Learn About the Importance of References on Your Resume

Do you need a list of professional references as part of your job search?

Despite what you may have been led to believe, the answer is a solid “yes.” In many cases, potential employers will contact your references at some point, most likely closer to the end of the hiring process. And, those references can have a significant impact on your ability to land a desired job.

Why are references important?

It’s a crazy world out there, so employers often check references as part of overall background searches to make sure you are who you say you are. A significant percentage of job seekers lie – or at least embellish the truth – on their resumes. And even after a candidate has been interviewed, companies still want verification to avoid costly hiring mistakes.

References allow employers to learn more about your personality, work style, and how you would approach and fit into a specific role. And, they can help a hiring manager who is teetering between two candidates to make their final decision. So yeah, a lot is resting there.

What’s the best way to select and handle references?

Choose your references wisely and build a strategic list of options.

Consider in what context a person knows you, your work, your skills, and your best accomplishments. Ideally, build up a toolbox of references – a master list of all those who are willing to vouch for you.

Include a variety: a former manager, a colleague you’ve worked successfully with, and someone you’ve collaborated with in a crisis, for starters. Then, when asked, you can provide a customized version including the individuals who can best speak to your strengths that are most relevant for the specific job.

Recent graduates can turn to former professors, coaches, internship supervisors, or supervisors from extracurricular activities or volunteer experiences.

Keep in touch with your references throughout your job search. Let them know whenever you hand over their contact information and ask them to contact you if a potential employer reaches out to them.

Keep them informed of every position you apply for so they aren’t caught off guard when they are contacted.

Show your appreciation. Send a thank-you note every time a reference helps you. And when you accept a job offer, they should all get a phone call so you can thank them in person – followed up by a handwritten note. There’s no reason to go overboard, but let your references know how valuable their input and assistance has been. And who knows? Maybe you can reciprocate sometime in the future.

The career development experts at PrideStaff Fresno are ready to help as you build your list of references, as well as your resume and all the other aspects of your successful job search. The right opportunity is closer than you think, and we’re here to find the right fit for you. Contact us today to learn more.

How to Stand Out from the Competition When Searching for a Job

From the first contact you make with a prospective employer until you get an offer letter, every interaction matters. You don’t want to get lost in the crowd of applicants and fail to make that all-important shortlist used to make a final hiring decision.

Of course, you need to present the right combination of education, experience, and skills, but now is also the time to let your unique personal brand shine.

Here are some ideas for making this happen:

Customize your resume and cover letter.

This is Step One in your application process. It’s the right resume and cover letter that gets your foot in the door.

Customize these documents for each job. Each time you apply, tailor your resume and cover letter by peppering them with keywords from the job description and other content that emphasizes what an employer is looking for. Remove anything irrelevant.

The same rule of thumb holds true for any correspondence or communication with an employer. Among the valuable resources for these skills is Purdue University’s online writing lab.

Perfect your social media presence.

Employers commonly search candidates online, so make sure your social media presence is flawless in their eyes.

Develop your professional online profiles. This includes things like a professional headshot and a fully updated work history, as well as a focus on your latest certifications, achievements, and professional association activity. And share relevant content.

Be mindful of every single thing you post on the internet. There’s no taking any of it back. And, prospective employers will see it, even that wild vacay photo on your personal Facebook page.

Be well prepared for your interview.

It only takes a few seconds to make an indelible first impression. So prepare for your interview ahead of time, everything from what to wear to what to say and the questions you will ask.

Your goal is to sound knowledgeable and competent and appear professional yet relaxed. Be ready to cite specific examples of your accomplishments and talk about relevant issues and goals that are most important to you.

Stay up to date on current industry and market trends. This makes for a good, natural flow of conversation. Plus, as you read up on this information, you may be able to see where you need to update your current skills or knowledge.

Pay attention to your appearance. Look the part. A good general rule of thumb is to become familiar with the typical dress code for a position and kick it up just a notch for your interview. So, if the accepted standard is business casual, consider adding a blazer or tie to your interview outfit. Don’t overdo it if you’re interviewing for a factory or warehouse job but set the right biz casual tone. Dress for the job you want, not the one you already have.

Job searching can be intimidating, even for the most extroverted among us. To ease your anxiety level and ensure you’re ready for whatever a hiring process tosses your way, partner with the experienced career coaches at PrideStaff Fresno. Contact us today to learn more.

These Interview Tips Will Help You Make the Right Hire

Interviewing can be just as nerve-racking for employers and their team as it is for job candidates. But the good news is: With the right preparation, you can ensure that the process runs smoothly and results in a “win” when it comes to landing the talent you’ve been looking for.

A good way to develop an effective interview strategy is to break it down into stages, from the start of these all-important conversations to the conclusion:

Phase One: Be Prepared

Plan ahead, so you know exactly what you’re looking for.

Create a blueprint, starting with specific questions to be asked by all interviewers. Also, be sure everyone is prepared for questions a candidate will likely ask. But don’t make your plan overly rigid. Allow for some spontaneity, especially as your team members learn more about a potential hire.

Phase Two: Get the Conversation Started

A successful interview is all about connecting with a candidate. So, try to find something in a person’s resume to do this. For instance, did they attend the same school as you did, or do you share a common hobby or interest?

Hint: If you can’t find that common denominator, no worries. Greet your candidate with a smile, make eye contact, and do whatever it takes to establish initial rapport and make them feel welcome.

Phase Three: Get to Know Your Candidate

Once you have the conversation rolling, it’s time to get to know your candidate better and gauge their competencies, motivation level, and the unique traits or experiences that set them apart.

A great question at this point is, “What makes you good at what you do?” This should lead an applicant to discuss their skills to ensure that they align with your expectations.

Dig down into specifics. This will enable you to gauge how a person’s skills would play out in real-time. Encourage them to share their uniqueness. What do they bring to the table that no one else does?

Phase Four: Find Out How a Person Works

A candidate’s work style is critically important. You need to know how they prioritize and manage time, if they prefer to work independently or with a team and what exactly that style looks like.

Ask how a candidate solved a problem at work. You’re looking at not only their thought process but also their teamwork and communication skills.

Phase Five: Finish Strong

Hire with retention in mind. Ask, “If you were successful in this job, what would your next step be?” This way, you can make sure an individual is someone who wants to grow with your company.

Outline the next steps. Tell your candidate when they can expect to hear from you – and stick to this timeline or let them know if anything changes.

Answer any questions an applicant has.

Document everything of significance. Even when writing about a strong candidate, include any doubts or weaknesses, as well as strengths.

Do you need more reliable hires or a stronger process to achieve this goal, including an effective interview road map? Let the hiring experts at PrideStaff Fresno help. Partner with us to not only source desired talent but close the deal, so they opt to continue their careers with you versus your competition. Contact us today to learn more.

Learn Why Writing Skills are Important for Every Job

Even if they’re not listed among the keywords in a job description that interests you, strong writing skills are important in almost any role. If you don’t have to send an old-school letter via snail mail, you’ll at least have to compose an effective email or perhaps write a report or other document pertinent to a task or project.

Written communication skills are one of the attributes most sought out by employers, regardless of the job they wish to fill.

There’s more remote work and less face-to-face interaction in today’s workplace. Being a strong writer enables you to successfully communicate with others without scheduling a meeting or call.
Good writing can help clinch your sales pitch. As you reach out to prospective clients, a well-written pitch will better clarify your key message points and enhance your credibility.
Written documents can be referred to at any time. This is helpful in myriad ways, for instance, standardizing work procedures or documenting exactly what transpired during a meeting or strategy session. Writing new policies, steps, and procedures allows for future consistency and better-quality control.

How to Be a Better Writer

Here are a few tips to make just about anything you write easier for your audience to read and understand:

Know your audience. Understand who will be reading what you write and what language works best. Formal or more informal? Are you trying to reach customers or fellow employees who are more familiar with your product or service? It’s the secret to any form of effective communication: Put yourself in their shoes before you reach out to them.
Do your research. Gathering information that is current, accurate, and relevant will help you determine what content to use.
Plan and outline your document. Following an outline ensures that you include all the necessary information correctly and stay on point. Bonus: Outlining skills can also be used to map out non-writing projects. You always have your outline to refer to, especially if you have to delegate or collaborate with other team members.
Pay attention to grammar. You don’t have to be an expert but know at least the basic rules of English grammar, including constructing clear sentences. Use online resources like Grammar Girl, or check out Elements of Style, the classic book by Strunk and White, or Woe Is I, a more modern, lighter-toned guide.
Edit and proofread. Editing is the process of perfecting your written work. You may make significant changes to the structure, organization, or content. Or, you may need to check for any misspellings or typos. Strong editing skills are an asset in many professional situations, from reviewing a report to polishing up an email before you hit “send.”

When it comes to writing your resume, cover letter, and other communication with prospective employers, the experienced career coaches at PrideStaff Fresno are here to help. We also have extensive resources to help you continuously improve in your current role, whether it means sharpening hard job skills or communications and other transferable traits that will assist you regardless of where your professional path leads. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

How to Answer the Interview Question “What Can You Bring to the Company?”

This classic question may be asked in a job interview in any profession or industry. It’s similar to the question, “Why do you think you’re the best person for this job?” Both require you to sell yourself and to show you’ve done your research on the position and the company. It all boils down to what value you would add if hired.

Be Ready to Nail It

As you answer this question, you need to draw clear connections between your skills, knowledge, and experience, and the job requirements. Interviewers are looking for creativity, specificity, and authenticity as you respond.

Do your homework. Deepen your understanding of the job responsibilities, the company, and its culture. Find the business’s current pain points and how you can relieve them; for instance, problems you can help solve or issues you can effectively address. To learn as much as possible, start by analyzing the job posting. Also, look at the company’s website and social media.
Actively listen. Is there anything the hiring manager is particularly excited about? Are there certain obstacles the organization is facing? Draw parallels between them and what you have to offer.
Decide what you’re going to focus on in your answer. Zero in on one or two things that make it clear that you’ve done your research and have been listening. Align your credentials with the company’s needs and clearly state your value add. How could you make things easier and better? This is your chance to shine.
Structure your response. Start by restating the primary problem the company is looking to solve. This shows you understand and further showcases your listing and communication strengths. Then, describe what you bring to the table that helps solve this problem. Be clear and direct, and use a story or example to drive your point home.
Get to know the STAR method. The STAR acronym stands for: situation: setting the scene as you begin telling your story; task: explaining your role in that situation; action: describing the specific action you took; and results: showing the positive outcome, using numbers and statistics whenever possible.

At PrideStaff, our best-in-class approach has helped thousands find their dream jobs. Think of us as an experienced resource, a connected networker, and a career coach, all rolled into one. We can help you successfully navigate through your entire job search process from start to finish, with results that exceed all your expectations. Contact us today so we can tell you more.

Why Transparency in Leadership is So Important

Trust within an organization is based on mutual respect – and transparency in leadership plays a big part in that. And, where there’s respect for an employee’s manager and other leaders, engagement, job satisfaction, and productivity naturally follow.

What Transparency in Leadership Looks Like

Transparency means keeping your employees in the loop, sharing good and bad news, and welcoming their honest feedback.

There should be no sense of uncertainty when it comes to communications. Set crystal clear expectations and convey them regularly with every team and team member. This requires being honest and open, even when you may feel vulnerable as a result.

The Benefits of Transparency in Leadership

Achieving and practicing transparency in leadership pays off in the form of:

Greater employee advocacy: It’s a two-way street. As you opt to be open with your employees, you can make them feel even more valued by inviting their feedback. This fosters a culture of mutual trust and loyalty that results in greater employee advocacy and bolsters your employer brand.

Less misunderstanding: Withholding information can lead to misunderstanding, which goes hand in hand with unmet expectations. With clear, open communication, employees are far less likely to make false assumptions about their work or their company.

Better performance: Transparency builds greater engagement – and engaged employees are more likely to perform better.

How to Achieve Transparency

Here are a few more tips to making transparency an integral part of your – and others’ – management style:

Establish an open-door policy on the part of managers and senior leaders. It may take a little time to teach old dogs new tricks, but stick with it and coach people through it until it becomes so natural they don’t even notice they’re doing it.

Hold regular communication meetings – one on ones, team meetings, and town halls – not only when there’s a major development or crisis. In these and other forums, empower employees to give their honest feedback about your company. Employee surveys are another effective tool.

Get to know your employees as individuals. Take the time to form personal connections with them.

As you build and develop your winning workforce, including effective communication and related skills for your leadership team, consider partnering with PrideStaff Fresno to achieve all your talent management goals. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.

Tips for Creating a Powerful Resume Without Much Experience

Job hunting is never easy. And when you don’t have much – or maybe even any – experience in the field you need for the desired position, it can be downright intimidating. But remember, everybody has to start somewhere. With the right planning, it’s very doable.

Finding a job starts with your resume. Here are some ideas for making yours awesome, even if your experience is limited:

List a specific objective.

This is probably the first part of your resume that a reviewer or hiring manager will look at. Make it clear why you are applying for a position and what you expect to get out of it. Hint: Be sure that your expectations align with those of your potential employer. If not, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

A specific, clearly articulated reason for applying illustrates your commitment to a position and your knowledge of the role, the company, and the industry. It also shows your commitment.

The magic word is “relevant.”

Even if you have not had paid, professional experience related to the desired position, relevance is the key to success. So, keep that in mind. And instead of just making a laundry list of relevant skills, flesh it out into a concise, powerful bullet list description of each one.

After stating the relevant skill you have, give an example of how you have applied it. For instance, describe a project you completed using that skill. Include numbers and statistics to highlight how successful and/or what you learned from the experience.

Highlight your education. Even if you didn’t graduate, include colleges, and other schools attended. Again, look for relevant coursework or experience. Another hint: Extracurricular programs and activities count!

Elaborate on your volunteer work. It showcases the skills you used – or learned – while volunteering, and it makes an impressive statement about your overall character. Volunteer experience equates to teamwork and a commitment to helping others, even without compensation.

Nervous about your resume and/or qualifications for the career path of your dreams? Well, don’t be. Even if you feel your resume and experience are limited, rest assured: the right job is closer than you think.

At PrideStaff Fresno, we’ll get to know you and what’s on your mind when it comes to your job search. Our best-in-class approach has helped thousands of job seekers connect to the opportunities of their dreams, whether temporary, term-to-hire, or full-time. We can help with your resume, as well as making the right contacts, preparing for your interview, and more. Reach out to us today to learn more.

Questions You’ll Likely be Asked at a Second Interview

Congratulations on making it to the second interview stage in your job search! This is huge … but you haven’t nailed it just yet. Be sure you continue to prepare diligently before this critical conversation takes place.

Reflect on the high points and most important topics discussed during your first interview. What did you say that caught your interviewer’s eye in a positive way? What new things did you learn about the role and the company? Be ready to elaborate on these points or to tactfully weave them into the conversation.
At any interviewing stage, practice makes perfect. Rehearse Q&A’s ahead of time so you can handle them smoothly yet without sounding rehearsed. This continues to build your comfort level and confidence as you prepare to be scrutinized more extensively.

Here are five of the more common second-interview questions that tend to be asked:

1. What makes you a good fit for this role?

You were probably asked some variation of this question during Round One. But there’s bound to be some repetition, because it is a critical one, both for an employer and for you. Respond in a way that’s specific to the job and the company. Make it about them: Talk about what you can do for the organization, not the other way around.

2. Is there anything from your first interview that you’d like to discuss further?

It may be tempting just to say, “no thank you” at this point, but instead, truly consider whether there was anything asked during your first interview that you could have addressed more clearly – or may have forgotten altogether – that would work in your favor.

3. What management style works best for you?

The hiring team is trying to confirm once and for all that you’d work well with their existing team. This question also helps them understand what kind of manager or boss would suit you best and whether your preference aligns with the work style of whomever the new hire would report to.

4. What would you hope to accomplish in the first few months?

With this question, your interviewer is trying to determine which candidate would be ready to hit the ground running once hired. It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase all the research you’ve done on the job and the company. Paint a verbal picture of how you plan on learning more about current issues and projects, as well as acting on them.

5. What’s your target salary?

Money is always a sensitive topic, but you can smooth that out and leave room for negotiation by providing a salary range. Or, demur and ask your interviewer what the range for the position is, and take it from there.

Interviewing is never easy, even for the world’s greatest extrovert. But being prepared for it, at all stages, can ease the stress and turn it into a positive growth experience – not to mention helping you land the job of your dreams! The professional career coaches at PrideStaff can help. We can also get you started by connecting you to leading employers in areas including administration, customer service, IT, accounting, finance, legal support, healthcare, and production. Contact us today to learn more.

Important Questions Managers Should be Asking in One-on-One Meetings

Regular one-on-one meetings with your direct reports are an excellent opportunity to build trust, enhance relationships, and help everyone on your team grow in their roles and perform to their maximum potential. They’re a win for everyone involved: the improved job satisfaction, engagement, and productivity that stem from such conversations ultimately means better business results and profitability.

During one-on-one sessions, you should let your employee do most of the talking. It’s your job to actively listen until you get the answers you’re looking for. But it all starts with asking the right questions to begin with. Here are five to get you started down the road to effective, results-oriented communication:

1. “How are you?”

This question may not seem relevant to work on the surface, but starting your meeting on a personal note can be the ice breaker your employee needs to begin speaking openly about projects and business issues. Moreover, it shows that you truly care.

Find out how they’re feeling, both about work and outside of it. How are they doing as a person? What’s going on in their life?

2. “Do you have any updates from our last meeting?”

Before you begin discussing new topics, tie up any loose ends from your most recent meeting. Don’t assume everything is copasetic; be absolutely sure. This is a great question to clear up any miscommunication or misunderstandings and make sure all the key details of a project or development have been attended to. And it will lead right into:

3. “What are you currently focusing on?”

Encourage your employee to discuss their priorities and current “hot” assignments. Manage expectations on both sides and make sure they align.

Is your direct report on track to meet deadlines and achieve desired goals?

Are they focusing on the right things?

Do they have everything they need to be successful?

4. “How do you think your team is doing?”

This question serves several valuable purposes. It enables you to get your employee’s perspective on how things might be more collaborative or improve workflow. In addition, it allows them to provide valuable input, as well as feel empowered. They’ll likely feel revitalized returning to work, knowing they’ve been heard.

5. “Do you have any questions for me?”

A one-on-one meeting is a good opportunity to determine whether an employee needs assistance, clarification, or more information on anything – from whatever they’re working on to what’s going on with your business. They may be hesitant to ask, so this opens the door. Be as transparent as you can when you reply.

For additional guidance in holding successful meetings, strengthening communication and active listening skills, and other team training and development aspects, consider partnering with PrideStaff Fresno. Our mission is to deliver what matters most when it comes to staffing and talent management in areas including administration, customer service, IT, accounting and finance, legal support, healthcare, and production. Contact us today to learn more.

Organizational Skills to Help You Succeed in the Workplace

Organizational skills allow you to work efficiently, meet deadlines, and last but not least, maintain peace of mind and a better work/life balance.

Being organized helps you:

Set up your physical spaces for success and manage, plan, and prioritize everything you have to do.
Use your time, resources, and energy more effectively to achieve your goals and get your work done with a minimum of stress.

In a nutshell, well-honed organizational skills help you be the best you can be at your job – and in turn, are a plus for improving everything else in life.

Physical Organization

An organized physical workspace (hint: this works just as well in your garage or kitchen as your office) can improve your mindset by eliminating stress and wasted time looking for things you need.

An organized space makes for a calmer, more serene ambiance. Begin by decluttering. Decide which items you need, and file or ditch the rest. For those you keep, designate a “home” for each one, so you know exactly where to find it. Schedule a few minutes to straighten up anything that fell out of order at the end of each day.

Digital Organization

You can be much more efficient if you’re not spending valuable time trying to track down files or emails. Digital organization can include both your:

Individual computer usage: for instance, properly labeling and storing files and arranging frequently-used apps front and center.
Shared resources: examples include using project management tools and creating master documents for team members’ reference.

To achieve digital organization, decide how many things will be saved, and where. This may include a Google Sheet in a shared team folder or, for your inbox, labels, folders, and filters to sort messages.

Set aside a few minutes a week to back up important files and relabel or refile if needed.

Time Management

Proper time management enables you to deliver on projects and tasks that have the most impact. Key areas to focus on are:

Prioritizing: Start by writing a to-do list based on all your deadlines and expectations. Which are the most important and timely?
Scheduling: Once you’ve prioritized that to-do list, create a schedule for each day, outlining when you’ll work on each item. Set realistic blocks of time on your calendar, leaving some wiggle room for unexpected occurrences and interruptions.

Communication

Strong communication skills are a way to ensure that everything stays organized. They help others understand and follow your plans and help you figure out what exactly is expected of you as you organize your work.

Strengthen your active listening skills. Listen to understand, not to react or respond (at least not until the time is right). Try summarizing the other person’s point of view to make sure you understood them correctly, asking for examples, or using clarifying, open-ended questions, before offering a response. The more information you can collect, the better position you’ll be in organizing yourself and offering solutions.

Do you need more help polishing up your organizational skills – or with other career development tips? Contact the PrideStaff team of experts today. Whether it’s becoming better in your current role or taking things to the next level, we have the strategies and solutions for you.