|
Survey Says...
Win $100! |  |
Marketplace recently sent a survey to opinion leaders across the Upstate asking them to weigh in on the state of the American economy. To date, nearly 200 of you have done so. With one week left, here is your chance to make your opinion heard. Is the economy improving? How would you fix it? How has it impacted your business? The survey takes only 3-4 minutes, and earns you a copy of the results PLUS a chance to win a $100 American Express gift certificate. Weigh in today! |
|
Daylight Savings Time Is Here |  | |
As if you didn't have enough challenges to lose sleep over... plan now for Daylight Saving Time 2012. It begins on March 11, so set your clocks forward one hour at 2:00 AM on Saturday evening before you go to bed. It ends on November 4, and the clocks will need to go back an hour then... but at least we'll all enjoy that extra hour of sleep come Fall! |
|
Something's Pfishy... |  | |
A common scam this time of year comes in the form of emails, phone calls or notices claiming to be from the IRS. These scams - known as phishing - try to trick you into revealing personal information to commit identity theft or steal your money.
Just remember:
- The IRS never requests detailed personal and financial information
- They do not contact taxpayers by email to request such information
- If you receive a communication claiming to be from the IRS but you suspect otherwise, call 1-800-829-1040.
- Forward suspicious emails to phishing@irs.gov.
To learn more or to help avoid being victimized, visit www.irs.gov and click on "phishing" on the home page. |
|
Contact Us | | |
If your company is looking for top quality talent to add to or supplement your existing staff, we hope you'll give us a call. From light industrial to IT, office administrative to accounting, we have the people you need to succeed. Please email us or call 864.286.3900.
|
|
|
|
Reinventing The Job Applicant |
 If you use the Internet to find job applicants, you know the burden of complying with federal record-keeping guidelines.
Employers must keep records about applicants as part of anti-discrimination laws. You must:
- Track the gender, race, and ethnicity of applicants
- Be prepared to prove that hiring procedures don't discriminate
Original guidelines were created before the Internet. Now, the ease of applying online has created an avalanche of applicants. Must you treat each like a serious job seeker?
To answer that question, the EEOC has redefined the word "applicant." Under the new definition, an applicant:
- Must submit their resume in response to a position your company is seeking to fill
- Must follow your standard job application procedures
- Must be interested in a specific position
If you contact an individual about a specific position and the person expresses interest, the individual becomes an applicant. But they are not applicants simply by posting their resume in a database.
Of course, few things are as simple as they seem, so consult with your HR professional -- or with a knowledgeable staffing partner like Marketplace. For information and great candidates... whatever your talent needs may be -- call or email us today.
|
|
Avoiding Resume Mistakes
 Your resume is key to your job search. But is it helping or hurting you? If it doesn't showcase your strengths, it's flawed. Here are three tips to help you land that position.
Get Serious
If you draw blanks when describing how you help past employers, get serious. Describe what's special about you, and how you've enhanced the performance of your company. Show how you've produced... and convey positive results.
Be Clear & Concise
Focus on accomplishments, not responsibilities. Most resumes get skimmed in under ten seconds. Identify companies you worked for, when you were there, if you were promoted, and what you accomplished. But don't turn it into a novel. To catch a recruiter's eye, an accomplishment-driven resume is ideal.
Strut Your Stuff
Whether secretary or CEO, get beyond the everyday details and showcase how you delivered results. Point out your strengths, and how your talents serve the organization overall. Do you make others better? Do you have unique skills? Emphasize those.
Give your resume a hard look... and it will help you land that perfect position. |
|
Challenges With Background Checks
For example, the U.S. Patriot Act requires truck drivers with commercial driver's licenses to undergo criminal background investigations to earn a hazardous materials endorsement.
And many employers routinely perform them because they are concerned about violent behavior, theft and other potential threats. If an employee commits a violent act and no background check was conducted, the employer could be liable for damages under a "negligent hiring" claim.
But existence of a prior arrest alone doesn't give you the right to turn down an applicant. Recent litigation has held that using arrest and conviction records to deny employment is illegal if not relevant to the position. Such a blanket policy can limit job opportunities for minorities who have higher arrest and conviction rates.
Your policy on criminal background checks must be fine-tuned to withstand potential challenges. Work hand-in-hand with an attorney or HR advisor to establish a policy that meets your needs and complies with applicable laws. Got a question? The Marketplace team is here to help you.
Does your company use criminal background checks to weed out job applicants? Many do, and some are required by law to conduct background checks for certain jobs. |
|
|
|
|
mps