Rebuilding Your Career Confidence After Losing Your Job

There’s an insightful book by Robert K. Johnson and J. Walker Smith entitled Life is Not Work, Work is Not Life. It’s a meaningful title and account, as everyone struggles with work/life balance at some point – but perhaps never do the two feel more intertwined than when, suddenly, you lose your job.

No one should take this occurrence personally, but it can be hard not to. The initial shock can spiral into serious self-doubt, unless you take just a little time to grieve and then quickly get started on rebuilding your confidence, despite the huge hit it has just taken.

So binge on some rocky road ice cream and Hallmark movies – but not for too long. Then, put the brakes on feeling sorry for yourself and step into rebound mode.

Develop a routine.

Even though your work schedule no longer applies, develop a daily routine so you can regain control. A job search alone can be a full-time job, as you work on everything from refreshing your resume and networking to sprucing up your interview outfits. Use a planner or calendar, just as you did when you were working. You’ll accomplish a lot more, and feel a lot better at the end of every day.

Build in some time for yourself. Doing something you truly enjoy boosts your spirits and gives you more hope and energy. Even it it’s as simple as reading a favorite book for an hour, include it on your daily roster.
Getting up and moving is a natural endorphin booster. If paying for a gym membership is prohibitive, all you need is a walk or run, or an at-home yoga or other routine. This, too, needs to be on your new planning calendar. Don’t let it fall by the wayside.

Build your support network.

Avoid being alone for too long. Instead, reach out to close friends or a mentor. Being surrounded by this supportive circle will help rebuild your confidence, as these people are your best advocates.

Connect with other job seekers. Knowing you’re not alone helps greatly as you try to get back in the game. Seek out networking events and other opportunities to mingle with your fellow job hunters. You may even form some lifelong bonds and friendships.

Help others.

Volunteering not only helps you bounce back; it also helps your community. It enables you to keep your skills sharp and maybe master some new ones. It also helps to further build your professional network – and it may even lead you into a completely new field that you wouldn’t have otherwise considered.

Rebound mode after a job loss is isn’t easy – and top among your supporters can be the right career coach. Turn to the PrideStaff Fresno team to meet this need, help you build your professional and job search skills and, last but not least, find your next great professional opportunity. Reach out to us today to learn more.

3 Ways to Improve Your Employee Onboarding Process

Onboarding is crucial for setting your new hires up for success – theirs and yours.

An effective onboarding process helps newcomers get to know your company culture, mission and values, in addition to processes, policies and procedures that will add to everyone’s overall productivity.

Start onboarding the minute you decide to hire someone.

Preboarding should mesh into a new hire’s first few days on the job, and on into their mid and post-recruitment experience. Think of successful onboarding as a three-part process:

Help new employees get acclimated ASAP.

How important is effective preboarding? Consider the results of a recent Indeed study: 65 percent of employers reported hiring people who didn’t show up on their targeted first day of work. Done right, preboarding will prevent you from becoming part of this eye-opening statistic.

Send preboarding gifts – and a personalized welcome. Gifts, like company tee shirts, mugs or caps – are an easy win. Accompany them with a handwritten, personalized post care welcoming your new team member.
Ask for feedback on your hiring process. This will prime your new hires to feel valued and encourage them to make an immediate impact. Plus, their insights could have a significant impact on your bottom line if you make needed process improvements.

You should also answer as many questions as possible and give new hires a head start on forms to be completed and related administrative tasks, before their first day. Reach out to them and establish your robust communication philosophy at the earliest possible opportunity.

Take it a step further and help new hires quickly become engaged.

Engagement starts with introducing new hires to your company and their team members. It continues with getting them involved in some early “wins” once they’re officially on the job. Give them some initial assignments or tasks to complete that will help in both regards

Follow up frequently. There’s no need for micromanagement, but make time for frequent check-ins with new employees. You can keep them informal and/or schedule official meetings. But maintain a friendly, supportive tone throughout

Recognize your new team members.

Appropriate recognition of all your employees should be an integral part of your culture. You can extend this to new hires by recognizing even their small contributions early on. (Remember those early win projects?)

Encourage their fresh perspective. Whether your new hire has just graduated or is a veteran coming from another organization, they have something to offer based on their prior experience. Welcome them to share their ideas, perspectives, and strategies that worked for them in the past.

At PrideStaff, we’re all about ensuring that your employee recruitment and retention efforts consistently succeed – and ultimately, helping your business grow as you bring only the highest value talent on board. Our own award-winning team is standing by to partner with you: we’ll provide guidance and insight as you define your hiring needs and create effective strategies to meet them. Contact us today to learn more.

Don’t Make These Mistakes During a Final Interview!

A final job interview is just that: your last chance to impress a hiring manager and/or members of a search committee before they select the candidate they want to hire. The field has been narrowed to its last point: there are only a small number of contenders left, and congratulations because, you’re one of them. But you can’t rest on your laurels just yet … not if you want to emerge the winner.

Be sure to strike the right balance between confidence and humility, acting comfortably and letting your guard down. Here’s how to approach this critical meeting – and what to avoid saying – with the right degree of professionalism and savvy:

Reflect

Before going into your interview, reflect carefully and thoughtfully on what it would be like to work in this particular job. What questions do you have now or might you have on your first day? At this point, be sure to do this – for your own good and also to demonstrate that you’ve thoroughly considered the possibility.

What NOT to Say

Just as you did in your first and any subsequent interviews, prepare your responses, as well as your own questions, in advance. This might include reframing any answers you may want to modify from a previous conversation.

Here are a few questions and statements that are important to avoid:

“Do people like working here?” Instead, ask more specific questions about company culture and team morale. Above all else, be specific and direct. You may want to avoid this one altogether. It is important information to have, but as part of your research, try talking with current or former employees instead. This will also provide you with a more credible, no-holds-barred answer.
“I really can’t imagine anyone more qualified for the job than me.” What, now?! There’s no place for boasting or self-aggrandizing when interviewing, regardless of how confident you may feel at any given time. Focus on what would make you most unique and value added if you were hired and talk about that instead. Master the art of subtle comparison, while remaining professional and humble. This combination can speak volumes in your favor.
“My last boss was horrible.” Just no. Bad mouthing your former employer can hurt you on two levels. First, it shows your lack of ability to cope and move past a difficult situation. Second, your potential employer does not want to hire anyone who may potentially speak negatively about them in the future. When you discuss past challenges in your career, do so objectively and critically, but do not

PrideStaff can help you find the right job, write or polish up your resume and portfolio, prep for interviews, and last but not least, seal the deal. We place talented job seekers like yourself in industries that include accounting and finance, administration, customer service, healthcare, IT, insurance, manufacturing, sales and marketing, and the skilled trades. Contact us today to learn more.

How are Businesses Utilizing Data Within Their Hiring Strategies?

Back in the day, recruiting and data were not even mentioned in the same sentence. But now it’s a whole new world, with a wealth of software and analytics tools available to enhance your hiring process. And if you’re not putting them to good use at your company, you’ll quickly fall behind in the competitive race to attract and retain top talent.

What is data-centric recruiting?

The use of data to help make recruitment decisions is not new. What continue to evolve, however, are technological advancements that make hiring decisions more precise and accountable. Data-driven recruiting is the use of tangible facts and statistics – not just intuition and luck – to help you become more efficient, successful and cost-effective.

Why should you be embracing data as you hire new talent?

With a data-centric approach, you can benefit from measuring the quality of hire, which indicates the overall effectiveness of your talent acquisition processes. Other key applicable metrics include cost per hire, time to hire, source of hire, candidate experience scores, and offer acceptance rates.

Data-driven recruiting can help you:

Allocate budget dollars: Perhaps tracking the source of hire would determine which recruitment channels attract the most qualified talent.
Increase your hiring team’s productivity: You may want to track the number of emails recruiters send to candidates to find any specific stages where time to hire might be accelerated.
Pinpoint hiring issues: Do you need to redesign your application page or tweak the questions you ask? Or, will your candidate demographics reveal that you’re unwittingly discriminating against a protected group? The answer will be in the data.
Benchmark and forecast your hiring: For instance, if you have too few applications, you can make a more informed decision about either sourcing or readvertising a role.
Reach better – more objective and legally defensible – hiring decisions: Data analysis will help ensure that you select the best candidate based on concrete measures like assessment scores and structured interview results.
Make your cases for process improvements: Have you been struggling to win your case for an employee referral program? Perhaps you can present hard data that will solidify your position.

How do you shift toward data-driven recruitment?

Start by collecting data effectively. Then, act on it. You can use it to help improve all the metrics mentioned above. Use data to assess past practices and make an improved hiring plan for the future. Focus on big-picture numbers that will help you identify any weak spots in your hiring process so you can address and correct them – and ultimately, hire better.

As you build your effective hiring systems and strategies, including the latest technological tools to support your success, turn to PrideStaff for the guidance and expertise you need to make it happen. We’ll keep you abreast of the latest developments and at the head of the pack in drawing top candidates your way – and keeping them under your roof. Reach out to us today to learn more.

Prep for a Productive Week with These Sunday Night Routine Tips

Like it or not, Monday morning is coming.

How nice would it be to approach it without a sense of stress or dread as Sunday evening rolls around? Why cheat yourself out of any of the much-deserved rest and relaxation you look forward to every weekend?

The only tradeoff is: Allow yourself just a small amount of time every Sunday to prepare for the week ahead. It can be a great way to prevent “Sunday-itis” and start your work week off on a positive note – maybe even with a smile instead of a groan.

Tidy up and organize your workspace.

If you commute to work, make a habit of doing this on Friday afternoon before you leave for the weekend. Either way, a clear workspace will help you achieve a clear mind, improve your focus, relieve stress, and boost your productivity potential.

Make a to-do list.

Lists are great – especially the part where you cross items off them – but for a weekly to do agenda or planner to be truly effective, you have to be realistic about what you want and need to accomplish. For instance, if you have a huge high-priority project looming, break it down into smaller, more manageable parts that you can complete one at a time.

Start by listing your top three goals for the week. Note: This is not necessarily the same as your favorite three goals. In fact, it’s almost always best to tackle your least favorite tasks first, to avoid procrastination, which will only spiral into more stress.
Make sure your list includes something fun to look forward to. The details are up to you, but leave time for yoga class, having friends over for pizza, volunteering, or whatever else brings you joy and work/life balance.

Be ready for Monday morning.

Hint: This is a good practice to get into every night, but especially on Sundays. Set your alarm so you have plenty of time to get up and get ready, without being rushed. Plan and prepare your outfit – maybe even five of them for the week ahead. Set the timer on your coffee maker. Whatever works.

Last but not least ….

If you’re consistently making the effort and Sunday-itis still strikes on a regular basis, you may want to add a job search to your list of New Year’s resolutions. It’s a ripe market for job seekers, so take advantage of it and add “Start looking for the job I really want!” to your weekly to do list.

At PrideStaff Fresno, our goal is to help you achieve all your career goals – whether they’re geared toward being better in your current role or finding your next great opportunity. We work with and place talented professionals like yourself in a wide variety of industries including accounting and finance, administration, customer service, healthcare, IT, insurance, manufacturing, sales and marketing, and more. Reach out to us today and let’s get started!

Why Transparency in Business is Important

When you think transparency regarding your business, think trust. Transparency is the foundation for trust between a company and all its stakeholders, including investors, customers, vendors and supply chain members, and employees.

It can take various forms, but the core objective of transparency remains the same: establishing trust and goodwill through openness and honesty in business dealings and communication.

Transparency with your employees means honest, ongoing two-way communications. This includes conversations about business goals and objectives, company and employee performance, any changes on the horizon, and other work-related issues.

Of course, confidentiality is sometimes necessary. But letting your team members know what’s going on makes good business sense. It helps boost and maintain high morale, engagement and retention, and leverages productive feedback to improve processes and drive results. Last but not least, it demonstrates a high level of integrity and ethical behavior.

To dig more deeply into four reasons why transparency matters, consider that:

1. Transparency around salaries can protect you against lawsuits.

By staying transparent about salaries, there’s a greater obligation for company leaders, managers and your HR team to stay fair. Salary transparency can help prevent costly lawsuits on charges of pay discrimination.

2. When employees are in the loop, they can make better decisions.

Building a culture of open communication helps your employees feel more secure in their roles and builds their sense of ownership and engagement in your business. In other words, your business becomes their business – and their dedication and commitment to it grows as a result.

Even if you’ve hit some bumps in the road, transparency helps ensure that the truth is disseminated and that employees can ask the right questions. They’ll find out anyway, so make sure they hear it from you and not a potentially toxic grapevine.

3. Transparency helps combat fraud.

When it comes to fraud prevention, secrecy in the name of confidentiality can result in devastating losses in cash and/or investor lawsuits. When more than one person knows what’s happening, it becomes more difficult for anyone to commit fraud.

4. Transparency helps prevent data losses.

Data loss prevention (DLP) best practices include systems transparency. Of course, passwords and proper security are critical. But nothing should be so secret that only a few people are aware of it. For instance, if a business critical employee resigns suddenly due to a misunderstanding or disagreement, you need access to their data to keep it safe.

Communicate regularly with employees and other stakeholders about the state of and developments regarding your DLP program.

At PrideStaff Fresno, we work with company leaders to help them improve themselves and their businesses via the right talent management processes and strategies. We also match employers with the candidates they need – whether those needs are for temporary, temp-to-hire or direct recruitment employees – in areas including administration, customer service, IT, finance, legal support, healthcare, production and distribution. Contact us today to learn more.

Difficult Boss? Here’s What You Can Do:

Do you have a difficult boss? Are you feeling overwhelmed and stressed out by their demands? Don’t despair – there are ways to cope with a difficult boss. In this blog post, we’ll share tips and advice on how to manage your relationship with a difficult boss and make the most of the situation. With the right approach, you can still be successful and productive, even when your boss is not making it easy. So if you’re struggling to cope with a difficult boss, keep reading to learn some helpful strategies.

Find common ground

Having a difficult boss can be a major challenge to overcome in the workplace. No matter how hard you try, it can seem like nothing you do is ever good enough. You might even start to feel like there’s no way to bridge the gap between you and your boss. But it is possible to find common ground and improve the situation.
The key is to focus on finding areas of mutual understanding. This can be difficult if your boss is more experienced and knowledgeable than you, but it’s possible. Start by researching the common interests that you share. It could be anything from a shared hobby or passion for a particular sport, to an appreciation for art or music.
Once you’ve identified a few common interests, use them to create conversation starters. Ask your boss about their hobbies, the books they’ve read recently, or what they did over the weekend. Not only will this help build a rapport, it will also give you some insight into their life outside of work.
It’s important to remember that even if your boss seems intimidating or unapproachable at first, they’re still human. Taking time to connect on a personal level can help create a better relationship between you and your boss, so don’t be afraid to take the initiative and reach out!

Take the high road

When faced with a difficult boss, it can be tempting to respond in kind. But this is rarely the best course of action. Instead, try to take the high road and remain professional. Here are some tips for how to do that:
1. Remain Calm – It’s hard to remain calm when dealing with a difficult boss, but it’s essential. When feeling overwhelmed, take a few deep breaths and focus on staying in control of your emotions.
2. Be Positive – Even if your boss is not, try to focus on the positive aspects of the situation and look for opportunities to make the best of it.
3. Show Respect – Remember that regardless of their attitude, your boss deserves your respect. Avoid passive-aggressive comments and try to keep the lines of communication open and productive.
4. Seek Help – If you feel like the situation is becoming too difficult to handle on your own, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Talk to a trusted friend or colleague who may have gone through a similar experience, or speak to HR if appropriate.
By taking the high road, you can still achieve success despite having a difficult boss. Your professionalism will be noticed, and you may even be able to turn the situation around eventually.

The career development experts at PrideStaff can help you set not only your workspace and current goals, but also your long-term professional strategy, on the path to success. We’ve done just that for thousands of people just like you in areas including accounting, finance, healthcare, IT, sales, marketing, skilled trades, and more. Reach out to us today for more information.

Navigate Company Holiday Parties With These Tips

The holidays are a time for joy and celebration, but for many people, the thought of attending a company holiday party can be overwhelming. Whether you’re a new hire or a seasoned veteran of the corporate world, you can make the most of these events by following some simple guidelines. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to navigate company holiday parties so you can enjoy yourself without making any social missteps.

Read on to learn more!

Make a Good Impression

As the holiday season approaches, many companies will be hosting their own holiday parties for their employees. Company holiday parties can be a great opportunity to make new connections, show off your professional skills, and even earn a few brownie points from your boss. However, it can also be an intimidating event for some. To help you navigate these occasions with ease, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you get ready for your company holiday party.

1. Dress for success. Be sure to wear something that looks professional but also expresses your own unique style. This is the time to show off your personality in an appropriate way.

2. Make an effort to meet new people. Networking is always important at any event, so take the opportunity to introduce yourself to people you haven’t met yet or start up conversations with colleagues you know well.

3. Ask questions. Don’t just sit there and wait for people to come up and talk to you. Show genuine interest in what others have to say by asking questions and engaging in meaningful conversations.

4. Follow company guidelines. Always abide by your company’s rules and regulations, particularly if it comes to alcohol consumption and other activities.

5. Thank your boss. If you’re fortunate enough to have a great boss, don’t forget to thank them for their hard work and efforts throughout the year. It’s the perfect time to show your appreciation.

By following these tips, you can make the most out of your company holiday party and make a positive impression on those around you. Have fun and enjoy the festivities!

Dress Appropriately

It’s important to remember that company holiday parties are still work functions. This means that you should dress appropriately according to the company dress code. If there is no dress code, then err on the side of caution and dress on the more formal end of the spectrum. Women may want to opt for a nice dress or skirt and blouse, while men can go for a button-down shirt, blazer, and dress pants. Avoid overly revealing clothing, and make sure your outfit is appropriate for the event. For example, if it’s a casual gathering then it’s perfectly fine to wear jeans, but if it’s a formal party then wearing jeans wouldn’t be acceptable.

Have fun!

The career development experts at PrideStaff Fresno can help you set not only your workspace and current goals, but also your long-term professional strategy, on the path to success. We’ve done just that for thousands of people just like you in areas including accounting, finance, healthcare, IT, sales, marketing, the skilled trades, and more. Reach out to us today for more information.

How to Set Up Your Workspace for Success

Numerous factors contribute to stress – or not being stressed – at work, as well as to your overall success in your job. It may not be Number One on that list, but the way you set up your workspace and keep it organized can make a difference in how well each of your workdays goes.

Here are some tips to get you started:

Get rid of anything you don’t need.

The simple act of giving or throwing away any items you don’t need will immediately make you feel calmer and more organized. Maybe someone else can use your extra scissors or stapler. You’re helping them, you’re helping you, you’re saving money, and you’re doing something good for the environment. Bingo! Great start!

Disinfect.

Yup. Clear it all off and don’t forget all those lessons learned during the pandemic. Enough said.

Stick with that minimalist mindset.

Now that you’re looking at a clean, empty space – right?!?! – marvel at how awesome it is. Of course, you have to put back all the stuff you need to do your job. But with a few exceptions, that’s all you need. Repeat this mantra to yourself: That’s all I need.

Make it yours.

Here’s where those exceptions to absolute minimalism come into play. A few thoughtfully chosen items will make your workspace calming and make you feel better and more productive. Your favorite plant, pictures of your family, and like that. Just looking at them can help you keep everything in perspective.

Folders are your friend.

Invest in folders to store all the loose papers related to whatever projects you’re working on. If it’s not important enough to go in a folder, throw it away.

Minimalist also applies to office supplies.

Who doesn’t love a trip to the local office supply store? But curb your enthusiasm. Save both your wallet and your workspace from something you may regret by limiting the number of supplies you have on hand to a minimum. Come on. You don’t really use those multi-sized clips, rubber bands and tip erasers anyway, right?

Get a junk jar.

Okay, so you can’t lose absolutely every single supply or miscellaneous item. Grab a simple jar – preferable transparent – and stick in in the far corner. Even if you never go through it again, everything will still look neater.

Reorganize at the end of the day.

Before you head home, throw away any trash, stick those papers in the right folder, and put everything else back in its place. If you do it regularly, it won’t take more than a few minutes, and you’ll feel so much better in the morning!

Tips to Land Your Dream Job

It’s out there: the job you’ve been looking for.

Even if you’re feeling a bit intimidated or discouraged at the prospect of finding it, with a little planning and perseverance, it will happen – maybe even sooner than you think.

As far as that planning goes, start with these tips:

When you find a company that interests you, do your research.

Researching a potential employer is one of the best ways to help yourself stand out among the competition. It arms you with knowledge about what a company does, what their current issues and needs are, and what they’re looking for in a candidate. Equally important, it can help you determine whether it’s a place you’d fit in and enjoy working.

Start with the company’s website. From there, check social and traditional media. If possible, contact current or former employees and others who have some kind of connection to the employer. They can be a wealth of information.

Tailor your resume and cover letter to the job.

These are the first things an employer will see, so wow them by aligning your skills and experience with the keywords in their job description. Weave them into both your resume and cover letter, without overdoing it. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all resume or cover letter.

Use social media to your advantage.

In addition to using social media to research companies, make sure your own online presence is pristine and professional. Clean up, delete, or have deleted anything associated with you that looks even slightly questionable or unprofessional. In addition:

Post regular updates that relate to your dream job, share relevant content, and participate in conversations, discussions, and groups. Put yourself out there to show your knowledge and genuine interest.

Network offline, too.

Your network is more than just Twitter handles, LinkedIn connections, and Facebook friends, although never discount those. In-person networking is back, so put that to work for you, too. Join professional associations, set up informational interviews, or take a contact to lunch. Having someone personally vouch for you can mean the difference between landing your dream job – or not.

The right opportunity is closer than you think.

At PrideStaff, everything we do is designed to serve you better as you land your dream job in areas including production, manufacturing, administration, accounting, healthcare, IT, sales and marketing, and more. From entry-level through senior management roles, we can connect you with top employers in the Central Valley and beyond. Reach out to us today to learn more.