Now Trending: Career Planning Patterns Past 2022

There’s no crystal ball prediction – after all, look how drastically the world changed virtually overnight when Covid-19 hit – but there are career trends to consider in the years to come, as you make decisions about which professional path you plan to take.

Pandemic-incited changes are likely here to stay.

More than two years after its onset, the coronavirus pandemic has left transformations in its wake that are likely permanent – and many of them apply to business and careers.

These include:

More telework.
Less business travel.
Expanded contactless ordering and less face-to-face interaction.
Increased online shopping.
Greater demands for IT support services.
More intensive medical research.
Growing adoption of automation.
Continued innovation and use of productivity-enhancing software, such as that used for appointment booking and scheduling.

Among the areas projected for the fastest employment growth for the remainder of this decade are healthcare, renewable energy, information security, and data science.

In line with this, the most secure and least vulnerable occupations will be those related to life and health sciences, laboratory and medical technology, and computer science.

Covid-19 has obviously had a huge impact on healthcare workers. Many have gotten sick or passed away, while burnout has been rampant. Studies suggest that more than one-third are thinking of leaving their profession. For instance, there will be a need for at least 500,000 more registered nurses by 2027. Due to this projected shortage, healthcare is clearly pinpointed as a top field for the future.
IT has been a growth field for many years, but an increased focus on remote work and smartphone development has further boosted demand. The software development field, for example, is predicted to grow by 22 percent.
Careers in financial management are also on the growth track. Increases of 15 percent are anticipated over the next ten years.

Make an informed career decision.

So if you’re a student contemplating a major field of study or a worker considering a new field, keep these factors in mind as you reach a decision. Among others are climate change and a global population that continues to age. Rounding out the overall picture: a recent development: Covid stimulus payments, which led to record numbers of people leaving the workforce, and an age-old stickler which has had the same effect: inadequate affordable childcare. All of these things play a part in career planning.

Where do you fit? If your head is spinning and the answer is unclear, or if you have a solid plan in place but are looking for the right opportunity or the best way to get there, contact PrideStaff Fresno today. The right job is closer than you think. Let us be your experienced resource, connected networker, and career coach, all in one, as you find your next great career opportunity.

Before Accepting a Job Offer, You Need to Ask Yourself These Questions

Being offered a job feels great, especially if you’ve been waiting a while for the right opportunity to come your way. And that’s just it – no matter how many options you have or how long it’s taken you to get this far, accepting a position has to be the right decision for you, at this point in your life. Take time to fully evaluate the offer and weigh the pros and cons. If you have more than one offer, make a comparison list to help you decide.

Ask yourself about:

The Basics

Make sure you clearly understand what the job entails and what success in the role would look like – and that your expectations and understanding line up with those of the employer.

Do you have a solid feel for what you’d be doing every day at work?
Have you agreed on a job title?
What are the specific goals and outcomes, and how will your performance be measured?
What schedule will you be expected to work?

Your Salary and Benefits

Take time to review the salary benefits package you’ve been offered and make sure it’s what you need at this stage of your working life.

Is the starting salary in line with comparable positions in your area? Does it work for your personal budget?
What specific benefits will you have, and when does your eligibility begin?

You should have received a formal offer letter, with your salary in writing. Also ask for a summary of benefits if one has not been provided.

Your New Boss

Your immediate supervisor can make or break a job, so be sure you’re comfortable and have the right chemistry with your boss-to-be.

Do you feel a natural rapport with the person to whom you’ll be reporting? Is it someone you can learn from and who will help you grow?
Will your supervisor support you with the tools and resources you need to do your job?

The Company and Your New Coworkers

It’s critical that your new company, its team, its working environment, and its culture are the right fit for you.

Can you see yourself getting along well with your potential new colleagues?
Do you truly believe in this company? Are you excited at the thought of working there?

Your Goals

It all comes back to your short and long-term professional goals. Spend some time thinking about what they are and how this position would align with them. Don’t hesitate to ask for some time to consider the offer and ensure it will be the right fit.

Does the position use your skills and talents appropriately?
Will taking this job help you advance your career? If not, what will you get out of it?

PrideStaff can help with every aspect of your job search, from networking, resume, and interview prep through follow-up, consideration of job offers, and related negotiation. Areas we specialize in include administration, customer service, IT, finance, legal support, healthcare, production, and distribution. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

Ways to Make Your Resume Stand Out

Recruiters spend mere seconds on their first review of candidates’ resumes – and may not see them at all until after they’ve passed through an applicant tracking system (ATS) – software that handles initial screens as the first part of a company’s recruiting and hiring process. To help ensure you get onto the shortlist for an interview, you need to make sure your resume really stands out and sets you apart from the competition.

Here are some tips to consider so you can make this happen:

Keep your resume simple, clear, and concise.

The ideal resume is no longer than two pages. Include only information that is relevant to the job for which you are applying, and that which will make you stand out as perfect for the role. Avoid any redundancy or fluff.

Also avoid company or industry jargon or abbreviations that are not universally recognized.
Include a headline or executive summary of your experience and qualifications at the top of your resume. Be judicious in deciding which information to include.

Tailor your resume to the job.

As you polish up your resume before submitting it, read the job description thoroughly and match your verbiage to keywords. For example, if you have experience in training and the JD asks for a learning and development background, use that exact wording. Highlight or move relevant details to the top of a section.

If your previous work experience is not relevant to the job description, you’ll need to get creative and frame your skillset as being transferable to a new role, field, or industry.

Quantify your accomplishments.

Use numbers and specific data when you describe your accomplishments on your resume. Exactly how much product did you sell monthly? How much money did you save your company? How many people did you train or manage? These figures highlight the impact you had and the successful results yielded.

Check your formatting.

Your resume should look clean and professional. Keep your design simple and aesthetically appealing.

Stick to standard fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, or Helvetica, in 10 or 12 point font size. This helps ensure optimal readability.
Black text on a white or ivory background is best. If you do add a third color, choose something conservative and use it the same way.

Proofread and perfect your resume.

Of course, you’ve been over every point on your resume and probably edited it several times yourself. But it helps to enlist a fresh, objective set of eyes. So ask a trusted friend or family member to read and critique it before making your final revisions. An error-free, easy-to-read resume demonstrates your professionalism and attention to detail, two deal-breaking qualities in any candidate considered for hire.

At PrideStaff, our focus is on finding the right career fits for professionals in areas including accounting, finance, administration, IT, insurance, management, manufacturing, sales and marketing, and more. Our services include resume preparation and personalized coaching throughout your search process. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

What You Can Do to Make Mondays Less Painful

There are a lot of “morning people” in the world … but Monday morning people?! Okay, there are probably some. And if you’re one of them, good for you – and you can stop reading right here.

Studies have shown, though, that a significant majority of employees who start their work week on Mondays rank it as the most dreaded day of their week. For many, those feelings even start on Sunday. Weekends can be packed with fun, leisure, and spending time with our favorite people. It’s important and enjoyable, but it can lead to emotional over-arousal, which is fundamentally stressful.

The reason Mondays can be tough is that you haven’t taken the time to ready yourself for the week ahead or to rest, refresh, and reset.

Your last task on Friday should be to prepare for the following week.

It’s tempting to want to shut off your computer and end your work week ASAP on Friday afternoon. Leave time for one more thing: creating your to-do list for Monday. Actually, like most best practices for reducing stress and enhancing productivity, you should do this every day.

Don’t use weekend time for this purpose. Keep that time for yourself. If you take just a few minutes to prep on Friday, you’ll be better prepared to hit the ground running on Monday morning.

Take breaks on Mondays – and every day.

Take regular breaks during the workday to get up from your desk, relieve your eyes from looking at a screen or other close work, stretch, and get your blood flowing.

Your breaktime activities should help to calm your brain. Spend some time outdoors, read, listen to music, meditate, take a power nap, or do a crossword puzzle. Or, talk to someone – but not about work!

Have some fun on Mondays, too.

The two words are not mutually exclusive.

Put something on your Monday calendar that’s purely for your own enjoyment. Schedule dinner with a friend or a bike ride, leisurely walk, or movie. And no matter how harried your day gets, remember: it won’t last forever. It’s easier to keep it in perspective if you have that after-work activity to look forward to.

Is it burnout?

Burnout is different from Monday-itis. Signs you may be burned out include often bringing negative feelings about work home with you, realizing your job-related cynicism is affecting your interactions with family or friends, or consistently feeling blah, bleak, or disconnected from your normal routine.

If feelings of burnout persist, it may be time to seek professional advice or look for a different job. Burnout is not a one-day experience; it’s a persistent condition that lasts weeks or even months. And it can really hurt your mental health and well-being.

PrideStaff takes a best-in-class approach to help you excel at work every day and continue to build your career – including fighting job-related stress or burnout – whether it means growing with your current company or finding your next great opportunity. Reach out to us today to learn more.

What are the Impacts of Sleep Deprivation on Your Career?

Actor, director and producer, Thomas Dekker, summed it up well when he said,

“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.”

Dekker could have added our minds, our stress level, our general well-being, work performance and career success to the list, but the gist is there.

As reported by the Harvard Business Review, approximately a quarter of all U.S. adult suffer from insomnia, or sleep deprivation. The list of negative health consequences includes a heightened risk of cancer, depression, stroke, obesity and heart problems.

And at work, employees who are sleep deprived:

Have more difficulty concentrating, learning and communicating.
Experience memory lapses and decreased problem-solving abilities.
Tend to be moody and less tolerant of colleagues’ differing opinions, making them more prone to reactionary outbursts and other damaging behavior.
Are less efficient.
Are less satisfied with their jobs.
Are more prone to unscheduled absenteeism.

And when it comes to driving – to work, on the job, or anywhere else – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that in 2017, there were 91,000 police-reported auto crashes involving drowsy drivers. This led to 50,000 injuries and nearly 800 deaths.

There’s light at the end of the tunnel. But not actual light!

The facts and statistics around sleep deprivation are enough to cause an added layer to the stress already prompted by insomnia. Fortunately, the American Institute of Stress offers some suggestions to avoid this dilemma:

Set a consistent sleeping schedule. Maintain a regular time to go to bed and wake up. Develop and stick to a routine.
Avoid daytime naps.
Cut off your intake of caffeine and alcohol early on; ideally, within about eight hours of bedtime.
Follow a bedtime routine. Whether yours includes a hot bath, meditation, prayer or some quiet reading before lights out, these psychological signals alert your mind and body that it’s time to sleep.
Avoid blue light exposure close to bedtime. Limit your use of electronics including your TV, laptop or mobile device. The light emitted is disruptive to your biological clock.

There’s a lot involved in building your career – including taking good care of yourself as you job search or grow in your current position.

If you need additional guidance, or feel the time is right to find your next great professional opportunity, contact the career development specialists at PrideStaff Fresno today. We look forward to getting to know you and helping you realize all your goals for 2022 and beyond. And sleep well tonight as a result!

How to Answer the Most Common Interview Questions

The number and range of questions asked during an interview are limitless. So, how do you begin to know what to expect as you prepare ahead of time?

Here’s a look at some of the most common inquiries that come up as hiring managers narrow down their decision – and how to reply:

Classic Questions

Why should we hire you? Sell yourself and your skills. Craft an answer that conveys that you can not only do the work, but deliver great results, and that you’re the best fit for the job.
What are your greatest professional strengths? Pick out a few specific qualities relevant to the position and illustrate them with examples from your own experience. (Hint: Target job description keywords!)
What do you consider to be your weaknesses? Beyond identifying any major red flags, your interviewer is gauging your self-awareness and honesty. Describe something you’re struggling with but working to improve. And remember, nobody’s perfect!

About Your Work History

What has been your greatest professional achievement? Use the STAR method – situation, task, action and results – to frame your response. As with most responses, be specific and use numbers and details to strengthen your case.
Tell us about a challenge you faced and how you handled it. Be honest, and stay professional and calm as you tell your story. Focus more on the resolution than the problem, and describe what you’d do differently the next time to achieve desired results.

About You and Your Goals

What’s your work style? In asking this broad question, your interviewer is likely trying to envision you in the role. Focus on what’s important to you and how it aligns with all you know about the position and the company so far. You might talk about how you communicate and collaborate on cross-functional projects or how you approach leading a team or managing direct reports. Keep it positive and tell a compelling story.
How do you deal with pressure? Talk about your strategies for dealing with stress, such as keeping detailed to-do lists or meditating for five minutes a day. Then, describe how you communicate and otherwise proactively mitigate pressure.
Where do you see yourself in five years? A hiring manager wants to know if you’ve set realistic career expectations, if you’re ambitious, and if the position lines up with your goals and growth. Think realistically about where this job could take you as you craft your response.

Wrapping Up Your Interview

Is there anything else you’d like us to know? Use this as an opportunity to finish strong. If there’s something relevant that you haven’t had a chance to address, here’s your opportunity. Otherwise, briefly and confidently summarize your qualifications.

PrideStaff Fresno can help you take your career to the next level, whether it’s interview or resume prep, making the right contacts, or finding the best opportunity out there for you in the Central Valley and beyond. Contact us today to hear more.

What You Can Do to Encourage Employees to Speak Up

As a leader, it’s up to you to foster ongoing two-way communication with your employees and teams. It’s not always easy. Some people are natural talkers and tend to dominate conversations or meetings. But others, whose opinions and concerns matter just as much if not more so, may cringe at the mere thought of speaking up. It’s part of your job to keep people both informed and safe in expressing their thoughts, ideas and issues … the good, the bad, and the ugly …

Okay. But how?

How do you strike the right balance and keep the communication flow steady and productive, even when it mean discussing sensitive or challenging topics? Here are some tips:

Listen actively and without judgment.

Go on a listening tour. Have conversations with each of your employees. Keep the tone relaxed, but make sure to include specific questions about what’s going well and what could be better. Listen actively, so you can capture a list of themes to address later on and make real improvements.

Don’t accept the obvious. For some employees, the initial response to your questions may be superficial; for instance, they’ll say something like, “I’m fine” or “all good here.” Without being too overbearing or pushy, keep the conversation flowing by asking, “What’s fine?” or “Is there anything else?” or “Would you tell me if you were not okay?” This will encourage people to share more, or at least help identify those who will or cannot.
It’s not about judgment. Resist jumping in right away to give advice or have all the answers. This will come in time, but begin by showing a genuine interest in what people need to say. If they trust that they will not be judged, the rest will come in good time.

Prove it’s worthwhile to speak up.

Speaking up often takes a lot of courage, so show your employees it’s worth it by taking their concerns seriously and acting upon them – starting with the appropriate response and follow up. Especially for an introvert, nothing is worse than finally mustering up the courage to speak out and then be shot down or get no response at all.

Never make anyone feel wrong or smacked down by your response. Don’t argue or use the phrase, “Yes, but … “because it will negate their input. Instead, thank them and learn more. And, when the moment in a conversation is right, encourage them to generate solutions to problems and explore ways to address their issues.

Lead by example.

If employees see their managers speaking up, it levels the playing field, builds trust, and further inspires them to do the same.

Continuously building your communication skills is part of being a good leader. As you grow in your career – and grow your team – turn to the experts at PrideStaff for additional guidance and resources. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

These 3 Tips Will Help You Close Candidates

Closing the deal with a job candidate is one of the most exciting and rewarding parts of the hiring process. It’s the culmination of all the hard work you’ve done, and it’s a moment of true gratification when your prospect becomes your hire and you both officially feel part of the same team.

Closing any deal requires honesty and transparency. Hiring a new employee is no exception. Here are three tips to successful candidate closings:

Always advocate for your candidates.

Stay in close touch with candidates throughout your recruitment process. Check in often, follow up after interviews, confirm whether they feel comfortable and excited about the opportunity, and go over any questions or concerns.

Be honest. Tell them the truth about the job, your organization, and compensation and benefits.
Transparency goes both ways. Ask candidates what they need from you and how you can help facilitate their decision. Continuously demonstrate your commitment to them.

Make it about them.

Engage authentically with candidates right from the start. Find out what motivates them and makes the job meaningful for them. Highlight the impact of the role in your organization and how it makes a difference in the community or the world. People want to know their work has purpose.

As you progress through the hiring process, be more interested in your candidate than yourself or your own needs. Learn their career goals and outline how you can help meet them. Closing is your moment of vulnerability: a chance to show candidates which cards you’re holding and let them affirm once more what they’re looking for. Be ready to give and take as you find common ground.

Be inclusive.

Equity and inclusion must be embedded in all your talent management practices, starting with recruitment.

When you present an offer, it’s okay to go low versus high when it comes to salary, but make sure you’re not contributing to a possible pay inequity issue as you do so. Give every candidate an equal chance, regardless of their different characteristics.

To enhance any or all the steps of your hiring process and build your winning workforce, consider partnering with PrideStaff. Our mission is to deliver the value that matters the most to you. We can help you identify staffing needs, create effective hiring strategies, and deliver the talent you need, when and where you need it. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

How to Fix the Problem of Not Being Hired

Rejection is hurtful in any situation, but repeatedly getting a negative or no response at all when it comes to job applications, callbacks, interviews or offers can do a real number on your psyche and self-esteem.

If you’re starting to feel like you’ve been burned so often you may never get near the fire again, consider the reasons behind those rejections. Accurately diagnosing the problem up front can save you a lot of time and heartache going forward.

Which one of these scenarios applies to you … and what can you do about it?

You’re not getting callbacks or interviews after applying for a job.

The root of the problem may lie within your resume:

It’s not tailored to the position. Read job postings carefully and match keywords in them with your skills and accomplishments. Do this for every job you apply for; generic resumes simply don’t cut it.
It isn’t formatted for an ATS. ATS stands for applicant tracking system, a computer program that scans applications before they ever reach the desk of a human recruiter. Here again, be sure keywords match up. Keep your format simple; for instance, avoid tables, graphs and columns, and use standard headings.

You’re getting phone screens or first-round interviews, but the buck stops there.

Maybe you’re not as prepared as you should be for the next step in the hiring process:

Have you done your homework? Research a company and its products and services. Be ready to talk about its challenges, achievements and innovations and how you could contribute to its success. Check websites and related media coverage, and connect with any LinkedIn or other contacts who may be able to provide further insight.
Prepare answers to common interview questions and practice them out loud. Saying the actual words ahead of time can improve your performance significantly. Don’t memorize the answers, just rehearse them so the words will flow naturally when the time comes.

You’re getting multiple interviews for desired positions, but not offers.

It really stings when you get this far, only to be shut down just when you thought you had a real shot at a position. Make sure you stand out – just enough – and continue to make a positive impression on hiring decision-makers.

Be memorable for the right reasons. Show your enthusiasm without coming on too strong. Be on time for interviews, not an hour early. Write a thank-you note, but don’t call daily for updates. Strike the right professional balance while highlighting the best of your style and personality.
Stay positive. Even if you’re asked a question such as how you might make improvements to a product or team, be careful with your wording. Be solution-oriented instead of pointing out all the problems you see. This also applies to any questions you get about previous employers. Never badmouth them, even if their behavior was horrible.

Professional coaching can make a major difference in the success of your job search at any stage – from resume and interview preparation through communicating with prospective employers, negotiating offers, and making the transition into a new role. PrideStaff Fresno can help – and also connect you to exciting opportunities in areas including production, manufacturing, administration, accounting and more. Contact us today to get started.

Here’s What You Need to Know to Stay Healthy at Work

Looking after your physical and mental health can be challenging, with everything else going on right now. The obvious concerns at this time are fighting Covid-19, the flu, RSV and similar bugs. But while that’s critically important, it’s part of a bigger picture: keeping it all in balance. Doing so can be even harder if you’re working from home, as lines between working hours and free time may become blurred.

Here’s What You Need to Know to Stay Healthy at Work:

Put your own oxygen mask on first.

Take a look at which areas of your life need improvement in order for you to get – and stay – physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually healthy. While your first reaction to this concept may be, “I don’t have time! I’m already overloaded!” think about what every flight attendant tells you before takeoff: If those oxygen masks drop down from the ceiling and you’re traveling with someone else whom you need to care for, put your own mask on first. Because otherwise, you’ll be incapable of helping your travel companion.

In other words, make time in your schedule for healthy self-care habits. As best-selling author Eleanor Brown put it, “rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”

You are what you eat.

As noted by the Harvard Business Review, “it’s an action plan that makes healthy eating easier to accomplish.” (Hint: This applies to other areas of getting healthier, too!)

Plan ahead for healthy meals and snacks, whether you’re at home or work.
Make time each day for all three meals. Set a realistic limit to snacks, especially the less healthy ones.

You’ll boost your immune system, nourish your brain, and sleep better.

Night night. Sleep tight.

Speaking of sleep, shoot for seven to eight hours of it a night. This results in:

A sharper brain: Sleep plays a big part in both learning and memory.
Better moods: While you sleep, your brain processes your emotions. If you cut it short, you tend to have more negative emotions and less positive ones.
A healthier heart: When you sleep, your blood pressure goes down.
Better athletic performance: A lack of sleep robs you of energy and time for muscle repair.
Steadier blood sugar: During deep sleep, your glucose level has a chance to reset.
Weight control: You’ll be less hungry when you’re well rested.

Get moving.

Even a few simple changes can help you fit exercise into your already full schedule. Try:

Parking farther away from work and walking the rest of the way. If you’re home-based, take 15 minutes to walk, stretch, or tune into a short fitness video.
Using mutual motivation. Buddy up with a friend, family member or coworker to encourage each other and stay on track.
Trying some of these workday tips.

The most successful journeys in life begin with a single step. So, even if you adopt just one additional healthy habit, you’ll be on your way to improved fitness and overall well-being.

As you self-reflect on what needs to change in your life, is your job part of the problem? If you need additional guidance in finding the most satisfying career opportunity for you – whether it’s in your current role or elsewhere – consider partnering with PrideStaff Fresno. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.