About Avery Partners

Avery Partners provides affordable knowledge and expertise in the IT, Finance / Accounting, and Healthcare sectors. Services include: Project Management, Human Capital Outsourcing, Management Consulting, and Staff Augmentation. The company has national capabilities and currently operates in over 20 states. We can reduce costs, eliminate hassles, increase service levels, and add value to each function we touch.

December 2nd, 2012

Job Hunting Tips

Hunting for jobs nowadays is a very competitive and sometimes cut-throat affair. Here are a few tips to help you get the edge in searching out and landing the job of your dreams.

The Curriculum Vitae
The CV is the first, and at most times the most important part of applying for a job. Since potential employers have to whittle down practically hundreds of applications to a few valid ones, they will have to base their narrowing down efforts using the CVs they have collected.

Studies have shown that about half of the employers decide to accept or reject job applications based on the related work experience listed in the CV. A third of the employers decide to reject or accept these job applications based on the layout design of these applications.

1. Make Your CV Stand Out
When preparing your CV, make sure your CV stands out among the rest. It should be the type that is appealing to the eyes, making the evaluating personnel want to read the CV. Step two is for you to make sure your CV lists the related work experience you have had in relation to the job you are applying for.

1. Make Your CV Concise and Relevant
Avoid making your CVs too long. It may make it irrelevant to the evaluator. Remember that the employer is a person to whom time is important. If your CV shows that you value his/her time while showing the most relevant information in the least amount of time, you will have won one important battle.

2. Always tailor your CV to the job.
You may have had previous experience that may not be related to the job you are applying for. Some people keep many different versions of their CV for different job opening purposes. Make sure your CV is appropriate for the job. A one-size-fits-all CV may not be the best way to go since the employer will have the impression that your previous efforts have not been focused enough to produce any specialization on your part.

3. Write about your achievements
You may add your achievements, but make your statements factual and relevant. It does not do harm to advertise yourself, but make your advertisement matter-of-fact and not just hot air. You may want to skip on listing your weak points as the CV is not the avenue for such discussions.

4. Polish Your CV
Your employer will know if you have put enough time producing your CV. If he/she sees that you have put sufficient and thorough effort into your CV, he/she will assume that you will do the same in your work. This is a big plus for you. It is not uncommon for some people to spend days or even weeks polishing and buffing their CVs.

November 30th, 2012

How to Ask Your Employer About Working from Home

Do you love your job, but just not the people in which you work with or the workplace setting in general?  If your answer is yes, you may want to think about asking your employer if you can work from home.  Even if working from home is an idea that you do not feel your employer will support, you may still want to give it a try.  After all, inquiring shouldn’t cause any harm

Before outlining how you can go about asking your supervisor if you can work from home, it is important to make sure that it would even be possible for you to do so.  This requires examining a number of different points. First, you will want to examine if it is even possible for you to work from home.  Can you complete all of your tasks and duties from home?  You will want to make sure that your job is something that you can even do from home. For instance, if you are a company greeter and your job involves greeting and directing all clients to the right department, you will likely be unable to perform your required tasks at home.

Secondly, you will want to examine if you have the equipment needed to work from home.  The equipment that you will need to work from home will all depend on your company, as well as your job tasks.  Although there will be some variances, you will likely need to have a business phone, business phone service, a copy machine, fax machine, a computer, and possibly even high speed internet.  If you do not already have these items in your possession, you will need to examine the cost of purchasing them.

Thirdly, you will want to examine your ability to work from home. As nice as it is to be able to work from home, you should know that working from home isn’t right for everyone.  You will want to make sure that you are able to stay focused and stay on task without supervision from your boss.  If you cannot do so or if you are unsure if you will have a problem, you may want to reconsider working from home.  Saying that you are more than capable of working from home, when you are actually not, can have dire consequences.  You may end up putting your job, as well as your good name in jeopardy.

If, after considering the above mentioned points, you think that you would be a good work at home candidate, you will want to work on your approach.  You will not want to ask your supervisor about working from home on an impulse.  You will want to carefully plan out your approach.  You want to so in a professional matter.  You should ask about working from home in a formal meeting that you have set up. Try and avoid asking your supervisor over the phone or in an email.

Before your scheduled meeting is to take place, you will want to make sure that you have “all of your bases covered.”  You will want to create a pros and cons list that you can use to outline both the advantages and disadvantages of working from home.  You should also have a good reason as to why you, in particular, want to work from home, as your employer will likely ask. 

When asking your supervisor about the possibility of working from home, you will want and need to sell yourself.  That is why it is advised that you create a pros and cons list.  You will also want to prepare for this meeting with practice.  See if any of your friends or family members would like to play the role of your boss in mock meeting.  Practicing your approach may help to ease any nervousness that you may have.

November 25th, 2012

Tips for a Successful Local Job Search

If you are seriously searching for a local job, but you have no idea where to look, you may be just one of the thousands of unemployed people in the country. However, finding a job is easy when you know where to search.

Where can you find employers? How can you find your desired local job?

Before anything else, you should determine your skills and abilities, update your resume and be ready to face the employment process. There are several options on where to find employment.

1) Job Center: Job centers provide numerous vacancies for different kinds of work. Majority of job centers update their employment board frequently.

Originally, these career centers cater to young jobseekers up to 21 years old. They arrange for appropriate job interviews, which they believe, would match your skills and abilities. Some job centers also process training vacancies and apprenticeships to young people. Today, these centers also cater adults’ need of employment.

2) Newspapers: Local and national newspapers, non-profit papers and job hunting newspapers provide advertisements on current job vacancies. You could find all the existing newspapers in libraries and check all the recent job postings.

Majority of newspapers today have their content available online. You could browse through them one by one and list all the jobs you prefer.

3) Journals and magazines: Every industry has their own periodicals, magazines or journals. Most employers go to these publications for employing professionals. Some could be bought in magazine stands and others come by subscription. Therefore, if you are hoping to establish your career based on your finished field of study, you could subscribe to a professional magazine and increase your local job prospects.

4) Agencies: Employment agencies handle most of vacant local work. Covering all kinds of work for various industries, these agencies are listed in local directories and Yellow pages.

5) Employer grounds: Many companies have job vacancies on their premises. Since these companies such as food retailers make use of internal notice boards, they do not advertise in newspapers and agencies. You could walk into these companies and ask the front desk for employment vacancies.

6) Internet: The most cost-effective way in finding local jobs is through the internet. Majority of employment agencies, newspapers, top companies, magazines and job centers have their own website. You could save time by searching through them one by one and apply for the job you prefer the most.

Making use of all these options could save you a lot of time searching for your desired local job. You could use all of these methods simultaneously to increase your chances of employment.

November 20th, 2012

How to Handle Difficult Coworkers

Do you love your job, but just not your coworkers?  If this is how you can describe your feelings about your job, you may want to continue reading on.  Unfortunately, when placed in a similar position, one that involves difficult or unruly coworkers, many individuals assume that their only option is to resign from their current position. Of course, it is more than possible for you to do so, but did you know that you do have other options?

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have complications, problems, or a conflict with a coworker of yours, there are a number of different steps that you can take. These steps, which are outlined below, can help you retain your job and your income, which you may rely on to support your family.  If you have been looking for an easy way to deal with one or more difficult coworkers at your workplace, you will want to continue reading on.

Before examining ways in which you can handle or deal with difficult coworkers, it is important to remember that circumstances should be taken into consideration.  A small conflict may be one that you can handle on your own; however, more serious problems may call for more serious actions. With that in mind, one of the first things that you should do, when looking to deal with a difficult coworker, is speaking with them privately.

When speaking with a coworker that you have a problem with, you will want to be careful.  When this conversation takes place, should it ever, you will want to be as pleasant and as friendly as possible.  Many individuals do not realize that even a slight attitude can make a problem with a coworker much worse.  If you are frustrated with a coworker who can never seem to get a project completed on time, you may want to offer to help them create a schedule. If you have a problem with a perfume or cologne that a coworker may be wearing, you may first want to explain any health complications that you may be having due to the scent.

As previously stated, it is important to remember that there extenuating circumstances that should be taken into consideration. For instance, if you feel that a coworker of yours is harassing you, in a sexual way or not, you may want to refrain from speaking to them.  In certain situations like these, those who are unstable feed off of contact from you and others in your situation. To protect yourself from any harm, you may want to consider contacting your supervisor right away.

Speaking of contacting your supervisor, if you have discussed your problems with a coworker personally and you have not seen any positive changes, you may want to consider brining your supervisor in on the issue. When doing this, you will want to use your best judgment.  If you regularly find yourself performing the duties and tasks for your coworker or if they mishandled important company documents, you should approach your supervisor without any question.  Smaller issues you may want to refrain from brining your supervisor in on, as you may actually end up creating a bad impression of yourself.

The above mentioned steps are just a few of the many steps that you can take if you are having conflict or problems with one of your coworkers.  As a reminder, you are advised to use your best judgment when handling situations such as these.

November 17th, 2012

Some Places to Help With Your Entry Level Job Search

If you’re searching for a job, you may have already noticed that most positions require a certain level of experience.  But how can you get experience in the first place if you can’t get a job in the first place?  An entry level job search has its own problems and challenges, but there are some things you can to help yourself in this area.  There are some places that can help specifically with an entry level job search and some places where you can find positions where you don’t need experience.

You might want to start your entry level job search at a local college or university.  It used to be that many colleges would have a corkboard where employers could post jobs for the students or recent graduates, but now of course everything is done online.  Find the websites of local schools and see if they have jobs posted there.  They won’t always require a degree as some are meant for those still in school and of course they won’t require extensive experience as students typically don’t have that anyway.  A college or university is the perfect place to start your entry level job search and be sure to keep checking back as often as possible as their jobs get updated constantly.

Another place to try an entry level job search is through your state’s website.  Most have departments that are designed specifically for finding people jobs, and this means people of all levels of experience.  Your local unemployment office can typically help you with your job search as well; they can show you how to use this site and in many cases can also help with preparing  a resume and over letter.  This means too for those who don’t have experience and who are conducting an entry level job search.  They know that many people are just starting out with their job search or haven’t worked in a number of years and so need to start over again, so to speak.  Don’t hesitate to talk to any of these people that work at these sites and ask for help.

You can also take full advantage of classes that are offered at your state’s unemployment office or as adult education classes; this can help with your entry level job search because more education can help to make up for a lack of experience.  An employer may appreciate a certain skill you have that another candidate doesn’t have, even though they have more experience.  Recent education in certain computer programs can also be appreciated since many programs change or get updated frequently, so knowledge of the latest applications and changes can help tremendously in your entry level job search.  If you can’t afford schooling right now, check out free classes through your state or local high school or continuing education office.  Some offer classes that are also very affordable, so it pays to check them out and see what you can participate in.

November 7th, 2012

Some Quick Tips to Help With Your Internet Job Search

If you’re looking for work today then of course you need to be skilled in how to conduct an internet job search.  Even newspapers today post most of their classified ads on their website as well as putting them in print, so relying on the Sunday paper might be a mistake.  If you don’t know how to make the most of your internet job search you’re going to miss out on a lot of opportunities and chances for employment simply because you didn’t know where to look for the job postings. 

One thing to remember about an internet job search is that you want to take your time and really browse as many sites as you can.  Everyone knows to check monster.com and hotjobs.com but if you set aside some serious time to read through every job board out there, you’ll find literally hundreds of jobs listed that aren’t going to be on those major sites.  There are some reasons why employers are posting in other areas; one is that it’s usually cheaper for them to use other boards and another is that some boards are industry specific.  But if you don’t take the time to read through all these other job boards during your internet job search you’re not going to see those postings.  This might take several hours of your time but of course it’s going to be worth it if it means landing that job of your dreams!

If you do want to speed up your internet job search, make sure you use the right keywords in your search.  Keywords are the words or phrases you enter into your search engine when looking online for anything.  If you simply search for “jobs” you’re going to get literally thousands of responses.  But to make your internet job search work better for you, use keywords about your position or industry.  This might includes terms like sales, engineering, clerical, child care, nursing, medical, research, entertainment, writing, and so on.  This will speed up your internet job search, although you should still plan on taking as much time as necessary to browse all the results you’ll get.

It’s also good to have your resume right with you during your internet job search.  Many companies will direct you to their site and ask you to fill out an application online, and you’ll need your information at your fingertips in order to do just that.  Make sure you have the dates of employment right and all your other information correct.  This will make your internet job search go that much quicker and you’ll be less likely to forget something or miss an opportunity because you filled out some information incorrectly.

Take your time with your internet job search just as you would with any other internet search and remember that this time spent is an investment in your future career.  Read through the ads carefully and follow their instructions and you’ll soon find yourself with some great opportunities!

November 3rd, 2012

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Quit Your Job

Are you frustrated with your job?  Whether you dislike your boss, your coworkers, your work hours, or the pay, you may be interested in quitting your job.  Of course, the decision to quit your job is your decision to make, but there are some instances in which you may want to give your decision a second thought.  A few of those instances are outlined below for your convenience.

One of the many situations where you may want to hold off on quitting your job right away is if you recently got a new boss.  If you have a new supervisor, you are encouraged to give it time.  Most new supervisors are difficult at first, as they feel that they need to be.  But, overtime, you will find that most of those in management will let a new side of themselves show, possibly a more pleasant and friendlier side.

Another one of the many situations in which you may want to reconsider quitting your job is if you are annoyed by one of your coworkers, namely the one who may have a desk or an office next to or near you. You should never let someone else make you quit or lose your job, especially if it is just because you do not like them.  Of course, you are advised to take your safety into consideration.  If one of your coworkers is displaying actions that may cause you harm, you may need to take action right away.  This action may involve resigning from your job, but it should also involve contacting a supervisor first.  You should never have a quit your job because someone else is in the wrong.

A poor review is another situation in which you may not want to quit your job.  Although it may seem embarrassing and frustrating if you ever receive a bad review, it is important to remember that it can happen to the best of people and the hardest of workers.  No one is perfect all of the time and this is something that you need to remember.  Instead of quitting your job because of a poor review, you will want to use your review as an opportunity to better yourself. You can set the goal of improving your workplace actions, which should result in a better review the next time around.

Being passed up for a promotion is another reason why you may not want to quit your job. There are a number of different factors to take into consideration, when it comes to promotions, namely being passed up for one.  Why were you passed up for the promotion that you wanted, do you know?  Was there another employee who was more qualified or who had more seniority than you?  You can also use being passed up for a promotion as a way to improve your work skills by setting goals for yourself. With that in mind, if you regularly find yourself being passed up for promotions that you are more than qualified for, you may want to consider seeking employment elsewhere.

The above mentioned situations are all situations in which you may want to refrain from quitting your job, especially without consideration.  Of course, there are extenuating circumstances to the situations mentioned above, such ones that may involve sexual harassment or other dangerous situations in your workplace.

October 16th, 2012

Should You Apply to All the Jobs That You Come Across?

Are you in need of a job?  If you are, you will likely start examining all of the open jobs in your around your area, possibly even right away.  When doing so, you may be surprised with what you see.  Depending on where you reside, you may have hundreds or even thousands of job listings to sort through.  While doing so, there are many individuals who make the decision to apply to as many jobs as they possibly can, but should you do the same?

When it comes to determining whether or not you should apply to all of the jobs that you come across, there are a number of important factors that you will want to take into consideration.  One of those factors is your work related experience, training, and education. This is essentially the career field that you specialize in. For instance, if you have experience working the medical field, a job listing for an automotive technician may not be right for you, and visa versa.  While you may want to apply for as many jobs as possible, you will want to try and make sure that they are ones that you are somewhat qualified for.

Another factor that you will want to take into consideration, when applying for jobs, is location.  If you use your local newspaper to examine job listings, you will likely find that most job listings are for local positions only. On the other hand, if you use the internet, namely career searching or job posting websites, you may be presented with job listings from all across the country. As nice as a job may sound, you will want to refrain from applying for it if you cannot attend an interview or if you have no intention or relocating.

Another one of the many factors that you should take into consideration, when trying to determine how many jobs you should apply for, is your need for a job.  If you are currently unemployed and not receiving any unemployment compensation, you may need to find a job right away. This is particularly important if you have bills piling up or if you have a family to support.  If that is the case, you may want to increase your chances of finding a job by applying for as many jobs as you can.  With that in mind, remember to only submit your resume or job application for job positions that you are somewhat qualified for.

The impression that you will end up creating is another factor that you will want to take into consideration, when looking to apply for as many jobs as possible.  What you will want to remember is that it can reflect poorly upon you if you are regularly found to be submitting job applications or resumes to companies that you are unqualified for.  It can be harmful to your good name and reputation. This is particularly important if you submit multiple job applications to the same company, but for different jobs, namely ones in which you are not qualified for.

The above mentioned points are points that you will want to take into consideration, when determining how many jobs you should apply for and which ones.  In all honesty, you are advised to just use your best judgment, as it is one of the best guides to follow.

October 13th, 2012

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Quit Your Job

Are you frustrated with your job?  Whether you dislike your boss, your coworkers, your work hours, or the pay, you may be interested in quitting your job.  Of course, the decision to quit your job is your decision to make, but there are some instances in which you may want to give your decision a second thought.  A few of those instances are outlined below for your convenience.

One of the many situations where you may want to hold off on quitting your job right away is if you recently got a new boss.  If you have a new supervisor, you are encouraged to give it time.  Most new supervisors are difficult at first, as they feel that they need to be.  But, overtime, you will find that most of those in management will let a new side of themselves show, possibly a more pleasant and friendlier side.

Another one of the many situations in which you may want to reconsider quitting your job is if you are annoyed by one of your coworkers, namely the one who may have a desk or an office next to or near you. You should never let someone else make you quit or lose your job, especially if it is just because you do not like them.  Of course, you are advised to take your safety into consideration.  If one of your coworkers is displaying actions that may cause you harm, you may need to take action right away.  This action may involve resigning from your job, but it should also involve contacting a supervisor first.  You should never have a quit your job because someone else is in the wrong.

A poor review is another situation in which you may not want to quit your job.  Although it may seem embarrassing and frustrating if you ever receive a bad review, it is important to remember that it can happen to the best of people and the hardest of workers.  No one is perfect all of the time and this is something that you need to remember.  Instead of quitting your job because of a poor review, you will want to use your review as an opportunity to better yourself. You can set the goal of improving your workplace actions, which should result in a better review the next time around.

Being passed up for a promotion is another reason why you may not want to quit your job. There are a number of different factors to take into consideration, when it comes to promotions, namely being passed up for one.  Why were you passed up for the promotion that you wanted, do you know?  Was there another employee who was more qualified or who had more seniority than you?  You can also use being passed up for a promotion as a way to improve your work skills by setting goals for yourself. With that in mind, if you regularly find yourself being passed up for promotions that you are more than qualified for, you may want to consider seeking employment elsewhere.

The above mentioned situations are all situations in which you may want to refrain from quitting your job, especially without consideration.  Of course, there are extenuating circumstances to the situations mentioned above, such ones that may involve sexual harassment or other dangerous situations in your workplace.

October 10th, 2012

Should You Change Jobs?

Are you currently unhappy with your job or with your employer in general?  If you are, you may have considered changing jobs. With that in mind, if you depend on your paycheck to help pay your bills or to help support your family, you may be unsure as to whether or not a job change is really in the best interest of you and your family.  If this is something that you have asked yourself before, you will want to continue reading on.

When it comes to determining whether or not you should change jobs, there are a number of important factors that you will want to take into consideration. These factors are important, as no two situations are the same.  Different individuals rely on their paychecks for different things.  That is why it is advised that you examine the factors outlined below and then use them in your own, personal, situations.

One of the many factors that you will want to take into consideration, before deciding if you should change jobs, is your current job’s pay. Do you think that you receive a fair salary?  If you do, do you know that it may be difficult for you to make the same amount of money elsewhere?  Unless you are lucky enough to receive a job in upper level management, you may find yourself right back at the bottom of the ladder, having to work your way right back up.  For that reason, you will want to first take your current salary and compare it the salary that is being advertised with job openings that you can find in your local newspapers or online.

Health insurance is another factor that you will want to take into consideration, when deciding if you should change your job.  Do you currently rely on your job for health insurance, either for yourself or for your whole family?  If you do, this is definitely a factor that needs to be taken into consideration. Yes, you may be able to purchase health insurance for yourself or at least an extension of your coverage, but you should know that this can get quite expensive.  With that in mind, should you still decide to switch jobs, you may want to schedule all of your doctor’s appointments before you do so, just to get everything in order.  If your current coverage includes dental and vision coverage, you may also want to make these appointments too, just in case.

The current job outlook is another factor that you will want to take into consideration.  If you are looking to change jobs, do you already have a new job lined up?  If you do not, you will want to at least make sure that there is a good chance that you can seek employment elsewhere.  In most cases, you are unable to collect unemployment payments if you leave your job on your own terms.  If you have a family to support or if you rely on your income to pay important bills, like your rent or mortgage payments, you may want to have a backup plan in place.

In keeping with the current job outlook, you are advised to examine all job openings in your area.  What you will want to do is examine any required training, work experience, or education. Unfortunately, many individuals realize too late that they are unqualified for their dream job.  This is something that you do not want to do.  Instead of assuming, you can easily examine the average job requirements by examining all available job openings in your local newspaper or online.  If you do not have the necessary training, you may want to consider enrolling in a career training course, as they may be able to improve your chances of finding a new job.

The above mentioned factors are just a few of the many factors that you will want to take into consideration, should you be interested in changing jobs.  Of course, the decision to seek employment elsewhere is your decision to make, but, with something this important, you are advised to proceed with caution.

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