Tips

Getting Organized is as Easy as 1, 2, 3 – A, B, C

Ashley Paramoure

August 15, 2019

There are two types of people this time of year – those who love buying school supplies and those who don’t! No matter what camp you fall into the start of the school year is a great time of year to get organized. How can you get organized and free up more time? School is in session with these tips:

Manage Your Calendar. There are multiple ways to manage your calendar but start the school year by implementing a color-coded system. You can color code your calendar based on importance (red, yellow, green) or by areas of your life work, family, fitness or even some people suggest organizing your calendar based on your chakras. Start out with a minimum of three categories and code all your activities. Don’t be afraid to break out that new box of Crayola crayons and use all the colors of the rainbow if needed. You can then see what is monopolizing your time and you can work throughout the year to better balance your efforts.
Tackle Your To-Do List. Even if you do not write it down, we all have a to-do list. In order to tackle your list, try writing it down at the end of every day. When you write it, think about tackling your tough tasks first instead of saving them for later in the day. Every office has a silent saboteur that can derail your list in mere minutes – email. Email is a to-do list that anyone can add to, so think about not checking your email first thing in the morning and start on your to-do list instead. Your newly color-coded calendar will tell you when it’s time for email. At the end of every day, throw out your list and start anew. This will keep you feeling fresh and moving forward.
Declutter Your Work Space. Whether you have a cube at work or an entire office, chances are your space could stand to be cleaned up a bit. Use the deals on school supplies to pick up some new folders and storage boxes to tidy up your space. Next, organize your workspace in zones. For example, put work that you need to complete to the left of your computer and put completed items to the right. And once you have your work space neat and tidy, take a moment to run a disinfecting wipe over your desk to wipe out any germs.

Try some of these tips this fall and by spring break you’ll feel like you are ready to go to the head of the class. Let us know what works for you – we love to learn!

Staffing

How to Get a Job Quickly After Graduation

Amber Crosby

May 9, 2019

Seven out of 10 college seniors will graduate with approximately $30,000 in student loans according to recent data from the Institute for College Access & Success. Even with this debt, college graduates and their families think college is a worthwhile investment – 90 percent of families think that according to lender Sallie May.

At That’s Good HR, we agree education is a solid investment, but Americans are now burdened more by college loans then credit card or auto debt. In addition, 1 in 3 graduates said their school loans prevented or delayed them from buying a home. Some innovative employers are even letting their employees trade vacation days in exchange for payment on their student loans since this type of debt impacts so many employees.

Graduates may be saddled with debt, but their job prospects are plentiful – which is good news. This year, employers plan to hire nearly 11 percent more graduates from the class of 2019 than they did from the class of 2018. But with student loans and a fast-moving job market, it’s more important than ever to get into a job quickly.

Often, upon graduation students are still thinking about what type of office environment would be the right fit for them. A temporary assignment in a chosen degree field allows prospective employees to assimilate into the workforce quickly and learn what type of office setting works best. Temporary assignments can last from a few days to months, allowing recent grads to rack up experience while finding their way. Entry-level customer service positions, human resources positions, accounting positions or admin roles are perfect for new graduates. A third of the time, we see temporary assignments turn into full-time positions. If the assignment ends, there is no need to worry, we can place hard-working candidates in another role quickly and seamlessly.

We would love to hear about your college experience and get you to work quickly to repay those loans! Reach out and we will let you know your options to get your career started. See all our open positions on our job board and apply today!

Tips

Let’s Talk Language

June 11, 2018

Lately in the TGHR office, we’ve had a few grammar debates – do you put a comma before the word “and”? Do you double space or single space after paragraphs? Do you use acronyms as words in everyday conversation? With attention to detail and excellent communication skills being some of the qualities that can help any employee stand out, we looked at how the English language is evolving.

This year, 2018, marks 90 years since the completion of the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. Did you know the dictionary is updated four times per year? The most recent update occurred in March 2018 and the next update is scheduled for June. A number of new words are introduced with each update. Words must be in use for a period of time to be considered – like hangry. According to this article, “the only language not in a perpetual state of flux is a dead language”.

Acronyms like ASAP, RSVP and FYI have been part of our vernacular for a long time now. New words have crept in the into the English language in recent times including BRB, YOLO, OMG, LOL, and TMI*. Some of these acronyms are so pervasive in today’s language that they even make it into the Oxford English Dictionary. For example, EGOT** was just added in January 2018. What words do you think will be added next?

So, what’s up with the extra comma in a sentence, known as the oxford comma. It turns out according to grammar experts, unless you are writing for a particular publication or school, it is up to your discretion if you use a comma or not. According to Associated Press (AP) Style, which is the style that newspapers are written in, you should not use the comma before the word “and”. Others feel passionate that it should be used in all cases. What is your comma preference?

Recently at TGHR, we have starting using a new skills test provider. When you take a typing test on the software, the directions indicate that you must put two spaces after each period. It seems that this is second nature to approximately half of our office, but the other half is squarely in the one space after a sentence camp. Why the difference? It turns out it depends on how you learned to type. If you learned to type on a typewriter, you most likely put two spaces after a sentence. This is because with a typewriter each letter takes up the same amount of space (monotype), but on a computer with the fonts we use today, letters take up a proportional amount of space so not every letter gets the same amount of space. Putting two spaces after a period made sentences easier to read. “Two spacers” tend to be from Generation X or before, which is what we discovered in our own office. Take a poll in your office – one space or two?

Get crazy today and only use one space after your sentences and go nuts with commas because YOLO. LOL!

* BRB (be right back), YOLO (you only live once), OMG (oh my gosh), LOL (laugh out loud), and TMI (too much information).

**EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony winner)

Job Advice

6 Tips for Balancing School and Work

Lindsay Barnhart

March 28, 2017

As a working student, you’re not alone. According to this Georgetown University study, more than 70% of college students—14 million, in fact—work while going to school. Balancing classes, projects, term papers, and finals while holding down a job is no easy task. But don’t despair, you’re gaining valuable job experience companies love to see. Plus once you graduate, employers will be impressed by your dedication and new degree. However, effectively managing your workload is critical to success and maintaining good balance in your life. So we’ve got six easy tips to help you stay on track.

Set realistic work and study goals: Look at your class load, estimate how much time you need to study and do homework, then determine how many hours you can feasibly work. Temporary work or jobs with flexible schedules may fit great into your schedule. But remember—be reasonable and don’t overcommit.
Get plenty of rest: This may sound contradictory to your goal, but getting enough sleep matters. Sleep deprivation is linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, poor concentration, and memory loss. A good night’s rest—7 to 8 hours—promotes healthy brain function and, according to the National Institute for Health, it’s also been linked to better academic performance.
Take online classes: If available, online courses offer more flexibility within your schedule. Many lectures are pre-recorded and allow you to listen when and where you please making school fit more easily around work commitments. However, completing online coursework may require more diligence and responsibility on your part.
Openly communicate with your boss: Most employers value an education and will be pleased to know you’re advancing your knowledge and skills. Before you get knee-deep in finals, let your manager know. See if your work schedule can be lightened for a week or two leading up to testing. Alternately, when your class load is slow, consider asking your manager for more hours to earn extra cash.
Don’t be afraid to say “no”: As a working student, your time is limited. It’s important to stay focused on your goals without allowing others to derail you. If you need to study in the evening after work, be willing to protect that time when friends want you to go out. Be prepared to prioritize yourself and your education when others try to put demands on your time.
Make time for fun: Even though it’s important to protect time for work and focusing on school, down time is a must. To avoid burnout and manage stress, schedule moments for relaxation or hanging out with friends whenever you can. Quick chats over coffee, going to the movies, or a whole night off to socialize are great ways to recharge your spirit and motivate you to stay on track with your goals.

The truth is working while going to school demands a lot of hard work and dedication. But the good news is this part of your life is temporary—just a few short years in the grand scheme. Don’t stop–it may be tough now but all that hard work will pay off soon.