Ever been forced to pay for a cake or gift for a person in your office that you don't even know? Or worse yet, have you ever been forced to pay for someone else's share?
As we catch up with the our friends in the latest episode of The Temp Life, we find that their officemates are up to their old tricks and trying to pull a fast one on Laura. However, the joke is on them when she doesn't take the bait.
Let us know if you've ever been in a similar situation and how you've handled it. We might even pay you $100 for your story. Want to catch up on other Temp Life episodes? Click here to access the Temp Life channel.
Whenever I have a temp-to-hire or direct hire candidate going into a formal interview with my clients, the younger candidates always ask what is expected of them. I tell them that they need to conduct themselves positively and in the best light, while also maintaining honest integrity and professionalism. When the time comes for an interview, it is up to the applicant to determine what is expected of them, based on both the questions asked by the hiring manager as well as questions posed to the hiring manager.
But when a job offer comes along, it is up to the manager to make it clear what is expected of the new hire, right from the beginning. It is also the manager’s responsibility to clarify what the new hire can expect of the manager, the position, and the company. Too often, we assume the other party has a good idea of what is wanted and unknown expectations cause too much workplace animosity.
At times, I’ve believed that my managers ask too much of me; that their expectations are too great. Other Generation Y-ers just up and quit at this point, or at the least begin polishing their resumes for new jobs. When you’re faced with what you believe are unrealistic expectations, try to do one of two things. You can go right to the manager, and innocently suggest a bit of guidance in completing the task or better understanding what is wanted and by when.
For those of you (like me) who aren’t always as brave, the second option is much easier. Find a mentor in the office who can guide you, but isn’t going to do the work for you. You have to challenge yourself to grow in the company, and having that extra person there to coach and teach you will always help you erase your self-doubt when faced with a seemingly impossible task. You don’t want to become dependent on the mentor, but you do want to use their experience with the company and in personal development, to expand your abilities and develop your potential as an asset to the company.
I would also encourage managers to take the proactive approach and setting up new hires with a mentor right away. Mentorship programs will lead to better retention of employees and a reduction in younger employees jumping ship.
Ever feel that after you submit your resume to a potential employer, it goes into a black hole? Technology has made job hunting easier, but standing out even harder. What tips do you have to get noticed by prospective employers?
We've just uploaded our latest Temp Life video on YouTube. In this episode, we once again follow the trials and tribulations of those on nightmarish temp assignments. So go ahead, indulge yourself and watch it right here!
It's a great and humorous way to take a break from the rigors of the work day. For our other Temp Life episodes, click here to access our very own YouTube channel.
I'm frequently asked questions about etiquette and procedure when working with recruiters. One question I field most often is whether it is acceptable to work with two recruiters at the same time. There are varying opinions on this topic but here's my two cents.
It depends. I don't mean to be vague here but that's the truth. Let me explain. If you are a "hot" candidate with skills that are in high demand and you are looking within a narrow job market (geographically), then you are best to stick with one recruiter. The reason is recruiters are generally paid on a commission or contingency basis. This means they only get paid when the person they present or recommend is hired. If you're working with two different recruiters, from different firms, and they both submit your resume for the same position, you've got a problem. Now the potential employer fears having to pay two fees if they'd like to hire you, and when (not if, but when) the recruiters find out, you will have burned a bridge with two valuable resources.
A great option for these types of candidates is to give a recruiter an exclusive. This means you give your recruiter an opportunity to represent you exclusively for a set period of time and in exchange you promise not to work with any other recruiters for the same time period. If you are working with multiple recruiters and one of them asks for exclusivity, make sure you are open and honest with all of them about your choice. Again, this scenario works best for candidates with skills in high, high demand.
On the other hand, if you are seeking employment in an industry or a position in high supply or looking in a number of geographic locations, then it is generally best to work with several recruiters and staffing agencies. One reason is that in the recruiting worlds, recruiters can only show you what they have in their portfolio of clients. Working with multiple recruiters makes more sense because it gives you access to the entire job market and can expose you to the broadest range of companies and options as possible. This will increase your chances of standing out among a large number of job seekers and candidates. Just make sure you know where your resume is being submitted in order to avoid the unlikely scenario above.
I saw an interesting article on the Career Journal site yesterday that got me thinking. The article provided relevant advice for workers who wanted to change careers or fields. I am sure we have all thought about the "what ifs" when it comes to our jobs and careers.
What if I had chosen a better major or studied harder in college?
What if I went back to school?
What if I took the plunge and started my own business?
What if I pursued a contract, temporary or part-time engagement?
What if I made the switch to a career where I could work at something I'm passionate about?
The good news is that it really isn't as hard as you may think. By working for one year or 30, you have experience which can translate to other fields or professions. I always say you should never feel stuck in your current job, your industry or career path. The reality is that we will be working for a good portion of our lives and no one should have to endure '30 years to life' in something they hate doing. What a horrible prospect.
I know a lot of people who've made big changes in their lives, and for the most part, they're very happy they finally did it and wondered why they waited so long. So if you've been thinking about making a change, there's no better time to step up to the plate and do it. The job market is still hot, good talent is hard to find and I bet you'll find yourself in the driver's seat (and a lot happier too).
We received a question on the blog this week that I thought was worth sharing because I suspect there may be many other folks out there in a similar situation. Below is the question and my answer. Look forward to hearing others' thoughts and/or advice.
QUESTION: I am nineteen years old, I am currently going to school to obtain my GED because I was homeschooled. I've been working for two years in retail. I would like to work in an office position, but am afraid I will not be hired, because I don't have my high school diploma. Do you think a temporary agency would hire me while I'm going for my GED?
ANSWER: First, congratulations on working towards your General Education Diploma (GED), this is the first step you need to take to make yourself more marketable to the business community. Given that you can study and take the exam in a fairly short time frame, you will know the results fairly quickly. While not having a High School diploma or the equivalent GED, you can still apply to temporary employment agencies, and yes you may even be hired for a variety of entry level jobs. Just recognize that you will be competing for those positions with folks that may have a little more experience or education than you do, so it may take a little longer than expected to get that first job. But, this shouldn't prevent you from finding a job.
Make sure your resume notes that you are currently pursuing your GED. Then once you have it, update your resume to reflect that you have a GED. In fact, it's always good practice to keep your resume up to date each time you add a significant skill set or experience level.
Once you find a job opportunity, understand that the basics will bring success. Meaning, dress professionally, be on time, seek out additional training and job development from your employer and keep a positive friendly attitude, especially if those around you do not. You will stand out as a "go to" person. Also be sure to inquire about paid training programs they may provide for various positions you may be qualified to fill. Apply yourself, and when training is offered, take advantage of it and learn new skills. Each time you add a skill, drop off an updated copy of your resume to your employer's HR department. It reminds them of your interest in continuing to expand your skills and interest in potential opportunities for promotion in the future.
Lastly, good luck, and don't let this be your final destination in regards to your educational goals. Next, look to your local community college or university, and see what types of educational programs and assistance they may provide. Meet with their admissions office and ask what the requirements are at their institution to be admitted as a full or part-time student. See if they offer free prep classes for the entrance exam, but even if they don't, study for and take that test. Go to college and get your degree, and even more professional opportunities will open up to you. And you don't have to stop there, it just takes a serious amount of dedication, hard work, and a cup of desire to make it.
I know some very successful people who started out at the very point you are starting from today. So go for it, and keep your focus on achieving what you want for yourself. It is up to you and no one else can do it, but you! Be the difference maker in your own life!
The days of staying with one company your entire career are all but over. Most workers stay with one employer for an average two to three years, and then move on. Some career experts say this practice is perfectly acceptable, particularly given that many of today's employers simply expect it. I ran across a recent Brazen Careerist post in which the blogger maintains that staying with one employer for a long time can be "career suicide," giving advice on how candidates can safely change jobs frequently.
I certainly agree with the notion that changing your career frequently is not a career mistake, especially if the move makes sense for you. For example, you find a job at another employer that will provide more opportunities to build your skills sets than your current employer, leading to better career opportunities in the future.
However, I'd argue that staying with one employer for a long period of time can also be the best non-move of your career. Let me qualify... if you have been working your same job for several years without advancement it is probably time to either speak up, or move on. But, if you receive steady increases in job title and salary, and have shaped your skills and developed a specialty, then there is no need to move on.
Through acquisitions and mergers, I have essentially worked for Spherion for more than 20 years, and I haven't looked back. I started out as an entry level recruiter at a small boutique recruiting firm and continued to take on new positions within that organization. Then, we were acquired by Spherion and new opportunities to expand my career presented themselves. Today, I am a Senior Vice President and Group Executive of Professional Services, creating new strategy for our recruitment efforts on behalf of some of largest clients. I have managed to gain the same experience, title changes and salary increases that I may have achieved through ten different companies. Yes, there were growing pains, but at the end of the day, I have achieved my career goals and still feel confident in my status as a viable part of the company.
I am curious to hear how others have handled their career paths, and what tips can you offer as either an employee with longevity, or someone who has job hopped. What's the longest you have ever stayed with an employer? Did it hurt or hinder your career?
In my last post, I talked about a few tools to help candidates research what they are worth before negotiating a salary or a raise. I just ran across an interesting post on Career Solvers that discusses negotiating total compensation packages – meaning not just salary but also the monetary value of any other perks such as health insurance, paid time off, and performance bonuses.
It had some great information in it, including a link to another post on Compensation Blog that references a Bureau of Labor Statistics report called “Survey of Employee Benefits in Private Industry” that all candidates should review before entering a salary negotiation.
As you prepare yourself to negotiate a total compensation packages, you obviously want to address things such as paid time-off and work-life balance options like telecommuting. These are now pretty common benefits that are negotiated as part of the total compensation. But what about perks such as equipment, a car, mileage, or relocation packages?
For example, most sales professionals are on the phone or in their cars for the majority of their work day. With the high price of gas, not to mention wear and tear on your car, it wouldn’t be uncommon to negotiate a company car or generous lease package from your employer.
Furthermore, if your employer has endorsed or even mandated that you telecommute, be sure to negotiate payment for an office home line, cell phone, Internet service, and additional equipment such as a fax machine. These are imperative to complete your job, but not necessarily added expenses for you to absorb.
Think about the responsibilities and/or tools needed of your job as you prepare to discuss a total compensation package.
We all want to get along with our bosses, but what happens when your boss doesn't respect your personal boundaries?
BusinessWeekOnline features a weekly Q&A where readers can ask HR managers advice about job issues. A question recently addressed an issue regarding a boss that calls one of her employees at home after hours to discuss small issues and chat about things that could be discussed at work.
This could be a difficult situation for many employees. You're afraid to risk offending your boss by asking them to stop calling, but you don't want to sacrifice your own time by late night calls from your workaholic supervisor.
The BusinessWeek answer advised the employee to limit the phone call to ten minutes by stating at the beginning that you only have a short time to talk. This could work for a short time, and eventually your boss may get the hint, but without explaining your actions you could risk hurting their feelings. Another idea is to speak directly with your boss, and ask them to reconsider calling you at home. Make sure to explain that you are willing to be available in case of an emergency, but that you have a number of personal responsibilities that require your attention after work and the importance of dedicating your time to those instead of non-emergency business items.
This is a tough situation, and there may not be a right or wrong answer. I would like to know what others' opinions are, and if anyone has had a similar experience and how they handled it.
It is widely known that more and more bilingual employees are needed to fit the needs of companies in many industries. A recent Career Builder post identifies healthcare, financial services, sales and marketing, social services and public services as some of the top industries actively seeking bilingual employees.
Having the ability to speak a second language, especially Spanish, is a true attribute for job seekers. If you are not already bilingual, here are a few suggestions about how to learn a second language.
Before purchasing any foreign language materials, conduct a little research about the foreign languages that are most prominent in your market. Spanish has already been mentioned and is probably the most frequently used foreign language. But there may be other languages that are just as important to your local market, for example, Creole in South Florida, or Asian languages in California and other Western states.
Check out your local community colleges or schools that specialize in foreign language such as Berlitz. Their classes are typically very affordable, and a good place to start learning correct pronunciation and grammar usage. If you are a better independent learner, there are numerous amounts of computer software and languages CDs that are available for a multitude of foreign languages.
Once you feel that you have good command of a language, be sure to highlight your language ability under "Special Skills" on your resume.
Learning a second and maybe even a third or fourth language is not only a fun and exciting challenge, but it just may help you land your dream job!
Now, we would never advocate spending 4 minutes of your workday watching a funny YouTube video, but in this case, we’ll make an exception…because WE made the video. Now playing on Spherion’s YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=spheriontheweb) is our new original Web video series, My Temporary Life, an over-the-top comedy about nightmare temp assignments, hardly Scorcese-caliber but will certainly have you laughing (at least we think so). After 50 years of finding people jobs, we think we’re pretty good at it. Now, we thought we’d try our hand at entertaining them as well.
The Spherion channel also contains our favorite user-created workplace videos shot at the office or for the office. Create and upload your own workplace video and we’ll add it to our channel. Or better yet, send us your worst workplace horror story and we may use it as an episode of My Temporary Life.
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.
Spherion is an employer of choice to 300,000 individuals. We've been finding rewarding career opportunities and job experiences that prove a great match for individuals' skills and expertise for 60+ years.
Let Spherion connect you to a career opportunity that will ensure your continued success! Connect now
