LinkedIn: More Than Just a Profile

Since its launch in 2003, LinkedIn has become a popular networking tool for job seekers and employers alike. Many people currently use LinkedIn as they would a job board, like CareerBuilder or Dice, by creating a profile highlighting their professional accomplishments. Only creating a LinkedIn profile is not enough - it requires interaction.

There are many tools job seekers can utilize within LinkedIn to increase their visibility. Joining applicable LinkedIn groups and participating in group discussions with other LinkedIn users are key ways to gain attention from potential employers. Within these groups, be sure to share information and news articles you find relevant and applicable to other professionals in your field. Also, do not hesitate to connect with other LinkedIn users based on similar interests and career backgrounds. In addition, LinkedIn compiles the “Top Influencers” for display weekly on the right side of each group’s page. By having this title for even one week, you can seriously increase your credibility and influence within the group.

Another method to increase your visibility is to connect your Twitter page and professional or personal blog to your LinkedIn account. Potential employers are extremely likely to click through them to get a better understanding of your professional interests and growth goals if these sites are connected. If you have these additional outlets, make sure to post frequent updates to show you enjoy learning and growing in your career. Also, similar to LinkedIn groups, these are great channels to share interesting articles and pertinent information with your connections.

Becoming an active member on LinkedIn is a great idea if you are serious about increasing your web presence. Do NOT neglect your profiles and groups once you start them! Treat your profile as you would your resume, with consistent updates of new skills and experience. You never know who may come across your information. By practicing these easy strategies, you may end up being presented new opportunities you never thought about!

- Thomas Ferrer
Recruiting Assistant
thomas.ferrer@synergishr.com

Filling in the Blank — Targeting the “Right” Recruiter for You

A few weeks ago I was at lunch with a friend and colleague that I had placed with a client. His phone rang four times in the hour we were together. Every call was followed by a 30 second message from a monotone recruiter about a “position in the Atlanta area.” Looking at his face and seeing his annoyance, I knew what was coming out of his mouth next—“I think that IT Recruiters
are ____.”

Unfortunately, many people would fill in the blank with some negative words (like my friend did) and rightly so. There are many instances where recruiters can be compared to the characters in the movie The Boiler Room; utilizing high pressure methods and appearing more concerned with money than with you, the candidate.

How can you benefit from a positive relationship with a recruiter and take advantage of their resources to further your career? Simple—find a good recruiter and start building a relationship. Here are a few traits of the “right” recruiter:

1. Your recruiter should be personable, should set expectations regarding feedback and interviews, and should follow-up appropriately.

2. Your recruiter should understand what you are looking for—not only where your next 6 month contract will be, but where you want to be in 3, 5, or even 10 years.

3. Your recruiter should be actively involved in the IT community and attend networking events related to your background.

4. Your recruiter should be truly knowledgeable on a functional level about what you do as well as the interworkings of the organizations your recruiter represents.

If your recruiter has these traits, then you most likely have a trusted partner. Once such relationship is established, you should maintain contact and touch base occasionally even if you’re not currently looking. Talk about your current role, what you enjoy and dislike, and then dig into what openings are on the market that might be a fit for you. It is important to know what the market is bearing to help with many aspects of your career growth. Remember, a great relationship with someone who is connected to companies in your market is a great asset. Cultivate your relationship with the “right” recruiter and reap the rewards.

- John Wagner
Technical Recruiter
john.wagner@synergishr.com

Death of the Job Board?

All good things must come to an end. Do you remember the rush of going to an arcade to play PacMan? Now, arcades have been replaced with pocket sized smartphones! If you are a Human Resource professional that remembers how the fax replaced snail mail, thus cutting time to fill ratios like a chef at a hibachi bar, raise your hand!

In the mid to late 90’s a recruiting phenomenon occurred, candidates in one easily accessible location! Just plug in few key words and PRESTO a resume that fit your needs (seemingly). The job boards quickly took off and next thing you know everyone was spending tens of thousands of dollars for one year license. The downside, we stopped interacting/socializing with candidates.

Alas, just this month a Wall Street Journal newspaper article (*newspapers are on the endangered list much like my beloved PacMan) stated “24% of companies plan to decrease their usage of 3rd party employment websites and job boards this year”. So why has this happened? The answer is simple, the evolution of social technology.

In the upcoming months look for jobs boards to socially evolve their technology and perhaps mimic the success of social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook. The term “social” is key, as recruiters and human resource professionals will be required to embrace their natural social instincts and search for candidates in old ways with newer tools!

Alex Putman
VP, Workforce Solutions
alex.putman@synergishr.com

Hey! Look at us! WE'RE BLOGGING!

Along with our awesome new website (you love it, right?) we're starting our very own blog, appropriately named, Blog IT.

I know what you're thinking...."What a creative bunch of people!"

We try.

At Blog IT, you'll be able to find information about the IT industry, happenings with Synergis as well as receiving occasional posts from Account Executives and Recruiters. We'll be sure to tell you who posts - you can look them up on our
"Meet The Team" page.
Don't worry, it's not stalking if we tell you to do it.

We hope you enjoy our blog. Be sure to comment - we're Recruiters and Account Executives! We love having conversations!

Blogging IT out,
- Megan
megan.royalty@synergishr.com

Synergis Named Best Place To Work In Atlanta

In 1982, recent college graduate Doug Ross set out to make his first sales calls for the staffing company that had hired him. Ross had no idea the country was in one of the worst economic slides since the Great Depression. But ignorance was bliss. Ross worked hard and did well, bad economy and all.

So when things went south in 2008, Ross remembered his first year in the business and took a deep breath.

He then set a goal for Synergis, the information technology staffing and workforce management solutions company he founded with his wife, Cindy Ross, “not to lose anybody,” he recalls.

Not only did the company not lay off any of its 20 full-time staff, it didn’t cut compensation or benefits either. “People see that we have a strong commitment to them,” says Ross, president and co-founder of Synergis.

Synergis employees have rewarded its management for its efforts by voting it Atlanta’s No. 1 Best Place To Work for 2010 in the small employer category.

When the Rosses founded their company in 1997, they decided to avoid mistakes made by their former employers.

“We’re essentially in the people business but the larger companies tend to be interested in market share and the bottom line,” Ross says. “They made little investment in the people. We thought that was ironic and the wrong path.”

Ross is not the first to lead by the motto that taking care of one’s employees means employees take care of the customers and the bottom line takes care of itself, but according to Synergis employee feedback, Ross isn’t merely spewing talking points.

Ross contends that creating a best place to work isn’t all that difficult. You give employees tools to do their jobs and eliminate obstacles, he explains. Then you give them the freedom and flexibility to get their jobs done within the clearly defined core principles and framework of the company.

“I do not know of any other company that gives back as much to their employees as this company,” said a longtime employee in a survey conducted as part of the Best Places To Work program. The employee remembers receiving a gift basket from management his first day on the job, and over the years has been provided, he says, with “any tool necessary to be productive.”

It’s not all about being provided with the latest and greatest technology and ergonomic chairs. Employees are thankful for the occasional Atlanta Braves and Falcons tickets, concert tickets, movie passes, gift certificates, and, in the case of an employee celebrating his 10th year with the company, a watch he describes as “over the top.”

While recognition is nice, Ross also wants Synergis’ employees to be proud of the organization they represent and to feel “that they’re making a contribution,” he says. To that end, he’s designated 10 percent of the company’s earnings be earmarked for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, TechBridge and the American Cancer Society.

The company recently launched a sabbatical program for longtime employees. Every five years logged at Synergis earns employees an extra month off.

“It’s a tough business,” Ross says. “It can be stressful.”

While he’s offering Synergis’ veteran employees a unique opportunity to recharge, he’s also encouraging long-term retention.

His efforts are working. “I absolutely love my job,” said a Synergis employee in the Best Places To Work survey. “I brag to my friends about how great a job it is.”

Going forward, it looks like there will be several more Synergis employees sporting “over the top” watches.

Read more: Synergis - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Building with Habitat for Humanity

Synergis, along with TechBridge (a non-profit dedicated to helping other non-profits use technology to do more and serve more people) is pleased to announce that construction of the sixth Technology Community Habitat for Humanity House is complete. In partnership with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, dedication ceremonies for the new home took place on June 4, 2010.

Continuing a growing legacy of proactive and tangible impact on our community, Synergis and fifteen other TechBridge corporate supporters, joined together in the project by donating more than $75,000 and providing volunteers for the home build near the Oakland City neighborhood in southwest Atlanta. The group also donated $2,000 to TechBridge in appreciation for its facilitation for the project.

In addition to the home's keys being presented to its new owner at the deciation ceremony, the homeowners were also presented with a new laptop computer an monitor donated by GE Energy. The computer, loaded with software donated by Microsoft, was accompanied by a printer and a gift certificate for a computer desk and chair given by the house sponsors. The build team was also grateful to The Coca-Cola Company for providing beverages throughout the project and to LexisNexis Risk Solutions for donating the services of Jim Storm Photography.

Synergis is proud to have been able to be a part of the Technology Build for all six years with: AGL Resources, Federal Home Loan Bank of America, GE Energy, Southern Company, The Coca Cola Company and Vertex Business Services.

"It's a great experience", says Client Services Manager, Mary Kennon Spree. "It's great to know you're making such a difference in a family's life while getting to connect with colleagues and IT professionals at the same time."

The annual Technology Community Habitat House project provides a powerful opportunity for IT professionals to network and for sponsoring companies to promote team building, all while doing tremendous good in our community. Companies interested in participating in the 2011 build should contact Carrie Bates, TechBridge's Director of Corporate Relations at cbates@techbridge.org.

The view photos of TechBridge's 2010 Technology Habitat build, click here. Photos courtesy of Jim Storm, www.jimstormphotography.com.

Syneris wins Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award

On October 22, 2009, Synergis was awarded the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award in the small for profit category for the state of Georgia. Synergis' President, Doug Ross, attended the ceremony to accept the award.

"We are especially proud of this award because unlike most of the 'best places to work' surveys you see, the nomination and selection process is determined by independent organizational development professionals."



The Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards are designed to recognize organizations for their efforst to foster employee helath and well-being while enhancing organization performance.

Since 1999, Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards have been presented to organizations by state, provincial and territorial psychological associations with support from the American Psychological Association. The award program highlights a variety of workplaces, large and small, profit and non-profit, in diverse geographical settings.

Applicants were evaluated on their efforts in the following five areas:
• Employee Involvement
• Work-Life Balance
• Employee Growth and Development
• Health and Safety
• Employee Recognition

Synergis sponsors 2009 TAGit Golf Tournament

Synergis was one of the proud sponsors of the fifth annual TAGit Golf Tournament held this year at the Cherokee Country Club.

This sell out event allows executives in the IT industry to relax, network and have a great day out on the links. All proceeds to toward TAG and the TAG foundation.

The TAG foundation supports educating, informing and uniting Georgia's technology community. Also, the TAG Education Collaborative works to excited kids about pursuing careers in math, science, technology and engineering.

Synergis employees were able to golf and participate at our sponsor stations. We are proud to support such a great cause and look forward to seeing you out on the course next year!

Synergis Named an Inc. 5000 "Fastest Growing Company

Inc. Magazine annually chooses the top 5,000 Fastest Growing Comapnies in the U.S. In the past, it has highlighted such companies as Microsoft, Zappos and Jamba Juice. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy - America's independent-minded entrepreneurs.

For the third year, Synergis has been recognized on this list - ranked at #3,587. Synergis is an industry leader in providing IT staffing solutios to organizations ranging from start-ups to the Fortune 100.

"Savvy trend spotters and those who invest in private companies know that the Inc. 5000 is the best place to find out about young companies that are achieving success through a wide variety of unprecedented business models, as well as older private companies that are still expanding at an impressive rate," said Inc. 5000 project manager, Jim Melloan. "That's why our list is so eagerly anticipated every year".