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Improve Your Technical Employees Satisfaction! Use These Tips

HMG Success on October 7, 2026

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It is well known that happy employees are better for a company’s bottom line. Employees represent the company in public and are more productive when they are actually working. During the height of the recent recession, many employees understood when company’s had to tighten their belts, and they made a number of sacrifices. Now that the economy is recovering, employees have begun looking for the benefits they once had.

Hiring in the technical sector has become highly competitive. This means it will take more effort to keep your top performing technical employees around. To increase their job satisfaction, consider the following tips.

Reevaluate Your Benefits Package

When the recession hit, many companies stripped down their benefits packages to help make ends meet. Now that things are stabilizing, it is time to see how your benefits package compares to the competition. If employee contributions for health insurance were raised during tough times, see if they can be lowered now. This includes the introduction of high-deductible plans as well as the cost of monthly premiums. Bring health insurance costs down is always well received.

Similarly, retirement packages need to be examined. Now may be the time to increase the company match for a 401(k), or look into providing employees with stock options with the company. If retirement adjustments can’t be made, promote a healthier work/life balance with additional paid time off.

Increase Flexibility

Allowing employees to assert some level of control over their lives will increase their overall job satisfaction. Whether this involves creating alternate or flexible work schedules, or the ability to work remotely, providing options on how work can be accomplished will help employees better manage the demands of their work and life. Every employee has different scheduling needs. By promoting a method for working with these difference, and not forcing every employee into the same schedule, can provide relief to a variety of stress points.

Keep the Lines of Communication Open

Many businesses blindsided employees during the last recession. Those working in the trenches often didn’t know the full extent of the trouble their company was in until people were being shown the door. With those memories still very clear in the minds of anyone working during that time, being open and transparent with employees can go a long way. This means telling them to good and the bad, regardless of what it may be. Informed employees may be more likely to rally behind a company that treats them well, and is open about the current situation, allowing them to work towards solving your problem by your side.

Provide Opportunities for Growth and Advancement

Your best technical employees will relish the chance to learn new systems and advance their knowledge. Many top performers want to be able to keep growing within their field. By providing built-in mechanisms to support that idea, you can keep the more talented interested.

Consider creating a training budget to help employees explore new technologies. You can also create a mentorship or cross-training plan for internal development. If you want to promote furthering their educations, consider tuition reimbursement programs.

Want More Ways to Keep Employees Satisfied?

If you are looking for more ways to increase employee satisfaction, the professionals at Advance Staffing Solutions have the knowledge and expertise to help you develop a new plan. Contact Advance Staffing Solutions today!

 

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Considering a Manufacturing Job? Here’s Why You Should!

HMG Success on October 7, 2026

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Recent grads rarely talk about pursuing a career in manufacturing. By failing to do so, they are missing a great opportunity. The competition in many fields can be quite fierce, but the manufacturing sector is actively pursuing potential employees right now.

Manufacturing conjures up pictures of low-skilled labor and dirty working conditions, but as technological advances have improved other industries, the manufacturing sector today is not the same as the factory jobs of yesteryear. Sophisticated equipment and automation processes have replaced many of the low-skilled positions once held by people. To keep facilities in working order, they require skilled hands to operate the computers and robotics that now perform the work.

In-Demand Fields in Manufacturing

Graduates with talent and education in the areas of mathematics, science, IT, and engineering can all find a home in industrial workplaces. Often, equipment is controlled via computer interfaces and through the use of specific coding. In the fabrication industry, mathematics and drafting skills can be vital to the creation of new products and the improvement of current offerings. The ability to analyze data, and make improvements, is valuable and those skills can be acquired through a variety of mathematical, technical, and scientific degree programs.

Those with degrees in business administration may also be able to secure entry-level management positions, as well as those with supervisory experience and other applicable skills.

Additional Knowledge Base

In some cases, a relevant degree may be all you need. At other times, having some skills and knowledge in certain manufacturing processes may also be required. This does not mean you have to obtain an entirely new degree. Instead, consider supplementing your knowledge with an extra course or two designed to help you familiarize yourself with the technology involved.

For example, equipment manufacturers and distributors may have courses or materials you can review. If you know which equipment is in use at particular sites, you can take the time to learn information that is relevant to their current processes. This can help differentiate you from others who may apply.

Community colleges and technical schools may also have courses that can give you an advantage over the competition. As mentioned before, obtaining an entirely new degree is often not necessary. An extra class or two can provide you with an industry-specific foundation upon which you can enter the manufacturing world with greater ease.

On-the-Job Training

Some manufacturing facilities may be prepared to train the right candidate. If you possess a degree or skill set that can be of value, they may be comfortable with introducing you to the ins-and-outs of an industrial workplace. As skill gaps widen, the practice of offering opportunities to train may increase to help attract new applicants.

Often, the ability to learn new systems comes with the job. It can provide a clear path for advancement and future success within the selected business or a larger part of the manufacturing industry. If labor shortages continue to affect the sector, advancement opportunities may become more accessible as businesses compete for the best talent.

If you are interested in starting a career in the manufacturing sector, Advance Staffing Solutions can help. Contact us today to see what jobs may be available to you.

 

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Revamp Your Cover Letter NOW!

HMG Success on October 7, 2026

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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.

 

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How to Improve Productivity Among Middle Managers

HMG Success on October 7, 2026

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Improved productivity throughout the management structure is a goal for many organizations. While a significant amount of information tends to focus on the needs of employees, it can be challenging to find tips for improving the productivity of middle managers. With that in mind, here are some tips that will help those who bridge the gap between frontline employees and upper management succeed in their unique space.

Trust and Honesty

Building trust between employees, regardless of their position within the organization, is always important. Middle managers require honesty from upper management to help coordinate their teams and ensure they are focused on the correct goals. When upper management is open about the current state of the business and any associated expectations, middle managers will feel better prepared to succeed in their work. It also avoids any sense of secrecy from those at the top and helps middle managers feel as though their contribution is valued.

Consistent Feedback

By keeping communication open, you enable your middle managers to be more effective. Keep them apprised of changing goals and priorities, as well as provide feedback on completed tasks. This helps remove the mystery as to how upper management feels about their work and the work of their team. It also provides them with valuable input that can be shared with those they supervise. It creates a cascading effect and can provide productivity benefits at every organizational level.

Make sure that any criticism is constructive and don’t neglect to highlight accomplishments. The idea is to help mold middle managers into more effective employees and leaders. Since their job involves a bit of both, presenting information in the proper way helps middle managers address their direct reports in a way that promotes better outcomes. This can help their morale stay high. They will feel more confident in their work and can help them become more effective leaders.

Reward Throughout Projects

Most reward-based systems focus on the end of the project. Often, there are multiple stages that must be completed to consider the entire project a success. Instead of simply focusing on the result, consider connecting important tasks and milestone to desirable activities.

Projects have some degree of drudgery to them regardless of the purpose. By integrating something enticing into the mix, you can combine the less desirable tasks with more enjoyable ones through a tactic called temptation building. Since the activity that is perceived as enjoyable is connected to one that is less so, it can help you limit the need for pure willpower to get through difficult challenges.

A simple example of temptation building is allowing yourself to enjoy your favorite music while doing a tedious task, like cleaning. While the example is not directly applicable to the business world, it does convey the general principle. Allow them to team an enjoyable task, even if it doesn’t expressly forward any goal, to a job duty that needs to be completed. By allowing them to work together, the job duty is more enjoyable by association.

Looking for More Productivity Tips

If you are looking for more information about how to increase the productivity of your teams, or are looking for someone to fill a middle management position, Advance Staffing Solutions is available to assist. Contact Advance Staffing Solutions today for a more productive tomorrow.

 

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Want Your Receptionist Resume Read? Use These Tips

HMG Success on October 7, 2026

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There are two phases to getting your resume read. First, you have to get passed the ominous Application Tracking System (ATS), and that can be a feat by itself. Once you’ve cleared that hurdle, you have to entire the recruiter or hiring manager to review the content.

By following certain standards, you can increase the likelihood that your resume will be seen by an actual person and that they will take the time to read it. Before you submit your next resume, use these tips to up your odds.

Format and Structure

While individuality can be great in a lot of circumstances, your resume is not the appropriate time to flex your creative muscles. Resumes adhering to certain guidelines have a better chance of making it passed an ATS, and are more likely to be read once they are in front of a person.

Keep your resume in a .doc or .txt file type. An ATS can read these formats more easily that a PDF. This means it has a better chance of seeing the information you have included correctly, and it will not accidentally interpret the files as being a graphic instead of text. For similar reasons, avoid adding graphics and charts on your resume, as well as a headshot, as these may be problematic for an ATS to manage. Most recruiters aren’t interested in seeing graphical components either, so adding pictures for their benefit is unnecessary.

If you want the ATS to have the easiest time reviewing your work history, make sure you list the name of your current or previous employers before you list the dates when you worked there. That allows the ATS to more accurately follow the chronological order of events and lowers the chance of being rejected just because the system is having issues reading the data. Further, this layout is familiar and allows recruiters to quickly scan for pertinent information regarding your previous experience.

Keywords and Language

In most cases, you can find your ideal keywords from the job posting for the position. Examine the language used, as well as word combinations. If a particular phrase appears within the job posting more than once, consider using the entire phrase instead of single keywords.

You will also want to pepper your resume with keywords in more than one way. While having them featured in a list of applicable skills is helpful, they should also appear throughout the resume body. Add a few to previous work experience descriptions where appropriate to emphasis them for both an ATS and a recruiter. You can also add them to headings and subheadings as an additional way to bring focus to these skills.

Take the time to learn about the organization’s culture and preferred phrases. You may be able to find this information through their website or press releases. If you know someone who works with the company, you can inquire with them as well. Many organizations have their preferences when it comes to communications and the use of industry jargon. By using language similar to the one they tend to favor, you are more likely to seem like a good fit.

Find the Right Positions

The biggest tip to getting your resume read is to apply to jobs for which you are qualified. If you can’t integrate many keywords because they don’t apply to your experience or education, you may be aiming at a job that you aren’t prepared to perform in. If that is truly where you want your career to go, you may need to work on your skills so that you can perform the job duties required.

If you are looking for a new position, and want some assistance getting your resume read, Advance Staffing Solutions can help you get to where you want to be. Contact Advance Staffing Solutions today.

 

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What’s So Hard about Hiring Good IT Talent?

HMG Success on October 7, 2026

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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.

 

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Why You Should Encourage Employees to Use Their Vacation Days

HMG Success on October 7, 2026

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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.

 

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Are You Empowering Your Staff? You Should Be!

HMG Success on October 7, 2026

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Empowerment focuses on openly sharing information and power with employees. It is giving your team the opportunity to make decisions and solve problems without having to wait for direction from management. If employees are provided with the skills, resources, opportunity, motivation and authority to act, they will be more likely to contribute in meaningful ways while also experiencing increased job satisfaction.

While the concept of having a skilled, knowledgeable, and motivated team is easy to appreciate, many in management find it difficult to provide employees with authority to act within certain spheres. Even though keeping employees accountable is also a key factor in team empowerment, the idea of relinquishing any amount of control can be intimidating, especially if you work in a leadership position.

However, by failing to empower your employees in the right way, you are missing out on the benefits both you and they will receive. Before you shy away from giving your team more flexibility regarding how they manage their work, consider these key points.

Anyone Can Have Great Ideas

Your team was hired because they demonstrated the knowledge and aptitude required to perform the job they are assigned. That means they have the expertise necessary to consider options and problem solve in their area. By being open to hearing ideas from anyone working in the group, you may gain insight that otherwise would be missed.

Opportunities to Reprioritize

As a member of management, your responsibilities extend beyond the day-to-day operations of your section. By empowering your team to manage things within their realm, you can direct your attention to more important matters that genuinely require your attention.

A self-sufficient group also needs less direct management, which can also allow you to work strategically on the main objectives.

Positive Reputation

Part of your reputation as a manager is based on how your team feels about working for you. By empowering your team, you will be seen as a manager that helps their employees achieve success by giving them the opportunity to work in a way that suits them. This can make you appear much more attractive to work for than supervisors known for micromanaging, making it easier to attract top talent.

Improved Performance

Maintaining a positive reputation and a happy team environment gives you more opportunities for success. Not only will you be able to find and retain more top talent, but you will also be noticed by other members of your company or outside customers.

If your team feels empowered, they are more likely to remain engaged in their work. The company’s mission can feel more personal when they have a direct hand in outcomes. As their performance improves, you may find yourself with more opportunities to advance your career as well as increase the productivity of the business as a whole.

A More Enjoyable Work Environment

Working with team members who are happy, empowered and motivated automatically makes the workplace a more pleasant place to be. Since many people spend more time with those they work with than their own families, maintaining a positive environment can reap significant dividends.

If you are looking for a new team member or want more information about empowering your employees, the professionals at Advance Staffing Solutions have the knowledge you need. Contact us today and see what Advance Staffing Solutions can do for your business.

 

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Advance Your Career in 2017 (But Don’t Sacrifice Your Home Life!)

HMG Success on October 7, 2026

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With a new year on the horizon, many people take some time to examine their goals for the future. Advancing your career is often an attractive idea, especially if you have some room to move up in your field. However, pursuing new opportunities shouldn’t come at the cost of everything else you have going in your life.

Most professionals feel the pressure to keep moving forward. We are led to believe that our identities are based more on what we do for a living than anything else. But there is a fine line between passionate enthusiasm and the road to professional (and personal) burnout.

Before you dedicate every ounce of energy to advancing your career, here are some tips to make sure that you still come out as you on the other side.

Understand Time is Precious

We are given a finite amount of time to make our way through the world, and only so much energy with which to do so. Dedicating every waking hour to work may help you further your career, but at what cost? If you don’t take time for something other than work, you may find your energy levels depleting quickly. Your performance may suffer, and you might discover that you simply don’t have the ability to keep going.

Taking time to focus on something enjoyable can help you recharge, allowing you to maintain your pace for longer than if you just try to push through the hard days. It is perfectly acceptable (and even recommended) to have something else in your life besides work. Don’t forget that some of your precious moments should be spent on you.

Nurture Your Relationships

Human beings are not solitary creatures by nature. We crave company and connection. If you through every ounce of energy you possess into your work, you may be missing out on events that occur outside of your workplace. The world in which you friends and family exist will change whether you are there to see it or not. And, by missing key moments, you may find yourself out-of-the-loop or even left behind.

Having quality relationships is essential to leading a full life. Don’t let your work take that away from you by over-committing to a plan for career advancement.

Don’t Pigeonhole Yourself

It is easy to become fixated on a particular idea when it comes to advancing your career. Maybe you are chasing a specific job title, position or opportunity with complete disregard to the options that may arise. While having focus can help you succeed, don’t let your world become so small that you don’t notice the chances outside of your initial plan.

By putting limits on how your career should move forward, you are typecasting yourself in your own life. Think about how your skills can be used in different arenas, and don’t be afraid to explore those options too. Don’t let job titles define who you are or where you want to be. You may be surprised by the number of ways you can use your skills to move forward.

If you need help seeing where your skills can take you, Advance Staffing Solutions has the expertise to help you explore your options. Contact us today and see what jobs are available.

 

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Hidden Skills to Look For in Marketing Candidates

HMG Success on October 7, 2026

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Success in marketing is driven by more than a college education and experience working in the industry. While those can be important, there are numerous other skills that are just as essential, and they are harder to identify. Being able to look beyond the resume for these hidden skills may help you separate the good candidates from the great.

Before you begin recruiting for your marketing position, here are the hidden talents you need to find to uncover the best applicant out there.

Creativity

Marketing is an art; it requires creative thinking and innovation to continuously come up with new ideas for current and future campaigns. Whether the candidate is skilled in the areas of design or concept development, being able to see the product or service in new ways that will appeal to your target demographics is a crucial skill to succeed in the position.

Writing

To create powerful campaigns, marketing employees need to be articulate. Ideal candidates will have a strong grasp of formal and informal writing choices, as well as the ability to adapt the style to the product or service that is being promoted. While writing does involve creativity, it also adheres to certain structural norms. Candidates who do not use proper punctuation or include grammar errors in their materials will not reflect the level of professionalism you may require.

Public Speaking

If you need your marketing employees to pitch ideas to other members of the business or outside customers, then public speaking skills are essential. An ideal marketing candidate will be comfortable speaking to large crowds, as well as handling questions on the fly. They need to be calm under pressure and able to manage the unexpected.

For times when a preset presentation isn’t functioning properly, you need an applicant who can engage the audience and keep them interested, even in the face of technical difficulties.

Negotiation

A surprising amount of business involves negotiations. Marketing employees may need to coordinate budgets and timelines while managing expectations regarding deliverables. When working with outside clients, all of these tasks fall back on negotiating skills.

Work with vendors and suppliers also requires a deal be made. Negotiating helps ensure your business gets the products or services it needs at the best price available. When purchasing en masse, competent negotiators can save your company a notable sum.

Technical

While some technical skills are easy to identify – such as whether a candidate is familiar with a particular program – having a solid relationship with technology in general is actually much more useful. Someone who is tech-oriented understands that changes in that sector can impact their strategies and may require them to learn something new quickly.

Remember, Twitter didn’t exist until 2006, and Facebook was founded in 2004. Both of these mechanisms provided new avenues for marketing efforts, and some companies had the vision to take advantage before others.

Stress Management

Positions in marketing are often high stress. To be successful, a candidate needs to demonstrate that they can manage the pressure effectively, even when caught off-guard. This field of work can have short deadlines, change priorities, and little innate room for error. An employee working under those conditions need to be able to adjust quickly without panicking.

If you are looking for your next marketing candidate, the professionals at Advance Staffing Solutions have the knowledge you need to help you locate the best applicants available. Contact Advance Staffing Solutions today and see what they can do for your business.

 

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Is It Time For Your Company to Staff Up?

HMG Success on October 7, 2026

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The end of the year is traditionally a time for reflection. In a business sense, companies often review budgets and create a plan for the upcoming year. This makes it an ideal time to consider your staffing needs for the future, and begin to staff up.

Recruiting is a vital part of any business strategy, but it can be challenging to decide if now is the right time to bring on new staff members. Whether your company recently added a vacancy or is considering supplementing your current team, here are some signs that now may be the right time to bring on an extra set of hands (or two!) and staff up.

Workload Issues

The biggest sign that it is time to bring on new employees is the simple inability to keep up with the current workload. Often, increasing workloads mean that business has also increased, which it an excellent development. But not being able to keep up with the new business could have repercussions.

While it is common to avoid overstaffing, if your ability to meet deadlines and complete tasks is compromised, that can have an adverse impact on business. Instead of running the risk of disappointing customers or members of management, it may just be time to invest in additional team members to manage the new pace.

Non-Emergent Tasks Take a Backseat

Sometimes you can keep up with the work that brings in the dollars, but other job duties begin to fall by the wayside. While letting non-vital tasks go during a short-term increase in business may be manageable, collecting a year’s worth of filing is a sign of a problem.

There are two ways to conquer a backlog of non-emergent tasks. One, you can hire an employee specifically to manage these tasks or to adjust the workload of others so that all members of the team can handle these duties more efficiently.

Your second option is to bring in a temporary or contract employee to manage these projects until the backlog is cleared. If the increase in business is temporary, as can be the case with seasonal businesses, a temporary employee may be just the ticket to get things back on track.

New Skill Gaps

A change in any business may make a skills gap more apparent. Whether you recently lost a team member that covered a specific subset of duties, or a change in process demands new skills to maintain an active workforce, the sudden appearance that the available skills are not enough is a sign to bring in someone new.

The longer a skills gap exists, the more operations in that area may suffer. Aside from slowing the pace of business, it can also lead to missed business opportunities as people scramble for a solution. Bringing in someone with those abilities lets you cover the gap immediately. They may also be able to cross-train co-workers, helping to prevent a similar situation in the future.

You’re Ready for New Ideas

Even the most competent team may become stagnant with time. Once everyone is familiar with the duties and has been using the same skills over the long-term, it may seem that new ideas are few and far between. Sometimes just bringing in a new set of eyes means you will have a source for ideas that current employees may not see.

When business is stable, and you have the room in your budget to bring in someone new, then they might be just the jumpstart you need to get things moving forward again.

If you think now is the right time to bring on someone new, the professionals at Advance Staffing Solutions have the knowledge you need to find the best fit for all of your permanent and temporary employment needs. Contact Advance Staffing Solutions today and let us help you staff up your workplace.

 

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Motivation Low Around the Holiday Season? Use These Tips for an Instant Boost!

HMG Success on October 7, 2026

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The holiday season has us pulled in all different directions. Preparing for family gatherings, budgeting for holiday shopping and the general demands surrounding the season can be overwhelming by themselves. Add the stress of the year-end activities at most workplaces, and it can be hard to keep yourself motivated to accomplish everything that needs to be done.

Set Reasonable Goals

Motivation can dwindle when it feels like the work is just piling up. However, you can make all of your responsibilities seem more manageable by dividing tasks into small specific goals. Whether the activities relate to work or your personal life, split each task into subtasks that can be completed in less than half an hour. That way, instead of trying to motivate yourself for the entire project, you just have to manage the motivation for a single task.

You can make yourself a list, set appointments on your calendar or use whatever method works for you. Then focus on the small task at hand until it is complete. Once you are done, check it off of your list and move on to the next. Just repeat the process, and you’ll reach the end before you know it.

The same process can also combat decision fatigue by spacing out the major decisions that have to be made.

Manage Your Health

When the pace of the holiday season has us scrambling, it is easy to neglect your own health. Besides the plethora of sweets and other seasonal food trappings, it is easy to put off workouts and even sleep. All of this can leave you tired and worn out. Making an effort to look after your health helps keep your energy levels up. You’ll be better equipped to manage the day when you provide yourself with the proper nutrition and take the time to exercise.

Additionally, make sure relaxation is part of your schedule. Whether it is participating in a hobby, watching your favorite holiday movie or kicking back with a book and some hot apple cider, taking time for yourself will help you recharge before the next challenge.

Enjoy the Outdoors

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, affects many adults in the U.S. Symptoms are similar to those suffering from depression, including difficulty sleeping and a general sense of fatigue. The primary cause of SAD is simply a lack of sunlight. It’s dark later into the morning and earlier at night. This excess darkness can affect you in a negative way and make finding motivation more difficult.

The easiest way to combat SAD is to enjoy some time outdoors. While the cold weather may make this seem unappealing, it can actually provide significant benefits. Consider taking a brisk walk outside during your lunch break. Not only will this provide some needed outdoor time, but it also acts as a form of exercise. If you want to experience even more benefits, bring a friend along for a chat. Then you can get the social connection you need while you work towards a more motivated you.

Sometimes a change of pace is all you need to feel motivated again. Luckily, Advance Staffing Solutions is here to help. If you think a new job is a key to feeling more motivated, contact us today and see what jobs are available.

 

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