Sep 7, 2011
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written by Amy Flashenberg
As if it’s not hard enough today for job seekers, often they have to visit what seems like a million different websites to search for job openings or post their profiles and resumes in places that may not give them the best exposure to employers.
Fortunately, job seekers are in luck with a site that makes the process less like a full time job itself . It’s also more efficient and a top choice for recruiters looking for new staff. I’m a huge fan of the site, and I wanted to share it with you.
Indeed.com aggregates available jobs from across the Internet. That’s right…from everywhere. So unlike some other job search sites that only show you positions for companies that have paid to post their openings, Indeed shows you ALL available jobs, and links you right to the website they came from.
Another cool feature for job seekers is Indeed allows them to post their resumes, and puts them into a clean, standardized format that employers can view on the site or download if they want to learn more about them. Based on the resume, Indeed matches job seekers with job openings appropriate for their skills and experience, and allows hiring managers for those jobs to contact them directly.
This site really opens up so many doors for job seekers. And in today’s tough job market, this is sure to be a welcome tool to anyone on the hunt for a new job.
http://www.indeed.com/
Jul 14, 2011
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written by Amy Flashenberg
If a job candidate and interviewer can’t meet at the same location for an interview, video chatting is becoming a great alternative to the on-site interview as a way to get that important face-to-face connection that in-person interviews provide.
And unless you’ve been on vacation for the past month, you’ve probably heard of Google+. While no one knows for sure what this new social network will become, it’s clear that its Hangouts feature will be a great tool for interviewers and job candidates to connect across long distances, especially for interviews that will include more than two people.
Although Skype (which also powers Facebook’s new video chat feature) has been the mainstream tool in the video chat arena for years, it doesn’t allow for the free, multiple-person chats that Google+ Hangouts offers.
Another advantage to using Hangouts, especially for creative talent, is the ability to pull in YouTube videos to the live chat. For example, if a videographer wants to showcase some of her past work, she can post a video containing samples to YouTube ahead of time and then share them with the rest of the group during the chat.
To use Hangouts for an interview, participants have to be part of one anothers’ Circles—the way Google+ organizes users’ “friends.” Once the Circle is created, one participant creates a Hangout for anyone in that Circle to join. No inviting, no calling, no downloads. Just create the hangout and anyone in the Circle who is logged in can jump into the chat.
Right now, Google+ is only in its limited trial phase, but once it’s released publicly, I think it will be a great tool for the off-site interview, especially for those in the creative industries.
May 24, 2011
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written by Amy Flashenberg
Technology is advancing at a fast pace, and with increasing competition for creative jobs, everyone in the industry has to work constantly to advance their skills and to keep pace with the evolving marketplace.
While designers might be comfortable designing for print, they will need to upgrade their skills to include HTML, CSS and PHP programming and perhaps more advanced courses in content management systems, such as WordPress, to fit the needs of most agencies. A good foundation in the theories of online design and user experience are also a necessity in many work environments.
Writers are now called on to not only produce copy for the Web, but also to create content for social media sites. If you have been a writer for other media for many years, a quick refresher course on how to write for online venues may be all you need.
To keep up with job requirements in your creative field, it’s not necessary to pursue another academic degree. Many of the courses offered locally and online will give you the flexibility to work while you learn. Some are one-off classes and others are more extensive certificate programs. All will help you become more employable!
Here are just a few schools and training companies that we’ve heard offer very good programs:
>Local Classes
-Thomas Piwowar & Associates (Washington, D.C.) – Offers courses in HTML, CSS, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, ePubs, Acrobat and digital audio and video from a digital media perspective. TJPA also offers a full Digital Publishing Series for those interested in more comprehensive ePub training.
>Academic Certificate Programs
-Georgetown University’s Certificate in Digital Media Management – Provides best practices for distribution and promotion of content through social media channels, including mobile devices, Web 2.0, banner/display ads and SMS.
-Georgetown University’s Certificate in Interactive Marketing – Focuses on the characteristics and benefits of marketing for the Web, as well as integration of interactive marketing with broader marketing efforts.
-Georgetown University’s Certificate in Professional Writing for the Digital Age – Examines current research on how social and new media affect the way people read and how writers should write for online media.
>Online Classes
- Lynda.com – Offers software training via videos that are accessible 24/7. A monthly subscription is required for access to most full-length videos.
-MediaBistro.com – A good source of online courses covering new/social media and writing for these media.
May 18, 2011
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written by Amy Flashenberg
Even before the interview, an employer’s first impression of a job seeker is made with the résumé, along with a portfolio of their work if they’re in the creative industry.
But since so much of today’s creative work is done digitally, having a digital portfolio is a great way to show off your skills and samples in a clean, visually pleasing format that reflects the candidate’s understanding of the industry and that they’re comfortable with the technology.
OmniCreative Staffing candidates have the option to include their résumés on our secure portfolio site, which emphasizes the candidate’s samples and includes space for employment history, education and skills. This allows select employers to view a candidate’s qualifications and streamlined portfolio in a format that makes them more attractive to employers.
Putting your best foot forward in the creative industry means putting your work on display in a sleek, well-organized layout, and showing that you’re comfortable with the technology you’ll be using on the job.
Apr 19, 2011
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written by Amy Flashenberg
Looking for specific talent and skill sets? Look at the thousands of working women who have taken a few years off to raise kids and are now looking to get back in the workforce.
The metro area is packed with moms (and many stay-at-home dads) who are designers, art directors, programmers, writers, media buyers, event planners…name it, they’re out there. They were invaluable employees for someone a baby ago, and are a relatively untapped resource today.
They might want to get back on their own terms—like part-time, flextime and telecommuting. But they’ll deliver, just as they did years ago. We’ve found this group to be mature, dedicated and eager to go back to work. The tradeoff? Once in a while they’ll need to pick kids up from soccer practice and go to recitals.
Apr 12, 2011
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written by Amy Flashenberg
We match creatives with non-profits and government agencies – a unique niche and often a better relationship.
Good news for D.C.-area job searchers: Yahoo lists more than 7,000 associations and non-profits in the greater metro area. Add to that dozens of good-sized government agencies.
All have active websites; publish newsletters and magazines; run events and meetings; and produce loads of communications, Facebook pages, listservs, and job boards. Most need designers, writers, social media strategists, programmers and marcom pros.
Even more good news: They don’t chase bottom-line profits as much as supporting, educating and providing resources for their mission or cause.
OmniCreative Staffing specializes in matching creatives with jobs in non-profits. Their missions range from the environment and international relations to human rights. If you have a passion for causes, Washington is the best place to settle down and build your career.
Maybe you can change the world—or at least a piece of it. Perhaps it’s time you began working for something you can believe in.
Submit Your Resume
Feb 10, 2011
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written by Amy Flashenberg
Say hello to an agency that’s your kind of people. We’re a boutique HR services firm here in DC, specializing in matching creatives to non-profits and government agencies. Let us bang the drum for ourselves for a moment.
Job boards are rocking nowadays. But a posting on CareerBuilder or Monster is overwhelming. A client recently received over 400 resumes for a writer position, for instance. Do you want to go through all those? Many candidates will try for anything, while others will take the job, then leave a week later when something else comes through that they really wanted. Plus, you can spend $1500 to $5000 a month for posting one job on job boards.
That’s not how we roll. OmniCreative Staffing is specific to the creative and communications needs of non-profits and government agencies. We’re not people-pushers. We scrupulously vet creatives, spending lots of time on each (so you don’t have to) to give both employee and employers a good fit. It’s what we do best. For contract work, project placement, or full-time employment.
We’re kind of the new kids now, but if you think you’re a good match, or you’re looking for our kind of people, here we are. Check out our current Job Postings.
