News / Trends

J. R. Peterman Associiates takes great pride in its ability to keep up-to-date on the latest news and trends in employment practices.

Here are some pointers on how to conduct a successful job search.

Relocation Expenses and IRS Tax Deductions

In addition the cost of moving households goods and the final family trip to the new location, expenses for the following items can also be deducted • Tips to the moving van driver or helpers • Mileage for driving a second or third vehicle to the new location (in addition to driving the first car) • Lodging expenses in the departure location for one night after household goods are packed, and one night in the new location on the day of arrival • Moving household goods from a location other than your main home, up to what it would have cost to move them from the main home • Storage of household goods up to 30 days, including the cost of moving the goods into and out of storage • Expenses not reimbursed by the employer, such as extra crating and/or shipment of unusual items • Source: Steve Ziomek, Relo Newsletter www.recruiterrelo.com

Drug Testing:

Companies drug test potential new hires 90% of the time. If you use drugs, call a professional counselor, before conducting a job search.

News / Trends

What Employer Look For:

Most if not all employers hire independent firms to perform background checks on candidates for employment, including verification of education.

Be honest about your educational credentials. If you do not have a diploma, you do not have a degree. Fudging of degrees happens so frequently, some companies now ask for a copy of your diploma in the beginning of the hiring process.

Account for all of your jobs on your resume. Background checks include research into what companies paid social security taxes for you and what dates you worked over decades.

Be prepared to document statements of accomplishments. If you can’t document it, don’t write it on your resume.

References mean business references: ex-managers, customers, peers. Have daytime phone numbers if possible. Having a Senator as a reference is no good if an employer can’t reach him/her in a day or two. Do not include your relatives.

The Interview:

Know what you earned last year. If asked, be accurate and up front. Don’t fudge the numbers. Occasionally, companies ask for a copy of a pay stub.

Motivation to change jobs must include reasons other than money. Leave one place just for money, you’ll leave again for a better offer. Loyalty, integrity and commitment become questionable. Saying you don’t make enough in your current job could be construed that you’re not very good – otherwise, you would be earning more money.

Never consider a counter offer. They seldom, if ever work out. You may have a job, but not a career with that company.

Some Resume Tips:

1. Before sending your resume anywhere, check it for misspelling, punctuation, missing words and grammar.

2. If your career warrants more than a one page resume, it's o.k. Create a document that is longer than one page. Do not reduce the size of type to a degree that your resume becomes difficult to read.

3. Do not "fudge" over dates or titles to hide the fact that you have been unemployed, switched jobs frequently, or held lower level positions. If a prospective employer's background check discovers you have lied, you can kiss the job goodbye.

Adapted from : “Attention Hiring Managers” by Russ Reindeau, The Fordyce Letter, 2005

Other good advice:

Prior to the interview, it is a good idea to visit the company’s website, often you will find helpful information on the company that may come up in the interview.