HR & Management Tips - The Advance Group

5 Tips for Spotting Your Biggest Time Wasters

Raza Rauf on October 22, 2014

Some employees love to waste time when at work, and the problem has gotten worse with the explosion of social media and gaming on the internet. With so many different sites to browse, people are taking large chunks of time out of their day to post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or by simply browsing the web and shopping online. When this happens, your company is losing valuable time and money. So how do you spot employees who waste time?

Follow the five tips outlined here and you should have no problem improving your Employee Time Management efforts.

Holding Too Many Meetings

If a department within your company is constantly having meetings, this could be a major sign that your employees are wasting time. In a survey from salary.com, 19 percent of respondents said that meetings at work are the biggest waste of time. These meetings might be necessary for some departments, but others could be holding them for little to no reason at all. This means that your employees are sitting around shooting the breeze or having discussions that could be easily accomplished through a department-wide email, instead of completing their work.

Inefficient Team Members

The study also found that 17 percent of respondents said that their inefficient team members cause others to waste time at work. When you have several employees who do not complete their work on time or correctly, it can cause other team members to slack off or to struggle with completing their own work. Inefficient team members can have their bad habits rub off on others, which is always bad for your company’s culture.

Assigning Busywork

Supervisors or managers who tend to assign too much busywork can create an environment of procrastinators or employees who waste too much time. This reason received 13 percent of the vote from the survey respondents. Busywork is never fun to complete, especially for employees who have been with a company for quite some time or who have levels of experience that put them past this stage of their career. While it is sometimes a necessity, try to limit the amount of busywork you assign.

Quick Reduction of the Browser

Another tip for spotting the biggest time wasters at work is those who quickly close the browser on their desktop when anyone walks by their office or cubicle. This could be a sign that they are wasting time browsing the internet, sending emails from a personal account or simply playing games on the computer when they should be working. When this becomes a common practice, especially when supervisors walk by, it is a major sign that employees are wasting time at work.

Constant Chatter Amongst Employees

When employees are constantly talking to each other either on the phone, at the water cooler, in the hallways or at each other’s desks, it is another big sign of time wasters at work. Constant chatter can be detrimental to the culture of the company and it will hurt the chances of workers completing their work on time. It is alright for employees to become friends or acquaintances, but when they are always speaking with each other, especially about non-work related topics, then this is a sign of time being wasted at work.

For more on how to stop time wasting in the workplace, or to find employees with strong time management skills, contact the staffing experts at Advance Staffing Solutions today.

Keep Employee Retention Up in the Fall

Raza Rauf on October 15, 2014

Employee retention is one of the main goals of a company each year, especially if the company deals with high turnover rates. There can be varying reasons why companies experience high turnover rates, but many of them are not positive reasons. As human resource departments continue the fight to keep the best employees, we have some tips for you to use this fall in this post:

Provide Employees with Ownership

Employees want to be given ownership of the work they perform. They also do not like to be micromanaged often. Employees want to be able to solve problems how they deem fit and want to be able to express their individuality while at work. Providing employees with ownership can be done by allowing them the chance to pick the paint colors for a new office or by sharing the most intimate details about the company’s finances with them at quarterly meetings.

Provide and Request Regular Feedback

Another excellent way to retain employees is by offering and requesting feedback on a regular basis. This shows employees that their work and their input are valued by the company. Make sure you use the feedback provided by the employees so they know their suggestions are not falling on deaf ears. When you offer feedback to employees, make sure it is not empty feedback. Tailor the feedback to each individual employee so they know that their work is truly being reviewed by the organization.

Form a Committee to Investigate Culture

If you are still having trouble retaining employees, then your company should consider forming a committee that investigates and works to improve the culture of the office. The culture committee should not be very corporate, but instead, it should be one that caters to the employees and tries to find new and innovative ways to make them happy while on the job. The committee should make recommendations about employee retention ideas, possible family activities and other events.

Hold ‘Stay’ Interviews

Almost every company in operation today conducts exit interviews with each and every employee who leaves the organization. Instead of waiting for employees to leave to find out why they are doing so, begin having interviews with the employees who have the most tenure at the company. During these interviews, find out why they have stayed so long. This will help you make improvements in the future in an effort to keep other employees at the office.

Let Employees Express Themselves

As you continue to work on retaining employees, it is imperative to let your employees express themselves at the office. Let them be open and honest about the job, the projects on which they are working, what they feel needs to be changed at the company and much more. You might not like what you hear from the employees, but it could help to change the way things are done.

Retaining the best employees at a company in Detroit is never an easy job, but companies need to find new ways to do so in today’s competitive market. If your company utilizes even just one of the tips from this post, it should have success with keeping employees around for the long haul. Talk with the experts at Advance Staffing Solutions about Detroit Staffing Retention methods that can help keep your workforce strong and productive.

Why Offering Flexible Hours Promotes Productivity, Happiness, and Loyalty among Workers

Raza Rauf on September 19, 2014

Companies are beginning to offer their employees flexible work hours these days in an effort to promote loyalty, happiness and productivity in their workforce. Employees want to have a strong balance between their work life and their personal life so that they can have time to relax and enjoy their family and friends. Learn more about this trend as we discuss the reasons why employees are productive, happy and loyal when offered flexible working hours at their place of employment.

Boost to Productivity

When employees are offered flexible work hours, their productivity will tend to soar. The reason for this is that they do not have to work the mundane nine-to-five hours. Instead, they will be able to work hours in which they are most productive. For example, if an employee is highly productive from 7am-3pm, the company should let him work during these hours. If the employee is highly productive from 10am-7pm, consider allowing her to work during this time.

More Happiness

Companies that offer flexible working hours for their employees will see happiness within the workforce hit an all-time high. When employees can work the schedule that best fits their lifestyle, then they will be happy when they come to work each day. This allows the employee the chance to live their lives, take care of their children, enjoy time with friends and much more. No one wants to be stuck in an office from 9am-7pm each day. Flexible working hours make this a thing of the past. Companies that offer flexible work hours are telling their employees that they value their time, which will make the employees work harder and show appreciation when on the job.

Greater Loyalty

One of the most important benefits of offering flexible working hours to employees is that they will tend to be more loyal to the company. When you have a happy workforce, you will have a loyal one. You must remember that loyalty is a two-way street. The more loyal you are to employees, the more loyal they will be to your company. Employees become loyal when their work and personal lives are balanced and they have a happy workplace to go to each day.

Other Benefits of Flexible Work Hours

There are additional benefits of offering flexible work hours to employees, and they include a reduction in absenteeism and less stress for employees. Companies that offer flexible work hours tend to see their absenteeism rates decline because employees have time in their day to complete personal tasks outside of the office without needing to take a day off from work. The stress levels of employees will also drop with a flexible work schedule because they do not have to constantly worry about how they are going to get everything done on their to-do list.

For more information on how to create a happy, productive and loyal workforce, or to find a position in a company that adheres to these values, contact the staffing experts at Advance Staffing Solutions today!

5 Reasons a Temp Agency can Boost Your Candidate Search

Raza Rauf on September 12, 2014

Companies routinely recruit new employees so they have someone to contact when positions become available. Waiting until the last minute to fill open jobs can hurt your chances of finding the strongest person for the job. Here, we will discuss the top five reasons why a temp agency like Advance Staffing Solutions in Detroit MI can boost the candidate search for your company.

Try Employees Prior to Hiring Them

One of the most popular reasons for working with a temp agency for companies is that you can try the employees out before hiring them. This means that you can bring them into your office for a couple of weeks or a couple of months and then make a hiring decision — whether you end their assignment or extend an offer for a full-time position. They are considered temporary employees until you make an offer of full-time employment. This is an excellent way to determine if they will fit within your corporate culture.

Increase Productivity of the Office

When your company works with a temp agency, it makes productivity at the office increase. By hiring temporary workers, you can take some of the load off your full-time workers. This will prevent them from suffering burnout while on the job. Employees’ schedules can become overloaded with projects; when this happens, it is best to consult a temp agency so you can bring in a couple of temp workers to lighten the load of the full-time staff.

Avoid Unemployment Claims from Employees

When you hire temporary workers from an agency, you will be able to avoid unemployment claims when their time on the job comes to an end. Temporary workers are employees of the temp agency, so when they are let go from their jobs with a company, the company does not have to file unemployment claims. This will help keep the unemployment rate of the company at the same levels it was prior to hiring the temp workers.

Reduce Operating Costs

Working with a temp agency can help a company reduce its operating costs. This happens because the temporary workers do not have to be provided benefits or health coverage by the company using them since they are employees of the temp agency. The company will also be able to save money on overtime for full-time employees when temp workers are hired. The more temp workers you have in your office, the less overtime regular employees will need to work during the week.

Flexibility is Important

One of the most popular benefits of a company working with a temp agency is that it offers the company flexibility with their staff. Companies can bring in temp workers when large projects come in and can let them go when all the work is complete. This can be done during busy seasons for companies or every other week, it all depends on the needs of the company.

Working with a temp agency can benefit a company in multiple ways, especially the five outlined in this post. If you want to learn more about how your company can benefit from temporary employees, contact the staffing experts at Advance Staffing Solutions today.

How to Attract, Retain and Develop Star Supervisors

Raza Rauf on August 23, 2014

Attracting, retaining and developing star supervisors is paramount to thriving in an ultra-competitive market. It’s not impossible to do, but it takes an investment in time, training and money on the part of the company, as well as an investment of commitment from the candidate being chosen for the supervisor position.

Let’s talk about how to recruit and keep the best management team engaged in your company’s success.

The Workplace Must be a Positive One
In order to recruit – and ultimately retain – star supervisors, you must provide them with as much of a positive workplace as possible. Management teams will not want to stay with their current company if the workplace is not enjoyable due to negative attitudes or poor culture. At the same time, supervisors must also be able to stay positive while at work if they want to keep their employees happy and at the company for prolonged periods.

Offer Quality Programs for Supervisors
Star supervisors will be more inclined to stay with your company if you have quality programs in place for everyone to enjoy. This means that aside from increases in salary, you could also offer supervisors programs that add extra benefits. These benefits include flexible work schedules, extra paid time off, child care, memberships to a gym, and much more.

Create a Managers’ Mentoring Program
Another excellent way to attract and retain top supervisors is to create a mentoring program. This can be company-wide, but it should have a strong focus on employees who want to be promoted to supervisory positions. The program should pair either regular employees with supervisors or rookie supervisors with veteran ones so everyone can learn how to work in such a role.

Focus on What is Right in a Supervisor’s Job
You must also focus on what the supervisor is doing right while on the job and not too much on what they are doing wrong. When you put more of an emphasis on the positives instead of the negatives, the supervisors will be more inclined to remain at their current company. This can be done by having individual meetings with supervisors and by recognizing their accomplishments in front of the entire workforce.

Increase Morale at the Office
Morale at the company must be very high in order to retain star supervisors. This can be done by showing your supervisors how they can work smarter and not harder while on the job. Have your supervisors create a list of their daily activities and show them how they can get it done smarter instead of spending more time on each task. They should work faster, show a stronger commitment, and take on as much work as possible to work smarter.

Recruiting, retaining and developing star supervisors can be a difficult task for companies to complete, but when it is done properly, the reward will be immense. Partner with a staffing firm like Advance Staffing Solutions to learn how to implement and reap all the benefits of a star supervisor program.

How Much Does it Cost to Work with a Michigan Temp Agency?

Raza Rauf on June 20, 2014

Working with a Michigan temp agency can be very beneficial for any organization looking to fill vacant jobs. Temp agencies help companies recruit and hire temporary workers on an ongoing basis, making it easier to keep jobs filled. Temp workers are very helpful to companies because they might be able to perform some services that current employees do not have or can work just enough hours where the company does not have them counted against their employment numbers for the Affordable Care Act.

Hourly Temp Workers

When a temp agency places hourly temporary workers with your company you will be paying the agency that placed them with you a fee. For the most part, you will be paying that worker by the hour, so you also pay the agency in Michigan by the hour. For example, if your hourly worker is paid $10 USD per hour, you might be paying the temp agency a percentage rate slightly higher than the hourly rate paid to the worker.

Now, keep in mind that you only have to pay the temp agency when the employee actually performs work for your company. On average, a markup for salary can range from 15 to 30 percent of the worker’s hourly wage. This more than makes up for the benefits of working with a temp agency. Consider these factors:

The temp agency does all the recruiting, screening, assessments and background checks.
The agency manages areas such as benefits, payroll, overtime, and bonuses.
The agency is partnered with your company to ensure that the temp employee performs well on the job.

Temp to Perm Employees

Many temporary employees can find themselves being offered permanent, full-time employment at their companies after being placed by a temp agency. When this happens, the temp agency will charge the hiring company a fee that comes from the employee’s starting salary. The fee will be in the range of 25 to 75 percent of the employee’s starting salary. In this scenario, the company will need to pay the temp agency whether or not the employee winds up working out for the company. This means that temp agencies will need to scrutinize their candidates a lot more so they provide companies with top talent that will stay with the company for the long haul.

Executive Searches

Temp agencies in Michigan are also able to provide companies with executive searches. This is an easier way for companies to bring in new vice presidents, presidents and financial officers for various departments throughout the company. You can sign a retainer fee with the temp agency, which could be a portion of the fee you will pay the agency when they find an executive to work at your company. For the most part, the retainer fee will be half of the expected fee.

Working with a temp agency in the state of Michigan is beneficial to companies of all sizes. Many temp agencies will have set rates to help companies fill open positions, but will be open to working with companies when it comes to negotiating rates. As a company, all you need to do is ask what their lowest rates are and what services you will get for those rates.

Are you a Leader or a Boss on the Floor?

Raza Rauf on June 6, 2014

Despite common beliefs, good leaders are made, not born. So too, managers and supervisors are not always perfect for the positions in which they find themselves. Some just might not have the skills or the training to be a strong leader. Therefore, they turn to “old school” methods of putting fear into their subordinates rather than becoming the manager who is effective at leading others.

Leader vs. Boss

Being a leader versus being a boss is very important for the success of your department or company. Leaders will inspire their workers to succeed each day on the job. Bosses will simply delegate work and hand out orders whenever possible.

Are you are leader or a boss at your office? We take a look at that question in this post.

What Makes a Leader?

Many of you might be wondering what the skills and traits are of a good leader. A leader will always be open to learning new things. This means that he or she will always seek out knowledge regarding the industry in which they work as well as the position they hold right now.

A leader will also listen more than they talk. This includes listening to other supervisors, management above them and the workers within their department. When a leader listens, he or she will hear excellent ideas from employees that help to solve problems.

A leader will seek solutions to problems instead of just providing employees with answers to those problems. To go along with that, leaders will also encourage his or her employees instead of just criticizing them. A strong leader knows what it takes to help people improve as much as possible on the job.

Many strong leaders will point out the natural gifts of an employee during and after a project. Pointing out the strengths of an employee will help them understand areas that need improving without feeling like they are being criticized constantly.

What Makes a Boss?

Bosses can be found in companies all across the country today. It is incredibly easy to be a boss today because it does not take much effort at all. Bosses are sometimes in it just for the paycheck and to feel bigger than those working for them. Here are some warning signs that you are a boss and not a leader at work.

A boss will do everything possible to defend his or her own ego instead of showing vulnerability. When a boss refuses to show his or her weak points, it gives employees a bad vision of the manager.

Bosses tend to direct employees instead of coaching them. A boss who tells his or her employees exactly what to do does not help anyone. No one will learn or figure out how to adapt to changes when this occurs, which is why bosses are not good coaches.

Many bosses will employ a ‘me’ attitude at work instead of a ‘team’ attitude. This can cause a ton of friction within a department and even prevent projects from being completed on-time.

Advance Staffing Solutions, a leading Detroit Temp Agency, can support your goals of being a better manager and retaining the bedt employees. Find out more by visiting our website today.

Lean Manufacturing Trends for 2014

Raza Rauf on May 28, 2014

Thousands of companies across the country are trying to move towards lean manufacturing in 2014 in order to save money on operating costs and much more. The principles of lean manufacturing have always played a significant role in Michigan’s economy, and will continue to do so this year. Leading companies are employing a lot of different factors to turn their operations into lean ones and we discuss them all here in this post.

Reduction of Budgets

A lot of companies are reducing their budgets in order to go lean or ‘green’ in 2014. This includes laying off employees and cutting costs in other areas of the company. When layoffs are performed, the company saves money not only on salaries, but also the benefits it has to pay to those employees while they are employed. It seems as though recovery is occurring within the manufacturing industry right now.

Improving Processes

Manufacturing companies have also taken to improving their processes that occur on a daily basis. This helps the company improve its use of existing resources so the company does not waste valuable time or money on processes that just do not get the job done anymore in this high-tech world.

Adding a Green Touch to the Company

Companies all over the country, not just in the manufacturing industry, are going green in an effort to save money and go lean. This includes installing light fixtures that have timers or sensors, reducing waste produced by the company, new package design, better travel plans and much more. Going green is an initiative taken on by millions of companies and individuals each year.

Reducing the Company’s Footprint

Another option for lean manufacturing is for the company to reduce its footprint on the environment. This is a part of going green and it involves the company using less resources. On the other side of things, this is primarily concerning the use of less physical space. Companies are employing the use of a better supply chain management system and inventory management system in order to reduce its footprint on the environment.

Technology

The innovations in technology have helped companies move into leaner manufacturing practices. There is software in place now that helps companies monitor processes, supplies, equipment and other aspects of the company. These programs also help to automate and control processes that the company uses on a daily basis. This software can help the company save money in these areas and then put that money to good use in other departments.

When companies move into lean manufacturing, they must put more than one policy into effect in order to be successful.

Advance Staffing Solutions is a premier Detroit MI Temp Agency, giving employers access to temp staff to compete on a global market and maintain len manufacturing processes. Please feel free to follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and be sure to subscribe to our free newsletter for industry news, job leads and featured updates.

Operations Manager Salaries in Michigan. What to Offer Candidates

Raza Rauf on May 21, 2014

Perhaps one of the most difficult decisions for a company to make, besides which candidate to hire, is what to offer their candidate of choice in terms of compensation. The state of Michigan is one of the best places to live and work, and many residents enjoy working as operations managers for great companies. These positions are available in many different industries, requiring a broad range of skills and experience. Therefore, offering a fair compensation is vital to successful recruitment.

Before you offer a salary to a potential operations manager candidate in Michigan, here are some things you need to know.

Range of Compensation

Salaries for operations managers working in the state of Michigan range greatly depending on the level of employment and the company where the positions are held.

Glassdoor has reported three operations manager positions in Michigan that have an average annual salary of $73,750. Another great place to work in Michigan as an operations manager is a company called Stryker, a medical supply manufacturing company that has operations managers working in Michigan for an average annual salary of $84,625.

Another excellent annual salary for operations managers in Michigan comes from Best Buy, where managers are making an average of $61,312.

Two of the lower range operations manager salaries in Michigan come from Staples and Old Navy. Managers who work at Staples find themselves earning an annual average salary of just over $41,000. Managers from Old Navy can earn a little over $31,000 per year in their position.

Duties of an Operations Manager

You might be wondering what an operations manager does on a daily basis while at work. Well, we have that information for you in this post. Operations managers are regarded as senior-level management officials within their companies. They are responsible for providing services or overseeing the production of goods.

Operations managers are responsible for analyzing budgets, monitoring reports, reporting to stakeholders, managing employees, reporting to upper management teams and much more. An operations manager must be able to multi-task as much as possible while working in this position. If they cannot, they will find themselves struggling through their daily operations and possibly out of a job.

Some of the best operations managers have worked their way up the chain of their current company, learning each department along the way. This enables the manager to know the ins-and-outs of the company and how it operates on a daily basis. They are able to troubleshoot issues and take care of problems quickly without involving others.

Working as an operations manager in the state of Michigan is a lucrative job if you have the right level of experience and are at the right company.

Looking to hire operations managers in Michigan? Get in touch with Advance Staffing Solutions — a top Detroit MI temp agency.

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10 Interview Questions That Take into Account Cultural Fit

Raza Rauf on May 14, 2014

One of the most important aspects of running a company is having a strong corporate culture. If the culture at your company is positive, your employees will love coming to work each day, will work their hardest to get results, and will recommend the company to clients and potential employees.

Cultural Fit Interview Questions

If the culture is negative, your bottom line will suffer, you will have a high turnover rate and it will be difficult to come to work each day. Here are 10 interview questions that measure the candidate’s fit into your corporate culture.

What is the work environment or work culture in which you are the happiest and most productive?
What are the strongest traits of the best boss you have ever had or wanted to have?
Which management style will help you produce the most and help you give the best effort?
How does a good company encourage its employees to go the extra mile to get the job done right and on-time?
What are the best roles a manager plays in dealing with his or her employees?
Would you ever have a best friend at work? If so, do you think this is appropriate?
What is the most important factor for you that will make you happy and productive in the workplace? Now that you have answered this question, what are the other two factors you thought about mentioning, but did not?
What do you like right now about your work environment?
How would your current co-workers describe your role when working with them on a team project?
What is one scenario when you went out of your way or above-and-beyond to please a customer?

Where to Go Now?

This is not an exhaustive list of questions, but just the start for interviewers who are looking to bring in the candidates who match their company’s culture the most. Make a point of having at least one follow-up question to each of these 10 questions so you can really gauge what the candidate has in terms of character and work ethic.

Make sure you also write down the answers provided by the candidate and monitor their body language and reactions to the questions. Should the candidate shrug-off some questions or make noises in response to some questions, you have a problem on your hands and should not move any further with the candidate. Candidates who are always a strong fit in a culture will have no trouble answering these questions.

When it comes down to it, hiring based on cultural fit is very important today. Make sure your company is doing it with every single hire.

Want to learn more? Explore important recruitment and employment topics by reading a few popular posts from Advance Staffing Solutions a premier Detroit MI temp agency. Please feel free to follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and be sure to subscribe to our free newsletter for industry news, job leads and featured updates.

How Temp Work is Affected by the ACA

Raza Rauf on April 23, 2014

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act or ACA went into effect across the USA to provide employees with health care insurance coverage options. As part of an initiative to boost the health and wellness of the average American, so far the ACA has enrolled millions of hard working people into qualified health care plans. Yet, there are some concerns that the ACA may be having a negative effect on the job market as employers look for ways to cut costs by reducing workforce numbers.

How the ACA Affects Hiring Trends in the USA

One concern is that the ACA has resulted in fewer employers hiring temp and full time workers because of the new requirement to provide health care coverage for all full timers (for employers with 100 or more employees). A trend that is happening across the nation is employers who are offering more part time assignments to avoid having to pay already astronomical health insurance premiums. While there have been a few workforce studies indicating a slight dip in the number of full time hires for last year, this fear is unwarranted at this time.

ACA Good for Full Time Temps or Not?

It has been widely debated whether or not the ACA gives employers the incentive to cut work hours below the 30-hour per week threshold that constitutes full time work hours. This includes full time temps who regularly receive health care benefits through the staffing agencies they work for. The real problem is when a temp is working at full time status is then offered perm placement at a lower hourly rate to avoid providing them with continued health care coverage. Both employers and staffing agencies need to tread carefully when it comes to ACA guidelines in order to avoid any potential issues like this that may come up.

More Employers Hiring Temp to Perm Employees in 2014

A surprising benefit that has come out of the ACA mandates is that more employers turned to temporary workforce options than ever before. According to a survey conducted by CareerBuilder, a leading career search portal, nearly 42 percent of US employers plan to hire temp workers in 2014. This is as compared to 40 percent of employers in the year before. Additionally, 54 percent of employers anticipate hiring the same if not more temps and full time workers than previously. 40 percent of the companies polled in the survey stated that they planned on transitioning their temp workforce into permanent full time roles in 2014.

We are hopeful that the ACA will continue to only offer good things to the American workforce, including the growing temp market. Hiring through a temp agency can provide your company with a cost effective method of staffing without the worry of meeting ACA mandates. Consider that you may want to talk with one of our experts at Advance Staffing Solutions, a Detroit Michigan staffing agency leader.

5 Steps for Optimizing Your Online Job Description

Raza Rauf on April 3, 2014

When candidates start looking for work often times the first place they will begin is on the Internet. Online job descriptions created by human resource and recruitment teams are generally how candidates find out about the qualifications and requirements of each job type. Sometimes job descriptions are included as part of job advertisements themselves or they may just be found on the company career portal.

Writing Better Online Job Descriptions

In either case, job descriptions must accomplish the following factors in order to be effective at attracting top talent. They should:

Have compelling and accurate job titles that stand out from other similar jobs advertised.
Make sense given the duties and responsibilities of each assignment and the scope of the company.
Include enough information to help candidates make an informed decision whether to apply or not.
Add value by shedding light on the company culture, compensation, and objectives of the company.

Getting online job descriptions right can take extra research and practice, but over time the HR team should have a fairly good idea of how to write them well. Here are some steps for optimizing your online job descriptions so they can become a powerful recruitment tool.

Step 1 – Know the job goals well.

Before you launch into the writing of an online job description, it’s time to understand that the job has specific goals. Look over the history of the job previous employees, and what has worked and not worked for this job. Re-write the description based on the duties that are aligned with company objectives.

Step 2 – Understand what kind of candidate you want.

It is impossible to write a job description without knowing what kind of candidates you’d like to attract and eventually hire for the position. Create a candidate avatar, with the qualities you are looking for. This will help you to determine how to write the job description to accurately reflect your recruitment focus.

Step 3 – Write for the search engines.

Today all recruiters must be up to speed with candidate job search behaviors, which includes looking for career opportunities using keywords typed into search engines. Include industry keywords in your job descriptions, referring to the US Department of Labor and O*Net descriptions of job types.

Step 4 – Avoid writing too much, but not enough.

Your online job descriptions need to include a good amount of information, but not so much that it becomes tedious to write and publish. Limit the first paragraph which describes the basic job details, the company, and how to apply. Include a short bulleted list of job requirements, including skills and educational level. Wrap it up with EECO information and a link to the career application center.

Step 5 – Include great incentives to attract candidates.

Your job descriptions are not only a basic listing of the kinds of work your company offers, but also a sneak peek into why people work for you. Include information about the company compensation and benefit program educational incentives, and corporate culture perks.

Use the above tips to write online job descriptions and advertisements that will attract the best candidates. For help with evaluating your job descriptions, reach out to Advance Staffing Resources a knowledgeable employment agency in Michigan and Ohio to talk with one of our recruitment pros.