While a full-time, permanent position is ideal for most professionals in the workforce, temporary positions can be a great option for many people who find themselves looking for additional income and/or experience while pursuing that permanent job. Below, we have listed several situations where a short term job could be beneficial to your search for a permanent position. Although, our list is definitely not comprehensive; temporary work can be a great option for just about anyone.
1. Recent College Graduates
Temporary work is a great option for recent graduates who do not have a permanent position lined up upon graduation.
Temping can help give college graduates more real world, professional experience to add to their resume, especially if you didn’t have internships or work study experience while in school.
Utilizing a temporary staffing agency can help fill in the employment gap on your resume between graduation and starting your first permanent position. Potential employers will be impressed to see that you have been working and gaining experience while pursuing more full-time work.
Lastly, temporary work can help get your foot in the door with a company that you would not otherwise have access to. If the company you are temping for is pleased with your work, they could consider you for any full-time openings they might have.
2. Filling in the Gap
Like with recent college graduates, temp work can help fill in employment gaps on your resume. Even if the temporary work you are doing isn’t exactly relevant to your career goals, at least you can show a potential employer that you have not been sitting idle while searching for a new position.
Temporary work is also a great source of income when you’re in between jobs. While you probably won’t make as much as you were in your last permanent position, a little money is better than no money.
Temp jobs can also help expose you to new industries or environments that you might not have had the opportunity to explore otherwise. You might find a new interest or change your career goals after having a great experience temping within a different industry.
3. After Retirement
Temp work is an excellent option for professionals who have decided to end full-time careers, but aren’t quite ready to stop working altogether.
Part time work can bring in a little additional income or help fill your newly empty schedule.
Temping is also a good option because you can do daily or short term jobs, without making a long-term commitment.
Temp work can also be a good way for retired military personnel to transition into a civilian work environment.
Temporary staffing agencies value your years of professional experience.
4. Re-Entry Professionals
Professionals who are reentering the workforce after taking time off from their careers should definitely consider temp work as a way to get reacquainted with the office environment instead of charging in at full speed.
Coming back into the job market after a break in your career, to care for children or aging parents, can make it hard for you to start right back where you left off. Temporary work can help you get your foot in the door with an organization, and prove to them that you are ready to rejoin the workforce.
Staffing agencies like Whitman Associates help job seekers to transition into the workforce. Working temporary positions is definitely a positive step in the right direction and will help to find the right role for anyone out of work.
Not all job seekers are unemployed. In fact, a large number of people are job searching while employed. These professionals are looking to make a change from their current positions. Job seekers who are looking for a job while employed must effectively balance their current role while searching for their new role. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Don’t search for jobs while on the clock
This may seem like a no-brainer, but be sure you keep your current job separate from your job hunt. Your current employer is paying you to work for them, not to job hunt. While employed, do all of your applying and looking for a job on your own time.
This doesn’t just apply to browsing job boards, but also be sure not to use your work phone, email or computer when corresponding with potential employers. Only use your personal contact information when applying for jobs or updating your resume. Within most companies, you are not the only person with access to your work email and call records.
If your employer discovers you’ve been searching for a job while employed and on the clock, it’s likely to be labeled as time theft which can result in a write up or even termination. Looking for a job while employed must be done on your own time.
2. Be considerate of your current employer when scheduling interviews
If you get the opportunity to interview with a new company, whether in person or on the phone, try to schedule it so that you don’t need to take a whole day off from work. It’s best practice to limit how much your job hunt interferes with your current role. That way, you can seek the job you want without tarnishing your reputation at your present place of employment.
While still employed, it is ideal to schedule interviews over your lunch break so that you don’t have to take any time off while job searching. If that is not a possibility, you should try to schedule interviews from your job search first thing in the morning or at the end of the day, so that you can either come in a little late or leave a little early, so as not to miss much work while you are looking for a job.
3. Give plenty of notice before quitting
If you do end up accepting a job offer, make sure to give your current employer plenty of notice. Two weeks notice is the generally acceptable amount of time, but every situation is different. Oftentimes you will help to train the person moving into your job. The more time you have to do this, the more seamless the transition will be. Your current employer will value your dedication, and your new employer will see that you are a loyal employee.
4. Utilize a staffing agency like Whitman Associates!
Lastly, using a staffing agency like Whitman Associates can take some pressure off your job searching. Job searching while employed full time can feel like another full time job. Work smarter, and have a staffing agency like us help you with your search. With a large client pool, staffing agencies see new jobs all the time. If you’re looking for a job while employed, get started with Whitman Associates by checking out our current job listings and emailing your resume to resumes@whitmanjobs.com.
Thinking about becoming a recruiter but not sure if you’ve got what it takes? Recruiting can be a great field to enter. It has tons of transferable skills and lots of upside. Plus, many recruiters are paid bonuses for filling positions. All in all, it’s an excellent field to enter. But many people think it requires a specific educational background or work experience. Not true! Read on to learn three tips for becoming a recruiter with little to no career experience.
1. Make Sure You Have The Personality
One of the biggest factors in determining if you would be a good recruiter is your personality. While you don’t necessarily have to be an extrovert, some key personality traits are must-haves if you want to become a recruiter with no experience:
An eye for matchmaking – Are you the type who always finds a match for your single friends? Do you just have the instinct for seeing when two people will be a good fit? Then you’ve got what it takes. Recruiters have to be able to assess personalities and skill sets and match them to positions they will be successful in.
Social media chops – Any good recruiter must have a love for social media. In today’s world, social media networking is one of the biggest ways that recruiters find matches. So being tech-savvy, having a large following, and knowing how to use your contacts to bring in others is a must.
Positivity – If you don’t have a positive attitude, even during the worst of times, it’s hard to convince anyone of anything. Since so much of a recruiter’s job is hyping up people and positions under any circumstance, a positive attitude is a must.
2. Make Sure You Have The Education
Education is a tricky one, because there is no degree in recruitment. So what field should you study? Essentially, you need any education. Recruiters frequently have bachelor’s degrees in HR or management, but this is absolutely not necessary. Do you have a degree in an engineering or science field? Recruit for a tech company. What about education? Look for a position at a university. Even a lawyer is qualified to be a recruiter. They could work for a law firm or governmental agency. If a field exists in which people need to be hired, then that field’s educational background would work well for recruiting. In short, if you want to become a recruiter with no experience, you probably need an education – but the sky’s the limit on what that education looks like.
3. Make Sure You Have The Skills
If you want to become a recruiter with no experience, here are three big skills that every prospective recruiter must have:
Sales Skills – Sales is the number one skill you must have to recruit. Recruiting is selling a job to a candidate and a candidate to an employer. If you want to prepare yourself for recruiting, go get a sales job… any sales job. Work at a clothes store and practice making people feel good about what they try on. Work at an electronics store and learn how to match people to the products they need. Try selling cars or other big-ticket items. Whatever sales skills you can develop will go a long way to helping you excel at recruiting.
Networking Skills – Networking is not only how to become a recruiter with no experience, it is essential to the success of a recruiter. You have to meet people to connect people, and that means doing a LOT of social things, and doing them well. The good thing is that networking skills can be learned. So start practicing. Go to networking events both online and in person. Create and practice your elevator pitch. Volunteer for organizations that you’re passionate about. Whatever networking you do will make you a better fit for any type of job in recruiting.
Project Management Skills – The recruitment process is essentially a big project. A need is found. A job description is created. The job is posted. The candidates are recruited. Interviews occur. A match is made. Each of these moving parts requires a keen eye for detail and project management to keep the process on track and on time. If you’re organized and good at managing lots of moving parts, recruiting may be the role for you.
Resume Writing Skills – Finally, building your own perfect resume is a great way to showcase your talents. Your resume should highlight your initiative, your ability to prioritize and multitask, and your communication skills. And as a recruiter, you can put those resume writing skills to use helping others with their resumes!
If recruiting sounds like the career of your dreams, don’t let a lack of experience stop you from going for it. Just get out there, pound the pavement, and apply, apply, apply. Temp agencies like Whitman Associates in the Washington DC area frequently post recruiting jobs. Temp jobs are typically easier to get and are great for resume and experience building. Check the job listings regularly and take a chance. With a little front-end effort, you can become a recruiter, even if you have no experience at all!
You’ve got the interview of your dreams, but they are only conducting online interviews. In today’s job market, it makes perfect sense. You could be interviewing for a remote position on the other side of the country, or your interview panel may be in various locations. Whatever the reason, video interviews are a common part of the interview process, so you need to be prepared. Thankfully, a video interview is really not that much different from an in-person interview. Here are six remote interview tips to make sure you show your best self online:
1. Prepare, prepare, prepare.
You can never (and we do mean never) be over-prepared for an interview. You need to make sure your equipment is ready. Check your internet connection, lighting, video, and sound. Make sure you have a full battery on your phone or laptop. Be punctual when logging into a Zoom meeting. Practice talking via Zoom or another online meeting platform to make yourself more comfortable with the technology. Be prepared to email your interviewers a copy of your resume, cover letter, references, and sample of your work. Don’t assume they will all have these things sitting in front of them. Often overlooked in remote interview tips, is to keep other application and browser windows closed so that if you have to share your screen, you’re not sharing anything you don’t want your potential employer to know about.
2. Be purposeful about what you show your interviewer.
You want to make a good impression. One remote interview tip to remember is that your video background and environment should reflect your professional qualities. Make sure it’s neutral and without distraction. Don’t use a picture of a tropical island or your dog fluffy (no matter how cute he is!). Whatever you do, don’t use a video background. That’s one of our best job video interview tips. Select a neutral, clean, and clutter-free space. Don’t have that at home? Consider a study room at your local library. Just make sure the lighting is good and that the area is free from distractions (this includes windows that may have bad lighting or distracting actions like cars driving by). Ensure your mobile’s notifications are silenced! Nothing is more annoying than the constant beeps signaling your latest Tik Tok post is blowing up.
3. Wear professional attire.
Sure, things are more casual now than they were pre-2020; but the fact of the matter is that your prospective employer has to see you as professional and trustworthy. These attributes are directly reflected in your attire. One of the most important remote interview tips is to always dress as you would for an in-person interview. While that doesn’t always mean wearing a full suit, it should mean that you’re dressed professionally and appropriately based on the job you are seeking. Our job interview tips wouldn’t be complete without saying that you shouldn’t assume you are only going to be seen from the chest up. It can be tempting to dress more casually from the waist down, but always assume that your entire outfit will be visible to your potential employer.
4. Engage the interviewer.
Interviewing via video can be tough, but this one is essential in our remote interview tips. It’s hard to come across as excited and interested when you’re sitting on your living room sofa, but it’s critical that you engage your interviewer and show real excitement for the position you’re interviewing for. To do this, don’t sit back with your arms crossed. Instead, sit forward on your chair with good posture. Smile, and demonstrate positive body language and behavior. Don’t cross your arms, and don’t be afraid to use your hand to gesture as you speak (just don’t overdo it!).
5. Make eye contact.
This one is tough but important in our remote interview tips: Look directly into the camera. When you’re not looking at the camera, you’re not making eye contact. That’s a big no-no in the interview world. Always remember to look directly into the camera when answering a question. This can take some practice, especially if you’re on a computer. So grab a close friend and set up a Zoom to get the feel of it. You can also try using a cell phone instead of a full computer. The phone’s small screen size will make it easier to come across as having good eye contact.
6. Don’t forget that you’re an asset.
Finally, our remote interview tips would be incomplete without reminding you that you are an asset and that your potential employer would be lucky to have you. While you don’t want to come across as arrogant, you do want to remember that the interview process goes both ways. You should be interviewing your potential employer as much as they are interviewing you. Don’t sell yourself short. Come up with a list of your assets that make you the perfect fit for the job, and work them into the conversation as naturally as you can. And don’t forget to prepare questions to ask your interviewer as well. Potential employers appreciate someone who is taking the time to fully consider the position.
By following these six easy tips, you can make your video interview a spectacular way to show off the positive qualities you will bring to the job!
For more tips and tricks from writing the perfect resume to nailing your interview, check out our blog.
Confused by all of the different marketing positions out there? You’re not alone! There are marketing managers, marketing specialists, marketing assistants, marketing analysts… the list goes on. So let’s take a closer look at one of the many marketing positions: the marketing coordinator.
What are the job duties of a Marketing Coordinator?
Typical tasks of a marketing coordinator include entry-level analytics and research related to sales, marketing and development. If you are thinking of changing career paths, it’s important to fully understand the marketing coordinator’s job duties. In terms of how to become a marketing coordinator, many interviewers will ask questions about your understanding of the role. The specifics of each position vary depending on the specific needs of the employer, but the job responsibilities of a marketing coordinator typically include:
Conducting market research
Analyzing sales data
Creating marketing materials
Assisting with website SEO
Creating marketing timelines
Organizing marketing projects
Managing digital and social media campaigns
Investigating market trends
Representing a business at trade shows
Collaborating with social media influencers to promote products and services
What are the different types of Marketing Coordinators?
If you want to know how to become a marketing coordinator, it’s useful to understand which type of coordinator you’d like to be. Marketing coordinator roles will vary depending on the type of work that may be needed by a company.
Below are three common marketing coordinator positions:
Digital Marketing Coordinator
In addition to the job responsibilities of a typical marketing coordinator, a digital marketing coordinator’s job description may include managing digital campaigns designed to drive web traffic to a business, handling social media accounts, or managing the content of blogs and websites for a business. Depending on the size of the organization, these tasks may be handled by one marketing coordinator, or by multiple specialized marketing coordinators. Businesses that have a strong online presence, especially with web stores would be likely to hire this type of marketing coordinator. Candidates with strong computer, social media, and internet savvy, as well as strong writers, can learn to become excellent digital marketing coordinators.
Marketing and Promotions Coordinator
The duties of a marketing coordinator can also include attending trade shows and events, building relationships with industry partners, and seeking out corporate sponsorships for an organization. Having an outgoing personality is a must for this role, as you will be dealing directly with the public and potential customers on a regular basis. This is a good role for those wanting to learn how to become a marketing coordinator for a larger company. Typically, larger companies or non-profit organizations are more likely to need this type of marketing coordinator based on the job responsibilities.
Product and Account Marketing Coordinator
The responsibilities of a product and account marketing coordinator may also fall within the duties of a marketing coordinator. This means collaborating with a sales force on building and maintaining a strong client base. They may develop sales programs and informational materials for sales teams, and they often work with other types of marketing coordinators to develop sales plans for specific products. Like marketing and promotion coordinators, these roles require exceptional people skills, so more outgoing social types are frequently drawn to them and will have success learning how to become a marketing coordinator. Businesses with large sales teams often benefit from having product and account marketing coordinators.
What are the career prospects for a Marketing Coordinator?
A marketing coordinator’s entry-level salary varies based on a candidate’s background. While the marketing coordinator role is often an entry-level position, employers typically require at least an associate’s degree, and often a bachelor’s degree. Some employers may accept industry experience in lieu of a formal education. Marketing coordinators’ job responsibilities most often include reporting to marketing managers, and with the right experience, these positions can frequently lead to promotionsto marketing managers. Becoming a marketing coordinator can be the first step towards a larger career in marketing. Driven marketing coordinators who are willing to commit to a company can aspire to reach director-level and even executive roles with the right education and experience. Additionally, the skills learned in the position easily transition to other companies as well, so career mobility is excellent.
How to become a Marketing Coordinator
The best route to a successful career as a marketing coordinator is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Programs that offer concentrations in social media marketing, business analytics, or consumer behavior may have particular value to a marketing coordinator’s career. Some larger businesses may require a master’s degree in marketing, while smaller organizations may be willing to accept an associate’s degree and work experience in lieu of a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
To really learn the various job responsibilities of a marketing coordinator, job seekers should also try interning or working part-time in marketing, advertising, or graphic design while obtaining their degree. The sooner you learn how to become a marketing coordinator, the more opportunities you will have to gain experience. A temp position in marketing is a great option for students that will provide them with valuable experience and connections in the marketing world. Look for internships or temp jobs that will help you develop a wide skill set or train you in an area that you may be lacking such as graphic design, web development, or social media marketing– all of which are relevant to the marketing coordinator job responsibilities. These positions can often be obtained through staffing agencies such as Whitman Associates, Inc., in the D.C. metropolitan area.
Maintaining a professional and active social profile is beneficial in becoming a marketing coordinator. It will demonstrate your social media prowess as you start to look for jobs. Just make sure that your social accounts are positive and present a professional image. In the current job market, many employers will view your resume online, which provides you with an opportunity to link your social profiles to your resume.
Finally, make sure your resume is up-to-date, clean, error-free and highlights the in-demand skill sets you possess. Your resume should tell the story of you, and be interesting without using nondescript buzzwords. If you’re looking to become a marketing coordinator, tailoring your resume to fit a specific position is a quick way to stand out among applicants. Make sure you highlight areas where the job description and your expertise overlap.
The varied marketing coordinator job responsibilities result in interesting jobs and exciting career paths. By following these guidelines, you can get in on the ground floor and begin a marketing career that will provide for you and satisfy you for years to come!
Your resume should evolve as frequently as your career does, so you should constantly be improving and editing it while on the job hunt. To help, here are some of our top resume writing tips to keep in mind when you next update your resume.
Contact Information
Our top resume writing tip may seem like a no-brainer, but ALWAYS include your contact information on your resume. An email address and phone number at minimum are a must on your resume. Feel free to include the address to your LinkedIn profile if you use LinkedIn regularly. You don’t need to include your full address on your resume, but it can be helpful to list your city so that hiring managers know you are in the area. By omitting contact information when building your resume, you are inadvertently making yourself inaccessible to employers and recruiters that you want to hear back from.
In the same vein, your phone number should be on your resume, so be sure that your voicemail is set up and that you can receive messages. While you may not leave voicemails yourself, hiring managers will. When employers receive the “mailbox not set up” or “mailbox is full” this signals to them that you don’t really care if you find work or not. Also, be sure to check any message that’s left before returning the call, they may have given you information or instructions in the voicemail, by not listening to it you’re making them repeat themselves, and indicating that perhaps you don’t follow instructions.
Formatting Tips
Another tip is to send a Word document or PDF version of your resume if possible. Employers will most likely not be able to open a resume if it’s sent as a Google Doc, and Google Docs makes it super easy to download your resume in multiple different file formats. Also, don’t send a jpeg or photo of your resume, you should have an electronic copy that you can email.
Additional tips are to keep your font consistent. Don’t use more than two fonts maximum, and keep their usage consistent throughout, ie. one font for headings and another for the body. More fonts than that can be distracting and perhaps unprofessional. Additionally, it is best to write out your resume, and not to send out an Indeed or LinkedIn style prefilled resume. These inevitably have formatting issues when they are transmitting or emailed outside of those platforms. Also, this tells your potential employer that you did not spend much time on your resume.
Our last resume formatting tip is not to worry if your resume is longer than one page. The “one-page resume” rule is antiquated, if you’ve held a number of jobs, a two page resume is perfectly fine. If your resume exceeds three pages, you likely have information on there that is not relevant to the role that you are applying for, and can actually end up hiding the skills and experiences you are trying to highlight.
Employment History and Education
When building your resume, organize the responsibilities within your job descriptions in order of importance and significance. If managing your company’s social media pages was your biggest responsibility, list that first. If you only spent about 5% of your time answering phones, list that last. You want to make sure that the employer can quickly understand the functions of your previous roles and the work you did there.
Along with each job title, be sure to list your months of employment along with the years. Employers want to be able to easily comprehend your work history and spot any employment gaps on your resume. If you don’t list the months, they might think you are trying to hide something, or assume a gap in your resume where there wasn’t one.
Another tip is to remember to include the company name, and location of that company, along with your job title on your resume. You might have worked for a chain, such as CVS or Starbucks, or alternatively, you could have worked for a small company in your hometown. The location provides important contextual information about your job.
With that said, it’s also critical to list the location of where you received your degree(s). Whenever you list a degree on your resume, be sure to include the name and location of the institution where you received that degree.
Send out your resume!
Of course, the whole point of sharing these resume tips and tricks is to ensure you are building a quality resume that will help you secure a job. At Whitman Associates, we see hundreds of resumes a week, and want to share our tips with you. We work with many job seekers, some looking for temp opportunities to get their foot in the door, and others that are looking for their next permanent role. To get started on the search for your next role, send your resume to resumes@whitmanjobs.com.
Is Your Personal Account Really Separate from Your Professional Life?
It’s no secret that we live in the digital age. Well over half of the global population has a presence on social media, but many people believe that using social media professionally is totally separate from scrolling through your personal feed at home. For serious job seekers, though, social media for professional networking intersects with personal usage all the time.
Searchable Social Media Presence(s)
Even when you have your personal account set to private, certain pieces of data are still viewable. This includes your profile picture, how many posts you have, and how many accounts you follow. You—and potential employers—can tell a lot from a simple search.
In an article well before the pandemic, Forbes explained that “social media is a key player in the job search process today,” and “more than a third of all employers utilize these sites in their hiring process.” We can expect percentages to be much higher now, as employers and job seekers alike have grown more used to conducting business online and using social media professionally. The application of social media for professional networking is a common, even expected, facet of the workforce.
Employers commonly browse the social media of prospective employees, evaluating character and personality. This includes aspects such as whether the job seeker:
Maintains a standard of professionalism, including politeness and respect. For instance, a hiring manager may rule out a candidate if they see them make derogatory comments on Twitter. It’s best to always keep in mind that your social media is for professional networking, even when you think it’s a personal rant.
Seems like a good fit for the company culture. Companies often use social media as a tool for evaluating candidates’ behavior and preferences.
Has the qualifications appropriate for the position. Resume truth distortion is usually easy to spot through a quick social media search. Your presence on social media typically represents your actual employment and education history.
Demonstrates a genuine interest in and passion for their field. For example, a publishing company looking to hire a new marketing specialist will probably love seeing a candidate who has a clearly cultivated presence on Instagram where they review books.
Be The Best Version of Yourself
When considering your personal and professional social media, it’s most important to still be yourself online. When you try too hard to use social media professionally, perhaps liking every post from your dream employer, you may end up coming across as inauthentic. Posting personal updates and pictures shows off your personality, but it’s best to consider a broad audience. The “Grandma Rule” is a good principle. If you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see it, don’t post it. Even if you have separate accounts, you probably have friends and family members following your professional account, or colleagues and classmates following your personal account. It’s best to assume that your coworkers will see your posts to err on the side of safety and professionalism.
The Connectivity of Social Media
It’s called social media for a reason. It’s fun to browse on TikTok or scroll through an Instagram feed, but even these platforms aren’t just or primarily for entertainment: social media is for professional networking. While LinkedIn is traditionally associated with networking, there are so many other ways to connect with peers, past employment sources, prospective colleagues and employers, and more. Connections across various social media presences often bridge the gap between personal and professional. Now, more than ever, we discover networking opportunities through our personal social media.
Smart job seekers will maintain an active presence on social media, cultivating their participation to be both authentic and impressive. You can be the one to link others to prospective opportunities, like connecting a colleague with your own personal contacts, and see the same energy and benefit come back around to you. Through social media, you can make connections with people you would never otherwise know. There’s a potential opportunity for you to find your dream job through social media connections.
Use Social Media to Your Career Advantage
In conclusion, seeing your personal and professional social media presences as totally separate will not serve you well. Professional behavior matters everywhere. When you understand the intersection of personal and professional social media, you can use your presence on these platforms to your career advantage. Professional networking on social media is generally expected now, so don’t be afraid to try it.
If you’re ready to take your career to the next level, let Whitman Associates help you. We have contacts we would love to share with you. Simply email your resume to resumes@whitmanjobs.com to get started.
If you are actively interviewing for jobs, part of the process is being prepared for remote interviews as well as in-person interviews. With online interviews being commonplace since 2020, there is no longer an excuse for not knowing how various web conferencing platforms work. It is your responsibility to be able to utilize the client’s chosen app for an online interview and have it functional ahead of time. The company you’re applying to most likely has a specific one they use for all their internal and external collaboration.
There are lots of different applications for online interviews; some major ones include Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, GoToMeeting, Cisco WebEx, and Skype. You do not need to create an account for each of these apps as you will receive an invite provided by the company holding the interview.
Whitman Associates will assist any of our candidates with a trial run of the client’s application platform so that you may prepare the collaboration tools in advance. We want our candidates to focus on the interview when the time comes and not be frustrated by the tools. There are a myriad of video chat interview tips that exist online on preparing for phone and remote interviews, but here are some key points:
Choose the right environment for your remote interview
Your background on an online interview is important. Bright lights from windows behind you can cause video of your face to be dark. You certainly don’t want the background to showcase clutter, or personal spaces such as your bed or bathroom. It is best to sit in front of a blank wall or wall with minimal graphic distractions. You don’t need a fancy ring light, but you may need to turn on a light somewhere else in the room to insure your face is well lit.
The audio is critically important. Many people will tolerate bad video to a certain extent, but clipping audio and background noises make it impossible for you to convey important responses. You need to make sure the environment is free from background noises (mowers, air conditioners, bathroom showers, construction, etc.). Find a quiet room where the background noise is minimal. Having background noises will distract from your responses does not make a good impression.
Pick the best device for an online interview
The device you use for your online interview is very important. It is best to use a device with all the tools integrated such as a laptop, tablet, or phone. If you are using a desktop, you need to make sure all the external components work well together and within the application you are going to be using. A critical video chat interview tip to keep in mind is that your device may need to download a plugin or grant permissions to the application in order to interact with the microphone, video, and speakers.
The integrated microphone of a laptop, tablet, or phone may be sufficient; however, it is best to use a Bluetooth or wired headset. This will allow your voice to be clear, enable your hands to be free, and allow the camera to be placed at a distance from your face.
It is important to set the phone, tablet, or laptop down on a fixed surface such that it is not moving. It is incredibly distracting during remote interviews for the camera to be wobbling and not stationary while you’re trying to explain how you can contribute to the success of the organization.
If you need reference material (your resume, notes, or the company’s website), make sure this material is positioned directly above or below the camera. The client is interested in making eye contact and trying to get to know you as much as they can via video interview.
When taking notes, place your notepad directly below the camera so that the client can see that you are writing information down. It’s best to avoid typing your notes during your interview as the keyboard noise can be distracting and may lead the interviewer to think you’re doing something other than listening to their pitch – they are trying to convey how great their company is.
Be prepared!
There are many guides available describing how to prepare for an interview. A phone call, video chat, or remote interview is just as important as an in-person interview. In fact, it is more difficult to convey body language and capture voice inflections that might indicate your excitement for working with the company. Your goal is to make the next step or interview happen and to get that job offer.
Have you considered entering the legal field but don’t know how to begin? Whether you’ve studied for law school or your professional experience amounts to watching Legally Blonde a few times, you might be surprised at the opportunities available as a legal assistant. Washington, D.C., and other major metropolitan areas are ideal markets for entry-level legal assistant jobs. Being a legal assistant is different from being a paralegal, but you will still provide invaluable support to attorneys while gaining experience in the field. Here are our tips on how to land a significant position in this field.
What is an entry-level legal assistant job?
Before explaining how to get an entry-level legal assistant job, let’s start with clarity on what it is and isn’t. Although every law office or agency has its requirements and expectations, there are general guidelines for this type of position.
Entry-level legal assistant job descriptions assume that legal assistants should be able to:
Organize files for the office
Compile facts for cases
Follow up on details relating to specific clients or interactions
Handle client or witness communication
Conduct research
File legal documents in court
Draft documents for litigation
Process, prepare, sort or proof legal documents
Maintain client files and information
Essentially, this position assists the lawyer. An entry-level legal assistant job description will involve all varieties of legal work in a supporting capacity. They act primarily as case managers, although some legal assistants also function as legal secretaries. Although they work alongside lawyers, they have different authority over legal documents and presentations.
How is a legal assistant different from a paralegal?
Legal secretaries serve on the administrative side, performing duties such as greeting clients, answering phones, scheduling appointments and maintaining the calendar. Legal assistants can also fill these secretarial roles while supporting the lawyer in other ways, from investigating to writing.
Paralegals perform more in-depth preparatory work and function more similarly to an attorney. For example, a legal secretary might type minutes, while a legal assistant might prepare the case brief and the paralegal could work to develop the ruling with the lawyer directly. Before applying, you can explore more details about these different job categories to determine where you feel best suited.
Can you become a legal assistant with no prior experience?
Becoming a legal assistant with no prior experience is possible, although the process may require dedication and education. Many legal assistants only partially need previous experience, but employers often look for candidates with other qualifications.
Continued education classes allow one to enter the legal assistant role without prior experience. Completing an accredited certification program or earning an associates degree in legal studies can provide you with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for the role in a Washington, D.C., legal office. These programs typically cover legal research, writing and the basic foundations of the legal system.
Additionally, gaining practical experience through internships or volunteer opportunities can enhance your resume and demonstrate your commitment to the field. Networking within the legal community, attending industry events and joining professional associations can also open doors to future job opportunities.
While lack of experience may be a hurdle for any job, emphasizing transferable skills such as organization, attention to detail and effective communication can make you a compelling candidate on your resume and during an interview. Expressing a willingness to learn and adapt to the specific needs of a legal setting can also make you more attractive to employers seeking motivated individuals for these highly desired entry-level positions.
Tip #1: demonstrate effective communication skills
If you want to get hired for an entry-level legal assistant job, it is essential to demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively. Whether managing the lawyers’ schedules, compiling facts for cases, or drafting documents for litigation, you must get your point across clearly and effectively.
While many lawyers and legal institutions are willing to train entry-level workers on the minutiae of their processes and their specific law practices, they expect employees to come in knowing how to express themselves in appropriate and precise language with demonstrated writing skills.
Demonstrate your practical communication skills in your resume and during your interview. Legal assistants often manage communication with clients and witnesses, which is crucial in facilitating inter-office communication. Because of this, you must demonstrate your proficiency in that role.
Tip #2: highlight the experience you do have
Yes, we’re talking about entry-level legal assistant jobs, but that doesn’t mean you lack relevant experience. Don’t worry if you don’t have a legal background; you can showcase other experiences or traits that align you with the position, so make those aspects of your application clear.
For instance, you can demonstrate how you have already managed extensive schedules in the past or that you served in an administrative capacity or leadership position for an extracurricular group during your education.
Tip #3: Express a willingness to learn
When it comes to entry-level legal assistant job descriptions, they all seem to recognize that having the right attitude matters more than knowing the ins and outs of the law. While legal expertise is appreciated, it is unnecessary when you are starting in an entry-level role. What matters most is your teachability.
In our experience in Washington, D.C., most entry-level legal assistant job descriptions require an eagerness to benefit from the law firm’sexpertise. It is crucial to present yourself as a competent communicator ready to learn how the law firm wants things done rather than showing up as a legal expert already entrenched in a specific structure or process.
Tip #4: Leverage expertise
Once you’ve polished up your resume and prepared for your interview by demonstrating practical communication skills, highlighting the relevant experience you do have and expressing a willingness to learn, it’s time to land an entry-level legal assistant job. While you can navigate your job search independently, leveraging the experience of professionals in the staffing field is more manageable, less stressful and more effective.
At Whitman Associates, Inc., we are celebrating over 50 years of providing expert staffing in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area. Start by emailing your resume to resumes@whitmanjobs.com to see what doors can open for you.
Are you looking for a versatile job that provides opportunities for growth and training? Working an entry-level administrative assistant job can be a challenging yet rewarding pathway, and many companies are hiring now for this position. Here’s our guide about what to expect from administrative assistant jobs throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
What do administrative assistants do?
“Administrative assistant” is a fairly vague job title. This position is often a “catch-all” for various internal and customer-facing tasks. In a broad sense, administrative assistant jobs control office efficiency and ensure operations run smoothly. This can involve a variety of tasks, including:
Answering and directing phone calls and emails
Organizing and scheduling meetings
Ordering office supplies
Assisting with special projects
Producing and distributing correspondence
Greeting customers or clients
Booking travel arrangements
The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is a perfect market for this role, with so many private businesses, consulting firms and government contractors needing entry-level administrative assistants to ensure jobs are completed on time. While some of these descriptions sound more like a secretary or receptionist, there are some distinctions in those titles.
How is an entry-level administrative assistant job different from a secretary or receptionist?
In general, the following are basic differences between these three job titles, even though all of these job categories overlap and work together:
Receptionists serve as the first point of contact for an office
Secretaries handle document production as well as other office tasks
Administrative Assistants keep the office running smoothly and handle more project specific tasks.
In some office jobs, being an administrative assistant will look very similar to a secretary or receptionist role. Other times, often in larger companies, administrative assistants are specialists, like project managers, who oversee and ensure that overall work operations flow smoothly.
For example, rather than directly manning the phones, an administrative assistant may provide a receptionist with a flow chart of how to route calls more efficiently. In that context, working an entry-level administrative assistant job could also include serving as a go-between for the receptionist and the higher levels of leadership in the office.
When applying for an administrative assistant job in Washington, D.C., or the surrounding area, it’s important to understand the industry, company structure and work culture. Depending on the company’s needs, the role may look different from one place to the next. Many companies look for candidates willing to adapt and take on new responsibilities.
Why be an administrative assistant?
Being an administrative assistant is a dynamic and rewarding role that offers a unique blend of responsibilities and opportunities. At the heart of every successful organization, administrative assistants are crucial in maintaining smooth day-to-day operations. One of the main reasons to consider a career in this field is the chance to play an essential role in a functional business.
Administrative assistants serve as the backbone of an office, with jobs ranging from managing schedules and coordinating communication to ensuring that day-to-day tasks are handled efficiently. This role demands a diverse skill set, from organizational prowess to effective communication and problem-solving abilities. It provides a platform to develop and sharpen these skills in a professional setting.
Ideally, an entry-level administrative assistant job involves interaction with various levels of personnel in different departments throughout the office, fostering a dynamic and collaborative work environment. Administrative assistants are trusted with responsibilities that contribute directly to an organization’s efficiency and success.
In addition, being an administrative assistant offers a gateway to gaining valuable experience across different facets of business operations, making it an excellent stepping stone for career growth. The role’s versatility, paired with the opportunity to learn and adapt to new challenges, make it an appealing choice for individuals seeking a stable position and the potential for promotions and professional development.
Developing your own system within the established structure
Administrative assistants work in a delicate balance. The role can be one of the most versatile office jobs because so many administrative assistant tasks need to be done throughout each workday. Managers often expect administrative assistants to bring their ideas and systems to fit within the established structure.
For example, maybe the traditional protocol is that the administrative assistant will make calls to confirm the next day’s appointments. The administrative assistant may be free to make notes in a client’s file or update calendar meetings in a manner that they find most efficient and helpful for the senior staff. Managers often appreciate assertive, independent assistants who can complete core tasks without asking too many questions.
Day-to-day management with a broad perspective
To succeed in an entry-level administrative assistant job, prospective candidates must recognize that they will be responsible for the day-to-day office management and the larger picture of the company’s goals and objectives. A detail-oriented mindset and the ability to concisely summarize key takeaways are critical.
Administrative assistants often put out many little “fires” throughout the natural workday. Still, they need to maintain a broad perspective so urgent tasks don’t replace the essential components of the role. Fast-paced markets like Washington, D.C. expect administrative assistants to keep up with action items and prioritize effectively, even in an entry-level job.
Serve as an assistant, not a manager
While administrative assistants track and monitor tasks efficiently, this is a supportive role rather than a leadership role, meaning that administrative assistants work directly under high-level management or other leaders in their office. In their jobs, administrative assistants typically will not make tough work-related decisions by themselves.
Administrative assistants have a specific hierarchical place in the company that may vary depending on the industry, company size and other factors. Regardless of the particular structure of a company, administrative assistants typically work very closely with the leadership they assist. In this role, you could expect plenty of formal and informal meetings and check-ins with one or more leadership roles at the office.
Get a specific snapshot of your possibilities
Each administrative assistant position looks slightly different. An administrative assistant job could be a great fit if you have the related skills of multitasking, prioritizing, organizing and ensuring others stay on task. Whitman Associates, Inc. helps place candidates in entry-level administrative assistant jobs in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area. We have more than 50 years of expert staffing experience. When you’re ready to start your new career path as an administrative assistant, send your resume to resumes@whitmanjobs.com.
