Lauren,
I just read something which disturbed me. Perhaps you were misquoted in a recent article:
“Writing ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ is a clear and quick path to rejection, when you could easily find the name of the hiring manager. Even worse is ‘Dear Sirs.’ In the past two years I’ve had to respond to at least a dozen candidates by telling them they’d just ‘Dear Sir-ed’ their way out of a job,” says Lauren Milligan, a career coach with ResuMAYDAY. She advises that if you can’t find the name of the hiring manager online, use a professional salutation like “Dear Hiring Committee.”
IMHO – You are under an illusion (delusion?) if you believe candidates can find the names of hiring managers these days. Usually jobs listed on sites like Careerbuilder, Yahoo, TheLadders, even LinkedIn have NO reference to the hiring manager; often it’s a company with many HR specialists, so one can’t even know who the internal ‘listing’ HR recruiter is! Even the name of the hiring company itself is often not listed. In short, the candidate is “flying blind” all too often.
When someone’s livelihood and his/her family’s future are at stake, please don’t dismiss them for using “Dear Sir”. I really hope that’s not true. I hope you’ve never experienced what it’s like to have years of professional experience, hard work, good references, and a technical degree from a top school – yet be dismissed repeatedly by companies who won’t interview you beyond their HR department, if at all. (I don’t wish it on anyone except my enemies: it’s demeaning, discouraging, and depressing. If it weren’t for my family, I might have already given up, but I can’t quit with their future at stake.)
BTW – In case you believe the only people ‘still’ unemployed have something ‘wrong’ with them, I disagree: There are still many more good capable people out here wanting jobs than there are positions open.
Please consider this a private communication.
Respectfully,
Raymond (name changed)

Dear Raymond,
Let’s not pretend that you think I was misquoted. I stand behind everything I said, and I also appreciate that you took the time to write to me.

As a resume writer and job coach, I don’t form my opinions to feed my own ego; I’m merely sharing the harsh yet truthful information that employers and recruiters won’t ever tell candidates. Dear Sir or Madam is nothing short of antiquated, rude and demeaning. When was the last time you called a woman ‘Madam’ in a professional setting? Let’s leave this to Maitre’Ds and butlers. I’m embarrassed for the candidate who still uses this salutation; that person is clearly out of touch with modern day correspondence. You need to know this because from your very first contact with a potential employer, you are being measured on your ability to properly and effectively communicate with the company’s clients, staff and other stakeholders. As one recruiter said in a closed-door conference, i.e., no job seekers, “When I see Dear Sir or Madam on a cover letter, I have to wonder if a younger person turned on the computer for them”. Is that the impression you want to present?

In regards to my personal response to ‘Dear Sirs’ to my own company, I offer no apology. Companies are very transparent today – and mine, more than most. Me and my woman parts are solely responsible for the hiring decisions of this company – without a man at the helm. My husband is my best supporter, but he’s responsible for his own business, not mine. Any candidate who assumes that a man will be part of decision-making at ResuMAYDAY is displaying an obvious and archaic gender bias. It also tells me the candidate was too lazy to review my website. Based on those two things that I know about the candidate, why should I waste my precious and fleeting time on them?

You wrote: “IMHO – You are under an illusion (delusion?) if you believe candidates can find the names of hiring managers these days…In short, the candidate is “flying blind” all too often.” I clearly stated in that article that I recommend addressing your letter “Dear Hiring Committee”. I care very much about job seekers and wouldn’t insert my opinions if I didn’t also offer a solution. Did you overlook this while still fuming about my earlier comments? I also recommend “Dear Staffing Specialist”. That’s a freebie for you.

You wrote: “When someone’s livelihood and his/her family’s future are at stake, please don’t dismiss them for using “Dear Sir”. When one’s livelihood is at stake, that person should do everything they can to educate themselves on the most modern and correct methods for getting past the gatekeeper. Again, if you insult any person involved in the hiring process, they will assume that at some point, you will also insult a client or colleague. Why not present yourself as a smart, progressive and personable candidate? What could you possibly have to lose? Instead of taking the time to write your lengthy note to me, why not just say, “Hmm…what I’m doing clearly isn’t working, so maybe I’ll give Lauren’s advice a try.” Instead, you chose to defend your old-fashioned values…and alienate 47.4% of the working population (and rising, because the majority of people who have lost their jobs in this recession have been men) in the process.

You wrote: “BTW – In case you believe the only people ‘still’ unemployed have something ‘wrong’ with them, I disagree: There are still many more good capable people out here wanting jobs than there are positions open.” Frankly Raymond, I find this extremely insulting. If you read other articles that I’ve contributed to, or listened to my weekly radio show, or listened as I was a guest on WGN or WLS or other radio shows, or saw me on CLTV, ABC News or other television shows, you would know that I’m appalled at employers and recruiters who will only consider candidates who are currently working. I’m extremely vocal about this, even getting into a heated debate with a recruiter at a networking event over this very subject. Every time I speak at a job club (sometimes once a week and always on a volunteer basis) I feel that I’m in a room full of the best and brightest in Chicago, and it makes me angry that companies hold a person’s unemployment status against them, when it was Corporate America’s horrible decisions that led to the highest unemployment rate in 27 years. Don’t you dare put me in that category, because you are flat out wrong.

It’s your choice. Ignore me. Keep using ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ in your cover letters and we’ll see how that works out for you. I will also share this spoiler alert with you: JR wasn’t actually shot, it was just a dream. Welcome to 2010.

Raymond, I sincerely wish you the best success, but I think that you may experience greater success if you listen to the experts. Out of all the emails that I received about this article, yours was the only dissenting voice. I urge you to open your mind about this.

Respectfully as well,
Lauren Milligan

Readers, it’s your turn. Please post your comments, and we’ll discuss this on my Livin’ the Dream radio show (www.mydreambiz.net).

2) Be up-to-date on technology, including social marketing. It doesn’t matter if your particular job doesn’t directly deal with social marketing; an employer’s ears will perk up if you can intelligently discuss this during an interview. It isn’t enough to say that you are on FB or Twitter – be able to discuss how these tools can help the company reach a new audience, because that is what will be most beneficial to the employer. (If they are currently doing well in this area, let them know that, too!)

3) Know and love the company. I know of specific employers who check their company’s FB/Twitter pages before an interview, to see if that candidate is a fan. If your interviews came down to 2 candidates with similar backgrounds and qualifications, wouldn’t you lean towards the person who actively comments on your page and takes part in your company’s conversations? Of course you would!

I wish everyone the best success in their career development!

Paramount Staffing is a locally and privately owned provider of industrial personnel with a regional presence and a beginning national footprint. We focus on one niche of the staffing market rather than trying to be everything to everyone.

Our focus allows us to have one of the highest fill rates in the industry along with one of the lowest turnover rates among our temporary workforce. We take great pride in the team we have assembled with more than 100 years of combined industrial staffing experience.

There is no job order too big or too small. If you need one person for a week or 300 people for a seasonal need, we are the only call you will have to make.

Sales Representative

We are looking for a representative(s) with business to business selling skills and the experience to sell our industrial staffing services in a protected territory. The perfect candidate will have experience working with industry and have established relationships with manufacturers, warehouses, distribution centers, printers and related industries and logistics companies.

We Provide

• Excellent opportunity for financial security
• Car allowance
• Exclusive territory
• Opportunity for advancement
• Ongoing training opportunities
• Quality leadership
• A desire to see you succeed
• Marketing programs to obtain new customers and encourage ongoing business
Main Responsibilities
• Give sales presentations to prospective clients
• Obtain orders and communicate orders to customer service team
• Identify opportunities to grow within our clients
• Respond to customer inquiries within 4 hours and e-mails within one business day
• Report sales activities in a timely manner
• Establish an excellent partnership with our clients
• Participate in marketing program development
• Provide superior customer service
• Ensure all customers are totaled satisfied with our service and our team
Requirements

• College Degree and/or 5 years business to business sales experience
• Ability to succeed in a competitive environment
• Skill and ability to present our services, negotiate price, terms of payment, and bring home the business
• Strong closing and communication skills
• Excellent work ethic
• Team player a must
• Career oriented
• Self-starter attitude
• Computer skills: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Good driving record and reliable transportation.
• Strong analytical skills and able to multi-task
• Ability to communicate with all levels of management
If you have the above requirements and feel you can meet our responsibilities then we are eager to speak to you and request that you contact:
Sales Coach Alan Schubert @ 630-849-8500 and visit us @ www.paramountstaffing.com

Open this attachment for a full job description. This is a part-time, permanent position within the Chicagoland area. This is not a call center or a staffing agency; Sales-Onsite places their top-notch sales experts into companies who want a stellar sales force, but on a part-time basis. This company is growing by leaps and bounds every day! Great idea, great gig, great management. All the contact info is listed on the attachment, so click away!

Position Title: Director of Development

Job Description: This position is responsible for developing and implementing the development strategy for the agency in support of its current and long-term strategic objectives.

Supervises: Development Associate for Marketing/Public Relations; Development Associate for Special Events; Volunteer Coordinator; Data Coordinator

Responsibilities (to be performed with or without reasonable accommodation)

1. Plans and develops strategies and objectives of the development department to support the current and long-term strategic objectives of the agency.
2. Directs the planning and assessment of all development efforts, volunteer management, fundraising, marketing and communication activity of the agency, including special events, annual appeals, volunteers, major gift program, PADS Partner program, donations, foundation and corporate fundraising, private/government/foundation grants, planned giving, direct mail and cause marketing, newsletters, e-mail marketing and website management, and donor database.
3. Cultivates and maintains strong community relationships with existing donors and prospects, solicits and stewards prospects for recurring, annual giving, major gifts, PADS Partners, and planned gifts.
4. Works with Executive Director and Board of Directors to establish a presence in the community to increase the organization’s visibility as a funding source for potential and current/past donors; and identifies opportunities and programs to engage new donors and maintain relationships with current and past donors.
5. Directs the public relations/communications function to develop marketing strategies to promote the organization’s mission for donor cultivation.
6. Directs the research and preparation of grants.
7. Oversees the donor database and the continued population and expanded use of donor database functionality to support the needs of the organization.
8. Oversees the development, maintenance and enhancement of the agency website.
9. Develops and monitors development budget.
10. Hires, directs, and manages employee performance.
11. Serves on staff leadership team.
12. Participates in weekly development meetings and supervision meetings, and monthly staff meetings.
13. Other related duties as assigned.

Reports to: Executive Director

Knowledge and Skills:
1. Exceptional interpersonal skills.
2. Excellent communication skills, oral and written.
3. Demonstrated leadership skills.
4. Proven ability to plan and analyze.
5. Strong problem solving skills and ability to think conceptually.
6. Ability to handle multiple tasks, with attention to details and deadlines.
7. Ability to think innovatively and conceptually.
8. Ability to hire, train and manage/lead employees.
9. Ability to write and monitor grants.
10. Ability to develop and monitor budgets.
11. Computer literacy in Microsoft Office Suite products (Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.), and fundraising software.

Training or Experience:
1. Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or a related field.
2. Minimum of five years experience non-profit fundraising and management experience, including new donor development and major gift programs, prospect research, direct mail, cause marketing, foundation and corporate fund raising, cultivation, personal solicitation, acknowledgment, and recognition; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
3. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite as well as experience in working with fundraising software and information management. E-Tapestry & Volgistics a plus.
4. Experience in the recruitment, training, and motivation of professional staff and leadership volunteers.
5. Experience in federal, state and private grant research, cultivation, grant writing, program design, compliance and performance regulations, guidelines, and requirements.
6. C.F.R.E. Certification a plus.

Other:
1. This position may require evening or weekend hours.
2. This position requires the ability to provide own transportation.

Classification Status: Exempt Full Time

Free Mega Resume Review & Career Fair

December 2, 2009

6:00–9:00pm

The Aurora Fox Valley Community Center & Library | 555 S. Eola Road, Aurora, IL

Out of a Job? In transition? Enjoy an evening of help and support!

Free one-on-one Professional Resume Review

Over 20 Professional Resume Writers will be on-site and available from 6:00-9:00pm to offer attendees a free one-on-one coaching session. Arrive early, first come, first served.

Free Training seminars

Running concurrently from 6:00-9:00pm with the one-on-one resume review sessions, educational seminars designed to give you the tools and skills needed for success.

• “10 Things I hate about resumes” – From a Readers Perspective
• “The Electronic Job Search” – How to break through the barriers
• “Interviewing Do’s and Don’ts in this Economic Noise” Current behavioral and presentation issues confronting interviewees to help get that second interview!
• “The Gray Hair Laws of Networking” – Learn Effective Networking Skills used to reach the hidden job market where over 80% of all job opportunities exist
• “Job Searching Strategy 101″ – How to plan, organize & execute for success

Career Education & Retraining Opportunities

· Various local colleges will be in attendance to discuss their professional training, retraining and career development incl: DeVry University, Rasmussen College, College of Du Page. Learn about money available for those on unemployment!

No prior registration required for this FREE Resume Review & Career Fair

For more information, call George Carson at 630-675-4509 or email: georcarson@aol.com. The Aurora – Fox Valley Park District Community Center & Library is 1/2 mile north of Rt 34 (Ogden Avenue) and Eola Road on the west side of the road in a large brick building. Rooms 110/111 are on the north end of the building near the check-in desk.