Archive for June, 2008
June 30th, 2008
I hate calling into work. Unless I can’t get out of bed, I’m making it into work. There’s too much to be done and money to be made. One thing I’ve learned from my experience in staffing is that not everybody feels the same way. I must admit that I have become numb to the standard reasons for calling in to work: “I’m sick, no childcare, car won’t start, forgot I had a court date,” etc. However, every once and a while, I hear bizarre excuses that differ from the norm.
Here are some of the strangest excuses I’ve heard for not going to work:
1) “I ended up getting tickets to a Cubs game and am too hung over to go in.”
2) “Somebody stole my identity.”
3) “My girlfriend slashed all of my tires.”
4) “I got pulled over on my way to work and I got arrested.”
5) “I really don’t feel like going in today.”
June 26th, 2008
The summer job market is tight each year. More and more students rely on that employment to help with their upcoming school year expenses or to relieve them of some debt. With more students needing positions than open job opportunities, you need to be on your “A” game to be considered.
Never think that a job is beneath you. Summer employment is just that-summer employment. Working is a good experience no matter what the job is-try to be open minded. Look at exploring an opportunity that will provide some lasting relationships and possible repeat employment offers. Maybe you will not get a great full-time job out of it, but keep in mind that employers remember a good summer employee or intern for their future positions. I fondly recall an intern that was a great asset to a project I was working on and hope to be able to assist her some day in securing a job.
If you are open to the various options that are out there, you will be successful. Maybe a filing, receptionist, or errand position will not help you with your Economics degree, but having some employment and future connections to call on when you finish your degree might be worth.
June 23rd, 2008
3) Leave your Ego at the Door: Every college kid has big expectations with their first job. You’ve probably been on the Internet and determined what you are worth, given your degree and the position that you are applying for. Hope you had fun- now it’s time to enter reality.
The reality is that yes, you will want to find a position that pays competitively. That being said, salary is only a part of the compensation package. You need to look at a company’s benefit program, health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunity for growth. Don’t get so focused on demanding a high salary that you forget to look at the big picture on what the company offers. Remember, you still need to prove yourself. At this point, you’re just a kid with a degree. With hard work, loyalty, and experience gained, the money will work itself out.
4) Professionalism: Now is the time to begin showing companies that you are a professional. Following an interview, always send out a thank you card. This serves multiple purposes. If the company is having a hard time selecting between candidates, it could be the one thing that helps put you over the top. If they go another direction, it can help keep you in good standing with the company for future opportunities.
If you receive a job offer that you are not interested in accepting, the worst thing you can do is ignore the company. They took the time to review your resume, interview you, and put together an offer for you to join their company. You owe them the courtesy of a phone call thanking them for their interest, but politely decline. While they may be disappointed, they will respect you. It is never good to burn any bridges.
5) Have fun!: This is your chance to jump into the real world. Do your homework, identify jobs or companies that interest you, and tailor your search accordingly. If a job isn’t for you, politely decline it. If you start a job and it is not a good long-term fit for you, position yourself to make a move. Sometimes you don’t know until you start working. You are young enough, and early enough into your work experience where you can still find your way.
But, be careful of becoming a job hopper, as that will not do you any favors in the long run. And, lastly, if you are in a position to do this, take some time off. Enjoy a couple weeks in the summer for yourself. You’ve earned it!
Good Luck!
June 20th, 2008
College graduation. An emotional day in any student’s life. It’s a day to reflect on memories of good times, a sense of accomplishment from all the hard work, and closing a chapter in one’s life. Once the dart board, futon, or television stand is all packed up and ready to go, it is time to begin thinking about the next chapter in your life- your career. Here are a few tips to help you as you begin your job search:
1) Don’t get Frustrated: A job search is not easy. It takes time. You’re not going to get every job that you apply for. As you begin sending your resume out to job opportunities, you may find yourself in a Catch-22. Companies telling you that your resume looks good, you interviewed well, but just don’t have enough experience. You will think to yourself, “how can I get experience if nobody will give me a chance?” Don’t get frustrated. Keep looking for the right opportunity and fine tuning your interviewing skills, selling yourself, and why they have to hire you. You may also look at the big picture at the company, and try to get into a lower level position with opportunity to grow within the company.
2) Be Clear: Two thing employers want to know after reading your cover letter and resume: what do you do, and what do you want to do. Unless your degree is specific to the job you are applying: engineering, IT, education, etc., they may be unsure what your experience is and what you are wanting to do. Be sure to highlight accomplishments, internships, and work experience from college on your resume. A cover letter is a good forum to let them know the position you are applying for and why you feel you are a qualified candidate for the position. Due to the fact you likely will not have much professional work history, you will need to sell yourself in some manner.
June 18th, 2008
According to a survey conducted by the Opinion Research Corp, workers have the strongest relationships with co-workers of their same generation.
59% of 18-24 year olds said they have the strongest bond with colleagues who are 29 years old and younger, while 67% of 25 to 34 year olds and 52% of 35-44 year olds said to have the strongest bond with those ages 30-40.
Do you think this is true?
June 16th, 2008
- Identify your work duties – If your tasks are too much for you to handle, ask for some additional help. If you would like more responsibility, ask for it.
- Write down a list of things you really love about work, and look at it throughout the day.
- Request a transfer.
- Take time off – Whether it’s a mini vacation or a long vacation, maybe all you need is a little time to get away and recharge your batteries!
Remember- the best way to deal with any kind of issue at work always comes down to COMMUNICATION. If you are struggling, communicate your feelings to your boss. They will be able to help you decide what is best for you.
June 13th, 2008
Are you feeling emotionally, mentally, and physically drained at work? You might be experiencing job burnout! Everyone has their share of rough days at work, but when those few rough days turn into every day, something needs to be done to change the situation. No one should let their work get to a point where it starts to affect their health. Here are some signs of burnout:
- Feeling hopeless
- Lack of motivation
- Cynicism
- Irritability
- Frustration
- Isolation
June 11th, 2008
In recent years, corporate wellness programs have become very popular and are used as tools to alleviate health care costs, increase productivity and boost morale.
After the initial creation of a wellness program, the largest challenge that companies face is gaining enough support to continue the wellness initiatives year after year. Often times, it will take a year or two to build enough support and create a culture of wellness throughout an organization. Once the culture has been transformed, wellness initiatives will seem normal and almost expected.
The best advice is to not give up on a wellness program. Transforming a culture will not happen overnight.
June 9th, 2008
Misconception #4) They only have temp jobs available: True, many companies utilize a staffing agency to fill temporary voids, however, the majority of job opportunities offered are temp-to-hire, long-term positions. Many staffing agencies have divisions that are tailored more for the skilled/professional job seeker. In those situations, direct placement into companies is becoming more and more popular among clients.
Misconception #5) They will take money out of my paycheck so they can make money as well: There is no fee to the job seeker and nothing is taken out of the employee’s paycheck. As a matter of fact, most times it is the client company who sets the pay rate and the staffing agency has little say in the pay rate. Once a pay rate is determined, that is what one will be paid. For skilled positions, there are often times negotiations that take place regarding salary, however, the pay rate decided upon is the same as if the job seeker would have went out to the company on their own. It is true that many times when a worker is hired in to the company, they are given a pay increase. This is a reward for working hard and getting hired in as a permanent employee of the company.
Misconception #6) Temps are just used for 90 days and then laid off before getting hired in: Prior to accepting a job through a staffing agency, one should always ask how long the assignment is intended to last. This will at least give you an idea if it is short term in nature, temp-to-hire, or unknown. Even if the position is temp-to-hire, there are no guarantees. Companies cannot always predict how business will play out, loss of contracts, etc. Unfortunately, lay-offs are a reality, whether it be through a staffing agency or otherwise. That said, most companies are looking to retain top talent. While it can be convenient for companies to lay off temporary workers first and foremost, it is not necessarily always the case. More often than not, when employees are let go, unless it is a mass layoff, it is performance-related in one way or another.
June 6th, 2008
Working with a staffing service has become a much more common avenue for finding a job . Some people shy away from filling out an application for some of the common misconceptions that they have heard through the grapevine.
Here are some misconceptions about staffing services:
Misconception #1: Temporary employees do not receive benefits. Most staffing services DO provide their temporary employees with some type of benefit program after they have worked a certain number of hours, so therefore, by working through a staffing service, temporary employees CAN receive benefits.
Misconception #2: Assignments are ONLY temporary. There are a lot of times when assignments are for a temporary time period, but most companies are looking for reliable people who can prove that they have good attendance and good work performance. The company may consider hiring them in, if they prove to be a good candidate.
Misconception #3: Temporary employees are “replaceable.” Temporary employees must take pride in the fact that they are able to learn many different types of jobs, and they are able to gain knowledge and experience in several areas. This makes them more marketable for other positions in the job market. Many companies cannot run efficiently without the assistance of temporary employees.
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