New Year's Resolution #1 for Job Seekers:  Prove Your Skills, Don't Just Talk About Them.
Monday, December 22, 2008, 8:40 a.m.
Posted by: Karen

It's been a tough year for a lot of Americans. The financial industry fall-out, the sub-prime mortgage debacle, the looming auto-industry issue right down to my neighbor's loss of job at Linens and Things - what's next?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic's not-so-cheery November unemployment figures paint quite a picture: both the number of unemployed persons (10.3 million) and the unemployment rate (6.7 percent) continued to increase in November. And, since the start of the recession in December 2007, as recently announced by the National Bureau of Economic Research, the number of unemployed persons increased by 2.7 million, and the unemployment rate rose by 1.7 percentage points.

That confirms one thing: there are a lot of good people out there vying for the same positions and employers can be a lot more selective in their choice of who to hire. First impressions are crucial. Our advice? Don't just talk about your skills, prove them. And, send that proof upfront, by inviting potential employers to your HireMeNow.com profile, which includes detailed results of each skills test you take.

Whether you use HireMeNow.com completely to get your next job or just use our professional tools to post and share your profile with ANY employer - take advantage of our FREE skills testing! We have hundreds of tests to choose from. Take as many as you like, as often as you would like (we only post your most recent score). It's all done online, when and where it is most convenient for you.

All you need is your free HireMeNow.com job candidate account and a bit of time to take your test(s).

Current HireMeNow.com job candidates, login now and go to "My Skills Tests".

New to HireMeNow.com? First, sign up for a job candidate account by clicking here. Next, we suggest that you fill out "My Contact Info", "My Application", "My Availability", and then go to "My Skills Tests".

Once you have completed your skills test(s), search our database of available jobs and apply directly to the company that is hiring. Or, send out your password-protected link to view your profile to ANY employer. Your skills test(s) results will show as a part of your HireMeNow.com profile. By proving upfront that you are as skilled as you say you are, you are leg up on all the other job seekers out there.

Here's a comment we recently received from a HireMeNow.com candidate who just landed an executive assistant position in New York City with one of our clients: The employer "said she really liked the fact that you test your applicants. Since I tested well, that gave me the advantage I needed to stand out from so many other candidates. Many thanks! I will definitely tell all my friends about HireMeNow and how I got my job."

Taking skills tests - finally, a New Year's Resolution that is easy to follow through on!

And, of course, have a safe and happy holiday this year from all of us at HireMeNow.com.

Good Idea. Bad Idea.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:30 p.m.
Posted by: Karen

Where there is a yes, there is a no. Where someone thinks something is a great idea, another will think it is a bad idea. When someone wins an election, some people will be elated, others deflated. Is there any topic that everyone will agree upon? Some people would say death. Hmmm, talk to a Buddhist about reincarnation.

So it is. So it always will be.

The video resume is not exempt from this 'natural order' of debate of good idea vs. bad idea.

From my perspective, it's unfortunate there are some people that have become overly cautious with respect to viewing video resumes and hence classify the video resume as a bad idea. I'm really not sure if it is the hiring managers that have an issue or the corporate lawyers that − with good intent − treat their clients like over-protective moms treat their toddlers who are scrambling up a one-foot high 'hill' ("Now Madison, don't climb up there, you could fall...") so that they prevent any potential negative outcome regardless of severity of threat.

Today, I'm not going to debate that or point out all the merits of a video resume (just read through previous blog posts to see how strongly HireMeNow.com believes in the video resume). Instead, check out our alternative to the video resume − an AudioIntro.

The AudioIntro is simply an audio recording (which should be under one minute in duration) alongside a still photo of the job candidate. This takes away any pressure a job candidate may have with relation to 'camera shyness'. The hiring manager still gets the benefit of hearing the enthusiasm, emotion and confidence and is not (as the naysayers would say) distracted by the video itself.

In extreme cases, say the hiring company absolutely forbids managers from viewing any photo or video of a candidate − we have the AudioIntros 'attached' to standard silhouettes and the photos are blocked. So, they hear the candidates but can't see them.

We will always have opposition to great ideas, but that's OK. HireMeNow.com will continue to endorse video resumes (VINTROs) but will also offer choices. To us it is more important to help match the right candidates to the right companies than it is to be, well, right. Good idea, bad idea − rather a moot point now, isn't it?

Much To Do About Nothing
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 3:50 p.m.
Posted by: Karen

Fear of the unknown.

If you are my age, or a bit older, you were doing just fine working in your job without the INTERNET. If you are older than that, you were doing just fine working in your job without the COMPUTER. Unless you are one of the crazy early adopters and jump with glee over each new step Apple or Google makes − and first in line to buy or try it out − you may be apprehensive when it comes to something new. Especially if it means you are going to have to change the way you do things. You'll find all sorts of reasons not to change. Who could blame you? There are thousands of books, people and information sources out there helping people cope with change 'cause the average person just doesn't want to.

Today, who can really function without a computer and the Internet? I know I can't. Both permeate not only my work life, but my home and social lives too. (And watch out − those kids now-a-days even find things like email blasé − they only use email if they HAVE to, like for communicating with teachers − rather, they use IM and their cell phones' SMS.)

That brings me to the hotly debated video resume of today. How long has it been since something really new hit the HR world that would change the way people do things? What's the antagonist's take: oh-oh, it might encourage people to discriminate against the job seeker before they even pull them in for the interview. My take: fear of the unknown.

Well, it really hit me when I was discussing this with Allen Bornstein, our president and co-founder (of HireMeNow.com). His take on it, "Employers do not conduct interviews in a confessional. Management relies on their staff to hire the most qualified candidates available to them and comply with all EEOC regulations and related policies. Because companies must follow those policies, a video resume will not encourage discrimination." I think there was a 'hogwash' in there somewhere, too!

Sure it'll change the way we do things. Might even free up some time! Like I've said before, it can take the place of the first interview. (A video resume done well will be about a minute in length and state the answer to the proverbial first question of the first interview, "Tell me a bit about you and why you feel we should hire you".) The interviewer usually knows within the first 60 seconds whether or not that person will fit into their organization. Think of all the time and money a company could save by culling down their list of job candidates before having to bring in a whole bunch for a first round of interviews. In fact, the worry about discrimination when it comes to video resumes is barely even in the minds of the job seeker. Only about 1% of 475 job seekers surveyed (see recent press release) believe that employers might use the video resume to discriminate. That's the same percentage that feels creating a video resume would cost too much. The real concerns facing job seekers when they think about creating a video resume, which we know can be alleviated, are: camera shyness (30%), not sure what the content should be (25%) and not sure how to use a video device, or the technology behind the video resume (21%).

So, to all those naysayers who feel the video resume jeopardizes the HR process and leaves room for discrimination, I say much to do about nothing. Embrace the change − it'll make the jobs of people in charge of recruiting a lot easier and it will get job seekers hired faster. Who doesn't win with that?

Tell us what you think! Take our survey regarding video resumes and discrimination.

Leveraging a Tough Work Environment
Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 11:05 a.m.
Posted by: Karen

I hope everyone had a great summer! Now, some sobering numbers to lead us into the Fall.

On August 21st, the US Department of Labor reported that 432,000 people filed claims for unemployment insurance, up from 326,000 one year ago. And, according to July stats, the total number of unemployed persons is 8.8 million, up 1.6 million from the year prior.

That translates to a lot of good people without work, due to factors beyond their control − unrelated to their work abilities and experience, and a lot of companies not doing all the work they could − losing out on revenue opportunities. A vicious circle: lose revenues, lose employees, lose revenues, lose employees...

Are you an employer that has felt the crunch of weak economic factors and has had to let go of good workers? Do you consider yourself a good worker, trying to figure out what hit you and how you are going to make your next mortgage payment?

While this is not an economic situation anyone wants, it repeats itself over and over again. How to best adjust to it? Make use of the temporary workplace.

For employers it gets the work done without having to pay all the ancillary costs related to full-time employees (benefits, workers' compensation, etc.). Flexible hours and days fulfill both project needs and part time work needs that typically get shelved during weak economic periods. Should the variables come together, the temporary worker can always be converted to permanent with the added benefit of knowing first-hand who you are hiring and their capabilities (what we like to refer to as 'Try Before You Buy'). Shameless Self Plug: HireMeNow.com hourly rates for temp workers and conversion rates for temp-to-perm workers are substantially below traditional temp agencies' rates.

For displaced employees, the temporary workplace offers a lot of opportunities. First, it keeps the resume up-to-date with current work. Second, it develops new skills and experiences across different companies making the employee a better hire for a future, permanent employer. And, it can serve as an excellent introduction to other companies, or at the very least, solid references for a permanent job later on.

Yes, we can all sit and grumble about the state of the work environment. But that won't change anything. Take control of the situation. Hire a temp. Become a temp. It's your choice.


Temping as a Networking Tactic
Thursday, June 10, 2008, 11:30 a.m.
Posted by: Karen

When I got out of college with my business degree (Dean's Honor list, major in finance, minor in international business), I moved to a new city. Not the best strategy when looking for a job, but one that was personally motivated. In doing so, of course I had NO contact network. So, I started doing some temp work. I worked as a receptionist, a writer, a Word Perfect expert (yes, I am dating myself) and did many other general clerical duties. In many situations, I had a lot more education than my boss, and certainly was the most educated filing clerk there.

While it was frustrating, I did meet a lot people and a lot of companies. Conversely, they met me. While some just couldn't shed my 'temp' status, others realized my potential and applauded my tenacity in 'networking.'

In the end, I was hired by one of the largest companies in the world, in an incredible role in the finance department. What a boost that was for my career.

A word of advice to temp employers − before you look externally to hire the right candidate for that permanent position, check the talent you have, even from the temp pool in another department. And, check with your friends and colleagues in other companies, they too likely have short-term workers that they recognize have potential beyond what they can offer. Talent comes in all sorts of packages and places you wouldn't, at first blush, expect!

A word of advice to temp workers (those who really would rather be permanent workers) − take every temp assignment as an opportunity. Always put your best foot (and attitude) forward and keep in touch with everyone you can. You never know what negligible temp role could transform into a brilliant career.


Moms For Hire?
Thursday, May 8, 2008, 10:40p.m.
Posted by: Karen

Where can you find an ex-bank manager, an ex-vice president corporate marketing and public relations, an ex-office manager, an ex-media sales rep, an ex-lawyer and an ex-comptroller? At the park, at The Little Gym® and at the zoo.

They are 'ex-professionals' who have chosen to take a break from their careers to raise their children without a daycare, nanny or relative stepping in. While staying at home has been a conscious choice and one that they are happy and confident in, you can bet that many of them wouldn't mind working from time-to-time, especially as their kids start developing their own self confidence and head off to school.

Consider that many women have chosen a career path early in life. They've gone through college, have taken on careers and worked their way up the proverbial ladder. Then, while on top, they start a family.

For the 'career woman' the choice between staying at home with the kids and going back to work is a real conflict (and one I know oh so well). All they have known is work. Yet, when gazing down into the deep blue eyes of an infant, their whole world gets shaken. It's a choice, and one that not everyone has the ability to make. For those that do, life changes drastically. One day they are multitasking between staff meetings, emails, conference calls, bosses, colleagues, vendors and customers. The next – their boss is an eight-pound mass of unrelenting need (and joy).

While going back to work full-time is not an option, many of these 'ex-professionals' eventually want to find a little work; what a talented and experienced group from which to choose. Some want a little extra of their 'own money'. Some want to keep their skills up-to-date. While others just want a break from their daily routine – to get out of the house and back into an office environment. Plus, they will often agree to work on projects that they are way over qualified for at a fraction of what they used to make.

Whatever the motivation, moms who have initially chosen to stay at home and raise their kids make excellent temporary workers. They have vast skill sets, excellent experience, dedication and the desire to work.

Today, I pay my respects to all those dedicated ex-professionals who chose to put their careers on hold to raise their children and deliver a quick "Happy Mother's Day"!

And companies, as you fill your temporary work needs (especially project driven ones which could benefit from solid skills and experience) consider the mom who took a break from her career to raise her children, but now is more than willing to enter back into the workforce, especially in a flexible environment such that is found through temp and contract work.



Creative Use of a Temp Workforce
Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 10:40p.m.
Posted by: Karen

Say your life is on the line. Or you have been convicted of a white collar crime. You believe you have hired the right legal representation. But this is your life we are talking about. And it will be the hands of twelve of your fellow citizens. Twelve individuals who have the power to put you away, or worse. Wouldn't you want to prepare the best you could? Make sure that you addressed the concerns that those twelve people have before they decide your fate? That's what a mock jury is all about.

Enter Fred Cohen, partner at Gary Roberts & Associates. He wasn't going to take any chances for his client. He needed to assemble a mock jury that represented an accurate sample of potential jurors that his client could face. Then he found HireMeNow.com – the first online temporary employment marketplace – that gave him the control to pick the right people for the job. Using HireMeNow.com's robust, online job candidate search system, Mr. Cohen plugged in his criteria and was able to quickly and easily find a diverse pool of candidates to make up the mock jury. (One negative, more important in communities in which the overall jury pool is elderly and/or retired, is that a temp agency, no matter how diverse, is unlikely to have a large number of elderly to choose from and, by definition, no retired people.) After that, all he needed to do was to send each potential mock juror a job offer with a click of a button. A couple days later his mock jury was assembled and operating. Twelve HireMeNow.com job candidates got a quick full day's pay and an inside look into the incredible American legal system.

"We were very satisfied with the process at HireMeNow.com," stated Mr. Cohen. "Not only did we get the participants we needed, we saved thousands of dollars by using HireMeNow.com to recruit for the mock jury versus that which would have been spent via traditional methods. We would definitely use your services again."

If anyone has any reservation about the qualifications of the temp workforce available at HireMeNow.com, they should consider the drawback Mr. Cohen found with HireMeNow.com, "If there was anything to be critical of, it was that the HireMeNow.com temps were probably a little too educated vs. what one would expect from the area's jury pool. Although, as a result, the HireMeNow.com jurors probably did a better job than regular mock jurors might have done."


Taking the Angst Out of the Interview
Tuesday, March 18, 2008, 10:40p.m.
Posted by: Karen

You want that job. You know you deserve it. If only you could get past that really big, really important, really stressful INTERVIEW. You know they would love you, need you, and hire you on the spot – if only you knew the questions they were going to ask in the interview. You are so worked up about the interview that the three nights before you get little sleep, and the night before you are so worried about missing your alarm that you wake up every 15 minutes looking at the clock.

Sound familiar?

The interview process is one of the most nerve-racking experiences we get to go through. And, some of us get to experience it a few more times than others (practice doesn't always make perfect).

There are, however, several things you can do BEFORE the interview that can take a lot of the angst out before you even get there.

1. Do your homework on the company. This is a lot easier today than ever before: Google the name of the company – find out the most recent information. When you get to the interview, discuss and ask questions about what you've discovered.
2. Do your homework on the person interviewing you. Google them, too. Go to Linked In, MySpace, Facebook – see if you know some people in common. Perhaps they even went to your school, lived in your town, etc. Anything that brings forth some common ground. This can be an excellent icebreaker!
3. If you do find a person in common, and that person is a good reference for you, get them to make contact with the interviewer before your meeting. They can pave the road, so to speak, for a much smoother ride!
4. Set yourself apart – create a VINTRO™, or video resume, first. This relatively new step not only helps you stand out from all the other job seekers who just send in their written resume or profile, but also can give the hiring manager a good feel for whether you will fit into their organization. The VINTRO allows you to plan and control your first visual, intellectual and emotional impression. You get to write out and practice a script, and work on the delivery until it is flawless. No jitters. Just you impressing the socks off of the interviewer, before the interviewer even gets to ask you a question. Many hiring managers even see the VINTRO as a substitute for the first interview! So, when you get the call to come in, you are actually past your first hurdle and on your way to getting that job you do deserve.
5. Sign up for a HireMeNow.com account and complete the steps needed to get to "Green Light" status. That qualifies you to get a free version of InterviewCD, a highly-regarded interview training program which normally retails for $99 at InterviewCD.com. Going through InterviewCD prepares you to answer the questions that interviews typically ask.

This pre-work will not only make a favorable impression on the interviewer, but will give you a level of confidence that will take away much of the stress associated with that first face-to-face interview.

Want more insider information? If you are in the West Palm Beach area on March 24th, we encourage you to come out to The Palm Beach Post/97.9 FM WRMF Job Fair 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel Palm Beach Gardens (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.). Our president/founder Allen Bornstein, a staffing industry leader and interview training expert, is going to give the inside story of what hiring managers want in an interview.

You name it, he has seen, and heard it. Learn from the mistakes and repeat the successes of others in their quest to get hired. Allen will be speaking from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (and tentatively from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.). He will be covering topics such as:

• VINTROs (video resumes) enhancing the interview process.
• Key elements to a successful VINTRO.
• Networking ideas to get your information to the right people.
• Understanding the interview process to set yourself apart from all other candidates.
• Role play interview questions and answers.
• Negotiating salary.

Check the official job fair website for more up-to-date details.

Plus, HireMeNow.com experts will be on hand to help you create your VINTRO, for FREE! Job Fair 2008 is the place to be if you are looking for a job in the West Palm Beach area, and best of all – it's FREE to attend.


Forget the Video Resume
Friday, February 29, 2008, 10:15p.m.
Posted by: Karen

What? This coming from a company whose foundation was built upon this up-and-coming mode of job seeker – hiring manager communication?

That's right. Forget the video resume, but not the thought behind it. It's the name that's the problem. It's a new concept, so it's only expected that people will take the literal meaning of it and record their full written resume, in video format. And that's a bad idea. Add to that a lack of direction on how to make a video resume, with silly sound effects and other distracting attributes and you can't blame people for shying away from the process.

At HireMeNow.com we used the term video resume because that is what's out there, until now: we much prefer to call it the VINTRO™ which literally translates to video introduction. And, that is what a video resume should really be.

The purpose of resumes and cover letters are to get you face-to-face interviews with prospective employers. Your cover letter should be a brief introduction of who you are and a limited summary of why someone should hire you and your resume should outline the highlights of your skills and experience. The problem arises when hiring managers have hundreds of resumes and cover letters with very little setting them apart. A VINTRO adds so much more. It's actually a cover letter in 3D, giving the job seeker the ability to show an attribute rarely found on a cover letter or written resume – personality!

Translation – the VINTRO can complement your cover letter and resume – attracting attention and encouraging that employer to take the next step, an in-person interview. When employers view the VINTRO, they get a feel of whether or not the candidate in question would fit into the organization, because the VINTRO is able to convey personality and enthusiasm (major factors a company looks for in an initial screening interview).

Think about that for a second – a VINTRO can be used as a replacement for the initial screening interview – and a job candidate can refine his or her VINTRO to a point where the delivery is perfect. Imagine having the perfect first interview with no mistakes, blunders or going away wishing you had or hadn't said something. The job candidate is in complete control with a VINTRO. That's a big foot in the door that will propel one past many other candidates applying for the same job.

Here's the thing. The VINTRO, to achieve the above, must be compelling to hiring managers and it needs to be paired with a well written resume and cover letter, and/or a complete online profile. HireMeNow.com surveyed 300 hiring managers about video resumes, and they told us one of the most important factors in their decision to view a video resume (if we must call it that) is its length. 66% of the hiring managers told us a VINTRO should be less than 2 minutes, including 46% who recommended less than a minute. Specifically:

• 46% said 1 minute or less
• 20% said 1 to 2 minutes
• 16% said 2 to 4 minutes
• 3% said over four minutes
• 1% said it depends

If you haven't already, take a venture inside the HireMeNow.com Job Candidate account manager. There we offer all sorts of tips and examples of what to do, and what not to do. And, it doesn't have to be hard, time consuming or expensive! It's really a no-brainer to get your VINTRO in order.


Creating Your Own VINTRO™ (Video Resume): Easily, Inexpensively & Professionally
Thursday, January 24, 2008, 10:40am
Posted by: Karen

A VINTRO™ (video introduction or video resume) can help or hinder your chances of getting a job. We want to help you get that job, and the brilliant silver lining on this topic – a VINTRO doesn't have to be hard or expensive to create, or cause you any angst.

If you consider, as we and many other hiring managers do, that a VINTRO can take the place of that first screening face-to-face interview, then you have an advantage: a VINTRO allows you to take limitless 'do-overs' until you get it right! So, what do you really need to get your VINTRO completed?

1. A video device (a webcam, camcorder or digital camera with video all work well)
2. A quiet, uncluttered place with good light
3. A script
4. Optional: A friend to shoot the video if you don't have a good, stationary place to prop your video device.

Let's start with the script. Consider the VINTRO your cover letter, but in 3D – basically a video introduction. You don't have much time (best to keep it around a minute) and likely the hiring manager will also have a copy of your written resume and/or application. So, focus on why a company should hire you with one or two salient points about your experience and/or education that validate you as the perfect candidate. We recommend writing it out and practicing it a few times in front of a mirror. You don't need to memorize it – you can print off a large font version and attach it to the camera. This way you are looking at the camera but able to glance at the script to ensure you say what you want to say.

Next, work on your delivery! This is where you get to shine – show your enthusiasm and personality –attributes a written cover letter and resume do not convey well. Make sure you smile! Especially at the beginning – your VINTRO is first shown as a picture using the first frame of the video. So take a couple of seconds to smile before you start speaking.

Make sure you are wearing what you would expect to wear at the company that will hire you. No matter how buffed and good looking you are – a swimsuit VINTRO might help you if you are applying to a modeling job, but not if you are applying to work in an office environment.

Pick a location where you are comfortable. It must be uncluttered and quiet. The backdrop should be as simple as possible – a solid colored wall is great. Just make sure your clothes do not match the color of the wall behind you or your head will appear to be 'floating' in the VINTRO.

Then, take a few deep breaths, smile and take your video. If you didn't like the first take, take it again, and again, and again. Until you are happy with it – you have unlimited 'do-overs' that no one will know about! Don't add music (unless you are applying to a musical post) and don't over produce your video. Most people will have a completely professional version after just a couple of takes with no editing or producing required. All that's left to do: upload your VINTRO into your HireMeNow.com account and get ready to find your next temp or contract job!


Hiring Managers Want To See Video Resumes - Get Yours Ready!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008, 1:08pm
Posted by: Karen

All this talk about video resumes - of course, we are part of the conversation - are they really worth the effort? A survey we just took of 300 business managers in charge of hiring indicates YES! These were everyday businesses that we telephoned to take the survey. In fact, 96% of them had never seen a video resume; however, an impressive 83% indicated they were willing to view a video resume as a part of the hiring process.

Note that even the "dreamiest" job postings are adding a video resume requirement. Disney is searching for its next Chief Magical Officer, and all candidates are asked to post a video resume - click here if you're interested. As we've blogged about in the past (see our July 30, 2007 blog below), rap mogul P. Diddy was looking for a new assistant, and he only accepted applications via video resume.

Another interesting finding in our survey - roughly one-quarter of those hiring managers willing to view a video resume wanted to see a written resume first, and then if the candidate showed promise, they said they would view a video resume. This further substantiates our thought that video resumes are not meant to replace a written one, merely serve as an excellent addition to the written one - an addition which will give job seekers a leg up on their competition.

Getting back to whether making a video resume is worth the effort - well, we don't think it takes that much effort! That's why we have renamed the video resume - we call it the VINTRO, which stands for video introduction. More on that in the future!

Click here for the full press release on our video resume survey results.


Wishing You And Yours The Happiest of Holidays and A Great New Year
Friday, December 21, 2007, 12:03pm
Posted by: Phillip

It's been over a year since Allen and I created HireMeNow.com, and as 2007 comes to a close we want to thank our team members, our investors, our candidates and our companies, and wish you all the very best for 2008. Our mission is to help candidates find jobs NOW, and to help companies that need workers NOW. A primary element of that mission is to offer a lower mark-up (the amount we charge our clients over and above what we pay our temporaries), which means companies pay less and yet temps make more. And, overall, hopefully more people get jobs and income faster than by using traditional staffing agencies.

We've learned a lot this year, and we constantly seek to improve our service to fulfill our mission. You can continue to expect new features and even better support in 2008, and we hope you will continue to provide us with feedback, suggestions and criticism - it helps us get better.

If you are looking for a job, we hope you find one you love as soon as possible, and if you need workers, please don't hesitate to give us a call - 1.888.440.HIRE - we have thousands of candidates looking. We wish you and yours the happiest of holidays and a great new year.


Progress Since Launching The First Online Temporary Employment Marketplace
Thursday, November 1, 2007, 10:47am
Posted by: Phillip

It has been a month and a half since we launched what we believe is the newest and best solution for temporary employment. We are an online service where companies can find and hire temporary and contract workers directly, without using a traditional temp agency. Our candidates don't have to spend half a day in an employment agency office, interviewing, sitting in a back room taking skills tests, etc. They can complete their HireMeNow.com profile from their homes via the Internet, at their convenience. They also know that everything they put in their profile will be seen directly by the companies that need help, so their qualifications are not being filtered by somebody at a temp agency that spent just 30 minutes with them.

Clearly, our service fills a need. We have had tens of thousands of visitors to our site, and thousands of candidates and companies have signed up with us. From Miami to San Antonio to Buffalo to Pasadena - job seekers are creating profiles and updating their availability, and companies are searching for qualified temporary and contract workers.

We've reached out to a lot of our users, and many have sent in unsolicited feedback. We have heard stories about how poorly some people have been treated by traditional staffing agencies, and received thanks for allowing candidates to connect with companies directly. We have heard our share of complaints as well - some of our skills tests don't seem to work with every browser setting (overly aggressive pop-up blockers cause problems for some of our users), and sometimes people have trouble getting our Welcome e-mail with the authorization link (we don't like overly aggressive spam filters).

Overall, we're very pleased with our first 45 days. And we love hearing feedback. While some Internet companies seem to want to do everything through e-mail (and we can e-mail with the best of them), we like when people give us a call, plus our team members are constantly on the phones, reaching out to candidates and companies. Call us and you get a live person between 8:30am and 6:00pm ET, Monday to Friday. 1.888.440.HIRE (4473) or 561.953.2007.


HireMeNow.com Launches The First Online Temporary Employment Marketplace
Monday, September 17, 2007, 8:12am
Posted by: Phillip

Welcome to the newest and best solution for temporary employment. We re-launched our website today, as an online service where companies can find and hire temporary and contract workers directly, without using a traditional temp agency. We think we can do to traditional temporary agencies what Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz did to traditional travel agents - disintermediate what is essentially a low-value added middleman role. The online travel sites allowed people to see all of the flights, times, and prices themselves, without having to go through a traditional travel agent. Not only have people found this direct access more satisfying, it is cheaper for them because they don't have to pay a travel agent fee. We allow companies that need temporary workers to access our database of candidates, search for the right ones, and communicate with the candidates directly. Our candidate profiles contain more information than at any other online job site - written resumes, video resumes, skills test results, background check results, verified references, and ratings from previous clients. In essence, we present as much information, or more, about our candidates than a traditional temp agency does, so companies can directly select the best match for the short-term assignments they need to complete. For candidates, they don't have to spend half a day in a temp agency office, interviewing, sitting in a back room taking skills tests, etc. They can complete their HireMeNow.com profile from their homes via the Internet, at their convenience. They also know that everything they put in their profile will be seen directly by the companies that need help, so their qualifications are not being filtered by somebody at a temp agency that spent just 30 minutes with them.

Our online approach also allows us to charge significantly less than traditional temp agencies. Most temp agencies will mark up a temp's wages by 60% to 80% to even 100%. So a temp making $20 per hour will be billed out at $32 to $40 per hour or more. Our mark up will be 42%, which should allow companies to pay less and still have the temps get paid more, which should lead to higher quality workers using our service. So that is our revenue model. Unlike other job sites, we don't charge companies to post jobs. After paying a small set-up fee, they can post as many jobs as they want with us, for free. We only charge companies for the hours worked by the temporary worker. These workers are on our payroll, so we then in turn pay the temps and their payroll taxes, workers comp, etc. Our site and our service is free for job candidates, except for small fees if they want us to do a reference check or a background check on them (the results go into their profile).

Job candidates can still use our website as a place to post video resumes and other information about themselves, and have us send a link to their profiles to any prospective employer, but our primary business model is now matching job candidates with companies that need temporary or contract workers. An interesting statistic from the American Staffing Association - 40% of temps ultimately get a permanent job through one of their temporary assignments. So for people looking to enter, or re-enter, the workforce, temping is a way to bring in some money, avoid gaps on a resume, gain experience, and potentially get hired for a direct position after the temporary project is done.

Here is a link to our press release about the launch of our temporary service - HireMeNow.com Launches First Online Temporary Employment Marketplace.


Sean (Diddy) Combs Looking for an Assistant via Video Resumes on YouTube
Monday, July 30, 2007, 12:45pm
Posted by: Phillip

We feel strongly that video resumes will become a standard part of most job applications - the technology is very cheap and easy to use (we recently bought a webcam for $19.99 that made great videos and took just a few minutes to set up), and job applicants without a video resume will feel increasing pressure as they see other candidates with video resumes get the job. However, a video resume is not a replacement for a written resume. A prospective manager needs to know an applicant's job history, education, accomplishments, etc. That information cannot be succintly presented in a video resume. Imagine watching a video of somebody listing the dates and titles of each job - very boring. The video resume should be seen as the answer to the typical first question of most interviews, "Tell me a little about yourself and why I should hire you." The video resume can include references to past jobs or school degrees, but it should be used primarily to convey a job candidate's enthusaism, communication skills, and personality.

However, as he is prone to do, Sean Combs has taken the video resume trend to the extreme. Diddy is looking for an assistant, and the only way to get an interview is to post a three-minute (or less) video on YouTube (click here to read about it). Diddy won't use written resumes, applications, or references to determine who to interview - he just wants to see video resumes. We like the attention he is bringing to video resumes, but remember that most hiring managers besides Diddy still want a complete picture of a candidate before deciding who to interview. And if you check out some of the videos, you quickly realize why YouTube is not a good place to post a video resume. You can't upload your written resume and other qualifications, and people can post some fairly disparaging comments about you under your video. YouTube is not password-protected - so anybody can see your video - and it won't tell you exactly who and when a prospective hiring manager viewed your video (so you know when to call to follow up).

If you have not done so already, create a HireMeNow.com account and log in - we have a lot of advice about how to create a video resume, what to say, what to wear, etc., along with a number of sample video resumes and scripts. Our advice is not tailored for the search for Diddy's assistant, but we think it will be useful to almost every other job opening you might be seeking.


HireMeNow.com Gets a New Logo and Look and Feel
Monday, July 9, 2007, 07:36am
Posted by: Phillip

Welcome to the new HireMeNow.com, with our new logo, color scheme and look and feel. With the closing of America's Job Bank on July 1, 2007, we have seen a significant increase in users and activity. In our continuing effort to be the most professional place for job seekers to post their qualifications, including a video resume, we wanted to improve the look of our site. We hope you will agree that our new look is a big improvement.

The new look is the beginning of a number of innovations and new functionality that we will be introducing in the weeks and months ahead. We hope you keep checking back as we continue our mission of getting our users hired for great jobs NOW!


America's Job Bank Set to Close This Weekend
Friday, June 29, 2007, 06:57pm
Posted by: Phillip

There have not been too many articles about the closing of America's Job Bank tomorrow, June 30, which we find interesting. AJB, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, has 2.1 million jobs available and over 600,000 resumes. Those job listings and candidates need someplace else to go. And the closing of AJB leaves the U.S. as "the only industrialized nation without a federally funded labor exchange," according to an article in this week's BusinessWeek.

From the AJB site, you can see that the U.S. Department of Labor has listed eight private sector job boards as alternatives to America's Job Bank: careeronestop.org. HireMeNow.com is the only one listed that is both free for employers and candidates, and which allows candidates to post a video resume. We believe video resumes will become a standard part of every job application, as access to the Internet and video-enabled cameras and cell phones proliferate. While America's Job Bank has been a tremendous resource, and it is unfortunate that it is shutting down, there are some very good alternatives available, including www.HireMeNow.com.


HireMeNow.com Highlighted by Fortune Senior Writer Anne Fisher, in Her Ask Annie Column
Friday, June 22, 2007, 06:39pm
Posted by: Phillip

Fortune Senior Writer Anne Fisher covers careers and job search in her "Ask Annie" column on money.cnn.com. She does a good job and we enjoy reading her column.

A couple of weeks ago, she discussed the growing momentum for video resumes.

In her most recent colum, on June 21, 2007, she followed up by discussing HireMeNow.com as a good place to post a video resume.

She writes: Friends, to follow up on a reader's letter that appeared in the June 8 column ("How to answer a boss's tough questions") about video resumes: Anybody interested in creating one might want to check out www.HireMeNow.com, where employers can view job candidates' videotaped presentations for free. (It's free to the candidates, too.) The video profiles are password-protected, and each prospective employer gets a unique viewing code, so "we can let the candidate know not only how many times their video was viewed but by whom, " writes CEO Phillip Thune, who adds that, because HireMeNow was designed for job seekers, "we're much more professional than YouTube or MySpace." Worth a look.

It's always nice to get some recognition from a leading careers expert.


HireMeNow.com Listed by US Department of Labor as Replacement for America's Job Bank
Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 03:49pm
Posted by: Phillip

We issued our first press release last week: HireMeNow.com Listed by US Department of Labor as the Only Video Resume Job Board to Replace America's Job Bank.

The release and a podcast are available if you click here.

This is significant for us because America's Job Bank is one of the oldest and most popular job boards around. It is free because it is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. However, it closes on July 1, 2007 because, according to the DOL, it came to the conclusion that the benefits of AJB no longer outweigh the costs of operating and maintaining this system, as the market has evolved to the point where a Federally-sponsored electronic labor exchange is no longer necessary.

So that does not leave too many job sites where candidates and employers can post for free, let alone sites that allow candidates to post video resumes, send links to prospective employers, and get notified when that employer views the candidate's profile. Of course, HireMeNow.com does all of these things, for free, which we think is especially important now that America's Job Bank is shutting down.