Blaine and Associates

Blaine and Associates

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

New Job Opening!

OPERATIONS COORDINATOR - $32K


International hospitality firm seeks coordinator for variety of entertainment and travel related programs. Will handle all aspects related to disbursements and arranging advance pre-funding when required for international agents. Also responsible for preparing annual =budgets for department functions, and preparing accruals and updates on any anomalies to the budget when monthly financial results are received. At least 2 years college background, majoring in accounting or business preferred. Background in hospitality on an international level a plus.  One of the best benefit packages around!

Friday, March 23, 2012

How to Deal with Anxiety


How to Deal with Job Search Anxiety


Published: Monday, March 19, 2012

Searching for a job can be a frustrating process. Perhaps most frustrating is that there's no one size fits all methodology to landing the right opportunity. You can follow someone's advice to the letter and keep missing out on opportunities, while someone else can stumble into their perfect position seemingly at random, and while breaking all the "rules" in the field.

On top of that uncertainty, the various pieces of the job seeking process can be a source of anxiety—even when the issue of needing a salary isn't an immediate concern. Is your resume set up to best highlight your skills? Does your cover letter tell a compelling story about you and your motivation? How will you handle question X at the interview? What about question Y? And how do you know if it's the right opportunity for you in the first place?
 
Having suffered from extreme stress and anxiety—particularly during job searches—Ryan Rivera, founder of www.calmclinic.com, is well versed in the subject. He puts the stress associated with the job search process down to a simple factor: fear of rejection. That fear, says Rivera, can actually lead some job seekers to sabotage their own chances for success.
 
" Many people send in only one or two résumés a month," he says, "but do them carelessly, without taking the time to ensure they're perfect. While some may believe these people are lazy, it is possible that they may simply be suffering from a fear of rejection."

To deal with that kind of fear, Rivera recommends following several distinct steps in the job-seeking process. Read on for his advice:
 
Before Sending an Application
You need to make sure you've given yourself a plan, with deadlines, of the number of résumés you plan to send out, when, and potentially even where. You need to have as much mapped out as possible, with as many small sub goals as you can create, all in a timely manner. By creating these goals, you won't put as much focus on the responses to your résumé. You'll put the focus on what you need to do next in terms of sending in applications.
 
While The Résumés Are Out
The best way to reduce the stress of rejection is to keep sending résumés. Each application you send out represents hope. It takes the pressure off of a specific rejection, because you have enough other résumés out to counter the blow.
 
Sending out résumé after résumé—provided you take the time to write them well and apply only to jobs that you're qualified for—will ensure each rejection hurts less.
 
After a Rejection
"Rejections are always a little painful. The key is to find a way to reduce their impact. Some people try to write out why they think the rejection took place, but this is probably not a good idea. You don't want to put focus on the rejection. Still, the idea of writing down thoughts can be a powerful one, so you may want to try an activity that seems a little silly at first but ultimately can help you change your mindset – positive affirmations."
 
"Write down 100 percent positive thoughts that come from what you expect and what you know about your skills, abilities, resume, and more. Try to come up with as many as possible, and feel free and base it on the job you applied for. For example, if you were rejected from a job where HTML knowledge was paramount, and you have HTML knowledge, write in the journal 'My HTML knowledge will help me get a great career.'"
 
"This type of activity always feels awkward at first, but over time it will train you to focus more on the positive things in your life, and put less attention on the rejection."
 
The Stress of Rejection
There is no perfect stress and anxiety cure, because if there were then rejection wouldn't be as troublesome. But the above strategies can help you take some of the pressure off of the rejections, and allow you to keep focusing on the task at hand – finding a great job that makes you happy.
 
Ryan Rivera suffered from extreme stress and anxiety, especially during his job searches. He has more information about anxiety atwww.calmclinic.com.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

New Job Listing!

SENIOR STAFF ACCOUNTANT - $65K-$85K+ DOE


Westside investment banking firm seeks highly detail-oriented accountant with the ability to synthesize multiple sources of information and work cooperatively and collaboratively with all levels of employees, management, and external agencies to maximize performance, creativity, problem solving and results.  Duties include transactions for multiple entities, account reconciliations and accruals, budget comparisons, revenue tracking, financials statements and schedules, tax return preparation and assisting with financial and tax audits.  Minimum 2 years with Great Plains software.  BA in accounting with 4+ yeas experience.

10 Tips To Beat The Burn Out


10 Tips to Beat Job Search Burn Out


by Vault Careers
Published: Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The weather's heating up, but are your job hunting efforts cooling off?

Fight the urge to abandon your search—stay on track and refresh your motivation with these tips:

1. Do Something You're Awesome At
One of the best ways to right burn out is to feel A. successful, and B. energized. This is most easily and effectively achieved by doing something you enjoy, and you kind of rule at. Be it table tennis, interpretive dance, or beating your niece at Crazy Eights, do it. The sillier (and most different from sitting in front of your computer, applying to jobs), the better. Extra points awarded for physicality.

2. Set Smaller Goals
If your goal is simply to get a job offer, you don't have a lot of control over your success. Which stinks, considering how long and arduous a job search can be. Instead, set smaller goals—quotas for resume send outs, or events attended, or "check ins" with contacts, so you can have little victories to celebrate on your way to the big one.

3. Stay Social
Burn out, by definition, means feeling tired and unmotivated. Your natural response may be to withdraw further, spending more time alone so as to avoid drains on your already low energy. But resist the urge: not only is it vital to your mood and attitude to stay connected, making the social rounds increases your chances of finding a job:  it gets you circulating, and keeps you fresh in your friends' minds. After all, if they haven't seen you recently, how will they remember you when an opportunity arises?

4. Seek Support
Job hunting is a rejection game. No matter how hard you try to stay objective, the fact of the matter is, it's going to start feeling personal when you don't get call backs.

If you keep in touch with others who are also on the hunt, you can compare notes on what's working, what's not working, and best of all, who's getting rejected--because no matter how much it can feel that way, it's not just happening to you.

5. Read Your Own Resume
Again, a job search can mean a serious beating for your ego. Try reading your own resume objectively. You forgot how qualified and accomplished you actually are, didn't you?

6. Respect Yourself
It's easy to start feeling like a bit of a social pariah when you're broke and unemployed. Fight back hard against this affect by treating yourself like a worthy, valuable, and fine tuned machine. Start your day with coffee and breakfast, shower and dress professionally, and, in between stretches of honest-to-god working at the job search, take yourself outside for a break. You've earned it.

7. Eat Well, Exercise, and Rest
Beyond just being emotionally rough, the lack of structure a workday can provide may lead to some unhealthy choices—eating all day, sleeping and waking at odd times, or forgetting to actually leave the house while the sun's still up. All this can have a huge affect on your health, mood, and attitude towards your search. Keep yourself in top condition when that opportunity comes through: you want to be on your a-game, right?

8. Use "Personal" Days
Yes, it's stressful to be unemployed, and you'd like it to end as soon as possible. But feverishly trolling the internet for jobs at all hours is not the best strategy overall. If you go overboard with quantity, and the quality of what you send out will start dropping—as will your motivation to keep at it.

Schedule at least one day per week to do the complete opposite of your normal routine that will refresh your brain and body. Do you usually inside in your sweatpants, alone with your laptop? Get dressed up and see a movie with a friend, or hit the great outdoors with a book and some GORP. Anything outside of your normal routine should do.

9. Consider Everything an Opportunity
You know that annoying dating advice that you'll find the right person when you stop looking? Well, we're not advocating that you stop looking, but staying open to whatever that comes your way can seriously increase your opportunities.

Say yes to as many invitations as possible. You never know who you might meet or what you might learn--that friend of a friend that comes to drinks on Friday could work at your target company, or that rock climbing trip your cousin invited you on could introduce you to your next boss. If nothing else, you'll have great anecdotes for your next interview, so get out there.

10. Laugh
When all else fails, read The Onion.

It will get better.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

New Job Listings!

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT -  $45K - $55K

Great opportunity to grow in the field of property management. You will assist the GM of a popular shopping center. You will answer heavy phones, lots of tenant relationship responsibilities, typing correspondence, leases, emails and helping create and produce marketing pieces for special events and sales.

You should have a college degree, 2-5 years administrative experience, MSW, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Any experience in property management would be great. Ready to hire within the next two weeks.


PRIVATE EQUITY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS - $60K - $75K

We are looking for three EAs to work for two partners and one associate. We would like 1 - 3 years administrative experience within the financial field, a 4-year college degree, MSW, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Heavy travel arrangements and expense reporting, excellent client relations, and creative PowerPoint presentations. A background check will be conducted - make sure your resume is correct and references in order. We are looking to hire within the next 10 days.

Monday, March 12, 2012

10 Interview Answers


10 Answers You Should Know Before Your Job Interview

With the competition keener than ever and the economy in a slump, you need to prepare for your job interview thoroughly. It’s no longer enough to offer a firm handshake to your interviewer, make eye contact, and nod pleasantly now and then. You need to prepare a dynamic application letter and resume. You need to research the company. And you need to present a confident image and develop the ability to answer tough questions on the spot.

Although no one can predict the questions your potential employer will ask, you can think about how you’d answer some of the commonly asked ones. Here are ten questions for you to consider and a few hints about how to answer them:

  1. Tell me about yourself.Chances are the employer doesn’t want to know how much you weighed when you were born, when you learned to tie your shoes, or how much you had to drink last night. He or she wants to know how you would fit into the company and what your relevant job experience is. You might answer by asking the interviewer what he’d like to know. Or you might talk about your education, the fact that you’re a team player, or whatever you think might be important to this particular company.

  2. Why should we hire you?Even though five people may be waiting outside, you need to sound confident, calm, and capable. Explain how your experience has prepared you for the job. Emphasize the qualities you think the employer is looking for, such as your outstanding work ethic or the fact that you’re a fast learner.

  3. What is your worst characteristic?Some human resource specialists suggest that you make a virtue sound like a flaw. “I tend to be a perfectionist,” or, “Everyone says I work too hard.” But others say these answers have become clichés. Mention a minor flaw, such as, “I think I’m too outspoken at times, but I’m working on it.”

  4. Where do you want to be five years from now?Let the interviewer know you’re looking for job stability and that you aren’t planning to use this job as a temporary stopping point in your quest for a better position. You
    could say, “I’d like to be employed in a small company like this one, where I can learn,
    contribute, and advance.”

  5. Why did you leave your last job?Never put your former employer or your co-workers in a negative light. Don’t blame them for your departure. Give a positive reason, such as you left to take advantage of another opportunity that was better suited to your skills.

  6. Tell me about a problem you had in your life and how you solved it.Be prepared with a short answer that shows you’re resourceful. “I really wanted to go to a private university, but my parents didn’t have the money. I went to a community college for two years, worked part time and saved my money so I could attend the last two years at the college of my choice.”

  7. Have you had difficulties getting along with supervisors or co-workers?You’d have to be a saint to have had no problems with the people you worked with. You might answer, “Nothing major. I try to get along with everyone.”

  8. How do you deal with stress on the job?The employer wants to know if you’re going to run out the door when things get stressful. Ask yourself if you thrive on working with deadlines or if you need creative time to function more effectively. Think about how you handle stress and be honest. “I focus on the work I’m doing,” or, “I make time to work out at the gym.”

  9. What salary do you want for this job?Rather than stating a definite figure, tell the interviewer you’d expect to get somewhere in the standard range paid for this position.

  10. Do you have questions for me?Always have a few questions. They show that you researched the company. Ask about a
    current issue the company is working on or how their recent layoff in another department
    affected company morale.
Remember-- the job interview is a two-way discovery process. By doing your homework and answering interview questions intelligently, you’re striving to prove you’re the person for the job On the other hand, you need to decide--sometimes in the midst of the questions---if the position you’re applying for is what you want to do and if the company is

Friday, March 2, 2012

Women Earn More Than Men?


Jobs Where Women Earn More Than Men

By PayScale , Posted Mar 1st 2012 @ 9:19AM

jobs where women earn more than menBy Christine Laue

Try telling the woman scraping plaque off your teeth that it's a man's world.

Female dental hygienists earn eight percent more than their male counterparts, according to online salary database PayScale.com.

While U.S. Census statistics historically show that women's earnings lag men's, they don't show the whole picture, says Katie Bardaro, PayScale's lead analyst. They only compare median earnings of all full-time, year-round workers. But break earnings down by profession and compare equal factors such as experience and education, and men don't always make more, Bardaro says.

Many of the jobs in which women earn more than men are either female-dominated jobs or extremely male-dominated jobs.

That's no surprise to Caren Goldberg, a professor at American University in Washington, D.C., who studies workplace gender issues. "Women in traditionally male-dominated jobs are rewarded for bucking the stereotype, while women in traditionally female jobs are rewarded for 'fitting in,'" Goldberg says.

Delana Nelson, a dental hygienist of 25 years living in Rapid City, S.D., not only had a female mentor in a field with 95 percent women but also feels she has excelled. Her pay and responsibilities have grown, and today she co-owns and manages her husband's dental practice.

What other professions offer females the opportunity of better pay than men? PayScale lists five below, followed by that job's median female pay and a comparison to men's pay.

Facilities Director - $74,200
Pay above men's: 9 percent
A facilities director's duties vary by the organization but generally involve managing buildings, grounds, equipment and supplies. In small organizations, experience may be all you need. But in large organizations, you might need a bachelor's degree and more experience.

IT Network Engineer - $64,200
Pay above men's: 5 percent
Kelly Tollefson, an IT network engineer, is the only female on her Bellevue, Neb., office's team of 13. She said employers seeking workplace diversity pay women more as an incentive.

Employers often require a bachelor's degree. Some prefer a master's in business administration with a concentration in information systems. An associate's degree or professional certification with related work experience may be sufficient.

Advertising Broadcast Producer - $55,600
Pay above men's: 9 percent
Nan Pike, an advertising broadcast producer at Bozell, an Omaha, Neb. advertising firm, says she's never encountered obstacles or special treatment because of her gender.

"It's all about if you do the job," she said.

The job involves facilitating all areas of the broadcast production process for a client, from budgets to timelines. Employers often prefer a bachelor's or master's degree, often in advertising or journalism. Relevant areas of study include marketing, consumer behavior, visual arts, art history, photography or market research.

Television Producer/Director - $53,500
Pay above men's: 9 percent
People in this role can follow many paths to employment. Producers often get their start working in a performing arts union or for a press agent, managing director or business manager. Directors often enter the industry as actors or writers or assisting other directors.

Legal Assistant - $33,400
Pay above men's: 6 percent
Most legal assistants have an associate's degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor's degree in another field with a certificate in paralegal studies. Community colleges are the typical route, but a few schools offer bachelor's and master's degrees in paralegal studies. Some employers offer on-the-job training, and most don't require certification. Some certifications require renewal tests and continuing education.

When Kari Frangos decided to become a paralegal following a layoff from her advertising job, she bypassed school by landing a job with training from senior paralegal mentors -- two of whom were women.

"They wanted me to succeed, so they were always willing to give me feedback," says Frangos, who now works as a paralegal at a Houston litigation firm. "I absolutely love it and think it was what I was destined to do."

Source: Salary data is provided by online salary database PayScale.com. Salaries listed are annual salaries -- including any bonuses, commissions or profit sharing -- for full-time male and female workers with equal years of experience, education, company size and other factors. Job descriptions are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

New Job Listing!!!

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT (Travel/Leisure Industry) - $80K - $100K

Executive Assistant needed for extremely ambitious executive who works long hours, solves complex international issues, deals with heads of countries and the leaders of the business world.

This executive prefers an "old world" assistant that will take dictation, retrieve and respond to emails, extensive domestic and international travel arrangements, heavy business and personal calendars, minutes at meetings and solid "gatekeeping."

You must have 10+ years in a similar position, shorthand or fast notes, MSW, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. 4-year college degree preferred. Excellent benefits and travel perks.