Waiting for a Sign That It’s Time to Quit? Here It Is!

Raza Rauf on March 6, 2017

While heading to work isn’t necessarily the most fun thing in your life, it shouldn’t feel like the worst one either. And, if you have a feeling of dread while getting ready every day, week after week, that is often a sign that it is time for a change. But figuring out what kind of change you need isn’t always easy. Maybe you simply need to find a similar position with a new employer. Or maybe you need an entirely new career.

If you find yourself question which direction is right for you, here are some points to consider along your way to an answer.

Am I Passionate About the Field?

Your first point to ponder should be whether you feel any passion for your field of work. This helps you review whether your career path has potential based on the bigger picture of how it fits into a company while factoring out what it is like to do the job with your current employer.

Generally, if you aren’t happy with your job, it is hard to feel passion for anything about it. But you need to see if the ideas behind your chosen field still inspire any sense of excitement or at least interest. If the answer is yes, then a simple job change might do the trick. However, if the answer is no, a new career may be on the horizon.

Do I Take Pride in What I Do?

Again, this question needs to be separated from your current employer and focused on your field. For example, if you meet someone new and they ask what you do for a living, do you consider it a point of pride to tell them? Or do you try to hide it or avoid the subject?

If the idea of sharing your job title or field of work gives you a positive feeling, then changing employers may fit the bill. But, if you would rather hide that detail from those you meet, then a career change might be the better course of action.

Do I Enjoy Using My Professional Skills?

As we move along in a career, we have a chance to develop and use specific skills. But, just because we are able to do something doesn’t mean we enjoy it. Granted, not every job duty is going to inspire you to push through your day. However, it is important that those you regularly use in your career are at least pleasant experiences.

Try to determine if you could keep doing the same, job specific requirements as you move through your career. If that idea fills you with dread, then other options should be explored. If it sounds great, then a new environment may be all you need.

Am I Fulfilled?

Sometimes, the biggest question is to decide if you feel like you are missing out on something you desperately need. And, if so, what exactly is the missing part.

A lack of fulfillment can make a job feel more like a cage than an opportunity. If you feel an undeniable pull to do something else, then you should explore that further. And that doesn’t mean you have to jump ship right away, but at least figure out what it would take to make that change a reality. Then, you can make an informed decision about pursuing an option that gives you that missing piece of the puzzle.

If you are looking for a new job or an entirely new career, The Advance Group can help you explore your options. Contact us and see whether a change is just what you need to feel like you are getting everything you need out of life.

Does Your Staff Deserve Some Praise? Here’s How to Dish It Out!

Raza Rauf on February 10, 2017

Many employees list recognition as a major motivator in the workplace, and you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t like receiving a compliment from time to time. But doling out praise isn’t always as simple as it sounds and, if it isn’t done properly, it can actually make your employees uncomfortable.

So, how do you guarantee that the praise you give will be properly received? By keeping these tips in mind.

Be Genuine

This is a fairly simple rule to follow; if you don’t mean it, don’t say it. You will rarely fool someone if a compliment is forced. To help ensure your praise is authentic, make sure you only recognize actions that deserve the attention.

Praise shouldn’t be a way to fill a lull in the conversation, or as a daily icebreaker. Instead, it should have meaning every time, so let it be natural.

Be Concise

When giving a compliment, it is important to focus. Select a single point to praise and don’t deviate from that plan. Stringing together multiple compliments based on a wide array of activities can easily feel overdone (unless it is a retirement party). Over time, your praise will lose its impact and some people may even become suspicious of your motives.

Be Specific

Praise that references a specific effort carries more weight than general ones. For example, complimenting someone on their recent sales presentation has a bigger impact than just thanking them for being a great employee.

Being specific shows that you are interested in the activities of your employees and gives you an opportunity to engage with them directly.

Be Timely

If an employee does something that is praiseworthy, don’t wait to give them the compliment they deserve. By making the statement now, they can easily attach the praise to the event. The longer you wait, the more difficult it is for the employee to find meaning in the statement. Praise is something that can never be delivered too soon, but it can certainly be given too late.

Be Tactful

Certain compliments require specific circumstances. For example, noticing a new haircut might be a suitable opportunity to offer a compliment, but it needs to be well timed. For example, if you are exchanging pleasantries while riding the elevator in the morning, mentioning that you like their new style may be appropriate. However, bringing it up in the middle of a department-level staff meeting might just make them uncomfortable.

In contrast, appreciation for a person’s hard work on a large project that is expressed in front of other higher-level managers may be more appreciated than praise given in private. Not only will the employee get the benefits associated with being recognized, but they also understand that you valued the contribution to the point of wanting others to know about their success.

If you are looking for more advice about praising employees or have a vacant position that needs filling, The Advance Group has the industry expertise you need. Contact us today.

Southgate Moving Day!

Raza Rauf on January 20, 2017

It’s moving day for our Southgate Michigan office! We moved to a space much larger to better serve our candidates, employees and clients! We are less than ½ mile away at 19025 Eureka Rd. Next to the Beirut Gardens.

Want to Start Down a New Career Path? Use This Advice

Raza Rauf on December 30, 2016

Deciding to take you career in an entirely new direction is a big step. Not only is there substantial work involved, but it can also be hard to admit that you changed your mind about the future of your working life. Some people feel guilty for wanting to try something different, even when it is the right thing to do. However, there is no need to hark on yourself for following a dream.

At some point in life, we all change our minds. And our careers are not excluded from this possibility. Just because you want to go in a new direction doesn’t mean that your other efforts were a mistake. Instead, consider them a learning experience that allows you to understand better what you do want to do, or at least what you want to do next.

To help make the transition smoother, here is some advice to get you started.

Decide What You Want

Concluding that you need a change is only the beginning of your journey; you need to know where that journey will lead. It doesn’t make sense to plan to exit your career when you have no idea where you will go next. Use the idea of moving on to motivate you to explore where you ultimately want to end up.

If you need some help picking a new field, consider trying career assessment tests. There are a wide variety available, and many can be accessed through a multitude of online portals. Feel free to try a few out and see if certain themes appear as these may indicate which options you should consider most.

Assess Your Skills

Once you know what you want to do, you need to make sure that you can actually do it. Begin by examining your current skills and how they translate into your new career plan. Some skills are fairly universal, such as basic computer skills, and will transition over nicely. Soft skills are also valuable in any field, so your experience in those areas should serve you well in the future.

After determining which skills you already possess, it is time to look at the ones you are missing. Then you can create a plan to cover any skill gaps that may hold you back from pursuing your new career.

Lean on Your Network

Besides needing support for the transition, your network may be able to connect you to new opportunities that match your intended destination. Many people find jobs through the people they know or the people in their extended network. Keep those closest to you, personally and professionally, in the loop as much as possible, as long as it doesn’t jeopardize your current position.

Having other people keeping an eye out for you is likely to be beneficial. Even if you find new opportunities on your own, you will have the emotional support available to take on the new challenges you have decided to take on.

If you need help seeing where your skills can take you, or what opportunities are available in your new field, Advance Staffing Solutions has the expertise to help you explore your options. Contact us today and see what the future can hold.

Sylvania Open Registration

Raza Rauf on December 9, 2016

OPEN REGISTRATION @ ADVANCE STAFFING SOLUTIONS!

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14TH

8:00AM-9:30AM & 1:00PM-2:30PM

PLEASE BRING 2 FORMS OF ID (DRIVER’S LICENSE OR STATE ID AND BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR SOCIAL SECURTIY CARD

ALSO, BRING THE MOST RECENT COPY OF YOUR RESUME

5800 MONROE STREET BUILDING F SYLVANIA, OH 43560

ANY QUESTIONS CALL US @ 419-882-7646

Thank You Employees

Raza Rauf on December 7, 2016

Dear Advance Staffing Employees,

We want you to know that we really value your hard work and you contributions to Advance Staffing Solutions.

To show how incredibly thankful we are for your hard work and dedication, your name will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card! Winners will be announced on Thursday December 8th.

From all of us at Advance Staffing Solutions, we wish you a joyous holiday season,

The Staff of Advance Staffing Solutions

How to Read a Ruler

Raza Rauf on December 1, 2016

You would not believe how many jobs require candidates to read a ruler. Don’t let employers pass you up! Please review this video below to learn or brush up on your measuring skills!

Click —> How to Read a Ruler

Why You Should Encourage Employees to Use Their Vacation Days

Raza Rauf on November 28, 2016

It is estimated that employees in the United States typically fail to take approximately 429 million paid vacation days on a yearly basis. Sometimes, employees hesitate to spend time away because they are concerned what will happen in their absence. They may fear the office will fall behind (or apart) without them there, or that it will suddenly become apparent that they aren’t truly needed. Others just dread the idea of coming back to a pile of work to do after taking a week to relax or think they need to save their time off for an emergency.

But taking time off to relax and rejuvenate is incredibly beneficial, to both the employee and the business for which they work. If you want to understand these benefits to help encourage employees to take time off, then consider the following points.

Benefits for the Employee

Taking time off on a regular basis provides the employee with a variety of mental and physical health benefits. It allows them to get away from a source of stress in their lives and focus on other things. When the employee returns, they can be better equipped to learn new information or skills, more efficient at problem-solving, and allows the brain to recharge more fully. It can relieve symptoms of depression, improve sleep, and inspire them to be more creative.

There is also evidence that employees who take regular vacations may live longer than their workaholic counterparts. It can also lower the risk of disease and may be beneficial to heart health.

Benefits for the Company

When an employee takes regular vacation time, the company gets all of the benefits of the employees increased performance. The employee may be more productive on the job and feel increased motivation to work. Having employees feel present and engaged on the job can lead to significant positive changes in productivity levels, which can benefit the company’s bottom line while making for a more pleasant work atmosphere.

Encouraging Employees to Take Time Off

It isn’t always easy to determine the best way to encourage employees to use their vacation days, but there are a few strategies that are easy to integrate into more workplaces. The first step is to make sure you take your vacation days, and that you do so openly. This allows you to lead by example and helps employees for more confident about choosing to use their time off.

Another key is making sure every position has some redundancy. Cross-train employees to manage each other’s positions, or at least the critical functions, so that everyone can take time off without the workplace screeching to a halt. Similarly, make sure that the workload is as reasonably distributed as possible to help employees feel less like there is simply too much work for them to take time off.

Finally, remind them that happier employees are often more motivated and more productive. This means that while, yes, some work may pile up while they are away, they may also be better equipped to manage it upon their return.

If there is truly a workload issue, maybe a temporary employee is the perfect solution. They can help make up for an employee’s absence, allowing your permanent employee to fully enjoy their time off. If you would like assistance finding an excellent candidate, contact Advance Staffing Solutions today.

When to Bid Farewell to a Flakey Job Seeker

Raza Rauf on November 25, 2016

More often than not, a job seeker will be accommodating and appreciative of your taking time to meet with them, even if they do not end up with the position. However, there are times when a candidate becomes a problem. While unexpected things happen to us all, if it seems that all of the unanticipated issues are happening to one applicant, or they are showing other signs of being disrespectful to the process, it may be time to remove them from contention.

Here are some signs that it is time to say goodbye to a flaky job seeker and move forward without them.

Issues Making Contact

Not every candidate will be able to pick up the phone when you call or answer an email within the first five minutes of receiving it. However, applicants should be getting back to you in a reasonable amount of time. While most candidates will return contact as quickly as they can, often the same day, others may seem to be MIA.

Hiring is a multi-day process, so top candidates will need to be reached at different points throughout the process. If your emails repeatedly go unanswered, your phone calls all go to voicemail (and you have already left more than one message), or their phone doesn’t have service at the time, there is only so much you can do.

If an applicant seems to be unreachable, there is no need to overextend your efforts. For example, if you leave a message on Monday (and Wednesday) to schedule an interview for Friday, and they don’t return your call until late Friday, you are not obligated to squeeze them in at another time.

Failure to Meet as Scheduled

Candidates who do not arrive for their scheduled interview, or do not call at a designated time to which you both agreed, you do not have to give them another opportunity. While the occasional emergency may require any candidate to reschedule at the last minute, failure to make any contact to explain the situation before the scheduled time is not a great sign.

Similarly, if the candidate waits to the last minute to reschedule, and does so more than once, feel free to remove them from the process.

Lack of Flexibility

While the applicant’s schedule may not be wide open, that doesn’t mean you need to adjust your schedule to them. If they are actively interested in securing a new position, they will make reasonable efforts to conform to your schedule. Granted, there may be extenuating circumstances that prevent a particular time for being workable, but if you offer multiple times and none of them will work, you do not have to make changes to suit them.

This is particularly the case if they are requesting you meet with them after traditional business hours. Even if they have current employment, they should be able to make arrangements to attend something as important as an interview. If they aren’t prepared to do that, they may not be a great fit for your organization.

If you are looking for your next job candidate, let the professionals at Advance Staffing Solutions help remove the flakey applicants from the equation for you. That way, you can spend time managing things that matter. Contact Advance Staffing Solutions today.

Monroe Thanksgiving Winner

Raza Rauf on November 23, 2016

Brittany was the lucky winner of our Thanksgiving Referral Basket! We couldn’t be more excited to present this basket to Brittany to help out during the holidays.

This time of year, is a great reminder that there is always something to be thankful for, all you have to do is see it.

‘Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and much more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.’ – Melody Beattie

Thankful…Grateful…Blessed

What’s So Hard about Hiring Good IT Talent?

Raza Rauf on November 21, 2016

Hiring can be a difficult task in and unto itself. Couple that with the unique challenges in finding top IT talent and you can find yourself in a sticky situation. But the question is, why has it become more difficult as of late?

Here, we explore the hiring landscape as it specifically relates to the IT field and what you can do to up your odds of finding the new employees that your business needs.

Supply and Demand

At this time, it is a job seekers market when it comes to IT positions. The available supply of skilled IT talent is not able to meet the demands of the marketplace. It is estimated only three percent of IT workers are currently unemployed. This means that recruiters and hiring managers have to work even harder to identify candidates who are both willing and able to fill the needs of a particular position.

These challenges may be even more dramatic when examining individual skill sets. Since the ideas around Big Data management are relatively new, it can take longer to find a candidate with the necessary skills to perform the work. Developers for software and the web are also in high demand, along with those specializing in IT security. Certain legacy systems, though still used in many workplaces, are not being taught to recent graduates, making suitable applicants in these areas a rarity as well.

Increased Costs for Recruitment and Hiring

To help locate suitable applicants from a shrinking pool of IT talent, most businesses are forced to spend more on their recruitment efforts. It can take longer to find the candidates you need, which means advertising runs have to go on longer and be placed using multiple mechanisms. With the broad range of job posting sites, LinkedIn profiles, and direct recruitments, businesses have to cast a wide net to find the people they need.

These costs are coupled with the need to offer higher starting wages and more benefits. Since job seekers know they are in the pilot’s seat, they aren’t afraid to make more demands. And, with competition so high, they will likely get them. Technology hotspots, like Seattle and Minneapolis, have seen wages rise faster than other locations as talent in the region becomes difficult to find, and competing businesses have no choice but to hire at higher rates.

Candidates who are receiving competing offers also drives prices higher. Since job seekers rarely apply to only one new opening, it isn’t uncommon for a bidding war to begin as companies duke it out to win the applicant over. This process can also lengthen the time required to complete a hire.

Freelance Markets

Freelancing is an attractive option for job seekers who are looking for increased flexibility. Not only can they stick with the IT areas they enjoy most, but they can also charge a premium for their services. Schedules can be created to suit their needs and obligations, instead of having to force their lives around your schedule. This shift in the workforce dynamic has led companies to be more open to hiring freelancers, further fueling the fire.

How to Compete

To attract the best talent, your business needs to make sure your compensation packages are competitive for your area. Other benefits, like flexible work schedules or remote-worker options, can also be enticing to candidates.

If you want to cast a wider recruitment net, consider working with a staffing company like Advance Staffing Solutions. We have the skills and resources necessary to actively find the candidates you need to fill your vacancies. Contact Advance Staffing Solutions today and put their recruitment skills to work for you.

Revamp Your Cover Letter NOW!

Raza Rauf on November 14, 2016

Most people focus on their resume when they are looking for a new job. Often, the cover letter gets only a little thought, leading it to be pulled together at the last minute. Regardless of the strength of your resume, not giving comparable attention to your cover letter is a mistake.

Certain issues in a cover letter can lead to a candidate being removed from consideration before the resume has even been glanced over. Before you rush through the creation of your next cover letter, make sure you review for the following common issues.

Introducing Yourself by Name First

You cover letter should not include the statement, “My name is…” It is simply unnecessary. Your resume has your name on it, as well as the sign-off of your cover letter. Since that information is thoroughly covered, use your cover letter to cover more pertinent information. Lead off with a relevant qualification or accomplishment that applies to the job for which you are applying.

Summarizing Your Entire Resume

Your resume and cover letter should work in conjunction, not to restate one another. While your resume provides a reliable overview of your experience, your cover letter should focus on only a few examples as to why you are a good fit for the position. Take the opportunity to dig in a little deeper that helps a recruiter understand how your experience can translate to a positive change at their company.

Over Elaborating

While your cover letter should contain some details, there is a point where it becomes too much. You want to keep your cover letter within one page, and it should take no more than around a minute to read through. It is also important to be concise and remain on-point. Don’t include any information that isn’t necessary.

For example, if you are applying for a job in Michigan because you are relocating next month, but your current contact information says Florida, you may want to mention your scheduled arrival to the city. However, there is no need to give details about why you are moving if they are not relevant to the position.

Not Using a Targeted Cover Letter

Your cover letter should be as targeted to the position as your resume. Sending generic form letters can make a negative impression, as it can appear as though writing a new cover letter wasn’t a priority or that this one was simply an afterthought. Take time to make sure the cover letter includes the pertinent details that particular hiring manager would want to know.

Similarly, you should avoid using generic greetings. The time of, “To Whom It May Concern,” and, “Dear Sir or Madam,” are over. If you have the name of the hiring manager in question, feel free to address them personally. If you don’t, skip the formal salutation and begin immediately with your first paragraph. The second option is particularly acceptable with email cover letters, as people rarely address one another formally when using the email format.

Spelling and Grammar

It is easy to spend so much time focusing on the content that you overlook simple spelling or grammar errors. Remember, word processing software does not catch every error you may have made. Be aware of homonyms and make sure you use proper punctuation. Spelling or grammar errors reflect poorly on a candidate’s written communication skills, as well as their attention to detail. Giving your cover letter a careful review can help avoid the kind of mistakes that may remove you from contention.

Want More Information?

If you are looking for more cover letter tips, or are interested in finding a new position, the professionals at Advance Staffing Solutions are here to help. Contact us today.