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Social Media Sites to Turn to During Your Job Search

Chances are you are an avid social media user. You know how to post cute pictures of you and your furry friend and your best vacation moments. However, chances are also good that you’ve never thought of using social media in your job search. Social media are a great tool for professional networking and landing your next job. Let’s take a look at the top social media sites to turn to during your job search.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is by far the most popular social media site for those looking for jobs and recruiters searching for candidates. Network with professionals from all over the world in your field. Optimize your profile to exhibit your skillset and let recruiters know you are in the market for a position. Become a valuable part of the LinkedIn community by posting your leadership pieces as well as sharing and commenting on posts made by others.

Facebook

Facebook works a little differently from LinkedIn. You can either search for open positions on Facebook Marketplace or join company groups and pages to network. It is very important to remember that when using Facebook to search for jobs, potential employers will have access to your personal profile page.

Twitter

Twitter is an underestimated, powerful job-search platform because of its ability to facilitate communication between parties. However, it does not offer the opportunity to highlight your skills as other platforms do. For this reason, it is most effective when linked with another profile, such as your LinkedIn account. The best way to use Twitter is to follow professionals in your industry and post valuable information on your feed. Comment on and share tweets made by your peers to create a following and build your network.

Plaxo

Plaxo is not as well known as the previous three social media platforms but has real value to your job search. You can create a profile with your credentials, contact information, and what you are looking for. One of the best features that users appreciate is the ability to keep up with your contacts through an address book.

Bonus Tips!

Now that you know which social media sites to turn to, here are a few bonus tips to help you get off to the best start!

  • Remove all inappropriate posts from your social media accounts.
  • Use your real name. Hotbabe45 is not an appropriate username for networking with potential employers.
  • Completely fill out your profiles. When employers see that you aren’t dedicated to filling out your profile, they will assume you won’t be committed to a job.

One Last Tip!

Staffing firms are a great way to find your next great job. The specialists at Resource Staffing, the one of the leading staffing firms in Texas, are experts at matching the right candidates with the right employers. Submit your resume today!

 

Don’t Hire the Wrong Person!

The hiring process takes a great deal of time and resources. You must create a job description, post the opening, sift through countless resumes, and conduct interviews. Hiring the wrong person is the last thing you want to happen. Not only will you have to start the whole process over again, but it might take you some time before you can get rid of the wrong hire. Wrong hires can look phenomenal on paper and seem like the perfect fit during an interview. How do you differentiate between an excellent hire and a candidate who comes across well but has undesirable traits for your company?

Actions Speak Louder than Words

You should expect every candidate to come into an interview and talk about how qualified they are for the position. However, beware of candidates who embellish their credentials. You don’t want to hire someone on the basis that they can perform certain skills, only to find out they do not have the skills. Ask about specific accomplishments or jobs they’ve completed in the past that prove they do have the skills needed.

Look Beyond Hard Skills

Hard Skills are important, but so are soft skills. Ask questions in the interview that allow you to see what kind of employee the candidate will be. Find out if the candidate:

  • Works well with a team
  • Respects authority
  • Has the ability to be a leader when necessary
  • Has a desire to learn
  • Possesses a positive attitude

A candidate can have all of the hard skills required, but a lack of the right soft skills often means he or she is not the right fit for the position. Avoid asking the most common questions such as “Do you have a good work ethic?” that will only lead to canned answers.

Check References

Follow up an interview by checking references. This may seem like a hassle, but references can tell you a lot about a candidate so long as you ask the right questions. Suggestions include:

  • Asking how the candidate problem solves
  • How do they contribute to the work culture?
  • Ask employers if they would hire the candidate again
  • Specifically, ask the best and worst traits of the candidate

It may take a little bit of digging to get a reference to open up about the candidate you are calling about. However, it is well worth the effort and can help you confirm whether or not he or she is right for the position.

Let One of the Leading Staffing Firms in Texas Take the Hassle out of Hiring

It takes a great deal of time and resources to find the perfect candidate. Staffing firms take the hassle out of hiring by narrowing down applicants and thoroughly vetting candidates before sending them to you for an interview. Let Resource Staffing find the perfect candidate for your personnel needs!

6 Job Search Mistakes You Don’t Even Realize You’re Making

Making a career change can be time-consuming and exhausting. Here’s a little secret. There are 6 job search mistakes most people make without even realizing it. Let’s take a look at these mistakes and how you can fix them!

Including Too Much Information in Your Application

Employers are not going to spend a great deal of time reading every single detail of your resume and cover letter. There’s no need to include irrelevant information such as hobbies, personal situations, or work history that doesn’t pertain to the position at hand. Keep all the information relevant.

Failing to Network

Networking is an essential part of finding a job. Often times, jobs are secured because you’ve built a network. Take the time to meet new professionals in your field. You never know when one of your contacts will reach out to you about an open position you might be interested in.

Blindly Submitting Resumes

Blindly sending out resumes to companies whether they have open positions or not is rarely successful. Resumes that aren’t for a specific job opening are seen as spam or garbage. Not to mention, many companies have filters that prevent unsolicited emails from reaching managers.

You Don’t Understand Your Market Value

You need to understand your market value and apply for jobs that fit your skillset. Let’s face it; if you’re at entry-level, it will be hard to land a position at the senior or executive level. Research your value to your career field and reasonable compensation before you begin your job search.

Unprofessional Online Presence

These days you can put money on the fact that hiring managers will check out your social media pages. They won’t be impressed to see photos of your wild week in Panama City or inappropriate posts. Keep your online presence professional and remove all posts that you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see.

Ignoring Staffing Firms

The traditional way of searching for jobs is to go-it-alone. However, what many people do not realize is how helpful staffing agencies are when looking for a job. Staffing firms have access to open positions from employers that are not advertised on public job forums. Specialists will help you find job openings that match your skillset, fine-tune your resume, and prepare you for interviews!

One of the Leading Staffing Firms in Texas

Here’s one last tip: When it comes time for a career change, let Resource Staffing take the hassle out of your job search!

4 People You’re Competing with in Job Interviews

Congratulations! You’ve made it over the first hurdle and are invited to come in for an interview with the hiring manager of your dream job! This is extremely exciting…that is until panic sets in. What kind of candidates will you be up against? How do you best prepare?

Let’s talk about the four types of candidates you will be competing with and how to surpass!

The Extreme Studier

This candidate has spent hours researching the company, job description, and preparing answers to every possible question under the sun. However, there is a couple of weaknesses with this type of candidate:

  • He or she may come across as robotic without personable skills
  • Will not be able to answer any questions for which answers were not previously prepared

You can compete against this type of candidate only by understanding your own skillset as it relates to the job instead of memorizing answers. By doing this, you will be able to answer questions more easily and sincerely. Think of past employment examples that demonstrate your qualifications.

Flying by the Seat of Their Pants Candidate

This type of candidate tends to be incredibly charming and is accustomed to being able to smooth talk anyone, including employers. This person typically doesn’t do any homework whatsoever and tends to fabricate answers. The key to beating this type of candidate is to do your homework. You don’t have to spend hours upon hours studying, but you should understand the company, its values, and the skill set the particular position you are interviewing for demands.

The Elite Candidate

This type of candidate attended elite schools and has worked for top-rated employers. He or she was born and bred for this job, and it shows on their resume. They have prestigious references and seem unbeatable! Don’t give up just yet! Just because a candidate looks great on paper, doesn’t mean that their personality will be a fit for the company. Show a strong work ethic and willingness to work your way to the top.

The Know-It-All Candidate

This is the candidate who knows the answer to absolutely everything or, so he or she thinks. Here’s the thing, employers aren’t looking for someone who knows it all. They are looking for a candidate who is willing to learn how their company conducts business. Employers would rather have candidates who are willing to learn than know-it-all candidates who have bad habits that will need to be revised.

Resource Staffing is Ready to Assist with your Resume Preparation

When it comes to helping candidates find jobs, Resource Staffing is one of the leading staffing firms in Texas. Our specialists are dedicated to helping you from start to finish. This includes helping you prepare for your big interview! Contact us today and walk into your next interview with confidence!

When you see a job listing for a Call Center Agent you’re probably thinking, “call centers are still up and running?”

Customers might prefer to pick up the phone and get immediate help rather than wait around for an email or live chat response. That’s why many companies still have a robust customer-facing team manning the phones.

In fact, research shows that Customer Service Representative jobs are set to grow by 36% from 2016 to 2026. Reps have the ability to onboard new customers and help retain them, so it’s a highly valuable position for any company. But, while it may be an important position for a business, you’re probably still wondering if it’s the right job for you.

We’ve all interacted with a call center at some point, but we often don’t know what Call Center Representatives’ daily responsibilities are. So, listed are a few Call Center Agent’s daily functions and responsibilities along with what you should consider if you think a role in phone-based customer service could be right for you.

Working in a Call Center

Call centers act as a fundamental component of customer service teams and often are the primary means of communication between a business and its customers. To work in a call center, you’ll need to be motivated by customer success, not your own agenda. Call Center Agents are tenacious problem-solvers who are committed to enhancing customers’ experience with a company or brand.

Their workday is typically fast-paced and requires them to manage a handful of different responsibilities. Often times, Agents need to be flexible with their shifts, workflow, and unexpected roadblocks.

A few basic duties might include assisting customers across service mediums such as inbound/outbound calls, email or chat lines. Agents communicate and provide solutions by providing the customer with a positive experience. Agents must be able to document, respond, and report any issues to the appropriate department, person or team member.

To accomplish these duties, the Agent must be able to problem-solve, enjoy a fast pace environment, be flexible, and be knowledgeable in conflict resolution while at the same time focused on the caller’s needs and concerns.   Strong typing skills of 45 words per minute or greater, ability to sit for an extended time, and professional telephone etiquette are some skills needed.

If you have previous call center experience, contact a Resource Staffing branch office. Let us use our resources to get to work for you.

4 Ways to Give Back to Your Employees

Showing appreciation for hard work is important for the morale of your staff. Giving back to your employees will increase retention rate and improve productivity and efficiency in the workplace. The method you choose to give back to your team ultimately depends on what motivates them. Get to know your team and the rewards they value the most.

Let’s take a look at four ways companies can reward employees.

1. Everybody Likes to Eat!

Show your appreciation for a job well done by feeding your employees. Here are some ideas on how you can show your appreciation with food:

    • Treat your employees to lunch.
    • Cater a breakfast for your employees.
    • Furnish a variety of snacks in the break room or place a snack item on their desk with a note of appreciation.

2. You Can’t Go Wrong With Gift Cards

A variety of gift cards are a nice way to say “thank you”.  You can offer:

    • Prepaid gift cards
    • Restaurant gift cards
    • Retail store gift cards

3.Offer Monetary Rewards

A monetary bonus is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and will make your employees feel valued and properly compensated. You can offer monthly, quarterly or annual bonuses based on meeting certain goals or as friendly, healthy competition among your team.

4. Verbally Praise Your Employees

Take the time to explain why your employees are doing a good job. In many cases, employees just want their hard work acknowledged and to know they are appreciated. You will be surprised simple “Thank you for all you do” means a lot to a hard-working employee.

Contact Resource Staffing to Find Your Next Great Team Member

The first step to having a great team is to hire top talent. Whether you are looking for a direct-hire, contract or contract-to-hire employee, Resource Staffing can find your next great team member. As one of the leading staffing firms in Texas, our experienced Recruiters will customize solutions to fit your personnel needs. Request an employee today!

When Will I Be Hired Permanently?

Contract assignments are accepted with the understanding they are just that, assignments. However, for some people, there is the hope the assignment will turn into something permanent. If you are seeking a permanent position, how do you go about it?

This is your guide to increasing your chances of turning your contract assignment into a permanent position.

Be Dependable 100% of the Time

It is better to be 15 minutes early than a minute late. Make sure you are always on time to work, willing to stay late when necessary, and turn in quality work on time. When there is extra work to be done, step up and volunteer. When hiring full-time positions, Supervisors want employees they can depend on.

Take the Job Seriously

Just because it is a contract assignment, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take it the assignment seriously. Always treat your job as the one you want, not just the one you have. Conduct yourself as if the assignment is a permanent position.

Soak up as Much as You Can

The importance of learning as much as you can about the company, your role, and the jobs around you cannot be overstated. By taking the time to understand the company, you show you are invested. When you take the initiative to go above and beyond to learn jobs outside of your role, you demonstrate ambition and motivation. These are all qualities employers seek in long-term employees.

Follow the Dress Code

This tip may seem unnecessary; however, the way you dress says a lot about you. By dressing according to company policy, you look like you belong in the company culture, making it easier for an employer to visualize you in a permanent position.

Connect With Your Co-Workers

Take the time to make connections and bond with permanent employees. This shows you are a team player and fit in well with the established team.  Often times employers ask employees their thoughts regarding contract workers. Creating bonds may help full-time employees put in a good word for you.

Let One of the Leading Staffing Firms in Texas Be in Your Corner

Resource Staffing is experienced in helping qualified candidates find contract positions that have the best chances of turning into a permanent position. Due to our extensive network and understanding of each company, our Recruiters can help you find the perfect position based on your skills and goals. Visit our website and browse our current job openings!

 

What are some dos and don’ts during my assignment?

  • While you are an employee of Resource Staffing, follow the guidelines in the Employee Handbook. You can access the handbook by logging accessing our website and clicking “Employee Portal”.
  • Follow the Webtime procedures in order to submit your weekly hours. ALL hours must be submitted no later than noon on Monday for the previous week.
  • Should you have questions, concerns, or disputes regarding your hourly pay rate, hours, job responsibilities, or other issues relating to your assignment, contact your Recruiter at Resource Staffing, not the customer.
  • Be professional at all times.
  • Be on time or early each day.
  • Limit cell phone use.  Appropriate times are break or lunch periods.
  • Dress appropriately each day of each assignment. Your Recruiter will talk with you about the workplace culture and dress code.
  • If you are not able to report to work for any reason, contact your branch immediately. If you are ever running 15 minutes late for your assignment, contact the branch office.
  • While on assignment, telephone, internet, and email systems are to be used only for conducting company business.
  • Do not be afraid to ask questions on the job about the tasks you are performing. If you are unsure of something, check with your onsite supervisor.
  • Do not approach the customer’s organization about full-time employment. If you have an interest in a position, talk with your Recruiter.
  • Call us if the customer offers you a full time/regular employment. Your Recruiter will handle the paperwork for you.
  • Call us if you are requested to stay longer than the original request.
  • Call us as soon as you are aware your assignment is ending.
  • Call us to report any changes of name, address, or telephone number.
  • Call us if you have a referral. We will be happy to give you information about our referral program.

How to Prepare for Your First Day as a Model Home Greeter

You applied and sent in your resume, you were interviewed by phone, attended a professional model home attendant training session, and are now preparing for your first day as an attendant in an actual model home. This is very exciting!  First days on a new assignment can seem intimidating until you settle into your general duties, understand the Sales Counselor and Resource Staffing’s expectations.  What can you do to make sure you are prepared for your first day as a model home attendant? Let’s take a look! 

Have your Information Ready 

Once you receive your confirmation sheet, be sure to contact your Sales Counselor and introduce yourself a few days before your assignment. Once you have arrived in the model, email all those copied on the confirmation that you have arrived.         

Arrive early to the model home 

Arriving to work on time is an expectation and should be the norm not the exception.  To ensure you are ready to open on time you should arrive 5-7 minutes early.  This will allow you time to turn off the alarm, turn on the lights, and notify every one of your arrival. Complete a “walk through” and make sure the model is in order for guests. Make sure there are brochures on hand for guests, prepare additional brochures if needed before potential buyers arrive.  Read and become familiar with information provided in the model, be aware of what is standard vs. upgrade, locate the inventory price sheet, and locate the section map. This will help make you feel more acquainted with the builder. 

Listen to model home guests and ask plenty of questions 

Always stand and greet guests that have entered the model.  Ask opened end questions and get a feel for what the guests are looking for in a new home. Request the guests complete a registration card and make detailed notes on the back as you learn your guest’s needs in a new home 

Go Easy on Yourself 

This is your first day in a model home. It is understood you will not be perfect, you will not know how to do everything or where everything is located nor able to answer all the guest’s questions. Guess what? That’s OK. You will settle in quicker if you cut yourself some slack, absorb as much as possible and learn from any mistakes you make.  

Smile.. ..Smile …Smile 

You made it and finished the day! 

Ready to Become a Model Home Greeter? Let Resource Staffing Help! 

Whether you are retired, looking for a part-time job or looking to make a little extra money on the side, becoming a model home attendant is a great opportunity for those who love meeting new people. Browse our website for available positions in your as a model home attendants! 

Here Are 5 Signs That Your Team is Burned Out

Even the best supervisors will eventually have a team burn out, despite your best efforts. When it does happen, it is time to reevaluate workflow processes. When team members who are typically at the top of their game begin to act otherwise, it might be time to take a closer look at why. Here are five tell-tale signs that your team is burned out.

1. A Decrease in Productivity and Effort

Team members are no longer ahead of schedule or may be even missing deadlines. The work they are completing isn’t of the caliber it used to be. It may be sloppy, boring or unpolished.

2. Unusual Amount of Complaints

Even the pettiest of complaints are typically a sign of a larger problem festering. This is especially true of team members who are normally very content. Team members who are getting bent out of shape about the smallest things is a sign that they are burned out.

3. Seeming Disengaged

These team members will not only seem disengaged from their work, but their co-workers as well. They may still complete quality work on time, but you can tell their heart just isn’t in it. If not addressed, disengagement may lead to a lower quality of work.

4. Taking More Time Off

Team members may be absent from work and taking unexpected time off. These team members may even show up to work late or begin leaving early. They are burned out and desperately trying to find a balance.

5. Showing Increased Sensitivity in the Workplace

Staff members who are burned out are especially sensitive to feedback regarding their work. Even the most constructive criticism can leave team members feeling inadequate and insecure about their work and value with the company.

What Can You Do as a Supervisor?

As a supervisor, you want what is best for your employees. When you sense your team is burned out, it is important to meet with team members individually and as a group. Discuss the reasons for feeling burned out and how certain processes can be changed in order to restore positive energy and morale.

When You Only Want the Best on Your Team

When it comes to making your next hire, you want top-notch talent that meshes well with your team. Resource Staffing, one of the leading staffing firms in Texas will help you find just that. Our staffing specialists are experts in finding the best talent to match your company’s needs and goals. Partner with Resource Staffing and let us put our resources to work to find your next team member!