4 ways to think outside the box and get hired

Alluvion Staffing shares unusual ways job seekers find their next jobs

Getting hired for a job isn’t as easy as it once was. Today, if you’re looking to land a job, you’re likely competing with other fully qualified individuals who are doing many of the same things you are during your job search and interviews. In this competitive job market, sending a follow-up thank-you letter or email just might not cut it anymore.

Here are some of our favorite creative and out-of-the box ways that people get hired for their next jobs:

1. Put together an infographic resume.

One simple and effective way of demonstrating your creativity to a recruiter is through your resume. Infographics are excellent marketing tools that job seekers can use to make their resumes stand out. These resumes are easy to create if you already have a LinkedIn profile: You can simply convert the data into an infographic using free online tools such as Re.Vu or ResumUP. While having a tasteful infographic version of your resume is great for networking or follow-up meetings, many recruiters prefer a traditional resume, so you should always carry a copy of each.

2. Create a presentation.

In addition to your resume, it may also be helpful for you to create a slideshow presentation highlighting your qualifications and experience. A presentation may give you the opportunity to display any previous work samples, client testimonials or awards and recognition that may otherwise go unnoticed by the recruiter. If you decide to create a slide show, make sure you make it visually appealing and use plenty of pictures and logos, not just words.

Some job applicants have also had success submitting short videos explaining their qualifications, skills and interest in the job. Creating a video will definitely make you stand out as a candidate since very few job seekers use this medium when applying for positions.

3. Share your marketing plan.

If you have a unique and innovative marketing plan, you should always share your ideas far and wide – especially if you’re struggling with networking. If you have a clear marketing plan and know exactly what type of company you want to work with, someone you meet may have a connection to a job that would be a perfect fit for you.

4. Post a billboard.

Times have changed: You no longer need to be a millionaire or a supermodel to see yourself on a city billboard. While you certainly shouldn’t feel the need to post multiple billboards, a tasteful and professional billboard ad can definitely make you memorable.

For more information to give you a boost in your job search or in staffing your company, share your information and resource needs with Alluvion Staffing.

Got resumes?

Get this key document right in order to land that job

The job market is now more competitive than ever and resume building is important for job seekers everywhere.

It can often be difficult to draft a resume that will stand out in a sea of similar documents from candidates all promoting essentially the same skills. Professionals across all fields debate over what the most appropriate and effective resume format for job candidates looks like.

In recent years, recruiters have started seeing more and more out-of-the-box, creative resumes that jump out of the stack. Some examples that have gone viral include a resume shaped like a candy bar, a resume laid out in a Facebook profile format and another as an Amazon product page. But is submitting a flashy, unique resume the key to showing a recruiter you’re an innovative and gifted candidate, or will your creativity just come off as distracting and unprofessional?

In Madame Noire’s Next Level Resumes: Get Creative and Land That Job article for, Bryan Pray, IT recruiting manager for Alluvion Staffing, answered some of Ann Brown’s questions about getting creative with your resume.

Creative resumes work well for some people and some jobs. For those who might steer toward the more traditional approach, Bryan Pray offers these tips:

Q: I have heard of some extreme cases, such as one resume designed as a chocolate bar, that landed the applicant the job. Should everyone go that far out?

Bryan Pray: This would depend on the job that the person is applying for. Conservative is often the best approach. As long as someone has the background required for a job, he or she should at least get a positive response from a recruiter.

Q: What types of resumes are recruiters looking for outside of the candidate’s qualifications?

BP: I tell all my candidates to include their relevant skills and personal history only to a point. You don’t want your resume to be 10 pages, but the days of keeping the resume to one page are in the past due to the fact that most resumes aren’t faxed or mailed anymore. Resumes are usually uploaded as Word or PDF documents, so recruiters don’t have to sift through physical pieces of paper anymore.

For more information on resume building and recruiting solutions, contact Alluvion Staffing today to let us know about your needs.

3 tips every hiring manager should know before the first interview

There’s a lot of advice for interviewees and job candidates out there, but there are few resources available for hiring managers as they look to fill positions within their companies. Staffing firms can be a great resource for hiring managers as they are able to provide constructive feedback throughout the process.

As a hiring manager, here are three ways that you can ease the interview process along:

7 ways you’re sabotaging your job interviews

Interview mistakes can ruin your chance of being hired

Though the hiring process in North Florida is now taking longer than ever, it means you have more time to prepare for an upcoming interview. It also means that, as a job candidate, you need to be at the top of your game for those first and even second interviews with a company. A successful first interview means a call back for a second interview or being hired for a job right away.

What matters in a job?

Pay is less important than quality of life to a majority of employed adults

According to a survey by The American Staffing Association polling more than 1,000 U.S. adults, the majority of employees consider a good work-life balance more important than pay.

What every candidate should do before a job interview

Tips on how to make a good impression and ace that interview

Once the initial excitement wears off after finding out about an upcoming job interview, for many people, anxiety creeps in. It’s hard not to worry about what questions you’ll have to answer, what questions you should ask or what to wear.

Here are a few helpful tips that will help North Florida job seekers prepare for their first and even second company interviews and help squash the pre-interview anxiety:

6 reasons companies benefit from using staffing firms

Staffing firms are an invaluable tool for businesses

Many companies in Jacksonville and throughout Florida are unsure of what staffing firms do and why they should enlist the help of one in order to fill empty positions with competent workers.

How to deal with a lengthy hiring process

Alluvion Staffing offers pointers for job hunters

Times have changed in the job market. If you’re currently looking for a job, you may have noticed that the hiring process is much longer and more complex than you originally anticipated. Today, you rarely see job applicants walk into a 20-minute interview and walk out with a full-time position and a salary. According to Forbes, the average interview process length in the U.S. is 22.9 days, almost double the length of the process in 2010.

6 important nonverbal cues for job interviews

Nonverbal cues can help or hinder your chances of getting hired

Have you ever had an interview where you thought you did great, but for some reason never got a job offer or even a call back? One reason why you lost out on the job could be your nonverbal cues.

4 myths people believe about using staffing firms

Staffing firms are an asset to job seekers and employers alike

While on the job hunt, in North Florida, common phrases uttered include: “I’ve looked everywhere,” and “There’s nothing out there for me.” But how many of those people have really exhausted all of their options, including the use of a staffing company? Many recent college grads and seasoned employees have no interest in registering with a staffing company because of the negative preconceived perceptions they have about them.