Melinda Holm & Associates Blog

• 19Jan

  Meet and Greet

  Job Advice No Comments

  I have the pleasure of interviewing many candidates for Melinda Holm & Associates, both by phone and in person. I enjoy talking with our candidates and love meeting new people, so while speaking with you on the phone is great, the chance to actually meet you is something I really look forward to.

  I am rather old school about these things and believe that nothing beats face-to-face. Learning to use a blackberry and wireless computer was a traumatic experience for me and I am, according to my son, incapable of checking/doing text messages or even remembering the feature exists at all. So, for me, sitting across a table with a live person and chatting is far superior to any form of electronic communication.

  The chance to hear, up close and personal, how individual careers take shape, how your lives and goals evolve, what you want and what goes into your career choices helps us to help you as you progress in your career. An in-person meeting helps build a relationship and a level of trust with your recruiter and greatly enhances the job search process and our ability to represent you to our clients.

  So, the next time we talk by phone or email and you have not had the opportunity to meet one of us, let’s set it up! (But not by a text message!)

• 18Jan

  I Never Thought I would like Yoga!

  About Us No Comments

  I am someone who really likes to get a strenuous workout and sweat – running and cycling are my two favorite activities. Kickboxing is great too! So, when I decided to start taking yoga, I was somewhat skeptical that it would be something I would be interested in pursuing. As a company, we decided that every Tuesday starting in January 2012, we would have a yoga instructor come to our offices for an hour and anyone interested could participate for a nominal hourly rate.

  It has been great! Yoga is something I now look forward to each week. I have found it is not only a good work out, using muscles I may not use in other activities, but it also clears my mind. The stress I am feeling seems to go away as the teacher puts us through different poses. She also has us concentrate on something we want to get out of yoga – feeling stronger, more competent, and more positive, whatever your goal might be. And, the stretching exercises complement the running and spinning I do as well.

  It has also been a fun and positive activity for my office. Each week about eight of us are ready to go and come out feeling great (or so they tell me)! Our yoga instructor has been great too, and very accommodating in creating a schedule that works for all of us.

  Now for the weekly massages…

  Our Yoga Instructor
  Katie Thomas
  kathrynrenee@gmail.com
  www.meetkatiethomas.com

• 19Sep

  Buzzwords…Jargon…What????

  Job Advice No Comments

  I was reviewing a series of resumes the other day when I came across one that had a series of industry “buzzwords” in it. For the life of me, I had no idea what this person was talking about. So, just as I was about to go to the next resume I thought – no, wait a minute. I’m going to figure this out. So, I went to that source of ALL KNOWLEDGE that every inquiring person goes to, GOOGLE, which, of course, took me to Wikipedia.

  So I read the article on that particular phrase, and when I finished, I said to myself, “I have no clue what I just read”! Then I noticed a tag line at the end of the Wikipedia article which said “This article has too many buzzwords!!”

  So, back to the resume which sent me to Google in the first place. What was I to do?

  There are many, many people in this world who know exactly what you do and how you do it. They will read your resume, smile and nod and be totally illuminated on your skills and goals. But there is also a vast SEA of individuals who just know GENERALLY what you do. These are the people who you hope will pass your resume on to those people who really understand you. That vast SEA might not take the time to go to their on-line or off-line dictionary of choice.

  So, try doing a buzzword or jargon check. Oh, I know that in this world of computers, “key word searches” are important. But there will be times when an actual person will look at your resume. Clarify, define or simplify if you can, at least some of those industry phrases. Perhaps you could provide a quick explanation of what you do included with the industry phrase to further explain it in layman’s terms. With so many new terms out there, and new ones coming all the time, this can be very helpful for your reader.

  And while you are doing a review of industry buzzwords and jargon, do an acronym check as well.

  No…wait, never mind. Don’t get me started on acronyms. That is a subject for another blog.

• 26Aug

  Get “Over” the Whelmed!

  Job Advice No Comments

  

  Overwhelmed? I confess it happens to me sometimes. So, how do you avoid it and what do you do about it when it happens?

  Being overwhelmed leads to high levels of stress, resulting in the fight or flight response. This is not very useful in the modern office environment. So, if you are feeling stressed, it can be useful to get out and run. At least take a walk or have a swim to burn off that extra adrenalin.

  Find another project to work on. Don’t just focus on one thing all day or you’ll drive yourself crazy.

  Daily Plan: I have recently started a Daily Plan. Sometimes it doesn’t change but it keeps me focused and moving! Don’t cross off items as you finish. Highlight, as in highlight your accomplishments.

  Get some rest, the experts say. Yeah right! I can’t sleep half the time due to worrying about my work load or things in my personal life. I increased my level of fitness by planning regular exercise. Even just that decent night’s sleep will help you regain a healthy perspective. The source of stress must be dealt with, or the fight or flight response gives way eventually to burning out.

  Invest an evening or a half day in catching up. The harsh reality is that it is going to need an additional push from you to get back on top of things, but it is an investment of time that will be returned to you. Procrastination certainly isn’t the answer, even though your brain might want it to be.

  Exercise: If your workload is mental, make sure there is physical work to balance it.

  So Please Remember: Once you have rested, through that early night or short break, book that block of time to catch up. This might mean getting into the office very early for one or two days, a trick which can be amazingly effective. You might choose to stay very late one day instead. Just don’t burn the candle on both ends at once. Use this additional work time exclusively for that backlog list. With some focused effort, you will churn through it quickly. As you feel the load lightening, your daily productivity will pick up and you’ll soon be permanently back on track. Now you can focus on staying there, and enjoying life!

• 19Aug

  BIG vs. small

  Job Advice No Comments

  

  I’m still a fairly new addition here, coming from the BIG scary world of banking. As most people know banks are not the most secure companies to work for at this time and I was, oh so fortunate enough to be working for one of the “lucky banks” that was taken over by the FDIC. So, after 6 years in banking, I chose to leave and pursue a new career path that landed me here at Melinda Holm & Associates!

  I have been here for 8 months now and have come to realize there are many differences working for a company with 500-1000 employees to our office here of 11. For those of you wondering if it was an easy career choice or even the smartest one, the answer is NO. This doesn’t mean I dislike what I do or feel I made a mistake. It just simply means that there are many differences that I was not prepared for when making the change.

  So, for those of you considering a switch or just plain wondering what the differences are because you have not worked for both types of companies. Here are some fun facts:

  In a company with so many employees your opinion and ideas are not always heard or taken into account. There are a lot of layers, procedures, proofing, and regulations that have to be met and approved to even get your idea considered or opinion heard. While at a smaller company your voice is heard and your idea is considered. You are relied on and an equal team member no matter what your title is. You are also able to get immediate answers to your questions/problems instead of having to call around or wait until the appropriate person is available to get back to you.

  Being in a smaller company each person’s role is strongly dependent on another’s. There is less room for error and you are relied on heavily to make sure you are keeping up with your work flow. While in a bigger company there are a lot of other people doing the same job and a lot of people behind the scenes prepped and ready to fix your errors in the event they are made.

  In a smaller company you are recognized more for your achievements and progress, which is always nice. However, even though you may be great and excel in your position there is not always the opportunity for advancement. In a bigger company, in the event of recognition you have a lot more opportunities for advancement.

  In bigger companies you can’t help but to sometimes feel like you’re a number and that you are fighting to keep your spot. You never quite know what is going on in the bigger picture of the company. You could be told the company is doing fine, but the reality is it may be a sinking ship and only certain individuals know and can see it coming. This is not to say that in a smaller company you are secure either. You just have more of an idea of where you stand as well as where the company stands. You can see the trends. You know when things are going well, when work is steady or overwhelming and you know when things are not doing so well, when things have tremendously died down. You have a better idea of when the possibility of change that could affect you directly may need to be made.

  Last but certainly not least, I think one of the biggest differences going from a bigger company to a smaller one is benefits. In bigger companies the benefits are usually a lot better, than smaller ones. This isn’t a dig at small businesses, just a fact. Bigger companies often have a lot more affordable coverage on health plans and better 401k programs. Smaller companies have coverage as well it just costs more for you and it is also not cheap for them.

  Overall there is no win or lose in either size company. It comes down to you as an individual and where you thrive at best. Some people excel in bigger companies and enjoy the fight to get to the top. Others may just simply enjoy the smaller company where they feel comfortable. It’s really all your own perspective. As for me personally, I have learned I can work in both. I don’t like or dislike one more than another. Although there are many times I miss the fight, I have taken on a new chapter and am learning to thrive in a new environment!

• 04Aug

  Email Signatures

  Client Advice, Job Advice No Comments

  Name
  Never assume the recipient knows who you are. Always use your first and last name. If you go by a nickname but have your given name on a resume, then you can sign with your nickname and enter your full name a line or two below that:

  Jim
  James Smith

  Company Name
  Company names should be placed under your name, never before it.

  Email Address
  You do not have to label your email address since it looks like an email address. Your email address isn’t required since you have just sent an email from it. However, you should correspond with only one email address. Do not provide more than one email address and do not put an email address in your signature that is different than the one you are sending your correspondence from UNLESS you are telling the recipient to use your new email address.

  Phone Numbers
  It is always a good thing to provide at least one phone number. It is also a good thing to label whether your phone number is a home, mobile, work, or fax number. You do not need to label your number “phone” or “telephone” since it already looks like a telephone number. Also provide your Skype address. Finally, use the proper format for your phone numbers. In the US it’s “(123) 456-7890″ or, if you are sending your emails internationally, it’s “+1 (123) 456-7890.”

  Physical Addresses
  When providing a location, you can keep it to just city, state, and zip code. If you expect “snail” mail, then you can also provide a street address. For proper formatting of physical addresses, see Contact Information on Resumes.

  Hyperlinks
  You can provide hyperlinks to your company, personal website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. For professional emails, only provide hyperlinks to necessary sites. If your blog is a personal blog, then don’t provide a link to it. If your personal website has samples of your work, then do provide a link to it. For several sites, you may use the logos of the site instead of the actually URL address. If you are using multiple logos for these site, then make sure the size of all the logos are the same. When providing links, avoid using the “http://” in your text if possible.

  Logos
  Company or personal logos should be placed below your name and contact information, but can be above or below your hyperlinks.

  What “NOT” to Put in your Email Signature

  • Pictures of yourself.
  • Multiple fonts.
  • Videos, sounds, or flashing elements.
  • Quotes (which can be offensive to the reader)

• 27Jul

  Live Healthy Bike Ride (Forest Park, IL)

  Uncategorized No Comments

  Live Healthy Bike Ride (Forest Park, IL)

  
  Bring the Whole family, your Bike & Helmet

  Join us each Saturday at 8 AM,

  Starting August 13, 2011

  We will meet at the Parking Lot of The Forest Park Community Center
  7640 Jackson Boulevard

  We will Bike the Illinois Prairie Path round trip out to Elmhurst and back.

  For more information and to RSVP,
  Please leave your contact information
  on The Live Healthy voice mail at (708) 343-6576

  www.livehealthyforestpark.net
  Live Healthy Forest Park, 517 DesPlaines Ave, Forest Park, IL 60130, (708) 343-6576
  

• 21Jul

  To Answer or Not to Answer…….

  Job Advice No Comments

  Attracting and recruiting good people is a high priority of mine. In fact, I dedicate over half my time – formally and informally – to it.

  Keep in mind though that many people don’t understand what a recruiter does and doesn’t do. It differs from country to country, but for the most part, the following is true: recruiters are not agents for candidates; they are agents for clients. To put it another way: recruiters don’t find jobs for people; they find people for jobs.

  MYTH: The only real way you are going to get any recruiter’s attention is if, based on timing, you happen to come along with the right requirements for a position they’re actively trying to fill.

  Be pro-active. Every email/voicemail you receive should be replied to in a timely manner EVEN if you are NOT interested.

  It takes 10 times less effort for someone to respond to you via email than via voicemail. Not to mention more productive. This is why you should always include your email address in any voicemail you leave. By doing so, you dramatically increase your chances of getting a response, and as a result, getting into a future dialog with the person. I respond to 100% of the email I get.

  Depending one what statistics you look at, some say It takes on average between 60 – 120 days to fill most searches, and some say 90 – 180 days. If you’re not sending your resume to recruiters or hiring authority/executives at least once a quarter, then you are going to miss out on opportunities from a timing perspective. And follow-up by email. As I’ve said, don’t simply leave voicemails for people – they require more time and effort to respond to than email.

• 15Jul

  Have You Seen This?

  Advertising Reviews No Comments

  Happy Friday!! When doing a Google search for some examples of extraordinarily conceptual ads, I stumbled up on this link (40 Conceptual Print Ads – Creativity with concept!) and had to share. Of the 40 in the collection, I find it hard to pick a favorite – and struggle to even pick my Top 5. Always a fan of a good out of home campaign – the McDonald’s Coffee pot/light pole and Panasonic nose trimmer were stand-outs to me. Which is your favorite?

  Thanks Graphic Design Blog for the great find and reminding us all what we like so much about advertising! I hope you enjoy!! And if you have any other ads or links to share, let us know. We love this stuff!!

• 30Jun

  Social Media Jobs: Things to Keep in Mind

  Client Advice, Job Advice No Comments

  I know, I know. How many more things do you have to read about social media? Well, you better sit tight because this area of marketing is not going away and it’s only going to blow up even more over the next couple years. It’s kind of like reality TV: cheap and addictive. So, naturally it’s a very effective way to reach consumers. Companies have caught on and are now carving out positions within their marketing and agency teams devoted specifically to social media.

  “Social Media Strategist” and “Social Media Manager” titles are appearing everywhere and becoming highly sought after. From a recruiting perspective, there are a couple of things both clients and candidates should know when these types of opportunities surface.

  It’s important that all those involved have a clear understanding of the goals associated with these positions. Keeping in mind that social media is still a new marketing tool for many companies and there are a variety of elements that go into creating a social media campaign. Are you looking for someone to actually execute a social media campaign? Do you want someone who can come up with the strategy based on your target audience? Do you want an experienced writer who can manage a blog? Do you need them to do all of the above? All of these details will help determine which candidates are best suited for the position.

  Candidates should also realize that social media campaigns go way beyond shooting out a few clever tweets every day. Just because you have a Facebook account does not mean you can list “proficient in social media” on your resume. Again, since social media positions are still fairly new, it’s not necessary that you have a social media job title when you apply for a position, but you should have a strong understanding of digital and emerging media.

  Now I need to check into Foursquare at the restaurant I’m trying with my Groupon that my friend on Facebook tweeted about. #AmIRight?

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