A New Year Brings New Job Search Trends

If you’re job searching in 2014, you are not alone. An astounding 83 percent of the North American working population is on the alert for new career opportunities this year, according to a recent report by industry experts at Right Management.

To land your dream job, be sure you stay ahead of current search trends and developments.

Technology on the Rise
Technological advancements in job searching will continue to accelerate in 2014 – and your electronic footprint will become increasingly important.

• An increasing number of companies use applicant-tracking systems. ATS software sifts through electronically-submitted resumes and flags content that meet job criteria. Look for online application processes to replace paper in the not-too-distant future. As you update your resume, make it keyword friendly and consistent with verbiage used in job descriptions and postings.
• More emphasis will be placed on your online presence. Employers routinely check social media platforms and utilize mobile apps and video interviews to screen candidates. Be sure you know how to present yourself on these platforms. Nearly 80 percent of recruiters report success in going social to find new hires, with the top search grounds being LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook and Twitter.

Remote Work and Freelancing
Employers are acknowledging that often, the best way to attract top talent is to open up employment without requiring new hires to relocate – or perhaps even leave their homes.

• Telecommuting is a win-win situation. Employers save money on office space and realize maximum productivity and satisfaction from their workers. Employees enjoy flexibility and cost savings of their own as they eliminate commuting and related expenses. About one-third of American workers currently freelance at least part of the time. This number is forecast to rise to 40 percent within 10 years.

The Growing Value of References
Your list of references has always been important. Your resume may score you an interview, but professional recommendations will win you the job in a close race with similarly-qualified candidates.

• Hiring managers often have a surplus of candidates. A strong reference can be a game changer.
• Keep your list of references current and complete. Stay in regular contact with those on your list and update your references as necessary.

Traditional Methods Still Work
While there’s no doubt that technological methods are charging forward, it’s still feasible to successfully use traditional job search methods.

• Pound the pavement. Several respondents to the Right Management study reported that they found their dream jobs by personally delivering their resumes to employers after their online attempts had come up empty. Dropping by a company’s reception desk or making a phone call shows confidence, tenacity and a genuine interest in joining their team.
• Stay in touch with former employers. With employment rates on the rise again, companies that experienced layoffs in recent years may be in a position to rehire.

Finally, keep in mind that 18 percent of Baby Boomers will retire within the next five years. This will result in a major workforce transition and with that, the door to opportunity swings open.

Working with a career coach can help you formulate the right job search plan, applying a strategic combination of the best tools and methods. Contact the experts at PrideStaff Modesto to learn more.

How to Be Better at Your Job in the New Year

Improving your work effectiveness may improve your pay check in 2014; a New Year’s resolution to work harder is, therefore, practical and worthwhile. However, simply working harder will not necessarily cause productivity gains, and it could even be detrimental to your efficiency.

For example, pushing yourself in terms of extra hours or attempting to speed up your accomplishments is likely to leave you stressed and chronically ill. An alternative is to develop your emotional intelligence. The Harvard Business Review published an article that suggests emotional intelligence can improve your performance and leadership potential. PrideStaff offers the following tips that will help you achieve superior job performance without detriment to your well being:

• Work smarter, not harder. Slowing down may result in greater achievement because haste causes stress and leads to unnecessary mistakes. Mind Tools recommends identifying your priorities so that you can manage your time effectively. Monitor how long it takes you to accomplish certain tasks so that you can plan accurately. Allow time for unforeseen circumstances in project planning.
• Communicate effectively. If a colleague does not interpret a message correctly, a job may have to be redone. Take steps to ensure that any ambiguity is eliminated. . For example, when delivering instructions, have the receiver repeat them back to you. Similarly, confirm instructions that you are given so that you can be sure that you are not misinterpreting them. Consider cultural differences and individual communication preferences and respect them.
• Study your industry. The more knowledgeable you are, the more useful you are to your employer. Your perspective expands along with your knowledge. Become involved in online industry networks and understand your competitors. You might develop an idea that your company ultimately adopts.
• Find a mentor. Identify an individual whom you admire and would like to learn from. Work with them and develop similar habits. Return the favor and mentor others if you can. Develop a reputation as a go-to resource and your value to your organization will grow.

PrideStaff Las Vegas can help you develop your career potential. For more information on how our team of expert recruiters can assist you in the new year, contact us today!

3 Hiring Lessons from the Mandela Memorial Service

Those well-versed in sign language watched the December memorial service honoring Nelson Mandela with a mix of shock, horror and embarrassment. The sign language interpreter procured by the South African government was using gestures that were completely unintelligible!

Not only did the debacle raise major security concerns as to how the man (who reportedly suffers from schizophrenic episodes and has a criminal history that includes arrests for rape and murder) was able to get so close to world leaders, but also questions about how he was hired in the first place. The South African government said in a statement that it was “looking into this matter.”

Clearly this was a hiring disaster of the greatest degree.

While any hiring missteps your company makes may not make the nightly news, that doesn’t mean the impact will be any less severe on employees and customers. That’s why it’s so important to take your time and dig deep when you’re looking to bring someone new on board.

Next time you need to hire for your company, don’t skip these essential steps:

Lesson #1: Ask follow up questions.
Get behind the mask candidates wear and dig deeper in a job interview by asking follow up questions.

For instance, when a candidate states they have experience with a certain computer application, ask them for a specific example of a project they’ve used it for, what challenges they faced with it, and how it helped them complete their work.

A candidate who is being honest will have no problem answering these questions with plenty of detail.

Lesson #2: Check references.
Simply requiring that candidates provide three professional references and checking each will go a long way in weeding out less-than-honest job candidates.

Even if you simply confirm employers, dates of employment, job titles and educational degrees, you can rest easy that they are who they say they are.

Lesson #3: Require skills testing.
One test with a licensed sign language interpreter, and the “fake” used at the Mandela memorial service would have been thwarted.

Whether you give your candidates a homework assignment or require they undergo online skills testing, make sure the person you ultimately hire has the hard skills to get the job done.

You can test skills in any number of ways; just make sure you do it.

If you need more help with the hiring process, give PrideStaff a call. As one of the leading Tempe staffing agencies, we can help you recruit and hire skilled, dependable and trustworthy employees.

Contact PrideStaff today to learn more about how we can help you.

4 Tips for a Successful First Day at a New Job

It’s Day One at your new job. How do you start paving the way to winning trust and becoming a successful team member?

Meet as Many People as You Can
Relationship building starts with your first hello.

• Use your “elevator pitch.” Keep it short, confident and friendly. What do you want coworkers to remember about you? What do you want to be known for?  
• Pay attention. Don’t be that person who uses the weak excuse that “I’m not good with names.” People are impressed when someone takes the time and effort to learn who they are. Here’s a tip: Use the person’s name as you are introduced; for instance, “It’s great to meet you, Sam.” If you don’t catch their name on the first mention, ask them to repeat it.
• Use every opportunity to say hello. Introduce yourself on the elevator, in the corridor, and in the rest room or cafeteria. You may be working in a fast-paced culture where people don’t have time to come to you. 

Make Your Workspace Your Own
Once you’ve been shown to your office, cubicle or work station, turn it into a functional site that also serves as your personal on-the-job comfort zone.

• Look around. What do your colleagues’ work areas look like? While you can and should individualize yours, be sure it’s not too far “out there.” For example, if no one else displays photos or personal items, keep yours to a minimum as well.
• Personalize it. Whether it’s artwork that reflects a hobby or personal favorite place or a tasteful desk ornament, these items will both make you feel at home and service as a jumping-off point to start conversations.

Make a Difference
Demonstrate at least one skill or ability that you sold yourself on during your interview. Be known for responding quickly and effectively.

• Get a head start. Chances are, you did this in advance of your interview but once you’ve been hired, research your company and your manager. This way, you’re better prepared to hit the ground running.
• Show what you know. Look for ways to share your expertise. Speak up when you have an idea to share. Ask questions so you can get the details straight. Then, actively seek out something productive to do so you can make a difference.
• Take a personal risk with a new project. Pick something that will benefit your company and work to excel at it. HubSpot cites the example of a new sales representative who had an idea for building a partner channel. He acted upon it, including use of his own time as needed, and made it work. Today he runs one of the company’s fastest-growing and productive teams.

Partner with a Mentor
The “buddy system” can be invaluable as you join a new company.

• Seek out a high-performing employee. This is a veteran who knows what works – and what doesn’t.
• It’s about more than just learning your job. You already have the skillset to do that. Your mentor can bring you up to speed on corporate culture, office politics and the company’s unique acronyms, “language” and even inside jokes.

For additional guidance on finding and successfully starting your next job, contact the team at PrideStaff Modesto. Or, see our related posts.

Why You Should You Follow Up After a Job Rejection

You thought you had the job opportunity in the bag, only to get a rejection letter in the mail. Should you a) shoot off an angry email to the hiring manager, b) write off the experience altogether or c) follow up.

The answer, of course, is “c”.

As one of the leading employment agencies in Phoenix, PrideStaff can tell you just because you didn’t get this particular job doesn’t mean you aren’t the right fit for another position within the company. And the best way to put yourself in the running for future opportunities is to follow up.

Here are some tips to help you:

Address the letter to the person you interviewed with.
If you interviewed with a department manager, but received a rejection letter from HR, address your follow up to the department manager. This is the person or one of the people making final hiring decisions, not HR.

Plus, if you’ve already interviewed with a hiring manager, then you’ve established a personal connection with them.

Express why you want to work for the company.
If you were rejected for a certain position, but still really want to work for the company, say so. Skills can be learned, but passion and enthusiasm for a job and an organization cannot.

By staying positive about the company – and why you want to work there – even after getting rejected, you’ll stand out in the mind of the hiring manager who will hopefully refer you to other opportunities that open up.

Ask what you can do to make yourself a better fit.
A hiring manager may ignore this inquiry. Or they may let you know that the person they did hire had more experience in a certain area, held industry certifications you didn’t, or simply did a better job interviewing.

Whatever feedback you can garner will prove invaluable next time you interview at this or other companies.

End on a positive note.
While it’s ok to let the hiring manager know you were disappointed you didn’t get the job, be sure to congratulate them on their final pick and wish them luck in the future.

You’d be surprised at how many candidate send angry or nasty letters or emails after not getting hired. Yours – if you play your cards right – will make you look graceful, professional and could be your ticket to a future opportunity at the company.

Need more help landing a great new job in the Phoenix area? Call PrideStaff. As one of the leading employment agencies in Phoenix, we can connect you with terrific job opportunities often not advertised. Find out more! Contact us today. 

Is the Cash Register Ringing?

Are your employees adding value to your business? The sweet sound of the cash register ringing means that your profits are adding up, but are you aware of the huge impact that hiring the right employees can have when it comes to your bottom line?

Reasons That Valuable Employees Matter
Companies that do not have the time to search through applications may be inclined to hire the first person who appears to meet the qualifications for the position. However, hiring the right employees can help businesses succeed. Here are some reasons to make it a point to hire valuable employees.

• Hiring the right employee for the job cuts down on the time spent training the employee. Experienced professionals are able to add value to the company sooner.
• Employees who meet the qualifications for a position are not necessarily willing to work well with others. The right employee will be able to work as a team player to help the company achieve its goals.
• The right employee is able to add value to the company by completing essential tasks with minimal supervision. These employees are also able to contribute by bringing new ideas to management and by working to keep clients satisfied.

The Struggles of Hiring the Right Employees
The problem with hiring employees who add value to a company is that businesses lack the resources to screen candidates. Businesses that do not have human resources departments may have difficultly figuring out what to look for in an employee. Other struggles of hiring the right employees include:

• Finding an employee who is willing to stick with the company in the long term. While unemployment rates are high, employee turnover is still a serious problem for businesses in Clark County.
• Getting to know the candidate behind the resume. Interviewers need to ask the right questions to determine whether an employee is right for the open position. Interpreting responses is essential to determine whether an employee will add value to the company.
• Determining the important qualities in a candidate. Some businesses struggle with the hiring process before candidates are even identified.
• Finding an employee who fits in with the company. Qualified employees are not always able to mesh well with the company culture in a particular office. Employees who have the same professional outlook and goals as management and coworkers are better able to add value to the company.

 PrideStaff Las Vegas Can Help
We’re focused on helping your company achieve long-term success by placing valuable employees who are dedicated to hard work. Our goal is to work closely with each of our clients to determine unique needs that can be fulfilled by employees in our Talent Network. Business clients get hard-working, dedicated employees without having to go through the tedious task of screening dozens of candidates. Are your employees adding value? They will when you let us take care of recruiting. Contact us today!

Liar, Liar: Should You Fire a Dishonest Employee?

You have a person on staff you’ve trusted for years. But just recently, you found out they lied on their resume or exaggerated their sales numbers. First, you need to get over the shock. Next, you must decide what to do.

The question is: Should you fire them, or give them a second chance?

Unfortunately, as a top staffing services firm in Tempe, PrideStaff can tell you there’s no easy answer here. Truly, it depends on the situation.

Before you make any final decisions, though, consider the following first:

Is the lie a part of a pattern?
In other words, do you think the employee is lying regularly? Or is this instance a one-time mistake?

If it’s the first time and the employee is generally someone you trust, then consider letting them off with a warning. However, if the lie falls within a pattern of exaggerations, untruths and deceptions, then it’s best to cut the employee loose. It’s only a matter of time before their dishonesty hurts your customers and your business.

Was the lie calculated?
Did the employee go to great lengths to concoct a story and cover up the truth? Or were they simply in a stressful situation and blurted out the first thing – which happened to be a lie – that came to mind?

If it’s the latter, then it might be innocent enough. But again, it’s important to remind the employee of your expectations – which include total honesty at all times.

Do you think you can trust the employee again?
Only you can answer this question. If you believe you can trust the employee again, then it may be worth it to try and work it out. However, if the employee who lied is in a position of authority or handling company finances, then the situation is far more serious and termination may really be your only viable option.

Did the employee deny the lie?
It’s one thing if you catch an employee red-handed in a lie and they admit to it. But if an employee denies they lied, yet you know they did, it simply compounds the situation.

When an employee fesses up, a second chance may be in order. When they cover a lie with another lie, though, it’s time to show them the door.

Did the lie do serious harm?
Lies can vary in degrees of severity. And if a lie an employee told does serious damage to your company or they benefitted in an illicit way from it, then you may have just cause to fire them.

And if you have an empty seat to fill at your company – whether due to a termination or turnover – call PrideStaff. As a leading staffing services firm in Tempe, we can help you recruit and hire skilled, dependable and trustworthy employees.

Contact PrideStaff today to learn more about how we can help you.

How to Get the Attention of Recruiters

Recruiters and staffing firms build relationships with employers. Partnering with a recruiting or staffing firm can benefit your job search and help you to leverage these established relationships. To acquire promising job referrals from a recruiting or staffing firm it helps to make an impact and be remembered. According to Richard Walquist of the American Staffing Association, staffing firms are playing more of a consultative role for both job seekers and hiring firms, and more businesses are turning to staffing firms to supplement work force and staffing needs.

The need for targeted skills to meet rapidly changing business demand has promoted the internet as a prime market place for job seekers, and recruiters and staffing companies are brokering the deals. But just how can you attract and keep the attention of a recruiter and ensure that they find you the best fit for your career goals?

• Stand out. In a sea of job seekers, you must be a beacon of light. Develop a strong brand image. Recognizable logos on your resume are effective. Highlight your key skills and differentiate yourself. Find your niche and present yourself with that in mind. Ace your first meeting with a recruiter and market your abilities. A broad skills platform is a start, but deciding on a particular target for your skills can lend focus to the recruiter’s efforts to place you.
• Identify target firms. If you have a clear goal, a recruiter is more able to help you get there; the recruiter will think of you if a suitable opportunity arises. Use the recruiter’s knowledge and relationships to target firms. Develop your own relationships by reaching out to businesses, request informational interviews, and network.
• Get on the hit list. Ensure that you are alerted of new opportunities. Ask your recruiter to add you to email lists and sign up with their social media pages and twitter accounts. Follow up with your recruiter as soon as you find a lead.
• Refer a contact. Develop a mutual relationship with your recruiter. Recommend people for roles if you see one and if someone comes to mind. Your recruiter will put you on the priority placement list.
• Be flexible. A niche is a good idea. However, be open minded and listen to suggestions from your recruiter. They know the current industry trends and may have valuable inside information. They may see a career opportunity that you do not. They are professionals in placing people and you can benefit from their advice.

The staffing professionals at PrideStaff Las Vegas understand individual career needs. We know the local job market and can assist you in finding the perfect placement, long-term or temporary. Contact us today for more information!

Did You Meet Your 2013 Goals?

Fast away the old year passes … and while some New Year’s resolutions are meant to be broken, your business plan for 2014 does not fall into this category.

The final few weeks of 2013 are a great time to examine what’s worked – or not – during the past 12 months and use this as the basis for a 2014 business plan that to make the year ahead your best one yet.

What Can You Do Better?
Set aside some time to put your previous business plans under scrutiny. In the midst of the year-end hustle and holiday bustle, you may want to pull your leadership team off site for a distraction-free planning session.

• Ask the hard questions. What worked well this past year? What didn’t? And what will we do differently in 2014? Where do we see the company in six months? Twelve months? Five years?
• Involve all key stakeholders. In addition to your executive team, this should include rank-and-file employees. They are your foot soldiers in the war for competitive success. At the forefront of your business, they can best gauge customer service and production reality on the ground.
• Include an outsider. This is a consultant or similar professional who’s a sharp business person, but who doesn’t know what everyone in your business does. They lend a new and fresh perspective, asking questions and adding ideas that will help you break free from old assumptions and reexamine “accepted” answers and processes.

Create a Strategy Map  
Defining goals and then developing a method to track progress are the keys to successful business planning. Your comprehensive strategy map should focus on:

• Internal processes
• Customer service (both internal and external)
• Financial perspective
• Learning and innovation

The Numbers Tell the Story

If you don’t use data to track progress against business goals, you’re flying blind. Be sure you have a customer relationship management system that monitors key performance indicators and enables you to spot potential problems before they arise. Your system should:

• Capture all the information needed for your business to excel in sales, marketing and customer service.
• Provide a database of all client interactions. This is the raw material you need to view trends and predict future outcomes.

Get the Best Staff and Keep Them Happy
Your plan won’t get past Square One without the best talent to make it work. An integral part of your strategy is finding, hiring and retaining the team you need to drive results. This includes:

• Staffing and communication plans that parallel your business plan.
• Incentives and an organizational culture that attract talent leaders and foster retention.

Follow Through
While planning and goal setting are critically important, discipline and adaptability throughout the calendar year are business musts. Drop the ball on this premise, and you’ll wind up in the same place next December, scratching your head and asking “where did that year go?!”

• Schedule periodic sessions to evaluate and update your business plan and track results. Hold owners responsible for completing tasks, identifying opportunities and barriers, and keeping the plan viable all year long.
• Break goals up into realistic steps that can be accomplished weekly, monthly or quarterly.
• As a leader, be accessible to guide your team toward meeting their objectives.

Don’t panic: You still have time to make it happen! If you need assistance in staffing and business planning for 2014 and beyond, contact the team at PrideStaff Modesto today. And best wishes for the New Year!

Staying Healthy This Winter

Shorter days, cooler temperatures and a harsher climate to deal with. And with that, the onslaught of colds, flus and related bugs. When you look at it that way, winter is not exactly a wonderland.

But, despite these seasonal realities, winter can be an enjoyable and productive time – if you take the right steps to stay healthy and stress free between now and the spring equinox.

Here are some tips for maintaining your winter wellness and the positive mindset that comes with it:

Let the Sunshine In
Exposure to sunlight can enhance your health, help you fight germs, and boost your energy level. And during winter, you can’t rely solely on Mother Nature for vitamin D and the related benefits of the sun.

• Bundle up if necessary. But go outside. Even if it’s brief, take a walk or run an errand during the middle of the day. Take up an activity like skiing, ice skating, winter hiking, sledding, photography or astronomy.
• Bring the light to you. Open curtains and blinds as early in the day as possible. Or invest in a light therapy box. Darkness stimulates the production of melatonin – which promotes sleep – in your brain. Excess sleep, overeating, loss of energy, difficulty concentrating and social isolation are symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), an affliction that impacts as many as 20 percent of Americans.

Stay Active
A recent study showed that participants who did aerobic exercise five days a week for 20 minutes took 40 percent fewer sick days than their less active counterparts.

• The anti-melatonin is called serotonin, and we need it to stay healthy and energetic. One hour of exercise has the same therapeutic effect as 2.5 hours of exposure to the sun, which produces serotonin.
• Less active hobbies help, too. Join a club or sign up to do some volunteer work. This could be the start of a rewarding year-round activity.

Maintain a Healthy Diet
This is important advice 365 days a year, but especially when you’re cooped up inside and bugs are rampant. During the winter, it’s especially critical to keep your body clean and in good working order.

• Fruits and vegetables are your friends. Try to have at least five servings a day.
• Minimize your red meat intake. Sure, you can order that steak. But the key word is “balance.”
• Take a daily multivitamin. Make sure it includes an adequate level of vitamin D-3, which is created naturally by the sun’s rays on your skin.

Be Social
In a study of 83 college freshmen at Carnegie Mellon University, it was found that those students with wider social networks naturally produced more flu-fighting antibiotics. Socializing keeps you active and lowers your stress level. Along with practical routines like hand washing and healthy eating and sleeping, interacting with other people contributes significantly to your wintertime well-being.

• Host a party or potluck dinner with friends, visit a local museum or plan a night out at the movies. Come on. Change out of your sweat pants and get off the couch!

Winter’s here … but it won’t last forever. In the meantime, embrace it!

The workplace team at PrideStaff Modesto has a wealth of information on maximizing your productivity and work/life balance. To learn more, give us a call today.