Is your business really aligning costs with contractors? As corporations do more with less, 1099 contractors are often the path of least resistance for many businesses. While convenient, misaligning 1099 contractors can lead to extra costs, inefficiencies and liabilities.

Utilizing contract professionals is an excellent way for corporations to temporarily expand their workforce on an as-needed basis. Valued for flexibility and specialized skill sets, hiring contract/freelance talent is a cost-effective strategy to bolster human capital. However, despite its convenience, talent acquisition via 1099 contract professionals exposes businesses to significant risks—such as higher hourly rates and co-employment liabilities, including back taxes, interest and penalties to the IRS—that can be easily avoided by hiring W2 contract professionals through specialized staffing agencies.

For example, a corporation is in need of a web development contract professional for a microsite. The project requires advanced web development skills, including HTML5 and JavaScript. Management hires a 1099 contract professional specializing in advanced web development at the rate of $125/hour. After project completion, the firm requires assistance with a corporate WordPress blog. Because it’s convenient for the organization, the contract web developer moves to another department within the corporation to develop this blog. Although this project does not require the same advanced programming skills as the microsite, the corporation has locked in the rate of $125/hour with the 1099 contract professional.

By using a staffing agency, this corporation could have not only saved money, but avoided risks associated with 1099 contractors. Staffing agencies identify, screen and hire W2 contract professionals for corporations, saving companies, on average, 30-40% on hourly rates by determining project difficulty and aligning pricing hourly rates accordingly. All co-employment risks are eliminated, and contract professionals often work with the added security of benefit packages and career growth, meeting both deadlines and expectations. An additional benefit of hiring W2 contractors through staffing agencies is the option to convert W2 contractors into full-time associates, saving corporations time and recruiting costs associated with hiring and training new employees.

If your corporation is hiring 1099 contractors, step back and consider the costs: higher hourly compensation, co-employment risks, as well as the time needed to recruit contractors and, when budget allows, full-time employees. Professional Staffing Agencies align costs, helping corporations steer clear of not only extra spending, but liabilities as well.

About Profiles

Founded in 1998, Profiles is a staffing and employment agency dedicated exclusively to the professional Marketing, Creative, Web and Interactive Technology niche. Profiles provides a full suite of recruitment and staffing services for many of the Mid-Atlantic’s Fortune 500 companies and leading brands.

Profiles offers more industry expertise, greater cost efficiencies, and a proven ability to match the best candidates with the right positions and companies.

We are headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland with offices in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Richmond, Virginia and Washington, DC.

Visit us online at www.careerprofiles.com.

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As the Business Development Manager for an Online Marketing, Creative and IT Staffing Company, I have seen the evolution and growth of these creative departments first-hand in my career. Because it’s my professional responsibility to keep an eye on the trends of this industry, I’ve been recently conversing with peers on the topic of Social Media.

Specifically, where does Social Media fit in the Organizational Chart? Way back in the “early days” (of 2008) Social Media was seen as a Public Relations function, but by 2010 the conversation began to shift towards Marketing.

So where are we today; does it belong under the Public Relations or Marketing departments, or is it a stand-alone function that should be cross-integrated with PR and Marketing?

Social Media: A Public Relations or Marketing Function?

On this issue, I have been of the opinion that Social Media falls best under the Public Relations umbrella because at its core, PR is non-paid for communications and includes internal and external audiences. PR is also a tricky dance, because while the messaging can be influenced and guided by the organization, ultimately someone else (usually the press) puts the final “spin” on the communication. In the Social Media space we see a similar dynamic, but it is the actual end users that can control the spin.

Marketing on the other hand, is paid for placed / planned media where the organization has 100% control over every aspect of the message. Having said that, it has become increasingly impossible to ignore the marketing opportunities inherent in Social Media: from the geo-location entities like Four Square to the simple “Like” on Facebook.

I am sure most of us have strong opinions on which department should win that territory war, and I welcome you to post your comments on this topic, but in the fast evolving world of Social the conversation has (surprise!) already changed.

C-Suite Executives for Social Media?

Today the discussion has moved to the C-suite level. Do organizations now need to add yet another title to the C-suite? We already have some nifty new titles being bandied about out there: from Chief Collaboration Officer to Chief Social Officer and Chief Community Officer.

Before you let out that groan of “not another re-org and expensive new top executive,” it is wise to remember the evolution of the CIO title (the last truly successful C-level addition to the organizational chart in 15 years).

I don’t think any of us can imagine any large organization without a CIO in today’s world. The basic reasoning for the CIO role boiled down to the simple fact that IT had become central to operations and service delivery across the enterprise.

So the question to ask now is the following: “Has Social Media become (or will become in the next 5 years) critical to the operations and service delivery of companies?”

My answer for today is “yes.” Social Media is going to be the future of internal and external communications: influencing the employee, end-user, supply chain and strategic partners. It will eventually control all stakeholder engagement, and that’s where actual business happens.

I would go so far as to say that until this function is consolidated (rather than the haphazard and fragmented housing now used) it may be a while before we see any consistent ROI from Social Media. As proof of this, it should not be lost on anyone that GM just cancelled its paid Social Media with Facebook at the same time Facebook is in the midst of what is shaping up to be a very successful IPO.

In the end, this opinion is only one voice in an attempt to forecast the ever-changing social media landscape. However, take some time to consider your own organization: define the department where social media falls, and evaluate how this communications tool could impact your future growth. What steps are you taking to manage this powerful medium? I welcome your feedback, and look forward to continuing this conversation.

About Profiles:

Profiles is a unique staffing firm specializing in online marketing, creative, and interactive jobs. Since 1998, we have served the needs of our Clients and Talent by matching the best candidates with the best companies in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Author Name – Marie Gordon
Title – Business Development Consultant
Location – Washington, DC
Twitter – @MeetMarie
Byline – Marie has spent the past 15 years in the recruitment industry for creative, digital and communication professionals. She is passionate about branding, innovative marketing and watching the disruption of the status quo.

As a Digital Marketer working within the realm of Staffing and Recruiting, I predict the future of Recruitment will be nested comfortably in the hands of the web and enhanced technology. Other industries are already steps ahead of the recruiting industry in regards to how they communicate, engage and service their customers online. It won’t be long before Recruiting methods embrace a new wave of online intelligence and features.

At top-level, this is how I forecast recruiting efforts trending- some are already in the works!

1- Mobile Job Searches

Search queries for jobs will be primarily on mobile devices and tablets. The use of smartphones has become customary, and before long the norm will be that tablets have replaced the need for laptops. The CTIA Wireless Association currently reports 328 billion US mobile users with 32% of US households solely operating on mobile devices. Therefore, if you don’t have a mobile website plan in place, this should be a high priority.

2- Behavioral Sourcing

Parallel to Remarketing and Retargeting strategies in which a user’s web behavior is tracked via cookies as they browse from website to website in order to serve up relevant advertisements, soon algorithms will be tracking “people” searching the web, collecting skills sets, work history, hobbies, interests and other online behaviors which create new talent profiles saved within your CRM. This level of intelligence will flourish the quality and speed of sourcing efforts resulting in an uptick of credible candidate-to-job matches. Keep this in mind when you are searching the web and acting on social channels: What does your online activity say about you or your company?

3- Web-based Preliminary Interviews

Online-secured surveys will be used as a primary interview. Weed through the masses of job applicants by using a secure login/password. This way, the candidate can take a preliminary interview survey, tailored to the sought-after job position, from the comfort of the talent’s own home. This will help streamline processes by recruiters, and provide clients with a faster time to fill the position.

4- Video Interviews

Taking the automated or Skype interview one step further, a computer program will ask the candidate customized interview questions. A confidential recording is then brokered to the hiring manager in a cost savings and time-efficient way. This option is perfect for sourcing Senior Executives from out of state or abroad, or for remote offices.

5- Instant Customer Service

Online customer service will be an increasing trend. Similar to many banking websites which currently offer Instant Messaging customer service. For staffing and recruiting, a user would be connected to the appropriate customer service representative depending if they were a Client or Talent. Issues with timecards and payments, as well as benefit and salary questions can all be addressed with immediate response.

Summary

From this short list of future predictions it may come off as a futuristic “robots replacing people” landscape, but that is not the case. Recruiters and Human Resources are needed as the subject matter experts on each niche position to facilitate the perfect match and culture fit between the candidate and employer. The forecasts above are to leverage technology and empower Recruiters and HR Managers to work smarter, not harder. What are your predictions?

About Profiles:

Profiles is a unique staffing firm specializing in online marketing, creative, and interactive jobs. Since 1998, we have served the needs of our Clients and Talent by matching the best candidates with the best companies in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Author Name – Polly Marrangoni
Title – Marketing Manager
Location – Baltimore, MD
Twitter – @PollysNews
Byline – Polly Marrangoni spearheads the Marketing department for the Mid-Atlantic offices of Profiles. She has traveled and gathered over 6 years of Digital Marketing experience from successful startups in San Diego, CA to national organizations in Washington, DC.
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In most companies, the person responsible for the first line of resume reviews is often the most junior person on the team. Unfortunately, that person is not really interested in recruiting candidates, so catching their attention is very difficult.

As a recruiter for a creative, marketing and IT staffing agency in Baltimore and Washington, DC, I know that when someone submits their resume, they have only a few seconds to catch the recipient’s attention and keep them from hitting delete.

Here are 5 Tips to optimize your resume and get them to respond.

1- Give Basic Location Information

Don’t fill up the first quarter of your resume with your full address, three phone numbers, personal and work email addresses, etc. All a recruiter needs is your name, location (city / state), one cell phone number and one email address. Use up that space on the page for more valuable information.

2- Use Keywords

Almost all applicant tracking systems (like monster.com) are driven by keyword searches, and often, a recruiter is given a list of keywords to look for, so make it easy for the employer! I recommend including at least nine keywords at the top of your resume.

For example:

• Advertising
• Online marketing
• Media management
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Pay-per-click (PPC)
• Email marketing
• HTML/CSS
• Adobe CS5

3- Include Current Company Information

Often people just write their company’s name, and never state exactly what that company is known for providing or the industry. If your company is not a household name, the employer might not recognize what a good fit you could be for them. Give a short blurb on what the company produces and how successful it was in the past year. For example: Profiles is a multimillion dollar staffing firm, located in the mid-Atlantic, specializing in placing communications individuals and designers in Fortune 1000 corporations.

4- Bullet your Daily Responsibilities in Layman’s Terms

I often get resumes written with corporate acronyms that only employees of that company can understand. If you’re not applying to an internal position, make sure you’re using language that everyone can understand.

5- Speak to the Job at Hand

People in HR (and recruiters) don’t have time to “read between the lines” and figure out what you do at your job. If they are asking for specific responsibilities and skills, make sure your resume has bullets that respond to their needs.

Hopefully, with these quick steps, you’ll get a better understanding on how to optimize your resume. Next time, employers will pay attention to your resume and reach out to you for that interview!

Author Name – Elissa Barnes
Title – Senior Account Manager
Location – Washington, DC
Twitter – @EBProfiles
Byline – In 2005, Elissa joined Profiles, the premier and number one staffing firm in the mid-Atlantic for the Communications industry, as an Account Manager. Today she manages over 30 accounts and hundreds of the mid-Atlantic’s top talent. Specializing in marketing, design and web talent, Elissa truly thrives in today’s competitive talent market.
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It’s a fact for many of us that our work can be very stressful. Long hours, straining commutes and lack of sleep all contribute to our low energy and high stress levels. Sometimes, it can feel as if we can’t even stop for a lunch break.

When it comes to fueling our bodies with nutritional meals, many of us turn to the storage of excuses we have and pull them out once we need a reason behind our bad eating habits:

“It’s quick and easy; I’m stressed out; I don’t eat this every day, only once in a while; I need a soda to stay awake; I don’t have any time to cook food,” the list is endless.

We all have made these excuses, and in the world we live in today which feels like a constant race against time it seems only inevitable that we put our health second to all the other things that seem so important.

The reality is good fuel equals good performance. It is necessary for our long-term work performance that we maintain healthy eating habits. And the good news is, it’s not as hard as we make it out to be.

Because I work as a recruiter for a creative, web/IT, and online marketing staffing agency in Philadelphia, PA, it is difficult at times to keep a balance lifestyle in this hectic industry. However, I’ve determined a few easy steps to take to improve your healthy eating habits at work:

1- Make a Plan

Like almost everything, eating healthy is a learned behavior. Always having a backup plan, and eat multiple times a day. When you are grocery shopping on the weekend, think ahead: plan out your daily meals, and prep any food ahead of time. This will help you manage your time during the week, without caving for some fast-food on the drive home.

2- Eat Breakfast

It’s not the first time that you hear it, but eating breakfast is essential in maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle. Running through the morning hours with only a cup of coffee is detrimental to your metabolism, as well as to your work performance. By lunch time you feel as if you have spent the morning in the Sahara desert and will eat anything to get rid of your hunger pains. Here are some creative ways to ramp up your breakfast at work.

3- Snack Smart

Snack on a yogurt half way through the morning and a healthy granola bar right before lunch. By lunch time, it won’t be a run for your life to the closest and worst food truck. The same goes for the afternoon. Keeping healthy snacks in your drawer like a bag of almonds and some fruit will keep your end of the day stress-eating far from the vending machines for some M&M’s and a coke. By dinner time, you are ready to cook a healthy-sized portion of food since you won’t be trapped in the “I haven’t eaten since noon and I’m starving” scenario.

4- Drink Water

Above all, hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate with water. Someone once told me that your body runs like a program: if your actions are telling it to shut down, it will. When you don’t hydrate throughout the day, your body can’t distinguish between a dire situation in which you have no access to water, or if you’re just too busy at work. It will shut down, using less energy to preserve what it has, lowering your energy usage and slowing your metabolism. Keep hydrated to maintain high energy levels to stay awake during the 3 o’clock stretch.

We all have the power to change our lifestyles and maintain our health. Keeping it as the priority is where we sometimes lose sight of what we should be doing. Our bodies are the machine we should always give the highest maintenance to, no matter what the cost.

About Profiles:

Profiles is a unique staffing firm specializing in online/marketing, creative, and web/interactive jobs. Since 1998, we have served the needs of our Clients and Talent by matching the best candidates with the best companies in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Author Name – Maria Xidous
Title – Account Manager
Location – Philadelphia, PA
Twitter – @Maria_Xidous
Byline – Maria is a recruiter with over five years of experience. She is passionate about finding and helping great talent. Her favorite quote: “A recruiter is someone who finds people who are happy with their jobs, shows them why they are unhappy, and then makes them happy again” (Anonymous).
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When you’re hiring someone, you always look at their resume, cover letter, and portfolio to determine their qualifications for the job. However, you also want to make sure that they are a proper culture fit. As the owner of a staffing agency in the Mid-Atlantic, and as a huge car fanatic, I have an unusual- but personally effective- way of qualifying potential employees. How? By asking about their car.

Instead of the routine way of determining culture fit, think about the qualities that a person may possess that influenced them to purchase their vehicle. Maybe even throw this in as an interview question!

Since we specialize in placing creative, web/IT, and online marketing professionals, I like to see a little pizazz when interviewing talent. Therefore, my example is how to think about hiring someone who drives a Mini Cooper.

Here’s why:

1- Creative

Mini Cooper drivers embrace the creative process. Every Mini on the lot is unique; no one Mini is the same. If you order a Mini, there are over 50,000 combinations of colors and options. So, do you think Mini drivers think out of the box? Are creative at work? Provide unique solutions?

2- Economical

People who drive Minis are not wasteful. They understand the value of a dollar. The gas mileage of this car is incredible, and they are very low maintenance. Mini drivers seldom lose time at work to take their cars in for repair. Economical-minded folks will save your company money; just because that’s the way they think.

3- Safe

Minis are safe. They have more airbags than most other cars. In fact, they lead their class in safety. Do you know that the metal used in a Mini is thicker than the metal in its larger and not so distant cousin, a BMW 7 Series? When Mini drivers arrive at work, they think about safety. That will translate to fewer workers comp claims in your organization.

4- Agile

If you have ever driven a Mini, you would understand what I mean. They can maneuver, change lanes, blend in with traffic, then take off quickly. People who drive Minis like that rush! They can switch directions when needed. They can jumpstart fast initiatives. They like the excitement of growing a company.

5- Responsive

When you press on the gas of a Mini, they go. They don’t wait around. Mini drivers love that about their cars because that’s the same characteristic they feel. Respond to a task and get it done. That’s what we need in today’s workforce.

6- Forward-Thinking

Minis have the latest and greatest technology: from iPod and Mobile integration, to engine and fuel efficiencies. Like their cars, Mini owners stay current with the latest technology trends, and stay ahead of the curve- literally.

7- Social

Mini drivers are creators of a culture. They express and embrace design, and are collaborative. Through their vehicles they take trips, and attend rallies and social events. They are connected, and embrace the importance of social media and the value of collaborative thinking. Individual, yet collaborative: that’s a winning person for any organization.

So when it’s time to hire your next pro, make sure you ask what car they drive, and ask why. If they drive a Mini, hire them on the spot.

Author Name – Joe Gambino
Title – Co-Owner/ President of Profiles
Location – Baltimore, MD
Twitter – @CareerProfiles
Byline – Joe is not a writer. He pretty much cannot spell. In fact, it takes a team of three copywriters to help Joe organize his scattered thoughts. However, Joe is more of a business guy, a thought leader, an integrator of great Talent. Joe invents ideas that are better facilitated by his incredible team at Profiles. Profiles is more than a full- service, Creative, Marketing, Web, and IT staffing agency. It’s a team of people that change lives, inspire business and facilitate the best Talent with awesome organizations. Truly Inspired Solutions.
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This past weekend was full of big hats, fancy bow ties, and high hopes as we cheered on our favorite horses at the Kentucky Derby. I was personally cheering for “Creative Cause,” thinking it was a very suiting name for Profiles. But in the end, there was only one winner wearing the Garland of Roses.

Much like the horse races, a job opening can only end with one placement. So how do you set yourself ahead from the rest in the job race? As a recruiter for an IT and Marketing staffing agency in Baltimore, MD, I know of many resources that can help optimize your job search to the full potential. However, your LinkedIn profile is one of the best.

LinkedIn is more than just a place to post your current position. Use these 5 simple LinkedIn tips to secure your spot in first place!

1) Complete your Profile

It may seem so simple, but most members don’t completely fill out their profile. Employers (and recruiters) use LinkedIn all the time to search for new job candidates, so it is extremely important to make sure your profile is complete and up-to-date. Don’t just show your most recent position without any skills or education. Employers do not know that you actually had a very relevant internship before your current position, or that you graduated from their alma mater, unless you tell them. The more details in your profile, the more future employers can learn about your abilities.

2) Join Industry-Related Groups

LinkedIn offers groups for every profession and skill set (almost too many to choose from). These are great tools to stay current with news and trends in your industry and also to make connections with people relative to your field. To find the right group to join, search for a skill or software in your field, and choose the best from the results. Members post discussions, ask questions, and even post jobs to groups.

3) Change your URL

LinkedIn automatically gives your profile a URL with a bunch of letters and numbers. Instead, choose a custom URL for your public profile that is much cleaner. For example, mine is www.linkedin.com/in/marissanagy. This will help you look more reputable to people when they search for you, and also brings your name up in a Google search. This is important, because we all know that Hiring Managers will be Googling you when they prepare to interview you. Therefore, make sure all of your social media forums are clean and professional!

4) Create a Resume in a Hurry

So you have been comfortable in your position for a few years now, and haven’t spruced up your resume in quite a while. But a great job opportunity presented itself and you are ready to interview, tomorrow! Well LinkedIn actually has a very handy tool that will build you a resume based off the information in your profile (another reason it is important to have your profile complete and up to date). It will convert your profile to a simple resume that you can print out, export to a PDF, or share on other social platforms. There are 11 templates to choose from, with different design aesthetics. While this is a great instant resource, I highly recommend investing time into optimizing and writing a resume other than a computer generated format. Check out our past blogs providing modern resume and portfolio tips.

5) Research Career Paths

Do you have an eye on your next promotion or next career move? LinkedIn can be an easy way to search that next position and research the skills you’ll need. In the search bar, type the job title that you are interested in and browse through profiles of people in that position/profession. Take a good look at the positions they have held and the steps they took to reach that level. Do you see yourself on the same path? If you need help in determining your next career move, a Profiles recruiter can assist you with your search and provide guidance along the way.

LinkedIn is a free and easy tool that most aren’t using to the true potential. In reality, it can act as your biggest cheerleader and separate you from other candidates in the race. After implementing these easy tricks, all bets will be on you in your next candidacy. Good luck!

Author Name – Marissa Nagy
Title – Recruiter
Location – Baltimore, MD
Twitter – @MarissaNagy
Byline – Marissa joined the team as a Recruiter in the beginning of 2012, bringing with her experience in advertising and sales, and enjoys learning new trends about the industry. Originally from Pennsylvania, she’s excited to travel and explore her new city of Baltimore.
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Volunteering is a great way to gain useful career knowledge and benefits, while giving back to your community; for unemployed job-seekers, it can be a great “resume filler” for a period of time between jobs that reflects initiative as well as good citizenship. You may find it to be a great networking outlet to mingle with other volunteers who are plugged into the community.

Similar to the way academic institutions were interested in your extra-curricular activities, your volunteer work shows Hiring Managers another side of you: where your interests, dedications and commitment lie. Employers are often more prone to “hire from within,” considering a job candidate who is already volunteering for their organization, over other applicants residing in the candidate pool.

In fact, 41% of hiring authorities surveyed by LinkedIn rated volunteer experience equally as important as paid experience. As a Recruiter for creative, marketing, Web & IT jobs in Richmond, VA, I’ve collected three other reasons to give volunteering a try:

1- Develop Professional Skills

There are many types of volunteer work you can do that can actually help build skills that can help advance your career. For example, assisting with fundraising efforts for a non-profit is a great way to expand your budgeting, planning and goal setting skills. Leadership opportunities where you are required to supervise and train others will give you additional management experience, if not your first introduction. Your experience and the ability to manage others can be a key factor in landing your dream job.

There’s always room for improvement when it comes to soft skills too. According to the National Survey of Giving Volunteering and Participating (NSGVP), more than 79% of volunteers surveyed said that their volunteer activities helped them with their interpersonal skills, such as understanding people better, motivating others, and dealing with difficult situations. Just over 68% of volunteers said that volunteering helped them to develop better communication skills.

2- Test-Drive a Career Change

Are you on the fence about a career change? Try volunteering in a similar scenario and see how things play out. This will give you a realistic taste of what you could expect in a new field of work before you switch gears all together and go for it full-time. If it works for you, you’ve gotten some experience and the chance to make some good connections for the launch of your next job search!

3- Expand Your Network

Volunteering really is as good for your career as it is for the organization you’re choosing to work for. You will have the opportunity to connect with a much broader, diverse population, creating potential networking opportunities you may not have had available within your current career circles. Added bonuses include a heightened sense of motivation and achievement.

If you’re ready to add volunteering to your life, check out these local organizations. Or, take some time to self-reflect on what causes you are passionate about, and what skills you can contribute.

Author Name – Betsy Sayre
Title – Account Manager
Location – Richmond, VA
Twitter – @ProfilesBetsy
Byline – Betsy has been assisting Profiles with their recruiting efforts since August of 2011. A veteran contractor and huge fan of this raging employment option, she’s been in Richmond since the late 80’s, working in creative process management roles for various agencies and corporations. Downtime is spent in her studio painting gourds, playing with power tools and experimenting with paper mache.
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If you’re on the market and in the creative field of Web Design, Creative Direction, Art Direction, or Copywriting, it’s a necessity to have a portfolio to send to prospective employers along with your resume. While UX Designers do fit into this Creative kingdom sometimes you are the exception to the rule, as the majority of your work may be wireframes and mockups.

While staffing for creative, marketing and IT jobs in Richmond, VA, I interview a number of Creatives each week. The ones that I usually call to set up appointments with first already have a clean and modern online portfolio. The rest better have some darn good agencies and brands listed on their experience to pique my interest.

In today’s competitive market, it’s a must to take a moment from your busy schedule and brand yourself to prospective employers. Below are some portfolio tips for each type of Creative professional, some from my own arsenal and some direct from Fortune 500 client feedback.

All Creative Fields

1- Keep it Current

Seasoned professionals can easily make the mistake of including many older materials, and although that ad you produced for a killer brand back in the early 90s still glows to you, it might not be as appealing to a brand new viewer because its content simply looks dated. Try to keep most of your samples from recent work (the last 10 years at most).

2- Invest in a Personal Web Domain versus a PDF

It’s far more attractive to add a simple link to your online identity than a large attachment of files. Your competing job-seekers will most likely have their websites up and running, and you immediately look like you aren’t trying quite as hard if all you have is a PDF attachment along with your resume. If you are an Art Director or Copywriter and cannot get a personal website made, use a progressive portfolio site and set up an account, such as Behance.com.

3- Don’t Limit Yourself

If you work for a company with highly proprietary creative work (ie: a government agency), don’t just settle for the fact that you cannot share your work. Find some freelance side projects so you have something to display to prospective employers. It may seem like a lot of work now, but you’ll be happy you did it when you really need to find a new role down the road.

Copywriters

1- Include a Wide Variety of Work

Try to display all medians types of copy, including web, mobile, non-traditional, and print. Show your versatility by showcasing what services you provide: Web Writing, SEO, Blogging, Social Media, e-Newsletters, Press Releases, Branding, Proposals, Speech Writing, Broadcast or Print Writing.

2- Consider Your Audience

Try to avoid posting pieces you have written that have poor design. Some of the “Hiring Managers” looking at your portfolio often include Creative Directors. Although you have a great tagline, if the art direction was sub-par, this could reflect badly on you and your judgment.

3- Make it Fun

You’re a creative writer—make it creative! Be as personal and up-front as possible about who you are and demonstrate your writing skills in the “About Me” section. Have fun with it!

Art Directors

1- Include a Wide Variety of Work

Just like the modern copywriter, don’t limit yourself to one type of advertising. Make sure you have both print and web design samples. You don’t have to be a coder, but get some work in there that shows that you know how to design for the web.

2- Don’t Pretend to Be a Writer

I have seen numerous design portfolios with ambitious writing, often riddled with typos. If you aren’t a writer, don’t try to be. Have a friend help with your website copy or just keep it straightforward and to the point.

Web Designers

1- Keep it Consistent

Use same-sized thumbnails and fonts. Make the site as clean and simple as possible.

2- Hand Code Your Site

Do not use Dreamweaver or an online portfolio site like Coroflot to display your work. Hand-code your own personal site, and from there include a way to click through from the site to external websites you created.

3- Make it Personal

Create a blog or an area where you can share your other creative passions. UX and Front-End Web Designers are creative too; this can differentiate you from back-end developers, and make you come across as more of an advertising professional.

Author Name – Janna Haley
Title – Account Manager
Location – Richmond, VA
Twitter – @ProfilesJanna
Byline – Janna has four years of recruiting experience with Profiles and loves working within the ever-evolving niche of Marketing and Advertising. When she isn’t seeking out the latest and greatest in the field, she enjoys experimenting at the piano, cuddling with her crazy dog, and tasting new food and wine.
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We’ve all been there: you’re running late to work, bleary-eyed and fuzzy-brained, struggling to make it to your cubicle at an indecently early hour. On the way out of the metro, you manage to squeeze in to the nearest coffee shop, only to come to a screeching halt in a crowded line. Five dollars and 20 minutes later, you re-emerge with a burnt cup of coffee and a suspiciously stale, bland baked pastry.

Is this the best way to start your morning? Why have we let ourselves fall into this routine? With a little effort and creativity, you can master the domain of the office kitchen, and spice up your workplace cuisine.

As a young professional (on a budget), and the (extremely lucky) fiancé of a trained chef, I’ve compiled a few easy recipes for a hot, filling breakfast that you can create with only a microwave. Anyone can bring yogurt, fruit and granola to work, but every once in a while, we deserve something a little more decadent. You don’t need to be at home to whip up a gourmet meal; test a few of these recipes and master the art of “guerrilla cooking” in your life.

1- Savory Poached Egg and Salmon

• Ingredients: 1 Egg, fresh uncooked Salmon, Rosemary, and Green Onions, salt and pepper to taste
• Serving Size: 1 (but flexible)
• Hardware: Microwave and microwave-safe mug, non-stick cooking spray, fork and knife
• Directions: Crack the egg into your mug coated with non-stick spray, blend with a fork, and add pieces of salmon, rosemary, and chopped green onions. Cook in the microwave for 1 minute, and you’ll have a perfectly scrambled egg sphere! Feel free to mix in a variety of added vegetables, cheese, or other ingredients as desired. Feeling hungrier? Add an extra egg and increase the cooking time a bit, it’s that easy!

2- Cinnamon French Toast and Mixed Berries

• Ingredients: 1 slice of bread, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of milk, cinnamon, and mixed berries (I prefer raspberries and blackberries)
• Serving Size: 1 (but flexible)
• Hardware: Microwave and microwavable plate, silverware, one small bowl and plate
• Directions: Mix the egg and milk together, soak the break in the new mixture, pop the bread in the microwave for 40 seconds, flip the bread and cook for another 40 seconds. Once cooked, add cinnamon and mixed berries to taste. For those not watching their waistlines, you can add warm syrup, butter or powdered sugar as a sweet treat.

3- Breakfast Frittata

• Ingredients: 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, 1 cup of cubed fully-cooked ham, ½ cup of chopped onion, ¼ cup of chopped pepper (any color), 4 eggs, salt and pepper to taste
• Serving Size: 4 servings
• Hardware: Microwave and microwave-safe 9 inch pie plate, wax paper, fork and knife
• Directions: Place butter in a microwave-safe 9-in. pie plate. Cover with waxed paper; microwave on high for 30-40 seconds or until melted. Add ham, onion and green pepper. Cover and cook on high for 2 minutes. Stir in eggs, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on high for 1-½ to 2-½ minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 3 minutes or until completely set. Cut into wedges, and enjoy!

About Profiles:

Profiles is a unique staffing firm specializing in marketing, creative, and interactive jobs. Since 1998, we have served the needs of our Clients and Talent by matching the best candidates with the best companies in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Author Name – Kate Rojek
Title – Marketing Associate
Location – Washington, DC
Twitter – @KateArticulates
Byline – Kate is the Marketing Associate for Profiles, so she’s the one ruling their social media networks, blog, email campaigns, and other marketing initiatives. A recent Master’s Graduate of Georgetown University, Kate keeps busy planning her summer wedding, and trying not to waste too much time on Pinterest.
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