Blog: Andrea Hoffman

 

Please join the Colorado Springs SHRM "Stand by Me"  Diversity Conference

The Colorado Springs Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (CSSHRM)  along with partners Colorado Springs Diversity Forum and Colorado State SHRM Council will host the 2009 CSSHRM Diversity Conference in Colorado Springs at Embassy Suites Hotel.  Social networking begins with programs on November 4th at 7:00 p.m.  The full day event on November 5th is designed to benefit organizations of all sizes who want to add value to their operations with a better understanding of diversity and inclusion practices. 

For more information please contact Shirley Martinez at 719-233-1465 or Carla Elam-Floyd at 303-628-6334, or go to website www.csshrm.org.

 

Hope to see you there!

 

The Colorado SHRM Conference next week, can you believe it?  If you’re like us…you’re excited and getting ready for a great professional education and networking event.

Over the course of the conference you’ll have the opportunity to engage in fantastic educational sessions and hear from some wonderful motivational keynote speakers like Mark Sanborn and Puruse the Passion! You’ll also have the opportunity to meet with conference sponsors, like Jobing.com – so come by and visit with us at Booth #301! If you haven't registered to attend the event, there is still time - visit www.coshrm.org to register today!

Jobing.com is proud to once again be a major sponsor of the Colorado SHRM Conference! We’ll be in the Exhibit Hall with information on exciting new products and services to help you meet your goals and even to create some new ones! Drop by and visit with us on October 1st and 2nd. You will learn why we’re much more than just a job board and why we should be your first choice for Local Talent!
The conference photos will be uploaded to http://www.flickr.com/groups/coloradohr. We will be uploading photos at the conference so that you can see the photos immediatley!

For more information watch the official conference video! See you soon!

There are lots of resources out there offering resume tips that will help you get that first interview.  Check out this list of common mistakes and make sure you avoid them.  Get in the door for that first interview and show them you’ve got what it takes!

Mistake 1 – Focusing Too Much on Responsibilities – Yes, you should be noting what you did but make sure you also mention the results.  Instead of saying made 60 sales calls per day, say made 60 sales calls per day to establish 5 leads and set 1 appointment.  Instead of saying created an automated billing system, say created an automated billing system which saved the company $500,000 per year in administrative costs.

Mistake 2 – Spelling, Formatting and Punctuation Errors – Right or wrong these errors tell the recruiter your attention to detail is lacking.  Perform spell checks, have friends review it and proof it yourself several days later.

Mistake 3 – Focusing on Yourself and Not the Employer – People tend to get wrapped up in describing themselves and their past work experiences.  Winning resumes indicate to the employer what you can do for them.  Of course you have to include both but make sure you comment on how your skills apply.  This is particularly important on cover letters as well.

Mistake 4 – Having Only One Version of Your Resume – In a perfect world, each resume you submit will be customized and sent with a customized cover letter.  It is amazing how much this will help.  At a minimum have several resumes ready for varying types of jobs.  A friend of mine recently created more than five versions…standard sales, sales job for which he’s slightly under qualified, sales job requiring management experience, sales job requiring travel, etc.

Mistake 5 – Gimmicks –  Rarely will using bright paper, unique layouts or crazy fonts get you an interview you wouldn’t have received anyway.  Recruiters are busy.  Send them a resume and cover letter they don’t have to decipher before getting to the details.

Contributed By:   Senior Vice President of People & Talent of Jobing.com, Nicole Spracale

I am often asked this. I mean, after all - does it really make a difference, is it really of value?

For me, the answer is yes! I truly believe getting your certification is of value and can make a difference in both securing employment, while providing you a level of credibility among your peers and with your employer (current and future). As a professional in any field, taking the time to earn appropriate certifications and maintain them is important. We often look for accountants to have a CPA, and project managers have their PMP. So shouldn't an HR professional do the same?

Of course, if the certification itself and body of knowledge that comes from preparing for and completing the certification exam doesn't have value to you as an individual, then taking the test is just an exercise in regurgitating information. If your passion isn't to be the best you can be in the profession, then this test and the re-certification process will take a great deal of time that is better suited towards exploring something that will help you be the best at what you aspire to do.

I won't lie - the test is challenging, it isn't just a no-brainer fill-in-the-bubble exercise. By preparing for the exam either through the SHRM learning system, a local certification course, or by going through one of the published study guides you can purchase at most bookstores, along with meeting the experience guidelines that are provided via the HRCI website, you will put yourself in the best position to succeed. As a bonus, the study process will probably re-familiarize you with some aspect of the HR practice that you either have not touched in a while, or haven't yet worked with in your career - which certainly can pay you immediate dividends even before you sit for the exam.

I passed my PHR exam many years ago, and then took my SPHR exam a few years later. To this day I still say with pride that I am a certified professional, and I work to stay current with my certification. Do I believe it added value for me? Absolutely! Which is why I always recommend the process to anyone who is passionate about their career in Human Resources.

Following virtually every interview you’ll be asked, “What questions do you have for me?”  Do you know what to ask?  Do you know what not to ask?  This is a critical time of the interview where you must perform.  You have the opportunity to show you’ve thought about the job and what is important to you.  Asking good questions can set you apart from other applicants.  Asking bad questions can drop you from consideration.  My suggestion is to have several written down and ready to ask prior to your interview.  Even if the interviewer has already covered your questions you can still go through your list to show you were prepared.  Mention to them what your questions were.  Have the interviewer elaborate on a couple of them.

A few good questions to ask:

• Why do you like working here?

• What do successful people in your organization have in common?

 

• What is the company culture like?

• What values does the organization hold most important?

• Why do customers do business with you instead of your competitors?

• Where do you see the business five years from now?

• Is there anything you’d change about the company?

Best of luck in your first interview! Stay tuned for more interview tips.

 

 

 

In our effort to continue to help job seekers and employers connect in Colorado Springs we have now partnered with the Southern Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce. Now more than ever it is crucial to network to find a job in this business climate. This chamber is a great outlet for you to build new relationships so that you can find your next employer.

Here are more reasons to get involved:

Support for women in business. As the SCWCC's mission states, the Chamber's purpose is to support, develop, and promote women in business through education, information exchange, partnerships, and alliances with other organizations promoting commerce, and to create opportunities for women in business.

Network. The primary reason most business people join a business organization is for the networking opportunities. SCWCC monthly luncheons and annual networking breakfasts provide great opportunities to network. Members frequently comment they particularly enjoy the smaller more intimate gatherings of the SCWCC because they have more meaningful interactions and don't feel like just a face in the crowd.

Programs. Designed to teach women how to maximize their economic and leadership opportunities, topics include civic and community issues, leadership and subjects relevant to today's career professional.

SCWCC regularly polls the membership for areas of interest and suggestions, and plans accordingly.

Community involvement. SCWCC recognizes outstanding contributions to our local business community through its Business Person of the Year Award program.

SCWCC supports Girl Scouts, the premier leadership development program for girls, through scholarship donations.

As a member of the Chamber Coalition, SCWCC actively participates with other regional chambers to produce the annual Diversity Awards Luncheon to recognize local companies and organizations with innovative diversity programs.

The SCWCC has taken the lead in developing a Women's Summit to increase the voice and influence of women in our community by bringing together representatives from a variety of women's organizations in the Pikes Peak region.

A place for everyone. The Women's Chamber has a diverse membership, including people from all types of business and non-profit organizations, whether owners or employees, female or male. It is an organization in which everyone can feel welcome and fully participate as a member.

For more information on how to get involved visit: www.scwcc.com

 

A lot of people ask me what NOT to do at a job fair.  Below are my suggestions.

 
What not to do at a job fair:

    * Do not underestimate the opportunity - Job fairs have booths staffed with HR professionals. These are the people who have a direct say in who will be hired. Treat this opportunity as a first interview. Dress professionally and come prepared.


    * Do not show up with out a plan - It is important to use your time wisely by selecting a top 20 list of employers to visit. Research these companies and their open positions prior to the event.

    * Do not ask the employer questions that can be answered by the information on their website - Employers want candidates who are prepared, professional and serious about their openings. If you ask a question that can be answered from the company website, it shows you did not take the time to do your homework

    * Do not have a bad attitude - we know times are tough right now, but a job fair is not the place to discuss this. Please do not disclose personal or financial issues to the employers. They want employees who will bring a positive attitude and work ethic into their workplace. A negative attitude can be contagious and not welcome by employers.

    * Do not attend without your 30 commercial prepared - Job fairs are not only for job seekers to learn about employers, but for employers to learn about the candidates. Be sure you can sum up what you are looking for and why you are a great candidate concisely in 30 seconds.

    * Do not expect to just drop off your resume - many organizations have applicant tracking systems in place to manage the hiring process. This means the recruiters may ask you to submit your resume online. Rather than use the job fair as a resume drop off, use it as an opportunity to get first hand information from someone who knows what it's like to work there.

    * Do not forget to follow-up - send a hand written thank you note to all the employers you met with. Even if a company do not have the right position for you today, they may in the near future. Always work to make a positive impression. Address the conversations you had in your cover letters. Remind the employer of who you are and discuss something you learned about the company from the event. This will help the employer see why you would be a great fit for the organization.

 

Best of luck at your next job fair!

by Karen Austin, Jobing Career Services - Denver

Frequently, your resume acts as your first impression with potential employers.  Resume and coaching services can help you put your best foot forward.  In addition to the many services and partners we support in the community, we have added this tool as another way for you to get the type of quality resume writing and career coaching you need in a competitive market.

Who benefits the most from career coaching/resume writing?
      Job Seekers that...

    *     are returning to their job search after a period of absence.
    *     need a boost in results.
    *     need a professional review.
    *     are changing careers.
    *     need to target their results.
    *     need a complete professional package to launch a new job search.
    *     need an edge in this competitive market.



My job search is a lot of work, what can save me time?
Whether you use professional services or not, we hope you find and use as many tools from our site and from our partners. Casting a wide net by using many resources (online and off) will help you remove as many barriers as you can, between yourself and your next job.  Work hard to make sure you keep refining and improving your resume, networking, interviewing ,and negotiating skills - and you have a much better chance of a quick, successful search.

Interested?  Come visit our Career Services page to learn more.

Best wishes to you in your search from Jobing Career Services!

posted Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:38 AM
by Brett Farmiloe, Pursue the Passion - Denver

Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, and 4,000 other social media tools.  How do you use this social media stuff to benefit your business?

Why? 

If you're not taking advantage of social media for recruiting and employment branding, you're missing out on a world of opportunity.  That’s why we’ve decided to launch Jobing Social Media Solutions. 

What?

Jobing Social Media Solutions will help you build your social recruiting platform quickly and easily with our industry-leading social media tools.  It is essentially social media outsourcing at its finest.

How?

Whether you need a little assistance or a lot of help, Jobing Social Media Solutions is here to help you build and maintain your employment brand online.
Here are just a few of the services we can offer you:

·     Recruitment Social Media Assessment

·     Account Creation Management

·     Account Integration

·     Social Media Training

·     Account Promotion Strategy & Implementation

Who?

Brett Farmiloe and Zach Hubbell are the social media managers for Jobing.com.  They consistently consult with companies, organizations, and associations on how to incorporate and implement a social media strategy that best benefits their business.    They’ve created over 1,000 Twitter accounts as a part of the Jobing.com social media strategy and provided internal training for each of the Jobing.com community team members. They are a couple of Gen Y’ers who frequently speak on the topic of how to use social media to attract and retain top talent. They are about as expert as can one can be in the emerging social media field.

Where?

To get more information and have either Brett or Zach contact you to assess your social media needs, please go to http://denver.jobing.com/socialmedia and fill out the contact form.

Contributed by Mike Faber, Faber Communications

Asking for referrals strikes most professionals as...unprofessional. It can feel like a plea of desperation, or somehow beneath us. You can "kick start" referral generation efforts in your office with a simple shift in perspective. Here's how:

1. Referrals are only about helping more people. Asking for a referral is how you extend the reach of your expertise and wisdom. The world would be a better place if more people availed themselves of that expertise and wisdom.

2. Only ask for referrals from people you enjoy working with. These should be the clients who brighten your day when they enter your office, or call you on the phone.

3. Send a hand-written thank-you note for every referral. There are several services out there that will create computer generated "faux" hand-written notes. From a volume standpoint, those services can be valuable; say when you're sending holiday cards. Referrals come from individuals though, not en masse, and so your response should be individual.

4. Preface your referral request with a sincere compliment. That might sound like "Jerry, I value your trust in me, and I don't say it enough but I really appreciate your business. Given that my practice depends on referrals, may I ask you to think of two or three names of folks who you trust, who might benefit from hearing from me?"

5. Make an appointment to ask for referrals. Scheduling this simple task in your calendar keeps it top of mind throughout the day. Develop relationships with like-minded business-people in other walks of life; ask them how they generate referrals from existing clients.

Asking for a referral should be a pleasure. It's a compliment to the client, because you are letting them know that they are your "model" working relationship. One note: referrals are not a quid pro quo. If you're asking for referrals and the response is "I'll give you one if you give me one", then you're asking the wrong person!

Colorado Springs Employers Are Hiring! DeVry University in partnership with Pikes Peak Workforce, Peterson Airman and Family Readiness Center will host a career fair with 30+ local employers on Thursday, May 28. Confirmed employers include ITT Systems, Booze Allen Hamilton, Aflac, and Humana Military – all looking to meet face-to-face with qualified applicants. In addition to job opportunities, attendees can participate in free career workshops. Career Fair 10 - 2 p.m. Workshops 8 - 4 p.m.

Time: Thursday, May 28 8:00a to 4:00p

Location: 1175 Kelly Johnson Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO, 80920

 

 

Provided by Phil Chipouras with What's Next Career Transition Services

The job market in Denver is a tough market to crack, especially as a Boomer.  What's Next Career Transition Services has the primary mission of supporting Baby Boomers who are willing to invest in their future by learning how to better master the job search process.  To be competitive in this job market, it takes more than just having years of on-the-job experience; it takes focus, and solid game plan and an ability to sell one’s value with confidence.

What's Next Career Transition Services provides the structure, framework, information and support to successfully compete in this market.  We offer a full range of fee for service programs that include assessments and effective resumes to creating value propositions and developing a professional strategic plan.  We will give you new insights, and a focus to increase your success in finding and successfully interviewing for a job you want.  In addition What's Next services will help you use the best resources in Denver to accomplish your career objectives.

If you are willing to invest in your future, develop a plan for, and to take control of your search, give us a call at (303) 565-1521 or visit us at www.whatsnextconsulting.net and move you closer to finding the job you want and deserve.

Townsend Retirement Specialists cordially invites you to attend ...

Re-Inventing Boomers For Re-Hire

 
"Lemons Into Margaritas”

Discover practical solutions and strategies to remain competitive in today's job market through a variety of professional experts.  This unique event brings together nationally recognized speakers to offer insight into such topics as personal branding, interviewing techniques, resume writing, social networking, compensation and financial planning that will assist you in achieving your potential.  You'll also have the opportunity to meet and network with other area professionals-establishing relationships that will be valuable to you long after the event has ended.

Featuring Mark McIntosh
Co-host of KUSA-TV's "Colorado and Company," Comeback Coach and author, Mark McIntosh; Career Placement Advisor, Phil Chipouras; Social Networking Guru and President of Knebl Communications, Kevin Knebl; President of YourBrandPlan, David Sandusky; and President of Townsend Retirement Specialists, Jeff Townsend.

 
DON'T MISS THIS EXCITING OPPORTUNITY!!!

Featuring: 24 Hour Fitness, Macy's (Dressing for success), Men's Warehouse, Jobing.com, Denver Business Journal, Fran Network (Franchising expert); Health Insurance experts; AND MANY MORE!

There will be drawings for prizes and giveaways at this event.  Dont' Delay!  Sign up now, as seating is limited.
THIS EVENT IS FREE, BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Networking and Margaritas will take place during the last hour of this event!

When:
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 from 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM (MT)

Where:
The Summit Event Center
411 Sable Boulevard North
Aurora, CO 80011

To register click here:http://www.townsendexpo.eventbrite.com/

 

While the registration for the 2009 Best Companies to Work For in Colorado has closed, it is not too late to promote your products and services at the Celebration Awards Banquet and the pre-gala workshop on July 31st hosted by SHRM Colorado State Council, ColoradoBiz magazine and Jobing.com or at the finalists’ reception on July 31st.
 
Sponsors are listed with web links on both the Colorado SHRM State Council and ColoradoBiz magazine websites, are listed in the event program, and may have an opportunity to speak at the event as well as advertise depending on the sponsorship level among other benefits.  Past sponsors have found it to be a great PR opportunity because of the opportunity to have their name in front of top company executives and human resource professionals.  The finalists’ reception is a great networking event honoring the best of the best from around the state. 

For more information, log onto coshrm.org and click on Best Companies/Sponsorship Opportunities or contact Christina Firouztash at 720-212-2034.

 

Registration is now open for attendees and exhibitors to attend the
2009 SHRM Colorado State Conference!

Save money by registering early.  Early Bird Registration ends April 15, 2009!  Go to www.coshrm.org now to register!

Register now for the 2009 SHRM Colorado State conference "Elevate to Excellence," held at the beautiful Keystone Resort & Conference Center.   Experience the beauty and serenity of Keystone while you “Elevate to Excellence” in your skills and career, learn from recognized leaders in their fields, develop new networking opportunities, earn 7.5 strategic credits for SPHR recertification, and have fun.

The Conference will officially kick-off Thursday morning, October 1st, and conclude mid-day Friday, October 2, 2009.  Pre-Conference events will take place on Wednesday, September 30th.

We are vey proud to announce our keynote speakers:


•    Mark Sanborn is known internally as a motivation speaker.  Mark is listed by www.LeadershipGurus.net as one of the top fifteen leadership experts in the world.  He is the author of The Fred Factor and The Encore Effect, and has created more than two dozen video and audio training programs on leadership, change, teamwork, and customer service.


•    Pursue the Passion is an organization started by a group of college students focused on getting people to think differently about their career paths.  Following graduation, not knowing what to do, they started interviewing people about their career paths.  They found a sponsor in Jobing.com, bought an RV, and started exploring the possibilities.  16,000 miles and hundreds of interviews later, their concept turned into a flagship program of the Jobing.com Foundation.

Go to www.coshrm.org for more information and to register today!