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Don’t Be Nervous for Your Interview!

HMG Success on October 4, 2019

Even the most experienced professionals can experience some interview jitters. After all, you are probably excited about the prospect of landing the role and, at the same time, worried you won’t make the best impression. That would make anyone nervous. 

While having some anxiety about your upcoming interview is normal, you want to make sure your nerves don’t impact your performance. By taking the right steps, you can be more comfortable and confident when you meet with the hiring manager, increasing the odds you’ll excel during the interview. 

If you want to make sure you aren’t nervous about your next interview, here are some tips that can help. 

Spend Time Preparing 

Often, interview nerves stem from the fear you won’t be able to answer a question well during the interview. Luckily, you can decrease the odds you’ll draw a blank by spending some time preparing before the big day. 

Ahead of your interview, take a few moments to review the job ad. Read the entire announcement and make a note of the must-haves that are on the list. Since you will likely face questions regarding those points, you’ll know what answers to practice in advance. 

Additionally, do some research into the company. Learn about its products or services. Review the company’s mission and values statements. Peruse its social media accounts to find out about recent achievement and innovations while also getting glimpses into the company’s culture. 

All of this allows you to anticipate what you may encounter during your interview, giving you the details you need to know to prepare beforehand and feel confident about what you’ll bring to the table. 

Gather Your Things 

If you want to keep your nerves at bay, make sure the morning of your interview will run smoothly. The night before the big day, gather everything you’ll need when you wake up. Select your outfit and set it out. Plan out your breakfast and pack your bag. Review your route to the interview location. Double-check your interview time and any other arrival instructions. 

The goal is to streamline your morning, so handle everything you can the night before. That way, once you wake up, you won’t have to run around gathering your things or making decisions, allowing you to effectively be on autopilot.  

Stay Positive 

A positive attitude can go a long way when you need to calm your nerves. Remember, the hiring manager isn’t trying to trick you. In fact, they want you to succeed, so keep that in mind when you meet them. 

Additionally, before you walk into the meeting, take a moment and remind yourself of your strengths. If the hiring manager wasn’t intrigued by your resume, they wouldn’t have brought you in, so consider what you bring to the table and use that to keep you in the right frame of mind. 

Ultimately, being a bit nervous is normal. But, by following the tips above, you can keep it under control. If you’d like to learn more about how to reduce your interview anxiety, the staff at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our recruitment specialists today and see how our interview expertise can benefit you or browse our open jobs online. 

 

 

Happy 29th Anniversary, Stacey Bigelow, Founder of The Advance Group

HMG Success on October 1, 2019

To celebrate Stacey Bigelow’s 29th year with The Advance Group, we sat down with her for a Q & A session. Here are a few highlights to enjoy:

Q: What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
A: Outside of my husband and daughters, I was given the gift of opportunity.  I am blessed!

Q: What quote do you live by?
A: “Work hard, play hard!”  I believe that life is short, I work hard to play hard!

Q: What brings you the greatest joy?
A: Being on a deserted beach in the Caribbean as the tide goes out with my family.  I have so many wonderful memories of our fun adventures and discoveries at the beach.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve been given?
A: Don’t wait for the perfect moment, create it!

Stacey is the founder of The Advance Group.  Happy Anniversary, Stacey!

When Does Your Company Need to Partner with a Recruiter?

HMG Success on September 23, 2019

 

Today, companies are contending with a candidate-driven job market. Competition for top talent is fierce, making it harder to locate high-quality professionals quickly. As a result, many businesses turn to recruiters to help them find the right people for their vacant positions.

However, figuring out whether partnering with a recruitment agency is the best move for your company isn’t always easy. With that in mind, here are a few signs it could be the right decision for your organization.

You Need to Hire Faster

The hiring process at most companies is very time consuming. Often, several managers or departments need to coordinate their activities to start recruiting, including agreeing on job descriptions, posting vacancy announcements, reaching a consensus regarding the salary, and working the new hire into the budget.

Then, the candidate screening process is also cumbersome. Reviewing incoming resumes to find strong matches and coordinating interviews takes a lot of energy, particularly if you don’t get great applicants right away.

When you partner with a recruitment agency, you can speed up your hiring process. Recruiters focus their careers on finding the right candidates and have access to large talent pools automatically. This is a significant advantage when you need to hire fast.

You Aren’t Finding Quality Matches

By partnering with a recruiter, you can improve the quality of your candidates. A recruitment agency will work closely with you to understand the nuances of the role and your company’s culture. This allows them to get a holistic picture of what the perfect candidate is, making sure that they are referring job seekers based on their ability to excel in the job and your environment.

Recruitment agencies also maintain large candidate databases filled with professionals who could potentially meet your needs, including many who have been prescreened. Additionally, they have vast professional networks, an asset they can tap whenever the need arises.

Plus, they are experts in recruitment. If a recruiter doesn’t have an ideal match available, they know where to look and how to proceed to ensure the right kind of talent learns about your opportunity. Essentially, a recruitment agency is diligent about finding you the perfect match, and they know what resources will yield the best results.

Your Candidate Experience Isn’t Ideal

In a candidate-driven job market, your candidate experience matters. Skilled professionals won’t tolerate slow processes, overly lengthy applications, poor communication, or other issues when companies are competing for their attention.

When you partner with a recruiter, you gain access to a streamlined process designed to keep the candidate engaged. Recruiters understand what candidates need during the hiring process and are able to ensure the experience is professional and meets job seeker expectations.

Ultimately, partnering with a recruiter can be an excellent move, particularly if your company is struggling to find the candidates it needs to thrive. If you would like to know more, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our skilled recruiters today and see how our hiring expertise can benefit you.

 

 

Nervous for Your New Job? Try This!

HMG Success on September 20, 2019

 

Regardless of where you are in your career, starting a new job is a bit scary. You only have general insights into what the role entails, may not know any of your soon-to-be co-workers, and are about to venture into an unfamiliar environment. Nearly everyone would be nervous in that scenario.

Luckily, there are things you can do to ease your anxieties before your first day. Here are some tips to get you started.

Review the Information You Have

Before you head in on your first day, take a moment to reflect on what you do know and review the information you have available. Reread the job description, think about what you learned during the interview, and do some online searches to refresh your memory about the company.

Not only will you refamiliarize yourself with what’s to come, but you’ll also be reminded of why you accepted the role in the first place. This can help you switch from nervousness to excitement.

Remove Some of the Pressure

It is easy to assume that a new employer is going to expect you to excel on day one. However, in reality, nearly every company understands there is a learning curve, and they aren’t going to fault you just because you don’t know everything immediately.

Additionally, your new manager is anticipating you will be unsure at times and you’ll need guidance or the ability to ask questions. Generally, they are also expecting you to make small errors as you get your footing, and will be there to support you as you strive to get on the right track. Starting a new job is a learning process, and your boss knows that. As long as you are accountable for your actions and act professionally, you will likely get the benefit of the doubt during your first few days.

Know That the Nervousness Wears Off

You are only going to have your first day at this job once. With each passing day, you’ll become more comfortable and familiar with your environment and any expectations the company may have. As you learn more about the position, your team, and the workplace, these initial feelings of nervousness will naturally fade, often faster than you would expect.

As long as you are on your best behavior, act professionally at all times, are accountable for your actions, and are striving to improve, you should be all set. Plus, by focusing on those areas, you are more likely to make a good impression, something else that encourages people to give you the benefit of the doubt as you learn the ropes.

Come Prepared for Your First Day

A few minutes spent preparing for your first day can make a significant difference. Start by selecting your attire the night before. Next, gather any items you may need to take with you. For example, having a notepad and pen ensures you can write important things down as you start in your new workplace, giving you an easy way to guarantee you won’t forget something critical.

Planning your morning routine can also help make sure the beginning of your first day runs smoothly. Consider how much time you need to get ready and make certain decisions in advance, such as what you’ll have for breakfast. That way, you’ll be able to head out the door on time without much struggle.

Ultimately, all of the tips above can help you feel less nervous on your first day. If you’d like to know more, the skilled staff at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our experienced team members today and see how our expertise can benefit you in your Michigan or Ohio job search.

 

 

The Advance Group’s Southgate Branch Staffing Stars!

HMG Success on September 18, 2019

Molly, Stephanie, Donna and Tyler from our Southgate office wanted to say thank you to these Staffing Stars!

  • John Cogan– John has been on the same assignment for The Advance Group for over 4 years!  In that time, John has consistently proven to be a reliable employee and taken on overtime hours when available.  He has also shown a willingness to learn new skills and accept different tasks, this has helped him advance his career with The Advance Group! Thank You John for your continued hard work!
  • Adam Thomas- For National Staffing Employee Week, The Advance Group would like to highlight Adam Thomas. Adam has great attendance and motivation, always willing to learn new things and do whatever is needed to get the job done! Thanks to Adam’s dedication he was recently hired in with his current employer. We appreciate Adam’s hard work and wish him the best with his future endeavors!
  • Steve Butt- The Advance Group wishes to express gratitude to Steve Butt for his hard work and dedication. When Steve came to The Advance Group, he was eager to get to work and was placed on assignment right away. Since he’s been employed by The Advance Group, he’s proven to be an outstanding employee. He is striving to be hired in at his current job site and we wish him all the best!
  • Miguel Hernandez- Miguel Hernandez is one of our employees we wanted to acknowledge for National Staffing Employee Week. Miguel has worked at the same company for over 10 months! While he has been on assignment he has had excellent attendance and has referred great candidates. We appreciate Miguel’s hard work and referrals!

 

 

The Advance Group’s Sylvania Branch Staffing Stars!

HMG Success on September 18, 2019

  • Mark Sharples has been working as a Quality Manager since May of 2018 through the Sylvania office, he is Dan’s Staffing Star this year.  He has had great attendance and has been doing a stellar job working for the same customer in a fast paced, high stress environment.
  • This is Nick’s first NSEW celebration since joining the Sylvania team.  He nominated David Skrepenski as his Staffing Star.  David began working for a new client of ours this summer, he took to the job quickly and has been excelling in all of the roles he asked to learn. From skid building, to steel stacking and machine operating. David’s performance has been noticed by his supervisors!  David works hard, is eager to learn, and can be relied on! Nice work David!

 

 

Happy 1st Anniversary, Kaydee Forgette!

HMG Success on September 18, 2019

To celebrate Kaydee Forgette’s 1st year with The Advance Group, we sat down with her for a Q & A session. Here are a few highlights to enjoy:

Q: What brings you the greatest joy?
A: I would have to say my family brings me my greatest joy.

Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: My favorite movie is Dirty Dancing.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: In my spare time, I like to go to car shows, hang out with my family, go to concerts and sporting events.

Kaydee is a Staffing Coordinator with The Advance Group’s Sylvania branch.  Happy Anniversary, Kaydee!

The Advance Group’s Sylvania Branch Staffing Stars!

HMG Success on September 17, 2019

  • Niki from our Sylvania team recommended Mitchell Pakulski as her Staffing Star this year.  He has been at our client for almost a year.  During that time frame, he has only asked for half a day off for a funeral. His attendance and overall attitude has been superb.  He also referred his stepdaughter for a job as well.
  • Andrea from our Sylvania team feels Gary Lewis should be recognized as a 2019 Staffing Star.  He has been employed with us for almost 1.5 years. He is there every day and has great attendance! Gary never complains and is always up willing to do whatever job is asked of him. He has been a great employee and we appreciate all his hard work and dedication!
  • Kaydee from our Sylvania team thinks Sean Cole should be a Staffing Star this year.  He has been with The Advance Group since 2014, placed on 2 different assignments with Advance. Due to his great work ethic, great attendance and positive attitude both companies have given him the option to be hired in with the company.  Sean is someone that his supervisors can count on to get the job done!

 

 

The Advance Group’s Sylvania Branch Staffing Stars!

Raza Rauf on September 17, 2019

  • Niki from our Sylvania team recommended Mitchell Pakulski as her Staffing Star this year.  He has been at our client for almost a year.  During that time frame, he has only asked for half a day off for a funeral. His attendance and overall attitude has been superb.  He also referred his stepdaughter for a job as well.
  • Andrea from our Sylvania team feels Gary Lewis should be recognized as a 2019 Staffing Star.  He has been employed with us for almost 1.5 years. He is there every day and has great attendance! Gary never complains and is always up willing to do whatever job is asked of him. He has been a great employee and we appreciate all his hard work and dedication!
  • Kaydee from our Sylvania team thinks Sean Cole should be a Staffing Star this year.  He has been with The Advance Group since 2014, placed on 2 different assignments with Advance. Due to his great work ethic, great attendance and positive attitude both companies have given him the option to be hired in with the company.  Sean is someone that his supervisors can count on to get the job done!

 

 

The Advance Group’s Monroe Branch Staffing Stars!

HMG Success on September 16, 2019

Mindy, Renee and Ryann from our Monroe team collaborated with their clients to determine The Advance Group Staffing Stars representing the Monroe Branch!

  • Mercedes Page was recommended by her supervisor for great attitude, perfect attendance and going above and beyond in her performance. She is quickly picking things up and really doing an overall great job. Wishes he had 10 more just like her!
  • Charline Brown is being recognized for her outstanding attitude, ability to learn new tasks , overall terrific performance, along with perfect attendance. Her hard work has not gone unnoticed by her Supervisors or by The Advance Group! Keep up the great work, Charline!
  • Elizabeth St Bernard has been working with us over the last two years. She has been a model employee to say the least. She is hard working and reliable. She is always positive and upbeat. She was recently hired in with a client, who we have heard nothing but amazing things from. We wish her the best of luck!

 

Don’t Fall for These Business Culture Mistakes

HMG Success on September 6, 2019

 

Company culture has become increasingly important in the eyes of candidates. Most professionals want more than just a solid salary and comprehensive benefits package; they also want an environment that meets their needs, the right amount of support, and access to opportunities.

Certain business culture mistakes can be incredibly harmful for both recruitment and retention. If you want to make sure you can access and keep top talent, here are some cultural issues you need to avoid.

No Downtime

Many companies expect their employees to burn the candle at both ends. They may encourage workers to skip breaks, work through their lunch, and respond to calls, emails, or text at all time of the day, including during off-hours.

This always-on mentality creates a culture that makes work-life balance nearly impossible. Plus, even though employees are putting in more hours, it actually harms productivity. It can cause employees to disengage and lose focus. In the worst-case scenario, it can promote burnout.

If you want your staff to thrive, make sure there is adequate downtime. Encourage them to take breaks during the day and have lunch away from their workstations. Additionally, limit after-hours contact or eliminate the expectation employees be accessible 24/7. That way, you can create a culture that supports work-life balance, ensuring your workers rest and rejuvenate regularly so they are at their best when they are on the clock.

Lack of Trust

Some managers have a tendency to micromanage, even if they aren’t aware of it. They hover over their employees and monitor their every move, at times in the name of preventing mistakes and ensuring everyone is productive.

One of the main issues with micromanaging is it suggests a manager doesn’t trust their team. Since the employees are so closely monitored, they assume their boss doesn’t believe they are capable enough to handle their duties without constant direction, and that can be frustrating and disheartening.

While remaining available to your staff and checking in regularly are good ideas, resist the urge to watch their every move. Give them some degree of autonomy, as long as they are meeting or exceeding expectations. Answer questions or provide direction if they ask, but otherwise trust in their capabilities until you are given a clear reason to be more involved. This will make your employees happier, mainly because they feel the company trusts them.

Failing to Align With Company Values

Most companies have values statements that are supposed to be a guiding light for operations. However, if management or the company’s direction don’t align with the values, the disconnect harms your culture.

Employees look to organizational leaders as guides. If managers or the business act in a way that goes against any stated values, it appears hypocritical. This is especially true if employees are held to a standard leaders aren’t following, something that also makes it seem as if accountability isn’t important.

Make sure your company has clear values, first and foremost. Then, strive to ensure all members of the leadership ranks hold those values dear and make decisions based on them. That way, everything is in alignment.

Ultimately, the three business culture mistakes above can be very harmful to an organization. By avoiding them, you can create a positive culture, something that can help with both recruiting and retention. If you’d like to learn more, the staff at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to discuss your questions with a member of our knowledgeable team today and see how our company culture expertise can benefit you.

 

 

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