Has the question ever occurred to you, or have you asked it yourself — why should I use a staffing agency?
Watch the video below to hear two Advance Staffing employees discuss why you should use a staffing agency!
Click here if you’d like to discuss partnering with a staffing agency like Advance Staffing Solutions today!
Finding a job when currently employed is one thing; finding a job when unemployed is an entirely different experience. Studies have shown that it can be harder to find a job when unemployed, because some hiring managers view this as a negative mark for a candidate. An employed candidate is somehow more favorable than someone between jobs? It doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense.
Fortunately, these attitudes are changing. Today, hiring managers understand that sometimes people face periods of unemployment through no fault of their own. If you are currently in this predicament, take heart – there are some ways to make the most of this time in your career.
1. Don’t sit around waiting for a job offer – get out there and grab one!
As an unemployed person, you are actually in a unique position to be the master of your job search. Instead of having to sneak around a job trying to look for work and go to interviews, you can dedicate all your time to finding a great new job. Get up early every day and treat it like a job, searching for work, going to job fairs, volunteering in the community, heading to your local temporary staffing agency, and connecting with recruiters on social media accounts.
2. Good news – you can start working immediately.
The positive side of being unemployed while looking for a new job is that you can start immediately if an employer calls you up. Make sure to emphasize this at all interviews and when talking with the recruiters at your temporary agency. Check in frequently, and be sure to accept part-time and even one-day assignments while you look for something better.
3. Take on a temporary assignment in the meantime to stay active.
The best thing you can do for your career and spirits is to stay active in your career by taking on temporary assignments. Be open to trying assignments that may be somewhat outside your normal types of work tasks. Stay in good terms with local companies by accepting assignments, being punctual and professional at all times.
4. Make sure to get the support and guidance for your career.
Being unemployed, even for short periods of time, can be hard on the psyche. This means you will want to stay connected to others by attending unemployment benefit meetings, support groups, and remaining a part of the world. If you have a circle of friends and family around you, rooting you on, you will be better able to face the daily aspects of finding a job with a good outlook.
5. Try learning some new marketable skills or head back to school.
The other advantage you have as an unemployed job seeker is that now have the time to learn new marketable skills or to finally head back to school to earn that degree you’ve always dreamed of. Take careful inventory of the skills you have now, what’s lacking, and if training can close the gap so you can become more valuable in the workforce. Many states have workforce development programs that can include financial support for earning a certificate or degree in a certain industry that’s in need of skilled labor.
Use the above steps to launch your new career in a positive way. Do not despair. A new job is just around the corner.
Are you a new college grad with limited career experience? Have you been working a series of short term jobs with no real direction? Do not let a short work experience keep you from landing a new job. Short work experience should not prevent you from landing the job of your dreams in your industry, but it can hurt if you do not know how to sell that experience to potential employers.
Here, we will discuss how you can sell your skills and take the focus off the short work experience to employers so you can land a job.
Explain Your Skills Learned
One of the first things you need to do when interviewing for a job with a short work experience is to explain the skills learned in that short period. After explaining the skills learned, talk about how they will be useful to the company if you are hired. You should also talk about any training received while at previous companies or if you are planning to return to school for an advanced degree. You can also share other experience like volunteer work, special projects completed, and freelance work performed. All of this information will only help your case when interviewing for a job.
Discuss Your Responsibilities
Another good idea when trying to land a job with short work experience is to talk about the responsibilities you held at prior companies. Maybe you worked for one year or more as a department manager. Maybe you were put in charge of payroll at a smaller company. Both of these items will help you land a new job even if you have short work experience during your career. The more responsibilities you have to discuss, the better chance you have at the job.
Stress Your Educational Background
For most people with a short work background, many of them are just out of college or returning to the workforce after raising a family. Because of these two reasons, you must stress your education background. Be prepared to inform the company about the degree you earned, which classes were most important to your major, any internships you worked and any clubs you were involved in that would help you learn about your profession. By talking about your education, you show the employer how dedicated you were while in school to land a job such as the one you are interviewing for right now.
Explain the Short-Term Jobs
If your short work experience includes temporary jobs or a lot of job hopping, you need to disclose these positions to the employer. Instead of trying to hide these jobs, you must talk to the employer about them and explain why you worked temporary jobs or moved around a lot. Reasons could include you wanted to gain as much experience in a short period of time as possible or that you were laid off from your permanent job and wanted something to hold you over until a new full-time job came along.
The bottom line here is that having a short work experience should not hold you back from landing a new job so long as you take advantage of the tips outlined above. You can fast-track your way to career success by taking on temporary assignments through Advance Staffing and earning more career experience at the same time as getting paid.
An excellent way to get ahead at work is by identifying a career mentor early on in your career development. A career mentor is someone who works in the same or similar profession as you and who has years of experience in the industry. This person either works at your company or within your industry. They can be a co-worker, a former supervisor, a former professor, a hired career coach, or even a family friend who works the same type of career as you. In this week’s focus, we will discuss how to effectively use a career mentor to get ahead at work.
Create Your Definition of Success
One of the first steps in using a career mentor to get ahead at work is to create your definition of success. You will only succeed at work when you have your own definition of success and do not follow someone else’s definition. Your definition will include ideas about money, work-life balance, company culture, recognition for work performed and control over your creative juices. You need to decide which of these areas are most important to you because not everyone will succeed in all of them.
Identify the Mentor’s Problems
The second step after choosing a mentor and creating a definition of success is to identify the mentor’s problems. No one is perfect and this goes for your mentor too. You need to figure out what your mentor’s shortfalls are by befriending their critics. When you befriend their critics, you will be able to learn what it is they need to work on in order to be more successful in their careers. If you can learn their shortfalls early in your career, you can do your best to avoid them at all costs.
Strive to Be as Good as Your Mentor
Another important tip to using a career mentor to get ahead at work is to strive to be as good as they are, but not identical to them. Do not try to become this person in all aspects of life. Only work your hardest to be as good as the mentor while on the job. This will help you perform well and impress your employer so your career can catapult to a new level.
Switch Activities You and Your Mentor Perform
Make sure the activities you and your mentor take part in vary as much as possible. You do not want to get into a set routine with a mentor because this will not benefit your career at all. Consider having discussions with your mentor about past experiences, issues at work, how to impress clients and much more. You can also review resumes, cover letters and articles written about the job.
Do your best to find a mentor who is truly dedicated to helping you succeed in your career. When you do so, be sure to express your gratitude towards them and never take advantage of their time.
While much of the USA recovers from what has been a tough season, the good news is that there are a number of exciting entry and mid-level careers available in Michigan, a state that has been hit hard by the recession. Some of the top growth industries include manufacturing and logistics for top industrial companies in and around the Monroe area.
Career Outlook for Production and Material Handling Professionals
Candidates who have an interest or background in material production and handling can find rewarding assignments that have above-average starting wages and on-the-job training opportunities. The US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics advises that there will be 48,700 new jobs created in materials handling by the year 2020, with a vast majority of these pros working in warehouses and factories managing product inventories to increase business revenues.
Requirements for Working in Shipping and Receiving, and Production Jobs
Material handlers must have at least a high school diploma or GED, and be able to stand, bend, and lift materials throughout the day with minimal supervision. Material handlers often work indoors, in climate controlled environments as part of a team of workers. Strong mathematics, hand-eye coordination, and time management skills are a plus. Production and shipping workers can expect from 1 to 6 months of training, average salaries of $24,000 USD annually, and rapid career advancement for top performers.
HOT Jobs from Staffing Resources
Think you’ve got what it takes to succeed in production and materials management careers? This month, we would like to highlight some “hot” jobs in the production and industrial fields that are available now for qualified candidates. Please click on the links below for more information and to apply. We also appreciate referrals!
Shipping and Receiving Jobs in Monroe MI
Production Worker Jobs in Monroe MI
These and many other rewarding temporary and temp and temp to perm assignments in Michigan and Ohio are available by visiting our career portal at Advance Staffing. Find out why we have been rated as a leader in staffing and recruitment in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan for over 20 years! If you are looking for Michigan work opportunities, contact Advance Staffing today.
Many companies have onboarding programs designed to welcome new employees to the company during the first few weeks on the job. Yet, they forget that temp employees can also benefit from an onboarding process.
Multiple workplace studies have shown that when temporary employees have access to onboarding support, they often perform to higher standards sooner and they stay actively engaged in their assignments. The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) released a report that advised that almost half of all new hires quit within the first 4 months on a new job when an onboarding process is not offered. On the other hand, when onboarding of temporary employees is part of the formal orientation program, the benefits to organizations include:
A temporary employee onboarding program does not have to be a complex one. In fact, putting together a temp worker onboarding process can be accomplished in 4 ways.
#1 – Create a welcome package specifically for all new temps.
The first day in a new assignment can be intimidating for temps. You can help to alleviate any stress and create a structured temp onboarding process by putting together a welcome package for temps. In this welcome package include: a welcome letter that overviews the company, a job description and task list, new hire paperwork, employee handbook, technology instructions, safety guidelines, and a directory of workplace contacts.
#2 – Schedule an orientation week that includes participation from supervisory team.
Temps often fare better if they are provided with a thorough orientation during the first week at least (sometimes more depending on their role). Create a schedule for this orientation and work with your supervisory team to best cover all aspects of the new temp’s job duties. Clearly explain and demonstrate every task. Go over company policies and procedures in depth. Set goals for temps and make the supervisors accountable for their success.
#3 – Set up a mentor for each temporary staffer for on-the-job guidance.
Before a temp has reported for work, have a voluntary member of your team assigned as a mentor. This person can oversee any challenges that the temp has, offer guidance for performing tasks, and help the temp with any troubleshooting at work. Over time, the temp will become self-reliant and the mentor will help facilitate their integration into the team structure.
#4 – Regularly provide feedback to the temp employee and staffing agency.
Each week, meet with the mentor and supervisory team to gather feedback on the progress of the temp. If you are getting negative feedback, relay this back to your staffing agency so they can schedule an on-site visit to work with the temp to improve. In rare cases, a temp may need to be replaced, but very often a little extra support can help bring them up to speed quickly.
If you are looking for temp agencies in Monroe MI, contact us today.
If finding a job in Michigan is in your list of plans, you may be finding it difficult in a tough Central USA economy. Michigan was particularly hit hard by the most recent recession, accounting for one of the top unemployment rates in the nation. However, Michigan’s employment government sites advise marked improvement in various factors of the state’s economy, including a dropping unemployment rate. Temp jobs in Michigan can offer some of the most promising ways to land gainful employment.
There are several ways that you can obtain a temporary job in Michigan.
Research the growing industries in and around Michigan. There are a number of new industries that are calling Michigan home. Healthcare, energy, manufacturing, IT and engineering are some of them. Reach out to industry temp agencies in Michigan to locate entry level and mid-level positions in these expanding industries.
Update your skills by taking advantage of Michigan career resources. Explore the Michigan Works program, which provides on-the-job training and support for educational needs. Consider applying for classes to earn a degree at one of Michigan’s many community colleges.
Register with the best temporary agencies in Michigan. To get on the list of candidates to be placed in temp jobs in MI, you will need to be officially registered to work for them. Take the time to visit your choice in temp agencies, and get placed in a rewarding temp job sooner.
If you are a recent college graduate, get support from your school’s career center. Look for a wide number of graduate level jobs through temp agencies who partner with your school. Consider taking on an internship to gain the experience and knowledge you need to land a temp job.
Create a professional brand for yourself online. Using the most popular social media networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, create a professional image for yourself — showing off your skills, knowledge, and experience in the market you are interested in. Also include a general resume of your education and background.
Network your way to a temp job in Michigan. Just as in many other areas around the US, being in the right place at the right time can land you a great job. Get involved in your local Chamber of Commerce or other business and industry communities. Use your social networks to connect with recruiters in your preferred industry.
Remember, being visible to the companies and recruitment teams that are looking for you as a candidate is the key to successfully landing a temp job in Michigan.
After a period of searching for jobs and sending out resumes, you’ve finally gotten the call for an interview with a great company in Michigan or Ohio! When you’re heading into the job interview, you’ll want to keep in mind that you’re actually going to be making a sales pitch to the recruiter. You want to make sure that the recruiter gets the message that you are the best person for the job. This means when you’re meeting with the interviewer you’ll be focused on using words and gestures that will be convincing them that you are the one they want to hire.
Why Interviews Require Selling Your Skills to Recruiters
Selling yourself and making a positive impression in an interview means highlighting your strengths, your qualities, and your credentials to the recruiter in a meeting that lasts 30-minutes or less. Recruiters are generally good judges of character because they meet many people. Therefore, your job is to stand out from other candidates who are competing for this job. You can do this by preparing in advance with a sales-oriented approach.
Here are some ways to sell yourself to the recruiter, and get the job!
1. Demonstrate that you share the company’s values
Securing candidates who have a good corporate culture fit is a key aspect of recruiting today. Therefore you can help sell yourself to a recruiter by demonstrating how you can closely match your work skills, ethics, values to those of the company. Discuss your genuine interest in working for the company because of its core values. Mention past career experiences in terms of how you were able to match your work skills to the values and objectives of the companies and clients.
2. Focus on your top relevant skills in the industry
A recruiter will generally have a mental check list of keywords that they will be listening for during the interview. Make their job easier by having a 30-second speech that introduces your skills and qualities as they directly relate to the job that you are applying for. You can find out more by visiting the corporate website, reading important news updates, and gaining added insight from people who currently work there.
3. Be the solution to the recruiter
When you walked into an interview, the recruiter is looking for someone who can immediately solve the problems of the company. You can BE the solution by offering up detailed examples of how your skills, experiences and your unique background can solve the problems of the company. Used phrases such as “works well under pressure” and “great problem solver” on your resume, and as you speak about yourself in the interview. Remember your job is to help the recruiter see how you can be a solution to their needs.
4. Look the part and be confident
From the way you look when you walked into the interview to the way you make eye contact, your body language speaks volumes to the recruiter. Dress for success and show up for the job interview as if you’re already working there. Present a professionally printed resume and reference sheet. Sit forward with hands in your lap in a relaxed position, smiling confidently and making direct eye contact with the interviewer. When speaking, think carefully and formulate your words to sell your strengths to the recruiter.
Using the above tips, you will surely impress the recruiter enough to get asked to return for a second interview and a job offer soon. Working with the recruitment pros at Advance Staffing Solutions can help you prepare for a positive interview experience. If you are looking for an employment agency in Toledo Ohio, contact us today.
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.
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.
Working at a temporary job can be rewarding, but a little uncertain at times too. The reason for this is that a temporary job fulfills your need for income and gives you the chance to focus on your career goals. But, on the other hand, you know that the temp job may not always lead to full-time employment.
We have compiled five key points you can put into action if you want to turn your temp jobs into a full-time career.
Make Yourself Visible
Aside from being hired for the temporary position, a key point here is to be visible at the company. Not many people will know who you are as a new temp, so be sure to introduce yourself on your first and subsequent days on the job. Learn the names of all your immediate co-workers and supervisors. When we say be visible, we mean be visible in a positive manner. Do not bring attention to yourself via negative language, actions or poor job performance. One way to get noticed is to arrive at work early and to leave late whenever you can.
Be Open to New Tasks
What temporary workers need to realize is that they might be asked to perform some menial tasks or even some brand new ones while on the job. Accept these assignments with a smile and an open-mind that they could lead to bigger and better ones. Do not complain and make sure you thank superiors for the projects and let them know when you can begin another one. To make this as easy as possible, go into the first day of the job with the mindset that no task is beneath you.
Dress for Success at Work
Just because you are a temporary employee, it does not mean that you should report to work in jeans and a t-shirt each day. If you dress for the job that you want, you will be leaving a good impression with your superiors. It is absolutely fine to be overdressed for your position instead of being dressed a level below the rest of the employees in the building.
Socialize as Little as Possible
Although it’s important to be friendly with co-workers and clients, excessive socializing can actually be the downfall of your temporary position. Even if you do not do it often, the boss might walk by your co-worker’s desk each time you happen to be standing there having a conversation. Do not let this ruin your chances of becoming a full-time employee with the company. Socialize as little as possible and focus on your work every chance you get.
Do Not Sprint to the Finish Line
No one wants to stay late into the night to complete a project after coming into work early in the morning. It is understandable, but it is also the nature of the beast. Do not bolt for the door when the clock hits 5 PM each day. Instead, stay for a little bit to work on an assignment or to begin a new one. This will show your superiors how determined you are to extend your employment with the company.
If you are looking for temp employment in Monroe MI, contact our team today.
![JobBoard_CTA[1]](http://advancetemps.admin.haleywebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/JobBoard_CTA1.png)
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!
Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for candidates to walk in for an interview presenting several resume gaps in their employment history. The recession took a toll on many good people, who lost their jobs and then spent months or even years trying to find gainful employment. Some headed back to college and lived at home with parents or other family members while trying to get back on their feet. It’s also possible that candidate resume gaps come from brief periods of being stay-at-home parents or when caring for family members.
Whatever the case may be, if you are a candidate facing an interview and need to explain resume gaps, this article will guide you in this process.
Focus on a Functional Resume Format
Instead of creating a resume that shows the chronological order of all your jobs by month and date (calls out your resume gaps more), try a functional resume format that highlights your skills and talents instead. Use your resume to develop a smart-looking career history that’s focused on career achievements and how you’ve used your amazing array of skills, education, and knowledge to progress. If the resume gap is brought up in the interview by the interviewer, you can talk about it then.
Be Honest and Upfront About Resume Gaps
Believe it or not, human resource and recruitment professionals are people too. They appreciate honesty from candidates. Don’t try to cover up lags between jobs, fake employment dates or lie about resume gaps. They will be discovered sooner or later. Instead, just simply include a reason for these gaps on your resume and on applications. If you were laid off or if a company closed down, let the recruiter know.
Indicate What You Were Doing During Resume Gaps
Make sure you provide some indication of what career efforts you were engaged in during resume gaps. For example, if you were attending classes through your local workforce development office, state this so that the recruiter knows you were actively working towards employment. Talk about any volunteer, educational, and other worthy pursuits you were participating in during these gaps in employment.
Get Your Reference Letters in Order
While you are preparing for your interview, be sure to reach out to all your previous employers and get those reference letters written up. Even if you have to write them yourself, take them there, and get a former supervisor or colleague to sign them. This will help you to demonstrate your value to the interviewer and remove the emphasis off your resume gaps.
Once you have done these things, you should be more confident about sitting in front of a potential employer. Work with a staffing agency to find ways to work on temporary assignments while you are looking for a long-term career. Who knows? You may even land a great job sooner than you can imagine and not have to talk a lot about resume gaps in the future if you go this route.
