Fidelis Companies

Finding A Job in the Social Jungle: Part 4

May 28, 2013 by Fidelis News & Updates Leave a Comment

For the final installment on effectively using social media in your job hunt, we’re going to look at Google+ (G+). For a look back at my tips on using LinkedIn, Facebook or Pinterest and Twitter, click the links to view the full posts!

Google+. G+ is the newest of the most popular social media sites, but has taken off in terms of followers and +1’s. With Communities, Circles, +1’s and Hangouts, G+ is making it easier for people, companies and brands to connect!

Communities. Communities are most similar to LinkedIn Groups for those not familiar with G+. Most communities are open to anyone to join, so you can view posts from industry leaders and companies and events within the community.

Each community is set up and managed differently so if it is an open community (you don’t have to request to join), take some time to scroll through the posts and events to see if it is a good fit for you. View the member list and see who has joined and what they do. Is there anyone you can connect with that will help your career advancement?

G+ is similar to Facebook for it’s atmosphere and the “laid back” feel, however, when approaching someone about career advice or opportunity you should communicate like you would on LinkedIn. Remain professional, don’t constantly message someone (harass them) and give some information about yourself before you ask.

Circles. Unlike LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, G+ gives you the control over who you share what content with. Professionals you are connected with don’t care about your cute dog just as much as your friends don’t care that you’re looking for a job.

When you follow a person or company page, you are prompted to choose a Circle for that user. You can use the default options or slowly build your personalized circles with your creative names.

By categorizing your family and friends away from your professional connections, Google gives you the freedom to post your vacation pictures and choose your personal circles to have access and post your “I’m looking for a job” posts and professional articles for your professional circles to view. This way you’re choosing what business and pleasure you are mixing or keeping separate.

You can also share content with the communities you are a member of. However, at this point you can only post to one community at a time, which can get tedious sometimes.

+1’s. +1’s are comparable to the Like (Facebook and LinkedIn) or Favorite (Twitter) on the other social networks. You can +1 a post, picture, video or page. Once you build your circles and communities, begin sharing and +1ing posts by industry leaders, companies and company employees that is relevant to the position or career path you are interested in.

Hangouts. Traveling from city to city to interview can get expensive quick. Hangouts now includes both IM (instant message) and video chat, which could cut down expenses when doing initial face-to-face interviews.

Companies, brands and influencers are also using Hangouts to one-up Twitter’s live chats. Want to watch a seminar or partake in a Q&A for your favorite brand? These are happening right now on G+! Richard Branson is a big user of Hangouts, announcing live Q&A’s regularly and even prompting visitors to his page to “Say hi to Richard!” Hangouts are a great way to learn more about a company or industry you are interested and guide you to other, similar companies you hadn’t considered yet.

Remember, with any social media network one thing is constant when reaching out to and communicating with a potential employer, coworker or industry leader: always be professional. Just because you are using a social network to communicate doesn’t mean you can use the same relaxed styles you use with your friends and family.

Don’t ruin your chance before you’ve even been given one.

Casidy Lemons

Finding A Job in the Social Jungle: Part 3

May 14, 2013 by Fidelis News & Updates 1 Comment

To continue my series on effectively using social media in your job hunt, I’m going to dive into Pinterest and Twitter this week. Is your brain on overload trying to process all the information? Need a quick refresher course? Catch up on our tips for LinkedIn and Facebook now!

Pinterest and Twitter are not the most common social job hunting tools compared to LinkedIn and Facebook, but they are another way to get your name out and show off your social skills! Let’s dive in:

Pinterest. Bored of pinning travel destinations, recipes and DIY projects? Neither am I! However, you can add another dimension to your Pinterest profile: Welcome to your professional Pinterest. Depending on your area of expertise or field of interest, you can use Pinterest as more than a home improvement and décor site.

Dress for success. Designer brands and trends are littered across Pinterest, for both women AND men. Yes, that summer sundress is cute but the office appropriate, trendy skirt and blouse are also worth pinning. Create a board for interview and office attire, but be realistic about what you are pinning; only pin outfits or styles you would realistically wear.

Pin your experience and interests. Before you create your own resume board, browse other similar boards to see what other people are doing and what stands out to you. Once you complete your research and have some of your own ideas, begin pinning your professional skills. Experienced in ERP? BioPharm? Engineering? Did you know companies within each of these industries are on Pinterest? Pin interesting articles and pins from these companies and associated boards that fit your skill set and show off your interests.

If you choose to pin your resume*, create an eye catching description. You can create a pin by scrolling over the plus sign in the upper right corner and choosing Upload a pin. This allows you to upload a file from your computer and create pin. Before you upload your resume and create a pin, make sure your resume is up-to-date and has been proofed with both spelling and grammar double checked.

*If you choose to pin your actual resume: Pin your resume at your own risk. If you do upload your resume, remove your personal contact information and create an email address specifically for your online resume; include that email as the form of contact for interested parties. Do not list the companies you have worked for, instead identify each company by the industry they are in: for Fidelis Companies, I would instead say Specialized Recruiting and Consulting Firm.

Follow job search boards. There are thousands of job search and resume tips on Pinterest. Most are in the form of creative infographics, others link to blogs just like this that walk readers through writing the perfect resume. Search for keywords like “Resume Tips,” “Job Search,” “Interview,” etc. and variations of each of those terms and follow the boards and/or users. Don’t limit yourself to the most common phrases or you’re likely to miss out of some of the best tips!

For additional tips on using Pinterest in your job hunt and tips on protecting your work and dealing with spammers, read 10 Tips: Use Pinterest to Get a Job.

Follow company boards. If a company you are interested in has a Pinterest account, follow their boards. Not only will this give you an insight to the company atmosphere, some companies post their position openings on their Pinterest profile!

Twitter is one of my personal favorite social media sites, but can you use it during your job search? Absolutely and here’s how:

Twitter. As a 140 character micro-blogging site, Twitter forces users to get to the point quickly and isn’t that what potential employers are looking for today? No fluff, just facts about your experience and abilities? With hashtags (#) and handles (@) Twitter gives users the opportunity to be as creative as possible in as few characters as possible.

Your Twitter @handle. If you’ve ever scrolled through Twitter, you’ve probably noticed some…let’s say strange user handles. Unique and individual is great, but when using Twitter as a professional or for your job search, you want to choose something that is easily identifiable and, for lack of a better phrase, grown up. Most people use their name, in some variation depending on availability, so they are easily recognizable and searchable across other social media platforms.

Twitter Bio. With an additional 20 characters in the bio area, you have 160 characters to showcase who you are. During a job search, you can use this area to your advantage and highlight your top skills and abilities. Hashtags are active in this field, so if you are looking for a position in public relations, you can hashtag key phrases used in the industry when listing your skills, i.e. “Interested in #PublicRelations. Experienced working in #crisismanagement.”

The infamous #. By adding a hashtag – or pound/number symbol for those not familiar with Twitter lingo – before a word or phrase without spaces, that word or phrase is now searchable throughout all of Twitter. Therefore, by using the example above in reference to creating your bio, you can click on #PublicRelations and view other tweets that have the same phrase hashtagged or mentioned. Interested in tips, advice and tweets of other users looking for a job on Twitter? Click on #Discover on the top bar of your Twitter profile and type in #JobSearch or #jobs. Same for Twitter, the more generic you are in your Discover search, the more results you will find.

Follow, Follow, Follow. Figure out who the top influencers are in your areas of interest and begin following them. Interested in certain companies and want to stay connected to their tweets and industry news? Follow the company accounts and company employees. If a company has employees that tweet about the company and day-to-day happenings, this is a great way to gain insight about the company atmosphere before ever stepping foot inside.

Create content. Once you’ve started following industry leaders and companies you are interested in, retweet content they post that interests you; this can be something as simple as a quote or an article the user shared. By adding a personal touch to the retweet, i.e. a comment in front of the retweet (RT), you show your followers and the original user you didn’t just robotically retweet their thought, article, blog, etc., you took time to add your personal thumbs up of the tweet.

For tips on retweet etiquette, view this article.

Once you gain your footing with Twitter, it’s time to start sending out your own tweets. Simply sharing other user’s tweets won’t cut it forever. Kick start the job search process by carefully crafting 140 character snapshots of your resume, enhanced but not overloaded with relevant hashtags, and get to tweeting!

Since you’ve already researched your areas of interest, the Discover section and followed companies and industry influencers, you are well equipped for the Twitter job search.

Professionalism applies when using both Pinterest and Twitter. When commenting, pinning and tweeting, be aware of every word you type; once it’s out in cyberspace, there’s no coming back. Imagine your social profiles as your first impression. Before you’re ever invited into a company for an interview, you can bet the interviewer has run an online search of your name, and any social profile you have can pull up in that search.

What do you want that company to know about you before ever shaking your hand?

Stay tuned next week for my final installment, where I’ll be talking about how Google+ can enhance your search!

Casidy Lemons

Finding A Job in the Social Jungle: Part 2

May 6, 2013 by Fidelis News & Updates 1 Comment

Last week I wrote about effectively using LinkedIn to find a job. Compared to other popular social media platforms, LinkedIn is viewed differently by those who actively use the site to find job applicants and professionally network. LinkedIn is viewed, out of all the social media platforms, as THE professional networking site. However, it is not the only tool available for job seekers. To view my tips on using LinkedIn for your job search, click here.

This week I’m looking at Facebook and how you can leverage your friends and their personal and professional connections to help jump start your job search.

Facebook. Have you ever heard of Dunbar’s Number? Neither had I until recently. Dunbar’s Number is a theory that says a person can realistically only deal with a limited number of friends, connections, followers, etc. due to cognitive limitations. From this theory, the recommended connection count on any social network is 150. However, I’m sure we all know several of our own Facebook friends who have over 500 or 1,000 friends. Do they actually know each of their “friends” or do they simply friend anyone they meet? The answer to that question could actually help you with your job search.

Leverage your friends. No matter your personal friend count, you can ask your friends for help during your job search. If you’re the type of person who keeps your profile private and only accepts friend requests from people you know and stay in contact with regularly, your small network could work in your favor. These people interact with you and know you personally; therefore, they want you to succeed and are the most likely to help with your search.

Most Facebook users fill in their work history on their About section. Take an afternoon and “Facebook stalk” the About section of your friends’ profiles for their work history. See a company you are interested in? Message that friend and start a conversation about the company and their experience. Is it a good company to work for? Did they like working there?

Once you receive a response and a two-way conversation is established, move on to more direct questions: Did they leave on good terms? Are they still in touch with former coworkers? Don’t ask for the inside connection or who they know in the initial message; you might not know their personal experience with the company. You also don’t want to seem like “that” person, you know the type, the “friend who wants a favor to get your foot in the door” type. When requesting information or a friendly favor, give something in return, i.e. the story of why you are looking and what interests you about this company.

Give them a reason to share and they could in return give you more information than you imagined.

Did you know, each time one of your friends’ comments or likes a post, it shows in their Timeline for all of their friends to see. Remember those friends with 500+ “friends”? This is a great way to engage more than your inner circle. Encourage your friends to share your post with their network and expand your possibilities!

Use Timeline to your advantage. Facebook has a habit of changing the site design more frequently than most users prefer. Timeline, for example, came with a lot of pros and cons when it was released. A big pro is using it to get your job search request out in the Facebook world. Posting a status update will broadcast your post to all of your friends, so when they login and scroll through their timeline, there’s your request asking for help in your job search.

Want to make it even more eye catching? Images are said to be the most interactive and engaging posts on Facebook. Add a quirky image to get their attention!

And don’t be afraid to actually ASK for help. More people will comment and interact with a post when there is a “call to action.” And calls to action aren’t just for business and brands; you want your friends’ feedback so just ask. Once they comment or like your post, it becomes visible to their network, which could expand your reach even further.

A con of Timeline is you’re newsfeed refreshes so frequently, your post could not be seen by your friends. Be cognoscente of what your friends are doing when you post your request. Are they working and can’t view Facebook at the office? Be aware and make sure your post gets the most exposure possible.

Manage your privacy. Friends with your boss or coworkers on Facebook? Announcing you are looking for a new job wouldn’t be very smart, would it? There seems be constant controversy over Facebook’s privacy controls, but they’ve recently made it easy to manage each post’s individual privacy. To the left of the Post button on status updates, photos and check-ins, you have the option for which friends can see certain content.

These settings can be set universally for your profile under Settings: Privacy, but looking for a job is a different post from “I just ate at this great new restaurant!” Make sure your settings are configured accordingly.

Want to take it a step further? Choose Custom and target specific people that you either want to or do not want to see the post(s) you are sharing.

Follow companies that interest you. Most companies, today, have a Facebook fan page, but not every company posts job openings on their Facebook site. Because there is a stigma that Facebook is not LinkedIn, there is a fine line for companies when it comes to posting interesting content or becoming a job board. They want to reach as many customers as possible, without offending fans with “spam” content such as job posts. If there is a company you are interested in but they don’t have a way to view job openings on Facebook, post on their wall asking for more information about their process or where you can find more information.

If a company has a Facebook page, most likely there is someone in charge of monitoring the page and should respond to or acknowledge your post. They may only be able to direct you to their website, but in that case there are still other outlets for finding an inside connection. (See last week’s LinkedIn blog.)

Depending on the company size, most will have contact information listed in their About section, so be sure to scan through that page. It may only be a phone number to their company operator, but sometimes they can be your best friend and help guide you to the appropriate department or point of contact.

Facebook is viewed as a no-no by most people when it comes to the job search process, but if you use it right, it could be your biggest asset. Facebook is built off of personal connections and interactions. People tend to be more honest and open to discussing real world experiences about companies and the ups, downs and how to’s of job hunting. Companies try to connect with their fans by posting relevant and interesting topics, so you could learn a lot about a company by how they handle their social presence.

Befriending your boss in your online world isn’t for everyone. Beware of your Facebook profile and how it can not only help you in the job hunt, it could just as easily destroy you. Employers are looking at social profiles of new applicants more and more, so is your profile something to be ashamed of?

Stay tuned next week for Part 3. I’ll be talking about how Twitter and Pinterest can help with the search!

Casidy Lemons

Surviving Today’s Job Market

March 19, 2013 by Fidelis News & Updates Leave a Comment

Yahoo! Finance’s The Daily Ticker posted an interview recently with John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems. DeJoria, now with a net worth of nearly $4 billion, and his business partner, Paul Mitchell, started their business in 1980 with $700. Coming up with the start-up money forced DeJoria to live out of his car for a couple of weeks. He admits he’s heard the common ‘but it was a different time then” phrase and disputes it by breaking down the inflation, unemployment and interest rates America experienced in the early 1980’s compared to the same numbers today.

Throughout the “Rags-to-Riches” interview, DeJoria shares several tips people should keep in mind when looking for work. The economy is tough and unemployment is high, but there are opportunities available if you look hard and are willing to work hard. Below, I’m going to break down DeJoria’s tips for surviving the job market.

“Don’t give up.”
DeJoria talks about a charity he supports in Los Angeles called Chrysalis. In this story, he shares how approximately 3,000 unemployed homeless people came to this charity last year looking jobs. Of the 3,000, 1,600 were able to find work through sheer dedication to the process. He also talks about 10,000 jobs available in North Dakota that cannot be filled simply because “there aren’t people to fill them with.”

Moral to the story? Be diligent in your job search. Don’t give up when the road gets a little bumpy; finding a job is a full time job in itself and you have to be dedicated to the search and the entire process.

“Be prepared for a lot of rejection.”
Surviving today’s economy means facing a lot of rejection. Most people won’t find their perfect job or career choice on their first interview. Being prepared for rejection ahead of time will help you push through the disappointment and be just as enthusiastic for the next interview.

Be the person who pushes through the rejection and understands you may not get offered the job of your dreams, but you can always prove yourself and work your way to the top.

“You can start a minimum wage job.”
A previously employed or college educated person doesn’t want to take a minimum wage job most of the time. Don’t let a minimum wage job deter you. Take the opportunity enthusiastically and let your employer know you intend to prove yourself and advance in the company. This goes for a position as a janitor or the intern and a large corporation.

Employ the same work ethic you would show in a career of your dreams to the minimum wage job. Treat each opportunity you find as a stepping stone to your dreams and your hard work ethic and dedication will pay off in the end.

“It’s getting a job.”
Taking the minimum wage job or the job you don’t think is worthy of your time isn’t beneath anyone. DeJoria says “it’s not lowering your standards, it’s getting a job.” He talks about time he spent as a janitor and how he enjoyed it so much he received a quarter an hour raise. His excitement about this job was evident in his tone of voice as he told the story, he even brags that he was a really great janitor.

DeJoria stresses, once you take the janitor job, let everyone know you plan to work hard, succeed and do everything you can to help grow their business. Take initiative and let your boss come to you with the opportunity of advancement.

“Successful people do all the things unsuccessful people don’t want to do.”
Be the successful person who is willing to work hard and get your hands dirty in order to find the job you’ve always dreamed of. Ask your employer what more can you do, prove to them you are willing to put in the time and earn the success you are looking for. “Don’t let [rejection] get to you,” says DeJoria. “If you’re prepared for it you’ll stay enthusiastic. The jobs are out there…you can get them.”

For the full interview, visit Yahoo! Finance The Daily Ticker.

Fidelis Companies certifies 14 recruiters; Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) and Certified Temporary-Staffing Specialist (CTS) designation from NAPS awarded!

February 20, 2013 by Fidelis News & Updates 2 Comments

ATLANTA, GA – 2013 – Karen Richards, CERS, President and CEO of Fidelis Companies in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, announced today that 14 recruiters have received national certification designations from the National Association of Personnel Services.

The CPC designation was awarded to Jacob Barnes, Bill Johnson, Johnny Letourneau, Charlotte Mitchell, Heath Anderson, Richard Steinfield and Jessica Thompson. The CTS designation was awarded to John Branson, Michelle Cessnun, Timothy Noakes, Bryce G. Shields, Jessica Thompson and Chris White as well as Karen Richards.

Along with the 14 newly certified recruiters, Fidelis has 5 recruiters on staff, along with Karen Richards, who were previously certified with either the CPC or the CTS certification. Those employees are: Tom McMullen, CTS, Mike Simonson, CTS, May Li, CPC, James Roberts, CPC, Trish Wyderka, CPC as well as Karen Richards, CPC.

The CPC and the CTS are the only national designations recognized globally by the personnel services and staffing industry. A CPC must be knowledgeable on employment laws and regulations, as well as the highest standard of business practices set forth by the NAPS. Today, Karen’s team joins approximately 9900 Certified individuals in the nation, a designation that began in 1961!

“Attaining national certification through the NAPS is one way our recruiters can set themselves apart from the rest,” said Karen Richards, CERS, CPC/CTS. “It ensures that industry professionals are knowledgeable on the most current employment laws, the highest ethical standards and the best business practices. This allows my team to bring that valuable expertise to our clients and candidates.

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Each year, approximately 700 candidates from nearly every state in the nation sit for the CPC and CTS exams, explained John Sacerdote, NAPS President. “The continued growth in the number of staffing professionals who are seeking certification is a strong indication of how well-regarded these designations have become to corporate clients of staffing firms.”

Certification exams are reviewed and updated as necessary to reflect current federal employment law. Highlights of the exams include: laws against discrimination; relationships with candidates and clients; reference checking; contracts; bonding; owning your own company; payroll; truth in lending; employer liability; Consumer Protection Act; as well as case studies.

For more information on the NAPS, please visit www.recruitinglife.com.

For more information on Fidelis Companies, please visit http://www.fideliscompanies.com

Fidelis Companies Launches Rebrand: New Look, Same Great Company

February 7, 2013 by Fidelis News & Updates Leave a Comment

PLANO, TEXAS, Feb. 6, 2013 – Fidelis Companies, LLC, a certified Woman Owned Business specialized in recruiting and consulting, announced today it has undergone a company rebrand, which includes a new company logo and website and the rebrand and consolidation of three separate business units, Fidelis Enterprise Solutions, Fidelis BioPharm and Advanced Communication Solutions (ACS), into one corporate identity. Fidelis Companies is now represented by three specialized divisions, Fidelis IT, Fidelis BioPharm and Fidelis Engineering, operating under one unified message:

“At Fidelis Companies, our goal is to establish long term, strategic, collaborative partnerships with our clients and candidates. Let our team find the missing piece of your team.”

“When we began moving forward with the rebrand, it was important our original company identities weren’t lost,” said Karen Richards, President and CEO of Fidelis Companies. “It’s our goal to move Fidelis into the next generation of recruiting and consulting while maintaining the connections and relationships we built in the process.”

Fidelis Companies offers contract services in their Fidelis IT, Fidelis BioPharm and Fidelis Engineering divisions and offers direct hire services in Fidelis BioPharm and Fidelis Engineering. The company’s new website will offer information for both clients and prospective consultants and candidates in the specialized areas of ERP Systems, BioPharm and Engineering, detailing each division’s area of expertise.

Along with the web based version of their website, Fidelis Companies has launched their first ever mobile version. “Rather they are traveling to and from a project or traveling to a job interview, the mobile version of our website will allow our consultants and candidates access to helpful interview tools or on-boarding documents at the touch of a button,” said Alan Butz, COO of Fidelis Companies. “We view this rebrand as an opportunity to expand our brand identity and connect with clients and the next generation of A-player consultants and candidates.”

About Fidelis Companies, LLC

Fidelis Companies is a certified Woman Owned Business based in Plano, Texas. Our recruiters and account managers are exclusively dedicated within the areas of ERP Systems, BioPharm or Engineering and offer both contract and direct hire services on a national level. This specialized approach allows us to work closely with our clients and capitalize on a large network of precisely skilled connections to deliver the optimum resource for the position. For more information, visit http://www.fideliscompanies.com.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/FidelisCompaniesRebrand13/01/prweb10298415.htm

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