5 Reasons to Add “Walking” to Your Workday To-Do’s

Feel sluggish during the day? Wish you had more energy during meetings? Want to boost your mood at work? When it comes to healthy steps in your workday, one of the best ones you can take is to get up and move.

In fact, just a little walking during the day goes a long way. It’s good for your health and weight, burning calories as you move. It also lowers your risk of obesity, heart disease, and a host of other illnesses.

By walking before or after work, during your lunch, or during other breaks you have during the day, you can take advantage of other benefits too. These include:

Reason #1: A Calm Mind.

Studies show that walking calms down your brain. It takes it from an active, busy state to a more meditative one. It’s why you can feel frenetic and stressed before a walk, and relaxed afterward.

This also gives you time to reflect on your work, your projects, your goals, and even your personal life. A solution to a problem you’ve been plagued with for weeks might even come to mind during a walk.

Reason #2: Less Tension.

When it comes to walking, it’s also been shown to reduce stress and tension. This is good news if you have a job that is demanding. As a result, this also improves your ability to remember and your ability to concentrate. Both are critical when you’re at work. Overall, walking will also lower your feelings of anxiety and help you calm down.

Reason #3: A Happier Mood.

In general, walking can improve your mood as well. This is because those feel-good hormones, like endorphins, get released into your body. This cuts down on stress and can even lift your mood if you’re experiencing the blues or mild depression. Walking calms you down and brings up your mood, so you’re ready for the challenges once you return to work.

Reason #4: More Energy.

It’s common to feel sluggish during the day. But getting outside and walking can help to fight feelings of fatigue, especially after a meal.

Reason #5: Connections with Co-workers.

If you don’t like walking alone, ask a co-worker if they’d like to join you. This is a good way to get to know them on a more personal level outside of the office. Talking and laughing with another human being, all while getting some exercise, will not only lower the level of cortisol in the body, which is a stress hormone but put you in a good mood once you return to the office.

Want to Hit the Ground Running with a New Company Instead?

Turn to PrideStaff. As one of Tempe’s top employment firms, we’ve got a range of opportunities waiting for you. Search our jobs now or contact us today to get started.

Having Trouble Keeping Your Best Employees? Here Are Some Tips On How To Retain Them

When you successfully hire top talent, the next step is even more important: retention. High turnover rates can have negative effects on your company, including lost productivity, expenses associated with recruiting and training, and lower overall morale. If you are having trouble keeping your best employees, check out these tips on how to retain them:

Verify Compensation Aligns with Current Market 

Even if your employees are satisfied with their jobs at your organization, if they find out they could receive significantly higher pay elsewhere, it can be tempting for them to leave. Verify that the compensation you offer them aligns with current market rates, such as by reviewing job postings or online salary websites. 

Encourage Work-Life Balance

Burnout is a very real risk for top performers, especially those who may feel they have to work an excessive amount of hours or not take time off. This can lead them to reach their limit and eventually quit. Show that you care about their overall well-being by encouraging work-life balance – make sure they use their paid time off and stick to boundaries by not contacting them outside of working hours. 

Show Regular Appreciation

Your best employees work hard and provide high value to the organization, but they may not realize that you recognize their effort unless you make it a point to communicate that. Show regular appreciation by acknowledging and thanking them whenever they go above and beyond – a simple “Thank you” can go a long way in keeping your team happy. 

Offer Professional Development

Your top performers generally have a strong work ethic and are ambitious, which is likely what contributes to their drive to excel. However, this also means they are unlikely to be content with a lack of growth and may end up having to leave if they feel they are in a dead-end job. Offer professional development opportunities to help them advance their skill sets and move up within your company rather than going elsewhere. 

Prioritize a Positive Culture

Since employees spend such a significant amount of their time in their workplace, the quality of the culture can impact their decision on whether to stay or leave – even more so than their amount of pay. Prioritize a positive culture in which employees feel like they are respected as part of a team. Plan group lunches or outings, encourage casual interaction unrelated to work, recognize their personal milestones, and simply lead by example by making it a point to be friendly and engaging. 

Attract Top Talent 

Find employees to join your team by working with experienced staffing firm PrideStaff Akron. Our mission is to work closely with you to understand your hiring needs and match you with the candidates that are the best fit. Contact us to learn more about our staffing services. 

Want to Improve Mental Health at Your Workplace? Try These 3 Ideas

Mental health has become a crucial topic in the workplace. The pandemic spotlighted the importance of this key concern, showing how prolonged stress can wear down even the most resilient employees. Now that the COVID threat has faded, are you doing enough to improve mental health in your workplace?

It’s an important question. A majority of workers (59%) say that stress has weighed on them in the past month. Meanwhile, nearly nine out of 10 employees (87%) believe their employers can help alleviate these negative consequences.

Given these statistics, mental health becomes a pivotal business concern. Minimizing the harmful effects of stress can lead to a more productive workforce. At the same time, having support policies in place will also make it easier to attract and keep top talent.

To achieve these benefits, you need to upgrade your mental health offerings.

Here are three ideas you can implement to improve mental health at your workplace:

Flexible Scheduling

A strong work/life balance offers the best defense against stress-induced mental health threats. You can nurture this by giving your employees a bigger say in their overall schedules. A flexible work situation lets your top team members fit work more effectively in their overall lives outside work, setting the stage for sustainable performance over the long haul.

Even with an optimal day-to-day schedule, your employees will face stress. To prevent this from becoming dangerous to their mental health, you need to create a structure that allows for rest and recovery. This means encouraging your employees to get the most out their vacation time.

Sometimes your standard vacation policy doesn’t provide enough flexibility. Your team members might need an extended break to relieve a particularly stressful time in their lives. For these situations, consider sabbatical or extended-leave policies.

Provide Mental Health Support

Time away from work can help your employees minimize stress. However, there are ways to improve their mental health during working hours as well.

Build a structure that supports this crucial goal. Provide material support for mental health programs and set aside resources to support your employees in this effort. Here are a few steps you can take:

• Consider setting aside a meditation room or other peaceful place in the office.
• Subsidize activities like gym memberships and yoga classes.
• Provide mental health coverage as part of your benefits package.

Help Your Employees Build a Support System

Protecting mental health represents a group effort. Your employees will improve their outlook if they have a strong support system to turn to when stress mounts. As a secondary benefit, you’ll see improved teamwork and collaboration.

Start by destigmatizing discussions of mental health. Make improving on this front an explicit goal of your corporate culture. This will make it easier for your employees to reach out when they need help.

From there, develop processes that let your employees strengthen their connections with one another. You can do this through social events, like company outings. At the same time, you can encourage clubs and affinity groups within your organization.

Meanwhile, technology can provide an excellent tool for fostering these connections. Electronic message boards and other similar offerings can link employees who might otherwise be intimidated by social interactions at work. These efforts become even more central if you have remote workers as part of your team.

Need More Information? Contact Our Experts at PrideStaff Bend

Strong mental health programs can help you develop a strong connection to your workforce. For more team-building improvements, turn to a top recruiter, like PrideStaff Bend. You’ll get the guidance and support you need to get the most out of your company.

Contact PrideStaff Bend today to find the employees you need to move forward.

The Key To Preparing for an Impactful and Successful Career in 2023

The new year is upon us, and you’re ready for it. Something deep inside is telling you this can be the most pivotal year for your career yet, if you put your mind to it.

You’re excited about what’s to come, but you’re just not sure where to put your energy. What you might not realize is the key to preparing for your most impactful and success year yet is figuring out where you’re headed and setting clear goals to make it happen.

Use this advice to get on track now, so you can hit the ground running in January.

Four Tips to Enjoy Serious Career Success in 2023

Decide What You Want

You want to make a difference this year, so figure out exactly what that means to you. This could mean taking on a leadership role that allows you to have a positive influence on a group of people or joining a company with a mission close to your heart. Only you can decide what type of job will make you truly happy and fulfilled, so try your best to evade any outside noise and focus on what’s most important to you.

Set SMART Goals

Vague objectives are made to be broken, so make yours SMART — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. This will set you up for success by giving you goals to work toward that are reasonable, while also challenging you to succeed. The specific nature ensures you’re working toward objectives that truly align with your career goals, while the end date keeps you motivated to proceed as quickly as possible.

Make a Move

It’s possible you’re already in the job that will allow you to enjoy the career satisfaction you want this year. If so, that’s great, but if not, you’ll need to move on from your current position and/or employer. Starting a new chapter can feel intimidating, but sometimes it’s necessary for continued career growth. Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to make a big move, because there’s nothing you can’t handle.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help

Plotting the next chapter in your career isn’t always easy. If you’re a bit confused as to what you want from your next chapter or simply don’t know where to look to find your ideal job, it’s okay to ask for help. Reach out to a local staffing firm to get the guidance you need. Working with a recruiter can help you figure out how to turn your career aspirations into a reality, so don’t hesitate to seek out this type of relationship.

Get Your Career on Track

Ready to make 2023 the best year yet for your career? PrideStaff Las Vegas wants to help. Contact us today to find out what we can do for you!

6 Tips to Keep Your People Focused as the Holidays Approach

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but can also be one of the least productive. You have year-end goals to hit. Yet, your team might be putting in less effort. How do you keep them on track, so you can all finish strong, while still being reasonable? Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Tip #1: Offer Flexibility.

Give your employees the chance to work a more flexible schedule during the holidays. This might be leaving early on Fridays or working from home when it’s more convenient for them. Offering this flexibility will not only help them maintain a happier work-life balance but also keep them more loyal to you in the long run.

Tip #2: Provide Incentives.

Another way to keep employees motivated is to offer up incentives. If you have a certain goal that needs to be completed before the end of the year, offer an extra vacation day to those who complete it. You can also provide other tangible rewards, like bonuses, gift cards, and more. You don’t need to spend a lot to make a big impact.

Tip #3: Encourage Vacations.

If you have the kind of environment where people are afraid to take vacation time, it’s going to lead to burnout and stress. So encourage vacations, whether it’s over the holiday season or after the hustle and bustle and during the New Year. This allows your team the time to refresh, recharge and return to work with a positive attitude.

Tip #4: Praise Them.

A word of thanks can go a long way with an employee. So make sure you thank them when they finish a job, achieve an objective, or are simply known for consistently good work. This will show them you notice their efforts and talent, and also motivate others around them to work harder to earn your praise.

Tip #5: Lend a Hand.

If you’re in the middle of a big project, with no end in sight and not enough manpower, consider bringing in some extra help in the form of temporary workers. They can fill in where needed, so you get the job done, without adding to your fixed overhead.

Tip #6: Plan a Post-Holiday Celebration.

During the holidays, your employees are likely stretched thin and might not have time or energy for another event. Instead, plan a celebration after the season is over. It could even be toward the end of January. Host a dinner or lunch in a favorite spot and give your people something to look forward to in the New Year.

Interested in hiring temporary workers?

At PrideStaff, we’re one of Tempe’s top temporary staffing firms and can connect you with the flexible workforce you need. If you’d like help, contact us today.

Bob Daniel and PrideStaff Las Vegas Honored By WRMSDC

It takes just one opportunity to grow an empire. Bob Daniel, MBA, MBE, strategic partner and owner at PrideStaff Las Vegas knows a thing or two about that.

Always ambitious, he graduated in the first year of the MGM Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program. Shortly after, the Vietnam Veteran reached out to Kenyatta Z. Lewis, executive director of supplier diversity and sustainable procurement at MGM Resorts.

He wanted to meet with her to discuss business opportunities with the company, but at the time there were none. Daniel politely accepted this and patiently waited for his big break.

The Day Everything Changed

While he didn’t get the meeting he wanted on his first try, Daniel’s attempt wasn’t in vain. One day, Lewis got a call that the company needed a limo driver immediately. Since she knew he was looking for an opportunity, she gave him a call and he accepted the mission.

Daniel immediately got to work and found the limo driver that Lewis needed in record time. Now, more than a decade later, PrideStaff Las Vegas is one of MGM Resorts’ largest staffing suppliers. This is all possible because he took the initiative to reach out to Lewis and let her know he was interested in doing business with MGM Resorts, then fully delivered when he was given his one opportunity to shine.

About WRMSDC

After years of hard work, Daniel has become a success story highlighted by the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council. This is a huge honor that isn’t taken for granted.

If you’re a minority entrepreneur — or someone with entrepreneurial dreams — it’s important to remember that everyone has to start somewhere. The key to building a million-dollar company like Daniel has is to make a habit of showing up and overdelivering.

Reach out to WRMSDC to get the help you need to get your business up and running. Then, if you need assistance with staffing your Las Vegas company, Daniel and his team have you covered.

Partner With PrideStaff Las Vegas

“Whether conducting a variety of career development coaching events to providing hiring and or recruiting information,” said Bob Daniel, “My commitment to a win-win for our Candidates, Employees, and Clients in the Las Vegas area remains a primary focus.”

If you’re having trouble keeping up with the hiring needs at your organization, PrideStaff Las Vegas wants to help. Contact us today to discuss a partnership!

Looking to Advance Your Electrical Engineering Career? Here’s How PrideStaff Bend Can Help

Electrical engineering represents an excellent career choice. By pursuing this field, you have developed in-demand skills that keep you at the center of the economy. However, it takes more than that to get ahead. You also need to know how to build on your foundational skills to advance your career.

To get the most out of this process, you’ll need a strong partner. A top recruiter, like PrideStaff Bend, can put you in the best-possible position. You’ll get the support and guidance you need to drive your electrical engineering career forward.

Ways to Enhance Your Electrical Engineering Career

Before looking at the specific benefits you can receive from working with PrideStaff, let’s take a broader view. There are many strategies you can use to optimize your electrical engineering career. Here are some of the ways you can push your development forward:

Invest in Ongoing Education

Make learning a career-long obsession. This will let you consistently expand your skill base. At the same time, you’ll stay current with developments in your industry.

Build Your Soft Skills

Success as an electrical engineering involves more than electrical engineering skills. Rather, you need to complement your core abilities with a broader array of competencies. These include the so-called soft skills, including things like:

• Leadership
• Organization
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Problem Solving

Become a People Person

On the surface, electrical engineering might not seem like a particularly social profession. However, no job exists as a completely solo endeavor. Improving your people skills will help you collaborate, help you connect with clients, and help you get hired.

Stay on the Cutting Edge

Technology represents a central tool in the electrical engineering profession. As such, you need to stay current with the software and hardware that exists to make your life easier. By continually upgrading your tech-savviness, you’ll stay relevant and make sure you can apply for any opportunity that comes up.

How PrideStaff Bend Can Push Your Electrical Engineering Career Forward

You can only accomplish so much on your own. Having the right recruiting partner opens up your possibilities, letting you get the most out of your talents. Here are some ways PrideStaff can unlock your potential:

Benefit from Industry Experience

The more information you have, the better able you’ll be to find the ideal job. PrideStaff can provide this data. You’ll benefit from a deep understanding of the electrical engineering industry, as well as detailed insights about the current state of the job market.

Build Your Resume

Think of your career like a video game. You want to level up constantly. Each job should feed into the next, allowing you to pursue your long-term goals. PrideStaff can help you build out your resume in this way. You’ll get the perfect positions to drive your career forward.

Create Better Work/Life Balance

How does your electrical engineering career fit in with the rest of your life? Beyond the ideal position for this stage of your career, you also want a job that gives you time and energy to fulfill your personal goals and responsibilities. With PrideStaff, you’ll discover a wide variety of options, letting you find an employer that provides the flexibility and support you need.

Find Your Next Challenge With PrideStaff Bend

Ready to take the next step in your electrical engineering career? PrideStaff will walk you through the process, opening up your horizons and steering you to the right position. Contact PrideStaff Bend today to learn more, or view our jobs here.

How Might You Improve Your Resume to Get Hired… Faster

You’ve submitted your resume to several job openings, but so far, you haven’t heard anything back. This is starting to feel a bit discouraging, as you thought you would’ve at least scored one interview by now.

It’s possible your resume is to blame for the lack of interest you’ve been receiving so far. Since it’s the first time your name will come across a recruiter’s desk, it needs to shine. Here are a few tips to help polish yours to perfection, so it will stand out from the competition.

Four Ways to Improve Your Resume

Tailor It

Customizing your resume for each position you apply to might sound like a lot, but it’s completely necessary. Modern hiring managers expect you to do this, and if you don’t, they’ll think you’re not that interested in the job.

Plus, tailoring your resume allows you to really sell yourself for the job. It also gives you the opportunity to add relevant keywords — i.e., those used frequently in the job description — so you don’t get passed up by scanning software that eliminates resumes without a certain percentage of these words and phrases.

Change the Formatting

If you’re new to the workforce, coming back to work after a long break or trying to change careers, the standard reverse-chronological resume probably isn’t your best option. Instead, consider a functional format that highlights your relevant skills, instead of work experience.

You’ll still need to list your work history at the bottom, but it places a heavy emphasis on your job-related abilities first. This gives you the chance to sell yourself for the position before the hiring manager realizes you don’t have much — or any — recent work experience in the field.

Proofread It

Employers aren’t interested in a resume that’s anything but flawless. Therefore, it’s possible your resume contains spelling and grammatical errors you haven’t noticed. Give it another look — or two — then ask someone you trust to do the same.

Quantify Top Achievements

No doubt, your resume is filled with bullet points listing your work-related accomplishments. However, it’s hard for potential employers to fully grasp the depth of your success without a numerical value attached to it.

Therefore, it’s important to quantify every achievement, when it makes sense to do so. This adds legitimacy to your candidacy while allowing the reader to understand exactly how far your talents extend.

Need a little help finding a great new job? PrideStaff Las Vegas is here to assist. Contact us today to start the next chapter of your career!

Maintaining Work-Life Balance During the Holiday Season

With the holiday season upon us, it can be difficult to find work-life balance when you feel compelled to spend all your free time with family and friends. The trick to maintaining your sanity over the next few weeks is to find ways to stay in control of your schedule and get some uninterrupted time to yourself. If you’re running on empty, these tips will help you maintain work-life balance during the holiday season.

Schedule your time

The holiday season is often a time of giving and being with family. It can be hard to maintain work life balance during this time, but a little bit of planning can go a long way. Some of the best ways to maintain balance during this busy time are by scheduling your days, not overbooking yourself with commitments, and setting boundaries. Schedule your day so that you are able to take breaks for lunch or for some personal time.

Set boundaries

It is easy to let work overwhelm your personal life during the holiday season. Set boundaries to help with work-life balance, such as making a list of what you need to accomplish by the end of each day, setting the alarm so you don’t stay up late, and limiting social media usage. Think about how much time you will have: Schedule time for yourself outside of work, but be realistic about how much time it will take. Make plans that won’t conflict with any major commitments at work, or set aside some time for just relaxing or taking care of yourself on days when you’re not working.

Don’t overcommit

One of the most common mistakes people make during this time of year is over-committing themselves. They take on too many responsibilities and don’t leave enough time for themselves or their family. Don’t overcommit yourself by taking on too many things at once. It’s better to do a few things well than a lot halfheartedly. The saying quality, not quantity applies here. Practice self-care: Take care of your mental health as well as your physical health.

Make time for yourself.

It can be difficult to maintain a work-life balance during the holidays. But it is important for our mental health that we make time for ourselves each day. We should try to do something we enjoy, even if it’s just taking a bath or reading a book. This will help us feel more relaxed and less stressed out.

Stay organized

First, you should set some boundaries and stick to them. This is a time for family and friends, not work. If you have an office job, ensure you’re not checking email or answering calls outside normal business hours. If you freelance or run your own business, make sure you’re setting aside time for family during this busy season. Second, if tasks need to be completed before December 25th (such as wrapping presents), then get started now!

Prioritize your health

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when there’s so much going on. The best thing you can do for yourself is prioritized your health during this time of year. That means taking care of your mental, physical, and spiritual health. To take care of yourself physically, make sure to eat well and get plenty of rest. To take care of yourself mentally, find time to unwind and be creative – indulge in a good book or spend some time in nature.

The expert career coaches at PrideStaff Modesto can help you with all these steps and guide you through your successful job search from start to finish. This includes making you part of our extensive job network, which is constantly in motion with new openings and opportunities. To get started, contact us today.

Having a Hard Time Finding a Job You’ll Love? Here are Some Tips To Help With That

Job satisfaction plays a big role in your overall well-being – the more aligned your job is with your values, skills, and passion, the less likely you are to be stressed or disengaged. However, when you’re job searching, it can be challenging to figure out what jobs to pursue that will be right for you. If you’re having a hard time finding a job you’ll love, check out these tips:

Clarify Your Interests

Take some time to reflect on what you find most enjoyable professionally and clarify your interests. Think about times you were in a state of flow and didn’t even notice or mind how long something was taking, what skills come naturally to you or positive feedback you have received in the past. A job you’ll love is generally a combination of what you are passionate about and your personal strengths. 

Consider the Big Picture

A job’s set of responsibilities and paycheck are often not the main factors in job satisfaction – what tends to make the most impact is the type of work environment. When you’re trying to land a job that you will enjoy, consider the big picture, such as the type of industry, team size, culture, schedule, etc. Narrow down what workplace factors you find most appealing so you can look for positions with companies that align with your preferences. 

Get Input From Others

Outside perspectives can be enlightening, so if you are trying to determine what type of job you’ll love, get input from others. Ask people who know you well on a personal or professional level, such as a friend, mentor, or former colleague, what type of work they think you would excel in or what they would consider your professional strengths and skillsets. It may just spark an idea of what you want to pursue. 

Expand Your Sources

If you’re in the difficult position of knowing what type of job you want to find but are not having any success in tracking down job postings that you want to apply for, it may mean you need to switch up where you get your job leads. Expand your sources for postings – for example, rather than sticking to general online job boards, look into industry-specific forums or reach out to a recruiter to gain access to unlisted openings. 

Find New Opportunities 

Land a job you will love by teaming up with PrideStaff Akron to explore the possibilities. We work with employers in the Akron area for their hiring needs and can match you with the job opportunities that are the best fit for you. Search our database of current available jobs.