 Some people may not realize the importance of social media during their job search, but they absolutely should.
There are professional media sites, such as LinkedIn, which allow you to connect and network with others. There are also “fun” social media sites like Facebook and Twitter (among others), which can also help you gain recognition within your chosen field. However, how should approach these sites and use them? Below are five tips for maximizing social media during your job search: #1—Create a (professional) profile. Posting photos depicting unprofessional attire, appearances, and especially inappropriate content is a huge mistake. Most social media sites offer flexible security settings to “hide” any content you don't wish to be seen by public audiences. Monitor your page closely and make sure that the outside world, including employers, can only see what you want them to see. #2—Show your personal side. Let your followers know what to expect in your profile description. Include personal touches such as a small biography of your likes, dislikes, hobbies, and skills. Include your professional background and accomplishments. Remain professional and avoid controversial issues, and also remember that negativity can be a turn-off for employers. Strive to always use proper grammar and avoid spelling errors. #3—Create a social media strategy. Popular social media sites can be a great way to network effectively, especially with other people within your chosen field. As part of your strategy, ensure that your online identity can be found with a simple Internet search (after following the first and second steps listed above, of course). Then formulate a plan for what you’ll post, when you’ll post it, and how often you’ll reach out to other people. Continuously tweak that plan in accordance with the results you get. #4—Expand your network. LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook provide the most value for a job search because they hold the most potential for expanding your network of professional contacts. You can expand your network on all three sites by identifying the principles and core values of the companies that interest you the most and focusing on them. Follow and interact with people who work at those companies and share articles and information that involve the companies and/or their core values. Remember to stay active, but also don’t be too active. Strike a healthy balance. #5—Be human (and be yourself). You’re not perfect; you’re human. How do you show emotion on social media sites and make more of a personal connection with your audience? Not only should you display your human side with your profile information (see tip #2) and the things you post, but most social media sites also allow you to upload a video, which can help convey more of a personal message. There are also other social media sites, such as YouTube, Instagram, Vine, and TikTok, which are more video-oriented. Using these sites in combination with each other can be beneficial, but more vigilance and effort is needed to do it correctly and effectively. Last year, Time Staffing won ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards for providing superior service to their clients and candidates. ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Award is the only award in the United States and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service and quality based entirely upon ratings provided by their clients and job candidates. Time Staffing received satisfaction scores of 9 out of 10 or 10 out of 10 from 75.4% of their placed talent, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 45%. Contact us today to find out more about the employment opportunities that are available in your chosen field! Social media “stalking” has now become a commonplace practice for employers. Researching job candidates through social networks makes hiring decisions a little easier in the competitive job market.
People’s “ghosts from the past” can now be easily pulled up during a job interview or screening process. Social media mistakes can also be the reason why someone did not get an interview in the first place. However, you shouldn’t be quick to delete all of your social media presence just because of the nerve-racking job process. That’s because having such a presence has become commonplace, as well. NOT having one could cast you under suspicion. (“What are they hiding?”) So what’s the answer? Not deleting your social media accounts completely, but editing them or “cleaning them up.” There are simple things that can be done to prepare your profile(s) to be viewed by a potential employer. Below are five tips for avoiding social media profile mistakes: Tip #1—Use your real name. Your name is one of two components that a person sees upon opening your page (the other being your profile photo). While using a cute nickname or a name that has resulted from an inside joke might have cut it in high school, it simply will not do so within the professional realm. Tip #2—Use an appropriate profile photo. It’s typically the first thing that catches a person’s eye, and it creates the first impression. Obviously, that wild party photo from last Friday night should not be somebody’s first choice as a profile picture. While “selfies” have become somewhat of a norm, using a duck-face “selfie” for your profile picture is simply a poor move. It’s easier to select a photo for Facebook, since it’s more of a social site compared to others, and employers seem to understand this. LinkedIn is another type of social media site, but slightly more unique, as it’s devoted to the art of networking. For LinkedIn, your profile photo should NOT be like Facebook or Instagram. A “selfie” simply does not look professional. One needs to invest in a decent headshot in order to receive the respect of potential employers. Tip #3—Do a “virtual cleanse” every few months. Find photographs or posts (which might not have been added by you, but by your friends) that involve drama or indicate immaturity. Delete them or make them only accessible to you, the owner of the account. However, if cleaning one’s accounts seems too overwhelming, consider making personal social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) private. Tip #4—Follow institutions and/or causes. According to Forbes, intellectual curiosity is one of the five traits important to most employers. Therefore, following such institutions and causes will help keep you well informed. Employers want employees who can adapt to change. Change is easier for people who are passionate about learning new information. Tip #5—Tailor your profile to employers’ needs. Look through the websites of companies for which you’d like to work. What is important to the companies? What are their core values? What kind of employees do they typically like to hire? Incorporate this information into your profile in a way that makes sense. You’ll be more confident during interviews, which will show in your performance. Living in the digital age has brought many conveniences for both job seekers and employers. Regardless, social media—when used properly—can bring great success to both parties. Last year, Time Staffing won ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards for providing superior service to their clients and candidates. ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Award is the only award in the United States and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service and quality based entirely upon ratings provided by their clients and job candidates. Time Staffing received satisfaction scores of 9 out of 10 or 10 out of 10 from 75.4% of their placed talent, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 45%. Contact us today to find out more about the employment opportunities that are available in your chosen field! Plotting the trajectory of your career is a serious matter. It takes a lot of time, energy, and thought to properly plan that trajectory—and then execute the plan.
Consequently, it’s not something that can be done effectively in a hasty manner or haphazard fashion. There are multiple factors that should be considered, and some of them should be considered quite carefully. All actions (and inactions) have consequences, and you want to ensure that your “career consequences” are the best ones possible. Below are five steps for determining your next career move: #1—Figure out the “real” reasons for wanting to make a move. You must make sure this isn’t reactionary. One bad day at work is not a valid reason for suddenly wanting to change jobs. However, if there has been an ongoing cycle of circumstances contributing to your overall dissatisfaction, then perhaps a move is warranted. However, identify those circumstances first and get to the root of what is making you dissatisfied. #2—Audit your current situation. This includes not just your employment situation, but also your financial situation, your personal situation, your family situation, etc. In other words, it includes every aspect of your life that could have an impact on your decision or could be impacted by your decision. Leaving “no stone unturned” at the beginning of the process can prevent unpleasant surprises down the road. #3—Analyze your skills. Identify your key knowledge, skills, and abilities in regards to how well they fit your current position, as well as other potential positions. With this analysis, you can determine if you’re being used effectively in your current position and if you should move on to another position. It will also give you a better idea of the value you can offer to an employer, and value is a commodity that always grows more attractive over time. #4—Broaden your networking activities. Specifically, network more not only with people in your current field, but also in any other field you’re thinking of entering. These people can offer career advice, as well as introduce you to other contacts and perhaps even provide job leads. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Well, it’s both. #5—Seek out other job opportunities. If you’ve conducted steps one through four and you’re ready to make your move . . . then it’s time to make your move. Are there particular companies in your industry for which you’d like to work? Make a list of those companies and conduct research regarding others. Remember that using the services of a professional staffing agency can help increase the likelihood that your next career move will be a successful one. Last year, Time Staffing won ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards for providing superior service to their clients and candidates. ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Award is the only award in the United States and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service and quality based entirely upon ratings provided by their clients and job candidates. Time Staffing received satisfaction scores of 9 out of 10 or 10 out of 10 from 75.4% of their placed talent, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 45%. Contact us today to find out more about the employment opportunities that are available in your chosen field! Organizations are always on the lookout for great workers, people who can become new employees and impact the bottom line. However, what about current employees?
Of course, you want to retain your best employees. And once you hire more workers, you want to retain them, too. But what if you have underperforming employees in your organization? How should you deal with them? First of all, how do you spot such employees? In actuality, that is rather easy:
And this is just a starter list. It’s plenty, though, if you’re looking to identify employees who are underperforming. There are basically two types of underperforming employees: those that an organization removes relatively quickly and those that stick around for a while. You might wonder about the latter scenario. Why would an organization allow an underperforming employee to remain on the payroll for an extended period of time if they’ve been underperforming for nearly the entirety of that time? There is a litany of reasons, including the following:
However, all of these reasons are past considerations. What’s important is the present (and the future). That’s why management must deal with and address underperforming employees, regardless of who they are or what they’ve done in the past. With all of this in mind, below is a three-pronged plan of attack for dealing with underperforming employees: #1—Investigate. It’s always good to gather as much information as you possibly can about the situation. Perhaps the person is enduring a tough personal setback or something else about which you do not know. Sit down with the employee and have a conversation. Ask them if there’s something they need in order to do their job better and if they’re enjoying their work. They might just come right out and tell you what’s wrong. #2—Make suggestions for improvement. Try the collaborative approach. Secure their buy-in regarding the changes that are needed. If possible, put together a plan that both of you can implement and execute. #3—Challenge the employee to improve their performance. This is where you set concrete expectations for the employee, especially if you do assemble a plan together. They need to know what is expected of them. And it should also be inferred that there will be consequences if they do not meet expectations in a timely manner. There could be any number of reasons why employees within your organization are not engaged. If there appears to be many of them, perhaps there is a problem within the organization. It could indicate a troubling trend that needs to be addressed at a deeper level. Last year, Time Staffing won ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards for providing superior service to their clients and candidates. ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Award is the only award in the United States and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service and quality based entirely upon ratings provided by their clients and job candidates. Time Staffing received satisfaction scores of 9 out of 10 or 10 out of 10 from 75.4% of their placed talent, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 45%. Contact Time Staffing today to find out more about our placement services for employers! When you were young, you were probably asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
You might have answered that you wanted to become a doctor, so you could heal the sick. Or maybe an engineer like your Dad, so you could build the tallest skyscrapers. Or perhaps a lawyer, so you could defend those who can’t defend themselves. However, adolescent dreams often dissipate in the face of reality. As a result, finding a great job is tougher than you imagined. At some point, you might have taken a job just so you can cover the bills. (And that’s something that just about everybody has done.) But can you really find—and enjoy—the job of your dreams? You can, but you must plan carefully and then execute your plan. With that in mind, below are five steps to start your career planning NOW: #1—Choose an occupation (if you haven’t done so already). Everything flows from this critical first step. Deciding your specific career path will allow you to focus on your next steps, so give this careful thought and solicit the input of others if you believe it will help you make the correct decision. #2—Research fields of specialization. Every industry has a field of specialization, so explore those that exist within your chosen profession. A good idea would be to explore those in which you have an interest and/or a proficiency. As a general rule, the more you like something or like to do something, the better you will become at that something. Select the specialization that you’ll have a passion for in the long run. #3—Plan your short-term and long-term goals. Short-term and long-term goals apply to just about any endeavor, and this includes the plan that you have for your career. The first step in getting where you want to go is knowing where you want to go. The second step is knowing how you’re going to get there. #4—Equip yourself with skills so you can climb the career ladder. Most employers promote staff to managerial posts when they are ready to take on the role of management. This, of course, requires skills acquired over time. The earlier you hone your craft, the earlier your efforts will be recognized. #5—Always think with the end in mind. This means paying attention to how today will affect your ultimate goals. Every action you take and each relationship you build will have an impact on your future, so make sure those actions and relationships are positive in nature. Planning a career is comparable to saving money and investing early. The earlier you put aside savings for rainy days, the more your money will grow. The earlier you start planning for your career, the more time you have to invest in that career . . . and the more it will grow, too. Last year, Time Staffing won ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards for providing superior service to their clients and candidates. ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Award is the only award in the United States and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service and quality based entirely upon ratings provided by their clients and job candidates. Time Staffing received satisfaction scores of 9 out of 10 or 10 out of 10 from 75.4% of their placed talent, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 45%. Contact us today to find out more about the employment opportunities that are available in your chosen field! |
