Top 7 Transferrable Qualities Employers Look for in Candidates

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Regardless of the company, position, or pay rate; there are certain qualities that every employer looks for in the hiring process as well as when someone is on-boarded. Technical skills will get you recognized right away, but hiring managers know that soft skills have a big influence on the environment of a workplace and how it runs. If you are a contingent employee or have recently been hired by a company with a probation period, demonstrating these qualities are sure to make your employer consider you for a permanent position on their team. Developing these 7 qualities will help you excel in your career no matter what path you decide to go down.

 

1. Dependability

Although this list is in no particular order, there is a reason that dependability is at the top. No matter who your employer is, or what industry you’re in, dependability is inarguably the most important attribute a candidate and/or employee can have. In order for a company to be successful, work needs to get done and get done in a timely manner. Being a person that your manager and colleagues can count on to show up on time, deliver, drive results, and keep your word will make you a highly respected member of your organization. Make sure to include this trait on your résumé, discuss it during your interview, and follow through while on the job.

2. Communication Skills

Communication is important to both the employer and the employee. In order to run a smooth operation, everybody must be on the same page. Effective communication is important from all angles: verbal, physical, and written. There are many different areas to cover when it comes to communication. Verbally this means communicating your needs and expectations, clarification if you or someone else doesn’t understand something, and letting those around you know if you are going to be in at a different time than usual or out of the office on a specific day. Physically, this could mean having good posture and looking someone in the eyes when they are speaking to you. In a more manual labor based environment it could mean to let your team know if you moved equipment or to practice proper signaling protocols when on something like an assembly line. When it comes to emails or instant messages, be sure to be thorough with your questions and explanations and always double check for spelling and grammatical errors.

 

3. Work Ethic

To have good work ethic is to set your own standard of excellence. This is all-encompassing and goes for everything from how you dress to using your time wisely. It begins with being on time to your shift and ensuring that you are dressed appropriately. Depending on the position, this could mean being dressed crisp and professionally or wearing clothes that make it easy to maneuver heavy objects. It also goes for how you speak and interact with the people around you. Essentially, it means to maintain balance in every area. You can ensure you do these things by taking care of yourself. Eating proper nutrition, getting enough sleep, and giving yourself permission to recharge when you need to.

 

4. Problem-Solving Skills

There’s nothing that shows a manager more initiative than finding solutions to issues that arise before going to them about it. It’s important that you are able to make your own decisions as this shows a level of expertise in your area. Having the ability to handle issues in a positive manner will make you a valuable asset to any team as problems arise in every workplace across all industries. It will show that you are a leader despite what position you’re in and demonstrates a number of competencies including resilience, critical thinking, and resolve.

 

5. Teamwork

Not every position requires collaboration, but no matter what job you have, you will be working with others in some capacity. Whether that’s taking direction from a manager, having conference calls with other members of the company, or working on your part of a project before passing it on to someone else, everyone must have a common goal and the company’s best interest in mind. Like the quote goes, “one team, one dream”; hiring managers want to bring on people who are agreeable. List this as a skill on your résumé, and then give specific examples on your cover letter and in your interview.

 

6. Open-Mindedness

Especially when you’re new to a company, even in a similar position, there will be systems and procedures they do differently than your previous company. A willingness to try things, to see other people’s perspectives, and to be adaptable shows that you will be a pleasant person to work with. Considering that environments change and evolve on a regular basis, showing open-mindedness will give your employer the confidence that you will leave your comfort zone when the time calls for it.

 

7. Self-Management

In today’s workforce, culture and environment are everything. Despite how good the pay is or how well-known and prestigious the company is, people want to know that they are walking into a place they can feel comfortable. That means it is each person’s individual responsibility to have control over their thoughts, feelings, and actions. This contributes to the overall success of a workplace, because it results in a harmonious atmosphere and higher productivity levels. Each person will have their own style of self-management and personal responsibility; therefore it is important to know what works for you in a variety of situations that may arise.

Each of these traits is something that you will want to demonstrate from the beginning, starting with your cover letter and résumé, discussing it in your interview, and then demonstrating your abilities throughout your time at a company. Being able to make these qualities a part of your personal brand, is sure to lead you to success in your career.

If you are looking for a new job, be sure to check out our newest opportunities here.

How to Expand Your Professional Network

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Whether or not you’re currently in search of a new position or career, it is always a good idea to continuously be growing your network. You just never know when the time will come that you are in need of a change and if you keep your circle big, hopefully sometime down the line you are able to put someone else in contact with the right people as well.

When most people hear the term “networking”, they envision a cocktail party that comprises of hustlers handing out their business cards wondering who they can meet that will skyrocket them to the top. While that is definitely one of the better known ways to network, there are many other ways to meet and develop business and personal relationships with people both in-person and virtually.

Here are 5 ideas for expanding your network:

  1. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

This one sounds obvious, but the majority of people use social networking platforms solely as a way of staying in touch with long-distance family members or old friends from high school and college. If you use your social media as a way of growing your personal brand, it can be an incredibly useful tool. Get involved in industry related groups and forums, post or share links about industry related topics on your page, comment and engage on posts relevant to your field or interests. This will give you a ton of credibility and you’ll start to be seen as a go-to person for job/industry knowledge. Networking isn’t just about asking, it’s also about giving.

In the case that you are attending an event such as a convention or trade show, reach out to others who are attending and get to know some of them before the day of. If you prefer not to mix business with personal, you can always set up a separate account specifically for networking.

  1. MAKE A LIST

Even if you don’t have your own business, you should still have an email list. Begin with listing out everyone that you know professionally from college, internships, past jobs, past events, etc. Include their email and where they live. Then expand to friends of friends. Keep adding to your list every time you make a connection and be sure to keep in touch with each person from time to time. This can look like a phone call or text, an email, or a direct message on social media. Staying on people’s radar is key; don’t just create the list and then ditch it. Networking is equally about being seen and keeping people in mind.

  1. SPEND TIME IN THE RIGHT SOCIAL SPOTS

Ask yourself, “If I wanted to run into more people in my industry, where would they be spending time?” What coffee shop do they have regular meetings? What bar do they have company happy hours once per month? If there is a certain industry professional you want to meet who regularly hosts or attends specific events, make it a point to be there. And then, be sure you introduce yourself and engage in meaningful conversation. The point of attending these events is to get to know people and for them to get to know you. Be sure you make yourself known by being friendly and cordial, and having something valuable to bring to the table.

  1. PERFORM GOOD NETWORKING DEEDS

In the long term, people are going to remember the kind things you did for them. A few times per week or per month, choose a few people and do something to benefit their personal brand. Endorse them on LinkedIn, leave their company a good review on Yelp, connect two people you know, recommend them to the write people. There is an endless list of ways you can make a professional, kind gesture for someone. People will remember when you did this and will be glad to return the favor.

  1. Consider Volunteering

When you put yourself out there, you just never know who you’re going to meet. And, depending on what type of volunteering you are doing, you may even have a chance to show people some of your skills and work ethic. Opportunities often come from being in the right place at the right time, so the more you make an effort to be involved, the higher your chances are of finding something. People will also remember your assistance and will think of you when an opportunity becomes available.

Whoever you meet, be sure to add them to your contact list.

As you can see, there are many different paths you can take to growing your network. Remember, growing a network takes time, so be patient as you’re expanding.

If you are currently in search of a new job, be sure to check out our newest postings here.

How to Have a Successful In-Person Interview

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When looking for a new job, hearing back from a company that wants to interview you can be quite the confidence booster. Clearly you nailed your résumé and cover letter, now the final step is to make the best impression you possibly can on the hiring manager to show that you are the right candidate for the position. This can feel intimidating as it puts a lot of pressure on you to do well. Luckily, there are techniques you can put to use to make your interview as successful as possible.

Dress to Fit the Culture

You are probably used to hearing the phrase “dress to impress” when it comes to an interview. While that concept still rings true, it doesn’t have the same meaning it once did. A few decades ago, nearly all companies had a professional dress code as they wanted to be seen as polished and prestigious. In today’s world, many companies take pride in their more casual and laid back atmosphere. When you show up to an interview, it’s important that you demonstrate your understanding of their culture by showing up in attire that matches their company values. Gone are the days of showing up to every interview in a business suit. As you’re dressing to impress, keep the aesthetic of their brand in mind. If you’re not sure what to wear, business casual is always a safe bet.

Arrive Early

When I was in college, one of the best pieces of advice I ever got was, “the secret to not being late is to be early”. I’ll seriously never forget that. When leaving for an interview, it’s best to leave around 20 minutes earlier than you need to. This way, in the case you get stuck behind an accident, caught in unexpected traffic, or accidentally make a wrong turn, you will be able to make up for the lost time without becoming stressed out. The stress of possibly not being on time will only put you in a negative headspace which could affect your performance during the interview.

Being early also makes you look together and well-prepared. If you arrive early, you will be able to observe the office/site a bit and gage the dynamic among future colleagues. You will also likely get to meet more people and will have the time to fill out paperwork if need be, without cutting into actual interview time.

 

Be Cordial

This begins before you even arrive at the office. Be sure that you greet everyone; including the person at the door, people in the elevator, and the people you pass on the way to the interview room. You never know who you’re talking to or what connection the people you encounter have to the person interviewing you. The interactions you have prior to the interview can make or break the entire process. Remember, the interview starts before you even say anything.

 

Pay Attention to Your Body Language

Communication extends beyond just the things you say. Eye contact, posture, and the gestures you make will all make you appear both confident and refined. The interviewer wants to see someone with self-pride and eagerness for the position. That is why it is essential that you present yourself as credible without coming off as too uptight. When in the interview, be sure you are facing the person you are speaking with, are sitting tall, and that your facial expressions emanate that of someone who is engaged in the conversation. Also, don’t forget to have a firm handshake.

 

Come Prepared

There are many different components to this. Even though you know they already have your résumé, be sure to bring at least two extra copies in case they ask for another one to look over during the interview. Also, bring your portfolio of past work and a notebook to write down key information that they may tell you during the interview. This will make you stand out, as not many interviewees’ do this. Additionally, do your research on the company prior to the interview. Know who the executives are and what the company does outside of (what would be) your department. Keep in mind – there is no such thing is being over prepared, especially not for a position that you really want.

Ask Questions

If the person interviewing you says something that you don’t quite understand, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification or a little more detail. This shows that you are interested and will make the conversation more of a dialogue. At the end of the interview, when they ask if you have any questions; have at least a few questions you’re prepared to ask them. Ideally, these would be questions outside of when your start date would be or when you can expect to hear back from them. Ask a question about the company that isn’t stated on the website or something about the company culture. The company wants to hire someone who will be invested in them and their mission. Having questions at the end of the interview will indicate just that.

If you are currently in search of a new job, check out our opportunities here.

 

How to Stand Out in a Sea of Candidates

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When in pursuit of a new job, it can feel like a shot in the dark.  Although you know what credentials you bring to the table and all of the reasons you’re the most qualified candidate in a pool of dozens; you are likely wondering if it’s even possible to stand out as noteworthy among your competition. Despite commonly held belief, there are many tactics you can use to be noticed amidst a collective of other applicants. Here are some examples:

 

Tailor Your Résumé

When it comes to the hiring process, the company-candidate matchmaking begins with your résumé. While in search of a new job, especially if you are in urgent need of a steady income, you may be inclined to throw together an all-encompassing résumé and fire it off to as many organizations as possible. However, when hiring managers are reviewing applicants, they are looking for someone who will meet the requirements for their company, not just the industry in general. Taking the extra time to refine your résumé by putting the job title you are applying for in the “objective” section and listing out skills that are relevant to the specific position, confirm that you will perform well, since from the beginning you were willing to go the extra mile.

Additionally, don’t forget to include a cover letter. This illustrates that you are serious about the position and gives you even more of a chance to discuss your abilities and experience. Remember, the goal is to be a pink envelope in a stack of white envelopes.

Show Initiative

You never know how many other people are applying for the same position as you. If there are hundreds of applications, chances are, some of them are going to get discarded. Don’t let yours be one of them. A few days after submitting your application, reach out to the hiring manager and let them know that you applied. This will encourage them to review your résumé if they haven’t already or give it a second and longer look. If you reach out through a phone call, you may even get the opportunity to showcase your personality a bit.

Furthermore, companies want to recruit people who are eager to work for them. Getting in contact with the hiring manager will express your interest in this particular company, showing that they were not just a number on your list of “possible places to work”.

 

Present Your Work

Especially for positions that require tangible results, it is important that you have a portfolio of past projects and/or data that showcases your contributions to your previous company. People can go on and on about how great they are and how perfect of a fit they would be, but nothing exhibits your value better than proof. This can look like photos of a project you worked on, a link to a website you built, marketing collateral you designed, or a document of your sales numbers. When trying to outshine other candidates in the interview process, it’s important to show companies what you can do, not just tell them.

 

Research the Company

Something that not enough people do prior to going into an interview is educate themselves on the company they have applied to. Nothing will make a lasting impression better than knowing what year the company was founded, who the CEO is, or how many locations a business has. If you’ve done your due diligence, you will know all three of those answers going into an interview. Not only will this communicate your genuine interest in the company, it will make you look resourceful and well-prepared. Also, you never know when a hiring manager will put you on the spot and ask what you know about the organization. Don’t get caught at a loss for words. Instead, astound them with the amount of knowledge and awareness you do have surrounding the company.

 

Be Specific and Results Oriented

When responding to questions during an interview, do your best to give personal career examples as often as possible. This will show the person conducting the interview that you have a fundamental understanding of what is being asked and will convey an element of sincerity. Too often, candidates get caught up in trying to tell an interviewer what they want to hear, not realizing that they have likely heard the same response a million times before. By using thought out examples of what you have achieved or completed in the past, the hiring manager will have a better idea of your capabilities and what results you will be able to produce for the company.

Be Personable and Show Enthusiasm

It is no secret that no matter what position you are trying to acquire, you want to make a good impression on the person interviewing you. Because of this, it is all too common for candidates to be tense and act overly polished during an interview. Although it is important that you present yourself as serious about your career, in order to determine whether or not you are a good culture fit for the company, the hiring manager must be able to see your personality…and let’s be honest, no one wants to hire someone who is uptight. Be ready to make the conversation a dialogue, not just a question and answer session. People tend to hold back their passion and excitement about opportunities for fear of looking desperate or second-rate, but even with all of the necessary skills and experience, if you lack eagerness for a position, the company will gloss over you and onboard someone who is keen on the idea of working there.

If you are in the market for a new job, be sure to check out our list of opportunities here

10 Advantages of Temporary Employment

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With all of the insecurity over the past year, unemployment being at the top of the list for most people, it’s no surprise that many are reluctant to take temporary jobs since they don’t provide the sense of security and stability that so many people are craving post pandemic.

Also, the majority of people have a perception that temporary work only includes answering phones or warehouse work, not realizing that the temp industry staffs for nearly every profession out there, many of them requiring employees with specific skillsets and training.

Therefore, if you are willing to consider a temporary job, it can have many short-term as well as long-term benefits. Here is a list of some of them.

1. Build Your Résumé

Often times when companies are looking at your résumé, they are looking for a variety of experience. Taking a series of temporary jobs will show that you have an array of skills and have worked in multiple environments. This will make you look both qualified and adaptable which will increase the likelihood of you getting hired.

2. Experiment with Different Jobs and Industries  

Especially for people who have just graduated high school and aren’t sure what they would like to do yet, or people who are looking to pivot in their career and explore other industries- temporary jobs can be advantageous. This allows you to dabble in different things without the long-term commitment or concern of disappointing an employer; in the case that you decide a position is not a good fit. Temporary positions allow you to test out different environments and determine what type of schedule, work culture, management style, etc. that you’re looking for.

3. Faster Hiring Process

Typically when employers are looking for temporary help, it’s because they have an urgent need to fill a position. This often means that they don’t have time to go through handfuls of candidates and are therefore willing to be flexible with their requirements and reach out to schedule an interview right away. Also, when looking for temporary employees, most companies hire the help of a {staffing agency}, who will help you process paperwork, get you on the payroll, and send you to the jobsite in a timely manner.

4. Flexibility

Did you know that flexibility is the number one factor job seekers currently look for in a job? In the busy world we are all navigating, I’m sure you are no exception. Working a temporary position offers more flexibility because they are almost always hourly, which allows you to do your job and go home without having to think about work until your next shift. Also, with the urgent need to fill the position, many companies will be willing to accommodate scheduling requests if it means filling the role.

5. Fill Résumé Gaps

Having big gaps between employment can in some cases make you as a candidate look flighty and unmotivated. Taking temporary positions will give you something to list on your résumé while you continue to build your skillset and experience.

6. Higher Pay

While this may not be the case in every situation, because companies are looking to quickly hire, they will offer competitive wages with hopes of getting candidates through the door. Also, since they know the position is temporary, they understand the importance of ensuring that the job is worthwhile to the candidate.

7. Build Your Network

When you take temporary gigs, you will meet people at job sites that you otherwise would not have met. This can expand both your professional and personal networks. Maybe you will find someone who can offer you a full-time or longer term position. If you do your job well, you will definitely meet someone who is willing to give you a good reference. If nothing else, working closely with a variety of people while temping gives you the opportunity to make friends.

8. Keep Your Skills and Knowledge Current

In a market and workforce with many moving parts, things continue to change at a rapid rate. Continuing to work allows you to learn these things as they come up, which will leave you better equipped for the next long-term position that you take.

9. Increase Your Qualifications

Taking a temporary job, especially a position or in an industry that you have never worked in before will give you more experience to add to your résumé. It can also give you knowledge and perspective you didn’t have before by introducing you to sides of a business that you haven’t yet had a chance to explore.

10. Can Lead to Permanence

Taking a temporary position is a definite way to get your foot in the door in an industry that you want to be in. Often times it’s a combination of performing well and being in the right place at the right time to be offered full-time employment at the job site you are working at. There are many success stories of candidates, who started off temping and within just a few months’ time, were promoted to a long-term position.

If you are currently in search of a new job, be sure to check out our listings here.

Star Tribune’s 2020 Top Workplace in Minnesota

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Star Tribune Names Award Staffing as a 2020 Top 150 Workplace in Minnesota

Bloomington, MN June 28th, 2020— For the 5th year in a row Award Staffing has been named one of the Top 150 Workplaces in Minnesota by the Star Tribune. A complete list of those selected is available at StarTribune.com/topworkplaces2020 and will also be published in the Star Tribune Top Workplaces special section on Sunday, June 28.

Produced by the same team that compiles the 29-year-old Star Tribune 100 report of the best-performing public companies in Minnesota, Top Workplaces recognizes the most progressive companies in Minnesota based on employee opinions measuring engagement, organizational health and satisfaction. The analysis included responses from over 76,000 employees at Minnesota public, private and nonprofit organizations.

The rankings in the Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces are based on survey information collected by Energage, an independent company specializing in employee engagement and retention.

Award Staffing was ranked 32 of 70  on the small company list.    

Star Tribune Publisher Michael J. Klingensmith said, “The companies in the Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces deserve high praise for creating the very best work environments in the state of Minnesota. My congratulations to each of these exceptional companies.”

Why Award Staffing as a Top Workplace in Minnesota?

“Of all the national and local awards we receive, this one is the most important because the judges are our employees. We are honored to be included in the list of Top Workplaces.” – Tom Thissen, Owner, and CEO

We continue to hold firm to our signature approach to service – reinforce connections between the people and the places we serve. Our role is to fulfill gainful employment by serving both job seekers and businesses alike. These awards would not be possible without the efforts of our recruiters, our associates, our clients, and every candidate who has walked through our doors.

To qualify for the Star Tribune Top Workplaces, a company must have more than 50 employees in Minnesota. Over 3,000 companies were invited to participate. Rankings were composite scores calculated purely on the basis of employee responses.

Three TED Talks to Inspire Your Job Search

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Looking for a job is a trying time. Your patience and your resourcefulness can be tested, to say nothing of your perseverance and your morale. At times you’re going to need different ways to motivate yourself. Most people turn to their friends and family during those times but there are going to be instances where you need to find different ways to light a fire under yourself. TED Talks are a great way to get started on that process. The talks started in 2006 as a way of offering brief lectures on content of varying topics, given by experts and experienced practitioners within different fields. Here are some of our favorite TED Talks related to the job search process.

Jason Shen’s “Looking for a job? Highlight your ability, not your experience”

Many people in the job hunt are not just looking to find a new opportunity – they’re looking to find a different opportunity. This becomes especially relevant if you are interested in changing fields. If you’re transitioning from one industry to another then your actual experience might not be the most relevant part of your job seeker profile. Instead, you need to rebrand yourself and pitch yourself based off of your ability to perform work in the new field rather than your track record in the old field. Shen’s talk touches on all of these points while also noting how the job applicant evaluation process needs to change to incorporate this level of thinking about a person’s potential.

Scott Dinsmore’s “How to find work you love”

Scott Dinsmore’s talk is a humorous foray through his past experience, including some of the worst advice he’s ever gotten, as he discusses how to find a career that has meaning and potential for you. He emphasizes the fact that the vast majority of people don’t enjoy their work, and how you can set yourself apart from the pack. He is a big believer that personal relationships can influence what we do and the paths our careers take, so it’s crucial to be mindful of who you associate with. Dinsmore is a thoughtful and engaging speaker, and his talk can be a real boost.

Carol Fishman Cohen’s “How to get back to work after a career break”

We all know that life is not a straight path or a straight line. Your career can be disrupted or paused for any number of reasons – maybe you need to take care of an ill relative, or you need to go back to school for a while. No matter the reason, your career has hit a delay or a detour. This is completely fine, and Cohen is ready to talk “relaunchers” into how they can hit the ground running if and when they choose to enter the workforce again.

Working on finding a new job is really a job unto itself a lot of the time. The stress and strain are very real, so make sure that you’re taking the time to use resources like these videos if you ever feel the need to recharge your batteries as you hunt your next great opportunity.

Looking for the right position? Let Award Staffing help when you reach out to us today.

Taking Control of Your Relationship With Your Boss

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The field of management and authority is closely studied and monitored. There are reams of pages written every year by successful bosses hoping to pass their wisdom on to their fellow managers. Less attention is paid to the critical task of understanding how employees can improve relationships with their bosses, however. This is a mistake because bosses stand to learn just as much from employees as vice versa, and employees can go a long way towards furthering their careers by being proactive and taking control of relationships with their superiors in the workplace. You can really do yourself a favor by working at improving your relationship with your boss by following some simple guidelines and suggestions.

Keep the lines of communication open

An important thing to remember about interacting with your boss is that you want to keep the avenues of communication open at all times. In our digital world, this can be done over email, Slack, texting and other messaging mediums. However, nothing can replace face to face interaction, which we all benefit from. You can take your boss out to lunch or a cup of coffee on a regular basis and do your career a favor. Doing this is a great way to develop an interpersonal relationship that will keep things sailing smoothly at the office. Additionally, communicating on these terms is a way that you can get your goals and hopes across. Your boss will have a better idea of where your aspirations lie and can work with you accordingly from a position of understanding and support.

Anticipate and deliver

One thing that most bosses appreciate in employees is their ability to anticipate and deliver results. A lot goes into this ability, and the communication suggestion outlined above gives you a good starting point. If you’re talking with your boss more often then you’ll of course have a better idea of what they expect and need out of different workflows and projects. Once you’ve started to build this body of knowledge, you’ll be able to start anticipating their needs before they even know they have them. This is one of the ultimate ways to demonstrate value and also can give you a critical responsibility – making sure that your boss is never blindsided by a challenge or a problem. If you can provide that buffer, your skills will be all the more valued by your boss.

Remember, they’re human too

Your boss is a person just like anyone else, and they have the same wants and needs. Building and strengthening a relationship with them is typically a matter of engaging in good listening and communication, as it is in any relationship between two people on a personal or professional level. You can create a candid and trusting level of interaction with your supervisor in such a way that your work will be more meaningful and rewarded. They will have a better understanding of you as a worker, what you want out of your career and how you intend to move forward in life.

Looking for an opportunity to put these skills to use? Let the team at Award Staffing help you find a great position when you contact us today.

Did You Get The Job Or Not? What To Do

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It can happen to anyone in the midst of a job hunt—you put your best foot forward on your resume and your application with a company. You had a great phone interview, which led to at least one in-person interview. You knocked that interview out of the park and left the office with a great feeling about where things stood. So, the only thing missing is an offer of employment from the company for your next dream job. There’s one problem—the offer has not come in yet. It can be a frustrating time for anyone, but there’s a number of things that you want to keep in mind when waiting out this part. You know that an offer should be coming, but it’s delayed—there can be a number of reasons for this.

Remember that it’s probably not you

A lot of organizations have a number of tiers to them. These tiers all need to be kept in the loop when an offer to a potential employee is being considered. There can be dozens of reasons for this type of delay. A major company project might have run into challenges and the entire hiring team is focusing on getting that solved before working with you. The person you interviewed with might have taken another offer themselves in the interim. Maybe a dream internal candidate came along, or just an average one—most companies do their due diligence and make sure that they interview interested internal candidates. The point is, you need to keep in mind that these delays might have nothing to do with you whatsoever. Be patient!

Stay on top of the process

Even though a delay might have nothing to do with you, there’s nothing wrong with trying to stay on top of things and seeing what might be going on. You might even reconsider your willingness to take the offer—you should be doing some digging via research and mining your network to see if there might be something problematic about the company’s future. They might have financial issues down the road, or you might learn through your own conversations that this is a sign of things to come. Additionally, you want to ask some questions when you get a hold of the hiring manager. Ask whose decision it was to put the offer on hold, and ask what any timeline looks like for clarity on the situation. You’ll be glad that you got these answers.

An offer on hold can be a frustrating time for anyone. You want to keep perspective on the situation and use the time productively to look more into the company’s standing and situation. In many instances, it can actually be a blessing in disguise. If you decide you still want to pursue next steps, there is nothing wrong at all with getting more clarity on the situation when you speak with your contact and the hiring managers at the company in question. Information is key here, and you want to get as much as you can.

When you’re ready to find your next dream job, Award Staffing can help. Call us today to learn more about our placement services.

How To Maneuvering Job Searching Through COVID-19

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Right now times are very uncertain, very stressful and even a bit frightening. The COVID-19 outbreak has not only caused a health crisis but an economic crisis, as well. In a matter of days, millions of people found themselves suddenly out of work. Millions more are weeks or even days away from losing their jobs, and millions more still are left uncertain about whether their companies will last through this crisis.

While the numbers are bleak and you are probably anxious, there is good news. Companies all across the country are hiring right now and many companies still have long-term plans to hire throughout the year. That means that the best thing for you to do right now is to continue your job search, despite your anxiety. Follow these tips to keep your job search on track through COVID-19.

Remember, This is Temporary

While no one can say for sure how long all of this will last, the one thing they can say for certain is that this is all temporary. It will end one day and the economy will open back up. It will be the people who kept their nose to the grindstone and kept looking throughout the downtimes who will rise up the fastest and go the farthest when things get back to something resembling normalcy.

Search Every Day

If you have already lost your job or you are in danger of losing your job, make sure you are doing search-related activities for a few hours every single day. You don’t have to do them for eight hours a day which can be daunting, but you should do a few hours, at least. Then, spend time decompressing with your family, taking a walk outside and looking for silver linings where you can find them.

Be Smart, Be Safe

Many employers are making use of video chats for interviews, but some are still holding in-person interviews. If you do go to an employer, make sure to stay 3-6 feet away from other people, do not shake hands, try to avoid touching metal or glass surfaces, wash your hands and use hand sanitizer.

Be Reachable

Now is not the time to screen calls. If an employer can’t reach you, they will move on to someone else. Make sure to check your email multiple times a day and respond to any potential employer’s outreach in less than 24 hours. Keep your phone on you at all times and answer any calls from unknown numbers.

Be Reliable

Even being a few seconds late to a phone or video interview can cost you a job right now. Make sure that you have the date and time correct and test links to video chats at least an hour before the meeting so you can notify the employer if there is a problem. Finally, just as you would arrive early to an interview, sign in or dial in at least 10 minutes early – unless you are instructed otherwise.

Insist on Quiet

If you have a family sharing one space, it can be difficult to find quiet for an interview. Luckily, everyone is in the same boat and employers will certainly understand if a baby cries or a child comes bursting in the room during an interview, but try to find a quiet place to hold the interview so that you can concentrate and put your best foot forward. Send your family on a walk or bike ride, or if you can’t find quiet, sit in your car.

Use Your Downtime Wisely

If you have lost your job, it’s important to keep busy. Being in isolation in addition to being unemployed can be a recipe for depression. Just as you block off time every day to search for jobs, block off time to learn a new skill or hone an existing one. There are myriad free resources online and many formerly-paid programs are being offered for free to help people struggling with the economic impact of COVID-19. Learning something new will not only pass the time in a constructive way, but it will also help you enhance your resume.

Be Visible On Social Media

Social distancing is a great excuse to forego in-person networking for social networking. So get visible on LinkedIn by participating in groups and getting in touch with contacts you haven’t spoken with in a while. This is also a great time to make professional Facebook and Twitter profiles to share industry-related posts and information.

Work With A Staffing Firm

A job search can be incredibly overwhelming at any time, let alone in these uncertain and stressful times. Working with a staffing firm can help ease your stress while also increasing the chances of finding a good job. If you are looking for a job, please browse Award Staffing’s open jobs and apply online today or contact our team to learn more about the ways we can help you get working.