Chronicles of a Head Huntress

CRITERION RESOURCES EXPANDS TO ORGANIZING JOB FAIRS

Michelle — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:30:11 +0000

PRESS RELEASE:

Carson, CA- September 29, 2010– The City of Carson hosted their first city sponsored career fair since 2001 at the Carson Mall called ‘Careers Unlimited Forum 2010.’ In addition to participating companies hiring for open job positions, educational workshops were held to assist job seekers improve their job searching skills such as obtaining interviewing advice and resume writing tips.

Last April 2010, Jim Dear, who is the Mayor of Carson, approached Criterion Resources to assist in organizing a career fair for his constituents. Based on the referral from Mayor Jim Dear, Criterion Resources joined forces with the Employment Development Department of the City of Carson and the South Bay Professional Association (SBPA) to coordinate this monumental event.

Criterion Resources was responsible for recruiting most of the companies who were represented at the career fair such as Kaiser Permanente, Carmax, State Farm, and Goodwill Industries. In addition, Criterion Resources reached out to the local South Bay Area business community to secure generous corporate sponsorships from Shell Oil Company and General Mills. Other supportive companies such as Bristol Farms, Target, Panda Express, Pizza Hut and Jamba Juice donated raffle prizes for the job seekers and South Bay residents.

SBPA Marketing Committee Chair Andrew Hegge noted about Criterion Resources ―”They have been an indispensable part of our Careers Unlimited Forum team.”

Criterion Resources was founded in 2004 as a Full-Service Recruitment Firm. The company has a track record of placing top producing and promotable employees with their reputable client companies such as Paychex, La Opinion Newspaper, ING Direct and The San Fernando Valley Business Journal.

Since 2009, Criterion Resources has organized and sponsored job seeking events such as Pink Slip Mixers and Job Search Workshops to aid recently unemployed individuals find employment.

Continuing along the same vein of organizing events, Criterion Resources will be expanding their services to helping public or private entities organize career fairs. While Criterion Resources assists in planning and organizing events, their clients will still take ownership and keep the ‘brand’ of the career fair under their name. These events will enable entities to foster goodwill and build awareness within their communities.

News Article Link From The Daily Breeze—
CARSON JOB FAIR ATTRACTS HUNDREDS

“Networking With Purpose: Build Your Contact List and Help a Worthy Cause at the Same Time”

Michelle — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:20:13 +0000

About two years ago, I hired a new assistant who was referred to me by one of the staff members from Penny Lane Centers. This young gentleman was part of the Penny Lane Transitional Housing Program, which helps— “Emancipated Foster Youth provide housing, life and job skills training to young adults who have grown up in group homes or foster care, who have no family to return to when they emancipate at age 18, and who would otherwise be homeless. In addition to independent living and job skills training, the program provides a clean, furnished apartment and emotional and academic support for young adults who have no family support system in place. (Description is from the Penny Lane website- www.pennylane.org).”

My assistant, who was only 19 years old, was one of the most productive and intelligent employees I have ever had. I really did not want to pry about how he ended up in the “system.” However, he did not let his challenging past interfere with his present or future. He was always on time and dressed very professionally. His computer aptitude, writing capability and verbal communication skills was truly advanced.

Since his hire, I have been involved with Penny Lane in North Hills, CA. Penny Lane is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that cares for over 2,900 abused, abandoned, and neglected children each year in the Los Angeles area. Founded in 1969 as a home for a handful of troubled teenage girls, Penny Lane has grown to provide services to children and families.

I am a huge advocate of “ABN: Always Be Networking.” I strongly believe that you can kill two birds with one stone when you are actively involved in community service endeavors or volunteering with non-profit organizations. When you are helping your community, not only are you doing something rewarding but you are also meeting new contacts and forming strong relationships with people whom you would not ordinarily meet elsewhere. In addition, you are also able to display your expertise when you donate your time for a worthy organization. When other people are able to see your value during your community service efforts, they immediately become confident in your capabilities within your profession. These activities WILL LEAD INTO REFERRALS.

Our company, Criterion Resources, is hosting an event called, “Networking with Purpose”, which will be taking place on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. It will be held at the Offices of Criterion Resources: 21900 Burbank Blvd. 3rd Floor Woodland Hills, CA 91367. The admission price is $20.00 per person at the door. We will accept credit cards. ALL PROCEEDS FROM ADMISSION WILL GO TO PENNY LANE.

The event will serve two purposes. First, we will be making a presentation about how to network effectively in order build more business contacts or to find new employment opportunities. Secondly, the event is a fundraiser for the Non-Profit Organization, Penny Lane.

I have recently joined the Board of Directors of Penny Lane. One of my main missions in life is to help in their fundraising efforts.

I hope you can come to support such a great cause that has added tremendous value to abused and neglected children for so many years.

“ABN: Always Be Networking!!!!” Part 1

Michelle — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:03:48 +0000

I cannot believe that Criterion Resources is at it’s sixth year from when I started the company in 2004. I am truly grateful and happy for the tremendous strides that we have been able to accomplish in the past few years. I really have to give a lot credit to our local Los Angeles community, especially the San Fernando Valley, which has been very supportive.

The main lesson that I have learned in these past few years is that NETWORKING does lead to success. During these current times of high-technology and “instant gratification”, I have observed that many people want to see results immediately. From the beginning, we have been involved with many different chamber of commerce organizations, networking groups, professional organizations and charity groups. My main objective was to “meet as many people as possible.” This comes quite easy to me since I like being meeting new people anyways. Therefore, forming new friendships and bonds is not work for me. It is a lot of fun!

Many people have asked me how I have obtained most of my client companies and candidates over the years. I can attribute most of our sales to NETWORKING. With networking, however, you must be VERY patient. The most crucial element is to form strong relationships where you establish trust. You also must add “value” first. We try to help and support other people’s growth as if we were growing along with them.

Thus, we get referrals quite often because people know us and know that we always try to look out for them.

I decided to invest in human capital and relationships first rather than expensive marketing materials. This strategy yielded a great ROI!

Whether you would like to start your own business or you are trying to find a job, you should “Always Be Networking.”

Los Angeles Charity and Woodland Hills, CA Recruitment Firm Collaborate to Raise Money for Youth Enrichment Programs

Michelle — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:56:54 +0000

Proceeds from Criterion Resource’s Job Seeker Seminar will go to Penny Lane Centers, a Non-Profit Organization that provides Social Services to children and their families in Los Angeles County.

On December 8, 2009, those attending the Job Seeker Seminar in Woodland Hills, CA will help to change the lives of underprivileged children. Criterion Resources, Inc. and Penny Lane Centers have teamed up to bring job seekers an all inclusive event featuring dynamic speakers, a chance to mingle with recruiters and employers, and the opportunity to learn creative techniques to maximize job searching. Funds raised by the event through ticket sales and sponsorships will go to enrichment programs for underprivileged youth at Penny Lane Centers. These programs include mentoring for foster children and youth on probation, pregnancy prevention classes, substance abuse courses, on-site special education, early learning education for infants, and other programs that facilitate growth and development.

Featured speakers will include Greg Wood from TheHireRoad, Dr. Michelle Conover from Dream Big Career Center, Aaron Danchik from Synchronized Solutions, and Robert Nomura, a Marketing Copywriter.

Greg Wood will discuss an entirely different methodology to meet the challenges of today’s tough job market and how the method can transform the job search process. As a Certified Career Management Professional, Greg has extensive experience with major Fortune 500 corporations and with professionals in career transition.

Dr. Michelle Conover is a licensed psychologist who will speak about her distinguished scientific approach to career development. Her company, Dream Big Career Center, won her a partnership with University of Southern California (USC) and the Institute of Creative Technologies to develop her center in the virtual world.

Aaron Danchik’s seminar presentations are entitled “Networking Do’s and Don’ts” and “Business Planning”. He has written three business related books analyzing perspectives and communications within the workplace, team building, and achieving results.

Robert Nomura, an Online and Business (B2B) Marketing Copywriter, will speak about the unique approach to resumes he has developed to land clients interviews. Robert will reveal his secret to success during his presentation.

For more information about the Job Seeker Seminar, please visit:

http://holidayfundraisingseminars.eventbrite.com

About Penny Lane Centers (www.pennylane.org)

Penny Lane is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that cares for over 2900 abused, abandoned, and neglected children each year. Founded in 1969 as a home for a handful of troubled teenage girls, Penny Lane has grown to provide services to children of all ages in the greater Los Angeles area. Visit www.pennylane.org for more information.

The Biggest Mistakes Jobseekers Make in an Employer’s Market

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:45:47 +0000

First published on November 20, 2006 in the San Fernando Valley Business Journal. This article has been edited to reflect changes in the job market as of 2009.

The job market today is much different than what we’ve seen in past years. According to the California Employment Development Department (EDD), California’s unemployment rate in September 2009 was 12.2 percent. Nationwide, unemployment rates increased to 9.8 percent. There are a multitude of job seekers who are wondering why they are not getting the right job offers. I’m sure many of you who have interviewed people say the common phrase, “This person really looked good on paper (resume) but meeting them in person is a whole different story.”

Being in recruitment and sales for the past 14 years, I have witnessed a handful of blunders made by individuals who want to get hired by the companies of their choice. Everyone wants to be considered to be a candidate who ranks as “the best of the best” but many candidates conduct costly mistakes that lets them get passed over. Here are common suggestions that will help people obtain satisfying and fulfilling career opportunities:

Always Stay Humble: As a top-tiered candidate, you can still articulate your strengths, accomplishments and reasons why you are the best candidate in the candidate pool. However, many people conduct themselves in interviews like they walk on water and have an aire about them like the company that they are interviewing with would be out of their minds if they don’t hire them. Many of the hiring managers I recruit for would rather hire someone who has produced slightly less to the bottom line than a candidate who acts like a primadonna. Therefore, candidates should always communicate how team-oriented they are and their willingness to be flexible in order to achieve maximum results. Especially in sales recruitment, I have seen many proven sales performers not get past the first interview because hiring managers say they come across as too “cocky.”

Be Open-Minded, Not Closed-Minded: From personal experience and numerous observations of the candidates I have recruited, job seekers should not judge a job opening from verbal or written descriptions. This would be like judging a movie without watching it. The best way to truly decide whether a job opportunity is right for you is to have an in-person interview, where you can actually check out the environment and meet the group of people you will actually get to work with.

Many years ago, I was very excited to interview for a Recruiter position that recruited graphic designers and other creative professionals. I thought that the job would be perfect for me. To my dismay, the hiring managers were very sarcastic and I did not want to work with them. Also, the opposite may be true where a company and position become more appealing after you get to witness the conducive environment and solid team you will be working with.

Double-check Your References: Most companies conduct reference checks and verify past employee information. Unfortunately, human resource departments or office managers can make mistakes. Before you plan to look for a new job, call all of your former employers to make sure they have all the information right for reference checks such as: dates of employment, position title and salary. Sometimes, many HR departments don’t update new information or have inaccurate information in their files of past employees. Therefore, make sure all of the information you will be giving to new potential employers is congruent to your past employer information.

Select a position based on long-term ramifications, not short-term: When job seekers receive multiple job offers, most people only consider compensation as the sole criteria for making a decision, which I know can seem logical. However, I have known many people who leave positions not because of the pay but because either there was poor management, lack of resources or poor training. I heard many stories that illustrate how people don’t excel in their jobs due to these reasons.

In making a decision, please consider other important factors besides the base salary such as:

If I leave this position after 3 years, will this position make me a lot more marketable in the job market?

Do they have a good leadership team?

What is their turn-over rate?

Are the existing employees happy overall?

What is their training like?

What is the growth potential of the position?

How financially stable is the company?

How many lay-offs have they had in the past 5 years?

What are the employee benefits?

As companies prepare to compete and try to recruit top employee candidates, all job seekers must also prepare and make sure they are considered amongst the best. After all, candidates must receive “offers” before they have options.