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Advancing Your Career Starts TODAY!

Raza Rauf on February 11, 2022

Advancing your career isn’t something you should leave to change. Instead, it’s best to take control of the situation as much as possible. You can propel your career forward with greater ease by making intelligent choices. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are some strategies to help.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Networking

Networking will always be a powerful tool for keeping your career on track. Whether you’re looking for a new position, a mentor to help guide you, or insights into your field or industry that you can leverage networking makes it more accessible.

Ideally, you want to network in two directions. First, network at your current company. Get to know other professionals in your department or allied fields, as well as members of management. Second, use a traditional route to connect with professionals outside of your company, giving you access to more insights and opportunities.

Volunteer for Projects That Boost Visibility

When projects become available at your current company, volunteer to participate whenever your schedule supports the additional work, particularly if they can boost your visibility. Often, this means focusing on high-profile projects or struggling to find project members.

In the former, a degree of visibility is inherent. With the latter, you’re willing to position yourself as a team player willing to put the company first. In the end, both can work in your favor.

Identify and Acquire the Right New Skills

Boosting your skillset is a classic way to keep your career moving forward. However, if you want to fast-track your path to success, make sure you choose the right capabilities.

If you’re hoping to move up internally, identify skill gaps in your workgroup that you could potentially fill. That way, you’re adding a missing capability to the mix, providing exceptional value to your employer.

Another option is to research emerging trends in your field or industry. See what capabilities will become critical within the coming years, then work to acquire them ahead of the rise in demand. That way, you boost your marketability dramatically, all while staying ahead of the curve in your career.

Share Your Expertise to Develop Your Brand

Having a solid professional brand can help you access more opportunities. Consider getting online and seizing opportunities to establish yourself as a thought leader and reliable resource when it comes to your area of expertise.

An easy way to begin is creating professionally-oriented profiles on social media, especially on LinkedIn and Facebook. Then, you’ll have a platform for sharing content about your industry and engaging with other professionals through posts, direct messages, or groups.

After that, creating your website could be wise. You may also want to explore forums that focus on your niche, as they can be excellent opportunities to showcase your knowledge and learn from other professionals.

Partner with a Recruiter

If you’re ready for a new opportunity, partnering with a recruiter is an excellent option. You’ll get a job search ally that can help you find the right career-boosting opening. Plus, they can provide you with guidance and support during the hiring process.

If you’d like to take your career up a notch, the team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.

 

 

Why Our NPS Score Makes Us a Better Partner for You

Raza Rauf on February 8, 2022

We know our clients have lots of options when it comes to choosing a staffing partner. That’s why we continually strive to improve our customer service. One of the ways we do this is by tracking our NPS®.

What Is NPS?

If you’re familiar with Net Promoter® Score, you know it’s a deceptively simple metric used to measure client satisfaction and service quality. On a 0-10 scale, how likely are you to recommend us to a colleague…and why? With these questions, we capture our clients’ attitudes and feelings about our customer service and them it into data we can use to make our service experience even better.

  • Clients who rate us 9-10 are considered promoters. Working with us enriches their business, and they are very likely to recommend our service.
  • Clients who rate us 7-8 are considered passives. Their expectations were met. They might work with us again…or not.
  • Clients who rate us 0-6 are considered detractors. We disappointed them—and we want to know why so we can do better in the future.

The Advance Group Has a World-Class Net Promoter Score

The Advance Group’s NPS is 75, nearly triple the industry average of 29!

By global NPS standards, 50 is classified as excellent, and 70 is considered world-class.

Nothing makes us happier than knowing our clients are delighted with our service.

Why Our NPS Benefits Our Clients

Our NPS score provides clients with an impartial assessment of the exceptional service experience they can expect from Advance. Not only that, it allows us to know where we can improve. Sure, 3X more of our clients are likely to recommend us than the average staffing firm, but there’s still work to do!

We’re always learning new ways to help our clients Advance their business goals.

To learn more about The Advance Group’s dedication to its clients and candidates, connect with us today!

 

 

Never Used a Staffing Agency to Hire? Here’s Why You Should Use an Employer of Choice!

Raza Rauf on February 7, 2022

Today, Michigan and Ohio companies need every advantage when recruiting talent for open positions. Competition for the best and brightest candidates is fierce. Plus, many skill sets are in short supply, making the landscape particularly difficult to navigate.

That’s why partnering with a staffing agency that’s also an employer of choice is critical. If you’re an Ohio or Michigan company that’s never used a recruitment firm to hire and to wonder why the staffing agency you choose matters, here’s everything you need to know.

Why Ohio and Michigan Employers Should Use a Staffing Agency for Your Hiring Needs

If you’re an Ohio or Michigan employer in need of top talent for your open positions, partnering with a leading staffing firm is a wise move. Today, the demand for highly skilled professionals is rising. Plus, the labor market is tightening, leaving many companies struggling to find the candidates they need to thrive.

By partnering with a staffing agency that’s also an employer of choice, your access to talent increases dramatically. Recruitment firms curate talent pipelines, focusing on long-term engagement to simplify securing candidates whenever the need arises.

Plus, staffing firms give you hiring flexibility. You can hire temporary workers for short-term needs or go with a direct placement when you want to secure talent quickly for a permanent position. Additionally, you can use the temp-to-hire approach, allowing you to conduct a working interview to ensure a job seeker is a right fit before extending a permanent job offer.

In the end, working with a staffing agency makes a difference. Along with increasing your access to top-tier talent, it provides you with workforce agility, ensuring you can meet your goals with greater ease.

Why Michigan and Ohio Employers Should Work with The Advance Group, an Employer of Choice

If you’re looking for a leading staffing agency to partner with, make sure that The Advance Group is at the top of your list. Our team works diligently to ensure we remain an employer of choice, giving us access to top-tier talent and ensuring we can find exceptional professionals for all of your hiring needs.

At The Advance Group, our goal is to offer an exceptional candidate experience. We developed a recruitment process designed to boost engagement, focusing on core areas like communication and customer service. Additionally, we support our candidates after each placement, guiding them and celebrating their achievements alongside them. Together, this makes The Advance Group the go-to resource for professionals looking for new opportunities.

Finally, our team is comprised of hiring experts. Along with remaining current on relevant recruitment trends, we’ve cultivated talent pipelines to increase our access to in-demand professionals. Plus, we know how to quickly find niche skill sets, ensuring we can rapidly meet our clients’ needs.

If you’re ready to experience the difference first-hand, the skilled team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us to speak with one of our recruitment specialists to learn more about our approach and process and see how our expertise can benefit you.

 

 

7 Tips for Finding a Job You’ll Love All Year!

Raza Rauf on February 4, 2022

Finding a job you’ll love is usually the goal when you’re searching for new opportunities. However, that can seem easier said than done. Fortunately, using the right approach usually isn’t as hard as it appears. If you want to head in the ideal direction, here are seven tips for finding a job you’ll love all year.

1. Start by Identifying Your Passions

Finding a job that ignites your passion is typically the most straightforward way to end up in a role you’ll adore. Usually, there are two ways to identify your passion if you aren’t sure where it lies. First, you can consider what makes you happy. Second, you could focus on what sparks your curiosity.

Both approaches can help you determine what kinds of jobs or fields could be a match. Don’t be afraid to try each one, ensuring you get a solid idea of your options.

2. Align Your Passions to Roles

When you start identifying your passions, you’ll typically end up with a list of skills or subjects that pique your interest. In either case, you’ll want to align them to jobs, allowing you to find options for furthering your career.

Explore fields and positions that let you spend more time focused on what ignites your curiosity or makes you happy. If you end up with a diverse list of jobs in several niches, that’s fine, as your goal is to explore what’s possible before choosing a direction.

3. Conduct Informational Interviews

Once you’ve got some options on the table, reach out to professionals that work in those roles or fields and request informational interviews. That way, you can get first-hand accounts of what it’s like to pursue those careers, giving you insights that can narrow down your choices.

4. Compare Your Skillset

After conducting informational interviews on several options, take stock of your skills and see whether you have everything you’d need to head in each of those directions. By doing so, you can estimate how much work may be involved in improving your employability, allowing you to determine if you can reasonably commit the time, energy, and funds that may be necessary to pursue a given role.

In many cases, this will narrow down your list a bit. Ideally, you want to focus on jobs that ignite your passion but are reasonably attainable, ensuring you won’t feel overburdened by the preparations.

5. Enhance Your Capabilities

Now that you know what skills you’ll need, it’s time to enhance your capabilities. Pick the role or field that interests you most and seize an opportunity to acquire necessary skills, such as attending a class or volunteering.

Along with boosting your resume, this lets you try out skills before committing to a new job. That way, if you discover one isn’t the fit you’d hoped it was, you can move on to another option in your list.

6. Outline Your Ideal Workplace

At this point, you should have everything you need to head in the right direction. But before you start searching for roles, spend some time defining your ideal workplace. Along with environmental aspects, take the culture, hours, commute, and anything else that impacts the experience into account. That way, you’ll know everything you need to look for in a role before diving into your search.

7. Get a Temporary Job

Now that you know what you want in a role try it out by getting a temporary job. It’s an excellent way to explore a position and a local employer without a long-term commitment. Plus, if you genuinely shine, you may be able to turn it into a permanent position, allowing you to move forward with confidence.

If you’re ready to explore temp positions, the team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.

 

 

Are You Prepared to Answer Tough Questions for Your Business?

Raza Rauf on January 31, 2022

When you need to find top talent for your open positions, your willingness to answer tough questions can dramatically impact your success. Today, the recruitment techniques of yesteryear won’t work. If you aren’t open to digging deep and making real changes, you may find you’re unable to find the job seekers you need.

At The Advance Group, we embrace a “tough questions” approach. By having real, open, honest, and strategic conversations with our clients, we help companies find higher-quality candidates in less time, allowing them to achieve their goals more efficiently. If you want to make sure your business is ready to answer tough questions, here’s a look at how The Advance Group strategy can benefit you.

Why Asking Tough Questions Matters

When it comes to recruitment, many companies get into a pattern. They list openings in the same place, outlining the requirements and must-haves they’ve had in place for years. When they receive applications, they screen using processes they established long ago.

While certain aspects of recruitment should remain unchanged, other areas need to adjust to the shifting conditions and candidate sentiment. Without adapting, companies will struggle to secure talent in today’s tight labor market.

Asking tough questions encourages companies to look closely at their practices, assessing what is and isn’t working from a place of honest reflection. That way, they can make choices designed to improve results, ensuring they can achieve their hiring goals based on the current landscape.

How The Advance Group Helps Business Find Better Talent

At The Advanced Group, one of our core differentiators is our willingness to have tough conversations with clients. “We pride ourselves on building true partnerships with our clients,” said Stacey Bigelow, the CEO of The Advanced Group. “By saying what clients need to hear, asking hard questions, and being direct and transparent about the realities of the labor market and staffing services, Advance does more to develop recruiting strategies that will work in this market.”

“The pre-employment requirements from a post-COVID landscape aren’t ideal in the tight labor market of today,” she continued. “We talk with clients about ‘needs’ versus ‘wants,’ ensuring they aren’t eliminating candidates based on an unnecessary requirement.

“For example, does a client need to require a general math test when a role doesn’t have a mathematical component? How many candidates are they eliminating based on a ‘must-have’ that isn’t genuinely essential.”

“While most staffing companies are happy to take a job order and use any requirements the client sets forth, The Advanced Group works at a deeper level,” she added. “Our goal is to ensure clients become employers of choice, making jobs easier to fill. Then, The Advanced Group works as an extension of the client’s talent acquisition team, connecting them with skilled candidates that fit their real needs.”

If you’re looking for a recruitment partner to help you navigate the tough questions you need to ask, the team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us to learn more about our process and see how our strategic recruitment approach can benefit you.

 

 

Why Working with a Recruiter Might Be the Best Choice You Make This Year!

Raza Rauf on January 28, 2022

Working with a recruiter is a wise choice whether you’re looking for your first job, returning to the workforce after a hiatus, or are ready for a career-advancing position. If you’re wondering why partnering with a recruiter may be the best choice you make this year, here’s a look at the benefits of working with one.

Recruiters Are Job Search Allies

When you work with a recruiter, you’ll get a job search ally who will help you navigate every step of the hiring process. Recruiters are typically aware of emerging hiring trends, giving you the inside scoop to evolving hiring manager expectations. Additionally, they know what it takes to create a standout resume and shine during an interview, information that they can pass on to you.

Essentially, your recruiter will go the extra mile to ensure you excel. They’ll give you tips to improve the quality of your application and prepare you for interviews to increase your odds of standing out from the competition. You get to benefit from their expertise, allowing you to make progress faster than you ever thought possible.

They’ll Save You a Ton of Time

Job searches are often cumbersome. You may have to spend hours on job boards, tweaking resumes, creating new cover letters, and preparing for interviews.

By partnering with a recruiter, you won’t have to dedicate as much time to your job search. The recruiter will help find right-fit candidates, decreasing the amount of energy you need to review job boards’ listings. You’re splitting a significant part of the workload with someone else, allowing you to focus your energies elsewhere.

Your Job Search Is Confidential

If you’re trying to keep your job search quiet, ensuring you don’t risk your current position, a recruiter can ensure that everything is handled discreetly. You won’t have to publish your resume online or publicly announce your desire for a role on LinkedIn. Instead, your recruiter will present your application to employers in a way that maintains your privacy, ensuring your current employer doesn’t incidentally learn about your desire to leave too early in the process.

You’ll Get Access to More Positions

Recruiters are an asset when it comes to tapping into job opportunities. Many companies solely recruit through specific staffing firms. By partnering with your recruiter, you can access those roles, allowing you to apply to positions you can’t tap any other way.

Plus, recruiters have strong connections with local employers. Even if there isn’t a current opening, your recruiter can market you to a company that could benefit from your skills. In some cases, this can lead to offers that wouldn’t be available if the recruiter hadn’t reached out directly, leveraging their relationships to work as your champion.

Ultimately, working with a recruiter could be the best choice you make this year. If you’re ready to find a recruiter who can help you take your career to the next level, the staff at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.

 

 

Which Hiring Trends Will Shape 2022?

Raza Rauf on January 24, 2022

Hiring trends typically shift over time, creating both opportunities and challenges for employers. Often, the trends reflect the changing priorities of candidates, which is the case in 2022.

Professionals are still impacted by the situations that arose during the pandemic, causing them to view their careers and employers differently. By learning about the hiring trends shaping 2022, companies have a chance to adjust their approaches, giving them greater access to talent. With that in mind, here’s a look at the trends that need to be on employers’ radars.

The Remote-First Strategy Remains

While it’s been nearly two years since the pandemic’s start, COVID-19 is still impacting the daily lives of the masses. Health-related precautions remain essential, ensuring that they can keep their workforce safe even as new variants emerge. As a result, the remote-first hiring model is going to stay relevant. Additionally, remote hiring and onboarding will increasingly become the norm, and telecommuting for many positions.

Fortunately, the remote-first approach also brings with it some benefits. Shortened time-to-hire is a common side effect and greater access to talent. As a result, this trend may continue through 2022 and beyond, potentially remaining part of the equation for the foreseeable future.

Curated Employee Value Propositions

Today, companies are struggling to find the talent they need for various reasons. Regardless of the cause, finding ways to stand out from the competition is essential. This situation makes a curated employee value proposition increasingly vital. That way, companies can showcase how they help their workforce thrive, making it easier to position themselves as employers of choice.

One of the most critical aspects of this trend is displaying a strong employee value proposition when recruiting talent. By including details in job ads, social media posts, and website, candidates are more likely to be exposed to the information. This can make current job openings with the organization increasingly enticing, leading to more applicants and, often, a higher caliber of candidate.

Companies should openly discuss their culture and benefits that support their employees’ growth, development, and success. Showcasing work-life balance is another wise move. Additionally, displaying salary ranges for all job openings is wise, ensuring candidates can quickly tell if a role may meet their needs.

The Growing Importance of Diversity and Inclusion

Currently, simply stating a commitment to diversity and inclusion isn’t enough to secure top talent. Candidates expect to see real action and real results in these departments. If the evidence isn’t there, they’ll seek out opportunities elsewhere.

Essentially, diversity and inclusion can’t simply be goals. Real progress has to be part of the equation. That way, candidates know that the company is backing up its values with action, leading to meaningful change and creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

In the end, all of the trends above are sharing hiring in 2022. If you’d like to find out more or are seeking out top talent for an open position, the team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.

 

 

Want to Advance Your Career This Year? Start By Doing These 5 Things!

Raza Rauf on January 21, 2022

At the start of the new year, many professionals focus on their careers. They’re looking for ways to grow and advance, ensuring they can achieve both their short- and long-term career goals.

In some cases, figuring out how to get started is surprisingly tricky. If you want to take your professional life to the next level, here are five things you can do to advance your career this year.

  1. Know Where You Want to Go

Before you do anything else, it’s important to have a well-defined career target in mind. Simply knowing that you want to advance your career isn’t enough, as the objective is too vague to be easily actionable. Instead, you want a well-defined target, allowing you to focus your efforts on meaningful options that lead to relevant growth.

In some cases, the simplest way to get started is to envision the position you’d like to reach. That way, you can use the job description for that job as a guide for your efforts.

  1. Make Excelling in Your Role a Priority

Even if you have your sights set on a new position, you need to make sure that you’re exceeding expectations in your current job consistently. When you go above and beyond at work, you typically have better access to career-advancing opportunities. Plus, you ensure that those you work with will be your champions if you need to use your current supervisor or colleagues as a reference.

  1. Speak with Your Manager

If you’re interested in moving up at your current company, talk about your career goals with your current manager. Schedule a meeting with them to talk about your professional future, allowing you to get input from someone who can potentially open doors and get you headed in your preferred direction.

Another benefit of this is your manager can tell you what you may need to do to qualify for the job you want. They’ll usually have insights about the required skills and experience, allowing you to find out what you’ll need to do or learn before you can move forward.

  1. Volunteer for New Projects

If you need to expand your skillset or increase your visibility at work, volunteering for cross-departmental high-profile projects can be a great option. You’ll be able to take part in exciting work while acquiring new capabilities and meeting new people, all of which can work in your favor. Plus, you’ll look enthusiastic about your field and the company’s efforts, allowing you to showcase your passion.

  1. Acquire a New Skill

Expanding your skill set is always a wise move if you want to advance your career. However, you want to make sure you pick the best ones for your situation.

Usually, there are two approaches that are incredibly effective. First, you can identify a skill gap in your current team and work to fill it. Second, you can choose a capability that aligns with an emerging trend, allowing you to add a skill to your repertoire as it becomes relevant in your field.

Ultimately, all of the tips above can help you advance your career. If you’d like to learn more or are ready for a career-advancing new job, the staff at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.

 

 

See the Difference Working with an Employer of Choice Makes!

Raza Rauf on January 17, 2022

When you’re looking for a staffing firm to assist with your hiring needs, it’s easy to assume that all recruitment agencies are the same. However, that isn’t the case.

As a company, partnering with a staffing firm that goes the extra mile for candidates – like The Advance Group – is essential. Your access to top talent grows when your recruitment agency is viewed as an employer of choice. Our reputation benefits your business, allowing you to find the skilled professionals you need quickly and easily.

If you wonder what sets The Advance Group apart as an employer of choice and how our position benefits local companies, here’s what you need to know.

The Advance Group, an Employer of Choice

At The Advance Group, we go the extra mile for our candidates. Along with helping thousands of professionals find right-fit opportunities each year, we focus on critical areas that boost the candidate experience.

Communication is always a priority with our team, ensuring candidates feel supported and heard every step of the way. Additionally, we focus on high-quality matches, which benefits client companies and professionals alike. When the fit is strong, job satisfaction and productivity flourish, ensuring employees and clients get everything they need to excel.

Plus, The Advance Group provides candidates with a comprehensive benefits package. Professionals can get access to health benefits, retirement plans, bonus programs, training opportunities, paid time off, and more, ensuring all of their needs are met.

Here’s What Clients Have to Say About Working with The Advance Group

While it’s easy to see how being an employer of choice benefits candidates, it also benefits client companies. Here’s a look at what some of our clients had to say about their partnership with The Advance Group.

Ashlee A., Boelter

“We have worked with several staffing agencies over the years, but working with the Advance Group has been a breath of fresh air! Their professionalism, partnership, and responsiveness to our needs have been phenomenal. Their expertise in an unprecedented job market has allowed us to hire quality candidates we would not have found on our own.”

Henry L., Renkim Corporation

“The Advance Group is a trusted partner for Renkim Corporation. Their representatives worked through challenges during COVID-19 to help address our temporary staffing needs and requests.

“The Advance Group management team was flexible. They assisted Renkim Corporation to implement a solution to resolve a mandate involving several large clients. The Advance Group is our primary contact and resource for temporary labor.”

Kristy S., DSC

“The Advance Group is one of the best staffing solutions I have had an opportunity to work with! Renee and Crystal have done an amazing job plugging into DSC and getting to know us as an employer; what we are looking for in various positions at varying levels within the organization. The expertise offered by this team is dynamic in a complex job market. The Advance Group builds successful relationships with the employers and job seeker alike; how else could they be so quick to offer viable solutions creating a win/win from both aspects!”

If you’re ready to experience the difference firsthand, the team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.

 

 

How to Handle Job Search Stress

Raza Rauf on January 14, 2022

Searching for a new job is, in a word, stressful. The amount of time and energy required to find a position is often daunting. Couple that with the occasional job rejection, and it’s easy to get disheartened.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to handle job search stress effectively, ensuring you’re able to continue moving forward. Here are some tips that can help.

Have a Job Rejection Plan

While there’s always a chance that you’ll land the first job you interview for, that isn’t particularly common. Instead, it’s normal to get told “no” at least a few times along the way.

However, even though it’s typical to face some job rejection, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to hear. That’s why having a plan for those moments is essential. It lets you prepare for what you’ll likely face along the way, ensuring you can handle rejection with greater ease.

Ideally, your plan should be multi-faceted. Start by having a brief grieving period, allowing you a moment to explore your emotions openly and honestly. Next, pivot your perspective, turning the rejection into a learning experience.

Along with some self-reflection, request feedback from the employer. That way, you can improve how you can improve, allowing you to perform better next time.

Organize and Automate Your Job Search

The amount of time required to manage a job search is one of the reasons it’s commonly stressful. Thankfully, a bit of organization can reduce some of the anxiety of finding a new role.

One great way to begin is with your calendar. Identify times you’ll dedicate to job search activities and set reminders for the start and end times. That way, you begin at the right moment and call it quits for the day before you overdo it.

As you apply to jobs, keep track of your applications in a spreadsheet. List the company, role, date you applied, contact details, and other relevant pieces of information. Then, create a file for your resumes and cover letters, using a straightforward naming convention that lets you know which resume and the cover letter went where and when.

By automating part of your activities, you can reduce the work involved. As a result, you’ll have more time to handle other responsibilities without sacrificing your job search.

The easiest way to begin is with job alerts. Head to several job boards and use filters to define your ideal opportunities. Then, request alerts for new listings that align with those criteria.

Many job boards allow you to set up multiple searches, so consider using a few different sets of criteria to increase your access to positions that could be a good fit. Then, you’ll be able to review the alerts to see if an opening is a strong match, all without spending hours on end scrolling through job boards.

Partner With a Staffing Firm

One of the best ways to beat job search stress is to have an ally in your corner. By partnering with a recruiter, you’ll get unprecedented support and access to critical guidance. Your recruiter will help find right-fit opportunities for you, as well as assist you with resume writing, interview preparation, and more.

If you want to take the stress out of your job search, the team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.

 

 

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