External Recruiting Is On The Rise

Corporations are always in the market for intelligent and exciting new talent and while most of these companies have internal recruiters, the demand for talent is so high that external recruiting firms are seeing a major increase in business.

It’s no surprise to the recruiters at Search Solution Group that there has been an increase in corporations reaching out to external recruiters.  Recruiters are hiring experts and really good recruiters get a thrill out of placing talent. And it’s not that internal recruiters aren’t doing a good job, because internal recruiters are brilliant and talented. It’s the fact that corporations are starting to realize that having those specially trained eyes for talent on the job as well, will give them a higher chance of success quicker.

In the past, our recruiters would spend hours talking with companies to inquire about their hiring needs, they are now fielding a high number of initial calls from corporate HR departments seeking our expert help. It’s an exciting trend that is bound to continue to rise. Once those companies get a taste of what Search Solution Group’s expertise can bring them, they are hooked for all their hiring needs.

Train Your Brain For a Better Career

More and more studies are starting to show that the brain is no longer doomed to deteriorate over time. In fact, the grey matter of our brain can keep regenerating throughout life. The new thinking is that you either use it or lose it just as with any muscle.

So how can you train your brain and protect it  from developing degenerative disease later in life and boost your career in the meantime?

Brain Training!

1. Play Smart:  Brain training games are abundant both online and in the form of games like scrabble. Giving your mind exercises is a great way to strengthen cognitive reasoning, math, reading, and other skills that might be lacking in your day-to-day routine.
2. Never Stop Learning:  The better educated you are, the less likely to have degenerative brain diseases. Also, if you get in the habit of learning new skills, you will be more marketable in your career. A great way to start your learning process is to take a public speaking or leadership class through the Dale Carnegie training classes.
3. Parlez-vous Français?: Learning a new language is a great brain workout and will leave you with a highly marketable skill. Even better, after learning a language, immerse yourself in that culture. Having to navigate a strange location forces you to pay more attention to your environment and your brain loves learning the unknown.
4. Get Off The Grid: Stress actually kills neurons and the ability to grow new ones. By taking a real vacation without the stress of returning emails or calls is a real relief to the brain. Exercise and meditation are other great ways to resolve stress.  You can read this article on how running improves fluid intelligence and optimizes brain function!
5. Seek The Unusual: Seeking out tough and challenging assignments both at work and at home can get your brain out of a rut and lead to long-term brain health. Trying something outside of your comfort zone is a good place to start. If you are computing numbers at work all day, taking up photography or painting at home would be a good strategy.

Brain Training boost positive thinking, creativity, social skills, emotional resilience, productivity, and decreases absenteeism. Maybe during the midst of your brain training, you’ll start to realize there are better opportunities waiting for you. Contact the recruiters at Search Solution Group to start your journey to a fulfilling career!

Ace Every Phone Interview

Phone interviews can be daunting, but completing a successful phone interview is an integral part of most interview processes. If played right, phone interviews can be fun and instrumental in placing yourself higher on the pile of applicants.

Be Prepared

Prepare for a phone interview just as you would for an in-person interview. By this we mean, research, research, research! You should know everything and anything about the company, the job position, and the person who is interviewing you before you get on the phone.

Make a list of intelligent questions to ask as well as your answers to any typical interview question. It happens too often that candidates start phone interviews blind and unprepared because they don’t take them seriously. ALWAYS feel free to reach out to your Search Solution Group  Recruiter, too, to help you with any information you may need prior to your call.

The beauty of phone interviews is that you can have a ridiculous amount of material at your disposal without the interviewer knowing.

• Have a copy of your resume printed out as well as a copy of the job description
• With access to the Internet during a phone interview, you can have a browser open to the company’s web page and the ability to search topics discussed during the interview.
• Give yourself enough time to talk for as long as the interviewer wants. It takes 15 seconds for the interviewer to decide whether you are a worthy candidate and the longer you have them interested, the better you’re doing. Running out of time and cutting off the interviewer because your lunch hour is up is the last thing you want to happen.

Smile!

Having a smile on your face while on the phone gives your voice excitement and a lively energy. Your voice can seem monotonous or even irritated without a smile. Since the interviewer can’t see you, being overly animated and smiley won’t make you seem like cheerleader, but rather an engaging and enthusiastic professional.

Be Compelling

Your main job during a phone interview is to be so compelling and interesting that the interviewer is convinced that meeting you in person won’t be waste of time. Reiterate your experience, your enthusiasm for the position, and desire to continue the conversation in person.

Some small things to consider:

• Don’t interrupt the interviewer; Speak slowly and enunciate.
• Do have water handy to wet your whistle.
• Dress professionally and sit as you would in person.
• Remember to say “Thank you” and send a follow-up thank you note or email to restate your interest in the opportunity.

I AM THANKFUL FOR…

Hello again!

I must have received a couple hundred emails about my lack of blogs the last few weeks. My sincerest apologies so let me explain and catch everyone up.

Jeremy

This has been a crazy year and it isn’t over yet. But with that being said

I am thankful for once again realizing who my true friends are. I am thankful for the Merrigan’s moving to Charlotte.

I am thankful for an awesome work team that works hard every day and are truly the least selfish people I have ever met.

I am thankful for Tanner who is going to be turning 10 and is still able to jump into the SUV everyday for work. I am thankful for a good Dad.

I am super thankful for Charleston, SC and all the awesomeness it brought to us this past summer.

I am thankful for loyal clients and clients who have given SSG a chance. I am thankful for people who can forgive and understand.

I am thankful for the simple things like a Thank You or a smile. I can go on and on, but

I really am thankful despite my need for sarcasm and my lack of patience at times. I am really thankful for everyone who knows the real me and still comes back for more.

Stella

“I am thankful for Jeremy Gnozzo. Let me repeat myself….I am thankful for Jeremy Gnozzo”

 

Eric

With this time of year being reserved for reflections and reminiscing, here are a few thoughts of my own. I feel obligated to share the great appreciation that I have for the wonderful family, friends, and co-workers that I have been so fortunate to accrue over the years, along with their collective health and prosperity. Some people are blessed with good looks or an exceptional talent; I feel that my blessing in life is the people that surround me day in and day out.

In light of recent events here in the United States as well as abroad, I would like to expand on a certain aspect of my life for which I give thanks every single morning. Given the growing political and/or cultural climate in our great country, I am taking this opportunity to give thanks for MY ABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AND CONTRIBUTE to our society. Our emerging generation seems to have lost the excitement that can be found in working hard, being determined, achieving results, and relying on oneself as opposed to hoping and praying for assistance from another source. We live in America, where it is possible to come from NOTHING and be as successful as you’d like. In my opinion this attitude is fading and being replaced by apathy, a sense of entitlement, and the pointing of fingers at others for personal shortcomings.

My hope is that as people reflect on the past year and their own blessings they will also take an introspective glance and pledge to work harder, strive for greater results, and find a renewed spirit of competitiveness and drive that can return ourselves, our families, and our country to the prosperity that we all deserve

Elena

I’m thankful for God because every day he shows me signs to the right path in my life. Either by people he puts in my life (both good and bad) or experiences he makes me go through, I’m thankful that his presence is always with me and every day, he makes me stronger.

I’m thankful for my family and friends who have been here for me through this very difficult year.

I’m thankful to the people I work with.

And I’m thankful to my boss, for giving me the opportunity to work and develop my skill set while looking for the right path in my life.

Ashley

I’m thankful for my loving family

I’m thankful for wine

I’m thankful for my friends

I’m thankful for my health and happiness

I’m thankful that I have heat because I’m always cold

I’m thankful for my best friend Christina

I’m thankful that I met and fell in love with my boyfriend

I’m thankful that I found a job that I can succeed at and work with amazing people who make me laugh

I’m thankful for Amelie’s salted caramel brownies

Vince

I am thankful for my three beautiful children, an awesome and promising future with Search Solution Group, and great friends and family!

 

Michelle

I am thankful for my family, baby clothes and old friends

 

Julie

I am thankful for my pets and more pets

 

Aaron

I am thankful for the Cleveland Browns not being the worse football team and Iphone apps.

I am thankful for the folks at Search Solution Group and especially Tanner!

 

Tanner

I am thankful for Jeremy (aka my dad) bringing me to the office every day.

I am thankful for Eric leaving his garbage can very low so I can steal paper.

I am thankful for getting table scraps from everyone at lunch.

I am thankful for my daily walks and lying on people’s feet under their desks at the office.

I am thankful that everyone forgives me for my bad gas that I cannot control….ha!

 

Lauryn

I am thankful for God who leads me each day and helps me to be the best

person I can be.

I am thankful for old friends, new friends, and all the memories we have made together this year.

I am thankful for my amazing siblings I can’t imagine my life without them.

I am thankful for having the strongest, most caring, and talented mom in the world.

I am thankful for my dad and the way he believes in me.

I am thankful for my extremely large yet close family we are so blessed to have so many of us to lean on for support.

I am thankful for my job(s) and the great people I work with

I am especially thankful this year for my independence

It’s Not Where it Started…It’s Where It’s Going That Matters!

I had this funny feeling this morning as I was driving into work about all the random decisions that we make as individuals and how they impact those closest to us. I was turning off my street onto Central Ave (means nothing to some of you) and I noticed that it is getting cooler outside. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out….but my thought was “I can’t believe I am driving to my office”. For years I would wake up, feed Tanner eat some breakfast and work out of my home office in my PJ’s. I was void of ever having a morning car accident, fighting the morning commute or wondering what kind of mood my co-workers were going to be in. It was all I knew for years, it was great!

Then one amazing evening I sat down and met Stella for what I thought was an interview, she swears to this day she had no idea what we were doing or going to talk about. Yes, this is a concern still for me..ha ha. Even worse was the autobiography she told me was reading, feel free to ask her what book it was. It should make you wonder why I hired her.  But as it turns out it was one of my top 5 best decisions I ever made. In the grander scheme of it all Stella said yes to the job offer (thank GOD). These decisions that we made that day and continue to make have allowed us to hire a bunch of great people such as Eric, Ashley, Elena, Aaron, Michelle, LC and Vinny. They have helped us add value to others people lives because we now make our clients hiring process 10X better and have given a bunch of good people some solid jobs. Our team and their decisions everyday have made my life better. They don’t cause any problems, they get here on time and stay late. They are all usually smiling after they have some coffee. We have dogs running around, food in the fridge and we are being successful and having fun.

 My point is that I am no longer throwing out Aluminum Cans (see previous blogs) I realize how important these decisions that we make everyday are and how they impact everyone’s lives around us. I am still making a significant effort to make sure that everything I do is done with a smile realizing how much we affect everyone around us.

 The coolest part is not so much where it started but where Search Solution Group is going! Thank you to everyone who makes this possible every day