These two articles may provide job seekers with useful information on managing your personal information during the application process:

SF Gate W2s or Tax Info

About.com W2s Info

Recommendation Letters can present a conundrum, both to the employee and to the manager. This article simplifies the process with practical suggestions:  The Recommendation Letter

We admit it: we are biased on this one, but justifiably so. A good recruiter – staffing consultant  can be a strategic resource, both to client managers and to candidates. We do emphasize that not all relationships are productive and worthwhile, and thus should be discontinued. We also remind our managers and our candidates that a recruiter is only part of the “big picture”. But when used strategically, and effectively, having a good recruiter involved can be an invaluable asset. This article is primarily directed to POTENTIAL AND/OR ACTIVE JOB SEEKERS: The Recruiter Benefit

“Ready to use your administrative skills in an organized, progressive department of an old-name law firm? Looking for stability, skill development, and the opportunity to contribute in a competitive group? This position could be just for you!
Our client is seeking a real “star” to assist this fast-paced MARKETING DEPARTMENT. Reporting to the Director of Business Development, the position will focus on specialized duties including monitoring and updating the firm’s website with relevant news and information; pitch development and statistical tracking; and extensive diverse marketing research. Additional duties are of a more general administrative nature, such as document review and revision; communicating with the marketing group to secure topics for publication; coordinating meetings, creating reports, and various related responsibilities.
Required for success in this role are experienced-based proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications including formatting of complex, inter-related documents, publications and presentations; exceptional grammar, spelling and proofreading skills; and a tested typing speed of 55 wpm. Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and InDesign applications will be a real benefit in this role.”

This is an excellent opportunity for career-oriented marketing assistants to work in a top-notch international law firm. For consideration, submit your resume to:  resumes@dfusilier.com

To that end, we offer these links to articles which we feel are beneficial and practical.

-This article states that recruiters spend about 6 seconds looking at a resume to determine whether or not to consider the prospect. While we are not certain about the 6 seconds, we do feel that a recruiter or hiring manager reviewing dozens of resumes will spend the first minute looking to identify key facts on the resume. We have always recommended that resumes should have readable font size, be clear and concise without “fluff”, and that a professional summary, education, and technical skills should be placed at the top of the resume.

The Six Second Resume

-This article discusses some job search rules to ignore.  We very much agree with the author on the topics and her advice:

Job Search Rules to Break

-One of the worst things a job applicant can do in an interview is to ask no questions. Asking good questions accomplishes several objectives:

1. Good questions indicate interest and intelligent curiosity from the candidate about the position and the company.

2. Questions allow the candidate to address the responses as it relates to their own personality and experience, to give the interviewer valuable information.

3. Questions allow the candidate to decide if the position and the company are a good fit for their own career and objectives.

The author has some excellent questions to be asked in an interview. But, keep in mind, not all questions are appropriate in each interview. Questions should be tailored to fit the situation, and can be worded differently for different positions.

Great Interview Questions

We also suggest a couple of other questions, such as, “What does a busy day look like in this position?” , “What training and orientation will I receive in this position?”, and our favorite, “Why do YOU like working here?”  (If the interviewer cannot enthusiastically answer this last one, you should probably have serious reservations about the job!)

We believe that looking for a new job is hard enough, without knowing the best way to go about it. We are gratified if we are able to assist any of our candidates in any way to find a new position.

Good luck!

We apologize for our delay in posting our staffing activities. The first Quarter of 2012 was busier than anticipated, with both temporary assignments and direct-hire positions in our law firm clients.  And the weeks have flown by!

Our direct-hire and temp-to-hire placements thus far this year have included: 2 I. T. Support Analysts; litigation paralegal; billing specialist; and an immigration paralegal.

Our current open positions include: a junior/mid-level litigation paralegal; a mid-level litigation paralegal; trademark secretary; corporate secretary.  We are also seeking a temporary patent tax assistant.

The job market for legal secretaries and paralegals continues to be sluggish, with two well-known firms announcing recent staff layoffs. While the firms are busy and profitable, staffing levels have remained stable.  This situation will likely remain in place for the next one or two years, until the growth of the economy and incoming business justifies adding additional staff.

Fusilier Business Services continues to engage in business development activities, maintaining contact with current client firms, while reaching out to new prospective clients.

We recently read an SF Gate article about online gifting.  Back in “the day”, we used to send a card to our favorite people on special occasions. Sometimes, we enclosed cash or a check, or more recently, a gift card. But times have changed, and for the better, we believe.

Welcome to “online gifting”. Two Bay Area startups mentioned in the article include:Gift Rocket  http://www.giftrocket.com/    AND    Giftly  http://www.giftly.com       Each is unique in its delivery, but the concept is the same.

Here’s an example from the article:  A guy’s younger brother was celebrating his birthday, but he could not make the party. So, he sent a GiftRocket to his brother with the note, “Sorry I can’t make it, but buy a round of drinks for you and your friends on me.”    How cool is that?!!

We have not yet personally tried online gifting, but for all of the times we did not have time to buy a card or send a gift, this seems like a reputation saver!

For the full article, visit  http://www.sfgate.com

As of today 01-12-2012, this position is still OPEN:

Our client is a prestigious, stable San Francisco law firm seeking to add a Senior Public Relations Manager to their bustling business development and communications departments.

This is a dynamic position, allowing independence and creativity within a semi-structured team environment for a progressive company.

Previous experience in P.R., communications, journalism, English, or related field working within a professional services firm is required.

More details about this position are available by writing to David Fusilier:   david.fusilier@dfusilier.com    Confidentiality is assured.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/print-edition/2012/01/06/south-of-market-runs-out-of-space.html?ana=e_ph

Fusilier Business Services has an ongoing commitment to establishing new client relations with these growing companies, offering to them the most qualified and hard-working candidates available in the Bay Area.  We are eager to be of service, and looking forward to what 2012 will bring.

We also continue to expect that the success of these companies will naturally lead to growth in our San Francisco law firms, thus necessitating increased hiring.

Stay tuned!

We are quickly getting settled into the “back to work” routine, and actually looking forward to 2012. January is always a dynamic month, with closing out 2011 matters, updating forms, renewing policies, and…. business development.  Reminding our clients, and reaching out to new prospects, that we are ready and able to assist with staffing is an integral part of a fresh start for Fusilier Business Services.

In what we hope is a sign of a brighter hiring market, we have received two new job orders in a stellar law office:

-Regional IT Manager: located in the San Francisco office of a large firm, supervising 5-6 staff, responsible for office technology, data/video   networks, telephone and computer systems.

-TemporaryTechnical Support Analyst: 3-4 months or longer, to assist with all levels of technical hardware support and user support in this large San Francisco office.

For more information about these positions, contact David Fusilier:  david.fusilier@dfusilier.com

San Francisco Food Bank     www.sffoodbank.org

Skipping dinner. Eating less – or eating less well. Giving up food in order to pay rent. This is what thousands of people in San Francisco and Marin face every day. The San Francisco Food Bank is the critical link between food and people. They provide food to nearly 225,000 people through 450+ nonprofit partners.

Feeding America     www.supportfeedingamerica.org/holidayfood

When you give to their Biggest Holiday Food Campaign Ever, you’ll be offering TWICE as much help and hope to families in need.  Every dollar you give can double to help provide two 10-pound bags of groceries, thanks to a $75,000 matching grant from Newman’s Own Foundation.

USA Together    www.usatogether.org

USA Together brings together injured service members who need assistance as they recover, with the people who want to help them. It’s like Craigslist for wounded veterans.

We invite you to consider giving to the charity or cause of your choice this holiday season, and throughout the New Year.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all of us!

David Fusilier