3 Ways to Keep Your Employees Engaged This Year

HMG Success on January 11, 2021

Employee engagement has been a hot topic for several years. When workers are highly engaged, they tend to be more productive. Their outputs are often of higher quality, and they are willing to take on more and enthusiastic about handling their responsibilities.

Additionally, engaged employees tend to be happier than their less engaged counterparts. This not only leads to better morale, but it can also enhance your company’s culture.

While most organizations understand the value of employee engagement, figuring out how to boost it isn’t always easy. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are three ways to keep your employees engaged this year and beyond.

1. Adopt a “Whole Person” Mindset

Each of your workers isn’t just a set of skills; they are whole people with lives outside of their professional personas. While nurturing their professional capabilities is always wise, getting to know them as individuals beyond what they bring to the workplace can have a dramatic impact on engagement, too.

Adopt a “whole person” mindset and start viewing your workers are unique people with lives, families, hobbies, and more. Focus on building connections with your team that extend past their work responsibilities and capabilities, allowing you to get to know them on a different level.

As you deepen the relationships, you are poised to impact your employees’ lives positively. You may be able to help them navigate challenges outside of the workplace, reduce stress, and find solutions to problems that may be harming their focus. If you do, engagement typically rises, essentially creating a win-win for all involved.

2. Recalibrate Your Mission and Values

Most companies are aware that a post-pandemic world isn’t going to look like the one everyone was in previously. The idea of a “new normal” emerging is well-established, and most organizations acknowledge that some COVID-19-related changes will remain in place.

However, not all businesses recalibrate their mission and values statements to address their evolving position in this emerging landscape. This can create a disconnect that may harm engagement. Employees are often motivated by their employer’s mission, but if it doesn’t match the reality of a post-pandemic world, that source of inspiration loses its effect.

Spend some time reflecting on your company’s purpose, goals, and driving forces in the light of what’s happening today and will likely be happening tomorrow. Then, see if your mission and values statements need an overhaul to align them with your new way of moving through the world.

3. Take the Next Step Past Diversity and Inclusion

While maintaining your diversity and inclusion programs is a must, it’s also time to start exploring what lies beyond these priorities. At times, fostering a sense of belonging is the next step in a company’s cultural development. In others, fairness and equity are higher priorities.

Examine your culture and practices to see what next steps make the most sense in your company. Then, work to evolve your diversity and inclusion programs so that they include more facets. By doing so, you can boost your culture and employer brand, leading to higher engagement, loyalty, and more.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can keep employees engaged this year, the staff at The Advance Group can help. Contact us today.

 

 

3 Ways to Keep Your Employees Engaged This Year

Raza Rauf on January 11, 2021

Employee engagement has been a hot topic for several years. When workers are highly engaged, they tend to be more productive. Their outputs are often of higher quality, and they are willing to take on more and enthusiastic about handling their responsibilities.

Additionally, engaged employees tend to be happier than their less engaged counterparts. This not only leads to better morale, but it can also enhance your company’s culture.

While most organizations understand the value of employee engagement, figuring out how to boost it isn’t always easy. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are three ways to keep your employees engaged this year and beyond.

1. Adopt a “Whole Person” Mindset

Each of your workers isn’t just a set of skills; they are whole people with lives outside of their professional personas. While nurturing their professional capabilities is always wise, getting to know them as individuals beyond what they bring to the workplace can have a dramatic impact on engagement, too.

Adopt a “whole person” mindset and start viewing your workers are unique people with lives, families, hobbies, and more. Focus on building connections with your team that extend past their work responsibilities and capabilities, allowing you to get to know them on a different level.

As you deepen the relationships, you are poised to impact your employees’ lives positively. You may be able to help them navigate challenges outside of the workplace, reduce stress, and find solutions to problems that may be harming their focus. If you do, engagement typically rises, essentially creating a win-win for all involved.

2. Recalibrate Your Mission and Values

Most companies are aware that a post-pandemic world isn’t going to look like the one everyone was in previously. The idea of a “new normal” emerging is well-established, and most organizations acknowledge that some COVID-19-related changes will remain in place.

However, not all businesses recalibrate their mission and values statements to address their evolving position in this emerging landscape. This can create a disconnect that may harm engagement. Employees are often motivated by their employer’s mission, but if it doesn’t match the reality of a post-pandemic world, that source of inspiration loses its effect.

Spend some time reflecting on your company’s purpose, goals, and driving forces in the light of what’s happening today and will likely be happening tomorrow. Then, see if your mission and values statements need an overhaul to align them with your new way of moving through the world.

3. Take the Next Step Past Diversity and Inclusion

While maintaining your diversity and inclusion programs is a must, it’s also time to start exploring what lies beyond these priorities. At times, fostering a sense of belonging is the next step in a company’s cultural development. In others, fairness and equity are higher priorities.

Examine your culture and practices to see what next steps make the most sense in your company. Then, work to evolve your diversity and inclusion programs so that they include more facets. By doing so, you can boost your culture and employer brand, leading to higher engagement, loyalty, and more.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can keep employees engaged this year, the staff at The Advance Group can help. Contact us today.

 

 

Turnover and Five Other HR Trends That Will Shape 2021

HMG Success on January 4, 2021

Every year, a particular set of trends is poised to shape the business world for the next 12 months. If you wonder what HR trends will impact 2021 the most, here are six that are likely to make waves in the coming months.

1. Turnover Remains a Top Challenge

Employee retention has always been a concern for companies. By limiting turnover, productivity and efficiency can often stay higher. Plus, the actions that generally lead to better retention often boost morale, leading to gains.

While some companies may assume that the pandemic will make turnover less of an issue, that isn’t necessarily the case. In some cases, pay cuts or salary increase delays related to cost management during COVID-19 will encourage some professionals to look elsewhere. Additionally, declining growth and advancement opportunities during this time may disincentivize staying, causing a higher turnover.

Companies need to focus on retention-boosting activities, pandemic or not. Along with offering fair wages, make sure employees feel valued and appreciated. Find opportunities to help them grow, too, such as by providing job shadowing or cross-training options. That way, you can keep your best and brightest on staff during this tumultuous time.

2. Social Responsibility in the Spotlight

COVID-19 wasn’t kind to companies or professionals alike. However, how businesses responded to the change impacted their reputation. Those that rose to the occasion and acted in socially responsible ways will be viewed as more attractive employers, while those that didn’t may see their employer brand diminish.

While companies can’t turn back the block, making social responsibility a priority now can make a difference. It will positively impact your reputation and culture, making you a more enticing employer.

3. The Rise of Remote Work

One thing the pandemic did was showcase the merits of telecommuting. Many professionals would favor the arrangement, particularly if it benefited their work-life balance. As a result, they may be hesitant to return to an always-in-the-office approach moving forward.

While companies don’t have to remain fully remote, having some form of flexible work policy might be a must. That way, they can meet the expectations of professionals who now know for a fact that they can flourish when working from home.

4. An Emphasis on Employee Wellness

The pandemic created a variety of hardships, including physical and mental health challenges. Companies can’t afford to ignore employee wellness, as promoting positive well-being is now a critical part of the equation.

Ideally, businesses should create well-rounded wellness programs, ensuring that physical and mental health is addressed. Additionally, any associated benefits need to be accessible to employees who may remain remote, ensuring everyone can participate.

5. Tech-Savvy Recruiting Methods

Today’s employers need to look beyond traditional application processes and job boards to connect with top talent. While those can be part of your overall recruitment approach, embracing tech options like chatbots, mobile-friendly application processes, and text-based recruitment activities is essential.

These options make it easier to connect with candidates, particularly those of younger generations. Additionally, it boosts your company’s employer brand, as you appear more innovative and tech-savvy.

6. Upskilling for Skill Gap Closure

Most companies are battling against some skill gap. While recruiting someone who has the needed capability is an option, it isn’t always simple to pull off if the skill is in-demand but isn’t widely available.

By shifting to an upskilling approach, companies can close gaps by training their team in those areas. It allows you to optimize your team’s capabilities while providing professional development opportunities that top performers typically crave.

Ultimately, each of the HR trends above will shape 2021. If you’d like to learn more, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us today.

 

 

Turnover and Five Other HR Trends That Will Shape 2021

Raza Rauf on January 4, 2021

Every year, a particular set of trends is poised to shape the business world for the next 12 months. If you wonder what HR trends will impact 2021 the most, here are six that are likely to make waves in the coming months.

1. Turnover Remains a Top Challenge

Employee retention has always been a concern for companies. By limiting turnover, productivity and efficiency can often stay higher. Plus, the actions that generally lead to better retention often boost morale, leading to gains.

While some companies may assume that the pandemic will make turnover less of an issue, that isn’t necessarily the case. In some cases, pay cuts or salary increase delays related to cost management during COVID-19 will encourage some professionals to look elsewhere. Additionally, declining growth and advancement opportunities during this time may disincentivize staying, causing a higher turnover.

Companies need to focus on retention-boosting activities, pandemic or not. Along with offering fair wages, make sure employees feel valued and appreciated. Find opportunities to help them grow, too, such as by providing job shadowing or cross-training options. That way, you can keep your best and brightest on staff during this tumultuous time.

2. Social Responsibility in the Spotlight

COVID-19 wasn’t kind to companies or professionals alike. However, how businesses responded to the change impacted their reputation. Those that rose to the occasion and acted in socially responsible ways will be viewed as more attractive employers, while those that didn’t may see their employer brand diminish.

While companies can’t turn back the block, making social responsibility a priority now can make a difference. It will positively impact your reputation and culture, making you a more enticing employer.

3. The Rise of Remote Work

One thing the pandemic did was showcase the merits of telecommuting. Many professionals would favor the arrangement, particularly if it benefited their work-life balance. As a result, they may be hesitant to return to an always-in-the-office approach moving forward.

While companies don’t have to remain fully remote, having some form of flexible work policy might be a must. That way, they can meet the expectations of professionals who now know for a fact that they can flourish when working from home.

4. An Emphasis on Employee Wellness

The pandemic created a variety of hardships, including physical and mental health challenges. Companies can’t afford to ignore employee wellness, as promoting positive well-being is now a critical part of the equation.

Ideally, businesses should create well-rounded wellness programs, ensuring that physical and mental health is addressed. Additionally, any associated benefits need to be accessible to employees who may remain remote, ensuring everyone can participate.

5. Tech-Savvy Recruiting Methods

Today’s employers need to look beyond traditional application processes and job boards to connect with top talent. While those can be part of your overall recruitment approach, embracing tech options like chatbots, mobile-friendly application processes, and text-based recruitment activities is essential.

These options make it easier to connect with candidates, particularly those of younger generations. Additionally, it boosts your company’s employer brand, as you appear more innovative and tech-savvy.

6. Upskilling for Skill Gap Closure

Most companies are battling against some skill gap. While recruiting someone who has the needed capability is an option, it isn’t always simple to pull off if the skill is in-demand but isn’t widely available.

By shifting to an upskilling approach, companies can close gaps by training their team in those areas. It allows you to optimize your team’s capabilities while providing professional development opportunities that top performers typically crave.

Ultimately, each of the HR trends above will shape 2021. If you’d like to learn more, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us today.

 

 

What We Do Best (And How It Helps You!)

HMG Success on December 25, 2020

At The Advance Group, we pride ourselves on being your go-to staffing firm for all of your hiring and job search needs. While we can assist companies and professionals in every niche, we specialize in certain high-demand areas.

Whether you’re looking for skilled professionals for temporary, temp-to-hire, or permanent placements or seeking new opportunities, The Advance Group can help you find great matches. If you wonder what we do best here at The Advance Group, here’s a look at some of our specialties.

Manufacturing

Our recruitment specialists understand the challenges manufacturing companies face and what it takes for candidates to thrive in those roles. Reliability is paramount, and a strong skill set ensures production goals can be met with greater ease.

At The Advance Group, we specialize in manufacturing job placement. Not only can we help companies find exceptional candidates at any volume, but we also focus on assisting job seekers with finding their ideal opportunity. We look beyond technical ability, ensuring that the match is also a great culture fit. Together, that can lead to long-term success and satisfaction for both employers and employees.

The manufacturing jobs we specialize in include, but are not limited to:

• Assembly
• Forklift Driver
• Machine Operator
• Maintenance Specialist
• Material Handler
• Overhead Crane Operator
• Production Supervisor
• QC Inspector
• Welder
• And More

Skilled Trades

The Advance Group is a premier, skilled trades placement agency. Our recruitment team understands what it takes to get the job right and be happy in a skilled trades position. That’s why we focus on the quality of the match. We want to make sure that employers and candidates are happy with every placement. That way, everyone is poised for success.

The skilled trades positions we specialize in include but are not limited to:

• CAD Designer
• CNC Operator
• Die Setter
• Electrician
• Electronic Assembly
• Engineering
• HVAC
• Laboratory Technician
• Machinist
• Mechanic
• Welder
• And More

Administrative/Clerical

Our recruitment specialists fill a range of positions as a leading administrative staffing agency, including temporary, temp-to-hire, and permanent opportunities. We understand the nuances of each clerical and administrative job and the importance of culture fit. This allows us to create great matches that set both employers and employees up for success.

The administrative and clerical roles we specialize in include but are not limited to:

• Accounting
• Administrative Assistant
• Call Center Rep
• Customer Service Specialist
• Data Entry Operator
• Human Resources
• Payroll
• Sales
• And More

Direct Hire Placements

If you need to fill a leadership role or are a professional looking for a permanent opportunity, our direct hire recruitment specialists are here to help. We understand that a successful search can be challenging and lengthy, particularly when your efforts need to be confidential. That’s why our team specializes in these types of opportunities, allowing companies to find the leaders and professionals they need quickly and candidates to secure exciting roles faster than ever before.

Ultimately, our goal is to make exceptional matches, ensuring both employers and candidates are thrilled with the placements. If you’d like to learn more about our services, the team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.

 

 

What We Do Best (And How It Helps You!)

Raza Rauf on December 25, 2020

At The Advance Group, we pride ourselves on being your go-to staffing firm for all of your hiring and job search needs. While we can assist companies and professionals in every niche, we specialize in certain high-demand areas.

Whether you’re looking for skilled professionals for temporary, temp-to-hire, or permanent placements or seeking new opportunities, The Advance Group can help you find great matches. If you wonder what we do best here at The Advance Group, here’s a look at some of our specialties.

Manufacturing

Our recruitment specialists understand the challenges manufacturing companies face and what it takes for candidates to thrive in those roles. Reliability is paramount, and a strong skill set ensures production goals can be met with greater ease.

At The Advance Group, we specialize in manufacturing job placement. Not only can we help companies find exceptional candidates at any volume, but we also focus on assisting job seekers with finding their ideal opportunity. We look beyond technical ability, ensuring that the match is also a great culture fit. Together, that can lead to long-term success and satisfaction for both employers and employees.

The manufacturing jobs we specialize in include, but are not limited to:

• Assembly
• Forklift Driver
• Machine Operator
• Maintenance Specialist
• Material Handler
• Overhead Crane Operator
• Production Supervisor
• QC Inspector
• Welder
• And More

Skilled Trades

The Advance Group is a premier, skilled trades placement agency. Our recruitment team understands what it takes to get the job right and be happy in a skilled trades position. That’s why we focus on the quality of the match. We want to make sure that employers and candidates are happy with every placement. That way, everyone is poised for success.

The skilled trades positions we specialize in include but are not limited to:

• CAD Designer
• CNC Operator
• Die Setter
• Electrician
• Electronic Assembly
• Engineering
• HVAC
• Laboratory Technician
• Machinist
• Mechanic
• Welder
• And More

Administrative/Clerical

Our recruitment specialists fill a range of positions as a leading administrative staffing agency, including temporary, temp-to-hire, and permanent opportunities. We understand the nuances of each clerical and administrative job and the importance of culture fit. This allows us to create great matches that set both employers and employees up for success.

The administrative and clerical roles we specialize in include but are not limited to:

• Accounting
• Administrative Assistant
• Call Center Rep
• Customer Service Specialist
• Data Entry Operator
• Human Resources
• Payroll
• Sales
• And More

Direct Hire Placements

If you need to fill a leadership role or are a professional looking for a permanent opportunity, our direct hire recruitment specialists are here to help. We understand that a successful search can be challenging and lengthy, particularly when your efforts need to be confidential. That’s why our team specializes in these types of opportunities, allowing companies to find the leaders and professionals they need quickly and candidates to secure exciting roles faster than ever before.

Ultimately, our goal is to make exceptional matches, ensuring both employers and candidates are thrilled with the placements. If you’d like to learn more about our services, the team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.

 

 

What Is a “Candidate Journey” and Is Yours Good Enough?

HMG Success on December 18, 2020

Every company that hires job seekers has a candidate journey. The candidate journey is the path that job seekers must take when they want to land one of your open positions. It involves every step in your recruitment process, starting with finding the job ad and continuing through the onboarding process.

If your candidate journey is subpar, you’ll miss out on exceptional job seekers. However, if the experience you offer exceeds expectations, you’ll elevate your employer brand, making you a more attractive option in the eyes of skilled professionals.

If you wonder why the candidate journey is so critical and how you can gauge yours, here’s what you need to know.

The Importance of the Candidate Journey

The quality of your candidate is vital to your company’s hiring success. When the recruitment process is cumbersome or confusing, many job seekers will opt to abandon the opportunity, often out of pure frustration or annoyance. Similarly, if an applicant doesn’t receive any feedback about their application, they may assume that they aren’t being pursued, causing them to move on immediately.

Often, when the candidate journey is poor, word tends to get out. Professionals often speak openly with other job seekers in their network about their experience. They may warn people away from your company or encourage them to focus their search on your competitors.

However, if your candidate journey is clear, simple, and welcoming, word will spread about that, too. This can cause your company to be viewed as an employer of choice, bolstering your recruitment efforts.

Plus, more job seekers will complete your process. That ultimately gives you access to a deeper talent pool and may make it easier to locate professionals with hard-to-find skills.

Gauging Your Candidate Journey

If you want to determine your candidate journey’s quality, there are a few approaches that can work. First, if your applicant tracking system (ATS) can identify abandoned applications, that’s a great place to start. It lets you know how many candidates begin to apply but ultimately walk away, providing you with insights about how your application process is viewed.

Second, you can discuss the journey with applicants and new hires. They’ve personally experienced your candidate journey and can give you feedback about what it was like.

Finally, you can always put together a team of employees to examine the experience. You could create a sample job opening and ask them to apply, taking notes about the process and how they perceive it. This gives you another source of information and, if you use employees from a variety of departments and job levels, could be particularly enlightening.

How to Improve Your Candidate Journey

Enhancing your candidate journey doesn’t have to be a challenge. Ideally, focus on streamlining and simplifying.

For example, remove any redundancies, like asking for a resume and requiring all candidates to fill out blanks in an application. Limit the number of essay questions you use in the application or consider eliminating them from that stage entirely.

It’s wise to find opportunities to automate basic communication, as well. For example, an email stating that the application was received is a good starting point. Next, follow-up with a second one when the resume is reviewed, letting the candidate know if they are moving forward.

Beyond that, transition to personalized messages. Since the pool of candidates heading to the interview phase tends to be smaller, reach out to them as individuals to coordinate interviews and provide further updates.

Even those small changes can make a big difference. If you’d like to learn more about how you can boost your candidate journey, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us today.

 

 

What Is a “Candidate Journey” and Is Yours Good Enough?

Raza Rauf on December 18, 2020

Every company that hires job seekers has a candidate journey. The candidate journey is the path that job seekers must take when they want to land one of your open positions. It involves every step in your recruitment process, starting with finding the job ad and continuing through the onboarding process.

If your candidate journey is subpar, you’ll miss out on exceptional job seekers. However, if the experience you offer exceeds expectations, you’ll elevate your employer brand, making you a more attractive option in the eyes of skilled professionals.

If you wonder why the candidate journey is so critical and how you can gauge yours, here’s what you need to know.

The Importance of the Candidate Journey

The quality of your candidate is vital to your company’s hiring success. When the recruitment process is cumbersome or confusing, many job seekers will opt to abandon the opportunity, often out of pure frustration or annoyance. Similarly, if an applicant doesn’t receive any feedback about their application, they may assume that they aren’t being pursued, causing them to move on immediately.

Often, when the candidate journey is poor, word tends to get out. Professionals often speak openly with other job seekers in their network about their experience. They may warn people away from your company or encourage them to focus their search on your competitors.

However, if your candidate journey is clear, simple, and welcoming, word will spread about that, too. This can cause your company to be viewed as an employer of choice, bolstering your recruitment efforts.

Plus, more job seekers will complete your process. That ultimately gives you access to a deeper talent pool and may make it easier to locate professionals with hard-to-find skills.

Gauging Your Candidate Journey

If you want to determine your candidate journey’s quality, there are a few approaches that can work. First, if your applicant tracking system (ATS) can identify abandoned applications, that’s a great place to start. It lets you know how many candidates begin to apply but ultimately walk away, providing you with insights about how your application process is viewed.

Second, you can discuss the journey with applicants and new hires. They’ve personally experienced your candidate journey and can give you feedback about what it was like.

Finally, you can always put together a team of employees to examine the experience. You could create a sample job opening and ask them to apply, taking notes about the process and how they perceive it. This gives you another source of information and, if you use employees from a variety of departments and job levels, could be particularly enlightening.

How to Improve Your Candidate Journey

Enhancing your candidate journey doesn’t have to be a challenge. Ideally, focus on streamlining and simplifying.

For example, remove any redundancies, like asking for a resume and requiring all candidates to fill out blanks in an application. Limit the number of essay questions you use in the application or consider eliminating them from that stage entirely.

It’s wise to find opportunities to automate basic communication, as well. For example, an email stating that the application was received is a good starting point. Next, follow-up with a second one when the resume is reviewed, letting the candidate know if they are moving forward.

Beyond that, transition to personalized messages. Since the pool of candidates heading to the interview phase tends to be smaller, reach out to them as individuals to coordinate interviews and provide further updates.

Even those small changes can make a big difference. If you’d like to learn more about how you can boost your candidate journey, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us today.

 

 

5 Ways to Stay Healthy This Winter – And Enjoy the Holiday Season!

HMG Success on December 7, 2020

As the weather gets colder, many people adjust their lifestyle. They may spend more time indoors, keeping them in close proximity with household members even more than before. Others may shift their outdoor activities with the season, a move that may increase exposure to cold temperatures. In some areas, heaters may already be running full-bore to keep homes comfortable, drying out the air.

All of these changes alter what it takes to stay healthy. If you want to make sure you’re in the best shape possible this winter, including during the holiday season, here’s what you need to know.

1. Take Appropriate Precautions

COVID-19 mars this winter season. While there isn’t a vaccine for the coronavirus, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be taking other precautions to stay healthy.

First, if you are able, get a flu shot. This will help protect you against newer strains of the flu, safeguarding you against a potentially dangerous virus.

Second, make cleaning a priority. Along with washing your hands regularly, sanitize surfaces frequently. This is especially true for shared, high-traffic surfaces, like kitchen counters, doorknobs, and more.

2. Focus on Nutrition

A healthy diet does support your immune system. It can make you better equipped to fight off illnesses, as a healthier body tends to have stronger defenses.

Ideally, focus on eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins. Watch both your sugar and caloric intake, as well as how much salt your consuming.

3. Remain Active

Getting enough exercise is another part of maintaining your health. The trick is, when the weather gets cold, some outdoor activities may no longer be an option.

If that’s the case for you, look for new opportunities. This can include winter activities like ice-skating, raking leaves, and building snowmen, or outdoor exercise that may be viable all year, like taking a walk around your neighborhood.

If you need to stay inside, you can still get exercise. For example, you can use your home’s staircase as an exercise option, walking up and down to get moving for a while. If you need something gentler on the joints, yoga doesn’t take up much space, is very low impact, and many poses can be adjusted to accommodate injuries or mobility issues.

4. Get Enough Sleep

For most adults, getting around 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night is important for overall health. It gives your body and brain a chance to relax and recharge. Plus, it can help you stay focused during the next day.

Preferably, you need to develop and stick with a sleep schedule. By waking up and going to bed simultaneously every day, including weekends, you create a pattern that may make it easier to get the rest you need.

5. Get a Little Sun

Sunlight is actually important to health. It helps with vitamin D formation, regulates your circadian rhythm, and may boost your mood. While it’s true that prolonged exposure to UV rays can be harmful, most people only need about 10 to 15 minutes in the sun to experience some benefits. If you’re going to be out longer than that, sunscreen is still recommended, ensuring you have protection against UV rays.

Ultimately, all five of the tips above can help you stay healthy this winter. If you’d like to learn more, the staff at The Advance Group can help. Contact us today.

 

 

5 Ways to Stay Healthy This Winter – And Enjoy the Holiday Season!

Raza Rauf on December 7, 2020

As the weather gets colder, many people adjust their lifestyle. They may spend more time indoors, keeping them in close proximity with household members even more than before. Others may shift their outdoor activities with the season, a move that may increase exposure to cold temperatures. In some areas, heaters may already be running full-bore to keep homes comfortable, drying out the air.

All of these changes alter what it takes to stay healthy. If you want to make sure you’re in the best shape possible this winter, including during the holiday season, here’s what you need to know.

1. Take Appropriate Precautions

COVID-19 mars this winter season. While there isn’t a vaccine for the coronavirus, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be taking other precautions to stay healthy.

First, if you are able, get a flu shot. This will help protect you against newer strains of the flu, safeguarding you against a potentially dangerous virus.

Second, make cleaning a priority. Along with washing your hands regularly, sanitize surfaces frequently. This is especially true for shared, high-traffic surfaces, like kitchen counters, doorknobs, and more.

2. Focus on Nutrition

A healthy diet does support your immune system. It can make you better equipped to fight off illnesses, as a healthier body tends to have stronger defenses.

Ideally, focus on eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins. Watch both your sugar and caloric intake, as well as how much salt your consuming.

3. Remain Active

Getting enough exercise is another part of maintaining your health. The trick is, when the weather gets cold, some outdoor activities may no longer be an option.

If that’s the case for you, look for new opportunities. This can include winter activities like ice-skating, raking leaves, and building snowmen, or outdoor exercise that may be viable all year, like taking a walk around your neighborhood.

If you need to stay inside, you can still get exercise. For example, you can use your home’s staircase as an exercise option, walking up and down to get moving for a while. If you need something gentler on the joints, yoga doesn’t take up much space, is very low impact, and many poses can be adjusted to accommodate injuries or mobility issues.

4. Get Enough Sleep

For most adults, getting around 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night is important for overall health. It gives your body and brain a chance to relax and recharge. Plus, it can help you stay focused during the next day.

Preferably, you need to develop and stick with a sleep schedule. By waking up and going to bed simultaneously every day, including weekends, you create a pattern that may make it easier to get the rest you need.

5. Get a Little Sun

Sunlight is actually important to health. It helps with vitamin D formation, regulates your circadian rhythm, and may boost your mood. While it’s true that prolonged exposure to UV rays can be harmful, most people only need about 10 to 15 minutes in the sun to experience some benefits. If you’re going to be out longer than that, sunscreen is still recommended, ensuring you have protection against UV rays.

Ultimately, all five of the tips above can help you stay healthy this winter. If you’d like to learn more, the staff at The Advance Group can help. Contact us today.

 

 

4 Video Interview Tips We’re Leaving 2020 With

HMG Success on December 4, 2020

Due to COVID-19, conducting interviews in person is no longer the norm. As a result, many job seekers have had to adapt to hone their video interview skills instead.

While much of the virtual interview experience is the same as an in-person meeting, there are some significant areas where the two approaches differ. Ensuring that you come across well on video is a must, and that may require some adjustments to your usual interview technique.

Luckily, making the changes isn’t incredibly difficult. Here are four video interviewing tips that can help.

1. Be Aware (and Protective) of Your Space

Most candidates participate in video interviews from home. This means that a portion of your house is visible to the hiring manager.

Job seekers need to be aware of what’s in the video frame. They need to examine walls, shelves, floors, and any other areas that the camera captures. That way, they can make sure that any home décor, art pieces, or other items reflect well on them. Otherwise, they may leave a poor impression.

Similarly, candidates need to be protective of their interview space while the meeting is underway. Having pets or children running through the background is distracting, both to the job seeker and the hiring manager. Since making a great impression needs to be a priority, it’s best to choose a space you can control when it comes time for your interview. Ideally, this would be a home office with a door you can close.

Additionally, it would help if you ensured that any other household members know that you’re unavailable during the interview. A single interruption can derail the meeting, so it’s best to ensure that you won’t be disturbed.

2. Dress the Part

While it’s funny to see pictures on social media of someone interviewing while wearing pajama pants, you’re better off dressing just as you would for an in-person meeting. You never know what may happen and, if you have to stand up for an unexpected reason, your whole outfit may be visible.

Plus, dressing professionally doesn’t just increase the odds you’ll make a great impression; it also alters your mindset. You’ll be more likely to take the interview seriously, and that works in your favor.

3. Tech Tests Are a Must

While you can simply walk into an in-person interview, you have to deal with the associated technologies when you’re meeting online. Problems can certainly arise when dealing with tech, such as connection trouble, poor sound or video quality, and more.

Before you participate in a virtual interview, you need to conduct a tech test using the platform that is hosting the meeting. This allows you to confirm your connection and ensure that your audio and video work properly.

Plus, you can discover more about how you’ll come across. For example, you may find that your lighting isn’t ideal for the video, giving you a chance to adjust it before the big day.

4. Eye Contact Is Different

It’s easy to make eye contact when you meet with someone in-person. However, during a video interview, you have to change your approach to mimic eye contact.

If you spend your time looking at the hiring manager’s eyes on the screen, it appears as if your gaze is shifted downward to the hiring manager. To mimic eye contact, you actually need to look at your camera’s lens. It can take a little practice to get used to focusing on the lens instead.

Additionally, you may want to rehearse your amount of eye contact. Staring at the lens and never breaking your gaze could be a little unsettling to the hiring manager. You need to develop a rhythm, ensuring you don’t overdo it.

Ultimately, all four of the tips are based on lessons learned during 2020. If you’d like to learn more about successful video interview, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us today.

 

 

4 Video Interview Tips We’re Leaving 2020 With

Raza Rauf on December 4, 2020

Due to COVID-19, conducting interviews in person is no longer the norm. As a result, many job seekers have had to adapt to hone their video interview skills instead.

While much of the virtual interview experience is the same as an in-person meeting, there are some significant areas where the two approaches differ. Ensuring that you come across well on video is a must, and that may require some adjustments to your usual interview technique.

Luckily, making the changes isn’t incredibly difficult. Here are four video interviewing tips that can help.

1. Be Aware (and Protective) of Your Space

Most candidates participate in video interviews from home. This means that a portion of your house is visible to the hiring manager.

Job seekers need to be aware of what’s in the video frame. They need to examine walls, shelves, floors, and any other areas that the camera captures. That way, they can make sure that any home décor, art pieces, or other items reflect well on them. Otherwise, they may leave a poor impression.

Similarly, candidates need to be protective of their interview space while the meeting is underway. Having pets or children running through the background is distracting, both to the job seeker and the hiring manager. Since making a great impression needs to be a priority, it’s best to choose a space you can control when it comes time for your interview. Ideally, this would be a home office with a door you can close.

Additionally, it would help if you ensured that any other household members know that you’re unavailable during the interview. A single interruption can derail the meeting, so it’s best to ensure that you won’t be disturbed.

2. Dress the Part

While it’s funny to see pictures on social media of someone interviewing while wearing pajama pants, you’re better off dressing just as you would for an in-person meeting. You never know what may happen and, if you have to stand up for an unexpected reason, your whole outfit may be visible.

Plus, dressing professionally doesn’t just increase the odds you’ll make a great impression; it also alters your mindset. You’ll be more likely to take the interview seriously, and that works in your favor.

3. Tech Tests Are a Must

While you can simply walk into an in-person interview, you have to deal with the associated technologies when you’re meeting online. Problems can certainly arise when dealing with tech, such as connection trouble, poor sound or video quality, and more.

Before you participate in a virtual interview, you need to conduct a tech test using the platform that is hosting the meeting. This allows you to confirm your connection and ensure that your audio and video work properly.

Plus, you can discover more about how you’ll come across. For example, you may find that your lighting isn’t ideal for the video, giving you a chance to adjust it before the big day.

4. Eye Contact Is Different

It’s easy to make eye contact when you meet with someone in-person. However, during a video interview, you have to change your approach to mimic eye contact.

If you spend your time looking at the hiring manager’s eyes on the screen, it appears as if your gaze is shifted downward to the hiring manager. To mimic eye contact, you actually need to look at your camera’s lens. It can take a little practice to get used to focusing on the lens instead.

Additionally, you may want to rehearse your amount of eye contact. Staring at the lens and never breaking your gaze could be a little unsettling to the hiring manager. You need to develop a rhythm, ensuring you don’t overdo it.

Ultimately, all four of the tips are based on lessons learned during 2020. If you’d like to learn more about successful video interview, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us today.