Ah, yes, it’s that pumpkin spice, turkey, ham, and all the fixings time of year again. The days are shorter, the coffee cups are festive, and “Let’s circle back in January” has become everyone’s favorite phrase. But while it might feel  like hiring slows to a crawl, the truth is quite the opposite. At Alan J. Blair, after nearly 50 years in recruiting, we’ve seen the holiday season open up some of the best  opportunities for job seekers,  especially those open to temporary or

(Spoiler: 432 applicants are not 432 qualified competitors) You’ve just applied for a job on LinkedIn or Indeed. You hit submit  and immediately see it: “472 people have already applied.” Cue the stomach drop. You picture a virtual line of hundreds of other candidates — all better qualified, faster, sharper, with color-coded résumés and executive references. You close your laptop, grab a cookie, and think, “Why bother?” Before you start catastrophizing, let’s pause. Those big

Hiring the right Assistant, whether it’s an Executive Assistant to the CEO or an Office Coordinator dynamo, can make or break a team. The right one keeps everything running smoothly, remembers birthdays, prevents double-booked meetings, and somehow knows when you need caffeine before their managers do . Ever wonder what hiring managers actually look for when hiring administrative professionals? Let’s take a peek behind the curtain. If you’re looking to hire your next Assistan

After 25 years in recruiting, I can tell you with absolute certainty: hiring the right person is about much more than what’s on a résumé. Don’t get me wrong—skills and experience matter, but when it comes to administrative and executive support roles, cultural fit, professionalism, and personality match will make or break success. That’s one of the reasons I’ve always loved recruiting for administrative roles at every level. These positions are the heartbeat of a company. The

Being unemployed, or as I like to call it, “in transition”, is never easy. The uncertainty, the endless applications, the silence after...

Ever wondered how hiring managers whittle down thousands of resumes into just a handful of interview invitations? It’s not sorcery, and...

If I had a nickel for every time a qualified candidate said to me, “I really thought I had that job! I had great interviews with the team...

A friendly guide for new businesses expanding their office footprint. This year, San Francisco has seen one of the largest comebacks in...

After more than 25 years in Executive Assistant recruiting, I’ve learned a simple truth: the best Executive Assistants don’t just support...

Let’s be honest: job boards are completely impersonal. Swipe right, swipe left, add a few AI enhancements, and suddenly everyone claims...

Let me start with a true story. A few years ago, I received what looked like a solid  resume: great experience, strong skills, relevant...

Have you ever stared at a sea of résumés, wondering how on earth to pick the one admin who won’t drive your team crazy? Or maybe you're...

After 25 years in recruiting and managing both the stars and the duds, I can tell you exactly what separates a pro from the pretenders. Whether you're in HR or you're a job seeker, here are five signs you're in very good hands.

As we begin the second half of 2025, we at Alan J. Blair Personnel will be six months away from proudly celebrating 50 remarkable years...

After 25 years of recruiting and managing Executive Assistants (EAs) and administrative professionals, I can say this with complete...

Who Am I? Hi there! I am Bradford Mattin, the proud owner of Alan J. Blair Personnel Services, Inc., one of San Francisco’s...

Great advice for recent graduates to win their first job and jump start their career.

“The fear of the unknown” and “not being good enough” are a couple of ways in which Imposter Syndrome plays out in the people who...