Job Advice

Be Good Communicator in 5 Easy Steps

Mary Springer

Partner

September 20, 2017

Author and self-improvement guru, Paul J. Meyer said “Communication – the human connection – is the key to personal and career success.” Since communication is key, here are five easy steps to improve your communication TODAY.

Ask open ended questions. Asking open ended question yields more information, which can help you hone in on what people really need or want from you. Looking for additional tips check out Monster’s list of 5 ways to be a better communicator at work.
Don’t just talk – listen. Often times, listening can reveal more than asking questions. Once you ask that open ended question, you’ll need to listen carefully to deduce the most important information. Communication is a two-way street, don’t focus on one way.
Non verbal communication is just as important as what you are verbally communicating. Be cognitive of things like your body position and eye contact when conversing with others.
Be aware of timing. Just because you want to tell someone something, that does not mean they are ready to hear it. In addition, they might be under pressure or have different circumstances that would make them less receptive to what you have to say – even if it’s good news. Look for cues during your conversation and consider saving information for later.
Pick the best form. For some messages verbal communication might be best, but for others email would work better – or vice versa. Think about your message and the information you are trying to convey and pick the right channel for delivery.

Let us know what you put into practice on our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Ready to put your new and improved communication skills to use? Apply to one of our open positions.

HR Insights

Benefits to Using a Staffing Agency

Tiffany Moore

VP, Client Partnerships

August 23, 2017

According to a recent infographic released by American Staffing Association, staffing agencies are among the top 5 job search resources. Surprised? We aren’t. Here’s why:

Options, options and more options. We focus on finding temporary employees, employees that begin as temps then can be hired on full time or employees for direct hire. So you can decide what option is right for your open position. Whatever you choose, we’ve got options.
Take your pick. You tell us what you need and then we deliver a selection of candidates for you to choose from.
Save time. According to the most recent benchmarking study from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the average time it takes to fill a position is 42 days. Our goal is to provide you with resumes for review within 24 hours. That’s 98% faster than average!
Deep bench. We have a deep network to find folks for your position fast. Every day our trained recruiters are actively interviewing candidates. They get to know their technical skills, but also those important soft skills that you didn’t even know you were looking for.
Listen Up. We listen to what you need to understand what type of employee would be a good fit. Then we head to our aforementioned bench to find you top talent.

You deserve strategic staffing solutions, not some one-size-fits-all quick fix. We’re known in Indy for our personal, authentic approach to staffing that delivers long-term results. Reach out today and I’ll show you.

Job Advice

Is Criticism a Gift in Disguise? Handle with Care

Kate Stephens

August 14, 2017

Recently, LinkedIn CEO, Jeff Weiner, posted an amazing piece of advice, “Even negative feedback can be a gift. Take it seriously but don’t let it define you. Define yourself.” Well said.

Criticism is often tough to take, but can be a valuable tool to help you learn and grow. When Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was asked during a talk what was the number one thing she looked for in a person who could scale within a company, Sandberg quickly responded, “Someone who takes feedback well. Because people who can take feedback well are people who can learn and grow quickly.”

Can you handle criticism? Here’s some advice on how to handle negative feedback in the best way possible:

Don’t focus on how it was delivered. Often times the person giving feedback, doesn’t present it in the best manner. Don’t focus on what they are doing wrong, focus on what you can do right.
Keep emotions in check. Even though it may take a huge effort, don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Remaining calm will help you focus on the facts. Easier said than done, right?
Own it. A famous NYC chef was raked over the coals by The New York Times. Instead of being inflamed at the paper, he used the critique to demonstrate his commitment to his customers and his work. Curious how he handled it? Check out his response.
Be grateful. Consider thanking the person who took time to give you feedback that will ultimately better you as a person.
Forget the excuses. It’s easy to tell someone the reasons behind why you weren’t at your best in a particular situation. When you are receiving feedback, it’s best to not offer up a litany of excuses or justify the behavior. Be proactive, not reactive.

Here’s to hoping you see feedback as a positive, not a negative. Your next opportunity to grow could be right around the corner – view our current job openings.

Job Advice

What Managers Really Want

Amber Crosby

August 3, 2017

What do managers want? What do they really, really want (shout out to the Spice Girls)? Check out these qualities that can make you a great employee for your manager.

Be prepared. Just like the scout motto, do your part to be prepared for conversations and make sure to be prepared before heading into a meeting. Make sure you are ready to listen, have questions ready that you need answers for, and take a deep breath…and go!

Be inquisitive. If you don’t know what is expected or the answer to a question, ask. Assumptions often lead to frustration, so it’s best to be clear from the beginning. Asking questions can also demonstrate that you are thinking ahead, which is a great way to show your strategic side.

Be collaborative. When your boss suggests a new way of doing things, look for ways to enhance his/her idea. Collaborate with the boss to make the idea a success. Your boss will appreciate your input and it can make you the go-to person in the future.

Be receptive. Look around and learn your boss’ habits. Know how they like info presented to them so you can set yourself up for success. Being attentive to details will serve you well.

Be professional. This may sound like a no-brainer but only 11% of managers said new hires embody this trait. Things like being on time, working well in a team, and demonstrating a good work ethic can make you stand out to your manager.

For more, see this list of 5 things every boss is dying for you to do, but won’t ask for. And when you’re ready for a new boss or to become the boss yourself, check out our current openings.

Job Advice

Tips to Be a Rock Star Candidate

July 17, 2017

We’re in the people business. We’ve been finding the right people for the right jobs for nearly 20 years. We LOVE working with our candidates. How can you be a rock star candidate? When you come in to meet with us, take heed of these simple steps:

Be honest. Let us know your expertise and your expectations so we can match you with the perfect placment
Polish your resume. Make sure you’ve got a current resume uploaded to our site. Don’t have one handy? Use our resume template to create one.
Update your LinkedIn profile. Daily, 45 million profiles on average are viewed on LinkedIn. Will yours stand out? Make sure it’s up-to-date and puts your best foot forward.
Be patient. Even if we don’t have an opening right now that’s a match for your skills, our phone is always ringing with new opportunities.

Now, you’ve met with a recruiter and you have been placed in your first assignment. We are just as excited as you are. So, what can you do to continue to be a rock star? Don’t worry, we’ve got a plan for that too.

Share feedback. We love to hear feedback. Feedback is important and helps us for future placements with companies and type of position.
Be resourceful. Don’t understand something that is going on? Utilize different resources to find the answer. Ask a fellow coworker in the same situation, reach out to your recruiter or try a quick Google search.
Keep in touch. Keep us updated if anything changes with you. Don’t be shy about checking in with your recruiter if your status changes. Send a quick email or call once a month so we know what’s happening with you.

Whether we’ve already met or you’re a rock star waiting in the wings, we will work to get you the right position at the right time. After all, we’re in the people business. Check out our latest job opportunities online.

HR Insights

Interview Questions: What Not to Ask

Amber Crosby

June 28, 2017

Interviews are a great tool to discover candidates’ backgrounds, qualities, personality traits, and even hang-ups. But with a long list of off-putting—and possibly even unethical or illegal—questions, handling an interview wisely can feel like tip-toeing through a minefield. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered.

So, what can you ask and what’s strictly off limits? As a general rule, you want to avoid personal questions. These include direct questions about age, religion, gender, country of origin, disabilities, marital or financial status, and childcare arrangements.

You’re likely already astute enough to steer clear of blatantly inappropriate questions. However, sometimes these topics may be relevant to the role being filled. For example, your job may require a employee to be on-call after hours, and your candidate is a single mom. You shouldn’t directly ask if she has childcare in place, but you can describe the on-call hours needed and inquire if this work schedule would be doable. Best practice: stick to questions about the job itself and not about specific personal details.

Examples of Questions to Avoid

How old are you?
Where do you go to church?
Do you have a history of mental illness?
Are you married or single?
How many sick days did you take last year?
Do you plan on having kids soon or are your pregnant?
How’s your credit?

Examples of Acceptable Questions to Ask

Are you over 18?
This position includes duties after 5 p.m. Are you available to work evenings when needed?
What languages are you fluent in?
Are you eligible to work in the United States?
What are your career goals?
Can you lift items that could weigh up to 50 pounds?

Sometimes a candidate volunteers personal information, and while you can’t prevent it, it’s best not to jot it down. Ultimately that information cannot legally be used when making your hiring decision.

To stay on track during the interview, make a list of questions ahead of time. Not only will you be better prepared, but it’ll also help avoid any accidental slips with inappropriate or unethical questions. Or better yet, call us. At That’s Good HR, we’re experts at asking the right questions and finding you the right candidate. Let’s chat! Get in touch today.

Customer Experiences

Spotlight on Success: Kyrie Forrester

Tiffany Moore

VP, Client Partnerships

May 25, 2017

Meet Kyrie Forrester. Today she’s enjoying a successful career in management at an Indianapolis home security firm with lots of great perks—a thriving company culture, leadership training, and opportunities for advancement. But life wasn’t always this peachy, and little did she know, one application would change her future forever.

Rewind to December 2011. Kyrie was miserable working at a daycare. Prior to that, she had spent 10 years working with disabled adults and children. And while helping others was rewarding, Kyrie felt so drained physically and emotionally that she hit her breaking point and quit her job. Unemployed and uncertain about her future, she shared her problems with her mom over lunch. As an experienced HR professional, Kyrie’s mother had heard great things about That’s Good HR and recommended she reach out.

After filling out our online application, she received a call back in no time. From there, she interviewed at That’s Good HR face to face, where we assessed her strengths, skills, and experiences. During the process, Kyrie kept an open mind about the kind of job she wanted. “I was tired of having such emotionally and physically exhausting jobs, and just really wanted to try something different,” she says.

Knowing Kyrie and one of our clients, we knew a great match could be made. Despite being new to the industry, Kyrie was excited to explore a different field. And Kyrie’s personality, experience, and skills were the perfect fit for one of the company’s entry level roles. She accepted the job as a temporary hire right away.

She still remembers her first day on the job as being fantastic. She was struck with the firm’s commitment to its employees—both inside and outside of work—including professional development opportunities and paid volunteer days. Kyrie was determined to learn the ins and outs of her new job and was soon empowered to update departmental procedures and processes.

Three months later, a new leadership position opened up at her company. She interviewed and was soon hired as a full-time team leader. New learning and leadership opportunities came her way with professional development resources, as well as access to helpful wellness and finance classes. “I never expected a temp job to turn into a full-time career for me,” Kyrie says.

Today Kyrie is still thriving at her company. After another promotion, she now works in management, overseeing a team of eight. She expects to keep excelling and enjoying a successful career. “Without reaching out to That’s Good HR, who knows where I would’ve ended up. I never imagined having such a successful corporate career in my life,” she says.

In a fun twist of fate, Kyrie now gets to be a client of That’s Good HR, working with us to hire temps for her company. “Anytime I need someone for the team, my first thought is That’s Good HR. They give such excellent quality team members,” Kyrie says.

Making great matches like Kyrie’s is what we are all about. Are you a company looking to fill a position with a great candidate? Or maybe you’re in the position of looking for a new job yourself! Either way, we’re here to help. Our staffing specialists expertly match employers and employees every day. One quick phone call or message is all it takes to get the ball rolling. Reach out today by calling 317.469.4141 or contact us here.

Job Advice

Bringing Your Best Attitude to Work

Kate Stephens

February 18, 2017

What attitude do you bring to work? That may sound like a weird question, but it’s worth thinking about, because we all bring positivity or negativity with us. Our behaviors, thoughts, and actions—whether good or bad—directly impact our success and working relationships. The key is to develop an awareness of our attitudes, then reflect on how this affects things at work.

The point is this: your attitude can make or break your future success. Leadership expert Michael Hyatt talks about how contagious bad attitudes are. On the flip side, behavioral psychology writer James Clear outlines research showing how a positive mindset broadens our possibilities and enhances our skill sets. Let’s examine some common workplace scenarios to get a better grip on how your attitude and resulting behaviors might play out on the job.

Collaboration & Communication. We all enjoy being around positive people—they’re usually like magnets! Their upbeat views and affirmative opinions rally others around them and invite open conversations and teamwork. Conversely, negativity and grumpiness make others nervous, and colleagues might refrain from asking for opinions, advice, or help on a project.
Motivation. If you’ve seen the Disney Pixar movie Inside Out, you know that negativity tends to color everything around it (just like the trail of blue that the character Sadness leaves in her wake). If you’re down in the dumps and likely lacking motivation yourself, it’s easy for those around you to start feeling the same way. Alternatively, an encouraging, upbeat attitude is equally infectious—but in a good way! Kind words, a genuine smile, and optimistic outlook inspire coworkers to work hard and put their best foot forward.
Friendship Opportunities. There’s no rule that says we have to be friends with our colleagues, but some of the most amazing friendships out there have blossomed in workplaces. A kind disposition and courtesy invite others to get to know you, possibly fostering a forever friend. However, if you’re the grumpiest person in the room, you’re probably making it difficult for others to want to connect or get to know you better. Instead, be mindful of your greetings, tone, and choice of words when communicating.
Professional Advancement. You may be a rockstar at your job performance, but if you are tough to be around on a regular basis, promotions may be unlikely. Leaders are drawn to employee characteristics like positivity, enthusiasm, and team-building strengths.

The best advice is to be mindful. Mentally take note of how you come across to others, your tone of voice, and your outlook on work. Self-evaluation may be hard—and even painful at times—but will grow you into a more successful person.