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Hiring Decisions – When Is the Right Time to Hire?

Let’s face it, in many businesses payroll is one the largest (if not the largest) line item on your monthly budgets.  So, it can sometimes be a very difficult decision to add on more staff.  BUT, in some cases adding staff strategically can help drive a lot of profit to your bottom line.

So when do you know it’s time to hire?  Here are a few warning signs:

  1. When bottlenecks are holding up production.
    If you find that a certain area of your business is continually a bottleneck, then it’s time to evaluate your talent needs. In many cases, adding one or two new skilled people can have a dramatic effect on production and profits.
  2. When you miss out on new business because you don’t have the needed help.
    You’ve probably had a lot of great ideas for new business ventures; however, you may not have the resources to implement those plans. But with temporary or contract workers, you can tap into the resources you need, when you need them, in order to take on new opportunities and grow your business.
  3. When being a “do-it-yourselfer” is distracting you from your core job duties. Instead of taking the time to learn a new skill on your own, or spending hours trying to train your staff, bring in an experienced contract employee who can offer you the knowledge and capabilities you need on a temporary basis. There’s no learning curve and once the project is finished, you don’t have to worry about the cost of a full-time employee.

If you’re faced with any of these challenges, we can help. As the leading staffing and recruiting agency in the area, we can provide on-demand temporary staff to help eliminate bottlenecks, or recruit people with the specific skill sets you need.

Contact Us today!

Get Motivated!

Ready to get out of that negative mindset that’s holding you back? Are you ready to move into your dream job? Today, we’re going to focus on 5 ways to turn negative thoughts into positive action.

  1. You have a lot of potential – start recognizing it!
    You may not be built like Arnold Schwarzenegger or be mistaken for a supermodel. But with positive thinking, focusing on your strengths, and self-determination you can achieve some truly amazing things.
  2. Decide what you want – and set goals along the way.
    Remember the old saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day”? Well, it wasn’t!  When setting goals, it’s important to keep your long-term goal in mind, but set smaller goals along the way. This will help keep you motivated and patient.
  3. Get focused and discipline yourself.
    Nothing in life is free. If you want to meet your goals, you’re going to have to work for it. Focus your attention on your goals and don’t stray. Make sure each day you do at least one activity that centers around your goals.
  4. Stop doubting your abilities and develop self-confidence.
    Strike the phrase “I can’t” from your vocabulary-because “you can”! Don’t complain or get frustrated with little roadblocks. Instead visualize your success.
  5. Avoid negative people.
    Negativity is contagious. One of the easiest ways to become successful is to surround yourself with positive, successful people.

Let us help get you into that perfect job!

Contact Us

Interview Mistakes That Will Keep You From a Job Offer


You have a great resume, a cover letter that dazzles, impeccable references–the only thing left is the interview. So make sure you don’t make these mistakes:

  1. Don’t show up late!
    The easiest way to look bad right off the bat is to show up late. It gives the impression that you’re irresponsible and makes the interviewer feel that their time isn’t important to you. When planning for your interview give yourself enough time for traffic jams, a late train, bad weather and whatever else could happen. And if you arrive early you’ll have more time to relax and prepare.
  2. Don’t appear disinterested.
    There may be some points in an interview when you determine this job simply isn’t the right fit. It that happens, do NOT show it! Remember that the interviewer does not exist in a vacuum. He or she has friends, relatives, and associates who may influence future job opportunities. If you behave poorly, the interviewer will remember and will share the story of you and your unprofessional behavior with others. Haven’t you shared bad job search experiences with people close to you? The interviewer is probably no different.
  3. Don’t be unprepared.
    There’s nothing worse than interviewing someone who doesn’t even know what your company does. Take some time before your interview to conduct research. Learn about the company, try to talk with existing employees, gain insight into their industry. Excellent sources of information include the Internet, periodicals, and experts in the field.
  4. Don’t forget to be polite.
    No matter how old fashioned it appears to use words like please, sir, ma’am, and thank you, do not delete these words from your vocabulary. These simple words can work wonders towards making a positive impression. Always use a respectful tone of voice. Do not unnecessarily interrupt the interviewer. Maintain eye contact and a pleasant expression. Leave the slang, slouching, and gum chewing at home. Good manners signal respect for yourself and the people around you; never underestimate their importance.
  5. Don’t dress down.
    No matter how laid back or casual a company is, always “dress up” for an interview and remember it’s not time to express your individuality. Always remember that your goal is to gain employment, not to make a fashion statement. Accordingly, you should not dress in any way that will distract attention from you and your qualifications. Things to avoid include unconventional hair colors, excessive jewelry and makeup, and any clothes that you would wear to a nightclub. Do your best to dress accordingly. If there is any doubt, err on the side of being overdressed.
  6. Don’t lie.
    Never, ever lie during an interview. Mistruths have an uncanny habit of catching up to people. If the interviewer catches you in a lie during the interview, you have seriously damaged your chances of being hired. After all, would you hire someone that you couldn’t trust? If your employer finds out you lied after you have been hired, it could be grounds for dismissal. Even if they do not dismiss you, you are still in serious trouble as you have damaged your integrity in the eyes of your boss. The bottom line is that you should always be truthful when interviewing.
  7. Don’t be modest.
    When searching for the right job, put your modesty aside. Don’t be afraid to confidently describe your skills and accomplishments. After all, if you don’t sing your praises to your potential boss, then who will? Don’t count on your resume to do all the work; it is only a tool to help you land the interview. Once you get your foot in the door, it is up to you to convince the interviewer that you are the ideal person for the job. Worried that you will come across as conceited instead of self-confident? Then practice how and what you will say with a friend or family member who can provide honest feedback.
  8. Don’t forget a thank you note.
    Once the interview has concluded, take a few moments to jot down your impressions of the interviewer, what you talked about and any interesting points that were brought up during the meeting. The ideal time and place to do this is in your car as soon as you have exited the building, as your thoughts will be most fresh at this time. Use this information as you compose a well thought out thank you note to the interviewer. Mail this note no later than the day following the interview. Remember, promptness signals interest.

By avoiding these eight simple mistakes, you can improve your chances of having a successful interview and landing the job of your dreams. If you’re ready to take that next step, contact us today!

How to Give Employees Constructive Feedback

As managers, we intuitively know that giving and getting honest feedback is essential to grow and develop, and to build successful organizations.  So why is it that many of us put off giving feedback to our employees?  Maybe it’s because there are so many ways to mess it up.

Here are some common feedback mistakes:

  • Speaking out only when things are wrong.
  • Providing generic praise without specifics or an honest underpinning.
  • Waiting until performance or behavior is substantially below expectations before acting on it.
  • Giving negative feedback in public.
  • Criticizing performance without giving suggestions for improvement.
  • Not conducting regular performance reviews.

Clearly, giving and receiving constructive feedback is a skill that must be honed.

Developing proficiency in this area is essential to building good relationships with, and motivating peak performance from, your team.  To help get you started, here are four tips for providing feedback the right way:

  1. Be proactive. Nip issues in the bud and avoid messy interpersonal tangles that result from neglected communication.  If you meet with employees regularly to give feedback, it conveys, “Your success is important to me, so I want to be accessible to you.”
  2. Be specific. Although it’s not easy to provide negative feedback, it’s important to be as clear as possible by giving specific examples that illustrate your point.  Instead of saying, “Your attitude is bad,” say, “When you miss deadlines, then cross your arms and look away when I discuss it with you, it gives me the impression that you don’t care about the quality of your work.  Can you help me understand this behavior better?”
  3. Develop a progress plan. Be clear about the specific changes in behavior that you expect in a specific period of time, and follow up as scheduled.
  4. Link employees’ performance to organizational goals. Reinforce the value of your employees’ contributions by giving specific examples of how their work and positive behaviors serve the organization and its customers.

We understand and appreciate the value of constructive feedback.  So we’d like to hear from you. Please contact us with your questions, comments, and suggestions.