At the end of last month, we presented “4 Steps for Improved Networking in the New Year.” With this blog post, we’re going to reveal some simple tricks when it comes to face-to-face networking.
As we’ve mentioned before on numerous occasions, part of enjoying employment success and having a great career is effective networking. Of course, not everybody excels at networking. Some people love it, and some people do not.
Regardless of which category you’re in, improving your networking efforts is necessary for connecting with more people, uncovering more opportunities, and ultimately advancing your career. That’s why it’s important to maximize your face-to-face meetings, and with the help of Fortune magazine, we’re going to show you how to do just that.
Below are three tricks for improving your face-to-face networking:
#1—Introduce yourself first, if possible.
You’ll find that this helps to take the pressure off you immediately. Once you’ve introduced yourself, you can focus more fully on the other person. Being able to focus when meeting somebody for the first time is crucial. It allows you to meet the other person’s gaze, smile warmly, and shake their hand in a confident manner. People respond positively to confidence.
#2—Make the other person’s name instantly memorable.
Being able to focus also allows you to remember the person’s name more easily. However, there is still some work you must do to make the name “stick.” One technique is to think of other people you know who have the same name as the person you’re meeting. Then, once you’ve done that, think of their faces and then link those faces to the face in front of you. Later, all you have to do is conjure up the faces of people you already know to remember the name of this person!
#3—Use their name often during your encounter.
Conventional wisdom dictates that you should use the other person’s name at least three times during the course of the conversation: at the beginning, sometime in the middle, and then at the end. However, depending upon the length of the conversation, you could certainly use their name morethan three times. Using it up to five times is acceptable, although you should be careful not to overuse it. While that could help you to remember it later, it could also present a “red flag” to the other person. (At the very least, it might be somewhat awkward.)
Use these simple tricks the next time you network with somebody in person. Practice them with each encounter, and you’ll be sure to improve over time.
More effective networking leads to more opportunities, which can lead to better jobs and a more satisfying career.
If you’re currently looking for a new job, we invite you to look through our jobs and apply for one online today!

​In a previous blog post, we addressed “5 Steps for Keeping Your Team from Getting Burned Out.”Those steps included the following:
Assess the situation.
Acknowledge the situation.
Incorporate more variety in the workday.
Offer more flexibility.
Have more FUN.
However, preventing burnout is a tricky matter. It can often feel like you’re trying to “hit a moving target.” That’s why we’re back with four MORE steps for keeping your team from getting burned out:
#1—Solicit feedback.
In situations such as this, employees want to feel as though they’re being heard. So while admitting that there is a problem is important, so is asking the employees for their ideas regarding what can be done to reverse the problem. After all, they are the closest to the situation, so soliciting their feedback makes sense simply from that perspective.
#2—Work together for possible solutions.
If employees are burning out, the last thing they want is to be dictated to. So not only should you make sure they feel heard, but you should also strive to devise joint solutions that will allow them to feel as though they’ve taken ownership of those solutions. Don’t just ask for their feedback and then dismiss it out of hand.
#3—Cast a vision for the future.
As a manager and/or leader, you should always be casting a vision for your employees. They want to know what the future holds for the company, and they want to know what their role is within that future. If an employee is getting burned out on a single project, assure them that their value in the organization extends beyond this one project. Take the focus off their immediate frustration.
#4—Instill positive energy and hope.
A positive attitude IS contagious, and everybody wants to believe that a situation has hope. Part of casting a vision for the future is instilling hope in employees that better days are ahead. The great thing about hope is that it’s both inspiring and motivating. A lack of motivation is a major factor in burnout. Re-igniting that motivation is central to turning the situation around.
Avoiding employee burnout is not easy, and navigating your way through it is even more difficult. It takes a deft hand and a proactive approach to achieve the type of balance you need to maintain high levels of both productivity and employee satisfaction.
Click here to learn more about Time Staffing’s services for employers!

Your career is one of those things about which you should be careful. This means when you’re looking for a job or seeking a new employment opportunity, you need to “do your homework.”
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We’re not talking about going back to school, per say, but we are advocating being both diligent and vigilant, especially if you plan to use the services of a staffing firm. Every staffing firm is different, and if you believe that all of them are the same, then you could be setting yourself up for frustration and disappointment.

Below are questions you should ask before working with a staffing firm:

In which industries do they operate?
Obviously, you want a firm that specializes in your chosen industry. Dig deeper than that, though. Find out all of the different disciplines and niches that the firm services to get a comprehensive view of what it does and how it does it. The more information you uncover, the better.

Do they an office in your area?
Many staffing firms have multiple offices. If there’s only one office, though, how close is it to you? If it has multiple offices, where are they located? Once you begin work, this will be a practical consideration, so do your calculations now, during the planning phase.

What value does the firm offer?
Everything in your professional life comes down to value—the value that you provide and the value that your employer provides. What value does this staffing firm provide? Does it have a simple process? Attractive pay and benefits? Does it have any additional programs for workers? Do the people seem friendly? (Calling the firm to solicit more information beforehand is highly recommended.)

How long has the firm been in operation?
Longevity can be an indication of success. You want a firm that has experience working with job seekers like you in the same industry in which you work. Experience and expertise speak directly to the question above, and that’s because both of these things are valuable to you.

Do you know anybody who has used the firm before?

Referrals and references are still one of the best ways for determining whether or not you should use a product or service, and that includes staffing firms. If the firm operates heavily within your area, you should be able to find others who have worked with them. LinkedIn is a good place to start.

Find out more about Time Staffing’s services for job seekers. And if you’re currently looking for a new job, don’t forget to look through our jobs and apply for one online today!

In a recent blog post, we discussed the steps necessary to get a job for which you might be underqualified. However, what if it’s not a specific job that you’re targeting, but you still feel as though you suffer from a lack of experience overall?
Well, there are some definite things you can do to rectify that, especially as they pertain to your resume. The resume is one of the main ways that you convey to a hiring authority that you should be considered for their open position.
In this blog post, we’ll address specific things that will allow you to present yourself in the best fashion possible, so that you increase the chances that you’ll be contacted for a face-to-face interview.
Below are three ways that you can beef up your resume:
#1—Participate in “peer shadowing.”
Also called “job shadowing,” this activity has many benefits. First, you can gain some of the experience you’re seeking (even if you’re not getting paid for it). In addition, you’ll be able to learn from a seasoned professional as you gain that experience, and there will be networking opportunities, as well.
In order to do this, you need to know somebody in the industry that you can shadow. If you don’t know somebody personally, then reach out to your network of contacts. Chances are good that one of them knows somebody who would be willing to consider working with you in a “peer shadowing” situation.
#2—Engage in training to achieve certifications.
Okay, so you don’t have enough work experience. You can still provide validation that an employer should consider you, and one of the ways you can do that is in the form of certifications. If you work in a blue-collar industry, there are many certifications you might pursue. Some of these are in-person classes at physical locations, while others can be acquired online. Conduct research to find out what is available and which certifications would make sense for your particular situation.
#3—Seek employment in a temporary position.
When you get right down to it, you need experience. “Job shadowing” will help, but to get the experience you truly need, taking a temp position is advisable. In addition to the experience, you’ll also be getting paid, which is rather important. If you can’t seem to crack the job market in a full-time position, seek a temporary role. You’ll gain experience while you continue looking for a long-term opportunity.
Do you believe that you suffer from a lack of experience in your job search? Is your resume in need of beefing up? Take the steps above and better position yourself for career success.
And if you’re currently looking for a new job, don’t forget to look through our jobs and apply for one online today!