The demand for staffing services has increased dramatically in the last 15 years. Realizing the benefits of specialized resources offered by firms such as Frazee Recruiting Consultants, this growing trend applies to businesses as well as individuals. Employment opportunities are changing, and especially since Hurricane Katrina. The job market is rapidly evolving to meet the needs of thriving businesses as well as the demands of talented individuals seeking their next career. Not only do recruiting firms cater to clients seeking assistance, but also to talented individuals seeking new opportunity – we offer the best for both worlds.

Flexibility – Schedule, education, salary, field, and location are complex variables that can make any job search stressful, or any open position difficult to fill. Whether it is full time or part time, temporary or permanent, entry level or expert, recruiting firms like Frazee can provide options that work for you.

Freedom – With positions available in various fields, and different hiring options such as professional contract staffing and executive search, recruiting firms make the process as individualized and accommodating as possible.

Finders Keepers – Specialized resources, compatibility assessments, and experienced staff allow us to FIND the employers or employees you want to KEEP!

Follow Up – Timely follow up with both clients and employees is the best way to insure happiness and satisfaction on both sides.

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Do you have bad habits? Sure, we all have that New Year’s Resolution to get fit, eat healthier or quit smoking...but have you vowed to break your bad job search habits? There are more positions available today than ever before, but with the increased population comes increased competition. You may be increasing the odds against you and narrowing your employment options without even knowing it. Follow these tips to help yourself get back on the productive job search path:

1) Be Responsive – Logical reasoning: If you take the time to voluntarily submit your resume to a company, you need to be prepared. Whether a newspaper advertisement caught your attention or a posting on the company’s website, your interest is noted as soon as the HR Department receives your CV. If an individual contacts you after receiving your resume, you should make it a point to respond as soon as possible. Waiting too long to return the call may suggest a lack of enthusiasm or professionalism. The position may even be filled before you decide to pick up the phone several days later. Even if it is to say you have changed your mind or found another job, a timely response can go a long way.

2) Be Available – Don’t submit your resume to a prospective employer and expect to get hired over the phone. Face-to-face interviews are standard in the work force, from fast food to Fortune 500. If you are planning on being out of town, or will never be able to escape from your current job to meet elsewhere for an interview (even during your lunch break), then you may not be able to take that first step towards obtaining a better opportunity. Many recruiting firms have become more flexible, and can shorten your interview time or extend interviewing hours to accommodate your schedule accordingly. Generally, employers are flexible enough to allow an employee an extra 30 minutes to an hour for “personal reasons” if you just ask!

3) Be Accurate – Outdated employment history, disconnected phone numbers, and lack of information on a resume are discouraging. Be sure to document your most recent employment (you don’t have to list your current employer’s name if your job search is confidential, at least note that you are working), include dates of employment and only list working telephone numbers. Highlight any education completed, specifying degrees where appropriate, and include high grade point achievement. Also specify any computer or other special skills you may have. Your resume should be written to impress and not confuse.

4) Be Professional – Non-traditional e-mail addresses, grammatical errors, and typos are all sure signs of the “non-professional.” Don’t expect to get a call about the big job you’re interested in when the employer thinks they are looking at “teh official rezume of i_love_to_binge_drink@youremailaddress.com.” Many reputable web sites offer free e-mail services with many acceptable letter-number email address combinations available. Most modern word-processing programs offer spell-check and/or automatically detect grammatical errors in a document.  And don’t be afraid to go human and get a second opinion from a friend by having them critique your resume. Technology is only great when it works.

5) Be Personable – It may seem strange to have to make this suggestion: Never argue with, speak rudely to, or behave disrespectfully towards an individual that has responded to your resume! In a time of instant gratification and impatience, people seem to have become less polite, more selfish, and just plain unpleasant. Do not argue with someone if you don’t meet the minimum requirements for a particular position you applied for. You may have just slammed shut any open doors that may have led to other great opportunities with the company. Another suggestion worth mentioning is to be enthusiastic. One-word answers, swearing, mumbling, gossiping, and not smiling all paint a grim picture of your lack of potential with a company. A simple smile in your voice goes a long way, even if you have to pretend after a bad day.

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Frazee Recruiting Consultants is proud to announce that we will be an active part of the upcoming Louisiana Society of Human Resource Management Annual State Conference. The Sheraton Convention Center Hotel in downtown Baton Rouge will be hosting this exciting event April 12 &13, which is expected to draw an even larger crowd than 2005. This year’s conference will be especially interesting in view of the recent hurricanes that devastated many areas in southeast Louisiana. Attended by human resource professionals all over the state, the conference provides a forum to network, attend concurrent and educational sessions, and visit with human resource exhibitors who offer the latest products and services to assist you in your daily operations. This year’s keynote speakers include Sue Meisinger, CEO of the Society of Human Resource Management.

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It is only a few months into 2006 and hints of summer are already in the air. While you may be thinking about that welcomed change of wardrobe with your favorite sandals, shorts and tank tops, you should remember that these articles of clothing are not considered professional attire. An employer’s dress code generally applies to all twelve months of the year, regardless of season, and will be enforced accordingly. Some dress codes are stricter than others, so you may want to make it a point to verify what attire is not considered appropriate at your place of employment. What may be acceptable at one company may be grounds for dismissal at another. Employers may also need to update their own dress policies, because social trends do gradually change. An employee’s attire should be comfortable, yet properly reflect a company’s business image. Beat the heat and dress to impress!

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