Can’t Find Good Employees? Here’s What to Do

It’s no secret that hiring is hard work. Not only that, but the stakes are high. As leading Tempe recruiters, PrideStaff knows that one bad hiring mistake can have a serious impact on productivity and profitability. So what should you do when you need to hire, but can’t find the right talent to bring on board?

If you’re facing this situation, the problem might not be with the quality of the candidates who are applying – and might instead be with your recruiting and hiring process. So if you’re having a hard time attracting great people to your company, take a step back and consider these areas for improvement:

Your candidate network.

This is the age of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Snapchat. If you’re not on the right networks, you might be missing out on opportunities to connect with top candidates. That doesn’t mean your company needs to have social media profiles on every channel available. It does mean finding out where your target candidates are – and making sure you’re leveraging the power of social media to communicate with them.

Your employer brand.

Today’s candidates want to work for companies with great reputations. So if it’s hard to distinguish your company among competitors – or worse, your company has a weak reputation as an employer – it’s likely impacting the quality of candidates coming your way. Your employer brand is like the face of your company. And you need a friendly, positive, welcoming one if you want the best talent knocking at your door.

Your communication process.

Hiring the right employee can be a difficult decision. But if you interview a great candidate – then leaving them hanging for three weeks – they’re going to have a negative impression of your company. And a poor candidate experience can have a huge impact on your ability to recruit the best people.

Your screening approach.

As a hiring manager, you want to make sure you have the best candidates to choose from by screening out the weak ones. But when you focus too much on filtering out – instead of reeling in – you could be driving top candidates to your competitors.

That’s why it’s so important to have a positive employer brand, make the application process as easy as possible for candidates, and keep them in the loop with plenty of communication throughout the hiring experience.

The bottom line? Hiring is a two-way street. Your company needs to find skilled, high-quality talent. At the same time, it’s important to recognize that job candidates want to work for top companies that will value them and help them advance their careers. When you consider both perspectives, you’ll be well on your way toward improving your hiring process and bringing great people on board in 2017.

Do you need more help hiring at your company?

Call the staffing experts at PrideStaff. As leading Tempe recruiters, 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.

4 Signs It’s Time to Hire Your Temporary Worker Full-Time

You brought someone on board to cover a maternity leave or help out with a special project. You had no intention of hiring on a full-time basis. Now, you’ve seen just what they can do – and you don’t want to let them go. But how can you be sure hiring your temporary worker is really the right move? As one of Tempe’s top staffing services, we know the signs. Here’s a look at 4 of them:

#1: They’re delivering excellent work.

You give them a task and not only do they execute perfectly, but they finish it off early. They’re regularly turning in high quality work and then asking for more assignments. Or they’re going outside of their own role – once their work is complete – and helping fellow co-workers out. These are some indications you have a top performer on your hands.

#2: They’re eager to learn.

When they’re not doing great work, they’re asking questions and on the hunt for resources so they can obtain more knowledge and skills. They’re enthusiastic about learning, want to be crystal clear about every aspect of their job, and also want to fully understand how the company as a whole operates.

#3: They’re forging ties with others.

They’re friendly, personable and genuinely interested in others. While they’re not a full-time team member, they’ve certainly started to feel like one. They’re not afraid to put themselves out there, get involved and meet people outside their comfort zone and department.

#4: They’re flexible and willing to help.

They jump at the chance to take on a new task or assignment. They’re happy to lend a hand wherever needed, even if it’s outside of their job description. And they’re flexible and open to taking on whatever needs to get done to make the company successful.

If these signs sound familiar – and you have a temporary employee who fits the description – then they’re certainly worth considering hiring on a full-time basis.

What’s even better is that when you convert a temporary employee to a full-time one, you’re significantly reducing the likelihood of a hiring mistake. After all, you already have first-hand insight into their skills and abilities, as well as how their personality fits with the dynamics of your team. Likewise, they already know what the culture and the company is like, so you don’t have to worry about them jumping ship after a few months. Either way, it’s a win-win.

Need more hiring help?

Call the experts at PrideStaff. As one of Tempe’s top staffing services firm, we can give you access to the area’s top talent, whether you need them on a temporary, part-time or full-time basis. Contact PrideStaff today to learn more about how we can help you.

How Can You Make Your Time at Work Productive When You’re Not Particularly Busy?

Question Originally Appeared on Quora: How Can You Make Your Time at Work Productive When You’re Not Particularly Busy?

Some days at work are much busier than others. If it’s not even lunchtime and you’re already searching for tasks you keep you occupied, this is one of those days. PrideStaff Las Vegas — one of the top job agencies in Las Vegas — recommends doing something constructive with the free time on your hands. Of course, you could spend the rest of your shift aimlessly scouring social media and news sites, but that will do nothing to boost your career.

Instead of spending the rest of the day staring at the clock, counting the minutes until you can go home, occupy yourself with these four tasks to end the day on a productive note.

Set Goals

A slow day at work is the perfect opportunity for career reflection. Take some time to make a list of goals to achieve at both your current job and in the future. This can help boost your resume in the short-term, and give you a more defined career path in the long-term.

Get Organized

It’s hard to accomplish things in a timely manner when your workspace is a mess. Use your downtime to sort the stack of papers on your desk, organize the files on your computer and get rid of things you no longer need. Having a clean, orderly space to work will seriously boost your productivity levels when you’re back to being busy.

Learn Something New

Turn boredom into a valuable learning experience by using this time to grow your skills. Enroll in a free online webinar, shadow a colleague on another team or ask your boss for an extra assignment that falls outside your comfort zone. Leaving the office a little wiser at the end of the day will feel pretty fantastic.

Work on a Side Project

If you’ve been planning a side project, but didn’t have time to get started, now’s your chance. Whether you’ve been wanting to write a post for the company blog or search for more cost-effective budgeting software, use this time to finally make it happen. Getting this project off the ground will feel great and your boss will be seriously impressed with your initiative.

Get a Job That Challenges You

If you’re frequently bored in your current job, it’s time to upgrade to a new role that makes you feel fulfilled and inspired. At PrideStaff Las Vegas, we want to help you find a temporary, temp-to-hire or direct hire opportunity that makes you excited to come to work each day. Contact us now to get started!

The Difference Between Your Resume and Your LinkedIn Profile

Some people think their resume and LinkedIn profile are one and the same. They’re not – but both are important. They work together to position you for success, and both play a key role in your ongoing career management.

Which Is Which – and Why?

You use your resume for some purposes and your LinkedIn profile for others. In some cases, there will be an overlap. Here’s a summary of the differences between the two and the optimal uses for each:

Your resume should contain only information pertinent to a specific position, in addition to basic data. It should be limited to one page if you started your career within the last five years, or two pages if it’s been longer. Quality is more important than quantity. The goal is to highlight your best skills and accomplishments in a concise fashion. Your resume generally does not include a photo.
Your LinkedIn profile allows you more space to communicate and is not constrained by space considerations. Here, prospective employers expect and want to see more about your experience, abilities and personality. LinkedIn offers many opportunities to expand on your resume. A professional photo is highly recommended. The generic grey stock default image can be off-putting to employers.

You Need Both

To ensure you’re using both your resume and your LinkedIn profile optimally, be sure your information is consistent across both mediums. Double-check spellings, dates and factual statements. Mismatching could signal to a hiring manager you’re either hiding something or fail to pay close attention to details.

Here are a few more tips:

Your resume should not contain lengthy summaries, references or recommendations. By contrast, a standout headline and strong summary are critical to your LinkedIn profile. On LinkedIn, write a personal bio and show some personality. Use your summary section to highlight your best traits. You have a generous 2,000 characters available for this purpose. Also, use the LinkedIn recommendations function. This way, an employer gets a positive reference before even meeting you.
Use all the LinkedIn functions that apply to you. For instance, hobbies and interests provide an extra glimpse into your personality. The publisher option allows you to expand on your expertise and opinions related to your field. You can blog or write articles on noteworthy developments in your industry or projects you’ve worked on. This adds depth to your profile and positions you as a subject -matter expert. Finally, a well-constructed profile demonstrates you are internet savvy and connected to other professionals.
You need a resume to submit along with your cover letter when you apply for a targeted position. You should also bring copies of your resume to networking events. Of course, you don’t just hand them out indiscriminately, but they serve as reinforcements when used appropriately. Any time you want to provide someone with brief, effective information on your professional background, your resume is your go-to tool. Often, it is given out along with your business card.

The best resume and LinkedIn profiles – and the best strategy for using both – are integral components of your job search. Make 2017 the year when it all comes together for you by partnering with a specialized agency that takes a personal interest in your success. Read our related posts or contact PrideStaff Modesto today to learn more.

How to Get Over a Bad Day on the Job Hunt

We all have bad days, but for some reason, a bad day of job hunting just makes you feel like a suddenly deflated balloon. That interview that you had such high hopes for? You ended up coming in late and somehow managed to say the complete wrong thing, plus that toothpaste on your shirt did not come out with water as much as you’d thought. This, in turn, makes it harder to get up and start again the next day: Do you really want more of the same? Will anyone want to hire you? But you can keep up your spirits with a few tips.

Defy the averages.

The average job seeker does only half as much work on job hunting the day after that bad day. It makes sense – they feel demoralized and doubtful about their abilities and prospects. It’s also the opposite of what we tell people to do; we mainly suggest (and insist) that they metaphorically pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and start all over again. So next time you have that crummy day, be better than average: Decide to do just as much, if not more, than you usually do toward job seeking. It will give you back feelings of competence and control, as well as a feeling of accomplishment that you obviously didn’t have the day before.

Give yourself a pep talk.

Yes, you will find another job and work again. No, you will not have to live on a friend’s couch/with your parents forever. Yes, you got those other jobs due to your skills and merit. Review your resume and look at all you have to offer, telling yourself that the right fit is out there; you just have to find it. Think about any positive feedback you’ve received from former managers or employers and capitalize on that: What did they see in you as an asset? How can you get that to shine through?

Make connections.

Ask any business person and they’ll tell you that they prefer to hire someone they know, personally, who will do the job well or someone whom another trusted professional colleague can vet. It makes sense: Wouldn’t you rather work with someone you already know will fit well rather than take a chance on an unknown? So that next day, go on LinkedIn or call people you know in your industry who might talk with you about possible opportunities or what they see trending in terms of hiring. And remember: You don’t have to do this alone. Contacting a quality staffing agency such as PrideStaff will get you in contact with numerous employers who will trust that they’re getting vetted candidates.

Do what you can to not let a bad job-seeking day get you down. Allow yourself a little time to get out your frustrations and worries, and then hunker down to see how you can balance it out with a great day of searching. And make sure to include PrideStaff!

Cutting Your Time….And Getting More Done

As a busy professional, you always have a full calendar. Whether you’re tied up in meetings all day or are swamped with multiple major projects, your schedule is never not hectic. Rather than spending 12-hour days at the office trying to accomplish everything, it’s time to give your work day an overhaul.

Despite your good intentions, there’s a very good chance your approach is all wrong. Use these tips from PrideStaff Las Vegas, a leading Las Vegas temp agency, to successfully complete everything on your agenda, with time to spare.

Four Ways to Be Productive Without Sacrificing Time

Follow a To-Do List

It’s hard to stay on track without a game plan. Make a to-do list each morning, so you know exactly what you need to accomplish before the end of the day. Having everything right in front of you makes it easier to prioritize your most important tasks and make sure they’re completed first.

Eliminate Distractions

When you’re constantly disrupted by colleagues, emails and phone calls, it’s impossible to get anything done. Reserve a block of time each day to work uninterrupted. During this time, shut your office door — or find a quiet place to work if you’re in a cubicle — close your email program and turn your phone ringer off, so you can focus solely on work.

Stop Multitasking

There’s a common misconception that multitasking helps you accomplish more in a shorter period of time, but this is nothing more than a myth. When you don’t give your full attention to an assignment, it doesn’t turn out well and you have to revisit it later. Get it right the first time by focusing your efforts on one thing at a time.

Learn When to Say No

You’re only one person and you can’t do everything. When you’re unnecessarily invited to meetings or projects keep coming across your desk you don’t need to be involved in, it’s okay to push back. There’s only so many hours in the day, so your time needs to be spent on work that makes the most sense.

Feel Confident in Your Hiring Decisions

Finding the right person for the job is a challenge, so allow PrideStaff Las Vegas to do the work for you.

How Strategic Planning Benefits Leaders at Every Level

Want a successful 2017? Then you need to make sure you have a successful strategic plan set up for that success. Of course, you likely have objectives and goals you want to meet and ideas of how to get it all done, but specific strategy (after all, the word strategy did come from the military concept of organizing forces to defeat an enemy) will help you achieve them.

The big picture.

Consider the concept of strategy creation, which needs thorough research to best help a company’s profitability, sustainability, and competitive edge. Key stakeholders will then use that research (based on external factors that affect the business and internal capabilities). In turn, senior management uses those findings to focus on the most important issues the company needs to work through. Then they create action plans to address each issue, including a process for implementation, to achieve maximum success. All of this needs time, consideration, and solid communication between leaders and senior management, as well as customers and key stakeholders to get at every angle.

The power of SWOT.

If you want to get perspective from every angle, internal and external, utilize a SWOT analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. The former two tend to be internal while the latter two are external. Strengths and weaknesses help zero in on performance. Examining strengths and weaknesses allows the company to form contingency plans and take advantage of positive situations. Along with this you may want to consider strategizing using another acronym, PEST: the analysis of political, environmental, social, and technological trends.

Three types of strategies.

Once you have your big picture and SWOT analysis done, the last layer is figuring out which type of strategy will work best for you.

Low-cost: Offering a product or service at a lower price than a competitor/making customers believe that is the case. Examples: Target, Walmart
Differentiation strategy: Basically, this helps you stand out from your competition by offering something different (obviously), such as the low-cost option or an added value to counter higher prices. Examples: Volvo offers excellent safety, Toyota Prius offers hybrid technology for better gas mileage.
Customer relationship management strategy: This strategy builds on excellent customer service, building loyalty and preference using some sort of value-added measure to offset higher prices, including very personalized or customized services and building an ongoing relationship with customers. Examples: The Ritz-Carlton has excellent quality service that makes its high prices worth paying, Amazon makes it easy for customers to reach a person who will replace or refund a purchase easily with little hassle.

Creating a strategic plan is akin to having a clear set of directions in the wilderness: Without them, you’re simply wandering in the woods, hoping to find a path toward your destination. To find quality staff who will best implement your company’s plan, visit PrideStaff.

Resumes 101: Tips for Listing Multiple Jobs at One Company

At your last employer, you worked your way up in your first department and have held a variety of different positions in other departments, as well. Your career shows great progress – that’s the good news. The bad news is you’re not sure how to properly illustrate it all on your resume without it getting confusing. As one of Tempe’s top employment agencies, PrideStaff knows there are generally two ways to approach this situation:

If the Jobs Were Similar

Say, for instance, you started off as a data entry clerk, moved onto receptionist and now are the executive assistant to the company CFO. Those would be considered similar positions that build upon past experiences. If that’s the case for you, then list your experience at the company with your job titles in a stacked format – with duties bulleted beneath. For instance:

ABC Company, Inc., Phoenix, AZ

Executive assistant to CFO (January 2015 – present)

Senior receptionist (March 2013 – January 2015)

Receptionist (July 2011 – March 2013)

Job duties listed here
Explanation of accomplishments here
More accomplishments and results

The information you list in the bullets should represent your most impressive accomplishments across your roles. Remember, you don’t need to list every detail of your background at the company. Your resume is like a marketing brochure – and just meant to highlight the best points about your professional career, not every point.

If the Jobs Were Different

If, on the other hand, you moved around a lot at a company and your jobs were totally different, then you’ll want to create separate descriptions for each position under “Work History.” Start by listing and bolding the company name, then citing and indenting each position and related bullet points. For instance:

ABC Company, Inc., Phoenix, AZ

Event coordinator (January 2015 – present)

Job duties listed here
Explanation of accomplishments here
More accomplishments and results

Assistant office manager (March 2013 – January 2015)

Job duties listed here
Explanation of accomplishments here
More accomplishments and results

In this situation, be sure to highlight only your experience that’s most relevant to the position you’re applying for. In your cover letter, you may also want talk about your growth with and loyalty to the company over a number of years and through range of positions as a way to stand out from other candidates.

Need more help finding your next job in Tempe?

Call PrideStaff. As one of Tempe’s top employment agencies, we’re experts in matching top job candidates with great job opportunities throughout the city. If you’re skilled, dependable and experienced, we can help you too! Contact PrideStaff today to learn more.

Does Your Work Environment Affect Your Work Productivity?

Question Originally Appeared on Quora: Does Your Work Environment Affect Your Work Productivity?

Whether you’re searching for temp jobs in Las Vegas or a direct hire opportunity, pay close attention to the work environment, because it can make or break your productivity. Equally important as the actual work, a poor office environment can seriously hold you back, while the perfect fit can help you accomplish more than ever.

Generally speaking, no work environment is right or wrong, it’s your personal preferences that come into play. Your ideal office setting might be someone else’s worst-case scenario, so investigate for yourself before accepting a job.

Work Environment Features that Seriously Impact Productivity

Privacy

Some people enjoy working in an open space, while others greatly prefer an actual office with a door. If you’re the type of person who enjoys collaborating with others, you might thrive in an office with an open floor plan. Conversely, if you prefer solo work and minimal disruptions, seek out a job where you’ll have an office or at least a high-walled cubicle.

Noise

Many people have trouble concentrating in a loud office environment, while others can’t stand working in silence. During the job interview, pay close attention to the noise level in the building, because this will impact your productivity. It’s impossible to do great work when you’re focused on the amount of noise — or lack thereof — in the office.

Lighting

Far too many offices are lit by the glow of fluorescent lights, instead of bright sunshine. It may not seem like a huge deal, but lack of sunshine can lower your level of Vitamin D, causing you to become depressed and diminishing your immune system. It’s hard to work when you’re not feeling well, so think twice before agreeing to work in a space with poor lighting.

Air Quality

It can be difficult to assess the air quality of an office space during a job interview, but do realize its importance. Many buildings simply pump recycled air through the vents, which can lead to headaches, trouble concentrating, sinus issues and even more serious conditions, such as asthma. This makes it very hard to achieve peak productivity.

Find the Right Job for You

There’s a lot of great jobs in Las Vegas, so finding your best fit can be a challenge. PrideStaff Las Vegas is here to guide your search and help you find the right opportunity for your skills, personality and future goals. Contact us today to get started!

The Importance of Hiring Ethical and Honest Employees

There will always be dishonest people in society and in the workforce. But you can minimize your chances of hiring them to work at your company by integrating ethics and honesty into every step of your employment process.

Dishonest employees can cause irreparable damage to a company, its people, its bottom line and its reputation. A striking case in point is Wells Fargo, which recently fired 5,300 people as a result of fraud allegations that cost the bank $185 million in fines for the opening of unauthorized accounts. The incident affected at least 200,000 customers – and Wells Fargo’s hard-won reputation as a “Main Street lender” is under severe scrutiny following what the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau called “outrageous conduct” and “a violation of trust.” Ouch.

How to Hire for Honesty and Integrity

Protect yourself and your organization by hiring only the best people. Wells Fargo learned this lesson the hard way, as they now look to replace 2 percent of their global workforce and rebuild their tarnished image.

The goal is to find people who share and embrace your core values. You can always train someone who is missing a skill. But it’s impossible to implant core values into someone who lacks them.

Involve a mix of your best employees in the interview process. They will bring a perspective of high standards and effectiveness to the table,and will be likely to seek out the same qualities in potential hires.
Be clear about the type of employee you want. Write out a detailed profile of the attitudes and moral values you are looking for. Then, don’t settle for anything less. In your job descriptions and postings, make it clear your company will accept only ethical business practices – and the penalty for falling short of this standard will be severe. Point out you will conduct full background checks and drug screens on every candidate.
Look for red flags on resumes. These may include unusual career transitions or long, unexplained gaps between jobs. Also be alert for job titles that seem out of proportion to a person’s training and experience.
Ask the right questions. Delve deeply into candidates’ personal definition of integrity and resilience and how they have handled past mistakes – both their own and those of others. Find out what they could bring to your workplace environment. If they already know and can enthusiastically discuss your core values, you’re on the right track.

The PrideStaff Modesto team can work with you to identify your ongoing staffing needs and develop a strategic plan that helps ensure you hire only the best temporary and full-time employees. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.