These days you’ve probably seen a great deal of material online about “personal branding” or “branding your job search.” Both of these refer to the same subject, which is essentially to use certain marketing tactics to enhance your job search by associating yourself with certain concepts, such as extensive experience or a particular skill.

Not every job seeker has picked up on branding yet, although many scratch the surface of it without even realizing it by repeating a tagline or brief objective on their resume and online profiles. This is just one small part of “branding,” however…you can take it (and your job search) a great deal further!

The first step to branding is to pick a target. Think about the kind of job you really want, and the sort of company that may offer it. For example, if you want a job in a big corporation you’ll be applying through their human resources department, and they are probably tougher to impress than a small business owner who’s looking for help. (We can help you with the HR managers, since we know exactly what kinds of things they want!)

Once you know who you’re trying to reach, keep it in mind while you come up with a few concepts to associate yourself with. You might pick your particular specialty, or a past achievement of note, or a trait (such as reliability or efficiency) that you know your target wants. Keep it simple and stick to a handful of these.

With your concepts in hand, your next job is to write or re-write your resume and be sure to address the associations directly. Don’t be repetitive and don’t be afraid to occasionally replace them with alternate words (reliability can also be responsibility; efficiency is all about time management) to avoid sounding redundant. When your resume is done, update all of your online profiles to reflect it, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and any other public profile an employer might find.

Next…keep the associations going! Make sure your public updates reflect the qualities that you’ve chosen. If your resume and profile “reflect” these qualities, then posting content that suggests them “projects” it, making you easier (and more interesting) to find!

If you’d like help getting started with your personal brand, be sure to contact us and we’ll guide you through it.

Networking is a tricky skill. Some people seem to be able to build a network without even trying, while others struggle to meet the right people. Many people overlooking staffing agencies as an opportunity to network, but the reality is that it’s our job to hook you up with the kind of people who can hire you! Think of it this way: who’s more likely to know a hiring manager than someone who works at a staffing firm that works with hiring managers?

So come visit us first, and we can talk about your desired job or industry and how to get started. We can do a lot to spotlight you as a job candidate, but we can’t build your network for you, so the next steps when introduced are yours!

1. Make the right first impression. Dress for the job you want, and make sure your outfit fits and is clean! Let your excitement to meet the person show through your face by smiling, leaning in to shake their hand, and focusing all your attention on them. Avoid crossing your arms, fussing with your hair or face, and other distracting body language.

2. Keep the impression going. Spend some time researching the company and perhaps even the person you’re meeting with. You can learn a lot from someone’s LinkedIn profile, and it may help you determine the best way to approach them or answer your questions.

3. Follow up! A hand-written note impresses many, but a quick email will arrive faster (and may be easier to remember). Unless the contact suggests that you call them, it’s usually better not to— a note or an email allows them to respond to you on their own time, while a phone call puts them on the spot.

Remember: every time you meet someone, professionally or personally, they could potentially become a business contact! Keep your cards on you and be ready at a moment’s notice to switch into Professional Mode! Contact us and we’ll help get you ready for networking, job interviews, and more.

Job seekers question relevance of cover letters in the digital age, but here’s the skinny: When you’re working with a staffing professional all that matters is if the job requires one! Be sure to read all the sections below for a thorough understanding of what a cover letter is and isn’t, why they’re important, and how to set about writing one.

What is a Cover Letter?
When applying for a job, employers may ask you to send in a cover letter with your resume or application. Your resume is about you: your skills, your experience. By contrast, the cover letter is all about the company and job you’re applying to. You get to explain specifically why you are the right person for the job, not just in terms of your skills but also in terms of your personal and cultural “fit” with the company.

Why do I Need a Cover Letter?
Imagine that you need a plumber to come to your house. You call a plumber, but rather than explain what he can do for you, the plumber only talks about how what a great guy he is and how he is looking for work like yours. To an employer who requests a cover letter, this is what it feels like when someone sends in a resume with no cover letter! You need to discuss what you can offer their company in as much detail as possible. For example, if they’re looking for someone to reorganize their filing system, and you’ve done this before, a cover letter is a great place to talk about how effectively you can perform this task for them.

How do I Write a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is written in a letter form, so start with a salutation. For example, “Dear Mr. Smith” (if you know the name of the person you are sending your application materials to) or “To Whom it May Concern,” if you don’t.

Next, write two or three paragraphs about your fit for the job. Be sure to go over all of the requirements listed thoroughly and address as many of them as you can, providing specific examples to showcase your aptitude for the position. NOTE: We say two or three paragraphs, but the job listing may say to include a “short” cover letter or a “detailed” one. Stick to the length they ask for!

Finish the letter with a closing. Here are a few you might consider:
- Best wishes,
- Kind regards,
- Many thanks,
- Respectfully yours,

Then type out your name and appropriate contact information, with each piece of info on a new line. For example:

Jane Doe
(555)123-4567
1894 Sherwood Lane
Anytown, State 19032
jane.doe@gmail.com

Now for the most important part of writing your cover letter: read it over again. If you can, get a friend or two to look it over for typos, unfinished sentences, errors, etc. You want this letter to be as perfect and polished as your resume!

If you’re sending the cover letter by email, you can copy and paste the letter into your email. Avoid any fancy fonts or formats to make this simple. If the job ad specifically requests that you attach the letter, do so, and stick to standard formats like a word .doc or PDF. Keep in mind that employment agencies can more readily save your .doc to their database for future consideration. If you’re mailing an application or turning it in by hand, print it out and get it out as soon as you can.

Have questions or need help? Be sure to contact Dallas Employment Services today!

When writing a cover letter, for example, it’s best to talk about these 3 things: 1. The company, 2. Your skills, 3. The potential benefits of combining the two. It’s VERY important to avoid talking only about yourself. Highlight your education, skills and abilities in a professional way by being confident yet humble. We suggest that you NEVER tell your potential employer that they have to EARN any of your skills. This makes you seem arrogant in the perception that they are undeserving of what you have to offer them, which ultimately sheds a negative light on you.

A better road to take would be to humbly tell them of your confidence in your abilities and follow up by showing them (in the cover letter if possible, or in the interview). In addition, before you brag about yourself, make sure that your application materials positively reflect your claims. For example, if you’re applying for a position such as a graphic designer and a portfolio is required, make sure that it’s your best work and that it represents the claims you’re making about it. It looks bad if you talk about your work as if it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread but in reality it’s only a ball of dough.

Confidence is an attraction that can end up being the difference between getting the job or losing it to another candidate. Just remember that arrogance works in the same way.

#1. Your Industry – Whatever industry you’re looking or wanting to be in, set up a board with it’s title and start pinning! Any industry could work because you can pin products you would need for or that pertain to your job. For example, say you’re a professional dog-walker, you could pin anything from collars, leashes and other doggie products, to training books and photos of people and their dogs.

#2. Professional Dress/Appearance – What you wear and how you appear at an interview or in the office is important. To get the part, you need to look the part. If you’re going for an office or corporate job then you would pin things like suits and casual business attire along with appropriate hygiene and hairstyles. Or to keep in line with the professional dog-walker career, perhaps you would pin some good walking shoes and a t-shirt that says “I <3 Dogs.”

#3. Motivation – It’s always a good idea to remember your motivation and what inspires you. Maybe it’s a quote or a picture, poster or painting. As long as it’s your type of “business appropriate” (for example you might not want to post pictures of cats for inspiration when you’re a professional dog-walker) find it and pin it!

#4. “Smart Food” – It’s as simple as it sounds… pin foods and/or recipes that give your mind and body what it needs to perform your job. For example, pinning foods that give you energy would be good for the professional dog-walker, or in this case it would be good for almost all professions!

#5. What to Bring to Interview – This board could have pins that represent your skills, as well as items you may need in the interview. So perhaps the professional dog-walker would have pins that represent responsibility, love for dogs, patience and compassion.

#6. My Qualities – This board is for pinning things you like about yourself to help keep your resilience and courage up. These pins could be anything! They could be something that represents your sense of humor, your personality, your smile…anything and everything you like about yourself to remind you that you can do it!

So what are you waiting for? Set up a Pinterest account and kick-start your job search or add fuel to it with these awesome boards, and don't forget to follow ours!

Yes it’s true, finding a job these days is a job in itself, but don’t despair, there are so many great resources out there to help you. For example, employment agencies are a great way to be matched up with the job or industry you’re looking for, if you know how to establish a good relationship with the agency. Let’s take a look at some ways to start off on the right foot.

Although it’s tempting to type up an unsolicited email and send it off in mass quantities, it’s very impersonal and easily forgettable, especially with the number of emails that flood the agencies. Instead we suggest that you call the agency (or even agencies) and speak with someone directly. Just by simply calling, you will have already increased your chances of being remembered than if you just sent an email because personnel at the agency will associate your name with your voice and are more likely to remember it by hearing and reading your name. While on the phone however, it’s important to make a good first impression, otherwise the reason for calling could have a negative effect. The main purpose is to capture the agency’s interest and to make your contact with them memorable. In some cases, it’s a good idea to plan out the call.

After you’ve established initial contact, it’s imperative that you keep in contact to build a relationship. It might be slightly discouraging if you don’t hear from the agency right away, but don’t give up hope and don’t give up communicating with the agency. Show interest in the agency and inquire about the positions that would best suit you. Point out your qualities as they apply to the position and even do some research if you have to. Don’t be afraid to ask for some feedback. Do be careful not to focus only on yourself, however. Aim to have a balanced, informative conversation for both parties.

Maintaining the relationship is just as important as the initial contact and building of it. Keeping the right balance is essential. You don’t want to drop off the radar but you also don’t want to appear desperate. You need to maintain your image as a professional candidate who has the intelligence, social ability, and work skills that they can use as a solution. With these tips, you can hopefully shorten the time it takes to be matched with a position. If you do get hired by another agency or employer however, it’s a good idea to take the time to let any other agencies or potential employers know, that way you can keep the good relationship you built incase it’s needed in the future.

Did you know that people who write down their goals earn nine times as much over their lifetime as the people who do not? I read a statistic the other day that 80% of all Americans don’t have goals. Sixteen percent have goals but, they are not written down. Less than 4% of all Americans write down their goals, and less than one percent actually reviews those goals on an ongoing basis.

I am floored. I am a goal oriented person and have been since I can remember. I have goals, my team has goal, my company has goals, and my husband and I have goals. In fact, my team has daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. We even have yearly goal boards that we create from old magazines and hang in our offices. We are so goal oriented at Dallas Employment it isn’t even funny. That doesn’t mean that we always accomplish our goals in the time-frame we thought but, we have them!

How do you create your goals? Where do you start and how do you do it?

I would start with a list. What do you want? What do you want to have? What do you want to do? Who do you want to be? How do you want to feel or look? Where would you like to travel? What do you want to accomplish today, tomorrow, next year, 5 years from now, 10 years? What do you want to accomplish over your lifetime? Haven’t ever thought about it? Try it. Start thinking about your goals today. Just thinking about your goals puts you ahead of 80% of all Americans. Make your lists your dreams and make your dreams your goals. You can do it, I believe in you.

If you don’t have a goal how will you ever accomplish it?