Introducing: "From the Recruiter's Desk"

It is our pleasure to introduce the newest feature to PRNewser: "From The Recruiter's Desk." Lindsay Olson, partner and recruiter with Paradigm Staffing, specializes in helping companies and agencies find public relations and communications professionals throughout the United States. She has over ten years experience recruiting in the PR industry and also writes a career-related blog. Many readers may also be familiar with Lindsay via her "PRjobs" alias on Twitter. Especially given the current state of the job market, we thought Lindsay's insight and advice would be a valuable addition to PRNewser. Lindsay's guest column, "From the Recruiter's Desk" will appear twice a month, and we are open to topics you would like to see covered. Please welcome her with open arms! In this first edition, Lindsay gives five tips to help ease those recession nerves, whether or not you're seeking a new position. It's said that the best time to look for work is when you don't need it. Unfortunately, with more staff cuts everyday and the end not yet in sight, many people don't have that luxury in today's market. I'm speaking with many candidates who have never been affected by a downsizing in their entire career and feel completely lost in the world of job searching. Others feel the end could come quickly and aren't sure how to position themselves should they be downsized tomorrow. The answer: Invest time in yourself and in building your network - before you need it! Here are five tips to help ease those recession nerves: 1. Join social networks and add everyone you know...today. Are you not on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter? Get on the now! Join online groups and fill out your profiles so people can find you. Be visible. Just putting your company and position is not enough. And don't stop there. Add every new person you meet and actively contribute to the conversations in your network. 2. Go to industry events, happy hours, or any other gathering where like-minded people get together. I know most of these gatherings happen after hours and this cuts into time with the family and your own personal R & R, but it's no excuse. Go to at least one per month. People who are at these events are connectors and are more likely to be people who are willing to help and lead you in the right direction should you ever need the help. 3. Give back to your network. Don't just be a taker. I can't stress this enough. You need to invest time in others for them to want to invest in you. Share your knowledge. Take note of what people in your network like and find opportunities to share information with them they might find helpful. This doesn't happen overnight - relationships take time to develop. Networkers who jump in the game to only promote their own agenda and not participate will probably find it difficult to build these relationships. 4. Always have your resume ready. Whether you are the happiest employee in your company or not, keep your resume up-to-date and look it over every six months. You never know what opportunity is around the corner. Even happy superstars make career moves. 5. Track your accomplishments. Keep an on-going portfolio of work or a brag book. You don't want to think about digging for this kind of stuff when you actually need it. As the years pass, you will forget. I'm not advocating living in fear or suspiciously awaiting your pink slip. But if you are not investing in yourself and your network with the tools just a few clicks away, you are being personally irresponsible and hindering your visibility for future positions. Network building should start in good times, not when it is desperately needed. Start now! Lindsay Olson is a partner and recruiter with Paradigm Staffing. She specializes in helping companies and agencies find public relations and communications professionals throughout the United States. She has over ten years experience recruiting in the PR industry and also writes a career-related blog at LindsayOlson.com.

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Introducing: "From the Recruiter's Desk"

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