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Can Your Temp Job Be a Dream Job?

HMG Success on September 2, 2019

Many professionals view temporary positions as some form of means to an end. This can include providing them with valuable experience, covering a gap in employment, or sticking with short-term opportunities for additional career flexibility. While a temporary position can work well in all of those cases, it can also be much more. A temp job can end up being your dream job, too.

If you are wondering how a temporary assignment can be or lead to your dream job, here’s what you need to know.

Finding the Right Fit

It isn’t uncommon for professionals to struggle with defining their dream job. Often, the concept is a bit ambiguous and fluid, shifting over time based on newly acquired skills, experience, or information.

When you work in temporary positions, you get a chance to try jobs out. You’ll learn what a role is like by doing it yourself, giving you a viable approach for finding your ideal fit. As a result, you can determine what your dream job is based on the various positions you explore, discovering more about what you enjoy and what you want to avoid with each one. Over time, you’ll be able to drill down into what your dream job means to you, making it easier to get closer with each assignment.

Focusing on Your Passion

Temporary positions may give you something that traditional, permanent roles can’t; the ability to focus solely on your passion. Many temporary assignments are project-oriented. Companies bring in temp workers to cover skill gaps or handle duties associated with a short-term need. At times, this makes the tasks highly focused, which can be beneficial for professionals who want to use specific skills while avoiding the other responsibilities associated with a long-term job.

If your dream job involves a limited scope, being a professional temp in that area could be your dream job. You get to do the kind of work you enjoy, while limiting the need to handle other duties, which can be very rewarding.

Built-in Variety

Staying in one role for long can make some professionals feel stagnant. Often, the daily duties in a permanent job remain fairly consistent, and that can get tedious or dull after some time passes.

If you opt to be a temporary worker instead, your career has a built-in degree of variety. You are regularly entering new workplaces and facing exciting challenges. You get to meet new people, use different technologies, and broaden your experience as you transition from one assignment to the next.

Long-Term Potential

Many employers hire by using temp-to-perm arrangements. The temp job functions as a working interview, allowing the company and selected professional to see if it’s a good fit before a permanent job offer enters the equation.

Since many businesses favor this kind of hiring, you could find your dream job while working as a temp. Then, if the employer agrees you are the right person for the role long-term, you may get an offer to join the company permanently.

Ultimately, a temp job can be a dream job, or certainly serve as a pathway to one. If you’d like to know more or are seeking a new position, the staff at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with a member of our recruitment team today and see how our services can benefit you.

Happy 7th Anniversary, Mindy VanAcker!

HMG Success on August 27, 2019

To celebrate Mindy VanAcker’s 7th year with The Advance Group, we sat down with her for a Q & A session. Here are a few highlights to enjoy:

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Read, Cook/Bake, Boating and Spending Time With Family

Q: What is on your bucket list?
A: Traveling more! Cross country road trip and visit Europe!

Q: What quote do you live by?
A: “There is no use going back to yesterday because I was a different person then” – Alice in Wonderland

Mindy is a Branch Managert with The Advance Group’s Monroe branch. Happy Anniversary, Mindy!

Age Discrimination Isn’t What Holds You Back at Work…

HMG Success on August 26, 2019

Many professionals believe they are the victims of age discrimination. They think that since they are older than some of the competition or their colleagues, they aren’t gaining access to the same opportunities due to their age.

However, it might not be your age that is holding you back at work. Instead, you could be dealing with experience discrimination.

Today, millennials make up the majority of the workforce. The oldest members of Gen Y are now in the late 30s, and they have strong skills and a substantial amount of professional experience. Plus, they might not expect the same salary amounts as older workers, mainly because they are solidly in the middle of their careers and still moving up. As a result, they no longer viewed as being new to their fields and are considered less expensive, increasing the amount of competition Gen X and baby boomers who are still in the workforce face.

Luckily, it is possible to overcome experience discrimination. Here are some tips that can help you do just that.

Build a Strong Professional Brand

Your professional brand is a reflection of your area of expertise. You need to showcase your specialty in a meaningful way, allowing you to differentiate yourself from others who may have a similar base skill set, but not in your niche.

Often, millennials (as digital natives) are more adept at professional branding due to their comfort with social media and familiarity with a variety of online tools. Older workers need to embrace these technologies to highlight their knowledge and show how they can provide an employer with value, allowing them to stand out from the crowd.

Have the Right Career Strategy

The career strategy of yesteryear doesn’t work in today’s market. Few people remain with a single employer for years and years on end. Instead, they need to be agile, seeking out new opportunities elsewhere that allow them to progress.

As an older worker, this may require a substantial change in mindset. The willingness to move on to a new job is essential, particularly if your current employer isn’t giving you access to opportunities that allow you to grow and advance.

Additionally, you need to clarify your career goals. By understanding what you want to achieve, you can focus on options that align with those objectives, ensuring you remain in control and take notice of opportunities that can lead to greater success.

Remain Relevant

Over time, some professionals begin to neglect skill development. Instead of acquiring new skills, they focus on perfecting those that they already have, assuming that that approach provides them with the most career value.

However, in today’s rapidly changing world, failing to keep pace with emerging technologies that are coming to your field can harm your career. Relying on your existing employer to ensure you remain up to speed is also a bad move, as the company may opt to hire externally instead of train internally.

As a result, you need to make sure you dedicate time and energy to skill development, including during your off-hours. This ensures your skills remain current with respect to new technologies, making you a more desirable candidate.

Ultimately, by following the tips above, you can overcome experience discrimination. If you’d like to know more, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our experienced staff members today and see how our career management expertise can benefit you.

What’s More Important: How a Job Candidate Acts or What They’ve Accomplished

HMG Success on August 23, 2019

When hiring managers evaluate candidates, they typically focus on what the job seeker has achieved during their career. Then, they try to select the candidate with the right skills and accomplishments that suggest they could provide value to the company if they are hired.

However, how a professional behaves on the job may incidentally be neglected by using this approach. Since how a person acts impacts not only their work but also how they interact with co-workers and their manager, overlooking their behavior can lead to a serious hiring mistake.

Behavior plays a significant role in how a candidate performs on the job. It affects how people react to them, how they act in various situations, and more. As a result, evaluating how a job seeker acts is critical, ensuring that they are a fit for the role, team, and company as a whole.

Evaluating the Position’s Needs

In order to successfully determine whether how a job seeker acts is a good fit for a position, you first have to identify the behavioral traits that best align with the role. For example, do you need a highly adaptable professional or a candidate who is more process-driven? Is your ideal new hire extroverted or introverted? Should they be a big-picture thinker or focused on the details?

The goal is to figure out what behaviors are best-suited for the core duties associated with the job. Then, you can identify behavioral interview questions that help you discover who has the ideal traits based on what the position requires.

Interviewing for Behavior

Behavioral interview questions allow you to gain insights into how a candidate acts in specific situations. Often, the process involves presenting the job seeker with a scenario and asking them to describe how they would handle it or how they managed a similar one in the past.

Typically, behavioral interview questions allow you to learn more about how a candidate thinks. Not only will you find out about various soft skills, but also their preferred approaches and what they need from a manager or their team.

Additionally, you can learn about their various habits and how open they may be to changing them. When a candidate is more flexible, their behavior can be molded. However, if their behavior is more ingrained or rigid, it may be harder to get them to change if the need arises.

Once you complete the behavioral portion of the interview, you can more easily determine if how the job seeker acts is a good fit for both the job and the team you are looking to augment. This helps you ensure a better match, increasing the odds the candidate will be successful in the role.

If you would like to learn more about the importance of evaluating a job seeker’s behavior, at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our experienced recruitment specialists today and see how our interviewing expertise can benefit you.

Switching Roles? Here’s What You Need to Put in Your Cover Letter

HMG Success on August 19, 2019

Heading into a new career territory can be exciting, but it can also be difficult. As a candidate, you need to ensure the hiring manager knows your skills are a match to their needs, even if you haven’t worked in that role or field before.

In order to sell the hiring manager on the idea, you need to make sure your cover letter is on point. This critical document allows you to share details that won’t fit on your resume, allowing you to showcase why you are a great fit, even if your prior experience has been in another niche.

If you are ready to make a career switch, here’s what you need to put in your cover letter.

Introduce Your Relevant Strengths

When you are switching careers, you can’t expect the hiring manager to be enticed based on your past work experience alone. Instead, you need to draw them in by highlighting your relevant strengths, allowing them to see how what you bring to the table provides value.

As you introduce yourself, avoid giving a play-by-play of your work history. Instead, showcase achievements and skills that relate strongly to the role you want to land and use those as springboards for describing how you can excel in the job and help the company succeed.

Explain Why You Are Making a Change

While the hiring manager might be able to glean that you are trying to switch careers, they won’t be able to guess why. In your cover letter, it is wise to explain your motivation.

For example, if an intriguing piece of industry news ignited your passion, a side project sparked your interest in heading into the industry full-time, or a long-standing interest in the field that you have chosen to pursue is behind the change, let the hiring manager know. Give them insight into why their vacant position caught your eye, even if your background is a bit nontraditional for the job.

Have a Strong Closing

The last paragraph of your cover letter is your final opportunity to convince the hiring manager to give you a chance, so you need to make a strong case for yourself. Highlight your relevant skills and how you can use them to help the company excel. Showcase your excitement for the role and your interest in using your transferable skills in a new way.

The idea is to sell yourself as the ideal candidate, making the hiring manager more inclined to consider you, even if your background isn’t the typical path to that particular position. Once that is done, let them know you appreciate their time and look forward to hearing back or answering any additional questions they may have, ensuring you have extended all common courtesies.

By following the cover letter tips above, you can increase the odds you will successfully take your career in a new direction. If you’d like to find out more, the staff at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our skilled team members today and see how our career transition expertise can benefit you.

Happy 3rd Anniversary, Niki Schroeder!

HMG Success on August 16, 2019

To celebrate Niki Schroeder’s 3rd year with The Advance Group, we sat down with her for a Q & A session. Here are a few highlights to enjoy:

Q: What quote do you live by?
A: “Though she be but little, she is fierce!” – William Shakespeare

Q: What brings you the greatest joy?
A: Traveling.

Q: What charity do you support?
A: Project iAm, whose main focus is to provide support and information, resources, and financial assistance to families affected by autism.

Niki is a Senior Staffing Specialist with The Advance Group’s Sylvania branch. Happy Anniversary, Niki!

How Much Should You Support Employees’ Extracurricular Activities?

HMG Success on August 16, 2019

Most companies focus on their employees’ work-related time and activities. After all, ensuring everyone remains productive and engaged on the job is critical to the organization’s success, making it an obvious priority.

However, employers also need to be aware their workers have lives outside of the workplace. Additionally, understanding that good work-life balance benefits employees and employers alike is similarly crucial.

When professionals are able to keep their personal lives in order and enjoy some extracurricular activities, their stress levels decrease. Plus, being able to have some fun during their off time not only makes them happier, but may also allow them to be more creative and innovative on the job.

As a result, supporting your employees’ extracurricular activities can help the company succeed. If you are wondering why you should ensure your staff has time for a life outside of the workplace, here’s what you need to know.

They Will Be More Productive

In order to be at one’s best, most people need a chance to recharge. If an employee is continuously burning the candle at both ends, their stress levels will build, and they might even burn out.

Having time to relax and rejuvenate is critical for stress management. By supporting your employees’ need for time off the job, you are giving them the space they need to recharge. Then, when they return to the workplace, they will have a better mindset, allowing them to be more productive.

Similarly, having time to handle personal or family obligations is also beneficial. If an employee is distracted by their responsibilities outside of the workplace during work hours, they won’t be able to focus as easily on the task at hand. By giving them the ability to handle their lives outside of work, they will be less likely to carry that stress in with them, making it more likely that they will remain productive.

Recruitment and Retention Rates Will Improve

When you support your employees’ need for a personal life, your retention rates can improve. Professionals often favor companies that promote great work-life balance, making you a more enticing employer.

By supporting their extracurricular activities, your existing staff may be less inclined to seek opportunities elsewhere. Many professionals understand that not all companies make work-life balance a priority, so, if that is something they value, they might not risk heading to a competitor.

Additionally, your recruitment efforts may also be more effective. Candidates will seek out opportunities with your company since they know that you can offer better work-life balance. You become a more attractive potential employer, which can make it easier to find top talent to fill your vacant positions.

Ultimately, supporting your employees’ extracurricular activities doesn’t just benefit them; the company benefits too. If you’d like to learn more, the experienced professionals at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with a member of our knowledgeable team today and see how our work-life balance expertise can benefit you.

Happy 6th Anniversary, Dan Haller

HMG Success on August 14, 2019

To celebrate Dan Haller’s 6^th year with The Advance Group, we sat down with him for a Q & A session. Here are a few highlights to enjoy:

Q: What brings you the greatest joy?
A: Being a dad

Q: What is the best advice you’ve been given?
A: It’s not your job to make people happy, you’re not an entertainment director on a cruise line.

Q: Who are your heroes?
A: My parents.

Q: What’s your favorite band?
A: Van Halen.

Q: What quote do you live by?
A: You can’t make people happy, you’re not tequila.

Dan is a Staffing Specialist with The Advance Group. Happy Anniversary, Dan!

Is Temp Work Stable Work?

HMG Success on August 12, 2019

Many professionals worry temp work isn’t particularly stable. After all, the positions themselves are often designed to be short-term or finite in nature, giving the impression you can’t have a reliable source of income if you accept temporary assignments.

In reality, temp work can be incredibly stable, and it isn’t as high-risk as some believe. Additionally, it provides professionals with a level of flexibility that isn’t always possible in a permanent position, making it easier to handle all of their personal and professional obligations.

If you are wondering how temp work can be stable, here’s what you need to know.

Assignment Parameters Are Clear

When you accept a temporary job, your recruiter will make sure you know what to expect. This includes the anticipated duration of the assignment, either based on the expected amount of time the selected candidate will be in the position or the timeline associated with the project (for project-based assignments).

This allows candidates to estimate how long they will be in a short-term role. Then, when the end starts to draw near, they can explore new assignments that can begin once this one is complete, allowing them to transition seamlessly from one into the next.

Opportunities Are Plentiful

Nearly every field has a need for short-term workers. Whether it is to assist with a particular project, support seasonal increases in demand, or cover permanent staff members who will be absent, companies in a variety of industries often turn to temporary employees to ensure they remain productive.

As a result, new temporary opportunities emerge on a daily basis. Skilled professionals can move quickly from one assignment to the next, particularly if their skills are in high demand, creating a level of stability even if they don’t remain with the same company over the long-term.

Competitive Pay and Increased Flexibility

Many temp workers earn competitive salaries. Companies understand they have to offer a pay rate that aligns with industry norms if they want to secure top talent for short-term positions. As a result, professionals can find temporary roles with salaries similar to what they could find in many permanent jobs.

However, unlike a permanent role, temp workers get a substantial amount of flexibility. They can pick and choose their assignments, allowing them to focus on their areas of interest or use their preferred skills. Additionally, if they need to step away from the workforce for any reason, including handling personal obligations, they can do so with ease. Once their current assignment ends, they can choose to wait before accepting another one without the majority of the repercussions they could experience if they had to quit a permanent job.

Ultimately, working as a temporary employee can be a surprisingly stable way to make a living. Plus, it ensures your career can adapt to your personal life, something that may not be possible otherwise.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of being a temp worker or are interested in temporary or permanent work opportunities, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our knowledgeable recruiters today and see how our hiring services can benefit you.

Don’t Come to Your Next Interview Until You Read This

HMG Success on August 9, 2019

If you want to succeed during your next job interview, preparation is key. Often, the effort you put in before you meet with the hiring manager has a significant impact on how you perform as an interviewee, affecting whether you receive an offer or are removed from contention.

Before your next interview, you need to focus on a few critical areas as you prepare. If you want to make sure you are ready to impress the hiring manager, here are some tips that can help you shine during the interview.

Review the Job Ad

Before you head to an interview, take some time to review the vacancy announcement. Assume that anything listed as must-have skills will come up during the meeting, and reflect on your experience and achievements in those areas. Then, you can practice a few interview responses that address those points, ensuring you are ready to discuss your capabilities in areas the hiring manager will likely deem essential.

Learn About the Company

Taking some time to research the prospective employer is critical. By learning about their products, services, mission, history and recent achievements, you are giving yourself an opportunity to use those details during your interview.

For example, if you are asked why you are interested in the role, being able to include information about the company’s mission and how it aligns with your values could make you look like a better cultural match. Similarly, being able to connect your skills, the role’s duties, and the company’s products or services specifically can also reflect well on you.

Additionally, you have a chance to learn a variety of publicly accessible details about the organization. This can help ensure, when you have an opportunity to ask the hiring manager questions, you don’t request information that can be found in a quick internet search. Often, hiring managers will doubt your level of interest if you didn’t look up readily available information, so a little research allows you to avoid this potential faux pas.

Have Questions Ready

When the hiring manager asks if you have any questions, saying “no” is one of the worst things you can do. Not only does this make you look less interested in the role, but it also means you miss out on a big opportunity to learn more about the position and company.

Have a few questions prepared before you head into the interview. For example, “Is there anything about my skills or background that is preventing me from being a top candidate?” allows you to address any doubts the hiring manager may have about your capabilities, making it a good one to keep in your back pocket. “Can you describe a typical day in the role?” gives you a chance to find out more about the usual pace and common duties you might need to handle.

When it comes to interviewing, a little preparation can go a long way. With the tips above, you can make sure you are ready to stand out from the competition. If you would like to learn more, the skilled team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our experienced recruiters today and see how our interview preparation expertise can benefit you.

Here’s Why People Don’t Want Your Job

HMG Success on August 5, 2019

Finding candidates for your vacant job seems like a simple task. After all, many job seekers are actively looking for a new role, so it seems only natural that qualified individuals would apply. As a result, if the resumes don’t start to roll in, it isn’t uncommon to be a bit confused.

Certain aspects of your position might not be enticing to candidates. In worst-case scenarios, portions of your description or other factors may even lead some job seekers to turn away from your open position.

Luckily, by figuring out why people don’t want your open position, you can make corrections. If you aren’t receiving applications from qualified individuals, here are some points to consider.

Your Job Ad Is Aging

Roles that require a hard-to-find skill set take time to fill. While leaving the same job ad up may seem like a good idea, as time passes, it will get diminishing returns.

When a candidate is looking for a new position, they often focus on new listings. Usually, those are presented first when they do a search, so they might not have a reason to peruse page after page of listings.

Additionally, many job seekers question whether an old job ad is accurate. Some may assume the role has been filled and the company simply forgot to take the job ad down. Others may worry there is something wrong with the opportunity, like a hiring manager who can’t make up their mind or a disorganized and lengthy hiring process.

If your job ad has been up for a while, it isn’t a bad idea to refresh it. That way, the listing appears newer, increasing the odds it will end up on candidates’ radar and reducing the chances of them being suspicious of the post.

Your Job Ad Looks Like a Scam

Professionals are increasingly aware of potential red flags that could signal a job is actually a scam. For example, promises that the new hire can make a lot of money in a short period, directing them to reach out over a messenger instead of applying through a traditional mechanism (like the job site or a company’s recruitment page), saying a lot of people will be hired quickly, or similar content could leave job seekers wary of the role’s legitimacy.

Additionally, not publishing your company name could make the position seem more like a scam. Similarly, if a candidate Googles your company name and comes up empty, not able to find a website or social media pages, they might assume the business isn’t real.

The Position Description Isn’t Enticing

Job seekers want a clear idea of what the role entails before they apply. If your position description is too vague, many will bypass your opportunity, at times because they assume you are hiding aspects of the job that they wouldn’t like.

On the other side, lengthy job descriptions with massive requirements lists are also not ideal. Some candidates won’t apply unless they meet 100 percent of the requirements, essentially screening themselves out even if they are capable of excelling in the position.

Ultimately, all of the reasons above could keep people from applying to your job. By avoiding these missteps, you can increase your applicant rate and have a better chance of finding the top talent you need.

If you would like to know more about effective recruiting, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our knowledgeable recruitment specialists today and see how our expertise can benefit you.

What’s the Difference Between These Forklift Jobs?

HMG Success on August 2, 2019

If you are (or are planning to become) forklift certified, there are a variety of job opportunities available that can let you put your forklift skills to work. While all of the roles involve forklifts, they aren’t all exactly the same. As a result, it can be hard to figure out which forklift jobs align with your needs and preferences.

By understanding the differences between various forklift jobs, you can target the ones that feel like your best match. Here’s what you need to know about common forklift roles.

Forklift Operator

When a role comes with the “forklift operator” job title, it usually involves a substantial amount of forklift driving. Operating a forklift is a core part of the role, and your duties beyond using this piece of equipment may be fairly limited.

It is important to note that many forklift operators are responsible for handling companion duties. This can include tracking inventory, ensuring orders are correctly filled, assisting with packing, and some heavy lifting. However, if driving a forklift is one of your favorite tasks, looking for forklift operator positions could ensure you get to spend more of your time doing what you enjoy.

Forklift Mechanic

Forklift mechanics aren’t just responsible for operating forklifts, though it is usually part of the job. Instead, they also need to handle repair and maintenance duties, ensuring the equipment is running properly and that issues are identified and corrected.

Usually, forklift mechanics spend a decent amount of their time repairing and maintaining the equipment. Their driving duties may be limited to checking how a forklift is operating or if a repair is successful. However, they may also double as a forklift operator during times when all of the equipment is operational and doesn’t require routine maintenance on that particular day.

Beyond being forklift certified, many forklift mechanic positions require candidates to have additional credentials. Usually, this includes formal training or prior experience in forklift repair and maintenance, or on heavy equipment in general.

Warehouse Worker

Many warehouse worker roles also require forklift skills. Most employees working in these roles have to be flexible regarding their assigned duties, as they are responsible for more than just operating a forklift.

For example, inventory tracking, picking and packing, checking shipments for accuracy, and stocking shelves might be part of their assigned workload. Precisely what is needed can vary from day to day, so operating a forklift may only be necessary under specific circumstances.

Ultimately, there are a variety of positions that require forklift skills, giving certified operators a range of opportunities to explore as they work to further their career. If you’d like to find out more or are seeking new forklift jobs, the experienced team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our skilled recruiters today and see how our forklift career expertise can benefit you, or browse our open forklift jobs for yourself.