Have You Ever Asked "Why Should I Temp?"

Reasons to work with a staffing firm

Staffing companies are not only looking for administrative and short-term manual labor positions but also for executives and professionals searching for full-time employment. Below are a few of the reasons you should work with a staffing company during your next job search. Also, please read the American Staffing Association's graph of the best reasons to work with a staffing company.

Get the inside scoop on new openings: Staffing companies work with a variety of companies. Many businesses turn to staffing companies to fill certain positions and never advertise the opening themselves. 

Save time: Staffing companies specialize in position types, areas, industries, or even companies. Thus, they know the job market and know the cultures on the companies for which they are recruiting. 

Put flexibility and work in the same sentence: If you are looking for time to live life while still making ends meet, working with a staffing company could be the best career move you ever make. Staffing companies place you in part-time or contract work that fits your life.

Maybe you want to take a trip to Europe for a month or maybe you need the summers off to watch your kids while school's out. Either way, a staffing company can help you find a project or company that is right for you.

Work part time and get benefits: When you go on temporary assignments for a staffing company, you are normally employed by the staffing company and could be eligible for vacation, holidays, and more. 

Free training: Temporary employees get free training from staffing companies to improve their skills and go on more assignments. This is a great way to boost your knowledge and experience before looking for a permanent gig. 

Never get bored: As an employee of a staffing company, you get to select the short-term assignments you want to take. You get the opportunity to work in a variety of industries and with different people on numerous projects and tasks. The opportunities are endless. 

Go from temp to perm: According to the American Staffing Association, about 75 percent of temporary and contract employees move on to permanent jobs. Thus, a temp job can be a great way to try out a company's culture

Marble Mouth or Super Star? Phone Etiquette

While making phone calls today, I happened to fall prey  to a couple of my pet peeves, screaming kids in the background and hearing a person eat while talking.  Sadly, these were not personal phone calls.  Thus, sparking the idea for today's blog. 

Have you sometimes wondered why you did not pass a phone screen? Perhaps you committed one of the following No-No's:

• Marble Mouth - express yourself clearly & concisely.  Be sure to annunciate your words and speak properly.  This is especially true when leaving a voice message.  If we cannot understand the number, we cannot call you back!
• Eating / Drinking while talking - the person on the other end can hear it

• Kids screaming in the back ground - politely ask if you can call back at a later time and assure the person calling you do wish to speak with them.  Recruiters understand!

• Do not use slang words - you want to be polished

• Do not use abbreviations - recruiters do not always know industry/position specific jargon. 
• Avoid fillers such as (no noise is better than 100 of these in a two minute conversation)
• Uh huh
• Um
• Like
• You know

• Ring Back Tones on your cell phone - Sorry, we do not want to hear "Who Let the Dogs Out?" while waiting for you to answer our call regarding a position.

Are you already working? Here are a few more tips to polish up and be positively noticed:

• Focus on the call.  Do not get distracted.
• Ask the caller to spell their name, if you are unsure.
• Return phone calls within 24 hours, even if just to say you are still working on the matter.
• Rather than saying "I don't know," reply with "let me find out for you." (avoid the dreaded transfer)

• When you hang up, place the handset gently down on the receiver.  A sharp sudden bang can hurt and is also rude.

• Do not leave a person on hold.  If you must, let them know the line is busy.  Then, give them the opportunity to hold longer or leave a message.
• Be patient and helpful!

Remember, you only get one chance for a first impression, and sometimes the phone is it! 

Staffing Solutions Inc.

Beware.... the Busy Boss!!

Is it just me or are bosses more difficult to nail down? It used to be that most Executive Assistants had daily meetings with their bosses. Blackberries, cell phones, laptops — high level executives are always “on” and always busy. It’s not good if they are too busy to meet with you regularly as it impedes your ability to support them or get your job done. Need a strategy? Read on . .

It’s difficult to be effective when you can’t get time with your boss because of workload, travel schedules, or just poor communication skills. The best remedy: Learn to manage your boss! You may have to be inventive to create access, but you cannot be effective otherwise.

It is important to talk with your boss about his or her preferred style of communication and to determine which style (face-to-face, phone, e-mail) works for which circumstances.

You must adapt to your boss’s preferred form of communication — let go of your preference. With a busy boss you may have to depend on e-mail or voice mail — especially for quick instructions or answers.

Generally, face-to-face works best for complex issues or projects but you may have to accept that it may be difficult — try an e-mail with bullets and ask for complete instructions to proceed.

E-mail your boss an update on projects in progress and projects completed and ask for new priorities — that might be the best way to keep projects moving and gain trust.

You can resort to voice mail or a cell or work phone to get a response regarding urgent matters.

Remember, at least e-mail saves a paper trail so you know that you have yourself covered.

No single type of communication works all of the time, so be flexible.

Face-to-face communication is always preferred. The energy shared and bonding are irreplaceable — yet just not always doable for busy execs. These days, be creative and adapt!!! One must!

Build a Team of Mentors

In years past, it was much easier for employees to find a mentor – it was an older, tenured person at their organization who seemed to ooze experience and wisdom. These days, it’s tough to retain an employee for more than 3-5 years, so finding a mentor takes more work! A Wall Street Journal article suggested that those seeking guidance in their careers should build a team of mentors in their field, otherwise known as a development network. The concept of development networks is easy to grasp; many find the actual relationship building part to be difficult.

Tips for building a team of mentors
1. Develop a list. Although some of your mentors will naturally want to help you, it is your job to come up with a list of individuals who would be a good addition to your mentoring team. Select a variety of people to add to your network—both in and outside your department/organization— so you have different viewpoints to learn from.

2. Be the one to reach out, and do so often. Top-notch protégés are not shy to ask for guidance. You must be able to do the initial ask and keep in regular contact with your development network. When a mentor offers a suggestion, keep him/her posted on how the advice worked.

3. Come to meetings prepared. Now that you’ve gotten a mentor’s attention, it’s time to do some homework. Know some basics about his/her background and have applicable questions to ask when you get together.

4. Make it mutual. No one likes a person who only talks about his/herself. The same goes for mentoring relationships! Don’t make every interaction with your mentors about you. Be sure to offer help on a special project or share some knowledge that you might be able to impart to him/her.

5. Be personable and have a positive attitude. We have yet to hear someone say, “Gosh, I would love to mentor someone who’s incredibly negative and not fun to be around.” Not everyone is the most charismatic person at their office, but it helps to be a positive, upbeat version of yourself when working with your development network. Mentors are supposed to talk you down from a workplace ledge every now and then, but don’t make it a regular pastime.

No matter what point you are at in your career, it is beneficial to have a mentor or team of mentors help guide you along the way. Your mentors should be individuals in your field OR people you admire for their successes. Don’t be afraid to make a connection with a potential mentor OR take his/her suggestions and run with it!

Full article: “How to Be a Smart Protégé: Eight tips for setting up a network of mentors” by Dawn E. Chandler, Douglas Hall and Kathy E. Kram. Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2009

Improved Job Outlook for class of 2012

According to an article on USnews.com by Ben Baden, "Employers surveyed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) say they plan to hire 9.5 percent more graduates from the class of 2012 than they did from the class of 2011."

If you are a student in college looking for ways to improve your chances of landing a job offer prior to graduation, take part in a paid internship! Another NACE survey shows that paid interns had the best success when it came to attracting job offers. Most students who worked in a paid internship had a job offer prior to graduation and also received a higher starting salary!

Keep in mind that temporary positions is a great way to "create your own internship!" Staffing Solutions, Inc. staffs in the St. Louis metro area, and we work with Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and non-profits in a variety of industries. Besides just earning a paycheck, temporary work is a great way to learn new skills, gain "real world work" experience, and network!

Visit our website to apply today www.staffingsolutionsinc.com



some information obtained from: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2011/10/07/job-outlook-improving-for-class-of-2012

SimplyHired.com Releases December Employment Outlook

© 2011 Simply Hired, Inc.
(click on the image to for larger view)

SimplyHired.com has released their December 2011 employment outlook report, and the forecast is STILL POSITIVE! Check out the full report, which highlights national and local market forecasts, and industry and employer trends! You view the full report here

A Few Report Highlights.....
* Job openings increased slightly nationwide, up 2.7% month-over-month and 7.4% year-over-year. The increase is a continuation of modest but steady job growth going back five months to July 2011.

* Nationwide job competition decreased in November, dropping from 4:1 to 3:1 job openings per unemployed person. According to the report, this improved ratio is likely because of a slight decrease in unemployment and a slight increase in job openings due to seasonal hiring.

*Hiring remains steady in most US metro areas. St. Louis's job openings per unemployed person remains the same as last month- a steady 4:1 ratio.

*Nationwide openings for community workers (including social workers, counselors and religious workers) increased 86%, by far the largest for all occupation categories! According to the report, this increase also coincides with a 15.8% growth in non-profit jobs. Both are likely related to the greater focus placed on community initiatives during the holidays.

Top hiring companies in St. Louis according to SimplyHired.com
1. BJC Health – 778 jobs (2.4%)
2. US Air Force – 431 jobs (43.1%)
3. Pizza Hut – 417 jobs (17.3%)
4. Taco Bell – 383 jobs (-6.0%)
5. St. Anthony’s Medical Center – 342 jobs (-11.2%)

We hope to see a spike in job growth next year! Let's see what 2012 brings!

Source for this post: "SimplyHired.com” http://www.simplyhired.com

When it comes to Interviewing, it is all in the Details...

We all know interviewing is nerve racking and the job market is still fierce! It is time to sweat the small stuff during an interview, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, “The New Job Is in the Details” by Joan Lublin.

Numerous hiring managers are not considering candidates for hire due to the slightest interviewing mistakes, especially with the job market being so competitive with a 6-to-1 ratio of jobseekers-to-jobs.

There are many horror stories of interviews gone bad because either the candidate didn’t prepare, was careless, or just really nervous.

“Compared with two years ago, about 20% more candidates interviewed by our clients are not getting offers because of gaffes made due to their high anxiety,” says a president and chief executive officer of PrincetonOne in Lublin’s article.

Small interview errors are becoming more common. What are the best solutions for these small interview snafus? Prepare better for interviews and remember that minor things count. Below are a few danger zones where small slip ups can derail your chances:

Don’t push the fashion envelope in a job interview, a point some people do not take into consideration. In the article, a women wore a low cut dress that exposed cleavage and a tattoo. She was interviewing for a position at a small hospital in a conservative town. Needless to say, she did not get the position.

Attire, of course, is important in an interview. Make sure you look professional!

Where an interview involves a meal, do not order the most expensive item on the menu. Remember to say “please” and “thank you” to the server and host. Try and relax, listen, and participate in the conversation.

In Lublin's article, a VP of a technology and management consultancy remembers a candidate who jogged 12 blocks from a train station to the office of a client for an interview. “Overheated and soaked, he asked if the company had shower facilities that he might use before the interview started,” he stated. Nevertheless, the company lacked showers and wouldn’t reschedule the meeting.

This is a perfect example of not planning ahead. Make sure you arrive early which will allow you to mentally prep for the interview and practice deep breathing or dry sweaty palms.

Show enthusiasm in an interview, but there are limits. One candidate cited by Lublin waved his hands wildly during an interview knocking over a water bottle (thankfully it was sealed!), but later sent a coffee mug flying across the table! This nervous gesture can display a lack of confidence in your abilities. Make sure to keep it together.

Pay attention in the interview. Lublin tells of one candidate who mispronounced the interviewer's name four times, even after being corrected three times! It was probably a case of the nerves, but that candidate didn’t end of getting the position.

So to recap: Make sure you fully prepare for an interview. Recruiters and Hiring Managers expect a candidate to be able to describe their previous work history in detail. You’d be astonished how many people fumble when asked about their previous positions during an interview. Don’t be one of them! Make sure to refresh your memory by looking over your resume so you are fully prepared. You can utilize the work inventory form provided by Staffing Solutions, Inc. to help you. Ask us about this form today!

Remember: Your overall presentation sends a strong message of who you are!

Check out November's Newsletter to find out what NOT to do during your job search!

A job-seeker’s nightmare: a position becomes available for them, but they miss out because they didn’t answer their phone, or check messages or email. This happens far too often… DON’T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU!

Read this month’s newsletter (click on newsletter in the toolbar on the right):
https://www.staffingsolutionsinc.com/temphomepage.htm

U.S. November 2011 Employment Outlook

© 2011 Simply Hired, Inc.


SimplyHired.com has released their November 2011 employment outlook report, and the forecast is POSITIVE! Check out the full report, which highlights national and local market forecasts, and industry and employer trends! View the full report here

The report shows that nationwide hiring remains positive. Job openings increased for the 4th month in a row! Hiring was up by 5.9% month-over-month and 10.0% year-over-year. All 50 metro areas saw positive month-over-month growth in October, with 47 of 50 metros also posting positive year-over-year growth- including ST. LOUIS, MO!! Kansas City (3:1) improved the most for job seekers this month!

Top five companies in St. Louis with the most job openings listed on SimplyHired.com
1. BJC HealthCare – 799 jobs (12.7%)
2. Taco Bell – 403 jobs (3.6%)
3. St. Anthony’s Medical Center – 394 jobs (2.8%)
4. SSM Health Care – 339 jobs (31.7%)
5. St. Louis University – 318 jobs (8.7%)

We are so happy to finally hear positive news! Best of luck to all you jobseekers out there!

Source: http://success.simplyhired.com/rs/simplyhired/images/SimplyHired-JobTrendsOutlook-November2011.pdf