In Recruiter Q &A, experienced Spherion recruiters discuss the latest trends in the job market and provide advice on making the most of your job search. This month's recruiter, Brandee Leonhardt, has more than 5 years in the staffing industry and hails from Stockton, California.
1. What are the advantages of utilizing a recruiter while searching for a job during a shaky economy?
By using a recruiter in your job search, you are provided with one-on-one contact with someone who is really trying to get to know you as a person and help satisfy your career needs. Job seekers will receive helpful assistance with accurate and results-oriented job search information when working with a recruiter.
Recruiters are especially helpful when job seekers are up against a challenging job market. With the unemployment rate rising across the country, companies are receiving an overwhelming response to their traditional job board postings. This has resulted in more companies utilizing our services to help them filter through the hundreds of job applications that are pouring it. It is to a job seeker's advantage to work with a recruiter during these times because we aren't pulling resumes from job boards anywhere near as much as this time last year. In an active economy, we will find you. However during a slower economy, it is critical that you find us. We can provide you with a higher level of exposure to companies that are hiring.
2. What are some tips for job seekers in today's challenging job market?
With an increase in the amount of employers seeking temporary employment options for their workforces, candidates must be willing to consider alternate career paths for the short-term. Employers are looking for highly-skilled, trainable employees. With a growing candidate pool, job seekers need to be focused on acquiring and improving upon their transferable skills. Companies are looking for candidates with basic computer skills, general office abilities, customer service, sales and entry level management skills. If you don't have these skills, our office offers computer training to its candidates, as well as do many local organizations, community colleges and unemployment offices.
I strongly urge job seekers to network, network, network! Participating in local recruiting events and job fairs to put you in contact with a wide variety of opportunities available that will be the best fit for your career objectives. With increased competition for jobs, you can never make too many connections! Another great way to make connections is by volunteering at industry-specific charitable events, this is great way to give back to your community and promote your own job search.
3. What types of things can candidates do to distinguish themselves from the pack?
Study a company's website before the interview to learn more about the employer you are interviewing with; ask valuable questions regarding company and position; send a Thank You letter/email after interview. Distinguished job seekers ask key questions about a company's culture, business objectives, career growth potential, benefits, tuition assistance, etc.
4. What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love the contact with the people, both candidates and clients. I enjoy being able to build relationships that make our operation successful. I love feeling like what I do changes lives!
Today's labor and economic market means many mature workers who never got around to saving and who are still debt-ridden, are now looking at losing jobs. Many are at a point where working in any capacity may be a better option than not working at all.
If you find yourself in this situation, we want you to think about "portfolio" careers. Briefly, a portfolio suggests that you may have to consider doing more than one thing or taking more than one job in order to make ends meet. By balancing your efforts to earn money, you offset the downside of waiting too long with too little income, even if the work you find is simply designed to weather the storm of an economic downturn.
Here's a plan that works for many people caught in the trap of hard times. If you are looking for work:
- Look first for the marketplace need not for the job posting. By the time a job is posted, the competition is usually fierce.
- Then, look at job postings. But, where are the best postings for the over 50 crowd? We like workforce50.com; retirementjobs.com; 6figurejobs.com; boomerjobs.com;retiredbrains.com and wiserworker.com.
- Mature-worker "friendly" employers are listed on AARP's website. Look up their National Employers' Team and their Best Employers. There is help at your fingertips.
- Even when you have left your last regular, full-time career and even if you do not wish to return to this line of work, this is still where you are most marketable (unless the career itself no longer exists). Swallow your new dream for a short while and position yourself as an on-demand temp using your most marketable assets. You'll still have time for other pursuits.
- Are you missing some key skills for jobs that are available? Fill-in the gaps at your local community college before your savings really dry up. Yes, you can look for opportunities while you learn new skills. Current skills are the ticket to hop the train into the new world of work.
- Forget false pride. Work itself is honorable and, frankly, nobody but you cares what you do for a living. You will be admired for facing the future on its own terms. In fact, as strong economic times return, prospective employers will respect you for your courage to "do what it takes" in the face of adversity.
- Scour our archives of past Ageless in America's newsletters for ideas you may not have considered.
If you are still working, but know that your employer is obviously struggling - be part of the solution. Can you take on additional responsibilities as people leave the organization? Can you volunteer for projects that will elevate your profile? If approached to take a cut in pay or a cut in time worked, consider it seriously and graciously. Are the many older workers in your organization? Now might be a good time for your employer to consider a phased retirement policy as a cost savings and retention strategy.
Q: Dear Seymour, I've gotten a job offer, but haven't met with my potential boss or co-workers. Is it reasonable to ask to meet them before I accept?
- Submitted by Charlie Gibbens, Plano, Texas
A: Dear Charlie,
Congratulations on your job offer! It's good that you're thinking ahead about what it will be like to work in a new environment with new people. Since a bad boss is a top reason people end up leaving jobs, it's important that you be able to meet with your future superior. This is an uncommon situation, which means it probably deserves some investigation.
Find out why you haven't met your boss yet. Since you had to be interviewed to get the job, ask your interviewer or human resources contact why your boss wasn't there as well. If your boss was out of town or otherwise indisposed, ask when you can meet him or her. If answers are vague, try to figure out why.
Remember that people are important. For the most part, a company is just a company, but the people you work with and for will be the thing that will make or break your experience there.
Think back to your interview. It may not be necessary to meet your coworkers. You probably walked by some of them if you had your interview in the office. Think back about how they seemed--were they happy or wilting at their desks? Did anyone greet or acknowledge you? Were workspaces relatively clean and organized, or was the office in disarray? These are the little clues that can tell you if your potential coworkers are happy at work (and if you will be as well).
Don't be afraid to insist on a meeting. Your boss is a key factor in your new position. This is the person who will give you assignments and advice and, don't forget, review your job performance. It's important that you meet this person to see if you get along and make sure it's someone you could work for. Especially if it seems like the company is hiding them, it's vital that you make sure there's not a hidden reason (such as seriously lacking social skills or basic manners).
Go with your gut. If something seems out of place to you and a requested meeting is denied, listen to your instincts. If something doesn't seem right or above board, it probably isn't. Requesting a meeting with a future boss or coworkers isn't out of bounds, but refusing to let you meet them is. If things just don't feel right, don't be afraid to walk away.
I hope you get to meet your boss and coworkers and that you all hit it off. However, if that doesn't happen, it's generally better to wait until another opportunity comes along than to get stuck in a bad situation.
It's no surprise that many of us end up developing friendships with our co-workers. After all, we do spend 8+ hours a day with these people! While there is nothing wrong with making friends in the workplace, it is important to choose these friendships wisely and manage them properly. The friends you choose can be a direct reflection of you and can send a strong signal to your other co-workers about your attitude, work ethic and values.
Professional friendships can benefit everyone in the organization by promoting productivity and creating a supportive work environment. However, the same can't be said when workplace friendships go bad.
When workplace friends turn into enemies, a company loses much more than camaraderie. Broken friendships often lead to fighting, bickering, and tattling, all of which divert attention away from the job. On a small scale, broken friendships can destroy teams that need solid interpersonal relationships to function effectively. On a large scale, the lack of trust among employees can seriously damage organizational goals.
Here are some important guidelines to keep in mind when considering your workplace friendships:
Practice the Golden Rule: By treating those in your office the way that you would want to be treated, you will communicate your willingness to be a team-player. In short, use your manners.
Set clear boundaries: There should be a clear line drawn between friendships in and out of the office. It is your responsibility to make sure interactions during work time are professional and focused. Make sure that work is not secondary to being part of the office community.
Play fair: Be sure to equally support the strengths and weaknesses of your entire team in relation to how to best complete a task. Showing favoritism in the workplace can only foster negative feelings, which ultimately impact workplace morale and distract from the overall bottom line.
If you don't have anything nice to say, keep quiet: Spreading office gossip can not only deteriorate the quality of the workplace, but it can threaten to negatively impact your career. Be discreet about your friend's confidences, and think carefully about the type of information you choose to divulge.
While there are many pros and cons to fostering friendships with your co-workers, it is important to keep these relationships in the proper perspective. If you think your office friendship puts you or your friend in a compromising position on the job, talk about it. If necessary, withdraw yourself from situations that might be conflicts of interest.
I read an article the other day about humor in the workplace, and my first thought was "what's so funny?" The economy is suffering, unemployment is going up and stress levels are at an all time high. Then I realized the point of the article - now is the BEST time to inject a little laughter in the workplace.
Going to work during stressful times usually doesn't result in high productivity and enjoyment in the workplace. So why not lighten the emotional load by keeping the workplace relaxed and fun?
It helps when managers and higher ups are involved in keeping things light and humorous. That way, other employees can take a cue from superiors about what is and isn't appropriate at work.
Humor is welcomed, but can go too far. Being cruel or making fun of people is no way to inject humor into the workplace. So make sure that laughter comes at the expense of events or situations, not co-workers.
The office doesn't have to be a laugh a minute comedy show, but it doesn't have to be solemn and serious either. Keeping your sense humor about you at work not only makes going to the office a little easier, but it can be healthy. Just remember that old saying...laughter is the best medicine.
Inevitably, there will come a time in every employee's career when you hand in your two weeks notice. No matter what your motivation for making a job transition is, you are likely to be quite busy while facing your impending life change. However, it is extremely important that you do not forget a critical component of your exit- your workplace legacy.
I am sure that we all can recollect the departure of a former colleague. After the formalities subside and the employee has made their final appearance, the whispers begin. Despite all of the positive workplace attributes that your former co-worker contributed to the success of the company, it is a safe bet to assume that their name will come up in conversation.
While many people will simply respond to this by saying, "Who cares?" You're long gone and have moved on to the greener pastures on the other side of the fence. Wrong. Each person you leave behind is a potential future gateway to a new opportunity. Even people hired after you leave might form an opinion about you. And you'll most likely never get a chance to defend yourself.
In an effort to ensure your own lifelong employability and survive a career transition with your reputation in-tact, it is important that you protect your workplace legacy. Every job moves on without you, no matter how good you are at what you do or how involved you are in the organization.
However, there are ways that you can safeguard your workplace legacy:
- Don't burn bridges
- Complete all assigned projects thoroughly and on-time
- Maintain professionalism at all times
- Never speak negatively about co-workers and supervisors
- Keep criticism constructive
- Communicate workplace needs, goals, status updates, etc. often
- Deal with workplace issues immediately
- Show others what you did and how you did it
- Get involved in company initiatives and community events
- Contribute to creating a positive, productive workplace environment
The bottom line is that you cannot control what others say about you when you are not around. You will likely get blamed when things go wrong after you're gone. However, you will ultimately win the respect of your work associates by dictating your own workplace legacy.
The Temp Life, Spherion's original web-based series, contains subject matter that may be disturbing to some viewers... especially temps! In this episode, new Commodity Staffing CEO, Nick "Trouble" Chiapetta assembles his crew of hapless temps for the first time. Can anyone say, "dis-orientation"?
Don't forget to tune in for the next Temp Life episode launching on October 30th! Get Temp Life news and updates on your phone by texting LIVETEMP to 44636!
Want to catch up on other Temp Life episodes? Click here to access the Temp Life channel.
The cold and flu season is not quite here yet, but it is quickly approaching. I can tell you that my family's cold and flu season starts at the beginning of the school year, when all of the tykes are sneezing, coughing and sniffling in the classroom.
What's interesting, is that the office isn't too different from the classroom when it comes to fighting colds. Workers show up with tissues and cough drops in hand, trying their best not to take sick time for the common cold. But what they don't realize is they are exposing everyone to their germs, jeopardizing office attendance, and morale, for a least three to four days per colleague.
You can do your best to avoid catching, and spreading colds by following a couple of tips to stay healthy. One Forbes article that I read recommends frequently washing your hands, keeping alcohol-based gel cleansers handy, and boosting your immunity.
These are all tried and true methods, and here are a couple of more to consider. First and foremost, if you have the sick time to take a day and rest, do it. Not only will you heal faster, but you won't spread germs. Also, never go to the office while running a fever. It can be dangerous, and could be the sign of a very serious illness.
You can catch a cold at any time, but especially during cold and flu season. Be sure to take your vitamins and eat healthier to boost your defenses against sickness. Consider picking up homeopathic methods of defense, which may help you from getting a full blown cold.
Bottom line is that no matter what you do, you may still find yourself fighting a cough and cold at least once this year. The key is to stay as healthy as possible throughout the year, and either limit the severity or avoid catching it all together.
"Election time can bring out the most passionate of political enthusiasts. However, some patriotic workers may find that their colleagues remember them for their political affiliation and not their quality of work. Be sure to keep your political beliefs in check at the office."
Q: Dear Seymour, I am passionate about the election and my candidate. Is there a downside to sharing this at work?
- Submitted by Wanda Arden, New York, NY
A: Dear Wanda,
It's great that you are so involved in politics! The right to vote is one of the greatest privileges we have as Americans, and it's wonderful that you are so passionate about participation. However, since not everyone agrees on candidates or issues and it's often easy to offend, here are some ideas on how to display your enthusiasm without stepping on toes.
Channel your passion.
Just because you need to be professional doesn't mean you can't be patriotic. You can get excited about the election without being specific about a candidate or issue. At the office, convert your excitement for your candidate into passion for the right to vote. Encourage coworkers to vote, and approach your boss with an idea or two about how to remind your department about Election Day, registering to vote, or key debate dates.
Be sensitive.
People are often very responsive to political discussions, but not always in a way that's appropriate for the office. Even if you can keep your emotions in check during a political discussion, it's possible that others can't and their outburst may make other coworkers uncomfortable. Be considerate of everyone's feelings.
Keep everything professional.
Even though the workplace is a community in many ways, it's important to remember that an office should be a professional environment. When your coworkers think of you, you want them to remember the quality of work you do and not your political affiliation. Even though you're free to believe what you please, discussing beliefs in the office could put the spotlight on you in the wrong way. You don't want to jeopardize your reputation.
Remember that you never know who may be listening.
Even if you think you know the opinions of someone you're talking to, it's not always possible to know everything they believe or even who may be listening in on the conversation. You don't want to offend anyone accidentally.
If someone else is talking about politics, try to avoid the conversation.
If a coworker insists on bringing up specific issues or candidates, politely steer the conversation to other topics. If they insist on pressing you for your opinions or are aggressive about their own, say that you have an important deadline approaching and really need to get back to work.
Keep it extracurricular.
If you know someone else in the office loves politics and likes to discuss it, it's okay to talk to them about it--just make sure it's outside the office. Invite them to lunch and once you're off campus, let the debate begin.
As long as you're respectful of your coworkers, you should be able to enjoy a great election and keep your workplace reputation intact.
I recently read an article about punctuality in the workplace, and it donned on me that on-time performance seems to have gone my the wayside, a la business casual. Many employees have taken for granted or become just plain lazy about getting to work or meetings, or even conference calls on time.
OK, once in a while one meeting will overlap into the next, but consistent tardiness is truly an annoyance and it's just plain rude and disrespectful. Not only to your manager, but to your entire team.
So here are my five tips to help manage your time:
If at all possible try to schedule a 15 minute between any calls or meetings. Not only will it help you keep from short-changing one event, but you can be better on time for the next. Set your alarm 15 to 20 minutes earlier than you normally would, and make a concerted effort to show up for work on time.
Know your calendar ahead of time. If you know you have an early morning meeting or call, either adjust your regular routine to be there on time, or plan on taking the call from home so you don't miss a beat.
If you commute and live in a high traffic area that makes you habitually late, at least have the courtesy to call ahead and let the team know. Also be in the habit of staying later to make up for the time you missed in the morning.
Talk to your manager and explain your commuting situation. They may allow you to work a schedule that in more conducive to traffic.
Just remember that punctuality is as important to your team and your manager, as producing good results. If you try to be on time, and it still isn't working, you may want to consider some time management or organizational courses to help you get on track.
The nightmarish temp job ... we've all had them. Now you can relive every awkward, cringing moment with My Temporary Life, Spherion's original Web series based upon YOUR worst temping stories.
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