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Motivating Your Temporary Employees

Making sure your temp employees are happy and feel valued is essential to ensuring that they will work hard for you. PS&R has gathered some ideas to help you incent and excite temporary employees in your workplace.

Treat your temps like part of the team. There is already a disparity between how temporary and permanent employees are paid, given bonuses, and given benefits. There can be a psychological difference between the two groups as well. Try to nullify any preexisting hard feelings by treating and rewarding all employees as a team. Be sure to project that each individual has contributed their part to the successful accomplishments of the group.

Choose the right incentives. If you know this assignment does not have the opportunity to become permanent, create incentives that workers can earn in a short period of time. You could also make the incentives something that will give the employee a sense of pride in the company; such as an employee discount or exclusive products or promotional items.

Consider taking them perm. If there is an opportunity for the temporary position to become permanent, let the employee know right away. This is the easiest way to incentivize someone to work harder and smarter, and to take an active interest in the success of the company.

PS&R has over thirty years of experience helping job seekers and employers in the Boston area. We enjoy taking the time to get to know our clients and our candidates, enabling us to consistently make the right match. If you are looking for a staffing and recruiting agency in Massachusetts, PS&R would be happy to assist you with your needs!

 

Making the Most of your Temporary Assignment

In our last blog post, we talked about one of our temporary employees who turned her assignment into the perfect permanent position. If you are currently in a temporary role that you’d like to make long term, here are some tips for putting your best foot forward:

Stay positive. A lot of people in your shoes will feed into the negative stigma of being a “temp”. But think about it this way; your current situation is basically paid training. You’re learning new skills, networking with potential employers, and building your resume. Keep that in mind and stay positive about your work. This will definitely help you stand out from the crowd.

Get noticed. Having a good attitude will help you stand out, but there are more ways to make an impression. In order to get offered that full-time, permanent position you will need to be recommended by your manager or supervisor. Take the time to build a good rapport with him or her. If that person is expecting your tenure to be temporary, they might not take the initiative to get to know you, so it’s really up to you to make that connection. You should also get acquainted with your co-workers and gain an understanding of what they do. They might even have pointers and suggestions that could help you succeed.

Really show up. The best way to make your temporary position a permanent one?  Treat it as if it already is. Arrive early, be the one willing to lend a hand when needed, and be open to learning new things. Going the extra mile will show your manager that you are serious about the job.

Contact PS&R to learn about our temporary and permanent job openings. Or visit our job listings at www.psandr.com/job-listings.

Managing Millennials Successfully

According to the Pew Research Center, 35% of the American work force consists of Millennials, making them the largest working generation. Given the sheer size of this group, why are so many companies having difficulty retaining talented employees under the age of forty?

Millennials bring unique qualities and skills to the workplace. They also have different expectations of how they are managed. PS&R offers some insight on how managers can approach this generation in the workplace:

Challenge them, but also have fun. Not only are Millennials incredibly well educated, but they also grew up during a time of rapid technological change. As a result, these younger workers want to be lifelong learners. They expect a challenge, so they are happiest when managers provide consistent opportunities for their development. You can show top talent in this generation that you care about their future career by putting learning and growth opportunities at the forefront of your workplace culture. Millennials also believe in work-life balance. You probably know of companies that have created common gathering spaces and weekly social events. This is likely an effort to accommodate the need of Millennials to integrate work with play.

Let them make a difference by working for you. Millennials grew up believing they were capable of changing the world. They were encouraged to be highly educated and to get involved with global events and social issues. This generation will relate better to an organization that has a broader connection to the outside world. As an employer, you can connect to Millennials by putting the mission and values of the company first. Make sure the culture involves giving back to the community in some way.

Show them their value. The recession in 2009 was difficult for all, but Millennials were especially hard hit. Many lost their jobs or their starter savings. Because of this, this generation is looking for reliable benefits that include a solid retirement plan and a wage that matches their cost of living. Showing loyalty to Millennials through compensation packages will make them work harder for you.

Turn to an experienced recruiting firm for help finding, hiring, and retaining top talent in the Millennial generation. Contact PS&R today at 617.723.1919.

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4 Tips for Increasing Happiness and Motivation in the New Year

The New Year is often a time for self-reflection and goal setting. But reaching goals is difficult if you are not feeling the motivation to make strides. Here are a few tips for staying motivated, balanced, and happy with both work and your personal life in 2019:

1. Become a list maker.

There is nothing more satisfying than crossing off “to-do’s”. Whether you keep yours electronically or the old-fashioned way; start each day off with a fresh list. The easier and quickest to accomplish tasks should be at the top. Work your way down to the harder and more labor-intensive assignments. Keep in mind that you should not be trying to solve the worlds’ problems on a daily basis – your list should be manageable and 100% doable. After all, the idea is to get every item crossed off by the end of the day, so you feel a sense of accomplishment and motivation for tomorrow!

2. Review and revamp your online presence.

It’s time to update! Get rid of that profile picture from 2015 with a fresh and recent photo. Add new skills and interests to your LinkedIn page. While you’re at it, why not update your resume to reflect your most recent accomplishments in your current job? You never know when an opportunity might arise, so even those who are not on the job hunt should be prepared.

3. Declutter.

Your desk, your email inbox, a junk drawer in your kitchen… these are all places where things tend to pile up. Facing this mess every day can bring you down and be demotivating without you even realizing it. Dedicate twenty minutes to organize each space in your life where things have become unruly. Take the time to shred old documents, erase and unsubscribe from unwanted emails, and throw away those broken pencils and expired CVS coupons. You’d be surprised how much better you feel seeing these places clean and organized.

4. Take some time for yourself.

Looking forward to a planned trip can be very motivating. Francine Lederer, a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles told ABC News, “Most people have better life perspective and are more motivated to achieve their goals after a vacation, even if it is a 24-hour time-out.” Don’t put off planning the vacation time you have earned. Get something on the books now for 2019. If finances and vacation timing are making it difficult to plan your dream trip; consider taking a long weekend doing something you love. It could be camping, painting, cooking, or spending the day reading a book at your favorite local beach. Dedicating time away from work doing something that makes you happy will greatly improve your mood and motivation.

PS&R wishes you all the best for happiness and success in 2019! If your New Year’s goals include finding a new job, contact us at 617.723.1919.

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Boston Tops List for Job Searchers

Here is some great news for job searchers in and around the Boston area:

According to www.StaffingIndustry.com; “Boston is the best city to find a job both in the United States and internationally, according to research released by relocation services provider Movinga. The data examined economic strength and standard of living, as well as opportunities for women, young people and expats, in 100 cities. Twenty American cities make the international ranking, due to a strong job market and a booming economy.”

New York and San Diego also scored well, but Boston was the only US city that made the top 10 of the list.

The holiday season is upon is, but that doesn’t mean your job search should stall.  This is a great time of year for networking, so get out there and mingle!  A new year also means a new budget, so companies might be doing more hiring in January.

Give your career search a jump start and contact PS&R at 617.723.1919. Or visit our Job Listings page to find a job that’s right for you!

 

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Is Your Recruiter Experienced Enough to Trust?

Our clients believe that three major themes set Preferred Staffing & Recruiting apart from other recruitment agencies: Trust, Experience and Action.

Trust

Kathy Orcutt, founder and president of PS&R, is hands on with each and every client and candidate.  Her professionalism coupled with her phenomenal listening skills put people at ease, confident in the knowledge that she is truly working for them.  As the operator of a small business herself, she works hard to find small businesses and non-profits to work with. Kathy quickly connected with another local woman business owner in need of a temporary office manager. This business owner said; “This was the first time my company has used a temp agency, and we hit the jackpot when we found PS&R. They are so professional and Kathy Orcutt, the owner, treated us like we were her only clients!”  There’s no need to deal with a large recruitment firm when you can have a reliable and personalized experience with PS&R!

Experience

PS&R was originally established in 1984. Now, with over thirty years of experience, we continue to provide top quality staffing services to companies and institutions in the Greater Boston area and beyond.  Kathy’s team has placed temporary and direct hire candidates across all industries. We work with one particular client to seasonally staff dozens of temporary positions, and here is their enthusiastic response: “Preferred Staffing and Recruiting provides me with both quality and quantity candidates. They know the level of candidate talent that I require and personally meet with each and every one before submitting for my approval.”  Our ability to produce multiple qualified candidates for every client comes from years of industry knowledge.

Action

It’s one thing to say you can place the right candidate but executing it is a whole different story! Our PS&R team succeeds because we treat every job opening as a new challenge, and we work tirelessly until the perfect match is found.  We get back to our clients and candidates promptly with communication, so you know we are always at work helping you in your employment search. The COO of one of our clients says,“Kathy’s ability to find great people and deftly bring them through the entire hiring process has made our company much better and I look forward to working with PS&R again in the future!”

Come and learn why Preferred Staffing & Recruiting’s collaborative and consultative approach makes us the best staffing agency in the greater Boston area and the perfect fit for you.  Visit us at www.psandr.com or call Kathy today at 617.723.1919.

 

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How to Hire the Right Candidate, Right Away

You need to make a new hire – and fast.  It’s easy to rush through the decision-making process when you’re under pressure.  But sometimes the candidate that appeared to fit the culture of your company at first glance, doesn’t actually have the work ethic you expected.  Or it could turn out that the candidate who was polished and well-spoken in an initial interview presents completely differently on their first day of work. Avoiding a rash decision and hiring the right candidate the first time around will save you time, energy, and money.  PS&R offers some insight into ways you can find the perfect fit for your job opening.

Ask for several references.  Connecting with potential employee references can be difficult and time consuming.  But don’t settle on just one positive reference.  It’s important to get feedback from both a supervisor and a colleague.  One can tell you how the candidate performed, while the other can give insight into how the candidate interacted with peers. Also consider speaking to references from several different companies. This will help you get a more well-rounded picture of the applicant.

Know the requirements of the role.  It’s easy to hire someone who is generally good at a lot of things. But if the work at hand requires a specific skill, make that clear to applicants.  Keep a check list of skills and experiences someone would need to be successful in this job and use it during your interviews.  You might really like one candidate, but if they fail to check off on a majority of your list, it’s probably time to move on. 

Set a process and stick with it.  Will the position be posted internally first?  How many candidates will you see before narrowing down for second interviews? If you don’t find any qualified candidates the first time around, how long are you willing to extend the search?  Without a clear idea of the process, it’s easy to make a “gut decision” and hire quickly without following through with other candidates.  Make an outline of the steps you need to take to fill the position and confirm that everyone involved in the hiring process is onboard.  This will lead to a more deliberate and thoughtful hire.

Partnering with a seasoned recruitment specialist like Preferred Staffing & Recruiting takes the burden of this process off of your plate.  We’ll make sure you find the best fit the first time around!

 

 

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Ask Kathy – Tips for Your First Interview

Kathy Orcutt is the founder and president of Preferred Staffing & Recruiting. She has twenty years of experience in the recruiting industry in the great Boston area. As a woman-owned and DBE business, Kathy and her PS&R team provide permanent and temporary workforce solutions for a broad range of businesses.

We asked Kathy what advice she would give a candidate who is trying to make the best possible impression at a job interview. Here are her thoughts:

Dress professionally and be punctual. 

Even if the company comes across as casual, you will make a better impression if you are overdressed rather than underdressed.  Also, make sure you are on-time for your scheduled interview.  It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised by how often candidates arrive late without any communication.

Be a good listener and ask thoughtful questions.

Your interview is an opportunity for the hiring manager to learn about you, but you don’t want to drone on endlessly about your background and skills.  Make sure not to talk over the interviewer and give them a chance to ask follow-up questions. When it’s your turn to ask questions, go beyond the basics.  Inquire about the culture of the company and how the position fits and interacts with the broader organization.  These types of questions show that you are interested in learning more about their business and the opportunity at hand.

Watch your body language.

Again, it might seem like a no brainer, but often when we’re nervous we lose sight of our body language.  Make sure to smile and make eye contact.  Try not to slouch or fidget while answering questions.  As they say, you never get a second chance to make a first impression!

 

 

Understanding the New Massachusetts Equal Pay Law

Our home state of Massachusetts is on the forefront of the movement for equal pay and rights for employees.  Last month the equal pay law was updated to provide clarity on what constitutes unlawful wage discrimination. A key piece of the July 1st update made it unlawful for employers to ask candidates for salary history information.  Massachusetts is one of only a handful of states that have adopted this kind of law.

To help you understand this new law, PS&R has gathered some questions that employers are able to ask, and some you need to avoid.

Employers CANNOT ask:

  • What is your current salary?
  • How much did you make in your last job?
  • How much of your compensation is base salary versus commission?
  • Why do you think this salary is appropriate for you?

Employers CAN ask:

  • What is your salary requirement or expectation?
  • What value would you bring to this job?
  • Did you meet your sales goals in your last position? (but don’t ask about earnings through sales)
  • Is there a type of pay structure you would be most comfortable with?

Remember that job candidates can volunteer pay history information on their own, it just can’t be actively solicited by a recruiter or human resources manager. Don’t forget to eliminate pay history questions from paper or online documents, such as employment applications.

Working with a Massachusetts recruiter like PS&R is an easy way to navigate this new law effectively.