Raza Rauf - The Advance Group

Getting Employees Back on Track After the Holidays

Raza Rauf on January 16, 2015

Returning to work following the holiday season can be difficult for many employees out there. Reasons for this include all the decorations are gone, there is no time-off scheduled for a couple of months, the workload is heavier and there are no scheduled office parties. It can be difficult to get employees back on track following the holidays, but it can be done. We will give you some employee performance tips below.

Modify Expectations

An excellent way to get your employees back on track after the holidays is to modify expectations when it comes to workload and due dates. Avoid discussing performance issues at work in the first few weeks of January because it can overwhelm employees. Do not increase workloads early in the month as employees will need a couple of days to resume their normal workflow.

Offer an Employee Wellness Program

Another good idea is to offer an employee wellness program in the month of January. Introducing a new program in the early months of the year can help employees rebound from the stresses of the holiday season. There needs to be attainable goals in this program that employees can reach every so often so they know they are succeeding. You can also host a professional development day to help employees re-focus on the task at hand.

Make Managers More Accessible

Your company must make managers more accessible during the first two months following the holiday season. When managers are easier to talk to and are seen often around the office, it will help employees re-focus their energy and effort on their projects. When managers always have their doors shut, workers will tend to wander and slack off at their desks.

Create a To-Do List

When employees return to work following the holiday season, it is a good idea to encourage them to create a to-do list. Have them prioritize which tasks on that list are most important and should be completed first. When they have goals outlined, they are more inclined to focus on their work and not slack off after the holidays.

Do Not Multi-Task

Warn your employees against multitasking right after the holiday season. You want them to gradually get back to work and multitasking could overwhelm them. Instead, let them focus on just one project at a time until they feel they are completely focused on work.

Tell Employees to Self-Evaluate

Tell your employees to self-evaluate after each day at work following the holidays. Have them look at what they accomplished that day at work and what they were unable to accomplish. A self-evaluation by an employee can help turn their focus back to work after the holiday season.

Getting your employees back on track following the holidays is important. The sooner they return their focus to work, the better your office will operate. If you need more help getting your employees back on track, or filling in vacancies, contact the staffing experts at Advance Staffing Solutions today.

How “Thank You” Notes Could Hinder Your Interview Process

Raza Rauf on January 13, 2015

We have all heard the saying, “It can’t hurt,” when it comes to applying for a job. There is no harm in submitting a cover letter with a resume, connecting with the interviewer on LinkedIn or even sending a “thank you” letter. But, before you make a mistake, you need to know that sending a thank you letter can actually harm your chances at receiving an offer of employment.

But, you’ll want to pay attention because in today’s post, we will discuss how a thank you note can actually hurt your job search.

Sending it Too Late

There is nothing worse than sending a thank you note to the interviewer well after the interview actually took place. Waiting until a week later to send the note shows the interviewer that it was an after-thought and that you are not interested in the position. It is best to send the note the same day of the interview or no later than 48 hours afterwards.

Full of Typos

If your thank you note is littered with typos or poor grammar, then you will have no shot at receiving an offer of employment. You might still get a second interview, especially if it was scheduled prior to the note arriving, but you probably will not make it further than round two. Since you likely had someone proofread your resume and cover letter, it is a good idea to do the same with the thank you letter. It will take two minutes and can save you from embarrassment.

Generic Messages

If you are going to send a thank you note, make sure it is not a generic one. This will hurt your chances of finding a job. You must personalize every single thank you note you write following a job interview, no matter how many people you met during the process. Scribbling five generic notes shows that you did not take the time to write these notes. Instead, personalize each note using something you learned from each person when you interviewed.

Inappropriate Content

It is never a good idea to include any type of inappropriate content in the thank you note, no matter how confident you are that you nailed the interview. Do not get chummy with the reader of the note or use first names. Also avoid any use of foul language. This really should not be an issue, but it still needs to be said.

Too Much Information

When a job candidate uses the thank you note to brag about him or herself even more, it can hurt their chances at securing the job. Never use the thank you note to conduct a second interview. The note should be short, sweet and to the point. Do not ramble on and take up the entire page. Do not even consider mentioning something you forgot to discuss in the interview when writing the thank you note. Stay away from it at all costs.

Take these items into consideration the next time you sit down to write a thank you note following a job interview and you should be able to secure an offer of employment.

Are You Waiting for Perfect Candidates? STOP!

Raza Rauf on January 8, 2015

With the calendar rolled over to the New Year, companies have put their new budgets into play, which means that they will be adding employees when positions become available. As your company looks to hire a new employee, do not wait for the perfect candidate to come along. Instead, stop this practice and begin to look for quality candidates who have the skills and potential to perform at your required level.

Skill Set is a Great Measuring Stick

The skill set of a job candidate is a great measuring stick when looking to hire for open jobs at your company. When you hire employees based on the skills they have, you make it easier to find qualified candidates for your open jobs. Even if there is a shortage of skilled workers, your company can hire people who show potential, train them and then move them into jobs that require the skills they learned in training.

Potential is Another Factor

Potential is another trait you need to consider when hiring for open jobs at your company. Waiting for the perfect candidate will likely result in open jobs staying unfilled for quite some time. When you look at a candidate, it can be easy to see the potential they bring to the table based on their work history. If you decide to hire based on potential, you should have no problem training and then promoting these types of employees.

Focus on Training

If your company shifts its focus to training, it will help in retaining current employees. It will also help lower the turnover rate, which means jobs will need to be filled at a lower rate. A focus on training will also allow the company to fill jobs from within whenever necessary. Promoting from within is an excellent way to increase the strength of your company and its bottom line.

Determine What the Company Needs

In terms of hiring, a company needs to determine what it needs in an employee the most. The perfect candidate will likely never come along, which means you need to find an employee who meets your needs in one area the most. Whether you look for one specific skill, a specific work history or a specific leadership role he or she held in the past; all of this is important to hiring a strong worker for an open job.

Use Highly-Focused Interviews

Once your company determines what it needs in an employee, make sure the interview is highly focused. This will allow you to figure out if the candidates have what it is you are looking for in an employee. Ask a ton of questions that require answers with examples, write down answers and have follow up questions prepared. Make sure you check references, too.

Waiting to hire the perfect candidate for your open job can hurt your company when it comes to completing client work. Switch your focus to hiring an employee who meets a need and see the productivity skyrocket.

Kick 2015 Off Right — With 6 Job Hunting Tips

Raza Rauf on January 6, 2015

A New Year might mean a new job for some folks who are looking for upward mobility. Whether you are preparing to enter the workforce after winter graduation, looking to switch careers or trying to find employment after a long layoff; you will want to have a strong job search in place. In today’s post, we will discuss six important job hunting tips for those who want to kick 2015 off right.

#1 Expand Your Network

One of the most important things you can do in 2015 when looking for a job is to expand your network. A professional network is one of the best ways to find a new job, or a lead, which is why you need to expand it as much as possible. Connect with more people on LinkedIn, attend career fairs and attend conferences within your industry to meet new people.

#2 Have a Plan in Place

Another tip for searching for a new job in 2015 is to have a plan in place. You should never search for a job without a goal or a plan. Set aside time each day to send out resumes and have a weekly quota for how many you want to submit to potential employers. Edit your cover letter for each job so that it is addressed to the hiring manager for that job.

#3 Learn New Skills

It might be a good idea to learn a new skill or two in 2015 if you want to find a new job. Adding to your current pool of skills will only improve your chances of landing a job. The more skills you have, the more appealing you will be to employers. Whether you enroll in courses at a college campus or take an online training program, consider adding a new skill to your repertoire to improve your job search.

#4 Keep LinkedIn Profile Current

Even if you are unemployed, you need to keep your LinkedIn profile current. Post relevant content to your LinkedIn profile that asserts your knowledge within your industry. The content should be articles and videos and they need to include pertinent information. You should also use keywords within your LinkedIn profile that can get it noticed by potential employers.

#5 Work Temp Jobs

Another important job hunting tip for 2015 is to work temporary jobs while in-between full-time jobs. Temporary jobs are a great way to learn new skills, meet new people and expand your network. Temporary jobs could also turn into full-time work with the same company. You might also meet someone who might hire you at their new place of employment down the road.

#6 Make Applications Personal

When you are applying for a job, make sure it is personal. Find out the name of the hiring manager or department head and address the message to that person. Write the message as if you are speaking to them on the phone, not like you are form-filling hundreds of resumes for the sake of doing so.

To be successful in your job hunt in 2015, it will take a lot of work. Make sure you follow the tips outlined in this post so you are offered employment. And if you need more help in your hunt for a new job this year, contact Advance Staffing Solutions today!

Wish List : How Mapping Out Your Career Plan can Make it Come True

Raza Rauf on December 26, 2014

If you have a “wish list” for your career, then just like any plan — you need to create a map in order to make everything on the list come true. When you create a map, you are creating a plan of action to get to your destination. When you can see the plan, it is easier to work towards the goals needed to meet every item on the wish list. Even though there is nothing wrong with making things up as you go along, you can get there quicker with a plan mapped out in your mind.

Here’s how to get started mapping out your career success:

Write Down Likes, Dislikes, Needs and Wants

One of the first things you need to do when mapping out your career is writing down all of your likes, dislikes, needs and wants associated with your career. When you reflect on all of this, you will be able to map out a more distinctive path for your career. If this is the first time you are doing this, you might have different likes and dislikes now compared to when you first started working the job five or 10 years ago.

Review Job Trends

The next step involves you reviewing job trends from your career. Even if your career path is wide right now, it could shrink within the next year or two without much notice. When you review job trends, you are able to determine which jobs are expanding and growing within your industry and which ones are being phased out at the moment.

Seek Education and Training Opportunities

When mapping out your career plan, you need to include new educational and training opportunities within the plan. You need to find new training experiences that can move you further down the career path you have mapped out instead of sitting idle watching your career pass you by. Use temporary jobs as a way to boost your experience and training levels, too.

Note Your Accomplishments

As you continue to create the map for your career plan, you need to acknowledge all of the accomplishments from your career. The more often you update your list of accomplishments, the easier it will be to write a killer resume when the time comes to apply for a new job. When you sit down to review past accomplishments, it could remind you of forgotten successes. This can lead you down a new career path without even knowing it.

Perform a Personal Skills Assessment

Another important part of mapping a career plan is performing a skills assessment. Write down what skills you use right now for your job, what you have used in the past, and what you will need to further your career in the future.

Mapping out your career plan will make it easier to find a new job, take a temporary assignment in Detroit MI, or move further into your industry as a professional. It is something that everyone should do, no matter which industry they work in or what type of job they hold.

Keeping Employees Productive in a Busy Holiday Season

Raza Rauf on December 19, 2014

It can be very difficult for busy, distracted employees to remain productive during a hectic season at the office simply because they can get very distracted by all the holiday festivities, family commitments, and other aspects of their lives. Employees can also become overwhelmed to the point of running out of steam. When this happens, it is up to the company to turn things around and keep employees as productive as possible. Below, we will discuss the best methods for keeping employees productive during the busy season.

Add a Little Fun to the Office

When you make it fun to come to work, employees will remain focused and productive during the busiest season for your company. There does not need to be a pizza party each week or decorations hanging from the ceiling, but a little bit of fun never hurt anyone. Start by creating a fun committee that will be responsible for coming up with ideas to have fun at the office.

Make it a point to host group events that build relationships, offer bonding and help employees build trust in each other. Try to make sure all of your employees take part in the fun events planned and even celebrate accomplishments as a whole team — not just departmentally or in groups.

Be Flexible

Remind your employees of the company’s goals when the busy season rolls around and then be flexible when possible. For example, if your employees are submitting projects ahead of schedule, consider offering them some flexible scheduling. Let them leave early on Fridays, or come in a little later on Monday mornings. You could also provide them with a four-day workweek or even extra paid time off.

Keep Communication Open

Do your best to keep the lines of communication open with employees during the busy season. The more you communicate with employees, the likelier it is that they will be able to achieve the goals set by the company. Communication will also help with prioritizing workloads either by delegating to other departments or even outsourcing the work to another firm.

You need to be as approachable as possible so employees will be honest with you when asked about status updates on their projects. When you are not open with employees, it forces them to fall behind on projects because they might not feel comfortable seeking out your help for any issues that arise.

There is a Light at the End of the Tunnel

Always remind your employees during the busy season that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. This will help them stay focused on the tasks at hand and meet their goals. When they know there is a slowdown in work coming, they will be more likely to work harder now. You should also consider bringing in temporary workers to lighten some of the workload on your full-time employees.

Want to know more about how to keep employees productive in your busiest seasons? Contact the experts at Advance Staffing Solutions today!

Don’t Ignore the Signs of Seasonal Stress in Employees

Raza Rauf on December 12, 2014

Over time, employees can easily become subject to work stress. It can happen to anyone, especially when the seasons change. Seasonal stress is nothing new and it can affect people of all ages. It is called seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and occurs, for the most part, at the same time each year. As the seasons change from fall to winter, those who suffer from SAD see themselves become moodier. We will discuss the signs of seasonal stress here so you can spot it in your employees before it becomes a real problem.

Common Symptoms of SAD

Some of the most common symptoms of SAD that you need to keep an eye out for in your employees include the following:

Lack of energy
Feeling of tiredness
Irritable
Sensitivity to rejection
Oversleeping
Weight gain
Changes in appetite

What Not to Do

If you suspect that some of your employees are suffering from seasonal stress while on the job, there are a couple of things that you should avoid doing. Your company should avoid all of the following:

Do not introduce new career-related expenses such as required parking passes, updates to the dress code or paying for beverages in the breakroom.
Do not make any major procedural changes.
Do not evaluate the performance of your employees only on how they finished the year. Always look back at what the employee has done for the entire year.
Do not make any major changes or decisions regarding the company’s management.

What to Do

Should any of your employees exhibit signs of seasonal stress at work, you need to do the following tasks to help the situation:

Provide employees with an isolated space where employees can be alone with their thoughts and reflect.
Think about scheduling some minor team-building activities if this is a slow time of the year for the company.
Always let your team know how much their hard work is appreciated.
Let employees pace in the hallways if they need to do so, just let people know that they should be mindful of where they are walking.

Ignorance Affects Success

Should your company decide to ignore the signs of seasonal stress in employees, do not expect much productivity or success during this season. Your employees will become lackadaisical, miss deadlines and not have enough drive to complete their work to the best of their abilities. This can cause major issues within your corporate culture and even cause some resentment amongst employees who are picking up the slack.

The bottom line here is that you can help employees suffering from seasonal stress at work. All you need to do is recognize the signs and then implement some steps that will improve their outlook during the season. Contact Advance Staffing Solutions if you want to know more about handling employee seasonal stress.

Why Winter is the Perfect Time to Kick Start a Job Search

Raza Rauf on December 5, 2014

You might not realize it, but the winter season is one of the best during the year to kick start your job search. Whether you are currently employed, preparing to graduate in the spring, or are unemployed and looking for work; the winter months can prove to be very effective for finding new employment. Many people back down from a job search during the dreary, cold days of winter and wait for the temperatures to rise. You should take advantage of this and move to the top of the candidate list for open jobs.

Here are some ways to give your job search a head start during the winter months:

Update Your Resume and Cover Letter

A big reason why your job search has stalled could be the shape of your resume and cover letter. If these items are in bad condition, then you will likely struggle with finding a new job. Use the winter months to supercharge your resume and cover letter. Review these documents with a fine-tooth comb and even ask a trusted friend or family member to do the same. The more eyes on them, the better.

You need to have a resume that grabs attention because it might be the only form of communication you have with a potential employer. You also need to tailor each cover letter to the company that is hiring. This makes the application more personal and will get you noticed over some other candidates.

Improve Your LinkedIn Page

Take some time out of your winter activities of shoveling snow and throwing rock salt to revamp your LinkedIn page. This is a vital part of the job search process and should even be done multiple times per year. You need to make sure that your recent work history is up-to-date on your profile page and that you have some recommendations on there from your connections. Those recommendations should come from former supervisors, mentors or co-workers. Also, use LinkedIn as part of your job search. Thousands of companies across the country are posting their open jobs on the site so be sure to spend time each day browsing the new openings posted.

Take the Initiative

As the winter months begin to settle in, do not hunker down and give up on your job search. Instead, take the initiative and submit your resume and job application for open positions in-person at the companies looking to hire new employees. Do not do this on days when a major winter storm is bearing down on the region. Instead, pick a day or two where the weather is clear so you will not be impeded. Companies who see you do this will be sure to put your resume at the top of the pile. Take on temporary jobs in Ohio or Michigan while you are seeking your perfect career.

The bottom line here is that the winter months can actually be the perfect time for kick starting a job search. Just make sure that you make smart decisions and do not risk life and limb to find a job when the snow and ice are falling.

Have You Created an Online Resume Yet?

Raza Rauf on November 27, 2014

Technology advances in the way recruiters find candidates means that the most successful job searches include the use of an online resume. This type of resume is not much different from your paper resume, but it can make a big difference when it comes to getting noticed by potential employers. You will want to do everything possible, and ethical, to put yourself in the driver’s seat of a job search. Using an online resume is one of those things you need to be using right now.

Here’s how to make sure your online resume accomplishes the goals you have in your career.

Digital Presence is Important

Even though paper is not dead yet, having a digital presence is important in today’s high-tech world. As you continue to build a digital presence, and one that shows you in a positive light, a resume should be added somewhere down the line. Having a digital presence today is vital during a job search because it allows employers the opportunity to track where you have been as an employee and verify what is listed on your resume in a reasonable amount of time.

Online Resumes are Always With You

One of the biggest advantages of having an online resume is the fact that it is always with you, in the form of a URL or a digital document saved on your personal cloud. This is important because no matter where you are, you will be able to send a resume to a potential employer. You might be running errands when you bump into a former co-worker who has taken a management position at a different company. He or she might have a job available in their department. You will be able to send your resume to that former co-worker within seconds when you have one online.

Online Resume Must be Printable

Even though you are leaning more towards using only online resumes for a job search, you need to make sure they are printable. So, even though you can do a bunch of cool things with an online resume, it should still be printable if a company wishes to do so. This means that it should still be no longer than two pages in length and should not have any weird graphics that might not translate well when printed. Use a resume template that is left to right aligned, which will make it easier to upload to online systems too.

Online Resume Must be Tailored to Each Employer

As with a paper resume, an online resume must also be tailored to each individual employer. It does not matter if you are applying to the exact same job at three different companies, the online resume you submit for each one should be tailored to each individual company. This will show the companies that you took time to create the resume and are truly committed to finding a new job.

Online resumes are becoming more and more popular these days as companies move away from requesting hardcopies. Make sure your online resume is ready for action even if you are employed. You never know when opportunity will strike and it will need to be submitted.

Implement Company Policies Now – Before It’s Too Late!

Raza Rauf on November 20, 2014

When an incident occurs at the office, it is too late to discuss implementing a policy to govern such a problem. All company policies need to be implemented right now, before it is too late and something happens that can affect the entire workforce and the success of the company. In this post we will discuss the best ways to implement new company policies and how to activate them immediately without confusing or overwhelming your employees.

Policy Must Solve Problem in Best Way Possible

One of the most important things you need to take into consideration when implementing a company policy is that it must solve the problem in the best way possible. This means that whatever the issue is within your office, it must be solved using this one policy. There should never be more than one policy created to solve the same issue. When this happens, the culture of your organization can take a hit because employees will be confused with the overlap of the company policies.

Policy Should be Reviewed by Multiple Teams

When implementing a new company policy, it should be reviewed by upper management, a select group of employees and the company’s legal team. All three of these groups will have different views about the policy and will be able to determine if it follows employment laws in the country. They should also review the policy and offer any changes, should they be deemed necessary.

Implementation Deadlines Must be Met

As you add new company policies to the employee handbook, it is important that implementation deadlines are always met. If you set a deadline for a new policy, do not push it back to a later date multiple times. This will only frustrate your employees and give them the sense that you are not comfortable with the policy that was created. You want to show confidence in the new policy and that you mean business when putting it into action.

Mandatory Meetings for Staff are a Must

Mandatory meetings must be held for your staff when implementing new company policies. If employees are absent from work when these meetings are held, you must provide make-up dates for meetings. Information about the new policy should be presented at the meetings and employees should be allowed to ask questions and express their concerns at the same time.

HR Must be on Same Page as Management

Another important aspect of implementing a new company policy now, before it is too late, is that the human resources department must be operating on the same page as the management team. No matter which department created the policy, everyone needs to work as a cohesive team in order to ensure success in rolling out the new policy.

Want more information on how to implement new company policies, or how to find candidates who fulfill company requirements? Contact the staffing experts at Advance Staffing Solutions today.

Gearing Up For Winter Safety Regulations

Raza Rauf on November 13, 2014

As the seasons move rapidly into the winter months, conditions can become treacherous around Michigan and other Northern Central states. This means that companies across the country, no matter where they are located, should be preparing their employees for winter safety regulations. Your employees need to be put in a safe situation no matter the circumstances, but this is very important when the winter weather delivers its brutal punch on the country.

Review Insurance Coverage

One of the first things your company needs to do is to review its insurance coverage. You can do this by speaking with your company’s insurance agent in order to find out what the policy covers, how the employees are covered and what property you can afford to lose should the winter weather wreak havoc on your business.

Determine Largest Risk Potential

The next step your company must take is determining the largest risk potential that will be present when the winter weather hits hard. This includes the loss of heat at the office, loss of access to the property due to heavy snow or ice and water damage due to broken pipes. Take a look at the property where you do business and determine if any changes can be made prior to the winter season to prevent the risk of losing time or money to storms.

Determine Cost of Business Interruptions

Another important thing you must do prior to the winter months is calculate the cost of a possible interruption to your business. This can last one day, one week, three weeks, one month, six months or even a year or more. As the winter months move closer, your business should be calculating this major possibility, especially if you live in an area prone to major winter weather events. Your company should also consider building a cash reserve that will help it operate following a winter weather event that potentially shuts it down for a prolonged period.

Implement Telework Policies

In order to keep customers or clients satisfied should access be limited to your property, it is a good idea to create a telework policy for your employees. Not all of your employees will live close to the business, so they might have trouble reporting to work. If this is the case, or the business cannot open following a storm, let your employees know that they can work remotely. Make sure this plan is in place months in advance of the winter season so it does not have to be implemented on the fly.

Create a Crisis Communication Plan

A crisis communication plan is something that every business should have in place throughout the year, not just for the winter months. This helps employees, staff members, management, clients, partners and customers know what is happening at the office and what can be expected following a crisis.

Why You Need a Career Mentor

Raza Rauf on November 6, 2014

There are a multitude of things a person can do these days to improve the success they have in their career. One of those things is having a career mentor. Not everyone employs the use of a career mentor, but it is definitely something that should be taken into consideration. We will discuss the most important benefits of having a career mentor in this post so you can see why having one is so vital to the health of your career.

Mentors Can Help With Shortcomings

It can be incredibly easy to see the shortcomings and the weaknesses of other people, but when it comes to your own, they can be very difficult to see. When this happens, it might be in your best interest to use a mentor. A mentor will be able to evaluate you as an employee and take a long look at your career. When he or she does this, they might be able to point out what is holding you back in your search for a new job or for a promotion.

Mentors Can Teach New Things

As with a teacher or an academic adviser, mentors will be able to teach you new things. Your career mentor should be from within your industry or work niche in order to make the relationship as successful as possible. You do not know everything there is to know about your career or the industry in which you work. This is why you need a career mentor. A career mentor has the years of experience needed to show and teach you what you are yearning to know.

Mentors Will Keep Conversations Confidential

Another great thing about having a career mentor is the fact that you will be able to talk with him or her about almost anything related to your work life without fear of repercussions. You might not be able to complain about a boss or co-worker to someone you feel is a best friend in the office. But, you can be open and honest with your career mentor as much as you would like.

Learn How to be a Mentor Yourself

As you continue to gain work experience and develop a relationship with your career mentor, you can learn how to be a mentor yourself at the same time. This means that you will be gaining the same skills and knowledge that your mentor has that you could use someday if you are asked to be a mentor for someone else within your industry.

Career mentors are very popular these days, even though not everyone employs this benefit of the workforce. If your career has stalled, you might want to consider finding someone to be your career mentor so you can get back on the right track. Contact Advance Staffing Solutions today to learn more about how to successfully navigate your career mentor relationship, or to find a new career today!