HR & Management Tips - The Advance Group

Why “Hiring People Smarter Than You” is a Good Leadership Practice

Raza Rauf on July 22, 2016

There are so many management professionals out there who refuse to hire people smarter than them because they fear it will lead to them losing their job. The simple fact of the matter, however, is that it is important to hire people smarter than you for various reasons. One of those reasons is that it is in the best interest of the company to hire the most talented people available for open jobs. Use these tips to learn why hiring people smarter than you is a good leadership practice.

Reduction in Micromanagement

When you hire people smarter than you, the amount of micromanagement you will have to do will decrease immensely. Spending time micromanaging employees is never good for a company’s bottom line. In fact, it can be a major waste of time, talent and resources when managers have to hold the hands of employees or continually walk them through projects. When you hire people smarter than you, those employees will not have to be led through the darkness to reach a solution.

Better Locus of Control

Hiring people smarter than you will also lead to better locus of control with your employees. Locus of control is when people are able to take personal responsibility for failures they experience in their life and work. When this happens, you will see employees blaming outside circumstances less when mistakes occur. These employees will also learn from their mistakes, preventing the same problems in the future.

Handle Problems Better

Do you have trouble handling certain problems at the office? If so, consider hiring people smarter than you. If a problem arises that has you angry and upset, there might be someone even angrier with the same problem in the office. If this is the case, they might know more about the issue and how to remedy the problem. Put this person in charge of the issue and see how the situation plays out. When you hire people smarter than you, problems become easier to solve.

When you hire people smarter than you, it should not be taken as a threat. Instead, it needs to be looked at as a step in the right direction for the entire organization. Change your hiring habits and thinking today. You will see a difference almost immediately!

Partner with Advance Staffing Solutions today to find candidates in Michigan and Ohio who are smart, vetted, and ready to begin work at your company today!

The Real Reason Your Best Salespeople Are Leaving

Raza Rauf on July 15, 2016

Running a company takes a lot of blood, sweat, tears, heartache and energy. You can’t just sit back and hope success finds you. All companies, even the most successful ones, have trouble keeping employees on the payroll for various reasons. You might be wondering why your best salespeople keep leaving. Well, this is a question that too many companies have to ask on a regular basis.

You might be wondering why your best salespeople keep leaving. Well, this is a question that too many companies have to ask on a regular basis. Here are the real reasons why your best salespeople are leaving.

Few or No Growth Opportunities Offered

One of the biggest reasons why your best salespeople continue to leave your company is the fact that you provide them little or no opportunities for growth. No one wants to get stuck in the same job for their entire career. People want to climb the corporate ladder and become a manager, vice president, president or part owner. There are plenty of positions within a company that someone can aspire to during their career. Don’t limit your salespeople to just being salespeople. If you want to retain your best employees, provide them with opportunities to grow within the company.

Selfishness Reared Its Ugly Head

Selfishness has no room in the business world, especially in a company that relies on salespeople to get the job done on a regular basis. You hired these salespeople to do a job for you and they have goals they want to attain, both personal and professional. If you fail to let the employees integrate their goals into your company, you will have trouble retaining them. Get rid of selfishness immediately to keep your best salespeople in the organization.

You Take Up Too Much Time

Taking up too much time is a major factor as to why your best salespeople are leaving. Stop sending late-night emails and memos on the weekends when the office is closed. Doing this sends a message to employees that you do not value their time. A large portion of employees will answer these emails and sit on conference calls when out of work to play the game and retain their job, but it will take a toll on them, ultimately forcing them out the door to greener pastures.

You Ignore Autonomy

Companies that ignore autonomy make a major mistake. Employees want to be heard, listened to, respected and felt like they are actually part of the bigger picture when they come to work. Do not ignore what your salespeople have to say when it comes to new ideas or other thoughts. The more you acknowledge your employees, the less likely it is that they will withhold innovative ideas that might solve a problem within the company.

In order to keep your best salespeople from leaving, you need to encourage autonomy, stop the weekend emails and calls, get rid of selfishness and provide plenty of opportunities for growth. Then, and only then, will you be able to keep your best salespeople on the payroll.

Need help retaining your top salespeople, or hiring better employees? Work with the staffing professionals at Advance Staffing Solutions to find the perfect employees for your organization today!

Not Sure You Should Partner with a Staffing Firm? Read This!

Raza Rauf on June 30, 2016

As a Michigan-area company that’s always mindful of personnel costs, it’s natural to want to weigh the options before choosing to work with a staffing firm. The responsible thing to do is to check out all of your options before you decide to go this route. In this way, you can make the best decision for your organization.

There are many benefits to working with a temporary staffing agency. These are unique perks that can only be found when you partner with the right staffing agency that’s familiar with your industry and your requirements. Here is a rundown of some of the reasons why you should partner with a staffing agency.

Access to a Larger Pool of Pre-Screened Candidates

When you work with a staffing agency, you will have automatic access to large pool of candidates who have already been screened carefully by the staffing agents. The staffing agency handles all the upfront details of recruitment, such as skills assessments, background checks, and verification of employment history. This means you have no worries about candidate shortages because there are already people ready to start working immediately on your special project, or to replace a departing employee.

Proactive and Strategic Workforce Planning

It can be easy to get into a pattern of hiring people to replace those leaving the company, in a vicious cycle that continues over and over. But this is not very strategic. When you work with a staffing agency, you will be able to develop a succession plan that will enable you to strategically hire the right people for positions that you are creating as your company grows. You’ll also be able to seek out support for special projects and seasonal peaks in your business. Temporary staffing is a much more flexible and adaptable model for any business.

Cost Efficiency

Managing a busy workforce requires a large amount of capital, much of which is spent during recruitment processes. When you work with a temporary staffing agency in your area, you can be sure that all upfront cost are absorbed by the agency. This includes all the administrative expenses of interviewing candidates, running job ads, verifying employment history and references, drug abuse screens, criminal background checks, and more. These costs are spread out in the contract for several months, which means your company can maintain an affordable staffing budget.

If you are still on the fence about partnering with a staffing agency in MI, why not give us a call and learn more about this opportunity?

New to Interviewing? Here Are the Best (and Worst) Questions to Ask

Raza Rauf on June 21, 2016

There certainly is a method for interviewing, and the best hiring managers have this skill worked out. But, then there are situations that can stump even the most seasoned recruitment pros. The quality of each interview question usually determines the quality of each candidate.

If you are still new to interviewing candidates, here are some of the best interview questions to ask and the worst interview questions to avoid.

Don’t ask: Where do you see yourself in five years?

This is one of the most commonly used interview questions that does nothing but pry too much into a candidate’s professional (and personal) goals. No one knows where their career will be in five years in this job market.

Instead ask: Do you see yourself working here one year from now and if so, what does that look like?

Don’t ask: Are there any responsibilities that may keep you from being productive?

This is just on the border of being intrusive for several reasons. First, it makes the candidate uncomfortable to be asked this. Second, the candidate may feel obligated to reveal certain protected information about their parental state, if they are working another job, if they are going to school, or if they are caring for aging parents, and more.

Instead ask: How do you best manage your time?

Don’t ask: What is your favorite…anything?

This is one of the most ridiculous interview questions that has ever been asked in the history of interviews. It has nothing at all to do with a candidate’s ability to do the job well. It’s too personal and actually embarrassing for many to answer.

Instead ask: What is your favorite part of the workday?

Don’t ask: You have an interesting name/accent – where are you from?

This innocent-seeming question is a big no-no in a job interview. It is against the law to inquire about a candidate’s ethnic background or country of origin. You may think it’s important to know where a person is from, but in a job interview it’s none of your business. Don’t ask this ever.

Instead ask: How do you like this area?

Remember to review equal employment law guidelines before interviewing anyone for a job. If you are rusty with job interviews, it can be better to let a staffing agency handle this part of the process or give you a refresher on what to say and what not to say to help you stay out of hot water.

Let Advance Staffing Solutions take the hard work of interviewing and sourcing candidates off your shoulders! Contact us today.

Facing a Talent Shortage? Here’s How to Improve Your Recruiting Strategy

Raza Rauf on June 7, 2016

One would think with all the latest technology that recruitment as a whole is more efficient. However, it is a candidate-driven market currently and therefore, the recruitment process has actually gotten longer. A recent Forbes report issued by Glassdoor.com estimated that the average length of an interview has actually doubled in the last five years, going from 12.6 days to 22.9 days. At the same time, top candidates are only on the market an average of about 10 days. This makes it a big challenge for most recruiters.

One of the reasons that recruitment has slowed down is because employers are now demanding more assessments and interviews before they even consider candidates for entry-level employment. New screening methods such as group interviews, personality tests, security screens, skills assessments, and advanced background and drug tests all tend to drag out the hiring timeline. Companies are more careful about the people they hire because it is a large investment.

However, it is possible to speed up the hiring process so that you can go after the best candidates before another competitor gets them. Consider the following tips to improve your recruiting strategy.

Candidates who are in high demand will probably be interviewing with several companies at once. You’ll want to make your compensation package and corporate culture very attractive in order to capture their attention.

Develop a reputation for being efficient in your hiring practices. When candidates know that if they deal with your company, they can expect to hear back quickly and your job recruitment process is responsive to their needs, they’re more apt to stay loyal to your company until a job offer is made.

Make the application process simple. Consider the use of mobile apps in your recruitment practices to quickly gather the information of your candidates and respond to them in kind. Think about candidates who may be remote to your company as well, and use video technology to handle the initial screening interview.

Let a staffing agency handle all the upfront details of a hiring process. Staffing agencies are very efficient when it comes to screening and evaluating candidates for employment opportunities. In fact, they probably already have candidates ready to go by the time you call the office.

By speeding up your recruitment processes, there’s a good chance that you will be able to acquire the talent that your company needs to be successful. Partner with Advance Staffing Solutions to improve your recruiting strategy today.

How to Create a “Performance Improvement Plan”

Raza Rauf on May 27, 2016

In every workplace there are bound to be a few employees who struggle with performance issues. This can be a source of stress for managers who only want to bring out the best in their people. Performance reviews are designed to help manager’s pinpoint specific areas where employees need improvement. But what if you have an employee who has been given goals repeatedly and not been able to reach them due to performance issues? How should this be handled?

From an HR perspective, this is when you would consider using a performance improvement plan (PIP) to help to bring the employee up to speed. Here’s how to create a manageable PIP, using SMART goals.

SMART stands for specific, measured, agreeable, realistic and timely. When creating performance improvement plans, this can be an effective and simple way to successfully bring even the most difficult employees up to speed. Here’s how it works.

Specific – In order for goals to be effective they must be specific. Instead of saying to an employee that they must manage their time better, make the goal specific. For example, state that the employee must complete all expense reports by noon on Fridays. This is specific and related to performance.

Measured – Being able to understand and track performance is part of the measurable aspect of a PIP. State that the employee will complete the weekly reports for 30 days in a row, at which time the performance review process will be updated with the goal achieved. Again, it’s a specific measurable goal.

Agreeable – When working on a performance improvement plan, it is critical that the employee buys in to the idea. The way to achieve this is to create goals that are agreeable by both parties. This requires some compromise. Ask the employee to set at least two goals for themselves as part of this process. Put the goals in writing, sign off on them, and both agree that these things will take place.

Realistic – You can set the employee up for success when you create goals that are realistic. For example, determine if there are any obstacles to the person completing their expense reports every Friday. If it is not realistic for them to do so due to a technology barrier, then this is not a realistic goal. It’s important to talk through these things when developing the plan.

Timely – Along with setting a measurable goal you’ll want to set a goal that is timely. This could include how you will know that the employee is completing the task. For the example given, come up with a system that the employee can report to you every Friday if they have turned in their expense report for the week. This keeps the employee accountable and the goal is timely and manageable.

To complete the performance improvement plan, put all of this in writing and make sure to sign off and put a copy in the employee’s file. Provide a copy to the employee as well. And make sure that you review it within the first 7, 14, and 21 days after the plan takes place. Nearly every employee wants to do better, so with a performance improvement plan in effect, they will have a chance to perform well on the job.

Need help creating a more efficient workplace? Start by hiring better workers! Contact the staffing experts at Advance Staffing Solutions today to learn how we can help you build a better workforce.

Are You Missing a Mobile Recruitment Strategy?

Raza Rauf on May 13, 2016

Does your company have a mobile recruitment strategy in place? Perhaps it should. A recent workforce survey conducted by IBM Smarter Workforce Institute indicated that 70 percent of high-potential candidates prefer and are drawn to companies that have a mobile recruitment options. Around 12,000 workers representing organizations around the world said they use mobile devices for job-searching activities. If your company doesn’t have a mobile recruitment presence, that’s a lot of potential candidates you could be missing out on.

How to implement a mobile recruitment strategy.

Thanks to technology resources that make mobile recruitment cheaper and more readily available, any organization can create a mobile-friendly recruitment plan. Here are some ways to get started:

Create a mobile-enabled career website.

Set up a website with a career portal that is easy to access via mobile devices. Your website should be responsive to every type of mobile device available from the smallest smartphones to the largest tablet. Keep the content simple and have a search function prominently featured on the page so candidates can quickly search for jobs.

Develop an interactive brand.

The optimum content to share across the mobile recruitment platforms are videos and images. Use this space to create a powerful introductory video explaining the corporate culture and the benefits of working for the company. Recruiters can create personal videos to introduce themselves and the different job types that may be available. Your career portal can also be setup to share important announcements such as Career Fairs and other recruitment events.

Use a one-page application form.

Since mobile devices use a simple interface, you will want to have a one-page application form for candidates to complete. Several social media tools such as LinkedIn recruitment offer this option which can simplify candidate acquisition. You may also want to include an opportunity for candidates to upload a short introductory video or to link their social networks to the application.

Mobile messaging.

When developing a mobile recruitment strategy, it’s also important to keep in mind that you will want your application to include text messaging opportunities. Create short job titles and appealing headlines that can be broadcast out to all candidates in your system. Automate the process. Make sure to include an opt-in box so that candidates can choose to receive text messaging via their mobile devices.

Need help creating a better recruitment process? Partner with the recruiting experts at Advance Staffing Solutions! Contact us online today.

It’s OK to Be the Boss Everyone Likes!

Raza Rauf on May 6, 2016

Years ago, people didn’t really like their boss. In fact, they would express fear when asked about their relationship with their immediate supervisor. Bosses were secretive, conniving, and not to be messed with. Then came a new wave of bosses. These were the folks who wanted to be your friend. But they had a method to their madness. They wanted to get close to you so they could find out what motivated you so they could squeeze more work out of you. Again, it wasn’t a very positive relationship between bosses and employees.

If you are facing the very real possibility that you are going to be someone’s boss, don’t get too caught up in the past. You have the chance to be the boss you’ve always dreamt about — and yes you can be the boss everyone likes.
Here’s how:

Be Understanding

There’s nothing worse than working for someone who is inflexible or unrealistic. Be a better boss by being flexible and understanding of your employees. This is particularly important as millennial employees tend to put more emphasis on work-life balance then on becoming workaholics.

Learn to Communicate

A great boss is someone who is skilled at communicating with all different types of people. Communication skills can be learned over time and practice. Always have an open door communication policy with your employees. Learn to demonstrate compassion and also become a good listener when dealing with your employees.

Build Positive Relationships

You don’t have to be everyone’s best friend in order to be a good manager. However, you do need to be someone that others can respect and relate to. Take the time to get to know your subordinates and develop positive relationships with each person. Find out what motivates them and what their career goals are. Be an encouraging source of support to help people reach their full potential.

Recognize Your Team

Bosses who recognized the unique value in every individual are well on their way to being the boss that everyone admires. Evaluate your employees and identify their strengths as part of your team. Give regular praise and recognize the effort of your employees. Provide meaningful projects that honor the strengths of employees.

Set Reasonable Expectations

A good boss will recognize the human side of the business. They understand that each individual has specific talents, but that there are also certain limitations. When conducting performance reviews other employees, remember that the goals that you set must be reasonable and attainable within a certain amount of time. So too, the support and resources must be available. Don’t set unrealistic demands on people. Remember what it felt like to be put in this position by a previous supervisor.

How to Land an Entry-Level HR Career

Raza Rauf on May 4, 2016

Ready to take on the world of people management? Human resources is perhaps one of the most rewarding and challenging career paths out there today. Every day, human resource practitioners are making big decisions that impact the organizations that they work for. Human resources professionals are tasked with making sure their organizations are compliant with employment laws and updates that affect the bottom line.

If you believe you have what it takes to walk the line between employees and the best interest of the business, then here are some tips for landing an entry-level HR job.

Get the right training.

It is absolutely vital to your career in HR to get the right training and education. Enroll in an accredited Human Resource Management program through a local university or college. Human resources is an ever-changing industry, therefore it is important that you get the correct information and instruction so that you can be highly knowledgeable about this field. Consider that as an HR professional you will be tasked with ongoing learning throughout your career.

Develop your leadership skills.

Human resources professionals are more than just payroll clerks and benefits administrators. They are skilled professionals who are leaders in terms of workplace policies and improvements. Take the time to learn how to be a solid leader before you look for an entry level job, because you will be tasked with proving your worth to other leaders in the real business world.

Consider HR certification.

It is always a good idea to pursue additional training and certification in human resources. The Society for Human Resource Management has guidelines for what every HR pro should be studying.

Try recruiting as an entry point.

Recruitment can be a great way to get involved with human resource efforts. This very vital role can help you to learn quickly how to be effective managing people, understanding employment rules and regulations, and getting the most from human capital in any organization.

Accept temp-to-perm HR opportunities.

Be open to working in temp-to-perm jobs in human resources. This can fast track you into a more permanent entry or mid-level role. Staffing agencies that have recruitment and HR jobs often look for people who have potential and then put them through additional training and even college to learn more.

Looking to land an entry-level HR career? Click here to browse our open job opportunities in Michigan and Ohio, or contact us today!

How to Create a Better Workforce for Top Millennial Talent

Raza Rauf on April 29, 2016

As we mentioned in a previous post, millennials are the largest generation of employees who are making an impact on the workforce today. Most recent figures put them at 53.5 million strong, and they have even outpaced the baby boomers (Pew Research, 2016). Therefore, any employer that wants to attract the best talent in the coming years needs to find ways to appeal to millennials.

At the same time, we are in a talent crisis as baby boomers are leaving in droves for retirement, at the rate of 10,000 per day, and the unemployment rate is also down – meaning less available talent looking for work.

How can a company create a better workforce for top millennials to keep them on board, get them trained well, and away from the competition?

Provide rewarding work experiences.

Millennials need instant gratification. They are used to this because of the environment in which they grew up. Everything is within reach of a mobile device these days, so if they are not feeling excited about the work they do, they are probably searching for something else.

Instill the value of loyalty.

Make the idea of loyalty a part of your core corporate culture. How? Provide a unique environment with plenty of millennial-friendly perks that they cannot get elsewhere. Use strong branding and messaging to create cheerleader employees. This is effective at attracting new candidates too. When they see how happy your employees are, they want in.

Give them a chance to learn.

Millennial talent places a high value on learning through nontraditional means. This is because they are smarter about college loan debt and don’t want to get stuck paying for this like their parents did. Bring learning and development opportunities to your employees, to both encourage participation and skill building. This enables your organization to create a structured advancement plan that’s linked to learning.

Set up a mentorship program.

Younger employees generally enjoy learning from more seasoned ones, mostly because they want to have these higher-level jobs sooner. Match your leaders and mentors with millennials and watch them blossom. If you hire temp-to-perm employees, give them a chance to work under the guidance of a team lead for a time until they prove their worth.

These ideas are just the start! Partner with a staffing agency like Advance Staffing Solutions to support long-term millennial talent placement and that company goals are met as the youngest generation revolutionizes the world of work.

How to Get Your Workforce Engaged this Spring

Raza Rauf on April 21, 2016

A workforce that’s disengaged poses a huge threat to your company’s livelihood. According to research from The Economist, around 87 percent of executives believe that employees who lack engagement bring down businesses. Therefore, it’s up to company leaders to create a workplace where people feel valued and can look forward to their jobs.

It’s time to shake off the cold of the winter months in the central states and get your workers actively engaged in the company objectives again! The springtime is ripe for new opportunities and energy.

Conduct an employee engagement survey.

Where does your employee engagement stand now? If you are not sure, this can be the perfect time to conduct an employee engagement survey of your entire organization. Find out where there are problems, where there are positive factors, and where things can be improved over the course of the next few months.

Hire some new people.

The spring can be a good time to bring in some fresh new employees too. Many times, employees become disengaged because they have far too much work on their plates. Give them a break by hiring some temp-to-perm help in Detroit to alleviate this stress.

Schedule a workplace celebration.

An effective way to bring life back into a dull workplace, lift spirits, and increase employee engagement is to host a fun springtime celebration. Create a spring themed week of events, complete with contests for the best spring fashion, the best-decorated workspaces, and more. Have an outdoor cookout if weather allows!

Organize a community event.

The spring can be a good way to get everyone out of the office for some sunshine too, an action that immediately lifts the mood of employees. Look for some community causes that need attention, such as a city beautification program, a homeless women’s shelter, or a walk to raise money for a local pet shelter. Just make it fun and get everyone involved in some way.

Issue promotions.

Instead of waiting until later in the year to hand out promotions and raises, why not issue them now? Give employees credit for their hard work, and they will stick around and be more engaged.
Need more help getting your workforce engaged this spring? Contact the staffing experts at Advance Staffing Solutions today!

Use These Tips to Create a Brighter Springtime Workplace

Raza Rauf on April 19, 2016

The cold weather is behind us and the springtime is bringing warmer temperatures and lots of sunshine to Michigan and Ohio … finally! Many workers have been cooped up in their offices, cubicles, and plants for far too long. It’s time to bring the springtime into the workplace with these creative ideas.

Dejunk the office.

Spring is the perfect time to clean up any office space, and this comes down to assigning work teams for some sprucing up. Start by clearing any clutter that’s developed, especially in common areas, hallways, and break areas. Then, wipe things down. Bring more sunshine in by cleaning windows and blinds too. The office should feel light and bright now.

Bring in the green.

Give your office more life and improve the air quality by investing in some beautiful greenery. Work with a local greenhouse to secure fresh plants for every office area. Encourage your employees to bring in their plants too. Hold an impromptu Earth Day celebration and plant some trees on the property around your offices.

Boost spirits.

Schedule some outdoor events to help get employees outside and into some fresh air. Have a picnic in a local park, or invite the families of your employees for an ice cream social at the office. Give out fun prizes and corporate swagger in bright pastel hues. Have a May-Pole dance outside and invite the children of workers to participate.

Encourage some time off.

Your springtime workforce also signals a time to encourage employees to find more work-life balance by taking some much needed time off. Partner with a staffing agency like Advance Staffing Solutions to bring in some temporary employees so your regular employees can schedule vacation time.

Improve incentives.

The spring months often need a little help to increase the morale of the workplace, especially after the brutal winter we had here in Michigan and Ohio. Review your current employee incentive programs and see if you can make them better. Create some fun competitions in the office that allow employees to shine in front of their peers, then assign incentive to performance goals.

Host a wellness event.

Many times, employees are hoping to shed some weight and get fit as they head into the summer months ahead (and bathing suit season). Support this effort by introducing a wellness program at the office. Launch it with a wellness event held on campus.

Work on a cause.

In the spring, companies can also start focusing on community causes that need support. Nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity, local pet shelters, and even nearby schools can always use a helping hand. Organize a team of employees to spend a day building a new home for a deserving family and see how this experience brings people closer.

Need help creating a workforce that shines this spring? Click here to partner with Advance Staffing Solutions today!