Allied Personnel Services

Free Tax Help Available Nationwide

2012-01-31T08:04:00.000-08:00

IR-2012-12, Jan. 27, 2012

WASHINGTON — Over 12,000 free tax preparation sites will be open nationwide this year as the Internal Revenue Service continues to expand its partnerships with nonprofit and community organizations providing vital tax preparation services for low- to moderate-income and elderly taxpayers.

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help generally to people who earn $50,000 and less. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program offers free tax help to taxpayers who are 60 and older.

Today, partners and local officials will be hosting news conferences or issuing news releases nationwide to highlight the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and their free tax preparation programs. The EITC is one of the federal government’s largest benefit programs for working families and individuals. But taxpayers must file a tax return, even if they do not have a filing requirement, and specifically claim the credit to get the benefit.

Taxpayers need to present the following items to have their returns prepared:

-Photo identification
-Valid Social Security cards for the taxpayer, spouse and dependents
-Birth dates for primary, secondary and dependents on the tax return
-Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers
-Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
-A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available
-Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit
-Other relevant information about income and expenses
-Total paid for day care
-Day care provider's identifying number

To file taxes electronically on a Married Filing Jointly tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.

Trained community volunteers can help eligible taxpayers with credits, such as the EITC, Child Tax Credit or Credit for the Elderly. Also, many sites have multilingual volunteers who can assist people with limited English skills. To locate the nearest VITA site, taxpayers should call 800-906-9887.

As part of the IRS-sponsored TCE Program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide counseling program at more than 7,000 sites nationwide during the filing season. Trained and certified AARP Tax-Aide volunteer counselors help people of low-to-middle income with special attention to people age 60 and older. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, call 888-227-7669 or visit AARP’s Internet site.

The military also partners with the IRS to provide free tax assistance to military personnel and their families. The Armed Forces Tax Council (AFTC) consists of the tax program coordinators for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The AFTC oversees the operation of the military tax programs worldwide, and serves as the main conduit for outreach by the IRS to military personnel and their families. Volunteers are trained and equipped to address military specific tax issues, such as combat zone tax benefits and the effect of the EITC guidelines.

In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, most sites use free electronic filing. An e-filed tax return means a fast refund. The IRS can generally issue refunds to taxpayers who combine e-file and direct deposit in as few as 10 days.

Taxpayers who file electronically also can opt to file now and pay later. If taxpayers owe, they can make a payment April 17, 2012, by authorizing an electronic funds withdrawal (direct debit) from a checking or savings account, paying by credit, by check or money order (made out to the United States Treasury) using Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher.

For taxpayers who want to prepare and e-file their own tax returns, there is IRS Free File. Everyone can use Free File, the free way to prepare and e-file federal taxes either through brand-name software or online fillable forms. Individuals or families with 2011 adjusted gross incomes of $57,000 or less can use Free File software. Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms, has no income restrictions. For either service, taxpayers must go through www.irs.gov/freefile to access the programs.

Taxpayers also can seek free assistance at the 400 IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers nationwide. Locations nationwide are listed on www.IRS.gov.

Allied in the Community: Health & Beauty Drive

2012-01-30T08:43:00.000-08:00

Allied is kicking off our community action for 2012 with something a little different: a drive to collect health & beauty items for an important local organization, Valley Youth House.

The mission of Valley Youth House is to provide prevention and intervention services, counseling, life skills and behavioral health services to abused, neglected, and homeless youth and their families. Their programs foster positive growth enabling at-risk youth and their families to become healthy, productive, responsible members of the community.

Valley Youth House serves more than 10,000 children and families each year, many of whom lack the material basics of life. More than 200 kids sleep under their roofs each night. VYH has four group homes and well over 100 apartments. Caring for that many adolescents requires a lot of stuff!

During the month of February Allied will be collecting the following items for our Health and Beauty Drive:

Toothpaste/brushes
Deodorant
Shampoo and conditioner
Body lotions and sprays
Mouthwash
Combs and brushes
“Shower caddie” kits
Hair dryers and curling irons
Soap

*Hotel/travel sized items welcomed

In the words of Roger, the volunteer coordinator at VYH, “Our kids want to look nice and practice good hygiene. Providing the 'little extras' is appreciated!”

If you'd like to make a donation you can drop off items at our Allentown or Easton offices anytime during business hours throughout the month of February.

Sing the National Anthem at an IronPigs Game!

2012-01-18T12:01:00.000-08:00

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have announced that the team will host its Fifth Annual National Anthem Auditions on Saturday, February 18 at Coca Cola Park. Auditions will begin at 10 a.m. For the fifth consecutive season, Allied Personnel Services is the presenting sponsor of the National Anthem for IronPigs games at Coca-Cola Park.

Participants MUST pre-register to get an audition time by calling Katie Nichols at (610) 841-1251 or email her at knichols@ironpigsbaseball.com. All RSVPs must be made by Friday, February 10. No walk-ups will be accepted the day of the audition.

Each February, nearly 200 people attend National Anthem Auditions -- and dozens of those candidates are selected to sing at Coca-Cola Park. A cappella renditions will again be performed by individuals as well as by groups, choirs, choruses, barbershop quartets, etc. Each audition will be limited to 90 seconds in length and judged by both IronPigs executives and Allied Personnel Services officials.

Like last season, the IronPigs will be scheduling live performances of each National Anthem prior to every game at Coca-Cola Park.

For over 25 years, Allied Personnel Services has provided innovative solutions to human resource challenges. With a dedication to providing businesses with quality employees, programs, and support services, Allied has a proven track record of quality, reliability, and on-time performance. Allied successfully provides administrative, accounting, professional, and light industrial staffing to Lehigh Valley businesses. Allied is a 6-time winner of The Morning Call's Readers' Choice award as the Best Employment Agency and has offices in Allentown and Easton.

Nonprofits as First Steps

2012-01-11T11:51:00.000-08:00

From The Wall Street Journal

By DENNIS NISHI

While her friends interned at big investment-banking firms, Molly Heitzman chose a summer job in 2009 with Fundación Paraguaya, a microfinance company in Asuncion, Paraguay. She believed that giving the poor access to basic banking services was an effective way to fight poverty, and she'd also gain some global work experience.

The nonprofit was experiencing an abnormally high 13% loan default rate so Ms. Heitzman went out to investigate the problem. She discovered that many small businesses had defaulted because of poor to nonexistent accounting practices.

"I proposed a program that would school borrowers in the business basics of marketing, accounting and saving money," she says, uncertain as to whether the organization used her ideas.

Ms. Heitzman's efforts actually made a stronger impression on Deloitte Consulting in Minneapolis, which hired her for a full-time job as a business analyst a year later in 2010.

Although career experts say college graduates will continue to face a tough job market in the new year, volunteering for nonprofit work like the Peace Corps can fill an experience gap and provide a competitive advantage. That's especially the case since nonprofit work can be like an accelerated management course. Volunteers are often pressed into management and administrative roles they might otherwise not attain for years at for-profit companies.

First, find a nonprofit organization that you're interested in working with since commitment to the job and the cause is important, says Mark Lonergan, founder of the Redwood City, Calif.-based recruiting firm Lonergan Partners.

"Any way you can show that you genuinely applied yourself in a very important way can count as a very important component of any résumé," he says. "Employers want to know that you were serious about the work."

Seek out roles that offer transferable experience. Managing volunteers, for example, to build an irrigation system in Honduras is relatable to many different for-profit job duties. Working as a museum docent may be harder to sell.

Be prepared to aggressively promote and even defend your nonprofit experience during interviews. There is still a stigma associated with nonprofit work at some companies, career experts say.

Turn your more esoteric experiences into a narrative that illustrates how you overcame obstacles and achieved goals. People respond well to stories. Highlight the intangibles that employers are always looking for during interviews.

Emphasize your flexibility, communication skills and ability to deal with ambiguity, says Patricia Tourigny, vice president of talent acquisition for Avon, Conn.-based Magellan Health Services. "We don't see a lot of entry-level résumés with that kind of experience, but when we do, we take notice. And we're always looking for it."

The pay for volunteer work may be negligible but full-time volunteers can defer or even have federal student loans forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program from 2007. Unfortunately, the law doesn't help with private student loans.

'Twas the Night After Christmas...

2011-12-20T07:15:00.001-08:00

‘Twas the night after Christmas when Santa finally sat down,

And his chubby red face was creased with a frown.
He’d spent a full year in intense preparation
And was a little burnt out after a day’s celebration.

Santa knew there was a much better way
To prepare for deliveries on this special day.
And it was for this very specific reason
That Santa bought real estate in the off season.

He opened a new center for his distribution,
And now had a plan ready for execution.
He’d gotten a referral and picked up the phone,
He couldn’t handle this staffing all on his own.

Santa called Allied and he knew he could depend
On their staffing pros from beginning to end.
John and Susan worked numbers that made Santa’s eyes gleam
While Janell and Lisa filled in his front office team.

As for staffing the warehouse there was lots to do:
The phones were answered by Julie and Sue,
While Katie and Kelly handed out applications.
Santa’s eyes twinkled at the staff’s dedication.

Christy and Connie worked with the elves
While Jen, Meg and Jenna found builders for shelves.
Laurie and Kate called for help with the stacking
To fill Santa’s expanse of brand new racking.

Erica and Dee placed assemblers for toys
To help Santa bring joy to girls and to boys.
Amy and Emily helped with the billing,
Fred and Barb checked the math (down to the shilling).

Santa threw back his head and let out a whoop,
“I’ve never before seen the likes of this group!
You’ve filled my jobs quickly and with a smile,
I’m going to relax now for a nice long while.”

Santa gave presents to each of the staff,
And soon left Allied with a wink and a laugh.
As he flew through the air, you could just hear him shout,
“Happy Holidays and call Allied – they’ll help you, no doubt!”

Out of Work? How to Deal with Creditors

2011-12-13T12:58:00.000-08:00

It's become an all-too-familiar headline and lead story - job cuts, dot.com failures, corporate restructuring and lay-offs.

If you've recently lost your job, your first thoughts may be, "how will I make ends meet?" Money matters are a source of stress and frustration for many people. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) publishes free brochures spelling out your rights when it comes to fair debt collection and credit reporting practices.

Fair Debt Collection

If you find that you can't pay your bills on time, contact your creditors immediately. Try to work out a modified payment plan that reduces your payments to a more manageable level. Don't wait until your accounts have been turned over to a debt collector. At that point, your creditors have given up on you. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires debt collectors to treat you fairly by prohibiting certain methods of debt collection. To learn more, call the FTC's Consumer Response Center for a free copy of Fair Debt Collection, or visit www.ftc.gov.

Fair Credit Reporting

Non-payment and late payments may affect your credit rating and your ability to get credit in the future. Although creditors usually consider a number of factors in deciding whether to grant credit, most creditors rely heavily on your credit history. That's one reason it's important to make sure your credit report is accurate. For example, if your file showed that you were once late in making payments, but didn't show that you are no longer delinquent, it would be inaccurate. The credit reporting agency must show that your payments now are current.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act protects you by requiring credit bureaus to furnish correct and complete information to businesses to use in evaluating your applications for credit, insurance or a job. For more information, request a free copy of Fair Credit Reporting.

Source

More Education: Higher Earnings, Lower Unemployment

2011-12-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

New data tell an old story: the more you learn, the more you earn—and the less likely you are to be unemployed. Earnings increase and unemployment decreases with additional years of education. But completing a program is worth more than attending college without earning a degree.

Education pays, in part, because employers believe educated workers learn tasks more easily and are better organized. However, the data here are averages; variations occur at all educational levels. The biggest reason for the variety in earnings is the different occupations people enter as a result of their education.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

Looking Good Vs. Doing Good: The Importance Of Character

2011-11-22T13:40:00.000-08:00

It seems that in today’s news media we are bombarded with negativity, from business, to politics, to sports. Negativity rules our headlines. Violence and corruption often take center stage while stories of morality and integrity are hard to find. While the world may seem to be going in the wrong direction, we all have within us the ability to make things better.

Every day we face a multitude of decisions. Whether they are at home or at work, these choices provide us with opportunities to “do the right thing.” This is where a crossroad appears – deciding between what is easiest or might make us look good vs. what actually is the best available decision. It is when faced with these situations that our true character shines through.

Sometimes making the “right decision” is not popular or easy. When making decisions, keep in mind the importance of character and living our lives through authenticity rather than image.

Bruna Martinuzzi, President of Clarion Enterprises Ltd, recommends several tips on good character and leading by example.

• Make your values actionable. Live your values every day and portray them in your behavior.

• Be known as a promise-keeper. No matter how small, follow through and do what you say you will.

• Don’t take shortcuts in quality. Take pride in your endeavors – others will follow your lead.

• Be consistent in your dealings with others. We can easily slip into the habit of treating colleagues unfairly or talking about others, especially when we get tired or frustrated from our days’ events. This behavior can damage our credibility.

• Audit your decisions. Take a few minutes to evaluate your actions and consider decisions you have made. Are you proud of your choices? Did you reflect good character? What could you have done better? Reflection and evaluation play important roles in bettering ourselves.

Taking simple steps to improve our character is an easy way to contribute to a better tomorrow. Every individual has the ability to do the “right thing.” Martinuzzi put it best when he said, “Every action we take, no matter how small, has our character stamp on it.”

Source: Open Forum

Toys For Tots: Drive Ends November 30th

2011-11-16T12:08:00.001-08:00

Allied's toy drive for Toys for Tots continues through the end of November. If you are getting a head start on your shopping, grab an extra toy or two the next time you are out and help Toys for Tots bring joy to needy children this holiday season. You can drop off your new, unopened toys at our Allentown or Easton offices before November 30th.

Dress Code Tips: What is Business Casual?

2011-11-01T07:34:00.000-07:00

Congratulations! You got the job! Your new boss tells you to dress “business casual” on your first day…and the confusion sets in. The phrase business casual has become difficult to define in recent years. Typically, business casual means a type of attire worn by business people that is less formal than a business suit. A simple enough definition, but with a struggling economy many people have been forced to change career paths or re-enter the work force after many years out of work. Brushing up on business casual basics can help prepare you for your new job.

Why is this issue of what to wear or what not to wear so important? When you come to work each day, you are not only presenting your self as a competent, professional, and reliable worker. You are also representing the company your work for. Understanding your company’s culture, or core values and image, is essential in knowing how to come to work dressed appropriately.

Here are some basic dos and don'ts of the business casual world.

DO: wear clothes that are tidy, clean, and conservative.
DON’T: Wear flip flops, jeans, or revealing attire (spaghetti straps, low pants, and plunging neck lines).
Ladies, the following attire would be considered business casual: a collared shirt, blouse or sweater, paired with dress slacks or a knee length skirt. Always wear knee highs with slacks and hose with skirts. Gentleman: a button down or polo paired with slacks or khaki pants. Business casual shoes should always be close toed.

Remember, these are just guidelines. Don’t hesitate to ask your supervisor what the company accepts as business casual, it shows you are a conscientious employee. Or, if you were issued a book of company polices, refer to their dress code section for a more detailed description. While some companies may think collared shirts and dress slacks are appropriate, others may feel that would be over dressed. It’s always best to dress a little more formal on your first day if you are unsure. By sticking to these simple dos and don’ts you are sure to succeed.

Toys for Tots

2011-10-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

Allied is pleased to support the local Toys for Tots effort in the Lehigh Valley as a 2011 drop-off location. You can drop off your donations of new, unwrapped toys at our Allentown office, 752 Union Boulevard, or our Easton office, 91 Larry Holmes Drive, Monday--Friday from 8am--5pm during the month of November.

The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

Over the 62 years of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Marines have distributed more than 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children. This charitable endeavor has made U. S. Marines the unchallenged leader in looking after less fortunate children at Christmas. Over its 18 year life span, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has supplemented local toy collections with more than 81.3 million toys valued at more than $487 million; plus has provided promotion and support materials valued at over $6.3 million.

You can also support Toys for Tots with an online donation to the Toys for Tots Foundation, the fundraising, funding and support organization for the Toys for Tots program.

Job Search Tools: Wordle

2011-10-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of a wordle? Self-described as a "toy for generating 'word clouds' from text that you provide", they offer an interesting way to visually represent text. Words that appear more frequently in the source text are displayed larger than other words. It's an interesting exercise to create a wordle of your blog feed to see if the resulting image accurately represents the message you are hoping to deliver with your posts.

The wordle created from our blog feed is below, and it perfectly captures the goals and message of this blog. (Click to enlarge.)

Wordles aren't just for blogs. You can cut and paste any text and create an image. Try creating a word cloud from your resume. Are the words that represent your strengths, skills and experience that you want to highlight the largest? If you have multiple resumes that you use for different positions, creating a wordle for each is an easy way to see if they are emphasizing the correct things. And what about your cover letters? A wordle can help you see if the keywords and important points of the job description or posting that you are responding to are prominent enough in your letter.

Wordles are a fun "toy", but also have some possibilities to help you with your job search, even if only to help you look at it a bit differently. Sometimes being able to take a different perspective can be a big help, especially with something like your resume that you may have looked at over and over. And that new perspective might be the spark your job search needs.

Allied's Employee of the Month Program

2011-10-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Each month, Allied Personnel Services recognizes a field employee for outstanding performance in the workplace. The Employee of the Month program gives employees incentive to produce the high-quality results that our clients have come to expect from Allied.

Selection criteria includes:

Assignment length: Employees must be on assignment for at least three months.

Performance evaluations: Returned evaluations are reviewed to assess overall performance.

Attendance and reliability: Punctuality is required and absenteeism must be kept to an absolute minimum.

Flexibility: Employees should display the ability to adapt to new situations and learn additional skills.

Safety on the job: Employees must exercise sound judgment and comply with all safety rules/regulations.

Recommendations: Feedback and recommendations from job-site supervisors tells us about an employee's overall performance.

Each Employee of the Month is presented with a gift and a personalized plaque at their job site. Acknowledgement is also given in Allied's quarterly newsletter.

The exceptional performance of our field employees is critical to our success, and we love the opportunity to recognize and reward our high performing employees for a job well done.

Preparing for Severe Weather

2011-09-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

Taking proper precautions for a weather emergency is crucial to keeping yourself and your loved ones safe when a severe storm occurs. In light of Hurricane Irene and in preparation for winter storms that could cause power outages, keep these tips in mind.

--Program your employer's telephone number into your cell phone, and always make sure you call if you will be late to work.

--Have a back up shower plan, such as a friend or family member's house.

--During a power outage, keep your refrigerator door closed as much as possible. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hrs.

--To prevent loss of refrigerated food in the event of a long-term power outage, have a large cooler on hand and pack it with ice.

--Create a supply kit. Include non-perishable food, water, first aid items, flashlights, batteries, a traditional (not cordless) telephone, a battery operated radio and cash.

--Place important documents such as insurance policies or passports in a waterproof bag or container to protect them from water damage.

--Turn off or unplug all unnecessary electronic devices. Power spikes or surges can damage this equipment.

--Allow extra travel time for your commute. Driving conditions may be slow or dangerous. Roads may even be closed.

--Designate a safe place in your home where all family members know to go in the event of an emergency. Typically, the safest place to be during storms with strong winds is on the lowest level, preferably a basement. Choose a room near the center of your home and stay away from windows.

Amazing lightning shot courtesy of Flickr.

Job Fair Tips

2011-09-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

If you are searching for a job, chances are you've considered attending a job fair. This can be a great way to get your job search started, or to re-energize a search that may feel stalled. Nothing else allows you to be exposed to so many different employers in a single day like a job fair.

The next big local event is the annual CareerLink Job Fair this coming Wednesday, September 21st, 2011, at the Allentown Fairgrounds. Along with many other Lehigh Valley employers, we will be there to meet with you and other job seekers. In preparation for the event, we thought we’d share our advice on how to prepare for a multi-employer job fair.

1) Research - Review the companies that will be there. Visit the websites of those companies to check out current job openings. If there are opportunities you are interested in, take a minute to learn more about the company. Then when you speak with a recruiter at the job fair, you are able to talk about a specific opening or about their company’s business and really stand out from the crowd.

2) Prepare - This is the one time you won’t be able to customize your resume. Since you will be presenting it to multiple employers for various opportunities, make your objective specific to the way you’d like your skills to be used and to the type of work environment you prefer. For this occasion, this is better than trying to specify a position or an industry. And of course be sure to avoid the common resume mistakes--including resume inflation.

3) Practice - Do you have your 30-second commercial ready? This is one tool you absolutely must have ready for a job fair. Prepare it and practice it. A job fair is a great opportunity to end your commercial with a question; this will help you start a dialogue with the recruiter.

4) Attire - Going to a job fair is a lot like going to a bunch of mini-interviews, so dress as you would for an interview. The Allentown Fairgrounds are certainly a casual environment, but don’t dress for the venue. Dress to make a great first impression, as if you were attending an interview.

5) Prioritize - Rather than start at one end of the job fair and visit every single booth, determine your game plan before you arrive. Because you’ve done your research, you will know the employers you are most interested in visiting. Start with those. If the recruiters are tied up with a line of people waiting, it may be best to stop back. For some very popular employers, there may be no down time for the recruiters and waiting in line may be your only option.

6) Respect - At a busy job fair, you need to be respectful of the recruiter’s time. If there are a large number of job seekers, you may not get a chance to do much more than introduce yourself and drop off your resume. Don’t monopolize a recruiter’s time with excessive explanations about your work history or with multiple questions about their openings. You want to be remembered but not as the person who talked excessively. The Ag Hall job fair is typically the busiest one of the entire year, so being respectful of a recruiter's time is especially important here.

7) Follow-up - Get business cards and contact information for the companies you are interested in and follow-up with them. A short, hand-written thank-you note reconfirming your interest in the company or in a particular opening is a simple way to give a recruiter a reason to pull your resume out of the stack they have from the job fair.

A bonus tip for the CareerLink event: consider going during non-peak hours. Typically this job fair is busiest first thing in the morning, so if you delay your arrival until early afternoon you may find shorter lines and recruiters with more free time to speak with you. (Parking might be easier too!)

The economy does seem to be improving, but the job market is still tight. Don’t be intimidated by long lines at job fairs or by the volume of resumes you see stacked on a recruiter’s table. If you play your cards right, you’ll be on the “first call back pile” and a new employment opportunity may find its way to you.

Best of luck--and be sure to visit our booth at the job fair on Wednesday!

Allied Welcomes New Staff Members

2011-09-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

ALLENTOWN, PA -- October, 2011 Allied Personnel Services, the Lehigh Valley's leading staffing provider with offices in Allentown and Easton, announced the addition of two new Personnel Coordinators to their team in Allentown.

Laurie Strupp comes to Allied from serving as a Constituent Outreach Specialist for the PA House of Representatives, where she acted as a liaison between constituents and government agencies. Strupp also brings experience as a caseworker for Berks County Children & Youth Services.

Kate Strouse brings 10 years of customer service and retail management expertise to her role at Allied. Strouse was a store manager at CVS and most recently in a leadership position for Wegmans.

As Personnel Coordinators, both Strupp and Strouse will be responsible for client relations and recruitment and placement of field employees.

National Staffing Employee Week

2011-09-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

In celebration of National Staffing Employee Week, held September 12-18, we are honoring the true stars of Allied Personnel Services...our field employees!

Did you know:

--Staffing companies match employees to millions of jobs each year. Approximately 9.7 million temporary and contract employees are hired by U.S. staffing firms over the course of a year.

--Temporary work can lead to increased marketability. 88% of staffing service employees say their temporary work has made them more employable.

--80% of companies who hire through staffing firms say that hiring temporary employees is a great way to find permanent employees. Temporary jobs give employees the opportunity to prove their value to employers.

--65% of staffing employees say they developed new or improved skills through their assignments. Temporary assignments provide a great way to acquire knowledge and training.

Thank you to all of our past and current field employees for your hard work, dedication, and for helping to make Allied the premiere staffing company in the Lehigh Valley for the past 27 years.

Allied Personnel Services is a proud member of The American Staffing Association.

Preparing for Pre-Employment Testing

2011-09-02T12:00:00.001-07:00

If you are a current job seeker, chances are you’ve encountered some sort of pre-employment testing. Many employers are adding these evaluations to their hiring process in an effort to more fully evaluate your skills. Pre-employment tests may assess specific technical skills to help the employer determine your ability to perform in the job or they may assess your personality which shows the employer how you would “fit” into the company’s culture. Preparing for these evaluations ahead of time may increase your chance of receiving a job offer.

Before the Test

•Study. Obviously you won’t be able to study for a personality test; however, preparing for tests designed to evaluate your technical skills is easier. Review relevant materials you have from previous jobs or from training courses and class work. Do some simple puzzles or brainteasers to help improve your analytic problem solving skills.

•Reduce your stress. The more relaxed you are prior to the test, the better you will perform so try to eliminate as many potential stressors as possible. Make sure you know where you are going for the test and allow enough time to arrive early. Get a good night’s sleep. Eat a good breakfast so you aren’t hungry at test time. Studies show that test takers who have recently eaten have improved cognitive ability.

The Day of the Test

•Be sure you understand the instructions. Thoroughly review all written directions, and get clarification on anything that is unclear. Is there a time limit? Are you allowed to use any aids (i.e. calculator)? Can you skip questions and return to them later? If you are unsure of an answer should you guess or leave it blank? Ask these and any other questions before you begin the test.

•Manage your time. Keep in mind the time limit for completing the test and always use your time wisely. Even if the questions seem simple, don’t rush in order to finish quickly. Conversely, if you get stuck on a particularly difficult question don’t spend an excessive amount of time trying to figure it out.

•Review your answers. Some computer based tests won’t allow it, but if possible, review your answers when you are done.

Pre-employment tests and evaluations don’t have to be unexpected hurdles to cross during the interview process. By following these simple steps, you can meet the challenge head on and with confidence.

No Market for Lazy Job Seekers

2011-08-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

From The Wall Street Journal

Summer is a season to relax, unless you're a job seeker.

Given the steep competition for jobs, people who are energized and organized -- and those who avoid lazy mistakes -- are the likeliest to land a spot.

"It's not all down to the economy -- it's often about how productive people are during their job search," says Richard Jordan, a staffing management panel member at the Society for Human Resource Management. "The Internet has made it really easy for people to get a sense of false security about how productive they are."

That means avoiding the "post-and-pray" technique in which job seekers apply to positions online, and then wait for the offers to roll in.

"Just applying through an online job search doesn't do anything other than throw your résumé into a pile with [those of] hundreds, if not thousands, of other job seekers," says Dan Ryan, an executive search consultant based in Nashville.

Another red flag: submitting résumés and cover letters with errors, says Holly Paul, U.S. recruiting leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers, a New York-based accounting and consulting firm.

"I see spelling mistakes, I see punctuation mistakes, I hit delete in two seconds. I don't even bother to continue reading," Ms. Paul says.

Here are five more mistakes to avoid:

1. Asking only what your network can do for you
Networking lets you tap the hidden job market of positions that are never advertised. To do it effectively, you should be in regular contact with the people in your network.

"The mistake a lot of people make is that the only times their network hears from them is when they have a favor to ask," says Charles Purdy, senior editor at jobs site Monster.com. "They don't think about how they can help the people in their network and build that goodwill."

Mr. Purdy recommends keeping up with the interests and projects of those in your network, and reaching out. "If you find jobs that sound interesting, but aren't quite right for you, don't ignore that job. Think if there is anyone who might be interested," he says. "I always remember very fondly and well the person who said: 'I thought of you when I saw this job posting.' That's a great way to build goodwill in your network."

2. Using a stock résumé
Résumés need to be tailored to specific positions. "The old method of taking the same résumé and sending it to every job posting doesn't work anymore," Mr. Purdy says. "Customize it to the company you are applying to. Do the research."

But don't expect your résumé to do too much work for you. "It's easy to sit home and bemoan the fact that you are not getting any interviews, but sending out lots of résumés, coming up with one iteration of your résumé after another, writing a cover letter for every ad you see," says John Challenger, chief executive of outplacement consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas in Chicago. If that's how you're spending most of your time, "it's not lazy, but it is misguided."

3. Misusing social networks
Job seekers might tweet or post a note on Facebook about looking for a job, but real networking is more involved.

For instance, use social networks to research the industry. "It's about following the companies you are interested in, finding out what problems the company is trying to solve," Mr. Purdy says.

Also, don't use the informal language of social networking in professional communications.

4. Outsourcing your job search
Job seekers can pay for services that distribute their applications for them, but don't go this route.

"You are not doing your own work, or putting your own care into really understanding what the company needs before sending your résumé," Mr. Purdy says.

He says "time and energy could be better spent in doing work that makes you a better employee. Do a mock marketing plan that shows what a creative thinker you are. You don't have to be getting paid for something for it to be a valuable piece of experience on your résumé."

5. Asking hiring managers to do your work for you
Another red flag for Ms. Paul: Job applicants who send notes asking her to review their résumé. With 150,000 applicants for U.S. positions in a year, Ms. Paul and her team aren't interested in dealing with such job seekers.

"Job seekers come to me and say: 'I like your company, here's my résumé. Please do all my work for me, and tell me what would be a good fit for me.' I do not move forward with those sorts of applications," she says.

Ms. Paul says she looks for applications showing an investment of time and effort. "They are not just looking for a job; they are looking in areas of interest to them where they have some experience. It shows me that they have done a bit of work, and gives me the direction to steer them in."

It's also important to indicate which business unit you're interested in, she adds. "I'm looking for those applicants that have good experience, but can also relate that experience to what we do" at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ms. Paul says. "It will give that job seeker a leg up because they have moved the ball forward."

The Power of Perspective

2011-08-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

by John G. Miller, The QBQ! Guy
Twitter: QBQGUY
Facebook
LinkedIN

I don't know about you, but from what I hear and read, people don't seem very happy nowadays. The economy is struggling, lots of folks are out of work, the stock market is dropping, and consumer confidence is in the tank. A brand new poll shows that 89% of Americans are unsatisfied with the way things are going in the United States. Meanwhile, our political "leaders" can only seem to point fingers at the media, whine about their bad luck, and attack each other.

Maybe it's those "dog days" of summer. Maybe we're just cranky. I don't know.

But I do know this: It's all about perspective. The truth is, for most of us, things could almost always be worse. The next time I think I'm having a bad day, I'm going to keep the following in mind ...

I had just finished a "Personal Accountability and the QBQ!" presentation at a banking institution in central Wisconsin where I'd talked about the dangers of blame, victim thinking, and procrastination when thirtysomething Wally walked up and told me a story. Later that day, he emailed it to me.

A few years ago I was a foreman in a manufacturing plant where I was responsible for nearly thirty workers. One of them, a likable fella who was six months away from retirement named Edward, had worked in the factory his entire life and was looking forward to his “golden years.” I knew that he'd undergone an angioplasty procedure so I wasn't surprised one day at quitting time when he told me he'd be going to see his heart doctor in the morning.

But then he added, "I'm not feeling quite right."

The next day I assumed he was at the doctor's so it was no surprise to me when Edward didn't show up for work. But I was totally caught off guard when I received a call from my boss informing me that Edward had experienced a heart attack that morning and collapsed on his driveway while shoveling snow.

He never made it to his doctor's. Nor to his golden years.

Edward was gone.

After my boss and I decided to hold off on a formal announcement till the next morning, I spent the afternoon in a fog, struggling to focus on my work. When my shift finally ended, I took the shortest route from my office to my car, which is through the men's locker room. There I heard the regular sounds of an entire shift of factory workers hurriedly showering and changing their clothes in an attempt to run to their cars and get home as fast as they could. As I made my way, I overheard a group making comments about how happy they were to be done with their shift. If not for the fact that I was still trying to come to terms with Edward’s passing just six months away from his golden years, the comment that I heard next may not have had such a profound impact on my life—I'll never know.

One of the guys shouted above the din, "The only good thing about today is that it brings me one day closer to retirement!”

Edward and his family came to mind.

It was at that precise moment in my life that I made the decision to live each day as positively as I can. Life is simply too short to live any other way.
----------------

"I made the decision to live each day as positively as I can"—I don't believe it can be said any better than that. Certainly, a tragic story for Edward and his family. Yet I thank Wally for sharing it because it helps me put lots of stuff in perspective.

If you've been feeling cranky lately, here's what I suggest:

Just ask The Question Behind the Question (QBQ) - "How can I make the most of today?"

Because we never know what a day will bring.

Ten Tips for a Successful Online Job Search

2011-08-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

Source: Indeed.com

Use these tips to search for jobs more effectively and increase your odds of getting hired:

1. Choose Job Sites Carefully
Jobs are listed on thousands of different websites, so be selective about which ones you use. As a comprehensive search engine for jobs, Indeed.com will help you find specialized job boards or employer career sites that fit your interests. It will also save you time and steer you to jobs you won’t otherwise find.

2. Refine Your Job Search
Search using keywords and add more terms to narrow your search. Don’t forget to specify your location; your zip code normally works fine. Most job sites also have an Advanced Job Search so you can narrow your results using, for example, a particular company name, job title, or commuting distance.

3. Set up Email Job Alerts
Save your job searches to receive email job alerts including new jobs matching your criteria. Many sites also let you save any job search as an RSS feed. This will help you apply for jobs as soon as they are posted, making it more likely employers will notice you.

4. Keep it Focused!
Only apply to jobs you are qualified for. Companies notice candidates with the skills and experience they’re looking for. If you don’t have these, your resume will be ignored.

5. Watch Out for Scam Job Listings
Be careful if you see job listings promising quick and easy income, or requiring a fee or your social security number in order to apply - they’re likely to be scams.

6. Write a Customized Cover Letter
A well-written cover letter that is customized to the company or individual recipient shows you are serious. Try to show how your qualifications and experience relate to the company’s needs.

7. Post Your Resume
Posting your resume to job boards helps companies find you online. Bear in mind that anyone may be able to see it, including your current employer. Most job sites give you the option of posting anonymously, although companies may then be less likely to contact you.

8. Clean Up Your Act
Check your resume and cover letters for typos and grammatical errors. Use consistent font sizes and formatting in your resume. Potential employers may look at any online profile of yours, so keep them up-to-date and free of content that would embarrass you.

9. Do Your Research
Spend time on the company’s website and learn as much as you can about the firm’s products and services. Read up on company news and trends in the industry – use sites like Wikipedia and ZoomInfo. Find out who is interviewing and Google their names to learn about them. If you know anyone who works at a company you are applying to, try to speak with them first for advice.

10. Know Your Salary
Once companies are ready to make you an offer, they’re likely to discuss your salary needs. If you’re armed with objective salary information, you’ll be in a better position to negotiate. Try Indeed’s Salary Search at www.indeed.com/salary.

2011 Readers' Choice: Vote Allied #1 Again!

2011-07-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

Choose Allied Personnel Services as "Best Employment Agency" in the Lehigh Valley! Look for Readers' Choice ballots in The Morning Call or go online to vote.

To Vote Online:

Go to www.mcall.com and click on the Readers' Choice button.
Register for a new account or enter your e-mail address/password if you have previously registered.
Under the "Home & Services" tab, vote for Allied Personnel Services as "Best Employment Agency."
There is only one vote per category for each user account.
Voting deadline is Friday, August 12.

We appreciate your loyalty and support as we try to win our 7th Readers' Choice award.

Shake the Job Search Blues

2011-07-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

From Careerbuilder

In both his books and speeches, Donald Trump often mentions a story that his father told him when he was a child that goes something like this: There once was an entrepreneur who started a soda company called Three Up. Despite the man's passion for his company, though, Three Up eventually went under. Undeterred, the entrepreneur started another cola company called Four Up, which also went bankrupt. He persisted on, but after Five Up and Six Up failed as well, the man was tired of struggling and gave up. A short time later another company came along and invented 7 Up, which was wildly successful. The point of the story, according to Trump, is that if the man hadn't quit, he would have created 7 Up.

If you're a job seeker, you can probably relate to the entrepreneur in the story. It may seem hard to stay motivated in the face of rejection and success can seem elusive -- you might even feel like giving up on your job search or settling for a job you don't really like. But, if you quit when the going gets tough, you may miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime -- like the entrepreneur did.

The job search blues can certainly be tough to conquer -- but it can be done. Here's how to get through the tough times in a job search.

Pay attention to your thoughts

"Listen to the things you say to yourself about your job, your abilities and your chances of achieving your career goals," says Colette Ellis, founder of leadership consulting firm InStep Consulting and author of the e-book "Focus on your vision."

If you realize that your "self-talk" is predominately negative, make an effort to change it any time a negative thought pops into your head. "When you hear your negative messages and begin to feel badly, say 'stop!' and replace the thought or message with a more positive statement," Ellis says.

Dave Sanford, an executive vice president at recruiting firm Winter, Wyman, agrees: "You can't force hiring decisions to go your way. But you can control your reaction to the circumstances. Allow yourself that healthy moment of disappointment and then pick yourself up and dust yourself off. This will help you move on a lot more quickly, which is imperative to your search," he says.

Set goals

Let's face it: The modern job search can be a long and tedious process -- but that doesn't mean it can't also be rewarding. Set smaller goals throughout your job search to keep you focused and give you a sense of achievement.

"As part of your job search, you will certainly have set goals for yourself, [like] the number of networking meetings you will have each week, how many résumés you will send out per day and the [number of] hours you will dedicate to researching opportunities," Sanford says. "Feel good about completing your objectives and find ways to celebrate your accomplishments."

Be careful not to be too hard on yourself when setting goals, though. When outlining your job search goals, don't limit yourself to an overly-stringent time deadline for getting a job. "It may feel proactive to say 'I will be working by June 30' but you are really setting yourself up to be let down," says Cheryl Heisler, president of Lawternatives, a career coaching firm for lawyers. "Concrete goals are good -- as long as they are within your control. Do commit to goals that you can reach, like 'I will make five new contacts each week.'"

Talk to people

Making an effort to talk to people in your industry can give your job search a much-needed boost for a number of reasons: It's great for networking, it can provide you with a renewed sense of motivation and energy, it'll help you stay abreast on what's new in your field, and it can present you with options and opportunities you may not have known you had.

Best of all -- talking with your industry peers can help you get a job faster. "After speaking with someone once or twice and building a rapport, they are much more likely to bring up potential job leads or contacts for you, rather than you having to ask for them," says Kathryn Minshew, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Pretty Young Professional, a blog and online resource for young professional women.

Is there someone in your field that you'd like to know, but don't? Reach out and ask the person for an informational interview. "I firmly believe in informational interviews," Minshew says. "Everyone loves being asked for advice, and sometimes the best thing you can do to get your foot in the door is to find people who work at the company or industry you're targeting, and ask them if you can meet."

Take a break

Although it's important to maintain momentum and keep up a steady job search, it's also important to take time out of your day to de-stress. "Stress can be palpable and you don't want to present yourself to prospective employers or networking contacts as someone who will crack under pressure," Sanford says. "Whether it's a morning yoga class or walking around the block, find what works for you and incorporate it into your daily routine."

Reducing stress also means fighting the e-leash during "you" time. While you may feel compelled to check your e-mail or voice mail every five minutes, fighting the urge will help you relax. "Access your voice mail and e-mail a few times a day -- and then let it go," Sanford says.

What to Look for in Your First Job

2011-07-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

From The Wall Street Journal

By Scott Shrum

Even if you’re still not certain what you want to be “when you grow up,” odds are that you have already started to form some pretty strong feelings about what will and won’t make for a good first full-time job after college. I’ll skip most of the “you need to be willing to get your hands dirty” advice that I normally dispense to college grads and instead discuss three traits that can make for an ideal first job for you, no matter what career you eventually want to pursue. If you can find a job that has at least a couple of these traits, then you may have found yourself a perfect first stepping stone to your future career path:

• A chance to interact with a wide range of people. Sometimes the most valuable lessons you learn on the job are the things you never considered at the start of your career. When I took my first job out of college, working for a software company in a marketing and business development role, I was eager to learn about customer research, pricing theory and enterprise software sales strategy. While I certainly did learn some lessons in those areas, after a couple of years I realized that my most marketable experiences were in fact ones that I had never even thought about going into the job. What made me most valuable in future employers’ eyes were my experiences dealing with senior management; comfort in working with people from the technology, sales, and finance departments; and my experience in coordinating teams consisting of members from across the company. If I had been chained to a desk and had only worked with the same few people over and over, I never would have even sniffed most of the opportunities that ultimately made me ready to take on bigger roles later on.

• The opportunity to go beyond your job description at times. One of the best ways that hiring managers (and graduate-school admissions officers) identify budding leaders is by looking for a willingness to go beyond one’s job description to make things happen. Imagine a customer-service representative who not only handles calls and fixes customers’ problems, but who also identifies chronic problems and makes an effective case to management for fixing customers’ most common pain points. While a good employee would take those calls and make dissatisfied customers happy again, a great one would go the extra step to help prevent future problems from coming up, campaigning for big changes when needed. Jobs that give you those opportunities will help you keep growing, even if your day-to-day role itself isn’t the most exhilarating job in the world. Of course, the key is to take advantage of those opportunities and make things happen when the chance arises.

• A capable manager who’s willing to mentor you. The best manager I ever had took my success as seriously as her own, and devoted countless hours to helping me master the things that she knew an early-twentysomething simply wouldn’t yet know. While I probably could have figured things out on my own, I got up to speed much more quickly—and ultimately reached a higher ceiling, I believe—thanks to the effort she put in. If it weren’t for her willingness to invest in my development, who knows how far I would have gotten while still in my 20s? Apprenticeships haven’t been in vogue (at least not in the U.S.) for the better part of a century, but managers who view their young employees as apprentices are worth their weight in gold. Find one, and learn as much as you can for as long as you can.

Notice that “A Lot of Money” never came up in this list. While you certainly have a right to pursue a good wage, remember that—no matter how smart you are or what you majored in—you’re going to be a development project for whatever company hires you, at least for your first few months. And while several years in a relatively low-paying job may not get you excited, keep in mind that this is the start of a career that may last more than 40 years. So think broadly about what you want to gain from your first job, and you may very well be on your way to a successful career thanks to some less obvious job traits that you might have otherwise missed.

—Scott Shrum is director of M.B.A. admissions research at Veritas Prep, a test-prep and admissions consulting firm.

Distracted Driving: On the Road, Off the Phone

2011-06-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Cell phone use behind the wheel is a growing concern. According to CTIA – The Wireless Association, in 1995, cell phone subscriptions covered only 11% of the U.S. population. By 2010, that number grew to 93%. As the number of cell phone users continues to increase, so does the number of drivers distracted by cell phones.

Most people understand the visual and mechanical distractions caused by texting behind the wheel. These are obvious distractions, as they take both the driver’s hands off the wheel and eyes off the road. But did you know:
• 2% of crashes involve texting behind the wheel, but 21% of crashes involve cell phone conversations (both hands-free and handheld)
• At any given moment, 0.6% of drivers are visibly manipulating handheld devices while 9% of drivers are talking on cell phones
For more information on cognitive distraction, visit thebrain.nsc.org.

Nearly 1 out of every 4 motor vehicle crashes involve cell phone use. 62% of drivers recognize that talking on a cell phone is a very serious threat to their personal safety. Yet more than 2 out of every 3 drivers admit to talking on their cell phone in the past month. Why the disconnect?

It’s important to understand the three main kinds of distraction:

1. Visual: Eyes on road
2. Mechanical: Hands on wheel
3. Cognitive: Mind on driving

Safe driving is about more than hands on the wheel and eyes on the road – it’s about focusing solely on the task of driving. When drivers engage in two activities that require a great amount of mental focus, the brain quickly switches between those tasks sequentially. As a result, the brain suffers from inattention blindness.

As it switches its focus and attention back and forth, the brain loses its ability to process all the eyes see and only a portion of the information is captured. In this situation, drivers look out the windshield, but do not see up to 50% of the driving environment. In fact, the brain is so overloaded that not all critical driving cues such as red lights, stop signs and pedestrians are delivered to the brain.

What You Can Do

If you are tempted to use your cell phone when driving:
• Change your voicemail greeting to indicate you are driving and will call back when safely parked
• Put your cell phone in your trunk or glove box
• Turn your cell phone on silent
• If you need to contact someone, pull over to a safe location and put your vehicle in Park

If you are a passenger and the driver wants to use a cell phone:
• Tell the driver you are uncomfortable with his or her cell phone use

If you are talking to someone who is driving:
• Ask the person to call you when he or she is parked in a safe location
• Tell the person you will call back later

Share this with your friends and family and visit The National Safety Council for more information.

Summer Food Drive

2011-06-13T07:05:00.001-07:00

Summer is typically a difficult time for food banks because donations are not as plentiful and because children who usually receive meals at school are home on break. To aide our community this summer, Allied is helping local families to put food on their tables. We will be collecting non-perishable donations for Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast PA. Second Harvest is located in Allentown and feeds more than 66,000 individuals each month. Half of those served are children or senior citizens.

Some ideas for summer donations include kid-friendly, easily prepared foods like macaroni and cheese or one-dish meals and with the Fourth of July right around the corner, many families could use baked beans, ketchup, mustard or drink mixes for their Independence Day celebrations. Other items that are always needed include: cereal, pasta, rice, tuna, peanut butter, canned vegetables/fruits/meats, diapers, laundry detergent, and personal hygiene items.

If you you'd like to contribute toward our drive, you can drop off items at either of our offices through June 24th: 752 Union Blvd in Allentown, or 91 Larry Holmes Drive in Easton. For more information on Second Harvest Food Bank, visit their website.

#IronPigs #pigout

2011-06-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

Ever since the IronPigs came to town, Allied has been proud to sponsor the National Anthem before every home game. We have loved the opportunity to support the growth of the team, and have enjoyed watching their tremendous accomplishments.

One key to the IronPigs' success is constantly coming up with new and creative promotions. Their latest promotion is another unique one: Social Media Night.

To piggy back on their idea, we are going to try our first social media "contest". Club-level tickets to the June 11th Social Media Night game are the prizes. They're some of the best seats in the park, and getting a chance to win them is simple.

Any of the following actions earns you an entry into the drawing for the tickets:

--Join our group on LinkedIn. This is a great way to stay on top of many of our professional job openings, and to follow our discussions with advice on resumes, interviewing, and overall career enhancement.

--Like us on Facebook. This is another way to stay in touch with our latest job openings, as well as get tips that can help you with your career.

--Follow us on Twitter. If you are already following us, tweet a link to this blog post and that will count as an entry.

--Send us your resume. Any brand-new applicants that send a resume to contest@alliedps.com with #pigout in the subject line will automatically be entered.

Winners will be announced at Noon on Friday, June 10th.

Making a Job Fair a Success

2011-05-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

Attending a job fair can be a great way to get your job search started, or to re-energize a search that may feel stalled. It’s a great chance to get in front of many employers in a single day and see what companies are hiring. But in order to make the most of a job fair, it’s important to be prepared.

The next big local job fair is this coming Tuesday, May 10th, at Coca Cola Park hosted by The Morning Call. Along with many other Lehigh Valley employers, we will be there to meet with you and other job seekers. In preparation for the event, we thought we’d once again share our advice on how to prepare for a multi-employer job fair.

1) Research - Find out what companies will be there. Most job fairs include a list of employers in advertisements for the event. Visit the websites of those companies to check out current job openings. If there are opportunities you are interested in, take a minute to learn more about the company. Then when you speak with a recruiter at the job fair, you are able to talk about a specific opening or about their company’s business and really stand out from the crowd.

2) Prepare - This is the one time you won’t be able to customize your resume. Since you will be presenting it to multiple employers for various opportunities, make your objective specific to the way you’d like your skills to be used and to the type of work environment you prefer. For this occasion, this is better than trying to specify a position or an industry. And of course be sure to avoid the common resume mistakes--including resume inflation.

3) Practice - Do you have your 30-second commercial ready? This is one tool you absolutely must have ready for a job fair. Prepare it and practice it. A job fair is a great opportunity to end your commercial with a question; this will help you start a dialogue with the recruiter.

4) Attire - Going to a job fair is a lot like going to a bunch of mini-interviews, so dress as you would for an interview. Often the setting for a job fair is casual, CocaCola Park for example, but don’t dress for the venue. Dress to make a great first impression.

5) Prioritize - Rather than start at one end of the job fair and visit every single booth, determine your game plan before you arrive. Because you’ve done your research, you will know the employers you are most interested in visiting. Start with those. If the recruiters are tied up with a line of people waiting, it may be best to stop back. For some very popular employers, there may be no down time for the recruiters and waiting in line may be your only option.

6) Respect - At a busy job fair, you need to be respectful of the recruiter’s time. If there are a large number of job seekers, you may not get a chance to do much more than introduce yourself and drop off your resume. Don’t monopolize a recruiter’s time with excessive explanations about your work history or with multiple questions about their openings. You want to be remembered but not as the person who talked excessively.

7) Follow-up - Get business cards and contact information for the companies you are interested in and follow-up with them. A short, hand-written thank you note reconfirming your interest in the company or in a particular opening is a simple way to give a recruiter a reason to pull your resume out of the stack they have from the job fair.

The economy does seem to be improving, but the job market is still tight. There are of course many people out of work, there are those who are employed but want a new opportunity, and then there are many just finishing college. Don’t be intimidated by long lines at job fairs or by the volume of resumes you see stacked on a recruiter’s table. If you play your cards right, you’ll be on the “first call back pile” and a new employment opportunity may find its way to you.

Best of luck--and be sure to visit our booth at the job fair on May 10th!

The Most Ridiculous Job Interview Questions

2011-04-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

Source: Fortune.com

As if job interviews weren't stressful enough, hiring managers at some of the largest companies have taken to throwing real curve balls. Here's a sampling of the wackiest questions.

By Anne Fisher, contributor

FORTUNE -- With about five candidates for every job opening these days, some responsible for hiring decisions have resorted to desperate measures in their efforts to narrow the field. Researchers at career site Glassdoor.com culled through tens of thousands of queries reported by job seekers who had done their best to come up with answers on the spot, and selected the oddest interview questions of the past 15 months.

Luckily for beleaguered candidates, the interviewers seemed in most cases to be more interested in how people responded -- that is, in hearing their thought process, and seeing how well they kept their cool -- than in receiving a "correct" response. A sampling of Glassdoor's list, and where the question was asked:

"Given the numbers 1 to 1,000, what is the minimum number of guesses needed to find a specific number, if you are given the hint 'higher' or 'lower' for each guess you make?" -- Facebook

"Using a scale of 1 to 10, rate yourself on how weird you are." -- Capital One (COF)

"Explain quantum electrodynamics in two minutes, starting now." -- Intel (INTC)

"How many balloons would fit in this room?" -- PricewaterhouseCoopers

"If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?" -- Goldman Sachs (GS)

"You have a bouquet of flowers. All but two are roses, all but two are daisies, and all but two are tulips. How many flowers do you have?" -- Epic Systems

"What is the philosophy of martial arts?" -- Aflac (AFL)

"Explain to me what has happened in this country during the last 10 years." -- Boston Consulting

"If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?" -- AT&T (T)

"How do you weigh an elephant without using a scale?" -- IBM (IBM)

"If you had 5,623 participants in a tournament, how many games would need to be played to determine the winner?" -- Amazon (AMZN)

"How many bricks are there in Shanghai? Consider only residential buildings." --Deloitte Consulting

"You have five bottles of pills. One bottle has 9 gram pills, the others have 10 gram pills. You have a scale that can be used only once. How can you find out which bottle contains the 9 gram pills?" --eBay (EBAY)

"What is your fastball?" -- Ernst & Young

"How would you market ping pong balls if ping pong itself became obsolete? List many ways, then pick one and go into detail." -- Microsoft (MSFT)

"How many smartphones are there in New York City?" -- Google (GOOG)

"You are in charge of 20 people. Organize them to figure out how many bicycles were sold in your area last year." -- Schlumberger (SLB)

"Why do you think only a small percentage of the population makes over $125,000 a year?" -- New York Life

"You have three boxes. One contains only apples, one contains only oranges, and one contains both apples and oranges. The boxes have been incorrectly labeled so that no label accurately identifies the contents of any of the boxes. Opening just one box, and without looking inside, you take out one piece of fruit. By looking at the fruit, how can you immediately label all of the boxes correctly?" -- Apple (AAPL)

"How many ball bearings, each one inch in diameter, can fit inside a 747 aircraft?" -- SAIC (SAI)

The IRS Withholding Calculator

2011-04-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

Now that the 2010 tax year is behind us, it's not too early to start thinking about 2011 taxes. This helpful information is provided by the IRS to assist you with determining how much tax will be withheld from your paycheck.

If you are an employee, the Withholding Calculator can help you determine whether you need to give your employer a new Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate to avoid having too much or too little Federal income tax withheld from your pay. You can use your results from the calculator to help fill out the form.

Who Can Benefit From The Withholding Calculator?

--Employees who would like to change their withholding to reduce their tax refund or their balance due;
--Employees whose situations are only approximated by the worksheets on the paper W-4 (e.g., anyone with concurrent jobs, or couples in which both are employed; those entitled to file as Head of Household; and those with several children eligible for the Child Tax Credit);
--Employees with non-wage income in excess of their adjustments and deductions, who would prefer to have tax on that income withheld from their paychecks rather than make periodic separate payments through the estimated tax procedures.

CAUTION: If you will be subject to alternative minimum tax, self-employment tax, or other taxes; or if any of your current jobs will end before the end of the year, you will probably achieve more accurate withholding by following the instructions in Publication 919, How Do I Adjust My Tax Withholding?

Tips For Using This Program

--Have your most recent pay stubs handy.
--Have your most recent income tax return handy.
--Estimate values if necessary, remembering that the results can only be as accurate as the input you provide.

To Change Your Withholding:

1. Use your results from this calculator to help you complete a new Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate.
2. Submit the completed Form to your employer.

Source: irs.gov

The Aquarian Age

2011-04-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

This guest post comes from Prem Siri Kaur, Kundalini Yoga Teacher at The Yoga Loft. Searching for a job can be a challenging, stressful experience. We loved this message and are so happy to share it with you.

In the wake of the recent tragedies in Japan and around the world, I have found myself in deep thought about the Earth, the human race in general and our future here. I felt saddened and touched by the pain and suffering that many are enduring around the world. I had heard and read about the 2012 prophecies and predictions that spoke about these turbulent times since I was a teen. I have read Mayan books, heard Hopi prophecy, and studied Nostradamus' words on these times, among others. But it was through my Kundalini Yoga studies that I learned about what is called "The Aquarian Age" and felt hopeful again!

The Aquarian Age is often described as a time of great upheaval and change. It is also often described as a challenging time to be alive. Yogi Bhajan, Master of Kundalini Yoga gave his teachers many tools to handle the stresses of these times. He also gave many predictions of his own, which have turned out to be true. Luckily, Yogiji gave practical yogic tools and advice for these changing times. He often said that these times would make people feel crazy and many would have an extremely difficult time feeling okay amidst the chaos and stress. I see this everyday all around me! My favorite tool that he gave is the 5 Aquarian sutras to follow during these times:

1. Understand through compassion; otherwise you might misunderstand the times.
2. Recognize that the other person is you.
3. When the time is on you, start and the pressure will be off.
4. There is a way through every block.
5. Vibrate the cosmos; the cosmos shall clear the path.

If I had one wish it would be for all of humanity, the Earth and her creatures to find true happiness, freedom, and health. So far, this seems to be a tall order! But I have faith that we can become the beautiful, peaceful and joyous humans we were all meant to be. However, this will not happen on its own, nor will it happen by accident. We must strive for our greatness, equality, and peace with consistency and focus.

There is no better time than now to be practicing our yoga and other healing practices so that we may achieve this peace within and then reflect it out. Share your peacefulness with those who may not be as fortunate to experience it and remember to be grateful with each breath. Remember also not to let anger or hate get the best of you and open your heart in deep compassion instead. It is my sincere prayer that all beings experience true peace, true joy, and the freedom to live in that state everyday!

Allied in the Community: 2011 Blood Drive

2011-03-09T06:41:00.000-08:00

Did you know that approximately 450 units of blood are needed every day in the ten counties served by Miller-Keystone Blood Center?

Did you know that Miller Keystone Blood Center is the only blood supplier to 21 hospitals in our region?

No other blood organization supplies these hospitals, and only blood donated through MKBC is transfused at these facilities. Giving blood locally literally saves the lives of our neighbors.

In support of MKBC and the needs of our Lehigh Valley community, Allied's annual blood drive will be held Tuesday, March 15th from 11am - 3:40pm at our Allentown Office.

To register for Allied's blood drive, please contact Laura at 610-821-0220. All blood types are needed so your donation would be greatly appreciated.

For additional information on donating blood, visit www.giveapint.org

Update: Thanks to all of our donors, this year's drive was a big success!

When the New Temp Happens to Be the Boss

2011-03-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

By JOE LIGHT
From The Wall Street Journal

Companies have used temporary administrative assistants and customer-service representatives for years. But soon, more employees may find temps in an unlikely position—as their bosses.

More than 9% of companies say they use temporary workers in management functions to a "high" or "very high extent," according to a recently released survey by the Institute for Corporate Productivity, a Seattle-based research organization.

In addition, more than 17% of companies say they frequently use temps in high-skill areas, like engineering and science.

To be sure, the bulk of temp positions still seem to be in lower-level roles, but "in the coming years, we're going to see a sea change in who the typical contingent worker is," said Lorrie Lykins, director of research services for the institute.

In some cases, companies are looking for people to shepherd reorganizations, layoffs or other transitions. "It can be less painful to have a contingent manager do that," Ms. Lykins said.

Companies were most likely to use temp workers in operations and tech functions, 38% and 35%, respectively, according to the Institute for Corporate Productivity survey.

Since the end of the recession, the number of workers in temporary roles has risen sharply. There were 2.2 million people employed as temps in January, up from about two million the year before, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said.

Having temps in higher-level roles can affect the attitudes of the permanent employees they work alongside, said Joseph Broschak, management professor at the University of Arizona. Temps tend to perform simpler tasks than their full-time counterparts, which can cause resentment, he said. "Full-time employees wonder what it means and if they're valued less because temps have replaced some of them," he said. Replacing a manager with a temporary employee could make his or her reports question the long-term viability of their department.

According to the survey, almost 16% of low-performing companies—those with low revenue growth, market share, profitability and customer satisfaction—reported that they frequently used temps as managers, versus 7% of high-performing companies.

Perhaps temp managers don't inspire high performance, but companies that are already poor performers might also turn to temps to try to turn the company around, Ms. Lykins said.

The institute conducted the survey of 274 companies last fall.

Six Facts on How to Get Credit for Retirement Savings Contributions

2011-02-18T07:27:00.000-08:00

IRS Tax Tip 2010-36

If you make eligible contributions to an employer-sponsored retirement plan or to an individual retirement arrangement, you may be eligible for a tax credit. Here are six things you need to know about the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit:

1. Income Limits The Savers Credit, formally known as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit, applies to individuals with a filing status and income of:

• Single, married filing separately, or qualifying widow(er), with income up to $27,750
• Head of Household, with income up to $41,625
• Married Filing Jointly, with income up to $55,500

2. Eligibility requirements To be eligible for the credit you must have been born before January 2, 1992, you cannot have been a full-time student during the calendar year and cannot be claimed as a dependent on another person’s return.

3. Credit amount If you make eligible contributions to a qualified IRA, 401(k) and certain other retirement plans, you may be able to take a credit of up to $1,000 or up to $2,000 if filing jointly. The credit is a percentage of the qualifying contribution amount, with the highest rate for taxpayers with the least income.

4. Distributions When figuring this credit, you generally must subtract the amount of distributions you have received from your retirement plans from the contributions you have made. This rule applies to distributions received in the two years before the year the credit is claimed, the year the credit is claimed, and the period after the end of the credit year but before the due date - including extensions - for filing the return for the credit year.

5. Other tax benefits The Retirement Savings Contributions Credit is in addition to other tax benefits which may result from the retirement contributions. For example, most workers at these income levels may deduct all or part of their contributions to a traditional IRA. Contributions to a regular 401(k) plan are not subject to income tax until withdrawn from the plan.

6. Forms to use To claim the credit use Form 8880, Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions.

For more information, review IRS Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), Publication 4703, Retirement Savings Contributions Credit, and Form 8880. Publications and forms can be downloaded at IRS.gov or ordered by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Allied offers a 401k plan to help our employees take advantage of these tax savings. Check out all of our employee benefits here.

Give Yourself Some Credit — Social Security Credit

2011-02-03T06:26:00.000-08:00

By Corrie Drosnock, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in the Lehigh Valley

Sometimes people don’t give themselves enough credit. But if you work and pay Social Security taxes, you’re earning credit for yourself every payday -- credit that will pay off later in life when it comes time for retirement, or in the event that you become disabled and are unable to work; credit that can help your family if you die early and need to provide for those who depend on you.

You qualify for Social Security benefits by earning Social Security credits when you work in a job or are self-employed and pay Social Security payroll taxes. In 2011, you receive one credit for each $1,120 of earnings, up to the maximum of four credits per year. Most people need 10 years of work (40 credits) to be eligible for retirement benefits.

The number of credits needed for disability benefits depends on how old you are when you become disabled. For example, if you become disabled before age 24, you generally need 1 1/2 years of work (six credits) in the three years before you became disabled. At age 31 or older, you generally need at least 20 credits in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled.

In most cases, about 10 years of work is needed for a worker’s family to qualify for survivors benefits. Survivors of very young workers may be eligible if the deceased worker was employed for 1½ years during the three years before his or her death.

You can find a detailed chart that shows exactly how many credits you would need in the online publication, How You Earn Credits, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10072.html. You also may want to read Understanding the Benefits for more information about Social Security and how it works. You can find it online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10024.html.

Next time you feel like someone else is taking credit for your hard work, just remember that your hard work is earning you credit in ways you probably don’t even think about — Social Security credit.

Join Our Winter Clothing Drive

2011-01-19T06:20:00.000-08:00

To kick off Allied's 2011 Community Service program, we'd like to announce a winter clothing drive to benefit Community Services for Children.

Winter clothing of every size will be accepted. Socks, gloves, sweats, and jackets are most needed. Diapers and other personal hygiene items are also appreciated. Our goal is to provide as much comfort as possible to those in need.

Donations may be dropped off in our Allentown (752 Union Boulevard) and Easton (91 Larry Holmes Drive) offices now through February 11th between 8am and 5pm. We are also happy to stop by your location to pick up donations.

Community Services for Children's mission is to prepare children and their families to succeed in learning and in life through early learning and by providing inspiration and leadership that engages communities to put children first. Click here to learn more about Community Services for Children.

We appreciate your support and your donations.

National Anthem Auditions Set for February 19

2011-01-11T07:07:00.000-08:00

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have announced that the team will host its Fourth Annual National Anthem Auditions on Saturday, February 19 at Pig Pen Sports Bar & Grill. Auditions will begin at 11 a.m. For the fourth consecutive season, Allied Personnel Services is the presenting sponsor of the National Anthem for IronPigs games at Coca-Cola Park.

Time slots will be reserved for those who RSVP by calling Mike Simonetta at (610) 841-1255 or email him at msimonetta@ironpigsbaseball.com. All RSVPs must be made by February 16. Walk-ups are welcome to audition, but will have to wait for a time slot to come available.

Each February, nearly 200 people attend National Anthem Auditions -- and dozens of those candidates are selected to sing at Coca-Cola Park. A cappella renditions will again be performed by individuals as well as by groups, choirs, choruses, barbershop quartets, etc. Each audition will be limited to 90 seconds in length and judged by both IronPigs executives and Allied Personnel Services officials.

Like last season, the IronPigs will be scheduling live performances of each National Anthem prior to every game at Coca-Cola Park.

The Pig Pen Sports Bar & Grill is located near Coca-Cola Park at 702 Union Boulevard in Allentown.

For over 25 years, Allied Personnel Services has provided innovative solutions to human resource challenges. With a dedication to providing businesses with quality employees, programs, and support services, Allied has a proven track record of quality, reliability, and on-time performance. Allied successfully provides administrative, accounting, professional, and light industrial staffing to Lehigh Valley businesses. Allied is a 6-time winner of The Morning Call's Readers' Choice award as the Best Employment Agency and has offices in Allentown and Easton.

Allied Personnel Services Welcomes Dee Shevlin

2011-01-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALLENTOWN, PA – Jan 2011 – Allied Personnel Services, the Lehigh Valley’s leading staffing company based in Allentown, announced that Dee Shevlin has joined the company as Staffing Manager for the Easton branch office. Dee will be responsible for the day to day operations of the Easton branch as well as business development activities throughout the Lehigh Valley. Shevlin brings to Allied over 15 years of staffing experience within corporate and manufacturing settings with a special emphasis on accounting and finance recruiting.

Job Offers Rising as Economy Warms Up

2010-12-28T07:26:00.000-08:00

As the economy gradually recovers, some big U.S. companies are cranking up their recruiting and advertising thousands of job openings, ranging from retail clerks and nurses to bank tellers and experts in cloud computing.

Many of the new jobs are in retailing, accounting, consulting, health care, telecommunications and defense-related industries, according to data collected for The Wall Street Journal by Indeed Inc., which runs one the largest employment websites. It said the number of U.S. job postings on the Internet rose to 4.7 million on Dec. 1, up from 2.7 million a year earlier. The company daily collects listings from corporate and job-posting websites, removing duplicates.

Its figures may undercount available jobs because some companies don't post all listings online, an Indeed spokesman said. Farming, manufacturing and construction jobs tend to be under-represented in online postings, while skilled computer and mathematical jobs are overrepresented, said June Shelp, an economist and vice president for the Conference Board, a private research group.

To be sure, the postings data offer only a partial and unofficial look at the labor market. Job losses in the recent recession have been much worse relative to output declines than in previous slumps, and official payroll data so far haven't shown signs of a big rebound in hiring. While some big companies are expanding, others are merely replacing workers who are retiring or otherwise moving on. And many of the available jobs require experience and technical expertise that few job seekers can muster. Jobs that don't are still seeing a flood of applicants for each opening.

New claims for unemployment benefits fell just 3,000 last week to 420,000, indicating a slight slowing of job losses. A Wall Street Journal survey of 55 economists in early December showed they expect only moderate job growth in 2011, enough to reduce the unemployment rate to a still-high 9% at the end of 2011 from 9.8% last month.

But companies are racking up profits and now have built strong cash positions, and may be ready to hire again. As consumer confidence revives, the economy should continue a gradual recovery that encourages more companies to hire, says Robert A. Dye, a senior economist at PNC Financial Services Group Inc. in Pittsburgh. There is still a lot of spare capacity in the economy, so "some companies, particularly auto makers, can continue to see increasing sales without hiring many more workers," he says.

Government data show a rising trend in openings. There were 3.2 million private-sector job openings at the end of October, up from 2.3 million a year earlier but well below the 3.7 million in October 2007, before the recession, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Among firms expanding their payrolls are accounting and consulting giants Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. As the economy revives, more companies are seeking their services.

Since June 30, PwC has hired 2,500 people, excluding college students, nearly four times more than it hired in the year-earlier period, says Holly Paul, U.S. recruiting leader for the firm. Ms. Paul first noticed the pickup in March, and by May hiring was in full swing. The most-needed professionals will have six to eight years' experience, she says.

"It's really hard to convince those people to leave [their existing jobs]," Ms. Paul says.

Deloitte's U.S. work force numbers about 50,100, up from 45,730 a year ago, says Jim Wall, global managing director of talent. He says the firm has a growing need for seasoned people who can provide advice to clients in such areas as mergers and acquisitions, health care and information technology.

AT&T's work force at the end of the third quarter was 272,450, down 3.6% from the end of 2009, partly because of the shrinkage of the land-line phone business. But AT&T is scouring for highly technical workers and retail sales people.

"We're looking for very skilled folks" in such areas as network engineering and cloud computing, which allows smartphones and computers to tap applications via the Internet, says Scott Smith, vice president for staffing at AT&T Inc. in Dallas. "There are not many of them out there."

It also is hiring briskly to maintain staff levels at its 2,300 U.S. stores selling cell phones and other gadgets. The retail sales openings pay between $30,000 and $45,000 a year, including commissions. AT&T also regularly hires heavily for call centers that deal with customer inquiries and people who sell products and services to companies.

For simpler jobs, such as in retail sales and call-center work, applicants still far outnumber positions. AT&T is getting about 50,000 applications a month, or around 30 for each person it hires on average, Mr. Smith says.

WellPoint Inc., an Indianapolis-based health insurer, mostly is seeking information-technology specialists, registered nurses to advise policy holders over the phone, actuaries, insurance-policy underwriters, salespeople and call-center employees, says Randy Brown, who heads human resources for WellPoint.

The call-center jobs generally don't require a college degree, but WellPoint does put candidates through simulations to see whether they are patient and good at solving problems. "There are a lot of people who want those jobs," Mr. Brown says.

Science Applications International Corp. of McLean, Va., has openings for intelligence analysts, including translators and people who analyze data; engineers; cyber-security experts, and project managers. The jobs are nearly all full-time and the vast majority require at least a four-year college degree. More than half the jobs require U.S. government security clearance because of the sensitive nature of work the company does for the military and other agencies.

Health-care companies have major needs in information technology as they upgrade electronic-record systems. Tracie Grant, director of recruitment at Catholic Health Initiatives, a Denver-based operator of hospitals and long-term care facilities, believes competition for application analysts and software developers specializing in medical records will be acute in 2011. CHI may need to raise salaries by as much as 10% for such people, who typically earn $70,000 to $90,000 a year, she says.

Wells Fargo & Co. has a wide variety of openings. In Medford, Ore., the bank holding company needs a part-time teller with computer skills and at least a year of experience "interacting with people or customers." In downtown Los Angeles, Wells is seeking a 24-hour-a-week assistant for a Wells Fargo museum, with at least six months of customer-service experience, computer skills, an ability to "think on your feet" and a "basic understanding of U.S. history."

Big defense contractors are also scrambling for people with information technology skills. At Lockheed Martin Corp., "more than 80 percent of our skill needs are for technical talent in IT and engineering, specifically computer science and cyber security, systems engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and aerospace engineering," says spokesman Christopher Williams.

Source: Wall Street Journal

The Day Before Christmas

2010-12-21T06:39:00.000-08:00

Twas the day before Christmas and throughout Allied,

The staff was all smiling and beaming with pride.

2010 had been a much better year,

And they were each looking forward to a weekend of cheer.

Outside the white snow was gently falling,

The phone rang suddenly – who could be calling?

It was Santa! The Man! Straight from the North Pole!

In a panic he shouted, “Get me out of this hole!”

John and Susan asked calmly how they could help,

Then Santa sobbed loudly and said with a yelp

“I’m behind! It’s a mess. The toys are not ready.

I wasn’t prepared for requests quite this steady!”

John said “Now that we know what’s making you scream,

Let me quickly offer the help of my team.

Connie and Laura will send someone to assemble…”

(Santa moaned with relief, you could hear the man tremble.)

“Christy and Megan will help you with shipping,

And Jen’s packagers will keep your numbers from dipping.

Jenna’s forklift drivers can un-stock your shelves,

And Erica and Lauren can stand in as elves.”

“Mrs. Claus needs help too – go get Janell!

She’ll send an assistant with the help of Danielle.

Amy, Lena and Barbara can help with the numbers,

And help you avoid any last minute blunders.”

The calls were quite frantic! The whole team stayed late,

While Julie and Kelly worked to keep the phones straight.

But the team persevered as Santa did see,

And the new temps were prepped by Brittany and Dee.

But how to get everyone to the Pole on the cheap?

Fred drove them up in that brand new Jeep!

Susan called Santa to say help’s on the way,

And Santa was so happy he hardly knew what to say.

With Allied’s help, there were plenty of toys,

For the tiniest of girls to the biggest of boys.

Santa threw back his head with a wink and a grin,

He said “I’ll be extra good to Valynn ‘cause she’s having twins!”

As the staff packed up at the end of the night,

They looked up in the sky where the moon shone bright.

They saw Santa’s sleigh and heard him shout,

“Thanks to Allied these toys are finally out!”

Holiday Food Drive

2010-11-01T07:04:00.000-07:00

This holiday season, Allied is helping local families make this time of year more plentiful. Allied is collecting non-perishable donations for Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast PA. Second Harvest is located in Allentown and feeds more than 63,000 individuals each month.

If you are interested in joining the fight against hunger this holiday season, please consider donating dietary staples such as cereal, pasta or rice. Canned foods such as vegetables, fruits, meats or stews can contribute to filling meals as can significant protein sources such as tuna and peanut butter. Most food banks also welcome donations of personal care items such as soap, toothpaste, shampoo, diapers and laundry detergent.

Many food banks in the Lehigh Valley are experiencing shortages of donations and need our assistance to help those struggling to put food on their table. For more information on donating to Second Harvest Food Bank, please visit www.shfblv.org.

How to Discuss Career Setbacks in an Interview

2010-10-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of being asked to explain a sticky situation in a job interview, such as a gap of employment on a resume or an arrest, a wise strategy is to prepare and practice a strong response in advance.

For employment gaps, be honest about what happened. Don’t dwell on it. Offer a brief explanation for your absence with confidence and then try to move the discussion forward. For example, you might say, “I am now ready to re-enter the work force. I am excited about this new direction in my life, and that’s why I’m happy to be speaking with you.”

Keep in mind that employers simply want to be assured that your past won’t be of any harm to their business. They also want to know that you’re ready to work again, so briefly mention the steps you’ve taken to get ready for this next career move. Give s short synopsis of what you did to get yourself psychologically and emotionally ready to rejoin the workforce.

As far as explaining the gap on your resume, you can list your experience up until the date you left the workforce and then explain briefly in a cover letter why you have been unemployed since then. Or, say on your resume that you took a sabbatical to cope with a personal matter.

But what if you have bigger troubles than a gap on your resume, such as a prior legal conviction or arrest? Candidates with this question sometimes decide to tempt fate and not mention their convictions in hopes that an employer a) won’t conduct a detailed background check or b) if it does, the crime won’t show up.

If you don’t disclose a misdemeanor and the company learns about it before hiring you, interviewers may question whether you have been completely forthcoming about other things. Employers often consider dishonesty worse than a past conviction. Trying to hide your past may give the impression that you can’t be trusted. You can minimize the potential fallout by disclosing the information yourself. But wait for the right time. Many executive candidates don’t get to the application and reference-checking stage until the company is ready to or has made an offer. That is the time to be forthright.

From The Wall Street Journal

Why You Can't Find a Job

2010-10-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- An increasingly fierce debate is raging over the reason why unemployment is still so stubbornly high.

While most people think businesses simply aren't hiring enough to absorb the millions of unemployed workers, a rising tide of prominent economists dispute that. They claim that there are jobs out there, just not the right candidates to fill them.

"The bigger issue is mismatch. Firms have jobs, but can't find appropriate workers. The workers want to work, but can't find appropriate jobs," said Narayana Kocherlakota, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, in a recent speech.

Kocherlakota thinks the culprit is so-called structural unemployment -- a serious imbalance in labor markets that has left a large pool of unemployed workers in the wrong place, or with the wrong skills, to take advantage of job opportunities.

With more than 3 million job openings reported by the Labor Department, the unemployment rate should be close to 6.5%, said Kocherlakota, not the 9.6% where it stands now.

He said that one of the reasons for the worsening imbalance is that so many underwater homeowners who can't sell their houses are unable to move in search of job opportunities.

"The kinds of skills [the unemployed have] and the locations where they live are not particularly good matches with available jobs," said Steven Davis, professor at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.

And there are other structural issues keeping businesses from hiring, Davis said, like uncertainty about future regulations and taxes and longer-term unemployment benefits, which can make unemployed job seekers less willing to take jobs at low wages.

Jobs won't come back until these issues are addressed, the structural unemployment theorists say.

But the opposing side claims the real problem is that employers just aren't hiring enough. Depressed demand is hurting businesses and causing them to cut back on staff, so there aren't enough jobs to go around.

Structural unemployment is, at best, a minor side issue and, at worst, a distraction that could stop policymakers from taking steps needed to fix the economy, the opposition claims.

"You hear stories about employers here or there not being able to find workers. But when you take a look at the data, there's just no evidence that is the real problem," said Heidi Shierholz, labor economist with the Economic Policy Institute, a liberal think tank.

Only 11% of small businesses are unable to fill open positions, a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business showed. Only 22% said they could find few or no qualified job applicants, about half the level reported before the recession.

Blame it on housing
While the housing crisis is keeping people in place, Shierholz doubts that a lack of mobility is the problem.

There are only four states with unemployment less than 6%, and another 10 with unemployment below 7%. Virtually all of those states have small populations, like Nebraska and North Dakota. Shierholz said they just aren't big enough to swallow up the swells of unemployed job seekers.

"Their labor forces would have to double to absorb the unemployed," she said. "The geographic factors clearly are not the driving factor."

Those arguing that structural unemployment is the problem say the bursting of the housing bubble left a glut of 1.5 million construction workers who can't easily transfer their skills to other industries.

But construction workers make up roughly the same percentage of the unemployed as they did at the peak of the housing boom, which implies that there is no unique imbalance between skills and available jobs, Shierholz said.

While some professions, like health care and education, have experienced a tighter supply of job candidates, unemployment numbers still show an excess of candidates in every industry.

Stagnant wages also imply that supply of workers is outpacing demand, according to Shierholz.

"The thing you'd expect to see with even isolated labor shortages would be low unemployment, high job growth, and wage increases," she said. "We're not seeing that."

Structural unemployment is nothing new, said John Silvia, chief economist with Wells Fargo Securities. There's always some mismatch between workers and job openings, but the huge drop in demand is the driving factor.

"Structural issues are not surprising. It's the dynamics of the U.S. labor market that has been going on since day one," he said.

When economic growth picks up and restores demand, businesses will start hiring again and the jobs will come back, he said.

Source

Should You Lie About Your Salary?

2010-09-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

Source: CNN Money.com

(MONEY Magazine) -- You might be tempted to inflate your salary during job negotiations these days -- after all, raises have been scarce.

Why tell a prospective employer what you really earn when you should be making more, perhaps quite a bit more? If a little padding can help you get to the number you want, what's the harm?

Well, if you're found out, "your credibility is diminished, and your entire career could suffer," says Lee Miller, author of Get More Money in Your Next Job ... in Any Economy.

Nevertheless, 23% of job seekers say they have lied or would lie during the interview process, a recent survey by job site Vault.com found. And even the experts admit that being too honest can be to your detriment. You might set the salary bar too low and lose out on real money.

Your best move? The artful dodge. Proceed like this:

Dance around the facts

Many companies will press candidates to reveal their salaries early on. But you want to avoid talking hard numbers until an offer is on the table.

If you're faced with an application, write, "To be discussed in person," or leave it blank. If asked in an initial interview, say, "I'd like to focus on the opportunity here, and whether it's a good fit," suggests Jason Levin of Vault.com.

Never report blatantly phony numbers, especially in writing, says Kathleen McKenna, an employment lawyer at Proskauer Rose in New York City. Most applications include a warning that reporting false information is grounds for termination. And anyway, the company may make its hiring decision contingent upon its ability to verify your salary.
Inflate your number fairly

Once you begin negotiations and real numbers are required, "the phrase to use is 'my total compensation,' " says Miller.

Add to your wages the value of any stock options, 401(k) match, bonuses, and upcoming raises, and say something like "My total compensation is in the range of $150,000." That swells the figure you can cite without distorting the facts.

You don't want to price yourself out of the ballpark, of course, especially in this market. But this approach allows you to negotiate all aspects of your pay to arrive at a complete package that's fair.
Focus on greater truths

After establishing what you're being paid now, you'll want to change the discussion to what this job should be paying.

Research salaries for comparable positions at Salary.com and Payscale.com, so that you can say, "But my understanding is that a job at this level should be in the range of $X." And when an offer is made, negotiate upward. Doing so can't hurt, even in this economy, says Levin: "It shows that you respect yourself."

When Job-Interview Questions Become Too Personal

2010-09-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

Source: Wall Street Journal

By Sue Shellenbarger

Prepping for job interviews is the subject of plenty of coaching and advice. But when job interviews turn to juggle-related topics, some questions can catch interviewees completely unprepared.

Some women readers say they have been asked, “What are your child-care arrangements?” or “Do you plan to have a family any time soon?” Author Bob Rosner identifies other “toxic questions” in his book, “The Boss’s Survival Guide”: “I love your accent; where are you from?” (This one suggests ethnic or racial discrimination.) “When did you graduate from high school?” (This one smacks of age discrimination.) “Are you currently using birth control?” (Again, implies pregnancy discrimination.)

To avoid appearing to discriminate based on sex, bosses should stick strictly to job-related queries. Employers with 15 or more employees are covered by federal anti-discrimination law, which makes sex and pregnancy discrimination illegal; a few states, including New York, New Jersey and California, have anti-bias laws covering smaller employers.

Some managers try to startle interviewees into candid revelations about their personal values or philosophy. Ad executive Michael Mathieu told the New York Times that he likes to ask candidates, “What is the meaning of life?” He said, “It’s a fun question because no one’s expecting it.” One of his favorite answers, he added, was, “Are you talking about my business life or my personal life?”

Rather than probing too much, one of my bosses on a previous job many years ago took the opposite tack: He simply stopped talking and stared at the applicant for a minute or more of stony silence. The strategy: To size up candidates’ poise. Would they jabber senselessly to fill up the silence, pose an intelligent question, or squirm in anxiety?

Meanwhile, nannies seem to be the target of oddball queries from potential employers, as I’ve reported previously. Some parents ask nanny candidates, “How often do you bathe?” or, “Do you have a boyfriend?” Others say they have been asked if they have sexually transmitted diseases.

Readers, have you been asked surprising or disarming questions in job interviews? Or inappropriate ones? If you have been on the hiring end, what are your favorite questions? What do you think is the right boundary against probing too much on personal issues?

Hiring a Résumé Writer? Ask These Questions First

2010-09-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

Source: Wall Street Journal

By ALINA DIZIK

Weeks after Rosalyn Ray was laid off from her job as a medical health clerk last year, she decided to hire someone to revamp her résumé.

"I wasn't getting any hits," she says. Ms. Ray eventually hired a résumé writer she found online. Ms. Ray was initially wowed by the writer's website, which boasted dozens of résumé samples along with testimonials.

More than $100 and a week later, her résumé came back full of typos and misspellings. "I didn't do too much due diligence," admits Ms. Ray, 49, from Oakland, Calif.

With low barriers to entry, résumé-writing services have mushroomed as job seekers who've been out of work for a prolonged period compete for the attention of hiring managers. Out of more than 400 members of the National Résumé Writers Association, or NRWA, (one of two main trade associations for résumé writers), only 34 have attained the National Certified Résumé Writer Credential. That makes quality tough to discern. Résumé-writing services cost between $100 and $2,000 dollars, says Charlotte Weeks, president of NRWA, making it critical to know what you're getting before you pay up.

Five questions to ask a résumé writer before making the investment.

1. Do you know my industry?

While some résumé writers promote their array of knowledge, it's important to find someone who can also delve into your specific industry. A résumé for a finance role, for example, requires a deep understanding of quantitative skills. Recruiters reading a general, but well-written résumé, may be put off by what appears to be a lack of industry relevance.

This can be especially important for career switchers or others entering a new industry who don't yet know the ins and outs of their new field, says Stacey Rudnick, director of M.B.A. career services at the University of Texas Austin McCombs School of Business. "Make sure they speak that language," she says. Look for telltale signs like previous clients or industry affiliations to help gauge their industry acumen.

2. Can I see samples that aren't posted on your website, please?

After posting his résumé on a job board two years ago, James Wester, a Dallas-based marketing consultant, 41, says six résumé writers contacted him. He chose the one whose work samples he considered most impressive. "They were making résumés that looked different and stood out," says Mr. Wester, who took time to read several industry-related samples that were emailed to him.

That's an important step. Go beyond reading a résumé writer's website and request relevant samples of his or her prior work via email. Ask to speak to references directly – don't simply rely on written testimonials. While time consuming, talking to others who've used the service (and work in a similar field) can give you a good idea of what you'll be getting and help assuage fears about the finished product, says Ms. Weeks.

3. Are you skilled at working with people like me?

After her initial résumé blunder, Ms. Ray did find someone who was capable of improving her document. Besides being local and available for a face-to-face meeting, the writer also had experience working with candidates looking for mid-to-entry level positions in her industry, the same sort of jobs Ms. Ray was targeting, she says. "It's a whole different skill set than at the executive level. She needed to tailor it down," says Ms. Ray, who is still looking for an administrative assistant role.

4. How will you tackle writing my résumé?

Résumés edited or created from scratch by lackluster writers are easy to spot because they often read like the experience is too good to be true, says Richard Freeman, a principal recruitment consultant at recruiting firm Hays Plc. "It's almost always a series of amazing achievements and it looks like it's written by someone who is trying sell you," Mr. Freeman says.

To avoid a résumé that skims the surface and to get one that actually points out your skills and responsibilities, inquire about the professional's writing process and communication style. Look for résumé writers who do over-the-phone interviews or present job seekers with extensive questionnaires to really get at each person's experience. Be sure to ask whether the consultation includes any necessary résumé tweaks during the job-hunting process, says Ms. Rudnick.

Since candidates rarely have just one version of their résumé, it's also important to be sure a writer has the capacity to discuss different versions later on in the job-hunting process, she adds. If the writer promises an overly-speedy turnaround time, or doesn't ask for information beyond a copy of your current résumé, that's often a sign that you won't get a high-quality rewrite in return.

5. So, what did you do before you were a résumé writer?

Before signing over your résumé to a writer, it may be a good idea to ask for some insight into his or her background. While a résumé writer doesn't need a specific degree, experts point out that previous experience as an executive recruiter or human resources manager is a major asset.

"If someone owned a florist shop for 20 years and decided to go into résumé writing, I'd question how this person is qualified," says Tim Heard, founder of eSearch Associates, an information-technology recruiting firm based in Louisville, Ky.

To verify, don't be afraid to do some online snooping, such as by looking up the writer's name on a search engine or viewing their profile on a business-networking site like LinkedIn. And if the résumé writer claims to be part of a professional association, check the group's online directory for his or her name.

After a drug conviction, can you ever get hired?

2010-08-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

http://money.cnn.com/2010/08/27/news/economy/drug_conviction.fortune/index.htm

FORTUNE -- Dear Annie: I just read your column on job hunting with a flawed credit history ("Bad credit, no job?" July 2010). I have an even worse problem. About 14 years ago, when I was a junior in college, I made a totally idiotic error in judgment involving drugs. I was arrested and convicted and did some jail time. When I got out, I finished college -- I was a computer science major with a minor in engineering -- and an uncle of mine hired me as an IT guy in a company owned by my family.

Unfortunately, the business has been wrecked by the recession and I got laid off along with everybody else, so I've been job hunting for the past few months. You can probably guess what's next: I always check the "yes" box after the question on applications that asks, "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" and that is the end of the line: no callbacks, no interviews, nothing. I have had no trouble with the law since that one stupid incident years ago. Is it going to follow me for the rest of my life? --Haunted

Dear Haunted: You're far from alone. Consider: Sterling InfoSystems conducts several million background checks on job applicants annually and has found that "the percentage of people with some kind of criminal record has been rising steadily for years now," says CEO Bill Greenblatt. "Currently, about 10% of all applicants we screen have been convicted of something."

That's partly because of the relatively recent nationwide crackdown on driving under the influence. "It isn't necessarily that more people are doing it," says Greenblatt. "But more people are getting caught."

His advice: Since your conviction was a one-time thing 14 years ago, and you've stayed out of trouble ever since, consult an attorney about getting your record expunged. "Often in this situation you can find a judge who agrees with you that this single dumb mistake in your past shouldn't follow you through the rest of your life," notes Greenblatt.

Talkback: Would you hire someone with a criminal record? Leave your comments at the bottom of this story.

But let's suppose that doesn't work. Now what? As you may already know, federal civil rights law prohibits employers from having blanket policies against hiring ex-offenders.

"The EEOC's position is that, if you're going to refuse to hire someone because of his or her criminal record, you must have a legitimate business reason for it. There has to be a connection between the offense and the job," explains David Gevertz, head of the employment practice at law firm Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz in Atlanta. State laws in this area require the same thing.

Of course, what the law says and what hiring managers actually do can be quite different. So a movement is afoot among some unions and civil rights organizations to remove the "Have you ever been convicted...?" question from the initial application for any job. "Ban the box"-ers wouldn't allow employers to ask about convictions "until the person has reached the interview stage and gets a chance to explain," Gevertz says.

In the meantime, when you check the box on applications, find room on the form to explain the basics -- that it was a youthful mistake with drugs 14 years ago and that you've stayed out of trouble since.

If you do get to the interview stage -- which isn't easy these days even for job seekers with no convictions -- "be completely upfront about what happened, and bring it up before the interviewer does," Greenblatt advises. "The last thing you want is to appear to be hiding anything."

This is particularly true in your case, he adds, because companies' worries about network and database security make it imperative that IT staffers have squeaky clean backgrounds.

"In some states, employers can and do refuse to hire ex-felons for IT positions," he says. "But different companies have different policies, so keep trying. You might also stay away from big banks, and big companies in general, which tend to have policies set in stone. Small companies with fewer hard and fast rules are a better bet."

For any job seeker hoping to overcome a criminal conviction, here are four useful resources:

* Your state's "one stop" career-services agency, job bank or career center. Every state has one; you can usually find it through the Web site of your state's Department of Labor.

"They all have people on staff who specialize in connecting ex-offenders with job opportunities," says Cheryl Naill, who does this job in York, Pa. "I constantly update my list of employers who are willing to take advantage of federal and state tax credits for hiring ex-felons."

Tax credits? Yes, up to $4,800 for each hire -- because if ex-offenders can't find jobs, she says, "the financial burden on taxpayers is huge."
* The National Reentry Resource Center, a nonprofit clearinghouse for information about government funds earmarked for companies and community groups that hire ex-offenders.
* The National HIRE Network, a research and advocacy group that "can give you specific strategies for expunging your conviction, state by state -- using legal processes that are in place but not often used because people don't know about them," says David Gevertz.
* The Self Reinvention Corporation, a nonprofit that has created business incubators for new enterprises that have hired thousands of ex-felons.

Good luck.

Allied in the Community: Peaceable Kingdom

2010-06-30T07:42:00.000-07:00

All month Allied has been collecting donations for Peaceable Kingdom.

Peaceable Kingdom provides care and shelter to animals that are lost, injured or abandoned, and offer no-kill solutions to the growing crisis of dog and cat overpopulation. Whether it's rescuing animals stranded by natural disaster, holding all-night adoption marathons or educating the public on animal welfare, Peaceable Kingdom is always in the forefront.

Some of the most needed items include:

* Animal food and cat litter
* Washable animal bedding (used household items such as blankets and towels are great!)
* Animal collars, leashes and toys
* Handicraft items to be sold at fundraising events
* Office supplies
* Laundry and cleaning supplies
* Medical supplies such as gauze, tape, eyedroppers and latex gloves

Items can be dropped off at our Easton or Allentown offices through Friday. You can also get more information about other ways to donate to Peaceable Kingdom at their website.

2010 Grads: Job Searching in a Recovering Economy

2010-04-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

Last year at this time, we posted some ideas for new grads job searching in a down economy. One of the reasons we suggested that recent grads should establish a relationship with a staffing company was because in an economic recovery staffing companies generally are at the leading edge of the comeback.

So here we are 1 year later. The economy is starting to come back, businesses are doing better, but the jobs picture isn't quite where everyone hoped it would be. In fact, Pennsylvania had the highest increase of any state in initial jobless claims last week. The reality is that this year's new grads are probably looking at a job search similar to that of 2009 grads.

The good news from our perspective is that here at Allied we are seeing an increased demand for temporary employees. And as we said last year, that means that the rest of the economy is going to continue to grow as well. Some companies cut a bit more than they should have when business slowed down and now they find they need extra help. Other companies just need more help but aren't quite ready to commit to hiring full-time employees on their own yet. Regardless of the reason, businesses need temporary employees right now.

Our message to 2010 graduates isn't very different than last year. You need to open yourself up to every opportunity. I always tell people that it is easier to find a job when you have a job. Your perfect job may not present itself to you right away. But temporary work can be a simple solution to get you going down the path to your future career.

Your Resume as a Sales Tool

2010-03-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Recently, I read an article offering “Nineteen Keys to Sales Success”. While it was geared toward marketing materials used to sell a concrete product, I couldn’t help but think of how the tips could be applied to someone who is trying to “sell” themselves as the best job applicant.

Here are just a few of the tips the article provided and my thoughts on how you can apply them to your job search.

1) “You cannot predetermine what will or will not work in your marketplace.” Just because a resume template is suggested by a certain website, doesn’t mean it is the best format for the companies to which you are applying. Similarly, just because your resume met with success when you were searching in NYC doesn’t mean it will meet with the same success in the Lehigh Valley. Research the most needed skills in your target market, and tailor your resume to highlight those skills.

2) “Old fashioned advertising is a waste of time.” The tip here was that “old fashioned advertising” should still have its place in a marketing plan. Recruiters think of this when crafting ads/job postings. Yes, the move has been to on-line forums, but companies who are seriously looking for new employees will pull out all the stops to find the right person. You may think your local newspaper is outdated but “institutional advertising” is still a viable tool in a recruiter’s box.

3) “Be serious, not a source of entertainment.” Unless you are applying for a job as a circus clown or talk show host, job applications and resume submissions are not the time to be an entertainer. Leave the jokes, quirky emails, and funny patterns/fonts for your friends.

4) “Evaluate your resume’s performance as a salesperson would evaluate his methods.” Your resume is a sales tool that markets you. Good salespeople constantly evaluate their sales methods and marketing material. In the same manner, you want to evaluate your methods and materials. Are you getting the result you want? If not, make adjustments.

5) “Be specific.” Be specific about your career goal/objective. Be specific about your previous job responsibilities. Be specific about the skills you possess. Be specific about your accomplishments.

Hopefully you will consider these ideas and begin to think of your job search as a sales process. Sometimes the sale will be easy and sometimes the sale will be hard, but if you constantly evaluate your methods you may meet with great success.

Spring (Hiring) Is In the Air!

2010-03-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

This year the change of seasons seems to be bringing a change in more than just the weather. Recent reports indicate that Lehigh Valley employers are planning to increase hiring which is good news and could be a sign that we are slowly heading out of this recession.

Allied is also planning a busy spring. Over the next several weeks, we will be visiting a number of venues where we’ll give job seekers another way to apply with us.

Here is a list of some of our upcoming job fairs:

March 15 - Holiday Inn, Fogelsville, 10am-2pm
April 6 – LCCC, Schnecksville Campus, 10am-3pm
April 13 – NCC Main Campus, 10am-2pm
April 20 – LCCC Carbon County/Nesquehoning, 10am-1pm
April 27 – Lower Macungie Community Center, 10am-4pm
May 4 – Easton High School, 720am-140pm
May 12 – Morning Call Job Fair, Coca Cola Park – 930am-430pm

So dust off that resume and brush up on your job fair skills and stop by one of these events.

Of course you can always stop in to our Allentown or Easton offices Monday – Friday, 8am - 5pm to apply also. We look forward to seeing you!

Think Before You Type

2010-03-01T07:08:00.000-08:00

Recently a university professor was suspended over something she posted on her Facebook page. This event serves as a reminder to everyone to be aware of how your online activities can affect your offline life. The issue isn't as simple as just adjusting some privacy settings on your Facebook account. The issue is putting more thought into how others may perceive what you say or do online.

As we grow up, we are taught to pay attention during face to face interactions; most of us have learned the hard way that those we communicate with can misinterpret what we are saying even with the benefit of seeing our facial expressions and our body language. Imagine the opportunities for misinterpretation in an online forum.

Online communication is fast, simple and often immediate. Unfortunately these conditions result in little thought being put into what is said and how it is said. Many social media users rely on sarcasm to get a point across, and most of the time it is easy to detect; however, there is still a chance that not everyone will recognize it. There is also a chance that even if the sarcasm is clear, not everyone will find it appropriate, and this was the case for the professor.

The lesson learned here is to take a safe approach to social media and the internet. A good rule of thumb? If you wouldn't be comfortable with your Mom or your boss reading your posts, then they shouldn't be out there. Sure, sometimes it would be nice to get rid of that filter and just post whatever you want. And sure, maybe posting things with seemingly no regard for how others may perceive them feels liberating. And perhaps a tweet or Facebook update to vent about something that frustrates you makes you feel good in the moment, but ask yourself this… “How will this look in a few hours? How will someone outside my intended audience take this?” If the answers are anything less than favorable, maybe the words are better left unsaid… or should that be un-typed?

Oh Say Can You See....

2010-02-16T06:20:00.000-08:00

Sing the National Anthem at an IronPigs game!

Allied Personnel has proudly sponsored the National Anthem at Lehigh Valley IronPigs games since the inaugural season. If you or someone you know has ever dreamed of singing in front of a huge crowd of people…Please join us at National Anthem tryouts!

Saturday, February 20th
At the Lehigh Valley Mall
Auditions begin at 10AM

All vocalists and musicians will be required to sing or play the entire Anthem in front of a panel of judges and a crowd of onlookers. Soloists and ensemble performances are welcome.

To reserve an audition time, please go here to sign up. Walk-ups are welcome to try out but will have to wait for an available time slot.

If singing isn’t quite your style, feel free to stop by and watch the event. Make sure you say hello to the Allied staff members who are helping with judging.

Many Warm Coats

2010-01-29T06:14:00.000-08:00

Our coat drive was a huge success thanks to the support of our internal staff, our field employees and our customers. We were able to collect a significant amount of warm clothing to donate to The Caring Place in Allentown. From all of us at Allied, please accept our sincere thanks. We are looking forward to making this coat drive an annual event!

Coming up in February, we’ll be participating in the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days. We’ll be offering bouquets (always a hit with the Allied staff), vases and teddy bears to benefit local cancer patients. For more information about this event, please visit the American Cancer Society.

One Warm Coat

2010-01-06T08:45:00.000-08:00

2010 is certainly off to a chilly start, which actually is perfect for our first community involvement event of the year.

Allied is collecting clean, gently used coats and jackets as part of the One Warm Coat community service project. Coats of all shapes sizes are welcome. One Warm Coat is dedicated to distributing reusable coats, free of charge, directly to local children and adults. The program is an easy way for you and your family to pass along coats and jackets that you no longer need and to help make sure that nobody goes without such a basic necessity as a coat this winter.

Clean outerwear of every size is appreciated – our goal is to provide as much warmth to those in need as possible. Please consider cleaning out your closets and donating items like coats, sweaters, jackets and sweatshirts. Hats, gloves and scarves are also appreciated. Donations may be dropped off in our Allentown office (752 Union Boulevard) now through January 15th between 8am and 5pm.

Your donated items will be delivered to The Caring Place in Allentown. The Caring Place provides programs and activities for disadvantaged young people throughout the Lehigh Valley.

For more information about clothing drives, please visit One Warm Coat today.

We appreciate your support and your donations.

'Twas the Night Before...

2009-12-15T08:55:00.000-08:00

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through Allied,
The phones had stopped ringing – the circuits were fried!
It was finally quiet at the end of the day,
With the staff looking forward to a long holiday.

As we walked to the parking lot, covered in snow,
We heard a faint jingle and a HO HO HO.
High above in the sky was a sight plain and clear.
It was Santa, his sleigh and his team of reindeer!

He hovered above us, suspended in air,
While we all stood below in an open-mouthed stare.
Each one of the reindeer seemed perfectly tame,
And they jumped into action when he called out their names.

“Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!
It’s just hit me now, what I haven’t tried –
I’ve got to get down there and into Allied!”

It was then Old St. Nick arrived at our door,
An unplanned stop during his grand tour.
He winked at Amy, Barb and Lena
And pulled up a chair by Julie and Gina.

Santa let out a sigh and a little half sob,
He said, “I’m here because I need a job!”
“There’s not tons of cash in driving a sleigh,
I’m hoping for work after the holiday.”

Julie and Gina went straight back to Kelly,
While Santa sat waiting with his hands on his belly.
Where to send Santa when the economy’s dipping?
Christy and Connie can place him in shipping!

Now that the Allied team had a plan,
John and Susan sat down with the man.
As St. Nick heard the news his mood started to perk;
He was leaving tonight with a new line of work!

Laura and Jenna told him when to get started,
Amita gave directions before he departed.
We knew that night he had miles to go,
To deliver his packages tied with a bow.

And where were Valynn, Janell and Fred?
They were out sneaking treats to the team with the sled.
Evan and Erica were peeking at presents,
While Jen played with Rudolph (who was really quite pleasant).

Inside Santa leapt up with a laugh and a wink,
“That I almost flew by is too much to think!”
He left us wrapped gifts as he dashed out the door,
“This is just my first stop! There’s much more in store!”

He jumped in his sleigh while we watched in awe,
And the reindeer started to prance and to paw.
With one mighty push they sailed off the ground,
As Santa said “Allied has the best jobs in town!”

Too Much of a Good Thing

2009-12-02T07:17:00.000-08:00

Recently a client asked me about trends within the applicant pool. As we talked, our conversation gravitated toward one particular trend – candidates who are too coached and how that negatively affects an interview.

You may think that “practice makes perfect” applies to interview preparation and the more you rehearse the better you’ll do. Let me explain why this doesn’t necessarily apply to interviewing.

The purpose of an interview is for a company to discover detailed information about your work experience and your job history, including the reasons for leaving jobs and the specific skills you possess. Equally important, sometimes even more important, a company needs to assess your fit for their environment. This is where too much practice can be a problem.

The pattern I’ve heard in the past two weeks has been in applicants who talk about the importance of “networking” in the job search and how they are especially “effective at building relationships”. Both are important concepts but virtually all of these candidates use the exact same phrasing over and over. It appears as if a particularly compelling article circulated online, everyone took its advice, memorized the suggested “good” answers, and are now interviewing at the same time. Here is the thing though-- the answers are only good if they are YOUR answers.

A good interviewer doesn’t want to hear the buzz words and the packaged answers available to everyone. An interviewer wants and needs to hear from YOU -- the person who will show up every day and work hard (without a coach or source material). An interviewer needs to know what interacting with YOU will be like. An interviewer needs to know if YOU are going to get along with the rest of the staff. An interviewer needs to know what YOU are really good at – not what the articles say are important skills.

There’s nothing wrong with preparing ahead of time so you can intelligently talk about your experiences, the job opportunity and the company at which you applying but keep it down to earth. It’s fine to practice how you might answer certain questions and to make sure that your answers will include some key things that are important for the position, but don’t be generic about it. Be genuine. Be yourself and you will land the right job for YOU.

Allied Food Drive

2009-11-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

Allied is collecting food and toiletries for Second Harvest Food Bank. Your donations are appreciated and will benefit local families in need.

Possible donations include dry goods such as cereal, pasta, canned vegetables, or beans, as well as personal care items like shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste. Baby items, including diapers, wipes and baby food are also needed.

All donations can be dropped off at either Allied office by Monday, November 23rd.

Thank you for your support and generosity.

Drug Free Work Week

2009-10-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

Preventing alcohol and drug abuse is essential to keeping workplaces safe and to maintaining healthy communities. Together, with the US Department of Labor, Allied is honoring Drug Free Work Week. Drug-Free Work Week is a public awareness campaign that highlights the importance of being drug free and encourages workers with alcohol and drug problems to seek help.

Did you know that 75% of the nation’s current illegal drug users are employed? Did you also know that 79% of the nation’s heavy alcohol users are employed?

Based on these research statistics, it is clear that working drug free is a topic employees need to hear about. Working drug free has positive results. Some of the key benefits are:

1) Prevents accidents and makes the workplace safer
2) Improves productivity and reduces costs
3) Encourages people with alcohol and drug problems to seek help

Drug-free workplace programs also help protect employers and employees from the potentially devastating consequences of alcohol or drug abuse. Establishing policies, educating everyone about the dangers of alcohol and drug use, deterring and detecting use, and urging people to seek help for alcohol and drug problems are smart safety strategies but they are also smart business strategies.

If you are interested in learning more about Allied’s drug screening policies or procedures, feel free to give us a call. For more ideas on how to implement Drug Free Work Week into your company visit the DOL's official website for the program.

5th Reader's Choice Win for Allied

2009-09-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Morning Call Reader’s Choice Award winners were recently revealed and for the 5th time Allied has won for Best Employment Agency.

We take special pride in this award because it is comes from the votes of our clients and from the votes of our dedicated field employees. It is especially rewarding to receive this recognition as we are celebrating our 25th year of business.

We will continue to work hard to provide exceptional service to our clients and to provide our employees with the best employment opportunities.

Thanks to everyone that voted!

Red Flag Rule

2009-09-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

At first glance, you might not think you need to worry about the FTC's Red Flag Rule if your business isn't a financial institution. But the rule, which goes into effect on November 1, 2009, applies to any company that provides products or services and then bills for them at a later date.

The FTC website has an easy to understand guide to help you assess your risk and develop your written plan: Fighting Fraud with the Red Flags Rule: A How-To Guide for Business.

Compliance with the Red Flag Rule is relatively simple. Conduct a risk assessment to determine your level of risk, and then establish a written plan. Even if your risk level is low, you'll need to establish a program. If your company has a Board of Directors they'll need to approve the plan, and then it should be assessed at least once a year.

May the Beauty We Love Be What We Do

2009-09-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

Today's post is courtesy of Jessie Thompson, owner of The Yoga Loft. We found it very inspiring and were thrilled that Jessie allowed us to share it with you. If you're feeling inspired to make some external changes in your career, Allied would love to help!

September always has that back to school, back to work feeling. For some it is exciting and invigorating, while others see it as a loss of the freedom they enjoyed in the summertime. I have heard more than a few express regret that September is already here and they are heading "back in the saddle".

The other day I was wearing one of Megan's fundraising t-shirts that reads, "may the beauty we love be what we do." and I wondered if it was really possible for everyone to have this relationship to their work. So many of us have had jobs that oppress us rather than inspire us. I had never felt this way about my work until a few years ago when I opened the Yoga Loft. Some differences between the jobs I did before and the one I do now is 1) I took a bigger risk, 2) I was doing something (yoga) that I loved and something that was beautiful to me, and 3) I am working to move from wrong thinking and blame, to accurate thinking and responsibility.

Looking back there were definitely jobs in my history I could have done without, but there were also some really good ones at which I made myself miserable because my own perspective and thinking was not right. It's easiest for us to blame others at home and at work when things aren't going well, rather than try to look at our own reactions. It is also a valuable skill to not take every issue at work or home so personally. (Hard to do but extremely liberating!)

We all have the responsibility to make sure we listen to our hearts, set ourselves on the right path, and apply ourselves with energy and enthusiasm (tapas!) to our work.

When problems arise or stagnation sets in we must assess for ourselves whether it is external change (get your resume out there!) or internal change (what am I doing to create this problem in my life?) that will set things aright.

I hope the spirit of this time of year inspires all of you to be courageous in whatever you do. The practice you cultivate here at The Yoga Loft will help to quiet the body and mind, and you will begin to hear the voice that resides in the seat of your heart that guides you to your truth. Trust this voice.

What To Do After An Interview

2009-08-31T11:24:00.000-07:00

After the Interview:

Before leaving, ask the interviewer what the next step is. This will allow you to determine the best way to follow up.

If you are asked to call the interviewer about the next step on Wednesday, call on Wednesday. Not Thursday…Wednesday. This is often a test. An employer is evaluating your ability to follow directions and properly follow-up. These skills are vital to any position.

If the interviewer said she would call you Friday and you haven’t heard from her, call on Monday. If you must leave a message, be polite and brief.

If after leaving a message you haven’t heard anything in 2 more days, send an email. Again, be polite and brief.

If you haven’t heard 2 days after that, assume you were not selected and move on. Do not give in to the temptation to call and/or email again to tell the employer they missed out. This will eliminate you from any future consideration should other opportunities within the company arise.

The Thank You Note:

You should send a separate thank you note to each interviewer. The note should be handwritten on a conservative card and be brief and professional.

Dear Mr. Gehrig,

I enjoyed meeting with you today regarding the administrative opening with your company. I believe that my experience and your needs will be a good match. I look forward to hearing from you about the next step in the process. Thanks again!

Marilyn

If plans were made for a second step within the next 1 – 2 business days, it would be appropriate to send an email rather than a note card.

The Big Picture

2009-08-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

It is never easy to talk when having your teeth cleaned, but today I chatted with my dental hygienist while she cleaned my teeth. I always ask about her kids – particularly her son, Joe.

A few years ago, Joe came to Allied looking for work. We placed him in a warehouse position at a great company – a company that ended up hiring him. Today, my hygienist told me he is interviewing for a position in that same company’s sales and marketing department, something he was always interested in. If he gets the position, he'll train in Europe for a few weeks. She also told me the company is paying for him to complete his degree, something else he always hoped to do. I heard the pride in her voice as she talked about him; she was so happy he got into this company because so many new opportunities were now opening for him.

I love to hear stories like this. They confirm what we in the staffing industry know: temporary work can open doors you may have never known existed nor been able to open yourself. Joe didn't do well when he went to college straight out of high school so he dropped out. If he had applied for the same sales and marketing job then, he never would have gotten the interview. But now, he’s had the chance to prove himself to a company who recognized his potential and is giving him the chance to move from the warehouse to a job he’d merely dreamed of a few years ago. Plus, he is with a company that will finance the completion of his degree.

When we talk to people about jobs, we encourage them to consider the big picture. Maybe we don’t have your dream job available. We dare you to look at more than that. Is the company part of an industry that appeals to you? Does the company have a variety of departments and positions? Will the experience improve your resume? Will the job help you pay your bills while you continue to look for your dream job?

The current economy has forced everyone to take a step back and look at things differently. I’m sure Joe was frustrated before he came to us and I’m sure he complained to someone about having to take a warehouse job to get by, but I bet he’s happy with the big picture unfolding in front of him right now.

Blood Donors Wanted

2009-08-12T12:43:00.000-07:00

Allied is holding a Blood Drive on Thursday, August 27, 2009. The bloodmobile will be at our Allentown office at 752 Union Boulevard from 11:00am--4:00pm. If you are interested in donating please contact Gina here at Allied at 610.821.0220. For more information about donating blood visit Miller Keystone Blood Center's website at giveapint.org.

Why Use a Staffing Firm

2009-07-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

This week's post comes from guest blogger Jennifer Furst of Furst Staffing in Chicago.

The labor market is changing. Companies are laying people off and downsizing. The unpredictable economic times are challenging for businesses and the individuals who have lost their jobs.

We have met with a number of individuals who have never had to partner with a staffing firm before and are unsure of what a staffing firm is all about and what they should expect. We will try and answer some of these questions in this blog.

A staffing firm is a company that serves two clients: individuals seeking employment and companies seeking employees. When partnering with a staffing firm you need to do your due diligence and make sure the staffing firm is a reputable firm. Ask friends, co-workers, family, and your former HR representative for recommendations. Most staffing firms have thorough screening processes that include: pre-screening, completed applications, face-to-face interviews, references checks, and skills evaluations. Positions can range from C.E.O. to laborer. Typically, staffing firms offer three types of employment: project/supplemental/temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct placement.

Supplemental or temporary staffing are projects that can last a couple of hours to several years. Companies will hire a staffing firm to help find employees to cover vacations, medical leaves, or to meet high workloads. These types of projects are great for individuals seeking employment for a number of reasons:

• It provides a source of income while seeking a regular, full-time opportunity.
• The staffing firm can act as a job reference and resume builder to fill gaps in your employment history while between jobs.
• Companies often call staffing firms to fill immediate needs. So, you could find employment fast.
• Temporary work allows you to accept assignments that meet your availability.
• Many companies hire their internal staff from the ‘temporary’ employees. The temporary employees have already been trained and assimilated to the environment.
• The temporary position can provide you with great networking opportunities. Meeting people in your industry and developing some good job leads through this interaction.
• You can gain experience in a new field. You may have the skills to do the job, but lack the experience. Sometimes a staffing firm can help you gain that much needed experience. Or it may be an industry or career you had not thought of previously.
• Many staffing firms provide access to benefits.
• Staffing firms have access to job leads that are not advertised.
• 2.5 million people a day are employed in the staffing industry. (American Staffing Association)

Temp-to-Hire (or what we call Furst-to-Hire) is when a company has an internal need and would like to “try before they buy”. Recruiting, screening, testing, training and hiring an employee is expensive. Many companies want to make sure the individual they are hiring has the skills they say they do and have the personality that will be a good match in their environment. A temp-to-hire, is a temporary project with a set time period that the employee would be on the project at the client before the client would hire that employee internally. If the client or employee felt that this arrangement would not work out long term…the project would end and the staffing firm would find another employee for the company, while assigning the employee to a different project that would better fit their goals.

A temp-to-hire includes all of the benefits that a temporary project offers plus it allows you the opportunity to try a company before committing to a full-time, internal position. It is difficult to interpret a company based on one or two interviews. The goal is to find a position that is a long term career move and a temp-to-hire allows you the chance to see the day-to-day operation and make sure that the position accomplishes your career goals and meets the criteria you have established.

• 8 out of 10 employers feel that staffing firms offer a good way to find people who can become internal employees. (American Staffing Association)
• 72% of temporary workers obtain an internal position while working through a staffing firm. (American Staffing Association)

Direct placement occurs when a staffing firm is engaged to match a candidate’s skills with a specific job opportunity and the candidate is hired directly by the client company. They are never employed by the staffing firm. Companies may hire the staffing firm to do this to eliminate the time and expense to conduct a job search. They may not have the internal staff to sort through all of the resumes they receive.
The hiring company usually interviews several candidates from those presented and makes the decision on who will best fit their needs. The staffing firm will present the job offer to the candidate who is then hired directly by the client company.

As you can see there are numerous benefits to partnering with a staffing firm. Again, do your research to make sure you are working with one that will represent you properly and is respected in the community.

Furst Staffing is just one of the many strong, independent staffing firms throughout North America that Allied partners with through AnserTeam.

Resume Inflation

2009-07-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

“Resume Inflation” has certainly been talked about before, but not until recently has it become apparent how often it is happening. This unprecedented job market seems to have put a particular stress on job seekers and the challenge in finding employment has turned some job seekers into deceivers.

Some recent examples that we’ve seen include:

•The job seeker who started with their last employer on January 2, 2008 and ended on June 29, 2009 was employed from 1/2008-6/2009. Tempted to pad those dates a bit, the job seeker lists 12/2007-7/2009. That is resume inflation.

•The job seeker’s last title was Front Desk Assistant but she occasionally emptied the company President’s outbox. This job seeker sees an ad for an administrative assistant requiring 3 years of experience. Nervous she may not have the right skills, she changes her job title to Assistant to the President. That is resume inflation.

•The job seeker completed all but one class toward a Bachelor’s in Accounting. Missing a required gym class, he feels it’s close enough so he lists on his resume “B.S. Accounting – May 1999 – Penn State University.” That is resume inflation.

Why does this matter? Inflating a resume is lying. It shows a lack of integrity, and one thing businesses want more than anything right now is people they can trust. More and more screening techniques are being consistently used to uncover these lies – reference checking, employment verification, education verification, etc., - so don’t take a chance. Be honest. It may seem like those who lie will get the job and “win” but cheaters never prosper. Take the high road, present yourself as you are, and you will in the long run be the more successful employee.

Allied Personnel Services Earns WRC Certification

2009-06-23T11:05:00.001-07:00

Allied Personnel Services announced today that they have been awarded the Workers’ Compensation Risk Certification (WRC) for the 3rd year in a row.

Allied is the only Lehigh Valley staffing service to hold the WRC designation. This certification serves as a clear differentiator of the superior quality of screening processes and follow-up services Allied provides.

The WRC program recognizes staffing companies that practice best in class risk management to reduce workplace injuries and related costs. WRC certified companies maintain that a focus on safety and risk management protects their employees while offering a higher level of service to clients.

“Providing a safe work environment for our field employees has always been a key component of what Allied does,” said Susan Larkin, Vice-President of Allied. “As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, renewal of this award is a source of pride and further evidence that we are leaders in our market.”

To be awarded certification, companies undergo a thorough review of their operational practices as they apply to hiring and screening, substance abuse, talent matching, employee orientation, client safety evaluations and partnerships, incident investigations and corrective measures, and return-to-work programs. The results are compared against a system of best practices developed by an advisory council of insurance carriers, insurance brokers, and staffing industry risk managers.

Information about WRC certification is published on the program’s Web site at staffingWRCs.com.

Class of 2009: Job Searching in a Down Economy

2009-05-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the graduates of 2009! You’ve finally completed your studies and all that cramming – now it is on to the “real” world. As many of you are finding, it’s not nearly as welcoming as it has been in the past – at least not when it comes to finding a job.

The Morning Call recently talked about job prospects so we wanted to take a minute to expand on an often overlooked way to gain employment.

Each year, Allied successfully places numerous recent grads in temporary positions at a variety of Lehigh Valley companies. These positions can be short term (1 day, 1 week, etc) or they can be long term (1 month+). Both provide a great advantage to you.

Short-term jobs provide the flexibility to interview for jobs in your field or outside of the Valley without the commitment of a full-time job. Long-term positions allow you to expand on and build your skills, which in turn enhances your resume. Additionally you may find that the industry or job you thought was just a way to make money until your dream job knocks on your door is actually satisfying and provides a challenging opportunity for growth.

Of course you can’t overlook our temp to hire opportunities either. If you have a clear picture of your interests or career goals, we may be able to help you find a great opening. Companies often don’t post every job they have on their website; they rely on us to recruit for them. Working with a staffing company allows you access to the jobs you’d never find on your own.

Graduates often wait until August or September to contact us because they see a staffing company as a last resort. Instead, make Allied one of your first contacts, especially if you want to have an edge on the competition. In a down economy staffing companies will see the first upswing in job openings. Don’t miss out!

Job Fair Follow-Up

2009-05-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

Last week’s job fair at Coca Cola Park brought out thousands of job seekers; nearly 3000 according to The Morning Call. Based on the selection of resumes we received, it is evident that the job market is filled with individuals from all industries and from all skill levels.

Since you don’t have a window into the HR offices of the companies that were there, we thought we would share some ideas on how to best approach follow-up after attending a job fair.

1) Don’t be surprised if you don’t get a call from most of the companies with which you left your resume. If you did your homework and only applied at specific companies for specific openings, you may have better luck in receiving a call. If you took the common approach of handing a resume to any employer who would take one, there’s a good chance your skills aren’t applicable to their business and you won’t receive a call.

2) Take a few minutes to look at the list of employers you left your resume with and decide which have interested you. Follow up with them by Tuesday, May 19th. One week is an appropriate window to contact the recruiter who was at the job fair to discern the next step in the hiring process. If you didn’t get a name, utilize the internet to find a way to apply on line and then indicate you stopped by the booth at the job fair.

3) If you were told at the job fair to “apply online” do not assume this is a dead end. Some large employers automatically enter applicants into a database that holds resumes for future searches. A job may not be available now for your skill set but should an opening come up next month, they will search their database before they advertise. If your skills/experience match their need, you’ll receive a call.

4) Don’t be a pest. If you have called to follow up once and you haven’t gotten a call back, do not call again. The volume of applicants received by employers makes individual follow up to applicants who do not fit a current need impossible. Accept that they do not have a current need for you and move on with your search. If in a month you see a posting of interest to you that you are qualified for, send an email to check in but limit it to one email.

Attending a job fair can be a positive experience or it can be discouraging. Remember that a job fair is only one way employers hire. Continue to network and apply online or through newspaper ads and follow up with employers you met that you truly want to work for – focus your search as much as you can to land the right job for you.

Job Fair Tips

2009-05-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be planning to attend the May 12 Job Fair at Coca Cola Park hosted by The Morning Call. Along with many other Lehigh Valley employers, we will be there to meet with you and other job seekers. In preparation for the event, we thought we’d share our advice on how to prepare for a multi-employer job fair.

1) Research. Find out what companies will be there. Most job fairs include a list of employers in advertisements for the event. Visit the websites of those companies to check out current job openings. If there are opportunities you are interested in, take a minute to learn more about the company. Then when you speak with a recruiter at the job fair, you are able to talk about a specific opening or about their company’s business and really stand out from the crowd.

2) Prepare. This is the one time you won’t be able to customize your resume. Since you will be presenting it to multiple employers for various opportunities, make your objective specific to the way you’d like your skills to be used and to the type of work environment you prefer. For this occasion, this is better than trying to specify a position or an industry. And of course be sure to avoid the common resume mistakes.

3) Practice. Do you have your 30-second commercial ready? This is one tool you absolutely must have ready for a job fair. Prepare it and practice it. A job fair is a great opportunity to end your commercial with a question; this will help you start a dialogue with the recruiter.

4) Attire. Going to a job fair is a lot like going to a bunch of mini-interviews, so dress as you would for an interview. Often the setting for a job fair is casual, CocaCola Park for example, but don’t dress for the venue. Dress to make a great first impression.

5) Prioritize. Rather than start at one end of the job fair and visit every single booth, determine your game plan before you arrive. Because you’ve done your research, you will know the employers you are most interested in visiting. Start with those. If the recruiters are tied up with a line of people waiting, it may be best to stop back. For some very popular employers, there may be no down time for the recruiters and waiting in line may be your only option.

6) Respect. At a busy job fair, you need to be respectful of the recruiter’s time. If there are a large number of job seekers, you may not get a chance to do much more than introduce yourself and drop off your resume. Don’t monopolize a recruiter’s time with excessive explanations about your work history or with multiple questions about their openings. You want to be remembered but not as the person who talked excessively.

7) Follow-up. Get business cards and contact information for the companies you are interested in and follow-up with them. A short, hand-written thank you note reconfirming your interest in the company or in a particular opening is a simple way to give a recruiter a reason to pull your resume out of the stack they have from the job fair.

As many of you know, the job market is flooded right now. There are of course many people out of work, there are those who are employed but want a new opportunity, and then there are many just finishing college. Don’t be intimidated by long lines at job fairs or by the volume of resumes you see stacked on a recruiter’s table. If you play your cards right, you’ll be on the “first call back pile” and a new employment opportunity may find its way to you. Best of luck--and be sure to visit our booth at the job fair on May 12th!

Dress Code Basics

2009-04-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

With record-high April temperatures here in Pennsylvania, we thought a post about dress codes would be timely. Thanks to our guest blogger Jennifer Furst of Furst Staffing in Chicago for sharing her expertise with us!

Each company has an image and it is the responsibility of each employee to reflect that image whether in the office, visiting client companies, or participating in community activities. Dress codes vary from company-to-company and sometimes day-to-day, with Fridays being designated “casual dress day” more commonly. It is hard to know what is acceptable to wear and no dress code can cover all situations.

Not all casual clothing is suitable for a business casual setting, nor is it appropriate for “casual dress day”. Clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, your chest, your feet, your stomach or your underwear is not appropriate for a place of business. In addition, a general rule is if your clothing is torn, dirty, stained, wrinkled, coming apart at the seams or something you would hit the gym for a workout in, it is unacceptable. Any clothing that has offensive words or pictures should not be considered for work attire.

Wow, so what is ok to wear to work in a business casual setting? Dockers or other cotton or synthetic pants, wool pants, dressy Capri pants are a-ok. Casual dresses or skirts should be at a length (at or below the knee) where you can comfortably sit in public. Button down shirts, sweaters, ‘polo’ style shirts and turtleneck are acceptable for work.

Some additional items that are best to avoid wearing to work: tank tops, midriff tops, halter-tops, sweatshirts, athletic shoes, mini-skirts, sweatpants, shorts, overalls, anything spandex, slippers and flip-flops, hats (with the exception of head covers that are required for religious purposes or cultural traditions). Remember that some employees are sensitive to the chemicals in perfumes and colognes, so wear these with restraint.

If you are representing your company at a trade show, conference, community event or visiting a customer business casual is the minimum standard. Occasionally, professional business attire will be required. Make sure your suit is pressed and your shoes are polished.

For job interviews, it is ok to ask what the dress code is for that company. However, it is always good to appear in professional business attire. It shows professionalism, you are serious about the opportunity, and you respect the interviewers time by investing time to prepare for the interview. Sometimes professional attire is a bit too much. If you are interviewing for a manufacturing opportunity and would be working in a very casual setting it is impressive to interview in dress pants and a button down dress shirt with a tie.

Make sure you understand your organization’s dress code to avoid any company violations or embarrassing situations.

Furst Staffing is just one of the many strong, independent staffing firms throughout North America that Allied partners with through AnserTeam.

3 Tips For Successful Interviews

2009-04-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

Part of the service Allied provides to our candidates is a crash course in interview preparation. Here are what we consider our top 3 tips to prepare yourself for an interview.

Always research the company and the position.

The Internet provides the means to gather extensive information on a company. Visit the company’s website to read up on their history, their product line, and any current news. Many smaller companies also profile members of their management team. A company website will likely also offer a full description of the available job and may even include general information on the benefits offered. By doing your research ahead of time, you will also be better able to formulate intelligent questions during your interview.

Be courteous to everyone you meet.

We always encourage candidates to be friendly to the first person they meet when they walk in the door of a company. Many interviewers will ask the person at the front desk or at the security desk for a quick first impression. If you were rude, if you were talking on your cell phone, or if you were pacing nervously, they will share that information with the interviewing/hiring manager so it is important to not get off on the wrong foot. Greet everyone with politeness and wish them well when you leave, turn the cell phone off in the car (vibrate isn’t good enough – it needs to be off), and sit calmly while waiting.

Even if it seems like common sense, think about it.

Most people look at us oddly when we provide this advice but you would be surprised how often simple common sense errors trip up an otherwise decent interview. Before you walk in the building make sure your sunglasses are off of your head and that your suit jacket lapel isn’t folded under. Make sure you’ve left food and drink in the car (this includes gum and mints). Make sure you take at least three extra copies of your resume in case you meet with more than one person, and that those resumes are neat and are free of coffee stains, folds, and pen marks. Make sure you have reference information with you including the person’s full name, phone number and email address. And most of all make sure you know who to ask for when you arrive!

Right now, the job market is very competitive. Just a few short years ago, a company may have been lucky to find two qualified candidates to interview. Today you may interview against 10 other highly qualified candidates. If you’ve done your research, remember your manners and pay attention to the common sense details, you will absolutely have a leg up on the competition. Rest assured, we’ve seen enough people stumble to know what gets you noticed in a positive way.

Good luck with your search, and be sure to check out Allied’s available jobs regularly.

MythBusters: The Résumé Edition

2009-04-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

Recently we shared some mistakes you should avoid on your resume. If you've made some adjustments to your resume recently and are actively using it in your job search, there may be some additional fine-tuning you can do to perfect it. Chances are you believe one of these top 3 resume myths:

#1 “It’s okay not to include dates on my resume.”

MYTH! If dates are omitted, a red flag is raised to the person reviewing your resume. A recruiter will wonder what you might be hiding and may pass over your resume altogether.

#2 “My resume can’t exceed one page.”

MYTH! Ideally, resumes should never exceed two pages in length. One page is fine if you can fit all of the needed information without crowding the layout. Anything over two pages may be excessive and may be disregarded by a potential employer.

#3 “I can use the same resume for every job I apply to.”

MYTH! You need to look at the requirements of the position and your resume contents closely. While you don’t need a completely new resume for every application, sometimes you’ll want to tweak your resume to draw stronger attention to certain skills depending on the job. The best advice we can give is to customize it every time you send it.

At Allied, we are always happy to share advice with our applicants and employees. Apply with us today and talk to one of our staff about how we can help you improve your job search.

*Watch for our upcoming posts on how to prepare for an interview and how to follow-up with a company after an interview!

Resume Mistakes To Avoid

2009-03-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

While technology and the internet have dramatically changed the way we search for jobs, one thing still remains constant: the resume. Even if you are conducting your job search entirely online, your resume is still a necessary component in the process. You may have updated it to include all of your career accomplishments, training, awards and certifications, but there are also several things you need to make sure that it doesn't include.

• Leave overly personal information off your resume – no social security numbers, marital status, family blogs, pictures, etc.

• References and salary requirements should not be included on your resume. If an employer requests this information, references should be presented on a separate page and salary requirements should be included in a cover letter.

• Limit the use of jargon or specific industry terms unless they are directly relevant to the position for which you are applying.

• Limit your use of bolding, italics and underlining – too much of these can clutter the content. Use a standard font like Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman and use that font consistently throughout all documents.

• Your resume should be free of all spelling and grammatical errors. Always have someone read your resume before sending it. Attention to detail can very easily put your resume on the top of the pile. Failure to fix errors quickly moves you to the bottom.

• Present yourself accurately at all times. Never lie. Companies have the time and resources to verify your background information including education and employment history.

If you haven't done it recently, ask a friend or colleague review your resume. Get their honest feedback and make improvements. You can also get constructive feedback on your resume from a staffing service. At Allied we always provide our candidates with tips and advice to help them improve their resumes and their chances of landing the job.

Your 30-Second Commercial

2009-03-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

The term “30-second commercial” can be used to describe the brief sales pitch someone gives about their company when they bump into a prospective customer. Also referred to as an “elevator speech,” a 30-second commercial is intended to provide all of the key information about something in a short period of time, while also piquing the interest of the listener. If you are searching for a job, you need to make sure you have your 30-second commercial prepared. You never want to miss an opportunity to sell your product—yourself!

Content

Make sure that you include all of the key information about yourself. Your experience, your strengths and key accomplishments can easily be fit into 30 seconds. If you’ve worked for some large, well-known companies, mention them. Don’t forget to include anything unique about you or your career.

Qualities

The most effective 30-second commercials use short, declarative sentences. Be careful not to use any jargon specific to your career field unless you are certain that your audience will understand it. You want to try to grab the person’s attention, so be passionate and engaging. Even if your job search has you feeling bitter or frustrated, don’t let those emotions come through. Ideally when you deliver your commercial it will be part of a dialogue, so it’s good to end with a call to action, or a question. For example, if you are speaking to someone about your IT experience you could end with: “How does your company handle software development?”

Key Points to Remember

The delivery of your commercial is crucial to its success. Speaking with confidence will convey credibility and will impact the listener. Remember your audience and tailor your message so that it has the most impact. Most importantly, keep your commercial to 30 seconds. Use the first 15 seconds to engage your audience and the last 15 seconds for wrap up. Don’t forget to practice so that you are comfortable with the material. You don’t want it to sound overly rehearsed or memorized, but it needs to flow easily.

A polished, professional 30-second commercial is an invaluable tool when you are looking for a job. You never know where the next opportunity is going to come from, and you never know where you might meet someone who can help you. In the next few weeks we’ll share some more hints on how to structure your job search and some of the other tools you need to make it successful.

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
-Seneca (3 BC – 65 AD)

Email Etiquette

2009-03-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

(This week's post marks our first appearance by a guest blogger, Jennifer Furst of Furst Staffing. Thanks Jennifer!)

Email has become an important communication tool for all businesses. For the average email user, more than 30% of a given day is spent creating, organizing, reading and responding to email. This contributes to information overload, which hinders corporate productivity.

Be concise and to the point

Do not make an email longer than it needs to be. Remember that reading an email is harder than reading printed communications and a long email can be very discouraging to read. When emails are poorly written, the reader has to spend more time deciphering the meaning or sending follow-up emails to question or clarify. Try to keep your sentences to a maximum of 15-20 words. Email is meant to be a quick medium and requires a different kind of writing than letters.

Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation

Most programs include a spell check for a reason; please use it. Even the best writers overlook errors. This is not only important because improper spelling, grammar and punctuation give a bad impression of your company, it is also important for conveying the message properly.

Read the email before you send it

A lot of people don’t bother to read an email before they send it out. Reading your email through the eyes of the recipient will help you send a more effective message and avoid misunderstandings and inappropriate comments. Emails that are poorly written, use poor grammar or have inappropriate business language wastes precious time. Even worse are unprofessional emails containing content the author would never say to a person face-to-face.

Reply to All

Only use “Reply to All” if you really need your message to be seen by each person who received the original message. It’s all too easy to copy too many recipients or, worse, entire workgroups or all employees. Focusing on email distributions can help eliminate more than 10% of email received per day. At a savings of three minutes spent reading and addressing each message.

Answer swiftly

People send an email because they wish to receive a quick response. Reply to each email within at least 24 hours, and preferably within the same working day. If the email or request is complicated, just send an email back saying that you have received it and that you will get back to them. This will put the individual’s mind at rest and usually will then be patient.

Do not overuse the high priority option

We all know the story of the boy who cried wolf. If you overuse the high priority option, it will lose its function when you really need it. If a message is flagged as “high priority,” you will come across as slightly aggressive. Reserve this function for situations where it is absolutely necessary.

Answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions

An email reply must answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions. If you do not answer all the questions in the original email, you will receive further emails regarding the unanswered questions, which will not only waste your time and your customer’s time but also cause considerable frustration. Moreover, if you are able to pre-empt relevant questions, your customer will be grateful and impressed with your efficient and thoughtful customer service.

Do not write in CAPITALS

WHEN YOU write IN CAPITALS IT SEEMS AS IF YOU ARE SHOUTING. This can be highly annoying and might trigger an unwanted response.

Take care with abbreviations and emoticons

In business emails, try not to use abbreviations such as BTW (by the way) and LOL (laugh out loud). The recipient might not be aware of the meanings of the abbreviations and in business emails these are generally not appropriate. The same goes for emoticons, such as the smiley ☺.

Do not use email to discuss confidential information

Sending an email is like sending a postcard. If you don’t want your email to be displayed on a bulletin board, don’t send it. Moreover, never make any libelous, sexist or racially discriminating comments in emails, even if they are meant to be a joke.

Use a meaningful subject

Try to use a subject that is meaningful to the recipient as well as yourself. Placing the topic of the e-mail in the subject line allows the recipient to sort their e-mails by subject and for placing in folders on a particular topic. Avoid using the words urgent or important on the subject line.

Close professionally

End your message professionally by closing with such words as “respectfully” or “sincerely”.

(Furst Staffing is just one of the many independent staffing firms that Allied partners with through our affiliation with AnserTeam. Call us today to see how we can help you in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.)

March For Babies

2009-03-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

March of Dimes is an organization that supports research and programs to help prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. March of Dimes has raised more than $1.5 billion to help babies in need.

Allied Personnel is proud to support this important cause. We have seen firsthand the remarkable things that March of Dimes does. One of our staff members, Jennifer, is the proud mother of a beautiful little girl named Lily. Lily was born eight weeks early and weighed 2 pounds, 12 ounces. She was only 15 inches long. We are happy to say that she is now 17 pounds, 11 ounces and 29 ½ inches long. Lily is a happy little girl who enjoys coloring, stickers and cruising around with her parents. She loves to smile and some of her favorite words are “Mama,” “Dada” and “yum.” We are happy to support Lily and her family as she continues to develop. We are also proud to support March of Dimes and young children everywhere.

Allied will be raising money this spring for March of Dimes by holding a bake sale, a basket auction and a raffle. We will also be participating in the March for Babies 5 mile walk on April 26th.

Visit our team website to learn more about how you can support Allied and March of Dimes.

Does Grammar Matter? Absolutely!

2009-03-02T11:53:00.000-08:00

I'm constantly amazed by the sloppy use of email in the business world. I don’t understand why such little effort goes into some basic emails. Is it because emailing is now part of a routine resulting in no extra thought? I admit, I may be a bit tough when it comes to grammar and phrasing expectations, but I still think there should be a minimum standard for anyone sending a business email.

If you use email on a regular basis in your career, please realize that sending an email with blatant grammar errors truly does reflect on your professionalism. Email has become an integral part of building a business relationship. Because of that, email contributes to how others form opinions about you.

Not too long ago, I received an email from someone who used "hear" when they should have used "here". It was one of my first contacts with the person, and it leapt off the screen. It did, in fact, contribute to my overall opinion of the person's business savvy, attention to detail, and intelligence.

I admire people who can write effectively yet casually enough so it seems as if they are speaking the words directly to me. Unfortunately, I struggle with that skill a bit. Maybe it’s because I'm focused too much on getting the wording exactly right. On the other hand, I have seen some people take this "style" to the extreme. Run-on sentences...half-finished thoughts trailing into each other...excessive use of aposiopesis ...casual to the point of being unreadable...

Correct grammar may not always be a black and white issue. I do acknowledge that there can be more than one way to correctly write the same thing. I'm not sure I agree with everything on the following web pages but here are a few interesting places to brush up on your grammar:

10 Flagrant Grammar Mistakes That Make You Look Stupid

Dodge the Grammar Traps

Most Annoying Grammar Mistakes in English

Five Grammatical Errors That Make You Look Dumb

The Proactive Job Search

2009-02-23T07:06:00.000-08:00

In the past month, we’ve heard from many professionals who have unexpectedly lost their jobs. Many had been with their companies for at least 5 years, and now they suddenly find themselves dusting off old resumes in order to start the daunting task of getting a new job.

While we hope this trend doesn’t last through 2009, it does serve as a reminder to everyone - be prepared for anything. Here are 4 things every currently employed person really should do right now just in case.

1. Update your résumé. Everyone dreads doing their résumé. Staring at a blank Word document, starting from scratch, can be tough - even tougher if you haven't done a résumé in a few years. Be proactive. Update your résumé now while you are employed. You’ll find it much easier to describe what you do and to quantify your achievements. Plus, it’s easier to compose when the pressure isn’t on to get it done right away.  

2. Search for a job. When was the last time you looked at the jobs available in your field? When did you last open the classified section of the paper or browse online job boards? If it was when you found your current job and if that was more than 2 years ago, look again. You need to be familiar with companies that hire in your field and with competitors of your current company. It is easier to find a job when you have one, so even if you aren't truly looking for another position, see what's out there. Who knows, you may stumble across a better opportunity.  

3. Feed your network. As with your resume, don't wait until the pressure is on to nurture your network. Going to a mixer once in a while and collecting business cards is not effective networking. You need to maintain strong relationships with people that can help you if you find yourself looking for a new job. That may be people that belong to the same professional organizations that you do, former colleagues or classmates from the past. Make the most of your network by attending meetings, keeping in touch with friends, and taking people to lunch. And don't forget the online aspect of networking. Get acquainted with LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. They can make reconnecting with friends and colleagues easy. Even better, get involved in the community. You'll not only feed your network, you'll also contribute something positive, and you'll feel good about it.   

4. Exercise your right brain. It's not too late to make yourself less outsourceable. Practice skills to make you more valuable to either your current employer or to your next employer. Read Dan Pink's "A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future" and work on your six critical senses for the future: design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning. The book not only explains how each sense applies to both your business and personal life, but it also includes a portfolio for each, with tools and exercises to help you really cultivate each sense.  

Oliver Wendell Holmes once wrote, "The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving." It’s always a good idea to be prepared for the future and the best time to start is now.

IronPigs National Anthem Tryouts

2009-02-19T08:59:00.001-08:00

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have announced that the team will host its Second Annual National Anthem Auditions on Saturday, February 21, at the Lehigh Valley Mall. Auditions will be held between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. downstairs by Macy’s Department Store. For the second consecutive season, Allied Personnel Services is the presenting sponsor of the National Anthem for IronPigs games at Coca-Cola Park.

“The IronPigs have taken a great deal of pride in not only having live renditions of the National Anthem at all games, but in the quality of the performances put on at Coca-Cola Park,” said Director of Promotions and Entertainment Lindsey Knupp. “What is also noteworthy is the success of finding so much local talent through these auditions last year. We feel fortunate that our partner, Allied Personnel Services, has given the support to allow talented singers to perform in their ‘own backyard.’”

Last February, more than 100 people attended the inaugural National Anthem Auditions -- and 43 of those candidates were selected to sing at Coca-Cola Park during the 2008 season. A cappella renditions will again be performed by individuals as well as by groups, choirs, choruses, barbershop quartets, etc. Each audition will be limited to 90 seconds in length and judged by both IronPigs executives and Allied Personnel Services officials.

Like last season, the IronPigs will be scheduling live performances of each National Anthem prior to every game at Coca-Cola Park.

For 25 years, Allied Personnel Services has provided innovative solutions to human resources challenges. With a dedication to providing businesses with quality employees, programs, and support services, Allied has a proven track record of quality, reliability, and on-time performance. Allied successfully provides administrative, accounting, professional, and light industrial staffing to Lehigh Valley businesses. Allied is a four-time winner of The Morning Call’s Readers’ Choice award as the Best Employment Agency and has offices in Allentown, Easton and Trexlertown.