Fall in Love With Your Job

February 14, 2012 by Leave a Comment

It’s Valentine’s Day and Love is in the air… Can you feel it? I remember when I was  in school and wrapping a shoe box in red paper, gluing various heart themed items and slitting a whole in the top of it big enough to fit all types of treats, cards and notes… The anticipation of great things to come was incredible! Who could forget THE Candy?…  (Sweethearts) conversation hearts with some of my favorite sayings: Fax me, Be Good and Hope.  In most offices, Valentine’s candy still surfaces and brings back happy memories

There are few times in life when you get to feel that excitement for something that you know is coming… opening and reading the Valentine’s cards in your Valentine box at school, a first date, and your first day on the job.  I always wondered how you keep that love for your job constantly going and growing. Let’s face it, you spend more hours at your job awake than any other part of your day…

So, I wanted to share what I found out through personal experience and research to help you love the work you do…

  1. First things first – before you get out of bed, start the day thinking positive thoughts.  On an index card on your bedside table, write a positive thought to start your day.  Do you eat breakfast? As much as those powdery nuggets of donut love are delish… they leave you feeling sluggish in about an hour… No one needs to be off first thing in the morning, so take some time to eat a balanced meal.  Most people have a commute to work and you need to be as mentally alert and ready for the drive into the office.  What are you listening to on your way into work?  Have you ever tried listening to something positive?  This could  help get you motivated for the day ahead!  What about starting your day a little earlier?  This would help ensure such great things as a great parking space, a cup of coffee, some quite time before the rest of your team comes in and help get your day off to a great start be being productive.  How awful is it when you are late to work?  Don’t you feel like your whole day is off?  On the elevator ride to your office, did you greet everyone in the elevator? If you did, I bet they greeted you back!  The same theory goes first thing in the morning at work- greet your coworkers and they will greet you back!
  2. Congratulations- you made it to work safe and sound and there you are at your desk… what do you see?  Is your work space clean and organized or is does your desk look like a giant junk drawer?  What are you looking at and what is looking at you?  Do you have some pictures surrounding you of friends and family that bring you a smile.  Can you post some personal notes of work accomplishments and goals you are trying to achieve?  If you become stressed at work, take a “mental margarita break” to admire and focus on the pictures/sayings around you. If you are stressed at the desk, than write it down and throw that piece of frustration paper away!  If you work in a cubicle environment and share windows with a work neighbor, do you have something you mutually enjoy to look at?  Can you take a minute to scribble something on a post a note that makes your work neighbor smile?  I promise the favor will be returned when you need it most!
  3. Having a stressful moment at work?  Take a break and take a walk outside or on another floor. Sometimes getting away from the problem is the best way to solve the problem.  Take a step back and see if you are the cause of the problem. Can you offer an uncommon solution? Misery loves company, but only for a few minute. Being able to vent about work is helpful, but once the issue is vented, think of a solution to the problem and put it in action.
  4. In need of some work bonding?  Initiate something fun and see if you can create a committee at work to work with you.  We started an onsite Yoga class, all of us were at different levels, but all got something great out of the class.  Does your group eat lunch at the same time? Create a “no talking about work rule” at the table.  Are you a mentor to someone at work, or are you being mentored at work?  This will remind you that you have a purpose and are needed. Are you attending networking events on a regular basis?  The more you attend, the more friends you will have, and more support there waiting for you.
  5. Keep your balance.  Remember to take your vacation.  A break from the office can help you recharge you life battery.  Did you bring some small wacky souvenirs from your vacation back for your coworkers?  It helps the people who stayed behind and covered for you feel appreciated!

Now… back to work you go… and check your inbox! If you need me to send you a Valentine this year- send me an email and I will…  We all need to be reminded that we have a purpose, and  how great it is to do we what love and love what we do!

By: Elizabeth Jee – Business Development Manager at Imprimis

With fourteen years of experience in the staffing industry, Beth is passionate about making an impact on a person’s life, especially by finding a person the right job and finding a company the right person. Beth began her career in the staffing industry as a recruiter, which gives her a more in-depth perception of the industry and how important a culture-fit is to an organization. As a Business Development Manager, she takes pride in working with all levels of management, staff, and associates within an organization, and believes in giving outstanding customer service. Clients can always depend on Beth and her ability to create a relationship based on trust.  She does the extra mile to get things done in a creative way, and has a great sense of humor as an Improv comedian. To contact Beth, email ejee@imprimis.com.

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Selling on Trust and Expertise

January 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Not too long ago I adopted an interest in golf – I envisioned spending quality time with family and friends, staying in shape, and enjoying some of the most picturesque and beautiful landscapes – and then I quickly realized, I didn’t know the first thing about golf except that it is physically and mentally challenging and no round of golf is ever the same. Golf is the simplest of sports…hitting a ball with a stick.  And, at the same time one of the most frustrating, complex and exciting games undertaken.  I was going to need some help – professional help!

I called a friend who called a friend and there he was, a former professional golfer who provided private lessons and taught on the high school level.  I was hopeful this was going to work, afterall, I was on the pre-school level.

When I arrived at the driving range, we chit-chatted a little bit…how are you, I’m fine, thanks…how’s business? He said he was glad I called; things have been really slow for him. He mentioned that due to the economy his supplemental income had dropped dramatically.

He asked to see my swing, (or my rendition of a swing anyway) and quickly noticed a slight grimace on my face. Not because the ball was still in the same position before I swung, but because of the twinge in my left hip.  He then started shaking his head.

“Golf seems like a low-key sport to the casual observer.” he said.  (And I’m ready to get the ball rolling…literally!)

“I understand you’re mentally ready to learn, but physically, not so much.  Why don’t you get your hip checked out and let’s decide after that if your body is prepared for the challenge?”

And? Are you selling golfing services now? I thought to myself.

I was a bit confused, then amazed. Here was a man who was hurting for business, and he was discouraging me from using his services because he was concerned about my welfare.

I reassured him that the hip had been checked out, was healing and would be fine.  He emphasized that learning the proper posture to keep when swinging—with my back straight, feet planted shoulder-width apart, balance distributed equally on both legs–can make a difference in the amount of strain I put on my back, hips and neck and can even improve my playing results; and that would be his initial focus during our beginning sessions….once I had an opportunity to completely mend.

I was going to “shop around” for a better deal…I even planned on asking him for his “best price”.  But at that point, I trusted that he was going to give me a fair deal.  After all, he was ready to walk away without a new client.  Wow.

I’m really excited to have him as my instructor and I also trust that he has my best interest in mind.

In the staffing industry there are firms who feel they need to sell on offering the lowest mark-up. But it feels much better to sell based on trust and expertise. The buyer or end user is happy to do business with someone they trust will deliver the best service at a reasonable price as opposed to being forced to buy from the cheapest. The staffing firm is not constantly on edge about having to cut-corners just to remain competitive on pricing, which in turn, allows them to focus more on quality.

By: Shelly Broussard – Business Development Manager at Imprimis

With seven years of experience in business development, Shelly is passionate about authenticity and it shows in her management style.  What sets Shelly apart from others in her role is her emphasis on value: “If I’m not adding value, I am defeating my own purpose”.  Apart from her work, Shelly’s interests include cycling, golfing, and gardening.  After graduating from the University of Oklahoma, Shelly worked as a sales trainer and pharmaceutical sales rep before joining the Imprimis team. To contact Shelly, email sbroussard@imprimis.com.

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Lying on Resumes

December 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Post Written by Valerie Freeman, CEO of Imprimis Group, Inc.

Last week a reporter from the CW33 channel did a story about “lying on resumes”.  She interviewed a dentist who fired about 30 people who had good resumes but could not do the work.  Then she interviewed me about the prevalence of resume fraud and fudge and what employers can do about it.  So here’s my take on the issue:

I’ve heard statistics that throw out 40% as the percent of resumes that contain fabrications or exaggerations.  In my experience, I’d say that figure is probably true.  It’s more difficult these days to lie about degrees, certifications, felonies and misdemeanors, credit history, driving record, salary,  etc. because those items are more easily checked through background screens and other supporting documents.    What is more difficult is employment history, real reasons for leaving a job  and skills/knowledge  proficiencies.  A job hopper may choose to leave out some of their very short-term jobs; a bilingual person may not have enough proficiency in speaking a particular language, a social media expert may not be an expert at all.

Job seekers are getting wise to applicant screening systems which are looking for key words to screen out the mass of resumes submitted.  So job seekers are responding by trying to fit as many key words and phrases into their resumes to fit these very tight job descriptions that companies are now writing.  In the past few years, job seekers who are desperate for interviews, will wordsmith their resumes to try to fit into whatever job description possible.  They may have some of the skills and background required, but not all; therefore, they fudge on their resume to make it look like they have the whole package.

Companies should always perform due diligence on prospective employees – background screen for credentials and criminal activity, driving record, credit history.  If salary history is important, ask for a W-2.  Drug tests are increasingly becoming part of the hiring process.  Testing is the best means for discovering whether one can actually perform a job – and this includes having experts or people doing the job screen for proficiencies.  If a company has only one Network Administrator and no one else in the company has that skill, then find an expert and pay them to screen the candidate.  At Imprimis, we have a whole list of language proficiency experts that we use to vet candidates.  Check references and make your candidate give you the names and phone numbers of previous bosses so that they can be called.  The internet can sometimes find useful information about the candidate.  Your own network can provide useful connections to people who may have worked with this candidate.  It’s a smaller world out there than you can imagine.

As for job seekers, be as truthful as possible while making yourself look as good as possible.  We all know that a resume is supposed to make you look your best and resume preparers seek to help you stand out; but lies are  unacceptable.  When discovered, it calls into question everything else in your background — trust is destroyed and can’t be replaced.

Clip from CW33 news cast.

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The Dangers of Social Media

July 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Using Social Media Responsibly

By: Sam Crume, Summer Intern at our sister company – Freeman+Leonard. Sam is a Sophomore Business Major at Fordham University in New York and is from Dallas, TX.

Imagine if someone could read minds. Think about the consequences of your peers hearing your inner monologue. What if our deepest thoughts were public information? Maybe you’re someone who has to bite your tongue every time you see a particular co-worker or your boss. Maybe you are a college student looking for a job and a certain professor makes you squirm.  Maybe you had a rough night that you don’t want anyone to know about. Do you really want this information getting back to people you know? We live in a world of instant access to an infinite amount of information; however, your personal information doesn’t have to be among the masses of the internet. You don’t have to post inappropriate pictures or write offensive things, there is a choice to be responsible.

It seems today that everyone is using social media. According to Tom Webster of Edison Research, “51% of adults in the United States, ages 12 and up are using Facebook,” and Twitter has between 36 and 56 million active users. That’s a lot of people. Consider this; about one out of every two people have access to whatever someone posts on Facebook and about one out of every seven people have access to whatever is tweeted. Future employers, grandparents, parents, friends, and co-workers have access to whatever you do and say.

Think of social media as another way to build the brand that is you. What do you want a potential employer or recruiter to think you stand for? As a college student and intern, I know that every student is worried about finding a job after graduation. As a student, you want to have every edge you can possibly get. That being said, college is a time of change, uncertainty, independence, and yes, often stupidity. Just assume that everyone whom you know and will ever know will read what you post. Your future boss doesn’t want to find out that you made a racial slur over twitter, and Grandma doesn’t need to see the pictures of you and you’re buddies drunk at a party. You never want to forget that you added a colleague or superior and then made a rude remark about them. Think about the consequences of what information you are making public. In regards to finding a job, think of social media as another way to build the brand that is you. What do you want a potential employer or recruiter to think you stand for?

It is important to understand that you’re digital footprint can only grow. Once something is out there, it stays out there.  Imagine whatever you do on the internet as a permanent tattoo. The tattoo might be under your shirt, but with a little effort, it can be seen. You may have posted something years ago, and that picture, tweet, or status update is somewhere out there. Whether you’re applying for an internship over the summer, or running for political office, your words literally will echo for eternity.  Employers are now able to run background checks on individuals through social media sites. There is an entire industry arising to do background checks on social media sites. According to Jennifer Preston of the New York Times, “There is a year-old start-up, known as Social Intelligence, which scrapes the Internet for everything prospective employees may have said or done online in the past seven years.” According to Preston, Social Intelligence assembles a profile of everything you’ve done that meets the criteria of “racist remarks; references to drugs; sexually explicit photos, text messages or videos; flagrant displays of weapons or bombs and clearly identifiable violent activity.” You can’t clean it up. We must simply be responsible.

Social media sites can be an extremely useful tool when it comes to job searching. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn will get your name out there, and help build networks.

Here are some guidelines that I like to live by when using the internet.

  1. Don’t post a picture or reference any illegal activity.
  2. Don’t post offensive commentary regarding any racial, cultural, or religious community.
  3. Don’t insult people in a position of authority. An insult to your boss over the internet is still an insult, and cause to be reprimanded or even fired.
  4. Don’t share personal information that you don’t want everyone to know about.
  5. Most importantly, don’t write anything that you wouldn’t be willing to say to anyone. Imagine that your grandparents will read everything you ever post and see every picture.

If you’d like to read more, check out these great sources:

How to Lose a Job via Facebook in 140 Characters or Less

To Blog or Not to Blog – How Blogging and Social Networking Can Impact Your Job Search

Facebook Achieves Majority

Filed under Job Search, Staffing, Tips Tagged with , , ,

Hire With An Open Mind

February 28, 2011 by 1 Comment

Post Written by Valerie Freeman, CEO of Imprimis Staffing

I have been reading about and of course, as a staffing company owner, hearing from some recruiter friends that they prefer to hire the employed. Not everyone, of course, refuses to interview unemployed folks, but the biased attitudes surrounding the subject are similar to those surrounding the biased attitudes towards other groups such as older workers. Since we’ve been placing people for some 29 years, I can say with some authority that there is virtually no difference in the employed vs. unemployed talent pool. When you explore the reasons why people are unemployed, you can most likely figure out if the layoff or termination is valid and if equal consideration should be given to these candidates right along with those who happen to be employed. As in any large group of candidates (and the current economy made the unemployed much larger than normal), there are the talented, the mediocre and the just plain bad) just as in the group of candidates that are employed. How do you know if the employed candidate is looking because they are about to be terminated or their employer is dying to get rid of them – you don’t. How do you know if the employed candidate has the best skills that you can find – you don’t.

John Sullivan wrote an article on this subject for ERE entitled “Refusing Applications from the Unemployed: Best Practice or Madness”. In this article he states that there are more negative arguments associated with the practice of refusing to consider the unemployed than positive ones and that he has never recommended this practice. You can read his article and the comments here.

I would caution all recruiters and hiring managers to be as free from bias as possible when looking at candidates. I know for a fact that some of the best employees of companies came from the ranks of the unemployed; I know for a fact that some of the best employees of companies are over the age of 50; I know for a fact that some of the best employees of companies didn’t fit the mold for the perfect candidate for the job.

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We Helped Her “Land Her Dream Job”

February 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Blog Post Written by Bonnie Fish, Business Development Manager for Imprimis (bfish@imprimis.com)

I am a Business Development Manager for Imprimis. Most of my interactions are with the clients rather than the candidates.

In my position, I rarely have the satisfaction of relaying the good news to a candidate that they have won the position they have wished for with the company of their dreams.  There is an upside to this as I ALSO do not have to bear the bad news to candidates that they did NOT win the position.

However, I had an opportunity to be truly engaged with a candidate as she struggled thru a couple of  temporary to permanent positions and interviews that did not work out for one reason or another.  After a few months of trying to find a fit for her,  she won an interview to start as a temporary at my client’s company.

This resulted as a “match made in heaven”.  Not only was she happy about the environment and culture but as an extra bonus, she was going to be able to use her beloved hobby, photography in assisting with product photos on their client’s sites.

I have included some bits from her letter below on this blog post. I don’t deserve the “glory”, the recruiters are in the trenches with the candidates 99% of the time.  I did want to express how satisfying a “well placed” hire can be for everyone involved!  How rewarding it is to find people employment  in the job hungry economy we find ourselves in, especially when the employee lands a “dream job”!

From Candidate: “Bonnie helped to place me with a fashion-design firm close to my home and I could not be happier.  The company and I are a perfect match, and this is a testament to the fact that Bonnie and Imprimis took the time to listen carefully to my needs and requests after the first placement had not worked out.

I could not imagine this process being a better experience.  I have worked with other Staffing services in the past and none of them have come close to what Imprimis and Bonnie has to offer.  I felt as though I was Bonnie’s one and only client, and regardless of my demands (which were probably overwhelming for her at times) she never made me feel uncomfortable or unvalued.  She is truly a blessing to me, and I thank God every day for putting Imprimis and her in my life and leading me down my new and exciting career path!”

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Don’t Forget about The “Mature” Employee

February 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Blog Post Written by Janet Hershman, Recruiter for Imprimis Staffing

There are thousands of “mature personnel” who are unemployed and looking for work.  Many of them have been  loyal employees, staying at one job for years.  This does not necessarily indicate a lack of initiative but rather that they may have gained invaluable experience. This experience can easily translate into other industries as well. Don’t let them be pigeonholed.  Though health benefits may cost more for these employees the “work” benefits can more than make up for it.

If you are one of those mature persons looking for work, call me and I will assist you in your search.

You can reach Janet at jhershman@imprimis.com

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Ever wonder if you are in the right career?

February 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Blog Post written by Brook Hamrick, Business Development Manager for Imprimis (bhamrick@imprimis.com)

Are you doing what truly fits your unique personality and strengths?

If you dislike what you are doing, it might be because you are not doing what truly fits and compliments your natural skills.  I, like some of you , graduated from college not knowing really what “I” was about.  So I took a job at a financial services firm and began studying for the Series 7  and Series 63 so I could become a Stock Broker.  Well, needless to say , I was miserable.   Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work in the recruiting department where I discovered a natural talent for sales, recruiting and intuitively understanding people. We all eventually learn more about ourselves as the years pass, but the sooner you know the quicker you can target your energy in the area where your natural abilities apply. If you have heard of the Meyers-Briggs Type indicator and have had the opportunity to take the questionnaire and see what your unique type is out of 16 different profiles, then awesome.  If not, go and take it. (click here) It is free and takes about 10 minutes.  Once you get your results , which will consist of 4 letters (Example. ENTJ, INFP, ESFJ and so on ), Google your type and see all sorts of information regarding types of careers for which you are suited.

The past 13 years I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to utilize those talents in the Recruiting/Staffing Industry and am blessed to work for Imprimis where our Clients and Candidates always come first.  May you find this questionnaire as insightful as I did and have a fabulous February!

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Relationship Building: The New Era of Recruiting

November 12, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Post written by Valerie Freeman, CEO of Imprimis Group

I recently found an article about recruiting during today’s down economy. Presently, the most effective way to recruit is to focus on building relationships with the candidates. Recruiters should not only be concerned about whether or not a hire has been made, but also that the quality of the hire is top-notch.

When the economy began to head south, many companies chose to downsize on their recruiting department first. If we aren’t hiring why should we be paying recruiters, right? Wrong. This article proves that if you want your company to be competitive as soon as the recession ends then you should keep your core group of recruiters. Companies should be using recruiters that know the company and understand what the company needs to be major contenders in today’s market. Our recruiters at Imprimis have been practicing building relationships with candidates for 28 years.Accordingly, when a career opportunity arises we are confident we are placing the best candidate in the job.

The article also indicates that the need to hire new staff is outpacing the ability to rebuild recruiting departments, and many of the top recruiters have already moved on. Allow Imprmis to lighten the burden of seeking out high quality employees.

See article for more advice on how to recruit up in the changing economy or contact one of our experienced representatives to see how we can customize a plan to fit your needs.

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You Are Going to Be More Successful if you get up early – and other interesting research!!

July 20, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Post Written By Valerie Freeman, CEO of Imprimis Group

As I was reading the paper Sunday morning, I came across the Executive Briefing with the headline “Morning types appear to be poised for success.”  Then right under the headline were the words “Harvard Business Review.” So I figured if it was in that venerable publication, maybe there’s something to it.  The research (study of 367 university students) by Professor Christoph Randler  in Germany concludes that “People whose performance peaks in the morning are better positioned for career success because they’re more proactive than people who are at their best in the evening.”

The professor goes on to say that “Though evening people do have some advantages – other studies reveal they tend to be smarter and more creative than morning types, have a better sense of humor and are more outgoing – they’re out of sync with the typical corporate schedule.”

I never knew that we all possessed a “chronotype” which is our tendency to  be a morning or evening type and that about 50% of a person’s chronotype is due to genetics.  I also learned from this article that chronotype typically changes over the course of a person’s life – more people under 30 are evening types – from 30-50, the population is evenly split and after age 50, most people are morning types.

So I’m not sure what to do with all this valuable information – do I want to hire morning people who are more proactive, evening people who are smarter and more outgoing or people over 50 who have all become more proactive!!!  Or maybe I just want to chalk this up to more useless research by academics who have to publish or perish!!

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