Mind the Gap: 4 Ways to Banish
Employment Gaps
It’s no secret: Large employment gaps on resumes are scary, for both the job seeker and the employer. The reasons for the gap vary wildly depending on the person, and obviously, there has been a recent dramatic rise in numbers of job seekers with employment gaps. But no matter the reasons or numbers, the majority of employers will still dismiss these resumes without a second thought. Read more…
5 Ways to Conquer Your Job Search
For many job seekers, the job market has been cold and unwelcoming for many rough months now, and that gap on their resumes is getting obscenely large. If this is you, there’s no doubt your job search has worn you down, so no matter how many times I tell you the job market – especially in IT – is getting better (which it is), my words of encouragement will fall on deaf ears.
Well, this is the official eviction notice to the cynicism that has taken up full time residence at the front of your brain. Your job search has been one big exhausting challenge, but now it’s time to punch it in the face once and for all. Read more…
Dice.com and TechServe Alliance Announce Hiring’s On The Rise
Reports from both Dice.com and TechServe Alliance provide ever-promising news to the IT industry. While a survey from Dice Holdings Inc finds that 52% of employers plan on hiring more in the second half of 2010 (not industry specific), a report from Dice news quotes an Intacct survey, finding that 90% of companies related to the software industry plan on hiring more professionals over the next six months. Read more…
7 Words You Can’t Say in a Resume
You won’t impress hiring managers with bland language. Show them, don’t tell them
> what you have done
> why your experience is phenomenal
> how you can hit the ground running on the first day of your new job.
You’re an extraordinary candidate: Present your career history in extraordinary terms! Read more…
Resumés and Resumé Nots
So you’ve sent your resume out to hundreds of companies and still haven’t received a response. You have a great deal of experience, education, determination, and yet you’re left wondering why no one has taken interest. Perhaps it’s because your resume is sending out the wrong message. Your resume is your first impression to all potential employers and could very well be your ticket to that first phone call. Read more…
IT Waves Goodbye to the Cover Letter
There are plenty of resources out there for job seekers that spout the continued importance of cover letters. However, this continues to be a widely debated subject. There doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer from the people who matter to you the job seeker; that is, hiring managers, recruiters, and human resource departments. That being said, we at Ashley Ellis are going to come right out and say that, in the IT world, the answer is no, you don’t need a cover letter. Read more…
Dress for Success
So you’ve been acing your interviews, nailing the technical questions, and making great connections with the hiring managers, but something’s missing. You just can’t seem to close the deal, and you can’t quite put your finger on why.
However, in reality, even if you interviewed well, it’s possible that when you leave the office, all the hiring manager can remember about you is what Disney character was on your tie, or he’s left wondering what your tattoo design stood for or if that perfume would be a nice gift for his wife.
When it comes down to it, no matter how much of a point the hiring manager makes about non-discrimination, first impressions can hold a lot of weight. Your decisions about what to wear are important. Don’t make the mistake of neglecting the weight of that decision like so many other talented people out there.
The Truth About Counteroffers
Congratulations! You just received an offer for an exciting new opportunity! But wait, now that it’s a reality, what’s next? You put in your notice with your current employer and you’re all ready and excited to start your new career. Imagine your surprise when suddenly your current employer gives you a counteroffer. Bet you never expected that one!
It may look shiny and exciting, but under all that glitter, what exactly is a counteroffer? Read more…
Increased Hiring Sparks Expansion For Ashley Ellis LLC
Naperville, IL, February 1, 2010 – Ashley Ellis, a leading Information Technology recruiting/staffing firm in the Chicagoland area, announced today that due to increased hiring, the company is moving to larger office space in Naperville, IL, on February 1, 2010. Read more…
Interviews: How to be un-stump-able!
Have you ever responded to an interview question with, “Ah, that’s a good question…” while your mind goes entirely blank? You may be a perfect fit for a position, but there always seems to be one interview question that you get hung up on. This may frazzle you to the point where you’re so distracted that you blow the rest of the interview. The following are just a few of potential questions that hiring managers may use to stump you, plus our advice to make you un-stump-able! Read more…
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