This Thanksgiving, Thank Your Employees. Here’s Why

Thanksgiving is almost here. As a leading Phoenix staffing service firm, PrideStaff knows it’s the perfect time of year to show some of the people you value most – your employees – how much you appreciate them. Don’t think you have the time? Consider these benefits of sharing your gratitude with your staff:

They’ll feel appreciated and take more pride in their work as a result
They’re more likely to stay with your company for longer
They’ll develop a stronger, more productive working relationship with you
They’ll work harder to continue to meet or exceed your expectations
You’ll create a happier, more positive culture

Still not convinced? If you don’t show gratitude, you could be missing out on a way to boost employee productivity. In fact, according to a study by economists at the University of Warwick, happy employees are 12% more productive than average. Less happy employees? They’re 10% less productive than average. So, keeping employees happy simply makes business sense.

With that in mind, here are some ways you can give thanks to your employees this Thanksgiving season:

Get specific with praise and thanks.

Don’t just offer your employees a blanket statement about how much you appreciate them. Get specific and tell them why what they do is important and how it matters to the company. For instance, “Jane, thanks so much for getting that report to me early. The customer was really impressed with both our speed and quality. That’s exactly the kind of service that will help us get and keep great customers.”

Be consistent with it.

So, you thanked Jane for her hard work. Now, make it a habit. Doing it once or twice over the course of a year won’t go very far in creating happy and loyal employees. Instead, be more measured and consistent with your efforts, making it a point to thank an employee whenever they go the extra mile.

Give extra time off for hard work.

Extra vacation days or personal days are certainly effective rewards for a job well done. In fact, according to a survey by the Society of Human Resource Management, more employees reported wanting an increase in paid time off rather than better benefits. Even better news for you: vacation days cost a lot less than benefits.

These are just a few simple ways you can show your gratitude to your employees this Thanksgiving season – and all year-round. There are countless others, so find the ones that work best for you, then make a commitment to making praise and recognition a regular part of your workplace culture.

Need more professional help finding and retaining top-quality employees?

The experts at PrideStaff can help. As a leading Phoenix staffing service provider,

companies from all over the city trust us to source and screen top quality candidates for a range of positions. Contact us today to learn more about how we can do the same at your company.

Why You Need to Be a Leader Instead of a Boss

Sure, you’re the boss … by virtue of your title and your position on the company org chart. But, are you a leader?

There are plenty of bosses in the world, but there can never be enough leaders. The good news is: You can make the transition from just being the boss to being a true leader within your organization. It all starts with understanding the difference between the two. Numerous expert sources, including Inc., Forbes and Villanova University, make these distinctions:

Bosses drive others. Leaders coach others toward their best individual and team performance.
Bosses instill fear. Leaders inspire enthusiasm, ownership and engagement.
Bosses blame others. Leaders take responsibility and work to repair damage, so it never happens again.
Bosses think only in terms of themselves, depending on their own authority. Leaders think in terms of “we,” depending – along with their entire team – on mutual accountability and trust.
Bosses know how it’s done. Leaders show how it’s done.
Bosses take the credit. Leaders give credit to others.
Bosses say “go!” Leaders say, “Let’s go!”
Bosses demand deference. Leaders earn it.
Bosses micromanage. Leaders seek the best ideas from everyone, then allow team decisions to be made. Those who take on parts of a project make their own choices and act upon them. This results in greater efficiency, enhanced job satisfaction, and sharper skillsets.

Choose Leadership

When you make a choice to become a leader, there are some things you have to give up, but the pros far outweigh the cons.

In developing leadership qualities, you’ll need to sacrifice your ego, always doing things your way and never having your viewpoint challenged. You’ll gain far more than you lose, as you create an atmosphere of trust, collaboration and the credibility that comes from who you are, not just what you say or do. You have the chance to change lives – and your business – for the better, including your own life and career outlook.

In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.”

That’s what your best people want from you as a leader. And it’s your job to deliver it.

As you develop leadership and other skills to improve workforce performance and engagement, turn to the PrideStaff Modesto team to fine-tune your strategy and turn plans into action. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

Focus on Energy Management Rather Than Time Management

We all hear the talk about time management, how if we could figure it out, we’d have (obviously) more time, less stress, get more done … But we don’t talk about managing our energy, which allows us to manage all of that time and use it to its best capacity. Sometimes working more hours just means working more hours, not actually getting everything done efficiently and effectively. So how can you become more productive but exhaust yourself doing it? Look. at the different types of energy.

Emotional

Too often this one gets overlooked, yet if we don’t give ourselves time to recharge our emotional batteries, the rest of our systems get depleted as well. Try a little meditation: Close your eyes and concentrate on slow breathing in and out through the nose, allowing your belly to fill on the inhale. Try it for five slow breaths. If your mind fills up even with that, at least have a mantra that you repeat for yourself while doing those slow breaths, even if it’s one word that brings you calm and confidence.

Physical

How many times have you bemoaned your lack of sleep? Now, how many times have you caused that yourself by watching “one more episode” of whatever’s hot on Netflix because you’ve “earned it”? Yes, you have, but staying up that extra hour will come back to bite you in the end, making your mornings harder. Cutting down on weeknight drinking helps as well — your lowered inhibitions will encourage you to watch that extra episode. Shut down your screens at least half an hour before you go to sleep to get your hours in, giving you more energy during the day.

Spiritual

This doesn’t have to align with any specific deity or belief other than the belief that we all have something we’re great at – something that makes us stand out. Once you realize yours, channel your day into harnessing those stand-outs and delegating tasks or asking for help on those tasks you don’t do as well. The more you can do what you love, the better work you’ll do and the more spiritually aligned you’ll become at your job.

Mental

In today’s world, our brains get constant bombardment from our various devices, not to mention the people that interrupt us. Cut down on the chatter by checking email at specific times and letting your team know when those times occur. This helps create a stretch of time in which you can focus deeply on your work, allowing for flow and creativity, as well as higher quality work.

Attending to all of these different energies allows you to become more productive. So within your work day, find a few minutes for quiet time and exercise – or at least get outside for a quick walk during the work day if possible. To help find your next job, direct your energies toward working with the staffing experts at PrideStaff!

5 Ways to Make Yourself More Attractive to Employers

The unemployment rate is low. But, as one of Phoenix’s top employment agencies, PrideStaff knows that competition is still fierce on the job market. It’s therefore up to you to convince a hiring manager why they should give you the offer over another candidate.

How can you make yourself more attractive to employers – and more hire-able as a result? Here are some tips to get you started:

Always be learning.

Employers want to hire those people who are continuously educating themselves and learning new things – even if they have 30 years of experience. So whether you’re taking an online course to help you improve your leadership skills or enrolling in college classes to earn an advanced degree, it demonstrates to employers that you’re passionate about what you do and also want to improve. That will go a long way in setting you apart from the pack.

Showcase a good attitude.

When you’re working on your resume or cover letter, or preparing for job interviews, your focus is likely on skills and experience. But don’t forget about attitude, too. Too many people in today’s workplace are hard to work with or have a toxic attitude toward their teammates. Employers know that hiring people like this can spell trouble. That’s why demonstrating a positive attitude will not only make you seem more energetic and enthusiastic, but it’s just another way to help you stand out.

Focus on career progression.

Employers are looking for people who can show forward progress in their careers. They don’t want those who are simply going to get comfortable and stagnate. So on your resume and in your job interviews, talk about times you’ve taken on new roles, what you’ve learned from the experience and how you’ve grown as a result.

Talk about what makes you unique.

Good stories that can help demonstrate your attitude and abilities make your more memorable. Whether you trained for the Olympics, know how to speak five languages, or lived abroad for 15 years, talk about different aspects of your background that make you unique. Also connect the dots for the employer and explain the value you’re able to offer as a result of them.

Be authentic.

Some job seekers think they need to create an image of perfection in order to get the job. But if you’re an experienced professional, don’t try to be anyone other than yourself when you walk through the hiring manager’s door. This will make a better impression on the hiring manager. Not only that, but if you’re not yourself and you get hired, you might wind up in a position not right for you.

Need more help making yourself more attractive to hiring managers?

Call the experts at PrideStaff. As one of Phoenix’s top employment agencies, we can give you the inside scoop on getting hired. We can also learn about your skills, background and career path, as well as connect you with terrific job opportunities often not advertised. Find out more! Contact PrideStaff today to learn more or get started.

How to Craft the Perfect HR Resume

How can you make your HR resume stand out from the pack of candidates vying for that dream position? You’ve seen countless resumes and you have the inside track on what works and what doesn’t … but, so do they!

Take a step back and look at your resume from a fresh perspective. Be sure it highlights those traits that make you uniquely qualified as a valued member of an organization’s talent management team.

Helpful Hints

Here are some guidelines to showcase your best characteristics as an HR pro. Be sure your resume features include:

A strong headline: Immediately after your name and contact information, include a prominent headline statement that tells who you are, relevant to your desired HR position. This replaces now-outdated “Career Summary” or “Professional Profile” sections. Include distinguishing credentials, specializations and experience.
Details on organizations where you’ve worked: Give the reader a clear frame of reference, not just the name of a company. For instance, include the number of employees and/or locations, or the specific business and industry if this requires clarification. Putting this information into context makes your experience all the more impressive.
An emphasis on your best achievements: This is where you can really set yourself apart. Describe how you have exceeded performance and business objectives, made a viable difference, produced measurable results or improved company culture.
Highlighted HR keywords: Look for opportunities to include the right keywords throughout your resume. This includes integrating them into your achievement bullets. You may even want to boldface them for added emphasis. Make your resume optimally “scanable.”

In addition, your resume must be:

ATS friendly: Follow best practices for formatting and keyword integration and density. Even though to most HR pros, SHRM-SCP or a similar industry acronym is well known, an ATS will readily pick up “Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional.”
Concise and clean: Omit any content that is irrelevant, unnecessary or “fluffy.” Review your resume repeatedly, and edit it carefully. Make sure every word supports your professional brand and current career goal. Avoid dense paragraphs, and allow ample white space. Your goal is maximum reader friendliness.

For the best HR resume, work with the best qualified staffing firm. The PrideStaff Modesto team can not only help you produce a winning resume, but also partner with you throughout your successful job search process. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

How to Flip Your Morning Routine to Start Showing Up to Work Motivated and Ready to Work

The way you start your morning can actually dictate how the rest of the day will go. As one of the most successful job agencies in Las Vegas, the team at PrideStaff Las Vegas understands the importance of a positive and efficient morning routine.

If you frequently arrive at work in a mindset not conducive to productivity, you’re selling yourself short. Find out how to adjust the beginning of your day for the better.

Stop Hitting the Snooze Button

If you’re like most people, getting out of your warm, comfortable bed in the morning isn’t exactly your favorite thing. In the moment, hitting the snooze button for half an hour probably seems like the best option, but it’s a terrible habit.

Being woken up every few minutes doesn’t produce quality sleep and the whole process just forces you to rush to get to work on time. With this type of morning, it’s no wonder you’re exhausted and unmotivated by the time you get to your desk.

Get Some Exercise

Forcing yourself out of bed early to hit the treadmill probably doesn’t sound too appealing, but you’ll thank yourself a few hours later. Getting your blood pumping first thing in the morning will make you feel awake, energized and accomplished, creating the perfect mindset to arrive at work in the morning.

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

Skipping breakfast or opting for something of the sugary variety causes your energy levels to plummet. Your body needs fuel to function properly in the morning, so stock up on oatmeal, whole grain cereal, fruit or Greek yogurt for a quick and satisfying meal that will tide you over until lunch.

Time Your Caffeine Right

Brewing coffee as soon as you wake up is likely a morning ritual, but consider changing the timing of your caffeine intake. It’s best to consume your first cup of coffee between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., as doing so earlier interferes with your peak cortisol levels, according to a 2013 study conducted by Steven L. Miller, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research fellow at The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

Prepare the Night Before

A hectic morning can cause you to feel depleted before you even get to work. Avoid this by preparing as much as possible for the next day before you go to bed each night. Decide what you’ll wear, make your lunch and put everything you’ll need for the day by the front door to avoid a chaos-filled start to morning.

Climb Your Way to the Top

If you’re searching for a new job in the Clark County area, allow PrideStaff Las Vegas to assist. Our skilled recruiters enjoy connecting top talent like you with rewarding temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire opportunities with leading local employers. Contact us today to make your career ambitions a reality!

What to Highlight on Your Resume When You Know You’re Unqualified for the Job

It happens all the time – you see a job you’d love, but then you check the requirements … and you don’t meet all of them. Should you even bother applying? You can … as long as you make some changes to your resume first to address the gaps.

Start looking at transferable skills.

If you haven’t heard the term, that means you’ve acquired skills in your one job that could carry over into another in a different capacity. So, a former English teacher may well have the skills for project management and editing or copywriting, for example. Or your experience in sales makes you a terrific problem solver and gives you the skills to deal with any sort of customer or client. Basically, find a way to make the connection by pointing out that while the job requires X, your experience and skills with Y fulfill that requirement just as they would need.

Then point out your additive skills.

Stopping at transferrable skills doesn’t necessarily bridge all the gaps if you don’t have the exact requisite qualifications. A company may well have an idea of “dream skills” they’d love for a candidate to have – and some of your skills may well fit the bill, even if they’re not explicitly listed, and will add to your job qualifications. You’re pointing out that while Skill A isn’t listed in the job description, it will allow you to succeed in the position because of [fill in the blank]. It’s something unique you bring to the position that others don’t, something that positively separates you from the pack.

Put it all together.

To make yourself memorable in the best way, think of it like this: Those who have the exact skills required will all sound pretty much the same. You, however, will stand out because you have the transferrable and additive skills to bring something unique to the table. And if you get an interview, when asked how you’d deal with a certain situation, you can again tell them how your past experience will let you fill the role, and your additive skills allow you to bring a different perspective and expertise to the position.

It may seem daunting to apply for a position in which you can’t check every box, but if you put your resume together a little creatively, you may be able to add a few new boxes as well. For help finding your next job, visit PrideStaff.

Factors to Consider Before Hiring an Overqualified Candidate

Your experience as a hiring manager – or your gut feeling – may warn you to steer clear of overqualified candidates. And you may be right. However, don’t automatically eliminate this talent either. Carefully consider the pros and cons before making a final decision.

What to Look For

In a recent study of sales associates, as reported by the Harvard Business Review, a group of candidates perceived as “overqualified” turned out to be better performers than those considered “qualified.” And if you’re worried about a person being a flight risk due to their high level of experience, remember people rarely resign from jobs because they feel they’re too talented for the role. Employees stay or leave because of their management, culture and environment, or working conditions.

Get to know each candidate and their motivations. Look for:

The “need” factor: Is the candidate hungry for the position? Their significant experience combined with this “need” factor can be a big plus for your company.
The Peter Principle: This is based on the premise that every employee rises to their own level of incompetence. In other words, if an overqualified candidate has room to grow and a sincere interest in joining your team, they can become a great addition.
Maturity: If you hire a mature person whose intent is to contribute to a greater good, taking on an overqualified candidate will prove to be the right decision.

Potential Risks

There are a number of presumed risks that may lead to hesitation in hiring overqualified individuals. For instance, you may assume they will quickly become bored and as a result, will underperform or leave. It’s important to determine whether these risks are perceived or real.

Think broadly about your company and its overall talent needs. This means looking to the future, as well as filling your immediate opening. Is there room to expand and make use of the unique skills that a person brings to the table? You may want to find or create a role for them in the future, to ensure that long-term business goals are achieved.
Consider ways to keep overqualified employees engaged. They may be able to mentor others or contribute to the creation of new systems or processes. A word of caution: Be sure current team members understand and are not threatened by your decision. If they perceive a new hire as diminishing their own opportunities for advancement at your company, they might leave.

Like every hiring decision, it’s critically important to correctly assess overqualified talent. As you design and implement your successful recruitment strategy, consider a partnership with PrideStaff Modesto to help ensure ongoing success. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

What Is the Best Approach to Finding a Job?

As one of the top Las Vegas employment agencies, PrideStaff Las Vegas knows a thing or two about finding a new job. Not a task to be taken lightly, the next position you accept will impact your career trajectory, so do a little digging to find the right fit.

Get to work expanding your contact list, because networking is the very best way to find a job that perfectly aligns with your skills, interests and personality. Who you know can make the difference between a successful job search and one that falls flat.

Four Ways to Network Your Way Into a New Job

Seek Informational Interviews

One of the best way to make contacts that hold serious weight, informational interviews differ from the traditional sort, because you’re not actually vying for an open position. Instead, you’ll reach out to professionals holding a job that interests you or working for a company you have your eye on and request a meeting for career advice.

If accepted, you’ll meet with them to find out how they got to where they are today, and use their tips to refine your search. Plus, if you make a good impression, there’s a strong chance they’ll get in touch if they hear about a job opening that meets your criteria.

Make Connections on Social Media

Social sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are networking gold. Use these platforms to search for professionals and companies in your industry and build relationships with them. Send a direct message to introduce yourself — just make sure the person uses the site for business purposes — and explain why you’d like to connect. Join groups and comment on active discussions to get your name out there and share industry-relevant content to grow a presence.

Attend Networking Events Regularly

The Internet is a valuable networking resource, but it doesn’t eliminate the need to make face-to-face contacts. Find networking events for professionals in your industry — use social media, Meetup or join a professional association — and attend as many as possible to grow your contact list.

Team Up With a Staffing Partner

Recruiters are the most connected people in your industry, so join forces with one to find your next job. Find a staffing professional that specializes in your field and meet with them to create a job search strategy. They’ll help refine your resume, assist with interview preparation and provide access to job postings that aren’t listed publicly.

Take the Next Step in Your Career

Searching for your next career opportunity? Allow PrideStaff Las Vegas to help you find the right fit. We offer a variety of temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire positions with some of Clark County’s most prestigious employers. Start your search today!

5 Tips for Conducting Reference Checks

When it comes to hiring, reference checks are an absolute must in any employer’s arsenal. They can help you get behind the candidate mask and uncover any red flags before making a hiring decision. But what’s the best way to go about them?

Here are some tips to help you:

Conduct at least two, preferably three.

As one of Phoenix’s top staffing agencies, PrideStaff knows that reference checks take time. But it’s important to conduct at least two on each candidate and preferably three. These references should be from those who have previously managed the candidate, not from co-workers, friends or family. That way, you’ll get a better sense of how easy they are to supervise, as well as of their skills, abilities and accomplishments.

Create a script and structure.

Just as you wouldn’t wing it during an interview with a candidate, make sure you properly prepare for reference checks. This includes outlining a structure for how the conversation should flow, as well as creating a basic script with questions. Whatever you do, don’t conduct reference checks via email. You want to be able to gauge a reference’s authentic reactions and responses, and that’s much easier to do over the phone or in person.

Ask good questions.

Ask the right questions to get a true sense of the candidate’s abilities. These should include questions about the candidate’s responsibilities when they worked with the reference. They should also include questions that help you gauge technical skill level, as well as soft skills like communication and teamwork.

Just avoid asking questions that elicit “yes” and “no” responses. So instead of asking if Peter was a good worker, ask for some examples of Peter’s performance level on the job and whether the reference giver would hire him again if given the chance.

Also, make sure you close the conversation with a question that makes sure your bases are covered, such as: “Is there anything I didn’t ask you about the candidate that you’d like me to know?”

Don’t ask illegal questions.

You can’t ask a candidate about their religion or marital status. Likewise, don’t ask their references, either. If you do – and you wind up not hiring the candidate – you could wind up in legal hot water if they find out. Instead, stick to questions about employment history, skills and qualifications, and personality.

Take notes.

During your conversation, make sure you take notes so you can reference them during the decision-making process, as well as better compare candidates.

If you don’t have enough time or resources to devote to careful reference checks, or the hiring process in general, give the experts at PrideStaff a call.

As one of Phoenix’s top staffing agencies, we can handle the hiring process for you, start to finish. Not only that, but we can make hiring easier and more effective, as well as give you access to higher quality candidates. To learn more, contact PrideStaff today.