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5 Ways to Find Your “Golden Egg” Job and Company

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With Easter hopping around the corner, it’s a great time to discuss how many options you as a candidate have when it comes to a new job. There’s a shortage of almost 1 million people to fill jobs. So that tells you, as a candidate, you have some leverage, right? Well, yes! But if you’re really wanting to find a “golden egg” job and company, there are five things you should do. And they will help you not leave a rotten taste in hiring managers mouths!

Don’t accept a job offer you’re not going to take

The first rule when looking, applying, and interviewing for a new job is: Never accept a job and not show up for your first day. If you have other opportunities on the table that you may want more, be transparent. Tell them you have other opportunities available. This way you can say you’re not going to decide until you hear back from them.

And then, you’re being honest, not burning any bridges, and have options if the one job you really want is not offered to you. Remember, treating others how you want to be treated will get you so much further and will help you find that golden job you’ve been looking for.

Only apply to jobs you’re truly passionate about

When you’re on the hunt for a new position, it’s imperative that you really read before you click that apply button. One, because you want to ensure your resume includes keywords for the position. This will improve the chances of it getting to the hiring manager. And two, so you don’t waste your time. Everyone is busy, and if you’re just applying to positions on a whim, you’re losing valuable time coming across the job and company that is the perfect fit for you!

Research, research, research

Before you apply and when you hear back about getting an interview, you must do your research. Check out the company’s ratings, examine the job duties, know this position and company inside and out so you’re more than prepared for the interview. This will also help you know if this position is the right one for you. Not only do you start to piece together what the company is all about, but you also start to understand what they’re looking for in a new employee. Which only helps you see the full picture. In the end, you’ll realize you’re also interviewing them to see if they are a good fit for you.

When interviewing, ask good questions

Once you receive an interview, be present. This could be the next job that takes you in a totally different career direction or a job that helps you advance, but no matter what, this job will teach you so many things. Good or bad, jobs give you experience, and in an interview for a new one, you want to be engaged and express your interest. One of the best ways to do this is by having good questions to ask.

If you’ve done your research, you probably have plenty of questions, but don’t forget about everyday ones. Who do I report to? Do we have flexibility in working from home? What are the normal day-to-day processes that I need to know? What’s one of the most difficult things about this position? These questions will not only set you apart, but they will also help you learn even more about the role.

Johnson Service Group is here to help you on your hunt

If you’re struggling to find the time to find your perfect position, check out our job board. Not only do we have hundreds of jobs at your fingertips, but we have great recruiters who are here to help!

Happy hunting for your next golden egg!

Find Your Next Career

9 Things You Can Do Differently at Work in 2019

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When you think about it, the new year is a great time to make resolutions. You get to start off the year fresh, and it’s a perfect time to take initiative and fall in love with your job again! As the year goes on, New Year’s resolutions fall to the wayside but making positive changes at work can be easy to keep. A great attitude, organization, and holding yourself accountable are just a few of the many things you can do this year that will improve your work!

Here are nine ways to help you achieve more at work in 2019.

Positive Attitude

It’s always easy to say things like, “this year I’m going to be happier.” But there are certain steps we all must take to achieve this, and one of them is staying positive. At work, a positive attitude can change a lot of things for you. It can help you get along with co-workers who can be a struggle. It can help you be someone who tries to make every day count no matter what happens.

And the biggest one is it helps you enjoy what you’re doing more. Attitude is a huge part of feeling like you’ve made a difference and accomplished something. Without it, work, no matter how much you like it, can be something you dread. And in 2019 that’s not what anyone wants!

Organization

Keeping yourself more organized with work will help you in more ways than you think. It will help you accomplish projects sooner, be able to take on more responsibilities, and feel less stressed when things get busy. Being able to keep things organized well is a step that will show your appreciation for your job and your willingness to go over and beyond to get things accomplished.

Accountability

Hold yourself accountable. When you make a mistake, take the blame. When you didn’t finish a project by its deadline, or you know you will need more time, tell someone. Being accountable is a huge step that employers want to see in an employee. No matter good or bad, if you’re accountable for what you have promised to do, you will be very successful.

Take Credit for your Accomplishments

When you achieve something, help the company reach a goal, or win an award, take credit for it. Staying humble is an important part of any job but don’t let your hard work go unnoticed. If you’ve put in tons of time for something, it’s okay to be proud and show it off. If you worked hard and won an award don’t shy away from sharing it with your network. Accomplishments are something everyone strives to have. Granted, you don’t always want to be recognized for the little things. But, instead of shying away from the recognition, take credit for what you’re rightfully deserving of it.

Goal Setting

Setting goals is a great way to hold yourself accountable not only for work but for 2019. We all have things we can work on and that are weaknesses, especially at work. So, taking the time to write down the goals you really want to achieve and how you will accomplish them only helps you be more successful. And by writing them down, you’re more likely to accomplish them.

Help Others

Sometimes going over and beyond your duties can make an impact on not only your company but yourself in general. Helping others at work shows your initiative to want to make the company better as a whole. It demonstrates that you’re a team player who helps your team and company accomplish more. A great leader is one who wants to see their team succeed. So, if you’re wanting a change of pace or to really move up in your company do more than what is expected of you.

Push Yourself and Your Team

No matter if you’re the manager, team lead, or just your average Joe, you have the capability to make a direct impact on your team and your company. By pushing yourself you will help others strive to be better too. The impact you have is greater than you think, especially when it comes to achieving goals and accomplishing them as a team unit.

Step out of your Comfort Zone

It’s easy to stay within your comfort zone at work. You know what you need to accomplish and what keeps you getting a good job from your boss. But by stepping outside your comfort zone you not only set yourself up for success, but you also help push yourself to achieve more and be a better employee. At times, you can feel like your extra and hard work may go unnoticed but by doing this, you’re allowing yourself to reach your full potential. And that will never go unnoticed.

Say Yes More and No Less

When you’re in a position you enjoy and at a company you love, saying yes more and no less will tremendously impact your time there. Not only will it help you move up the ladder quicker, but it will also get you noticed by those who matter. Helping and being present to always do what you need to do even if it’s extra work is rare to find nowadays. So, if you try implementing this technique in 2019, it will surely help you accomplish and receive kudos you never thought you’d receive this year.

Starting off the new year right at work is important. It provides a clean slate for you to make improvements and it gives you the chance to really hold yourself to a higher bar. Because you will only achieve what you set your mind to. We’re wishing you a great year and we hope these tips help you be more successful at work in 2019!

Leave These 5 Things Off Your Resume if You Want the Job

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If you haven’t heard, the job market is the strongest it’s been in nearly 50 years. The unemployment rate is at 3.7 percent and 250,000 jobs were added last month. And despite it being the most hectic time of the year, now is the perfect time to search for a new career.

If you decide to test the waters and see what other opportunities are out there, you probably need to spruce up that resume. If you haven’t had to update your resume in recent history, here are five things you must avoid if you want to get offered a job interview.

Take that picture off

Pictures can be distracting to the viewer. It can deviate the hiring manager, recruiter, or human resources professional’s attention away from your great experience. And that’s something you never want to do.

Some people argue that a picture gives your resume personality. However, most recruiters agree that an image should be left off the resume. Even though it’s illegal to discriminate on a candidate’s appearance, ethnicity, or age, it’s better to just avoid the situation altogether.

A good compromise would be to link your LinkedIn profile to your resume where employers can get a better feel of your personality.

Remove irrelevant work experience

If you are well into your career, there is no need to include every single job or position you have held, unless it relevant to the job you are applying for. If you worked at McDonald’s 34 years ago while you were in school, you probably can leave that off of your resume.

Employers and recruiters only care about relevant work experience. So, unless you are fresh out of school, you can safely leave off some of your older work experience that may not be relevant to your prospective new position.

Your address

It’s almost 2019. There is no need to include your address on your resume. No employer is going to respond to your application by sending something to you in the mail.

If you are applying for a job in another city or even out of state, an employer or ATS may weed out your resume just because of where you are located. An employer, for example, may only be looking for a local candidate to avoid the subject of a relocation. By adding your address, you may be filtering yourself out without even knowing it.

Adding your address is also a privacy concern in this day an age. An employer will not need your address until you make it further along in the interviewing process, so please do yourself a favor and leave it off your resume.

List of references

Never include your references in the initial stages of the interviewing process. No employer is going to ask for references until you get further along the interview. by adding your references on your resume, it gives employers the opportunity to ask for an opinion on you before you even have the change to speak with the hiring manager.

To make matters worse, an employer can call an old boss of yours and ask them to come in for an interview. Believe it or not, it’s happened before. It also can put your current position at risk by prematurely calling your boss and letting them know you’re searching for other opportunities.

Fancy fonts or designs

Please forgo all of the fancy fonts, designs, and layouts. These can often look unprofessional and make your resume difficult to read. Plus, when submitting your resume online, some of the formatting may get messed up and your resume could quickly turn into a hot mess. I am sure you’ve heard of this old saying: “keep it simple, stupid.” This motto is great to keep in the back of your mind when updating that resume.

If you still need help updating your resume, we have much more resume advice to help you stand out from the competition and make a lasting impression on a prospective employer. Good luck!

On Your Job Search Never Settle for These 7 Things

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Job Search

When it comes to a new job search it’s exciting and new! But there are a few things you should never settle for on your job search. And most of them include how you, and your skills, mesh with a company who is interested in you.

Non-compatible culture fit

You don’t realize how important culture fit is to a successful career with a company. How they treat their employees and how the culture is can make you stay forever or want to run away as quickly as you can. So, before you get too excited about your job search and finding a good job, make sure you like the companies work culture. Because that can make or break your love for a new position.

Different values

Some companies are very vocal about their opinions or involve themselves in a lot of community outreach. This can be an amazing thing if you love what they are doing, but it can also point out your different values. And if they have different values than you, working for them will most likely not make you happy or feel fulfilled.

Unfair pay

You should never lowball yourself or your skills. You are talented, hard-working, and in a job market that favors candidates. Never settle for a pay that is less than you deserve just because you want the job.

Companies are always going to try and get great people for the least amount of money possible, that’s just how business works. So, don’t think that you can’t negotiate and that it’s the end of the discussion when they give you the first offer. Taking a position with unfair pay will only cause you to resent your job and the company.

Bad/overpriced benefits

Sometimes we pass over this very important part of accepting a new position. Benefits are a HUGE bonus when it comes to accepting a new job and they are something you can always negotiate. If you’re wanting to have kids, have a family, have health problems, or anything else that will require good benefits, it’s necessary that you make them a priority before accepting an offer.

Negotiating benefits will not only help you, but it will also make you feel more excited for a new job.

Uncomfortable interview

This is a tell-tale sign that multiple things are wrong. Maybe it’s because some people are uncomfortable with other people who are interviewing you. And this right here should be enough for you to run far away! But sometimes it’s just a gut feeling. Trust your gut!

Concerns about leadership

If you have any worries about who may be your manager, or they are even unsure, this should be a sign to you that they may have leadership problems. And when you’re on a new job search, you’re probably hoping that things are going to be easier, not more complicated. You also know though that employees leave because of bad management and leadership and you shouldn’t want to jump into a scenario like that.

Bad employer reviews

When you’re researching the company, let’s say on Glassdoor, and you notice way more bad reviews than good, you probably should question it a bit. Of course, there will be employees who had a terrible experience. But if it’s almost every employee… Then that’s a huge red flag! If a company has terrible reviews from it’s current and old employees… There is obviously something wrong.

Doing your best to not settle on any of these things is important because you don’t want to sell yourself short. And you also probably don’t want to keep having to look for new jobs because you settle on one of these reasons and it comes back to bite you. So make sure you do your research, and don’t say yes to anything that is less than what you’re wanting.