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Resolutions for Your Job Search

It’s not too late to start some 2016 resolutions. Maybe the best place to start is your job search! Whether these are small goals, like spending an afternoon working on your resume or more on-going goals like keeping that spark everyday, setting goals can be helpful in getting the most out of your search!

Revise Your Resume
Whether it’s adding new information to just updating your format, it’s always a good idea to take some time every 3-6 months to add to your resume. This is the easiest 1-page glimpse a company has of your experience, education and what else might be pertinent to your career. If you don’t have any new skills or volunteering or experience to add to your resume, you might look into new opportunities.

Join a Group
There are many networking groups and job search support groups you can join. It’s always great to get advice from others and hearing that other people are going through the same thing as you. Part of the struggle of the job search is feeling isolated. With a group you can bounce ideas off of or that can bring new ideas to the table.

Update Your Social Media
It is always a good practice to fix up your social media profiles when you start your job search. Make sure that you look professional but personable in on your personal accounts (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) as well as your professional accounts (like LinkedIn).

Keep that Motivation
We know that one of the toughest parts of the job search can be to keep a great attitude. Some days will tend to get you down. But setting a goal to maintain your motivation.

Get Your Perfect Match
You have plans for your future – and the skills to get you there. The Wilson Group has access to the hottest jobs. Let’s make that perfect match! We don’t just fill a position; we listen to your career goals and needs, and connect you to the right job. No more dead-end interviews; no more mismatched expectations. We’re dedicated to providing the perfect match. To get started on your future, browse our job listings, or submit your resume online. To talk directly with a recruiting professional, call 361-883-3535.

Maximizing Your Summer Job

Having a summer job or internship is a great way to gain real world experience and get hands-on learning. Because summer employment typically only lasts about three months, it is important to make every day count. You want to learn as much as possible and jump on every opportunity presented to ensure that you make your summer job worthwhile. Follow these three simple steps to ensure that you maximize your summer job!

Be a self-starter.

Often time employers allocate more time than necessary for a task. If you finish early, ask for more work! When you take initiative and ask for more work, chances are that your employer will be more than happy to give you something else to do – therefore giving you another opportunity to learn. It is also important to ask questions. It is very typical for a company to have a specific way of doing things, but it’s okay to ask why. A majority of the time, your boss or manager will be impressed with your curiosity and be willing to explain to you why things are done a specific way. Again, this gives you another opportunity to learn.

Network.

Being the “new guy” in the office can be awkward and uncomfortable. However, if there’s one thing that most people have in common, it’s that they love talking about themselves. Reach out to your coworkers and make an effort to get to know them. Engaging with others will not only make work more enjoyable, but it doubles as an excellent way to network with others in your field. You already have one thing in common: your company, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find common ground on other topics as well. As important as it is to make these connections, it is just as important to keep these connections even after your summer employment has ended. Keep in contact and continue to grow these relationships – it will help you in the long run!

Have fun.

This may seem obvious and overstated, but having fun in the workplace is vital to success. There is a strong correlation between those who have fun in the workplace and those who are successful. Typically, the more fun you have, the more successful you are. “Fun” comes in different forms for different people, so make sure you find your own fun. It may be watching a silly video during your lunch break or sharing a new joke with a coworker. Whatever your fun may be, embrace it. It will make work more amusing, and besides, who doesn’t want to have fun?!

Although summer jobs are short, there are still plenty of opportunities for both personal and professional growth. If you spent your summer job being a self-starter, networking, and having fun, it’s safe to say that your manager would be more than happy to write you an excellent recommendation. If you’re looking to find a job, come check out our website. We would love to help you find an amazing job where you can learn and grow!

Clean Up Your Social Media

Need some tips on how to fix your social media during a job search? We have the answers! Check out the infographic below!

For more help on your job search, check out our website or call us at 361-883-3535.

Networking Tips and Tricks

This year The Wilson Group wants to encourage you to network. Networking can look much different with the technology of today, as you can do so with social media sites such as LinkedIn, by emailing friends, or by attending networking events! We want you to get your name out there!

Networking Events
Go to at least one face-to-face networking event a week. You can use Google or your daily newspaper to find them. Make sure to leave your resume at home but bring some business cards and start talking. Get comfortable starting conversations and just talk about the event and the other person, taking interest in what they have to say. If it’s appropriate, within a couple of minutes, describe your own situation. Include previous experience and that you are looking for a new opportunity.

Networking on LinkedIn
There are three major ideas to remember when updating your LinkedIn profile for networking for a new job.

Get detailed. Make sure that you add as much detail in your profile as possible. A detailed profile is a strong profile. Try and add as much experience as you can and be specific as to what skills you have. Add all of your contact information to make it easy for businesses to contact you if they have an opportunity that fits you.
Proofread. Businesses will often look at your LinkedIn profile to see how good you are at communicating. If your LinkedIn profile has a typo, the company will think that you are not a very skilled writer, which can hurt your chances at getting a job. Treat your LinkedIn account as you would a resume.
Get a good picture. A picture is worth a thousand words. If your picture is professional and has a good resolution, you are really well off. If not, have a professional picture taken of yourself that you could use in a work environment.

Networking With Friends
Make sure to get old classmates, colleagues family and friends involved in your job search. Drop an email just catching up and make sure to include that you are looking for a job. This is an easy way to find out if there are position open in businesses that aren’t posting. You may also want to make job search business cards to carry around with you in case you see someone while you are at the gym or grocery store.

For more help finding a new job, check our website. Also be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Job Hunting During the Holidays

As we approach the end of November, it’s beginning to feel more and more like the holiday season, which is great news for all you job-seekers out there! In order to meet the increased demand of customers coming in to buy gifts for the holiday seasons, tons of companies are looking to hire part-time holiday help. And even if you’re not looking to work in the world of retail, it may be advantageous to begin your employment search now. Don’t really know where to start looking for a job this season? Here are our favorite holiday job hunt tips from Bloomberg.

Utilize Social Media
Even executives and hiring managers have to take days off for the holidays. As they sit around after consuming turkey, you can bet they’ll be on their computers and smartphones, clicking around social media. Put yourself out there, and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Party Professionally
Holiday parties are great networking opportunities. However, be warned: go easy on the drinks, dress conservatively, and make appropriate conversation. You never know when you might run into someone who could be looking to fill your dream job. Also, carry around your business card if you have one.

Pick Up Your Phone
There’s a better chance of getting an answer to a phone call during the holiday months as business slows down. Get your voice out there, and you might make an impact.

Be Patient
Make sure to follow up on any and all leads that you may pursue, but also remember to be patient. If you don’t hear anything before the holidays, don’t despair. A lot of the hiring process extends past the holiday season, so you may hear something after the new year.

Ready to take advantage of a holiday job hunt? Start by taking a look at our job opportunities.

Professional Networking

Networking is often a tool that goes unused during a job search. Yes, it may be intimidating reaching out to others. However with the market now flooded with plenty of candidates, employers are finding more value in applicants with trusted, mutual connections. By properly utilizing connections, your chances of receiving a job offer are increased. So how do you network?

Use LinkedIn…correctly!

First, understand that LinkedIn is not just another social media platform. Use your account professionally. Join networks that are relevant to your field and previous experience. Start discussions that are professional and thought provoking. Also, use an appropriate picture. Be sure your profile picture is not pixelated or grainy. Make the investment to have a nice professional photo taken by a friend or photographer in good lighting. Make sure the picture is appropriate for your industry, and that you are presenting yourself the way you would like to be seen by your potential employer. Your picture should be memorable, not boring.

Maintain your connections

Don’t overwhelm your contacts, but also don’t underutilize them. There should be a healthy balance of communication with the people in your network. Avoid constantly emailing or calling a particular person, but communicate with them often enough so they remember who you are.

Get involved

Join professional organizations around your area that relate to your field. Not only is this a resume booster, but you will get to know other professionals around the area. Also, see if your alma mater has an alumni association in town that meets regularly. Who knows, maybe one of your former college classmates could be the key to finding your dream position.

Networking is great both during a job search and after one. Even after you have a job, maintaining your network can be a great way to know other professionals and industries. You never know when you may need to utilize those connections again!

We hope this advice helps you in your job search and through your professional career. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for even more updates!

Are You Sabotaging Your Job Search?

Not getting any job offers? Frustrated with how long your job search is taking? Ask yourself the following questions to be sure your are not sabotaging your job search.

1. Do you only look when you’re desperate?
Never stop networking, even when you’re at your dream job. You never know what might happen, and if you have an updated LinkedIn page and you’ve kept up with your connections, a recruiter may be contacting you before you’re even looking for a job.

2. Are you bringing up money too soon?
Don’t let hiring managers think that you’re more interested in how much the job pays. Money is a delicate subject and don’t ask too soon, or you may turn off your hiring manager.

3. Have you talked bad about your last company?
Always be professional. That means no bashing your last company, no matter what your feelings are. Don’t let hiring managers think that you might do the same after you leave their company as well.

4. Is your resume the length of a Tolstoy novel?
Short, sweet, and to the point. Only include what’s relevant. You need your resume to be attention-grabbing. Not dread-causing.

5. Have you forgotten your manners?
Always write a thank-you note after an interview. E-mail AND handwritten. This is your chance to say anything you didn’t say during your interview.

6. Have you harrassed your hiring manager for answers?
No one enjoys the child on the road trip constantly asking “Are we there yet?” So don’t be that person to hiring managers. If you got the job, they will contact you.

7. What comes up when you Google yourself?
Always double-check what comes up when you Google yourself. If your social media pages/websites are anything but professional, that will definitely hurt your chances of getting the job.

8. Are you too picky?
Are you only applying to jobs with a certain job title at a certain company? Expand your job search and your options. Don’t limit yourself based on salary. Yes, you should know what salary range you’d want, but also keep in mind things that help if salary isn’t quite ideal: benefits, hours, vacation, etc.

9. Are you unwilling to take chances on contract/temporary work?
This could really help you get to networking within a company. Many companies will hire people who have worked temporarily for them after seeing the difference they make in the company. It is always a good thing to do to get your foot in the door.

10. Are you too self-obsessed?
If you walk into an interview embittered by application rejections and a lack of job offers, you’re most likely thinking “what’s in this for me?” Well, don’t. Companies are trying to find the best fit for the position, and you need to prove that to them.

So have you been doing these things? If so, then it is OK. Now you know what to do to make sure that you’re job-searching properly.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more updates!

It Takes More Than a Profile to Get Noticed on LinkedIn

You’re on LinkedIn, you’ve filled in all the blanks on your profile, and you’ve made some connections. Congratulations – you’re off to a great start! But there’s more work to be done.

If all you’re doing on LinkedIn is accepting the occasional connection request and scanning your newsfeed, you’re missing out on several features that can help boost your visibility and establish your industry expertise. It’s not enough merely to have a presence on LinkedIn; if you want to catch the eye of a potential employer, you need to step up and stand out.

Here are three LinkedIn features that can make the difference between getting noticed or getting passed over.

1. Updates
LinkedIn allows you to post updates that will appear in the newsfeeds of your connections. It is a great way to maintain visibility among your connections and also to show that you’re engaged in your industry.

Remember that LinkedIn is a professional social site, so it’s not the place for the same type of personal updates you might post on Facebook or Twitter. Ideal topics include timely, industry-related articles from trade publications; the “LinkedIn Today” section at the top of your newsfeed; or reputable, or high-profile sites such as Mashable or Forbes. Engaging, open-ended questions about trends in your industry are also great topics for updates.

2. Groups
LinkedIn groups provide a great way to network with other people in your industry. It is also a way connect with recruiters, who often participate in industry-specific groups for the express purpose of connecting with new talent. Groups are also a good place to learn about job opportunities that may not be posted elsewhere.

There are two ways to participate in a group. You can start a discussion by asking a question or sharing a link to an article, or you can comment on discussions other group members have started. Sharing your opinions and participating in conversations will help boost your visibility and establish your expertise in your field.

Another benefit of groups is the chance to increase your connections. People are often more open to accepting connection requests from group members than they are to accepting unsolicited requests.

3. Follow Companies
LinkedIn allows you to follow companies in much the same you would follow someone on Twitter. When you follow a company, all of their updates, which often include job listings, will appear in your newsfeed. Paying attention to the kind of content they share may also help you get a better picture of trends, concerns and culture at your target companies, so when you do get that interview, you’ll be ahead on your research.

If you’re looking for a good place to start increasing your LinkedIn presence, we invite you to join the discussion on our own LinkedIn group and follow The Wilson Group company profile page.

Networking in the Insurance Industry

It’s not true that everything is about who you know, but knowing people who can vouch for you certainly helps in the world of job searching. Networking isn’t always easy, however, and since we’ve been talking about jobs in the insurance industry we thought we’d spotlight some opportunities to network within that industry. We’re based in Corpus Christi, Texas, so these resources are either local to that area, or based online.

– Insurance Professionals group on LinkedIn
With over 63,000 members, you’re sure to find people who can help you on your way to a job in insurance in this group! LinkedIn designates it “Very Active” so be wary about sending auto-updates to your inbox— but there will almost always be someone around to chat with.

– Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce
Business owners and workers of all type attend the various events at the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce. Be sure to bring your business cards!

– Insurance Networking News
In addition to blogs that you can comment on to meet and discuss with others, this site offers information on a variety of online and offline seminars and meetups.

– Insurance Campus
This basic social network allows insurance industry professionals to connect easily online. Check it out!

And remember, you can always count on The Wilson Group to keep you in touch with the insurance industry as well. Check out our job listings or contact us directly today!