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

HMG Success on December 26, 2014

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

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

Write Down Likes, Dislikes, Needs and Wants

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

Review Job Trends

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

Seek Education and Training Opportunities

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

Note Your Accomplishments

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

Perform a Personal Skills Assessment

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

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

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

HMG Success on December 5, 2014

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

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

Update Your Resume and Cover Letter

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

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

Improve Your LinkedIn Page

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

Take the Initiative

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

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

Have You Created an Online Resume Yet?

HMG Success on November 27, 2014

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

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

Digital Presence is Important

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

Online Resumes are Always With You

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

Online Resume Must be Printable

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

Online Resume Must be Tailored to Each Employer

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

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

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

HMG Success on November 20, 2014

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

Policy Must Solve Problem in Best Way Possible

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

Policy Should be Reviewed by Multiple Teams

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

Implementation Deadlines Must be Met

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

Mandatory Meetings for Staff are a Must

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

HR Must be on Same Page as Management

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

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

Gearing Up For Winter Safety Regulations

HMG Success on November 13, 2014

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

Review Insurance Coverage

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

Determine Largest Risk Potential

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

Determine Cost of Business Interruptions

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

Implement Telework Policies

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

Create a Crisis Communication Plan

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

How Personal Websites Can Land You a Job

HMG Success on October 8, 2014

As technology continues to become a main part of our lives, companies are utilizing it to find their next employees. This means that you need to be just as involved in technology as companies are, in order to find your next job. One such way to get involved is by utilizing a personal website. A personal website could very well mean the difference between receiving an offer for employment and extended unemployment.

Why a Personal Website?

You might be wondering why you need a personal website to help land a job in Detroit. There are two reasons; a personal website allows you to showcase the work you have performed throughout your career, and it shows potential employers how passionate you are about your work.

Not every industry has the type of work that can be showcased with a personal website, which is why the decision must come down to the line of work that you perform. For example, if you are a freelance writer or designer, it is strongly recommended that you have a personal website that showcases your portfolio. This allows potential employers to see what you have done and what they can expect from you – if hired.

Become a Thought Leader

Aside from showcasing your work, a personal website will also let you become a thought leader within your career or industry. You can increase your credibility as a designer, a writer or a tech professional when you open up an area for conversation on your personal website. The conversation should be related to your industry or career and not get off track at all. Conversations can include projects on which you are currently working, ones on which you would love to work and training seminars you have attended.

Share Expertise

Another benefit of having a personal website is that it will allow you to share your expertise with the rest of the industry. Many personal websites also have blogs, which means that you will be posting content that should be related to what you have done, or are doing right now, in your career. Make sure you do not post any inappropriate or derogatory content about others in your field. Recruiters and employers will easily be able to find your blog, so watch what you post.

Control Personal Brand

If you have a personal website, you will be able to control your personal brand. A personal website allows you to publish the type of brand you want to be known as. You can let the world know who you are as a person and an employee, not just what you have done during your career. The personal website will also let you be yourself as much as possible, which will show employers who you are and what you are like to work with on the job.

If you want to know more about the benefits of a personal website, or need help in general with your job search, contact the staffing experts at Advance Staffing Solutions today!

Are You a Job Hopper? Here’s how to Optimize Your Job Search

HMG Success on September 26, 2014

There are plenty of workers out there who can be considered “job hoppers”. These are folks who, for whatever reason, do not stay in one job or company for an extended length of time. While this can be detrimental for a job search, it does not have to stand in your way of getting a great job. There are plenty of things you can do to optimize your job search if you have a penchant for job hopping.

Here, we’ll discuss several ways to overcome a history of short-term jobs with some helpful tips.

Explain Temporary Jobs on a Resume

When you prepare to search for a new job and have worked quite a few different jobs over the past handful of years, you need to explain why this has happened. One of the reasons for the job hopping could be that you were working in temporary jobs to gain as much experience as possible or to meet as many different people as possible. When you explain that you have been working temporary jobs, employers will be more likely to hire you since you have been trying to improve your career as much as possible.

Use Time Wisely

The next thing you need to do is use your time wisely when unemployed. If you are between jobs, it is best to perform business-related activities so that you can put these activities on your resume. These activities include attending business events, training sessions, networking events and much more. You will be able to meet various people within your industry, gain new contacts and even pick up some references along the way. This will help potential employers see how well you have used your time and that you stayed dedicated to improving your career.

Remove Older Jobs

An excellent way to optimize your job search if you are a job hopper is to remove older jobs from your resume. For the most part, your resume should only go back 10 years, 15 years at the most. If you have seven years of experience or more in your career, make sure you remove any internships listed on your resume. By removing older jobs from a resume, you can help with the idea that you are a job hopper.

Lump Contract Jobs Together

If you worked a lot of contract jobs during your career, lump them into one job listing on your resume in order to remove the idea of being a job hopper. For example, if you have worked on multiple contracts as a freelance writer, list all of these contracts under one heading and mention the skills you used and the responsibilities of the jobs performed.

If you are in the middle of a job search and are worried you may appear to be a job hopper, then you should follow the tips outlined in this post to optimize your search as much as possible. When you remove the stigma of being a job hopper, then you should have no trouble obtaining an offer of employment. For more help on your job search, contact Advance Staffing Solutions today!

Standing Out at a Manufacturing Interview – 5 Tips You MUST Follow

HMG Success on September 5, 2014

Interviewing for a manufacturing job in Detroit, MI is stressful, especially when you are in dire need of work. Prevent the process from overwhelming you by preparing for the interview ahead of time. Preparation is key to any type of job interview. As you go on various interviews for manufacturing jobs, be sure you follow the five tips in this post to stand out from the rest of the pack.

Learn about the Company
One of the first things you must absolutely do is learn about the company. The more you know about the company, the better off you will be during the interview process. Your research should include the yearly numbers of the company, the executives at the company, and even the names of some department heads in case you run into them while on a tour of the manufacturing facility. Make sure you also know the company’s goals and mission so you can pull from your background to show how you would fit.
Prepare Questions to Ask
Prepare questions of your own to ask during the interview session. This will help you impress the interviewer and anyone else you meet along the way. Your questions should be ones that piggyback off questions asked by the interviewer or ones that you think of on your own that discuss things about the company. Ask the interviewer what types of problems the person hired for the job will need to solve, what type of person will be perfect for the job and much more.
Offer a Conversation
An important tip for standing out at a manufacturing interview is to be conversational during the meeting with the interviewer. When you provide rehearsed answers to interviewers, you are not showing them your complete personality. One way to do this is by offering them a conversation. When you are conversational during a job interview it allows you to show your personal side, something that the interviewer will want to see so they can gauge if you will fit the culture of the company.
Exceed Expectations
When you are sitting in a job interview for a manufacturing position, it is best to ask the interviewer how you can exceed their expectations. Make it known to the interviewer that you are not looking to do just the bare minimum if hired. Let the company know how far you are willing to go to perform job duties and get the projects done on-time and correctly.
Recap Your Thoughts Upon Leaving
As you prepare to leave the interview room, have a 30-second speech prepared for the interviewer. This should be a speech that thanks the interviewer for their time, reiterates how interested you are in the job and why you are the best candidate for the job.

As you prepare for a manufacturing job interview, be sure to follow the five tips outlined in this post so you can stand out from the crowd. Connect with Advance Temporary for manufacturing jobs in Detroit and other local areas.

Make Your Summer Temp Job a Career

HMG Success on July 8, 2014

Every year, hundreds of thousands of adults turn to summer employment opportunities to gain on-the-job experience, while earning much-needed extra cash. However, a summer job doesn’t have to end with the final summer breeze. Instead, you can take advantage of a seasonal opportunity and turn it into a full-time career path. Summer jobs are the perfect time to earn new skills, make important professional connections, and propel your career to greatness.

If you follow the tips outlined in this article you will be able to transform just about any summer temp job into a long-term career.

Do Not Quit Your Day Job, Yet

The first thing you need to do is keep your day job (if you are currently employed full-time elsewhere). If you work a summer temp job to bring in extra cash because you are a teacher and have the summer months off, you should definitely not quit your day job. Even if you work a summer job at night to supplement daytime income, do not quit that job either. You want to keep the money flowing while you examine your full-time summer options. Aside from the income, you need to figure out how to acquire health insurance, if you need coverage.

Browse Your Options

You do not want to limit your options when it comes to finding a temp summer job that can turn into full-time, permanent work. Consider working a different summer temp job each year to see what is best for you. One summer you can work as a retail manager while another summer you can work as a surfing instructor, if this is a hobby of yours. Just because you have worked your entire career in the banking industry, it does not mean that you have to continue to do so in the summer.

Employ Your Creativity

When trying to turn a summer temp job into a full-time job, be sure to use your creativity as much as possible. Think about your dream job; is it within reach? Can it really be done? If so, why not give it a shot one summer? Spend time thinking about some of the most interesting jobs you would like to work and go from there. If your dream job is within reach, figure out how much money you can generate from it, what the schedule would look like and work your other job around it.

Work Special Projects

Depending on when your summer job begins, it might last anywhere from one month to three months, so you need to make an impression as quickly as possible. This can be done by taking on special projects every now and then. Make sure those projects can be completed prior to the end of your temp work so you make a lasting impression on the management and ownership. Any special projects you complete can be included on your resume, which will help you impress potential employers.

If you are able to take all of these tips and put them to good use, you will find yourself turning a temporary summer job into a permanent, full-time position. Look to Advance Staffing Solutions in the Toledo Ohio and Detroit Michigan areas for part time and full time summer jobs.

4 Things to Remember When Negotiating Your Salary

HMG Success on June 13, 2014

Negotiating a salary after being offered a new job (or during performance review/promotion time) can be scary for some people, especially if they have never had to do this in the past. This should be a process that is satisfying, especially since you were offered a new position at a different company or a promotion at your current employer. If you follow the advice we have in this post, you will find it easy to negotiate a salary with your new or current employer.

#1 Provide a Hard Number

When you reach the negotiation stage of a new job offer, be sure you provide the hiring manager or human resource executive with a hard number. You never want to give a range for expected salary. This allows the employer to take the lower end of the range all the time, no matter how skilled or talented you are. When you offer a salary range, you are giving the company too much leverage in the negotiation process. When you stick with the hard number, you have decent control of the negotiations. Come up with an amount you can live with, then tack on $5K more.

#2 Give Precise Numbers

During the negotiation process, make sure you provide the employer with precise numbers instead of rounding off the figure. When you tell a hiring manager precise numbers instead of rounded numbers you display confidence in yourself and that you understand what the value of the position is at the company. This shows the hiring manager that you are committed to accepting the job and that you want to make the most of your career.

#3 Employers Don’t Like Negotiating

After receiving a job offer, you are asked to come into the office to discuss the salary. You are nervous and dreading the negotiation because you do not want to make a bad impression and lose out on the position, but you also do not want to leave money on the table. Well, you should know that employers do not like negotiating either. Try to make the process more of a persuasive discussion than a battle for who can win.

#4 Remember Money Isn’t the Sole Factor

One of the most important tips in negotiating salary is that money should not always be the lone factor in the process. Employees want more than money from their employers. They also want health benefits, stock options, flexible schedules, a 401k, paid time-off and other perks. During the negotiations, you can ask the employer for telecommuting options, paid-for training, flex-time and much more. All of these can help items can help you negotiate a salary that helps you earn a living while also enjoying life.
When you use the four tips discussed in this post during salary negotiations, you will find that the process will be much easier to deal with for both you and the employer.

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

How Temp Work is Affected by the ACA

HMG Success 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.

How to Use a Staffing Firm to Find an Assembly Job in Michigan

HMG Success on March 20, 2014

Finding an assembly job in Michigan can be challenging, whether or not the economy is strong. This is why staffing firms exist — for the benefit of job seekers and the companies that need them. Staffing firms help place employees in open jobs with employers in their area, or even around the country. A staffing firm can help a job seeker find a position in almost any industry, including working as an assembler.

If you are seeking employment in an assembly job in Michigan, you are in luck. Here are some ways to use the services of a staffing agency, like Advance Staffing Solutions one of the top employment agencies in MI, to land a job sooner.

Contact the Staffing Firm Directly

The first step in the process is to contact the staffing firm in your area. Browse the various staffing firms near you to figure out which one is best for your needs. Contact the firm to figure out how you go about the job search process with them. Most staffing firms will not charge the employee for their services. Instead, they will charge the employer once the employee has been placed in the position.

Discuss Your Job Needs

Once you have signed on with the staffing firm of your choice, let your representative from the firm know the type of assembly job you are looking for. Make sure they know that you want to work with an assembly company in the manufacturing industry. This will help them narrow down the search for your potential job. Be open to entry and mid level assembly jobs too, as this can be the pathway to getting your foot in the door with a great MI company.

Browse Available Jobs

When working with the best industrial employment agencies in MI, be sure to research all of the available jobs in assembly that they find for you. Do not shoot anything down until you read the job description and get a little bit of information about the company. A staffing company will know when manufacturing companies post job openings as soon as they become available. This makes it easier for firms to help their clients find jobs in the manufacturing industry or any other industry in which they show interest.

Trust the Staffing Firm

One of the most important pieces of advice to employ when working with a staffing firm to find an assembly job is to trust the staffing firm. You need to put your trust in the firm if you want the relationship to work between you and the firm. If you do not trust the firm to find you a job, then the relationship will not be a good one. The more trust you put in the firm, the more likely it will be that the firm finds you a job in the assembly industry.

Go On Interviews

If the staffing firm gets you an interview for an assembly job, make sure you go on the interview. Do not turn down any interviews. This will make the staffing firm look bad with the employers and can give you bad name in the industry. If you are looking for work and need work, being scheduled for an interview should be a welcome sign that you are headed in the right direction.

Want to learn more? Explore important recruitment and employment topics by reading a few popular posts from Advance Staffing Solutions – one of the leading Employment Agencies in MI.

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