Seasonal

Can Being Grateful Make You Healthier?

Tiffany Moore

VP, Client Partnerships

April 21, 2020

It has been said that being grateful can make you happier. According to an article published by Harvard Medical School, giving thanks, or being grateful, does, in fact, make you happier. The article claims the reason for this is being grateful helps a person connect to something greater than themselves, which, in turn, provides a sense of comfort that goodness can be found out in the world. Being grateful is often associated with being happier, but can being grateful make you healthier?

Consider this – people who are healthier, often get more sleep and being grateful can help you sleep longer. While you sleep, your blood pressure goes down, which helps to give your heart a rest after a long day. Having high blood pressure can lead to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, so reducing your blood pressure daily has concrete health benefits. A recent study found that people who kept a gratitude journal slept for an average of a half an hour more each night and woke up feeling more refreshed than the group who didn’t keep a gratitude journal. Thirty minutes doesn’t sound like a lot, but 30 minutes a night for a month would result in an extra 15 hours of sleep a month!

Being grateful can also lead to fewer aches and pains. Grateful people also are more likely to exercise, which improves your life expectancy according to Psychology Today. The Mayo Clinic claims that having a daily practice of gratitude can boost your immune system, which is much needed during the winter cold and flu season.

How can you adopt an attitude of gratitude and become healthier at the same time? Here’s some simple ways to start:

Start a gratitude journal and write down your thoughts daily.
Put items you are thankful for in a jar.
Write a thank you note to someone.
Meditate on gratitude.
Check out these other options.

Staffing

Don’t Get Spooked…The Why Behind Ghosting

Mary Springer

Partner

October 10, 2019

It is said that time heals all wounds but ghosting still hurts no matter how long it has been. Ghosting is not a new phenomenon, it has been around for decades and still leaves a sting. Why does ghosting hurt so much? Psychology Today points out that being rejected stimulates the same receptors as physical pain. Being “stood up” or ghosted makes a person question not only the other person, but also themselves.

So…why do people ghost and simply not show up without an explanation? It is a technique to avoid confrontation or seemly uncomfortable situations. In addition, when people ghost they are thinking more about themselves and their situation than the other person. This often happens when a person is job searching, especially in a tight job market with a qualified candidate.

Electronic forms of communication such as email, texting and even social media, has made ghosting even easier. It is possible that a candidate’s interaction with a company has only been through email, which makes it easier for the person to ghost. One of the ways that TGHR can help is through our time-tested candidate screening process. We meet in person with all the candidates that we present to you, which helps create that personal connection.

Do things still come up? Of course, but you do not need to be spooked – it is our problem, not yours. We shoulder the responsibility so you can save your scares for Halloween. We will not ghost you – 20 years of staffing Indianapolis proves it!

Tips

Five Steps Toward Leadership You Can Take Today

Greta Cline

Partner, CFO/COO

July 11, 2019

Every day, 10,000 Baby Boomers reach the retirement age of 65 – that’s seven Boomers per minute. Therefore, it won’t be long before millennial employees will take the helm in the workplace. In fact, two-thirds of millennials intend to hold a leadership position within the next decade. No matter what generation you fall in, is it time for you to step up? Here are five actions you can take today to grow your leadership skills.

Create goals.

Start by taking some time to think about the type of leader you want to be. What does the role look like and how do you become that person? Knowing where you’re going is half the battle. Write down a few simple, measurable goals that will lead you in the right direction and begin working on them one at a time.

Grow your vision.

Leadership is a weighty responsibility. When others depend on you to set the tone, you need to provide direction. Once you have worked on developing a long-term idea of where you’re going – share it! Your vision casting plays an important role in employee satisfaction and creativity. As an added bonus, sharing your vision helps keep you accountable.

Be bold.

Being a leader often means blazing new trails. At times it can be challenging to change established patterns and adjust company culture, but you need to be willing to take risks and stay the course. A decisive and confident leader propels a company forward and gives employees something to get behind.

Never stop learning.

No matter how informed you are, there is always more you can learn. Ask questions and listen to your employees, clients, and peers. Travel and pay attention to the cultures you experience. Create a space where people feel comfortable talking about ideas, challenges, and shortfalls. Creating an environment where knowledge can be shared starts with you. Keep in mind – everyone you meet knows something you don’t!

Harness the power of networking.

Take advantage of every opportunity to connect with others in and out of your field. Networking is a great way to make your company known in the community and form a trusted circle of colleagues where you can go to for advice. And you may even meet a mentor, form partnerships, and come up with new business concepts along the way.

As the face of leadership changes, it’s important to know your leadership style. Figure out what makes you a great leader so you can play to your strengths when the time comes. Now, get organized and get going!

Job Advice

Four Simple Steps to Prepare for a Second Interview

April 11, 2019

You have gone to a job interview and left with the sense that the interview went well. Then your recruiter calls and says the company would like to talk to you again. Your first thought may be “why?”, but this is often a necessary step in today’s tight job market. How do you prepare? Here’s four simple steps to ensure you rock the second interview, just like you did the first time.

Dress the same. Whatever professional outfit you wore for the first interview, match that level of professionalism in your follow-up interview. Don’t assume that you should be more casual when meeting with the company for the second time.
Prepare questions. It is possible that you will be meeting with different people than you did the first time you interviewed at the client company – your recruiter can let you know. If this is the case, you can use some of the questions that were asked in the first interview. However, make sure you have at least three new questions to ask of your interviewer.
Be prepared. Whenever you are headed to an interview, you should be prepared. Your recruiter at That’s Good HR will help you with this step. For a second interview, review your answers from the first round interview, because it is possible that you might be asked the very same question. Check out these answers to the 31 most common interview questions.
Write a thank you note. It’s always a good idea to follow-up with a thank you note. Write one to each person you interviewed with. If you do not know what to say, not a problem – we’ve got you covered. An example can be found on our online resources page.

If a company is interested in talking to you for a second time, take it as a compliment. It means they liked you and want to get to know you more before moving forward. Once your second interview is complete, let your recruiter know and hopefully they will have good news for you shortly. Best of luck the second time around!

Seasonal

Our Intent

January 10, 2019

Annually as the new year approaches, many folks take time set their intentions for the next year. Making a new year’s resolution is common place on January 1, but 80 percent of resolutions fail by February. One thing you can do to help your resolution – or resolutions – stick is to share them with others who can help keep you accountable.

To prepare for the new year, the TGHR team engaged in a fun, crafty activity one day during a staff lunch. Using a kit bought online, each TGHR staff member came up with a word that sums up what they want out of the new year. We took the words and hammered them on to bracelets that can be worn as a reminder of our intention. It was great to share these words and the meaning behind them with the co-workers we see daily. We also documented our intentions on our office white board (well in our case our board is, of course, orange – our signature color), so we can help keep each other accountable.

What’s your word for 2019? Here are ours:
Mary – Breathe & Patience
Tiffany – Let Go
Amber – Grace & Serve
Lindsey – Cici & Sully
Kate – Be Present
Lana – Trust
Ashley – Thrive
Madison – Be Bold
Staci – Breathe
Greta – Patience
Kirstia – Strength
Susie – Grace
Meaghan – Faith over Fear
Emma – Rooted

We’re excited to get the new year underway. If getting a new job is one of your 2019 resolutions, give us a call – we’re ready to help you achieve that goal!

Seasonal

Attitude of Gratitude

November 7, 2018

November is upon us, which means Thanksgiving is right around the corner. A customary practice around the turkey table is to say what you are thankful for, but what happens if this was extended to a year-round practice? Practicing gratitude can make you a happier person this month and beyond.

Fifty-two percent of women and 44 percent of men express gratitude on a regular basis according to an infographic on The Muse. People who are grateful tend to be more satisfied and have more self-control – which could be key as holiday treats start to roll into the office this time of year.

Speaking of the office, according to a study done by Harvard Medical School, managers who remember to say “thanks” may find that employees feel motivated to work harder. It has also been shown that gratitude is more motivating than money. Gratitude is contagious, so practicing gratitude at work will help create a corporate culture of thanks.

Thanks can be given in a multitude of ways. You can stop by a coworker’s desk and say thanks for help on a project or send a friendly email. If you want to go old school, drop a handwritten note on someone’s desk.

To become more grateful yourself, keep a gratitude journal starting now. Write down three things every night that you were thankful for during the day. The key to this practice is two things: be specific and keep writing for more than 5 days. When journaling, do not just say “I’m thankful for my family or my job”, get down to the nitty-gritty and cite specific people or things that you appreciated that day.

If writing is not your thing, try a gratitude meditation. Never meditated before? Not to worry, take 10 minutes and try this guided gratitude meditation. It will lead you through every step of the way.

Need more ideas on how you can become more grateful at work or home? Here’s 10 ways to become more grateful. We are grateful for our clients and candidates not just this season but all year long!

Job Advice

Spooky Staffing Stories

Tiffany Moore

VP, Client Partnerships

October 31, 2018

Job searching can be scary! Don’t let working with a staffing agency spook you – our recruiters find quality candidates for our clients every day. But there are a few things to steer clear of, just like you’d avoid that creepy clown in the haunted house.

Don’t ghost! Research shows that people are “ghosting” more than ever due to the tight labor market. Not showing up for an interview or work is one of the worst things you can do. This action can damage your reputation and have repercussions longer than just that one day. Make sure to stay in contact with your recruiter who will help you avoid this ghastly mistake.
Don’t fear a temporary assignment. You may be coming from full-time employment and taking a new assignment that is labeled as “temporary” might sound frightful. Have no fear – many of our temporary assignments turn into a temp-to-hire situation. Plus, a temporary assignment might be just what you need to make sure the company and culture is the right fit for you and you do not dread going to work.
Don’t create an eerie silence. Once you have met with one of our staffing specialists, make sure you are available via phone and email. New opportunities come in daily from clients and in such a hair-raising labor market, time is of the essence.

See what positions are available here and dust the cobwebs off your resume and apply today!

Tips

Not a Morning Person? Here’s How to Become One in 5 Easy Steps

Ashley Paramoure

October 24, 2018

When you wake up, what are the consistent things you do every morning before work? Wake up, take a shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush your teeth and other simple tasks, right? Adding a less than 15-minute routine, can help you be more productive during the day and give you an added boost to make you into a morning person in no time. Here are five suggestions for you to create your new morning routine from:

Breathe. Start simple by adding a breathing technique. Inhale while counting to four then exhale while counting to three. This will help you feel energized and is also a good trick to use if you feel stressed later in the day. You can also up your game with this 1-minute breathing routine once you get the hang of it.
Drink Water. Continuing with the “start simple” trend, here’s another easy idea to begin with. Drink a glass of cold water first thing in the morning. It will help wake you up and hydrate your body for the day ahead.
Get Moving! Starting your day with a quick round of exercises can lead to increased productivity later in the day. Just 2 minutes of simple push-ups, sit-ups or a wall sit can do the trick. Research has shown that substituting exercise for caffeine makes a significant daily difference. Try it!
Practice Gratitude. A daily practice of gratitude, whether you do it in the morning or before bed, has been known to improve your physical and mental health. Just writing down three to five things you are thankful for does the trick. Jot them down in a notebook or on the notes app on your phone – establish whatever method works best for you.
Generate Ideas. Author James Altucher (he’s written 18 successful books) claims that if you generate 10 ideas a day for six months, you will be able to offer ideas on any subject at any time. The ideas can be for anything – ideas for work, ideas for businesses, ideas for your family, ideas for things to do – the sky is the limit! Ten ideas may seem like a lot at first, but you’ll be humming along in no time.

So, what will you start doing tomorrow?

Customer Experiences

Candidate Profile: Liz Noel

October 8, 2018

When the company Liz Noel worked for ceased operations back in 2013, she was immediately thrust into the job market seeking new employment. Her previous experience included a multitude of administrative and office management skills and her positions had all been in the marketing arena including a production house and advertising agency. Thinking a staffing agency may be beneficial to her search, Liz checked out online reviews of multiple agencies. She liked what others had to say about That’s Good HR and decided to throw her hat into the ring by sending her resume to the office.

Her resume was received and reviewed by Lindsey Curtis, who Liz now refers to as her “go-to-gal”. Liz’s first assignment was in a new industry for her – an engineering firm. Liz describes herself as a “lifelong learner” so she was excited and energized about the new industry.

After completing her temporary assignment downtown covering part of a maternity leave, Liz had the opportunity to move to the north side and take on a long-term assignment. As she is a naturally curious person who enjoys talking with others, she decided to take the time and get to know several people in various departments at her new company, realizing everyone had something different to teach her. In addition, even though she was a temporary employee she was given the opportunity to participate in many company-provided training sessions, and she took advantage of these classes to increase her knowledge and advance her career skills.

Temporary assignments were appealing to Liz as it gave her a chance to learn so much every day, meet new people and be introduced to so many interesting industries. She now works at a local startup company, where she began as a temporary employee. At the beginning of the assignment, not only was she a temporary employee, but the person she reported to daily happened to also be a temporary employee. As the company grew, she has had the rare opportunity to work on multiple sides of the business, ranging from finance to marketing to technical support, before landing her current permanent role.

Liz loves meeting new people and clearly does not mind a challenge. Working with That’s Good HR has surpassed her expectations and she’s thrilled that she had Lindsey to shepherd her through every step of her journey. Liz thinks working on contract is a two-way street and the perfect way to ensure that you are good fit at the company, and that the company is a good fit for you too.

Her advice for new temporary employees is to keep an open mind, as you never know where a temporary assignment might lead. Liz is living proof of that!

Customer Experiences

Candidate Spotlight: Shatalya Fields

July 26, 2018

When Shatalya Fields and her entire department got laid off, she did not know where her next job would be. She had served in the Air Force for five years and after leaving the military she had worked in several positions – from leasing agent to cashier – but was eager to start a career. She had dabbled in healthcare, accounting and insurance positions and thought that one of those avenues would be the best fit for her talents.

While job searching she talked with one of her former coworkers, who also had been laid off. Her friend suggested she call That’s Good HR. Shatalya reached out and was introduced to one of our staffing specialists, Kate Stephens. Kate immediately recognized Shatalya’s skills and great attitude and sent her resume to one of That’s Good HR’s clients.

Shatalya was hired for a cash applications position and after her temporary assignment ended, she was hired on full time. She continued in that position for a bit and then started to look for a different position in order to grow in her career. Seeing a position that peaked her interest with another staffing agency, Shatalya applied. She got the job but after working at the company she did not feel it was a good fit for her – the energy was all wrong. Realizing her error, she quickly contacted Kate again to see what jobs were currently available with That’s Good HR.

Kate placed her at a client around the corner from the That’s Good HR office in an accounting role. Shatalya now plays a key role handling ACH payments, making adjustments, and balancing the general ledger for a major Indianapolis company. She has an amazing, supportive boss who supports Shatalya’s career goals. She is on a management track now and in two to three years is poised to take over her department.

As an employee on track for management, Shatalya is now sitting in on interviews for new employees. Her best advice for interviewees? Ask questions at the end of the interview. She recommends asking at least two questions (make sure to prepare ahead of time). Asking questions shows the hiring manager how interested you are in the job. She also recommends being truthful and open in your interview. Being honest about her past experience of being laid off is one of the many reasons she has the job she does today. Shatalya is now learning so much and is on the path to become an incredible manager at her current company.

So, what are you waiting for? Start your career today by calling That’s Good HR. Whether it’s Kate or one of our other awesome recruiters that helps you out you’ll be on the path to success in no time!