5 Tips for Managing Millennials

The workplace is changing, with Millennials making up the majority of it. In fact, as of 2017, 56 million workers were born between 1981 and 1996. That’s compared to Generation X, which accounted for about 53 million, and Baby Boomers, coming in at around 41 million. What’s more is that by 2025, this group is slated to make up 75% of the workforce.

How can you get the most from them?

You have to approach the job of managing them a bit differently. They have characteristics, attitudes, and habits that vary significantly from earlier generations. To help you harness their assets so that they can thrive in your organization, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Tip #1: Leverage their electronic literacy.

This generation grew up with phones and computers and is by far the most literate compared to their older counterparts at work. This is a plus, one you can use to your advantage by relying on them to expand your company’s technological innovations both in-house and in the marketplace.

Tip #2: Show them the impact they’re making.

According to studies, Millennials – more than other generations – want to make a positive difference. Therefore, it’s important for them to understand how their position plays a role in the company’s overall health and viability. To do that, demonstrate to them in clear ways the connection their daily duties have on customers, the department, and the organization as a whole.

Tip #3: Get to know them.

Millennials want to know their bosses and peers on a more personal level. Managing them is helpful because it will allow you to find out what drives them and keep them motivated. At the same time, it goes a long way toward building bonds of loyalty and trust.

Tip #4: Give them the work-life balance they crave.

For Millennials, work-life balance is critically important. They want to perform their jobs well but also have enough time and energy for healthy home life. That’s why offering perks, such as flexible hours and telecommuting, are so attractive to this generation.

Tip #5: Provide feedback.

Millennials are used to getting feedback from parents, teachers, and professors. Following suit will help you better manage this generation of workers to build on their strengths and work on weaknesses. Likewise, offering praise when it’s due is another easy and effective way to motivate Millennials.

Need help hiring or retaining employees for your team?

If you do, PrideStaff is here for you. Whether you’re looking for employees from the Millennial generation or another, we offer access to a wide range of candidates in different industries. As one of Tempe’s leading staffing agencies, we can help you source, screen, and hire the reliable, savvy people you need. Contact us today to learn more.

New Managers: Check Out These Important Decision-Making Tips

As a new manager, it can be tempting to make a few decisions right off the bat to spotlight your new responsibilities. But avoid this approach if possible. While decision-making is critical to your success on a management level, hopefully, you’ll have the advantage of not having to act ASAP on anything too major. This way, you can focus on observing, listening, and learning – as you make effective decision-making an integral aspect of your continuous professional improvement.

So, that’s Tip One for new managers when it comes to decision making. Here are some others to keep in your CI wheelhouse:

Learn from your experience.

This is a big part of what got you this far, so keep putting your past experiences to work for you as you make effective management decisions. Consider important choices you’ve made in the past. Pay attention to those that failed, as well as those that worked. Everyone is a learning opportunity.

Look at the data – all of it.

Make sure you have all the relevant information you need. It’s natural to focus only on data that supports your own theory or assumption while suppressing anything that contradicts it. Be objective. Make sure you’re considering the full picture of evidence before coming to a final conclusion.

Embrace the unknown – and put it to work for you.

Everyone has doubts. Part of being a good manager is acknowledging that you’re no exception. Think about how your decision could play out while considering any aspects or details that might thwart it. Test it against different scenarios and alternate choices. If it still feels solid after this careful deliberation, then give it the green light.

Engage in healthy debate.

Encourage productive team debate as you arrive at a decision. Challenge different employees to create a case for every option presented. Then, track these arguments to understand every choice from different perspectives fully. This helps not only you but also your team members to grow and improve.

Bring in outsiders.

Outsiders can be a big help because they bring a fresh new perspective to the table. Plus, they can truly be objective, as relationships with other team members aren’t a factor. Groupthink can be detrimental to timely decision making.

Don’t put it off too long.

Again, don’t rush into a decision, but at the same time, it will hurt your credibility and your team’s trust in you if you put things off too long. So once you’ve thoroughly evaluated all viable options, it’s your job to finalize your choice and move forward. Just make sure you have a process in place to track progress and make adjustments as needed.

Need more tips to grow in your job – or are you ready to take your career to the next level and land that desired management position? Either way, consider working with the career development experts at PrideStaff Modesto. In fields including administration, warehousing, manufacturing, skilled labor, finance, and accounting, we’ve been a talent market leader in the Central Valley for more than three decades. Contact us today to learn more.

This Year’s Recruiting Trends to Land Top Talent

It felt good to finally say “goodbye” to 2020. Unfortunately, 2021 isn’t off to a much better start. All signs point to another complicated year…but that doesn’t mean you can put business on hold and wait for better circumstances. You still need to build and manage your team, which involves leveraging this year’s recruiting trends to land top talent.

Like any market, fighting for the best job candidates means keeping up with the cutting edge. You need to know what workers expect and what policies enable you to attract the most attractive prospects.

With that in mind, here are a few recruiting trends you should track in 2021 to land top talent:

Maximum Flexibility

You know that person in your yoga class who can basically turn themselves into a human pretzel? That’s the kind of flexibility you’ll need to compete as 2021 unfolds. There’s no way to predict what might happen during the year (2020 taught us that). Instead, set yourself up to react to any shifts that may occur over the coming months.

Long-Term Remote Working

Many businesses got used to working from home during the pandemic. But once the threat of the virus (finally) passes, things will go back to normal, right? Kind of. It’s just that the definition of “normal” may have shifted permanently.

Many high-demand employees have reorganized their lives around a work-from-home situation. They might not be willing (or even able) to make a sudden shift back. Be prepared to keep the remote option in place on an ongoing basis.

Continued Focus on Diversity and Corporate Culture

“Diversity” and “corporate culture” are more than buzzwords at this point. Workers want to connect with their employers. They want more than a relationship that trades time for money. Instead, they want to feel inspired and part of a larger goal.

You can create that deeper bond with your employees by further emphasizing culture in general and diversity in particular. This will help you energize your current workforce. At the same time, the approach encourages better retention rates and will make you more attractive to top job candidates.

Zoomers Are Here to Stay

You might still think of Gen Z as high schoolers and college kids, concerned mostly with the popularity of their TikTok accounts. Not so. The first wave of Zoomers (those born in the mid-to-late 1990s) are already a dynamic part of the workforce. And, with Boomers making up a dwindling segment of the labor market, some estimates suggest that Zoomers could account for almost 1 in every 4 workers already.

Any recruiting plan will need to cater to this tech-savvy, online-centered generation. This is especially true for companies attempting to hire for entry-level positions, or jobs likely to appeal to younger workers.

Perfecting a Talent Pipeline

Recruitment is becoming less of a sporadic activity, launched only when positions open up. Now, it has evolved into a constant process, a continual search for the right talent. As a result of this new emphasis, companies will likely spend much of the year perfecting their talent pipelines.

This approach dovetails perfectly with the rise of more flexible scheduling structures. Separated from the strict adherence to the 40-hour workweek, employers can experiment with candidates before making a significant commitment. This opens up many more options.

However, sustaining a talent pipeline also requires a more persistent effort. You’ll need to continually screen potential employers and maintain communication with the best of your previous applicants. You’ll also need to invest in seeking out passive talent, engaging with promising candidates on social media and elsewhere.

Ready to take advantage of the latest hiring trends to land the top candidates? You might need guidance to stay current with a fast-changing market. By partnering with a strong recruiter, like PrideStaff, you get the resources you need to attract the best talent available.

Contact PrideStaff Bend today to learn more.

How Many Rounds of Interviewing Does It Take to Find the Perfect Candidate?

Finding the right person for the job can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Therefore, it’s important to conduct at least a few rounds of interviews, so you can learn as much as possible about your top candidates.

Depending on the number of people you interview, this can be very time-consuming, but you can never be too careful when choosing a new team member. You can also seek hiring help in Las Vegas, if you don’t have the bandwidth to commit to the process right now.

Whether you handle hiring internally or work with a staffing firm, it’s important to understand what goes on during the different rounds of the interview process. Some jobs at your company will likely require more rounds of interviews to fill than others, so here’s an overview to help you gauge the amount you’ll need.

A Look at the Different Rounds of Interviews

Phone Screening

A great choice for an initial conversation, a phone screening gives you the chance to eliminate candidates who are clearly wrong for the job. The call will likely be shorter than an in-person interview and can be conducted from anywhere, so it saves both you and the candidate time. This is your opportunity to address any concerns you have about the candidate, so you can determine if they meet your criteria to move on to the next round.

First Interview

After you’ve deemed a candidate promising, inviting them for an in-person interview will help you learn more about them. You’ll want to ask more in-depth behavioral questions, gauge their personality and assess other contributing factors — i.e., their punctuality, how they’re dressed, their body language — to determine their fit.

The hiring manager should always be present in a first-round interview, and it’s not uncommon for an HR rep to also participate in the meeting. If the job is an entry-level position, this might be the only interview you need to make a hiring decision.

Second Interview

When you’re interviewing several promising candidates or working to fill a mid-level role, you might need two in-person interviews to feel confident in your choice. Typically, you would involve more team members in this interview — i.e., those who will be working directly with the new hire — because input from a variety of people can help you make the best choice.

Third Interview

In most cases, a third interview is only used when hiring an executive-level employee. Since this type of job holds a lot of weight, meeting with your top candidates several times is wise, so you can learn as much about them as possible. You’ll likely want them to talk with other executives and maybe even spend the day getting to know your company to help envision their fit.

Hire the Best Person for the Job

Finding the right candidate for your team is hard work, so allow the hiring experts at PrideStaff Las Vegas to assist. We won’t stop searching until we’ve found a hire you’re truly excited about, so contact us today to discuss a partnership!

Keep Your Skills Sharp This Winter with These 6 Tips

Just like moving your body is crucial in keeping your body physically healthy, you also need to work out your brain so it can function at maximum capacity. Keep your skills sharp this winter with these six tips:   

1. Maintain a Growth Mindset  

No matter your age or educational background, if you want to stay sharp, you must believe you are capable of it. Maintain a growth mindset, in which you believe you can develop new skills through effort, rather than a fixed mindset, in which you believe your skill sets are innate and can’t be improved. Having a growth mindset will help you tackle all of the various tasks that improve brain health.    

2. Get Out of Routine  

A simple but effective way to stay sharp this winter is to get out of your normal routine. When tasks become habits, it makes your brain essentially operate on autopilot, which is great for efficiency, but that lack of effort means your brain isn’t being worked out on a regular basis. Switch up your daily tasks occasionally – use your opposite hand, take a different route on your commute, stand while you talk on the phone instead of sitting, etc.   

3. Take Up a Different Hobby  

Challenging your brain to learn new skills can improve your mental functioning because it keeps your brain actively engaged. Take up a new hobby this winter to improve your overall cognition – the more different from your usual hobbies and activities, the better! Learn a new language, try out an instrument, cook using a new method, or do jigsaw puzzles or crosswords.   

4. Get Moving  

Going for regular walks isn’t just good for your cardiovascular health – the increase in blood flow also helps your brain function more effectively. In fact, a 2014 Stanford University study found that walking increased creative thinking by 60% compared to sitting. If you’re in a chilly climate, even a short walk can help keep you sharp, and even indoor walking can help.   

5. Read Everyday  

Reading is a leisure activity that does double-duty by keeping your mind sharp at the same time. Prioritize reading at least a few pages or some articles every day. This opens your mind to new concepts, especially for nonfiction, but even fiction requires you to focus and pay attention to details, which works out your brain.   

6. Engage with Others   

Staying sharp isn’t just a solo activity – engage with others and have stimulating conversations. Whether it’s discussing deep topics that make you think, having lighthearted debates, or chatting about current events, talking with and listening to others requires your mind to be focused and alert.   

We Can Help You Find a Job You Love

Are you ready to start looking for a new job? PrideStaff Akron can help! We work with employers in the Akron area for their hiring needs and can match you with the opportunities that are the best fit for you. Search our database of currently available jobs.   

How to Overcome Challenges of Working from Home

Working from home has been the norm for many people for quite some time now since the coronavirus pandemic first hit. And it may be a while – if ever – before things shift back to the way they used to be.

As great as it can be to “go to work” in your favorite sweatpants, remote work also comes with unique challenges as you strive to stay healthy, successful, and productive. Here are some hurdles that may feel familiar to you, along with tips to jump them and put them behind you:

Zoom Fatigue

Yup, it’s a real thing. After months of videoconferencing, Zoom fatigue is another name for mental exhaustion from having to focus on coworkers’ faces for long periods to make sure you’re paying attention. It’s also known as a “constant gaze.” As noted by the Wall Street Journal, another unfortunate outcome can be decreased productivity.

Pressure to Keep Up Your Performance

It’s normal to feel like you have to “prove yourself” more when you work from home. After all, your manager and coworkers aren’t around to keep an eye on you and this can get in your head, to the point where you may feel pressed to work a lot more than you would at the office.

Distractions

More so than at the office – though they certainly exist there, as well! – any number of types of distractions can break your concentration when you’re working from home.

Social Isolation

Without your team members around, working from home can feel too quiet or lonely at times. And with pandemic restrictions in place, it’s not like you can meet your friends afterwards for drinks or plan a weekend group getaway.

For additional tips to be more successful at work – wherever that is for you right now – and keep your career on the growth path in 2021, contact the PrideStaff Modesto team today. Benefit from our professional coaching, resources, extensive client network, and more. We look forward to working with you this year!

5 Secrets to a Successful Virtual Interview

Thanks to COVID-19, the virtual interview has now taken center stage in the hiring process. Whether it’s through Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts or a different platform, it’s also bringing new stressors to the interview experience. How can you best prepare? Here are some secrets for a successful online interview:

#1: Test your technology beforehand.

Job interviews have always been anxiety-ridden. Now, potential technology glitches add another layer of stress to them. While things sometimes happen that are outside your control, the goal is to test and check everything beforehand.

So at least one day ahead of your scheduled interview, make sure your camera and microphone are working and that you can access whatever software platform the interview will be conducted on. This will ensure if your computer doesn’t meet the technical specifications, you have a time to download any necessary upgrades or software.

#2: Don’t forget to dress the part.

Just as with an in-person interview, the first impression you make is a critical one. This means dressing the part and wearing professional attire, such as a business suit. You’ll not only look more polished and professional, but feel more confident too. If you think a suit is too formal for the particular employer, then opt for attire that’s business casual instead. This can include a blouse or a button-down shirt with a pair of slacks.

#3: Do your homework.

Preparation is the key to success with any interview, whether it’s in-person or online. So make sure you do your homework, research the company, formulate your answers ahead of time, and develop your own list of questions to ask. One bonus of a virtual interview is you can keep a few notes by your side, prompting you to remember certain achievements, skills or experiences to discuss.

#4: Create a quiet space.

Make sure whatever area you’re interviewing in is quiet and free from distractions. You don’t want the hiring manager to hear a car going by, a horn blaring, or kids and pets playing. Instead, choose a room with a door, so you can close it for privacy. If you have a laptop, put it on a desk, not your lap. That way, during the interview, you’ll be able to sit up straight and look directly into the camera, not downward.

#5: Use body language to your advantage.

Throughout the interview, it’s important to communicate in a positive, confident way through your body language. For instance, since you can’t shake hands, give the hiring a manager a smile and a friendly wave when you start the interview. Also be sure to sit up straight and maintain good posture during the interview, as well as place your face in the middle of the camera screen, not to one side, which can be distracting.

Communicating virtually takes a bit more effort than if you were face-to-face. However, if you prepare and are mindful of how you’re appearing on screen, you’ll be able to impress the hiring manager and convey confidence and competence in the process.

Do you need more help finding employment in Tempe?

Turn to PrideStaff. As one of the area’s leading employment agencies, we know who’s hiring in Tempe and how to get your foot in the door. Contact our team today to learn more!

6 Outside-of-the-Box Ways to Build Up Your Resume

It’s no secret that employers seek out experience when they look to fill open positions. It leads to the age-old job-search quandary: how do you get experience if no one will hire you without experience in the first place? Well, there are ways to accomplish this trick. You just have to look outside the box to build up your resume.

Experience is clearly the bedrock of an attractive resume. One study showed that about 9 out of 10 employers (91%) said they preferred candidates have experience when they hire them. Unless you’re ready to scrounge for work from that remaining 1 out of 10, you need to find ways to build out your work history.

The key is to find unconventional ways to gather career bullet points. Experience works like a snowball. Get a little moving and your momentum will help you pick up more. It’s just a matter of getting started – from there, relevant positions become easier and easier to land.

With that in mind, here are a few outside-the-box ways to build up your resume and gain the experience you need to jumpstart your career:

Embrace the Gig Economy

No, we don’t mean that driving for Uber is going to land you a dream job. But you can gig your way into career advancement. Many companies are reluctant to hire full-time staff. It’s expensive and risky. However, if you find an opportunity with less commitment, you can get your foot in the door.

Look for contract or temporary assignments. The requirements should be less stringent than with full-time jobs. This could give you a chance to earn some crucial entry-level reps.

Become an Industry Expert

Build your name within the industry with a blog and an active social media feed. This sideline is more than a hobby. For starters, it will allow you to keep pace with changes in your field. At the same time, your online presence will allow you to make connections.

Unpaid Internships

People often think of unpaid internships as only available to college students or recent grads. That image is incomplete. Anyone can take advantage of an unpaid internship.

Of course, whether or not you can’t afford to work without a paycheck will depend on your current circumstances. But if you can swing it, it provides great way to gain experience. This tactic is perfect for people looking to switch fields or to re-enter the workplace after an absence.

Volunteer

Nonprofits are always looking for help. If you’re willing to pitch in for free, these desperate organizations will rarely turn you down. Pick the right ones and you gain develop skills that paying employers will value. Also, volunteer gigs are usually flexible, so you can work them into your current schedule.

Start Your Own Business

Can’t get someone to take a chance on you because they say you don’t have enough experience? Then find a way that doesn’t require anyone’s permission. In other words, launch your own business.

Figure out how a small business could contribute to your industry and start an enterprise that services the sector. Keep your risks under control and even failure can represent a long-term win. Even if the business doesn’t turn a profit in the long run, you can gain the experience and connections you need to land your ideal position somewhere else.

Use a Staffing Agency

Everyone needs help to expand their career horizons. A staffing agency provides exactly the kind of expert guidance you need. You can build your resume with temporary assignments, while simultaneously seeking out the perfect long-term placement. It’s the ideal way to gain vital experience.

Ready to get started? A top recruiter, like PrideStaff, can steer you in the right direction.

Contact PrideStaff Bend today to learn more.

What Are the Qualities of The ‘Perfect’ Job?

You’ve been searching through job openings in Las Vegas for a while now, but you’re feeling a little confused. Taking on a new job is a big deal, so you want to go slow and wait for the perfect one — but you’re not quite sure what that entails.

The thing is, the perfect job means something different to everyone. What might be ideal for you won’t fit the needs of the next person. Therefore, it’s important to really think about what you want from a new job before you start submitting applications. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking.

Five Qualities That Could Make a Job Perfect for You

Meaningful Work

It’s hard to get excited about your job if the work doesn’t inspire you. While it sounds a bit cliché, when you’re passionate about what you do, it doesn’t seem like work at all. Think about what really drives you and use this as a guide to your ideal job.

Cultural Fit

A job might check all your boxes on paper, but if you’re not a match for the company culture, you won’t be happy. Take the time to carefully research companies before applying, so you can gauge your fit. A brand’s website, blog, and social media presence can offer telling clues about what life as an employee is like, which could be a make or break for you.

Supportive Boss

Your manager plays a big role in your life, so having a good one is crucial. Of course, there’s no real way to know how someone will be as a boss after meeting them once or twice in an interview. For this, you just have to trust your gut. If you feel like you really click with them, consider this a good sign, but if not, it might be best to keep searching.

Work-Life Balance

Being a hardworking person doesn’t mean you can’t also enjoy a full personal life. Everyone has different ideas about the level of work-life balance they need, so decide where you’re at and stick to it. For example, if putting in long nights at a company is the standard, but you have young kids at home, you might not be happy with the lack of family time the job offers.

Regularly Feeling Challenged

Some people want to be comfortable in their jobs, knowing exactly what’s in store each day and how to perform every task — and that’s okay. However, if you’re someone who becomes bored when you no longer feel like you’re learning, you’ll want to find a job that constantly challenges you. Growth opportunities will allow you to always feel like you’re evolving and boosting your skillset, resulting in high levels of job satisfaction.

Find Your Perfect Job

If you want to take the next step in your career, PrideStaff Las Vegas is here to guide your search. Contact us today to get started!

8 Tips to Help You Stay on Track with Your 2021 SMART Goals

The key to successful goals is setting them up to be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound. However, even if your goals are SMART, you still have to put in the effort to make them a reality. Check out these tips to help you stay on track with your 2021 SMART goals:   

1. Create an Action Plan  

Once you have clearly defined your SMART goals, create a step-by-step action plan for achieving them. Be specific – include what order you will tackle the goals (including smaller sub-goals), when you will work on them (i.e., a specific day of the week or block of time each day), how you will hold yourself accountable, and how often you will review your progress.    

2. Record It   

Documenting your progress toward achieving your goals can help you stay on track by making you mindful. Keep a diary for your SMART goals and record things such as: what action you took that day, the outcome, any challenges or distractions that came up, and most importantly, how you were feeling. Recording your goal process can help you identify issues and address them to find an alternative strategy that works better for you.   

3. Get Accountability   

No matter how ambitious you are regarding your SMART goals, you are only human, and your motivation levels may ebb and flow. To prevent yourself from giving up, get accountability. Do some self-reflection to determine how you best personally respond to expectations (i.e., having another person count on you or making a public proclamation that you’ll do something) and include that in your SMART goal process. For instance, you could get an accountability partner to check in with on a regular basis or create a blog or social media account detailing your journey – whatever works for you!  

4. Give Yourself an Incentive  

Having something to look forward to can help you keep going even when it feels like your goal is still so far away. Give yourself an incentive for taking action and achieving smaller milestones. For example, buying your favorite treat to eat or saving your favorite TV show for after you’ve worked on your goals for five straight days.   

5. Take Tiny Action  

Consistency is much more important than dramatic one-time gestures for making progress on your SMART goals. Remember: achieving goals is a marathon, not a sprint, so don’t expend a significant amount of energy once in a while and wear yourself out. Commit to taking tiny action most days versus waiting until you have the time and motivation to “go big,” and you’ll have a lot more to show for it in the end.    

6. Have a Deeper Reason    

During challenging times, such as when you have setbacks or just feel burned out from putting in the effort without seeing the results yet, you can’t rely on motivation to keep you on track for your SMART goals. Overcoming these hurdles requires you to have a deeper reason for why you’re bothering at all. Ask yourself why you want to achieve this goal and what it would mean to you – then, remind yourself of your “why” whenever you’re struggling.   

7. Set Deadlines    

Part of the SMART framework is “Time-Bound,” but you can also apply this sense of urgency for the smaller steps in the process. Set deadlines whenever you can, even if it’s as small as “write in my journal before my lunch break is over” or “check-in with my accountability partner by Friday each week.”  

8. Understand Your Tendencies  

While there are certainly best practices for keeping on track with your SMART goals, ultimately, you are an individual person with your own unique tendencies. Understanding your tendencies and tweaking your strategy to work with them, rather than wasting valuable willpower trying to force yourself against them, will make you more successful with your goals and with less effort and stress. For example, if you’re a night owl, don’t schedule your work on your goals for 5 AM, or force yourself to use an electronic system if you prefer pen and paper.   

Call PrideStaff Today  

Find job opportunities that are right for you by working with an experienced staffing agency like PrideStaff Akron. Our team of recruiters can match you with the jobs that are the best match from employers across industries. Search our database of currently available jobs to get started.