Archive for May, 2008
5 Top Tips for Choosing an Honest Nursing Employment Agency
I have had a number of nurses write to me with stories of dishonest nursing employment agencies that have taken their money and done nothing for them. This can really shake your faith in people and leave you with a sour taste in your mouth… but do not let these dishonest people rob you of your dream of moving your nursing career abroad! Here are some tips on judging the quality of nursing recruiters that will help you kick start your job hunt.
Does the nursing employment agency have a website?
Most companies that are involved in recruiting internationally educated nurses have a website. There are a few things you need to look for on the website that will help you judge the quality of the agency and the recruiters working for them.
1. Are they affiliated with any professional recruiting membership organisation? Just like lawyers, teachers and travel agents have membership organisations, so do recruiting services. These membership organisations offer you; the client, protection from illegal fraudulent practices. Check the nursing agency’s website to see if they belong to a membership organisation. If they do not advertise it, you can email them and ask for this information.
2. How long has the nursing agency been operating? Nursing recruiting agencies that have been operating for a while are more likely to operate legally and consider your best interests because they have a reputation to maintain. One of the worst things a business can experience is poor recommendations passed around by word-of-mouth.
3. Is the website professional looking? If a company has not made the effort to put up a professional looking website, this may be a signal that they do not take their business seriously. The internet is an extremely powerful business tool, especially for a business that is working with nurses and nursing employers in different countries.
4. Can you find the agencies ‘terms of use’? It is customary for business on the internet to have a link to the company’s ‘terms of use’, is this easy to find? When you read it, can you understand what it means? Are the costs and responsibilities for using their recruiting service clearly stated?
5. Does the nursing employment agency have offline contacts listed? Online business should have a real life address, and they should show it clearly on their website. It may not be on the front page of the nursing agency’s website, it may be listed on a ‘Contact Us’ page or in fine print at the bottom of each page, or listed on the ‘terms of use’ page. If you can’t find a way to contact a representative of the agency offline, it is probably a good idea to be wary. Listing offline contact information is part of the USA’s anti-spam law and any company aiming to do business online with the USA or its citizens is required to list this information.
While I cannot guarantee that using these tips will secure you a nursing career overseas, I can assure you with confidence that I have used these strategies myself and have always had good luck with them.
By: Kelly Blackwell
About the Author:
Does the nursing employment agency have a website?
Most companies that are involved in recruiting internationally educated nurses have a website. There are a few things you need to look for on the website that will help you judge the quality of the agency and the recruiters working for them.
1. Are they affiliated with any professional recruiting membership organisation? Just like lawyers, teachers and travel agents have membership organisations, so do recruiting services. These membership organisations offer you; the client, protection from illegal fraudulent practices. Check the nursing agency’s website to see if they belong to a membership organisation. If they do not advertise it, you can email them and ask for this information.
2. How long has the nursing agency been operating? Nursing recruiting agencies that have been operating for a while are more likely to operate legally and consider your best interests because they have a reputation to maintain. One of the worst things a business can experience is poor recommendations passed around by word-of-mouth.
3. Is the website professional looking? If a company has not made the effort to put up a professional looking website, this may be a signal that they do not take their business seriously. The internet is an extremely powerful business tool, especially for a business that is working with nurses and nursing employers in different countries.
4. Can you find the agencies ‘terms of use’? It is customary for business on the internet to have a link to the company’s ‘terms of use’, is this easy to find? When you read it, can you understand what it means? Are the costs and responsibilities for using their recruiting service clearly stated?
5. Does the nursing employment agency have offline contacts listed? Online business should have a real life address, and they should show it clearly on their website. It may not be on the front page of the nursing agency’s website, it may be listed on a ‘Contact Us’ page or in fine print at the bottom of each page, or listed on the ‘terms of use’ page. If you can’t find a way to contact a representative of the agency offline, it is probably a good idea to be wary. Listing offline contact information is part of the USA’s anti-spam law and any company aiming to do business online with the USA or its citizens is required to list this information.
While I cannot guarantee that using these tips will secure you a nursing career overseas, I can assure you with confidence that I have used these strategies myself and have always had good luck with them.
By: Kelly Blackwell
About the Author:
For more insider secrets and proven strategies that guarantee you will land your own nursing employment abroad get your copy of the Nursing-Overseas Ultimate Job Hunting System TODAY!
Finding Casino Jobs – Las Vegas Casino Employment Tips
Conducting a casino job search is very similar to conducting any other type of job search. The first thing you need to do is determine what kind of work you are looking for and where you would like to work.
Many casinos are located in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, but these are not the only places where you can find casino work. If you have the freedom to relocate to take a casino job, this means that you can consider more opportunities, but you may be able to find work at a location near you, too.
Once you have an idea of what type of work you are interested in and where you would like to work, you need to make sure your resume is up to date. Even if you have spent some time on it recently, take another look to see where you can make a point of mentioning any hospitality or customer service experience you have.
Casinos are looking for staff members who are interested in providing exemplary customer service, and who are comfortable interacting with guests from many types of backgrounds. No two days working at a casino will be the same, and it takes a certain kind of person to be as polite at the end of a shift as when they arrived for work.
The Internet can be a wonderful tool for job seekers. If there is a specific casino you are interested in, you can surf over to that company’s web site to see available positions. You will either be asked to submit an online form or to apply by e-mail.
Do make a point of applying for a job in the way the prospective employer specifies. Being able to follow instructions is an important part of working in a casino and failure to do so may mean that your application will not be considered.
Another option when looking for casino work online is to check one of the major job boards, such as Monster. To get an idea of what positions are available, simply type the word “casino” into the search box and press “Enter.” You also have the option of searching for a specific job title using the word “casino” as a keyword. These sites will also let you narrow your search to a certain location so you are not seeing search results outside of your target area.
An employment agency may be able to help you find work at a casino as well. Since the agency screens applicants before sending them on to an interview with the employer, you may find it easier to get hired by using this method. Consider working for a casino through an agency on a temporary basis; this gives you the chance to show the casino management what you can do, and it also gives you the opportunity to decide whether that is the right working environment for you.
When it comes to looking for work, at a casino or in any other industry, don’t discount the value of good, old-fashioned networking. Tell everyone you know that you are interested in getting a job at a casino and what kind of work you are looking for. If anyone gives you a tip about somewhere you should be looking, make a point of following up on it quickly. If you wait too long, you may find the position you are interested in is already filled.
There are many ways to search for work in a casino. Why don’t you try a combination of techniques to increase your chances of being hired?
By: Lisa Jenkins
About the Author:
Many casinos are located in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, but these are not the only places where you can find casino work. If you have the freedom to relocate to take a casino job, this means that you can consider more opportunities, but you may be able to find work at a location near you, too.
Once you have an idea of what type of work you are interested in and where you would like to work, you need to make sure your resume is up to date. Even if you have spent some time on it recently, take another look to see where you can make a point of mentioning any hospitality or customer service experience you have.
Casinos are looking for staff members who are interested in providing exemplary customer service, and who are comfortable interacting with guests from many types of backgrounds. No two days working at a casino will be the same, and it takes a certain kind of person to be as polite at the end of a shift as when they arrived for work.
The Internet can be a wonderful tool for job seekers. If there is a specific casino you are interested in, you can surf over to that company’s web site to see available positions. You will either be asked to submit an online form or to apply by e-mail.
Do make a point of applying for a job in the way the prospective employer specifies. Being able to follow instructions is an important part of working in a casino and failure to do so may mean that your application will not be considered.
Another option when looking for casino work online is to check one of the major job boards, such as Monster. To get an idea of what positions are available, simply type the word “casino” into the search box and press “Enter.” You also have the option of searching for a specific job title using the word “casino” as a keyword. These sites will also let you narrow your search to a certain location so you are not seeing search results outside of your target area.
An employment agency may be able to help you find work at a casino as well. Since the agency screens applicants before sending them on to an interview with the employer, you may find it easier to get hired by using this method. Consider working for a casino through an agency on a temporary basis; this gives you the chance to show the casino management what you can do, and it also gives you the opportunity to decide whether that is the right working environment for you.
When it comes to looking for work, at a casino or in any other industry, don’t discount the value of good, old-fashioned networking. Tell everyone you know that you are interested in getting a job at a casino and what kind of work you are looking for. If anyone gives you a tip about somewhere you should be looking, make a point of following up on it quickly. If you wait too long, you may find the position you are interested in is already filled.
There are many ways to search for work in a casino. Why don’t you try a combination of techniques to increase your chances of being hired?
By: Lisa Jenkins
About the Author:
Conducting a casino job search is like other searches. Visit casino websites, check out Las Vegas job boards, or use employment agencies. Learn about casino internships and jobs from Lisa Jenkins on JobMonkey (www.JobMonkey.com).
Attractive Attachments: A Cover Letter Tip Package
Many people do a lot of research on what goes into an effective cover letter. They find the best formats that are not only easy on the eyes, but are easy to type and print as well. They look for the best words that can give the letter the most positive air, without making it appear too overbearing or trite. They advocate using the best paper, the best ink, and signing the letter with the best signature you can make.
A cover letter, however, is nothing without the elements that turn it into a professional package. It has to be brief, with simple, direct language that attracts attention. It has to be personalized: it must address a specific person, and it should be signed personally, by the person making the job application. It has to be neat, and it has to be accompanied by what the employer desires – and more.
What more can you add to an already well-crafted cover letter? First, do not be afraid to add a post-script, or the P.S. Although this may seem unprofessional, research shows that it is actually attention getting: the P.S. can force prospective employers, already busy with other letters, to take a look at the bottom of your letter even if they have not skimmed or read your letter first.
Because the P.S. calls so much attention to itself, you might want to place all the important information there. Tell the prospective employer that you are available for a job interview; indicate where and when you can be contacted, and provide all your contact information, including a valid email address. Do not crowd so much information into the P.S., however, as this can make your letter appear cluttered, and you can appear more desperate than you really are.
You might also want to add attachments to your cover letter and resume, even if the prospective employer did not ask for them. There are only two things that can happen: either your prospective employer will throw them away, or he or she can examine them in greater detail. Force the latter possibility by printing out important documents on high quality paper, or providing high resolution images of your work, depending on what job you are applying for.
If you are applying to be a writer, add writing samples, and, if possible, show your versatility in both fiction and non-fiction. If you have already published your work, give high-resolution photocopies straight from the magazine, journal, newspaper, or book in which your work appeared. Provide contact information of editors or bosses who helped you in your previous writing gigs.
If you are a web designer or graphic designer, you will need to show the most attractive parts of your portfolio. Provide a hard copy of your works printed out on high quality paper, with high quality ink; and give a CD copy of your works. You can also provide URL information for sites that you designed or contributed designs to. As in the advice for writers, provide contact information of your clients who can attest to your qualifications as a designer.
If you are applying to be a nurse or doctor, attach photocopies of certificates of workshops that you have attended. These can show that you are willing to learn new things, and that you are always seeking to improve your craft.
No matter what position you are applying for, make your cover letter great, and follow the tips in this cover letter tip package. Always show how passionate you are about the job, without looking desperate or childish. Show how well you know the job, and how enthusiastic you are for an interview. If you can convey all your emotions in a brief, powerful letter, you may soon write your own cover tip package for people who need your expertise for their own forays into job seeking!
By: Mario Churchill
About the Author:
A cover letter, however, is nothing without the elements that turn it into a professional package. It has to be brief, with simple, direct language that attracts attention. It has to be personalized: it must address a specific person, and it should be signed personally, by the person making the job application. It has to be neat, and it has to be accompanied by what the employer desires – and more.
What more can you add to an already well-crafted cover letter? First, do not be afraid to add a post-script, or the P.S. Although this may seem unprofessional, research shows that it is actually attention getting: the P.S. can force prospective employers, already busy with other letters, to take a look at the bottom of your letter even if they have not skimmed or read your letter first.
Because the P.S. calls so much attention to itself, you might want to place all the important information there. Tell the prospective employer that you are available for a job interview; indicate where and when you can be contacted, and provide all your contact information, including a valid email address. Do not crowd so much information into the P.S., however, as this can make your letter appear cluttered, and you can appear more desperate than you really are.
You might also want to add attachments to your cover letter and resume, even if the prospective employer did not ask for them. There are only two things that can happen: either your prospective employer will throw them away, or he or she can examine them in greater detail. Force the latter possibility by printing out important documents on high quality paper, or providing high resolution images of your work, depending on what job you are applying for.
If you are applying to be a writer, add writing samples, and, if possible, show your versatility in both fiction and non-fiction. If you have already published your work, give high-resolution photocopies straight from the magazine, journal, newspaper, or book in which your work appeared. Provide contact information of editors or bosses who helped you in your previous writing gigs.
If you are a web designer or graphic designer, you will need to show the most attractive parts of your portfolio. Provide a hard copy of your works printed out on high quality paper, with high quality ink; and give a CD copy of your works. You can also provide URL information for sites that you designed or contributed designs to. As in the advice for writers, provide contact information of your clients who can attest to your qualifications as a designer.
If you are applying to be a nurse or doctor, attach photocopies of certificates of workshops that you have attended. These can show that you are willing to learn new things, and that you are always seeking to improve your craft.
No matter what position you are applying for, make your cover letter great, and follow the tips in this cover letter tip package. Always show how passionate you are about the job, without looking desperate or childish. Show how well you know the job, and how enthusiastic you are for an interview. If you can convey all your emotions in a brief, powerful letter, you may soon write your own cover tip package for people who need your expertise for their own forays into job seeking!
By: Mario Churchill
About the Author:
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on cover letter tip checkout his recommended websites.
