How to Determine If You Should Hire an Unemployed Candidate

It’s human nature to automatically move the resume of an unemployed job candidate to the bottom of the pile. But it may not be in your best interest to do so. Keep in mind your goal is to hire the best person for the job. More often than you think, this may be someone who is currently out of work. Here’s why:

• They’re hungry. Determination is a great attribute in a new hire. People who are hungry for a new career opportunity are more likely to try – and to work – harder. They can harness that hunger into passion, which works for them and for your company.
• They’ve had time to reflect. When people have a break from the day-to-day grind, whether voluntary or not, they have time to reflect. This is often a good thing. It results in a renewed sense of purpose, and they become more focused. When candidates have a higher degree of clarity, they have the potential to perform better on the job. They have a personal mission – and if it aligns with your organizational mission, hiring them will be a good match.
• They’re resilient. Experiencing rejection is never easy, but it’s a necessary part of life – and growth. Look for people who have learned from rejection and developed resilience. They won’t dissolve at the first sign of trouble. And they often have a strong sense of personal awareness, which means they’ll be apt to improve at a quicker rate. You can expect them to meet job challenges and setbacks the same way they’ve handled unemployment.

How to Spot a Hidden Gem

While some jobless candidates may have been let go due to subpar work performance, you’ll find some hidden gems among them.

• Understand what led to their job loss. It could have had nothing to do with their level of commitment or performance. For instance, maybe their firm shut down unexpectedly and they were caught off guard.
• Look for honesty and transparency. Seek out candidates who are clear and upfront about themselves and their career history. There’s no room for ambiguity as you make a hiring decision.
• Find out how they’ve spent their time out of work. The best candidates will have engaged in activities that draw on their professional skills and expertise. Have they pursued educational or professional development opportunities? Done relevant volunteer work? Taken initiative to consult independently?
• Look at their past track record. A demonstrated history of success defines an applicant who is unemployable, even if they are currently out of work.
• Check their references. It goes a long way if a former senior-level colleague speaks highly of a person. In fact, this may even be more relevant than the recommendation of an employed candidate.

It can be a challenge to locate the “gems” when considering candidates for hire, whether or not they are currently working elsewhere. Consider partnering with PrideStaff Modesto as you identify and address your staffing and talent management needs. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

Need to Hire? Make Sure Social Media is Part of Your Strategy

When you’re looking to hire, you might focus all your efforts on posting to major and local job boards. As Phoenix recruitment experts, PrideStaff knows that’s a good place to start. But don’t forget about the power of social media. In addition to the traditional avenues, social media offers you a prime opportunity to broadcast your hiring needs, promote your employer brand and enable your existing staff to share jobs and serve as brand advocates.

Still not convinced? Here are just a few other reasons social media needs to be a part of your candidate search process:

It gets your postings in front of more people.

Sharing your job postings on social media is important when it comes to advertising your opening. But it’s also vital because so many of today’s top candidates use social media to search for jobs. If you’re not on sites liked LinkedIn and Twitter, you’re therefore missing out on an important opportunity to attract top candidates.

It helps facilitate the hiring process.

When you’re broadcasting job openings on social media, you’re going to gain access to a much larger network of candidates, faster. As a result, you’ll be able to create a short list of those you want to interview and get the hiring process fully underway. Even better, it will all cost less than the traditional hiring avenues of job boards and industry publications.

It enables you to target certain candidates.

When it comes to publishing your job postings on social media sites, you can target very specific groups of candidates. For example, when you’re using a site like LinkedIn, you can advertise your jobs to industry-specific groups. As a result, the candidates who do apply to your openings are going to be a much better fit for your needs.

It builds up your employer brand.

If you’re not on social media, you’re missing out on a chance not only to promote your job openings, but also your employer brand. Applicants therefore won’t know a lot about your company or culture when applying. However, when you’re active on social media and your brand is known locally or nationally, then higher-quality candidates will want to work for you.

Need help taking advantage of recruiting on social media?

Call the team at PrideStaff. As Phoenix recruitment experts, we can employ both traditional and tech-savvy recruiting techniques, all so you can find and hire the best-fit people for your team. Contact us today to learn more or get started.

A Year in Review: PrideStaff Bend’s Top Pieces of Job Search Advice

The end of the year represents a time of optimism and a time of reflection. Optimism for the year ahead (hey, at least 2019 isn’t an election year). And reflection to the year gone by (bright spots: Avengers: Infinity Wars; the Olympics…dark spots: well, no need to bring up those).

In looking back, it’s important to take stock of what we’ve learned. That’s true generally but can become particularly pointed when it comes to job-related knowledge.

Careers are long, but opportunities can be scarce. Being able to find the right situations (and being ready for them when they come) can have long-lasting implications. With that in mind, here are the five top pieces of job advice posted on PrideStaff Bend over the last year:

1. How Your Social Media Presence Could Be Affecting Your Job Search

First just a way to share selfies and make fun of celebrities, social media has become a key aspect of how we communicate with each other. This includes the business world.

Are your posts appropriate for work? Are you doing enough to promote yourself? Should you go back through your old posts and do some clean up?

Like it or not, everyone is now a brand. As such, you need to keep your professional life in mind when posting.

2. Five Accounting / Finance Skills That Need to Be Listed on Your LinkedIn

Speaking of selling yourself online … LinkedIn is the first stop when prospective employers do their due diligence on candidates. As such, you want to highlight as many skills as you can.

This post lays out the most important items to include in your LinkedIn profile, from your formal accounting accomplishments to softer skills, like communication and leadership.

3. Do’s and Don’ts of Your Finance Job Search

Finding a position in the finance industry requires more finesse than a general job search. It’s a specialized field, leading to some particular dos and don’ts.

Key themes include knowing as much as possible about the companies you are applying to and customizing your pitch to the needs of those specific organizations. A targeted approach can help you stand out in a crowded field.

4. Red Flags That You Might Not Actually Want The Job You Applied For

People tend to default to a shotgun approach to job opportunities. They apply to anything that seems at all promising, figuring they’ll sort out their options later, if they get further along in the hiring process.

Okay, so now you’ve scored an interview for a job you don’t quite remember applying for. How do you know if you still want it? From concerns surrounding the company to warning signs about the position itself, this post lays out the potential red flags you should look for better opportunities elsewhere.

5. The Frightening Misconceptions About Working With a Staffing Agency

A cavalcade of misconceptions keeps people from contacting staffing agencies, despite the obvious benefits to their careers. Job seekers worry they’ll be trapped in temp purgatory for the rest of their careers, or they get confused about the economics of the staffing industry (concerned that recruiters end up taking money out of their paychecks).

But as the post highlights, these misunderstandings keep candidates from an important avenue to exciting opportunities.

And if the article isn’t enough to convince you, talk to the expert staff at PrideStaff. They have the insight necessary to maximize your career options. They will lay out the benefits you can get from partnering with a top-flight staffing firm.

Resume Round-Up (Part 12): The Ultimate Resume Guide — A Recap of Insights From 2018

Your resume is the first impression you make on a potential employer, so it has to be outstanding. As a top temp agency in Las Vegas, the experts at PrideStaff Las Vegas see a high volume of resumes — some good and some not so great.

In an effort to help you put your best self forward, we’ve shared resume tips every month in 2018. Here’s a look at the ground we covered this past year.

Resume Recap: 11 Insights From 2018

Effectively Showcase Your Skills

Highlight your abilities by sharing specific examples, quantifying results and tailoring the content to fit the job at hand.

Write a Killer Objective Statement

Give your resume a strong start by focusing on the company, being specific and getting to the point.

Properly List Work-Related Awards and Honors

Put your accolades on display by creating a separate section, carefully choosing which ones to highlight and only sharing relevant details.

Choose All-Star References

When creating a reference list, include only professional contacts, seek out supportive individuals and don’t go back too far in the past.

Ask Someone Else to Proofread

Get at least one other set of eyes to proofread your resume, because you’re not a professional writer, you’re too close to the content and any errors will likely cost you the job.

Showcase Collegiate Accomplishments the Right Way

Highlight your school work by creating a separate section, including only relevant achievements, offering specific details and knowing their shelf life.

Make a Lasting First Impression

Tailor your resume to perfection by incorporating keywords, emphasizing relevant skills and displaying your cultural fit.

Make Continuous Updates

Even if you’re not looking, it’s wise to constantly update your resume to improve content quality, ensure you’re always prepared for an unexpected career shake up and market your expertise through extracurricular activities.

Give Honest Feedback

If a friend asks you to review their resume, highlight the good parts, offer specific ways to improve and don’t make your feedback personal.

Properly List Transferable Skills

When working to change careers, emphasize your transferable skills by using a non-traditional resume format, focus on abilities most relevant to the job and include specific examples.

Proofread Like an Expert

Plenty of online tools are available to help you create a perfectly polished resume. Some of these include proofreaders by Grammarly, SentenceChecker.org and Slick Write.

Get Your Dream Job in 2019

If you’re not fully satisfied with your current job, there’s no time like the present to start seeking new opportunities. PrideStaff Las Vegas is here to guide your search for a fulfilling temporary, temp-to-hire or direct hire position that makes you excited to go to work. Contact us today to get started!

Are You Ready to Interview Your Interviewer?

A successful job interview isn’t just about you, as the candidate, having the right answers.

It’s just as much about you assessing the company as it is about them evaluating you. After all, it’s your life and your career, so you need to be absolutely sure the job will be a good fit for you, before you pursue it any further.

Do Your Homework

Make every interview work for you by going in well prepared. This means more than just Googling a company and reading the home page of their website. Dig deep.

• Talk to people who work there – or who have worked there in the past – and get their take on the day to day, as well as the broader experience of being part of the company.
• Review the organization’s entire website – or at least all pages and links that illustrate company vision, mission and culture.
• Assess your prospective employer’s social media presence. And utilize LinkedIn and other platforms to add to your knowledge base about what you’d be getting into if you were to be hired.

Ask the Right Questions

Make the interview work for you by not only responding to questions in an intelligent, confident manner, but also asking the right questions and garnering as much information about your prospective employer as possible. For instance, ask:

• What’s your favorite part of working for this company? It helps to get a sense of your interviewers’ opinions about working there. If their enthusiasm flows naturally as they answer, that’s a good sign. If you hear a passionate response that truly aligns with your own values, then you’re definitely on to something.
• What does success look like in this position, and how is it measured? It’s crucial to know what your employer’s expectations are, how the company measures success, and what the key performance indicators are for the role. In addition, the answer to this question can tell you more about how employees are treated, internal processes, and future opportunities for promotion.
• What is the single biggest challenge facing the company/department? You want to know the good, the bad and the ugly before you make a decision about your next career move. Try to understand any problems you’d be dealing with in your new position. No job is without them, but it’s good to have any idea, so you’re not blindsided from Day One.
• What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in this role? Be prepared to have this question redirected back at you. You should have already given your suitability to the role some careful thought, so here’s a real opportunity for you to shine.

As you prepare for your next interview – or kick off the new year with a job search, including all the necessary preparation – consider partnering with a career coach from PrideStaff Modesto. We have the client network, market intelligence and access to a broad range of positions where your skills can be put to the best use in administrative, customer service, IT, finance, legal support, healthcare, and production and distribution jobs. Contact us today to learn more.

Danger! How to Spot a Bad Job Before Your Accept the Offer

If you’ve been out of work for a while, it can be tempting to accept any offer that comes your way. However, if you do – and overlook certain warning signs – it’s likely not going to end well. Whether it’s due to a toxic environment or an inexperienced boss, a bad job can have a big impact on your career satisfaction and your quality of life, too.

So what danger signs should you be looking for that a job might end up being a nightmare? Here’s a look at a few from PrideStaff, one of Tempe’s trusted employment agencies:

A messy process.

Interview dates keep changing. Resumes get lost. The hiring manager shows up late. These are not the signs you want to see at a company you’re considering working for. It’s a good indication that the workplace is messy and disorganized, which will impact your ability to succeed on the job.

Lack of concrete information.

During the hiring process, it’s important to ask a lot of questions not just about the role you’re interviewing for, but the strength of the company as a whole. If the hiring manager can’t articulate a clear vision about either, then there’s an issue with transparency. Always be wary if you can’t get the level of detail you need to make a decision about a potential opportunity.

A short interview.

Hiring is a serious investment for companies. That’s why reputable ones take their time assessing candidates and determining which would be a good fit. So if you have an interview and are offered the job after 15 minutes, it’s a danger sign. They’re simply looking for someone to fill an empty seat. And when an organization hires at a breakneck speed, you can expect quality across the whole company to suffer.

You can’t meet the team or tour the office.

When it comes to deciding on a job offer, you want to have as much information available as you can. So if the hiring manager seems cagey when you ask to tour the office, or doesn’t introduce you around to potential co-workers, it could be because they’re hiding something.

Strong gut instinct.

If you have a strong reaction after interviewing with a company – and it’s in a negative way – go with your gut. Even if you can’t pinpoint exactly what it is that’s concerning to you about the company, your subconscious mind is raising a big red flag. Listen to it and move onto other opportunities with different employers.

Need more help finding and assessing great job leads?

Turn to PrideStaff. As one of Tempe’s top employment agencies, we can connect you with rewarding opportunities at leading companies across the area. Contact us today to learn more or get started.

6 Ways to Manage Your Team Through New Changes

Change always brings with it a host of emotions, ranging from excitement to fear and everything in between. Guiding your employees through new changes will help them better acclimate and make for a smoother transition overall.

1. Make it clear.

Good management in the face of a major change will make all of the difference. You need to have a clear idea of what your end game is and how to get there, and you need to make that obvious to the team. This sort of growth mindset helps your employees (and clients) become adaptable to the change because it’s systematic.

2. Involve employees.

If you make priorities well understood at each stage by listening to their concerns and responding, you will keep up both morale and productivity. You put the scaffolding in place to let them make the necessary changes with all possible information, then stand back and let them take the reins.

3. Give them some power.

Along with listening to concerns, give them a voice in making decisions. After all, many of these changes will directly affect them, and

4. Utilize your talent.

Along with designing the scaffolding, give your team opportunities with a new change to give them opportunities to shine and grow. Emphasize that change will accomplish this.

5. Keep the forward momentum.

If you want to keep your employees interested in the change, you need to give them some of your own enthusiasm to get them interested. You may need to repeat the reason for the changes and why they’ll be helpful for the company, as well as how and why everything will be accomplished. It all goes back to communication: Once you get them hooked, employees will more willingly follow along with the new plan.

6. Share successes.

Make it obvious to your employees that their successes are important, and you will do what you can to help them get there. And sharing successes brings everyone together.

Company changes don’t have to mean stress and uncertainty. For more help on building a great team and coaching them though organizational change, contact the recruiting experts at PrideStaff.

8 Career-Based New Year’s Resolution Ideas

Go to the gym. Eat fewer carbs. Spend more time with family. Oh, and make more money and finally get your career on track.

All of it falls into the classic easier-said-than-done category. The key is to avoid general resolutions and map out specific actions you can take to get going in the right direction.

Here’s a look at eight simple steps you can take in the new year to jump-start your career:

Try Something New

Don’t expect to find much traction with a resume that reads, basically, “I did the same thing every day for 15 years until the company got bought out and the new owners laid me off.” Keep expanding your competencies. Seek out assignments outside your comfort zone. Adding these additional experiences will prove invaluable when it’s time to find a new opportunity.

Talk to Management More Often

It’s tempting to keep your head down and avoid any contact with the bosses. This might reduce near-term hassle, but it doesn’t do much for your long-term prospects. You want management to know your name (for the right reasons, at least). So, don’t bury yourself in anonymous busy work. Talk to the people above you to find out what you can do to drive your career forward.

Learn a New Technology

The number of programs used in the workplace have proliferated in recent years. Gone are the days when familiarity with Word and Excel were an acceptable baseline of technological acumen.

Make sure to stay up to date with the current landscape. Even seemingly frivolous apps like Instagram and Snapchat might lead to an opportunity in a social media-starved company looking to expand its online marketing presence.

Update Your Long-Term Plan

Keep your eyes on the horizon. Year-end resolutions present a good opportunity to take stock of what you really want out of your career. It’s easy to get invested in your day-to-day accomplishments and lose sight of longer-term plans. Rectify that by revisiting your overall career goals and make sure you are still on the best path for you.

Think About Retirement (Really This Time)

Every year, you promise you’ll start saving more for retirement. Every year, other things get in the way. Don’t let it go another year. Get serious about retirement planning, so you don’t literally have to work forever.

Expand Your Network

You know what everyone says: “Networking is the key to getting career opportunities.” That’s fine in theory, but in practice, talking to people and meeting new contacts is intimidating. Unfortunately, you’re just going to have to get over it. Make a commitment to meeting at least one new career contact a month in the new year.

Update (Or Clean Up) Your Social Media Presence

If you’re not on social media, you’re missing out on a great sales tool for career advancement. And if you are on social media, you might be shooting yourself in the foot. Review the kind of stuff you’re posting and decide whether it’s helping or hurting your chances to land that next position.

Get the Right Help

Don’t go it alone. Teaming up with a recruiting firm can help move your career to the next level. PrideStaff can steer you to the perfect opportunity. Contact our Oregon staffing specialists today to find out more.

Looking for a New Job? Here’s How to Find the Right Company Culture That Fits Your Demand

Searching for a new job is hard work. Finding a job that interests you is just part of the equation. After you’ve identified a possibility, you have to learn as much as possible about the company culture.

As one of the leading staffing agencies in Las Vegas, Nevada, PrideStaff Las Vegas understands the importance of finding the right cultural fit. A job might sound perfect on paper, but if you don’t fit in with your colleagues, you won’t be happy.

Knowing what you want is the first part of finding the ideal work environment. Here’s how to figure it out.

Three Tips to Determine Your Ideal Company Culture

Think About What Inspires You

Different people thrive in different types of work environments. Think about a time when you were really productive. Zero in on factors that contributed to your efficiency. Maybe you’re most inspired when working as part of a team in a loud, bustling office? Perhaps you’re more comfortable when you can have total ownership of a project. There’s no wrong answers, so be honest with yourself. Your answer will allow you to assess different employers’ work environments, so you can find the right place for you.

Decide What Makes You Happiest at Work

No two companies operate in the same manner, so think back to aspects of previous jobs that made you happiest. It might be a position that allowed you to work from home when needed or a policy that allowed you to bring your dog to work. You’re going to spend at least 40 hours per week at this new job, so it’s important to be somewhere that’s conducive to your happiness.

Consider the Lifestyle You Want

Company culture impacts more than just your work life. Everything from the hours you’re expected to work to the amount of time you’re supposed to stay connected to the office weighs on your personal life. If you have small children at home, you probably don’t want to be employed by a company where working long nights and weekends is the standard. On the flip side, if you’re a young professional on your way up the ladder, you might want to be surrounded by colleagues who share your ambition and think nothing of pulling all-nighters.

Find Your Best Fit

Not quite sure how to define your ideal company culture? PrideStaff Las Vegas is here to assist. Contact us today to connect with an employer that checks all your boxes!

What NOT to Do When You’re Interviewing With a Recruiter on The Phone

A phone interview seems like far less stress than an in-person one – you don’t have to look your best, you can fidget and not appear nervous, and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home. Yet there are a few caveats to consider when interviewing on the phone to make it all go as smoothly as possible.

• No multitasking.

Usually when you’re on the phone, you’re also doing something else: folding laundry, checking social media, etc. Do not do any of that while interviewing. The interviewer can tell (and hear) when you divide your attention, so stay focused.

• Don’t be late.

This is true for any interview, whether on the phone or in person. Take a phone interview as seriously as any other and make sure you’re ready to make and take the call. Especially if you’re the one calling in, make sure to call right at the specified time – it shows you are detail-oriented.

• Don’t assume good reception.

Plan to take the call in a place you know you won’t have trouble on either end – test it ahead of time to make sure nobody has to repeat themselves or get cut off.

• Never put the interviewer on hold.

When speaking to an interviewer, that person is the most important call. The only time you would leave the call is for an urgent family situation, in which case you should relay that immediately in the interview and give the interviewer the option to reschedule the call.

• Do not take the call somewhere noisy.

This indicates poor planning on your part, as well as lack of attention to detail and consideration for the other person. To show you take this phone interview seriously, find a quiet place where nobody will disturb you. If that means taking the call in your car (not on speaker – harder to hear), do it.

• Never interrupt the interviewer.

When talking on the phone, we can’t see physical cues and may be nervous and excited. Don’t let this allow you to talk over the interviewer. Even if you know what they’re about to say, let them finish their sentence, wait a beat, and then calmly respond. Otherwise you come off seeming aggressive rather than assertive.

• Avoid filler words.

We may say “um” or “like” in person, but that becomes even more noticeable on the phone. The interviewer only has your voice to focus on, so make it as smooth and filler-free as possible.

A good phone interview will get you to the person-to-person one. Do your best to follow this list for your best first impression. For more interview advice, contact the experts at PrideStaff!