Inside Hiring Report Answers What’s Hot and What’s Not in Q1

I’d personally like to introduce you to our new Inside Hiring Report, an intelligence brief that delves into nine key industries from IT to legal.
The report, which will be release quarterly by firstPRO, shows growth in all of our industries during the first quarter, especially healthcare—which registered a 154.8 percent surge in placements from Q1 2009 to Q1 2010.

Intended for hiring managers, candidates and the news media, Inside Hiring Report also shows what positions are hot, which ones are not, and even which ones paid the highest in Q1.

Inside Hiring Report will be released within the next few days. If you like good news, I think you’ll be pleased.

-April

How to Avoid the Resume Abyss

If you’re in the hunt for a job, you should check this CNN video out. I was recently interviewed by anchor Fredricka Whitfield on how job applicants can get their resumes noticed…especially with employers who may be receiving a flood of resumes.

Among some of the tips:

•Tailor each resume for each job
•If you have a hard-to-pronounce name, give the employer a nickname
•Keep in mind your resume may first be read by screening software…so make sure you are using the hot industry-specific words
•Use energy words

Hope the video helps!

Buying Into Social Media Kicking and Screaming

When talking with other staffing execs lately, the issue of social media inevitably comes up. That was no exception at a recent Staffing Industry Executive Forum I was a panelist on.



After a discussion on building an engaging workforce, a break-out session on social media yielded these burning questions:

Will social media really help me better reach customers and candidates? Will it improve my brand image…better than “traditional” marketing? Should I actually incorporate social media into my business model?

The conclusions we derived—yes, yes…and most likely, yes.

Our session yielded this unavoidable truth: Social media is here to stay—especially with a new generation of professionals entering the workforce who grew up on the Internet.

We also left with some key tips:

• You should define who your buyers are, what you want your brand to be, and tailor everything toward that.
• You can add value to your social media endeavors by including webinars and “friend of a friend” introductions to targeted prospects.
• You MUST set rules, track results, and draw specific conclusions for your vertical.
• You can lose credibility if you don’t keep your sites current…so starting a program is a long-term commitment.

I’m now adamant about not mixing the personal with the business. I’m using my Linked-in account just for business. And I’m maintaining two Facebook pages—one purely professional and one for personal use.

I’m been brought onboard the social media train for years…slowly…kicking and screaming. But now, I’ve decided to fully embrace it.

Do I have concerns? I barely have enough time to keep up with my e-mails, let alone time to delve into the wide-open world of social media. But it’s something I’m sure will be well worth the effort.

I’ll let you know how it all goes.

-April

The Colbert Report's take on the "Mancession"

It's not every day you get to be featured on The Colbert Report! Here Colbert gives his opinions on the Mancession.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Job Man Caravan
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Skate Expectations

firstPRO Named a “Top Ten Best Staffing Firm to Work For” in the U.S.

I am very honored to announce that firstPRO has been named a “Top Ten Best Staffing Firm to Work For” in the U.S. by Staffing Industry Analysts Magazine. This great achievement demonstrates our devotion to our employees. Our company is a great place to work because our management recognizes employees who work hard and meet goals.

We like to promote the sharing of ideas, advancement opportunities, mentorship programs, and diversity. Our employees credited our commitment to advancing our employees from within and listening to their suggestions. Almost everyone on our executive team has been a recruiter at one point, and 95 percent of promotions come from within.

Staffing Industry Analysts ranked companies based on benefits, training, and retention. Representatives and employees from national staffing firms were surveyed and gave their opinions of their workplace. I feel privileged to have firstPRO included in this list as we continue this year to develop excellent employee relations.

New Year’s Resolutions to Boost Your Business

I love beginning a new year and always have. It’s so invigorating to feel as though you have a fresh start. I’m always energized, both professionally and personally. Sometimes you have things on your to do list and you never quit get around to doing them. Starting the new year allows you to re-evaluate your to do list, making a real point to prioritize and work hard to make sure the important things get accomplished.

Professionally and personally it’s a good time to “clean house” and organize desks, closets, files, etc. I always spend January performing audits on monthly bills and expenses, making sure that charges are accurate and that I’m actually utilizing what we are being billed for. This year especially, I’ve spent some time determining those costs that might be considered unnecessary and can be eliminated or items that can be renegotiated in a more advantageous way.

I believe that cash will be king for the next several years and we’ve made resolutions to contribute more towards savings, for both the company and personally. I want to work harder this year to teach my children the value of a dollar and reinforce how important developing a strong work ethic is for a lifetime of success. I am also committed to spend less time electronically communicating and more time face to face. We want that attitude to carry over to our client relationships and we want to spend more time working on relationship building and networking.

At the office, each manager presents a 2010 plan including revenue goals, marketing goals, staff growth, etc. It’s documented and we refer to the plan throughout the year, again to ensure we don’t get sidetracked from our original goals and all remain on the same page.

In 2009 many lessons were learned. Nothing is forever or a sure thing. We absolutely can adjust to things we might not have believed possible. We need to go back to the basics, develop an attitude of gratitude and work harder than ever before. The business community is recovering, we see growing signs of it every day but it will be at a slow pace and the change in our lifestyle and attitude may be a long term necessity.

Business Etiquette for Holiday Gift Giving

Workplace gift giving is a tricky area, especially in a year when people
don't have a lot of extra money to spend. It should not be considered
mandatory, but it is wise to find out what the company's policy is on
exchanging gifts at the holidays. If you are unsure about what to do, find out how the company has handled holiday gift giving in years past.

When firstPRO was a much smaller company, we would do a Secret Santa gift exchange. Now that we are have over 100 employees, that is not as feasible, so each department is free to arrange what they would like. Many of them have adopted traditions among themselves, like a holiday grab bag.

If you exchange gifts with your co-workers, use common sense. Do not give anything with an adult, discriminatory, political, gag, religious or intimate theme. No gift is better than giving the wrong gift in a business setting. The more formal the business relationship, the formal the gift should be.

Some other things to keep in mind:

1. If there is an established budget, stay within it.
2. If you are unsure of what to get for a colleague, a gift certificate
is an acceptable choice, just make sure it's from a store that he or she enjoys.
3. If you are giving a handmade item, no matter how talented you are,
make sure he or she does not feel obligated to display, consume or use whatever it is you made.
4. If you give holiday cards to co-workers, stick to secular sayings such as "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings."
5. Unexpected gifts do not have to be reciprocated. All that is required is a warm "Thank you!"

Proper etiquette says that you are not required to give your boss a gift,even if they give one to you. Responding with well written thank you note is enough. One of the best gifts I have been given by my employees is a charitable contribution or charitable act they did on my behalf.

Giving gifts in the workplace is a thoughtful way of letting colleagues and clients know that the business relationship you share is important to you. Just remember, the best gift you can give to your fellow workers and management is to be a positive, productive and mannerly employee all year long.

April Fawcett Nagel of Named 2009 Woman of the Year by Choices Atlanta

I was so honored to be named 2009 Woman of the Year by Choices Atlanta: Women Balancing Life. The luncheon was held last Saturday, November 7th at the Marriott Alpharetta.

Choices Atlanta is a non-profit organization that celebrates the gift of being a woman. The group hosts a series of luncheons and workshops to promote womanhood in all dimensions: corporate, community and charity. Every other year they honor a woman of the year at an awards luncheon.

This year’s program was emceed by 2007 Woman of the Year Brenda Sharman, National Director for Pure Fashion, and Denise Elsbree, Principal of TRIO Media Group introduced me. Guests enjoyed lunch and a presentation by keynote speaker Rebecca Hagelin, author of 30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family.

While this recognition was wonderful, I truly believe that I am being honored for things that women need be recognized for each and every day. Women are the essential caregivers in our families, communities and society as a whole, and I hope I can promote these ideals and let all women know that they can have it all, but maybe not all at the same time.

The Business Divorce

A business partnership is every bit like a marriage, and needs to be approached with the same thoughtfulness and consideration. When all is going well, everyone is happy and everything falls into place, but when problems arise, relationships can go downhill fast. Before you know it, the lines of communication dissolve, and people get nasty.

There are a number of factors that can cause business partnerships to fail, but more often than not, the reason is a lack of due diligence in choosing the right individual or company culture to begin with. In order to weather the ups and downs of long-term business cycles, the chemistry and balance of the business partnership must be right.

Remember these key points when choosing a business partner:

1. Have a similar work ethic.
2. Spell out the balance of power.
3. Have clear guidelines how decisions will be made.
4. Have a five year plan.
5. EVERYTHING to do with finances needs to be addressed, discussed and legally ironed out.
6. Address legal exit strategies for buying each other out if one or the other chooses to dissolve the relationship.
7. Keep communication lines open and don’t allow resentment or frustration to build.

Building a business is never easy because there are so many stresses involved. Pick your battles and learn to overlook the little things that don’t affect the true success of the business.

Most importantly, make a promise to follow your mother’s advice. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. More than likely, you will both move on to other business ventures, and in the end, you will find that the business world can be a very small place.

CNN "Women Nearly 50% of the Workforce"

CNN: Focusing On Your Job Search in a Down Economy

Women & The Workforce

Woman Business Enterprise Certification

I am so proud to announce today that firstPRO Staffing and Executive Search has been certified as a Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) by the City of Philadelphia. This certification is being offered through reciprocity due to firstPRO’s certification through from the City of Atlanta’s Equal Business Opportunity program.

With this certification, we look forward to working with the City of Philadelphia on projects that will encourage more growth for the city. As a Woman Business Enterprise, we will be able to take part in creating new proposals and offering our expertise whenever we can. Our goal is to continue building and expanding this prosperous city.

This certification also allows firstPRO to be counted towards the WBE contracting ranges for projects administered by the City of Philadelphia. This means we will be able to participate as a subcontractor/sub-consultant on City of Philadelphia competitive bids or proposal projects as a WBE. We will also be placed in the Office of Economic Opportunity’s (OEO) Directory of certified firms in order to assist City departments, agencies and prime contractors solicit WBE participation.

Women in the Workforce on CNN

Today, I had the privilege of appearing live on CNN in a segment called “Women in the Workforce.” The interview offered insights into the shifting dynamics of the economy and why more women are making their way into the workforce.

We’re calling it a “man” cession in that 82 percent of people who have been laid off are men. For the first time women are poised to take over 50 percent of the workforce. The industries that we are employed in are not the industries that have been hit the hardest.

With that said, I believe that now is the time for men and women to reposition themselves for future hiring trends. I predict that manufacturing and construction are the industries that will see a major shift in how jobs are done, and IT as the area where people need to reeducate themselves.

As men are being laid off, companies are using this as an opportunity to get a more diverse management base. There is talk of a new female economy because we control so much of the consumer dollar. Women are going to be a valuable force because we are making the decisions, financial and otherwise. So get ready, ladies. Now is the time to make this "man" cession an opportunity for us!

Business Etiquette for Tough Economic Times

In today’s uncertain financial climate, it is more important than ever to approach business and social situations with grace and thoughtfulness. We need to be mindful of others’ circumstances and add value to everything we do. Whether you have experienced a change in your financial security personally, or you are one of the fortunate individuals experiencing “life as usual,” a conservative attitude is the order of the day.

First and foremost, be a value to your place of business. Start earlier, stay later and skip lunch now and then. Kicking it up a notch will not go unnoticed by your management, and you will likely be rewarded for your loyalty and hard work down the road.

Be a positive force in your environment. Never complain, whine or speak poorly of the company. Be sensitive to management’s position. It is probably not a good time to ask for a raise, but you can always ask for a commitment to “revisit” the conversation when things improve.

It is always in good taste to spend your company’s money wisely. Approach any financial decision at the office with the same frugal attitude you would use at home. At firstPRO we have cut back on many of our monthly internal events, opting for every other month instead.

Do NOT bring your financial worries to the office. It is never polite to air your problems to your co-workers; it is always better to find your support system outside of the office.

In the end I believe that there is an upside to any situation, and the upside to a down economy is that we are developing conservative habits that will stay with us for a lifetime.

The Etiquette of Sympathy

Handling condolences in an appropriate manner is an essential life skill, and necessary if you want to be taken seriously in your profession.

It is good to have a system in place in your organization to communicate when there is a serious illness, death or other tragic event. This applies to co-workers, vendors and other business relationships.

There are several levels of acknowledgment in a situation of grief:

1. Sending a hand-written note shortly after you hear of the situation and address it to the individual you know.

2. Calling the person and offer to help, whether it is dropping off food, taking them to lunch or dinner to talk, offering to assist with work arrangements or childcare or picking up visitors at the airport.

3. Attending the viewing hours if the family has arranged this at a funeral home. It is always a polite gesture to drop by, whether you knew the deceased personally or not.

4. Attending the funeral. This is necessary for someone you knew well, or if you are close to the bereaved. If you attended the viewing hours and signed the guestbook, you do not need to sign the guestbook again.

5. Follow-up. It is always a nice gesture to mark your calendar for three or four weeks after the events to follow-up with the bereaved. A quick phone call, email or note asking how they are doing and offering any assistance if needed is a wonderful gesture.

Flowers can be sent either to the church, funeral home, graveside or the bereaved home. Contributions to an organization or charity, in memory of the deceased are always appropriate.

We have a policy in place at firstPRO that allows someone a specific number of paid days off for funerals. Additional days have to be taken in the form of sick or vacation days.

What is important overall, is to acknowledge the situation. Not only does it display good manners, but it is simply the right thing to do.

firstPRO Executive Luncheon

Today, firstPRO Staffing and Executive Search was proud to host an executive luncheon at Maggiano’s. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., guests were invited to enjoy a delicious lunch and hear from featured speaker Roger C. Tutterow, Ph.D., Professor of Economics at Mercer University.

“This is the longest, deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression,” Tutterow said. “We got into this recession due to the rise in energy cost, the generational downturn in the housing market and the credit crunch. I predict that we will return to normalcy in 2010/2011, but it will be a subdued pace.”

In addition to his position at Mercer University, Dr. Tutterow serves as Chief Economic Advisor to Henssler Financial Group. His analysis of the economic, business and political environments have been featured in a variety of media including Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and on CNN, CNBC, NBC, CNN Radio, among others. In 2003, Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Dr. Tutterow to serve on the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors.

The presentation concluded with an interactive Q & A, as well as a raffle for two American Express gift cards. The grand prizes went to Robert Thomson of NeoMedia Technologies and Dorris Hollingsworth of Carter Real Estate.

For more information on future luncheons, contact Michelle Kennedy at 404.252.9422 x 442 or visit www.firstproinc.com.

firstPRO Staffing and Executive Search Announces Expansion in Philadelphia

firstPRO Staffing and Executive Search announced today that they are expanding into a 4,132 square foot office located at 1500 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. In two years, the firm has grown 120 percent in size.

We are very excited about our success in the Philadelphia market. With our rapid growth in Philadelphia over the last two years, we needed to open this new office to keep up with our growing client base.

Founded in 1986 in Atlanta, Georgia, firstPRO was named one of Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing Companies in 2008. When the company expanded to Philadelphia in 2007, their focus was on Contract and Contract to Hire for IT, Finance and Accounting. Today areas of service also include Attorney Recruiting, Healthcare, Sales & Marketing and more.

firstPRO plans to host a series a quarterly events in Philadelphia, and panels will cover issues of interest to top executives in hiring positions. Key industry leaders from many of Philadelphia’s top companies will be in attendance. For more information, contact Michelle Kennedy at 404.252.9422 x 442 or visit www.firstproinc.com.

Mark Weinstein Named to Leadership Atlanta Class 2010

firstPRO Staffing and Executive Search is proud to announce that Mark Weinstein has been named to Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2010 class.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this class,” says Mark Weinstein, Executive Vice President of firstPRO. “Leadership Atlanta provides a unique opportunity for business, civic and government leaders to come together, develop relationships and learn more about how we can help lead our community.”

Leadership Atlanta’s eight month program provides a platform for approximately 70 participants selected from a group of 300 highly accomplished business executives, public officials, non-profit and academic leaders. The program is designed so that they may use their talents and positions to improve the Atlanta community.

“This is a great opportunity to develop valuable contacts and networks within the community we serve,” Weinstein says. “It will open doors to other leadership opportunities in my career and elevate my ability to contribute in my non-profit Board work in Atlanta.”

Chief Economic Advisor Roger C. Tutterow, Ph.D., to speak at firstPRO Executive Luncheon

On Wednesday, June 24th, 2009, firstPRO Staffing and Executive Search will host an executive luncheon at Maggianos in Dunwoody. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., guests are invited to enjoy a delicious lunch and hear from featured speaker Roger C. Tutterow, Ph.D., Chief Economic Advisor to Henssler Financial Group.

The goal is to address current economic conditions while providing knowledge and ideas that can benefit their companies. During this interactive discussion, guests will be provided with a deeper understanding of the current economic environment as it relates to their profession.

In addition to his position at the Henssler Financial Group, Dr. Tutterow serves as Professor of Economics at Mercer University, as well as a consultant specializing in the application of quantitative analysis to economic, financial and business problems. His analysis of the economic, business and political environments have been featured in a variety of media including Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and on CNN, CNBC, NBC, CNN Radio, among others. In 2003, Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Dr. Tutterow to serve on the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors.

For more information, contact Michelle Kennedy at 404.252.9422 x 442 or visit www.firstproinc.com.