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.

January 9th, 2014

10 Tips For Writing A Good Resume

Writing a good resume takes time, patience and a willingness to revise, rework and edit. There are also ten basic tips for writing a good resume that are simple, easy to follow and important in the final product. By following these ten tips for writing a good resume you can be assured that your resume will be noticed and reviewed by employers.

1. Make the resume look appealing to the reader. While this may seem straight forward, most resumes are cramped, difficult to read, overflowing with detail and illogical in their development.

2. Keep to the basics. Don’t add a bunch of information that is not relevant to the position you are apply for. Most resumes are designed for a blanket type application; this often means that you are unable to highlight the specific skills that match this one job. Writing a good resume may mean changing your resume slightly for each application, rather than just changing the covering letter.

3. Have an interesting, factual and informative covering letter. Specify your qualifications, education and experience without just summarizing the whole resume. The covering letter should lead the employer to want to read the whole resume.

4. Use white space as much as text. White space can break up the points, help to highlight information, and make the resume easy to read and stylish without all the additional lines, shading and graphics seen on some contemporary types of resumes.

5. Double check spelling and grammar; then check again. There is nothing worse or worse looking than spelling something wrong on your resume or covering letter. This includes the employers name, business name or any other information.

6. Never use technical jargon or any type of industry or local slang on a resume. You have been a manager, not a boss.

7. Use bullets and phrases to minimize the amount of reading required by the employer. Shorten to the minimum number of words while still giving a clear picture.

8. Writing a good resume includes doing a bit of research on the company. By knowing some of the company mission statements or goals you can incorporate these into your resume if possible.

9. Use a plain, typeface font, never a decorative or whimsical font. This can send the wrong message or decrease the readability of the resume.

10. Avoid making your resume too long. Two pages is considered a good maximum, but for professionals that have extensive experience this may simply not be enough room. Writing a good resume is more focused on the need to provide relevant information rather than a specific page number.

Using the above 10 tips will help with writing a good resume. There is additional information on the internet, in books, or even through resume service to help you develop a resume you can be proud of.

January 5th, 2014

How to Get Referrals from Warm Contacts

You may find it hard to use networking to find a job if you can’t rely on your warm contacts to give you the information you need.  At times, you would have to ask your warm contacts to refer you to at least two people that they know who will be able to give you the information you needed.

However, there are times that your warm contact, particularly those who don’t know you well, may not readily provide you with the information.  Some of your warm contacts may feel reluctant about vouching for you to their other contacts.

Because of this, you may find it difficult to use your network.  To make networking and getting referrals an easy task for you, here are a few tips.

* Nurture your warm contacts.

Before you even need your warm contacts or before you even ask for help, keep in touch with your warm contacts.  You may send notes or greetings from time to time, call to “catch up” on them, invite them to lunch, be interested or help in their business or do anything just to cultivate your connection with them.

In this way, by the time you need help, they can remember you and can more readily give information about their other contacts that will be able to help you.

* Be polite.

Since you might not have close personal relationships with some of your valuable warm contacts, it is inappropriate to just give them a call and ask them for information about your field of interest.

Sometimes, sending a note in advance, or asking to meet them for lunch is a better way to ask for their help.

* Listen to them.

Most of the time, even if your warm contact knows little in the field where you are trying to find a job, they might offer you advice.  Be polite and interested in what they are saying.  Who knows, the information that they are giving may be valuable to you in the future.

There are times that your warm contacts may be telling you tips on what manner will work best when you talk to the persons to whom you are being referred.  Your warm contacts may also imply what qualities and qualifications the person is looking for.

* Ask for at least two referrals.

Before you ask for referrals, make sure that your warm contact had said everything that he or she can say about your field of interest.

Even if they know little about that field, it is impolite if you cut them short while they are speaking to ask if they know somebody who will be able to help you.

If they weren’t able to refer you to at least one of their contacts, thoughtfully ask them why they couldn’t do so.  They may give you answers that may include indirect comments or suggestions.  They may also indicate a lack of confidence in your work strategy.  If this is so, you may have to make follow ups with them to prove that you are indeed credible and match their requirements.

However, there are also times when they can’t refer you to their contacts because they just don’t know anybody who might have the information or might be interested in the product. 

In this case, ask them to keep their eyes open for opportunities that you might be interested in.  You can also leave with them copies of your resume.

* Just ask for two referrals.

Two referrals are enough from each warm contact.  This is to have another option in case the first one didn’t work out.  Asking for more than two referrals could be impolite as it can take much time from your warm contact.  Also, that will make your warm contact feel that you are relying mostly on him or her for your job search.  So, unless they volunteer the information, don’t ask for more than 2 referrals.

* Contact referrals as soon as possible.

When your warm contacts give you referrals, there are times that they also call these people personally to give more information about you.  On the other hand, when you contact the people to whom you were referred, your referrals may call your warm contacts to verify the information or to ask more information about you.

Either way, you have to contact your referrals soon enough that these people can still remember their conversation with your warm contact, or your warm contact can still remember that you have talked.

At times, after your referrals were called by your warm contacts, they anticipate your call and even prepare questionnaires and exams for you to take.  Do not waste this opportunity by delaying follow-up on referrals.

Keeping these tips in mind will be able to help you in asking for good referrals from your warm contacts.

December 28th, 2013

Choosing A Resume Writing Format

Selecting the right resume writing format for your professional resume is often challenging, especially when you are not sure the various options that are available. Many people use the templates that are found already loaded in most word processing or office programs, and while they may be acceptable they are rarely exactly what you want, especially if you need to add sections, delete sections, or move parts of the resume.

The exact resume writing format is, believe it or not, really not that important as long as it is put together in a logical fashion, makes the information easy to read and understand, and provides a good balance of white space and text and information on the page. Many resume writers antagonize over which format looks better, whereas most resume readers are not as concerned with eye appeal, rather they want relevant information prominently displayed on the page in an easy to find fashion.

To get any idea of resume writing format options consider browsing around on the internet and looking at the various websites offering resume writing samples, free downloads for resumes or resume writing examples. While you may not find just the resume writing format you are looking for you may be able to identify elements of resumes that you would like to include on your resume. Keep in mind that the resume should flow together and be similar between sections. It should not change dramatically in style between one section and another.

According to resume writing professionals there are several problems that most resume writing format templates and examples all have in common. These problems are largely using too many different types of fonts, addition too many extras such as bolding, underlining and even italics, and using fonts that are too small or too decorative for easy reading. If you are considering a resume writing format that is on a template take a careful look at the various styles and fonts used and try to limit it to one font type, one or two font sizes and either bold, underlining or italics for emphasis and organization but not all three on the same resume.

The resume writing format you choose will likely say a bit about you to the employer as well. If you aren’t comfortable with the format you are using for your resume or if it just doesn’t seem like you, look around until you find one that matches your taste. You will be happy you found the right resume writing format in the long run.

December 24th, 2013

Dress for Success Tips for Men

 Are you a male who is looking to dress for success?  Dressing for success has a number of benefits.  Whether you are interested in dressing for success for an upcoming job interview, an important business meeting, or another important event, you may be unsure as to how you should proceed. If that is the case, you will want to continue reading on, as a few tips that you may find helpful are outlined below for your convenience.

When it comes to dressing for success, it is advised that you do a little bit of research.  Unfortunately, when it comes to this type of research, many men mistakenly believe that they need to start reading fashion magazines. This is something that is an automatic turn off for many men.  Although fashion magazines are a great way to learn about the latest in fashions, even workplace fashions, fashion magazines are not your only option. You can use the internet or business magazines or business journals to your advantage.  What you will want to do is read any articles that focus on men dressing for success and examine any pictures that you may come across.

If you are interested in dressing for success for work, it is advised that you first examine your dress code. It is not uncommon, especially in today’s society, for many companies to have rules and restrictions surrounding what can or cannot be worn in the workplace.  Although it may seem as if many of these rules and restrictions are designed for women, you are still advised to examine your company’s dress code. Not doing so could result in you unintentionally breaking the rules or violating company policy.  It is best if you examine your company’s dress code, which should be outlined in your employee handbook, before you start shopping for dress for success clothes.

In keeping with dressing for success for work, it is advised that you take a look at those around you. You may want to follow in the footsteps of your coworkers or supervisors.  Yes, you may want to take it one step higher and dress for success, not just professionally, but you are advised to proceed with caution. Overkill can do much more harm than good. This is just an important point that you will want to always keep in mind.  For instance, a tuxedo may be out of place at an office where tan paints, dress shirts, and ties are worn.

It is also important that you always keep price in mind, when shopping to dress for success. When dressing for success, it is easy to get carried away. If you are not careful, you could not only spend more money than you need to, but you can also spend more money than you have.  If you are interested in shopping locally, you will want to examine your local retailers that focus on formal clothing or career clothing.  When doing so, be on the lookout for any sales that may be advertised in your local newspapers or sales that may be advertised in store windows.  Should you wish to shop for dress for success clothes online, it is advised that you compare prices before making any purchases.  Price comparison can save you a considerable amount of money and it is easy to do online.

Another tip that can help you dress for success involves using your common sense and your best judgment. These two resources are the most helpful, when it comes to dressing for success. If you are unsure as to whether or not a piece of clothing may give off that dress for success impression, it may be a good idea to examine your other options.  Dressing for success involves displaying confidence, not indecision.

The above mentioned tips are just a few of the many tips that you can use to go about dressing for success.  Although a large amount of focused on is placed on women dressing for success, men can benefit from it just as much.

December 20th, 2013

Six Things to Avoid While Facing An Interview

Sometimes an interview can be all to change your fate and career for the best. Therefore, it is important that you attend every interview with enthusiasm and the right attitude. To optimize your chances to be successful, remember to avoid the following things while facing an interview.

The first thing to avoid is being un-prepared for an interview. If you have decided to attend an interview then remember to always prepare for it, plan it out, and practice to get your best. Today’s job market is extremely tough and in order to get through you need to have a competitive advantage, a good preparation is key to it. Second thing to avoid, that may cost your job, is the inability to communicate effectively and clearly. It is an important aspect that is checked in an individual during a job interview. If you are nervous on the spot then you can give out weak and wrong signals that may cost you the job. It is always better to practice in advance, what you plan to say.

Thirdly, avoid being too arrogant or aggressive during an interview. Don’t act in an ‘I know it all’ attitude. This will not help at all, and may even cost you the job. Always be humble and act in a very careful manner. Being confident is good but see that you don’t get too over confident while talking to your prospective employer.

Fourth thing to stay away from is making lame excuses for your failure. If your career graph or anything of the past shows a failure, accept it. Don’t make lame excuses in front of the employers. Let them know that you have understood your mistake and learnt from it, and that you will be doubly careful in your future. Fifth thing to avoid is bad mouthing your previous employer. Even if they were not good or you didn’t have good terms with them, never say anything bad about them during your interview.

Sixth thing to avoid is a poor or limp handshake. A bad handshake can turn people off and give a wrong impression about you. So, remember to shake hand confidently and firmly.

December 12th, 2013

Why Small Organizations Mean Big Business

In the  movie “You’ve Got Mail”, the sub-plot aside from the love angle is that the heroine (played by Meg Ryan)  was forced out of business when the big-time bookstore owner (played by Tom Hanks) moved into town.

Meg’s character owned a quaint little bookstore which she inherited from her mother. Although the prices of her books were a little steep, she makes up for it in service. She packs the books in a specialized bag, and she knows all of her customers by name.

Tom’s character, on the other hand, moved into town to build a branch of a big chain-bookstore which offered discounted prices and a huge building, as compared to Meg’s little bookshop on one corner of the town’s streets.

In the end, Meg was forced out of business because her customers went to Tom’s monstrous bookshop.

Nowadays, this situation will not hold true anymore.

More and more small organizations are paving the way and giving big businesses a shot of their own medicine.

In the movie, the reason why Meg Ryan was forced out of business is because she cannot profit anymore. Her prices are steep as compared to the other big business’ discounted rates.

Her only edge is that she gives personal service, she knows her customers by name and she has a very small staff, about 2 or 3 employees.

As a small organization you may turn around and have these qualities as your edge to compete against the big sharks in business.

Here are some tips on how you can hold your own against a big business:

1. Small businesses have big competition.

This means that you need to know how to survive out there.

No matter what nature of business you have, it is better to learn about the competition so that you will be able to survive. 

Here are some tips on how you can survive the big competition:

>Keep your business alive.

When it seems as if your cash flow is in a downward slope, keep a tight rein on your budget.

Do not spend on unnecessary business purchases and always balance your books.

If you are one to buy on impulse or if you are the type to listen to those who sweet-talk you into purchasing “necessary” items, control yourself.

Get a second and third opinion if possible, as these impulsive buys may lead to the end of your small organization.

>Do not be afraid to seek professional help.

The fall of most small businesses start with decisions on problems which are not carefully analyzed.

Although you think that you already have a contingency plan, make sure that you have foreseen the results of a certain business decision.

In the long run, it is better to seek professional help rather than embark on a plan that could start the downfall of your business.

>Keep your books straight.

The better option is for you to hire a professional outside accountant to figure the returns of your investment and handle the other financial aspects of your business.

>Take advantage of every free business counseling whenever available.

This does not just help widen your knowledge, but it will also give you an idea of how other businesses are ran by small-scale owners.

>Know exactly where your business is headed.

In your day-to-day operation, make sure that you know where you want your company to be 5 or 10 years from now.

Be always aware of the trends in the industry that you are in, practice good money management and learn how to recognize potential problems before they arise.

2. Learn how to market your small organization.

Marketing is not about trying to sell your products and services to everyone.

It is about knowing who to market your products to.

In marketing, it is good to remember these fast facts:

> Know about your customers.

>Communicate with your customers.

>Build a good and personalized relationship with your customers.

This will be a great edge for you to have against the bigger companies.

They might offer discounted prices but it is harder for them to keep track of customers on a more personal basis.
 
>Do not stop the marketing process.

As a small organization, you need to routinely review the markets that you need to pursue so that you can better reach out to your customers.

Remember, small organizations are big businesses these days so do not be afraid to work hard for the company that you have – not matter how small.

If you work hard, make wise business decisions, learn how to market your small business and personalize your customer interaction, your small-scale business is sure to rise to the top.

November 27th, 2013

Why Should You Never Complain In An Interview?

While you are in an interview session with an employer, one of the most tempting mistakes to avoid is complaining about your former company or boss. No matter how bad your former boss was, or how much you hated your earlier job, it is important that you avoid mentioning this during your interview as this could be very harming.

In this case, honesty is not the best policy to be applied and even if your former boss was a jerk, you need to be calm and abstain from venting your frustration. This could give out a wrong impression of you and curb your chances to get the job. No one likes a complaining employee. You would only prove yourself to be a whining candidate like this.

So, even if you left a job just because your boss was a jerk or egomaniac, or he abused you in front of others, don’t utter a word about this in your interview.

Same is the case for your company and your job. It could be that your company was not a good platform for career development. May be it is a very bad place for professionals and the work culture is poisonous, still don’t bad mouth it in front of others. If you at all have to say anything like your growth in the company was a big question mark then use good words to convey the some meaning so that you don’t appear as abusive.

The third thing that you must avoid complaining about is your job and responsibilities. Even if your job was boring and you just hated it like hell, don’t reveal this in an interview. A complaining candidate is always taken wrongly, and no matter how well you like the present profile, you will be perceived as someone who will behave the same again.

November 15th, 2013

Economic Downturns and the Successful Employment Search: Tips and Tricks

One of the defining characteristics of an economic downturn is that there are people who are not comfortable at all with searching for a job competing for the few jobs that are available.  As such, the skills that are needed when the economy is doing well are different that those useful skills that help you get through in the case of emergency.  Many people who are, for the first time in what might be decades, beginning their employment search, tips that can make the transition less painful than it currently is are very much appreciated.

Even when the economy is plugging right along, there are circumstances where you may find yourself looking for a job when you might had thought you were one with employment searches.  Tips that emphasize services that you have to buy into or give excessive amounts of personal information to are not the only (or even the best) way to go about your employment search.

Tips that encourage you to really, fully and honestly analyze your motivations for working as well as the sort of work that really inspires and motivates you, are those that are most valuable in a real job search.  Often this is most easily accomplished by making a series of lists that outline just what you’re expecting from a job and your requirements.  It is also good to make a list of things you might be willing to compromise upon, such as a benefit package or location.  Knowing just what you want is half the battle sometimes.

Other handy employment search tips that can make the difference between taking the first even mildly suitable job that comes along and reinventing yourself in an even better position include creating your own job and “pitching” it to prospective employers that may not have even advertised for help.  If you’ve correctly analyzed the situation and can provide a service that you can demonstrate the potential employer needs, you’ve got a good chance of creating your own job where one didn’t even exist before.  Being as flexible as possible is also valuable in such situations, as is having

One of the best pieces of advice is to being several months in advance if you’re given any advance warning at all.  Typically employment search tips recommend at least six-months lead time if at all possible.  You may very well need that entire time and more during a particularly persistent and unfortunate economic downturn in your particular sector or throughout several sectors, as resource crunches often cause.

By selling your skills and presenting yourself as someone who fixes problems, rather than just looking for a job, you’ll outshine the competition rather than blending in with them.

November 4th, 2013

Job Interview Do’s and Don’ts

Interview Do's and Don'ts

You have worked diligently, sent your resume out, used a recruiting agency, done everything you can, and know you finally have that interview. The interview is how you separate yourself from other candidates that are being considered. That is why it is important that your interviews go off without a hitch.  Some of the most common do’s and don’ts are outlined below.

You absolutely MUST prepare for the interview. Not all interviews are the same, and it is important that you realize this. Yes, many interviews are similar in nature, but they are not all the same.  In all honesty, it depends on the job that you are being interviewed for and the employer in question.  Instead of assuming that your job interview will be just like the last one, you are advised to expect something different, to help keep you on your toes.  Be familiar with the company; check out their website extensively before hand.

Another thing that you will want to do is practice for your interview.  As it was previously mentioned, many job interviews are similar in nature, despite being a little bit different.  They are often similar based on some of the basic questions that are asked. For instance, some of those questions may be centered on your professional goals, your need to succeed, and so on.  No matter how prepared you are for these questions, they can be difficult to answer in the moment. That is why you do want to prepare for your interview by doing a few practice runs, preferably with a friend or a relative.

When and employer ask questions in an interview they are trying to gain insight into you, your life, and your work habits.  When responding to questions that you are asked or even when just making conversation, it is advised that you keep everything professional in nature. What you do not want to do is divulge too much information about your personal life.  For instance, employers do not need to know how old you are or if you have any children.  Also, do not badmouth any of your previous employers or bosses, as this will tend to make you look bad yourself.

When going for a job interview, it is important that you are properly dressed. What you do not want to do is wear jeans, sweatpants, or clothing that is too revealing.  To increase your chances of getting a job, you want to look professional for your job interview.  This not only includes your clothing, but your appearance as well. If you need to put on makeup or get a hair cut, go ahead and do so.  It is important to dress conservatively, if your “best suit” is purple, leave it at home, stick with the basics, blue or black.  When looking to hire a new employee, many employers want someone who can represent the company in a positive matter.  That is why it is important that you do place at least a little bit of focus on your appearance.

Since the interview process is what is often the deciding factor in whether or not you are hired, you will want to make sure that your interview is one that is memorable, and in a good way.  To do that, you will want to keep the above mentioned job interview do’s and don’ts in mind.

November 1st, 2013

How To Face a Blind Interview?

You are lucky if you know someone from the company that you are about to go for an interview, or even better if you know someone from the interview panel. However, this is a rare case for a lucky few. Most of the times, you just know the company name and the post that you have applied for. A blind interview is generally the one where you know the least about the company profile or the job profile.

So, if you are ever stuck on a situation when you have to attend a blind interview then here are some things to remember:

Dress speaks a lot about your personality and character, so dress appropriately according to the situation. Someone people recommend that you must always wear a suit for an interview. But this is not as right as it may seem. Dresses may depend upon the company and the post that you have applied for. If you have applied for a corporate management position then a suit would be alright. If you are going for an interview for the post of a warehouse worker then dress in a way that it looks like that you can fit in. Something like slacks and loafers would do instead of jeans and snickers.

One important thing to remember before going for a blind interview is to prepare well for it. Find out as much information as you can about the company using mediums like Internet and media. Find out how long they have been in the business and what is important for them and how you can help them.

During the interview, come up with some questions to ask. The employers are there to interview you because they have a need, asking questions to them about it make them feel good as well as helps you in understanding the job role. Show enthusiasm and interest in fulfilling the need of the company. Clarify what kind of expectations they have from you and find out if you fit in. These steps can help you be successful in the blind interview dates.

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »
RSS FeedSubscribe to Our RSS feed!
Follow Us on Twitter!Follow Us on Twitter!
Blog Maintenance by SirWebby