Are These the Top Three Qualities of the Modern Employee?

Employees today aren’t the same as they were 10 or 20 years ago. Now that millennials are the largest group of professionals in the workforce, the definition of the modern employee has shifted. These people have different work styles, values and goals, so keep them happy by finding out what drives them.

Top Three Qualities of the Modern Employee

Desire to Learn

In the past, many workers were content doing the same job for years, feeling comfortable knowing precisely how to perform every responsibility associated with the position. Conversely, modern employees enjoy challenging themselves. These people are constantly looking forward to the next step, so they value a company that invests in their career development. From mentoring and tuition assistance benefits to the ability to attend industry conferences and training sessions, the more information they can soak up, the better.

Need for Constant Feedback

Once a dreaded annual task enjoyed by no one, performance reviews are deeply valued by modern employees. However, simply meeting with them once or twice a year doesn’t cut it anymore, as they want constant feedback on what they’re doing well and areas for improvement. Keep these employees engaged by putting regular one-on-one meetings on the calendar and spending the time focusing on their performance, helping them achieve their goals for the future and listening to their ideas for the company.

Team-Oriented

People used to dread group projects, but the tables have turned, with modern employees actually preferring it. This crop of workers enjoys collaborating with their peers and working together to solve problems, generate new ideas and accomplish big things together. Excessive amounts of solo work feels isolating to employees who are social in nature and truly enjoy working with their peers. When possible, appease this desire by turning traditionally one-person jobs into a project for two or simply assigning the team a list of tasks and allowing them to accomplish the objectives on their own terms.

Need a little help finding and attracting modern employees?

Partner with PrideStaff Las Vegas. Our expert recruiters will help you staff your Las Vegas company with the area’s best and brightest workers.

5 Signs that It’s Time to Make a Career Change

It happens – sometimes you realize that, even though you’ve chosen a certain career path, you discover it’s just not going the way you wanted it to and you may feel stuck. But what can you do? You’ve invested time and energy, made connections, and possibly sunk money into loans to make this happen. But you may feel unsure – is this just a flash-in-the-pan frustration or something more?

1. You feel bored and listless.

If you went into a job feeling energized and ready to meet the challenges and now feel burdened to get out of bed and find the willpower to go to work every day, it may well be time to move on from your current situation. And if you feel drained of energy even before going to work, that feeling will inevitably find its way into other parts of your life. 

2. You feel jealous of others and their jobs.

You may have chosen a certain career direction and done fairly well but feel pangs of envy when you hear others talking about their field … and stopping to consider why you feel that way can tell you something. Break it down: Do you feel jealous of their compensation or schedule? The people they work with? Or is it that you wish you could do what they do because your heart actually lies in that industry? Your green-eyed monster may actually be telling you something important about where you want to go with your own career. 

3. Your boss/company doesn’t value your talent.

If you work hard, make improvements, and have no opportunities for any kind of advancement, you probably want to look elsewhere. While you won’t get a pat on the head and recognition for simply doing your job at most workplaces, if you go above and beyond and get no trust of your potential, start looking for another opportunity to grow. 

4. You’re in a negative workplace culture.

A workplace where you have to watch your every more, where leaders show no transparency, where false promises abound…that’s no place you can really create a successful career. You shouldn’t feel you have to work at a place where the culture basically corrupts those within it and harms your performance and, as a result, your advancement opportunities. 

5. You can’t be yourself.

This doesn’t mean you get to plaster your office with your favorite posters. Rather, it means you have the freedom to function in your position using your strengths and acting in a way that comes naturally to you. When an employer forces you to change what you do best and work in a manner that doesn’t utilize your strengths (and probably what you were hired for), you cannot act as your authentic self. You need to move on.

When considering a career change, look at these points carefully if any apply to you, you may want to visit PrideStaff to see what will career will fit you better.

Navigating Your Exit Interview

If you resign from your job, there’s a good chance you’ll be asked to participate in an exit interview. It can be nerve-wracking – maybe even more stressful than the interview you had before you were offered the job. Saying the wrong thing or acting unprofessionally could risk your losing a reference from your employer, or burning a bridge in the event you should ever decide to come back. (This may seem unlikely right now, but boomerang employment situations are not uncommon.)

What to Expect

Your HR department typically holds exit interviews simply for the purpose of having you fill out required forms. They don’t really want anything else from you. You’ve resigned and it’s time for everyone involved to move on. So if you do say something provocative, it just creates more paperwork because your interviewer is required to document it.

• Proceed with caution. You may want to offer constructive criticism to help strengthen the company, without it being taken as sour grapes or bitterness. Watch what you say, as well as your body language. Don’t be rude or defensive, or walk out in a huff.
• Take a “never close doors” approach. First of all, literally, don’t slam the door! Keep your emotions in check. Be pleasant, as difficult as that may be. Remember, this may be the last impression you leave your employer with.

Be Professional

Follow these additional tips for optimal success in your exit interview:

• Vent beforehand, not during the interview. Once you’ve made the decision to resign, airing your grips to your employer won’t help. Your time to address these concerns was while you were still actively employed. If it helps, write down a “no-holds-barred” description with painstaking details of every negative aspect of your job. But don’t send or save it. Talk it out with a trusted friend or a professional career advisor. This way, you can privately vent and turn your concerns into productive criticism.
• Focus on the positive. Companies want to learn ways to improve their workplace and its culture. For instance, if you are leaving for better benefits or a more flexible work/life balance, that’s valuable information for your current employer to have. Make sure all your statements are fact-based. Express what you liked about your job, as well as what you would change if you could. But keep it simple. Mention what you learned and how both you and the company benefited from your time there.
• Use good judgment. When asked why you are leaving, put the situation in perspective. If you had a ruthless performance review or were dealing with another problem that you already addressed with HR, simply say “previously unresolved issues.” There is no need to go into detail. If there was a more minor issue, you may make a suggestion, such as “I wish the help desk was more responsive. IT issues made it difficult to deliver results in a timely fashion.” Pick your battles. Keep your exit interview short – and keep looking forward.

The career development professionals at PrideStaff Modesto can help you find your next great job, either temporary or regular, within our extensive network of clients. And, we can help you make a seamless transition as you depart from your old employer. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

An Economic Outlook of Las Vegas | What to Expect in the Remaining Months of 2016

It’s hard to believe we’re finishing up the third quarter of 2016, but Sept. 30 is upon us. If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to dust off the goals you set at the beginning of the year and make sure you’re on track to meet them.

The Las Vegas economy has certainly had its share of ups and downs in recent years, but it seems to be on the mend. Learn more about the current economic state of the region to plan ahead for the rest of the year.

Unemployment Rate

It’s true the unemployment rate rose to 6.9% in June — up from 6.4% in May — but there’s no need to panic yet. This trend has been happening around the summer months for years. In 2015, the unemployment rate went from 6.6% in May to 7.1% in June, but steadily decreased, bottoming out at 6.2% in both November and December, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Tourism

The Strip is one of the most well-known, beloved tourist destinations in the world, and visitors are flocking to the city in seriously impressive numbers. In 2015, a record-breaking 42.3 million people visited Las Vegas, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, and as of June 2016, the visitor volume for the year was up 1.6% percent, indicating 2016 will be the region’s best-ever for tourism.

Housing

The housing market has also experienced an upswing in 2016. From June 2015 to June 2016, the median new home price increased $24,575 and the median existing home price rose $10,000 during this same time period, according to data presented by UNLV from Home Builders Research. More people putting down roots in Las Vegas means an influx of revenue throughout the local economy.

Only time will tell what the Las Vegas economy will experience in the remaining months of 2016, but the data above indicates the outlook is very good.

Hire the Best in Las Vegas Every Time

Your employees are your company’s best asset, so don’t take a gamble when hiring new team members. Partner with PrideStaff Las Vegas to get the talent needed to help your business meet — or exceed — its 2016 goals. Choose from a variety of staffing options, including temporary, temp-to-hire and direct recruiting for a wide-range of industries.

How to Be Flexible with Parents Now that Kids are Back to School

Many employees talk about the importance of a work-life balance, and when that life involves parenting, they sometimes worry that they can’t possibly find enough time in the day to attend to both their jobs and their families. It doesn’t help that companies still don’t appreciate the desire of their employees to split their focus. In the end, too often the family loses out to the needs of the job, resulting in employees who feel unhappy and stressed.

The frustration, for example, for mothers who have children under six and work a full-time job, they actually end up working fewer than 40 hours — closer to 33 — so they don’t technically meet the definition. Those who managed to work split shifts or flexible schedules actually ended up working around 45 hours a week…and making significantly more money in the process. Fortunately, you can help facilitate this and get employees who are focused on their work during “working hours” and feel loyalty toward a company who understands and accommodates their needs.

• Bear in mind that dads want flexibility as well.

The irony is that companies who offer flextime to mothers as a perk end up alienating the working fathers. When mothers joined the workforce, they had to make the choice: family or job. Far too many companies still force the choice. But those that offer a flexible schedule only to mothers ignore the fact that Dad is not the breadwinner and wants to spend time with his family as well. So offer that sort of time to all employees, not just the women. 

• Offer different types of scheduling.

Whether it’s that split shift, working a few days from home and the rest on site, or maternity/paternity/adoption leave, offering these varied leave options will actually result in employees who focus better on their work rather than worrying about missing out on something at home. And allowing for leave, as pointed out, results in well-rested employees who appreciate working for a company that values family time as well…and this translates into happier employees (and better reviews for you). 

• Trust that they’ll do the job.

Sometime employers worry that a flexible schedule means less availability or that employees will take advantage of not having to come in 9 to 5 and work less. Do what you can to avoid micromanaging and nullify the stigma of those who use flexible time — too often those employees get labeled as less committed when in reality they’re doing what they can to commit to two important parts of their life and do both as well as they can.

For help setting up a successful flexible schedule that will work for you and your employees, visit the knowledgeable people at PrideStaff.

Why Focusing Too Much on ‘Cost-to-Hire’ Can Cost You

As an experienced recruitment firm in Tempe, PrideStaff knows cost is an important consideration during the hiring process. Everything you do – from posting job descriptions to conducting phone screens and interviews – costs money. But if you focus too much on this one factor – and try to build your entire hiring process around it – it can actually wind up costing you more in the future.

Here are 4 ways how:

1. In hiring mistakes.

Focusing too much on cost can actually lead to hiring mistakes. Minimizing cost can also lead you to skip out on important steps – like skills and personality testing and reference checking – all in the name of efficiency. As a result, the chances of a hiring mistake can rise dramatically.

2. In the quality of new hires.

When you’re not taking the time necessary to recruit and hire top talent, it’s going to show in the quality of new hires. Their resume might have been spot on and they might have the skills to succeed. But if they’re not motivated to excel, don’t have a killer work ethic, and avoid risk-taking and creative thinking, they’re not going to deliver the kind of results you’re after.

3. In your ROI. 

When you speed up the hiring process in order to save money, you may end up doing just that in the short term. However, in the long term, it has the potential to cost you more in the form of underperforming new hires and lower retention rates.

4. In your employer brand.

When you skimp on the hiring process – whether it’s through a clunky careers website or low-quality recruitment materials – it’s going to impact the impression you make and the quality of professionals you recruit. You may have cut costs in the interim, but in doing so, you’re turning away top talent.

Cost certainly needs to be a consideration, whether you’re hiring an entry-level worker or an expert to fill a C-level position. However, if you want to find and hire the very best people, it’s important to make the investment of both time and money to ensure you hire right, the first time.

PrideStaff can help you do just that.

As an experienced recruitment firm in Tempe, we can assist you with every aspect of hiring in a cost-efficient yet effective way – so you find exceptional people who can deliver the results you’re after. Contact PrideStaff today to learn more about how we can help you.

Breathe! How to Remain Productive With Too Much on Your Plate

When you have too much to do, you can freeze. Spinning your wheels but going nowhere, you may move fast but make little to no progress. You simply don’t know where to start – so you don’t start anywhere.

Sound all too familiar?

It happens to the best of people. There’s a difference between having a lot to do and having too much to do. “A lot” can be motivating. “Too much” can stop you in your tracks, resulting in nothing productive being accomplished. Where to start in terms of making things better…?

Calm Your Mind and Prioritize

To ease the stress and bring your life under control, follow these tips:

• Know that your reaction is normal. Stop beating yourself up. Get strategic about how to chip away at your work. You may even try allowing yourself some time just to let your mind wander. Daydream or browse the internet for 10 minutes. Working – and then taking breaks – within a specified time frame – helps keep you focused. And focusing your attention increases motivating stress and decreases paralyzing stress. Peter Bregman noted this in a Harvard Business Review article entitled “A Practical Plan for When You Feel Overwhelmed.”
• Write out a list. It can be very comforting to see your list of tasks in front of you, on a piece of paper, in your own handwritten scribble. In fact, experts advise resisting the urge to use technology for list making. For some reason, actually crossing items off on paper creates momentum. Erasing them on a black or whiteboard is empowering, too!
• Follow a one-hour pattern. Continuing to use Bregman’s advice, divide your time into 60-minute periods. For the first quarter hour, tackle a few tasks, such as phone calls, that you can quickly knock off. Then, turn off your phone, eliminate any other distractions, and work for 35 minutes on the task that is your highest priority or is causing you the most stress. After this, take that 10-minute break … and start the process all over again.
• Take some deep breaths. Military professionals, who face the ultimate work stress, use a tactical breathing technique when faced with critical situations. Breathe in for a count of at least four, hold, and then breathe out for four. Repeat this sequence four or five times.
• Turn to your teammates. Share project challenges with coworkers. Ask them what they would do, especially if they also had too much on their plate. See if you can swap or delegate some tasks. If necessary, talk to your manager about your dilemma. It may lend some much-needed perspective. Remember, you’re not in this alone.

Managing your stress, handling your workload, and reaching your short and long-term goals are all important as you achieve ongoing career success. If you’re job hunting – or even if the idea of a new job is on your back burner – this can add excitement, but also feel overwhelming.

To help manage it all, call on the professional recruiters and time management experts at PrideStaff Modesto. We can help. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

6 Things No One Tells You About Your First Job

Starting your first job can be an exciting and scary time. Overall, it will be a big learning experience for you. To help you in your journey, here are 6 things to keep in mind along the way:

1. Attitude matters.

Hard skills are important, but can be learned. As one of the leading employment agencies in Phoenix, PrideStaff knows that a good attitude, on the other hand, is something that’s invaluable to employers. Not only can having a positive attitude help you be more successful as you approach each day, but it can also impact how your boss and company higher ups perceive you.

2. Don’t get defensive about feedback.

You may not be used to receiving constructive criticism from someone who’s only a couple years older than you. But don’t get defensive. Look at it as a way to learn about any weaknesses so you can improve upon them and smooth out performance issues.

3. Check your work, then check it again.

At the end of the day, your job is to make life easier for your boss. So if they have to constantly review your work because you’re prone to errors, it can impact your ability to get ahead. It’s important to be detail-oriented at work – from checking emails for typos before you hit the ‘send’ button to verifying all the numbers in that big report you’re submitting.

Remember, relationships are built on trust. And if your boss and co-workers don’t trust the quality of your work, you’re going to have a hard road ahead.

4. Money isn’t everything.

Even if a particular opportunity will double your salary, it’s not worth it if you’re going to be bored or miserable in it. The trick is finding a job you love that offers competitive compensation.

5. Cultural fit is critical.

When you’re interviewing for a job, you probably asked questions about the tasks and responsibilities. But did you ask about culture too? Culture, simply put, is a company’s personality. It’s a big deal because if your company’s culture isn’t a good fit for you, you’re not going to enjoy working there. So be honest with yourself when assessing culture.

6. Your first job won’t be your last.

You won’t figure out the rest of your career based on your first job. Instead, focus on trying to learn all you can, making connections and expanding your network, and figuring out what you enjoy doing and what you don’t. You can then use that experience going forward to make the best possible career choices.

Do you need more help with your next career move?

Call PrideStaff. As one of the most trusted employment agencies in Phoenix, we connect top employers with top talent in a variety of fields. Contact PrideStaff today to learn more about how we can help you.

Four Common Interview Mistakes You’re Making Without Knowing It

You may have all the basics of interviewing down: You’ve researched the company, you had great references, you show up on time and professionally dressed, and you’ve prepped the most common interview questions, so you feel absolutely prepared. However, consider these mistakes as well that, while not career-ending, can still keep you from getting the job.

You can’t do small talk.

Yes, you need to know how to answer questions about the company and how you’d fit into it. But many interviews start with a little back-and-forth, and that part shows whether or not you’ll fit into the culture of the company. If the interview is for a very polished, suit-and-tie kind of company and you take too familiar or casual a tone, for example, an interviewer will consider that a mismatch of personalities. Take your cue from the person you’re speaking with — observe their body positioning and tone of voice and respond in kind. 

You play down your accomplishments.

When you respond to a question with, “I know this may not sound like much, but…” or “Well, this may not sound like the best example…” you’re putting yourself down and inviting the interviewer to think less of what you’re about to say. Speak with confidence and spin everything in the most positive light possible while remaining truthful. And frequently speaking in terms of “we” takes away something from your own accomplishments — speak about what you personally added to the company. 

You don’t bring energy.

Nerves for a big interview may have wreaked a little havoc with your sleep the night before (always come in well-rested if possible!), so you come off a little dull in your demeanor. An interviewer may think that if you can’t find pep enough to make it through an interview, how will you make it through an entire day? Make sure you have some enthusiasm in your voice when you speak — it often helps to have a relevant story ready that gets you excited and brings up feelings of pride or success. And make sure that you actually want the job. Interviewing just because you need the position but don’t actually have interest comes across in your demeanor. 

You overdo your enthusiasm.

On the other hand, you can come across as too effusive. If you come in and gush about how much you love the company, the position, the interviewer’s glasses…you may actually put off the interviewer by seeming too intense or even disingenuous. Keep it realistic — talk about how much you admire the company and then steer it around to how you’d make a perfect fit for the position. Coming on too strong can also appear unprofessional; you don’t know what’s professionally appropriate for certain situations.

If you can manage to avoid these pitfalls, you should have a strong interview and come off as the best version of yourself. For advice on how to nail your next one, visit PrideStaff.

Is Your Side Project Helping Your Career Growth and Opportunity?

Your current job looks good on your resume, but you’re an ambitious professional who needs more. As someone passionate about your work, you’re always looking to do more to increase your potential, so you work on a side project in your spare time.

Whether this is a job that allows you to earn extra money, a volunteer initiative or simply something you do for fun, it’s important to play your cards right to maximize its benefits. After all, a side project should be more than an extra paycheck…it should also help you achieve your long-term career goals and objectives.

Three Ways Your Side Project Should Work for You

The work you’re doing in your free time should check these three boxes, so it effectively promotes your career growth and development.

Enhance Your Skills

A side project is a great way to further develop abilities you already have and new ones your current job doesn’t offer. Make sure this initiative provides constant learning opportunities, and the skills you’re acquiring are beneficial to your future career goals. If you’re not doing something you can put on your resume, it’s time to shift your focus to a venture offering more value in the long run.

Showcase Your Work

You’re an extremely talented professional, so choose a side project that highlights what you have to offer. This venture can serve as an invaluable way to impress potential employers, so make the choice to spend your time doing something that shows what you have to offer. Choose an avenue that underlines your abilities in a manner your current job does not. This will help you appear as a more well-rounded professional, providing you with a competitive advantage the next time you search for a new job.

Sell Yourself

It doesn’t matter if you work in sales or not, you’re still responsible for selling yourself to potential employers. Every action you take has an impact on your personal brand, so you always need to present your best self. This side project should help your sales pitch, not hinder it, so carefully evaluate what you’re doing to make sure it aligns with your brand.

Need assistance plotting your career trajectory?

Contact PrideStaff Las Vegas. Our skilled recruiters will help you find a temporary, temp-to-hire or direct hire position that perfectly fits your plans for the future.