear your calendar.

If possible, keep your schedule free of any other commitments. The interview might run over or you could be asked to stay longer. Explaining that you have to be somewhere else could create an awkward situation.

3. Say their names correctly.

If you know the names of interviewers in advance, confirm the pronunciation and spelling.

4. Be on time.

Don't arrive more than 10 minutes early and, most important, don't be late. Arriving late not only labels you as rude, it also makes you seem unreliable. If unforeseen circumstances arise and you must be late, do everything you can to call ahead of time.

5. Dress to impress.

How embarrassing to come to an interview and discover you're underdressed. If possible, find out in advance what attire works. If you're still not sure, wear a suit. There's no such thing as overkill when dressing for an interview.

6. Let them know you've arrived.

Walk up to the receptionist, smile, shake hands, introduce yourself, and state that you have an appointment. Offer your résumé or business card and wait.

7. Shut off the cell phone.

Unless there's a bona fide crisis, turn off your cell phone or pager.

8. Use your mouth for talking only.

Unless the interview is scheduled with a meal, nothing should be in your mouth but words. Drinking, eating, smoking, and chewing gum don't work during an interview.

9. Prepare a short information statement.

Be ready to answer the dreaded question, "Tell me about yourself and your background." Your statement should include some information on the types of companies and industries you have worked for, your strengths, your transferable skills, and some of your personal traits. Practice saying this statement until it feels natural.

10. Be prepared to talk about your successes and experiences.

The employer will want to find out about your past experience—successes and failures, your work ethic, and your track record. Be able to amplify every item on your résumé.

11. Be nice.

Everyone you meet during your interview—from the receptionist to the interviewer—should be treated with respect and courtesy. The receptionist might not be conducting the interview, but his or her opinion of you might be solicited.

12. Follow up.

Send a thank you letter within a day of the interview. Provide any documents that might have been requested, such as references, an employment application, or samples of your work. A few days later, call to express your continued interest and to see if you could offer more information.

By: American staffing

6 Career Shifts for Older Workers

In today's e'er dynamical job industry, not exclusive bonk the types of jobs offered changed, but so change the individuals who make up the incumbent hands. More older workers are opting to preserve employed instead of retreating. If you're one of these experienced professionals, how do you rest your progress and continue invigorated and spirited in today's straightaway paced line ambiance?

1. Be fashionable

Imitate job mart trends. Sr. workers moldiness livelihood their digit on the pulsation of the have hostility by asking themselves, 'What jobs are in obligation today?' and by safekeeping up with today's bailiwick, peculiarly computer engineering says Deborah Vocalist, supervisor of the issues agendum for system section for AARP, a non-profit organization for fill age 50 and over.

2. Get wired 
Cognise your computer. Filmmaker stresses that updating systemic role skills, especially computer skills, is determinant, "particularly since numerous employers feign that develop workers demand skills in this expanse. Having the elementary machine skills that portion you to suffice in the workplace is virtual." That effectuation existence homely with:

"  Navigating the Net

"  E-mail and its applications

"  Statement processing

"  PowerPoint

"  Surpass spreadsheets

3. Go back to school 
Stuff in the gaps with training. If you demand in any extent of claim, especially machine skills, recall it's never too posthumous for statesman activity. Numerous instructional courses are offered at your topical district college, depository or neighborhood connection. "Long acquisition is an serious panorama of professional growth. Assessing your skills and determining whether there are any gaps will provide distinguish voltage areas for further activity," Vocalizer says.

4. Opportunity knocks 
Stand vantage of chances to see all around you. Also attending classes, a healthy way to get new skills is to be on the lookout for acquisition opportunities hand at process. Is someone accomplishment on vacation whose job is outdoors your average domain of responsibilities? Perhaps you can worker to raiment for them and instruct a immature roughly what they do. Or move for temporary assignments that you wouldn't usually interact.

5. Update your résumé 
If you are hunting to kind a vary to a new view, you require to get flowing on the latest-résumé trends. Suchlike anything else, résumé styles move over second. The résumé is a alive means in helping any miss speaking the qualifications and experience they can modify to a possible state. Vocaliser says oftentimes "employers are writer fascinated in the skills you get to a job versus how more years you worked for a specific employer. It gives them a shot of your capabilities and if you in fact possess the skills they're hunt for." So play your résumé skill-driven and results-oriented, showcasing your direction skills and income accomplishments, instead of only providing a litany of dates, titles and responsibilities from preceding positions.

6. Bond 
Speech to others in your corresponding state. Don't despair; there are organizations that offering keep groups for sr. workers to deal the challenges they've featured and study new strategies to surmount them. The Knowledge Competent Mesh-work is composed of agencies crosswise the Incorporate States that center on converging the needs of mid-career workers and job seekers. Insure your anesthetic sound play-script for the Procedure Healthy chapter in your expanse.

Tips for temp clerical workers

As of this winter before 2011, the news that the recession is over is shakey.  More companies are enjoying higher profits, but the news is still bleak on the street-level. Specifically, 80% of all new hires are temporaries.  But being a Temp is not a bad way to break into a company. 

Especially if you do a good job, and are asked to come back, or are offered a long upcoming Temp assignment.  This gives you time to decide if you really want to work for that company in a possible Perm job, as well as give that company time to decide if you'd be an asset to their team.  

Once companies feel more secure coming out of the recession, it's expected that they will start hiring more Perm workers, that can offer those companies more stability and depth of knowledge long-term.  As a good Temp, you could be their first choice to fill a Perm position.  This is a win-win situation, since you get to go Perm in a company you've already worked in, and the company doesn't have to waste time soliciting resumes and conducting interviews.

I worked numerous clerical Temp or Temp-to-Perm jobs in Los Angeles in the last century.  And all of my best jobs I got went Perm after I was repeatedly asked back for various Temp positions in those companies.  So let me offer you some Tips, of how to offer the best possible impression, and maximize your chances of being offered a Perm clerical position in a company you really like:

- First of all, sign up with as many Temp clerical agencies as you can.  You will probably have to apply in person.  Be upbeat and professional, and make a good impression.  Be sure you leave with a few assignment-slips, and the name and phone number of the person who will be receiving and sending out the assignments.

- Sign up with a variety of clerical Temp agencies, from just-clerical to special agencies (like for Legal or Medical, if you qualify).  And even mixed agencies, like Manpower, which offers clerical thru light industry jobs.  Some agencies will be non-producers for you, and you can stop calling them if they never give you an assignment in six months.  But doing a good job with other agencies' assignments, will boost both your reliability in the eyes of those agencies, and might get you slight but steady income raises.

- Don't just wait for an assignment!  Get up early and call each Temp agency right when they open, and ask if they have an assignment you can fill.  This persistance will pay off.  And, if you don't have a job for the next day, be sure and call all the agencies a half hour before they close, to see if they have any assignments for the next day.

- Dress to fit the company.  Even if the temp assignment says "Casual Dress", arriving in a nice dress or skirt outfit with suitable "day makeup" on the first day will make a nice impression.  Just make sure you wear professional but comfortable (not new) shoes, and not so much jewelry, scarves or hair clips that you can't perform your job tasks.  After that first day, and you've seen how others dress, you adjust your wardrobe accordingly.

- Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early to a new Temp assignment, since you'll probably have to wait in Reception for someone to take you back to your Temp desk and give you instructions.  And be pleasant and positive with the Receptionist.  Let her initiate any conversation after "Hello", and don't be negative. Some companies will ask that Receptionist how you behaved, since they aren't looking for unhappy, grumbly, gossipy, preoccupied with personal problems, stuck-up or know-it-all employees, even temporarily.

- Smile at everyone and be pleasant, but don't come on too strong or overly-friendly, with a forced toothy smile as you lunge at every new employee to shake their hand.  Some employees may think that you are there only to try and steal their jobs, and others may get the impression that you might be a "run-everything" Control Freak type.

- Take a small briefcase or cloth bag to every temp job.  In it, keep pens and pencils, Post It notes, a small notepad, and lunch or snacks.  Noisily opening desk drawers, or bugging others for a pen or paper, makes you look unprepared and unprofessional.  Sit down at your Temp desk and take out your own pen and notebook to write down your initial instructions, if there isn't an Instruction sheet left by the temporarily-gone employee, or handed to you by the person setting you up.  You can go hunting for pen and paper and familiarize yourself with the desk, after you have received your instructions.

- If your Temp clerical position involves answering the phone, ask exactly how they want that phone answered.  Then write that exact Greeting on a Post It Note and attach it to the phone.  Your professionalism and polish by correctly answering that phone from the get-go will be noted.

- Attend to your tasks quickly and efficiently, but don't hesitate to ask for help if you get stuck.  Sometimes the employee closest to you may be the best first resource for help.  They may know the quirks of the machinery you are working on, or where the regular employee stores what in which computer or paper files.

- When you finish your tasks, ask your temporary supervisor what they have for you to do next.  If they seemed stressed trying to think of something for you to do, assure them you would be happy to help someone else, and return to your area.  If there are other clerical people nearby, casually ask if they have any tedious but simple tasks they've been putting off, that you could do.  This will make a very good impression on the other employees, and it will get back to Personnel.

- If you are totally stumped for something else to do, do NOT read a book or magazine, unless you've been told that it is OK to do so.  And don't gossip or be too nosey.   Instead, explore the computer, but avoid playing video games or accessing sensitive files.  Look around at any office equipment you are unfamiliar with, and ask someone who isn't busy to show you how to use it.  This way, the more office equipment you know how to use, you can add to your Temp applications and your resume.  As a last resort, when you have nothing to do, ask if you can take a Break or an early Lunch Period.

- Observe your surroundings.  Are people happy and challenged?  Or is everyone surly and unhappy?  Do the supervisors and managers appear capable, positive and willing to work with new employees?  Or are they just working their way up the corporate ladder, and are clearly careless or uninterested in their current job?  These are all things you need to consider if you are asked to go Perm at that company.

- On a Break or during a slow period, take out your small notebook and make some notes.  Put down the date, company, your temp "job", and the names of the supervisors/managers or other employees you interacted with.  Write down primarily all verbal instructions that you don't want to forget, if you get asked back.  "The CEO is Rick - never call him Richard." or "If the copier doesn't work, go find Joe Smith to fix it."  These are not-so-insignificant things you can review in your notebook if you get called back to that company.  And remembering these types of comments will make you look polished and professional, and truly interested in doing the best job you can.

- Do your best to stay out of office gossip.  Especially since the gossipers' motivations may be murky.  Plus, you may end up working for that "terrible" person, and end up liking him/her.  If you have to work with a grumbly-gossiper, listen politely but say little, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, since you do NOT want it getting around "Even the Temp agreed with me!".  Their rant about "the boss" may just mean they were bypassed for a promotion, got a smaller raise than they expected, or are having health or home problems that color their work environment too negatively.  You can offer helpful suggestions, but don't buy into their negativity.

- Leave as you arrived, on-time and smiling.  If you had a written Instruction sheet, ask the superviser/trainer if you can take it with you.  This will be a great refreasher-course if you get asked back, but you don't want to just walk out with something that contains "sensitive information".  (Make sure you fill out your temp slip, and get the correct person's signature.)  Be sure to quickly thank the people who helped you, including the Receptionist, on the way out.

- If it is dark, and/or you parked in an isolated location, don't hesitate to ask for a guy to walk you to your car.  Sometimes you can start asking around casually about 4PM, what males are also getting off at the same time as you, and if one of them is parked near your car.  You can call or locate that man, and quietly ask him if he wouldn't mind walking you to your car.  You don't want to come off "making demands" when you leave at 5-6PM, but your safety should be of concern to that company, as well as to you.

These Tips worked great for me, and I got some wonderful Perm jobs from companies that asked me back again and again as a Temp.  I truly hope they work as well for you and other clerical Temp workers!

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by Marilyn Martin