Ways to Recognize Your Top-Performing Employees

There is no one who doesn’t like being recognized for a job well done – even your most introverted, laid-back team members. On an ongoing basis, employee recognition may be simply a few short words of praise and encouragement to maintain a positive flow in the workplace environment. Your more formal program will likely include some type of organized presentations and events.

On every level, employee recognition is important as it boosts:

• Engagement: When someone receives praise or kudos, they tend to give back the same level of performance – or better.
• Business results: Rewards and recognition have a direct impact on your bottom line, as a result of improved morale, employee satisfaction and ultimately, productivity.
• Retention: People who feel appreciated tend to be more loyal to their company, and stick around longer.
• Ownership: When an employee receives an award for their services, they feel a stronger sense of belonging and ownership for their workplace.

Guidelines for an Effective Recognition Program

Use these guidelines as you create a strong, effective employee recognition program:

• Make it clearly defined and planned.
• Be sure it accounts for the individual achievements of each person, regardless of their position.
• Include both informal and formal ways to reward.
• Revise and tweak your program as needed, to avoid saturation or predictability.

Follow these steps:

• Identify the goal of your program. Define what you want to achieve. Begin by meeting with your senior management team to gather their ideas and input. Then, take it to the rank-and-file as well. Unless it is personalized and relevant to every member of your workforce, your program will backfire and possibly even do more harm than good.
• Set a budget. Keep in mind the financial state of your business, and reserve a practical amount. A successful recognition program can run on little to no cost, but by setting aside at least some money for rewards, you can differentiate between levels of acknowledgement.
• Establish criteria and guidelines. Base these on your company core values. Be sure your program is fair and unbiased. Have a specific list of points according to which employees will be recognized.
• Select the right rewards. Tailor them to the recipient. Be creative and thoughtful. For the young millennial, the best award may be an online shopping coupon or a new headset. A more mature worker may appreciate a family night at the movies or ballpark. Look at personal favorites: sports teams, activities, hobbies … you get it. Make it relevant, just as if you were shopping for a loved one’s birthday or holiday gift.
• Communicate with your employees. Tell everyone about your program. If every employee knows about it, they will be encouraged to both participate and ramp up their own performance. Moreover, this creates a trust factor in their minds and makes them feel as if their efforts really count.

As you develop your successful employee recognition program, turn to the workforce development experts at PrideStaff Modesto. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

5 Ways to Get Better at Thinking on Your Feet at Work

We all want to look our best at all times at work, but, as sometimes happens, situations arise in which we’re caught off guard or thrown into a situation we had no prior warning about. So how do you improve your reaction in those instances where you have to act in the moment?

1. Find your true focus.

When you get caught up in wondering how others will view your answer, you’ve lost sight of the question already. When in a discussion, center on figuring out what you truly need clarification on, what question you could ask to keep the conversation moving, and what insight you have that would add to the discussion. When you center on clarity rather than looking good, the latter happens by itself anyway.

2. Restate the question.

A classic move to buy yourself some time, repeating a question gives you time to think of an answer rather than rushing in with an incomplete answer or one that doesn’t address the question asked. There’s nothing wrong with taking some time to respond, and repeating the question gives you some time not only to formulate a proper response but also to make sure you fully understand what’s being asked.

3. Go with confidence, not fear.

If you want others to have confidence in your knowledge, you need to have it first. Do you feel strong in your knowledge and good about the work you’re doing? Do you have a positive attitude that engages other colleagues and clients? Then you don’t have to lead with fear, afraid you’ll look foolish when responding on the fly. Ask a question, again both to give yourself time to respond and to gain information. Then trust your gut.

4. Embrace the pause.

The fact of the matter is, you don’t have to respond immediately when caught off guard in a situation. You have every right to stop and say something like, “Let me think about that/Good question” as you gather yourself. And if you need a little time to formulate a response, do so…just make sure you figure out that response promptly.

5. Don’t get defensive.

We instinctually get our hackles up when we feel off-balance, and that may come out verbally as a negative response. So if, for example, someone (constructively) criticizes a presentation you’ve worked hard on, instead of reacting defensively with a “No, but…” response, try “Yes, and…” instead. It’s an old improv comedy trick that allows you to move things forward and see where you might add something or make a change. At the very least, consider the person’s critique as calmly as possible and respond positively, moving forward.

Thinking on your feet isn’t always easy – but you’ll have plenty of chances to get better at it. And when you want to find your next workplace, visit PrideStaff.

Our 3-Step Process to Wow in Every Job Interview

When you finally land that coveted interview, you want to find that magic formula that will have the interviewers leaping up at the end of it to offer you the job. Well … that might be a tall order, but we can give you a three-step process to leave interviewers with the best possible impression, at the very least putting you at the top of their list.

• Before:

Do your due diligence by looking up information on the company itself: Go to the website, look up any news articles on what it has done, check out any social media pages (Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.) they maintain. Talk to any sources you have who can give you inside details. Then look at your resume and see how it matches up with the job description, focusing on key points you want to bring up in the interview. Come up with some success stories and ones that show how you dealt with problems. Rehearse responses to basic questions and put on your outfit to make sure everything fits and looks as it should.

• During:

Look at yourself as a solution to a problem and present yourself accordingly. Keep your responses 2-3 minutes long (and practice with a trusted friend to get everything comfortable but not too rehearsed). Make sure to listen to the interviewer to get an idea of culture and whether you’ll fit in – that’s an important factor. Remember, you must want this, too; it’s not just about whether they want you. Ask questions that can give you an idea about a career with the company, not just a daily job, and always ask about next steps.

• After:

Once you’ve left, get that email or note of thanks out within 48 hours. Use it as a chance not only to thank them for the opportunity to compete for a position, but also as a time to address any questions you felt you didn’t answer well or add any information you may not have had the chance to tell them about. Take time as well to assess your own feelings about the interview – how you think you did, what you could have done better or differently, and how it compared to other interviews.

As you interview, use these steps to have the most successful interaction. For advice or help on finding your next job, visit PrideStaff.

5 Secrets for Better Resume Screening

The resume is your first opportunity to meet a candidate. But if you’re like most hiring managers, you only spend a few seconds screening each one. What’s more is that other factors – from your mood to the number of resumes you receive – can impact how well you screen them.

To ensure you have a consistent and effective process in place, follow these tips:

#1: Make sure you’re attracting the right kind of talent.

As a leading provider of staffing services in Tempe, PrideStaff knows if you’re short on details, or if your job posting is vague, then you’re going to attract all kinds of candidates, especially those who aren’t a good fit. That’s why it’s so important to include specific details, such as experience, education requirements, and certifications. Also, get specific on the type of track record and accomplishments you’re looking for.

#2: Keep the job description fresh in your mind.

Before you start reviewing resumes, make sure you look over the job description again. Also, pull out the 3 to 5 most essential skills and requirements you’re looking for. As you’re screening resumes, you’ll be better able to focus on the best fit candidates as a result.

#3: Give yourself enough time to screen.

Don’t try to cram resume screening into the last 15 minutes of your day. That’s a recipe for a potential hiring mistake. Instead, give yourself enough time to focus on each resume and get a sense of the candidate. Also, don’t rule out resumes just because you’ve accumulated a few candidates to interview. Your next star hire could be in that final batch of resumes you received.

#4: Wait until all resumes are in.

If you can, wait until the closing date for your job posting to review resumes. That way, you can set aside a few hours to get the job done. You can also give all resumes the same level of time and attention.

#5: Focus on the positive.

It’s easy to pick apart a resume, searching for any reason to reject a candidate. But instead, aim to focus on the positive. Even if a candidate isn’t a perfect fit, don’t reject them based on any assumptions. Instead, if you’re not sure about someone, then schedule a phone screen. You’ll be able to gain much more insight by talking directly with the candidate.

Once you’ve identified your top candidates, take the time to perform a thorough phone screen, in-person interviews and a background and reference check. That way, you can weed out a potential hiring mistake before they get their foot in the door.

Need help recruiting in Tempe or beyond?

Give PrideStaff a call. As a leading provider of staffing services in Tempe, we have the knowledge, proven processes, and candidate network to help you fill positions quickly with qualified, dependable people. Contact PrideStaff today to learn more about how we can help you.

Why You Should Consider Taking a Temp Job

Key Actions to Take When Your Job Search Isn’t Producing Results

A job search can be a very stressful, frustrating experience — especially when you’re unemployed or very eager to leave your current position. On average, it takes 44 days to fill an open position, according to 2015 research from iCIMS, a SaaS talent acquisition solution provider.

If your job search has dragged on notably longer than this, it’s time to fine-tune your strategy. Follow these tips from PrideStaff Las Vegas — one of the top Las Vegas temp agencies — to make some much-need changes to your approach.

Overhaul Your Resume

Your resume serves as your introduction to hiring managers, so it might not be sending the right message. If you’re not tailoring it to fit each opportunity, this is likely the problem. Customizing it for every application will certainly take longer, but it’s the only way to get hired. If your writing skills aren’t the best, consider working with a professional resume writer. This can give you a solid general format to base each personalization on. At the very least, ask someone else to review it, because another set of eyes can spot errors you might overlook.

Get Creative With Your Search

Job boards and company HR sites can be a good place to find new opportunities, but they’re certainly not the only route. Many innovative organizations search for candidates on social media, so create a strictly professional profile and use this to market yourself. You can also scour LinkedIn for experts in your field and request an informational interview. This will give you the chance to learn how they got to this place in their career and gain a new industry contact. If you make a good impression, they might be willing to use their connections to assist in your search.

Consider Other Routes

If you’re laser-focused on finding a full-time job, you might miss out on some really great opportunities. Consider working as a temporary employee for a bit. This will give you the chance to boost your skills and your contact list in a short period of time. You can still search for jobs, while gaining valuable experience and learning. Many employers offer full-time jobs to outstanding temporary workers at the end of their contract, so this could be in your “in.”

Get Help With Your Job Search

Finding a job that perfectly fits your skills, interests and career goals is a challenge, so team up with PrideStaff Las Vegas. Our firm has connections at many of the area’s top employers, and we want to share them with you. Contact us today to start your search for the right temporary, temp-to-hire or direct hire opportunity!

Unique Interview Questions to Find the Best Candidates

The best interview questions tell you about the person behind the resume, revealing their true personality and passions, strengths and shortfalls. By asking the right things, you can hire superstars who will get behind you in your business vision and help make it a reality.

Here are some unique questions to help you set the hiring bar higher and create a pool of top talent for today and the future:

If you could start your career over again, what would you do differently?

Asking a candidate to explain major decisions they have made, highlighting both the positive and the negative, reveals their ability to do just that: make decisions and own the results.

• This question also provides an opening for a candidate to share their ambitions and ideas about the future.
• An individual should be able to describe how they have learned from past mistakes. If they deny ever having made any, take it as a blazing red flag.

Describe the best boss you’ve ever reported to.

The average candidate doesn’t expect this question – but it’s an excellent one because it provides insight into their past relationships. It highlights their personality and which work types they best mesh with. You also get a better picture of their communication skills, work style and potential cultural fit.

• Follow up by asking what made the relationship succeed. Was it personality? Or perhaps, the former boss’s style? Does the candidate prefer autonomy or hand holding … or are they inspired by a mutual drive to exceed goals?

What motivates you?

If what drives a person matches the job description and your company culture, then you’re on the right track.

What frustrates you?

When a job candidate talks about their frustrations, they reveal details about not only their personality, but also their diplomacy skills and teamwork ability.

• Look for a response that demonstrates how an individual successfully addressed confrontation or resolved conflict in a serious business situation. They shouldn’t be dwelling on minor irritations.

What do you do for fun?

Balance is a critical component to success. Superstars generally do well in all areas of their lives including physical fitness, relationships, community contributions and learning. For instance, if a candidate makes time for yoga classes or their bowling league, volunteers at the local hospital once a week, or takes art class at night “just for fun,” then it’s likely they value achievement and goal setting – and are looking to continually improve themselves. This will carry over into their work.

There are numerous other questions you can add to your repertoire which are highly valuable, if not quite unique, among them:

• Why should we hire you?
• Which area of your work needs the most improvement?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?

Adding a few curve ball questions enables you to really dig deep as you consider hiring someone. It also displays their ability to think on their feet and remain poised, even when the unexpected occurs.

For additional guidance as you design the best hiring strategy for your company, including the ins and outs of successful interviewing, consider a partnership with PrideStaff Modesto. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

These are The Most Important Business Communication Skills

When hiring new talent, companies seek candidates with a solid mix of hard and soft skills. The bulk of the latter leads back to communication, so if you can’t express yourself, you won’t

Meeting

get very far in business.

Whether you’re searching for temp jobs in Las Vegas or a full-time position, you need a sharp set of business communication skills. Essential both to articulate your thoughts and work well with others, brush up on these abilities to get ahead.

Five Business Communication Skills to Master

Verbal Communication

An idea might sound great in your head, but if you can’t clearly explain it, you won’t be able to bring it to fruition. If you literally have trouble speaking what’s on your mind, improve your verbal communication skills by thinking before you speak and preparing remarks before meetings. Slowly, but surely, your abilities will improve, and so will your confidence.

Written Communication

Some people have a natural ability to write, but others need a little fine-tuning. Even if writing isn’t a huge part of your job, you still need people to understand your emails and other written correspondence. Improve your skills by spending a little more time on each piece. Check for spelling and grammatical errors that would make your message hard to understand, and keep your audience in mind when writing.

Teamwork

If you can’t work well with others, you won’t succeed in business. Every workplace is composed of a very diverse group of people. You’ll really mesh with some, and won’t care for others at all. Despite any differences with colleagues, you always need to treat everyone with respect. Be reliable, know your role, work toward shared objectives that benefit the entire group, be willing to pitch in when someone needs help and take pride in your work.

Listening

One of the most important aspects of communication involves saying nothing at all. Not only is listening to your colleagues a sign of respect, it’s also the only way to get work done right. If your listening skills need a boost, practice remaining silent — no interrupting — when spoken to. Give the other person your full attention and wait until they’re finished speaking to add your two cents.

Networking

Connections are everything in business, so you should always be networking — even when you’re not actively seeking work. Some people are naturals at schmoozing, but this is a skill you can learn. Prior to a networking event, prepare an elevator pitch, so you don’t have to awkwardly fumble over words trying to explain the job you have or the one you want. If you’re nervous to attend an event alone, bring a friend. When conversing with potential contacts, smile a lot, ask questions and end the conversation by exchanging business cards. Stay in touch by following up a day or two later.

Get the Job You Want

Landing your dream job is hard work, so allow PrideStaff Las Vegas to steer your search. We’ll connect you with top Clark County employers looking to fill temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire positions with professionals just like you! Contact us today to get started!

Phoenix Job Search 101: How to Stand Out in a Sea of Job Candidates

You’ve been polishing your resume, networking non-stop and applying to jobs in Phoenix and beyond. And it finally happened. You landed an interview.

Congratulations!

Enjoy the fruit of your efforts for a moment – and then get down to work. After all, the company is likely interviewing other candidates and you need to set yourself apart from them. The better job you do, the more likely the offer is yours.

Here’s how to get a top company in Phoenix to want to hire you:

Be prepared to talk about the past…and the future.

Employers want to see evidence of past results. They want to know how you increased sales, cut time spent on an inefficient process, or acquired new customers.

But you can’t simply focus on the past. You also have to be ready to talk about the future. In other words, what can you do for them? Potential employers want to know that you can make a positive contribution – which is why you need to relate your past accomplishments to their specific needs.

Have numbers on hand.

When you’re bringing up that big project you led, or the fire you put out, make sure you have numbers ready that quantify your results. That means dollar amounts, time, percentages and statistics. This will get the attention of the hiring manager and also help verify your claims.

Don’t ramble.

The interview was going great. And then, you couldn’t stop talking. Sound familiar? It happens to even the best candidates. You get nervous – and so you ramble. This is easy to do especially if the interviewer pauses a lot throughout your meeting. But aim to keep your answers clear and concise.

Be positive and enthusiastic.

The workplace is full of groaners and complainers – and frankly, it’s a drain on productivity. Employers know this and so they look for those people who come off as eager to learn, with a willingness to be flexible. So display a good attitude – and you’ll get noticed. In fact, it could be the one thing that helps you stand out among other candidates with similar backgrounds and skills.

Need more help in your job search? Call the experts at PrideStaff.

As one of Phoenix’s top employment agencies, we can assist you with every aspect of your search, start to finish, so you land your next great opportunity and advance your career. Contact PrideStaff today to learn more about how we can help you.

Are You Being Overworked in Your Managerial Role?

As a manager, of course you have work you must do, and some of that will include a fair amount of stress. But what happens when you start having to deal with a less-than-fair amount? If a boss begins to put too many demands on your plate, you have the choice to take some of them off … or risk dropping the whole thing. So, recognize the signs and do what you can to make your own plate manageable.

• Watch out for changes in your behavior.

Managers can let frustrations roll off their backs – they know they have responsibilities for numerous employees and tasks. When you find yourself constantly snapping at colleagues and your team, you may feel as though someone’s trying to put one more marble in a filled jar … you need to take something out to make room for more. You may also start to forget things due to overwork. Ironically, the more you should remember, the harder it gets, especially when you feel stressed. And you may well start running behind and scrambling to make deadlines, feeling constant pressure either because of poor time management or an extreme workload.

• You find yourself longing for something more or something else.

If you feel tired all the time, lacking energy because you can barely stay afloat with your work schedule, yearning for sleep, something needs to change. Or you find yourself looking toward the future in an almost obsessive way, frequently thinking that things will get better after you finally finish this project, after taxes, after performance reviews, denying that things need to change for you right now. And you may flat out not enjoy your job anymore and desire to leave.

• So, what can you do?

Recognize the signs you just read about and recognize that they’re signs of overwork, not everyday working life. Your job should not feel like an endless slog you can never get ahead of. Then you need to assess how to get out of the situation. Do you need to better manage your time? Delegate work better? Sit down with a superior and tell them that you have so much on your plate that you find you’re not able to work as effectively? Or perhaps you need to find a new position where you’ll get the help you need?

If it’s the latter, talk to someone at PrideStaff. They can help match you with a job that fits your skills and your needs.