Personally I always wait until I have an offer in hand and then give 2-week's notice.

If you choose to tell them before they might let you go immediately, work with you to plan your transition out of the company in a mutually agreed upon timeframe, or they could take no action until you secure another job. It really depends on the company culture and your relationship with your manager.

As a recruiter I can tell you that you risk burning your bridges with both staffing agencies and the client company if you try to play the agencies against each other.

If both agencies submit you will get into a situation where the client could reject you outright and the agencies will know that you have been submitted by each other as the client or the client's vendor management system will tell them that you are a duplicate resume. This could cause them to sever your representation.

Your best course of action is to go with the agency that contacted you first or the one that offers the best benefit and wage package.

Just pick an agency and go with them and tell the agency you have already been represented to that job. To do otherwise risks your professional reputation, recruiters and clients move around and talk. If you burn a bridge today it might not bite you in your professional ass today but it could in few years time.

Your question about non-compete clauses is common. Non-compete clauses are standard in the staffing agency and if you want to work with a staffing firm you will have to be comfortable signing them as part of your representation agreement. Staffing agencies have an obligation to protect their business and that is the only purpose of a non-compete clause. They usually state that if you are submitted to a client or work for a client through the agency all further work for a defined period must go through said agency, its standard practice.

Good question.

I would advise you against playing "hard to get" in the traditional sense but definitely encourage you to use interviews as an opportunity to interview the prospective employer.

You can do this in a number of ways. One way is when they ask you a question ask for clarification or turn the question back on the asker. This could get you more information and also allow you time to formulate a stronger answer if one doesn’t come to mind immediately. Another way is to ask very thorough and engaging questions at the end of the interview.

Definitely appear interested in the job but you would also likely want to play it a little cool so you do seem like you have a number of opportunities that you are considering.

You could also maybe tighten up your answers to their questions. One thing you might not be doing in your interviews is speaking in specific terms. A lot of candidates will speak about their skills and contributions in general terms, especially if they worked in a highly collaborative environment. Practice framing your answers in the "problem, action, results" (PAR) style. When asked a question put forth a real world example where there was a business problem, articulate the action you took to address this problem, and share the specific result.

At the end of the day you want to leave prospective employers with a concrete vision of who you are and what you would bring to their position/company and the impression that you are interested.

If you play too hard to get you will risk being thought of as arrogant and might not get the job.

Hope this helps and good luck in your next interview.

Yeah, definitely ask around to other people who've contracted. If you're in Seattle, I'd recommend Filter and Aquent -- I've had really positive experiences with both. I'd put Volt at second behind them, but they're so big that your experience can weigh heavily on whichever recruiter you're working with.

And really, this is the truth of working with any agency -- it's about who you end up working with. Beyond the benefit packages that contracting companies offer, your best bet is to cultivate relationships with individual recruiters. They can move around from agency to agency, and if you find a few that you click with, keep in touch, friend them on LinkedIn, etc. That relationship can benefit you longterm (3-5 years down the road), especially as you develop in your career and become more valuable.

Exude friendliness, confidence, flexibility and a yearn to learn. You want your potential employer to feel they might really miss out if they let you walk out the door without hiring you. Use gentle humor and a winning smile to cajole your potential boss to give you a chance to show how great you can be working there.

I know you are discouraged and want to 'work anywhere', but really try to look for work at places you are really interested in being. Observe people working in your area and ask how they enjoy what they do and how they came to work there.

Be ready to be your own best advocate. You need to think about any skills you have developed in your life that would apply to a given workplace. So you have no experience, you are ready to learn how your new employer wants a job done.

Everyone is a potential source of referral to a job. If someone says that they don't have work to offer, ask them if they know of another business that they could refer you to. If you feel a good connection with the person you are talking to, ask for feedback on if there was any way you could have improved in your interview or personal presentation.

Be totally honest about your availability. Don't accept a job from someone who thinks you will learn a job and stay on for an extended time and then quit two months later. Perhaps job hours can be modified so you can work and go to school come the fall.

When you get a job, be on time, respect the workplace by your behavior and your dedication to your work when you are there.

I agree with Dan. Don't put your GPA on your resume and don't bring it up and you probably won't be asked.

Also, don't volunteer any information about your mental illness during an interview. I've tried that and it is a bad idea. It is sad but true that people just don't understand mental illness and they will automatically think you can't do the job because of it. If they ask about your GPA (which is unlikely) just tell them that you had a lot of outside distractions or issues or something like that and point them in the direction of your other credentials.

And, after some experience I'd have to say that you probably shouldn't reveal at work that you have any kind of mental illness. People treat you differently...unless it must come up because it is causing a problem or something or you feel close enough to tell people. Even supposedly hip or progressive people can be less than supportive of mental illness issues.

Dan Breard, a recruiter who works at Harvey Nash, was recommended to me by a friend who's worked with him a lot. I worked with him when I was looking for a job earlier in the year, and although I ended up finding a job through another contact, I was really impressed with his professionalism and the fact that he actually paid attention to my resume and what I was looking for. A lot of recruiters are really aggravating, it's as though they never even glanced at my resume...

Anyway! Here's his contact info: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dan-breard/9/340/136

Good luck!

Can you start the process of getting the WFR now, so you can say on the application it is in progress?

My understanding is that when there are a lot of applicants for a job the first cull of them is just a tick-a-box process of checking to see if the selection criteria are met. So if you just put the WFA, with no reference to the WFR, then you might miss out completely.

Even if there are not a lot of applicants I'd still address the issue, so that those reviewing can see that you DO know the criteria and are doing what you need to do to meet them.

I can't speak to specific experience with Addeco but they are probably not too different than any other staffing agency.

As with all staffing agencies you have to take the good with the bad. The good is usually opportunity to be considered for jobs you might not have access to you on your own. The bad can be poor or no benefits and the feeling that you are just a number in the database.

A lot of this is driven by the company's philosophy and how much they overwork their recruiters.

My advice would be to take the interview. In this economy you should use as many resources as you can to find a new job and working with staffing agencies doesn't cost you anything outside of the time spent in the initial interview, making any suggested edits to your resume and dealing with bulk emails for jobs you might not be appropriate or of interest.

Have you considered contacting individual researchers at various schools? There are sometimes jobs for non-phd science people in research groups that often aren't advertised. But, this may not be super-permanent--it may be that a group has funding for something like 2 years for a full-time research assistant.

Related, i think there are several manufacturers of science equipment based in Seattle--have you tried looking these folks up?

Have you gone through your college department to see what job contacts they might have in the Seattle area? Were you/are you a member of any professional societies that you can go to for job search help or mentoring?

You should also see if you can find government contractors, who might have contracts with Ecology, DNR, etc, to fill various positions and who might be hiring.

There's a guide that publish the top earning businesses in various fields in the Seattle area, you might want to look at that to get a sense of what's available privately.

I've never hired anyone, but I've looked for jobs plenty :p

1 - Your email is your cover letter. Most of the jobs I've ever applied to were from craigslist. The classic approach often talked about in application advice articles doesn't work as well when you know nothing about the company based on it's CL ad.

2 - References upon request; not in the resume. The only 'universally' format tip I've identified is "one page only". Other than that well written is king. These documents are most likely not going to be printed out, sans-serif fonts (google it) are easier to read on the screen. Times new roman is a serif font. Maybe have a print edition and a digital edition with different fonts if you like. If you can have identical headers on your documents (resume, cover letter, reference list, that would look good I guess).

3 - These jobs exist, but competition is thick. Most the competition though get's eliminated because they shoot themselves in the foot with bad grammar or spelling. Be in it to win it.

4 - Register online? depends if they have that. They're all different. But you will have to go into the agency for an interview/meet and greet type meeting. Maybe take a typing and windows/word proficiency test. If you've recently been through school, I'd recommend: Campus Point. They are like a temp placement/permanent placement hybrid company. Do affiliate yourself with multiple agencies.

5 - Sorry to say but it just depends. You should expect, though, to spend upwards of 8hrs a day applying. The early bird get's the worm. But at least it's from the comfort of your own home.

I've never seen it myself, but there is software out that HR people use to scan cover letters and resumes. It'll scan for keywords and info. The docs with relevant info get fwd for review, others I bet just get deleted. Therefore make sure your text is less narrative and more like technical writing.

Congratulations on your imminent return to civilian life and good luck with your job search! We were doing a lot of that recently, and my husband is a former Army officer, so I feel for you. Here are some sites you might want to check out:

www.indeed.com - a job site compiler. Most useful if you have some specific key words, rather than just browsing.

www.idealist.org - Non profit jobs only; considering your interests, it might be a good place to look.

www.hireahero.org - Just for veterans. Unfortunately, not a lot of jobs listed, but at least you know the companies that post them are giving more weight to your veteran status.

www.careers.gov.wa and www.seattle.jobs/gov might also be worth checking out based on your interests.

Washington State Unemployment has special job hunting assistance for veterans, but my husband's experience with it was not useful.

If you're willing, you might want to check out UPS, Fed-Ex or Comcast. We've heard that they all give extra consideration to former military. My husband advises me to warn you that around here, there's definitely some prejudice, and to try not to let it piss you off. Some people just don't seem to get that managing people in the field translates into managing people in the business world. Also, do not use acronyms when you interview. They're second nature to you, but civilians will be really turned off by them. It was the hardest thing for him to remember.

Good luck, good luck!!

of course, I'm not stupid.

Please see: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer=Wal-Mart_Stores,_Inc/Hourly_Rate

Walmart average wages are well above the national federal minimum wage.

Not defending other practices of course... you gotta do what you gotta do though.

Generally, work that you do alone, either creating stuff (artist, craftsperson, writer), assembling stuff (stuffing envelopes), or transcribing stuff (medical transcriptionists). Damn few jobs where one is supposed to show up at a specific location allow for much in the way of flexibility. Some do, of course, but they're hard to find and those of us who do find them hold onto them like sheer death because we know we'll never find another one like them.

There used to be a lot more jobs for people who picked up Dictaphone tapes and typed 'em up at home. There are still some, mostly in the medical field, but they're harder to find.

as a former retail manager of 15 years, i agree with most of this advice. i'd be completely into you if you indicated that you appreciated "x,y,or z" about your former company and left on good terms, but had learned from your administrative gig that interaction/communication with people was the best environment for you. that is a retail hiring manager's wet dream! i used to even turn it into a funny story in retail job interviews and talk about how i was always getting in trouble in office settings for talking, until i realized i needed a career path that actually required the gift of gab.

other managers might disagree with me, but i would not recommend the "better job offer i couldn't pass up". retail is an incredibly competitive field where poaching talent is rampant. this type of statement might imply that you aren't loyal and won't stick it out for the long haul if their competitor's slick recruiting manager starts romancing you with campaign promises.

i think that "seeking career change" is fine, but john's suggestion of "to pursue other oppurtunities" is better. it's so vague that they won't read too much into it. as long as you are prepared about how to explain yourself once you interview it should actually work for you in retail.

i also like this article and have used it myself successfully.
http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1778-Interviewing-How-to-Answer-10-Tough-Interview-Questions/?sc_extcmp=JS_1778_home1&SiteId=cbmsnhp41778&ArticleID=1778>1=24000&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=8804bfc392a04e4c8897ed5eef52e88a-286987634-KH-5

I would opt for email first, and ask to meet in person.

In the email: "I'd like to apply for for graduate school, and I was wondering whether you would feel comfortable writing me a strong recommendation for admission. If so, I'd like to meet you in person, to chat and get some advice from you on my future path." Include how you know the professor, what classes you had with him/her, etc.

At the meeting, bring a resume with you, or at least a list of your accomplishments at school related to your field, to jog your professors' memories. Some professors actually ask students to write their own recommendation letters, then look them over, edit if needed and sign. (Less work for them that way.) Essentially, make it as easy as possible for them. Just know that this is a possibility.

Also, make sure you ask if the person can write a *strong* letter of recommendation. A crappy letter can hurt you. "Well, this guy did all the work, but I didn't see him during office hours and he didn't seem to put forward any extra effort, but he did get reasonable scores. A good student, but not a stand-out."

He can try contacting departments directly, probably the department chair would be the right person. I doubt someone with a master's degree will be picked up for teaching full time right away, especially for something like philosophy which has so few specific openings. But, he can always teach adjunct courses. Although you really don't get paid much for those, and the longer you stay an adjunct the more likely you'd get branded with the "adjunct" stigma.

He can also see if any area high schools might be interested in hiring him to teach a philosophy course--you don't need a teaching certificate to teach at private & parochial schools.

Or, if he really wants to teach, he can try going through a community center or the UW experimental college, but that's not going to be a living wage.

It's not a scam -- they want to have all your legal paperwork on file so that if the right job comes through, there won't be any waiting for background checks, or whatever. Basically, this is a move to both increase your loyalty to them (it feels more official, right?), and to make it as easy as possible for them to place YOU, instead of some other agency getting someone in there.

That said, I typically have told recruiters that I am legal to work in the US, but will only fill out the W-2 and I-9 forms once a job offer has been made. There's no need for more people to have your SSN on file than necessary.

As for both of your questions: yes, people have gotten jobs through Robert Half, and no, until you sign a contract that says you have a job and an hourly rate and a starting date, you are still unemployed, and able to draw unemployement. Talking to Robert Half (or any other agency) only counts as "looking for work."

A few things about how contract agencies work:

1. For every contract job out there, there are usually two or three (or more) agencies working on the same position. Because contracts bring in more money for agencies (they get paid an additional 40-75% on top of your hourly rate for every hour you work), competition is fierce. They run a tight business, and some agencies will resort to unscrupulous measures to give them even the smallest edge. Hence the request to have you fill out paperwork though there may/may not be a real job on the table.

2. Because there are going to be multiple agencies working on any one job, it's in your best interest to develop a relationship with a recruiter at every agency in the area that works in your area. Recruiters know this, and won't be offended if you work with more than one agency.

3. No agency can hinder your ability to get work elsewhere, though some will try to convince you that you have a special, legal relationship with them. (Be wary of non-compete clauses.) This is why you should never sign any paperwork until you have a job in hand, though you can be nice and polite about this refusal. Labor law typically favors the employee, as it is in the interest of the government for you to work rather than not work. (The exception here is the required 100-day break for a- contractors at Microsoft; I've heard that this won't stand up in a court of law, but agencies are very leery about violating this rule.)

Good luck with the follow-up interview!

I am a teacher. I teach 4th & 5th grade in a public school. I teach little kids multiplication tables. I work with students reading years below grade level. And I love everything about teaching. The few things I dislike (administrators, union politics, some parents, some colleagues) are still better than most of the stuff I would have to do at any office job.

My opinion of teaching and the opinion of my fellow Questionlanders really shouldn't mean much to you, though. I know many former teachers that loved teaching until they actually had their own classes. I also know many great teachers who just fell into teaching in one way or another.

If you're seriously interested in teaching, my suggestion is to go volunteer in a classroom for a week or once a week for a few months. Ask to work with kids individually and in small groups. Ask to work teachers when it comes to planning and assessment. Ask the teachers at the school what a typical school day, school night, and weekend looks like for a teacher. Talk to the principal and tell him/her that you want to see the reality of teaching. If you leave feeling encouraged and excited for your next visit, then teaching might be for you.

Teaching is a hell of a lot of work, but you will find a ton of reward and satisfaction if you make the effort to help every student learn. You can't be a good teacher unless you love to teach, so make sure it's something you'll love.